Sports
The Golden State Warriors Have Been Buried Before, And They’re Still Standing
The Warriors got blown out in Minnesota on Monday night. There goes the dynasty.
Again.
Just like Halloween 2019, when Stephen Curry broke his hand in the wake of Kevin Durant’s departure. And Memorial Day 2023, when general manager Bob Myers finally had enough of being pulled in two directions and bailed for ABC.
The gravestones were wrong, wrong, and now potentially wrong again.
Jimmy Butler III’s torn ACL is what’s prompting the obituaries this time around. Three losses in four games since the untimely incident and the headlines are bigger and bolder than ever:
KERR NEEDS TO GO … GREEN MUST BE TERMINATED … CURRY DESERVES A TRADE.
What’s the saying?
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.
Fool me three times … hey, that’s not going to happen.
According to various dunderheads who believe it takes three strikes in order to strike out, the Warriors’ dynasty is dead. Kaput. Extinct. No way they avoid it this time.
Ah, but don’t underestimate the Two Wrongs Can Make A Right Effect.
In many ways, Jonathan Kuminga is to blame for the Warriors’ current predicament.
He was supposed to be really good. So good that he could bridge the old and the new while keeping the dynasty alive.
But it hasn’t happened.
Then he was supposed to have so much potential, someone surely would ship the Warriors a win-now veteran in a trade that would, yep, keep the dynasty alive.
That hasn’t happened, either.
But it still could, thanks to Kuminga East.
You see, the Big Tease isn’t the only difference-maker despised by his own people. In fact, he’s loved compared to what most of Memphis thinks of Ja Morant.
You have to know the Grizzlies have as much interest in jettisoning a headache they’ve experienced first-half for one that, as far as they’re concerned, is one of Kerr’s imagination.
Think about it …
A Memphis franchise that’s been borderline irrelevant for more than a decade gets a chance to push reset, adding Kuminga and Moses Moody — a pair of lottery picks supposedly handcuffed by Kerr — and a 2026 first-round pick that’s quickly falling into lotteryland.
At the bargain-basement price of the Grizzlies ridding themselves of a guy who’s always hurt — including as we speak — and in no hurry to suit up for them again.
That’s a no-brainer.
And the Warriors get … well, they get accused of panicking, of mortgaging their future, of being dizzied by that power plant that’s supposedly taking down the 49ers one by one.
When really they’re getting their dynasty back.
If teaming with Curry helps Morant as much as it did Durant and Butler, then the Warriors get a jolt of energy similar to the one that produced two titles and had them on the doorstep of a showdown with the Thunder in the Western finals last May until Curry got hurt.
Making the playoffs would be a sure thing this season. Just don’t tell the Grizzlies.
But the biggest positive would be in the electric Morant joining Curry, Butler, Green and Al Horford in the league’s best finishing lineup next season, while at the same time directing a second unit that actually has a heartbeat. Curry rests and the opponent gets run ragged. That’s a win-win.
Make no mistake: Next season is the last rodeo for Kerr, Curry, Green and Horford. Maybe even Butler. And who knows what Morant’s future holds? They all warrant nice parting gifts, but Curry deserves more.
He deserves one more shot at a title. Heck, two if you like a longshot this spring.
You know who might agree? LeBron. Any chance the ring-chaser, who can pick his spot next season, would play for peanuts and jump aboard what would then become one of the most memorable teams of all-time?
Dumb question.
Where does that leave the Warriors in 2028? Likely as the worst team in the league, but one that’s located in a destination city, with one of the world’s best arenas, possibly the No. 1 pick and a boatload of cash to spend.
Or you’d rather have the scraps that couldn’t sniff 90 on Monday without Curry, Butler, Green and Horford? And forget Kuminga. He’ll be gone by then either way.
Death to the naysayers. Long live the dynasty.
Well, for two more years, anyway.
Sports
No. 20 Clemson focused on 'daily work,' won't look past Virginia Tech
Feb 4, 2026; Stanford, California, USA; Clemson Tigers guard Ace Buckner (21) smiles after making a free-throw against the Stanford Cardinal during the second half at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images No. 20 Clemson is tied atop the Atlantic Coast Conference standings with No. 4 Duke ahead of their showdown this weekend, but first the Tigers have to get by visiting Virginia Tech on Wednesday night.
