WEBVTT - Knicks Go For 2 Seed, the Lakers Dilemma and Play-In Previews

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome in into NBA Polster production of iHeartRadio in the NBA.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm Sarah Kustak, NBA analysts for the Yes Network, and

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<v Speaker 1>today is Monday, April fifteenth. From our extraordinary core group

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<v Speaker 1>of NBA journalists, we're joined now by NBA dot Com

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<v Speaker 1>senior writer Sean Poll. And Sean, we're starting to see

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<v Speaker 1>things come into the picture of what the playoffs will

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<v Speaker 1>look like. We have things set in terms of who

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<v Speaker 1>will be in these seven, eight, nine, ten playing games

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<v Speaker 1>and some of these interesting matchups. I know we were

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<v Speaker 1>talking a little bit before the pod. I'm about to

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<v Speaker 1>be I'm about to be locked into a lot of

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<v Speaker 1>two seven matchups I think when the postseason begins. But

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<v Speaker 1>let's start with an interesting game last night. So as

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<v Speaker 1>we knew, all thirty teams were in action yesterday, shockingly,

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<v Speaker 1>which kudos to the NBA in just the way things

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<v Speaker 1>have worked with these playing games. Twelve of the fifteen

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<v Speaker 1>games had an packed on the playoff standings, but one

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<v Speaker 1>that was intriguing was a New York Knicks Chicago Bulls

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<v Speaker 1>in the Eastern Conference. With so much up for grabs,

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<v Speaker 1>we knew that Chicago had already locked themselves in do

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<v Speaker 1>that nine ten playoff playing game against the Atlanta Hawks,

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<v Speaker 1>which we'll get to in a little bit. But the

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<v Speaker 1>New York Knicks were kind of floating. There was an

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<v Speaker 1>opportunity of which they have now found themselves in to

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<v Speaker 1>be in the number two seed, but it could have

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<v Speaker 1>swung anywhere from two, three, four for them, and over

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<v Speaker 1>time against the Chicago Bulls, who would have thought, and

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<v Speaker 1>as a lot of the other games started finishing up,

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<v Speaker 1>it looked like, okay, you have a chance to be

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<v Speaker 1>that two seed and likely play which the seventy six

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<v Speaker 1>Ers had beaten the Brooklyn Nets a significant lead by

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<v Speaker 1>that point, that they would end up being the seventh seed,

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<v Speaker 1>playing the Miami Heat in the eighth seed, and likely

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<v Speaker 1>be the Philadelphia seventy six Ers, who Joel Embiid is

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<v Speaker 1>now back in the fold. So certainly with the complements

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<v Speaker 1>of their full roster, look at a peer to be

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<v Speaker 1>that of a seventh seed. The third seeded Bucks, which

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<v Speaker 1>it turned out to be, will play the six seeded

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<v Speaker 1>Indiana Pacers. What's going through your head? And I'm just

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<v Speaker 1>posing this to you, what is going through your head

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<v Speaker 1>if you are a fan of the New York Knicks,

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<v Speaker 1>You're in overtime and you think, huh in our in

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<v Speaker 1>our playoff matchup in the first round, we could potentially

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<v Speaker 1>see the Indiana Pacers, or we could potentially see a

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<v Speaker 1>team that is now full full go and looked very

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<v Speaker 1>good in the beginning parts of the season with Joel

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<v Speaker 1>Embiid Tyree Smaxy and was said to be a title

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<v Speaker 1>contender as you began the season here in the first round.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, first, I want to paraphrase what Lebron James said

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<v Speaker 2>a few years ago, who was the genius in the

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<v Speaker 2>NBA who thought of the playing tournament. I think I

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<v Speaker 2>think Lebron used a few a few stronger terms, but

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<v Speaker 2>I think we need to underline that word genius because

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<v Speaker 2>you had a day where it was nothing but meaningful

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<v Speaker 2>games all over the map, and you would not have

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<v Speaker 2>had that. It just brought so much drama to April,

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<v Speaker 2>whereas before you're sort of sleepwalking for the most part

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<v Speaker 2>through this part of the season, and it created scenarios

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<v Speaker 2>in which you raised, particularly with that NXT game against

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<v Speaker 2>Chicago and overtime. Chicago really didn't need the game, and

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<v Speaker 2>by then the Knicks knew what was happening around the

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<v Speaker 2>NBA Milwaukee was losing to Orlando, and so you see

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<v Speaker 2>Philadelphia right there lurking, look Sarah. I would like to

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<v Speaker 2>think that I'm a winner in life and all that stuff,

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<v Speaker 2>but I would have been a loser. I would have

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<v Speaker 2>been a loser that game. I would have been a loser.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm sorry. I would have sat Jalen Brunson in overtime.

