 After an entertaining 82 games, along with the play-in tournament, the NBA playoff standings are finally established. Teams were constantly moving up and down until the final day of the regular season, and the result is a well-balanced playoff field in both conferences. There are favorites to win the NBA Finals such as the top-seeded Boston Celtics, while other teams such as the up-and-coming Thunder are aiming to establish themselves. With postseason play beginning on Saturday, here are my playoff predictions.
Eastern Conference: Western Conference: #1 Celtics 4 #1 Thunder 4 #8 Heat 1 #8 Pelicans 1 #1 Celtics 4 #1 Thunder 4 #4 Magic 0 #4 Mavericks 3 #4 Cavaliers 3 #4 Clippers 3 #5 Magic 4 #5 Mavericks 4 #1 Celtics 4 #1 Celtics 4 #1 Nuggets 4 #2 Knicks 1 #2 Nuggets 3 #2 Thunder 2 #3 Bucks 4 #3 Timberwolves 2 #6 Pacers 3 #6 Suns 4 #2 Knicks 4 #2 Nuggets 4 #3 Bucks 1 #6 Suns 2 #2 Knicks 4 #2 Nuggets 4 #7 76ers 2 #7 Lakers 1  This year marks one of the most anticipated drafts in the WNBA’s history. With a number of marketable stars in recent years, women's college basketball has gained significant interest thanks to players such as Caitlin Clark from Iowa, Angel Reese of LSU, and Paige Bueckers from UConn. It's always a big deal when there's a wide range of superstars playing at the same time, and it helps that they play for the league's powerhouse teams. With the WNBA draft on Monday, it will be interesting to see whether athletes like Clark and Reese will make a similar impact on the WNBA as they did in college.
As it is, the WNBA has also seen a growth of interest this past season. With superstars such as Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and A'ja Wilson leading the way, last regular season saw the most viewership in 21 years, and the highest attendance in 13 years. The WNBA Finals, which featured Wilson's Las Vegas Aces against the New York Liberty with Stewart and Ionescu, saw a 36 percent increase from the previous year. Other types of engagement through social media and online betting also saw a significant jump over the past year. A big factor of the WNBA’s increasing popularity can be attributed to its ability to market star athletes. More people are starting to notice the league’s recognizable athletes, and while the viewership numbers still don’t match up with other professional sports, it is certainly progress for the WNBA itself. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert reiterated these favorable trends toward the end of the season. “This surge in interest not only showcases the immense talent and athleticism on the court but also highlights the compelling narratives that continue to emerge about the players and the league,” Engelbert said. In the upcoming years, WNBA’s popularity should continue to grow with some of the players entering the league. Clark has become arguably the most recognizable athlete in men’s and women’s college basketball. With her limitless shooting range, Clark became the all-time leader in points for college basketball regardless of gender. During Clark’s tenure at Iowa, she led them to two consecutive championship appearances. Even though they lost both times, Clark will undoubtedly go number one in tonight’s WNBA draft. Following their loss last Sunday to the undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks, head coach Dawn Staley was quick to praise Clark's impact on women's college basketball. "I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport," Staley said. "She carried a heavy load for our sport, and it just isn't gonna stop here." After transferring from Maryland, Angel Reese has spent the last two seasons for LSU anchoring the paint on offense and defense. In Reese’s first season, she led LSU to the national championship while winning the tournament's Most Outstanding Player in the process. This season saw Reese win SEC Player of the Year for the first time. Reese’s playstyle involves a lot of taunting and trash talk, but she has often backed it up the last two years. https://x.com/DimeUPROXX/status/1616468655025360900 Following LSU's loss to Iowa, Reese announced her decision to enter the WNBA draft. Bueckers, on the other hand, has already voiced her desire to stay for another season at UConn to an ecstatic fan base. She is the latest phenomenon for a school that has produced plenty of other great women's basketball players such as Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart. As a freshman, Bueckers emerged into the spotlight, winning AP Player of the Year on a UConn team that reached the Final Four. Although she then had two injury-riddled seasons, Beuckers reintroduced herself this season by leading UConn back to the Final Four. https://x.com/UConnWBB/status/1775001097524085099 Bueckers might not have the flashy playstyle like Clark, but she can contribute in various ways both offensively and defensively. In addition to these players who have caught fans' attention, Kamilla Cardoso led South Carolina to their third championship in eight years, and is projected to be a top five pick in the WNBA Draft. Juju Watkins of USC, and Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame were also selected to the AP Women's All-America Team as freshmen. These players have been a driving force in women's college basketball popularity. Opportunities to profit from name, image, and likeness (NIL) have additionally played a role in their stardom. Bueckers was the first student athlete to ever sign with NIL, with Clark and Reese eventually reaching their own NIL agreements. Their brand endorsements include sponsorships with Gatorade, Bose, Nike, State Farm, and Sports Illustrated among others. On the court, more people have tuned into women's college basketball than ever. Anytime the most recognizable players are playing for the teams with the best chance at winning the championship, people will naturally pay more attention. The women's tournament had more people tuning in compared to the men's tournament, for the first time ever. There was a six-day stretch where the average viewership record was broken three times. In the end, the championship game averaged an astonishing 18.7 million viewers with its peak coming at 24 million viewers. Despite not even playing a game yet, the upcoming presence of these collegiate athletes have already started to make a positive effect on the WNBA and its popularity. The Indiana Fever, who own the number one pick, have already seen their average ticket prices rise up 133% with the assumption they will select Clark. Given that they're a small market team, it's a pretty incredible feat. While no team is currently guaranteed to select Reese or Cordoso, it’s likely whoever selects them will also receive more media attention. This is an ideal situation for the future WNBA athletes and the league itself to leverage the sport’s popularity at the college level. There are still issues regarding the players receiving respectable contracts, but the increasing interest is a huge positive. Assuming people will still follow players like Clark, Reese, and Bueckers, the league will only continue to receive more attention.   In a span of four months, the New York Times sports section has been disbanded and Sports Illustrated magazine appears to be on the verge of shutting down. Both moves can primarily be attributed to the rise of digital media which has contributed to these radical changes. But while people - myself included - have utilized digital media, it is still shocking to see two highly established print publications drastically change their operations.
