But nothing is quite so over-the-top as the pre-playoff hand-wringing going on in Lakerville because Los Angeles, you might remember, a) won the N.B.A. championship last season and b) still employs Kobe Bryant.
"The doctors told me, 'You'll play as long as the knee lets you play.' If we were still in it, then you don't throw away a season for the following season when you have playoffs in hand".
Kim missed an eight-foot par putt in the playoff that handed the win to the American.
After a bullpen collapse dropped the Mets out of the playoffs, they handed a $37 million deal to closer Francisco Rodríguez to bulwark new Citi Field before learning that Fred Wilpon, their principal owner, had substantial financial losses through investments with Bernard L. Madoff, who is accused of contriving a $50 billion Ponzi scheme.
As we mentioned last year, the Guardian prefers to wait until the end of the playoffs before handing out our NBA awards.
Suns 112, Clippers 88: With three forwards scoring in double figures, host Phoenix edged closer to clinching home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs by handing the Los Angeles Clippers their 15th consecutive defeat.
Augusta State won its first N.C.A.A. Division I men's golf national championship after Oklahoma State's Kevin Tway missed a 3-foot putt on a playoff hole to hand Mitch Krywulycz the match and the Jaguars a 3-1-1 viChattanoogaaTenn.ncaagolfn.ncAPgolf (AP).
The Buccaneers (10-5) clinched a playoff spot and handed the National Football Conference West title to the New Orleans Saints.
The Flames secured their playoff berth by handing a loss to 2014 Stanley Cup champions, the Los Angeles Kings, ensuring there would be a new Cup winner in 2015.
Ending a four-game losing streak, the Broncos (3-6) kept alive their thin hopes of getting back into the playoff race by handing the Chiefs (5-4) their second straight loss.
The players, along with head coach Doc Rivers, briefly discussed the possibility of boycotting the game entirely, a move which would have meant forfeiting a playoff game and handing a series-tying win to the Warriors.
