NCAA women’s basketball took considerable strides in the 23/24 season, drawing the largest viewing figures in its history. Although significant stars such as Caitlin Clark have moved into the WNBA, there’s plenty to make the 24/25 season exciting. We’ve broken down which games to keep an eye on this season. Once our guide gives you the details you need, you can start NCAA predictions using Sportzino, the best venue for women’s basketball. 

South Carolina vs North Carolina State 

This game takes place on November 10th and is more than just a collision between two close states. Back in April, South Carolina won the Final Four game between these two teams with a convincing 78-59 score. With SC ranked first and NCS ranked ninth, the women’s college basketball odds for this should favor South Carolina. 

However, despite South Carolina aiming to win its second championship in two years, NC State enters the season with renewed confidence. Both teams will believe they can win, and if North Carolina manages to pull it off, it could give them the belief to go all the way for the first time. 

Notre Dame vs USC

Notre Dame is ranked sixth, and USC is ranked third. Both teams expect to win this early-season battle. What makes this prediction challenging is the signings both teams have made. Their post-season business saw them bring in numerous high-performing players, so they’re both surprise packages currently. 

The most prominent incomings are Iriafen for USC and King for Notre Dame. Each player brings an average of over 18 PPG from last season, so they’ll be hoping for smooth transitions. However, predicting if they will hit the ground running is impossible. Multiple factors can impact how well they gel in their new surroundings. One thing’s for sure, both teams will hope their new players have a positive effect. 

USC vs UConn

A pre-Christmas spectacular will see the third challenge second. While UConn is a slight favorite, the added context makes this tricky to call. They play three top-twenty teams in the games leading up to this encounter, which could lead to mental and physical fatigue. It will give USC a minor advantage that could allow them to sneak a win. 

Despite USC’s helping hand, UConn is the home team and will hope its fans can roar them to success. Expect to see both teams go far in the championship, with a rematch possibly taking place later in the tournament. 

Making NCAA Women’s Basketball Predictions 

If you’re a fan of women’s college basketball, Sportzino is the premier destination for making predictions. It covers every game and offers markets for the whole season. It includes off-season games, so you’ll never miss a second with Sportzino. 

Plenty of promotions are available at Sportzino, allowing you to play for free. You don’t have to spend a dime to begin making sports predictions, so it’s perfect for every player. They’re also available if you want to try a different sports market. Everything from boat racing to beach volleyball is an option at Sportzino, so there’s something for everyone.

A partner sponsored this post.

The Texas Rangers seemed to have gotten off to a rocky start for the 2019 season but have since corrected their path to a degree, going 7-3 in their last 10 games to go 27-26.

GET TEXAS RANGERS TICKETS HERE!

After losing relief pitcher Jake Diekman last season to the Arizona Diamondbacks and then the Kansas City Royals, the Rangers now have relievers like Shawn Kelley, Kyle Bird and Chris Martin. The Rangers also lost veteran Dominican third baseman Adrian Beltre to retirement last season.

Get your tickets to watch the Houston Astors play against the Rangers before hey sell out.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

Watch the Rangers Captain gaze the field, in victory as the Rangers look to continue what has been a good start so far. Among the next few teams Texas is set to face in the coming weeks are the Royals, the Baltimore Orioles, the Oakland A’s and the Boston Red Sox.

The Rangers also recently announced they will extend their protective netting past the dugout at Globe Life Park in Arlington, following a series of severe injuries to fans due to foul balls that has forced many ballparks to take this action.

Parking passes are available with many ticket packages, which are now being sold on StubHub.

You can catch the Angeles playing in Chicago against the Cubs for only $6 if you act fast. Come see Mike Trout, one of the greatest things to ever happen in baseball go for distance. As Yu Darvish tries to keep him off track by mixing up those pitching combos.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

The parking passes are a bit more expensive mind you they come between $25-$30.

GET LOS ANGELES ANGELS TICKETS HERE!

Tickets prices are still only $6 until the Angeles play the Seattle Mariners, the price will go up to $10.

Here is the Angels’ upcoming schedule:

Friday, April 12th @Chicago 2:20PM ET NBCSCH, MLBN, FSN
Saturday, April 13th @Chicago 2:20PM ET ABC 7, FSN
Sunday, April 14th @Chicago 2:20PM ET WGN, FSN
Monday, April 15th @Texas 8:05PM ET
Tuesday, April 16th @Texas 8:05PM ET
Wednesday, April 17th @Texas 8:05PM ET
Thursday, April 18th vs.Seattle 10:07PM ET
Friday, April 19th vs.Seattle 10:07PM ET
Saturday, April 20th vs.Seattle 9:07PM ET
Sunday, April 21st vs.Seattle 4:07PM ET
Monday, April 22nd vs.New York 10:07PM ET
Tuesday, April 23rd vs.New York 10:07PM ET
Wednesday, April 24th vs.New York 10:07PM ET
Thursday, April 25th vs.New York 9:07PM ET
Friday, April 26th @Kansas City 8:15PM ET
Saturday, April 27th @Kansas City 7:15PM ET
Sunday, April 28th @Kansas City 2:15PM ET
Tuesday, April 30th vs.Toronto 10:07PM ET
Wednesday, May 1st vs.Toronto 10:07PM ET
Thursday, May 2nd vs.Toronto 10:07PM ET

Marshawn Lynch, one of the most powerful and dominant running backs in NFL history, has decided to retire… or so it seems?

