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Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press
The 2020-21 NBA season hasn t gone quite as most would have expected. The Utah Jazz and Philadelphia 76ers lead their respective divisions, while the Brooklyn Nets superteam came together as a legitimate threat with relative ease.
The vaunted and defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, meanwhile, has had their season derailed by injuries. That s a real issue for LeBron James and Co., as there are dangerous teams at the back end of the playoff field that should worry some teams at the top.
Los Angeles is likely headed to the play-in tournament, where best-of series are out the window.
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Paul Sancya/Associated Press
For young players who intend to take a significant leap early in their careers, the work starts in the NFL offseason.
Although several teams will choose not to participate in OTAs, many players will work out independently before mandatory minicamp in June. During training camp, in-house competition raises the bar among teammates. Unlike last year, we ll see clubs play in the preseason with three games slated for the summer.
Leading up to Week 1 of the regular season, second- and third-year players can lay the groundwork for a promotion on the depth chart. Some of them will win camp battles and take on expanded roles.
MLB Power Rankings: Where All 30 Teams Stand After 6 Weeks
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There s a new No. 1 team in this week s MLB power rankings.
How far did the Los Angeles Dodgers fall? Who took over the top spot? What did another strong week by the New York Yankees do for their placement?
As you dig in to this latest update to our weekly power rankings, remember that this is all about performance rather than potential and future outlook.
If a team is winning, it s going to climb the rankings. If a team is losing, a slide is inevitable. The beauty of this exercise is that it s a fluid process that will continue to change throughout the year.
That doesn t mean it s the right decision.
A year ago, the Los Angeles Chargers weren t going to start quarterback Justin Herbert, but an injury to Tyrod Taylor threw him to the wolves. He responded well, to say the least, throwing 31 touchdown passes against 10 interceptions with eight 300-plus-yard games behind a bad offensive line.
Not every example will work out so spectacularly. But rookies, especially quarterbacks, need to be out there, getting as many reps as possible to adapt to the pro game quickly. It also benefits the team to get the most usage out of those cheap first five years of the contract and recent breakouts like Herbert, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow suggest that more than ever, rookie passers are arriving ready for the modern game.