Before this postseason began, LeBron James stood as the most dominant player in Round One of the NBA Playoffs.

King of Round One

He entered Sunday with the highest ever winning percentage in Round 1 of the NBA playoffs at .872. His career record in the first round was 48-7, with seven sweeps in twelve playoff appearances. Since his second season with the Miami Heat in 2012, he’s won twenty-one consecutive first-round games. Since re-joining the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2015, he’s reeled off twelve consecutive victories in the first round of the playoffs.

The last time he lost a first-round game was on May 9, 2012, when the Knicks beat the Heat in Game 4. Since then, LeBron’s teams swept their first-round opponents: the Bucks in 2013, the Bobcats in 2014, the Celtics in 2015, the Pistons in 2016 and the Pacers last season.

More impressively, LeBron James has never lost a Game 1 of any first-round series that he’s ever played. That goes all the way back to 2006 when he first made his playoff debut. We’re in 2018 now so entering the 2018 playoffs, LeBron James had an unblemished record of 12-0.

King’s First Time

So given that LeBron had a near immaculate record in the first round of the playoffs and was undefeated in first round game 1’s plus the fact that his Cavs swept the Indiana Pacers during last season’s first round, many thought that Sunday’s Game 1 between the 4th seeded Cleveland Cavaliers and the 5th placed Indiana Pacers would have an all too familiar result. They were so wrong.

The Indiana Pacers stunned the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-80 on Sunday in, putting an end to James’ unbeaten Game 1 streak and erasing his aura of invincibility in Round 1 of the playoffs. The Cavaliers didn’t just lose Game 1, they were dominated from start to finish and were blown out of their home court.

The Pacers built a 19 point lead at the end of the first quarter and led by as high as 23 in the third period. Cleveland cut down the deficit to seven points in the final stanza but the Pacers broke the game wide open again with timely three-point baskets. When the final horn sounded, King James suffered his first loss in Round 1 of the playoffs since Taylor Swift’s ‘We are Never Ever Getting Back Together’ became #1 on the music charts.

Adding Fuel To Fire

Victor Oladipo led the Pacers with 32 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and 1 block He shot 11-19 from the floor including 6-9 from behind the three-point line in 37 minutes of solid playoff action. Oladipo is the favorite to win this year’s Most Improved Player of the Year award, considering he’s metamorphosed into an All-Star player this season after being a role player in his entire NBA career.

Interestingly, this is the same Victor Oladipo whom Cavs owner Dan Gilbert belittled when the Indiana Pacers got him from the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Paul George trade. After the game, Oladipo said Gilbert’s remarks only added fuel to the fire. But while Oladipo primarily burned the Cavs, there were signs that this beat down was coming.

In LeBron’s second tour of duty with the Cavs, this was the first playoff game he played without Kyrie Irving. Irving was traded to the Boston Celtics during the offseason. The Cavs overhauled their roster at this year’s trade deadline, trading half of their team and adding young players with little or no playoff experience.

Just One Game

Good thing for the Cavs, it was just one game and the first round of the playoffs is a seven-game series. Game 2 is scheduled on April 19, 2018, at 7:00 AM CT in Cleveland. Despite suffering a one-sided loss, the Cavaliers are still -500 favorites to beat the Pacers who came back at +375.

It’s hard to imagine the Cavs losing two in a row at home in the playoffs, especially with LeBon going ‘zero dark thirty- 23 mode’ in the playoffs. King James recorded his 20th career playoff triple-double in Game 1 but as we saw on Sunday, he cannot do it alone. Cleveland’s other four starters combined for just 25 points in Game 1. They need more output from those guys in Game 2.

The Pacers also beat the Cavs 3-1 in their regular season series. Among the teams with home court advantage in this year’s playoffs, only the Cavs had a losing regular season record against their first-round opponent. Although the Cavs swept the Pacers in last year’s playoffs, Nate McMillan’s team this season is more balanced and Oladipo was still in OKC last year.

Nothing Compared To 1-3

But the Cavs have LeBron James and it’s hard to bet against the team that has the best player in the series. What more for a team with the best player on the planet?

LeBron James didn’t sound worried about losing Game 1 to the Pacers, after all, he’s been down this road before, even worse. James downplayed any cause for concern by saying he’s been down 1-3 before. However, it’s not about LeBron James. He is a given in this series as he is in every game. This is not the same team that beat the Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals. They have far less experience than that title-winning team.

But perhaps with their young players’ first playoff game jitters off their backs, the Cavs can refocus on the task at hand. Cleveland shot just 30-78 ( 38.5% ) from the floor in Game 1. They missed eight out of 20 free throws and made just eight out of 34 ( .235 ) three-pointers. During the regular season, they shot .476 from the field, .378 from behind the three-point line and .779 from the foul line. The law of averages is going to catch up with the other guys in Game 2.

