1 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: This is straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. 2 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 2: What is up? Straight firefam, It's me Jason McIntyre, Straight 3 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 2: Fire for Wednesday, October twenty third, and the NBA is back. 4 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 2: Come on, tell me you guys aren't fired up. How 5 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 2: good was last night? Oh my goodness. Not only not 6 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 2: only did you have these Celtics nearly breaking an NBA 7 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 2: record twenty nine made three pointers, unbelievable shooting performance. My 8 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:40,159 Speaker 2: knicks are on the losing end of it, but it's 9 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:45,279 Speaker 2: night one. They're raising the banner in Boston. Everybody's juiced up. 10 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 2: And then they dropped forty three in the first quarter. 11 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 2: I mean, Boston, just an unbelievable shooting performance. One of 12 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 2: those games where every single person, Oh, Boston's gonna they're 13 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 2: gonna go undefeated, They're gonna repeat. All just settled down. 14 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 2: It's one game. And then in I cap, Lebron and 15 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 2: the Lakers race out to a big League Then Lebron's son, 16 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 2: Bronny takes the court. Almost I almost nailed it. He 17 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 2: played a whopping three minutes, but we got our photo op. 18 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 2: Everybody cheered. It was very cool. The Griffies were in attendance, 19 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 2: and the Lakers end up winning against Minnesota. Anthony Davis. 20 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 2: What a performance. I mean, goodness, gracious, thirty six and 21 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 2: sixteen MVP chance in the fourth quarter. But honestly, it 22 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:30,679 Speaker 2: was it was a full team effort. Ruy Hachimor was incredible. Lebron, 23 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 2: you know, a typical Lebron game, sixteen four to three. 24 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 2: He does a little bit of everything, just vintage Lebron James. 25 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 2: And then off the bench you had Jackson Hayes contributing. 26 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 2: You had a even Delta connect got a shot. I 27 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:47,199 Speaker 2: thought the bigger story was the Minnesota Timberwolves. Ladies and gentlemen. 28 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 2: We'll get to them in shortly, but I just want to, 29 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 2: you know, wrap up very exciting that the NBA is back, 30 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 2: and I saw somebody mention that this week we have 31 00:01:55,960 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 2: the NHL, the NBA, the World Series, NFL, and college football, 32 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 2: and I'm like, oh my gosh, that is incredible. And 33 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 2: when you get a World Series of Dodgers Yankees, It's like, holy, 34 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:11,640 Speaker 2: this is I mean, this is one of the really, 35 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 2: really good sports weeks of the year. We're actually doing 36 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,880 Speaker 2: a fun episode today where Rob g and I will 37 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,959 Speaker 2: make our NBA predictions for the twenty twenty four to 38 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 2: twenty twenty five season. I think if you're a Warriors fan, 39 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 2: you're probably not gonna like them. If you're a Sixers fan, 40 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 2: you're gonna hate us, specifically me, because all Sixers fans 41 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:39,919 Speaker 2: just hate me. But the NBA preview will fire off 42 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 2: our top eight disappointing team, which is sorry, you know, 43 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 2: I love Steph Curry, but it's it's gonna be a 44 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 2: long year in Golden State, and then our finals predictions. Now, 45 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:55,919 Speaker 2: obviously I'm not gonna freak out that the Knicks got 46 00:02:55,960 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 2: blasted in Boston on a ring night. Okay, not gonna 47 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 2: go overboard. Obviously, the Celtics were, I mean, twenty nine 48 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 2: of sixty one from three and oh, by the way, 49 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 2: that's with missing their final thirteen threes. They were gunning 50 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:15,080 Speaker 2: for the record. They missed thirteen in a row. In 51 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:17,079 Speaker 2: the fourth quarter, Peyton Pritchard shot like I did in 52 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 2: my men's league. He was one of ten from the field. Otherwise, 53 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:25,240 Speaker 2: I mean the Celtics might touch one. Fitty Tatum, he 54 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 2: went off. Everybody's gonna make this revenge season for Jason 55 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:32,799 Speaker 2: Tatum after the benching at at the Olympics. I don't 56 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 2: buy any of that stuff. But just as a reminder, 57 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 2: how good Jayson Tatum is thirty seven points in thirty minutes, 58 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 2: thirty seven points on eighteen shot attempts. He was eight 59 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:44,119 Speaker 2: of eleven for three. I know, it's just one game. 60 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 2: Derek White had a great game. I mean, listen, it 61 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 2: was vintage Celtics. Again, not gonna freak out if you 62 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 2: the Knicks they got let's see here one two new 63 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 2: starters og Brunson and Hart are holdovers. Then coming off 64 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 2: the bench, I mean Jericho Sims getting twenty four minutes. 65 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 2: I mean, who had that on their bingo card? Jericho 66 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 2: Simms really, Campaign McBride we like. So it's just the Knicks. 67 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 2: It's gonna take a little learning curve. But I still 68 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 2: believe they match up phenomenally with Boston in the playoffs 69 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 2: because even though it didn't work on opening night, you 70 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:22,600 Speaker 2: have Bridges and Anaobe for Tatum and Brown, and those 71 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:27,920 Speaker 2: are gonna be two enormous matchups in a seven game 72 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 2: series where defense is actually played. I don't think the 73 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 2: Celtics are gonna hang one thirty two on the Knicks 74 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 2: in a playoff series. This is a regular season game. 75 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:39,840 Speaker 2: One thing that did stand out. The Boston Celtics elected 76 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:43,479 Speaker 2: to not defend Josh Hart. They gave him the he's 77 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:46,280 Speaker 2: with us treatment. They just didn't defend him, and they 78 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:48,479 Speaker 2: clogged the lane to keep Brunton out of it, and 79 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 2: Carl Antony Town's really couldn't get loose. It was an 80 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 2: interesting defensive strategy. I'm surprised they shot that on Night 81 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 2: one because obviously the easy adjustments are, oh, we'll make 82 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 2: Josh Hart the screener on ball screener, or will put 83 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:03,480 Speaker 2: him in the dunker spot or put them in the 84 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 2: corner for corner threes. But bottom line, they don't respect 85 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 2: Josh Hart's shooting ability, and teams they're well within their 86 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:13,600 Speaker 2: right to do that. And Josh Hart is a streaky 87 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 2: kind of guy. Remember he was not he was considered 88 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,479 Speaker 2: a liability because of the lack of shooting. But I 89 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 2: do want to remind people that last year in that 90 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 2: Indianapolis Pacers playoff series, he absolutely went off. He had 91 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 2: he just looked incredible. I mean there were moments. I mean, 92 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 2: Josh Hart in the playoff last year's not thirty seven 93 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 2: percent from three that's I don't want to call it 94 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:39,160 Speaker 2: an out of body experience, but he was cooking with gas. 95 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 2: And this is the kind of