WEBVTT - All-Star / Dunk Contest Changes, MVP Race and Flag Planting Fights 0:00:01.800 --> 0:00:07.720 It's the VC Show. It's the VC Show. It's the 0:00:07.840 --> 0:00:12.959 VC Show. It's the VC Show. 0:00:13.080 --> 0:00:13.680 Season two. 0:00:13.800 --> 0:00:14.760 Yeah, we back again. 0:00:14.880 --> 0:00:16.439 Got the world tune in there for show. 0:00:16.520 --> 0:00:18.720 So so with tell of friends, my heart got me 0:00:18.760 --> 0:00:21.400 on the for us slam dumst winstle phone. Then kick 0:00:21.440 --> 0:00:24.680 your feed up so you can listen. Jee, It's the 0:00:24.800 --> 0:00:28.440 VC Show. It's the VC Show. 0:00:30.000 --> 0:00:36.640 It's the VC Show. It's Welcome to the VC Show. 0:00:36.680 --> 0:00:42.720 I'm your host, VC. Welcome back. Basketball is heating up, 0:00:43.920 --> 0:00:47.479 college football is heating up, the NFL is heating up. 0:00:47.840 --> 0:00:51.560 It's a lot of good stuff going on, much news 0:00:51.600 --> 0:00:54.920 to talk about. We're gonna dive into it. So kick 0:00:54.960 --> 0:01:01.560 your feet up. The VC Show starts. Now you got 0:01:01.600 --> 0:01:08.000 what they wanted going on. Everybody, welcome back to the 0:01:08.080 --> 0:01:15.080 VC Show. As I talked about, the NBA is steady going. 0:01:16.480 --> 0:01:19.679 The Cleveland Cavaliers are still doing their thing, and everybody, 0:01:19.680 --> 0:01:22.839 I think in the beginning of the year wonder how 0:01:22.880 --> 0:01:26.880 long can they sustain playing this way and how long 0:01:26.920 --> 0:01:30.679 would they be the number one team or I'm sorry, 0:01:30.760 --> 0:01:34.880 go undefeated And they're not undefeated, but yet there's still 0:01:34.880 --> 0:01:38.000 the number one team. They faced the Boston Celtics, who 0:01:38.000 --> 0:01:45.959 were the number two team in the East game with 0:01:46.080 --> 0:01:53.040 the Cavs pulling the victory out. Donovan Mitchell, first and 0:01:53.080 --> 0:02:00.440 foremost has been spectacular, outstanding, a leader, a go to guy, 0:02:01.280 --> 0:02:04.960 all the above. I think he's doing everything that needs 0:02:04.960 --> 0:02:08.200 to be done to still be one of the best players, 0:02:09.280 --> 0:02:13.680 but still empowering your other guys. I think Darius Garland 0:02:13.760 --> 0:02:16.800 is a huge piece to their success, allowing him to 0:02:16.919 --> 0:02:21.760 be the all Star guard that he is that is 0:02:21.840 --> 0:02:26.960 very capable of scoring, facilitating and making plays. And then 0:02:26.960 --> 0:02:28.680 we got to give a shout out to Evan Mobley. 0:02:28.800 --> 0:02:31.720 I think Evan Moldley. Evan Mobley has put the work 0:02:31.760 --> 0:02:36.000 in this summer, has gotten better shooting the ball from outside, 0:02:36.000 --> 0:02:41.760 shooting a three point shot. I mean he's only shooting 0:02:41.800 --> 0:02:46.680 thirty one percent, but his zero hesitation with his shot. 0:02:46.720 --> 0:02:51.480 And I enjoy watching this team playoffs pleasantly surprised. I mean, 0:02:51.639 --> 0:02:56.720 I don't think anybody saw the Cleveland Cavaliers coming out 0:02:57.040 --> 0:03:00.160 with the bang like that. I know they've lost out 0:03:00.160 --> 0:03:02.480 of the three losses, they've lost twice to the Hawks, 0:03:03.919 --> 0:03:07.960 but they've stayed the course and that's important. They've stayed 0:03:07.960 --> 0:03:11.200 the course and they're not bored. I think they want 0:03:11.240 --> 0:03:14.359 to show that they're very capable of saying. Donovan Mitchell 0:03:14.440 --> 0:03:16.480 has a lot to prove this year, and he's going 0:03:16.520 --> 0:03:20.560 about it the right way, getting guys involved early, allowing 0:03:20.639 --> 0:03:23.560 himself to be the start of the years in the 0:03:23.600 --> 0:03:26.960 second half, particularly in the fourth quarter. Then there's the 0:03:26.960 --> 0:03:31.480 Boston Celtics. Yes, they lost their second in the East. 0:03:31.520 --> 0:03:34.560 Right now, it's a great matchup. I think that matchup 0:03:34.600 --> 0:03:36.720 throughout the year is going to go back and forth. 