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
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
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.
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."
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - MARCH 17: A closeup view of a New Era Philadelphia Phillies St. Patrick's Day hat during the seventh inning of a spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at BayCare Ballpark on March 17, 2025 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Here are the lineups for today’s matchup against the Twins. Let’s discuss.
Mar 6, 2026; Jupiter, Florida, USA; New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images | Rhona Wise-Imagn Images
Mets lineup
Francisco Lindor – SS
Marcus Semien – 2B
Bo Bichette – 3B
Jorge Polanco – 1B
Luis Robert – CF
Brett Baty – RF
Luis Torrens – C
Mike Tauchman – DH
Tyrone Taylor – LF
SP: Sean Manaea – LHP
Marlins lineup
Otto Lopez – SS
Agustin Ramirez – C
Connor Norby – 1B
Owen Caissie – LF
Christopher Morel – RF
Graham Pauley – DH
Esteury Ruiz – CF
Jacob Berry – 3B
Johnny Olmstead – 2B
SP: Sandy Alcantara – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 1:10 PM EDT TV: Not this time Radio: Marlins Radio
The Oklahoma City Thunder aim to push their winning streak to nine when they tip off against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center tonight.
All eyes will be on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and deservedly so, but I’ve got my eye on a Chet Holmgren prop in my Thunder vs. Magic predictions & NBA picks for Tuesday, March 17.
Thunder vs Magic prediction
Thunder vs Magic best bet: Chet Holmgren Over 8.5 rebounds (-112)
The OKC center has averaged 10.9 boards per game since the break – eighth-most in the NBA.
Holmgren has collected Over 8.5 rebounds in seven of his last eight outings, so we’re getting good value tonight.
The Orlando Magic are a middle-of-the-pack rebounding team, ranking 15th in boards per game (43.8), and starting center Wendell Carter Jr. is no match for the 7-foot-1 Holmgren.
Thunder vs Magic same-game parlay
Holmgren hasn’t just been a monster on the glass; he’s also scored Over 16.5 points in three of his last five games while averaging 18.8 ppg through that span.
The Thunder are also 5-0 in their last five games vs. the Magic and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 meetings.
Thunder vs Magic SGP
Chet Holmgren Over 8.5 rebounds
Chet Holmgren Over 16.5 points
Thunder moneyline
Our "from downtown" SGP: All hands on deck for Magic
The Thunder may be on a nine-game run, but they’ve only covered the spread once in their last eight contests. The Magic, meanwhile, are 4-2 ATS in their last six.
It’ll take a full team effort to keep this one close, but Paolo Banchero (25.6 ppg), Desmond Bane (22.8 ppg), Tristan da Silva (15.3 ppg), and Jett Howard (8.8 ppg) are each scoring well above their season average this month.
Thunder vs Magic SGP
Magic +9.5
Paolo Banchero Over 20.5 points
Desmond Bane Over 18.5 points
Tristan da Silva Over 11.5 points
Jett Howard Over 5.5 points
Thunder vs Magic odds
Spread: Oklahoma City 9.5 (-110) | Orlando +9.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Oklahoma City -450 | Orlando +350
Over/Under: Over 223 (-110) | Under 223 (-110)
Thunder vs Magic betting trend to know
The Thunder have hit the 1H Moneyline in 17 of their last 21 away games (+11.45 Units / 22% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Magic.
How to watch Thunder vs Magic
Location
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Date
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-Oklahoma, FDSN-Florida
Thunder vs Magic latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
FEBRUARY 28: Jose Canseco of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays during Spring Training on February 28, 2000. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) | Sporting News via Getty Images
After the trade deadline in 2000, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays were looking to move on from the Hit Show as the duo of Vinny Castilla and Jose Canseco had failed to deliver any offensive impact over the season. The year prior, Canseco was looking like a possible MVP candidate and was pacing Mark McGwire’s newly set homerun record. However, a back injury stalled out his season and he didn’t get much better in 2000.
