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The NBA Playoffs Are Finally Here. And As LeBron James Says, ‘It’s A Sprint Now’

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Boston has a 64-win club that leads the league in wins. Denver’s defending champions have won 57 games. A bold young team in Oklahoma City, whose No. 1 seed was no fluke. A trio of Villanova alumni in New York transformed the Knicks into a legitimate contender.

Once again, there’s LeBron James.

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The NBA Playoffs Are Finally Here. And As LeBron James Says, ‘It’s A Sprint Now’

The NBA playoffs are ready to begin, with the Celtics and Nuggets the big favorites — at least according to BetMGM Sportsbook — to meet in the Finals, and there are plenty of teams who believe they can win the whole thing. After a seven-month buildup that included training camp, a preseason, the regular season, the first NBA Cup, and a play-in tournament, the league finally wakes up on Saturday with 16 clubs left in contention for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

“Come Saturday, there are 15 other teams that want what we have,” Denver coach Michael Malone said. “We have the world championship trophy and everybody’s trying to take it from us.”

Let the games begin. The Nuggets are attempting to become the sixth franchise to win back-to-back championships, with the majority of last season’s core returning this year, including likely NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. They’ll begin their quest against the Lakers and James, who is chasing his fifth championship and has never concealed that this is, by far, the most important time of year for him.

“There ain’t no more pace,” said the 39-year-old James, the league’s oldest active player and all-time scoring leader who is looking for his fifth NBA championship. “What are you pacing yourself for? Now it’s time to sprint. It’s a sprint now. We already completed the marathon.”

Round 1 begins on Saturday, with four games: Orlando at Cleveland, Phoenix at Minnesota, Philadelphia at New York, and the Los Angeles Lakers at Denver. On Sunday, four more Game 1s are scheduled: Miami at Boston in a rematch of the previous two East finals, Dallas at the Los Angeles Clippers, Indiana at Milwaukee, and New Orleans at Oklahoma City.

The Thunder won 22 games three seasons ago, and 24 games the following year. Those days are long gone: 40 victories last season demonstrated potential, and 57 wins this season — with no full-time starter above the age of 25 — indicate that OKC’s time may have come.

“It means a little more, how we got here, for sure,” said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder guard who has averaged 30.1 points this season and is a legitimate MVP candidate. “But at the end of the day, I suppose it’s home-court advantage until the Finals. That’s always a plus when you have a home court like ours.”

They are young, brash, and undeniably entertaining. When asked why he wasn’t wearing his division title T-shirt when the Thunder clinched the No. 1 seed, Thunder guard Jalen Williams responded, “This leather jacket cost a lot,” eliciting laughter.

The Thunder were not expected to be in this situation; they were assigned 100-1 odds to win the NBA championship when the season began. Boston is an entirely different tale; the Celtics met and beyond expectations.

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The NBA Playoffs Are Finally Here. And As LeBron James Says, ‘It’s A Sprint Now’

All Boston did this season was post the fifth-best record in franchise history, which is a significant accomplishment for any team, but especially for one as legendary as the Celtics. Three of the four Boston teams with the best regular season records went on to win NBA championships.

“You can’t even expect to be a 64-win team,” Celtics President Brad Stevens explained. “That’s a really difficult level to meet, no matter how good you are, how well organized you are as a coach, or how many alternatives you have as a player. That’s just difficult to do.”

The Celtics have no visible weaknesses, finishing the season ranked first in offensive rating, second in points per game, third in defensive rating, and fifth in points allowed per game. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis all finished with at least 20 points per game; only two earlier Celtics teams had three 20-point scorers in a single season. They also added Jrue Holiday – a U.S. Olympian this summer, like Tatum — in the offseason to help lead a defense designed for this time of year.

“Everybody has that right mindset,” Celtics guard Derrick White said. “We’re looking forward to this.”

The Knicks lost Julius Randle but have continued to ascend, powered by the Villanova trio of MVP candidate Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo. They face a blockbuster first-round series against Joel Embiid and the 76ers, who were competing for a top-2 seed before Embiid was injured and missed much of the season.

“We just focus on getting better every day,” Brunson explained.

The Thunder, Indiana (the league’s best scoring club this season), and Orlando are all making their playoff debuts for the first time since 2020. Indiana faces a Milwaukee team that will be without star Giannis Antetokounmpo, while the Magic face a Cleveland team that has not won a playoff series without James since 1993.