player he is, you know, 96 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 2: very streaky against the Sixers, super duper hot, shot forty 97 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 2: three percent from deep. Then against the Pacers, water finds 98 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 2: its level, shot twenty seven percent from deep. I mean, 99 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 2: this is a guy who against Philly made four threes 100 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 2: in game one, four threes in game two, three, he's 101 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:03,280 Speaker 2: in Game three, and then three threes in the decider 102 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 2: Game six. But other than that, it was like, oh, Pacers, 103 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 2: we're not gonna guard him. We're not worried about him. 104 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 2: And he missed a bunch of three, so that will 105 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 2: be one thing they got to work out. Can't automatically 106 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:17,719 Speaker 2: bring Devincenzo in to light it up. Ultimately, though, I 107 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 2: love this next team really quickly. On the Lakers, yes, 108 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 2: I was a little concerned and maybe they would blow 109 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 2: the big I think they were out seventeen and the 110 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:27,920 Speaker 2: next thing you know, they cut it to Ford. Ultimately, 111 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 2: I thought the bigger takeaway from this was Minnesota without 112 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:34,799 Speaker 2: Julius Randall, and I know they didn't have in the playoffs. 113 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:38,719 Speaker 2: This is a team that I don't where's the firepower 114 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:41,720 Speaker 2: coming from? You know, you'll hear in the preview, I 115 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 2: really really like Minnesota this year. Anthony Edwards is going 116 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,479 Speaker 2: to be in line for a big season, But I 117 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 2: don't what are you getting out of Mike Conley, who 118 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:51,720 Speaker 2: I think turns fifty this weekend. 119 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 3: Not just kidding. 120 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 2: Conley had a rough game. He's only these thirty seven 121 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:58,520 Speaker 2: and he kind of looked thirty seven out there. Did 122 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:01,160 Speaker 2: not play well at all. You never want to overreact. 123 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:05,880 Speaker 2: I just wonder who else is scoring alongside Anthony Edwards. 124 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 2: He had crawl, Anthony Towns, He's gone. I mean, nas reed, 125 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 2: we like a lot Devincenzo coming off the bench, Alexander Walker. 126 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 2: I wanted to see Rob Dillingham. He didn't even make 127 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 2: it appearance. Maybe they're bringing along the young fellow slowly. 128 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 2: Shannon should be able to provide offense off the bench. 129 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 2: I just I watched him and I'm like, oh, it's 130 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 2: gonna be a heavy dose of Anthony Edwards. And then 131 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 2: nobody else was able to help him and Lakers went handily. 132 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 2: So without further ado, let's get to our NBA predictions 133 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 2: for the upcoming season. 134 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 1: Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in 135 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 1: the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio 136 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 1: dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to 137 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 1: listen live. 138 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 2: We thought we would chop it up, go back and 139 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 2: forth preview the NBA this season. Now it's weird, right Rob, 140 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 2: because the World Series is happening, and it's probably the 141 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 2: most anticipated World Series in I don't know, maybe since 142 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 2: the Cubs got here or the Red Sox, I don't know. 143 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 2: LA New York is big. College football is having an 144 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 2: amazing season with a lot of parody, and we know 145 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 2: everybody loves their parody. In the NFL, college football has 146 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 2: been unbelievable. Alabama, are they gonna be able to make 147 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,000 Speaker 2: the playoff with three losses? And then you've got the NFL, 148 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 2: of course, which is amazing. And now it's like the 149 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 2: NBA just kind of snuck up on you. I've watched 150 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 2: less preseason NBA than I ever have. I don't know 151 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 2: if that says something about me or the product, but 152 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 2: Rob and I are gonna buzz through. We've got our 153 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:35,280 Speaker 2: top eight in each conference. I have one pretty major 154 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 2: surprise in the West and I guess one medium surprise 155 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 2: in the East. We are gonna do our NBA Finals 156 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 2: picks and we're gonna use odds from I mean, listen, 157 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 2: I don't want to narrow it down to any one book, 158 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:53,679 Speaker 2: but DraftKings obviously is a sponsor at FS one, and 159 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:57,200 Speaker 2: we're gonna use those odds. We're not gonna do Rookie 160 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:58,959 Speaker 2: of the Year, although I have some thoughts on that. 161 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 2: We're not gonna do Coach of the Nobody cares. So 162 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 2: let's get started, Rob. I'll just look Macro coming off 163 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 2: the Olympics, where a lot of the shall we say 164 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 2: older NBA players participate at Aka Curry Durant. We'll toss 165 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 2: and beat in there. Lebron obviously, ad I'm curious, did 166 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 2: you look at any historical data when it comes to 167 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 2: NBA stars playing in the Olympics, which is you're not 168 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 2: getting a break obviously, and then playing in the upcoming 169 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 2: season to get an idea because as a result of that, 170 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:34,680 Speaker 2: I have some of the elder statesmen shall we say, 171 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 2: slipping and some of the young bucks rising. And I know, listen, 172 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 2: I know guys like Shay Gilders Alexander played for Canada, 173 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:45,679 Speaker 2: but he's young. It doesn't really matter. Yokicho maybe a 174 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:47,920 Speaker 2: different story. We know he likes his summer vacation. So 175 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:50,319 Speaker 2: I'm just curious, if you're looking big picture at if 176 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 2: the Olympics had any impact on this upcoming NBA season. 177 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:54,840 Speaker 3: So I did look at it. 178 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 4: And the problem though with that kind of historical evidence 179 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:01,439 Speaker 4: is that it doesn't really fact in the age as 180 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:04,720 Speaker 4: you're alluding to, right, So if you go back historically 181 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 4: and look up some of the numbers as guys who 182 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 4: played in the Olympics and then that following season, you 183 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 4: have a handful of guys that used the Olympics as 184 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:14,439 Speaker 4: a springboard to an even better season the year after. 185 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 4: Kobe Bryant did as a veteran. Lebron James Dad a veteran, 186 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 4: Kevin Durant did it as a veteran, And then you 187 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:22,720 Speaker 4: go forward and there's other guys who have played maybe 188 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:24,840 Speaker 4: not in the Olympics, but in the World Games a 189 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:26,839 Speaker 4: la Austin Reeves who took a minute to get his 190 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 4: legs underneath them and start off the season. You know, 191 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 4: Devin Booker has had, maybe not most recently but previous iterations, 192 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:37,120 Speaker 4: has had slow starts to the season. Anthony Davis has 193 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 4: had slow starts to the season when he plays internationally, 194 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:42,360 Speaker 4: whether in the Olympics or in the World Games. So 195 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 4: that is definitely something you got to monitor because there 196 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:49,120 Speaker 4: really is no definitive. Hey, if you play, you're gonna 197 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 4: perform better. If you play, go and perform worse. It 198 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:53,720 Speaker 4: really varies on a person a players basis. 