The Sportsletter - The Playoffs are Coming

BY AARON YORKE

APR. 19, 2024 |  SUBSCRIBE  |  WEB VIEW

Happy Friday 🙌

Feel that? It's the calm before the sports storm. There wasn't a ton of action on Thursday with most of baseball traveling to get to their weekend series and the NBA having a night off from the Play-In Tournament, but we are just around the corner from a weekend full of NBA Playoffs and Stanley Cup Playoffs. That means slam dunks, slap shots, crossovers, and bodychecks all day on Saturday and Sunday. What a time to be alive.

Letter Rip!

  NBA  

NBA Playoffs are Going Down on Saturday

 Photo: Justin Tafoya / Getty Images

After a Play-In appetizer on Friday, the NBA Playoffs tip off with four games each on Saturday and Sunday

Remember those "Timber" promos for the NBA Playoffs featuring Pitbull in 2014? I think that was when we peaked as a society. The hype for the 2024 Playoffs might not be as awesome, but the action might be. Even in the first round, it's tough to find a matchup that isn't expected to be hotly contested. Just look at the Eastern Conference, where the two-seed Knicks' battle against the seven-seed 76ers is considered a toss-up thanks to the recent return of Joel Embiid to Philadelphia's lineup. And the three-seed Bucks? They're considered slight underdogs against Indiana because Giannis Antetokounmpo is out of action to start their series due to a calf injury.

Out in the West, the Nuggets are expected to bury the Lakers like they did in last year's Playoffs, but the LeBron James factor will keep fans interested in that series until the bitter end. Just like the Pacers in the East, the Suns are favored as a six seed, but for a totally different reason. Phoenix's superstar trio is ready to rock and fulfill the potential that it never reached during the regular season. Speaking of superstars, the four vs. five series between the Mavs and Clippers is loaded with them, and whoever comes out of that should pose a stiff challenge for Denver if it's not upset by the Lakers.

Favorites to lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy

Celtics +145

Nuggets +300

Clippers +1200

Bucks, Thunder, Mavs +1600

Eastern Conference series

8 vs. 1: Heat or Bulls vs. Celtics

7 vs. 2: 76ers (-110) vs. Knicks (-110)

6 vs. 3: Pacers (-120) vs. Bucks (+100)

5 vs. 4: Magic (+165) vs. Cavs (-195)

Western Conference series

8 vs. 1: Pelicans or Kings vs. Thunder

7 vs. 2: Lakers (+250) vs. Nuggets (-310)

6 vs. 3: Suns (-130) vs. Timberwolves (+110)

5 vs. 4: Mavs (-125) vs. Clippers (+105)

Out of eight series, the lower seed is not an underdog in four of them. It figures to be a wild first round.

Read more: Your guide to Friday's Play-In games (NBA.com)

  NHL  

Coyotes Leaving Arizona

 Photo:  Christian Petersen / Getty Images

The nomadic franchise played in three different Arizona arenas since moving from Winnipeg in 1996

Sure, Arizona might not have been the best place for a pro hockey franchise, but will Utah be any better? We're about to find out now that the NHL has brokered a sale of the Arizona Coyotes between Alex Meruelo, who bought the team for $300 million in 2019, and the Smith Entertainment Group for $1.2 billion. The Smith Entertainment Group also owns ("governs") the Utah Jazz, and it was looking for an expansion NHL franchise before the NHL made the Coyotes available. The team will begin play next season in Salt Lake City's Delta Center, where the Jazz call home.

The catalyst for the NHL to move the Coyotes seems to be the city of Tempe, Arizona turning down an arena proposal by Meruelo 11 months ago. The Coyotes have shared the 5,000-seat Mullett Arena with Arizona State for the last two seasons since being kicked out of Glendale in 2022, and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman likely wasn't thrilled with the idea of the Coyotes playing in a college venue while waiting for Meruelo to find a permanent solution.

