April 8, 2025 • 40 mins
Sean Brace and Sean Barnard talk the end of the #NBA regular season and the upcoming playoffs!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Pix and Roll handicapping the hardwood with Sixers insider Sean
Bernard and Sean Brace.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Boh god, is that the Association's music? You're darn right
it is. Hello everybody, pix and Roll coming to you
here on this Tuesday. My brain's a little warped after
last night. Of course, National Championship Final four comes to
a close, a heck of a run by the Gambler Gang,
(00:35):
all over all things madness, including our next guest, our
next guest, my co host. The hell's going on here?
I told you I'm out of it. Sean Bernard joining us.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Hello, Sean, Yeah, Sean Brace. Were you one of those
many people complaining about the start time of last night
because I was a little disappointed that seemed to be
a bigger takeaway or bigger talking point than the actual
game on the court last night. Were you fired up
about that?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
No?
Speaker 3 (00:59):
All right? Good? Well, I say Page there.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
I you know, I expect these games to be starting
at the time that they do. I believe these people
know a little bit more about why, you know, as
far as dollars and cents are concerned, and you know
they did bump it up. I believe it did get
started a little bit earlier yesterday, and I just it's
just the way it is, and you're right, it does.
(01:23):
People get bogged down with such nonsense on the timeline
when oh, by the way, we pretty much just had
one of the greatest final fours that we've ever seen
from start to finish as far as Saturday and Monday.
And I even wake up today and I saw some
dude on FS one saying last night's game was terrible,
(01:45):
just like, these guys aren't pros. You know, they're not pros.
They're not going to go out there and score one thirty.
It's not going to be one thirty to one twenty five.
They're going to miss shots, they're they're going to have nerves.
And I thought last night's game was pretty darn good.
I thought the Final four was awesome.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Yeah, and sometimes the imperfections of it is what makes
college basketball college basketball. That you're not gonna get guys
to the NBA bricking two free throws at a regular rate.
You're not gonna get guys, you know, hitting three pointers
at the consistent rate that you do at the NBA level,
shooting forty percent. And we saw that right from the
opening whistle last night. I mean coming out directly cold there,
and I kind of like that that comes with the
charm of basketball. And nonetheless that led to two absolute
(02:25):
meltdowns with used to be on the direct opposite sides
of them against Duke, in which the game totally felt
in their favor and they deserve the unmost credit for
and then melt down the opposite end of the spectrum. Feel
horrible for Emmanual Sharp the way that ultimately ended. But
that was my larger takeaway from last night. I thought
Houston was the better team for about, you know, ninety
percent of that game, and then they ultimately couldn't close
the deal. Florida took advantage and more credit to them.
(02:47):
They are the national champions as a result.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
And oh, by the way, it's what Florida has done
every single game of course of the tournament, sense of
what they've been able to do for the course of
this whole season, the clutch time they rise to the occasion. Now,
I don't think Houston did themselves any favors by the
way that they handled business. Of course, to you know,
just Samson's got some questionable coaching decisions. But at the
(03:13):
end of the day man, Florida was a better team.
It was a good game and they came out on top.
I still have no idea how Florida won the game.
I won't lie to you on that, have no idea.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
And feel the same way almost about Houston over Duke too,
like that one looked like a closed and shut type
of game, and same thing last night. But like Houston,
they played Houston basketball from start to finish last night,
And that, to me is the biggest thing I was
looking out for at the start of that game, is like,
what is the pace of this play? Are we getting
into this mud fight the way that the Cougars want
to get down and nerdy and compete that way on
(03:44):
the glass? And that's exactly how the game played out,
and Florida just hung in there. They got tougher. We
saw the fouls get all over the place in the
second half, where it felt really intentional that they were
trying to be overly physical and get down to that
level and play with Houston, and they ultimately did it.
So credit to Florida here, and especially with Walter Clay
and Junior truly having a stinker in the first half
and then finding way to still impact the game positively
(04:04):
down the stretch. There so a lot of praise on
both sides here. I do feel really bad for Calvin
Sampson and Houston, as I did think they almost did
enough there, but you got to take advantage of the opportunity.
They didn't at the end of the day, and Florida
gets to hold the trophy as a result.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Florida hell of a run. They trailed by six or
more points in the second half, and four of their
six NCAA tournament victories, they fell behind by nine to
Auburn in the second half. They were down by as
many as ten to Texas Tech in the Elite eight,
and of course last night twelve point deficit raced and
(04:39):
I'll stick to that. I have no idea how they
ended up winning that game, but you could just it's
just how it plays out. And I thought for sure
Houston was going to find a way to tie the
game or win the game as far as with that
three pointer. But what a terrible bat last possession. And
that's how That's all. She wrote. Florida's your national champion
and if you cash that, nice work by you, everybody
(05:01):
out there. I had Duke versus Florida. I had duke
over to Florida in my bracket. That did not transpire,
of course, but plenty of people dig cash in on
Florida tickets. I sell a lot of them on my timeline,
including a twenty five the one I want to say.
Somebody had them as high as a forty to one
two which opened a season.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
I believe I was Julian Edlow.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
I believe did he have forty to one? Well, yeah, yeah, man,
that's that's a great cash right there. So now os
around the association. The NBA season starts right now, and
Sean Manard we got we got some people wondering what's
going on, and the comments section. This gentleman goes by
(05:41):
the name of Ryan Coyle. He said, I had someone
asked me yesterday when TikTok Bernard was coming out.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Yeah, I think my full plan for those I'm gonna
do a little countdown until the NBA Draft lottery. So
I was kind of flip flopping back and forth. My
initial plan was like a countdown the next year, do
like a one a day type of thing. But in
case like they don't get their draft pick, I feel
like I'm better off getting out of the way now,
So I'm getting in the lab fairly shortly. Unfortunately, here
it's gonna be a top stratch, John Brace, this is
gonna be a I don't even know how'm gonna go
(06:09):
about all this. If I've been digging through the jad
McCain archives and they are quite deep there.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Yeah, he was a man that did not mess around
and grew a big old audience due to his TikTok dances.
Beard if you missed it back in early November, said
that the Sixers would make the playoffs and if they
did not, that he would reenact recreate all of Jared
McCain's TikTok dances. And I believe the emphasis on all
(06:34):
of them too.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
So you all requested, all.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Requested, all right, Well, we're gonna fill up. We're gonna
definitely fill up those phone lines. I promise you on
that one. All right, big picture NBA, if I asked
you as we head in here to the final couple
days of the regular season, thank you Lord above. I
think the last day is on Sunday. If I took
away the trade from Anthony Davis or for ad for Luca,
(07:02):
if I take that out of the possibilities for answers.
What is the biggest surprise throughout the course of this
NBA season to you, Schubnard. It could be a team,
it could be a player, it could be the seventy
six ers. But if I take away the major trade
that shook everything, what was the biggest surprise in the
NBA season to you?
Speaker 3 (07:23):
I think the biggest surprise is probably the Cleveland Cavaliers
this year and just how dominant that they have been
from really start to finish across the season. I think
that you have to view them as legitimate championship contenders,
and I don't think there's very many people who would
have regarded them like that coming into this season. So
Donovan Mitchell deserves credit for continuing to lead the charge there.
We're seeing guys like Evan Mobley take that next step
(07:44):
in their progression, getting incredible levels of playoff the bench
from players like Tyjerome. So they've checked a lot of
boxes that I did not think were possible for them
accomplishing this season. So the Cavaliers is a team. Also
give a little bit of love over in the Western
Conference to kind of the youth movement. I would say
the thunder taking that next step as an organization.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
There.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
The Houston Rockets certainly legitimizing theirself this season, and we
still have kind of the old heads kicking around that
the Lakers and the Warriors here have certainly surged in
the second half of the season and have to be
taken pretty seriously from a playoff perspective, which I didn't
think there was gonna be any case where that would
be the actuality this season.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
You're right, and I do want to put this out
here because the NBA dot Com I was reading some
articles this morning and one of them was based off
of the biggest surprises so far in the season and
or from the twenty twenty four to twenty five season,
and of course the success that Cleveland has had was
absolutely listed on that and essentially from we knew that
(08:42):
they were going to be good. They were a good
team last year. They were bounced out in the first round.
If I'm not mistaken, actually know they they made it
to the Conference Simmis last year. The year before, they
were bounced out in the first round. But this team
this year has a different feel. Of course, we've watched
them go up against Boston, come back against Boston as
we are entering in into the final couple of days
(09:04):
here of the regular season. Are we still looking at
Cleveland as the real deal and could potentially come out
of the East. Are you still going to back Boston here?
Speaker 3 (09:12):
I give Cleveland a shot. I really do, and I
think like Boston is rightfully the favorite, probably a little
bit more significant than I think should be the case there.
That Like, it's tough to deny what Cleveland has done
from a season long standpoint at this point, and I
get like, obviously they have faded a little bit down
the stretch here. I think, to be fair to them,
a little bit more of that is kind of saving
the legs and you know, coasting the finish line. Is
(09:33):
the damage just done? I mean, when looking at like
the standings overall, they got a four game lead over
the Celtics, a twelve game lead over the Knicks for
a third, They're not that worried about a team chase.
I've still been pretty encouraged by the top peak level
of play that they can reach. There is probably more
variance with them than you would like to regard for
a top team there, and they haven't had sort of
that playoff experience that you like to lean on. I
(09:53):
think that's really the driving force to why people are
more sold on the Celtics team. But a guy like
Donovan Mitchell, we've seen him performing the lights of the brightest.
He is a guy that I think is sort of
missing that deep playoff on and his resume. This is
the best team that he's had behind them, and I
do think he goes underrated on the wider scale of
how good is he among the NBA's best there, So
I do give Cleveland a chance. I think Boston is
(10:15):
rightfully the favorite once again, but that's gonna be a
fun series when it inevitably happens.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
So the East, right now, all the teams are have
been determined, but we don't know about the seating correct correct.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Yeah, They're are in there like tiers. So the top
six is locked in, the plane is locked in, the
eliminated is locked in. So some of the seedings in
between those are not quite set yet.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
But the wild wild West we still have ye wide open.
