The NBA is taking a break on Thanksgiving, one of the few days on which the league goes dark.

Earlier this season, the NBA also didn’t hold a single game on Nov. 5, election day, encouraging Americans to go out to the polls.

But the action returns Friday, with the marquee game of the night being a west coast nightcap that features the first-place Oklahoma City Thunder facing the Los Angeles Lakers.

Saturday offers a solid showdown between the Golden State Warriors at the Phoenix Suns, though the gem of the weekend will be Sunday evening when the Boston Celtics head to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers.

Here are some takeaways from the sixth week of the NBA regular season.

Bucks are catching fire, and the defense has been key

Since opening the season 2-8, the Milwaukee Bucks have completely flipped their pace and have won seven of the last eight, including the last five.

And, yes, both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard have had scoring outbursts, but the Bucks have their defense to thank for the winning. During this most recent eight-game stretch, the Bucks have posted the seventh best defensive rating (108.9). By comparison, in October, Milwaukee ranked 24th in defensive rating (116.3).

Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez have intensified their rim protection, forcing slashing players to adjust their shots; Over the last eight games, the Bucks are allowing all opponents to shoot just 56.9% on field goal attempts of five feet or fewer. In October, that number was 61.8%.

Most importantly, the Bucks (9-9) are sitting at fifth in the Eastern Conference.

Rockets surging to new heights – and somehow still flying under the radar

Houston, perhaps inexplicably, is rarely mentioned as a legitimate threat in the Western Conference. In some way, that makes sense; the conference is stacked and traditional powers have remained competitive.

But the Rockets (14-6), winners of nine of their last 11, have unquestionably arrived. Houston already clinched West Group A in the NBA Cup, after closing out the Minnesota Timberwolves, on the road, with an 11-0 run in overtime.

In many ways, that run was a perfect encapsulation of who the Rockets are as a team: defense led to breakneck offense in transition, the ball zipped around the floor off of pick-and-roll actions and the Rockets didn’t settle – they prioritized high-percentage shots.

As ever under an Ime Udoka-coached team, defense and rebounding have been the focus. Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, guarded mostly by Amen Thompson and Dillon Brooks, went 0-for-8 on field goal attempts, missing all five 3-point tries, in the fourth quarter and overtime.

Celtics were already looking like threat to repeat. Then they got Kristaps Porziņģis back.

This is the scary thing about the Celtics.

For the first month of 2024-25, they were without center Kristaps Porziņģis, a stretch big who spaces the floor with his shooting range and who offers rim protection. All they did was go 14-3 and mow through most opponents with ease.

Jayson Tatum was playing like an MVP candidate. Jaylen Brown was steady, and Derrick White occasionally popped off for big offensive games. Now, Porziņģis is back in the fray after recovering from his offseason foot surgery, and his debut Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers showed just how much better Boston will be with him back in the lineup.

The Celtics won by 28, and Porziņģis scored 16 in 23 minutes. But he also added six boards and two blocks, bolstering Boston’s interior defense. The Celtics had entered their game against L.A. ranked 14th in blocks per game (5.1); the 11 they swatted away Tuesday night were a season high.

That season average should only climb higher.

The case against high-volume scoring in Charlotte

There’s an interesting thing happening with the Hornets. LaMelo Ball is unquestionably their most gifted offensive player. Yet, when he goes off on the stat sheet, Charlotte tends to underperform.

Ball is averaging 31.1 points per game – second in the NBA. Over the last three Hornets games, that figure is 42 points per game. He’s also leading the league in field goal attempts (24.9 per game), though here’s the issue: he’s shooting just 43% from the field.

Ball has led the Hornets in scoring in 14 of the team’s 18 games.

They have 12 losses; Ball has been the team’s leading scorer in 11 of those.

To be clear, all of Charlotte’s issues are not on Ball and this is a roster that needs a massive influx of talent.

Yet, Ball has led the team in scoring in only half of Charlotte’s six victories, all of which points to a need for more efficiency and far more ball movement.

Several stars return from injury – to mixed results – with more on the way

The Suns had a schedule quirk that led to six nights off, allowing Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal to both return from their respective calf strains. Their first game back was a 27-point triumph over the Lakers in which Durant and Beal each poured in 23 points.

Their second game back, however, was a 10-point loss Wednesday to a Brooklyn Nets team that entered the night with just eight victories.

Elsewhere, Ja Morant returned to the Memphis Grizzlies, and he scored 22 points and added 11 assist in a victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, immediately infusing more athleticism and playmaking to a Memphis roster that weathered his absence fairly well.

Dejounte Murray played 25 minutes in his first game since the season opener, a 26-point loss to the Toronto Raptors. The New Orleans Pelicans are still battling massive injury issues, though the red-hot Orlando Magic should see the return of star forward Paolo Banchero within the coming weeks.

The NFL commands the Thanksgiving spotlight like no other entity in the sporting world. But as the regular season marches toward its conclusion, some teams will no doubt have a more difficult time than others in tapping into their gratitude this holiday season.

While the playoff picture remains entirely in flux with no berths clinched yet, there’s at least a modicum of hope out there for every franchise to finish strong. But with two teams – the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints – already having fired their head coaches, it’s clear that reality is setting in around the league.

Still, whether it’s a strength of this year’s group or a silver lining for next season, here’s one reason for each team to be thankful this year:

Arizona Cardinals: TE Trey McBride

Though Marvin Harrison Jr. has shown flashes of greatness, the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s draft hasn’t immediately taken on the role of go-to target as many assumed he would. Instead, McBride has made another stratospheric leap in his development, leading the team in catches (61), receiving yards (685) and target share (26.2%), with the latter two figures ranking second among all tight ends.

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Atlanta Falcons: The NFC South

Not a lot of good vibes around the only division leader with a negative point differential (-30). At least the Falcons can be grateful for their lackluster competition, as Atlanta has what amounts to a two-game lead thanks to a sweep of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – though neither they nor the New Orleans Saints are sure to fade down the stretch,

Baltimore Ravens: Jerry Jones

Yes, the Dallas Cowboys’ 28-25 defeat in September helped Baltimore avoid a dreaded 0-3 start and propelled the team on an eventual five-game win streak, but Jones’ relevance to the Ravens extends beyond that. This past offseason, Derrick Henry was drawn to sign with Dallas had an offer materialized, but Jones responded by turning out his pockets, repeatedly claiming that a high-priced running back wasn’t in the Cowboys’ budget. Henry instead joined the Ravens and has averaged a career-best 6.0 yards per carry, taking a significant burden off leading MVP candidate Lamar Jackson.

