data-mm-id=”_uu99rwjix”>Richard Jefferson set the online sports world aflame with a single tweet following last night's Heat-Bucks game. After Milwaukee lost Game 2 to go down 2-0 in the series on a last-second foul call, Jefferson declared reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo a "Pippen" rather than a Michael Jordan-type superstar. Consequently, Thursday morning's discourse was ripe with takes on both sides of this idea. Jay Williams talked about it on this morning's edition of Keyshawn, JWill, and Zubin on ESPN Radio. Williams argued that it's not like calling Giannis a Scottie Pippen-type is an insult because LeBron James was the Pippen to Dwyane Wade's Jordan in Miami. “LeBron James was a Pippen once!”@RealJayWilliams explains why Giannis needs another star to get him over the hump. #KJZ https://t.co/zsgpSWYJsQ pic.twitter.com/qW6HuTZpGb— Keyshawn, JWill & Zubin (@KeyJayandZ) September 3, 2020After conceding LeBron had better statistics than Wade in every category in their first year as teammates in 2011, Williams said that it was ultimately still Wade's team. LeBron then took ownership and became the Jordan of the team in 2012, leading to his first championship as he finally "got over the hump." I think Keyshawn Johnson's face neatly summarizes how I feel about that argument. Great camerawork here. Williams can successfully argue that the 2011 Heat were Wade's team because Wade, unlike LeBron and Chris Bosh, did not leave the team who drafted him to go elsewhere. He was (and remains) The Man in Miami. But this strange concept of it being one person's team or the other is only half of the Jordan equation. If one wants to be the "Jordan" of a team, it stands to reason that this person must also be the best player on said team. Wade was great in 2011, but LeBron was better. As Williams helpfully points out. Where Williams is definitely correct is saying that it doesn't matter if Giannis is a Pippen. Pippen is a Top 50 player of all time. Maybe LeBron and the Golden State Warriors have completely subverted our expectations when it comes to this, but even the great players in NBA history need time to get over that hump. Giannis is 25. His reign in the NBA is only just beginning. To declare after losing two games of a second-round series that he will forever only win a title if he's the second-best player on the floor is some outrageous stuff. Pippen seems to agree with that sentiment. I’m not Giannis—I don’t have back-to-back league MVPs (he will in a matter of days)—and he’s not me. The question is… who were you as a player? ? https://t.co/Ce6tGU98s3— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) September 3, 2020Maybe Giannis does need a Jordan. Maybe he just needs a Pippen, like LeBron did, to earn a championship ring. We certainly don't know right now, because if Giannis has taught us anything over the course of his career, it's that he can and will defy expectations.
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These have been born out of selling off crucial non-playing assets, helping to secure moves for Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha ahead of the new campaign amongst others.
But Tebas and league corporate general manager Javier Gomez say Xavi s team will need to cut their cloth, while defending the league s actions that have seen them seemingly over-accommodate the club s needs.
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Lionel Messi believes the special duel between him and Cristiano Ronaldo when the pair were on opposite sides of the Clasico rivalry will leave a lasting impression.
The Barcelona superstar went head-to-head with Ronaldo for almost a decade in LaLiga, where the two scored at an astonishing rate and practically assumed shared custody of the Ballon d Or.
Debate rages over who the world s best player is, but a shortlist of two is almost universally accepted – it is either Messi or Ronaldo.
The Portugal forward has since departed for Juventus, but Messi – who won a record sixth Ballon d Or in December – has fond memories of their long-running Spanish saga.
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Round 33 of the Premier League season is being played from Tuesday to Thursday this week, and as its part, West Ham will welcome Liverpool to the London Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The two teams are fighting their respective battles to achieve different goals, which means every point won or dropped between now and the end of the season is likely to be of great consequence for both.
West Ham
The Hammers had a couple of excellent seasons, most notably the last two as they stood a decent chance of finishing inside the top four and eventually securing a place in Europe. Now, however, David Moyes team seems to have lost a big part of that drive and as the campaign approaches its finish, they haven t done enough to feel safe abou…
Ryan Mason has a Tottenham team willing to fight for their place in the upper echelons of the Premier League after a comeback draw with Manchester United.
Goals from Pedro Porro and Son Heung-min helped the interim boss break the club s losing streak in the first game in charge after replacing Cristian Stellini
Mason is no stranger to the Spurs hot seat, having been caretaker following Jose Mourinho s exit two years ago, during which he was in charge for the EFL Cup final.
But after a 6-1 loss to Newcastle United last time out, Mason was delighted to get a response from his side that underlines their desire.
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Real Madrid in fresh assault on De Gea
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It is no secret that los Blancos are eager to lure the Spain international to Santiago Bernabeu and they are set to try and sign him in the next transfer window.
With long-serving keeper Iker Casillas nearing a summer exit, Real Madrid plan to recruit De Gea at the earliest opportunity.
The 24-year-old has proved his worth at Old Trafford, but his current contract is due to expire in June 2016.
And while the goalkeeper is open to extending his deal, his agents hope to include a €30 million release clause in any agreement, which is enough to suggest they are well aware of Real Madrid interest.
Inaki Williams does not see himself leaving Athletic Bilbao as he has big plans at the LaLiga outfit, despite reported interest from Liverpool.
Williams, 22, has emerged as a possible transfer target for Premier League title hopefuls Liverpool, with manager Jurgen Klopp an admirer.
But the Spanish forward, who earned his first international cap in May, has dismissed a move to Anfield, pledging his future to Athletic.
I m happy at Athletic, it s where I want to be, Williams told AS Diario.
I am very grateful to the fans, the club and my team-mates.
I want to continue here for many more years. I want to be Athletic s future number nine the player who raises the roof at San Mames every week and scores lot of goals.
Williams has been a rev…
Karim Benzema has revealed how Cristiano Ronaldo s departure has allowed him to take on a different role in Real Madrid s attack.
The Frenchman has scored a goal every 1.7 games across all competitions in the two-and-a-half seasons since Ronaldo made a €100million switch to Juventus.
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And the 33-year-old has now acknowledged that he had to sacrifice certain parts of his game for Ronaldo s benefit not that he has any regrets over the matter.
Cristiano s departure allowed me to play a different role. He scored 50 goals every year and you had to adapt to his game, he told El Pais.
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Jose Mourinho would consider introducing diving lessons for his Roma stars because he fears the only way they will win penalties is by playing the clown .
The head coach was red-carded in Sunday s 1-0 home defeat to Atalanta after wildly protesting when Nicolo Zaniolo went down in the 55th minute under a challenge from Caleb Okoli but did not get a penalty.
Mourinho was adamant his team deserved a spot-kick for that incident, and he also wanted one in the first half for another challenge on Zaniolo, when Merih Demiral appeared to foul the Roma forward.
Zaniolo stumbled on and got back to his feet after tangling with Demiral, and the referee s refusal to point to the spot on that occasion appeared to fuel Mourinho s later tirade.
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Honduras have stormed to the top of Group B at the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 2-0 victory over Haiti, who have yet to win in 2013.
Ronny Martinez and Marvin Chavez scored either side of half-time for Honduras as they ruined Haiti s return to Gold Cup competition, while in the other Group B match, El Salvador drew 2-2 with Trinidad and Tobago.
The win on Monday handed Honduras three points and top spot in Group B with El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago equal on one point, while Haiti were left bottom of the standings.
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