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<v Speaker 2>I would have said, hey, pal, pretend you have a

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<v Speaker 2>cramp or something. And I know you've been a hero,

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<v Speaker 2>been a hero for us off season, but you're going

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<v Speaker 2>to take a breather right now. And you know, people

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<v Speaker 2>could have hated me. I wouldn't care, but I would

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<v Speaker 2>not want to see Joe and b or for that matter,

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<v Speaker 2>a refreshed Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and the Miami heat

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<v Speaker 2>depending on you know who wins that. Ye, so what

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<v Speaker 2>Miami did last year, you don't want that that Jimmy

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<v Speaker 2>Butler smoke. And I know, you know Miami had a

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<v Speaker 2>kind of a tough or rough stretch this season. But again,

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<v Speaker 2>if my choice is getting you know, the the three spot,

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, look again, like I said, I'd like to

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<v Speaker 2>think that I'm a winner in life. I'm sorry, I'm

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<v Speaker 2>taking the big l I'm you know, I proved myself.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, the Knicks had a fantastic season, and they

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<v Speaker 2>had played a fantastic game up to that point. Overtime.

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<v Speaker 2>Hey god, we need to rest up for the playoffs, right,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, sit out these last five minutes.

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<v Speaker 1>So you went to play Dante Devincenzo nearly fifty three?

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<v Speaker 2>Would I would have looked far, looked far down that bench.

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<v Speaker 2>I said, oh, hey, guys, you want to play, come

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<v Speaker 2>on in.

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<v Speaker 1>Oh Josh Hart Brunson and those numbers more than forty minutes,

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<v Speaker 1>I absolutely would have suggested you be the one to go.

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<v Speaker 1>Tell Tom Siveno the scenario that needed to take place.

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<v Speaker 1>But it was an awesome game. And to your point,

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<v Speaker 1>the New York Knicks now in that number two seed

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<v Speaker 1>and opportunity to host at Madison Square Garden. What they've

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<v Speaker 1>done this season has really been nothing short of inspiring,

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<v Speaker 1>fun team to watch, and with the Chicago Bulls that

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<v Speaker 1>was at a great day. Nicola Vucevich with twenty nine

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<v Speaker 1>and eleven Kobe White with twenty six points, they will

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<v Speaker 1>be in that nine ten game. As I had mentioned that,

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<v Speaker 1>we'll get to it a little bit but let's first

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<v Speaker 1>look at what that looks like in terms of the

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<v Speaker 1>seven eight seeds in the Eastern Conference, because you mentioned

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<v Speaker 1>this is a fun one and this is interesting to

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<v Speaker 1>consider how things will play out with the seventy six

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<v Speaker 1>ers Miami Heat. They will play on ESPN on Wednesday

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<v Speaker 1>night at seven pm Eastern. Joel Embiid, as I mentioned,

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<v Speaker 1>he's been back. He's been back for a stretch. He

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<v Speaker 1>did not place Sunday just for maintenance on that knee.

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<v Speaker 1>But you've got a Heat team that, for as much

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<v Speaker 1>as they've been counted out and were last season, they

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<v Speaker 1>were in the same position. Do you count out to

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<v Speaker 1>Jimmy Butler, bam Adebayo and Eric Spolstra when it comes

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<v Speaker 1>down to playoff time? What do you think about this

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<v Speaker 1>matchup in particular a one game scenario between these two

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<v Speaker 1>teams for an opportunity to avoid the Boston Celtics and

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<v Speaker 1>have a shot at the New York.

