The Lead

The defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers got LeBron James back on the court over the weekend, but they’re in a position that very people would have expected heading into this season, having to scrap their way into the playoffs — and into a play-in tournament matchup against Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Today, The Athletic’s Bill Oram on all the adversity that LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers have faced this season, and why they’re still confident heading toward the playoffs.

Follow Bill Oram’s coverage of the Lakers: https://theathletic.com/author/bill-oram/?source=theleadpodcast

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The NHL Playoffs began this weekend, and the first few games have not disappointed. The Athletic's James Mirtle joins us today to break down the biggest and most fascinating storylines to follow in this year's playoffs. Can Connor McDavid's individual brilliance lift the Edmonton Oilers above mediocrity? Can the offensively talented Pittsburgh Penguins give "Sid the Kid" a fourth shot at the Cup? Will the Toronto Maple Leafs break their epic playoff drought at the expense of their oldest rival? And can anyone stop the Colorado Avalanche? Plus, we hear what NHL goalies say makes Leafs star Auston Matthews so difficult to stop.

More from James Mirtle: https://theathletic.com/author/james-mirtle/

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Early on this season, Anthony Edwards looked like a 19-year-old rookie trying to figure things out in the NBA. But lately, the number one pick in the 2020 NBA Draft has flipped the switch. Today, The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski on how Edwards managed to level up his game and make a run at Rookie of the Year, and what the team’s core of Edwards, D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns is trying to prove during the final days of the regular season.

Read Jon Krawczynski’s story about Anthony Edwards’s run at Rookie of the Year: https://theathletic.com/2570240/2021/05/06/anthony-edwards-is-making-one-final-push-for-the-rookie-of-the-year-award/?source=theleadpodcast

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So far, 2021 has been the year of the pitcher -- and none have been better than Mets ace Jacob DeGrom. But what has made DeGrom's performance this year so remarkable is that, among other things, he’s throwing harder as he gets older. Tim Britton, who covers the Mets for The Athletic, recently spoke with people who know DeGrom and have worked with him over the years, to try and figure out how DeGrom is adding velocity as he moves into his mid-thirties, if it's an anomaly or part of a trend, and what all of this could mean for the future of baseball.

More from Tim Britton:

https://theathletic.com/author/tim-britton/

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Will the Seattle Storm (and their big three of Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird, and Jewell Loyd) repeat their dominance from last season? What will young superstar Sabrina Ionescu look like this season after missing almost all of last year with an injury? And who will bring home MVP, Rookie of the Year, and Championship honors in 2021? The Athletic's Chantel Jennings joins us to answer all of these questions and more.

More from Chantel Jennings:

https://theathletic.com/author/chantel-jennings/

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The Carolina Panthers turned some heads in the 2021 NFL Draft by selecting cornerback Jaycee Horn eighth overall, when Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields was among the players still available. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Joe Person to look at why the Panthers made Horn their choice, and how he was groomed for success by his dad — former New Orleans Saints Pro Bowl wide receiver Joe Horn — through a combination of grit, competitiveness, Red Bull and an unconventional approach to youth sports.

Read Joe Person’s full story about Jaycee and Joe Horn: https://theathletic.com/2569369/2021/05/06/red-bull-games-in-the-hood-and-a-fathers-touch-how-jaycee-horn-became-panthers-top-dog/?source=theleadpodcaast

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The Milwaukee Bucks have been one of the best regular season teams in the NBA over the past two seasons, but that success hasn't really translated to the playoffs. To try and improve their fortunes in the postseason the team acquired guard Jrue Holiday this offseason in a blockbuster trade. Today we're joined by The Athletic's Eric Nehm who fills us in on how the Holiday experiment has been working out and whether or not the move will help propel them past the likes of Brooklyn and Philadelphia and into the NBA Finals.

You can read Eric Nehm's Milwaukee Bucks coverage here: https://theathletic.com/author/eric-nehm/

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Tom Wilson is a feared man. The Washington Capitals winger has served multiple suspensions during his NHL career and is considered by many to be the most reckless and dangerous hockey player in the entire NHL (while also being a very good player). And all of that is why the hockey world was thrown into turmoil this week after Wilson made two very dangerous plays in a game against the New York Rangers, one of which could have ended in a severe -- perhaps even fatal -- injury to Rangers star Artemi Panarin. The Athletic's Sean Gentille, who has followed Wilson's career closely over the years, joins us to discuss why the incident created such an uproar, who within the NHL is now coming under fire, and why Wilson's behavior is unlikely to change any time soon.

Read Sean Gentille's story about Tom Wilson:

https://theathletic.com/2566394/2021/05/04/like-him-or-hate-him-tom-wilson-knows-what-the-nhl-wants-and-how-to-get-away-with-it/

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Over the last week, the focus of the football world was supposed to be on the NFL Draft. Instead, all eyes have been on the league’s reigning MVP, Aaron Rodgers. Today, The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman on how things have unfolded since Rodgers dropped the news that he no longer wants to be in Green Bay, the many things he’s been up to this offseason (including hosting Jeopardy!, and his engagement to Shailene Woodley), and what the superstar quarterback ultimately wants. 

Follow Matt Schneidman’s coverage of the Aaron Rodgers saga: https://theathletic.com/author/matt-schneidman/?source=theleadpodcast 

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The Washington Wizards have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA recently, and have been making a big push toward the playoffs. And while some long-suffering fans are thrilled about the prospect of playoff hoops returning to Washington D.C., others feel the team is shooting itself in the foot by eliminating their chances at a lottery pick in the NBA Draft. The Athletic's David Aldridge, who has covered the team for many seasons, joins us to break down both sides of the divide, and discusses what the best strategy is for the team moving forward.

Read David Aldridge's recent story about the Wizards:

https://theathletic.com/2527005/2021/04/19/aldridge-the-wizards-are-back-in-the-playoff-race-but-do-the-means-justify-the-ends/

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