The Ravens know they will be keeping at least two quarterbacks on their 53-man roster come cutdown day
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Griffin signed as a free agent this offseason before the Ravens drafted Jackson with the final pick of the first round. He’s played in all three preseason games and has completed 18-of-26 passes for 177 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said on Thursday that the call on Griffin will “go right to the wire” and expressed his opinion that “the best quarterback thing to do would be to keep” the veteran on the roster. Harbaugh acknowledged that needs at other positions may lead to General Manager Ozzie Newsome making a different call, however.
“He has played at a starting-caliber level in the games that he’s played, and he’s an experienced guy,” Harbaugh said, via ESPN.com. “I’d rather have him than not have him, for sure, but there are other factors that go into that and we’ll have to figure all that out. Ozzie ultimately will have to make that decision.”
The Ravens have not kept three quarterbacks on their opening regular season roster since the 2009 season.
The last time Carmelo Anthony was in the playoffs, he was with the New York Knicks facing rising star Paul George and the Indiana Pacers back in 2013.
Now, Anthony and George are teammates with the Oklahoma City Thunder. They join Russell Westbrook in a quest for their first NBA title
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Because it’s been so long, Anthony appreciates the opportunity to play in the postseason. He came to Oklahoma City in a trade before training camp expecting to compete for an NBA title.
”It’s important,” he said. ”I’m here now, so ain’t no looking back. I’m here. It’s important, it’s exciting. At the same time, I’m not here just to say I made it back to the playoffs. I’m here to make a statement as a team and prove why we put this team together. This is the place where I belong, we belong, and we have an opportunity to start something good on Sunday.”
Westbrook became the first player to average a triple-double in multiple seasons. He averaged a triple-double last season, too, but the Thunder won just one playoff game.
That’s where Anthony and George
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While Anthony and George brought high expectations to the Thunder, no one expected much from Utah this season. The Jazz lost star player Gordon Hayward to the Celtics in free agency. Utah got off to a rough start but closed by winning 29 of their final 35 games to claim the No. 5 seed.
”We’re confident,” Utah center Rudy Gobert said. ”It’s good to be back healthy as a team and it’s like a new season started. You don’t want to forget the great season that we had, but it’s a new one starting.”
Here are some things to watch when the Thunder face the Jazz:
GOBERT vs. STEVEN ADAMS
This is a matchup of two of the league’s best centers.
Gobert, at 7-foot-1 and 245 pounds
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Oklahoma City’s Adams, at 7-foot and 255 pounds, is a contender for most improved player. His strength is rare and his mobility makes him one of the league’s best interior defenders. He averaged 13.9 points and 9.0 rebounds per game while shooting 63 percent from the field this season. At times, he has been a go-to player for Oklahoma City’s offense when he has taken advantage of the space his teammates create. He’s among the league’s best offensive rebounders and screeners.
DONOVAN MITCHELL
The Jazz rookie averaged 20.5 points per game and set the league’s rookie record for made 3-pointers with 187. He is a top contender for rookie of the year, along with Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons. In three games against the Thunder this season, he averaged 20.7 points on 53 percent shooting.
THUNDER GUARDS
Corey Brewer sprained his right knee during Oklahoma City’s regular-season finale against Memphis. He did light work Friday and didn’t practice. Another Thunder shooting guard, Alex Abrines, is in concussion protocol. He was injured during a win over the Miami Heat on Monday and didn’t play against Memphis on Wednesday. Rookie Terrance Ferguson
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JERAMI GRANT
The Thunder reserve forward could be a key player. In April, he has averaged 11.6 points on 77 percent shooting in about 19 minutes per game. He has become more assertive on offense this month, averaging 5.4 free throw attempts per game. He’s a dynamic dunker who has improved as a shooter at the free throw and 3-point lines. Oklahoma City’s bench struggled in the playoffs last season against Houston, so Grant’s production will bear watching.
RUBIO’S OFFENSE
Utah point guard Ricky Rubio quietly had perhaps the best season of his career and no longer is a liability as a shooter. He has career highs of 13.1 points per game, 42 percent shooting from the field and 35 percent shooting from 3-point range while remaining a strong passer and defender.
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