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<v Speaker 2>Next Well, I really don't see a lot of stress

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<v Speaker 2>in this game because I think the loser would be

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<v Speaker 2>a heavy favorite over the winner against of the Bulls

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<v Speaker 2>Hawks game. So I think both of these teams will

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<v Speaker 2>eventually capture the last two playoff spots. Of course, if

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<v Speaker 2>you lose and you have to beat the bulls of

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<v Speaker 2>the Hawks and you finish eighth, you're going to see

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<v Speaker 2>the Celtics in the first round. So I think from

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<v Speaker 2>that standpoint of seeing potentially seeing the Celtics one to

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<v Speaker 2>eight matchup or the Knicks and the two to seven matchup,

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<v Speaker 2>I will take my chances on the Knicks and the

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<v Speaker 2>two seven.

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<v Speaker 1>Uh.

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<v Speaker 2>And when I look at this matchup again, uh, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>I just think Philadelphia right now is the one team

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<v Speaker 2>in the East, probably even in the NBA that has

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<v Speaker 2>a high ceiling, and that's because they're welcoming back a

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<v Speaker 2>very important piece in Joe o Embiid. I think he well,

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<v Speaker 2>you'd like to think that he's recharge and rested during

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<v Speaker 2>this layoff and not rusty. I think he can come

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<v Speaker 2>in uh and play very well. Obviously, you know he'll

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<v Speaker 2>be going up against bam Adebayo, but Joe O Embiid

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<v Speaker 2>against pretty pretty much any center in the NBA other

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<v Speaker 2>than maybe Yo Kic is going to be pretty much

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<v Speaker 2>a favor. So I see the Sixers uh pushing through uh.

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<v Speaker 2>And I do see a close game. And and again

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<v Speaker 2>I don't think there's all that much of an urgency

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<v Speaker 2>for the loser, because I just think that they're just

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<v Speaker 2>going to be such a heavy favorite in the next

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<v Speaker 2>game playing against a winner of nine to ten.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, and I feel what you're saying in I do

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<v Speaker 1>agree with that. In terms of getting into the playoffs,

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<v Speaker 1>I think there's gonna be a tremendous amount of urgency

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<v Speaker 1>of facing the New York Knicks, which, again, they I'm

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<v Speaker 1>a huge fan of their team, love how they play.

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<v Speaker 1>I am very, very curious to see what their postseason

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<v Speaker 1>run looks like. But I think the difference between playing

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<v Speaker 1>them and playing the Boston Celtics is massive, in particular

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<v Speaker 1>in the first round. And I think a team like

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<v Speaker 1>Philadelphia who came in with aspirations of winning a title,

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<v Speaker 1>where Joel Embiid is at both in terms of the years,

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<v Speaker 1>the miles on his body, what things have looked like.

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<v Speaker 1>You get him back healthy, which was a question mark

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<v Speaker 1>at the middle part of the season, You've reinforced yourself

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<v Speaker 1>with some three point shooting, bringing in Buddy Healed, and

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<v Speaker 1>how Tyrese Maxey has been playing some of the depth

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<v Speaker 1>of that group. Nick Nurse here in his first year.

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<v Speaker 1>I think this is a team that thinks, hey, if

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<v Speaker 1>we can get in, we can make something happen. And

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<v Speaker 1>so I imagine despite Miami and all that they have

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<v Speaker 1>often pulled out in the postseason, and I do think

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<v Speaker 1>that they will end up being the eighth seed. I

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<v Speaker 1>think they have looked different this year, some of the

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<v Speaker 1>pieces that they lost from last year, and just in general,

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<v Speaker 1>I think that the seventy six ers will take this seriously.

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<v Speaker 1>They're playing at home, and they will understand the implications

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<v Speaker 1>that it could have farther down the line. But either way,

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<v Speaker 1>it's going to be a ton of fun. Another one.

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<v Speaker 1>It was fascinating yesterday as you watched the Los Angeles

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<v Speaker 1>Lakers playing the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans one

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<v Speaker 1>twenty four one toweight win, and I'm not even sure

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<v Speaker 1>that does justice to how commanding the Lakers were in

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<v Speaker 1>this win. In particular, Lebron James just sparkled. He was

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<v Speaker 1>extraordinary twenty eight points, seventeen assists, eleven rebounds, Anthony Davis

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<v Speaker 1>thirty and eleven although he had exited the game late.

