=======

“NBA-3 POINT SHOTS-AIR BALLS”
=======

Hoops are here, the opening week of the NBA season.
A look at who is hot-who is not as they tip off the basketball season.

-0-

LAKERS…New coach-new playbook-new philosophy.  Usually you talk about a new player being the key to a team’s success.  This time is it new coach JJ Redick, his game plan, his style, and the questions about his leadership?  They want to shoot alot of 3’s.  They need to play interior defense.  Is he in over his head as a first time coach?  Will the superstars buy into his theory?  Is Dalton Knecht the real deal as a 3-point shooter?  Can they find consistency in Rui Hachimura’s game?  Will Bronny James become a distraction?

CLIPPERS…Hate to say the season is over before the season has even started.  Kawhi Leonard has no timetable to return.  There is no Paul George in LA any longer.  Russell Westbrook is gone.  What’s left behind is an aging James Harden, an established center and a collection of backup young players and journeyman off the bench guys.  Can you sadly say ‘lottery pick season’?

OKLAHOMA CITY..Their time has arrived.  Shai Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and the importation of Alex Caruso-Isaiah Hartenstein.

DALLAS..Can Luca Doncis stay away from the calf issues?  Can Kyrie Irving be a better fit?  Does Klay Thompson make a huge difference?  What will they be like with young developing Derek Lively and Daniel Gafford?

SUNS..New coach in Mike Budenholzer.  Can he make Devin Booker-Kevin Durant-Brad Bel and newcomer Tyus Jones fit?

MINNESOTA..Looks like a disjointed roster after the Karl Anthony Towns trade.  How will Julius Randle-Rudy Gobeert-Anthony Edwards fit?  What is the impact of Donte DiVincenzo and Terrance Shannon?

DENVER..Hard to believe a championship team is dropping, but they still have Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, plus young players Julian Strawthen and Christian Braun, and they add Russell Westbrook.

HOUSTON..They look they are ready to break loose.  A great collection of young talent, but is this roster led by Jalen Green-Auren Thompsoin-Alp Sengun-Jabari Smith just too young to hold up to the rigors of an 80-game schedule?

MILWAUKEE..Need to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo-Damian Lillard-Khris Middleton healthy.  Good offseason deals for role players Taurean Prince-Gary Trent.

NEW ORLEANS..Zion Williamson may move to center full time, but he has found his career now.  They add Dejountae Murray, who joins Trey Murphy, Herb Jones and Brandon Ingram.  The Pelicans look like they are loaded.

SAN ANTONIO..It will be more than Vic Wembenyama, with the addition of 1st round pick Stephon Castle, Harrison Barnes and Chris Paul.  There is a depth problem there.

GOLDEN STATE..Steph Curry and Draymond Green are heading to the sunset of their career.  Will Jon Kuminga-Moses Moody-Brandon Podzumiski begin the transition?  Did Buddy Hield’s arrival add firepower to the offense?

SACRAMENTO..They have been building, and now you add DeMar DeRozan to a team led by D’Aaron Fox-Damonte Sabonis-Malike Monk and young star Keegan Murray.

-0-

BOSTON..The beast in the East is a year older but they are anchored by the stars Tatum-Brown-Porzingas, the fast development of Derrick White, and the experienced  Jrue Holiday-Al Horford.

CLEVELAND..A pretty good depth chart led by Donovan Mitchell-Darius Garland-Jarett Allen-Evan Mobley.  Can they make the next move up?

KNICKS..Does the chemistry work and fit?  Karl Anthony Towns-Mikal Bridges come on board to play with Jalen Brunson-Josh Hart and OG Anunoby..

76ers..Paul George arrives but is injured.  Joel Embiid has a history of knee problems.  Tyreek Maxey was so explosive last year.  Health is the key in Philly.

ORLANDO..Pay attention to this young roster, Pablo Banchero-Franz Wagner-Jalen Suggs and the glue guard Kantavious Caldwell-Pope.

INDIANA..Arrived last year and made big statements with its shooting core, Pascal Siakam-Ty Haliburton and TJ McConnell.

MIAMI..Seems like a volatile roster, Jimmy Butler, in his final season before free agency, teaming with Bam Adebajo and young players Jaime Jacquez-Duncan Robinson.  What does Pat Riley do next?

ATLANTA..They shuffled away guys like Murray and Collins. In comes high draft pick Zac Risacher to join Trae Murphy-Dyson Daniels.  Do they have enough?

MEMPHIS..Has Ja Morant learned from all the adversity he had last year, on the court-off the court?  They have Dez Bane-Jaren Jackson and the reports on the play of rookie Zach Edey have been excellent.

