Thread watched CNOTES 2025-206 NBA TRENDS, NEWS, BEST BETS AND OPINIONS THRU THE PLAYOFFS !

[Cnotes53]

Sunday’s 9-pack:
Highest-paid players in the NBA this year:
$59,606,817— Steph Curry, GSt
$55,224,526— Joel Embiid, Phil
$55,224,526— Nikola Jokic, Den
$54,708,609— Kevin Durant, Hst
$54,126,450— Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milw
$54,126,450— Luka Doncic, LAL
$54,126,450— Jimmy Butler, GSt
$54,126,450— Anthony Davis, Dal
$54,126,450— Jayson Tatum, Bos

Quote of the Day
“We wanted to play with fanatical effort, and the second thing was poise. The third thing was we talked about staying together, no matter what.”
UAB interim football coach Alex Mortensen, who led the Blazers to an upset win over Memphis Saturday. Alex is the son of the late Chris Mortensen, the great reporter on ESPN.

Sunday’s quiz
Who was QB for the Vikings, the first time they played in a Super Bowl?

Saturday’s quiz
The Sun Bowl is played in El Paso, TX every December.

Friday’s quiz
Toronto Blue Jays won consecutive World Series in 1992-93; Cito Gaston was their manager.

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Sunday’s Den: Wrapping up a sports Saturday……​

— Vanderbilt 31, LSU 24
Commodores are 6-1 for the first time since 1950.
Vandy ran ball 45 times for 239 yards (5.3 yards/carry)
Commodores snapped a 10-game losing skid vs LSU.

— Georgia 43, Ole Miss 35
QB Stockton threw for 289 yards, four TD’s.
Georgia outscored the Rebels 17-0 in fourth quarter.
Dawgs ran 80 plays for 510 yards, had 34 first downs.

— Arizona State 26, Texas Tech 22
Sun Devils drove 75 yards, scored game-winning TD with 0:34 left.
First loss of year for Tech, who played without starting QB Morton.
WR Tyson caught 10 passes for 105 yards and a TD for ASU.

— UCLA 20, Maryland 17
Bruins kicked a 23-yard FG with 0:02 left for the comeback win.
Maryland had tied the game on a TD with 0:40 left.
UCLA is 3-0 since they fired their coach after an 0-4 start.

— Missouri 23, Auburn 17 OT
Mizzou led 10-7 at halftime.
Auburn RB Cobb ran ball 19 times for 111 yards.
Auburn is 0-4 in SEC, scoring 17-10-10-17 points.

— Upsets of the Week:
UAB (+20.5) 31, Memphis 24
Coastal Carolina (+10.5) 45, Appalachian State 37
Louisville (+10.5) 24, Miami 21
Arizona State (+9.5) 26, Texas Tech 22
Florida International (+9.5) 25, Western Kentucky 6
Minnesota (+8.5) 24, Nebraska 6
Arkansas State (+8.5) 15, South Alabama 14
SMU (+5.5) 35, Clemson 24
— Indiana 38, Michigan State 13

Five highest-paid coaches in college football:
$13M/year- Kirby Smart, Georgia
$12.5M- Ryan Day, Ohio State
$11.6M- Curt Cignetti, Indiana
$11.5M- Lincoln Riley, USC
$11.3M- Dabo Swinney, Clemson

— UAB 31, Memphis 24
Blazers fired their coach this week, then pulled biggest upset of the day.
UAB had good balance; ran ball for 219 yards, threw it for 251.
Blazers covered 9-13 third down plays, 6-1 Memphis 5-11.

— Georgia Tech 27, Duke 18
Tech had a 95-yard fumble return for TD in first quarter.
Game was tied 10-10 after the third quarter.
Tech was outgained 441-376; they’re quietest 7-0 team in country.

— California 21, North Carolina 18
TE on North Carolina fumbled on 1-yard line with 3:48 left.
Tar Heels are 1-4 vs I-A teams; the win was over 1-6 Charlotte.
Cal barely won, despite being +3 in turnovers.

— Famous birthdays, October 19th:
John Lithgow, 80
Lynn Dickey, 76
Lionel Hollins, 72
David Palmer, 68
Brad Daugherty, 60
Keith Foulke, 53
Leonard Little, 51
Michael Young, 49
Rajai Davis, 45
JA Happ, 43
Anthony Santander, 31
Zack Gelof, 26

— Houston 31, Arizona 28
Houston kicked a 41-yard FG at the gun, improved to 6-1.
Cougars ran ball 45 times for 232 yards.
Arizona was first team to score TD Saturday; they were 50-1 to do that at the South Point Casino in Las Vegas.

— Marshall 40, Texas State 37 OT
Bobcats lost in overtime for the second week in a row.
Texas State QB Jackson threw for 44 yards, 2 TD’s in a losing cause.
Bobcats turned ball over three times, had 12 penalties for 80 yards.

— Tulane 24, Army 17
6-1 Green Wave scored two TD’s in last 1:54 for the comeback win.
Total yardage: Tulane 402, Army 358
Army ran ball 63 times for 233 yards.

— Alabama 37, Tennessee 20
Vols QB Aguilar threw a 99-yard pick-6 on last play of first half.
If Tennessee had kicked FG there, they would’ve trailed 16-10 at the half.
Vols outgained Alabama 409-373, but had 10 penalties for 67 yards.

— Texas 16, Kentucky 13 OT
Longhorns led 7-0 at halftime.
Kentucky kicked a 45-yard FG with 0:09 left to force OT.
In OT, Wildcats went for it on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line, but failed.

 

[Cnotes53]

Domantas Sabonis injury: Kings star to be re-evaluated for hamstring injury in one week; out for season opener​

Sabonis suffered the injury in a preseason game against the Clippers​

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Sacramento Kings star center Domantas Sabonis will miss the season-opener on Wednesday against the Phoenix Suns after suffering a Grade 1 hamstring strain in a preseason game against the Los Angeles Clippers, the team announced on Saturday. Sabonis will be re-evaluated in one week. That timeline would sideline him for games against the Suns and the Utah Jazz.

The earliest Sabonis will be available to return is for a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 26.
Sabonis won't be the only starter not available for Sacramento's first game of the 2025-26 season. Kings forward Keegan Murray underwent surgery after an MRI revealed a torn ulnar collateral ligament of the left thumb, which will sideline him for four-to-six weeks.

With Sabonis and Murray out, Sacramento will have to experiment in the frontcourt to find a starting combination on opening night. Two options to replace them in the starting lineup are Dario Šarić and Drew Eubanks, who are both newcomers to this year's roster. Another potential solution could be Isaac Jones, who has experience playing the four and five.

Sacramento enters the season with a win total of 34.5, per FanDuel, which is among the lowest in the Western Conference. The Kings have the seventh-best odds (2/1) to make the Play-In Tournament.

 

[Cnotes53]

Paul George injury update: 76ers star not expected to play in season opener, but return reportedly not far off​

George is recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery​

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Paul George is not expected to play in the Philadelphia 76ers' season opener Wednesday against the Boston Celtics and still "has some checkmarks he has to hit" in his return to play following the left arthroscopic knee surgery he underwent in the offseason, ESPN's Shams Charania reports.
The nine-time All Star's return could come in the not-too-distant future -- "shortly into the regular season," per Charania -- and he participated in some five-on-five action in Thursday's practice.

