NBA stars ship excellent performances; traditionally loaded NFL slate begins tonight

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🏀 Good morning to all, however particularly to …

LeBRON JAMES … 

In November 2019, the basketball world marveled when a 34-year-old LeBron James turned the oldest participant to report triple-doubles in three straight video games. Quick ahead 5 years, and the 39-year-old LeBron James has replicated the feat following the Lakers‘ 128-123 win over the Grizzlies final evening in Los Angeles.

With Anthony Davis in foul bother for a lot of the evening, James was doing all of it (35 factors, 12 rebounds, 14 assists) and for lengthy stretches. James logged 37 minutes, the second-most he is performed this season, after notching triple-doubles within the Lakers two earlier video games, additionally wins, final Sunday in opposition to the Raptors and final Friday versus the 76ers.

Let’s face it. Attempting to clarify how James, in his twenty second season, is competing — no, excelling — in opposition to some gamers actually half his age evening even has Father Time stumped at this level. Suffice it say that coaching and preparation matter lots, however so to does the state of affairs. And, to that finish, our Sam Quinn has a thought on how some tinkering by JJ Redick possible has a hand in James’ triple-double streak.

• Quinn: “After all, the first-year Lakers coach does deserve a little bit of credit score for James’ historic streak. After a Nov. 6 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Redick benched former place to begin guard D’Angelo Russell in favor of Cam Reddish. James has posted a triple-double in each recreation since, performing as some extent guard for the offense for the primary time since that 2019-20 season.”

… AND VICTOR WEMBANYAMA …

Even now, simply over a yr into his NBA profession, we’re used to seeing Victor Wembanyama do issues which might be alleged to be inconceivable.

However we would by no means seen this earlier than. Wembanyama scored a career-high 50 points in a 139-130 win over the Wizards, changing into the fourth-youngest participant in league historical past with a 50 burger.

1. Brandon Jennings (20 years, 52 days)
2. LeBron James (20 years, 80 days)
3. Devin Booker (20 years, 145 days)
4. Victor Wembanyama (20 years, 314 days)

It isn’t simply what number of factors however how he bought them. Wembanyama made eight 3-pointers, one shy of tying the franchise report. After an ice-cold begin from deep this season, Wembanyama is now the primary middle in league historical past to make no less than 5 3-pointers in three straight video games.

Wembanyama turned on this efficiency with out Corridor-of-Fame coach Gregg Popovich patrolling the sideline. Popovich, 75, has been away from the group since Nov. 2, and Wednesday, the Spurs introduced that is as a result of he had a mild stroke that day.

Popovich, whose 1,393 wins are most all-time, is in a rehabilitation program and is predicted to make a full restoration. There is no such thing as a timeline for him returning to the sideline.

… AND GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO

From one athletic marvel to a different, Giannis Antetokounmpo strapped the Bucks to his again once more, scoring 59 points in a 127-120 overtime win over the Pistons.

• Antetokounmpo’s supporting solid has underwhelmed this season, and it was no totally different early on: He had 22 of the group’s 24 factors — and was the one Bucks participant to make a shot from the sector — within the first quarter.
• The 59 factors are second-most in franchise historical past, solely behind his 64-point effort final yr, and the league’s excessive mark for any participant this season.
• Together with playoffs, this was Antetokounmpo’s tenth 50-point recreation, tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for many in franchise historical past.

👍 Honorable mentions

😕 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 Greatest questions coming into loaded NFL Week 11

How’s this for the headliners of a loaded Week 11 slate?

It is the first time ever there are no less than three video games that includes a number of seven-win groups this early within the season, and our Cody Benjamin examines reasons for and against all six teams being Super Bowl contenders.

After all, there are different groups that may have a say within the postseason, and Cody assessed the teams with the most deceiving records, together with …

• Benjamin: “49ers (5-4) — Offensive drives have stalled too typically, and particular groups has been streaky. Even with accidents to mainly each premium talent weapon, nevertheless, they boast the league’s No. 2-ranked offense — and No. 8-ranked scoring group — below Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy, who’s leaned much more into his off-script athleticism. Now Christian McCaffrey is again within the fold, and rookie wideout Ricky Pearsall is settling in. They could not carry the identical ‘juggernaut’ label that is rightly adopted them in recent times, however to rely them out as an NFC pressure could be perilously silly.”

I voted the 49ers the most definitely breakout group down the stretch in Josh Edwards’ midseason superlatives, and I wasn’t alone.

