Pacers-Thunder Game 7 means predictions and all-time NBA Finals rankings

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Maybe you haven't been interested in the Pacers-Thunder NBA Finals. It's possible the markets, stars or stories aren't interesting to you. If you're a big enough basketball fan to subscribe to this newsletter, I implore you to watch Game 7 on Sunday. It's been a phenomenal series, and a fantastic finish is on the way.
NBA Finals glory almost a decade in the making
Tyrese Haliburton had a bad wheel due to his calf strain. The Thunder smelled blood in the water. And the Pacers were still licking their wounds from blowing a chance to go up 3-1 at home in Game 4, when they allowed the Thunder to give them a taste of their own medicine – dominating fourth quarters for a big comeback. So, it's not a shock that so many people assumed the Thunder would go into Indianapolis last night and make that visiting locker room stink of champagne and stain the hardwood floor on the court with Pacers regret.
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When the Pacers started the game 0-of-8 from the field, it looked like it might be an early wrap, but they settled themselves and started making shots. And then, after a poor close to the first quarter, they went on a monster 30-9 run in the last 8:51 of the second quarter to give themselves a 22-point lead at halftime. It took the Thunder until the 5:03 mark in the third quarter to score their first basket. It was a 30-point lead entering the final period, so Indiana knew it had one more game to play. It's hard to win an NBA title! Who knew?!
The Thunder turned the ball over an inordinate amount of times, racking up 21 turnovers to the Pacers' 11 and allowing 19 points off those turnovers to the Pacers' 13. Before the Thunder waved the Ajay Mitchell flag, Indiana's bench was outscoring OKC's 31-6. And the Pacers used timely traps and double teams to force eight turnovers by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Thunder laid an egg so big that it could have filled up every buffet chafing dish in Las Vegas. After the game, SGA mentioned the thought of the opportunity to clinch the first title was in the back of his mind, and he thought he could draw on the experience of not wanting to lose Game 7 against Denver in the second round to persevere on Sunday. On NBA TV, Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas said losing in the second round and losing a Game 7 (1988 NBA Finals against the Lakers) are not even close to the same thing.
Perhaps the youth of the Thunder still comes through at certain times, but it's not like the Pacers have much championship experience outside of Pascal Siakam.
T.J. McConnell dominated the Thunder for the second straight game. Adding 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals in 24 minutes off the bench might now sound like domination, but he completely controlled the game when he was in. And now, both teams have their backs against the walls in the tiniest octagon in sports: Game 7.
Game 7 is on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC (or try FUBO for free!). You can also watch the Pregame Live Show on the NBA App and all of their socials (including YouTube page) with myself, Mo Dakhil, Alexis Morgan and Atlanta Hawk Georges Niang from 6:30-7:30 p.m. ET for a pregame show that doesn't just have a bunch of shouting, incongruent statements!
Best prospects in the last two decades
🏀 Measuring up. Cooper Flagg is another highly touted No. 1 pick. How does he look compared to other past prospects? He's higher than you think!
💰 New dawn. The Lakers' sale was a shocking moment and price tag. And it will change how ownership works.
💸 Big extension. The Rockets denied the Knicks and then gave Ime Udoka a new deal. He's one of the highest-paid coaches now.
🏀 They're back? The NBA is looking to expand with a league in Europe. And EuroLeague is re-entering the conversation.
🎧 Tuning in. Today's 'NBA Daily' discusses Pascal Siakam's bizarre pre-game ritual with Shakeia Taylor.
The story of the greatest players in NBA history. In 100 riveting profiles, top basketball writers justify their selections and uncover the history of the NBA in the process.
The story of the greatest players in NBA history.
Can we predict how Game 7 will go?
