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The New York Knicks came away with a huge win on the road to defeat the Detroit Pistons in Game 3, but it didn’t come without a bit of controversy towards the end of the game.
Officials rule that Knicks’ Jalen Brunson did not commit a backcourt violation on a late inbounds play
With less than 10 seconds remaining and the Knicks up by three, New York inbounded the ball from the sideline to try to ice the game. Mikal Bridges threw the inbounds to Jalen Brunson near the half-court line, where his momentum carried him over the line and into the backcourt, and it looked as though he may have committed a backcourt violation that was not called by the officials.
After Ausar Thompson intentionally fouled Brunson with 3.5 seconds left, the Pistons’ bench was incensed with the fact that Brunson was not handed a violation. Brunson would knock down one of two free throws, and the Knicks would ultimately hang on to win 118-116, and Detroit wasn’t able to tie or win the game as a result of the no-call on Brunson.
Despite initially seeming like the no-call was an egregious mistake by the officials, it turns out that Brunson did not commit a violation. Following the conclusion of the game, crew chief Zack Zarba defended the no-call and explained why it was the correct call because of a rule in the official rulebook.
“Rule 4, Section 6G,” Zarba said to Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press. “The frontcourt/backcourt status is not obtained until a player with the ball has established a positive position in either half in this instance, during the throw in the last two minutes of the fourth period and the last two minutes in any overtime period. Obviously, that is where we were at that point.”
Game 3 came with a few controversial moments
Therefore, Brunson technically committed a legal play, and the Knicks were not “gifted” a win by the referees. That play was not the only controversy sparked by the officials, as Detroit was essentially granted an opportunity to tie or win the game with 0.5 seconds left after a clock malfunction rewarded them with an extra possession and a timeout despite not having any timeouts left.
Luckily for New York, Detroit turned the ball over on the inbounds pass, which essentially sealed the game for the Knicks. Game 3 was a hard-fought battle that brought all the energy that was advertised. The Knicks will look to repeat that in Game 4 and potentially take a commanding 3-1 series lead on Sunday.
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Knicks Reportedly Out Of Ben Simmons Sweepstakes
Three-time All-Star Ben Simmons has been one of the major names mentioned in the free agency market recently. Having garnered attention from several teams, including the New York Knicks, the outlook appears solid for the 30-year-old. But recent reports suggest that, of the teams pursuing him, the Knicks may be at the bottom of Simmons' list of preferences. NBA insider Sean Deveney recently spoke to an anonymous GM on the matter. The GM said: "Of the places he [Simmons] could land, they’d [Knicks] be at the bottom of the list. They’re the long shot." "He does not want the scrutiny. And they want to have room to use the whole roster, that’s one reason they got rid of (coach Tom Thibodeau). If you’re bringing in a veteran who is hurt half the season, it’s going to prevent you from seeing what you’ve got with your young guys." The GM raises some interesting points, highlighting how the situation may not suit Simmons, who has struggled in high-pressure environments, while also pointing out how the Knicks could be negatively impacted by signing him. What the 30-year-old brings to the table cannot be overlooked. His scoring output may be minimal, but his defensive versatility and playmaking make him an elite role player when healthy. Last season, the guard played in 51 games and averaged 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game. When considering that he has played in a total of 108 games over the last three seasons, Simmons' unavailability remains his biggest shortcoming. The Knicks are poised to be a contender in the East next season, and with a new head coach in Mike Brown, the team will be under immense pressure to succeed. Considering his experiences in New York, having played for the Brooklyn Nets, the former star is unlikely to show interest in returning to the city. Thus, signing with the Knicks would prove to be counterintuitive. In many ways, signing with the Knicks wouldn't be in Simmons' best interest, nor would it help the Knicks fulfill their goals for the upcoming season. At the current juncture, the Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, and Phoenix Suns are still in the race. Recent reports suggest that the guard is expected to decide in the upcoming week. The Celtics have been speculated as the most likely landing spot, given their roster limitations and the possibility of missing the playoffs next season. When considering their need for size and depth off the bench, Boston could be viewed as the most likely landing spot.