After spending time in Seattle and winning a championship alongside star quarterback Russell Wilson, Lynch decided to return home to Oakland and finish his career with the Raiders. As time went on, the Raiders had entered the rebuilding stage of their dynasty.

IS Raiders’ Lynch RetirING

The team got a new coach Jon Gruden, also known as the quarterback whisperer, has a great offensive mind and is looking to turn things around in Oakland.

Lynch has always been known for big power runs, as well as some of the most impressive playoff runs that we’ve ever seen in pro football. Sadly enough, Gruden looks to go in a new direction for the team and he’s looking for a running back in the Draft.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

The Raiders loved having Lynch on the team — I mean, who wouldn’t? — but when you’re trying to rebuild a franchise, there’s no point in giving him the reps that could be used on a younger talent.

Lynch, known by many as “Beast Mode,” is also known for doing charitable deeds in his community through the Fam 1St Family Foundation, which he spearheads alongside several other NFL stars like Marcus Peters and Joshua Johnson. Lynch also made an appearance on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher earlier this year.

Now that the Thunder have ended their season in dramatic fashion at the hands of Damian Lilard and the Portland Trail Blazers, the first thing on their priority list has to be their off-season moves.

Donovan Set To Rejoin OKC Thunder

Billy Donovan came out and said he expects to return next season and called the meeting with the general manager “business as usual.” OKC had high hopes all year, with Paul George having the best season of his career and Russell Westbrook averaging a triple double once again. Thus, many fans thought this could be the year we see OKC go far in the playoffs. So what went wrong?

Many people speculate Westbrook may be the issue, he might need to be traded or become the second option on offense. Some think a new coach is the change OKC needs, a fresh face handling the team. Donovan quickly came out to put these rumors to rest as he looks forward to returning to the team. The coach said he has been impressed with what they were able to accomplish this season and that he looks forward to the next.

Donovan has been coaching college basketball for over 25 years, his last coaching job having been with the Florida Gators. This was Donovan’s first NBA-level coaching job and he wasn’t going to disappoint. Donovan was able to help lead OKC to a 55-27 record in his first season with the team. Many credited Donavan with the success they had that year.

After 2016, Kevin Durant decided to leave OKC for the Golden State Warriors and since then, the Thunder have not had that same level of success. This prompted many to feel that Donovan wasn’t the reason they were successful because of the combo that Durant and Westbrook formed at its peak.

The Thunder have still managed to make the postseason in many recent years, but have been eliminated in the first round of each series. After Durant’s departure, many fans felt that OKC was missing that additional star needed to advance. They got George in a trade and after the best season of his career while he was in the MVP discussion, and OKC were still eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

There’s been a lot of speculation about what moves need to be made in OKC if they want to be a real contender. For now, no real answer remains regarding what direction OKC will try to pursue in the future. One thing for sure through is that something has to change.

In today’s end of the season interview, Coach Donovan had this to say:

In a pivotal and big game 7, the returning champs the Washington Capitals were not be able to pull through – they suffered a 4-3 loss in double overtime.

The former champs were not expecting a departure this early from the playoffs.

Every season teams try to improve while at the same time you try to match and exceed the expectations of last year. “You’re always trying to re-set after every season,” center Nicklas Backstrom said. “You knew that was the case, but you were trying to re-set and trying to play every game like normal. We would have liked a better outcome, but it happens.”

The Capitals felt truly stunned reflecting on how their series lead of 2-0 wasn’t enough to pull through and then having the 3-1 advantage and still not being able to close it out. To give the other team three separate opportunities to come back and close out the series is a recipe for disaster.

The Capitals position reminds me a lot of the one that the Golden State Warriors had on their hands. Coming off winning the championship in the previous season, the Warriors looked poised for another title.

They dominated their matchup and went up 3-1 in the NBA final until the Cleveland Cavaliers would rally back and win a Game 7 at Oracle arena.

Several players gathered with the media to give their take:

Even coach Todd Reirden’s responses were short and brief as he took a moment to address the media as well.

The Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors faced off last night in Oracle arena in Game 5 of the first round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs. This series has been filled with emotion, trash talk and hard fought wins. Many thought this series would be easy for the returning champs The Warriors.

The Clippers were the 8th seed. Led by veteran coach Doc Rivers, the Clippers have been able to take a bunch of none all-stars into good role players.

Led by bull dog defender Patrick Beverly and offense star Lou Williams, the Clippers are a potent team that plays team basketball and team defense to win games.

The Warriors won the first game by a blow out, showing their dominance and why they’re the number one seed. The Clippers responded stole Game 2 on the road. Beverly was huge in Game 2 as he helped the Clippers rally back from an over 25 point deficit and win. Beverly was the primary defender on Kevin Durant and held him to 21 points and forced him to commit 9 turnovers.

The Warriors also suffered a major injury – star center Demarcus Cousins ruptured his quad leaving him sidelined for the reminder of the playoffs.

The Warriors and Kevin Durant responded with a dominant victories in Game 3 and 4 giving the Warriors a 3-1 lead. Many assumed the series was over at this point with the Warriors needing only one more win at home to advance to the next round.

The Warriors and the Clippers faced off in an elimination game 5, as the Clippers battled with their season on the line.

The Clippers played harassing defense throughout the night and were able to outscore the Warriors on their own court. The 135 point total is the largest amount allowed by the Warriors at home in the Steve Kerr era.

Lou Williams was huge last night, as one of the few bench players to log in over 30 mins during the playoffs. Williams was able to score 33 points off the defense as the Clippers leaned on him down the stretch.

Kevin Durant erupted for 45 points on the night. The Clippers also had big time contributions from players like Danilo Gallinari, who was able to finish with 26 points. What many expected to be a sweep has turned into one of the most exciting series that we have in the playoffs.

With the MLB season is finally under way, each year breeds new talent. Every year the fans are excited to see which new stars will emerge.

WHO’S CHRIS Paddack?

Padres rookie Pitcher Chris Paddock took the mound yesterday without having a single career win. That all changed after the dominant performance he delivered against the Mariners.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Coming off of a Tommy John surgery, the rookie had missed the entire 2017 season. The surgery is always a difficult one to overcome, and it’s known to make it harder for pitchers to come back – making young Paddack’s performance even that more impressive.

Paddock started off rough walking the lead off battler Mitch Hangier on four fastballs. Paddock said after the game that he wasn’t feeling so well before he took the mound. He felt like he had a fever and was only able to get two nights of sleep the day before.

Not good news when you’re the starting pitcher facing the Mariners. The Mariners are the top run scoring offense in the MLB.

Paddack was able to escape a bases loaded situation and would proceed to retire battler after batter after that.

Paddack had one of the longest starts in MLB history and went on a roll retiring batter after batter.

Fans were very impressed with his performance. At one point, he had retired 16 batters in a row and was able to strike 8 batters out.

Paddack retired 19 batters on the day and was able to out duel Felix Hernandez in what would be his first career win – and definitely a win to remember. The Padres face the Washington Nationals next as Paddock will look to continue his dominance.

As the playoffs have just begun, teams are still figuring out the best way to defeat their opponents. The Milwaukee Bucks have carried their dominant play from the regular season into the playoffs with last night’s resounding effort. Led by MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks haven been on attack this postseason, playing tough defense to get easy points.

Upset Alert?

In Game 1, the Bucks were very dominant, blowing out the Detroit Pistons and defending home court. Game 2, however, was a different story when the Pistons came out swinging and dominated the second quarter by outscoring the Bucks 32-20. Pistons big Andre Drummond kept several Bucks out of the paint and even gave Giannis some difficulty whenever he slashed through the lane.

For what seemed to be an easy series for the Bucks, they were surprisingly looking at a deficit.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

Antetokounmpo, reflecting back on his previous playoff experience, said that he knew what it would take to win, as he did his best make sure the Bucks didn’t lose control of the series.

“We went through adversity, seven games last year. We know what it takes now and we’re focused.” said Antetokounmpo

Supporting Cast

While Antetokounmpo is if not the number one, but still one of the most unstoppable players on the planet, he got some help from his teammates. Veteran bull dog point guard himself Eric Bledsoe, was big for the bucks in Wednesday night’s win, being a hound on defense all night and still playing like a top-tier point guard. Bledsoe was setting up teammates all night as the Bucks went on a strong third quarter performance to take the lead. Bledsoe finished the game with 27 points.

Another likely but also unlikely hero for the Bucks that stepped up big is Khris Middletown. A knockdown shooter all year, and a great defender on the perimeter, Middletown is a big part of what the Bucks got going on. Middletown played strong, even slashing to the rim a smooth layup, but also being able to spot from the perimeter and beat the Pistons from the outside.

Middletown finished with 24 buckets and eight rebounds.

Thon Nooooo

Earlier on in the regular season, Pistons forward Thon Maker was traded from the Bucks. Maker was very close to the team and especially Antetokounmpo. Fast forward a few months, they get play each other in the postseason. Giannis made quick work of Thon rejecting him on one hand and turning into a NBA highlight reel on the other with the poster dunk.

The Bucks look to continue their dominance away at the Pistons’ arena, where they will be facing off in Motor City at 8:00 p.m. EST on Saturday.

After deciding to leave Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers Kyrie Irving was about to began a new chapter in his NBA career. Irving has always been a tremendous talent in the NBA. On Wednesday night, he helped lead the Celtics to a 99-91 Game 2 win over the Indiana Pacers.

Boston now leads the first-round playoff series 2-0.

Since his college days at Duke, it was obvious that he had a level of skill for the game that only a few have. When he was originally drafted for Cleveland, he didn’t really have any responsibilities besides balling. After years of being on a weak franchise with bad players around, what else was there for him to do?

Until Lebron came to town. James required a winning attitude and effort out of all of his teammates but especially Irving because of the level of talent he saw in him. Kyrie’s responsibility was now to become a winning player. Someone who understood teamwork and what’s needed to win basketball games. After reports of a fall-out and time apart, Kyrie Irving requested a trade to the Boston Celtics for a chance to decide his own destiny.

A new Chapter

Now here we are and Irving, as the top player on the Celtics, has the job of leading them to victory. Earlier on in the season, reports of bad team chemistry from the Celtics locker room emerged. Irving said in post-game interviews that he wand to apologize to James by saying that it’s not easy to lead a team, especially with some of the younger players around. ” The younger guys don’t know what it takes to compete at a championship level.” He also came out and said in the past that there is a maturity level needed.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

Jaylen Brown, the shooting guard for the Celtics, had responded back to these comments quickly. Irving missed the playoffs the first year with the Celtics after needing surgery on his knee. With the success the Celtics were having, this could imply that many of the young players were under the impression that they don’t need Irving, seeing as they had a much better record when he was injured and getting to the Eastern Conference finals without him.

Irving, Toxic?

With the Celtics faltering this season, and all the extra chatter that had been going on in the locker room, critics felt that this postseason was very big for Irving. So if he underperformed or the Celtics don’t reach their full potential, a lot of the blame would be on Irving as he looks like the negative in the situation.

Irving was in a different mode during Game 2, slashing past defenders and setting his teammates up for easy scores as he dominated against the Indiana Pacers.

He was able to line up a couple of threes and, as usual, his dazzling handles led him straight to the rim. Irving was able to score a game-high 36, and was lights out from the field. Jayson Tatum and Gordon Hayward came up big late as they helped close out the game as well. Now up two games, the Celtics look to carry their momentum on to the next one. Game 3 is Friday night in Indiana.

After being down, the Boston Bruins were able to come up with a big 6-4 victory on the road against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Wednesday night’s Game 4.

With the series all tied up (2-2), the Bruins are headed back home another dazzling performance.

Bruins Top Leafs To Tie Series

The Maple Leafs were able to slow the Bruins down in the first three games by playing great team defense. The Maple Leafs had done a great job at keeping the Bruins outside of the offensive zone for most of the series. They have been playing physical, getting into other players on defense and clogging the slot, not giving their opponents any easy chances to score during the game.

Charlie Mcavoy got things going for the Bruins, scoring what would be their first goal of the night. During the regular season, the Bruins relied on a concentrated attack from three of their main stars: Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak.

During the regular season, these three combined to be virtually unstoppable. As the group has struggled to manufacture shot attempts, never mind scoring chances, rumors began to swirl the group could be broken up if goals are not produced in Game 4. The Maple Leafs had done a great job of contesting them so far throughout the series.

Marchand kept the momentum going by scoring a goal of his own, coming off of being set up.

Toronto wasn’t done yet though, as they quickly tied the score back at two only a minute and a few seconds into the second period.

Proving that the Bruins core shouldn’t be broken up just yet, Pastrnak was able to convert on two back-to-back quick goals, giving them a 4-2 lead in this elevator-match of a game.

Toronto was down but the Maple Leafs hadn’t quite given up yet. The game seemed to finally be out of reach when Zdeno Chara scored a goal, putting them up 5-3. Many teams would have been put away at this point but the ever-resilient Maple Leafs still had some fight left in them.

Later on in the third, the Leafs were able to convert on a power-play making it 5-3. They would soon score again to catch up to the Bruins.

Joakim Nordy was able to expand on the led and put the game to rest with his two goals late in the period. Nordy was able to convert the first goal on an empty net, and punched in the last one right before time expired.

After waiting for what feels like an eternity since the Super Bowl, we finally have news about Americas favorite game. The NFL on Thursday released the full 2019 season schedule to the public, letting fans know who their favorite teams will have to face.

Some teams set to rebuild got the short-end of the stick, having to face off against steep competition early on and throughout the season. Meanwhile, some playoffs teams received what seemed to be an easy route to another postseason.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

The Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins, for example, are coming off of a 7-9 record last regular season. This season has them facing off against four straight playoff teams just to start . They also play two opponents after coming off a bye week, giving the opposing team more time to rest and focus on their game-plan.

It’s Tradition

The NFL was able to connect with fans in a historic way by using tradition. In classic fashion — and to keep one of the longest-running rivalries in sports going — on opening day, the Green Bay Packers will play the Chicago Bears, as they have so many times.

The Indianapolis Colts also have a difficult season ahead of them, especially with Andrew Luck still not back to full form. For any other team, it’s always hard to start the season on the road, but the Colts are starting the year off with back-to-back away games that could possibly sink them in an early-on hole, especially since the first two teams are the Titans and Chargers — teams they’re sure to face off against for playoff position.

The biggest problem with the Colts’ schedule is the fact that all of their tough games come towards the end of the season against teams who either made the playoffs last year or are looking to this year: the San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orlean Saints.

Redemption

After a tough playoff lost last season that is still difficult to swallow for the New Orleans Saints, they come back this year hoping to dominate the same way they have in the past. Many people feel the referees missed a pass interference call, which would have led the Saints to the Super Bowl. Their schedule is filled with back to back games on the West Coast, featuring teams like the Los Angeles Rams, an eager young strong squad looking to prove themselves after last year’s Super Bowl. They also face the Seattle Seahawks and Russell Wilson the week after.

The NBA playoffs return to New York for the first time in a long time on Thursday night as the Brooklyn Nets look to face off against the Philadelphia 76ers in a highly-anticipated Game 3.

SIxers vs. Nets game 3: Is it an Upset?

Thursday’s Game 3 will start at 8 p.m. EST and will air on YES and TNT. Many expected Philly to win the series, some even favored a sweep until the Nets stole Game 1 and home court advantage against this squad. Game 1 is always the feel-out game for both teams, it’s one of the most important games in the playoffs because it sets the tone for the next three contests.

D’Angelo Russell has been stellar for Brooklyn all year, having several breakout performances and even being named a reserve for the All-Star team. Several members of the media felt Russell deserved consideration for Most Improved Player, going from averaging 15.5 points a game to a potent 21.1.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

Philly losing the first game at home had a lot to think about following big contributions coming from Jimmy Butler, who contributed a strong 36, and Joel Embiid with 22 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks. Yet Ben Simmons, star point guard and considered by many as the next Lebron James, was very passive in the first game against Brooklyn. He finished with nine points and three assists. Now Simmons is known to be an offensive star and a gifted playmaker. The fact that he played so limited was surprising to many.

In Game 2, Philly dominated early on and kept their foot on the pedal. Simmons was much more aggressive, especially in transition, slashing to the rim for easy buckets and a couple of tough layups. Butler was just as aggressive as ever, playing good defense and getting to his spot when open. Simmons even stepped up on the defensive end, shutting Russell down on several of his takes at the rim.

A big note is that Philly had some help from the players who aren’t stars but still contribute. Players like J.J Reddick stepped up big. Reddick only scored five points in Game 1 and fouled out, not being able to contribute on either side of the ball. In Game 2, however, Reddick was able to score 17 points and nailed two three-pointers over defenders.

In Game 2 for Brooklyn, the Nets were missing Jared Dudly, a good defender and another body that would have made a difference in Game 2. When facing Embiid and Simmons, you’re gonna need all the help you can get down low. Things are heating up in the series, as Embiid received a foul for elbowing Jarrett Allen in the jaw. The elbow sent Allen to the ground staggering.

Not Funny Joel

Embiid later apologized for the elbow in an interview, and ended up laughing with teammate Simmons while discussing the situation. Several players on the Nets found this disrespectful, and didn’t find it funny. Tempers are staring to boil as the playoffs continue to heat up.

Two people were found dead in the multi-million dollar home of renowned businessman and former part-owner of the Minnesota Vikings Irwin Jacobs this week, following a possible murder-suicide. His wife was found dead next to him.

The bodies were discovered in a bed next to a handgun by a routine visitor of the Minnesota residence on Wednesday morning, Orono Police Chief Correy Farniok confirmed in a press conference.

Some are speculating it could have been an argument turned bitter, as one spouse may have shot the other. One of them may have committed suicide after feeling guilty about shooting his or her spouse.

Johnson was known for being a great entrepreneur through the early 80s and the 90s. He made his name off of buying and selling companies, and was able to become wealthy in his business practices.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

Johnson and his wife had been together for nearly 60 years, leaving many to question and wonder what were the motives.

The story surprised many, as people close to Johnson say he was upbeat over the past couple days.

Several people think this case is another act of domestic violence, while some claim it was a mercy killing. Reports came out that Johnson’s wife Alexandra Jacobs had been battling Dementia. Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women stated that this was not a mercy killing and that it wasn’t her decision to have her life end in that way.

The motives behind the case details have not been released yet. The police are treating this like a murder and suicide case, meaning they have reason to believe Johnson was the one who shot his wife.

The Los Angeles Lakers at one time were a franchise to be feared and had a star-studded class of retired jerseys hanging above them. Some of the greatest players to have ever played basketball at one point in time played for the Lakers. Some of the legendary names such as Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and the list goes on. And it doesn’t stop with their players: the whole franchise was made to be run this way, with great ownership from people such as Jerry Buss. 

Later on, former legend Johnson took control of the team, pledging that he would bring the Lakers back. Johnson convinced one of the greatest players ever in Lebron James to join the Lakers last year. Fans speculated a possible comeback for the Lakers. The team had been in a drought lately, failing to make the playoffs and losing at home badly. Many thought that this could be the beginning of a change in LA.

Fast forward one more season: James has missed the playoffs for the first time in almost 15 years while Johnson has decided to step down.

What Went Wrong?

Many people have blasted Johnson for his lack of success as being the president of the organization. Several reports came out saying he doesn’t know what he’s doing, or that he’s just a bad president in general. Reports had came out about James indicating that he had been playing hurt during the season and came back earlier than he had to and tried to force the playoffs.

Many people on the inside such as Buss said this came to her as a surprise, as she believed the Lakers were moving forward in a good direction.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

Johnson’s record does not indicate he was a good president. Over the past couple of years, it is no secret that the Lakers have traded and let several good players go. Deangelo Russell, has now made the playoffs before the Lakers did after having his leadership questioned by Johnson himself.

Julius Randle is also playing much better now since he hasn’t been on the Lakers.

Many people find Magic’s decision abrupt but he did add he was happier when he wasn’t the president and doesn’t like this restriction that’s been placed on him. The Lakers themselves faced several key injuries this season with their starting point guard Lonzo Ball almost missing the entire second half of the season as well as untimely injuries for key pieces such as Brandon Ingram.

He got Fired? It must be because of Lebron

On Lebron’s side, not making the playoffs is new but not the end of the world. James missed almost a quarter of the season (18 games) this year due to a back injury, during this time the Lakers fell from 4th seed to 9th, thus knocking them out of playoff contention. It seemed Lebron missed a key part of the season as other teams found out how to make their own roster click.

With all the rumors about trades going on, it had destroyed the team chemistry.

With James seeing the state the Lakers are in, against the doctors’ wishes he tried to return early but to no avail. It seemed sitting out the playoffs would be the smarter decision for the franchise and James longterm.

The Legends Tee Off

The 2019 Masters officially began Thursday, with the honorary starters from both sides kicking off the tournament with their opening tee shots. The annual tradition for one of the biggest competitions in the PGA, Augusta National has become a favorite for patrons in attendance on Thursday.

Many fans were happy to be watching legends of the game trot out to the first half in the early morning to offer a couple warmup swings and light jokes.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player are the two Honorary Starters for the event. They will no longer joined by Arnold Palmer since his passing back in September 2016. The golf world still mourns this, as it feels like something’s missing from the competition. Palmer’s passing brought pain to many.

The following year’s start in 2017 provided a time and a place for Augusta to take a moment and specifically honor Palmer, and his memory and achievements continue to be celebrated to this day throughout golf. Since Nicklaus and Player are set to be the ones to hit the first tee, they carry on the responsibility of representing legends from the past on the first tee.

Up first was Player, golf’s great and official global ambassador. After wiping away a couple of tears off his face during the introductions, he gracefully approached the ball with good spirits. While promoting his new driver, he delivered with a shot down the fairway and celebrated with a spry and happy leg-kick that thrilled the patrons and other fans in attendance.

Nicklaus was up next, introduced by chairman Fred Ridley, who got the crowd going by mentioning Nicklaus’ unprecedented major and Masters success. With 18 majors already won and six green jackets, Nicklaus is the benchmark for any of the active golfers chasing greatness. After making a joke for the patrons, Nicklaus took a swing that was met with applause from others.

Age ain’t nothing but a number

Player was even able to convert a hole-in-one, a vey impressive feat for a man who’s in his 80s.

Miro Heisakanen looks to be the next phenom among rookies or new players that will be known across leagues. He has been getting a lot of comparisons to NBA star Luka Doncic based off of his early success as well his dominance in the game. Finnish-born defenseman Heisakanen played 23:24 in his first career playoff game, including 9 minutes in the third period. He was named the game’s First Star with two goals. He’s only 19 years old.

stars Rookie miro heisakanen wows

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

The rookie has gained a lot of attention for his early success, but it’s not just his scoring that has everyone on the edge of the seats: it’s his IQ as well.

