標籤: Tank

Terence Crawford has named the fights he wants to see before the end of 2026, and his comments have attracted widespread attention in boxing. Retired five-division world champion and former pound-for-pound No. 1, Terence Crawford, shared his thoughts in a recent interview.

He retired after defeating Canelo Alvarez to become undisputed at super-middleweight. His record and achievements continue to add weight to his opinion. Fans and analysts reacted after listing three matchups involving fighters active in different divisions. Each pairing consists of athletes who are currently competing at a high level and have been in the headline discussion in the sport.

“It’s hard to say because there are so many big fights still to come. I would love to see Keyshawn Davis vs. Devin Haney. I would love to see ‘Bam [Jesse Rodriguez] versus [Naoya] Inoue, and I would love to see Shakur [Stevenson] versus [Gervonta] ‘Tank’ Davis.”

Keyshawn Davis vs. Devin Haney

Keyshawn Davis and Devin Haney are both active in the welterweight division. Haney is a former undisputed lightweight champion and now holds the 147-pound world title. He continues to wrestle dominant fights in the division and remains a part of ongoing title conversations.

Davis is a rising contender who has called up great opponents while building his professional record. He is scheduled to face Nahir Albright in a rematch on May 16 in Norfolk. A potential bout between Davis and Haney would pit an up-and-coming fighter against an established champion. Both fighters are active and continue to compete against ranked opponents within their division. Their names remain present in discussions regarding future title fights.

jessie rodriguez vs naoya inoue

Jessie Rodriguez and Naoya Inoue are among the leading fighters in their weight classes. Rodriguez currently holds super-flyweight titles and has gained recognition through recent performances. Inoue has won world titles in multiple divisions and continues to compete at a high level.

In his next fight, he will face Junto Nakatani. The matchup between Rodriguez and Inoue would involve two active champions from different divisions. Both fighters remain part of ongoing title discussions and continue to face top level competition. Their achievements have made them among the most recognized names in their respective weight categories.

Shakur Stevenson vs. Gervonta Davis

Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta Davis are established fighters competing in the lightweight and light-welterweight divisions. Stevenson currently holds the 140-pound world title and remains active in scheduled fights. Davis is a multi-division champion and remains a major talking point regarding the bouts.

There have been talks about a possible bout between Stevenson and Davis, but no official fight has been confirmed.

Crawford’s comments identify three matchups involving fighters active in different divisions. Each pairing consists of athletes who are currently competing, holding titles, or pursuing title opportunities. These fights remain part of the ongoing discussions within boxing as the 2026 schedule is developed.

Dogley Wilberforce is a boxing writer for SportsNaught, covering fight news, fighter reactions and major bouts in the sport… More about Dogley Wilberforce

The Memphis Grizzlies enter the 2026 NBA Draft with two first-round picks and the first selection of the second round. It all depends on the Indiana Pacers maintaining their tank lead over the Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets. However, as the standings settle over the last few weeks of the regular season, every front office executive expecting a lottery selection will participate in at least one NCAA Sweet Sixteen square-off.

Franchise-changing talent fills the bracket, and for an organization with great drafting depth, even first-round prospects deserve a hard look. EVP Zach Kleiman’s scouting department should prioritize these three matchups to understand how the Grizzlies should utilize their top-5, top-20 and top-33 selections this summer.

Duke, St. John seems one-sided

This matchup provides one of the widest scouting ranges in the area. All eyes will be on Duke freshman Cam Boozer, a unanimous top-five pick whose evaluation is more about confirmation than discovery. Boozer’s mix of size, experience and offensive polish makes him the safest bet among this group, and a deep tournament run will only strengthen that position.

However, what the Grizzlies need to take away from this matchup goes far beyond Duke’s star. Evans, Ngongba and Sarr all enter the Sweet Sixteen with something to prove. Each is in danger of falling out of the lottery without a strong showing in March, which creates urgency and opportunity for a team pick at the end of the first round.

On the St. John’s side, Zubie Ejiofor and Dillon Mitchell represent the kind of motivated prospects that scouts love to track in high-risk environments. Playing as underdogs against a Duke roster loaded with lottery talent, both players have the platform to make a financial leap if they can take advantage of the moment. The Grizzlies would be well served to evaluate how each performs under pressure and against specific competition.

