Erik Slater Articles - Page 23

Tyreek Hill and the Miami Dolphins have been among the NFL’s biggest disappointments this season. After emerging as the league’s top weapon in 2023, Hill is having his least-productive season in years during a 2-6 start with the Dolphins. The 30-year-old has caught 34 of 56 targets for 446 yards and one touchdown. Hill’s 55.8 […]

Doc Rivers came out of retirement for a chance to lead the Bucks to an NBA title alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, the team has rarely looked like a contender with him as head coach. Milwaukee posted an 18-20 record to close last season after Rivers took over for Adrian Griffin. The Bucks have been the […]

The New York Knicks made an all-in move this summer when they acquired Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves. It’s safe to say they haven’t gotten off to the start they were hoping for, posting a 4-5 record. The Knicks’ defense has been their Achilles heel early this season. They rank 21st on that end […]

The Pittsburg Steelers attempted to fill a hole in their wide receiver room when they acquired Mike Williams at the trade deadline. They saw immediate returns during Sunday’s 28-27 win over the red-hot Washington Commanders. Trailing 27-21 on a 3rd and 9 with 2:27 remaining, Russell Wilson faded back against a Washington blitz and lofted […]

The San Francisco 49ers welcomed back the NFL’s most versatile weapon during Sunday’s 23-20 road win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Christian McCaffrey returned to the lineup after missing the first eight games of the season due to Achilles and calf injuries. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year didn’t put up eye-popping numbers in […]

The Brooklyn Nets were on the verge of handing the Cleveland Cavaliers their first loss on Saturday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. However, as was the case during Friday’s road loss to the Boston Celtics, they came up short in the final minutes. After trailing by 15 points during the first half, the Nets fought back […]

Ben Simmons found himself in an unusual place to start Friday’s Brooklyn Nets-Boston Celtics matchup: the bench. After the three-time All-Star started his first six games of the season, head coach Jordi Fernandez removed him from the lineup in favor of Nic Claxton, who had been progressing back from a hamstring injury. It marked the […]

The last time the Brooklyn Nets played at TD Garden, they suffered a 50-point loss, the second-worst in franchise history. They returned Friday and nearly took down the reigning champion Boston Celtics during a 108-104 overtime loss. The impressive showing continues the Nets’ surprise start after many projected them to be among the NBA’s worst […]

Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons will not play Saturday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, head coach Jordi Fernandez announced before Friday’s matchup with the Boston Celtics. Simmons has not played a back-to-back this year after his last two seasons were cut short by back injuries. Fernandez said the three-time All-Star will continue to sit back-to-backs […]

The Brooklyn Nets are among the NBA’s top surprise teams early this season, and much of the credit has gone to first-time head coach Jordi Fernandez. Despite many labeling them as the league’s worst team entering 2024-25, the Nets are off to a 4-4 start. Fernandez’s squad has routinely outworked opponents, overcoming a high-end talent […]

The Brooklyn Nets have been among the NBA’s top surprises early this season. While many projected the rebuilding squad to be in the running for the league’s worst record, Brooklyn has started 4-4 under first-time head coach Jordi Fernandez. Led by veteran point guard Dennis Schroder, the Nets rank 10th in offense through eight games. […]

The Brooklyn Nets ruled out Trendon Watford for their upcoming three-game road trip due to a hamstring injury, head coach Jordi Fernandez announced Thursday. After he missed all four of the team’s preseason games, the Nets listed Watford as available for last week’s matchup with the Chicago Bulls. However, the forward reaggravated the injury pregame, […]

Despite their struggles early this season, the Dallas Cowboys did not make wholesale changes at the trade deadline. Team president Jerry Jones made one move, acquiring wide receiver Jonathan Mingo from the Carolina Panthers for a fourth-round pick. After a 3-5 start, Robert Griffin III said the Cowboys are, without a doubt, the loser of […]

Travis Kelce made NFL history during the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 9 victory over the Tampa Buccaneers on Monday Night Football. The 35-year-old caught 14 passes during the win, becoming the first player in NFL history 35 or older to reach the mark. Kelce had an NSFW reaction after his brother Jason made him aware […]

The Pittsburg Steelers upgraded their receiving corps at the trade deadline, acquiring Mike Williams from the New York Jets for a fifth-round pick. However, they reportedly had their sights set higher, inquiring about several other wideouts in recent weeks. Seattle Seahawks star DK Metcalf was among those Pittsburg checked in on, according to ESPN’s Jeremy […]

Dennis Schroder has been among the NBA’s top surprises early this season while leading the Brooklyn Nets to a 4-4 record. The veteran floor general, who has carved out a consistent role over 12 seasons, is also among the league’s most popular YouTubers. Schroder has been giving fans an inside look at his work and […]

Former New Orleans Saints star receiver Michael Thomas made headlines Sunday for a social media rant attacking his former quarterback Derek Carr. After Saints wideout Chris Olave suffered a concussion on a pass from Carr early in Sunday’s loss to the Carolina Panthers, Thomas criticized Carr for the throw and said the quarterback has long […]

The New York Jets made aggressive moves to save their season recently, firing head coach Robert Saleh and trading for star wideout Davante Adams. They finally saw returns in Week 9 as Adams and quarterback Aaron Rodgers connected on several big plays during a 21-13 victory over the Houston Texans. After snapping a five-game losing […]

The Brooklyn Nets did not expect to start Nic Claxton during Monday’s 106-104 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. However, with Ben Simmons resting on the second night of a back-to-back and Noah Clowney ruled out due to a hip ailment, the sixth-year center joined the starting unit for the first time this season. Claxton, who […]

