Anthony Davis Never Had the Squad Zion Williamson Already Has in NOLA

Five months ago, the New Orleans Pelicans were in disarray.

Franchise cornerstone Anthony Davis had requested a trade. The Pelicans refused to comply ahead of the trade deadline, which created an awkward situation for the final few months of the regular season.china nfl nike jerseys

That’s all in the past now. Davis is headed to the Los Angeles Lakers, while No. 1 pick overall Zion Williamson will take his place as the Pelicans’ new cornerstone.buy nfl jerseys wholesale

After struggling to build around Davis during his seven seasons in New Orleans, can the Pelicans get it right this time with Zion?nike official nfl jerseys

If the past few months are any indication, it seems as though they’ve learned some valuable lessons.sale nfl jerseyshi-res-d26e2d862754b1ea38cd823c2ccf3caa_crop_north

In mid-February, the Pelicans fired longtime general manager Dell Demps. Two months later, they hired David Griffin to take personalized nfl jersey over as their executive vice president of basketball operations, which began a cascade of organizational changes.

Griffin urged team owner Gayle Benson to invest millions in the team’s practice facility, according to Andrew Lopez of the Times-Picayune. The Pelicans brought in Phoenix Suns longtime athletic trainer Aaron Nelson, hired Brooklyn Nets assistant general manager Trajan Langdon as their GM and brought in Swin Cash as their vice president of basketball operations/team development.

And then they won the 2019 NBA draft lottery, giving them the rights to Williamson.cheapest nfl jerseys online

They’ll now have to avoid the same mistakes they made around Davis over the past half-decade.nfl authentic jerseys wholesale

The Pelicans had plenty of opportunities to build around Davis, but they were undone by injuries, overpays (Omer Asik, Alexis Ajinca, Solomon Hill) and a failure to establish a winning and sustainable culture. nfl jerseys store

During Davis’ tenure, the Pelicans traded away most of their draft picks. The only two who saw the floor were Austin Rivers (No. 10, 2012) and Buddy Hield (No. 6, 2016), who combined to start a paltry 70 games in New Orleans. china cheap nfl jerseys

Demps gave Davis plenty of high-upside teammates such as Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday, Al-Farouq Aminu, Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson, but he too often surrounded them with mediocre role players like Brian Roberts, Lou Amundson, Luke Babbit, Norris Cole, Roger Mason and Anthony Morrow.

Griffin won’t make that mistake, as he emphasized after selecting Williamson.cheap nfl womens jerseys

“So again, I want to keep reiterating the human part of this is at least as big as the on-court part. And all of you have very high on-court expectations. Look, this is not somebody who’s supposed to be the savior of this franchise. That’s not what this is. This is a 19-year-old kid who’s going to spend this year learning how to play winning NBA basketball.” where to buy official nfl jerseys

Erik Gonzalez, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates

Stats: 56 PA, .208/.296/.292, 3 XBH, 2 RBI, 6 BB, 12 K

Potential Replacement: Cole Tucker nike nfl jerseys sale

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Erik Gonzalez from the Cleveland Indians during the offseason and handed him the starting shortstop job out of spring training. As a career .263 hitter with a sub-.300 on-base percentage and a 79 OPS+ in 275 big league plate appearances, little was expected from his bat.nfl authentic jerseys china

However, his defense was viewed as good enough to take the hit offensively, with the thought being he could still provide positive value with steady glovework at a premium position.

So far, he’s produced zero DRS and a minus-13.9 UZR/150.hi-res-15eaaa1e4b33a811ce827514b829aa5b_crop_exact

Those below-average defensive metrics, coupled with his offensive ineptitude, have made him a minus-0.2-WAR player in the early going.

And the peripherals provide little hope his offensive game will turn around. Among 193 qualified hitters leaguewide, he ranks second in soft-contact rate (34.2 percent) and 192nd in hard-contact rate (18.4 percent).cheap personalized nfl jerseys

Meanwhile, shortstop prospect Cole Tucker is hitting .340/.426/.547 with six extra-base hits in 12 games at Triple-A Indianapolis.

It’s only a matter of time.