0:03:38.440 --> 0:03:40.920 But I've said right now, the Boston Celtics are still 0:03:41.000 --> 0:03:44.360 the team to beat. I think their two superstars have 0:03:44.440 --> 0:03:47.360 a lot to prove. They want to prove to us 0:03:47.400 --> 0:03:52.800 the world that they are still the best in the league. 0:03:52.840 --> 0:03:54.920 And they want to get the bad taste, if you would, 0:03:55.240 --> 0:03:57.560 from the summer out of their miles and and prove 0:03:57.680 --> 0:04:00.720 to us that they were worthy of obviously minutes and 0:04:00.880 --> 0:04:05.840 being in the on the Olympic team. So their team 0:04:05.880 --> 0:04:09.080 is steady, Their team is solid. I mean, you you 0:04:09.240 --> 0:04:13.600 implement for zingis that just makes them even better, even stronger. 0:04:15.400 --> 0:04:18.120 I think that battle and we'll see them going back 0:04:18.120 --> 0:04:22.960 and forth throughout the season, maybe not wanting maybe one 0:04:22.960 --> 0:04:25.320 and two. I mean they're they're literally half a game. 0:04:25.440 --> 0:04:27.120 It's not a game in that game, game and a 0:04:27.120 --> 0:04:30.120 half if I'm not mistaken out away from each other. 0:04:30.160 --> 0:04:32.839 So and then there's the Orlando Magic creeping up. I 0:04:32.839 --> 0:04:34.680 want to talk about the Magic Real Quick, who are 0:04:36.279 --> 0:04:39.680 third in the East right now. Their superstar they're all 0:04:39.720 --> 0:04:42.000 star Powo ban Carro is out. But let me tell 0:04:42.040 --> 0:04:46.120 you something, six game winning streak, has won nine out 0:04:46.120 --> 0:04:54.240 of ten games without power. I think Jamal Mosley deserves 0:04:54.279 --> 0:04:58.720 a lot of credit for this team buying in. I've 0:04:58.760 --> 0:05:00.320 called some games a couple of years ag go, and 0:05:00.360 --> 0:05:05.400 I was thoroughly impressed on his approach to the team. 0:05:05.440 --> 0:05:07.760 And and they all, all these guys bought it. Yes, 0:05:07.760 --> 0:05:09.800 it's a young crew, so you know, when you're young, 0:05:09.880 --> 0:05:13.440 guys want to prove they're worse than where they stand 0:05:13.520 --> 0:05:16.920 in the league. But he's he's allowing them to do that. 0:05:17.160 --> 0:05:20.039 But at the same time, there's structure as guys buying in. 0:05:22.360 --> 0:05:27.400 Franz has been playing outstanding basketball right now for for them, 0:05:28.279 --> 0:05:33.120 taking over as the go to guy for this team. 0:05:33.160 --> 0:05:35.680 He's hit some game winners, he's hit some big shots, 0:05:35.680 --> 0:05:38.600 he's made big plays. And I mean not only he's 0:05:38.640 --> 0:05:40.520 just hitting shots. He's getting to the free throw line. 0:05:41.080 --> 0:05:44.040 They had a big winning against the Nets at at 0:05:44.200 --> 0:05:48.760 at Brooklyn fourteen free throw attempts. Like that's that's big time. 0:05:48.839 --> 0:05:52.000 That's that's superstar status, that's all star status. I'll say 0:05:52.720 --> 0:05:56.160 so implementing Polo back in the mix. Now you have 0:05:56.240 --> 0:05:58.960 two guys that can get the job done, plus all 0:05:59.000 --> 0:06:01.640 of the young talented guys that has been there. They 0:06:01.680 --> 0:06:04.400 have a core group of guys the magic that has 0:06:04.480 --> 0:06:09.000 been together, that understand their role. That is important to 0:06:09.000 --> 0:06:11.599 me that they understand their role. And if you talk 0:06:11.640 --> 0:06:14.040 and think about the teams that are let's talk about 0:06:14.040 --> 0:06:16.359 the top three that we just talked about. Everybody in 0:06:16.360 --> 0:06:19.240 the Boston Celtics, they understand their role. You've now seeing 0:06:19.240 --> 0:06:22.920 the Cleveland Cavaliers understand their role. The players understand their 0:06:23.000 --> 0:06:25.479 role on the team. And if you play your role 0:06:25.520 --> 0:06:28.520 to the best of your ability, you have success. And 0:06:28.680 --> 0:06:31.599 you understand your superstars can be superstars, but your role 0:06:31.640 --> 0:06:35.400 players can be superstar players in their role, and I 0:06:35.440 --> 0:06:39.560 think these three teams are getting that out of their players. 