Rafael Devers claims Red Sox lied to him
Boston Red Sox designated hitter Rafael Devers is not happy with the front office and even accused the organization of going back on their word over a recent request to him.
Devers said Thursday that Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow asked him about his willingness to play first base following the season-ending injury to Triston Casas. Devers said he was unwilling to play the position, and said the Red Sox had told him to put his glove away after moving him from third base to designated hitter during the offseason.
When asked if he was upset with the team over the request, Devers responded “yes, of course” in Spanish.
Devers indicated that there are no issues within the clubhouse over the request, but made it clear he is not happy with Breslow and the front office.
“I’m not certain what (issue) he has with me,” Devers said of Breslow, via a translator. “He played ball, and I would like to think he knows that changing positions like that isn’t easy.
“I don’t understand some of the decisions that the GM makes. Next thing you know, someone in the outfield gets hurt and they want me to play in the outfield.”
Manager Alex Cora said Monday that the Red Sox had given no consideration to asking Devers to play first with Casas sidelined for the season. It is not clear if he was not being truthful or if he was unaware that Breslow had explored it.
Fairly or not, Devers feels like he is being taken advantage of by the Red Sox. The longtime third baseman was moved to DH after the team signed Alex Bregman, and while he ultimately went along with the move, he was not happy with it at first. He was clearly under the impression that his days of playing in the field were over, and that the Red Sox explicitly said as much only to go back on that statement little more than a month into the season.
There is not much Devers can do if he is unhappy with the Red Sox. He signed a 10-year contract extension with the Red Sox prior to the 2023 season that ties him to the organization through 2033.
Devers has recovered from a poor start to the season and is hitting .255 with a .455 slugging percentage through Thursday’s action. He hit his sixth home run of the season Thursday in a 5-0 win over the Texas Rangers.
Brian Windhorst says Celtics could break up the team
The Boston Celtics have blown consecutive games in their Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series to the New York Knicks, and that has people already sounding the alarm bells.
Boston trails the Knicks 2-0 in their series, which now heads to Madison Square Garden for the next two games. With the Celtics down 2-0, the possibility of the team losing has increased, and that could lead to big changes.
ESPN NBA reporter Brian Windhorst appeared on “First Take” Thursday and talked about the future of the Celtics and what changes may come to the team.
“This is a conversation I did not think I would be having on May 8. I thought this would be a conversation for July. But, next year, their payroll is $460 million when you compute the taxes. If they keep their draft pick … it’s going to top $500 million. They’ve got new owners. They’re buying it for $6 billion. They need to take on all these partners just to put half the money together. I don’t know what’s going to happen there, but there’s a possibility this team’s not going to come back. No matter what, they might not be able to come back. Because they’re the most expensive sports team in the history of the game. That’s what’s on the line,” Windhorst said.
“This team has proven it’s a championship team. This team has proven it’s a 60-win team this year. This team might win the championship again this year. But if they don’t get out of this series, I don’t know how you can justify spending $500 on the roster again.”
"There's a possibility this team's not gonna come back. … That's what's on the line." 😳
— First Take (@FirstTake) May 8, 2025
@WindhorstESPN says the Celtics may look different next year if they don’t win their series against the Knicks. pic.twitter.com/DQKRaWlYfF
The Celtics are estimated to have $264 million allocated for their roster for next season. Their estimated tax bill is $238 million, according to Spotrac. Yes, the Celtics are staring at a $500 million bill if they want to keep their team together next season. They would probably consider it if they returned to the NBA Finals — or won the championship again. It’s harder to justify spending that amount if you lose in the second round of the playoffs.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are set to cost over $107 million next season alone. Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis combine for $63 million, and Derrick White makes $28 million. It’s hard to imagine Al Horford returning for $18 million. Payton Pritchard is a $7 million player, which could prove too costly. But the decisions the team’s front office makes about next season probably will be different if they lose in the conference semifinals compared to if they return to the NBA Finals.
