標籤: reasons

A notable NFL expert believes there was a very specific reason Aaron Rodgers waited until this week to re-sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it wasn’t about haggling for money.

After a few months of speculation and rumors, the inevitable happened, and NFL legend Aaron Rodgers signed a new one-year deal with the Steelers. Most of the league expected him to return to Pittsburgh for a second season. Especially when the team did not give him many options.

When the Steelers exercised the unrestricted free agent tender on the 42-year-old, it severely limited his options to sign elsewhere because Pittsburgh would receive a compensatory draft selection if he joined another team. So why did it take until May for Rodgers to finally sign a contract?

Aaron Rodgers wanted to see the Steelers’ schedule before re-signing?

Some have speculated that he is still not sure whether he will play another season. Others have suggested that he was not completely set on reuniting with his former Green Bay Packers head coach, Mike McCarthy. However, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio has a different idea: Rodgers wanted to take a look at the Steelers’ 2026 schedule first.

Florio suggests that he waited until after May 14, when the schedule was released, to anger the NFL, because if he had known he would return in 2026, he would have placed more Steelers games in primetime during the first half of the season. And the four-time NFL MVP wouldn’t be interested in helping the league. But maybe he just wanted to see how tough the road to the playoffs could be?

While next season’s schedule isn’t easy for Pittsburgh, it’s not one of the five to six worst. Knowing they don’t have a specific schedule, perhaps Rodgers has received final confirmation that he will return for another season and make a playoff run in 2026. Because in the end, he just wants another year in the league for more wins and glory.

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

Following their disappointing loss in Game 5, an NBA expert explains why the Detroit Pistons are upset, and the Cleveland Cavaliers will head to the Eastern Conference Finals after Friday night.

Pistone did not want to be in this situation again. In the quarterfinals of this year’s playoffs, the former No. 1 seed suffered a 3–1 loss in their series with the Orlando Magic. However, this mostly young team showed its mettle by battling back and defeating Orlando in a do-or-die Game 7 last week.

They then started their semi-final series against the Cavaliers with a decisive win. It seemed like the team that was so dominant during the regular season was back and performing better. However, over the past week, the wheels on the bus have worn off, and Detroit now finds itself on the verge of elimination after blowing a nine-point lead in the final minutes of Game 5.

It was one of the worst losses to the franchise in decades and may be looked upon with regret for years to come. Still, there’s reason to believe that after such a crushing loss the Pistons can circle the wagons again and force a Game 7 on Sunday. However, on Thursday morning, The Athletic NBA expert Zach Harper explained why Detroit fans should be very concerned.

Cade Cunningham has been good, but not great, against the Cavaliers

Detroit’s loss on Wednesday wasn’t just about a bad night or a bad few minutes. It was about the issues that have been going on for the last few weeks. Cade Cunningham had 39 points, nine assists and six threes in Game 5. Numbers that should lead to victory. But Harper pointed to a bigger problem with the Pistons’ top star at the moment.

“[Cunningham] Harper wrote, “There were six more turnovers, bringing their turnover total to 69 in 12 games.” He also noted Cunningham “fell asleep” late in overtime and allowed James Harden to get his rebound off a missed free throw. A mistake that couldn’t happen at such a crucial moment.

Then Jalen Duren continues to disappear. A player who had a big breakout season in 2025-26 has been a huge disappointment in the playoffs. In 12 games, he is shooting 50% from the field, down from 65% during the season, and scoring half as many points a night as he did in the regular season.

Yet, in Game 5, things reached a new low point as he played only a few minutes in the fourth quarter and was benched for the entire overtime. Duren is the reason the Pistons had a great regular season, and he’s the reason they’re likely to be out in Game 6 on Friday night.

Detroit Pistons didn’t get the best version of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5

What makes things seem more ominous as the series returns to Cleveland is that the Cavaliers didn’t get great nights from their top stars on Wednesday. While Harden had 30 points, 8 boards and 6 assists, he shot 8-21 from the field and committed six turnovers. Donovan Mitchell had 21 points on 18 shots.

If not for Evan Mobley’s 19 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists, the Pistons would have won Game 5.

Detroit can certainly win on Friday night, but there are ample indications that Cleveland will go 7-0 at home in these playoffs and advance to the Conference Finals in Game 6.

