data-mm-id=”_4hhaf5amw”>Chris Paul spoke to reporters for the first time as a member of the Golden State Warriors on Sunday afternoon. It still does not seem real that Paul will be suiting up alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson after the three engaged in some epic playoff battles a few years ago. But the NBA is a strange place and the Warriors exchanged Jordan Poole for a veteran they hope can produce more consistent points with his passing and court vision. It also seems inevitable that Paul will come off the bench. He obviously isn't getting starts over Curry and playing both of them doesn't give the Dubs a lot of size in the backcourt. Additionally, Paul is 38 years-old and embracing the backup life will do a lot to manage his minutes and health. It's obvious to everybody that it makes the most sense for him to run with the reserves. Obvious to everyone except Paul, who did not appreciate the assumption that he would, in fact, come off the bench during his interviews yesterday. There’s been no discussion between Chris Paul and Steve Kerr about Paul coming off the bench. “It’ll be a conversation when camp starts. Me and Steve have talked, but that ain’t something where it’s, ‘What up, man? You starting or coming off the bench.” pic.twitter.com/JYSO9hcHqE— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) July 10, 2023This is not quite as flippant or boisterous as Carmelo Anthony literally scoffing at the idea of coming off the bench back when he joined the Oklahoma City Thunder. But might his Banana Boat Buddy be suffering from a similar affliction? It is hard for any star NBA player to come to terms with his declining skills and body in order to accept a lesser role. It is even harder for true superstars and future Hall of Famers. It might just be impossible for Paul, a superstar/future Hall of Famer and infamous control freak who loves to organize everything just the way he likes it. However insane Paul can be in that regard, though, he is too smart to not know that this is his last shot at that elusive championship. Despite the not-so-joking tone he had when asking that reporter if she was coaching, he'll be coming off the bench and act happy about it. If he does not, though, this will be looked back upon as his Icarus moment, just like Melo.
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Competition: Euro 2016
Market: Switzerland to qualify
Odds:
Switzerland haven’t had the best international week, suffering defeats to the Republic of Ireland and Bosnia-Herzegovina in friendlies, but are still looking forward to this summer’s European Championships after a promising qualifying campaign.
The prestigious international tournament doesn’t kick off until June, and the Swiss outfit still have a handful of friendlies to come to build up some momentum ahead of the Championship. A lack of goals in their last two games is somewhat of a worry, so they’re likely to use their remaining friendlies as an indicator of their performance levels.
Switzerland were drawn in Group A along with France, Romania and Albania, and stand a good chance …
Cristiano Ronaldo s Portugal hiatus has come to an end after he was included in a 25-man squad for Euro 2020 qualifiers against Ukraine and Serbia.
Ronaldo, 34, has not played for his country since their disappointing World Cup campaign which saw them eliminated by Uruguay in the last 16.
The Juventus forward was allowed to miss the international get-together in September, and that extended to matches in October and November, as he settled into life at his new club.
Portugal did not suffer without him, however, going undefeated as they recorded three wins in six matches, qualifying for the Nations League Finals in the process.
But, with Euro 2020 qualifying set to start, Ronaldo is back involved with the national team.
Coach Fernando Santos has al…
Best odds: 173/100
Bookmaker:
The Championship s opening weekend features a Midlands showdown as Stoke City host Coventry City at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Stoke aim to break free from their run of midtable finishes, while Coventry will have their sights set on a long-awaited promotion to the Premier League after several near misses in recent years.
Stoke City
Since their relegation from the Premier League in 2018, Stoke City have experienced six consecutive seasons of bottom-half finishes in the Championship, leaving fans at the bet365 Stadium with little to cheer about. Facing a potential relegation battle early last season under Alex Neil, the club made a decisive managerial change in December by appointing Steven Schumacher, who had …
England boss Sarina Wiegman felt the Lionesses exhausted every effort to win their first Women’s World Cup final despite coming up just short with a 1-0 loss to Spain in Sydney.
The Dutch boss, who led England to their first major trophy at last summer’s European Championship, finds herself with a silver medal in two consecutive attempts after steering 2019 runners-up the Netherlands to the title-decider four years ago in France.
Second place is still a best-ever finish for the Lionesses in a global showpiece, beating their bronze medal from 2015, but the three-time FIFA Best winning coach knows from experience it may take some time before the sting subsides.
