How FS1 host, Chiefs fan Nick Wright coped with loss to the Bills (video)
Longtime host of “First Things First,” Kansas City Chiefs fan, and Buffalo Bills hater, Nick Wright, had to cope with his side’s loss in Week 12.
That doesn’t mean Wright had many nice things to say about the Bills, who beat the Chiefs in a 30-21 final.
“I’m not going to lie, I was sad,” Wright said. “But I’m not worried.”
Wright did call Buffalo the “best team” in Kansas City conference. Beyond that, he did not credit the Bills much at all. It was more about why the defeat was good for KC in the long run and essentially how the Chiefs lost it and the Bills did not win the game…
Wright’s head-scratching breakdown can be found in the clip below:
“What a weird feeling today is. I kind of forgot what this was like.”@getnickwright reacts to the Chiefs first loss of the season vs. the Bills: pic.twitter.com/UkqRDyQPXO
NBA teams are shooting more threes than ever before.
Welcome to Layup Lines, For the Win’s basketball newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Have feedback for the Layup Lines Crew? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey. Now, here’s Prince J. Grimes.
What’s up hoops fans. The NBA season is a week old, and it feels so good to be back. To get a rematch of the Western Conference Finals on a random Tuesday night in October was just an absolute treat. We should never complain about getting to see some good bump.
However, one thing that stood out to me from the Dallas Mavericks’ win over the Minnesota Timberwolves was the combined 78 three-pointers the teams attempted in the game. It wasn’t necessarily an issue, as they made about 45% of them, but it did follow a trend that may be of concern depending how you like your hoops and who you root for.
Teams are shooting more threes this season than they ever have in NBA history.
On average, NBA teams are taking 37 3-pointers per game this season, which is two more than last season’s average — the largest year-to-year jump since 2019-20 if it holds. It’s an increase of 10 from just eight years ago and 15 more threes than teams were taking 10 years ago when the Splash Brothers won their first title together.
NBA teams are taking more 3s than ever this season
The increase makes sense. Threes are worth more than twos. Of course teams are taking more. Especially after seeing how it benefited the Warriors. The Celtics rode the league’s most attempts to a championship last year. The runner-up Mavericks attempted the second-most.
But smart basketball isn’t necessarily good basketball. And when it’s bad teams trying to cosplay as good teams, it’s not smart or good. Which gets to the heart of my issue.
There is more than one way to skin a cat. The Denver Nuggets won the 2023 championship attempting fewer threes than the league average. Same with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. Those teams leaned into their strengths. Similarly, the Celtics shoot a bunch of threes because they’re really good at it. Yet, it seems more and more teams are simply leaning into 3-point shooting because the math makes sense. Doing so without the personnel to execute it, though, is fruitless, and ultimately just makes for some unentertaining basketball.
Unless you have a lineup full of All-Stars and legitimately good shooters — which most teams don’t — you can’t be the Celtics. And unless you have players who consistently break defenses down and get them out of rotation, many of those threes are contested and coming off little to no ball movement. In the words of Paul George, that’s a bad shot.
It’s a bad watch, too. Even when the shots are dropping like they were for the Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls Monday when each tied franchise records for threes made in a game. Minus the ball movement, it’s not the most fun to watch when the good teams are letting it fly either. The games become too homogenous, robbing us of all the intricacies and skill that comes from good post play, a mid-range game or simply attacking someone at the rim and daring them to stop you.
I’m not the first person to make this point. Fox Sports’ Nick Wright went so far as to argue the NBA should change its rules after the Boston Celtics tied their franchise record for threes made on Opening Night.
— What’s Wright? with Nick Wright (@WhatsWrightShow) October 24, 2024
Bomani Jones also said the league needs changes in response to a tweet about how many threes one of the NBA’s best athletes, Anthony Edwards, is averaging through four games (13.3!). “When the game incentivizes Anthony Edwards to play like Klay Thompson, something needs to change immediately,” Jones tweeted.
I’m not sure the best way for the NBA to move forward, or if it’s even something the league needs to address. As it is today, I’ll still watch it. It’s also possible younger fans that grew up watching Steph Curry and Klay Thompson like this style of play. I fully acknowledge I could be old man yelling at clouds here. But I can’t imagine it doesn’t become a problem in the near future if the 3-point shooting continues to increase.
It’s also possible the potential problem corrects itself.
After decades of 3s being much more efficient than 2s in the NBA, teams have finally adjusted their shot profiles such that the 3s and 2s both generate nearly exactly 1.09 points per shot pic.twitter.com/b7LRj5bRVi
According to Sportico data reporter Lev Akabas, teams have finally adjusted their shot profiles so that threes and twos generate nearly the same amount of points per attempt. Hopefully that means we’ll see a plateau in threes soon. If so, enjoying the NBA may be a matter of your tolerance for about 74 threes per game — 37 each team.
