May 29, 2022 • 40 mins
Bernie Fratto breaks down the upcoming Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat. Staying in the NBA, how tough will the Golden State Warriors be in the NBA Finals? The Oakland Athletics could possibly end up in Las Vegas?! Mackenzie Rivers joins the show to talk all the odds, lines, and bets. All this and much more on Straight Outta Vegas!
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is straight out of Vegas with the voice of
Biggest Your host r J. Bob paid that to me
and his money. You are now about to witness the
strength of street knowledge lie from the biggest strip the
pregame show America has always wanted. Here's Bernie Fretto. Well,
(00:25):
in a world of questions, we've got answers. In a
world of problems, we've got solutions. And as I've said
many times before, Sports of the greatest reality show invented,
you can script everything, but the outcome. You know, there's
a don't sing man's mind stretched to a new dimension?
Will it never returns to its original state? Tonight we're
here to stretch on that note. I'm Bernie Fritto, will
(00:47):
coming to your line from the Las Vegas Fox Sports
Radio Studios. Well, the NBA Finals are around the corner.
What have we learned? We'll discuss, but not until an
all important Game seven, which is just hours away. Don't
look now, but here we go again. Now the Oakland
is really coming to Vegas. I'll give you the latest
(01:08):
and what I know what needs to happen next um,
and I'll give you my thoughts and actually my prediction
and uh of course, I've got some Vegas stuff. We've
got some NBA stuff, and and much much more, some
interesting prop bet and NFL stuff that's already Happening's I've
used the word stuff too many times. You get the drift.
(01:30):
Sports are entertainment, but they're more than that. They are
shared experience. Is such people want to talk about them.
You've come to the right place. We've got a lot
to talk about tonight. This is straight out of Vegas,
the pregame show you always wanted. And as they say
in Carbonies Pizza and St. Paul, Minnesota, Carbonies Pizza's amazing.
It's on Randolph Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota. They're saying,
(01:50):
Carbonies Pizza, Minnesota. It's gonna be late before I dive
into the show. I want to wish everybody a wonderful,
happy Memorial Day weekend. Let's do our best to conn
our blessings. We are the land of the Free because
of the brave. I understand the NBA Playoffs have been
an artful They haven't particularly been exciting from the standpoint.
(02:13):
There have been a lot of blots, but there have
been some amazing storylines. Now Golden State Advanced, say what
you will about them, but they were in last place
two years ago. You got to give their front office credit.
What do they do since then? They drafted Jordan Pool
out of Michigan. They had to develop them. They treated
Angela Russell for Andrew Wiggins. I'm gonna get to that
in a minute, because I don't care what Draymond Green says.
(02:38):
You know, he likes to talk. He likes to hear
himself talk. The Betty Markets in Las Vegas is you
were pretty active on Gold State. They were one of
the top four teams to win it all, and right
now I think they're poised to do so. I liked
Boston to win it all. I'm a little concerned now,
only in a sense that what happened in Game six
at home against Miami huge top credit to Jimmy Butler,
(03:01):
who put on a show for the Ages when the
Heat were facing elimination. But Boston showed their youth. And
they've got a first year coach and Email Udoko who
has done a phenomenal job. But those two things reared
their head because the heat got turned up very hot.
The other night in Miami prevailed when it mattered most.
It was tied with about two minutes to go, and
Boston went on to check that Miami on a twelve
(03:23):
to three run. But look, it wasn't that long ago.
This series was to two, but Boston was frankly dominating right.
There have been only four lead changes going into Game five,
and none since quarter one of Game one. Boston had
a plus twenty eight point differential. Cumulatively, Heading into Game five,
Boston had one thirteen out of sixteen quarters, and yes,
(03:44):
the series was seemingly lopsidity those too, to seventy percent
of the time, the lead was at least ten points
or more by one of the teams head in the
Game five, Boston wins handily by thirteen. Now cumulatively plus
forty one. Boston ats home. You figure they're going to
close it out. They were laying nine and a half.
I'm glad I didn't bet that game. Miami wins outright.
(04:06):
Game six Boston loses one oh three. Jimmy Butler forty
seven points wills his team to victory. Both teams played
pretty well. What if I told you? Cumulatively, both teams
went to the free throw line fifty six times and
made fifty two fifty two of the fifty six bull
teams from the charity stripe. That's good for Boston. Still
(04:31):
hitting into Game seven plus thirty three commulatively Celtics oddly enough,
now three and four at home this year in the
playoffs in the last two playoffs series. You know they've
I couldn't put teams away when they needed to, but
they did when they needed to. Department redundancy, department interesting
(04:53):
phenomenon for Game seven. Only the third time, Only the
third time in NBA history has a Game him seven
host been an underdog. Now, people have been complaining about
the blowouts, but I am enjoying what I consider to
be the developing stories and developing situations involving the NBA.
(05:14):
Should Boston prevail and advance to the NBA Finals and
face and face the Golden State Warriors, what's the storyline,
the story that will be finals experience, which is Golden
State with Steve Kerr. You've got Draymond Green, Clay Thompson, Uh, certainly,
Steph Curry and company against elite athleticism. I don't think
(05:38):
I've seen a better more intimidating vertical athlete than Robert
Williams when he closes out on the shooter in the perimeter.
He must get twelve ft in the air. Again the storyline.
Golden State finished in last place two years ago when
the Lakers won in the Bubble in I give their
front office huge credit. Two key moves. They drafted Jordan
Poole out of Michigan. They traded for D'Angel or Russell.
(06:00):
Or they traded d'angela Russell for Andrew Wiggins. I remember,
this just didn't fall in the Golden States lap. Last season,
the Warriors has signed Jordan Pool. He was struggling at
that point. He was a second year guard to the
Santa Cruz Warriors for an eleven game stretch. But when
he came back he was polished, he was more confident.
Now there's no question Jordan Pool is a fixture of
(06:23):
the Warrior's offense. He's averaging nearly eighteen points a game
as Thompson standing. So the Golden State Warriors. They advanced
to the NBA Finals for the first time since they
beat Dallas by ten Thursday. They win this series in
five games. Give it up to Clay Thompson. He led
the game in scoring, recording thirty two points, two rebounds,
(06:43):
three assists. He had entered Thursday's game averaging just nineteen
points a game. But here is why. Again, the storyline
to me matters. He took nine forty one days for
Clay Thompson to return to action after two major injuries,
but look at him now. Meanwhile, death Curry. He wins
the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals, the MVP Award, and
(07:06):
he averaged twenty four points a game against the Mavericks.
So even though the Warriors only finished third in the
Western Conference during the regular season, well, they get to
the NBA Finals and I gotta tell you they're gonna
be a tough out. It starts Thursday. Now, let's talk
about tomorrow and me on I. I do believe Boston
will advance. I have not placed a bet on the game.
(07:28):
I have laid the two and a half on the
road at Miami game seven, which is just a few
hours away, probably what about thirteen hours away? No check
that it's five thirty Pacific, so a night, nice primetime game.
I settled with Jason Martin and Arnie earlier. I really
believe Robert Oiams the third is the key to the
Celtics success. Okay, you've got Jason Tatum You've got Jalen Brown,
(07:48):
their elite level scoring options for the Celtics, al Horford
has been absolutely terrific and Derek White has really stepped
up coming on and off the bench. Over the Celtics,
I think their most important players Robert Williams the third
because his tenacity on the defensive end of the floor
is frankly what makes Boston a true championship contender now
when he has just been hobbled at times a series
(08:10):
due to knee soreness, he's but he's continued to show
while he's one of the best rent protectors in the
league over the course of this series, had a massive
impact in Game five, Um, he did you know? He
had six points, ten rebounds, one steel, three blocks and uh,
Williams has had five games in this series where he's
had at least two blocks now All night long. Miami
(08:34):
looked to attack the pan against Boston, but they were
either denied by Williams or sent back the other way
due to his incredible ability just to contest a shot
and bother the shooter. He's incredible at that. I get it.
Williams isn't gonna make much of an impact on offense,
but He's kind of the anchor underneath for the Celtics defensively.
Insability to contest any shot around the rim really alters
(08:57):
anybody's approach on offense, whether they end up playing Gold
of State or again later today with Miami, by the way,
in this series the heat, they've had a very hard
time getting into the pain, especially Bam Bam Abbadeo. And
a lot of credit again goes to Robert Williams. The
dude is only twenty four years old, but he's already
turned himself into a high impact defensive center in the NBA.
(09:18):
Before I get to a quick breakdown of Sunday's matchup,
Miami catching two and a half at home against Boston
tip off eight thirty Eastern time, I want to tell
you what impressed me most about the Warriors during the
Dallas series. They look incredibly organized on both ends. They've
got an offensive system built around Steph, but they're fluid.
(09:40):
They passed the ball, they share the ball. They cause
a ton of trouble for just about any defense they're
gonna face because they break them down. They have kind
of a heavy pick and roll attack. Then on the
other end, when you go back to defense, their transition
game is incredibly smooth. They run various mechanism schemes. They
caused trouble for Luca don Chun Chicks as he put
(10:00):
up numbers. I get it. But you know, the Warriors
have championship DNA and part of it is their defensive chemistry.