0:06:40.200 --> 0:06:42.880 I'm gonna jump to the West real quick. OKC Vers 0:06:42.880 --> 0:06:46.440 the Houston Rockets played each other one nineteen one to 0:06:46.560 --> 0:06:52.640 sixteen win. Rockets get that win at home versus a 0:06:52.760 --> 0:06:57.159 very good OKAC team who I think is another team 0:06:57.200 --> 0:07:01.479 that is playing or understanding their role. Houston Rockets, I 0:07:01.480 --> 0:07:08.040 think now understanding their role. Two very good coaches coaching 0:07:08.080 --> 0:07:10.400 their team with young guys. Well, I mean half the 0:07:10.440 --> 0:07:12.640 league now is young. So when I say that, I 0:07:12.680 --> 0:07:14.760 mean very young guy, not very young. But they have 0:07:14.840 --> 0:07:17.440 young guys that are all buying in. They know who 0:07:17.440 --> 0:07:20.320 their star players, they know who their go to guy is. 0:07:20.600 --> 0:07:23.440 You know, especially if you look at OKC, you look 0:07:23.480 --> 0:07:27.040 at SGA, you know he's the go to guy. But man, 0:07:27.160 --> 0:07:29.600 let me tell you they are buying in there defending, 0:07:29.880 --> 0:07:33.200 and that those guys are half a game away from 0:07:33.240 --> 0:07:38.000 each other. So that's going to be another battle in 0:07:38.400 --> 0:07:42.680 the West. SGA is doing SGA things. Jalen Williams I 0:07:42.680 --> 0:07:47.520 think is playing great basketball. Hartenstein. I'm gonna give props 0:07:47.520 --> 0:07:50.800 to Hartenstein. I think he had nineteen and fourteen in 0:07:51.200 --> 0:07:57.080 that loss to Houston, but he is so valuable. I 0:07:57.120 --> 0:08:00.720 personally think the Knicks are looking back, like, man, that's 0:08:00.760 --> 0:08:03.080 a guy nineteen at nineteen and thirteen. I think they 0:08:03.120 --> 0:08:06.920 looking back saying he's a guy that they am. They 0:08:06.920 --> 0:08:09.280 shouldn't have let go. I mean, obviously they have the reasons, 0:08:09.400 --> 0:08:10.960 but I feel like he would have been a great 0:08:10.960 --> 0:08:13.800 compliment to Cat with the Knicks because you don't have 0:08:13.880 --> 0:08:15.880 to run place for him. But that guy plays hard. 0:08:15.920 --> 0:08:20.040 He defends any big that you want. He's a decent 0:08:20.040 --> 0:08:22.280 defender against guards. He's decent in the pick and roll. 0:08:22.360 --> 0:08:24.280 But he's gonna hustle, he's gonna play hard. He's gonna 0:08:24.280 --> 0:08:27.000 get you extra possessions. Being that the game is like 0:08:27.080 --> 0:08:31.040 it is this nowadays, with you want to shoot threes well, 0:08:31.480 --> 0:08:35.920 being able to offensive rebound for kickout threes falls right 0:08:35.960 --> 0:08:38.160 in line with what you want. And he does that 0:08:38.280 --> 0:08:40.520 for the ok See Thunder just like he did for 0:08:40.600 --> 0:08:45.240 the Knicks. Man, I tell you he's valuable. I think 0:08:45.240 --> 0:08:49.520 he's a great pickup for Okay See. Then you have 0:08:49.600 --> 0:08:52.960 that guy called Fred van Vliet. He's kind of the 0:08:53.000 --> 0:08:57.840 old guy the group. He's the champion. He put up 0:08:57.920 --> 0:09:01.440 numbers man, he understands what Jalen Green who By the way, 0:09:01.480 --> 0:09:05.320 he's playing great basketball this year for those who've seen 0:09:05.400 --> 0:09:08.320 video and him putting the work in this summer making 0:09:08.360 --> 0:09:11.920 sure he's around talented guys and focusing on what he 0:09:11.920 --> 0:09:14.000 needs to focus on. You can see his growth and 0:09:14.040 --> 0:09:18.720 his improvement. He didn't have a great game, only six 0:09:18.720 --> 0:09:22.719 shot attempts, two for six, but that's just their team. Well, 0:09:22.760 --> 0:09:25.240 the next man steps up, well, usually it's Fred van Vliet, 