Home Archives for June 2024
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After Western Conference Dominated for Years, Kevin Garnett Makes Case for East’s Return


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For a long time, especially in the last decade, the power distribution between the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference has been lopsided. While big market teams in the West like, the Lakers, Houston, and Golden State keep attracting free agent signings, the East has mostly restricted itself to homegrown talents carrying teams to the occasional Championship. But now, with the Celtics winning the 2024 Championship and the Knicks putting up a historic performance in this post-season, Kevin Garnett thinks the East is back in the competition.

However, Paul Pierce disagrees.

During a recent appearance on their Podcast ‘Ticket & The Truth,’ Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce touched on the East-West power dynamics in the NBA, even answering the pressing question of the Eastern Conference’s current relevancy. “Is the Eastern Conference back, P?…Hell yeah,” KG said,

But Pierce disagreed with the sentiment, adding that,

“All the star power is still in the West. Star Power. You still got LeBron, Curry, K.D. Then you look at, you got Ja, Zion, Luka, Ant-Man…Joker. Then you got the young stars in Sacramento. Then you got these young stars in Houston coming up…the star power is still in the West.”

 

 

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Garnett didn’t seem to enjoy his running mate’s answer as the former Celtics forward brought up Jalen Brunson’s magnificent run last year. Paul Pierce, on the other hand, didn’t think Brunson had achieved superstar status yet.

To further his point, The Truth pointed out how leaving the Celtics there are no other teams in the East that can contend for a championship. On the flipside, the Western Conference has over 5 teams that could push for a championship run, a testament to just how stacked and competitive the West is.

Not only that but Pierce also correctly highlighted how last season, the 5th-seeded Dallas Mavericks beat out the entire Conference to make the Finals, a situation no one saw coming as the Mavericks didn’t even make the post-season a year prior.

In other words, it’s hard to predict if the power dynamics between the East and the West will balance itself out. But the Celtics’ run in the East playoffs last year show that the competition is still lacking. However, the return of a healthy Milwaukee Bucks squad could somewhat balance the scales between the two Conferences.

The post After Western Conference Dominated for Years, Kevin Garnett Makes Case for East’s Return appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Jos Verstappen Suspects Threat to Life Amid Fight With Christian Horner


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The Jos Verstappen-Christian Horner tussle continues to unfold new subplots in Austria. Verstappen Sr. pulled out of the Legends Parade on Friday, wherein he was going to drive the Red Bull RB8 around the Spielberg track. This was reportedly due to Horner inquiring about the Dutchman’s inclusion. Jos Verstappen was quite candid about the entire situation, expressing his discontent against Horner. Now, there is a revelation from him about a possible threat to his life as well in this saga.

According to F1 Maximaal, the former Benetton driver stated in a conversation with Viaplay, “What I heard is that he did everything to stop it and that I had to watch out if that thing also had to brake”.

Verstappen Sr. citing how Horner could have possibly induced a braking malfunction in the RB8 car he was going to drive is quite a serious accusation. The Dutchman added how it is quite a “serious” threat to hear.

He said, “I think this is very punishing. Then you can’t say: how should I deal with that when you hear this? This doesn’t work in his favor.”

Verstappen labeled Horner‘s stance against him driving the RB8 as “childish”. It was quite surprising for Verstappen to become aware of the same indirectly as he called out the Red Bull boss for not being upfront with him.

How Jos Verstappen pulled out of the Legends Run in Austria

Jos Verstappen was going to drive the 2012 Red Bull car upon the Austrian parent company’s insistence. Besides the 50-year-old, there were other legendary F1 veterans like David Coulthard, Gerhard Berger, Emerson Fittipaldi, and Johnny Herbert.

However, many reports, including Planet F1’s Thomas Maher, highlighted how Horner only inquired about Verstappen Sr’s drive. While the further details of this closed-door conversation are unknown, the reports suggest that the British boss asking about the same was enough to indicate his stance to Red Bull.

Now, Red Bull themselves did not ask Jos to pull out of the Legends Parade. The former Benetton driver heard from multiple sources about this alleged objection from Horner and made the call to withdraw himself.

The post Jos Verstappen Suspects Threat to Life Amid Fight With Christian Horner appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Kansas City Chiefs Punter Matt Araiza Goes Viral For Showing Why He’s Named “Punt God”


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Kansas City Chiefs punter Matt Araiza made headlines for all the wrong reasons last year. But with that part of his life behind him seemingly, the 24-year-old has started to go viral for what he joined the nfl for; punting.

He was even named, ‘Punt God’ by his fans in college, a name that has stuck with him to the NFL. All that is left is for him to take the pitch in a real game and show it.  The former San Diego State player did not get a chance to prove himself after being drafted and cut by the Bills before he could take the pitch.

Nevertheless, he is geared up to take the field with the Kansas City Chiefs and his latest video shows him punting the ball for almost the length of the football field, with great hang time. Here’s the video of Araiza punting a long one with ease:

Bills also received criticism for cutting him, but it was too late by then and the Chiefs picked him up at the right time. Bills fans were even discussing ways to get him back, but alas the boat had sailed away.  With expectations to make a run for a three-peat, and with the change in kickoff rules, this seems to be a massive addition to Chiefs’ special teams, and big blow for the Bills.

He did record an 82 yard terrific punt for the Bills before being cut:

Fans were thoroughly impressed by his ability to punt the ball so high you barely see it with a single camera. Only the amazing coverage of the NFL cameras can capture his insanely high punts.

