|
|
|
Good Morning 👋
We had a short break from late-night chaos this week. That’s over now. I’m rested and ready. Game 1 of the NBA Finals tips off tonight. Today is the Finals hype letter. Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals drops the puck on Saturday. We’ll crown softball champs tonight or tomorrow before a pair of French Open winners, too.
Busy weekend ahead. Ready? Letter Rip! |
|
|
The 2024 NBA Finals Primer 🏆 |
Photo: Brian Fluharty / Getty Images |
Matchups, Stats & Storylines Before the Mavericks & Celtics Tip Off Tonight (Game 1: 8:30 pm ET, ABC)
It’s time for the big one. Two months of non-stop nightly playoff action has brought us to this. It’s Celtics vs. Mavericks for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Game 1 tips tonight (8:30 pm ET, ABC). Let’s get ready for the Finals. The Matchup & Favorites
The Celtics (-220) are clear-cut favorites with a much deeper lineup, but the Mavericks have star-power. That’ll be the story to watch. Boston can throw a handful of great defenders at Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Jrue Holiday and Derrick White will shoulder the load. If Kristaps Porzingis is healthy (he’s expected to play in Game 1), the Mavs’ big men will have their hands full. All the high-scoring guards will get their buckets, but it could come down to whether or not Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II can wrangle Porzingis.
Team Superlatives & NBA Ratings - BOS: Offense (2nd) | Defense (3rd) | Rebounds (3rd) | 3-Pt % (6th)
-
DAL: Offense (6th) | Defense (6th) | Rebounds (4th) | 3-Pt % (5th)
The Star Players
Dallas Mavericks 🐴 - Luka Doncic: 33.9 pts, 9.2 rebs, 9.8 asts
- Kyrie Irving: 25.6 pts, 5.0 rebs, 5.2 asts
-
P.J. Washington: 12.9 pts, 5.6 rebs, 1.9 asts
Boston Celtics 🍀 -
Jayson Tatum: 26.9 pts, 8.1 rebs, 4.9 asts
- Jaylen Brown: 23.0 pts, 5.5 rebs, 3.6 asts
- Kristaps Porzingis: 20.1 pts, 7.2 rebs, 2.0 asts
Players Facing Former Teams
Two stars in the series will be playing against their former teams, and that always makes for some extra drama. Both Kyrie Irving and Kristaps Porzingis used to play for the opponent, and both players exited to New York for failed stints before ending up swapped in Boston and Dallas. Celtics fans surely remember when Irving flipped them the middle finger in 2022.
The Coaches
Jason Kidd (Mavs) and Joe Mazzula (Celtics) will make history as the first two black head coaches to square off in the NBA Finals since 1975 (Al Attles and K.C. Jones). That’s a great storyline in itself. Kidd was a player on the 2011 Mavericks championship roster with Dirk Nowitzki, so he’s had a hand in any-and-all Dallas basketball success this century. Joe Mazzula (35 years old) is the youngest head coach in the Finals since another Celtic — Bill Russell (35) in 1969.
X-Factors to Watch
You know the big names (those stars we listed above), but if there’s one x-factor for each team in this Finals series, my money is on Derrick White (Celtics) and Dereck Lively II (Mavs). White can catch fire and disrupt the flow of any game if Tatum and Brown go cold. He’s had five 20-point games and hit 48 threes in the postseason — second only to Doncic (57). Lively II, on the other hand, is critical to Dallas’ defense. The Mavs are 12-5 in the playoffs, but they’re 10-1 when Lively II plays more than 20 minutes.
Seven months of basketball brings us to one last series. Game 1 tips tonight.
NBA Finals 🏆 Gm 1: Mavericks at Celtics (8:30 pm ET, ABC)
Read More The Ringer: The 4 Biggest Tactical Questions for the 2024 NBA Finals
SI: Jrue Holiday Has One-Word Answer For How to Stop Kyrie Irving: “Pray”
Yahoo! Sports: Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum & Legacies on the Line in the 2024 NBA Finals
Sporting News: Kyrie Irving’s Timeline of Controversial Celtics Moments & Boston Encounters
CBS Sports: 5 Bold Predictions for Celtics-Mavericks With Tight Series Ending in Historic Upset |
|
|
Another Teen Tennis Takedown |
Photo: Robert Prange / Getty Images |
17-Year-Old Mirra Andreeva Upsets #2 Aryna Sabalenka; Gauff-Swiatek Coming, Plus Djokovic’s Surgery
The final eight participants in the French Open are ready for the weekend, but it's another teenage sports star stealing the show this week. Two upsets took place yesterday when 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva shocked #2 Aryna Sabalenka and #12 Jasmine Paolini stumped #4 Elena Rybakina. Paolini has been a force in this year’s French Open, but we might be witnessing the official arrival of Andreeva. The Russian teenager has yet to win a tour-level title. This semifinal run in her fifth slam has been special. For context on the upset, Sabalenka hadn't dropped a set in a major in 2024, and Andreeva swept her in straight sets. She was reportedly playing sick, though.
It’s a big morning for the women’s semifinals with Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek taking the court shortly. Set your clocks for 9:00 am ET.