Now the question is, Okay, people are gonna want to
know this Golden State match up better with Boston or Miami.
The truth of the matter is Golden State matches up
better with Miami. The Warriors, Hey, they have struggled with
Boston's defensive length and rent protection. Now they can put
(10:24):
Marcus Smart on Curry. They can put Robert Williams and
Al Horford protecting the rim, and then you've got Jayson
Tatum and Jalen Brown to car up the rest of
the court. There's no other defense in the league that
has the type of arsenal Boston. I'm talking about Boston. Miami's.
They're less talented, and currently they look a little they
look a little fried. But I'm telling you, man, what
an effort. Give a lot of credit to Eric Spoelstra
(10:47):
and that team's culture from pat rally uh top down,
But all the expectations from within. The Warriors are that
they'll see Boston, I believe, but I think they'd rather
I think they'd rather play the heat. Just my opinion.
In all right, department a redundancy department again. Jimmy Butler
put on the show for the ages. His team's facing elimination.
(11:08):
That's the good news. The other news, I think he's
gonna have to deliver another one of those games Sunday
because it's on the line, and Butler single handedly forced
the decisive matchup when he had a playoff personal high
forty seven points, also had nine rebounds, eight assists, and
four steels. Rumor has these sold popcorn and delivered the
baby at halftime as well. Game recognized game man, that's
(11:31):
a smoke show out there, showing you how it's done.
The guy is was fantastic. That's the kind of that's
the kind of stuff Ledgs demanded. But people tell me
he's a very humble guy too. He just puts in
the work. Kyle Lowry, his teammates speak the world of him,
and look, Boston helld Butler to seven or thirty two
shooting the previous two games. But what does jim Jimmy
(11:54):
Butler do Friday night, he gets up off the mat
and starts throwing haymakers. So I really think this game
Sunday night is gonna be a hell of a lot
of fun to watch. Uh And if you ask, you
know Eric Spoelstra, who this is now his first barbecue.
He says, quote, I'm not surprised the series is gonna
come down to a one game battle. Quote. This is
(12:17):
the way it should be with these two teams. It
should have gone seven games. That's what Spolster said. The
margin for air on both sides is so small. There's
no two better words in pro sports than game seven. Quote.
I'm really thrilled our group gets an opportunity to compete
in a Game seven in front of our home crowd.
(12:38):
By the way, on the other side, I'll be curious
to see how Jason Tatum can step up. He's talked
about being Game seven, a trip to the NBA Finals,
everything on the line. Boston has been in that situation before.
They know what's in stake, they know how much it
means to everybody. Tatum did score thirty points in the
Game six loss, and he is averaging five in the series.
(12:58):
And Emil Udoka said Saturday. He doesn't think winning games
seven on the road is an insurmountable task. He says, Look,
we put ourselves in this position. We were up three
two and we just have to win one of the
final two games. So is you know you'd love to
finish it on your home court. But Boston has been
up and down this series and due to that, that's
where there are not for nothing, Miami only one and
(13:19):
two at home in this series. Game seven Sunday, can't
wait coming up? Are the Oldan is moving to Las
Vegas or not? It came up again. I'll tell you
why it's back in the news. I'll tell you what
I really think and do I think they are? Do
I really think the Olans will ultimately end up in Vegas?
I'll tell you later. I'm Bernie Fratto. We're coming to
(13:42):
you live from the Las Vegas Fox Sports Radio Studios.
Is the three game show you always wanted to? Don't
go away? You're listening to straight out of Vegas. Hey,
it's Ben, host of the Fifth Hour with Ben Mallor.
Would mean a lot to have you join us on
our weekly auditory journey. You ask one in God's name?
Is the Fifth Hour? I'll tell you to spin off
of the Ben Mallers Show, a cold hit overnights on
(14:03):
fs R. Why should you listen? Picture? If you will
the world will we chat with captains of industry in media,
sports and more every week Explorer so amazing facts about
the human nature and more. Let's sen to the fifth
hour with Ben mallow on the I Heart Radio app,
Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcast. All right,
back on Straight out of Vegas, the pregame show you
always wanted. I'm Bernie Frederwack, come to you live from
(14:26):
the Las Vegas Fox Sports Radio Studios. Past show tonight.
We'll take you all the way up to three am Pacific,
six am Eastern. All right, Speaking of Vegas, are the
Oakland A's coming to Vegas? Will know a lot more
on June, when a key vote is expected from the
San Francisco Bay Conservative and Development Commission, They're gonna consider
(14:49):
removing the port designation from the Howard Terminal site, which
would allan which would allow the twelve billion dollar Howard
Terminal project to proceed. Amazing rendering thirty five thousand feed
stadium beautiful waterfront stadium, condominium's office space, all kinds of things,
but without removal of the port designation, the ballpark project
(15:11):
would all but be dead. So watch out for June. Now,
obviously the Oakland A's have checked at the City of
Oakland's lost the Raiders to Vegas. They've lost the Golden
State Warriors to the City of San Francisco. Is the
third time also going to be the charm? Or will
(15:31):
it be the charm where they actually stay? They're gonna
have to figure something out. The the stadium lease up
there in Oakland, the legendary Oakland Alamedia County Coliseum. People
pick on and I love the place, been there many times,
been around since in what let me just say this
that the stadium leak since in April. So a ballpark
(15:55):
here would have to be ready or it isn't. I'm
sorry the end of So a ballpark would have to
be ready here in Vegas in by the spring of
Could that happen time wise? Probably? Yeah, here's the question
who's paying for it? There are people who don't live
or do not realize. And while the Death Star Allegiance
(16:19):
Stadium the new home the Oakland Raiders, as as well
as concerts and all sort of events in unw football.
It's sensational here in Las Vegas. Everybody loves it. It's
working out great. It was one hell of a political
football because a lot of the hotel tax money that
was raised to go to pay for the stadium worth
(16:40):
There was a lot of teeth match. He was a
political football. People wanted that money to go to roads
and schools and all sorts of things. And that's the thing.
Some form of public assistance is going to have been
made available if they're going to lure the Oakland Athletics
to Las Vegas. Now. That's according to Steve Hill, the
CEO and president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors
(17:00):
Authority now again for the umteenth time as president. Dave
Caval was in Las Vegas about a week ago for
meetings with area landowners and officials, and he said his
search for a Vegas ballparks enter the final stretch. It's
sounded two possible locations, but where I don't know where
people I talked to, you don't nowhere. And Caval wasn't
(17:21):
available for comment, but the source said he had quote
a number of successful meetings. I've been on record. I
said it many times on the show. Could I be wrong. Sure,
do I think I'm wrong? No, I believe the city
of Las Vegas is being played. Earlier this month, he
as allegedly had a list of five possible ballpark sites,
(17:42):
neither down to two. Caval wouldn't talk to the media
following the trip because the team doesn't want to negotiate publicly.
Come on, man, what are we doing here? How many
times do you really need to come? This has been
a year long relocation exploration, and most state and local
politicians have been adamant they pose using public money to
help fund the potential as ballpark. I believe that would
(18:05):
be the ultimate death now, I really truly believe that. However, However,
according to recent reports, potentially that no longer appears to
be the case. Although a room tax still, you know,
a hotel room tax still seems to be off the table.
But Steve Hill, they president of the lv c v A,
(18:29):
said there are means of assistance outside of a room
tax that could benefit the a's if the team does
in effect relocated the Southern Nevada I'll quote him. He said,
there's a spectrum of possibility for that partnership, and I
think it's worthwhile to explore some of them. I think
there's a broad set of options that can be helpful
in making this move forward. It just sounds like a
planitude to me. I'm not trying to dog the guy,
(18:51):
but it's still vague and obtuse. What can you believe?
He said, I don't really think it's right to use
a room tax, but I do think there's some methods
to a contribution that could probably make sense. Like what what,
They're gonna need a ton of money? You know, they're
I'm guessing this is a guess. I'm not an insider
on this one. They're gonna need probably upwards of seven
(19:14):
fifty million. Again, maybe Vegas comes up with two hundred million.
Who comes up with the rest? Again, I'm just spitballing
here right now. Caval Previously, you know, the one option
THEESSE considering is to purchase land out right and build
a mixed use project with a one billion dollars you know,
dome stadium as a centerpiece. And make no mistake, he
would have to be a dome stadium because once you
(19:35):
flipped the switch, there's a hundred degrees here, yester. People
aren't gonna sit in an outdoor ball plark. I mean,
they've done a beautiful job in Phoenix. Our weather is
very similar to Phoenix. They got the retractable dome Brewe Stadium. June, July, August,
and September. We typically have our last hundred degree day
around September, but still in the high nineties. We're gonna
have at least ten to fifteen hundred and ten degree days.
(19:57):
So it's not really and you've got any one home dates.
It's just to me, this is just fraught with speed bumps.
