1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:17,120 Speaker 1: The volume. All right, welcoon to Hoops tonight. Here at 2 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: the volume Heavy Wednesday. Everybody, Oh love, you guys are 3 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: having a great week. It is time for our annual 4 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 1: twenty twenty five twenty twenty six NBA Contender rankings. This 5 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 1: is intended to be more of a quick breakdown of 6 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: my contender rankings. We did in depth season previews of 7 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: all thirty NBA teams. You can find those earlier on 8 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: our YouTube channel feed, but I want to kind of 9 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:40,880 Speaker 1: just break the teams down into tears to give you 10 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 1: guys an idea of where I think these teams stands 11 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 1: strictly within the context of the ability to contend for 12 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:50,600 Speaker 1: an NBA Championship. You guys know the drill before we 13 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 1: get started. To subscribe to the Hoops and I YouTube channels. 14 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: You don't miss any more of our videos. Follow me 15 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: on Twitter at underscore jcnlt so you guys don't miss 16 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 1: show announcements. Don't forget about a podcast feed where each 17 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: your podcast owner who tonight. It's also super helpful if 18 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: you leave a rating and a review on that front. 19 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: Jackson's doing incredible work on our social media feeds on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, 20 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 1: and TikTok. Make sure you guys follow us over there. 21 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: The last but not least, keep dropping those mailbag questions 22 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 1: in the YouTube comments and we will hit them in 23 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 1: our mailbags throughout the remainder of the season. All right, 24 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:20,199 Speaker 1: let's talk some basketball. So again, just going to list 25 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 1: these teams into three different tiers. I'm actually I'm gonna 26 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 1: have a top ten, but I'm also going to go 27 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:26,840 Speaker 1: beyond the top ten because I want to kind of 28 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:29,839 Speaker 1: go through the top three tiers of teams, starting from 29 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 1: the third tier being teams that have just the ever 30 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 1: slightest hope of maybe kind of sort of putting our 31 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:38,320 Speaker 1: name in the hat to win a championship. More just 32 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: an acknowledgment of the really good teams in the NBA. 33 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 1: Then the second tier, which is going to be teams 34 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:47,040 Speaker 1: that have a real shot, but it's a long shot, right, 35 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: and then the top tier, your traditional championship contenders that 36 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 1: check all of the boxes. So we're gonna actually work 37 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 1: from the top down today with our top tier contenders. 38 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 1: There are only two teams that I have in this tear, 39 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: Denver and Oklahoma City. These are the teams that check 40 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 1: every single box that you need for legitimate championship contention. 41 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:09,920 Speaker 1: I wanted to kind of go over that concept a 42 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 1: little bit, So, first of all, I think you need 43 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 1: either a supreme talent advantage like the twenty twenty four 44 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 1: Boston Celtics, or you need a bona fide top tier 45 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:23,639 Speaker 1: superstar one of those four dudes at the top of 46 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 1: the league right now in our player rankings, that was 47 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 1: Nikola Jokic, Luka, Doncic, Shae Yo, Just Alexander, Jannison, Tennan Kompo, 48 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:33,079 Speaker 1: those four guys. I think you either need one of those, 49 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:36,640 Speaker 1: or like Boston, five dudes who would make thirty million 50 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 1: dollars on the open market. In this case, both Denver 51 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 1: and Oklahoma City check that box through Nikola Jokic and 52 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:47,960 Speaker 1: Shake Yo Just Alexander. I think you need a transcendently 53 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 1: great unit, a side of the floor where you're as 54 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 1: good or better than anyone else in the NBA. I 55 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:57,239 Speaker 1: think Denver has that on offense, and I think Oklahoma 56 00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 1: City has that on defense. I think your other needs 57 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 1: to be resilient enough for it not to undercut the 58 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:07,359 Speaker 1: success of your other unit. Denver has shown the ability, 59 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: even after bad regular seasons, to be as good on 60 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: defense as they need to be to win when the 61 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 1: time comes. Oklahoma City was an elite regular season offense, 62 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 1: but as we went over in our season preview, they 63 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:22,920 