Thunder Hang On To Defeat The Warriors 114-108 As They Improve To (4-5) On The Season

by Travis Singleton | Nov 10, 2019 | Featured, NBA

The Oklahoma City Thunder came out clicking on all levels against the Golden State Warriors. They recently played each other within the last couple of weeks but this time it was different. The Warriors were without Stephen Curry and Draymond Green as both are nursing injuries. The Thunder have finally found their stride as a unit and have been playing some of the best basketball they’ve played in the early season. The Warriors had no answer for the 3 point ball tonight against the Thunder as they shot 14/30 from the 3 point line. The Thunder ball movement has been a thing of beauty all season long and they capitalized on the Warriors mistakes. The Thunder had a well-balanced attack from the start and didn’t look back. This was a game where the Thunder didn’t have much scoring power from Shai Gilegous-Alexander and Chris Paul but the others stepped up. Shai finished with 12 points on the night and Chris Paul finished with 16 points. The leading scorer for tonight was Danilo Gallinari who finished with 21 points. Whenever Gallinari gets the ball he’s going to look for that 3 point line and he did just that tonight. The fact that Gallinari is such a threat behind the 3 point line it helps the rest of the team in spacing.

The Thunder had 5 players in double figures tonight against the Warriors which shows that the team is gelling at the right time. The Thunder faced some adversity in this one as D’Angelo Russell was starting to get it going in that 3rd quarter against the Thunder. There were points in the quarter where the Thunder had to double team him and try to make other people beat them. Russell finished the game with 30 points as the Thunder were able to figure him out in that quarter. The Thunder were double-teaming and had Dennis Schröder face guarding Russell denying him the ball. Alec Burks was another player that had himself a night for the Warriors finishing with 23 points. It seemed like every time the Russell got a rest then Burks was able to pick up the load. Overall the Thunder was too much for the Warriors to handle down the stretch. Chris Paul had some veteran plays to attract fouls and he knows how to get to the free-throw line. This Thunder team will try to stay in the win column as they face the Milwaukee Bucks and the reigning MVP Giannis.

Nov 10, 2019 No Comments

SR – NBA Primetime Preview: Portland Trail Blazers vs Los Angeles Clippers

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by Marcus Van Diver | Nov 8, 2019 | Featured, NBA

Game two of Thursday night’s doubleheader features Kawhi Leonard’s return from a night off of load management to face the Portland Trail Blazers at home on Thursday night, 10:30 p.m. EST/ 9:30 p.m. CST.

Kawhi’s name has been in the press lately, though, its been anything but positive. Much of the discussions about the two-time Finals MVP has been about his decision to tend to his resting schedule in mending a recovering patellar tendon issue from two years ago – ala “Load Management” – and let’s just say, basketball purists have experienced their discontent with Leonard’s lack of wanting to play big primetime games in favor of optimal conditioning when the playoffs roll through.

Tonight, those talks can be put to bed for at least a couple of hours with his comeback in Clippers doing battle inside the Staples Center against Damian Lillard and the 3-4 Trail Blazers.

The Clippers battled back in a loss to the Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Milwaukee Bucks but need tonight to get their momentum back. Granted, it was as good as a loss as they could have, competing against a championship-favored team while shorthanded. Their defense suffered when Kawhi wasn’t on the floor and were absolutely slashed inside by the league MVP, as he put up 38 points while flirting with a triple-double (38 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists).

The Blazers are in the same predicament of trying to get back on track after embarrassingly losing to the star-less Golden State Warriors while letting Eric Paschall score 34 on them. The Blazers would love nothing more than to upset a Western Conference foe while letting Damian Lillard get back to his absurd scoring ways while being accompanied by an efficient CJ McCollum.

Some other storylines tonight – Moe Harkless plays against the Blazers as a Clipper, since they traded him away at the end of last season. Kawhi comes back to a Clippers team that is 5-1 whenever he steps on the floor, and spirited defender Patrick Beverley gets to dance with an old “friend”, offensive juggernaut Damian Lillard.

This should be fun.

Nov 8, 2019 No Comments

SR – NBA Primetime Preview: Boston Celtics at Charlotte Hornets

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by Marcus Van Diver | Nov 8, 2019 | Featured, NBA

This week’s primetime preview sees the hot-streaking 5-1 Boston Celtics visit the 4-3 Charlotte Hornets live from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina on TNT at 8 p.m./7 p.m. CST.

The Celtics, or should I preface, the multifaceted core of point guard extraordinaire Kemba Walker and third-year Celtics Jayson Tatum and Gordon Hayward, started their season on the rockiest of beginnings after their throttling at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers who have, at times, looked like the penultimate defensive juggernaut of the Eastern Conference.

Since then, it’s been nothing but success for these new-look Beantown ballers. A five-win streak in the East is startling enough, especially with a new starting five.

