June 16, 2022
Read in Browser [[link removed]]
POWERED BY
The Celtics are 3-0 in elimination games this postseason, and the Warriors are 0-3 in road closeout games. Can Golden State stop the trend and win a fourth title for the Splash Brothers?
Andre Burakovsky Is Kryptonite For Lightning [[link removed]]
Colorado Avalanche
There’s something about playing the Lightning in the postseason that brings out the best in Andre Burakovsky.
On Wednesday, the Avalanche winger scored 83 seconds into overtime to seal [[link removed]] a thrilling 4-3 win over Tampa Bay in Game 1 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final — not the first time Burakovsky has plagued the Lightning in the playoffs.
In 2018 with the Capitals, he scored twice on Tampa in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, after which Washington went on to win its first title. Now, on a team loaded with stars, he’s Colorado’s secret weapon against the two-time defending champs.
The 27-year-old is one of four Avs with Final experience — and besides Darren Helm, the only Cup winner.He scored a career-high 22 goals during the regular season and has two in 11 playoff games thus far.Burakovsky scored the earliest OT goal in the Final since the Canucks’ Alexandre Burrows in 2011 (11 seconds).
Burakovsky can rely on his clutch performances for leverage this offseason, when he’ll be an unrestricted free agent — he’s finishing the two-year, $9.8 million extension he signed in 2020.
In the meantime, the Swede has set the tone for what should be a highly competitive series. Colorado’s victory marked the 95th overtime contest in a Final — and 20th in the opener.
Thanks to Burakovsky’s heroics, Colorado’s odds to win their first title since 2001 moved up to -285.
Mavs’ Wood Trade Will Help Doncic Over Playoff Hump [[link removed]]
Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
This NBA season isn’t even over, and the Mavericks are already adding pieces to help their superstar break his playoff glass ceiling next year.
On Wednesday, Dallas acquired rising star Christian Wood from Houston in exchange for this year’s 26th pick and four [[link removed]] role players. The move should take some pressure off Luka Doncic, as the undrafted 26-year-old has become an effective pick-and-pop forward.
The Mavs are clearly in win-now mode — a new chapter for a franchise that just made its first conference finals in a decade on the NBA’s fifth-lowest payroll ($127M).
Wood is due for $14.3M in the final year of his contract, which Dallas will offset by offloading $11M in salaries.Doncic’s backcourt partner and UFA Jalen Brunson (16.3 PPG) is expected [[link removed]] to re-up for at least $20M-$25M annually.Owner Mark Cuban has shown a willingness to spend — the Mavs currently have the 7th-highest payroll [[link removed]] for 2022-23 ($153.8M).
Doncic should be relieved to play with Wood, who averaged 19 points and nine rebounds on 50.7% shooting with Houston — one of only five players to average [[link removed]] 19/9 on 50% shooting in the past two seasons.
Perhaps most importantly, he shot 40% on catch-and-shoot threes this past season, which should further space the floor for Luka to do his thing.
It’s a big move for the Mavs, but oddsmakers aren’t quite convinced they can get over the Finals hump — Dallas has the 10th-best odds (+1500) to win it all next year.
SPONSORED BY GREEN ZONE FORTUNES
“IMPERIUM”: The #1 Investment of the 2020s
Could the technology behind this odd-looking machine really be the most transformative innovation [[link removed]] in history? Experts are screaming “YES”!
Elon Musk calls it “amazing…” A former Apple CEO says “[it will] have a far bigger impact on humanity than the Internet.” And a Harvard Ph.D. says it will “[surpass] the space, atomic, and electronic revolutions in its significance.”
It’s a technology called “ Imperium [[link removed]].”
And it’s about to spark the biggest investment mega trend in history … with one small Silicon Valley company at the center of it all. Want the details? Click here [[link removed]] now.
Rare Feat Spotlights Astros’ Elite Pitching Staff [[link removed]]
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
In the second inning of Wednesday’s 9-2 rout of the Rangers, Astros starter Luis Garcia threw the 107th immaculate inning in MLB history — and in the seventh, reliever Phil Maton delivered No. 108.
For the first time, there were two immaculate innings in the same game — or on the same day — a feat amplified by the fact that both [[link removed]] came against the same three batters.
It’s just another feather in the cap of an elite Houston staff cobbled together from a relatively [[link removed]] modest pitching payroll that covers a wide range [[link removed]] of salaries.
The Astros have spent only the eighth-most ($56.9M) on pitching this season.But they’re top-four in MLB in ERA (3.03), WHIP (1.13), OBA (.219), quality starts (32), and shutouts (7).Garcia ($1.3M) is still under team control, while Maton ($1.6M) is in his second arbitration year.Astros ace Justin Verlander has the second-best odds (+400) to win the AL Cy Young, but only [[link removed]] the eighth-highest salary ($25M) among pitchers.
As a franchise, the Astros have now thrown nine immaculate innings — tied with the Dodgers and Yankees for most ever.
Along with their formidable hitting [[link removed]], the Astros’ pitching has consolidated first place in the AL West with a 39-24 record.
Houston has the third-best odds (+650) to win the 2022 World Series.
Making Headlines
Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports
WNBA: Seattle Storm legend Sue Bird announced that this will be her last season; the 21-year veteran is [[link removed]] a four-time champion and 12-time All-Star.
NFL: Colts safety Khari Willis announced [[link removed]] he was retiring after three seasons in the NFL to “devote the remainder of my life to the further advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ”; the 26-year-old had 219 tackles and four INTs in 39 career games and was on a base salary of $2.5M this season.
NBA: James Harden is expected to re-sign with the 76ers on a “short-term” deal, per [[link removed]] Jake Fischer; he’s eligible [[link removed]] for a four-year, $223 million extension.
If this email was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here [[link removed]].
Written by Chris Kuc [[link removed]], Anthony Puccio [[link removed]], Doug Greenberg [[link removed]]
MORE FROM FRONT OFFICE SPORTS:
The Leadoff [[link removed]] - Daily business of sports podcast
Front Office Sports Pro [[link removed]] - The most promising opportunities where sports meets industry
Front Office Sports AM/PM [[link removed]] - Daily business of sports newsletter
Front Office Sports Learning [[link removed]] - Professional education at the speed of culture
Copyright © 2022 Front Office Sports. All rights reserved.
80 Pine Street Suite 3202 New York, NY 10005
Advertise [[link removed]] / Update your preferences [link removed] / Unsubscribe [link removed]
