Selasa, 23 April 2019
Kyler, Bosa and D.K. Are Looking for Jobs on Career Day | Gridiron Heights Draft Special - Bleacher Report
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS8U7E-TByc
2019-04-23 16:17:17Z
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Suns fire head coach Igor Kokoskov after one season; plan to pursue Monty Williams, David Vanterpool, per report - CBS Sports
The Phoenix Suns have fired Igor Kokoskov after just one year on the job.
Less than a year after he was announced as the new head coach of the Suns, Phoenix has decided to part ways with the European head coach, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
At this time, Shams Charania of The Athletic is reporting that the Suns plan to begin their coaching search by requesting interviews with Philadelphia 76ers assistant Monty Williams, who is also reportedly in the running for the Los Angeles Lakers' coaching vacancy, and Portland Trail Blazers assistant David Vanterpool.
The Suns finished with the worst record in the Western Conference at 19-63 and the second-worst record in the NBA overall. It was the third consecutive season that Phoenix has finished with the West's worst mark -- with their record actually worsening from season to season.
With that said, the Suns did show improvement toward the end of the season, with Devin Booker further showing glimpses of being a superstar and DeAndre Ayton proving himself as worthy of being a No. 1 overall draft pick. Wojnarowski explains that the Suns had leaned toward bringing Kokoskov back for a second consecutive season, but the franchise's lack of stability ended up costing him his job.
"Suns had planned to bring Kokoskov back for a second season, especially after the team's stronger play in late stages of the season. Kokoskov has been a well-respected tactician who becomes another victim of the constant turnover in Phoenix."
To paint a picture of just how unstable the franchise is, the Suns' next head coach during the 2019-20 season will be their fifth head coach in the past five seasons. Phoenix hasn't had a winning record since the 2013-14 season and it holds the league's second-longest postseason-less streak, having not made the playoffs since the 2009-10 season -- when Steve Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire were still leading the franchise.
It is unclear at the moment just who the favorite to take over the Suns would be considered to be, but the firing of yet another head coach for a team that is in a clear rebuilding mode is not a good look for a franchise that hasn't won many games over the last several seasons.
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/suns-fire-head-coach-igor-kokoskov-after-one-season-plan-to-pursue-monty-williams-david-vanterpool-per-report/
2019-04-23 14:31:00Z
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PFF 2019 NFL Mock Draft 5: Rounds 1-3 | NFL Draft news and analysis - Pro Football Focus
PFF 2019 NFL Mock Draft 5: Rounds 1-3
By Steve Palazzolo • Apr 23, 2019
My final mock draft is here. This time, we dove into the first three rounds, trying to find the fits and values that make the most sense for your team.
As always, I do not try to predict the draft. I’m playing the role of general manager for all 32 teams, so this mock may look different than many of the cookie cutters around the internet. Remember, draft good players at valuable positions.
Mike Renner’s final mock draft for this class will attempt to predict the picks rather than pick the best player/fit for all 32 teams.
[Editor’s Note: To view all of Pro Football Focus’ advanced stats and grades for draft-eligible players, check out our 2019 NFL Draft Guide. All EDGE and ELITE subscribers already have access to the guide, and for those who don’t, you can get your copy for as low as $9.99!]
Round 1
1. Arizona Cardinals: QB Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
The top player on the PFF draft board, Murray is the right move for the Cardinals. He has the best chance of being a top-10 quarterback in this draft class. He’s accurate from the pocket and dynamic as a runner, all leading to the top passing and rushing grade in the nation last season.
2. San Francisco 49ers: Edge Nick Bosa, Ohio State
Since stepping onto campus as a true freshman, Bosa has been one of the best edge defenders in the country, and elite PFF grades for defensive linemen have translated smoothly to the next level. Bosa has multiple years of top-notch play against the run and, most importantly, as a pass-rusher. We expect a smooth transition at a position of need for the 49ers.
3. New York Jets: Edge Josh Allen, Kentucky
This is where my mantra to always take the best player is going to be challenged. I love Quinnen Williams, but given New York’s courting of Anthony Barr and their massive need on the edge, Allen is an excellent fit. The positional value of an edge is slightly higher than an interior defensive lineman anyway, so I just talked myself into Allen as the pick after he posted the highest pass-rush grade in the nation last season at 94.3. He has legitimate, linebacker-like coverage ability if the Jets choose to tap into it.