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<v Speaker 1>Still wait to make sure and hear about his health

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<v Speaker 1>status and what that looks like for the playing game

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<v Speaker 1>that will take place tomorrow on TNT seven thirty pm Eastern.

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<v Speaker 1>They are the early game, but they've had New Orleans

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<v Speaker 1>number all season long, and New Orleans had an opportunity

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<v Speaker 1>to stay out of the play and be in the

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<v Speaker 1>sixth seed. They have a nice run to close out

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<v Speaker 1>the season, but just could not get past the Lakers

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<v Speaker 1>that have not been able to get past them in

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<v Speaker 1>the season. Z Ion Williamson, who had been playing really

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<v Speaker 1>well down the stretch of the season, just twelve points,

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<v Speaker 1>eight rebounds, eight assists. It was CJ McCollum who had

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<v Speaker 1>another big game. What do you make of this game?

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<v Speaker 1>Lakers will stay right there in New Orleans, don't need

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<v Speaker 1>to pack their bags, don't need to go anywhere, coming

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<v Speaker 1>off of a win where they should feel very very confident.

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<v Speaker 1>How do you kind of frame the perspectives of both

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<v Speaker 1>of these teams in this one?

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<v Speaker 2>I think this should be pretty much a layup for

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<v Speaker 2>the Lakers. They've dominated the Pelicans pretty much all year,

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<v Speaker 2>and you have two big factors. Number One, Anthony Davis.

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<v Speaker 2>Ever since he was traded from the Pelicans of the Lakers,

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<v Speaker 2>he's pretty much owned his former team. Seems to really

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<v Speaker 2>get up to play in New Orleans, and you know,

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<v Speaker 2>remember he wore that shirt. That's all folks, But pretty

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<v Speaker 2>much you can probably use as a headline every time

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<v Speaker 2>Anthony Davis plays New Orleans. That's all folks. And and

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<v Speaker 2>Lebron James obviously he is playing well. Now, the problem

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<v Speaker 2>I had for the Lakers is this is not the

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<v Speaker 2>second game of the play in, you know, scheduled tomorrow.

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<v Speaker 2>If this was the second game, and if you knew

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<v Speaker 2>Sacramento beat Golden State, then I would know I wouldn't

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<v Speaker 2>be all that enthusiastic about beating New Orleans for the

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<v Speaker 2>same reason Sarah you raise about Philadelphia, because you know

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<v Speaker 2>if you come in seven, you're gonna play the Denver Nuggets.

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<v Speaker 2>So if you're the Lakers and you look up and

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<v Speaker 2>down the rest of the West and you say, I

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<v Speaker 2>know I can beat Oklahoma City, Minnesota Clippers, you can

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<v Speaker 2>go on and on with Phoenix, Suns, Denver Nuggets. I

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<v Speaker 2>don't know. Oh, And I just think that the Lakers,

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<v Speaker 2>for the same reason as you said with Philadelphia, if

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<v Speaker 2>they avoid that team, that one team, and that one

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<v Speaker 2>team is Denver, they could end up back in the

0:12:12.800 --> 0:12:16.800
<v Speaker 2>Western Conference Finals. But again, you would run the risk

0:12:17.000 --> 0:12:20.160
<v Speaker 2>of playing with fire. If you say, well, we're not

0:12:20.200 --> 0:12:22.560
<v Speaker 2>gonna we're gonna arrest Ad, We're gonna wrest Lebron James

0:12:22.600 --> 0:12:26.560
<v Speaker 2>a little bit and take our chances, you know, playing

0:12:26.559 --> 0:12:28.840
<v Speaker 2>the winner of nine to ten, then you put up

0:12:28.840 --> 0:12:32.839
<v Speaker 2>in it in a very precarious situation. Anything could happen

0:12:32.840 --> 0:12:36.040
<v Speaker 2>in again, the ball bounces badly, someone gets hurt, and

0:12:36.080 --> 0:12:38.920
<v Speaker 2>all of a sudden, your season's over. You're eliminated. I

0:12:38.960 --> 0:12:40.680
<v Speaker 2>don't think the Lakers will play the Fire, but it's

