Tag: Steph Curry

Three ways Edwards can go from very good to elite

Calling the Timberwolves star the “Face of the NBA” is exaggerated, but it doesn’t mean he can’t get there

In today’s world of sports, there aren’t too many leagues that market their stars like the NBA does. For so long, the league has had LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant (among others) being the marquee players to lean on, with James having the “Face of the NBA” title for the majority of the time he’s played. As those players enter the twilight of their careers, the media and fans are longing for a fresh face, with Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards getting a big push for the crown. As much as people want to give Edwards this title, it has to be earned, not given, and judging off of how things have ended for Minnesota the last two seasons (getting sacked in the Western Conference finals in five games), details show there’s a long way to go before he can be recognized as someone the rest of the league can follow. Having said that, the assumption is there’s plenty of time to grow, as Edwards is only 23-years-old. Even with that in his favor, it’s hard to see much improvement if he can’t make a few aspects a bigger part of his game. With the depth of the conference, there’s no guarantee of team success, but improving on these things should give Edwards and the Timberwolves a better chance.

More Consistency On Defense

With the raw athletic talent Edwards is blessed with, he has the ability to be one of the best on-ball defenders in the NBA, and glimpses of that potential has shown on the court. An example of this was seen in Game 3 of the conference finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. With Minnesota down 2-0 in the series, they needed a spark from their star player, and Edwards accomplished that by putting pressure on the Thunder ball handlers, which led to creating turnovers and fast break buckets. The issue is it’s not consistent, and like many of the ball-dominant players in basketball, Edwards is guarding someone who isn’t the other team’s best offensive player, in an attempt to rest on the defensive end. While defense is more of an afterthought these days, the fact still remains this is the part of the game that should never slack. If Edwards is the leader and franchise player, he’ll have to understand everyone else on the team follows his lead. If he’s not bringing energy, that can (and probably will) rub off on his teammates. Setting the tone on defense brings positive energy, and that must become closer to the norm if the best version of Edwards is going to show.

Mid-Range, Mid-Range, Mid-Range

It’s understood analytics says the three-pointer and layup are the best ways to score, but the proven product, no matter what statistics say or the era basketball is played in, is the mid-range game. So much of the offense can open up with an efficient, 15 to 17-foot jumper. Edwards hasn’t really shown the ability to operate from the mid-range, and because of that, his game becomes boom or bust. Sure, Edwards led the NBA in three-pointers made this season (320), and have games where he hit seven or eight of them, but there are also contests where he goes 1-9 from deep (Game 2 of the WCF). If Edwards is looking for someone he can look at as an example of what a mid-range game can open up, the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is available. All Gilgeous-Alexander did is win the league-MVP this year, and everything he does originates from the mid-range. Simply put, players can be successful without listening to what analytics say, and there hasn’t been many players who went wrong with having a consistent arsenal from in-between the three-point stripe and the basket.

Move Without The Ball

So many of the players in today’s game are ball-dominant, meaning the ball has to be in their hands if they’re going to have the most impact on the game. What makes Curry unique (and lethal at the same time) is he’s just as dangerous moving without the ball as he is with the ball in his possession. Most of these ball-dominant players will pass the ball, only to stand at the same spot he just gave the ball up from, expecting to get it right back. Edwards isn’t quite that bad, but this is an area that can use improvement. The Timberwolves do have other players who can operate the offense and handle the ball. While this could look good schematically, Edwards would have to turn that responsibility over and trust the adjustment. While he is dynamic in getting to his spots, the teams Minnesota plays against know that also, and they’re going to have defenses designed to get the ball out of Edwards’ hands. So often, it comes down to who can stay a step ahead of their opponent, and creating opportunities for others with movement would be a great counter.

Bonus: Stop Complaining!

