The W and The WCF

Discover why the WNBA rookies Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Cameron Brink are shaking up the league in ways we've never seen before. Hear personal stories from the Dallas Wings' home opener, where Angel Reese made her debut amidst a flurry of excitement and celebrity sightings. We dissect each rookie's performance and their potential to elevate their teams to new heights, while also celebrating the Dallas Mavericks' thrilling advance to the Western Conference Finals!

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Produced by : Chalyse "Lyse" Dishmon, Kevelle "Velz" Harmon, Blair Beezy, and Nuchie
Edited by: Blair Beezy
Music Produced by: KT on the Beatz

Episode Transcript

Lyse (00:11):
I like sports and that's it.
Yo, yo, yo, yo, it's the oneand only Lise.

Velz (00:24):
And it's your girl, vels, aka Velly Vell, if that's what
you want to call me.

Lyse (00:27):
And together we are.

Velz (00:30):
Locked In.

Lyse (00:31):
Sports Yo episode 28.

Velz (00:35):
Episode 28.
Yo Joe.

Lyse (00:41):
Episode 28,.
Baby, we are back with anotherone, and I'm just riding my
little high horse right now.
I don't know if y'all can tellor not.
But I'm happy.
Why?
Because the Dallas Mavericksare once again in the Western
Conference Finals.
That's why I'm excited, becausewe were the fifth seed and

(01:03):
somehow we have propelled ourway into the conference finals.
So that's why I'm happy.
Any more questions you got?

Velz (01:10):
No, um, but I understand that you're excited and I get it
, or whatever, and we're goingto get there.
We're going to talk about yourDallas Mavericks, um, but first
off, we're going to kick theshow off talking about the WNBA.

Lyse (01:25):
All right, Beasy drop, that beat Girls we run this
mother, all right.

Velz (01:31):
So WNBA, as I know, is in full effect.
And we just kind of wanted totouch on it briefly, you know,
because some of the star rookiesare playing um Kalen Clark's to
the angel Reese's, um, thecamera brings the Rekia
Jackson's, um.
So you know, we just kind ofwanted to shed a little light

(01:53):
and just kind of talk aboutwhat's going on.
So I will ask you this um, whatdo you think so far about the
season?

Lyse (02:01):
Oh man, the season has it's, it's gone.
I think it's start off prettygood.
Um, I know a lot of caitlinclark fans are not too pleased
about how the season is going.
Uh, with the fever down, oh two, they're looking search for
their first win.
They're actually playing rightnow against the connecticut sun

(02:22):
and I believe the Sun has nowregained lead.
It was the Fever that were up,but after halftime it looks like
the Connecticut Sun has cameback with a vengeance.
Yeah, but so far I think it'slived up to the hype.
Yeah, if I can say.
I actually got a chance to go tothe home opener of the Dallas

(02:43):
Wings, which was also AngelReese's first WNBA game, and man
, it was crazy in there.
It was rocking, a lot of AngelReese fans, but the Wings came
out with the dub Arika hit likealmost a buzzer beater, but it
solidified the game for theWings and the place just went

(03:05):
crazy.
She hit the goal head bucket.
Yeah, she did, and man, we hada good time out there.
One thing I didn't know isabout Angel.
She was getting a littlefrustrated because she wasn't
able to get her free throw.
She wasn't making her freethrows, but other than that she
looked good.
Her layups wasn't falling thatgame as well, but again, could

(03:26):
have been that first gamejitters and you know all those
people that came to see her.
Man Lotto was in the building,tyrese Maxey was in the building
, dirk Nowinski was in thebuilding, tony Dorsett was in
the building.
So I mean it had the star powerthere.
Like I said, I mean the game isgrowing, it's there, it's
getting all the attention thatwe had been preaching about when

(03:48):
we first started this podcastand actually see that come to
fruition, I really think it's areally good thing, man.
I'm just liking the trajectoryof what's going on.

Velz (03:57):
Yep man, cameron Brink been on a tear too, before you
go to Cameron Brink, I was justgoing to kind of shout out
Angel's stats real quick.
So far, she's averaging prettymuch 12 points a game, 12, 9
rebounds a game, 2 assists, 1steal and I mean that's not bad
and only about 2 turnovers.

