Ep. 74: 'Play-In' Jimmy Went Off! NBA Playoffs Are Here! - 04/16/25

Sean Brace and Sean Barnard talk #NBA Play-In Games as the #Warriors defeat the #Grizzlies and #Magic defeat the #Hawks, Wednesday's Play-In Games, and more!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Number one on your car radio Preset hand the new
and improved Diehard radiop W and WD two seven three D, Philadelpia, Ice,
Fox Sports Radio, The Gambler, Picks and Roll Handicapping the
Hardwood with Sixers insider Sean Bernard and Sean Brace.

Speaker 2 (00:16):
NBA Playoffs a right here, off in and running. Yes, indeed,
live picks and Roll coming your way right here, right now.
Two games are a recap from last night. Two games
look forward to tonight. Plus we have the Door Die
elimination games coming our way later this week. We do
have NBA Playoffs series to discuss. Are the rockets and

(00:41):
upset potential? As far as going up against the Warriors
in that first round Lakers, everybody's starting to pencil them
in as Western Conference Finals. We got a lot to
get into NBA Playoffs. As I said, are here, Sean Bernard,
How are we doing today, sir?

Speaker 3 (00:57):
We did.

Speaker 4 (00:58):
We made it past the eighty two game ground of
the regular season.

Speaker 3 (01:01):
That the live action is here.

Speaker 4 (01:02):
As an unwise country singer once said, get me to
God's Country, and boy, we made it.

Speaker 2 (01:08):
Get me to God's Country. Yeah, we're here, all right.
I do want to say that and I meant to
chop that up from the show that you do with Sam. Really,
we're gonna put the NBA Playoffs over March Madness? Really?
Is that where we're at? Is that a consistent Is
that a thumbs up on your end too?

Speaker 3 (01:25):
I won't ride with Sam on that take. I won't
lie to me.

Speaker 4 (01:28):
March Madness is the greatest sporting event that exists, the madness,
all the action that happens. Yeah, you can't beat it there.
But with that being said, I am a hoops hoops
purist here. I do love the NBA Playoffs and I
am hyped up. I think it's gonna be a very
good one, so excited to see all the action get underway.

Speaker 2 (01:43):
Yeah, I agree with that, but I just when I
caught that, I was like, oh man, I wrote that down.
I meant to snip that up.

Speaker 4 (01:48):
I didn't want to push back on him at the time,
But yeah, I do agree with you. I cannot put
the NBA Playoffs over March Madness with all respect.

Speaker 2 (01:54):
A great show, nonetheless, and it can be found at
Foxpeachel Gambler dot com will roll it out there again
tonight to mix sure you're streaming are keeping it locked
here to the Gambler a little bit later. All right,
let's dive into what took place last night, and I
guess we should start with the second game of the evening.
It was the better of the two to a point,

(02:16):
but the Golden State Warriors held it down and advance
and move on, and now they get the Houston Rockets
play in. Jimmy went off last night, first time in
NBA history. I'll be it hasn't been all that long
that they've been doing the playing games. But two teammates
score thirty five points each and the Golden State Warriors

(02:37):
roll on. Not too much of a question mark. I
don't think anybody was really thinking that, you know, Golden
State was going to lose that game, but they didn't
cover the number, which is important to most here. So
that is something that we need to focus on. But
as far as Golden State and now taking a look
at what they the potential that they have, we all

(02:58):
knew it's funny, man, those number with Jimmy Butler in
the mix. Since he's joined the Golden State Warriors seaun,
it's been a huge difference, to say the least. I
even undersold this, you know, compared to what we're getting
right now. Before the trade, they were seventeenth since their
third best record, seventeenth in record, third best record since

(03:21):
the trade. Defensive rating, they were the tenth best at
the time of the trade. They're now the best defensive
rating team now. Turnovers forced tied for fifteenth before Jimmy
best record and right now our best rating now points
off a turnover tied for thirteenth best at this point
in time, free throws attempted twenty seventh before Jimmy third

(03:45):
at this point. Sean Bernard Jimmy Butler, Like, really.

Speaker 4 (03:51):
He's still that guy, Sean brace and changed location, change situation.
He is still Jimmy Butler. And that was really my
biggest takeaway of last night is right at the start
of that game, it was clear this was Jimmy Butler's
moment to an extent. And by the way, I don't
think it's a non story. This hand injury that Steph
Curry is is kind of battling here. It's been the
case for really the entirety of the season, several months

(04:12):
at this point, but it's.

Speaker 3 (04:13):
Gotten worse over these past couple weeks. Thought it was
really notable.

Speaker 4 (04:16):
I mean, the Houston Rockets matchup, which we're going to
get into us. That will be the playoff performance. Curry
was limited to three points and was the most aggravated
by that hand that I've seen really all season by it.

Speaker 3 (04:26):
That is a concern of mine, and he wasn't.

Speaker 4 (04:28):
He didn't particularly pop to me last night, even though
he still did get the numbers. He's still Steph Curry.
There's no way around it. But when you have an
injury to your shooting hand, regardless of how good of
a shooter you are, that's gonna be bothersome there. And
I thought that Jimmy Butler did set the tone for
this team. The Warriors went twenty seven or twenty three
and seven with Butler in the regular season.

Speaker 3 (04:45):
With him in the lineup, they got a chance, man.

Speaker 4 (04:48):
And when you look at the pathway, I don't want
to completely rule out the Rockets. I do feel like
the conversation has shifted to a little bit disrespectful to Houston.
I still think the Warriors win the series, and I
think that should be the case here. But it's going
to be battle, man, It's gonna be a war. The
Rockets have athletes, they have defenders, they have perimeter. Guys,
they're gonna throw at this Warriors team when you look
at the pathway behind beyond this. The Warriors win this game,

(05:10):
we have a matchup potentially Lakers Warriors, which is gonna
be absolutely electric. The NBA has to be thrilled. And
by the way, a quick hat tip to the NBA
for the way things went down a detail end of
the regular season, with all these games happening, we go
to overtime with the Clippers and Warriors, between these two teams,
with this having their playoff seedings on the line, one
of these teams and the Warriors were the loser of
that matchup had to scrap their way out of the

(05:32):
playing tournament. Last night, well, the Clippers sat at home
and prepared for their seven game series with the Denver
Nuggets there. So I did love how that worked out.
But yes, I am giving this Warriors team a puncher's
chance in this playoffs.

