A SPORTS FEAST

Ready to lock down and watch sports for the next few days? Here is your viewer's guide

Ready to lock down and watch sports for the next few days? Here is your viewer's guide
Get ready for a TV feast of mostly football. Getty Images

Thanksgiving is a time for food, family and relaxation. But let’s face it; after a few hours the family stuff gets old. So the real gift of this holiday is all the great sports on TV over the next few days. Here is your viewing guide for when you tire of the in-laws and want to gorge yourself on some sports:

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 21

Pistons at Rockets, AT&TSW, 7 p.m. We kick things off with an appetizer as the suddenly resurgent Rockets host a good Pistons team.

THURSDAY, NOV. 22

Bears at Lions, 11:30 a.m., CBS. The traditional lunch kickoff game in Detroit. The Bears are emerging as an NFC contender but might be without QB Mitchell Trubisky.

Redskins at Cowboys, 3:30, Fox. A pretty good dessert on the menu as the Cowboys can take control of the NFC East with a victory.

Falcons at Saints, 7:20 p.m., NBC. Has the potential to be a blowout, because the Saints are an unstoppable force, but this is a good chance to sit back and appreciate the greatness that is Drew Brees.

FRIDAY, NOV. 23

Texas vs. Kansas, 11 a.m., FS1. With a win, the Longhorns will play for the Big 12 title.

Houston vs. Memphis, 11 a.m., ABC. This might be your last chance to see Ed Oliver in a UH uniform. The Cougars can play for the AAC title with a win but will be without all-world quarterback D’Eriq King and will likely lose.

UCF vs. South Florida, 3:15 p.m., ESPN. The Golden Knights try to keep their unbeaten season alive.

Oklahoma vs. West Virginia, 7 p.m., ESPN. The winner will likely face Texas for the Big 12 title.

Rockets at Pistons, 6 p.m, ATTSN. If you missed the Wednesday game, you get another shot.

SATURDAY, NOV. 24

Baylor vs. Texas Tech, 11 a.m. , FS1. Bowl eligibility is at stake for both teams.

Michigan vs. Ohio State, 11 a.m., FOX. One of the best rivalries in all of sports. The winner is likely headed for the college football playoff.

Auburn vs. Alabama, 2:30 p.m., CBS. Another great rivalry, but Alabama should roll on the way to next week’s matchup with Georgia.

Rockets at Cavaliers, 6:30 p.m. ATTSN. LeBron...never mind. At least you get to see the Rockets.

LSU vs. Texas A&M, 6:30 p.m., SECN. LSU still has slim playoff hopes (like, really slim) and a better bowl game could be on the line for both teams.

SUNDAY, NOV. 25

Giants at Eagles, noon, FOX. Um, ugh.

Patriots at Jets, noon, CBS. Um, ugh.

Steelers at Denver, 3:25 p.m., CBS. Well, it should at least be interesting. The Steelers are legit contenders in the AFC and the Broncos are a tough out.

The 106th Grey Cup, Ottawa vs. Calgary, 5 p.m. ESPN2. OK so I might be the only person watching this but it is my damned schedule and I can put whatever the hell I want on it. So there.

Vikings at Packers, 7:20 p.m, NBC. This might be the official end of the road for the Pack.

MONDAY, NOV. 26

Titans at Texans, 7:15 p.m., ESPN. The Texans end the football feast with a shot at an eighth straight win.


 

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The Rockets are in it to win it this year. Composite Getty Image.

While the rolling Astros have a week of possible World Series preview matchups against the Phillies and Cubs, it’s the Rockets who made the biggest local sports headline with their acquisition of Kevin Durant. What a move! Of course there is risk involved in trading for a guy soon to turn 37 years old and who carries an injury history, but balancing risk vs. reward is a part of the game. This is a fabulous move for the Rockets. It’s understood that there are dissenters to this view. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, including people with the wrong opinion! Let’s dig in.

The Rockets had a wonderful season in winning 52 games before their disappointing first-round playoff loss to the Warriors, but like everyone else in the Western Conference, they were nowhere close to Oklahoma City’s caliber. While they finished second in the West, the Rockets only finished four games ahead of the play-in. That letting the stew simmer with further growth among their young players would yield true championship contention was no given for 2025-26 or beyond.

Kevin Durant is one of the 10 greatest offensive players the NBA has ever seen. Among his current contemporaries only Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic make that list. For instance, Durant offensively has clearly been better than the late and legendary Kobe Bryant. To view it from a Houston perspective, Durant has been an indisputably greater offensive force than the amazing Hakeem Olajuwon. But this is not a nostalgia trip in which the Rockets are trading for a guy based on what he used to be. While Durant could hit the wall at any point, living in fear that it’s about to happen is no way to live because KD, approaching his 18th NBA season, is still an elite offensive player.

As to the durability concern, Durant played more games (62) this past season than did Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith, and Tari Eason. The season before he played more games (75) than did VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Alperen Sengun. In each of the last two seasons Durant averaged more minutes per game (36.9) than any Rocket. That was stupid and/or desperate of the Suns, the Rockets will be smarter. Not that the workload eroded Durant’s production or efficiency. Over the two seasons he averaged almost 27 points per game while shooting 52 percent from the floor, 42 percent from behind the three-point line, and 85 percent from the free throw line. Awesomeness. The Rockets made the leap to being a very good team despite a frankly crummy half-court offense. The Rockets ranked 21st among the 30 NBA teams in three-point percentage, and dead last in free throw percentage. Amen Thompson has an array of skills and looks poised to be a unique star. Alas, Thompson has no credible jump shot. VanVleet is not a creator, Smith has limited handle. Adding Durant directly addresses the Rockets’ most glaring weakness.

The price the Rockets paid was in the big picture, minimal, unless you think Jalen Green is going to become a bonafide star. Green is still just 23 years old and spectacular athletically, but nothing he has done over four pro seasons suggests he’s on the cusp of greatness. In no season has Green even shot the league average from the floor or from three. His defense has never been as good as it should be given his athleticism. Compared to some other two-guards who made the NBA move one year removed from high school, four seasons into his career Green is waaaaaay behind where Shae Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, and Devin Booker were four seasons in, and now well behind his draft classmate Cade Cunningham. Dillon Brooks was a solid pro in two seasons here and shot a career-best from three in 2024-2025, but he’s being replaced by Kevin Durant! In terms of the draft pick capital sent to Phoenix, five second round picks are essentially meaningless. The Rockets have multiple extra first round picks in the coming years. As for the sole first-rounder dealt away, whichever player the Rockets would have taken 10th Wednesday night would have been rather unlikely to crack the playing rotation.

VanVleet signs extension

Re-signing Fred VanVleet to a two-year, 50 million dollar guarantee is sensible. In a vacuum, VanVleet was substantially overpaid at the over 40 mil he made per season the last two. He’s a middle-of-the-pack starting point guard. But his professionalism and headiness brought major value to the Rockets’ kiddie corps while their payroll was otherwise very low. Ideally, Reed Sheppard makes a leap to look like an NBA lead guard in his second season, after a pretty much zippo of a rookie campaign. Sheppard is supposed to be a lights-out shooter. For the Rockets to max out, they need two sharpshooters on the court to balance Thompson’s presence.

For Astro-centric conversation, join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!

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