Heiskanen plays with a poise that is just levels above other new players when they first arrive in the NHL, another reason he is often compared to Doncic.

Doncic is already one of the premier players in the NBA and he was younger than nine out of the ten starters for this year’s NCAA Championship Game. He has showcased once again why he’s levels above his current talent pool.

Being able to perform in the regular season is one thing, but even veterans struggle sometimes in the postseason.

In Heisakanen’s first career playoff game, he was able to dominate early on and came up clutch for his team.

Heiskanen was the youngest player and defenseman in Dallas Stars franchise history to score a goal in the postseason.

The confidence of the young defenseman is what really takes fans by surprise and puts the rest of the league on notice. Sizing up difficult shots from distance, as well as slashing past defenders on the way to score, fear of the moment is definitely not a problem for Heiskanen.

With the NBA regular season finally coming to an end, the long-awaited playoffs can finally begin.

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It took until the final game of the season for the bracket to be determined, with the Detroit Pistons claiming the final spot in the East. The Pistons are a team stuck in the rebuilding process but have made progress with another return to the postseason. They are led by veteran and former All-Star power forward Blake Griffin and the premier big man himself, Andre Drummond.

Detroit may not be going too far in the playoffs: their first-round opponent are the No. 1-seed Milwaukee Bucks, led by MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

With Antetokounmpo looking to dominate from down-low and engage in the post, this series looks to start and end with who will be able to control the paint.

The kickoff of the Western Conference features the Golden State Warriors, who have won the last two championships back to back and look to begin another dominant postseason run as they face off against Doc Rivers and the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Clippers are a well-rounded team, not really depending on any one star but they run their offense through sixth-man Lou Williams.

The Warriors look to dominate this matchup, leading with five healthy All-Stars and the best record in the West once again. Led by Kevin Durant and Steph Curry, this one might be over before it gets started.

This postseason gives us the chance to see some of our favorite rivalries in the NBA. In the West, we have Oklahoma City Thunder facing off against the Portland Trial Blazers. Russell Westbrook from OKC has been known for butting heads with other players for a while and Damian Lillard is no different. Westbrook has made comments about Lillard in the past, voicing his opinion that his teammate and current MVP candidate Paul George should have made the All – Star team before he did. He even got into a bit of trash talk with Lillard before and said to him, “I’ve been busting your a— for years.” We look forward to seeing a good grudge match between these two, and a series with a lot of emotion.

For now, the rest of the playoff spots have been decided and we’re locked in for an incredible end to the season.

First-round NBA playoff series schedule:

Milwaukee Bucks (1) vs. Detroit Pistons (8)

Game 1: Pistons at Bucks, Sunday, April 14 7pm
Game 2: Pistons at Bucks, Wednesday, April 17, 8 p.m.
Game 3: Bucks at Pistons, Saturday, April 20, 8 p.m.
Game 4: Bucks at Pistons, Monday, April 22, 8 p.m.

Toronto Raptors (2) vs. Orlando Magic (7)

Game 1: Magic at Raptors, Saturday, April 13, 5 p.m.
Game 2: Magic at Raptors, Tuesday, April 16, 8 p.m.
Game 3: Raptors at Magic, Friday, April 19, 7 p.m.
Game 4: Raptors at Magic, Sunday, April 21, 7 p.m.

Philadelphia 76ers (3) vs. Brooklyn Nets (6)

Game 1: Nets at 76ers, Saturday, April 13, 2:30 p.m.
Game 2: Nets at 76ers, Monday, April 15, 8 p.m.
Game 3: 76ers at Nets, Thursday, April 18, 8 p.m.
Game 4: 76ers at Nets, Saturday, April 20, 3 p.m.

Boston Celtics (4) vs. Indiana Pacers (5)

Game 1: Pacers at Celtics, Sunday, April 14, 1 p.m.
Game 2: Pacers at Celtics, Wednesday, April 17, 7 p.m.
Game 3: Celtics at Pacers, Friday, April 19, 8:30 p.m.
Game 4: Celtics at Pacers, Sunday, April 21, 1 p.m.

Western Conference:
Golden State Warriors (1) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (8)

Game 1: Clippers at Warriors, Saturday, April 13, 8 p.m.
Game 2: Clippers at Warriors, Monday, April 15, 10:30 p.m.
Game 3: Warriors at Clippers, Thursday, April 18, 10:30 p.m.
Game 4: Warriors at Clippers, Sunday, April 21, 3:30 p.m.

Denver Nuggets (2) vs. San Antonio Spurs (7)

Game 1: Spurs at Nuggets, Saturday, April 13, 10:30 p.m.
Game 2: Spurs at Nuggets, Tuesday, April 16, 9 p.m.
Game 3: Nuggets at Spurs, Thursday, April 18, 9 p.m.
Game 4: Nuggets at Spurs, Saturday, April 20, 5:30 p.m.

