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Orioles news: On long World Series droughts

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 23: A general view as Shane Baz #34 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 23, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Hello, friends.

There are now 153 days remaining until the next scheduled Orioles game. You know the drill by now.

On the other hand, the World Series starts tomorrow. It will be over by, at the latest, Halloween. Between the Rays and the Brewers, there will be a first-time winner crowned. I think that’s fun. If all else is equal, I like to root for long droughts being broken. I think it’s good to put that kind of energy out there. Some day, maybe, it will be the Orioles turn to try to break a long drought, and it would be nice to be a sympathetic favorite at that time.

I know not every Orioles fan agrees, with some people preferring that teams ahead of the Orioles on the list not get scratched off to push the O’s closer to the top of the list of failure. It is not fun to be on those lists. Only five teams have gone longer than the Orioles without winning a title. If the Brewers win this World Series, that will be four.

The Padres and Mariners have also never won it, the Guardians last title was in 1948, and the Pirates haven’t won since (sigh) 1979. I wasn’t alive for that one, but I’ve heard enough about it, and I don’t think my “root for the longest drought to end” philosophy would ever apply to Pittsburgh. Wasn’t a whole lot of danger of having to think about that this year. Any of the other teams ahead of the O’s would probably be about as sympathetic as the Brewers, especially if they were facing another AL East team in the postseason.

The Orioles have not won the World Series as long as I have been alive, and I’m turning 43 next month. It’s a long time. Unless fortunes rapidly turn around, the O’s title drought is going to hit “get a colonoscopy” age pretty soon. It is not great that after two years in the postseason and zero postseason wins, that things stink again with no certainty of whether the people in charge can figure out how to stop that from happening. But there is quite a while yet before we will start to have any idea of whether their offseason turnaround plan is going to get results.

Orioles stuff you might have missed

All the ways new Orioles GM Jared Banner can make an early impact (The Baltimore Banner)
How GM Jared Banner’s ‘relentless’ approach can shake up the Orioles (The Baltimore Sun)
The local papers are digging in on the new guy. At The Banner – yeah, it’s funny – Jon Meoli suggests that one thing Banner could help the Orioles do is be the first in speculative technology rather than just playing catch-up copying everyone else. Yeah, that would be a nice way to get an edge.

A look at a few Orioles that might not be back next year (Steve on Baseball)
Trevor Rogers is the only name on the list that is going to make large numbers of Birdland fans sad in the strong likelihood that he does not return.

Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries

Nothing of particular interest has ever happened on this day in Orioles history. This is not likely to change until the team makes it back to a World Series, or at least deep in an ALCS series.

There are several former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2024 pitcher Corbin Burnes, 2012-18 pitcher Darren O’Day, 2005 catcher Eli Whiteside, 2003 pitcher Héctor Carrasco, 2004 catcher Keith Osik, and 1989 catcher Jamie Quirk.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: composer Franz Liszt (1811), baseball Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx (1907), author Doris Lessing (1919), actor Christopher Lloyd (1938), gold medal figure skater Brian Boitano (1963), and baseball Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki (1973).

On this day in history…

In 2137 BC, a solar eclipse was recorded by Chinese astronomers. There were also reports that two astronomers who failed to predict the eclipse were executed. It wasn’t until 585 BC that an eclipse is known to have occurred as predicted.

In 1721 AD, following the Russian defeat of Sweden in the decades-long Great Northern War, Russia’s ruler Peter I proclaimed a Russian Empire, with himself as the tsar.

In 1883, New York’s Metropolitan Opera House opened. The first performance was an opera called Faust, by Charles Gounod, which had debuted in Paris in 1859.

In 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, President John F. Kennedy announced a naval blockade of the island of Cuba.

**

And that’s the way it is in Birdland on October 22. Have a safe Thursday.

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Atlanta Hawks 2026-27 player preview: Kingston Flemings

DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 16: Kingston Flemings #4 of the Atlanta Hawks is defended by Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks during the first half at American Airlines Center on October 16, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Hawks initially had the number 23 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. However, the New Orleans Pelicans had other plans, swapping with the Hawks in a trade that moved themselves up to the number 13 pick while the Hawks moved down to 23.

The Pelicans took Derik Queen, center from Maryland, and in the process gifted the Hawks an unprotected first round pick for 2026, which drew scrutiny from circles around the league. The pick the Hawks received turned into the eighth overall pick, in which the Hawks selected their point guard Kingston Flemings from the University of Houston.

A former five-star high school recruit from San Antonio, TX, Flemings led the Cougars to the Sweet Sixteen, where they were defeated by Illinois. Despite the early exit for a team that was looking to avenge their heart- breaking loss in the national championship the year prior, Flemings stood out as one of the best players in the country.

The lottery pick guard led the Cougars in both points (16.1 per game) and assists (5.2) per game in his one year at the collegiate level. In a loss against Texas Tech, Flemings exploded for 42 points, which set Houston’s record for a freshman. The historic feat for Flemings featured both flashes of athleticism and touch that allowed him to find consistently at the rim as well as knocking down shots from behind the arc at an efficient clip (shooting 4-for-9).

Both scoring and dishing out passes at a high mark turned Flemings into a no-doubt lottery pick. Though he was not an elite shooter coming out of high school, the ex-Cougar worked hard and developed himself in a trusted source of three-point scoring, converting at an impressive 38%. While obviously talented on offense, Flemings is a scrappy defender who averaged 1.5 steals at Houston and was sound in his efforts both on and off the ball. This combination of offensive and defensive prowess drew comparisons to De’Aaron Fox when he was a draft prospect.

While Flemings is clearly talented, the question of how he’ll fit in the Hawks is a different matter.
One thing is for sure. With the exit of Trae Young, the Hawks desperately need someone to take over and lead the team as their undisputed floor general. Flemings exhibited notable leadership qualities that allowed Houston to preserve through adversity in close, competitive games. His natural leadership will ease him into the role of commanding the team’s offense, which was desperately missed by the team once the playoffs arrived.