(04:18):
Oh yeah, that's really good,you know, for her first year.
I mean 12 points, 9 reboundstwo assists she's absolutely
damn near a double-double Onesteal.
Yeah, yeah, I mean it's not bad.
I'm not mad at those stats,honestly, I'm not.

Lyse (04:30):
And she's starting.
Yeah, so it's hard to say thather game translated.
There was a lot of doubters.
I'm not saying they didn'tdoubt that she wouldn't make the
WNBA team it was B-18, but itwas more so doubt like how she
would go up against, you know,the other power forwards in the
league and so far she's damnnear averaging a double-double.
I think she's doing pretty well.

Velz (04:50):
Yep, and then so go ahead about Cameron Brink.

Lyse (04:53):
Yeah, cameron Brink man, they had played against the Aces
and Cameron Brink actually, youknow, was sticking with Asia.
I don't know if you caught thatgame, the Sparks and Aces game.

Velz (05:02):
I didn't get to watch.

Lyse (05:03):
Yeah, cameron Bray, she's no slouch, she's no punk.

Velz (05:08):
I was at work that game.

Lyse (05:10):
Okay, yeah, but she just wasn't letting Asia have her way
down there.

Velz (05:15):
So, man, yeah, she's doing good as well, averaging seven
points, five rebounds, twoassists and about three and a
half blocks per game, um, withonly two turnovers.
So I mean that's not bad.
She's been about 22 and a halfminutes.
Yeah, I mean, that's not bad.
I think I believe she starts aswell yes, she does so I mean the
you know, just a couple of themcoming in, you know,

(05:37):
solidifying their spot in theleague, letting them know that
we are here, absolutely this isour first year and you know I
mean it's, but it's only beenthree games, guys, we're not,
you know, we're just kind ofoverreacting right now.
We're just kind of like, but itlooks good, it does look good,
so far, so good.
Um, so what about?
What about old caitlin?
How you feeling about caitlin?

Lyse (05:54):
oh man, caitlin, she's.
I need everybody to like chillout, relax a little bit.
I've read comments.
Oh, she's a bus, like she's notshe's not a bus man.
Let's, let's stop that's what Isaid.
She's not a bus like all righteverybody, everybody is is doing
way too much right now.
Yeah, okay like clark thing.

(06:15):
Okay now, we've alreadyestablished that it was going to
be growing pains.
We already established thatthere was another jump between
college and pros, but then y'allcalled us haters, right.
So this was to be expected, butshe's not doing bad, it's not
that it's not that she's doinghorrible, it's just not what

(06:35):
y'all thought, because, remember, y'all said she was going to
come in and dominate and do allthat and blah.
Now y'all said that she did.
I think she understood that.
You know, there's another level, and I may not fully be at this
level at the start of theseason, not to say that towards
the end.
That she may not be, that'svery much so possible, and I

(06:57):
feel like right now she'sfinding her groove.
People were mad at the coachbecause they, because she said
that you, you know, there'sthings that kaylin needs to do
better, or things you know,stuff like which yeah, as a
coach, you don't I mean, butyou're, you're assessing your
team and then her as well.

Velz (07:14):
You know they're going to ask you questions about kaylin.
She's going to tell you thetruth like we can all see it.
You know it's being on display.
So there are things, somethings that she does need to do,
but my thing is why?
First year, right.

Lyse (07:24):
Why do people think that you so?
When you first go to a new job,you know it all already, so
there's no learning curve at all.
It's the same thing.
It's the same thing.
It's a learning.
Anytime you step into somethingnew, you don't.
You don't know everything aboutit.
It's your first time there.
She's never played in the wmbawmba before.
So all of a sudden she's justsupposed to know everything

(07:46):
because y'all donned her thegoddess of basketball.
Like let's, let's everybodyjust relax, let's chill let's
relax.
Hey, the the caitlyn haters,relax like you're doing way too
much.
She's gonna be fine and she'snot a bus go ahead with her.