199 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:57,320 Speaker 2: I will I'll largely agree with that, and I will 200 00:10:57,360 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 2: just add group think is a real thing when it 201 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 2: comes to previews, Guys, I don't look at a lot 202 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:06,320 Speaker 2: of them, but I can almost guarantee you most people 203 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:10,959 Speaker 2: are gonna have the same three Ish teams in the 204 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 2: NBA Finals for sure, the Celtics. A lot of people 205 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 2: are gonna have the Celtics for sure. I know this 206 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:17,680 Speaker 2: is gonna surprise some people. Everybody in their mom loves 207 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 2: the OKC Thunder. I'm gonna go ahead and tell you, 208 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:22,600 Speaker 2: am I like them a lot in the regular season. 209 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:25,319 Speaker 2: I'm not as much of a believer in them well 210 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 2: coming out of the West. And then I think it's 211 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 2: a bit of a toss up between the Dallas Mavericks 212 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:34,439 Speaker 2: who were in the finals last year, and I think 213 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 2: a lot of people like my Knicks. Not a lot 214 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:38,720 Speaker 2: of people buying the Sixers despite the Paul George edition. 215 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:40,480 Speaker 2: All Right, let's dive right in. So, Rob, what do 216 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 2: you think is the most efficient? I just go my eight. 217 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 2: We go one, one, one, one. 218 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 1: What do you think? 219 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 4: Let's do your eight and I'll respond to it with mine. Okay, 220 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 4: we'll talk about where we differ. 221 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 2: We'll start in the East. I will start at eight 222 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:55,680 Speaker 2: and count down to one. I've got the Orlando Magic 223 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 2: as the eight seed. Like the Magic this year East 224 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 2: is improved. I have them arrowlee edging out Toronto and Charlotte. Yes, 225 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:05,600 Speaker 2: LaMelo Ball, he's back for the eighth seed. I've got 226 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 2: the Miami Heat at seven. There's some Jimmy Butler noise 227 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 2: out there. I don't like what I'm hearing. He seems 228 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:13,800 Speaker 2: unhappy with the Heat and now he's like dug in, Hey, 229 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 2: I'm testing the market regardless. And you wonder if he's 230 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 2: gonna be on a mission to prove that he's worth 231 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:22,599 Speaker 2: it or he's gonna power down save it for the postseason. 232 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:24,440 Speaker 2: And we see postseason Jimmy showing up. I got the 233 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 2: Heat seven, checking in at six the Philadelphia seventy six ers. 234 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 2: I'm upset that I didn't bet the under in time 235 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 2: for the season wins total. You got Joel Embiid coming 236 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 2: out this week saying, I don't think I'll play back 237 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:39,679 Speaker 2: to backs probably for the rest of my life in 238 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 2: the NBA. Joel Embiid, it's all about postseason success. He's 239 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 2: got the MVP, he got the Olympic gold. That dude 240 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:48,400 Speaker 2: needs a chip. He needs to get to the finals. 241 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 2: I know they're all in with Paul George. I don't 242 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 2: love the rest of this roster, and we know Paul 243 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 2: George is injury history. I had the Sixers sixth in 244 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:57,840 Speaker 2: the East. I have the Indiana Pacers at five. I 245 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:00,800 Speaker 2: really wanted to make them three, but I put him 246 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:03,560 Speaker 2: at five. I'm just telling you there's a dangerous Pacers team. 247 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 2: I like everything about this team, deep, the coaching, I 248 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:11,319 Speaker 2: like Rob. I'm bullish on the Indiana Pacers. I have 249 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:14,760 Speaker 2: them at five. Four. Cleveland Cavaliers, they keep Donovan Mitchell, 250 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 2: they sign Evan Mobley, Jared Allen. There for now. Cleveland 251 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 2: Cavaliers fourth in the East at three. The Milwaukee Bucks, 252 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:27,160 Speaker 2: Jannis and Dame now have it off season to prepare. 253 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:29,960 Speaker 2: They've got the genius Doc Rivers. I don't know if 254 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 2: you say, guys saw the quotes Doc Rivers saying that 255 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:36,439 Speaker 2: he's never had a disappointing, disappointing season to some nonsense 256 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 2: like that from one of the biggest choke artists in 257 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 2: NBA coaching history. Number two my New York Knicks and 258 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 2: number one regular season. I got the Celtics despite no 259 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:49,000 Speaker 2: poorzingis I do think that the team is too deep, 260 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 2: too good for them to be anything other than like 261 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 2: a one or two seed. Now you get a major 262 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 2: injury that changes things. But I've got the Celtics and 263 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 2: Knicks pretty clear top two in the East, and then 264 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 2: you know the Bucks are in that second tier. With 265 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:03,640 Speaker 2: that's got a bunch of teams, including the Sixers. Rob 266 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 2: your thoughts. 267 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:06,679 Speaker 4: I'll tell you what what's shocking to me is that 268 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:08,840 Speaker 4: not that we have all of the same eight teams. 269 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:12,200 Speaker 4: What's shocking to me is that we have three of 270 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:14,280 Speaker 4: them in the exact same spot. And the first two 271 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 4: I think you can guess, Boston and New York. I 272 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:19,400 Speaker 4: think everyone can agree that those two teams are the 273 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:22,800 Speaker 4: cream of the crop in the Eastern Conference. But I'm 274 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 4: with you on the Sixers. I thought I was gonna 275 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 4: blow your mind when as I had them at number 276 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 4: six and coming into the season, and part of it 277 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:31,360 Speaker 4: is Joel emb like you mentioned, saying, I'm already not 278 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 4: gonna play back to backs. That's a big deal for 279 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:37,240 Speaker 4: them because when he plays, they win. When they don't play, 280 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 4: their you know, hit or miss, and then they're already 281 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 4: starting off on the wrong foot where both Joel Embiid 282 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:46,720 Speaker 4: and Paul George are gonna be out for at least 283 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 4: the first week of the season, but it was at 284 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 4: two or three games. And we know coming off the preseason, 285 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 4: Tyreek's Maxi kind of dinged up his thumb a little bit. 286 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 4: I'm sure he's gonna be fine, he's gonna play through it. 287 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 4: But that's not something that is nothing, you know what 288 00:14:58,280 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 4: I mean, So that you had to factor that in. 289 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 4: With team like Philadelphia, who has made it so clear 290 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 4: that they're only playing for the playoffs, I could see 291 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:10,359 Speaker 4: them not taking the regular season as seriously. Okay, moving forward, 292 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 4: I guess the biggest discrepancy that you and I have 293 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,080 Speaker 4: though when it comes to these rankings is I have 294 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 4: the Magic and the Pacers much further apart than you do. 295 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 4: I've the Orlando Medica number four. Last year, wow, last 296 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 4: year they finished number five. They were two back of 297 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:30,880 Speaker 4: mid Milwaukee for the three. And here's the thing about 298 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 4: the NBA nowadays, if you remove the Boston Celtics, who 299 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 4: are their own special version of a juggernaut, right fair 300 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 4: two through eight was three and a half games apart. 