March 5, 2024 • 51 mins
This week on BULLY BALL, Rachel and Boogie discuss all things hoop, including Caitlin Clark making history, the Bucks finding their defensive groove under Doc Rivers, and another two truths and a lie. Plus, they debate if the Celtics are a finals lock and if they are better then the prime Warriors title teams. Also, will Wemby ever get a quadruple double and who is the best #1 pick since 2010?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
What's up basketball fans. Let's be honest. Does anyone ever
win a big bet and not tell anyone? No, they don't.
That feeling of hitting a big bet is great and
the group chat always going to hear about it. What
we don't want to talk about, though, is our losses. Nope,
no one likes that. But check this out. New customers
can get a no sweat bet with DraftKings, so even
(00:20):
if you do lose, you can still get a bonus
bet back up to one thousand dollars in the amount
of your original bet. Minimum deposit is five dollars and
you can sign up now using my promo code Bulleyball
Watch the Games. Get in on the action of real
time betting by downloading the DraftKings app now. New customers
get that no sweat bet. That's right. New customers can
(00:40):
get a no sweat bet of up to one thousand
dollars if your first bet loses, and all existing customers well,
they get a same game parlay insurance. That means you
get a bonus bet back if one leg of your
parlay loses. Minimum number of legs required and max bet faries.
So download the DraftKings Sportsbook app now. New customers use
my promo code Bullyball and get a no sweat VET.
(01:03):
Promo code is Bullyball. The crown is yours. What's up,
basketball fans, March is here. Spring is in the air,
and it's not just the NBA schedule that's loaded. March
Madness is afoot and the concert scene is hoppin'. I'm
so pumped. We've got Bad Bunny coming into La here
(01:24):
in a week or so, and game Time is my
go to app for securing the best tickets. I just
pull up the game Time app, I can see the
entire schedule of who's coming here on tour and starting prices.
They're right there, all in one shot. The layout of
the game Time app really is what makes buying these
tickets so easy. I can easily see that Madonna's rolling
into town with her greatest Hits tour. Andre three thousand
(01:46):
is about to play a bunch of shows here in
Los Angeles. And what I like most about Game Time
is when I buy tickets, I can see the view
from my seat before I buy, so I know exactly
what to expect. I pick the section, and game Time
picks this seats for the best price. In fact, if
I find tickets in the same section and row for less,
game Time will credit me one hundred and ten percent
(02:07):
of the difference, so there's no question I'm getting the
best price. I take the guesswork and all the frustration
out of buying tickets with game Time. Here's the deal.
You can get twenty dollars off your first ticket purchase.
Just download the game Time app, create an account and
use my code Bullyball. That's right, Just use the code
Bullyball for twenty dollars off. Download the game Time app today,
(02:30):
Last minute tickets, lowest price guaranteed. Welcome to Bullyball, presented
by DraftKings. I'm Rachel Nichols, and there's always mister DeMarcus
Cousins across from me, and we were just chatting before
the show about Caitlin Cleric Boogie. She passed Pete Maravich
(02:52):
for the most points scored by Division I basketball player,
men's or women's. Apparently we're supposed to call her ponytail
Peete now because you know bistol, pet What do you
think of what's going on with her?
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Man?
Speaker 3 (03:03):
I think I think one, she's an incredible player. I
think she's you know, doing more to her part when
it comes to, you know, promoting the women's game, uh,
you know, elevating their platform, all of those things. I
think she's a great representation of the sport and I'm
(03:24):
just a fan of them being able to have their
platform gro regardless of how it's coming through college, through
you know, the w NBA, whatever the case may be.
Just these women and the sport that they love and
their platform all now, you know, being on one of
the biggest stages, people are now supporting it more than ever.
(03:44):
I think it's a beautiful thing. So I'm happy for
the sport. I'm happy for these ladies, and I'm a
huge fan of Kaitln Cark. And like I said, I
think she's doing more to her part of you know,
elevating this the game for these ladies.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Yeah, and she recently announced she is going to go
to the w NBA. There's some question about what she
take that fifth year of eligibility because you can make
a lot of nil money. Now, boogie, do you have
eligibility left? Because really we need to discuss, man.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
I got to go check in on that. Man.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
I feel like if I got the opportunity to go
back to the Uk. I would definitely take it, so I.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Got to check. I think you clean up.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
I'm just saying, I just save your beer off.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
I can look nineteen again. I see nothing like that.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Boger here on Tuesday morning, less than twelve hours after
the Lakers win over the Thunder and Okay See came
into the game as the top seed in the West.
LA is now three and one against Oklahoma City. For
this season, they're seven and three in their last ten games.
And here's what Anthony Davis had to say after last night.
He said, quote, we don't really care what seed we're in.
(04:52):
We proved it last year. It doesn't matter. It's just
about getting in and tackling each opponent from there. Uh
So that's all and good, And certainly they look like
they'd be pretty strong in a series against saying Oklahoma City.
On the other hand, the other big game the Lakers
had the past few days was yet another loss to
the Nuggets. So I guess my question to you, boog is,
if you look at the Western Conference standings, is any right?
(05:16):
I mean, could they just beat anyone? Are you confident
that the Lakers, if they get in, they could get
to the finals or do you feel like that might
be an overstatement for medi.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I think that's spot on, and I think that's why
the Lakers get treated the way they do in the
aspect of, yeah, on paper and then the standings, they aren't,
you know, one of the better teams in the league.
But based off their foundation and Anthony Davis and Lebron
James and just their history of you know, success, they'll
(05:47):
always be in the conversation as long as they're in
a spot of being able to be a playoff team.
This is a playoff roster. I think the Lakers going
to every off season thinking how can they become a
better playoff team. Their rosters aren't ever really built for
a regular season. And what I mean by that is
(06:08):
it's never really a consistent third or fourth piece with
any Lakers team outside of Anthony Davis and Lebron James
to consistently carry them through a regular season. They're usually
there for the support of those two guys or to
enhance them with later runs in the year. So I've
seen it time and time again with these Lakers teams.
(06:30):
They usually construct their roster to match up with the
Denver that's that's usually the team they struggle with the
most So it makes sense. And obviously it sounds a little,
you know, far off, but that's literally kind of how
this team builds their roster every single season.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
So once they're in.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
The playoffs or or if they are a playoff team,
they're gonna always be a threat just because of those
two main guys and Lebron James and Anthony Davis. So
I think everything else will kind of take care of himself.
So in that statement, absolutely, I mean.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
If you look at the standings right now and in
the West, they change every day, it feels like, but
Lakers are sitting in ninth, so they would still be
a playing team. And if the season ended today, you know,
if they made it at the plan, they would face
you know, the timber Wolves or the Oklahoma City Thunder,
depending on where they ended up after the plan. You know, they,
as I said, they've been beating Oklahoma City. They have
(07:24):
a big game against the Wolves coming up. In fact,
I think they played them twice. Still on the schedule
Denver though, I mean, you know, I've been on Denver
all year. I'm still someone's got to beat them before.
I'm not picking them this year, and no one's no
one big has been beating them. I mean they have
been since the All Star break. They put their foot
on the gas. They were clearly a little bit closet
before then, and there was a little bit of a
(07:46):
you know, Denver playing with its food aspect to that
Lakers game. I mean, it certainly was very close, and
the Lakers made some runs and it looked like, man,
they could finally beat them, because I think including the playoffs,
it's been like this was Denver's eighth win in a
row or something like that, and the LA fans were like,
this is it, this is great, and then last few
minutes it was just like, yeah, you know, okay, we're
(08:08):
done here, We're done messing around. So I don't know,
I think that a young team like Oklahoma City, you know,
we're we all say the same thing, right, The inexperience
in the playoffs, you know, is hard to overcome and
could come out to haunt them. But I just I'm
still all in on Dinvor, So I don't know. We'll see,
(08:29):
We'll see what happens there. Yeah, I want to switch
to I want to switch to the East because we
also have another team that's put its foot on the
gas since the All Star break. The Bucks have not
lost people since coming back from All Stars, six straight wins,
including last night a comeback win over the Clippers. No
(08:50):
Janna sent it to Compo in that game. No Chris Middleton.
In that game. The Clips were up by fifteen late
in the third quarter. Dame poured it in forty one point.
It's just amazing. Bobby Porters had a big game twenty
eight points, sixteen rebounds. We don't need to talk right
now about the Clippers, but they've had some They've coughed
up some big, big, big games where they've had big
(09:11):
leads lately. So that's something to think about when you
look at the West standings. But let's stick with the Bucks. Oh,
what has impressed you most about the Bucks during this
stretch because Doc has come in and turned things around
like you said he would.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Well, Well, one, I feel the Bucks have been treated
unfairly this Seve. And the reason I say that, I
actually think they deserve more credit than they've received.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
And the reason I say that is.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
One as much change that's been going on with this
Bucks organization, they've never been less than in my knowledge
of my knowledge a three seed in the East, which
is pretty damn impressive. With as much new moving parts
this team has had, you know, going on in season.
They've had a new coach, they have a they've had
(10:00):
ownership change, they brought in another franchise piece in Damian Lillard.
I just don't think they get enough credit for, you know,
how they've kept things afloat amongst all this change, the
huge new moving parts that they've had with this team
and this franchise, I think they've done a pretty good
(10:21):
job with you know, just keeping things afloat.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
They are still a threat in the East.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Uh they are now starting to you know, find that groove,
which is you know, great for them. Another thing I
don't think it's enough credit is the Patrick Beverley effect.
I've literally seen this guy, you know, put batteries and
guys back to the point where they're talking out the
side of their neck and they they're a believer or
in character of being something that they're completely not. And
(10:47):
that's totally fine. But that's the Patrick Beverley effect. I
saw the Minnesota. I've seen it in many places that
you know, this guy's been so I know that energy,
that leadership, that voice in the locker room is only
going to increase his team. So you know, you know,
obviously Pat doesn't get the credit that he you know,
deserves when it comes to you know, performing on the
(11:09):
cord or the numbers aren't his flashy, but I put
him in the category you know, of a Dremond where
and obviously the accolades don't match up, but as far
as you.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Know, the fat skill level might not match up, but
the emotion does, right.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Absolutely, and in the impact he has on games that
don't show up on paper like, it's a big effect.
So I think the combination of all these things and
just simply you know, they're now finding their stride. The
system is now making sense with Doc, They're now starting
to slowly get on the same page.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
And these are the effects of that.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
So I think this team only improved towards the end
of the year, and like I said, they are still
very much a threat in the ease.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
I mean, look, first of all, they also got Jay
crowder back, who's another energy guy, right, So I think
your point on Patrick Beverly is is totally true. The defense, though,
has turned to and the idea was how can the
Bucks improve their defense? They can't you go out and
trade for anyone else. They already made their big trade.
They were hamstrung. Clearly, defensive strategy was a big part
(12:10):
of what was going on, and Doc has adjusted the
defense for the opponent in a way that Griff wasn't
really doing. The Bucks have held teams under one hundred
points four times in seven games. They played forty three
games under Adrian Griffin and only did that once, so
that is a pretty stark set of numbers. In fact,
they had the number twenty two defense in the league
(12:32):
under Adrian Griffin. In just a short amount of time
that Doc has been there, they're all the way up
to number six. So that is just a huge, huge turnaround.
And when we get to the playoffs, that is obviously
going to be so important. And I think when they
made the move to get rid of Griff, I mean,
obviously it's very tough to make a coaching change like that.