Speaker 2 (05:44):
All right, Well, the big thing that I would say
is they split the season series to two. Excuse me,
And of course it's like a whole different season when
you added Jimmy into the mix, and it's not. It
doesn't shock me that they're able to do with what
As far as these these stats I threw out there
to you, the ratings, the rankings, all that, it doesn't

(06:05):
shock me because Jimmy is he's one of those guys
like I'm watching last night and we know what he's
capable of, but it's it's and it's hard to define,
but it's like Hi, Like when Kawhi has the ball
man and he gets that shot off, it just feels
like it's going in. Jimmy had it last night and
you had that feeling as well. Now as Jimmy on

(06:27):
the same level as a healthy Kawhi, I think he's
up there. But Kawhi Kwi's got rings. Yeah, Kwi's got rings,
And it won't shock me if the Clippers, if he
can remain healthy, make a little bit of a run
here in the West. But Jimmy is one of those
top tier guys, and of course when you team him
up with Steph Curry, it just makes all the sense
in the world. I guess my big pushback to the

(06:50):
Warriors conversation would be who else did they have? Because yeah,
you got Curry and Jimmy for seventy eight last night,
that's all well and good. Can you count on that
in a seven game series against the Lakers, or against
if they do beat the Rockets, or if they make
it further than that. Like, I know this is a
good team and they've shown us since the trade, but

(07:12):
that was one of the things that hit me watching
that game last night. It's like, if Jimmy or Steph
don't have it going, I think they're in trouble.

Speaker 4 (07:18):
I mean, for starters, I kind of think we can
count on that that. I think Jimmy Butler and Steph
Curry are are you know, some of the big best
playoff performers that we've seen in NBA history as far
as guys rising to the moment with that. The thing
about the addition for Butler, to me, it's less about
like Jimmy specifically, and granted he's great and ken flip
the switch and playoff mode on like very few players there,
but it's just made this Warriors team all settle into

(07:40):
the roles in a little bit more proper way. When
he looked at the first half of the season, it
felt like everyone was playing out their box a little bit,
that Steph Curry had too much on his shoulders. Draymond
Green asked to do stuff offensively that he just shouldn't
be asked to do. Brandon Pitchemski There a guy that
like is a fine player, but not a co star
to Steph Curry by any means. And by the way,

(08:00):
I don't want to under sell the second consecutive Jonathan
Kaminga did not play coach's decision by Steve Kurry there.
That's a huge storyline, especially going into the offseason, which
he's going to be a free agent. There, I believe
restricted free agent. I like Kaminga. I don't think he's
a perfect fit for this Warriors team. I don't like
at all the handling and management of him throughout this.

(08:21):
And I do think Jimmy's directly related to this is
he's basically like a much better version stylistically of Kaminga there.
But when looking at this Warriors team directly here, it
does start and end with Steph Curry. He's still got it.
He's still capable being the best player on the championship team.
Jimmy Butler is capable being that co star, and while
he does not have the ring on his finger, we've
seen him rise in the moments when it matters. Draymond

(08:42):
Green sets the tone. It's going to be a battle,
that's the pathway is not easy. The West is going
to be an absolute like blood fight in this playoffs here.
So I'm not saying the Warriors are set up for
a great success here, but I do give them a
puncher's chance, and I do think Steph Curry and Jimmy
Butler are still capable being those.

Speaker 2 (08:58):
Guys war and rockets. The winner that will face the
Lakers and t Wolves winner. Yep, yeah, I know we
all have the Lakers beating the Timberwolves. Is that how
you see it?

Speaker 4 (09:13):
It is another series that I do want to be clear,
like isn't gonna be a walk in the park here?
That I do think the Timberwolves have played better during
the second half of the season. You will get at
least one game where Anthony Edwards looks like the best
player on the floor and wins you, a game where
he goes off for forty five to fifty points, whatever
the case may be. I think defensively, like I'm gonna
continue to pound the table for I think teams with

(09:34):
Rudy Gobert on him have a limited ceiling from a
playoff perspective there. I don't love the way the Timberwolves
have leaned more into this sort of like Tradecarl Anthony
Towns double down on the defensive approach. And again, I
just while Rudy Gobert is incredibly elite at the things
he's good at, he's so limited in what those things are.
And I do think that's gonna be something that JJ
Redick is gonna have circled on his scouting report and

(09:55):
be prepared to make this guy guard in space because
he's incapable of doing it. We've seen this about the
entirety of his career, so I think this Timberwolves team
has more flaws. It'll be interesting to see how Julius
Randall is managed. He's played much better during the second
half of the season, and this guy who's better than
he sometimes get talks about. But the bottom line is
it's Lebron James Luka, doncic Man. I don't see the
Lakers losing this series, and I do think they end

(10:17):
up finding a way to win four out of the
seven relatively easily.

Speaker 2 (10:21):
And right now in DraftKings sportsbook, you can get that
series price Lakers minus one ninety five, t Wolves plus
one sixty. Yeah, you know, that the betting public's going
to be all over the Lakers.

Speaker 4 (10:32):
I honestly would have guessed that number would have been higher, like,
oh really yeah, when looking at these I would expect
that the Lakers at least of the minus two hundreds there,
So I don't hate that value.

Speaker 2 (10:41):
Interesting all right? Anything else from the Warriors game last
night specifically, And I guess maybe we could talk a
little bit about memphisis where they're at because their season
isn't over yet, but the next potential matchup could be whatever.
And is there anything for you that they show you
fight last night? That did come back out strong in

(11:02):
the third quarter. They opened up playing really well, and
then all of a sudden, the Warriors went on like
a twenty five to eight run whatever it was, and
then your boys started snoozing. But I kind of figured
how that game was gonna play out, although I will say,
in true NBA fashion, the fact that the Warriors did
not cover the number, it's just perfect. Anyways, anything else
from that game for you last night?

