Hot Takes We Might Actually Believe: The Lakers will repeat as NBA champions, and it won't be close

The 2020-21 NBA season is almost upon us, but Hot Take SZN is here, and at the end of another eventful offseason we will see how close to the sun we can fly and still stand the swelter of these viewpoints. LeBron James believes he has been “part of two teams that have won the two hardest championships in NBA history,” lumping this year’s victory with the Los Angeles Lakers inside the Orlando bubble into the same category as his Cleveland Cavaliers’ 3-1 comeback against a 73-win Golden State Warriors team. Granted, the bubble took its toll on everyone, both mentally and physically, but basketball-wise, this fourth ring was James’ breeziest yet. The 35-year-old got a four-month break from the season to recharge before riding the eight-game seeding schedule on auto pilot to the No. 1 overall seed. The Lakers were never tested in any of their four playoff rounds, trouncing the exhausted and injury-depleted Portland Trail Blazers, rolling the imploding Houston Rockets, avoiding the rival L.A. Clippers in the Western Conference finals and beating a fifth-seeded Miami Heat team that lost two of its three best players in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The Lakers boasted the two best players in the bubble and avoided anyone who might have challenged them for that moniker. Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry played a total of five games last season. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks lost their rhythm. Damian Lillard rode his body into the ground. Russell Westbrook undercut James Harden’s Rockets. And Kawhi Leonard’s Clippers crumbled. Credit LeBron and his veteran Lakers for avoiding the momentum, chemistry and injury issues exacerbated by the bubble. The Lakers may have beaten all comers anyhow. Their mental toughness was unrivaled in a season rocked by the coronavirus pandemic, but they enter this campaign with a claim James has not been able to make since he played for the Heat: His roster is clearly the league’s most talented, bolstered by an offseason that better equipped it to beat any challenger at its best. So, yes, the Lakers will repeat as NBA champions. All the Lakers needed last season were two competent role players alongside James and Davis to coast to the title without ever sniffing a Game 7. Rajon Rondo’s career resurgence and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s career postseason were enough to mask the inconsistencies of Danny Green, Kyle Kuzma, Markieff Morris, Alex Caruso and Dwight Howard — easily the worst supporting cast for which Green has been a headliner. According to Cleaning the Glass, the Lakers outscored opponents by 15.9 points per 100 possessions in non-garbage playoff minutes when James and Davis were on the floor, regardless of who played with them. That is absurd, all the more so when you consider JaVale McGee was in their most commonly used lineup. Before the shine wore off the franchise’s latest Larry O’Brien Trophy, Lakers vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka revamped the roster around his two superstars. He dealt for Dennis Schroder before signing Montrezl Harrell, Marc Gasol and Wesley Matthews. Schroder and Harrell alone would have been a coup. After all, they are respectively the winner and runner-up for the Sixth Man of the Year award. With Gasol and Matthews, they represent a significant collective upgrade over Rondo, Green and the big man tandem of Howard and McGee. Half a championship roster was swapped out for a better model. Both Caldwell-Pope and Morris re-signed. Kuzma is entering the final year of his rookie contract, but just agreed to a three-year extension. Many of those who played significant minutes on the Lakers’ title run, including Caruso, will be pushed further down the depth chart, where they belong. Let us be honest: Nobody but James and Davis could have led last season’s role players to a title, and they made it look easy. What might they do with a proper rotation? They will win another championship, even if the road is harder. And it may not be. It remains to be seen whether the Clippers can reach their potential, even if Serge Ibaka may have been an upgrade over the outgoing Harrell. The Rockets are a mess. Warriors star Klay Thompson suffered another season-ending injury. The Denver Nuggets lost Jerami Grant from their starting lineup. The Lakers are in a tier of their own out West, and their potential challengers in the other conference are full of question marks. Pelinka’s offseason was so successful that it swayed James and Davis to sign long-term contract extensions in L.A. The only question left for them will be whether James can get to six rings, because Father Time is the only opponent standing between him and Michael Jordan now. But that is a hot take for another year Basketball stat collect from isports API, for more details please visit www.isportsapi.com .