We’re picking the Cleveland Cavaliers to bounce back and win Game 2 to tie the series.

From June 14 to July 15, 2018, all eyes will be on Russia as the largest country in the world ( in terms of area ) will host the holy grail of football, the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

With the event barely two months away, let’s take a look at the possible winners and possible events that could make this year’s edition of the World Cup one to remember for the ages.

Who Are The Favorites?

We checked out the latest odds and picked the Top 5 teams according to the bookies. Then we also added a wildcard in our list:

Germany +450

Germany is Germany. They may not be loaded with the same talent as their 2014 World Cup title team, Germany still has what it takes to win it all. Who knows? This could be striker Kimo Warner’s coming out party. The Germans have made it to the quarterfinals each time since 1982. During that period they placed third twice, second once and won it once. How could they not be the top favorites?

Brazil +500

The Brazilians were the best team in the qualifiers and they dominated the most difficult region. With Neymar Jr., Gabriel Jesus and the rest of their veterans returning, Brazil looks to be at its strongest in a while. However, Neymar’s recent injury could be a big factor in how far this South American powerhouse will go in the tournament.

France +550

The 1998 team will always be the most special but France’s 2018 team is right up there with the best in the planet. With the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Alexandre Lacazette, scoring won’t be a problem. If they can be consistent on defense, watch out for the French.

Spain +700

The Spaniards are out to avenge the debacle in Brazil four years ago. Chelsea’s Alvaro Morata and Valencia’s Rodrigo have emerged for their clubs and have starred for their mother nation. Likewise, Isco’s recent performance at Real Madrid is good news for the Spanish side. But do they have enough up top to win it all? The odds say yes.

Argentina +500

There are a couple of things to figure out before this team can be true contenders. There are concerns at midfield and problems at the back. Nigeria exposed their three defender system. If Jorge Sampaoli can figure those out, then don’t be shocked if this team makes it to the finals. After all, they have Lionel Messi leading the way.

Portugal +2500

Portugal probably doesn’t have enough to win it. Pepe is getting up there and their central defense has plenty of holes. However, anytime you have Cristiano Ronaldo, you always have a chance. At worst, they could be out in the group stages but with Ronaldo playing some of his best football recently, who knows how far his magic will take them.

Neymar Injury

When Neymar suffered a hairline fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot in February, Brazil suddenly had memories of their 2014 World Cup resurface. Brazil lost 1-7 to Germany in the semifinals, at home and with Neymar unable to play due to injury

Since suffering the injury two months ago, Neymar has missed four fixtures for PSG and two friendlies for Brazil. The timetable for his recovery is three months and is just in time for the World Cup in Russia. The injury isn’t considered serious but just like in any recovery period, there are unknowns. And those are what worry Brazilians between now and the start of the tournament.

If somehow Neyman ends up being unable to play, that would be a big blow for Brazil. It would also shake up the odds and favorites for the tournament.

Home Court Advantage For Russia?

The FIFA World Cup 2018 will be the 21st installment of Football’s biggest tournament. In the previous 20 World Cups in the history of association football, 8 different countries have hosted the event. These are Brazil ( 6 times ), Italy (4 times ), Germany ( 3 times ), Argentina ( 2 times ), Uruguay ( 2 times ), England, France and Spain.

In the previous 20 World Cups, six times have the host nation won the championship. These were Uruguay ( 1930 ), Italy ( 1934 ), England ( 1966 ), West Germany ( 1974 ), Argentina ( 1978 ) and France ( 1998 ).

Six out of twenty isn’t the kind of indicator that tells us that home-field advantage does matter. But that statistic doesn’t paint the entire picture of home-field advantage.

In 1950, Brazil hosted the World Cup and the Brazilians finished second. Four years later, home team Switzerland pulled off one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history by eliminating Italy 4-1 in the group stages playoff. The Swiss team also beat the Italians 2-1 in their group stages match.

Brazil won the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. Guess who they beat in the Finals? Of course, the home team Sweden. The Swedes defeated the Soviet Union and West Germany on their way to the finals. Sure, they lost 2-5 to Brazil in the title game but Sweden’s never been in a World Cup Finals since then.

Host Chile placed third in 1962 while England won the World Cup in 1966, in the only time they hosted the tournament. In 1986, Mexico – who was a late replacement host after original host Columbia backed out, reached the quarterfinals stage. Four years later, host Italy made it all the way to the semifinals. Korea reached the semifinals and Japan the Round of 16 in 2002 when both countries co-hosted the World Cup.2006 saw host Germany finish in the Top 4. Brazil was the 4th placer when they hosted the most recent World Cup.