Stats: 69 PA, .129/.203/.161, 2 XBH, 2 RBI, 5 BB, 13 K

Potential Replacement: Dawel Lugo

Veteran Josh Harrison looked like an excellent low-cost addition to the Detroit Tigers, both on the field and in the clubhouse when he was signed to a one-year, $2 million deal in February.

“He’s a positive person, a leader who has proven himself at this level. He’s another guy who can help improve our situation this year, and maybe beyond,” manager Ron Gardenhire told reporters during spring training. “He helps us not only as a player on the field, but he’s a teacher. nfl jerseys official If we’re going to have some young players on the field, he can help them, too.”

Unfortunately, the early returns have been less than encouraging, as his .nfl best jerseys 364 OPS ranks dead last among 193 qualified hitters.

For a rebuilding Tigers team, keeping Harrison around in a utility role makes sense, as his value stretches beyond his on-field production.

However, it might now be worth it to consider giving someone else the bulk of the playing time.buy nfl jerseys online

Prospect Dawel Lugo has a chance to be the long-term answer at second base, authentic nfl jerseys from china and the 24-year-old is off to a hot start at Triple-A, hitting .333/.412/.533 with six extra-base hits in 12 games.

NBA Power Rankings: Final Regular-Season Edition Entering 2019 Playoffs

For our final regular-season edition of NBA power rankings, we’re still considering each team’s record, advanced metrics and health. real nike nfl jerseys Though it may seem like all it should take to organize the 30 teams into an order reflective of the league’s hierarchy is a glance at the standings, we know that’s not true.nike nfl jerseys on sale

Some teams stumbled into the postseason, while others surged late to secure a seed. Even those in the lottery aren’t necessarily as good or bad as their final record shows.

Recent play, then, still matters. Weighing the last few weeks against a team’s full-season numbers is the only way to get an accurate picture of where each team ranks right now. And, as a point of clarification, this week’s games barely matter at all because, with seeding largely decided, many teams rested their stars.where can i buy authentic nfl jerseys

Just like that, the 2018-19 NBA regular season is over.

If you blinked, you missed it.where to buy nfl jerseyhi-res-a429ab91c3f54ebb65b5473d4a12cc03_crop_north

30. New York Knicks (30)buy nfl jerseys from china

It seemed like every other Mitchell Robinson highlight this year featured the swat-happy rookie blocking a three-point attempt. No surprise: He set the NBA record in that statistic.

The Knicks finished 2018-19 with the worst record and lowest offensive efficiency in the league. They spent more time at No. 30 in our rankings than any other team. But hey, at least they have a rookie center worth watching.

29. Cleveland Cavaliers (29)

It feels right that Cleveland surrendered 124 points to the Hornets in its final game of the season on Tuesday. That loss, the Cavs’ 10th in a row, is exactly how you’d expect the team with the worst defensive rating in league history to go out.china nfl jerseys nike

On the plus side, Larry Nance Jr. quietly developed playmaking chops and a serviceable three-point shot this season. Even more encouraging, Collin Sexton dramatically altered his shot profile for the better over the final two months of the year, swapping out mid-rangers for threes and layups.women nfl jersey

Finally, Cedi Osman leaves you with this: a strong metaphor for the Cavs’ 2018-19 season.women’s authentic nfl jerseys

Will the New York Giants Finally Draft Eli Manning’s Successor?

Find someone who loves you as much as New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman apparently loves quarterback Eli Manning. best cheap nfl jerseys

“I really believe there has been a false narrative out there that Eli is finished, he’s done,” Gettleman said, per the New York Post’s Peter Botte. “He had a heck of a year. We scored a lot of points late. But, at the end of the day, jerseys nfl cheap Eli can still make all of the NFL throws. He can still play.”179c90c7af8e61c54f2a43e8072931ff_crop_exact

No statistical evidence can be provided to back up the general manager’s claims. Manning finished bottom half of the league in completion percentage, touchdowns and quarterback rating.

