“To have this come along and to be able to send these kids out to play on the field at Nat Bailey Stadium, it’s just a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Former MLB star Ryan Dempster treats young B.C. ball players to a day at Nat Bailey Stadium — Global News
Sign In The Boston Celtics will return to the hardwood on the campus of Walt Disney World on Sunday for Game 1 of their second-round series against the Toronto Raptors. They will, however, be doing so without Gordon Hayward, Javonte Green and Tremont Waters. Hayward (ankle sprain) and Green (right knee surgery) are not surprising…
Celtics Injury Report: Gordon Hayward, Javonte Green Out Vs. Raptors — NESN.com
The Boston Celtics will return to the hardwood on the campus of Walt Disney World on Sunday for Game 1 of their second-round series against the Toronto Raptors.
They will, however, be doing so without Gordon Hayward, Javonte Green and Tremont Waters.
Hayward (ankle sprain) and Green (right knee surgery) are not surprising developments. Waters (left knee sprain) is the lone addition to the injury report. The rookie guard played in just 11 games this season for the Celtics.
#NEBHInjuryReport for Game 1 vs Toronto:
Javonte Green (right knee surgery) – OUT
Gordon Hayward (right ankle sprain) – OUT
Tremont Waters (left knee sprain) – OUT— Boston Celtics (@celtics) August 29, 2020
The third-seeded Celtics and second-seeded Raptors will take the floor Sunday after the NBA postponed games Wednesday, Thursday and Friday due to issues of social injustice.
The league will return to play Saturday with three games each day this weekend.More: Celtics Return Sunday vs. Raptors For Game 1 Of Rescheduled NBA Playoff SeriesBoston Celtics
By Brian Mahoney| Associated Press Cliff Robinson guided UConn out from the bottom and almost helped take the Portland Trail Blazers to the top. He was one of the NBA’s best sixth men, a versatile player who became a predecessor of the modern center. Not bad for a guy who was warned he might not…
Ex-UConn star, top NBA sixth man Cliff Robinson dies at 53 — Times-Standard
Though Westbrook is now healthy after a strained quad, he says he didn’t want to play at all without further action on social justice.
Russell Westbrook didn’t want to play without social justice action — Rockets Wire
After weeks of dealing with a strained right quad, All-Star guard Russell Westbrook is finally healthy and ready to return to the Houston Rockets for Saturday’s Game 5 of their playoff series versus Oklahoma City.
But without the NBA’s latest actions related to social justice, he says he wouldn’t be on the court at all — even when healthy.
“I’m excited to play. But I’m more excited that we’re playing for a cause, that we’re in agreeance to make sure that there’s action,” said the 31-year-old Westbrook, who spoke at Friday’s team practice.
It was the first media availability for the former MVP and nine-time NBA All-Star since an Aug. 12 MRI revealed his quad strain. “If there wasn’t any agreement, there’s no action moving towards some of the things that we talked about as players… me personally, I wouldn’t be playing,” he said.
Earlier Friday, the NBA and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) jointly issued a statement with action items to be taken to further support social justice and racial equality. One of those — converting arenas to voting sites for the 2020 U.S. presidential election — has already been confirmed by the Rockets to take place in Houston.
Joint NBA and NBPA statement: pic.twitter.com/EFp6fG9oZs
— NBA (@NBA) August 28, 2020
Following the recent police shooting of Jacob Blake, an unarmed Black man in Wisconsin, NBA players effectively went on strike Wednesday in a bid to push the league and its owners to further assist them on issues related to social justice. As Westbrook sees things, it clearly worked.
“I think we all needed a pause,” Westbrook said Friday. “Emotionally, physically, mentally. I think the pause was for a greater cause, for all the social issues in our world today. Based on recent police killings and shootings, it allowed us to use our platform.”
Westbrook noted that the hiatus quickly extended to other U.S. professional sports leagues including the WNBA, MLB, and NHL.
“Once the NBA stopped, everything else [in sports] stopped,” Westbrook said. “Our voices were heard. That shows the power. … We see the impact, we see the change that is happening.”
Russell Westbrook on the NBA’s hiatus:
“I think we all needed a pause. Emotionally, physically, mentally. I think the pause was for a greater cause, for all the social issues in our world today. Based on recent police killings and shootings, it allowed us to use our platform.”
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) August 28, 2020
No NBA playoff games were held on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, and the initial postponed games from the first day (including Game 5 of the first-round series between the Rockets and Thunder) will finally be played on Saturday. That game will serve as Westbrook’s 2020 playoff debut.
But Westbrook wasn’t in the mood to talk much basketball on Friday. He wanted to keep the focus of his discussion to the bigger issues at hand, as well as the progress that he believes is being made.
“It’s an unbelievable blessing,” Westbrook said of this week’s protest events. “God has put me in this position for a reason. Not just to play basketball, but to use my platform to help other people.”