I'm not a kill jo. I'm not throwing to throw
cold water on them if they come here. Fine. Although
the mayor you know of Oakland, Libby Chaff, they try
to interview her last week and you know she she
made some interesting comments about Vegas a couple of months back.
(20:18):
The truth of the matter is, you know, the words
salads are flying with all these sites in play within
the Strip Resort corridor. There's also another side of this.
The team is pursu the Oakland a'sm I'm relluding to.
They were pursuing what they call quote parallel pass as
their team president Caval Dave Caval likes to call it
(20:39):
working with the Oakland officials again I'm going to reverse
back to this. They have a potential waterfront development on
the Port of Oakland's Howard Terminal. This is a twelve
billion dollar mixed use development. It would include residential developments,
commercial buildings, a hotel, a public space, again with a
one billion dollar water front ballpark as a centerpiece. Keep
(21:04):
keep your eyes on June. June is four weeks from
this upcoming Thursday. That is when the San Francisco Bay
a Conservation and Development Commission. I believe they will vote,
and that vote will be to consider removing the port
designation from the Howard Terminal site. That would allow the
(21:25):
project to proceed. Keep an eye on that vote June
up there in San Francisco. Now, the a's must also
still come to terms with the city of localand and
Development agreement. Now no date for that vote has been set,
but the ADS are pushing for the city Council to
hold a vote before taking a summer break in July,
(21:45):
so you've got to keep an eye on that as well.
One final thing, President Hills said he doesn't see this
as a competition between Vegas and Oakland. Quote and this
is the lvcv A to Las Vegas visitor convention Bureer.
He said, quote, we're gonna put our best foot forward
and we're going to explain what we think brings a
partnership like that and makes sense for them and makes
(22:07):
sense for us, then we'll try to get the deal,
and if something else makes better sense for them. We
understand that we're gonna have a lot of opportunities. This
is a great one, but we're not really in competition
with other cities. End quote. Keep an eye. What do
I say? I think we're being played. The see of
Las Vegas is being played. I do not think the
(22:29):
Oakland A's will be a reality in Las Vegas. Just
my opinion is Dennis Miller can say, just my opinion,
I could be wrong. Coming up, this is not an opinion.
Five thirty years to. We've got Game seven in the
NBA Finals. We've got all kinds of data with making
on sports coming up. But first, the man who is
an endless supply and knowledge. Why he just told me
(22:51):
the other day, Bernie Guesswich State has the most pencils.
I said, which one, Brian? He said, of course, it's
Pennsylvania's Brian Fendly with the latest. Yes, that is right,
Bernie great to talk to you on this Saturday night.
That's if you're on the West Coast Sunday morning, if
you're on the other time zones. But we begin in
Major League Baseball where the Padres had a to one
(23:12):
lead going into the ninth inning and they put in
their closer, Todd Rogers, and what era excuse me? Yeah,
Taylor Rogers, I beg your partner, Todd Rodgers is actually
a famous beach volleyball player. But let's go to Taylor
Rogers and what does he do? He gives up a
three run jack in the top of the ninth inning.
So the Pirates end up winning four to two against
(23:35):
the Padres. The Blue Jay's hold off the Angel six
to five as l A was pressing in the bottom
of the ninth, they had three runners on base and
could not get it done. The Mariners show up and
show out against the Astro six to nothing as Seattle
starting her Logan Gilbert four hits allowed over seven innings,
(23:56):
pitch nowhere on runs, no walks, while the Mets fly
swat the Phillies eight to two and Philly starting pitcher
Zak Efflyn is six innings, he worked, eight hits allowed,
seven urn runs. The Dodgers hang on on the road
against the Diamondbacks three to two. Will Smith had that
sack fly in the fifth inning to break the two
(24:17):
to tie the Rays and the Yankees of four game
winning streak with a three one shelling against Yeah, the
Yankees Tampa wins there PG two ur Charles Schwab challenged
through fifty four holes, one round to play here on Sunday,
and Scottie Sheffler, the number one ranked golfer in the world,
has a two shot lead at eleven under. And we
(24:39):
are gonna be playing Bernie a game seven Eastern Conference
second Round in the NHL of postseason because the Rangers
they storm past the Hurricanes five to two in a
Game six, so that series is all tied up at three.
Game seven is upon us. If there's any buddy you
want handling things in a game seven, it life Well,
(25:01):
of course it's Bernie Fratto, as he rejoins us from
Las Vegas, Bernie, Brian, welcome back from all your tennis coverage.
I understand you've got quite a racket going, Holdie, Bernie.
I was in Las Vegas. If I had a little
bit more time, would have loved to have said high
to you. I was down there and saw a Legion
stadium and that thing is beautiful. Yeah it is next time,
(25:23):
Brian will connect, all right, Brian's right about Game seven.
It's about let's see twelve seventeen hours away should be
a doozy and uh, who better to bring in than
mac aoun sports Mackenzie rivers. We've got all kinds of
data around Game seven, Mackenzie, and Uh, I gotta tell you,
I've always believed Boston would win it. They do things
(25:43):
the hard way. They were a favorite at the beginning
of the series, even though they were the lower seed.
What are your thoughts heading into Sunday. I kind of
agree with you, and I think the market is telling
us a lot here, a very rare occasion we have
here Game seven. Obviously, home teams, that's why. That's why
you play hard the regular season. You want that crowd
behind you. And historically, you know, since the forties, Game seven,
(26:05):
eight percent of the time the home team has won.
This is the third time in betting history that we
have recorded since two thousand three that the road team
is the favorite despite being split even despite the whole
regular season the Heat winning two more games and having
home court advantage. The market is saying the Celtics aren't
just better about five points better than the Heat, which
(26:25):
is pretty shocking. But then you look at the average
scoring margin of this series. Yes it's three three, but
on average, the Celtics have won by get this, five
and a half points exactly. And of course, the six
Man of the Year, Taller Hero lists In is questionable
due to a groin injury. He's missed the last three games.
I just feel without Taller Hero, it's gonna be difficult
(26:48):
for Miami. I do like the Celtics. Tomorrow I haven't
or later today, I haven't laid the two and a half.
I just feel defensively you'll get You'll get their best effort.
And the truth of the matter's mackenzie. Can Jimmy Butler
come up with another four seen performance? Right? I mean
that's the question because Jimmy Butler has had two performances
in this series Game one, when he put up forty
one and last night when he put up forties seven
(27:11):
that are really historic performances. If you look at the
advanced stat game score, which is a complicated way to say,
I look at every stat in your box score, your
free throws, your turnovers, and have a you know, a
coefficient for each one. If you look at his game score,
Jimmy Butler had two top twenty performances ever in the
playoffs in this series, in game one and in game six.
(27:31):
Just to put it in perspective, Michael Jordan had a
few good playoff games in his in his career. Only
Jimmy Butler and Michael Jordan have over a forty five
game score twice in their careers. And he did it
in the same series, and they barely won, and they
were tied seconds to go. Jalen Brown missed a couple
of free throws. So to bring it back to Tyler Hero,
(27:52):
I have not I don't have any insider knowledge, but
I have been looking closely at Twitter, and I am
saying he doesn't play. There's just a lot of speculation
that he's not even working out today. He's not even
you know, shooting shots, the kind of things you would
do to get ready to play. And if you look
at the heat performances, they scored eighty two without them,
(28:12):
they scored eighty without him, And we just said Jimmy
Butler had to put up a historic performance to put
up one ten. So I think and the market thinks
the Heat have very little scoring options. Here we see
this total opened to two oh one, dropped till one.
This is the third time we've seen a game seven.
It's the third time we've seen a total dropped by
six points. Meaning the bookmakers know where the money's coming in,
(28:34):
but they don't anticipate how much the sharps and the
sharp money has been pounding the under Here's one thing
I'm watching for Sunday McKenzie. If the Celtics want to
advanced to the finals, they've got to do a better
job of taking care of the ball. In Game six,
Boston had seventeen turnovers that led to twenty three points
for the Heat. In their Game three loss, he had
(28:55):
a whopping twenty four turnovers, and in Game one loss
he had sixteen. What are I? Where am I going
with that? In these entire playoffs, the Celtics are one
and four when they turn the ball over more than
fifteen times, and ten and two when they stay at
or below that number. Some team to watch. Here's something
else to watch, Jason Tatum. As you pointed out, this
(29:17):
will be this fifth Game seven for the Celtics so
far Jason Tatum three and one straight up and against
the number. I expect Jason Tatum to answer Jimmy Butler's
performance tomorrow. Your thoughts. I think you hit the nail
on the head with the turnovers, because what is turnovers
in the NBA these professional athletes. It's really a a
lack of attention to detail. And that's why we've seen
(29:39):
when they've lost, the Celtics consistently have come back and
put up their best performances because they're that just more
locked in now. They don't have any room for air.
