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Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
'Makes you dangerous' – Tyrese Haliburton earns high praise from OKC Thunder's Jalen Williams ahead of NBA Finals Game 1
Tyrese Haliburton. Image via: Ethan Miller/ Getty Images As the Oklahoma City Thunder prepare to host the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, all eyes are on Tyrese Haliburton. The young Pacers star has emerged as one of the most influential players in this year's postseason. With both teams boasting deep rosters and youthful cores, Thunder forward Jalen Williams offered genuine admiration for Haliburton, explaining the Pacers guard's unique qualities that make him a real threat on the biggest stage. Jalen Williams applauds Tyrese Haliburton's confidence and leadership Tyrese Haliburton has been at the heart of the Indiana Pacers' historic playoff run. After leading Indiana to its first NBA Finals appearance in 25 years, he's now drawing attention from fellow competitors while being the center of discussion among fans and analysts. Jalen Williams, who has also been one of the star players in the Thunder's own rise, didn't hesitate when asked about what makes Haliburton special. 'What makes him very good is that he's very confident,' Williams said. 'To be able to play as well as he's been playing through a lot of the overrated stuff, and for him to be able to play through that, you've got to tip your hat to him for that. Just an extremely confident individual, and I think that, regardless of who you are, makes you dangerous.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Knee Pain After 50? Try This Before Reaching for Pills Read More Undo Haliburton proved his value during the Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks, where he averaged 21 points, 10.3 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. His playmaking helped the Pacers overcome seasoned opponents, despite not winning the ECF MVP. He has been a major driving force behind Indiana's deep playoff push. Williams also pointed out the shared DNA between both squads, 'They are pretty close to us in regards to like how close they are as a team. Obviously, I'm not in their locker room, so I don't know. But outside looking in, they look like they have a lot of fun playing with each other, and their crowd is really into it, like their city loves them.' Both teams have grown from within, relying on player development rather than high-profile offseason trades. The Pacers made no significant roster changes, while the Thunder's only additions were Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso. Williams believes that chemistry and shared experience are the X-factors, 'When everybody's allowed to be themselves, I think you get the best growth from your team,' he said. 'We've all had the same approach… I think the Pacers probably have something to do with that as well.' Also Read: Vanessa Bryant finally breaks silence on wild pregnancy rumors with a wild response featuring a Rihanna meme Haliburton's performance throughout this season has also been commendable. The Pacers guard has made the Organization's dream come true and might as well win the Championship over the Thunder. Regardless, fans can expect a high-end, tough battle in the NBA finals.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Real Betis 2-1 Real Madrid: Match review
Real Madrid saw their three-match winning streak come to a crashing end as they were defeated 2-1 by Real Betis at the Estadio Benito Villamarin on matchday 26 of La Liga. The match, which the visitors played terribly barring the first 20-25 minutes, sees them face a loss off the back of a terrible performance, consequently resulting in losing crucial ground in La Liga title race. The game began with Carlo Ancelotti's side starting on the front foot and a slick move by Kylian Mbappe was finished off by Brahim Diaz, who was teed up for a tap-in inside the box by Ferland Mendy. The way proceedings began, it seemed as if Madrid would march on to earn three vital points and end Saturday as league leaders, but that was not to be as an emphatic response by the home side followed. After being put under the cosh at the start, Betis started showing more intensity in their game and won the lion's share of duels, tackles as well as second balls. Real Madrid, having used Brahim Diaz and Luka Modric in the interior of the pitch, lacked energy and were vulnerable on the flanks, which Antony and Isco made good use of while Youssouf Sabaly and Ricardo Rodriguez also played superbly as full backs. A response from Manuel Pellegrini's side followed after the half-hour mark after Isco's superb delivery through a corner was headed home by Johnny Cardoso. The American did well to lose his marker, Antonio Rudiger, to power an attempt past Thibaut Courtois. He had a chance for a second goal moments before half-time but was repelled by a solid save by the Belgian. In the second period, Madrid failed to have any control after the half got underway and 10 minutes thereafter, conceded a penalty after Rudiger fouled Jesus Rodriguez. Former Real Madrid man Isco stepped up and dispatched his effort clinically past Courtois, who guessed right but was beaten for pace. Within 30 minutes of scoring, Madrid had unravelled and looked largely outplayed all game. Carlo Ancelotti's substitutions did not yield much either as Real Betis were head and shoulders above Los Blancos, individually as well as collectively. There was not a single player from the visiting team who deserved any plaudits for his efforts, in all fairness. The manager's decision of resting Raul Asencio particularly backfired as neither David Alaba nor Rudiger seemed up to the challenge. Meanwhile, it was another substandard game by Lucas Vazquez at right back, who was visibly targeted by Isco and Rodriguez. That reduced Rodrygo's offensive output as he had to track back more often than he would have liked. Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe were also shadows of themselves, whereas Arda Guler and Endrick also looked tired after labouring in a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad only three days ago. A performance that would otherwise go down as an aberration might now have seismic ramifications on Real Madrid's title defence, although they have little to rue about the performance and must now turn their attentions to the Champions League. Los Merengues host Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, March 4th, at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of their round of 16 in the European Cup. Although Dani Ceballos and Jude Bellingham will remain out of the game, Federico Valverde is expected to return and it will be interesting to see whether the Uruguayan replaces Vazquez at right back or slots straight into midfield.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The mini-Rodri who 'makes a massive difference' to Man City
Pep Guardiola describes him as a 'mini-Rodri' but could Nico Gonzalez end up having a huge impact on what is left of Manchester City's season? The £50m midfielder's impressive display on his Premier League debut, Saturday's 4-0 win over top-four rivals Newcastle, brought the Rodri comparison from his beaming manager and impressed former City defender Micah Richards, who analysed Gonzalez for MOTD2. "Gonzalez gave City the control they have been missing, with and without the ball," said Richards. "That made a massive difference to the whole team, and he was a positive influence on the players around him too." Next up is an even tougher test, but could the 23-year-old Spaniard have a similar effect against Real Madrid on Wednesday, and help City turn around a Champions League play-off tie where they trail 2-1 after the first leg? "The balance of the team looks much, much better already with Gonzalez in it," Richards added. "City have got players who can score goals and hurt Real, but he brings some stability behind them, which they will need if they are to manage the game in Madrid. "Do they have more chance of beating Real with him in the starting XI? Without a doubt." One of the re-occurring themes of City's calamitous campaign is how often they have been cut open on the counter-attack since Rodri was injured in September. Guardiola has tried plenty of other players in the number six role, without replacing Rodri's calm authority in the heart of midfield, which was a hallmark of his team and helped them win trophy after trophy. Against Newcastle, it was different. City often stopped breakaways early, in the opposition half, with Gonzalez - a former Barcelona trainee who arrived at Etihad Stadium from Porto at the end of the January transfer window - seeing the threat early and expertly pouncing to snuff it out. "I saw a couple of situations against Newcastle where, in previous games, City would have been in big trouble," Richards explained. "In the past, they were playing the ball forward to the edge of the opposition box, losing it, then someone in midfield would get turned and suddenly the defence was having to drop back rapidly from the halfway line because the opposition were running through unchallenged. "That did not happen on Gonzalez's watch because he did not just stop counter-attacks when they happened, he anticipated the danger so they never happened in the first place. "In one of the clips I picked out for MOTD2, he starts sprinting forward to pick up the second ball before the Newcastle defender on the edge of their area has even headed clear. "Gonzalez is not just sitting deep, waiting, instead he gets up the pitch and into the right position to stop a group of Newcastle players getting on the ball and springing a break. "That was not the only time he made a difference defensively. "There was another clip I chose from the Newcastle game which was a mirror image of how City conceded their second goal against Juventus in their Champions League defeat in Turin in December. "A City attack had just broken down and Ilkay Gundogan, who was playing as the deepest midfielder, got pulled across to the right, leaving a big hole in the middle for Juve to drive through, with only the defence to deal with it. "This time, however, Gonzalez leaves the runner to his left and he is not worried about him. Instead he reads the play and - bam! - he goes straight in for the challenge in the centre of the pitch to stop the counter. "It's perfect midfield play, because he does not jump too early either. His timing is excellent, and he gets the ball back, with energy and purpose." Gonzalez was forced off injured on his City debut, last week's FA Cup win at Leyton Orient. He was hurt when he was caught on the ball, seconds before Jamie Donley's stunning long-range strike, which cannoned off the bar and went in via Stefan Ortega, put the home side ahead. On Saturday, he lasted the full match, topping the ranking from both teams for most touches [114] and passes [103], with a 97% success rate. His careful use of the ball helped give City the control of possession that Guardiola craves - they enjoyed 62% of it against the Magpies - but he was brave with his distribution too. "There were times when Gonzalez took out three or four Newcastle players with one pass forward," Richards added. "That's another thing City have been missing when they are starting attacks, or facing packed defences, someone who can break the lines from deep like that. "Most of the time, though, you might have looked at his passing and think well he is actually not doing anything special. He was just in the right