標籤: defends

of manchester united The decision to move Antony makes sense when you juxtapose it with what he is doing at Real Betis.

Brazil has quietly produced its most productive performance in years. In all competitions, he has 13 goals and nine assists in 40 games. In La Liga, this is limited to seven goals and five assists in 26 appearances.

The underlying numbers also support this. Antony averages 0.54 goal involvements per 90 minutes. He takes 3.08 shots per game and scores once every 9.71 attempts.

Furthermore, he makes 2.04 key passes per match and completes 81.61% of his 43 passes per game.

It’s a very different level of involvement compared to what we saw at Old Trafford. In Spain, his role is clearer and he is much more involved in the final third. real daughters His career and his mentality changed.

It all comes at a crucial moment. The announcement of Brazil’s World Cup squad is approaching and Antony is trying to get back into the picture.

Betis’ decision is shaping international expectations

Antony has now come out openly espn brazil Regarding both his club situation and his Brazilian ambitions. His current situation at Betis clearly plays a big role in that push.

“Staying at Betis was one of the best decisions of my life,” Antony added. “I am very happy. my family was overweight In the decision. It is important to see them happy.”

“When the family is okay it makes things lighter on the field.”He concluded.

He was part of the squad for the last World Cup under Tite, but has not been able to perform much under Carlo Ancelotti so far. Still, he’s not giving up on building the next one.

“My biggest dream is to play in the World Cup, but I have to do my part, my job, the national team is the result.” He said.

“I really want to come back, play my second World Cup. It’s my aim to always wear the national team shirt.”

life without antony

Antony seems to be someone who has settled in Spain and not a player looking back at Manchester United.

But he thinks the chances go both ways. United have moved on without him and given the way things have turned out, they hardly miss him. The team changed and Antony’s role was never fully fleshed out during his stay in England.

“His current stats highlight that there is still a player out there,” he said. At Betis, he looks more confident, more engaged and more decisive.

This is a case of a player who needed a different setting to bring out his best level. This time is ideal for Antony. He has given himself a real chance to get back into the Brazilian conversation when it matters most.

Recently, one of the major talking points in the NBA has been whether or not the Miami Heat violated some unwritten rules of basketball when center Bam Adebayo scored 83 points in a game against the Washington Wizards, passing Kobe Bryant for second-most all-time. Many critics have pointed to Adebayo’s 43 free throw attempts as well as some of the Heat’s bizarre late-game strategies as reasons to discredit the scoring explosion.

However, one person coming to Adebayo’s defense is former NBA guard Patrick Beverley, who recently took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the debate.

“I never knew there was a fake 83. A motherf***** never scored an 83, how could it be fake? This is as real as it gets… People were shocked it was Bam and it wasn’t Steph Curry, it was LeBron James… If KD had the same 83 with the same stats, they wouldn’t treat it like that. It was shocking to people that Bam did that… Bam tops in the NBA Big in 3. Big in top 3… I don’t know what the surprise is,” he said on X, according to Heat Central.

In fact, many were surprised that it was Adebayo, who was averaging just under 20 points per game before the game, who broke Bryant’s second-place mark, and not one of the more high-octane scorers across the NBA landscape.

However, it does show just how talented NBA players really are… and how bad the Wizards defense really is.

Meanwhile, the Heat are looking to bounce back from their seven-game winning streak after losing two consecutive games. They will next take the field on Thursday evening in a home match against the Los Angeles Lakers.

SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr couldn’t believe the buzz surrounding Bam Adebayo’s historic 83-point game against the Washington Wizards, the second-most in NBA history.

“Is this a thing? People aren’t giving him credit for scoring 83.” [points]Kerr asked the room when told that a good portion of fans, reporters and analysts across the league have vilified Adebayo, the Miami Heat and the way Erik Spoelstra got to that incredible feat.

Amid the discussion surrounding Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game, Steve Kerr echoed Erik Spoelstra’s comments:

“I respect what Spo said. There’s no need to apologize, he was doing it for his team and I respect that.”

Explained how he left Klay Thompson to chase 14 threes in 2018. pic.twitter.com/WjhZCnjzCU

– Kenzo Fukuda (@kenzofuku) 14 March 2026

Opponents have cited Adebayo’s record-breaking 43 free throws, the way the Heat fouled the Wizards to get the ball back, and the fact that Spoelstra left his man in a blowout game to chase the record, as reasons why Adebayo’s 83 points should come with an asterisk. But it seems like Kerr is on the other side of the discussion, as he had nothing but praise for the player he coached during the 2020 and 2024 Olympics.