Speaker 4 (11:23):
Yeah, John Moran banged up a little bit. He rolled
his ankle down the stretch there. I didn't understand like
what the mindset was from Memphis or job specifically, he
didn't go to the locker room. He kind of walked
over to like a corner of the court, sort of
in that tunnel area, and was at the end of
the bench, but he wasn't in the game, so I
didn't really get what was going on here. He did
eventually return, and I thought John played pretty well overall.

(11:43):
He looked fine when he got back on the floor
to me. But I think that's a little bit of
a storyline to note from memphisis perspective, and I do
want to bring up once again, Jonathan Kaminga not playing
is a big deal from a Warrior's perspective, and there
will be like some fallout from this as this guy
heads into postseason when the Warriors are playing guys like
Post and g Santo's and Donovan Kamena can't get on

(12:03):
there for a minute of action. I do think that
is pretty telling for how the coach looks at him,
So that obviously that'll be bookend for once the playoffs
are over, but there's gonna be some pretty significant fallout.
By the way, Kamena tied in with some pretty powerful agents,
so there will be some stories coming with that.

Speaker 2 (12:19):
Bain went for thirty. Last night, Joah went for twenty two.
He had it going in that first half. He was,
you know, looking like old school, you know, John Moran,
before all the nonsense that is taken on his life
came about. Although I will tell you I am a
fan of the grenade celebration. I just you gotta give
it up. You have to give it up. It's a
good they didn't first money never told him you couldn't

(12:40):
do it. Number two like the better. Yeah, it's great,
it's great. It's a great celebration.

Speaker 3 (12:46):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (12:46):
I sent a text in our group chat with you
and Sam Austria last night. I was disappointed we did
not see his weapon of choice as they kind of
went down pretty pretty quickly in that game, and it's
tough to do those celebrations when you were fighting from behind.
There one more point I did want to know here,
Zach Edy had become one of the more controversial players
I would say, coming out of the draft and really
all season. A guy who's not Rudy Gobert, but I

(13:08):
think fits the category of incredibly elite the things that
he does, but limited in the things that he can do. Here,
I was fascinated with the way the Warriors attacked him
last night. Traditionally, when you get a guy who can
garden space like a big man like that, the plan
of action is create space on the floor and let
a guy take him one on one. So you would
kind of set screens, try and get Zach Edy on
Steph Curry and go at him there. That is not

(13:30):
what the Warriors did last night. They basically utilized him
as knowing this guy cannot step on the perimeter and
create screens off ball to generate open three point looks. So,
knowing that Edie would not face or go all the
way out to the three point line there, they set
these off ball screens on the guy that he was
guarding to generate three point looks for them.

Speaker 3 (13:48):
That was pretty interesting to me.

Speaker 4 (13:50):
I had not really seen a coach like attack him
in that particular direction, so little hat tip to Steve
Kerr and obviously was effective for the Warriors there.

Speaker 3 (13:58):
Very curious.

Speaker 4 (13:59):
I don't I think it's coincidental that Eedi's minutes have
grown since the coaching changed there.

Speaker 3 (14:04):
I'm curious if that is.

Speaker 4 (14:05):
Handled the same way as they continue on and have
a take on the winner of this Kings and Mavericks.

Speaker 2 (14:11):
Series sixty six games played for Zach Edy, and his
rookie season finished to average a nine point two points
per game. Of course, the big man, we know what
he's all about, pulling on those boards rebounds, and it
looks like he averaged eight point three rebounds per game
twenty minutes too. Okay, last night Zach Edy did go

(14:34):
for I just had it up. I apologize Zakidy's numbers
last night. Fourteen points and seventeen rebounds, so not a
bay thirty three minutes. He was getting a lot of pt.
You know, look, I'm not gonna make him out to
be something he's not, but I think he could be
a little bit better than my expectation, a little bit

(14:55):
more consistent and not being shoved around left and right.
Even know what you just played out, And again it's
his rookie season, so I do think that, you know,
he could turn out to be a pretty good pick
at the end of the day for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Speaker 4 (15:08):
Yeah, no arguments there. I don't think last night was
the matchup for him. For a lot of what I
just went into here, I definitely think it is directed
at This was a part of the Taylor Jenkins firing
as we want expanded minutes for Zachary. You see what
this guy can really do, and that's definitely the expectation
for like what's going on right now. I don't think
last night was the moment. There will be better days

(15:28):
ahead for Zachi Y. I'm confident he will be a
confident and.

Speaker 3 (15:31):
Long long only long.

Speaker 4 (15:33):
Term like a legitimate NBA player. But interesting last night all.

Speaker 2 (15:37):
Right over to the first game of the evening. We'll
quickly hit on this when it was a blowout and
full disclosure, Sam myself and Sean, not feeling passionate about it, said,
I kind of liked the Trey Young and the Hawks here.
They were catching five. This game was ugly. In fact,
Trey Young got thrown out of the game for making
a mockery of the game from the referees perspective. So

(16:01):
what could we talk about from this game because it
was just a brutal basketball game to watch. The Orlando
Magic though, like it's a team I want to roof
for where they've been dealing with injuries all season long.
But man, I'll tell you what, last night, it was
a fun, fun game to tune into, especially if you
had the Orlando Magic and the way that they were
able to put it together. And like I said, they

(16:23):
this team has been dealing with injuries for some big
name players. You know, Suggs goes down. I thought Suggs
was a good player for them, But they still have
some big name players that can go out there and
make things happen, like Wagner. But last night was the Anthony,
the Cole Anthony game. Twenty six points. My man had
it going. Actually, yeah, twenty six. Trey Young finished with

(16:45):
twenty eight, so he didn't lead the game in scoring,
but twenty six points. He was the difference for the
Orlando Magic. Am I off on that?

Speaker 3 (16:52):
No, that's totally fair take there.

Speaker 4 (16:54):
And by the way, one of the better hissy fits
that I've seen of late from Trey Young leaving that
game there. The game was already out of hand, so
it wasn't like that caused the loss there, But the
little pump fake passed the revery and pull it back.
All this kind of stuff, stealing with his leg as
the balls rolled out.

Speaker 3 (17:08):
Pretty funny stuff there.

