Sports
NFL Power Rankings Week 12: Lions, Bills rolling, plus coaching hot seat check-in
The NFL coaching carousel looks like it will do good business this offseason. Two head coaches already have been fired, and one of them somehow is not Doug Pederson (yet), and 10 or 11 more might before the start of the 2025 season, including a couple you may not believe
The Week 12 Power Rankings will check in on job security at all 32 franchises. How hot exactly is everyone’s seat? Cold? Room temperature? How about blazing hot, Matt Eberflus?
We’ve also shaken things up at the top, and the bully ball Detroit Lions and coach Dan Campbell are back on top and looking like they intend to stay there.
1. Detroit Lions (9-1)
Last week: 2
Sunday: Beat Jacksonville Jaguars 52-6
Seat temperature check: Cold
There’s no better marriage of coach and city than in Detroit where Dan Campbell has been a one-man city revitalization effort. The Lions are 23-7 (including playoffs) since the beginning of last season. They had 38 first downs and outgained the Jaguars by 475 yards Sunday. Detroit has beaten three teams by at least 38 points this season, and its point differential (plus-15.9 per game) is on pace to be second-highest in the NFL since at least 2000 behind only the 2007 Patriots, according to TruMedia. “If people got problems with what we’re doing or complaining about it, they can just come out here and play better football. That’s the only fix to this problem,” cornerback Carlton Davis said.
Up next: at Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
GO DEEPER
‘I’m just glad I’m on this side, man’: Lions dismantle Jaguars for yet another blowout win
Last week: 4
Sunday: Beat Kansas City 30-21
Seat temperature check: Cool
Sean McDermott is not going to be fully embraced in Buffalo until he at least gets the Bills to the Super Bowl, but ending the Chiefs’ perfect season is good for morale. McDermott, who is 82-43 since taking the job in 2017, has gone to only one conference title game, and Kansas City ended the Bills’ season there. Sunday established the Bills as a real contender this season, but they’re going to have to prove it again and probably against the same old foe.
Up next: Bye
GO DEEPER
Reassessing AFC contenders: Bills the best? How dangerous are the Steelers? Sando’s Pick Six
3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1)
Last week: 1
Sunday: Lost 30-21 to Buffalo Bills
Seat temperature check: Gold
That’s not a typo that should read cold. Andy Reid’s seat is a throne. The 66-year-old will leave Kansas City when he’s ready and not before. He’s under contract through the 2029 season, and that contract is worth $100 million, according to Sportico. Reid needs 62 more wins to pass Don Shula and become the NFL’s all-time winningest coach in the regular season. He would have to stay on a torrid pace to get there by the end of this contract, but he’s on a torrid pace now.
Up next: at Carolina Panthers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Last week: 6
Sunday: Beat Baltimore Ravens 18-16
Seat temperature check: Cold
While the rest of the NFL world marvels at the fact that Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season in 18 years in Pittsburgh, Steelers fans have been wondering when he’s going to have another big-time winning one. Maybe it’s this year. Pittsburgh is winning Tomlin’s way, too. The Steelers are second in scoring defense (16.2 ppg) and doing just enough on offense (14th in scoring, 23.3 ppg). On Sunday, they won for the second time this season without scoring a touchdown.
Up next: at Cleveland Browns, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET
GO DEEPER
Steelers announce themselves as contenders with vintage defensive performance vs. Ravens
Last week: 5
Thursday: Beat Washington Commanders 26-18
Seat temperature check: Room
Nick Sirianni is the only coach who is headed toward a double-digit win season and is still not completely secure in his job. Sirianni is now 42-19 in four years in Philadelphia. That makes him the second-winningest active coach in the league (68.9 percent) behind Jim Harbaugh. Don Shula won a lower percentage of games as a head coach than Sirianni has, but, if we’re being honest, we could see Sirianni doing something goofy enough before the end of the season that Philly’s front office makes a change.
Up next: at Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, 8:20 p.m.
Last week: 7
Sunday: Beat Chicago Bears 20-19
Seat temperature check: Cold
It’s hard to figure out what the Packers’ ceiling is this season. Jordan Love is tied for the league lead with 11 interceptions, but he had Sunday’s highest yards per attempt (15.4). What’s much easier is assessing Matt LaFleur’s value. His 67.7 winning percentage is third best among active coaches and 12th all time among qualifying coaches. Packers fans might be antsy because he hasn’t been to a conference title game since 2020, but they need to appreciate what they have.