So just to put a number on it, they've lost
one game after losing a game. There twelve and one
straight up and a t s since January. By the way,
coincidentally or not, the one team to beat them coming
off a loss was the Heat March. But in general,
(30:01):
I like the Celtics. I think that twelve and one
number is real. I think they bounced back after a
loss and yep, my money will be on Boston. It
already is for the series. So I'm not betting the game,
just you know, waiting and hoping. But I do think
the Celtics get it done by the way, you mentioned
Jayson Tatum. It's funny because you think of him as
the young pup, but he's three and one straight up
in a t S. Jimmy Butler in his career has
(30:23):
only made two game seven's, oh and two straight up
in HS. Yes, yes, that's an interesting satellite too. I
don't know exactly what that means, but I find interesting.
We talked about this probably ten days ago heading into
this series. Although Miami was the number one seed, they
were the underdog Boston minus one seventy heading into this series.
(30:43):
In the history of the n b A, only twelve
times has a higher seed been an underdog, and they're
one and eleven. The only team to prevail was Utah
against the Lakers. That trend to me matters. That leads
me to believe that the lower seeded team is in
fact the better team. McKenzie is setting aside the analytics,
setting aside the numbers. Do you agree Boston frankly is
(31:07):
the more talented team. Yes, I just think the numbers
have become overwhelming. You know, he said his side, But
when you're beating teams, it's a pretty simp number. When
you're beating teams by fifteen points per game over a
three month stretch, you're probably one of the best teams,
if not the best team in basketball. The Heat have
been fine, They've been you know, you know, inspirational and
their grit, but they haven't done anything that that has
(31:28):
put put them on the on the level that the
Celtics have proven over the last couple of months. And
by the way, I think you're onto something where it's
rare that that you want to put your money and
you have that home crowd against you. It's rare that
you want to bet against home teams. But that's why
there's value their road favorites the last six years or
six against the spread, because you don't want to hear
(31:50):
that raucus crowd roaring at you when you're betting on him.
But it generally, even though sometimes it's tough, sometimes it's
tough to hear that crowd against you, it's generally the
right way to go to bed on a road favorite
like the Celtics. Somewhow night, Okay, buddy, we got about
thirty seconds not to put you on the spot. And
you don't have to have a best bet, but you
have a best bet, whether it's a player prop aside
of total anything. What are your thoughts? Yes, I like
(32:11):
the first half under nineties six and a half, game
sixes or game sevens. The later you get into the playoffs,
the better. This trend is first half unders are sixty
percent Round three or later, games six or seven in
the first half. And why is that? Because teams just
want to be in the game. They want to give
themselves a chance in the second half. We saw this
(32:32):
with the Maverick Suns. You know, all things can break loose.
Teams are shooting threes, teams are present full court, but
in the first half, conservative, close to the vest is
the way they play it. I like the under Alright,
good stuff, McKenzie. We'll talk to you next week. Thanks
Mann up. Alright, McKenzie rivers making on sports. We're just
hours away from NBA Game seven coming up. We got
(32:55):
more Vegas stuff. The NFL o t as in full swing.
They're an oddity on the betting revolving the NFL MVP
this year. There's already been a couple of best bets
having to do with team Total's futures, and the craziest
bet of the year so far, well, it had to
do with the other series Dallas and Golden State. I
(33:17):
will share with you what that was in the amount,
As one bookmaker called it, the baalsiest wager he'd ever seen.
My Bernie Frederi company Life from the Las Vegas Fox
Sports Radio Studios. This is the pregame show you always wanted,
So don't go away. You're listening to Straight out of Vegas.
All right, back on Straight out of Vegas, the pregame
show you always wanted to. Bernie Friddill come to your
life from Las Vegas Fox Sports Radio Studios. If I
(33:39):
go any further, I want to thank my broadcast team
back in Los Angeles turning all the dials keeping us
glued together. That would be Eric Kemp, Chris Perfect and
of course Brian Finley on the updates. Appreciate all the teamwork. Guys.
They will be with me until three am Pacific six
am Eastern as Straight out of Vegas transitions into Fox
(33:59):
Sports Sunday. All right, I tease the craziest bet all year,
and come on, we know that no NBA team has
ever come back from a three old deficit to win
a playoff series. That was the case when Dallas was
down three games to zip against the Golden State Warriors
heading into Tuesday. That fact didn't stop a Better at
(34:21):
Caesar's Palace from wagering wait for it, fifty thousand dollars. Now,
the odds were thirty to one, so if Dallas had
come back and won four straight, he'd win. He'd win
one point five million on the Dallas. Essentially, he put
thirty grand check that fifty grand to win a million
five on the Dallas Mavericks to win the Western Conference
(34:44):
Finals after they were down three games a zip. It's
never been done before. I mean, you have better odds
and uh, you know Gil Gilligan's Island re recording the
Uh you got better odds and uh what led Zeppelin
re record it into Gilling's Alan theme song and selling
a million copies thirty to one. Those really have that
(35:04):
great odds considering it's never been done. So the bet
was placed Tuesday. But then Dallas went out that night
and beat gold State one one on nine. They stayed
off elimination, but they head back to San Francisco and
you saw it happened the same better. He's consistent. He
also made a ten thousand dollar wager to win seven
and fifty thousand on the Mavericks to win the NBA
title when they balloon to seventy five to one again.
(35:26):
According to Caesar Sports but VP of Trading Craig Munkelow,
he said, this is easily one of the baalsiest wagers
I have ever seen. See they have been actually there's
been three oh comebacks and other sports, but never in
the n b A. That's sports betting at its finest.
Here are a couple of bets that I think are legit.
These are from pros Now again, and we're gonna get
(35:48):
into some NFL stuff later in the show. O t
s are underway, many camps are underway. It's never too
soon to start talking about the NFL. I'm pretty sure
fourteen weeks from Thursday Day we have our first NFL
regular season game. I know the Raiders are playing in
the Hall of Fame game this year. And I heard
(36:08):
something It's like, what the first Thursday, I think in August.
I have to look it up. It's right around the corner.
I mean, June one is Wednesday, so it's it's upon us.
And I will tell you that the handle already on
the NFL is healthy, particularly preseason totals bets And there
are two preseason totals bets that pros I know and
(36:32):
trust are on, and these make a lot of sense.
The first one, the Dallas Cowboys win total this year
is ten and a half. Now I realized they went
twelve and five last year, but they lost to Mark Cooper,
Cedric Wilson, Randy Gregory, Connor Williams. And the truth of
the matter is the other teams in their division have
frankly improved. Dallas, I think has regressed somewhat. Here's the thing.
(36:58):
The Pros are on the under of ten and a half.
There's one kicker to this. To me, that would be
a real caveat if you think the Cowboys are gonna
win eleven or more games. Remember, they've benefited tremendously from
their turnover ratio. In one they were plus fourteen on
the season. That was good for number one in the NFL,
(37:18):
them in the Colts Cowboys and goals turnover ratio plus fourteen.
When that happens in the NFL, typically the opposite happens
the next year. These things have a tendency to reverse
the next season. That's why one of the reasons the
Pros like the under Dallas Cowboys ten and a half.
One of the other bets that the pros felis solid
(37:41):
is actually the Raiders. Over their win total of eight
and a half. The Raiders added Davante Williams, who is
arguably the best receiver in football. You pair them up
with Derek Carr. That right there improved the Raiders, as
you know, I would see the rest of you know,
(38:03):
although the rest of the division is also improved. It
very much improved the Raiders. Now, it's been a while
and you have to be a real slappy to remember
this kind of stuff, But I bet a lot of
people do what what what car and Davante Adams did
at Fresnel State was incredible. They already have a ton
of chemistry. They have a real bond of friendship. They
set records and TV passes and receiving yards at Fresnel State.
(38:24):
They led the entire FBS. Look, the Raiders have a
great offense if they can stay healthy, solid offense, and
they add Chandler Jones, a perfect compliment to a fellow
Pro Bowl pass rusher and Max Crosby. So we'll see.
The Raiders are good on they should be improved on defense.
But I think it's a question mark one final thing.
It's a caveat. The Raiders had five walk off wins
(38:45):
last year, five one score games. That has a tendency
to also reverse the next year, So buyer beware. Now
this really surprised me. Odds to win the NFL m
v P. People are betting Josh Allen the seven one,
people are betting Mahomes. He got the usual suspects, Tom Brady,
Aaron Rodgers, Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow. If you think Matt
(39:08):
Stafford can repeat last year, he's fifteen to one, Dak
Prescott sixteen to one, Jalen Hurts eighteen to one, Derek
Carr one you ever heard of this guy? To Shawn
Watson to one, Lamar Jackson, Deebo Samuel fifty one. What's
the moral of the story. There's a guy who went
from two to one to one to fifty to one,
(39:31):
and now he's taken more action than Patrick Mahomes and
Tom Brady combined. Procesar's his name, wait for it three, Lance,
Trey Lance at the Fortins has taken more action to
win the twenty three NFL m v P than Patrick
Mahomes and Tom Brady combined. Good luck, ladies and gentlemen,
(39:53):
Be careful, drive safely on the way out. If you're
gonna bet Trey Lance, I think you're gonna need a
lot of luck. But hey, stranger things that happened, I
just can't name any of them. That's gonna do it for.