Buffalo Bills: Improving health

Good fortune on this front matters immensely to contenders down the stretch, and few know that as well as the Bills, who have a strong chance to claim home-field advantage in the AFC if they can avoid further hits. A nicely timed bye this past weekend could allow for quick returns for the likes of tight end Dalton Kincaid, wide receiver Keon Coleman and right tackle Spencer Brown, who all missed the win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Linebacker Matt Milano also could soon make his season debut after sitting out due to a biceps injury, further boosting a defense that also saw cornerback Taron Johnson, linebacker Terrel Bernard and defensive tackle Ed Oliver miss multiple games.

Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young’s quiet resurgence

Young’s chance to right the ship – and himself – in Carolina seemed to come to an abrupt end when the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft was benched after just two games this season, with the team not voicing any plan for a return. Since he resumed his QB1 role after Andy Dalton’s thumb injury, however, the young passer has quietly served up reminders of the potential that not long ago seemed so distant. For a franchise that has been unable to go more than a couple years without hitting reset, that might provide enough hope to at least get through the season.

Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams’ spark

Expectations were clearly too lofty for both the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft and the Bears themselves. But the early results – from going 25 drives without a touchdown to Williams suffering from wild bouts of inaccuracy, especially when throwing deep – were particularly alarming, so much so that offensive coordinator Shane Waldron was fired after just nine games with the team. But even as Chicago dropped its fifth consecutive game Sunday, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner flashed his singular playmaking abilities – and consistency as a passer – that made him one of the most coveted draft prospects in years.

Cincinnati Bengals: Better luck ahead – maybe?

With a 1-6 mark in one-score games, Cincinnati has seen very little break its way this season. Between that and the 2023 campaign being torpedoed by Joe Burrow’s season-ending wrist injury, it seems like a regression to the mean has to be coming at some point for what is still a talented and explosive group. That might not arrive until 2025, however, at which point wide receiver Tee Higgins is expected to be gone and a reimagining of a defense that ranks 28th in scoring (26.9 points allowed per game) likely will be necessary.

Cleveland Browns: A first-round pick, finally

Last year’s surprising run to the playoffs has given way to a season best described as a vacuum of joy. While the long-term outlook is still grim given the financial commitment to Deshaun Watson, at least the team can start its search for some needed cornerstones with its first Day 1 selection – likely somewhere in the top 10 – since trading for Watson in 2022.

Dallas Cowboys: Bragging rights, still

Even in what seems sure to go down as one of the most calamitous seasons of Jerry Jones’ reign, the Cowboys still managed to come out ahead of the Washington Commanders for the sixth time in the last seven meetings between the two rivals. A rematch in Week 18 could again provide Dallas with the rare opportunity to play spoiler.

Denver Broncos: Bo Nix’s growth

This nod easily could have gone to wide receiver Courtland Sutton or the surprising defense, each of which has lifted Denver’s rookie quarterback. But it’s Nix’s expanded comfort within the offense that has helped take the Broncos from fun early-season overachiever to legitimate playoff outfit. Though he still has a considerable way to go, his progress as an intermediate passer has been substantial, particularly during a five-game run in which he has thrown 13 touchdowns with just one interception.

Detroit Lions: A defense that won’t break

Green Bay Packers: Splashy free agents

Brian Gutekunst typically emphasizes the draft-and-develop method while spending only modestly in free agency. This past spring marked a significant shift, as the Packers paid up for marquee names in running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney. Each move has provided major dividends, as Jacobs has helped stabilize an up-and-down attack with his 944 rushing yards (third most in the NFL) while McKinney is on an All-Pro track with his seven interceptions, which are tied for the league lead.

Houston Texans: Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.

At a time when little else is going right for the AFC South leaders, Houston is still getting top-line performances from arguably the league’s best pass-rushing tandem. The two have combined for 20 sacks this season, with Hunter adding five in the last two games. Houston has 42 sacks overall, and creating havoc off the edge is one of the few things that DeMeco Ryans’ crew can count on on a weekly basis.

Indianapolis Colts: Reason not to abandon Anthony Richardson

The ill-fated – and perhaps ill-reasoned – decision to turn to Joe Flacco for two games before reverting back seems to at least have stirred the right reaction from Richardson, who had a career day in leading Indianapolis to a comeback win over the New York Jets in his return. While the No. 4 overall pick in last year’s draft isn’t without fault for the Colts’ various shortcomings, the offense continues to undermine him with dropped passes, penalties and play designs that ask far too much of an inexperienced signal-caller. If the rest of the roster and coaching staff can better support him, there might be enough to build on.

Jacksonville Jaguars: An attractive setup for the next coach

The bye week came and went without a dismissal of coach Doug Pederson following the worst loss in franchise history. Still, it’s hard to envision the current regime lasting any longer than the end of this season. If owner Shad Khan parts with both Pederson and GM Trent Baalke, he could have one of the more alluring openings on the market thanks to the presence of Trevor Lawrence and a defense dotted with young talent.

Kansas City Chiefs: In-season reinforcements

Managing attrition has become one of the primary themes of the Chiefs’ three-peat bid, as Kansas City lost receivers Rashee Rice and Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown and running back Isiah Pacheco before the offense could pursue the big-play goals it had eyed throughout the summer. But DeAndre Hopkins’ arrival ahead of the trade deadline has lifted the receiving corps, while Patrick Mahomes could get a boost in his blindside protection from free-agent signing D.J. Humphries, who could soon take over for the struggling Wanya Morris and Kingsley Suamataia. Pacheco, meanwhile, is set to play this week for the first time since suffering a fractured fibula in Week 2.

Las Vegas Raiders: Brock Bowers

Trading away Davante Adams nearly robbed the Silver and Black of any relevance for the rest of the season. Bowers, however, has put on a show, as he trails only CeeDee Lamb in receptions (74) while nearing Sam LaPorta’s single-season record of 86 for a rookie tight end. As the likely heir to Travis Kelce and George Kittle at his position, the No. 13 overall pick is a major asset to whichever quarterback takes over for the Raiders in 2025.

Los Angeles Chargers: The NCAA and the Big Ten

Maybe Jim Harbaugh was destined for a return to the NFL, as the coach explained his decision to leave Michigan by saying ‘there’s no Lombardi Trophy in college football.’ But given that Harbaugh said he was torn regarding the call to leave the Wolverines after winning a national championship, escaping the compliance scrutiny he faced at every turn was no doubt a significant upside to jumping back to the pros. The Chargers were ready to pounce, and Los Angeles now has a distinct identity and winning culture in place less than a year later.

Los Angeles Rams: Jared Verse

In allowing Saquon Barkley to rack up 255 rushing yards, the Rams reinforced they’re not up to snuff at the line of scrimmage in the early portion of the post-Aaron Donald era. That problem, however, can’t be pinned on Jared Verse, whose viral bulldozing of 6-8, 365-pound Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata served as an embodiment of the jolt he has given to Los Angeles’ front seven. Already one of the league’s most reliable creators of pressure, the first-round pick out of Florida State has also been stout against the run as he puts together a campaign worthy of Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa’s return

That Tagovailoa is healthy after suffering his third documented concussion should be considered a win for all. His performance since making his way back to the field, however, has fueled hopes of an unlikely playoff run after the team’s 2-6 start. In Miami’s three-game win streak, Tagovailoa has completed 74% of his passes with eight touchdowns and one interception, rejuvenating what had been the league’s lowest-scoring offense prior to his comeback.

Minnesota Vikings: An offensive game plan beyond Justin Jefferson

Make no mistake: The Vikings’ offensive output still traces back to Jefferson. A unit that ranks ninth in scoring still hinges on having the three-time Pro Bowl receiver at the center of everything it does. But with coach Kevin O’Connell acknowledging that defenses frequently are selling out to stop Jefferson with two-high shells and tilted coverages, Minnesota is not forcing the issue, instead allowing its other skill-position players to take advantage of the opportunities afforded to them. That was evident last week, when the Chicago Bears held Jefferson to a season-low 27 yards on two catches while Jordan Addison (eight catches, 162 yards) and T.J. Hockenson (seven catches, 114 yards) feasted.

New England Patriots: $132 million in cap space

That figure – OverTheCap.com’s current projection for 2025 – is sure to shift before the Patriots can begin their potential spending spree in March. But New England looks likely to have more cap space than any other team. And after Eliot Wolf’s first attempt to ‘weaponize the offense’ yielded hardly any firepower, there’s a prime opportunity ahead to overhaul the woeful receiving corps and offensive line to give Drake Maye the assistance he sorely needs.

New Orleans Saints: A break from status quo

Despite not making the playoffs since the penultimate season of Sean Payton’s tenure in 2020, the Saints repeatedly doubled down on mediocrity in recent years. That bet finally went bust this season, with Dennis Allen being fired after a 2-7 start. While New Orleans might be a long shot to embrace a full roster reset and finally clear its cap bill, the franchise finally can set their aim higher than the middle of the pack.

New York Giants: A sterling rookie class

Daniel Jones muddled through his nearly six seasons as a starter quarterback in New York with little reliable help outside of Saquon Barkley. That shouldn’t be a problem for his successor, who will be equipped with two major weapons in wide receiver Malik Nabers and running back Tyrone Tracy Jr., both secured in this draft class. With that same haul yielding safety Tyler Nubin, cornerback Andru Phillips and tight end Theo Johnson, the Giants have a promising collection of young talent in the fold, even if there’s a long way to go to fix the league’s lowest-scoring offense.

New York Jets: A young core to rebuild around

This was arguably the hardest entry of the list, as there are few sources of optimism for a group that has already made several drastic in-season moves to build up and later tear down this year’s team. At least an off-ramp to the Aaron Rodgers era is in sight, though whether Gang Green takes it has yet to be determined. At least with Garrett Wilson, Sauce Gardner and several other young players provide something of a framework for the next regime, though lofty extensions are looming.

Philadelphia Eagles: A masterful offseason of change

It’s hard to fully encapsulate how much Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni accomplished in reconfiguring this franchise without blowing everything up. Yes, Saquon Barkley hitting the open market was a stroke of excellent luck. But hiring Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator helped bring together the third-ranked offense, while the league’s No. 1 defense has soared under Vic Fangio’s guidance. Signing linebacker Zack Baun might have been one of the biggest steals of the offseason, while rookie cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean look like long-term staples in the secondary.

Pittsburgh Steelers: An offensive wake-up call

Kicking six field goals to beat the rival Baltimore Ravens might seem fun until the same persistent offensive problems produce a 24-19 loss to the Cleveland Browns. For as much fun as Russell Wilson’s big-play streak might have provided after his insertion into the starting lineup, this boom-or-bust approach was never going to be tenable for a team set to face the Ravens, Eagles, Chiefs and Bengals in the final four weeks of the season. Now, the Steelers can focus on fixing the red-zone woes (30th in touchdown scoring percentage) rather than just trying to power on.

San Francisco 49ers: The NFC West

Between a cascade of injuries and self-inflicted mistakes, San Francisco’s season looks beyond saving. But what’s shaping up to be the most unpredictable division race could be the greatest remaining source of hope. The defending NFC champions remain just one game back of the NFC West lead, though an upset against either the Buffalo Bills this week or the Detroit Lions in Week 17 might be necessary for San Francisco to correct its late-season trajectory.

Seattle Seahawks: Mike Macdonald’s defensive upswing

In making Macdonald the NFL’s youngest head coach, the Seahawks made clear they wanted something different from a defense that had grown stale under Pete Carroll. While it took some time for Macdonald’s complex scheme to gel, the unit has found its stride in the last three weeks, allowing just 16.3 points per game during a stretch that has launched Seattle atop the NFC West. The surge has also eased the pressure on a pass-happy offense that still seems out of sorts.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Liam Coen

It’s not often that a team loses its offensive coordinator to a head-coaching vacancy and ends up in an even better spot. That’s what has happened with the Buccaneers, however, as Coen took over for Dave Canales and has orchestrated the league’s fourth-ranked scoring attack. Despite injuries to Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, Baker Mayfield is on track to set career highs in completion rate (currently 71.4%), touchdowns (24) and passer rating (104.1) thanks in large part to Coen’s creative play designs. But Tampa Bay might soon be searching for another replacement, as Coen could be a candidate for a top job himself this January.

Tennessee Titans: Correctable mistakes

Moving on from Will Levis to resolve the glaring issue of haphazard play behind center might not be so easy, as Tennessee could be just competent enough to put itself out of range of the upcoming draft’s top two quarterbacks in Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward. But the Titans have also been dogged by rampant special teams stumbles, with their 578 punt return yards allowed almost 200 more than the next closest team. Brian Callahan’s staff hasn’t been able to figure out a way to clean up the problem during the season, but getting anything close to passable play in this phase could help accelerate a turnaround in Year 2.

Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels’ hot start

Optimism surrounding the Commanders has mirrored Daniels’ play throughout the quarterback’s rookie season, rising over the course of a blistering 7-2 start before tumbling during a three-game losing skid. Still, the No. 2 overall pick showed enough before sustaining a rib injury to make clear he’s not simply a flash in the pan, even if questions about the staying power of Kliff Kingsbury’s offense remain. The Commanders still have a solid shot at just their second playoff berth since 2016, and Daniels should be in line to make great strides once he’s equipped with more weapons in the receiving corps beyond Terry McLaurin.

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Maybe it’s best to start this celebration of Rivalry Week, and what we’re thankful for as a college football community, with a rare moment that will never, ever, be duplicated. 

