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J.B. Bickerstaff Is One Loss Away From Being Exposed as a Phony | Deadspin.com   The No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference is on the ropes against a team that was in the Play-In Tournament just a few weeks ago.The Orlando Magic took a commanding 3-1 lead against the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The Pistons were supposed to be the Belle of the ball this postseason after winning 60 games in the regular season.But as Detroit basketball fans were reminded in the first round of last year’s postseason that playoff basketball is different. Last year, the sixth-seeded Pistons were defeated in six games against the New York Knicks in Round 1. It was a moral victory for the Pistons to be there, and valuable experience for blossoming guard Cade Cunningham.Expectations are a dangerous thing in sports, and the Pistons surpassed all of them by claiming the No. 1 seed in the East. But that came with lofty expectations as well, like getting through the Magic in Round 1, which is proving to be a difficult task for the Pistons.Offensively, Detroit is a nightmare.Here are their team point totals for their first four games against Orlando: 101, 98, 105 and 88.That’s a decent offensive output if Chuck Daly was on the sidelines.But Pistons fans are learning the shortcomings of J.B. Bickerstaff, who is the frontrunner to win NBA Coach of the Year. In two seasons, Bickerstaff has turned a floundering organization into the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Over the last two years, the Pistons realized they have more than one superstar in Cunningham, as Jalen Duren and other contributors emerged for the top-seeded team in the East.It’s similar to Bickerstaff’s time with the Cavaliers. He took over a floundering organization that couldn’t move on from head coach John Beilein fast enough. In sequential order, the Cavs were one of the worst teams in basketball, lost in the NBA Play-In Tournament, traded for Donovan Mitchell, got bounced in the first round against the Knicks before barely beating the Magic in Game 7 just to get eliminated in Round 2 for back-to-back seasons.All of that in four seasons was enough for Bickerstaff to lose his voice within Cleveland’s locker room. If the Pistons are an easy out in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs, could his seat already be heating up in Detroit?Winning NBA Coach of the Year is a curse. In 2018, the Toronto Raptors fired head coach Dwane Casey before he was formally named NBA Coach of the Year after an early-postseason exit.The Pistons likely wouldn’t want that to happen, and Bickerstaff should get another crack at this with a very young roster. But losing in Round 1 against the Magic? In a season when the Pistons were the No. 1 seed and one of the best stories in the NBA? At some point, it reflects poorly on the coach who constantly invents ways to underwhelm in the postseason.   #J.B #Bickerstaff #Loss #Exposed #Phony #Deadspin.com

J.B. Bickerstaff Is One Loss Away From Being Exposed as a Phony | Deadspin.com

The No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference is on the ropes against a team that was in the Play-In Tournament just a few weeks ago.

The Orlando Magic took a commanding 3-1 lead against the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The Pistons were supposed to be the Belle of the ball this postseason after winning 60 games in the regular season.

But as Detroit basketball fans were reminded in the first round of last year’s postseason that playoff basketball is different. Last year, the sixth-seeded Pistons were defeated in six games against the New York Knicks in Round 1. It was a moral victory for the Pistons to be there, and valuable experience for blossoming guard Cade Cunningham.

Expectations are a dangerous thing in sports, and the Pistons surpassed all of them by claiming the No. 1 seed in the East. But that came with lofty expectations as well, like getting through the Magic in Round 1, which is proving to be a difficult task for the Pistons.

Offensively, Detroit is a nightmare.

Here are their team point totals for their first four games against Orlando: 101, 98, 105 and 88.

That’s a decent offensive output if Chuck Daly was on the sidelines.

But Pistons fans are learning the shortcomings of J.B. Bickerstaff, who is the frontrunner to win NBA Coach of the Year. In two seasons, Bickerstaff has turned a floundering organization into the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Over the last two years, the Pistons realized they have more than one superstar in Cunningham, as Jalen Duren and other contributors emerged for the top-seeded team in the East.

It’s similar to Bickerstaff’s time with the Cavaliers. He took over a floundering organization that couldn’t move on from head coach John Beilein fast enough. In sequential order, the Cavs were one of the worst teams in basketball, lost in the NBA Play-In Tournament, traded for Donovan Mitchell, got bounced in the first round against the Knicks before barely beating the Magic in Game 7 just to get eliminated in Round 2 for back-to-back seasons.

All of that in four seasons was enough for Bickerstaff to lose his voice within Cleveland’s locker room. If the Pistons are an easy out in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs, could his seat already be heating up in Detroit?

Winning NBA Coach of the Year is a curse. In 2018, the Toronto Raptors fired head coach Dwane Casey before he was formally named NBA Coach of the Year after an early-postseason exit.

The Pistons likely wouldn’t want that to happen, and Bickerstaff should get another crack at this with a very young roster. But losing in Round 1 against the Magic? In a season when the Pistons were the No. 1 seed and one of the best stories in the NBA? At some point, it reflects poorly on the coach who constantly invents ways to underwhelm in the postseason.