We haven't had a Game 7 in the NBA Finals since 2016, when the Cavaliers went into Oracle Arena and shocked the world by taking down the 73-win Warriors to complete the first 3-1 series comeback in NBA Finals history. The Pacers going into the Paycom Center in OKC on Sunday to face the Thunder will mark the 20th Game 7 in NBA Finals history. The Thunder are 8.5-point favorites in the game and -375 to win the game outright, courtesy of BetMGM.
That makes some sense, considering home teams typically win these matchups. Here are some stats from NBA Finals Game 7s to consider:
Most of these NBA Finals Game 7s have not happened in the modern era (post-NBA/ABA merger in 1976). Eight of the 19 matchups have happened since the merger, and Sunday will be the fifth one in the last 20 years. These are simply rare, to say the least. Here are the four teams that did the unfathomable and won on the road:
Game 7s are so rare in the modern era that Draymond Green is tied with Shane Battier for the most 3-pointers made in an NBA Finals Game 7 with six. That sounds like I could have made up that statistic, but it's true! Green had a massive Game 7 with 32 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists in the losing effort in 2016.
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As you pore over this Game 7 data, there is no rhyme or reason for the road team winning. It just feels random, which is also how the Pacers being in this position feels to a lot of people. Maybe they'll pull it off, or maybe the Thunder will push them around like they did Denver in Game 7 of the second round.
How is this NBA Finals shaping up?
In the intro, I implored people to drop what they're doing on Sunday and tap into Game 7. I truly believe this has been one of the better NBA Finals we've had in recent memory. The tricky thing about watching and loving so many of these is nostalgia will always creep in.
People still pine for the days of the defense of the 1980s and 1990s, but you'll watch some old film, and, aside from the physicality that was allowed, you won't see a ton of good defense being played. Eras and memories are funny that way. Physicality does not equal defense.
In terms of the modern finals, I do think it's worth wondering what a dynamic, close, clutch Game 7 in this series could mean for where it ranks in the last 20-25 years. We've had great performances, close games and drama. So, let's try to put into context where this could slot in.
First of all, let's eliminate all sweeps and five-game series. No offense to those winners and participants, but we're only looking at six- and seven-game series here.
Obviously, seven-game finishes will take precedence over six-gamers here. Regardless of how Game 7 shakes out, if we're getting a down to the final minutes game with either team winning and we're not talking buzzer-beater, I feel pretty confident in this order for me:
10. Heat 4-2 over Mavericks (2006): Dallas fans got their revenge in 2011, and they're still not over the Dwyane Wade free-throw volume from this series. (And Dallas was up 2-0 in this series!)
9. Bucks 4-2 over Suns (2021): Don't underrate this series. Phoenix went up 2-0, then Milwaukee ran off four straight with Giannis Antetokounmpo (50 points, 14 rebounds) putting up arguably the greatest closeout performance ever in Game 6.
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8. Spurs 4-3 over Pistons (2005): There were two and a half close games in this series, and the first four were unwatchable. It went seven, though.
7. Celtics 4-2 over Lakers (2008): Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen came through over Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, all on their first journeys together.
6. Warriors 4-2 over Cavaliers (2015): Kind of marred by the Cavs injuries, but still very fun.
5. Thunder 3-3 v. Pacers (2025): Is this too high? Is that crazy? Are you just dismissive because of the two markets? (This ranking go up or down based on Sunday's result.)
4. Mavericks 4-2 over Heat (2011): Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavs absolutely embarrassed the Heatles.
3. Lakers 4-3 over Celtics (2010): It was an ugly but dramatic ending. This series had it all, plus the two storied franchises.
2. Heat 4-3 over Spurs (2013): The Ray Allen shot that saved the Heat, plus an epic Tim Duncan and LeBron James duel in Game 7.
1. Cavaliers 4-3 over Warriors (2016): The historical significance of the blown 3-1 lead has to make it the top one.
Streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
( Photo: Trevor Ruszkowski / USA Today Network via Imagn Images )

