2021-22 NBA Bric-a-Brac (Weeks 21 & 22)

Waivings

Luka Saminic (Knicks), Alize Johnson (Pelicans), Semi Ojeleye (Clippers), Tyrone Wallace (Pelicans) 

Oh, Semi Ojeleye, I thought you were looking pretty good at the beginning of the season with the Bucks. But, I'm sorry, dude, you're just not very good at basketball. 

Signings

Re-signed

Coach Mike Malone (Nuggets) signs "multi-year extension"

I've never seen the details (and I guess it doesn't matter) but this is definitely a good deal for the Nuggets. The Kings made a big mistake letting him get away back in the day, the Nuggets are making the right move by digging in with him. 

Jose Alvarado (Pelicans) signs 4yr deal

He's put up nice 2nd string numbers this season, haven't seen the details on this deal but I assume they're team-friendly, which would make this a smart signing for the Pels.

Rest of Season Contracts

Isaiah Thomas (Hornets), Armoni Brooks (Raptors), Amir Coffey (Clippers), Xavier Moon (Clippers), 

Hey, I like Isaiah Thomas as much as the next guy and I can see why the Hornets would see wisdom in bringing in a veteran heading into the post-season. But I'm dubious of his ability to deliver wins at this point and personally, I'd rather see rookie James Bouknight getting regular rotation minutes and becoming a true part of this squad. (But that's just me)

10-day Contracts

Justin Anderson (Pacers), Feron Hunt (Knicks), Moses Brown (Cavs), Tyrone Wallace (Pelicans), Jeff Dowtin (Magic), Drew Eubanks (Blazers), Kris Dunn (Blazers), Mychal Mulder (Heat), Braxton Key (Pistons), Juwan Morgan (Celtics), Greg Monroe (Jazz), Brandon Knight (Mavs)

2-way Contracts

Anthony Lamb (Rockets), Jared Harper (Pelicans)

Notable injuries

Jaden McDaniels (Wolves) out indefinitely with sprained left ankle

Jonathon Isaac (Magic) declared out for the season

Joe Harris (Nets) not returning this season after left ankle surgery

Dean Wade (Cavs) out indefinitely with torn right meniscus

Hamadou Diallo (Pistons) likely to miss the rest of the season with broken finger

Chris Smith (Pistons) out for the season after left knee surgery

Udoka Azubuike (Jazz) out for season after right foor surgery

James Wiseman (Warriors) not returning this season

Robert Williams (Celtics) out 4-6 weeks with left knee meniscus tear

Dean Wade (Cavs) out for season after surgery on right knee meniscus tear

Myles Turner (Pacers) not returning this season

The Celtics losing Robert Williams could be huge but the timing and the fact that he's already had a "successful" procedure suggest that he could be available in the playoffs. The Celtics were likely gunning for that #1 seed and will probably have to settle for #2, but that's okay, they're hot enough to be thought of as the team to beat (and #2 would still give them home court over the Bucks). That said, I think they can keep winning without Williams, who is a main pillar of their D but not so important to their scoring. 

Most of these injuries are either for non-playoff teams or guys that have already been out for long stretches, (Harris, for example, has not given the Nets much this season and they're not waiting around for him at this point) but Williams is the one that could reverberate. The Warriors really could've used the depth that Wiseman might have provided, but if he's not ready to play then he's not ready to play. 

No timetable for Ben Simmons (Nets), Jamal Murray (Nuggets), TJ Warren (Pacers), Kawhi Leonard (Clippers), Derrick Rose (Knicks) to return this season.

2022 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight

Games I watched (some of): 

(10) Miami 50-76 (1) Kansas

Kansas had trouble scoring early on and Miami used a nice mix of fast break points and 3-point shooting to control the 1st half. But in the 2nd half, Miami just stopped working for good shots, they settled, went cold and Kansas just flew past them. Miami had a nice run but they just weren't equipped to go 40 minutes in an Elite Eight game. This Kansas team is not a deeply talented team but they've got a good work ethic, they play good defense and they can score in bunches. Not a great team but an effective one and one that can still win it all. 

(15) St. Peter's 49-69 (8) North Carolina

Yeah, this one just wasn't happening. St. Peter's, which had looked so confident and tough so far, came out flat, while North Carolina came out on mission and this game was long over by halftime. St. Peter's came out confident and scored enough early on in their first three games to be able to implement their game plan and hang around beat teams, but that did not happen in this game. The Tarheels had a so-so year (though a W at Cameron Indoor is always positive) but they're in line to play Duke in the tourney for the first time ever--and it will be monstrous! UNC beat Kryschevasky in his final home game as the Duke coach and personally I would love to see them get the W in his last final four. We'll see.

Other results:

(5) Houston 44-50 (2) Villanova

Wow, super low scoring match. Villanova is a gut check kinda team, they don't falter. This doesn't seem like one of their more talented teams but they can hang. I was in on Houston but it seems like they just couldn't get buckets in this game. Can Villanova beat Kansas? Oh yeah, I'd say that game is a coin flip between two blue bloods that have gone further than they should have, 

(4) Arkansas 69-78 (2) Duke

Duke wore Arkansas down and the Razorbacks couldn't get their 3-point shooting going. Arkansas had a nice season, made a good run in the tourney and already picked up some big recruits for next year, so things are look in Fayetteville. Duke isn't a particularly deep team but their starting five (I'm a big fan of Jeremy Roach!) is really good, but really young. It seems fated for Coach K to win one on his way out the door, but I wouldn't start etching the plaque just yet. Good squad, but still has to win two more big games. 