So something that you're looking at right now, maybe you
could sell to some people that are tuning in looking
for a little push to tune into some NBA actually
have two good games going off this evening one that
actually features for my money, one are the better teams
to tune in and watch in the Golden State Warriors?
(10:58):
Is there something? Is there a race? Is there a
potential matchup that you want to see over these next
couple of days that we should be paying attention to
in the West.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
Yeah, it's that bottom of the top six seeds, top
of the plane that is that race to watch here.
So looking at the Western Conference standings, the top is
pretty solidified. The Thunder have run away with things with
their sixty four and fourteen record. The Rockets are pretty
locked in for that second seed, are definitely locked into
that second seed at twelve and a half games back
fifty two to twenty seven on the air. Then the
Lakers have are sort of locked in number three. They're
(11:26):
a game and a half ahead of the Nuggets. There
those are the top four seeds. Then beyond that and
I'll even kind of throw the Nuggets in the mix
as they're seventeen and a half back to the Thunder
in that four seed. Then seeds five, six, seven, and
eight are all eighteen eighteen games back of first place.
There so directly ties. So remember that the fifth and
sixth seed will get a full playoff seed there stay
(11:47):
above the playing tournament. That seven to eight seed are
going to have to fight it out in that tournament there.
So those teams exactly are the Clippers, the Warriors, the Timberwolves,
and the Grizzlies. It's all going to come back to
these final few games of the season for where those
seeds exactly fall.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Yeah, the Less is definitely the eye opening conference and
one that we need to be paying attention to, and
I think specifically once the playoffs get going, because I
think we could see some upsets there. I know upsets
happen and not a lot of people predict them, but
tell me where the upset's gonna happen in the East.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
If anything, though, I mean you're gonna think I'm an
dictator again. But them at the three seed, I do
think is vulnerable if they draw the Pistons, which it's
looking less likely that that's going to be the case,
certainly still possible. I would pick the Pistons in that series.
I do think they would beat this next team here,
the Bucks. I don't really know how to feel about
the Bucks at this point. There seems to be a
(12:38):
little bit more encouragement that Damian Lillard could be returning,
but like we got to see it to believe it.
There the Pacers have certainly played better basketball, and I
think there'll be plenty of people out there who will
sell you the vision that the Calves are this potential
upset team. I don't really see that just looking at
the bottom of the Eastern Conference here, the teams like
the Magic, the Hawks, the Bulls, the Heat, none of
them strike particular fear into my heart this year. So
(12:59):
I really think it is probably that three sixth series
if it does come out, Nixon Pistons there, but it
might end up being pretty chop, just like the NCAA
tournament has been.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
All right, Sean Bernard, is there a team that we
need to be looking at right now that isn't the
Oklahoma City Thunder, that is not the Boss of Celtics
or the Cleveland Cavaliers, that has potential to win their
conference and represent their conference in the NBA Finals. Maybe
there's a little bit of value attached to their name.
(13:27):
Maybe it's not a team that we're discussing. Maybe it
is a team that has a lot of attention. Like
I just brought up a Golden State. Where are you
at right now or are you just you can't let
anything happen. You got the blinders on. You're looking at
either Boston and Cleveland versus Okay see from the west.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
Yeah, I certainly feel that way about the East that
I do think it's a two horse race between the
Celtics and the Cavaliders there. The West you can buy,
you can kind of sell me on it being a
lot more wide open there. The thunder I think, are
rightfully absolutely the favorites there. And looking at the odds
on DraftKings Sportsbook, Oklahoma City minus one thirty to win West. There,
the Warriors have climbed to second at plus five to
fifty odds, the Lakers in third at plus six fifty odds,
(14:06):
Nuggets at plus eight hundred, the Clippers at plus eighteen hundred.
So there's sort of where the drop off is. I
do think Denver is probably the most appealing just kind
of value there. They still, I mean, Nicola Jokic, some
of the things that he's doing this season are absolutely incredible,
and he's the best player on best basketball player in
the world. Still, even though I will make the case
for Shay to win MVP once again here, I'm not
fully ruling out the Clippers that I do think that
(14:28):
Kawhi Leonard looks like Kawhi Leonard of late, and he
can carry a team in a playoff front. I love
that they've kind of established himself with this defensive mentality
of Ika Zubaca and a lot of praise and a
little bit of a loving the defensive player of the
Year conversation down the stretch here. I know James Harden
is a concern and there's other pieces nitpick there, but
that would probably be a dark horse team that I
would paint. I do think outside like once again in
(14:49):
the East, I think it's a two team race. In
the West, I really think it's gonna be pretty matchup
dependent on how this path fully plays out. So take
a peek at what that exact bracket looks like. But
a team like the Nuggets am not counting out the Clippers.
I'm giving a puncher's chance and the old guy sticking
around with the Lakers and Warriors.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Absolutely, yeah, we're gonna get to the Lakers in just
a second. But what's the latest with the Warriors as
far as Jamal Murray is concerned. They've lost four straight
right now. Is that all based off of Murray not
being healthy?
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Yeah, I mean that seems to be sort of the
consensus there, and there does seem to be some fear
that he might not be one hundred percent himself come
playoff time, which we've kind of seen that story with
Jamal Murray for a while now. That this is a
guy who has dealt with I guess availability issues a
little bit at a more serious rate than I think
gets acknowledged here. He's never been an All Star largely
for that reason for not playing enough games here, and
(15:37):
we've seen some ups and downs even with him at
his healthiest. He started the season really poorly this year,
had a really brutal Olympics. It was encouraging to see
him sort of come into form throughout the season. Overall,
I'm not super worried about this Denver team. I think
this is just a little blip and a kind of
a tough stretch in the schedule as well here. But
that's gonna be a huge concern moving into the playoffs
and seeing exactly what his status is.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
He's day to day's dealing with a hamstring. They expect
him back for the playoffs. But he's missed five straight games,
and as I said, the Denver Nuggets have lost four
out of those five games. Not a lot of action
to discuss. Last Oh, seventy six ers its eleven eleven
straight last night twelve? How dare I discount them? How
(16:20):
dare do I not give them the prison? Dude? This
this franchise, It's crazy. I heard some people on the
NBA radio yesterday talking about losing streaks and total losses
on a season. And do you know, I believe the
seventy six ers, who have a hell of a history,
(16:41):
go back in time, long time, I have lost fifty
plus games. I want to say sixteen times on a
sixteen time, they lost fifty seven games already to share,
I don't think we're gonna be able to get the sixty?
Are we able to get the sixty?
Speaker 3 (16:54):
Let me check? What are we saying at exactly now?
I don't. I don't think mathematically they now they won
twenty three games, so fifty nine will be the cap.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
It's a shame. Sixty it would have been something to celebrate.
They were saying that the Sixers, I believe had sixteen
times in a NBA season have lost fifty plus games.
The Lakers and the Celtics I think combined have thirteen
between those two franchises. Also, as far as losing streaks
(17:25):
are concerned, I think the LA Lakers' longest losing streak
and franchise history is ten.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Ten. Yeah, you know it's stupid, nothing, nothing big, But
it's just funny because the Sixers are losing and losing
on purpose and there I got. I gotta give them
credit where they deserve, being able to do what they've been.
You know, as far as losing a purpose tanking this
season trying to get that top five, top six draft pick,
(17:52):
it seems like fingers crossed knock on wood, that that's
how this is going to transpire.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
Yeah, I mean to be fair to them here, No
organization in all of sports kin tank like the Philadelphia
seventy six ers. Here. This is a team that has
guys on this roster who didn't even play college basketball.
Shout out to Philip Wheeler, just rotating guys through this.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Absolute play college basketball.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
This dude, Philip Wheeler. Sean Brace, he got his opportunity
as a open tryout at a G league roster down
in Texas. Got a practice only opportunity, kind of earned it,
and I kind of like him to be perfectly honest.
Philip Wheeler is hisn'tname.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Now I like to play a game as who the
hell is that seventy six er? Okay, maybe I missed
my opportunity to roll out Philip Wheeler.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
I believe he was a ten days so there's a
chance he's not even officially on the roster anymore, but
he was played a couple of games.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
I love it, yep. Oh, this seventy six ers there
the best. I did put this out there yesterday in
the air for the people at the one upsetting thing
over the weekend besides Duke blowing that game against Houston,
which hurt. I heard that Jimmy Butler is currently building
a house in Philadelphia or Paul George or Paul George.
(19:07):
Excuse me, why do I do that? I'm an idiot.
I told you I Paul George is currently building a house.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
In Philadelphia new neighbor.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Yeah, doesn't surprise me. I don't know, does it surprise you?
Speaker 3 (19:22):
I mean, he's gonna be here theoretically for three more
years here, so I feel like you might as well. Dude,
I mean, NBA money is not real money. Is sort
of what I think we all have to be aware of.
These guys all have houses all over the place, especially
a guy like Paul George, who's been a you know,
thirty million plus dollar per year guy for several seasons
over a decade at this point. So yeah, I think
he can do just find buy a house wherever he
(19:43):
wants to. And I'm sure this is one of many
for Paul George.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Yeah, it does seem like, Look, it's no big deal.
If he does get traded, he'll just sell the house
and move on. As you said, NBA money and he
makes top dollar. But I guess that house will be
coming equipped with a podcast studio, as all houses do
these days. Gotta have a podcast studio these days, just
just in case your wife wants to host a podcast.
(20:08):
I saw this. I saw major League Baseball player Lance Lynne.