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

Sporting Clube de Portugal are keeping a close eye on Joao Palinha, who could return to Portugal after his loan spell tottenhamfor personal reasons.

Both to ball And weekend morning mail Report today on the Tottenham loanee and a possible return to his homeland this summer.

Tottenham exit likely

Sport Witness covered a report yesterday stating that there was interest in Sporting The Tottenham midfielder this summer. Correio da Manha Weekend now adds with further information.

He says Sporting are ready to bring Joao Palinha back to the club next season, taking advantage of his desire to return to Portugal to be closer to his children. Benfica are also in the running, but Palinha would prefer to return to his former club.

The Lions intend to use his desire to return home to their advantage. They see him as a business opportunity, as other players in his position are potentially departing.

Palhinha is currently on loan at Tottenham from Bayern Munich. Roberto De Zerbi has expressed his desire to keep the 30-year-old long-term.

But the midfielder wants to return to Portugal after his divorce to be closer to his children, who are still young. To do this he has expressed his willingness to reduce his salary.

return to portugal

A Bola report gives similar information. They reveal that Sporting will be restructuring their midfield this summer and Joao Palinha is one of the names they are keeping a close eye on.

According to their information, Palhinha will return from Tottenham to Bayern Munich this summer.

When this happens, they intend to make their move. They would prefer a loan, but believe it is possible to negotiate a permanent deal. Bayern want €30 million but Sporting believe they can reduce it.

The newspaper echoes the view that Palhinha would love to join his former club. And the player will be given a very warm welcome upon returning to Portugal ‘for family reasons’.

Sporting players are also waiting to see what Tottenham does. He has expressed his desire to keep her with him and this may complicate matters. However, ultimately the decision will have to be made by Palhinha. And in Portugal he believes he wants to go home above everything else.

With the third game of the series, the Montreal Canadiens now hold a 2–1 lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

It’s still very early in the series, and things can change quickly, but the fact that the Canadians have the advantage in first place is rather encouraging, as they are clearly the underdogs in the series.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the factors that have helped the Canadiens take the lead in the series.

Quality Scoring Possibilities

The Lightning have controlled the majority of shots at 5v5, shooting 55.4%. However, it is the Montreal Canadiens who have managed to create the most risky scoring opportunities.

And it’s not even a relatively close contest.

In three games, the Canadiens have made 24 high-danger shots, while allowing the Lightning to take just eight. This means hubs has taken control 75% high quality shots Across the series, that isn’t just a modest gain, it marks a major lead in an important statistical category.

To make matters more interesting, the Habs allowed the Lightning to generate a total of two quality scoring chances in Games 1 and 3 combined.

This is coming from a team that ranked 27th in the league in high-danger scoring chances throughout the regular season with a 46.4% share.

Secondary and Tertiary Scoring

With Juraj Slajkowski’s powerplay hat trick in the rearview mirror, it has become clear that the first line is having difficulty generating much aggression at 5v5.

Even at the Bell Centre, where head coach Martin St-Louis controlled the matchup, Montreal’s first line barely broke even in shot shares.

Given that Slafkowski, Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield carried much of the load during the regular season, it’s fair to say the rest of the team will have to make up for the lack of goals at 5v5 in the playoffs, but that’s easier said than done.

Heading into Friday’s game, only Josh Anderson (2) managed to find the back of the net at 5v5, making goals from Alexandre Texier, Kirby Dach and Lane Hutson very important from a roster construction standpoint, giving the first line a little more time to work out their issues.

Kirby Dach tied the game after Arbor Zekaj kept the game alive.

2-2 #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/AqPB3WOkTX

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 25 April 2026

third pair

When evaluating defense personnel, it is always important to acknowledge that use yields results.

An easier assignment, such as playing on the third pairing, makes life easier on the depth blueliner.

However, Arbor Czekaj and Jaden Struble are not only playing well on the third pairing, but they are also effective physically, and when it comes to keeping the puck away from Jacob Dobbs as much as possible.