Manchester City hopes of signing Lionel Messi dealt blow as Argentine says he is excited about future at Barcelona

Lionel Messi appears to have given Barcelona some encouragement he could stay at the club after admitting he was feeling “excited” about the future after what has been a tough year. The Argentina forward wanted to quit Barcelona last summer after a breakdown in relations with former president Josep Maria Bartomeu only to agree to stay rather than drag the club into a legal fight to force his departure. Messi’s future remains uncertain and Manchester City - who face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night - have been watching developments with interest amid hope of signing the 33-year-old next summer when his contract expires. He will be free to talk to foreign suitors next month, with City the favourites to sign him if he did leave the Nou Camp. But Messi insists his dispute with Barcelona - which he says impacted his form this season - is behind him and that he is focused on helping the club “through a difficult time”. “Right now I’m feeling good and looking forward to fighting for every competition we have ahead,” he said in an interview with Spanish TV channel La Sexta. “I know the club is in a difficult moment at institutional level and on the pitch and everything surrounding Barça right now is difficult, but I’m feeling excited.” Messi scored his 643rd goal for Barcelona in a 2-2 draw against Valencia on Saturday to equal Pele’s goals record for a single club but has struggled for form this season, as have his side, who trail La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid by eight points. He has nine goals in all competitions this term, five of which have been penalties, and has yet to claim an assist in 13 league games, with the player admitting last summer’s troubles have taken their toll on his form. “Everything that happened before the summer, how the season ended, then the burofax and everything else … I dragged everything into the start of the season a bit,” Messi said. “The truth is right now I’m feeling fine but in the summer I had a very bad time.” Barcelona have elections on January 24 to determine the successor to Bartomeu, who resigned in October, and have been battling financial issues off the pitch. But they are still hoping to strength the team next month, despite those battles, and Eric Garcia’s Manchester City team-mates believe he is heading to Barcelona. Barcelona tried to sign the Spain central defender during the summer transfer window only for a deal to collapse on deadline day after they failed to meet City’s €20 million (£18.3m) pricetag. Pep Guardiola, the City manager, wanted to keep Garcia but the 19-year-old has his heart set on a return to Barcelona and is hoping a deal can finally be struck between the clubs next month. Garcia - who is out of contract at the end of the season - joined City from Barcelona in 2017. Garcia’s determination to join Barcelona is widely accepted in the City dressing room and there is a firm expectation he will return to Spain, even though the club have a series of financial concerns. Barcelona have been looking to offload players to help facilitate a deal. Last month, Barcelona’s players agreed to wage cuts that would save the club €122 million. They also agreed with their players to have about £45m of variable payments deferred over a three-year period. Barcelona’s accounts for 2019/20, published in October, revealed that the club’s net debt had more than doubled to €488 million as they felt the sharp impact of the Covid-19 crisis. Despite his desire to leave, City have had no problems with Garcia and Guardiola continued to select him until a recent injury. The teenager was forced off after 28 minutes of the 3-0 Champions League win over Marseille on December 9 and ruled out for up to three weeks. Football stat collect from isports API, for more details please visit www.isportsapi.com .

Mohamed Salah dropped by Liverpool after revealing 'disappointment' at captaincy decision and hinting at Spain move

Mohamed Salah was omitted from Liverpool’s starting lineup against Crystal Palace, hours after giving an interview in which he admitted he was "disappointed" to be overlooked as the club's stand-in captain and hinted that he could entertain a move to Spain. Salah scored twice as a second-half substitute in Liverpool’s sensational 7-0 thrashing of Palace at Selhurst Park, with manager Jurgen Klopp saying the forward was being rested. Klopp added that he had “nothing to say” about Salah’s interview. In the piece with Spanish publication AS, the Egyptian international said he thought he would be handed the role for the Champions League dead rubber against Midtjylland after Jordan Henderson started on the bench, and with vice-captains James Milner and Virgil Van Dijk unavailable due to injury. But Klopp opted to reward youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold with the temporary leadership role, a position the academy graduate is expected to absorb full-time later in his career. Salah said he was not happy with the decision. “Honestly, I was very disappointed,” he told AS. “I was expecting to be the captain. But it's a manager's decision, so I accept it.” The timing of the remarks, and the fact that they could be construed as disrespectful to Alexander-Arnold, is certain to cause consternation at Anfield. It also prompted speculation that Salah’s omission from the team against Palace was a form of punishment. Asked after the game about the decision to leave Salah on the bench, Klopp said: “It is the first time for a while we had the opportunity to do something like this. We played Sunday and Wednesday so we needed fresh legs today. “Mo missed only seven minutes from the last four games. It is a massively intense period, so it was clear it would be him. Bringing him in for the last half an hour, I thought it was a good idea.” When he was pressed on Salah’s comments in the interview, Klopp replied: “Nothing to say from my side about that. All fine.” The fact that the interview appeared in one of Spain's biggest-selling publications will only add to the suspicion that Salah's representatives could be laying the groundwork for a transfer. Asked if he has ambitions to move to one of the La Liga clubs, Salah told AS: “I think Madrid and Barcelona are top clubs. We never know what is going to happen in the future, but right now I'm focused on winning the Premier League and the Champions League again with my club.” Salah signed a new five-year contract in 2018, but when asked how long he will stay at Anfield, he replied: “That's a tough one, but right now I can say that everything is in the club's hands. Of course I want to break records here and, I repeat, every record in the club, but everything's in the hands of the club.” Liverpool have never offered any hint of wanting to sell one of the modern legends who helped them win the Champions League and Premier League. Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have formed what is widely considered the most effective front three in Europe over the past years, each of them rewarded with new deals during that time. Football stat collect from isports API, for more details please visit www.isportsapi.com .

