We are bringing it back!

In previous years, we ran the Notinhalloffame NBA Cup, where we awarded points in descending order (5, 4, 3, 2, 1) to the top five players in every game, and at the end of the season, we awarded the Cup to the player with the most points.

Here is what we look at:

Traditional Statistics:  It is obvious what we mean here: points, rebounds, steals, and blocks…the core group of statistics that we look at in any box score.

Plus/Minus/Shooting Percentage:  This is a stat that we love.  It's fine if you dropped 30 points, but if your time on the floor results in a negative plus/minus, how effective were you overall?  Additionally, a huge scoring performance done with a horrible shooting percentage isn’t held in as high regard as scoring less with high accuracy.

Clutch/Takeovers:  When are you putting up stats?  Fourth-quarter and clutch performances are held in a premium, and conversely, we hate turnovers, and we dock accordingly.

This isn’t a testament to who is necessarily having the best season, but to who’s winning the most Cup Points.  A 50-point/20 rebound game can’t generate any more than five Cup Points.  Conversely, in a sloppy game by both sides, a mediocre performance can still earn a player Cup Points.

Here is the first top 10 of the 2026/27 Season

1. Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers, 34 Cup Points:  8 Games, 4.25 Cup Points per Game, 38.5 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 8.0 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 34.2 PER, 1.9 WS.

In the first eight games of the season, Doncic has been on a scoring tear, leading the league in PPG (38.5), three-pointers (5.9), free throws (9.4), and the advanced stats of PER (34.2) and win shares (1.9).  While Doncic’s turnover rate is very high at 5.2, he has never handled the ball more.  The Lakers are 6-2, and Doncic, who was the Western Conference Player of the Week in Week 1, is why.

2. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers, 33 Cup Points:  9 Games, 3.67 Cup Points Per Game, 28.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 22.6 PER, 1.4 WS. 

The Sixers are 8-1, and despite the additions of Jaylen Brown and LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey has been Philadelphia's top scorer.  Maxey got off to a scorching start, earning Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors in Week 1. 

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miami Heat, 31 Cup Points, 9 Games, 3.44 Cup Points per Game, 27.3 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 5.6 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 27.8 PER, 1.1 WS. 

The Heat made a huge splash with the acquisition of Antetokounmpo, who, in his first nine games of the season, is doing Giannis things; however, at only 3-6, the Heat are not gelling and began the year 0-4. There is still a lot of time for the Antetokounmpo/Bam Adebayo pairing to work, but outside shooting needs to come to life.  Nevertheless, it’s no surprise to see Giannis here.

4. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs, 30 Cup Points:  8 Games, 3.75 Cup Points per Game, 29.0 PPG, 12.4 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, 4.5 BPG, 33.9 PER, 1.5 WS. 

Doesn’t fourth seem low for him?  Seriously, this is the guy who just put up a 52-point/24-rebound/8-block performance against Dallas on Nov. 4, and if the rules let us award more than five Cup Points, we would!  Wemby might “only” be fourth, but he is the top MVP contender.  Ah, Cup Point rules are fun!

5. Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors, 29 Cup Points:  8 Games, 3.63 Cup Points per Game, 23.5 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 5.1 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 19.6 PER, 0.4 WS. 

This is the first of two strangely high results so far for two straight Toronto Raptors, as Barnes, for the 4-4 Raptors, has been the engine driving a sneaky good team.  Nevertheless, this rank is unlikely to hold as we move into the coming weeks…much like…

6. RJ Barrett, Toronto Raptors, 28 Cup Points:  8 Games, 3.50 Cup Points per Game, 20.9 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 17.7 PER, 0.7 WS. 

With Kawhi Leonard out (what a shock that Kawhi is hurt), Barnes and Barrett have been scooping up the Cup Points for the Raptors, who don’t have anybody else accruing them in mass.  So the Raptors are the first team with two players on this.  We don’t expect it to stay this way, but again, this is why we said we don’t think it is as defining a statement as to who the top players are in the game.  It isn’t, and in the coming weeks the usual suspects should fall where they are supposed to.  Regardless, Barrett has been Toronto’s most consistent performer, and how he and Barnes fare on the second ranking should be fascinating.