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The NBA Playoffs Are Finally Here. And As LeBron James Says, ‘It’s A Sprint Now’

“We’re going to enjoy this,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said, “because they deserve to.”

The title will most likely go to one of Boston, Oklahoma City, Denver, New York, Milwaukee, or Minnesota. Since 1984, 39 of the 40 NBA champions have begun the playoffs as the first, second, or third seed in their conference.

Having saying that, this year has been somewhat unpredictable. And, as always, the playoffs are full of surprises.

“The reality is we’re going to have to play well on Sunday,” Stevens told reporters. “And beyond.”

SOURCE – (AP)

Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics, Kiara delivers insightful analyses that resonate with tech enthusiasts and casual readers alike. Her articles strike a balance between in-depth coverage and accessibility, making them a go-to resource for anyone seeking to stay informed about the latest innovations shaping our digital world.

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Paris 2024 Olympics: Opening Ceremony, Schedule, and Start Time Today

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Paris 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony, Schedule, and Start Time Today

The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics promises to be unlike any other.

In a novelty for the Games, the show will be held on Paris’ famed River Seine rather than in a stadium.

Here is everything you need know about the ceremony…

What to expect from the spectacular opening ceremony.

The eye-catching celebration will take place over a 6km stretch of the Seine. It will start at Austerlitz Bridge and culminate among the gardens, fountains, and palaces in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower at Trocadero.

Almost 100 boats will carry over 10,000 athletes and dignitaries as they cruise past Paris’ prominent monuments such as Notre Dame Cathedral and Pont Neuf.

The boats will transport the parade’s participants as well as the artistic portion of the celebration, which will highlight Paris and France’s history and culture.

The performers’ identities, however, have been kept a mystery.

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Thousands of people are still expected to line the river and streets, with millions more watching on television all over the world.

“I’d like to show France in all its diversity,” said Thomas Jolly, the French actor and theatre director appointed as the ceremony’s creative director, a post previously played by Danny Boyle in London 2012.

“Illustrate the richness and plurality shaped by its history, which has been influenced and inspired by the diverse cultures that have passed through it, while itself serving as a source of inspiration.”

The ceremony will also involve the ceremonial opening of the Games, led by French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.

Many of the finer elements have been maintained as a surprise.

What is the date and time of the opening ceremony?

The ceremony will commence at 19:30 local time (18:30 BST) on Friday, July 26.

It is scheduled to take little under four hours, with the last parts taking place as the sun sets over the French city.

Fortunately, the Paris weather forecast for Friday evening is positive.

In what sequence will the nations be introduced?

In accordance with tradition, Greece will be the first nation introduced during the ceremony.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, an NBA star, is one of their flagbearers for the games.

Greece will be followed by the Refugee Olympic Team, with hosts France being the last to be unveiled.

Because of their countries’ involvement in the Ukrainian conflict, Russian and Belarussian athletes participating as individuals will not participate.

How to follow the opening ceremony on BBC.

The opening ceremony will begin live at 17:45 BST on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website and app.

BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds will provide radio coverage beginning at 19:00 BST.

There will also be live text coverage on the BBC Sport website and app, bringing you all the action from Paris.

Source: BBC

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Coco Gauff To Be Female Flag Bearer For US Team At Olympic Opening Ceremony, Joining LeBron James

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PARIS — Coco Gauff, a tennis player, will join LeBron James as a flag bearer for the United States Olympic team at Friday’s opening ceremony.

Coco, the reigning US Open winner, is ready to make her Olympic debut at the Paris Games, becoming the first tennis player to carry the American flag. Team USA athletes selected her and James.

“I believe the Olympics are the priority. It’s equal to the Grand Slams. I wouldn’t put it above or below because I’d never played before. “This is my first time,” Gauff explained earlier this year. “I always want to do well and get a medal.”

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Coco Gauff | AP News Image

Coco Gauff To Be Female Flag Bearer For US Team At Olympic Opening Ceremony, Joining LeBron James

Coco and James, the 39-year-old NBA’s all-time top scorer, engage in sports outside the traditional Olympic realm and receive media attention year-round rather than every four years.

Coco, 20, joined the American team for the Tokyo Olympics as a youngster three years ago but had to withdraw because she tested positive for COVID-19 just before flying to Japan.