301 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 4: So if you have a rough patch with injuries like 302 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 4: Philadelphia already dealing with it right now, if you have 303 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 4: a situation like Milwaukee with Chris Middleton not ready for 304 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 4: the start of the season, that's why I have them 305 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 4: at number five, not because I don't think that they're 306 00:15:57,000 --> 00:15:59,480 Speaker 4: a championship team, that they're probably even better. And I 307 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 4: picked them in a playoff series over Orlando over Indiana, 308 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:05,840 Speaker 4: things like that. But the problem is every game is 309 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:09,000 Speaker 4: going to matter when you have this much talent and 310 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 4: the depth is so much better than it's been and 311 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 4: as long as I can remember, so. 312 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 2: So real quick to back it up, Orlando and Indiana 313 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 2: both plus twenty five hundred to win the East. So 314 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:23,320 Speaker 2: the market has them a lot closer than I do. 315 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:25,680 Speaker 2: I don't know. I'm just I love this Pacers team. 316 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 2: Maybe it's recency bias from what I saw last year 317 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 2: and the emergence of Tyrese Haliburton. For my money, one 318 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 2: of the that Shurpa. 319 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 4: That's the only reason why I have them at seven 320 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 4: is because Tyree's They are so dependent on him, and 321 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:41,320 Speaker 4: him specifically. They don't really have a secondary guy that 322 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:43,800 Speaker 4: can do what he does, even a reasonable facsimily of it. 323 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 4: So if he misses any amount of time, I don't 324 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 4: see them being able to hang on in the top four. 325 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 2: Now I look at their depth chart. Remember Matherin didn't 326 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 2: play in the postseason, and this kid, Jerrase Walker, who 327 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 2: was a high draft pick two years ago, barely played 328 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 2: for them last year. If those two can pop, this 329 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 2: is not mind blowing stuff. But I am of the 330 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:07,080 Speaker 2: belief that pacers one to ten have probably the most 331 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 2: depth in the league because there's a lot of top 332 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:11,920 Speaker 2: heavy teams. Rob Celtics top heavy Knicks are now top heavy. 333 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 2: I love the PACER's depth and that stuff, like you said, 334 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:16,160 Speaker 2: matters when you're looking at the regular season. 335 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:18,200 Speaker 4: Absolutely, And I'll tell you what you mentioned. I think 336 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:20,239 Speaker 4: it was as Charlotte as your team that's on the 337 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:25,960 Speaker 4: Frenches peripheral. You know who I got, same family, Chicago Bulls. 338 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:30,520 Speaker 4: Oh okay, Lonzo Ballman. The Redemption Tour, the comeback story 339 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:33,679 Speaker 4: is incredible. He's obviously not as explosive as he was 340 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 4: before all the knee injuries, but just seeing him out 341 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 4: there in the preseason, his instincts are still top of 342 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:43,120 Speaker 4: the league level. Like his basketball IQ is up there. 343 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 4: He's always been a good defender, and now that he 344 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 4: had all this time to work on his jumper, he 345 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 4: was already a forty percent three point shooter before that. 346 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:53,720 Speaker 4: I could see him very quietly being like a thirteen 347 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:56,920 Speaker 4: eight and eight guy and just steadying the ship for them. 348 00:17:57,200 --> 00:17:58,480 Speaker 4: I don't have them in the playoffs, but I could 349 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:00,520 Speaker 4: define say him thirty for a play for sure. 350 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:03,119 Speaker 2: Yeah. Is there a world where he's the comeback player 351 00:18:03,119 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 2: of the Year. I think they have that in the NBA. 352 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 2: I know they have in the NFL, and it's usually 353 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 2: someone who's coming off inrew. Everybody's rooting for Lonzo. 354 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:11,320 Speaker 3: You know, absolutely absolutely. He's just a great guy. 355 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:12,960 Speaker 4: He is a great story and it's just tough that 356 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:15,760 Speaker 4: the big chunk of his prime was taken away from him. 357 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:18,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, did you so you had this Celtic where'd you 358 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 2: have the Bucks? 359 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:21,600 Speaker 4: I had the Bucks in this ranking. I had him 360 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 4: at fifth, So who was your three? So my order 361 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:31,360 Speaker 4: top to bottom Boston, New York, Cleveland, Orlando, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Indiana, Miami. 362 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:34,400 Speaker 4: So you have, and I was this closed to leaving 363 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:37,800 Speaker 4: Miami completely off the top eight. I don't like the 364 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:39,679 Speaker 4: roster at all, but I have too much respect for 365 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:41,119 Speaker 4: Jimmy Butler and man met about to do it. 366 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:42,159 Speaker 3: Yeah. 367 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:45,040 Speaker 2: Interesting, All right, let's go to the West, which is 368 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 2: really a big cluster. I'm not gonna mention my playing teams, Rob, 369 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 2: because one of my big surprises is in the play in. 370 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:55,480 Speaker 2: I will go at number eight in what I a 371 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:57,160 Speaker 2: team that I'm kind of rooting for. 372 00:18:57,400 --> 00:18:57,600 Speaker 4: You know. 373 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:00,000 Speaker 2: Sometimes the last two years I got behind the Atlanta 374 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:02,719 Speaker 2: Hawks Trey Young and de Jon Ta Murray. Those were 375 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 2: bad failures, huge whiffs by me. This year, well, last year, 376 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:08,440 Speaker 2: I bet the over on the Rockets season win total 377 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:11,000 Speaker 2: and that hit. This year, the Houston Rockets are my 378 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:13,640 Speaker 2: sleeper team of destiny. Oh my gosh, have you seen 379 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:15,880 Speaker 2: the Reed Shepherd highlights. I've been putting those on Ig. 380 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 2: That kid can hoop. Now I know he can't really 381 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:20,440 Speaker 2: shoot threes, but I just loved it. I like how 382 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:22,159 Speaker 2: this team is built, Rob. I don't know if I 383 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:24,920 Speaker 2: agree with Sengoon getting what's that one hundred and eighty 384 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 2: five million dollars con track. Oh, this is insane. I 385 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 2: got Houston at eight. I think they're gonna be feisty 386 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 2: this year. At number seven, Phoenix Suns, I'm may be 387 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:36,640 Speaker 2: too low on them after last year's catastrophe. At six, 388 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:39,640 Speaker 2: I have the Lakers, which is a big risk because 389 00:19:40,119 --> 00:19:42,040 Speaker 2: Lebron and ad played a lot last year and they 390 00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:45,920 Speaker 2: if any of them go down for ten or twenty 391 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:47,960 Speaker 2: game segment, this team could be in trouble unless you 392 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:51,119 Speaker 2: believe Dalton Kanneck can bail them. Ount Lakers at six, 393 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:56,439 Speaker 2: Sacramento Kings at five, Denver Nuggets at four. A lot 394 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 2: of people like the Nuggets. I am a little skeptical. 