“It’s pretty amazing. I mean, what an incredible accomplishment,” Kerr said. “And he’s not even really a scorer. He’s an incredible player. But he wouldn’t be top of mind to score that many points. So just feels like a bizarre evening. I didn’t watch the game, we were playing so I saw some of the high highlights, but it was one of those physical experiences, and it seemed like the team was totally engaged and enjoying it.”

Steve Kerr supports Adebayo and Spoelstra’s defense

In recent days, since the historic night, Adebayo and Spoelstra have been dogged by questions about the ethics of the strategies they employed to help Adebayo score 83 points.

Adebayo called the haters “sofa coaches” and defended his performance.

“If you get that close to chasing greatness, that’s the point of chasing it, so you can overcome it,” Adebayo said. “And some people have never played basketball.”

Meanwhile, Spoelstra strongly supported Adebayo, calling out detractors in a lengthy response to the Miami media.

“I think most of the people who probably made comments didn’t watch the game. It’s ‘irresponsible’ or ‘immoral,'” Spoelstra said. “And I would do it again 10 times out of 10 for Bam, I’m not apologizing to anyone about that.”

Spoelstra won’t have to apologize to Kerr because the Dubs coached his longtime friend and coaching contemporary.

“I think every coach has to face that — himself and his own circumstances,” Kerr said. “I think the whole team was pleading to keep Spo [Adebayo] Out there. And it’s really tricky. As a coach, you may feel awkward.”

Steve Kerr references his feelings

Kerr recalled a similar experience to Spoelstra and Adebayor, when he passed Klay Thompson against the Chicago Bulls to set the record for most 3-pointers in a game on October 29, 2018.

With the Warriors up by 41 with 4:53 left in the third quarter, Thompson hit his 14th triple to tie the record. But before that point, Kerr had dismissed all the starters and left Thompson to chase the feat. But that pursuit led to shot-chucking, a context lost over time, as Thompson missed four consecutive 3-pointers in the process.

“I let him go because I wanted him to get the record,” Kerr said. “The team wanted him to get the record. And it was a little weird, sure, I felt bad that he was launching shots. Luckily, he made one. I think he missed his first three quarters, and he was just launching every time, and he made his fourth. And I couldn’t get him out fast enough. But it worked out. Everybody was happy, but yeah, it’s weird. There’s a lot of mouths to feed, a lot of people to think about in those situations. Are.”

With Kerr’s experience with record-chasing players and teams, he had no trouble with Spoelstra’s defense.

“But I respect what Spo said. There’s no need to apologize. He was doing it for his team and I respect that.”

Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies was once seen by many as the next face of the NBA. However, after a series of controversies and injuries and a few disappointing seasons overall for Memphis, the 26-year-old has been the subject of minimal trade interest despite his abundance of talent.

Now, his teammate Taj Gibson has come out in defense of Morant and compared the 26-year-old to none other than Derrick Rose.

“Yeah, I love everything about him. People don’t understand, when you play against him and you’re actually on the court you see how he commands his team, how they embrace each other, how they love to work hard. Being a point guard, you have to be a leader. Being a point guard, you have to play hard. And your teammates are inspired by that,” Gibson told All the Smoke. Said during his appearance on the podcast.

“The main thing I see between him and Derrick is athleticism, but also a desire to try to be great. Some players talk about being great, and do what they’ve got to do, but that young man is special,” he concluded.

Although Morant and prime Derrick Rose may have a lot in common when it comes to skill and athleticism, Rose was known as the model professional throughout his career. Rose overcame a series of injuries to continue his NBA career, and showed an elite mindset while transitioning into a rotational contributor.

Additionally, Rose has also had a much cleaner career than Morant, who has already been embroiled in several controversies. In March 2023, Morant appeared on Instagram Live at a Denver-area nightclub and briefly displayed a handgun on camera.

Just a few weeks later, on May 14, 2023, another video surfaced showing Morant again holding a firearm during an Instagram Live broadcast inside a vehicle. Commissioner Adam Silver ultimately imposed a 25-game suspension to begin the 2023–24 season.

This, along with other controversies and injuries, has undoubtedly played a role in the decline in the value of Morant’s stock, with the Grizzlies understood to be open to trade offers for the two-time All-Star.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – From the league’s investigation into starting the 2025-26 regular season to the shocking trades of James Harden and Ivica Zubac at the NBA trade deadline, this LA Clippers season has felt like two or three entire seasons rolled into one.

