News sport : Can Winnipeg fans turn Jets' playoff fortunes?

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ANAHEIM – The MTS Centre is one of the cooler places to watch a hockey game in the NHL. Fans arrive on time for opening face off. They’re engaged in all the action. If you look up at the 15,000-plus Jets faithful they’re always in their seats. Always. 

Crowds play an important role in any game, mostly from an ambiance level. But can these crazy Manitobans do enough to stop Anaheim’s powerful third periods in Monday’s Game 3? Anaheim has entered the final frame down a goal in Games 1 and 2, and somehow escaped home with a 2-0 series lead.  

“The energy you get from your own building is something you have to use,” Jets captain Andrew Ladd said. “You gain momentum and the crowd gets going, you get a boost from that and you try to use that any way you can.”

Home ice isn’t completely a myth in the playoffs, but ultimately, the team’s preparation is the deciding issue in a series. The Jets realize this. 

“Your performance is the first and primary factor,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said.

Message sent. 

Even though Winnipeg’s fans are indeed nuts – in the best way possible – the Jets aren’t a great home team. In fact that organization still hasn’t won a playoff game … wait, what, aren’t they the Jets of old? Nope, remember they were born as the Atlanta Thrashers – a fact that a lot seem to forget. The old Jets – who are now the Arizona Coyotes, last made the playoffs as the Jets in 1996. Follow?

NHL relocation logic for $1,000!

Winnipeg didn’t have the best home record in the Western Conference this past season. They ranked sixth with a 23-13-5 mark at the MTS Centre. In fact, the Jets have never had the best home record in their conference since they moved to Winnipeg from Atlanta. This year’s record was tied for Winnipeg’s best since it made the move north. 

There’s no doubt their fans will be pumped. The white-clad scene will be incredible. But the Ducks have taken all of Winnipeg’s punches this series and countered with the brute physicality and strength we all thought Winnipeg would use to punish Anaheim. Oh, and guess who happens to have the best road record in the Western Conference? It’s the Ducks. 

The regular season is not the playoffs, and maybe the Ducks will morph into a group unlike the squad that went 25-12-4 away from Honda Center. But more than anything, the Jets just need a change of scenery to destroy the bitter taste of allowing two straight third period comebacks.

The Jets were considered a bad match up for the Ducks before the playoffs because of their size and superior puck possession numbers. If the Ducks can take Game 3, it’ll show we were wrong. Anaheim was the worst scenario for the Jets. 

“That’s a very good road game team,” Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec said. “We’re all excited to go back to Winnipeg and play in the MTS Centre. We know it’s going to be wild over there. We’ll see what happens.”

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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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News sport : The 10-man rotation, starring Russell Westbrook, who burned bright and faded away

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A look around the league and the Web that covers it. It's also important to note that the rotation order and starting nods aren't always listed in order of importance. That's for you, dear reader, to figure out.

C: GQ, Triangle Offense and Grantland. Bethlehem Shoals, Russ Bengtson and Brian Phillips bid a fond farewell to Russell Westbrook's almost literally unbelievable 2014-15 season, and sing songs of praise for the man himself.

PF: Mavs Moneyball. Josh Boweman on Dirk Nowitzki's recent uptick in shooting form, the possibility of the Dallas Mavericks getting "vengeful, angry playoff god-mode Dirk" in Round 1, and the importance of responsibly embracing one's "magical wizard powers" as a fan.

SF: Hang Time. John Schuhmann on the Washington Wizards showing a new wrinkle in their Game 1 win over the Toronto Raptors, and the likelihood that Randy Wittman will keep running Paul Pierce out at the four in Game 2.

SG: Sports on Earth. Michael Pina wonders whether, at the tender age of 30 and still capable of cooking just about any defender one-on-one in the post, the sun has set on Charlotte Hornets center Al Jefferson: "Not everybody's cut out for an uptempo NBA."

PG: Sunday Shootaround. A couple of days late on this, but I liked Paul Flannery's summation of one of the dominant storylines of the past six months, and the postscript to be written in the next two: "Through it all, pace and space has defined the 2014-15 season. The stars, however, will ultimately decide its fate."

6th: Eye on Basketball. Good stuff from James Herbert on DeMar DeRozan's rise from quiet, unassuming rookie to the Toronto Raptors' All-Star leader.

7th: The Cauldron. Ian Levy takes a stat-centric, process-over-results look under the hood of what Sam Hinkie and Brett Brown are trying to build with the Philadelphia 76ers — "a high-functioning offensive system based on pace, movement and efficient shot selection, the very things that have helped push the Spurs, Warriors and Hawks towards the top of the league" — and finds that they're further along than you might think.

8th: Bleacher Report. Howard Beck considers the vagueness surrounding the phrase "Most Valuable Player" and the issues that can arise among media members, fans, players, coaches and executives — everybody, really — when debating differing definitions of the distinction.

9th: The Syracuse Post-Standard and The New York Times. After winning the 1955 NBA championship, the members of the Syracuse Nationals got only championship ice buckets to commemorate their victory. Last week, the surviving members of the team received proper championship rings, thanks to an AHL hockey team. Pretty cool.

10th: The Sporting News. Sean Deveney thinks the NBA should offer refunds to fans who buy tickets for games that key players miss because their coaches want to manage their minutes and get them nights off every now and again. This strikes me as a worthily populist idea that would raise some thorny supplementary issues and, as a result, has next to no chance of actually happening. It's a neat thought, though.

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Dan Devine is an editor for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at devine@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!

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News sport : Which NFL player sold the most merchandise over the past year?