395 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 2: Number three, Dallas Mavericks, number two OKC and the number 396 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 2: one team in the West. Give me the Minnesota Timberwolves 397 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:12,920 Speaker 2: and the fighting Anthony Edwards's. By the way, in one 398 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:16,080 Speaker 2: of the dumbest look at me, please click on my 399 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:21,359 Speaker 2: thing lists I've seen. In twenty twenty four, Charles Barkley 400 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 2: ranked the top twenty players in the league. Had Anthony 401 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 2: Edwards at fourteen. Okay, there was a legit, I'm not 402 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:30,560 Speaker 2: making this up. There was a legit discussion that Anthony 403 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:33,200 Speaker 2: Edwards could be the face of the league this year. 404 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:37,120 Speaker 2: Okay fourteen, I mean he's all NBA first team guy. 405 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:40,560 Speaker 2: Come on, Anthony Edwards. I think Anthony Edwards out for revenge. 406 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:43,359 Speaker 2: I like how this team's built right. You got McDaniel's 407 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:46,160 Speaker 2: the defender on the wing. I liked Evincenzo's edition. We'll 408 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:49,119 Speaker 2: see if Conley can hold up. This to me, is 409 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:52,520 Speaker 2: an Anthony Edwards thirty point a game season. I'm all 410 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:54,440 Speaker 2: in on Dillingham. I'm sure you guys did see the 411 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:57,520 Speaker 2: preseason highlights of Rob Dillingham. That dude is noice. 412 00:20:59,400 --> 00:20:59,800 Speaker 1: We'll see. 413 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:01,360 Speaker 2: I have them number one. I know it's a shot 414 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:03,760 Speaker 2: in the dark, but I am going to Minnesota Temples 415 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:06,359 Speaker 2: number one seed in the West. 416 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 1: Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in 417 00:21:10,359 --> 00:21:13,720 Speaker 1: the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio 418 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:17,960 Speaker 1: dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to 419 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:18,720 Speaker 1: listen live. 420 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:22,720 Speaker 4: That is a really ballsy take by you to have 421 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:24,840 Speaker 4: Minnesota number one, not because they don't have the talent 422 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:27,280 Speaker 4: you obviously, even with karl Any Towns out of town 423 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:30,760 Speaker 4: and Julius Randall taking a spot. The reason why I'm 424 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:33,400 Speaker 4: lower on them in the regular season than you are, 425 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 4: and I definitely don't have them at number one. Is 426 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:40,480 Speaker 4: because once you get a taste of postseason basketball, it's 427 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:43,920 Speaker 4: almost like you take your foot off the gas. Conjually 428 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:46,879 Speaker 4: or subconsciously. We saw that happen to them from round 429 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:49,960 Speaker 4: two to round three. Once they beat Denver. You would 430 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:51,840 Speaker 4: have thought the way that they were celebrating, the way 431 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:54,399 Speaker 4: they were feeling so that they had already won the championship, 432 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:57,080 Speaker 4: that they were already in the finals facing Boston. 433 00:21:57,320 --> 00:21:57,960 Speaker 3: And what happens. 434 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:00,200 Speaker 4: They go up against Luka Doncic and Luca t because 435 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:02,680 Speaker 4: of their lunch money, and they're gone almost like immediately. 436 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:06,640 Speaker 4: So for that reason and that reason alone, I have 437 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:07,520 Speaker 4: them at number five. 438 00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:08,679 Speaker 2: Minnesota. 439 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:09,840 Speaker 3: Minnesota at number five. 440 00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:10,960 Speaker 2: O okay, let's hear. 441 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 4: So, I'm with you on the Houston Rockets. I have 442 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:15,320 Speaker 4: them at eight, so me and you are lockstep. I'm 443 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:16,920 Speaker 4: with you on the Lakers. I got them both at six. 444 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:19,480 Speaker 4: So other than that, it's a lot of fluidity in 445 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:22,159 Speaker 4: the Western Conference, and for good reason because if you 446 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:25,600 Speaker 4: look at last season, one, two, and three were separated 447 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:28,159 Speaker 4: by one game. Okay, yeah, four, five and six were 448 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:31,960 Speaker 4: separated by two games. Like there, if you go on 449 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:35,040 Speaker 4: a three game losing streak in March, you might go 450 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:37,040 Speaker 4: from the three seed to the playing tournament in. 451 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:39,359 Speaker 3: The Western Conference. So this is really going to depend 452 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:39,760 Speaker 3: on health. 453 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:42,600 Speaker 4: Number one and number two getting off to a fast start, 454 00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:47,440 Speaker 4: and that is why I believe that the Phoenix Suns 455 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:51,240 Speaker 4: exercise their injury demons and they're gonna have relative health 456 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:54,000 Speaker 4: moving forward. Here in twenty twenty four, I have them 457 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:56,920 Speaker 4: at number two in the regular shas wow. I think 458 00:22:56,960 --> 00:23:00,119 Speaker 4: that Kevin Durant, Bradley Beald, Devin Booker. We saw when 459 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 4: they were together they can still score, especially in the 460 00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 4: regular season with anybody. They won forty nine games despite 461 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:08,159 Speaker 4: only having their guys together for what a third of 462 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:10,720 Speaker 4: the season. If they can get that up to sixty 463 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:12,399 Speaker 4: seventy percent of the season, I think they're gonna do 464 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:13,160 Speaker 4: some real damage. 465 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:15,119 Speaker 3: So here's my order top to bottom. 466 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:18,000 Speaker 4: Okac at number one, Young Legs, as you alluded to, 467 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:19,480 Speaker 4: they're gonna be one of those teams that takes the 468 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:21,040 Speaker 4: regular season very seriously. 469 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:22,680 Speaker 3: We'll see how it goes in the playoffs. 470 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:26,480 Speaker 4: Phoenix Denver at three. I think you can't underestimate the 471 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:31,000 Speaker 4: loss of KCP Dallas at four. Again, they're one of 472 00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:34,160 Speaker 4: those teams. I think they're really good, but regular season 473 00:23:34,160 --> 00:23:36,920 Speaker 4: and posting two different things. They're gonna rely a lot 474 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:39,400 Speaker 4: on Luca. We'll see if he's willing to carry that burd. 475 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:41,719 Speaker 4: I think he's already dealing with some injuries right now 476 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:44,360 Speaker 4: to start the season, so we'll see how much they 477 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:47,240 Speaker 4: throttle him up throughout the regular season, knowing they're playing 478 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:52,120 Speaker 4: for a championship. Minnesota five, Lakers six, King seven, Houston 479 00:23:52,119 --> 00:23:52,760 Speaker 4: at number eight. 