Speaker 4 (17:09):
I did joke with Sam Ostria, I think the Playing
Tournament should be renamed the Atlanta Hawks Invitational there. This
does seem seem to be where they find themselves quite
often here. But honestly, my takeaway watching last night, as
I saw these two teams square off, the Orlando Matters
should be much better than they are. Man, when you
look down this roster, you look down this this caliber
of talent, and by the way they got off to

(17:30):
a fifteen and seven start to the season that it
did look like they were taking that leap. Now, when
you evaluate why why they're not better, the clear answer
is shooting. That they shot thirty one point eight percent
from beyond the three point arc as a team this season.
That is not only the worst rate in the league,
but the worst of any team in the NBA Since
twenty fifteen to sixteen. There a decade that they've been

(17:50):
the worst shooting three point team there. And by the way,
they gave sixty six million dollars to Contavious Calwell Pope
this offseason to try and fix that problem. A guy
who has been a competent floors baser, a two time champion,
a guy who's delivered in those moments, and he had
the worst shooting career or worst shooting season of his
career since the same timeline and over ten years at
this point, so disappointing stuff from the Magic perspective. Pallo,

(18:13):
even though they're all numbers look bad. He shot four
to thirteen from the field, finished with seventeen points, nine rebounds,
and seven assists. I think he played really well last night.
Thought he imposed himself on both ends of the floor.
That's got to be the centerpiece the guy, and I
do think he's taking those steps. But you are right
about Cole Anthony taking that next step, and good for
him for a guy who's been pretty inconsistent in his
level of opportunity. He's had a couple of injuries to

(18:34):
this season, he's kind of been in and out of
the mix. Here he stepped up when the moment mattered,
dropped twenty six off the bench, and Anthony Black was
sixteen as well. So shout out to this Magic team.
They had two guys step up when the moment mattered,
even when their stars weren't really hitting shots. So they
earned this opportunity and now they get to at least
go to battle.

Speaker 2 (18:50):
In the playoffs. Yeah, let's see, we'll talk a little
bit more about their first round matchup. But yeah, the
so far playing Cole Anthony has arrived. Yeah, he went
off last night and minus the Tams, he looked good
doing it. Let's put it that way, all right, And again,
I got nothing to add from that game. Let's keep
it moving. Let's talk about some bigger matchups, some teams

(19:12):
that actually have some potential to go on here. But
let's go ahead and focus on to tonight's games, because
I do enjoy tonight's games as well. I do like
the games that we have going off this evening. The
Miami Heat Chicago Bulls, essentially I pick them at this
point in time, two nineteens are total. That game goes
off at seven forty pm. Then we got the Mavericks
and the Sacramento Kings, where the Sacramento Kings are at

(19:34):
home as four and a half point favorites two fourteen.
Let's just pretend. Let's just say that the Miami Heat
are the underdogs in this one, and as the Dallas
Mavericks are underdogs in the nightcap, your best bet as
far as a dog is concerned. Where you looking sewn.

Speaker 3 (19:49):
I like the Dallas Mavericks to win tonight. I do.

Speaker 4 (19:52):
I think there's been it's been quite this season from
a Dallas Mavericks perspective for everything that has gone down,
But to just look at this game in a vacuum,
I do think Anthony Davis is the clear cup best
player on the floor. I do think defensively they can
raise to a level that the Kings will not be
able to match offensively. And to be honest, looking at
the Sacramento team, I think we have enough of a
sample size at this point to evaluate that the Marta

(20:14):
Rosen and Zach Levine as two of your better players
is not going to translate to postseason success. We saw
that exact outlook in Chicago, where basically nothing happened with
their time together there. I like Levine. I think he's
a better player than he sometimes gets a reputation. Same
with the Rosen here, But I think this Kings team
just cannot hold up defensively. And at that same time,
I think that the Mavericks can impose themselves on that

(20:35):
side of the floor. So do you think the Dallas
the Mavericks win outright tonight? And I do like the
under of two to fourteen there?

Speaker 2 (20:40):
Interesting? Okay, Yeah, the Mavericks are dealing with a whole
bunch of nonsense too. Behind the scenes. We were talking
a little bit before I will add, yeah, Nico's is
own worstead of me that organization a franchise is just
about as brutal as it gets. With the decision that
they made just trading Luca in the middle of the season,
a b to the Lakers, see getting back to return

(21:02):
that they did dealienating your fans, like they just did
not care. Simply put, they did not care about any
of this, and if they did, then they wouldn't have
made the deal because you knew that this would happen.
It has to come back to money, right, Like doesn't
it have to come back to money? That they just
did not want to give that type of contract that

(21:24):
Luca was going to fetch. And if you're not going
to give that type of contract to Luca, then get
the hell out of the business, right, get out of
the business.

Speaker 4 (21:33):
I think it comes down money is certainly a significant
part of the equation, as we're talking about like three
hundred and forty million dollars that they would have been
committing to Luka Doncic there, and I think to me,
I think it comes down to just more of them
not being in touch with what it means to be
a sports fan with being a fan base. These are
not basketball guys like Patrick Dumont who's now the owner

(21:53):
over there. He comes from a casino background, a hospitality background,
has made a ton of money. He's not a guy
that is a hoops head by any means, And like,
I think that's a huge part of it. Now with
Nico Harrison specifically here, he more or less is admitted
as such that he was directly asked yesterday and to
set the full table for this press setting here. It
was like an exclusive secret of event for hand picked

(22:15):
media with no recordings and no cameras allowed. That in
itself should be a red flag for how that's going off.
But one of the questions that was asked during it
was do you feel responsibility to the fan base to
make decisions on their part like that? And his reply was,
I have a responsibility to the Dallas Mavericks to make
the red decision for the organization. I get where he's
coming from here, but it's just kind of like you

(22:37):
don't get it, man. That was sort of my takeaway
from everything that leaked out is there's just a disconnect
for how this is. And by the way, I shout
out to Grant Asset out there. Who's a guy I
work with, a DraftKings sportsbook, a guy who's been a
huge face in media for several years at this point,
a real deal reporter, to give it from his perspective,
who's been an on the beat reporter for Dallas Mavericks

(22:59):
for several years now.

Speaker 3 (23:00):
He was physically at Mavericks practice yesterday. Did get no news.