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There are a few ways to judge an NFL player's popularity, but the amount of merchandise he sells might be the best way.

And if you believe that to be true, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is the NFL's most popular player. Again.

For the second straight season, Wilson led the NFL Players Association's player sales list. That takes into account all officially licensed products, including jerseys, Fatheads, ugly sweaters and bobbleheads. Wilson led all players in jersey sales and ugly sweaters (I had no idea NFL ugly sweaters was actually a thing until this list was released ... and I'm glad I didn't).

Wilson's rise to stardom is easy to track: He's an exciting player, some fans probably relate to him overcoming odds to be a top quarterback at 5-foot-11, the Seahawks have won a ton with him and they have a fan base that loves to buy merchandise. Seahawks players like cornerback Richard Sherman (No. 7), running back Marshawn Lynch (No. 9), safeties Earl Thomas (No. 29) and Kam Chancellor (No. 30) also made the NFLPA's list.

No. 2 behind Wilson isn't a big surprise; it's Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (he led all players in bobblehead sales). Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant was the top non-quarterback, checking in at No. 6. Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel, who wasn't too impressive in two starts as a rookie last year, still finished No. 10 in sales. There are also a lot of people who bought LeSean McCoy's Philadelphia Eagles gear only to have it rendered obsolete when McCoy was traded to the Buffalo Bills this offseason. McCoy ranked 14th on the NFLPA's sales list.

Here's the entire top 50 from NFLPA, based on sales from the 2015 fiscal year of March 1, 2014, through Feb. 28, 2015:

1. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks 

2. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos

3. Tom Brady, New England Patriots 

4. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers

5. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

6. Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys

7. Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks

8. J.J. Watt, Houston Texans

9. Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks

10. Johnny Manziel, Cleveland Browns

11. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys

12. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

13. Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

14. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles

15. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts

16. Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers

17. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys

18. Brandon Marshall, Chicago Bears

19. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions

20. Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

21. Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers 

22. Eli Manning, New York Giants

23. DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys

24. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

25. Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins

26. Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles 

27. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

28. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs

29. Earl Thomas, Seattle Seahawks 

30. Kam Chancellor, Seattle Seahawks

31. Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers

32. Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins

33. Victor Cruz, New York Giants

34. Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers

35. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears

36. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

37. Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers 

38. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

39. Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers

40. Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos

41. Julian Edelman, New England Patriots

42. Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers

43. Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers

44. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

45. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals

46. Devon Still, Cincinnati Bengals 

47. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers

48. A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals

49. Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings 

50. Wes Welker, Denver Broncos

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!



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News sport : NFL position rankings: Collins, Humphries, Peat lead good offensive tackle lot

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You want an offensive tackle in the draft? This is a pretty good year to find one. Just don’t wait too long.

There might not be a slam-dunk, top-10 surety in this group. There also is some question as to what the best pro position will be for some college left tackles in the pros. For instance, we grouped Iowa’s Brandon Scherff in with the interior group and LSU’s La’el Collins in with the tackle group, even though we could envision either player being effective at either spot at the next level.

Collins, Florida’s D.J. Humphries, Stanford’s Andrus Peat and Miami (Fla.)’s Ereck Flowers all look like first-round-caliber talents — and it’s possible to see even one more tackle prospect land in the top 32. Collins is a strong, athletic and durable tackle (or guard) and can fit into most blocking schemes. Humphries would be a  great fit in a zone-based scheme and moves effortlessly but doesn’t have elite mass. Peat looks elite at times, less so at others, but could end up being the best of the bunch if he can harness his great size. Flowers plays with an edge and can pop but still needs some consistency in his raw game.

The second and third rounds also could be fertile ground for solid OT talent, with varying types — from the athletic Jake Fisher and Cedric Ogbuehi to the mass of Rob Havenstein — available to fit multiple systems.

After a certain point, however, the talent crop thins out considerably. There are few small-school prospects, and a slew of college tackles will be moved inside because of size, strength or athletic limitations.

Here are the top 10 offensive tackles for the 2015 NFL draft:

Ranking Player School Height Weight Notable statistic Scouting skinny
1 La'el Collins LSU 6-4 305 Logged 88 knockdown blocks in 13 starts Powerful man with killer traits in run game at either guard or tackle
2 D.J. Humprhies Florida 6-5 307 Missed eight games past two seasons with various injuries Extremely gifted athlete with light feet, good leverage and a mean streak
3 Andrus Peat Stanford 6-7 313 Started all 27 games past two seasons combined Ideal tackle physique, athleticism and requisite strength but inconsistent
4 Ereck Flowers Miami (Fla.) 6-6 329 Led all players at NFL scouting combine with 37 bench-press reps Big, long, powerful young man with growth potential with refinement
5 Jake Fisher Oregon 6-6 306 Best OL combine numbers: short shuttle, 3-cone, 10-yard split; second-best 40 Super athletic, grabby, thin-framed pass protector with stamina
6 Cedric Ogbuehi Texas A&M 6-5 306 Started games at 4 OL positions (everything but center) Struggled at left tackle; knee injury limits draft value, but athletically gifted
7 T.J. Clemmings Pitt 6-5 309 Played 14 games at DL in 2010, '12 before switching to ORT Raw, powerful run blocker who is still learning nuances of position
8 Rob Havenstein Wisconsin 6-7 321 Started all 41 games final 3 seasons; 11-time game captain as senior Mauling, heavy-footed right tackle only who has a place in NFL as starter
9 Jeremiah Poutasi Utah 6-5 335 Started all but one game in three-year career; declared early Young, strong, slow-footed prospect who needs development but has upside
10 Ty Sambrailo Colorado State 6-6 311 Has played all four OL positions except center Strong-based, versatile, finesse blocker with upper-body deficiencies

SLEEPER
Corey Robinson, South Carolina

A massive man at nearly 6-7, 325 pounds, Robinson has the look of a textbook mauler right tackle even though he played on the left side in college. If a team can work with him on his play speed and teach Robinson how to use his mass better in the run game, it could really have something. He’s a project, but he has traits that can’t be taught.