Up next: vs. San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
Last week: 8
Sunday: Beat Tennessee Titans 23-13
Seat temperature check: Cold
Is there one knock on Kevin O’Connell? Of the 10 head coaches hired in 2022, he’s the winningest and one of only two with a winning record. He moved to 28-16 Sunday. O’Connell survived Kirk Cousins’ season-ending injury last year. He’s thriving this year after J.J. McCarthy’s season-ending injury. He was smart enough and secure enough to hire Brian Flores as his defensive coordinator. Honestly, find a person who will say something bad about him.
Up next: at Chicago Bears, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
This graphic is wild pic.twitter.com/9QaYv6wJSV
— Phil Mackey 🎙 (@PhilMackey) November 17, 2024
8. Baltimore Ravens (7-4)
Last week: 3
Sunday: Lost 18-16 to Pittsburgh Steelers
Seat temperature check: Cool
After 17 years and a Super Bowl title, it should be cold, but then a game like Sunday happens. John Harbaugh is the second-longest tenured NFL head coach, but he just fell to 15-21 in head-to-head matchups against the longest-tenured one (Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin). The Ravens are the most penalized team (92 for 763 yards), a total to which they contributed 12 flags for 80 yards against the Steelers.
Up next: at Los Angeles Chargers, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET
GO DEEPER
‘They’ve had our number’: Ravens again unable to overcome themselves in loss to Steelers
9. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)
Last week: 10
Sunday: Beat Cincinnati Bengals 34-27
Seat temperature check: Cold
If Jim Harbaugh can kill “Chargering,” what can’t he do? Sunday night’s shootout against Cincinnati was the kind this organization seems to always lose, but whatever magic Harbaugh brings to his teams carried them through. After the Bengals tied the game at 27-27 early in the fourth quarter, Cincinnati missed two field goals and had four pointless possessions. Los Angeles then marched for the game-winning touchdown. What else is it but magic? Harbaugh improved to 51-22-1 as an NFL coach, and his winning percentage (.696) puts him fifth all time and best among active coaches.
Up next: vs. Baltimore Ravens, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET
Text from an NFC GM: “The amount of regret some teams have for not hiring Jim Harbaugh when they had the chance… It’s very real.”
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) November 18, 2024
10. Washington Commanders (7-4)
Last week: 9
Thursday: Lost to Philadelphia Eagles 26-18
Seat temperature check: Cool
Even after a two-game losing streak, almost everyone in Washington is still smiling. Jayden Daniels is the biggest reason for that, but Dan Quinn deserves credit, too. Quinn’s upbeat, high-octane style has been perfect for a Commanders organization that needed some good vibes. If there’s a concern, it’s that Daniels is 24th in EPA per dropback (minus-.08) in the last two weeks compared with second in the first nine weeks (.35). It could be a blip, but it could be defenses figured out the rookie and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
Up next: vs. Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Last week: 17
Sunday: Beat Atlanta Falcons 38-6
Seat temperature check: Cold
Sean Payton completed a four-game sweep of the NFC South on Sunday. Why is that significant? It’s the division where Payton coached for the Saints for 15 years, winning 63.1 percent of his games. He’s now .500 with the Broncos and has Denver pointed toward the playoffs and rookie quarterback Bo Nix in the rookie of the year conversation. Payton is also top 20 all-time in regular-season wins among NFL head coaches (166).
Up next: at Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET
GO DEEPER
Bo Nix’s latest career day illustrates Broncos’ ceiling: ‘You’re trying to win MVP’
Last week: 13
Monday: Beat Dallas Cowboys 34-10
Seat temperature check: Cold
DeMeco Ryans is 17-11 in Houston after trouncing the Cowboys on Monday night. Former Ryans teammate J.J. Watt appeared on the “ManningCast” broadcast and said he wasn’t surprised by Ryans’ success. “I knew he would be a great head coach. We all did when we were playing together,” Watt said. “I bought my house in Houston across the street from him because if it was a good enough spot for DeMeco to live in, it was good enough for me. DeMeco was the perfect person to take this city back to the place where they were proud of their football team.”