NFL World Reacts to Matt Araiza’s Unreal Looking Punts

After the turmoil he faced in personal life, he was well received by the NFL fans. They believe he was falsely accused and thus to see him get back to the field is a welcome change. But those who already hate the Chiefs for their dominant run, did not like how loaded they are even in special teams. Here are the best reactions:

Some fans were waiting for these videos to come out:

While others reminded him that he might have really tough competition at the pro level:

So clearly he has to show what he’s made of in the gridiron and maybe then he can earn his name at the Pro level. But at this time, his practice videos are enough to hype up Chiefs nation. And with the start of the season still a good three months away, fans will have to make do with just that.

The post Kansas City Chiefs Punter Matt Araiza Goes Viral For Showing Why He’s Named “Punt God” appeared first on The SportsRush.



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“Low Risk, High Reward”: CJ McCollum Assesses Bronny Being Drafted by the Lakers as the 55th Pick


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During the 2024 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers made a huge splash as they drafted Bronny James as the 55th pick in the second round. Since LeBron James’ son had an underwhelming NCAA season with the USC Trojans, there has been much outcry about Bronny’s entry into the NBA, especially after he was selected by the same team his superstar father plays for. However, CJ McCollum doesn’t believe that this move by the Lakers should generate such uproar.

For him, the Lakers’ selection in the late second round makes a ton of sense. As per McCollum, since Bronny got drafted so late, he’d not be expected to contribute straight away. Therefore, the Lakers’ coaching staff will have the time to craft a viable long-term development program for the 19-year-old.

Additionally, the youngster will also have to showcase tremendous dedication to hone his play. Considering Bronny will be able to avail the mentorship of one of the greatest to ever do it in his father, the task of molding him into a strong option can become much easier.

On Get Up, CJ McCollum said recently, “Bronny is doing things the right way, it is a low-risk, high-reward pick. He’s the 55th pick in the draft, he is not supposed to come in and contribute right away. The real work starts now, he has to work on his craft”

However, the Pelicans star did stress on the fact that Bronny needs to be dedicated to turn himself into a viable option for the LA side. “The developmental plan that the Lakers have in place will be crucial for him and who better to learn from than arguably the greatest player of all time,” he added.

Therefore, it will take work from both Bronny James and the LA Lakers to extract the best out of the current situation. Considering that LBJ’s friend JJ Redick is the Head coach of the squad, the planning around the 19-year-old guard has already taken firm roots.

Will JJ Redick’s coaching staff be able to develop Bronny?

After the Lakers drafted Bronny James, Spectrum SportsNet’s Lakers analyst Mike Bresnahan interviewed their General Manager Rob Pelinka to discuss the future plans around him. Pelinka revealed that Lakers HC Redick’s staff has already started to make moves to help the former USC guard develop into a future two-way force.

Pelinka told Bresnahan, “JJ Redick and his staff are already putting a plan together for Bronny and how they want to develop him into an elite two-way player.”

However, not only Bronny, but the whole Lakers franchise will be under intense scrutiny from the jump. At the same time, many NBA fans are relishing the prospect of watching a father-son duo on the NBA hardwood for the first time. 

The post “Low Risk, High Reward”: CJ McCollum Assesses Bronny Being Drafted by the Lakers as the 55th Pick appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Exploring the DJI Mini 3 Pro: Features, Upgrades, and Performance


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 Synopsis: The DJI Miniseries is well-liked among drone enthusiasts.

An overview of the DJI Mini 3 Pro's market position is given.

 

1. The DJI Mini Series' Development




The creation of the Mini 3 Pro was influenced by user input and advancements made from the original Mini to the Mini 2.


 

2. Essential Element of the DJI Mini 3 Pro

An overview of the quality of the build and design.



have all been enhanced in cameras.
Improvements to flight performance: battery life, range, and obstacle avoidance technology.
Updates to the controller and enhanced usability.

 

3. Evaluation Against Earlier Models

A thorough analysis comparing the DJI Mini 2: what's new and what's
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Wizards’ Rookie Alex Sarr Boldly Picks Himself to Win a 1v1 Battle vs Victor Wembanyama


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In recent years, European prospects have taken over NBA drafts. After last year’s first-overall pick Victor Wembanyama, this year’s #1 pick Zaccharie Risacher and #2 pick Alex Sarr also happen to be Frenchmen. The Wizards rookie doesn’t seem to be interested in celebrating his country’s growing presence in the NBA, instead, choosing to draw comparisons between Wemby and himself.

Before Sarr’s name was called 2nd overall, he sat down with Instagram personality and sports journalist, Sloane Weinstein, for a pre-draft rapid-fire interview.

When asked who would win a hypothetical 1v1 between him and his fellow French National teammate, Sarr first chose to go with an 11-11 tie game between himself and Wembanyama. However, later, he changed it to an 11-10 scoreline, giving himself the advantage in the matchup.

While it’s clear that Wembanyama, due to his height and larger frame, would most probably dominate Sarr, the outcome of the matchup wouldn’t be as close as one would think. Both players play the 4th or 5th spot on their respective teams, and when comparing skill levels, both demonstrate maturity in their game.

The 19-year-old is stronger and more Athletic than his French counterpart, while Wemby makes up for his lack of post strength by exploiting his length and quickness around the rim.

But this wasn’t the first time Sarr had thrown slight shade at Wemby. During the same interview, the NBL star left out Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert from his All-time French basketball player list. Answering a question on the same lines, Sarr had both himself and his older brother, Olivier, on the list, alongside San Antonio Spurs legend Tony Parker.

