Now, after a season filled with inconsistency, the pressure’s on second-year Kentucky coach Mark Pope to achieve something in March Madness — or, at least last as long as Calipari does.
On this basketball-themed episode of “SEC Football Unfiltered,” a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams weigh in on the SEC teams facing the most pressure in this NCAA Tournament, plus teams that were “snubbed.”
Then, they offer first-round upset picks, and they highlight a sleeper team from the SEC that could reach the Elite Eight. Finally, they give their Final Four picks! In a surprise twist, neither host picks an SEC team to reach the Final Four.
Which SEC basketball team faces most March Madness pressure?
Adams: Kentucky. Ask me again next year, and my answer will be the same. Ask me again the year after that, well, you get the idea. It’s always Kentucky. You want to be Kentucky’s coach? You get the reins of a tradition-rich program with an elite fan base and excellent resources. You also get the maximum pressure. Calipari’s success at Arkansas does Pope no favors. This first-round draw does Kentucky little favor, either. No. 10 Santa Clara is good enough to slay a blue blood.
Toppmeyer: Of course it’s Kentucky. Big Blue Nation demands banners, not participation ribbons. Pope will have a new boss soon, with Mitch Barnhart retiring as athletic director and moving into a golden parachute role. Pope is good for now, but an early exit paired with new leadership spells Year 3 heat. Better to win a few games this March and show a hint of momentum.
Beyond the obvious of Kentucky, though, how about Missouri facing some first-round pressure after drawing a de facto home game as a 10-seed in St. Louis, against No. 7 Miami? The last time the Tigers appeared in St. Louis, they got embarrassed by Illinois. Missouri basketball took a bleak turn after joining the SEC. Instead of dominating a bunch of football-crazed Southerners, the Tigers went into a hoops tailspin. They’ve produced just one NCAA Tournament win in 14 years as an SEC member. Now, here’s a golden draw in front of a home crowd.
SEC sleeper team to make the Elite Eight?
Adams: Arkansas. Get hot, stay hot. Darius Acuff is the SEC’s best player. He’s exactly the type of dynamic freshman you’d expect from a Calipari lineup.
Toppmeyer: Vanderbilt. The Commodores beat Florida in the SEC Tournament, a flash of what they can achieve when their shooters are hitting. Vanderbilt is fueled by multiple 3-point marksmen, including star guard Tyler Tanner. If their jumpers are falling, they could go deep.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 21, 2026: Chase DeLauter #24 of the Cleveland Guardians looks on during the first inning of a spring training game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Fields of Phoenix on February 21, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
I need to put together my predictions for the Cleveland Guardians in 2026 and I am at a loss.
Inside me are two wolves: One wolf fiercely believes in this manager, this organization’s ability to get the most out of a little, in Jose Ramirez, and in Austin Hedges. The other wolf knows that projections doubt this starting pitching staff and the offense, which was 28th in wRC+ last season, will be relying almost entirely on internal improvements and prospect graduations to improve.
See, if David Fry can get back to being a 120 wRC+ bat against LHP and take late-inning at-bats from Austin Hedges (and Bo Naylor against tough southpaw relievers) and work his way back into right field reps, this team looks a lot better. But, if Fry is the 75 wRC+ hitter he has been since June 2024… not so much.
See, if Gabriel Arias can just manage a 90 wRC+ and play gold glove level shortstop defense, and if Brayan Rocchio is the 100 wRC+ and sparkling defender at second base he was from July-October, this middle infield would be suddenly competent. But, if both are the 75 wRC+ hitters, no amount of glove work is going to make up for that.
Now, if Arias and/or Rocchio flop, the Guardians do have Juan Brito and Travis Bazzana ready to play second base, potentially. Brito has elite pulled fly ball abilities and a good eye at the plate, and Bazzana has shown some signs of being an electric performer both at the plate and, surprisingly, in the field. But, also, Brito’s defense has looked incredibly shaky at times, he lacks elite exit velocity and has shown some contact issues in Spring Training at times. Bazzana, meanwhile, has flashes of brilliance at the plate, but also still seems far too passive and there are still questions if he will realize his potential.
See, if Kyle Manzardo can build on his 2025 and increase his home run and walk output, we can have a legitimate middle-of-the-order hitter! But, he still has a lot of swing-and-miss in his game and his defense at first base this spring has looked somehow even worse than last season’s efforts.
See, if Rhys Hoskins is the 120 wRC+ hitter he has been for his career, a lot of the Guardians’ issues are solved! Especially if he’s 130 wRC+ or more against LHP! But, he could also be more like a league average bat unable to punish fastballs as effectively now that he has entered his 30’s.