Up next: vs. Tennessee Titans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Last week: 11
Sunday: Bye
Seat temperature check: Cool
After a 2-4 start, Arizona has won four straight games, and Jonathan Gannon has the Cardinals as the most surprising division leader of the season. Gannon took over an organization that had had one winning season in the previous seven years. These Cardinals are in the top half of the league in scoring (23.8 ppg), scoring defense (22 ppg allowed) and point differential (18).
Up next: at Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
14. Seattle Seahawks (5-5)
Last week: 19
Sunday: Beat San Francisco 49ers 20-17
Seat temperature check: Cool
Mike Macdonald hasn’t done much to improve Seattle’s defense yet. The Seahawks are 21st in the league in points allowed (23.8 per game), but this team still is playing hard for him. Seattle had lost five of six entering Sunday’s game and came from behind twice on the road against the 49ers. The Seahawks are tied for second in the NFC West and play division leader Arizona twice in the next three weeks.
Up next: vs. Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
GO DEEPER
How Geno Smith and the Seahawks saved their season: ‘He gets that look in his eyes’
Last week: 18
Sunday: Beat New England Patriots 28-22
Seat temperature check: Cold
Can we point out that Sean McVay is 20-24 since his Super Bowl win or will people yell at us? They might have a right to yell because McVay’s influence off the field is just as impressive as his record. Maybe more. At 38, he could leave the job today and still have had an outsized impact on the game. The Falcons’ Zac Robinson, The Bucs’ Liam Coen, the Packers’ Matt LaFleur, the Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell and the Bengals’ Zac Taylor are among the current crop of play callers who worked for McVay in Los Angeles.
Up next: vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET
16. San Francisco 49ers (5-5)
Last week: 12
Sunday: Lost to Seattle Seahawks 20-17
Seat temperature check: Room
Kyle Shanahan should be completely safe. Somehow he’s not. The 49ers are in the top half of the league in scoring (25 ppg) and scoring defense (22.2 ppg allowed), but something’s not clicking. San Francisco has advanced at least to the NFC Championship Game the last three years and has been to two Super Bowls under Shanahan, but fans are starting to get restless. Hopefully, ownership is not. There’s a better chance the 49ers get worse and not better if they make a coaching change.
Up next: at Green Bay Packers, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
17. Atlanta Falcons (6-5)
Last week: 14
Sunday: Lost to Denver Broncos 38-6
Seat temperature check: Cool
There’s no scenario in which Raheem Morris is not back for a second season in Atlanta next year, but the vibes aren’t nearly as good as they were a couple of weeks ago. Sunday’s loss was the Falcons’ third worst since 2010, and the defense, which is Morris’ side of the ball, looks helpless at the moment. Morris has Atlanta in the NFC South pole position, but his .386 winning percentage is the worst among qualifying active head coaches.
Up next: Bye
Last week: 16
Sunday: Bye
Seat temperature check: Room
Todd Bowles has won two division titles in the last two years. He had the Buccaneers right back in the NFC South mix this season before receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans were injured. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen was a great hire. Still, Bowles has one double-digit win season in his seven seasons as a full-time head coach. His .423 career winning percentage is in Herm Edwards, Chan Gailey and Rich Kotite territory.
Up next: at New York Giants, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Last week: 21
Sunday: Beat New York Jets 28-27
Seat temperature check: Room
Shane Steichen’s handling of the quarterback situation did not instill confidence. Maybe that’s because he had to translate the thoughts of ownership and the front office, or maybe he’s just a second-year head coach not completely comfortable in the role yet. After declaring Joe Flacco his starter early last week, Steichen reversed course the next day and swapped to Anthony Richardson, who led a 70-yard drive and scored the winning touchdown on a 4-yard run inside the final minute Sunday. The win evened Steichen’s record at 14-14.