The veteran signal-caller did rank fifth in turnover-worthy plays last season, according to Pro Football Focus’ Steve Palazzolo. Manning didn’t even play well down the stretch as Gettleman stated. He graded as the NFL’s 32nd-best quarterback from Week 8 on, per PFF’s Pat Thorman. Obviously, former Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. didn’t agree with the idea the aging quarterback can still “make all of the NFL throws.” nfl jersey nike

Fortunately, Gettleman does realize Manning’s age (38) is a negative and the organization must find an eventual successor. cheap nfl jerseys for sale

“Anyhow, the bottom line is, yes, we have to address it,” the general manager said, per Botte. “It’s reality. So when the time is right we will.”

Timing is everything here.women nfl jerseys cheap  The Giants own a pair of first-round picks this year thanks to the Beckham trade. New York must invest one of those selections in the game’s most important position. Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins is the logical option with the sixth overall pick, while Duke’s Daniel Jones may be in play with the 17th.

Manning can be the starter for now as long as a contingency plan is in place. nfl nike jerseys china

Offseason Predictions for NBA Superstars Most Likely to Change Teams

There are several different approaches to team building in the NBA, but every one of them boils down to acquiring superstar talent. Whether through the draft, authentic nfl jerseys china free agency or trade, organizations that plan to compete for a championship  nfl jersey sale know they need to get ahold of premium players.

Several will be on the move this summer, nfl official jersey and that means the league-wide power structure is about to endure a significant shakeup.

The transactional side of the NBA is now as newsworthy as the games themselves. The players on this list have all been the subject of rumors since before the 2018-19 season tipped off, so their presence here is no surprise. The only unexpected result would be if one or two of them actually stayed put.5eb4d0efd6015ef7b8acd436b2f91c29_crop_exact

Based on team situation, reporting throughout the year and a little gut instinct, these are the superstars most likely to be sporting different jerseys come October 2019.

The easiest way to explain Anthony Davis’ inclusion here would be to say: “Please refer to anything that happened after Jan. 28, 2019, which is when ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported AD’s trade request.”where to get nfl jerseys cheap

In light of the back-and-forth leaks from the Lakers and Pelicans between the request and the trade deadline and the charade of New Orleans playing Davis sporadically ever since, the greatest obstacle to getting AD out of town may be the lack of exit routes. He’s already torched every bridge, which, if you’re going to do that, you should at least wait until you’ve crossed them.china nfl jerseys cheap

Could Cardinals Rookie QB Josh Rosen Start Sooner Rather Than Later?

The Cardinals are leaving the door wide-open for rookie first-round pick Josh Rosen to win the starting quarterback job.

“I talked about it from day one—the best 11 are going to play,” head coach Steve Wilks said, per Darren Urban of the team’s official site. “Sam [Bradford] is the starter, and when he’s healthy, he’s great. But everybody is competing to be out there on the field.”

Two aspects are working in Rosen’s favor even after the coach’s declaration. cheap nfl jerseys china nike

First, the caveat “when he’s healthy” is a major factor in Bradford’s assessment. NFL Network’s Steve Wyche previously reported the Cardinals plan to manage Bradford’s health. The ninth-year veteran is already getting days off

Second, Rosen comes into the league as the most polished prospect in the 2018 class, and it shows.

“This guy is extremely smart,” Wilks said of Rosen, per Urban. “I mean, his ability to see certain things from the defense, and pick it up quickly, and execute … I don’t want to say this, but he has the mindset of a vet. The way he sees the game.

“He’s not playing like a vet. Make sure you guys understand that. He’s still a rookie, OK? But he sees things, like I said before, through a different lens. And he picks it up quickly.”
John Ross provided the Bengals with china nike nfl jerseys cheap nothing last season after being the ninth overall pick in 2017, but he’s finally healthy and looks like he can become a weapon.

“He’s got great speed, but he can really catch the football and he’s a complete wide receiver,” new wide receivers coach Bob Bicknell said, per WKRC Cincinnati’s Richard Skinner. “He can start and stop, and he does a lot of things really, really well, but it’s going to take time.”

Ross’ speed is what made him a top-10 pick after breaking Chris Johnson’s previous combine record with a 4.22-second 40-yard dash. Unfortunately, the wide receiver dealt with injuries throughout the year and only played three games before ending up on injured reserve due to a torn labrum.