Sarina Wiegman gives us her reaction to our defeat…
— Lionesses (@Lionesses)
Wi…
Dani Carvajal will miss Euro 2016 after sustaining an injury in Saturday s Champions League final.
Madrid revealed on Monday that Carvajal, 24, suffered a grade two muscle injury at San Siro, opening the door for Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin to take his place in Spain s squad.
Bellerin made his international debut in Sunday s 3-1 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina and will face competition from Cesar Azpilicueta and Juanfran for a starting spot in Vicente del Bosque s side.
Very proud day for me my family! Unbelievable feeling to get my first cap for ! Boyhood dream come true
— Héctor Bellerín (@HectorBellerin)
I m available to the coach for whatever is needed I m delighted with the experience, Bellerin, 21, told a news conference.
I…
Mick McCarthy remains confident his Republic of Ireland squad can book a place at Euro 2020 despite missing out on automatic qualification.
Ireland were held to a 1-1 draw in Monday s must-win qualifier against Denmark at the Aviva Stadium to finish third in Group D, three points behind their opponents.
Matt Doherty headed home five minutes from time to cancel out Martin Braithwaite s 73rd-minute opener, but McCarthy s men must settle for a play-off spot.
A one-legged semi-final and final will be played in March and McCarthy believes his side are in with a shot, provided they replicate their performance against Denmark.
FULL TIME | It ends in a draw, as Ireland move into March s Play-Offs
— FAIreland (@FAIreland)
We can bea…
Mark Robins made a Premier League vow just hours after guiding Coventry out of League Two, former captain Michael Doyle has revealed.
The ex-Sky Blues midfielder skippered the club to their first promotion in 51 years in 2018 to kick-start their journey to the brink of a top-flight return.
Coventry beat Exeter 3-1 in the play-off final with Doyle lifting the trophy at Wembley and the Sky Blues are now dreaming of a repeat in Saturday’s Championship play-off final against Luton.
Robins, who signed a new four-year deal this month, took them out of the fourth tier at the first attempt after returning 14 months earlier for a second spell and, even then, outlined his vision to Doyle.
He told the PA news agency: “The night we got promoted from League Two we…
FIFA President Sepp Blatter was in attendance as the 11 Russian host cities to stage 2018 FIFA World Cup fixtures were announced on Saturday.
Blatter was flanked by Russia s Minister for Sport and Chairman of the Russia 2018 Local Organising Committee (LOC) Vitaly Mutko at the ceremony.
Moscow, St Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Samara, Saransk, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Sochi and Ekaterinburg will all host matches during the tournament.
Two venues in Moscow the 90,000-seat Luzhniki Stadium and a 45,000-seat arena set to built by Russian football club Spartak Moscow will host matches, meaning a total of 12 stadiums in 11 cities will be used.
The announcement of the host cities is the first concrete step taken in the delivery of the 2018…
Olivier Giroud has confirmed he will retire from international duty after Euro 2024.
Giroud is France s record goalscorer, having netted 57 goals in 131 appearances for Les Bleus.
The 37-year-old has featured for France at Euro 2012, 2016 and 2020, as well as winning the World Cup with Didier Deschamps team in 2018 and helping them reach the final in 2022.
Euro 2024 will mark his final appearances for the national team, though, with Giroud who is leaving Milan to join Los Angeles FC in MLS revealing he is stepping aside.
In an interview with L Equipe, Giroud said: Obviously I m going to miss it a lot, but I think my time with the French team will be over after the Euros. I need to cede my place for the young players.
Co-president and General Mana…
Vincent Kompany insists Leon Goretzka will continue to be important for Bayern Munich, despite his limited game time this season.
The Germany midfielder has fallen down the pecking order behind the likes of new signing Joao Palhinha, and played just 21 minutes this term.
Nine of those came on Tuesday, when he scored as a late substitute to complete his side s 9-2 rout of Dinamo Zagreb in their Champions League opener.
Though the 29-year-old has found opportunities hard to come by, Kompany maintains he is an integral part of Bayern s squad.
He s important for us and will continue to be, Kompany told DAZN. The team loves him. I only have players who want to play and accept the competition for places.
At Bayern, it s always easy to talk about indi…