Netizens were clearly enraged with Sarr’s hot take as many people found the addition of himself and his brother to the list downright disrespectful to French legends like Boris Diaw and Nicolas Batum.

Moving forward, Sarr will have a lot to prove as his bold claims will surely attract a lot of attention from the likes of Wembanyama and Gobert, as the two centers are sure to match up against the Washington big-man in the upcoming season.

The post Wizards’ Rookie Alex Sarr Boldly Picks Himself to Win a 1v1 Battle vs Victor Wembanyama appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Rachel Nichols Digs Up Her Month-Old Prediction Declaring Mikal Bridges a Perfect Fit For Knicks


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Unexpectedly, the NY Knicks had an awesome post-season run in the 2023-24 season. In order to get over the last obstacle, possible trade options were drawn up before the off-season even began. Among others, Rachel Nichols believed that the Knicks were only a piece away, even suggesting Mikal Bridges as a possible trade that could help take them over the hump.

While on Colin Cowherd’s The Herd, last month, the analyst and her co-host explored various trade scenarios for the Knicks. Considering his Villanova connection with the rest of the squad, she pondered on the idea of Bridges reuniting with his college trio,

“Who they bring in is going to be so important. And I do think they need to bring someone else in, and I do think they will bring someone else in….Mikal Bridges, on the other hand, talks about culture. He is a Villanova guy. I mean those guys love each other. They play for each other, it gives them that feel of a college team.”

Nichols’ take seemed to be on point, as yesterday, the Knicks and the Nets finalized a trade for Bridges. The former ESPN analyst even pointed out the accuracy of her take after the news dropped. Taking to X, Nichols wrote,

“Taking Mikal Bridges to the Knicks a month ago [on the Herd]”

The NY side will be sending Brooklyn a package that includes Bojan Bogdanović, four unprotected first-round picks, a 2025 protected first-rounder that belongs to the Milwaukee Bucks, a 2028 first-round pick swap, and a 2026 second-round pick, according to Shams Charania.

The Knicks front office and President Leon Rose seem to have been building up to this, for some time now. The team first acquired Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart, and to finish it off, now Bridges. The recent trade will also guarantee that Brunson stays put in New York for a while. Moreover, it’s him and his 2018 Villanova squad, all over again.

The Villanova quartet is back!

One by one, the New York Knicks seem to be putting together the 2018 NCAA Championship-winning roster of the Villanova Wildcats. They already have four starters from that roster, who seem to be getting along just fine.

A few weeks ago, when Bridges still represented the Nets, his current teammate, Josh Hart, proposed a possible rescue mission for his Villanova teammate.

The entire situation began when Bridges hilariously commented on a post asking if anyone wanted to come to the Nets. Responding to the Nets forward, Josh enquired if Brooklyn was keeping him hostage, even asking him to blink twice if it was true.

In the end, the hilarious back and forth actually came to life, as Bridges was traded to the Knicks just two weeks later. Hart even welcomed the move via a hilarious post on X. Moving forward, it will be interesting to see if the trio can mesh well with their old teammate, as the Knicks put up their version of a death line-up for the incumbent NBA season.

The post Rachel Nichols Digs Up Her Month-Old Prediction Declaring Mikal Bridges a Perfect Fit For Knicks appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Swifties Get Blamed for Leaking Travis Kelce’s Clip of Fawning Over Taylor Swift


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Swifties have time, and time again proved that their passion and love for Taylor Swift knows no bounds. The latest example of the Swifties’ undying love for the pop star was seen when they leaked a clip from Travis Kelce’s latest podcast appearance on ‘Bussin with the Boys’.

In the wee hours of last night, a Taylor Swift fan account posted a 10-minute snippet from Kelce’s recent podcast appearance. The video instantly went viral as it captured the NFL star opening up about his first inklings of falling for Taylor Swift.

Travis, in the clip, was also seen reminiscing about the Bad Blood hitmaker’s first appearance at Arrowhead and how she won him over with a small, albeit massively impactful gesture. The Chiefs TE recalled that Taylor chose to watch her first-ever Chiefs game with his family and friends instead of opting for a separate viewing suite, which instantly struck a chord with him. He basically knew right then and there that she was the one.

“The first game she came to with the Bears [in September 2023], I was like I can set you up with everything and she just walked in. She was like, ‘I just want to be around the family and friends and experience this with everybody.’ And I was like she got points for that. I was like, damn, she’s in the madness and wants to support me. She really won me over with that one.”

The leaked clip was bound to go viral, thanks to the Swifties. However, while Travis’ earnestness was delightful for the fanbase, host Will Compton was clearly not happy with the clip airing on social media prematurely. He was left shocked when he saw the clip on “X” and revealed that the leak occurred because the Swifties infiltrated his cyber security system.

“Absolutely no clue how this got leaked… We are working to get the episode up shortly but the Swifties have infiltrated our cyber security system,” he wrote in a tweet.

While the user who posted the clip defended herself by revealing that the video was already available on YouTube, Compton was clear in his stance. However, as hours passed, the leak became a blessing in disguise for the Will Compton and Taylor Lewan-hosted podcast.

Will Compton Comes Full Circle on Swifties

For many marketing enthusiasts, a leaked clip has taken the place of a traditional trailer or a teaser. A similar effect was seen here for ‘Bussin’ with the Boys’. The 10-minute snippet was so powerful and heartwarming for the Swifties that they clamored for more. And where will they find more of it? On the official YouTube channel of the podcast.