"We are trying to get him through the thresholds of five-on-zero to some smaller-numbered live action yesterday, and then he jumped into a bit of five-on-five live today," coach Nick Nurse said Thursday. "Just trying to keep moving him in the right direction."
When asked if there's optimism about George's potential availability for the season opener, Nurse seemed skeptical.

"Nah," Nurse said. "Yesterday was his first day live -- I mean small-number live -- and today was a short amount of five-on-five, so we have to just keep waiting."

George, 35, had the surgery in mid-July after suffering an injury during a workout. It came just over a year after he agreed to a four-year, $212 million deal with Philadelphia the previous offseason.

It was a brutally disappointing 2024-25 for both George and the 76ers. George struggled with several injuries, appeared in just 41 games and averaged just 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists. The 16.2 points per game were his lowest since 2014-15, in which he only appeared in eight games. The 76ers, who were also without Joel Embiid (limited to just 19 games) and Tyrese Maxey (52 games) for significant stretches, shut George down for the season in May.

The 76ers, given Embiid and George's ages and injury histories, are one of the most difficult teams to project in 2025-26, even in what appears to be a wide-open Eastern Conference. When healthy, Philadelphia has plenty of star power and a solid supporting cast with Quentin Grimes, Jared McCain, Kelly Oubre Jr. and VJ Edgecombe, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Health, however, has been fleeting, and the team will hope George's likely absence to begin the year isn't a harbinger of injuries to come.

The 76ers will close out their preseason schedule against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. While George won't play, Nurse said there's a chance Embiid could suit up in the preseason finale as he ramps up for the regular season.

 

[Cnotes53]

Warriors waive Seth Curry due to roster, cap crunch, expected to re-sign him once season starts​

The Warriors won't start the season with both Curry brothers due to their financial situation​

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The Golden State Warriors waived guard Seth Curry on Saturday as part of roster moves required due to their cap situation and a full roster. After waiving Curry and LJ Cryer, the Warriors roster has been trimmed to 17 players.

A year after the Warriors saw the Splash Brothers break up when Klay Thompson left for Dallas, Golden State brought in Stephen Curry's actual brother this offseason. However, after Jonathan Kuminga signed his new deal and the Warriors finally were able to make the rest of their free agency additions, most notably adding Al Horford and De'Anthony Melton, they found their roster overflowing.

Curry getting waived is the byproduct of that cap crunch, but his departure from the roster is expected to be temporary. As Marc Stein noted after the news broke, the Warriors are expected to re-sign the younger Curry brother next month when they are able to financially.

Curry spent last season in Charlotte, appearing in 68 games for the Hornets where he shot 45.6% from 3-point range in just over 15 minutes per game, reestablishing himself as one of the league's best shooters off the bench. Whenever he does re-sign with the Warriors, we'll see what kind of role he takes on with their bench unit, but their plan is reportedly to bring him back as soon as possible.

 

[Cnotes53]

The conversation: Will Desmond Bane cure what has ailed the Magic?​

We're previewing the 2025-26 Orlando Magic, who have added some serious firepower​

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The Orlando Magic had the NBA's second-best defense last season and the third-best defense in 2023-24. They're big, they're physical, and sometimes they're downright mean. Imagine if they could score!

That's the theory behind giving up four unprotected first-round picks and a pick swap to get Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies. With Bane -- one of the league's best shooters, and also a skilled playmaker -- opening things up for Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, the Magic look strong on both ends for the first time in forever.

Tyus Jones, signed in free agency, could also give Orlando an offensive boost. With another leap from Banchero, better shooting from Wagner, a healthier season from Jalen Suggs and consistent contributions from its young guards (Anthony Black, Jett Howard, rookie Jase Richardson), there's no reason it can't win 50-plus games and make a deep playoff run. These are lofty expectations for a relatively young team and a franchise that hasn't made the second round of the playoffs since 2010, but, if you're trading all those picks, you're announcing that it's winning time.

The State of Play​

Last year: Banchero dropped 50 points on the Pacers less than a week into the season, but tore his right oblique in the next game and was out until January. Franz Wagner played at an All-NBA level in Banchero's absence, but then suffered the same exact injury in December. And the hits kept coming: Moe Wagner tore his ACL, then Suggs had to leave a game in a wheelchair because of back spasms. Suggs only made one appearance after Jan. 3 and had season-ending knee surgery in March. Veteran point guard Cory Joseph ended up starting 16 regular-season games and all five of the Magic's playoff games against the Boston Celtics. Despite all of the injuries, they went 41-41 in the regular season and blew out the Hawks in the play-in. But their games were never particularly pretty.

The offseason: In a blockbuster move, they traded Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the No. 16 pick in the 2025 draft, plus first-round picks in 2026, 2028 and 2030 and a pick swap in 2029 to the Grizzlies for Bane. They drafted Richardson at No. 25, and they traded the No. 46 pick, the No. 57 pick and two future seconds to the Celtics for the No. 32 pick, which they used to draft French wing Noah Penda. Banchero signed a five-year maximum rookie extension (with a player option); Moe Wagner re-signed on a one-year, $5 million deal and Jones signed a one-year, $7 million deal. Gary Harris signed with the Bucks, Caleb Houstan signed with the Hawks and Joseph remains unsigned.

Las Vegas over/under: 50.5 wins, per FanDuel Sportsbook

The Conversation​

Magic believer: I can't think of a better offseason addition for the Magic than Desmond Bane, and I can't think of a better landing spot for Bane than the Magic. He's in precisely the right offensive role -- not the No. 1 option, but featured heavily as a playmaker -- and, having turned 27 this summer, he's in the right age range for this group. The Magic had been pretty patient with their roster, but this was definitely the time to put their chips in. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are going to have so much more room to operate. Jamahl Mosley's coaching staff is going to be able to use Bane in so many different ways. This is the best trade the team has made since trading Nikola Vucevic for Wendell Carter Jr. and the picks that became Franz and Jett Howard.

Magic skeptic: Bane makes a lot of sense in Orlando, but I'm not ready to put the trade in that category yet. The cost was steep, partially because Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was so disappointing last season. This time last year, most of us thought KCP was going to be a perfect fit, and I really hope we aren't equally wrong about Bane. To be clear, I'd be surprised to see Bane struggle individually in this situation. I just think it's a bit unfair to expect him to singlehandedly solve all of the Magic's problems. And if he doesn't turn them into a top-tier team in the East, then I worry that they'll find themselves asking the same question that Bane's previous team did: If we have this much money invested in our top three players, do we have a real path to contention?

Magic believer: Sloooow dooooown. When the Grizzlies won 56 games with that core in 2021-22, it felt like the start of something special. They only decided to break it up when, three years later, they hadn't been able to reach those heights again. The Magic are in a totally different place, and their young stars deserved a running mate like Bane. You can quibble with the price, but I bet you can't find another realistic trade target who amplifies their talent the way Bane does without detracting from their identity as a tough, defense-first team. Please let them get a look at what they've put together before speculating that they'll have to tear it apart. By the way, nobody is saying Bane has to singlehandedly solve all of their problems! He'll make a huge difference, but I also think Tyus Jones' playmaking will be important, Jase Richardson can sort of be a mini-Bane and Anthony Black is going to break out. I love the Magic's depth now!

