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Commissioner Adam Silver and company have had a plethora of problems on their hands this season, including a perceived NBA ratings issue as well as the lack of attention that the current best teams in the league are receiving. With such big issues at hand, fans might not expect the league to be focused on more trivial matters, but that’s exactly what was insinuated by a recent announcement regarding the way games are timed.
“The NBA is changing the shape of the shot clock. The NBA, WNBA, and G League will start using the new one — the circle one — starting next season,” reported Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic on BlueSky.
It’s unclear exactly what effect the NBA intends for the new shot clock to have on the in-game experience, outside of perhaps making the court slightly more visible for people sitting in certain rows behind the basket.
The way the shot clock actually operated was shifted in recent years, as the league made it so that if a team secured an offensive rebound, the shot clock would reset to 14 instead of 24, which is perhaps at least part of the reason why there has been such an uptick in scoring as of late.
Other changes that fans have clamored for have included doing something about the current influx of three-point shooting, which has essentially eliminated the differing styles of play that defined previous eras of basketball, even if the offenses today are as efficient as ever.
Fans have also been wondering why in the last few postseasons, the league has declined to put the “NBA Playoffs” logo on the court, as was previously customary, or painting a large trophy over the team logos during the Finals.
For now, fans will have to be satisfied with the change to the shot clock structure, even if it wasn’t the most pressing issue.
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1 final move Los Angeles Lakers must make to complete 2025 NBA offseason
This offseason has been a rather eventful one for the Los Angeles Lakers. And they may not be done making moves yet. Now that they’ve received extra security for their future after Luka Doncic decided to sign a three-year, $165 million extension to stay until at least the 2027-28 season, they could very well be more aggressive when it comes to making moves — especially with LeBron James putting so much pressure on the team to turn the team into a surefire championship contender. At the very least, the Lakers can rest a bit easier knowing that they filled their biggest need heading into the offseason. They badly needed a new starting center after finishing the 2024-25 campaign with the overmatched Jaxson Hayes in the starting lineup, and they got Deandre Ayton at such a bargain contract that it’s difficult to rag them for bringing him in — punctuality and attitude concerns notwithstanding. And then the Lakers also brought Marcus Smart in from the buyout market, although they did lose Jordan Goodwin, a bundle of energy and a hustle guy off the bench, in the process. Smart has been ridiculously injury-prone over the past few years, but he did win the Defensive Player of the Year award just three years ago — so he’s a worthwhile, if risky, flier. As presently, constructed, however, the Lakers may not have enough to win a title. Doncic and James are two of the greatest postseason performers of all-time, but the supporting cast needs work — especially when they lost Dorian Finney-Smith in free agency. In particular, the Lakers need an upgrade at the wing — the final move they must pull off to complete their offseason this year. Should the Lakers bring Andrew Wiggins in? As things stand, the Lakers will presumably be starting Rui Hachimura alongside Doncic, James, Ayton, and Austin Reaves. That looks like a dangerous starting lineup on paper. However, that lineup distinctly lacks a lockdown defender who will take on the best perimeter scorer on the opposing team. Doncic and Reaves are not the sturdiest defensive duo to begin with; the former’s effort comes and goes, and the latter’s size makes him a target for opposing teams to exploit in pick-and-roll situations. James can only do so much now that he’s set to turn 41 years of age in December. Ayton’s motor issues are well-documented. The Lakers’ defense was top-notch last season even after bringing Doncic in thanks in large part to the defensive scheme that head coach JJ Redick deployed. Redick would want to load up the strong side, relying on the Lakers’ fleet-footed perimeter defenders, such as Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Finney-Smith, to cover the ground on the weak side when the opposing offense starts to ping the ball around. Now that the Lakers have more size on the interior, they don’t have to play as frenetic of a defensive scheme. However, the playoffs have shown that you can only have so many weak links on defense if the goal is to win the Larry O’Brien trophy. No, Hachimura is not exactly a defensive weak link. But he’s not exactly the lockdown wing defender that’s going to slow down the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Anthony Edwards. The Lakers will have to upgrade this position — especially if their mind is set on keeping Reaves alongside Doncic and James. The Lakers’ reported interest in Andrew Wiggins should not come as a surprise to anyone. Wiggins has the size of a prototypical and ideal wing in the NBA, and he has a track record of elevating his game in the playoffs. In 2022, Wiggins became his best self, especially on defense, hounding Doncic and Jayson Tatum en route to winning the title with the Golden State Warriors. Since the Lakers believe that they can turn back the clock to 2022 anyway with the addition of Smart, why not make another gamble in the form of Wiggins? Alas, the Miami Heat have reportedly been very difficult to negotiate with, and as such, the Lakers appear to be setting their sights elsewhere. But Wiggins might be the attainable piece at the end of the day, as 3-and-D wings are at a premium in today’s NBA. Rumor has it that the Lakers are saving their resources for the 2027 offseason, when the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Donovan Mitchell, among others, could hit the open market. But time is of the essence for this Lakers team. If the Heat lower their asking price for Wiggins, then the Lakers should be all over the former champion and All-Star starter.
