1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:02,520 Speaker 1: Welcome to the best of the week for What's Right 2 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:05,240 Speaker 1: with Nick Right the best takes in moments from this 3 00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: week on the show Enjoy. 4 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 2: Lakers have the second best odds of the West to 5 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 2: win the title right now at minus one ninety five. 6 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 2: Anthony Edwards says he loves the position that the time Real. 7 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:21,760 Speaker 1: Quick hold on there the second mess odds to win 8 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 1: in the West to win the title minus. 9 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:26,600 Speaker 3: Won in round one. 10 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 4: You're fine, go ahead and h yeah. 11 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 2: So Anthony Edwards says he loves where the Timberwolves are 12 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 2: at right now and saying I love the fact that 13 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 2: everybody wants the Lakers to win. That's how it's supposed 14 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 2: to be. They don't want the Timberwolves to win, and 15 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 2: I get that. What is the key to this series? 16 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: Well, the only chance the Timberwolves have is if Julius Randall, 17 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 1: for the first time in his career, plays well in 18 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: the playoffs. And we've never seen that happen. So I'm 19 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: I'm gonna pull it up. I'm looking down if you're 20 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 1: watching on YouTube, because I'm pulling up on my phone. 21 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 1: Julius Randall's playoff career is truly disastrous, and it's not 22 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 1: overstated it's not being unfair. 23 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 4: It is what it is. 24 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 5: It is. 25 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 1: In twenty twenty one in the first round against the Hawks, 26 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:29,840 Speaker 1: that's the famous Trey Young series. You see, Oh, he 27 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:35,040 Speaker 1: was eighteen eleven and four. That that's actually good on 28 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 1: twenty nine percent from the field. So his first playoff 29 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 1: series ever, he was twenty nine percent from the field. 30 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 1: Then two years later against Cleveland in Round one, he 31 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 1: was fourteen and six a game that was after an 32 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 1: all NBA season, on thirty three percent from the field, 33 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 1: and then and they won that series. And then the 34 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 1: next round against Miami he was eighteen and ten, which 35 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 1: is much better on forty one percent from. 36 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:17,359 Speaker 4: The field, which is okay. 37 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:22,239 Speaker 1: In his playoff career is twenty eight percent from three 38 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 1: and then last year obviously he was hurt for the 39 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: playoffs and it didn't really seem like Knicks fans were 40 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:34,079 Speaker 1: all that bummed about it. And so he is yet 41 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 1: to have a single great playoff series. And even if 42 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 1: you go to individual playoff games, you are hard pressed 43 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: to find more than one good one game. One last 44 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 1: or two years ago against Miami he was really good. 45 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 1: He was twenty five twelve and eight on forty four 46 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 1: percent from the field, which is about as good as 47 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,959 Speaker 1: you can hope for from him. But in his playoff career, 48 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: and he has one other game against Miami where he 49 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:17,800 Speaker 1: was twenty and nine on sixty one percent. But what's 50 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 1: that joke everybody likes to make he is shooting. He's 51 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 1: shooting tour dates or whatever. 52 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:26,239 Speaker 4: Like he's that thing. 53 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 3: Three eleven. 54 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, So in his career, in ascending order, he is 55 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: in the playoffs from the field two for fifteen, three 56 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: for fifteen, three for fourteen, six for twenty three, four 57 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:49,920 Speaker 1: for fifteen, three for ten, five for sixteen, seven for twenty, 58 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 1: seven for nineteen, eight for twenty one, and then five 59 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 1: games forty percent from the field or better eight for twenty, 60 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: eight for eighteen, four for nine, and then the two 61 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: good games seven for thirteen and eight for thirteen. 