See, if Bo Naylor has made some needed adjustments, he could be the #5 hitter the Guardians need and that he looked to be in September of 2025 and through most of this spring! But, if he is the mediocre defender and 85 wRC+ hitter he was for most of last season… the team will be hoping for Cooper Ingle to figure things out behind the plate QUICKLY.
See, if Chase DeLauter and George Valera can just be healt… well, you know the fears here.
See, if Steven Kwan can hold up playing centerfield, and either Stuart Fairchild or Angel Martinez can manage a 110-120 wRC+ against LHP… but none of that is at all a sure (or likely?) thing.
I feel very good about the Guardians’ bullpen, but Hunter Gaddis’s forearm scare has reminded me that the depth behind Smith, Armstrong, Gaddis and Sabrowski isn’t necessarily amazing…
Finally, the Guardians’ rotation… this group was a top 5 rotation to end the season and I truly think they have potential to be that, or at least top ten. But, is it the Arizona climate that has made Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee and Joey Cantillo look shaky, or is it some projections being unsure about them showing up? Is Slade Cecconi hurt, why isn’t he starting today? Are they really going to start Logan Allen over Parker Messick?
I don’t know why but I can’t remember feeling so conflicted about what to expect from a Cleveland Guardians’ team going into a season. I know what I will be rooting for, of course… another Hall of Fame season from Jose Ramirez, huge steps from the organization’s many exciting young potential stars, more accolades for Carl Willis as he leads another amazing season from the many exciting young arms on this team. And, a little extra joy for me each and every day I get to hear Tom Hamilton on the radio, see our boys light up my TV screen, pick out which of my dozen Guardians’ hats I’m going to wear to help them find all the luck they need, and I learn, yet again, to live and die with every pitch, every swing, and every new ballgame.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - FEBRUARY 21: MJ Melendez #1 of the New York Mets bats during the game between the Miami Marlins and the New York Mets at Clover Park on Saturday, February 21, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Phebe Grosser/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Ahead of today’s game against the Marlins, the Mets optioned MJ Melendez and Christian Scott to Triple-A. In addition to those moves, they Adbert Alzolay, Christian Arroyo, Nick Burdi, Jose Rojas, and Daniel Duarte to minor league camp. The Mets now have 46 players left at spring training with nine days to go until Opening Day.
Melendez was competing for a bench spot with the team and had enjoyed a pretty strong showing in Port St. Lucie. In 11 at-bats, he hit two home runs and scored four runs, hitting .364 with an 1.364 OPS. He also suited up for Puerto Rico in the WBC, going hitless in four at-bats with two walks and a run scored. The Mets had signed Melendez to a split deal back on February 8, which would be worth $1.5 million with $500K in incentives if he was on the major league roster. Melendez was a top prospect as recently as 2022, when he was a catcher. He has since played primarily as a corner outfielder and was competing for that role with the club.
Scott meanwhile, is looking to work his way back from Tommy John Surgery, which cost him his 2025 season. The right-hander, who allowed three earned runs in three-innings plus and took the loss in last night’s game against the Nationals, made two appearances for the Mets this spring and posted a 4.50 ERA with eight strikeouts in six innings of work. He will continue to get looks in Triple-A and could find himself back in the majors should anyone in the team’s rotation suffer an injury, or if anyone underperforms.
The Vancouver Canucks continue their homestand on Tuesday against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers. Like the Canucks, the Panthers are set to miss the playoffs this year as the organization has dealt with injuries all season. Here are the lineup notes for March 17, 2026.
Kevin Lankinen is the projected starter against Florida. If he does play, Tuesday will be the 200th appearance of his NHL career. This year, Lankinen has a record of 7-21-5 with a save percentage of .877.
As for the rest of the lineup, Vancouver will be changing up their forward group on Tuesday. That includes Nils Höglander coming in for Curtis Douglas. Jake DeBrusk is also projected to jump up to the first line while Evander Kane drops to the fourth line.
Dec 12, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Max Sasson (63) checks Florida Panthers forward Jesper Boqvist (70) during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
E. Pettersson-Hronek M. Pettersson-Willander Buium-Mancini
Lankinen Tolopilo
Game Information:
Start time: 7:00 pm PT
Venue: Rogers Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
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Batter denies the team ‘weren’t fussed’ in Australia
28-year-old believes his ‘best batting years are to come’
Ollie Pope has challenged the perception England “weren’t fussed” during their troubled Ashes tour but accepts why it formed.
Ben Stokes’ tourists crashed to a 4-1 series defeat by Australia that is being reviewed by the England and Wales Cricket Board, with tour planning, preparation, individual performances and behaviour all under scrutiny.
