, and set up a semifinal against No. 1

MLB is considering whether to allow big league players to be used at the 2028 Games. It did not allow players on 40-man rosters to participate in the 2021 Olympics and many teams discouraged top eligible prospects from playing.“We made some progress with LA 2028 in terms of what it could look like,” Manfred said. “We have some other business partners that we need to talk to about, changes that would need to be made in order to accommodate the Olympics. I think we’re going to go forward with that process.”

Manfred said the players’ union appears to be supportive.A decision on MLB’s bargaining positions with the players’ association, including whether to propose a salary cap, will be made after this season. Bargaining is likely to start in the spring of 2026 for a successor to the five-year agreement with the union that. The deal expires on Dec. 1, 2026.

, sparking speculation about a renewed push for a salary-cap system aimed at decreasing payroll disparity.“Payroll disparity is such a fact of life among the ownership group that there’s not a lot of need for talking about whether we have it or not. Everybody kind of gets it,” Manfred said. “We understand that it has become a bigger problem for us, but there has not been a lot of conversation about that particular topic.”

When MLB proposed a cap in 1994, players struck for 7 1/2 months in 1994 and ’95, leading to the first cancellation of the World Series since 1904.

“Obviously, over the winter we’re going to have to decide what is going to be out there from our perspective, but no decisions on that topic so far,” Manfred said.“Last year, all that was being said was we couldn’t win because we didn’t guard anybody and all we do is try to outscore people,” two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton said. “We’ve taken such a big step on the defensive end as a group, and I think the step we made on that end of the floor is why we’re here. We’ve got our work cut out for us (in this series).”

Neither Carlisle nor Daigneault would disclose their defensive assignments entering Game 1 though there’s a good chance Nembhard and Nesmith will somehow find themselves pitted against Gilgeous-Alexander, the league MVP, and Williams.On the flip side, Oklahoma City may deploy its two all-NBA defenders, Williams and Dort, against the combination of Haliburton and Nembhard.

But regardless of the assignments, this is a matchup of wills most believe will determine the next NBA champion.“All tests are fun, and we get to do it on the biggest stage any of us have ever played on,” Williams said. “So it’ll be a very fun challenge. Like I said, that’s a really good team. Obviously, they’re in the finals for a reason. Nobody just waltzes into the finals. So it’ll be our ultimate test.”