4. Oakland Raiders: DI Quinnen Williams, Alabama
One of the best-case scenarios for the Raiders, Williams bring an impact interior defensive lineman who can play the run and rush the passer. He posted the highest grade we’ve seen from an interior lineman last season at 96.0 overall, while leading the nation both against the run and as a pass-rusher. Oakland doesn’t need to force an edge rusher here, just take the best player and move on.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Greedy Williams, LSU
Always one of the more difficult picks in the draft, I don’t love the value for Devin White here compared to his teammate, Williams. Greedy is the best man coverage cornerback in the draft, and the new defensive scheme in Tampa Bay fits his skillset after he allowed a passer rating of only 42.5 during his career at LSU.
6. New York Giants: QB Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
While the Giants may not value Haskins at this point, he’s the No. 2 quarterback on our board and worthy of a shot in the top 10. He is one of the most accurate short and intermediate passers in the draft and strong when playing from a clean pocket (a stable indicator of future success). However, Haskins was far more inconsistent when passing down the field or while under pressure. It’s a necessary move for the Giants to find their QB of the future.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: OT Jonah Williams, Alabama
This iteration of the draft has set up well for the Jaguars, who get the top offensive tackle on our draft board in Williams. He has experience playing both left and right tackle, last year finishing with an outstanding 89.2 grade while allowing only 12 pressures on the season. He can step right in as the starter at right tackle in Year 1.
8. Detroit Lions: Edge Brian Burns, Florida State
Even with Trey Flowers in the mix, Burns adds a different dynamic off the edge with his burst as a pass-rusher. He finished with an excellent 90.5 pass-rush grade last season to go with 66 total pressures, good for No. 2 in the nation during the regular season.
9. Buffalo Bills: CB Byron Murphy, Washington
Hear me out one last time, Bills fans. Sometimes scheme fit and positional value are too much to pass up. Murphy is the best zone corner in the draft, Buffalo plays as much zone as any team and cornerback is the most valuable position on the defense. You truly cannot have too many good cornerbacks, and no one on the current Buffalo roster is going to scare me away from adding this kind of value opposite Tre’Davious White. Murphy posted the top grade in the nation last year at 92.0 overall, and he’s a perfect fit for the Bills’ defense.
10. Denver Broncos: DI Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame
The PFF draft board shows our love for Tillery, as he checks in at No. 7 overall after he tied Quinnen Williams for the No. 1 pass-rush grade in the nation last season at 92.5. Tillery’s size, length and explosiveness resemble that of Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs, a player worthy of top-10 consideration a few years ago. Tillery adds an interior disruptor to the Denver defense.
11. Cincinnati Bengals: LB Devin White, LSU
One of the best fits in the draft, White patrols the middle with incredible athleticism that translated to a 91.6 coverage grade last season. He’s not great in the run game, but coverage is far more important and even more so for a Bengals defense that has assets on the outside but was torched over the middle of the field last year.
12. Green Bay Packers: DI Ed Oliver, Houston
The Packers are thrilled to add more playmakers to their front-7 with Oliver, who is an undersized terror in the run game (three years of 90-plus grades) and a developing pass-rusher (career-high 88.8 pass-rush grade last season). Oliver is an incredible athlete, but he has work to do in order for it to match the hype. Green Bay is a good situation where he can play opposite similarly-undersized interior disruptor, Mike Daniels, as he hones his craft.
13. Miami Dolphins: OT Jawaan Taylor, Florida
Taylor is a good mesh of value and need as the Dolphins let right tackle Ja’Wuan James walk and Taylor should step right in as the starter. He’s a mauler in the run game and has all the skills to continue his development as a pass blocker after allowing only nine pressures last season.
14. Atlanta Falcons: LB Devin Bush, Michigan
The Falcons have built their defense on speed and Bush adds even more in that department. He pairs with Deion Jones to form one of the league’s best linebacking duos and adds a versatile blitzer to the mix after notching 47 pressures, including 13 sacks, over the last two years. Bush’s 4.43 speed shows up on the field. He can make an impact both in coverage and in the blitz game.
15. Washington Redskins: CB Deandre Baker, Georgia
This pick is all about adding talent at a valuable position, and Baker has the movement and ball skills to make an immediate impact opposite Josh Norman or in the slot. He put together multiple excellent years in coverage for Georgia, allowing a passer rating of only 47.9 during his career.
