Shaquille O’Neal had nothing but good words for Anthony Davis after his exceptional performance in the double-overtime win last night against the Milwaukee Bucks. He made this known while on the program TNT’s Inside the NBA.
Anthony Davis, in the absence of LeBron James, who was being rested due to his lingering ankle injury, led the Lakers to a famous and challenging victory. He led the player statistics chart with 34 points, 23 rebounds, four blocks, two steals, and two assists in 52 minutes of playing time.
Big Shaq, while commenting on the game, shared an agreement he had with AD’s parents while the power forward was starting his career at the New Orleans Pelicans. As he praised the Lakers’ star, he also said what the pact was all about.
Shaquille O’Neal said:
He knows how I feel about him... His mother and father came up to me and said, 'We want you to stay on our boy,' because I know what he's capable of. Shaquille O’Neal said
"He knows how I feel about him… His mother and father came up to me and said, 'We want you to stay on our boy,' because, I know what he's capable of." @SHAQ gives AD some praise after his dominant night in the Lakers comeback pic.twitter.com/iFJzCT6rIi
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 27, 2024
Anthony Davis has been on fire this season, leading the Purple and Gold alongside partner in crime, LBJ. His performance was enough for the league to award him the Western Conference Player of the Week. He is averaging 24.7 PPG, 12.6 RPG, and 3.6 APG while having a field goal shooting of 55.3 %.
Anthony Davis was the star of the night as he led the line as the Los Angeles Lakers won against Eastern Conference rivals, the Milwaukee Bucks. It was a hard-fought victory, which, according to an analyst, the Lakers played with much freedom in the absence of their superstar talisman, LeBron James.
Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves & D'Angelo Russell for the @Lakers tonight:
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) March 27, 2024
92 points
44 rebounds
24 assists
They're the first NBA trio (on any team) to combine for 90/40/20 in a game since the Lakers' Wilt Chamberlain, Happy Hairston & Jerry West did so on January 24, 1971.
AD had help, however, as he was ably assisted by Austin Reaves , who had a triple-double of 29 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists. And D’Angelo Russell, who finished with 29 points, seven rebounds, and 12 assists, combined for an impressive 92 points, 44 rebounds and 24 assists. However, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 29 points, 21 rebounds, and 11 assists, and Damian Lillard’s 27 points, five rebounds, and eight assists weren’t enough to quench the fiery darts of the Lakers.
The win kept the Lakers’ winning streak alive and now at four games. Currently at 9th on the Western Conference standings with a 40-32 record. The Purple and Gold would be expected to pick up from where they left off when they take on the Memphis Grizzlies away tomorrow.
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The New York Knicks are likely to add a player in the backcourt with a veteran’s minimum contract. A few names that they have been linked to include Ben Simmons, Russell Westbrook, and Landry Shamet. Knicks could target Thomas Bryant for the last roster spot However, they could pivot towards frontcourt insurance for that last roster spot. SNY’s David Vertsberger listed veteran big man Thomas Bryant as a potential free agent target that the Knicks could pursue. “One position the Knicks may want to heavily consider using this spot for is the center spot. Their current rotation is made up of Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti, and if they start the double-big lineup, this essentially leaves them one backup five to start the year,” Vertsberger wrote. “They have interesting alternative options at the center like sliding newly-signed Guerschon Yabusele down a position or playing OG Anunoby there, and can always move Robinson back to the bench. However, signing a depth piece at the position like Thomas Bryant gives them more security in case injuries hit.” Bryant was in and out of the Indiana Pacers rotation last season, but he showed a capability to step up in the biggest moments. He played a crucial part in the Pacers’ Game 6 series-clinching win over New York in the Eastern Conference Finals, as he scored 11 points and knocked down three threes. Bryant could be a solid depth addition The 28-year-old started last season with the Miami Heat before being picked up by the Pacers. In 66 total games last season, he averaged 6.5 points and 3.8 rebounds. While Bryant likely wouldn’t play many significant minutes on the Knicks, he would be a solid third-string option at the position if an injury takes out one of their main centers. Towns, Robinson, and Hukporti all dealt with injuries last season, and the Knicks don’t want to find themselves in a position where they are without a center. If their backcourt targets end up signing elsewhere, Bryant could be a solid fallback option at a cheap price and still provide an impact should his name get called.
Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson is entering the final year of his six-year, $4.55 million AAV contract, and uncertainty surrounds his future. Speaking with Sweden’s Expressen, Andersson shot down false rumors about where he’s willing to go, and revealed he turned down a lucrative long-term offer from another NHL team. All of this took place roughly six weeks ago, says the blueliner. He cited family reasons as to why he’s being particular about his next move. Still, as picky as he might be, rumors he’s only willing to go to Vegas are not true. “But I have not given Calgary a team, that I only want to play with one team,” he said. “That is not true…” He did get an offer from another team, likely not the Golden Knights. “I wasn’t keen on moving my family there and signing a long-term contract,” Andersson explained, adding that he provided the Flames with a list of teams he’d consider signing with if traded. However, the team that offered him a deal wasn’t on that list. He explained, “I communicated that decision to Calgary. I said if you want to trade me, this is the number of teams I can think of signing for. But this wasn’t one of them.” The Flames and Andersson Aren’t Talking Any Longer Talks with Calgary have since gone silent. Speculation is that he’s not heard about a trade option or extension in over a month. Whether the Flames have stopped looking for now, or teams haven’t lined up with trade offers, it sounds like nothing is imminent. All that said, Andersson is expected to draw significant trade interest before the 2026 deadline if an extension isn’t reached. His situation will be one of Calgary’s most closely watched storylines this season.
It's the Browns. When the Cleveland Browns drafted Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders this April, they had a total of five quarterbacks on their roster between their incoming rookies, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and the injured Deshaun Watson. And despite the kind of confusing nature of their stockpiling so many QBs, it sounds like the team could double-down on the the decision by the time the regular season kicks off. According to The Athletic's Zac Jackson, "the Browns absolutely might keep all four quarterbacks" heading into Cleveland's season opener. While also adding, "No, Shedeur Sanders is not going to start Week 1 for the Browns. But he's put a lot of pressure on his coaches and fellow QBs headed into this week — the biggest week of training camp as the Browns head to Philly." Fans reacted to the reporter's update on X: "At this point it's not even a QB room anymore. It's a pitching rotation now," a user said. "One as a starter, One as a backup, One to hold on field goals, And one listed as a wide receiver for tax purposes," another commented. "[Shedeur Sanders] should be developed and shouldn't be thrown out there week 1 but he should be considered to be put over Gabriel and Pickett," a fan pointed out. "While also finally getting meaningful reps with the 1's." "I'm a Shedeur fan who wants Flacco to start with Shedeur at QB2," another person replied. "Sitting behind a veteran QB can be very valuable, and you know he'd be ready if he had to come off the bench. Just my .02." "This isn't unprecedented," another user posted. "The Patriots kept 4 QBs in the 2000 season. Worked out ok for them. Not saying there's a Brady in their QB room. But if they have 4 guys who they think are NFL worthy (even if none are QB1 right now), they can make it work." The Browns have been bitten by the injury bug thus far in camp with Pickett and Gabriel both dealing with ailments this preseason — opening up a window for Shedeur Sanders to earn his way up the depth chart. Sanders played well in Friday night's debut with a 14-of-23 performance for 138 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the way to a 30-10 win over Carolina. But head coach Kevin Stefanski says the team in "evaluation mode" when it comes to their QBs.
Washington Commanders HC Dan Quinn spoke with the media before practice today and continued to express his displeasure with the team's results in their blowout loss on Friday night. He spoke about the depth he likes on the team, but also hinted at some positions that could use some help. Quinn also said that the team would be working out a handful of players following practice today, and that they are always willing to improve the team where it's possible. Well, the Commanders signed a player today following the workouts that could hint at what Quinn was talking about, and more. Commanders sign former third-round pick The Commanders are signing a former third-round pick in LB Duke Riley, who was actually drafted by the Atlanta Falcons when Dan Quinn was the head coach there. This signing comes after the Commanders worked out 14 players after practice today, which contained seven linebackers and no wide receivers. After the performance we saw in the first preseason game on defense and special teams, these workouts shouldn't be surprising though. Riley was a starting linebacker in Atlanta when he was drafted in 2017, and eventually landed in Miami in 2021, where he has been a rotational linebacker and special-teams defender. That tells me a lot about what they saw on film after watching the first preseason game. Could the writing be on the wall? This immediately raises two flags for me: who would he replace on special teams, and what does this mean for the health of another linebacker? When you go back and watch the film, Dominique Hampton did not look good at all at his new linebacker position, and I don't have him making the active roster. The team also drafted Kain Medrano, who is listed as a linebacker on the depth chart by the team. Other than that, the Commanders have no true depth at linebacker. You have a special-teams ace who can't play linebacker, and a linebacker who can't play special teams. That's not a good combo for roster cuts. Veteran Nick Bellore has been an outstanding special-teams player, but could his lack of ability at linebacker cost the 36-year-old? Hopeful second-round linebacker Jordan Magee has so much potential, but he's already dealing with an undisclosed injury after playing only 16 snaps in his rookie season due to injuries. Signing Riley, who can rotate at linebacker and be a key special-teams piece, means that the team either doesn't like what they saw on film with special teams, or they aren't sure if Magee can stay healthy. Either way, this signing is filling in two major needs right now.