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New York Times

30 minutes ago

• New York Times

A timeline of the Lakers' success (and challenges) under Buss family leadership

In 1979, when Dr. Jerry Buss purchased his $67.5 million stake in the Los Angeles Lakers — which included a 13,000-acre ranch in the Sierra Nevada Mountains — there was little indication the franchise's profile would globalize as it has in the decades since. With Wednesday's news that the late Buss' daughter, Jeanie, is spearheading a record-breaking, $10 billion sale of the Lakers to prominent financier Mark Walter, the franchise once again finds itself setting new standards for basketball, on and off the court. Advertisement As The Athletic's Mike Vorkunov notes, although Walter will eventually take over the team operations, Buss is expected to 'run the team for a significant number of years after the deal closes.' Even once the deal is complete, the Buss family trust will maintain an 18 percent stake in the franchise while Buss remains the team's governor. Nonetheless, the sale marks a drastic shift for the league because arguably its most prominent franchise will get a boost in resources after already enjoying unmatched success under Buss ownership. In the 46 years since the acquisition, the Lakers' prominent peaks and gloomy valleys helped reshape a relatively fledgling league before Buss' vision for 'Showtime' basketball breathed new life into the NBA. The franchise's success under the Buss family actualized in the form of 11 championships, 17 NBA Finals appearances, a tradition of acquiring Hall of Famers and landmark moments — good, bad and vulnerable — that have left indelible marks on the league's history. Let's review a timeline of the Lakers' biggest moments under the leadership of the Buss family: Although Jerry Buss paid big bucks for the Lakers, his acquisition would be worth very little without the apt star power to actualize his vision. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was already in the fold, but drafting Earvin 'Magic' Johnson in 1979 provided the ultimate building block for arguably the most successful championship stretch in the league's post-ABA-NBA merger era. The immediate payoff of Johnson's arrival remains unmatched. How many 20-year-olds enter the league with a statistical baseline of 18 points, 7.7 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 2.4 steals per game? Is it worth mentioning that arguably the greatest point guard of all time technically played out of position during his rookie season? (Shout out to the early Norm Nixon days!) It probably wouldn't surprise you, seeing as Johnson replaced an injured Abdul-Jabbar in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals by playing center, securing the championship with his junior sky hook and becoming (and remaining) the youngest NBA Finals MVP. 45 years ago today… Rookie point guard Magic Johnson filled in for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar AT CENTER in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals 🤯 The result? 42 PTS, 15 REB, 7 AST, & 3 STL as the Lakers secured the title 🏆 — NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 16, 2025 Although the Lakers found great success with their new-look roster and ambitious ownership, changes still needed to be made. Six games into the 1981-82 season, Johnson expressed dismay over then-coach Paul Westhead, which paved the way for a 36-year-old Pat Riley to take over as head coach. Buss initially wanted Lakers legend (and NBA logo) Jerry West to accept the lead spot, but his refusal opened Riley's lane to lead 'Showtime' basketball. Under Riley, the Lakers went 50-21 en route to the 1982 championship and found a new identity. The story of the greatest players in NBA history. In 100 riveting profiles, top basketball writers justify their selections and uncover the history of the NBA in the process. The story of the greatest players in NBA history. The Lakers' 17 championships trail only the rival Boston Celtics for most in league history, but that title-hungry prestige wasn't established until Buss took over. Their 11 titles since 1979 are by far the most of any team, but it took distinct tweaks to place the Lakers atop the NBA hierarchy after decades of chasing the dynastic Celtics, who notched eight consecutive championships during Bill Russell's days. Advertisement Prior to Buss' acquisition, the Lakers hadn't notched consecutive titles since relocating to Los Angeles from Minneapolis. The arrivals of prospects like James Worthy (drafted No. 1 in 1982) and Byron Scott (No. 4 in 1983) breathed life