T.J. Clemmings (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)OVERRATED
Clemmings

On the hoof, Clemmings has everything you want in an OT prospect, including 35-inch arms on his 6-5, 310-pound frame, good short-area quickness and even some nastiness on tape — especially in the run game. But the mental part of the game and unrefined technique always could be limiting factors, and it was clear at the Senior Bowl, where the Tennessee Titans coaches spent extra time running through technique with him during practices, that he’s a project and not instant coffee in the NFL. The converted defensive lineman was mentioned as a possible top-10 pick despite only having spent the past few seasons at his new position, and now he has settled back into the second-round discussion. Even in that range, Clemmings still might be overdrafted. He's a work in progress that some folks are not convinced will ever reach his full potential.

SMALL-SCHOOL WONDER
Jake Rodgers, Eastern Washington

The former Washington State transfer switched from tight end to tackle and possesses the athleticism you’d expect for such a move. His best chance would be to operate in a pass-heavy offense where his movement skills, off-the-snap quickness and footwork are his best traits. He’s not a mauler in the run game and must learn to get low and drive against stronger, squattier defenders. But Rodgers has overcome a lot, with his father having died just after Christmas, the result of a heart attack suffered while watching his son play his final college game.

COULD RISE IN DRAFT
Poutasi

At 20 years old, the raw but fascinating Poutasi could merit some very early looks. He has rare, natural strength and has shown power in his game at both left and right tackle. If a team is patient, it could groom his skills and have a real gem on its hands. Poutasi has left tackle potential — and also could be tried inside — and can be rounded into form with another year of conditioning, film work and watching before he unlocks his strong upside.

LATE-ROUND STEAL
Andrew Donnal, Iowa

Hawkeye players are typically well developed in the classroom, and Donnal is no exception. Although his 17 bench-press reps are a low number, he does have long arms that can explain that to a degree. The mentally tough Donnal has tackle and guard potential and yet might slip to the later rounds because of a lack of pure power in his lower body. Give him a year in an NFL strength program and he could be a nice swing tackle option.

PLAYER WHO WILL GO UNDRAFTED BUT SHOULDN’T
Rob Crisp, North Carolina State

Crisp’s performance against Clemson speed rusher Vic Beasley alone should get him drafted, but he’s knocked for his lack of brute strength and raw power. Still, finding long athletes — he’s 6-6 with 34-inch arms — either late in the draft or as priority free agents is rare, and Crisp could end up being a nice project if he’s willing to accept tough coaching.

IDEAL FIT
Collins to Browns

The Browns need sure things in this draft, and they could use a high-floor prospect such as Collins who can play either tackle or guard and be tried on either side of the line, too. The Browns hit a home run with the second-round pick of Joel Bitonio, and they’re still in good shape for at least another year with Joe Thomas and Alex Mack up front. But they’ll need more young blood, and Collins could be a fixture outside or inside and would be a run-game masher.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!



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News sport : Sabres with Eichel; Maple Leafs draft prospects; Blue Jackets optimism? (Puck Headlines)

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Here are your Puck Headlines: A glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media. Have a link you want to submit? Email us at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com. 

NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 17: Predators fans Maddox Cross, left, and Riley Staton sport their playoff beards as they wait near the glass for warmups between the Nashville Predators and the Chicago Blackhawks in Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on April 17, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)

• The only beard is Nashville that is better than Shea Weber's postseason beard. [Getty]

• Buffalo Sabres fans are not super upset at the prospect of landing Jack Eichel with the No. 2 pick in the upcoming NHL Draft. [Buffalo News]

• Jack Eichel is not a consolation prize. Oh no, he’s anything but for Buffalo, who will still grab another generational talent in the upcoming draft. [ESPN]

• Just because Connor McDavid ended up in Edmonton, shouldn’t mean we should root for him to fail. Ultimately, it’s not his fault he’s ending up with the Oilers. [Toronto Star]

• So who will Toronto end up with? Dylan Strome? Noah Hanifin? Mitch Marner perhaps? [NHL on the Ice]

• What is the simplest solution to the Edmonton problem regarding them winning the No. 1 pick? Just get rid of the draft! This is actually quite the fascinating argument. [Pension Plan Puppets]

• Slow down on the Columbus Blue Jackets for next season. There are definitely reasons to throw out some of the extreme optimism. [Blue Jackets Extra]

• An open letter from Washington Capitals fans based in New York City on the fan experience at Nassau Coliseum. [Driven by Boredom]

• Can someone please explain this Washington Capitals Abraham Lincoln calendar? An attempt at doing so. [Capitals Outsider]

• P.K. Subban is "the a--hole the NHL needs". Keep firing P.K. [Elite Daily]

• The Winnipeg Jets have been a bad puck possession team the first two games of the playoffs. Check that, they’re the worst amongst playoff teams. How can the Jets get back on track in Winnipeg? A look. [Jets Nation]

• Winnipeg will no doubt be an incredible atmosphere for Game 3 of the Jets’ series against Anaheim. [Winnipeg Sun]