0:12:40.720 --> 0:12:45.200
<v Speaker 2>just a very unfortunate position that they're in. Because they win,

0:12:45.320 --> 0:12:47.839
<v Speaker 2>and I think they will, then you've got Denver in

0:12:47.880 --> 0:12:50.720
<v Speaker 2>the first round. Look, it'd be compelling, a compelling first

0:12:50.800 --> 0:12:54.280
<v Speaker 2>round matchup, but I just think it's gonna be a

0:12:54.400 --> 0:12:56.360
<v Speaker 2>quick eggres for the Lakers. That's the one team they

0:12:56.400 --> 0:12:57.280
<v Speaker 2>don't want to see.

0:12:59.040 --> 0:13:02.240
<v Speaker 1>Sean. I do not like fire. I do not like

0:13:02.320 --> 0:13:06.320
<v Speaker 1>playing with the basketball gods. I think the Lakers will

0:13:06.360 --> 0:13:10.320
<v Speaker 1>come in and just absolutely take care of business as

0:13:10.320 --> 0:13:14.040
<v Speaker 1>they have and I'm curious, like I am. More of

0:13:14.080 --> 0:13:17.400
<v Speaker 1>my curiosity comes in the response of the New Orleans Pelicans.

0:13:17.400 --> 0:13:19.920
<v Speaker 1>I think this is a team that has put together,

0:13:19.960 --> 0:13:22.400
<v Speaker 1>as I had mentioned, a really nice. There's been ups

0:13:22.440 --> 0:13:24.880
<v Speaker 1>and downs, which what team don't you say that about?

0:13:25.600 --> 0:13:27.520
<v Speaker 1>But the recent stretch that they've had to close out

0:13:27.520 --> 0:13:30.280
<v Speaker 1>the season been really impressed with. They were as high

0:13:30.360 --> 0:13:33.480
<v Speaker 1>as fifth, you know, fifth seed, and have dropped because

0:13:33.520 --> 0:13:36.679
<v Speaker 1>of all these you know, different movements among a lot

0:13:36.720 --> 0:13:38.480
<v Speaker 1>of the games and the teams, and how tight this

0:13:38.559 --> 0:13:40.760
<v Speaker 1>race has been. But I think this is a tremendous

0:13:40.800 --> 0:13:43.240
<v Speaker 1>test for them, and a test not just about their

0:13:43.280 --> 0:13:46.880
<v Speaker 1>performance and a play, but maturity in what type of

0:13:46.920 --> 0:13:49.440
<v Speaker 1>group they have and maybe giving some answers in that manner.

0:13:49.720 --> 0:13:52.840
<v Speaker 1>With that being said, though, I also don't think the

0:13:52.960 --> 0:13:56.400
<v Speaker 1>gap between are the Nuggets my favorite absolutely what I

0:13:56.440 --> 0:13:58.800
<v Speaker 1>want to avoid them at all costs, absolutely, I have

0:13:58.880 --> 0:14:00.880
<v Speaker 1>a ton of faith and they'll Alma City thunder. And

0:14:00.880 --> 0:14:03.000
<v Speaker 1>how do you think the gap between those two teams

0:14:03.480 --> 0:14:07.040
<v Speaker 1>are not quite as vast as it may appear, despite

0:14:07.080 --> 0:14:10.880
<v Speaker 1>the experience of the defending champion Denver Nuggets. I think

0:14:10.920 --> 0:14:14.600
<v Speaker 1>Oklahoma City has just got all the pieces, They've got

0:14:14.640 --> 0:14:17.320
<v Speaker 1>the right vibe right now, and they are a team

0:14:17.320 --> 0:14:20.720
<v Speaker 1>that I also would not want to see. So again,

0:14:20.800 --> 0:14:25.800
<v Speaker 1>it's gonna be interesting to continue watching, but we got

0:14:25.800 --> 0:14:27.520
<v Speaker 1>some fun ones coming up. And as I mentioned, it's

0:14:27.560 --> 0:14:29.000
<v Speaker 1>not just a but the playing games with what that

0:14:29.040 --> 0:14:32.600
<v Speaker 1>means for some of these playoff matchups in the first round.

