SI.COM

FOR OCT. 16--23, 2017

STARS ALIGN

NBA tip-off is just days away, and SI has you covered. The Crossover continues its 2017--18 season preview by examining the story lines and outsized personalities poised to capture fans' attention. Rohan Nadkarni introduces us to the other side of the Heat's Dion Waiters and shows that he's not (always) the loudmouthed, wild-shooting Internet meme we've come to know and love. And Andrew Sharp examines the 76ers, who are led by one of the league's more promising young stars: Joel Embiid. For all that and more, including title predictions—can anyone dethrone the Warriors?—go to SI.com/NBA

CALL IT LIKE YOU SEE IT

We've all been there, yelling at our TVs or going on Twitter to complain about the announcers working our favorite team's game. But let's be honest: While you may think you could do a better job, calling a game well is difficult work. Days of preparation, building chemistry with the analyst sitting next to you, ignoring the haters—as pros like ESPN's Mike Breen or NBC's Mike Tirico can tell you, handling play-by-play is extremely demanding. So, who does it best? On Friday, Richard Deitsch will have his say, revealing his rankings and counting down the sports world's top 25 play-by-play announcers.

COLLEGE DAZE

March Madness may be many months off, but now is the perfect moment to scout the field and gain an advantage over your friends come bracket time. With the season looming, go to SI.com/college-basketball to see our 10 National Player of the Year candidates (will Duke's Grayson Allen make the cut?), a ranking of the top 50 players in the country and a sneak peek at the freshmen who are ready to make an impact.