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In case you’re worried about whether the Cavaliers will hold on to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference … well, it’s OK. This is Cleveland, after all.
But you should also know that the Cavs (60-15) are all but a shoo-in for that top spot with just seven games to go. Granted, the reigning champion Boston Celtics (56-19) have won nine straight and may not lose again.
Boston’s schedule in these final two weeks is laughably easy. It consists of three straight home games against Miami, Phoenix and Washington, followed by road games at Orlando and New York. Then the Celtics wrap up the regular season with back-to-back home games against tanking and generally terrible Charlotte.
Meanwhile, the Cavs face New York at home, San Antonio on the road, Sacramento and Chicago at home, and Indiana and New York on the road, before ending the regular season with a home date against the Pacers.
In order for the Cavaliers to lose their grip on the East’s top spot, they would need to lose at least four of those final seven — assuming the Celtics win out.
That gives Cleveland a 97.3 percent chance of finishing with the top spot, according to Basketball Reference’s playoff probabilities. (For the record, they can finish no worse than second.) A home win against the Knicks on Wednesday would only increase those odds.
Either way, coach Kenny Atkinson strongly suggested the Cavs aren’t overly concerned with much more beyond the next game.
“The first priority is playing well and having everybody healthy (for the playpoffs),” Atkinson said. “If the No. 1 seed comes with that …”
Well, then that’s just the feather in the cap of a banner season. And if the Cavs do the things Atkinson mentioned, that top Eastern spot for the playoffs will indeed be theirs. As it should be.
More must-reads:
- Is Cooper Flagg’s hype getting out of hand?
- Derrick Rose’s impact in Chicago goes way beyond basketball
- The 'Season TD pass leaders by NFL team' quiz
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Lakers Bring Back 28-Year-Old Center on New Contract
A year ago, the Lakers brought on a training camp big guy who had been a staple in the G League, and had bounced through international stints in Canada, Denmark and Britain. Kylor Kelley, the former Oregon State 7-footer, made enough of an impression to stay with the Lakers throughout camp and stick around with the South Bay Lakers of the G League after he was waived. Kelley averaged 11.1 points and 6.8 rebounds in 24.3 minutes with South Bay, blocking 2.0 shots per game. He earned an NBA call-up, but not with the Lakers--he signed to play with the Mavericks in January and after he was released, signed a 10-day with the Pelicans in April. Now, the Lakers are bringing Kelley back on a training camp contract. The team made the announcement on Monday, one day before Kelley's 28th birthday. The team wrote: "Kelley (7’0”, 230) appeared in 11 NBA games (two starts) last season with the New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks, averaging 3.1 points and 3.5 rebounds in 11.5 minutes. In his first career NBA start with the Mavericks Feb. 2 at Cleveland, Kelley recorded a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double to go with one assist and one block." Who Will Be the Lakers' Centers This Season? Kelley will not make the roster out of camp, but the Lakers like him enough to keep him around and could put him back with the South Bay Lakers as an option in case of injury, or in case they decide he's developed enough to deserve a shot. Kelley does have NBA experience now, after all, and if the Lakers do not bring him up, someone else could. He would also be a candidate for one of the Lakers' two-way contracts. They currently have two spots filled and can add a third. Center is, without a doubt, the weak spot of the Lakers' roster. They landed former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton in free agency this summer, and while Ayton is solid offensively, there is a reason both Portland and Phoenix did not want him on their teams--he can't defend. The Lakers also have Jaxson Hayes, who played well in spurts last season, but has struggled with his consistency during his six NBA seasons.
