data-mm-id=”_4gacoy5cl”>The Golden State Warriors will not be participating in the playoffs this season. It will be the first time since 2012 that the Warriors will not make the postseason. It will be the first time since 2015 that a team besides the Warriors will win the Western Conference. Enjoy it. Because next season the status quo returns. You know that John Wick scene where he says he's thinking he's back and then he kills everyone? The basketball version of that is about to happen. Stephen Curry will return some time next month after breaking his hand in October. He's had the season off and he's about to get a month's worth of exhibition games to return to form. Draft spot be damned. Ratings be saved. Steve Kerr on the idea of holding out a healthy Steph Curry: “No. He’s perfectly healthy. If the point is he might get hurt, what’s the point of ever playing anybody? I guess the argument is we’re not making the playoffs. So, are we not trying to entertain our fans?” pic.twitter.com/3I8VUmCN07— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 19, 2020Klay Thompson will not return this season, but he has been back on the court, in uniform, shooting. Arguably the best backcourt in NBA history will be back together next season. And they'll have help.HEADBAND KLAY ??? pic.twitter.com/Zc53rnPa6S— Chris Montano (@gswchris) January 17, 2020Draymond Green has not asked for a buyout. About to miss the playoffs for the first time in his career, he's also about to have a full offseason for the first time in his career. Coming off five consecutive Finals, he's earned it. Especially after he suited up at all this season. Draymond Green has never been on a non-playoff team just playing out the string. What does he still want to accomplish this season? “A buyout. Get to a playoff team…I’m just playing.” He then gives a real answer. pic.twitter.com/6WRMr2EoJe— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 19, 2020Then there's Andrew Wiggins. Green thinks he can be an all-defensive team player, but the real question is, can he be Harrison Barnes? Can the nearly 25-year old Wiggins be as good as the currently 27-year old Barnes was when the Warriors won their first title? Can Wiggins be as good as the guy who is currently averaging 14 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists for the Sacramento Kings? That seems reasonable. What seems unreasonable is the rumor that the Warriors are going to use Wiggins to trade for Giannis Antetonkounmpo. We can't possibly live in that world. However, we do live in a world where Wiggins' big contract can be used to get something if he doesn't look like he's going to live up to his potential surrounded by All-Stars and champions. Then there's the draft pick. The Warriors currently have the worst record in the NBA and the best chances to win the NBA Draft Lottery. Curry's return could hurt those chances, but without anything to play for and surrounded by G-League-level players, they shouldn't climb that far out of the basement. Wherever that pick lands, it's a nice pick. Combine that with Wiggins' contract and you can make just about any deal work. Especially when you throw in three second-round draft picks this year and the 2021 Timberwolves first-rounder they picked up in the Wiggins deal. Shoot. They might be able to get Giannis. Let's just pretend that's not real. Let's consider their worst-case scenario where they get back Steph and Klay to go with Draymond and Wiggins and a top five pick. It's close. The Warriors aren't back, but they're about to be thinking they are.
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Market: Middlesbrough win
Odds: 1/2 @
Looking to make an immediate return to winning ways on Saturday afternoon, Middlesbrough will welcome Reading to the Riverside.
Starting with the hosts, watching their stellar purple patch come to an abrupt end away at West Brom last weekend, Middlesbrough will be seeking an immediate response here. However, despite eventually getting hit with a 2-0 loss away at the Hawthorns, Michael Carrick s side should still find the mood in their camp at a continued high. Only continuing to shine since appointing the ex-Manchester United coach last year, Boro now find themselves sat in pole position to claim a play-off spot in 2023. Skyrocketing their way up the Championship table since returning from the World Cup s winter break, Carri…
Luis Aragones s tenure as national coach came to a glorious and deserving conclusion here on Sunday with Spain s success over Germany in the Euro 2008 final.
Approaching his 70th birthday he became the oldest coach to win the European title but he must have shed half his years as he watched captain Iker Casillas hold aloft the coveted Cup which Spain has only held in its hands once before in 1964.
Aragones had warned bleakly on the eve of the final that no one remembers who comes second well he needn t have worried as Fernando Torres s first half goal ensured the world and his wife will recall his Spanish team for many a year to come.
Back in the dark days of Spain s early qualifying campaign for Euro 2008 Aragones had tendered his resignation as coach after …
Ronald Koeman claimed he has seen a big change in his Barcelona players compared to the way they started the season in LaLiga.
The Blaugrana made it five wins out of five Champions League matches with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Ferencvaros in Champions League Group G on Wednesday.
Barca will have the chance to win all six of their group games for the first time since the 2002-03 campaign when they face Juventus at Camp Nou next Tuesday.