He retired last week, and he announced it on his
wife's podcast. I'm like, who are these people? I don't
even know. Everybody's got a podcast. Everybody's got one, all right, Yeah,
let's have.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
It all George for you know, the honorable putting the
podcasts on hold to pursue a championship in Philadelphia this season.
It's the thought that counts.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
I guess what a strange bird man. He is, a
strange dude. He is God. The more we're learning about
Paul George, he's, you know, with his lovely lady out
there taking the pictures, how he met her, everything that's
going on there. He look. I try to stay out
of people's personal lives, but when you put it on
the timeline, we're going to have something to say about it.
(20:53):
It is what it is. But all the only thing
that matters is what he does on the floor. And
of course we know he did not live up to
the billing this year. I'm not so sure that that
was going to change next year, but there's not much
of a choice. We'll see what happens as far as
the draft picks are concerned for this upcoming NBA draft
for the seventy six ers. Other than that, I don't
(21:15):
know what type of changes we're looking at. Sean. What
type of questions are you getting in your Sixers mail
bag these days?
Speaker 3 (21:21):
Yeah, it's been a little quiet. I won't lie to
you based on the lack of interest, and I don't
even blame anybody with that, But I guess the biggest
thing to note and which has made really this second
half of the season so difficult. It's tough to plan
anything out from here until you figure out what the
results of this lottery are. That the outlook for the
franchise as a whole changes quite drastically whether or not
they retain that pick and where that pick exactly falls
(21:43):
from a financial standpoint of what they're looking at from
a salary cap perspective, from just like the direct common
sense of having a chance to add a top young
talent to this organization. And obviously we've seen the highlights
of the Cooper flags this world, and that would be
the ideal situation. So it really is just hold your
breath and wait for May twelve, and then the decision
can start to go from there. But I think regardless
of that lottery that we do have to accept, there
(22:05):
will at least be another attempt at Paul, George and
Joel Andbi being significant parts of this Sixers team.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
All right, let's dive into tonight's card. Let's take a
peek at what draft.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Denver Dnuggets have fired Michael Malone. That's wild. So we
have in the span of like two weeks now in
a championship like winner Michael Malone. Here, this doesn't make
any sense. The Nuggets, by the way, playing well, I
mean they've lost four, but this is this doesn't make
any sense. What so I can yeah, the Taylor Jenkins one,
(22:44):
I disagree, but I can get where you got there
that you know, taking a chance Denver. This guy has
done it. This guy connects with the players like I
like the way Michael Malone coaches, the way that he
carries himself. The guys get fired up, they play hard
from him, They play like a good offensive sit. He
has absolutely maximized Nikola jokicch here. This doesn't make any
sense to do this, And I don't get the timing
(23:05):
of doing this right before the playoffs. There is no
coach you can pick Phil Jackson off the street right now.
He's not walking in there with three games left in
the regular season and giving you a better chance of
a championship than a coach that has stared you through
seventy nine games of this season to this point, and
by the way, has done it within the past three seasons.
So this doesn't make any sense to me. I don't
get the logic of doing it now, and I don't
get the logic of ever moving on from a guy
(23:26):
like Michael Malone when you're at the spot that the
Nuggets currently are.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
I'll tell you what would frustrate me more than anything
right now is if I had anything invested in the
Denver Nuggets as far as a ticket is concerned for
the future. Here again, I don't know too many people
that were selling them as a championship contender, but we
know what they're capable of. You got Joker out there,
of course, healthy Jamal Murray. This is a team that
(23:49):
could put it together in one upset. Next thing you know,
they could sneak through and get into a Western Conference finals,
and if you get in the seven game series, anything
is possible. At that point in time, I'd be really
frustrated if I have money on Denver Nuggets, because I
don't see anybody stepping in, regardless if they've been there
an assistant coach or whatever and being a difference maker.
(24:10):
Malone was a damn good coach. Yeah, a damn good coach.
What are they doing? What is that all about?
Speaker 3 (24:17):
I don't I don't understand this on any level. Like again,
I'm using the Taylor Jenkins and really like even when
this Taylor Jenkins firing havened that was the only pressIt
that we had for that that I can't find in
any other team in NBA history that a team in
playoff contention this close to the playoffs, like at this point,
Mike Malone literally three games remaining in the regular season
to make this decision, And with the Taylor Jenkins decision,
(24:38):
I can squint and see where you got there. That
they hadn't beaten a good team in quite some time
at the Jamran situation, that there's plenty behind the scenes.
I'm sure we don't even know with that that you
just want to get a fresh voice and try this.
I don't get it. For Denver. I don't see any
sort of appeal for this being the case. And again,
like he has absolutely maximized this team. Michael Malone has
been an excellent head coach for this Denver Nuggets team,
(25:00):
getting the best out of Nikola Yokuchuo has a very
unique skill set that you have to play a different
way than just be any other team. Yeah, I don't
get this whatsoever. I can't find anything that could possibly
make me kind of accept this right now.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
Looking at an article from the April fifth after the
loss against the Golden State Warriors, and Joker scores thirty
three double double, but he was upset on the on
the bench, fans are quote speculating there will be trouble brewing.
This is interesting. I think this is a local Denver
outlet here that I'm reading it from, so I guess
(25:33):
there might have been something happening on the bench. That
the only reason why you would fire Michael Malone is
if Joker wanted him fire.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
But even if that's the case, like I don't get now,
Like if you are completely sick of this guy, like
give it a couple of weeks and fire him in
the offseason and then get a new voice. So like
that's the timing of this. That what bothers me more
so than anything, because it just feels like it's harmful
to everyone here that like you don't have a chance
if you're the Denver Nuggets, Like I don't know, Like
it doesn't make it. And by the way, I don't
(26:02):
Joki's just does not strike me. In fact, he's one
of the least likely guys that I can imagine like
storming into the office and being like this guy needs
to be fired.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
They're currently forty seven and thirty two. They have lost
four straight or five strait whatever it is. So think
about that, put that into perspective. They are currently forty
seven and thirty two, they have a banner up in
the rafters, and you fire him.
Speaker 3 (26:26):
They're the fourth seed right now, like they're they're a
locked in playoff team.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
Yeah, I don't understand that, don't get it, don't like it.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
But I don't understand this trend. And this is sort
of like I think a lot of coaches, and we've
known this forever, coaches getting set up for failure here,
but like there's no other nobody can walk in and
just change everything within the team with at this time frame,
with like the playoffs here, it's like you gotta give
a guy an opportunity to paint his picture, sculpt the offense,
(26:57):
and make these decisions throughout a season long. Saye, and
this isn't like this guy has you know, we just
acknowledge all the success that he just had. So yeah,
that doesn't make any sense to me whatsoever. I hate
every part of this, and like I hate that this
I don't want this at all to become like a precedent,
but this is now two in the span of two
weeks or a week and a half or whatever it
is now that playoff teams are firing their coach. I
(27:18):
don't like it. I don't like it at all.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
No, yeah, I totally agree. And well, I'm sure we're
gonna hear a little bit more. But have we heard
a lot from the Jenkins situation in Memphis right, Like
I feel like we should have learned a little bit
more there, but it's not the case.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
But even that, like I think we got a little
bit more of the picture, Like this past offseason, if
you want to look at like foreshadowing, they fired all
Jenkins assistant coaches and brought in all like better quote
unquote guys, Like there was kind of the writing on
the wall. I'm still surprised by the time frame, like
doing this at this stage of the season. And like,
I think a lot of the blame that he's catching
(27:55):
doesn't deserve to fall on his shoulders. That I would
argue he overperformed with that Grizzlies team based on the
talent that he had, the availability issues with John Moran.
None of these things applied to Michael Malone here, like,
this is a guy who seemed to be in lockstep
with the franchise for a long time at this point
that has had success all these type of conversations, so
it is disappointing. It makes no sense to me. I
(28:17):
can't land on anything that connects this.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
Yeah, poorly run organization, but they were able to get
out in front and win a championship just two seasons ago, right,
wasn't it two? Am I losing my mind?
Speaker 3 (28:29):
Yeah? I believe so, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
So now they move off and they have the best
player in the world, best player in the NBA only
behind SGA for the MVP. But we know how good
Joker is, so anything could happen. Anything is possible. And
the fact that Jamal Murray is hurt right now, that
should have gave him some time. But maybe Malone said out,
you don't like it, to fire me, and they called
his bluff and they fired him the next thing. You know,
(28:54):
now he's out. We'll see. Should his seventy six ers
be in the Mike Malone camp.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
I'm certainly open minded there. I do like Michael Malone
quite a bit. I like Taylor Jenkins too, man, Like,
I do think these are good coaches and the grass
is not always greener. As a lesson that, I think
franchises need to understand a lot clearer here now, Like
I kind of have swung on the penduluma, but I
lean towards thinking Nick Nurse will probably be back next year.
(29:21):
It's just hard to blame him fully for this, and
he definitely has not been the solution, but he certainly
was not the problem is what are you gonna do
when Joel Embiide is you know what what happened? The
season happened with Paul George under performing, all the injuries
that popped up. So the more the season has progressed
and they've tried out guys, all these kind of things,
it does wonder if they give him another year. In
my mind here, I don't know. I do. I do
(29:42):
think Michael Malone's a better coach than Nick Nurse. I'll
say that, So if we want to look at that
as an upgrade, I'm interested. But again, if you swing
and miss there and all of a sudden you're looking
for another guy, then the conversation changes a little, So
we'll see. But I would definitely be open minded to
Michael Malone taking taking over in Philadelphia.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
All right, do you have a big card this evening,
Sean Benar, Let's go ahead and discuss some of these
matchups and see if we can swing and take a
and get a victory.
Speaker 3 (30:08):
Here. One more note to Sean Brace. They are cleaning
house is the general manager Calvin Booth has also been fired.