And with the statistical accolades being obtained by the likes of Walker, Tatum, and company (such as Kemba scoring the most points through five games in franchise history, or the Celtics having the only trio of Kemba, Tatum, and Hayward to average over 20+ ppg. for the entire duration of their six-game season in the entire NBA) these Eastern contenders have to like – better yet, love – their situation and how Walker has seemingly plugged into this starting lineup with a sense of chemistry already conjured up.

Tonight, the mood inside the Spectrum Center will transform to a more somber color, since this is the first time that they will not rile up in glee and anticipation to watch their favorite 6’1 guard tear up the opposition on Hornets home ground, but rather appreciate in retrospect, as they watch Walker return to the place he called home for eight years of his life.

Walker expects to receive a warm welcome and positive reception the minute the Celtics take the floor during and after shootaround, but we’ve often witnessed mixed reactions for homecomings that fans initially conceived to be sincere. The boos will reverberate – that’s a given. But just how much, if any, dismay is to be delivered to their former franchise cornerpiece that built up this franchise from the ground up, is the question just waiting for its answer.

Now, onto the competitive aspect of this matchup. The Charlotte Hornets are no easy out as once theorized before this season began. This team’s attacking mindset has drastically changed from the time they gave away Walker to the free-agent market.

The Celtics will have a bunch of defensive adjustments to make as the night goes along, considering that the Hornets are one of the best perimeter-scoring teams in the entire NBA. They opened their 2019 campaign by setting a new franchise precedent, knocking down 24 threes in a game, and that should say just what they are capable of producing early on this year.

Third-year guard Devonte Graham has been a diamond in the rough for Charlotte this year, averaging a team-high 17.3 points per contest while also dishing the rock for another team-high 6.5 assists a game. Just behind him is the former (and seemingly excommunicated) Terry Rozier, who is putting up the best numbers of his career, now with a broadened minutes schedule. PJ Washington has been an impressive rookie for the post-Kemba Hornets, especially from deep.

The rookie, while at Kentucky, didn’t knock down more than six threes his freshman year, but blossomed into a dual sharpshooter and rim slasher his sophomore season, nearly leading his Wildcats in 3PT percentage. In his first season, it’s more of the same as a Hornet. He shoots over 46 percent from three-point range and also leads his team in steals.

This will be a pretty good game with a bunch of storylines on the table for NBA fans to enjoy – Terry Rozier’s revenge on the team that ousted him at last season’s end, the probable reunion of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and the show that Kemba Walker will put on for his old home team.

The Celtics are seven-point favorites to scoop up a win tonight, but in this league, you just never know who is destined to perform at an optimal level on the national stage.

Nov 8, 2019 No Comments

Primetime Preview: Los Angeles Chargers vs Oakland Raiders (TNF Week 10)

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by Brandon Jefferson | Nov 8, 2019 | Featured, NFL

Week 10 gets underway courtesy of a battle between AFC West rivals as the Los Angeles Chargers take on the Oakland Raiders. Both teams are chasing the Kansas City Chiefs for the top spot in the division, however, it seems like neither will ultimately be able to usurp them especially with Patrick Mahomes close to returning to the field of play. The season has gone in opposite directions for these teams.

The Chargers were coming off a strong season where they made the second round of the playoffs but they have not repeated that same success to begin this season. A disappointing start has them currently at 4-5 through nine games. They are behind both Kansas City and Oakland in the standings right now. Injuries have put a damper on their performance as they were without Russell Okung and Hunter Henry for a majority of their games and All-Pro safety Derwin James remains out. Philip Rivers has been inconsistent at best and Melvin Gordon’s return wasn’t the boost the team expected. Still, the talent is there for them to turn things around if everyone can come back (and stay) healthy soon.

Meanwhile, the Oakland Raiders have seen quite the turnaround in year two underneath head coach Jon Gruden. They currently sit at 4-4 and in second place in the AFC West, they also remain in the race for a potential wild card selection. A year after dealing away Khalil Mack, the Raiders have the superior record to the Chicago Bears halfway through the 2019 season. Even the drama surrounding Antonio Brown from training camp has been put on the backburner. Derek Carr looks a lot more comfortable in Gruden’s offense and rookie running back Josh Jacobs (acquired with the first-round pick the team received in the Mack trade) has transformed this team. The loss of Jonathan Abram to injury and Vontaze Burfict to suspension has weakened their defense but they still have hope to sneak into the postseason.

QB Matchup: Philip Rivers vs. Derek Carr

Philip Rivers looks to be losing the bale with Father Time before our eyes. While he remains a capable starter he no longer seems to have the ability to take over games on his own for the Chargers. Thankfully Los Angeles has invested in weapons to help him and the team at a good enough level to compete with the top teams. Yet, things haven’t gone too plan for them this season. A good game from Rivers tonight will go a long way towards salvaging the season for the Chargers. Carr, on the other hand, has been nearly as good as when he was in contention for MVP honors and the Raiders were one of the top teams in the AFC. Even without Brown on the field, he’s managed to find and build rapport with his other pass catchers and help Oakland put together a solid offense. They’ll need a strong game from Carr if they want to get past the .500 mark.