The story for Clemson (20-4, 10-1 ACC) has been defense. The Tigers are allowing just 64.1 points per game, 11th in the nation, and have won four in a row. The Tigers’ only ACC loss came to North Carolina State in overtime.
Clemson is coming off a West Coast swing where it knocked off Stanford by two last Wednesday and dominated Cal 77-55 on Saturday. Tigers coach Brad Brownell was asked after the win over the Golden Bears if his team has peaked.
“I don’t think we talk about it,” Brownell replied. “We talk about daily work, daily improvements and focusing on what we can control and our players, but we’re also trying to enjoy the experience. It’s a long, hard season. We want our guys to be energized. We know there is a long way to go in league play.”
Clemson put on a defensive master class, holding the Bears without a field goal for almost 13 minutes in the first half and building a 19-point halftime lead. Brownell called it one of his team’s best performances of the season.
“We don’t have a bunch of guys who are big-time scorers. We have guys that are good players and guys who have bought into their roles,” Brownell said. “There are guys on our team who could play more minutes, but they sacrifice that in order for us to play the best way we think to play, which is playing a lot of guys. It’s something we have been talking about and working on since June. I think we have grown as a team.”
Clemson has a balanced scoring attack with three players averaging in double figures: RJ Godfrey (11.9), Jestin Porter (10.5) and Carter Welling (10.1).
Clemson redshirt freshman Ace Buckner, the son of former Clemson star Greg Buckner, is coming off two strong performances off the bench for the Tigers with 11 points against Stanford and 13 against Cal.
“We’re not surprised,” Brownell said of Buckner. “He’s an extremely hard worker, he’s extremely competitive. He’s had big games on both ends of the floor. I think his maturity level is probably higher than most guys his age. It’s no surprise to our staff.”
Virginia Tech (16-8, 5-6) has lost three of its last four and struggled against NC State in an 82-73 road loss Saturday.
Amani Hansberry leads the Hokies at 15.2 points per game. Neoklis Avdalas, a freshman from Greece, is averaging 12.6 points.
Avdalas had 14 points against NC State and, according to veteran coach Mike Young, was a bright spot in the defeat.
“He was great, he looked a little more like himself. He was (2-for-3) from three, he struggled early,” Young said of a player shooting 29.1% from beyond the arc this year. “If we can get him going along with (Tobi) Lawal, he had 15 rebounds, 17 points. Those are good numbers. We had some positive things we can build on.”
Clemson has won four of the last five meetings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
ESPN takes over MLB.tv; in-market streaming available to 20 teams
Aug 24, 2024; Oakland, California, USA; The major league baseball logo is seen on signage near the player’s entrance to the field at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum before the game between the Oakland Athletics and the Milwaukee Brewers. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images ESPN officially took control of Major League Baseball’s out-of-market streaming service, MLB.tv, on Tuesday in a key component of the two sides’ reworked media rights deal.
Additionally, the league made in-market streaming subscriptions available Tuesday for 20 of its 30 clubs via the MLB App.
In November, MLB finalized a short-term agreement for national media rights after ESPN opted out of its hefty package for “Sunday Night Baseball” and other baseball properties last summer. The new agreement introduced NBCUniversal and Netflix, but also struck a new agreement with ESPN which, among other things, gave the company rights to sell and distribute MLB.tv.
MLB.tv will be available for $149.99 for the season for those who don’t have ESPN Unlimited, the company’s new direct-to-consumer service, or $134.99 for ESPN Unlimited subscribers. For those who already had MLB.tv before the new agreements went into effect, their subscription will auto-renew at the previous price and ESPN Unlimited isn’t required.
Meanwhile, the precipitous decline of RSNs (regional sports networks) in recent years, most notably the upcoming closure of the company formerly known as Diamond Sports Group, left many clubs around the league without a long-term home for their in-market TV carriage.
