Friday night is the second night of the NBA’s In-Season Tournament. In case you forgot, the garish courts will quickly remind you, as intended.
But if the hideous appearance of the courts is the biggest issue with the NBA’s break from tradition, Adam Silver should be smiling.
I was admittedly skeptical of the proposal to shoehorn a soccer-style tournament with minor incentives into the regular season, but the results of last week’s opening games demonstrated the potential of an idea that eventually will seem overdue.
Every sport but football suffers from a glut of regular-season games. In turn, interest is down. That changes in the playoffs, the place where legacies were shaped.
The idea of a player being permitted to chase Cal Ripken Jr. — only one MLB player has appeared in more than 550 consecutive games since the Orioles legend ended his 2,632-game streak — is unthinkable. It now looks like a misprint that Michael Jordan, then in his mid-30s, played every game during the Bulls’ second three-peat.
On its first night, the NBA tournament felt different. When the final four teams reach Las Vegas — the ideal venue, given its history of high-profile events and distinct flavor — on Dec. 7, it will be more appealing than most regular-season games this century. When we watch it in 10 years, it will feel meaningful.
The first steps were promising. You could see an uptick in competitiveness in a league that’s often bogged down by blowouts. Five of seven games — which all count toward the regular-season standings — were decided in the final minute.
Multiple intriguing matchups (Lakers-Suns, Celtics-Nets, Clippers-Mavericks, Thunder-Kings, Timberwolves-Spurs) will tip off tonight.
In future seasons, the league will tinker with the tournament.
Extra incentives could be added (additional money, automatic playoff berths, etc.). It could be pushed deeper into the season. It could be made easier for casual fans to follow by not having non-tournament games scheduled between group games.
Some gimmicks succeed. James Naismith died long before the adoption of the shot clock and 3-point shot. The NBA’s recent All-Star format failed, Silver admitted, prompting a return to the traditional East vs. West game this season.
But the tournament is a worthy experiment. There is no downside. The widespread aversion to change will be overcome.
Traditions are born every day.
Today’s back page
The replacements
The Eli Manning era wasn’t as special as many choose to recall. During his 16-year career, the Giants went .500 in games that Manning started (117-117). His only playoff wins came during his two Super Bowl runs.
But the Giants never had to think about who played behind him. Manning’s streak of 210 consecutive starts — ended by Ben McAdoo in 2017 to give Geno Smith a one-game audition — ranks third among quarterbacks in NFL history.
When this season is over, Daniel Jones will have missed 20 of 67 games since Manning departed after the 2019 season.
On Sunday against the Cowboys, Tommy DeVito will become the first undrafted quarterback to start for the Giants in 19 seasons (Kurt Warner). The rookie is the biggest reason the Giants are the biggest underdog (+16.5) the NFL has seen this season.
But DeVito has a low bar to best some of Jones’ replacements over the past four seasons:
Colt McCoy (2020): Jones’ hamstring injury put McCoy under center for two starts late in the season. He threw for 105 yards with a touchdown and an interception in a win over Seattle, but failed to lead the Giants into the end zone in a 20-6 loss at Cleveland two weeks later.
Mike Glennon (2021): Following Jones’ season-ending neck injury, Glennon lost each of his four starts. He threw four touchdowns and 10 interceptions that season and hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since.
Jake Fromm (2021): Glennon’s replacement fared even worse. Fromm, a 2020 fifth-round pick, went 6-of-17 for 25 yards and an interception in his first start, before being pulled for Glennon. Two weeks later, Fromm threw for 103 yards with a touchdown, two interceptions and a lost fumble in a 22-7 loss to Washington. The current Commanders backup quarterback has yet to reappear in game action.
Davis Webb (2022): Five years later, Webb got his shot. The Giants’ 2017 third-round pick was given his only NFL start in last season’s regular-season finale as Jones rested for the playoffs. Webb threw for 168 yards passing with two total touchdowns in the 22-16 loss to the Eagles. Webb, 28, is now the Broncos’ quarterbacks coach.
Tyrod Taylor (2023): The veteran provided stability in Jones’ absence. Though his inexcusable audible at the 1-yard line before halftime — and incomplete pass from the 1-yard line on the game’s final play — at Buffalo cost the Giants a win, Taylor bounced back with 279 yards passing and two touchdowns in a victory over Washington. The following week, Taylor suffered a potentially season-ending injury to his ribs against the Jets.
College football’s stretch run
No two-loss team has ever made the College Football Playoff. In all likelihood, it won’t happen until next season — when the 12-team field debuts — leaving 11 contenders for this season’s four playoff spots.
Expect the list to shrink on Saturday:
No. 3 Michigan (9-0) at No. 10 Penn State (8-1): The sign-stealing scandal shouldn’t overshadow the fact that the Wolverines have been the most consistently dominant team in the nation. Penn State is Michigan’s first ranked opponent this season, but the Nittany Lions have far more to prove. Under James Franklin, Penn State is 3-16 against top 10 teams, including a 2-7 mark when the Nittany Lions are also ranked in the top 10.
Miami (6-3) at No. 4 Florida State (9-0): Don’t expect a repeat of the Seminoles’ 45-3 blowout win last season. In six of the previous eight meetings, the battle between the rivals was decided by no more than five points.
No. 18 Utah (7-2) at No. 5 Washington (9-0): Heisman frontrunner Michael Penix Jr. and the Huskies have been playing with fire, narrowly avoiding three consecutive losses since their emotional win over Oregon. Home field could be the difference against the Utes, who own the Pac-12’s best defense and the past two conference championships.
No. 9 Mississippi (8-1) at No. 2 Georgia (9-0): The Bulldogs have won 26 straight games and haven’t lost at home since 2019. Lane Kiffin is 2-14 against top 10 teams. But, Georgia has faced second-half deficits against three teams this season and the Rebels represent its toughest test thus far. Ole Miss’ top 20 offense will face a defense without All-American linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson.
USC (7-3) at No. 6 Oregon (8-1): The Ducks are heavy favorites in a matchup of the two highest-scoring teams in the nation. Oregon should have no trouble against a defense that’s allowed an average of 44.2 points over the past six games, but the Trojans have Caleb Williams. Hence, the Trojans always have hope.
What we’re reading 👀
🏈 Nathaniel Hackett’s job is to guide the Jets’ offense, but Andrew Crane notes that not even the team’s offensive coordinator can identify what his unit does especially well.
🏈 Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale made it clear to Xavier McKinney that his criticism of the coaching staff “hurts the locker room,” writes Mark Cannizzaro.
🏀 Maybe we should all take it easy on Julius Randle, who, Stefan Bondy found, demanded to play at the start of the season despite suffering from ankle pain.
🏒 Hit hard by injuries, the Rangers still managed to skate past the Wild, thanks to third-string goalie Louis Domingue. Mollie Walker has the details.
⚾ Anthony Volpe admits his first season was “frustrating,” writes Matt Ehalt, who also found out what the Yankees young shortstop is planning to do about it.
⚾ Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio are in the mix to play third base for the Mets, but new team president David Stearns said both will have to improve their defense to win the job.
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