Tampa Bay placed Canseco on waivers in August and the New York Yankees were pursuing another title. However, several other teams had better records than New York and Yankee GM Brian Cashman was afraid that these teams might utilize Canseco against them. So Cashman made a claim hoping to block those teams and also thinking that Devil Rays GM Chuck LaMar would pull Canseco back off of waivers.
Two days later, LaMar called Cashman and told him Canseco was going to New York, no trade necessary. The Yankees already had Glenallen Hill and David Justice sharing the DH duties, so there was no where to play Canseco. Manager Joe Torre was asked how he would use Canseco and he responded bluntly, “I don’t know” and would also say he was “stunned” by the acquisition. Meanwhile owner George Steinbrenner made these remarks, I think they got caught up in something they didn’t think about, but I’m behind my people. I’m totally supportive of what they did. I’m happy the man is coming here, and I’m hoping he does the job for me.“
Regardless, Cashman had successfully blocked another contending team from acquiring the controversial Cuban slugger, so mission accomplished in a sense. Meanwhile, LaMar accomplished his goal of shedding payroll; “The Tampa Bay Devil Rays got the opportunity to give young players at-bats and save $2 million,” Devil Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said. “To them, it may not be nothing. To us it’s a lot.”
Canseco hit .243/.365/.432 with 6 HR over 37 games for New York and struck out in his lone plate appearance of the postseason; he’d receive a World Series ring and later reneged on a deal to sell it a private collector for $40,000.
Anyways…
First pitch against the New York Yankees is at 1:05 at Charlotte Sports Park and the Rays will be providing tv and radio coverage.
The Montreal Canadiens will face the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, March 17, in a game with massive playoff implications as both teams attempt to hold on in a competitive Atlantic Division.
My Bruins vs. Canadiens predictions and NHL picks suggest Cole Caufield will continue his torrid pace this calendar year as the league's hottest goal scorer.
Bruins vs Canadiens prediction
Bruins vs Canadiens best bet: Cole Caufield anytime goal scorer (+125)
No one has scored more goals in 2026 than Cole Caufield.
His 18 goals in 24 games this calendar year lead all skaters, and he's scored in all three games against the Boston Bruins this season, culminating in a hat trick on January 24.
He enters tonight on a two-game goal streak and faces a penalty-prone Boston team with a moderately weak defense (18th in goals allowed) and a poor penalty kill (T-23rd).
Bruins vs Canadiens same-game parlay
Unsurprisingly, Caufield isn't the only Montreal Canadiens winger who has seen an uptick in production.
Rookie phenom Ivan Demidov, typically a pass-first player, has 16 shots on goal in seven games since March 1. He's hit the Over in three straight and in four of the last six. Additionally, Boston ranks 29th in shots allowed.
Two of three meetings between these teams this season have hit the Over, as these teams rank second and T-10th in goals scored. Both teams are coming off 4-3 losses and will look to turn it around at the Bell Centre.
Two consecutive meetings and four of the last six have hit the Over. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Canadiens.
How to watch Bruins vs Canadiens
Location
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
Date
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
NESN, TSN2
Bruins vs Canadiens latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Matt Hayes' bracket is go big or go home. He has seven double-digit seeds winning first round games.
He's got your typical 5-12 upsets, going with High Point to beat Wisconsin and McNeese beating Vanderbilt in the first round.
But he wasn't done. His prediction of 14-seed Wright State beating 3-seed Virginia in the Midwest Region was our boldest take.
Our biggest Sweet 16 surprise
12-seed Akron was picked to reach the Sweet 16 twice in the Midwest Region (Eddie Timanus and Jordan Mendoza are bullish on the Zips).
12-seed McNeese got a vote for the Sweet 16 from Matt Hayes. He picked the Cowboys to beat Vanderbilt and then Nebraska in the South Region.
Craig Meyer has 11-seed Texas winning Tuesday night's play-in game vs. NC State, then beating 6-seed BYU in Round 1 and shocking 3-seed Gonzaga in the second round before losing to Purdue.