Flemings taking over the main ball handling role would greatly open the Hawks offense. Last season, CJ McCollum took over as the team’s primary ball handler despite not being a “true point guard.” Once again equipped with the impressive scoring trip of McCollum, Jalen Johnson, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the Hawks will need someone like Flemings to be at their best and flow in the offense.

While of course Flemings is scoring threat who will continue to develop himself as a three-point shooter, I don’t believe his success in the NBA will come from being a high-scoring guard. Longevity in the league for most players is often in the form of finding your niche or role and starring in it. For Flemings, that role is being a facilitator and play initiator that allows some of the most talented scorers in the league to thrive as well as being a scrappy defender who becomes an irritant for any opponent the Hawks face.

It’s not quite fair to expect Flemings to be that guy immediately out of the gate, or even in his first year, but the Hawks have the guy who I believe will be their floor general that leads them to winning some playoff rounds in the years to come.

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LeBron James, Jaylen Brown set to make home debuts as Sixers host Cleveland Cavaliers

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 16: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates with LeBron James #23 against the Boston Celtics in the second quarter during the preseason game at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 16, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 125-120 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

NBA Basketball is back! The Sixers are coming off the season opener with a solid win over the reigning NBA champion New York Knicks, defeating them 106-100. There isn’t much time to savor the win, however, as the Sixers travel back to Philadelphia to host the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Coming off their first game, it’s hard not to feel good about how the Sixers performed in their regular-season debut. In particular, their defense was much better than most expected. Defensive rotations were crisp, and effort was shown across the board, including from Joel Embiid, who stated after the game that one of his goals this season was to get back on an All-Defensive team.

Offensively, results were mixed, but the Sixers had several stretches where the Knicks’ defense simply didn’t know what to do. They ran high screen-and-rolls with Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, which resulted in blitzes that freed up one or more of Jaylen Brown, LeBron James and VJ Edgecombe. When healthy and firing on all cylinders, defenses are going to have a hard time defending that five.

Fast forward to tonight’s game, and the Sixers will look to build upon their early success, though there’s plenty to clean up in that department. The Sixers’ three-point shooting was dreadful for most of the Knicks game, and they’ll look to get back on track in that area.

It will also be interesting to see how Nick Nurse utilizes the rotation. He really only went 7.5 players deep in their first game, and of course, that is not sustainable considering we’re not even in November. Both Dean Wade and Dominick Barlow, who are expected to be in the rotation to varying degrees, were out. If that’s the case again tonight, they might have to turn to rookie LaBaron Philon Jr. or Jabari Walker, who played a handful of minutes in their first game. Regardless of whether it’s tonight or in a week or two, Nurse will simply have to cut down the heavy minutes load with more than 80 games on the horizon.

Shifting focus over to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Sixers are slated to go from one tough opponent to the next. The Cavs retained most of their core group, with James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. They did change things up beyond that, however, adding Peyton Watson and Mario Hezonja in free agency, along with Meleek Thomas through the draft. The Sixers had their fair share of trouble against the Cavs during the regular season last year, so this will be another good test to gauge how this team is performing compared to last year’s.

Heading into tonight’s game, the Sixers are listing Dean Wade as questionable while Dominick Barlow remains out. For Cleveland, Jarrett Allen is questionable with right patellar tendinopathy. Nae’Qwan Tomlin (back) and Khalifa Diop (knee) are out.

The Sixers have an opportunity to start the young season with back-to-back wins against talented opponents in a highly competitive Eastern Conference. Let’s see if they can get it done.

Game Details

When: Thursday, October 22, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: ESPN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow:@LibertyBallers

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Davis on offense, Coulibaly on defense — Wizards thump Bucks in season opener

In his Wizards debut, Anthony Davis dominated the Milwaukee Bucks and led Washington to victory. | NBAE via Getty Images

The season opener was between two teams headed in opposite directions. The Washington Wizards want to win, and — led by a whale of game from Anthony Davis, they did. The Milwaukee Bucks — after trading away perennial Most Valuable Player candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo — succumbed.

For the Bucks, a lot of nights will be like this.

For the Wizards…82-0 is on the menu.

More seriously, even without No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa, who was out with an ankle injury suffered in the preseason finale, the Wizards demonstrated they can be formidable at full (or nearly full health).

It was not a perfect performance by the Wizards. Trae Young generated open and wide-open corner threes, which they bricked. In fairness, they were slinging bricks from deep from the wings and out top — 6-28 from three for the game. Young was the worst offender, shooting 0-6.

Starting in place of the injured AJ Dybantsa, Bilal Coulibaly was a disruptive defender in the team’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks. | NBAE via Getty Images

The Wizards made up for it by avoiding turnovers, scoring inside, and getting to the free throw line (32-41). The scant turnovers were something of a surprise. Controlling the paint and getting to the free throw line were not. The Wizards used two bigs together most of the night, and a team with Davis and Young are going to make the other team foul.

A few fun things from this one:

  • Davis dominated — 34 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assist, 2 steals and a block. He was too much for Milwaukee handle, especially since the twin towers lineups meant he was being guarded by Kyle Kuzma much of the evening.
  • Starting in place of Dybantsa, Bilal Coulibaly was a defensive terror. He kept popping up all over the court to deflect the ball, get a steal, or block a shot. On one block of a Tyler Herro attempt, Coulibaly flashed from the low block on the far side to swat Herro’s attempt from above the free throw line. He finished with four steals and two blocks.
  • Young had 13 assists, and it could have been more if teammates made a few more open looks. He’s enormously skilled at drawing defensive attention, holding it, and then hitting a teammate left open. I particularly liked a play in the second quarter where he jumped, looked at Justin Champagnie on the wing while in the air long enough for a help defender to leave the paint to start the closeout sprint, and then fire a pass to Ayton, who was open under the basket. It’s been a while since the Wizards had someone who could make that kind of pass. (He was on the broadcast team last night.)
  • Speaking of Champagnie, he played a helluva game. My hope is that he stays a significant part of the rotation when Dybantsa is back. He could, for example, take the minutes Khris Middleton played last night (no disrespect to Middleton, who’s had a terrific career — just that Champagnie is better now and has an NBA future).