Speaker 4 (23:04):
Of this, this you press availability happening because it was
for hand picked media which he was not a part of.
And I don't want to get Grant. I don't want
to get Granted any sort of trouble here. But what
I will say is he's been a truth teller in
this situation. For how they just pointing out correctly and accurately.
I will add how this isn't the standard for how
organizations run, such as Nico Harrison not taking a press

(23:26):
conference after the trade deadline, which is standard practice in
the NBA in any sports league really, So Grant was
at practice last night or yesterday in the morning. And
mind you, this is happening the day before a playing tournament,
season on the line game for this Mavericks team. So
if you want to talk what's best for the organization.
I personally would point out, maybe it's not creating a
distraction by holding this event the day before the most

(23:49):
important game of your season. But nonetheless to continue on here,
so Grant's at practice has no word of this event happening.
The event did not happen at the Mavericks facility. It
happened up the road at a conference center not owned
by the Mavericks. There again, you can put two and
two and two together here for why these are the
case here, and then they have their handpicked media guys

(24:09):
twelve media members I believe was the number there, with
no recordings, no cameras, and basically no transcription available outside
of what guys have personally told on what went down.
So I think the Dallas Mavericks just continue to make
things look worse from every single angle here. Then to

(24:33):
handle it the way that they have from start to finish,
they just keep digging the hole deeper and deeper.

Speaker 3 (24:38):
So maddening stuff all around there.

Speaker 2 (24:41):
Well, put and I agree with you on all that
it's a sad day. It seems to be happening a
little bit more in real life too, with this handpicked
media availability stuff, and now you get teams that just
feel like they can go ahead and control the message.
When did you traded? Look done? It's like this isn't

(25:01):
something you could sweep under the rug, Like you got
to come out and own it. And you knew like
this was going to happen. This was not going to
be something easy. This was going to be straight up
and this wasn't going to be turbulence either. This is
this is the plane taking a complete noseedive into the
ground and you're behind the wheel man, like, get out there,
own it, step up. I have no issues with Nico

(25:24):
saying I'm not going to address the media over the
next few weeks after that trade, so be it. Look
at our guy Darryl Moriy You know he talks three
times a year, four times a year like it is
what it is you get these coaches. I understand that
there's only so much he can say. He came out.
I'm not going to stick up for him on moving
Luca at all. But as far as handling the media afterwards,

(25:47):
I'm okay with, you know, allowing things to breathe right
before playoff time if you think that that's a good
time to talk to twelve media members, open it up,
open it up. If you could talk to twelve, you
could talk to everybody like a grown up man. And
and these media members aren't acting like fans walking into
these conference rooms with fire and Nico t sh right, right,

(26:09):
But this has been respectable from that side.

Speaker 3 (26:12):
Of things, So it's like irrelevant, like fair questions, these.

Speaker 2 (26:15):
Should be Yeah, like again, I still have not heard
why he didn't open it up.

Speaker 3 (26:22):
Defense wins championships is the which is bull.

Speaker 2 (26:25):
Yeah, which is bulld Like Okay went to the finals
last year?

Speaker 4 (26:30):
Yes, like, like, even if Luca doesn't take the best
care of his body, I get like all these you know,
he likes to enjoy a beer now, and then I
understand that it's not your ideal picture for the face
of your franchise, but dude, like, at worst, he's one
of the six best basketball players in the world, and
I think that's being pretty lenient with the range there.
I think he's probably, like, in fair the third best

(26:51):
at his best there. So regardless, here it's Luka Doncic man.
And and that was one of the other comments that
leaked out yesterday that uh that Nico Harrison admitted to
is I was, I didn't realize how much Luca meant
to the city of Dallas, And it's like, are you serious, man,
Like that's one of the disconnects with fandom that I'll
point out here, like whether or not you want to
admit this or not. And I think we can all
kind of wear this to a sense. If I'm a

(27:13):
Dallas Mavericks fan and I've seen the start of Luca
Donch's career, we drafted him, we saw him develop into
this all NBA talent. I honestly, if I'm a Mavericks fan,
would rather watch Luca's entire career and never win a
ring than trade him and win rings. And I don't
think that that point connects in Nico Harrison of the
Dallas Mavericks head and I get not everyone is probably

(27:34):
in that same spot here, but I do think that's
the truth for a lot of fans, Like there is
this attachment to players, and when you have guys that
you you know, go through the wins and losses with
earn these scars with it matters, man. And I just
think it's so shortsighted by the Mavericks to make this decision.
I do think they cost themselves a fan base that
they're gonna deal with the fallout for this for literal

(27:54):
years at this point. And by the way, in the
midst of all this, Luke downch is probably gonna go
on to in several rings with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Speaker 3 (28:02):
Just a repsalt in the wounds.

Speaker 2 (28:03):
Yeah yeah, maybe today, maybe this year possible.

Speaker 3 (28:07):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (28:08):
Yeah. When they get out there and they're playing their
best ball, they're hard to beat. And that's just it.
It's as it's as easy as as it gets right there,
right like, even if Oklahoma City's playing their best game,
if the Lakers are on with Lebron and Luca, it
is a tough out. So uh, they absolutely could win it,
win it all this year and their prices such, all

(28:30):
right from Dallas, you like Dallas tonight to beat the
Sacramento Kings money line take them taking a jump here
at plus one fifty four two fourteens are total in
that one. That is our second game of the evening.
Of course, that's definitely one to stay up for with
everything that is around the Dallas Mavericks. Now over to
the Miami Heat Chicago Bulls to get the party started.

(28:51):
At seven to forty Bulls three and O versus the
Miami Heat this year and to bring it up even closer.
All three matchups since February fourth, So February fourth, March eighth,
April ninth, Bulls won one thirty three, one, twenty four,
one fourteen one, O nine one, nineteen one eleven. So
Sha Minard, should we be looking at Chicago to make

(29:12):
it four and oh this year versus the Miami Heat.

Speaker 4 (29:15):
I do believe so right there that I think, uh,
this Miami Heat is a little bit of a case
of the name brand not the actuality that we've seen
this Heat team rise out of the playing tournament before.

Speaker 3 (29:24):
I just don't really see it with this roster here.

Speaker 4 (29:26):
That Tyler Hero has had a career year, bam Outabayo
has statistically regressed, He's been better in the second half
of the season, but I just don't see the level
of talent. Now, Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking
about this Bulls team as if they're this world beater
here that like they can you know, make some noise
in the playoffs.

