We're really excited about the opportunity to be part of this historic event. It's incredibly competitive to get here, and our guys have done a tremendous job and deserve the opportunity.
At Inter, the distance between the strike pair - usually Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram - is consistently very compact. That proximity is crucial in a two-striker system because it allows synchronised movements: one drops, one runs in behind; one pins the defender, the other attacks space.
Young played just 19 minutes in his Wizards debut, finishing with 12 points, six assists and two rebounds, while shooting 4-for-9 from field goal range and just 1-for-5 from beyond the arc. Despite not posting a premiere stat line in his first game in Washington, the playmaker's prescense on the court was undeniable.
They are just comfortable with each other. Everything that we've been doing - it is a year later, but the guys remember, obviously. It was a pretty complete effort. I thought every line contributed: the defense, right through to the goalie. It was one of those games where you weren't sure what was going on early, and then a couple of the big boys - Wilson and Bennett - really kind of physically pushed that game a bit in our direction.
"We're not playing hard," Antetokounmpo said. "We aren't doing the right thing. We're not playing to win. We're not playing together. Our chemistry's not there. Guys are being selfish, trying to look for their own shots instead of looking for the right shot for the team. Guys trying to do it on their own. "At times, I feel like when we're down 10, down 15, down 20, we try to make it up in one play, and it's not going to work."
I think he's definitely got that sort of mentality that nothing seems to really bother him, so that's a pretty incredible trait to have as far as he just doesn't really ride the waves of what's going on around him. He has that kind of confidence and swagger about him, and just wants to play on the biggest stages, and that's what seems to bring out the best in him. Yeah, he was fun to get a chance to play with, especially on a line for a little bit there too. Not surprised to see he's thriving under the new dress code.
When the players had the feeling that the right group was in the camp, that they knew their role, why they are in camp, what is expected of them, and they had the feeling that the tournament could even go on for another four weeks and they would be happy to be together... then they were successful. It will be very important that we don't select just on talent, but also on what we need from a player.
If you're wondering why he got that gift, the answer is artificial intelligence. Lawrence has been one of the hottest quarterbacks in the NFL over the past eight games -- posting 19 touchdown passes and five rushing touchdowns -- and someone concocted an AI photo of Lawrence wearing a grill and a giant chain around his neck.
"It felt like we were ready to play, it felt like we were in a good mindset," Matthews said. "I thought the first ten minutes they came out strong, and the next ten minutes I thought we controlled play, then I just thought we had too many passengers throughout the rest of the game. We just weren't on the same page."
Hockey players are no stranger to bridging the language gap. With more than a dozen countries represented across the NHL, learning English is often a vital part of adjusting to the league. But for Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson, the flow of knowledge is going the other way. Thompson has started to pick up some Russian, enlisting Aliaksei Protas as a tutor. Protas, who hails from from Vitebsk, Belarus, was all to happy to oblige.
There were many questions about how he would fit into this new role and team, and I shared some of those concerns. He was good, but just how good could Ingram be when it mattered most? I always believed BI could be the prolific scorer he's proven to be, even if his time as the primary option with the Pelicans didn't fully realize the potential it seemed to hold when he first arrived as part of the blockbuster Anthony Davis trade.
I want to give the Chiefs a good opportunity, whether I come back or not - or whether they want me back or not. I'd like to make that decision before they've got to get draft picks and free agency opens to fill the roster appropriately. All that will be at the end of the season. I won't be thinking about it until then.
Although Liverpool made many significant signings that ecstatically thrilled Kopites, I viewed this more as a concern before the season started: Players are massive, but can Liverpool really adapt to them quickly? Is the packed frontline a problem? And that's why we say the Premier League is the best in the world. Given the short timeframe for chemistry-building, Liverpool are facing real trouble.
"I clearly wasn't thinking," Roberts said of the race. "I was trying to add a little levity, that's for sure. I wasn't trying to do a face plant at shortstop, and yeah, the legs just gave way. That will be the last full sprint I ever do in my life. And I paid my debt, because there was a little wager, so I did owe up."
"The toughest team," Smart said, "sets the rules." "I've been in this league for 12 years and that's always been the motto," the former NBA defensive player of the year continued. "You see it. The team that comes out more physical, the momentum is kind of going their way, and that's how it is. We want to be the toughest team from start to the end."
"The team is making it very easy for me on the pitch. We have a lot of great players, especially up front, who don't just think about scoring goals themselves, but also help their teammates," Díaz said in comments to German outlet Sport Bild (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). "That gives me a lot of security and confidence. It's incredible to play attacks with them. They have so much quality. I'm really, really happy and feel even better and more comfortable."
Blake Snell understands the task ahead of him on Monday evening. The left-handed ace will take the ball in Game 1 of the NLCS for the Los Angeles Dodgers on the road against the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Brewers. Given what we saw from Milwaukee's fan base in the NLDS versus the Chicago Cubs, the atmosphere at American Family Field should be electric.
"I truly appreciate Luka for that," Ayton said. "I've never done that before, where the star players really look out for the team like that. Something like that is actually crazy. I've never heard of it or been in a Porsche before. So it definitely was my first time. I didn't know that Luka was into cars like that. So, yeah, him and LeBron [James]. It was good seeing them behind the wheel. Seeing LeBron behind a car is dangerous."