0:09:25.240 --> 0:09:27.760 the veteran who understands when I need to be a 0:09:27.760 --> 0:09:29.920 facilitator and he understands when I need to go out 0:09:29.960 --> 0:09:34.559 and score, and he did that. Shangoun is very good 0:09:34.640 --> 0:09:38.360 basketball player. He had another big night, damn near a 0:09:38.360 --> 0:09:42.199 triple double, and shout out to Jabari Smith. He kind 0:09:42.200 --> 0:09:44.840 of falls in line with you know, I watched him 0:09:44.880 --> 0:09:48.840 play periodically and obviously when Jalen Green's not having a 0:09:48.840 --> 0:09:53.240 big night, Jabari kind of gets more touches and he 0:09:53.320 --> 0:09:55.120 takes advantage of it when he does. He had a 0:09:55.120 --> 0:09:59.240 big night of a double double fifteen to fourteen. So 0:09:59.280 --> 0:10:02.040 they're a solid team. And of course Dylan Brooks, in 0:10:02.080 --> 0:10:05.320 my opinion, is a wild part, but he's the he's 0:10:05.360 --> 0:10:09.319 the emotional leader. He's a guy that can can score 0:10:09.320 --> 0:10:11.360 a little bit, obviously can rebound, but he's going to 0:10:11.440 --> 0:10:13.880 defend the best player. He's going to try to frustrate them, 0:10:14.080 --> 0:10:16.320 take them out of their game. But and when he 0:10:16.400 --> 0:10:19.120 needs to, he can get them buckets. So obviously when 0:10:19.120 --> 0:10:22.280 he has big knights, that's kind of a next factor, 0:10:22.320 --> 0:10:25.680 that's kind of a plus in their corner. So the 0:10:25.720 --> 0:10:29.760 Houston Rockets are playing great basketball again. Their number two 0:10:29.960 --> 0:10:34.280 in the in the West behind Okay. See, but let's 0:10:34.320 --> 0:10:37.400 have some more in the West. I want to let's 0:10:37.440 --> 0:10:40.600 touch on Memphis. Not well Memphis. Let's talk about Memphis 0:10:40.640 --> 0:10:44.360 real quick. They're right there in the mix. They're third 0:10:44.360 --> 0:10:48.440 in the West. They're just solid. They're just solid. We've 0:10:48.480 --> 0:10:51.160 seen when joh goes out, they struggle a little bit, 0:10:51.200 --> 0:10:54.240 but they still hold on. And obviously when Job comes back, 0:10:54.280 --> 0:10:58.040 their dynamic Golden State worries. I think we can all 0:10:58.080 --> 0:11:02.520 be honest, we weren't sure what we what were we 0:11:02.600 --> 0:11:07.280 going to get from the the Warriors this year as 0:11:07.280 --> 0:11:09.679 far as where would they fall, how would they sit? 0:11:09.760 --> 0:11:13.040 At one point they were number one in the West. Uh. 0:11:13.080 --> 0:11:15.440 They lose a dynamic player, a guy who was a 0:11:15.440 --> 0:11:21.840 core core guy in in Klay Thompson. And I thought 0:11:21.920 --> 0:11:24.720 it was a great pickup. He was a he's a 0:11:24.800 --> 0:11:28.320 shooter like Clay Thompson. Hear me out a different player 0:11:28.360 --> 0:11:31.800 but he's a movement guy. He's he plays, he fits 0:11:31.800 --> 0:11:34.040 into the offense on how they play. He's just you 0:11:34.120 --> 0:11:37.360 just now, bring another movement guy who can shoot dynamic 0:11:37.360 --> 0:11:40.680 shooting a three off off the catch, off the move, 0:11:41.040 --> 0:11:42.760 or stand still and he can put the ball on 0:11:42.760 --> 0:11:44.520 the floor a little bit. And he defends, you know, 0:11:44.559 --> 0:11:46.640 he tries to go out there and defend. He does 0:11:46.679 --> 0:11:49.200 a pretty solid job. And I thought he had a splash. 0:11:49.240 --> 0:11:52.480 He meaning Buddy Hill, had a splash coming out for 0:11:52.559 --> 0:11:57.160 the Warriors early in the season and just giving them 0:11:57.200 --> 0:12:01.160 that weapon that we weren't sure they had or lost. 0:12:01.640 --> 0:12:04.680 And he comes in. He's played played well. Kaminga obviously 0:12:04.720 --> 0:12:08.520 has been great for them. Steph is doing Steph things. 