7 (TIE). Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics, 27 Cup Points:  7 Games, 3.86 Cup Points per Game, 20.1 PPG, 13.2 RPG, 8.3 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 23.5 PER, 8.4 WS. 

The Celtics are 5-2 with Tatum (6-2 overall), and Tatum is carrying the workload as expected.  Recently, Tatum won his 14th Player of the Week Award, and his overall production has been as consistent as past campaigns. Notably, he is in the top ten with just seven games played…much like…

7 (TIE). Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors, 27 Cup Points:  7 Games, 3.86 Cup Points Per Game, 29.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 33.1 PER, 1.5 WS. 

Curry is defying age and remains an elite shooter as efficient as ever, as shown by his 33.1 PER.  At age 38, he has yet to have a game where he scored under 20 points, and his doing so with load management and a sub-30-minute-per-game average.

9. Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers, 26 Cup Points, 7 Games, 3.71 Cup Points per Game, 23.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 6.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 22.1 PER, 1.0 WS. 

Avdija has been Portland’s best player this season, and while he has been on the floor, the Trail Blazers have been 6-1.  He has not scored less than 18 points in a game this year.

10 (TIE). Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons, 25 Cup Points:  8 Games, 3.13 Cup Points Per Game, 24.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 7.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 22.7 PER, 1.0 WS. 

The playmaking point guard remains the heart of a Pistons team and has averaged at least 20 points and 8 steals in his last four games.

10 (TIE). Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State Warriors, 25 Cup Points:  9 Games, 2.78 Cup Points per Game, 21.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 20.9 PER, 1.0 WS. 

Landeborg is the rookie with the highest Cup Points, and he has been a huge asset for Curry and the Warriors.  The Memphis Grizzlies’ Cameron Boozer might be the current favorite for Rookie of the Year, but he is trailing Lendeborg for our prestigious Cup.

Well, we think it is prestigious.

…especially if we keep telling ourselves that.

The rest of the Top 25 are:

12. Ty Jerome, Memphis Grizzlies, 23 Cup Points in 7 Games.

12. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder, 23 Cup Points in 8 Games (This can’t stay under the top ten, right?).

12. Anthony Davis, Washington Wizards, 23 Cup Points in 8 Games.

15. Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks, 22 Cup Points in 7 Games.

15. Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers, 22 Cup Points in 9 Games.

17. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets, 21 Cup Points in 7 Games.

17. Alperin Sengun, Houston Rockets, 21 Cup Points in 7 Games.

17. Tyler Herro, Milwaukee Bucks, 21 Cup Points in 8 Games.

17. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans, 21 Cup Points in 8 Games.

21. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta Hawks, 20 Cup Points in 9 Games.

21. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers, 20 Cup Points in 8 Games.

21. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, 20 Cup Points in 7 Games.

21. Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets, 20 Cup Points in 9 Games.

21. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks, 20 Cup Points in 9 Games.

21. Trae Young, Washington Wizards, 20 Cup Points in 8 Games

We knew it would differ from the Kia MVP Standings, and if we did our own (why wouldn't we, when so many others do), our top 25 MVP contenders wouldn’t look like our Cup Point standings.

But that is the fun!

Look for the revised Notinhalloffame NBA Cup standings next week!

Yesterday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the five contributor finalists for the Class of 2027.

Today, they announced the final five coaching candidates, and we know the man Jim Porter (and many others) wants in…that is Bill Belichick, one of the five.  The five were cut from a group of 14, with the other nine being unknown.

