Connect with us

Cleveland, OH

ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins Makes Outrageous Slight Towards Rockets

Published

on

ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins Makes Outrageous Slight Towards Rockets


Nowadays, the use of hyperbole in sports conversations has become increasingly common. Every team or player is described as the best ever.

It’s impossible to avoid.

It’s become the go-to catchphrase to make one’s point, especially when describing the latest flavor of the month or Cinderella story. ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins is the latest example of this, as he took to ESPN’s NBA Today to give the Minnesota Timberwolves their flowers for their stellar postseason run, which now has them facing the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals, after knocking off the Denver Nuggets- the 2023 NBA champs.

“Let me start off by saying this. When I’m looking at Anthony Edwards and this Minnesota Timberwolves team, they are on the verge of having one of the greatest runs in playoff history. If you start back to last series, and what they did to Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. They swept them.

Advertisement

Move on to the defending champs, and we’re talking about [Nikola] Jokic, the three-time MVP and best player in the league.  They won three games on their home court and had one of the greatest Game 7 performances of all time, especially on the defensive side of things.”

Perkins continued.

“If they accomplish the goal of winning the championship, not only will this team have the greatest run team-wise, but Anthony Edwards will have the greatest individual postseason run, one of the greatest individual postseason runs in NBA history.”

Again, the Wolves are having a great run. But the postseason hasn’t ended yet, so it’s a bit premeditated to make an absolute determination, like Perkins is doing here.

We’re only two rounds in. If they suffer defeat in any of the final two rounds, we’re having an entirely different conversation. 

Advertisement

Furthermore, the 1994-95 Rockets are still the only sixth seed to ever win a championship in NBA history, as they limped into the postseason with a 47-35 record. They had one of the most improbable postseason runs, especially considering the degree of difficulty of their path, as they faced all-time greats in every round.

In the opening round, the Rockets faced John Stockton and Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz- easily two of the greatest players to ever play their respective positions, and won in five games. In the second round, the Rockets defeated the Phoenix Suns and Charles Barkley, an MVP who is also one of the greatest players to ever play his position, within seven games.

In the Western Conference Finals, the Rockets faced David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs, another all-time great at his respective position, and won in six games. Moreover, the Rockets faced Shaquille O’Neal and the Orlando Magic in the 1995 NBA Finals and swept them.

O’Neal is easily regarded as one of the best centers of all time, if not the best center of all time.

Perkins is certainly entitled to his own opinion, but he’s not above being called out when he has an erroneous take.

Advertisement

Want to join the discussion? Like Inside the Rockets on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Rockets news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.





Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Cleveland, OH

Man charged in Cleveland wrong-way crash that killed 1, injured 2

Published

on

Man charged in Cleveland wrong-way crash that killed 1, injured 2


CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office on Friday announced the indictment of a man accused of killing one person and injuring three others.

Cleveland EMS dispatchers say the crash occurred at 1:02 a.m. on I-71 near the W. 150th Street exit.

24-year-old Marco Castro faces charges of aggravated vehicular homicide, involuntary manslaughter, aggravated vehicular assault, vehicular assault and OVI, according to Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office said 58-year-old Vertica Lemaitre, of Oak Harbor, died at the scene.

Advertisement

The crash also left a 32-year-old woman and a 61-year-old man injured. Castro was also injured in the crash.

This is a developing story. Return to 19 News for updates.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Cleveland, OH

What are the worst Browns jerseys in franchise history?

Published

on

What are the worst Browns jerseys in franchise history?


The Cleveland Browns re-entered the NFL in 1999 and since then have donned plenty of jerseys. Everyone will have their opinion of what the worst jersey in franchise history will be but one in particular comes to mind for Christian D’Andrea of For The Win.

D’Andrea went through every NFL team and listed what he perceived to be their worst jersey. For the Browns, he went with their 2016 home uniforms.

“Cleveland has put in work to make a palette of brown, orange and white look crisp and clean. But orange numbers on a brown backdrop — and a “CLEVELAND” that feels like it’s sitting just a bit too low — makes this feel like an unlicensed knockoff. And I know we’re not doing pants, but that big “BROWNS” wordmark down the thigh? Same thing.”

– Christian D’Andrea

D’Andrea wasn’t a fan of the giant CLEVELAND on these jerseys and made a remark that they look like unlicensed knockoffs, which made me chuckle. These certainly weren’t the cleanest jerseys the Browns have worn and it’s fitting that they were donned in 2016, a season where the Browns won just a single game.

Advertisement

These jerseys don’t bother me too much but when it comes to picking the worst jersey the team has worn, I don’t think it’s crazy to go with these. While I wouldn’t go as far as to say that the big CLEVELAND lettering looks like a knockoff, it certainly could be a bit smaller.