62 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 4: So that's a. 63 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 1: Fifteen game playoff sample size. He's been good in two 64 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 1: of them. So he's got to be what are you 65 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:19,920 Speaker 1: laughing about that, I'm being to me, No, No, after 66 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: you said that, I just I whispered, go ahead and 67 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: swing that rock, big dog. 68 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 4: I don't think, oh yeah, I didn't hear it. 69 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, So for real though, So that is he's gotta 70 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 1: be good for them to have a chance. And by 71 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:35,920 Speaker 1: the way, gonna be tough because he's gonna be guard 72 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:39,039 Speaker 1: On the other end, He's gonna be guarding Lebron James 73 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 1: a lot. So he is the absolute key now other 74 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:58,279 Speaker 1: than him, I am really interested in how much can 75 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 1: Austin Reeves, how much energy can Austin Reeves make Anthony 76 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 1: Edwards expend on the defensive end, because I know there 77 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 1: have been some thoughts that ant is going to try 78 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:20,160 Speaker 1: to guard Lebron or Luca. That's a terrible idea. Ant's 79 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 1: a very good defender, but he is simply too small 80 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:27,359 Speaker 1: for either one of those guys. Jaden McDaniels will spend 81 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 1: a lot of time on Lebron and Luca. Julius Randall 82 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: will spend some time on Lebron and Luca. Nazrid might try. 83 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 1: Dante's not going to be able to do it. But 84 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 1: point is Anthony Edwards is going to end up matched 85 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:48,760 Speaker 1: up on Austin Reeves a fair amount. Now, I don't 86 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: think the Lakers have anybody who can slow down Anthony Edwards. Now, 87 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,160 Speaker 1: oddly they did well against him in the regular season, 88 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:59,720 Speaker 1: but I would just go ahead and pencil in. Uh, 89 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:04,480 Speaker 1: Anthony Edwards for thirty a game. He's gonna average thirty 90 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 1: in this series, just so be it. Can Austin make 91 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 1: him have to defend enough and run around enough that 92 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 1: he is a little tired on the offensive end at 93 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:22,960 Speaker 1: the end of these games, because you do remember that, 94 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 1: I listen, I get it. You had to trade Luka 95 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:29,039 Speaker 1: Doncic because he's an out of shape alcoholic. I understand Nico, 96 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: but it was Anthony Edwards, who might as well be 97 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: chiseled out of granted, who said he was exhausted in 98 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 1: the conference finals last year, not Luca. And so now 99 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: it's a lot of time off and it's round one 100 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 1: and there's a lot of days between the games. But 101 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 1: how much energy can you make Ant expend on the 102 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:59,159 Speaker 1: defensive end? And then the only other real the only 103 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 1: way for in my opinion, for the Timberwls to have 104 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 1: a real chance, is if Luca's three is not falling, 105 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 1: Because if Luca's three is falling, then what you are 106 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 1: going to see is Lebron really picking and choosing his 107 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 1: spots in the first three quarters of these games and 108 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 1: then taking over in the fourth, something he has not 109 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 1: had the luxury of doing much at all in his 110 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 1: whole career, but certainly in his Lakers career. But you 111 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 1: saw it in that Lakers MAVs game where Lebron you know, 112 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 1: hand off the joystick for the first three quarters and 113 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 1: then best player on the court in the fourth quarter. 114 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 1: You've seen it a few times this year, and so 115 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 1: Julius Randall's gotta be good for them to have a chance. 116 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 1: Nas Reed's going to be super important. And I haven't 117 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 1: even mentioned Rude go Beart because here's the thing. I 118 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 1: think Rudy's in a really rough spot here. It's not 119 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 1: just that Luca has tortured him on multiple continents. It's 120 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 1: not just that Luca hit the biggest shot of his 121 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:22,840 Speaker 1: career over him, but it's also that the Lakers want 122 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: to play small. His offensive limitations will allow them to 123 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 1: play small, because they're not going to be able to 124 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 1: just you know, dump the ball down to go bear 125 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 1: and be like, hey, you have Dorian Finney Smith or 126 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 1: Rudy Hachimura on you give us that sweet baby hook 127 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:44,240 Speaker 1: you've got. That's not going to be a thing. 128 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 6: And defensively, we have seen if you play five out it, 129 00:08:55,800 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 6: Rudy really really struggles and so I would guess that 130 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 6: Ant is awesome and it doesn't matter all that much 131 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 6: in this series. 