LOL Atlanta

Mike
April 26, 2024

Happy Friday!

It was the first round of the NFL draft last night, and things went just as we expected for the first four picks. Nothing too crazy happened, but then a wow moment occurred. Let’s take a closer look and then talk about some playoffs.

We’ll get you in and out with this one, all while getting you ready for an awesome Friday and Saturday in sports.

Vamos!

With The First Pick In The NFL Draft

The Chicago Bears Select

Caleb Williams, QB, USC!

Okay, we all knew that was coming, and the Bears franchise may be forever changed. Only time will tell.

Let’s drop in the full first round of the draft and then talk through some of the surprises.

Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams (QB, USC)
Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels (QB, LSU)
New England Patriots: Drake Maye (QB, North Carolina)
Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR, Ohio State)
Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt (OT, Notre Dame)
New York Giants: Malik Nabers (WR, LSU)
Tennessee Titans: JC Latham (OT, Alabama)
Atlanta Falcons: Michael Penix Jr. (QB, Washington)
Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze (WR, Washington)
Minnesota Vikings (trade from NYJ): JJ McCarthy (QB, Michigan)
New York Jets (trade from MIN): Olu Fashanu (OT, Penn State)
Denver Broncos: Bo Nix (QB, Oregon)
Las Vegas Raiders: Brock Bowers (TE, Georgia)
New Orleans Saints: Taliese Fuaga (OT, Oregon State)
Indianapolis Colts: Laiatu Latu (EDGE, UCLA)
Seattle Seahawks: Byron Murphy II (DT, Texas)
Minnesota Vikings (trade from JAX): Dallas Turner (EDGE, Alabama)
Cincinnati Bengals: Amarius Mims (OT, Georgia)
Los Angeles Rams: Jared Verse (EDGE, Florida State)
Pittsburgh Steelers: Troy Fautanu (OG/T, Washington)
Miami Dolphins: Chop Robinson (EDGE, Penn State)
Philadelphia Eagles: Quinyon Mitchell (CB, Toledo)
Jacksonville Jaguars (trade from MIN): Brian Thomas Jr. (WR, LSU)
Detroit Lions (trade from DAL): Terrion Arnold (CB, Alabama)
Green Bay Packers: Jordan Morgan (OT, Arizona)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Graham Barton (C, Duke)
Arizona Cardinals: Darius Robinson (EDGE, Missouri)
Kansas City Chiefs (trade from BUF): Xavier Worthy (WR, Texas)
Philadelphia Eagles (trade from DET): Tyler Guyton (OT, Oklahoma)
Baltimore Ravens: Nate Wiggins (CB, Clemson)
San Francisco 49ers: Ricky Pearsall (WR, Florida)
Carolina Panthers (trade from BUF): Xavier Legette (WR, South Carolina)

What surprised us?

🏈 First off, this was a very offensive-heavy draft. It set the record for the most picks without a defensive player. That’s right, the first 14 picks were used on offensive weapons, yes that includes offensive lineman because Jim Harbuagh considers them to be weapons just like receivers. LOVE THAT.

🏈Six quarterbacks were drafted in the first 12 picks. The 1,2,3 was no surprise, but what was surprising was the Falcons taking Michael Penix Jr. with the 8th pick when they just signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year $180 million deal! WTF was Atlanta thinking? THEY HAD THE 8TH PICK, AND THEY HAVE SO MANY NEEDS RIGHT NOW! JUST TRADE DOWN, GET MORE PICKS AND TAKE PENIX LATER!

🏈 The other surprising QB move was the Broncos taking Bo Nix in the 12 spot. We know he fits the bill for what Sean Payton is looking for in a QB, but they likely could’ve gotten him later.

🏈The NY Giants took Malik Nabers with the 6th pick, and while Nabers is wildly talented, he will still have Daniel Jones throwing him the ball…. The Giants probably should’ve been looking for a QB because the Daniel Jones thing doesn’t seem to be working.

🏈 In maybe the best trade of them all, the Buffalo Bills should’ve just forfeited their 2024 season because they traded picks with the Chiefs, allowing Kansas City to move up in the draft and select a WR before the Bills could. The Chiefs took the speedy Xavier Worthy from Texas, and the Bills didn’t make a first-round pick. Remember, Stefon Diggs was traded to the Houston Texans, and the Bills hardly have anyone recognizable at receiver.

📺️ Rounds 2-3 will air tonight at 7 p.m. on ABC and ESPN2, and Rounds 4-7 will air tomorrow at Noon on ABC and ESPN.

NBA Playoffs

Sixers Play Nasty Ball

🥊Joel Embiids favorite movie must be The Longest Yard because he plays basketball like Michael Irvin did in the movie. Joel Embiid had some dirty plays last night and I think everyone is tired of Kyle Lowry flopping. But if we look at stats and scores, the Sixers played a great game 3 against the Knicks in Philly and got a much-needed win. The final score was 125-114, and Joel Embiid had a 50-burger. Tyrese Maxey was on point last night as he helped out with 25.

