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Good morning! Just make it to 65 games this season, pal.
Shockers: Wait, he’s really coming back?
This NFL season isn’t even over yet, and we have our first lame-duck coaching candidate for next year. In a stunner, Mike McCarthy will return as Cowboys coach next season, the team announced yesterday. Two sides to this:
- Strip away the narratives, and this makes sense. McCarthy’s Dallas is 36-15 over the last three regular seasons. He won division titles in two of those seasons. It’s hard to replicate that kind of success by starting over. Playoff runs can be a crapshoot anyway.
- But, man. The playoff performances are hard to overlook. McCarthy has won one playoff game in those last three years, a Wild Card win over an 8-9 Tampa Bay. The absolute stink of Sunday’s 48-32 loss to Green Bay will linger in fans’ minds until McCarthy wins a Super Bowl. You don’t simply move on from that.
This team has every piece to make a deep playoff run. Talent appears all over this roster, on both lines, at skill positions and, despite a choke job Sunday, at quarterback. In fact, Dak Prescott’s full-throated support of McCarthy after the game may have saved this regime.
Something to take away: McCarthy’s contract expires after next season, and there was no mention of an extension yesterday. Pressure’s on, pal. Jon Machota has five things that must improve next year in order for McCarthy to survive.
I still find this outcome difficult to believe, though, which makes me curious: Do you? Time for the next Pulse Poll: Should the Cowboys have fired McCarthy?
- Yes. He’s clearly the weak link.
- No. They’re too good to start over now.
Make your voice heard here. Can’t wait to see the results on this one.
One possible coaching vacancy is off the board, too. Mike Sando ranked each vacancy this morning, which I found insightful, particularly the Falcons angle.
Hot (Basketball) Stove: Toronto finally did it
For years, we have heard the idea at the NBA trade deadline: Hey, the Raptors are gauging trade interest in OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam. Toronto had already said bye to most of its 2019 title team; bailing on these guys would be a sign the era was really over. Week after week, nothing. Last year’s trade deadline? Toronto turned into a surprise buyer.
But as of yesterday, it’s really over. Weeks after the Raptors traded Anunoby to New York:
- They agreed to trade Siakam to Indiana in exchange for Bruce Brown Jr. and three first-round picks. Other accoutrements came via the New Orleans Pelicans, who joined as a third team to make the logistics work. The Pacers, sitting seventh in the East, become an instant contender.
I loved Eric Koreen’s column on the deal, which actually closes the book on the best era of Toronto basketball.
Per Zach Harper’s trade grade, Indiana wins this deal — slightly.
News to Know
Warriors assistant dies
Dejan Milojević, the Golden State assistant beloved in league circles, died yesterday at just 46 years old after suffering a heart attack at a team dinner Tuesday. Milojević is a Serbian basketball legend, both as a player and coach. He was especially known for his work with big men, including Nikola Jokić.
Irsay suffered suspected overdose
Police treated Colts owner Jim Irsay for a suspected overdose Dec. 8 at his home, where authorities found the 64-year-old Irsay unresponsive and struggling to breathe. The police report states officers administered Narcan, a “medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose,” at the scene. Read more details here.
Amazon dips into local TV
Bankrupt broadcaster Diamond Sports is receiving a lifeline from Amazon, per The Athletic’s reporting, via a $115 million investment. Diamond carries the TV rights for 37 pro sports teams, but the true outcome of this scenario remains unclear. The company did confirm that some of its broadcasts will be available on Prime Video. See how it could affect your team here.
More news
Check-Ins: Who’s winning NBA MVP? …Who can?
Jokić and Joel Embiid faced off Tuesday night, with performances that lived up to the billing. Reigning champ Jokić went for 25 points and 19 rebounds, while reigning MVP Embiid put up 41 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds in the Sixers’ win. In yesterday’s Bounce, Zach Harper called it a battle of kaijus, which was fitting.
We are nearly at the halfway point of the NBA season, which means we need to start talking about things like MVPs. Odds are extremely close right now, according to BetMGM:
- Jokić +250
- Embiid +275
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander +300
For better context, I hit up the kaiju wordsmith for more:
It’s a tight race right now. Who’s your MVP this year and why?
Zach: I don’t think you can go wrong with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokić or Embiid so far. I would lean slightly toward SGA right now — with Jokić right on his heels. Denver is so bad when he’s not on the floor.
We’re at the halfway point. What’s the most surprising storyline of the year thus far?
Zach: That I’m pretty sure as great as Embiid has been, he’s not going to qualify for the MVP award (because he’ll miss too many games, according to the NBA’s new policy). Or any awards. He’s already missed 10 games and is only allowed to miss seven more. He’s been out of this world, but games missed will cost him a back-to-back run.
Subscribe to The Bounce here so you don’t miss today’s edition, which will be out in a few hours.
Watch This Game
NHL: Avalanche at Bruins
7 p.m. ET on ESPN+
Both of these teams have 61 points thus far this season, just one off the NHL lead (shared by Vancouver and Winnipeg). Easy sell, right?
NBA: Grizzlies at Timberwolves
10 p.m. ET on TNT
With apologies to a plucky Grizzlies team, this game is about the still-riding-high T-Wolves, who appear to have no fluke in the bloodstream. I would bet most people still haven’t watched Minnesota play much this season. Take some time to watch these guys. They have the second-best record in the NBA and are 16-2 at home. Special stuff.
Pulse Picks
You don’t often see an interior defensive lineman radically change his game, much less on the NFL level — and much less have it lead to more sacks. Yet the Ravens’ Justin Madubuike did just that, and he will be handsomely rewarded for it. Watch out for Madubuike this weekend.
Ted Nguyen has an enlightening look at the key matchups in both AFC divisional games. Never has Nico Collins felt so important.
Remember Jordan Henderson’s controversial transfer from Liverpool to Saudi side Al Ettifaq? Henderson has already bailed after six months. I found Henderson’s about-face intriguing, particularly if we see more of the stars lured by Saudi money leaving soon.
Gambling suspensions are on the rise for pro athletes. Is this just the tip of the iceberg?
I am particularly interested to see if golfer Will Zalatoris, who missed so much time last season with a back injury, can regain form this season. When on, he was incredible. Brody Miller and Hugh Kellenberger provided some expert insights here.
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(Photo: Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
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