0:14:32.600 --> 0:14:34.760
<v Speaker 1>We're gonna take a quick break and come back and

0:14:34.800 --> 0:14:43.880
<v Speaker 1>look at these nine time games. Welcome back to NBA.

0:14:43.960 --> 0:14:47.000
<v Speaker 1>Paul Sarak Whostak joined by the great Seawan Poll and

0:14:47.080 --> 0:14:50.560
<v Speaker 1>Sean nine to ten matchups. The intriguing one, I think

0:14:50.600 --> 0:14:53.240
<v Speaker 1>maybe a little bit more intriguing because the implications it

0:14:53.880 --> 0:14:56.280
<v Speaker 1>may have with some of the star power and those

0:14:56.320 --> 0:14:58.400
<v Speaker 1>we have seen in the playoffs for a really long time.

0:14:58.520 --> 0:15:05.240
<v Speaker 1>On Western Conference on Wednesday. Tuesday, Tuesday, tomorrow nine ten

0:15:05.280 --> 0:15:08.680
<v Speaker 1>game taking place on TNT ten pm, Eastern Sacramento Kings

0:15:08.760 --> 0:15:11.080
<v Speaker 1>Golden State Warriors. We're going to see a rematch of

0:15:11.080 --> 0:15:13.600
<v Speaker 1>that first round series from last year. We're also going

0:15:13.640 --> 0:15:17.160
<v Speaker 1>to see what this Warriors team has. Can Steph Curry

0:15:17.240 --> 0:15:20.160
<v Speaker 1>keep them rolling? Who will they see if they do

0:15:20.240 --> 0:15:21.920
<v Speaker 1>in fact win this game? What are you looking for

0:15:21.920 --> 0:15:24.360
<v Speaker 1>out of this King's Warriors game on Tuesday?

0:15:25.160 --> 0:15:29.440
<v Speaker 2>I see pretty much a not a carbon copy of

0:15:29.600 --> 0:15:33.320
<v Speaker 2>Game seven last year when these teams played, but the

0:15:33.360 --> 0:15:36.480
<v Speaker 2>similar result. I think Steph Curry. Steph Curry had a

0:15:36.480 --> 0:15:39.400
<v Speaker 2>fifty piece in that game. I think he's going to

0:15:39.400 --> 0:15:43.200
<v Speaker 2>be brilliant again in this game. I think the Warriors

0:15:43.240 --> 0:15:46.400
<v Speaker 2>will prevail for a few reasons. Number one, I think

0:15:46.440 --> 0:15:48.720
<v Speaker 2>this team is starting to come around. They finished the

0:15:48.800 --> 0:15:53.720
<v Speaker 2>season pretty impressively, and you saw more glimpses from Klay

0:15:53.800 --> 0:15:55.840
<v Speaker 2>Thompson that now he's not going to be the old

0:15:55.880 --> 0:16:00.600
<v Speaker 2>Klave Thompson, but he can be close enough. He had

0:16:00.680 --> 0:16:05.320
<v Speaker 2>some very wild and inconsistent swings, but when he was

0:16:05.360 --> 0:16:08.400
<v Speaker 2>on and left open, uh, he could hit that shot.

0:16:08.960 --> 0:16:12.720
<v Speaker 2>And I also think some of the Warriors young players

0:16:12.880 --> 0:16:16.040
<v Speaker 2>have sort of grown and yeah, this is their first

0:16:16.120 --> 0:16:20.840
<v Speaker 2>real chance at the playoffs or not the playoffs or postseason,

0:16:20.920 --> 0:16:23.800
<v Speaker 2>shall we say. But I think they've come through for

0:16:23.840 --> 0:16:26.760
<v Speaker 2>the most part all season for this team. When you

0:16:26.760 --> 0:16:30.160
<v Speaker 2>put Steph Clay Draymond, you put them in a game

0:16:30.200 --> 0:16:33.560
<v Speaker 2>of this sort of urgency and importance against the Sacramento

0:16:34.160 --> 0:16:37.240
<v Speaker 2>Kings team which is frankly is much more It's not

0:16:37.280 --> 0:16:41.680
<v Speaker 2>the same team as last year, fairly disappointing. You don't

0:16:41.720 --> 0:16:45.040
<v Speaker 2>have Kevin Herder, you don't have Malik Monk. Harrison Barnes

0:16:45.080 --> 0:16:47.560
<v Speaker 2>has been, you know, showing his age there a little bit.

