Tag: Sports radio

Eagles rock Barracuda 5-1 sending them to sixth straight loss

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by Marko Ukalovic

LOVELAND, Colo- In a heated battle where both team combined for 40 penalty minutes, the Colorado Eagles proved their dominanace over the San Jose Barracuda in a 5-1 victory on Friday evening at Budwiser Events Center.

San Jose has lost a season-high six games in a row while Colorado have won three games in a row and sit in third place in the Pacific Division with 54 points.

Colorado (25-14-3-1) drew first blood in the first period. Kevin Connauton fed a home run pass from his own zone all the way into the ‘Cuda zone where AJ Greer pounced on the puck and chipped it over ‘Cuda goalie Zachary Sawchenko into the upper right corner for the first of his two goals on the night at the 12:09 mark.

San Jose (14-25-1-2) evened the score over four minutes later. Manny Weiderer fed a pass from center ice that sprung Noah Gregor on a breakaway. Gregor skated in and beat Eagles goalie Hunter Miska with a shot top-shelf for his seventh goal of the season at the 16:20 mark.

Things got chippy in the second half of the opening 20 minutes between the two Pacific Division rivals when two separate fights broke out. Lean Bergmann and Logan O’Connor tangoed with each other at the 12:19 mark. Then Jeffery Viel and Dan Renouf exchanged fisticuffs with 56 seconds left.

Colorado took control of the game in the second period en route to four unanswered goals. Shane Bowers fed a pass up the ice to Greer, who had just came out of the penalty box after his penalty had expired, that led to a breakaway. Greer skated in before depositing a backhander past Sawchenko for his second goal of the night and his 11th of the season at the 6:36 mark.

The ‘Cuda had a chance on the power play on to try to score the equalizer late in the middle frame. Instead Jayson Megna blocked a shot attempt by Nick DeSimone at the point and he in turn created his own breakaway opportunity. Megna buried a backhander past Sawchenko for a short-handed goal, his 16th goal of the season and co-team leader, at the 16:21 mark.

Colorado put the game away with two goals in the third. Eric Condra intercepted a cross ice pass inside the ‘Cuda zone. He skated in on net before he finding a wide open Bowers who tapped in the puck into an empty net for his ninth goal of the season at the 1:12 mark.

The Eagles completed the scoring when Greer sent a shot in from the left point that Condra redirected the puck past Sawchenko for his 12th goal of the season at the 12:46 mark.

Miska finished the night with 31 saves on 32 shots to earn his 10th win of the season. Sawchenko made 29 shots on 34 saves in suffering the loss.

GAME NOTES: San Jose went 0-for-4 on the power play. Colorado was 0-for-2.

Gregor snapped a six-game goalless drought.

The three stars of the night were 1) Greer 2) Miska 3) Bowers.

The announced attendance was 5,289.

UP NEXT: The same two teams battle it again on Saturday 2/8 at 6:00pm at the Budwiser Events Center.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Ozzie Guillen wants to manage again

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file photo from WBEZ 91.5 FM: Miami Marlins former manager Ozzie Gullien trying to explain himself to the media why he said he loved Fidel Castro back in 2012 which forced him out of baseball

Ozzie Guillén Wants to Manage again

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Ozzie Guillén, born in Venezuela,was the first Latino-born manager to win a World Series as skipper of the Chicago White Sox when his team swept the Houston Astros in the 2005 World Series. Since then, Alex Cora,born in Puerto Rico managed the Boston Red Sox to a World Series title in 2018 over the Los Angeles Dodgers,becoming the second Latino manager to win the Fall Classic. Guillén is said to be looking for a job and return to the major leagues as a manager.

Guillén was also a very colorful player,a shortstop for 16 years with the White Sox,Orioles,Braves and Rays. Later he was a coach for the Expos and Marlins prior to managing the Chicago White Sox from 2004 to 2011. As a manager he posted a .513 winning percentage. Not short of controversy during his career. Always opinionated,he loves to talk,when he played and managed as he always had time for me and for an interview, I could roll tape forever,and many a times,I had to edit his interviews to make sure they fit the time I have on the broadcast.