16. Carolina Panthers: OT Andre Dillard, Washington State
Need and value match up well here, as the Panthers add one of the best pass protectors in the draft in Dillard. He has three straight years of 90-plus pass-blocking grades to go with plenty of experience in Washington State’s system.
17. New York Giants: WR A.J. Brown, Ole Miss
Brown is a good fit here, as the Giants look to add a high-volume receiver to the mix to replace Odell Beckham, Jr. His skillset is a perfect match with Haskins, as Brown can win at the short and intermediate level, both outside and in the slot. He averaged 7.6 yards after the catch per reception during his Ole Miss career while dropping only 13 passes on 201 catchable targets,
18. Minnesota Vikings: OT Dalton Risner, Kansas State
Another good match, Risner has four strong years of grading at Kansas State, including his freshman year at center. He can play multiple positions along the offensive line, but over the last three years at right tackle, he’s been one of the nation’s best. He has the size and brute strength to handle length off the edge.
19. Tennessee Titans: WR D.K. Metcalf, Ole Miss
While Metcalf may not have gaudy numbers, he was an efficient receiver for Ole Miss, averaging 2.83 yards per route as their downfield, outside threat. He has incredible size and speed at 230 pounds with a 4.33 40, and that combined with his ability to get off press coverage makes him extremely dangerous on the vertical route tree. Metcalf is a perfect fit as a field-stretcher opposite Corey Davis on the other side for the Titans.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside, Stanford
Another good wide receiver fit, Arcega-Whiteside has led the draft class in contested catches in each of the last two years, as he combines incredible physicality and body control at the catch point. He’s also adept at getting off the line of scrimmage to go with 4.49 speed, making him one of our favorite receivers in the class despite inconsistent evaluations in the draft community. Arcega-Whiteside needs to be paired with an aggressive quarterback, making him a good match with Ben Roethlisberger.
21. Seattle Seahawks: TE T.J. Hockenson, Iowa
Seattle can go a few different ways here, but this is a good time to add offensive playmakers in the draft. Hockenson is the best route-running tight end in the draft, as he separates at the top of routes at all levels and catches the ball better than most as he dropped only two passes during his Iowa career. Throw in his run blocking, and the Seahawks have a three-down weapon in Hockenson.
22. Baltimore Ravens: Edge Chase Winovich, Michigan
Talent is needed in the Baltimore front-7 and Winovich is a productive, under-the-radar talent who put up two straight years of 90-plus PFF grades. He can win with burst, bend or his hands off the edge, making him one of the best all-around defensive players in the draft.
23. Houston Texans: OT/G Cody Ford, Oklahoma
Houston must address the offensive line during this draft and Ford has tackle skills, though he may fit best at guard. He allowed just seven pressures as Oklahoma’s right tackle last year to go with his powerful run-blocking that is a perfect match for Houston’s run game.
24. Oakland Raiders: WR Marquise Brown, Oklahoma
Even with the additions of Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams, Brown adds another speed dimension that can win outside or in the slot. He has a next-level gear that will make Oakland dangerous to defend, and littering the field with playmakers is the best bet to get the most out of Derek Carr. He averaged 18.3 yards per reception during his career, to go with 9.5 YAC/reception.
25. Philadelphia Eagles: S Darnell Savage, Maryland
Savage is one of the best playmakers in the draft, as his 4.33 speed shows up on the field. He brings incredible range to the back end, accelerating through the catch point to pick off and break up passes. Savage can also play over the slot in zone looks, and he will shorten the field for opposing offenses after posting two straight years with 86.0-plus grades.
26. Indianapolis Colts: DI Christian Wilkins, Clemson
Indianapolis needs an influx of talent up front, and Wilkins brings a strong run-stopper with improving pass-rush ability. He has played all over the defensive front at Clemson, playing with the strength and leverage to make a three-down impact at the next level, especially if he can build upon his 91.0 pass-rush grade from 2018.
27. Oakland Raiders: Edge Clelin Ferrell, Clemson
Another Clemson defensive lineman comes off the board, this time fitting the need for an edge defender in the Oakland defense. Ferrell took a big step forward in 2018, improving his pass-rush grade from 73.2 to 89.7, as he picked up 13 sacks, 11 QB hits and 32 hurries last season.
28. Los Angeles Chargers: S Nasir Adderley, Delaware
The Chargers are strong all-around defensively, but Adderley adds a true free safety to pair with strong safety Derwin James. Adderley has incredible range and ball skills on the back end, evidenced by his 89.9 coverage grade, six pass breakups and five interceptions last season. Adderley and James are perfect for their respective roles and one of the best young safety duos in the game.
