The Portland Trail Blazers are looking to make significant changes this offseason. Following their first-round series loss to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night, Portland organization thought long and hard about their future with head coach Terry Stotts running the show.Since joining the Blazers in 2012, Stotts Blazers have gone to the playoffs eight out of nine seasons. Unfortunately, theyve only made it to the Western Conference Finals once, where they lost 4-0 to the Golden State Warriors T.J. McConnell Face Mask.Despite making it to the Conference Finals two seasons ago, Portland has been first-round exits over the last two seasons. Throughout the 2020-2021 season, it was no secret Stotts seat was hot in Portland.As the Blazers dealt with key injuries during a strange season overall, Portland struggled at times. While the issues definitely cant be pinpointed to one man, it clear that a fresh start in Portland would be ideal for the Blazers Kelan Martin Flag.Therefore, the Trail Blazers organization decided to mutually part ways with Stotts as head coach, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.After a fourth first-round playoff exit in five seasons, the Portland Trail Blazers and coach Terry Stotts mutually agreed to part ways on Friday, the team announced.Stotts leaves Portland as the second-winningest coach in franchise history, including eight consecutive playoff appearances the longest streak in the league. He was 402-318 in his nine seasons as Blazers coach https://www.storeindiana.com/Malcolm_Brogdon_Flag-127.What next for Stotts? Possibly joining a team in the Eastern Conference. As the Indiana Pacers have dealt with their fair share of behind-the-scenes turmoil under first-year head coach Nate Bjorkgren, there is a chance the Pacers could start a new era already just two seasons after moving on from Nate McMillan.If that the case, Stotts is rumored to be a favorite for the job. According to The Athletic Shams Charania, Stotts isbelieved to be a candidate for the Pacers if they do decide to make coaching changes after one year. While Indiana would likely consider a number of candidates, snatching a head coach, who has tons of playoff experience, for the Pacers new era would be a solid idea https://www.storeindiana.com/Myles_Turner_T_shirt-4.

Way before Doc Rivers was the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, he served a playing stint in the NBA. After playing a few seasons at Marquette University Onyeka Okongwu Pet Jersey, Rivers got drafted in the second round of the 1983 NBA Draft.That when Rivers landed with his current opponent, the Atlanta Hawks. Although he had stints with the Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, and the New York Knicks, Rivers spent most of his playing days with the Hawks.Debuting in Atlanta in 1983, Rivers remained with the Hawks organization until 1991. During his time with the Hawks, Rivers notched his lone All-Star appearance during the 1988 season. Following a successful playing career, Rivers moved on to coaching in 1999.Once a solid player, Rivers churned out an even better coaching career as he made a name for himself with the Orlando Magic Mike Bibby Pillow Cover. Then he had two successful stints with the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Clippers before signing with the Sixers during the 2020 offseason.After wrapping up a successful first season, notching the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, Rivers won his first playoff series against the Washington Wizards. Now, he in Atlanta once again coaching against the team that gave him his first opportunity in the big leagues. Ahead of Game 3, the first road matchup of the series against the Hawks, Rivers discussed his return to his first NBA home.I dont know if its emotional but I feel great when I come here, Rivers said during his pregame press conference on Friday night.I had a really good career here, you know? I still lead them in assists, Im up there in steals but more importantly I made a lot of friends here. A lot of them still live here. Whenever I come back to Atlanta, I dont really reminisce on me. My friends who I know and Ive kept up with reach out and ask if I want to go to dinner and I usually say no he laughs]. You know, its playoffs but we do talk and so its always nice to talk to] people youre familiar with.Rivers believes that possibly half of his Atlanta-based friends are rooting for him while the other half is likely rooting against him https://www.storeatlantaonline.com/Kris_Dunn_Pillow_Cover-105. Regardless of which side theyre on during the current seven-game series, Rivers love for Atlanta wont change. The Hawks might be the enemy for the next week or so, but when it all said and done, the city and the Hawks organization hold a special place in the head coach heart.Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated.

