標籤: chose

While it seems like the entire basketball world knows that Tyrese Maxey is the best player on the Philadelphia 76ers, Nick Nurse clearly doesn’t, and his decision to let his veteran lead in Game 3 vs. the New York Knicks may cost him his job next week.

On Friday night, the 76ers were in position to win. They lost 2-0 in their semifinal series against the Knicks and had to deal with an atmosphere at Xfinity Mobile Arena that seemed to have just as many, if not more, New York fans. Still, Nurse had the horses to pull out a win and escape a 3-0 hole, especially with Joel Embiid back on the field.

There’s no doubt the 76ers are in a better position with Embiid on the floor. The seven-time All-Star commands respect on both sides of the court, even in this diminished version. However, the 2025-26 season confirmed an undeniable fact: Maxi is and should always be the No. 1 option on offense. Yet somehow the Sixers head coach hasn’t gotten the memo.

Where was Tyrese Maxey Friday night?

In addition to being the fifth-highest per-game scorer in the NBA this season, Nurse had enough evidence to focus on Maxey in Game 3, especially against the Knicks. The two teams split their four games during the regular season, and Games 1 and 2 of this series were very different.

With Embiid being the focal point in the opener, he got blown out for 40 points. With Embiid sidelined and Maxey moving on, Game 2 was close the entire time, and over-utilization of its starters was likely the difference between victory and defeat on Wednesday. As good a defense as the Knicks have, Maxi gives them the same problems he does the rest of the NBA. He is a wonderful blend of lightning speed and cunning.

This is Tyrese Maxey’s team now. Still, in the most important game of the 2025-26 season, Nurse wanted his 76ers to play like they did in 2022-23.

On Friday night, the two-time All-Star led not only the 76ers, but all players with 44 in Game 3. Yet, in the most bizarre statistic of the night, he took the fourth-most shots on his team. Paul George looked like he was 36 as he led the team with 18 shots, Embiid had 17 and Kelly Oubre — who averaged just 10 a game during the season — tallied 16 on Friday. Maxi had 12 shots in Game 3.

Nick Nurse loses his 76ers job in Game 3 vs. Knicks

Furthermore, it was clear that neither George nor Embiid were on a heater at halftime, as they were both outscored by Oubre on Friday as he led the 76ers with 22 points in a 108-94 loss to the Knicks in Game 3.

It’s baffling that as soon as the Knicks took control of the game in the second quarter, Nurse did not pull his team to the bench and demand an offensive run through Maxi, their best player and scorer.

Maxi can certainly take some blame for not asserting himself and demanding the ball. But he’s still only 25, and it’s no surprise he’d take on a pair of NBA greats in a big game. This is where Nurse must show the courage and leadership to engage his veterans in this instance to do what is best for the team.

Nurse was already feeling some heat in his third season as head coach of the 76ers. However, his coaching in Game 3 proves that – barring a history-breaking comeback to win this series – he is not the guy to take this team to the next level and will be out as head coach next week.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Some new details have emerged on why Chris Jericho was rumored to be returning to WWE and why he returned to AEW on Wednesday night.

For months, rumors and reports have been swirling that the wrestling legend’s tenure in AEW was coming to an end, and that he would likely be heading back to the company that made him a household name, WWE. However, this past week, things changed as he remained on AEW’s roster page and filed a trademark for the term “Cornerstone”. A potential moniker that would seem to be a better fit in All Elite Wrestling.

This led to speculation that he would indeed remain at the company he signed with in 2019. The rumors became reality when Jericho made his grand return to AEW Dynamite on Wednesday in the city where he grew up, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

On Thursday morning, fans of both companies got some new information as to why the 55-year-old may have opted to go back to AEW instead of returning to WWE.

Is Chris Jericho still close to retirement?

“I know I was told so [WWE] “They wanted to take him on a retirement tour,” reported Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer. “And maybe he didn’t want to, but I don’t know… With AEW, maybe he was going to have more longevity.” There are a lot of benefits for AEW and there is always money.

“AEW is a little riskier in that sense… He’ll probably have more input than he does in WWE about what he’s going to do in AEW, but I think he’ll have a better audience in WWE. Better audience, that’s definitely part of the deal, but money is part of the deal.”