0:12:08.520 --> 0:12:13.640 And I think also we should say Draymond has been 0:12:13.640 --> 0:12:17.000 playing very good basketball. I think he's been more offensive minded, 0:12:18.120 --> 0:12:20.520 shooting more threes. In my opinion, maybe it just looks 0:12:20.559 --> 0:12:22.959 like that, but he's been a little more offensive minded 0:12:23.000 --> 0:12:25.480 to He's taken to five threes their last game, so 0:12:25.520 --> 0:12:28.080 he's he's kind of getting getting involved in. It's just 0:12:28.160 --> 0:12:33.760 all hisnds on deck. Prazinski, Ah, Gary Payton. I think 0:12:33.840 --> 0:12:35.800 Moses Moody, who didn't play a lot of minutes he's 0:12:35.840 --> 0:12:37.520 I think his minutes are still up and down. It's 0:12:37.520 --> 0:12:40.200 a guy who they had high hopes for, so I 0:12:40.240 --> 0:12:45.640 think he's a hit or miss guy. Jackson Davis has 0:12:45.640 --> 0:12:48.200 been solid rebounding, So they have a core group of guys. 0:12:48.200 --> 0:12:50.160 But it falls in line of what I was saying earlier, 0:12:50.200 --> 0:12:53.680 guys understanding their role, and I think that's important in 0:12:53.679 --> 0:12:55.680 this league right now. Yes, sometimes you get a role 0:12:56.120 --> 0:12:59.320 that that you're not in love with because you feel 0:12:59.320 --> 0:13:01.679 that you can you can do more, or you even 0:13:01.720 --> 0:13:04.160 want to do more and to see the team sees 0:13:04.200 --> 0:13:06.600 different because of talent on the roster. But like if 0:13:06.640 --> 0:13:11.200 you can buy into just that man, good things happen 0:13:11.320 --> 0:13:14.120 to you as an individual and good things happen to 0:13:14.160 --> 0:13:17.040 you as a team. Well. Obviously, Warriors plays the Suns 0:13:17.040 --> 0:13:22.800 not too long ago and another solid team. I feel 0:13:22.800 --> 0:13:27.720 like they they're eighth right now, the Suns, I feel 0:13:27.720 --> 0:13:34.880 like their team that will they will work their way up. 0:13:35.640 --> 0:13:39.680 They'll work their way up. But I think nobody imagine 0:13:39.720 --> 0:13:42.680 the Clippers playing so well right now, who are seven 0:13:43.200 --> 0:13:45.520 behind the Lakers who are six, or just you know, 0:13:45.600 --> 0:13:48.720 up and down solid. Obviously AD's playing well, but Phoenix. 0:13:48.760 --> 0:13:51.160 I feel like they're middle of the pack right now. 0:13:51.240 --> 0:13:54.720 I feel like they can work their way up into 0:13:54.760 --> 0:13:58.160 a sixth seed. It depends on how healthy Memphis stays, 0:13:59.520 --> 0:14:01.599 what the Clippers do, and obviously the Lakers. If the 0:14:01.679 --> 0:14:05.760 Lakers remain solid throughout the year, because they've been up 0:14:05.800 --> 0:14:11.960 and down, I mean, Lebron is playing solid, ads playing 0:14:11.960 --> 0:14:14.840 at the MVP level. I just think they need Lakers 0:14:14.840 --> 0:14:19.520 need their core group to continue to play well. Now 0:14:19.800 --> 0:14:23.800 I said this to be consistent, Uh, the Lakers play, 0:14:23.960 --> 0:14:27.280 I mean, guys outside of the they're two superstars, they're 0:14:27.320 --> 0:14:31.000 they're there, They're bench and complimentary. Guys just have to 0:14:31.000 --> 0:14:34.440 be solid all season for them to uh, to to 0:14:34.520 --> 0:14:36.760 hang in there. Like I said, they're the sixth right now. 0:14:38.400 --> 0:14:40.600 Who knows what happens. I mean we're talking about sixth 0:14:40.640 --> 0:14:44.480 place when the Denver Nuggets are currently nine. Who's taking 0:14:44.480 --> 0:14:47.120 a step back right now? But this is the team 0:14:47.160 --> 0:14:52.040 that has championship pedigree, understands how to win. Will they 0:14:52.040 --> 0:14:54.720 make a move to get a guy in Also, they've 0:14:54.720 --> 0:14:58.560 been injured. Gordon Hurt I think is hurting them right now. 0:14:58.760 --> 0:15:00.800 So this is the team that potentially can move up. 0:15:01.080 --> 0:15:07.000 So Suns being solid. Lakers bench being solid is important 0:15:07.000 --> 0:15:09.160 because some of these other teams later on in the 0:15:09.240 --> 0:15:13.760 year can move up in the East. Well, I also 0:15:13.800 --> 0:15:16.120 want to mention two more teams since we're in the West, 0:15:16.400 --> 0:15:20.440 Timberwolves in Sacramento Kings. I go with the Timberwolves first, 0:15:20.480 --> 0:15:23.680 who are in the eleventh place right now, out of 0:15:23.720 --> 0:15:26.120 the play in as of now. Yes, it's early in 0:15:26.200 --> 0:15:28.080 the season. I know you guys are saying, oh, it's 0:15:28.120 --> 0:15:30.880 early in the season. Yes, just for context, there are 0:15:30.880 --> 0:15:35.640 eleventh which is surprising to me, I think. But at 0:15:35.640 --> 0:15:41.080 the same time, this is still that honeymoon phase that 0:15:41.080 --> 0:15:44.360 I think. They've played nineteen twenty games Minnesota that is, 0:15:44.720 --> 0:15:48.680 and they're still getting accustomed and used to a new 0:15:48.720 --> 0:15:51.760 addition to their team and Julius Randall and how they 0:15:51.760 --> 0:15:58.840 want to play, and they're right there. They're right there. 0:15:59.600 --> 0:16:02.440 I just I thought they would be better. But there again, 0:16:02.480 --> 0:16:05.120 it's early in the season and good things can happen. 0:16:05.200 --> 0:16:08.240 Sacramento Kings are another team that I felt because of 0:16:08.280 --> 0:16:10.720 the season they had last year, they kept their core 0:16:10.880 --> 0:16:14.680 group of guys with a great, great pickup in my opinion, 0:16:14.840 --> 0:16:19.680 in the rosan guy who can get you a bucket late. Obviously, 0:16:20.240 --> 0:16:24.240 darreon Fox is playing outstanding right now. But I thought 0:16:24.440 --> 0:16:26.840 DeRozan is a guy and he still think he is 0:16:26.880 --> 0:16:29.320 a guy who you can get the ball to one, 0:16:29.360 --> 0:16:33.240 can get you in the penalty because he can draw fouls, 0:16:34.520 --> 0:16:36.480 and the guy who can just get you a bucket period. 0:16:36.480 --> 0:16:39.520 And he takes some pressure off of Fox having to 0:16:39.880 --> 0:16:44.680 be that score or even some bonus. So yeah, and 0:16:44.720 --> 0:16:47.160 then Malik Monk has had a slow start. I know, 0:16:47.200 --> 0:16:51.000 he was injured coming back, so they have a nucleus 0:16:51.000 --> 0:16:54.040 of guys. Kevin Herder hasn't really played well so far, 0:16:54.120 --> 0:16:56.840 but there again, they're nineteen twenty games into the season. 0:16:56.920 --> 0:17:00.800 It's early. It's just the early critique on and what 0:17:00.840 --> 0:17:04.320 these tams are doing. And hell, obviously the second half, 0:17:04.359 --> 0:17:06.760 the middle portion to the second half of the season 0:17:06.880 --> 0:17:09.120 is when you want to to get better and all 0:17:09.320 --> 0:17:11.440 of course, after all Star you want to hit your peak. 0:17:11.520 --> 0:17:15.080 So these teams have betteran guys who understand how this 0:17:15.160 --> 0:17:17.679 works throughout the season. This is just it's not panic 0:17:17.720 --> 0:17:20.680 time yet for these teams. Now when we talk about 0:17:20.720 --> 0:17:22.560 panic time, we're gonna go to the East and we're 0:17:22.600 --> 0:17:25.680 talking about the seventy six ers, as far as far 0:17:25.720 --> 0:17:28.040 as panic time, and I know seventy Sixers fans. The 0:17:28.080 --> 0:17:29.840 first thing said, oh, we've been injured, Yes you have, 0:17:30.240 --> 0:17:33.879 and you haven't had your your your your your group, 0:17:33.960 --> 0:17:36.800 your core group of guys, your superstar, your three headed 0:17:36.840 --> 0:17:39.680 monster on the floor that bit in and out. I 0:17:39.680 --> 0:17:44.600 think they've only played a few games together. It's just 0:17:44.840 --> 0:17:47.919 it's just guys who are always bit by the injury. Boggin. 