Speaker 1: were a really bad offense in their losses, generally an 64 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 1: inconsistent playoff offense. But to be clear, they were good 65 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 1: enough on that end of the floor when they needed 66 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 1: to be. I think you need depth. You need to 67 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,760 Speaker 1: be able to survive the eighty two game grind and 68 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: be prepared for four two week playoff series. You need 69 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 1: to have enough talent to not have to wear out 70 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: your best players during that stretches so that they're breaking 71 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 1: down in the playoffs. For instance, Golden State waiting so 72 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 1: long to make a trade wearing Steph Curry out he 73 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 1: pulls a hammy for the first time in his career 74 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: in a second round playoff series Denver last year they 75 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: weren't deep enough. They were leaning a lot on some 76 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 1: key guys that Aaron Gordon had to play more perimeter 77 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: defense than ever before. Guys were breaking down, especially Aaron Gordon, 78 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 1: when they got into that series. This year, Denver addressed 79 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 1: to that depth in addition to getting a player that 80 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 1: is going to prevent Aaron Gordon from having to guard 81 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 1: on the perimeter as much. In general, they should be 82 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:22,360 Speaker 1: able to keep everybody's minutes down relative to where they were. 83 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: That should put them in a better position to handle 84 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 1: the eighty two game grind and Oklahoma City is both 85 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:29,720 Speaker 1: deep and young, which is obviously going to set them 86 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 1: up well for that situation. And lastly, I think you 87 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 1: need to be devoid of a crippling weakness. Winning four 88 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 1: rounds will almost certainly put you in front of different 89 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: types of great teams, and when you face different types 90 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:47,720 Speaker 1: of great teams, one of them is probably going to 91 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 1: be able to expose your biggest weakness. For instance, Luka 92 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 1: Doncic as a perimeter defender in previous rounds, he didn't 93 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: have to guard in space as much. They were able 94 00:04:59,920 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 1: to produce enough defense to win Right Boston, though, a 95 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 1: team that was truly able to space Luka doncij out 96 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:10,840 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, his inability to contain the ball 97 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 1: in the perimeter became a crippling weakness for that Dallas team. 98 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:18,720 Speaker 1: For example, I think Luca will need to become a 99 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: better defender in order to ever lead what we would 100 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:25,920 Speaker 1: consider to be a bona fide top tier championship. Contender 101 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:29,599 Speaker 1: that is utterly devoid of a crippling weakness. It remains 102 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 1: to be seen if conditioned Luca will be that kind 103 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: of guy in the future. Right, that's a question mark 104 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:38,600 Speaker 1: for that Lakers team. But like, maybe it's a you 105 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:42,840 Speaker 1: have a coach that is a mistake prone coach that 106 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 1: doesn't play to the team's strengths that could cost you 107 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: a series. Or maybe it's a very flawed player in 108 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:51,119 Speaker 1: your best lineups that could be a breaking point. Rudy 109 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 1: Gobayer for Minnesota's offense against truly elite defenses is an 110 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:58,719 Speaker 1: example of this type of weakness. Right, Neither Oklahoma City 111 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 1: nor Denver has a crippling weakness like that. To be clear, 112 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 1: I still think you can win a championship if you 113 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 1: have a flaw or two in one of those categories 114 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:13,560 Speaker 1: that just listed, but your margin for error becomes much smaller, 115 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 1: And I think that's where you dip into second tier contention. 116 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 1: When you have a question mark in one or two 117 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: of those areas, that's where you need favorable stuff to 118 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:25,039 Speaker 1: happen for you. You need to catch a good matchup, 119 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 1: you need some luck. Right, But Denver and Oklahoma City 120 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 1: are the only two teams in the entire NBA this 121 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:34,279 Speaker 1: year that I think check all of those boxes for 122 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:38,159 Speaker 1: bona fide top tier championship contender. My number one team 123 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:41,280 Speaker 1: and my championship contenders this year is the Denver Nuggets. 