Speaker 3 (29:41):
I don't see that. But I do think there is
something too.

Speaker 4 (29:43):
The way Josh Getty has played during the tail end
of the season, ripping off triple doubles at a regular rate. Here,
there's a foundational ability that I believe in this Bulls
team that I don't see on the Heat.

Speaker 3 (29:52):
Here.

Speaker 4 (29:53):
The Heat could show up looking like whatever tonight, looking
like a horrible basketball team, and it would not outright
shock me. The are going to be exactly who they are,
and to some extent that's comforting for me from like
a playing perspective of I at least know what I'm
getting here. I don't like this Heat team. I don't
think they've played well all year. If Duncan Robinson's been brutal,
you can go down the list. Jimei Hakkez has basically

(30:14):
not played this year. Khalil Ware has been a positive storyline,
so I'll give a little bit of love there.

Speaker 3 (30:19):
Terry Rogier been brutal as well.

Speaker 4 (30:21):
I just don't see like the way the Heat can
kind of lean on anything here. So I like the
Bulls to get to win here. I don't feel great
about them from a playoff perspective either, but I think
Josh Getty probably ends up looking like the best player
on the floor, and I would be pretty I would
have been pretty surprised to believe that to be the
case heading into the season.

Speaker 2 (30:38):
Is there anything there from a player prop standpoint when
we get into whether it's Giddy or Hero or anybody
else from this game that you're eyeing up, like who
is going to carry the load as far as scoring
for the Chicago Bulls.

Speaker 4 (30:51):
Yeah, I don't think it's a bad call to take
a chance on Josh Getty. Triple double plus two thirty
five there to set the table. He's minus three to
sixty for a double double, which is pretty crazy there.

Speaker 2 (31:01):
His redid it last time they played, too, Last time
they played twenty eight sixteen rebounds and eleven assists. Did
Giddy grow?

Speaker 4 (31:09):
Since he got traded, he's been good man like, especially
though that's right, he is a tall dude. Yeah, I
think he's like six seven six', Eight so he's Not
he's not a little guy by any, means certainly a
ball dominant, guard a guy that like still his limitations
as a. Shooter he's not a perfect player by any.
Means BUT i do think that he's shown some abilities
In chicago that he was unable, to like show off

(31:30):
In Oklahoma city.

Speaker 3 (31:31):
With all the talent that they had.

Speaker 4 (31:32):
There SO i don't mind that from a perspective there
looking at some of the other, NUMBERS i don't Mind
Tyler hero over twenty four and a half that he's
kind of their only source of offense, there and even
a guy Like bam is pretty limited in what he can.
Do SO i Think hero comes out swinging and lets
it fly. TONIGHT i do like that number there that
The Tyler hero points over twenty four and a half

(31:53):
and then the triple double For Josh getty would probably
be my two stabs IF i was taking a shot
at this from a player prop, Perspective.

Speaker 2 (31:59):
Is there a player from The Miami heat that we
don't really pay attention to too much that is going
to shine? Tonight BECAUSE i feel like when they get
into this playoff, mode there's always one player that's like
out of, nowhere he goes off and hit six three.
Pointers is there anybody on your? Mind is it A
Duncan robinson who we know very, well but could we
could see him go off this? Evening where are we?

Speaker 4 (32:19):
At Davion mitchell is where my head went. HERE i
Like mitchell a. Lot he's a guy liked since, college
since his, Days like he's more of kind of a
heat culture guy as far as like he imposes himself,
defensively he is a bulldog, man LIKE i think like
he'll Give getty some trouble for stretches as he's just incredibly.
Bothersome like as we talk about all these guys that

(32:40):
are high level, defenders What Davion mitchell specifically does is
he's like a get under your skin. Guy he's pushing at,
you he's, jabbing poking at the, ball all these, things
but he's got something to him offensively as. Well so
IF i was gonna point out somebody that might not
be that well known for your AVERAGE nba fan THAT
i think could shine, Tonight Davion mitch would be my answer.

Speaker 2 (32:57):
There all, right of, course we'll have the other playing
game the matchups after tonight's two, games and we'll see
who's going head to head. There let's hit the fast
forward button, though AND i want to get a few
brief questions throwing your, way little rapid fire style esque
if we. Could when it comes to the first round
of the, playoffs some big important numbers and of, course

(33:20):
as far as injuries are, concerned players to be watching
all that and more as we head To, saturday when
the official start of THE nba plays, This this is
the play. In this isn't officially the? Playoffs correct the?

Speaker 3 (33:32):
Appetizer, yeah you, know getting getting warmed?

Speaker 2 (33:35):
Up, still, yeah getting warmed? Up all? Right So bucks And.
Pacers what's the latest With Damian. Lillard let's start there
for The Milwaukee.

Speaker 4 (33:42):
Bucks, Yeah sham's yesterday reporting that he won't be available
for the start of the. Postseason are hopeful that he
can return at some. Point it's, tough, Man, like this
is not a sprained, Ankle this is not a sore.
Knee this is a blood. Clot this isn't something that
you can kind of battle. Through you gotta basically do
what the doctors tell you.

Speaker 3 (33:59):
Here so a lot of.

Speaker 4 (34:00):
Sympathy for This bucks team to be perfectly honest for
this specific. SEASON i did like the way they were
playing when LIKE i, Thought Damian lillard had much better
season this year with, HIM i was starting to believe
in like the two man actions that they were running With,
giannis And giannis has been way under the radar for
how incredible of a season that he.

Speaker 3 (34:16):
Has he deserves a LITTLE mvp. Buzz he's not gonna win.

Speaker 4 (34:18):
It he doesn't deserve it like, that but he's been
one of the better players in the, league a Surefire
ALL Nba.

Speaker 3 (34:24):
First team guy in my.

