During his highly successful career, Kevin Durant has had to deal with the criticism that he hasn’t been a leader or the “bus driver,” as Charles Barkley calls it. When he went to the Brooklyn Nets in 2019 after three seasons with the Golden State Warriors, many believed he would bring a championship to Brooklyn as part of a Big Three combination that included Kyrie Irving and James Harden.
However, after four seasons in New York, Durant left for greener pastures in Phoenix and recently answered questions about why he wanted the trade.
“In Brooklyn? Yeah, it just wasn’t no consistency, no continuity on who we were as a team,” Durant said to the New York Post. “And when you want to win a championship, you’ve got to build an identity from Day 1, and it was just a lot of circumstances that were out of the players’ control that got in the way of us building our continuity.
“That’s just the business of basketball. That’s just the NBA in general. But we all got better as individual players, and we learned a lot from that experience — everybody from executives to players — and we can go about our NBA experience with more knowledge now.”
Already a two-time NBA champion, Durant spent three and half seasons in Kings County under the shadow of Madison Square Garden, the hope for the Barclays Center, and the frustration of New York sports fans starving for a basketball championship. Still, amid the failed expectations, Durant found a lesson in the opportunity.
“Just how to work with people,” Durant continued. “Just how to play in New York City, how to deal with injuries and lineup changes and coaching changes and all that stuff. You’ve got to keep playing; keep leading.
“It was a class on a lot of different things, these last few years. If you didn’t take anything away from it, that’s just shame on you because it was so many deep lessons in this time here,” he added.
From Durant sitting out the season with the Nets with a ruptured Achilles, the team was dealt many other blows, from Kyrie Irving’s stance on the COVID-19 vaccine, which kept him out of the game, and the Barclays Center during the pandemic, to a revolving door of coaches. When Harden was shipped to Philadelphia in February 2022, his replacement, Ben Simmons, saw little time with Durant and Irving before they were traded.
With only sixteen games played with the Big Three of Durant, Irving, and Harden, the inconsistency made Durant seek another opportunity. Nets GM Sean Marks and owner Joe Tsai made the trade when the Suns agreed to include small forward Mikal Bridges, and Durant moved to the desert.
“I did try [to move earlier], they just refused to get rid of me,” Durant said. “I tried, but time ran out. I wasn’t going to miss no games because of this whole thing. So once the season rolled around, I was just like, whatever happens, it happens, and I just get ready for the season. So it worked out perfect timing, the way it’s supposed to.”
Now, with six consecutive wins and another Big Three in teammates Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant is finally seeing the dream realized for another solid run for the championship.
When Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh was suspended for the final three games of the season over allegations stemming from the sign-stealing scandal, he turned the reins over to offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Sherrone Moore. Thrust into the top spot, Moore went 3-0 leading the Wolverines, including a 30-24 win over the archrival Ohio State Buckeyes in “The Game.”
The win for all intents and purposes will keep the Buckeyes out of the College Football Playoff, while the Wolverines advance to face the Iowa Hawkeyes in next week’s Big Ten Championship game, and with a win they’ll clinch their third consecutive conference championship and CFB berth. Moore, a rising head coaching candidate kept the program going forward while its leader Harbaugh couldn’t be around the team on game days.
With Harbaugh slated to return next week, Moore resorts to handling the offense and offensive line, but if schools wanted to see how he’d handle things as the interim game day coach, he passed with flying colors.
As he has in the Wolverines’ two previous wins, Moore didn’t deviate from who Michigan is. They’re arguably the most sound and complete team in college football. They’re physical and play with discipline, that’s a credit to Harbaugh, but Moore kept the ship upright in the toughest part of the team’s schedule. Road wins at Penn State and Maryland, and Saturday’s home win over the Buckeyes at a raucous and always sold out Big House in Ann Arbor showed what the Wolverines are all about.
In his postgame on-field interview Moore told reporters this:
“We expected to win.”
“Coach Harbaugh, we got your back. We love you. That was for you.”
In his postgame presser Moore talked about the team’s resilient and always confident approach as pertains to going for it on fourth down. The team went 3-for-3 on fourth downs Saturday and has gone 7-for-7 since Moore has been at the helm the past three games.
“We always talk about don’t flinch, and our guys never flinch regardless of the situation.”
“When you have confidence that they’re going to execute at a high level, it feels like first down.”
For the first time since 1995-97, the Wolverines defeated the Buckeyes three straight times. It also makes Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day 1-3 against the program’s archnemesis, and that’s never a good thing in Columbus. No matter how good his 55-7 overall record looks, three consecutive losses to the Wolverines won’t sit well with the team’s fans, for sure.
The question that remains is how do the administration and boosters view losing three in a row to Michigan?
Does it make Day’s seat hot heading into 2024?
It’s highly unlikely they move on from him, but it makes next season’s matchup that much more pressure-filled already because of these past three losses.
Fresh off their heartbreaking “Monday Night Football” loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Kansas City Chiefs are now preparing to face the Las Vegas Raiders in a huge AFC West clash on Sunday. The loss to the Eagles was a microcosm of what’s plagued the Chiefs once dynamic offense all season. The 2023 season has been about the inconsistent play of the team’s wide receivers, who lead the league with 26 dropped passes.
It hasn’t helped matters that All-Pro and future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce hasn’t been as reliable either. The lack of consistency reared it’s ugly head in Monday’s loss as the team had five dropped passes, including a game-winning drop by wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling. That was then followed by a fourth-down drop by hybrid pass catcher Justin Watson, ending any chance to win the game in the 21-17 loss.
That type of play is exactly why the team hasn’t scored in the second half of their past three games, and are only averaging a league-low 5.3 points in the second half. The offensive struggles has superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ aunt taking shots at the team’s GM via her podcast.
During a recent episode of her “2Gemsanda Mic” podcast, Mahomes, aka “The Diva,” had a lot to say about Chiefs GM Brett Veach, and it mostly pertained to the team not signing or trading for a big-name wide receiver for this season.
“I still say a lot of this is on Brett Veach,” Tinesha Mahomes said. “He ain’t on the field, but he damn well could’ve went and got help. I think Stevie Wonder could’ve seen this was a problem. Those receivers are out there dropping balls left and right and Patty’s out there looking a little crazy himself. You got Kelce out there, and the frustration is showing,” she continued.