124 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 1: So I have Oklahoma City and Denver on equal footing 125 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:47,280 Speaker 1: in this year, to be clear. But the reason why 126 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 1: I'm giving Denver a slight nod stems from the simple 127 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,479 Speaker 1: fact that I think Denver matches up really well with 128 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 1: Oklahoma City. There are some very specific reasons why an 129 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:01,719 Speaker 1: inferior version of this Denver team last year managed to 130 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: push Oklahoma City to the brink. They have the best 131 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 1: player in the series, nikol Jokich, and yes, Oklahoma City 132 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 1: did play him into some rough games, but generally speaking, 133 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 1: he was the one offensive player who was able to 134 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 1: consistently generate great shots for his team against that Oklahoma 135 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 1: City defense. They struggled to pay those shots off at 136 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 1: times where the depth and talent will help this year, 137 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 1: but Nikolajokich was able to break down Oklahoma City's defense 138 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: in two. Denver is just the kind of high IQ 139 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 1: defense that can make Oklahoma City uncomfortable by forcing them 140 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: to think they had to methodically break them down, possession 141 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 1: by possession against different coverages, making good decisions, making long 142 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 1: jump shots. Essentially, Denver does a good job of playing 143 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 1: Oklahoma City into their weaknesses, and this Denver team is 144 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 1: much deeper and much more talented than they were last 145 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:02,840 Speaker 1: year they played series tomorrow. I would pick Denver to 146 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:05,520 Speaker 1: win in six or seven games, and that is why 147 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 1: Denver is my championship favorite at this point. Now, for 148 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:12,920 Speaker 1: Oklahoma City, the case lies in internal improvement. I'm not 149 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 1: saying there's some massive gap here. I think it's incredibly close, 150 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 1: and if they get that type of if internal improvement, 151 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 1: they absolutely can beat Denver and become the first repeat 152 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 1: champion since the twenty eighteen Warriors. I said I'd pick 153 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: Denver to win a series that starts tomorrow. We don't 154 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 1: know where Shay or JDub or Chet will be as 155 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 1: basketball players by the time late May comes around. A 156 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 1: lot can change for all three of those guys. If 157 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: they stand pat or only make very minor improvements, I 158 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 1: think they're gonna lose to Denver. If they make substantial improvements, 159 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 1: they're gonna hoist the trophy again. That's their pathway. For me, 160 00:08:57,600 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: I'm looking at Denver because I like the matchup with 161 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 1: Oklahoma City. It's the best player in the league with 162 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 1: the best roster he's ever had. As much as I 163 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 1: like that Oklahoma City team, I think there's still a 164 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:10,840 Speaker 1: couple of years away from being just like a like 165 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: every season where the very best playoff team and we're 166 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: not going to lose. But you know, four or five 167 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 1: playoff games in an entire playoff run like that's going 168 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 1: to require some internal provement for the improvement for them 169 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:23,439 Speaker 1: to get to that point. Maybe they get here there 170 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 1: this year. Again, they're in that same tier with Denver. 171 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 1: I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Oklahoma City one, 172 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:32,080 Speaker 1: but I'm giving the slight edge to Denver based on 173 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:34,960 Speaker 1: the matchup and having the best the best player in 174 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 1: the series. Second tier contenders, these are teams that are 175 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:41,680 Speaker 1: lacking in one or two of the key areas that 176 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:44,200 Speaker 1: I listed earlier, but they're strong enough overall to have 177 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 1: a legit chance to win the title if things break 178 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:50,520 Speaker 1: their way, Like what if Denver and Oklahoma City play 179 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:53,520 Speaker 1: each other in Round two because Denver has a Jamal 180 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 1: Murray injury and slips to the four seed. And suddenly 181 00:09:57,520 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 1: Denver and Oklahoma City are playing in the second round 182 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 1: and one of the gets knocked out. And what if 183 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:04,400 Speaker 1: you happen to match up really well with the other one, 184 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:07,840 Speaker 1: Or what if you're in the East and you only 185 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:10,960 Speaker 1: have to face one of those teams anyway, Or what 186 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:13,679 Speaker 1: if injuries go your way, you stay healthy all year, 187 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: a couple of your key opponents do not, maybe a 188 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 1: key swing player on your team pops for you. That 189 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 1: pathway exists. It's just a longer shot than the teams 190 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:27,040 Speaker 1: that are in the upper tier. That's what makes up 191 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:30,200 Speaker 1: this second tier of contenders. I have seven teams in 192 00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 1: this tier. 