Back in July, the New York Times announced that The Athletic, a sports website they purchased the previous year, would replace their daily sports coverage. It was devastating news for a department that is one of the most prominent sports writing industries. Although The Times' coverage of sports has changed over the years, this move was mostly frowned upon by long time readers for many reasons. One of them is the fact that it came at the expense of the writers who have spent years working for the sports section, and were some of the best sports journalists in the country. A few well known writers for the sports section include Harvey Araton, George Vescay, and the late Dave Anderson. Now most of the writers have to seek alternate jobs such as covering the business side of sports instead of playoff games, or even work for a new company. Although I might have not read The Times’ sports section as long as other readers have, it was easy to appreciate the writers who made it possible to visualize their stories about great players or games. Even if their stories were about topics I was following, they might have presented a perspective of the story that I didn’t think about. I had the privilege of attending a New York Times sports writing class involving Harvey Araton and Ken Belson, who are two writers from the sports section. Hearing stories about their previous assignments were incredible, and it made me more interested in developing my writing. They taught me numerous skills such as different ways to begin a story, and being able to provide the entire picture even if all the information didn’t favor the topic. Their advice enabled me to improve my writing skills in the two weeks taking that class. Sports Illustrated magazine is another prominent print news outlet that is on the verge of shutting down. From 1954 to 2018, Sports Illustrated was known for coming out with a new magazine on a weekly basis. But because of more people beginning to read news off the internet, the magazine transitioned to publishing biweekly. By 2020, that frequency was reduced to a monthly basis where it remained that way until this year. Accusations that they were posting articles with artificial intelligence serving as fake authors also put a black eye on the company's reputation. While Arena Group, which owns Sports Illustrated, has stated their intentions to not disband Sports Illustrated magazine, it's difficult to see any future continuation of the iconic magazine. There are no bigger losers in these transactions than the writers from these publications and fans who read their articles. Reading Sports Illustrated magazine was a hobby I enjoyed for years. It was fun getting the chance to read an in-depth article about an athlete's impact on their team's reputation, or the season preview for football. Their covers were also intriguing because they gave you an idea of what the subject for their main story. However, that wouldn’t have been possible without their iconic images. Whether it was a triumphant Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston, LeBron James in his St. Vincent-St. Mary high school uniform, or even the cover of Brandi Chastain above the story, you don’t get journalism presented like that online. The internet has certainly changed in the world of sports journalism, and it's understandable that some organizations would want to explore changes into how they operate for their content to better suit the public. However, sports journalism was initially presented through newspapers, and while I agree with trying to evolve news publishing, I don’t think it should come at the expense of completely abandoning the traditional methods. If two well-known companies could change their way of distributing sports coverage, it feels like every other sports journalism outlet is fair game. Maybe both publications will ultimately discover a way to bring back the print journalism that defined them for so many decades. For now, all those respected journalists and readers who enjoyed their work suffer from these decisions.  There is officially no debate that the NFL's newest dynasty now belongs to the Kansas City Chiefs. Led by head coach Andy Reid, quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and tight end Travis Kelce, they have appeared in four Super Bowls in the last five years, winning three of them. Kansas City additionally became the first team since the New England Patriots in 2003-2004 to win back-to-back Super Bowls.