If you polled Browns fans, it’s very possible that these jerseys are the ones that are the least popular but they’re not anywhere close to the worst we’ve seen in the league. Until the Browns wear ugly mustard yellow jerseys like the Jaguars did several years ago, we’re in the clear there.



Source link

Continue Reading

Cleveland, OH

Major League Scouting Report: Cleveland Guardians’ Angel Martinez

Published

on

Major League Scouting Report: Cleveland Guardians’ Angel Martinez


The Cleveland Guardians have promoted infielder Angel Martinez to the parent club.

The switch-hitting Martinez is taking the role of Gabriel Arias, who was placed on the Major League Baseball family emergency list June 21.

Advertisement

Martinez, 22, has been on fire recently, and graduates to the big leagues after hitting .333 with three home runs so far this season in 74 plate appearances at Triple-A Columbus.

Martinez got a late start to this season following a foot contusion he suffered during spring training. He was placed on the 60-day Injured List after he also fractured his left hamate bone.

Now healthy, Martinez has opened eyes with his very hot bat in the International League.

In a Columbus Clippers game against the Worcester Red Sox June 19, Martinez hit a double, and two home runs, scoring four runs, and driving in four.

About Angel Martinez:

In 2018, Angel Martinez was signed by the (then) Cleveland Indians as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic.

Martinez received a $500,000 signing bonus.

The son of former major league catcher Sandy Martinez, Angel Martinez made his professional debut at the age of 17, when he played for the Indians Dominican Summer League team.

Advertisement

Martinez hit .306 in 261 plate appearances in that first professional experience .

Martinez has flown through the Cleveland Guardians farm system, having played just parts of five seasons. He did not play in the 2020 season due to the pandemic.

Scouting Angel Martinez:

Martinez is 6-0, 200 pounds.

Advertisement

Martinez was placed on the Guardians 40-man roster in November 2022. He has been on the rise in the organization since.

As well as scouting him in the 2022 Arizona Fall League, this old scout got to evaluate Martinez in all 13 games he played this past spring training.

Martinez impressed this writer with his strong frame, excellent barrel skills, and outstanding overall play in the middle-infield.

Mature beyond his age, it is evident to this observer that Martinez has the athletic ability and overall skills on both sides of the ball to be impactful at the major league level.

Offensively, Martinez hits well from both sides of the plate. He can barrel the ball to all fields.

Advertisement

Martinez has strong hands and wrists, and his excellent bat speed is a highlight of his hitting mechanics.

Martinez has the ability to let the ball travel a bit, and then, using a measured swing, hit line drive ropes to the gaps.

As evidenced by his recent Triple-A results, Martinez is flashing power from his strong frame. There is every reason his power surge can continue as he adapts, adjusts, and learns how major league pitchers try to get him out.

An excellent contact hitter, in his entire minor league career so far, Martinez has struck out only 323 times in 1,793 plate appearances.

Martinez knows the strike zone well, but he goes to the plate to hit. Not to take a walk. He has recorded only 184 minor league walks.

Advertisement

Ranked as the No. 9 prospect in the Guardians organization by MLB.com, Martinez is at his best when he sees lots of pitches per at-bat, which is a hallmark of the Guardians organizational hitting philosophy.

To this scout, if he gets decent playing time, Martinez could hit 20 home runs in a big league season.

Defensively, the Guardians have played him at second base, shortstop, third base, and in the outfield in his development years.

For this scout, Martinez probably fits best at second base. But his arm strength is strong enough to make every play from shortstop, with good carry on his throws.

If there is one flaw to his defense, Martinez may not have the first-step quickness to the ball some scouts may like. However, he gets the job done with good footwork, and that strong arm.

Advertisement

Martinez has enough speed to steal bases, but he isn’t a burner.

After observing Martinez in the 2022 Arizona Fall League, this scout wrote:

“Athletic, switch-hitting middle-infielder with potentially surprising power. Excellent contact hitter, with ability to spread the ball from foul line to foul line from both sides of the plate. Baseball savvy. Makes good game decisions. Can force his way to the big leagues.”

Martinez’ excellent spring reinforced those thoughts.

Martinez will wear No. 1 with the Guardians.

Advertisement

Scouting Grade: 50

Martinez has the ability to be a regular middle-infielder at the big league level. If needed, he can play third base. He has a great eye at the plate, makes contact, and should hit for a good batting average, with potential power. He is good defensively.

It will take some time for Martinez to play his way to the starting lineup.

This scout values Angel Martinez as a Grade 50 player-or one that can be counted upon for an eventual regular place in a major league lineup.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending