Paolo Mariano Articles - Page 3

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 […]

When Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards said his goal is to be the GOAT, he was not kidding. On Thursday night, he once again showed why he’s one of the brightest young stars in the NBA, scoring a career-high 49 points to lead the Timberwolves to a 127-121 win over the San Antonio Spurs. He […]

At this point, it feels like New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson hasn’t played in the NBA since the Creation of Man. Even before the season started, several reports hinted that the burly big man would suit up, but clearly, his recovery from his foot injury has taken longer than expected for the Pelicans. He, […]

Two things that are impossible: 1. Licking own elbow and 2. Talking about golf history without mentioning Tiger Woods. Woods is back at it in the Masters, looking to claim his sixth crown and tie fellow legend Jack Nicklaus for the most wins in tournament history. Woods’ return was surprising to some, especially after his […]

The NFL lost another pillar on Thursday with the passing of legendary tackle Rayfield Wright. He was 76 years old. The cause of Wright’s death remains unclear but it was reported that he was hospitalized after suffering a severe seizure. His passing was announced by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, with president Jim Porter […]

Ah, the Los Angeles Lakers. Many things have been said about the team over the last few hours for missing the NBA Playoffs. But it doesn’t hurt to add more, right? Not unless you’re the Lakers, who are actually hurting. On Wednesday, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr was asked on 95.7 The Game about […]

There’s no other way to put it, but the Chicago Bulls are in a funk. They have now lost three straight games after getting blown out by the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night, 117-94. The slump couldn’t come at a worse time for the Bulls, who have lost their chance to gain homecourt advantage in […]

Nothing like a crosstown rivalry to fire up opposing teams. The New York Knicks hosted the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday and Madison Square Garden got rocking again. The Knicks set the tempo early on, taking a commanding 17-point lead after the first half. But the Nets hung tough, with Kevin Durant catching fire in the […]

Trae Young continues to torch the hoop after leading the Atlanta Hawks to another critical win. They beat the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night, 118-103, building more momentum as they go through the play-in tournament. Young caught fire in the third period, scattering 16 of his game-high 30 points to allow the Hawks to break […]

Just in case you haven’t heard, the Los Angeles Lakers are out of the NBA Playoffs. For the die-hard fans of the Purple & Gold, saying it out loud helps: THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS ARE OUT OF THE NBA PLAYOFFS! One of the biggest questions, obviously—aside from HOW ARE THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS OUT OF […]

Even before the start of the season, Jordan Poole was expected to take on a bigger role for the Golden State Warriors, as Klay Thompson continues to recuperate from his two-year absence. Clearly, Poole did that and more. The Warriors guard is one of the contenders for the Most Improved Player of the Year trophy, […]

Justin Fields was touted as the new face of the Chicago Bears when he was selected as the 11th overall pick last year. While he didn’t have a great rookie stint, he was pretty solid. But clearly, the learning curve is still high, and the young quarterback knows it. That’s why he’s been putting in […]

The Los Angeles Rams will look to add more weapons via the upcoming NFL Draft to shore up their roster and defend the Super Bowl title. While there are plenty of options, one guy already feels he would be the perfect fit for the team. Defensive lineman Ali Fayad of Western Michigan saw his stock […]

Stefon Diggs is reportedly hinting at a restructured contract with the Buffalo Bills. With fellow star wide receivers Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill getting lucrative deals with the Las Vegas Raiders and Miami Dolphins, respectively, it’s hard to blame Diggs to angle for the same. In recent weeks, the Bills WR has been hinting at […]

The Brooklyn Nets will take any victory at this point to improve their position in the play-in tournament. On Tuesday night, they bucked a relatively slow start, punctuated by a silly scramble, to score a 118-105 win over the Houston Rockets. The Nets almost saw their 21-point lead evaporate in the fourth quarter after the […]

The Philadelphia 76ers have been all sorts of dangerous since acquiring James Harden from the Brooklyn Nets in a trade centered around Ben Simmons. Harden has been a perfect fit alongside Joel Embiid, as the Sixers continue their ascent heading into the NBA Playoffs. The Sixers beat the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night, 131-122 to […]

Here’s a suggestion: Just give the Sixth Man of the Year trophy to Tyler Herro already. The high-scoring guard had another stellar performance off the bench on Tuesday night, leading the Miami Heat to a 144-115 drubbing of the Charlotte Hornets. Herro scored a career-high 35 points in 34 minutes. He shot an efficient 11-of-18 […]

Looking for beautiful basketball with such purity that would make you love the game even more? This ain’t it. Even the Brooklyn Nets and the Houston Rockets would agree. The two teams faced off at Barclays Center on Tuesday night and in the dying moments of the second quarter, it looked like they were just […]