2022 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

Games I watched (some of):

(4) Arkansas 74-68 (1) Gonzaga

Well, the refs didn't do Gonzaga any favors (I thought all three 2nd half fouls on Chet Holmgren were lame and they missed a bunch of calls on the Razorbacks), but really it was Arkansas's scrappy defensive guard play that kept Gonzaga off balance all night. They took too long to get Drew Timme going and he just couldn't get it done by himself. I watched JD Notae a bit this year and that guy can get hot from downtown, didn't even think he was that great against Gonzaga (meaning Duke better watch out). Tough L for the Zags but they had their chances. Great W for the Razorbacks, they've got size and shooting, a great combo this time of year. 

(3) Texas Tech 73-78 (2) Duke

Good back and forth action but Duke made the shots down the stretch (man, Roach is that classic PG that was built for the tourney--shades of Mateen Cleeves) and Tech just couldn't hang. But until the last TV timeout, this was a really competitive game. Williams came up big for Duke and Banchero had some nice moments, too. On the Tech side, they played well just didn't hit the shots down the stretch and couldn't stop Roach from taking over (shades of Mateen Cleaves!). Also, I kinda loved Obanor, the guy plays with a lot of grit and does a little bit of everything, I haven't noticed him in any mock drafts, but I wouldn't be at all surprised to see that guy blowing up at Summer League this year. As for Banchero: oh, I get it, his game is Cade Cunningham....but I think Cade has more upside and is already better, suggesting to me that the 2022 draft isn't gonna be as good at the top as last year; we'll see. Tech played well but couldn't seal it, Duke tightened up when need be and that's a bad sign for everyone else. 

(15) St. Peter's 67-61 (3) Purdue

Frankly I thought Purdue kinda sucked. Back and forth 1st half, Purdue snatched the lead late and then went on a nice run early in the 2nd half. But that was pretty much it for the Boilermakers. Once St. Peter's got their offense going, I thought they cruised to the finish. The magnificent run of St. Peter's is still going and the lesson is clear: hey, man, the big schools are often times not as good as you think they are. (Also: Jaden Ivey (Purdue) is a concensus top 5 pick in the draft, some mocks have him #1 overall, but I gotta say....I don't see it. With, say, Trae Young a few years back, I doubted his ability to translate his game to the next level; but with Ivey, I don't see any mastery of any part of the game, he's got nice shoulder and a nice handle on the ball, but so what? I don't see him as a playmaker or a finisher or a dominant defender, so what does he do? He's a Moneyball-er: he looks like he ought to be a pro but that doesn't mean he has skills. We'll see)

(8) North Carolina 73-66 (4) UCLA

Fun game! I thought UCLA was the better team, the more complete team, but their scoring dried up in the 2nd half. Then when Caleb Love went off in the 2nd half, the Bruins kinda got buried. Oh well, we've seen this Tarheel team beat Duke this year, but I really thought UCLA was better built to give the Dukies a for-real match. We'll see.

Other results:

(11) Michigan 63-55 (2) Villanova

Sounds about right. I thought Michigan was playing a bit above themselves lately and Villanova was ready for a convincing win. 

(5) Houston 72-60 (1) Arizona

I think Houston is one to keep an eye on. This was an interesting season in that there were no great teams at the top (unless you thought Gonzaga was the real deal) and Arizona struck me as suspect the whole time. Likewise, there were a bunch of 2nd tier teams that could win it all if they get hot at the right time and it looks like the Cougars are one of those squads. 

(4) Providence 61-66 (1) Kansas

Low scoring affair early on, kinda ballooned up some points down the stretch. Kansas seemed to control throughout.

(11) Iowa State 56-70 (10) Miami

Miami was up at halftime, kinda dominated the 2nd half. Two nice teams, feels like Miami just had the better/deeper talent.

2022 NCAA Tournament (Day Four)

Games I saw (some of): 

(5) Houston 68-53 (4) Illinois

Toss up of a game. Houston's wing scoring was ultimately more effective than Illinois's inside bully ball (why isn't Kofi Cockburn higher in the mock drafts? This kid is a monster that can obviously bang with big bodies). Illinois just didn't have the balance in their attack and Houston was pretty successful at swamping Cockburn down low. Houston had a nice offensive onslaught before the 8-minute timeout to pretty much finish off this match.

(7) Ohio State 61-71 (2) Villanova

Buckeyes kept pace for a while but Nova was just better. 

(7) Michigan State 76-85 (2) Duke

Fun game! Every time you thought Duke had taken control, the Spartans would come roaring back and this game was close into the final minute. State actually took the lead late but couldn't sustain it and Duke slipped away. This Duke squad has a lot of talent but they're young, on any given night they could get taken out. 

Other results:

(11) Iowa State 54-49 (3) Wisconsin

There were whispers of Wisconsin's overrated-ness all season long, looks like it finally got to them even though they were close to home. Good luck to Iowa State, so far so good. 

(11) Notre Dame 53-59 (3) Texas Tech

Tech has been a top ten team for most of the season, are they gearing up for a deeper run?