29. Kansas City Chiefs: CB David Long, Michigan
It’s all about adding coverage on the back end for the Chiefs, and they get one of the best man corners in the draft in Long. He allowed just one catch over 10 yards last season and opposing quarterbacks completed only 30 percent of passes thrown his way over the last two years. Long is on the smaller side, but he has the quicks to mirror in man coverage against the shiftier receivers in the league.
30. Green Bay Packers: WR Hakeem Butler, Iowa State
The Packers add another big-bodied receiver in Butler who has the size to box out and the body control to work the back-shoulder game with QB Aaron Rodgers. While Butler still needs work getting off press and separating consistently, he can produce when paired with an accurate quarterback like Rodgers, both down the field where Butler led the draft class with 721 yards on deep passes and in the red zone.
31. Los Angeles Rams: C Garrett Bradbury, NC State
Bradbury is more of a second-round prospect on the PFF draft board, but he’s an ideal fit for the Rams and their outside zone scheme. He is extremely quick off the ball in the run game, making the highlight-reel reach blocks necessary for a zone-blocking center, but he must show that he can handle power as a pass-blocker at the next level.
32. New England Patriots: QB Will Grier, West Virginia
The Patriots are in the quarterback market, and Grier has the accuracy and touch to be the QB-in-waiting. Grier excelled on “NFL throws” past the first-down markers, but he must cut down on the questionable decisions at the next level. If paired with a good offensive coordinator, Grier’s accuracy gives him the nod over Drew Lock or Daniel Jones at this point in the draft.
Round 2
33. Arizona Cardinals: WR Andy Isabella, Massachusetts
34. Indianapolis Colts: CB Justin Layne, Michigan State
35. Oakland Raiders: CB Amani Oruwariye, Penn State
36. San Francisco 49ers: CB Julian Love, Notre Dame
37. New York Giants: DI Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State
38. Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
39. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DI Dexter Lawrence, Clemson
40. Buffalo Bills: OT Greg Little, Ole Miss
41. Denver Broncos: QB Drew Lock, Missouri
42. Cincinnati Bengals: Edge Montez Sweat, Mississippi State
43. Detroit Lions: WR N’Keal Harry, Arizona State
44. Green Bay Packers: TE Noah Fant, Iowa
45. Atlanta Falcons: Edge Rashan Gary, Michigan
46. Washington Redskins: C Elgton Jenkins, Mississippi State
47. Carolina Panthers: S Taylor Rapp, Washington
48. Miami Dolphins: G Chris Lindstrom, Boston College
49. Cleveland Browns: CB/S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Florida
50. Minnesota Vikings: Edge Zach Allen, Boston College
51. Tennessee Titans: DI Khalen Saunders, UCF
52. Pittsburgh Steelers: LB Te’Von Coney, Notre Dame
53. Philadelphia Eagles: RB Josh Jacobs, Alabama
54. Houston Texans: OT Max Scharping, Northern Illinois
55. Houston Texans: S Juan Thornhill, Virginia
56. New England Patriots: Edge Anthony Nelson, Iowa
57. Philadelphia Eagles: OT Chuma Edoga, USC
58. Dallas Cowboys: S Deionte Thompson, Alabama
59. Indianapolis Colts: S Amani Hooker, Iowa
60. Los Angeles Chargers: G Hjalte Froholdt, Arkansas
61. Kansas City Chiefs: CB Rock Ya-Sin, Temple
62. New Orleans Saints: QB Daniel Jones, Duke
63. Kansas City Chiefs: LB Blake Cashman, Minnesota
64. New England Patriots: WR Terry McLaurin, Ohio State
Round 3
65. Arizona Cardinals: OT Tytus Howard, Alabama State
66. Pittsburgh Steelers: Edge Maxx Crosby, Eastern Michigan
67. San Francisco 49ers: CB Jamel Dean, Auburn
68. New York Jets: OT Kaleb McGary, Washington
69. Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Kelvin Harmon, NC State
70. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Edge LJ Collier, TCU
71. Denver Broncos: CB Sean Bunting, Central Michigan
72. Cincinnati Bengals: OT Yodny Cajuste, West Virginia
73. New England Patriots: TE Jace Sternberger, Texas A&M