Magic skeptic: I'm the one who needs to slow down? You just called Richardson a mini-Bane. If Jalen Suggs is available on opening night, is Richardson even going to be in the rotation? Look, I am fully open to the idea of Orlando taking a significant step forward this season. In this version of the East, I could even see them making the conference finals. If I were the Magic's front office, though, I'd be nervous about people like you predicting that kind of thing. Banchero hasn't even turned 23 yet; I don't think this is the year in which he has to be on MVP ballots. Wagner is 24, and I think it's fair to be concerned that he has shot 28.9% from 3-point range over the past two seasons. Suggs and Black don't exactly have a ton of gravity off the ball, either. And weren't you a little bit spooked by Bane's struggles in the playoffs last year?

Magic believer: Spooked? No. He missed some shots and committed some turnovers while trying to create offense for a team that was thoroughly discombobulated against perhaps the best defense I've ever seen. I'm not going to overreact to that, and I'm not going to overreact to how Anthony Edwards and Jamal Murray shot the ball against the Thunder, either. And if the Magic get far enough in the 2026 playoffs that they face a team capable of defending like that, I'll consider it a massive success. Ironically, the Eastern Conference team that's most equipped to frustrate a guard like Bane is … the team that he now plays for. Orlando won 47 games in 2023-24, and, if not for injuries, it might have won 50-plus last year, mostly on the strength of its stifling defense. That will still be the Magic's calling card, and it will keep them in games when shots aren't falling. The difference is that, with their new personnel, they don't have to rely on winning ugly anymore.

Magic skeptic: When you say that the Magic "might have won 50-plus last year" if not for injuries, you're letting them off the hook. Banchero and Wagner both missed a lot of time, for sure, but they did play 40 games together and Orlando scored 110.4 points per 100 possessions when they shared the floor. That's almost identical to the Utah Jazz's offense last season. And yes, Suggs missed the majority of the year, but the offense fared better when he wasn't on the floor. I'm not going to pretend that I know exactly how this season will play out, but I know that merely becoming an average offensive team would be an immense improvement for the Magic. In other words, they are probably still going to need ugly wins, at least until they make another move with spacing in mind.

 

[Cnotes53]

Trail Blazers agree to contract extensions with Shaedon Sharpe, Toumani Camara, per reports​

The Trail Blazers have locked up two members of their young, developing core​

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The Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to contract extensions for two of their rising young stars. Portland has locked up fourth-year guard Shaedon Sharpe on a four-year, $90 million extension and agreed to a four-year, $82 million deal for third-year forward Toumani Camara, per ESPN.
Without reaching a deal by the Oct. 20 deadline, Sharpe would have been slated to enter restricted free agency next summer. Now he's under contract with Portland through the 2029-30 season. Camara, meanwhile, had a team option for the 2026-27 season, but is also now on a deal with the Blazers that will take him through 2029-30.

Both Sharpe and Camara are vital pieces of Portland's rebuild. Sharpe, 22, was the seventh pick in the 2022 draft by the Blazers despite not playing a game at Kentucky. He quickly showed his potential by averaging 9.9 points on 47.2% shooting as a rookie. By his third season, he emerged as a starter and averaged 18.5 points as part of Portland's young, developing core.

Sharpe's a hyper athletic guard who is dangerous when he gets downhill, and is improving as a facilitator, though there's still plenty of room to grow in that regard. If Sharpe improves his 3-point efficiency (33% shooter in three seasons), then he'll open up even more aspects of his offensive skillet as someone who can be a threat at all three levels. And being able to learn from guards like Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard will only help Sharpe improve as a scorer and defender.

By reaching a deal, Sharpe avoided a restricted free agency situation next summer, something that went poorly for a number of players this offseason -- primarily Jonathan Kuminga, who played a long game of chicken with the Golden State Warriors before eventually ending his standoff by signing a two-year $45 million deal.

Sharpe's new contract with Portland comes on the heels of the Sacramento Kings giving Keegan Murray -- the No. 4 pick in the same draft -- $140 million over five years. Sharpe's been the more productive player in terms of counting stats, but Murray's been an integral piece on a playoff team already, something Sharpe has yet to prove. While Sharpe's deal is not as lucrative as Murray's, it's a solid middle ground for a player who has the potential to outplay his contract in the near future.

Camara, 25, is the perfect example of a diamond in the rough, as he was taken with the 52nd pick in the 2023 draft by the Phoenix Suns and then traded to Portland before his rookie season started. In just two seasons, he's developed into an everyday starter and last season earned All-Defensive Second Team honors. He's the ideal 3-and-D piece capable of defending both forward positions, and is a reliable 3-point threat, making 37.5% of his shots from beyond the arc last season. He also ranked ninth in total steals.

Both extensions could be steals for Portland as Sharpe and Camara will likely outplay their contracts if they continue to ascend. Sharpe specifically could turn into an All-Star if he continues to develop. And if players like Camara and Deni Avdija stay on an upward trajectory, the Blazers could be a sneaky play-in squad this season.

 

[Cnotes53]

NBA Franchise Player rankings: Each team's top player in 10 tiers, from superstars to still searching​

Some teams are the envy of the league in this department ... others are still hoping for lottery luck​

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Being a franchise player can be tricky business -- for the player and the NBA franchise. Finding the proper match where the union is solid and neither side has a wandering eye can be complicated. Ahead of his 11th season, Nikola Jokić recently said "my plan is to be a Nugget forever." That represents the best-case scenario in a fickle business -- two sides that can't imagine being without each other.

Somewhat less ideal is what unfolded during Bucks media day, when managing governor Wes Edens said he had a conversation with Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason in which his franchise player expressed his commitment to Milwaukee. When asked about it shortly thereafter Giannis replied "I cannot recall that meeting." Ouch.

When it comes to franchise players, it's not just about the player's talent but also the fit with his team. Less than a year ago everyone figured Luka Dončić would be a Forever Maverick and one day get a statue outside American Airlines Center in Dallas just like Dirk Nowitzki before him. Now Luka plays for the Lakers.

The Franchise Player Tiers that follow try to keep all that in mind: How good is the player and what kind of situation is he in for the short and long-term? And in some cases, as we go lower down the list, are the players in question actually franchise-level talents or do their teams just want to squint at them hard enough to convince themselves?

Tier 1: Envy of the League​

• Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
• Luka Doncic (Los Angeles Lakers)
• Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)

No surprises here. Each of these guys finished in the top five of our Top 100 list heading into this season.

Jokic has won three of the last five MVPs -- and likely could have had more if not for voter fatigue -- and remains one of the betting favorites along with SGA to reclaim that particular piece of hardware. He bootstrapped a not-nearly-as-deep Nuggets team into forcing Game 7 in the second round of the playoffs against the eventual champion Thunder. And in the annual general manager survey conducted by NBA.com, Joker -- who is listed by the league at 6-foot-11, 284 pounds -- was also the overwhelming choice as the NBA's best passer and highest basketball IQ. Because he does stuff like this:

SGA is coming off a banner season where he delivered Oklahoma City's first championship parade. In the process he became just the fourth player in NBA history to lead the league in scoring while winning MVP and Finals MVP, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal. Then he signed a monster four-year, $285 million extension in July. Who's doing it better than that guy? (Rhetorical.)