Velz (08:00):
I'm sorry with her inefficiency because she hasn't
been super efficient, which isis cool, she's a volume shooter
Like you just said it'll come.
She's averaging about 17 points, about four rebounds a game,
six assists.
She's averaging one still, butshe's averaging seven turnovers
a game and she leads the leaguein that.
She's number one in that inturnovers.

Lyse (08:23):
That's about that ball handling you was talking about.

Velz (08:25):
Right, right, ball's going to be in her head.
She has to get better handlingthe ball, but I think, as you
know, once she plays every teamin the WNBA and once she gets
used to the physicality and thefaster pace, she's going to be
fine.

Lyse (08:38):
I really do.

Velz (08:45):
Stupid pick on that ass.
I saw it.
I saw it.
They kind of been trying tobully Kalen on the court, but it
was expected.

Lyse (08:49):
Can you blame them?

Velz (08:50):
No, it was expected, because they're like okay, we're
going to show you this sameNCAA basketball.
Welcome to the WNBA, in whichthey should.
That's how everybody's welcometo the WNBA or whatever
professional league moment.
Everybody's going to have theirmoments, but I still think,
averaging about 17 with the ballin her hand failing to bring it
to that brick wall.
That shit was funny.

(09:11):
What the screen yeah.

Lyse (09:13):
I mean, it was a screen, that girl, I see it, boom Okay.
Okay, my bad, it was a toughscreen.

Velz (09:19):
Yeah, that was nasty, but I mean I think she's still like
I said, once she adjusts andgets used to the league, they're
going to be in trouble.
And this is kind of like offtopic, but still on topic.
I'm wondering if Team USA willbring Caitlyn along for the ride
.
I'm wondering if they're goingto give that last spot to her,

(09:41):
or if they've already given itto her.
I want to know who makes thesquad.
We know who's on the men'ssquad, yeah, but we don't know
women's.
I don't know who's on thewomen's squad just yet.
And then it's also interestingbecause the WNBA season is going
on, so do they pause it?
You know what?
I don't know Because most ofthe top players, most likely
You're going to be playing forTeam USA.

(10:01):
Absolutely Like period theytrying to win a gold medal.
I mean, the WNBA season will behere, so I'm wondering if they
will pause the season.
That's a good question, but Ithink that they will bring
Kaylin along.
She may not play many minutesor she may, I don't know.
But you know, it depends onwhat they see in practice and
what they see.

Lyse (10:19):
I agree, and Vils too.
Back, I agree, and Vils too.
To back up a little bit aboutthe turnovers, I will say this
All those turnovers are not herfault, that is just the
chemistry is not all the waythere yet with the team, because
you know she makes like I'm notgoing to say Luka passes, that
would be a stretch, but shemakes those tough passes.

(10:40):
Or you know she feeds the ballcreatively and you know those
girls teammates hands are notready for that or they're not
ready for those quick passes orsome of those, you know those
dimes that she throws.
So, all those assists are not onher Some of it is on the team
for not just simply catching theball, just like any other

(11:02):
player that has a ball in theirhands in the NBA or in the WNBA.

Velz (11:06):
It's going to happen, right, but she does lead the
league in turnovers right now.

Lyse (11:09):
She's going to have to fix that.

Velz (11:10):
And she's not the only guard with the ball in her hands
.
So I mean, we'll see.
I'm sure to get better, I'msure to get better.

Lyse (11:15):
And that's like I said.
They was hating on the coachbecause the you know being for
real and calling it what it is.

Velz (11:23):
Calling a spade a spade.
She wasn't being disrespectful.

Lyse (11:26):
She's just like she got stuff to learn.
She does.

Velz (11:29):
With every player that starts coming to the league.

Lyse (11:31):
Absolutely, you don't know at all, you've never done this
before You're new, it's expected.

Velz (11:37):
So everybody calm down.

Lyse (11:39):
She's going to be okay, right, but I will say this we
have seen the effects of KaitlynClark around the league.