Venezuelan lefty Eduardo Rodriguez has only pitched 2 2/3 innings in the tournament and sports a pedestrian 8.37 K/9 and 20.7 K% across 204 1/3 frames over the past two MLB seasons.
The veteran also posted a 5.02 ERA during the two years, and I’m not anticipating him pitching deep enough to pick up five or more strikeouts against the potent American lineup tonight.
Plus, Team USA has only fanned 48 times across six tournament games.
Prop #2: Nolan McLean 2+ walks allowed
+180 at DraftKings
Control hasn’t been a calling card for United States righty Nolan McLean, and he posted a 3.96 BB/9 and 10.7 BB% in the minors last year before putting up respective 3.0 and 5.8% marks across 48 innings in the majors.
McLean also issued a pair of free passes across three innings during his lone tournament start to date.
Additionally, I expect the Venezuelans to have trouble doing damage against McLean, which will allow him to pitch deep enough into the final to serve up two or more bases on balls.
Prop #3: Aaron Judge 1+ walks
-115 at DraftKings
Team USA captain Aaron Judge has a .414 on-base percentage in the tournament, thanks in large part to drawing six free passes across six games. His two homers and .565 slugging percentage reinforce why opposing pitchers and managers are proceeding with caution with the three-time AL MVP, too.
How to watch Venezuela vs USA and game info
Location
LoanDepot Park, Miami, FL
Date
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
First pitch
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
Venezuela starting pitcher
Eduardo Rodriguez
USA starting pitcher
Nolan McLean
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
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ASB GlassFloor, the Swiss manufacturer behind the controversial glass basketball court installed—and then ultimately removed—during last week’s Big 12 basketball tournament, has since defended itself by citing a study of the surface commissioned by the NBA ahead of the 2024 All-Star weekend.
ASB’s LumiFlex flooring contains LED panels sealed beneath tempered safety glass, which are covered in ceramic dots that are designed to improve friction to prevent slipping.
But its high-profile collegiate debut at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo., proved rocky—or, critics say, too slick—after Texas Tech star guard Christian Anderson strained a muscle while slipping on the surface during a quarterfinal loss to Iowa State. Following Anderson’s injury and complaints from other players and coaches, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark announced that a traditional wooden court would replace the glass for the tournament’s final two rounds.
In an interview last week with CBS Sports, Benedikt von Dohnanyi, ASB’s CEO, touted the NBA’s study of his product, saying it scientifically concluded the glass court “plays the same as a wooden court,” including “from a grip perspective.”
However, the 50-page report by engineering consulting firm Rimkus—reviewed by Sportico—suggests a more nuanced conclusion.
While Rimkus concluded that its research and the available data did not suggest “increased risk of injury” for NBA’s intended use, it also acknowledged the significant limits of the analysis.
In the aftermath of the Big 12 tournament, an ASB spokesperson said company had launched “an active investigation” that included engaging an “independent scientific institution.”
“This process is our highest priority at this point to ensure we continue to meet the 100% satisfaction rate we have achieved at other high-profile venues,” a company spokesperson said in a statement.
Despite von Dohnanyi’s public comments last week, the ASB spokesperson declined to specifically address questions about Rimkus’ report, saying, “We generally do not comment on specific details in external studies not commissioned by us.”
The spokesperson added that the company has worked with “various independent test institutes globally,” and that its floors, including the one used in Kansas City, have undergone “strict, independent testing” as part of their certification for use by FIBA.
The Big 12 declined to comment, and a spokesperson for Rimkus did not immediately respond to an email inquiry.
The NBA retained Rimkus in 2024 to evaluate the safety of the court for limited use during All-Star Weekend events, including the skills challenge, 3-point contest and slam dunk contest. The firm assessed performance metrics such as force reduction, vertical deformation, ball rebound, surface friction, flatness and surface temperature—but only in the context of non-game use.
“It was beyond the scope of the assignment to address all possible sources of injury from the playing surface … so we are unable to opine on the overall safety of the court for full game use,” the study said. “Additional considerations, such as risk of skin abrasion, fall injury risk, and court-shoe traction may warrant additional tests if the floor is to be used on a frequent basis for training or competition.”
The study also noted the testing was not conducted on a full court. Instead, Rimkus examined four panels—each measuring roughly 6.5 feet by 5 feet—that were placed atop a ceramic-tiled floor in the atrium of the NBA’s headquarters in Secaucus, N.J. The tests were conducted in an environment with an air temperature of 72 degrees and relative humidity of 20%.
Due to the small sample size, the study’s researchers said they lacked the ability to assess the “uniformity of a larger set of panels.” A more thorough examination would have included linear and rotational traction testing on the floor using a standard basketball shoe.
