The Boston Celtics are the biggest threat yet to disrupt the NBA's new era of parity

This is For The Win’s regular newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend urge aliases guardant this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your questions, comments and concerns done this little scholar survey! Now, here’s Mike Sykes.

Good morning, Winners! Welcome backmost to nan Morning Win. Thanks truthful overmuch for rocking pinch america today. We admit you reference this morning.

There have been six different NBA champions successful each of nan past six seasons. The past teams to repetition were nan 2017 and 2018 Golden State Warriors, who went back-to-back against nan Cavaliers. Since then, parity has taken over.

WHO’S NEXT?: The teams astir apt to widen nan streak of caller champions.

Any squad looking to proceed that inclination will person a reliable clip doing so. The Celtics are opinionated successful nan measurement and correct now, it looks for illustration Boston has a beautiful beardown chance of going back-to-back.

There’s nary uncertainty nan way will surely beryllium harder. The East is loaded down nan 76ers’ acquisition of Paul George and the Knicks’ acquisitions of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges. We’re not looking astatine a cakewalk anymore for Boston.

The Milwaukee Bucks are besides backmost aft a afloat offseason and training campy nether Doc Rivers, who took complete for Adrian Griffin successful nan mediate of past season.

But, moreover considering each of that, we shouldn’t beryllium convinced that immoderate of those teams will beryllium capable to lucifer nan ferocity of nan Celtics.

Boston was historically awesome past season. That squad had nan 5th champion constituent differential successful NBA history and didn’t alteration thing astir its roster. Its 2 champion players, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, are coming into nan play unusually motivated aft play pinch Team USA. Its 4th and fifth-best players, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday, are arguably All-Stars. Kristaps Porzingis mightiness beryllium nan champion 3rd action successful nan convention erstwhile healthy.

There’s nary bully logic to prime against this squad to make it retired of nan East correct now. There’s not a squad successful nan convention you should spot more.

In nan West, there’s calamity. The Timberwolves and Nuggets some mislaid halfway pieces this offseason. Kawhi Leonard isn’t patient for nan Clippers and Paul George is crossed nan state successful Philly. The Mavericks made it to nan Finals but were underdogs passim that full playoff run.

The Thunder are nan champion action arsenic a challenger, but that squad isn’t very knowledgeable and, arsenic bully arsenic it is, astir apt shouldn’t beryllium trusted to hit a patient and knowledgeable Celtics team.

The C’s will beryllium tested location on nan way. You tin beryllium judge of that. Going back-to-back is not easy. But if location were ever a squad poised to do it, it’s this one.

OTHER NBA STUFF: 

— Expansion is connected nan array this year. Conversations will persist passim nan season, truthful you’d champion publication up connected it.

— The Clippers person opened nan champion arena successful nan NBA. You request to cheque it out.

— There are tons of aged faces successful caller places this season. Here’s a look astatine wherever all nan names you cognize are playing these days.

—You’ll also hear a ton astir nan second-apron this season. Here’s really that’s impacting your favourite teams.

— Here are a fewer notable free agents that are still retired location connected nan market.

WANNA BE LOCKED IN ON THIS SEASON? Subscribe to our Layup Lines NBA newsletter and get insights connected nan convention from our experts each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The 49ers nightmare play keeps getting worse

Every clip I move around, I consciousness for illustration 1 of nan 49ers players is injured. This time, it’s Brandon Aiyuk. And we won’t spot him again this season.

News collapsed connected Monday confirming Aiyuk officially tore his ACL and MCL, leaving a glaring spread astatine receiver for nan 49ers. Here’s Robert Zeglinski pinch much connected what that intends for San Francisco (and Aiyuk imagination owners!):

“If anyone tin mitigate nan nonaccomplishment of elite accomplishment talent, it’s Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers, who astir apt person nan champion plug-and-play discourtesy successful nan NFL. For example, I wouldn’t needfully beryllium amazed to spot Pearsall radiance successful nan coming weeks successful Aiyuk’s role. The 49ers look to make this benignant of point hap each nan time.

The glaring rumor for nan 49ers is that you tin only plug successful holes and put a grin connected your look to a definite degree. It’s 1 point to see really to switch Aiyuk alone. It’s different to besides deliberation astir nan scheme without McCaffrey and the remainder of San Francisco’s champion playmakers. You tin only strategy up value plays that don’t request typical players for truthful long.

No 1 successful nan NFL, not moreover nan 49ers, has that overmuch depth.”

I’m not judge really Kyle and nan pack get retired of this one. I opportunity that but, adjacent point you know, immoderate undrafted receiver will beryllium catching 8 balls for 250 yards for San Francisco adjacent week.

We’ll see.

Tua Tagovailoa is back, for amended aliases worse

The Dolphins QB mightiness return to nan shot section this week for nan first clip since suffering a concussion against nan Bills earlier this season, Cory Woodroof writes.

There’s a batch of contention pinch this one. That was Tagovialoa’s 3rd known concussion successful nan past 2 seasons. Many deliberation he should discontinue (myself included!), considering nan semipermanent implications excessively galore concussions could person connected his wide wellness successful nan future.

Tagovailoa is consenting to place those concerns for nan crippled he loves.

Tua Tagovailoa connected those who interest he could get wounded again: “I admit your concern. I really do. I emotion this game. And I emotion it to nan decease of me. That’s it.” pic.twitter.com/fAvoHA2PXo

— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) October 21, 2024

“I admit your concern. I really do,” he said to reporters connected Monday. “I emotion this game. And I emotion it to nan decease of me. That’s it.”

His committedness to nan crippled is his privilege — not his semipermanent health. That’s his decision. No matter really we consciousness astir it, we’ve sewage to respect his decision, moreover if it doesn’t consciousness right.

Here’s to bully wellness for nan Dolphins’ QB.

Quick hits: CFB Winners and Losers … The early of nan WNBA CBA … and more

— Here’s Tyler Netunno connected nan winners and losers from CFB Week 7, including why Indiana is simply a CFP contender and Bama astir apt isn’t.

— Meg Hall has much connected nan WNBA and WNBPA’s determination to opt retired of nan existent corporate bargaining agreement.

— Robert Zeglinski and Christian D’Andrea person NFL Power Rankings for you here.

— Here’s Cory Woodroof pinch 10 imaginable trades for Maxx Crosby.

— Prince Grimes has his NBA awards picks for you here.

— Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are some injured. Here are 7 targets nan Buccaneers could spell aft to switch them, from Christian D’Andrea.

That’s a wrap, folks. Thanks for reference today! Happy NBA-is-back day. Peace.

-Sykes ✌️