• The Alexander Steen, Vladimir Tarasenko and Jori Lehtera line has been reunited for the Blues. And the Wild should look out, because that Tarasenko guy with the other two are pretty good when they're all together. [St. Louis Post Dispatch]

• Steve Ott is a pest. And the playoffs are where he’s at his best.  [Minneapolis Star Tribune]

• On the Rangers/Penguins playoff series and how Brandon Sutter has emerged. Prediction: A team with a second-line center need will come to the same conclusion and trade for Sutter this summer. [Colligan Hockey]

• Why Montreal defenseman Torrey Mitchell took the college hockey route. Ultimately, the decision paid off for him, and here’s why. [Montreal Gazette]

• John Tortorella as the next Buffalo Sabres coach? Why it’s not as far-fetched as you think. But still, could you imagine? [Sports Blog]

• Team Canada’s world junior coach Benoit Groulx is leaving the Gatineau Olympiques. [Buzzing the Net]

• Sam Bennett is a future fantasy stud. This playoffs is only a taste of what he could become. [Dobber Sports]

• Amazing that Travis Roy is turning 40. An inspiring look at the former BU player 20 years after his paralysis while playing hockey. [AP]

• SKA St. Petersburg beats Kazan to win the KHL title ... as the greatest hockey team … in Russia! [Yahoo via AP]

• Gagarin Cup Celebration! Oh this is great. Kovy gets his championship! 

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News sport : Daily Dime: Jake Arrieta, Coors Field, Mariners look appealing on Monday

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You know the drill, we’re offering up ten Daily Fantasy reccos in this space every night. Be sure to double-check lineups and weather before you commit. Please enjoy your April 20 lineup responsibly.  

Players to Buy 

Jake Arrieta, SP, at Pittsburgh (Burnett), $9200 on Fan Duel: I was all over Arrieta in the preseason, so I certainly like him in this cushy landing spot. The Pirates are third in strikeout rate and 28th in walk rate, and 23rd in weighted runs created. A.J. Burnett is a capable opponent, but at least Arrieta misses one of the true Pittsburgh aces.

Anthony DeSclafani, SP, at Milwaukee (Peralta), $6900: Let’s take a look at this Milwaukee offense. Carlos Gomez, DL. Ryan Braun, possibly broken. Jonathan Lucroy, two-week slump. What is there to be afraid of? AD has two quality starts under his belt this year, piling up 11 strikeouts against three walks. He’s a solid choice if you like your pitchers on a budget. 

Hisashi Iwakuma, SP, vs. Houston (Wojciechowski), $8300: He hasn’t been at optimal sharpness through two starts, but now he’s at home against the biggest group of hackers in the American League. Good work if you can get it. Meanwhile, his offensive teammates are taking dead aim at a bottom-rotation option. 

Derek Norris, C, at Colorado (De La Rosa), $2800: This bus is sure to be crowded on Monday, especially with a limited slate, but you can’t ignore the case. Norris is a stud against left-handed pitching (.301/.379/.492, 16 homers and 396 at-bats), and then there’s the Planet Coors factor. 

Yangveris Solarte, 3B, at Colorado (De La Rosa), $2800: Here’s one guy you’ll definitely need lineup confirmation on, as he’s a part-timer for the Padres. He’s off to a tasty .357 start for 2015, hitting a line-drive 23 percent of the time. In some deeper mixed league, I picked up some Solarte shares, thinking he could be a simpler NL version of Brock Holt. Versatility, always fun. If you prefer a cheaper San Diego bat, see if Will Middlebrooks or Jeff Gyorko are in Monday’s lineup.

Lineup Stack, Seattle vs. Houston (Wojciechowski): I invite you to Asher Wojciechowski’s minor-league profile, see if anything excites you. What excites me is seeing Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager both under $4000 on the Monday card. 

Lineup Stack, Colorado vs. San Diego (Despaigne): I’ll openly admit I enjoy watching Odrisamer Despaigne work at sea level, with his funky motion and junk-ball offerings. He reminds me a little of El Duque, Orlando Hernandez. But I dare the crafty junkballer to get away with it at Coors Field. Seek out the Rockies lineup before game-time locks and get some of them in your lineup. Most of them are “pay up” plays, but you might get a good value on a catcher or Justin Morneau. And maybe it’s worth paying the fright for the Tulos and Cargos and Dickersons, anyway. 

Melky Cabrera, OF, vs. Cleveland (Bauer), $2700: It’s been a sluggish start for Chicago’s new outfielder, but he’s still parked in a strong slot and lineup (and just in front of Jose Abreu). Trevor Bauer was strong in his first White Sox start, but I suspect a rematch so soon could be an advantage to the hitters. 

Rajai Davis, OF, vs. New York (Sabathia), $3300: He needs lineup confirmation, of course, but the Tigers know Davis is a .304/.359/.449 career slasher against lefties. And it’s not just any lefty he’s facing, it’s in-the-limelight CC Sabathia. At a mere $3300, this is an easy plug and play. 

Player to Fade

Neil Walker, 2B, vs. Chicago (Arrieta), $3300: Why go up against the best pitcher on the card if you don’t have to? Walker doesn’t have a ton of experience against Arrieta, but it’s mostly a washout (1-for-12, four strikeouts). I’d be surprised if the Bucs scored more than three runs Monday night. 

 



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News sport : Raptors' Lou Williams wins 2014-15 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award

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Lou Williams would like you to get up on your feet and clap for him. (AP/The Canadian Press/Chris Young)Toronto Raptors guard Lou Williams is your 2014-15 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, the league announced Monday, earning recognition as the NBA's top reserve after helping propel the Raptors to a franchise-record 49 wins and their second straight Atlantic Division title.