“I got tired of seeing this, and I’m not the only one,” the Chiefs quarterback’s aunt insisted. Kelce’s out there looking crazy. Andy’s [coach Andy Reid] out there making calls that people don’t normally see him making. That frustration is showing everywhere.”
“A lot of these burdens could’ve been lifted if the GM would’ve just been out of his own head and let some of his ego go a little bit and went out there and got some help,” she complained. “He had ample opportunity to go out there and do that.”
“But for some reason he thought he saw something that everybody didn’t see. They may make it back to the Super Bowl, or they might be one and done,” “The Diva” warned. “Because they can’t score in the second half.”
Since the team’s season-opening loss to the Detroit Lions, the Chiefs receivers have struggled to catch the football. In fact, of their 26 drops, 15 have come in their three losses, that’s not a recipe for success and is a huge reason they’re 7-3 and not 9-1.
If this isn’t rectified it’s highly plausible they’ll be playing their first road playoff game in the Patrick Mahomes era, and likely have short-lived playoff run.
The best part of it is Mahomes refused to throw his guys under the bus following the loss to the Eagles. He instead took the blame, saying, “It starts with me.”
In a thrilling matchup on November 24, 2023, the Golden State Warriors clinched a victory over the San Antonio Spurs with a final score of 118-112 at the Chase Center.
However, French star and highly acclaimed rookie Victor Wembanyama experienced an unusual mishap during the NBA In-Season Tournament game. His No. 1 jersey mistakenly displayed his last name as “Wembanyana,” instead of the correct spelling, “Wembanyama.” That extra “n” versus an extra “m” compounded upon the eleventh straight loss for the Spurs.
The error was notable but corrected by the second quarter of the game. Still, it was a disappointment to Wemby, who, after the game, described his dissatisfaction not so subtly.
“It’s a real shame,” Wembanyama said when he was made aware of the blunder by a reporter during the post-game press conference. “I don’t know if somebody got fired, but the Spurs did their job by checking my name and noticing it.
“But, I don’t know, it’s a real shame.” Victor is the son of Felix Wembanyama, who is of Congolese descent.
Despite the jersey misprint, Wembanyama played impressively, shooting 3 of 4 from the field while wearing the incorrectly spelled jersey during the first quarter. He finished the game, which resulted in a 118-112 loss to the Warriors, with 22 points on 8-for-18 shooting overall. The Spurs are looking at Wemby as their future franchise player and want to maintain a positive relationship in his NBA journey.
In the 2023 NBA draft, Wembanyama was selected first overall by the San Antonio Spurs, making him the first French player and the second European player drafted with the first overall pick. This selection also marked him as the Spurs’ third first-overall pick, following David Robinson and Tim Duncan.
Wembanyama’s NBA journey began with his Summer League debut in July 2023 against the Charlotte Hornets. In his second Summer League game, he scored 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, showcasing his potential early in his career. His regular-season debut for the Spurs was equally impressive, as he set a single-game team record for a rookie by making three three-pointers, contributing to a 15-point performance.
The 19-year-old demonstrated his extraordinary talent by scoring 38 points against the Phoenix Suns in early November, joining LeBron James and Kevin Durant as the only teenagers in NBA history to score at least 35 points, ten rebounds, and two blocks in a game. That would also be the last time the Spurs won a game, on Nov. 2 when they defeated the Phoenix Suns 132-121 in Arizona.
Wembanyama also became the first Spurs rookie since Tim Duncan to record 20 points and five blocks in a game and one of the only players in team history to achieve at least eight blocks in a game as a rookie.
It’s an honest mistake, but while introducing Wemby to the NBA culture, getting his name right when he has so much long-term potential for the Spurs and the league is also essential.
Mike McDaniel, the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, is one of the most exciting head coaches in the NFL. In addition to his quirky coaching style and Cinderella season, he has a unique story about how he met his wife, Katie McDaniel, and it veers into the “dirty mack” zone.
The story begins in 2010 when McDaniel worked as the running backs coach for the Sacramento Mountain Lions in the United Football League. After a game where his team won significantly over the Omaha Nighthawks, they celebrated at a nightclub. One of McDaniel’s players was dancing with a woman at the club when McDaniel jokingly told the player that he wouldn’t play the following year if he continued dancing with her.
McDaniel then started dancing with the woman himself, marking the beginning of their relationship. This woman turned out to be Katie Hemstalk, and the two were married four years later, in 2014, when McDaniel was the receivers coach for the Cleveland Browns.
Thursday Night Football color commentator Al Michaels described the “dirty mack” move live on air.
“One of the running backs that he coaches is dancing with a girl, and Mike says, ‘Listen, you’re not dancing with the girl, or you’re not playing with this team next year,'” Michaels said. “So the guy says, ‘What can I do?’ That’s the beginning of the story.
“Four years later, they’re married. Katie, that’s how he met her. ‘Hey, you, get off. I’m dancing with her.’ He is fantastic to talk to. I told Stephen Ross before he’s like, ‘What? That’s the best story I’ve ever heard.'”
The couple welcomed their daughter, Alya, in 2020.
According to Urban Dictionary, dirty macking is when you attempt to mack on another person’s significant other.
The 2023 NFL season marked the second year of Mike McDaniel’s tenure as head coach of the Miami Dolphins. The Fins aimed to improve their 9–8 record from the previous two seasons and end a 14-year AFC East title drought. Additionally, they sought to break a 22-year playoff victory drought, the longest active in the AFC at the time.
One of the season’s highlights was their Week 3 victory over the Denver Broncos, where the Dolphins scored 70 points, becoming the first NFL team to achieve this feat since 1966. This game also recorded the second-highest points scored in a regular-season game and tied for the third-most in any NFL game, including playoffs.
In Week 6, the Dolphins secured a win over the Carolina Panthers, starting the season with a 5–1 record, their best start since 2002. With an impressive 8–3 record, the Dolphins were placed first in the AFC East division.
However, if you played for McDaniel before 2014, you might have been dirty macked en route to him finding his wife.