(10) Miami 79-61 (2) Auburn

Auburn has a lot of talent but not a lot of energy, looks like it caught up with them here. Miami is having a nice tourney and they're up against Iowa State next, some Cinderella-on-Cinderella crime is about to go down.  

(6) Texas 71-81 (3) Purdue

I haven't been as impressed with Purdue as I feel like I'm supposed to be, we'll see how far they get. 

(9) Texas Tech 80-85 (OT) (1) Arizona

Saw none of this, looks like a top seed got pushed to the limit. TCU had a nice little run in this tourney, wonder if it's something they can build on. Is this an indicator that Arizona is vulnerable or do they have renewed confidence?

2022 NCAA Tournament (Day Three)

Games I watched (some of):

(8) North Carolina 93-86 (OT) (1) Baylor

Fun game! The Tar Heels jumped out to a mighty lead thanks to a bust out performance from Manek (yipes! That kid was doing everything!). But when he got booted (meh, it was clearly a foul worthy of a technical but I thought a straight red card was not warranted), even though they were up by 25 (67-42, if I'm not mistaken) with less then 10 mins to go, UNC suddenly lost all shape, had no intensity on offense, kept getting unlucky calls, and Baylor stormed back to take the game to OT. But then, for whatever reason, Baylor couldn't keep the momentum. It's not uncommon to see a team come back, come close and then falter, but Baylor had this game won, I don't understand why they couldn't seal it. But great W for North Carolina. 

(9) Creighton 72-79 (1) Kansas

Good game, but I never thought Kansas was in any real danger. Creighton shot well and kept pace, pushing Kansas all the way. But Kansas had more talent, minimized turnovers and got it done. Actually, an impressive win for the top seed, I'd say, the kind of game that reminds the big dog that they need to keep working to win. I picked Kansas to win it all and I'm sticking with that. 

(11) Michigan 76-68 (3) Tennessee

Tennessee struck me as the better team but Michigan kept the scoring up and the Vols' offense became unreliable late. Good W for the Wolverines (5th straight Sweet 16). 

(15) St. Peter's 70-60 (7) Murray State

This was an even more impressive performance to me than beating Kentucky. I've watched enough Kentucky this year to know their weaknesses and I just assumed St. Peter's just settled on the right game plan. But St. Peters' ability to keep the lane open allows them to drive to the basket at will, while on the other end they clog the lane so effectively--they control both ends of the floor by doing the exact opposite, they're really pretty amazing. They make their opponents take hard shots and give them no chance at second chance opportunities, while opening up their own attacking options on the other end. If they can do this four more times, they can beat anybody (probably not Duke or Gonzaga but everyone else needs to be worried!). Good season for Murray State but they just couldn't get enough easy buckets to keep up. 

Other results:

(12) Richmond 51-79 (4) Providence

Looks like Richmond was never really in this match. 

(5) St. Mary's 56-72 (4) UCLA

UCLA played a well balanced game, kept the scoring up throughout, good W. 

(12) New Mexico State 48-53 (4) Arkansas

Hmmmm....not a lot of scoring in this one. Not sure what that portends for Arkansas. 

(9) Memphis 78-82 (1) Gonzaga

Tigers really made the Zags work in this one. Drew Timme took over down the stretch and sealed this for Gonzaga. This was a good test for the Zags and they overcame it, that's a good sign for their chances. 

2022 NCAA Tournament (Day Two)

Games I watched (some of):

(10) Loyola Chicago 41-54 (7) Ohio State

Ohio State didn't blow me away but Loyola just didn't have enough offense to keep up.

(15) Delaware 60-80 (2) Villanova

Took Nova a little while to get going but a nice run before halftime got them going and they dominated the second half.

(15) CSU Fullerton 61-78 (2) Duke

Fullerton made them work for while but Duke was never really challenged. Getting free samples of Banchero before the draft made it worth watching. 

(10) Davidson 73-74 (7) Michigan State

Fun game! Back and forth, every time it felt like someone was gonna take the upper hand, the other team would come charging back. Even down to the end, the Spartans had to sweat it out.

Other results:

(15) Jacksonville State 61-80 (2) Auburn

Auburn is a problematic squad but they definitely have enough to hold off the fightin' Deions.

(14) Montana State 62-97 (3) Texas Tech

Look like Tech brought the gun to the knife fight.

(14) Yale 56-78 (3) Purdue

Purdue is shaping up to be the dark horse, right?

(10) Miami 68-66 (7) Southern Cal

Looked like a fun one. 

(11) Notre Dame 78-64 (6) Alabama

Bama was weird all year long, a lot of talent but no consistency. Looks like the Irish drew the right opponent. 

(11) Virginia Tech 73-81 (6) Texas

I don't know either of these teams, so I have no way to judge UT's W.  

(13) Chattanooga 53-54 (4) Illinois

Saw none of the game but the highlights were intriguing: Illinois didn't get their first lead until the final minute and sweated out a final shot that could've won it for the Mocs. Game effort from Chattanooga but just a bit short. 

(11) Iowa State 59-54 (6) Louisiana State

LSU had their moments this year but faltered into controversy going into the tourney (for some reason I had them going to the Sweet 16, not sure what I was thinking, this one looks pretty obvious in hindsight). No idea about Iowa State.

(16) Wright State 70-87 (1) Arizona

Yeah, sounds about right. 

(12) Alabama-Birmingham 68-82 (5) Houston

I think Houston could be ready to make a run.