Arizona fans got to say goodbye to the Coyotes during the team's final home game at Mullett Arena on Wednesday night just hours before the sale was officially announced. Arizona beat Edmonton 5-2 as part of an emotional evening for fans, players, and staff.

There is hope for hockey in the desert, though. As part of the sale, Meruelo retained the intellectual property and records of the Coyotes, and he negotiated the right to reboot the franchise as an expansion team if he can find a place to play in the next five years. All the players and coaches are moving to Utah, but it will be considered a brand new franchise when the puck drops in Salt Lake City this fall. Meanwhile, hockey might just return to Arizona in the near future.

Read more: NHL approves Coyotes sale, relocation to Salt Lake City (ESPN)

  NHL  

Puck Yeah! Stanley Cup Playoffs Begin

 Photo:  Richard T Gagnon / Getty Images

The NHL's thrilling postseason is finally ready to start after regular season play wrapped up on Thursday

Now for some good hockey news (double good news if you're in Utah). It's time for some playoff hockey! I hope you caught up on sleep recently, because at this time of year, a five-overtime thriller can keep you from going to bed on any given night. Just like with the NBA, there is a lot of pressure on the team with the best regular season record to win the title, but unlike with the NBA, that team is not a massive favorite. In fact, four teams are considered more likely than my Rangers to lift Lord Stanley's Cup in June, so I don't want to hear anything about a Presidents' Trophy curse.

The award given to the top regular season team in all of the NHL is said to be cursed because no team has won it and the Stanley Cup in the same season since the 2013 Blackhawks. I'm sure everyone will be talking about the "curse" if the Rangers fail to win their first Cup since 1994, but is it really a curse if you're not expected to make it out of the second round, where New York would likely see the favored Hurricanes?

One thing that I know for a fact comes with the Presidents' Trophy is home ice advantage, and that is a major edge when so many teams are considered to be on equal footing.

Favorites to win the Stanley Cup

Hurricanes +650

Panthers and Avalanche +700

Oilers +750

Rangers +800

Stars +850

Bruins +1100

Golden Knights +1200

Eastern Conference series

Wild Card vs. Metro Champ: Capitals (+340) vs. Rangers (-450)

Wild Card vs. Atlantic Champ: Lightning (+150) vs. Panthers (-180)

Metro 3 vs. Metro 2: Islanders (+280) vs. Hurricanes (-340)

Atlantic 3 vs. Atlantic 2: Maple Leafs (+105) vs. Bruins (-125)

Western Conference series

Wild Card vs. Central Champ: Golden Knights (+120) vs. Stars (-140)

Wild Card vs. Pacific Champ: Predators (+130) vs. Canucks (-150)

Central 3 vs. Central 2: Avalanche (-135) vs. Jets (+115)

Pacific 3 vs. Pacific 2: Kings (+160) vs. Oilers (-190)

Read more: 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs rooting guide for fans of eliminated teams (NHL.com)

  HIGHLIGHTS   🎥

⚾️MLB

Rays def. Angels 2-1

Ryan Pepiot 6.0 IP, 7 K, 3 BB, 1 ER

Rangers def. Tigers 9-7

Jack Leiter debuts, Marcus Semien 3-for-6, HR

Guardians def. Red Sox 5-4

Andres Gimenez 2-for-5, 2 RBI

Giants def. Diamondbacks 5-0

Logan Webb 7.0 IP, 5 K, 1 BB, 0 ER

🏒NHL

Kings def. Blackhawks 5-4 (OT)

Kings clinch third place in Pacific Division

Ducks def. Golden Knights 4-1

Frank Vatrano hat trick, Vegas moves down to Wild Card

  STORYLINES   

🏈2024 NFL mock draft with all trades: Deals for 32 first-round picks

For each of the 32 picks in Round 1, I will give you a trade that might make sense. (ESPN)

🏒Potential replacement names for Coyotes in Utah come into focus after trademark filings