74. Buffalo Bills: TE Irv Smith Jr., Alabama
75. Green Bay Packers: LB Drue Tranquill, Notre Dame
76. Washington Redskins: WR Diontae Johnson, Toledo
77. Carolina Panthers: Edge Jachai Polite, Florida
78. Miami Dolphins: DI Dre’Mont Jones, Ohio State
79. Atlanta Falcons: RB David Montgomery, Iowa State
80. Cleveland Browns: CB Isaiah Johnson, Houston
81. Minnesota Vikings: G Nate Davis, Charlotte
82. Tennessee Titans: Edge Charles Omenihu, Texas
83. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Emanuel Hall, Missouri
84. Seattle Seahawks: CB Tim Harris, Virginia
85. Baltimore Ravens: WR Parris Campbell, Ohio State
86. Houston Texans: RB Miles Sanders, Penn State
87. Chicago Bears: WR Miles Boykin, Notre Dame
88. Detriot Lions: TE Josh Oliver, San Jose State
89. Indianapolis Colts: CB Joejaun Williams, Vanderbilt
90. Dallas Cowboys: WR Riley Ridley, Georgia
91. Los Angeles Chargers: QB Ryan Finley, NC State
92. Kansas City Chiefs: RB Darrell Henderson, Memphis
93. New York Jets: C Erik McCoy, Texas A&M
94. Los Angeles Rams: LB Vosean Joseph, Florida
95. New York Giants: CB Jimmy Moreland, James Madison
96. Washington Redskins: LB Ben Burr-Kirvin, Washington
97. New England Patriots: TE Caleb Wilson, UCLA
98. Jacksonville Jaguars: Edge Ben Banogu, TCU
99. Los Angeles Rams: Edge Ronheen Bingham, Arkansas State
100. Carolina Panthers: DI Armon Watts, Arkansas
101. New England Patriots: OT Bobby Evans, Oklahoma
102. Baltimore Ravens: LB Mack Wilson, Alabama
[Editor’s Note: To view all of Pro Football Focus’ advanced stats and grades for draft-eligible players, check out our 2019 NFL Draft Guide. All EDGE and ELITE subscribers already have access to the guide, and for those who don’t, you can get your copy for as low as $9.99!]
https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-pff-2019-nfl-mock-draft-5-rounds-1-3
2019-04-23 12:46:05Z
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Suns fire Igor Kokoskov, proving the franchise is a model of stability - SB Nation
The Phoenix Suns, a model NBA franchise if your goal is to metaphorically burn with the heat and fragrance of a large tire fire, fired coach Igor Kokoskov on Monday after one season on the job. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Suns are chasing Monty Williams, also a candidate for the Lakers job.
Devin Booker was drafted by the Suns four years ago. Whoever the Suns hire will be Booker’s fifth coach in the NBA. Can you name the first four? That’d be Jeff Hornacek, Earl Watson, Jay Triano, and Kokoskov. No better way to build a team from the ground up than to ... constantly change direction on the sidelines, creating instability unnatural even in the chaotic NBA. (Great reaction to the Kokoskov news from Watson, by the way.)
Kokoskov will end up back on an NBA bench this summer if he doesn’t decide to get some more head coach reps in over in Europe (where he’s had success as the Slovenian national team coach). The Suns were never going to compete for wins this season -- they had a bizarre offseason punctuated by the general manager getting fired nine days before the start of the regular season -- and it seemed like Kokoskov patched together a rotation as best he could.
James Jones is now fully in charge of the basketball team, with Jeff Bower handling the day-to-day operations. I guess they’ll get to hire their own coach now ... if Robert Sarver doesn’t force his way into the conversation. Who are we kidding? Of course he will. This is why the Suns are the Suns.
Scores
Bucks 127, Pistons 104
Milwaukee wins series 4-0
Rockets 91, Jazz 107
Houston leads 3-1
Schedule
A good ol’ 4-game playoff Tuesday!
Magic at Raptors, 7 ET, NBA TV
Toronto leads 3-1
Nets at Sixers, 8 ET, TNT
Philadelphia leads 3-1
Spurs at Nuggets, 9:30 ET, NBA TV
Series tied 2-2
Thunder at Blazers, 10:30 ET, TNT
Portland leads 3-1
Links
Congratulations to the Milwaukee Bucks for ruining yet another April for the basketball fans of Detroit. The Pistons haven’t won a playoff game since May 26, 2008. Yikes.