Up next: vs. Detroit Lions, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
GO DEEPER
After redemptive win, Colts QB Anthony Richardson lets emotion flow: This was a ‘blessing’
20. Cincinnati Bengals (4-7)
Last week: 15
Sunday: Lost to Los Angeles Chargers 34-27
Seat temperature check: Warm
It looks like the Bengals are about to miss the playoffs while having the NFL’s leader in touchdown passes (Joe Burrow, 27), leading receiver (Ja’Marr Chase, 1,056) and leader in sacks (Trey Hendrickson, 11.5). Zac Taylor is now 41-51-1, and there are signs of strain. “I play football on the field. I don’t call plays for us,” Chase said Sunday night when asked why the Bengals can’t close out wins.
Up next: Bye
Ja’Marr Chase is also frustrated with team’s inability to finish games. How? “Ask Zac. Ask the coaches. Don’t ask me. I play football on the field. I don’t call plays for us.” pic.twitter.com/GOzY5EjOhS
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) November 18, 2024
Last week: 20
Sunday: Beat Las Vegas Raiders 34-19
Seat temperature check: Cool
The Dolphins already are nearly five games behind Buffalo in the division race, but they still have a 28 percent chance to make the playoffs, according to The Athletic’s projections. No one really wants to see Miami if it does make the playoffs because of its explosive ability. The Dolphins are top 10 in explosive play rate (12.1 percent) despite not having starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for half the season. Mike McDaniel is now 24-20 in three seasons. The only reason there’s any angst in Miami is how bad this team looked without Tagovailoa.
Up next: vs. New England Patriots, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
22. New England Patriots (3-8)
Last week: 22
Sunday: Lost to Los Angeles Rams 28-20
Seat temperature check: Cool
Rookie quarterback Drake Maye has saved rookie head coach Jerod Mayo. Maye hasn’t made the Patriots a winner, but he’s shown enough flashes that Mayo’s decision to slowly work him into the lineup seems like the right one. Maye’s EPA per dropback (.04) is 19th in the league, and he’s thrown nine touchdown passes in six starts. Mayo’s performance hasn’t been as good, but the quarterback is taking attention away from that. To Mayo’s credit, he’s not denying that.
Up next: at Miami Dolphins, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
#Patriots HC Jerod Mayo says he needs to be better, the assistant coaches need to be better, and the players need to do better.
“We have enough talent in our locker room to be a very good football team. We just gotta be able to put it together.” pic.twitter.com/Xc7reyuJJ2
— Carlos Talks Pats (@LosTalksPats) November 17, 2024
23. Chicago Bears (4-6)
Last week: 23
Sunday: Lost to Green Bay Packers 20-19
Seat temperature check: Actually on fire
Changing offensive coordinators worked for a half, but beyond slight improvement from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, there was nothing to suggest Matt Eberflus is making a positive impact on the team. Cairo Santos’ 46-yard field goal on the final play of the game was blocked. The kick was attempted on second-and-8 after the Bears turned down the chance to run another play and get closer. Then Packers players said after the game they knew they could get a block in this game. That’s a bad look for an embattled coach, which Eberflus certainly is.
Up next: vs. Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
GO DEEPER
Greenberg: Bears blow rare chance to beat Green Bay. How many more will Matt Eberflus get?
24. New Orleans Saints (4-7)
Last week: 28
Sunday: Beat Cleveland Browns 35-14
Seat temperature check: Already an interim
If we only remember interim head coach Darren Rizzi for the toilet-clogging story, he will have contributed to the game, but it could be that Rizzi hangs around a little longer. He’s 2-0 since taking over for Dennis Allen, and New Orleans has such a significant rebuild coming up that maybe a caretaker coach whom the players like is a good fit. Taysom Hill had 138 rushing yards, 50 receiving yards and 18 passing yards for Rizzi on Sunday.
Up next: Bye
25. New York Jets (3-8)
Last week: 24
Sunday: Lost to Indianapolis Colts 28-27
Seat temperature check: Already an interim
Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich couldn’t turn around the Jets’ season, but we shouldn’t have expected any mortal to do that. Their offense has been bad all season (18.5 ppg, 26th in NFL). Their defense has been bad since Robert Saleh was fired (26.2 ppg allowed, 24th in NFL since Week 6). Now they are trying to figure out if their struggling 40-year-old quarterback is coming back and if their owner is going to take off again to be ambassador to the United Kingdom. Totally normal team.
