NFL
By: Joe Cardoso
What’s up, NBA fans? The weekly word on the association is here. With the Christmas Day games behind us, the focus moves towards NBA All-Star Weekend and the trade deadline. If you are new here this is my column where I pick 3 topics that have caught my eye over the last week days and we break them down and discuss them. Most teams are 34 games into the season and with the amount of injuries we are seeing squads are being forced to change not just lineups, but expectations on the season.
What Are We Doing In Sacramento?
Fresh off winning the Coach of the Year award and taking the Kings to the playoffs for the first time in decades the Kings decided to part ways with head coach Mike Brown. My first thought when the headline dropped was “WHAT IN THE HELL?” But, then I remembered these are the Sacramento Kings not what I would call the model of a well-run organization, which is a shame because they have an amazing fan base. Why get rid of Brown and how does this help them get better? Just look at the roster, De’Aaron Fox is a legit NBA superstar with speed that is not found on basketball courts too often. They brought in the vet DeMar DeRozan who still gets buckets and brings leadership. After that, you have players who haven’t hit the potential some thought they would or guys who just don’t fit the King’s style of play. How long do we have to see them try and force it on us that Domantas Sabonis is a legit number 2? Brown signed a contract extension not too long ago and is owed money so he will be well taken care of. Ownership once again has shown it has no patience and also are more moves coming? To have a mad run a practice and talk to media then can him moments before he jumps on a plane is so bad. But once again it is classic Sacramento Kings.
2025 Watch List.
I will stay out east and say two teams have gotten off to very good starts with some great wins under their belts, but there question is can they keep it up? The two teams are the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Let’s start with the Cavs who have the best record at 29-4 after flaming out of the playoffs I didn’t expect much from this team except maybe a play-in showing or even a 7th or 8th seed. But new head coach Kenny Atkinson and company had other ideas starting off the season on fire and never looking back. Donovan Mitchell is not doing it alone former top pick Evan Mobley is having a career year and becoming a possible All-Star. Add in a healthy lineup and it is good times in “The Land”. Long way to go so seeing how they fare the rest of the way is something I am watching.
Everyone says it and they aren’t wrong. The NBA is better when the New York Knicks matter and are playing meaningful basketball. The Garden is jumping with Jalen Brunson playing at an MVP level and Karl Anthony Towns has made himself right at home. Josh Hart is an ultimate glue guy who pairs well with OG Anunoby. I don’t think they catch the Celtics or Cavs but they should be a strong 3 seed riding a 9-game win streak at the time of this article. Now I know Knicks fans are waiting for the other show to drop but they should feel really good about this team and where it can go. But if you want the doom and gloom I will say that the Bucks can still figure it out and go on a run, and that team down in Orlando isn’t going to be unhealthy forever.
Who Wants It?
There are a lot of teams that are just jumbled at the bottom of the standings and I wonder who will step up and out of that group and make a power move. Teams like the Suns, Lakers, Bucks, Pacers, Hawks, and 76ers are all sort of in limbo. And for all sorts of reasons from roster construction, injuries, bad luck. At some point, these teams need to figure it out and meet expectations. How these teams head into the All-Star break will let us know a lot about how the rest of the season will go for them. One thing is clear the race to make the Play-In game and playoffs will be fun.