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Number three, and I think this is 221 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 1: the team that is clearly the top of this tier 222 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:12,439 Speaker 1: because of circumstance, the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers check every 223 00:12:12,559 --> 00:12:18,280 Speaker 1: box except for the top tier Superstarbucks. They're deep, they 224 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 1: have an elite unit. They were the only offense in 225 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:23,199 Speaker 1: the league last year to crack a one twenty offensive rating. Obviously, 226 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:25,640 Speaker 1: their offense fell apart in the postseason, but as we 227 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:29,080 Speaker 1: talked about in our season preview, I'm a big believer 228 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 1: that Darius Garland's turf tow was just a devastating type 229 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 1: of injury for that type of offense that depended on 230 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 1: his dribble penetration. Right, their defense is plenty good enough 231 00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:42,120 Speaker 1: if their offense is clicking at its peak level. Again, 232 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 1: they have the depth they need to survive the season 233 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:47,520 Speaker 1: and they don't have a massive weakness. But the biggest 234 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:49,760 Speaker 1: part of it is they play in the East. That 235 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:52,080 Speaker 1: was ultimately what gave them the number three spot. For me, 236 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:57,080 Speaker 1: the pathway is just so clear for Cleveland. They're already 237 00:12:57,080 --> 00:12:59,199 Speaker 1: the best team in the East. The Knicks are the 238 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 1: only team in the conference that really has the talent 239 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:05,840 Speaker 1: and veteran experience to challenge them, and the Knicks have 240 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:09,800 Speaker 1: literally underachieved constantly outside of the Celtics series since they 241 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:12,960 Speaker 1: traded for Karl Anthony Towns. Right, So you win the 242 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:17,320 Speaker 1: East and you beat the battered remains of whoever survives 243 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:22,199 Speaker 1: the Western Conference. Specifically, I think Cleveland's combination of speed 244 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:25,319 Speaker 1: and shooting makes them a real upset threat against a 245 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:28,480 Speaker 1: team like Denver, who can struggle to guard teams that 246 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:31,720 Speaker 1: can really space them out and pick and roll. So 247 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 1: win the East, pray for Denver to make it out 248 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:39,840 Speaker 1: of the West. Upset Denver, you're hoisting the trophy that 249 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 1: clearly defines for me a pathway that I think makes 250 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 1: them the obvious number three team on this list. Number 251 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:50,800 Speaker 1: four the team I'm sick of underrating the Minnesota Timberwolves. 252 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:54,200 Speaker 1: Another team that checks most of the boxes. They have depth, 253 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 1: they have an elite unit, their defense, their other unit 254 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:01,640 Speaker 1: is plenty good enough. Their offense just have two question marks. 255 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 1: Will Ant make the leap to true superstardom this year? 256 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 1: That will require him becoming a dependable night to night 257 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 1: playoff score, not just against teams in the first and 258 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:15,240 Speaker 1: second round, but especially in the conference finals, where he's 259 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 1: ran into teams that have elite rim protection in addition 260 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 1: to athletes that can match up with him. That is 261 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 1: the barrier between Ant being the fifth best player in 262 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 1: the league who's the best player on the next tier, 263 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:31,120 Speaker 1: or the fifth best player in the league who's in 264 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 1: that tier with the other four guys at the top 265 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 1: of the league. The second question mark is Gobert. He's 266 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:40,480 Speaker 1: a big part of why they struggle against elite defense 267 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 1: in the late rounds. He gums up the offense for 268 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 1: him with his inability to catch and finish anything in 269 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 1: traffic that isn't a wide open dunk. The pathway for 270 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 1: the Wolves is Ant taking that leap, becoming that reliable 271 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 1: night to night superstar regardless of opponent the postseason, and 272 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:04,920 Speaker 1: I think they need to catch some favorable matchups. Unfortunately, 273 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 1: with Gobert and the massive leap Ant needs to make, 274 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 1: I don't think they can beat Oklahoma City as currently constructed, 275 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 1: So they need Denver to drop to the four seed. 276 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 1: They need Denver to beat Oklahoma City in round two. 277 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 1: Minnesota's had Denver's number for years now. They absolutely can 278 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:26,400 Speaker 1: upset them in the series, then they're in the finals. 