Commanders crush training camp buzz with stunning trade report
Adam Peters is not one for sitting on his hands. And according to a recent report, the Washington Commanders general manager is looking to offload another veteran player who might not be part of the team's plans moving forward. According to Dianna Russini from The Athletic, the Commanders are gauging interest from around the league in Noah Igbinoghene. The cornerback enjoyed a decent 2024 campaign with significant responsibilities on his shoulders and deservedly got a new one-year deal this offseason. After starring at training camp and flashing in the preseason, most fans thought his place in Washington's corner unit was secure. That is more uncertain than ever now. Nothing has been confirmed one way or another, but at this time of year, there is also no smoke without fire. Commanders taking a big risk by potentially trading Noah Igbinoghene Igbinoghene is ascending when all hope seemed lost once upon a time. He was taken in the first round by the Miami Dolphins but never met expectations. Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. spent one year working with him on the Dallas Cowboys before bringing the defensive back to Washington. He's finally starting to put everything together, so this would be a questionable move. The Commanders' cornerback group is expected to be among their strengths this season. Marshon Lattimore and second-round rookie Trey Amos are the starting boundary tandem. Mike Sainristil is the potential superstar in the nickel. Two-time Super Bowl winner Jonathan Jones joined the ranks this offseason, and Igbinoghene was expected to round off the unit. There isn't much quality aside from that. Considering the injury issues around Lattimore and the age of Jones, keeping Igbinoghene has more benefits than letting him go. And it's also worth noting that he counts just $1.5 million against the Commanders' salary cap in 2025. It'll be interesting to see if a willing suitor comes forward for Igbinoghene. There are several teams in need of improving their cornerback depth, so they could see his current trajectory as the start of a potential career renaissance into his prime. He's also entering his sixth season and is still just 25 years old, which carries a ton of weight. Developments will happen quickly. But it's starting to look like Igbinoghene might not be around for much longer. More Commanders news and analysis
Zachary Yager, Veteran NASCAR Pit Crew Member, Dies Aged 35
Zachary Yager, who had served as an over-the-wall pit crew member in the NASCAR National Series ranks since the 2014 season, has died at the age of 35. TobyChristie.com had the initial report of Yager's death. Yager, a New York native, had pit crew stints with Richard Childress Racing, Team Penske, RFK Racing, and JTG Daugherty Racing (now known as HYAK Motorsports), where he won the 2023 Daytona 500, from 2014 to 2024. Ahead of the 2025 season, Yager moved to Elite Race Services, a Mooresville, NC-based company that specializes in assembling teams of pit crews for NASCAR National Series race teams. This season, Yager had been serving as the Jack Man for the No. 39 RSS Racing team in the NASCAR Xfinity Series as well as the No. 88 ThorSport Racing team in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The loss of Yager was absolutely unexpected for Elite Race Services, which is grieving the loss of one of its own, while issuing its deepest sympathy to Yager's family. “Obviously, nobody saw this coming and we’re in total disbelief,” Cory DeMarco, owner of Elite Race Services said in a statement given to TobyChristie.com. “All of the guys send our thoughts and prayers out to his dad and family, right now.” ThorSport Racing, likewise, expressed grief over the sudden and unexpected loss of Yager. “We are deeply saddened by the unexpected passing of our friend and teammate, Zachary Yager,” said ThorSport Racing in a statement. “He was an important part of our family, and our hearts are with his loved ones and community as we grieve this loss together.” While he was serving as a Jack Man this season, Yager was well-known as a well-rounded pit crew member, who could perform at nearly every position on an over-the-wall pit crew. Yager previously served as a Tire Carrier and Fueler in addition to the Jack Man role. No details surrounding Yager's death have been released, but the veteran pit crew member had been missing since Monday, August 18, according to various social media posts from members of Yager's family.
Keegan Bradley expected to make controversial Ryder Cup captain's pick
Keegan Bradley will announce his six captain's picks for the 2025 Ryder Cup on Wednesday, but we might already know the answer to the most glaring question he's facing. According to James Corrigan of The Telegraph, Bradley is expected to pick himself as a playing captain at Bethpage Black. If true, Bradley will become the first playing captain in the Ryder Cup since Arnold Palmer in 1963. It went well for Team USA 62 years ago, as the Red, White and Blue cruised to a 23-9 victory against Team Great Britain at Atlanta Athletic Club. Palmer went 3-0-1 in his four matches that week. It probably isn't fair to compare Bradley's situation to Palmer's six decades ago. In fact, the Europeans will be delighted if the American captain brings his clubs to Long Island in September. "It’s the impossible job to do both," Sir Nick Faldo, Europe’s 2008 captain, told The Telegraph. "There’s so much attention needed. The fans will call him selfish for picking himself. Goodness knows what the media will say. You could regret it for the rest of your life. Look, you’ve got enough going on trying to win your match. We hope Bradley does... we hope he stays as captain and does two roles!" Rory McIlroy, who figures to be one of the stars on Team Europe in 2025, echoed the same sentiment. "I don't think you can do it," McIlroy told reporters ahead of the BMW Championship. "I just think the commitments that a captain has the week of—you think about the extra media that a captain has to do, you think about the extra meetings that the captains have to do with the vice captains, with the PGA of America, in Keegan's case, preparing your speech for the opening ceremony. There's a lot of things that people don't see that the captain does the week of the Ryder Cup, especially now that the Ryder Cup has become so big." At the same time, it's hard to argue that there are six options better than Bradley on the American side. The 39-year-old recorded 11 top-20 finishes in 21 starts this season, won the Travelers Championship in June and finished T7 at the Tour Championship. He currently ranks 11th in the Official World Golf Ranking and 18th in the Data Golf Rankings. If Bradley weren't the Team USA captain, he would be a lock for a wild-card spot on the team. The only factor holding him back is the uncertainty of pulling double duty, but that's what his vice captains are for. Jim Furyk, Kevin Kisner, Webb Simpson, Gary Woodland and Brandt Snedeker are more than capable of picking up the slack when Bradley is on the course. This decision is exactly what the Europeans were rooting for, but Bradley plays his best golf when he's doubted.
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