Luka made five straight first-team All-NBA selections before that run was temporarily halted last season due to nagging injuries that kept him below the 65-game threshold required to qualify. He was also the center of the most shocking trade in recent memory (or ever) when he was shipped to the Lakers in a deal that will haunt Mavs fans -- and by extension Dallas GM Nico Harrison -- forever. Dončić is still only 26, and now we'll see what kind of havoc he unleashes on the league with his new slimmed-down revenge body.

Wembanyama was already tall, but apparently he grew again? The Spurs are now listing him at 7-feet-4. Feels like that shouldn't be allowed, especially given his already outsized skillset. Last season, he became just the second player in NBA history to record a line of 25+ points, 5+ rebounds, 5+ assists, 5+ steals and 5+ blocks in multiple games. The other guy is Hakeem Olajuwon. That's good company. Unfortunately for Wembanyama, his second season was cut short when he was shut down after just 46 games due to deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. Despite that, he still led the league with 176 blocks -- which was 28 more than Brook Lopez, who finished second in that category and played 80 games, and 63 more than Evan Mobley, who won Defensive Player of the Year. Wembanyama is only 21. This is a superhero origin story where he's still learning what his abilities are. The rest of the league is in so much trouble when he figures out how to fully use his powers.

Tier 2: How Much Longer Will it Last?​

• Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
• Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)

If it was only about talent, Giannis would be safely ensconced in Tier 1, and he and the Bucks would be happily married forever. Alas, there are other factors here, namely how long he will remain in Milwaukee. When determining franchise players, it helps to know which franchise he might be employed by -- not just right now but moving forward. Antetokounmpo recently said that he's "locked into" the Bucks for this season but reserves the right to change his mind in "six, seven months."

That not-so-muffled scream you hear is coming from Bucks fans who will have to deal with this topic for the foreseeable future. The Bucks decided to waive-and-stretch Damian Lillard this offseason, a short-term patch that allowed them to poach Myles Turner from the Indiana Pacers in a desperate attempt to stay relevant and appease Giannis. (Elsewhere on the desperation and appeasement front: The Bucks signed two of Giannis's brothers, Thanasis and Alex. We're maybe one more probing Knicks call from distant cousins and aunties getting on Milwaukee's payroll.)

Stretching Lillard will cost the Bucks $22.5 million per season over the next five years, severely hampering their team building options. Giannis has already said he wants to win another championship. He'll be 31 in December. Even in a weakened Eastern Conference, can the Bucks realistically offer him that opportunity anytime soon? Put another way, who's the third best player on that team after Giannis and Turner? Is it Bobby Portis? Kyle Kuzma? AJ Green? Whatever the answer, it's not great. There's a reason why the Knicks reportedly looked into acquiring Giannis this offseason. There are 29 other teams watching this with great interest and waiting for him to ask out so they can potentially pounce.

As for Steph, the greatest shooter of all time isn't going anywhere, and the Warriors have high hopes for a full season of him paired with Jimmy Butler, longtime running mate Draymond Green and new center Al Horford. Unfortunately, time comes for all of us. This will be Curry's 17th season, and he turns 38 in March.

There's an argument to be made that how much time he has left should outweigh time already served, that younger players with their whole careers ahead of them (like the guys in Tier 5) should be higher than someone who has most of his in the rearview. You could certainly make that argument -- but I won't. What he has behind him is a whole lot more than most players will ever muster, and that counts for quite a bit. And oh yeah, he still made second-team All-NBA last year. He's not done yet.

Tier 3: Ready For Superstar Leap​

• Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)
• Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons)

If you want to graduate either of these guys into the elite Tier 1 right now without further delay, I won't fight you.

Ant previously said he doesn't want to be the face of the league, but since he's become the face of the Wolves he's helped pick up a franchise that was down bad for a while. The man took the Wolves to back-to-back Western Conference finals, has played more than 72 games in each of his first five seasons, and is generally a delight whether he's throwing down monster dunks, leading the league in 3-pointers made as he did a year ago, or entertaining us (well maybe not Lakers fans) with a little postseason walk-and-trash talk.

Cade Cunningham made his first All-NBA selection last season. In the process, he took the Pistons from the worst team in the league two seasons ago when they won just 14 games to a 44-win team that claimed the six seed in the Eastern Conference, making Detroit the first team in NBA history to triple its win total year over year.

The last seven MVPs have all been foreign-born players. The last time someone from the states took home the hardware was James Harden back in 2018. If you were betting on the next American to win the award, look no further than one of these two.

Tier 4: Solid Footing ​

• Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks)
• Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)
• Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic)

Maybe this group doesn't have the same Q rating as the players ahead of them but their teams are in good shape with them leading the way. Jalen Brunson finished in the top five of the MVP voting two seasons ago, has made two straight All-NBA teams, and helped the Knicks reach the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years. Donovan Mitchell finished fifth in MVP voting last season, made first team All-NBA and was a key reason why the Cavaliers had their best season (non-LeBron division) in recent memory. And Paolo Banchero got a five-year $239 million max extension and has a lot of people -- hi, it's me, I am "a lot of people" in this context -- eyeing the Magic as a make-the-leap team this season.

Tier 5: Injury Gap Year​

• Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
• Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers)

Oof. Both suffered Achilles tears during the postseason, impacting not just the playoffs but the offseason approach for both organizations. The Celtics moved on from Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet among others in order to avoid paying around half a billion dollars (!) for a roster that likely won't have Tatum this season -- even though he recently posted a video of himself dunking mere months removed from his surgery.

Haliburton had a spectacular postseason run and looked great to start Game 7 against the Thunder in the Finals before suffering the injury that everyone feared. That gave the typically financially conservative Pacers the cover they needed to let Myles Turner walk this offseason with the evident thought process being something approaching "why pay more for a team that can't win anything significant until Haliburton is back when you can just go get Jay Huff?" I like Jay Huff by the way. Hi Jay if you're reading this (and even if you're not). Even so, that is a tough turn of events for Pacers fans.

Tier 6: Big Bright Future​

• Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)
• Amen Thompson & Alperen Sengun (Houston Rockets)

The Mavericks had a 1.8% chance to land the top pick in the draft and one of the most-hyped prospects of the last two decades. Losing Luka was a blow Mavs fans might never recover from, but pulling a hyper-talented multi-positional rabbit out of the super-long-odds lottery hat is not too bad as consolation prizes go. Flagg can impact the game at both ends of the floor, and with Kyrie Irving still recovering from an ACL injury, we might get a healthy dose of Point Cooper early on this season to supplement D'Angelo Russell.

The Rockets are the only team in this exercise with two players listed (other than the Heat, but that's a different situation). This is sort of a choose-your-own adventure situation where there are no wrong answers on which one could become the face of the franchise. Sengun came in six spots higher in our Top 100 and made the All-Star team last season, while Thompson was selected as the most athletic player, the most versatile defender, and the most likely to have a breakout season in the NBA.com GM survey. For my money, I'm going with Thompson. I mean, just look at this.