Elsewhere, the Clippers parted ways with a future Hall-of-Famer and the best player in franchise history in Chris Paul. Paul’s departure was a surprise to everyone in the league, drawing an outcry in support of Paul and heavy criticism for the Clippers, especially given the fact that it was his final season in the NBA.

After missing the NBA trade deadline and not being able to find a new home to finish the season, Chris Paul officially retired from the NBA at All-Star Weekend. This ended an illustrious 21-year NBA career and left only one member of the “Lob City Clippers”: DeAndre Jordan.

The center, playing in his 18th season in the NBA, is still going strong and is currently a starter for the New Orleans Pelicans.

In an exclusive interview following Paul’s retirement, Jordan told ClutchPoints that he is loyal to his former All-Star teammate.

“Oh, that’s my boy, man,” DeAndre Jordan says in an exclusive interview. “Chris helped my career tremendously, so no one can tell me anything bad about CP. He’s a Hall-of-Famer. He’s done a lot for this game. He’s helped a lot of young players, big guys, helped with IQ, you know. And then things off the court. He does a lot for kids and HBCU schools and everything. So it’s great to see him continue to be the same personality and life he has for people.”

Of the 243 teammates DeAndre Jordan shared the floor with during his 18-year NBA career, only Blake Griffin (543 games played) has played more games with Jordan than second-place Chris Paul (459 games played). The Jordan and Paul duo played in 406 regular season games in addition to 53 playoff games in six regular season games. The two had a .658 winning percentage, going 302–157 together in those 459 games.

Jordan is the player with whom Paul has played more games than anyone else in his 20-year NBA career, totaling 249 teammates.

With Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan all playing 338 games together, the Clippers compiled a 232–106 record (.686 winning percentage) while notching five consecutive 50-win seasons after the franchise had not recorded a single 50-win campaign in the previous 42 years.

That’s why stepping inside the Intuit Dome holds a special meaning for Jordan, who recognizes the enormity of the foundation laid by Paul, Griffin and himself from 2011-2017, despite never winning an NBA championship for the franchise.

Jordan said, “I mean, yes, obviously the three of us, but Steve Ballmer has done an amazing job with the organization, and the Clippers finally have their own arena, it’s good to see.” “It’s something we talked about for so long during my tenure here, spending 10 years here. But, you know, it’s cool, man. I love seeing Clippers Nation continue to grow and expand. That fan base that was amazing for my time here, and they continue to be amazing.”

Chris Paul joined the Clippers for his final season in the summer of 2025 with the understanding that he probably wouldn’t play much, but also that his tough leadership style would have to be reignited. The team struggled to start the season and, as they fell down the standings, league sources told ClutchPoints that Paul’s aggressive methods persisted to the extent that he got into a heated argument with assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy over changing the defensive scheme mid-game. Paul was later seen looking visibly upset during the team’s flight to Miami a day before being sent home by the Clippers.

The way the Clippers moved on from Paul — their franchise legend, in the middle of a night, on a multi-game East Coast road trip — set off a lot of alarms for people around the league.

DeAndre Jordan believes that Chris Paul’s leadership style is very specific, and it is that style that he finds essential to his career.

“I think he’s amazing,” DeAndre Jordan told ClutchPoints. “Yeah, he’s gonna push you, he’s gonna challenge you to be the best player. He’s gonna bark at you. And you know, it’s his Napoleon complex. But I mean, sh*t, for me, I needed it. And some players need it. Some guys don’t want to be challenged, and that’s OK. But I think if you ask any player, they’d want CP on their team.”

With Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan developed into an NBA All-Star in the 2016–17 season, completing his six-year tenure with Paul earning two All-Defensive First Team selections, two All-NBA Third Team selections, an All-NBA First Team selection and a two-time rebounding champion, while being voted in the top four in Defensive Player of the Year voting three years in a row.

Chris Paul finished his NBA career playing 21 seasons and exactly 425 regular season games for both the Clippers and New Orleans Hornets franchises. Despite the rough ending to this season, the Clippers are hopeful that time will heal all wounds and they will one day be able to retire the jerseys of DeAndre Jordan, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin inside the Intuit Dome.

“I’m happy with his career,” Jordan said. “I wish her ending would have been a little different, selfishly, obviously, but I’m sure she’s at peace with it.”

It seems like just a few years ago San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson was a wide-eyed rookie out of Kentucky. Now, he is Spurs’ longest-tenured player, providing toughness and leadership.

They proved it again when they visited the Detroit Pistons on Monday at Little Caesars Arena.