position, recycling the ball and keeping things moving. "Again, though, that's exactly what City have needed this season, because there have been too many games where they have not starved the opposition of the ball the way they would in the past. "I loved how Gonzalez has got the personality to come to the Premier League and play like this, straight away, against a team renowned for their physicality and intensity in midfield. "As well as character, he also had the intelligence to know when to take a chance, and when to just hold on to the ball. Having someone with that kind of football IQ in your team is priceless." It was striking to see exactly where Gonzalez got on the ball, with none of his touches taking place in the final third of the pitch. For Richards, that was further evidence that he was constantly thinking about his role in the side, and also showed how he might think differently to Mateo Kovacic and Ilkay Gundogan, who have both filled in for Rodri as a defensive midfielder but had to wrestle with their attacking instincts. "I think Gonzalez can get forward and into the box if he wants to," Richards added. "Rodri always did that too - he scored nine goals last season. "But on Saturday he wasn't worried about getting forward, he was just thinking about what was best for the team - looking at where the space was and filling the gaps at the right moments in midfield, whether City had the ball or not. "That was great for his team-mates, because they knew they had him giving that protection behind them, and it particularly benefited Rico Lewis. "Without Rodri alongside him, Rico has often seemed like he is stuck between a rock and a hard place. While his form has not been at the level we saw when he first broke into the team, he has found the role that Pep asks him to perform much more difficult this season. "When City play with four at the back and Lewis is right-back, he is asked to come inside to create an overload in midfield. "Without Rodri, and before Gonzalez signed, Lewis was coming into midfield too early, and getting stuck in those central areas. Against Newcastle, however, he had Gonzalez behind him and it allowed him to get forward quicker, and give City more options out wide on the right. "On top of that, Gonzalez helped Lewis defensively too, although City's dominance against Newcastle meant this was not as easy to spot. "Lewis is still a defender, first and foremost, so when City have been losing the ball in the areas I spoke about earlier, he has to decide whether to get back in his right-back slot, or stay in midfield. "It actually happened on the opposite flank for the Juventus goal I mentioned earlier, when he was at left-back but came across into midfield and left space out wide. With Rodri there, he does not have to come inside when attacks break down, and the same applies with Gonzalez in the team too. "I loved the way Gonzalez seemed aware of exactly where to be at all times, and he also had the legs to get there quickly when he had to. "That energy and physicality is something else City have lacked in their midfield, and it is another reason he looks like a gem of a player, who was the perfect signing for Pep. "Going forward, he's going to be an important player alongside Rodri, not just instead of him. "He definitely gives City more hope against Madrid, too. They are not the favourites, but of course they still have a chance of getting through."
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The mini-Rodri who 'makes a massive difference' to Man City
Pep Guardiola describes him as a 'mini-Rodri' but could Nico Gonzalez end up having a huge impact on what is left of Manchester City's season? The £50m midfielder's impressive display on his Premier League debut, Saturday's 4-0 win over top-four rivals Newcastle, brought the Rodri comparison from his beaming manager and impressed former City defender Micah Richards, who analysed Gonzalez for MOTD2. "Gonzalez gave City the control they have been missing, with and without the ball," said Richards. "That made a massive difference to the whole team, and he was a positive influence on the players around him too." Next up is an even tougher test, but could the 23-year-old Spaniard have a similar effect against Real Madrid on Wednesday, and help City turn around a Champions League play-off tie where they trail 2-1 after the first leg? "The balance of the team looks much, much better already with Gonzalez in it," Richards added. "City have got players who can score goals and hurt Real, but he brings some stability behind them, which they will need if they are to manage the game in Madrid. "Do they have more chance of beating Real with him in the starting XI? Without a doubt." One of the re-occurring themes of City's calamitous campaign is how often they have been cut open on the counter-attack since Rodri was injured in September. Guardiola has tried plenty of other players in the number six role, without replacing Rodri's calm authority in the heart of midfield, which was a hallmark of his team and helped them win trophy after trophy. Against Newcastle, it was different. City often stopped breakaways early, in the opposition half, with Gonzalez - a former Barcelona trainee who arrived at Etihad Stadium from Porto at the end of the January transfer window - seeing the threat early and expertly pouncing to snuff it out. "I saw a couple of situations against Newcastle where, in previous games, City would have been in big trouble," Richards explained. "In the past, they were playing the ball forward to the edge of the opposition box, losing it, then someone in midfield would get turned and suddenly the defence was having to drop back rapidly from the halfway line because the opposition were running through unchallenged. "That did not happen