I don't understand whatsoever doing this right now.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
What I do like is you just you're cleaning house
right like this way, there's no situation like what's taking
place with the Chicago Bears where you hire a head coach,
fire him, bringing a new GM he gets his you know,
like you gotta go ahead and tie both of these
these positions at the hip, the coach and the general manager.
(30:43):
That's the way I view it.
Speaker 3 (30:44):
Now.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
This could be it's a case by case, you know
basis here, So that could be a little bit different,
and maybe I could look at it a different way
if I had all the details in front of me.
But more times than not, I think that that's the
right move. Just clear house, clean house. If you're gonna
make one move, you gotta do both. But Boom has
been okay right as far as drafting is concerned, how
long has he been.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
There a couple of years, not crazy long, but like
I mean, I would argue he's hit on Christian Brown,
he's hit on Peyton Watson that I think they've done
some nice things to the draft. I think, like I
would look at Denver as a very well run organization
to this point over the past couple of seasons from
both a coaching and general manager standpoint, here really does
not make any sense for me. Again, like, why not
(31:25):
wait till after the playoffs? If you want a clean house,
why not wait two more regular season games then whatever
happens in the postseason, because there isn't gonna be a
drastic change one way or another. If anything, there's no
case to me that this improves your chances. So I
don't get remotely trying to blow this up right now.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
Yeah, The Booth was named general manager for the Denver
Nuggets on July seven, twenty twenty. Of course, won the
Reagan twenty twenty three and now is without a job.
So interesting stuff out of Denver, and again playoffs fast approaching.
It's just a very very odd time for the Denver
(32:01):
Nuggets to be cleaning house. Are they in action this
evening Shobynard.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
I don't think so, let me double check. I'm pretty
sure they're off tonight.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
I was just looking at the card. Yeah, tomorrow night
they're taking on the Kings. They are in Sacramento, so
possibly in a spot to look in. Oh, by the way,
they close up shop. How about that final game of
the NBA regular season versus the Memphis Grizzlies.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
That's nice there, And by the way, that means they're
making our guy, Michael Malone just take home a plane solo.
If they're out in Sacramento right.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
Now, sounds about right. Hang out, go catch the Sacramento
as they're taking on the Padres today. All right, let's
go ahead and hit the card. What's the one game
that you can sell us from a standpoint of tuning
in that we should be watching paying attention to as
far as the West is concerned, playoff stipulations all that,
where's the one game that we should be looking at
(32:54):
more than most.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
Yeah, I think the Lakers in Thunder from a viewing perspective,
will be the most exciting here. The Lakers did really
take care of business against the Thunder in the previous
game here, so a little bit of a chance for
Oklahoma City to bounce back here. The injury report across
the board fairly questionable from the Lakers' perspective, so it
wouldn't be overly surprising to me if that there is
a kind of rest decision for the LUKA, Doncis and
(33:16):
Lebron James, So keep an eye on that. Also, throw
in the Warriors and Suns is going to be fun
to me. We have to see some sort of desperation
from the Suns team, who currently are slated to miss
the playoffs outright. I gotta believe there's some sort of
urgency or belief in there, but they have been a
brutal watch really all season, but especially in these coming
weeks here. I also throw in there from a Sixers perspective,
Pelicans versus Nets. There in the very bottom of the standings,
(33:38):
there still rooting for Pelicans wins if they can scrounge
up two more in these final three games, and it
seems like they're going to be playing absolute nobody, So
not a zero percent chance that would give the Sixers
a couple more bonus points. Knicks and Celtics you can
acknowledge as well, but I think we kind of know
what the you know, the temperature check is in that
type of matchup, But that's probably the best of tonight's slave.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
Yeah, as far as the Lakers are concerned with that
win on Sunday over okay See and the way that
they did it, you know, just draining three pointers, essentially
having better defense than okay See in that game, it
all came back to shoot it fifty five percent from downtown.
What I want to give Yeah, exactly. I want to
give credit to JJ Reddick. I want to give credit
(34:20):
to that offense. And you know, I think a lot
of us are probably saying it's easy to put Lebron
and Luca together and you can draw plays, but you know,
if it doesn't go right, they're going to hear about it.
And it's going right right now. They're putting it together,
and that was a big win. Are you taking anything
major from that victory on Sunday for the Lakers and
(34:40):
the way that they did it on the road in
Ooma City. Is that making you look at Okac in
a different manner or are you starting to look at
the Lakers and saying, you know what, maybe we need
to be talking about them in a different light.
Speaker 3 (34:52):
Yeah, I think it matters from a Lakers perspective, from
a belief perspective of that they can do this, and
they can see that they can do this. They can
play with anyone in a one game setting or for
a certain stretch there. It's important to note that that
peak is possible there. The matchups are really going to
dictate my belief for my outlook in the Western Conference there.
But they can beat anybody and they have to be
taken that seriously. As far as like what they're doing specifically,
(35:13):
I do got to give a lot of credits for
JJ Redick just how much he is relying on Austin Reeves.
And not only is JJ Reddick making this decision, but
Luka Doncic and Lebron James, who are two of the
highest basketball IQ players we've ever seen, being like, yes,
this is the right decision. And Reeves is out there
getting like the third defensive option for teams and absolutely
frying them there. So Reddick does deserve credits for credit
(35:35):
for making this happen here. I do think the Lakers
should be considered at least semi series, depending on what
the pathway looks from the playoff perspective, But I think
that was important for them to see that, like, Okay,
we can do this, we can beat the league's best.
All right.
Speaker 2 (35:48):
No, we talked a little bit about some of the
big matchups here that you're eyeing up as far as
playoff reasons and of course gambling trying to find those wins.
We got major dogs as we close up the year
regular season. We got teams that are just one, two, three,
can't coon that have been there for a little while.
We got fifteen and a half point spread, twelve and
(36:08):
a half points spread, another fifteen, another fourteen, a nineteen
point spread Wizards and Pacers. That means if the dogs
are barking in a big way, that's a pretty big payout.
Give me the best shot at a double digit underdog victory.
Speaker 3 (36:26):
Okay, I like your question there.
Speaker 2 (36:28):
On tonight's card. What do we got here draftings?
Speaker 3 (36:31):
I'll talk through them a little bit. So I'm taking
off the Lakers and Thunder one that I do think
the Thunder get back in the win colum and get
a little wake up call from that first game. That's
say fifteen and a half point spread, and once again
important to note the questionable statuses of Luka Doncis and
Lebron James. There there is the Clippers and Spurs. I've
been really impressed with the way the Clippers have been
playing really all season, and especially of eight here. I
(36:53):
don't see the Spurs getting upset in that game taking
place at the end of a dome in Los Angeles there.
Don't really love that one. The Wizards and Pacers also
been playing a lot better basketball, but Bilers are scrappy.
I'm gonna keep that in mind. There's a non zero
chance I go with that. Chicago has been on a
heater and are taken on the Cavaliers is fourteen point
underdogs only plus six to fifty on the money line.
I kind of expected a little bit steeper pay out there.
(37:15):
I think it comes down to those games. I'll ride
with the Chicago Bulls tonight. Josh Gitty has been on
an absolute tear. They are a team that, like all seasons,
should have been looked at as better than their record
has shown. And Giddy, I do think is like closing
the season on a stretch that may change the way
the organization views him moving forward. So if you can
walk in and take care of business against the Cleveland team,
(37:35):
that I think has taken their foot off the gas
a little at the tail end of the season. I
think you got a chance tonight sign me up for
the Chicago Bulls as the most likely double digit underdog
to get the outright win.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
Ten we'll get you seventy five people. Ten will get
you seventy five plus six to fifty on the money line.
Nice work there, Sean Bernard. Always great to get caught
up on all things NBA here, as we often do.
NBA season is fine here. Playoffs will be starting one
week from today with the play in tournament, and do
(38:07):
you expect any upsets in the play in Yeah.
Speaker 3 (38:10):
I the West, once again, like those top two seeds,
will be very interesting to see how they play out.
The Dallas Mavericks are a sneaky upset potential team from
a playing perspectives. They're just gonna be nasty to play
in a one game setting when Anthony Davis is healthy
and you got the Dan Gaffords, the PJ. Washington's, That
team has fully designed here. So that's a team that
I have my eye on. The East. I don't really
(38:30):
love any of the playing teams, to be honest. I
think the Magic Hawks Bulls and Heat are all a
notable bit worse than the top six seeds there. So
pretty clear how the East shook out, but the West
is gonna be open for grabs. We'll see how the
final seedings ultimately shape up, but it certainly could be
some upsets there.
Speaker 2 (38:45):
Yeah, what a crazy season that's been. The Timberwolves are
forty six and thirty two at the seven seed, and
right now if the playoffs sort of start to be
taking on the Grizzlies in that play in a game
and then they got the Kings and MAVs there, and
I agree with your Anthony Davis look like a and
possessed the other nights, and a lot of people are
talking he's got something to prove.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
You got that game tomorrow. By the way, Lakers in Dallas.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
What's Luca going for? Is he back? Is he gonna play?
Speaker 3 (39:14):
That's kind of why I'm leaning towards he probably rests tonight.
I think they definitely want him for tomorrow, And yeah,
I think we'll get the most like expressive Luca Dantes
we've probably seen in a Lakers uniform this far.
Speaker 2 (39:25):
Oh yeah, that's gonna be a lot of fun. All right. Well,
we'll be talking all things NBA from here on out.
Sean Bnard can be found once again on all things
Socials and be sure to catch up catch all the
great content from DraftKings, sportsbooks own at dknetwork dot com
and a lot of great stuff. Great job as far
(39:46):
as college troops is concerned, Shot, I know you're all
over that, but NBA season and of course get them
dance and shoes out, baby, because it's time to dance.
Jarreed mcke All right, enjoy the games tonight, Let's go,
and we'll catch up later this week and talk a
little bit more about the association. As always, if you
missed anything, please FOXPHL Gambler dot com.