About Arkansas vs Arizona All Stars

This matchup is less about star power and more about volume scouting. The Razorbacks and Wildcats offer a mix of high-end guard play and international size, filling two clear needs for the Grizzlies’ future roster. Basically, the convergence of Darius Acuff Jr. and Melek Thomas against Koa Peat, Braden Burries and Motijes Krivas offers an extended look at players who could fit into Tuomas Isalo’s rotation at multiple positions.

Acuff Jr. and Thomas are certainly explosive scorers. His matchup against Arizona’s perimeter defense will serve as an important assessment of how his play translates against a high-level structure. Pete, in particular, is the type of versatile frontcourt player the Grizzlies could attract if they opt to insure Zack Eddy. On the other hand, can Arkansas stop anyone without a foul?

This is the type of game where front offices can identify fit-based targets rather than pure upside. Memphis should pay particular attention to players who can contribute within a defined role. Trayvon Brazil and Jaden Bradley, both second-round projections, could move into the late first-round conversation with strong performances in a game of this magnitude.

Houston, Illinois is in depth

If the goal is to evaluate competitive translatability, this is the key match. Houston’s Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac taking on Illinois’ Keaton Wagler and Tomislav Ivicic presents a series of straightforward, NBA-caliber positional battles. These are the types of face-to-face assessments that often hold more importance than raw statistical outputs.

But this game may ultimately be decided by the level of the second round. Joseph Tugler vs. Kylen Boswell and Milos Uzan vs. Andrej Stojakovic represent four players who could swing a deep, high-stakes NCAA Tournament game and, in doing so, dramatically change their draft trajectory.

Zvonimir Ivicic is the real wild card of the game. When locked down, Illinois’ great power becomes a force that security struggles to contain. When isolated, he may remain missing for long periods of time without registering any meaningful impact. This inconsistency is a red flag for any team investing in a guaranteed contract, and it’s likely worth valuing him as a late second-round selection or undrafted free agent option. Well, until the Sweet Sixteen slugfest against Cenac changes that narrative.

The tank-season situation of the NBA Draft will take care of itself in the final weeks of the regular season. What requires active management right now is an intelligence gathering operation ahead of one of the team’s most consequential draft nights in recent memory. The Grizzlies aren’t just looking for talent; They are assessing the risk across multiple choices.

Two first-rounders and the 31st pick give Memphis flexibility. The Sweet Sixteen gives the front office a clear view of who deserves them.

One of the biggest stories in the NBA this season has been the number of teams vying for a better position in the 2026 NBA Draft. While tanking isn’t a big issue in the National Football League, where there is no draft lottery involved, some clubs are not indicating a strong desire to win next season.

It’s hard to blame them. Even a year later, there is extraordinary buzz about a 2027 NFL Draft class that will include quarterbacks Arch Manning, Dante Moore and Brandon Sorsby — not to mention elite talents like wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, edge rusher Dylan Stewart and cornerback Leonard Moore.

RELATED: 2026 NFL Mock Draft

With that in mind, we’re highlighting some teams that are already indicating they’ll try next season to land a better selection in the 2027 NFL Draft.

New York Jets

The New York Jets already have three first-round picks in the 2027 NFL Draft, so we know a lot of their resources will be devoted to scouting and player evaluation for the upcoming season. Now, the front office brought in several veteran talents (Joseph Ossai, Demario Davis, Kingsley Anagbare, David Onyemata and Minkah Fitzpatrick) to help protect Aaron Glenn. Did it significantly improve the roster? Yes. However, it didn’t take long as New York looked to be one of the worst NFL teams in recent memory during the second half of the 2025 campaign. New York still has a roster of bottom five players in the NFL and there is a real possibility the club has a top-three pick, a top-15 pick and a top-20 pick in Round 1 next year.