Coco, who now lives in Florida, has won Grand Slam titles in both singles and doubles. She earned her first major triumph in New York in September, defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the singles final of the U.S. Open, and then won her first Grand Slam doubles title at the French Open in June with Czech Republic’s Katerina Siniakova.

The Paris Olympics will be played on the same clay courts at Roland Garros used for the French Open. The bracket draw will take place on Thursday, and play will begin on Saturday.

Coco is seeded second in singles, matching her current WTA ranking behind Poland’s No. 1 Iga Swiatek, and will be one of the medal favorites.

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Coco Gauff | AP news Image

Coco Gauff To Be Female Flag Bearer For US Team At Olympic Opening Ceremony, Joining LeBron James

She and her normal doubles partner, Jessica Pegula, are seeded first in the women’s doubles. Gauff may also compete in mixed doubles; however, those pairs have yet to be determined.

“I’m not putting too much pressure on it, because I want to fully enjoy the experience,” Gauff said of her Olympic debut. “Hopefully I can have the experience multiple times in my lifetime, (but) I’ll treat it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

SOURCE | AP

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LeBron James Selected As Team USA Male Flagbearer For Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony

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When LeBron James was chosen for his first Olympics in 2004, he was unsure what the opening ceremony entailed.

This time, he’ll be a star of the show.

His fellow American Olympians chose James to be the male flagbearer for the United States at the opening ceremony of the Paris Games on Friday night. He is the third basketball player — and the first men’s player — to carry the United States flag at the start of an Olympics, following Dawn Staley in 2004 and Sue Bird in 2021.

“It’s an incredible honor to represent the United States on this global stage, especially in a moment that can bring the whole world together,” James told reporters. “As a kid from Akron, this responsibility means everything to not only me, but to my family, all the kids in my community, my teammates, other Olympians, and so many more people throughout the country with huge dreams. Sports have the capacity to unite us all, and I’m honored to be a part of this historic occasion.”

The 39-year-old James learned of the distinction Monday in London, just hours before the United States men’s team was supposed to play its final pre-Olympics exhibition game against World Cup champion Germany.

“We understand how much of an honor it is to be in that position and I think Bron’s entire career, on and off the court, speaks for itself as him being worthy of that honor,” Curry said on the video announcing his nomination.

“He has represented what it means to be excellent both on and off the court in his commitment to service and to uplifting the community in all ways that he knows how has been a lifelong passion,” Curry pointed out. “And the work speaks for itself.”

LeBron James Selected As Team USA Male Flagbearer For Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony

The female U.S. flagbearer is anticipated to be revealed on Tuesday. In 2020, the International Olympic Committee announced that country delegations would have two flagbearers at the Olympics’ opening ceremony, one male and one female, to encourage gender equality. The United States is set to send around 600 competitors to the Paris Games, with approximately 53% women.

“Being chosen by your teammates to carry the flag is a tremendous honor—and a testament to LeBron’s passion for Team USA and dedication to his sport,” U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland said.

James, a global icon, four-time NBA champion, and the league’s all-time leading scorer about to begin his record-tying 22nd NBA season, is set to compete in the Olympics for the fourth time, having previously won bronze in 2004, gold in Beijing in 2008, and gold again in London in 2012. He participated in the opening ceremony at his previous three Olympics.

This time, he will float.

This will be an unprecedented Olympic opening ceremony, with thousands of participants sailing along the River Seine at nightfall toward the Eiffel Tower. According to Olympic officials, the route is a 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) one, with some 320,000 spectators expected to watch from the river bank and an estimated 1 billion more watching on televisions around the world.

LeBron James Selected As Team USA Male Flagbearer For Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony

Not all Olympic athletes attend the opening ceremony; many miss it for logistical reasons, such as having to compete the next day. James and the four-time defending gold champion U.S. men shall begin Olympic competition on Sunday, when they face Serbia in Lille, France.

James and the American Olympians will have to wait longer than virtually any other nation for their voyage on the Seine. According to IOC protocol, Greece will lead the march, with NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo serving as one of its two flagbearers. The Refugee Olympic Team and over 200 more national delegations will follow. The United States is slated to be next-to-last in the procession because Los Angeles will host the next Summer Olympics in 2028.

As the host, France will be the last nation to participate in the opening ceremony procession. Its men’s basketball team, which includes reigning NBA rookie of the year Victor Wembanyama, begins Olympic competition on Saturday and is not scheduled to attend the opening ceremony.

SOURCE | AP

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