I'm not sure Adrian Griffin deserved to sort of be
(12:55):
dismissed in the middle of his first season the way
it happened. However, the move for the playoffs right the
move was, hey, we know we have a great record.
I think at the time they were number two in
the East, and it was like, what are you doing?
But the point was you could look at that team
and look at their defense and say this isn't gonna
cut it in the postseason. And obviously, when you have
Janna sentence Kupo, that is the standard. So I think
(13:19):
that the fact that they've beaten the Nuggets under dock,
they've beaten the Timberwolves under dock. You know, you look
at how they have progressed against big teams, you see
why they made the change. And this is all without
Chris Middleton. He has not played in the last eleven games.
He has that ankle injury. We don't know when he's
going to come back. And I guess the question too
(13:39):
a little bit is the road ahead for them, because
they do have a very tough remaining schedule. Their next
seven games. They're going to have the Warriors, They're going
to have the Lakers, they're going to have the Clippers, Sacramento, Philadelphia, Phoenix,
and then a huge game against Boston. So I don't
know where are you on the on the Bucks chances
because as you look at that Boston game, that's the
(14:01):
one that's like looming on the schedule. So crazy.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
I can see them having a you know, a successful
stretch when it comes to these teams that they're going
to have, you know, later on. But obviously the Boston
Boston has been a favorite, you know, for the most
part the entire year. I still think they're the favorite.
That Boston team is just so well constructed. You know,
they had a plan in the offseason. They came together perfectly,
(14:28):
and it hasn't been really much changed to that Boston team.
They've been consistent, they've been and it's weird to say,
with them having the best record in the NBA. For
some reason, this team has kind of been under the
radar as much. Even though they're a favorite, they're still
kind of full none of the radar, and that's and
it doesn't.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Do you think that's like just skepticism from some playoffs,
you know, problems that they've had. I think people kind
of feel like, yeah, we've been here before with the Celtics.
We know that they've been good in the regular season,
and then they've just had a few notable playoff performances. Obviously,
that Golden State Finals was super winnable. Losing to the
Heat the way they did, they clearly came in as
(15:10):
the better team, and the way they lost that series,
and the way Jason Tatum struggled throughout that series even
before his injury, I think people just there's some skepticism
about Boston, but there shouldn't be because, as you said,
I mean, they're rocking.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
This team looks well. If it's if there's ever been
a year, I think this is the year for this
Celtics team. They look like a well war machine. I
don't see a team that even comes closer to their talent.
But to get back on topic, when it comes to
this Bucks team, they have every chance of you know,
being successful in this stretch. I think they'll only continue
(15:48):
to improve with you know, this closing stretch of the season,
and I think that's perfect time and they want to
go in with some momentum. They want to go in
with some confidence, and the biggest thing, they all want
to go in on the same page as far as
being on the same page as the coaching staff, the
coaching stuff, being on the same page as the players,
the system being you know, it's Bible, everybody knows the system.
(16:09):
Everything's flowing. So I think this is kind of perfect
time and for this team everything will be kind of
semented with this group and they can go into the
playoffs with some momentum. And like I said, they are
still very much a threat in the East. They have
the talent to do it. They have a champion in Giannis,
they have a guy that's hungry for a championship in
Damian Lillard, so they very much have a chance.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Well, look, it is interesting if you think about who's
going to end up where. And by the way, if
Doc Rivers comes into Boston and beats the Celtics in
a playoff series, that's going to be a whole nother scene.
But right now, Boston looks so good. They've had three
wins this season of more than fifty points. Buggie, I mean,
(16:53):
that's like, that's an insane thing to say. They tore
the Warriors into tiny little pieces. Over this past weekend.
Steph Curry had a great quote after the Warriors loss
by fifty two to Boston. He said, that's what we
used to do to teams. It's demoralizing. And that's really
interesting to think of because in some ways, this Boston
(17:17):
team during the regular season, this is just regular season
so far, is more dominant than the Warriors at the
height of their dynasty. The Celtics have won eleven in
a row and their point differential in those games has
been by twenty two, which is better than the Warriors
ever did even when they were killing teams. I just
(17:38):
I don't know. They have the easiest remaining schedule compared
to what that Bucks schedule. We just lifted off, listed off,
So I don't know you were saying the Bucks, you know,
definitely gonna fight the Celtics for the East is Boston though,
I mean, are you ready to make your hotel reservations
for Boston in the finals. I mean, do you think
it's going to be a contest in the Eastern Conference finals?
(17:58):
Or are you looking at these members for the Celtics
and been like, yeah, it might be a tough go,
but the Celtics are making it absolutely well.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
First off, I want to say, when it comes to that,
that Warriors team in their prime, I'm taking them over
the Celtius team.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Well, you played on that.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
I don't give it. I don't give it. Damn what
the nerds say, I don't give it.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
Down with the statistics, the the plus, I don't give
a fuck about any of that. I'll take that Warriors
team any day. Like I hate when these fucking numbers
go all they're better than fuck that, Like.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
I'm taking that Warriors team any day.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
First off, right in the playoffs, that's all the champions exactly.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
Champions Cics team is just still trying to get to
their first one. So I'll take that Warriors team regardless
of what the nerds say. So that's one thing. But
when it comes to uh, Boston finishing out the year,
they do have, you know, one of the easier remaining schedule.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
I think they'll continue to just kind of float grew
if the.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
Guys are you know, kind of having any knicks or
knacks or you know, slight injuries. They also use it's
time to get guys one hundred percent healthy going into
the playoffs. So I think this Celtic teament is, you know,
they're in a perfect place right now with just finishing
out the season, going in healthy and having a clear
mindset with trying to make this championship run. But when
(19:23):
it just comes to the East, you know, on paper
and you know, proof of the season right now, you
can say Boston is the favorite. Like you can say that,
and you can say that with confidence. But on the
flip side of things, when it's a Miami Heat floating around,
they're always a threat, and you can say that with
(19:48):
confidence because it's proof in the pudding. I think the
Heat will always be a threat. When you have a
guy like Jimmy Butler who's notorious for kind of you know,
heating up at the till end of the season, especially
going into the playoffs, he becomes another player, and that's
one thing you have to respect about a guy like that.
When it comes to the playoffs, you want to elevate
(20:09):
your game, and he does it time and time again,
and he you know, he has a lot of unexpected runs.
So the Heat are always a threat. If m B
is healthy, if he's able to return, obviously that's a threat.
When it comes to Philly, I think they have a
great thing going there. And then when it comes to
Damian Lillard and Gianni's you just can't ignore those two guys.
(20:34):
Like if things work out the way you know they
should when it comes to finishing out the season strong
with that team and just finding their flow in the chemistry,
they are very much a threat. But based off right
now the present day, I think Paulston is the favorite.
So that's kind of how I'm viewing this.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
I mean, that's the Warriors comparison is so interesting because,
as you point out, Boston hasn't done it so in
terms of like, could you say they're as good a
team as the Warriors in their prime? Absolutely not, Like
there's no question, but you can't say that yet. It's
just about that regular season dominance and sort of what
we saw in the Warriors in the West at that time,
(21:17):
where it just wasn't even a question they were the
team making it to the finals. Like we all knew
that at the time. It was just sort of like, yeah,
of course. And Boston looks like that right now. They
look like a team where they're just winning by so much.
They're winning by more than twenty points right now a game.
I mean, it's insane. It looks like, yeah, of course
you can. You can put them an in to the finals.
(21:37):
But as you point out, like there's other teams in
the East that at least have some playoff level threats,
and if they do play a series against the Bucks
in the Eastern Conference finals, Yannis is yanis the best
player in that series. I mean, we always say the
best player in the series is the team that's favored
to win. Would you say Yanis is the best player
in that series?
Speaker 2 (22:03):
I could see a one A, one B type situation
with Tatum.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
I mean, obviously accolade Wise, Yeah, accolade Wise is Giannis,
But just on an everyday talent basis, it's a one A,
one B when it comes to Giannis and Tatum.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
So yes, and no, you could you could say that.
You could say that and you couldn't. That's that's just
a hard That's that's a good question. You can never go.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
Into a series with Jason Tatum on the other end
of it and say, yeah, the other guy's the best player, Like,
that's just hard to say.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Yeah, So I can see a one one B type
situation for sure.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Yeah. Look, this is the this is the postseason for
Jason Tatum to prove it right. I mean, he is
obviously an incredible, incredible talent. He is one of the
top stars of this generation of NBA players. He has
had some excellent playoff games. I don't want that to
get lost. He's had some very very good playoff games.
It's like with Chris Paul, like people forget some of
(23:04):
the great playoff games Chris Paul played. People forget some
of the great playoff games that Jason Tatum has played.
But the truth is there have been big moments where
he has faltered and they've been have to play from
behind in series and things like that. And I think
if he can pull off this season, this postseason, you know,
being the star that we know that he is playing
(23:25):
as consistently as he has all during this season, you know,
if they make a run during the playoffs, if they
somehow win this title, and then he goes into the summer.
I think his contract is going to get signed this summer.
We all know that's going to be very expensive. You know,
he's going to play on Team USA this summer. That
could be a gold medal. I think that this could
(23:45):
very much be the stretch, the six month stretch that
Jason Tatum sort of proves the doubters wrong. But he
has to do it, so we will see if he
does it again. I'm always going to pick Denver because
they're the champs and they have not shown anything to
say that they won't win, and Nikola Yokich has been
just a stud again. But Jason Tatum has a chance
(24:06):
to really change how people think of him. So I'm
I'm I'm ready for it. I think it'd be a
great Eastern Conference Finals if it's Bucks Celtics. I think
the Doc factor is so much fun. I think the
Tatum Jannis sort of you know, very different players, obviously
different positions, but but a great comparison and could be
fire Man could be really, really really good, and then
the finals could be good too. So I don't know.
(24:29):
I said I was going to get back to the Clippers.
I do have to say, not only have they coughed
up a couple of big leads lately, Russell Westbrook is
now out surgery to fixate broken hand. Obviously a lot
of breaks you could just let heal, so it must
have been bad if it required surgery. Now, Russ always
has a quick healing timeline. You know, his superhumanness has
(24:50):
in terms of how quick he he was at one
point in his career, has always also extended to the
fact that he heals really quick. But James Harden said
it best. I think he said, will miss everything he
brings to the game, his athleticism, his energy, his playmaking ability,
his leadership. I just think it's a big deal. That
that rust is out. What about you? Do you think
(25:11):
the impact is a sixth man that he's going to
be out for a stretch. I don't know. I think
it's I think it's big.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
It is a big thing. I agree with everything James said. Uh,
you know, the energy, the leadership, those are contagious. Those
those do you know that has more effect on the
team than you know sometimes talent. So I agree with
James on his statement. But also, let's not forget this
(25:42):
Clippers team is loaded. They have so much talent. I'm
a big believer in bones Holland. I had an opportunity
to uh play with the kid in Denver, super super
talented kid. You know, he's kind of been through the ringer,
He's kind of in and out of lineups, He's been traded,
(26:03):
So I think his mindset has shifted. I think he
knows he's now learning how to carry himself. He knows
how to be prepared as a pro. He's learning from
a great group of guys in LA and this Clippers team.
He has Hall of Fame talent in front of him
to learn from. So I can I can easily see
this becoming a situation where he's now you know, slid
(26:25):
into that second unit and being that guy to help
keep things to float until excuse me, until Russ comes back.