279 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 1: They have a great chance to hoist the trophy. That's 280 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 1: the pathway for the Minnesota Timberwolves. But the big fear 281 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 1: for me with them is I'm having a really hard 282 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 1: time even thinking of a way that they can beat 283 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 1: the Oklahoma City Thunder in a playoff series. Number five 284 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:44,000 Speaker 1: the Los Angeles Lakers. They have two massive question marks. 285 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 1: Their defense on paper doesn't appear close to good enough. 286 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 1: In general, I don't think they're athletic enough overall as 287 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:53,120 Speaker 1: a basketball team, and they have two massive health question 288 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:57,080 Speaker 1: marks forty one year old Lebron James and Marcus Smart, 289 00:15:57,080 --> 00:15:58,520 Speaker 1: who hasn't been able to stay on the floor for 290 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:01,680 Speaker 1: two straight seasons. But they do check the other boxes 291 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 1: pretty well. Luka Doncic is the only player in this 292 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 1: tier of seven teams that I consider to be a 293 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:11,480 Speaker 1: bona fide top tier superstar, and I think he's poised 294 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 1: for the best season of his career. So that gives 295 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 1: the Lakers kind of like an ace in the hole 296 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:18,280 Speaker 1: that the other teams in this tier do not have, 297 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 1: Like Luca absolutely could stare down Shay or nikoley Jokich 298 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 1: in a series and outplay them. That feels very unlikely 299 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 1: for any other star in this tier. Other guys like 300 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 1: Anthony Edwards, Steph Curry, Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, Jalen Brunson. 301 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 1: Those guys could outplay those top dudes for a game 302 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 1: or two, but you'd be shocked if they like outplayed 303 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 1: Jokich er Shay for a whole series. Right, Luca is 304 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:47,440 Speaker 1: that level of talent, and that's what makes the Lakers 305 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 1: different than the other teams in this tier. I do 306 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 1: think they'll have a truly elite unit their offense. I 307 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 1: think they'll be in the one eighteen to one twenty 308 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:57,280 Speaker 1: range with their offensive rating this year, and then with 309 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 1: the additions of DeAndre and Marcus Martin Jake while only 310 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:04,840 Speaker 1: losing Dorian Finney Smith out of their core rotation, that 311 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:08,680 Speaker 1: adds some much needed depth to their rotation. The path 312 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 1: just requires a lot to go right for them. They 313 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:14,119 Speaker 1: need this version of Luca in peak shape to be 314 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:16,679 Speaker 1: less of a defensive week point. Like we talked about earlier, 315 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 1: they need Smart, Aton and Lebron to all stay healthy, 316 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 1: and they need to find a way to be a 317 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 1: mediocre defense either through internal factors like health and just 318 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 1: overall commitment down the roster or what I think they need, 319 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:32,200 Speaker 1: which is a trade a high level perimeter athlete, someone 320 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:36,200 Speaker 1: along the lines of Andrew Wiggins for example. One last 321 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 1: note for the Lakers, I think they present some problems 322 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:42,240 Speaker 1: for both Denver and Oklahoma City, which makes them an 323 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:45,280 Speaker 1: upset threat. They can space Denver out and pick and 324 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:48,399 Speaker 1: roll with Luka Doncic, and they have the ability to 325 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:51,960 Speaker 1: attack Oklahoma City's lack of perimeter size with their big 326 00:17:52,080 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 1: perimeter shot creators in Lebron and Luca. To be clear, 327 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:58,560 Speaker 1: I'd pick both teams against the Lakers at this point. 