Things turned sour in the second quarter when Pistons guard Cade Cunningham knocked Spurs guard Stephen Cassel to the floor. Johnson came forward and nudged Cunningham, saying a few words to him.

Pistons center Jalen Duren entered the field and pointed the finger at Johnson. Luckily, before it escalated further, cooler heads prevailed. full dispute. Johnson and Duren were both whistled for technical fouls.

Keldon Johnson and Jalen Duren received technique after this conversation

Cade Cunningham was called for an offensive foul for the initial push on Stephen Castle.

pic.twitter.com/ClIliygbSP

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 February 2026

As expected, tensions were high between the two top NBA teams, especially since it was their first meeting.

While Spurs have other players older than him, the 26-year-old Johnson has taken on a big brother role on the team. He has taken Victor Wembanyama under his wing, even shaving his head, to help his young teammate develop and transition to the NBA.

Johnson has progressed in coach Mitch Johnson’s first full year, averaging 13.4 points, 54.5% shooting and 5.7 rebounds off the bench. He is a strong candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.

At the time of writing, there is still a close battle between the Spurs and Pistons in the third quarter.

Cassel had 12 points, two rebounds and seven assists, while Johnson had six points and two rebounds.

The Memphis Grizzlies have embarked on a rebuild for some of their young players such as Cedric Coward and were looking to trade for Ja Morant before the 2026 NBA trade deadline. As rumors continue to swirl about Morant and his future with the franchise, Coward wants everyone to know what the Grizzlies point guard is really like.

Speaking with HoopsHype at All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, Cedric Coward was asked about Ja Morant’s perception of the league and what it’s like to actually be around him.

It is safe to say that cowards did not retreat.

“Yeah, it depends what people think about him,” Cedric Coward told HoopsHype. “If you want to say all the negative connotations about him, you’re absolutely wrong and you need to keep your thoughts to yourself. Jaa is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. One of the nicest guys. He’s the same way, goofy — we quote movies all the time. I mean, he’s always cracking jokes.”

Ja Morant and his leadership were ousted by head coach Tuomas Isalo in early November 2025 and he was suspended one game due to “conduct detrimental to the team.” Morant wishes to remain a member of the Grizzlies, and has remained professional throughout the process.

Coward continued to talk about what a great teammate Morant has been to him.

“He’s not what people make him out to be. He’ll take care of you, like, when we had the snowstorm, he offered to buy my groceries, just little things like that that he didn’t have to do, but he just takes care of people out of the kindness of his heart, just because that’s who he is. It’s like his nature. And then at the same time, he’s a great person to be around. As I tell people all the time, he’s one of those guys. The ones I’ll bring to my cookouts, you know, and you’ll be like, “Hey man, come over.” You know what I’m saying?

In 48 appearances so far this season, Cedric Coward has averaged 13.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 34 percent from three.

Ja Morant has struggled to stay on the court this season, playing in only 20 games this season. He averaged 19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 8.1 assists and 1.0 steals in a career-low 28.5 minutes per game.

While Aston Villa fans cursed and wondered what Marco Bizot was doing against Newcastle United, others were much less surprised.

Analyst René van der Gijp was one of them. And he has come forward to defend the Aston Villa goalkeeper today Comments broadcast by Voetbal Primeur.

Bizot received a red card against Newcastle United during a 3–1 FA Cup defeat on Valentine’s Day. The referee showed the 34-year-old a straight red for a moment in first-half stoppage time, which will likely haunt him for some time.

a moment of madness

He went 40 yards from his goal before bringing down Jacob Murphy in a reckless challenge near the halfway line.

Aston Villa were leading 1–0 at the time and looked set to progress, thanks to Tammy Abraham’s opener.

Instead, the departure turned the game upside down. Aston Villa conceded goals in the second half, resulting in their elimination in the fourth round.

Bizot will now serve a domestic suspension and will miss Villa’s upcoming Premier League match against Leeds United as a result.

“Goalkeepers do strange things”

He has already apologized publicly through social media. He called the incident a “moment of madness” and expressed regret.

Unai Emery later defended his number two. He labeled the goalkeeper “brilliant” and insisted he would learn from the experience.

Now Van der Gijp has stepped forward to defend him. According to him, such incidents happen only for the goalkeeper to show off.

“They’re goalkeepers, Wilfred, you were one yourself,” he told host Wilfred Zinni. “It never surprised me, you know.

“You’ve seen them too, Johan (Derksen). I never thought it would be strange when a goalkeeper did something like that. It’s in their nature. Goalkeepers always do strange things. It’s in their nature.”