標籤: expectations

While there has been much discussion about the Dallas Cowboys trading up in Round 1 of the NFL Draft, owner and general manager Jerry Jones has poured cold water on the idea.

In the first round of the 2026 draft tonight, there has been an unusual amount of trade discussion. This year’s class is weak at quarterback, so teams ranked in the top 10 seem to be more open to the idea of ​​moving down to get more draft assets this year or next.

This bodes well for a team like the Cowboys as they have two selections in the top 20 of this year’s event. Furthermore, Jones has always shown a willingness to take bold steps during his reign. So trading up for players like Texas Tech’s David Bailey, or Ohio State’s Arvel Reese and Sonny Styles in the top three or five seems plausible as they could help fill the void left by last year’s Micah Parsons trade.

Jerry Jones won’t call for trade in NFL Draft

However, it doesn’t seem like Jones has any intention of being as aggressive in completing a trade as speculation has suggested. In a recent interview (h/t Pro Football Talk), Jones revealed that although he has been getting calls about a trade, he is in no rush to pick up the phone and make a deal to go after Bailey, Reese or Styles.

But why would he choose not to be aggressive enough to make a move? Well, it seems Jones now believes the Cowboys would be better off being patient. “[Trade offers are] It’s generally better to come in than out, obviously. The results are better for us,” Jones said.

This is a pretty surprising opinion from a man who has never been afraid to take risks when it comes to adding potential stars or impactful players. Although Cowboys fans are hoping the team will move to get an elite pass rusher, it seems like Jones is okay with keeping his picks at Nos. 12 and 20, respectively, if he doesn’t like the trade up offers he receives.

It also can’t be ruled out that Jones is hesitant in the hopes that the current offers get better in Round 1 tonight.

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

It’s hard to find many supporters for Arne Slott liverpool In this moment of time. The Dutchman is firmly under the microscope, with the Anfield crowd going wild.

But there is one man who believes the Liverpool manager is not getting the respect he deserves. He is his former assistant, Marino Pusic.

He is speaking to Voetbal International This week, admitting that he turned it down Chance to rejoin Liverpool with slot in 2024. Now he wants to defend his friend amid a rising tide of criticism.

A bond made at Feyenoord

Marino Pucic’s admiration for the Liverpool manager is unequivocal. They worked together at Feyenoord, and their time as a pair left a deep impression professionally and personally.

He said, “Working with Arne was a real pleasure.”

“There is a special bond between us. Since then it has become a form of friendship. As far as I am concerned, he is one of the best coaches in the world.”

“I’m talking about his demeanor, his football philosophy, how he expresses it and his manners. I can only speak lyrically about him.”

Liverpool deserve more credit

Despite leading Liverpool to the Premier League title in his first season, Arne Slot has faced criticism from the Liverpool fan base this season.

The Reds’ title defense has been nothing short of a disaster, with Liverpool currently 21 points behind Arsenal. They are currently in the battle to qualify for the Champions League, with five points separating them from fourth-placed Aston Villa.

Fifth would secure Champions League football next season. But there is a battle for that place too, with Chelsea one point behind in sixth and Brentford and Everton three points behind in seventh and eighth.

However, Pusic believes the reaction to Liverpool’s form this season has been unfair and historically blind.

“I think Arne deserves a lot more credit than he is getting at Liverpool right now,” he said.

“Many people forget how many times Liverpool have been champions of England in recent decades. Arne did it immediately in his first season, but Jurgen Klopp has also won the Premier League title only once.

“Before this, Liverpool last won the league title in 1990. And now the expectation is that Arne will win the title twice in a row. Especially because a lot of money has been spent. It doesn’t always work out.”

keep calm and carry on

Marino Pusic instead believes Liverpool need stability. This summer is already going to be a big one, with Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson already departing.

Reports have also linked Ellison to a departure. That would leave only Virgil van Dijk from the team that was so successful under Klopp.

Changing the manager will also create more instability. And Pusik doesn’t think that would be a wise move.

He concluded, “It will be good to remain calm at Liverpool and give confidence to Arne and his staff, Sipke Hulshoff and Giovanni van Bronckhorst.”