10-seed UCLA got some hometown cooking from Jordan Mendoza, one of our L.A.-based reporters. He picks the Bruins to knock off 2-seed UConn in the second round of the East Region.
Blake Toppmeyer has BYU making the Elite Eight and beating former WCC foe Gonzaga in Round 2.
Paul Myerberg and Craig Meyer have BYU losing in the first round to the Texas/NC State play-in game winner.
Dark horse Final Four prediction
For the most part, there were no real surprises in our Final Four picks. Jordan Mendoza and Eddie Timanus went chalk, hoping to match last year's all-1-seed Final Four. The highest-seeded team picked by our staff to reach the Final Four was 5-seed St. John's, who Paul Myerberg picked to win the loaded East Region.
Most popular Final Four predictions
Arizona to win the West Region was picked eight times (80%).
Duke, Michigan and Florida were each picked six times to win their respective regions (60%).
Arkansas got two votes to win the West Region. Brent Schrotenboer and Craig Meyer are buying stock in John Calipari, and more likely Darius Acuff Jr.
Three teams got one vote. In addition to Paul's St. John's pick, Craig Meyer has UConn winning the East and John Brice predicts Illinois will win the South.
Most notably, Team USA closer Mason Miller's availability for the championship game is in question; it would be his third outing in five days, an aggressive path for this point of spring training. Manager Mark DeRosa figures he'll be available but the San Diego Padres, who sign Miller's paychecks, must sign off.
"Not ruled out, not decided," San Diego manager Craig Stammen said Monday at the Padres' spring training camp in Arizona. "How we do with every pitcher, we evaluate them after their outing, see how they feel and then calculate when their next outing's going to be. So he's in that same boat."
So, too, are Team USA's cadre of seventh-, eighth- and ninth-inning guys. Yankees closer David Bednar worked the seventh and Boston Red Sox set-up man Garrett Whitlock the eighth inning, passing the baton to Miller, in their 2-1 escape against the Dominican Republic on Sunday, March 15.
Venezuela is in a similar boat, however. The bullpen had to cover 7 2/3 innings of their semifinal victory over Italy – and the Venezuelans will not enjoy a day of rest between the semis and finals, like Team USA. While their key relievers all stayed under 20 pitches, top lefty Angel Zerpa and right-handers Andres Machado, Eduard Bazardo and Danny Palencia all worked to stave off Italy.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 16: De'aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs drives past the defense of John Collins #20 and Bennedict Mathurin #9 of the LA Clippers during the first half of a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Intuit Dome on March 16, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ok so let me walk you through how this night went for me and see if it tracks similarly for you.
I turn on my TV at 7:00 because I forgot it was a road game.
False start. That’s OK. We can recover from this. We’ll be fine.
The game starts when? 9:00? P.M.? That can’t be right. Wow. Pacific Standard Time, eh? We’re still doing that? I thought we voted to end PST just like we did Daylight Saving Time. Wait, we’re still doing that? I swear, this country has to get its act together.
Alright. 9:00. Here we go.
Spurs–Clippers. Last time we played it was one of the highlights of the season and I can’t wait to see what kind of fireworks we have in store tonight. Should be electric.
Kawhi’s out, eh? Shocking. Dylan’s still out? Bummer. And Kornet? Bummer. Well. Alright. Still might be fun.
Oh shoot, the game started already.
Let’s see. Peacock. Peacock. Where is Peacock?
No, I don’t want to watch Ted. Or Hamnet. Or Love Island All-Stars (it always gets boring near the end anyway).
Ok. Spurs–Clippers. Here we go.
WE’RE DOWN HOW MUCH?
I don’t need to watch this. This is… this is a throwaway game. We’re missing guys. They’re missing guys. It’s Monday night. It’s late. I’m just going to call it a night and see what happened in the morning.
Ok, nice dunk though Devin. I see you. I’m still going to bed though.