In 2012 he told Time Magazine, “I love Fidel Castro” and that started a storm in Miami,a heavily Cuban populated city, Cubans who left their country because of Castro’s communist dictatorship. Later the Marlins issue a statement denouncing the Cuban dictator. Guillén was suspended five games and the fallout resulted with his ouster after the season. Marlins management at that time reported that attendance fell after those remarks and never recovered.

Jorge Ortíz, who was a writer for the US Today in 2012 called me and asked me about my opinion about what Guillén said,since I am Cuban-born and a broadcaster in the major leagues,below is part of his article:

“It’s like going to New York’s Jewish district and saying, ‘Hitler wasn’t so bad. He managed to stay in power for a few years,’ ” said veteran Spanish-language baseball announcer Amaury Pi-Gonzalez, who fled Cuba at age 17 and lived in Miami for five years. “Even a 9-year-old knows better than to say that in Miami. But I don’t think he’s really a fan of Castro or meant any harm. It’s just that he talks so much that sometimes he says things without thinking about them.”

I still feel the same way for Ozzie, a good man and a very good manager,I defended him then because here in the US we have the right to free speech, something that -by the way-still absent in Cuba for over six decades.

Ozzie GuilIén has not managed in the major leagues since 2012,he has been doing some television work and has kept-up with the game On February 2019 Guillén said “I want to manage again.“I know the game,I’m still close to it, so I see the game unfold. I watch the games now doing television and I’m still involved managing through the Venezuela Winter League.”

If not this season,I think we can expect the possibility of Guillén managing again,he would not mind going into the minor leagues to get the shot at managing again in the show. Talking with a lot of baseball fans,and recently during the Oakland Athletics Fanfest a couple of Venezuelan fans that know Guillén told me that he – Guillén (for sure) is still interested in the opportunity.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Museum, is the Spanish play by play voice of the Oakland A’s and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Podcast with Joe Lami: Will Sharks 3 goal win turn the corner?; Knights clobber Panthers 7-2; plus more

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photo from sfgate.com: San Jose Sharks’ Marc-Edouard Vlasic (44) and Edmonton Oilers’ Josh Archibald (15) race for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta.

NHL podcast with Joe Lami:

#1 The San Jose Sharks looks like they’ve turn a corner with a win over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night 6-3 and two goals scored by Timo Meier

#2 The Vegas Golden Knights Mark Stone found the back of the net twice, Stone also helped out on the big offensive night for the Knights with three assists in Vegas’ win over the Florida Panthers 7-2

#3 The Carolina Hurricane’s Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho both scored a goal each in the Canes win over the Arizona Coyotes in a two goal victory 5-3

#4 The New York Islanders Kieffer Bellows scored two goals in a night to remember for Bellows his first two goals of his NHL career that lent a 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings

#5 The Nashville Predators got a one goal win over the Calgary Flames 3-2 on Thursday night as the Preds Mikael Granlund scored a goal and picked up an assist

Joe Lami does the NHL podcast each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports with London Marq: AT&T underway with Mickelson back; Warriors dealing at the deadline; plus more

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photo from sfgate.com: Comedian Bill Murray takes a cut on the green at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am on Thu Feb 6, 2020

On Headline Sports podcast with London:

#1 The AT&T at Pebble Beach Pro Am is under way and fan favorite Phil Mickelson is there. Mickelson won last year’s tournament by three shots.

#2 The Golden State Warriors were sellers dealing Glen Robinson III and Alec Burks to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night and dealing D’Angelo Russell to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night

#3 Talk about some of the San Francisco Giants pitchers vying for a spot in the rotation to name a few, Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija, Shaun Anderson, Tyler Beade, Derek Rodriguez, and Aaron Saurez.

