Cavs Getting “Strong Interest” in Kevin Love from a Couple NBA Teams
Matt Loede Related TopicsCavsKevin Love Matt Loede has been a part of the Cleveland Sports Media for over 21 years, with experience covering Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, the National Football League and even high school and college events. He has been a part of the Cleveland Indians coverage since the opening of Jacobs/Progressive Field in 1994, and spent two and a half years covering the team for 92.3 The Fan, and covers them daily for Associated Press Radio. You can follow Matt on Twitter HERE.
The Cavs are in a complete tailspin as they sit at the bottom of the NBA with the worst record at 8-32, and there’s been plenty of talk about the team moving one of their only marketable players, forward Kevin Love.Amico Hoops’ Sam Amico reports that the Mavs and Hornets are two potential landing spots for Love if the Cavs decide to pull the trigger on a deal, despite the fact Love’s only played in four games thus far this season. According to several Amico Hoops sources, both the Charlotte Hornets and Dallas Mavericks have a fairly strong interest in Love, who’s appeared in just four games this season.But for opposing teams looking to upgrade the roster, it’s not about how many games Love hasn’t played. They’re thinking about the future.Love, 30, underwent left foot surgery in early November and has been on the shelf ever since. The issue seemed to be his big toe, though that’s not ever really been made clear.The Cavs got Love to sign a four-year contract extension before the season, and thoughts were that the team was going to be able to compete with the likes of him, J.R. Smith, and Tristian Thompson still on the roster.Instead, the team has fired a coach, Thompson has been hurt, Smith is all but history, and the team is back to rock bottom.There should be plenty more rumors about the team moving Love, and with the way things look it wouldn’t be a surprise if a move did get made by the time it’s all over. 
GET THE BEST OF THE JAPAN TIMES Nishikori has dropped to 93rd in the world rankings from a career-high 56th after losing the points he earned for winning the Delay Beach International Tennis Championships last February.Go Soeda, Satoshi Iwabuchi and Takao Suzuki have also been selected for the matchup against China. IN FIVE EASY PIECES WITH TAKE 5
Kei Nishikori has been named to the country’s Davis Cup team, the Japan Tennis Association announced on Tuesday.Nishikori, who became the second Japanese in history to win an ATP tournament last year, has been selected to play in the second round of the Asia/Oceania Zone Group One at Namihaya Dome sub arena in Osaka from March 6-8.
Gunmen killed five people Thursday during an attack on a wake in central Mexico, sparking a manhunt that left one suspect dead and three under arrest, authorities said.The assailants opened fire at a home in the city of Celaya in Guanajuato state during a vigil for a 19-year-old man killed in an earlier attack at the same location.Police tracked down the suspects and a gun battle broke out in which one of the alleged attackers died, according to a statement from the local government.Guanajuato has been shaken by intensifying violence linked to a turf war between rival cartels Jalisco New Generation and Santa Rosa de Lima.In July, heavily armed men stormed a drug rehabilitation center in the city of Irapuato and killed 27 people. Guanajuato’s network of energy pipelines and its refinery have attracted gangs battling for control of trade in stolen fuel.Last month the government announced the capture of Santa Rosa de Lima leader Jose Antonio Yepez, also known as “El Marro.”Mexico has been hit by a wave of violence since the government deployed the military to fight the drug cartels in 2006.Around 293,000 people have since been murdered, according to official figures that do not specify how many of the cases are linked to organized crime. SIGN UP TO DAILY NEWSLETTERCLICK HERE TO SIGN-UP
BASKETBALL The Basketball Federation of PNG must revive some of its major national events such as the National premier club championship, the National All Stars and Regional titles. Basketball followers and member associations around the country are calling on the current executives headed by President Nick Daroa, to revive these national events that draw a lot of interest and following across PNG. The call was made by Snax Unitech Bulls Basketball Club president Nelson Thom following successful talks that paved the way for a friendly exhibition match between five-time champions of the Lae Basketball Association, Butibam Bees and six-time champions of Port Moresby Premier Men’s Basketball League KSS Southern Flames. It is believed the non-existence of these national events for a good number of years has been widely criticized, adding the BFPNG had done little to revive those events and was killing the code. It was also revealed that the BFPNG had promised MAs at an annual general meeting held at the Taurama Aquatic Center earlier this year that those events were going to be held but until today, it has never eventuated. “(The) BFPNG promised us that they will bring back the National Premier Club championship, the National All Stars and the regional titles but this has never eventuated,” National Souths Basketball League president Silas Nicky said. Thom, who once enjoyed the glamour days participating in those national events, said: “It will be good to see the BFPNG bringing those national events back on their calendar and making it work.” He is also excited that the two champion teams from Port Moresby and Lae will face off in an exhibition match to see the champion basketball team in the country. The challenge will coincide with the National Souths Basketball League tournament in Lae next week with a return match expected to be held in Port Moresby next year. Local organising committee for Flames basketball club Stanley Khana also confirmed that the match will go ahead as planned next Saturday and everyone’s looking forward to the challenge.