Meanwhile, Giannis is pulling out both Jordanesque hanging trick shots and volleyball spikes. He had 41 as he led Milwaukee to its first playoff series win since 2001. Giannis was six years old the last time the Bucks won a series!
Blake Griffin had a really good season, and deserved better than this.
Dan Devine looks ahead to a real test for the Bucks: an experienced Celtics team waiting in the second round.
The Jazz avoided a sweep of their own as Jae Crowder had a great game and Donovan Mitchell was electric in the fourth. Will this be a gentlemen’s sweep or will Utah put a minor panic into the Rockets? Game 5 is Wednesday in Texas. This summer, the Jazz probably need to prioritize adding another scorer to the mix.
How will the Pacers try to get Victor Oladipo over the hump?
The Clippers are hanging tough with the Warriors. It should be a wake-up call for Golden State. How will they react?
There are less than 10 people in the world I will trust to handle a “let’s talk about Russell Westbrook” column and Chris Herring is one of them, so go read this.
Kevin Durant talks about media thirst and free agency speculation. It’s really kind of odd that this bothers Durant so much and he hasn’t followed the tried and true strategy of refusing to answer questions about it. Hasn’t he ever seen a Russell Westbrook press conference?
There will be more WNBA games on TV this season thanks to a deal between the league and CBS Sports Network.
In some serious news, Luke Walton has been sued and accused of sexual assault by a former sports reporter in Los Angeles. The incident in question is alleged to have happened when Walton was an assistant coach with the Warriors. The alleged victim interacted with Walton once he was hired by the Lakers until she left the business. The Warriors, Lakers, and Kings (who hired Walton last week) all made brief statements saying this is the first they’ve heard of the allegations. Walton has retained Derrick Rose’s attorney.
The Minnesota Lynx are replacing THE LEGEND Lindsay Whalen with ... her nemesis, Odyssey Sims.
The Process is alive and well in Brooklyn.
And finally: shout out to the Nets for having their GM gets fined for rolling into the refs’ private locker room after Game 4 and for the next franchise owner of the team getting fined for tweeting support for his GM. The Nets, my friends, are great.
Be excellent to each other.
https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2019/4/23/18512302/igor-kokoskov-fired-suns-coach-gmib
2019-04-23 12:02:51Z
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Mitchell: Fueled by hunger to keep Jazz playing - ESPN
SALT LAKE CITY -- "Determination over negativity" isn't just a marketing slogan for Donovan Mitchell's Adidas signature shoe. It's a mantra for the young Utah Jazz star.
So Mitchell wasn't thinking about how much he had struggled during this Western Conference playoff series when the fourth quarter of Game 4 began with the Houston Rockets leading by four points. He just wanted to make sure the Jazz got to board a flight to Houston the next afternoon.
"I'm not trying to go home," Mitchell told ESPN after scoring 19 of his game-high 31 points in the fourth quarter of the Jazz's series-extending 107-91 win Monday night. "I'm not trying to watch the rest of these games from the couch."
Mitchell made sure the Jazz's season didn't end by single-handedly outscoring the Rockets 19-12 in the final quarter. He had a flurry of 13 points during a 15-1 run in the first few minutes of the frame that gave Utah the lead for good.
Mitchell struggled mightily as the Rockets put the Jazz in jeopardy of being swept, shooting 32.8 percent from the floor in the first few games of the series, including missing a wide-open 3-pointer that would have tied the score in Game 3 with eight seconds remaining. Mitchell's misery continued for most of Game 4, as he missed nine of his first 12 shots from the floor.
Mitchell started to warm up when he made a couple of driving layups in the third quarter, just before he got a breather for a few minutes at the end of the period.
"That's when I realized that I had to continue to be aggressive," Mitchell said. "I thought they were fouls, and they weren't, and I've got to be able to fight through contact. I said, 'All right, you're not getting nothing. You've got to be able to be even more aggressive.'"
Mitchell came out firing to start the fourth quarter, with Rockets guard Eric Gordon, his nemesis all series, resting to begin the period. Mitchell swished a 3-pointer from the left wing off a feed from Ricky Rubio on the first possession. After a Rubio floater gave the Jazz a lead, Mitchell scored 11 consecutive points -- hitting a pretty turnaround jumper after a spin move in the lane, knocking down a pair of free throws, getting a shooter's roll on a 30-footer in transition and punctuating the run with a pull-up 3.
