Completely happy Friday, everybody! You’ve made it by way of the final NFL-free week of the yr, and we now have a full slate of faculty soccer upcoming.
Let’s get proper to it.
Good morning to everybody however particularly to…
USATSI
THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS…
The Cavs are able to win proper now. Donovan Mitchell is the newest and largest piece of the puzzle. Cleveland acquired Mitchell in a blockbuster commerce with the Jazz that continues Cleveland’s ascension and confirms Utah’s rebuild. Listed below are the small print:
Cavaliers get:
Jazz get:
It is a big, big commerce for Cleveland. Mitchell, who turns 26 subsequent week, is an absolute star. He’s been an All-Star every of the final three seasons, and he has at the least 25 factors per recreation every of the previous two seasons. For what it’s value, the final Cavalier to common 25 factors per recreation in a season is LeBron James. Mitchell is even higher within the postseason: His profession 28.3 PPG within the playoffs is sixth all-time (min. 30 video games), simply barely behind James.
That’s the precise kind of backcourt scoring the Cavaliers want, writes NBA professional James Herbert. Credit score Cleveland for even attending to a spot the place it may purchase a star. In 2018-19, the Cavaliers went 19-63, tied for the second-worst file within the league. Since then, they’ve added…
- Darius Garland (fifth total in 2019 NBA Draft)
- Isaac Okoro (4th total in 2020 NBA Draft)
- Evan Mobley (third total in 2021 NBA Draft)
- Jarrett Allen (acquired from the Nets within the commerce that despatched James Harden from Houston to Brooklyn)
All of these gamers are 24 years outdated or youthful and, together with Mitchell, type a powerful core. Whereas neither Garland nor Mitchell are excellent defensively, the Mobley-Allen pairing defending the rim ought to assuage a few of these points. Right here’s how Twitter reacted to the commerce. Lastly, whereas Mitchell had lengthy been linked to the Knicks, New York truly made the smart move, opines NBA guru Brad Botkin.
… AND ALSO A GOOD MORNING TO RUSSELL WILSON
USATSI
Broncos Nation, let’s Trip… for the foreseeable future. Russell Wilson signed a five-year, $245-million extension that retains him in Denver by way of 2028.
- The deal consists of $165 million assured, behind solely Deshaun Watson ($230 million) and Kyler Murray ($189.5 million).
- Wilson, 33, has mentioned that he needs to play till he’s 45.
- Since getting into the league in 2012, Wilson ranks third in landing passes, second in wins and fifth in passer ranking amongst certified quarterbacks.
That is Wilson’s first yr in Denver. The Broncos haven’t made the playoffs since successful the Tremendous Bowl to cap the 2015 season. Wilson, in the meantime, made the playoffs in eight of his 10 seasons in Seattle, together with a Tremendous Bowl win within the 2013 season.
Honorable mentions
Not so honorable mentions
Faculty soccer Week 1: Pitt, PSU get wild wins; prime storylines for big weekend 🏈
Week 1 of the school soccer season obtained underway final night time and if final night time is any indication, we’re in for a wild experience.
First, let’s go over that loopy Penn State-Purdue end:
- With over eight minutes remaining and Penn State up 28-24, Sean Clifford threw a pick-six to Chris Jefferson.
- After three consecutive drives led to a punt, Purdue obtained the ball with 4:28 left and the possibility to run the clock out or add to its 31-28 lead.
- It did neither, punting after only one first down. And because of some oddly aggressive play-calling, Penn State had to make use of just one timeout.
- Then it was redemption time for Clifford, who engineered an eight-play, 80-yard drive capped by his landing toss to Keyvone Lee with 57 seconds to go.
Oh yeah, did I point out the Yard Brawl was superior, too? It was.
Now, what ought to we be in search of this weekend? Dennis Dodd has solutions, together with an enormous alternative for No. 7 Utah at Florida.
- Dodd: “Faculty soccer wants a Cinderella. An expanded playoff will most assuredly present it. To this point, Cincinnati is the closest factor to it after going 12-0 final season earlier than being dispatched by Alabama within the CFP. If Utah makes it into the Soccer 4 this season, it might be the third first-timer within the bracket within the final two years (Michigan and Cincinnati the others). That’s why the Pac-12 jokes and jabs can cease (or at the least be muffled) in Gainesville, Florida, on Saturday night time.“
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Who’s extra harmful within the postseason: Dodgers or Mets? ⚾
Getty Photos
The highest two groups within the NL — the Dodgers and the Mets — met for the seventh and closing time this season Thursday with the Mets successful 5-3 to take the season sequence 4-3. The excellent news for the Dodgers? Clayton Kershaw returned and pitched properly. Oh, they usually’re nonetheless seven video games up on the Mets for first within the NL.
The unhealthy information? It was Los Angeles’ first sequence misplaced since late July.
However who’s the extra harmful postseason group? Our MLB specialists answered that in the newest Batting Round roundtable, and Dayn Perry says…
- Perry: “I’ve to say Dodgers, rotation well being issues however. The offense is elite, they usually have the roster depth to play matchups very properly. Additionally, the bullpen regardless of being banged up for a lot of the yr has been one in all MLB’s greatest to the extent that they’re most likely going to have robust roster choices amongst relievers within the postseason.”
NFL groups that might go from worst to first 🙌
USATSI
Getting into final season, the Bengals had been coming off a 4-11-1 season, Joe Burrow was getting back from a torn ACL and the largest storyline surrounding Ja’Marr Chase was that he couldn’t catch. Quick ahead just a few months and the Bengals made the Tremendous Bowl, Burrow established himself as one of many league’s greatest quarterbacks, and Chase had a rookie yr for the ages.
It’s humorous how rapidly issues can change within the NFL — bear in mind, it stands for “Not For Lengthy” — and that’s very true for worst-to-first groups
For the reason that NFL realigned its divisions in 2002, there have been 27 groups that completed final of their division one yr and first the subsequent. Which group or groups may be part of that record in 2022? NFL professional John Breech took a have a look at all eight candidates, and his best choice is a group that must dethrone the Bengals to do it.
- Breech: “In what may be an NFL first: The Ravens are literally FAVORED to win the AFC North one yr after their final place end. … The factor about Baltimore is that their 8-9 file in 2021 was arguably spectacular when you think about what number of gamers they misplaced to damage. … Not solely did they lose Lamar Jackson for 5 video games, however additionally they misplaced key starters like cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey, together with working backs J.Okay. Dobbins and Gus Edwards.”
What we’re watching this weekend 📺
Friday
🎾 Ajla Tomljanovic vs. Serena Williams, 7 p.m. on ESPN
🏈 Western Michigan at No. 15 Michigan State, 7 p.m. on ESPN 2
🏈 TCU at Colorado, 10 p.m. on ESPN
Saturday
⚽ AC Milan vs Inter Milan, 11 a.m. on Paramount+
🏈 No. 11 Georgia vs No. 3 Oregon, 3:30 p.m. on ABC
🏈 No. 23 Cincinnati at No. 19 Arkansas, 3:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏈 No. 7 Utah at Florida, 7 p.m. on ESPN
⚾ Twins at White Sox or Mariners at Guardians, 7:15 p.m. on FOX
🏈 No. 5 Notre Dame at No. 2 Ohio State, 7:30 p.m. on ABC
Sunday
🏀 Sky at Solar, 1 p.m. on ESPN 2
🏀 Aces at Storm, 3 p.m. on ABC
⚽ Gotham FC vs. Braveness, 5 p.m. on Paramount+
⚾ Padres at Dodgers, 7 p.m. on ESPN
🏈 Florida State at LSU, 7:30 p.m. on ABC