Now where does that put Russia?

Realistically, Russia is more likely to be eliminated in the group stages rather than in the semifinals. After all, they do not have the talent to be a Top 4 team in the tournament. But given that they are the hosts, and we know the history of hosts in the World Cup, they could make a Cinderella run all the way to the semifinals. But that’s probably the best case scenario for them.

So if Russia isn’t going to provide the drama, what’s going to produce a magic moment in the 2018 FIFA World Cup? There are about seven to eight teams who are really capable of winning the World Cup. And if any two of those favorites are going to play in the finals, it’s not going to be a surprise. But if by any stroke of luck this next match-up happens, it’s going to be the greatest football match ever.

The Greatest Match Ever

The rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is as even as it gets. Both have won the Ballon d’Or five times. They have also broken the 50 goal barrier in one season several times. They both have scored more than 600 goals in their careers for country and club. Both are the only players to score 7 hat tricks in the UEFA Champions League. And so on.

It’s been compared to Ali-Frazier of boxing, McEnroe-Borg of tennis and Senna-Prost of F1 racing. Messi and Ronaldo are the two best players of their era and among the best of all-time. So if Argentina and Portugal make it to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Finals, it will be one of the greatest football matches of all-time.

Argentina is among the Top 5 favorites so watching Lionel Messi in the finale isn’t a far-fetched idea. However, Portugal had to go through the proverbial eye of the needle to qualify for the World Cup and it would be a shock to see them play in the championship game. But when you have one of the two greatest players of this generation on your side, you got to think that anything can happen. Given Ronaldo’s form as of late, you can’t just say Portugal has no shot at all.

Messi and Ronaldo have always battled each other for the best football player in the world. Both have the right to claim but given their successes in the professional scene, it’s always been hard to pick a decisive winner between the two. But if Argentina and Portugal meet in a dream world Cup Finals, that would be the decider. Both have never won the World Cup before and because the chance of this dream match happening is maybe once in a lifetime, whoever wins the World Cup will end up as the Greatest Footballer of all-time.

But then again, this is probably more of wishful thinking than anything else. The favorites are called as such because they are expected to be the teams who will dispute the title. But yeah, don’t count out the hosts and Cristiano Ronaldo. Provided that Neymar returns 100%, then we could see Germany or Brazil as the last team standing at the end of the tournament.

Before the Phillies won the World Series in 2008, the city of Philadelphia experienced a 25-year pro title drought. That wasn’t as long as the Curse of Cleveland, but in terms of the actual number of titles versus the number of championships we expected them to win from 1984 to 2017, no other city in professional sports had underachieved more than the City of Brotherly Love.

Philly’s Winning Streak

Before winning Super Bowl LII last February, the Eagles’ last NFL title came in 1960, back when there was still no Super Bowl. And the NBA’s Sixers have not hoisted the NBA’s Larry O’Brien trophy since 1983. But after Alabama won the 2018 NCAA Football championship game in January, Philadelphia has won the next two biggest team sports titles in America.

In February, the Eagles won Super Bowl 52 against arguably the greatest quarterback ever. Last month, the Villanova Wildcats won their second NCAA title in three years. And despite the fact that they will be losing some key players to the 2018 NBA Draft, the Wildcats still have the second-best odds to win the 2019 NCAA title at 8-1.

Now, the NBA’s Sixers are returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2012. With a young but talented line-up, the 76ers have won at least 50 games for the first time since Allen Iverson was NBA MVP in 2001. Considering this franchise won just a total of 10 games during the 2016 NBA season, they have come a long way and have overachieved this season.

But while this season has plenty of milestones already, that may not be enough, as the expectations in the city are now at an all-time high given what the Eagles and Wildcats have achieved this year. So, given all the pressure, can the Sixers keep up their city’s winning streak?

Trust the Process

We trusted the process, and now the Sixers are in the playoffs. When we talk about the Sixers’ success this season, we don’t have to look far beyond Joel Embiid. The 7-foot Cameroonian was the Sixers’ 3rd overall pick in 2014. However, injuries prevented him from playing in his first two NBA seasons. Embiid showed plenty of promise when he debuted during the 2016-17 campaign, but then again, his stint was cut short by an injury.

Embiid returned this season with plenty of confidence and no signs of rust. He began this season playing with minutes restriction but once that was off, Embiid and the Sixers likewise took off. Embiid’s stellar play earned him his first All-Star appearance and a starting role at that. But just as Embiid had taken the Sixers to the Top 4 in the Eastern Conference standings, he suffered yet another injury.

