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🏀 Good morning to everybody however particularly …

THE NBA

After every week away for the All-Star break, the NBA returns tonight, and Colin Ward-Henninger has new Energy Rankings, full with one cause for hope or concern. Here is his high 5:

1. Celtics (earlier: 1) — “Cause for concern: The Celtics are clearly a wonderful basketball crew, but when the objective is a championship it is time to nitpick. Boston merely would not get to the rim.”
2. Timberwolves (2) — “Cause for hope: Minnesota has the very best document within the NBA (23-11) towards groups above .500.”
3. Thunder (9) — “Cause for concern: OKC’s offense has been downright unhealthy with out Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the ground. They rating a ridiculous 122 factors per 100 possessions with him on the court docket, however that falls to 111 with him on the bench.”
4. Clippers (5) — “Cause for hope: When Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are on the ground the Clippers are just about unstoppable. They rating 122 factors per 100 possessions in Leonard and George’s minutes, whereas permitting simply 108.”
5. Cavaliers (3) — “Cause for concern: The Cavs have been the league’s hottest crew since Jan. 1, rattling off an 18-3 document. However, when you look carefully, you may see numerous wins are over the NBA’s bottom-dwellers.”

As for 5 storylines to observe … listed below are mine:

1. The place do the Lakers and Warriors find yourself? They’re at present ninth and tenth within the Western Convention — the ultimate two spots within the play-in — and a postseason with out LeBron James and/or Stephen Curry can be odd. However the play (and emotional standing) of Draymond Inexperienced might in the end be the figuring out issue. 
2. When does Joel Embiid return, if in any respect? The 76ers are fifth within the East however have not had Embiid since late January resulting from a meniscus harm. They’re 26-8 when he performs and 6-14 when he would not.
3. Who wins the West? The Celtics are working away with the East, however within the West, the Timberwolves are up simply 1.5 video games on the Thunder, two video games on the Clippers and three video games on the defending champion Nuggets.
4. What’s up with the Bucks? They’re the elephant within the room. They fired Adrian Griffin regardless of a 30-13 begin. Successor Doc Rivers is simply 3-7. However, hey, a minimum of he has the assist of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
5. Who wins MVP and the opposite particular person honors? Keep in mind, the 65-game minimal has already dominated out a number of potential candidates.

With beneath two months left within the common season, buckle up and benefit from the journey.

😁 Honorable mentions

⚽ And never such morning for …

ARSENAL

Arsenal got here into Wednesday’s match towards Porto driving excessive, and rightfully so. The Gunners had received 5 straight Premier League matches, outscoring opponents 21-2 over the span. Certainly that will carry over to the Champions League towards a vulnerable protection, proper?

Fallacious.

Galeno curled in a surprising effort within the 94th minute to beat the Gunners, 1-0. Arguably much more gorgeous? Arsenal put precisely zero photographs on objective, a far, far cry from the assault that was working rampant not too long ago. You’ll be able to blame Gabriel Martinelli, who gave the ball away late, blame the attackers and blame supervisor Mikel Arteta. However on the finish of the day, inexperience was a deciding issue, James Benge writes.

• Benge: “This was Arsenal’s junior second, a younger facet, lots of whom had been taking part in of their first Champions League knockout recreation, failing to understand that it was solely halftime within the tie, because the outdated cliche goes. Higher to protect parity earlier than you get them again in your floor.”

Chuck Sales space dropped the Gunners from third to eighth in his Champions League Energy Rankings. Here is the highest 5:

1. Manchester Metropolis (earlier: 1)
2. Actual Madrid (2)
3. Inter (5)
4. PSG (8)
5. Lazio (14)

In the meantime, Napoli and Barcelona drew, 1-1, with star strikers Robert Lewandowski and Victor Osimhen buying and selling second-half targets.

😕 Not so honorable mentions

• The Mavericks missed out on preserving Jalen Brunson for affordable … twice.
• Sorry, Expos followers: Netflix is making a documentary in regards to the crew’s downfall.

🏈 Predicting the 12-team 2024 Faculty Soccer Playoff

Now that the 5+7 mannequin is official, it is prediction time. Chip Patterson made his early prediction on the 2024 playoff subject.

The very first thing that caught my eye? In an much more loaded SEC, there is a acquainted identify at No. 1.