Breaking news: Society loves to complain about damn near everything, and the NBA is no different in that regard. For Edwards, this is true on two fronts. The first involves him voicing his displeasure about seeing double-teams. He’ll have to realize he’s not even close to the first player to see multiple defenders, and he won’t be the last. The great players were able to deal with those coverages and figure it out. Edwards, if he wants to reach the elite level, will have to do the same. The second front is, well, what everyone complains about, officiating. For anyone who has watched Timberwolves games lately, there aren’t a lot of minutes that go by without hearing Edwards complain about a “missed” call, or one that went against him. As hard as this is to do for most people altogether, he has to find away to get the officiating out of his focus, and concentrate on the things that are in his control. Getting tied up with the refs doesn’t benefit anyone involved, and the constant complaining won’t change anything. Just play ball, and the rest will take care of itself.

These four steps could help Edwards get to a place where he’s the next face of the league, but all of them are on the court, during games. The most important step is what happens off the court, which is a change in his mindset. He’ll have to learn being athletic and working on just offense isn’t enough. What separates the good from the elite is the mental part, and the ability to play chess, when others are playing checkers. Again, all of this is being said with the understanding Edwards is only 23. So there is time, and he is already pretty good as it is. Now, it’s time to take the next steps, those that are critical for Minnesota’s and his success going forward. Then, and only then, would conversations of Edwards being the new face have substance.

It’s time for the game show that’s taking over the sports world

These teams face many questions after getting eliminated from the NBA’s conference semifinals.

In sports, every team has stuff they have to address after a season of games. Some have more questions to answer than others, but the goal is to be in the best position to compete for a title in the next campaign. For teams in the NBA, there seems to be a point where those decisions hit a critical stage, and that’s if said team is eliminated from the playoffs after the conference semifinals. With that in mind, it’s time to play “Run It Back or Break It Up?,” the game where we decide whether the squad in question is better off keeping things together for another run, or blowing things up to start over. There are four teams who have major evaluations to conduct after being bounced out. As this game moves on, I’ll decide what I think should happen with the clubs going forward (your feedback is strongly encouraged as well). Without further or do, it’s time to introduce the contestants:

New York Knicks

If we are to listen to Knicks fans and a good amount of the media outlets in the northeast, they would have us believe the sky is falling with their team, and losing to the eighth-seeded Miami Heat in six games could certainly qualify for a disappointing finish. The reality is not many people had New York getting to this point in the first place, and until the team started to make moves in the regular season, they were seen as somewhat of a laughing stock. After signing point guard Jalen Brunson to a long-term contract last summer, large numbers of NBA followers (including myself) questioned why the Knicks would make such a move. Brunson would go on to give a resounding answer why he was brought to NYC, forcing some of those naysayers to call the acquisition the best signing of the year. In other words, there’s more reason to be optimistic than pessimistic in New York.

Having said that, there are hard choices for the Knicks to make if they want to continue the ascension. They found a gem in Brunson, but the rest of the roster has shown significant chunks of inconsistent play, particularly forwards Julius Randle and RJ Barrett. To answer the question, I believe they should run it back with a couple of caveats. Barrett caught a lot of criticism from the masses, and it was much deserved based on his poor shooting against the Heat. From my evaluation, he looked like a player who lost confidence, and the moments got the best of him. If there’s a next time at this stage, Barrett should be better prepared. The other caveat has to do with Randle, because there’s rumblings about trading the league’s Most Improved Player in 2021. That’s an option, but who would be the other trade partner? Of course, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard has been mentioned as a potential target, but that wouldn’t come cheap. A trade for Lillard would probably gut the team of any depth they had before a potential deal, resulting in more heartache for the Knicks and their fans. All that considered, it’s probably best for New York to stay intact for now.

Decision: Run It Back

Philadelphia 76ers

Unlike the expectations for the Knicks, the 76ers were looked at as a team that could take the next step, with that being an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals. Up until a few days ago, there was reason to believe that would happen. Philly had the newly-crowned MVP in center Joel Embiid, a former MVP in guard James Harden that showed signs of that form, and they had a 3-2 series lead over the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics with a closeout opportunity at home. That’s when disaster struck, as the 76ers collapsed in the fourth quarter of Game 6, and followed that up with a blowout loss in Game 7. The more things change, the more they stay the same, and in this case, it’s Philly who once again came up short at the most critical moment.

