On Facebook
On Flipboard
No one in the Eastern Conference wants the 10-seed
The Toronto Raptors were on a three-game winning streak that put them on the brink of 11th place in the Eastern Conference. That's why they benched their starters in crunch time Saturday night.
Jamal Shead hit this tough bucket that would have won the game for Toronto!
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 9, 2025
But he didn't get it off in time pic.twitter.com/UhlXP52kTk
Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl all sat out down the stretch as the Raptors barely avoided a comeback win against the Washington Wizards. Jamal Shead made what looked like the game-winning basket at the buzzer, but it was ruled too late and the Wizards won, 118-117.
Toronto's closing lineup included the rookie Shead, two-way player A.J. Lawson, two-way player Orlando Robinson, two-way player Jared Rhoden and Colin Castleton, who is on a 10-day contract. They almost won in spite of themselves, but instead got a loss to help their draft lottery odds.
They're not unique in their disinterest in making the play-in tournament. The Brooklyn Nets didn't score for the final 4:03 of their 105-102 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, blowing a 14-point fourth quarter lead. They've lost seven straight games.
The 11th-place Philadelphia 76ers have lost 12 of their last 13 games, with Joel Embiid out for the season and Paul George and Tyrese Maxey on the shelf. They'll face a challenge in continuing their losing ways Sunday, as the Utah Jazz put a whopping nine players on their injury report, including four who are out with "injury management" or "rest."
Jazz Injury Report:
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 8, 2025
OUT - Jordan Clarkson (left plantar fasciitis)
OUT - John Collins (low back - injury management)
OUT - Elijah Harkless (G League - Two-Way)
OUT - Taylor Hendricks (right fibula fracture)
OUT - Walker Kessler (rest)
OUT - Lauri Markkanen (low back -…
Only the 10th-place Chicago Bulls appear to be trying, despite a recent six-game skid. They're 26-38 after beating the Miami Heat Saturday, 114-109. They may not be a good team, but at least they play their starters at the end of close games. While their winning percentage of .406 would be the worst in the history of the play-in, the Bulls' four-game lead is looking insurmountable, given their competition.
The adoption of the play-in tournament was supposed to make the final month of the NBA season more relevant, and discourage bad teams from tanking. Instead, tanking season has started five weeks before the end of the season. Perhaps the only reason Washington and Charlotte are trying to win is that they have nearly locked down a bottom-four record and the maximum number of lottery ping-pong balls.
The lure of making the play-in isn't working like commissioner Adam Silver intended. Short of the NBA initiating fines for blatant tanking, the bottom part of the Eastern Conference looks to be unwatchable for the rest of the season.
More must-reads:
- Knicks signing former NBA champion
- NBA doubles down on controversial no-call at end of Heat-Wolves game
- The 'NBA players to record 40+ point games' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
TODAY'S BEST
Jeff Teague Says Warriors' Dynasty Run Would Not Happen Without Kevin Durant
The Warriors historically won three championships in five straight visits to the NBA Finals between 2015 to 2019. After the Cavaliers pulled off a historic upset in 2016, the Warriors added Kevin Durant to their roster. Jeff Teague, the former NBA champion, now claims that the Cavaliers essentially forced the Warriors to add more firepower to their team just because the Cavaliers were much better constructed as a roster than the Warriors. On the latest episode of the Club 520 podcast, Jeff Teague spoke his mind on the Warriors and Cavaliers' historic rivalry. He started by giving the Warriors their flowers with Kevin Durant. “They are probably the greatest team of all time. They got two bona fide Hall of Famers, top 20 on everybody's list, probably in basketball history. Arguably one of the greatest scorers." "Got the best three-point shooter and then the second greatest three-point shooter on some people's list in Klay Thompson. Then you got an all-defensive world player in Draymond Green. Probably make the Top 10 in defensive players of all time.” “Then you got a top 25 defender in Andre Iguodala. Yeah. Then you got a top 50 sixth man of the year in Sean Livingston. He ain't never won sixth man of the year, but you know what I mean…. That KD team was crazy.” Teague's co-hosts followed up to claim that the Warriors were forced to make the move for Kevin Durant after they realized that they could not beat the Cavaliers again without him. 2016's NBA Finals were essentially a glimpse of what the team could have accomplished if not for Kevin Durant. “Yeah, but n****s don't understand the Cavs team was better than the Warriors team. Yeah. Without KD, they're better, bro. Think about it. You got two No. 1 picks on your team [Kyrie Irving and LeBron James]. Steph and Klay, they’re nobody y'all Bron and Kyrie were supposed to be this. Steph and Klay weren't supposed to be this," said Teague. The former NBA champion then goes on to explain how the Cavaliers had a lot more talent on their first team in 2016. Kyrie Irving and LeBron James were both No. 1 picks. Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson were both top-five picks in their respective drafts. J.R. Smith was a high-level first-round pick as well. I do not concur with this analysis, as the Warriors were coming off a historic 2016 season where they recorded the most wins by any team in a single regular season (73-9). Therefore, they were not desperate to add more talent to their team. It was just a brainchild of Jerry West and Stephen Curry, who wanted to capitalize on Durant becoming a free agent after the 2016 season. Even without Durant, the Finals series might not have become as one-sided as it did eventually, as the Warriors would still have a fighting chance. Let's not forget, the Warriors took a 3-1 lead in the 2016 Finals with their old roster. One more win would have completely changed the narrative and history of this team.