For reference, the sub-committee members are Jared Allen (NFL Hall of Fame Defensive End), Jarrett Bell (NFL Reporter for USA Today), Vic Carucci (NFL Analyst for WGRZ in Buffalo), Peter Dougherty (Green Bay Packers beat writer for the Green Bay Press-Gazette), Dan Fouts (NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback and broadcaster), Bob Glauber (author), Nicki Jhabvala (Pro Football Writers of America President), Ira Kaufman (NFL Columnist and Veteran Tampa Bay Reporter), Sam Kouvaris (Columnist), Rob Maaddi (Associated Press), Sal Paolantonio (ESPN), Mike Sando (The Athletic), Jim Trotter (Retired NFL Journalist) and Charean Williams (Pro Football Talk)

Here are the five.

Bill Belichick.  With all due respect to this loaded group of candidates, no one matches Bill Belichick's resume.  He began his coaching career as a special assistant in Baltimore, joined the New York Giants in 1979, worked his way up to Defensive Coordinator, and won two Super Bowls in that role.  He became Cleveland’s Head Coach, but he posted a winning record in only one of his six years.  He got another chance as head coach in New England, and the rest was history.  Belichick ushered in the Patriots' dynasty, leading the Pats to six Super Bowl wins, nine Super Bowl appearances (both records as a Head Coach), and presided over the most remarkable run by any Head Coach associated with one team in NFL history.  Belichick finished with a 333-178 record, a 31-13 playoff record, and three AP Coach of the Year Awards.  He was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary Team.

Tom Coughlin: Coughlin worked his way up the ranks and became head coach of the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995.  He was their Head Coach for eight years, leading them to two AFC Championship Games, the first in the franchise’s second year.  After being fired, he joined the New York Giants, where the stoic leader led the G-Men to two Super Bowl wins (XLII & XLVI).  He retired with an overall record of 170-150 and is already a member of the New York Giants Ring of Honor and Pride of the Jaguars.

Mike Holmgren.  Holmgren won two Super Bowls with San Francisco, first as a quarterback coach and then as their Offensive Coordinator, which propelled him to the Head Coaching job in Green Bay in 1992.  He led the Packers to a Super Bowl win at SBXXXI.  Holmgren accepted the Seattle Seahawks coaching job and took them to a Super Bowl appearance in 2005.  A member of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and the Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor, Holmgren finished with a 161-111 record.

Dan Reeves.  Reeves won a Super Bowl as an Assistant Coach in Dallas and was hired by Denver as their Head Coach in 1981.  He led the Broncos to three AFC Titles but could not punch their ticket to a Super Bowl win.  After Denver let him go, he signed with the Giants and won the 1993 AP Coach of the Year.  Later, he took over as Atlanta’s Head Coach, leading them to their first Super Bowl appearance—a loss to his former team (Denver)—and earning his second Coach of the Year award.  He finished with a 190-165-2 record and is a member of the Broncos Ring of Honor.

Mike Shanahan.  Shanahan joined Denver as wide receivers coach in 1984, and a year later began a three-year stint as offensive coordinator, where he caught the eye of Raiders owner Al Davis, who hired him to replace Tom Flores.  That didn’t last long; he returned to Denver but was let go after a dispute between Quarterback John Elway and Dan Reeves.  He went to San Francisco, where he won Super Bowl XXIX as offensive coordinator. He returned to Denver in 1995, leading the Broncos to their first two Super Bowl wins (XXXII & XXXIII) during a 14-year run.  He finished his career with three years at Washington, posting an overall record of 170-138.  He is also a member of the Broncos Ring of Fame.

With all due respect to the other four candidates, there is no doubt Bill Belichick will advance.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame…made a choice.

Months ago, the Canton-based institution announced sweeping changes that cut the voting pool from 50 to 25, largely in response to Bill Belichick’s snub last year.  Jim Porter, the Chairman and CEO, was openly upset and promised changes to ensure that “the voters are selecting the absolute best candidates who are on the ballot.”

Translation: the voters did not pick who they should have.

The first move was gutting the committee, and by October, we were waiting for the preliminary lists, which usually dropped in September.  After Halloween and the start of November, it was widely assumed the prelims likely wouldn't be released, and today that was confirmed when the Pro Football Hall announced five Contributors who advanced from a group of 42.  On Nov 17, the sub-committee will put forth their Contributor Finalist, who will be one of 15 in the final round.