To put a fine point on the excellence of Czekaj and Struble, they lead the entire NHL in expected goal share. Xhekaj अभी तक 5v5 के मुकाबले एक उच्च-खतरे वाले स्कोरिंग मौके के लिए बर्फ पर नहीं है, एक अनुस्मारक कि लगातार उपयोग से उन खिलाड़ियों के लिए महान चीजें हो सकती हैं जो NHL में अपनी स्थिरता खोजने का प्रयास कर रहे हैं।

Sure, they face lower quality competition than most, but if it were that easy to produce 80 xGF% on the third pairing, we’d see it more often around the league.

The reality is that few, if any other pairings have managed to control the same percentage of shots, goals, scoring chances and expected goals as Czekaj and Struble.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

The National Hockey League’s Hart Memorial Trophy is awarded each season to the player deemed most valuable to his team in the NHL. This season, teenage phenom Maclin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks should be the pick.

As we near the end of the 2025-26 NHL regular season, Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Kucherov are the favorites for the Hart Trophy. While they both certainly deserve it this year, their team’s Most Valuable Player in hockey played in San Jose in 2026.

Let’s look at our case for why Celebrini should win the Hart Trophy.

Macklin Celebrini’s historic season deserves a historic trophy

In professional sports, narrative and history shape MVP voting. We’ve seen it in the NBA, when Russell Westbrook won MVP after averaging a triple-double on an Oklahoma City Thunder team that finished sixth in their conference. Miguel Cabrera won the AL MVP while hitting for the Triple Crown in 2012, and the NFL MVP has been awarded based on storylines in the past.

Narrative and NHL history should also influence Hart Trophy voting. This season, Celebrini became the sixth teenager in history to record over 100 points in a season, joining such all-time greats as Wayne Gretzky, Sidney Crosby, Mario Lemieux, Dale Hawerchuk, and Jimmy Carson. Earlier this season, he joined Lemieux, Gretzky and Crosby as the fourth teenager in NHL history with more than 40 points in 27 or fewer games.

The 19-year-old is also set to break Gretzky’s NHL record for highest points percentage on his team’s goals as a teenager. Celebrini is on pace for the third-most points total by a teenager in NHL history, behind only Crosby and Gretzky. Additionally, he is set to break San Jose’s single-season points record (Joe Thornton, 114).

From a narrative standpoint, it seems appropriate to end a historic season with Celebrini, joining Gretzky and Crosby as the only teenagers to win the Hart Trophy in NHL history.

RELATED: How the Sharks are looking at Maclin Celebrini’s minutes

The Celebrini Effect: Most Valuable Player in Hockey

The Hart Trophy is what defines what Celebrini is doing in San Jose this season. Through 76 games, the Sharks have scored 234 goals, with Celebrini scoring one point on 45.7 percent. For comparison, Kucherov has recorded a point on 45.2 percent of 279 goals for the Tampa Bay Lightning, and MacKinnon has recorded a point on 42.5 percent of 287 goals for the Colorado Avalanche.

Taking things a step further, let’s compare how each Hart Trophy candidate scores against their peers. Kucherov has a 40-point advantage over Tampa Bay’s second-highest scorer (Jake Guentzel, 86) and the Lightning have four players with more than 60 points this season. At Colorado, MacKinnon has 28 more points than teammate Martin Necas and the Avalanche have four skaters with more than 60 points. Meanwhile, Celebrini has a 52-point advantage over his next closest teammate (Will Smith, 55) and is the only player on the Sharks roster to score more than 60 points this season.

Another statistic to capture Celebrini’s value: The Sharks have a 2-15-3 record in games where Celebrini doesn’t record a point, and they are 35-17-4 when he does record a point. In games where Celebrini scored multiple points, San Jose is 24–3–1. This team is at the bottom of the NHL standings without him.

San Jose Sharks year-to-date improvement

Heading into the 2025–26 NHL season, the Sharks were projected to have an overall over/under of 70.5, with ESPN projecting them to finish last in the Pacific Division. The team was also in the bottom five of the consensus NHL power rankings. Entering the game on April 7, San Jose is 2 points out of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference, having scored 29 more points than last season thanks to 17 more wins. This was unimaginable in October, especially after the team started the season 0-4-2. It is still one of the youngest teams in hockey and is being run by a teenager. All this is another reason why Celebrini deserves to win the Hart Memorial Trophy.