Rimkus noted that the rubber of the test foot it used was “rapidly worn down by” the ceramic dots on the floor.
“This resulted in rubber residue being left on the court, which may reduce the surface frictions,” the report said. “It would also be expected to wear down the shoe outsole and potentially reduce shoe-surface traction.”
According to Rimkus, the NBA lacked its own formal standard for assessing court performance, so the firm based its testing methodologies on guidelines from FIBA, ASTM International (formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials) and the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association. The LumiFlex floors’ results were compared against practice and game courts used by the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks.
To measure surface friction, Rimkus used two methods: the ASTM standard (ASTM E303-22) and the British Pendulum Tester, also known as the XL Variably Incident Tribometer.
In dry testing conditions, the ASB glass court registered lower surface friction—meaning the court was more slippery—than any of the NBA hardwood courts under the ASTM standard, though it was still within the range considered slip-resistant. The glass court produced higher friction readings when measured using the British Pendulum Tester. The report noted the contradictions of these findings are “not typically seen for standard flooring and was not apparent among the NBA courts tested.”
When the surfaces were wet, Rimkus found the ASB glass court’s slip resistance held up better than that of the NBA hardwood floors.
When it came to force reduction, the level of shock absorption provided by the floor, and vertical deformation, or how much the surface deflects underfoot, Rimkus found that that the ASB floor “appears to be slightly stiffer/less shock absorbent” than the average NBA courts, but “within or very close” to their range.
“This would not be expected to pose an issue for the NBA All-Star Skills Challenge since players are not spending an extended time on the court,” the report stated. “However, should the court be used for training or game play on a frequent basis, additional considerations may be warranted.”
About a month prior to the conference’s public announcement on Feb. 12, the league briefed basketball coaches about its interest in using the surface in Kansas City and encouraged teams to check out a full-court model the company had set up at a court testing facility in Orlando while they were in the area to play UCF.
While the NBA-commissioned study was not the only factor, one Big 12 school official told Sportico that was among the materials discussed.
Beyond the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend, the court has been used for the 2023 FIBA Under-19 Women’s World Cup in Madrid, and it has also been employed by European clubs FC Bayern Basketball and Panathinaikos BC. The University of Kentucky used the floor for its “Big Blue Madness” event ahead of the 2024-25 basketball season, though no NCAA college game had been played on it until last week.
The Sacramento Kings are looking for a little luck on St. Patrick’s Day when they host the San Antonio Spurs.
Sacramento heads into this homestand with some heat, winning four of its past five games while covering in all of those outings.
My Spurs vs. Kings predictions and NBA picks look at the pile of points being offered by oddsmakers and back Sacramento as a big home dog tonight.
Spurs vs Kings prediction
Spurs vs Kings best bet: Sacramento +13.5 (-110)
The hell with tanking. The Sacramento Kings are on a roll, thanks in part to an extended home run and improvements on both ends of the floor. Defense is the most notable uptick, boasting the third-best rating in the NBA over the past five games.
While this push came against some fellow bottom feeders, Sacramento has surpassed the oddsmakers’ expectations and catches the San Antonio Spurs in a tough spot.
San Antonio is playing the second of a back-to-back and comes down in intensity after a slate packed with playoff-bound opponents.
Game models like the Spurs but by less than 12 points tonight.
Spurs vs Kings same-game parlay
The Kings’ defensive improvements and the Spurs’ road-weary legs will keep scoring low tonight. Forecasts come in around 234 points.
DeMar DeRozan isn’t packing it in. The veteran just dropped 41 points and has scored 107 points over his last three games. He’d love to stick it to his old team tonight.
Spurs vs Kings SGP
Kings +13.5
Under 236.5
DeMar DeRozan Over 19.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Royal flush
If Sacramento could ever catch San Antonio sleeping, this is the game. The Spurs are playing back-to-back outings and have laid eggs against some terrible teams this season.
Spurs vs Kings SGP
Sacramento moneyline
Under 236.5
DeMar DeRozan Over 19.5 points
Spurs vs Kings odds
Spread: Spurs -13.5 | Kings +13.5
Moneyline: Spurs -900 | Kings +600
Over/Under: Over 236.5 | Under 236.5
Spurs vs Kings betting trend to know
The Kings are 6-3 ATS as home underdogs of 10 or more points this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Kings.