0:17:48.000 --> 0:17:52.800 It's unfortunate because they're superstar players, some of the best 0:17:52.800 --> 0:17:57.359 in the league. But when you're you're you're sitting in 0:17:57.400 --> 0:18:01.119 fourteenth place with only four five wins. Man, when you 0:18:01.119 --> 0:18:02.879 look at that team like you read them on paper 0:18:02.920 --> 0:18:05.359 and you're just like, there's no way we should be 0:18:06.240 --> 0:18:11.120 that bad right now. In the East, it's kind of 0:18:12.040 --> 0:18:14.080 unfortunate when you have a Joe llenb when you have 0:18:14.160 --> 0:18:18.560 a Paul George and I was Tyres Maxie, who I'm 0:18:18.560 --> 0:18:22.400 a huge fan of. So I'm interested to see how it's. 0:18:22.400 --> 0:18:24.400 Like I said, there are eighteen to twenty games into 0:18:24.480 --> 0:18:27.960 the season, so I'm interested to see how they can 0:18:28.000 --> 0:18:31.879 turn this around. Can they at least get themselves into 0:18:32.160 --> 0:18:34.560 a play in It's plenty of time, But can they 0:18:34.560 --> 0:18:39.080 play themselves into a play in tournament. Remains to be 0:18:39.160 --> 0:18:44.480 seen as you move work your way up the East. 0:18:44.640 --> 0:18:47.680 The Detroit Pistons right now are in tenth place who 0:18:47.680 --> 0:18:51.520 are playing solid basketball. They're not that team that we've 0:18:51.560 --> 0:18:54.639 typically seen at the bottom. It's just you still have 0:18:54.720 --> 0:18:57.320 some core young guys and I think JB. Bickerstaff, who 0:18:57.400 --> 0:18:59.879 I think is a very good coach. His time was 0:19:00.080 --> 0:19:05.320 up in Cleveland, but he's now taken that strategy, his 0:19:05.440 --> 0:19:09.480 style of coaching to Detroit and you're seeing a change 0:19:09.640 --> 0:19:12.199 a turn. You're seeing a change in their culture and 0:19:12.200 --> 0:19:14.800 how they're playing. Guys are buying in, and you still 0:19:14.800 --> 0:19:16.240 have to go in there and go beat that team 0:19:16.280 --> 0:19:21.000 if you're gonna win. Miami Heat are going to be 0:19:21.040 --> 0:19:26.320 the Miami Heat. They're they're they're currently set where they 0:19:26.720 --> 0:19:29.200 six right now, and they're just a solidid team. They're 0:19:29.200 --> 0:19:32.160 not really talked about. They're just kind of just cruising along. 0:19:32.359 --> 0:19:34.520 Those are the teams that scared me. Obviously. They have 0:19:36.000 --> 0:19:39.640 playoff pedigree, you know, know how to win into the playoffs, 0:19:39.680 --> 0:19:41.800 so they're just kind of coasting along. Those are those 0:19:41.800 --> 0:19:45.159 teams are talking about veteran teams that understand middle to 0:19:45.240 --> 0:19:47.280 the back end of the season is where they make 0:19:47.320 --> 0:19:50.560 their push. So they're just kind of creeping around. Which 0:19:51.800 --> 0:19:57.560 brings me to the Milwaukee Bucks. I'm still trying to 0:19:57.560 --> 0:20:00.240 figure that team out. I mean, Giannis is playing h 0:20:01.040 --> 0:20:04.159 lights out this year. He's doing his thing. It's just 0:20:06.680 --> 0:20:11.840 it's just it's just the weird season seeing them play. 0:20:12.119 --> 0:20:16.760 I mean, they're still above five hundred. I just don't know. 0:20:17.520 --> 0:20:19.480 But there's a team that's that's I don't want to 0:20:19.480 --> 0:20:22.440 say coasting, but like they're right in the hunt, fifth, sixth, 0:20:22.520 --> 0:20:25.639 somewhere in there. Understand they hit their stride at the 0:20:25.640 --> 0:20:28.400 back end of the season. Do they have enough? Are 0:20:28.400 --> 0:20:35.280 they healthy? We shall see the Knicks the same. Uh. 0:20:33.280 --> 0:20:39.360 I mean I was concerned with the Knicks. I thought offensively, 0:20:40.320 --> 0:20:44.320 Carl Anthony, uh, it is a great pickup. I didn't 0:20:44.359 --> 0:20:46.320 like the I didn't like to see him at the five. 0:20:46.760 --> 0:20:52.040 That's why I thought Hartenstein. Obviously there are other bigs 0:20:53.320 --> 0:20:56.680 right now are are injured, but I just thought Hartenstein, 0:20:56.880 --> 0:20:59.399 what is a great pickup for him? Energy guy you 0:20:59.480 --> 0:21:03.600 don't have to on places for because of his ability 0:21:03.920 --> 0:21:09.000 to just defend and get you extra possessions. Metchell Robinson, right, 0:21:09.040 --> 0:21:15.040 now still injured. He's