0:16:47.800 --> 0:16:50.160
<v Speaker 2>Now de bonisim Bonus has been playing well, but Draymond

0:16:50.160 --> 0:16:54.480
<v Speaker 2>Green tends to neutralize that a little bit. So I

0:16:54.480 --> 0:16:57.760
<v Speaker 2>think I think the Warriors will win this one. I

0:16:58.000 --> 0:16:59.840
<v Speaker 2>think for the King just for a steep fall from

0:17:00.040 --> 0:17:04.679
<v Speaker 2>last year. You know, they had their revelation they cracked

0:17:04.680 --> 0:17:07.040
<v Speaker 2>the playoff code for the first time in many years.

0:17:07.840 --> 0:17:10.840
<v Speaker 2>But the league just got better between last year and

0:17:10.920 --> 0:17:13.159
<v Speaker 2>this year, and I think they're going to see that

0:17:14.880 --> 0:17:18.280
<v Speaker 2>in this game. And again it's going to be a

0:17:18.320 --> 0:17:21.280
<v Speaker 2>similar result. Maybe not a similar game because that was

0:17:21.280 --> 0:17:23.760
<v Speaker 2>a close game seven last year, but I see a

0:17:23.800 --> 0:17:26.359
<v Speaker 2>similar result in this game. But the Warriors beating the

0:17:26.400 --> 0:17:27.240
<v Speaker 2>Sacramento Kings.

0:17:28.760 --> 0:17:30.879
<v Speaker 1>I feel you. I feel you on all of those things,

0:17:31.680 --> 0:17:34.280
<v Speaker 1>and it has just been the way you've seen Sacramento

0:17:34.480 --> 0:17:39.000
<v Speaker 1>finish off this season that I think puts puts a

0:17:39.040 --> 0:17:41.359
<v Speaker 1>lot behind that, and just the pieces are missing what

0:17:41.400 --> 0:17:44.120
<v Speaker 1>Monk had meant to them at certain points of the season. Obviously,

0:17:44.200 --> 0:17:49.679
<v Speaker 1>Herder Bullshawks are the late game on Wednesday on ESPN

0:17:49.760 --> 0:17:53.240
<v Speaker 1>nine to thirty pm Eastern. Any chance that they end

0:17:53.320 --> 0:17:55.840
<v Speaker 1>up in the playoffs that whoever wins that game will

0:17:55.840 --> 0:17:59.800
<v Speaker 1>be able to win the next game. The loser of

0:17:59.840 --> 0:18:03.080
<v Speaker 1>the seven eight seed and make it into to have

0:18:03.119 --> 0:18:05.800
<v Speaker 1>the great gift of playing the Boston Celtics.

0:18:06.200 --> 0:18:09.680
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, that would be probably the upset of all upsets.

0:18:10.680 --> 0:18:14.440
<v Speaker 2>First of all, again, both teams are missing key players,

0:18:14.800 --> 0:18:19.320
<v Speaker 2>are hurt and you know you talk. Zach Levine obviously

0:18:19.400 --> 0:18:22.600
<v Speaker 2>is out for Chicago. The Hawks are missing a few

0:18:22.720 --> 0:18:25.240
<v Speaker 2>rotational players that can make a big difference. They're not

0:18:25.240 --> 0:18:28.359
<v Speaker 2>missing any of their stars. Trey Young and de Jontey

0:18:28.400 --> 0:18:33.560
<v Speaker 2>Murray will be there. But look, I look at these

0:18:33.560 --> 0:18:38.200
<v Speaker 2>two teams and for one reason or another, they've struggled

0:18:38.320 --> 0:18:41.680
<v Speaker 2>during the season, whether it's injury, whether it's just inconsistent play,

0:18:42.280 --> 0:18:45.120
<v Speaker 2>whether it's just that other teams have simply passed them by.

