The Sports Appeal

The second round of the NBA Playoffs starts on Saturday with the Denver Nuggets squaring off against the Minnesota Timberwolves. This should be a competitive series between two teams that met in the playoffs last year. In this post, I’m covering some of the key things I’m assessing in the series. How does Anthony Edwards handle the pick and roll on offense? Can Karl-Anthony Towns play up to his size on the glass, especially when facing smaller defenders? And how can Denver exploit Minnesota’s attempts to use Gobert as an off-ball help defender to slow down Jokic? Please check it out!

The first round of the NFL draft wrapped up yesterday and there were some really exciting developments. Check out my First Round Reactions to see how each team did with its selections!

The last couple weeks have been rough for the Kings as they’ve lost Kevin Huerter for the season (shoulder surgery) and they will be without potential Sixth Man of the Year Malik Monk for 4-6 weeks. In this latest post, I take a look at how the Kings can weather the storm: playing better perimeter defense, getting out in transition, and figuring out how to handle defense for on-ball screens (which has long been a weakness for the team). Losing Monk and Huerter is tough, but there’s reason to hope the Kings can find ways to win if they can keep their defense humming.

Hi folks, I’m back again with another post about positional value heading into the NFL draft. This time, I take a look at when teams are drafting particular positions—first round, second round, or later? I also look at how draft picks perform based on their position. Are teams likely to find quality quarterbacks outside of the first round? What about edge rushers or cornerbacks? Answering that question can help teams figure out where they should focus their early draft assets, especially when combined with an understanding of which positions can get filled in free agency and at what cost (which I covered in a previous post).

With Karl-Anthony Towns hurt, the Timberwolves have to find a way to replace him—especially on offense. They have the perfect player to do so already on the roster, Naz Reid. I look at how the Timberwolves can function with Towns and still make a run in the playoffs.

Hi everybody, I’m back again with a new post about the value of different positions and how it affects the NFL draft. Setting aside quarterbacks, what positions are most valuable? And how should that impact how teams think about who to draft, especially in the first couple of rounds?

It’s a little bit late, but this is the fourth and final part of my series on the Kings trade deadline considerations.

In this post, I go over a bunch of players the Kings might target for trades ahead of the February 8 trade deadline and go over what those players would bring to the Kings, what the Kings would have to give up to get them, and whether a deal is worth looking at.

This post got long, so bear with me.

I’d also really appreciate any feedback on other players you all would like to hear about!

We’re on to part three of my series on the Kings before the 2023-24 trade deadline. In this post, I look at the Kings’ roster situation, including the contracts they have on the books and that they might need to dole out to keep core players like De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, and Keegan Murray, and how that influences what roster moves the Kings can consider. I also take a look what on-court needs the team needs to fill given the core of the team centers around Fox, Murray, Monk, and Domantas Sabonis. These players have their own strengths and weaknesses, so any trades the Kings think about obviously need to keep them in mind.

Here is Part 2 of my series of posts on what the Kings need to address and think about ahead of the NBA’s February 8 trade deadline.

In this post, I take a look at what the Kings have to offer in a deal. The post focuses on what players can be traded, the trade rules and contract restrictions that might affect who will be traded, and what future draft picks the Kings can offer up.

This is Part 1 of a multi-part series of posts on what the Kings need to address and think about ahead of the NBA’s February 8 trade deadline.

In this post, I look at some areas the Kings might look to improve on offense and defense, including where they’ve taken a step back from last season. The Kings need to fix their offensive when De’Aaron Fox sits, find a way to shoot better from two point range, and improve their free throw shooting. Defensively, the Kings need to work on defending short shots (not at the rim) and defending the three point line. They also need to find a way to do better on the hustle stats.

Later posts will look at what trade assets the Kings have, how the salary cap will influence who they can target for trades, and whether whether any of the hot trade target names make sense.

(summary)

What should the Bears do with Justin Fields and the #1 overall pick in the 2024 draft? Fields’ play has been inconsistent, but there is no question he has talent. I take a dive into the key questions the Bears must consider, including Fields’ looming contract, the potential return of trading either the #1 pick or Fields himself, and the odds the Bears have to weigh that Caleb Williams or Drake Maye will be better than Fields will be going forward.

(excerpt)

Welcome to The Sports Appeal!

My name is Duncan Taylor. I’m a Sacramento native, a former collegiate and high school athlete, a practicing attorney, and most importantly, an avid fan of basketball, football, and all things sports. I’ve spent years playing and coaching sports, and the vast majority of my free time has been spent watching games, breaking down plays and players, and thinking about the business of sports and the rules that govern them. I’ve studied sports law, labor law, and sports management, and have also been fortunate to work on matters that have touched on sports finance, management, and media—which may sound weedy, but I promise it’s interesting!

Through all that, I’ve spent literally thousands of hours boring my friends and family with sports takes. I’m glad they’ve indulged me for so long! But now, I’m going to be sharing my thoughts, analysis, and takes on a variety of sports and sports-related topics. I truly hope you will find them interesting and thought-provoking, and if all goes well, you’ll leave with a bit of insight you didn’t have coming in.

If you like what you read, I hope you’ll share it with anyone and everyone you think might be interested. I am happy to talk sports any time! I also love feedback, too, so please feel free to share your thoughts with me directly or in the comments (if you are on the main page, you will have to click the “read more” button below to access to the comments). I am looking forward to hearing them.

Thanks for tuning in!