So where do the 76ers go from here? The answer to that is anyone’s guess, but here’s what we do know. Under the watch of head coach Doc Rivers, this is the third straight season the team has went out in the conference semifinals, and Embiid should no longer get a pass on the blame (that’s for the people who want to find other places point fingers). He and Harden have a detailed history of disappearing over and over again, and it’s apparent this current batch of players has reached the ceiling. Therefore, it’s probably time to see another shift in strategy for Philly, and judging off of Tuesday’s move to relieve Rivers from his head coaching duties, the 76ers agree with this settlement. Don’t be surprised is Harden is the next to leave. In fact, Embiid and guard Tyrese Maxey are probably the only ones who would probably be considered “untouchable,” and everyone else is for sale. I don’t know if this is still considered part of the “Trust The Process” era, but the time to end the whole thing has arrived, and is probably overdue.

Decision: Break It Up

Phoenix Suns

Before diving into the state of the Suns, lets give full disclosures. Phoenix was already on the way to a steep decline. Back in 2021, they had a 2-0 lead on the Milwaukee Bucks before losing four straight in the NBA Finals. When that occurred, the feeling that ran through my thought process was this group of Suns players would never have as good of a title opportunity as they had at that moment. Yes, Phoenix had the best regular season record in the league the next season, but imploded in a lifeless Game 7 loss at home to the Dallas Mavericks in the semifinals. With the team feeling desperate for a championship, the Suns decided to go all-in, trading with the Brooklyn Nets to acquire forward Kevin Durant. The result was a big four that added Durant to the trio of Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton, but not much else behind that. The lack of depth and defense was exposed in their loss to the Denver Nuggets in this year’s conference semifinals. Yes, I know Paul was injured (which is the case most playoff runs), and Ayton missed Game 6, but there’s not much reason to believe that would have made a difference in the result.

The other disclosure is there’s an understanding Phoenix doesn’t have much choice but to Run It Back, because they’re pretty much stuck with what they have. There are no assets to trade, and not much money to bring free agents in. That doesn’t mean the Suns aren’t trying to change things, and the release of head coach Monty Williams verifies that. Whoever takes Williams’ place won’t have much to work with. Durant and Paul will be a year older, and they have already shown signs of gassing out during the playoffs. Maybe Ayton can start to show more signs of dominance, but it’s questionable where the hope of that happening is. This is my way of saying it’s probably better for Phoenix to tear down, but because of the top-end talent they do possess, they’ll believe they have a chance to bring a title to the desert.

Decision: Break It Up (but I know they’ll Run It Back)

Golden State Warriors

Out of the four teams being discussed, the Warriors are probably the hardest to dissect. Golden State has won four titles since Steve Kerr became the head coach before the 2014-15 season, with a core that includes Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. After getting eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers in six games, questions about the end of the dynasty are circulating around the NBA and sports media airwaves. While Curry, Thompson and Green have met the challenges and doubts more often than not, the signs of age and years worth of battles taking their toll stuck out like a sore thumb. All season, even through the Warriors’ struggles on the road, they got the benefit of the doubt because of their championship pedigree. The combination of the Lakers’ depth, and their own shots not falling, solidified Golden State’s first series loss against a Western Conference opponent in Kerr’s tenure.

It’s widely understood Curry is going nowhere, but the same can’t be said with as much certainty for Thompson and Green. The other splash brother has an expiring contract, and Green can opt out from his current deal this summer. Even the general manager, Bob Myers, might be on the way out. If Myers is gone, the person who takes over will have a monumental task to retool around Curry. A good place to start is the inside positions, because L.A.’s forward/center, Anthony Davis, destroyed Golden State in the paint. Many times before, the Warriors were able to overcome the lack of height with their pinpoint shooting from distance, but not this time. Even with all of the doubts and questions, I can’t help but believe Golden State will tune things up for one more run at a championship, with a lot of the same cast of characters.