What turned out to be a disgruntled morning for Compton soon became an unintentional marketing masterstroke. The podcast episode, upon its release, received immense traction. This eventually led to the former NFL linebacker biting his former words as he took to “X” to shower love on the Swifties.

“Dude I love the Swifties… Whatever y’all need I’ll do it,” posted Compton on “X”.

He then went on to reveal that the insane traction has gotten him to contemplate becoming a Swiftie himself. “I might have to become a Swiftie with the support this podcast episode with Travis is getting,” said the former NFL player.

Truly a crazy day for Compton. From blaming the Swifties for a cyber security breach to seeing his podcast skyrocketing due to the leak to contemplating joining the cyber security leakers — life did come full circle for the former NFL player today.

The post Swifties Get Blamed for Leaking Travis Kelce’s Clip of Fawning Over Taylor Swift appeared first on The SportsRush.



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“I Ain’t Messing With It”: CJ Stroud Openly Names the One Country That Intimidates Him to the Core


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Despite playing just one season in the NFL, CJ Stroud has quickly established himself as the face of the Houston Texans. Whether it is his incredible debut season and on-field contributions or his macho-man-esque personality, it’s hard to imagine Stroud backing down from a challenge. However, we recently realized that he is human after all, thanks to his admission of being scared to visit Australia due to the wildlife fauna inhibiting the Great Southern Land.

Yesterday saw a representative from the NFL’s social media accounts of Australia and New Zealand [@nflaunz] region quip CJ Stroud for a funny social media byte. The representative asked Stroud if he feared kangaroos.

While for many, the hopping pocket rockets are a bundle of joy, Stroud revealed that he is not a fan of the animal, especially after watching a viral video where it committed a heinous act. Or at least, in Stroud’s opinion.

In the video, Stroud described seeing a kangaroo act like he was drowning. The moment a man went to save the animal, it immediately choked and punched him. This visual has remained with CJ, and it is also the reason why he is not such a big fan of the animal.

The representative, upon hearing Stroud’s description, showed the QB another viral video from Down Under, which captured a kangaroo in a lake choking a dog. The video, however, turns out to be a jumpscare for an eight-legged spider — another popular wildlife indigenous to Australia.

This video was the final nail in the straw for CJ, as he quickly announced that he would never go to Australia, although he loves the people there. Snakes, spiders, and kangaroos are too scary for Stroud’s liking, and the QB revealed he doesn’t want to be “messing with” any of the three.

“I love Australia. I love the people. I would never go. Y’all got it. Snakes, spiders, kangaroos. I don’t know what else, but I ain’t messing with it, you know,” he said.

 

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Upon hearing Stroud’s funny announcement, the representative offered to look after the QB. Stroud, however, wanted none of it. “Nobody ain’t looking after me. Every man for himself. I’m gone,” said the QB.

That being said, while Australia is a no-fly zone for the Houston Texans QB, Morocco certainly isn’t one.

CJ Stroud Spotted Vacationing in Morocco With Justin Fields

While the offseason for NFL athletes generally means OTAs, minicamps, and team-building activities, Texans star CJ Stroud and Steelers QB Justin Fields found a small window of free time to fly to Africa for a brief vacation. Veteran NFL analyst Dov Kleiman yesterday took to “X” to share a photo of the former Ohio State teammates chilling in the deserts of Morocco.

It’s heartening to see the duo still being best of friends despite competing against each other for pretty much the entirety of their careers. While at Ohio State, Stroud was always the understudy to Fields, working hard to usurp the latter’s starting position, things are fundamentally the same in their NFL stint, albeit they are plying their trade for two rival teams.

With both Stroud and Fields entering the season with immense expectation and responsibility from fans, their getaway to Morocco was much needed before getting entrenched in the ruthlessly hectic NFL life.

The post “I Ain’t Messing With It”: CJ Stroud Openly Names the One Country That Intimidates Him to the Core appeared first on The SportsRush.



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25% Off DJI Mini 3 Pro in Pakistan Best Offer


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 DJI Mini 3 Pro: Redefining Compact Drone Excellence

Introduction
In the realm of consumer drones, DJI has established itself as a pioneer, consistently pushing boundaries with each new iteration. The DJI Mini series, known for its compact size and powerful features, has captured the imagination of drone enthusiasts and professionals alike. With the release of the DJI Mini 3 Pro, the company continues its tradition of innovation, combining advanced technology with user-friendly design to deliver a drone that promises to set new standards in the industry.

Evolution of the DJI Mini Series
The DJI Mini series began with the introduction of the original Mini, which quickly gained popularity for its lightweight design and ease of use. Its successor, the Mini 2, improved upon its predecessor with enhanced camera capabilities and increased flight performance. Now, with the DJI Mini 3 Pro, DJI aims to elevate the series to new heights, catering to both casual users and seasoned professionals who demand more from their aerial photography and videography equipment.

Design and Build Quality
One of the standout features of the DJI Mini 3 Pro is its design. DJI has managed to maintain the compact form factor that the Mini series is known for while incorporating several upgrades. The drone features a sleek, aerodynamic design that not only enhances its aesthetic appeal but also improves its overall flight performance. The build quality is exceptional, with high-quality materials used throughout to ensure durability and reliability in various environmental conditions.

Key Features
1. Camera and Imaging
The camera on the DJI Mini 3 Pro represents a significant upgrade over its predecessors. It boasts a high-resolution sensor capable of capturing stunning 4K video at 60 frames per second (fps), ensuring sharp details and vibrant colors in every shot. The improved dynamic range and low-light performance make it suitable for a wide range of shooting scenarios, from daytime landscapes to nighttime cityscapes.