Now that the Coyotes’ move to Utah is official, the question on everyone’s mind is what the team’s new name will be. (New York Post)

🏀The Twisted Irony of the Jontay Porter Scandal

Jontay Porter couldn’t resist the temptation to gamble. Neither can the NBA. (The Ringer)

  NEWS   📰 

🏀Former LSU star Hailey Van Lith transferring to TCU (ESPN)

🏀Kansas lands Wisconsin transfer AJ Storr (CBS Sports)

🏈Lions' new uniforms get leaked early (Yahoo)

🏀Heat guard Jimmy Butler out for Play-In game with sprained MCL (NBA.com)

🏈NFL reinstates five players who were suspended indefinitely for violation of gambling policy (NFL.com)

🏒Jaromir Jagr Becomes Oldest Goalscorer in Professional Hockey History (Sports Illustrated)

  WEEKEND SCHEDULE   🗓️

The Weekend Must-Watch List

🏀 NBA 

Friday, April 21

Bulls at Heat, Play-In Tournament (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Kings at Pelicans, Play-In Tournament (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)

Saturday, April 20

Magic at Cavaliers, Game 1 (1:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Suns at Timberwolves, Game 1 (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

76ers at Knicks, Game 1 (6:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Lakers at Nuggets, Game 1 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

Sunday, April 21

Heat or Bulls at Celtics, Game 1 (1:00 p.m. ET, ABC)

Mavericks at Clippers, Game 1 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

Pacers at Bucks, Game 1 (7:00 p.m., TNT)

Pelicans or Kings at Thunder (9:30 p.m., TNT)

🏒 NHL

Saturday, April 20

Islanders at Hurricanes, Game 1 (5:00 p.m. ET, TBS)

Maple Leafs at Bruins, Game 1 (8:00 p.m. ET, TBS)

Sunday, April 21

Lightning at Panthers, Game 1 (12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Capitals at Rangers, Game 1 (3:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Avalanche at Jets, Game 1 (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2)

Predators at Canucks, Game 1 (10:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)

⚾️ MLB

Friday, April 19

Marlins at Cubs (2:20 p.m. ET, MLBN)

Rangers at Braves (7:20 p.m. ET, Apple TV+)

Brewers at Cardinals (8:15 p.m. ET, MLBN)

Mets at Dodgers (10:10 p.m. ET, MLBN)

Diamondbacks at Giants (10:15 p.m. ET, Apple TV+)

Saturday, April 20

Rays at Yankees (1:05 p.m. ET, MLBN)

Mets at Dodgers (4:05 p.m., FS1)

Orioles at Royals (7:10 p.m., MLBN)

Rangers at Braves (7:20 p.m., MLBN)

Sunday, April 21

Rays at Yankees (1:35 p.m. ET, MLBN)

Mets at Dodgers (4:10 p.m. ET, MLBN)

Rangers at Braves (7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN)

⛳️PGA TOUR

RBC Heritage (Saturday and Sunday 3:00 p.m. ET, CBS)

🏁NASCAR

GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway (Sunday 3:00 p.m. ET, FOX)

⚽️English Premier League

Luton vs. Brentford (Saturday, 10:00 a.m. ET, USA)

Wolves vs. Arsenal (Saturday, 2:30 p.m. ET, USA)

Everton vs. Nottingham Forest (Sunday 8:30 a.m. ET, USA)

Fulham vs. Liverpool (Sunday 11:30 a.m. ET, USA)

⚽️MLS

Charlotte FC vs. Minnesota United FC (Sunday, 6:00 p.m. ET, FS1)

LA Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes (Sunday, 8:15 p.m. ET, FS1)

🏈UFL

Showboats at BattleHawks (Saturday 12:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

Renegades at Roughnecks (Sunday 2:00 p.m. ET, FS1)

  THE TEAM  

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Assistant Writer: Marissa Kasch

Social Media: Aaron Yorke

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