las vegas raiders

Even with the return of Max Crosby, the calculus hasn’t changed much for the Las Vegas Raiders. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza will take time to adjust to playing under center, and passers who lack elite physical tools may be exposed to the talent and speed in the NFL. Additionally, the team is working to integrate a new-look offensive line and a receiving corps that, despite the recent addition of Jalen Naylor, still has a lot to prove. That is to say, Las Vegas may have to be satisfied with five to six wins in 2026.

miami dolphins

It certainly appears as if the first-year tandem of head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager John-Eric Sullivan are planning a multi-year rebuild for the Miami Dolphins. Releasing Tyreek Hill was obvious, but taking a historic dead-cap hit by cutting Tua Tagovailoa really signals that 2026 will be the season this regime tears the roster down to the studs. De’Von Achen and Jaylen Waddle are still around, which makes it a more interesting landing spot for dual-threat quarterback Malik Willis, especially since there are very few stakes in Miami. The Dolphins are making a smart bet on Willis to be their long-term quarterback. If it doesn’t work out this fall, they could relatively easily move on from him and draft a top signal-caller in the 2027 NFL Draft — or, if Willis lives up to his potential, Miami could nab a top defender next year. Either way, it’ll probably be one of the top five.

cleveland browns

It’s certainly a decision to move quickly with Shadure Sanders and Deshaun Watson as your starting quarterback options for the 2026 NFL season. One thing is for sure: The Cleveland Browns and first-year head coach Todd Monken don’t have any good options. It doesn’t help that the rebuilt Browns offensive line features a below-average guard they overpaid for (Zion Johnson), a center (Elgton Jenkins) who has been in a decline for two seasons now, and Taven Jenkins on the interior. It took Myles Garrett a record-breaking season to win five games for Cleveland last season. With Jim Schwartz gone, five wins could be the maximum for the Browns this fall.

Arizona Cardinals

That’s not to say the Arizona Cardinals haven’t made any additions this offseason. The signing of Isaac Seumalo will improve the offensive line, and Tyler Allger is absolutely an upgrade for the run game, at least compared to the team last season after a string of injuries. However, there’s probably a six-win ceiling for a team quarterbacked by Jacoby Brissett or Gardner Minshew with a bottom-10 defense. First-year head coach Matt LaFleur will also experience growing pains on the job, likely leading Arizona to no more than five wins. With the roster situation overall, the Cardinals are certainly more focused on building an infrastructure that will welcome a quarterback like Arch Manning or Dante Moore.

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

Thursday’s 108-97 loss to the Atlanta Hawks felt like a turning point for the Brooklyn Nets’ tanking efforts. With Igor Demin and Deron Sharp recently shut down for the season, the Nets ruled out Michael Porter Jr. (right ankle sprain), Nolan Traore (rest) and Ziaire Williams (illness) for the matchup.

When that wasn’t enough, he took matters into his own hands during the game.

Despite taking an 83–82 lead early in the fourth quarter, the Nets did not play their top two available players, Nick Claxton or Noah Clowney, for the entire final period. They even benched Josh Minot, who scored a season-high 24 points. Brooklyn’s closing lineup included two rookies and three two-way players: Tyson Etienne, Ben Saraf, Drake Powell, EJ Liddell and Cheney Johnson.

As the game progressed, it became clear that the Nets would not allow themselves to win. They’ll have to take measures like these if they hope to come out on top in a historic tank race.

Nets increase readiness for tanking during tough loss to Hawks

Brooklyn’s aggressive tank maneuvers on Thursday were followed by consecutive wins over the Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday and Monday. Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez rode a veteran-heavy rotation to a 23-point comeback in Detroit, playing Michael Porter Jr. 39 minutes and benching rookies Ben Saraf and Traore. Despite the Grizzlies’ eight highest-paid players being sidelined on Monday, Brooklyn played most of its rotation and won 126–115.

However, Thursday’s loss signaled a philosophical shift in line with other tanking teams. For much of this season, the Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz and others have made extreme efforts to maximize their draft lottery odds, and for good reason.

The 2026 draft is one of the most talented in the last several decades, with three franchise-altering prospects – Darin Peterson, AJ DiBunsta and Cam Boozer – at the top.

