What’s the more notable detail from this SNY report: that Knicks games are apparently being blacked out in Turkey as part of the Turkish government’s ongoing hostility towards Enes Kanter; or that Enes Kanter expects the Knicks—currently in the NBA’s bottom 10 in both offensive and defensive rating—to challenge for a playoff spot? “Let me tell you something, man, people don’t know it,” Kanter told SNY.tv. “People are saying that we’re so young, whatever. People don’t understand, if you’re young, that means we got fresh legs. We got a lot of energy, we can compete. So I don’t think it’s an excuse, we can take advantage of that. Whenever we’re out there, just compete and just do our best. “If we stay together and we play our basketball, yes I believe it” that they are a playoff team. Before you record-scratch too hard on Kanter’s confidence, know that the Knicks have won four of five, including a 19-point thrashing of the Cavs in Cleveland, and currently sit ninth in the Eastern Conference standings. Much has been made of the crummy state of the East in 2017, but bear in mind that playing in the lesser conference only earns East teams an extra win or two per season. The conference imbalance doesn’t work that way—the Knicks aren’t gonna suddenly win 50 games because the East sucks—but what it might do is allow, say, a 37-win Knicks team to stay in the playoff picture right down to the regular season finale. That’s not so unrealistic a win total for this Knicks team (especially if Kristaps Porzingis keeps putting up huge offensive numbers), and so a playoff berth isn’t that far-fetched an outcome. But Turkish NBA fans will apparently not have the pleasure of watching any of this, according to Kanter and at least one league representative: “Yeah, I got a lot of friends and family [who] cannot watch my games,” Kanter told SNY.tv on Thursday after practice. “They don’t even show no New York Knicks games in Turkey because of me. Last year they didn’t show no OKC games. This year no New York games just because of me. And they ban my Twitter in Turkey, too.” One league source said it’s “obvious” the Turkish government is “avoiding showing Kanter’s games,” but that basketball fans in Turkey with NBA League Pass can “watch whatever games they want.” Blacking out Knicks games would be the least aggressive anti-Kanter stance taken by the Turkish government in 2017: Over the summer he said he was forced to flee from Jakarta to Singapore, and then to Romania, after the Turkish government sent Indonesian secret service after him; Kanter was then detained in Romania, reportedly on orders from the Turkish embassy; an arrest warrant was issued for Kanter in Turkey later that month, labeling him a “member of a terrorist organization;” and in June Kanter’s father, who’d apparently disowned him for his anti-Erdoğan position, was briefly arrested and held by the Turkish government. A Knicks blackout is unfair, but it will at least spare Turkish NBA fans from being reminded of Joakim Noah’s contract.
Related Posts
Mohamed Salah is suffering after seeing Liverpool s well-drilled machine frontline disbanded this season, according to Jurgen Klopp.
Sadio Mane left for Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich prior to this term, while Roberto Firmino has seen his role diminished after the arrival of Darwin Nunez and more recently Cody Gakpo.
Egypt international Salah remains the constant in Klopp s front three, though he has struggled in front of goal this campaign – converting just 11.7 per cent of his chances for seven Premier League goals.
That mark may seem poor for the three-time Premier League Golden Boot winner, whose previous lowest conversion rate for Liverpool was 14.4 per cent when he scored 19 in the 2019-20 campaign.
Of course he is suffering, said Klopp ahead…
Karim Benzema expressed pride to have ended his near six-year exile from the France national side in Wednesday s friendly with 10-man Wales, but admitted there is room for improvement after missing a penalty in the 3-0 win.
The 33-year-old failed to convert a first-half spot-kick at the Allianz Riviera and hit the post in the build-up to Ousmane Dembele s late strike after Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann had put France on course for a routine win.
That was Benzema s third penalty miss in a row for his national side, having also failed to convert against Switzerland and Sweden in 2014.
However, on what was Benzema s first appearance for the world champions in five years and 237 days, the Real Madrid striker is pleased with how things went overall.
…
Best Odds: 8/13
Bookmaker:
With all eyes from across Europe falling on the Nou Camp this weekend, Barcelona will welcome Real Madrid to Catalonia.
Barcelona
Starting with the hosts, while Barcelona might have come under more scrutiny for their Europa League exit at the hands of Manchester United last month, Xavi’s side are in the midst of a remarkable domestic flurry. Although the Spanish heavyweights might be dealing with a string of issues behind the scenes in Catalonia, they are breezing towards a first La Liga crown since back in 2019. Last seen putting in another professional display as they claimed a 1-0 victory away at Athletic Bilbao, Sunday’s hosts open this weekend’s fixtures holding a commanding nine-point buffer over their arch-rivals. Continu…
Roberto De Zerbi hailed Brighton’s last-gasp 1-0 victory over Marseille to top Europa League Group B as a “historic moment” in the club’s history.