Alright, well. De’Aaron, that was nice. Steph, that was very nice.
The funny thing is, the Spurs had already started climbing back into the game while I was busy trying to convince myself to go to bed. And that’s kind of become their thing this year. Games get weird, momentum swings around, and they just calmly work their way back into it.
Stephon Castle was flying around for offensive rebounds and putbacks, and before long the Clippers’ 17–3 start had quietly started to fade. Wemby started controlling things defensively and almost effortlessly asserting himself on offense. Devin Vassell found space and knocked down a couple shots. Fox started getting downhill and bending the defense the way he does. The Spurs started getting stops, the pace flipped, and suddenly the whole thing felt different. By the time Jordan McLaughlin hit a three to tie it early in the second quarter, the entire game had reset.
And honestly, that kind of swing doesn’t even feel unusual anymore.
One thing that’s really stood out to me this year is that across the NBA, no lead feels particularly safe. It doesn’t matter who you are or who you’re playing. Twenty point leads happen all the time, and twenty point comebacks seem to happen just as often.
I don’t know if it’s because scoring is completely off the rails or because defense is now more of a suggestion than a requirement. Maybe the rules are too soft. Or too hard? Look, I honestly don’t know.
What I do know is that a quick 10-point lead doesn’t even register with me anymore when the Spurs have it. That’s nothing. That can disappear during a bathroom break.
For some reason that logic never applies when the Spurs are down, though. That still feels catastrophic. Just one of life’s little mysteries, I guess.
I’m fine. I’m actually the normal amount of anxious for a guy my age. Why do you ask?
The Spurs handled their business in this game. Even when it felt like they weren’t going to. Even when things got a little wobbly down the stretch and it briefly seemed like Darius Garland might have invented a floater that could somehow arc just high enough to evade Wemby’s outstretched arms enough times to pull the Clippers back into it.
But the Spurs were good. They were solid. They got the job done.
I don’t know if I give them enough credit for being professional like that. We talk all the time about their youth and inexperience, as if it’s a defining trait that’s inseparable from who they are. But for all that talk, they don’t really play like it.
They have their ups and downs. Stretches where things aren’t working the way they should. That part can absolutely be chalked up to youth and inexperience.
The key part, though, is what happens next.
They don’t spin out. They don’t let the rough stretch become the whole story. They just attack it like a problem that needs to be solved. A puzzle to figure out.
There’s a steely resolve when they hit a roadblock instead of panic.
I have no idea how or if this will play out in the playoffs. Every single person even tangentially associated with having an opinion on basketball is so quick to fall over themselves and breathlessly explain to you how “the playoffs are a completely different animal.” The intensity is different. The stakes are higher. The lights are brighter. All that jazz. I’m as guilty of doing this as anyone!
The truth is that I don’t know. Frankly, I don’t remember. It’s been a long time since the Spurs were in the playoffs and an even longer time since they were in there with a team full of guys who hadn’t been there before. I don’t know how any of this works anymore. I don’t know what any of these guys are capable of.
I know it will be different, and I know that they know it. They’re getting it from all sides just like we are. It’s not the last test they have to pass, but it certainly is the next one.
“They don’t have enough experience though”. That’s the story on this team. That’s the line you hear over and over again. The playoffs are different. The intensity is different. The stakes are higher. The lights are brighter. Remember?
But when I think about what this team has spent the entire season doing, I’m not sure the word “experience” means quite what people think it does. Because every night it feels like they’re running into something new. A weird game. A bad stretch. A matchup problem. A moment where things stop working the way they’re supposed to.
And every night they treat it the same way.
They slow down. They look at it. They start figuring it out.
They treat it like a puzzle.
The playoffs are a completely different test. It will expose things this team hasn’t seen yet.
But if experience is really just learning how to solve the problems in front of you, then this team has been getting plenty of it all year.
And so far, when these Spurs run into a problem, they don’t panic.
They solve it.
Takeaways
50 wins feels pretty good. What was our over/under for wins? like, 43? 50 is pretty good! I find this acceptable!