“My legs have gotten stronger,” Ross said. “.nike nfl jerseys cheap china . Now I’m back to where I was when I was in college my senior year, as far as how physically ready I felt in college. I feel the same way now.”

The young receiver is expected to make mistakes along the way; however, his vertical speed can take pressure off A.J. Green. At the very least, defenses won’t be able to roll coverage toward the seven-time Pro Bowl target if another viable option develops.cheap nfl nike jerseys from china

Indianapolis Colts: Edge-Rusher

Prior to the NFL draft, there was essentially a tie for the Indianapolis Colts’ biggest problem area in 2018.

Both the offensive and defensive lines needed work—quite a lot of it.

The former got a big boost on April 26 with the selection of Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson, whom some pundits considered the top overall prospect in this year’s class.

The defensive line, on the other hand, didn’t get a ton of assistance. The Colts added some help in the form of second-round pick Tyquan Lewis, but the former Ohio State star was a rotational player with the Buckeyes who will probably need time to get his sea legs in the NFL.

That leaves Jabaal Sheard and Denico Autry as the front-runners to start on Indy’s new four-man front. Sheard’s the more proven of the two. Twice he’s notched at least eight sacks in a season, but he’s never hit double digits. Autry had five sacks for the Oakland Raiders a year ago, but that’s the high-water mark of his career.

If you can’t pressure the quarterback in today’s NFL, you’re going to get carved up.

Right now, it doesn’t look like a Colts team that was last in the AFC in sacks last year is going to make a leap forward in that regard.

Prior to the NFL draft, there was essentially a tie for the Indianapolis Colts’ biggest problem area in 2018.

Both the offensive and defensive lines needed work—quite a lot of it.

The former got a big boost on April 26 with the selection of Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson, whom some pundits considered the top overall prospect in this year’s class.

The defensive line, on the other hand, didn’t get a ton of assistance. The Colts added some help in the form of second-round pick Tyquan Lewis, but the former Ohio State star was a rotational player with the Buckeyes who will probably need time to get his sea legs in the NFL.

That leaves Jabaal Sheard and Denico Autry as the front-runners to start on Indy’s new four-man front. Sheard’s the more proven of the two. Twice he’s notched at least eight sacks in a season, but he’s never hit double digits. china nike nfl jerseys cheap Autry had five sacks for the Oakland Raiders a year ago, but that’s the high-water mark of his career.

If you can’t pressure the quarterback in today’s NFL, you’re going to get carved up.

Right now, it doesn’t look like a Colts team that was last in the AFC in sacks last year is going to make a leap forward in that regard.

Oh yeah. I went there.cheap nfl nike jerseys from china

As the Jacksonville Jaguars showed in advancing to the AFC Championship Game, this is a team that is equipped to challenge for a berth in Super Bowl LIII.

The Jaguars possess a punishing ground game and one of the best defenses in football—maybe the best. That defense added even more pieces in this year’s draft in interior lineman Taven Bryan and safety Ronnie Harrison.

There’s just one problem. One sticking point. One issue looming over the squad.

Robby Blake Bortles.

Bortles isn’t necessarily a terrible quarterback. But among legitimate Super Bowl contenders, it’s hard to argue Jacksonville doesn’t have the worst player at football’s most important position—with very little behind him.cheap nike nfl jerseys free shipping

If Andrew Luck’s healthy this year, Bortles is probably the worst starting quarterback in the AFC South.

It’s somewhat understandable that the Jags committed to Bortles moving forward. He did, after all, lead the team to the cusp of its first Super Bowl. The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t and all that jazz.nfl cheap jerseys nike

But Bortles’ shortcomings as a quarterback are very real. And they may well come back to bite the Jaguars in 2018.

Spurs can say goodbye to Wembley with Champions League mission accomplished

Mauricio Pochettino stood on the edge of his technical area, arms folded, waiting, as the clock ticked down. Just get over the line, Tottenham. That had been the order of the night. Securing Champions League football, a precious housewarming present to take back to N17 for next season, was at the forefront of everybody’s mind.