The San Francisco Giants had their opportunities to Beat LA. Believe you me, they had their opportunities. They damn near had their opportunities every single inning, and they failed to capitalize on them. I was going to highlightor two of their missed opportunities, but its Monday night. Its Monday night and the Giants just lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Its Monday night and the Giants just lost to the Dodgers and there are still four more days until Friday night.This is no time for the truncated version. Nois ordering the abridged edition. Monday nights, when the weekend is beyond the horizon and your mouth is full with the acrid taste of Dodger victories and Trevor Bauer gesticulating towards the crowd like the unpopular guy in a band walking off stage thinking hes the most popular Brandon Belt Pet Jersey, is a time to look in the mirror, point out everything you hate, and sit with it.So lets go through all the missed opportunities.Inning by freaking inning.First inningLaMonte Wade Jr. led off the game with a bullet of a shift-beating single. He never advanced to second base.Second inningWilmer Flores singled without. Get used to sentiments like this, and the ensuing disappointment, because Flores had four hits and didnt score. He moved to second when Donovan Solano drew a two-out walk. The Giants did not score, though we forgive them for failing to convert in a two-on, two-out situation with the pitcher at bat Brandon Belt Pillow Cover.Third inningBuster Posey had a -out double. It was a beautiful swing, though he didnt look incredibly comfortable running. Luckily for him he wasnt asked to do any more of it after that double https://www.sanfanstoreonline.com/Buster_Posey_Face_Mask-269, as he was stranded on second. Fourth inningAfter a -out single did him no favors, Flores opted for a no-out single. He moved to second on a -out single by Solano. They both moved over on a bunt by Anthony DeSclafani. They both walked back to the dugout when Wade struck out.Fifth inningThe Giants came up to bat in the fifth inning, so technically it was a wasted opportunity even though they never put any on base.Sixth inningFlores had a double with no outs, and it bounced high off the wall. It was very close to a home run, which would have tied the game. No worry, you thought, unless you were smart, in which case you thought, ega worry. There was a runner in scoring position with zero outs. Theyd be fine.He never even made it to third base.Seventh inningWade was hit by a pitch to start the inning. He took second on a -out single by Posey. Youve seen this film. You know the ending. He never made it to third.Eighth inningAt this point it was comical. Dark humor. You didnt get excited when Flores had a leadoff single. You didnt even smile when Steven Duggar walked to put Flores in scoring position with no outs. You rolled your eyes at the overplayed setup when Solano grounded out, moving Flores to third and Duggar to second without. You sat stoically as they did not score.Ninth inningMike Tauchman led off the inning with a single that Cody Bellinger doinked https://www.sanfanstoreonline.com/Mike_Yastrzemski_Face_Mask-505, thus allowing Tauchman to try for second. The only issue was that Bellinger made a perfect throw, Tauchman had to do his best Neo impression to avoid the tag, and he briefly came off the bag in the process, where he got tagged out.Noelse would do anything and the game was over.The Giants went 0-13 with runners in scoring position. They put a body on the basepaths with no outs in six different innings, and never brought that runner home. They had every possible opportunity Buster Posey Pillow Cover, and they threw eachout the window. But if you squint hard enough through that really expensive telescope you drunkenly boughtnight during your 20 minute astronomy phase, you can at least see that the Giants had some opportunities, which is more than we once would have expected.

The Oakland A’s finalized their 2021 Opening Day squad on Thursday, and doing so required a few moves on their 40-man roster. The A’s selected the contracts of two non-roster invitees, second baseman Jed Lowrie and reliever Reymin Guduan, the team announced. There was already one spot open on the 40-man, so only one cut was needed to make room, and outfielder Skye Bolt was designated for assignment.The Lowrie news was expected, as the club had already announced he’d made the team for Opening Day. The 2018 All-Star is back for his third stint in Oakland https://www.oaklandfanstoreonline.com/Matt_Olson_Pillow_Cover-409, after missing the last two seasons to injury as technically a member of the New York Mets and then returning to the Bay Area over the winter on a minor league contract. He’s expected to spend time at both second base and DH, with his switch-hitting bat helping the lineup from both sides https://www.oaklandfanstoreonline.com/Sean_Manaea_T_shirt-11.On the other hand, Guduan is more of a surprise. The bullpen appeared to be set with its eight members, and the left-hander was cut from spring camp and reassigned to the minors on Saturday. However, closer Trevor Rosenthal was placed on the injured list at the last moment, due to right shoulder inflammation, and so there was room for one more arm after all.The 29-year-old Guduan made brief MLB appearances in three seasons for the Houston Astros in 2017-19, but got knocked around in the majors. However, he turned in an excellent spring for Oakland, and received praise from manager Bob Melvin along the way. He’s out of minor league options, so the A’s won’t be able to send him back down to Triple-A now that he’s here — in order to be removed from the active 26-man roster, he would need to be DFA’d.Guduan, MLB career: 8.03 ERA, 24⅔ ip, 26 Ks, 16 BB, 5 HR, 5.64 FIP, .427 xwOBAGuduan, 2021 spring: 0.96 ERA, 9⅓ ip, 5 Ks, 1 BB, 3 hitsHere’s our summary of Guduan’s profile, from late February:Lefty who operates over 95 mph with movement and touched 100 in the past, plus a well-regarded slider, but zero control or command. In Astros system, navigated huge walk rates in Triple-A to find success, and saw two dozen MLB innings from 2017-19, where his strikeouts stayed high but he otherwise got annihilated. More details from Think Blue in Feb 2020.On the other side of the transaction ledger is Bolt Ramon Laureano T-Shirt, whose fate will be determined over the next week via either trade, waiver claim, release, or returning to the A’s minors as a non-roster prospect. The 27-year-old has been in the A’s system since 2015, and he briefly reached the majors in 2019, but the outfield depth chart has grown crowded around him and complicated his path back to Oakland. The clock finally ran out and he was squeezed off the list via DFA https://www.oaklandfanstoreonline.com/Elvis_Andrus_Pillow_Cover-297, like Dustin Fowler was in February.Bolt narrowly missed our Community Prospect List Top 30 over the winter, finishing as an alternate in the No. 31 spot. He’d cracked the list in each of the previous five years.