480 00:23:54,840 --> 00:23:58,560 Speaker 2: So both of us have two teams. I'm sure you 481 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:00,280 Speaker 2: guys at this point are like Jay, We're are they? 482 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:04,720 Speaker 2: The Golden State Warriors and the Memphis Grizzlies both I 483 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:05,560 Speaker 2: have them in the play in. 484 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:08,800 Speaker 3: I have Memphis in the plane as well. 485 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:10,320 Speaker 2: You don't have the Warriors in the plane. 486 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:11,880 Speaker 3: I have the Warriors in the play in as well. 487 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 4: The team that I thought was gonna kind of blow 488 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:16,359 Speaker 4: people's minds that I don't even have in the play 489 00:24:16,359 --> 00:24:18,520 Speaker 4: in is Kawhi Leonards lost not just. 490 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:19,560 Speaker 3: Clippers, No, no, need. 491 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:23,560 Speaker 4: I don't either, And that's just something that I believe. 492 00:24:24,960 --> 00:24:26,920 Speaker 4: Now that we talk about it doesn't seem as crazy. 493 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:30,119 Speaker 4: But if I were to tell you that two years 494 00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:33,800 Speaker 4: ago that this team would have been what many believe 495 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:37,119 Speaker 4: was going to be the the foreseeable future NBA champion 496 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:39,199 Speaker 4: when they all came together with Paul George and Kawhi 497 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:41,840 Speaker 4: and that group, they added Tyleru as the head coach, 498 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:44,760 Speaker 4: and it was, Hey, they got James, they got all 499 00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:48,040 Speaker 4: these different dudes. If they're healthy, you don't want to 500 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 4: see them. And then slowly but surely, they Montrez Harrold's gone, 501 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 4: Lou William's gone, Pat Beverly's gone. So that's like the 502 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:59,480 Speaker 4: nucleus of your emotional leadership. Paul George dips out this offseason. 503 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:02,640 Speaker 4: Suddenly we got skinny James Harden's I'm kind of optimistic 504 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:04,520 Speaker 4: about that. Maybe they'll win more games than I thought. 505 00:25:05,119 --> 00:25:08,320 Speaker 4: But Kawhi Leonard, if he's not available, this team is 506 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:12,120 Speaker 4: just they're a lottery team, you know, maybe even mid 507 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:12,800 Speaker 4: lottery team. 508 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:15,919 Speaker 2: So the DraftKings has the Clippers plus four thousand to 509 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:18,240 Speaker 2: win the West. That is worse than the Kings Pelicans 510 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:20,000 Speaker 2: a bunch of well, I don't have the Pelicans in there. 511 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 2: Somebody's gonna fall out. And maybe I'm too bullish on 512 00:25:22,359 --> 00:25:24,520 Speaker 2: the Rockets. Maybe both of us are. But I look 513 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:26,840 Speaker 2: at that Clippers depth chart and it's like James Harden, 514 00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:31,120 Speaker 2: Norm Powell, Terrence Man, Kawhi and Zubac if healthy. That's interesting. 515 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:33,840 Speaker 2: But now you got Kawhi out and you got old 516 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:37,200 Speaker 2: James Harden, and you turn to the bench and there's like, no, no, no, 517 00:25:37,359 --> 00:25:40,239 Speaker 2: Russell Westbrook. Oh we got Kevin Porter. That guy can 518 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:44,040 Speaker 2: get some buckets, but check checkered past. Chris Dunn cannot 519 00:25:44,040 --> 00:25:45,879 Speaker 2: shoot a mere coffee is like a five to ten 520 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:48,760 Speaker 2: minute a game. Guy Derek Jones Junior chased the bag, 521 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:51,040 Speaker 2: I guess in the Clippers or maybe the match just 522 00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:54,439 Speaker 2: couldn't afford him. Mobamba Bones Highland, Like, there's just not 523 00:25:54,600 --> 00:25:56,800 Speaker 2: a ton of talent there. I didn't even consider them 524 00:25:56,920 --> 00:26:00,959 Speaker 2: rob in my top ten. I did, however, closely at 525 00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:04,040 Speaker 2: the Pelicans, who I kind of sort of like because 526 00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:07,040 Speaker 2: I fashioned my men'sley game after Jose Alvarado trying to 527 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:09,120 Speaker 2: get those cheap steals in the back court. They add 528 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:12,639 Speaker 2: to Jonta Murray, so they got Murray, McCollum, Ingram Zion 529 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:16,400 Speaker 2: and Herb Jones at center. Okay, what's wrong with that lineup? 530 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:19,240 Speaker 2: I like that starting five. They can do some things. 531 00:26:19,280 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 2: Dejona defense, CJ gets buckets, brandon Ingram contract year, Zion 532 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:27,000 Speaker 2: crossed your fingers, stay healthy. I think that starting five 533 00:26:27,280 --> 00:26:31,600 Speaker 2: is definitely playoff caliber. The problem is Zion's never healthy. 534 00:26:31,960 --> 00:26:33,960 Speaker 2: And you know, I don't know where brenton what number 535 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:35,200 Speaker 2: guy is brandon Ingram on that team. 536 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:38,000 Speaker 4: Rub He should be, honestly should be their number one 537 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:40,280 Speaker 4: because of his style of play and what he does. 538 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 4: The problem is they're never going to let him be 539 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:44,720 Speaker 4: the number one. No, and that's where it kind of 540 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:47,280 Speaker 4: junks everything else up. They're one of those teams that 541 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 4: needs to make a move, not necessarily to get a 542 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:51,960 Speaker 4: better player than Brandy, but to get a better fitting 543 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:55,359 Speaker 4: player than brandon Ingram. That's that's one of those weird situations. 544 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:57,880 Speaker 4: Nobody really wants to make a trade where you're taking 545 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:00,399 Speaker 4: back eighty cents on the dollar, but that's almost what 546 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:02,359 Speaker 4: they have to do for the roster to make more sense. 547 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:06,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, the roster is just a collection of dudes. Uh, 548 00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:07,840 Speaker 2: there were most last. 549 00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:08,600 Speaker 3: Year really good players. 550 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:11,280 Speaker 2: It's just, you know what, it is very solid. So 551 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:13,639 Speaker 2: Rob and I and mostly I. 552 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:17,880 Speaker 4: Will I felt terrible about leaving the Grizzlies out because 553 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:20,640 Speaker 4: with the Jahn Morant quote unquote revenge tour coming up, 554 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:23,920 Speaker 4: I could see them being like the number two seed 555 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:27,960 Speaker 4: because he plays ball to the wall, reckless, abandoned, you know, 556 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:30,840 Speaker 4: vintage Jahn Morant. I could also see them the way 557 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:33,720 Speaker 4: I have it, of them missing the play and altogether. 558 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:37,119 Speaker 4: And I can't even really give you a justifiable reason 559 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:39,520 Speaker 4: as to why I feel that it's gonna be either 560 00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:43,119 Speaker 4: Ying or Yang like, Like, I don't see them just 561 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:45,160 Speaker 4: being a good team and being a four or five seed. 562 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:47,560 Speaker 4: I think either are gonna be really good and great 563 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:50,480 Speaker 4: the way they were before all this stuff happened with Jah, 564 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:52,760 Speaker 4: or I could see them being again like last year 565 00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:55,040 Speaker 4: where they're kind of well last year was injuries, but 566 00:27:55,400 --> 00:27:58,080 Speaker 4: where they're treading water and there, and all it takes 567 00:27:58,119 --> 00:28:00,119 Speaker 4: is an injury here, injury there, and next thing you know, oh, 568 00:28:00,720 --> 00:28:02,480 Speaker 4: they're right back where they were last season. 569 00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:05,159 Speaker 2: Yeah, Jah wants to play with pace, and then how 570 00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:07,960 Speaker 2: does that line up with Zach Edy being on the court. 