👉️ The Knicks struggled to keep pace with the Sixers after Mitchell Robinson left the game with an injury, and Isaiah Hartenstein was in foul trouble most of the night. Jalen Brunson found himself for game 3 and scored 39. I think game 4 will be the turning point, and whoever wins will win the series.

Orlando Magic Get A Statement Win

🏀 After falling to 0-2 against the Cavs in the first round, Orlando had some magical performances at home last night. The Magic won by an enormous 38-point margin with a final score of 121-83. Paolo Banchero scored 31, Jalen Suggs had 24, and the Magic got double digits from 3 others. The Magic couldn’t get shots to fall, and game 4 stays in Orlando, where things could really start to heat up in this series if the Magic win.

Nuggets Come Back Again And Lakers Are On Brink Of Elimination

🏀 Role players, role players, role players. They matter. Let’s see why. AD and LeBron dominated the opening minutes of game 3 against Denver. The Lakers had 12 point lead at one point, and you felt like it wasn’t enough. LeBron finished with 26 points last night, AD had 33, and the Lakers even got 22 from Austin Reaves. D’Angelo Russell scored ZERO points last night, and Rui Hachimura had 5. That’s the Lakers starting five. They got 19 points from their bench.

Looking at Denver, they only got 12 from the bench, but here’s why we don’t care so much about that. Jokic scored 24, and Jamal Murray scored 22. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 5 points, but he only took seven shots. So, how did the Nuggets win this game? Here’s how.

👉️ They got 29 points from Aaron Gordon and 20 from Michael Porter Jr.! Those are role players totaling 49 points! Seriously, even throw KCP’s 5 points in there. 3 starters totaling 54 points after your two stars get 46. That’s a recipe for success.

The Lakers getting 27 from their other 3 starters? That ain’t gonna get it done against the defending champs.

Now, LA has to win four straight games, when they can’t even win one, even though they’ve had a double-digit lead in three straight games.

BYE BYE LEBRON AND CO!

Stanley Cup

The Florida Panthers Are Really, Really Good

And now they’ve got a 3-0 series lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

🏒 Matthew Tkachuk scored the first goal of the game for Florida midway through the first period. The Lightning opened the second period with two quick goals in three minutes, but Florida responded with two goals in the middle of the period. The score was 3-2 with the Panthers leading. The teams traded goals in the third period. Tampa eventually pulled their goalie late in the third, and Tkachuk capped off the game with an empty netter. Panthers win 5-3.

Canes Push Islanders To Bring With Game 3 Win

🏒 After a gut-wrenching game 2 finish where the Islanders had a win slip out of their gloves, they lost game 3 at home amidst a goalie controversy. Head coach Patrick Roy decided to start Ilya Sorokin in goal for game 3 over Semyon Varlamov. That move did not pan out as Sorokin gave up 2 goals early in the first and then another at the 7-minute mark in the 2nd. The Islanders were down 3-1 at this point and put Varlamov back in net where he stopped 8 shots over the remainder of the game. The Isles couldn’t get back in the mix. The Islanders will take a break from the ice today and will be back in Elmont, NY for game 4 tomorrow at 2 pm.

We’ve got more sports all weekend!

Friday

NBA

🏀 Bucks @ Pacers, 5:30 pm ET on ESPN

Series is tied 1-1

🏀 Clippers @ Mavericks, 8 pm ET on ESPN

Series is tied 1-1

🏀 Timberwolves @ Suns, 10:30 pm ET on ESPN

T-Wolves lead series 2-0

NHL

🏒 Rangers @ Capitals, 7 pm ET on TNT

Rangers lead series 2-0

🏒 Canucks @ Predators, 7:30 pm ET on TBS

Series tied 1-1

🏒 Jets @ Avalanche, 10 pm ET on TNT

Series tied 1-1

🏒 Oilers @ King, 10:30 pm ET on TBS

Series tied 1-1

Saturday

NBA

🏀 Cavaliers @ Magic, 1 pm ET on TNT

Cavs lead series 2-1

🏀 Thunder @ Pelicans, 3:30 pm ET on TNT

Thunder lead series 2-0

🏀 Celtics @ Heat, 6 pm ET on TNT

Series tied 1-1

🏀 Nuggets @ Lakers, 8:30 pm ET on ABC

Denver leads series 3-0

NHL

🏒Hurricanes @ Islanders, 2 pm ET on TBS

Carolina leads series 3-0

🏒 Panthers @ Lightning, 5 pm ET on TBS

Florida leads series 3-0

🏒 Bruins @ Maple Leafs, 8 pm ET on TBS

Bruins lead series 2-1

🏒 Stars @ Golden Knights, 10:30 pm ET on TBS

Vegas leads series 2-0

That’s all for today. Enjoy your happy hours and we’ll see you Sunday morning!

-The DB