Decision: Run It Back

Defense is still king, no matter what changes in sports

Advertising and marketing tells us it’s all about the offense, but defense is still the key if championships are to be won

Most of us know what it’s like to open up a print newspaper and see all of the different sections within it. There’s sports, entertainment, metro, business, politics and life (among others topics) being covered up by the main page introducing the name of the paper. As time has moved on, the printed newspaper became smaller, and the sections have been combined to cut down on the cost of printing. In a way, the newspaper reflects how life is today, and when it comes to sports and entertainment, those two sections are about as joined at the hip as it gets. Because of the partnership, leagues and broadcast stations prioritize getting as many eyes on their product as possible, and promoting offense has become the chief way to do so. As offense has become engrained in the DNA of the viewer, defense is almost an afterthought, but even after all of these years, defending is still the most important item if titles are going to be won. Don’t take my word for it, just look at history.

Let’s start with the NFL. If a person went on YouTube right now, they could find many videos that showed the league’s greatest hits from back in the day. In other words, defense was promoted almost as much as the offense, but as we know, that’s not the case anymore. Now, rules that make the big hit almost non-existent are in-place (flags fly if a quarterback is even touched), and everything that’s been legislated into the game gives the offense all kinds of advantages. Even with these changes, no team wins a Super Bowl without making at least a few big plays on defense. The Kansas City Chiefs just won this year’s title, and of course, QB Patrick Mahomes was the one who got all of the accolades. No one is trying to take away from the greatness of Mahomes, but he didn’t even reach 200 yards passing in the game. The Chiefs were outplayed by the Philadelphia Eagles for a huge part of the contest, but a defensive touchdown, in the form of a fumble return by linebacker Nick Bolton, kept Kansas City within striking distance until the offense got on track. It definitely helps to score points, but if a team can’t stop anybody, that will come back to haunt a squad at the wrong moment.

Next, the NBA is on the list. In a sports world where offense has become everything, this league might be the biggest example of that. It’s not uncommon to see teams score around 130 points in a game these days. Compare that to games played in the 90s, where scoring 100 points was considered an offensive explosion. Remember when the hard foul was allowed to make players who dared to come into the lane for a layup pay for their efforts? Not anymore. Now, it’s an automatic ejection if a foul is deemed too aggressive. Hand-checking has been taken out, and overall, defense is optional. With that said, the defense (magically) makes a difference between winning a title and getting close to that status. Games start to slow down in the playoffs, and they’re not as wide-open as they were earlier in the season. Things get a little tighter, and it’s not enough to be good offensively. Take a look at the Golden State Warriors when they defeated the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals in 2022. We know about Steph Curry and his shooting ability, but they were third in points allowed per game through the season. The Warriors probably don’t win if the defense wasn’t as good as it was. Just because defense has become optional at times doesn’t mean it can’t be played at a high level. Golden State, and the other teams that have won in the last decade, prove this theory.

Finally, lets take a look at MLB. The analytics bug is part of the driving force behind the offensive craze, but it might be the biggest part in baseball. All we hear about is launch angle, upper-cut swing and power numbers. Rules to get rid of the shift (overloading fielders to one side), along with smaller dimensions in MLB’s stadiums, have combined to allow home runs at record rates. Yes, power numbers are way up, but teams have become dependent on the long ball, leading to more strikeouts. What happens in the playoffs is pitching staffs make adjustments to keep the ball out of the sweet spots the hitters love, and if a squad can’t manufacture runs with singles, doubles and sacrifice bunts, runs don’t get scored. Pitching and defense is still the way to go. An example of this is the Houston Astros, who won the World Series in 2022. In defeating the Philadelphia Phillies to win the title, the Astros only gave up three runs in the final three games, including a combined no-hitter in Game 4. A catch at the wall by centerfielder Chas McCormick preserved the win in Game 5, and a young pitching staff came of age throughout the journey. It goes to show winning 10-9 every game isn’t sustainable if a team wants to win a championship.