571 00:28:07,960 --> 00:28:09,400 Speaker 2: And Zach Edy, by the way, might be the rookie 572 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:11,080 Speaker 2: of the year some of the stuff he was doing 573 00:28:11,119 --> 00:28:13,840 Speaker 2: in preseason. He's ready to contribute. Looks like he's going 574 00:28:13,920 --> 00:28:16,639 Speaker 2: to start at center alongside Jaron Jackson, if he's ever healthy. 575 00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:19,600 Speaker 2: I like Bain Marcus Smart, you know, like, listen, you 576 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:21,680 Speaker 2: got Marcus Martin, Desmond bain D and you up on 577 00:28:21,680 --> 00:28:24,720 Speaker 2: the perimeter. That's pretty damn good. I just I'm you know, 578 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:26,920 Speaker 2: I think they won fifty seven games two years ago 579 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:28,960 Speaker 2: something like that. That's when the Lakers knocked him off. 580 00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:31,520 Speaker 2: I think that health has just always been an issue 581 00:28:31,560 --> 00:28:33,640 Speaker 2: for those guys. So it's tough for me to get 582 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:37,240 Speaker 2: too worked up about the Grozies, but clearly the potential, 583 00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:40,240 Speaker 2: as you said, was there. We should drill down real 584 00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:43,360 Speaker 2: quick on the Golden State Warriors. Rob Listen, you guys know, 585 00:28:43,360 --> 00:28:46,400 Speaker 2: Steph Curry's my favorite player in sports. I look at 586 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:49,040 Speaker 2: this starting lineup. Andrew Wiggins swears that he's back in 587 00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:52,680 Speaker 2: the right headspace. Sounds like they're going to basically shoot 588 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:56,360 Speaker 2: as many threes as they can a game. Kevon Looney 589 00:28:56,400 --> 00:28:59,720 Speaker 2: has fallen down the depth chart. TJD looks like he's 590 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:02,200 Speaker 2: the back they're gonna go with the death lineup. They're 591 00:29:02,200 --> 00:29:05,600 Speaker 2: gonna try to make Jonathan Kaminga happen. And at this 592 00:29:05,680 --> 00:29:09,040 Speaker 2: point I have I'm contractually obligated to reference mean girls 593 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:12,680 Speaker 2: and make fetch happen. I like Kuminga, but it feels 594 00:29:12,760 --> 00:29:17,880 Speaker 2: it I've never seen him totally fit this team. It's 595 00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:20,400 Speaker 2: just he's a really good athlete and has a lot 596 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:23,200 Speaker 2: of potential. I just don't know where he fits in. 597 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:25,040 Speaker 2: Like I would like to see him in the Draymond 598 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:27,480 Speaker 2: Green role, but he's not as high Q high IQ 599 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:30,840 Speaker 2: of a passer, really good defender, shop blocker long. But 600 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:34,280 Speaker 2: you can't really have two Draymond Greens out there. And 601 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:36,080 Speaker 2: you know, I know they got Buddy healed and the 602 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:40,280 Speaker 2: D'Anthony Melton and Gary Payton do some things with slow Mo, 603 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:42,680 Speaker 2: and Moses Moody just got a new deal. It's just 604 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:47,160 Speaker 2: a lot of I don't know. And I wonder how 605 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:48,960 Speaker 2: much Curry has left in the tank because he really 606 00:29:48,960 --> 00:29:51,480 Speaker 2: emptied it last year and then he was phenomenal in 607 00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:55,120 Speaker 2: the Olympics. You know, part of me wants to be 608 00:29:55,200 --> 00:29:57,680 Speaker 2: you know, Rob, We're in this business where you know, 609 00:29:57,720 --> 00:29:59,280 Speaker 2: you make a prediction, then you want to be right. 610 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:02,400 Speaker 2: And part of me he wants the Warriors to be 611 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:04,800 Speaker 2: like a thirty three win team, and then Steth Curry says, guys, 612 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:08,760 Speaker 2: I just I can't please trade me, I want to 613 00:30:08,800 --> 00:30:11,320 Speaker 2: contend in my final years Like that does seem like 614 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:12,720 Speaker 2: it's on the table, does it not? 615 00:30:13,760 --> 00:30:15,840 Speaker 4: I mean, I'd like to think that he's one of 616 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:17,440 Speaker 4: those guys where it means more to him to finish 617 00:30:17,520 --> 00:30:19,160 Speaker 4: his career in Golden State. But to your point, I 618 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:23,320 Speaker 4: could absolutely sing him forcing a trade because we saw 619 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:26,320 Speaker 4: over the summer he's absolutely capable of being the best 620 00:30:26,360 --> 00:30:29,280 Speaker 4: player on a championship level team no matter who's on 621 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:32,240 Speaker 4: his team. L Lebron's out there, Kd's out there, and 622 00:30:32,360 --> 00:30:34,040 Speaker 4: when in the gold medal game, Steph Curry was the 623 00:30:34,080 --> 00:30:37,680 Speaker 4: best player, So he definitely has that ceiling that not 624 00:30:37,720 --> 00:30:39,920 Speaker 4: a lot of guys have there. Their problem is, well, 625 00:30:39,920 --> 00:30:43,280 Speaker 4: it's twofold one of them. You're really banking on Draymond 626 00:30:43,320 --> 00:30:45,520 Speaker 4: Green as they out of trouble, and I just don't 627 00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:48,120 Speaker 4: know if historically you can rely on that. Because to 628 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:51,560 Speaker 4: your point, Jonathan Kaminga, I don't believe at this stage 629 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:55,680 Speaker 4: of his career is mentally and emotionally ready to play 630 00:30:55,760 --> 00:30:58,720 Speaker 4: high level basketball. He's a great athlete, he got a 631 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:02,600 Speaker 4: lot of talent. He needs his repetition, He needs an 632 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:06,200 Speaker 4: opportunity to make mistakes and play through it. The problem 633 00:31:06,280 --> 00:31:08,720 Speaker 4: with Golden State is as long as you have Steph 634 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:11,720 Speaker 4: Curry and your roster, you're not in that zone. You're hey, 635 00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:16,400 Speaker 4: we're going for a championship. So if Steph Curry and 636 00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:20,120 Speaker 4: Draymond Green are on one track and Pudjemski and Kaming 637 00:31:20,160 --> 00:31:23,160 Speaker 4: are on another track, Like, how do you satisfy both 638 00:31:23,200 --> 00:31:26,280 Speaker 4: of them? Yeah, and then you're you're banking on Andrew 639 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:29,800 Speaker 4: Wiggins to you know, rekindle his what is it formed 640 00:31:29,800 --> 00:31:31,760 Speaker 4: from twenty twenty two, whoever year it was, when he 641 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:35,560 Speaker 4: was arguably the finals MVP or never Curry? Yeah, yeah, 642 00:31:35,600 --> 00:31:37,960 Speaker 4: like he was the second best player and he hasn't 643 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:39,120 Speaker 4: been that guy since then at all. 644 00:31:39,440 --> 00:31:42,120 Speaker 3: So you have good pieces. 645 00:31:42,080 --> 00:31:43,440 Speaker 4: You have, like I like the Buddy, I like the 646 00:31:43,440 --> 00:31:45,320 Speaker 4: pivot when you go from Klay Thompson to Buddy heel 647 00:31:45,400 --> 00:31:47,840 Speaker 4: and slowma. I think that's a solid move from where 648 00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:50,400 Speaker 4: they were. But you need a lot of things to 649 00:31:50,400 --> 00:31:52,440 Speaker 4: break right for that team to really make any kind 650 00:31:52,480 --> 00:31:54,640 Speaker 4: of noise, and I just don't see it happening. 651 00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:57,920 Speaker 2: And listen, I'm not saying Curry should demand to be traded. 652 00:31:57,960 --> 00:31:59,760 Speaker 2: I'm just saying if they're not winning and there's not 653 00:31:59,800 --> 00:32:03,920 Speaker 2: a path to victory. I just don't understand why we 654 00:32:03,960 --> 00:32:07,640 Speaker 2: should be forced to not watch we should be forced 655 00:32:07,640 --> 00:32:10,120 Speaker 2: to watch Curry end his career with a terrible team 656 00:32:10,240 --> 00:32:12,760 Speaker 2: going nowhere. We want to, like, we want to see 657 00:32:12,760 --> 00:32:16,640 Speaker 2: the best players play, especially in the postseason. And you know, 658 00:32:16,680 --> 00:32:18,760 Speaker 2: I don't see Curry going to Charlotte or whatever, but 659 00:32:18,840 --> 00:32:22,400 Speaker 2: I would hope that somebody says, dude, let's go get 660 00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:25,760 Speaker 2: Steph Curry. Let's make a grandfather offer. You're seeing crazy stuff. 661 00:32:25,760 --> 00:32:28,240 Speaker 2: I know it's not the NFL, but we're seeing reports 662 00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:32,120 Speaker 2: that Cooper Cup the Rams are looking to offload Cooper Cup. 663 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:35,280 Speaker 2: Cooper Cups. You know, he's been there longer than Stafford, 664 00:32:35,800 --> 00:32:38,960 Speaker 2: Aaron Donald retired. Cooper Cup is basically one of the 665 00:32:38,960 --> 00:32:41,600 Speaker 2: most popular Rams. He's been there Super Bowl, he was 666 00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:44,000 Speaker 2: awesome in the Super Bowl, and now the Rams are like, 667 00:32:44,040 --> 00:32:46,360 Speaker 2: we got to move off him. He's old, he's always hurt. 668 00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:50,200 Speaker 2: And it's like, if NFL teams are smart and willing 669 00:32:50,240 --> 00:32:52,480 Speaker 2: to do that, why wouldn't NBA teams. I'm not saying 670 00:32:52,520 --> 00:32:55,280 Speaker 2: you kick Curry to the curb or ship him to Siberia, 671 00:32:55,480 --> 00:32:58,240 Speaker 2: but you give him the option. Like, dude, we didn't 672 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:02,520 Speaker 2: make the playoffs. What am I doing here? You guys 673 00:33:02,560 --> 00:33:04,920 Speaker 2: tried hard to get Lebron. You would have to Paul George. 