Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
Ryan Callahan scored for the fifth time in four days and defenseman Ryan McDonagh snapped a second-period tie to lift the New York Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday.
Kobe Bryant hit a baseline jump shot with 4.2 seconds left and the Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up a six-game road trip by holding on to beat the Raptors 94-92 on Sunday, their eighth victory in nine meetings with Toronto
Arc's five up, five down: After No. 11 Michigan State's 58-48 upset of No. 3 Ohio State, you'd be a fool to discount the Spartans' national title chances now.
Miami coach Al Golden says the worst is behind him, but his headaches figure to continue now that former booster Nevin Shapiro, now in jail, says his involvement with the Hurricanes program will result in stiff penalties.
Eleven shots separated Phil and Tiger Sunday at Pebble Beach as Lefty secured his 40th Tour win. Jason Sobel had hole-by-hole reports.
The United States completed a 5-0 rout of Switzerland in the Davis Cup on Sunday, with 19-year-old Ryan Harrison and John Isner winning closing singles matches.
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
Tessa Worley of France fought off gusting winds to win a second consecutive World Cup giant slalom Sunday in the Andorran Pyrenees. Overall leader Lindsey Vonn was more than a second behind and finished eighth.
Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.
Manu Ginobili (hand) will return for the Spurs on Saturday after going through a full practice on Friday.
After missing 22 games with a broken hand, Ginobili won't start on Saturday and is not expected to play a full complement of minutes right away. There is talk of Manu staying in the sixth man role permanently, but the fact that he was having a breakout season (17.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.2 spg and 2.8 3PMg) before getting injured makes it hard to believe Coach Pop will leave him coming off the bench once he is fully up to speed.
With Kyrie Irving (concussion) ruled out for the next two games, Ramon Sessions is expected to start on Friday and Saturday for the Cavaliers.
Given that Sessions exploded for 24 points (two 3PM), 13 assists, a steal and a block in his spot start on Wednesday for Irving, he may be in line for some nice stat lines over the weekend. Get him active if you can, he tends to play very well whenever he is given extended run. This is also very convenient for Cleveland, as they have let it be known that Sessions is available via trade, and a few good games will certainly pump up his trade value.
Jarrett Jack (knee) has been ruled out for Friday and Greivis Vasquez will start in his place.
Jack's knee clearly didn't respond well to 28 minutes of action in his last game and will once again sit out as a result. Vasquez is an excellent spot-start for owners, as he has averaged 16.7 points, 7.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 treys on 51.4 percent shooting in three starts this year.
Spencer Hawes (Achilles) has been ruled out again for Friday.
Hawes' Achilles strain is still bothering him to the point where Doug Collins said Hawes may not even make the upcoming three-game road trip. Nikola Vucevic, Lavoy Allen and Tony Battie will all help to fill the void while Hawes is out. The big man was enjoying a solid breakout season, but he's played in just 14 of 26 possible games entering Friday.
Kyrie Irving (concussion) has been ruled out to play on either Friday against the Bucks or Saturday against the Sixers.
Irving complained that his head felt like it "was on fire" before being diagnosed with the concussion. The NBA Concussion Program Guidelines are being followed, and Irving won't be allowed to return until he passes 100 percent of the outlined tests. Ramon Sessions will continue to start in Irving's place for as long as the rookie remains sidelined.
Derrick Rose (back) is headed for another game-time decision on Friday.
Rose was a game-time call on Wednesday but wound up playing, and he once again is feeling confident that he'll be able to play. Rose sounded similarly confident on Wednesday, when he said he'd play despite being listed as a game-time decision. He played just 22 minutes in the blowout win against the Hornets in his last one, but owners will have to wait for an update before locking him into lineups for Friday night.
J.R. Smith's Chinese team has been mathematically eliminated from the postseason.
Smith will be eligible to sign a contract as an unrestricted free agent "shortly after" his team's last regular season game on February 15. There is still uncertainty about where he will land, but Smith will serve as a volume scorer regardless of what team he winds up with this year. He's been connected to the Clippers, Lakers, Knicks, Thunder and Timberwolves. Smith averaged 12.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.6 treys in 25 minutes per game with Denver last season.
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.
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