132 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 1: And I said it to you guys on Tuesday. I'll 133 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 1: say it again. The Lakers minus a game and a 134 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 1: half at plus one point twenty, I think is probably 135 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:25,480 Speaker 1: my favorite bet of this round of the playoffs. 136 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 4: All right, what else you have. 137 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:28,680 Speaker 3: On this series? Do you think this could be the 138 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 3: start of a Luca Ant rivalry? 139 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 1: So I'd love that, and I do think that they 140 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 1: have personalities that would mesh for a rivalry. I do 141 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 1: think that both of these teams, you know, they should 142 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 1: meet in the playoffs consistently moving forward. I don't look 143 00:09:55,320 --> 00:10:01,480 Speaker 1: at Ant yet as the caliber of play player of Luca, 144 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 1: and I don't think that there is much of an argument. 145 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 3: What demons You don't see them as the same caliber 146 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:17,680 Speaker 3: of player. I get like that better. 147 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, I look at Luka as a guy I expect 148 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:27,600 Speaker 1: to win multiple MVPs. That's that's There's only two other 149 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 1: guys in the league in that caliber, and they both 150 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 1: already have multiple. As far as prime guys, I mean, 151 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:37,319 Speaker 1: you know, in Giannis and Jokic, and I look at 152 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:42,720 Speaker 1: Aunt as a guy who might win one you know 153 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:46,080 Speaker 1: what I mean. So, like, I, if you set luca 154 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 1: career MVPs number one and a half, I would immediately 155 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 1: say over. And if you set Ant's number of career 156 00:10:56,280 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 1: MVPs at a half, I would say I needs, like, 157 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 1: I got to really think about this so that you 158 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:07,960 Speaker 1: know that's the eight And I think it's I think 159 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: it's an almost impossibility that Luca never wins a league MVP, 160 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:14,560 Speaker 1: and I think it's a coin flip of Ant does 161 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:18,000 Speaker 1: so again, it were in the margins here, but yeah, 162 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 1: I do look like and I think a good evidence 163 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:26,000 Speaker 1: of that is if the Lakers had traded Anthony Edwards, 164 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 1: Max Christi and a first round pick. I'm sorry, if 165 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 1: the Lakers had traded Anthony Davis, Max Christi and a 166 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 1: first round pick for Anthony Edwards, we wouldn't two months 167 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:42,320 Speaker 1: later still be like, that's the dumbest shit I've ever 168 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:44,320 Speaker 1: seen in my life? Is it because they want to 169 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 1: move the team? Like the you would have legitimately, you know, 170 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 1: debates on each side like okay, who got better? 171 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:54,760 Speaker 4: Like does it make it? 172 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 1: And I understand for the way the Timberwolves are constructed, 173 00:11:58,559 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 1: it wouldn't even make sense. 174 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:04,040 Speaker 4: But yeah, that's how I. 175 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:06,480 Speaker 1: So, and I really like it, but I think he 176 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:09,040 Speaker 1: needs to level up a tiny bit. 177 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:09,319 Speaker 4: Now. 178 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 1: He's not as old as Luca, you know what I mean. 179 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 1: He hasn't been in the league quite as long. And so, uh, 180 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:16,840 Speaker 1: there is that go ahead? 181 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:19,080 Speaker 3: Do you well, were you done with the with the 182 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:19,840 Speaker 3: first follow up? 183 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:23,200 Speaker 2: I was, I was gonna ask you if you see 184 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:26,079 Speaker 2: JJ reddicks stock rising or how much you see it 185 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 2: rising this offseason? 186 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 1: Well, it depends on the playoff run. I mean, if 187 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:33,080 Speaker 1: they get bounced in round one, it won't. People like 188 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:36,200 Speaker 1: Darvin Ham made the conference finals his first year. But 189 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:40,720 Speaker 1: I I think it's already pretty obvious that JJ Reddick 190 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:43,079 Speaker 1: has done an excellent job his first year as a 191 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:45,599 Speaker 1: Lakers head coach. Now we'll see how he handles the playoffs. 