Joao Pedro smashed in an 89th-minute winner at the Amex Stadium to make sure the Seagulls avoided the play-off round and instead slotted straight into the last 16.
Italian De Zerbi, who masterminded progressing from a group that included Ajax and AEK Athens along with the French 1993 European Cup winners, said: “We haven’t won anything…yet, but we are really happy and proud.
“I told the players before the game that the game was more important for us than them. Marseille are used to playing in European competitions.
“To finish at the top of the table is a historical moment.
“The atmos…
Chelsea target Michael Olise has signed a new four-year deal with Crystal Palace, Eagles chairman Steve Parish has said.
The PA news agency understands Chelsea had agreed to pay the France Under-21 winger’s £35million release clause, but it appears he has now committed his future to Palace.
Parish tweeted on Thursday: “I’m absolutely delighted to announce @m.olise has decided to commit his future to Crystal Palace and this afternoon signed a new four-year deal with the club.”
I’m absolutely delighted to announce @m.olise has decided to commit his future to Crystal Palace football club and this afternoon signed a new four year deal with the club.
@m.olise is an
— Steve Parish (@CEO4TAG)
The 21-year-old, who can play…
Jurgen Klopp can help convince top transfer targets to sign for Liverpool even if they are not in the Champions League next season, according to former Reds striker Ian Rush.
Liverpool have won their last seven games and currently sit fifth, just a point behind Newcastle and Manchester United, who both have matches in hand.
However, even if Liverpool can continue their impressive run and beat Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday and then finish the campaign with another victory at relegated Southampton, there would be no guarantee of Champions League football again.
We can confirm Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will leave the club upon the expiry of their contracts this summer.
Special acknowledgements will be paid to …
Best odds: 1/2
Bookmaker:
Liverpool are set to welcome Bournemouth to Anfield on Saturday within the 29th round of this season s Premier League roller coaster. The Cherries produced one of the most thrilling comebacks in recent years in the English top flight against Liverpool back in December 2016, when they managed to overturn a 1-3 deficit to win 4-3 at the Vitality Stadium. They also managed to squeeze out a point in the following encounter between these two teams at Anfield, but since then, Liverpool won four times in a row, all quite convincingly. The last time happened early this season at the Vitality when strikes from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and Mohamed Salah made sure Liverpool s winning start to the campaign went on uninterrupted.
Liverpool
…
West Ham are unlikely to go back in for Manchester United captain Harry Maguire after seeing a £20million bid knocked back, the PA news agency understands.
The Old Trafford giants made the England international the most expensive defender in history when bringing him in from Leicester for £80million in 2019.
Maguire was swiftly handed the captain’s armband, but a lack of form and game time led Erik ten Hag to this month name Bruno Fernandes as United’s new skipper.
After discussions with the manager today he has informed me he is changing captain. He outlined his reasons to me and whilst I’m personally extremely disappointed, I will continue to give my all every time I wear the shirt.
So I wanted to say a massive thank you to the…
— H…
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola doubts Sunday’s visit to Arsenal will have a significant impact on who wins the Premier League this season.
Arsenal flourished under former City assistant Mikel Arteta last season but settled up for a runners-up spot as Guardiola’s side claimed a third successive top-flight triumph en route to a historic treble.
The Gunners are unbeaten after seven matches of this campaign and lie one point behind City, who are bidding to bounce back from last weekend’s surprise 2-1 defeat at Wolves.
Guardiola, though, insisted this showdown being so early in the season places less of an emphasis on the title race, even if he regards Arsenal as one of their main rivals.
He said: “This will not define a lot. It will be different w…
With it finally confirmed last week that has made an almost immediate return to Inter Milan on a season-long loan, many are expecting what could be a hectic summer at .
Now under new leadership at Stamford Bridge after Todd Boehly s takeover was announced back in May, the American businessman has been quick to stamp down his authority.
Almost clearing house among the Chelsea hierarchy, it looks like Thomas Tuchel has been handed quite the treasure chest and the chance to add some more star names over the coming weeks.
With it looking like Manchester City s could be heading to west London ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, it is no secret that Tuchel is desperate to add some defensive reinforcements.
Watching both Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger lea…