Portland Trail Blazers (3) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (6)

Game 1: Thunder at Trail Blazers, Sunday, April 14, 3:30 p.m.
Game 2: Thunder at Trail Blazers, Tuesday, April 16, 10:30 p.m.
Game 3: Trail Blazers at Thunder, Friday, April 19, 9:30 p.m.
Game 4: Trail Blazers at Thunder, Sunday, April 21, 9:30 p.m.

Houston Rockets (4) vs. Utah Jazz (5) 

Game 1: Jazz at Rockets, Sunday, April 14, 9:30 p.m.
Game 2: Jazz at Rockets, Wednesday, April 17, 9:30 p.m.
Game 3: Rockets at Jazz, Saturday, April 20, 10:30 p.m.
Game 4: Rockets at Jazz, Monday, April 22, 10:30 p.m.

Virginia Tech‘s Buzz Williams will be the new Texas A&M coach. Virginia Tech announced the news in an official press release on Wednesday that Williams will be accepting the same position in College Station.

Coach buzz williams returns to Texas A&M

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

They’re had been rumors for a while now spectating who could be the new coach for the Texas A&M. Coach Williams name was twirled into the rumors for a while now, but as we can see all for good reason.

Not many know this but Williams has a strong career of coaching being a part of several different teams and having strong seasons whether he was at. At Marquette, Williams was able to go to the NCAA tourney 5 of 6 seasons at and was able to do what no coach has done at Virginia Tech yet — been successful. Williams adds on to his impressive resume by having took the Hokies to 3 straight NCAA tourneys. Who knows how long his tenure at Texas A&M lasts.

Coach Williams is known for getting big moments out of his players and being able to bring his team together. After suffering a tough loss from tournament favorite Duke, the players and coaches at Texas Tech joined in a prayer to end the season. In the video you can see the players passion, and how they were able to come together as a team but still ended up falling short.

The MLB season is right around the corner if your from Miami or just happen to be in town instead of going crazy like everyone else, go catch a Marlins game! The Miami Marlins have been a great team who just need a little home push from their fans. And a great chance to get involved and to be apart of the action is through Stub Hub. Stub Hub is home to affordable ticket prices across the sport specializing in any event but always taking special care of sports fans.

GET Marlins 2019 Season Tickets HERE!

https://www.stubhub.com/miami-marlins-tickets/performer/4342/

Get a chance to see up close how the Marlins will face off against Jacob deGrom, an interesting matchup that has us all waiting with excitement.

In the past is may of been difficult to get fans to games, with the Marlines having a history of empty crowds, but with these great deals presented on Stub Hub you can be the first to bear witness to this dynasty being made.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

This Friday they have a game against the Atlanta Braves, they’re will be a tote bag giveaway as well as fireworks to get fans excited. You can also purchase parking tickets through Stub Hub because, why not make your lie just that much simpler. After the Series with the Braves you can purchase tickets for the game against the Cincinnati Reds, prices start at $6.00.

Here is the Marlins’ April schedule:

Apr 5 Fri @ Braves 7:20 pm EDT
Apr 6 Sat @ Braves TBD
Apr 7 Sun @ Braves 1:20 pm EDT

Apr 9 Tue @ Reds 6:40 pm EDT
Apr 10 Wed @ Reds 6:40 pm EDT
Apr 11 Thu @ Reds 12:35 pm EDT

Apr 12 Fri vs. Phillies 7:10 pm EDT
Apr 13 Sat vs. Phillies 6:10 pm EDT
Apr 14 Sun vs. Phillies 1:10 pm EDT

Apr 15 Mon vs. Cubs 7:10 pm EDT
Apr 16 Tue vs. Cubs 7:10 pm EDT
Apr 17 Wed vs. Cubs 7:10 pm EDT

Apr 19 Fri vs. Nationals 7:10 pm EDT
Apr 20 Sat vs. Nationals 6:10 pm EDT
Apr 21 Sun vs. Nationals 1:10 pm EDT

Apr 23 Tue @ Indians TBD
Apr 24 Wed @ Indians TBD

Apr 25 Thu @ Phillies 7:05 pm EDT
Apr 26 Fri @ Phillies 7:05 pm EDT
Apr 27 Sat @ Phillies 6:05 pm EDT
Apr 28 Sun @ Phillies 1:05 pm EDT

Apr 30 Tue vs. Indians 7:10 pm EDT
May 1 Wed vs. Indians 7:10 pm EDT

May 3 Fri vs. Braves 7:10 pm EDT
May 4 Sat vs. Braves 6:10 pm EDT
May 5 Sun vs. Braves 1:10 pm EDT