#J.B #Bickerstaff #Loss #Exposed #Phony #Deadspin.com

The No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference is on the ropes against a team that was in the Play-In Tournament just a few weeks ago.

The Orlando Magic took a commanding 3-1 lead against the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The Pistons were supposed to be the Belle of the ball this postseason after winning 60 games in the regular season.

But as Detroit basketball fans were reminded in the first round of last year’s postseason that playoff basketball is different. Last year, the sixth-seeded Pistons were defeated in six games against the New York Knicks in Round 1. It was a moral victory for the Pistons to be there, and valuable experience for blossoming guard Cade Cunningham.

Expectations are a dangerous thing in sports, and the Pistons surpassed all of them by claiming the No. 1 seed in the East. But that came with lofty expectations as well, like getting through the Magic in Round 1, which is proving to be a difficult task for the Pistons.

Offensively, Detroit is a nightmare.

Here are their team point totals for their first four games against Orlando: 101, 98, 105 and 88.

That’s a decent offensive output if Chuck Daly was on the sidelines.

But Pistons fans are learning the shortcomings of J.B. Bickerstaff, who is the frontrunner to win NBA Coach of the Year. In two seasons, Bickerstaff has turned a floundering organization into the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Over the last two years, the Pistons realized they have more than one superstar in Cunningham, as Jalen Duren and other contributors emerged for the top-seeded team in the East.

It’s similar to Bickerstaff’s time with the Cavaliers. He took over a floundering organization that couldn’t move on from head coach John Beilein fast enough. In sequential order, the Cavs were one of the worst teams in basketball, lost in the NBA Play-In Tournament, traded for Donovan Mitchell, got bounced in the first round against the Knicks before barely beating the Magic in Game 7 just to get eliminated in Round 2 for back-to-back seasons.

All of that in four seasons was enough for Bickerstaff to lose his voice within Cleveland’s locker room. If the Pistons are an easy out in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs, could his seat already be heating up in Detroit?

Winning NBA Coach of the Year is a curse. In 2018, the Toronto Raptors fired head coach Dwane Casey before he was formally named NBA Coach of the Year after an early-postseason exit.

The Pistons likely wouldn’t want that to happen, and Bickerstaff should get another crack at this with a very young roster. But losing in Round 1 against the Magic? In a season when the Pistons were the No. 1 seed and one of the best stories in the NBA? At some point, it reflects poorly on the coach who constantly invents ways to underwhelm in the postseason.

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#J.B #Bickerstaff #Loss #Exposed #Phony #Deadspin.com

Deadspin | NHL hearing with Senators F Ridly Greig set for May 4  Apr 20, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Ottawa Senators center Ridly Greig (71) is tripped by Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker (26) during the second period in game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images   The NHL’s Department of Player Safety set a hearing for May 4 to address Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig’s sucker punch of an opponent.  The department’s announcement Tuesday did not describe it as an in-person hearing, which would be necessary to issue a suspension longer than five games. The Ottawa Citizen previously reported the hearing will be conducted by phone.  Greig was penalized for roughing Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker on Saturday in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first-round series. The Hurricanes won that game to complete a 4-0 sweep, ending Ottawa’s season, so any suspension would be applied to next season.  The incident occurred during a stoppage in play midway through the second period of Game 4. Walker was involved in a scrum with Warren Foegele when Greig approached the pair and appeared to throw a punch that caught Walker up high and dropped him down to the ice.   Greig, 23, completed his fourth season in the NHL with 13 goals and 22 assists for 35 points over 77 games. The assist and point totals marked career highs, while it was the third straight season he finished with 13 goals. He also amassed 83 penalty minutes.  He had one assist and two penalty minutes for Ottawa in the first-round series.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #NHL #hearing #Senators #Ridly #Greig #setApr 20, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Ottawa Senators center Ridly Greig (71) is tripped by Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker (26) during the second period in game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety set a hearing for May 4 to address Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig’s sucker punch of an opponent.

The department’s announcement Tuesday did not describe it as an in-person hearing, which would be necessary to issue a suspension longer than five games. The Ottawa Citizen previously reported the hearing will be conducted by phone.

Greig was penalized for roughing Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker on Saturday in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first-round series. The Hurricanes won that game to complete a 4-0 sweep, ending Ottawa’s season, so any suspension would be applied to next season.


The incident occurred during a stoppage in play midway through the second period of Game 4. Walker was involved in a scrum with Warren Foegele when Greig approached the pair and appeared to throw a punch that caught Walker up high and dropped him down to the ice.

Greig, 23, completed his fourth season in the NHL with 13 goals and 22 assists for 35 points over 77 games. The assist and point totals marked career highs, while it was the third straight season he finished with 13 goals. He also amassed 83 penalty minutes.