TORONTO..Leads the list of have-nots, led by young star Scottie Barnes.
WASHINGTON..1st round pick Alex Sarr comes from France-joining a (15-67) team
PORTLAND..Scottie Henderson and young guys trying to fix (21-61)
CHARLOTTE..Can LaMelo Ball stay healthy?
BROOKLYN..Ben Simmons needs to prove himself-but this looks like a tank job.
DETROIT..Cade Cunningham has help- with Tobias Harris-Malik Beasley-coming
UTAH..Is there enough help for Laurie Markkanen and John Collins?
CHICAGO..Lonzo Ball health-Josh Giddey-Patrick Williams-Zach LaVine-can it fit?

===========

Hacksaw’s Monday Bonus Podcast
You Tube Channel-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
Look-Listen-Share-Subscribe

===========
“CHARGERS-NOT SO TOUGH”
===========

The Chargers want you to believe the Jim Harbaugh era is about street toughness, a power running game, and a big play quarterback throwing the ball deep.

Well we will have to wait awhile to see the proven product Harbaugh is attempting to package.

The Bolts are now (3-3).  They have not beaten anybody of note, posting wins against the dysfunctional Raiders, the lowly Carolina Panthers, and the early rebuild Denver Broncos.

And among their losses, a real beating at the hands of the then struggling Steelers and then the Monday night mugging, ambush, in Arizona too.

It was hard to watch and understand why the Chargers are not tougher than the other guy, why they can’t run the ball, why they keep taking major penalties.

Arizona, lowly Arizona, out-toughed the Bolts.  Choked off the running game.  Made big time tackles after pass completions.  And watched the Bolts continue to pile up penalty yards with cheap hits, that cost them badly.

Wasted a (349Y) passing night from QB-Justin Herbert.  Completed 8-passes to tight end Will Dissley, but few passes to their young wide receivers.  When the night was done, the Chargers had 16-chunk plays of 10-yards or more, but lost again.

On defense, aside from Khalil Mack’s great start, no one else made plays.

Kyler Murray bolted for a 41-Y TD run.  They never sacked him.  The pressure disappeared.  And James Conner trampled their defense on the ground and caught passes and ran over tacklers in the secondary,

Murray, known for big plays and big mistakes, wound up with (145Y) passing and 64-on the ground.  Conner had (152Y) combined yards, rushing-receiving.

When they finished the night Arizona had stampeded to (181Y) in the win.

The Chargers talented offensive line gave up 3-sacks, Herbert was flushed from the pocket 5-times, and the Chargers running backs had just 52-yards on the ground.

And the penalties were bad, eradicating quite a night from Khalil Mack, who had 2-pressures, 2- pass deflections and a tackle for loss.

But that was offset by bad plays.  Linebacker Junior Colston whiffed on a tackle on Murray that wound up being a TD run.  And it was a brutal night for rookie safety Cam Hart, who gave up 5-receptions, took a pass interference penalty, and then a launching helmet hit penalty on the final Arizona drive that led to the game winning field goal.

A wasted 5-field goal night for kicker Cam Dicker, who had a club tying record 59-yarder, and was the Bolts offense, which did have a 15-play drive.

But in the end, all the things promised by Harbaugh, are still missing.  The run game is not there.  The deep passing game is not there.  The ability to stuff the run is missing.  The pass rush is MIA.

And now we have all these losses stacked on top of each other, just 7-weeks into the season of expectation.  And alarming losses in which they have been battered and left in the alley by some substandard teams.

Still lots of games on the season, but the injuries are piling up, and what many thought would be a break out season has turned into fall of breakdowns.

Chargers football, not so tough, and not winning right now.

===================

========

Hacksaw’s Monday Podcast 1pm
You Tube Channel-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
Look-Listen-Share-Subscribe
=========

Here-There-Everywhere in the NFL

CHARGERS..Fear an ambush in Arizona.  Yes Justin Herbert is healthy, but heading into the Monday Night game vs the Cardinals, they had a combination of 6-wide receivers-tight ends and kick return guys missed a ton of practices this past week.  Can Herbert with a depth chart full of backups.

RAMS..A gritty win with alot of young guys making big plays as they held on, but it was a win against the mistake prone, penalty marred Raiders.  Gardner Minshew had to play because Aidan O’Connell got hurt, and in typical Minshew fashion, 3-picks and a fumble in another Raiders loss.