They managed to do it the hard way as they went through more rough stretches than usual during the regular season. As a result, they had to play two road playoff games before facing a San Francisco 49ers team that gave them everything they had in hopes of avenging their Super Bowl 54 defeat. Yet it still wasn't enough as the Chiefs forced overtime and then proceeded to score on a Patrick Mahomes touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman after a 49ers' field goal to begin the extra period. Kansas City's victory now puts them in the same company as other great teams in NFL history such as Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers of the 60s, the 49ers of the 80s, and the dynasty they succeeded, the New England Patriots with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. Like all dynasties, the Chiefs possess a spectacular quarterback in Mahomes, but most dynasties usually have some unique aspect that made it great. This might include a tough defense, or a dominant run game. Here is what makes the Chiefs' stretch stand apart from the dynasties before them. The thing that makes the Chiefs' dynasty different is Reid's ability to utilize a creative style of play calling that doesn't resemble traditonal offensive schemes. With a heavy use of shotgun formation, run-pass-options, and pre-snap motion, the Chiefs have spent the last six years confusing opposing defenses. Their offense has allowed guys like Mahomes, Kelce, and former wide receiver Tyreek Hill to maximize their talents. They are not the first team to run most of their offense out of the shotgun. Most NFL teams have primarily operated from a shotgun formation at some point over the last decade or even before that. But the Chiefs have executed that scheme better than any other team that has applied it to their offense. Since Patrick Mahomes became the starter at quarterback in 2018, the Chiefs have averaged 28 points a game while barely trailing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in passing yards. If there is any other dynasty they might resemble, it would be the San Francisco 49ers of the 80s. Their hall of fame coach Bill Walsh installed a pass-first offense known as the West Coast, which involved a short passing game. Reid, who is associated with Walsh's pedigree, used that scheme during his first coaching job with the Philadelphia Eagles. Although he didn't apply the system at the beginning with Mahomes, it started show up again in that offense as Mahomes' average depth of target was a career low 6.1 yards. The only difference is that the Chiefs use a shotgun formation a lot more than those 49er teams. However, Reid's offense would not be as efficient without Mahomes as his quarterback. He came out of Texas Tech with high upside and the Chiefs were willing to trade up in the draft to select him. Every year, he has proven to reward the Chiefs, earning two NFL MVPs as well as three Super Bowl MVPs. What is most impressive about Mahomes, is that he's achieving these accolades at a rate similar to Tom Brady. But whereas Brady embodied the traditional style of quarterback play through operating from the pocket and attacking mismatches, it's never clear what Mahomes is going to do. He adds a level of backyard football and improvisation that fits Reid's offense like a glove. One play he'll resemble Brady and make a perfect pass from the pocket to Kelce, and the next he'll make a spectacular deep throw on the run like another hall of famer, John Elway. This type of backyard football that the Chiefs exhibit, has never been executed this flawlessly before. There may have been a time where this style of play might have been viewed by critics as a system that could only function in college football. But as it turns out, if you have the right coach and the right quarterback, you can turn that scheme into a Super Bowl winning formula.  The NFL Playoffs are the time of year everyone waits for during football season. This year's playoff field may not be as open compared to other years but then again, anything can happen in the playoffs. At the top of the standings are the Baltimore Ravens and San Fransisco 49ers, who both appear to be locks for the Super Bowl. Let's see if any other team could take their place.
AFC Wildcard: #2 Bills over #7 Steelers Pittsburgh was already going to have a difficult task playing the Bills on the road with Mason Rudolph starting at quarterback, but the loss of edge rusher TJ Watt might hurt even more. The Steelers are 1-10 when he doesn't play. Meanwhile, Buffalo is one of the hottest teams entering the playoffs having won five straight games. Josh Allen will have plenty of time to throw and the Bills will cruise to an easy win. #6 Dolphins over #3 Chiefs The Chiefs have not looked like defending champions, and even with the home field advantage, the Dolphins are going to shock people. Miami's defense may be injured, but the Chiefs also have their worst receiving core in the Patrick Mahomes era. This is also the same Dolphins team that nearly beat Buffalo last year on the road without Tua Tagovailoa. With him at full health, an upset might occur. #5 Browns over #4 Texans The Texans have been the league's biggest surprise this year thanks to CJ Stroud's outstanding rookie season, and DeMeco Ryans looking like the Coach of the Year. However, the Browns have also exceeded expectations even with injuries to their offense. While it remains to be seen if Joe Flacco's resurgence continues, their defense led by Myles Garrett will suffocate Houston's offense. Divisional: #1 Ravens over #5 Dolphins Lamar Jackson will have his first career playoff game with no turnovers as he'll spread the ball around to the likes of Mark Andrews, Zay Flowers, and Odell Beckham Jr. Baltimore's star studded secondary led by Marlon Humphrey and Kyle Hamilton will do enough to neutralize Miami's playmakers. It may not be a blowout like when both teams met three weeks ago, but Baltimore will still win convincingly. #5 Browns over #2 Bills Great defenses show up in the playoffs, and that's what Cleveland's defense is going to do against Buffalo. The key to this game will be the matchup between Buffalo's receiving core, and Cleveland's secondary. If Denzel Ward and co. can shut down the likes of Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis, life for Josh Allen will be miserable. His turnover problem will hurt Buffalo as Cleveland makes its first championship game since 1989. Championship: #1 Ravens over #5 Browns This game would involve so many headlines from Joe Flacco facing his former protégé Lamar Jackson, to the Browns playing in the location where their original franchise relocated. It's gonna be a classic defensive slugfest, but the Ravens' offense do just enough thanks to their high powered rushing attack. As for Flacco, he will struggle with Baltimore's strong pass rush. NFC Wildcard: #3 Lions over #6 Rams The Rams are going to give Detroit a scare in this game. Matthew Stafford will be amped up to play his former team, and if Cooper Kupp can match the production of other playmakers in Kyren Williams and Puka Nacua, the Rams will have a chance to win. However, Detroit's crowd has been waiting for a home playoff game since 1993. It will be hard seeing the Lions let such a passionate fanbase down in what will be an electric atmosphere. #2 Cowboys over #7 Packers The Packers have surprised a lot of people by making the playoffs in Jordan Love's first season as the starting quarterback. However, their luck will run out against a talented Cowboys team. Dak Prescott and Ceedee Lamb will be on their A game throughout the contest. The Packers will put up a decent fight, but Dallas is going to be too much for them. #4 Buccaneers over #5 Eagles When a team that has nothing to lose faces a team with everything to lose, chances are the team with nothing to lose prevails. The Eagles are certainly more talented against the Buccaneers, but they are really slumping. Some of their losses have came against teams with nothing to play for. Tampa Bay on the other hand, has racked up impressive wins as of late, which will continue against the defending NFC champs. Divisional: #1 49ers over #4 Buccaneers This is not going to be a contest. I see the 49ers winning this game through the air as Brock Purdy will take advantage of Tampa Bay bottom five pass defense. Purdy will throw for three touchdowns with two of them being to