#4 Former Cincinnati Red Pete Rose is asking MLB for reinstatement citing sign stealing and steroids issues that might support his defense to have a shot into the Hall of Fame

#5 The Sacramento Kings host a very talented Miami Heat team on Friday night at Golden One Center in Sacramento. The Kings are coming off a big win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

London does Headline Sports each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Caribbean Series Semi Finals Game 2: Dominicans get past Puerto Rico in a real nail biter 4-3

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February 7

By Lewis Rubman

Puerto Rico (2-4) 3 5 9

Dominican Republic (5-1) 4 7 1

HATO REY, PUERTO RICO–Right after Puerto Rico’s gut wrenching 5-4 loss to the Dominican Republic in the last game of this year’s Caribbean Series, some one asked José Valentín, the manager of Puerto Rico’s team, the Santurce Cangrejeros (Crabbers), how he felt about fellow Puerto Rican Lino Rivera managing the Dominican entry. Knowing that the two teams would face each other again, in the following day’s one and done semi-final, Valentín answered, “All I can see is that for one of us, it’ll be his last game.”

That following day was last night, and it was Valentín would managed his last game of the Series.

For a long time, it looked as if it would be the other way round. The Santurce Cangrejeros (Crabbers), representing the Island of Enchantment, got off to any early lead, but in a way that boded ill for the team’s hopes for the championship.

The Puerto Rican squad loaded the bases, with one out in the top of the second and Cuban right hander Yunesky Maya on the mound for the Dominicans. Roberto Peña then reached first on a bunt single-quite a move for a catcher-as Raymond Fuentes crossed the plate and the two other runners moved up a base. Henry Ramos smacked a hard single to right, driving in Ozzie Martínez, Jan Hernández following closely on his heels.

But Junior Lake made a magnificent throw from right field, but home plate umpire Emil Jiménez called the runner safe, to the mostly Puerto Rican crowd’s delight. That was the start of the foreboding, because review umpire Iván Mercado reversed the decision, killing the rally.

The Dominicans chipped a run of Puerto Rico’s lead, but they got that back in the fifth. Puerto Rico quickly added a run in their half of the sixth. The Dominican cut Puerto Rico’s 3-2 lead to 3-2 in their half of that inning and almost eliminated it entirely.

A walk,a single, and a stolen base, followed by Wilken Castillo’s infield single scored a run and put men on first and second with no one out. They moved up a base on an infield out. Gustavo Núñez hit what looked like a sacrifice fly, but Jan Hernández did his best Ramón Laureano imitation, and threw Abraham Almonte out at the plate. It was Junior Lake’s second inning throw to the plate all over again, down to the long wait before the the result of the replay was announced.

It was now the bottom of the eighth, and the bottom fell out of Puerto Rico’s chances. Facing number 13 Nicholas Padilla, Jordany Espín singled to right. Peter O’Brien sent him to third with a double to center. Francisco Cruz came into the game to relieve Padilla and uncorked a wild pitch, which allowed Espín to score and Alen Hanson, pinch running for O’Brien to advance to third. Almonte lofted a sacrifice fly to center, and the Domincan led, 4-3.

Fernando Abad, who had entered the game to get the final out in the top of the eighth, got the side out in the ninth and the win. It was a good game for players with Oakland connections. Jorge Mateo went one for three, raising his average for the Series to .250.

Padilla took the loss.

The Dominican Toros del Este take on the Venezuelan Lara Cardenales for the Series crown tomorrow night at 8:00.

AT&T PEBBLE BEACH PRO-AM: Taylor takes early lead

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photo from sfgate.com: Nick Taylor follows his shot from the ninth tee of the Monterey Peninsula County Club Shore Course during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020, in Pebble Beach, Calif

By Jeremy Harness

PEBBLE BEACH–Nick Taylor got out to an early lead on Thursday, taking advantage of the usually-easier scoring conditions at Monterey Peninsula Country Club to earn a two-shot advantage by firing an eight-under round of 63.

Thursday marked the lowest round that he has scored since 2013,

He birdied the first two holes on the front nine, and then followed that up with two more birdies on the last two holes on the front side.