into the Showtime paradigm. Veteran acquisitions like former NBA MVP Bob McAdoo bolstered a bench that supported an increasingly strong starting lineup. Swiss-Army knives like Michael Cooper were the difference between the Lakers being good and being unbeatable. During Riley's eight-plus seasons as Lakers coach, including the playoffs, they led the NBA in win percentage (.725), total wins (635), playoff victories (102), NBA Finals appearances (seven) and championships (four). That included a run of four consecutive 60-win seasons as Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar and Worthy each enjoyed finals MVP honors across different title runs via a high-octane offense centered on flashy passes, treasured transition scores and an unmatched celebrity presence on the sidelines, headlined by actor Jack Nicholson. Despite such success, the Lakers eventually needed a change of guard. Abdul-Jabbar retired in June 1989, mere days after Los Angeles lost the finals to the upstart Detroit Pistons. That was the first of several falling dominoes for the Lakers, who bid farewell to Riley once he felt he'd done enough in Los Angeles. On June 11, 1990, despite earning Coach of the Year honors for the 1989-90 season, Riley stepped down as Lakers head coach with two seasons left on his deal. Johnson remained in the fold as the face of the franchise, even if for only a bit longer. For the 1990-91 season, he finished second in MVP voting, earned the final First Team All-NBA nod of his brilliant career and led the Lakers to the NBA Finals before a life-altering announcement shocked the sports world. Advertisement Months after a young Michael Jordan experienced championship glory at the Lakers' expense, Johnson discovered he was HIV positive during a physical examination preceding the 1991-92 season, leading him to announce his immediate retirement from the NBA. Buss and the Lakers stuck by his side as he became the face of combating the disease. At the time, the world was not aware of the impact of HIV. Johnson faced questions about his participation in the 1992 NBA All-Star Game and his sexuality while facing the greatest challenge of his personal and professional life. Johnson remains in good health and has been a huge resource for HIV/AIDs education, having returned to the court for the end of the 1995-96 season to show the world he could still command a basketball game. In his absence, the Lakers struggled to resemble anything close to their championship form. A string of first-round playoff exits and postseason absences returned Buss to the drawing board as he and West, then the general manager, sought a new title-winning formula. The summer of 1996 remains arguably the most impactful in NBA history. The league itself remains spoiled by the riches of that year's draft class. The true gem remains 17-year-old Kobe Bryant, who was selected 13th by the Charlotte Hornets before West acquired the prospect via trade (shout out to Vlade Divac!). On July 18, 1996, the Lakers signed Shaquille O'Neal to a seven-year, $120 million contract, establishing arguably the most potent one-two punch the NBA has ever seen, even if it took some time to find its footing. In O'Neal and Bryant's first season together, O'Neal played in only 51 games but finished ninth in MVP voting as the Lakers went 56-26 during the regular season under head coach Del Harris. That season marked the franchise's most successful since 1990-91, but it ended humbly as a rookie Bryant shot four airballs in Game 4 of the Lakers' semifinals series against the Utah Jazz, who went on to win the matchup in five games. Buss remained steadfast in re-establishing championship basketball in Los Angeles. The Lakers experienced a couple more premature postseason exits before hiring Phil Jackson — then of six championships with Jordan's Chicago Bulls — as head coach before the 1999-00 season. Veteran additions of Brian Shaw, Ron Harper and A.C. Green (a former Showtime member, no less) helped round out the Lakers' roster. By the end of that 1999-2000 season, O'Neal established himself as the league's MVP, and Bryant began flourishing into an All-NBA mainstay as the Lakers won their first championship since 1988. Their 67-15 regular-season record was their best single-season mark since a 69-win campaign in 1971-72, signaling the early beginnings of a dynasty. Advertisement At season's end, though, Jackson took over the franchise's team operations and West stepped down from his front-office position. The Lakers won 11 fewer games in the 2000-01 season, but their run through the 2001 playoffs remains a standard-bearer for basketball dominance. They