These are the types of players the Nets had their eye on when they paid a hefty price to re-acquire 2025 and 2026 first-round picks from the Houston Rockets during the 2024 offseason. However, Brooklyn went soft last season, finishing with the NBA’s sixth-worst record and falling to the eighth pick in the draft, a mistake a rebuilding team cannot afford to make twice.

Nets owner Joe Tsai acknowledged this long before the season.

“We have a selection in 2026, and we hope to get a good selection. So you can guess what kind of strategy we will use for this season,” Tsai said.

The Nets still have an opportunity to put themselves in the optimal position to clinch the top spot. They have only one more win than the Wizards and Sacramento Kings, who are second and third, respectively, in the lottery standings, and two more than the Pacers, who are in the top spot. Brooklyn’s remaining schedule includes a matchup with Sacramento and meetings with Indiana and Washington.

Rotations like Thursday’s should become common for the Nets in the final month of the season. The potential gains this summer are worth it.

Michael Porter Jr. is getting the night off during an important tank matchup following the Brooklyn Nets’ unexpected win over the Detroit Pistons. Porter was ruled out of Monday’s game with the Memphis Grizzlies for rest.

The night of rest comes after the Nets lost in a tightly contested tank race following a 23-point comeback in the second half against the Pistons on Saturday. Porter scored a game-high 30 points with 13 rebounds in the impressive win. He played 39 minutes, his most in any game this season.

The win, which snapped a 10-game losing streak, moved the Nets into a tie with the Washington Wizards for third place in the draft lottery standings. They are 1.5 games behind the second-place Indiana Pacers and two games behind the first-place Sacramento Kings.

Can the Nets pick up their second straight win on Monday against the depleted Grizzlies?

Even with Porter and Egor Demin sidelined, the Nets will have a good chance to pick up their second straight win on Monday. The Grizzlies’ eight highest-paid players are on the injury report along with other players.

Memphis will be without Ja Morant, Zach Eddy, Santi Aldama, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Brandon Clarke and Taj Gibson on Monday. Meanwhile, Cedric Coward, Ty Jerome, Scottie Pippen Jr. and Taylor Hendricks are questionable.

If all of the above names are ruled out, the Grizzlies will have only eight available players against the Nets: Walter Clayton Jr., Cam Spencer, GG Jackson, Jaylen Wells, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Javon Small, Ryan Rupert and Jahmai Meshach. All of those players are on rookie contracts, minimum or two-way deals. There is no center among the group.

Meanwhile, both of Brooklyn’s centers, Nick Claxton and De’Ron Sharp, are available.

The Memphis Grizzlies are vying for a spot in the hotly contested NBA tank race. He unveiled a lengthy injury report for Monday’s matchup with the Brooklyn Nets.

The Grizzlies will be without Ja Morant, Zack Eddy, Santi Aldama, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Brandon Clarke and Taj Gibson. Meanwhile, Cedric Coward, Ty Jerome, Scottie Pippen Jr. and Taylor Hendricks are questionable.

That group includes Memphis’ eight highest-paid players. If all of the above names are ruled out, the Grizzlies will have only eight available players against the Nets: Walter Clayton Jr., Cam Spencer, GG Jackson, Jaylen Wells, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Javon Small, Ryan Rupert and Jahmai Meshach.

All of those players are on rookie contracts, minimum or two-way deals. There is no center among the group.

Ja Morant headlines Grizzlies’ lengthy injury report for tank matchup with Nets

Meanwhile, Michael Porter Jr. is resting for the Nets after playing 39 minutes during Saturday’s upset win over the Detroit Pistons. Egor Demin will miss his fifth consecutive game with a plantar fascia injury. However, Ben Saraf, who is probable with back tightness, is the only other Nets on the injury report.

Memphis will be without a traditional center on Monday. Meanwhile, both of Brooklyn’s centers, Nick Claxton and De’Ron Sharp, are available.

The Grizzlies have lost their last three games after consecutive wins over the Dallas Mavericks and Indiana Pacers. They are eighth in the draft lottery standings, two games ahead of the ninth-place Chicago Bulls and three games behind the seventh-place Mavericks.

