4 Random Thoughts: NBA In-Season Tournament, Phillies Roll It Back

My morning commute is filled with random sports opinions rattling around my brain. Most of them don’t even end up seeing the light of day (I commute in the dark.) I wanted to get a few of them off my chest as the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys tend to dominate every conversation. What about the NBA In-Season Tournament?

I know the 76ers didn’t act like they cared about being a part of it, but I still see it as a missed opportunity. LeBron James spoke of the fun of competition after securing his trip to Vegas.

The 76ers decided that not focusing on it was a better strategy. I’ll disagree, but the NBA could make this better. How about each team that makes the semifinals is stacked in finishing order 1-4? They would then be granted the 31st -34th picks in the upcoming NBA Draft. It would be a sandwich pick before the second-round begins.

The NFL and MLB already make these compensatory picks. It would certainly motivate teams to actually participate in the process.

The NBA has to be happy to see two of their biggest stars, LeBron and Giannis Antetokounmpo, make it to Las Vegas. The Pelicans and the Pacers…not so much. The tourney semifinals and finals should draw huge ratings. Count on it.

Securing the services of Aaron Nola for 2023 was a necessary move. The starting pitching on the open market didn’t have many candidates you could argue are better than Nola.

What other moves have they executed? Stop yawning! Put me on the record: A team that has not competed for their division crown in the last two seasons, despite postseason success, should look to get better.

Last year was a step backward. I’d want to shake things up a little considering they collapsed epically in the last few games of the last two postseasons for the same reasons. I’m hoping Dave Dombrowski has an active December.

The key for “Beat Dallas Week” is enough talking. I’m tired of hearing about “the standard” and that they haven’t played their best game yet. It’s ringing hollow. Beat the Cowboys, and the NFC East is all but clinched. I won’t have confidence in a fun January run if they don't secure home field advantage in the NFC.

The Philadelphia Eagles met their worst embarrassment of the 2023 NFL season in Week 13. The San Francisco 49ers dominated at Lincoln Financial Field in a 42-19 blowout.

The Birds have dealt with injuries to key players in recent weeks. Lane Johnson, Fletcher Cox, and Milton Williams returned against the 49ers. Zach Cunningham was out of the lineup, and the linebackers struggled without him and Nakobe Dean on the field. Jack Stoll started in place of the injured Dallas Goedert.

Who will return as Week 14 starters for the Eagles?

The 49ers failed to move the chains with a first down on their first two drives. The Eagles defense fell apart in the second quarter, however.

Brock Purdy moved the San Francisco offense down the field with ease and incredible efficiency for the remainder of the afternoon. Starting linebackers Nicholas Morrow and Christian Elliss struggled to contain offensive standouts Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey.

Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia offense started with two effective drives, but they stopped short of the end zone both times. They failed to take control of the game while the defense struggled.

Nick Sirianni has begun his NFL head coaching career with a 33-13 record in regular-season games. However, the 23-point loss was the worst the Eagles have suffered under their third-year head coach.

Dallas Goedert and Zach Cunnigham will be the most important Eagles to keep an eye on leading up to a Week 14 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

Goedert has missed the past three games with a forearm injury. The Eagles initially chose not to put him on injured reserve, which designates a four-game absence. His status was in question last week, and the sixth-year tight end would theoretically return against the Cowboys.

Cunningham missed the 49ers game with a hamstring injury, and Jeff McLane suspects that he might remain on the sidelines longer. While Jalen Hurts left the Week 13 game for concussion tests, his status shouldn't be in question moving forward.

With the need for a bounce-back effort, Sirianni hopes to have his roster at full strength. 

Quarterback, #1
Oklahoma University/University of Alabama
4th NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (53rd overall) in 2020

Running Back, #0
University of Georgia
4th NFL season- Acquired in a trade from Detroit Lions (April 2023)

Wide Receiver, #11
Ole Miss
5th NFL season- Acquired in a trade from Tennessee Titans (April 2022)

Wide Receiver, #6
University of Alabama
3rd NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (10th overall) in 2021

Wide Receiver, #16
Southern Miss
4th NFL Season- Drafted in 6th Round (200th overall) in 2020

Tight End, #88
South Dakota St.
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (48th overall) in 2018

Left Tackle, #68
Jeff Stoutland University
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 7th Round (233rd overall) in 2018

Left Guard, #69
University of Alabama
3rd NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (37th overall) in 2021

Center, #62
University of Cincinnati
13th NFL Season- Drafted in 6th Round (191st overall) in 2011

Right Guard, #51
University of Nebraska
2nd NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (51st overall) in 2022

Left Tackle, #69
Oklahoma University
11th NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (4th overall) in 2013

Defensive End, #94
Florida State
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 4th Round (130th overall) in 2018

Defensive Tackle, #91
Mississippi State
12th NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (12th overall) in 2012

Defensive Tackle, #90
University of Georgia
2nd NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (13th overall) in 2022

Edge Rusher/Linebacker, #7
Temple University
7th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (March 2022)

Linebacker, #41
Greensville University
6th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (March 2023)

Linebacker, #50
South Carolina St.
6th NFL Season, Signed in Free Agency (December 2023)

Cornerback, #2
Mississippi State
11th NFL Season- Acquired in trade from Detroit Lions (March 2020)

Cornerback, #24
University of Arkansas/Samford University
8th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (May 2022)

Cornerback, #33
Ohio State University
10th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (October 2023)

Safety, #31
Middle Tennessee State
8th NFL Season, Acquired in trade from Tennessee Titans (October 2023)

Safety, #32
Middle Tennessee State
2nd NFL Season- Signed as Undrafted Free Agent (May 2022)

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