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Williams received 78 first-place votes and amassed 502 total "award points" — five points for a first-place vote, three for a second-place nod, one for third-place — from the panel of 130 sportswriters and broadcasters who cast ballots. Isaiah Thomas, who came off the bench in 66 of his 67 appearances for the Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics this season, finished second in voting, receiving 33 first-place votes and totaling 334 points.

Last year's winner, two-time Sixth Man Jamal Crawford of the Los Angeles Clippers, finished third, receiving eight first-place votes and 131 total points. Golden State Warriors swingman Andre Iguodala, who had started every game of his 10-year career prior to sliding to the second unit for Steve Kerr this season, finished fourth, receiving seven first-place votes and 100 total points. Fellow Warrior Marreese Speights, Chicago Bulls forwards Nikola Mirotic and Taj Gibson, and Houston Rockets swingman Corey Brewer each received one first-place vote. (You can check out the full voting breakdown here, if you'd like. Transparency!)

Williams' win breaks a longstanding individual-honor drought for the club from the Great White North:

... which is pretty neat.

Williams also wins a car from award-sponsor Kia:

... which will be donated to The Remix Project, a Toronto- and Chicago-based organization that works to help young people from disadvantaged communities continue their education or find job opportunities in creative industries. Kia's going to give a new Sorento to the charity of choice of each the five winners of the NBA's 2014-15 year-end awards, which — coming on the heels of Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook's decision to donate his All-Star Game MVP Kia to a local single mother in need — seems like a pretty cool decision.

Two members of our Yahoo Sports NBA panel — me and BDL colleague Eric Freeman — chose Williams for Sixth Man of the Year in our playoffs-and-awards predictions. Marc J. Spears and Ben Rohrbach opted for Thomas, while Kelly Dwyer picked Mirotic.

You could've made arguments for a slew of selections in this year's Sixth Man balloting. Thomas was an absolute game-changer as a pick-and-roll playmaker off the pine, especially once he got to Boston, helping push the Celtics into the playoffs; he also boasted a stronger statistical profile than Williams in a number of offensive categories, from shooting percentages through per-minute scoring and assisting and Player Efficiency Rating.

Thomas weighed in from the Celtics' Monday shootaround between Games 1 and 2 of their first-round series with the Cleveland Cavaliers:

Mirotic essentially helped keep the Bulls' offense afloat amid a raft of injuries in his monster March, proving to be every ounce the frontcourt difference-maker Chicago hoped he'd be after bringing him over from Real Madrid this summer while flashing better-than-expected playmaking and a capacity to credibly defend small forwards in Chicago's jumbo sets. Cleveland's Tristan Thompson (who finished fifth in voting despite earning no first-place selections) slotted in perfectly as a third big man this year for the Central Division-champion Cavs, working his tail off defensively and attacking the offensive glass with abandon to make a major impact without needing plays called for him.

Iguodala was sensational in the Bay, playing an integral role in the switch-heavy scheme that made Golden State the No. 1 defense in the NBA in points allowed per possession while adding a needed dose of playmaking to the Dubs second unit when All-Stars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson hit the bench. And while Crawford didn't look to these eyes to be quite the game-breaker he was in L.A. last season — and while he missed 18 games this season, including just over a month after the All-Star break with a right calf contusion — he was the only real reliable source of second-unit offense for Doc Rivers' club, which is something, at least.

Fine cases, all, but Williams got the nod for averaging a career-high 15.5 points per game (nearly a point-per-game fewer than Thomas and three-tenths fewer than Crawford, while playing in 13 more games than the former and 16 more than the latter) in 25.2 minutes per game for the Raptors. He led Toronto in scoring 18 times, ranking as the only reserve in the league to finish in the top 15 in 3-pointers made and attempted as well as free throws made and attempted. He also helped All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry carry the Raptors offense when shooting guard DeMar DeRozan missed 21 games from late November through mid-December with a torn tendon in his groin.

Williams often served as an offensive catalyst for a Raptors team that finished third in the league in points scored per possession but had a tendency to stagnate at times. He finished 27 percent of his team's offensive possessions with a shot, foul drawn or turnover during his time on the floor, a top-20 usage rate and the second-highest mark among Raptors to log at least 100 minutes behind DeMar DeRozan. Mostly, he shot or drew a foul; Williams coughed it up on just 8.4 percent of his offensive possessions, a microscopic rate that ranked 16th-best in the league.

Basketball-Reference.com) and his willingness to put the ball up, creating offensive rebounding opportunities for Toronto's bigs. The Raptors scored 111.3 points per 100 possessions in 2,016 minutes with Williams on the floor, which would have ranked No. 1 in the NBA in offensive efficiency this season, compared to 104.6-per-100 in 1,955 minutes without him, which would've ranked 10th-best.

It's not like a top-10 offense is anything to sneeze at, of course, but given how leaky the Raptors' defense was this year — 23rd in the league in points allowed per possession — every ounce of offensive firepower matters, and Williams boosted Toronto's scoring prowess just about every time he touched the floor this season. And when it came time to vote for an award that has primarily gone to top reserve scorers over the years, that was enough to earn Williams the nod, fulfilling the prophecy that one Aubrey Drake Graham laid out back in February.

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Dan Devine is an editor for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at devine@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!

Stay connected with Ball Don't Lie on Twitter @YahooBDL, "Like" BDL on Facebook and follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr for year-round NBA talk, jokes and more.