So this is a big I think this can be
a big opportunity for him. This is another time for
him to continue to grow as a pro and as
a player, and I think he this is a chance
to just take advantage of his moment. Like I said,
the talent is there and now the opportunity is now
(26:47):
present himself. So I think he can step in and
like I said, keep things afloat for this Clippers team.
But uh, you know, moving forward, it could have an
effect on this Clippers team chemistry wise. Once Rush returns, obviously,
you know he has to get back in the flow
of things.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
That's not easy to do.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
Depending on how long he's out, it could be closer
to playoff time, so it could get a little, you know,
funny for this team. But like I said, talent wise,
they have the pieces to fill in that void. But
chemistry is going to always be an issue, especially with
the time and of it depends on the timing, but
(27:28):
it could be an issue.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
Look, I think where they are in the standings is interesting,
like in a Western Conference where the top three teams
seem to trade every second. I think on whose first
two seconds, who's third. The Clippers are in fourth, there's
a gap between them and the third place whoever's in
third place that day. There's a gap between them and
fifth place, which is right now the Pelicans. So I
(27:54):
think they've got some squishy room in the standings. They're
probably not going to leap up into that top three
no matter what. They're probably not going to fall into
that five to six spot no matter what. And then
in the West right now, because of say the Lakers
getting in from the plan, the Warriors possibly getting in
for the plan, being in that four spot is not
the worst place to be in the first round if
(28:15):
you're playing the four or five series. Let's say it's
Clippers Pelicans the way it is right now, and by
the way, No Orleans has not gotten the credit it
should this season either, I think that's kind of a
I mean, you played there, you know that. Sometimes the
media skips over them, and I just think that what
the Pelicans have done has not been noticed or talked
about it now. But I will say we talked about
(28:36):
the best player, you know, winning a playoff series. The
Clippers talent is crazy, and when you look at them
versus the Pels in a playoff series, anything can happen,
but the Clippers would be the favorites there. So I
just think that they have some cushion in terms of
if you know, they lose a game or two because
they don't have that energy off the bench with Russ.
(28:56):
I like your bones Highland prediction. So I hope that
it does doesn't affect them because I hate when injuries
affect teams anywhere. I think they'll miss him. I think
they'll miss him, but hopefully you know, it's not the thing.
Injuries shouldn't be the thing that changes a team season.
So the Clippers are interesting right now, so I want
to see them continue to be interesting. We'll see, all right, Buggy,
(29:17):
we got to get to one of my topics. I've
been beating the drum on all season, and I apologize
you had to be at the other end of this
over and over, but I know you agree with me,
so that that's something. The sixty five game rule, Man,
it is still bothering me. Donovan Mitchell is the latest
person we got to talk about. He is a chance
to miss out on all NBA. He is now out
(29:39):
for quote, at least the next three games could be longer.
He has already missed I think thirteen games this season.
You can only miss seventeen, so the next three would
put him at sixteen, so that margin for error would
be almost nothing. Tyre's Halliburton has talked about the fact,
and I talked to him for a while at All
Star about this that you know he's close to the
(30:00):
cutoff now too, by the way, and he said he said,
I would have played. I would have taken a game
or two more off from the injury he had because
he said he needed that time to heal, but he
felt so much pressure to make all NBA. We know
guys contract bonuses are tied into this, and it's not
a little money. It's like thirty forty million dollars in
some cases that these guys could lose. And Tyreus was
(30:23):
saying to me, he said, yeah, he said, I just
I don't have the lift on my shot, especially in
the second half of games, because I didn't really get
enough time for it to heal completely, which is not
what we should be having guys do. And we know
with Joelle Embiid, you know who knows if he misses
as many games as we expect, if he would make
(30:44):
All NBA anyway, just because I mean, at some point
he's only played thirty four games so far. At some
point that just becomes okay, not his year. But he
got hurt because there was so much pressure on him
to come back. And you remember the chatter that week
and the whole thing about the sixty five games. Gee,
he's ducking games in Denver and all the stuff. And
I mean he felt this pressure to come back. He's
talked about it. That's not like an assumption anyone's made.
(31:07):
And he got hurt and the season that he was
on a historic pace got wrecked. So again, Donovan Mitchell,
to get back to the current player that's being you know,
sort of affected by this. Where are you on the
fact that what if he plays sixty three games, what
if he plays sixty four games, should he not make
all NBA?
Speaker 3 (31:26):
Right, I've agree with you fromt them beginning. I think
this is a bullshit rule. I'm not in disagreemance was
trying to figure out a way to continue to make
the game competitive. I do still feel that that's with
that being a topic that we have to find a
way to make our game competitive. That's bullshit. Well let's
(31:49):
take less business out of it and put more to
sport back in. I think that changes everything that we're
trying to you know, do here, if you want a
competitive game, let's totally off the sport and not the
business and you'll get the production that you want. But
back to the topic, when it comes to this, my
biggest thing and my biggest like grievance, when it comes
(32:11):
to this, it's a legacy change, and I'm just not
okay with that. Guy's put in so much time to
this craft and this art and gods strive to be
the greatest, and it's taken away from you because you
miss more than seventeen games out of an eighty two
game season. Like that's fucking ridiculous, Like it really is,
(32:32):
and I won't ever be in agreeance with it. I
think they need to do. I think they need to
go back to the drawing board, try to figure this
thing out again.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
I'm even okay with it being a sixty game rule.
Speaker 3 (32:44):
I think, yeah, sixty games compared to sixty five just
makes more sense. You have a twenty game window, twenty
two game window to figure out you know, injuries, time,
whatever the case may be. So it just makes more sense.
I see, this game doesn't go without our stars, like
we need our stars. And to go back to the
(33:05):
part of our legacy when it comes to these guys
careers ending and we go back to look at, you know,
what they did throughout their career, and instead of them
being you know, a ten time All NBA or whatever
the case may be, they're now a seven because three
of the seasons they play sixty four games.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
Like that's bullshit, Like that.
Speaker 1 (33:29):
Takes away Hall of Fame looks at that All NBA stuff. Right,
we see Donovan Mitchell play, we know how much of
a baller he is. But in twenty years people just
look back at the numbers and they might say, oh, okay,
this happened a couple of times. Okay, okay, and the
money toune. It's not fair. I'm sorry, it's not.
Speaker 3 (33:48):
Yes, guys work too hard for their money to be
cut short because of a game or two or whatever
the case may be.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
So it's a lot of things in it that I
just don't agree with.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
And like I said, the root of the problem is
trying to make the game competitive again. If you want
the game or the sport to be competitive, Let the
sport be the sport and take less of the business out.
Business is going to be business if the sport is booming,
So let the sport be the sport and stop trying
to put things in place or kind of simulate what
(34:18):
you want to happen, or take less defense like that.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
That's not what makes this sport the sport.
Speaker 3 (34:24):
So I think we get back to that part and
the understanding of that. I think that eliminates all the
issues that we're having when it comes to just the
game being competitive in today.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
Yeah, I mean we talked about that at the All
Star Game, right, the All Star Game wasn't competitive at all. Again,
but because you know, there's a lot of factors, and
the players wanting to play hard is one of those factors.
But part of them wanting or not wanting to play
hard is that you give them fifteen sponsorship, you know,
obligations in the two days leading up to the game,
the game will feel like an afterthought. And you're right
about the business of the league. I mean, there's been
(34:58):
a lot put forward as important and therefore you are
not stressing getting guys on the court playing competitively all
the time, and that has to be looked at as
much as how many guys are games missing? Games are
guys missing because I look at Donovan Mitchell. He hasn't
been resting like that whole load man. He hasn't been
load managing. He got hurt, and he got hurt, you
(35:22):
know in a way that he might end up at
sixty three or sixty four games. And I'm a voter
and I often use the third NBA All NBA Team
to sort of say, okay, guys who didn't play as
much because availability is important to me as a voter.
So guys who were available for the whole season, guys
who put it you know, we're out there and put
it on the line the whole season. I am putting
(35:43):
them up in the top two teams, and that is
making a difference to me. But there are players who
are clearly among the top fifteen players in the game.
I mean, there's just no question about it. And maybe
they played less games that year, but it's still enough.
I will put them on my third All NBA team.
And I'm not the only one who does this. I
know a lot of people other voters sho do this.
And it's a way to balance out as you say
(36:04):
that legacy stuff, that recognition stuff of saying in this
year of Our Lord twenty twenty four, the idea that
you know, this guy was one of the top fifteen
players in the game, and I just I don't know. Again,
this bothers me. Thank you for humoring me again with
one of these discussions, Boogie Cousins, you are my friend.
I appreciate it all right too. Truth and a lie.
(36:26):
I love this segment. Producer Nate and preducer Eric cooked up.
We're going to do it every week. If I'm going
to throw three stats at you, two of them are true,
one is a lie, and I'm just going to put
it out there. This one stumped me, so if it
stumps you too, no shame because I was completely wrong
on this one when I first talked to Nate about it.
Here's the three things. See if you can do better
(36:47):
than me. Jamar Derosan leads the league in minutes per game.
That's fact one or stat one. Stat two is down
in Houston. Shanng Gooon leads the league in foul that
statue or in Oklahoma City SGA has the most made
field goals in the NBA. Which one is a lie?
(37:11):
It's hard, right, this one's hard.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
No, I don't think this is hard. I could be wrong,
but I don't think this is hard. Okay, Okay, I
think I think the lie is the Martyros and leads
the league.
Speaker 1 (37:25):
And that's what I said. We are both wrong.
Speaker 2 (37:29):
That's bullshit. It's no way deep Old as leading the league.
Speaker 1 (37:35):
It's true, it's true.
Speaker 2 (37:37):
That's true.
Speaker 1 (37:43):
Well, that's the thing. So I didn't even get it
right on the second time. Can you get it right now?
Just with these two stats, can you pick out the lie?
Is it Shangoon leading the league in fouls or SGA
with the most made field goals in the league.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
I don't like being wrong, but I'm gonna go I
think a lie. What shit?
Speaker 3 (38:04):
I think SGA has the most goals in the league
because he's also the league and scorer in the league,
and most of his scoring comes from midies mid range jumpers.
Speaker 2 (38:15):
Am I right or wrong? You're wrong?
Speaker 1 (38:18):
And by the way, I said the same, The lie
is that SGA has the most made field goals. He
is second. Okay, So there's a little bit of a
trick question from our producers, but they got us both.
He is second. Yannis has the most made field goals
in the league. Wow, I know, I know, I was.
(38:40):
I thought to murder Rosen was one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (38:43):
I'm like, it's no way, deebo, oldest ship.
Speaker 3 (38:45):
Then they ask kicked the Chicago right, It's no way.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
There you go.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
They've had a lot of injuries this year, so people
who are healthy for.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Plenty more minutes. So yeah, man, right, I'm proud of you,
old man. I'm proud of you. Bro.
Speaker 1 (39:03):
All right, I'll take that bet presented by DraftKings. DraftKings
has a bet that is uh, look, there's some long
odds in this bet, but it is possible and it's
a fun bet. So will Victor Webbin Yama have a
quadruple double this season? Now, the odds, as I said,
are plus forty five hundred. That means you bet a dollar,
if it comes through, you get forty five backs. So
(39:25):
just you know, do that to one hundred dollars, do
that to one thousand dollars, et cetera. Here is the
closest he has come so far. He had a game
against Toronto where he was twenty seven fourteen, ten blocks,
five assists, so if those assist numbers had gotten up,
he would have made it. He had a game against
the Lakers where it was twenty seven points, eight rebounds,
five blocks, and five steals. That was a little further away.