This edition is straight out of Vegas. Coming up Fox
Sports Sunday at Fox Sports Radio. Keep it locked right here.
I'm Bernie Fratto. This is Fox Sports Radio.
This is straight out of Vegas with the voice of
Biggest Your host r J. Bob paid that to me
and his money. You are now about to witness the
strength of street knowledge lie from the biggest strip the
pregame show America has always wanted. Here's Bernie Fretto. Well,
(00:25):
in a world of questions, we've got answers. In a
world of problems, we've got solutions. And as I've said
many times before, Sports of the greatest reality show invented,
you can script everything, but the outcome. You know, there's
a don't sing man's mind stretched to a new dimension?
Will it never returns to its original state? Tonight we're
here to stretch on that note. I'm Bernie Fritto, will
(00:47):
coming to your line from the Las Vegas Fox Sports
Radio Studios. Well, the NBA Finals are around the corner.
What have we learned? We'll discuss, but not until an
all important Game seven, which is just hours away. Don't
look now, but here we go again. Now the Oakland
is really coming to Vegas. I'll give you the latest
(01:08):
and what I know what needs to happen next um,
and I'll give you my thoughts and actually my prediction
and uh of course, I've got some Vegas stuff. We've
got some NBA stuff, and and much much more, some
interesting prop bet and NFL stuff that's already Happening's I've
used the word stuff too many times. You get the drift.
(01:30):
Sports are entertainment, but they're more than that. They are
shared experience. Is such people want to talk about them.
You've come to the right place. We've got a lot
to talk about tonight. This is straight out of Vegas,
the pregame show you always wanted. And as they say
in Carbonies Pizza and St. Paul, Minnesota, Carbonies Pizza's amazing.
It's on Randolph Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota. They're saying,
(01:50):
Carbonies Pizza, Minnesota. It's gonna be late before I dive
into the show. I want to wish everybody a wonderful,
happy Memorial Day weekend. Let's do our best to conn
our blessings. We are the land of the Free because
of the brave. I understand the NBA Playoffs have been
an artful They haven't particularly been exciting from the standpoint.
(02:13):
There have been a lot of blots, but there have
been some amazing storylines. Now Golden State Advanced, say what
you will about them, but they were in last place
two years ago. You got to give their front office credit.
What do they do since then? They drafted Jordan Pool
out of Michigan. They had to develop them. They treated
Angela Russell for Andrew Wiggins. I'm gonna get to that
in a minute, because I don't care what Draymond Green says.
(02:38):
You know, he likes to talk. He likes to hear
himself talk. The Betty Markets in Las Vegas is you
were pretty active on Gold State. They were one of
the top four teams to win it all, and right
now I think they're poised to do so. I liked
Boston to win it all. I'm a little concerned now,
only in a sense that what happened in Game six
at home against Miami huge top credit to Jimmy Butler,
(03:01):
who put on a show for the Ages when the
Heat were facing elimination. But Boston showed their youth. And
they've got a first year coach and Email Udoko who
has done a phenomenal job. But those two things reared
their head because the heat got turned up very hot.
The other night in Miami prevailed when it mattered most.
It was tied with about two minutes to go, and
Boston went on to check that Miami on a twelve
(03:23):
to three run. But look, it wasn't that long ago.
This series was to two, but Boston was frankly dominating right.
There have been only four lead changes going into Game five,
and none since quarter one of Game one. Boston had
a plus twenty eight point differential. Cumulatively, Heading into Game five,
Boston had one thirteen out of sixteen quarters, and yes,
(03:44):
the series was seemingly lopsidity those too, to seventy percent
of the time, the lead was at least ten points
or more by one of the teams head in the
Game five, Boston wins handily by thirteen. Now cumulatively plus
forty one. Boston ats home. You figure they're going to
close it out. They were laying nine and a half.
I'm glad I didn't bet that game. Miami wins outright.
(04:06):
Game six Boston loses one oh three. Jimmy Butler forty
seven points wills his team to victory. Both teams played
pretty well. What if I told you? Cumulatively, both teams
went to the free throw line fifty six times and
made fifty two fifty two of the fifty six bull
teams from the charity stripe. That's good for Boston. Still
(04:31):
hitting into Game seven plus thirty three commulatively Celtics oddly enough,
now three and four at home this year in the
playoffs in the last two playoffs series. You know they've
I couldn't put teams away when they needed to, but
they did when they needed to. Department redundancy, department interesting
(04:53):
phenomenon for Game seven. Only the third time, Only the
third time in NBA history has a Game him seven
host been an underdog. Now, people have been complaining about
the blowouts, but I am enjoying what I consider to
be the developing stories and developing situations involving the NBA.
(05:14):
Should Boston prevail and advance to the NBA Finals and
face and face the Golden State Warriors, what's the storyline,
the story that will be finals experience, which is Golden
State with Steve Kerr. You've got Draymond Green, Clay Thompson, Uh, certainly,
Steph Curry and company against elite athleticism. I don't think
(05:38):
I've seen a better more intimidating vertical athlete than Robert
Williams when he closes out on the shooter in the perimeter.
He must get twelve ft in the air. Again the storyline.
Golden State finished in last place two years ago when
the Lakers won in the Bubble in I give their
front office huge credit. Two key moves. They drafted Jordan
Poole out of Michigan. They traded for D'Angel or Russell.
(06:00):
Or they traded d'angela Russell for Andrew Wiggins. I remember,
this just didn't fall in the Golden States lap. Last season,
the Warriors has signed Jordan Pool. He was struggling at
that point. He was a second year guard to the
Santa Cruz Warriors for an eleven game stretch. But when
he came back he was polished, he was more confident.
Now there's no question Jordan Pool is a fixture of
(06:23):
the Warrior's offense. He's averaging nearly eighteen points a game
as Thompson standing. So the Golden State Warriors. They advanced
to the NBA Finals for the first time since they
beat Dallas by ten Thursday. They win this series in
five games. Give it up to Clay Thompson. He led
the game in scoring, recording thirty two points, two rebounds,
(06:43):
three assists. He had entered Thursday's game averaging just nineteen
points a game. But here is why. Again, the storyline
to me matters. He took nine forty one days for
Clay Thompson to return to action after two major injuries,
but look at him now. Meanwhile, death Curry. He wins
the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals, the MVP Award, and
(07:06):
he averaged twenty four points a game against the Mavericks.
So even though the Warriors only finished third in the
Western Conference during the regular season, well, they get to
the NBA Finals and I gotta tell you they're gonna
be a tough out. It starts Thursday. Now, let's talk
about tomorrow and me on I. I do believe Boston
will advance. I have not placed a bet on the game.
(07:28):
I have laid the two and a half on the
road at Miami game seven, which is just a few
hours away, probably what about thirteen hours away? No check
that it's five thirty Pacific, so a night, nice primetime game.
I settled with Jason Martin and Arnie earlier. I really
believe Robert Oiams the third is the key to the
Celtics success. Okay, you've got Jason Tatum You've got Jalen Brown,
(07:48):
their elite level scoring options for the Celtics, al Horford
has been absolutely terrific and Derek White has really stepped
up coming on and off the bench. Over the Celtics,
I think their most important players Robert Williams the third
because his tenacity on the defensive end of the floor
is frankly what makes Boston a true championship contender now
when he has just been hobbled at times a series
(08:10):
due to knee soreness, he's but he's continued to show
while he's one of the best rent protectors in the
league over the course of this series, had a massive
impact in Game five, Um, he did you know? He
had six points, ten rebounds, one steel, three blocks and uh,
Williams has had five games in this series where he's
had at least two blocks now All night long. Miami
(08:34):
looked to attack the pan against Boston, but they were
either denied by Williams or sent back the other way
due to his incredible ability just to contest a shot
and bother the shooter. He's incredible at that. I get it.
Williams isn't gonna make much of an impact on offense,
but He's kind of the anchor underneath for the Celtics defensively.
Insability to contest any shot around the rim really alters
(08:57):
anybody's approach on offense, whether they end up playing Gold
of State or again later today with Miami, by the way,
in this series the heat, they've had a very hard
time getting into the pain, especially Bam Bam Abbadeo. And
a lot of credit again goes to Robert Williams. The
dude is only twenty four years old, but he's already
turned himself into a high impact defensive center in the NBA.
(09:18):
Before I get to a quick breakdown of Sunday's matchup,
Miami catching two and a half at home against Boston
tip off eight thirty Eastern time, I want to tell
you what impressed me most about the Warriors during the
Dallas series. They look incredibly organized on both ends. They've
got an offensive system built around Steph, but they're fluid.
(09:40):
They passed the ball, they share the ball. They cause
a ton of trouble for just about any defense they're
gonna face because they break them down. They have kind
of a heavy pick and roll attack. Then on the
other end, when you go back to defense, their transition
game is incredibly smooth. They run various mechanism schemes. They
caused trouble for Luca don Chun Chicks as he put
(10:00):
up numbers. I get it. But you know, the Warriors
have championship DNA and part of it is their defensive chemistry.
Now the question is, Okay, people are gonna want to
know this Golden State match up better with Boston or Miami.