Kyle Shanahans predraft press conference on Monday ranged from tired smokescreen banalities, like he is comfortable with any of five quarterbacks at pick No. 3, to macabre, nihilistic smokescreen banalities when he suggestedcorrectly, we might addthat he cannot guarantee any single person in the world would be alive on Sunday. If this whole NFL thing doesnt work out, he has a wonderful future as an actuary.Left unsaid were two things about the entire process that should both fascinate and excite 49ers fans, and possibly terrify them. By extension, Jets fans should be either thrilled or frightened. We waited until there were only three days left to bring this to your attention Keelan Cole Hoodie. First, the good: The 49ersstrategically leaking that they are down to two quarterbacks with markedly different skill sets is brilliant. On one hand, as my colleague Jenny Vrentas noted on the latest episode of the Weak-Side Podcast https://www.newfansstore.com/Cameron_Clark_Flag-317, this could just be creating a scenario where no one goes into Thursday comfortable. Teams can pre-bake deals, but there will be Mac Jones teams and Justin Fields teams and Trey Lance teams and, inevitably, someone who needs a quarterback is going to be left facing a postdraft press conference in which they have to paste on a fake smile and explain that the top cornerback on their board was really their guy all along. Maybe this is a slender competitive advantage, but its a competitive advantage nonetheless. They are actively edging someone out of the process.But its not outside the realm of possibility to imagine that this is also bothering the 49ersdivisional opponents in particular. If youre the Seahawks, Cardinals or Rams, even the potential threat of another mobile quarterback in the division running Shanahan system has to alter your consideration for defensive players in the mid-to-late rounds, especially with two others already in the NFC West. While teams dont draft playersspecificallyto stop certain opponents, their ability to come in handy against teams with particular skill sets can certainly break ties. A Lance selection https://www.newfansstore.com/Jt_Hassell_T_shirt-70, adding a powerful runner and dynamic downfield passer to that offense, would assuredly make defensive coordinators wish they had specific ancillary pieces. A more pragmatic, quick-release thrower with elite accuracy would make them wish they had other ones.Now, the bad : If the pick, like most experts believe, is Jones, and if Jones was picked specifically because of the things he does that do not involve his legs , then why wasnt he at all involved in the conversation at No. 2? And to which team does this represent a massive shortcoming?The Weak-Side Podcast now has its own feed! Subscribe to listen to Conor Orr and Jenny Vrentas every week.The Jets and Zach Wilson have been paired together for weeks now and, outside of Trevor Lawrence to the Jaguars, represents the only other truly known variable in this equation. If youre a Jets fan, for example, are you worried that Shanahan, creator of the offense that is so good your team hired one of his assistants to install it Wayne Chrebet Hoodie, probably knew who you were picking at No. 2 and then quickly traded up to No. 3 to get a quarterback with a similar prototypical, drop-back passer skill set? And if youre a 49ers fan who believes that the Jets are making the correct choice in drafting Wilson out of BYU, is there any concern that your team is drafting the third-best prototypical quarterback instead of pouring that energy into developing a quarterback that your coach https://www.newfansstore.com/Ty_Johnson_T_shirt-65, admittedly, has said could add an explosive wrinkle to his scheme and force coordinators to completely change the way they play the 49ers?Over the last two years, and especially in the last two weeks, Shanahan has left breadcrumbs leading us to believe that theyre taking anyone from Lance to Jones to Alijah Vera-Tucker with the No. 3 pick. Like an episode of Lost, there are enough clues to fit whatever narrative youve created in your head. Around this time next year, though, one of these teams might look foolish. A draft this saturated with good-to-great quarterbacks is going to make and break the careers of at least a handful of general managers.