How to watch Spurs vs Kings
Location
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Date
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-Southwest, NBCS-California
Spurs vs Kings latest injuries
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Mar 15, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Riley Greene (31) hits a home run during the third inning against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Dustin May #3 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the first inning of a spring training game at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 11, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a rare day off, the St. Louis Cardinals are back in action on St. Patrick’s Day Tuesday as they travel to the Washington Nationals Spring Training home. According to MLB.com, Dustin May will make another start for the Cardinals while Jake Irvin takes the mound for the Nationals.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cubs fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
As you know, Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki suffered some sort of knee injury playing for Japan in the World Baseball Classic.
It’s really hard to tell exactly how the injury happened. Suzuki walked gingerly off the field and was still limping when he reported back to Cubs camp, wearing a soft knee brace.
He had an MRI on Monday and results were expected to be announced to the media later today. I’ll update this survey post when those MRI results become public, but in the meantime, this week’s SB Nation Cubs Reacts survey question is: Who do you think should replace Suzuki in right field if he’s out for a while?
Vote in the survey and I’ll have the responses later this week.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 15: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks drives during the fourth quarter of the game against the Golden State Warriors at Madison Square Garden on March 15, 2026 in New York City. 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 Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you received a snapshot of a certain timestamp in almost every single Knicks game since the all-star break, you’d think the team was in the midst of another January collapse that would have them plummeting towards the play-in tournament and have Mike Brown receiving his pink slip:
Trailed 93-75 with 10:50 left in the 4th vs HOU (2/21) Trailed 95-94 with 2:40 left in 4th @ CHI (2/22) Trailed 19-7 with 4:00 left in the 1st vs SA (3/1) Trailed 27-17 with 3:10 left in the 1st @ TOR (3/3) Trailed 23-14 with 3:05 left in the 1st @ DEN (3/6) Trailed 49-31 with 9:35 left in the 2nd @ UTAH (3/11) Trailed 74-73 with 0.1 left in the 3rd @ IND (3/13) Trailed 46-25 with 9:10 left in the 2nd vs GSW (3/15)
Add in the lopsided losses in Los Angeles and the Detroit/Cleveland losses, it paints the picture of a team that’s just not good.
Well, except that the Knicks won all eight of the games listed above. That includes three 18+-point comebacks, surviving scares from multiple lottery teams, and overcoming terrible offensive and defensive starts against playoff teams. It’s proven that the team, does in fact, have the ability to overcome adversity, regardless of what some people say.
But it doesn’t make the way they go into lulls any less baffling. They sleepwalked for much of the first quarter against both San Antonio and Denver before blitzing them the rest of the game. They got utterly barraged from downtown by the Warriors and Jazz before taking control and throttling those teams over the remaining 2.5 quarters. They’ve played with their food several times, but have usually come out on top.
It’s frankly inexplicable. The Knicks still boast the league’s best defensive rating over the past eight weeks, but have started several games recently, unable to defend a high school offense. The talent eventually has overwhelmed both Utah and Golden State in the last week, but look at the way they started these games offensively:
The defense was so bad against the Warriors that Mike Brown refused to name a DPOG for the first time this season!
Even when they get off to unbelievably poor starts, both luck and effort-wise, the Knicks have had an ability to just flip a switch and immediately start mucking things up defensively, which we’ve seen in these games and several others. Remember the Houston game where they couldn’t stop a nosebleed and then had one of the most ferocious defensive quarters of the season?
It seems to be a trend that the team plays better defense as the game goes on. Over the last 26 games, the Knicks have a blistering +24.2 net rating and 96.6 defensive rating in fourth quarters, numbers that have the team firmly as the best fourth-quarter team in basketball.
Is it a problem with the starting lineup? Maybe, but consider this:
Starting lineup in 1Q since Feb. 22 (CHI): 100.0 OffRtg, 131.1 DefRtg, -31.1 NetRtg
Starting lineup in other Qs since 2/22 (CHI): 120.9 OffRtg, 108.7 DefRtg, +12.2 NetRtg
The lineup isn’t necessarily poor; it just cannot get off to a good start. The offense looks like it’s stuck in quicksand, and everyone is a step late defensively. We’ve seen incredible stretches from this lineup that starts on the defensive end and turns into offensive brilliance when the wings make their threes and Brunson is cooking in isolation.
Speaking of the offense, they’ve had some frigid stretches lately:
You see stretches like these, but then you see that they’re third in both 35-point quarters (62) and 40-point quarters (18) and see that they remain fourth in 3-point percentage and it’s one of the most confusing things you’ll ever see.
The Knicks are an enigma. One minute, they’re unstoppable, playing ferocious defense and knocking down threes to overwhelm the competition. The next minute, they can’t hit the side of a barn, and the defense looks more like Swiss cheese. It’s not a game-to-game inconsistency, it’s a quarter-to-quarter inconsistency.