Speaker 4 (34:24):
Opinion but Without Damian, LILLARD i don't think that they
have enough here for this. Series The pacers have certainly
come on in the second half of the season and
played their best. Basketball it's interesting it's been like a
reverse season From indiana compared to last, year as they
were electric at the start of last, season And Tyrese
haliburton directly connected about these points is he was incredible
for the first half of the season and really faded

(34:45):
down the. Stretch this year or last, year this year
it's been the. Opposite they were a little tough out
of the gates And halibert really struggled to the first
half of the, season and he's been incredible the whole
second half of the. Year SO i do Think indiana
has momentum on their size on their. SIDE i do
Think Damian lillard the injury is a big, story AND
i do think The pacers end up winning the.

Speaker 2 (35:02):
Series Can yanis win this series by, himself though if
he does go.

Speaker 3 (35:06):
Off he could he.

Speaker 4 (35:08):
Could i'm not entirely ruling this out that this isn't
one of those takes That i'm locked, In like The
pacers are winning This if they played this series one hundred,
times The pacers are winning all one.

Speaker 3 (35:15):
Hundred that's not the case.

Speaker 4 (35:17):
Here And, giannis, like by the, way deserves some credit
for continuing to improve as a playmaker this. Year this
has been by far his best season in my.

Speaker 3 (35:24):
Opinion.

Speaker 4 (35:24):
Here he's also completely cut out three point shots from
his shot at this, point which is. Interesting we've seen
the ENTIRE nba world evolve into all three point. Shots
everybody has to shoot, him getting him up at this
insane rate, here And giannis is sort of zagged on
that conversation that he, Said i'm only doing What i'm best.
At i'll shoot some mid range And i'm attacking the
basket and it's working for. HIM i, mean like the

(35:46):
efficiency numbers are prey off the charts for how he's
delivered this. Season he can absolutely carry a team and
he will win games in this series because of that,
Here BUT i do think there's not quite enough around,
him all.

Speaker 2 (35:59):
Right and, Yes Sean minard has Watched Uniana pacers play
this year a few times and can talk a little
bit more about, them so HAVE, i BUT.

Speaker 3 (36:08):
I don't know why people. Don't they're fun to, watch and.

Speaker 2 (36:11):
Especially this series. Too you, know these two teams had
a little bit of a rivalry last. YEAR i think
they brewed it up and it's been a little all
over the place this, year as you pointed, out with
The pacers on the slow start that they. Had but,
man they've come, back and you, Know Pascal siakam is damn.
Good you Got Tyrese. Halliburton they had a couple of
late game winners that caught my attention down the stretch.
Here and this is a good series that they absolutely could.

(36:33):
Win due to the fact That Damian lillard is not in,
there and well a little bit even If dame was in,
THERE i still think that The pacers could win, it
BUT i probably would pick The Milwaukee bucks Without. Dame
i'm gonna roll with The pacers, here and just to
let everybody, know as far as draftings sportsbook is, Concerned
pacers minus one ninety, five same number that The lakers

(36:55):
were that we just, discussed and The lakers against The
Tea Wolves pacers minus one ninety Five Milwaukee bucks plus one.
Sixty really intriguing.

Speaker 4 (37:03):
Numbers There by the, way we did get some breaking
news on The pacers. Conversation nothing super notable, here but
THER G league affiliate has officially changed their name from
The indiana Mad at from The indiana Mad ants to
The Nobles Bill.

Speaker 3 (37:17):
Boom so shout out to. That that's kind of a dope.

Speaker 2 (37:19):
Name Mad. Ants huh now that the boom the boom
bringing the? Boom, oh good. Grief all, right let's keep
it moving. Here next one up THAT i got some
questions as far as the. Oop sorry the wrong button.
HERE i want to get These saturday. Spreads this, way
we could go right into those. Games. First let's Go
clippers And. Nuggets and of COURSE i believe that The

(37:42):
clippers could go on a run.

Speaker 3 (37:44):
Here they're.

Speaker 2 (37:44):
Healthy kwhis that? Dude you, know just get out of his.
Way he had a chance to win that game against
The Golden State warriors at the end of. REGULATION i
was shocked that he missed, it but you, know they
ended up winning that game in. Overtime, anyways there are
two point dogs on the road against The Denver nuggets Here,
denver the Post malone. ERA i like, that are we

(38:05):
over selling The clippers? Here do they have a legit
shot in your mind to go Into denver and to
upset The nuggets In game one and take the.

Speaker 4 (38:13):
Series Where, yet, YEAH i certainly Think i'm picking The
clippers to win this. Series SO i do that they
go in there and take care of. Business and the overall,
STANDPOINT i don't want to fully discount The, nuggets as
this is a championship. Team Nicole jokich is gonna be
the best player on the floor to just about every
single court that he walks on in life here and
will be the case against This clippers team. Here BUT
i do, think AND i made this case With Sam

(38:34):
austria in our preview, HERE i think A Vika zubac
is the toughest matchup.

Speaker 3 (38:38):
That he's ever had from a playoff.

Speaker 4 (38:39):
Perspective as far as big man, go it's been very
rare that we've seen a guy go eye to eye With,
jokich And minnesota's probably the counterpoint to that that they
did Have gobert And Karl Anthony towns and did some
pretty creative stuff as far as Throwing cat on him
as a physical body and then Having gobert be a
roamer behind him. There But zubac has been. Incredible, man
he will get Some ALL nba. VOTES i think he
probably gets That ALL Nba Third team and deserves it

(39:02):
in my. Opinion, There but talking about The clippers as a,
whole they got a lot more than Just kawhi man
Like James harden a little tip of the cap for
being the engine of an offense in the way THAT
i think some of us, doubted myself included he could
still do it this. Page they have rotation, guys the
A Mere, coffees The Derek jones, juniors all these guys
that step up and play their roles at a high.
Level And zuba's been incredible from the big man perspective all.

(39:23):
Season the two man game with him And harden is
the real. Deal we see how Elite harden. Is we
saw it In philadelphia with him And emdeed him just
spoon feeding layup attempts and dunk attempts to these big men.
Here SO i think there's a lot more that The
clippers have to rely. On WHEN i look At, denver
it's gonna be a lot Of Nikola jokic come Save
us type vibe from. Them SO i do like The
clippers to win this, series AND i do think it

(39:45):
gets started In game one with The clippers taking care of,
business all.

Speaker 2 (39:48):
Right rapid fire thirty seconds or? Less you?

Speaker 3 (39:50):
Ready?