192 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:49,080 Speaker 1: I know there's some in some circles there is a 193 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 1: belief that the Lakers have been kind of using a 194 00:12:54,840 --> 00:13:00,319 Speaker 1: playoff style defense in the regular season and to deal 195 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:03,679 Speaker 1: with their lack of size, and that that might have 196 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 1: been a mistake by JJ because now they're not going 197 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 1: to have an extra gear and more people have seen 198 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 1: it so they can prepare for it. I'm less concerned 199 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:16,360 Speaker 1: with that than others. But yeah, I think JJ's done 200 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 1: an excellent job. I think that there was a legitimate 201 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 1: argument to include him on Coach of the Year ballots 202 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:24,080 Speaker 1: this year, and so credit to JJ, who people know 203 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:27,839 Speaker 1: I historically not the biggest fan of as far as 204 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:31,199 Speaker 1: a media presence, but he did a really good job. 205 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 1: The NBA eighty two game grind is done and now 206 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 1: the real fun begins. The NBA Playoffs are here and 207 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:46,680 Speaker 1: it's time for all the high stakes drama, clutch moments, 208 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:50,439 Speaker 1: and jaw dropping plays can't wait. 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For additional 237 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:48,000 Speaker 5: terms and responsible gaming resources, see DKNG dot co slash 238 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 5: b ball. 239 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 1: The so MVP to me is quite simple, and I 240 00:15:55,240 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 1: have been sorry, Daniel, really, I have found it unbelievable 241 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:10,280 Speaker 1: the number of people who have just decided all of 242 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 1: the rules that I laid the groundwork for last year 243 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 1: no longer apply. And so for me, the only question 244 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 1: for MVP is the fifth spot. One through four are 245 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 1: pretty obvious. Shay is the league MVP. He's thirty three 246 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:32,400 Speaker 1: a game on a sixty eight win team. Joker should 247 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:35,840 Speaker 1: be the unanimous second place MVP guy. He's thirty a 248 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:39,360 Speaker 1: game with a triple double, carrying a team that is 249 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 1: terrible defensively. Some of that's on him and just fired 250 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 1: their coach. Jiannis is third, Tatum is fourth, and if 251 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:52,360 Speaker 1: you want to say Tatum's third, Yanis is fourth, that's fine. 252 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:56,800 Speaker 1: I think what Yannis has done, especially despite Dame being out, 253 00:16:56,880 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 1: is remarkable, but that's a debate. And then or fifth place. 254 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:12,960 Speaker 1: It was a debate between the following Donovan Caid, Edwards 255 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:22,359 Speaker 1: and Lebron and I still want well, I'll talk about 256 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:25,080 Speaker 1: All NBA first team because my one through five, my 257 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:30,800 Speaker 1: MVP ballot is not my first team All NBA, and 258 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:37,119 Speaker 1: I'll explain that in a minute. But my fifth place 259 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:43,680 Speaker 1: spot goes to Lebron, and it goes to Lebron because 260 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:50,399 Speaker 1: despite the injury, still played seventy games. He seamlessly did 261 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 1: what a lot of people thought he either wouldn't be 262 00:17:56,000 --> 00:18:01,000 Speaker 1: willing to or able to, which is fit with Luca. 263 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:07,639 Speaker 1: People are recreating history that, oh, the Lakers were headed 264 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:10,360 Speaker 1: for the play in before the Luca trade. The Lakers 265 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 1: were the four seed the day Luca made his debut 266 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:19,959 Speaker 1: with the team. They stayed even though Anthony Davis had 267 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:22,919 Speaker 1: gotten hurt. They were on a winning streak when Luca 268 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:27,280 Speaker 1: first got to the team. They're only real losing this 269 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 1: year happened surrounding Lebron's injury. Lebron was a Swiss Army 270 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:38,240 Speaker 1: knife defensively once they got Luca, and honestly, once Ad 271 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 1: went down. They are the three seed in a loaded 272 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 1: Western conference. They were only Oklahoma City was better this 273 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 1: year against the best ten teams in basketball. Lebron's been 274 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:54,440 Speaker 1: the through line of it all. I have in his 275 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:59,000 Speaker 1: fifth place in MVP now to the top of the ballot. 276 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:05,640 Speaker 1: So here's why I find these folks who are now 277 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:11,480 Speaker 1: saying they are going to vote for Joker to be 278 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:15,760 Speaker 1: so disingenuous and what they simply should say is he's 279 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:18,080 Speaker 1: my favorite player. He's the best player in the league, 280 00:19:18,119 --> 00:19:25,760 Speaker 1: so I'm voting for him. Last year, the numbers for 281 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:32,119 Speaker 1: Joker v. Luca were not close. I will remind you 282 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 1: of them. 283 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 4: Okay. 284 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:43,920 Speaker 1: Last year, Luca averaged thirty four nine and nine. He 285 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:49,159 Speaker 1: won the scoring title on good efficiency. He averaged thirty 286 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:53,879 Speaker 1: four points, nine point two rebounds, nine point eight assists, 287 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:59,400 Speaker 1: so basically thirty four nine to ten. The league MVP 288 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:06,320 Speaker 1: was Nikola Jokic, who averaged seven fewer points twenty six 289 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:11,200 Speaker 1: and a half, three more rebounds twelve and a half, 290 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 1: and one fewer assists nine. 291 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:17,320 Speaker 4: And it wasn't close. 