The Golden State Warriors took a gamble in their first-round series against the Sacramento Kings by bringing Draymond Green off the bench. In Game 5, that gamble paid off, as Green had one of his best playoff games since the 2016 NBA Finals, scoring 21 points and dishing out seven assists. This move allowed Jordan Poole, who may be inconsistent with his shooting, but provides spacing and finishing ability, to start, opening the court for the rest of the team. Kevon Looney also proved to be a crucial player, pulling down 22 rebounds and becoming the only player in playoff history to record 50+ rebounds, 20+ assists, and 5 (or fewer) turnovers in a three-game span. This new lineup has been exposing Domantas Sabonis's lack of rim protection, and the Kings have struggled to find an answer to defend the Warriors' new lineup. The Warriors may have struggled with spacing earlier this season when Looney and Green were on the floor, but in the past three games of this series, the Warriors are showing their strength in spacing, reminiscent of their strength during their four NBA titles. Will this move to bring Green off the bench be a permanent shift for the Warriors?
Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody's mother, Rona Moody, took to Twitter to express her appreciation for a fan spotted during their game against the Sacramento Kings. The tweet shows a photo of a random Warriors fan sporting Moody's No. 4 jersey at the Chase Center during the Warriors' Game 3 win over the Kings. The caption read, "I've worn my son's jersey every single game for two seasons straight to make sure that there was at least one in the arena every game. Planning to continue until I start to see others wearing it..... well I guess it's happening." Moody had a great game, scoring 13 points and three rebounds in his first game back from an illness.
Though a small event, the tweet has gone viral on social media platforms, spreading awareness of Rona Moody's dedication to her son and the recognition of a true fan. As for Moody, the young guard is playing in his second year in the league after being drafted 14th overall by the Warriors out of Arkansas in 2021. Moody's influence is growing on and off the court, making him an up-and-coming player to watch.
Golden State Warriors' general manager, Bob Myers, has stated that managing player minutes in the playoffs is more aggressive than in the regular season. This comes as reports suggest that head coach Steve Kerr and the Warriors medical team are closely monitoring the usage of Steph Curry, who has been averaging 39.5 minutes per game during the first round playoff series against the Sacramento Kings. In Game 4, Curry played for 42:42 minutes. Kerr is proposing to keep Curry's minutes at 38 minutes per game with five minutes rest each half. As head coach, Kerr acknowledges that he would alter plans according to playoff gameplay, with each game being different. Curry's 158 minutes in the series' first four games was the highest total on the team, with Klay Thompson (148) second and Andrew Wiggins (139) third. With the series tied at two games apiece, the Warriors will play their fifth game against the Kings, broadcast on ESPN and NBCSBA on Friday at 5 pm.
During the second quarter of a must-win Game 6 for the Sacramento Kings against the Golden State Warriors, Domantas Sabonis was elbowed in the face by Kevon Looney. Despite the injury, the referees did not call a foul on the play, leaving fans outraged. Slow-motion replays clearly show Looney's elbow connecting with Sabonis' face during a jump ball. Sabonis stayed in the game but registered only 7 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 turnovers. Sabonis was already playing with five fouls in the fourth quarter and was visibly frustrated, begging the referees to "let him play". Despite the injury, the Kings were firing on all cylinders, with De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk combining for over 50 points, and the Kings shooting 40% from beyond the arc. Sacramento ultimately won the game, priming themselves to force a Game 7 against the Warriors. This begs the question: did the referees miss a crucial foul during the game that could have hurt the chances of the Kings? Fans seem to think so, with social media lighting up with calls for more thorough refereeing in future games.
Developing Asia is set to grow at 4.8% this year and next, according to the Asian Development Bank’s outlook. The positive forecast comes as the region reopens with “impressive dynamism,” following the pandemic. Private consumption, investment, and services, including tourism, are reviving, boosting the outlook for the region and the global economy. The standout growth region this year will be South Asia, with India’s strength driving growth of 5.5%, followed by Indonesia at 4.5%. The World Bank says while region-wide economic activity has recovered, many Pacific island countries have output levels below pre-pandemic levels. The Bank warns that a lack of productivity-enhancing structural reforms over the past two decades means convergence between East Asia and Pacific countries with high-income countries has stalled. The International Monetary Fund expects China's post-pandemic reopening to bolster global growth, as advanced economies face the risk of a hard landing.
Draymond Green, forward for the Golden State Warriors, recently stated that he believes his teammate, Stephen Curry, is the best basketball player of all time. Green lauds Curry's intense confidence that sets him apart from other players. While Michael Jordan and LeBron James are often seen as the top contenders for the GOAT title, Green's sentiments are not so easily dismissed, as Curry's unique skill set, including his shooting ability, makes him a strong contender for the title. Curry currently holds the record for the most 3-pointers made in NBA history, and continues to have an impressive performance in the NBA playoffs, averaging over 30 points a game against the Sacramento Kings.
Green's statement also reflects the close relationship the Warriors' teammates share after having won four NBA championships together. While some may disagree with Green's opinions, it cannot be denied that Curry is a highly skilled and successful player who has set himself apart in the eyes of many fans and analysts alike.
