Source: BBC Sport
Security & Justice
Southern Lebanon Endures Massive Damage: 40,000 Homes Leveled Across 37 Towns
Israeli forces have systematically destroyed entire neighborhoods in southern Lebanon, leveling more than 37 towns and wiping out over 40,000 residential units, according to Lebanon's National News Agency.
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Gaps in Coastal Radar Enabled Israeli Raid in Batroun, Army Commander Says
Lebanon’s army chief, General Joseph Aoun, detailed to Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati how Israeli forces likely exploited gaps in the country's coastal radar system during the recent raid carried out in Batroun. The briefing comes as Lebanese officials seek answers on how Israel’s elite Shayetet 13 unit carried out the landing undetected.
Monday, November 4, 2024
Opinion
My Hope for Lebanon
A company of Lebanese soldiers assigned to maintain order in this anxious wartime capital is gathered at its headquarters 100 yards from the Mediterranean. I make the blunder of asking their commander how many of his men are Shiites, Sunnis, Christians and Druze.
Monday, November 4, 2024
The Emptying of Baalbek Is a Moment to Take Stock
“Large numbers of people continue to flee their homes every day, as Israel’s military operations in Lebanon have been going on unabated.” These disturbing words could be from almost any news report about Israel’s invasion of its northern neighbour over the past month. However, they can be found in a report by the Norwegian Refugee Council’s Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre issued on July 27, 2006.
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Sports
FC Barcelona Fears First Team Star Will Be Banned From Playing, Reports SPORT
FC Barcelona is concerned that one of its main first-team stars will be banned from playing at the turn of 2025 because of issues related to his registration and Financial Fair Play (FFP) limits according to SPORT, which cited anonymous sources.
Friday, November 1, 2024
Tottenham Forward Son Heung-min Crowned Asia’s International Player of the Year
Tottenham forward Son Heung-min was crowned as Asia’s International Player of the Year for the fourth time by the Asian Football Confederation at its annual awards ceremony Tuesday.
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Friday 3 May 2024 16:54:56
Who to Watch in NBA Play-Offs Without James, Curry & Durant?
LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant all have one thing in common this summer - they will not be in the second round of the NBA play-offs.
It is the first time that has happened since the 2009-10 season.
With three of the greatest players of all time out of contention, a new generation of stars is preparing to step up to the top of the game.
So, who should we be keeping an eye on as we get deeper into the play-offs?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s front office could not have envisaged the meteoric rise of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander when they traded for him in 2019.
Joining after a season for the LA Clippers where he averaged just under 11 points, he has finished this term as a nominee for the regular season MVP award.
Gilgeous-Alexander has been the focal point of Oklahoma’s rise to the top of the Western Conference, bettering last season's campaign where they did not make the play-offs.
The 25-year-old is right up there in terms of offensive output, hitting 30.4 points per game - the second-highest in the league.
But at the other end, he is just as strong on defense with an average of two steals per match.
His skills in isolation, in transition, and the pick and roll have stood out.
The young Thunder squad, known for not only their on-court brilliance but also their impressive post-game barking, and external, have made waves in the league this year and pulled off a clean sweep of the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round.
Anthony Edwards
Already drawing comparisons to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, externally, at just 22 years old Anthony Edwards is box office.
A key component of the Minnesota Timberwolves' clean sweep of Durant's Phoenix Suns - Edwards scored a ruthless 124 points across four games to send them packing.
If you have watched the Last Dance documentary on Netflix you will know just how many times Michael Jordan "took it personally". And 'Ant Man' lives by the same mantra.
His athleticism has not gone unnoticed by the greats either.
The mutual respect shown between Durant and Edwards following their play-off match-up was evident after game four.
Curry has also been impressed.
"I'd take Anthony Edwards' athleticism all day long if I could pick one thing from any NBA player," he told BBC Sport.
"That coupled with my shooting - it'd be very dangerous."
Pair Edwards with a Timberwolves side that also features Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert and you have got a pretty solid championship-contending recipe.
Jayson Tatum
The best player on the best regular season team.
Boston's box-office baller has not surprised anyone this season - in the best way possible.
The expectations of Tatum are so high that it is not a shock when he puts in huge performances.
He scored 105 points in five games against the Miami Heat, with a triple-double in game one.
His unselfish play and physical toughness helped pull the Celtics through a tough series against a Heat side known for their dogged and gritty performances.
Tatum has a stellar scoring ability as a forward with multiple skills.
His explosiveness, mixed with quick footwork to create separation with defenders, has troubled the Eastern Conference all year.
Playing for a side whose championship credentials have been so widely questioned over the past two years, Tatum is on the way to laying those doubts to rest.
