The WNBA suspended Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve for Game 4 of the semifinals after her ejection and postgame outburst criticizing officiating and league leadership, following her ejection in Game 3 where she aggressively confronted officials. Reeve was fined along with two assistant coaches, and her team faces elimination in the upcoming game.
The New York Liberty have decided not to renew head coach Sandy Brondello's contract after a disappointing season and first-round playoff exit, despite her successful record and championships, due to concerns over team performance and coaching effectiveness, highlighting a shift towards higher standards in the evolving WNBA landscape.
Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers face a critical moment in the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers, with McDavid emphasizing the need for the team to 'dig in' and show resilience after a poor performance in Game 3. The series is tied at 2-1, and Game 4 is pivotal for the Oilers to stay alive, especially as McDavid aims to lead a comeback despite being physically challenged and held scoreless in the last game.
The Florida Panthers trail the Edmonton Oilers 1-0 in the Stanley Cup Final series, emphasizing an 'us against the world' mentality as they prepare for Game 2 in Edmonton, aiming to improve their performance after a narrow overtime loss in Game 1.
The Dallas Stars' high-stakes investment in Mikko Rantanen is not paying off as they face elimination in the Western Conference Finals, with Rantanen underperforming and the team struggling both offensively and physically against the Edmonton Oilers, highlighting concerns about their recent trades and future prospects.
Draymond Green criticized Domantas Sabonis for not shaking hands after Game 7, saying he lost respect for him. Sabonis didn't have much of a response during his end of season presser. Green believes not shaking hands after a loss is unprofessional and disrespectful. However, Sabonis not wanting to shake Green's hand after he stomped on his chest in Game 2 is understandable, but not shaking any Warriors' hands is a different story.
Despite playing through a sprained left ankle, Josh Hart struggled in Game 2 of the Knicks' playoff series against the Cavaliers, scoring only five points and four rebounds in 27 minutes. Hart was a key player in the Knicks' Game 1 victory, but his injury may have contributed to his poor performance in Game 2. The Knicks lost the game 107-90, but they are still positive about having stolen away home-court advantage by winning the opener.
Cleveland Cavaliers' Isaac Okoro believes the team needs to do a better job dealing with Jalen Brunson's "antics" in their playoff series against the New York Knicks. Okoro suggested that Brunson embellishes contact and the Cavaliers have to be ready for that. The team has struggled to defend Brunson in their past few meetings, but they are trying different strategies, including throwing double teams at him and using bigger defenders. Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff acknowledged that Brunson is too smart to defend him one way and that a certain mix of things needs to be done to stop him.
NBA scouts predict that the Clippers vs. Suns playoff series will be challenging for the Clippers due to the Suns' home-court advantage and the absence of Paul George. The Clippers will need to focus on defending Kevin Durant and Devin Booker while limiting Chris Paul's and Booker's preferred shooting spots. Without George's offensive contributions and a defense that ranked 19th in opponent field-goal accuracy since the All-Star break, the Clippers could be forced to play catch-up. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue will need to work his magic to overcome the Suns' power.
NBA scouts predict that the Clippers vs. Suns playoff series will be challenging for the Clippers due to the Suns' home-court advantage and the absence of Paul George. The Clippers will need to focus on defending Kevin Durant and Devin Booker while limiting Chris Paul's and Booker's preferred shooting spots. Without George's offensive contributions and a defense that ranked 19th in opponent field-goal accuracy since the All-Star break, the Clippers could be forced to play catch-up. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue will need to work his magic to overcome the Suns' power.