"The confidence level goes from zero to 100," Mitchell said. "Well, I wouldn't say zero, but it just goes up crazy. For me, the biggest thing is maintaining your composure. Not just going to shoot because you can, but being able to make the right plays. I think what I was most happy with was that I didn't settle. I kept getting into the paint.
"My teammates obviously just having my back is huge, continuing to fight, fight, fight and just [encouraging me] to take the same shots I've been taking, not shying away because of my struggles."
The Jazz had been outscored by 11 with Mitchell on the floor through the first three quarters. He was plus-19 in the fourth quarter, when he was 6-of-12 from the floor, 3-of-5 from 3-point range and 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
"We made some mistakes," said Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni, whose team was 4-of-20 from the floor and 0-of-13 from 3-point range in the fourth quarter. "Left him one time on a penetration and he hits a 3. We didn't square up on another penetration, it's a layup. Just, it's us. I mean, it's him, too. I mean, he's good. He's gonna get rolling, so I'm mot worried about that if we do what we're supposed to do, but we didn't."
Mitchell scored more points in Monday's fourth quarter than he had in the final frames of the Jazz's three losses in the series. He had 13 points on 4-of-16 shooting in the first quarter of the previous three games.
"We know he's a winner," said Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who along with Derrick Favors anchored a dominant defensive performance. "It was hurting him a lot, too, after those bad games. I knew that he was gonna come out ready tonight, and he did."
Jazz reserve guard Kyle Korver felt so strongly about Mitchell after Game 3 that he made a lengthy statement without prompting in support of the second-year guard, saying he'd never seen anyone as young as the 22-year-old take ownership of a team with such charisma and class. Korver said then that the missed 3 that would have tied the game would just be part of Mitchell's journey.
Now, so is a spectacular scoring flurry in the fourth quarter to help the Jazz avoid a sweep.
"Anyone who's spent any significant amount of time with him knows that his character is as high as his talent level," Korver told ESPN. "Things happen in playoff series. We're all on this learning curve. He's early in his postseason career. It's only his second year, but this is who he is. Tough night the other night, right? It was a hard one, but we all knew that he was going to bounce back.
"And he didn't start off this game well. He didn't really get going until the fourth quarter, but every single person in our locker room had confidence that when the game was on the line, he was going to take the shots and he was going to make them."
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26584141/fueled-hunger-keep-jazz-playing
2019-04-23 08:02:13Z
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Rockets' Capela battling 2 respiratory viruses - ESPN
SALT LAKE CITY -- Houston Rockets center Clint Capela, who had perhaps his worst performance of the season in the Rockets' 107-91 Game 4 loss to the Utah Jazz on Monday, told ESPN that he has been battling two respiratory illnesses during the series.
Capela, who missed a practice due to illness days before the series started, said he was diagnosed with adenovirus and a klebsiella infection during a Sunday visit to a Salt Lake City doctor, who prescribed medication and eye drops.
Capela, whose eyes were extremely bloodshot, was told it would be another four or five days before he would be fully recovered.
"It's tough, man," Capela told ESPN after being held to four points on 1-of-6 shooting and seven rebounds in the loss. "Especially when I try to breathe, it's hard. I'm just going to fight it the best that I can."
It was a season-worst scoring total for Capela, who averaged 16.6 points and 12.7 rebounds during the regular season. He grabbed fewer than seven rebounds only twice this season.
The Rockets were outscored by 20 points in Capela's Game 4 minutes. It was his second worst plus-minus of the season behind a minus-22 in a Dec. 6 loss in Utah.
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26583986/rockets-capela-battling-2-respiratory-viruses
2019-04-23 06:53:40Z
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Senin, 22 April 2019
Report: Raiders likely to stay at No. 4 and draft D-lineman - NBCSports.com
The Raiders are by far the most interesting team heading into the 2019 NFL Draft.
Having general manager Mike Mayock come out of your television and into the Raiders war room is fascinating. So is head coach/final decision maker Jon Gruden, a wild card even at his most predictable.
They could only star so much with standard issue picks, but the Raiders don’t have one pick each round. They have three in the first, and another extremely high in the second.
The volume offers great opportunity to reshape the roster and find foundation pieces for the Gruden era. It carries another benefit once this draft begins Thursday night.
Flexibility.