Speaker 2 (39:51):
Hitmy are you taking The Detroit pistons plus? Seven game,
one six Ten saturday?

Speaker 3 (39:56):
NIGHT i, am And i'm on them to win.

Speaker 4 (39:58):
Series what's the number one? Series let me see what
it's up to? Now it was a plus? FOUR i
saw plus four? Hundred should everybody have? That because of
the number we're all gonna want to root against The?
Knicks is?

Speaker 2 (40:10):
That is that a standard gambler gang?

Speaker 4 (40:12):
Play the over five and a half games in that,
series to me is a must. Bet, LIKE i think
this is gonna be a battle of a. Series people
are sleeping on This Detroit pistons Teams and what the
number is exactly sitting at here is plus three ten
for The pistons minus four hundred for the next. Year
they're stylistically like pretty the same. There they're defensive minded.

(40:33):
Teams they want to be, physical And i'm gonna continue
to make the. CASE i Think Kate cunningham ends up
looking at the best player on the floor in this.
Series people are not aware how Good Kate cunningham currently.
IS i do think this is gonna be an awesome,
series probably the best of the first.

Speaker 3 (40:46):
Round so sign me up for The. PACERS i like
any NUMBER i can.

Speaker 2 (40:48):
Get game One lakers And Timberwolves saturday. Night can't believe.
It T wolves any shot to go INTO la and
Win game, one don't think.

Speaker 4 (40:58):
SO i think they'll put up a bat On, AGAIN
i think this is Probably lakers and. Six i'm giving
them a little bit more respect than a lot of people.
Are BUT i mean The, lakers It's Luca doncics And Lebron. James,
Man i'm not gonna oversimplify it to that. Extent they
still have their. Flaws they don't have a big man
Or Jackson hayes is not quite holding the. Weight and,
also by the way people keep throwing the phrase of
Like lakers love to play small, BALL i get it's,

(41:19):
true but also Like Lebron james And Luca doncic are
each like six eight plus and like big guys, there
so it's not quite true small ball in my mind
when looking at it that. Way so, ULTIMATELY i don't
give The timbers much of a chance in the, series
even THOUGH i think they will be they will look
at least competitive and.

Speaker 2 (41:34):
Competent fourteen to half points Spread boston favorite Over orlando
In game. One shouldn't shop big numbers all season long For,
boston but it is a play and play off. Game
the number one question For orlando to Beat boston or
keep it a close game is can they defend a?
Three is that the correct way to look.

Speaker 3 (41:54):
At this probably AND i think the answer is.

Speaker 4 (41:56):
No there, LIKE i think we will get some UGLY
i Think orlando it probably sneaks a game that it
goes for to one In boston's, Favorite BUT i think
we get some ugly numbers in this. AREA i could
see thirty point, blowouts forty point, blowouts certainly can see
that be the case When boston gets.

Speaker 3 (42:09):
Clicking so they lack of three point shot From.

Speaker 4 (42:12):
Orlando there's not a team where you're going to be
more exposed by that than This Boston celtics. Team SO
i think that's gonna be put on full full. DISPLAY
i do like the minus fourteen In game, one all, Right.

Speaker 2 (42:21):
And last one, Here Golden state's a point favorite against
The Houston rockets On sunday. Night who we got playoff
Basketball game One sunday night let's go on four to,
twenty which is also an. EASTER i just want to
say That Golden state point favorite is the wrong. Team
what's your read as far as that spread is. Concerned
Golden state slightly? Favored should we be reading more That

(42:44):
houston is that you, know it's essentially a pick them at?
Home so the oddsmakers are saying that they have a
shot to win this, game Or Golden state being favored
in this spot even though they're a lower. Seed what's
your big take as far as that spread is.

Speaker 4 (42:55):
Concerned, YEAH i, Mean Golden state has all the experience
in the, championship pedigree on their.

Speaker 3 (43:00):
Size on their, side they do Have Steph, Curry Jimmy.

Speaker 4 (43:03):
Butler Draymond. Green you can run down the. List they
have more top end talent than This houston. Team but,
man The rockets are so. Deep they know who they
are as basketball. Team they are going to compete, defensively
and they just got these long, rangey, athletic top tier
defenders they can throw at. You they'll cycle through The Iman,
thompson's The Tary, eastons The Dylan, brooks all these guys
that are gonna like impose. Themselves SO i do think

(43:25):
this series is going to be a. BATTLE i think
people have written off The rockets a little bit too quick. Here,
Ultimately i'm still riding with The, warriors BUT i think
this is at least a six or seven game series,
here AND i do think The rockets come in there
and punch them in the mouths In game. One SO
i like The rockets to win On. Sunday and, AGAIN
i think that both these teams should buckle up for,
war even though the talking point seem to be that
The warriors have this pathway pay.

Speaker 3 (43:45):
For them all.

Speaker 2 (43:46):
Right Sean, minard great. Stuff as, always you can Find
sean on all things show. Socials excuse, Me sean. Underscore bernard,
one of, course representing the spot over At Draftings, sportsbook
does a great shot on all things as far as
covering what is being discussed when it comes to the
world of sports. Gambling dknetwork dot. Com this has been

(44:10):
a live edition Of picks And. Rolled oh by the,
way don't touch that down because you're gonna hear more
From sean And sam coming up a little bit. Later
if you missed that episode Of picks And rolled from.
Yesterday great job across the. Board two High, brain individuals
discussing the great game OF nba Hoops man and a
fantastic Listen that's podcast At Foxpho gambler dot com as

(44:32):
long as well as everything else that we do on this.
Station sean great. Stuff enjoy the games tonight once, Again
ladies and. Gentlemen we will be going live every single
day until we crown a champion a little bit later this.
Summer but for, tonight enjoy the. Games and once again
we got The Chicago bulls hosting The Miami heat and

(44:53):
of course The Sacramento kings And Dallas mavericks and a
nightcap and the winners get to face The Atlanta hawks
and The Memphis glies On friday for the eight seed
for the eight seeds in THE nba Play. Playoffs shamandar great.
Stuff as, always once, again keep it locked right here
to The. Gambler we'll talk to.

Speaker 1 (45:10):
You the pix And roll podcast can be found ON
Foxphl gambler dot com