The Brooklyn Nets were projected to be the NBA’s worst team this season. Eight games in, they have the Eastern Conference’s third-best record at 4-4, and their veterans have played a crucial role. Dorian Finney-Smith, Cam Johnson and Dennis Schroder gained more notoriety as trade candidates than impact players for Brooklyn entering this season. Yet, […]

Brooklyn Nets forward Noah Clowney was a late scratch Monday vs. the Memphis Grizzlies due to hip soreness. The 2023 first-round pick sustained the injury during the final minute of Sunday’s 106-92 loss to the Detroit Pistons. “He had an MRI this morning. It was clean, everything clear,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said. “But he’s […]

After a hot start to the season, Cam Thomas cooled off during the Brooklyn Nets’ 106-92 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday. The 23-year-old struggled against a physical Pistons defense, posting 17 points on 6-of-17 shooting with two assists and three turnovers. Without his production, the Nets’ offense faltered down the stretch, scoring 35 […]

Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton has not started a game in 2024-25 while progressing back from a preseason hamstring injury. Head coach Jordi Fernandez said that could change next week as the sixth-year center continues to ramp up his minutes. “There is a plan for him to start at some point,” Fernandez said before Sunday’s […]

Brooklyn Nets forward Trendon Watford suffered a setback to a hamstring injury that has held him out for nearly a month. The team downgraded Watford from available to out before Friday’s win over the Chicago Bulls after the 23-year-old experienced “awareness” in his hamstring during warmups. Watford will remain sidelined for Sunday’s home matchup with […]

Anthony Richardson is the latest top quarterback draft pick to be benched, with the Indianapolis Colts announcing they’d be starting veteran Joe Flacco in Week 9. Several players and key figures within the organization supported the decision, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. “One thing was clear, as several sources pointed out: While players went […]

Vince Carter became the first player in Toronto Raptors history to have his number retired, with the organization raising his No. 15 to the rafters on Friday at Scotiabank Arena. Two decades after his playing days with the franchise, Raptors president Masai Ujiri summed up Carter’s legacy in a passionate speech to the Toronto crowd. […]

Since Cam Thomas entered the NBA four years ago, the discourse surrounding his game has centered on what he can’t be. Many scouts, executives and fans have doubted whether his skillset can be conducive to winning on a contending team. There were justified concerns about Thomas’ game entering the league, some of which remain. He’s […]

The Brooklyn Nets have exceeded expectations early this season, and their high-powered offense has been a driving factor. Jordi Fernandez’s squad has posted the NBA’s sixth-best offensive rating on its way to a 2-3 record. With a roster lacking individual shot creation, the first-time NBA head coach pointed to his team’s selflessness when speaking on […]

Kiyan Anthony, the son of Carmelo Anthony and the nation’s 36th-ranked player in the Class of 2025, is nearing a decision on his college commitment. The four-star recruit is deciding between Syracuse basketball, USC basketball, and Auburn basketball. Anthony recently appeared on Angel Reese’s podcast, and the WNBA star predicted where he will take his […]

Penn State basketball and head coach Mike Rhoades secured a historic recruiting victory on Friday. Kayden Mingo, ESPN’s 44th-ranked player in the Class of 2025, announced his commitment to the Nittany Lions on The Breakfast Club. Mingo becomes the program’s highest-ranked recruit during the modern recruiting era. “I chose Penn State because I felt like […]

The Brooklyn Nets are close to welcoming back a rotation piece from last season. Trendon Watford is probable for Friday’s home matchup with the Chicago Bulls after missing several weeks due to a hamstring strain. Watford returned to practice earlier this week and has not suffered a setback after sustaining the injury early in training […]

Ziaire Williams may have found a new home with the Brooklyn Nets. After joining Brooklyn as a salary dump from the Memphis Grizzlies, the former No. 10 pick has been among the team’s top bright spots early this season. His defensive performance has left his teammates particularly impressed. “He’s hands down one of the best […]

Dennis Schroder is making Brooklyn Nets history early this season. The veteran point guard turned in another brilliant performance on Wednesday, posting 33 points on 11-of-14 shooting from the field and 6-of-9 from three with eight assists and only two turnovers during a 119-106 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Schroder became the first player in […]

Dwayne Wade is the latest NBA legend to receive a statue, as the Miami Heat honored him earlier this week. After the unveiling, the three-time champion and 13-time All-Star predicted three active NBA players he thinks will receive the honor next: LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. James has a high chance of receiving […]

Netflix announced on Tuesday that it will film a second season of its popular NBA docuseries, Starting 5, and Phoenix Suns Kevin Durant will be among the players featured. Durant will star in the series alongside Jaylen Brown, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, James Harden and Tyrese Haliburton. The 14-time All-Star dished on what he’ll share during the […]

Dennis Schroder’s future with the Brooklyn Nets is uncertain, but one thing is clear: he’s playing like one of the NBA’s top point guards early this season. Despite a precarious situation as a veteran on a rebuilding squad, Schroder has emerged as the Nets’ leader. The floor general is off to one of the best […]

No risk was involved in the Brooklyn Nets’ acquisition of Ziaire Williams this summer, but there was clear upside. General manager Sean Marks acquired the former No. 10 pick and a second-rounder in a cost-cutting move by the Memphis Grizzlies. Four games into his Nets tenure, Williams looks like one of the top steals of […]

The Brooklyn Nets ruled out Nic Claxton for Wednesday’s road matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies, head coach Jordi Fernandez announced after Tuesday’s loss to the Denver Nuggets. The sixth-year center will sit out the back-to-back as part of his return-to-play progression from a hamstring injury. “It’s basically part of the return to play with his […]

Jordi Fernandez got his first opportunity as a lead assistant under Michael Malone with the Denver Nuggets. Two years later, he’ll match up with Malone and Denver during his fourth game as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets. “I learned a lot from him, and obviously the opportunity that I had to come into the […]