a guy that's another defender, shot blocker, 0:21:15.119 --> 0:21:17.119 so obviously when he when he gets back, they get 0:21:17.200 --> 0:21:19.800 him implemented. They've changed. Like I said, they're still in 0:21:20.320 --> 0:21:23.240 fourth right now. It's you know, these are just critiques 0:21:23.240 --> 0:21:27.040 and just where they are. But I think they're obviously 0:21:27.320 --> 0:21:32.840 very capable of doing making some noise in I should say, 0:21:32.840 --> 0:21:36.159 making some noise in the East, sitting that fourth and 0:21:36.200 --> 0:21:39.399 we don't even don't even have Obviously they're anchored defensively, 0:21:39.400 --> 0:21:42.240 but they're getting it done that they're they're well above 0:21:42.280 --> 0:21:44.879 five hundred. Like I said, fourth right now, they're probably 0:21:44.880 --> 0:21:47.920 two and a half games out of third, which which 0:21:47.960 --> 0:21:50.919 is the magic. So it's been it's been great. I 0:21:50.960 --> 0:21:53.480 just wanted to kind of take a brief runt down 0:21:53.280 --> 0:21:56.080 down the East and the West. I didn't mention the 0:21:56.160 --> 0:22:00.639 Dallas Mavericks, who's been playing solid basketball. Kyrie has been great, 0:22:01.000 --> 0:22:04.120 and they they are sitting at fifth and they didn't 0:22:04.160 --> 0:22:06.840 even have Luca. Then Luca comes back and he puts 0:22:06.920 --> 0:22:09.919 on the show. So I think the Dallas Mavericks are 0:22:09.960 --> 0:22:13.399 another team that's gonna creep up uh in the in 0:22:13.440 --> 0:22:16.800 the West, the sitting fifth, Memphis is at third, Golden 0:22:16.800 --> 0:22:20.480 State at fourth, So some great basketball being played right now. 0:22:20.840 --> 0:22:23.359 Keep keep watching, man, It's just it's just it's easy 0:22:23.400 --> 0:22:26.240 to talk right now that we can date this. Then 0:22:26.280 --> 0:22:29.480 go back in two three weeks, a month, maybe two months, 0:22:29.480 --> 0:22:32.199 and look back and see if where teams are sitting, 0:22:32.440 --> 0:22:34.480 who has made the move or not all because of 0:22:34.520 --> 0:22:37.320 injury or just now hitting their stride, Because once we 0:22:37.359 --> 0:22:39.600 get pasted. To me, I feel like the twenty five 0:22:39.680 --> 0:22:42.240 game mark is when we start to see what these 0:22:42.280 --> 0:22:45.560 teams are because the honeymoon phase of my opinion is 0:22:45.640 --> 0:22:48.520 over with. Now you've passed. You know you passed well. 0:22:48.560 --> 0:22:52.160 The twenty twenty five games you can get You've seen 0:22:52.240 --> 0:22:55.040 a lot. You now know how teams are gonna play. 0:22:55.040 --> 0:22:57.040 You have a general idea how teams are gonna play. 0:22:57.080 --> 0:23:00.720 You with your your your your squad. Now you hit 0:23:00.720 --> 0:23:02.440 your stride. So I feel like after the twenty five 0:23:02.520 --> 0:23:07.000 game mark is when we'll see what some of these 0:23:07.040 --> 0:23:10.160 teams are looking like, like a Minnesota, like a Knicks, 0:23:10.359 --> 0:23:13.040 like a seventy six ers, I mean, those teams that 0:23:13.119 --> 0:23:15.840 made big moves. We'll see We'll get to see what 0:23:15.880 --> 0:23:19.600 Cleveland still looks like. In the East of where they stand, 0:23:19.640 --> 0:23:38.880 so we have to stay tuned. Now. Now I wanted 0:23:38.880 --> 0:23:41.760 to transition over to MVP. We talked about teams that 0:23:41.800 --> 0:23:47.159 are playing extremely well, but let's talk about some teams 0:23:48.080 --> 0:23:51.760 or player excuse me, that are in the MVP hunt 0:23:51.840 --> 0:23:58.800 or front runners for the MVP race currently. I'll say 0:23:58.840 --> 0:24:05.960 Tatum first of all, who's playing extremely great basketball, well deserving. 0:24:06.080 --> 0:24:09.560 I've been a fan and I've vouched for for Tatum 0:24:10.119 --> 0:24:13.399 many many years of possibly possibly winning the m v P. 0:24:13.520 --> 0:24:18.320 Obviously Jokic and h m b ended up winning him. 0:24:18.359 --> 0:24:20.680