Velz (11:49):
We're looking at the game right now and they're playing
where the Pacers play and it'spacked.
It looks like an NBA game.
It has NBA attendance and I'mnot even capping.
I think it's sold out for real.
That's crazy to me, so thatwithin itself it's sold out for
real.
Like that's crazy to me, sothat within itself, like it's
definitely gonna change.
It is, it's.
She's definitely like changingthe game.

(12:10):
Like you can see the effects ofCaitlyn absolutely so.

Lyse (12:13):
Yeah, and you know another thing I'd like to address,
because, like I'd be up in thecomments and stuff and I just
get irritated.
I said you know what, I'll justaddress it on the pod.
Um, she didn't make anybody getnew.
You know, bring in new wmbateams.
That was already kind of ineffect yeah, oh yeah, yeah, that

(12:33):
was caitlin like everybody'slike.
Look, say thank you, caitlin.

Velz (12:38):
Um no, this was already being, you know, worked behind
the scenes people just be on theinternet talking I know or, or
should I say typing, typing justanything like they just be
talking, and I'm like she didn'tdo that and then you know now
they're getting charter flights.

Lyse (12:56):
That also has been in the works.
It has.

Velz (12:59):
But could it have been a little?

Lyse (13:00):
escalated because of kaylin.
Okay, I'm making give that toher, but that had already been
talked about last year, whenBrittany Griner was getting
harassed in the airport and howthe ladies were saying it's hard
to get rest before a gamebecause you're flying commercial
and all that kind of stuff withlayovers.
You know what I'm saying sothese things had already been

(13:21):
kind of going in the background.
We can't I mean Kaylin's greatnow, I guess, but we can't give
her, you know everything.

Velz (13:30):
You know what I mean.
Come on now.

Lyse (13:33):
Let's not be like that.
So that's one thing I want tosay.
And speaking of new WNBA teams,there was a new team that was
introduced that's going to beplaying in 2025.
Yep, yeah, the Valkyries.

Velz (13:45):
Yeah the why they call it the Golden State Valkyries
Golden.
State Valkyries yeah, and sothat's exciting.
Uh, the league is trying toexpand, um, and I just feel like
it gives a lot, of, a lot moreyoung women the chance, the
opportunity to play at the prolevel right um, I was having a
conversation with some friendsin a group message and one of

(14:06):
them said that they feel likeit'll water down the league.
You know what I mean.
Like it'll make it like.
You know what I mean.
We want to keep the leagueinteresting and they feel like
adding those teams will water itdown.

Lyse (14:20):
Why they just feel like it will.

Velz (14:22):
Yeah, because they're just like.
So what they mentioned was 10of the 36, I believe, players
that got drafted this year only10 of them.
You know, made the team and Imean that is kind of like when
you look at it, but at the sametime those 26 other women could
be playing for another team.

(14:42):
You could put you could throw avet over there or throw a
really good player and give themsome draft picks, and they'll
be decent.
I feel like at least they'llstill compete.

Lyse (14:51):
You know what I mean.
Think about when they doexpansion teams like in the NFL
or the NBA Did it water downthose?

Velz (14:59):
Lewis, it's different.

Lyse (15:01):
It's a little bit different.

Velz (15:04):
It's almost just like watching the ncaa tournament.
Right, there's 64 teams.
I believe that start, you know,at the beginning of the ncaa
tournament.
But a lot of those teams havetalented young women who play,
right, you know, I mean, theymay not make it all the way to
the final four, but we still seetalent on display.
Yeah, from from differentschools around the nation.

(15:26):
Absolutely, but yeah, I don'tthink it would water them down.

Lyse (15:30):
I don't think so too.
And to get back to my point,because you said it was
different, I'm thinking in thespan of how they do expansion
teams win, and I don't know ifthe WNBA is going to be any
different, which I don't thinkit should be but when you bring
an expansion team, usually eachteam has to give up a player off

(15:50):
their team to create theexpansion team, right, right,
and then plus the draft orwhatever like that.
So I mean, I don't understand.

Velz (15:59):
I think it's going to be fine.
I'm excited that the WNBA isexpanding.

