Batting Practice #8: C.J. Stroud and LA Basketball
The weekly sport analytics review and criticism from Wolohan Analytics
You can listen to the seventh episode of Batting Practice here:
This week we’re talking about C.J. Stroud and the first week of NBA basketball.
C.J. Stroud lit it up this past week, with 470 yard, 5 touchdown game against middling Tampa and the media was quick to anoint the young QB as “here”. On the season, Strouds P(100) rating is around 20%, which is worse than what you want for a steady NFL starter. And prior to this, his last three games were reminiscent of Kenny Pickett or Zach Wilson.
Stroud has talent, but we need more consistency from the young signal caller before we can say that he’s arrived.
James Harden got the trade that he wanted, when the 76ers shipped him west to the LA Clippers. He succeeded in his goal of leaving Daryl Morey, but in the process moved from a contender to an also-ran. The Clippers are headed by Kawhi Leonard—who hasn’t displayed either the peak talent or the endurance to lead a team to the playoffs. Harden might have more fun playing for this team—but don’t expect them to make a run.
LeBron James is in the same boat. His team’s star just isn’t good enough to propel the team to victory. Unfortunately for James and the Lakers, he is that star. We wrote that the LeBron Era was over—and the first games of the season have shown both how great James is at this juncture in his career, and also how it’s not enough anymore. Come playoff time, he’ll get gobbled up by the truly elite of the league.
Lastly, does anyone in Sport media like the NBA In Season Tournament? We should be championing the NBA for trying to keep us entertained and giving us more basketball to root for. I know I’d be excited if my team came home with the trophy. Further, these players are competitive. When they know that they’re playing for something, they play hard. We’re going to see some good basketball out of the In Season Tournament. Everyone is quick to tell the MLB how they must change their playoff format and make the season more exciting, but when the NBA tries it they are pilloried. Shame on the media. If you can’t get excited about competitive, elite basketball, pick a new profession.