George Kittle. On defense, their vaunted pass rush led by Nick Bosa will give Baker Mayfield little time to throw en route to a dominant outing. #3 Lions over #2 Cowboys The Lions might have lost to Dallas not long ago, but had the referees declared Taylor Decker as eligible, they would've had a statement victory. They're going to be pumped up to play the Cowboys again, and it'll show throughout the game. Detroit's ground game led by Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery will keep the Cowboys' potent offense off the field. Championship: #1 49ers and #3 Lions Unlike the last two years where the 49ers lost the NFC Championship game on the road, this time they will enjoy the luxury of hosting the game. Christian McCaffrey will have a big performance on the ground, wearing out the Lions' defense. Defensively, they will force Jared Goff to be one-dimensional. After the disaster in Philadelphia the previous season, San Fransisco will be eager to avenge that loss. Super Bowl 49ers over Ravens Like the last time both teams met in the Super Bowl, this will be a competitive game with both teams struggling to gain ground over the other. Baltimore might have dominated the 49ers at their own stadium in front of a national audience earlier in the season, but it's hard to see head coach Kyle Shanahan get out-schemed again. Christian McCaffrey will be more of a focal point as he'll cement his legacy as one of the best running backs of his generation. As for the 49ers they finally exorcise recent playoff demons, and tie the Steelers for the most Super Bowl wins with six.  The debate as to which young player will lead the next generation of talent has certainly picked up steam this season. All stars like Jayson Tatum and Luka Dončić are only getting better with their teams off to strong starts. Last year's number one pick Paolo Banchero is building off his Rookie of the Year campaign in a big way, as the Orlando Magic are off to their best start in years. There might even be a new big man rivalry in the making with Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama.
However, we should also acknowledge some of this year's memorable moments provided by the some of the players who are guaranteed Hall of Famers. From individual accolades to thrilling playoff matchups, 2023 as a whole gave fans the chance to appreciate such excellence. When it comes to individual achievements, there are a few players who deserve a mention such as Damien Lillard scoring 71 points, Kevin Durant moving up to number 10 on the all time scoring list, and Joel Embiid becoming the second player from Africa after Hakeem Olajuwon to win MVP. But the one accomplishment that comes to everyone's mind from this year, is LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers eclipsing the all-time scoring record set by legendary center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. For years, that record was viewed by sports fans as unbreakable, which only makes it fitting that James was the one to achieve this feat. Not only has James been unfazed by the immense amount of hype placed on him going back to the night he was drafted, but he has exceeded those expectations. As it is, James already possesses an incredible legacy full of championships and other records. When it comes to some of the records James has set, this might be his greatest feat. Abdul-Jabbar, who also had high expectations before his debut, was quick to applaud the significance of James passing him. "Whenever a sports record is broken — including mine — it’s a time for celebration," Abdul-Jabbar said. "It means someone has pushed the boundaries of what we thought was possible to a whole new level." James has been the face of the league for about over a decade, but if there's any other player who's legacy also holds a great deal of significance, it would be Stephen Curry. He has changed the point guard position with his excellent ball-handling and deadly three point shooting. More importantly, he turned the Golden State Warriors from a mediocre team to a dynasty. At one point, Curry and James' rivalry dominated the NBA landscape. Both players faced off in the Finals for four straight seasons from 2014-2018 with James winning in 2016, while Curry won the other three matchups. Once James left the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Lakers, it opened the door for more contests between the two players since both players would now be in the same division. While they did face off two years ago in the play-in tournament, last year's semifinals was the first time both players faced off in an actual playoff series in five years. To say the least, both players put on a masterclass. Their abilities were on full display from the big shots to the intelligent plays in critical situations. James averaged 24 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, while Curry's 26 points a game outscored every other Warrior by 10 or more. The Lakers took the series in six games thanks to a game one on the road that gave them home court advantage which they wouldn't relinquish. However, there were a lot of people who were hoping for an encore once the series ended. Everyone knows that because both players are on the older side, this might have been their last series. Yet they still managed to bring out the best in one another regarding their performance. Curry did not hesitate to acknowledge the significance of facing off against James even after losing the series. "There's so much respect and appreciation for the battles, the experiences, and the back and fourths because it's basketball at the highest level," Curry said. If fans want to see a rematch in the future, that says something about the impact James and Curry have had on the league. Even though the Lakers lost to the Nuggets in the following round, James' playoff run proved that as long as he can still play, his title window is still open regardless of age. He hasn't shown much signs of slowing down this year, averaging 25/7/7 with the Lakers in the thick of a competitive Western Conference. Many players usually slow down as they get old, but I think James' brilliance at his age should separate him from others. His sustained excellence is a big reason why there is still not a distinguished player to carry the torch for the next generation of stars. Finally, there was Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets, cementing his legacy as one of the best centers of all time. Having won back to back MVP awards, along with transforming the Denver Nuggets into a contender, the last thing Jokić needed was a championship. Throughout last year, it was evident Jokić and the Nuggets were on a mission, clinching the number one seed in the Western Conference. They only got stronger in the playoffs where they lost only four games total, and defeated the Miami Heat in the Finals. By winning the championship, Jokić established himself as undoubtably the best center of his generation. His IQ, and playmaking ability particularly separates him from other great centers who might have been more known for only using their strength to dominate opponents. Jokić might play like a center on one possession, and then resemble a point guard on the next one. His skills have caught the attention of other legends such as Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon - a player who Jokić's skills draw some comparisons towards. "He's playing the game, and you think he's not serious, but he's so effective," Olajuwon said. "His shot, his fakes, they are very difficult to time. You don't know when he's faking and when it's real." For some Hall of Famers, winning the Finals is the last thing they need to accomplish in their career. Jokić already had a legitimate case, but now that he's is the latest player to have achieved everything an NBA player could possibly dream of. At 28 years old, Jokić will likely continue to ascend among the best centers to ever play the game.  It is well known that quarterback is the toughest position for anyone in sports. They are responsible for guiding the offense every game and must know where all 21 other positions are for each down. Their decisions on each play dictate the flow of the offense, and they have to make them with opponents looking to hit them every play. With how steep these requirements are, it is understandable that some rookie quarterbacks initially experience some growing pains.