CHIEFS..They are not whom they used to be, the dominant Chiefs, but Patrick Mahomes did enough to win a tough game with the banged up 49ers.  Neither one looks elite because of injuries this year, but KC is (6-0).  They need wide receiver help so look for a KC acquisition in the next week or so.

49ers…They do not know when-if Christian McCaffrey will be back after all these treatments for the calf-achilles issues.  Brandon Aiyuk is not earning his checks.  Deebo Samuels is in-out of the lineup with health issues.  San Francisco, despite Brock Purdy, is a shell of its successful self.

RAVENS-TAMPA BAY..They may break the scoreboard in the Monday Night game.  Lamar Jackson-Derrick Henry-young wide receivers, they are pretty dynamic.  Baker Mayfield, QB turned cult hero on the Suncoast has thrown 15-TDs this season.

JETS..They look like they have a ton of offensive talent surrounding Aaron Rodgers, and now they have ended the nasty holdout of pass rusher Hassan Reddick to add to a strong defense.  Are they ready to make a move in the AFC playoff race?  Yes they are (2-5)..they just need a week or two to come together on both sides of the ball.

LIONS-VIKINGS..That felt like a playoff game, back and forth, up and down the field, the QBs making plays, the defense creating havoc.  Lions win and survive.  The Vikings scared them for awhile too.  Great to watch.

FALCONS..Explain that loss at home to Seattle.  3-turnovers, 3-sacks, Seattle’s defense knocked Kirk Cousins out of sync.  Big win for a struggling Seahawks team.

CLEVELAND..Period-Exclamation point-end of the nightmare investment the Browns made on QB-Deshaun Watson, gone now with a Torn Achilles on a non-contact play, in a devastatingly bad Cleveland season.

PACKERS-HOUSTON…That Sunday matchup was equal to what happened in the Lions-Vikings game.  Can you say Jordan Love-superstar-now has accounted for 15-TDs this year.

EAGLES..Take that NY Giants.  Saquon Barkley explodes for (176R) against the Giants, his old team, that did not offer him a free agent contract to stay.  What a beatdown.  Wonder if owner John Mara is thinking of firing everyone.

WASHINGTON..Jayden Daniels knocked out of the lineup running the football, a rib injury.  The Commanders are (5-1) but now we wait to see how badly banged up he is.

CAROLINA-PATRIOTS..Define them as awful, at quarterback, and on the roster.  Ownership awful in Charlotte.  Robert Kraft must be shocked at the demise of his franchise in the post-Tom Brady career, an awful roster too.

MIAMI..Hold your breath, Tua Tagovailoa has been cleared to practice on Wednesday coming off this extended concussion situation.  Who knows how long he holds up once he is back in the lineup.

STEELERS..Renting QBs this season.  We saw 6-weeks worth of Justin Fields, now we get a look at aging Russell Wilson, who put on a vintage show like he used to do in Wisconsin-Seattle.  Fans in the Burgh not very happy with the neanderthal Steelers playbook, that all changed on Sunday night..

We get to the halfway mark in the NFL, with some really bad football teams, and some legendary teams not playing very well.

=================

==========Hacksaw’s Great Sports Weekend Podcast
You Tube Channel-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
Look-Listen-Share-Subscribe

==========
“QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING”
==========

PADRES FANS..You still in a funk over the playoff loss to the Dodgers?  I am, just awful, a team this complete, this good, would lose to the Dodgers.

DODGERS FANS..Admit you are amazed the battered pitching staff has come up so strong in the Padres-Mets playoff series?  How amazing is all this?  And this batting order..walks..hits..home runs.  How amazing is this series with the Mets?

WORLD SERIES..So which would be the best Fall Classic…Ohtani-vs-Judge in a Yankees-Dodgers matchup….or a Subway Series-Yankees vs Mets?

MUST SEE TV…Doesn’t Ohtani make you stop doing what you are doing, to watch is at-bats?

PADRES ROSTER..Huge off season of decisions, with big questions about how much additional payroll the Friars can handle, and who gets the pay raises, and who leaves?

LEADOFF MAN..So tell me, is a singles hitter, as good as Luis Arraez is, worth (14.8M) that price next year, considering not much of glove guy, not a strong baserunner, not a power guy at all?

PROFAR PRICE..What is the price for the leftfielder, coming off a pretty good season (.280), but that might be a once in a lifetime career season, never to be repeated right?  What’s the value on a new deal..5M..10M?

CAN YOU AFFORD HIM..Tanner Scott came from Miami and pitched well in lots of games, but now he is a free agent and there is a price tag attached to him, at likely 8-to-10M a year, and the question, can they afford him?