Jermall Charlo, one half of the boxing twins the Charlo brothers, is a middleweight boxing sensation with an unbeaten record. He is set to face Jose Benavidez Jr. in a highly anticipated bout on Saturday, Nov. 25, at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
However, on Friday, Charlo came in three pounds overweight.
Debuting at super middleweight, Charlo, the WBC middleweight champion, weighed in Friday morning at 166.4 pounds, with the contracted weight for the match at a catch weight of 163 pounds for his 10-rounder, Charlo’s return is starting on the wrong foot,
Jose Benavidez Jr. officially weighed 161.2 pounds for the non-title fight, two pounds under the contracted weight. With the war of words between the two centering around their mutual disdain for each other, is Charlo’s return premature against a very game competitor?
This fight marks Charlo’s return to the ring after a hiatus of over two years. He last fought in 2021, when he took a 12-round, unanimous-decision victory over Mexican contender Juan Macias Montiel in June 2021 at Toyota Center in Houston.
Charlo, 33, has been honest about his struggles with mental health. It is unclear how he truly feels ahead of his fight with Benavidez Jr. After all, the last thing that happened to him before this new fight was being smacked by a left hook from Caleb Plant behind-the-scenes at the Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford fight and fans seemingly canceling his brother Jermell for a lackluster fight against Canelo Alvarez.
“Depression, self-conflation, going from hot to cold really fast is shocking to you,” Charlo said to the New York Post. “Dealing with all kinds of cases of [being] bipolar, being by yourself, thinking that you shutting the world out is gonna help you. But you need to be able to speak to someone and help you get past whatever you’re going through.
“It just feels like everybody is against you, I don’t care if you’re in the Uber, a cab, wherever, everybody is just against you. Why I felt like this, [I don’t know]. I couldn’t tell that some people weren’t against me, it was just that at the moment it’s the way you’re feeling and I turned my back against pretty much the world. I just had to start getting help with it and it made me a lot better.”
Charlo enters the ring with an impressive record of 32-0, including 22 knockouts, while Benavidez boasts a record of 28 wins, two losses, and one draw, with 19 victories coming via knockout. This matchup presents an intriguing clash of styles and records, with Charlo looking to assert his dominance in the 160-pound` division and Benavidez aiming to cause a major upset.
With Charlo not making weight and the pressure to return spectacularly, this might be the first time that Jermall Charlo looks vulnerable in his undefeated career.
Oklahoma City Thunder player, Josh Giddey, the young Australian sensation, is making waves in the NBA with his exceptional skills and versatility. However, now the rumor mill has his name in the mix with an unsettling accusation that he is allegedly in a relationship with a minor. Currently, the NBA is reportedly investigating the allegation.
“We’re looking into it,” Michael Bass, an NBA spokesman, said on Friday to The Associated Press.
It all started when, in a since-deleted post, an anonymous social media user said a girl seen with Giddey in videos and photographs was a high school junior at the time. The social media account has since been deactivated.
The allegation receipts included videos and pictures of Giddey with an alleged 15-year-old. The pair seemingly refer to each other as romantic partners.
Giddey, who turned 21 in October, had no definitive comment when he was asked about the allegation at practice on Friday.
“Yeah, I understand the question, obviously,” Giddey said when questioned at Friday’s practice. “But there’s no further comment right now.
“I get the question guys. I completely understand you guys want to know about it. But just for right now, I don’t have anything to say.”
The Oklahoma City Thunder coach, Mark Daigneault, echoed the sentiment, saying it was personal.
Giddey has since blacked out his profile picture on his Instagram and turned off the comments to avoid the questions and critiques about the allegations.
Ironically, OKC rookie Chet Holmgren, who is close to Giddey, wiped all the pictures of the two of them from his social media.
Josh Giddey’s basketball journey started by proxy in a basketball-centric family. His father, Warrick Giddey, played professionally in Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL). This early exposure to the game laid the foundation that bore fruit in the prestigious Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), where he honed his skills and developed into a promising young talent.
His unique combination of size, court vision, and playmaking abilities drew attention from scouts and colleges worldwide.
In the 2021 NBA draft, Giddey was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the 6th overall pick. At 6 feet 8, Giddey possesses the height and vision of a forward but has a point guard’s ballhandling and passing abilities.
Giddey put up exceptional numbers in his rookie season, averaging 12.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, helping the Oklahoma City team get off to an 11-4 start. He was also named to the All-Rookie second team that season.
Last season, he averaged 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists, and at the World Cup this summer, he averaged a team-high 19.4 points for an Australia team that went 3-2.
The Oklahoma City Thunder organization has high hopes for Giddey as he continues to develop and adapt to the rigors of the NBA.
It doesn’t get much bigger in college football than the last Saturday in November. That’s when the Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes lock horns in what has become known as “The Game.” For years now the matchup has played a role in how the national championship picture plays out.
The last couple of meetings have been directly attached to how the College Football Playoff teams have been selected. In 2021, Ohio State was left out of it following a loss to the bitter archrival Wolverines. 2022 was a bit different, with the Wolverines winning again but both teams making the CFP.
As both enter Saturday’s affair undefeated, the pressure is on both programs. For No. 3 Michigan it’s either win or be left out of the playoffs because of a weak non-conference schedule.
For the No. 2 Buckeyes it’s either win or have head coach Ryan Day face even more scrutiny after three consecutive losses to the Wolverines, something that hasn’t happened since (1995-97) when John Cooper led the Buckeyes. It would also make Day 1-3 against the Wolverines which is a no-no.
Despite a 55-6 record, two Big Ten championships and three College Football Playoffs for Day in five seasons, Day is facing immense pressure heading into Saturday’s matchup. Of his six losses, three have come in the playoffs, and two have come to Michigan. Day is hoping to avoid the trap that cost former Buckeyes head coach John Cooper his job in 2000 after 13 seasons and a 111-43-4 record.
Of those 43 losses and four ties, 11 came in the two longtime rivals’ end-of-the-year matchup, with 10 losses and one tie versus just two wins. That just isn’t gonna cut in Columbus. Three times (1993, 1995 and 1996) the Buckeyes entered the game undefeated, only to lose. To make matters even worse, each loss came to a Michigan team ranked outside the Top 20.
Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt, who’ll be calling Saturday’s affair alongside the legendary Gus Johnson, had this to say about what Day is feeling on his podcast, “The Joel Klatt Show.”
“I think that the pressure of this game is going to be uniquely felt by Ryan Day. Now, I’ve gotten to know Ryan Day very well. I think Ryan’s one of the best coaches in America,” Klatt continued. “He’s one of the guys that I would love my sons to play for. He is just a good man, has an excellent staff, he recruits at a high level and he’s under an immense amount of pressure.”
“Why?” Klatt asked. “Because this fan base requires you to beat Michigan. He’s done just about everything now. He just hasn’t won a national championship, but he’s won playoff games. He’s won the Big Ten Championship and yet, these last two losses against Michigan have put him in a situation where his fan base is looking squarely at him saying, ‘You have to win this game.’”
In the last 21 matchups the Buckeyes have dominated, going 17-4, but it’s those last losses 42-27 in Ann Arbor in 2021 and 45-23 in 2022 in Columbus, that have the pressure leaning heavily toward Day. With no Jim Harbaugh on the opposing sideline as he serves the final game of his three-game suspension as part of the sign-stealing scandal that’s swept through the football program, Day needs to take advantage and get back in the winner’s circle of “The Game.”
As the Colorado Buffaloes complete their 2023 season, their first under Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, the legendary defensive back says he’s adding another Canton enshrinee to his 2024 staff. Sanders, whose 4-7 team has lost five consecutive games and finishes its season with a road game at Utah, is hoping to finish a once promising season on a good note.
While that is gonna he supremely tough against the Utes, some good news has come from the program in the last couple of days.
Late Wednesday, Coach Prime announced via his weekly radio show that good friend and fellow Pro Football Hall of Famer, Warren Sapp will be joining the CU Buffs staff for 2024. Sapp, sort of mentioned it a few months back, but now we have confirmation from the man in charge.
This move could do wonders for a Buffaloes squad that needs all the help if can get in the trenches from coaching to recruits. Who better than Sapp, one of the game’s greatest interior lineman ever.
Adding someone of Sapp’s pedigree is a big deal, and Sanders made note of that when he made the announcement.
“I’m excited about Coach Sapp,” Coach Prime said on his “Primetime Buffaloes Radio Show.”
“He’s a dear friend that I love to life, and he’s going to be invaluable as to what he brings to the table,” Sanders added. “The kids are going to love him; as far as the recruits, they are going to love him.
Assuming Sapp is qualified to be a full-time coach, one would expect to see him working with the defensive line. After a season of not being able to stop the run or pass, Sapp can only help that unit.
In wake of the program losing a few high-profile recruits over the last couple weeks, Sanders took it upon himself to also state where the program stands on NIL deals for potential recruits. In his Tuesday weekly presser, Coach Prime spoke vividly about the NIL craze and pay for play era that’s taken college athletics by storm.
“We want players that want us. We want players that want to be a Colorado Buffalo and come here for all the right reasons. … We’re not going to buy anybody whatsoever. That’s not how we approach it.”
“You come to Colorado to play for me and the Colorado Buffaloes because you really want to play football and receive a wonderful education,” Coach Prime continued. “All the business stuff is going to happen on the backend, if that is the case.”
“We are not an ATM,” he emphasized.
Strong words from Coach Prime, but again adding Sapp should help with recruiting and fixing a very bad Buffaloes defense.
As we rank the top rookies in the NBA after roughly 15 games, one rookie stands out among the crowd.
Chet Holmgren, Thunder
The unicorn who was the top-ranked recruit coming out of high school, had his original rookie season end before it began due to a Lisfranc injury. Now fully healthy, he’s displaying the unique skill set that’s made him seemingly the missing addition to the Thunder’s trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams. Holmgren posted his career-high of 36 points in an overtime win over the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 18.
Holmgren forced the extra session with a buzzer-beating three as time expired.
Warriors superstar Steph Curry recently spoke highly of the former Gonzaga standout.
“He’s ridiculously talented,” Curry said. “He’s a tough cover for bigs, and he’s a tough cover for guards if you switch just because he can get from point A to B pretty quick.
Season averages: 17.0 points, 7.8 rebounds 2.6 assists and 2.1 blocks per game. Holmgren is shooting a blistering 56 percent from the field and 46 percent from three.
Victor Wembanyama, Spurs
The ROY favorite has been solid, but he’s shown signs of struggle versus physical play. His biggest game of the week came in a 129-120 loss to the Sacramento Kings where he scored 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds on Nov. 17. Wemby’s shooting, which started out red-hot, has tapered off a bit at 42 percent.
Season averages: 18.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.6 blocks per game.
Ausar Thompson, Pistons
Thompson has been one of the few bright spots for a team that’s begun the season 2-13. The walking double-double has been a menace on the glass, and he’s already one of the better perimeter defenders in the league. As he continues to develop his shot his game will expand making him an even tougher cover. First-year head coach Monty Williams knows he’s got a good one in the talented former Overtime Elite star. Williams even compared Thompson to former four-time All-Star Shawn Marion, who was a 6-foot-7 rebounding menace and two-way star.
Williams told reporters this about Thompson’s rebounding prowess.
“You look around and you wonder why a guy isn’t getting a certain amount of rebounds, it’s because Ausar is stealing them.”
Season averages: 11 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Jaime Jaquez Jr., Heat
Another week of solid performances for the former UCLA Bruins star has him on the list again. The versatile wing’s best game came in a big 118-100 win over the Bulls. In that game Jaquez went for a solid 19 points, four rebounds and three assists on 8-for-13 shooting. It was his sixth time scoring in double figures in 14 games this season.
Season averages: 9.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists on 51 percent shooting.
Brandon Miller, Hornets
The No. 2 overall pick has had his moments playing alongside rising point guard LaMelo Ball. That includes a career-high 29 point effort on 10 of 15 shooting in a loss to the New York Knicks. Miller continues to show some of the things that made him such a highly coveted prospect. He seems to have settled in as the team’s starter at shooting guard after playing as the small forward earlier in the season.
His two-way ability often gets overlooked, but it’s also something the former Alabama star takes pride in.
As the 2023 college football regular season comes to a close this weekend, we turn our attention to the top QB prospects in the 2024 NFL draft.