went 15-1 that postseason en route to consecutive championships. Their .938 win percentage remains the second-best ever for a single playoff run, surpassed only by the 2017 Golden State Warriors. Notching a third consecutive title by 2002 placed the Lakers in distinct company, as they became the first franchise since Jordan's Bulls to do so. They remain the NBA's most recent three-peat champions, which could remain the case for a while, given the league's newfound second-apron penalties. On this day 25 years ago… KOBE TO SHAQ. The iconic alley-oop from the @Lakers duo was part of a 15-point 4th quarter comeback in Game 7 of the WCF! LA would go on to win the first championship in their three-peat 🏆 — NBA History (@NBAHistory) June 4, 2025 As those championship days subsided, new challenges arose, ranging from contract disputes, fighting among players and coaches, free-agency acquisitions gone wrong and a four-peat bid that fell short in the 2004 finals against the Pistons. One of the Lakers' most glaring challenges was Bryant's sexual assault case stemming from a 2003 accusation in Eagle, Colo., where he was arrested after a complaint by a 19-year-old hotel employee. The complaint accused him of a Class 3 felony, which is the second-most serious sexual assault charge in Colorado. Bryant turned himself in to Eagle County's sheriff's office on July 4, getting released roughly an hour after posting $25,000 in bond. Before the trial, Bryant's accuser's name was erroneously leaked. Once the jury selection was complete, she decided against participating in the trial, leading to the criminal charges being dropped. Bryant apologized to his accuser and her family but denied the allegations. A civil case was settled out of court after a 20-month legal battle. Moreover, by the end of the 2003-04 season, it was evident the O'Neal and Bryant duo had run its course, leading to O'Neal being traded to the Miami Heat and Jackson stepping down as head coach before penning a tell-all book about the Lakers' chaotic campaign, deeming Bryant 'uncoachable.' The Lakers' front office disputed Jackson's interpretation. The Lakers' immediate window after O'Neal's departure was fragile. Bryant got his own team, and Jackson spent a season away from the Lakers before returning to the sidelines with Lamar Odom and Caron Butler helping bridge the gap to a new era. Advertisement Like the early 1990s, a couple of first-round playoff exits made the Lakers look in the mirror before making a move. Everyone remembers Bryant demanding a trade in the middle of a shopping plaza, which Buss was open to, but he convinced Bryant to stay. By then, Bryant was playing arguably the best basketball of his career (averaged 35.4 points and finished fourth in MVP voting in 2005-06, finished third in MVP voting in 2006-07), but the Lakers' final product remained uninspiring, an incredible feat for a team featuring a player capable of dropping 81 points or outscoring an opposing team through three quarters. On Feb. 1, 2008, the Lakers acquired All-Star big man Pau Gasol in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, bolstering a core jostling for a top-four seed in the West to an immediate championship contender. By the end of the 2007-08 season, barely a year after Bryant demanded to be dealt, he earned MVP honors for the first time in his career as the Lakers made their first finals appearance in almost half a decade, losing to those pesky Celtics yet again but re-establishing another window for contention. Over the next two seasons, Bryant put the finishing touches on his championship résumé by leading the Lakers to back-to-back titles and notching the only two NBA Finals MVP awards of his career. Jackson's return to the sidelines reignited the Lakers' championship glory, but those flames started to flicker shortly after. On May 9, 2011, just after the Lakers' three-peat bid was upended by a first-round sweep at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks, Jackson stepped down as Lakers coach, paving the way for the front office to bring in Mike Brown as the new lead voice. In the ensuing seasons, the Lakers remained ambitious with roster moves — acquiring Steve Nash and Dwight Howard, bringing in former Phoenix Suns coach Mike D'Antoni for a cup of coffee on the sidelines — but it wasn't enough to put them over the top one last time. The Lakers' path became even more uncertain on Feb. 18, 2013, when Jerry Buss passed away at the age of 80 after an 18-month battle with cancer. In the month preceding his death, the Lakers were valued at $1 billion, making them the NBA's second-most valuable team