Personally, I’m less invested in the number and more concerned about how teams are creating those shots, and what they’re doing when the three isn’t open. What I’m seeing from a lot of teams today isn’t my ideal brand of basketball.
Chet Holmgren vs. Victor Wembanyama
Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
Speaking of players taking too many three per game, 7-foot-3 phenom Victor Wembanyama is taking about six per game this season despite shooting just 22% on them. But if there’s one thing that might get Wembanyama to put the ball on the floor and attack the rim, it might be tonight’s game between his San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Or more specifically, his matchup with Chet Holmgren.
Wembanyama and Holmgren have somewhat of a rivalry brewing, Mike Sykes wrote, and it’s very competitive.
“COMPETITIVE. In all caps. The games are fun to watch. They both do things we’ve never seen anyone like them do on an NBA court. …
Chet and the Thunder walked away with two wins in their three matchups. But Wembanyama would usually walk away with a highlight or two that made you go, “Wow. Can’t wait to watch more of this for the next 10 years.”
So, look. Maybe this isn’t a rivalry now. But the more these guys see each other, the closer this matchup becomes the real deal.”
“The argument for the Washington Commanders is simple. The new coach bump from Dan Quinn, and the fact that I like Jayden Daniels as a player. I don’t like him long-term as a prospect because I am concerned about the injuries.
I’m concerned about his body, his frame, and his ability to survive eight, nine, ten years in this league. That’s my whole argument against him. That he is too small for a long NFL career, that doesn’t mean he can’t be dynamic in an individual season.
They have decent weapons and I understand defensively there are going to be some struggles. However, there is always a team that everyone has written off as one of the worst teams in the league that is going to make the playoffs or is right there. I don’t have them making the playoffs, but I do have them finishing second.”
Chris Broussard: Eagles, Cowboys, Commanders, Giants
“I love Jayden Daniels. I think he is going to have a dynamic year, and I think they are growing. That doesn’t mean I think he is making the playoffs as a rookie. But I think he has a bright future.”
“You (Nick Wright) say Jahan Dotson is not a good receiver? You are out of your mind. He had a down year last year. I like him in this situation. I think what they are trying to do is really put a lot of pieces around Jalen Hurts…I don’t know how confident they are in him carrying the load. When you start to load up around a quarterback like this, you’re saying he needs more around him.”
I like the Cowboys, but they are not making the playoffs. I’m sorry, Cowboy Nation.”
Jennings did not provide any commentary on the Commanders or Giants.
FS1’s Nick Wright back to bashing #Bills QB Josh Allen (video):
The word “overrated” being aimed at Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has caused a stir.
On one side of the ledger there is… (all of Bills Mafia)… and ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky. After a anonymous source in the NFL called Allen “overrated,” Orlovsky responded.
“He’s an idiot, that source. Respectfully,” Orlovsky said.
As it typically goes with those who know of Nick Wright, he agreed that Allen is overhyped during his usual appearance on FS1 morning program First Things First.
“Obviously Josh Allen is a very good player, and obviously what this NFL executive is saying is true,” Wright said.
Wright’s full commentary can be found in the FS1 clip below:
A pal & colleague called an anonymous NFL exec an “idiot” for stating an opinion on Josh Allen (that I think is correct), and then responded by stating his own opinion, which is belied by the actual historical record. pic.twitter.com/8v9jQii5ZP
Nick Wright is still slamming #Bills QB Josh Allen on ‘First Things First’ (video):
We’re at peak offseason mode in the NFL year but it’s always Josh Allen slamming time for “First Things First” analyst Nick Wright.
But… first things first… CBS Sports released their top-101 players in the NFL during the 2024 offseason recently. In reacting to the Buffalo Bills quarterback coming in the No. 6 overall spot, Wright had plenty to say.
As Wright usually does, he took the side of Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs over the Bills QB in the segment. But plenty of points against his case were made.
Was Bill Walton a better broadcaster than a player? Nick Wright suggests so.
When discussing the life of Bill Walton, so many things come to mind. His days at UCLA as a player. His time in the NBA with teams such as the Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics, and even the San Diego Clippers.
Nick Wright and Chris Broussard went into detail about Walton after the news came out, and Wright even made the case that Walton might have been a better broadcaster than he was as a player:
“If you ask the question who is the greatest college basketball player of all time, you are allowed to give two names. Either Lew Alcindor or Bill Walton, they are the only two eligible. Then when it came to the pros, he beat Dr. J at the peak of his powers. But with all that said, he may have been an even better broadcaster.”
Broussard also chimed in about Walton’s time as a broadcaster:
“But I worked with Bill at ESPN. He was a ton of fun to work with. He said my analysis was balder-dash and poppycock. But hey, he was a lot of fun to work with. I’ll remember him as a great guy. I was disappointed when they took him off the NBA broadcast. I remember him as a great player and a tremendous broadcaster as well.”