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News sport : Blind long snapper Jake Olsen to walk on to USC football team

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It’s been nearly six years since Jake Olsen became an honorary member of the USC football team. In the fall, the “honorary” title will be dropped and, as the Los Angeles Times reported, Olsen will join the team as a walk-on.

Olsen is an 18-year-old senior long snapper at Orange Lutheran. He has a 4.3 grade average, is a member of the golf team, sang in the school choir, and is blind.

Olsen was born with retinoblastoma, a rare form of retina cancer. He lost his left eye at 10 months and his right one when he was 12. It was around that time when he became an avid USC fan and met former coach Pete Carroll.

Olsen’s relationship with Carroll and ultimately the entire USC program was documented in a ESPN College Football Gameday piece in 2013. Olsen never let his blindness hold him back. He learned, thanks to the help of coaches and teammates, to be a long snapper and hit a golf ball. He became an inspiration to nearly everyone who met him. He helped pen two books and is an accomplished motivational speaker.

The Los Angeles Times had a lengthy feature about Olsen’s journey to USC, which included a desire to live a normal life despite his disability.

In February, Olsen received a Swim With Mike scholarship, which is awarded annually from the Physically Challenged Athletes Scholarship fund. The fund, which is named for former USC swimmer Mike Nyeholt, who was paralyzed from the chest down in a motorcycle accident, has raised more than $16 million and has funded scholarships at 85 universities since 1981.

USC coach Steve Sarkisian told the Los Angeles Times that he fully expected Olsen to participate in a collegiate game before his time with the Trojans was complete.

"Someday, he's going to snap in a game for us," Sarkisian told the paper. "When? I don't know. But it will happen.

"When that day comes, it will be awesome."

For more USC news, visit TrojanSports.com.

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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter!

And don’t forget to keep up with all of Graham’s thoughts, witty comments and college football discussions on Facebook



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News sport : Marek Vs. Wyshynski Podcast: Todd McLellan's end with Sharks; McDavid to Oilers

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LISTEN HERE! [And if that doesn't work, try here.]

It's a (I don't like) Monday edition of Marek vs. Wyshynski beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT, and we're talking about the following and more:

Special Guest Star: Dan Murphy of Sportsnet on the Red Wings and Bolts!

• The Stanley Cup Playoffs! 

• McDavid to Edmonton.

• The quitting of Todd McLellan.

• Hockey News and Views

Question of the Day: Where should Todd McLellan end up? Email puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or hit us on Twitter with the hashtag #MvsW to @wyshynski or @jeffmarek. Click here for the Sportsnet live stream or click the play button above!

Click here to download podcasts from the show each day. Subscribe to the podcast viaiTunes or Feedburner.

***

BUY THE MvsW T-SHIRTS! SUPPORT HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER!



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News sport : Nevada OL coach Ron Hudson to miss spring football after open-heart surgery

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Nevada OL coach Ron Hudson (@coachrhud)Nevada offensive line coach Ron Hudson will miss spring football following an open-heart procedure about seven weeks ago.

According to a story in the Reno Gazette-Journal, an elevated heart rate and fatigue caused Hudson, 50, to visit an emergency room a couple months ago.

After a battery of tests, it was determined he had atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heart rhythm characterized by rapid and irregular beating. It would first be treated with medication. That helped, but it didn't fix the issue. So, once Nevada's season ended, he'd get an ablation.
That's a fairly routine, although invasive, surgery in which abnormal heart tissue is melted away. Hudson went in for that surgery Feb. 25. It would be a 45-minute procedure and he'd be good to go.
"I went into the hospital, they put me to sleep and I woke up and said, 'How did it go?'" Hudson said. "They said, 'We didn't do it.' I said, 'Why not?' The doctor said, 'We found a blood clot in your heart.'"

Doctors in Reno feared the blood clot could break off and travel to Hudson’s brain, so Hudson was referred to a specialist in California. Doctors there caught the blood clot before it broke off and stopped the atrial fibrillation.

Hudson will be on blood thinners for at least a year and the normally boisterous coach will have to be fairly tame while the Wolf Pack practices this spring. He’ll be able to return to recruiting in May and will likely be back on the sideline in the fall.

"It puts things into perspective very quickly," Polian told the Reno Gazette-Journal. "The fans and everybody, I don't think they understand the level of commitment the coaches and players give. People tell you it's not life or death, but we take this very seriously. When you see something like that, you take a step back and remember what's really important. Obviously, being a husband and father is the most important thing for him."

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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter!

And don’t forget to keep up with all of Graham’s thoughts, witty comments and college football discussions on Facebook



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News sport : Steelers receiver Antonio Brown could hold out into training camp

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In 2012, the Pittsburgh Steelers and receiver Antonio Brown agreed to what was a mutually beneficial contract extension.

Brown got $42.5 million over five years after his second NFL season. The Steelers recognized his talent and locked him up at a reasonable price early on, and Brown got some financial stability.

The problem is that Brown has outplayed that deal and wants a new one.

Fox Sports 1's Mike Garafolo reported that Brown wasn't at the first day of voluntary Steelers workouts on Monday, and is considering skipping minicamps and maybe even training camp to get a new deal. His base salary is slated to be $6 million this season. That's not bad money, but just 11th among base salaries for receivers according to Spotrac. And Brown ranks much higher than the 11th best receiver in the NFL; he is arguably No. 1.