292 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:22,879 Speaker 1: Luka got four first place votes, and the argument was 293 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 1: purely well, Jokers team won fifty seven games, Luca's team 294 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:34,720 Speaker 1: won fifty, and Luca was not very good. Even though 295 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:38,320 Speaker 1: the team was fine defensively, Luca was not very good defensively. 296 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:45,359 Speaker 1: Those same people now this year are saying throw those 297 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:46,359 Speaker 1: rules out. 298 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:50,480 Speaker 4: And even though. 299 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:56,400 Speaker 1: Shay's team has won sixty eight games and Jokers team 300 00:20:56,480 --> 00:21:00,920 Speaker 1: won fifty, the same exact number where lucas seen won 301 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 1: last year, I think Joker's gonna get it because I've 302 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 1: never seen an offensive season like this, And my question is, 303 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:12,560 Speaker 1: didn't you kind of see an offensive season like this 304 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:17,879 Speaker 1: last year by a guy who got four first place votes? Again, 305 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:24,360 Speaker 1: Luca last year was thirty four, nine and ten. Joker 306 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:30,320 Speaker 1: this year is thirty let me get yeah, twenty nine 307 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:35,399 Speaker 1: point six called thirty thirteen and ten. So four or 308 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:38,439 Speaker 1: fewer points four more rebounds on a team that won 309 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:44,040 Speaker 1: the same amount of games. And so that now you 310 00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 1: might say, Nick, last year, weren't you a guy that 311 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:53,239 Speaker 1: was arguing for Luca. Wouldn't that then follow that this 312 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:57,200 Speaker 1: year you should be arguing for Joker one hundred percent 313 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:01,960 Speaker 1: if one of two things were won, I had an 314 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:05,439 Speaker 1: actual vote and it was impacting it. So I must 315 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:09,680 Speaker 1: vote with consistency or two. And this is more importantly 316 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 1: and really the reasoning. I do feel like the previous 317 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 1: winner winners, but certainly in the most recent year continues 318 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:26,959 Speaker 1: to set the precedent for the voting public because it 319 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:31,520 Speaker 1: is an undefined award. So last year when a guy 320 00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:34,560 Speaker 1: with fifty wins who's playing in the four to five game, 321 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:38,520 Speaker 1: who averaged thirty four to nine to ten, got four 322 00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:43,240 Speaker 1: of one hundred votes because we said best player on 323 00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:46,359 Speaker 1: the best team with really good stats is going to 324 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:51,920 Speaker 1: run away with it to then not give Shay when 325 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:54,800 Speaker 1: Shay is again. It's like Shay's averaging twenty five a game. 326 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 1: He's thirty three, five and six with excellent defense on 327 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:04,679 Speaker 1: a sixth win team. And the history of guys on 328 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:09,760 Speaker 1: teams who have won sixty eight plus games, all of them, 329 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 1: every team that has ever won sixty eight plus Steph 330 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 1: won MVP. Jordan won MVP the sixty nine win. Lakers 331 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:21,840 Speaker 1: did not have the league MVP. Kareem won it in 332 00:23:21,920 --> 00:23:25,960 Speaker 1: seventy two, but that is because two Lakers split votes. 333 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:29,920 Speaker 1: Wilt and West finished third and second. That's why the 334 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:35,399 Speaker 1: Lakers didn't have one. The who are the other ones? 335 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:38,879 Speaker 1: Dave Cowen's on the sixty eight win Celtics won MVP, 336 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:42,879 Speaker 1: Jordan won sixty nine games and shamefully didn't win it. 337 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:44,879 Speaker 1: Ninety seven of the voters got to Sickle giving it 338 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:47,080 Speaker 1: to him, gave it to Karl Malone. But it's just 339 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:50,639 Speaker 1: folks need to just say, I like Joker the most 340 00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:52,919 Speaker 1: so even though his coach got fired and his defense 341 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:55,320 Speaker 1: has been bad, and even though last year it was 342 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:58,119 Speaker 1: about wins, this year it's about ross stats. I'm just 343 00:23:58,119 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 1: not gonna lie. I just think it's I think Shaye 344 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:04,480 Speaker 1: the MVP now to All NBA. So again I don't 345 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:09,160 Speaker 1: have an actual vote, but and I know they changed 346 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:13,239 Speaker 1: the rules. I want my All NBA First Team at 347 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 1: the very least to be two guards, two forwards in 348 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:21,760 Speaker 1: a center, and I want all of my All NBA 349 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:24,480 Speaker 1: teams to at least be credible teams you could roll 350 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:27,640 Speaker 1: out on a basketball court. So even though I had 351 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:31,919 Speaker 1: Lebron as my fifth place in MVP voting, I do 352 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:34,880 Speaker 1: not have him as All NBA First Team. I gave 353 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:39,399 Speaker 1: that to Donovan. So I want my two guards to 354 00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:43,439 Speaker 1: be Shayan Donovan, my two forwards Jonason Tata, my center Joker. 