(14) Colgate 60-67 (3) Wisconsin

Feels like Colgate probably should've pulled this one out but went cold late. 

(9) Texas Christian 69-42 (8) Seton Hall

Looks like Seton Hall couldn't generate much offense. 

2022 NCAA Tournament (Day One)

Games I watched (some of):

(11) Michigan 75-63 (6) Colorado State

Man, both teams played so fast! And the refs let them beat on each other. CSU came out hot but they just couldn't sustain and once Michigan got going, they eventually wore them down. I was impressed with CSU's David Roddy, good footwork, good hustle, not so effective from 3, but an interesting prospect going forward (NFL and NBA, for that matter). 

(14) Longwood 56-88 (3) Tennessee

Not much to say on this one: Tennessee is good and Longwood just couldn't hang. This game was over pretty quick. Michigan up next, feels like UT is better, but we'll see. 

(15) St. Peter's 85-79 (OT) (2) Kentucky

Bracket buster! This is why we love the tourney! This game highlighted UK's weakness all season long: 3 point shooting. When the Cats shot well they won and when they didn't (like tonight) they lost. In short, this is how Kentucky was always going to lose--I just didn't think it would happen in the 1st round! St. Peter's did a good job of keeping Tshiebwe and Brooks out of the lane and it was the fact that UK couldn't get their defense in order that led to poor shot selection on the offensive end. That said, it was going 23-35 from the line that doomed UK: even as bad as their defense was and even as bad as their 3-point shooting was, Kentucky still had plenty of opportunities to seal this victory. Throw in that the refs got weird in the 2nd half (I thought they lost the shape of the game and just randomly called contact), which should've benefitted UK and this becomes an even more disappointing L for the Wildcats. It is worth remembering that UK sucked last year and there was no tournament the year before, so even though this was a 'veteran' squad, there was no tournament experience on this team. (As a UK fan, I feel bad for Oscar Tshiebwe, I know the NBA is not excited about the next Andre Drummond, but rebounding is still a part of the game and he's really fuckin' good at it. But, buck up Kentucky fans: Murray State has a legit path to the Sweet 16 now!) Great W for St. Peter's, though to be honest: I don't think they're particularly good, they simply had a game plan perfect for this Kentucky squad. 

(10) San Francisco 87-92 (OT) (7) Murray State

Back and forth action, neither team could ever quite get the upper hand. Murray hit the big shots down the stretch and that was the difference. 

Other results:

(13) South Dakota State 57-66 (4) Providence

Close game in the final minute but Providence got it done.

(9) Memphis 64-53 (8) Boise State

Looked like a blowout early on but Boise State cut into the lead late before Memphis iced the game. 

(16) Norfolk State 49-85 (1) Baylor

Yeah, sounds about right.

(12) Richmond 67-63 (5) Iowa

Bracket buster! Saw none of this game, wish I had.  

(16) Georgia State 72-93 (1) Gonzaga

Keeping an eye on the score throughout the game made this feel like a close game til the last few minutes. Digging into the stats: Gonzaga went 16-30 from the line and that's how a #1 seed keeps a game close. But on the upside for the Zags: Chet Holmgren had 19 pts on 8-13 FGs, 17 boards, 7 blocks, 5:0 asst:to. Nice but let's see how it goes against someone besides a #16 seed. 

(9) Marquette 63-95 (8) North Carolina

Dang! Tarheels came to play today. This was a thorough thrashing. 

(12) New Mexico State 70-63 (5) Connecticut

*ahem* Didn't bust my bracket. New Mexico State is a good team with some real talent, whereas UConn is coming into the tourney a tad overrated. 

(12) Indiana 53-82 (5) St. Mary's

Saw none of this game but as the score was going by Indiana was stuck on 33 for what seemed like forever (about 4.5 minutes of game time, to be exact), while St. Mary's just kept adding points. I was beginning to think the scoreboard was broken!

(9) Creighton 72-69 (OT) (8) San Diego State

Coin flip game, went to OT, sounds about right. 

(13) Vermont 71-75 (4) Arkansas

This looks like it was a good one, two feisty squads. 

(13) Akron 53-57 (4) UCLA

Akron gave the Bruins a run and while last year's UCLA squad could run up the points, not so sure about this year's version. 

(16) Texas Southern 56-83 (1) Kansas

Good opener for the Jayhawks. 

2021-22 NBA Bric-a-Brac (Week 20)

Notable Injuries

Anfernee Simons (Blazers) out indefinitely with left knee injury

The flip response is to shut Simons down, but if I were Simons, I'd want to get more games before the season ends. It is clear the Blazers have to re-sign him this summer but a few more dominant games makes trading Dame Lillard (oh yeah, Blazer fans, I think it's coming) a little easier to digest. But if he's really hurt then shutting him down is the way to go. 

DeAndre Bembre (Bucks) out for the season with torn ACL and MCL in right knee

I was watching that game when he got hurt, looked like an ankle to me but it was weird looking: he crumpled to avoid going into the fans and I guess that turn was more on the knee than the ankle. He just got to Milwaukee, shame he won't get some playoff run. 

Bol Bol (Magic) out for season after surgery on right foot

It was pretty clear that he wasn't gonna play since, well, he hadn't played all year and became a regular throw-in at the trade deadline. So is he ever gonna play or is he a snakebit injury guy? I dunno, but now it's for Orlando to find out. Throw in that Jonathon Isaac seems unlikely to play this year either and it seems like the Magic will start next season with two well-rested young bigs to build around.

