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The New York Knicks came back from down 20 points to topple the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of their second-round matchup, although they know that the Celtics will bounce back in Game 2 and present even more of a challenge.
All season long, Boston has been the favorite to win the NBA Finals, and in the regular season, they dominated the Knicks, winning all four games. With a win finally under the Knicks' belt, head coach Tom Thibodeau knows one player in particular will bring his best effort in Game 2.
In Game 1, Jrue Holiday finished with 16 points, six rebounds, and three assists. He shot 50 percent from the floor, but what really stood out was the rebounding.
Five of his six boards were off the offensive glass, shocking for a smaller guard.
"I thought Holiday hurt us with his offensive rebounding," said Tom Thibodeau. "We've got to make sure that we get a body on him. He's really quick to the ball. And as a team, they're quick to the ball. So we have to do a better job with that."
The Knicks as a team got outrebounded 59-49 in the game, and were only able to crawl back thanks to Boston going cold from deep, although Holiday won't stand for that in Game 2.
"He has a multiple-effort mentality," continued Thibodeau. "He makes a lot of tough plays for us, plays with physicality. But it's physicality with intelligence. It's not reckless fouls. It's body position. It's anticipation. It's thinking ahead. It's reading the play. It's reading the tendency. He's got great instincts for that."
Game 2 will tip off in Boston at 7:00 on Wednesday, with the broadcast being carried by TNT.
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Houston Rockets Will Benefit from this Brooklyn Nets Loss
One of the biggest stories that is going on in the NBA media realm is the future of Cam Thomas in a Brooklyn Nets uniform. Thomas, who is currently a restricted free agent, has seen his value fluctuate throughout the summer, but a recent offer from the Nets may have helped settle where his current value may stand. Brooklyn offered Thomas a two-year deal worth $14 million, according to NBA reporter Jake Fischer, and while it may be a decent offer, the 23-year-old guard believes he is worth more than that. “Cam Thomas thinks of himself as one of the most elite playmaking scorers in the NBA, and he wants to be compensated as such,” said Fischer. Because of the inability to strike a deal, fans and insiders around the league have begun to speculate that Cam Thomas could very well be on his way out of Brooklyn. But what does all this have to do with the Houston Rockets? Well, when James Harden was traded from Houston to the Brooklyn Nets in 2021, this gave the Rockets a 2026 first-round pick and a 2027 first-round pick swap with Houston. Brooklyn is coming off a 26-56 season, where they were a bottom-five team in the Eastern Conference last season. Now heading for yet another rebuild this upcoming season, fans may have to prepare for another lackluster year if they lose their leading scorer and spark plug, Cam Thomas. Houston is poised to have a stellar season this upcoming year so it is unlikely that the team falls anywhere near the top 15 selections, however if the Nets continue to fall down the rabbit hole of the Eastern Conference than the Rockets have a chance at either using the picks for more assets or even finding another player for the future in the respective draft classes.
Five potential landing spots for Christian Wilkins after stunning Raiders release
The Las Vegas Raiders just stunned the league by releasing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins after only one year with the team. After signing a four-year, $110 million contract, he struggled with injuries in 2024. This was supposed to be a big bounce-back year for Wilkins, but after a dispute between the two sides in regard to how to handle his foot injury, the team decided it was best to part ways. Now, a premier interior disruptor is suddenly available. Assuming his medicals get checked out soon, there should be a lot of interest around the league. Where should he land? Dallas Cowboys Dallas has needed a dominant interior presence for quite some time. Osa Odighizuwa is an awesome threat, but he is only solid against the run. Alongside him, the team will be banking heavily on 2023 first-rounder Mazi Smith, who has been disappointing so far. With Dallas looking to return to the playoffs, adding a stud like Wilkins could give Dallas one of the best defensive lines in the NFL. San Francisco 49ers The 49ers added some young bodies in CJ West and Alfred Collins, yet neither offer a proven, all-around talent like Wilkins could if healthy. The 49ers defensive line was horrid outside of Nick Bosa in 2024, but by adding Wilkins, the team would now have a solid cast of starters with Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, Wilkins and Kevin Givens/Jordan Elliott. Miami Dolphins A return to Miami makes a ton of sense for both sides. The Dolphins know exactly how to use Wilkins, he knows the building and players, and the transition would be very easy. Miami needs help in the interior defensive line; by plugging Wilkins back into his old role, he could offer the quickest path to high-level impact. Detroit Lions With Levi Onwuzurike out with injury and Detroit needing more juice on the defensive line, adding a proven disruptor like Wilkins could make some sense. He could provide more depth while he gets fully healthy, and he can join a legit Super Bowl contender. His energy and mentality could be a good fit for a Dan Campbell-led squad. Jacksonville Jaguars The Jaguars defense is average in the interior, but they have excellent edge-rushers who would benefit greatly from a strong disruptor up the middle. Wilkins could balance the front, help in the run defense and allow more one-on-ones for their premier edge-rushers. For a team that wants to return to the playoffs as soon as possible, adding a veteran like Wilkins could be a worthy bet to make.
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 in 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 .214/.286/.407 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.
Two Teams Linked to a Trade with Bruins for Pavel Zacha
The Boston Bruins are gauging trade interest in forward Pavel Zacha, according to The Fourth Period. Following a down season and a trade deadline where Zacha’s name was thrown around but was ultimately not moved, Bruins GM Don Sweeney is trying to move the 27-year-old Czech center. Zacha is playing in the final season of a contract that has a $4.75 million cap hit. Zacha, acquired from the New Jersey Devils in 2022 for Erik Haula, has been a solid pickup for Boston. He posted 21 goals and 57 points in 78 games in 2023-24, though his production dipped slightly to 47 points over a full 82-game slate last season. He can play up and down the lineup and has a strong two-way game. Who Has Shown Interest in a Zacha Trade? Two teams reportedly monitoring Zacha are the Vancouver Canucks and the Utah Hockey Club. Both teams are seeking top-six forward depth and would value Zacha’s steady offensive contributions. The Canucks have been busy all summer, signing and trading players. They have also been linked to Jack Roslovic talks in free agency, meaning they wouldn’t be adding both. Utah has been looking to make a splash this season and work their way up the standings in an attempt to compete for the playoffs. The Bruins would likely demand a notable return, but neither team is looking to send players back. The trade would likely involve a high pick or a mid-tier prospect. Zacha controls part of the process with an eight-team no-trade list. He’s owed just $3.75 million in actual salary each of the next two seasons, further boosting his trade appeal.
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