355 00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:50,240 Speaker 1: Second Team All NBA for me was very simple. My 356 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:54,080 Speaker 1: two guards are Stepan ant Cade's technically a guard, but 357 00:24:54,119 --> 00:24:55,960 Speaker 1: he's tall enough we can just put him in kind 358 00:24:55,960 --> 00:24:59,280 Speaker 1: of that point forward spot. He and Lebron are second team, 359 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:03,000 Speaker 1: and Alp Shingoon, who was the best player on a 360 00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:06,200 Speaker 1: Rockets team that was the second seed. He is second 361 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:12,280 Speaker 1: Team All NBA, Third Team All NBA. With apologies to 362 00:25:12,359 --> 00:25:18,720 Speaker 1: Tyrese Haliburton. Halliburton had his spots stolen in Game eighty two. 363 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:24,639 Speaker 1: Demons by James Harden thirty nine to ten to lock 364 00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:26,960 Speaker 1: up the five seed and stay out of the play in. 365 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:33,280 Speaker 1: So it's Jalen Brunson, James Harden, Jalen Williams as a forward. 366 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:36,439 Speaker 1: Because your team wins sixty eight games, it's not just 367 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:40,040 Speaker 1: one guy. Carl Anthony Towns is the other forward and 368 00:25:40,119 --> 00:25:43,560 Speaker 1: Evan Mobley as the other center. Again, that team wants 369 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:46,760 Speaker 1: what sixty four they need someone other than just Donovan. 370 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:49,840 Speaker 1: My Defensive Player of the Year was not difficult for me. 371 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:52,680 Speaker 1: I think Draymond really hurt himself at the end of 372 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:56,240 Speaker 1: the year. It is Evan Mobley, my sixth man. 373 00:25:56,040 --> 00:25:58,359 Speaker 3: Of the the Mobley thing. 374 00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:00,520 Speaker 2: You have him in as your defensive place the year, 375 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:03,320 Speaker 2: but he's only in your third team All NBA. 376 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:07,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, so that happens sometimes. The where in hell there 377 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:11,359 Speaker 1: have been years defensive Player of the Year didn't even 378 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 1: make any All NBA team. I don't think Marcus Smart 379 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:16,600 Speaker 1: made an All NBA team when he won it. 380 00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:17,080 Speaker 4: I don't think. 381 00:26:17,119 --> 00:26:18,959 Speaker 1: I don't know if Tony Allen, did Tony Allen ever 382 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:20,720 Speaker 1: win Defensive Player of the Year, I don't remember, but 383 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:21,919 Speaker 1: that happened sometimes. 384 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:24,520 Speaker 4: But I think he's the defensive Player of the Year. 385 00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:28,359 Speaker 1: Six Man of the Year is Malik Beasley. Just an 386 00:26:28,359 --> 00:26:32,680 Speaker 1: absolute flamethrower off the bench, and I guess somewhat controversial 387 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 1: most improved. I think it's if he's a zubots I 388 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:40,720 Speaker 1: almost had zubots On as my on my All NBA team. 389 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:45,200 Speaker 1: He jumped his scoring by fifty percent over his career. 390 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:49,240 Speaker 1: He's been great defensively, Clippers have been excellent, He's been huge. 391 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:51,440 Speaker 1: I think he's the most improved player, even though he's 392 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:54,359 Speaker 1: old and it usually doesn't go to old guys. Clutch 393 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:58,160 Speaker 1: Player of the Year is Lebron. Lebron's the only player 394 00:26:58,160 --> 00:26:59,920 Speaker 1: in the league with four hundred, one hundred one hund 395 00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:05,359 Speaker 1: in the fourth Lebron's fourth quarter plus minus and the 396 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:08,320 Speaker 1: Lakers record in the fourth quarter and his assistant turnover 397 00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:11,960 Speaker 1: ratio is better than either of the previous Clutch Player 398 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:15,520 Speaker 1: of the Year winners. And Stephan Ant and I understand 399 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:19,640 Speaker 1: Jalen Brunson's clutch numbers are going to probably make Jalen 400 00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:22,480 Speaker 1: Brunson win this award. That is in part because they 401 00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:26,119 Speaker 1: do not have clutch numbers for defense in the clutch, 402 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:29,480 Speaker 1: where Jalen was lacking. Obviously because of his size. I 403 00:27:29,520 --> 00:27:32,040 Speaker 1: think Lebron's clutch Player of the Year, Rookie of the 404 00:27:32,119 --> 00:27:36,639 Speaker 1: Year is very very simple. Stefan Cassel is going to 405 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:39,760 Speaker 1: be close to unanimous. Well, Reesa Chale gets some votes, 406 00:27:40,080 --> 00:27:42,399 Speaker 1: and I think Coach of the Year demons is emy 407 00:27:42,520 --> 00:27:47,560 Speaker 1: Udoka getting this Rockets team to the two seed. When 408 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:50,919 Speaker 1: Jalen Green's a nice player. Amon Thompson's gonna be an 409 00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:54,440 Speaker 1: awesome player, but he's very young. I think em Udoka 410 00:27:54,840 --> 00:28:00,160 Speaker 1: deserves Coach of the Year. So those are my ballots 411 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:02,880 Speaker 1: and my full NBA awards. 