There's a reason why everyone from LeBron James to Steve Kerr to De'Aaron Fox has openly gushed about Thompson's athleticism.

Tier 7: OK ... But Where Do They Actually Get You?​

• Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
• Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers)

This is the tier where questions start popping up and you wonder if the franchise player can provide the proper answers. Booker signed a two-year $145 million extension this offseason that the Suns rushed to give him even though they could (and should) have waited. Owner Mat Ishbia has called him the franchise player, indicated multiple times he's not going anywhere, and also said that he and Booker are "aligned" on the Suns future. The Suns won 36 games a season ago and missed the playoffs when Kevin Durant was in uniform alongside Booker. KD now plays in Houston. Color me skeptical that it will go better for Booker and the Suns in a loaded Western Conference when he's now paired with another high-usage, high-volume (and far more inefficient) shooter in Jalen Green.
Since Kawhi left Toronto for L.A., the Clippers have gotten out of the second round once and have been a first-round exit in each of the last three postseasons. Part of struggle has been his injury history, but he was healthy for last year's playoffs and the Clips still got bounced in seven games by the Nuggets. Then there's the investigation into questions about an alleged no-show endorsement deal hovering over him and the team that don't figure to go anywhere anytime soon. The Clippers are deep and talented -- but even with Kawhi, they're still the Clippers.

Tier 8: [Insert Name] Is Unavailable, Please Leave a Message ​

• Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
• Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans)
• Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies)

This tier is the Island of Misfit Toys and Broken Dreams. Joel Embiid is a former MVP who has missed close to half the games in his career due to a variety of injuries and has never advanced past the second round of the playoffs. Zion Williamson has played 30 or fewer games in four of his six NBA seasons, including last year. Ja Morant has never played more than 67 games in a single season, and appeared in a total of 59 games over the last two seasons combined. And unlike Embiid and Williamson, I'm not convinced that Morant -- who, it should be stipulated, is as athletic and enjoyable to watch as anyone in the NBA when healthy -- is even the best player on his own team when that team also employs two-way star Jaren Jackson Jr.

Tier 9: The Leftovers​

• Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks)
• Tyler Herro/Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)
• Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors)
• LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets)
• Josh Giddey (Chicago Bulls)

What are we even doing here? This is the hang your head in your hands tier.

Trae Young is still waiting and hoping for the Hawks to offer him the four-year $229 million extension he's eligible to sign. If you're made to wait and wonder about that kind of thing, it's generally a sign that you're not really the franchise player. (Related: put me down for Jalen Johnson actually being the best player on the Hawks.) Same goes for Josh Giddey, who had to haggle with the Bulls over his latest deal during restricted free agency before landing on an average annual value of $25 million over four years. Good work if you can get it, but not truly a franchise player.

After Miami bundled Jimmy Butler off to the Bay, it felt like the leading man role was being transferred to Tyler Herro by default, but if you prefer Bam Adebayo as the star avatar here that's fine. Either way, the Heat got dusted in a four-game sweep by the Cavs last postseason. Not a great result for whoever wants to own that. Adebayo shot just 43.8% from the field in that series and was minus-73 over four games. Herro was even worse. He hit just 41.5% of his shots and was minus-87. Yikes all the way around.

The Raptors would love for Scottie Barnes to make them a thing. So far, he hasn't and they're not. Even in a weak Eastern Conference, is Barnes good enough to make them anything more than a back-end playoff team? I'm skeptical.

And LaMelo Ball -- the living embodiment of the classic no-no-yes chaos agent with the mayhem dials cranked up as far as they will possibly go -- came in at No. 53 in our Top 100. Do not blame me for that. I was the lowest on him of all our voters at No. 76. I still think I might have had him too high. He tossed up a YOLO catch-and-shoot fadeaway 3 the other day that made exactly no sense to anyone in the building except him; it was preseason, but the man is already in midseason form.

Tier 10: Still Searching ​

• Brooklyn Nets
• Washington Wizards
• Sacramento Kings
• Utah Jazz
• Portland Trail Blazers

You will notice that the Nets, Wizards, Kings, Jazz and Blazers have no one listed here. Some of them are better positioned than others going forward. The Blazers have good pieces, if not anyone who fits into a franchise or even star context. And I wouldn't bet against the Jazz figuring things out over the long haul when they have not one but two Ainges in charge. Even so, all of them should consider some sort of blood sacrifice to curry favor with the Basketball Gods, or at the very least burn some sage.

 

[Cnotes53]

Rockets X-factor Reed Sheppard empties his bag in electric preseason finale​

Sheppard scored 29 points in 29 minutes against Atlanta's regulars on Thursday night​

Getty Images

If you were waiting for a Reed Sheppard breakout game, you got it on Thursday in the Rockets' preseason finale -- a 133-115 victory over the basically full-strength Hawks in which Sheppard rattled off 29 points in 29 minutes, six assists, six rebounds, four steals and three blocks.
Before we get to the offense, those seven stocks (steals + blocks) are a serious number and probably not a fluke. Sheppard blocked a ton a shots as a 6-foot-3 guard at Kentucky, and his disruptive defense was regarded as an element that could very well transfer to the NBA. This sequence is Sheppard at his best, poking a ball loose from Trae Young, one of the best handlers in the world, and pulling up for a 3 on the other end.

Even in limited action as a rookie, Sheppard averaged basically two steals and a block per 36 minutes last year. One of the reasons the Fred VanVleet injury feels like such a blow to Houston's title chances is the defense FVV provided at the top of possessions. Sheppard is more of a defensive playmaker as opposed to the guy who can jam up your whole possession with ball pressure and switchability, but nonetheless, the idea that he's a potential defensive liability might not have a ton of merit. We have to see it in real samples, but he could create havoc.

And if that's the case, the ceiling might be pretty high for Sheppard given what most people think he can do on the offensive end, at least eventually, when and if he gets his opportunity to really cut loose. That's probably not going to happen this season given that Houston is going to be playing offense through the likes of Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun, but on Thursday you saw Sheppard's total package in its most confident and unrestrained glory.

Notice the variety of Sheppard's scoring. Off the dribble. Off the catch. In the midrange, where he gets great lift and separation on his pull-ups. A comfortable floater. A crafty off-hand finish at the rim. Great vision as a passer out of pick and roll, slinging a bullet pass to the opposite corner for a 3. Drawing attention as a driver to set up a dump-off dunk.

Sheppard had full control of the offense because Houston was sitting all its regulars. No Durant. No Sengun. No Jabari Smith, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason or Steven Adams. But importantly, Atlanta was playing all of its main guys other than Dyson Daniels. Sheppard was doing this against real competition, including Nickeil Alexander-Walker, one of the tougher perimeter defenders around.

Suffice it to say, this season represents a huge opportunity for Sheppard to step into the void left by VanVleet. Amen Thompson will probably be the starting point guard, at least as a de facto, but Sheppard's shooting is a weapon Thompson can't provide. The ultimate dream is for those two guys to share the back court as perfect complements, and we're going to see them together a lot this season.

Sheppard might not need to be a full-time starter for Houston right now, but make no mistake, with VanVleet out, and barring an in-season trade for an established point guard, Sheppard probably has to make a real impact this season if Houston is going to contend. He's the X-factor. Whether Thompson is ready to run point is a question, but he's going to be an awesome player one way or another. We know that. Just as we know what Durant and Sengun are going to do. And the defense.

