Chisoxfn

So one other interesting stat I heard while watching the 2nd half of the Bulls vs. Pacers game (was on the Pacers feed). They said Zach Lavine leads the eastern conference in "clutch" scoring. Which is essentially points scored in final 2 minutes of a basketball game while the margin is still close (+/- 5 point margin). Evidently he was already quite a bit above the next best guy as of yesterday and he added a handful more yesterday.

Great to see Wendell back out there tonight - real fun game and a nice win. Lavine with a huge 3 late in regulation and team played lose in ot - with good ball movement.

That was a fun win. Lavine makes it look so easy offensively. You are right - valentine was nifty and beyond that coby was getting a lot more off the ball - which was huge. He is just a shit point guard.

Tackle, wideout, db and lb would be my rankings.

I was always game for ball jr too. He looks like a good one.

Trade lauri or coby for him - I don’t care and yes I think Lonzo can be a long term piece. I’ll assume bulls would keep as an rfa. I would prefer to give Sato and Young and Denzel or something but hey give something to get something.

Can the bulls just get Lonzo already please. He has his flaws but his d and passing is so good and he will fill so many voids on team and long term I still see his offense coming around. I’m still pretty high on Lonzo.

$500 discover card - or maybe that is old times - but I remember that was the limit on my first credit card - which I got sometime in college. I also remember thinking - $500 - why would I ever need a bigger limit than that.

There was a report out there that the Seahawks were quietly shopping Russell Wilson. I presume there is absolutely 0 truth to that report - unless of course they are ready to switch Wilson for Watson. But I presume that report is straight up garbage.

This is interesting - other than my dad - my wife, mom and in-laws, all got the Moderna shot. That said - I think the reality is both vaccines are so close to the same thing.

So I actually was part of a feedback group for a Robinhood competitor and I recall after setting up the account on my phone - my feedback was along the lines of, I don't know why - but the whole process felt too easy. It wasn't necessarily a negative comment - it was just so different compared to any other financial account I had ever set-up in my life and I even gave them the reaction - that it was almost uncomfortably easy. I literally had an account open in 60 seconds - it was super super seamless. The problem is - I don't know that I want super seamless when it comes to investing decision - buying something from amazon - yes - going from no account to buying on margins in 5 minutes - probably not.

So I can confirm - my wife had her 2nd dose on Thursday - she was just out of it all day Friday...but by next day back to 100%. Not like bad - she just was lethargic for a day (probably didn't help that we went up to the local mountains on the day after - and I think the combination of altitude and shot was not good - she stayed in the car and slept while my kids and I played in the slow - which is totally unlike her - she like never sleeps). 1st shot - literally nothing. My parents and in-laws all are 1 shot in - none of them adverse reaction (like at all). 3 of the 4 get their 2nd shot this week - so I can add some context here on their reaction (to extent helpful to others).

No - the app is not a game. I don't buy those articles at all. It is a super easy way to open an account - maybe too easy. Their issue is more the fact that they approved too many people who shouldn't have been for option trades and maybe provide too much credit to places, but I don't think they have technically "gamified" investing. They aren't a bad company and this is just a horrible story. And that timeline you mentioned sounds right and I honestly can't blame any shop for not responding in a day. But the bigger shops have #'s to call. That said - I have had an issue with one of the larger shops - where I need to talk to someone - and when I call it is like a 2 or 3 hour wait - so I just hang up. Its ridiculous.

This story goes back a number of months and was horribly tragic. Kid misinterpreted his dashboard and thought he lost a ton. Panicked like crazy and kept looking - supposedly never asked his parents (which doesn't sound like a shocker to me) and I'm sure he literally couldn't sleep for days until he made an extremely tragic choice. Customer service could have stepped in anywhere along the way and changed things. It also highlights why you want to make sure your kids tell you anything and feel safe doing so (but that is a small note and we all know kids are going to internalist at least some things). By all accounts it seems like he was a pretty big kid who thought he was doing something, got over his ski big time and thought he ruined his and his parents lives.

Ok - they will bring back Brad Penny!

