Ten Things I Think

1. I think the improvement that DeAndre Jordan has made at the free throw line is the most pleasantly surprising storyline of the NBA season. Three years ago, he shot a pathetic 39% from the charity stripe. This season he is up to 75%, which is higher than LeBron.

2. I think the paths of Mitchell Trubisky and Jared Goff are analogous. Both struggled their rookie seasons before having new coaches at the helm in year two. This year, in year three for Goff, he has exploded and, along with Todd Gurley, is the reason the Rams are co-favorites in the NFC. I foresee a similar trajectory for Trubisky, who is playing under first year head coach and offensive guru Matt Nagy, next year for the Bears.

3. I think Zion Williamson is the most fascinating prospect, in any sport, of my lifetime. The kid is built like a brick wall and moves so gracefully. At 285 pounds, he flies through the air and explodes off the ground like he’s on a trampoline. There have been better prospects, no doubt, but none have been as intriguing as the Duke freshman.

4. I think Lincoln Riley has the coaching world in the palm of his hand. He is being paid handsomely to coach at one of the most prestigious football universities in the country and could likely have his pick of jobs in the NFL. If I were him, I would stay in Norman until either his dream job came open or the money was such that he could not turn down. Riley is just 35 years old so time is on his side.

5. I think the Warriors should trade Draymond Green this season. He is still viewed as an asset, but I could see Draymond falling off a cliff in the near future in terms of his productivity and defensive prowess. Dumping him now would allow Golden State to collect assets while also freeing up cap space to sign Boogie Cousins to an extension, should he play at a high level upon returning from his Achilles injury.

6. I think Christian McCaffrey is the most underrated offensive weapon in the NFL. The dude has 926 rushing yards, 701 receiving yards, and 13 total touchdowns this season. I never hear his name mentioned among the league’s elites, but it should be.

7. I think Zach Lowe has the best content of anyone who covers the NBA. His articles and podcasts are must-read and must-listen. He explains complex ideals and philosophies in a way that is easily digestible and he does a tremendous job of combining what he observes with analytics to improve the fan experience.

8. I think Lonzo Ball’s style of play is contagious. I am starting to believe that Lonzo Ball provides so much more than just his counting numbers. The way in which he treats the ball like a hot potato is contagious. He may never live up to the hype that surrounded him, and much of that may be his father’s doing, but to say he is trivial to the Lakers success would be moronic.

9. I think Jaren Jackson Jr. will be a perennial All-Star. He just turned 19 years old and is averaging 13 points and 5 rebounds, and nearly 2 blocks per game, while more importantly playing a significant role on a Grizzlies team that is grinding out wins in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. At 6’11” he can stroke it and plays defense at such a high level that I expect him to win a couple of Defensive Player of the Year Awards down the road.

10. I think I don’t like the Super-max contract structure in the NBA. It hurts the teams and it hurts the players. The teams have no other option but to pay their stars, but by doing so they handcuff themselves and must pray that their stars age gracefully, which they rarely do. In no world will John Wall, a player with a history of knee issues, be worth over $45 million annually five years from now. From a player’s perspective, they should have equal money on the table no matter where they choose to play. Sure, it’s nice to reward a team for drafting a player who develops into a star, but the player should not be financially penalized if he prefers to play elsewhere.