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — It’s the time of year when SEC teams seem to start flexing their defensive muscle.Offenses have deservingly garnered headlines in an age of spread offenses and run-it-up attacks, but the league that built its national championship run on defense has taken another step forward this season: 10 Southeastern Conference teams have allowed fewer yards this year than last and half of the 14 league members are among the country’s 30 stingiest in points given up.”There’s no question that defense is most important at this time of the year,” said LSU coach Les Miles, who won the 2007 national title and played for a second crown in 2011.The sentiment is shared throughout the SEC.It also may be one reason there were six SEC teams in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, four in the top six.No. 3 Alabama (No. 6 CFP) is the country’s fifth best defense, giving up about 10 fewer yards a game than in 2013. Seventh-ranked Mississippi (No. 4 CFP) is yielding 305 yards, 65 fewer a game than last season. No. 4 Auburn (No. 3 CFP), No. 9 Georgia (No. 11 CFP) and No. 16 LSU (No. 19 CFP) are all allowing less yards than last season.Ole Miss leads the country with just 10.5 points a game, a decrease of nearly two touchdowns from the 23.7 yielded a year ago. Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Missouri, Auburn and top-ranked Mississippi State (No. 1 CFP) are all in the top 30 of the FBS in that category.”That’s just the culture in the SEC,” former Texas coach and ESPN analyst Mack Brown said. “That hasn’t changed.”While TCU’s 82-point outburst against Texas Tech gained headlines last week, the SEC answered with a 10-7 defensive struggle with LSU topping Ole Miss.The SEC’s defensive push comes during a year after some of its marquee stars on that side of the ball left for the NFL — including South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, Alabama’s C.J. Mosley and Missouri’s Michael Sam left for the pros.Now, others have filled the void.— Tennessee linebacker A.J. Johnson leads the SEC with 86 tackles for the Vols, who are holding opponents to almost 80 yards less this season than last.— Missouri defensive end Shane Ray picked up where Sam left off, on top in the SEC — and third nationally — with 10 sacks.— Mississippi’s Senquez Golson has eight interceptions to tie for most in the country.Not everything’s rosy for all SEC defenses.One the league’s leading groups the past few years could be found in South Carolina. But the Gamecocks have allowed 38 points a game in its six SEC contests, an increase of 18 points from a year ago and a major reason the Gamecocks went from preseason SEC East favorites to 2-4 in the conference.And then there’s Mississippi State. The Bulldogs have managed to win though statistically they are not as strong defensively as they were last year: Mississippi State is last in SEC defense, giving up 90 yards more a game than in 2013.Brian Jones, a former Texas linebacker and current CBS Sports analyst, said the numbers are misleading. He said the Bulldogs offense, led by Heisman Trophy contender Dak Prescott, builds big leads and forces opponents to throw the ball to get back in games, and that skews the numbers.”The key,” Jones said, “is what they do in the red zone and the turnovers they get.”Tennessee coach Butch Jones thinks improved defense as the season moves on is as much a product of more opponent game film as work on the field.”So, the more video you have out there, the more games you play, the more things you have to game plan,” he said.Injuries also can affect teams on top defensively.Ole Miss lost starting linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche to a broken ankle against LSU this past week and won’t have him for critical games against Auburn this week and Mississippi State down the road.”You look at the teams that win consistently in November, late October, that go on championship stretch runs,” Jones said, “they have great depth.”There’s also a competition in the league to be considered the SEC’s top defense.”I know our defense enjoys playing and wants to be the best,” said Vols linebacker-defensive end Curt Maggitt, whose four sacks rank 10th in the SEC. “We play to be the best, and I’m sure other teams could say the same.”___AP Sports Writers Brett Martel in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Gary B. Graves in Lexington, Kentucky; David Brandt in Oxford, Mississippi; Steve Megargee in Knoxville, Tennessee; and John Zenor in Auburn, Alabama, contributed to this report.