“That’s what I love about it,” Mayock said. “Obviously, we could move up and you’ve got to know what you are trying to do and how you are trying to do it. You can try to increase your draft capital by moving down or you stay the same, and four of the first 35 picks gives you an opportunity to consider all those scenarios multiple times.”
As Mayock has said time and again since leaving NFL Network to take this post: the Raiders are open for business. We know Gruden’s down, something made clear by the six trades made during last year’s draft.
“That’s why we are opening up the lines of communication with all the teams around the league,” Mayock said. “I keep telling our guys, and you guys have heard me say this before, we need to be nimble, and nimble means depending on what the situation is to be able to react quickly according to the situation and make the right decision.”
The Raiders have four high picks and then don’t have another one for 70 picks. Mayock said recently he would love to get into the second and third rounds – they traded their third and fifth round picks for Antonio Brown – because, as he put it, that’s a good place to go fishing.
The best way to get said picks, is by trading down from Nos. 4, 24, 27 or, to a smaller extent, No. 35. That will happen during the draft, and roughly follow draft trade charts used by most everyone for quick reference while making a deal with sand quickly leaving the hourglass.
“They’re all within points of being the same thing,” Mayock said. “If you’re on the clock and you have two minutes left and somebody is calling about a trade, unless it’s for an existing NFL player, you have to have a way to see what the benchmark is quickly. I think all teams are using these trade charts that are very, very similar. Now, you have to use your gut a little bit, and there are different times where you might want to get more, and there are other times where you might take less, but that’s kind of the benchmark to start with.”
Former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson created a trade chart that was widely used for years, but it has been updated as some draft and trade rules have changed. They operate on the principle of finding an appropriately equitable trade between clubs using a sliding scale of point values.
And, if you look at last year’s first-round trade between Oakland and Arizona – the Raiders gave No. 10 to Arizona for Nos. 15, 79 and 152, the points match up almost perfectly on the Johnson chart and another modernized one here. Most of the other Raiders trades line up well on the Johnson chart, but as long as a relatively standardized version is used, teams can arrive quality at equitable trades that, again, can very based upon need for player or how high up the first round it goes.
That’s why No. 4 could carry some real weight if the Raiders move out of it, even in a small trade down. That’s certainly possible, especially if certain prospects are gone.
The Raiders are known to love Ohio State edge rusher Nick Bosa and would happily take him at No. 4, but he should be gone by No. 2. Trading up to get him is unrealistic given the cost and San Francisco’s perceived unwillingness to let him go. Going above the 49ers to take Bosa or that quarterback from Oklahoma is extremely cost prohibitive and seemingly detrimental to a team with so many needs.
Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams seems like another automatic if he makes it to No. 4, unless there’s an insane offer Gruden can’t refuse.
If those two are gone – Kyler Murray simply can’t be ruled out if he falls to No. 4 – the Raiders could welcome a move out of the fourth pick. He could also be worth a king’s ransom in trade.
If a team wanted to go up and get a quarterback before the Giants at No. 6 – the most likely scenario -- or had a hankering for Kentucky edge rusher Josh Allen, for example, the Raiders could slide on down and pick up some extra picks.
Let’s use a few teams as examples. (As a note, we’re excluding picks from future drafts or NFL players. Also, we’ll use the Johnson chart as a reference because it has been made public). If the Dolphins wanted to jump up and take a quarterback, they would have to compensate the Raiders for the No. 4 pick worth 1,800 points. That would cost Nos. 13, 48 and 78 to make the deal. That’s super rich for one draft, but you get the point.
Getting No. 4 would cost Buffalo Nos. 9 and 40.
The Raiders might be comfortable picking up an extra pick while still reeling in a edge-rushing scheme fit and athletic freak like Rashan Gary or Houston’s Ed Oliver in the top 10 – though they could be gone early, too –or Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell near the middle of the round while picking up extra selections.
“It depends if you're on the clock and you are sitting there at No. 4 and someone offers you to move back to whatever,” Gruden said. “What are they giving you?”
[RELATED: What Mayock's past rankings can tell us about Raiders]
The price for No. 24 and No. 27 are more reasonable to trade down from and jump back into Day 2 beyond No. 35. They also provide weapons to trade up in the first round to land someone they really want that remains available.
“We are wide open to moving up, we are wide open to moving back,” Gruden said. “We are wide open to just sitting there and taking a guy that falls to us.”
https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/raiders/nfl-draft-rumors-raiders-likely-stay-no-4-select-d-lineman
2019-04-22 16:58:04Z
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