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Avec Endrick, l’OL peut rêver d’une deuxième moitié de saison canon. La recrue débarquée du Real Madrid est déjà décisive à deux reprises en deux matchs disputés. OL : Endrick, un but et une passe décisive en 2 matchs L’OL s’est offert les services d’un grand attaquant, Endrick, cet hiver. Il est prêté par le Real Madrid, jusqu’à la fin de la saison. Ses premiers matchs avec les Gones sont déjà plus que satisfaisants. Il avait été l’auteur du but de la victoire de Lyon contre le LOSC (2-1) à Lille, en 16e de finale de la coupe de France, lors de sa première apparition. Dimanche, l’avant-centre brésilien a encore été décisif, face au Stade Brestois (2-1), cette fois en Ligue 1. Il a délivré une passe décisive pour son compatriote Abner Vinicius, sur le deuxième but lyonnais. Le Brésilien promet une deuxième partie de saison meilleure Grâce à cette victoire, l’Olympique Lyonnais remonte au classement, à la 4e place, à deux points du 3e rang occupé par l’Olympique de Marseille. Comme espéré, Endrick a apporté son talent, sa qualité technique, mais surtout un plus offensif à l’équipe de Paulo Fonseca. « Nous montons au classement et nous allons essayer de monter encore plus pour que cette seconde partie de saison soit la meilleure possible », a promis l’international Auriverde (14 sélections). OL : Endrick encensé par ses coéquipiers et Fonseca Il a déjà mis ses coéquipiers à ses pieds, en plus de l’entraîneur de Lyon. "Endrick a fait un bon match, on apprend à se connaître, mais c’est toute l’équipe qu’il faut saluer", a déclaré Pavel Sulc. "Il a fait de bonnes choses, surtout dans des situations individuelles. C’est un joueur unique, mais il a besoin de s’améliorer physiquement", a confié Paulo Fonseca. Lisez aussi : Mercato OL : Une 2e recrue à Lyon, sa signature imminente Même les adversaires du nouvel attaquant de l’OL sont séduits par son talent et ses qualités techniques. « C'est un petit génie qui ne rechigne pas à aller au duel. J'espère qu'il fera aussi mal aux autres adversaires qui jouent le maintien, comme nous », a réagi Julien Lachuer, adjoint d'Éric Roy sur le banc de Brest. Non qualifié pour la phase de Ligue de l’Europa League, Endrick sera de repos, jeudi, quand ses coéquipiers affronteront les Young Boys de Berne en Suisse. Il se préparera pour le déplacement de Lyon à Metz, le dimanche 25 janvier. Lire aussi sur l'OL : Mercato OL : Feu vert pour l’arrivée de Jonas Wind à Lyon ? Mercato OL : Mujaid Sadick attendu à Lyon ? Mercato OL : Fonseca annonce une autre recrue à venir à Lyon

Though the sting of yet another playoff loss remains for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and significant change is already underway thanks to Mike Tomlin stepping down last Tuesday, postseason accolades for players are rolling in after a season that saw some highs and lows. For veteran team captain and 36-year-old defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, he continues […]

Five players who finished the 2025 season on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad officially had their contracts expire Monday, making them free agents and able to be signed by any other team. Per the league’s transactions sheet, those five are TE Jaheim Bell, CB Tre Flowers, WR Brandon Johnson, RB Trey Sermon, and TE Matt […]

While Mike McCarthy hasn’t received leaguewide head coaching interest during the 2026 cycle, the Tennessee Titans have taken a thorough look at him. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, McCarthy, who is a candidate for the Pittsburgh Steelers, has spent plenty of time talking with the Titans’ brass. McCarthy met with the team last year and again […]

The best-player discourse in the NBA today revolves around a few regular names. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has to be there, as does three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Even as the Bucks have struggled, Giannis Antetokounmpo can’t be forgotten, and Victor Wembanyama is coming for the crown. Luka Doncic? The Slovenian star, who made five straight All-NBA First Teams before injuries kept him below the minimum threshold last year, also has to be included, of course. Luka is currently leading the NBA with 33.3 points per game, and he has the Lakers in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race at 25-16. However, Doncic is usually thought of just below those other guys. And there’s one simple reason for that — his defense is a liability. Shai is a lockdown defender, and Giannis is a former Defensive Player of the Year. Wemby is a lock to win DPOY any year he’s healthy. And even Jokic, who endured similar criticisms to Luka for much of his career, has become at the very least a solid defender. From where Paul Pierce is sitting, if Luka improved his defense, he’d be the best player in the world. On the most recent episode of No Fouls Given, he said, “I don’t think that you can be the best player in the league without playing both sides of the ball. Yeah, you’ll win an MVP, but I don’t think you’ll be considered the best player in the league.” Pierce expressed confidence that Luka would win an MVP someday. However, he lumped him in with James Harden, another outstanding player who was never thought of as the best player in the league because of his defensive reputation. Paul Pierce says Luka will win a MVP one day but never be considered the best player in the league because of his lack of defense “We have never said Luka was the best player in the league because of his defense. If we started seeing Luka rev it up on the defensive end like… pic.twitter.com/QEw7BIiHXS — NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) January 19, 2026 Doncic slimmed down this summer. However, the expectation that it would translate into more success on the defensive end hasn’t materialized. Last year, the Lakers finished 17th in the league in team defensive rating. This year, they’re an abysmal 26th. That’s not all on Doncic, though, but he’s the head of the snake. Doncic’s offensive abilities are such that he wouldn’t even need to become an All-Defensive Team player to be hailed as the best in the league. He has the ball in his hands constantly, can make any shot or any pass, and has come through many times in clutch situations. Other than maybe barking at the refs too much, his defense is the only part of his game that isn’t elite. Doncic D-ing up would help not just his own standing among the league’s superstars, but it could also help make the Lakers real title contenders. There are many smart people out there who don’t believe that Doncic and Austin Reaves can form a championship core. This, despite them being offensively prolific. And that’s all because of their defense. Luka only came to L.A. less than a year ago. So in fairness, Rob Pelinka needs some time to put the right team around him. The Lakers are good already, but with the right moves, they could become great. If and when that happens, Doncic will be in the MVP conversation for sure. The post Paul Pierce: Luka Doncic’s Defense Only Obstacle To Best-Player Crown appeared first on The SportsRush.