#advanced-statistics

#advanced-statistics

Alexis Lafreniere is a bust. As a huge fan of Lafreniere (he is my favorite player on the New York Rangers), it's taken me far longer to say that than most. I held out hope through an up and down first season. I held out hope through a rough second season. In the 2022 postseason, I was the first one to point out his seemingly improved play. In 2024, I was the first person screaming that this was the start of a breakout for the young forward.

Victor Wembanyama is one of the NBA's best players, but does he have a real chance to win his first MVP award this season after missing the past two weeks with a calf injury? The odds are against him -- he enters December at 150-1 to win the award on DraftKings Sportsbook -- but the San Antonio superstar shouldn't be counted out.

It's a competitive group. Where you think you may have advantages if you're the other team, they make up for it with their activity and their toughness. They have a lot of belief and spirit about them that's great. And then offensively - wow. They really play a collective game. The ball moves, they cut, they move great without the ball. They find open players. It's really a fun group to watch.