He had one assist and two penalty minutes for Ottawa in the first-round series.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #NHL #hearing #Senators #Ridly #Greig #set">Deadspin | NHL hearing with Senators F Ridly Greig set for May 4  Apr 20, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Ottawa Senators center Ridly Greig (71) is tripped by Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker (26) during the second period in game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images   The NHL’s Department of Player Safety set a hearing for May 4 to address Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig’s sucker punch of an opponent.  The department’s announcement Tuesday did not describe it as an in-person hearing, which would be necessary to issue a suspension longer than five games. The Ottawa Citizen previously reported the hearing will be conducted by phone.  Greig was penalized for roughing Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker on Saturday in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first-round series. The Hurricanes won that game to complete a 4-0 sweep, ending Ottawa’s season, so any suspension would be applied to next season.  The incident occurred during a stoppage in play midway through the second period of Game 4. Walker was involved in a scrum with Warren Foegele when Greig approached the pair and appeared to throw a punch that caught Walker up high and dropped him down to the ice.   Greig, 23, completed his fourth season in the NHL with 13 goals and 22 assists for 35 points over 77 games. The assist and point totals marked career highs, while it was the third straight season he finished with 13 goals. He also amassed 83 penalty minutes.  He had one assist and two penalty minutes for Ottawa in the first-round series.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #NHL #hearing #Senators #Ridly #Greig #set

Deadspin | WWE reaches deal with The CW to broadcast NXT premium live events  Jan 28, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque aka Triple H speaks during a press conference after the WWE Royal Rumble at the Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images   The WWE announced on Tuesday that it has reached a deal with The CW to broadcast all NXT premium live events exclusively on network going forward.  That deal is set to begin with The Great American Bash this summer and will include the next 20 PLEs over the next several years, airing them simultaneously live across the country.  This will bring the entirety of the television programming for NXT, which “showcases WWE’s hottest up-and-coming Superstars,” to The CW. The network already broadcasts the weekly NXT show on Tuesdays.  “WWE NXT has energized our Tuesday nights by consistently delivering a loyal and passionate fanbase to The CW every week,” Brad Schwartz, president of The CW, said in a statement. “Adding WWE NXT Premium Live Events to our schedule is a natural fit, providing one broadcast destination for audiences to watch all their favorite Superstars, storylines and championship matches.”   NXT, which began airing weekly in 2012, is less than two years into a five-year deal it signed with CW in October 2024 to broadcast its weekly programming.  “The CW has played an integral role in raising the profile of our up-and-coming Superstars, and we are excited to bring NXT Premium Live Events to broadcast television for the first time ever,” Shawn Michaels, WWE senior vice president of talent development creative, said in a statement.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #WWE #reaches #deal #broadcast #NXT #premium #live #eventsJan 28, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque aka Triple H speaks during a press conference after the WWE Royal Rumble at the Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

The WWE announced on Tuesday that it has reached a deal with The CW to broadcast all NXT premium live events exclusively on network going forward.

That deal is set to begin with The Great American Bash this summer and will include the next 20 PLEs over the next several years, airing them simultaneously live across the country.

This will bring the entirety of the television programming for NXT, which “showcases WWE’s hottest up-and-coming Superstars,” to The CW. The network already broadcasts the weekly NXT show on Tuesdays.


“WWE NXT has energized our Tuesday nights by consistently delivering a loyal and passionate fanbase to The CW every week,” Brad Schwartz, president of The CW, said in a statement. “Adding WWE NXT Premium Live Events to our schedule is a natural fit, providing one broadcast destination for audiences to watch all their favorite Superstars, storylines and championship matches.”

NXT, which began airing weekly in 2012, is less than two years into a five-year deal it signed with CW in October 2024 to broadcast its weekly programming.

“The CW has played an integral role in raising the profile of our up-and-coming Superstars, and we are excited to bring NXT Premium Live Events to broadcast television for the first time ever,” Shawn Michaels, WWE senior vice president of talent development creative, said in a statement.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #WWE #reaches #deal #broadcast #NXT #premium #live #events">Deadspin | WWE reaches deal with The CW to broadcast NXT premium live events  Jan 28, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque aka Triple H speaks during a press conference after the WWE Royal Rumble at the Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images   The WWE announced on Tuesday that it has reached a deal with The CW to broadcast all NXT premium live events exclusively on network going forward.  That deal is set to begin with The Great American Bash this summer and will include the next 20 PLEs over the next several years, airing them simultaneously live across the country.  This will bring the entirety of the television programming for NXT, which “showcases WWE’s hottest up-and-coming Superstars,” to The CW. The network already broadcasts the weekly NXT show on Tuesdays.  “WWE NXT has energized our Tuesday nights by consistently delivering a loyal and passionate fanbase to The CW every week,” Brad Schwartz, president of The CW, said in a statement. “Adding WWE NXT Premium Live Events to our schedule is a natural fit, providing one broadcast destination for audiences to watch all their favorite Superstars, storylines and championship matches.”   NXT, which began airing weekly in 2012, is less than two years into a five-year deal it signed with CW in October 2024 to broadcast its weekly programming.  “The CW has played an integral role in raising the profile of our up-and-coming Superstars, and we are excited to bring NXT Premium Live Events to broadcast television for the first time ever,” Shawn Michaels, WWE senior vice president of talent development creative, said in a statement.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #WWE #reaches #deal #broadcast #NXT #premium #live #events

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