The truth of the matter is Golden State matches up
better with Miami. The Warriors, Hey, they have struggled with
Boston's defensive length and rent protection. Now they can put
(10:24):
Marcus Smart on Curry. They can put Robert Williams and
Al Horford protecting the rim, and then you've got Jayson
Tatum and Jalen Brown to car up the rest of
the court. There's no other defense in the league that
has the type of arsenal Boston. I'm talking about Boston. Miami's.
They're less talented, and currently they look a little they
look a little fried. But I'm telling you, man, what
an effort. Give a lot of credit to Eric Spoelstra
(10:47):
and that team's culture from pat rally uh top down,
But all the expectations from within. The Warriors are that
they'll see Boston, I believe, but I think they'd rather
I think they'd rather play the heat. Just my opinion.
In all right, department a redundancy department again. Jimmy Butler
put on the show for the ages. His team's facing elimination.
(11:08):
That's the good news. The other news, I think he's
gonna have to deliver another one of those games Sunday
because it's on the line, and Butler single handedly forced
the decisive matchup when he had a playoff personal high
forty seven points, also had nine rebounds, eight assists, and
four steels. Rumor has these sold popcorn and delivered the
baby at halftime as well. Game recognized game man, that's
(11:31):
a smoke show out there, showing you how it's done.
The guy is was fantastic. That's the kind of that's
the kind of stuff Ledgs demanded. But people tell me
he's a very humble guy too. He just puts in
the work. Kyle Lowry, his teammates speak the world of him,
and look, Boston helld Butler to seven or thirty two
shooting the previous two games. But what does jim Jimmy
(11:54):
Butler do Friday night, he gets up off the mat
and starts throwing haymakers. So I really think this game
Sunday night is gonna be a hell of a lot
of fun to watch. Uh And if you ask, you
know Eric Spoelstra, who this is now his first barbecue.
He says, quote, I'm not surprised the series is gonna
come down to a one game battle. Quote. This is
(12:17):
the way it should be with these two teams. It
should have gone seven games. That's what Spolster said. The
margin for air on both sides is so small. There's
no two better words in pro sports than game seven. Quote.
I'm really thrilled our group gets an opportunity to compete
in a Game seven in front of our home crowd.
(12:38):
By the way, on the other side, I'll be curious
to see how Jason Tatum can step up. He's talked
about being Game seven, a trip to the NBA Finals,
everything on the line. Boston has been in that situation before.
They know what's in stake, they know how much it
means to everybody. Tatum did score thirty points in the
Game six loss, and he is averaging five in the series.
(12:58):
And Emil Udoka said Saturday. He doesn't think winning games
seven on the road is an insurmountable task. He says, Look,
we put ourselves in this position. We were up three
two and we just have to win one of the
final two games. So is you know you'd love to
finish it on your home court. But Boston has been
up and down this series and due to that, that's
where there are not for nothing, Miami only one and
(13:19):
two at home in this series. Game seven Sunday, can't
wait coming up? Are the Oldan is moving to Las
Vegas or not? It came up again. I'll tell you
why it's back in the news. I'll tell you what
I really think and do I think they are? Do
I really think the Olans will ultimately end up in Vegas?
I'll tell you later. I'm Bernie Fratto. We're coming to
(13:42):
you live from the Las Vegas Fox Sports Radio Studios.
Is the three game show you always wanted to? Don't
go away? You're listening to straight out of Vegas. Hey,
it's Ben, host of the Fifth Hour with Ben Mallor.
Would mean a lot to have you join us on
our weekly auditory journey. You ask one in God's name?
Is the Fifth Hour? I'll tell you to spin off
of the Ben Mallers Show, a cold hit overnights on
(14:03):
fs R. Why should you listen? Picture? If you will
the world will we chat with captains of industry in media,
sports and more every week Explorer so amazing facts about
the human nature and more. Let's sen to the fifth
hour with Ben mallow on the I Heart Radio app,
Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcast. All right,
back on Straight out of Vegas, the pregame show you
always wanted. I'm Bernie Frederwack, come to you live from
(14:26):
the Las Vegas Fox Sports Radio Studios. Past show tonight.
We'll take you all the way up to three am Pacific,
six am Eastern. All right, Speaking of Vegas, are the
Oakland A's coming to Vegas? Will know a lot more
on June, when a key vote is expected from the
San Francisco Bay Conservative and Development Commission, They're gonna consider
(14:49):
removing the port designation from the Howard Terminal site, which
would allan which would allow the twelve billion dollar Howard
Terminal project to proceed. Amazing rendering thirty five thousand feed
stadium beautiful waterfront stadium, condominium's office space, all kinds of things,
but without removal of the port designation, the ballpark project
(15:11):
would all but be dead. So watch out for June. Now,
obviously the Oakland A's have checked at the City of
Oakland's lost the Raiders to Vegas. They've lost the Golden
State Warriors to the City of San Francisco. Is the
third time also going to be the charm? Or will
(15:31):
it be the charm where they actually stay? They're gonna
have to figure something out. The the stadium lease up
there in Oakland, the legendary Oakland Alamedia County Coliseum. People
pick on and I love the place, been there many times,
been around since in what let me just say this
that the stadium leak since in April. So a ballpark
(15:55):
here would have to be ready or it isn't. I'm
sorry the end of So a ballpark would have to
be ready here in Vegas in by the spring of
Could that happen time wise? Probably? Yeah, here's the question
who's paying for it? There are people who don't live
or do not realize. And while the Death Star Allegiance
(16:19):
Stadium the new home the Oakland Raiders, as as well
as concerts and all sort of events in unw football.
It's sensational here in Las Vegas. Everybody loves it. It's
working out great. It was one hell of a political
football because a lot of the hotel tax money that
was raised to go to pay for the stadium worth
(16:40):
There was a lot of teeth match. He was a
political football. People wanted that money to go to roads
and schools and all sorts of things. And that's the thing.
Some form of public assistance is going to have been
made available if they're going to lure the Oakland Athletics
to Las Vegas. Now. That's according to Steve Hill, the
CEO and president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors
(17:00):
Authority now again for the umteenth time as president. Dave
Caval was in Las Vegas about a week ago for
meetings with area landowners and officials, and he said his
search for a Vegas ballparks enter the final stretch. It's
sounded two possible locations, but where I don't know where
people I talked to, you don't nowhere. And Caval wasn't
(17:21):
available for comment, but the source said he had quote
a number of successful meetings. I've been on record. I
said it many times on the show. Could I be wrong. Sure,
do I think I'm wrong? No, I believe the city
of Las Vegas is being played. Earlier this month, he
as allegedly had a list of five possible ballpark sites,
(17:42):
neither down to two. Caval wouldn't talk to the media
following the trip because the team doesn't want to negotiate publicly.
Come on, man, what are we doing here? How many
times do you really need to come? This has been
a year long relocation exploration, and most state and local
politicians have been adamant they pose using public money to
help fund the potential as ballpark. I believe that would
(18:05):
be the ultimate death now, I really truly believe that. However, However,
according to recent reports, potentially that no longer appears to
be the case. Although a room tax still, you know,
a hotel room tax still seems to be off the table.
But Steve Hill, they president of the lv c v A,
(18:29):
said there are means of assistance outside of a room
tax that could benefit the a's if the team does
in effect relocated the Southern Nevada I'll quote him. He said,
there's a spectrum of possibility for that partnership, and I
think it's worthwhile to explore some of them. I think
there's a broad set of options that can be helpful
in making this move forward. It just sounds like a
planitude to me. I'm not trying to dog the guy,
(18:51):
but it's still vague and obtuse. What can you believe?
He said, I don't really think it's right to use
a room tax, but I do think there's some methods
to a contribution that could probably make sense. Like what what,
They're gonna need a ton of money? You know, they're
I'm guessing this is a guess. I'm not an insider
on this one. They're gonna need probably upwards of seven
(19:14):
fifty million. Again, maybe Vegas comes up with two hundred million.
Who comes up with the rest? Again, I'm just spitballing
here right now. Caval Previously, you know, the one option
THEESSE considering is to purchase land out right and build
a mixed use project with a one billion dollars you know,
dome stadium as a centerpiece. And make no mistake, he
would have to be a dome stadium because once you
(19:35):
flipped the switch, there's a hundred degrees here, yester. People
aren't gonna sit in an outdoor ball plark. I mean,
they've done a beautiful job in Phoenix. Our weather is
very similar to Phoenix. They got the retractable dome Brewe Stadium. June, July, August,
and September. We typically have our last hundred degree day
around September, but still in the high nineties. We're gonna
have at least ten to fifteen hundred and ten degree days.
(19:57):
So it's not really and you've got any one home dates.
It's just to me, this is just fraught with speed bumps.
I'm not a kill jo. I'm not throwing to throw
cold water on them if they come here. Fine. Although
the mayor you know of Oakland, Libby Chaff, they try
to interview her last week and you know she she
made some interesting comments about Vegas a couple of months back.