0:18:46.359 --> 0:18:48.800
<v Speaker 2>The Hawks, they do get Trey Young back, and that's

0:18:48.840 --> 0:18:51.280
<v Speaker 2>going to happen to Joney. Murray was very good while

0:18:51.320 --> 0:18:56.080
<v Speaker 2>Trey Young was out with injury. But again, there's a

0:18:56.119 --> 0:18:59.200
<v Speaker 2>front court, backcourt and balance on that team. Defense has

0:18:59.240 --> 0:19:01.359
<v Speaker 2>always been a prop with the Hawks, and they'll be

0:19:01.400 --> 0:19:04.440
<v Speaker 2>playing on the road in Chicago. As far as the Bulls,

0:19:04.720 --> 0:19:06.520
<v Speaker 2>I just think they're kind of fortunate just to be

0:19:06.560 --> 0:19:09.639
<v Speaker 2>in this position. Again, this is a team that you

0:19:09.800 --> 0:19:12.720
<v Speaker 2>had some sort of expectations for not great, but some

0:19:12.760 --> 0:19:15.840
<v Speaker 2>sort of expectations, a veteran team trying to incorporate some

0:19:15.920 --> 0:19:18.520
<v Speaker 2>young players. And you saw sort of like a coming

0:19:18.560 --> 0:19:21.359
<v Speaker 2>out with Kobe White this year, but that was pretty

0:19:21.440 --> 0:19:24.719
<v Speaker 2>much the lone bright spot other than DeMar DeRozan. I

0:19:24.760 --> 0:19:28.119
<v Speaker 2>think Chicago probably has enough to win this given the

0:19:28.160 --> 0:19:30.639
<v Speaker 2>home court advantage, but it would not shock me if

0:19:30.680 --> 0:19:34.200
<v Speaker 2>the Hawks won it. It doesn't matter either way. I think,

0:19:34.359 --> 0:19:37.040
<v Speaker 2>you know, for that next spot, that team that gets

0:19:37.080 --> 0:19:39.280
<v Speaker 2>the eighth spot, first of all, if they get the

0:19:39.280 --> 0:19:41.919
<v Speaker 2>eighth spot, because even if the winner still you know,

0:19:42.080 --> 0:19:45.360
<v Speaker 2>has to play the loser of Philadelphia Miami and they

0:19:45.359 --> 0:19:48.240
<v Speaker 2>will be a big time underdog in that game. And

0:19:48.320 --> 0:19:51.760
<v Speaker 2>again if they luck out and they win two straight

0:19:51.840 --> 0:19:54.680
<v Speaker 2>games and they playing the Boston Celtics, I just see

0:19:54.760 --> 0:19:58.120
<v Speaker 2>just a treacherous road ahead for either of these teams,

0:19:58.400 --> 0:20:01.760
<v Speaker 2>and I think the it's going to be rather quick

0:20:01.880 --> 0:20:03.000
<v Speaker 2>for whoever emerges.

0:20:04.200 --> 0:20:09.120
<v Speaker 1>Yeah. Yeah, well regardless, Sean, we've got a fun postseason

0:20:09.320 --> 0:20:13.240
<v Speaker 1>ahead beginning with these playing games. It's been something we've

0:20:13.240 --> 0:20:15.360
<v Speaker 1>been waiting for all season long. We know how fun

0:20:15.400 --> 0:20:18.480
<v Speaker 1>these matchups are going to be, So thanks for breaking

0:20:18.520 --> 0:20:20.760
<v Speaker 1>it down, and we'll continue to watch, read all of

0:20:20.760 --> 0:20:22.800
<v Speaker 1>your stuff NBA dot com, and be a TV And

0:20:22.880 --> 0:20:25.400
<v Speaker 1>until next time when we can get into what these

0:20:25.400 --> 0:20:26.520
<v Speaker 1>playoff matchups look.

0:20:26.400 --> 0:20:28.119
<v Speaker 2>Like, Appreciate you, Sarah.

0:20:28.640 --> 0:20:30.760
<v Speaker 1>NBA Pulse with Sarahuzstack is a production of the NBA

0:20:30.800 --> 0:20:33.840
<v Speaker 1>and iHeartRadio. Please rate, review, and subscribe on the iHeartRadio

0:20:33.840 --> 0:20:35.959
<v Speaker 1>app or wherever you get your podcasts.