The Sportsletter - Deepwater Revival & The Perfect Cavs

BY JEFF YODER

NOV. 12, 2024 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

Good Morning 👋

Believe me when I say that yesterday was crickets across the sports world. Many sportswriters and journalists likely had the day off for Veterans Day. The news wasn’t newsing, but that didn't stop some big highlights in the evening hours. It's short and sweet for today's recap. We’ll get you caught up before a big week ahead full of CFP discussions and Friday's fight circus — Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul.

Letter Rip!

PICKS

NFL Pick 'Em Leaders (Week 10)

The pick ‘em count is in. Congrats to this week’s winner, Nathan Adrian! Over 200 players correctly picked 10 out of 13 games this week, but only Nathan and Madelaine (below) topped the field with 11 correct picks. Impressive. This week's top five are heading to the playoffs.

Pick ‘Em Leaderboard (Week 10)

1. Nathan Adrian (11/13)

2. Madeleine Moody (11/13)

3. Paul Nilsen (10/13)

4. Vince Clary (10/13)

5. David Perros (10/13)

*Week 11 Picks Available Tomorrow

NFL

Don't Doubt the Dolphins 🐬

Photo: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images

Dolphins Hold Off Rams (23-15) in Tua Tagovailoa’s First Win Since Opening Week, And Miami’s Playoff Hopes Aren’t Dead Yet

It was mid-September when Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa suffered a big-time concussion that sent him to a neurologist and put his career in question. That was his fourth (recorded) career concussion. Tagovailoa returned last week and took the Bills to the wire, and the Dolphins just beat the Rams (23-15) to claim a victory the first time in over a month. Tua was efficient enough to win on the back of the Miami defense. Despite a three-game skid and loses in six of their last seven, the Dolphins (3-6) are somehow in second place in the AFC East. They also boast one of the easiest strength of schedules down the stretch that includes the Raiders (2-7), Patriots (3-7), Browns (2-7) and two games against the Jets (3-7). Don’t doubt the Dolphins!

AFC East Standings: Bills (8-2), Dolphins (3-6), Patriots (3-7), Jets (3-7)

QB Comparison

T. Tagovailoa (MIA): 20/28, 207 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

M. Stafford (LAR): 32/46, 293 yards, 1 INT

Top Performers

WR P. Nacua (LAR): 9 catches, 98 yards

RB K. Williams (LAR): 20 touches, 82 yards

WR J. Waddle (MIA): 3 catches, 57 yards

WR T. Hill (MIA): 3 catches, 16 yards, 1 TD

Watch: Dolphins Snap Skid On the Road Against Rams (23-15)

CBS Sports: Tua Tagovailoa Says He Never Considered Retirement, Doesn’t Want to be ‘Poster Boy for Concussions’

NBA

The Cavs Keep Cookin' ⚔️

Photo: Geoff Stellfox / Getty Images

Cavaliers Extend Record-Setting Undefeated Start to 12 Wins (12-0)

Make it a dozen for Cleveland! The NBA’s early juggernaut went into Chicago and pulled off another win last night (119-113) thanks to 36 points from Donovan Mitchell (seven 3s). The Cavaliers are now 12-0 as their unblemished start begins to reach record-setting levels. Only 15 teams had ever started an NBA season 10-0, and the Cavs are now No. 6 on the list of perfect starts. There’s only one team in the past 20 years that’s had a better beginning to a campaign than the Cavs.

Best Perfect Starts in NBA History

1. Golden State Warriors (2015-16) — 24-0

2. Houston Rockets (1993-94) — 15-0

3. Washington Capitols (1948-49) — 15-0

4. Dallas Mavericks (2002-23) — 14-0

5. Boston Celtics (1957-58) — 14-0

6. Cleveland Cavaliers (2024-25) — 12-0

What’s Clicking in Cleveland?

The Cavs have built a roster with talented young players like Evan Mobley (18.4 ppg, 8.5 reb) and Darius Garland (20.5 ppg, 6.6 ast), but the size and length of Mobley and Jarrett Allen are punishing teams in the paint. Anyone who pays attention to the NBA also knows Mitchell (22.5 ppg) is liable to go for 50 on any given night, so the inside-outside combo makes them impossible to guard. But the biggest addition has to be head coach Kenny Atkinson. He became the first coach to win his first ten games with a new team, and he’s still going.

Watch: Cavs Coast Past Bulls (119-113) to Extend Perfect Start to 12-0

🏀 Other NBA Highlights

Rockets def. Wizards (107-92)

Alperen Sengun (27 pts, 17 rebs) Dominates

Nets def. Pelicans (107-105)

New Orleans Loses 5th Straight in Wild Ending

Thunder def. Clippers (134-128)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Goes for 45 Points

Spurs def. Kings (116-96)

Wemby (34 pts, 14 rebs, 6 ast) Drops Season-High

NCAA

College Basketball Polls 📊

Men’s AP Poll

1. Kansas (2-0), 2. Alabama (2-0), 3. UConn (2-0), 4. Gonzaga (2-0), 5. Auburn (2-0), 6. Duke (2-0), 7. Iowa State (1-0), 8. Houston (1-1), 9. Arizona (2-0), 10. North Carolina (1-1) | Full AP Top 25

Women’s AP Poll

1. South Carolina (2-0), 2. Uconn (2-0), 3. USC (2-0), 4. Texas (1-0), 5. UCLA (2-0), 6. Notre Dame (2-0), 7. LSU (2-0), 8. Iowa State (3-0), 9. Oklahoma (2-0), 10. Kansas State (2-0) | Full AP Top 25

STORYLINES

🏀 NBA Stock Watch

Which early season trends are we buying or selling? We examine the Bucks’ brutal start, the Cavs’ perfect one, the Lakers’ legitimacy, and two All-Stars trying to make the leap. (The Ringer)

⚾️ 2024 MLB Awards Finalists

Next week is awards week for the 2024 MLB season. The finalists for each honor were announced yesterday with Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani as the projected MVPs. (CBS Sports)

⚽️ Status of the Premier League

If the first 11 weeks of the 2024-25 Premier League season have been any indication, we might just be in for all-time top-four, European, and title races. (NBC Sports)

NEWS 📰

🏀 Thunder 7-Footer Chet Holmgren Out 8-10 Weeks With Pelvic Fracture (ESPN)

🏈 Wisconsin Coach Jack Del Rio Arrested on OWI Charge, Allegedly Broke a Fence (B/R)

⚾️ Embattled Rays Shortstop Wander Franco Arrested in Dominican After Altercation With Police (Yahoo! Sports)

🏈 Bears Say Caleb Williams Remains QB1, But Changes Are Coming to Offense (CBS Sports)

⚽️ Premier League Ref Suspended Over Jurgen Klopp Outburst (ESPN)

🏈 Ole Miss & LSU Fined by SEC After Fan Incidents, Field Storming on Saturday (B/R)

⚽️ Paris to Deploy 4,000 Police Officers for France-Israel Soccer Match After Israeli Fans Assaulted in Amsterdam (AP)