(39:47):
Will you take the bet? Would you put down your
money on forty five hundred odds that he will come
up with a quadruple double this season? You're dropping a
thousand dollars on that, Poky.
Speaker 3 (40:03):
No, I think he will have a quadruple double in
his career. I don't think it'll happen this season, though
he may have more than one. Yeah, yeah, but I
don't think this season.
Speaker 2 (40:17):
I'm away.
Speaker 3 (40:17):
I'm gonna wait till he's a little more season, and
I'm more than confident to bet on that I'm putting.
Speaker 2 (40:24):
I'm putting a nice amount of money down too.
Speaker 3 (40:27):
I hope I'm gonna put a nice amount of money
down on that.
Speaker 1 (40:33):
I mean, look, if the team improves around him too.
I mean I lifted listed up the stats of that
one game, and the only number that was below double
digits was the assist. If his teammates were better than
his numbers will go up. So there's a lot of
factors there.
Speaker 2 (40:48):
Pretty young, it happens straight young to the Spurs. Please
make it happen for basketball.
Speaker 1 (41:00):
Please, are going to have something to say about that.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
No, send him to the Spurs.
Speaker 3 (41:12):
Please, let's basketball fans want and we deserve it.
Speaker 1 (41:18):
You know, that's the one I'm rooting for. Yes, yes,
we'll see, we'll see. All right, we are not taking
the bed DraftKings. I'm sorry, but you know again, keep
that up on the board because in the future we'll
take the bet. We will. All right, We got to
get to a little doom scroll here. We serve the
internet so you don't have to. And we got to
talk about one of our guys. But Paul Pierce has
a new show, The Truth Lounge, just came out. It's
(41:40):
on the DraftKings Network. It's on the All the Smoke
Productions UH YouTube pagees. You can get it wherever you
get your podcast. And uh, Paul was asked, who is
the best number one draft pick of the last dozen years?
So just you know you can redraft. You're gonna you're
gonna see the clip in a minute. You've got the
list in front of you. Those of you at home
(42:01):
can look the list here. Who do you think, in
hindsight is the best number one overall pick at the
last dozen years. Here's what pol say, the.
Speaker 4 (42:10):
Top number one picks in the last I said ten years,
but let's do twelve years, says twenty eleven to two,
thy and twenty three. Who's the best number overall number
one pick overall? You got Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Bennett, Wiggins,
town Simmons, Faults, Aton, Zion, Anthony Edwards, k Pablo, Victor
(42:36):
Wimen Yama. Who y'all got the best number one picks?
Speaker 5 (42:39):
Going to be the best one? And who's been the
best one so far? Who's who you taking number one?
Speaker 2 (42:45):
Number one? Who you taking?
Speaker 1 (42:47):
Number one?
Speaker 4 (42:48):
Out of all them?
Speaker 2 (42:49):
I would take?
Speaker 5 (42:49):
Out of all those people.
Speaker 2 (42:50):
Who would you take? I mean a D.
Speaker 5 (42:52):
Kyrie Killers, I'm taking I'm taking it. I'm taking Victor.
Speaker 4 (42:58):
Oh you taking a bit?
Speaker 2 (43:00):
Who are you taking? I'm number one picks.
Speaker 6 (43:02):
I'm taking Victor as well. Well.
Speaker 2 (43:05):
I think, I mean all these picks I would go with.
I'll rank him.
Speaker 6 (43:09):
I'll go Victor, I go Victor, A D. Edwards, Kyrie,
that's solid, that's solid. I'm going Victor too. And I'll
tell you why. We've never seen nothing like this.
Speaker 2 (43:22):
First of all.
Speaker 4 (43:23):
I mean he said records every year. I mean not
every year, but every day. With his blocks, with his
scoring and rebounding. I mean, in my eyes, I think
he defensive player of the year. I mean as a rookie.
I don't know if we've ever seen that. I know
they're not a great defensive team, but that's not on him.
But you cannot score with him in the paint. He's
(43:44):
leading the league in blocks.
Speaker 6 (43:45):
Can you be defensive player of the Year from the
last place team in the league.
Speaker 2 (43:48):
No, I mean that's a new that's new. That's a
good question.
Speaker 1 (43:54):
All right, So they're picking. Are you in on that?
Speaker 2 (43:57):
But I don't know?
Speaker 1 (44:04):
That's not and I agree with them face.
Speaker 2 (44:07):
Yeah, I'm not.
Speaker 3 (44:09):
And it's the obviously we can look at Winby see
what he's done this season, but it's only based on
his His sample size is so small, like compared to
guys that have been in the league, you know, a decade,
Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. And that's kind of more
so what I'm what I'm leaning to.
Speaker 5 (44:31):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (44:33):
I mean, we're talking about Kyrie being a champion, a
one time champion. We're talking about Anthony Davis being a
one time champion. We talked about these guys being Olympic
gold Mellists, all Stars, all NBA, Kyrie having one of
the number one sneakers in the you know, in the
world when he was you know once when Yeah, and
(44:53):
all of those things count. The impact, the marketing, all
of that matters when it comes to a number one pick.
So I've see when you base it off of talent
and projection, we can all sit here and say Wimby, yeah, absolutely,
but based off facts and accolades and what's actually happened,
I think I lean more so towards Kyrie at this point.
(45:15):
And like I said, it's bigger than just you know,
the numbers or I'm talking about the impact.
Speaker 2 (45:22):
I'm talking about the marketing.
Speaker 3 (45:24):
I'm talking about being a global superstar, also being a champion,
hitting one of the biggest shots ever in finals history.
Speaker 2 (45:32):
Like, it's a lot that comes into that.
Speaker 3 (45:35):
Even when it comes to Anthony Davis being a number
one pick, coming off a national championship in college, going
straight from that to the Olympics, then becoming an Olympic
gold medalist, then going to the Lakers, helping them get
their first championship in a long time. You know, since
the you know Kobe Dad, It's it's not as simple
(45:55):
as saying, you know, Winby, and I'm leaning more towards
you know, Kyrie Irvin or Anthony Davis in this conversation.
And it's really kind of hard to pick between those
two because they've been you know, pretty similar and pretty
equal when it comes to their careers.
Speaker 2 (46:11):
So uh, definitely not Winby.
Speaker 3 (46:15):
I'm going with eleven or twelve, right, So I'm going
going I'm going with twenty eleven or twelve.
Speaker 2 (46:21):
That's that's my stands, all right.
Speaker 1 (46:24):
I mean, look, you bring up the final shot from Kyrie.
I didn't even think about that, but you're absolutely right.
And by the way, it's that Kyrie shot and the
Ray Allen shot, at least in my memory of the
best shot in when it counted the most in the
NBA Finals, And I think the Kyrie one would take
it for me because again, that was coming back from
a three to one deficit and it was against you know,
(46:44):
what was the best team of all time in terms
of regular season and all that other stuff. I Mean,
I just think that that the weight of that and
I was in the building for that Ray Allen shot
and it was huge, but you're talking about a much
different swing in the series and a much different kind
of opponent. So that's a really good point. I didn't
think about that. The Anthony Davis factor is huge too,
because we know what he's accomplished and we know how
(47:05):
good he is. I think Wemby. My prediction on Wemby
has been that he you know again, health, we don't know.
Maybe his drive changes as he gets more money, although
I don't think so. He's really a determined cat there.
But I think Wenby will end up being in ten
top ten player of all time if things go the
way they're going, and then we will look back because
(47:27):
I don't think Kyrie Irving is the top ten player
of all time. I don't think Anthony Davis is going
to end up as a top ten player of all
time if Wenby does get there, and that is an if,
I understand. But I do think that we will look
back and say he was the best one of that
twelve year stretch. But I agree with you certainly can't
say that now, Aunt Davis, by the way. Anthony Edwards,
by the way, should get his due as well, by
(47:49):
the way, on that list, because he is such a talent.
But but yeah, webin now I'm eventually is maybe my answer.
Speaker 2 (47:56):
And I'm not mad at that statement. I actually agree
with that.
Speaker 3 (48:00):
I think out of all these guys, I think, you know,
Wemby has the best career. I think he has all
the intangibles to do so. And I think that happens
quicker if they go and get Trey Young. But you
know that's another topic.
Speaker 1 (48:14):
By the way, if they make that trade, We're gonna
run back every clip of you say, and I'm sitting invoice.
Speaker 3 (48:22):
I'm sending my GM invoice.
Speaker 1 (48:26):
Do it this. By the way, all right, this next
doom scroll, I love this one. This one makes me
so happy. Boogie. Mike Miscala NBA VET, hard worker, journeyman,
just like us boy cousins. He recently the Internet discovered
that Mike Miscala has a linked In profile. Obviously, most
(48:46):
professional basketball players do not feel the need to put
their resume on the Internet. They're not applying for jobs
in the same way most people on LinkedIn are. But
he has done it, and by the way, he has
moved around a lot. He's played for ten seasons. He's
played for seven teams in those ten seasons, He's already
played for three teams just this season, so I guess
(49:08):
I see they need to update your resume. But look
at basketball player, basketball player, basketball player. If you look
at the profile here, I don't know. What do you
think about him using LinkedIn here?
Speaker 2 (49:18):
Bug?
Speaker 3 (49:19):
I think that's a nice portfolio. Bro, I'm not mad
at you. You know, get it, how you live, brag
how you want.
Speaker 2 (49:27):
Brother.
Speaker 3 (49:28):
I think it's very impressive. I find nothing funny or
comical about this. To sit here and be able to
say I play for this many professional franchises is a
beautiful thing.
Speaker 2 (49:39):
You know, you know. More power to him, and I
think it's dope. I actually do.
Speaker 3 (49:44):
I don't see it being any different than anybody else
bragging about their resume of portfolio.
Speaker 2 (49:48):
I think I think he has every right just.
Speaker 1 (49:50):
Saying we have basketball reference for this.
Speaker 2 (49:54):
Wow, go to his you could just go to his LinkedIn.
It's even more simple. He's making it easier for the people,
like I think he's doing. I think he's going to
justice to the people. So I said, more.
Speaker 1 (50:07):
Power he uses it. By the way, he not only
like lists his resume, he writes little things on there.
He's thanked people in the organization that he just left.
You know he's using it. And look, maybe when he's
applying for jobs or wants to workplace his post career,
because he probably will, he'll just be able to say,
look at my LinkedIn page.
Speaker 3 (50:28):
Absolutely, and I think that's dope. I think it's incredible.
I think he's going about it the right way. Take notes, kids,
take notes.
Speaker 1 (50:35):
There you go, the Boogey Cousins Seal of approval. All right, friends,
you can catch all episodes of Bullyball on the DraftKings Network.
You can catch us on the All the Smoke Productions
YouTube channel. You can catch us wherever you get your podcast.
Don't forget to rate and review us. We like those
five star ratings. You can listen to us all through
your week. We will be back on Monday. But thank
(50:56):
you so much. And I'm writing your name down next
to that tree, young trade. Just same, appreciate you.
Speaker 3 (51:01):
I need I need my moneys, I need my hands,
I need my cut take care of me.