(20:18):
The truth of the matter is, you know, the words
salads are flying with all these sites in play within
the Strip Resort corridor. There's also another side of this.
The team is pursu the Oakland a'sm I'm relluding to.
They were pursuing what they call quote parallel pass as
their team president Caval Dave Caval likes to call it
(20:39):
working with the Oakland officials again I'm going to reverse
back to this. They have a potential waterfront development on
the Port of Oakland's Howard Terminal. This is a twelve
billion dollar mixed use development. It would include residential developments,
commercial buildings, a hotel, a public space, again with a
one billion dollar water front ballpark as a centerpiece. Keep
(21:04):
keep your eyes on June. June is four weeks from
this upcoming Thursday. That is when the San Francisco Bay
a Conservation and Development Commission. I believe they will vote,
and that vote will be to consider removing the port
designation from the Howard Terminal site. That would allow the
(21:25):
project to proceed. Keep an eye on that vote June
up there in San Francisco. Now, the a's must also
still come to terms with the city of localand and
Development agreement. Now no date for that vote has been set,
but the ADS are pushing for the city Council to
hold a vote before taking a summer break in July,
(21:45):
so you've got to keep an eye on that as well.
One final thing, President Hills said he doesn't see this
as a competition between Vegas and Oakland. Quote and this
is the lvcv A to Las Vegas visitor convention Bureer.
He said, quote, we're gonna put our best foot forward
and we're going to explain what we think brings a
partnership like that and makes sense for them and makes
(22:07):
sense for us, then we'll try to get the deal,
and if something else makes better sense for them. We
understand that we're gonna have a lot of opportunities. This
is a great one, but we're not really in competition
with other cities. End quote. Keep an eye. What do
I say? I think we're being played. The see of
Las Vegas is being played. I do not think the
(22:29):
Oakland A's will be a reality in Las Vegas. Just
my opinion is Dennis Miller can say, just my opinion,
I could be wrong. Coming up, this is not an opinion.
Five thirty years to. We've got Game seven in the
NBA Finals. We've got all kinds of data with making
on sports coming up. But first, the man who is
an endless supply and knowledge. Why he just told me
(22:51):
the other day, Bernie Guesswich State has the most pencils.
I said, which one, Brian? He said, of course, it's
Pennsylvania's Brian Fendly with the latest. Yes, that is right,
Bernie great to talk to you on this Saturday night.
That's if you're on the West Coast Sunday morning, if
you're on the other time zones. But we begin in
Major League Baseball where the Padres had a to one
(23:12):
lead going into the ninth inning and they put in
their closer, Todd Rogers, and what era excuse me? Yeah,
Taylor Rogers, I beg your partner, Todd Rodgers is actually
a famous beach volleyball player. But let's go to Taylor
Rogers and what does he do? He gives up a
three run jack in the top of the ninth inning.
So the Pirates end up winning four to two against
(23:35):
the Padres. The Blue Jay's hold off the Angel six
to five as l A was pressing in the bottom
of the ninth, they had three runners on base and
could not get it done. The Mariners show up and
show out against the Astro six to nothing as Seattle
starting her Logan Gilbert four hits allowed over seven innings,
(23:56):
pitch nowhere on runs, no walks, while the Mets fly
swat the Phillies eight to two and Philly starting pitcher
Zak Efflyn is six innings, he worked, eight hits allowed,
seven urn runs. The Dodgers hang on on the road
against the Diamondbacks three to two. Will Smith had that
sack fly in the fifth inning to break the two
(24:17):
to tie the Rays and the Yankees of four game
winning streak with a three one shelling against Yeah, the
Yankees Tampa wins there PG two ur Charles Schwab challenged
through fifty four holes, one round to play here on Sunday,
and Scottie Sheffler, the number one ranked golfer in the world,
has a two shot lead at eleven under. And we
(24:39):
are gonna be playing Bernie a game seven Eastern Conference
second Round in the NHL of postseason because the Rangers
they storm past the Hurricanes five to two in a
Game six, so that series is all tied up at three.
Game seven is upon us. If there's any buddy you
want handling things in a game seven, it life Well,
(25:01):
of course it's Bernie Fratto, as he rejoins us from
Las Vegas, Bernie, Brian, welcome back from all your tennis coverage.
I understand you've got quite a racket going, Holdie, Bernie.
I was in Las Vegas. If I had a little
bit more time, would have loved to have said high
to you. I was down there and saw a Legion
stadium and that thing is beautiful. Yeah it is next time,
(25:23):
Brian will connect, all right, Brian's right about Game seven.
It's about let's see twelve seventeen hours away should be
a doozy and uh, who better to bring in than
mac aoun sports Mackenzie rivers. We've got all kinds of
data around Game seven, Mackenzie, and Uh, I gotta tell you,
I've always believed Boston would win it. They do things
(25:43):
the hard way. They were a favorite at the beginning
of the series, even though they were the lower seed.
What are your thoughts heading into Sunday. I kind of
agree with you, and I think the market is telling
us a lot here, a very rare occasion we have
here Game seven. Obviously, home teams, that's why. That's why
you play hard the regular season. You want that crowd
behind you. And historically, you know, since the forties, Game seven,
(26:05):
eight percent of the time the home team has won.
This is the third time in betting history that we
have recorded since two thousand three that the road team
is the favorite despite being split even despite the whole
regular season the Heat winning two more games and having
home court advantage. The market is saying the Celtics aren't
just better about five points better than the Heat, which
(26:25):
is pretty shocking. But then you look at the average
scoring margin of this series. Yes it's three three, but
on average, the Celtics have won by get this, five
and a half points exactly. And of course, the six
Man of the Year, Taller Hero lists In is questionable
due to a groin injury. He's missed the last three games.
I just feel without Taller Hero, it's gonna be difficult
(26:48):
for Miami. I do like the Celtics. Tomorrow I haven't
or later today, I haven't laid the two and a half.
I just feel defensively you'll get You'll get their best effort.
And the truth of the matter's mackenzie. Can Jimmy Butler
come up with another four seen performance? Right? I mean
that's the question because Jimmy Butler has had two performances
in this series Game one, when he put up forty
one and last night when he put up forties seven
(27:11):
that are really historic performances. If you look at the
advanced stat game score, which is a complicated way to say,
I look at every stat in your box score, your
free throws, your turnovers, and have a you know, a
coefficient for each one. If you look at his game score,
Jimmy Butler had two top twenty performances ever in the
playoffs in this series, in game one and in game six.
(27:31):
Just to put it in perspective, Michael Jordan had a
few good playoff games in his in his career. Only
Jimmy Butler and Michael Jordan have over a forty five
game score twice in their careers. And he did it
in the same series, and they barely won, and they
were tied seconds to go. Jalen Brown missed a couple
of free throws. So to bring it back to Tyler Hero,
(27:52):
I have not I don't have any insider knowledge, but
I have been looking closely at Twitter, and I am
saying he doesn't play. There's just a lot of speculation
that he's not even working out today. He's not even
you know, shooting shots, the kind of things you would
do to get ready to play. And if you look
at the heat performances, they scored eighty two without them,
(28:12):
they scored eighty without him, And we just said Jimmy
Butler had to put up a historic performance to put
up one ten. So I think and the market thinks
the Heat have very little scoring options. Here we see
this total opened to two oh one, dropped till one.
This is the third time we've seen a game seven.
It's the third time we've seen a total dropped by
six points. Meaning the bookmakers know where the money's coming in,
(28:34):
but they don't anticipate how much the sharps and the
sharp money has been pounding the under Here's one thing
I'm watching for Sunday McKenzie. If the Celtics want to
advanced to the finals, they've got to do a better
job of taking care of the ball. In Game six,
Boston had seventeen turnovers that led to twenty three points
for the Heat. In their Game three loss, he had
(28:55):
a whopping twenty four turnovers, and in Game one loss
he had sixteen. What are I? Where am I going
with that? In these entire playoffs, the Celtics are one
and four when they turn the ball over more than
fifteen times, and ten and two when they stay at
or below that number. Some team to watch. Here's something
else to watch, Jason Tatum. As you pointed out, this
(29:17):
will be this fifth Game seven for the Celtics so
far Jason Tatum three and one straight up and against
the number. I expect Jason Tatum to answer Jimmy Butler's
performance tomorrow. Your thoughts. I think you hit the nail
on the head with the turnovers, because what is turnovers
in the NBA these professional athletes. It's really a a
lack of attention to detail. And that's why we've seen
(29:39):
when they've lost, the Celtics consistently have come back and
put up their best performances because they're that just more
locked in now. They don't have any room for air.
So just to put a number on it, they've lost
one game after losing a game. There twelve and one
straight up and a t s since January. By the way,
coincidentally or not, the one team to beat them coming
off a loss was the Heat March. But in general,
(30:01):
I like the Celtics. I think that twelve and one
number is real. I think they bounced back after a
loss and yep, my money will be on Boston. It
already is for the series. So I'm not betting the game,
just you know, waiting and hoping. But I do think
the Celtics get it done by the way, you mentioned
Jayson Tatum. It's funny because you think of him as
the young pup, but he's three and one straight up
in a t S. Jimmy Butler in his career has
(30:23):
only made two game seven's, oh and two straight up
in HS. Yes, yes, that's an interesting satellite too. I
don't know exactly what that means, but I find interesting.