Thoughts & Observations

  • Has Chris Miller always pronounced Chipotle without the T?
  • John Wall brought some good moments to the broadcast, which has long needed some help. Two notes: 1) it’d be great if Wall could talk just a little slower, and 2) it’d be great if the production could bring the level of his mic up a touch. That’s it — I loved the stories, observations, and the “technical” basketball talk. His presence brought out some good stuff from Drew Gooden too.
  • One grumble about the broadcast and then I’ll shut up about it — Chris Miller sharing the stat about Tre Johnson making 115 threes last season, which he said was the most for a Wizards rookie through 60 games. He said it like viewers should be super impressed. Except, it mainly just highlights that the game has changed. Most teams have a similar stat from the past few years because everyone shoots more threes.
  • Okay, one more. Miller had me grinding my teeth when he praised Bub Carrington after Carrington harassed Ryan Rollins full court. It was a start to good defense, which Carrington messed up with a dumb foul. The effort was good. His intent was good. The play was not good defense.
  • Speaking of Carrington’s defense, the first half ended with an open three from Milwaukee’s Herro. That open look arose because Carrington inexplicably lunged at the ball, got overextended and off balance, and then had to scramble frantically to try to get back into the play. Good effort, but he needs to play smarter.
  • A play at 5:44 of the first quarter made me laugh. Davis got a wide open three because George blocked for him like he was a member of The Hogs. George’s blocking, which should have been called for a foul, kept two defenders away from Davis.
  • I jotted the same basic idea (using different wording but the same point) in my notes three different times during the game: Trae Young is a tough cover. The league literally made rules designed to stop some of his more egregious free throw grifting tactics. Last night, he shot 16 free throws.
  • I like the idea of Kyshawn George. Last night’s game has me vigilant because it included four turnovers and four fouls. Excessive fouling from over-aggressive play has been an issue throughout his career. Turnovers have been a chronic issue, as well — and the adventurous passing on display last night (attempted a lob to Davis in a crowded paint, tried a bounce pass in traffic in a crowded paint). He can be a good player if he dials back the aggression and focuses on right play instead of highlight play.

Four Factors

Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).

The four factors are measured by:

  • eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
  • OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
  • TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
  • FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)
FOUR FACTORSBUCKSWIZARDSLGAVG*
eFG%53.3%55.8%54.6%
OREB%28.9%30.0%26.0%
TOV%15.7%10.8%12.7%
FTM/FGA0.2090.3720.206
PACE10299.4
ORTG114126115.8

Note: the LGAVG column is the league average from last season. That will update with averages from this season going forward.

Stats & Metrics

PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).

PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.

POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.

ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average so far this season is listed in the Four Factors table above. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.

USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%. Median so far this season is 17.7%.

ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.

+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 115, the league — on average — would produced 23.0 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -3.0.

Players are sorted by total production in the game.

WIZARDSMINPOSSORTGUSG+PTSPPA+/-
Anthony Davis347212735.6%2.92096
Bilal Coulibaly296216010.1%2.71826
Trae Young388212525.5%2.01046
Bub Carrington193914719.1%2.32060
Deandre Ayton153216317.2%2.62206
Justin Champagnie21441888.2%2.614917
Kyshawn George296110025.3%-2.56813
Alex Sarr245210416.2%-1.076-4
Khris Middleton12267710.5%-1.1-12-2
Tre Johnson194110315.3%-0.8-2912
BUCKSMINPOSSORTGUSG+PTSPPA+/-
Jaime Jaquez Jr.316714021.4%3.51350
Tyler Herro326810732.9%-2.0110-6
Kasparas Jakucionis265615717.4%4.0112-4
Brayden Burries163313723.6%1.6122-12
AJ Green15332097.4%2.3101-10
Myles Turner326811513.8%-0.142-4
Ousmane Dieng214510314.7%-0.914-4
Kyle Kuzma27586318.7%-5.76-10
Ryan Rollins24508522.8%-3.53-4
Jericho Sims240.0%0.004
Kel’el Ware14299825.3%-1.3-16-10
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Open Thread: Enter to win a trip to see the Spurs

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 16: Luke Kornet #7 of the San Antonio Spurs and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks go up for a jump ball during the game during the Emirates NBA Cup Final game on December 16, 2025 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Per an Official Spurs Fan Club promotion:

Catch the Cup Action in Two Cities

Cheer on the Silver & Black at home and on the road! Enter the Road to the Cup Flyaway Sweepstakes pres. by Self for your chance to catch two NBA Cup games, including a trip to Portland to support the Spurs.

Prize Includes:
🏀 (2) tickets to the Nov. 13th home game vs. Golden State
🏀 (2) tickets to the Nov. 25th away game in Portland
✈️ (2) round-trip flights + a two-night hotel stay

Don’t miss your chance to follow the Spurs on the Road to the Cup. Enter today!

All current Fan Club members will still need to enter to win. Deadline to enter is Nov. 1st at 11:59 p.m. CT.

The Spurs made it to the Emirates Cup Finals last season upsetting a bevy of teams believed to be more prepared for the battles. The Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers (with LeBron James and Luka Doncic), and Oklahoma City Thunder were all upset by the fledgling Spurs.

Enter for an opportunity to be part of the fun.

