The Best of the Sports Shop

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss the NFL Draft and evaluate the draft selections from the Panthes, Raiders, Rowboys, Commanders, Jets and Cardinals.

The NFL Draft concluded this weekend! How did your team do during the draft? Are there picks you’re especially excited about or scratching your head over? Which teams "won" the draft? How did the Carolina Panthers do?

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss whether the Knicks can hold off the Hawks in a tightly contested series, how far the surging Spurs can go behind Victor Wembanyama and whether the Celtics are on a clear path to the Finals despite Joel Embiid’s return for the 76ers.

The 2026 NBA playoffs are currently in the first round and several strong storylines are taking shape. The first-round playoff series between the New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks is currently tied 2-2 and has been one of the most competitive matchups so far. The Knicks won Game 1, but the Hawks responded by taking Games 2 and 3 behind clutch performances, including late-game shot-making from CJ McCollum. New York answered in Game 4 with a convincing 114-98 victory. With the series now effectively a best-of-three and shifting back to New York for Game 5, the outcome remains wide open heading into the final stretch. Who will win this series?

The San Antonio Spurs have emerged as one of the hottest teams, jumping out to a 3-1 lead over the Portland Trail Blazers, powered by a dominant return from Victor Wembanyama. In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics also hold a 3-1 advantage against the Philadelphia 76ers, with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading a deep and consistent squad despite the return of Joel Embiid. Are the Spurs the biggest threat to OKC? Is Joel Embiid an underachiever?

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss the NFL Draft winners and losers and the NBA Playoffs including teams like the Lakers and Knicks.

The 2026 NBA playoffs are currently in the first round. The first-round playoff series between the New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks is currently tied 2-2 and has been one of the most competitive matchups so far. The Knicks won Game 1, but the Hawks responded by taking Games 2 and 3 behind clutch performances, including late-game shot-making from CJ McCollum. New York answered in Game 4 with a convincing 114-98 victory, highlighted by a triple-double from Karl-Anthony Towns and strong contributions from Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby. With the series now effectively a best-of-three and shifting back to New York for Game 5, the outcome remains wide open heading into the final stretch. Who will win this series? Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets managed to avoid elimination with a crucial win over the Los Angeles Lakers last night, keeping their first-round series alive at Lakers leading 3-1. The Lakers had controlled most of the series up to that point, but Houston’s Game 4 win forced at least one more game and extended their chances of a comeback. Another notable moment in the series came in Game 3 when Bronny James scored his first playoff points on an assist from his father, LeBron James, marking a rare father-son milestone in NBA playoff history. Can the Rockets be the first team in NBA History to comeback from down 1-3?

The NFL Draft concluded this weekend! How did your team do during the draft? Are there picks you’re especially excited about or scratching your head over? Which teams "won" the draft? How did the Eagles do?

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss their Good Looks and Bad Looks on this Good Look Bad Look Monday.

It is Good Look Bad Look Monday! What are your Good Looks and Bad Looks? How was your weekend?

The NFL Draft concluded this weekend! How did your team do during the draft? Are there picks you’re especially excited about or scratching your head over? Which teams "won" the draft?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss round 2 of the NFL Draft and if Henri Veesaar will stay with UNC.

Round 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft takes place today, continuing the selection process after Round 1. It begins in the evening and gives teams another chance to add impact players who slipped out of the first round. Many franchises use this round to target value picks, fill key roster needs, and find starters without the pressure of a first-round selection. Who will be drafted today?

Today, April 24, 2026 marks the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the NBA Draft, with players required to submit their entry by 11:59 p.m. ET. This date is important for college and international prospects deciding whether to go pro or stay eligible for further development. Even after declaring, players still have a later window to withdraw and return to school if they choose. Will Henri Veesaar return to UNC or declare for the NBA?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex speak with Ian Parks to discuss the first round of the NFL Draft and his NBA Playoff picks.