412 00:28:03,359 --> 00:28:04,920 Speaker 4: All right, it makes sense to everybody. 413 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:09,400 Speaker 2: Lakers locked up the three seed and now they are 414 00:28:09,480 --> 00:28:13,880 Speaker 2: facing an in Minnesota in Round one. Luke obviously took 415 00:28:13,920 --> 00:28:16,919 Speaker 2: care of business, but against against them last year he 416 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:21,600 Speaker 2: averaged thirty two, thirty two, nine and eight. How do 417 00:28:21,680 --> 00:28:24,000 Speaker 2: you think these teams stack up against each other? 418 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:25,080 Speaker 3: Are you a little worried there? 419 00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:30,800 Speaker 1: No, this is the ideal bracket for the Lakers. Okay, So, like, listen, 420 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:35,359 Speaker 1: everything's hard in the West, and everyone wanted Memphis. But 421 00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:37,600 Speaker 1: once it was clear Memphis wasn't going to climb out 422 00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:40,320 Speaker 1: of the play in part of it, then this was 423 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:43,120 Speaker 1: the best you could have hoped for, Like, you want 424 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:46,800 Speaker 1: to play the Nuggets right now? I don't Jamal Murray's back. 425 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:49,960 Speaker 1: Joker is joker. You won't play the Clippers right now? 426 00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:58,000 Speaker 1: Holy shit, that team looks unbelievable. The Warriors, because of 427 00:28:58,080 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 1: Steph are always dangerous. So again, the best possible path 428 00:29:07,880 --> 00:29:14,680 Speaker 1: for the Lakers, in my opinion, was having the thunder 429 00:29:15,200 --> 00:29:19,440 Speaker 1: Nuggets and Clippers on the other side of the bracket. 430 00:29:20,360 --> 00:29:21,240 Speaker 4: And they do. 431 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:26,160 Speaker 1: They are they might. By the way, also, if the 432 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:31,120 Speaker 1: Warriors lose tonight, they'll If the Warriors lose tonight, the 433 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:35,800 Speaker 1: Lakers road to the Conference finals is Timberwolves and then 434 00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:40,520 Speaker 1: either Rockets Grizzlies, And even if the Warriors win tonight, 435 00:29:40,560 --> 00:29:46,760 Speaker 1: then Timberwolves in either Rockets Golden State and so aunt 436 00:29:46,880 --> 00:29:49,560 Speaker 1: might average thirty to a game in this series. The 437 00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:52,520 Speaker 1: Lakers do not have anyone that can guard Anthony Edwards, 438 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:55,920 Speaker 1: but that's fine. Here are the other things that are 439 00:29:55,960 --> 00:30:00,840 Speaker 1: gonna happen. I don't know how you can incredibly play 440 00:30:00,960 --> 00:30:03,320 Speaker 1: Rudy Gobert the amount of minutes you probably want to 441 00:30:03,360 --> 00:30:07,280 Speaker 1: play him. Luca just told us a week ago. He 442 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:12,960 Speaker 1: was like, what moment from your from the MAVs video 443 00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:17,000 Speaker 1: got you choked up the most. And it wasn't when 444 00:30:17,040 --> 00:30:20,920 Speaker 1: they drafted him. It wasn't, you know, one of his 445 00:30:21,240 --> 00:30:25,840 Speaker 1: crazy buzzer beaters. It wasn't the seventy point game. It 446 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:31,400 Speaker 1: was hitting the step back over Gobert in the conference finals, 447 00:30:31,640 --> 00:30:36,560 Speaker 1: then cursing him out in Slovenia. Luca has tortured Rudy 448 00:30:36,560 --> 00:30:42,240 Speaker 1: Gobert on multiple continents in the Olympic Slovenia against France. 449 00:30:42,320 --> 00:30:45,200 Speaker 1: He's done it when Gobert was a Jazz. He did it. 450 00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:48,800 Speaker 1: When Gobert was a Timberwolf, he did it. So that 451 00:30:49,040 --> 00:30:52,080 Speaker 1: is a rough spot for the Timberwolves to start with. 452 00:30:52,560 --> 00:30:57,120 Speaker 1: You then add that the Lakers are getting They no 453 00:30:57,240 --> 00:31:02,200 Speaker 1: longer have to deal with playoff D'Angelo Russell, which is 454 00:31:02,560 --> 00:31:08,560 Speaker 1: a disaster, and instead get to go against playoff Julius Randall, 455 00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:13,120 Speaker 1: which is a different type of disaster. That's nice. They 456 00:31:13,120 --> 00:31:16,880 Speaker 1: don't have Darvin Ham with his hands in his pockets 457 00:31:17,360 --> 00:31:22,440 Speaker 1: or drawing up on the whiteboard contest without fouling. They've 458 00:31:22,480 --> 00:31:26,560 Speaker 1: got JJ who's been up for thirty nine straight hours 459 00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:30,160 Speaker 1: figuring out how to blitz Anthony Edwards. 460 00:31:30,200 --> 00:31:31,120 Speaker 4: All that's good. 461 00:31:32,120 --> 00:31:36,440 Speaker 1: You also have a series that because Luca is going 462 00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:41,240 Speaker 1: to want to make Rudy Gobert cry. Lebron's gonna be 463 00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:43,959 Speaker 1: able to sit back the first three quarters like he 464 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:50,360 Speaker 1: did in that MAVs game. So again, I think it 465 00:31:50,560 --> 00:31:57,920 Speaker 1: is a hard fought five games for the Lakers, maybe six, 466 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:04,200 Speaker 1: I will tell you, guys, is my favorite round one bet. 467 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:08,160 Speaker 1: Shout out to my friends at DraftKings, by the way, 468 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:11,640 Speaker 1: like we should. I would like to can DraftKings. Can 469 00:32:11,680 --> 00:32:15,120 Speaker 1: we start getting some boosts or something? I just if 470 00:32:15,160 --> 00:32:16,200 Speaker 1: there's something I really like. 471 00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:16,719 Speaker 4: I don't know. 472 00:32:16,840 --> 00:32:19,960 Speaker 1: This is plus one twenty. Maybe they can throw my 473 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:22,160 Speaker 1: face on it, make it plus one twenty five for 474 00:32:22,240 --> 00:32:26,880 Speaker 1: what's right, listeners. But the Lakers minus a game and 475 00:32:26,920 --> 00:32:31,920 Speaker 1: a half in the series, meaning is plus one twenty. 476 00:32:32,800 --> 00:32:35,800 Speaker 1: So the Lakers for the series is minus two hundred. 