No - but you continue to beat a dead horse vs recognize fact that he has been a significantly improved playmaker this year. Can he get better yes...but I think the beat the dead horse narrative is just ignorant and for every game this happens he also has been clutch late in many of their wins and has been consistently real good in almost every game. His offensive efficiency has been so solid and this is with a flawed roster. I can only imagine what said efficiency would look like if he had any sort of other player who could create and ball handle. For years everyone has this easy view on Lavine and never appreciates how much he has grown every freaking year. If you watch other teams feeds - you consistently here the other teams announcers just rave about him. I should point out - I am not denying some truth to your statement but close games - this team locks clamps up and just expects Lavine to do things and now more than ever. Lavine and Billy D need to figure out a way to fix it but I’m afraid overall roster talent is an issue too.

Or - maybe they need to put a better roster around Lavine. I mean just look at what happens late in games - the rest of the team completely disengages and forces it to be Lavine vs. the world. Odds are just pathetic. Also - if you are an opposing D - what would you do - you are going to totally squeeze and pressure Lavine. White is a train-wreck with the ball late in games and outside of Lauri / Porter Jr (both of whom are out hurt) everyone else is totally scared (White isn't scared - but he also isn't good - to your point - maybe he's a better shot than a triple teamed Lavine). Wasn't Lavine's most efficient game - but I have a hard time getting that upset at the guy who had 35 points on the night - albeit a less efficient 35 than the team has been used to. Put some real talent around him and just imagine how tough Lavine would be to stop in a late game situation where a team couldn't completely collapse on him (like it can with the current roster out there). When you put it that way - it is kind of incredible how efficient Lavine's season has been. PS: Not downplaying what a terrible loss this is - but just like past years - this roster can't stay healthy. You just can't build around the fragility of Lauri/WCJ. We all know Porter Jr. is super fragile too - so no surprise there and I expect none of those 3 will be part of the roster in a year, probably not even by the time we get to the trade deadline.

One other data point I had forgotten about, but Derek Carr worked with DeFillipo his rookie year - so Defillipo has a connection to both Wentz and Carr. Technically I believe he also was the OC in Jacksonville when Minshew broke out as a rookie...but I won't put Minshew in the same sentence as the other guys.

Reality is - the above scenario would be the Bears best chance at getting Watson, but also probably highly unlikely, because there is zero reason for Pace/Nagy to wait around and put their QB hopes on the dream of Watson. That would be foolish - which is where i have to imagine the longer it plays out, the more likely the Niners would be the destination in a late season move - because they can live with the guy they have, but aggressively upgrade if market made sense. With Carr - I don't know what the Raiders want to do. It seems like maybe there is enough momentum they'll make a move, but the same has been said for the past 2 years. I don't think Carr wants to be there, but he isn't going to make a stink and ask out either.

That is fair - I just don't know what good the revisionist history that makes. Franchise is where it is at this point and the GM and Coach aren't in a position where they are going to blow things up. We can debate whether that was the right or wrong move to make - I was more in the camp of hit the reset - but I can respect the McCaskeys, who have worked with Pace a lot longer and closer than us, thinking they do have the right guy. And I 100% agree with what you said above...but I'll make one key distinction. I do not put a price on elite QB pay. So no, I will never blame Pace for going all in on a QB (like he did for Trubisky). I respect the heck out of his conviction and go back to the old adage, you can't steal 2nd and keep your foot on 1st. To get a QB - you need to take swings and he has done so. With Glennon - it was a calculated chance. Not a convicted risk the franchise chance. He took a - maybe there is an x% chance this works out type of deal, if not, we'll walk away at low risk. He did that. With Foles - I kind of think of that move the same way - although in that situation - I really think it had more to do with a solid floor if Mitch stinks - kind of a in case of emergency rip bandaid to ensure we keep our jobs type of maneuver. I didn't hate Foles - but always said he is what he was - which was extremely mediocre with no long term sustained success as a full time starter (other than his magical year with Chip Kelly). I hated giving up a 4th round pick though for Foles - that was terrible. I also didn't love tying up the 21 cap space with Foles. Not that his contract is terrible - it is fair for a back-up / low end starter - and maybe Pace figured worse case scenario Foles was a bridge to another young QB in 21 cap space wasn't an issue. I don't know - but I wouldn't have made the move. I'd also say - Bears didn't want to wait on QB last year - it turns out if they did, maybe Winston would have been better - but I don't think anyone had Winston sitting around as long as he did, nor did anyone have Cam sitting for as long as he did and signing as cheap as they did. I also don't know that Winston was coming to Chicago - he wanted to go play under Brees/Payton. Either way - even if they got Winston - when you think about COVID - the ability to get a brand new starter in and teach them the offense while trying to contend is a pretty tough sell. That isn't to say it isnt' doable - Herbert looked pretty good as a starter as did Burrow and they were rookies, let alone veterans - but Winston would have been sharing reps with Mitch - which would have made that dynamic tougher. Bottom line - it is what it is - and the one thing I give Pace a ton of credit for is his willingness to take swings at QB. I don't love the swings he took - but the only one I can really get that pissed over is picking Mitch over the other guys. I don't have any beef with showing conviction for you guys nor do I get that irritated over the Foles/Glennon moves. Those were stop-gap type measures - not swing big measures. I'd put Wentz in the bigger swing mold - because you are going to give up a substantial asset for him and get a guy with REAL upside, right there with Mitch & Jay as the 2 who had the most upside of any QB Bears have brought in over past 15+ years (Grossman is the only other guy in the equation). Why - because for 20 years the franchise literally didn't invest in any QB with upside, like none.