Embiid fractured his orbital bone when he was accidentally bumped by teammate Markelle Fultz during their game against the Denver Nuggets on March 26. He underwent surgery on March 30 and will possibly return in two weeks time. The playoffs begin on April 14, and if the two-week timetable is correct, he should be back after missing the first couple of games in Round 1.

Embiid’s injury came at the worst time possible. The Sixers were peaking, and the regular season was ending. Sure, they have been able to carry on without him, winning seven consecutive games without their main man.

The Team Has Stepped Up

But winning those games can be deceiving, because out of seven games, only the one against the Cavs last Friday was against a playoff-bound team.The other six opponents? They had been eliminated from playoff contention and are fighting for better lottery position more than anything else.

Not to discredit the rest of the Sixers, especially Ben Simmons. The top pick in the 2016 NBA Draft has taken over the Sixers like it was his team right from the start. The Sixers’ super rookie has been doing it all lately.
Simmons is averaging 15.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, 10.1 assists, and 1.8 steals per game in the Sixers’ last 10 games.

Behind Simmons’ court generalship, the rest of the team has collectively stepped up, too. Without Embiid’s post up game, the Sixers have increased the speed of their offense. Their pace of 107.17 in their last 10 games is five possessions per game more than their season average of 102.14. Those extra possessions have led to more points scored.

Philadelphia’s offensive rating has improved to 111.0 in their last 10 games, which is better than the 17.3 points per 100 possessions that they are currently averaging for the season. They’ve done that with better shooting. The Sixers’ true shooting percentage has increased to 57.9% in their last 10 games, which is better than their season average of 56.8%.

Make no mistake, winning 14 in a row is no fluke. And neither are the Sixers. This team is a serious contender. They are young, talented, and hungry. They are peaking at the right time. But going to war in the playoffs without Embiid is a different story.

Embiid Is a Must

Embiid was the most valuable player on the team when he was on the court. When he played, the Sixers’ offensive rating was 111.4 points per 100 possessions. Without him, that number significantly dropped to 103.4 points per 100 possessions.

On defense, the Sixers allowed just 99.7 points per 100 possessions when Embiid was manning the middle and anchoring their defense. When he was on the bench, the Sixers gave up 104.4 points per 100 possessions.

Add up the numbers, and you get a net swing of -12.7 in net rating without Joel Embiid. A difference of 12.7 points per 100 possessions due to one man is too much. For the Sixers, it means that they live and die with Joel Embiid. For them to have their best chance of going all the way, they need to have Joel Embiid on the floor.

Good thing for the Sixers, Embiid isn’t lost for the season like Kyrie Irving is for the Boston Celtics. He’s going back two weeks at the earliest. Having the home-court advantage in Round 1 lessens the effect of Embiid’s absence. After all, the Sixers have the second-best home record in the Eastern Conference.

Finishing Third

Finishing third in the East is crucial, because if they accomplish that, the Sixers will play the Boston Celtics in Round 2 ( assuming the Celtics survive ). If not the Celtics, then the Sixers will get home-court advantage again versus the #7 team, whoever that will be between the Bucks, Wizards, and Heat.

If the Sixers make the Conference Finals, then anything can happen from there on. Right now, the odds say that the Sixers have the fifth-best chance to win the NBA title. Only the Rockets, Warriors, Raptors, and Cavs have better odds. Who would’ve thought at the start of the season that the Sixers would be in this position?

It’s been a great season for the Sixers. They have exceeded everybody’s expectations, and there would be nothing to be ashamed of no matter what happens. But expecting them to win a title this season may be too soon, too much, even with a healthy Joel Embiid. Sure, they are peaking at the right time, but it’s not just about momentum and talent.

The future has never looked better for the 76ers. This team has nowhere to go but up. They may end up not winning the NBA title this year, but in a way, the Sixers making the playoffs with home-court advantage is already keeping up with the city’s winning streak.

The world’s most popular steeplechase is almost upon us. With time running out, here is your complete guide to the event, including the latest betting odds.

What is the Grand National?

The Grand National is the biggest horse race in England and the most valuable jump race in Europe. It is a handicap steeplechase where 40 runners and riders take on 30 Grand National Fences over the course of four and a quarter miles distance for the pride, prestige and a huge slice of the £1million prize purse.

Where is This Event Held?

The 2018 Grand National will take place at the Aintree racecourse in Liverpool, which has hosted the event since its inception in 1839. It is located at Ormskirk Road, also known as the A59, one of the main routes from Lancashire to Liverpool.

When is the Event?