New details emerge regarding Steelers’ stance on Shedeur Sanders
There was a great deal of pre-draft speculation that the Pittsburgh Steelers could be a landing spot for quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Ultimately, the Steelers passed on Sanders three times, and new information has emerged as to why.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote Wednesday that the Steelers viewed Sanders as “a distributing point guard type” in their pre-draft evaluations. The team did consider taking Sanders with their fourth-round pick at No. 123 overall, but did not reach total consensus on doing so, and took Ohio State edge rusher Jack Sawyer instead, viewing Sawyer as the superior value.
The Steelers’ evaluation does not exactly convey high expectations for Sanders. The organization seemingly viewed him as more of a game manager, which explains why he was not seriously considered with the team’s first-round selection.
Sanders ultimately fell to the fifth round, where the Cleveland Browns took him at No. 144 overall. He joins a crowded quarterback room that also includes Dillon Gabriel, who was selected by the team in the third round.
Another team was seemingly closer to taking Sanders than the Steelers were. Pittsburgh did not necessarily have the same concerns about Sanders’ demeanor as some other teams did, but like the rest of the league, they simply were not sold on his talent.
LeBron James explains why Lakers lost to Timberwolves
LeBron James offered his own explanation for why his Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
The Lakers fell in five games to Minnesota, and in the latest episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast, James attributed the defeat to the Lakers simply running into a bad matchup.
“When it comes to the postseason, matchups sometimes just (don’t) determine how well of a regular season you had. We ran into a damn good matchup,” James said. “A team that’s been battle-tested, a team that’s hungry, a team (with) a lot of youth but also experience at the same time, and another team that’s trying to make the next step. They were a worthy opponent, that’s for sure.”
.@KingJames reflects on why Minnesota had the upper hand in the playoffs.
— Mind the Game (@mindthegamepod) May 8, 2025
Episode 5 is out now. Watch on our YouTube, @PrimeVideo or listen wherever you get your podcasts: https://t.co/zpZFpXGFPo pic.twitter.com/UqPSw0SnJi
In many ways, the Timberwolves were a bad matchup for the Lakers. Many were quick to point out how their lack of size left them at a disadvantage against the likes of Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert. James undoubtedly knows that.
There were certain instances in which the Timberwolves seemed eager to show the Lakers just how hungry they were for success. The Lakers were motivated, but even James seems to believe that Minnesota really wanted this one, and it likely played a role.
George Pickens answers the big question about his contract
George Pickens is in the final year of his contract, and his new team is unlikely to sign him to an extension at any point in the near future. The star wide receiver does not sound too concerned about that.
Pickens was traded to the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday in exchange for a third-round draft pick and late-round pick swap. He held a conference call with the media on Thursday, and one of the questions he was asked was about his contract.
Pickens insisted he is focused on “trying to build a winning culture” with the Cowboys and not thinking about his contract situation.
“I’m kinda where my feet are right now, to be honest. I’m not really thinking about contract talks,” Pickens said. “I’m just glad to be with the Cowboys right now, trying to build a winning culture.”
New Cowboys WR George Pickens on being in the final year of his rookie contract: "I'm kinda where my feet are right now, to be honest. I'm not really thinking about contract talks. I'm just glad to be with the Cowboys right now, trying to build a winning culture."
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) May 8, 2025
The Cowboys signed CeeDee Lamb to a 4-year, $136 million extension prior to last season. They also still need to sign Micah Parsons to a long-term deal, so a new contract for Pickens probably is not high on their priority list.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin also openly said last season that Pickens needs to “grow up.” Another unflattering report surfaced about the 24-year-old after he was traded.
Pickens will likely need to prove himself both on and off the field before the Cowboys consider signing him long-term. Given his reputation, his best approach would be to turn in a solid season and prove he is worthy of being paid like a top wide receiver. For now, the former Georgia star seems content to work toward that goal.
Ex-Patriot changes his tune on Bill Belichick’s relationship with Jordon Hudson
A former New England Patriots player appears to have changed his tune on Bill Belichick’s relationship with Jordon Hudson.
In a recent episode of his “Dudes On Dudes” podcast, former Patriots WR Julian Edelman argued that the drama regarding Belichick’s recent CBS interview and Hudson’s role in it was being blown out of proportion. Edelman argued that Hudson was acting as Belichick’s PR person, and that the criticism of the interview presented “an unfair reality.”