Colts' QB decision makes no sense, sets stage for wasted season
The Indianapolis Colts must have zero belief that Anthony Richardson is capable of being a starting quarterback in the NFL. That is the only logical conclusion one can draw from their decision to go with Daniel Jones as their starting quarterback for the 2025 season, while also giving him a lengthy leash to play through. It's not only nonsensical, but it sets the stage for what could be a completely wasted season of football where they do not get anything from it. Whether the Colts decided to go with Jones or Richardson, their ceiling was unlikely to change. They're not a Super Bowl-contending team, and they may not even be a playoff team. The Colts have a very flawed roster that is probably more than just one quarterback away. But that's part of the reason why it would have at least made sense to give Richardson one more run at it. While the early part of his career has been filled with injuries and inconsistency, he is still a player they used a No. 4 overall pick on. He is also a player who is still full of talent, a big arm and — in theory — a lot of potential. He is in a lot of ways still a mystery and something of an unknown as an NFL player. He's played only 15 games, thrown just 348 passes and is still 23 years old. There is still something there that a team can dream on. It would make sense to try to see if he can figure it out given that unknown potential and upside. Jones, on the other hand, is the complete opposite in every way. He is a mostly known commodity in the NFL. He has appeared in 70 regular-season games and thrown 2,241 passes, and he is going to be 28 years old when the season begins. There are no secrets here. Everybody knows what he is: veteran mediocrity. Sure, there is a chance he could follow the path of Geno Smith and finally put things together and become an above-average starter after washing out with the New York Giants. But those types of success stories are the exception and not the rule. After six years and nearly 2,500 passes in the NFL you start to get a sense for what a quarterback is and what they can do. Jones has shown everybody who and what he is as an NFL starting quarterback: not good enough. What are the Colts hoping to accomplish here? Maybe Jones is a marginal upgrade over Richardson right now. But is he enough of an upgrade to take them from a mid-level, average team to a playoff team or a contender? Not likely. Not in a stacked AFC. Due to Richardson's upside, if he can reach it, he might actually have the ability to do that. That alone should have been the incentive to give him one more run at it. If he washes out, then you might know for sure that he is not your answer and that you need to seriously look at the position again in 2026. The season might not go well, but it at least wouldn't be a waste. Right now, the Colts just seem to be hoping that Jones can get them to another eight- or nine-win season that keeps them squarely in the middle of the NFL standings. Nobody wants to see that. Nobody wants to watch that. They should have at least given Richardson one more swing at it. Now they have pretty much already written him off as a potential option without ever really knowing for sure if he could do the job or reach his potential.
New report sheds light on how Cowboys view Micah Parsons situation
It is no secret that the relationship between Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys is not on solid ground, but that does not necessarily mean it is tarnished beyond repair. On the latest episode of his podcast, which was released on Tuesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter predicted that Parsons and the Cowboys are "headed towards divorce." Schefter said the two sides have not spoken since April and that it seems like a matter of when — not if — they part ways. Longtime NFL reporter Josina Anderson was told the situation is not quite that grim, at least from the Cowboys' perspective. Anderson reported on Tuesday evening that the relationship between Parsons and Dallas "has not deteriorated to the point of an imminent divorce." "I did not detect any obvious tones of concern in my sourced conversation when I recently asked about ESPN's Adam Schefter's report stating he sees 'these two sides headed towards a divorce, in time.' ... I just feel Dallas has so much history with protracted (and) sensitive negotiations, thus my current impression is the club remains unrattled, at this time," Anderson wrote in a post on X. Parsons is earning just over $24M in the final year of his rookie contract this season. The 26-year-old had 12 sacks in 13 games last season and has 52.5 sacks in 63 career games. Parsons is arguably the best pass-rusher in the NFL when healthy. Although Parsons has formally requested a trade, the Cowboys maintain that they have no intention of dealing their four-time Pro Bowl defensive end. The only real leverage Parsons has is creating a headache in Dallas. He remains under contract, and the Cowboys also have the ability to use the franchise tag on him in each of the next two seasons. If Parsons were to sit out regular-season games, his contract would eventually toll. Even with Jerry Jones publicly taking shots at Parsons, one massive contract offer could change everything.
Packers' blockbuster trade pitch adds Micah Parsons for huge price
Speculation linking Dallas Cowboys All-Pro edge-rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers continues to gain momentum as the star’s holdout amid stalled contract negotiations seems as far apart as ever. Parsons, two weeks ago, publicly requested a trade and continues to hold-in during Cowboys training camp, while there is a belief that Green Bay is attempting to pull off a blockbuster trade. Potential Packers-Micah Parsons Blockbuster Trade Package Parsons, 26, has posted 52.5 sacks through his first four seasons and is one of the most dominant players at his position. He is the kind of difference-maker who could cement Green Bay as a legitimate Super Bowl contender for years to come. But prying Parsons away from the Cowboys wouldn’t come cheap. "You’d want to hope to trade no more than three good young players for one elite player," an NFL executive and former general manager said to me recently of what a Parsons trade package might look like. Given that strategy, it isn’t difficult to envision Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst offering a package of players and picks that looks something like: Packers Trade: 2026 first-round NFL Draft choice, 2027 first-round draft choice, WR Romeo Doubs, EDGE Lukas Van Ness Cowboys Trade: Micah Parsons Trading two first-round picks is likely the starting point for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys in any Parsons negotiations. For the Packers, trading Van Ness would be offering a change of scenery for a former first-round draft choice who has yet to live up to expectations, and upgrading the position with a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber player. Meanwhile, shipping Doubs to Dallas clears a logjam at wide receiver, while helping the Cowboys round out a balanced receiving corps that would include CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens and Doubs as perhaps the most prolific collection of talent Dak Prescott has had in his career. Whether Parsons’ trade request is anything more than posturing remains to be seen, but if the Cowboys open up trade talks, this package could be the kind of trade that nets Green Bay a difference-maker.
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