2. Flight Performance
Equipped with enhanced motors and propellers, the DJI Mini 3 Pro offers superior flight performance compared to its predecessors. It can reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour (mph) and has a maximum flight time of 40 minutes on a single charge, allowing users to cover more ground and capture more footage without needing frequent battery changes.

3. Intelligent Flight Modes
DJI has integrated several intelligent flight modes into the Mini 3 Pro, making it easier than ever for users to capture professional-quality shots. These include ActiveTrack, which allows the drone to automatically follow a subject while avoiding obstacles, and QuickShots, which enable the drone to perform pre-programmed aerial maneuvers such as Dronie and Circle to create cinematic effects.

4. Remote Controller and Connectivity
The DJI Mini 3 Pro comes with an updated remote controller that features a built-in display for real-time flight telemetry and camera feedback. It supports both 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz frequencies for improved connectivity and transmission range, ensuring stable communication between the drone and the controller even in crowded environments.

User Experience and Accessibility
Despite its advanced features, DJI has prioritized user experience and accessibility with the Mini 3 Pro. The drone is easy to set up and fly, thanks to DJI's intuitive Fly app, which provides step-by-step guidance and a wealth of tutorials for beginners. Advanced users will appreciate the customization options available through the app, allowing them to fine-tune settings such as camera exposure and flight modes to suit their specific needs.

Pricing and Market Position
With its combination of advanced features and competitive pricing, the DJI Mini 3 Pro is poised to attract a wide range of consumers, from hobbyists looking to explore aerial photography to professionals seeking a reliable tool for their work. While it may be priced higher than entry-level drones, its feature set justifies the investment for those who prioritize performance and quality.

Conclusion
The DJI Mini 3 Pro represents the pinnacle of compact drone technology, offering a blend of innovation, performance, and usability that sets it apart from its competitors. Whether you're a novice drone enthusiast or a seasoned professional, the Mini 3 Pro promises to elevate your aerial photography and videography experience to new heights. With its advanced camera capabilities, improved flight performance, and intuitive user interface, it's clear that DJI has once again raised the bar for what a compact drone can achieve.

As the drone industry continues to evolve, DJI remains at the forefront, setting trends and pushing boundaries with each new release. The DJI Mini 3 Pro is not just a drone; it's a testament to DJI's commitment to innovation and excellence in aerial technology.

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F1 Expert Highlights McLaren’s Flaw That Prevented Lando Norris From Gaining Advantage on Max Verstappen


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Lando Norris was in the best position to double his wins tally, starting from pole at the Spanish GP. However, the Briton had a bad race start and dropped down to third, which resulted in him chasing back the race leader Max Verstappen throughout the rest of the Grand Prix. Sky Sports F1 presenter, Craig Slater has explained what prevented Norris from coming back at the Dutchman right away in the opening laps.

Speaking in a YouTube video by Sky Sports News, Slater highlighted, “There is a bit of a question mark on why couldn’t Norris have done what Verstappen did at the start of that race in terms of getting past George Russell quickly. There is a reason for that.”

“Norris’ car is more effective at the end of stints. Max’s car at the beginning when he has just fitted a set of new tires. So Norris was always going to play the longer game”, he added.

Norris had a good start in the initial moments of the race and he defended well from Verstappen to protect his lead. However, George Russell got a mega slipstream from behind to go for a bold overtake around the outside of both Verstappen and Norris.

Now, the Dutchman overtook the Mercedes in the subsequent laps, but Norris couldn’t despite being in the fastest car on the track. Thus, the McLaren driver had to resort to a modified strategy to outpace the Red Bull car in the lead.

While Norris was chasing down and cutting back at Verstappen’s lead well, he fell short by 2.2 seconds to take the win. He blamed himself for not maximizing the pace of the MCL38, despite the inherent trait of his car being faster at the end of stints.

Max Verstappen has a hard-fought battle ahead to claim his fourth title

Craig Slater highlighted how Lando Norris has a realistic chance of fighting Max Verstappen for the championship this year. While Verstappen won the Spanish GP and maintained his comfortable advantage in the championship standings, he is not out of the woods yet.

Norris is 69 points behind the three-time champion in P2 and now perhaps has the fastest car with McLaren developing better than Red Bull. It was evident in Barcelona as Slater cited how winning the Spanish GP was a hard-fought battle for Verstappen.

Thus, with 14 races to go, the Dutchman being under pressure from Norris and Co. is a major shift in the pecking order in 2024. Slater thinks Norris could have easily won three of the last five races [Imola, Canada, Spain] if he had perfectly executed all aspects of the race.

As a result, if going into Austria and Silverstone, if the Briton can convert this run of second-place finishes into wins, the 69-point advantage of Verstappen won’t take long to swing in Norris’ favor.

The post F1 Expert Highlights McLaren’s Flaw That Prevented Lando Norris From Gaining Advantage on Max Verstappen appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Stephen. A Smith Apologizes to Paul George Over Kawhi Leonard Remarks During the NBA Finals


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Stephen A. Smith has been a major critic of Kawhi Leonard for the past few years. He has questioned Leonard’s commitment to the NBA as the 2x Finals MVP has missed a ton of games during his Los Angeles Clippers tenure. In an awkward moment during the NBA Finals, the ESPN analyst joked about Leonard’s persistent unavailability while Paul George was sitting beside him on live television.