The Belichick interview is being blown out of proportion. pic.twitter.com/L7WukB7Ywh
— DudesOnDudes (@DudesOnDudesPod) April 30, 2025
A little more than a week later, Edelman appeared to have changed his stance. In an appearance on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” Wednesday, Edelman conceded that Hudson is the sort of distraction that Belichick typically would not have tolerated as Patriots coach, and that Belichick will want to be focusing on his job at North Carolina.
“Yeah, I thought he got an unfair public opinion on the whole thing, because that happens all the time,” Edelman said of Belichick’s CBS interview. “Now that it’s gained, it’s snowballed to what it’s become right now where we’re talking about it three weeks later, it’s becoming a distraction. We’ve got to practice what we preach here.
“We’re talking about this three weeks later. It’s getting to a point where we’ve got to start worrying about the ACC. We’ve got to start worrying about Dabo Swinney. We shouldn’t be talking about our girlfriend. That’s what coach would say to us.”
Edelman initially argued that Hudson was acting in her role as Belichick’s PR representative when she interrupted an interview with CBS to shut down questions about their relationship. However, that incident led to a number of claims about Hudson’s involvement with Belichick, and sparked speculation about familial strife.
Belichick seems to know the Hudson chatter has become an issue for him, as one report suggests he is looking for some additional PR help.
Perhaps Belichick genuinely did not expect the issue to blow up as much as it has, and did not expect it to become a problem. That seems to be what Edelman anticipated. However, it has gotten out of control, and the constant chatter does not fit at all with how Belichick usually does business.
Chicago Bears get clowned after Pope Leo XIV is elected
The Chicago Bears were catching strays amid the announcement of the new pope.
Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost, OSA, on Thursday was named the new Bishop of Rome. He is taking the name Pope Leo XIV and is the first American pope.
Francis is from Chicago, Ill., which led people to make some harsh Bears jokes — particularly about how Chicago had produced a pope before developing a quarterback.
Chicago produced a pope before a 4,000-yard quarterback
— Dan Treacy (@DanTreacyASN) May 8, 2025
Chicago developed a Pope before the Bears developed a quarterback! pic.twitter.com/4F442kOEWp
— Jeff Kelton ⚾️ (@DepressedMLBFan) May 8, 2025
Those jokes were harsh but humorous. Of course, there are plenty of others who hope and feel that the pope may bring good luck and positive vibes to the Bears.
In Pope Leo the XIV, the Bears now have a direct line to God. pic.twitter.com/ej83Z8x4U5
— Bears History (@ChiBearsHistory) May 8, 2025
CHICAGO POPE. NO MORE BEING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HAIL MARYS! pic.twitter.com/qFXpp6AaqX
— Tony Bearprano (@BearsSopranos) May 8, 2025
The Bears have never had a quarterback pass for 4,000 yards in a season in their franchise history. The most was 3,838 from Erik Kramer in 1995. Even Jay Cutler, for as big of an arm as he had, never threw for 4,000 yards in a season with the Bears, though his single-season yardage total is Nos. 2-4 on the franchise’s list.
The Bears went 5-12 last season and haven’t had a winning year since 2018. If they turn things around in 2025, maybe the new pope and his faith will be one of the reasons why.
New info surfaces about Steelers’ pursuit of Aaron Rodgers
The Pittsburgh Steelers made a huge move on Wednesday when they traded George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, and many have wondered what that might say about their ongoing pursuit of Aaron Rodgers. It is possible even the Steelers have no idea.
ESPN’s Peter Schrager offered an update on the Rodgers situation during a Thursday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” For the most part, the update is that there is no update, as the Steelers still do not know whether they are going to sign Rodgers.
According to Schrager, Rodgers has been very up front with teams and told them to “please move on” if they need to operate under a specific timeline. The Steelers have chosen to wait, but they have not been given any assurances that Rodgers will be their quarterback in 2025.
“I don’t think there’s this assumed handshake deal. They would have announced it. They would have signed him,” Schrager said. “I still think he’s deliberating. From what I gather, Pittsburgh knows no more now than they did at the draft or before the draft.”