Stephanie White Puts Indiana Fever Players on Notice Despite Win Against Aces
The Indiana Fever’s starters turned in a strong all-around effort in Thursday’s 80-70 win over the Las Vegas Aces. The starting unit scored at least 13 points each, save for Aari McDonald, who registered nine points in 22 minutes of action. Indiana’s starters combined for 76 out of the team’s 80 points on the evening, which only means that the four other players who came off the bench accounted for just four points in the game. All that came from Sydney Colson, who went 2-of-5 in 18 minutes of playing time. Lexie Hull, Makayla Timpson and Damiris Dantas all failed to score in the win. Stephanie White Calls Out Fever's Bench Be that as it may, offense wasn’t even the biggest concern for head coach Stephanie White. In her postgame press conference, the veteran shot-caller called out Indiana’s bench for their lack of intensity on the defensive end, particularly in the first half. “Our bench has to be ready,” she said. “I felt like our bench in the second half was really good defensively. In the first half, I didn't feel that way. You got to be ready to come in and you got to be ready to guard your matchup and execute the game plan. "We have depth for a reason. We've got quality depth and we've got to be able to use it. So if fatigue is a factor in execution, then they just need to ask for a sub and I'll get them out and get them back in." It has been a bit of a busy stretch for the Fever at the midway point of the season. Thursday’s matchup against the Aces was their second game in three nights, and they will be back in action again on Sunday in a rivalry showdown against the Chicago Sky. White, however, isn’t accepting fatigue as an excuse. This is regardless of the fact that Caitlin Clark remains out with a re-aggravated groin injury. White is adamant that this roster has been built for adversity, and she didn’t hesitate to put her bench on notice after Thursday’s showing.
All signs point to Yankees moving on from Anthony Volpe
With the trade for Ryan McMahon now complete, it would seem New York Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman has fulfilled one of his three priorities. He can now cross third base off the list, which leaves the rotation and bullpen as his remaining priorities. However, according to one Yankees writer, Cashman might not be done with the infield. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reported this after the McMahon trade: “The Yankees may not be done adding to their infield. A team source said the Yankees are interested in adding a right-handed hitter who could play the infield.” Kirschner adds that the Yankees have had interest in Willi Castro and Amed Rosario. But the question now is, how would another player fit into the Yankees’ infield? Needless to say, Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. aren’t going anywhere, and McMahon is just getting there. That leaves the low-hanging fruit. Anthony Volpe has been at the center of controversy all this season. His 13 errors, many of which had come at make-or-break moments, amount to the second-highest total in the game. In addition, his bat has not been able to compensate, hitting .217/.288/.408 with 14 home runs. There was always a lot to like about Volpe. He won a Gold Glove in his rookie year, his power has always been promising and his speed is nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately, his glove has become a liability, and his speed has also produced very few results. Volpe has swiped just 10 bags in 17 attempts. His power is the one thing that still has some upside, but it hasn’t been enough to justify a spot in the lineup. Both Castro and Rosario have been far more productive at the plate this season than Volpe. Kirschner doesn’t clarify how serious the Yankees are in their pursuit of another infielder, but that most likely isn’t available information. Having just turned 24, Volpe could still become the type of player that was expected from him as a top prospect. However, his recent performance has weighed heavily on his team’s efforts, and it may be buying him a ticket out of the Bronx — or at least a spot on the bench.
Cowboys make questionable move amid Micah Parsons stalemate
The Dallas Cowboys extended one of their stars Sunday, just not the one fans wanted them to pay. At Cowboys training camp Saturday, Dallas fans serenaded owner Jerry Jones with "Pay Micah [Parsons]" chants. The EDGE, of course, is set to play on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract this season. Jones must not have been listening. He gave tight end Jake Ferguson a new contract instead. Dallas and the 26-year-old pass-catcher agreed to a four-year, $52M contract extension, via NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. This move seems head-scratching. Parsons has won the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year and earned two first-team All-Pro nods since the Cowboys took him with pick No. 12 in the 2021 NFL Draft. The 26-year-old EDGE also finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Ferguson, meanwhile, is solid but not elite. In three seasons with the Cowboys, the 2022 fourth-round pick has made one Pro Bowl and has never finished with more than 761 receiving yards in a season. An extension for Parsons will devour future cap space. The Cowboys may be worried about that after giving quarterback Dak Prescott (four years, $240M) and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (four years, $136M) long-term deals in 2024. Pittsburgh Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt signed a lucrative three-year, $123M extension on July 17, making him the league's highest-paid non-QB. Parsons could command a similar contract. If cap space is Dallas' primary concern, however, why would it extend Ferguson? He's now set to be the NFL's seventh-highest-paid TE. The Cowboys waited to extend Lamb and Prescott just before the start of the 2024 season. They may be doing the same with Parsons. The star defender has said, "Ownership is always gonna make [contract negotiations] drag out." Regardless, the Cowboys should've paid Parsons before Ferguson. That's a much bigger priority for the team.
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