Just random thoughts on baseball questions, while watching the playoffs, the Padres still should be in.

=========================

========

Hacksaw’s Thursday Podcast-1pm
You Tube Channel-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
Look-Listen-Share-Subscribe
==========
“NFL NOTEBOOK
==========

Here-There-Everywhere in NFL Headlines:

CHARGERS..Yes the record is (3-3), but who did they beat?  Raiders-Carolina-Denver?  Raiders are a mess.  Carolina has no talent.  Denver force feeding rookie QB.  Sorry-not ready to order playoff tickets yet.

49ERS..BIg game with the Chiefs.  What a first half from Brock Purdy with his 100-QB rating..1,629Y-passing..9TDs..Running backs averaging (5.0YPC) and the wideouts (13YPC).  All that without RB-Christian McCaffrey.

RAVENS..So much for an 0-2 start.  The offense is hot (453YPG).  QB-Lamar Jackson (67%-12TD-2Int-108QBR).  Then there is RB-Derrick Henry  and his (5.9YPC).  And we have not even talked about the Baltimore defense.

VIKINGS…Are they the real deal?  Find out this weekend.  Sam Darnold  has 11-TD passes and a 103-rating.  Now the Vikes get ready for 4-of-6 on the road.

DETROIT..The Lions built their rep for a couple of years with defense.  Don’t look now, the Lions are averaging (416YPG).  Big play wide receivers and power running backs.

CHICAGO…Took Caleb Williams a couple of weeks to settle in-since then, dangerous…with (1,486APY) so far.  He is the real-deal.

TAMPA BAY..What a first half of the season for Baker Mayfield..15TD passes already and his wideouts Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, a blazing start (68R) so far.

WASHINGTON..Jayden Daniels keeps rolling, a (4-2) start..a 107-rating and (1,726APY)

ATLANTA..Kirk Cousins, what a difference maker, triggering a Falcons offense averaging (368YPG).

JETS..Now they are scary, with Aaron Rodgers throwing passes to Davante Adams..Garrett Wilson..Allen Lazard..plus all purpose RB-Breece Hall.  Pretty dangerous.

ARIZONA…The record doesn’t look good, but that includes losing to Buffalo by 6 and by 7 to Detroit.  Kyler Murray’s offense is marching to (332YPG) an outing.

CAROLINA..This is bad, a failing first round draft pick QB…a 75-QBR and 10-turnovers.

BENGALS..Yes Joe Burrow has a (110) rating but they have nothing else around him-thus (2-4) and in trouble.

BROWNS..What misery with QB-Deshaun Watson, a 76-rating..5TDs-6 turnovers..31-sacks taken..and just (240YPG).

DENVER..This will take time with young QB-Bo Nix-running for his life out of the pocket and with little help from his wideouts.

COLTS…QB of the future?  Anthony Richardson with a 60-rating…6-picks and 3-fumbles lost already.  Yikes.

JAGUARS…Trevor Lawrence has to carry them.  How about criticism for a defense giving up (390YPG).

CHIEFS..Unbeaten, but how weird is this?  Averaging (354YPG) but Patrick Mahomes has just 6-TD passes and 6-interceptions.

RAIDERS…A  league worst (-10) in turnover margin.  No QB.  No RB.  Now traded Davante Adams.  And a mess of injuries in the defensive front.

MIAMI..No Tua Tagovailoa yet.  How about these numbers..Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle both averaging (12YPC).  a year ago they averaged (18-17) yards per catch.

PATRIOTS..Pretty awful.  QB rating of two starters (76) and an offense averaging (257Y) while the defense is giving up (350YPG)

STEELERS…Have to live off the defense because Justin Fields  has taken 16-sacks, there is little production from the wideouts.  Thank goodness for the TJ Watt-led defense.

TITANS..What regression from last year’s rookie QB-Will Levis.  A 70-rating and 10-turnovers already.

DALLAS..it’s not Dak Prescott’s fault because his defense has massive injury issues, is giving up (356YPG) and allowed 18-TDs already.

RAMS…Sean McVay has problems.  Life after Aaron Donald is awful, with a defense giving up (373YPG) and has given up 17-TDs in 5-games.

SAINTS..So much for a quick start, with a defense allowing (395YPG) with a losing streak now at 4-straight.

GIANTS..Injuries piling up again and QB-Daniel Jones sacked 14-times already

EAGLES..A wild team, all that offense but 8-turnovers and just 2-takeaways, and have allowed 14-sacks so far.

SEATTLE..Geno Smith has to do too much.  He’s taken 19-sacks so far and has 10-turnovers.

==============