Speaker 1 (51:06):
And you getting your Kentucky eligibility back. We're just gonna
put that on the roster for this week.
Speaker 2 (51:12):
Business is booming.
Speaker 1 (51:14):
Mm hmmm mm hmmmmmmmmm
What's up basketball fans. Let's be honest. Does anyone ever
win a big bet and not tell anyone? No, they don't.
That feeling of hitting a big bet is great and
the group chat always going to hear about it. What
we don't want to talk about, though, is our losses. Nope,
no one likes that. But check this out. New customers
can get a no sweat bet with DraftKings, so even
(00:20):
if you do lose, you can still get a bonus
bet back up to one thousand dollars in the amount
of your original bet. Minimum deposit is five dollars and
you can sign up now using my promo code Bulleyball
Watch the Games. Get in on the action of real
time betting by downloading the DraftKings app now. New customers
get that no sweat bet. That's right. New customers can
(00:40):
get a no sweat bet of up to one thousand
dollars if your first bet loses, and all existing customers well,
they get a same game parlay insurance. That means you
get a bonus bet back if one leg of your
parlay loses. Minimum number of legs required and max bet faries.
So download the DraftKings Sportsbook app now. New customers use
my promo code Bullyball and get a no sweat VET.
(01:03):
Promo code is Bullyball. The crown is yours. What's up,
basketball fans, March is here. Spring is in the air,
and it's not just the NBA schedule that's loaded. March
Madness is afoot and the concert scene is hoppin'. I'm
so pumped. We've got Bad Bunny coming into La here
(01:24):
in a week or so, and game Time is my
go to app for securing the best tickets. I just
pull up the game Time app, I can see the
entire schedule of who's coming here on tour and starting prices.
They're right there, all in one shot. The layout of
the game Time app really is what makes buying these
tickets so easy. I can easily see that Madonna's rolling
into town with her greatest Hits tour. Andre three thousand
(01:46):
is about to play a bunch of shows here in
Los Angeles. And what I like most about Game Time
is when I buy tickets, I can see the view
from my seat before I buy, so I know exactly
what to expect. I pick the section, and game Time
picks this seats for the best price. In fact, if
I find tickets in the same section and row for less,
game Time will credit me one hundred and ten percent
(02:07):
of the difference, so there's no question I'm getting the
best price. I take the guesswork and all the frustration
out of buying tickets with game Time. Here's the deal.
You can get twenty dollars off your first ticket purchase.
Just download the game Time app, create an account and
use my code Bullyball. That's right, Just use the code
Bullyball for twenty dollars off. Download the game Time app today,
(02:30):
Last minute tickets, lowest price guaranteed. Welcome to Bullyball, presented
by DraftKings. I'm Rachel Nichols, and there's always mister DeMarcus
Cousins across from me, and we were just chatting before
the show about Caitlin Cleric Boogie. She passed Pete Maravich
(02:52):
for the most points scored by Division I basketball player,
men's or women's. Apparently we're supposed to call her ponytail
Peete now because you know bistol, pet What do you
think of what's going on with her?
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Man?
Speaker 3 (03:03):
I think I think one, she's an incredible player. I
think she's you know, doing more to her part when
it comes to, you know, promoting the women's game, uh,
you know, elevating their platform, all of those things. I
think she's a great representation of the sport and I'm
(03:24):
just a fan of them being able to have their
platform gro regardless of how it's coming through college, through
you know, the w NBA, whatever the case may be.
Just these women and the sport that they love and
their platform all now, you know, being on one of
the biggest stages, people are now supporting it more than ever.
(03:44):
I think it's a beautiful thing. So I'm happy for
the sport. I'm happy for these ladies, and I'm a
huge fan of Kaitln Cark. And like I said, I
think she's doing more to her part of you know,
elevating this the game for these ladies.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Yeah, and she recently announced she is going to go
to the w NBA. There's some question about what she
take that fifth year of eligibility because you can make
a lot of nil money. Now, boogie, do you have
eligibility left? Because really we need to discuss, man.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
I got to go check in on that. Man.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
I feel like if I got the opportunity to go
back to the Uk. I would definitely take it, so I.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Got to check. I think you clean up.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
I'm just saying, I just save your beer off.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
I can look nineteen again. I see nothing like that.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Boger here on Tuesday morning, less than twelve hours after
the Lakers win over the Thunder and Okay See came
into the game as the top seed in the West.
LA is now three and one against Oklahoma City. For
this season, they're seven and three in their last ten games.
And here's what Anthony Davis had to say after last night.
He said, quote, we don't really care what seed we're in.
(04:52):
We proved it last year. It doesn't matter. It's just
about getting in and tackling each opponent from there. Uh
So that's all and good, And certainly they look like
they'd be pretty strong in a series against saying Oklahoma City.
On the other hand, the other big game the Lakers
had the past few days was yet another loss to
the Nuggets. So I guess my question to you, boog is,
if you look at the Western Conference standings, is any right?
(05:16):
I mean, could they just beat anyone? Are you confident
that the Lakers, if they get in, they could get
to the finals or do you feel like that might
be an overstatement for medi.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I think that's spot on, and I think that's why
the Lakers get treated the way they do in the
aspect of, yeah, on paper and then the standings, they aren't,
you know, one of the better teams in the league.
But based off their foundation and Anthony Davis and Lebron
James and just their history of you know, success, they'll
(05:47):
always be in the conversation as long as they're in
a spot of being able to be a playoff team.
This is a playoff roster. I think the Lakers going
to every off season thinking how can they become a
better playoff team. Their rosters aren't ever really built for
a regular season. And what I mean by that is
(06:08):
it's never really a consistent third or fourth piece with
any Lakers team outside of Anthony Davis and Lebron James
to consistently carry them through a regular season. They're usually
there for the support of those two guys or to
enhance them with later runs in the year. So I've
seen it time and time again with these Lakers teams.
(06:30):
They usually construct their roster to match up with the
Denver that's that's usually the team they struggle with the
most So it makes sense. And obviously it sounds a little,
you know, far off, but that's literally kind of how
this team builds their roster every single season.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
So once they're in.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
The playoffs or or if they are a playoff team,
they're gonna always be a threat just because of those
two main guys and Lebron James and Anthony Davis. So
I think everything else will kind of take care of himself.
So in that statement, absolutely, I mean.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
If you look at the standings right now and in
the West, they change every day, it feels like, but
Lakers are sitting in ninth, so they would still be
a playing team. And if the season ended today, you know,
if they made it at the plan, they would face
you know, the timber Wolves or the Oklahoma City Thunder,
depending on where they ended up after the plan. You know, they,
as I said, they've been beating Oklahoma City. They have
(07:24):
a big game against the Wolves coming up. In fact,
I think they played them twice. Still on the schedule
Denver though, I mean, you know, I've been on Denver
all year. I'm still someone's got to beat them before.
I'm not picking them this year, and no one's no
one big has been beating them. I mean they have
been since the All Star break. They put their foot
on the gas. They were clearly a little bit closet
before then, and there was a little bit of a
(07:46):
you know, Denver playing with its food aspect to that
Lakers game. I mean, it certainly was very close, and
the Lakers made some runs and it looked like, man,
they could finally beat them, because I think including the playoffs,
it's been like this was Denver's eighth win in a
row or something like that, and the LA fans were like,
this is it, this is great, and then last few
minutes it was just like, yeah, you know, okay, we're
(08:08):
done here, We're done messing around. So I don't know,
I think that a young team like Oklahoma City, you know,
we're we all say the same thing, right, The inexperience
in the playoffs, you know, is hard to overcome and
could come out to haunt them. But I just I'm
still all in on Dinvor, So I don't know. We'll see,
(08:29):
We'll see what happens there. Yeah, I want to switch
to I want to switch to the East because we
also have another team that's put its foot on the
gas since the All Star break. The Bucks have not
lost people since coming back from All Stars, six straight wins,
including last night a comeback win over the Clippers. No
(08:50):
Janna sent it to Compo in that game. No Chris Middleton.
In that game. The Clips were up by fifteen late
in the third quarter. Dame poured it in forty one point.
It's just amazing. Bobby Porters had a big game twenty
eight points, sixteen rebounds. We don't need to talk right
now about the Clippers, but they've had some They've coughed
up some big, big, big games where they've had big
(09:11):
leads lately. So that's something to think about when you
look at the West standings. But let's stick with the Bucks. Oh,
what has impressed you most about the Bucks during this
stretch because Doc has come in and turned things around
like you said he would.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Well, Well, one, I feel the Bucks have been treated
unfairly this Seve. And the reason I say that, I
actually think they deserve more credit than they've received.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
And the reason I say that is.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
One as much change that's been going on with this
Bucks organization, they've never been less than in my knowledge
of my knowledge a three seed in the East, which
is pretty damn impressive. With as much new moving parts
this team has had, you know, going on in season.
They've had a new coach, they have a they've had
(10:00):
ownership change, they brought in another franchise piece in Damian Lillard.
I just don't think they get enough credit for, you know,
how they've kept things afloat amongst all this change, the
huge new moving parts that they've had with this team
and this franchise, I think they've done a pretty good
(10:21):
job with you know, just keeping things afloat.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
They are still a threat in the East.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Uh they are now starting to you know, find that groove,
which is you know, great for them. Another thing I
don't think it's enough credit is the Patrick Beverley effect.
I've literally seen this guy, you know, put batteries and
guys back to the point where they're talking out the
side of their neck and they they're a believer or
in character of being something that they're completely not. And
(10:47):
that's totally fine. But that's the Patrick Beverley effect. I
saw the Minnesota. I've seen it in many places that
you know, this guy's been so I know that energy,
that leadership, that voice in the locker room is only
going to increase his team. So you know, you know,
obviously Pat doesn't get the credit that he you know,
deserves when it comes to you know, performing on the
(11:09):
cord or the numbers aren't his flashy, but I put
him in the category you know, of a Dremond where
and obviously the accolades don't match up, but as far
as you.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Know, the fat skill level might not match up, but
the emotion does, right.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Absolutely, and in the impact he has on games that
don't show up on paper like, it's a big effect.
So I think the combination of all these things and
just simply you know, they're now finding their stride. The
system is now making sense with Doc, They're now starting
to slowly get on the same page.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
And these are the effects of that.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
So I think this team only improved towards the end
of the year, and like I said, they are still
very much a threat in the ease.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
I mean, look, first of all, they also got Jay
crowder back, who's another energy guy, right, So I think
your point on Patrick Beverly is is totally true. The defense, though,
has turned to and the idea was how can the
Bucks improve their defense? They can't you go out and
trade for anyone else. They already made their big trade.
They were hamstrung. Clearly, defensive strategy was a big part
(12:10):
of what was going on, and Doc has adjusted the
defense for the opponent in a way that Griff wasn't
really doing. The Bucks have held teams under one hundred
points four times in seven games. They played forty three
games under Adrian Griffin and only did that once, so
that is a pretty stark set of numbers. In fact,
they had the number twenty two defense in the league
(12:32):
under Adrian Griffin. In just a short amount of time
that Doc has been there, they're all the way up
to number six. So that is just a huge, huge turnaround.
And when we get to the playoffs, that is obviously
going to be so important. And I think when they
made the move to get rid of Griff, I mean,
obviously it's very tough to make a coaching change like that.
I'm not sure Adrian Griffin deserved to sort of be
(12:55):
dismissed in the middle of his first season the way
it happened. However, the move for the playoffs right the
move was, hey, we know we have a great record.