A season for the ages: Celebrini deserves the Hart Memorial Trophy

The Hart Trophy is a regular season award; It’s a way to look back years from now to remember a defining moment of that year. Both MacKinnon and Kucherov have had excellent seasons, but what the hockey world will remember even more is that 19-year-old Celebrini put himself in the same company with the all-time greats with a historic season that turned the rebuilding Sharks into playoff contenders. Narrative matters here, and it’s impossible to ignore how valuable Celebrini has been to San Jose this season. If the Hart Memorial Trophy is truly meant to be awarded “to the player declared most valuable to his team”, it is Celebrini.

RELATED: Love the San Jose Sharks? Watch San Jose Hockey Now

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The Memphis Grizzlies host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, and standout rookie Cedric Coward is listed as questionable on the team’s injury report. Coward is battling a knee injury and has missed the team’s last seven games. Here’s everything we know about Cedric Coward’s injury and his playing status heading into the Grizzlies’ game against the Timberwolves.

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Cedric Coward’s injury status vs. Timberwolves

Given that Cedric Coward was officially listed as questionable on the NBA’s injury report, any firm update on his status against the Timberwolves won’t come until just before the game begins. At times when players are doubtful, playing time is decided after seeing how they feel during warm-ups.

This has been a season that has gone relatively south for the Grizzlies. Their intention to essentially hit the reset button was made clear after their decision to trade one of their franchise cornerstones in Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz.

But amid a disappointing season, Coward has been a bright spot for the team. He was selected to participate in the Rising Stars program at All-Star Weekend, but was ruled out due to a knee injury.

Coward has appeared in 48 games, including 35 starts, averaging a little over 26 minutes per game. He is averaging 13.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 34 percent from 3-point range.

When it comes to whether Cedric Coward will play tonight against the Timberwolves, the answer is to wait until game time.

grizzlies injury report

-Santi Aldama doubtful (right knee injury management)
-Kentavious Caldwell-Pope out (recovering from surgery on right fifth finger)
-Brandon Clarke out (right calf strain)
-Cedric Coward doubtful (right knee sprain)
-Jack Eddy out (stress reaction on left ankle)
-Taj Gibson out (return on competition recovery)
-T Jerome doubtful (left thigh injury)
-Ja Morant out (left elbow sprain)

timberwolves injury report

-Enrique Freeman (G League Two-Way)
-Zion Pullin (G League Two-Way)
-Rocco Zikarski (G League Two-Way)

The deficit is mounting while Ja Morant watches from the sidelines. Sure, the team’s 2026 NBA Draft Lottery odds are improving, but it would be easy for FedEx Forum’s most loyal fans to mentally check out for the rest of the season. They shouldn’t do it, for the same reasons Tuomas Isalo can’t. The Memphis Grizzlies have been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons recently, but there is still a lot at stake heading into the last few weeks of the season.

Although the expectations of the NBA playoffs have almost faded, this round is certainly the most important evaluation period of the Zack Kleiman era. The front office needs answers before committing significant financial capital to its young core, and the court is currently loaded with players auditioning for their NBA future.

GG Jackson is getting paid

GG Jackson has been one of the most compelling players in the league, let alone the roster. After all he is still one of the youngest players in the NBA. Now operating without Jaren Jackson Jr., the former South Carolina standout is averaging 17.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 steals/blocks while shooting 47.8% from beyond the arc. The 21-year-old has been one of the few bright spots of February, essentially starring in a new version of the Desmond Bain-Jarren Jackson Jr. role.

Heavy usage, varied shot creation and increased defensive responsibility are expected for the remainder of the season. Jackson will not replace Ja Morant; No one can do that in Memphis, but the Grizzlies really need to determine what that will be. The front office is facing an important financial decision regarding Jackson’s second contract.

Their current performance suggests a valuation north of $10 million annually, which moves them out of the mid-tier exception zone and into a long-term commitment. These final games are an audition for a big payday.

pin a point

Putting the Ja Morant trade drama aside, Tuomas Isalo also needs clarity at the backup point guard spot. Neither Cam Spencer nor Scottie Pippen Jr. made this an easy decision; Jevon Smalls and Walter Clayton Jr. still need developmental reps. Ty Jerome seems more suited to an off-ball role. The Grizzlies are effectively sitting at six point guard options and absolutely zero certainty.