Click HERE to enter.

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

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Game Preview: Florida Panthers @ Pittsburgh Penguins 10/22/2026

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 04: Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates in front of Donovan Sebrango #6 of the Florida Panthers at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 4, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

Who:Florida Panthers (5-2-2, 12 points, 4th place Atlantic Division) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (3-6-1, 7 points, 6th place Metropolitan Division)

When: 7:00 p.m. eastern

How to Watch: Locally televised game on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and Scripps, streaming for out of market at ESPN+

Pens’ Path Ahead: The Pens get to enjoy some time at home, and a somewhat light schedule coming up. They play again on Saturday, hosting Nashville then get four days off before the Utah Mammoth come to town next Thursday.

Opponent Track: The Panthers were in action last night in Ottawa for Brady Tkachuk’s return to the city where he started his NHL career. Prior to that, they won their last three games (CBJ, VAN, SEA). After tonight their road trip continues going to Chicago over the weekend.

Season Series: Tonight’s the only time FLA is playing in the ‘Burgh this season. The Pens head down to Florida on December 10th and then again on March 4th to finish out the three-game set.

Hidden Stat: Pittsburgh enters today’s game with points in six-straight games versus Florida (4-0-2), per Pens PR.

Getting to know the Panthers

Projected lines

FORWARDS

Brady Tkachuk – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk

Carter Verhaeghe – Sam Reinhart – Lars Eller

Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Sandis Vilmanis

Boko Imama – Cole Schwindt – Garnet Hathaway

DEFENSEMEN

Gustav Forsling / Aaron Ekblad

Nikko Mikkola /Seth Jones

Dmitry Kulikov /Radko Gudas

Goalies: Akira Schmid and Cooper Black

Potential scratches: Uvis Balinskis, Cole Reinhardt

Injured Reserve: Aleksander Barkov, Brad Marchand, Jonah Gadjovich, Jacob Markstrom

  • Injury bug has been biting the Panthers hard so far this season. Barkov went down with a knee injury (fortunately on the other leg from the knee that kept him out all of last season), Marchand joined him soon after. Starting goalie Markstrom is now out
  • Tall goalie alert?! The undrafted 25-year old Cooper Black could be making his NHL debut tonight being as Schmid played last night in Ottawa. Black stands 6’8” and has played mostly with AHL Charlotte since turning pro in 2024. Black would set the record for tallest NHL goalie in league history, surpassing Ben Bishop and a handful of others listed at 6’7”.

Season stats
via hockeydb (last night’s results not included)

  • Brady Tkachuk registered two hat tricks in his first nine games as a Panther and no goals in the other seven.
  • Hat tricks have been en vogue for the team, both Bennett and Verhaeghe had three-goal nights a few days ago against Seattle.
  • Imama has played in all the games this season, after only playing two NHL games for Pittsburgh last season (and 16 the year before in 2024-25).
  • Goalie was going to be the big question for the Panthers after letting Sergei Bobrovsky go and so far the results have been…ok enough I guess? Markstrom and Schmid don’t need great individual stats, as long as they can hang in there and keep the goals down (which, Markstrom’s 2.21 GAA through the first six games definitely qualifies) that should be all this team needs to handle business over the rest of the ice.

Key to the game: Florida’s tough defense, the Penguins’ not so tough defense..

It’s early but the Panthers are showing that their drop-off last season might be a one-year aberration, rebounding their goal shares (top right corner) in a major way so far in 2026-27.

The Cats don’t give up a lot of opportunities as the NHL’s top team in limited expected goals. If there’s a ray of hope, it’s that the goaltending hasn’t matched the defense and prone to allow goals (and Florida could be playing a first-time NHLer tonight in net…)

On the flip side, the bigger battle might be in front of the Pens’ net. With a pair of Tkachuks and other net-front players like Bennett, Reinhart and Lundell, Pittsburgh’s beleaguered defense is going to have their hands full keeping the front of the crease clear for their goalies. This has been an obvious and glaring flaw for the team in their first 10 games, it’s going to receive a major test tonight in that department.

And now for the Pens

Projected lines 

FORWARDS

Evgeni Malkin – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust*

Ville Koivunen – Tommy Novak – Rickard Rakell

Egor Chinakhov – Hendrix Lapierre – Andrei Kuzmenko

Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Nick Robertson

DEFENSEMEN

Spencer Stastney / Erik Karlsson

Declan Carlile / Kaeden Korczak

Ilya Solovyov / Kris Letang

Goalies: Arturs Silovs and Sergei Murashov

Potential Scratches: Ben Kindel, Elmer Soderblom, Sam Girard

IR: Ryan Graves, Justin Brazeau, Trevor van Riemsdyk

  • Debated putting a ‘wait and see’ for this projection. Rust was injured at the end of last game and his status hasn’t yet been updated. Girard was skating before the last game, he could be getting close to drawing back in. Kindel, one would sense, isn’t likely to play after being hospitalized. How things will shake out will require waiting until the morning skate.
  • Otherwise, it’s just a holding pattern for now. The Pens were off the ice Monday as they traveled back from their road trip, then got an additional day off yesterday due to the delays that ensued in their return trip home.
  • His fault or not, Silovs has conceded five goals in four of his last five games. There’s two games ahead in the coming days before a long break and as always it will be interesting to see what the Penguins do with their goalie assignments.

Dubas speaking this morning

Kyle Dubas is expected to give a statement this morning to presumably update the status of Kindel and the events of Monday.

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Phillies News: Don Mattingly, Andrew Painter, World Series

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 07: Don Mattingly, interim manager for the Philadelphia Phillies, takes the ball from Andrew Painter #24 during a pitching change during a game against the Athletics at Citizens Bank Park on May 07, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Do you think whoever runs the social media graphics team at the Phillies knew exactly what they were doing with this post for the start of the Sixers season?