We talked about this probably ten days ago heading into
this series. Although Miami was the number one seed, they
were the underdog Boston minus one seventy heading into this series.
(30:43):
In the history of the n b A, only twelve
times has a higher seed been an underdog, and they're
one and eleven. The only team to prevail was Utah
against the Lakers. That trend to me matters. That leads
me to believe that the lower seeded team is in
fact the better team. McKenzie is setting aside the analytics,
setting aside the numbers. Do you agree Boston frankly is
(31:07):
the more talented team. Yes, I just think the numbers
have become overwhelming. You know, he said his side, But
when you're beating teams, it's a pretty simp number. When
you're beating teams by fifteen points per game over a
three month stretch, you're probably one of the best teams,
if not the best team in basketball. The Heat have
been fine, They've been you know, you know, inspirational and
their grit, but they haven't done anything that that has
(31:28):
put put them on the on the level that the
Celtics have proven over the last couple of months. And
by the way, I think you're onto something where it's
rare that that you want to put your money and
you have that home crowd against you. It's rare that
you want to bet against home teams. But that's why
there's value their road favorites the last six years or
six against the spread, because you don't want to hear
(31:50):
that raucus crowd roaring at you when you're betting on him.
But it generally, even though sometimes it's tough, sometimes it's
tough to hear that crowd against you, it's generally the
right way to go to bed on a road favorite
like the Celtics. Somewhow night, Okay, buddy, we got about
thirty seconds not to put you on the spot. And
you don't have to have a best bet, but you
have a best bet, whether it's a player prop aside
of total anything. What are your thoughts? Yes, I like
(32:11):
the first half under nineties six and a half, game
sixes or game sevens. The later you get into the playoffs,
the better. This trend is first half unders are sixty
percent Round three or later, games six or seven in
the first half. And why is that? Because teams just
want to be in the game. They want to give
themselves a chance in the second half. We saw this
(32:32):
with the Maverick Suns. You know, all things can break loose.
Teams are shooting threes, teams are present full court, but
in the first half, conservative, close to the vest is
the way they play it. I like the under Alright,
good stuff, McKenzie. We'll talk to you next week. Thanks
Mann up. Alright, McKenzie rivers making on sports. We're just
hours away from NBA Game seven coming up. We got
(32:55):
more Vegas stuff. The NFL o t as in full swing.
They're an oddity on the betting revolving the NFL MVP
this year. There's already been a couple of best bets
having to do with team Total's futures, and the craziest
bet of the year so far, well, it had to
do with the other series Dallas and Golden State. I
(33:17):
will share with you what that was in the amount,
As one bookmaker called it, the baalsiest wager he'd ever seen.
My Bernie Frederi company Life from the Las Vegas Fox
Sports Radio Studios. This is the pregame show you always wanted,
So don't go away. You're listening to Straight out of Vegas.
All right, back on Straight out of Vegas, the pregame
show you always wanted to. Bernie Friddill come to your
life from Las Vegas Fox Sports Radio Studios. If I
(33:39):
go any further, I want to thank my broadcast team
back in Los Angeles turning all the dials keeping us
glued together. That would be Eric Kemp, Chris Perfect and
of course Brian Finley on the updates. Appreciate all the teamwork. Guys.
They will be with me until three am Pacific six
am Eastern as Straight out of Vegas transitions into Fox
(33:59):
Sports Sunday. All right, I tease the craziest bet all year,
and come on, we know that no NBA team has
ever come back from a three old deficit to win
a playoff series. That was the case when Dallas was
down three games to zip against the Golden State Warriors
heading into Tuesday. That fact didn't stop a Better at
(34:21):
Caesar's Palace from wagering wait for it, fifty thousand dollars. Now,
the odds were thirty to one, so if Dallas had
come back and won four straight, he'd win. He'd win
one point five million on the Dallas. Essentially, he put
thirty grand check that fifty grand to win a million
five on the Dallas Mavericks to win the Western Conference
(34:44):
Finals after they were down three games a zip. It's
never been done before. I mean, you have better odds
and uh, you know Gil Gilligan's Island re recording the
Uh you got better odds and uh what led Zeppelin
re record it into Gilling's Alan theme song and selling
a million copies thirty to one. Those really have that
(35:04):
great odds considering it's never been done. So the bet
was placed Tuesday. But then Dallas went out that night
and beat gold State one one on nine. They stayed
off elimination, but they head back to San Francisco and
you saw it happened the same better. He's consistent. He
also made a ten thousand dollar wager to win seven
and fifty thousand on the Mavericks to win the NBA
title when they balloon to seventy five to one again.
(35:26):
According to Caesar Sports but VP of Trading Craig Munkelow,
he said, this is easily one of the baalsiest wagers
I have ever seen. See they have been actually there's
been three oh comebacks and other sports, but never in
the n b A. That's sports betting at its finest.
Here are a couple of bets that I think are legit.
These are from pros Now again, and we're gonna get
(35:48):
into some NFL stuff later in the show. O t
s are underway, many camps are underway. It's never too
soon to start talking about the NFL. I'm pretty sure
fourteen weeks from Thursday Day we have our first NFL
regular season game. I know the Raiders are playing in
the Hall of Fame game this year. And I heard
(36:08):
something It's like, what the first Thursday, I think in August.
I have to look it up. It's right around the corner.
I mean, June one is Wednesday, so it's it's upon us.
And I will tell you that the handle already on
the NFL is healthy, particularly preseason totals bets And there
are two preseason totals bets that pros I know and
(36:32):
trust are on, and these make a lot of sense.
The first one, the Dallas Cowboys win total this year
is ten and a half. Now I realized they went
twelve and five last year, but they lost to Mark Cooper,
Cedric Wilson, Randy Gregory, Connor Williams. And the truth of
the matter is the other teams in their division have
frankly improved. Dallas, I think has regressed somewhat. Here's the thing.
(36:58):
The Pros are on the under of ten and a half.
There's one kicker to this. To me, that would be
a real caveat if you think the Cowboys are gonna
win eleven or more games. Remember, they've benefited tremendously from
their turnover ratio. In one they were plus fourteen on
the season. That was good for number one in the NFL,
(37:18):
them in the Colts Cowboys and goals turnover ratio plus fourteen.
When that happens in the NFL, typically the opposite happens
the next year. These things have a tendency to reverse
the next season. That's why one of the reasons the
Pros like the under Dallas Cowboys ten and a half.
One of the other bets that the pros felis solid
(37:41):
is actually the Raiders. Over their win total of eight
and a half. The Raiders added Davante Williams, who is
arguably the best receiver in football. You pair them up
with Derek Carr. That right there improved the Raiders, as
you know, I would see the rest of you know,
(38:03):
although the rest of the division is also improved. It
very much improved the Raiders. Now, it's been a while
and you have to be a real slappy to remember
this kind of stuff, But I bet a lot of
people do what what what car and Davante Adams did
at Fresnel State was incredible. They already have a ton
of chemistry. They have a real bond of friendship. They
set records and TV passes and receiving yards at Fresnel State.
(38:24):
They led the entire FBS. Look, the Raiders have a
great offense if they can stay healthy, solid offense, and
they add Chandler Jones, a perfect compliment to a fellow
Pro Bowl pass rusher and Max Crosby. So we'll see.
The Raiders are good on they should be improved on defense.
But I think it's a question mark one final thing.
It's a caveat. The Raiders had five walk off wins
(38:45):
last year, five one score games. That has a tendency
to also reverse the next year, So buyer beware. Now
this really surprised me. Odds to win the NFL m
v P. People are betting Josh Allen the seven one,
people are betting Mahomes. He got the usual suspects, Tom Brady,
Aaron Rodgers, Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow. If you think Matt
(39:08):
Stafford can repeat last year, he's fifteen to one, Dak
Prescott sixteen to one, Jalen Hurts eighteen to one, Derek
Carr one you ever heard of this guy? To Shawn
Watson to one, Lamar Jackson, Deebo Samuel fifty one. What's
the moral of the story. There's a guy who went
from two to one to one to fifty to one,
(39:31):
and now he's taken more action than Patrick Mahomes and
Tom Brady combined. Procesar's his name, wait for it three, Lance,
Trey Lance at the Fortins has taken more action to
win the twenty three NFL m v P than Patrick
Mahomes and Tom Brady combined. Good luck, ladies and gentlemen,
(39:53):
Be careful, drive safely on the way out. If you're
gonna bet Trey Lance, I think you're gonna need a
lot of luck. But hey, stranger things that happened, I
just can't name any of them. That's gonna do it for.
This edition is straight out of Vegas. Coming up Fox
Sports Sunday at Fox Sports Radio. Keep it locked right here.
I'm Bernie Fratto. This is Fox Sports Radio.
Fox Sports Radio News
Host
Jonas Knox
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