The outpouring of elation at the final whistle was all about that, all about a marker to help Tottenham in this period of seismic change for the club. Champions League qualification is always a boon, but it was especially appreciated when the news was confirmed at Wembley thanks to Chelsea hitting the brakes at Stamford Bridge because it feels like it’s about something bigger than one campaign in everybody’s favourite European competition.
Harry Kane purges Spurs of Champions League nerves with win over Newcastle
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The idea that an elite club’s ambitions live or die by the Champions League is a bit hysterical at a time when the old top four have turned into a high-ambition six who rightly enter each season thinking they ought to be a contender for a Champions League position. But Tottenham’s prospects seem tangled up in the chase more intensely than the others because of their stadium rebuild.

The what-ifs can go away for a while. What if Tottenham didn’t make the Champions League and missed out on both revenue and pull as they begin a new era in a new home? What if Daniel Levy had to consider bids for the most coveted talent mindful of the costs of debt repayment? What if Pochettino found his head could be turned now he is used to an environment where his team can make high-impact memories like beating Real Madrid or drawing at Juventus? Those what-ifs evaporated when Harry Kane found one of his accomplished finishes to decide a tensely fought game where a high-energy Newcastle caused umpteen scares.
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For some perspective, in the pre-Pochettino era Tottenham had only ever made it to the Champions League once, and at the end of the night they assured themselves a third successive season in the competition. They were desperate not to cheap nike nfl jerseys free shipping  lose status that had been a long time coming.

Spurs’s form had been fluffy going into this final week of the season, with points frittered away, allowing doubts to gnaw away. Having been in a comfortable top-four position all season, the fear began to take hold. Don’t mess it up. Now is not the time. The noise of crackling urgency shuddered through the home crowd early on as Jonjo Shelvey’s thumping free-kick clipped the outside of a post. The Newcastle midfielder thrust his head in his hands. He knew it was fractions from perfection. Tottenham’s stress began to show.

Some of the twitchiness stemmed from a reorganised midfield, with Moussa Sissoko and Victor Wanyama paired to compensate for the absence of Eric Dier and Mousa Dembélé. Newcastle were boxing clever, a performance with sufficient focus to suggest nfl cheap jerseys nike this team were playing to impress for next season rather than minds wandering to the beach.

Tottenham needed to find some rhythm but it didn’t come easily. Half an hour gone a sign that they were off key came when Ben Davies received the ball, looked up to build some kind of a move and just lumped the ball forward to nobody. That was not the style Tottenham aspire to. Kane’s sureness of touch eluded him when he was in for a one-v-one. It was nervy.

Kane rediscovered his touch to unshackle Tottenham from their anxiety in the second half with one of those unerring moments of striking clarity. He sidefooted the ball with crisp curl. The team’s body language changed in that instant. nfl nike jerseys for cheap uddenly they were all calling for the ball, pointing for it, wanting it.

Tottenham will finish as the top London club for the first time in 23 years. The last time they had the capital’s bragging rights dates back to 1994‑95, when they finished seventh (just above QPR and Wimbledon), since the season Blackburn won the title. Modern Tottenham want to continue to look up. Levy has not historically used Champions League qualification as essential to the sums for the season, but there is no doubting how easy it is to get used to all this.nike nfl cheap jerseys

It was hardly a great performance but the result meant so much. Now Chelsea and Liverpool go into the final weekend of the season with fourth place on the line – Antonio Conte’s team hoping that they can up their game and that Liverpool might just be put off theirs with the Champions League final over the horizon. Tottenham can turn up on Sunday, turn out the lights and hand the keys back to Wembley without looking back.nike nfl jerseys wholesale cheap
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Chicago Bears

2018 Offensive Coordinator: Mark Helfrich

Surprised? Don’t be. It was fun to see certain rookies explode onto the scene last year, but the Chicago Bears’ Trubisky was lost in the shuffle. nfl nike jerseys cheap china

2017’s No. 2 pick looked solid over 12 games, dishing seven touchdowns and seven interceptions—while throwing to Kendall Wright, Joshua Bellamy and Dontrelle Inman.