The Choke at Doak.

We’re 30 years this week from that magical day in Tallahassee, when Florida State came back from a 31-3 deficit in the fourth quarter to tie Florida 31-31. A year later, the NCAA instituted overtime play.

And 30 years later, there’s not a sane person on the planet who doesn’t think the Seminoles would’ve converted a two-point play in the closing seconds had it tried to win the game instead of tie it. 

Even Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, who made the call to kick the conversion and tie the game in the first place.

Years after the fact, Bowden told me although he never regretted kicking the extra point, he too knew what would’ve happened had the Noles attempted a two-point conversion. 

“Yeah, they’re on their heels,” Bowden said. “(We) probably would’ve scored, too.”

Welcome, everyone, to Rivalry Week. The joyous occasion of throwing every record and rhyme and reason out the proverbial window because, well, the hates runs deep, baby. 

WEEKEND FORECAST: Experts picks for every Top 25 game in Week 13

Despite what seems like a tsunami of change in the sport, and some classic rivalries abandoned or moved off the final week of the regular season, there is no other week on the college football calendar quite like this one. 

More to the point with the current state of the sport: there are numerous games with College Football Playoff implications — despite the doom and gloom predictions that the final few weeks of the sport would be minimized by the new 12-team format. If anything, the new system has enhanced Rivalry Week.

We begin with Michigan and Ohio State, because what would any Rivalry Week be without the best hate in the sport? This one, like so many others, transcends any drama swirling in the sport and focuses purely on the machinations inside it. 

Specifically, the job status of widely successful Ohio State coach Ryan Day.

He has beaten the brakes off everyone in the Big Ten, and has brought the Buckeyes multiple playoff appearances. He has also lost three in a row in the series.

It should come as no surprise then that Day began this week comparing The Game to war. Yes, war.

Because even though another Michigan win won’t knock Ohio State from the CFP, it will knock the Buckeyes from the Big Ten championship game — and will lead to Day’s firing. 

Unless, that is, Ohio State can come all the way back and win the national title. Because you can’t fire a coach who just won the national title, can you?  

“This game is a war,” Day said. “And any time there’s a war, there’s consequences and casualties.”

Not to be dramatic, but he just nailed it. 

And that’s only the beginning of this make or break week all over the college football landscape. 

Vanderbilt, with a home win already over Alabama (and another near home win over Texas), can knock rival Tennessee out of the playoff race with a win.

Southern California, whose five losses have all been one-possession games, can beat Notre Dame and possibly eliminate the Irish from the field.

Auburn can snuff out all Alabama hope of returning to the CFP with a win in Tuscaloosa, where the Tigers haven’t won since Cam Newton and The Lutzenkirchen in 2010.

Arizona has lost six of its last seven games, but can eliminate Arizona State’s CFP hope by winning its third consecutive game in the series — something it hasn’t done since the mid-1990s.

Oregon coach Dan Lanning is 0-3 vs. Washington, an underrated rivalry that was pushed to Rivalry Week when the two schools left the Pac-12 for the Big Ten. Washington hasn’t won four in a row against the Ducks since the early 1990s.

Then there’s Texas and Texas A&M, which haven’t played since 2011, when Texas A&M left for the SEC. The Aggies weren’t happy in 2021 when Texas announced it was leaving the Big 12 to join the SEC, and are more tweaked that Bevo is two games from doing in Year 1 what the Aggies haven’t come close to accomplishing: winning the SEC.

We’re 25 years from the somber, touching moment of the two schools symbolically locking arms in College Station after the bonfire tragedy the night before the 1999 game. The Aggies outscored Texas 14-0 in the second half, and scored the winning touchdown with five minutes to play.

Then held on for a win that will never be forgotten.

Rivalry Week is here. Celebrate it, everyone.

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Spots Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.

Thanksgiving has finally arrived, and fantasy football managers are most thankful for the fact that every NFL team is in action this week.

No byes to worry about, just wall-to-wall football on Turkey Day and Black Friday, plus Sunday and Monday. Hopefully, you’ll get your fill.

Fantasy football rankings for Week 13 are based on the point-per-reception (PPR) scoring used in most seasonal and daily fantasy football formats. One point is awarded for every 10 rushing and receiving yards and one point for every 20 passing yards. Six points are awarded for touchdowns scored, four points for passing TDs and one point for receptions.

Rankings are compiled by Daniel Dobish, TheHuddle.com. 

(*-check status before kickoff)

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Fantasy football Week 13 quarterback rankings

Brock Purdy (shoulder) practiced on a very limited basis Wednesday after missing last week’s game. Unfortunately, the Niners play at Buffalo on Sunday night.
Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) was a limited practice participant on Wednesday. He’s questionable for Sunday coming off a Week 12 bye.
Aidan O’Connell (thumb) returned from injured reserve and has been named the Raiders starter. He last played in Week 7.

Fantasy football Week 13 running back rankings

David Montgomery (shoulder) was a full practice participant on Wednesday. He’s listed as questionable for Thursday’s early kickoff.
Alexander Mattison (ankle) was limited in practice Wednesday, putting Ameer Abdullah in line for a role similar to the one he had last week.
Brian Robinson Jr. (ankle) is questionable and Austin Ekeler (concussion) is doubtful for Sunday, leaving Jeremy McNichols as the Commanders’ likely starter.

Fantasy football Week 13 wide receiver rankings

DK Metcalf (shoulder) and Tyler Lockett (knee) did not practice on Wednesday.
DeVonta Smith (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday after missing last week’s game.

Fantasy football Week 13 tight end rankings

Jake Ferguson (concussion) has been ruled out for Week 13.

Fantasy football Week 13 kicker rankings

Fantasy football Week 13 defense/special teams rankings

It’s easy to be thankful in the best of times though still necessary to express appreciation. It’s not as simple to have gratitude in difficult times though it is a sign of a good soul to be grateful for the things one does have.

From the top of the NBA standings to the bottom, from the teams eyeing a deep playoff run to the teams plotting for the draft lottery, there is plenty to be thankful for this season.

Here, we’re thankful, among many things, for the players, coaches and staffers who help create wonderful moments throughout the season.

So, for 30 NBA teams, something each can be thankful for this holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving!

**

Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks are thankful for Jalen Johnson and the defense of Dyson Daniels. Johnson, 22, is averaging a double-double and career bests in points (19.4) and rebounds (10.4). Daniels, 21, leads the NBA in deflections (6.8) and steals (3.2) per game.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics are thankful they didn’t break up the Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown pairing. They led Boston to a title last season and might do the same this season.

Brooklyn Nets

The Nets are thankful the Jets and Giants are so bad and so dysfunctional that they’re the focus of the backpage headlines. The two Cams — Thomas and Johnson — are both really nice, young pieces, but Ben Simmons is flubbing open layups and the Nets have not been able to find any consistency.

Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets are thankful for Brandon Miller’s development as a two-way player, especially coming off his 38-point, seven-rebound, four-assist, four-steal, one-block performance against Detroit on Nov. 21 (since it’s Thanksgiving, we’ll look the other way at the seven turnovers).

Chicago Bulls

The Bulls are thankful Zach LaVine is playing the way he is (21.6 ppg and 4.3 apg) and his trade value is going back up.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers are thankful for first-year coach Kenny Atkinson, who got the Cavs off to a 15-0 start – tied for the second-best start in NBA history – and ready to challenge Boston for the top spot in the East with the core four: Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks are thankful for big leads. The Mavericks are tied for most losses in clutch games (six) and had a stretch in the middle of the month in which they lost four games in a row, by margins of one, two (twice) and three points.

Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets are thankful for unathletic looking 6-11 centers from Serbia. Nikola Jokic is the best player in the world, averaging 29.7 points, 13.1 rebounds, 10.6 assists, 1.5 steals and shooting 56.8% from the field and 53.4% on 3-pointers.

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons are thankful they redid their front-office and coaching staff, starting with president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon. Five weeks into the season, the Pistons already have half as many victories as they did all of last season.

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors are thankful Stephen Curry is ageless, and that the departure of Klay Thompson ushered in the best depth in the NBA. On most nights, Curry, an outside early MVP candidate, remains the best player on the floor. On most nights, the Warriors have the deepest bench in the league with offseason addition Buddy Hield, Jonathan Kuminga, leading rebounder Kevon Looney and do-it-all guard Brandin Podziemski.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets are thankful for a successful rebuild and a young team – led by Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and Amen Thompson (all 23 or younger) – that boasts a promising present and future.

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers are thankful they play in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers have stumbled out of the gate after their Eastern Conference finals run last season benefitted from significant injuries to opponents. Indiana ranks 16th in offensive rating (after ranking second last year) but is still 9-10 and in prime position to compete for at least a play-in spot.

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are thankful for the section of seats called The Wall and the 300-seat Clippers-fans only supporters’ section behind one of the baskets. Owner Steve Ballmer has a fun thing going at his brand-new Intuit Dome – and the Clippers have won six of their past seven games.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers are thankful for Anthony Davis’ ascent into MVP territory (29.2 ppg, 11.5 rpg) and for LeBron James’ mind-boggling play at 39 going on 40 (22.9 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 9.3 apg).

Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies are thankful for two 2024 draft picks – No. 7 Zach Edey and No. 39 Jaylen Williams, both of whom are averaging just over 11 points.

Miami Heat

The Heat are thankful the Trail Blazers hated the proposed “Dame Package” that included Tyler Herro. Of NBA players with at least 100 3-point attempts, Herro – who leads Miami in scoring (24.2) by nearly seven points per game – ranks second in 3-point shooting percentage (45.2%) but is third overall in made 3-point attempts per game (4.4). Jaime Jaquez Jr. has been a solid bench contributor, and Damian Lillard is shooting a career-worst 31.5% from beyond the arc.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks are thankful that Giannis Antetokounmpo has not requested a trade – and he’s dominating at 32.1 points, 12.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.4 blocks per game and 61% shooting from the field. And Milwaukee is starting to win games, including seven of its past 10.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Timberwolves are thankful there’s still time to figure out chemistry. Julius Randle hasn’t necessarily meshed well at times with other players, Donte DiVincenzo has struggled to find his role and early returns on the Karl-Anthony Towns trade haven’t been great. That said, it’s still November, and chemistry takes time.

New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans are thankful for Brandon Ingram, who is one of the few healthy Pelicans and is averaging 23.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists.

New York Knicks

The Knicks are thankful you haven’t heard much about James Dolan all season. Typically, when Dolan, the team’s owner, is in the news, it’s a sign of meddling – and not in a good way. The Knicks have won six of their past 10 and Dolan has let team president Leon Rose and William Wesley, a.k.a. “Worldwide Wes,” executive vice president and senior basketball advisor, shape New York into a serious, win-now contender.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder are thankful for GM Sam Presti’s team-building prowess that puts them in position to be one of the best teams in the West for the next five seasons – and maybe longer.

Orlando Magic

The Magic should be thankful Paolo Banchero will return soon, and that Franz Wagner has broken out in Banchero’s absence. In his five games, Banchero (torn oblique) was averaging career bests in every major statistical category. The Magic lost their first four without Banchero but have since won 10 of 11. Wagner is averaging 27.0 points per game over Orlando’s last 11 and made the game-winning shot against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers are thankful that Tyrese Maxey is the young leader who can tell Joel Embiid that Embiid needs to be a better leader through his actions.

Phoenix Suns

The Suns are thankful Kevin Durant (27.6 points per game, 55.3% shooting from the field, including 42.9% on 3s) is back from a calf injury.

Portland Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers are thankful for an effort defensively under coach Chauncey Billups – No. 5 in steals, No. 5 in blocks and No. 2 in turnovers committed by opponents.

Sacramento Kings

The Kings are thankful they traded for DeMar DeRozan and for the continuing progression of De’Aaron Fox. Fox, who’s averaging 28.0 points per game, is clutch, motivated on defense and having a career year. The team’s trade for DeRozan, an absolute menace in the mid-range, has given Sacramento another weapon, another late-game scorer.

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs are thankful for Gregg Popovich and Victor Wembanyama, and few things will make the NBA community smile more than seeing Popovich, who is recovering from a stroke, back on the sideline coaching Wembanyama, one of the game’s great young players.

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors are thankful for Toronto-born RJ Barrett who averages 22.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists and has five games with at least 30 points, including a season-high 39.

Utah Jazz

The Jazz are thankful for their bench – No. 3 in the league in bench scoring at 41.8 points per game and led individually by John Collins’ 17.6 ppg and Jordan Clarkson’s 15.9 ppg.

Washington Wizards

The Wizards are thankful for France – Frenchmen Bilal Coulibaly and Alexandre Sarr are the future of the team. Coulibaly is on his way to becoming one of the better two-way players in the league.

Lions and Bears and turkeys, oh my.

A tradition as old as your grandma’s stuffing recipe, the Detroit Lions are once again back on your television screen on Thanksgiving Day, this time taking on NFC North foe, the Chicago Bears. The teams are heading in opposite directions as the calendar is set to flip to December in the coming days.

The Lions are roaring through the NFC at 10-1, and their offense has been making minced meet of opposing defenses. The Ben Johnson-led offense has flirted with scoring 60 points twice this season, but instead has had to settle for just 52 points in wins against the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Bears haven’t had quite the success this year on offense despite the at-times promising play of No. 1 pick, quarterback Caleb Williams. That’s resulted in the firing of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron after Week 10 and the installation of Thomas Brown as interim OC.