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner for at least two more weeks, Williams is the unquestioned top QB and likely top overall prospect in next April’s draft. Williams is blessed with the uncanny ability to make plays off-schedule and to consistently make others around him better.
Often compared to Kansas City Chiefs all-world signal-caller Patrick Mahomes, Williams will likely be the top overall pick in April’s festivities. In his three-year college career which includes time at Oklahoma and USC, Williams has passed for over 10,000 yards, 93 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions. Showing off his dual-threat ability, he’s also rushed for 960 yards and 27 more touchdowns.
Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt told “The Herd” in a recent interview this about the former five-star prospect.
“He just does so many things well,” Klatt said on “The Herd.”
The strong-armed Tar Heels passer has been likened to former NFL stars Carson Palmer and Dante Culpeper. Maye’s elite arm talent and ability to dissect defenses are his biggest asset. One area he’ll need to clean up is his turnovers, and most come from his belief that he can make every throw.
He also has great size at 6 feet 4 and 230 pounds.
In his UNC career, the Huntersville, North Carolina, native has passed for over 7,700 yards, 61 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions. Maye is also adept at using his legs, with over 1,100 yards and 15 touchdowns rushing in his career.
Daniels has a unique and elite skill set that made him one of the coveted dual threat recruits in the history of the recruiting cycle. Even when he entered the transfer portal after the 2021 season to exit Arizona State, there was no shortage of suitors for his services. When you watch him run the offense in Baton Rouge you immediately see why.
While he was great in the 2022 season leading the Tigers to the SEC Championship Game, this season Daniels has a great chance to take home the Heisman Trophy.
In his five collegiate seasons, including the last two at LSU, Daniels has passed for over 12,000 yards, with 85 touchdowns and 20 interceptions, with over half of those yards and 53 touchdowns coming in his two seasons down on the bayou. Over 3,100 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns on the ground ain’t too shabby either.
Seems like Nix has been around forever. The former five-star recruit who began his career at Auburn as a legacy player, has completely turned things around in Eugene. Pretty much ran off the Plains down at Auburn because of subpar play, in two seasons at Oregon Nix has once again turned himself into a NFL prospect.
The two biggest areas of improvement for Nix have been his accuracy and his handling pressure. In 11 games this season, Nix hasn’t had a bad one yet, and if the Ducks can handle Oregon State in the Apple Cup, and avenge their lone loss to the Washington Huskies, they’ll be a CFP team.
In five college seasons Nix has over 14,000 yards, 103 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. He also used his legs to rush for over 1,500 yards and 37 paydirt touches. He’s firmly entrenched in the Heisman race also.
Nix told reporters this about his time in Eugene”
“I don’t think I could’ve picked a better place.”
Of this group. Penix Jr., the left-handed gunslinger, throws arguably the prettiest ball of the bunch. The Huskies have seen a rebirth the last two seasons with Penix under center. For a guy who’s suffered many injuries, seeing him healthy and playing at a high level is a sight to behold.
Not much of a runner, but he’s got great pocket presence and understands how to manipulate the pocket to buy that split second to make certain throws.
A sixth-year senior, MPJ has passed for over 8,300 yards, 61 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in two seasons in Seattle.
Passionate sports fans and media mouths tend to forget that players are always evolving, especially in college.
In their pursuit of the latest viral take, quote or video, sports personalities are free to criticize young athletes and often do so with no understanding of the great demands that come with being a student athlete in the limelight.
One coach claims the media plays a huge role in hindering the growth and development of some college players and coaches.
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz scolded the media, specifically ESPN, after he declared that some of their analysts were “coach killers” and “player killers.”
“It’s a little tougher today,” Ferentz said in his weekly media availability session on Monday. “And with all the ESPN coverage and all that, in fact, I was making a comment to a couple of guys on the staff this morning. I was looking through there and saw three faces on that little thing on the left of your ESPN site, where they’ve got the videos. Three guys that are basically coach killers or player killers, you know, that are just like, all they’re trying to do is just stir up controversy. So that’s kind of what’s out there now for people to take in. You wonder why there’s so much negativity.”
Ferentz’s issue with these ESPN analysts is that they’re not giving coaches and players enough time to find their footing. When a player has a bad string of games at the college or amateur level, analysts are quick to question how well they’ll be able to perform at the professional level.
The media monster is a 24-hour a day business now so players and coaches get nitpicked on a daily basis more than ever. Even in those sports, where a sample size of performance is needed before making a definitive statement about a player’s character, ability or potential.
When a team has a bad season, analysts are also quick to call for a coach’s dismissal or discredit their performance.
Ferentz claims that the objective for these analysts is to “stir up controversy,” and in the process, they’re breeding negativity about coaches and players. ESPN creates narratives for a lot of players and coaches as well with their hot takes and debates.
Though he never named any of the analysts that he perceived as “coach and player killers,” ESPN does plant their main faces on the screens consistently and the basis of their performance is praising or criticizing players and issues surrounding sports.
Their opinions hold major weight with the average sports fan and tends to set the narrative for the sports culture of the moment.
The final complaint Ferentz has about ESPN concerns the hyperbole that many analysts use when discussing players, which leads to false expectations from fans who often expect instant success from players that need time to develop.
The players’ stock can take a hit if they don’t produce instant results.
Ferentz has personally seen players on Iowa teams that started from the bottom and still landed in the NFL, which is why he won’t stand for sports’ biggest media outlet creating the narrative for coaches and players.
“I coached three guys … that started for us in the ’80s that all ended up being NFL players that didn’t start till their fifth year,” Ferentz said.
Ferentz was referring to Chris Campbell, Bruce Kittle, and Brett Miller, who didn’t immediately start in college but still landed in the NFL.
With the transfer portal becoming very popular, there’s more opportunities for student athletes to prove themselves and boost their draft stocks.
ESPN remains the most influential sports entity in media, and, right or wrong, when one of the network’s prognosticators speaks about a player it’s definitely going to contribute to how the casual fan perceives that player.
Early in the NBA season there are trends or players that might surprise you. Most teams have played at least 13 games, and there have been some standouts from players we may not have predicted to be this good.
