#defensive-struggles

#defensive-struggles

Philly had a three-goal lead early in the second and a 4-2 lead after two, which are impressive but not impossible leads to blow. It's how Philly blew it that stands out. Barrett Hayton converted on a power play to make it a one-goal game, and that's how it stayed until the closing minutes, when the Mammoth pulled their goalie and Hathaway found himself on the dreaded 1-on-0.

Starting with the hosts, while Michael Carrick might have officially made his temporary return to Old Trafford on Tuesday, the former Middlesbrough boss has a major job on his hands in an attempt to steady the ship at Old Trafford. Ending Ruben Amorim's 14-month reign at the helm earlier in the month following a 1-1 stalemate against historic foes Leeds, the Red Devils have once again shown a string of glaring inconsistencies.

If it feels as if Golden State plays Portland every few weeks, there is a reason for that. Counting the preseason, Golden State will be facing the Trail Blazers for the eighth time in the past 12 months. when the teams square off in a game with a rare 8 p.m. start time. Though they have played three times already this regular season, figuring out how to beat the Blazers is something Golden State has yet to do.

Nobody was expecting too much from the Washington Commanders during their Christmas Day clash against the Dallas Cowboys. But it was yet another inept defensive display that left far more questions than answers. And it was another glaring indication that general manager Adam Peters' massive $45 million gamble this offseason is not going to yield the desired results. With Pro Bowl defensive lineman Daron Payne missing the game due to injury, the Commanders needed Javon Kinlaw to step up more than ever.

It's not just that Romanov has underachieved; it's that he looks completely out of sorts. His reads have been off, his gaps have been inconsistent, and the confidence he displayed last season seems to have evaporated. Advanced analytics paint an even harsher picture, placing him among the worst defensemen in the league in several key metrics, including expected goals against, high-danger chances allowed, and defensive-zone turnovers.

Claxton, the longest-tenured Net, continues to search for consistency as a rim protector, just as the team as a whole has struggled to find its defensive identity. He's yet to record a block entering Wednesday's matchup against the Atlanta Hawks, and Brooklyn has been bullied inside, allowing 55.5 points in the paint per game. That's tied with the Memphis Grizzlies for 25th in the NBA.

It's hard to believe that the Dallas Cowboys are still in second place after getting trampled by the Broncos. But Washington stayed below .500 themselves with a loss to the Chiefs. They expect QB Jayden Daniels back this week, which will be huge, but even he's only gone 2-3 so far this year. They're no exception to the NFC East's awful defensive performances this season; all of Washington, Dallas, and the New York Giants are ranked 27th or lower in total defense right now.

He sparked a third-quarter comeback that saw the teams tied at 94 after 36 minutes. Then he took over the fourth quarter, tying the game with a little over a minute left with a 3-pointer he punctuated by shimmying in front of a crazed Chase Center crowd, and then again with 21 seconds remaining on a deep triple from the logo to tie things at 120.

Enough is enough. Coach Mike McDaniel can't last much longer. This was an eye-opening showing by the Dolphins, and take that in the worst way possible. Players seem to have stopped listening to McDaniel based on the sloppiness they showed in getting blown out, committing penalties and senseless errors, and just not looking good. The end has got to be near.