RB Matchup: Josh Jacobs vs. Austin Ekeler / Melvin Gordon

As noted above, Jacobs has been great for Oakland. If he continues this level of production throughout the second half of his first NFL season then he’ll be on track to take home Offensive Rookie of the Year honors at the end of the season. After being part of a platoon at the University of Alabama, Jacobs has become a workhorse in the NFL. He can play all three downs and is arguably as good of a receiver as he is a runner. His talents make him the perfect fit for what Oakland wants to do. The Chargers have been relying on a duo in their backfield between Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler. At first, Ekeler was by himself as Gordon held out and in his absence Ekeler performed admirably. Gordon returned and he sputtered out of the gate some. However, in last week’s big win over the Green Bay Packers, Gordon scored twice on short-distance goal-line runs. If they are able to get going in the same game they could put up some explosive numbers.

WR Matchup: Keenan Allen vs. Hunter Renfrow

Out wide, Keenan Allen has been one of the most productive in the NFL this season. He’s been the most consistent player for the Chargers all season. His ability to play in the slot, on the perimeter, and all over the field allows him to really be a weapon for Los Angeles. Any coverage that isn’t a double team might as well be leaving him wide-open. Allen is well on his way to being an All-Pro selection this season. To begin the season, this slot probably would’ve gone to Tyrell Williams but of late, it’s been rookie wide receiver Hunter Renfrow who has become a favorite of Carr. Last week against the Detroit Lions, Renfrow caught a team-high six catches–on seven targets–and scored a touchdown. The quick slot receiver made a name for himself in college thanks to back-to-back dominant games against the Crimson Tide. He now looks to bring that same stability and consistency to the Raiders.

TE Matchup: Darren Waller vs. Hunter Henry

Darren Waller has seemingly come out of nowhere to have a great season for the Raiders this year. However, Oakland has been high on him ever since they brought him over from the Baltimore Ravens practice squad. Waller combines size and speed to be a true mismatch for opposing defenses. Carr has found him all over the field but naturally, he does most of his damage between the hashes and up the seam. With James still healing there’s a real chance that Waller has an explosive outing tonight. Hunter Henry is a similar player for Los Angeles. However, he hasn’ been able to be a consistent threat for Rivers and the Chargers as he’s dealt with numerous injuries during his time in the league. After missing some games this season, Henry has picked up right where he left off. His addition has had a big impact on the Chargers offense.

DEF Matchup: Joey Bosa vs. Vontaze Burfict

Joey Boas is part of the dominant defensive end brother duo that is running roughshod all over the NFL this season. The older of the two, Bosa has been showcasing his skills for more years. However, as has been the case far too often in Los Angeles, injuries have meant that he is unable to be on the field at all times for the Chargers. He will be sent to try and get Carr off his spot in the pocket and also tasked with keeping Jacobs contained on the ground. The thing is, he can easily pull off both feats. He has all the talent teams are looking for in a game-changing pro. Oakland’s defense doesn’t necessarily have a singular talent on the same level as Bosa but one of their more important pieces is safety Karl Joseph. With first-round pick Abrams out, Joseph has been asked to do more for the Raiders. He can play at the line, in the box, or as a lone deep safety. His versatility makes him someone that opposing teams must always find on the field.

PREDICTION: Raiders 24, Chargers 21

Nov 8, 2019 No Comments

SR NFL Power Rankings (11/7)

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by Brandon Jefferson | Nov 7, 2019 | Featured, NFL

Each week, SneakerReporter will put out their power rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

With Week 10 kicking off tonight (Los Angeles Chargers vs Oakland Raiders, 8:20 PM EST on Fox and NFL Network) it’s time to unveil where each team sits.

The fun begins below and be sure to check back each Thursday to track how far up or down your favorite team moves from week-to-week.

1. San Francisco 49ers 8-0 (LW: 2)

8 MORE GAMES JIMMY GAROPPOLO, YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!

2. New England Patriots 8-1 (LW: 1)

In Bill Belichick style, they are on to the bye week.

3 New Orleans Saints 7-1 (LW: 3)

They are fully healthy finally and will likely destroy the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

4. Baltimore Ravens 6-2 (LW: 7)

Lamar Jackson is AMAZING.

5. Green Bay Packers 7-2 (LW: 4)

Aaron Rodgers’ return to California didn’t go so great.

6. Seattle Seahawks 7-2 (LW: 6)

Russell “MVP” Wilson.