Barnes was taken fourth overall by the Raptors in 2021 and was named Rookie of the Year. It’s not that we didn’t think he’d be good, it was that the direction of the team was unclear and that might have hurt Barnes’ development. Plus they were going to make him full-time point guard this season under a new head coach. It seemed that he’d have a steep learning curve.
Through 14 games he’s having the best season of his career. He’s averaging 19 points, nearly nine rebounds, and nearly six assists per game on 47/38/75 shooting splits. He is seventh in the league in EPM at +5.6 and is one of only four players to be ranked in at least the 90th percentile in both offensive and defensive EPM.
He was selected right after Barnes in the 2021 draft and had a rough start to his career dealing with injuries and poor play. Not to mention he was joining an already crowded backcourt. His shooting has been awful, and he needed to find a way to contribute and earn more playing time.
Suggs has stepped up defensively and become the best defender on the Magic roster. The Magic are currently third in aDRTG, and Suggs is third in the league in defensive EPM.
The promising big man was taken 15th in the 2022 draft and played in 43 games last year, starting in 17. But he played the majority of the year without lead guard LaMelo Ball, who was dealing with an injury.
This season Ball and Williams have started together, and the big man’s numbers have gone up, courtesy of Ball’s elite passing.
Williams is averaging a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds per game and he’s converting 70 percent of his shot attempts.
A favorite of basketball hipsters, the third-year pro from Turkey is only 21 and has made a huge leap so far this season. He’s averaging 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists per game. He is 14th in EPM at +4.2 and he had a memorable matchup against LeBron James on Sunday.
This was never a question about talent. Holmgren was taken with the second overall pick in 2022. The question, as it is for most young players, is how long would it take him to become an impactful player? Someone that contributes to winning.
He’s averaging 17 points, nearly eight rebounds and two blocks per game on 56/46/90 shooting splits. That’s absurd efficiency for a rookie. The three-point shooting likely won’t last. But even if he drops to 38 percent from three, that’s excellent.
He leads all rookies in EPM at +5.4, and he’s one of the other four players to be ranked in at least the 90th percentile in both offensive and defensive EPM, joining Barnes, Joel Embiid and his teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The NFL has constantly been preaching diversity, and not just at the head coach level. The push for inclusion has also been heavy at the general manager and executive level. With a league-record nine general managers currently, the NFL seems to have turned the corner as pertains to hiring minorities to be top decision-makers of franchises.
The unprecedented group is led by Brad Holmes of the Detroit Lions, who despite the team’s surprising 29-22 Thanksgiving Day loss to the rival Green Bay Packers, are still 8-3 and the current No. 2 seed in the NFC.
Holmes had done it by reshaping the team’s roster in the image and mold of himself and rising head coach Dan Campbell, which is tough, hard-nosed and physical. After last season’s 1-6 start to finish 9-8 and being a regular-season overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks away from clinching the NFC’s final playoff spot, coming into the 2023 season the hopes were extremely high.
Prior to Thursday’s loss the Lions were 8-2 for the first time in 61 seasons (since 1962), and that’s something they’ve been striving for since Holmes took the reins in 2021. At his end of the season presser in January, Holmes talked about how expectations in the Motor City had changed heading into this season.
“The standard is set,” Holmes added. “Last year, a foundation was laid, a culture was put in place. This year, a standard was set now. That standard, it’s not going to be compromised. It’s not going to be compromised no matter what.”
“I remember at 1-6, everybody was ready to write us off,” Holmes said. “We made a commitment to build this thing the right way, and sometimes the right way is the hard way, but we stayed with it.”
In Cleveland Andrew Berry has built the Browns into a Super Bowl contender with great drafts and shrewd free agency moves.
Chris Grier has made quality moves that have also made the Miami Dolphins a formidable group that has Super Bowl aspirations.
Omar Khan of the Pittsburgh Steelers continues the success that has long been associated with the franchise. He and Mike Tomlin make a great leadership duo.
Last year in his first season Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi-Adolfo Mensah led a surprising 13-win season, and this season they’re 6-5 despite a 1-4 start.
While those four have enjoyed solid success thus far, these four are trying to figure things out.
Ran Carthon (Titans), Terry Fontenot (Falcons), Ryan Poles (Bears) and Martin Mathew (Commanders).
Las Vegas Raiders interim GM Champ Kelly just got promoted to the role, but the team looks much more competitive (2-1) since he and interim head coach Antonio Pierce took the reins.
Travis Kelce, the star tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, has basked in the spotlight of his Super Bowl-winning team and his romantic relationship with pop star Taylor Swift.
However, his old posts on Twitter have stirred up controversy and ignited a passionate debate among morning talk show hosts, sports pundits, and more.
Kelce and his brother Jason discussed the controversial tweets making light of an issue that has polarized the player.
“Everybody’s a big fan of ‘College Travis Twitter,'” Jason said on the Kelce brother’s podcast, “New Heights.”
“What’s hilarious is that nobody followed me back then and…” Travis responded. “But I will say that I have been trying to get all those tweets deleted.”
Interestingly, the tweets that have been deemed misogynistic are no longer on his page.
“When you go back and read your tweets,” Jason asked Travis, “what does Travis Kelce think?”
“I was just using Twitter as like a diary. Just out here just saying nonsense,” he replied.
“As a man, You have something wrong with you if your [sic] going for girls that weigh more then [sic] you,” one of the tweets, dated April 7, 2010, said.
The old tweets were progressively worse.
“Haha I just caught myself judging every person that walked past me, whether they were ugly, fat, funny looking, sexy haha I’m trippin,” Kelce wrote another tweet from May 12, 2010 read.
In another tweet, Kelce replied to someone, “they slow as hell cuz there [sic] parents have been talkin’ to them like they were retarded since they were babies.”
Kelce also tweeted, “haha when fat people fall, its [sic] like slow motion entertainment, cuz they never JUST fall, they always tumble n gradually hit the deck #comedy.”
“The View” co-host Joy Behar, a self-described “Swiftie,” called out Kelce on the show, labeling Kelce “illiterate” and saying she doesn’t want Taylor Swift “stuck with this idiot.”
“Here’s one of his quotes: ‘Damn, the Clippers girls gotta be the girls that don’t make the Lakers team cause they was all ugly,'” Behar read.