Some recent speculation the Bears might be leaking the Wentz stuff - more to put a bit more pressure on other teams. If you are the Texans or Raiders or Falcons looking to move your QB - you may not want to be the last one to the party. Or maybe you do - because you think there are still enough desperate teams out there...bu I have to imagine Bears are on higher end of "desperate". One name someone has mentioned is Bears really high on Derek Carr. I don't know about really high - because Carr is exactly who he is. A 10-15 overall QB. Not any better, probably not any worse. His last 2 years have been his best from a QBR perspective. He also has had good weapons around him past 2 years plus solid protection. Very durable though and his contract is pretty reasonable for anyone who gets it. I don't think he has the peak ability of Wentz - but probably a much better floor than Wentz.

I don't have an issue with Winston - but Winston is probably going to get paid more than you think and have more cap consequences for whatever team acquires them - if they want to move on from him in the future (if he doesn't pan out). I may be wrong - but I don't see Winston signing a 1 year deal..but maybe you can get him with a Glennon type of 2 year deal where you pay him a lot extra. But that deal has its own issues - given you have Foles contract to still deal with. I'd also say - Winston has not shown the same ceiling Wentz has. Wentz has legitimately been amongst the league best over a 3 year window - he missed some games in that span - but from 2017-2019 he ranked much closer to a top 5 QB than a middle of the pack QB. I can't say the same thing about Winston. My point is - you swing and swing at QB time after time. The Bears have not done it enough - to me swinging for Mitch, if he was your guy was 100% the right move. Just like if you think there is a good chance Wentz is a back end top 10 QB (Which he absolutely was for 3 of the past 4 years) at the contract you would be getting - you do that 100% of the time (unless you are trading a bunch of future picks or extending him and putting a bunch of guarantees onto your books). The Cutler move was the only other time the Bears have done this - and while it didn't work - again - it was 100% the right move.

Why would I do that? I don't understand? So I have cap space and non lottery draft picks? To do what - sign free agents or acquire a disgruntled star? How am I going to do that - when I don't have a decent team. If anything - if I were running a franchise - the sole goal should be to build a team that can make the playoffs with maximum roster, cap and draft asset flexibility so that I can consistently and agily pivot to attract super star x. Its why I don't sign Mark - that is a deal I probably can't move from. But Lavine - if I could I'd sign him - his contract is totally reasonable as a strong #2 in time and if somehow a better option opens up - I can move a guy like Lavine for something better or to pivot another way. No one is going to come to the Bulls as a big time signing if the Bulls aren't already a playoff team. Not going to happen, whether it is via trade or free agency.

He's also not a #2 on any good team. Maybe a #3 though. But if Lauri is your robin to batman - you have big problems. He is a skilled big, but he is also flawed. His ability to stay on the court is another issue.

It is a fair point - I said at the time they got Foles it was a TERRIBLE move. I couldn't stand it - cause he is totally mediocre at best. The only thing I could figure is with COVID they needed something serviceable - so they weren't fully invested in Trubisky - since there were enough doubts there.