328 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:00,879 Speaker 1: I just think you need to be able to cause 329 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:04,080 Speaker 1: a real problem for a team in order to upset them, 330 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:06,680 Speaker 1: and the Lakers can present real problems to both of 331 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:08,920 Speaker 1: their teams, and we actually saw that bear out in 332 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:13,680 Speaker 1: regular season games last year. So again, bigger weaknesses than 333 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:16,199 Speaker 1: some of the other teams in this tier, but a 334 00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 1: bigger ace in the hole in the form of having 335 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:21,680 Speaker 1: a top tier superstar. That lands the Lakers at number five, 336 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:26,240 Speaker 1: number six the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers also check 337 00:18:26,280 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 1: most of the boxes. They have an elite unit their defense, 338 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:31,920 Speaker 1: their offense is plenty good enough. They have real depth. 339 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:34,800 Speaker 1: It's older depth, but they do have real depth. They 340 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:37,159 Speaker 1: just have two big question marks. They don't have a 341 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 1: top tier superstar anymore. Kawhi failed to reach that level 342 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:42,240 Speaker 1: last year even when he was healthy, and they have 343 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 1: a crippling weakness in the form of James Harden and 344 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:48,919 Speaker 1: his annual playoff collapses, especially late in big series. The 345 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:51,919 Speaker 1: pathway for them is very simple. What happened with Kawhi 346 00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 1: and the Nuggets series has to be an outlier. He 347 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 1: has to be able to get back to the level 348 00:18:57,560 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 1: he was at in his previous playoff runs when he 349 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:03,160 Speaker 1: was healthy, when he was a legit, bona fide top 350 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:06,440 Speaker 1: tier superstar. If Kawai can get there when the time 351 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 1: is right in a big playoff series, then they suddenly 352 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:12,600 Speaker 1: vault up to top tier contention. Because this is a 353 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:17,120 Speaker 1: really strong and well built roster. They're deep with perimeter defense, 354 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: they're very athletic, they've got rim protection in Zubots. Overall, 355 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:24,440 Speaker 1: it's just a very talented roster that is well built 356 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:27,359 Speaker 1: for the modern NBA. They're well coached. They've got a 357 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:30,320 Speaker 1: floor raising offensive talent in the regular season in James 358 00:19:30,359 --> 00:19:33,200 Speaker 1: Harden and the ceiling raising offensive talent and Kawhi Leonard 359 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:37,240 Speaker 1: in the playoffs. It just requires Kawhi to be that 360 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 1: ace in the hole, the same way I was talking 361 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:41,879 Speaker 1: about Luka Doncic being for the Lakers. If Kawhi can 362 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 1: get to that level, they vault all of these teams 363 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 1: into that number third spot, that three spot. But we've 364 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:49,719 Speaker 1: just been waiting on that with Kawhi for years, and 365 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 1: it actually seems to be trending away from that rather 366 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:57,920 Speaker 1: than closer to that number seven. The Houston Rockets Houston. 367 00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 1: To be clear, for me, had Fred Vanvlee not gotten hurt, 368 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:02,880 Speaker 1: would have been at the bottom of the top tier 369 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 1: of contenders for me in that number three spot because 370 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 1: they would have checked all of the boxes really well. 371 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:11,399 Speaker 1: They wouldn't have had a top tier superstar, but I 372 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:13,960 Speaker 1: think they would have had a massive talent advantage over 373 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 1: most teams. That roster was stacked. When they were healthy, 374 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 1: they would have had an elite unit their defense. They'd 375 00:20:20,880 --> 00:20:23,680 Speaker 1: be plenty good enough on offense. When healthy, they would 376 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 1: have depth, they wouldn't have any crippling weakness. The problem 377 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 1: is is the loss of Fred van Vliet just chops 378 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:32,120 Speaker 1: them right off at the knees in two key areas, 379 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:36,880 Speaker 1: it takes that talent advantage to something far less substantial, 380 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 1: to where suddenly their lack of a true top tier 381 00:20:39,359 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 1: superstar would be more glaring. And it creates a crippling weakness, 382 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:47,439 Speaker 1: specifically a lack of ball handling, and I think that 383 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:49,879 Speaker 1: would just about guarantee a loss for them against a 384 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:53,159 Speaker 1: team like Oklahoma City. Okay see, in general, was a 385 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:55,919 Speaker 1: team I was worried about for Houston. I think Chet 386 00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:59,000 Speaker 1: is a super unique weapon to be able to deploy 387 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 1: on someone like Kevin Rant in a playoffs playoff series. 