"Aaron Rodgers has been very up front with the Steelers and he was very up front with the Giants..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 8, 2025
The Steelers are willing to wait and I don't think Pittsburgh knows more now than they did before the draft" ~ @PSchrags #PMSLive https://t.co/KgRRJvEz3f pic.twitter.com/CAlpRgo0nr
Rodgers at one point had offers from both the Steelers and New York Giants. The latter chose to move on by signing veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston and then drafting Jaxson Dart in the first round. Pittsburgh’s only viable starting option at the moment is Mason Rudolph, though they did draft Will Howard in the sixth round.
There have been some signs that the Steelers are confident they will eventually land Rodgers, but Schrager makes it seem like there has not been a whole lot of communication between the two sides.
With Pickens now in Dallas, the Steelers are down a top receiving option. They have added DK Metcalf as their No. 1 option and are said to be pursuing a former Rodgers teammate, but Rodgers is not going to be throwing passes to both Pickens and Metcalf. If the Steelers thought that would have a big impact on his decision, they probably would have held off on making the deal.
Steph Curry has concerning quote about his hamstring injury
Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry offered a concerning quote about the hamstring injury that he suffered during Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Curry discussed his hamstring strain with the media on Thursday, and was asked if he was worried about trying to come back too soon from the injury. The star guard said that would not be a problem because of how severe the strain is.
Curry said he is still a ways away from returning, and noted that he cannot even take stationary shots right now.
Asked if he will get to a point where he will have to fight the urge to potentially try to come back too soon, Steph Curry said he is a ways away from that point. He said he isn't able to take stationary shots right now. Just doing "a lot" of treatment.
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) May 8, 2025
The Warriors plan to re-evaluate Curry in a week. That certainly does not guarantee he will return at that point, and his quotes suggest that timeline might indeed be optimistic.
Curry was in obvious pain after suffering the injury, and the Warriors ruled him out of Game 1 quite quickly. Golden State went on to win anyway, which could be very valuable if they have to play the bulk of the series without him.
The Warriors will be without Curry through at least Game 4. Based on his comments, it may be even longer than that, and the Warriors might be forced to get past Minnesota without much help from their superstar guard.
Former World Series hero Chet Lemon has died at age 70
Former MLB All-Star Chet Lemon has died at the age of 70.
Lemon played 16 seasons in MLB, nine with the Detroit Tigers and seven with the Chicago White Sox. He made the All-Star team in consecutive seasons from 1978-1979, and then again in 1984 with the Tigers. Lemon led the ’84 Tigers to the World Series and was one of the heroes of that team.
Lemon played center field and batted .287 with 20 home runs in the ’84 season. He batted .294 during the World Series, walked twice and stole two bases.
Lemon was born in Jackson, Miss., but grew up in the Los Angeles, Calif., area. He was a first-round pick out of Pepperdine University in 1972. Lemon batted .273 with a .797 OPS during his MLB career and whacked 396 doubles with 215 home runs.
After his MLB career ended, Lemon became involved in the traveling baseball scene. He opened a baseball school in Florida in 1993 and developed a few traveling baseball clubs called Chet Lemon’s Juice, which were highly successful teams. Upon his death, he was remembered for his presence on the traveling scene.
Chet Lemon did more for youth baseball than almost anyone I know. One of the original “travel teams” who did it originally to put the best players on one team and played a key role in sparking this entire thing. Impacted big leaguer after big leaguer at the youth ages.
— Matt Bomeisl (@RealMattyBo) May 8, 2025
Chet… https://t.co/aSdcdLFGhN
Fans had the same reaction to the George Pickens trade
George Pickens was traded by the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday, and fans had the same reaction.
Over the last several years, the Steelers have had several good receivers who have also had big personalities. Pickens is the latest of their players in that vein. Fans commented that if Mike Tomlin, who has endured the likes of Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell and Martavis Bryant, was ready to move on from Pickens, that was a bad sign.
Mike Tomlin who put up with Antonio Brown didn't want George Pickens anymore. That tells you all you need to know. https://t.co/uZX2eXe3xR
— Vince (@V_tabs1984) May 8, 2025
Mike Tomlin has underachieved in the playoffs, for sure.
— Colin Dunlap (@colin_dunlap) May 7, 2025
But having to deal with Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and George Pickens should make Mike Tomlin a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame selection.