I think at the time they were number two in
the East, and it was like, what are you doing?
But the point was you could look at that team
and look at their defense and say this isn't gonna
cut it in the postseason. And obviously, when you have
Janna sentence Kupo, that is the standard. So I think
(13:19):
that the fact that they've beaten the Nuggets under dock,
they've beaten the Timberwolves under dock. You know, you look
at how they have progressed against big teams, you see
why they made the change. And this is all without
Chris Middleton. He has not played in the last eleven games.
He has that ankle injury. We don't know when he's
going to come back. And I guess the question too
(13:39):
a little bit is the road ahead for them, because
they do have a very tough remaining schedule. Their next
seven games. They're going to have the Warriors, They're going
to have the Lakers, they're going to have the Clippers, Sacramento, Philadelphia, Phoenix,
and then a huge game against Boston. So I don't
know where are you on the on the Bucks chances
because as you look at that Boston game, that's the
(14:01):
one that's like looming on the schedule. So crazy.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
I can see them having a you know, a successful
stretch when it comes to these teams that they're going
to have, you know, later on. But obviously the Boston
Boston has been a favorite, you know, for the most
part the entire year. I still think they're the favorite.
That Boston team is just so well constructed. You know,
they had a plan in the offseason. They came together perfectly,
(14:28):
and it hasn't been really much changed to that Boston team.
They've been consistent, they've been and it's weird to say,
with them having the best record in the NBA. For
some reason, this team has kind of been under the
radar as much. Even though they're a favorite, they're still
kind of full none of the radar, and that's and
it doesn't.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Do you think that's like just skepticism from some playoffs,
you know, problems that they've had. I think people kind
of feel like, yeah, we've been here before with the Celtics.
We know that they've been good in the regular season,
and then they've just had a few notable playoff performances. Obviously,
that Golden State Finals was super winnable. Losing to the
Heat the way they did, they clearly came in as
(15:10):
the better team, and the way they lost that series,
and the way Jason Tatum struggled throughout that series even
before his injury, I think people just there's some skepticism
about Boston, but there shouldn't be because, as you said,
I mean, they're rocking.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
This team looks well. If it's if there's ever been
a year, I think this is the year for this
Celtics team. They look like a well war machine. I
don't see a team that even comes closer to their talent.
But to get back on topic, when it comes to
this Bucks team, they have every chance of you know,
being successful in this stretch. I think they'll only continue
(15:48):
to improve with you know, this closing stretch of the season,
and I think that's perfect time and they want to
go in with some momentum. They want to go in
with some confidence, and the biggest thing, they all want
to go in on the same page as far as
being on the same page as the coaching staff, the
coaching stuff, being on the same page as the players,
the system being you know, it's Bible, everybody knows the system.
(16:09):
Everything's flowing. So I think this is kind of perfect
time and for this team everything will be kind of
semented with this group and they can go into the
playoffs with some momentum. And like I said, they are
still very much a threat in the East. They have
the talent to do it. They have a champion in Giannis,
they have a guy that's hungry for a championship in
Damian Lillard, so they very much have a chance.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Well, look, it is interesting if you think about who's
going to end up where. And by the way, if
Doc Rivers comes into Boston and beats the Celtics in
a playoff series, that's going to be a whole nother scene.
But right now, Boston looks so good. They've had three
wins this season of more than fifty points. Buggie, I mean,
(16:53):
that's like, that's an insane thing to say. They tore
the Warriors into tiny little pieces. Over this past weekend.
Steph Curry had a great quote after the Warriors loss
by fifty two to Boston. He said, that's what we
used to do to teams. It's demoralizing. And that's really
interesting to think of because in some ways, this Boston
(17:17):
team during the regular season, this is just regular season
so far, is more dominant than the Warriors at the
height of their dynasty. The Celtics have won eleven in
a row and their point differential in those games has
been by twenty two, which is better than the Warriors
ever did even when they were killing teams. I just
(17:38):
I don't know. They have the easiest remaining schedule compared
to what that Bucks schedule. We just lifted off, listed off,
So I don't know you were saying the Bucks, you know,
definitely gonna fight the Celtics for the East is Boston though,
I mean, are you ready to make your hotel reservations
for Boston in the finals. I mean, do you think
it's going to be a contest in the Eastern Conference finals?
(17:58):
Or are you looking at these members for the Celtics
and been like, yeah, it might be a tough go,
but the Celtics are making it absolutely well.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
First off, I want to say, when it comes to that,
that Warriors team in their prime, I'm taking them over
the Celtius team.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Well, you played on that.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
I don't give it. I don't give it. Damn what
the nerds say, I don't give it.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
Down with the statistics, the the plus, I don't give
a fuck about any of that. I'll take that Warriors
team any day. Like I hate when these fucking numbers
go all they're better than fuck that, Like.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
I'm taking that Warriors team any day.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
First off, right in the playoffs, that's all the champions exactly.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
Champions Cics team is just still trying to get to
their first one. So I'll take that Warriors team regardless
of what the nerds say. So that's one thing. But
when it comes to uh, Boston finishing out the year,
they do have, you know, one of the easier remaining schedule.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
I think they'll continue to just kind of float grew
if the.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
Guys are you know, kind of having any knicks or
knacks or you know, slight injuries. They also use it's
time to get guys one hundred percent healthy going into
the playoffs. So I think this Celtic teament is, you know,
they're in a perfect place right now with just finishing
out the season, going in healthy and having a clear
mindset with trying to make this championship run. But when
(19:23):
it just comes to the East, you know, on paper
and you know, proof of the season right now, you
can say Boston is the favorite. Like you can say that,
and you can say that with confidence. But on the
flip side of things, when it's a Miami Heat floating around,
they're always a threat, and you can say that with
(19:48):
confidence because it's proof in the pudding. I think the
Heat will always be a threat. When you have a
guy like Jimmy Butler who's notorious for kind of you know,
heating up at the till end of the season, especially
going into the playoffs, he becomes another player, and that's
one thing you have to respect about a guy like that.
When it comes to the playoffs, you want to elevate
(20:09):
your game, and he does it time and time again,
and he you know, he has a lot of unexpected runs.
So the Heat are always a threat. If m B
is healthy, if he's able to return, obviously that's a threat.
When it comes to Philly, I think they have a
great thing going there. And then when it comes to
Damian Lillard and Gianni's you just can't ignore those two guys.
(20:34):
Like if things work out the way you know they
should when it comes to finishing out the season strong
with that team and just finding their flow in the chemistry,
they are very much a threat. But based off right
now the present day, I think Paulston is the favorite.
So that's kind of how I'm viewing this.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
I mean, that's the Warriors comparison is so interesting because,
as you point out, Boston hasn't done it so in
terms of like, could you say they're as good a
team as the Warriors in their prime? Absolutely not, Like
there's no question, but you can't say that yet. It's
just about that regular season dominance and sort of what
we saw in the Warriors in the West at that time,
(21:17):
where it just wasn't even a question they were the
team making it to the finals. Like we all knew
that at the time. It was just sort of like, yeah,
of course. And Boston looks like that right now. They
look like a team where they're just winning by so much.
They're winning by more than twenty points right now a game.
I mean, it's insane. It looks like, yeah, of course
you can. You can put them an in to the finals.
(21:37):
But as you point out, like there's other teams in
the East that at least have some playoff level threats,
and if they do play a series against the Bucks
in the Eastern Conference finals, Yannis is yanis the best
player in that series. I mean, we always say the
best player in the series is the team that's favored
to win. Would you say Yanis is the best player
in that series?
Speaker 2 (22:03):
I could see a one A, one B type situation
with Tatum.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
I mean, obviously accolade Wise, Yeah, accolade Wise is Giannis,
But just on an everyday talent basis, it's a one A,
one B when it comes to Giannis and Tatum.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
So yes, and no, you could you could say that.
You could say that and you couldn't. That's that's just
a hard That's that's a good question. You can never go.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
Into a series with Jason Tatum on the other end
of it and say, yeah, the other guy's the best player, Like,
that's just hard to say.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Yeah, So I can see a one one B type
situation for sure.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Yeah. Look, this is the this is the postseason for
Jason Tatum to prove it right. I mean, he is
obviously an incredible, incredible talent. He is one of the
top stars of this generation of NBA players. He has
had some excellent playoff games. I don't want that to
get lost. He's had some very very good playoff games.
It's like with Chris Paul, like people forget some of
(23:04):
the great playoff games Chris Paul played. People forget some
of the great playoff games that Jason Tatum has played.
But the truth is there have been big moments where
he has faltered and they've been have to play from
behind in series and things like that. And I think
if he can pull off this season, this postseason, you know,
being the star that we know that he is playing
(23:25):
as consistently as he has all during this season, you know,
if they make a run during the playoffs, if they
somehow win this title, and then he goes into the summer.
I think his contract is going to get signed this summer.
We all know that's going to be very expensive. You know,
he's going to play on Team USA this summer. That
could be a gold medal. I think that this could
(23:45):
very much be the stretch, the six month stretch that
Jason Tatum sort of proves the doubters wrong. But he
has to do it, so we will see if he
does it again. I'm always going to pick Denver because
they're the champs and they have not shown anything to
say that they won't win, and Nikola Yokich has been
just a stud again. But Jason Tatum has a chance
(24:06):
to really change how people think of him. So I'm
I'm I'm ready for it. I think it'd be a
great Eastern Conference Finals if it's Bucks Celtics. I think
the Doc factor is so much fun. I think the
Tatum Jannis sort of you know, very different players, obviously
different positions, but but a great comparison and could be
fire Man could be really, really really good, and then
the finals could be good too. So I don't know.
(24:29):
I said I was going to get back to the Clippers.
I do have to say, not only have they coughed
up a couple of big leads lately, Russell Westbrook is
now out surgery to fixate broken hand. Obviously a lot
of breaks you could just let heal, so it must
have been bad if it required surgery. Now, Russ always
has a quick healing timeline. You know, his superhumanness has
(24:50):
in terms of how quick he he was at one
point in his career, has always also extended to the
fact that he heals really quick. But James Harden said
it best. I think he said, will miss everything he
brings to the game, his athleticism, his energy, his playmaking ability,
his leadership. I just think it's a big deal. That
that rust is out. What about you? Do you think
(25:11):
the impact is a sixth man that he's going to
be out for a stretch. I don't know. I think
it's I think it's big.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
It is a big thing. I agree with everything James said. Uh,
you know, the energy, the leadership, those are contagious. Those
those do you know that has more effect on the
team than you know sometimes talent. So I agree with
James on his statement. But also, let's not forget this
(25:42):
Clippers team is loaded. They have so much talent. I'm
a big believer in bones Holland. I had an opportunity
to uh play with the kid in Denver, super super
talented kid. You know, he's kind of been through the ringer,
He's kind of in and out of lineups, He's been traded,
(26:03):
So I think his mindset has shifted. I think he
knows he's now learning how to carry himself. He knows
how to be prepared as a pro. He's learning from
a great group of guys in LA and this Clippers team.
He has Hall of Fame talent in front of him
to learn from. So I can I can easily see
this becoming a situation where he's now you know, slid
(26:25):
into that second unit and being that guy to help
keep things to float until excuse me, until Russ comes back.