Nottingham Forest are quickly building up the layers as they prepare for their Europa League quarter-final against FC Porto. The latest developments have further increased the challenge they face.

Vitor Pereira’s side already know they will face Strong atmosphere in Portugal For the first phase. even Nuno Espirito Santo attended On the creation of this tie. Now, they are also set to face off against a Porto team boosted by the return of key players at a crucial moment.

Main returns before forest conflict

according to gamePorto received encouraging news on the injury front this week. Rodrigo Mora has accelerated his recovery from a muscle problem. Despite some limitations, he is now back in integrated training.

He is expected to be available for the upcoming fixtures, including the clash with Nottingham Forest.

The young winger is seen as one of Porto’s most creative options, and his availability increases Francesco Farioli’s flexibility in midfield selection.

At the same time, there is clarity regarding star goalkeeper Diogo Costa. He is suffering from an adductor problem, which has forced him to withdraw from Portugal’s recent international matches. However, the goalkeeper is now expected to be fit in time to face Nottingham Forest.

Their presence is important. The Porto captain has already registered 22 clean sheets in all competitions this season. In the league alone, he is chasing his 19th shutout. It’s a mark that would match Iker Casillas’ 2016/17 campaign.

For Forest, this points to a difficult attacking task. Porto will likely have both their first-choice goalkeeper and a key creative option in the squad for the first leg.

“Blue Sea” is ready to sail again

There is activity off the pitch too, and this reinforces the scale of the occasion.

according to to ballPorto supporters have already sold their entire ticket allocation for the second leg at the City Ground on 16 April. The travel section will be packed. This would ensure a strong Portuguese presence in Nottingham.

Porto fans too Filled your allocation for the last meeting between the sides in the league stage, when the “Blue Sea” was described as “flooding Nottingham”.

This consistency highlights just how active Porto’s support has been throughout this European run.

Buildings required for Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest are heading towards a tie with the intensity increasing from every angle.

On the pitch, Porto is regaining key players at the right time. Furthermore, their supporters continue to travel in large numbers, alternating both legs in high-pressure environments.

Forest have already shown resilience in this competition. However, this tie now presents a different kind of test – one shaped by a clear understanding of the quality, experience and pace of their opponents.

With both teams close to full strength and the stands already full in both countries, everything points to a quarter-final that will demand control, composure and sharp execution from Nottingham Forest.

The New York Knicks got back into the win column on Wednesday with a road win over the Utah Jazz, but it still wasn’t an inspiring win over a tank opponent. Previously, the Knicks had suffered two consecutive uncompetitive losses to the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers on their West Coast trip, and the team is currently in third place in the Eastern Conference.

One person who believes the Knicks have everything they need to compete for a championship this year is none other than team owner James Dolan, who has put the organization on notice with his bold comments recently.

“We want to go to the finals,” Dolan said, per WFAN via ESPN.com’s Vincent Goodwill. “And we must win the final. This is sport and anything can happen. But to reach the final, we definitely have to do that.”

Many speculated that the Knicks might try to shake things up at last month’s NBA trade deadline amid a difficult stretch for the team, but it seems New York is mostly back on track since then, with emphatic wins over the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets last week being some of the highlights of the season.

On paper, the Knicks have as much talent as anyone, and they’ve made several win-now moves over the past few seasons to build their roster into a contender. However, concerns still remain regarding the team’s two best players, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, both of whom have been markedly negative on the defensive side of the ball, and most recently, there have also been major questions raised about Mikal Bridges’ reliability to perform with consistency in what has been a disastrous road trip for him.

The Knicks will hope they are able to get back to form before the NBA Playoffs, which begin in just over a month.

PHOENIX – Inside the chaotic nature of the NBA season lies a Duke basketball family tone. Players in the program constantly refer to it as ‘brotherhood,’ and no one feels it quite like Phoenix Suns rookie Khaman Malooch.

Duke has a high level of success, consistency and a legitimate championship expectation every year, and one Maluach believes is more than attainable in the 2025-26 campaign.

“I don’t think there’s anyone here (on the Suns) that’s gone to a school that’s actually going to win the (NCAA men’s basketball) national championship,” Maluch joked to ClutchPoints in an exclusive interview before Sunday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets.