I feel like I could come in here after every single game and just make the whole thing about how much I enjoy watching Stephon Castle play basketball. I love the way he moves. He sort of lopes down the court with this really tall posture, like he’s almost teetering forward when he runs, and it creates this constant feeling that something unexpected might happen. He’s explosive, but not in the same way De’Aaron Fox is explosive. Fox is lightning fast. Castle is more like… sudden. Once he decides to go, everything just starts happening quickly. I realize I’m kind of spinning out trying to explain this, but he’s just an aesthetically pleasing basketball player to watch. The movements are fun. The chaos feels intentional. I saw someone on Twitter say he’s a consistent three point shot away from being Dwyane Wade and I nearly passed out.
It was nice to see the Spurs figure out a way to win without shooting particularly well from three. Obviously I’d prefer them to shoot well from three, but come playoff time that’s the kind of thing that tends to wax and wane a little. So: how to succeed in business without hitting many threes. Step one is you’ve got to grab somewhere in the vicinity of a million rebounds. Absolutely pound the boards. The Spurs did that. They were aggressive, especially on the offensive glass, and it never really felt like they were wasting possessions even when the shots weren’t falling. Step two is you put the clamps on defensively. (This is admittedly a little easier when Kawhi isn’t playing, but still. Odds are pretty decent that on any given night Kawhi won’t be playing.) If you can’t score, then they sure as hell better not be scoring either. Basketball is actually pretty simple when you think about it. As always, my door is open for any NBA consultancy opportunities.
Hi! This is Charlie’s anxiety talking now. For some reason the Clippers feel kind of spooky to me as a playoff matchup and I would simply prefer that we not do that. I know we’ve won these two games against them, but they play us really hard. They’re well coached, they’re disciplined, and they just seem to do a lot of things well. I don’t know. I don’t like the Kawhi storyline being something we have to hear about constantly. I would prefer to simply not experience that. That said, I could probably talk myself into every single possible matchup feeling spooky if you gave me enough time, so please feel free to disregard Charlie’s anxiety. Please feel free to disregard Charlie altogether, he really is just kinda making this up as he goes along.
WWL Post Game Press Conference
– Ok, so it seemed like you were about to do one of those old school running diaries here and then just bailed halfway through. Can you walk us through that decision?
– Yeah, sure. I mean, sometimes you sit down to write and you know your angle. You watched the game, it all made sense, you were in the flow and felt it coming together, and the only step left is pen to paper. Other times… nothing.
– And this was one of the nothing times?
– Yeah, for sure. The game ended so late last night and I really felt like I’d just find it in the morning. Then, sure enough, I sat down in front of a blank WordPress doc and it was crickets.
– So the running diary bit was maybe a way in?
– Yeah. There are a couple tricks like that in the arsenal that are really just a ploy to start writing. Get anything on the page. It’s stupid, but sometimes literally typing out what happened in the game can kickstart something. I don’t know. The biggest enemy of writing is not writing, so sometimes the only answer is to write.
– Of course. So then it seems like you eventually found what you wanted to talk about, but you kept part of the diary bit. I’m not sure I understand that.
– Well, see, I kept it because I had already written it and didn’t want to erase it.
– Sure.
– I thought it was good! I always enjoy poking at Peacock as a streaming service. I thought the thing about dropping into the game down 17–3 was funny. The daylight savings bit?? That’s good stuff! And I really did forget that the game didn’t start until 9. Jokes aside, if I didn’t have to write about it I absolutely would’ve bailed. I don’t know, it felt like a pretty accurate portrayal of the watching experience and I wanted to keep it.
Makes sense. But you didn’t feel like doing it for the whole game?
– I think if you’re going to go full Bill Simmons and run back a Game Watchalong Diary, you have to commit from the beginning. If you want to do it well, you have to go into the game taking notes, workshopping jokes, feeling it in the moment. It’s really hard to fake that. People can tell.