So this is a big I think this can be
a big opportunity for him. This is another time for
him to continue to grow as a pro and as
a player, and I think he this is a chance
to just take advantage of his moment. Like I said,
the talent is there and now the opportunity is now
(26:47):
present himself. So I think he can step in and
like I said, keep things afloat for this Clippers team.
But uh, you know, moving forward, it could have an
effect on this Clippers team chemistry wise. Once Rush returns, obviously,
you know he has to get back in the flow
of things.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
That's not easy to do.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
Depending on how long he's out, it could be closer
to playoff time, so it could get a little, you know,
funny for this team. But like I said, talent wise,
they have the pieces to fill in that void. But
chemistry is going to always be an issue, especially with
the time and of it depends on the timing, but
(27:28):
it could be an issue.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
Look, I think where they are in the standings is interesting,
like in a Western Conference where the top three teams
seem to trade every second. I think on whose first
two seconds, who's third. The Clippers are in fourth, there's
a gap between them and the third place whoever's in
third place that day. There's a gap between them and
fifth place, which is right now the Pelicans. So I
(27:54):
think they've got some squishy room in the standings. They're
probably not going to leap up into that top three
no matter what. They're probably not going to fall into
that five to six spot no matter what. And then
in the West right now, because of say the Lakers
getting in from the plan, the Warriors possibly getting in
for the plan, being in that four spot is not
the worst place to be in the first round if
(28:15):
you're playing the four or five series. Let's say it's
Clippers Pelicans the way it is right now, and by
the way, No Orleans has not gotten the credit it
should this season either, I think that's kind of a
I mean, you played there, you know that. Sometimes the
media skips over them, and I just think that what
the Pelicans have done has not been noticed or talked
about it now. But I will say we talked about
(28:36):
the best player, you know, winning a playoff series. The
Clippers talent is crazy, and when you look at them
versus the Pels in a playoff series, anything can happen,
but the Clippers would be the favorites there. So I
just think that they have some cushion in terms of
if you know, they lose a game or two because
they don't have that energy off the bench with Russ.
(28:56):
I like your bones Highland prediction. So I hope that
it does doesn't affect them because I hate when injuries
affect teams anywhere. I think they'll miss him. I think
they'll miss him, but hopefully you know, it's not the thing.
Injuries shouldn't be the thing that changes a team season.
So the Clippers are interesting right now, so I want
to see them continue to be interesting. We'll see, all right, Buggy,
(29:17):
we got to get to one of my topics. I've
been beating the drum on all season, and I apologize
you had to be at the other end of this
over and over, but I know you agree with me,
so that that's something. The sixty five game rule, Man,
it is still bothering me. Donovan Mitchell is the latest
person we got to talk about. He is a chance
to miss out on all NBA. He is now out
(29:39):
for quote, at least the next three games could be longer.
He has already missed I think thirteen games this season.
You can only miss seventeen, so the next three would
put him at sixteen, so that margin for error would
be almost nothing. Tyre's Halliburton has talked about the fact,
and I talked to him for a while at All
Star about this that you know he's close to the
(30:00):
cutoff now too, by the way, and he said he said,
I would have played. I would have taken a game
or two more off from the injury he had because
he said he needed that time to heal, but he
felt so much pressure to make all NBA. We know
guys contract bonuses are tied into this, and it's not
a little money. It's like thirty forty million dollars in
some cases that these guys could lose. And Tyreus was
(30:23):
saying to me, he said, yeah, he said, I just
I don't have the lift on my shot, especially in
the second half of games, because I didn't really get
enough time for it to heal completely, which is not
what we should be having guys do. And we know
with Joelle Embiid, you know who knows if he misses
as many games as we expect, if he would make
(30:44):
All NBA anyway, just because I mean, at some point
he's only played thirty four games so far. At some
point that just becomes okay, not his year. But he
got hurt because there was so much pressure on him
to come back. And you remember the chatter that week
and the whole thing about the sixty five games. Gee,
he's ducking games in Denver and all the stuff. And
I mean he felt this pressure to come back. He's
talked about it. That's not like an assumption anyone's made.
(31:07):
And he got hurt and the season that he was
on a historic pace got wrecked. So again, Donovan Mitchell,
to get back to the current player that's being you know,
sort of affected by this. Where are you on the
fact that what if he plays sixty three games, what
if he plays sixty four games, should he not make
all NBA?
Speaker 3 (31:26):
Right, I've agree with you fromt them beginning. I think
this is a bullshit rule. I'm not in disagreemance was
trying to figure out a way to continue to make
the game competitive. I do still feel that that's with
that being a topic that we have to find a
way to make our game competitive. That's bullshit. Well let's
(31:49):
take less business out of it and put more to
sport back in. I think that changes everything that we're
trying to you know, do here, if you want a
competitive game, let's totally off the sport and not the
business and you'll get the production that you want. But
back to the topic, when it comes to this, my
biggest thing and my biggest like grievance, when it comes
(32:11):
to this, it's a legacy change, and I'm just not
okay with that. Guy's put in so much time to
this craft and this art and gods strive to be
the greatest, and it's taken away from you because you
miss more than seventeen games out of an eighty two
game season. Like that's fucking ridiculous, Like it really is,
(32:32):
and I won't ever be in agreeance with it. I
think they need to do. I think they need to
go back to the drawing board, try to figure this
thing out again.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
I'm even okay with it being a sixty game rule.
Speaker 3 (32:44):
I think, yeah, sixty games compared to sixty five just
makes more sense. You have a twenty game window, twenty
two game window to figure out you know, injuries, time,
whatever the case may be. So it just makes more sense.
I see, this game doesn't go without our stars, like
we need our stars. And to go back to the
(33:05):
part of our legacy when it comes to these guys
careers ending and we go back to look at, you know,
what they did throughout their career, and instead of them
being you know, a ten time All NBA or whatever
the case may be, they're now a seven because three
of the seasons they play sixty four games.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
Like that's bullshit, Like that.
Speaker 1 (33:29):
Takes away Hall of Fame looks at that All NBA stuff. Right,
we see Donovan Mitchell play, we know how much of
a baller he is. But in twenty years people just
look back at the numbers and they might say, oh, okay,
this happened a couple of times. Okay, okay, and the
money toune. It's not fair. I'm sorry, it's not.
Speaker 3 (33:48):
Yes, guys work too hard for their money to be
cut short because of a game or two or whatever
the case may be.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
So it's a lot of things in it that I
just don't agree with.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
And like I said, the root of the problem is
trying to make the game competitive again. If you want
the game or the sport to be competitive, Let the
sport be the sport and take less of the business out.
Business is going to be business if the sport is booming,
So let the sport be the sport and stop trying
to put things in place or kind of simulate what
(34:18):
you want to happen, or take less defense like that.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
That's not what makes this sport the sport.
Speaker 3 (34:24):
So I think we get back to that part and
the understanding of that. I think that eliminates all the
issues that we're having when it comes to just the
game being competitive in today.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
Yeah, I mean we talked about that at the All
Star Game, right, the All Star Game wasn't competitive at all. Again,
but because you know, there's a lot of factors, and
the players wanting to play hard is one of those factors.
But part of them wanting or not wanting to play
hard is that you give them fifteen sponsorship, you know,
obligations in the two days leading up to the game,
the game will feel like an afterthought. And you're right
about the business of the league. I mean, there's been
(34:58):
a lot put forward as important and therefore you are
not stressing getting guys on the court playing competitively all
the time, and that has to be looked at as
much as how many guys are games missing? Games are
guys missing because I look at Donovan Mitchell. He hasn't
been resting like that whole load man. He hasn't been
load managing. He got hurt, and he got hurt, you
(35:22):
know in a way that he might end up at
sixty three or sixty four games. And I'm a voter
and I often use the third NBA All NBA Team
to sort of say, okay, guys who didn't play as
much because availability is important to me as a voter.
So guys who were available for the whole season, guys
who put it you know, we're out there and put
it on the line the whole season. I am putting
(35:43):
them up in the top two teams, and that is
making a difference to me. But there are players who
are clearly among the top fifteen players in the game.
I mean, there's just no question about it. And maybe
they played less games that year, but it's still enough.
I will put them on my third All NBA team.
And I'm not the only one who does this. I
know a lot of people other voters sho do this.
And it's a way to balance out as you say
(36:04):
that legacy stuff, that recognition stuff of saying in this
year of Our Lord twenty twenty four, the idea that
you know, this guy was one of the top fifteen
players in the game, and I just I don't know. Again,
this bothers me. Thank you for humoring me again with
one of these discussions, Boogie Cousins, you are my friend.
I appreciate it all right too. Truth and a lie.
(36:26):
I love this segment. Producer Nate and preducer Eric cooked up.
We're going to do it every week. If I'm going
to throw three stats at you, two of them are true,
one is a lie, and I'm just going to put
it out there. This one stumped me, so if it
stumps you too, no shame because I was completely wrong
on this one when I first talked to Nate about it.
Here's the three things. See if you can do better
(36:47):
than me. Jamar Derosan leads the league in minutes per game.
That's fact one or stat one. Stat two is down
in Houston. Shanng Gooon leads the league in foul that
statue or in Oklahoma City SGA has the most made
field goals in the NBA. Which one is a lie?
(37:11):
It's hard, right, this one's hard.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
No, I don't think this is hard. I could be wrong,
but I don't think this is hard. Okay, Okay, I
think I think the lie is the Martyros and leads
the league.
Speaker 1 (37:25):
And that's what I said. We are both wrong.
Speaker 2 (37:29):
That's bullshit. It's no way deep Old as leading the league.
Speaker 1 (37:35):
It's true, it's true.
Speaker 2 (37:37):
That's true.
Speaker 1 (37:43):
Well, that's the thing. So I didn't even get it
right on the second time. Can you get it right now?
Just with these two stats, can you pick out the lie?
Is it Shangoon leading the league in fouls or SGA
with the most made field goals in the league.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
I don't like being wrong, but I'm gonna go I
think a lie. What shit?
Speaker 3 (38:04):
I think SGA has the most goals in the league
because he's also the league and scorer in the league,
and most of his scoring comes from midies mid range jumpers.
Speaker 2 (38:15):
Am I right or wrong? You're wrong?
Speaker 1 (38:18):
And by the way, I said the same, The lie
is that SGA has the most made field goals. He
is second. Okay, So there's a little bit of a
trick question from our producers, but they got us both.
He is second. Yannis has the most made field goals
in the league. Wow, I know, I know, I was.
(38:40):
I thought to murder Rosen was one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (38:43):
I'm like, it's no way, deebo, oldest ship.
Speaker 3 (38:45):
Then they ask kicked the Chicago right, It's no way.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
There you go.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
They've had a lot of injuries this year, so people
who are healthy for.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Plenty more minutes. So yeah, man, right, I'm proud of you,
old man. I'm proud of you. Bro.
Speaker 1 (39:03):
All right, I'll take that bet presented by DraftKings. DraftKings
has a bet that is uh, look, there's some long
odds in this bet, but it is possible and it's
a fun bet. So will Victor Webbin Yama have a
quadruple double this season? Now, the odds, as I said,
are plus forty five hundred. That means you bet a dollar,
if it comes through, you get forty five backs. So
(39:25):
just you know, do that to one hundred dollars, do
that to one thousand dollars, et cetera. Here is the
closest he has come so far. He had a game
against Toronto where he was twenty seven fourteen, ten blocks,
five assists, so if those assist numbers had gotten up,
he would have made it. He had a game against
the Lakers where it was twenty seven points, eight rebounds,
five blocks, and five steals. That was a little further away.