Walton will be remembered for his one-of-a-kind storytelling as a broadcaster, and the clips of him calling games will be replayed forever and ever.
Nick Wright wasn’t shy about expressing his admiration for what Patrick Mahomes has accomplished during a segment on ‘First Things First’
Fox Sports 1 on-air personality Nick Wright has made a name for himself as one of the vanguards of Kansas City Chiefs commentary.
As a Kansas City native, Wright has been steeped in Chiefs football culture for years, and isn’t shy about promoting the importance of what the team has accomplished in recent years.
During a segment on First Things First this week, Wright shared his thoughts on Patrick Mahomes’ dominance, pointing out that few professional athletes have ever found as much success as the three-time Super Bowl MVP in the first years of their career.
Check out Wright’s take below:
Is Mahomes more comparable to Jordan or Brady?
"There is no comp for Patrick Mahomes. … He is going to be the standard to which guys are held. He is not held to anyone's standard. He is Babe Ruth, he is Wayne Gretzky, he is Tiger Woods." — @getnickwrightpic.twitter.com/uLaC42gQM1
Mahomes’ reign as the NFL’s most successful active quarterback doesn’t seem to be destined to end anytime soon.
Given that he is still in his 20s, it isn’t out of the question that he could add more Super Bowl titles to his resume by the time he decides to hang up his cleats for good.
Nick Wright singlehandedly disproved the “#Chiefs get all the calls” narrative on “First Things First” this week.
Fans across the NFL are tired of seeing the Kansas City Chiefs win and have turned to a lazy narrative about officiating to explain the team’s success in recent years.
“The Chiefs get all the calls” has been a common rallying cry for Kansas City’s opponents on social media, and serves to take away from the greatness of Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, and the rest of the team’s roster which is being witnessed annually.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]
Fox Sports 1’s Nick Wright dispelled this troubling talking point this week on his show First Things First by breaking down the Chiefs’ penalty yardage differential in all six years of the Patrick Mahomes era.
The problem with “The Chiefs get all the calls!!!” narrative is not only that it’s ludicrous, but also that actually the data & film shows the *opposite* is true. pic.twitter.com/mFymylQOUT
Predictably, Kansas City wasn’t shown to have received a significant advantage from officials.
Kansas City was at or near the bottom of the league standings in penalty yardage differential for all but one season, when they earned a spot in the middle of the pack at 17th place.
Nick Wright made a bold claim about the 2023 #Chiefs after Kansas City’s win over the #Dolphins in Week 9.
The Kansas City Chiefs are among the NFL’s best teams heading into their Week 10 bye. One television personality, Kansas City native Nick Wright, seems convinced that the Chiefs’ success is no accident and went so far as to say that the current roster is the best that the team has ever fielded.
He made his bold claim on Fox Sports 1’s “First Things First”, explaining that the Chiefs’ offensive output combined with the youth of Kansas City’s burgeoning defense gives this year’s team the most potential it has ever had.
While Wright is certainly entitled to his opinion, the veracity of his take will have to be measured at the end of the season when the Chiefs inevitably have to sink or swim in the raucous and highly competitive AFC playoffs.
If Kansas City manages to repeat as Super Bowl champions in February of 2024, Wright’s bold midseason postulation may well be vindicated.
Some national reactions to the Commanders trading Chase Young.
Of course, Commanders and 49ers fans reacted to the Chase Young trade, but how about neutral sports media shows?
“First Things First” had a segment discussing the trade, where the cast quickly gave their responses.
Greg Jennings: “When you pay Nick Bosa all this money, you expect his production to be through the roof. You want him to be that defensive player of the year you signed up for years. So, you add another guy and give them depth along that defensive line. You expect Chase Young to come in with a chip on his shoulder, wanting to prove himself worthy of a long-term contract. This is a big pickup for the 49ers.”
Chris Broussard: “Great move. I mean, Nick Bosa has been great but not great this year. He’s gotten some QB hits and stuff, but sack-wise, he’s on pace for the lowest of his career. I think he has 2.5 at this point of the season. Chase Young has twice as many as Bosa has. For all of this talk about Brock Purdy, the defense hasn’t played well lately. So, if you strengthen the defense, you think the offense will follow. So, absolutely a great move.”
Nick Wright: “They are giving up what is going to be about the 100th pick of the draft for what might be only nine games of Chase Young. That’s assuming he is healthy. Health has been the biggest concern, but this year, he has been healthy. Listen, when you are so limited at quarterback, these are the things you have to do to be able to win the Super Bowl. Guys, it’s true, it’s true. They think they can win the Super Bowl this year.”
Kevin Wilds: “Not feeling great about my ‘Commanders to the playoffs’ pick. I’m going to have to redo this.”