He was not done there. He got out to the par-five 10th and made eagle before making back-to-back birdies at the 15th and 16th holes.

Two shots behind him are Patrick Cantlay, who shot a six-under round of 66 at Spyglass Hill, considered to be the toughest of the three courses in the tournament rotation, and Chase Seiffert, a relative unknown on the PGA Tour who shot the same score at Pebble Beach on Thursday.

The two guys who are one stroke behind Cantlay and Seiffert are Harold Varner III, who played Pebble Beach on Thursday and shot a five-under round of 67, as well as Richy Werenski, who took on Monterey Peninsula and shot five-under.

Tied with those two, in a tie for fourth, is Cal product Max Homa is tied for fourth after the first round, by virtue of his five-under round of 67 at Spyglass Hill, along with Stockton native Ricky Barnes.

The most recognizable name on the leaderboard, Phil Mickelson, is currently in a tie for 12th after shooting a four-under 68 at Spyglass.

He started his round at the 10th hole and parred out until he got to the 15th, where he stumbled and made bogey. He quickly rallied, however, and made three birdies in a row to close out that side.

Mickelson then turned around on the front side and made two birdies – at the second and at the fifth – to card his four-under round.

Utes outlast Cardinal in overtime 64-56

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gostanford.com photo

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, February 6, 2020

Utah used a 14-6 overtime run to knock off Stanford 64-56 Thursday in Pac-12 men’s basketball at Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City.

Freshman guard Jaxon Brenchley hit a 3-pointer from the left baseline that gave the Utes a 57-53 lead with 2:08 to play in overtime. After a defensive stop, Brenchley penetrated the lane and dished off to Branden Carlson for a dunk, increasing Utah’s lead to six at the 1:10 mark of OT.

Stanford was 2 of 10 shooting in the extra period.

The Cardinal had the last possession of regulation. After a clock malfunction forced a five-minute monitor review, Stanford inbounded from mid-court. Tyrell Terry’s 25-foot jumper missed at the horn.

Stanford (16-6 overall, 5-4 Pac-12) had its last lead at 50-49 on a Terry jumper with 49 seconds remaining in the second half. Utah’s Timmy Allen hit one of two free throws with 3.9 seconds left to tie the game at 50-50.

Allen and Carlson led the Utes (13-9 overall, 3-6 Pac-12) with 15 points apiece, with Riley Battin adding 11, and Rylan Jones finished with six assists.

Battin led Utah rebounders with 11 boards, with Carlson next with 10 rebounds and eight blocks, as the Utes outrebounded Stanford 39-37.

Terry was the Cardinal’s top scorer with 14 points, followed by Daejon Davis with 12. Oscar da Silva added eight points and a team-high 11 rebounds. Bryce Willis finished with nine points.

The Cardinal shot 35.4 percent from the field (23 of 65, 6 of 22 3-point), while Utah shot 36.8 percent (21 of 57, 6 of 19 3-point).

Utah led 28-22 at halftime.

The Cardinal’s road trip continues Saturday afternoon in Boulder, Colo., when they visit No. 24 Colorado.

Sharks chomp into Edmonton 6-3 to match season-high six goals 

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San Jose Sharks celebrate one of their six goals on Thursday night in Edmonton against the Oilers (globegazette.com photo)

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ It was a replay scorewise of the first time San Jose and the Oilers met this season, as the Sharks won again 6-3.

That date was on November 12. Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl scored then, but not this time, as the NHL’s leading point getter was shut out.  San Jose used three two-period goals to achieve victory behind netminder Aaron Dell, who faced at least 31 shots in his third straight game.

The Sharks kept the trend going with a fifth straight road victory when in Edmonton. 

San Jose’s Timo Meier nearly had his second career hat trick, but instead settled for a game-high two goals and one assist. The last time he had a three-point night was when he had his first career hat trick, on December 28. 

13 different Sharks had points on the night. 

One game removed from their NHL debut, San Jose’s Maxim Letunov had his first goal and teammate Alexander True earned his first assist. 