Feb 11, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) celebrates his three-point basket in the first quarter against the Washington Wizards at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images
It’s been a month and a half since the Cleveland Cavaliers traded for James Harden. So far, the results have pretty good.
The Cavs won their first five games with Harden in the lineup. Since that time, he’s broken a finger, and the team has lost four of their last nine games with him. The Cavs are now 10-4 in games Harden plays.
In that time, Harden is averaging 19.4 points, 7.7 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game with .480/.436/.808 shooting splits.
The three-ball has boosted Harden’s efficiency. The outside shot will undoubtedly cool off. He’s never shot over 40% from three for a season. The closest he’s gotten was converting 39% of his triples back in the 2011-12 season.
Harden has done a great job of bolstering the offense while adjusting to a secondary role alongside Donovan Mitchell. Harden’s usage rate in Cleveland has been 27.9% (67th percentile). That’s the lowest it’s been since 2023-24, when he first played alongside Kawhi Leonard and Paul George with the Los Angeles Clippers.
More impressively, Harden has done a great job of fitting into head coach Kenny Atkinson’s offensive system. The Cavs are playing slower with Harden on the court compared to their season-long average, but since he’s come to the team, they’re playing at a slightly faster pace when he’s on the court compared to when he’s off.
Atkinson’s system isn’t built on just playing fast. It’s a movement-based offense that runs a lot of off-ball action. That’s the opposite of Harden’s isolation system, where every player stays perfectly spaced at all times.
The Cavs have done a good job of blending the two. They’ve been able to incorporate a decent amount of off-ball movement around Harden, which has allowed him to showcase how good a passer he is.
As a team, the Cavs have scored 122.7 points per 100 possessions (94th percentile for offensive ratings) when Harden is on the court. An individual player’s offensive rating isn’t usually indicative of how well they’ve performed. In this instance, it shows how well he’s bought into the team’s philosophy, leading to their success.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can buy the Jarrett Allen Fro shirt HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE.
More importantly, the offense has remained elite no matter which core player he’s been paired with.
Harden has paired incredibly well with Mitchell. He’s allowed Mitchell to keep the reins as a scorer while finding ways to fit in around him. As a result, the Cavs have posted a 128.8 offensive rating with both Mitchell and Harden on the court (99th percentile). This has led to the Cavs outscoring their opponents by 11.3 points per 100 possessions when both are on the floor (94th percentile for net ratings).
As seamless as the fit has been, there are two things that we can clearly knock Harden for.
First, he’s been able to stabilize lineups without Mitchell — which was a big issue before the Harden trade — but those lineups haven’t been too impressive.
Atkinson hasn’t found the right bench combinations to play alongside Harden. There hasn’t been much consistency in those lineups, which makes it difficult to have too strong an opinion as to why they haven’t thrived. This has led to the Cavs outscoring opponents by 1.6 points per 100 possessions (59th percentile for net ratings) when Harden is on the floor without Mitchell.
Secondly, the defense has been rough with Harden.
Opponents are scoring 4.7 more points per 100 possessions with Harden on the floor compared to when he’s off (17th percentile). This is due in part to how little resistance Harden has provided at the point of attack.
The Cavs have tried different ways to cover for Harden defensively, but haven’t found much success in doing so. They’ve experimented with the 3-2 zone with Harden at both the top and the bottom of the zone, but he’s fared poorly in both situations. He doesn’t contain the ball at the top of the zone, and the rotations are too slow when he’s at the bottom.
These issues are amplified when he’s playing alongside Mitchell, who’s been a poor point-of-attack defender in his own right recently.
The defense has been without either Mobley or Allen in most of Harden’s tenure with the team. Harden has only played with both bigs in five of his 14 games. The defense has been exceptional in the brief time he’s shared the floor with both bigs — they’ve posted a 95.4 defensive rating (100th percentile) in 72 minutes together. The issue is that the Cavs play a majority of their minutes with just one of the two bigs on the court, even when both are healthy.
Harden isn’t magically going to become a great defender in his 17th season. However, there are likely better ways to cover for him on that end. The question is whether the Cavaliers can find those before the postseason.
Overall, Harden has fit in well with his teammates. He was brought in to boost their chances of going to the Finals this season and in the next few. Based on the early returns, they’re in a better situation to do that even with him playing through a broken finger.
Harden’s grade for his first month and a half of play: A-
The Indiana Pacers have some good recent memories at MSG, but don’t count on a repeat for Rick Carlisle’s short-handed squad as they visit the New York Knicks tonight.
Indiana arrives on a 13-game losing streak while tumbling towards maximum lottery odds, so my Pacers vs. Knicks predictions and NBA picks see New York running riot here, with OG Anunoby stepping up in the likely absence of Jalen Brunson.