If so, that is some tremendous trolling, you have to admit.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

MLB news:

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Walker Kessler delivers big opening night statement in Lakers debut

LOS ANGELES – "Big crowd."

Walker Kessler mumbled just loud enough for the press to hear him as the 7'2 big man sank into his seat at the podium following the Los Angeles Lakers' season-opening 127-105 rout over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

The ease with which he answered questions – at one point, he said, "Contrary to my name, I run a lot" – mirrored how effortless he looked on the floor, always seeming to be in just the right place and just the right time to receive a lob from Luka Dončić or Austin Reaves.

At one point early in the third quarter, Kessler was running behind the play as Dončić dribbled into the low post. Draymond Green stepped towards Dončić, freeing Kessler up in the paint with no one near him.

"Luka!" He shouted out.

Next thing Kessler knew, the ball was in his chest.

Dončić had rifled it behind his back past Green and right to Kessler and before the Warriors enforcer had any idea what had happened, Kessler was already coming back down from the rim.

"He's just wicked smart," Kessler said of Dončić. "His basketball IQ is crazy, and I think he recognized I was running the floor. ... He just found me."

And it wasn't just Luka Magic. Kessler finished the night a perfect 12 of 12 from the floor for 26 points, his shot chart entirely in the restricted area. Ten of those were dunks; the most in a game by a Laker since Shaquille O'Neal in 2003.

O'Neal gave Kessler his flowers on-air postgame.

"For so long, the Lakers big men have been historical and dominant," he declared on Inside the NBA. "Walker Kessler is the best big man in the NBA."

A glowing review from Laker royalty, and one that shouldn't be taken lightly.

The spotlight that comes with donning the purple and gold – especially at its glamor position – can be blinding. The weight of following in the legacy of Shaq, Kareem, Wilt and George Mikan has crushed other superstars before. Dwight Howard infamously spurned Kobe Bryant in 2013 for the Houston Rockets. Russell Westbrook became public enemy No. 1 in his own hometown.

Kessler hasn't just shown he can handle the pressure that comes with this job. He somehow looks comfortable in it.

"He understands what this is and the pressures that come with it," head coach JJ Redick said. "I think it was a good opening statement for him."

It hasn't always been that way for the North Carolina and Auburn product.

By his own admission, there were times in his college career that Kessler let pressure get to him. Outside voices dictated his own thoughts and feelings. But as he's gotten older, he's focused more on being grateful for everything that comes his way.

"I'm a big believer in what an opportunity," Kessler said. "God is so good in my life for me to be here. ... It's really hard to focus on the negativity when you actively do that, and so I've been the past couple years really focusing on that."

Wednesday was just game one out of 82. Dončić kept it in perspective, saying he was impressed with his new running mate and how they played off each other. When Luka would drive, Kessler would step up. When he was doubled, Kessler he played in the pocket.

"I think our ceiling is even higher," Dončić said. "But ... he did an amazing job today."

He knows that even if Kessler makes catching lobs look easy, the reality is far from it. But keeping in mind that this was just their first game together, the future – and present – at Crypto.com Arena looks just as bright as the lights that so many before them have shrunken under.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Walker Kessler delivers big opening night statement in Lakers debut

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Yaxel Lendeborg rips Luka Dončić after debut: 'I lost all respect'

The Golden State Warriors got the chance to see their No. 11 overall selection in the 2026 NBA Draft make his league debut on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg got a taste of the NBA and earned his first 'welcome to the league' moment during the season-opening matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers, who defeated the Warriors, 127-105.

Lendeborg played 29 minutes and scored 12 points on 5-for-11 shooting, adding three rebounds, two assists and a steal. However, the main lesson Lendeborg learned of the day is don't mess with Luka Dončić.

The rookie found himself guarding Dončić on multiple possessions during the game. Lendeborg accepted the challenge. He didn't back down, playing physical with the Lakers' All-Star and letting him hear it, too.

That might have been where Lendeborg messed up. Dončić scored 28 points on 7-for-18 from the field and added eight rebounds and seven assists.

The two went at each other, especially in the first half. But Dončić had the last laugh at the end of the second quarter where he banked in a half court shot from about 50 feet to beat the buzzer. Going into the locker room, he had some words for Lendeborg.

Lendeborg, Luka react to the banter

Lendeborg even received a technical foul for his back-and-forth with Dončić. After the game, Lendeborg discussed what happened on the court with him and Dončić.

Lendeborg described his debut as "interesting."

As for Dončić, he said he lost respect for him.

"I had a lot of respect for him," Lendeborg said. "I didn't watch the NBA much. I just watched highlights, seeing him kill people all the time.
But then being in there first hand, just watching him whining and complaining, I lost all respect, man. Like, that was awful.

"Like me getting frustrated, it's not about the foul being called, it's about him complaining the entire game. And then you get foul call. Congratulations, bro," Lendeborg added.
"And then you talk to me, like you did something great, bro. Come on, now. It kind of threw me off for a little while, 'cause, you know, like I said, I had so much respect for him. Gone."

On Dončić's end, it was business as usual.

"I think everybody knows when somebody starts talking, it (brings out) a different me, so that was it," Dončić said in postgame interview with ESPN.

Later, he told reporters that Lendeborg "was talking crazy" and Dončić wasn't trying to talk back.

"This season I'm not trying to get techs, so it's the first time that that was not a double tech because I didn't say nothing," he added. "So I'm working on it. As you see, I think it worked great."

Warriors support Lendeborg's 1-on-1

Head coach Steve Kerr's message to Lendeborg: "Better days ahead."

"I loved the back and forth," Kerr told reporters. "Yaxel's a competitor. This was a great welcome to the NBA game for him, having to guard Luka, who's as tough to guard as anybody in the world. Having to learn about all the little tricks that exist in the NBA. 
He probably had three fouls that probably wouldn't be called fouls in any other league in the world, but it's the NBA, and he's got to learn this stuff."