The Aintree Festival starts on April 12, 2018 and ends on April 14th, with the first race expected to kick-off at 1:40 pm on opening day. Although there will be plenty of quality action for the thousands of racegoers at Aintree racecourse, the festival’s ultimate showdown will be the Grand National race, which is slated for 5:15 pm on Saturday, April 14th.

What is the Schedule of Races?

There are twenty-one races for the event and they are divided into three days of competition:

April 12 – Grand National Thursday

1:45 – Big Buck’s Celebration Manifesto Novices’ Chase
2:20 – Doom Bar Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle
2:50 – Betway Bowl Chase
3:25 – Betway Aintree Hurdle
4:05 – Randox Health Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase
4:40 – Red Rum Handicap Chase
5:15 – Goffs Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race

April 13 – Ladies Day

1:45 – Alder Hey Children’s Charity Handicap Hurdle
2:20 – Betway Top Novices’ Hurdle
2:50 – Betway Mildmay Novices’ Chase
3:25 – JLT Melling Chase
4:05 – Randox Health Topham Handicap Chase
4:40 – Doom Bar Sefton Novices’ Hurdle
5:15 – Weatherbys Racing Bank Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race

April 14 – Grand National Day

1:45 – Gaskells Handicap Hurdle
2:25 – Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle
3:00 – Doom Bar Maghull Novices’ Chase
3:40 – Betway Handicap Chase
4:20 – Ryanair Stayers Hurdle (Registered As The Liverpool Hurdle )
5:15 – Randox Health Grand National Handicap Chase
6:20 – Pinsent Masons Handicap Hurdle (Conditional Jockeys’ And Amateur Riders’ Race)

Of course, as we said, the most important is the penultimate race- The Randox Health Grand National Handicap Chase.

Who Are The Favorites?

Since the final field of 40 hasn’t been determined at the time of writing, we’re currently looking at the ante-post market with the bookies. Ante-post markets are offered before the final declarations, which usually happen the day before the race. With the Grand National, however, final declarations come in on Thursday.

Here are the odds for some of the favorites due to run the race, as of April 11. Please note that these odds may have changed a little by the time you’re reading this, and they’ll continue to change between now and the start of the race.

Total Recall 10/1

Total Recall has been impressive since joining trainer Willie Mullins, winning three of four starts. This nine-year-old won the Munster National, Ladbrokes Trophy and the William Fry Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown. Although he was a faller at the Gold Cup the last time, he was running well before that happened. A proven force in big races, he is currently this year’s betting favorite.

Anibale Fly 11/1

Anibale Fly won Leopardstown’s Paddy Power Chase last December by seven lengths. He also finished third to Native River in Cheltenham’s Gold Cup but was a faller at the Irish Gold Cup. Because he seems to come to his own when his stamina is tested at great distances, he demands respect despite the fact that this is his first appearance at Aintree.

Blaklion 11/1

Blaklion was majestic in chasing home Bristol De Mai at the Charlie Hall Chase last November. But he was more stunning when he beat fellow specialists Highland Lodge and Last Samuri by nine lengths in the Becher Chase a month later. He finished fourth in Last Year’s Grand National and is expected to make another bold bid this year.

Tiger Roll 12/1

Tiger Roll was one of Gordon Elliott’s eight winners at the recent Cheltenham Festival, beating out Urgent de Gregaine by two lengths in the Cross Country Chase. He’s won four different races of 40K or more so for sure, Tiger Roll is made for these big occasions.

Seeyouatmidnight 16/1

Recently bought by the owners of a previous Grand National Winner, Party Politics, Seeyouatmidnight was a winner of three of his first five starts in 2015-16 then finished third in 2016. He only had three starts last year and underwent wind surgery in November. If he is able to return near his best form, he is a standout at the weights.

Baie Des Iles 16/1

Baie Des Iles finished third among 19 in the last installment of the Grand National Trial at Punchestown, a race he won by four and three quarters from Sambremont in 2016-17. Baie Des Iles stays well, has lots of stamina and loves the soft ground. Would be a fairy tale if Katie Walsh rides him to become the first female rider to win the Grand National.

The Last Samuri 16/1

The Last Samuri placed second in this year’s Becher and was runner-up in the Grand National last year. He’s got pedigree over the National Fences. Not the biggest horse but has tons of heart and unquestioned consistency. Trainer Kim Bailey won the Grand National with Mr. Frisk in 1990. The Last Samuri hopes to duplicate that feat this year.

Ucello Conti 20/1

Ucello Conti has yet to win in this yard but won thrice over fences in France. He placed 6th here two years ago but was a faller last time out. Had a subpar outing at the Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase last January but he is the type to bounce back and is capable of doing so in this race.