There’s a phrase that says offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships. No matter how much people want to say that isn’t true anymore, too many cases say otherwise. Maybe this is the way to think about today’s times in sports: Offense can get you to the hill, but defense gets you over the top. Media and leagues encourage offense, which provides the entertainment value. When it’s winning time, it’s a good thing these games aren’t played on a ratings chart.

Bothersome trends that need to change in sports media

Over the years, a lot has transpired within the world of media. Depending on who is asked, the changes are looked at as a positive or negative, but either way, there’s no denying the foundation of journalism has been left for questioning from all directions. The days of being accurate have been replaced by the race to get the story out first, and this transformation in particular has led to lots of sloppy reporting at the least. With the evolution of social media, maybe this was something that couldn’t have been avoided, but people in the business aren’t helping the matter either. Combine the people with all of the aforementioned issues, and it equals a mess where items such as distrust, flip-flopping and the appetite for click bait have become normalized, especially in sports media. Another result from the monstrosity are garbage trends that have also become commonplace, and people can directly affect these for the positive. They just choose not to, and viewers (and/or listeners) don’t have to look any further than the discussions about the NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics.

One of these trends are to put the spotlight on the losing players and teams when results come in. Let’s look at the Monday morning quarterbacking after Game 1 this past Thursday night. It’s a fact the Warriors entered the fourth quarter up by 12, then ended the game losing by the same margin. As expected, the conversation started with accessing what Golden State did wrong, totally ignoring what the Celtics did right to turn things around. After all, it was Boston who scored 40 points in the fourth quarter by hitting practically every shot they threw up. It was also the Celtics who were able to lock the Warriors up defensively, holding them to 16 points in the final 12 minutes to win the game 120-108. One more thing, the trio of Marcus Smart, Al Horford and Derrick White combined to hit 15 three-pointers in the game. Considering Golden State forced a terrible shooting night from Jayson Tatum in the process, an argument can be made in favor of the Dubs getting everything they were looking for on defense. Tip the cap to Smart, Horford and White for stepping up and knocking down shots. With society, the focus seems to stay on the negative and the topics where the most drama is apparent. It’s time to start giving credit where it’s due, and Boston deserves all of it in this case.

Before the series started, I checked a good amount of the websites and networks (including ESPN, CBS Sports, Yahoo! Sports and FOX Sports) to see who the “experts” had winning the series. The majority (so did I) had the Warriors winning in six or seven games. Fast forward to the result of Game 1, and it was predictable to hear the hot take artists and media members who picked Golden State start to go back on their original views. One would have thought the Celtics won the series in a one-and-done scenario, and Steph Curry lost his chance to build on his legacy based off this game. As funny (and deplorable) as it was to hear people panic due to fear of being wrong on their predictions, it couldn’t beat the sense of calm after the Warriors won Game 2 107-88 Sunday night. Order was restored come Monday morning, and so was the mass-entrance back on the bandwagon. I will never understand why people media members and fans alike make these predictions when they know they’re scrambling the minute things don’t go as planned. Unless there’s an injury to a crucial player, there’s no reason to panic. Ride with the pick until proven right or wrong, and please don’t start making excuses if and when those picks go down the drain.

Because most of the sports media apparently forgets the NBA playoff format is composed of best-of-seven series, one result is enough to bring up the wide range of convenience arguments. What I mean is if said media personality is proven right, they don’t want to hear excuses from the people who was on the losing side. Let them be the ones on the short end, and they’re using those same excuses to justify why. The low-hanging fruit of officiating (among other items) is what catches the wrath of the scorned loser in most cases, but it’s amazing how these arguments go away when they’re proven right. Breaking news…nobody is going to get everything right. Unless your name is God or Goddess, perfection isn’t in anyone’s future, and it’s okay to admit when things don’t work in your favor. Instead, we have an epidemic of excuse-making and pride getting in the way, and it’s beyond sad.

