James, Leonard bookend the latest Olympic Dream Team
The Sporting Tribune's Jackson Thompson talked to Grant Hill about LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard being on Team USA.
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1. James, Leonard bookend the latest Olympic Dream Team
The Sporting Tribune's Jackson Thompson talked to Grant Hill about LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard being on Team USA.
Two days after Lakers star LeBron James sunk a jumper to break the NBA’s all-time scoring record, he was approached with an offer to make even more history.
It was halftime of a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks at Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 9, 2023. James was inactive for rest when Grant Hill, the managing director of USA Basketball, came from the TNT broadcast booth and approached James on the sideline.
“I just went up to him and said ‘I need you in Paris,’ and he said ‘I’m in,’” Hill said at the U.S. Olympics Media Summit in New York on Wednesday.
Hill had secured a verbal commitment from the NBA’s newly minted all-time scorer to represent the U.S. in the 2024 Olympics, breaking James’ 12-year hiatus from the Games. James is now one of 12 players confirmed for the U.S. Olympics roster Wednesday, all of them NBA players and most of them all-stars.
2. Chargers update: Offensive vision, Ben Herbert impact, physicality expected
The Sporting Tribune's Fernando Ramirez on what the vision for Harbaugh and Roman is for the offense and Ben Herbert for conditioning the players.
Jim Harbaugh has been the Los Angeles Chargers coach for about three months. His coaching staff is complete, free agents are being signed and the draft is on the horizon.
One thing is certain: He has a vision for this team.
The new additions are mostly tied to either him, offensive coordinator Greg Roman or his brother, John. This means they understand his long-term plan.
“When you get to the point where the players know that they’re physical, they’re dominant, they’ve trained themselves to be there, in that place, then I won’t have to get up here and say anything, they won’t have to get up here and say anything,” Harbaugh said. “It’ll be what they do. We think we can get there.”
3. TST’s betting guide to the first round of the NBA Playoffs
The Sporting Tribune's Danny Burke shares his approach to handicapping the beginning stages of the NBA Playoffs.
It’s postseason time on the hardwood. The action begins this weekend and I’m here to get you ready with several wagers throughout round number one.
As always, make sure to shop the odds around the different sportsbooks you have available to yourself so you can guarantee the best price in your jurisdiction.
I won’t be previewing every series, per se – but I will be sharing my analysis of the ones that I am betting, or have strong leans on.
4. Dodgers fall to Nationals in matinee pitchers’ duel
The Dodgers lose their fourth straight series as their offense gets stymied again, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Grant Mona.
After a promising rebound game Tuesday, the Dodgers were shut out by Nationals and right-hander Jake Irvin, 2-0, on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.
Recent Dodgers call-up Landon Knack (0-1) along with relievers Alex Vesia and Michael Grove were not enough to slow down the Nationals, who only scored two first-inning runs.
Again, the Dodgers struggled on offense, scoring three runs or less for the fourth time in the past 10 days. The lineup was 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position and Shohei Ohtani (3 for 4) was the only one with a multi-hit game.
Irvin (1-1) baffled the Dodgers for six innings, allowing four hits and one walk in six innings and striking out six.
The Dodgers (12-9) have lost their last four series.
5. Angels rally late to take down Rays in dramatic fashion
Clutch hits from Anthony Rendon and Taylor Ward helped Los Angeles come from behind to seal the victory, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Holdenn Graff.
For the second straight day, late-game drama nearly cost the Angels in Tampa Bay. They held a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the eight before Amed Rosario would put the Rays on top with a clutch two-run blast. The Angels found a way to rally, however, as a game-tying single from Anthony Rendon in the top of the ninth would even the game at four. It was initially ruled a two-run single, but upon review Zach Neto was called out trying to score. It wouldn’t end up mattering thanks to another clutch knock from Taylor Ward, whose two-out single put Los Angeles back in front 5-4. They managed to hang on in the bottom of the frame for an impressive comeback W.
Starting the game for the Angels was Reid Detmers, who worked 5.1 innings and allowed one run across seven hits. He did a nice job of setting the tone and shutting down the Tampa Bay lineup throughout the early innings. On the offensive side of things, Mike Trout blasted his 8th homer of the season in the top of the first. Anthony Rendon and Luis Rengifo each had RBI hits as well to help the Angels open up a 3-1 lead by the sixth inning. It was a nice all-around effort and a good display of resiliency for Los Angeles, which avoided a second consecutive loss.
6. Golden Knights move to 3rd in Pacific with win over Blackhawks
The Golden Knights defeated the Blackhawks 3-1 in a game that epitomized mid-April hockey, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Will Despart.
When you play an 82-game regular season, it’s all but guaranteed there won’t be 82 classic games. Especially when you’re playing out the regular season.
That was obvious in Tuesday as the Golden Knights beat the eliminated Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 in a slow burning effort at T-Mobile Arena.
However, the game had larger implications for Knights. With the win, they took a one point lead on the Los Angeles Kings for third place in the Pacific Division with one game remaining for both teams.
The first 57 minutes were about as forgettable as you could imagine, but the closing minutes got a little hairy before an empty-net goal iced the game.
7. Video of the Day
8. Ticket Time
Here are the “get in” prices for tickets if you’re thinking about going to a game today:
7:00 p.m. – Ducks at Golden Knights – ESPN+ - $81
7:30 p.m. – Blackhawks at Kings –Bally Sports West – $65
9. On the Air
Here are the game times and television channels for professional teams in the region today:
10:10 a.m. – Angels at Rays – Bally Sports West
7:00 p.m. – Ducks at Golden Knights – ESPN+
7:30 p.m. – Blackhawks at Kings –Bally Sports West
10. The Arash Markazi Show presented by The Sporting Tribune
Listen to The Arash Markazi Show presented by The Sporting Tribune on The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio in Southern California, 98.5 The Bet in Las Vegas and the Hawaii Sports Radio Network 95.1 FM and 760 AM in Hawaii. You can also listen to the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play and Stitcher. You can also watch every Friday on BLEAV on FuboTV.
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