Minella Rocco 20/1

At 11st10lb, Minella Rocco tops the weights for the Randox Health Grand National. He finished second to Sizing John in the 2016-17 Cheltenham Gold Cup but didn’t run in this year’s edition. A faller in the last Irish Gold Cup, he had wind surgery in February. The partnership with top jockey Noel Fehily enhances his stock for the 2018 Grand national.

I Just Know 25/1

The North Yorkshire National Winner runs well over hurdles and shows good form when stamina is tested. Trainer Sue Smith won this race in 2013 as a 66/1 outsider. Coming from the same stable, this horse is an interesting contender in the 2018 Grand National.

Who Will Win the 2018 Grand National?

The challenging nature of this race means it is notoriously difficult to predict the winner. The horses listed above all have a realistic chance of being first past the finishing post, but there’s no such thing as a “safe bet” here.

It’s easy to see why Total Recall is leading the betting at the moment, and this certainly looks like an appealing selection. It’s Blaklion that stands out to us, though, primarily because of his performance in the Becher Chase.

Whichever horse takes the prize, the 2018 Grand National is sure to be a great spectacle. The race rarely fails to live up to its hype and the competitive field this year should ensure we’re not disappointed.

The league-leading Houston Rockets ( 64-16 ) visit the Los Angeles Lakers ( 34-46 ) in their second to the last regular season game. Game time is set at 10:30 PM EST

No Let Up

The Rockets have already set a new franchise record for most wins in a single season. But they have not settled for that. Instead, they’ve kept on adding to that record. They are now at 64 wins and with two games left to play, there are no signs that the Rockets are letting up.

The Rockets have already locked up home-court advantage throughout the entire postseason and should be resting their big guns by now. But with the playoffs just around the corner, coach Mike D’Antoni is looking to keep his boys sharp and not lose their focus.

Harden’s Heavy Minutes

Despite having nothing to play for, top MVP candidate James Harden has continued to log in heavy minutes. The Beard has so far rested in just one game and with only two games left to play in the regular season, there is a possibility that he will sit out one. However, knowing Harden’s competitive fire, he may want to finish the season strong if only to add more mustard to his MVP candidacy.

But even if Harden sits out against the Lakers, Houston is too loaded with talent to miss a beat, even at this stage of the regular season and especially since they are relatively healthy while the young but inconsistent Lakers are not.

Lakers Missing Key Players

In an injury-filled season, it’s a surprise that the Rockets are almost at 100% full strength at this stage of the year. In their most recent game against the OKC Thunder, the Rockets only played without reserves Eric Gordon ( sore left ankle ) and Ryan Anderson ( sprained left ankle ). Gordon is listed as probable on Tuesday while Anderson will remain out of action against the Lakers.

On the other hand, the Lakers are without four key players due to injury… Lonzo Ball ( bruised left knee ), Isaiah Thomas ( stiff right hip ), Brandon Ingram ( concussion ) and Kyle Kuzma ( sprained left ankle ) are expected to miss the game. Without three of their top three leading scorers and their top three assists producers, the Lakers’ offense is sure going to have a hard time keeping up with the high powered Rockets.

Top-Rated Offense and Defense

Houston’s 112. 8 points scored per game is just a point shy of the NBA’s most prolific offense in the Golden State Warriors ( 113.9 PPG ). But not only do the Rockets have a top rated offense, their defense is ranked in the league’s Top 10. Houston allows just 104.0 points per game, tied for 7th in the NBA. Given what the Lakers are missing in this game, Houston should have an easy night in Tinseltown.

Los Angeles has won just thrice in the last 10 games and has lost two in a row. Meanwhile, the Rockets are 8-2 in their last 10 games. Houston is coming off a 108-102 loss to the Thunder but they have lost consecutive games only three times this season, none since January 6th. The Rockets lead their season series 2-1 and it’s most likely that the final tally will be 3-1.

There was a buzz about this year’s Masters tournament. That was because Tiger Woods was making his Augusta National (and majors) return. But while most of the media attention centered on Tiger as expected, the week belonged to the new breed of top golfers.

Woods Made The Cut

After a spinal fusion injury that threatened his career, a couple of Top 5 finishes on the PGA Tour has brought back to life Tiger Woods’ pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’ 18 major title victories. But while he got the hype moving, Tiger could not get his game going.

Making his first majors appearance since the 2015 PGA Championship, Tiger teed off alongside Marc Leishman and Tommy Fleetwood. Woods was never known to play the first hole at Augusta very well. But this time, his first shot, first tee on Day 1 was way off to the pine straw. It was the first sign that we were not going to see the old Tiger back.

Woods was wayward off the tee all week. He was strong with his approaches and putts but wasn’t able to have enough consistency. As he admitted, he couldn’t convert with his irons, could not control the shape and the distance. In short, he was good enough to make the cut but could not be better to do more than that.