"It's his first game," Kerr added. "He is an unbelievable young guy, and great talent, and it was a frustrating night for him, but a lesson well learned, and he'll get better from here."

For what it's worth, Kerr thought that Dončić and Lendeborg should have received double technical fouls for their back and forth banter. However, it was the rookie that got whistled.

Teammate Draymond Green encouraged him to keep talking and was honest when speaking to reporters about how Lendeborg should approach guarding Dončić for the rest of the season.

"Everyone's going to say 'you should not talk to Luka' and I disagree with that (expletive)," Green said. "1,000%. You (expletive) gonna talk to somebody, you talk until you can't (expletive) talk no more. And if he bust your ass, guess what? You gotta play him again three more times and you go back at his ass again. Then you see him the third time and you go back at his ass again."

Green said you have to earn respect in the league at the end of the day.

"If you start talking to someone, then you got yourself into a battle," Green said. "When I lose respect is when you start talking to someone and you realize 'oh I'm into a battle' and you stop. You keep going. You get all my respect."

Yaxel Lendeborg stats in NBA debut

  • Points: 12
  • Rebounds: 3
  • Assists: 2
  • Field goals: 5-for-11
  • Steals: 1

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yaxel Lendeborg rips Luka Dončić after debut: 'I lost all respect'

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Today on Pinstripe Alley – 10/22/26

Bronx, N.Y.: New York Yankees center fielder Aaron Judge looks out from the dugout in the 4th inning as the Yankees take on the Tampa Bay Rays in the Game 3 of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York on Oct. 7, 2026. (Photo by Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM via Getty Images) | Newsday via Getty Images

The World Series is just a day away, though with the Yankees having been out of the running for a while now it feels like a distant finish line unreached. Instead, hope resides in rooting for the spoiler — or in this case, the team playing against their rivals in the Milwaukee Brewers. They’ll take on the Rays tomorrow night in what might be the final bit of MLB play we’ll get for a while with the threat of a lockout looming large on the horizon, so enjoy it while it’s around. I’m sure we’ll all be missing it come March if games aren’t anywhere close to returning.

We’ve got a fairly busy day laid out for you, starting with Matt handing out our latest report card to Paul Goldschmidt in what might have been his final season in pinstripes. Jonathan follows up with a look back at Robbie Cano and his complex legacy on his 44th birthday, Peter previews the offenses we’re going to see tomorrow in the Fall Classic, and Jeremy hits cleanup with his thoughts on Brian Cashman getting to lead the way again on another winter revision with more of the same results trailing him.

Today’s Playoff Matchup:

Off-day

Questions/Prompts:

1. What are your thoughts on Brian Cashman’s expected extension that got announced yesterday?

2. Before the matchup gets underway tomorrow, get your picks in: will the Brewers or Rays win it all?

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How LeBron James can give Sixers' half-court offense a new wrinkle

How LeBron James can give Sixers' half-court offense a new wrinkle originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

LeBron James made a triumphant Sixers debut on Tuesday, exhibiting how he’ll help put the pieces together on this new-look roster.

James played the role of connector on offense against the Knicks, not often initiating himself, but utilizing his elite passing and basketball IQ to create scoring opportunities for his teammates. He totaled 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

Working in the pick-and-roll with Tyrese Maxey was one example of that within the Sixers’ half-court offense. The two are an enticing pairing. Maxey brings stellar shooting and out-of-this-world acceleration, while James can attack downhill and pick defenses apart as a passer.

They also have the established chemistry that contributed to James’ decision to come to Philadelphia.

“A lot of the reason why I’m here is because of him,” James told reporters after the Sixers’ preseason finale against the Celtics. 

Everyone knows James has a well-rounded game. However, he has not been the roll man in pick-and-rolls at a high volume throughout his career.

In the 2025-26 season, James averaged just 0.8 possessions per game as the roll man. Since the NBA started tracking pick-and-rolls in 2015-16, the most James has done that came in 2023-24, but still at just 1.5 possessions per game.

He’s shown that he can be effective setting a pick and rolling. Since the start of the 2015-16 season, he’s scored 1.25 points per possession as the roll man, which would have ranked in the 76th percentile last season. It’s just not something he’s done much.

“The luxury of my game is I can do everything,” James said at his media day press conference. “Literally, I can do everything.”

He’s played into that versatility in the very early days of his Sixers tenure. James has been working with Maxey as the picker in empty-side ball screens.

The advantage of an empty-side ball screen is how far off-ball defenders have to rotate to help. It gives Maxey and James more space to operate and creates cleaner reads.

“It’s a good set for us. It’s a good movement for us,” James said following the preseason finale when asked about his two-man game with Maxey. “It’s good to know we have that in our back pocket whenever we need it. It’s a connection that we have.”

That connection was on display early in the regular-season opener.

In the first quarter, James set a down screen for Maxey near the break. They then used a dribble handoff to catch Jalen Brunson off guard and get Maxey open for a baseline jumper. 

It was a nice look at that chemistry between the two and highlighted James’ comfort being the screener that a guard like Maxey can work off of.

The two of them were back at it in the second quarter. James set the same empty-side ball screen. After Mikal Bridges iced it, Maxey rejected the screen and burst towards the baseline. James’ defender, Andre Drummond, dropped to help. That left James open at the free throw line after a short roll. 

The defense collapsed on him once he caught the ball. The slightest of pass fakes to Anfernee Simons sent OG Anunoby and Brunson flying toward the far corner. The fake meant Jaylen Brown had nobody near him in the dunker spot.