674 00:33:05,280 --> 00:33:08,240 Speaker 2: You just couldn't deliver. It's time for me to leave, 675 00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:09,400 Speaker 2: And I got no problem with that. 676 00:33:10,640 --> 00:33:13,240 Speaker 4: Was funny with Draymond said earlier on was it Monday? 677 00:33:13,280 --> 00:33:15,080 Speaker 4: I think it was on his own podcast where he said, 678 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:18,320 Speaker 4: you know, we had visions this offseason of getting both 679 00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:20,960 Speaker 4: Paul George and Lori Markinen, and you know, but the 680 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:23,280 Speaker 4: Clippers and the Jazz wouldn't play ball. Well, no shit, dude, 681 00:33:23,280 --> 00:33:25,240 Speaker 4: like no, no offense to Draymond, but that sounds like 682 00:33:25,320 --> 00:33:29,760 Speaker 4: something like like the the hashtag future Laker conglomerate would say, like, yeah, 683 00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:31,560 Speaker 4: you know, we were gonna get Lebron and KD and 684 00:33:31,560 --> 00:33:33,360 Speaker 4: we were also gonna find a way to get Steph 685 00:33:33,440 --> 00:33:35,600 Speaker 4: Curry all on the same team. And but the Warriors 686 00:33:35,640 --> 00:33:37,640 Speaker 4: and the Suns wouldn't play ball. Well, of course they 687 00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:39,960 Speaker 4: didn't soccer. Shout out to Draymond. 688 00:33:40,280 --> 00:33:46,760 Speaker 2: So let's wrap up with our NBA Finals picks. I'll 689 00:33:46,840 --> 00:33:49,720 Speaker 2: let you go first, Rob. I went first on the conferences. 690 00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:52,520 Speaker 4: Well, I am in the Western Conference one of those 691 00:33:52,560 --> 00:33:55,120 Speaker 4: people who was really sipping on the Okse Kool aid. 692 00:33:55,960 --> 00:33:58,640 Speaker 4: I love them, and their biggest problem is the lack 693 00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:01,320 Speaker 4: of size. Hopefully when Hardingschtein comes back in a couple 694 00:34:01,320 --> 00:34:03,040 Speaker 4: of weeks or a couple of months rather that he's 695 00:34:03,080 --> 00:34:05,240 Speaker 4: able to kind of fill that void from them. But 696 00:34:05,800 --> 00:34:07,880 Speaker 4: at their best, I believe they're a five out team 697 00:34:07,880 --> 00:34:10,720 Speaker 4: with chet Holmgren at the center and sliding in Caruso 698 00:34:10,800 --> 00:34:15,000 Speaker 4: into the starting lineup with j Dubb and Sga and 699 00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:17,719 Speaker 4: maybe Jalen Williams might play for them as well. But 700 00:34:18,719 --> 00:34:21,440 Speaker 4: I think as long as they can avoid Denver in 701 00:34:21,480 --> 00:34:24,920 Speaker 4: the playoffs, because I think Jokic would just dominate them inside. 702 00:34:25,480 --> 00:34:27,040 Speaker 4: I like them against everybody. 703 00:34:26,680 --> 00:34:29,640 Speaker 2: Else, So you got OKC wow. 704 00:34:29,800 --> 00:34:31,920 Speaker 4: I like Okac in the Western Conference and in the 705 00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:36,839 Speaker 4: Eastern Conference, the easy pick is Boston. The problem, though, 706 00:34:36,880 --> 00:34:42,160 Speaker 4: I feel, is historically it's really hard to repeat in 707 00:34:42,200 --> 00:34:45,120 Speaker 4: the NBA. Oh yeah, and as good as they are, 708 00:34:45,400 --> 00:34:48,000 Speaker 4: their best is better than everybody else's best by a 709 00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:52,080 Speaker 4: decent margin. Jason Tatum suddenly his jump shot doesn't work. 710 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:55,360 Speaker 4: Over the last ten months, we'll see if Jalen Brown 711 00:34:55,440 --> 00:34:57,560 Speaker 4: is in the right head space to play within their 712 00:34:57,600 --> 00:35:00,279 Speaker 4: system and he's not taking his frustrations out over the 713 00:35:00,320 --> 00:35:03,440 Speaker 4: summer on the rest of the league and by default 714 00:35:03,520 --> 00:35:06,040 Speaker 4: kind of screwing up their mojo a little bit. Porzingis 715 00:35:06,120 --> 00:35:08,600 Speaker 4: is always an injury risk. Al Horford is you know, 716 00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:12,440 Speaker 4: older than me, which is saying a lot. So I 717 00:35:12,560 --> 00:35:15,840 Speaker 4: like the New York Knicks to upset the Boston Celtics 718 00:35:15,840 --> 00:35:18,720 Speaker 4: in the Eastern Conference finals six or seven game series 719 00:35:19,640 --> 00:35:23,360 Speaker 4: and Tom Thibodeau to get the NBA Championship with the 720 00:35:23,400 --> 00:35:25,520 Speaker 4: Knicks beating OKC in the Finalso. 721 00:35:25,200 --> 00:35:27,400 Speaker 2: Oh my goodness, Knicks, Okay, I don't know how that 722 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:31,640 Speaker 2: would go over obviously terrible. Well, I think New York 723 00:35:31,760 --> 00:35:33,399 Speaker 2: people would like to see them be good again. When 724 00:35:33,400 --> 00:35:36,440 Speaker 2: was the last time they want a title? Nineteen seventy something, 725 00:35:36,520 --> 00:35:40,560 Speaker 2: seventy two, seventy three, I don't remember. I'm with you 726 00:35:40,640 --> 00:35:42,600 Speaker 2: on the next I think the Knicks takedown the Celtics 727 00:35:43,040 --> 00:35:44,880 Speaker 2: in a six game series in the next advance to 728 00:35:44,920 --> 00:35:49,080 Speaker 2: the finals. The West is a little muddier. I guess 729 00:35:49,120 --> 00:35:51,640 Speaker 2: I'm going to be on an island. I don't have 730 00:35:51,680 --> 00:35:54,319 Speaker 2: OKAC in the Western Conference Finals. They're very good. Their 731 00:35:54,400 --> 00:35:58,120 Speaker 2: roster one to ten is phenomenal. I just leaves a 732 00:35:58,120 --> 00:36:01,680 Speaker 2: little something to be desired to me. I think I 733 00:36:01,800 --> 00:36:06,200 Speaker 2: reference that account where they have on Instagram and they 734 00:36:06,239 --> 00:36:09,680 Speaker 2: have like NBA players and they'll do AI what they 735 00:36:09,880 --> 00:36:11,600 Speaker 2: what they really said, and it was like, you know, 736 00:36:12,400 --> 00:36:16,200 Speaker 2: and they had Luka Doncic calling Sga a free throw merchant, 737 00:36:16,960 --> 00:36:18,960 Speaker 2: which I think is great, that's what he does. I 738 00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:21,960 Speaker 2: thought that was a hilarious nickname. But so I have 739 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:25,200 Speaker 2: OKC bowing out earlier, I'm gonna go kind of off 740 00:36:25,239 --> 00:36:29,480 Speaker 2: the board here. I've got the Minnesota Timberwolves taking down 741 00:36:29,640 --> 00:36:32,480 Speaker 2: Dallas in the Conference finals, and I've got a Nicks 742 00:36:33,400 --> 00:36:38,160 Speaker 2: versus the Timberwolves NBA Finals with Carl Anthony Towns versus 743 00:36:38,239 --> 00:36:42,640 Speaker 2: Julius Rire. Anthony Edwards becomes the star we thought he 744 00:36:42,680 --> 00:36:46,080 Speaker 2: would be, and I don't have any clue how the 745 00:36:46,160 --> 00:36:52,440 Speaker 2: Knicks would defend him. Probably, you know, O g Hart Bridges, 746 00:36:52,480 --> 00:36:54,200 Speaker 2: they'll all get a crack. I just love how the 747 00:36:54,280 --> 00:36:55,960 Speaker 2: Knicks are built. So I'm gonna go with the New 748 00:36:56,080 --> 00:36:59,960 Speaker 2: York Knicks being crowned the NBA champions. A little hyperb 749 00:37:00,280 --> 00:37:02,600 Speaker 2: but maybe this is the next year, right, The Yankees 750 00:37:02,920 --> 00:37:04,600 Speaker 2: are back in the World Series for the first time 751 00:37:04,600 --> 00:37:07,040 Speaker 2: in like fifteen years. The Jets were supposed to be 752 00:37:07,080 --> 00:37:11,040 Speaker 2: Super Bowl bound. That train has been temporarily derailed, shall 753 00:37:11,040 --> 00:37:13,480 Speaker 2: we say, But I got the Knicks going to the 754 00:37:13,640 --> 00:37:17,640 Speaker 2: NBA Finals and winning the title. Rob, I don't think 755 00:37:17,680 --> 00:37:19,440 Speaker 2: a lot of people are going to agree with these predictions. 756 00:37:19,760 --> 00:37:21,880 Speaker 3: They almost probably they definitely will not. 757 00:37:22,040 --> 00:37:24,200 Speaker 4: But I gotta tell you we are not as crazy 758 00:37:24,200 --> 00:37:28,200 Speaker 4: as it sounds America DraftKings. Right now, the Knicks are 759 00:37:28,280 --> 00:37:30,560 Speaker 4: the third highest odds or third best odds to win 760 00:37:30,600 --> 00:37:33,480 Speaker 4: the championship at plus eight hundred. So it's not like 761 00:37:33,560 --> 00:37:35,719 Speaker 4: we're just throwing shit at the wall and saying, hey, 762 00:37:35,760 --> 00:37:38,200 Speaker 4: hopefully this happens because you're a Knicks fan, and I 763 00:37:38,320 --> 00:37:41,759 Speaker 4: just happen to love the Nova Knicks idea like they 764 00:37:41,760 --> 00:37:47,160 Speaker 4: have legitimately arguably the best starting five in basketball. Like 765 00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:48,840 Speaker 4: them in Boston, I think are right there. It's just 766 00:37:48,840 --> 00:37:51,839 Speaker 4: they're different versions of themselves. But they're both really good 767 00:37:51,920 --> 00:37:55,360 Speaker 4: and as long as again this is the big buzzword 768 00:37:55,400 --> 00:37:58,840 Speaker 4: of the NBA season, if they can be healthy, I 769 00:37:58,880 --> 00:38:01,359 Speaker 4: think they would have been Boston last year if they 770 00:38:01,360 --> 00:38:02,239 Speaker 4: weren't so banged up. 771 00:38:02,560 --> 00:38:03,960 Speaker 2: They fell apart again, they fell apart. 772 00:38:04,000 --> 00:38:05,960 Speaker 4: I just like their mental toughness. I think Thibodeau is 773 00:38:06,000 --> 00:38:10,279 Speaker 4: a great coach. Jalen Brunson is a superstar. If they 774 00:38:10,360 --> 00:38:13,080 Speaker 4: get there and they have reasonable health, not even one 775 00:38:13,120 --> 00:38:15,839 Speaker 4: hundred percent, they're seventy five eighty percent of their top self. 776 00:38:16,239 --> 00:38:18,320 Speaker 4: I think they can definitely win the championship. 777 00:38:18,440 --> 00:38:21,360 Speaker 2: So the Celtics are plus three ten favorites OKC plus 778 00:38:21,400 --> 00:38:24,360 Speaker 2: six point fifty. Then the next at eight hundred, Nuggets 779 00:38:24,440 --> 00:38:30,160 Speaker 2: nine to fifty, Timberwolves plus one thousand. Wow, that is 780 00:38:30,560 --> 00:38:32,439 Speaker 2: I can't believe the Warriors a plus thirty five hundred. 781 00:38:32,680 --> 00:38:35,040 Speaker 2: We don't have them in the playoffs yet. They're odd. 782 00:38:35,120 --> 00:38:37,240 Speaker 2: So somebody's gonna be wrong, the market or US. Anyways, 783 00:38:37,440 --> 00:38:41,600 Speaker 2: that's our NBA preview. Guys, strap in, enjoy the games tonight, 784 00:38:41,880 --> 00:38:42,600 Speaker 2: talk to you tomorrow.