Sheppard is the real unknown, and if he breaks out, it could genuinely swing Houston's contention needle. And watching him play like he did on on Thursday certainly gives you some real hope that can happen sooner than later.

Now, he won't get the kind of usage he got on Thursday, but still, you can see everything Sheppard's got in his bag when he really puts his foot on the gas. Houston certainly won't mind giving him an increasingly green light as the season progresses if he's scoring efficiently and holding up defensively, and if that happens, Houston becomes an even more dangerous team with this kind of point-guard threat.

 

[Cnotes53]

Tuesday’s 6-pack:
NFL spreads for this week:
— Vikings @ LA Chargers (-2.5)
— Jets @ Cincinnati (-6.5)
— Bears @ Baltimore (-6.5)
— Dolphins @ Atlanta (-7.5)
— Bills (-7.5) @ Carolina
— Giants @ Philadelphia (-7.5)

Quote of the Day
“The at-bats before me. If it’s not for those guys, that at-bat doesn’t happen. I’m just so happy for our team, out fans, our city, our country. I’m so happy right now.”
George Springer

Tuesday’s quiz
Last time the Blue Jays were in the World Series, who did they play?

Monday’s quiz
In the history of the Seattle Mariners, Ichiro Suzuki has the most hits.

Sunday’s quiz
Joe Kapp was QB for the Vikings, the first time they played in a Super Bowl.

*************************************************

Tuesday’s Den: Nobody asked me, but…….​

— Blue Jays 4, Mariners 3
George Springer hit a 3-run homer in the 7th inning.
Toronto’s bullpen got 16 outs, allowed only one hit.
Blue Jays are in the World Series for first time since 1993.
Game 1 of the World Series is Friday night

— Lions 24, Buccaneers 9
Jahmyr Gibbs had 20 touches for 218 yards, two TD’s.
Lions outgained Tampa Bay, 379-251.
Detroit has won five of its last six games.
Lions are 17-8 ATS last 25 games as a home favorite.
Bucs’ first seven drives: 20 plays, 54 yards, 5 punts, 2 turnovers.
Tampa Bay lost WR Evans (broken collarbone)
Bucs ran the ball only 12 times for 41 yards.
Previous four games, Tampa Bay had scored 30.5 points/game.

— Seahawks 27, Texans 19
Seattle’s first 3 drives: 18 plays, 133 yards, 14 points.
Seattle scored 17 points on 3 drives that started in Seattle territory.
Seahawks held last four foes to 66 rushing yards/game.
Texans had 10 penalties for 105 yards, Seattle 12 for 93
Houston’s first four drives: 18 plays, 19 yards, 4 punts.
Texans ran the ball only 17 times for 56 yards.
Houston was 2-15 on 3rd down, 1-4 on 4th down.
Texans were +3 in turnovers and still lost; unusual.

— NFL divisional trends:

AFC East
Home teams 12-4 ATS divisional games
8-9 ATS non-divisional games

AFC North
Home teams 4-0 ATS divisional games
6-13 ATS non-divisional games

AFC South
4-2 ATS non-divisional favorite

AFC West
4-9 ATS non-divisional favorite

NFC East
Home teams 4-2 ATS divisional games
10-8 ATS non-divisional games

NFC North
5-2 ATS non-divisional home favorite

NFC South
12-11 ATS non-divisional games

NFC West
13-6 non-divisional games

— College football trends, conference games:
American
Favorites 17-8 ATS

ACC
Road teams 19-11 ATS

Big 18
Underdogs 21-15 ATS

Big X
Favorites 18-13 ATS

Conference USA
Home teams 9-6 ATS

Mid-American
Home teams 16-5 ATS

Mountain West
Home teams 8-9 ATS

SEC
Home teams 18-11 ATS

Sun Belt
Home teams 14-8 ATS

— Famous birthdays, October 21st:
Bill Curry, 83
Bill Russell, 77 (Dodgers’ SS)
Franklin Stubbs, 65
Zack Greinke, 42
Ricky Rubio, 35
Greg Robinson, 33

— 10 college football head coaches have been fired already this season; Florida, Colorado State are the most recent schools to tell their coach to take a hike.

— Florida State has lost its last nine ACC games, but coach Mike Norvell’s buyout is $54M, so he ain’t going anywhere until that number comes down a little.

— Texas A&M’s football team is 7-0 for the first time since 1994.

— Arkansas has lost five games in a row, only one by more than six points.

— I’d like to thank the NFL for doing such a lousy job designing the coaches’ baseball caps this season; saves me $40. Ugly hats, hard to even see the logos.

— NFC is 25-12 SU against the AFC so far this season.

 

[Udog]

NBA
Dunkel

Tuesday, October 21

NBA

Tuesday, October 21

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Houston VS Oklahoma City
Houston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games.
Houston is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games.
Houston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games against Oklahoma City.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games on the road.
Oklahoma City is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oklahoma City's last 5 games.
Oklahoma City is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Oklahoma City's last 6 games against Houston.

Golden State VS Los Angeles
Golden State is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games.
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Golden State's last 9 games.
Golden State is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games.
Golden State is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games on the road.
LA Lakers is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Lakers' last 6 games.
LA Lakers is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games.
The total has gone OVER in 6 of LA Lakers' last 6 games against Golden State.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Cnotes53]

Tuesday, October 21​

Game	Time(ET)	Pick	Units
HOU at OKC	07:30 PM	HOU +6.5***** U 227.5	+500 +500
GS at LAL	10:00 PM	GS -2.5***** U 226.0	+500 +500

 

[Cnotes53]

CNOTES OCTOBER NBA BEST BETS !

10/21/2025........................2 - 0 - 0....................100.00%...................+ 10.00

TOTALS..............................2 - 0 - 0....................100.00%...................+ 10.00

 

[Cnotes53]

Wednesday’s 6-pack:
NFL spreads for this week:
— Browns @ New England (-6.5)
— Buccaneers (-3.5) @ New Orleans
— Titans @ Indianapolis (-14.5)
— Cowboys @ Denver (-3.5)
— Packers (-3.5) @ Pittsburgh
— Commanders @ Kansas City (-10.5)

Quotes of the Day
“They found a little spark with that quarterback (Jaxson Dart) . I was talking to John Mara not too long ago, and I said we were hoping that that change would have happened long after our game.”
Sean Payton
“Classless … but not surprised … Didn’t realize you’re still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media.”
Russell Wilson, who played briefly for Payton in Denver
Apparently, Payton/Wilson aren’t friends.

Wednesday’s quiz
Where did Kevin Durant play his college basketball?

Tuesday’s quiz
Last time the Blue Jays were in the World Series, they beat the Phillies.

Monday’s quiz
In the history of the Seattle Mariners, Ichiro Suzuki has the most hits.

****************************************

Wednesday’s Den: Going off on a tangent…….​

October 22 has been a memorable day for me:
Flash back to October 22, 1972; I was 12 years old, the A’s were playing Game 7 of the World Series in Cincinnati. Big day; when Joe Rudi caught a fly ball in left field for the last out, the A’s had won their first of three consecutive World Series. 12-year old me was very happy.
Some stuff about that game:

— Game 7 of that World Series started at 1:00 on a Sunday afternoon; things have changed. All seven games in this year’s World Series will start at 8:00- none of the games are on a Sunday.