Brown has an amazing 239 catches, 3,197 yards and 21 touchdowns the past two years, and has amassed those numbers with remarkable week-to-week consistency. You can say he signed a contract and should live up to it, but if Brown wasn't putting up good numbers, the Steelers would have no problem cutting him and not paying him the remainder of his non-guaranteed contract. Brown has leverage and it sounds like he plans to use it.

Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant is also skipping workouts (so is cornerback Orlando Scandrick according to NFL.com), although that's not uncommon for players like Bryant who get the franchise tag. Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston, Denver Broncos receiver Demaryius Bryant and New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul might follow that path as well. None of them have signed their franchise tender yet. So there's some offseason contract angst for some star players and their teams.

Brown will get paid, of course. The question is just how much time he might miss before it happens.

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!



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News sport : After 5 surgeries, righty learns to pitch with left arm

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Five surgeries on a throwing arm is enough to end most pitching careers. For Michael Matusz, it just meant learning a new skill set. The sophomore at Woodbridge (N.J.) High School is a natural righty.

Matusz broke his right arm in kindergarten, just around the time he was starting to learn to play baseball. At that point, doctors diagnosed a bone cyst near his right elbow. Removing the cyst required five surgeries between first and fourth grades, according to MyCentralJersey.com reporter Greg Tufaro. 

Throughout that time, Matusz learned to pitch, and completely fell in love with the game – but eventually doctors told him he'd have to make a change if he wanted to keep going with the sport.

“After (the surgeries) the doctors said I had to switch over, that I can’t throw with my (right) arm anymore,” said Matusz, who started throwing left-handed while playing catch with his father, Robert. “It was frustrating at first, but I love baseball so much, I would do anything to keep playing.”

In a profile of Matusz, Tufaro quotes a recent opposing coach, who said,

"The kid threw nothing but strikes. We didn’t hit him well. It seemed like he had total command. It’s shocking to me that he could be that good teaching himself (to become a southpaw) at that young of an age. Good for him. I’m a big fan of his now.”

 So far this season he has a 2.83 ERA in three outings. He throws a curveball, fastball and a changeup.



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News sport : Brandon Sampson bolsters already formidable LSU recruiting class

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For a team that lost its two best players to the NBA draft earlier this month, LSU still has a chance to be awfully good next season.

The Tigers are bringing in a recruiting class more than capable of offsetting the departure of all-conference forwards Jarell Martin and Jordan Mickey.

LSU landed another impact player Monday when Rivals.com's No. 41 prospect Brandon Sampson chose the Tigers over St. John's and Oklahoma State. The Baton Rouge native joins a recruiting class that already includes No. 1 overall prospect Ben Simmons, five-star scoring guard Antonio Blakeney and Arizona transfer Craig Victor.

A slender but sweet-shooting 6-foot-4 wing who excels in transition and can also finish at the rim, Sampson initially chose St. John's but reopened his recruitment when the Johnnies and fifth-year coach Steve Lavin parted ways earlier this spring. He considered St. John's anew after Chris Mullin was hired but opted instead to stay at home and join his talented classmates at LSU.

Sampson joins a well-stocked backcourt that also features Blakeney and returning starters Tim Quarterman, Keith Hornsby and Josh Gray. LSU is also in pursuit of highly touted wing Malik Newman, though the Tigers would have to outduel Mississippi State and Kentucky to get him and Sampson's commitment may make that an even greater long shot anyway. 

LSU's frontcourt will be unproven without Martin and Mickey, but the 6-foot-9 Simmons figures to emerge as the focal point. Victor was a former top 100 recruit who played sparingly at Arizona before leaving midway through his freshman season and returners Aaron Epps and Elbert Robinson should provide some depth behind the newcomers. LSU is also recruiting 6-foot-9 former Oregon signee Ray Kasongo, who spent the year in junior college after he didn't qualify academically to play for the Ducks.

The one concern with LSU is the program's history of often not getting the most out of the talent on its roster.

Last season, Johnny Jones' team suffered some head-scratching regular season losses to some of the SEC's worst teams and then blew a huge lead against NC State in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. Next season's Tigers have the potential to accomplish more if they can live up to it. 

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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!



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News sport : Indiana DL Ralph Green III arrested for battery, suspended

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Indiana defensive tackle Ralph Green III, left, and defensive tackle Nate Hoff, right, sack Iowa quarterback Jake Rudock during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)Indiana defensive lineman Ralph Green III was arrested early Sunday morning on multiple charges.

According to the Herald-Times, Green, a redshirt junior, was charged with battery, public intoxication and disorderly conduct after allegedly “slapping a 20-year-old woman in the face.”

Police said Green slapped the woman when she “refused to dance” with him.

From the Herald-Times:

According to Bloomington Police Department Capt. Joe Qualters, Green was trying to dance with the victim at a residence in the 1300 block of North Lincoln street. She refused to dance and attempted to get away, Qualters said, causing a disturbance between the woman, her boyfriend and Green. Qualters said Green grabbed her by her waist during the disturbance and slapped her on the right side of her face.

When police arrived on the scene, Green was “yelling belligerently.” Bloomington Police Department Capt. Joe Qualters said Green then “attempted to enter a vehicle through the passenger side and began honking the horn and yelling.”

Officers asked him to stop. When Green exited the vehicle, officers “noticed he had red and watery eyes and was saying back and forth while speaking.” A field sobriety test was conducted and Green registered a .201 blood alcohol content.

Qualters said that the victim had “no marks, redness or swelling,” but wants to pursue charges against Green, who was taken into custody at 1:42 a.m.

After becoming aware of the incident, Indiana announced that Green III has been suspended from football activities.