Alex Pietrangelo scored his first goal of the postseason to break a tie late in the second period, and the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Colorado Avalanche 6-3 in Game 6 of their second-round series on Thursday night to advance to the Stanley Cup semifinals Jacques Lemaire Pillow Cover.Nick Holden, William Karlsson, Keegan Kolesar, William Carrier, and Max Pacioretty also scored for Vegas, which won four straight in the series and will next face the Montreal Canadiens. The Golden Knights are in NHLs final four for the third time in the franchises four years https://www.montrealfanstoreonline.com/Andrei_Markov_Pillow_Cover-153.Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 30 shots and moved into sole possession of fourth place all-time with 89 playoff wins.Devin Toews, Mikko Rantanen, and Andre Burakovsky scored for Colorado. Grubauer made 17 saves.After firing a team-high 45 shots during the postseason, Pietrangelos 46th found the back of the net with 18 seconds left in the second after he gathered a rebound from Alex Tuchs shot that caromed off the end board, and he sent the puck top shelf to beat Colorado netminder Philipp Grubauer to put Vegas up 4-3.The third period belonged to Fleury, who stopped 11 shots in the final frame, including a one-timer by Valeri Nichushkin from the bottom of the circle. Fleury lunged across the crease to stymie the attempt with what might have been his biggest save of the game, preserving the 4-3 lead with about 14 minutes left to play and keeping the momentum in Vegas favor.Carrier got his first goal of the postseason as he knocked home a rebound from the doorstep, and Pacioretty added an empty-netter to provide the final margin.Colorado came out of the opening faceoff looking to silence the sold-out crowd, as the Avalanche took advantage of a turnover by Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore Henri Richard Hoodie. Colorado speedster Nathan MacKinnon raced into the offensive zone with the puck and fed a streaking Toews, who beat Fleury with a snipe just 23 seconds in.The crowd was reignited when Holden fired a shot from the point and through Grubauers five-hole, tying the game just 52 seconds later.Later it was Karlsson creating a turnover and finding Martinez across the zone. After winding up for a shot up top, Martinez opted to send the puck back to Karlsson, who snapped a one-timer between Grubauers skate and the post for his third goal and seventh point in the series to give Vegas a 2-1 lead.With Pietrangelo sitting in the penalty box after a delay of game call early in the second period, Rantanen skated across the zone and fired an off-balance wrist shot through the legs of Vegas defenseman Zach Whitecloud and off the inside of his right skate, and off of Fleurys blocker to tie the game once again.After winning a faceoff and shuttling the puck to Theodore, Kolesar positioned himself perfectly to redirect Pietrangelos shot from the blue line past Grubauer to put Vegas back on top, 3-2.Colorado tied the game for the third time when former Knight Pierre-Edouard Bellemare sent a cross-ice pass over the red line for Burakovsky https://www.montrealfanstoreonline.com/Yvan_Cournoyer_Pet_Jersey-380, who skated down in on the right wing and lasered a shot by Fleury on the far side.

