Paolo Mariano Articles - Page 28

No need for the broom now. The Denver Nuggets avoided a first-round sweep in the NBA Playoffs after beating the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, 126-121. It was a tight game all throughout, with the Warriors outscoring the Nuggets in the fourth quarter. But Nikola Jokic and company did enough to hold on to the […]

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant is great at doing two things: 1. Playing basketball and 2. Blasting his opponents. On Thursday, things got chippy between the Grizzlies and the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of their first round battle in the NBA Playoffs. After the Grizzlies completed a massive come-from-behind win, Morant couldn’t help but […]

Not a few eyebrows were raised when Shaquille O’Neal revealed his demand to be the next coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. While he may be just joking (because he’s Shaq), he said he will accept the job if the Lakers pay him $25 million per year. Even if we’re terrible at math, we’re pretty […]

Pretty soon, the NBA will be Anthony Edwards’ playground. The young star of the Minnesota Timberwolves keeps on piling up milestone after milestone in his second season. Sophomore slump? Ain’t nobody got time for that! As the Timberwolves faced the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 3 of their first round series in the NBA Playoffs, Edwards […]

The one that got away. That will forever be the tag linked to Alex Caruso when the Los Angeles Lakers think about him. The moment he joined the Chicago Bulls in the offseason, Caruso instantly became a beloved figure in the Windy City. There’s no questioning how hard he plays, but many admire the hardnosed […]

Forget Saul Goodman and the last season of Better Caul Saul, Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan made an even better guarantee and fulfilled it—and more. After an abysmal performance in their Game 1 loss, DeRozan assured reporters that he will bounce back in Game 2. That’s exactly what he did, leading the Bulls with a […]

Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers said veteran forward Tobias Harris was the “unsung hero” in their pulsating Game 3 win over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. The Sixers eked out a 104-101 victory in overtime at Scotiabank Arena to inch closer to a series sweep in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. You know […]

Just when many thought the Brooklyn Nets would walk away with the victory on Wednesday, the Boston Celtics said: Bro! Not Cool. The Celtics rallied in the second half, including a suffocating defensive stand in the fourth quarter, to escape with the 114-107 win and take a 2-0 series edge against the Nets in their […]

One would think that coming off a career campaign, Kyler Murray would easily get a lucrative contract extension from the Arizona Cardinals. Well, the exact opposite has happened so far. Until now, the star quarterback is still waiting for a new deal and recently, it was reported that Murray’s agent has rescinded his initial proposal. […]

Don’t call it a comeback! Vinny Curry, who’s been here for years, is gonna rock his peers and put suckers in fear once again. The New York Jets made a surprising announcement on Wednesday that the veteran defensive end will suit up this coming season. It was a pleasant development for the Jets, who are […]

The Cleveland Browns did not shy away from making splashy moves in the offseason, acquiring Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans and Amari Cooper from the Dallas Cowboys. The two stars will instantly reshape the team’s floundering offense. On Wednesday, in a report by Heavy, Cooper said he is eager to work with Watson now […]

OK, we lied. It’s not really a problem problem. It’s more of like a “problem” for the Golden State Warriors. Emphasis on the quotation marks. The Warriors have utterly obliterated the Denver Nuggets in the first two games of their first round battle in the NBA Playoffs. You know that scene in Space Jam when […]

After another MVP-type campaign in the regular season, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic has noticeably struggled in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The Golden State Warriors have willfully exerted their dominance to take a 2-0 lead. Uncharacteristically, Jokic let his emotions get the best of him in Game 2. He was ejected after […]

Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young didn’t zip his lip after their Game 2 loss on Tuesday night, as he ripped what he deemed as unfair officiating. So, Miami Heat stars Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry said: OK. Butler carried the Heat to a 2-0 series lead over the Hawks in their first round matchup in […]

The Miami Heat continued to shackle the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA Playoffs, hacking out a 115-105 victory in Game 2 of their first round series on Tuesday for a 2-0 lead. It was a tight affair until Jimmy Butler took charge in the dying minutes to seal the win for the top-seeded Heat. The […]

The only sure thing about the San Francisco 49ers right now is that nothing is sure. Especially in the case of star wide receiver Deebo Samuel. It is not a secret that Samuel is angling for a better deal, and it became apparent that he is not happy with how the talks have been going […]

It’s not preposterous to say that the Russell Westbrook Experiment failed miserably for the Los Angeles Lakers. His fit with the team was like DJ Khaled wearing skinny jeans. Unfortunately for Westbrook, he has been viewed as the scapegoat once again despite playing 78 out of 82 games for the Lakers. His erratic play is […]

Luka Doncic who? Jalen Brunson made his sidelined backcourt proud on Monday after leading the Dallas Mavericks over the Utah Jazz in Game 2 of their first round skirmish in the NBA Playoffs. Brunson picked the perfect time to score a career-high 41 points, as the Mavericks avoided a precarious 0-2 hole in the series […]

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid doesn’t need much motivation. Being the competitive guy that he is, he absolutely abhors losing. But on Monday night, in Game 2 of their first round battle with the Toronto Raptors in the NBA Playoffs, Embiid needed a stern reminder. When it became clear that the Raptors’ defensive ploy against […]