Pacers vs Knicks prediction
Pacers vs Knicks best bet: OG Anunoby Over 22.5 points + rebounds (-125)
OG Anunoby ranks among the NBA’s elite 3-and-D weapons, but he’s much more than a role player – and this combo Over feels like a value pick, with Anunoby nailing it in three of his last four games.
Just look at his numbers this month — OG is averaging 19.2 points per game and shooting 45% from beyond the arc. He dropped 25 points on the Indiana Pacers last week, and there’s a path to more offense with Brunson listed as doubtful.
I see Anunoby chipping in on the boards too, where he’s grabbed 5+ rebounds in six of his past nine outings.
Pacers vs Knicks same-game parlay
The New York Knicks won’t need to get out of first gear to land a victory, and I see Anunoby and Towns doing most of the damage. KAT has finished with 13+ rebounds four times already this month, and New York is 24-9 SU at home this season.
Pacers vs Knicks SGP
OG Anunoby Over 22.5 points + rebounds
Knicks moneyline
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 12.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: New York Minute!
This is a perfect chance for the New York wings to put up big numbers, and I see Bridges joining Anunoby with a strong scoring night.
Plus, Hart will take on more playmaking responsibilities without Brunson on the floor. That should be a winning formula against the slumping Pacers, who are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 contests.
Pacers vs Knicks SGP
OG Anunoby Over 18.5 points
Josh Hart Over 6.5 assists
Mikal Bridges Over 14.5 points
Knicks -14.5
Pacers vs Knicks odds
Spread: Pacers +14.5 | Knicks -14.5
Moneyline: Pacers +600 | Knicks -900
Over/Under: Over 221.5 | Under 221.5
Pacers vs Knicks betting trend to know
The Pacers are 5-29 SU on the road this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Knicks.
How to watch Pacers vs Knicks
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
MSG, FDSN-Indiana
Pacers vs Knicks latest injuries
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Long before he became an NBA Hall of Famer, Paul Pierce was a senior at Inglewood High School thrilled to be chosen to play in the 1995 McDonald's All-American Game, a nationally televised showcase that has brought together 24 of the best prep players in the country every year since 1978.
The McDonald's all-time scoring record of 30 points had been set in 1981 by (who else?) Michael Jordan a month after his 18th birthday. Fourteen years later, Pierce scored at a blistering pace, yet because someone had stolen his jersey, he played a portion of the game with the name "McCoy" on the back.
Broadcasters credited "McCoy" with several baskets and apparently the scorekeeper couldn't keep track either. In the box score, Pierce was credited with 28 points. In his mind, he was certain he had more than 30.
He painstakingly watched the game tape and, sure enough, he had scored 31 points. Yet the official McDonald's record book didn't recognize it, and Jordan continued to hold the record until Jonathan Bender put up 31 in 1999.
That is just one of the delightful, insightful stories included in the feature-length documentary "Meal Ticket," an exhaustively researched labor of love by co-directors Corey Colvin and Carlton Gerard Sabbs of production company Stony & Yates. The film will premiere Thursday on Prime Video.
Meanwhile, Jordan had his own beef with McDonald's — or at least his mother did. He was not given the John R. Wooden Award as Most Valuable Player in that 1981 game even though he set the scoring record and made shots during the East team's last five possessions, including the winning basket in a 96-95 victory.
Chase Budinger, left, and Kevin Durant, co-MVPs of the 2006 McDonald's All-American High School basketball game, hold the MVP trophy in front of legendary coach John Wooden, center. (Denis Poroy / Associated Press)
Deloris Jordan was not happy. On the elevator leaving the arena, she told broadcaster Billy Packer, "Poor Michael. My poor son Michael. He never gets any recognition. He never gets any respect."
Soon, of course, her son would get his due, first for leading North Carolina to the NCAA title as a freshman — again sinking the winning shot — then for leading the Chicago Bulls to a record six NBA titles in eight years while winning 10 scoring titles. Michael Jordan is widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time.
Produced by Roc Nation, Known Originals and Creative Control, "Meal Ticket" chronicles the 49-year history of the McDonald's All-American Games. Nearly 50 Naismith Hall of Famers were participants, and many reminisce for the documentary.
For most, the showcase was their first time on national television. At 17 or 18 years old, they were fresh-faced, eager and ultra-competitive. Colvin, 41, and Sabbs, 39, dug deep into archives of games and surrounding activities provided by McDonald's and ESPN, and the result is a balanced blend of action footage and fond memories.
"We tried to illustrate the parallel between the McDonald's game and the growth of the sport," Colvin said. "I honestly feel it’s a power hidden within the McDonald's game that people haven’t paid attention to. If you want to know where basketball is going, watch the McDonald's game."