With that, Williams finally snapped his his touchdown pass drought in Week 12 vs. the Minnesota Vikings, tossing two TDs after going the previous four games without a passing touchdown.

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Williams is going to have his hands full – unfortunately, with the Lions defense, not with Thanksgiving food – come Thursday against the Lions’ stellar defense. Detroit enters Week 13 as the No. 2-ranked scoring defense in the league and has allowed a combined 12 points in its past two games.

Any hope that Williams will carve up the passing defense like a turkey may be half-baked – hopefully unlike the green bean casserole on your dinner tables.

USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates, highlights and more from the Thanksgiving Day tilt between the Lions and the Bears below. All times are Eastern.

Lions vs. Bears Thanksgiving game start time

Start time: 12:30 p.m. ET
Date: Thursday, Nov. 28

The Lions and Bears will kick off at 12:30 p.m. ET on Thanksgiving Day.

The Bears travel to Ford Field in Detroit to take on their division rival.

Lions vs. Bears Thanksgiving game TV channel

Channel: CBS

CBS is the broadcast home to the Lions vs. Bears Thanksgiving Day game.

Jim Nantz and Tony Romo will be on the call, with Tracy Wolfson adding reports from the sideline.

Lions vs. Bears picks, predictions

Lorenzo Reyes: Lions 28, Bears 13
Tyler Dragon: Lions 31, Bears 17
Richard Morin: Lions 38, Bears 29
Jordan Mendoza: Lions 29, Bears 17

“The ability for kids to adapt and have fun … we just mess it up a lot of time.”

The words are from Jeff Francoeur, a former standout major league outfielder. He is now a youth sports podcaster and a father to school-aged kids who play organized sports.

‘Kids don’t play pickup games in the backyard anymore,” he told USA TODAY Sports during an October interview. “That’s where you would dream, right? You’d be out there with your buddies: ‘This is game seven of the World Series.”

Today, a kid’s reverie is likely to be interrupted by a coach urging him or her onto the next drill during practice.

We don’t mess it up on Thanksgiving, though. Families and friends traditionally get together for friendly — and sometimes super competitive — touch football games before turkey. It’s one day a year when we haven’t forgotten the concept of free play for our kids.

Francoeur suggested parents and youth coaches need to emphasize that type of free play more often. He even suggested working it into formal practices.

“Instead of having an organized baseball practice every night,” he told me, ‘on a Wednesday why don’t you let the neighborhood kids get together to play a pickup basketball game? Play something (where) they can imagine things.”

I wrote last week about how American kids scored a D- for overall physical activity on the 2024 United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth. More specifically, just 20-28% of kids ages 6 to 17 meet the 60 minutes of daily physical activity guideline set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

A lack of free play is a contributor, especially for teenagers who are forced out of the ultracompetitive world of youth sports. Free play can be meeting your friends for a workout at the gym, or at the basketball court or the pickleball court. It’s not something done while sitting in front of phones or in school for long periods of time.

As the holidays arrive, with calorie counts and distractions rising faster than our rates of physical activity, remember the importance of free play for athletic and emotional health.

Here are four ways to bring back free play for kids, and for adults, no matter their sports skills.

1. Start a holiday tradition

If you organize a game, they will come. Encourage them to keep playing.

The ‘Turkey Bowl’ is an annual tradition in our neighborhood park. According to unofficial calculations, we have been playing the touch football game for 22 years.

We play parents vs. kids. Like Cal Ripken was with his son, we don’t let them win.

Winning, of course, no matter how much parents deny it, is not the point. We play because it’s fun and it’s tradition, the way sports should be.

Exercise can be “Miracle-Grow for the brain,’ Harvard psychiatrist John Ratey wrote in his book “Spark,” which details how fitness activities stimulate us intellectually.

It is especially enjoyable when they involve our friends. Sometimes we don’t even think about the fitness benefits – or even that we’re tired – when running or playing alongside them.

Organize your Thanksgiving morning to include free play: football, a hike or pickup basketball. Do it again on Christmas and New Year’s. Cheer for everyone. It’s amazing how different that might feel when you’re not worried about your kid’s batting average.

A morning game can help you feel less sluggish later in the day. Maybe the holiday game becomes Thanksgiving dinner conversation, and it fills further meals with discussions and ideas for your kids.

COACH STEVE: Is it worth it? 10 questions for athletes to consider if they play on a travel team

2. Keep them moving in the classroom

When I wrote about the D- kids received in physical activity, and the opportunity if offered sports parents to take stock in our roles, I heard from a teacher in Maryland.

“In my experience, we ask children from kindergarten onward, to spend the majority of their day sitting still,” says Alissa Casey, who works primarily with third through fifth graders. “In my school system, most children in elementary school get a half hour of recess each day (although part of that time is eaten up in the transitions from lunchroom and classroom) and one 50-minute PE class week.

“If we rely on out-of-school time for physical movement and exercise, we’re asking a lot. Kids spend a lot of time in school and not a lot of that time moving around.”

Casey was looking for insight about how much physical activity other children get within the school day.

Ayanna McKnight, director of operations for the Physical Activity Alliance (PAA), told me states have varying requirements for physical education. She also says organizations such as SHAPE America, Active Schools, and Active Kids Active Minds lead the way in advocating for physical activity before, during and after school.

If you’re a teacher, talk to your administrators about allowing physical activity breaks in your classroom. Jordan Carlson, the committee chair of the physical activity report card, says teachers are finding short physical activity bursts help with on-task behavior.

“Sometimes teachers think it’s going to be disruptive, and then when they do them, they see that it’s very beneficial,” says Carlson, a professor of pediatrics at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. “There’s been some evidence with studies with brain scans that have shown better learning, better functioning and more active brains and things like that, with just two minutes, five minutes periodically as a way to re-energize students in a positive way that facilitates learning.”

Try an activity where you don’t need a big space. Have kids march in place or (safely) move their arms and feet to music or instruction. GoNoodle has some suggestions.

3. Make devices a part of active free play

The physical activity report card was littered with Cs and Ds in a number of categories. A major contributor to the D- that kids received in ‘sedentary behavior’ was too much screen time.

“Over the last decade, there’s been a dramatic shift in more kids not meeting screen time guidelines of no more than 2 hours/day,” says Amanda Staiano, who co-authored the section in report.

She is the director of the pediatric obesity and health behavior laboratory at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University. According to nationally representative data, one in five children in the United States is obese, diagnosed when a person’s weight is higher than the healthy range for his or her age, sex, and height.