Up next: Bye
GO DEEPER
After a year-long wait, the Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets are a hard watch
26. Dallas Cowboys (3-7)
Last week: 25
Monday: Lost to Houston Texans 34-10
Seat temperature check: Who knows?
Jerry Jones might fire Mike McCarthy tomorrow. He might keep McCarthy for another 10 years. He might leave McCarthy a part of the team in his will. Honestly, who knows with Jones? He kept Jason Garrett for 10 years even though Garrett won only two playoff games. McCarthy won 12 games in each of the last three regular seasons, but Monday night was the Cowboys’ fifth straight loss.
Up next: at Washington Commanders, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
27. Carolina Panthers (3-7)
Last week: 27
Sunday: Bye
Seat temperature check: Cool
Nobody’s really on solid ground when David Tepper is running the show. Counting interims, the Panthers owner has employed seven head coaches since buying the team in 2018, but Dave Canales has won two straight games and gotten slight improvement from Bryce Young. The bet here is that no matter Carolina’s finish, Tepper will opt for a tiny measure of stability and give Canales a chance with a new quarterback.
Up next: vs. Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
28. New York Giants (2-8)
Last week: 29
Sunday: Bye
Seat temperature check: Warm
Team owner John Mara said in late October that he had no plans to fire Brian Daboll during or after the season. Plans change sometimes. New York has lost five games in a row and 11 of its last 14 dating to last season. Since being named Coach of the Year after a 9-7-1 debut season, Daboll is 8-19. If he keeps his job, it’ll be by making the argument that he’s not the one who wanted to extend quarterback Daniel Jones and let running back Saquon Barkley walk out the door. Jones was sent to the bench on Monday.
Up next: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
29. Las Vegas Raiders (2-8)
Last week: 26
Sunday: Lost to Miami Dolphins 34-19
Seat temperature check: Hot
Antonio Pierce is 7-12 in two seasons after the Raiders got blown out by Miami on Sunday. They have bounced back and forth between quarterbacks all year long and never felt like a threat in the AFC West or anywhere else. Jakobi Meyers was Las Vegas’ leading rusher Sunday with one carry for 20 yards. At least there’s Brock Bowers, who had 13 catches for 126 yards against the Dolphins. With new minority owner Tom Brady in the building, it seems unlikely majority owner Mark Davis will stand pat with Pierce as head coach.
Up next: vs. Denver Broncos, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Jonnu really said see ya 👋
📺 #LVvsMIA on @NFLonCBS & @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/YbSuyFfsuz
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) November 17, 2024
30. Cleveland Browns (2-8)
Last week: 30
Sunday: Lost to New Orleans Saints 35-14
Seat temperature check: Room
Sunday’s game was tied entering the fourth quarter before the wheels came off for the Browns, and wheels coming off seems to be the theme of this season. For much of the season, the blame for all of the Browns’ issues fell on Deshaun Watson, but Watson’s out and this team still has lots of issues under Kevin Stefanski, who is 39-38 in five seasons as a head coach. Stefanski is one of those guys who will have another job a week after Cleveland fires him if he wants it, and a fresh start might be good for both sides.
Up next: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET
31. Tennessee Titans (2-8)
Last week: 31
Sunday: Lost to Minnesota Vikings 23-13
Seat temperature check: Cool
Brian Callahan is not going to be fired after his first season, but the whole “Let’s move on from Mike Vrabel” thing feels like a mistake as Thanksgiving approaches. The more likely change in Tennessee is probably at quarterback, where Will Levis is 35th among qualifying quarterbacks in EPA per dropback (minus-.16). Callahan will get another shot with a quarterback of his choosing next year.
Up next: at Houston Texans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
32. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9)
Last week: 32
Sunday: Lost to Detroit Lions 52-6
Seat temperature check: Pile of ashes
If Matt Eberflus’ seat is on fire, then Pederson’s has already burned up completely, leaving only embers. Whenever Pederson is finally fired — and now’s probably the best time not only because the Jaguars have a bye week but because he’s a perfectly symmetrical 62-62-1 in the regular season in his career — Jacksonville will begin looking for its fifth full-time head coach since 2016.