However, there does come a quarterback like Dan Marino or Justin Herbert who already proceeds to look like a polished veteran. Fourteen weeks into the season, CJ Stroud of the Houston Texans has been on that same trajectory. Once seen as a rebuilding team, the Texans are in the heat of the race of an AFC wild card spot, and Stroud is a major reason why. With the individual and team success Stroud has enjoyed, it is worth evaluating where his year stands with some of the other great seasons by rookie quarterbacks. From a statistical perspective, there's not one statistic where Stroud doesn't look impressive. While he is fresh off his worst outing against the Jets, he's thrown for 3,651 yards and 20 touchdowns. Stroud might not be able to shatter Herbert's rookie record of 31 touchdown passes, but he is likely to set a new mark for most passing yards by a rookie with Andrew Luck's 4,374 yards standing in his way. Needing only 723 yards, it's a safe bet Stroud will shatter that record even if he stays in concussion protocol following a head injury he suffered last week. As if that's not impressive enough, Stroud is leading the league in passing yards while managing to protect the football, throwing just five interceptions. Another important factor that should be talked about in discussing quarterback's rookie seasons is their role in the offense. There are a few rookie QBs who might have had a good year and won games, but that was more because of a great defense or a run first offense. A great example of this is Ben Roethlisberger, who won every regular season game his rookie year but played on a team that ranked last in pass attempts and second in rushing attempts. Meanwhile, the Texans have asked Stroud to do a lot more, with their rushing attack ranking in the bottom tier for most statistical categories. Their offense may not be in the top tier in pass attempts, but any football fan would know that Houston's offense revolving around Stroud. It's also not like the Texans are having him throwing these short passes in fear of possibly turning the ball over and losing his confidence. They fully trust Stroud to lead them down the field, which is evident in his 8.5 yards per completion. Head coach DeMeco Ryans, who also deserves credit for Houston's turnaround, re-iterated this notion of the team's faith in Stroud following his first comeback win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "I think trust is earned and C.J. has earned that trust by showing it on the practice field, proving it to his teammates, and you build that trust over time," Ryans said. "C.J. has built that trust amongst his teammates, amongst the coaching staff that we can put a little bit more on him.” That game particularly shows you all you need to know about Stroud. On the winning pass, he reads the safety Dee Delaney the entire play. When Delaney commits to receiver Noah Brown, Stroud zips the pass down the middle to fellow rookie receiver Tank Dell for the win. https://x.com/NFL/status/1721277034360721794?s=20 Then there's the fact that Stroud has helped engineer one of the league's best turnarounds this season. Before the arrivals of Stroud and Ryans, the Texans had won a combined 11 games in three seasons. Now the Texans have been reeling off one signature win after another with some of Stroud's performances. In my opinion, Stroud's season is reminiscent of Andrew Luck in 2012 where he turned the Colts from a bottom dweller to a playoff team overnight. Robert Griffin III, the guy who actually who actually won the award over Luck, wasn't shy to shower Stroud with praise four weeks into the season. "CJ Stroud isn't just the Texans' franchise quarterback," Griffin said. "He's a top ten QB in the league already." In addition, Stroud is elevating the players around him. Nico Collins has went from a seldom used receiver to a reliable number one option who already topped 1,000 receiving yards. Dell also formed a potent rookie connection with Stroud although that will unfortunately be put on hold after Dell suffered a fractured fibula in last week's win over Denver. The Texans are currently just outside of a wild card spot with their week two loss to the Colts being the difference. Despite a blowout loss to the Jets, most of the other teams ahead of them didn't gain much ground. Houston also has a soft schedule before getting another crack against the Colts in the final week. If Stroud clears concussion protocol, there is a good chance Houston sneaks into the playoffs. When the playoffs begin, we might be giving even more praise to Stroud's season. Note: Majority of this article was written before Stroud's head injury against the Jets.  The story of the New York Jets' season has been well known up to this point. After a season in which they saw young players such as defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, wide receiver Garrett Wilson, and running back Breece Hall establish themselves as significant long term pieces, they went all in by acquiring future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. With quarterback being the team’s most glaring offseason need, many believed this move would not only help the Jets break their 12 year playoff drought, but catapult them into contention.