Jaden McDaniels (Wolves) out indefinitely with a sprained ankle

'Sprained ankle' suggest he'll be back by mid-April but the Wolves will need depth for the post-season, so perhaps giving him some time off now is the right way to go. 

Doug McDermott (Spurs) expected to miss the rest of the season with an ankle sprain

Honestly, I hadn't noticed McDermott all year long, not sure he's much of a loss for this team. 

Steph Curry (Warriors) out indefinitely with a sprained ligament in right ankle

Scary looking play and while I expect the Warriors to be cautious, a sprained ligament doesn't suggest a major injury. 

Good news: Jamal Murry (Nuggets), James Wiseman (Warriors) and Patrick Williams (Bulls) are off to the G-League for rehab stints, suggesting all three could play by the end of the season. Though Ben Simmons (Nets) seems like 50/50 at best to make an appearance before the playoffs. 

Waivings

Kelan Martin (Celtics)

Don't know Martin, he wasn't with the Celtics long enough to know who he is. Can't even project him as a Summer Leaguer. 

Signings

Malik Fitts (Celtics) 2yrs/$?

This is a roster more than an actual signing. 

10-day Contracts

Moses Brown (Cavs), Tyrone Wallace (Pelicans), Isaiah Thomas (Hornets), Alize Johnson (Pelicans), Drew Eubanks (Blazers), Kris Dunn (Blazers)

2-way Contracts

Gabriel Lundberg (Suns)

Health & Safety Protocols

CJ McCollum (Pelicans)

So....this is Kyrie's fault, right? Somehow Kyrie made this happen. 

2022 Champions League (Round of 16, 2nd leg)

Bayern Munich 7-1 (agg 8-2) Salzburg

Obviously, Bayern is the better team but Salzburg played so well in the 1st leg that it made the return match interesting...but that didn't last long. That first PK was a legit call and the match was probably over 10 minutes in. But that second PK was a lame call--and not clearly a penalty anyway--and to fall behind by two goals so quickly was the backbreaker. This was followed by one of the weirdest goals I've ever seen and it was was clear that Salzburg was in for a flogging. When Bayern added another goal before halftime, well, the second half was hardly worth watching. Bayern added another goal early in the 2nd. After that there was a long stretch where Salzburg played well and looked good on the attack (though the ref did them no favors) and poked in a goal, but, come on, man, Bayern was barely paying attention and when they did wake up, they knocked in a coupla more goals on the way out. A laugher early and pretty much all the way through. No one is shocked that Bayern is moving on. 

Liverpool 0-1 (agg 2-1) Inter Milan

I expected Milan to bring it and while they were better than the 1st leg, I thought Liverpool played better, too.  Liverpool hit the post a few times and were just generally more dangerous around the goal. Back and forth action but only the one goal (outta nowhere, too, a lovely rip that knuckled away from the keeper) and though Liverpool wasn't able to find the goal this time, that 1st leg was enough to get it done. 

Real Madrid 3-1 (agg 3-2) Paris St. Germain

Wow...fucking wow. Just when this match felt like it was wrapped up, Karim Benzema (for my money the only guy besides Modric that did anything for Real all day) scores a 15-minute hat trick and Real is moving on and PSG is fighting amongst themselves. Weird game. PSG dominated the 1st half and then clearly felt asleep in the 2nd half when Benzema started wrecking shop. Real is loaded with stars and they got the hat trick they needed, but PSG was the better team for 85% of this match up, so feels like we got robbed even though it seems like the better team won.

Manchester City 0-0 (agg 5-0) Sporting CP

(Didn't watch, seems like I didn't miss much)

Manchester United 0-1 (agg 1-2) Atletico Madrid

I always forget how much talent Man U has and early on in this match they casually dominated possession and really looked good on the attack. But, they never got any better than just looking good. And when Atletico found the goal right before halftime, it kinda felt like the game was over (...and it kinda was). Atletico is good and Man U is still just so disappointing. 

Ajax 0-1 (agg 2-3) Benfica

Fun game. Man, Ajax played hard all the way through, very aggressive on-ball defense, flying all over the place, desperate to score but they just never found the right opportunity. Benfica broke through on a corner and that was all it took. A little surprised Ajax couldn't find the goal--they played so hard!--but both teams were pretty even throughout both legs, so this is a reasonable result. 

Juventus 0-3 (agg 1-4) Villareal

Close game until it all kinda fell apart for Juve. Villareal got a PK (50/50 call, ref let it go live but I wasn't surprised when he called it on the replay). Juve's best bet seemed to be to get their own PK but the call just never came (yeah, Juve was quick to flop in the box, probably wore out their chances to actually get a call). Then Villareal scored on a corner and then another PK and it looked like a rout when really it was just a burst of awesome in an otherwise pretty even game. Villareal was the better team all in all, they felt more dangerous around the goal and just a more consistent attack. 

Lille 1-2 (agg 1-4) Chelsea

(Didn't watch, caught the highlights, looked like Chelsea was the better team as in the 1st leg)

2021-22 NBA Bric-a-Brac (Week 19)

Signings

Nik Stauskus (Celtics) signed 2-year/$?