Meanwhile, the Nets’ upset win over the Pistons moved them into a tie with the Washington Wizards for third place. They are 1.5 games behind the second-place Indiana Pacers and two games behind the first-place Sacramento Kings.

Golden State Warriors forward and podcaster Draymond Green chimed in on the conversation about shutting down Steph Curry for the remainder of the season so the Warriors can tank. On January 30, Curry suffered a right knee injury in a game against the red-hot Detroit Pistons; It did not appear to be serious, and as the All-Star break approached, the Warriors listed him day-to-day.

But Curry has been out for more than a month, as the Warriors said they are ready to reevaluate him soon. Now, the Warriors face a tough challenge without Curry and Jimmy Butler, who were sidelined midway through the season with ACL injuries. With the eighth-seeded Warriors having lost seven of their last 11 games, there is speculation that the season is over.

In an interview with Tim Kawakami tk showMike Dunleavy Jr. did not completely rule out Curry sitting out the remainder of the season, but said it would be surprising if that happened.

“It would be very, very surprising. But, you know, I’m not ruling anything out; I’m not a doctor, and things could go a certain way. So, I don’t want the headline to be that Steph could be done for the year because I’m not ruling it out, but just because he’s not playing right now, I just have to admit that I’m sure there’s a chance, but we don’t expect it.”

Following the conversation, Green discussed the possibility of the Warriors making this decision on his eponymous podcast.

“I’ve seen a lot of people say, ‘Hey man, they should just tank and not bring Steph back the rest of the year’ and all this stuff. One thing I will tell you is this: Shutting Steph down for the rest of the year is not something that’s just going to happen, except so he can play. I can also assure you, Joe Lacob is not going to tank. I saw Matt Ishbia say it, tanking is in my DNA. Never will. You get better and if we end up being bad and get a good draft pick, we get a good draft pick, but we’re definitely not going to tank Joe Lacob.”

Of note, senior NBA insider Brett Sigel of ClutchPoints reported that sources indicate Curry will receive around-the-clock treatment to put himself in position to compete in the playoffs. The Warriors are getting a break of sorts, with no games on Tuesday and Wednesday as they prepare for Thursday’s game against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets that will air nationally on Prime Video.

With the Warriors having interesting games against tough teams like the Thunder on Saturday, the Timberwolves on March 13 and the Knicks on March 15, a decision will certainly have to be made regarding Steph’s immediate playing future in order to keep the Warriors at least in the play-in picture.

The Utah Jazz have been in full tank mode lately, regularly pulling their starters down during games and most recently having Jaren Jackson Jr. out for the rest of the season due to injury. Now, as the season enters its home stretch, the team has received tough news regarding an injury to its best player, Lauri Markkanen.

“Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen could be out for a while after suffering a concussion in practice Wednesday,” Kevin Reynolds of The Salt Lake Tribune reported.

According to a source familiar with the situation, Markkanen is being evaluated for right ankle and hip injuries, and will undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the ailments.

The news comes amid allegations that the Jazz are intentionally trying to lose games in order to gain a higher pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, which many predict will be loaded with high-end talent. Recently, the NBA issued a hefty fine against Utah’s ownership for their blatant tanking efforts, and given Utah’s history, some fans may be skeptical about this latest injury update regarding Markkanen.

This season, Markkanen is averaging nearly 27 points per game and that’s part of the Jazz’s vision for the long term, as they hope to pair him and Jackson Jr. with another blue-chip prospect in the upcoming draft.

In any case, the Jazz next face off at home against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday evening. Tipoff from the Delta Center is scheduled for 9:00 pm ET.

As the Memphis Grizzlies are playing the final weeks of a losing season that could yield a premium pick in the NBA Draft, Tuomas Isalo’s focus is on incremental gains. That progress will be based on sound, fundamental basketball that every high school hooper should know. However, fans may feel stressed given the current marching orders. Lose enough to improve draft position. Win enough to build a foundation. Do both honestly, even against the lowly Sacramento Kings.

Keeping things simple, relatively speaking, has apparently been a recipe for destruction over the last two dozen or so games.