The Oilers had a Constant push in the Sharks’ zone, which led to their first goal. Dell was able to stop McDavid’s first attempt less than a minute earlier. Regarding the scoring play, while fishing the puck from the boards, Radim Simek sent the puck to Edmonton’s Ethan Bear at the blue line, who passed it to McDavid. McDavid then swung the puck towards Dell again, from far away, who sent the puck to Darnell Nurse. The puck then somehow found Sam Gagner, who had been seated in the slot, and he converted at 4:04.

Not too long after, the second player in NHL points this season, unthwarted by earlier, managed to score his 30th goal. He did it in his McDavid fashion, taking a pass from Nurse, located in the Oilers’ zone in the neutral area, and then using his speed to singlehandedly fly by two skaters en route to the net at 5:20. 

Nurse received a penalty at 8:15 for throwing his stick to replace goalie Mikko Koskinen’s. 

The game stayed 2-0 until Meier tipped Brent Burn’s shot at 11:01 to halve Edmonton’s lead. 

San Jose killed off a penalty to Burns at 13:21 and then the Sharks got their second and third power play at once as Oscar Klefbom got a double minor for high-sticking Melker Karlsson at 16:33.  With Burns initially credited for the goal, the credit shifted to Evander Kane who was up in front. The play came about due to well timed puck movement. Joe Thornton made the cross-ice pass to Burns, who shot from the top of the left faceoff circle. The goal was also significant in that the timely conversion gave the Sharks their first with the man advantage in their last 12 tries.

The second period featured more of the newer Sharks, as they went ahead and then upped their lead even more with another two-goal period.   

Letunov replied with a smile after he netted the rebound off Erik Karlsson’s shot three seconds before 7:07. The rookie fought and spun around with two defenders in front of him. 

After the puck went high up in the air behind the net, True recovered it. He found Stefan Noesen camped near the net and fed him for a quick wraparound goal at 12:31.

Meier struck again at 5:05 of the third to make it 5-2. Kevin Labanc attracted three players to him, sent the puck off the boards and then took down one of the three players earlier. That opened the shot for Meier, who aimed from the left faceoff circle. 

Bear then broke San Jose’s five-goal streak at 6:33, in a similar spot to Meier, but from the other faceoff circle, pushing the score to 5-3.

To cap the scoring, Meier threw the puck behind the net to Thornton, who in turn patiently fed him. Meier initially had a hat trick, but the scoring switched again, this time to Labanc, who was jostling up front.

Up Next: With a perfect road trip, the Sharks will now return home for a single game, as they see the Calgary Flames for the second time in three at 7:30pm Monday. 

Caribbean Series: Venezuelans get shutout eliminate Mexico 1-0

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February 6

By Lewis Rubman

Mexico (4-2) 0 9 0

Venezuela (5-1) 1 2 0

HATO REY, PUERTO RICO–Three Mexican pitchers held Venezuela to hits this afternoon, but that was all the Venezuelans needed to eliminate their rival and advance to the final confrontation of the second second Caribbean Series, which will take place tomorrow evening, starting at 8:00 Atlantic time.

Venezuela’s Lara Cardenales looked set to establish a significant lead in the bottom of the third. Gorkys Hernández, who came to the plate with a raquitic batting average of .200 for the Series, opened the frame with a walk off of Zack Dodson, who was starting for the Tomateros de Culiacán, champions of the Mexican Pacific League. Dodson got the next batter, Juan Apodaca, to ground out to third, moving Hernández up a base in the process.

Wellington Dotel’s rule book double brought in Hernández in with what proved to be the game’s only tally. It didn’t look like that would be the case when the next batter for the Cardinals launched a hard line drive towards left center field. Hernández, playing center, dashed to his right, speared the ball, and fired it in to shortstop Alí Castillo at second to double up Dotel, who was unable to return in time. ´ Mexico had several chances to undo the damage.

They left runners on second and third in the fourth. Alí Solis was thrown out at home with one out in the fifth, trying to score on Rico’s grounder to short. José Guadalupe Chávez led off the ninth with single to left off Pedro Rodríguez. Solís tried to get him into scoring position with a sacrifice.