behind only the New York Knicks ($1.1 billion). Although Buss' death shook the franchise and league, he was prepared to ensure the Lakers remained in the family, equally dividing his 66 percent controlling ownership across his 11 children and deeming Jeanie the Lakers' governor at league meetings. Advertisement When Bryant finished his playing career, he did so in a style only he knew: scoring 60 points on 50 shots against the Utah Jazz and setting an NBA record for the most points by any player in their final game. He had 37 points through three periods but caught fire in the final frame, adding 23 points on 16 shots, as Utah totaled only 21, to close out his career. The moment was electric, especially after he recovered from a career-altering Achilles rupture, a rare bright spot in an otherwise dark period for the Lakers. On this day in 2016… Kobe Bryant capped off his legendary career with 60 points in his final game. #NBA75 — NBA History (@NBAHistory) April 13, 2022 For the Lakers, 'dark' is graded on a curve, but missing the playoffs in five consecutive seasons is a rough stretch for any franchise, especially one that missed the postseason only five times in its first 64 years of existence. In that time, the Lakers cut their teeth trying to bring more star power to Los Angeles until LeBron James signed in 2018. From 2013 to 2018, the Lakers ranked 28th in the NBA in win percentage (.348) but made sound use of their scouting department, which helped them stockpile promising talent via the draft. The list of intriguing prospects to don a Lakers jersey in the last 10 to 15 years is deep, headlined by Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Jordan Clarkson, Ivica Zubac and Larry Nance Jr. Although few would consider those players franchise-altering names, their developments were promising enough to help the Lakers retool their roster to not only entice James to go West, but build around him for one last window of contention under the Buss family's watch. When the Lakers acquired Anthony Davis on July 6, 2019, championship hopes were immediately restored, continuing the franchise's long-standing tradition of chasing titles. The duo of Davis and James helped re-establish the Lakers as title contenders during one of the most challenging seasons ever. On Jan. 25, 2020, James passed Bryant for third place on the NBA's all-time scoring list. The celebration was short. Bryant died in a helicopter crash hours later. The Lakers used the power of the moment to chase their 17th (and most recent) championship while in the NBA's COVID-19 bubble in Orlando, Fla. There, James became the first player in NBA history to win NBA Finals MVP with three different franchises as the Lakers re-established their title-winning ways. Davis etched his name in league lore thanks to his longstanding value as a two-way force, leading him to join James, Bryant, Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar and other legends on the NBA Top-75 list. Advertisement Davis' presence also helped them snatch another franchise-altering player off the trade market. The Lakers' blockbuster acquisition of Luka Dončić in exchange for Davis on Feb. 2, 2025, encapsulated why Buss acquired the franchise decades ago. No matter how much money one has, vision is paramount. The bright lights of Hollywood would appeal to any big-name star, but it is hard to think of a franchise in any sport that better balances entertainment, star power and results than the Lakers. And all that while the team itself, no matter its global prominence, was a relative mom-and-pop shop until this week's record-breaking, $10 billion sale to Los Angeles Dodgers majority owner Mark Walter. How will the Lakers look in the coming years? Dončić will be due a new contract soon, JJ Redick is establishing himself among the league's most promising coaches and James remains an unmatched draw even in his advanced years. The NBA's upcoming collective bargaining agreement will also have its say — its newfound financial penalties will ensure that. Walter will have to adjust to leading a basketball franchise's payroll. Repeat bids are harder with roster-construction limitations. Keeping big-name players for long is tougher because there are so many opportunities for them away from the court, broadening their career horizons. For the recent gripes about small markets and boring basketball, it's hard to argue the NBA has established an unmatched global presence. That doesn't happen without the Buss family crafting the Lakers into a premier sports franchise, one ambitious idea at a time. A no-look pass from Magic Johnson couldn't match that vision.