So as the leaders were just getting started, the 14th time majors winner was putting the final touches on a final round of 69, giving him a 1-over par total of 289 for the week. Woods was making his first Masters appearance since 2015 and while it was far from the performance of the Tiger of old, this older Tiger actually made the cut.

Six months ago, Woods’ career was almost as good as dead. Nobody was expecting Tiger to compete at any level, much more in the majors. Woods had not made the cut in a major tournament in the last three years. So if there are so-called moral victories, being able to play on a Sunday at Augusta was already an accomplishment.

A Tiger-Esque Round

For those who were looking for anything or anyone that resembled the old Tiger Woods, there was Jordan Spieth. The first of Spieth’s three major titles came at the Masters in 2015, where he became the second youngest player ( behind who else, but Tiger Woods ) to win a green jacket.

The 24-year-old entered the final day nine shots off the lead. But he made an amazing charge that earned him a tie for the best final round score in Masters history. And for a while on Sunday, it looked as it Spieth would both make history and win his second Masters with a Tiger-Esque final round

Spieth’s tee shot at the par-4 18th hole was wide and clipped a branch of a tree before falling down in the rough. He could only manage the ball back in the fairway with his second shot and hit the green on his third. His first put from about 10 feet away was wide and he bogeyed to become the 7th player in the history of the Masters to shoot a 64 on the final day.

Had he one-putted that final hole, Spieth would have posted a final round score of 63. That would have been the best scoring final round in the history of Augusta. 63 is also the course record at the Masters, a title held by Nick Price and Greg Norman. Price shot his 63 in 1986 while Norman did his in 1996.

It was an anti-climatic finish to a dazzling performance by Jordan Spieth. Prior to the 18th hole, Spieth had made nine birdies on the final day. The bogey on the 18th was his first of the day and it came at the wrong time. Spieth, the second youngest player to ever win the green jacket, finished the tournament at 13-under.

Spieth wound up at third place and if there was any consolation for him, it’s that he set the record for the second best first five-year pro start at Augusta. Spieth’s 1 win, a pair of T-2, 3rd and T-11 rank only next to Jack Nicklaus who had 3 winds, T-2 and T-15 from 1962-1966.

First Major Title

With Spieth’s spirited run coming up short, it all boiled down to Rickie Fowler and leader Patrick Reed who began the day with a three-stroke advantage. Reed mastered Augusta National over the first three days with his brilliance on the Par 5’s. On those four holes alone, Reed was a 13-under through three rounds.

But Fowler was hot on Reed’s trail. He shot a final round score of 67 and sank a birdie at the 18th hole to finish the tournament at a very impressive 14-under. To put that in perspective, Fowler’s final score of 274 would have been good enough to win all but six of the past 81 Masters tournament.

The only winning scores in Augusta better than Fowler’s score were 270 by Tiger Woods in 1997 and Jordan Spieth in 2015, 271 by Jack Nicklaus in 1965 and Raymond Floyd in 1976 and 272 by Tiger Woods in 2001 and Phil Mickelson in 2010. But then again, that just shows how good Patrick Reed was this week.

Reed needed at least a par on his final hole to win his first ever major. He left himself with some work on the green. He double putted on the 18th, sinking a pressure-packed four-foot putt to claim the 2018 Masters. Reed finished with a one-under 71 on Sunday to conclude the tournament at 15-under overall, just one shot better than Fowler.

The 27-year-old barrel-chested Texan has gone a long way. He got kicked off the Georgia college golf team only to lead Augusta State to two national championships. After becoming the youngest winner of the WGC-Cadillac Championship ( he won it in 2014 ), he became the fourth golfer to win four times on the PGA Tour before his 25th birthday, joining Tiger Woods, Sergio Garcia, and Rory McIlroy. Now he joins the ranks of Woods and Garcia as green jacket winners. He also prevented McIlroy from joining that elite group first and denying the Irish a career grand slam.

At 9-under par, McIlroy salvaged fifth place behind Reed, Fowler, Spieth and John Rahm who was at 11-under. McIlroy shot a 65 in the third round, his best round ever at the Masters, to enter the final pairing just three shots off Reed. But the Irishman missed makeable putts in the front nine and then dropped out of contention on the back nine.

Conor McGregor isn’t The Notorious for nothing. On Thursday, though, he took that monicker to its worst level.

McGregor and some of his SBG Ireland teammates crashed the UFC 223 media event by forcing their way to the Barclays Center with the help of members from McGregor’s MacLife.com who were credentialed media for the event. Upon gaining access to the building, the group stormed the backstage area, where a bus full of UFC fighters was set to leave the venue. Then all hell broke loose.