This is being portrayed as some kind of feel good maneuver but I'd say the real problem was Stauskus was too highly rated going into the draft and became a top ten bust when he probably should've been a late round surprise. Well, he's put in the work, he's been killing the G-League lately and scorers just score, so I'm not shocked to see him back in the NBA.

Haywood Highsmith (Heat) signed 3yr/$?

Nice. I like this guy, seems like a ready made Miami Mafia kinda guy.  

10-day contracts

Isaiah Thomas (Hornets), Alize Johnson (Pelicans), Drew Eubanks (Blazers), Kelan Martin (Celtics), Malik Fitts (Celtics), Armoni Brooks (Raptors)

2-way contracts

Wenyen Gabriel (Lakers), DJ Stewart (Blazers), DJ Steward (Spurs), Robert Woodard (Spurs), Jodan Shakel (Wizards)

Man, Gabriel is already getting time in LA (not a good sign) and he hasn't looked good (not a good sign). But the whole point of a 2-way contract is that he's supposed to be getting G-League reps and throwing him into the shark tank so early just shows that the Lakers are in a bad way and have no idea what they're doing. 

Rest of the season contracts

DJ Augustine (Lakers), DeAndre Jordan (Sixers), Davontae Cacok (Spurs), Joe Wieskamp (Spurs), 

Strangely enough I think Augustine can be good for the Lakers, he's been through some tough times lately and will probably be playing with a) a chip on his shoulder and b) an I-don't-give-a-fuck attitude, both of which will serve him and the Lakers well. 

Jordan has been done for years. The idea that the Sixers need him is actually a bad sign. 

Cacock and Wieskamp seem like perfect Spurs.

Waivings

DeAndre Jordan (Lakers), Sekou Doumbouya (Lakers)

Two guys that the Lakers made moves to bring in are both on the way out before season's end. Doumbouya has already move through several franchises since being a top ten pick and we have to see him (which suggests we will never see him). And Jordan, well, that guy's been done for a while now, only his popularity among his peers keeps him relevant. 

Willie Cauley-Stein (Sixers), DJ Wilson (Raptors)

Two dudes that had only recently showed up are already out the door, though they both seemed poised to fall into their respective rotations. Both of these guys are on the edge of NBA readiness, may well see both of these guys matriculating through the league for the next coupla years. 

Tim Frazier (Cavs)

Now that Rondo has returned, it seems that veteran PG slot has been re-filled. 

Joel Ayayi (Wizards)

He's too young to give up on, I fully expect Ayayi to see him in Summer League. 

Notable injuries

Jarret Allen (Cavs) out indefinitely with fractured finger

Sucks, man, he was in the mix for DPOY, that will likely take a hit if he misses a few weeks. 

Aaron Nesmith (Celtics) out indefinitely with ankle swelling

The Celtics are balling, I don't think they're going to miss him.  

Joe Harris (Nets) out for the season after ankle surgery

Now that the Nets have Seth Curry, Harris seems fungible at this point. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get moved this summer (say, straight up to the Knicks for Evan Fournier...?). 

Kemba Walker (Knicks) out for the season (sayeth Woj: "to prepare for next year")

Easy come, easy go. At the start of the season I thought Kemba with the Knicks was (along with Victor Oladipo (Heat)) one of the time bomb contracts: either a bargain or a nightmare. Well, Kemba was more of dud, clearly more whimper than bang. 

Cam Reddish (Knicks) out for the season with shoulder seperation

Not sure he was ever a fit there anyway, but without seeing him for the next four weeks or so, that just slows down his integration. The Knicks will undoubtedly be making moves this summer, 50/50 whether Reddish is back next year. 

Mike Muscala (Thunder) out with right ankle; Ty Jerome (Thunder) out for sports hernia

This is a real blow to the Thunder's playoff chances (LOL). 

Bulls (Lonzo Ball, Patrick Williams, Alex Caruso) and Nuggets (Jamal Murray, Micheal Porter Jr.) seem ready to bring back some of their injured stars. (Not sure about the Clippers (Paul George, Kawhi Leonard) or Pelicans (Zion Williamson)) 

Health & Safety Protocols

Devin Booker (Suns)

In the age of Omicron, why is anyone even bothering to test for Covid anymore? What's the test gonna tell you--that you already have what virtually every Human on Earth already has? Sounds like Booker is just cashing in his last shot at some league-sanctioned vacation time.  

2021-22 NBA Bric-a-Brac (Week 18)

Front Office Moves

Cavs revamped front office: Mike Gansey (GM), Brandon Weems (asst GM), Jason Hillman (VP of basketball operations), Jon Nichols (VP of basketball strategy)

Well, the Cavs are having an unexpectedly great season, might as well unveil raises and promotions for everyone while the fans are in a good mood. Is this good for the Cavs? I have no idea, but all of last summer's moves worked--and that's with season-ending injuries to Ricky Rubio and Collin Sexton. It feels like the Cavs have overachieved and it is probably time for them to come back to earth--which, again, makes now the perfect time for raises and promotions! Hard to imagine that any of these guys are the end of the franchise or lead the great resurrection, but we'll see. 

Rest of season contracts

Tristan Thompson (Bulls) 

This move came with such weird energy, like everyone saw this coming. Really? Oh sure....yeah, this is what the Bulls needed to put the over the top...oh yeah. Oh well, in his prime Thompson was a really great rebounder, which has become an underappreciated skill in today's game, so even if TT was what the Bulls really needed, no one would ever actually notice. Weird move.