The savvy from James on that play underscored the menace he can be as a passer off a short roll. Especially if he’s playing as a small-ball center, like he was during that stint, James can punish a defender who drops to support towards the ball handler. James playing the five has downsides, but how he can attack slower-footed centers is a benefit.

James also still possesses the size and strength to exploit switches against guards. With around 3:30 left in the first, he set a ball screen for VJ Edgecombe that forced Landry Shamet and Josh Hart to switch the matchup. 

Despite a bump from Drummond on the roll, James successfully played bully ball against Shamet in the paint.

James was good facilitating offense after setting screens on Tuesday. Where he can be better is finishing when he gets the rock off of the roll. There were a couple occasions when he didn’t convert on a pass from Maxey off the empty-side ball screen. 

Late in the first half, Maxey hit him on the roll off a dribble handoff. James took a dribble and started to go up with the ball, but Miles McBride rotated over and tied him up, forcing a jump ball. 

In the fourth quarter, Maxey and James went back to the same ball screen. Maxey threw him a bounce pass and James drove into Hart before missing a contested layup.

On a high pick-and-roll a few minutes beforehand, James passed up an open jump shot at the top of the key to drive towards the basket against OG Anunoby. He ended up settling for a bad shot.

“I can be a lot better, still getting my rhythm,” James told NBC’s Zora Stephenson after the win.

James was good playing to his strengths on Tuesday. As a connector in half-court offense and a finisher in transition, he was true to form. 

Once he and Maxey work together more in the two-man game, he should find his groove as a half-court scorer, too. He has, after all, scored more points than anyone else in NBA history. 

That dynamic could give the Sixers offense a changeup pitch that it has lacked. Pairing a true rolling threat with Embiid’s tendency to pick-and-pop could keep defenses on their toes. Plus, if and when Embiid misses time, James can still provide playmaking off the pick-and-roll as a small-ball center. 

Even if he’s not the isolation scorer he was in his prime, James is still a creation hub. Some of that will come off setting screens for others. If he can score off those looks as well, he’ll present yet another problem for opposing defenses to solve against the Sixers.

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From racing sausages to Bob Uecker, get to know your Milwaukee Brewers lore

So much can change over 44 years. And in the case of the Milwaukee Brewers, an equal and perhaps excessive amount can stay almost exactly as it was.

The biggest city in Wisconsin will host a World Series for the first time in 1982, when the Brew Crew tips off Game 1 of the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays Friday, Oct. 23 at American Family Field.

The ballpark is just across the lot but a generation removed from County Stadium, the city's multi-purpose ballyard that hosted the occasional Packers game and once witnessed the soon-to-be-crowned American League MVP pilot his motorcycle into the stadium to the delight of fans still mourning a loss in the 1982 World Series.

Since Robin Yount's ride in the wake of a crushing seven-game defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals, the Brewers have switched leagues, left behind the ownership of the Selig family and established themselves as the most consistent postseason presence this side of Chavez Ravine.

And they've also brought an awful lot of lore with them to the new place.

From songs to slides, sausages to statues, Brewers culture is about to get a close-up thanks to its Fall Classic appearance. Here's a guide for what lore to look for:

Bernie Brewer and his slide

If Junior Caminero's extensive home run celebrations make you blush, a far quicker trip to glory is available in Milwaukee.

There are fewer more apropos mascots than Bernie Brewer, a keg of a man whose twirly mustache would've played well in Yount's era and seems destined to have a little beer froth flecked in it. He's got a little dugout looming high above left field where he just chills out, thinking Bernie Brewer thoughts, until a Brewer hits a home run.

Then, it's a windy, circuitous trip down his slide.

Fans can arrange to pay to take that trip down, but buyer beware: It can end painfully.

Then again, Bernie used to have a much frothier splashdown after his slides...

Bernie Brewer's Bavarian chalet

It doesn't get much campier than Bernie Brewer's Bavarian chalet, his little center field hideaway at County Stadium from 1973 through 2000, before the club moved into then-Miller Park. Back in the day, Bernie's slide would end with him disappearing into a gigantic beer stein.

The chalet did not make the cut when the Brewers moved to Miller Park, so the owner of Milwaukee's Lakefront Brewery posed a simple question to the ballclub:

"You, uh, doing anything with that chalet?"

The brewery purchased the chalet for somewhere north of $15,000 and it remains at the restaurant near the banks of the Milwaukee River. The interior of the chalet is available for dinner reservations and fans sign their names - and other messages - on the chalet, not unlike the fouls poles and interior of the Green Monster at Boston's Fenway Park.

The Famous Racing Sausages

Long before Racing Presidents and Beat the Freeze, the Brewers rolled out their sausage race, first in animated form, at County Stadium. On occasional Sundays, they'd do a real, live race involving humans at County Stadium until their final year there, when the racing sausages would emerge from the left field corner to home plate.

You never know who might be in those costumes; an occasional Brewer or an odd visiting media member might be tapped to play one of Brat, Polish, Italian, Hot Dog or Chorizo.

On the night of July 9, 2003, Italian was portrayed by Mandy Wagner, a 19-year-old Brewers seasonal employee. The sausages were hopping along as usual when they passed the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates dugout. That's when Randall Simon Jr., their slugging first baseman, decided to take a whack at Italian.

Wagner was knocked over by the bat swing/tap/whack, though as she recounted in the days and years to come, the sausage costume was so cumbersome that a stiff breeze might've knocked her over.

The news cycle vacillated between "serious matter" and "hilarious moment" for several days, with Simon getting questioned by police and fined and suspended by Major League Baseball.

Wagner was OK. And since, the great sausage race has largely stuck to the script.

'Roll Out the Barrel'

You don't need to listen to a Tony Robbins audiobook for life-affirming inspiration. Simply gather with 40,000 like-minded individuals and declare, "We've got the blues on the run."