Lyse (16:03):
Yeah, toronto's getting a team.
Toronto's going to be fine.
Um, I'm excited that the wmbais expanding.

Velz (16:05):
Yeah, um toronto's getting a team.
Toronto is going to be gettinga team.
Now we don't know the name ofit yet, but they will begin to
think a team.
I think that that's really cool.
Um, so I'm just excited to see,uh, where the wmba is going
yeah, it's going to continue togrow yeah and um, speaking of
you stars and players in theWNBA, candice Parker.
Hmm, candice Parker has retired.

Lyse (16:29):
Man that caught me off guard.

Velz (16:30):
Man what?
It caught me off guard too,because I thought that she would
play another year with the Aces, At least one more year, Right.
But you know she retired and Ibelieve it's in part because of
the deal that she got withAdidas.
Yeah, I mean, she's the, I wantto say she's the president
she's a president of some kindof subdivision for adidas which

(16:52):
is big time it is.
so not only is she that, nowshe's president of that, then
she also analyzes basketball menand women.
Um, mainly she's been doing themen's side, which is incredible
to me, but I mean, candice isjust talented.
So we kind of just wanted togive Candice her flowers real
quick.
She's a three-time WNBAchampion.

(17:14):
She's a one-time finals MVP,she was Rookie of the Year when
she first came in in 2004, Ibelieve.

Lyse (17:23):
Please highlight that she won Rookie of the Year and MVP
in the same year.

Velz (17:28):
Right, she was definitely the Rookie of the Year and the
MVP, which I don't believe hasever been done before she did
that, which is crazy to thinkabout.
That means she came in theleague ready, ready, all caps
she was ready.

Lyse (17:41):
Now that's somebody that's going to dominate a league.
When you can come in as arookie, win ROI and MVP Yep.
Oh yeah, you goaded.

Velz (17:53):
You goaded.
Yep, and I'm going to pauseright here.
It kind of takes me back towhen we were talking about and I
believe this was in a groupmessage or on Twitter we were
talking about the women'sbasketball, rushmore, and I was
like I didn't know if I wantedto put candace on or not.
And now I feel crazy you should, because I'm like what was I

(18:13):
thinking?
Yeah yeah, like candace is onthe mount rushmore let's just
stop playing.
Yeah, she's definitely she's onthe mount rushmore of just
women's basketball player.
Uh, women basketball playersperiod.

Lyse (18:25):
Nah, yeah, because you say Kansas ain't on the Mount
Rushmore.
What they be saying on theinternet you don't know about.

Velz (18:31):
No, I know about that.
I know about that, but that wasjust a take.
I kind of just thought I wasmoving too quick.
But anyway, two-time WNBA MVP,seven-time WNBA All-Star she got
the All-Star MVP in 2013.
She's a seven-time All-WNBAFirst Team.
She's a three-time All-WNBASecond Team Defensive Player of

(18:57):
the Year in 2020, which is crazybecause it was later on in her
career.
She was the assist leader in2015.
She's also a two-time NCAAchampion in 07.
Shout out to Pat Sumner Right 07and 08.
She did her thing and I meanshe has so many other accolades.
We know the type of player thatCandace is.

(19:17):
She's very talented, she'sgraceful when she's on TV.
You know what I mean, and wejust kind of wanted to just
shout Candace out.
I'm going to miss watching herplaying basketball.
I remember being in college andshe was at the time.
She was playing college balland she was just one of my
favorite players to watch alongwith, like Maya Moore, who is
also retired now, and otherplayers Simone Augustus, who

(19:41):
just got the assistant job oneof the assistant jobs at LSU, at
her alma mater that's bigSylvia Fowler.
It was a lot of differentplayers that I enjoyed, but
Candace was one of my favoriteones and to see her career, how
it played out and what she'saccomplished, and then her
future.
It's just amazing.

(20:01):
So we just kind of wanted togive Candace her flowers.
I don't know if you had anythoughts.

Lyse (20:06):
No man.
Just a shout out to CandaceParker.
Man, we're going to clap it upfor Candace on a hell of a
career and what she has broughtto the game.
The only thing that I hadwanted to say and you did a
great job writing down heraccolades is when I said I was
shocked that you know sheannounced her retirement.
But then again I thought aboutit because I actually watched

(20:27):
her documentary.
I can't remember if it was onPrime.