Women’s Singles (Quarterfinals) M. Andreeva def. #2 A. Sabalenka (6-7, 6-4, 6-4)
#12 J. Paolini def. #4 E. Rybakina (62, 4-6, 6-4) Men’s Singles (Quarterfinals)
#4 A. Zverev def. #11 A. de Minaur (6-4, 7-6, 6-4) #7 C. Ruud Advances / #1 N. Djokovic Withdraws Today’s Schedule (Women’s Semifinals) #1 I. Swiatek vs. #3 C. Gauff (9:00 am ET) #12 J. Paolini vs. M. Andreeva (10:15 am ET) Read More
NBC Sports: Mirra Andreeva Upsets Aryna Sabalenka, Youngest in Slam Semis Since 1997
ESPN: Novak Djokovic to Have Surgery on Injured Knee, Doubtful for Wimbledon |
|
|
Photo: Jamie Sabau / Getty Images |
White Sox Lose Franchise-Record 13th Straight Game Via Heartbreaking Cubs’ Walk-Off (7-6)
Struggles on the Southside continue this week. The Chicago White Sox have the worst record in baseball, and it’s not even close. They entered the week losers of 11 straight games and 15 of their last 16. The first crosstown rivalry series of the season was a welcomed thought with the Cubs also struggling, but back-to-back heartbreakers have kept the futility streak rolling.
The Sox blew a 6-5 lead on Monday night to lose, 7-6. That made it a dozen straight losses. Last night, they held a 5-1 lead before coming undone. Paul DeJong hit a game-tying HR in the 8th, but it didn’t matter. Mike Tauchman crushed a bottom-9th walk-off winner (7-6) for the Cubs. That 13th straight loss ties the White Sox’s franchise record. Their last win came on May 21, and they’re now 15-47 — six games back of the Marlins (21-41) for the 29th-best record in baseball.
Futility Record Watch: The worst record in a 162-game season belongs to the 2003 Tigers (43-119). The White Sox are on pace for 39 wins.
Watch: Cubs Hand White Sox 13th Straight Loss With Tauchman’s Walk-Off (7-6) |
MLB Quick-Hitters ⚾️
Skenes vs. Ohtani: The first matchup between Pirates’ rookie pitcher Paul Skenes and Dodgers’ star Shohei Ohtani lived up to the hype. Skenes won the first battle with a three-pitch strikeout — all fastballs over 100 mph. Zing! Ohtani won the second faceoff with a two-run home run. This showdown was delightful. Bucs won, 10-6.
Yanks Take 7th Straight: Good luck strolling into Yankee Stadium. The scorching hot Yanks twisted the Twins last night (9-5) in New York for their seventh straight win. The Yankees have won 12 of their last 15 at home, and this recent win streak has largely come on the road. Carlos Rodon K’d nine in a fiery start. He was chasing a shutout until the 8th inning.
1st Hit, 1st HR?: Tigers’ rookie Justyn-Henry Malloy went yard on his first-ever MLB hit last night. Coincidentally, that HR broke up a perfect-game bid by the Rangers in the 6th inning. That was the lone bright spot for Detroit, though. Texas won easy, 9-1. |
|
|
🏒 The 2024 Stanley Cup Finals Preview
We’re down to two for the Stanley Cup Finals, and the storylines are endless. The Panthers are back for redemption. The Oilers are coming for all of Canada. Get ready for Game 1. (ESPN)
🏀 Targeting Clark? This Coach Thinks So
The sports media world is still buzzing over the Caitlin Clark foul. UConn head coach Geno Auriemma weighed in, and he thinks she’s being ‘targeted’ in the WNBA. (Yahoo! Sports)
⛳️ Early Predictions for Pinehurst
The 2024 U.S. Open tees off one week from today at Pinehurt’s iconic No. 2 course. Tiger Woods accepted the invite. Picks, predictions, and more ahead of golf’s next major. (CBS Sports) |
|
|
🏀 NBA Finals 🏆 Gm 1: Mavericks at Celtics (8:30 pm ET, ABC) 🎾 French Open (Semifinals) W: #1 I. Swiatek vs. #3 C. Gauff (9:00 am ET)
W: #12 J. Paolini vs. M. Andreeva (10:15 am ET) *Stream on NBC Sports 🥎 Softball World Series (Final)
Gm 2: #1 Texas vs. #2 Oklahoma (8:00 pm ET, ESPN) Oklahoma Leads Series (1-0)
⚾️ MLB Royals at Guardians (1:10 pm ET, ESPN+) Twins at Yankees (7:05 pm ET, MLBTV) 🏀 WNBA Sky at Mystics (7:00 pm ET, PRIME)
Liberty at Dream (7:30 pm ET, WNBALP) |
|
|
Stanley Cup Finals Picks 🏒 |
We asked for your Stanley Cup Finals picks yesterday. Puck flip! Forget the Panthers being -150 favorites. The Sportsletter Team is riding with Canada. Stanley Cup Finals Picks Edmonton Oilers (54%) Florida Panthers (46%) |
|
|
Did Someone Forward You This Email? Subscribe Here
Feedback? Contact Our Editor: Jeff@TheSportsletter.com
*Sponsorship Has No Influence on Editorial Content*
Not Loving The Letter? Unsubscribe
Copyright © 2024 The Sportsletter
717 Market Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103 |
|
|
|