“I think the biggest thing is to play somewhat consistent basketball,” Isalo said. “We were able to immediately integrate some new guys into the cycle of the game. It wasn’t easy. We tried to keep the cognitive load to a minimum. Just do the basics. Those days we had to practice (after the All-Star Game break) were very important in that regard.”

Losing Ja Morant (injury) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (trade) was a real turning point for a small-market franchise looking to get back to contention quickly. While most NBA staffs got a chance to rest during the break, Isalo’s staff prepared for a reset.

“We worked to make sure everyone was going in the same direction and knew what was expected of them in different situations,” Isalo shared. “For that to happen, you need to stabilize some of the roles. So when we have new guys coming in, we’ve focused on keeping their roles as similar as possible from night to night so they can have some stability.”

In what Grizzlies (21-35) fans and league observers might call a moral tank job, Isalo’s consistency-first approach is central. They are competitive but fall six games behind the LA Clippers for the final NBA Play-in Tournament spot. Still, as more players return from injury and the front office fills out the roster with 10-day contracts, Isalo plans to increase the complexity for those who have shown they can handle it.

“Let’s say there are people who are more fluent in our language. We can move them around a bit and see what we haven’t uncovered yet about the players,” Isalo explained. “Because they’re playing with different players in different roles, you can suddenly see that a guy is capable of doing something that maybe wasn’t as obvious before.”

Finding hidden gems is what separates a well-run rebuilding season from a doomed one. Sending the current group into the summer with habits and film that will serve them next season, no matter where the draft lands, is a top priority. A win would be welcome, Isalo made clear, but not at the expense of the bigger picture. The Finnish coach will have to rely on lessons learned over the next six weeks to avoid another six months of trouble in 2027.

So, for now, the measure of success in the final weeks won’t lie in the standings, but in whether the Grizzlies establish a foundation for the offseason. If Memphis can finish the year playing organized, disciplined basketball, the team hopes that a tough 2025-26 campaign will at least create clarity as we move toward a new era.

休斯頓德州人隊似乎在 2025 年向前邁出了一步，並準備深入季后賽，但他們再次連續第三個賽季止步於分區賽。這一次，雖然休斯頓隊的防守再次展現了出色的表現，但 CJ 斯特勞德在上半場的四次攔截中表現不佳，最終輸給了新英格蘭愛國者隊。

糟糕的表現是斯特勞德令人擔憂的趨勢的延續，他在一周前對陣鋼人隊的外卡賽中兩次攔截並失球五次。這位前二號秀在 2023 年憑藉出色的新秀賽季席捲了聯盟，但自那以後的兩個賽季，儘管德州人仍能進入分區輪，但他似乎有所退步。

斯特勞德幾乎肯定會在下賽季作為休斯頓的首發球員回歸，但他將帶著很多問題上場。外接手坦克·戴爾因傷缺席了整個 2025 年賽季，他確信自己會反彈。

坦克·戴爾表示，人們可以對 CJ·斯特勞德 說任何話，但當他們一起回到球場上時，他說“這將會很特別。” pic.twitter.com/xoHQBumgXO

— 喬納森·M·亞歷山大 (@jonmalexander) 2026 年 1 月 28 日

“人們可以在 7 號上暢所欲言，他們坐在沙發上在電腦上打字，在手機上打字，”戴爾通過《休斯敦紀事報》的喬納森·亞歷山大說道。 “每個人都知道 7 是誰，尤其是在設施裡。我們知道他是誰。當我們和他一起回到那裡時，這將會很特別。”

斯特勞德顯然擁有成為 NFL 頂級四分衛之一的天賦，但由於糟糕的進攻線表現和零跑動比賽的支持，他在過去兩個賽季一直在苦苦掙扎。結果，他的發揮有所惡化，這一點在季后賽中得到了充分體現。也許在受傷前與戴爾一起打球（他2024年的首要目標之一）將幫助他回到新秀年的水平。

休斯頓在過去的幾個賽季中建立了超級碗級別的防守，但德梅科·瑞恩斯和他的隊友需要這位四分衛打出高水平的比賽才能幫助他們克服困難。戴爾 100% 相信斯特勞德會回到那個狀態，讓他看起來像 NFL 中最好的四分衛之一。