Pippen Jr. brings toughness, fight and an obvious appreciation for the city. He’s exactly the kind of player a rebuilding team wants in the locker room. The problem is one of uniformity. He just hasn’t demonstrated it enough yet. Economics also make the decision feel urgent. Only $350,000 of Pippen Jr.’s $2.4 million contract for next season is guaranteed. That leverage clearly puts Memphis out there, but it also means these final weeks are effectively an effort.

Spencer has shown that he can be one of the best shooters on the planet, although he continues to struggle defensively and handle actual point guard duties for extended stretches. If he can’t run the show, maintain elite shooting efficiency, and become a little more solid as an offensive guard, Spencer’s minutes will dry up once the roster is healthy. Putting in some work won’t be enough to demand a second contract next summer, especially if Darius Acuff or Kingston Flemings is drafted by Memphis.

Ty Jerome is struggling with emotions

Ty Jerome didn’t sign up for a full-scale rebuild. The wily 28-year-old veteran took a deal expecting a competitive team around him, and instead, he’s headed to a season that has lost most of its expected key pieces. Jerome suffered most of the season due to an off-season injury, but nobody got the better of him. No buyer’s remorse yet, but the Grizzlies and the rest of the NBA need something before the summer arrives.

Hopefully Isalo will provide a lot of opportunities. Maximizing the value of Jerome’s expiring $9.2 million deal before the NBA Draft would help everyone going into blank-slate situations. A strong finish alleviates those lingering injury concerns and potentially turns a lousy contract into a long-term asset over time.

tough times for taylor hendricks

The Grizzlies have had their big men hit for too long, and the problems continue. Even incomplete minutes could help the front office determine whether Hendricks fits in with the oft-injured Zach Eddy. Unfortunately, according to Isalo, the Grizzlies did not find the right circumstances to make the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade piece a profitable situation.

“I mean, with every player, whether it’s a steady situation, most of the time for a player like Taylor, it’s going to come down to the puck. It’s getting ahead of your own man, then making good decisions, and developing the skill set of finishing at the rim or finding those open shooters. He was in a tough situation (against the Golden State Warriors). Kyle Anderson started late for the game, and Taylor was a starter after being with the team for a very short time. “Got into the new situation. I thought he did a great job there without even practicing it. Obviously, that’s the big situation (with Jack Eddy).”

expandable evaluation

The Grizzlies are considering a series of roster decisions that will define the franchise’s financial outlook. Hendricks, Jackson and Jaylen Wells are all extension-eligible, meaning their future roles need to align with the salary cap investment. This creates a natural hierarchy with Ty Jerome and Cedric Coward slotting into the wing/off-ball rotation.

Kleiman’s front office can’t afford to enter into extension talks by guessing. Memphis needs data. Players need representatives. They need to know who will fit in with who when the core finally returns.

Losses may dominate the box score, but the evaluation season is not meaningless. For the Grizzlies, the next few weeks will decide everything from the backup point guard job to future contracts. The future of the franchise is essentially being decided on stage every night. For fans who care about what happens next, there’s a lot to see.

Ziare Williams will miss his second consecutive game for the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. Brooklyn ruled Williams out of the match with the Atlanta Hawks due to personal reasons.

Williams played 22 minutes during Thursday’s 112-84 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, the Nets ruled him out of Friday’s 105–86 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder due to personal reasons.

Williams has played a featured role with Brooklyn’s second unit this season. He has recorded the seventh-most minutes on the team, averaging 9.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game on .407/.313/.859 shooting splits in 39 appearances.

Ziaire Williams missing Nets vs. Hawks due to personal reasons

Ochai Agbaji has seen extended minutes in the Nets’ second unit over the last two games during Williams’ absence. The trade deadline acquisition recorded his best performance of the season on Thursday vs. the Cavs. He posted 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field, three rebounds, three assists and one block and 3-of-6 from three in 28 minutes.

Nic Claxton will return from a two-game absence vs. Atlanta due to an ankle injury. The Hawks, who have lost four of their last five games, will be without Jonathan Kuminga because of a knee injury.

After three consecutive losses, the Nets have dropped to third in the draft lottery standings. They are tied in the win column and second in the loss column behind the Indiana Pacers.

After Sunday’s game against the Hawks, Brooklyn will return home for matchups with the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.