Speaker 1 (40:08):
The pix and Roll podcast can be found on FOXPHL
Gambler dot com
Pix and Roll handicapping the hardwood with Sixers insider Sean
Bernard and Sean Brace.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Boh god, is that the Association's music? You're darn right
it is. Hello everybody, pix and Roll coming to you
here on this Tuesday. My brain's a little warped after
last night. Of course, National Championship Final four comes to
a close, a heck of a run by the Gambler Gang,
(00:35):
all over all things madness, including our next guest, our
next guest, my co host. The hell's going on here?
I told you I'm out of it. Sean Bernard joining us.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Hello, Sean, Yeah, Sean Brace. Were you one of those
many people complaining about the start time of last night
because I was a little disappointed that seemed to be
a bigger takeaway or bigger talking point than the actual
game on the court last night. Were you fired up
about that?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
No?
Speaker 3 (00:59):
All right? Good? Well, I say Page there.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
I you know, I expect these games to be starting
at the time that they do. I believe these people
know a little bit more about why, you know, as
far as dollars and cents are concerned, and you know
they did bump it up. I believe it did get
started a little bit earlier yesterday, and I just it's
just the way it is, and you're right, it does.
(01:23):
People get bogged down with such nonsense on the timeline
when oh, by the way, we pretty much just had
one of the greatest final fours that we've ever seen
from start to finish as far as Saturday and Monday.
And I even wake up today and I saw some
dude on FS one saying last night's game was terrible,
(01:45):
just like, these guys aren't pros. You know, they're not pros.
They're not going to go out there and score one thirty.
It's not going to be one thirty to one twenty five.
They're going to miss shots, they're they're going to have nerves.
And I thought last night's game was pretty darn good.
I thought the Final four was awesome.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Yeah, and sometimes the imperfections of it is what makes
college basketball college basketball. That you're not gonna get guys
to the NBA bricking two free throws at a regular rate.
You're not gonna get guys, you know, hitting three pointers
at the consistent rate that you do at the NBA level,
shooting forty percent. And we saw that right from the
opening whistle last night. I mean coming out directly cold there,
and I kind of like that that comes with the
charm of basketball. And nonetheless that led to two absolute
(02:25):
meltdowns with used to be on the direct opposite sides
of them against Duke, in which the game totally felt
in their favor and they deserve the unmost credit for
and then melt down the opposite end of the spectrum. Feel
horrible for Emmanual Sharp the way that ultimately ended. But
that was my larger takeaway from last night. I thought
Houston was the better team for about, you know, ninety
percent of that game, and then they ultimately couldn't close
the deal. Florida took advantage and more credit to them.
(02:47):
They are the national champions as a result.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
And oh, by the way, it's what Florida has done
every single game of course of the tournament, sense of
what they've been able to do for the course of
this whole season, the clutch time they rise to the occasion. Now,
I don't think Houston did themselves any favors by the
way that they handled business. Of course, to you know,
just Samson's got some questionable coaching decisions. But at the
(03:13):
end of the day man, Florida was a better team.
It was a good game and they came out on top.
I still have no idea how Florida won the game.
I won't lie to you on that, have no idea.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
And feel the same way almost about Houston over Duke too,
like that one looked like a closed and shut type
of game, and same thing last night. But like Houston,
they played Houston basketball from start to finish last night,
And that, to me is the biggest thing I was
looking out for at the start of that game, is like,
what is the pace of this play? Are we getting
into this mud fight the way that the Cougars want
to get down and nerdy and compete that way on
(03:44):
the glass? And that's exactly how the game played out,
and Florida just hung in there. They got tougher. We
saw the fouls get all over the place in the
second half, where it felt really intentional that they were
trying to be overly physical and get down to that
level and play with Houston, and they ultimately did it.
So credit to Florida here, and especially with Walter Clay
and Junior truly having a stinker in the first half
and then finding way to still impact the game positively
(04:04):
down the stretch. There so a lot of praise on
both sides here. I do feel really bad for Calvin
Sampson and Houston, as I did think they almost did
enough there, but you got to take advantage of the opportunity.
They didn't at the end of the day, and Florida
gets to hold the trophy as a result.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Florida hell of a run. They trailed by six or
more points in the second half, and four of their
six NCAA tournament victories, they fell behind by nine to
Auburn in the second half. They were down by as
many as ten to Texas Tech in the Elite eight,
and of course last night twelve point deficit raced and
(04:39):
I'll stick to that. I have no idea how they
ended up winning that game, but you could just it's
just how it plays out. And I thought for sure
Houston was going to find a way to tie the
game or win the game as far as with that
three pointer. But what a terrible bat last possession. And
that's how That's all. She wrote. Florida's your national champion
and if you cash that, nice work by you, everybody
(05:01):
out there. I had Duke versus Florida. I had duke
over to Florida in my bracket. That did not transpire,
of course, but plenty of people dig cash in on
Florida tickets. I sell a lot of them on my timeline,
including a twenty five the one I want to say.
Somebody had them as high as a forty to one
two which opened a season.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
I believe I was Julian Edlow.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
I believe did he have forty to one? Well, yeah, yeah, man,
that's that's a great cash right there. So now os
around the association. The NBA season starts right now, and
Sean Manard we got we got some people wondering what's
going on, and the comments section. This gentleman goes by
(05:41):
the name of Ryan Coyle. He said, I had someone
asked me yesterday when TikTok Bernard was coming out.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Yeah, I think my full plan for those I'm gonna
do a little countdown until the NBA Draft lottery. So
I was kind of flip flopping back and forth. My
initial plan was like a countdown the next year, do
like a one a day type of thing. But in
case like they don't get their draft pick, I feel
like I'm better off getting out of the way now,
So I'm getting in the lab fairly shortly. Unfortunately, here
it's gonna be a top stratch, John Brace, this is
gonna be a I don't even know how'm gonna go
(06:09):
about all this. If I've been digging through the jad
McCain archives and they are quite deep there.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Yeah, he was a man that did not mess around
and grew a big old audience due to his TikTok dances.
Beard if you missed it back in early November, said
that the Sixers would make the playoffs and if they
did not, that he would reenact recreate all of Jared
McCain's TikTok dances. And I believe the emphasis on all
(06:34):
of them too.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
So you all requested, all.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Requested, all right, Well, we're gonna fill up. We're gonna
definitely fill up those phone lines. I promise you on
that one. All right, big picture NBA, if I asked
you as we head in here to the final couple
days of the regular season, thank you Lord above. I
think the last day is on Sunday. If I took
away the trade from Anthony Davis or for ad for Luca,
(07:02):
if I take that out of the possibilities for answers.
What is the biggest surprise throughout the course of this
NBA season to you, Schubnard. It could be a team,
it could be a player, it could be the seventy
six ers. But if I take away the major trade
that shook everything, what was the biggest surprise in the
NBA season to you?
Speaker 3 (07:23):
I think the biggest surprise is probably the Cleveland Cavaliers
this year and just how dominant that they have been
from really start to finish across the season. I think
that you have to view them as legitimate championship contenders,
and I don't think there's very many people who would
have regarded them like that coming into this season. So
Donovan Mitchell deserves credit for continuing to lead the charge there.
We're seeing guys like Evan Mobley take that next step
(07:44):
in their progression, getting incredible levels of playoff the bench
from players like Tyjerome. So they've checked a lot of
boxes that I did not think were possible for them
accomplishing this season. So the Cavaliers is a team. Also
give a little bit of love over in the Western
Conference to kind of the youth movement. I would say
the thunder taking that next step as an organization.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
There.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
The Houston Rockets certainly legitimizing theirself this season, and we
still have kind of the old heads kicking around that
the Lakers and the Warriors here have certainly surged in
the second half of the season and have to be
taken pretty seriously from a playoff perspective, which I didn't
think there was gonna be any case where that would
be the actuality this season.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
You're right, and I do want to put this out
here because the NBA dot Com I was reading some
articles this morning and one of them was based off
of the biggest surprises so far in the season and
or from the twenty twenty four to twenty five season,
and of course the success that Cleveland has had was
absolutely listed on that and essentially from we knew that
(08:42):
they were going to be good. They were a good
team last year. They were bounced out in the first round.
If I'm not mistaken, actually know they they made it
to the Conference Simmis last year. The year before, they
were bounced out in the first round. But this team
this year has a different feel. Of course, we've watched
them go up against Boston, come back against Boston as
we are entering in into the final couple of days
(09:04):
here of the regular season. Are we still looking at
Cleveland as the real deal and could potentially come out
of the East. Are you still going to back Boston here?
Speaker 3 (09:12):
I give Cleveland a shot. I really do, and I
think like Boston is rightfully the favorite, probably a little
bit more significant than I think should be the case there.
That Like, it's tough to deny what Cleveland has done
from a season long standpoint at this point, and I
get like, obviously they have faded a little bit down
the stretch here. I think, to be fair to them,
a little bit more of that is kind of saving
the legs and you know, coasting the finish line. Is
(09:33):
the damage just done? I mean, when looking at like
the standings overall, they got a four game lead over
the Celtics, a twelve game lead over the Knicks for
a third, They're not that worried about a team chase.
I've still been pretty encouraged by the top peak level
of play that they can reach. There is probably more
variance with them than you would like to regard for
a top team there, and they haven't had sort of
that playoff experience that you like to lean on. I
(09:53):
think that's really the driving force to why people are
more sold on the Celtics team. But a guy like
Donovan Mitchell, we've seen him performing the lights of the brightest.
He is a guy that I think is sort of
missing that deep playoff on and his resume. This is
the best team that he's had behind them, and I
do think he goes underrated on the wider scale of
how good is he among the NBA's best there, So
I do give Cleveland a chance. I think Boston is
(10:15):
rightfully the favorite once again, but that's gonna be a
fun series when it inevitably happens.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
So the East, right now, all the teams are have
been determined, but we don't know about the seating correct correct.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Yeah, They're are in there like tiers. So the top
six is locked in, the plane is locked in, the
eliminated is locked in. So some of the seedings in
between those are not quite set yet.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
But the wild wild West we still have ye wide open.