Velz (20:29):
I don't have to watch that I haven't watched it yet.

Lyse (20:31):
Yeah, you need to watch that.
That was really good Okay.

Velz (20:34):
ESPN always does a good job on this Always.

Lyse (20:37):
It was excellent.
And when she retired I kind ofafter I was like shocked.
I kind of went back to thedocumentary and you know she
said, and even in her statementyou know she said she'll never
cheat the game and she hadcontemplated retirement, you
know, years prior, just becausethe surgeries and you know she
doesn't have great knees anymore, so and it took her a lot to

(21:05):
get ready to play and get readyfor a season and you know.
So I just think she no longerwanted to go through that
process of getting ready.

Velz (21:10):
You know, you know season and you know, you know she went
out on top.
She went, she didn't get toplay.

Lyse (21:15):
Uh, unfortunately she got injured and her stint with the
with the anxious.

Velz (21:19):
She was still hooping a little bit, though she was
definitely a good role player ohyeah, she was.

Lyse (21:22):
She was started but she got a ring so she got to ride on
her white horse out the game.
And you know, shout out toCandice, do your thing on Adidas
.
That's also a good look forwomen's basketball, yes, great
look, Because she can bring inmore of these girls getting
deals and shoe contracts andstuff like that, man.

(21:44):
So, oh yeah, shout out to BigAsia.
The Asia Ones are coming outnext year, man.
So Asia finally got her Nikecontract, yes.
So I think, depending on whatthey look like, I may go and
support that, and I'm not.
And I'm being real, I get them,Hooping them.

Velz (21:59):
I'm hooping them, but I definitely support.

Lyse (22:01):
Yeah, see, here's the thing.
Now I ain't gonna just buynothing in the name of support.
It gotta look good.
If it ain't looking good, Iain't buying it.
So, as you better, bring yourish, because I ain't getting it
all right, but I'm sabrina tools.
I'm sabrina tools, it's fine, Isaw them the other day.

Velz (22:13):
Yeah, they all right so, but that's it.

Lyse (22:16):
We just want to give love to candace parker.
Man, hell of a career.
Uh, this second phase of yourlife I, I pray brings you
nothing but joy and blessings,and I can't wait to see what
that flourishes into.
Yeah, all right, definitely,let's go on.
Keep it moving.
Vales, busy, drop that beat.

(22:41):
Hey, you know what that meanswhen we play that.
Del we about to talk about theNBA.
Huh, amen, the part she weabout to talk about the NBA.
Huh, amen, the part shecouldn't wait to talk about.
I'm telling you, I'm just whoo,whoo, I'm an MFFL.
Let's recap the second round,vales, let's do that.
Okay, let's start on the East.
So in the semi-conferencefinals I believe that's round

(23:06):
two, over in the East we had theCeltics against the Cavaliers.
Celtics did what they weresupposed to do and was take care
of the Cavaliers in four games,oh, in five games, with the
winning 4-1.
Mm-hmm, vils, any takeaways?
Anything you want to say aboutthat series?
Not?

Velz (23:25):
too much.
Donovan Mitchell, jared Allenand LaVert.
Well, lavert didn't play thelast game but Mitchell was out
the last two games of thatseries.
I believe Jared Allen was outthe last two games or three if.

Lyse (23:36):
I'm not mistaken, he didn't play that series.

Velz (23:38):
He didn't play the whole series.
Okay, so then, yeah, I justfelt like the Celtics were Even.
With the Celtics not having KPKristaps Porzingis, they were
just overall, just better thanthe Cavaliers, and I expected it
to happen that way.
I thought that they were goingto sweep them.

(23:58):
I did call a sweep in the lastepisode and they didn't sweep
them.

Lyse (24:02):
But they beat them in five .
Celtics are vulnerable.
You can get a game or two onthem.
How did you feel about this,donovan Mitchell, not playing
the final two games?