• Patterson: “1. Georgia (SEC champion): Pre-spring apply scores of the highest groups in school soccer have Georgia at No. 1, after which there is a hole earlier than you get to the extra attention-grabbing discussions about groups Nos. 2-4. Quarterback Carson Beck returns after main the Bulldogs offense to stellar and sometimes ignored ends in 2023, and after lacking the playoff due partially to some tough harm luck, there shall be no motivational points within the 2024 season.”

The SEC and Huge Ten each put 4 groups in Chip’s predicted subject.

Oh, and by the best way, now that we’re lastly increasing to 12 … the CFP Administration Committee is exploring increasing to 14.

🏈 Pete Prisco’s Prime 100 NFL free brokers, ranked

We’re formally inside three weeks till the begin of NFL free company, and meaning plenty of massive names doubtlessly hitting the market. Pete Prisco has graciously ranked the high 100 gamers who could possibly be accessible, and this is his high six:

1. Kirk Cousins, QB, Vikings
2. Chris Jones, DE, Chiefs
3. Josh Allen, LB, Jaguars
4. Justin Madubuike, DT, Ravens
5. Danielle Hunter, DE, Vikings
6. L’Jarius Sneed, CB, Chiefs

You may discover I included six as an alternative of my regular 5, and that is as a result of Sneed is simply too good to not get a point out right here. Plus, how Kansas Metropolis manages Jones’ and Sneed’s free businesses may play a serious position within the Chiefs’ quest to be the primary NFL crew to realize the elusive three-peat.

As for another good gamers it’s best to know who did not make the highest six …

• 16. Saquon Barkley, RB, Giants — His place did not assist his rating, however I am satisfied Barkley can have a Christian McCaffrey-esque impression on the fitting crew. Think about him surrounded by a legit passing assault and a legit offensive line.
• 35. Bryce Huff, DE, Jets and 83. Josh Uche, LB, Patriots — Move-rush specialists are at all times useful. Neither Huff nor Uche play a ton of snaps, however they make them rely: Solely Micah Parsons had a greater strain fee than Huff final 12 months (min. 200 pass-rush snaps), and Uche led the class in 2022.

Here is our free company primer for all 32 groups.

⚾ 5 MLB groups that might make the playoffs in 2024 after lacking out in 2023

Consider it or not, there’s baseball on TV right this moment. The Dodgers and Padres open spring coaching recreation motion, and whereas Shohei Ohtani will not play, it is a welcome reminder that Opening Day is not distant — and Ohtani is on monitor to be again by then.

Hope springs everlasting — no pun meant — and Mike Axisa is feeling the nice vibes with 5 groups that might make the 2024 playoffs after lacking the postseason final 12 months, together with …

• Axisa: “1. Yankees: That 82-80 end prompted the Yankees to assault their weaknesses in a significant method. Juan Soto was the very best hitter to alter groups this offseason, and New York additionally added Alex Verdugo to enhance an outfield that was very weak within the two non-Aaron Decide spots final 12 months. Additionally, they’re two high-contact lefty bats, one thing the Yankees sorely lacked. Marcus Stroman gives stability in the course of the rotation and the flexibility to maintain the ball within the park at homer-happy Yankee Stadium.”

Mike additionally mentions that the Yankees must be a lot more healthy this 12 months, and a kind of gamers returning is amongst Mike’s 10 gamers whose return from harm may impression the playoff race.

R.J. Anderson, in the meantime, has groups that might miss the postseason after making it in 2023.

📺 What we’re watching Thursday

⚾ Dodgers vs. Padres, 3:10 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Rutgers at No. 3 Purdue (M), 7 p.m. on FS1
🏀 Alabama at No. 1 South Carolina (W), 7 p.m. on SEC Community
🏒 Capitals at Lightning, 7 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Suns at Mavericks, 7:30 p.m. on TNT
🏀 No. 4 Iowa at No. 14 Indiana (W), 8 p.m. on Peacock
🏀 No. 6 NC State at North Carolina (W), 8 p.m. on ACC Community
🏀 No. 18 Utah at No. 12 UCLA (W), 9:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Lakers at Warriors, 10 p.m. on TNT
🏀 No. 21 Washington State at No. 4 Arizona (M), 11 p.m. on FS1