Staiano says less than an 85th percentile for Body Mass Index is considered healthy weight; 85th up to 95th is overweight; and 95th and above is obesity. High amounts of sedentary behavior increases several health risks, including obesity.

“Kids above the age of 4 should limit screen time as much as possible — international guidelines recommend no more than two hours per day on non-school screen time,” Staiano says. “We know very few kids are meeting these guidelines; some data show more 7-8 hours of screen time on average per day.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics has a link to create your own Family Media Plan. Encourage your family to charge tablets overnight in the living room, not the bedroom, and to put phones away when you eat. But during those dinner conversations, communicate to your kids kids that taking devices away is not a punishment.

Instead, tell them screens have a place when playing video games that require body movement. Phones have a place when we need to communicate with one another or to create competitions for the most steps in a day.

Coach Steve: 7 out of 10 kids drop out of youth sports by age 13. Why?

4. Allow them to dream

Dreaming keeps kids playing sports.

Francouer, who is also a major league broadcaster, spoke to Yankees manager Aaron Boone this past postseason about Boone’s ALCS-winning home run for New York against the Boston Red Sox in 2003. It’s what Boone dreamed about doing as a kid.

I loved baseball when I was young, too, and playing in the yard spurred similar thoughts. But on frigid or rainy days when I was cooped up inside, I also dreamed of throwing touchdown passes to my friends when the weather cleared up.

Kids are too structured today, a major factor in the D- physical activity grade. Even if we are old enough to specialize in a sport, though, we are never too busy to dream.

The AAP recommends kids take one day of rest per week and two to three months off from participation in any specific sport. The months don’t have to be consecutive.

Fill their time away from their formal sports with free play. If it’s convenient, start with Thanksgiving.

I have been the organizer of our neighborhood ‘Turkey Bowl’ for about 10 years. We started out mixing up parents and children, making sure the kids got the ball most of the time. The game has evolved (or perhaps devolved, judging from some occasional trash talk) into parents vs. kids.

Under my watch, the kids still haven’t beaten us.  

Our time is coming, of course. My oldest son is a baseball player who is up to 180 pounds and my younger son weighs 155 and is coming off a season of freshman football. The neighborhood is now full of high school and college kids.

One of these years, they’re gonna get us. Well, at least they can dream about it.

Steve Borelli, aka Coach Steve, has been an editor and writer with USA TODAY since 1999. He spent 10 years coaching his two sons’ baseball and basketball teams. He and his wife, Colleen, are now sports parents for two high schoolers. His column is posted weekly. For his past columns, click here.

Thanksgiving and the Dallas Cowboys. 

Sorry if this traditional combination spoils your appetite. But with the mix also including the New York Giants, a team flailing even more precipitously than the Cowboys, the prime holiday slot is poised to serve up quite the dud this time around. 

How’s this for a quarterback showdown: Cooper Rush vs. Tommy DeVito (or Drew Lock, if DeVito’s forearm injury keeps him out of the game). 

Sure, there’s always the possibility that the matchup on Fox (4:30 p.m. ET) will spring some surprises. After all, the Cowboys (4-7) just engaged in one of the NFL’s most entertaining endings of the season on Sunday in upsetting Washington. 

So, please, pass the KaVontae Turpin spin moves. 

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Yet for all that’s gone down in recent weeks for the NFC East rivals – the Cowboys lost Dak Prescott to a season-ending hamstring injury, the Giants (2-9) benched and subsequently released their quarterback, Daniel Jones, because of ineffectiveness and the threat of losing millions of dollars tied to his contractual injury guarantees – the recipe for good football comes up woefully short.  

The Cowboys will bring the franchise’s worst running game since the pre-Emmitt Smith era that began in 1990, ranked next-to-last in the NFL. Maybe there’s hope they can get a yard or two in a pinch, facing a 30th-ranked New York run defense that is one slot higher than Dallas’ unit in that category.  

The Giants, meanwhile, will bring one of the NFL’s top rookie receivers to the equation. Yet Malik Nabers made headlines after the 30-7 shellacking from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday as he pointed out, “It ain’t the quarterback. Same outcome when we had D.J. at quarterback.” 

Looking to see touchdowns? Don’t bank on it. The Giants and Cowboys have the worst two offenses in the NFL for touchdown rates after reaching the red zone, at 38.7% and 42.9%, respectively. 

On paper, that’s bad. On hi-def TV, even tougher. 

Maybe this is the year that the Detroit Lions (10-1), a favorite to reach Super Bowl 59, will draw a larger audience in their traditional early-afternoon Thanksgiving slot (12:30 p.m. ET, CBS) while facing the Chicago Bears. The Thanksgiving nightcap has a much better matchup, too, with the surging Miami Dolphins visiting the playoff-contending Green Bay Packers (8:20 p.m., NBC). 

The Cowboys’ slot, though, has always been perfect for drawing huge numbers as it falls late in the afternoon for much of the nation, a follow-up to the turkey and stuffing. 

We’ll see if that is still the case. 

Two years ago, the Cowboys and Giants met in the exact same window on Turkey Day and the Fox broadcast averaged 42.1 million viewers – most ever for a regular-season game in NFL history. It was clearly an attractive matchup as both teams entered with 7-3 records en route to finishing their campaigns in the NFC divisional playoffs. 

Last Thanksgiving, the Cowboys and undermatched Commanders peaked at 44.3 million viewers and averaged 41.4 million. Despite a lopsided matchup – Dallas was 7-3, headed to a 12-5 playoff berth; Washington was 3-7, on the way to closing the season with an eight-game losing streak – the CBS broadcast was still the third-most watched NFL regular-season game in history.  

But who will want to watch the Cowboys (and Giants) this time? 

Well, it might have an appeal similar to an accident scene. I think of the times I’ve been in highway traffic that slows to a crawl as motorists peer at wreckage that was cleared to the shoulder. Hopefully, of course, no one was hurt in the crash. But so often people are prone to want a peek at the damage. 

Yes, the Cowboys have had a lot of wreckage this season. Even though the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs have become “America’s Team” when it comes to being a TV draw – the Chiefs have drawn the three biggest TV audiences this season, including the 31.2 million average for the Week 11 showdown against the Buffalo Bills on CBS – the Cowboys have still pulled in some impressive numbers. 

In Week 3, a Cowboys matchup against the Baltimore Ravens averaged 27.3 million on Fox. And a Sunday night tilt at the San Francisco 49ers on NBC had an average of 23.9 million that was highest ever for a Week 8 game. 

Never mind the hot seat that Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy has occupied all season while operating on the final year of his contract. Forget the injuries that on top of Prescott included All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons for several weeks and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. And it doesn’t seem to matter that the Cowboys have been so routinely embarrassed in dropping all five home games this season – AT&T Stadium isn’t as much “JerryWorld” as it is “Blowout City.” 