Unfortunately, Rodgers only saw four snaps in their season opener before suffering a torn ACL injury. The Jets therefore had to trot out their former first round pick Zach Wilson who wasn't far removed from being relentlessly booed the previous season. To the team's credit, they managed to win that game as well as three other contests, but now their season is slowly sinking. With the team having eight games to make a playoff push, one must wonder how much a healthy Rodgers would change. One thing that's for sure is he would change the team's production on offense. Even without Rodgers, the Jets have still managed to be competitive thanks to their defense which is loaded with contributors at almost every position. They also neutralized high-powered offenses like the Chiefs, Bills, and Eagles which is why they are still in position to make a run toward the playoffs. The offense has unfortunately been another story. So far, the Jets' offense has scored eight touchdowns despite playing in nine games. Their most recent touchdowns occurred in week six when the Eagles let Breece Hall score in the final minute, and following their bye week against the Giants where Hall turned a two yard checkdown pass into a 50 yard score. This unit was supposed to take a huge step with Rodgers, and the Jets built their entire playbook, roster, and coaching staff around him. But because of his injury, the team has changed their entire approach on offense to benefit Zach. Even with Hall in the backfield, defenses are keying in on the run and their passing game has not done enough to keep opponents honest. It's reasonable to think the Jets would be a much more balanced unit on offense with Aaron Rodgers. His presence alone would give more opportunities for Hall to make big runs and then if defenses are playing the run, Rodgers would have plenty of chances to connect with Garrett Wilson. More importantly, their record would look a lot different with Rodgers. The Jets' defense has held opponents to less than 20 points a game, and it's hard to believe a Rodgers-led offense would not be capable of averaging more than 20 points. He may be 40 in a few weeks but Rodgers is the type of player who can elevate others around him. A healthy Rodgers likely would have guided them to wins in all of their one score losses against the Patriots, Raiders, and Chiefs - although that game was the team's best offensive performance. Instead they've had to ponder the what-ifs. But when a team's starting quarterback goes down, it will likely reveal many flaws and this has been the case with the Jets. As mentioned, they have only scored eight offensive touchdowns this season and while this number would look a lot better with Rodgers, that's not excusing some of their self-inflicted wounds. The Jets' offense often struggles in situations that most teams capitalize in. Their red zone and third down offense particularly ranks dead last in both categories. Most of this is a combination of bad play calling, poor execution, and a lack of discipline. The penalties have especially been a problem as the last two games have seen the Jets rack up 12 offensive penalties, which includes a holding call that negated a Breece Hall touchdown from last week. That comes down to offensive coordinator Nathanial Hackett. He was signed because of his work with Rodgers in Green Bay, but has struggled without him before as seen in Denver and it's happening again. From a personnel standpoint, there is also a lot to be desired. They have not done a good job with their plans at backup quarterback. Zach Wilson needed this season to watch from the sidelines and while he's had a few decent games, signing a more experienced backup like Teddy Bridgewater would have been a better option. They look scared to put Wilson in positions to make big plays when they have a small lead, such as the Raider game where they didn't throw downfield until they were trailing. Other issues include going into the season with a 38 year old Duane Brown at left tackle. He started only two games before a hip injury landed him on injured reserve. Allen Lazard - a signing meant to bring in Rodgers - has struggled to compliment Garrett Wilson with bad penalties and dropped passes. While I believe Rodgers will certainly make a difference once healthy, the Jets can't simply run it back in 2024 regardless of what happens this season. They must address their weak links regarding tackle and receiver, along with having a better backup plan in case Rodgers suffers another injury. There is some hope Rodgers will come back during the season. He claims to have made significant progress during his rehab and expressed confidence in a return during mid-December or even earlier. The question is whether it will be worth it depending on the Jets' playoff chances at that point. If things don't change in the coming weeks, Rodgers might be better off waiting until next year.  Halfway into the NFL season, there have already been plenty of ups, downs, and surprises. Just ask me how eventful this year has been as a Jets fan. Yet among the headlines that emerged through the first eight weeks, I paid close attention to some of the predictions I previously made for both the AFC and NFC. While the jury is still out for these predictions, that doesn't mean they aren't worth assessing at the season's midpoint. Here are my grades for the preseason predictions I made back in August.