Mike Tomlin made Leveon Bell, AB, Martavis Bryant, Dionate Johnson, ect seem sane only for their career to fall apart the second they left Pittsburgh. Even Mike Tomlin couldn’t make George Pickens look sane. He is talented as hell but I have my doubts Schottenheimer can do that.
— Monte (@MONTECRI5TO) May 7, 2025
Also, I wonder where all the “George Pickens is a great teammate, has no immaturity issues and all of this is just haters tryin’ hate” crowd who flooded social media and talk shows after the draft at now? Mike Tomlin had enough of the guy and that speaks volumes
— Paul Zeise (@PaulZeise) May 7, 2025
The Cowboys were not dissuaded and gave up a third-round pick for Pickens.
The Steelers reportedly traded Pickens because they had had enough of his behaviorial issues. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin openly called on Pickens to “grow up” toward the end of last season.
Pickens was a second-round pick (No. 52 overall) by the Steelers in 2022. He had 59 catches for 900 yards and 3 touchdowns last season. He has averaged 62 catches for 1,006 yards and 4 touchdowns per season over his three years in the league. The 24-year-old wide receiver is entering the final year of his rookie contract.
Sports fans all said the same thing about the new pope
A new pope was elected on Thursday, and sports fans believe the New York Knicks should be excited by the development.
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the 267th pope and first ever from the United States. Prevost, who will be known as Pope Leo XIV, is from Chicago, Ill. The 69-year-old graduated from Villanova University in 1977.
The Knicks have deep ties to Villanova, with several of their players having played for the Wildcats in college. Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges were all members of the 2016-17 team that won a national championship. Former Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo was also part of that Wildcats team, but he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in October as part of the Karl-Anthony Towns deal.
With the new pope having a connection to Villanova, many fans feel the Knicks could be a team of destiny in the postseason.
The new Pope, Leo XIV, is a Villanova graduate.
— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) May 8, 2025
It’s meant to be. pic.twitter.com/HqFaGY5EuN
The Pope is a Villanova guy. Knicks might just win the whole thing.
— Frank Isola (@TheFrankIsola) May 8, 2025
THE NEW POPE IS CARDINAL PREVOST FROM VILLANOVA
— Knicks Memes (@KnicksMemes) May 8, 2025
VILLANOVA!!!!!!
KNICKS ARE GOING ALL THE WAY pic.twitter.com/gICW7cCQW8
The new pope went to Villanova!
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) May 8, 2025
This totally explains what’s happening with the Knicks.
Pope Leo XIV is the first American Pope. He went to Villanova. Let’s go Knicks…🙏🏻🤔
— Boomer Esiason (@7BOOMERESIASON) May 8, 2025
The new Pope went to Villanova?!
— Peter Rosenberg (@Rosenbergradio) May 8, 2025
Oh man just give the Knicks the chip now
The Knicks have gotten off to a shockingly good start in their Western Conference semifinals series against the Boston Celtics. They trailed by 20 points in Game 1 and 2 on the road and found a way to win both.
With the pope now in their corner, there may be nothing that can stop the Knicks.
The first MLB manager firing of the season has occurred
The first managerial change of the MLB season has taken place just over a month into the campaign.
The Pittsburgh Pirates fired manager Derek Shelton on Thursday after a 12-26 start to their season. Bench coach Don Kelly was named as his replacement.
In a statement, Pirates GM Ben Cherington said he felt “a change is now necessary” following the team’s dreadful start to the season.
Derek Shelton has been relieved of his duties as Pirates Manager.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) May 8, 2025
Pirates Bench Coach, Don Kelly, has been named manager. pic.twitter.com/dOO9dDwf5t
Shelton was in his sixth season as Pirates manager and had put together a career record of 306-440. He had never posted a winning season, and the closest he came was with consecutive 76-86 seasons in 2023 and 2024.
The Pirates had some hopes of improvement for 2025, with their rotation anchored by star pitcher Paul Skenes. The results have not come, largely due to an inept offense. The team has come under heavy criticism for their unwillingness to spend on payroll and add some punch to their lineup.