Kelce had a game to forget when his team faced off against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Kelce’s underwhelming performance stood out in a game that ultimately resulted in a disappointing loss for the Chiefs.
Known for his consistent and explosive playmaking abilities, he struggled to make an impact during the game against the Eagles. He was limited to just two receptions for 23 yards, a far cry from his usual production. The Eagles’ defense effectively blanketed Kelce, preventing him from being a game-changing force.
In addition to his lackluster receiving numbers, Kelce also had a costly fumble in the third quarter that turned the game’s tide. The Eagles capitalized on the turnover, scoring a touchdown that put them ahead and ultimately secured their victory.
As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen how it will impact Kelce’s image and relationship with fans during a time when his personal life is under the microscope.
The Dallas Mavericks are 9-5 and currently in fourth place in the Western Conference. They have an elite offense led by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. That type of firepower suggests a team that can seriously contend. But there are a few reasons we think this dynamic duo, despite their prolific ability, won’t win a title together.
The Mavericks in their current form do not play any defense. They’re ranked 27th in aDRTG. Doncic and Irving have very little inclination to engage on that end of the floor for long stretches. The kind of focused attention and connectivity you need to win four rounds against the very best in the league. It’s hard for the role players to want to guard if the superstars aren’t held accountable on that end.
Speaking of accountability … do we think Jason Kidd is a good head coach?
Outside of 2022 when the Mavericks went to the conference finals, defeating a Phoenix Suns team that had serious internal problems in the previous round, the Mavericks have not shown defensive competency. Kidd is a Hall of Fame player who made nine All-Defensive teams. He understands how to scheme up a good defense and how to communicate that. Why has he been unsuccessful so far as head coach in Dallas?
Irving is averaging 23 points and six assists per game on 47/38/88 shooting splits. He’s in the 91st percentile in EPM. He’s the best player Doncic has ever played with. But can you count on him?
He has not played 70 games in a season since 2017, back when he was with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Whether it’s injury, unexcused PTO, not taking the vaccine, or suspension, he has not been a reliable teammate in a long time. Will that change this season? Maybe. But if you’re the Mavericks, can you count on that?
Aside from Doncic and Irving, who else is a plus player on that roster? Grant Williams is shooting exceptionally well from three, a career-high 46.8 percent, but he’s regressed on defense. Dereck Lively II is a promising young rookie who finishes everything tossed up at the rim, but he is a 19-year-old rookie.
This is year eight for Derrick Jones Jr., and he is just barely a league average player. Josh Green, Tim Hardaway Jr., Markieff Morris, and Dwight Powell round out the rest of the top-10 rotation.
If Doncic and Irving are not Herculean every playoff series this team won’t have a shot to advance. They could make some trades to help their defensive shortcomings, but who can they acquire that will move the needle?
Perhaps general manager Nico Harrison has a plan. He must, because he can’t expect this team to be a legitimate title contender.
Being an NFL head coach is hard. In a results-based business it’s all about what have you done for me lately, and in the case of these three coaches as of now it’s not enough.
The NFL should stand for “Not For Long,” because when you’re not producing “W’s” or growth you’re usually shown the door. And in the case of expectations vs. reality, many coaches just don’t measure up.
Take Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera, who after Sunday’s dreadful performance by his team looks like a dead man walking. With Washington mired in either mediocrity and underperformance, the longtime NFL coach is easily on the hottest seat in the NFL.
With a 26-34-1 record as the head coach of the Commanders, and no winning seasons in his nearly four full seasons at the helm, “Riverboat Ron” looks like the guy that could get the ax next this season.
Two inexplicable losses to the New York Giants, who were down to the backup and third-string quarterback, don’t help matters. Throw in the listless performance against a winless and reeling Chicago Bears in Week 5 in a prime time loss and it looks like the end is near for Rivera.
With a new ownership group in Washington, it feels like only a matter of time before it happens.
Many believe it would’ve happened after Sunday’s loss, if not for a short week and having to travel to Dallas for a Thanksgiving Day game. With a huge loss anticipated, it could happen over the weekend with the team off for ten days.
Things are so bad that even former Washington head coach Jay Gruden is calling for Rivera to get the treatment he got in 2019.
Gruden took to his social media to say this:
“Black Monday. Coming to a theatre near you. Been there. Done that.”
Rivera is Mr. Mediocre in his career with a 102-97-2 career record, with the bulk of his success coming on the back of former MVP Cam Newton while in Carolina.
Staley, has consistently underachieved as the head coach of a talent-Kaiden Chargers team. It’s surprising that he wasn’t fired after his team blew a 27-0 lead in last season wildcard playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Per reports he’s lost the Chargers locker room as the team has struggled to a 4-6 record.
Staley never should have been hired. He was the defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams for one season. A team that featured two future Hall of Famers in Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey.
Carolina Panthers first-year head coach Frank Reich has made a mess in his first season.
He’s done nothing to help prized rookie and No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. Things got so bad for the Panthers’ offense under Reich that he relinquished play-calling duties for two weeks, only to oddly take it back last week. None of what he’s done this season has looked anything like the guy who did a pretty solid job as the Indianapolis Colts head coach.
For the sake of Young’s development, owner David Tepper may need to move on from Reich.
Honorable Mention:
Bill Belichick. The departure of Tom Brady has predictable become a problem for BB. Time seems to be up in New England.
See you turkeys next year !
One of the main criticisms of the UFC has always been that it needs to pay most of the fighters more. Last weekend’s fight at the UFC Apex might have underscored that sentiment when newbie Ailin Perez made less from her winner’s prize than she did on her OnlyFans account after twerking in front of the commentators from the cage.
The Argentinian fighter gyrated her assets to the commentary team and the world while encouraging fans to check out her OnlyFans page. During her post-fight press conference, Perez also urged people to sign up for her OnlyFans.
“For anyone who wants to check out my OnlyFans, at this moment, it’s free,” Perez said. “My OnlyFans is not p**nography, it’s art. All my followers could prove that by checking it out.”
It worked, because Perez made more from the post-fight celebration than beating up her opponent. Perez said she made over $30,000 from the content creator platform, in contrast to the $24,000 she was paid for the fight before any sponsorship money she made.