So something that you're looking at right now, maybe you
could sell to some people that are tuning in looking
for a little push to tune into some NBA actually
have two good games going off this evening one that
actually features for my money, one are the better teams
to tune in and watch in the Golden State Warriors?
(10:58):
Is there something? Is there a race? Is there a
potential matchup that you want to see over these next
couple of days that we should be paying attention to
in the West.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
Yeah, it's that bottom of the top six seeds, top
of the plane that is that race to watch here.
So looking at the Western Conference standings, the top is
pretty solidified. The Thunder have run away with things with
their sixty four and fourteen record. The Rockets are pretty
locked in for that second seed, are definitely locked into
that second seed at twelve and a half games back
fifty two to twenty seven on the air. Then the
Lakers have are sort of locked in number three. They're
(11:26):
a game and a half ahead of the Nuggets. There
those are the top four seeds. Then beyond that and
I'll even kind of throw the Nuggets in the mix
as they're seventeen and a half back to the Thunder
in that four seed. Then seeds five, six, seven, and
eight are all eighteen eighteen games back of first place.
There so directly ties. So remember that the fifth and
sixth seed will get a full playoff seed there stay
(11:47):
above the playing tournament. That seven to eight seed are
going to have to fight it out in that tournament there.
So those teams exactly are the Clippers, the Warriors, the Timberwolves,
and the Grizzlies. It's all going to come back to
these final few games of the season for where those
seeds exactly fall.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Yeah, the Less is definitely the eye opening conference and
one that we need to be paying attention to, and
I think specifically once the playoffs get going, because I
think we could see some upsets there. I know upsets
happen and not a lot of people predict them, but
tell me where the upset's gonna happen in the East.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
If anything, though, I mean you're gonna think I'm an
dictator again. But them at the three seed, I do
think is vulnerable if they draw the Pistons, which it's
looking less likely that that's going to be the case,
certainly still possible. I would pick the Pistons in that series.
I do think they would beat this next team here,
the Bucks. I don't really know how to feel about
the Bucks at this point. There seems to be a
(12:38):
little bit more encouragement that Damian Lillard could be returning,
but like we got to see it to believe it.
There the Pacers have certainly played better basketball, and I
think there'll be plenty of people out there who will
sell you the vision that the Calves are this potential
upset team. I don't really see that just looking at
the bottom of the Eastern Conference here, the teams like
the Magic, the Hawks, the Bulls, the Heat, none of
them strike particular fear into my heart this year. So
(12:59):
I really think it is probably that three sixth series
if it does come out, Nixon Pistons there, but it
might end up being pretty chop, just like the NCAA
tournament has been.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
All right, Sean Bernard, is there a team that we
need to be looking at right now that isn't the
Oklahoma City Thunder, that is not the Boss of Celtics
or the Cleveland Cavaliers, that has potential to win their
conference and represent their conference in the NBA Finals. Maybe
there's a little bit of value attached to their name.
(13:27):
Maybe it's not a team that we're discussing. Maybe it
is a team that has a lot of attention. Like
I just brought up a Golden State. Where are you
at right now or are you just you can't let
anything happen. You got the blinders on. You're looking at
either Boston and Cleveland versus Okay see from the west.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
Yeah, I certainly feel that way about the East that
I do think it's a two horse race between the
Celtics and the Cavaliders there. The West you can buy,
you can kind of sell me on it being a
lot more wide open there. The thunder I think, are
rightfully absolutely the favorites there. And looking at the odds
on DraftKings Sportsbook, Oklahoma City minus one thirty to win West. There,
the Warriors have climbed to second at plus five to
fifty odds, the Lakers in third at plus six fifty odds,
(14:06):
Nuggets at plus eight hundred, the Clippers at plus eighteen hundred.
So there's sort of where the drop off is. I
do think Denver is probably the most appealing just kind
of value there. They still, I mean, Nicola Jokic, some
of the things that he's doing this season are absolutely incredible,
and he's the best player on best basketball player in
the world. Still, even though I will make the case
for Shay to win MVP once again here, I'm not
fully ruling out the Clippers that I do think that
(14:28):
Kawhi Leonard looks like Kawhi Leonard of late, and he
can carry a team in a playoff front. I love
that they've kind of established himself with this defensive mentality
of Ika Zubaca and a lot of praise and a
little bit of a loving the defensive player of the
Year conversation down the stretch here. I know James Harden
is a concern and there's other pieces nitpick there, but
that would probably be a dark horse team that I
would paint. I do think outside like once again in
(14:49):
the East, I think it's a two team race. In
the West, I really think it's gonna be pretty matchup
dependent on how this path fully plays out. So take
a peek at what that exact bracket looks like. But
a team like the Nuggets am not counting out the Clippers.
I'm giving a puncher's chance and the old guy sticking
around with the Lakers and Warriors.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Absolutely, yeah, we're gonna get to the Lakers in just
a second. But what's the latest with the Warriors as
far as Jamal Murray is concerned. They've lost four straight
right now. Is that all based off of Murray not
being healthy?
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Yeah, I mean that seems to be sort of the
consensus there, and there does seem to be some fear
that he might not be one hundred percent himself come
playoff time, which we've kind of seen that story with
Jamal Murray for a while now. That this is a
guy who has dealt with I guess availability issues a
little bit at a more serious rate than I think
gets acknowledged here. He's never been an All Star largely
for that reason for not playing enough games here, and
(15:37):
we've seen some ups and downs even with him at
his healthiest. He started the season really poorly this year,
had a really brutal Olympics. It was encouraging to see
him sort of come into form throughout the season. Overall,
I'm not super worried about this Denver team. I think
this is just a little blip and a kind of
a tough stretch in the schedule as well here. But
that's gonna be a huge concern moving into the playoffs
and seeing exactly what his status is.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
He's day to day's dealing with a hamstring. They expect
him back for the playoffs. But he's missed five straight games,
and as I said, the Denver Nuggets have lost four
out of those five games. Not a lot of action
to discuss. Last Oh, seventy six ers its eleven eleven
straight last night twelve? How dare I discount them? How
(16:20):
dare do I not give them the prison? Dude? This
this franchise, It's crazy. I heard some people on the
NBA radio yesterday talking about losing streaks and total losses
on a season. And do you know, I believe the
seventy six ers, who have a hell of a history,
(16:41):
go back in time, long time, I have lost fifty
plus games. I want to say sixteen times on a
sixteen time, they lost fifty seven games already to share,
I don't think we're gonna be able to get the sixty?
Are we able to get the sixty?
Speaker 3 (16:54):
Let me check? What are we saying at exactly now?
I don't. I don't think mathematically they now they won
twenty three games, so fifty nine will be the cap.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
It's a shame. Sixty it would have been something to celebrate.
They were saying that the Sixers, I believe had sixteen
times in a NBA season have lost fifty plus games.
The Lakers and the Celtics I think combined have thirteen
between those two franchises. Also, as far as losing streaks
(17:25):
are concerned, I think the LA Lakers' longest losing streak
and franchise history is ten.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Ten. Yeah, you know it's stupid, nothing, nothing big, But
it's just funny because the Sixers are losing and losing
on purpose and there I got. I gotta give them
credit where they deserve, being able to do what they've been.
You know, as far as losing a purpose tanking this
season trying to get that top five, top six draft pick,
(17:52):
it seems like fingers crossed knock on wood, that that's
how this is going to transpire.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
Yeah, I mean to be fair to them here, No
organization in all of sports kin tank like the Philadelphia
seventy six ers. Here. This is a team that has
guys on this roster who didn't even play college basketball.
Shout out to Philip Wheeler, just rotating guys through this.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Absolute play college basketball.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
This dude, Philip Wheeler. Sean Brace, he got his opportunity
as a open tryout at a G league roster down
in Texas. Got a practice only opportunity, kind of earned it,
and I kind of like him to be perfectly honest.
Philip Wheeler is hisn'tname.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Now I like to play a game as who the
hell is that seventy six er? Okay, maybe I missed
my opportunity to roll out Philip Wheeler.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
I believe he was a ten days so there's a
chance he's not even officially on the roster anymore, but
he was played a couple of games.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
I love it, yep. Oh, this seventy six ers there
the best. I did put this out there yesterday in
the air for the people at the one upsetting thing
over the weekend besides Duke blowing that game against Houston,
which hurt. I heard that Jimmy Butler is currently building
a house in Philadelphia or Paul George or Paul George.
(19:07):
Excuse me, why do I do that? I'm an idiot.
I told you I Paul George is currently building a house.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
In Philadelphia new neighbor.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Yeah, doesn't surprise me. I don't know, does it surprise you?
Speaker 3 (19:22):
I mean, he's gonna be here theoretically for three more
years here, so I feel like you might as well. Dude,
I mean, NBA money is not real money. Is sort
of what I think we all have to be aware of.
These guys all have houses all over the place, especially
a guy like Paul George, who's been a you know,
thirty million plus dollar per year guy for several seasons
over a decade at this point. So yeah, I think
he can do just find buy a house wherever he
(19:43):
wants to. And I'm sure this is one of many
for Paul George.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Yeah, it does seem like, Look, it's no big deal.
If he does get traded, he'll just sell the house
and move on. As you said, NBA money and he
makes top dollar. But I guess that house will be
coming equipped with a podcast studio, as all houses do
these days. Gotta have a podcast studio these days, just
just in case your wife wants to host a podcast.
(20:08):
I saw this. I saw major League Baseball player Lance Lynne.
He retired last week, and he announced it on his
wife's podcast. I'm like, who are these people? I don't
even know. Everybody's got a podcast. Everybody's got one, all right, Yeah,
let's have.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
It all George for you know, the honorable putting the
podcasts on hold to pursue a championship in Philadelphia this season.