Goran Dragic (Nets)

(Why didn't he just play for the Raptors?) Does Goran have anything to give the Nets? Well, if he's used correctly, I still think Dragic can really change the tempo of a game in a hurry--which could really come in handy in the post-season. But as for dominating anything, I think those days are behind Dragic.

Jevon Carter (Bucks)

Moved off the Nets to make room for Dragic...? I'd rather be with the Bucks right now anyway, interesting to see if Carter can give them any kind of lift.

DeMarcus Cousins (Nuggets)

On/off again with the Nuggets all season, the two have decided to make the marriage formal (albeit temporary). Cousins is in, what I call the 'Night Passage' portion of his career: suffice to say, he's still smart and big, he's still valuable even if he's far from his peak. If the Nuggets can get meaningful minutes from Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr, then suddenly Cousins wrecking shop for 10-15 mins becomes a real problem for the other team. Make no mistake, Cousins is the icing, not the cake; but if the cake rises like it can, then the icing might still be a difference-maker. 

Tomas Satoransky (Wizards) 

Satoransky has been around the world like my girl, Lisa Stansfield, this season and now he's back with the Wizards. Well, they could use another savvy veteran ballhandler just like everyone else. 

DJ Augustine (Lakers) 

When the Bucks signed Augustine last year I thought it was a good move....but not so much. He was so useless to them that he was bartered away for pennies on the dollar (and no one thought twice about it). What's he gonna do for the Lakers? Soak up some blame, I reckon, not much else to do there.

Trendon Watford (Blazers) signed 4-year/end of season deal

So...4-year deal or end of the season deal...'cause those are two different things. Looks like a seasonal deal for now and a mild 3-year deal after that. I don't know Watford (though he is getting minutes now), but the deal going forward is so cheap (never gets above $2m/year) that this is just one of those deals that teams dream of: long term and cheap, the assumption being that Watford is a pro but not an important pro. Okay. I assume this is a good deal.

2-way Contracts

Olivier Sarr (Thunder), Brandon Williams (Blazers), Moses Wright (Mavs), Matt Ryan (Celtics), Wenyen Gabriel (Lakers)

Matty 'Ice' back in Boston?

10-day Contracts

Drew Eubanks (Blazers), Kelan Martin (Celtics), Malik Fitts (Celtics), Willie-Cauley-Stein (Sixers), Tim Frazier (Cavs), Haywood Highsmith (Heat), Alize Johnson (Pelicans), DJ Wilson (Raptors), Isaiah Thomas (Hornets)

Eubanks can give good rotation minutes to a team not looking to win games. I don't know Martin or Fitts. WCS (if he's playing...?) gives the Sixers some defense. Frazier is a nice ball handling vet for the Cavs. Highsmith has been a fun addition to the Heat (who seems to be getting good minutes out of any/everyone this season). Johnson is a solid vet for the Pelicans. Wilson should slip right into the deep (though not as deep as usual) Raptors rotation. Isaiah as the Ish replacement?

Notable Injuries (Out indefinitely)

Chris Paul (Suns) fractured right thumb

Well, better not than the playoffs. Could be just the time off he needs to get him going in the post-season. Obviously this injury could be a disaster but the timing suggest that it could be a real pick-me-up to close the season. The Suns have been blessed this year, so this looks like more of the same.

Jusuf Nurkic (Blazers) left foot plantar fasciitis 

I suppose the move is to go ahead and shut him down for the season, the Blazers have no need of W's at this point. The question is: are they going to re-sign him this summer (I'd say 50/50)?

OG Anunoby (Raptors) fracture right finger

The Raptors are gonna need all three of their tough young forwards in the post-season but they are comfortably situated in the playoff mix that shouldn't be too bad for their rotation (for now). 

Quentin Grimes (Knicks) right knee injury

Having a nice rookie year, hope he gets back to it.

Waivings

Kevin Pangos (Cavs), Alfonzo McKinnie (Bulls), Dennis Smith Jr (Blazers), Jevon Carter (Nets)

Don't know Pangos. Always liked McKinnie, but when you've got a chance to sign Tristan Thompson, well, brother, you make the necessary moves! Smith has been hurt all year (right?), seems like he just wasn't destined to be a Blazer; I think he'll end up somewhere this summer, not sure where. Carter already has a better job (so screw you, Nets!). 

2022 Champions League (Round of 16, 1st Leg)

Paris St. Germaine 1-0 Real Madrid

Thought PSG more or less dominated the 1st half but never did score. Real's defense was able to effectively swoosh PSG away but never seemed particularly dangerous on the counter. PSG is the better team but they probably feel like they should've scored by the half. Messi missed a PK (nice save!), really hurts if they don't find the goal by the conclusion. PSG is still more likely to score but they have yet to solve Real's defense. Marcelo ha a nice night, though Vini, Kruse and Modric never did get anything going. PSG still dominated possession in the 2nd half and even after bringing in Neymar in the 70th minute, they never got terribly frisky around the goal. 

Then  minutes into Extra Time, Mbappe splits two defenders on the wing and gets a quick rip before the next defender can recover and goes five-hole on the Keeper. Such a thing of beauty and the perfect finish to what was a mostly frustrating match. 

Messi is still money on the ball, Neymar can always get loose, but Mbappe never really got his due in this game til the final moments. Worked out but I can help wonder if Messi and Neymar steal too much focus from the real star of this squad (and is that a good or bad thing?). Obviously it's early, but PSG is definitely one to watch. 