Charles Barkley on the James Harden trade package he’d accept immediately from the Nets

James Harden returned to the court alongside his Rockets teammates earlier this week, and while the former NBA MVP says he’s “focused on being here” in Houston at the moment, trade rumors continue to swirl following Harden’s reported trade request. NBA legend and TNT analyst Charles Barkley isn’t so sure that Harden will be able to adapt to a new team’s system if and when he leaves Houston. During an appearance on ESPN’s Keyshawn, JWill & Zubin show, Barkley said that he hopes the Rockets will work out a trade with the Brooklyn Nets – just so he can see the Nets implode with Harden, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant struggling to share the basketball. Barkley said Houston should agree to the trade immediately if they can get a package including Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen. “If I’m [Houston], give me that kid with the afro that I like a lot. Allen. Give me Dinwiddie, and give me LeVert and let the Rockets go forward with a really pretty good, solid team. I’d take that trade tomorrow if I’m the Rockets. Because like I say, you give me Allen, Dinwiddie and LeVert, and you’ve got John Wall now? We’re just as good as we were gonna be, but we’re not going to have that drama, and we’d have a pretty solid team.” Per the ESPN’s trade machine, this exact 3-for-1 for Harden wouldn’t work – but could go through if the Nets add another player on a small contract like Bruce Brown. Barkley also questioned whether Harden could adapt his game to a different offensive system. Basketball stat collect from isports API, for more details please visit www.isportsapi.com .

Fans React After Giannis Antetokounmpo Signs Supermax Extension With Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo is not leaving the Milwaukee Bucks. After months of speculation swirling around the NBA star, Giannis opted to re-sign with the Bucks and dash the hopes of fans hopeful that the Greek Freak might one day join their favorite team. According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, Giannis signed on for a five-year, $228.2 million supermax extension, which is te largest deal in NBA history. In the days leading up to his decision, Giannis said that he would make up his mind based on the Bucks' ability to remain competitive moving forward. In a tribute to his adopted home after news of the deal broke, Giannis seemed optimistic about what lies ahead. "This is my home, this is my city," he wrote on Twitter. "I’m blessed to be able to be a part of the Milwaukee Bucks for the next 5 years. Let’s make these years count. The show goes on, let’s get it." Antetokounmpo has arguably been the best player in the league over the last two years. He's led the Bucks to two straight seasons as the winningest team in the NBA, winning the MVP award and falling short in the playoffs both times. With a potential free agency approaching for the superstar, front offices and fans in cities like Miami, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Toronto were salivating at the idea of acquiring his services. While Giannis, his accountant, and the city of Milwaukee are presumably ecstatic that they were able to strike a deal, that joy wasn't matched by disgruntled fans throughout the league. The Basketball stat collect from isports API, for more details please visit www.isportsapi.com .