Yahoo

31 minutes ago

• Yahoo

As Micah Parsons contract negotiations continue, Cowboys should remember the key ingredient to their ‘instant grits' defense

When the Dallas Cowboys secondary took the field in recent years, they waited for the signal. How quickly should they expect their opponent to get the ball out? Al Harris, Dallas' defensive backs coach from 2021-24, would give them a clue. Advertisement 'I used to say, 'Instant grits,'' Harris told Yahoo Sports recently from Chicago, where he's now the Bears' defensive backs coach and defensive pass game coordinator. 'When you boil water, you just put the grits in there. So it's funny because [the defensive backs] would be like, 'Hey, how the grits?'' In other words: How effective was the Cowboys' pass rush at pressuring and hurrying the quarterback? Harris' metaphor came in handy most when edge rusher Micah Parsons was healthy. Harris, also the Cowboys' assistant coach last year, knew which play calls gave the two-time All-Pro edge rusher the green light to pressure and when his defensive backs should be ready accordingly. Injuries limited Parsons to 13 games in 2024, but Parsons nonetheless finished with the fifth-most quarterback pressures in the league. With 75 total pressures, his 5.77 per game led the league among defenders who played at least a third of the season, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Advertisement Next Gen Stats credits a defender with a quarterback pressure when the defender tallies a sack; gets within 2 yards of a quarterback at a forward pass; or within 1.5 yards of the quarterback at any point in the play. Parsons has met those criteria 335 times in four regular seasons with Dallas. He's raced to 52.5 sacks in that period. Harris learned to tee off his secondary to takeaway opportunities Parsons' pressure would create. 'It'd be like second quarter [and I'd say,] 'Hey, grits hot,'' Harris said. 'They'll give me a chance to watch Micah rush a couple of times to where I say, 'OK, he's going to beat these guys all day. And I just say, 'Hey man, grits hot, so let's get to the ball. Advertisement ''Let's get to the ball.'' The Cowboys' success in head coach Brian Schottenheimer's first season leading the team will hinge heavily on Parsons' dominance. Dallas' 2021 first-round pick is a game-wrecker. And the Cowboys are currently negotiating an extension with Parsons. Closing the deal hasn't gone as quickly as cooking instant grits. But will Dallas and Parsons find a middle ground soon? Parsons attended minicamp practices this month as he enters the final year of his contract, the fifth-year option of his rookie deal that Dallas picked up. Schottenheimer praised Parsons' attendance. 'I think it just shows you he's serious about what we've talked about, which is developing that leadership mentality, the mindset to be a guy that we can count on —and not just the fourth quarter when he's got to make a big sack or get pressure on the quarterback, but just in general throughout the course of a week,' Schottenheimer told reporters. 'He's doing the things he's supposed to do in terms of he's training, he's prepping, he's been in, he's been out. Advertisement 'Nobody's more excited than Micah about what we're building here.' Quarterback Dak Prescott said the locker room is 'very confident that Micah's going to get this deal done,' with Prescott understanding the business considerations after negotiating two extensions with the Cowboys himself. Will Dallas close the deal before the Cowboys' charter is scheduled to arrive in Oxnard, Calif. on July 20 for training camp? 'I'm pretty hopeful,' Parsons said of that timeline. 'I'm still hanging tight. I understand it's up to [Jerry Jones] and he gives the green light on everything. So hopefully something's done by next month.' Advertisement Until then, Parsons said he'll continue to learn the Cowboys' new defensive system under coordinator Matt Eberflus, as Parsons gives pointers to teammates while at the facility and training with cornerback Trevon Diggs while away from it. 'The simple things,' he said of his guidance. 'It's not always the major things that make football great. It's always the small details, the footwork, the positioning, the angles. 'We'll watch film together and I can tell guys what I see from a vetted experience.' Parsons plans to attend training camp with or without a deal, he said, already reserving a house for his family in California during the Cowboys' nearly four weeks there. Would he practice without a deal? 'We'll see,' Parsons said. 'Time will tell.'

Yahoo

34 minutes ago

• Yahoo

🎥 Lifelong loyalty? This Chelsea fan couldn't care less

Staying forever loyal to the once chosen favorite team is considered a matter of honor for many fans. In the USA, the clocks seem to tick a little differently. A Chelsea supporter wanted to have nothing more to do with the Blues before their game against Flamengo at the Club World Cup. But it's also an irresistible persuasion work that the media team from Flamengo is doing. Advertisement "I don't know.." "Come on, you know which is the bigger team!" "Yeah okay" And just like that, the jersey is switched. The USA, the land of unlimited possibilities. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here. 📸 GLYN KIRK