(39:47):
Will you take the bet? Would you put down your
money on forty five hundred odds that he will come
up with a quadruple double this season? You're dropping a
thousand dollars on that, Poky.
Speaker 3 (40:03):
No, I think he will have a quadruple double in
his career. I don't think it'll happen this season, though
he may have more than one. Yeah, yeah, but I
don't think this season.
Speaker 2 (40:17):
I'm away.
Speaker 3 (40:17):
I'm gonna wait till he's a little more season, and
I'm more than confident to bet on that I'm putting.
Speaker 2 (40:24):
I'm putting a nice amount of money down too.
Speaker 3 (40:27):
I hope I'm gonna put a nice amount of money
down on that.
Speaker 1 (40:33):
I mean, look, if the team improves around him too.
I mean I lifted listed up the stats of that
one game, and the only number that was below double
digits was the assist. If his teammates were better than
his numbers will go up. So there's a lot of
factors there.
Speaker 2 (40:48):
Pretty young, it happens straight young to the Spurs. Please
make it happen for basketball.
Speaker 1 (41:00):
Please, are going to have something to say about that.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
No, send him to the Spurs.
Speaker 3 (41:12):
Please, let's basketball fans want and we deserve it.
Speaker 1 (41:18):
You know, that's the one I'm rooting for. Yes, yes,
we'll see, we'll see. All right, we are not taking
the bed DraftKings. I'm sorry, but you know again, keep
that up on the board because in the future we'll
take the bet. We will. All right, We got to
get to a little doom scroll here. We serve the
internet so you don't have to. And we got to
talk about one of our guys. But Paul Pierce has
a new show, The Truth Lounge, just came out. It's
(41:40):
on the DraftKings Network. It's on the All the Smoke
Productions UH YouTube pagees. You can get it wherever you
get your podcast. And uh, Paul was asked, who is
the best number one draft pick of the last dozen years?
So just you know you can redraft. You're gonna you're
gonna see the clip in a minute. You've got the
list in front of you. Those of you at home
(42:01):
can look the list here. Who do you think, in
hindsight is the best number one overall pick at the
last dozen years. Here's what pol say, the.
Speaker 4 (42:10):
Top number one picks in the last I said ten years,
but let's do twelve years, says twenty eleven to two,
thy and twenty three. Who's the best number overall number
one pick overall? You got Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Bennett, Wiggins,
town Simmons, Faults, Aton, Zion, Anthony Edwards, k Pablo, Victor
(42:36):
Wimen Yama. Who y'all got the best number one picks?
Speaker 5 (42:39):
Going to be the best one? And who's been the
best one so far? Who's who you taking number one?
Speaker 2 (42:45):
Number one? Who you taking?
Speaker 1 (42:47):
Number one?
Speaker 4 (42:48):
Out of all them?
Speaker 2 (42:49):
I would take?
Speaker 5 (42:49):
Out of all those people.
Speaker 2 (42:50):
Who would you take? I mean a D.
Speaker 5 (42:52):
Kyrie Killers, I'm taking I'm taking it. I'm taking Victor.
Speaker 4 (42:58):
Oh you taking a bit?
Speaker 2 (43:00):
Who are you taking? I'm number one picks.
Speaker 6 (43:02):
I'm taking Victor as well. Well.
Speaker 2 (43:05):
I think, I mean all these picks I would go with.
I'll rank him.
Speaker 6 (43:09):
I'll go Victor, I go Victor, A D. Edwards, Kyrie,
that's solid, that's solid. I'm going Victor too. And I'll
tell you why. We've never seen nothing like this.
Speaker 2 (43:22):
First of all.
Speaker 4 (43:23):
I mean he said records every year. I mean not
every year, but every day. With his blocks, with his
scoring and rebounding. I mean, in my eyes, I think
he defensive player of the year. I mean as a rookie.
I don't know if we've ever seen that. I know
they're not a great defensive team, but that's not on him.
But you cannot score with him in the paint. He's
(43:44):
leading the league in blocks.
Speaker 6 (43:45):
Can you be defensive player of the Year from the
last place team in the league.
Speaker 2 (43:48):
No, I mean that's a new that's new. That's a
good question.
Speaker 1 (43:54):
All right, So they're picking. Are you in on that?
Speaker 2 (43:57):
But I don't know?
Speaker 1 (44:04):
That's not and I agree with them face.
Speaker 2 (44:07):
Yeah, I'm not.
Speaker 3 (44:09):
And it's the obviously we can look at Winby see
what he's done this season, but it's only based on
his His sample size is so small, like compared to
guys that have been in the league, you know, a decade,
Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. And that's kind of more
so what I'm what I'm leaning to.
Speaker 5 (44:31):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (44:33):
I mean, we're talking about Kyrie being a champion, a
one time champion. We're talking about Anthony Davis being a
one time champion. We talked about these guys being Olympic
gold Mellists, all Stars, all NBA, Kyrie having one of
the number one sneakers in the you know, in the
world when he was you know once when Yeah, and
(44:53):
all of those things count. The impact, the marketing, all
of that matters when it comes to a number one pick.
So I've see when you base it off of talent
and projection, we can all sit here and say Wimby, yeah, absolutely,
but based off facts and accolades and what's actually happened,
I think I lean more so towards Kyrie at this point.
(45:15):
And like I said, it's bigger than just you know,
the numbers or I'm talking about the impact.
Speaker 2 (45:22):
I'm talking about the marketing.
Speaker 3 (45:24):
I'm talking about being a global superstar, also being a champion,
hitting one of the biggest shots ever in finals history.
Speaker 2 (45:32):
Like, it's a lot that comes into that.
Speaker 3 (45:35):
Even when it comes to Anthony Davis being a number
one pick, coming off a national championship in college, going
straight from that to the Olympics, then becoming an Olympic
gold medalist, then going to the Lakers, helping them get
their first championship in a long time. You know, since
the you know Kobe Dad, It's it's not as simple
(45:55):
as saying, you know, Winby, and I'm leaning more towards
you know, Kyrie Irvin or Anthony Davis in this conversation.
And it's really kind of hard to pick between those
two because they've been you know, pretty similar and pretty
equal when it comes to their careers.
Speaker 2 (46:11):
So uh, definitely not Winby.
Speaker 3 (46:15):
I'm going with eleven or twelve, right, So I'm going
going I'm going with twenty eleven or twelve.
Speaker 2 (46:21):
That's that's my stands, all right.
Speaker 1 (46:24):
I mean, look, you bring up the final shot from Kyrie.
I didn't even think about that, but you're absolutely right.
And by the way, it's that Kyrie shot and the
Ray Allen shot, at least in my memory of the
best shot in when it counted the most in the
NBA Finals, And I think the Kyrie one would take
it for me because again, that was coming back from
a three to one deficit and it was against you know,
(46:44):
what was the best team of all time in terms
of regular season and all that other stuff. I Mean,
I just think that that the weight of that and
I was in the building for that Ray Allen shot
and it was huge, but you're talking about a much
different swing in the series and a much different kind
of opponent. So that's a really good point. I didn't
think about that. The Anthony Davis factor is huge too,
because we know what he's accomplished and we know how
(47:05):
good he is. I think Wemby. My prediction on Wemby
has been that he you know again, health, we don't know.
Maybe his drive changes as he gets more money, although
I don't think so. He's really a determined cat there.
But I think Wenby will end up being in ten
top ten player of all time if things go the
way they're going, and then we will look back because
(47:27):
I don't think Kyrie Irving is the top ten player
of all time. I don't think Anthony Davis is going
to end up as a top ten player of all
time if Wenby does get there, and that is an if,
I understand. But I do think that we will look
back and say he was the best one of that
twelve year stretch. But I agree with you certainly can't
say that now, Aunt Davis, by the way. Anthony Edwards,
by the way, should get his due as well, by
(47:49):
the way, on that list, because he is such a talent.
But but yeah, webin now I'm eventually is maybe my answer.
Speaker 2 (47:56):
And I'm not mad at that statement. I actually agree
with that.
Speaker 3 (48:00):
I think out of all these guys, I think, you know,
Wemby has the best career. I think he has all
the intangibles to do so. And I think that happens
quicker if they go and get Trey Young. But you
know that's another topic.
Speaker 1 (48:14):
By the way, if they make that trade, We're gonna
run back every clip of you say, and I'm sitting invoice.
Speaker 3 (48:22):
I'm sending my GM invoice.
Speaker 1 (48:26):
Do it this. By the way, all right, this next
doom scroll, I love this one. This one makes me
so happy. Boogie. Mike Miscala NBA VET, hard worker, journeyman,
just like us boy cousins. He recently the Internet discovered
that Mike Miscala has a linked In profile. Obviously, most
(48:46):
professional basketball players do not feel the need to put
their resume on the Internet. They're not applying for jobs
in the same way most people on LinkedIn are. But
he has done it, and by the way, he has
moved around a lot. He's played for ten seasons. He's
played for seven teams in those ten seasons, He's already
played for three teams just this season, so I guess
(49:08):
I see they need to update your resume. But look
at basketball player, basketball player, basketball player. If you look
at the profile here, I don't know. What do you
think about him using LinkedIn here?
Speaker 2 (49:18):
Bug?
Speaker 3 (49:19):
I think that's a nice portfolio. Bro, I'm not mad
at you. You know, get it, how you live, brag
how you want.
Speaker 2 (49:27):
Brother.
Speaker 3 (49:28):
I think it's very impressive. I find nothing funny or
comical about this. To sit here and be able to
say I play for this many professional franchises is a
beautiful thing.
Speaker 2 (49:39):
You know, you know. More power to him, and I
think it's dope. I actually do.
Speaker 3 (49:44):
I don't see it being any different than anybody else
bragging about their resume of portfolio.
Speaker 2 (49:48):
I think I think he has every right just.
Speaker 1 (49:50):
Saying we have basketball reference for this.
Speaker 2 (49:54):
Wow, go to his you could just go to his LinkedIn.
It's even more simple. He's making it easier for the people,
like I think he's doing. I think he's going to
justice to the people. So I said, more.
Speaker 1 (50:07):
Power he uses it. By the way, he not only
like lists his resume, he writes little things on there.
He's thanked people in the organization that he just left.
You know he's using it. And look, maybe when he's
applying for jobs or wants to workplace his post career,
because he probably will, he'll just be able to say,
look at my LinkedIn page.
Speaker 3 (50:28):
Absolutely, and I think that's dope. I think it's incredible.
I think he's going about it the right way. Take notes, kids,
take notes.
Speaker 1 (50:35):
There you go, the Boogey Cousins Seal of approval. All right, friends,
you can catch all episodes of Bullyball on the DraftKings Network.
You can catch us on the All the Smoke Productions
YouTube channel. You can catch us wherever you get your podcast.
Don't forget to rate and review us. We like those
five star ratings. You can listen to us all through
your week. We will be back on Monday. But thank
(50:56):
you so much. And I'm writing your name down next
to that tree, young trade. Just same, appreciate you.
Speaker 3 (51:01):
I need I need my moneys, I need my hands,
I need my cut take care of me.
Speaker 1 (51:06):
And you getting your Kentucky eligibility back. We're just gonna
put that on the roster for this week.
Speaker 2 (51:12):
Business is booming.
Speaker 1 (51:14):
Mm hmmm mm hmmmmmmmmm
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!