388 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:04,719 Speaker 1: We saw more examples of that this summer in some 389 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:06,440 Speaker 1: of the one on one footage and Katie was hitting 390 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:09,800 Speaker 1: some super tough shots over Chet. But like Chet can 391 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:13,119 Speaker 1: make kat work in a way that many defenders can't. 392 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:15,720 Speaker 1: And even with Fred van Vliet, I think they would 393 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:18,200 Speaker 1: have strugged against Oklahoma City's ball pressure. But the loss 394 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:21,800 Speaker 1: of Fred van Vliet feels like a death sentence. So 395 00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:24,640 Speaker 1: I have Houston down at seven for now, But they're 396 00:21:24,760 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 1: probably the most likely team out of any of these 397 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:30,160 Speaker 1: seven teams in this tier to eventually jump up into 398 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:34,520 Speaker 1: the top tier because they're they're probably gonna make a trade, 399 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:37,960 Speaker 1: and if they nail the right trade for the right 400 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 1: ball handler, all of a sudden, they vault right back 401 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 1: up towards the top of this list. Number eight. The 402 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:48,480 Speaker 1: New York Knicks a lot of question marks, but also 403 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:51,159 Speaker 1: a lot of upside. Right Like, they had an elite 404 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:54,360 Speaker 1: offense in the regular season, but it fell apart against Indiana, 405 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:56,520 Speaker 1: and in order to win a championship, they're gonna need 406 00:21:56,560 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 1: Mike Brown to be able to find a way to 407 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:02,840 Speaker 1: make their offense resilient from round to round depending on matchups. Right, 408 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 1: their defense is more like a crippling weakness. As I've discussed, 409 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:08,160 Speaker 1: I think Kat is just too mistake prone to build 410 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 1: a championship capable defense around. In our season preview, we 411 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:14,399 Speaker 1: discussed some options there. Mike Brown's gonna have as a 412 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:17,280 Speaker 1: work cutout for him. They do not have a top 413 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 1: tier superstar or a supreme talent advantage, but I do 414 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 1: think they have plenty of death so they need several 415 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:27,240 Speaker 1: key things to go right. They need Mike Brown to 416 00:22:27,280 --> 00:22:31,280 Speaker 1: shore up the playoff offense. They need Mike Brown to 417 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 1: make the defense with Kat work against the best teams 418 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:36,720 Speaker 1: in the league. But the reason why I have them 419 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:38,879 Speaker 1: on this list anyway, despite the fact that they have 420 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:42,920 Speaker 1: question marks on so many of these key championship contention categories. 421 00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:46,960 Speaker 1: Is because they're in the East. You get through Cleveland 422 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:50,879 Speaker 1: somehow and you're right there in the finals. And again, 423 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:53,480 Speaker 1: like similar to what I talked about with Cleveland, if 424 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:57,120 Speaker 1: you catch Denver a team that can struggle with spaced 425 00:22:57,119 --> 00:23:00,960 Speaker 1: out pick and roll, they're at least an upset threat there. 426 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:04,439 Speaker 1: But all of those weaknesses have them towards the bottom 427 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:09,200 Speaker 1: of this tier. Lastly, at number nine, the Golden State Warriors. 428 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:12,119 Speaker 1: I actually think this Golden State team when they're healthy, 429 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 1: is clearly better than a team like the Knicks, but 430 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:19,400 Speaker 1: their age, combined with a brutal Western Conference playoff field, 431 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:22,200 Speaker 1: is what put them at the bottom. For me, it's 432 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:23,800 Speaker 1: just going to be so hard for them to make 433 00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:27,280 Speaker 1: it through eighty two games and three playoff rounds against 434 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:29,399 Speaker 1: all teams that are likely going to be higher teams 435 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:32,480 Speaker 1: on this list, teams that we've already listed, but when 436 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:35,320 Speaker 1: they're healthy. To be clear, I'm very high on them 437 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:37,600 Speaker 1: as a basketball team. I'm a huge believer in Steph 438 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:39,879 Speaker 1: is the third best offensive player in the entire NBA, 439 00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 1: even still at age thirty seven. I think the Jimmy, 440 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:46,400 Speaker 1: Horford Draymond front court will be really good defensively when 441 00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:49,240 Speaker 1: they're all healthy, And for all to talk about their age, 442 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 1: it's more of just like a can those guys survive 443 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 1: long enough to be what they need to be in 444 00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:56,840 Speaker 1: the postseason? Like in the regular season context, I actually 445 00:23:56,840 --> 00:23:58,840 Speaker 1: think Steve Kerr in that front office have always done 446 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:01,840 Speaker 1: a really nice job of finding good young players that 447 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:06,880 Speaker 1: can play regular season shifts. So like the age thing, 448 00:24:07,119 --> 00:24:09,880 Speaker 1: it's less a depth for the regular season and more 449 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:12,480 Speaker 1: like a if they ended up in a second round 450 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:16,679 Speaker 1: series against Oklahoma City or Denver, would Steph, Jimmy, Draymond, 451 00:24:16,840 --> 00:24:21,359 Speaker 1: and Al all be at their relative ceilings at that point? 