TUSCALOOSA Alabama coach Nick Saban plans to shore up his offense this week in practice headed into the SEC Championship Game.While the top-ranked Crimson Tide put up 55 points to win the Iron Bowl, it can’t afford a sluggish start Saturday night against No. 17 Missouri in the Georgia Dome like against Auburn.These Tigers possess a much stingier defense than Auburn’s. Three early interceptions by quarterback Blake Sims would be a disaster for Alabama (11-1) in its quest for a national title.“They were technical things not just about Blake, but some things about how we executed things,” Saban said of the offense. “We just need to keep working with Blake so he has the kind of confidence he needs to go out there and play well, lead our team, make good decisions, take what the defense gives him.”Missouri (10-2) ranks 16th nationally and fourth in the SEC in total defense, allowing 331.1 yards a game. The Tigers are equally strong against the pass and rush.Saban’s first concern is Missouri’s defensive line because of the disruption it causes in the running and passing games.Shane Ray leads the SEC in sacks with 131/2 and 201/2 tackles for a loss of yardage, while Markus Golden has 81/2 sacks and 16 tackles for a loss.“Obviously those guys are very productive,” Saban said. “These guys are obviously very quick guys that are instinctive, that beat people with their quickness. They’re very productive in their system and scheme. They do a good job of executing. Not many guys have made that kind of an impact with their defense anywhere in the country in terms of giving the offense negative plays.”Missouri ranks tied for sixth in the nation and first in the SEC in quarterback sacks with 40 for 3.3 a game. There have been 91 tackles for a loss for minus-401 yards.“It’s going to be a challenge for the offensive line,” offensive tackle Austin Shepherd said. “Shane Ray, he’s the SEC sack leader and a great lineman. They know how to rush.”The secondary takes advantage of that pressure for 12 interceptions, led by Braylon Webb with four and Aarlon Penton with three and seven pass breakups.That translates into a scoring defense ranked 13th nationally that gives up only 19.7 points a game.“Their defense is very opportunistic, gets lots of turnovers,” Saban said. “They’re plus-nine in turnovers, so that is really pretty high.”Part of the poor start against Auburn for Sims was a minor ankle injury. He recovered in the second half and finished strong.His 312-yard passing game with four touchdowns, plus one more rushing, showed he can rally his team against the odds.“Well, he’s athletic. He can run,” Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. “For a young guy, he struggled a little bit like he did the first half in the game the other day. To be able to come back and play the way he did certainly says an awful lot about him.”Pinkel looks at the whole body of work when it comes to Sims, and he has been productive all season.Sims ranks high at seventh in passer rating at 159.5, completes 63.1 percent of his passes and thrown for 2,988 yards and 24 touchdowns.“So you have your problems with a guy like this, we understand that,” Pinkel said. “I don’t think you stop him. I think you contain him the best you can. I think (receiver Amari) Cooper is the same way. You’re not going to stop him. He’s a great, great player. You try to limit the amount of damage they can do. I think that’s where you start.”Pressuring Sims will be vital for Missouri. He’s a mobile quarterback that can scramble, but he’s a better passer in the pocket.“He’s a game-changer,” Shepherd said. “He’s proven it all year long. You know that he can get it done.”Alabama’s protection must hold up, but the offensive line is banged up. Left tackle Cam Robinson is day-to-day this week after a shoulder injury last Saturday. He’s also dealt with nagging ankle problems.If he’s not healthy, Shepherd flips from right tackle to left and Grant Hill will play right tackle.“I made some mistakes, but I have great players and coaches behind me who picked me back up,” Sims said. “I trusted my players that they would be where they are supposed to be. We’ll just keep working to get better.” (1) ALABAMA VS. (17) MISSOURI WHAT: SEC Championship GameWHEN: 3 p.m. SaturdayWHERE: Georgia Dome, AtlantaRECORDS: Alabama (11-1, 7-1 SEC), Missouri (10-2, 7-1)ON THE AIR: TV — WAKA/CBS; Radio — WXFX-FM 95.1, WDXX-FM 100.1, WTLS-FM 106.5, WTLS-AM 1300LINE: Alabama by 14