George laughed awkwardly while the incident transpired on NBA Countdown and mildly protested the jibe. However, later on, the 34-year-old revealed in his podcast that he wished that Stephen A. Smith refrained from making such negative comments about his long-term teammate.

PG also clarified that The Klaw wants to play every game but his injuries have forced him to be sidelined. Therefore, the veteran analyst should have shown sensitivity towards his mate, who isn’t sitting out because he wants to.

On his The Stephen A. Smith Show, Smith recently played the clip where George conveyed his displeasure about the ridiculing comments towards his teammate and then addressed them. He apologized to PG for putting him in an uncomfortable situation.

The 56-year-old admitted that in hindsight, he made a mistake and had forgotten about the friendly relationship between the teammates. Stephen A. said,

“Paul George is right…I put him in a bad spot…I do owe him an apology for that as a professional, that’s Kawhi Leonard’s teammate and it was the farthest thing from my mind, thinking about how Paul would look on the set with us cause I’m just being light-hearted and having a good time.”

Subsequently, Smith said that he brought up the topic because ESPN had just told him that Leonard will not be available for the Olympics as well. That’s why he got carried away by the moment without caring about the optics.

However, after issuing multiple apologies to PG-13, Stephen A. hummed the same old tune about Leonard. He acknowledged that Leonard’s injuries were indeed serious but also pointed out that Clippers star has always demanded a lot of money for his services and has also steered the franchise in the manner that suits him.

Smith reminded folks that the 2x Finals MVP forced the Clippers to bring in Paul George. Thus, with such lofty ultimatums, Stephen A. expected Leonard to appear more frequently than he has done throughout his Clippers tenure. After all, in retrospect, the team gave up 2024 MVP Finalist Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to land George.

The Clippers Forward has been dealing with a serious knee inflammation. He played in 60+ games for the first time in his Clippers tenure but then his knees gave out with the 2024 playoffs on the cusp. 

The post Stephen. A Smith Apologizes to Paul George Over Kawhi Leonard Remarks During the NBA Finals appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Lewis Hamilton Explains What Kept Him From Challenging Max Verstappen and Lando Norris


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Lewis Hamilton finally returned to the podium roster at the Spanish GP for the first time since Mexico in 2023. After putting on a mega lap to edge his teammate, George Russell, for P3 in qualifying, Hamilton was quite bullish about taking the fight to the top two to end his win hiatus in F1. However, it was all too much to do for the seven-time champion, as he had to settle for P3, 17 seconds off the race winner Max Verstappen.

Despite that, Hamilton admitted how it was a good weekend in Barcelona for Mercedes but knew what kept him away from challenging the top two even for a few laps. According to Sky Sports, Hamilton stated, “Unfortunately, I got a really bad start and lost ground to the Ferraris, so it was a battle to get back.”

“With a better start… I don’t know if we could have held on to the guys ahead but I don’t think we would have been as far behind”, the Briton added.

While Hamilton did not get the chance to fight for the win, he had a good race, for which he laid the foundation since the weekend began. The #44 driver cited how he made his tire choices clear to the team for the Grand Prix.

With everyone in the top 10 starting on soft tires, Hamilton did not get the best of starts and Russell overtook him as well as Verstappen and Lando Norris to take the lead. However, as the race unfolded, the seven-time champion got back in the mix with the pit stops.

On the other hand, Russell fell back due to a slow stop and the choice of using the hard tire for his last stint. However, Hamilton’s race wasn’t all smooth as he had some contact with Carlos Sainz and had to make some tough overtakes. Regardless, the 39-year-old edged out Russell to take the final step on the podium.

The contrasting fortunes of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in Spain

Russell got himself right into the fight for the win at the Spanish GP start by throwing his elbows out to overtake both Verstappen and Norris into Turn 1. However, it all came undone for the #63 driver, as he lost ground due to a slow first stop in the race.

Later on, when Russell came into the pits earlier than expected, he went on the hard tires, which was a big error on Mercedes’ part. The 26-year-old was sliding all over the place as the hard tire was not the optimal tire for this race weekend.

This had been evident during the long runs on Friday, with the hard tire even showing more degradation relative to the medium. Thus, the ideal strategy was soft-medium-soft, which Lewis Hamilton followed like the rest of the lead pack.

Russell too admitted that his strategy was not ideal as he stated, “The slow pitstop put me on the back foot a little bit in the middle stint and then I was forced to pit a bit early at the end. That hard tire was pretty rubbish. We knew P3, P4 was the maximum and we had to protect that result. I was a little bit disappointed not to be standing on the podium but Lewis did a great job.”

Russell would now want to bounce back in Austria, seeing Mercedes’ progress. The W15 has come alive ever since its upgrades worked well in Montreal and seems to be improving to be in the fight for podiums alongside McLaren and Ferrari. So, it would be interesting to see Russell’s performance in the upcoming two races of this triple header.

The post Lewis Hamilton Explains What Kept Him From Challenging Max Verstappen and Lando Norris appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Danny Green Gets Severely Trolled for Recreating Mike Breen’s ‘Iconic Bang’


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There aren’t many things in the NBA world as popular and recognizable as Mike Breen’s iconic “BANG” exclamation during games. Often used by the veteran broadcaster to describe an important buzzer-beater or a playoff game-winner, the term has become a core memory for many basketball fans. Recently, NBA on ESPN posted a clip where a group of ESPN analysts could be seen attempting Breen’s ‘Bang’ exclamation. While everyone did the best impersonation they could of the 63-year-old, Danny Green‘s attempt stood out for some fans.