Ultimately, many Pirates fans are convinced that things will not change unless ownership changes. Shelton, however, is being made to take the fall for the team’s poor start now.
Former No. 1 overall pick has been released
A former top overall NFL draft pick is once again searching for a new team.
The Carolina Panthers released veteran pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney on Thursday, according to multiple reports.
Clowney signed a 2-year, $20 million contract with the Panthers ahead of last season. There was talk of him potentially being traded at the deadline last year, but Clowney was batting an injury at the time and no deal ever came together.
Clowney played in 14 games for the Panthers and finished with 46 total tackles and 5.5 sacks.
The 32-year-old Clowney has bounced around to several different teams over the last few years. He played the first five years of his career with the Houston Texans after they drafted the former South Carolina star with the No. 1 overall pick in 2014.
Though he has battled injuries, Clowney is just two years removed from a very productive 2023 season. He matched a career high with 9.5 sacks and had 2 forced fumbles that year with the Baltimore Ravens.
Clowney has also had brief stints with the Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns.
While he may not be as explosive as he was earlier in his career, Clowney is still capable of getting after the quarterback when healthy. His contract was likely more of an issue for the Panthers than anything.
Paul Pierce makes good on crazy bet after Celtics blow Game 2
Paul Pierce is a man of his word, and the Boston Celtics legend might even lose a few pounds because of it.
Pierce, like many others, was extremely confident that the Celtics would bounce back following their embarrassing collapse in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series against the New York Knicks. He was so certain that Boston would win Game 2 that he said during the FS1 show “Speak” on Wednesday that he would walk to the FS1 TV studios the following day if the Celtics were not victorious.
For a while, it looked like Pierce was safe. The Celtics then blew another 20-point lead to lose 91-90 to the Knicks and fall behind 2-0 in the series.
Believe it or not, Pierce followed through. The 10-time NBA All-Star got up bright and early on Thursday and began the trek to work, which he estimated was actually about 20 miles. He documented much of the walk on Instagram live.
Paul Pierce yesterday: “If the Celtics lose Game 2 at home, I’m walking (to work) tomorrow. 15 miles. In my robe, no shoes on, barefoot.” @paulpierce34 today: pic.twitter.com/MQqxh9ursW
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 8, 2025
Pierce said he had been walking for about three hours when he was halfway to the FS1 studios. He shared a screenshot from Google Maps on Wednesday night that estimated the walk would take just over eight hours, so it seems like he was on a pretty good pace.
— Paul Pierce (@paulpierce34) May 8, 2025
Pierce was immediately hit with the meme treatment after the Celtics choked in Game 2. He would have faced even more criticism from fans had he not followed through.
The Celtics are now down 2-0 after failing to close out both games at home. We wouldn’t expect Pierce to make any guarantees about Game 3 in New York, unless of course he enjoyed his Thursday workout.
Fans mock Kristaps Porzingis over comment about Celtics’ latest collapse
The Boston Celtics have put themselves in a hole in their Eastern Conference semifinals series against the New York Knicks, and Kristaps Porzingis believes that could somehow work to his team’s advantage. As you might expect, fans strongly disagree.
The Celtics blew another huge lead on Wednesday night to lose 91-90 to the New York Knicks in Game 2 at TD Garden in Boston, Mass. Joe Mazzulla’s team led by as many as 20 points late in the third quarter and was outscored 30-17 to close out the game.
Boston’s performance in the game was reminiscent of what happened in Game 1, when they set an unwanted record while collapsing down the stretch.
The Celtics are now down 2-0 and facing a great deal of pressure as they head to New York for Game 3. Porzingis does not see it that way, however. The star big man said after Wednesday’s loss that the pressure is now on the Knicks.
“It kind of takes all the pressure off of us, no? I don’t know, if you check the odds, maybe the Knicks are the favorites now to win, who knows?” Porzingis said. “We were expected to win. So, for us to be in this hole right now with our backs against the wall, we have nothing to lose.”
Kristaps Porzingis on going into game 3:
— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) May 8, 2025
“In a way it kinda takes all the pressure off of us. If you check the odds maybe the Knicks are the favorites now to win.” pic.twitter.com/nZe277Peri
Porzingis’ reasoning is flawed, to say the least. The Celtics were the heavy favorite at the start of the series. They are the defending NBA champions and are viewed by many as the best team in the Eastern Conference. Even after Boston lost both of the first two games of the series at home, the Knicks were only a slight favorite to win the series.