“Who?” is the right reaction. Trubisky is franchise-quarterback material and now gets to throw to Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel and second-round wideout Anthony Miller, one of the 2018 draft’s steals. Jordan Howard not only returns as the primary runner and is coming off two 1,100-plus-yard seasons, but Tarik Cohen is also one of football’s most explosive weapons and should see a bigger role. cheap nike nfl jerseys paypal

Don’t forget the offensive line. Left tackle isn’t a concern thanks to Charles Leno Jr., and the Bears were stunned to see lineman James Daniels fall to them in the second round. Daniels, Cody Whitehair and Kyle Long form one of the league’s nastier interior groups.

Mark Helfrich’s arrival tops it all off. The former Chip Kelly understudy and Oregon head coach will know how to squeeze the most out of mismatch nightmares like Cohen.

2018 Offensive Coordinator: Joe Philbin

Joe Philbin returns after stints in Miami and Indianapolis and should have a huge say in how the Green Bay Packers perform offensively, even if head coach Mike McCarthy ends up calling the plays.

Aaron Rodgers is still Aaron Rodgers, health provided. He only offered a snapshot of his talent in seven games last year, throwing 16 touchdowns, six picks and snapping three consecutive seasons of 30-plus touchdown passes. nike cheap nfl jerseys

The Packers drafted defenders in the first three rounds then added a barrage of receivers with size to fill Jordy Nelson’s void. That will mesh well with new tight end Jimmy Graham, who caught 10 touchdowns a year ago.

In the backfield, the Packers seem content to roll with a committee, which features Jamaal Williams, Ty Montgomery and Aaron Jones. All involved should have it easier than last year with Rodgers back.

While the Packers will have a Rodgers extension floating over their heads and face a bit of friction over quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt’s departure, Rodgers will still have them high in the offensive rankings by year’s end if he plays most of the games.  nike nfl cheap jerseys

Jayson Tatum’s Historic Playoff Debut Continues, and Other Monday NBA Takeaways

The pressure is on for Jayson Tatum, but he didn’t care during the Boston Celtics’ 117-101 victory to open their second-round battle with the Philadelphia 76ers. His 28 points, three rebounds and two assists on 8-of-16 shooting from the field cheap new nike nfl jerseys spoke volumes.

Though the C’s rookie has largely been overshadowed in the Rookie of the Year race by second-round opponent Ben Simmons and Utah Jazz sensation Donovan Mitchell, he’s been yet another first-year player enjoying a fantastic inaugural campaign. He’ll likely finish third in ROY voting (deservedly so for an award based solely on the regular season), but that’s not a knock on his talent.

Might he be submitting stronger numbers if he were playing on a weaker team that could ask him to fill a takeover role more regularly? If Game 1 of this current clash is any indication, he very well could be. Maybe he’s only held back by Boston’s egalitarian system.

With Joel Embiid attempting to dissuade cheap nfl jerseys nike china Al Horford from shooting too frequently and the Sixers throwing a host of bigger defenders at Terry Rozier, Tatum entered this affair with his team’s most favorable matchup. He drew JJ Redick out of the gates, which gave him the opportunity to take advantage of a mismatch and punish Philadelphia whenever it didn’t switch a more adept defender onto him.

Throughout the contest, and especially during nike jersey nfl cheap  the second quarter, that worked wonders.

Tatum twice began his experience in the Eastern Conference semifinals by driving to his right against Redick and forcing Embiid to help from the weak side. Both times, he drew whistles and earned trips to the charity stripe. But his game expanded as the Celtics placed more and more trust in him, and he started hitting tough jumpers on the move and making timely backdoor cuts like the one below: Everything worked in the second youth nfl jerseys cheap quarter as Tatum exploded for nine points, one rebound and one assist on 4-of-5 shooting from the field. He became the focal point of the Boston attack, and that alone shouldn’t be overlooked. This historic organization doesn’t tend to just hand over the reins to rookies in such pressure-packed moments, which speaks volumes to Tatum’s preparedness and natural nose for scoring. youth nfl jerseys