Here is extra:

🏈 NFL, CFB QB Energy Rankings

Very similar to one week in the past, Joe Burrow is chasing Lamar Jackson. After the Bengals‘ 35-34 loss to the Ravens, Burrow is as much as No. 2 in Cody’s NFL QB Power Rankings.

1. Lamar Jackson (earlier: 1)
2. Joe Burrow (3)
3. Josh Allen (2)
4. Jayden Daniels (4)
5. Jared Goff (5)

Tonight is one other premier Thursday evening showdown, with Daniels dealing with Jalen Hurts, who climbed to sixth in Cody’s rankings. Kyler Murray was the most important riser, going from sixteenth to tenth, and I broke down Murray’s play in “Five things we liked and didn’t like in Week 10.”

• Pereles: “I’m particularly impressed with how Murray has progressed in Drew Petzing‘s offense, which locations a larger emphasis on conventional play-action ideas and extra assorted formations. On Sunday, Murray used play motion on 40% of his dropbacks and went 10 for 10 for 143 yards. His accuracy was off the charts total. … This season, Arizona is sixth in success charge … and second in explosive play charge.”

As for extra quarterback information, the Colts reinstalled Anthony Richardson as starter. It comes two weeks after it seemed like Richardson might never play for Indianapolis again and three days after coach Shane Steichen stated Joe Flacco would continue to start.

I can’t even start to know the method from the powers that be, whether or not it is Steichen, GM Chris Ballard, proprietor Jim Irsay, others within the group or some mixture. However I can say that is the fitting choice. Crucially, Steichen stated Richardson is the starter for the rest of the season, a refreshing and much-needed endorsement for a participant who wants any increase he can get.

• Steichen stated Richardson “made big-time strides” and was working at a “larger normal” behind the scenes throughout his benching.
• Richardson, 22, is the definition of a boom-or-bust player. His 44.4% completion charge is on tempo to be the worst since 2000, this as his 16.2 yards per completion is on tempo to be the perfect since 1998.

I stated this when he was benched, and I am going to say it once more: Richardson wants the reps. He performed simply 4 video games as a rookie earlier than season-ending shoulder surgical procedure. This was after he was the full-time starter for only one yr at Florida. The misfires and errors are irritating, however that is a part of the deal.

Shifting to college football, Ole Miss‘ win over Georgia over the weekend vaulted the Rebels into the College Football Playoff picture and vaulted Jaxson Dart to No. 1 in Tom Fornelli’s College QB Power Rankings.

• Fornelli: “I am unable to promise he’ll be right here once more subsequent week as a result of the general efficiency on the season hasn’t justified it, however he deserves it for now. I’ve lengthy been a skeptic about Ole Miss’ candidacy as a playoff group as a result of it so typically failed in opposition to playoff-caliber competitors. Now it is confirmed it might probably beat a prime program, and Dart’s an enormous purpose why.”

Here is the highest 5:

1. Jaxson Dart (earlier: 5)
2. Dillon Gabriel (1)
3. Jalen Milroe (not ranked)
4. Shedeur Sanders (3)
5. Will Howard (7)

🏈 How Georgia can get again within the playoff, and an enormous choice for Tennessee

Talking of quarterbacks, the most important recreation of the weekend options an enchanting state of affairs for each sign callers when No. 7 Tennessee visits No. 12 Georgia.

Nico Iamaleava‘s standing is reportedly “undetermined” after the Volunteers star missed the second half of the group’s win over Mississippi State with an “upper body injury.” He is been within the concussion protocol this week. As such, Tennessee has a tough and multi-layered decision on its hands, David Cobb writes.

• Cobb: “Iamaleava’s well being ought to completely consider to how the committee views the Vols transferring ahead. … Given the Volunteers’ well being state of affairs and given their final aspirations, a cautious strategy could also be warranted. … The worst-case state of affairs could be that Iamaleava performs in opposition to Georgia and the Volunteers take a beating anyway. Then, Tennessee could be coping with an unpleasant loss at Arkansas and a blowout loss at Georgia that has no asterisk.”

Georgia, in the meantime, has to get one thing discovered offensively, and it will begin with Carson Beck. The much-maligned passer and his group have their backs in opposition to the wall, however Shehan Jeyarajah explains how they can get back among the top 12 seeds.

📺 What we’re watching Thursday

⚽ Jamaica vs. USMNT, 8 p.m. on truTV/TNT
🏈 Commanders at Eagles, 8:15 p.m. on Prime Video
🏀 Mavericks at Jazz, 9 p.m. on NBA TV