The pressure on the Celtics to win the series has not lessened just because they choked in both Game 1 and Game 2. If anything, it has gotten greater, which fans were quick to point out.
I don't think he understands that when you we're expected to win you keep all the pressure until you win 🤣 it doesn't go away because you start losing
— JustinTheMind 🟢 (@Justin_The_Mind) May 8, 2025
This is a terrible answer. No, there’s even MORE pressure. Not less.
— Robbie Bangers (@RobertSportsBet) May 8, 2025
Yeah i advise every NBA team to lose first 2 games of playoff series. It takes the pressure off lol. When you are at it, lose the first three, it would make the Knicks even more favorite 🤣
— Flamingo Shot (@SengunAlpi) May 8, 2025
File this under: Things I don’t want my players saying after 2 devastating losses
— Joe’s Picks (@Joes_Picks) May 8, 2025
This is a horrible mindset
What Porzingis likely meant to say is that there is no reason for the Celtics to panic. They are, in theory, the better team, and they have played well on the road all season.
That said, no NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in a playoff series. That essentially makes Game 3 a must-win for the Celtics. If that isn’t pressure, what is?
Boston’s inability to put the Knicks away despite having huge leads in Game 1 and Game 2 is a major concern that has resulted in some excellent memes. Porzingis and his teammates all know that, even if his comments were not well-received.
Nuggets coach David Adelman has blunt 3-word summary of blowout loss
The Denver Nuggets were blown out in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinals series against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night, and head coach David Adelman did not mince words when discussing the performance.
After the Thunder dominated the Nuggets 149-106 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Adelman was asked if the message to his team was the same as the one he delivered following Denver’s blowout loss in Game 3 of their opening-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers. The coach said the difference between that game and Wednesday night is that “we got punked.”
“Yeah, but we got punked, and we didn’t play well enough. They came out with the right intensity and we didn’t,” Adelman said. “I thought we let some open shots early in the game affect us how we played defensively. This is a team that does that. There’s a reason why they have historic plus/minus numbers throughout the season, is they put people away. You gotta have a much better start than that. We can’t come out with that kind of mentality.”
Though he did not want to place the two blowout losses under the same umbrella, Adelman said he expects the Nuggets to react this time the way they did after the Clippers loss.
“It’s nice to know that you’ve got a win under your belt, but that’s not what this is right now in the present. We’ll react the right way like we did in Game 3 in L.A. — bring a different intensity, look at what they did differently, react accordingly,” the coach added. “I would expect a much better effort from our guys on Friday night in Denver.”
"We got punked."
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 8, 2025
David Adelman after losing by 43 points to OKC.
(via @NBATV)
pic.twitter.com/XnoZ4UnfeB
The Nuggets ultimately did what they had to do by winning one of two games in Oklahoma City, which gives them home-court advantage for the remainder of the series. Adelman knows that the margin of defeat means very little, but he also understands that Denver cannot take nights off the way they did in Game 2.
The Thunder were the best team in the NBA all season, but the Nuggets still have arguably the best player in Nikola Jokic. Denver is just going to need full effort in every game, and Adelman feels the team fell short of that on Wednesday night.
Everyone said the same thing about the Utah Mammoth logo
Utah’s NHL franchise has officially become the Utah Mammoth after spending one season as the Utah Hockey Club, and many fans feel there is something quite familiar about the team’s new logos.
The Utah Mammoth released a hype video on Wednesday unveiling their new team nickname and branding. The response has been largely positive, which is not a surprise since the team polled fans to help come up with its new name.
Utah’s new team logo features a mammoth head with prominent tusks.
