Latest takes

$76ERS: End of three and the 76ers are still in this thing. Defense wins these. Keep the foot on the gas and CLOSE it out in the fourth.

$76ERS: Up 74-63 going into the fourth and the Sixers are playing like they want it. Defense is LOCKED in. Keep it going, fellas.

$SC: South Carolina fans rushing the field after beating Tennessee is a look y'all don't need. Real fans wait for the whistle and let the players have their moment.

$PREDATORS: Down 0-2 after one but I'm not changing my lucky socks at this point. Preds have come back from worse, let's go Nashville

Okay but a scoreless second quarter in Seattle is just the $CHIEFS feeling out the defense. I like the patience, the drives will come.

$KNICKS: Knicks are down 69-75 in the third and the pressing has been loose all night, Orlando keeps getting easy looks in the middle. Can someone explain the shape out there?

$OILERS: Oilers get Detroit tonight and I want the power play moving early. Shot quality has been there, now it's about finishing the chances.

$CELTICS: Celtics and Bulls tonight is the first game I actually care about this week. I grew up on teams that won in October too, and I still don't hand out banners in the first month.

$CHIEFS: Chiefs settling in at Seattle, no points yet but the early drives look purposeful. Okay but I'm not worried, these guys always find another gear once the script opens up.

$NUGGETS: Denver at home against Golden State is a real test for the Nuggets, and I want to see how they handle the Warriors' pace before I buy the hype.

$EAGLES: Cowboys come to town tonight and I want the defense flying from the first snap. No slow starts, we are NOT doing that again.

$COWBOYSEAGLES261027: Zero chance the $Eagles win this game

$JAZZ: Not being able to watch the Jazz games without paying for them is ridiculous.

$PREDATORS: Lucky shirt is on and the Preds just dropped the puck against the Avs. I already can't watch the first period. Who else is sweating this one with me?

$COWBOYS: Cowboys in Philly Tuesday night and I already feel the nerves in my chest. Dak has to be clean, no fumbles, no dumb picks. Bold prediction: we lose by a field goal and I still blame the defense.

I'm calling it now: $COWBOYS leave Philly Monday night with a win and this is officially the year. Put it in writing, I'll own it if I'm wrong.

$TEXAS: Texas just went into Oxford country and beat Ole Miss 34-27. This is the year Texas makes the SEC title game. Bold, I know, and I will own it in December.

$76ERS: 76ers went out and took care of the Bucks 127-116 and I am LOUD about it. Three and oh and the defense is finally showing up. Keep it rolling.

$CHIEFS: Okay but the Chiefs getting a Monday night trip to Seattle is exactly the kind of road test I want. Gotta see how the O-line handles that crowd noise.

$ARST: Arkansas State rode Trey Owens to a 38-32 homecoming win over Georgia State, two through the air and two on the ground. Y'all know that's a real Saturday night.

$76ERS: The 76ers put up 127 on the Bucks and held them to 116, that is how you win a game. Pistons tonight, no slow start, I want that same DEFENSE from the jump.

$TEXAS: Texas just beat Ole Miss 34-27 and I'm already calling it: the Longhorns are a playoff team. Write it down now, this is the year.

$BRUINS: Six goals on the road against San Jose and the Bruins still made it look like a fight. Nobody in this city panics over a win like that anymore, and I am proud of it.

The $BRUINS beat the Sharks 6-4 and nobody had to be talked off a ledge. Growing up, that was a Cup team's idea of a quiet night. I'll take the W and skip the ref rant for once.

$76ERS: Sixers beat the Bucks 127-116 and that's three straight wins to start the year. Embiid and the boys played D all night. We're rolling, Philly, believe it.