It's the thought that counts.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
I guess what a strange bird man. He is, a
strange dude. He is God. The more we're learning about
Paul George, he's, you know, with his lovely lady out
there taking the pictures, how he met her, everything that's
going on there. He look. I try to stay out
of people's personal lives, but when you put it on
the timeline, we're going to have something to say about it.
(20:53):
It is what it is. But all the only thing
that matters is what he does on the floor. And
of course we know he did not live up to
the billing this year. I'm not so sure that that
was going to change next year, but there's not much
of a choice. We'll see what happens as far as
the draft picks are concerned for this upcoming NBA draft
for the seventy six ers. Other than that, I don't
(21:15):
know what type of changes we're looking at. Sean. What
type of questions are you getting in your Sixers mail
bag these days?
Speaker 3 (21:21):
Yeah, it's been a little quiet. I won't lie to
you based on the lack of interest, and I don't
even blame anybody with that, But I guess the biggest
thing to note and which has made really this second
half of the season so difficult. It's tough to plan
anything out from here until you figure out what the
results of this lottery are. That the outlook for the
franchise as a whole changes quite drastically whether or not
they retain that pick and where that pick exactly falls
(21:43):
from a financial standpoint of what they're looking at from
a salary cap perspective, from just like the direct common
sense of having a chance to add a top young
talent to this organization. And obviously we've seen the highlights
of the Cooper flags this world, and that would be
the ideal situation. So it really is just hold your
breath and wait for May twelve, and then the decision
can start to go from there. But I think regardless
of that lottery that we do have to accept, there
(22:05):
will at least be another attempt at Paul, George and
Joel Andbi being significant parts of this Sixers team.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
All right, let's dive into tonight's card. Let's take a
peek at what draft.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Denver Dnuggets have fired Michael Malone. That's wild. So we
have in the span of like two weeks now in
a championship like winner Michael Malone. Here, this doesn't make
any sense. The Nuggets, by the way, playing well, I
mean they've lost four, but this is this doesn't make
any sense. What so I can yeah, the Taylor Jenkins one,
(22:44):
I disagree, but I can get where you got there
that you know, taking a chance Denver. This guy has
done it. This guy connects with the players like I
like the way Michael Malone coaches, the way that he
carries himself. The guys get fired up, they play hard
from him, They play like a good offensive sit. He
has absolutely maximized Nikola jokicch here. This doesn't make any
sense to do this, And I don't get the timing
(23:05):
of doing this right before the playoffs. There is no
coach you can pick Phil Jackson off the street right now.
He's not walking in there with three games left in
the regular season and giving you a better chance of
a championship than a coach that has stared you through
seventy nine games of this season to this point, and
by the way, has done it within the past three seasons.
So this doesn't make any sense to me. I don't
get the logic of doing it now, and I don't
get the logic of ever moving on from a guy
(23:26):
like Michael Malone when you're at the spot that the
Nuggets currently are.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
I'll tell you what would frustrate me more than anything
right now is if I had anything invested in the
Denver Nuggets as far as a ticket is concerned for
the future. Here again, I don't know too many people
that were selling them as a championship contender, but we
know what they're capable of. You got Joker out there,
of course, healthy Jamal Murray. This is a team that
(23:49):
could put it together in one upset. Next thing you know,
they could sneak through and get into a Western Conference finals,
and if you get in the seven game series, anything
is possible. At that point in time, I'd be really
frustrated if I have money on Denver Nuggets, because I
don't see anybody stepping in, regardless if they've been there
an assistant coach or whatever and being a difference maker.
(24:10):
Malone was a damn good coach. Yeah, a damn good coach.
What are they doing? What is that all about?
Speaker 3 (24:17):
I don't I don't understand this on any level. Like again,
I'm using the Taylor Jenkins and really like even when
this Taylor Jenkins firing havened that was the only pressIt
that we had for that that I can't find in
any other team in NBA history that a team in
playoff contention this close to the playoffs, like at this point,
Mike Malone literally three games remaining in the regular season
to make this decision, And with the Taylor Jenkins decision,
(24:38):
I can squint and see where you got there. That
they hadn't beaten a good team in quite some time
at the Jamran situation, that there's plenty behind the scenes.
I'm sure we don't even know with that that you
just want to get a fresh voice and try this.
I don't get it. For Denver. I don't see any
sort of appeal for this being the case. And again,
like he has absolutely maximized this team. Michael Malone has
been an excellent head coach for this Denver Nuggets team,
(25:00):
getting the best out of Nikola Yokuchuo has a very
unique skill set that you have to play a different
way than just be any other team. Yeah, I don't
get this whatsoever. I can't find anything that could possibly
make me kind of accept this right now.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
Looking at an article from the April fifth after the
loss against the Golden State Warriors, and Joker scores thirty
three double double, but he was upset on the on
the bench, fans are quote speculating there will be trouble brewing.
This is interesting. I think this is a local Denver
outlet here that I'm reading it from, so I guess
(25:33):
there might have been something happening on the bench. That
the only reason why you would fire Michael Malone is
if Joker wanted him fire.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
But even if that's the case, like I don't get now,
Like if you are completely sick of this guy, like
give it a couple of weeks and fire him in
the offseason and then get a new voice. So like
that's the timing of this. That what bothers me more
so than anything, because it just feels like it's harmful
to everyone here that like you don't have a chance
if you're the Denver Nuggets, Like I don't know, Like
it doesn't make it. And by the way, I don't
(26:02):
Joki's just does not strike me. In fact, he's one
of the least likely guys that I can imagine like
storming into the office and being like this guy needs
to be fired.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
They're currently forty seven and thirty two. They have lost
four straight or five strait whatever it is. So think
about that, put that into perspective. They are currently forty
seven and thirty two, they have a banner up in
the rafters, and you fire him.
Speaker 3 (26:26):
They're the fourth seed right now, like they're they're a
locked in playoff team.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
Yeah, I don't understand that, don't get it, don't like it.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
But I don't understand this trend. And this is sort
of like I think a lot of coaches, and we've
known this forever, coaches getting set up for failure here,
but like there's no other nobody can walk in and
just change everything within the team with at this time frame,
with like the playoffs here, it's like you gotta give
a guy an opportunity to paint his picture, sculpt the offense,
(26:57):
and make these decisions throughout a season long. Saye, and
this isn't like this guy has you know, we just
acknowledge all the success that he just had. So yeah,
that doesn't make any sense to me whatsoever. I hate
every part of this, and like I hate that this
I don't want this at all to become like a precedent,
but this is now two in the span of two
weeks or a week and a half or whatever it
is now that playoff teams are firing their coach. I
(27:18):
don't like it. I don't like it at all.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
No, yeah, I totally agree. And well, I'm sure we're
gonna hear a little bit more. But have we heard
a lot from the Jenkins situation in Memphis right, Like
I feel like we should have learned a little bit
more there, but it's not the case.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
But even that, like I think we got a little
bit more of the picture, Like this past offseason, if
you want to look at like foreshadowing, they fired all
Jenkins assistant coaches and brought in all like better quote
unquote guys, Like there was kind of the writing on
the wall. I'm still surprised by the time frame, like
doing this at this stage of the season. And like,
I think a lot of the blame that he's catching
(27:55):
doesn't deserve to fall on his shoulders. That I would
argue he overperformed with that Grizzlies team based on the
talent that he had, the availability issues with John Moran.
None of these things applied to Michael Malone here, like,
this is a guy who seemed to be in lockstep
with the franchise for a long time at this point
that has had success all these type of conversations, so
it is disappointing. It makes no sense to me. I
(28:17):
can't land on anything that connects this.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
Yeah, poorly run organization, but they were able to get
out in front and win a championship just two seasons ago, right,
wasn't it two? Am I losing my mind?
Speaker 3 (28:29):
Yeah? I believe so, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
So now they move off and they have the best
player in the world, best player in the NBA only
behind SGA for the MVP. But we know how good
Joker is, so anything could happen. Anything is possible. And
the fact that Jamal Murray is hurt right now, that
should have gave him some time. But maybe Malone said out,
you don't like it, to fire me, and they called
his bluff and they fired him the next thing. You know,
(28:54):
now he's out. We'll see. Should his seventy six ers
be in the Mike Malone camp.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
I'm certainly open minded there. I do like Michael Malone
quite a bit. I like Taylor Jenkins too, man, Like,
I do think these are good coaches and the grass
is not always greener. As a lesson that, I think
franchises need to understand a lot clearer here now, Like
I kind of have swung on the penduluma, but I
lean towards thinking Nick Nurse will probably be back next year.
(29:21):
It's just hard to blame him fully for this, and
he definitely has not been the solution, but he certainly
was not the problem is what are you gonna do
when Joel Embiide is you know what what happened? The
season happened with Paul George under performing, all the injuries
that popped up. So the more the season has progressed
and they've tried out guys, all these kind of things,
it does wonder if they give him another year. In
my mind here, I don't know. I do. I do
(29:42):
think Michael Malone's a better coach than Nick Nurse. I'll
say that, So if we want to look at that
as an upgrade, I'm interested. But again, if you swing
and miss there and all of a sudden you're looking
for another guy, then the conversation changes a little, So
we'll see. But I would definitely be open minded to
Michael Malone taking taking over in Philadelphia.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
All right, do you have a big card this evening,
Sean Benar, Let's go ahead and discuss some of these
matchups and see if we can swing and take a
and get a victory.
Speaker 3 (30:08):
Here. One more note to Sean Brace. They are cleaning
house is the general manager Calvin Booth has also been fired.
I don't understand whatsoever doing this right now.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
What I do like is you just you're cleaning house
right like this way, there's no situation like what's taking
place with the Chicago Bears where you hire a head coach,
fire him, bringing a new GM he gets his you know,
like you gotta go ahead and tie both of these
these positions at the hip, the coach and the general manager.