For reference, the sub-committee members are Howard Balzer (CardsWire, SiriusXM NFL Radio), David Birkett (Detroit Free Press), Mike Chappell (CBS4/FOX59TV), Jeff Duncan (Times-Picayune), Vahe Gregorian (Kansas City Star), Lindsay Jones (The Ringer), Ross Ketover (NFL Films), Jeff Legwold (ESPN), Gary Myers (New York Author), Dan Pomei (The Athletic), Will Shields (NFL Hall of Famer), Calvin Watkins (Dallas Morning News), Eric Williams (FOX Sports).

Who were the other 37 candidates who did not make it?

Don’t know!

But we do know the five who did advance, and if these are “the absolute best candidates who are on the ballot,” then perhaps they misunderstood Porter.

Nevertheless, here are the five.

Ralph Hay.  Hay’s stay in professional football was brief, but incredibly impactful.  He owned the Canton Bulldogs from 1918 to 1922, and he orchestrated the 1920 meeting of team owners at his car dealership that created what would become the National Football League. He has been a finalist twice.

Robert Kraft.  Kraft has also been a finalist, and without him, the New England Patriots would not have become a dynasty and arguably would not even exist in New England.  Seriously, that was on the table.  Kraft has since become one of the most influential owners in sports, and under his ownership, the team has won six Super Bowls.

Virginia McCaskey.  George Halas's daughter, Virginia McCaskey, took ownership of the Chicago Bears after “Papa Bear’s” death in 1983 and owned the team until her death last year.  The Bears won their only Super Bowl (1986) under her, but she was a hands-off owner who is best known for firing her own son, Michael McCaskey, as team President in 1999 and eliminating the cheerleading squad.  We will be blunt: that is not a Hall of Fame career. 

Doug Williams.  This is where it gets interesting.  Part of Porter’s mandate is for the Hall to look at a candidate's complete career, and with Williams, you have that.  Best known for becoming the first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl, when he led the Washington Redskins to victory, Williams has been a key executive for Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, and now Washington.  His shattering of the expected norm for Black athletes in football makes him worthy of that as a “contributor.”

John Wooten.  Like Williams, Wooten's complete career is incredible. An offensive lineman for ten seasons, Wooten later had roles in player personnel with the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, and Baltimore Ravens. 

We can’t wait to see who the Pro Football Hall of Fame will put forth!

October offers NHL fans an irresistible mixture of excitement and uncertainty. Fast starts can change expectations, while an established contender's rough week suddenly becomes a talking point. Yet an 84-game schedule leaves substantial room for those early impressions to change.

The opening weeks of 2026–27 have brought encouraging signs from Carolina, Edmonton, Boston, and Montreal. Colorado remains prominent in championship discussions despite uneven results, while Vegas and Utah have supplied their own storylines. Together, these teams reveal how early performances and Stanley Cup expectations can tell different stories.

Carolina Starts Like a Champion

Carolina began its title defense with the confidence expected of a Stanley Cup winner. The Hurricanes defeated Vegas in six games in the 2026 Final, then collected 24 points with an 11-2-2 record through October 29. They led the league standings at that date, giving supporters another reason to feel optimistic.

Carolina's opening record provides a starting point for evaluating its performance. Forechecking pressure, defensive positioning, and goaltending deserve attention alongside scoring production. Examining those areas helps distinguish repeatable strengths from results that depend on unusually effective finishing or saves.

The Hurricanes deserve recognition for starting quickly, but October points aren't playoff victories. Strong goaltending and consistent defensive effort must continue through winter if another deep run is the goal. Their most encouraging quality is a recognizable identity that doesn't depend on one outstanding night.

Colorado and Edmonton Offer a Contrast

Colorado and Edmonton entered the season with championship ambitions, but their October results presented different pictures. Their records through October 29 show why roster expectations and early performance deserve separate consideration.