So it goes every seventh-inning stretch at American Family Field, when the Brewers play "Beer Barrel Polka (Roll Out The Barrel)," the lyrics on the big screen even though it seems every Wisconsinite might've had that playing in the mobiles hanging above their cribs after they were born.

Nearby Marquette University got into the spirit last week, chiming "Beer Barrel Polka" from Marquette Hall's Gothic bell tower. Maybe a little less uproarious, but pretty outlandish for the Jesuits.

Regardless, few franchises come harder with their theme strong than the Brewers. From mascot to song to the original name of the stadium, it seems the average fan will walk out of the place with a 0.15 BAC simply by osmosis.

Bob Uecker's statue(s)

There are two of them and it still probably isn't enough.

Bob Uecker called Brewers games for 54 years, the final two while battling small cell lung cancer in 2023 and 2024. He passed away at 90 on Jan. 16, 2025, leaving a massive legacy within the organization, from longtime executives to manager Pat Murphy and players nearly seven decades his junior.

But that was just how it was for arguably the most charismatic man in baseball history, a light-hitting catcher who rose to national and eventually global fame thanks to campy Miller Lite beer commercials and then several star turns on screen, most notably as announcer Harry Doyle in Major League.

A Cleveland-Milwaukee World Series might have been too much; that was the matchup in Major League, and a Fall Classic pitting those two teams one year after Uecker's passing might have been life imitating art just a little too hard.

Instead, this matchup should provide the perfect window for Uecker appreciation, beginning with his pair of statues in and around American Family Field.

The first one is typical, outside and joined by Yount, Hank Aaron and Bud Selig. Inside, though?

It's all Ueck.

Uecker's likeness is not on a concourse or anywhere visible, but rather high in the sky, amid the obstructed view seats, an ode to the greatest of his Miller Lite spots, where he gets evicted from Yankee Stadium box seats and relocated to the upper deck.

"I must be in the front roooooow," says Mr. Baseball, irrepressible as always.

This week, Ueck and the city that made him famous most definitely will be.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: From racing sausages to Bob Uecker, get to know your Milwaukee Brewers lore

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Hauser-Queta lineup makes early case for starting five

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 19: Sam Hauser #30 and Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics high five during the game against the Golden State Warriors on February 19, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Boston Celtics trotted out a starting lineup of Derrick White, Jordan Walsh, Jayson Tatum, Paul George, and Mitchell Robinson in the team’s Opening Day loss — but it might not be the team’s best.

In fact, its best might look more like last year’s starting squad, just with Paul George instead of Jaylen Brown.

The Celtics’ most effective lineup of the game featured Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Jayson Tatum, Paul George, and Neemias Queta. It’s a small sample size, obviously, but the team was steamrolling Detroit while these five were on the floor for a 5-minute stretch in the second quarter.

At the point Queta subbed in for Luka Garza halfway through the frame and joined the others, the game was tied 39-39. By the time White and Hauser were subbed out with 1:11 to go in the quarter, Boston had broken ahead with a 18-4 run and taken a 57-43 lead. Unfortunately for the C’s, who eventually choked the lead in the second half and lost, that lineup didn’t see the court for the rest of the game. To be fair to head coach Joe Mazzulla — who was clearly experimenting with different squads throughout the game — only two other lineups saw more time on the floor, led by the starters, who played only 8 minutes together.

Over their short run together, the lineup recorded an absurd 172.7 offensive rating and an equally absurd 36.4 defensive rating, according to NBA.com. That results in a 136.4 net rating — the highest mark of the game for any Celtics lineup. Boston’s second- and third-best lineups finished with net ratings of 60 and 56.7, respectively, but only totaled 5 minutes combined. The starting lineup finished with a 146.7 offensive rating, a 106.3 defensive rating, and a 40.4 net rating. All impressive marks, but nowhere as dominant as the Hauser-Queta lineup.

Apr 12, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) and center Neemias Queta (88) react during a break in the action against the Charlotte Hornets in the second quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

The lineup’s statistical success is completely unsustainable, but its early chemistry makes sense. With four out of five of last year’s starters reprising their roles, the lineup may have the most continuity and rapport of any potential starting five Boston could roll out, especially if George is locked in as a starter when he’s healthy. And slotting him in next to the other four is easy when he is such a perfect fit for Mazzulla-ball.

Talking about Mazzulla Ball, the Hauser-Queta lineup may fit better into the scheme than opening day’s starting lineup, at least in part due to the shooting Hauser brings to the table. The starting lineup against Detroit featured only one elite three-point shooter in Paul George, who shot 39.2% from distance last year and 38.4% over his career. Otherwise, neither White nor Tatum shot better than 33% from three-point range last year and Queta is a non-shooter despite a few long-range attempts this preseason. Walsh shot 38.4% from distance last year, but has yet to shoot at the volume that may be needed for a starting lineup (he shot a career-high 1.8 attempts per game last year, whereas Hauser put up 6.5 per game). If Tatum continues to struggle with his deep shot, Hauser’s level of high-quality volume shooting might be needed to make up for it.

The difference between Hauser and Walsh is pronounced, but the same can’t be said for Queta and Robinson. The 7-footers share a similar skillset and may have some level of interchangeability. While Queta was a part of the Celtics’ most successful opening day lineup, we didn’t get to see Robinson have a chance to run with the same crew, and — despite finishing -8 for the game — he played an important role in the starting lineup’s success. The gap between the two centers’ performances in Tuesday’s game may come down to a difference in rapport with Tatum and the others. Queta’s had years to develop chemistry with his Boston teammates. Give Robinson some time, and he might be just as effective alongside White, Hauser, George, and Tatum.

All in all, it’s a long season, and a one-game sample size means very little. Nevertheless, through one game, the Celtics’ best lineup to hit the court hasn’t been the starters. But, if its level of statistical prosperity balances out into sustainable success, it might just become the starting lineup.