Rodríguez foiled him with a high, hard heater that caught Mexico´s catch leaning back and unable to drop down a decent bunt. Instead,the ball bounced sharply to first baseman Osmán Marval, who fired it to shortstop Castillo at second. In a marvel of clockwork infielding, Castillo relayed Marval’s throw to second baseman Alex Amarista, covering first. The resultant double play left Juan Carlos Gamboa as Mexico’s last, best hope.

He grounded out to short.

Losing pitcher Dotson went six innings, giving up Venezuela’s single tally and both of its hits. He deserved better. Derrick Loop and Sasagi Sánchez closed Venezuela down for the rest of the game.

The win went to starter Logan Darnell, who gave up six hits over his seven innings of works. He was relieved by José Ascanio (no hits in one inning), Francisely Buenos (no hits in a third of an inning), Richardo Gómez (none in two-thirds of an inning), and Rodríguez (one hit/one inning), who got the save.

Venezuela will play the winner of tonight’s game between Puerto Rico’s Santurce Crabbers and the Dominican’s Eastern Tigers tomorrow night for the championship.

Warriors trade Russell to Minnesota after dealing Robinson and Burks to Philadelphia

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photo from sfgate.com: Golden State Warriors guard D’Angelo Russell (0) drives next to Brooklyn Nets guard Caris LeVert (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, in Brooklyn, Russell was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday morning

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors did not play Alec Burks or Glenn Robinson III Wednesday night in the game against the Brooklyn Nets. Burks and Robinson, as well as guard D’Angelo Russell, had been the subject of trade rumors for several weeks.

The Warriors announced the trade after the game. The Sixers will get Burks and Robinson, and the Warriors will get three second-round draft choices. They get Dallas’ pick in the 2020 draft, Denver’s pick in the 2021 draft, and Toronto’s pick in the 2022 draft.

Burks and Robinson were signed this season to a one-year contract. Both players would be free agents after the season. The trade took $4.2 million off the Warriors’ books and dropped the luxury tax bill from $9.3 million to $3.4 million. The team is now $1.38 million above the tax threshold. The Warriors payroll will go up as they have only 11 players under contract. They probably will sign Marquese Chriss to an NBA contract.

Alec Burks, in his ninth season, and Glenn Robinson, in his eighth, played well for the Warriors. Robinson was a starter, and Burks came off the bench. Both players can make a three-point shot. Burks averaged 16.1 points-per-game. Robinson averaged 12.9 ppg. Robinson pulled down 4.9 rebounds per game.

The trade will fortify the Sixers’ offensive attack. The Sixers rank 21st in the NBA in 3-point percentage. They need more scoring, and Burks and Robinson give them two players that can score.

The Warriors’ management and players liked Robinson and Burks. They fit in well. Since both will be free agents at the end of the year, the Warriors will be able to sign one or both if they feel that the players will fit in with the Warriors next season.

The Warriors dealt D’Angelo Russell to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday morning. With Klay Thompson and Steph Curry back, the Warriors will go without Russell as the leader on the second unit. The Warriors will have two players that can put 50 points on the board every game next season.

The Warriors will get a lottery pick this year. They have the worst record in the NBA. With Burks and Robinson gone, The Warriors will give players like Jordan Poole and Omari Spellman more playing time. Next season, the Warriors will move Damion Lee to the second unit. Either Marquese Chriss or a healthy Kevon Looney will start at the center position.

If the Warriors get the number one pick in the lottery, they probably will pick James Wiseman. Wiseman is a big man coming in at 7 feet 1 inch of height. He left the University of Memphis after he was suspended for 12 games. He also declared for this year’s NBA draft. Wiseman averaged 19.7 points per game, 10.7 rebounds, and three blocks.

The Warriors, under coach Steve Kerr’s tutelage, will continue to play to the best of the team’s ability. It may not translate into wins this season, but with the return of Klay and Steph, the Warriors should be playoff contenders next year.