German_Force » Hughes found

Adam Silver sees successes all around the NBA Daryl Williams Jersey , yet can’t stop thinking about the teams who aren’t successful.

And he can’t make them try to be.

Tanking is the problem the NBA commissioner can’t solve.

He can’t force every team to try to win when they all know sometimes there’s more reason to lose. And though he understands rebuilding, he loathes losing on purpose.

”Let me add, I find it an incredibly difficult issue,” he said Friday.

He spoke shortly after ties were broken for positioning ahead of the draft lottery, which seemed a bigger priority than the postseason for some teams this season. And as the Philadelphia 76ers head to the playoffs as the hottest team in the league led by youngsters they drafted during multiple seasons of tanking, it’s hard to tell other teams they can’t do it.

No team was punished for tanking, beyond the $600,000 Dallas owner Mark Cuban was fined for his comments on Julius Erving’s podcast that the Mavericks were better off losing, but there were discussions with other clubs.

”I will just say we had conversations with several teams about what the product was that they were putting on the floor and I’ll leave it at that,” Silver said.

He’s hoping to take some of the incentive of tanking away with lottery that takes effect next season. The three worst teams will have 14 percent chances at the top pick, instead of the current format in which the team with the worst record has a 25 percent chance.

This season that was Phoenix, which appears to also be on a multi-season tanking agenda after shutting down healthy regulars last season. Dallas Tarik Cohen Jersey , Memphis, Chicago and Atlanta also threw out some curious lineups that sometimes looked incapable of winning.

The new format may not stop tanking – and could even make it worse in some respects. Teams only need to be third-worst in the league to have the best shot at the No. 1 pick, rather than having to anchor themselves at the bottom.

So Silver said the league continues to look at the issue, but even he senses that more work is going to have to be done.

”We recognize that our goal is to put the best competition on the floor and it’s balanced against legitimate rebuilding of some teams. But I know we’re not there yet,” Silver said.

”I certainly wasn’t satisfied, there can only be so much cajoling out of the league office and it’s one of the those things that the last place I want to go as the commissioner is the league office to start dictating minutes and which particular players should be playing at what points of the game, and I recognize that the incentives are not aligned right now that there’s a huge incentive to increase your chances in the draft lottery especially in the old system. As I’ve said we’re switching the system for next year we’ll see how much of an impact that has.”

Other items from Silver’s remarks after the Board of Governors meetings:

MAVERICKS MISCONDUCT

Silver said the investigation into misconduct in the Mavericks’ workplace that began after a Sports Illustrated report in February could be wrapped up by early summer. He said the investigation includes every Mavericks employee and any former ones who would make themselves available.

”From everything I’ve heard directly from the investigators, everyone has been completely cooperative,” Silver said. ”And by the way, it doesn’t just include interviews. It includes documents, it includes emails. And that’s come directly from Mark Cuban. He’s told the investigators that and he’s told the league office that as well, that he is open book Andrew Whitworth Jersey , and he’s demanding himself a thorough investigation. So we’re waiting for the outcome of that.”

PLAYOFF FORMAT

There were no formal discussions about changing the way the playoffs are seeded, with Silver saying there isn’t a better current solution. The Competition Committee did review a proposal for a play-in game and he expects further discussion at the summer meeting.

REVENUE SHARING

Owners agreed to continue the revenue sharing plan that was instituted after the 2011 lockout through the remainder of this Collective Bargaining Agreement, running through 2022-23. Silver said the goal is to make sure all teams, whether paying or receiving, have the most incentive to be competitive.

”You know, nobody is happy who has to write those checks, but I think, again, they understand the league is no stronger than its weakest team,” Silver said.

REFEREE RELATIONS

Silver said there were positive reports from the meetings that Michelle Johnson, who oversees referee operations for the league, and head of referee development Monty McCutchen with all 30 teams in an effort to sooth friction that seemed to worsen this season.

”So I feel pretty good going into the playoffs that we’ve made some real progress there Tramaine Brock Jersey ,” Silver said.

LOS ANGELES — Once unable to win a series no matter what they did, the Los Angeles Dodgers are a game away from taking seven of their last eight series.

And regardless of what happens Wednesday, in the second game of a brief two-game interleague matchup against the Texas Rangers, the Dodgers will make it eight consecutive unbeaten series after taking a 12-5 decision Tuesday. The Dodgers were 6-0-1 in their last seven series before the Rangers came to Los Angeles.

The Dodgers were unable to win any of their first five series of the season. Then after winning back-to-back series in late April, they were unable to take any of their next seven, tying two of those.

The Dodgers were 17-26 on May 17 and their inspired play while reaching the 2017 World Series was a distant memory.

Tuesday’s runaway triumph gave the Dodgers 18 victories in their last 24 games and has brought that 2017 feel back to Dodger Stadium.

The Rangers happen to be in a polar opposite run than the one the Dodgers are on. In getting blasted Tuesday in L.A., the Rangers have lost five consecutive games, six of their last eight and eight of their last 11.

And while the Dodgers’ turnaround began May 19, the Rangers are now 11-18 since May 12.

If there is any solace for the Rangers it is that Cole Hamels will take the mound Wednesday. The left-hander leads all Rangers starters in ERA (3.86), starts (13), innings (79 1/3) and strikeouts (79).

Hamels is just 3-6 but is coming off a start where he reached the eighth inning for the second time this season. Also promising is his 1.89 career ERA against the Dodgers in eight starts and 57 innings. He is 3-2 lifetime against L.A.

The Dodgers are starting to feel good about their starting pitching situation with Kenta Maeda (4-4, 3.61) returning to the rotation Wednesday after missing two weeks with a hip strain. He will face the Rangers for the first time in his career.

Yes Johnny Hekker Jersey , the Dodgers do still have Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill, Dennis Santana, Hyun-Jin Ryu and now Walker Buehler on the DL, but Maeda’s return figures to signal a reversal of fortune.

Kershaw (back strain) could appear in a simulated game soon, while Ryu (groin) remains on schedule to return in July. Hill (blister) also is making progress, but no timetable for his return has been given.

“It’s one of those things,” manager Dave Roberts said, according to the Los Angeles Times. “If you’re a pitcher on this staff … heads up.”

The Rangers would not mind a little despair mixed in with some success, like the Dodgers are showing. But right now, they’ll take a two-game split with the Dodgers.

Tuesday’s defeat means the Rangers are now 5-17 in series openers and 1-8 in their last nine openers. Texas is also a season-high 15 games under .500 at 27-42. The Rangers are also 7-14 in their last 21 road games.

Authentic Womens Lamar Jackson Jersey ,