Ian Parks from Always Bet On Black w/ Ian Parks joins the Sports Shop to share his picks for this weekend in the NBA Playoffs. Who will win this weekend: Los Angeles Lakers or Houston Rockets? San Antonio Spurs or Portland Trail Blazers? Boston Celtics or Philadelphia 76ers? Atlanta Hawks or New York Knicks? The Philadelphia 76ers will host the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference First Round playoff series. Will Jayson Tatum record more than 16.5 combined rebounds and assists?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss round one of the NFL Drfaft and last night's NBA Playoff games. 

Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft featured a mix of expected picks and a few surprises at the top. The Las Vegas Raiders selected quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick, followed by edge rusher David Bailey going to the New York Jets and running back Jeremiyah Love landing with the Arizona Cardinals. There were also some unexpected developments, including the Los Angeles Rams taking quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13 despite already having Matthew Stafford, suggesting a focus on the future at the position. Teams like the Chiefs and Cowboys made aggressive trades to move up the board, while others such as the Buffalo Bills opted to trade out of the first round entirely to accumulate more picks. The Alabama Crimson Tide had a lighter presence in the early rounds than usual in this year's NFL Draft, with more mid-round and developmental prospects rather than the high volume of first-round picks they’ve typically produced in recent years. Ty Simpson went 13th. Is this surprising?

The Atlanta Hawks edged the New York Knicks 109-108 in Game 3 last night, with CJ McCollum hitting a clutch go-ahead jumper in the final seconds. The Knicks had briefly taken the lead late but couldn’t get a final shot off after a costly turnover. The win gives the Hawks a 2-1 series lead. Do you have faith in the Knicks?

The Minnesota Timberwolves dominated the Denver Nuggets 113-96 in Game 3 last night, using a strong defensive performance to control the game from start to finish. Nikola Jokić still put up solid numbers, but struggled with efficiency, while Minnesota’s balanced effort and defense overwhelmed Denver. The win gives the Timberwolves a 2-1 series lead. Can Denver bounce back?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss round one of the NFL Draft night and last night's NBA games.

Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft featured a mix of expected picks and a few surprises at the top. The Las Vegas Raiders selected quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick, followed by edge rusher David Bailey going to the New York Jets and running back Jeremiyah Love landing with the Arizona Cardinals. Early in the round, wide receiver Carnell Tate went to the Tennessee Titans and linebacker Arvell Reese was taken by the New York Giants, highlighting a strong group of skill and defensive talent. One of the more notable moves came when the Dallas Cowboys traded up to select safety Caleb Downs at No. 11.

There were also some unexpected developments, including the Los Angeles Rams taking quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13 despite already having Matthew Stafford, suggesting a focus on the future at the position. Teams like the Chiefs and Cowboys made aggressive trades to move up the board, while others such as the Buffalo Bills opted to trade out of the first round entirely to accumulate more picks. Additional notable selections included wide receiver Jordyn Tyson to the New Orleans Saints, pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr. to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and edge defender Akheem Mesidor to the Los Angeles Chargers. How did your team do?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex speak with Dr. Deborah Stroman.

Dr. Stroman discusses why the NBA is better than college basketball and gives the Sports Shop crew a quiz on Sports acronyms. Which is better: NBA Basketball or College Basketball? How did you do on the quiz?

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss last night's NBA Playoff games.

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Phoenix Suns to take control of their series, using their pace and defense to stay ahead for most of the game and securing a key win. Devin Booker kept Phoenix competitive, but the Suns couldn’t generate enough late momentum to close the gap. With the win, Oklahoma City now leads the series 2-0, giving them a clear edge moving forward and putting pressure on Phoenix to respond in the next matchup.

In the other game, the Orlando Magic defeated the Detroit Pistons in a physical, closely contested battle to take a 1-1 series lead. Orlando leaned on its defense and interior presence, with Paolo Banchero playing a key role down the stretch, while Cade Cunningham led Detroit’s scoring effort but fell short in the closing minutes. The win gives Orlando momentum in a tight series and shifts pressure onto Detroit to respond quickly to avoid falling into a deeper deficit.