Up next: Bye
(Top photo of David Montgomery: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
Sports
Bronny James puts together uneven showing at NBA G League Winter Showcase
ORLANDO, Fla. — Well, the glass-one-quarter-full perspective on the Bronny James Show this weekend is to say it could have been worse. But it certainly could have been better.
The NBA G League Winter Showcase came to Orlando, Fla., this weekend, and with the Los Angeles Lakers’ decision to assign James for this event, he immediately became the star attraction, with both games nationally televised.
This was a 20-year-old rookie playing his third month of professional basketball, and I’ve certainly seen more tragic performances from young prospects learning the hard way at this level. But on a court mostly filled with players whose NBA careers will be measured in 10-day increments, James failed to stand out and at times struggled to keep up.
He got off to a hot start in his first game Thursday en route to a 16-point, five-assist night but struggled badly in the second one (six points, seven assists, six turnovers) and was plagued by cringe ballhandling miscues in both. Single-game plus-minus is pretty unreliable, but James taking home a minus-13 in a game his team won by 16 on Saturday conformed with the general eye test.
Based on James’ other G League performances, these two games were not outliers. James drew attention earlier this month by scoring 30 points in a G League game against the Valley Suns, but that was far and away his best outing. In his other seven games at this level, he’s shot just 24 of 76 with an alarming turnover rate.
No, we don’t have this level of scrutiny for other late second-round round picks, many of whom have struggled just as badly or worse in their first two G League seasons (*cough* Maxwell Lewis *cough*). At least three players drafted ahead of James have been demonstrably worse in their G League minutes this season, and several others have failed to distinguish themselves as notably better.
But if you’re looking for something to get excited about, Lakers fans, I’m not sure I have much for you just yet.
Let’s start with the positives. James showed some flashes of pick-and-roll viability in his on-ball reps, especially when he could start the move with a hard dribble left around the screen. He was comfortable getting to a right-handed floater going that way and judicious about snaking it back to his right hand to either get to the rim or force a rotation and hit the big man.
In grab-and-goes and other transition situations, his hit-ahead passes were on point and caused problems for opponents. James also showed his two-footed leaping ability at times, including an impressive traffic rebound Saturday and a flying swat in transition.
Unfortunately, that didn’t offset the other areas in which he fell short. Generally a player ready to contribute at the NBA level will cook G League defenses pretty easily, especially an aspiring guard. James’ South Bay teammate Devonte’ Graham, for instance, rolled in off his couch and scored 24 on Saturday after going unsigned following his 2023-24 season in San Antonio.
For James, that did not happen. He struggled to control his dribble at several points, a red flag for a small guard who is listed at 6-foot-3. In Saturday’s second half, he committed the holy trinity of turnovers trying to bring the ball up against pressure, getting his dribble picked on one trip, failing to clear the backcourt in eight seconds on another and wandering back into the backcourt on a third. Asking him to play the point feels like a complete non-starter.
In the half court, he could work with a screen, but isolations were a different story. James has no wiggle to his game and couldn’t shake defenders in one-on-one matchups after switches and hasn’t established himself as a legitimate 3-point threat either on or off the ball. He made two of his eight attempts from 3 in Orlando and is 7-of-33 from distance in his G League season. Between that and his limited ability to get to the cup on his own steam, his true shooting percentage of 45.4 heading into Saturday was alarmingly poor.
Of perhaps equal concern is that James’ likely role at the NBA level would be as an athletic energy guy, but his motor just doesn’t seem to run that hot and cut out at several different points. James is a good athlete with a strong frame, but you don’t “feel” him in the course of a game because his activity level is so low. Notably, there were several moments when he lazed back in transition rather than sprinting back to interfere with an opposing break; off the ball, he wasn’t nearly as active or handsy as you would hope for a small guard.
In what is perhaps a related story, fatigue seemed to be a real issue for him in both games, especially after a few minutes on the court. It was only two games, but watching him here, it sure seemed like he’d start each stint on the court with two or three good minutes, and then his glitch rate would go through the roof soon after.
Ultimately, the takeaway from many here to chronicle his performance was to go ahead and get familiar with our surroundings, because we’ll probably be doing the same thing again next year. The same can be said of a lot of the players here, especially the late draft picks, but only one of them is the son of a legendary superstar.