— Rollie Fingers got the last six outs for the save; back then, closers often got more than three outs to get a save. So when you hear people describe Mariano Rivera as “the best closer ever” remember that he almost always got three outs per game. Guys like Fingers and Bruce Sutter did more than that.

— Hall of Famer Catfish Hunter got eight outs and the win in Game 7, two days after he started Game 5; he was 7-2, 2.55 in 14 playoff games with the A’s. He threw a perfect game in May 1968.
So the A’s won the World Series, then the 4:00 NFL games came on TV; Rams wound up beating the Bengals 15-12 on a last-second field goal. All in all, October 22, 1972 was a very good day.
12-year old me was really, really happy.

Flash forward to October 22, 2019; on October 12, the retina in my right eye detached while I was in Las Vegas. I knew it was bad, but I had no idea what the problem was; I saw a few doctors when I got home, and on October 22, Dr Mallick fixed my retina.
Thanks for my cousins for driving me to the hospital that day.
I am forever grateful to Dr Mallick and Dr Lemanski (she did my cataract surgery 10 months later) for fixing my eye. Must be a cool job, helping people to see again.
Anyway, that is why October 22 stands out on the calendar for me.

— Famous birthdays, October 22nd:
Christopher Lloyd, 87
Wilbur Wood, 84
Jeff Goldblum, 73
Jamie Quirk, 71
Bob Odenkirk, 63
Carmen Ejogo, 52
Ichiro Suzuki, 52
Jeff McInnis, 51
Leonard Marshall, 44
Robinson Cano, 43
Corbin Burnes, 31
Geraldo Perdomo, 26

— Thunder 125, Rockets 124, 2 OTs
Gilgeous-Alexander had 5 points at halftime, wound up with 35.
Thunder shot 13-52 on the src, 33-52 inside the arc.
Houston had 21 turnovers, Thunder only 11.
Alperen Sengun scored 39 points for Houston

— Kennesaw State 45, Florida International 26
Owls led 24-14 at half, snapped a 13-game road losing streak.
Both teams ran ball for 200+ yards.
Kennesaw played two QB’s, averaged 16.7 yards/pass attempt
QB Jenkins threw for 296 yards and a TD for FIU

— Western Kentucky 28, Louisiana Tech 27 OT
WKU scored TD, then scored on a 2-point conversion for the OT win.
Hilltoppers led 20-7 at halftime.
Tech outgained WKU 449-340; they were 10-19 on third down.
WKU is 6-2 and is now bowl eligible.

— Los Angeles Angels hired Kurt Suzuki as their new manager; Suzuki hit .255 in his 16-year career as a catcher, for five different teams. He was with the Washington Nationals when they won the 2019 World Series.
Suzuki has no professional coaching experience; the Angels have the longest playoff drought in the major leagues- they last made the postseason in 2014. Suzuki is the Angels’ fifth manager in eight years.

— Dodgers are -210 to win the World Series; Blue Jays are +175.

— Toronto P Trey Yesavage started this season in Class A ball; he threw 98 IP for four different minor league teams this year, then pitched 14 innings for Toronto in the regular season and has now thrown 15 more innings in the playoffs. Impressive season for the 21-year old.

— Blue Jays OF Vladimir Guerrero Jr is hitting .442 in this year’s playoffs, with 12 RBI in 11 games.

 

[Udog]

NBA
Dunkel

Wednesday, October 22

 

[Udog]

NBA

Wednesday, October 22

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cleveland VS New York
Cleveland is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games.
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Cleveland's last 10 games.
Cleveland is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games.
Cleveland is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games against New York.
New York is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games.
New York is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of New York's last 12 games against Cleveland.
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of New York's last 8 games at home.

Miami VS Orlando
Miami is 13-7 ATS in its last 20 games.
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Miami's last 11 games.
Miami is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games.
Miami is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games against Orlando.
Orlando is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Orlando's last 5 games against Miami.
Orlando is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home.
Orlando is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games against an opponent in the Eastern Conference conference.

Brooklyn VS Charlotte
Brooklyn is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Brooklyn's last 5 games.
Brooklyn is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games.
Brooklyn is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games against Charlotte.
Charlotte is 2-11 ATS in its last 13 games.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Charlotte's last 7 games.
Charlotte is 0-7 SU in its last 7 games.
Charlotte is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games at home.

Toronto VS Atlanta
Toronto is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games.
Toronto is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games.
Toronto is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games against Atlanta.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Atlanta's last 7 games.
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Atlanta's last 20 games against Toronto.
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Atlanta's last 7 games at home.
Atlanta is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Toronto.

Philadelphia VS Boston
Philadelphia is 3-11 ATS in its last 14 games.
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Philadelphia's last 20 games.
Philadelphia is 1-14 SU in its last 15 games.
Philadelphia is 7-13 ATS in its last 20 games against Boston.
Boston is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games.
Boston is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games.
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Boston's last 7 games against Philadelphia.
Boston is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games at home.

Detroit VS Chicago
Detroit is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games.
Detroit is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games.
Detroit is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games against Chicago.
Detroit is 5-15 SU in its last 20 games against Chicago.
Chicago is 14-6 ATS in its last 20 games.
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Chicago's last 15 games.
Chicago is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games.
Chicago is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home.

New Orleans VS Memphis
New Orleans is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Orleans' last 6 games.
New Orleans is 0-7 SU in its last 7 games.
New Orleans is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games against Memphis.
Memphis is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games.
Memphis is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Memphis' last 6 games at home.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Memphis' last 5 games when playing at home against New Orleans.

Washington VS Milwaukee
Washington is 5-11 ATS in its last 16 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Washington's last 8 games.
Washington is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games.
Washington is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games against Milwaukee.
Milwaukee is 9-4 ATS in its last 13 games.
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Milwaukee's last 16 games.
Milwaukee is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Milwaukee's last 7 games against Washington.

Los Angeles VS Utah
LA Clippers is 11-4 SU in its last 15 games.
LA Clippers is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games against Utah.
LA Clippers is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games against Utah.
LA Clippers is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 games on the road.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Utah's last 6 games.
Utah is 1-11 SU in its last 12 games.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Utah's last 6 games against LA Clippers.
Utah is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games at home.

San Antonio VS Dallas
San Antonio is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games.
San Antonio is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games.
San Antonio is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games against Dallas.
San Antonio is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games against Dallas.
Dallas is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Dallas' last 6 games.
Dallas is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games.
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Dallas' last 14 games against San Antonio.

Minnesota VS Portland
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota's last 7 games.
Minnesota is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games.
Minnesota is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games against Portland.
Minnesota is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road.
Portland is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Portland's last 6 games.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Portland's last 7 games against Minnesota.
Portland is 14-6 ATS in its last 20 games at home.