“Indiana University Athletics and the IU football program are aware of the arrest of Indiana University student-athlete Ralph Green III. We take this situation very seriously as we do all conduct-related issues, on or off the field, among our student-athletes,” the school said in a statement.

“Ralph has been suspended from all football activities effective immediately, and the IU Office of the Dean of Students has been notified of the allegations consistent with Department of Athletics policy. We will continue to gather facts, monitor the legal and university processes, and take further action as the evolving situation warrants.”

The 6-foot-5, 315-pound Green played in 11 games for the Hoosiers last season and registered 19 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and one sack. As a redshirt freshman in 2013, Green played in 12 games and made nine starts while recording 25 tackles, a sack and 4.5 tackles for loss. 

For more Indiana news, visit Peegs.com.

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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!



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News sport : Milwaukee needs to figure out how to make a series of it in Game 2

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The Milwaukee Bucks aren’t supposed to be here. We need to remember that, and they need to get past it.

[Follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr: The best slams from all of basketball]

The Bucks had the worst record in the league last season, and though most concluded that what should have been a middling 2013-14 Milwaukee team underachieved, nobody thought that entering this campaign a combination of competent coaching and execution would result in a playoff berth. Had prognosticators known prior to 2014-15 that rookie Jabari Parker would tear his ACL after only 25 games and that Larry Sanders would walk away from the team after just a few contests more, they would have completely written Milwaukee’s postseason hopes off.

Instead, the Bucks put it all together under Jason Kidd. A top five defense featuring a cadre of tilting, long-armed colts with rays set to “FLUMMOX.” A 31-23 record, at one point, with a still-impressive .500 mark to end the campaign with. The franchise managed to deal its arguable best player in Brandon Knight after the midseason point for a completely different type of ball dominating guard in Michael Carter-Williams, and not fall completely off the mark in response. Yes, the team struggled with MCW either injured or running the show, and they also dropped Game 1 of its first round pairing with the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, but by and large these 83 games have been an accomplishment.

Now comes the tricky bit.

There is a fantastic chance that Parker, Giannis Antetokounmpo, the 2014 Rookie of the Year and eventual cap flexibility could provide the Bucks with a star-heavy foundation that could pull it from the ranks of the mediocre. As things stand now, though, Milwaukee is right back in the same situation that Bucks fans correctly carped about for years. Instead of bottoming out for a second consecutive season, the team is parked in the middle of the NBA’s bracket. This season’s emergence is just as unexpected as last season’s deadening fall to the bottom, as all manner of co-incidences abound for a team that on paper should feel rather unremarkable. Not terrible, just stuck in the middle. Again.

This is why the Bucks have to grab a game or two, starting with Monday’s Game 2 matchup in Chicago. The team has to streamline its attack on both ends and work toward life as something other than an afterthought. The Chicago Bulls are talented, deep, and at best a championship contender – but they’ve also established absolutely nothing in terms of identity in what has been an injury-plagued season. Milwaukee has to take advantage of this.

In Game 1 Derrick Rose was allowed to dive into offensive sets far too early in possessions for Milwaukee’s tastes. Whether the Bulls were taking the ball out of the net or whether it was during the second quarter that saw the Bucks shoot just 29 percent from the floor, Rose dictated on his own terms in the opener on his way to a 23-point, seven-assist night; worked in just 29 minutes of play. Following the game Bucks coach Jason Kidd said he’d “live with” Rose’s three three-point makes, which is understandable, but he cannot afford the ways in which Rose scored those other 14 points.

The Bucks managed the NBA’s fourth-best defense in 2014-15, and the team doesn’t need a locked-in system to succeed on that end. It’s true that even the long-armed Carter-Williams still has his communication issues defensively, and that reserve veteran Jerryd Bayless prefers a consistent theme behind him, but the Bucks can think on the fly early in a possession. Especially if Rose fancies himself a consistent three-point threat, which the 28 percent-shooting Bulls point guard most certainly is not.

The Bucks are three-point threats. Despite the team’s crummy, 26th-ranked offense during the regular season, the team finished seventh in three-point percentage this year. Milwaukee made just a quarter of its three-point attempts in Game 1, as the Bulls again influenced the course of action – Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau’s defense willed the Bucks into a series of long, uncontested two-pointers that just weren’t going to cut it.

Milwaukee wasn’t actually all that bad at knocking in the long twos, and the team did get to the line a surprising 26 times (making just 17) in the loss, but Milwaukee can do much better against a Bulls defense that fell by the wayside in 2014-15.

Little boxes need to be checked. Bayless can’t play along O.J. Mayo, with the Bucks’ backcourt being moved out in shifts. MCW needs to spend more time on the court against Bulls reserve Aaron Brooks, a game if diminutive point guard who was already flummoxed once in 2014-15 by Carter-Williams in a regular season Bucks win over Chicago earlier in April. The Bulls run hot and cold – the team’s offense at times can remind of the Rose-less waste that was the team’s 2012-2014 run, even with Rose on the court. If Milwaukee can dive into its defensive sets with alacrity, and not repeat the early-Game 1 shootout action that Kidd called “fool’s gold” after the loss, then Chicago could have a game on its hands.

Not a close, “we’re both shooting for 60 in a half”-game. A real one. A Central Division bruiser. A slugfest. In short, the only way Milwaukee can win.

And a better way to eventually groom that stable of potential-future stars, after a season spent eschewing the long-term rebuild. The Bucks earned that postseason berth, and now the team needs execute as its position calls for.

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Kelly Dwyer is an editor for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at KDonhoops@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!



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