A new Ice Age dawns. Introducing Utah Mammoth. #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/B2yuoflDRt
— Utah Mammoth (@utahhockeyclub) May 7, 2025
While most fans like the logo, a lot of people had the same reaction to it. They think it is not all that unique, as it looks quite similar to the Nashville Predators’ logo.
utah vs nashville https://t.co/SEVyIYosoe pic.twitter.com/egIRJyAuTI
— coach campbell’s defense attorney (@shadyladycakes) May 7, 2025
What a Utah-Nashville matchup will look like now. pic.twitter.com/vHZO9iclVe
— Kyle Moore (@K98Moore) May 7, 2025
Nashville vs Utah be like #BattleofthePleistocene pic.twitter.com/olkiv1LeyM
— Smashville Scores (@Smashville_Wins) May 7, 2025
Even the Predators themselves acknowledged that there are similarities with the branding of the two franchises:
👀
— Utah Mammoth (@utahhockeyclub) May 7, 2025
More than 850,000 fans voted to help come up with Utah’s new team name. The decision was narrowed down to six possible choices at one point, with the “Yeti” being another popular nickname among fans. The team ran into trademarking issues with that name, however.
Utah went 38-31-13 and missed the playoffs in their first season after moving from Arizona.
Photo of Browns QBs sparks huge internet reaction
Kenny Pickett is playing for a new team this season, but the quarterback is still dealing with the same old jokes about the size of his hands.
Pickett is competing for a starting job with the Cleveland Browns after the team acquired him in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier this offseason. The Browns shared a side-by-side photo on Wednesday of Pickett and Joe Flacco throwing passes during a team workout.
“Football things are happening,” the Browns wrote on X.
football things are happening pic.twitter.com/3eDK667dE6
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) May 7, 2025
The photo sparked a huge reaction, mostly from fans who pointed out that Flacco’s hands looked much, much bigger than Pickett’s.
The same hand jokes that we heard about Pickett when he came out of Pitt in 2022 quickly flooded back.
Pickett when Flacco wins the QB competition pic.twitter.com/dizgnxfcBs
— CantaLoupe (@CantALoupe_FF) May 8, 2025
Tell Kenny if he wears lighter color gloves it'll make his hands look bigger. 🤣
— strallweat (@strallweat) May 8, 2025
Bro look at Picketts hand over the laces compared to Flaccos. Dude's hand is half his size lol
— GameOver (@GameOver_Rekt) May 8, 2025
— Warren Wilhelm (@War_Wilhelm) May 8, 2025
In fairness to Pickett, the photo of Flacco was significantly more close up. That made Flacco’s hands look a lot bigger than Pickett’s, though the images were not a total illusion.
Pickett’s hands measured 8 5/8 inches at the NFL Scouting Combine, which is small for an NFL quarterback. That did not stop the Steelers from drafting him with the 20th overall pick, but it did lead to some hilarious nicknames.
Flacco is viewed as the favorite to start for the Browns in Week 1. Cleveland also drafted two quarterbacks in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Deshaun Watson is recovering from a torn Achilles setback and may not be in the team’s future plans.
Pickett will be fighting for a roster spot while also fighting off jokes about his small hands.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sets impressive playoff record
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander set an impressive playoff record during his Oklahoma City Thunder’s blowout win on Wednesday night.
The Thunder ripped the Denver Nuggets 149-106 in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal at Paycom Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla. The blowout win for the Thunder came after they lost Game 1 121-119.
OKC got out to a huge halftime lead and cruised to an easy win on Wednesday. Gilgeous-Alexander played 30 minutes, which was the most on his team. He went 11/13 from the field and made all 11 of his free throws to give him 34 points. But where SGA truly stood out was his +- statistic, which measures the point differential between your team and the opponent when a specific player is on the court.
Gilgeous-Alexander had a +51, which set an NBA playoff record since the stat began being counted.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander now holds the record for the best +/- in a playoff game in NBA history with +51
— 𝙎𝙠𝙮𝙚𝙙 🇦🇺 (@SkyedOKC) May 8, 2025
only took him 3 quarters. pic.twitter.com/LvU86f92Ej
The Thunder went 68-14 in the regular season and swept their first-round series. They were out to make a statement in Game 2 after dropping Game 1 at home. They did so successfully with their blowout win, and SGA responded to Nikola Jokic’s big Game 1 with a huge Game 2. The two players are in contention to win NBA MVP, with Gilgeous-Alexander favored to take home the award.
Game 3 of the series will be in Denver on Friday night.