7. Kansas City Chiefs 6-3 (LW: 9)

PATRICK MAHOMES IS (likely) BACK!

8. Houston Texans 5-3 (LW: 10)

Deshaun Watson extending plays is such a joy to watch.

9. Indianapolis Colts 5-3 (LW: 6)

Jacoby Brissett and T.Y. Hilton might be out this week, can the cardiac Colts pull of another win?

10. Buffalo Bills 6-2 (LW: 12)

The Bills got a nice tune-up game against the Washington Redskins last week.

11. Minnesota Vikings 6-3 (LW: 5)

That loss to a Mahomes-less Chiefs team hurts.

12. Dallas Cowboys 5-3 (LW: 11)

Dallas nearly blew it against the Giants but thankfully lady luck, and a black cat was on their side.

13. Los Angeles Rams 5-3 (LW: 13)

This team is star-studded but the on-field results haven’t matched yet.

14. Carolina Panthers 5-3 (LW: 18)

Cam Newton is likely done for the year so give us more Christian McCaffrey.

15. Philadelphia Eagles 5-4 (LW: 14)

They are keeping pace with the Dallas Cowboys and that’s about as good as it gets in the NFC East.

16. Pittsburgh Steelers 4-4 (LW: 19)

Three straight wins and an outside shot at the playoffs, Mike Tomlin might have saved his job, again.

17. Tennessee Titans 4-5 (LW: 16)

Ryan Tannehill is back to his old ways.

18. Detroit Lions 3-4-1 (LW: 15)

Remember when the Lions were a threat to WIN the NFC North, fun times.

19. Jacksonville Jaguars 4-5 (LW: 17)

#MinshewMagic is over, now it’s time for Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles to return.

20. Oakland Raiders 4-4 (LW: 22)

Jon Gruden can get Oakland above .500 by beating the underperforming Los Angeles Chargers tonight.

21. Denver Broncos 3-6 (LW: 26)

Brandon Allen is now the greatest quarterback of the John Elway era.

22. Arizona Cardinals 3-5-1 (LW: 21)

Kyler and Kliff have hit a bit of a dry spell.

23. Los Angeles Chargers 4-5 (LW: 23)

I double-checked and I finally got their record right on the first try this week.

24. Chicago Bears 3-5 (LW: 23)

I doubt Mitchell Trubisky added this site to his media ban.

25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2-6 (LW: 28)

Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are fantasy football gods.

26. Cleveland Browns 2-6 (LW: 20)

Things are NOT getting better in Cleveland.

27. New York Giants 2-7 (LW: 24)

Somehow, the Giants are 0-7 WITH Saquon Barkley this year.

28. Washington Redskins 1-8 (LW: 29)

Dwayne Haskins looked passable in his first start.

t-30. Atlanta Falcons 1-7(LW: 30)

The bye week helped people forget that Dan Quinn probably should have lost his job already.

t-30. Cincinnati Bengals 0-8 (LW: 31)

Their path to the number one pick just got even more open.

31. Miami Dolphins 1-7 (LW: 32)

They. Won. A. Game.

32. New York Jets 1-7 (LW: 22)

They did the unthinkable, they lost to the Miami Dolphins.

Nov 7, 2019 No Comments

Ten Sneaker Releases to Have on Your Radar for the Remainder of November 2019

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by Brendon Schunck | Nov 6, 2019 | Featured, Sneaker Releases, Sneakers

We are almost a full week into November and the holiday shopping season is now quickly approaching. Top sneaker brands and athletes are looking to cash in on consumer spending by putting out a plethora of options to choose from this month. Nike and Jordan Brand are at the forefront in fall/winter of 2019 when it comes to what people want. Nike and Kyrie Irving are on the cusp of releasing their sixth signature shoe together and this one could be one of his best. Walk into any gym where boys/girls between the ages of 5-19 are hooping and I guarantee you’ll see numerous pairs of either Kyrie 5’s, Kyrie 4’s, or any of the Kyrie Low models. Even with the Kyrie 6 just recently being unveiled and release this month, the Swoosh still has the Nike PG 4 in their back pocket for the market eagerly awaiting.

Lebron’s 17th signature sneaker has already been out for more than a month but this month the eye-catching “Red Carpet” colorway will hit store shelves. The Lebron XVII looks to have a more successful run than the XVI’s, especially with the Lakers on track for a stronger season than 2018-19. Jordan Brand will obviously be sprinkling the month with numerous retro releases, most notably the “What The” Jordan 4’s. Black Friday will see a release of a Jordan 1 Retro High OG because at this point in time JB really can’t lose with putting out a Jordan 1. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? The Jordan XXXIV will also see two more iterations during the month of November and it will be interesting to see how well they sell at retail stores.

Stay tuned to Sneaker Reporter for all your release date needs and look below to see the ten sneaker releases you should have on your radar this month.