Jared Cook had somewhat of an idea of where he wanted to play in 2021. The Chargers were at the top of the list due to numerous factors, but two were coaching-related because of the experience he had with them previously.I think Joe Lombardi had a big part in it, and also Frank Smith, explained Cook.I think it important to have coaches that understand what type of player you are.Lombardi is now the Chargers offensive coordinator. He was the New Orleans Saints quarterback coach for numerous years https://www.losprostoreonline.com/Chris_Rumph_Ii_Pet_Jersey-270. The last two years he spent with Cook as the tight of the team.There are questions about Lombardi as the man calling the plays. His first stint as the play-caller with the Detroit Lions didnt go very well, which has been brought up. Lombardi feels like he has grown from that experience. Cook knows first hand what to expect from his offensive coordinator.I know what Joe brings to the table, man, he a grinder, explained Cook.Joe stays up till four or five in the morning, making sure that your offense is ready to go week in and week out. And he puts in the time, and he puts in the effort, and Ive seen it firsthand.The relationship with the new offensive line coach and running game coordinator Frank Smith is different. Smith was his tight ends coach when they were both in Oakland. In those two seasons together, Cook had over 120 catches for over 1,500 yards and eight touchdowns.Cook described Smith as more than just a coach.Frank is a coach that he gets to know the player on a base level, said Cook.He the type of coach that not going to go in the meeting room and just tell you how it should be. Or you should have done this here because anybody could do that. Frank is a type of coach that asks you, what did you see right here? Why did you do this https://www.losprostoreonline.com/Justin_Herbert_Pillow_Cover-427. He gets to understand your thought process.This seems to be a trend with what new head coach Brandon Staley brings to his squad, and his coaches seem to be the same. Staley is said to listen to his player break down film to better understand what his players are seeing https://www.losprostoreonline.com/Keenan_Allen_T_shirt-12.So, what does Cook feel like he brings to the team?A chance to kind of help young players and also a chance to be able to kind of open up the offense a little bit more, spread the field, said Cook.You know, get on safeties and linebackers, exploit the mismatches when youre giving them, and being able to help score touchdowns and move the ball, which is important in this league.There was another reason why Cook wanted to join the Chargers besides the coaching staff.Justin Herbert also was a huge reason that I came here, he can sling the ball, man, and he came on last year, explained Cook.Unexpectedly when nobody was expecting him to be a starter, and I think he did a really good job at that.When it comes to spreading the field, he will be able to get more looks because of how much attention receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams get https://www.losprostoreonline.com/Rashawn_Slater_Pet_Jersey-550.He a dynamic receiver, explained Cook about Allen.Dynamic, one of the best. Route run is impeccable, and it another just another person where I can learn from just like I did from Mike Thomas. Just like I did from Davante Adams. I consider him one of the best receivers in the league.Last season, he got to see firsthand what Williams brings to the Chargers. When the Chargers went to New Orleans, Williams cooked their secondary for five catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns in week five Mike Williams Hoodie. He also had a special 29-yard jump ball reception over three secondary players.Im excited to play with Mike too big body frame receiver he is, explained Cook.He also a dynamic receiver that can go up and make highlight plays and actually did on us ever since Ive been playing against him. So, Im excited to see these guys daily.The Chargers feel like they got a difference-maker at the tight end position. Cook, even at his age, can spread the field and bring a lot to the offense.For Cook, this is an opportunity to keep showing how underrated he has been in his career.Yeah, Ive always felt like that and, you know, that just that just how it is, said Cook.That how my career is played out. That always leaves a chip on my shoulder to be able to go out and perform and do great things that continue to get better as a tight end.

Richard Jefferson picked out Kyrie Irving as the personal in the direction of get the previous shot with his lifetime upon the line Road Runner Tune Squad Jersey. The prior NBA participant shared the courtroom with a whole lot of proficient gamers however hed continue to transfer with Kyrie if he experienced in the direction of select someone toward deliver a shot in the direction of help you save his lifetime.The earlier NBA participant-became analyst just lately talked around this, mentioning all the perfect humans he performed with throughout his occupation however eventually heading with the Brooklyn Nets celebrity towards consist of that obligation LeBron James Space Jam Jersey.RJ a short while ago linked Identified as Match with Kenny Beecham, in which he described a assortment of matters. At some level, he was questioned the million-greenback ponder and he went with his past Cleveland Cavaliers teammate .I wouldnt will need toward acquire a shot for my everyday living, Jefferson explained.Im gonna supply it toHe not the simplest particular person Ive at any time performed https://www.spacejamstore.com/Kyrie_Irving_Jersey-26, since I performed with Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki and Bron and Steph and all Individuals Those people, nonetheless the individual that strike the major shot that Ive been component of is Kyrie. And it a single of the greatest photographs within just sports activities record. It a single of the largest singular performs inside American sports activities record. Which includes baseball, soccer, such as what was at stake inside that minute? 3-1 comeback, again-in the direction of-back again unanimous MVP , youre upon the highway in opposition to a personnel that experienced under no circumstances misplaced back again-toward-back again game titles at dwelling all yr. All of Individuals components went into this equation and he stepped up and strike a 3 which includes it was a layup https://www.spacejamstore.com. If I experienced in the direction of include a person specific shoot for my lifestyle, it would be Kyrie] mainly because that shot modified my lifestyle.That enjoy is unforgettable, as Jefferson discussed. Kyrie went in opposition to Stephen Curry, who was seeking in direction of secure him with his everyday living nevertheless the then Cleveland Cavaliers actuality secure went up and developed one particular of the most significant images inside of NBA heritage. It was the ideal closure for a excellent collection that will by no means be missed.It straightforward towards watch why Jefferson would transfer with Kyrie and no one else. It constructive towards check out that not everyone would opt for Andre Iguodala in direction of deliver a Really vital shot.