In a remarkable display of skill and tenacity, the UFC bantamweight Perez (9-2) clinched a decisive victory at UFC Vegas 82, defeating opponent Lucie Pudilova by unanimous decision. The match, a highlight of Saturday’s card, saw Perez achieve her second win in the company in her second appearance for the organization, showcasing her growing prowess in the octagon.
The fight, characterized by intense exchanges and strategic maneuvers, ended with judges scoring the bout 29-27, 29-28, 29-28 in favor of Perez. This win marks a significant moment in Perez’s career, solidifying her status as a formidable competitor in the women’s bantamweight division.
Perez demonstrated remarkable control throughout the fight, executing a successful throw early on and quickly moving to a dominant position. Despite Pudilova’s efforts to counteract, Perez maintained her position, ending the round on top and causing visible damage to her opponent.
The victory follows Perez’s consistent performance and improvement within the UFC, highlighting her as a fighter to watch in future matchups. Her ability to dominate in the ring and secure a unanimous decision reflects her technical skills and strategic insight in high-pressure situations.
Perez’s triumph at UFC Vegas 82 adds a notable win to her record and contributes to her rising profile in the competitive world of mixed martial arts. Her OnlyFans promotional tactic shows other fighters how to make up the fighter purse shortfall.
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay wants the world to know that he understands prejudice as a white billionaire because he feels that is the only reason he was pulled over by police in 2014 and subsequently arrested for a DUI.
Irsay said how he really feels on the latest episode of “Real Sports.” Journalist Andrea Kremer asked Irsay during the segment if his DUI arrest in Carmel, IndiaN, nine years ago was a “low point” for him, and he kept it very real.
“I am prejudiced against because I’m a rich, white billionaire,” Irsay said on the program. “If I’m just the average guy down the block, they’re not pulling me in, of course not.”
Irsay was adamant about his truth even though he totally acknowledged the contradiction in the statement.
“I don’t care what it sounds like,” Irsay continued. “It’s the truth. I could give a damn what people think how anything sounds or looks like.”
In March 2014, Irsay made headlines for all the wrong reasons when he was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI). Irsay was pulled over by police in Carmel, Indiana, for erratic driving. During the stop, officers observed signs of impairment, and Irsay failed sobriety tests. A subsequent search of his vehicle revealed prescription medications for which he did not have proof of a prescription.
Irsay was arrested on charges of DUI and possession of a controlled substance. The incident sent shock waves through the sports world.
Following his arrest, Jim Irsay faced both legal and league-related consequences. He pleaded guilty to one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and was sentenced to one year of probation and mandatory drug testing. The NFL also fined him $500,000 and suspended him for six games.
The incident significantly impacted Irsay’s public image and reputation, and his latest comments are doing nothing to stop the disappointment and criticism from fans and the sports world at large.
One platform critical of Irsay was “First Take,” where Stephen A. Smith called Irsay “ignorant” and that “he’s never looked at Jim Irsay as someone with all of his marbles per se.”
Irsay clapped back on X, letting Smith and the “First Take” crew know that he wasn’t feeling the show’s sentiments and was considering legal action.
“1st take,your gonna get your ass Sued,because there was NO Alcohol,No illegal Drugs/ $29,000 dollars is low for me to be carrying in ,2014 arrest/I give away $2000-$10,000 dollars to the homeless and needed on the street, All the time and pass it on, making the world better,” Irsay wrote on X.
With all the controversies surrounding NFL owners, Irsay is doing nothing to help their image.
We are a month into the NBA season, and while we don’t hand out awards until the end of the season, players and coaches have started to put together enough work for us to discuss who has been performing well. In a league where players get the lion’s share of the credit, coaching matters.
Which coaches have been the best so far this season?
The Thunder hit the reset button after the 2020 season. They’ve amassed a haul of draft capital, 15 first-round picks and 22 second-round picks over the next seven years. They are the team in the best position to make a significant trade to acquire a superstar and jump to the top of the contender list.
A big reason they are ready is the development and play of their young players not named Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and that’s a credit to Daigneault.
Jalen Williams and Luguentz Dort are plus starters. Rookie Chet Holmgren is the second-most impactful player on the team behind SGA. Last year when Holmgren was hurt and didn’t play, he and Daigneault met one-on-one daily. Connecting with your players is huge.
The Thunder play an incredible five out system with excellent action and off-ball movement, and on defense they are connected. They’re sixth in aNET rating and have a top 10 offense and defense.
Despite only being 8-6, and having the 13th best offense, the Cavaliers are top 5 in aNET rating. That’s because they have a defensive identity (currently fourth), and they’ve had that since Bickerstaff became the head coach.
They had a game recently where they gave up 130 points to the Sacramento Kings and Bickerstaff challenged the group to be committed on that end of the floor. Since then they’ve won four straight.
The Wolves have the league’s best defense so far this season. Finch has the entire team connected and on a string. Rudy Gobert becoming more familiar with the team’s schemes is a huge help, and so is defensive buy-in from the team’s ascending star, Anthony Edwards. Karl-Anthony Towns is defending for the first time in his career.
None of that happens by accident. Finch has gotten through to his team with the help of veteran Mike Conley, and they are atop the Western Conference.
The Heat are off to a faster start than they normally are to start the season. They’re four games above .500 and their defense is ranked eighth. They have limitations in the half court, especially when Jimmy Butler doesn’t play. But Duncan Robinson has displayed a new off the bounce game, and Tyler Herro is still a very good player.
Stability and culture are the cornerstones of the organization, and Spoelstra plays a big role in that.
The No. 1 team in the league is the Celtics. They rank first in offense and second in defense. Last season Mazzulla took over the reins under weird circumstances. This season he had an entire offseason to prepare and install the systems and principles he believes in.
He has a command of the situation that wasn’t present last year. He benched his starters in a game against the Memphis Grizzlies this month, a game they won.
“I still think you have to go through stuff. I can’t have the expectation of perfection that we’re always going to play well. That’s just not reality; there’s 82 of these things. It doesn’t mean I’m happy. Like, I’m not happy about it,” Mazzulla said after the game.
Hard to imagine him doing that a year ago.