Mac Attack

In one video, McGregor was seen picking up a guardrail and running with it, apparently trying to throw it at the departing bus. When he was restrained from throwing the guardrail, McGregor appeared like he was looking for something else to hurl at the bus. In another piece of footage, McGregor grabbed a dolly and threw it into the bus, smashing one of its windows.

In the aftermath, two UFC fighters who were inside the bus got injured. Lightweight Michael Chiesa was taken to a hospital after suffering several cuts to his face. Later in the day, flyweight Ray Borg also went to a hospital after having vision problems from what was thought to be pieces of glass from the window that McGregor broke.

Chiesa and Borg were supposed to fight at the undercard of UFC 223 on Saturday night, but as a result, both fighters have been pulled out of the event because of their injuries. A third fighter, Artem Lobov, who was with McGregor when the incident happened, was also removed from his bout with Alex Caceres at UFC 223.

Under Police Custody

McGregor turned himself over to the police on Thursday night, and an investigation was underway. The Irishman was later charged with three counts of assault and one count of criminal mischief. His SBG teammate Cian Cowley was also charged with one count of assault and one count of criminal mischief. McGregor was seen leaving a New York police station on Friday and driven to a courtroom where he will face arraignment on the charges filed against him.

Aside from possible legal punishment, McGregor is likely going to be penalized by his employers. UFC President Dana White condemned the attack, calling it the most disgusting thing that’s ever happened in the history of the UFC. Given what it has cost the UFC both in the short term and the long term, the UFC’s most protected fighter may no longer be a sacred cow after this.

UFC 223 is set to suffer an additional financial hit with the removal of three fights due to the attack. Likewise, the UFC’s image is set to suffer from McGregor’s actions, with him being the undisputed face of the promotion. Should the UFC proceed with suspending or even banning Conor McGregor, the promotion will suffer financially, as he is their top attraction.

Getting Away with Violations

In the past, McGregor has gotten away with plenty of violations. He was involved in a bottle-throwing incident during his rivalry with Nate Diaz. He figured in a cage-rushing incident in a Bellator event. And so on. But because he lives by his own set of rules, we have seen never seen the UFC lift a finger and hand down disciplinary actions whatsoever.

Even when McGregor didn’t defend either of his two UFC belts, he was given plenty of time to hold onto the titles, thereby causing a logjam in two weight classes. After heavy criticism, he was finally relieved of the featherweight title. And now that he was days away from being officially stripped of the lightweight belt, he snapped and did the unthinkable.

With the evidence of this criminal act all over the internet, there is no need for an explanation or defense on his part. For the UFC, there is no more excuse to spare their spoiled superstar from the rod. Dana White, known for his white lies, has said everything right so far, condemning McGregor’s actions and hinting serious punishment. But we all know that the hardest part will be its enforcement.

More Bad News for the UFC

In another development, UFC 223 headliner Max Holloway, who was supposed to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov for the UFC lightweight title, was also deemed unfit to compete by the New York Athletic State Commission.

Holloway, who agreed to step in for the injured Tony Ferguson on six days’ notice, was reportedly having problems with making weight because of the circumstances of the fight. Although he personally wanted to proceed with the difficult weight cut, the commission prevented him from taking the scales for his own safety.

With four fights removed from the event, it remains to be seen how the UFC is going to save UFC 223. It was a disaster already when Tony Ferguson suffered a bizarre injury that forced him to withdraw from his bout with Khabib Nurmagomedov. It was the fourth time in as many times that a bout between Ferguson and Nurmagomedov has been canceled after being booked.

Lightweight Division Dilemma

Ferguson won the interim UFC lightweight title by defeating Kevin Lee at UFC 216 last October. He was supposed to fight Khabib for the undisputed title on Saturday night. The UFC’s lightweight division suffered a vacuum of power after McGregor failed to defend the lightweight belt after winning it from Eddie Alvarez at the historic UFC 205 in November of 2016. That vacancy was supposed to be filled out at UFC 223. Now the title picture is more confusing than ever.

When Holloway stepped in, White said that the fight would remain a title bout even if Blessed wasn’t ranked at 155. Holloway is the UFC’s undisputed featherweight champion but has never fought at lightweight in the UFC. Now that Holloway’s off the card, the rumor is that former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis is going to fight Nurmagomedov.

Pettis was supposed to fight Michael Chiesa at UFC 223, but with his opponent hurt during the McGregor attack, Showtime is left without a dance partner. Pettis is currently just 12th in the 155-pound rankings because he competed at 145 pounds recently. But if he is indeed fighting Nurmagomedov on Saturday night, it is presumed that it will be for the lightweight title.