The Lakers know they have issues but are they still able to fix them?
The Sporting Tribune's Mark Medina writes the Lakers know what they have to do to get better but the big question is can they do it?
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1. The Lakers know they have issues but are they still able to fix them?
The Sporting Tribune's Mark Medina writes the Lakers know what they have to do to get better but the big question is can they do it?
Instead of receiving perhaps the best Christmas gift aside from an NBA championship, the Lakers received a lump of coal in the form of a sluggish 126-115 loss to the hated Boston Celtics on Monday.
Instead of spreading holiday cheer, Lakers star LeBron James delivered somber news as he analyzed the state of the franchise.
“I don’t think we’re healthy right now,” James said. “I don’t think we’re where we want to be to compete against the top teams until we get better and better.”
James said those words in the locker room after accidentally bumping his left knee into the back of Celtics guard Jaylen Brown with 4:02 left in the second quarter. After that incident that James called “a freak play,” both Brown and James lay motionless for several moments before standing up. After sitting on the bench, James checked back in at the 2:41 mark.
Though Lakers coach Darvin Ham called James “a soldier” for staying in the game, the Lakers star hardly played at his best in an NBA record 18th Christmas Day game. He finished with 16 points on 5-for-14 shooting along with nine rebounds, eight assists, three turnovers and prolonged pain.
“It’s still here. My knee is a little sore right now,” James said. “The best thing is finally the schedule is in our favor with two days before we have to play again.”
2. Raiders’ defense smothers Chiefs in 20-14 road win
Raiders score two defensive TDs in a span of seven seconds en route to beating defending Super Bowl champions on Christmas Day, writes The Sporting Tribune’s W.G. Ramirez.
Antonio Pierce did his best to get through his postgame interview on national television, but his emotions were much too strong.
With an effort that may have given their interim coach the best Christmas gift he could ask for, the Las Vegas Raiders delivered a 20-14 win in Kansas City, stopping the Chiefs from clinching the AFC West while keeping their own playoff hopes alive.
In the process, the Raiders may have nudged Pierce a bit closer to having the interim tag removed.
“AP did an awesome job all week of preparing us,” said Las Vegas quarterback Aidan O’Connell, who finished 9 of 21 for 62 yards. “He showed us intensity early on in the week how much he wanted this game and how much it would take. It was a testament to AP and the entire staff.”
The Raiders’ defense scored a pair of touchdowns in a span of seven seconds during the second quarter, while continuing to frustrate reigning NFL MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes the entire game en route to improving to 4-3 under Pierce and since owner Mark Davis fired Josh McDaniels on Oct. 31.
“We talked about it all week,” Pierce said. “Ill-intent, violence, physicality, pain – enough is enough. One of our mantras (was) by any means necessary. Hats off to our defense and defensive staff.”
3. The Thompson sisters: The next great sibling duo
The Thompson sisters will step on the field together in 2024 for Angel City FC, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Kamran Nia.
Serena and Venus Williams. Nneka and Chiney Ogumike. Sam and Kristie Mewis. American sports have had numerous siblings grace the fields of their respective games. They have left behind (or are currently leaving) legacies that few players will match. But there are sisters in Southern California who may be up to the task: Alyssa and Gisele Thompson.
Alyssa Thompson took the soccer world by storm in her rookie season. At 18 years old, her speed and skill were difficult to defend. Thompson regularly made runs behind the opponent’s back lines using her quick speed. She drew attention in matches, creating space for her teammates.
In Alyssa’s NWSL debut, she scored a goal from outside of the box after using a fake to create space. The goal was one of four she scored during her rookie season, often displaying remarkable skill.
4. Golden Knights lead 2023’s top sports stories for Southern Nevada
The Sporting Tribune's W.G. Ramirez reveals his Top 10 sports stories from Southern Nevada in 2023 to close an historic year.
As we reach the end of 2023, it’s time for so many journalists to reveal their top stories of the calendar year. Be it nationally, locally, or ones that had a personal impact on them.
With 100% full disclosure, I must say that it’d be unlikely to find anyone else with the same Top 10 I have, and yet their list would be every bit as right as mine.
There is no right or wrong in my eyes, as long as you can back up your arguments.
The following is not what I think should be on everyone else’s Top 10 sports stories list for Southern Nevada, but more so what I feel as a Las Vegan since 1972 meant the most to me this year.
So as I present my Top 10 sports stories for Southern Nevada, I wish each and every one of you a joyous holiday season and a prosperous 2024, when I’m hoping we’ll have just as exciting a year.
5. Chargers fight not enough against Bills in 24-22 loss
The Chargers are officially eliminated from playoff contention after losing to the Buffalo Bills, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Fernando Ramirez.
Interim head coach Giff Smith said leading up to the game against the Buffalo Bills that the team would show fight, which they did. They showed heart as well, but it wasn’t enough.
The 24-22 Bills victory was much closer than many believed it would be. One of the main reasons was the change in coach would give the Chargers a jolt, which it did.
“Everybody did a great job,” Smith said. “I think the team responded to the message that the organization and the staff had. There are no moral victories in any of this, but they really achieved fighting for each other and knowing what that feels like. I thought they did that.”
6. Las Vegas Bowl: From surviving to thriving and a bright future
The Sporting Tribune's Steve Carp writes Northwestern's win over Utah is the latest chapter in the growth of the Las Vegas Bowl.
It’s always nice to see new faces along with old friends.
Which is what the gathering at Allegiant Stadium was Saturday. As locals were navigating the under-constructed streets of Las Vegas trying to get their last-minute Christmas shopping done, a bunch of visitors from Salt Lake City and the Chicagoland area dropped in for three-plus hours of football as Utah and Northwestern squared off in the Las Vegas Bowl.
It wasn’t exactly aesthetically pleasing. But the guys from Evanston did enough things right to come away with the Rossi Ralenkotter Trophy, 14-7.
7. Odds and Ends presented by Circa Sports
Here are some odds at Circa Sports if you’re thinking about placing a wager today:
8. Ticket Time presented by Golden Gate
Here are the “get in” prices for tickets if you’re thinking about going to a game today:
7:30 p.m. – Hornets at Clippers – $25
9. On the Air presented by The D Las Vegas
Here are the game times and television channels for professional teams in the region today:
6:00 p.m. – Guaranteed Rate Bowl (UNLV vs. Kansas) – ESPN
7:30 p.m. – Hornets at Clippers – Bally Sports SoCal
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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