Sporting Lisbon 0-5 Manchester City

Man City attacked better than Sporting.  Early on, got a wide open shot on some crazy action in front of the goal; initially waived off for off-sides, overturned on replay (the correct call).  Followed that soon after with a nasty rip off of an errant corner kick (dang, what a shot!). (Doh! Turned my head and missed the third goal!) The fourth goal just before the half saw the Sporting defense get out of shape deep in the box, got beat by a forward sneaking into open space (think of a TE finding the hole in the cover-2 zone). By halftime it was pretty obvious that Sporting just does not have the offense to keep up. Man City's goals...I don't want to call them lucky, but they were pretty unique finishes--but, hey, that's why you sign the best talent. 

Man City puts it in the net again early in the 2nd: a header off a cross to the far post sneaks past the Keeper, though it looked like there was no room (Keeper is ready for this game to be over); goal is waived off for off-side (the right call; Keeper still feels like shit, though). About ten mins later, though, Raheem Sterling gets free for a second about 25 yards out, curls one around two defenders right into the fat part of the far post where the Keeper can't reach (holy balls, a thing o' beauty). Not a good night for Sporting, seems inconceivable they're gonna do anything in the 2nd leg. This one is officially over. 

Salzburg 1-1 Bayern Munich

I was rooting for Salzburg and I gotta say they came real close to a full 90 minutes of outplaying Bayern and that was as good as any performance of the first legs. Alas, the W eluded them when Coman snuck the weakside rebound in extra time to steal the draw. Oh man, heartbreaking game for Salzberg. After a few years of semi-regular Bundesliga viewing, Bayern is a bit like Golden State, Alabama and the Patriots all rolled into one: pure dominance but all the good/bad traits are removed so they seem like Terminator robots more than a football squad. They're not very aggressive, either, they are a classic 'take what the defense gives you' kinda offense. But they are opportunistic and they live to punish mistakes. And, man, Salzburg was like 100 seconds away from a perfect game (this is like losing a no-hitter with two outs in the 9th).

So is Salzberg they heartened by the near dominance of the great Bayern or are they devastated that all they got was a draw (which they happily would've taken if offered before kick off)? Will this inspire them or have they peaked? I'm curious to find out. 

Inter Milan 0-2 Liverpool

I thought Inter was generally the better team, though it was good back and forth action...until the 70th minute when Liverpool connected on a nifty header on a corner kick. Inter had been attacking well but the wind went out of them after that and when Liverpool was able to tack on a second goal (confusion in front of the goal, a soft shot took the right bounce and found an empty net) just a few minutes later, the show was over. 

Both teams attacked well, both teams parried the attacks away well. Header off a corner and slow roller that catches the keeper leaning the wrong way aren't exactly shock and awe. I wouldn't be too surprised to see Inter win 2-0 back in Liverpool and we see some PK's. Liverpool got a great W on the road but Inter was the better squad, so I don't think this one's over. 

Villareal 1-1 Juventus

What an opening! Less than a minute in, Villareal loses possession just across midfield (on a nifty dummy, that no one else was paying attention to), Juve defender boots the ball long, finding Vlahovic, who chest traps the ball between two defenders, then spins and rips it toward the far post. Holy balls, that came outta nowhere! Felt like for a while after that, Juve fell into the trap of just bombing the ball long looking for Vlahovic, but in the 2nd half I thought Juve's offense controlled the ball nicely. 

But that was the problem for both teams: better possession did not lead to better shots. I thought Villareal attacked more convincingly than Juve in the 1st half, but Juve's counter was effective and more dangerous. That flipped in the 2nd half, when Juve held more confident possession but Villareal was the one who found the net (amazingly wide open right in front of the ball--probably the only real mistake Juve made all day). Lesson here: the counter scores the goal, the offense just kicks the ball around. Pretty even match, look forward to the return. 

Chelsea 2-0 Lille

Chelsea was just better from beginning to end. Lille had no attack and little to make me think the 2nd leg is going to produce much of a game. 

Benfica 2-2 Ajax

Fun game! Lots of back and forth action, both teams had moments of dominance and weakness, the momentum was constantly shifting, lots of action in front of the goals, good stuff. Ajax scored early, then gave it back on an own-goal (a hockey goal: when in doubt, just fling it at the net, see if something happens), then the dude that gave up the own goal re-took the lead (keeper made a good save, forward was able to react just right to finish it), then Benfica went back on the offensive in the last 20 minutes and were able to score the equalizer late (another nice save, quick thinking rebound). The 2nd leg of this should be pretty great because these teams seem built to probe each other's weaknesses.

Atletico Madrid 1-1 Manchester United

Man, Atletico more or less dominated the entire match but right when it seemed like Man U was never gonna score, they found the net and stole back the draw. Atletico scored right away (good cross but the striker really had to stretch to get the finish) and firmly controlled the 1st half and really most of the 2nd half. Not sure how they managed to not score another goal, they so completely dominated that they forgot to pile on the insurance goal. It burned them: sneaky good pass after a turnover at midfield, then a lucky pass (as the last defender stabbed and missed), and a really nifty touch to put the ball behind the keeper, and we got a draw instead of an easy Atletico W. 

Atletico will come out hard in the 2nd leg, should be a good one.