Apart from the 37-year-old, Chiney Ogwumike, Andraya Carter, Malika Andrews, Chris Matthews, and Kendrick Perkins also participated in the trend. Everyone else went by the script, just uttering the word in the manner the media veteran does. Andrews recalled one of the many ‘Bang’ moments that Stephen Curry has produced over the years, whereas Carter went with the one involving Luka Doncic.

 

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However, Green chose himself as the reference to pull off his ‘Bang’ expression. He said, “And Danny Green from three, BANG! There it is.”

The former NBA star didn’t realize at the time how people would see this attempt. Subsequently, fans decided to troll him over it. One fan said, “Danny Green knows he didn’t get any BANGs.” As he brought up a three pointer, a fan recalled, “Danny Green lost us Game 5 cause he missed a 3.”

Green himself commented on the clip saying, “I was so bad at this.” But that wasn’t going to let him off the hook as fans felt that it was cringeworthy coming from him.

One fan wrote, “Cringe from 3!!! Bang!!!!!!”

While it’s obvious that fans went out of their way to troll Green, hopefully he’ll take it in the right spirit if he reads the comments. He has a good reason too to boast about his three-point shooting.

Danny Green’s career three-point shooting percentage

Green was drafted as the second round 46th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. He went on to play in the league until last year. So, his career unfolded in the era when the three-point shot became the most important aspect of scoring in games.

According to StatMuse, Green attempted 3,946 threes in his career while making 1,577 of them. This brings his career three-point shooting percentage to 40.

A 40% success rate while shooting from behind the arc is impressive for any player from a career perspective. Apart from his three-point shooting, Green also managed a 42.1% from the field in his career.

But that being said, Green is not known for big-time clutch buzzer beaters that usually warrant a ‘Bang’ from Breen. So it’s understandable why fans trolled him.

The post Danny Green Gets Severely Trolled for Recreating Mike Breen’s ‘Iconic Bang’ appeared first on The SportsRush.



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‘Not Very Far Away’ Lewis Hamilton Will Race to Win at Spanish GP After Scoring First Podium of 2024


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Lewis Hamilton might not be a Grand Prix podium sitter in 2024 just yet but his Qualifying performance at the Spanish Grand Prix, earlier today has filled the Briton up with confidence. Going into the race tomorrow, the seven-time world champion is going to attack Lando Norris and Max Verstappen for the win.

After a disappointing start to this season, the revised W15 has finally resonated with Hamilton. The 39-year-old topped FP2 and went on to register a top-three finish in each of the qualifying sessions. He will start the main Grand Prix tomorrow from P3 on the grid.

After the session, Sky Sports F1 quoted Hamilton as saying, “We are not very far away. I think three tenths, I think the real gap is about a tenth and a half maybe. I think Max is particularly fast on long runs, I think their car is still ahead, as is probably Lando’s. However, I am going into tomorrow to try and win.”

Hamilton is wary about the pace of both Red Bull and McLaren, however, is confident that he can be in the mix throughout the race. The Spanish GP weekend has been the first time that Hamilton has looked comfortable with his W15 through every session he has participated in.

Grabbing a good result will be key for the Silver Arrows’ star. This entire season has been a controversial conversation for the Briton, and in his last year with the team, tensions have seemingly arisen between himself, his teammate, George Russell, and the Mercedes management.

Lewis Hamilton eager to win after ‘sabotaging email’ fiasco

The 2024 season has started on a pretty torrid note for the seven-time world champion. Hamilton has been lagging behind his teammate in terms of both Race (2-6) and Qualifying (2-8) results. This raised a few question marks about his place within the team.

After the Monaco GP, Hamilton even claimed that it would be a difficult task to beat Russell throughout the season. His comments sparked rumors of the Brackley-based team sabotaging his last season with the team. After an anonymous email alleging the same was sent earlier this week, these rumors have only intensified.

But, the Briton will be looking to bury the hatchet, at least on track, with a solid result for himself and the team. Speaking about his outlook for the race, Hamilton said that he was optimistic for a good result at the very least.

The post ‘Not Very Far Away’ Lewis Hamilton Will Race to Win at Spanish GP After Scoring First Podium of 2024 appeared first on The SportsRush.



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New Heights Hosts Travis and Jason Kelce Credit Their Team for Editing Out “All the Sh*t That You Can Get Canceled For”


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With their podcast, the New Heights, doing extremely well, Jason and Travis Kelce have become an unforgettable part of the entertainment industry. However, while they’ve gone on to become a memorable part of the football fraternity, they’ve also had to navigate a lot of interesting challenges. One of the biggest challenges they’ve overcome is avoiding controversy on their podcast.

The Kelce brothers recently spoke about their blossoming podcast with Stagwell, where Travis passionately advised young influencers on how to steer clear of controversy. He emphasized that a production crew helps them navigate topics and conversations that could get them in huge trouble or, worse, ‘canceled’. He advised the same for anyone looking to venture into podcasting, especially if they were young.

“I guess that takes me to my next words of advice. If you’re going to be authentic make sure you have a good team that can edit. You have to have a really good team that can edit out all the sh*t that you can get canceled for because that is key you do not want to get canceled,” Travis emphasized.

And true to their statements, the Kelce brothers have been good at stepping away from controversy. While their podcasts have delved into the personal lives of both brothers, it’s so entertaining and wholesome that fans, whether from the football realm or not, fawn over their stories.

It’s safe to say that ‘New Heights’ has thrived due to its authenticity. So, who better than Jason and Travis to guide young influencers planning to start their own podcast?