The Tennessee Titans opened their offseason program on Monday, but one face who was noticeably absent was wide receiver AJ Brown. Brown is still reportedly looking for a more lucrative extension with the Titans, as he is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The team would want him to return, as he’s been […]

Much has been speculated about the relationship between Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Tom Brady and coach-turned-consultant Bruce Arians. Various rumors have continued to swirl that Brady was persuaded to return once Arians stepped down as coach. The two have maintained that they have a strong relationship, and NFL insider Ian Rapoport said on The Rich […]

Everyone can agree that Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers is hard to beat, whether in the NFL or in a friendly contest. But one junior college student made the ultimate highlight after picking off Rodgers’ pass in a game of flag football during a recent fundraising event. The video went viral immediately. Rodgers was […]

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is out of the NBA Playoffs. But of course, that doesn’t stop other people from talking about him. It comes with the territory of being one of the most fabled athletes in the history of sports. Former NBA forward and now TV analyst Richard Jefferson, in particular, didn’t mince […]

The Phoenix Suns started out hot and never looked back, as they took down the New Orleans Pelicans in Game 1 of their first round duel in the NBA Playoffs on Sunday, 110-99. While the Pelicans mounted a huge surge in the third quarter to cut the lead to only seven points, the Suns pushed […]

Prior to Game 1 of their first round matchup with the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA Playoffs, the Miami Heat probably only had two things in mind: 1. Stop Trae Young and 2. Don’t forget to do no. 1. And if there’s one thing the Heat know how to do, it’s to follow the game […]

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant has had his fair share of game-winning moments. He’s one player who doesn’t shy away from taking the big shot, especially when the stakes are enormous. But on Sunday, he was on the receiving end of a game-winning play, as Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum buried the Nets in Game […]

Deshaun Watson’s career got a huge boost when he was acquired by the Cleveland Browns despite his legal battles. He has expressed optimism about his new journey in a new city with a new coach and new teammates. The Browns, however, could lose a valuable weapon in running back D’Ernest Johnson. He had a breakout […]

Even before entering the NBA, the people knew that Houston Rockets rookie Jalen Green could soar. His high school mixtapes were legendary. Look them up. So it’s not totally surprising when Green made several gravity-defying plays for the Rockets, including some in-your-face slams against taller defenders. In fact, the 20-year-old pogo stick tallied 69 dunks […]

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick made another genius move in the selection of Mac Jones as the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The young quarterback immediately made an impact and now, he’s widely considered the league’s next great signal-caller. With the 2022 NFL Draft approaching, the Patriots are expected to find […]

That Kevin Durant is pretty good. He helped steer the Brooklyn Nets to a 115-108 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the play-in tournament on Tuesday night to secure the no. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference in the NBA Playoffs. Durant didn’t even have to do much, as it was his partner in crime […]

Russell Wilson is truly eager to make a fresh start after getting shipped to the Denver Broncos. Last Monday, he made his first official move as the newest member of the team after undergoing the mandatory physical exam. Wilson will look a little strange with a Broncos jersey when the new NFL season starts, as […]

Nothing excites the NBA more than the incessant drama surrounding LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Or so it seems like it. With how the season unfolded for the Purple & Gold, it feels like everyone who’s not part of the team is thoroughly enjoying the trainwreck. Russell Westbrook already called out LeBron James […]

The Golden State Warriors are back in the NBA Playoffs after a two-year absence. But it won’t be easy cherry-picking for them in the first round, as they face reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. But for what it’s worth, according to a story by NBC Sports Bay Area, the Warriors avoided a […]

Marvin Bagley III had a strong finish to the season after being shipped by the Sacramento Kings to the Detroit Pistons at the trade deadline. One could argue that it was the best stretch of his injury-plagued NBA career since his rookie campaign. While Bagley remains a solid player with versatility and athleticism, his largely […]

Things could’ve gone better for Jamahl Mosley in his first season as coach of the Orlando Magic. They finished with a measly 22-60 record, second-worst in the NBA behind the Houston Rockets. Still, Mosley should be proud. He has truly come a long way since being an unknown journeyman player, suiting up for obscure teams […]

The shocking death of Dwayne Haskins was truly heartbreaking. The entire NFL community is still picking up the pieces following the terribly sad news. Many will remember the 24-year-old quarterback as a good soul with a clear vision. In a touching story, The Undefeated’s William Rhoden recalled a memorable moment he had with Haskins in […]

When the superstars are away, the, um, not-so superstars will play. That has been the familiar case in the NBA when the regular season winds down, as teams choose to err on the side of caution and sit their top guns to avoid tempting fate. This season was no different. On Sunday, as many of […]

The Utah Jazz and the Sacramento Kings are on opposite sides of the NBA spectrum. While the Jazz continue to be a solid contender, the Kings have become the laughingstock of the league. It is where careers go to waste, as the squad has missed the NBA Playoffs for 16 straight seasons—the record for longest […]

When NBA legends Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley make a bet, you know it’s gonna be good. On Sunday, the two frenemies made a hilarious wager on NBA on TNT if the Miami Heat and the Brooklyn Nets face off in the NBA Playoffs. The Big Diesel, who helped the Heat win a championship in […]