Major League Baseball confirmed Tuesday it will produce local broadcasts for 14 clubs in 2026. Another six clubs still have an RSN with which MLB has formed distribution deals. The total will reach 21 in the near future, as MLB said Detroit Tigers games will have an in-market streaming subscription “available at a later date.”
Arizona Diamondbacks — Dbacks.TV
Athletics — Athletics.TV
Baltimore Orioles — MASN+
Cincinnati Reds — Reds.TV
Cleveland Guardians — CleGuardians.TV
Colorado Rockies — Rockies.TV
Kansas City Royals — Royals.TV
Los Angeles Angels — Angels.TV
Los Angeles Dodgers — SNLA+
Miami Marlins — Marlins.TV
Milwaukee Brewers — Brewers.TV
Minnesota Twins — Twins.TV
New York Mets — SNY
Philadelphia Phillies — Phillies.TV
St. Louis Cardinals — Cardinals.TV
San Diego Padres — Padres.TV
San Francisco Giants — Giants.TV
Seattle Mariners — Mariners.TV
Tampa Bay Rays — Rays.TV
Washington Nationals — Nationals.TV
–Field Level Media
Sports
All-Star break timely for feisty Hornets, revamped Hawks
Feb 7, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) dribbles against the Atlanta Hawks in the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images The Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets might be in need of some time off, and they’ll get just that after they meet Wednesday night in Charlotte.
It will be the final game for both teams prior to the eight-day All-Star break, but there’s plenty to digest before tip-off.
The Hornets had a nine-game winning streak end in Monday’s fight-marred loss to the visiting Detroit Pistons. Two players from each team were ejected, including Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges from the Hornets.
“I think overall our guys responded to every run that they went on,” said Charlotte coach Charles Lee, who was later ejected for arguing a call from a different situation. “I just love everything they brought from a competitive spirit.”
Now the Hornets likely will have to deal with roster availability issues if suspensions are levied as a result of the fight. Bridges provided a team-high 26 points in the 126-119 win on Saturday night at Atlanta.
The Hawks have lost their last two games — to the Hornets and then 138-116 at the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night. A bit of a new-look roster is offering challenges for Atlanta.
“We’re not used to those lineups yet,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “We’re still trying to figure out some of those guys and those combinations.”
Lee said the Hornets, who have gone more than a month without back-to-back losses, responded well in standing up to the Detroit’s physicality.
Charlotte split two games with Atlanta earlier in the season, with the home teams winning each time on Nov. 23 and Dec. 18. Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel led his side in scoring in both games. Diabate has been the team’s top rebounder in all three meetings with Atlanta.
Lost in the aftermath from Monday night, Knueppel became the first rookie this season to reach 1,000 points, doing so in his 53rd game. In the last 25 years, only three players have done so in fewer games.
Knueppel’s role Monday night included trying to restrain Diabate during the fracas.
“I just tried to de-escalate (him) because I knew he wouldn’t hurt me,” he said.
Suddenly, the stakes seem higher for Charlotte.
“We’re going to have to play through some physicality some games,” Hornets swingman Brandon Miller said.
Atlanta has given up more than 130 points four times since the beginning of January, continuing a trend of troubling defensive performances. The Hawks surrendered 81 points in the first half to the Timberwolves.
“I just thought they got clean open looks,” Snyder said. “They shot the ball well, but we didn’t make them uncomfortable enough. … A lot of the shots, they were contested, but they just had too much space.”
A zone defense worked better in the second half. Some of the earlier defensive woes negated opportunities for transition offense, further hampering the Hawks, Snyder said.
Atlanta’s CJ McCollum had 38 points in the Minnesota game, marking the veteran guard’s highest total in 15 games since he was acquired from the Washington Wizards. His previous high with the Hawks was 26 points.
McCollum had 12 points in 28 minutes in last week’s matchup with Charlotte.
Among the newcomers in the mix is Gabe Vincent, who made his debut with the Hawks on Monday after a trade from the Los Angeles Lakers. He had two points, four assists, three steals and one rebound in 19 minutes.
“Gabe, in particular, gave us some very good minutes,” Snyder said.
–Field Level Media
No. 20 Clemson focused on 'daily work,' won't look past Virginia Tech
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