People still watch. Something has to give on Thursday. The Giants have lost six straight games. The Cowboys have dropped six consecutive home games dating to the debacle against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC divisional playoff in January. The mostly lopsided scores during Dallas’ streak of home setbacks: 48-32. 44-19. 28-25. 47-9. 34-6. 34-10. 

For all of the woes, the Cowboys are still relevant as some sort of TV draw – even if they’ve become irrelevant as a playoff factor. Maybe it’s the constant drama. Or perhaps there’s a significant draw for viewers who can’t stand the Cowboys and their obnoxious fan base, loving the sight of a despised team when it is down. 

In any event, the Thanksgiving stage beckons. As usual, the Cowboys will kick off their support of the Salvation Army’s holiday drive, complete with the huge red kettles in the end zone. The halftime break will feature a mini concert. This time, a year after Dolly Parton sang while wearing a Cowboys Cheerleaders uniform, country music star Lainey Wilson will command the spotlight. Let the traditions roll on. 

Just don’t expect classic football. 

This story has been updated with new information.

It will soon be rather chic – if it’s not already – to hate on the Los Angeles Dodgers.

To bemoan the rich getting richer. To worry about a Major League Baseball landscape where just a half-dozen markets still get rich off local TV rights and, in some cases paired with a bottomless pit of private equity, will become the stuff of Bud Selig’s oldest nightmares, even as the past quarter-century has given us a diverse slate of World Series champions.

Some of those concerns are almost valid.

Yet in the wake of the Dodgers’ latest nine-figure strike – a five-year, $182 million deal for lefty Blake Snell, who simply wanted a forever home last winter yet had doors slammed in his face – it’s fair to point out who’s complicit in this Gilded Blue Machine they’re building out west.

We can start with the Boston Red Sox.

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Not two years removed from their fourth World Series championship since 2004, they suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to become Tampa North, and in February 2020 fairly gifted the Dodgers Mookie Betts, in exchange for three players who would never become Boston mainstays.

Betts needed just one spring to determine he’d like to stay a dozen years in L.A., all on a $365 million deal so heavily deferred its present value is barely $300 million – or the price it probably would’ve taken for Boston to retain him.

We can continue with the Atlanta Braves, who celebrated their 2021 World Series title by kicking Freddie Freeman to the curb, burning prospect capital to trade for Matt Olson and extend him on a $168 million deal, slamming the door on a player who wanted to return so badly, he shed many public tears about it over the next several months.

The Dodgers had virtually no competition in offering Freeman a highly reasonable six-year, $162 million contract, also with deferrals. And now, Fred-die is as ingrained in Chavez Ravine lore as Kirk Gibson and a $30 michelada.

Let’s not forget the San Francisco Giants and every team that bid for Snell’s services last winter, only for the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner to fester on the market well into March before reluctantly grabbing a two-year guarantee for $32 million per season, with the chance to opt out after one.

What happened next was all too predictable: Snell was rushed through a spring training, got hurt, the Giants fell out of contention – and Snell had one of the greatest second halves for a starting pitcher in decades, just in time to hit the market again.

Turns out all’s well that ends well – for Snell, the Dodgers and super agent Scott Boras, of course.

Combine his Dodgers contract with his one year by the Bay and Snell is getting paid six years and $214 million for his services, an amazing scramble drill by agent and player, who rose to the occasion to rebuild his value.

Yet the point remains: The Giants, the Red Sox, the Yankees – any number of squads could’ve had Snell last winter, probably for that amount of money, maybe for an even lesser outlay. Instead, they went cheap, and now Randy Newman can add another line to I Love L.A.

Austerity Boulevard? We love it!

Sure, none of this is our money, and it’s a little gross to sycophantically line up behind the Guggenheim Bros who own the Dodgers and cheer on every last little bit of pocket change they unearth to bring home an All-Star. They’ll soon have seven players signed to nine-figure contracts – a little insane, yes.

But so much of this is so basic that it even precedes Econ 101.

Success breeds success. You need to spend money to make money.

And destinations are created by intent – in this case, the intent to compete and cultivate a powerhouse.

The most surprising thing about the Dodgers’ most recent outlay of a billion-plus dollars – not even 12 months ago! – wasn’t the fact they guaranteed the great Shohei Ohtani and the indomitable Yoshinobu Yamamoto contracts worth $700 million and $325 million, setting the stage for a World Series championship.

No, the surprising thing was how easy it was.

It’s almost like once Ohtani hit the market after six years of hard time in Anaheim that there was no other choice, Toronto flight patterns be damned. And with Ohtani in the fold, where else would Yamamoto go for maximum comfort, paycheck and the chance to compete for a championship?

Boston? (Insert laugh track here).

Come January, this concept may well be on full display again. Rōki Sasaki, the next great Japanese right-hander, is coming to the major leagues, and quite literally, anyone can have him. Like Ohtani, he’s leaving before turning 25 and thus can only agree to a contract within the parameters of a team’s onerous international signing pool – and then will make minimum wage for the next three years.

Guess where he’s expected to go? And should that come to fruition, money will have very little to do with it.

Funny thing is, just five years ago it was Dodgers fans bemoaning their front office and ownership’s seeming lack of desire to go all-in on a title. Even as they built an infrastructure that’s delivered 12 consecutive years of playoff berths, the desire to “re-set the luxury tax penalty” and “dip just under the line” stayed front of mind, as club president Andrew Friedman might say.

Then, Betts dropped into their lap.

Five years later, there’s no end in sight to the rivers of revenue. Famously, the Dodgers are already pocketing tens of millions more because of Ohtani than they are paying him, thanks to a cavalcade of Japanese sponsorship deals and Ohtani’s willingness to defer so much of his contract.

They play in the biggest ballpark in the majors, and demand is such that they are, until further notice, at the “drawing 50,000 for the Diamondbacks on a midweek night in April” stage. Their $8.35 billion TV deal runs through the middle of the next decade.

Meanwhile, the Giants and Red Sox – who have combined for seven World Series this century – are just now waking up. They tried five-plus years of austerity and arbitrage and found out a few things: Their fans hate it, they’re getting their butts kicked on the field and it’s only getting harder to stop that runaway train out west.

Now, they’re trying to pivot, with the Giants whiffing on big-name free agents like an overmatched lefty hitter flailing at a Snell curveball. The Red Sox are all in on Juan Soto, suddenly quite chatty after years of sitting out the biggest sweepstakes while their owners hid behind their other sports holdings.

Yet it’s not so easy to build a destination overnight, eh?

Cue the complaining once the Dodgers make their next inevitable blitz, be it because of their financial might or a player’s decision to choose relevance over a reclamation project.

Squabble up, if you must. But know that the vibes in L.A. remain impeccable, and they weren’t bought off a shelf.