Jason’s Advice for Aspiring Content Creators

While Travis spoke about how their production team has helped their podcast grow, Jason dived deep into the kind of steps new influencers should be taking in order to get fame and success. His advice for them was to focus on the actual craft of podcasting and content. While being famous is the end goal, reaching there comes from patience.

“I would tell all young guys who are really starting to try to get into this like influencer World [to] start small,” Jason proposed. “Just like getting yourself out there in front of fans. And you’re going to start to begin getting asked tough questions and you’re going to have to start answering those and getting used to it.“

All in all, Travis and Jason went on to have a motivational and productive session at the Stagwell Marketing company event. The duo also revealed how their own journey has progressed on the New Heights podcast. Arguably, this very podcast, which began in 2022, has now opened the door for Jason to secure a broadcasting deal with ESPN and for Travis to land several acting gigs.

The post New Heights Hosts Travis and Jason Kelce Credit Their Team for Editing Out “All the Sh*t That You Can Get Canceled For” appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Another Link Between Lando Norris and Magui Corceiro Emerges as Friend Max Joins the Gossip


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Rumors of Lando Norris dating a Portuguese model named Magui Corceiro have picked up a lot lately. In recent months, Corceiro has been spotted with the McLaren driver and this fueled rumors of them dating. The latest spark to this narrative is the common link between Corceiro, Norris, and the British driver’s friend, Max Fewtrell.

Corceiro recently celebrated her friend Pietra Pilao’s birthday, who as it turns out is Fewtrell’s girlfriend. @f1gossippofficial posted about the same on Instagram and highlighted this link between Norris and Corceiro.

Fewtrell is a former racing driver and has raced in the F4 and F3 categories. Currently, he has become a content creator and often engages in gaming alongside the McLaren man and streams on Twitch.

The Instagram fan account also highlighted how the birthday celebrations could have happened at Norris‘ house. The reason behind this theory is that Corceiro and Pietra clicked a photo in the same elevator where the Briton had clicked some pictures with his ex-girlfriend, Luisinha Oliveira.

This is another theory that has linked Magui Corceiro and Lando Norris as a couple. In the past two months, there have been many such instances that hinted at the possibility of the duo dating.

How multiple theories have fueled rumors of Lando Norris dating Magui Corceiro?

Corceiro recently went on a vacation to Porto in Portugal along with her friends. Fans noticed one of the videos on her stories had a familiar voice. They pointed out how the voice sounded quite similar to that of Norris. While there was no confirmation or any hint of the Briton being on that trip, there was a lot of chatter about the same.

Another similar observation came during the Miami GP when Norris finally won his maiden Grand Prix. Apparently, from one of Corceiro’s friends’ Instagram stories, it came to light that the Portuguese model was following the Miami GP race.

Meanwhile, one of their spottings together came in mid-April this year when Norris was spotted alongside Corceiro at a casino. Apparently, he also had his sister and his brother-in-law for company.

Despite several such meet-ups, neither Corceiro nor Norris have spoken anything officially about these dating rumors. Thus, all these theories are unconfirmed and speculative, as things stand.

The post Another Link Between Lando Norris and Magui Corceiro Emerges as Friend Max Joins the Gossip appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Section 144 imposed in Punjab for 7 days as PTI calls for protests


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 The Punjab government on Friday imposed Section 144 across the province in light of “the prevailing law and order situation”, thereby banning protests and public gatherings.

The imposition of Section 144 across Punjab comes as PTI plans to carry out nationwide protests today demanding the release of incarcerated leader Imran Khan.

According to an order issued by the Home Department, which Dawn.com has seen, Section 144 has been imposed with immediate effect and will be in place for seven days.

The Punjab Police says Section 144 empowers authorities to issue orders in public interest that may place a ban on an activity for a specific period of time.

The order states: “It has been observed that in view of the prevailing law and order situation and security threats, any gathering/ assembly is likely to provide soft targets to terrorists and miscreants, which not only pose serious security threats but is also likely to cause threat to public at peace and order as well as inconvenience to public at large.”

Although a specific reason for imposing the ban was not mentioned, issuing secretary Noor Ul Amin Mengal wrote in the order that “pressing and adequate grounds exist for proceeding under Section 144 […] as an immediate prevention and speedy remedy to ban forthwith certain activities in Punjab”.

Assemblies, gatherings, sit-ins, rallies, processions, demonstrations, jalsas, dharnas, protests and other such activities have been prohibited effective immediately, the order stated.

The imposition of Section 144 across Punjab comes as PTI announced nationwide protests for the release of incarcerated leader Imran Khan.

According to one post on social media platform X, “multiple illegal police raids” were conducted on the houses of PTI leaders in Khanewal.

The party also claimed that the office of PTI leader PP-209 Khanewal Humayun Khan was raided and ransacked by the police.

Speaking in the National Assembly today, Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub condemned the imposition of Section 144 and asked NA Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah to rule that the ban was a constitutional violation.

PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan condemned the ban as “a shameful act on the part of the entire form 47 criminal government”.

Posting on X, he claimed that imposing Section 144 demonstrated how “mortified” the government was of Imran, adding that it would only spur the drive of the party founder’s followers.

“Imran Khan will triumph. People will triumph. Pakistan will triumph. Nothing can stop their momentum to realise their dream,” Hasan added.



Armenia announced Friday its recognition of the State of Palestine, the latest country to do so during the war in Gaza, saying it was against “violence towards civilian populations.”