#KHOU11 @russwest44 talks about the protest this week by #NBA players. “It’s an unbelievable blessing. God has put me in this position for a reason. Not just to play basketball but to use my platform to help other people.” pic.twitter.com/vH80jLQxU2
— Matt Musil (@KHOUSportsMatt) August 28, 2020
Westbrook became personally involved with the “Black Lives Matter” movement after the death of George Floyd in late May, even speaking in person at a protest near his hometown of Los Angeles. With the movement on the minds of NBA players more than ever after the Blake shooting, Westbrook says he’s determined to use his immense platform to continue pushing for change in the weeks and months ahead.
“I watched the video,” Westbrook said. “It’s heartbreaking. It’s something you can’t explain, and it’s something that’s just not right. … It hits home for many reasons. I grew up in South Central Los Angeles. I have family and friends that have been subject to police brutality. I’ve been privy to it all. … I wanted to find a way to help and make change.”
“What does your legacy mean? Is it just about basketball? I don’t think mine is about basketball. I believe mine is about giving back.” @russwest44 discusses using his platform to affect social change. pic.twitter.com/NbAttx1ISJ
— NBA TV (@NBATV) August 28, 2020
Even above his extremely long list of NBA accomplishments, that change is what Westbrook wants to be most remembered for.
“I’ve always thought about legacy,” Westbrook said. “What does your legacy mean? Is it just about basketball? I don’t think mine is about basketball. I believe mine is about giving back, and impacting and inspiring, and finding ways to be able to do what’s right.”
“Our Black communities have been hurting for many years,” he said. “I feel like it’s my duty to make sure that our Black people and underserved communities are heard, and I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that happens. I’m making sure that I’m part of history, in a positive way. Whether it’s five years, 10 years, 20 years down the line, I can look back and say ‘I was a part of that. I put my best foot forward.’”
The complete video of Westbrook’s poignant commentary before Friday’s Rockets practice can be viewed below.
Draymond Green is getting a jump start on his media career. Green, whose Golden State Warriors haven’t played since the NBA shut down in mid-March and who weren’t a part of the restart, has been making media appearances during his off time, including as an analyst with the NBA on TNT studio show. Now it […]
Former Michigan State star Draymond Green signs as a contributor with CNN — Spartans Wire
Draymond Green is getting a jump start on his media career.
Green, whose Golden State Warriors haven’t played since the NBA shut down in mid-March and who weren’t a part of the restart, has been making media appearances during his off time, including as an analyst with the NBA on TNT studio show.
Now it appears he will be leaning a bit more into the news and political world, signing on with CNN as a contributor.
Jake Tapper announces on CNN that Draymond Green is now a CNN contributor
— Max Tani (@maxwelltani) August 28, 2020
CNN and TNT are both owned by Turner Broadcasting Systems, so the marriage of Green appearing on networks under the same company umbrella jives. Green has been outspoken on subjects such as racism, police brutality, and social injustice and I’m sure will be right at home talking on CNN about where those issues intersect with sports.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — After two days of protest, angst and deliberation, the NBA and National Basketball Players Association have agreed to resume the playoffs Saturday, with numerous stipulations from team owners and the league to proactively tackle voting and social justice causes. Commissioner Adam Silver and NBPA executive director released a joint statement…
NBA, NBPA agree to resume playoffs, focus on voting, social justice initiatives — Press Telegram
For a little while there it felt like this Raptors-Celtics series would be over before it started. Read More
Raptors’ long-overdue playoff meeting with Celtics should live up to the hype — Toronto Sun
Game 6 of the Clippers’ first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks – originally scheduled to be played Thursday evening – has been postponed to a date yet to be determined, according to the league. Near midday Thursday, the NBA issued a statement from Executive Vice President Mike Bass that read: “NBA playoff games for…
Clippers’ Game 6 vs. Mavericks among those postponed Thursday — Daily News
The Hockey Diversity Alliance, led by San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane, has formally asked the NHL to postpone Thursday’s playoff games as a way for the league to take a stand against systemic racism and show its support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Thursday, there are two Game 3’s scheduled, with the Philadelphia…
Hockey Diversity Alliance asks NHL to postpone Thursday games — Times-Standard
A little more than 12 hours after they left one Orlando ballroom upset and unable to come to a consensus on the future of the NBA restart, the best basketball players in the world left that same ballroom this time in agreement that the NBA playoffs should resume. Read More
Raps-Celtics game postponed, NBA playoffs are back on after second meeting — Toronto Sun
At least one NBA team — and probably more — made the decision on Wednesday that the need for social justice was far more important than a basketball game. Read More
Original message lost for frustrated NBA players, and maybe the season, too — Toronto Sun
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — All three NBA playoff games scheduled for Wednesday have been postponed, with players around the league choosing to boycott in their strongest statement yet against racial injustice.
Boycott: NBA playoff games called off amid player protest — Boston Herald
The view from left field 