(30:43):
That's the way I view it.
Speaker 3 (30:44):
Now.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
This could be it's a case by case, you know
basis here, So that could be a little bit different,
and maybe I could look at it a different way
if I had all the details in front of me.
But more times than not, I think that that's the
right move. Just clear house, clean house. If you're gonna
make one move, you gotta do both. But Boom has
been okay right as far as drafting is concerned, how
long has he been.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
There a couple of years, not crazy long, but like
I mean, I would argue he's hit on Christian Brown,
he's hit on Peyton Watson that I think they've done
some nice things to the draft. I think, like I
would look at Denver as a very well run organization
to this point over the past couple of seasons from
both a coaching and general manager standpoint, here really does
not make any sense for me. Again, like, why not
(31:25):
wait till after the playoffs? If you want a clean house,
why not wait two more regular season games then whatever
happens in the postseason, because there isn't gonna be a
drastic change one way or another. If anything, there's no
case to me that this improves your chances. So I
don't get remotely trying to blow this up right now.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
Yeah, The Booth was named general manager for the Denver
Nuggets on July seven, twenty twenty. Of course, won the
Reagan twenty twenty three and now is without a job.
So interesting stuff out of Denver, and again playoffs fast approaching.
It's just a very very odd time for the Denver
(32:01):
Nuggets to be cleaning house. Are they in action this
evening Shobynard.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
I don't think so, let me double check. I'm pretty
sure they're off tonight.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
I was just looking at the card. Yeah, tomorrow night
they're taking on the Kings. They are in Sacramento, so
possibly in a spot to look in. Oh, by the way,
they close up shop. How about that final game of
the NBA regular season versus the Memphis Grizzlies.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
That's nice there, And by the way, that means they're
making our guy, Michael Malone just take home a plane solo.
If they're out in Sacramento right.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
Now, sounds about right. Hang out, go catch the Sacramento
as they're taking on the Padres today. All right, let's
go ahead and hit the card. What's the one game
that you can sell us from a standpoint of tuning
in that we should be watching paying attention to as
far as the West is concerned, playoff stipulations all that,
where's the one game that we should be looking at
(32:54):
more than most.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
Yeah, I think the Lakers in Thunder from a viewing perspective,
will be the most exciting here. The Lakers did really
take care of business against the Thunder in the previous
game here, so a little bit of a chance for
Oklahoma City to bounce back here. The injury report across
the board fairly questionable from the Lakers' perspective, so it
wouldn't be overly surprising to me if that there is
a kind of rest decision for the LUKA, Doncis and
(33:16):
Lebron James, So keep an eye on that. Also, throw
in the Warriors and Suns is going to be fun
to me. We have to see some sort of desperation
from the Suns team, who currently are slated to miss
the playoffs outright. I gotta believe there's some sort of
urgency or belief in there, but they have been a
brutal watch really all season, but especially in these coming
weeks here. I also throw in there from a Sixers perspective,
Pelicans versus Nets. There in the very bottom of the standings,
(33:38):
there still rooting for Pelicans wins if they can scrounge
up two more in these final three games, and it
seems like they're going to be playing absolute nobody, So
not a zero percent chance that would give the Sixers
a couple more bonus points. Knicks and Celtics you can
acknowledge as well, but I think we kind of know
what the you know, the temperature check is in that
type of matchup, But that's probably the best of tonight's slave.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
Yeah, as far as the Lakers are concerned with that
win on Sunday over okay See and the way that
they did it, you know, just draining three pointers, essentially
having better defense than okay See in that game, it
all came back to shoot it fifty five percent from downtown.
What I want to give Yeah, exactly. I want to
give credit to JJ Reddick. I want to give credit
(34:20):
to that offense. And you know, I think a lot
of us are probably saying it's easy to put Lebron
and Luca together and you can draw plays, but you know,
if it doesn't go right, they're going to hear about it.
And it's going right right now. They're putting it together,
and that was a big win. Are you taking anything
major from that victory on Sunday for the Lakers and
(34:40):
the way that they did it on the road in
Ooma City. Is that making you look at Okac in
a different manner or are you starting to look at
the Lakers and saying, you know what, maybe we need
to be talking about them in a different light.
Speaker 3 (34:52):
Yeah, I think it matters from a Lakers perspective, from
a belief perspective of that they can do this, and
they can see that they can do this. They can
play with anyone in a one game setting or for
a certain stretch there. It's important to note that that
peak is possible there. The matchups are really going to
dictate my belief for my outlook in the Western Conference there.
But they can beat anybody and they have to be
taken that seriously. As far as like what they're doing specifically,
(35:13):
I do got to give a lot of credits for
JJ Redick just how much he is relying on Austin Reeves.
And not only is JJ Reddick making this decision, but
Luka Doncic and Lebron James, who are two of the
highest basketball IQ players we've ever seen, being like, yes,
this is the right decision. And Reeves is out there
getting like the third defensive option for teams and absolutely
frying them there. So Reddick does deserve credits for credit
(35:35):
for making this happen here. I do think the Lakers
should be considered at least semi series, depending on what
the pathway looks from the playoff perspective, But I think
that was important for them to see that, like, Okay,
we can do this, we can beat the league's best.
All right.
Speaker 2 (35:48):
No, we talked a little bit about some of the
big matchups here that you're eyeing up as far as
playoff reasons and of course gambling trying to find those wins.
We got major dogs as we close up the year
regular season. We got teams that are just one, two, three,
can't coon that have been there for a little while.
We got fifteen and a half point spread, twelve and
(36:08):
a half points spread, another fifteen, another fourteen, a nineteen
point spread Wizards and Pacers. That means if the dogs
are barking in a big way, that's a pretty big payout.
Give me the best shot at a double digit underdog victory.
Speaker 3 (36:26):
Okay, I like your question there.
Speaker 2 (36:28):
On tonight's card. What do we got here draftings?
Speaker 3 (36:31):
I'll talk through them a little bit. So I'm taking
off the Lakers and Thunder one that I do think
the Thunder get back in the win colum and get
a little wake up call from that first game. That's
say fifteen and a half point spread, and once again
important to note the questionable statuses of Luka Doncis and
Lebron James. There there is the Clippers and Spurs. I've
been really impressed with the way the Clippers have been
playing really all season, and especially of eight here. I
(36:53):
don't see the Spurs getting upset in that game taking
place at the end of a dome in Los Angeles there.
Don't really love that one. The Wizards and Pacers also
been playing a lot better basketball, but Bilers are scrappy.
I'm gonna keep that in mind. There's a non zero
chance I go with that. Chicago has been on a
heater and are taken on the Cavaliers is fourteen point
underdogs only plus six to fifty on the money line.
I kind of expected a little bit steeper pay out there.
(37:15):
I think it comes down to those games. I'll ride
with the Chicago Bulls tonight. Josh Gitty has been on
an absolute tear. They are a team that, like all seasons,
should have been looked at as better than their record
has shown. And Giddy, I do think is like closing
the season on a stretch that may change the way
the organization views him moving forward. So if you can
walk in and take care of business against the Cleveland team,
(37:35):
that I think has taken their foot off the gas
a little at the tail end of the season. I
think you got a chance tonight sign me up for
the Chicago Bulls as the most likely double digit underdog
to get the outright win.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
Ten we'll get you seventy five people. Ten will get
you seventy five plus six to fifty on the money line.
Nice work there, Sean Bernard. Always great to get caught
up on all things NBA here, as we often do.
NBA season is fine here. Playoffs will be starting one
week from today with the play in tournament, and do
(38:07):
you expect any upsets in the play in Yeah.
Speaker 3 (38:10):
I the West, once again, like those top two seeds,
will be very interesting to see how they play out.
The Dallas Mavericks are a sneaky upset potential team from
a playing perspectives. They're just gonna be nasty to play
in a one game setting when Anthony Davis is healthy
and you got the Dan Gaffords, the PJ. Washington's, That
team has fully designed here. So that's a team that
I have my eye on. The East. I don't really
(38:30):
love any of the playing teams, to be honest. I
think the Magic Hawks Bulls and Heat are all a
notable bit worse than the top six seeds there. So
pretty clear how the East shook out, but the West
is gonna be open for grabs. We'll see how the
final seedings ultimately shape up, but it certainly could be
some upsets there.
Speaker 2 (38:45):
Yeah, what a crazy season that's been. The Timberwolves are
forty six and thirty two at the seven seed, and
right now if the playoffs sort of start to be
taking on the Grizzlies in that play in a game
and then they got the Kings and MAVs there, and
I agree with your Anthony Davis look like a and
possessed the other nights, and a lot of people are
talking he's got something to prove.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
You got that game tomorrow. By the way, Lakers in Dallas.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
What's Luca going for? Is he back? Is he gonna play?
Speaker 3 (39:14):
That's kind of why I'm leaning towards he probably rests tonight.
I think they definitely want him for tomorrow, And yeah,
I think we'll get the most like expressive Luca Dantes
we've probably seen in a Lakers uniform this far.
Speaker 2 (39:25):
Oh yeah, that's gonna be a lot of fun. All right. Well,
we'll be talking all things NBA from here on out.
Sean Bnard can be found once again on all things
Socials and be sure to catch up catch all the
great content from DraftKings, sportsbooks own at dknetwork dot com
and a lot of great stuff. Great job as far
(39:46):
as college troops is concerned, Shot, I know you're all
over that, but NBA season and of course get them
dance and shoes out, baby, because it's time to dance.
Jarreed mcke All right, enjoy the games tonight, Let's go,
and we'll catch up later this week and talk a
little bit more about the association. As always, if you
missed anything, please FOXPHL Gambler dot com.
Speaker 1 (40:08):
The pix and Roll podcast can be found on FOXPHL
Gambler dot com
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