Notice the title mentions all of the above as trends, which means they’re not definite. Nothing has to become permanent because people have the choice to make it better or worse. Things in sports media (and life in general) are the way they are because the men and women in the industry allow it, and the discussion about the NBA Finals underline where these issues lay. While social media can be looked at as a cesspool of negativity at times, it is good for calling out those in the profession on their BS. Even with that, the change from the thirst for drama, flip-flopping and convenience arguments have to happen from within. Until that happens, there’s no reason to believe these trends wouldn’t continue.

Time to catch up in the world of sports, BOFA style

It’s been a crazy last couple of weeks for me (nothing bad), but through it all, I’ve been able to keep up with the happenings in the world of sports. A lot has transpired since the last time I wrote, and to get everything on one article is a daunting task. Luckily, I think I have found a way to do just that, by doing a brief rundown of the events that have been in the forefront of the 24/7 news cycle. So without further or do, let’s discuss these events evoking different emotions, the Breath of Fresh Air way.

Mindset matters, or does it?: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who is widely projected to be the first player taken in the NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, made news when he said he didn’t need football to feel worthy in an interview with Sports Illustrated. Lawrence also said he doesn’t play with a “huge chip” on his shoulders. Of course, leave it up to the Twitter cesspool and hot take media to dissect these comments and try to find where this could be a negative in picking Lawrence as a franchise cornerstone.

This “story” isn’t any different from most of the other ones that come out when NFL Draft time gets close, which are the ones designed to knit-pick and drudge up a perceived issue that can be looked at as some sort of a red flag. First, the hypocrisy of people strikes again, because all I keep hearing is we want people to be honest and authentic about their outlook on life and the sport they play. Here’s a player who is doing that, and look at how he’s being picked apart. It’s totally ridiculous seeing how people change up when they get exactly what they think they’re looking for. Secondly, can someone explain to me what is wrong with Lawrence’s comments? A player can be successful without being maniacal about the work ethic, and not everyone has that type of drive displayed by Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant, etc. Lawrence has won at the highest level in both high school and college. It may take a little bit with the Jaguars, but I can definitely see him being a part of something special on a well-rounded team. Remember this. Even though the razor-sharp focus of Jordan, Brady and Bryant are celebrated, they didn’t win their titles alone either.

Buffets served up by Chef Curry: On the NBA front, nothing has captivated the masses as much as the recent hot streak Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry went on. Before cooling off in a 118-114 loss to the Washington Wizards Wednesday night, Curry had scored 30 or more in the 11 games prior. This included four games over 40 points and a 53-point explosion against the Denver Nuggets on April 12. This was a streak that hasn’t really been seen before in league history, and the fact Curry was hovering around 50% from three-point territory during the streak makes it that much more impressive. In fact, the stretch was so impressive, some said the sharpshooter should be right in the middle of MVP talk.

As hot as Curry was, I’m sorry for disappointing everyone (not really), but Curry shouldn’t be in the running for the league-MVP. I admit what he did in that 11-game period is nothing short of phenomenal, but even with this, the Warriors are still tied for ninth in the Western Conference standings. Also, an recent stretch shouldn’t erase what players have done all season on teams that are much more successful than Golden State is. Therefore, if you want to tell me Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid or even Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul are at the front of this list, I’ll definitely listen. Even though Curry has won the award twice, I don’t think this is the year for him to add a third. By the way, all of that MVP talk was mighty quiet the day after losing to the Wizards.

Greed continues to drive motives: While this might not be huge news in America, this sent shockwaves throughout the rest of the world. For context, the world’s most popular sport (by far) is soccer, so that earthquake of emotion we heard in the states was the uproar of fans, players and coaches when it was announced 12 of Europe’s most valuable franchises wanted to start a super league between them. The 12 teams included six from the English Premier League (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur), three from LaLiga (Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid) and three from Serie A (AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Juventus). The proposal from the so-called “rebel teams” was met with disdain at the least, the league died almost as soon as it started.