AFC Edition: 1. Justin Herbert Will Win MVP: B Herbert's enjoying another strong season so far. In his fourth year with the Los Angeles Chargers, he's thrown for 1,800 along with 13 touchdowns, while only turning the ball over four times. His ability to make perfectly accurate throws while also providing off-script plays has been on display multiple times, like in this sequence against the Tennessee Titans. https://twitter.com/chargers/status/1703468300770955646 Unfortunately wins are a factor in the MVP race, and some of Herbert's performances like the one against Tennessee, came in a losing effort. The Chargers are currently 3-4 and it also hasn't helped that a fractured finger has somewhat hindered a few of Herbert's most recent outings. He did rebound with a three touchdown outing on Sunday Night against the Bears. To get in the MVP race, he'll need to have similar performances. 2. The Jaguars Will Make The AFC Championship Game: A- After a 1-2 start, the Jacksonville Jaguars have picked up from where they left off last year winning their last five games. The most impressive part about their winning streak, is that Trevor Lawrence is even not the main reason why. Lawrence's numbers are still solid this year, but it's the strong running of Travis Etienne and a slowly emerging defense that are the catalysts for Jacksonville's 6-2 record. Etienne is currently third in rushing with 583 rushing yards, and has also shown improvement as a receiver where he's only 50 yards from exceeding last year's total of 316 receiving yards. https://x.com/NFL/status/1713609732064530929?s=20 Their defense has been able to repeat last year's formula of generating takeaways as they lead the league in that category. Darius Williams and Andre Cisco each have three interceptions and Josh Allen (the defensive end) already has nine sacks. These players have played a key role in holding opponents to under 20 points a game. 3. Sauce Gardner Will Win Defensive Player of the Year: D This grade has nothing to do with Gardner's performance so far. The reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year is proving that his rookie season was no fluke. As of now, Gardner has allowed just 19 catches for 155 yards. He's a big reason why the Jets' defense has kept the team in the playoff hunt despite losing Aaron Rodgers to a torn ACL on their opening offensive possession. The reason why I'm giving this prediction a D is because interceptions are a big factor in cornerbacks winning Defensive Player of the Year. Gardner has only been thrown at just 25 times. Having played six games that's on pace for 66 times this season. While Gardner has still had some opportunities such as a potential pick six that he dropped against Dallas in week two, it's impossible for anyone to record multiple picks if they're hardly targeted. NFC Edition 1. Micah Parsons Will Finish With 20 Sacks: C+ Make no mistake, Micah Parsons is still having another great season. He's often in the backfield every game and if Parsons isn't making plays, chances are he's creating opportunities for other players. He won Defensive Player of the Month for September, and his play has only continued to be praised from other players such as future hall of famer Aaron Donald. "I've watched him play fast," Donald said. "He does a good job of just playing relentlessly, playing fast, and always finding a way to be around the ball." https://x.com/NFL/status/1703541493959410036?s=20 Parsons has also registered six sacks in seven games which is really good by all means. But with the regular season being halfway over, Parsons still has a lot of work to do in order to finish with 20 sacks. It's not impossible, given Parsons is such a dominant force but he'll need to have either a full sack in almost every game, or a few outings with multiple sacks. 2. The Lions Will Break Their Winless Playoff Streak: A This is looking like my most realistic prediction so far. All that hype surrounding the Detroit Lions before this year has come to fruition through the first eight weeks. Their 6-2 start is the best since 2011 and while that team had Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, this team is much better. Like the 2011 team, they also boost a potent QB-WR duo in Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown, but this year's team has a much better run game led by David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Their defense is also a lot better thanks to Aiden Hutchson's strong sophomore campaign and an improved secondary that's allowed far less passing yards compared to last year. What's particularly impressive, is the Lions are no longer a dark horse to make the playoffs and they're still finding ways to win. This postgame speech from head coach Dan Campbell after upsetting the defending champion Chiefs on opening night should tell you everything you need to know about where this team's confidence level is at. https://twitter.com/Lions/status/1700040943838069136 3. Justin Fields Will Throw Over 4,000 Yards With the Bears investing a lot into building around Justin Fields heading into 2023, expectations were high for Fields to solidify himself as the Chicago Bears' franchise quarterback. But this year has been a rough one for the most part. Fields hasn't done much to prove his case. He tends to stare down receivers even if they aren't open which causes his progressions to take longer. Even when Fields does see an open man downfield, he's sometimes hesitant to throw to them. https://x.com/NFLFanzine/status/1704798033827815448?s=20 Although Fields' last two full games did show improvement, that was halted by an injury early in their week six loss against the Vikings. At 1,201 yards through six games, Fields needs a number of 300 plus yard outings to exceed 4,000 yards and many more winning performances to prove he can still be the quarterback of the future.  Last year saw the landscape of power in the NBA turn west toward the Rocky Mountains, where the Denver Nuggets and their world class big man Nikola Jokic won their first NBA championship over the Miami Heat. But there are other teams such as the Lakers and Heat who also exceeded expectations and are poised to build from last year’s success. Teams who went out in disappointing fashion like the Bucks and Celtics are reloaded and ready to make another title run. But despite the presence of these other teams, the Nuggets kept most of their championship core intact and are primed to repeat even if Jokic is more interested in his horses than basketball.
