#team-defense

#team-defense

The Celtics (8-8) fell 113-105 to the 12-loss Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden Friday night, marking just the Nets' third win all season. Boston has shown flashes of potential through the first month of regular-season play, but a lack of consistency has them toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings through 16 games. That inconsistency cost them a win on Friday.

Here we are again. Another regulation loss, another low-scoring game, another bad team effort, and with 25% of the season complete, now is the time where the early season questions can start to become concerns. For the majority of October, it was "Just wait until the team has Trocheck back in the lineup, everything will rebound then." The wins have not come in bunches, the goaltending is being hung out to dry by questionable efforts in the defensive zone, particularly by the captain last night.

We knew the Cubs' defense was good, but now we have proof. This is the second time the Cubs have won the award, which was established in 2020.

Quickley's defence continues to show real improvement in transition, where his aggression forced a turnover early. Early in the first quarter, he stood his ground impressively when Jabari Smith Jr. tried to post him up, showcasing added strength and discipline. Offensively, however, it was a rough night - his trademark floater deserted him, missing a few he normally converts with ease. Quickley still hasn't quite found his rhythm on that end of the floor.

For the Jets, the trip marks an opportunity for a change of pace in a start to the season that's gone awry. New York enters Week 6 with an 0-5 record, the only team remaining in the league without a win. Most recently, the Jets suffered a 37-22 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, marking the fifth consecutive game that the team has given up 25-plus points.

"I love the Blue Jays offense, but the Yankees have a bit more firepower and also have an advantage in the rotation, so I'll take them," was the final judgement from Matt Snyder of CBS Sports in a 2025 ALDS preview. The Blue Jays and Yankees face off in a crucial playoff series Saturday, and many baseball analysts are picking New York, despite their 5-8 record against the Jays in 2025. The Jays, however, stack up well in several key areas that could work in their favor against a familiar division foe.

Nakase led the Valkyries to a 23-21 record in their first season and led the Golden State to the playoffs, becoming the first expansion team in league history to make the postseason in its first year. Under Nakase, the Valkyries established themselves as one of the best defenses in the league, holding opponents to a league-best 76.3 points per game. The first-time head coach was hired last year by Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin and has created a culture of collective effort that uplifts that defense.