Green Bay Packers: Brett Favre’s Emotional Tribute to Sterling Sharpe After Hall of Fame News
Three decades after he played his last game in the NFL, former Green Bay Packers star wide receiver Sterling Sharpe finally got his bronze bust in Canton. Sharpe’s career may have been cut short by a neck injury, but he’ll always be remembered as one of the best wide receivers in the game, and that’s further cemented by his official status as a Pro Football Hall of Famer. People can also just ask former Packers quarterback and another Pro Football Hall of Famer in Brett Favre, about how good Sharpe really was. Sharpe had a significant role in helping Favre establish a legendary NFL career. Brett Favre pays homage to former Green Bay Packers WR Sterling Sharpe Favre, who is now 55 years old, recently hopped on social media to send classy messages to two former teammates who have been inducted this year to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Sharpe and Jared Allen, who played against and with the signal-caller. “Sterling, you were the ultimate competitor,” Favre wrote in a post on X. “I was just a young quarterback when we played together in Green Bay, and you made my job easier from day one. You ran every route with precision, caught everything thrown your way, and brought an intensity that raised the entire locker room. If not for that neck injury, there’s no telling how many records you would’ve shattered. Long overdue, but so well deserved.” From the 1992 season to the 1994 campaign, Favre and Sharpe worked together for a total of 42 touchdowns. With Sharpe retiring early, he was not able to play during the best years of Favre’s NFL career. After the 1994 season, Favre won three consecutive Most Valuable Player awards. Sharpe played seven seasons in the NFL, all with the Packers, and was a Pro Bowler in each but two of those years. He finished his pro career with 8,134 receiving yards and 65 touchdowns on 595 receptions and 1,015 targets through 112 games.
'Agreement in Place' - Journalist Provides Key Update on Sunderland’s New Striker Transfer
Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie confirmed that Sunderland's deal to sign Chelsea striker Marc Guiu on loan remains on track, despite doubts. Yesterday, the mentioned reporter stated that although the flight Guiu (19) was scheduled to take got postponed, the agreement for his arrival at the Stadium of Light remains valid. It was evident that with no recent updates, the press and fans would start doubting the Catalan's arrival at the club, but apparently everything is in order. The FC Barcelona academy graduate has high chances of becoming Sunderland's ninth signing this summer. Journalist provides key update on Sunderland's new striker transfer On Saturday, Downie had reported the following: "Marc Guiu will fly into the North East this afternoon to complete his move to Sunderland. 19yo striker will undergo a medical in the next 24 hours." "SAFC have agreed a season-long loan with PL counterparts Chelsea," added the journalist via his Twitter (X) account. And yesterday, Sunday, the Sky Sports reporter updated: "Little update on this: Guiu's flight was postponed today, but doesn't mean the deal is dead." "Agreement still in place and an expectation that the striker will finalise his move to Sunderland on loan for the season." Therefore, we can expect more concrete updates about Guiu's signing with the Black Cats in the coming hours. We'll see. What is certain is that Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris is frustrated with the club's transfer activity, according to the same cited journalist. Apparently, the Lads are expected to add three or four more players to their squad, with attack being one of the priority areas to strengthen. In recent hours, Sunderland have been linked with a couple of forwards, such as Galatasaray's Baris Alper Yilmaz (25) or Leverkusen's Amine Adli (25). We'll see how many of them ultimately embark on the adventure of keeping the club in the Premier League. Read More:
Aaron Boone Had Three Words After Yankees’ Third Straight Loss
The New York Yankees entered Sunday’s finale against the Miami Marlins with increased pressure to deliver. Entering the game down 2-0 in the series, the Yankees hoped to get back to winning ways. However, the team suffered another disappointing defeat on the road, losing 7-3 to Miami. The latest loss compounds New York’s recent struggles. New York is now 25-32 since May 29, including costly series sweeps to the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and now a weekend sweep in Miami. While they’ve managed a 13-10 mark at home during this time, the team’s inability to perform on the road continues to threaten their postseason chances. Aaron Boone’s Comments Amid Yankee’s Embarrassing Form Following Sunday’s loss, Yankees manager Aaron Boone addressed the team’s poor outing. He had a three-word message that summarizes where his team is at following a third straight loss. “Gut check time,” Boone said, describing the urgency to turn things around at a crucial point of the season. Boone, whose job status has come under increasing fan scrutiny, acknowledged the team’s prolonged slump and admitted the Yankees have to take responsibility. Despite notable trade deadline additions—including David Bednar, Camilo Doval, and Jake Bird—the team’s bullpen issues and inconsistent offense have not improved. Boone has been adamant about the need for greater focus and resilience down the stretch. But with New York slipping further behind in the American League East, questions are being asked about whether his voice still resonates in the clubhouse. With the latest loss, the Yankees have now been swept in three of their last seven road series and hold an MLB-worst 5-17 record on the road since June 13. Before that stretch, they were the best road team in baseball at 21-13. Marlins Make History Against the Yankees The Yankees’ latest loss also meant franchise history for the Marlins, who have now completed their first-ever three-game sweep of New York. Kyle Stowers delivered the big blow with a three-run homer, while Edward Cabrera dominated on the mound with six shutout innings and seven strikeouts. With the win, the Marlins hold steady at the third spot of the NL East, improving their record to 55-55 as they continue to fight for a playoff spot. Miami have also now won eight of their last 10 games and appear to be picking up at the right time. As for New York, they continue to trail the Blue Jays and Red Sox in the AL East, and will now turn their attention to a critical road series against the Texas Rangers. The Yankees will hope they can return to winning ways quickly, with the AL East top spot now starting to slip away.
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