James, Davis and Leonard create Dream Team at Paris Olympics
The Sporting Tribune's Mark Medina writes about the significance of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Kawhi Leonard joining forces.
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1. James, Davis and Leonard create Dream Team at Paris Olympics
The Sporting Tribune's Mark Medina writes about the significance of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Kawhi Leonard joining forces.
The NBA stars have usually represented two factions of the LA basketball fanbase.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis play for a Lakers franchise that has dominated the local landscape both with championships and prestige. Kawhi Leonard plays for a Clippers franchise eager to take away some of the Lakers’ championship hardware and fanbase.
That dynamic will change for at least this summer.
James, Davis and Leonard are among the various NBA stars that will compete on the U.S. Olympic team in the 2024 Paris Games. Paul George, James Harden and Austin Reaves didn’t make the cut, but they presumably could remain available as alternates after being named in he initial player pool. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue will remain on Steve Kerr’s coaching staff after also working as one of his assistants in last year’s FIBA World Cup.
From the opening ceremony on July 26 to the presumed gold-medal game on August 11, Team USA won’t just seek to win their fourth consecutive gold medal in the Summer Games both to maintain its global dominance and rectify last year’s semifinal loss to Germany. The team’s LA contingent will feature both star power and subplots worthy of any Hollywood production.
2. Murray makes game-winner as Lakers collapse in Game 2, 101-99
The Lakers blow a 20-point second half lead as the Denver Nuggets beat the Lakers for a 10th straight time to take a 2-0 series lead, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Rey Moralde.
What a shot. And what a meltdown.
The Lakers were up by 20 points, 68-48, in the third quarter. But the Nuggets kept chipping away and in the end, Jamal Murray took care of things at the buzzer.
That shot gave Denver a 101-99 win. The Lakers blew a golden opportunity to take a tied series back to Los Angeles.
LeBron James made back-to-back three-pointers to give the Lakers an 89-81 lead. But the Nuggets powered back as Michael Porter, Jr. was able to tie the game at 95 off a broken play. After Murray made a midrange jumper to tie the game at 99, James was able to get open for a three. He missed and it led to that game-winner by Murray.
Everything looked great for the Lakers for most of the game. D’Angelo Russell was under scrutiny yet again after he shot badly in Game 1. He bounced back nicely as he made seven three-pointers on his way to 23 points. Anthony Davis looked unstoppable as he made 14 of his first 15 shots; he finished with 32 points. LeBron James tried to take it home as he scored 12 of his 26 points in the fourth. But all of this wasn’t enough against Denver, who seemed to look inevitable as the final stanza went on.
3. Hawaiian pipeline gives US surfing star advantage at Olympics
Carissa Moore, five-time World Surf League champion, believes Pipeline is the closest wave to what she will face at the Olympics, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Jackson Thompson.
Surfers at the Paris Olympic won’t be surfing in France. They will compete off the coast of a village in Tahiti called Teahupo’o.
It’s a place known for some of the world’s heaviest waves, so heavy that the name of the village loosely translates to “Place of Skulls.”
Carissa Moore is one surfer who already has qualified with a distinct advantage. She lives an island away on Hawaii’s famous Pipeline wave.
The Pipeline, formally known as the Banzai Pipeline, is a wave caused by the shallows of three reefs located off the coast of Ehukai Beach Park on O’ahu. The wave often is higher than 12 feet, can reach as high as 20 feet and plays host to some of the most intense surfing competitions in the world.
Moore, a 31-year-old Honolulu native and five-time World Surf League champion, believes Pipeline is the closest wave to what she will face at the Olympics. She has spent the last several months taking advantage of the famous wave in her home state.
“The closest wave to the Olympic venue in Tahiti is Pipeline, so I just finished spending a few months practicing at that spot, so hopefully it will help me a little bit,” Moore said this week at the U.S. Olympics Media Summit.
4. Dodgers pitching staff will only get better this year
The Sporting Tribune's Doug Padilla writes about a Dodgers pitching staff that will get stronger as this season progresses.
It was a few years ago, following the end of an unsuccessful playoff run for the Dodgers, when a major league scout summed up the situation succinctly.
“Ran out of pitching,” the scout said as the Dodgers limped into the offseason without a World Series appearance that was expected.
The assessment was delivered matter of factly and in one drawn-out word: “ranoutofpitching.” There was no shoulder movement, although you could see the shrug. Nothing else was said, although you could hear his, “No surprise.”
Twice in the past 10 seasons, the Dodgers had enough late-season pitching to win a title. In 2017, they had a championship in their grasp, but it was the Houston Astros who banged on the back of plastic buckets and took it away. In 2020, the Dodgers landed their title, when they pitched their way past the Tampa Bay Rays.
5. Stone returns as Golden Knights down Stars in Game 1
Golden Knights captain Mark Stone made his controversial return with a bang, scoring the opening goal in the team’s 4-3 victory over the top-seeded Stars, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Will Despart.
That sound you just heard was Mark Stone’s theme music.
The Golden Knights’ captain made his return after nearly two months, scoring the team’s first goal just moments into the series opener as the Knights took a 4-3 victory in game one.
Stone, whose timely return at the start of the playoffs is again the subject of controversy, announced his presence with the opening goal as if he was one of pro wrestling’s great heels.
“It was a big goal for us to get off to a good start on the road, that’s key,” Stone said after the game. “The power play clutched up for us, got two big goals for us. (We wanted to) get off to that good start, get the chemistry there.
“Obviously, I haven’t played a lot of hockey in the last two months. I’ve been on the ice, but the games are different. I’m not just jumping into a preseason game in September. I’m playing a playoff game in April, so you got to be ready.”
6. Oilers dominate the Kings in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs
The Los Angeles Kings lose Game 1 to the Edmonton Oilers, 7-4, but will have another chance to face them in Game 2 on Wednesday, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Fredo Cervantes.
The Kings are set to begin their quest for the Stanley Cup as they face the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the playoffs for the third year in a row. Last season, the Oilers claimed victory over the Kings in six games. However, the Kings are determined to turn the tables and get their revenge this time around.
In game one, Los Angeles opted for the 11-year veteran goaltender Cam Talbot, but he did not have the start he wanted. The Edmonton team launched a strong attack on the Kings’ defense and scored two quick goals in the first period. The Kings were aware that they needed to avoid penalties against a team like the Oilers, but unfortunately, after Zach Hyman scored the first goal, Kings’ Pierre-Luc Dubois was called for a penalty. This gave the Oilers another opportunity, and they were able to capitalize on the penalty with a goal from Adam Henrique.
Edmonton had a dominant performance against the Kings, winning 7-4 and taking the lead in the series. Zach Hyman played exceptionally well, and his style of play inspired his teammates to perform at their best. The team is now looking to win their third consecutive playoffs series against the Kings.
7. Video of the Day
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8. Ticket Time
Here are the “get in” prices for tickets if you’re thinking about going to a game today:
6:38 p.m. – Orioles at Angels – $3
7:00 p.m. – Mavericks at Clippers (Game 2) – $64
9. On the Air
Here are the game times and television channels for professional teams in the region today:
3:45 p.m. – Dodgers at Nationals – SportsNet LA
6:38 p.m. – Orioles at Angels – Bally Sports West
7:00 p.m. – Mavericks at Clippers (Game 2) – TNT
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