Velz (24:13):
Well, for one he was injured.
What was the injury?
I knew he was injured, but isit an injury that you can kind
of play through knowing ifyou're trying to.
I think he was like injured,like he couldn't have played
through that.
You know what I mean.
And I want to say it was eithera hamstring or something like
that, and you know those arekind of tough to try to.
I've seen it happen with AD,I've seen it happen with Brian

(24:35):
his hamstring, like that stuffyou can't play through.
And I'm thinking that's theinjury that he has, but also
like we got an interestingsummer coming up in the NBA, so
I feel like that had a littlebit to do with it as well.

Lyse (24:48):
Okay, and I heard and he's a free agent after this year.

Velz (24:51):
I want to say he I don't know if he's a free agent, okay,
but I know that he can move.
Teams are interested in him.
I know Miami's interested inhim, the Lakers, so I mean I
know he can leave.
And then also I heard that theCavaliers were frustrated with
Jared Allen for not getting aninjection and trying to play on

(25:12):
his knee.
They were mad at him for thatand I'm just like I mean, if he
don't want anything injected inhis body, then that's on him.

Lyse (25:20):
My body, my choice.

Velz (25:21):
I don't know the details of the situation, you know, but
when I read that I'm just like,okay, if he doesn't want to be
injected to try to play and, youknow, take that risk, then
that's on him, right.
But they grew frustrated withhim because of that, so I can
see him on the move as well.
But yeah, I don't know, I justexpected the Celtics to beat

(25:41):
them, you know what I mean, andI thought that they were going
to get swept.
They didn't get swept, but theygot, gentlemen, swept.
And so here we are.

Lyse (25:49):
Here we are, here, we are here.
We are All right.
Then the next team that playedand this went seven, it was the
Pacers, and the Knicks.
And the Pacers took care of theKnicks.
They did In the garden In thegarden Game seven.
Tough, tough, tough atmosphereto do that on the road in a
playoff game in a game seven.

Velz (26:11):
So did the Knicks nick, they nicked but I will say this
they nicked, but I will say thisthey were injured you didn't
have julius randall at all inthe playoffs, right.

(26:32):
And then, once they got to gameseven, I mean Ananobi was in and
out of the series, uh.
And then Jalen Brunson wasdealing with an injury he
fractured his hand, I believe,so he couldn't even finish the
game, right, um.
And then Josh Hart also wasinjured.
He was questionable for gameseven, right, so it's just like

(26:56):
was questionable for game seven,right, so it's just like had
they been healthy.
I could see them moving past thepacers, yeah, but since you
know they had who they had,jaylen brunson gave it all he
had yeah, he did um.
He had a hell of a series, hellof a playoffs he definitely did
a season and a playoffs, um,but a lot of people have been
saying that, uh, tibbs, like he,he runs his players into the
ground yeah they say that abouthim.
They say, you know, said aboutDerrick Rose, jimmy Butler, all

(27:19):
of them like I'm just like dang,I never really looked at it
that way, but I mean what?
Well, you know, I don't knowwhat else are you supposed to do
?

Lyse (27:25):
I mean, he don't utilize his bench like well.

Velz (27:29):
I mean I don't know, but uh, knicks are done.
But it did go 7.
It could have been anybody'sseries.
But the Pacers went into theGarden man with some confidence
and they beat them boys and notjust beat them, they was kind of
beating them.
Sadly, they was up like 20 orsomething at one point in time,
like 20 plus so I think that'swhat the range of the final

(27:51):
score was.

Lyse (27:51):
I think it was definitely over double digits.
Yeah, it was, was definitelyover double digits.
Yeah, yeah, it was Well notover double digits, but it was
double digits.

Velz (27:59):
So now we have the Pacers and the Celtics in the Eastern
Conference Finals.

Lyse (28:03):
We do, we do.
So let's talk about that.
Who do you have?
The Celtics, okay, the Celtics,okay, the Celtics, celtics.

Velz (28:16):
I'm not, I mean.

Lyse (28:17):
And how many?