See also:Spirited Rangers draw with Man CityQPR moving in right direction – RedknappFernandes savours QPR turnaround after avoiding ‘rash decisions’Rangers assess yet another Sandro injuryRangers boss Redknapp hails HenryRobinson has England potential – Powell Follow West London Sport on TwitterFind us on FacebookAdChoices广告
Tottenham’s tough guy chief simply won’t let his club lose out on a penny of a transfer fee wherever possible and whilst that has caused frustration for fans at times, it’s almost certainly a big reason reason players including Kane and Eriksen are still at the club.When the approach can seem a little strong is for a player Tottenham really don’t see a future for, and that’s the case with Georges-Kevin Nkoudou.The 20 year old had a difficult transfer to Spurs and never got the chance to show all the effort and hard talks had been worth it. A loan to Burnley last season didn’t do enough to bring in a queue of buyers ready to fight and now it’s only really clubs looking for a gamble option who seem keen.L’Equipe report Sevilla have had the player as an option and have been negotiating a loan with Tottenham. However, the ‘financial demands’ of ‘facetious’ Daniel Levy have seen the Spanish club cool the track.Nkoudou is just one of several options for Sevilla and they’re not going to pay over the odds for a rental period.by Taboolaby TaboolaSponsored LinksSponsored LinksPromoted LinksPromoted LinksTrending TodayForge of Empires – Free Online GameDon’t Play This Game, it’s Addictive.Forge of Empires – Free Online GameUndoRaid: Shadow Legends | Free DownloadEven Non-Gamers Are Obsessed With This RPG Game (It’s Worth Installing!)Raid: Shadow Legends | Free DownloadUndoDating.comWhere do attractive singles meet in Tung Chung?Dating.comUndoKeto减肥1個簡單的妙招一夜「融化」腹部贅肉（今晚試試）Keto减肥UndoInstant Voice TranslatorGenius Japanese Invention Allows You To Instantly Speak 43 LanguagesInstant Voice TranslatorUndoCNBC InternationalSingapore’s Freelancers Find New Income During the Coronavirus Pandemic.CNBC InternationalUndoPerfect-Dating.comReveal Tung Chung As The Best City to Date for Love & RomancePerfect-Dating.comUndoTheTopFiveVPNEnjoy Netflix Now Without Any RestrictionsTheTopFiveVPNUndoLoans | Search AdsNeed a loan? Search hereLoans | Search AdsUndo L’Equipe, like many European sport newspapers, hold Daniel Levy in contempt much of the time.
After seven positive Covid-19 tests in the Nizhnekamsk “Neftekhimik” team, the Continental Hockey League has decided to postpone the game between Riga “Dinamo” and “Neftekhimik”, which was to take place on Friday, September 11. Arriving in Riga, Neftekhimik hockey players underwent mandatory Covid -19 tests. Seven players showed positive results.The Neftekhimik team went to St. Petersburg, where a full additional Covid-19 test was performed.The Continental Hockey League will inform about the date and time of the transfer of the Riga “Dinamo” and Nizhny Novgorod “Neftekhimik” games.
(Reuters) – The world heavyweight title fight between Briton Anthony Joshua and the IBF’s mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev of Bulgaria originally scheduled for June 20 has been postponed, promoters Matchroom Boxing said yesterday. Joshua’s defence of his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO titles was set to take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but the coronavirus outbreak has brought global sport to a standstill, with no competition taking place in the United Kingdom.“A new date for the event… is currently being worked on,” Matchroom Boxing said in a statement https://www.matchroomboxing.com/news/joshua-vs-pulev-postponed. “We will announce any updates in due course and continue to explore the possibility of hosting this fight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.”Pulev said last month the fight would take place “towards the end of the year” due to the outbreak and that he would have no problem fighting without spectators in attendance. It marks the second time their bout has not gone ahead as planned. Joshua was initially due to fight Pulev at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in October 2017 but the Bulgarian withdrew after suffering a shoulder injury in sparring.Pulev had previously challenged for the IBF world heavyweight title in 2014 but lost to Wladimir Klitschko in Hamburg when he was knocked out in the fifth round.The 30-year-old Joshua reclaimed the WBA, WBO and IBF belts with a unanimous points win over Andy Ruiz Jr in December.