Sacramento VS Phoenix
Sacramento is 5-10 SU in its last 15 games.
Sacramento is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games against Phoenix.
Sacramento is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road.
Sacramento is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Phoenix.
Phoenix is 2-9 ATS in its last 11 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Phoenix's last 6 games.
Phoenix is 1-9 SU in its last 10 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Phoenix's last 9 games against Sacramento.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Cnotes53]

Wednesday, October 22​

Game	Time(ET)	Pick	Units
CLE at NY	07:00 PM	CLE -1.5	+500
MIA at ORL	07:00 PM	MIA +8.0 U 215.5*****	+500 +500
BK at CHA	07:00 PM	CHA -4.5	+500
PHI at BOS	07:30 PM	U 229.0*****	+500
TOR at ATL	07:30 PM	TOR +5.5*****	+500
DET at CHI	08:00 PM	DET -2.5*****	+500
NO at MEM	08:00 PM	MEM -4.0 U 236.5	+500 +500
WAS at MIL	08:00 PM	U 227.0*****	+500
LAC at UTA	09:00 PM	UTA +9.5 O 225.5*****	+500 +500
SA at DAL	09:30 PM	SA +2.5***** O 224.0*****	+500 +500
MIN at POR	10:00 PM	MIN -4.5 U 221.5	+500 +500
SAC at PHO	10:00 PM	PHO -4.0*****	+500

 

[Cnotes53]

CNOTES OCTOBER NBA BEST BETS !

10/22/2025....................... 3 - 5 - 1......................37.50%....................- 12.50
10/21/2025........................2 - 0 - 0....................100.00%....................+ 10.00

TOTALS.............................5 - 5 - 1......................50.00%.................... - 2.50

 

[Cnotes53]

Thursday’s 6-pack:
College football spreads for this week:
— Minnesota @ Iowa (-8.5)
— San Diego State (-2.5) @ Fresno State
— Baylor @ Cincinnati (-3.5)
— Texas A&M (-2.5) @ LSU
— Tennessee (-7.5) @ Kentucky
— Houston @ Arizona State (-6.5)

Quote of the Day
“I don’t have any animosity toward the organization. Obviously, I wish that things had been better in our last year there, but I have a great relationship with a lot of people still in that organization, and this is not a revenge game for me.”
Aaron Rodgers, whose Steelers host Green Bay Sunday night

Thursday’s quiz
Who is the only baseball player that hit 100+ home runs for both the Blue Jays and the Dodgers?

Wednesday’s quiz
Kevin Durant played his college basketball at Texas.

Tuesday’s quiz
Last time the Blue Jays were in the World Series, they beat the Phillies.

*********************************************

Thursday’s Den: Mid-week musings……..​

— San Francisco Giants hired former Tennessee Vols coach Tony Vitelloas their new skipper, the first time a big league team has hired a manager directly from a college program without any experience as a professional coach. Vitello won the College World Series with the Vols in 2024.
Giants have missed the playoffs the last four years; they went 81-81 this past season.

— Sounds like there will be two Japanese sluggers moving to the major leagues next year.

Munetaka Murakami is a 3B/1B who has hit 246 home runs in 892 games for the Yakult Swallows, including a 56-homer season in 2022.
1B/3B Kazuma Okamoto has hit 248 home runs for the Yomiuri Giants, hitting 30+ homers six years in a row, from 2018-23. Okamoto hit two homers, had 7 RBI when Japan won the World Baseball Classic in 2023.

— Freddie Freeman has homered in six of his last seven World Series games.

— Baseball is expected to expand by two teams in the next four years; MLB hasn’t expanded since 1998 (Arizona/Tampa Bay). When the expansion happens, will realignment happen too?
Geographic realignment would cut down on travel costs, and probably raise attendance with more games between regional rivals.

— Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels (hamstring) won’t play when the Commanders play in Kansas City Monday night. Backup Marcus Mariota will start his third game this year.

— NFL coaches’ instant replay challenges have succeeded 60% of time this year, compared to 39.6% at this time last year.
This season, coaches and club staffers in the coaching booth can watch the same camera feed as the replay official at the game, which has helped them make better decisions.

— Miami Dolphins won consecutive Super Bowls in the early 70’s; when they beat the Vikings 24-7 in the Super Bowl after the 1973 season, their QB, Bob Greise, threw only seven passes the whole game. Griese was 6-7/73 passing. Total yardage in the game was 259-238, Miami.
Football sure has changed a lot.

— Famous birthdays, October 23rd:
Weird Al Yankovic, 66
Doug Flutie, 63
Mike Tomczak, 63
Keith Van Horn, 50
Ryan Reynolds, 49
John Lackey, 47
Kyle Gibson, 38
Jordan Crawford, 37
Dylan Carlson, 27

— Delaware 31, Middle Tennessee 28
QB Minicucci threw for 276 yards, four TD’s.
Blue Hens led 24-14 at halftime.
Delaware improves to 4-3 in its first year as a I-A team.

— Missouri State 24, New Mexico State 17 OT
NM State scored TD with 1:49 left to force overtime.
Missouri State outgained Aggies, 409-289.
Bears won despite committing 12 penalties for 110 yards..

— 76ers 117, Celtics 116
VJ Edgecombe scored 34 points in his debut, the most points anyone scored in his first NBA game since Wilt Chamberlain scored 43, in 1959.
Tyrese Maxey scored 40 points to lead the 76ers.
76ers were +18 in the 32:00 Quentin Grimes played.

— Spurs 125, Mavericks 92
Victor Wembanyama scored 40 points, had 15 rebounds.
Spurs outscored Dallas 65-41 in the second half.
Dallas was minus-29 with rookie Cooper Flagg on the floor.
ESPN’s announcers wouldn’t shut up about Flagg, who shot 4-13 “He’s done nothing but win”; the kid played one year in college and Duke didn’t win the national title. Let him play some before you induct him into the Hall of Fame.

— Knicks 119, Cavaliers 111
OG Anunoby had 24 points, 14 rebounds.
Knicks led 65-50 at halftime.
Knicks were 31-36 on the foul line, Cleveland 12-18.

— Jazz 129, Clippers 108
10-point underdog Utah led 43-19 after first quarter, 78-47 at half.
Walker Kessler had 22 points, nine rebounds.
Jazz made 17 of 44 3-point shots.

— Timberwolves 118, Trail Blazers 114
Minnesota outscored Portland 30-19 in the fourth quarter.
Anthony Edwards scored 41 points, had one assist (his job is to score points)
Timberwolves made 15 of 30 shots on the arc.

 

[Udog]

NBA
Dunkel

Thursday, October 23

NBA

Thursday, October 23

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Trend Report
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Oklahoma City VS Indiana
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Oklahoma City's last 9 games.
Oklahoma City is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games.
Oklahoma City is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games against Indiana.
Oklahoma City is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games against Indiana.
Indiana is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Indiana's last 5 games.
Indiana is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Indiana's last 5 games against Oklahoma City.

Denver VS Golden State
Denver is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games.
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Denver's last 10 games.
Denver is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games.
Denver is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games against Golden State.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Golden State's last 5 games.
Golden State is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Golden State's last 8 games against Denver.
Golden State is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games at home.


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[Cnotes53]

Thursday, October 23​

Game	Time(ET)	Pick	Units
OKC at IND	07:30 PM	OKC -7.5***** U 231.5*****	+500 +500
DEN at GS	10:00 PM	DEN +2.0***** U 233.0*****	+500 +500