Stephen Curry has been on fire this playoff season, leading the Golden State Warriors to a crucial win against the Sacramento Kings. However, it's not just his talent on the court that's driving his success. Curry's family is a major source of support for him, and it's showing in his performance. After the game, the star celebrated with his wife Ayesha and daughter Riley, showcasing a special handshake they have. The couple also has two other children, Ryan and Canon, who have been seen displaying impressive ball-handling skills themselves. The Currys come from a family of athletes, including Steph's father Dell and brother Seth, as well as his mother Sonya, a college volleyball star. Despite the family's athletic prowess, Curry stresses that there's no pressure on his kids to follow in their footsteps. Ultimately, he wants his children to find their passions and supports them in whatever they choose. In the meantime, the Curry family continues to cheer on the Warriors, with Steph putting on an impressive performance on the court.
As the NBA playoffs continue, all eyes are on Tyrese Maxey and Stephen Curry to lead their respective teams to victories in their upcoming games. Maxey’s Philadelphia 76ers aim to level with the Brooklyn Nets while Curry’s Golden State Warriors face the Sacramento Kings. With much of the pregame attention focused on these two players, it is worth considering some of the options for prop bets.
A strong option for Maxey would be betting on him to make over 2.5 threes. While he was relatively quiet in game one of the playoffs, Maxey has shown that he can score from beyond the arc and is averaging 14.5 field goal attempts since the all-star break. Against a Nets team that allows opponents to shoot over 36% from deep, Maxey may be poised for a breakout performance.
Meanwhile, Curry’s consistent scoring ability makes picking him for over 29.5 points a safe bet. Despite the Kings’ recent woes, Curry should be able to continue to put up impressive scoring numbers. He has already cleared this line in three of his five games against the Kings this season, including the playoffs.
As always, these prop bets are up for grabs and could go either way. But if Maxey and Curry play as expected, they could very well provide a significant payout for those who bet on them.
Draymond Green has always been known for his defensive prowess, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award in the 2016-17 season. However, he has shown that he can bring his offensive firepower when his team needs it the most. Green's highest-scoring game of his career came in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Portland Trailblazers, where he poured in 37 points, going 8-12 from beyond the arc. He also had nine rebounds and eight assists, putting up a near triple-double. Despite Green's brilliant performance, the Warriors lost the game 120-108, although they won the series 4-1.
Green's second-highest scoring game of his career was when he scored 32 points against the Memphis Grizzlies. In the third-highest scoring game, Green scored 31 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he also had 15 rebounds and nine assists, coming close to a triple-double once again.
Green scored 29 points in the fourth-highest scoring game of his career, where the Warriors played against the New Orleans Pelicans. The fifth-highest scoring game of Green's career came in the 2017-18 season, where he scored 28 points against the Charlotte Hornets. It is clear that Green can be an offensive threat when his team needs him to step up.
Despite a recent finger injury, De'Aaron Fox, the Kings' star point guard, has announced that he will play in the upcoming Game 5 against the Golden State Warriors. Fox suffered an avulsion fracture to the tip of his left index finger, which is his shooting hand during the last game. There's precedent for players succeeding despite this injury: for example, Kobe Bryant played the whole 2010 playoffs with an avulsion fracture to his finger, which he treated with a splint and later a tape job. Fox was seen practicing his shooting technique on Tuesday with a splint on the finger. However, it is unclear whether Fox's shooting and ballhandling would be affected. Despite these uncertainties, the Kings are likely to prefer an injured Fox to their other options, and the Warriors would probably prefer facing an injured, rather than fully-fit Fox. Fox's ability to play through the pain will be key –-- given he has not shown any hesitation to take physical contact, we'll see how he reacts to unexpected contact. Fox's playing in Game 5 could be a game-changer or a factor worth watching.
Andrew Wiggins has faced an incredibly difficult year with injuries causing him to miss a significant amount of games. However, his performance in the first four games of the Battle for Northern California has demonstrated that he is rising to the challenge for the Warriors. During the playoffs so far, Wiggins has been a key player for the team, performing in both an offensive and defensive capacity. He has been instrumental in the Warriors' defense against De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk of the Sacramento Kings, limiting them to an average of 28.2 points per game across the series. Kerr comments that the Warriors need him to perform in both positions to win. Wiggins' teammates have also praised his performance with Jordan Poole stating that they need him to lead the way.
Wiggins' stats in the playoffs so far include an average of 15.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. The Warriors will continue to rely on Wiggins in the remaining playoff games to help them advance to the next round, and his performance so far shows that he is a force to be reckoned with.
Draymond Green, a four-time All-Star and 2017 DPOY, has been an integral part of the Golden State Warriors team. He is one of the team's leaders and is known for his defensive skills. Recently, former Super Bowl winner Keyshawn Johnson discussed the team's chances of winning a championship with Green on the court. In response, Johnson called Green a "defensive liability." He further added that Green is the heart and soul of the team, which is important to have on the floor at times but becomes a little bizarre due to his off-court antics.