452 00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:24,720 Speaker 1: And it's just a long shot. For me. I'm a 453 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:26,520 Speaker 1: big believer in the team. I don't think it's a 454 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 1: coincidence that they won as many games as they did 455 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:31,159 Speaker 1: after the Jimmy trade. They had an elite defense, the 456 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:34,240 Speaker 1: offense with Steph was plenty good enough. They had again 457 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 1: the end of the rotation depth with young players. They 458 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:40,400 Speaker 1: had an elite coach. Ultimately, what prevents them from being 459 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:43,520 Speaker 1: a top tier contender is their lack of top end talent, right, 460 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:45,680 Speaker 1: like Steph is too old to be a bona fide 461 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:48,399 Speaker 1: top tier superstar, and they certainly don't have a massive 462 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:50,919 Speaker 1: talent advantage. But what keeps them at the bottom of 463 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:54,560 Speaker 1: this second tier is a really bad combination of being 464 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 1: in a brutal Western conference with a very old core 465 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:01,359 Speaker 1: of players that's unlikely to s survive the grind. But 466 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:04,919 Speaker 1: make no mistake, if those dudes somehow find themselves healthy 467 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:07,439 Speaker 1: in the big spots late in the season, you'd be 468 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:10,639 Speaker 1: foolish not to take them seriously, especially if Steph can 469 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:12,760 Speaker 1: get back to that like twenty seven points per game 470 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:15,240 Speaker 1: in the postseason, where then all of a sudden he's 471 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:18,959 Speaker 1: playing like a bona fide top tier superstar. Those are 472 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:21,440 Speaker 1: the nine teams that I think have a real shot. 473 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:25,160 Speaker 1: There's a third tier. These are all teams that are 474 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:28,679 Speaker 1: extreme long shots. I just more want to list these 475 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:31,400 Speaker 1: is what I consider to be the legitimately very good 476 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:34,160 Speaker 1: teams in the league that are beneath those top two tiers, 477 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:37,959 Speaker 1: either due to strong roster construction or a supremely gifted 478 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:41,639 Speaker 1: star player. Right, I'm gonna just list them, and then 479 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:43,159 Speaker 1: I'm gonna give you guys who I'll pick as my 480 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:45,560 Speaker 1: tenth team, the team that's the top team in this tier. 481 00:25:46,080 --> 00:25:49,399 Speaker 1: I have the Milwaukee Bucks, the Detroit Pistons, they Orlando Magic, 482 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:52,679 Speaker 1: the Atlanta Hawks, the Dallas Mavericks, the Miami Heat, the 483 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:55,200 Speaker 1: San Antonio Spurs, the Philadelphia seventy six Ers, and the 484 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 1: Memphis Grizzlies. These are the teams that I'm putting in 485 00:25:57,320 --> 00:25:59,480 Speaker 1: that third tier that I just want to shout out 486 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:02,600 Speaker 1: as really good basketball teams. If I had to pick 487 00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:05,280 Speaker 1: a team from that list to round out the top 488 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:07,800 Speaker 1: ten as being the best team from the third tier, 489 00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:11,480 Speaker 1: it's gonna be Milwaukee because of Yannis. Similar to what 490 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:14,159 Speaker 1: I was talking about with the Lakers, having one of 491 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:16,679 Speaker 1: the true top tier superstars in the league can make 492 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 1: up for a lot of other issues, and Giannis is 493 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:23,920 Speaker 1: still very much one of those guys. The reason why 494 00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:25,679 Speaker 1: I left them off the second tier is because they 495 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:28,840 Speaker 1: are rife with flaws. Once you get past Giannis, they 496 00:26:28,840 --> 00:26:32,480 Speaker 1: are super light on talent compared to all of those teams. 497 00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:36,160 Speaker 1: They have some gaping weaknesses in terms of aggregate ball 498 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 1: handling as well as perimeter defense and overall team speed 499 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:43,720 Speaker 1: and athleticism. So they have some massive flaws that prevent 500 00:26:43,760 --> 00:26:47,159 Speaker 1: them from really joining into that second tier. But I 501 00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:49,320 Speaker 1: think they're clearly the best team in that third tier, 502 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 1: just based on the fact that they have one of 503 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:54,520 Speaker 1: the top four players in the entire NBA. All Right, guys, 504 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:56,200 Speaker 1: it's all I have for today is always to sincerely 505 00:26:56,240 --> 00:26:58,160 Speaker 1: appreciate you guys for supporting us and supporting the show. 506 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:00,560 Speaker 1: We'll be back on Friday with a mailbag, and the 507 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:03,200 Speaker 1: next week we're starting to sing up. We got a 508 00:27:03,359 --> 00:27:06,360 Speaker 1: we got an NBA basketball game on Tuesday. So as always, 509 00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:13,920 Speaker 1: I appreciate you guys, and we will see you on Friday. M. M.