As the 2023–24 NBA season approaches with training camps just around the corner, there are a few high-profile situations that still have no timeline or clarity on how they’ll play out. Among them is the ongoing discussion over a potential Damian Lillard trade, which has linked the Trail Blazers and Heat for months now.
While Portland and Miami don’t appear to have taken significant steps forward in discussions thus far, the Heat remains the favorite to acquire Lillard via trade, though the timeline is very much up in the air.
Author: Michael
Missy Elliott’s “Lose Control” blared over the sound system of an empty Barclays Center, bouncing off the venue’s 19,000 empty seats. The Timeless Torches, the fan-favorite dance group for the Liberty, lined up for rehearsals hours before New York was set to host Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi and the Mercury earlier this season. These dancers aren’t your typical pro sports cheerleaders—all the members are over 40 years old, the oldest in her 80s.
Forty names, games, teams and minutiae making news in college football, where Michigan State appears to have suddenly won the First to Fire:
First Quarter: Deion’s Great Expectations | Second Quarter: Coaches As Instigators | Third Quarter: The Unranked Unbeatens
Fourth Quarter: The First Blockbuster Saturday of the Season
The first three weeks had their charms—some upsets, some drama, plenty of Coach Prime. But now it’s time for the first huge week of 2023, with seven big games all over the map.
Browns running back Nick Chubb suffered a “significant” season-ending knee injury during the second quarter of Monday night’s 26-22 loss to the Steelers, according to coach Kevin Stefanski.
Rams coach Sean McVay said general manager Les Snead has spoken with “a handful of teams” about a trade for running back Cam Akers, and “that’s the direction that we’re headed.
Good morning, I’m Dan Gartland. All Monday Night Football games should start as early as last night’s Panthers-Saints matchup.
In today’s SI:AM:
📈 NFL power rankings
🟠 A season-altering injury for the Browns
🏈 What the Panthers need from Bryce Young
Wainwright turns back the clock
Nobody really cares about pitcher wins anymore, but try telling that to Adam Wainwright.
With a vintage performance last night in St. Louis, Wainwright became the fifth active pitcher to record 200 wins in his career. And he did it in the nick of time.
Historically speaking, it’s a tough road for 0–2 teams to make the playoffs.
As for reaching the Super Bowl? Only the 1993 Cowboys, 2001 Patriots and ’07 Giants have won it all after dropping their first two games. And it should be noted Dallas was without Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith, who held out for two contests before returning, and helping Dallas to a 12–4 record.
This year, eight teams have started with two consecutive defeats. How many of them have hope of getting back in the race? We rank them from least to most likely.
8.
Colorado State coach Jay Norvell doesn’t think there was any malice in Henry Blackburn’s hit that sent Travis Hunter to the hospital.
Hunter suffered an absolutely brutal hit during the Buffaloes–Rams game this past week, and will now miss several weeks after the blow to his midsection.
The hit received extreme criticism because Hunter appeared to be completely defenseless when Blackburn lowered the boom.
An absolute cheap shot by Colorado State leaves Travis Hunter sidelined with an injury
Colorado State classless early
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After witnessing substantially lower scoring games than expected in the opening week of the 2023 season, oddsmakers made significant changes to their projections in Week 2.
In fact, the drastic line adjustments resulted in only one game closing with a point total above 50 points. That honor, which belonged to the Chiefs-Jaguars matchup, resulted in the lowest scoring game of the week as both clubs combined for only 26 points.
On terms of side wagering, road teams are winning straight-up (SU) at a 60-percent clip to start the season.
Rams running back Cam Akers was surprisingly inactive for Sunday’s game against the 49ers, which apparently took the running back by surprise.
Shortly after news broke that Akers would not dress out for the Rams, he posted on social media, “I’m just as confused as everybody else. I’m blessed though.”
On Monday, coach Sean McVay said general manager Les Snead had spoken with “a handful of teams” about potential trades involving Akers, adding that “that’s the direction that we’re headed” in regard to the running back’s status with the team.