Meltzer said that after recent speculation that Jericho could return at WrestleMania 42, a source informed him that he will be in Winnipeg this week for Dynamite. When he then reached out to a WWE source, he revealed that initially it seemed like he would return, but as of this week, it is no longer in the cards.

If WWE had been firm about doing a retirement tour, possibly for a year, it could have been a deal breaker as he just feels like he’s not ready to hang up his boots yet. And AEW is probably more willing to let him wrestle because he’s close to 60 years old.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Former NJPW standout David Finlay officially arrived to AEW during Wednesday’s episode of AEW Dynamite in El Paso, Texas. Making his presence felt immediately, Finlay interfered in a tag team grudge match, using his signature shillelagh to attack Darby Allin and Orange Cassidy. The attack served as a reunion for Finlay and his former Bullet Club War Dogs colleagues, Clark Connors and Gabe Kidd, with the trio now officially recognized as The Dogs in AEW.

Although the fourth-generation wrestler was heavily linked to WWE by rumors – especially considering that his father, Fit Finlay, and brother, Brogan Finlay, are both with the company – new details have emerged as to why the deal fell through.

Did WWE offer David Finley a low price?

It appears that the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year battle is a race between the two horses of Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg and Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Nueppel.

But for former NBA guard Jeff Teague, it’s already been decided.

Watching Knuppel highlight highlights in the Hornets’ 131-99 win against the Chicago Bulls on the road on Tuesday, Teague said that “if he [Knueppel] Not Rookie of the Year, he was robbed. They [are] actually winning the game, that [is] Average 20 marks.”

In that game against the Bulls, Knueppel scored 21 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field with three 3-pointers, while hitting all four of his attempts from the free-throw line in 23 minutes of action.

Knueppel has certainly attracted more attention among rookies with his play recently, and especially with Flagg sidelined with a foot injury that has kept him from playing since the NBA All-Star break.

Cooper Flagg himself hasn’t been too shaky in his first season in the league, as the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft has been putting up big numbers for the Mavericks when healthy. However, his former Duke Blue Devils teammates are giving him a run for his money in the ROY race.

In fact, Knueppel, the fourth overall pick in 2025, leads all newcomers entering Wednesday with 2.4 VORP (value over replacement player), while Flagg is second with 1.4.

Knueppel also leads all first-year players in points and win shares. And for what it’s worth, he’s 1-0 against Flagg this season, as the Hornets beat Dallas on Jan. 29, in a game best remembered for an incredible duel between the two former Duke teammates, in which Knueppel scored 34 points and Cooper Flagg added 49.

Still, there’s plenty of basketball left to play this season to make this compelling Rookie of the Year race even more interesting.

Manchester United could submit a ‘very attractive offer’ for Villarreal midfielder Pep Gueye as he is enjoying the best season of his career.

This is according to Ft. Mercato. The French website reports that the 27-year-old has been attracting attention thanks to his performances this season. Manchester United are one of the teams that are keeping a close eye on the former Marseille player.

Gueye has been climbing the rankings steadily for a few years now, but he peaked in January when he scored the winning goal. Africa Cup of Nations final.

It made him an icon for his country, but also ‘sent a message’ according to FM. Gueye has become an even more complete midfielder during his time with Villarreal in Spain.

Why are Manchester United interested?

Pep Guey Hai ‘shining brightly’ After joining La Liga on a free transfer in 2024. At the moment, he is an essential piece of the puzzle for manager Marcelino.

Technically his game has improved tremendously and still ‘One of the most prolific’ Defensive midfielder in Spain. He is playing in a team that constantly struggles to make the top four.

it’s become one ‘Surprising change’And the feeling is that even more ‘Prestigious’ The club may be waiting around the corner.

It certainly feels like it would be a miracle for Villarreal to keep him this summer, especially after the World Cup.

Red Devils showed ‘a lot of interest’

Manchester United is one of the performing sides ‘Quite interested’ In that. they can make a ‘Very attractive offer’ To secure his signature.

The Red Devils will need a replacement for Casemiro. Gueye is seen as someone who could be ‘ideal’ to do this. There is no mention of the asking price at this point. It should be pointed out that Gueye’s current deal expires in 2028.

As a result, Villarreal may view this summer window as the ideal time to sell if they want to secure a top price – unless they manage to tie down the 27-year-old to a new deal.

But with his status rising and Manchester United looking to make ends meet, this could prove a difficult task.