Koeman s side have struggled in LaLiga this season, though, and are 12 points behind leaders Real Sociedad – albeit with two games in hand – after losing three and drawing two of their opening nine games.
The Dutchman, however, suggested there has been a significant difference in the performances produced by his p…
Real Madrid keeper Iker Casillas, who played a key role in Spain s Euro 2008 victory, should win the Ballon d Or award as the world footballer of the year, Spanish legend Emilio Butragueno said Friday.
Tradition dictates that only forwards win the award. But Iker is a special goalkeeper, not just this year, but throughout his career, the former Real Madrid striker and vice-president told the club s website.
The fact that he s a European champion and the role he played in the quarter-finals make him deserve it more than anyone. He must win the Balon d Or, he added.
Casillas, 27, only allowed two regular-time goals in the Euro 2008 tournament, both in the group stage.
The captain became a national hero after he saved two penalty kicks in the quarter-fi…
Verdict: Tottenham win
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With only one Premier League victory in the past two months, Southampton find themselves at the heart of a relegation battle, and after Saturday s results find themselves in the bottom three for the first time this season. The Saints will welcome a free-scoring Tottenham side to St. Mary s on Sunday afternoon.
Southampton
For Southampton, the Saints torrid run continued last weekend. With Abdoulaye Doucoure s last minute handball going unnoticed, Mauricio Pellegrino s side were unable to capitalize on their 2-0 lead at Watford. Leaving Vicardigde Road with just a point, Southampton s winless run continues. Without a Premier League win in their last 10 outings, the Saints find themselves firmly involved i…
Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs has confirmed the Bundesliga side are interested in signing Netherlands international Vincent Janssen, but has acknowledged they face stiff competition in the race for the AZ striker s signature.
The 22-year-old enjoyed a sublime 2015-16 campaign, scoring 27 goals in 34 Eredivisie appearances to become the league s top scorer.
Janssen s good performances have not gone unnoticed elsewhere with Tottenham and Everton also believed to be keeping a close eye on the prolific attacker.
We have a number of options for the position of striker, Allofs told Kicker.
We have already held talks with Janssen.
But we are not the only team that are interested in signing him.
With Wolfsburg looking to bring on Ja…
Stuttgart manager Bruno Labbadia has added fuel to speculations linking the Swabians with a move for Real Madrid defender Jorge Casado.
Reports coming from Spain have suggested the Bundesliga side are pondering a summer move for the talented left-back, and Labbadia has all but confirmed his interest in the player.
“The issue with Casado is currently not concrete,” the talented manager in Bild.
“But, the players from Real Madrid and Barcelona reserve teams are often very interesting, because they are incredibly well trained both technically and tactically.”
Stuttgart chief scout Ralf Becker has been to Spain on three separate occasions last year to check on potential targets at Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Given that contracts of Artur Boka…
Juventus are willing to bid 14 million euros to land promising Torino defender Angelo Ogbonna, according to a report.
Juventus are willing to bid 14 million euros to land promising Torino defender Angelo Ogbonna, according to a report.
According to Goal.com, Juve are desperate to avoid the situation they found themselves in with Marco Verratti, when they stalled with the signing and Paris Saint-Germain swooped for the Italian starlet.
Ogbonna, on the other hand, is believed to have attracted interest from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, who will have a new coach in the form of Pep Guardiola in the off-season, with his top performances in Serie A over the past couple of seasons.
Goal.com understands that Ogbonna would not be untouchable in Antonio Cont…
Diego Simeone insists his Atletico Madrid side are capable of turning around their torrid form to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League.
Atleti face Lokomotiv Moscow at the Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday knowing all three points will be enough to see them progress from Group D alongside Juventus, who have already booked their spot in the knockout stages.
Simeone s side go into the match on the back of a run of just one win in their last eight games across all competitions, but the Argentinian has full faith in his players ability to reverse their fortunes.
I believe in my team, he told a media conference. I believe in the players and in these difficult moments they are continuing behind the same philosophy. It makes me optimistic and positive.
…
A host of Napoli players have paid tribute to Carlo Ancelotti following his sacking, with the Italian lauded as a special person by Lorenzo Insigne and others.
Ancelotti was dismissed on Tuesday despite guiding Napoli to a 4-0 win over Genk earlier in the day, securing their place in the last 16 of the Champions League.
It has been a difficult first half of the season for Napoli, with underwhelming league form combining with tension between Ancelotti and the club s hierarchy.
Club president Aurelio De Laurentiis was reported to have ordered Ancelotti and the players to attend a training retreat in early November, but the squad failed to show up in what was deemed by the Italian media to be an act of open rebellion.
Napoli threatened sanctions in the wake …