This is a monumental moment because billionaire owners trying to put more billions in their pocket were taken to task by the remaining teams in their respective leagues and the fans (I think they’re still protesting in England). It’s exactly what needs to happen, because if we’re to listen to these owners, they’re the first ones to say how much they value the fans. This attempted move says money is what they value the most, and that in and of itself isn’t some sort of a secret, but it was the blatant attempt at the money grab that shocked people the most. Now these same owners are apologizing because the fans called them out for their BS, and I’m glad to see this league fall flat. This should serve as a lesson for these leagues over here to not let the money crowd the judgement to the point of fan alienation.

The Nets are going to be the Nets: As the NBA playoffs get closer, one of the looming questions for fans and media concerns how far the Brooklyn Nets can go this year and beyond. Depending on who is asked, that answer goes anywhere between multiple championships to spectacular crash and burn. Ever since guard James Harden was traded to the team to join Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in mid-January, we really don’t have many answers as to how this will work with the Nets. For all but seven games, Durant, Harden and Irving haven’t been available together since that trade, and even when they have, it’s not like they’ve been overly dominant.

Here’s what we do know. The offensive firepower the Nets posses is potentially historic. Anytime three of the most dynamic players in the league get together, there’s no doubt scoring will be the least of their worries. As devastating as they can be offensively, they are just as bad defensively, and it’s safe to say Brooklyn will be in a lot of 130-125 shootouts. History says teams win championships, not individuals, and teams that do multiple things well, not just one, are who come out on top. At some point, the Nets have to stop somebody on defense, because even the most potent scorers go cold every once in a while. Plus, the durability of both Durant and Irving (along with their respective mindsets) are questionable, and Harden’s history of fading away in the playoffs is also in the spotlight. If you ask me, I think this won’t result in multiple titles. In fact, the Nets will be lucky if they get one, and if I’m wrong, best believe I’ll be back to eat my slice of humble pie.

A new best rivalry in Major League Baseball?: There are rivalries between teams and individuals that captivate people going back years, and it’s no different in MLB. When we think about the best rivalries in baseball, the one between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox is the one that sticks out the most. The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs can also strike some emotion between the team’s respective fan bases and cities. As the season gets ready to conclude the first month, a new one might be emerging as the best in the sport today, and it’s on the West Coast. I’m talking about the Los Angeles Dodgers and (wait for it) San Diego Padres.

Normally, it’s the Dodgers and San Francisco Giants who are known in as the best rivalry on the left coast, but the Padres have announced themselves as a player to be taken seriously. We know L.A. won the World Series last year, and they have dominated the National League West division for the last decade (although the Giants won three World Series titles in that span). Don’t tell San Diego that, because they’re coming for the throne. The Dodgers and Padres have played seven times already, and San Diego has won four of them, including three out of four in Dodger Stadium this past weekend. The teams will play 12 more times this season, and I’m trying to make sure I watch all of them. It’s chippy and spirited, and it’s a much-needed shot of adrenaline for a sport that can use a bunch of them.

A little entertainment news to close out: Of course, it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t talk about something outside of sports, and the topic of choice is the split between actress and songwriter Jennifer Lopez and former baseball player Alex Rodriguez. After being engaged to be married, the pair split up because of apparent trust issues J-Lo was having. In other words, there goes another power couple turning out to be not so powerful at the end, even though they are reportedly still friends (that’s a victory considering how most of these things end in a mess of drama).

Two thoughts come to mind in regards to this. One, I was actually surprised J-Lo and A-Rod wasn’t a couple before that time came. For whatever reason, I always felt they would end up together in some capacity. Two, with this breakup, people are acting like A-Rod is going down the drain, like he can’t sustain. Last time I checked, he’s a regular on ESPN and Fox Sports, appears on Shark Tank and just had a hand in purchasing the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves. Simply put, A-Rod will be okay. Don’t get me wrong…J-Lo is a beautiful woman, and I wouldn’t mind dating her, but if anyone can survive that breakup, it’s A-Rod.

Well, that’s what I’m breathing on for this article. I hope you enjoy this rundown of events as in my attempt to catch up with everyone else. I’ll make sure I stay on track better in the future.