This is not the first time Green has been criticized for his behavior on and off the court. However, basketball analysts like Dan Patrick have argued that Green is a "necessary evil" that the team needs to win a championship. He bemoaned that Green is not getting the help he needs in controlling his temperament from the team's core. Green is a repeat offender of altercations, and he recently received a one-game suspension. Despite his off-court issues, Green continues to be an essential part of the Warriors' on-court production.
Former Golden State Warriors forward Juan Toscano-Anderson certainly thinks so, noting that Looney has been a crucial part of the team's success over the years. Looney's contributions were on full display in Game 5 against the Sacramento Kings, where he outrebounded Sacramento's Domantas Sabonis to the tune of 22 rebounds, seven assists, and four points.
Looney has now recorded multiple 20-rebound games in the same playoff series, joining the ranks of Warriors greats Wilt Chamberlain and Nate Thurmond. Despite being undersized and lacking athleticism, Looney uses his impeccable nose for the ball to make himself indispensable. His value to the Warriors both on and off the court has not gone unnoticed, with former teammates and coaches singing his praises.
While it remains to be seen whether Looney's number will join the seven already retired by the Warriors, his teammates are glad to see him recognized for his hard work and selflessness. For now, Looney's focus is on helping the Warriors continue their playoff success and possibly securing his team a championship ring.
The Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers are set to face off on Friday night in the Game 6 round of the NBA playoffs. Lakers' Anthony Davis has expressed his determination to play extended minutes to help his team win; he previously expressed his willingness to play 48 minutes in a game. As a key factor in the Lakers-Grizzlies series, they have lost by 33 points in minutes played by Davis on the bench, while in his minutes on the court, they won by 38 points. The Lakers would be banking on the big man Davis to extend the playoffs with a win in Game 6, and fans have placed bets on his combined points and rebounds for the game. Despite his declaration, the number of minutes that he will play, however, will depend on the coach's decision. Lakers have already beaten the Grizzlies once, in their play-in game, and hope to do the same again to advance to the second round of the playoffs.
The PCE stands for Personal Consumption Expenditures, a measure of price changes in the US economy. It's an economic index that is closely watched by investors and policymakers as an indicator of inflation. The Federal Reserve uses the PCE as its preferred measure of inflation because it takes into account changes in consumer spending behavior and covers a broader range of goods and services compared to other inflation metrics, like the CPI. In March, the PCE declined to 4.2% on a yearly basis, a bigger drop than expected. Meanwhile, the Core PCE price index, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 4.6% year-over-year, in line with expectations. Investors are waiting for the Fed's monetary policy decision, which may be influenced by the PCE data, as the central bank aims to keep inflation in check while supporting economic recovery. In addition, corporate earning reports are also being closely watched, with some companies like Exxon Mobil and Chevron posting better-than-expected profits, while others like Snap and Pinterest disappointed investors with lower revenue growth.
Silicon Valley Bank's abrupt collapse last month has brought the fragility of smaller banks' financial structures under scrutiny. While the nation’s biggest banks continue to prosper,citing "a deterioration in the operating environment and funding conditions," Moody's downgraded the ratings of 11 regional banks. Smaller banks are seen as more at risk, with deposits falling and the cost of keeping customers rising, eating into profits. In response to concerns, banking regulators are pushing to tighten rules on the industry.
It has hit the technology industry particularly hard, with clients exiting regional banks and deposit rates falling by 1% on average for midsize banks that have reported first-quarter earnings. Although Silicon Valley Bank's collapse didn't lead to widespread runs on deposits, the perception of the safety of larger institutions has led a number of savers to withdraw investments from smaller banks. Despite these losses, executives consider the disruptions to be manageable.
First Republic Bank's stock price saw a significant increase of 12% on Wednesday after a big peer in its sector posted some impressive quarterly results. Western Alliance Bancorporation's first-quarter numbers highlighted the concern many investors have with deposit bases at regional banks. Western Alliance's deposit base has risen by 6% since the end of March, a shift from what many had feared would happen due to the bank's high exposure to the tech industry. As one of the banks in a similar position, First Republic Bank experienced a boost in its share price after the news broke. Financial experts say it doesn't appear the banking industry is facing a significant crisis right now, thus reports of increased deposit bases are more helpful to investors. Although First Republic's one-day surge is notable, it is worth noting that earlier this week, Republic First Bancorp's (FRBK) shares closed at $1.22 and are down -$0.04 during pre-market trading.
Even though their stock prices have declined by 46% and 71%, respectively, since December 2021 and October 2020, Amazon and Alibaba remain industry leaders in e-commerce and cloud computing. Both companies have suffered declining e-commerce margins and slower growth in their cloud business, but that's expected to change as the global e-commerce industry is forecast to grow at an 11.57% compounded annual growth rate and reach $6.35 trillion by 2027. In Q4 2022, Amazon's revenue exceeded analysts' expectations by $3.43 billion, mostly due to growth in its cloud business, Amazon Web Services (AWS), which saw a 20% YoY growth to reach $21.4 billion. Meanwhile, Alibaba is poised to benefit from an expected growth in China's economy. While global inflation and the current macroeconomic climate have negatively impacted both companies, their undervalued stock prices indicate a rebound is in their future. Which one is a better value buy? We'll see.