Among the key developments was founder Bob Geoghan expanding the event to include girls' basketball, launching a doubleheader format with the boys beginning in 2002 that proved immensely popular.
Two years later, Candace Parker won the annual Slam Dunk Contest, defeating, among others, JR Smith and Josh Smith, both of whom would be NBA first-round picks within months. Parker's achievement was so unlikely that her own brother hung up on her when she called to tell the family, according to the documentary. Just another nugget unearthed by Colvin and Sabbs.
The creative careers of the Chicago South Side products began with directing branded content, and their mentors, directors Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah, helped them make a pitch to McDonald's in 2022 for an independent documentary.
Early fears that the fast-food colossus would be overly brand conscious and dictate content were allayed. Mickey D's not only gave the directors the rights to tell the story, but also provided game footage while steering clear of editorial meddling.
Bronny James of the West team talks to his dad, LeBron James of the Lakers, at the 2003 McDonald's All-American Game in Houston, Texas. (Alex Bierens de Haan / Getty Images)
"You’d think with McDonald's, they'd be very hands-on to position and push the brand," Sabbs said. "But they were good partners. We were even concerned about the name, 'Meal Ticket,' because it's kind of edgy, a quadruple entendre. Would McDonald's approve it? They stood by us. Nobody micromanaged us. And when they were around, we knew we’d be getting some french fries."
The closest Sabbs and Colvin came to deviating from McDonald's sanitized version of events came when the directors recognized the role Geoghan played in launching the Games. Amateur basketball luminaries Wooden — the legendary former UCLA coach with 10 national championships — Sonny Vaccaro and Sonny Hill were drawn into promoting the Games largely because Geoghan earmarked profits for the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
The documentary team immersed itself in the 2022 McDonald's All-American Games, shadowing two boys and two girls throughout the weekend. Part of that story was the outpouring of emotion for Geoghan, who died at 87 in February 2022 and was honored at the Games a month later.
"When we were filming in 2022 we saw how deeply everyone respected Bob," Sabbs said. "They did a tribute on the Jumbotron before the game and put a Bob Geoghan jersey and a dozen roses on the seat where he watched games.
"Bob never wanted to get rich off the McDonald's Games. He was a humble guy who some said died penniless. I hope this film helps him and his family get some recognition for what he contributed to basketball. He really ought to be in the Naismith Hall of Fame and I hope that happens."
Geoghan redirected attention to the court and the sheer number of precocious youngsters who went on from the showcase to legendary professional careers. California has produced the most McDonald's players on both the boys' and the girls' teams. And simply considering those who eventually made their marks with the Lakers is staggering.
Magic Johnson starred in the first McDonald's game in 1978. James Worthy played alongside Isiah Thomas, Dominique Wilkins and Ralph Sampson the next year. Shaquille O'Neal was MVP in 1989. Kobe Bryant made highlight reel plays in 1996. JJ Redick was 2002 MVP and won the three-point shootout. LeBron James was MVP in 2003.
Bryant and James, of course, were among the elite players to jump straight from the showcase to the NBA, skipping college. Another player who did so, Amar'e Stoudemire, was physically dominant even when sharing the court with other future greats.
"I was a different kind of beast, man," Stoudemire says in the documentary. "I'm not doing a finger roll off the glass move. I'm attacking the basket and I'm shaking the whole backboard. I think from that point on, everyone knew, 'Stoud, he's going to the NBA. He ain't going to college.' By the time we left, I'm sure there were a few screws and hinges that had left the rim."
JR Smith realized he was going to skip college for the NBA after dominating the McDonald's Game in 2004, scoring 25 points on an assortment of dunks and long-range jumpers. He was committed to North Carolina but made no secret that he didn't want to go to school.
Upon returning to the hotel after the game, Smith began running through the halls, yelling, "I'm going to the league!"
This year's Games will take place March 31 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Ariz. The West boys' roster will include Southern California products Brandon McCoy Jr. and Maximo Adams from Sierra Canyon, Christian Collins from St. John Bosco and Jason Crowe Jr. from Inglewood. Jerzy Robinson from Sierra Canyon and Cydnee Bryant from Corona Centennial will play in the girls' game.
Even with NIL money seeping into players' bank accounts, Sabbs and Colvin haven't noticed a change in how the best of the best approach the McDonald's All-American Games.
"All you hear are these stories from all-star games that the players don’t care anymore because there's too much easy money," Colvin said. "But these guys are competing, playing defense, diving on the floor. The McDonald's Games are still a precursor for where the game is going, from elevating the girls to NIL, and we hope that comes across in the film."