“Whether it’s Kentucky, or Michigan, or Villanova, or Marquette.”

As soon as Maluch mentioned Marquette, fellow center Oso Ighodaro, who went to Marquette, looked at him and repeated, “What did you say?” Maluch kept his comments to himself, but he let out a light laugh shortly thereafter.

Khaman Malooch’s journey with Duke basketball

Let’s take a trip back one calendar year.

The No. 10 overall pick spent only one season with the Blue Devils. Maluch played in 39 games and averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 21.2 minutes per game.

He was primarily the third or fourth option behind Cooper Flagg, Con Knueppel and sometimes Tyrese Proctor. They lost to the eventual runner-up, the Houston Cougars, in the Final Four in one of the premier basketball games of that year.

Although some thought he would stay with head coach John Scheyer for one more season, Maluch decided to join the NBA.

His rookie season did not go like other seasons, where the Suns’ center depth prevented him from finding solid playing time. Still, he worked diligently with G-League affiliate Valley Suns and made the most of his first NBA moment.

Ultimately patience won. He has not been named the starter, but has received consistent minutes for the first time in his NBA career. No matter when his name was called, Maluach relied on Scheyer’s lessons to maintain his optimism.

“He taught us a lot off the basketball court and on the basketball court (lessons),” Maluch told ClutchPoints. He really walked us through basketball and what we needed to do to get drafted. We followed him and the recipe worked.

“It’s just being a good person off the basketball court, too, and just respecting each other. It’s just simple things that they really put a lot of emphasis on.”

Khaman Maluach’s time with Duke aided his Sons’ success

Luckily for Maluach, he has a fellow Duke alumnus on the Suns in Grayson Allen. Granted, they played in two completely different eras: Allen with head coach Mike Krzyzewski and Maluach with Scheyer.

Allen’s tenure was highlighted by the 2015 national championship win. Maluach was not as lucky, but he got close to the top of the mountain.

The one common denominator between those two teams? The winning culture remains the same. For guys who have won national championships or been part of those programs, their habits translate immediately to the NBA.

The Suns’ front office put their eggs in the Maluach basket after dealing third-string center Nick Richards at the trade deadline.

He got his first chance on Thursday against the Chicago Bulls. It was a tough performance, posting only two points, four rebounds and four turnovers in 12 minutes. 24 hours later, a completely different story. He posted a career-high five blocks, which currently leads all rookies for most blocks in a game. He had four points and four rebounds with one assist. But it was confidence that came through.

On Sunday, he had four points, nine rebounds, two blocks and a +10 in the box score.

While Jordan Ott’s system can be difficult to learn, as well as the players’ tendencies, figuring out the mental game is quite a struggle. It was that element of play that Scheyer instilled into Maluch’s DNA.

“It was really similar to the NBA. Not game-wise, but preparation, mental preparation,” Maluch said of the instincts he picked up from ClutchPoints. Whether it’s food or habits, it’s really similar to the NBA. It really prepared me for this.”

Khaman Malouch knows Duke basketball is in good shape

Exactly a year ago, the Blue Devils won the ACC Tournament and made the Final Four. With the trio of Flagg, Knueppel and Maluach, the three-headed monster did everything they could.

In fact, Maluach was in rarefied air with Duke basketball during that tournament, making the run to Houston seem like a cake walk. Since all those players left, it was believed the program needed to take a step back.

Other awards include freshman Cameron Boozer, who has a legitimate case for AP Player of the Year. Guys like Isaiah Evans and Patrick Ngongba have lifted the Blue Devils up all season.

As a result, they are in great position entering their respective conference tournaments. With a cumulative 29-4 record and arguably the best team, they have a case to win it all.

Anything can happen, but Duke looks like a favorite to win the ACC.

Although the Suns will be on a six-game road trip during the ACC Tournament and March Madness, Maluch will be eyeing any moment and is confident of bringing home a national championship.

“They really have what it takes to win everything,” Maluach told ClutchPoints. “They’re really high on my list, (they’re) my number one on my list, so I’m really ready for the whole month of March, and I’m rooting for Duke as always.”