(Photo of Bronny James: Scott Audette / NBAE via Getty Images)
Sports
Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes eases ankle injury concerns, sets personal rushing mark on touchdown run
The status of Patrick Mahomes’ ankle was widely discussed leading up to Saturday’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans.
While there was some doubt during the week whether the star quarterback would play against the Texans, he was able to fully get through the Chiefs’ practice Thursday.
Mahomes was cleared to play and finished Saturday’s 27-19 victory over Houston with 260 passing yards.
But the three-time Super Bowl winner turned some heads when he managed to stay on his feet after nearly being tripped and sprinted into the end zone for the first score of the game.
Mahomes was sidelined in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ Week 15 game against the Cleveland Browns. Backup quarterback Carson Wentz stepped in for Mahomes and finished the 21-7 win over the Browns with 20 passing yards.
DEION SANDERS SAYS HE’LL ‘MAKE SURE’ TRAVIS HUNTER PLAYS OFFENSE AND DEFENSE IN NFL
Mahomes’ 15-yard scramble Saturday marked the longest rushing touchdown of his career. Moments after Mahomes crossed the goal line, broadcaster Noah Eagle wondered, “What bum ankle?”
This was not the first time Mahomes dealt with an ankle injury.
During the 2022 NFL postseason, Mahomes sustained what appeared to be a high ankle sprain in a divisional round playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The win over the Texans improved the Chiefs’ record to 14-1. Kansas City had already clinched a playoff berth after winning the AFC West a ninth straight year.
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Sports
Prep basketball roundup: Eastvale Roosevelt wins championship at Tarkanian Classic
Don’t doubt the Eastvale Roosevelt Mustangs this basketball season. Runner-up to Harvard-Westlake last season in the Southern Section Open Division final, the Mustangs return most of their top players and gave everyone a reminder of how good they could be by winning the Tarkanian Classic Platinum Division championship on Saturday at Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas.
Roosevelt (11-1) fell behind by as many as 15 points in the early going before handing Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (12-1) its first defeat 76-58. Brayden Burries, considered the best unsigned senior in California, was named tournament MVP and finished with 26 points. Issac Williamson had 19 points and Dominic Copenhagen 10.
Notre Dame trailed 35-34 at halftime and by 10 points after three quarters. Lino Mark received little playing time because of an apparent injury. Tyran Stokes had 20 points and 11 rebounds while Zachary White added 18 points for Notre Dame.
Redondo Union 79, Layton Christian 66: The Sea Hawks (10-1) took third place in the Platinum Division of the Tarkanian Classic. Hudson Mayes made 10 of 15 shots and finished with 24 points. SJ Madison added 18 points.
Leuzinger 75, Denver South 66: In overtime, Leuzinger won its division in the Tarkanian Classic. Joshua Garland scored 23 points and tournament MVP Malachi Knight had 17 points for 10-3 Leuzinger.
Seattle Rainier Beach 82, Westchester 74: Tajh Ariza scored 36 points in the loss for the Comets.
Chatsworth 75, Wilsonville (Ore.) 45: Alijah Arenas had 25 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Chancellors (8-1) in Oregon. Tekeio Phillips added 13 points.
St. Pius X-St. Matthias 88, Arizona Basha 67: Harvard-bound Douglas Langford Jr. finished with 37 points.
Camarillo 76, Righetti 27: The Scorpions improved to 12-1 behind Jackson Yeates and Cajun Mike-Price, both of whom had 16 points.
Saugus 64, Palisades 62: Bryce Mejia made the game-winning basket for Saugus and finished with 17 points. Max Guardado led the way for the Centurions with 25 points.
Santa Margarita 87, Murrieta Valley 64: Kaiden Bailey made five threes and finished with 18 points and Drew Anderson added 18 points for the 8-1 Eagles.
Foothill 65, Ventura 42: Lorenzo Turner had 15 points for 10-3 Foothill.
Heritage Christian 67, Oakwood 23: Tae Simmons made all 15 of his shots and finished with 30 points for 12-0 Heritage Christian.
Girls basketball
Sierra Canyon 75, Nevada Democracy Prep 47: The unbeaten Trailblazers (8-0) won their division of the Tarkanian Classic. Center Emilia Krstevski led the way with 23 points.
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