on Gonzalez's watch because he did not just stop counter-attacks when they happened, he anticipated the danger so they never happened in the first place. "In one of the clips I picked out for MOTD2, he starts sprinting forward to pick up the second ball before the Newcastle defender on the edge of their area has even headed clear. "Gonzalez is not just sitting deep, waiting, instead he gets up the pitch and into the right position to stop a group of Newcastle players getting on the ball and springing a break. "That was not the only time he made a difference defensively. "There was another clip I chose from the Newcastle game which was a mirror image of how City conceded their second goal against Juventus in their Champions League defeat in Turin in December. "A City attack had just broken down and Ilkay Gundogan, who was playing as the deepest midfielder, got pulled across to the right, leaving a big hole in the middle for Juve to drive through, with only the defence to deal with it. "This time, however, Gonzalez leaves the runner to his left and he is not worried about him. Instead he reads the play and - bam! - he goes straight in for the challenge in the centre of the pitch to stop the counter. "It's perfect midfield play, because he does not jump too early either. His timing is excellent, and he gets the ball back, with energy and purpose." Gonzalez was forced off injured on his City debut, last week's FA Cup win at Leyton Orient. He was hurt when he was caught on the ball, seconds before Jamie Donley's stunning long-range strike, which cannoned off the bar and went in via Stefan Ortega, put the home side ahead. On Saturday, he lasted the full match, topping the ranking from both teams for most touches [114] and passes [103], with a 97% success rate. His careful use of the ball helped give City the control of possession that Guardiola craves - they enjoyed 62% of it against the Magpies - but he was brave with his distribution too. "There were times when Gonzalez took out three or four Newcastle players with one pass forward," Richards added. "That's another thing City have been missing when they are starting attacks, or facing packed defences, someone who can break the lines from deep like that. "Most of the time, though, you might have looked at his passing and think well he is actually not doing anything special. He was just in the right position, recycling the ball and keeping things moving. "Again, though, that's exactly what City have needed this season, because there have been too many games where they have not starved the opposition of the ball the way they would in the past. "I loved how Gonzalez has got the personality to come to the Premier League and play like this, straight away, against a team renowned for their physicality and intensity in midfield. "As well as character, he also had the intelligence to know when to take a chance, and when to just hold on to the ball. Having someone with that kind of football IQ in your team is priceless." It was striking to see exactly where Gonzalez got on the ball, with none of his touches taking place in the final third of the pitch. For Richards, that was further evidence that he was constantly thinking about his role in the side, and also showed how he might think differently to Mateo Kovacic and Ilkay Gundogan, who have both filled in for Rodri as a defensive midfielder but had to wrestle with their attacking instincts. "I think Gonzalez can get forward and into the box if he wants to," Richards added. "Rodri always did that too - he scored nine goals last season. "But on Saturday he wasn't worried about getting forward, he was just thinking about what was best for the team - looking at where the space was and filling the gaps at the right moments in midfield, whether City had the ball or not. "That was great for his team-mates, because they knew they had him giving that protection behind them, and it particularly benefited Rico Lewis. "Without Rodri alongside him, Rico has often seemed like he is stuck between a rock and a hard place. While his form has not been at the level we saw when he first broke into the team, he has found the role that Pep asks him to perform much more difficult this season. "When City play with four at the back and Lewis is right-back, he is asked to come inside to create an overload in midfield. "Without Rodri, and before Gonzalez signed, Lewis was coming into midfield too early, and getting stuck in those central areas. Against Newcastle, however, he had Gonzalez behind him and it allowed him to get forward quicker, and give City more options out wide on the right. "On top of that, Gonzalez helped Lewis defensively too, although City's dominance against Newcastle meant this was not as easy to spot. "Lewis is still a defender, first and foremost, so when City have been losing the ball in the areas I spoke about earlier, he has to decide whether to get back in his right-back slot, or stay in midfield. "It actually happened on the opposite flank for the Juventus goal I mentioned earlier, when he was at left-back but came across into midfield and left space out wide. With Rodri there, he does not have to come inside when attacks break down, and the same applies with Gonzalez in the team too. "I loved the way Gonzalez seemed aware of exactly where to be at all times, and he also had the legs to get there quickly when he had to. "That energy and physicality is something else City have lacked in their midfield, and it is another reason he looks like a gem of a player, who was the perfect signing for Pep. "Going forward, he's going to be an important player alongside Rodri, not just instead of him. "He definitely gives City more hope against Madrid, too. They are not the favourites, but of course they still have a chance of getting through."