• Colorado Avalanche: A 7-5-1 record left Colorado behind faster-starting contenders despite its position among the leading preseason favorites. Nathan MacKinnon's speed and creativity remain major attacking strengths, but offensive talent cannot compensate for every defensive mistake or difficult night in goal.
• Edmonton Oilers: A 9-2-2 record produced 20 points and the Pacific Division lead. Connor McDavid remains central to the attack, while contributions beyond the leading scorers and dependable defensive performances remain important to sustaining that opening.

Colorado's task is to turn its talent into more consistent results, while Edmonton must maintain its early standard. For both teams, lineup balance and defensive execution will help determine whether October expectations hold up against stronger opposition.

Reading NHL Odds Beyond the Standings

Stanley Cup odds aren't simply another version of the league table. They reflect judgments about roster quality, recent postseason experience, injuries, and the difficulty of winning four playoff series. A surprising October leader might therefore attract less confidence than a club with established stars.

Looking at FanDuel NHL odds alongside the standings can help readers compare short-term performance with broader expectations. The sportsbook also lists markets for individual games, which shouldn't be confused with season-long championship futures. Different markets answer different questions, and neither predicts results with certainty.

An early-season FanDuel Research listing placed Carolina and Colorado at +700 and Edmonton at +950 to win the Cup. Those were published prices, not guaranteed offers for November. Their relative positions illustrated how strongly the market regarded Colorado even when its opening record was less impressive. 

For context, +700 converts to a basic implied probability of 12.5 percent before accounting for a sportsbook's margin. That figure isn't an independently verified estimate of a team's true chances. Odds can move following injuries, trades, or changing expectations, so dated comparisons need careful interpretation.

Boston and Montreal Find Momentum

Boston has given its supporters reasons to feel encouraged. Through October 29, the Bruins were 9-4-1 with 19 points and a positive goal differential. Readers following NHL research and analysis can explore game previews and team performance insights as the Atlantic Division race develops.

A good opening can build confidence throughout a lineup. Players become more comfortable with their roles, and reliable defensive habits make close games easier to manage. Boston must maintain those standards when travel and stronger opponents create less favorable circumstances.

Montreal's young group has also made an impression. The Canadiens were 8-3-2 through October 29, riding a four-game winning streak and collecting 18 points. That start offered encouraging evidence that the team's development was beginning to produce consistent results. 

Young players can inject speed and creativity into a lineup, but maintaining results demands maturity. Protecting narrow leads and limiting mistakes during difficult road games will matter as much as exciting goals. Montreal's challenge is turning promising stretches into a dependable style of play.

Neither club has secured anything simply by winning early games. The Atlantic race can change dramatically during a difficult month, especially when several opponents remain close together. Boston and Montreal's October results provide a useful starting point for assessing whether their progress continues.

Vegas and Utah Add Western Intrigue

Vegas entered October with expectations shaped by recent championship experience. The Golden Knights reached 9-4-1 through October 29, collecting 19 points and staying close to Edmonton in the Pacific Division. Their results kept them involved in an already competitive Western Conference picture. 

Depth can become especially valuable when an NHL team plays several demanding games in quick succession. Experienced players know that good defensive decisions sometimes matter more than forcing another scoring chance. Vegas will need that balance when its schedule becomes less forgiving.

Utah presents a different story. The Mammoth accumulated 18 points through October 29 and remained among the stronger early performers in the Central Division. Their progress has provided encouragement for a developing team seeking a more established competitive identity. 

Early confidence is useful, but consistency will ultimately determine Utah's ceiling. Strong goaltending and contributions across the lineup are essential when the leading scorers face tighter coverage. A difficult winter stretch could reveal more about this group than its encouraging opening.

What Comes After the Fast Starts

Carolina and Edmonton have paired strong reputations with impressive results, while Colorado remains a threat despite uneven form. Boston, Montreal, Vegas, and Utah have added welcome uncertainty to the early championship conversation. Each now faces the harder task of sustaining its progress.

The Stanley Cup won't be decided by October standings or one set of odds. Health, defensive discipline, and responses to adversity will shape the months ahead. The teams that adapt best will give themselves the strongest chance to matter in spring.

Content reflects information available as of 2026/11/02; subject to change.