Harden practices with Rockets; coach says he'll play Tuesday

HOUSTON (AP) -- James Harden practiced with the Houston Rockets on Monday for the first time this season after missing the early part of camp while talk swirls that he wants out. Harden reported to camp late amid reports he is looking to be traded. He was absent for Houston's first two preseason games as he went through the NBA's COVID-19 testing protocols. Coach Stephen Silas said he spoke with the superstar Monday, but they talked strictly basketball and neither addressed a possible trade. ''We had a good conversation and I'm just going to leave it at that,'' Silas said. ''You can ask him about his commitment and all that sort of thing. But we had a good conversation. He was locked in. He was asking good questions. He's bringing up good points.'' So far asking Harden anything hasn't been an option - the Beard hasn't spoken to reporters since reporting to camp. Silas said that Harden will make his preseason debut Tuesday night when the Rockets host the Spurs. The Rockets traded Russell Westbrook to Washington for John Wall and a first-round pick on Dec. 2 to cap a short offseason that was plagued by rumors that both Westbrook and Harden wanted to leave Houston. Some thought the Westbrook trade would change Harden's mind about the Rockets, but the reports that he wants to leave have persisted in the almost two weeks since the deal. Silas, in his first year in Houston after taking over for Mike D'Antoni, has said he expects Harden to be ''all in'' this season. The coach also denied that speculation about the eight-time All-Star's future has been a distraction to the team. ''It's been something that the media has been talking about quite a bit and I've had to answer a lot of questions about it,'' Silas said. ''But as far as our growth and our pushing forward this season, we've been right on pace.'' Veteran P.J. Tucker also practiced Monday after missing the first two preseason games. He is being worked in slowly after he reported to camp a day late. Tucker is in the final year of a four-year, $31.8 million contract and some have suggested he is also unhappy in Houston because he hasn't been given an extension. He did speak to reporters Monday but didn't provide much clarity on the situation. ''It not even just in the contract extension,'' he said. ''That's not the total goal. The goal is to be in a place where you you're wanted, where you want to be ... that's what every player wants. No one wants to be somewhere they don't want them. And there's certain ways to show that and it's not just contract extensions.'' Tucker was asked if he feels the Rockets no longer want him. ''You should ask them. Because you're asking me a question about what they think, and I can't tell you,'' he said. Basketball stat collect from isports API, for more details please visit www.isportsapi.com .

Messi saves lacklustre Barca, Sociedad reclaim top spot

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Lionel Messi saved Barcelona from another embarrassing result by scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 win over lowly Levante, while Real Sociedad returned top of La Liga on Sunday. Messi struck with 14 minutes remaining of a lacklustre display from Barca at the Camp Nou which will do little to ease fan fears following their 3-0 hammering at the hands of Juventus midweek. Ronald Koeman's side are still way off the pace in the title race, nine points behind Sociedad who reclaimed first place despite only drawing 1-1 with Eibar. Barcelona do however have two games in hand on the Basque outfit. Atletico are level on 26 points with Sociedad and also have two games in hand while Real Madrid are now just three points behind the leaders having played one less after beating their local rivals 2-0 on Saturday. Villarreal are four points off the lead in fourth after drawing 1-1 at Real Betis, who are one point behind Barca in ninth. "The team is working well, they gave the maximum," said Koeman. "We still lack a little confidence in ourselves, in our game, but we had a lot of chances, and I have nothing to say about the attitude of the players in this match." Barca managed to force several saves from Aitor Fernandez, with the Levante goalkeeper doing particularly well to push away a stinging shot from Martin Braithwaite in the 16th minute and Antoine Griezmann's header five minutes later. However the best chance of the opening period fell to Jorge de Frutos in the 12th minute, the Spaniard somehow shooting straight at Marc-Andre ter Stegen after the ball broke kindly for him right in front of goal. - Messi saves day - Barca continued to dominate possession in the second half but if anything looked less threatening, with Fernandez being called into action largely for shots that were hit straight at him. However with Levante looking more comfortable than a side of their level should at the Camp Nou, Messi saved his team with a clinical finish off the post after collecting Frenkie de Jong's pass. It was hardly the sort of display to honour Sergio Busquets' 593rd appearance for the club, which takes him level at fourth of all time for matches played for Barca alongside Carles Puyol. However the three points are a boost ahead of the visit of Sociedad on Wednesday, which is then followed up by another home clash with Valencia on Saturday. Earlier Ander Barrenetxea gave Real Sociedad the lead in San Sebastian with a thumping strike in the 20th minute, but Sergi Enrich turned home with 25 minutes remaining to send his team 10th on 15 points. Sociedad would have had a bigger gap between them and Atletico had Igor Zubeldia's 80th-minute tap-in not been ruled out by VAR for an extremely tight offside. Sunday's draw was Sociedad's sixth in as many games in all competitions, and came after another 1-1 draw at Napoli on Thursday which saw them squeeze into the last 32 of the Europa League. Granada won 1-0 at Elche in Sunday's other match, a win that keeps them one point ahead of Barcelona. Football stat collect from isports API, for more details please visit www.isportsapi.com .