477 00:32:36,160 --> 00:32:38,880 Speaker 1: So question is, do you think the Lakers are gonna 478 00:32:38,880 --> 00:32:43,160 Speaker 1: win the series? Yes, okay, you bet them at minus 479 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:46,720 Speaker 1: two hundred you win if they win in four or five. 480 00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:47,360 Speaker 4: Six or seven. 481 00:32:49,040 --> 00:32:52,600 Speaker 1: Or you can get them at minus a game and 482 00:32:52,640 --> 00:32:58,520 Speaker 1: a half at plus one twenty and you win if 483 00:32:58,560 --> 00:33:01,480 Speaker 1: they win the series in four or five or six. 484 00:33:02,360 --> 00:33:04,840 Speaker 1: So yes, you cost yourself if it's a seven game 485 00:33:04,920 --> 00:33:08,080 Speaker 1: Lakers win, but I think it's gonna be seven games 486 00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:11,040 Speaker 1: because I think Luca is gonna light this team on fire, 487 00:33:11,920 --> 00:33:15,920 Speaker 1: and I think that, uh, listen, nas Reed's gonna be 488 00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:21,120 Speaker 1: a problem. You got credit where it's due. Jaden McDaniels 489 00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:24,640 Speaker 1: is an excellent defensive player, but they got We saw 490 00:33:24,760 --> 00:33:28,400 Speaker 1: Luca with a worst supporting cast, beat this team in 491 00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:31,000 Speaker 1: five to go to the finals last year. Now, aunt 492 00:33:31,480 --> 00:33:34,400 Speaker 1: said I got tired, which was odd, and ant won't 493 00:33:34,440 --> 00:33:36,880 Speaker 1: be tired this time. But you also have Lebron with 494 00:33:36,920 --> 00:33:38,440 Speaker 1: eight days off coming into it. 495 00:33:38,600 --> 00:33:42,360 Speaker 2: I on the Lebron's side, are like, obviously not trying 496 00:33:42,400 --> 00:33:44,400 Speaker 2: to speak this in the existence, but are you worried 497 00:33:44,400 --> 00:33:45,479 Speaker 2: at all about his growing? 498 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:48,040 Speaker 3: So I know that was kind of acting up last year. 499 00:33:48,120 --> 00:33:51,160 Speaker 1: I saw it, yet so it looked like he kind 500 00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:56,640 Speaker 1: of tweaked it in the game against Houston Game eighty one, 501 00:33:56,760 --> 00:34:00,360 Speaker 1: he didn't seem too concerned. And this is also why 502 00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:05,200 Speaker 1: you know having eight days off is going to be 503 00:34:05,360 --> 00:34:09,440 Speaker 1: so incredibly useful and helpful. So no, I'm not obviously, 504 00:34:09,840 --> 00:34:12,880 Speaker 1: if he truly reaggravates his growing, if he has to 505 00:34:12,920 --> 00:34:16,759 Speaker 1: miss time, then that would be a problem. But this 506 00:34:16,840 --> 00:34:19,759 Speaker 1: is where I remind you guys of one of the 507 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:28,800 Speaker 1: single most remarkable stats in basketball history, which is Lebron 508 00:34:28,960 --> 00:34:35,320 Speaker 1: James teams have played in two hundred and eighty seven 509 00:34:35,440 --> 00:34:39,480 Speaker 1: playoff games demanse in his career two hundred and eight. 510 00:34:39,520 --> 00:34:44,719 Speaker 1: So teams Lebron has been on have played in two 511 00:34:44,800 --> 00:34:47,879 Speaker 1: hundred and eighty seven playoff games. Of those two hundred 512 00:34:47,920 --> 00:34:52,680 Speaker 1: and eighty seven, Lebron James has played in two hundred 513 00:34:52,680 --> 00:34:57,480 Speaker 1: and eighty seven. He has never missed a single playoff 514 00:34:57,520 --> 00:35:01,280 Speaker 1: game in his career. So yes, finger cross, knock on wood, 515 00:35:01,280 --> 00:35:04,440 Speaker 1: whatever you gotta do. But also that number is so. 516 00:35:04,840 --> 00:35:06,480 Speaker 4: Bananas, it's pretty crazy. 517 00:35:07,320 --> 00:35:12,280 Speaker 1: It's three and a half full seasons. Yeah, he's played, 518 00:35:12,840 --> 00:35:18,440 Speaker 1: He's this will be his fifty fifth career playoff series, 519 00:35:19,840 --> 00:35:23,200 Speaker 1: fifty five series. He's forty one and thirteen in his 520 00:35:23,239 --> 00:35:27,600 Speaker 1: career in playoff series, and so yeah, I mean, I 521 00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:29,920 Speaker 1: you hope. Obviously he's got to stay healthy. He's done 522 00:35:29,960 --> 00:35:30,799 Speaker 1: a good job of that. 523 00:35:31,040 --> 00:35:31,720 Speaker 4: Through his career. 524 00:35:31,760 --> 00:35:34,840 Speaker 1: One more question before we move on to some other stuff. 525 00:35:35,160 --> 00:35:37,879 Speaker 2: So if Minnesota ends up winning this series and Ant 526 00:35:37,920 --> 00:35:41,239 Speaker 2: shows out as he moved closer to become in the face. 527 00:35:42,760 --> 00:35:43,000 Speaker 5: So. 528 00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:52,000 Speaker 1: Yes, I Ant needs to tighten up his off court life, 529 00:35:52,239 --> 00:35:56,640 Speaker 1: but he's got everything else. And if he were to 530 00:35:56,840 --> 00:36:01,080 Speaker 1: outduel Lebron and Luca in what is going to be 531 00:36:01,160 --> 00:36:05,840 Speaker 1: the highest rated Round one series, yeah, that will. But 532 00:36:05,960 --> 00:36:08,320 Speaker 1: I kind of look at Ant. 533 00:36:08,680 --> 00:36:10,680 Speaker 4: Here's the optimistic look of Ant. 534 00:36:10,920 --> 00:36:16,440 Speaker 1: He's on the Luca trajectory. Luca made an early conference 535 00:36:16,520 --> 00:36:21,280 Speaker 1: finals run. The next year, the team made a big 536 00:36:21,320 --> 00:36:25,000 Speaker 1: trade and then took a bit of a step back. 537 00:36:25,400 --> 00:36:29,239 Speaker 1: For Luca was Kyrie. They end up missing the playoffs. 538 00:36:29,239 --> 00:36:31,920 Speaker 1: For Ant, they trade Karl Anthony Towns. You know, they 539 00:36:32,040 --> 00:36:35,919 Speaker 1: end up down at the sixth line, probably bouncing round one. 540 00:36:36,360 --> 00:36:39,040 Speaker 1: And the next year for Luca they made the finals. 541 00:36:39,400 --> 00:36:42,799 Speaker 1: So that like it's not like ANT is behind schedule 542 00:36:43,560 --> 00:36:51,320 Speaker 1: at all, But yes, this would scut this would Winning 543 00:36:51,480 --> 00:36:56,640 Speaker 1: this round one series would do more for Ant's notoriety 544 00:36:56,680 --> 00:36:59,960 Speaker 1: and facing the league stuff than winning the Round two 545 00:37:00,239 --> 00:37:03,360 Speaker 1: series they did last year against Denver. 546 00:37:03,960 --> 00:37:07,640 Speaker 2: That's the greatest Denvers probably be super important with this year. 547 00:37:07,719 --> 00:37:09,680 Speaker 2: Like if he won this one, if they beat the 548 00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:11,200 Speaker 2: Lakers and then they just lost in. 549 00:37:11,239 --> 00:37:15,240 Speaker 1: Round to correct, no, no, no, you beat the Lakers, everyone's 550 00:37:15,280 --> 00:37:17,560 Speaker 1: then gonna expect you to beat the Rockets or the Warriors, 551 00:37:17,640 --> 00:37:22,680 Speaker 1: or the Grizzlies. That's that part's definitely true.