With that being said, here are my biggest takes going into this NBA season. 1. The Los Angeles Lakers Will Win Their 18th Championship Even with future Hall of Famers LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers' season looked like a lost cause as they stumbled into the trade deadline with a mediocre 25-30 record. But with a series of midseason acquisitions the Lakers went 17-9 after the deadline despite missing James for a large portion, and advanced to the Western Conference Finals. Although they got swept, the Lakers have established a new foundation that should carry over into next year. At the center of this team is LeBron James. At 38, James continues to play at an All-NBA level, averaging 28 points, eight rebounds, and six assists while shooting 50% from the field. In the playoffs, James sometimes looked like he was drinking from the Fountain of Youth, throwing down reverse dunks and chasing down opponents. https://x.com/TheHoopCentral/status/1652159054146576384?s=20 Alongside James is Anthony Davis who might be the second option, but is fully capable of thriving as the number one option. This was seen multiple times last year such as his scorching hot start, and later keeping the team in the playoff hunt for much of March without LeBron. In addition to James and Davis, Austin Reaves showed lots of improvement in his second season, where he started to blossom into a playmaker during the playoffs. D'Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura are also two players who can step up if James and Davis are having an off night. All of these players will be sticking around as the Lakers managed to retain them in free agency with reasonable contracts with the most being Reaves' 56 million. The Lakers also signed players who can thrive with James in different ways. Jaxon Hayes is a solid pick & roll threat, Tareun Prince can take on the role of a catch and shoot player, and Christian Wood is another big man who can space the floor. For the Lakers to reach the promised land, it's essential that Davis stays healthy during the year. James is going to miss a decent amount of time given his age, but with Davis being just 30 years old, he should be counted upon to play a large portion of games. Davis clearly has plenty left in the tank and the Lakers need him to build off his resurgent 2023 campaign in order to reach the ultimate goal. 2. The Oklahoma City Thunder will be a Top Four Team in the West Although many believed last season would be a rebuilding year for the Thunder, they surprised many experts and came within one game of clinching the eighth seed. They boost a young, homegrown roster that will be on everyone’s radar this season. Leading the way is point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who absolutely looks like the real deal. He was always a rising star, but this year saw him make the full transition to stardom. Last season, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged a career high 31 points along with five assists on 51 percent shooting from the field. He also made notable strides on the defensive end, finishing in the top five for steals and deflections. This breakout season resulted in Gilgeous-Alexander earning first team All-NBA at the end of the year. Yet even after his breakout year, Gilgeous-Alexander didn't hesitate to praise his teammates. "None of that stuff matters without the team," he said following the season. Fortunately for Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder have slowly constructed an effective supporting cast to complement his abilities. Lu Dort is arguably the team's best defender as he'll take on the opponent's top scoring option on a nightly basis. Josh Giddey gives the Thunder another good playmaker at guard, and small forward Jalen Williams finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. The team will also get a significant boost with their 2022 pick Chet Holmgren returning from a foot injury that kept him out all of last year. 3. Jayson Tatum Wins MVP Since becoming the face of the franchise for the Boston Celtics in 2019, Jayson Tatum has quickly ascended to one of the NBA's premier players. The last two years have seen Tatum make the leap into the prime of his career, making All-NBA in back to back seasons while leading the Celtics to the 2022 NBA Finals. Offensively, Tatum has averaged 27 points in the last three years but he is so much more than a scorer. Defenses also have to respect his ability to facilitate just as much as his scoring. "He's an unbelievable playmaker," said his teammate Peyton Prichard after Tatum's Finals debut. "We know he can score at the highest of levels, but when you can score and pass like he did, it's a game changer." In addition, Tatum is a solid defender who takes advantage of his length when guarding some of the game's other premier players. The Celtics have boosted a top five defense in the last two years and Tatum's improvement on that end is a major reason why. This offseason saw the Celtics reload their roster with the acquisitions of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis - two players who also will command attention from opposing defenses along with Tatum's fellow all star Jaylen Brown. Although these moves did come at the cost of cutting ties with some of the players that made the Finals, this might be the best roster in Tatum's years as the lead option. Tatum will have even more opportunities to excel at a high level, and if the Celtics play up to expectations or even exceed them, Tatum will be a huge reason why. 4. Joel Embiid's Tenure In Philadelphia Will End If there's any reason why the Philadelphia 76ers have regularly appeared in the playoffs throughout the last six years, it’s because of Joel Embiid. This year saw him continue to establish himself as the best thing to come out of the Trust the Process phase, with Embiid winning his first MVP award. Embiid is practically unstoppable in the post thanks to a bevy of savvy moves he's mastered over the years. To complement his inside game, Embiid has developed a respectable outside game where he can either drive or shoot with ease. https://x.com/espn/status/1619463885773312001?s=20 He's also a strong defender which is evident from his three second team All-Defense selections. Whether it's in the paint or on fast breaks, it always seems like he's lurking somewhere as seen in game five of the semifinals against Boston. https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1656113793762721792? However, the 76ers have failed to build a sustainable team around him. Most of the all stars he's played with have weaknesses that become untenable, such as Ben Simmons' unwillingness to shoot, or James Harden's frustrations with management. They've also made poor personnel choices, such as trading Mikal Bridges after drafting him, and re-signing Tobais Harris instead of Jimmy Butler. The best player besides Embiid as of now is an unhappy James Harden who has no intention of repairing his relationship with the front office. Eventually one has to wonder how much longer Embiid can put up with the team’s shortcomings. Last summer, Embiid said that he wants a shot at a title even if it might mean potentially leaving Philadelphia. While he later backpedaled on these comments, no one would be surprised to see him want out if the 76ers fail yet again to make a deep playoff run. If Embiid does request a trade, one realistic option would be the New York Knicks, who won their first playoff series in a decade and are building a strong foundation. Embiid also has ties to team president Leon Rose, as he used to be Embiid's agent. The Heat would also be a possibility since Embiid won't have contemplated the what-ifs of keeping Butler. |
Date Published
January 2025
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