Velz (28:18):
games, though I'll say Celtics in five, because for
some reason the Celtics they'revulnerable.
They are vulnerable On certainnights and you can go in there
and beat them.
You know what I mean, like andI'm not even trying To bring up
the Lakers, but just going backTo the regular season, whenever
the lakers didn't have brian orad, they let that team come in

(28:38):
and beat them at home, you knowI mean.
So they're vulnerable and I'veseen it in this playoffs as well
.
Um, and without them having kp,I think for the first two games
at least of this series, Ithink that they can be beat, but
I still have the Celticswinning the series and I have
them winning in five.
In five, I'll say five.
I'll give the Pacers one game.

Lyse (28:58):
Are you disappointed in Jason Tatum at all in this
playoff series?

Velz (29:02):
Jason Tatum is who Jason Tatum is, and I don't know why
people keep trying to crown himand anoint him oh, he going to
this level.
Jason Tatum next, oh, mvp.
He is going to the next level.
Jason tatum next, oh, mvp.
He is who he is.
That's just.
That's just how I feel rightnow.
Yeah, jason tatum is who he is,you know, I mean, and that's
why at first, like when theywere really really hot

(29:22):
throughout the regular season, Iwas like, okay, the celtics,
you know they could be, theycould be scary, yeah, but as the
season fizzled out and we andnow we're in the playoffs, so
I'm just like they're the sameCeltics team to me but, at first
I had them like okay, theycould really win the
championship, but now I don'tknow.
Like we just talked about,they're vulnerable and so

(29:44):
without KP, I just don't know.
But Jason Tatum is who he is.
I apologize to the Tatum fans.
I'm not trying to throw anyshade.
I like Tatum.
I do too, but I just feel likelet's try to stop anointing
these players and trying tocrown them so early, even though

(30:05):
he's been in the league for aminute now, like for about six,
seven years.
Now five, six years, somethinglike that.
Let their career play out yeah,it used to be.

Lyse (30:15):
Before you can give anybody a title or crown, you
had to prove something first.
He ain't proved nothing, yetnothing at all he's been to the
finals once and he has lost.
Now he's always in the playoffs, of course, so, which is good,
but we need tatum to take thatnext step.
But sometimes I feel like tatumshies away from the big moments
.
So you said all that.

(30:36):
My next question, and we'lltalk about moving over to the
West who is the better?
No, who is the best player onthe Celtics team then?

Velz (30:50):
The best player on the Celtics team.
See, this is where it getsweird, because I still feel like
it's.
I feel like tatum is the bestplayer on that team, um, but I
feel like their role playerskind of carry not care.
Well, I don't know, I don'tknow how to say this.
I just feel like their roleplayers play an important role
on their team, like white yeah,he shows up in big moments he

(31:13):
definitely shows up, and becauseeven um jaylen brown is
inconsistent to me he is, I justdon't trust him.
I don't know it's something, butI just now, I'm like as the
years go on, or just you?
Know, because I don't thinkneither one of them.

Lyse (31:27):
I'm not old no, no, no, but I wouldn't consider them in
their prime.
Would you say they're in theirprime?

Velz (31:32):
I don't know if they're in their primes just yet.

Lyse (31:34):
I don't think so.

Velz (31:37):
I guess we'll have to see as time goes on, but I don't
know you want to move on to?
The west?
Did you give your prediction?

Lyse (31:48):
oh no, I didn't.
So everything Vail said aboutthe Pacers and Knicks, I totally
agree.
I think injuries just did theKnicks in.
If it went for injuries, we'llbe talking about the Celtics and
Knicks in the EasternConference Finals.
But we have the Celtics andPacers.
I'm definitely taking theCeltics, but I think the Pacers

(32:14):
is not going to make it an easychallenge for them.
I think now they have builtconfidence because they have
kind of rolled through thisplayoffs, given that they've
beat teams that have sufferedmajor losses because of injury.
You know, first round it wasGiannis and Dame, so they was
able to kind of skate throughthat one, and now it was the
whole Knicks team was just onhospital beds, right so.

(32:37):
But that builds confidence.
So I'm taking the Celtics, butI think it's going to take them
at least six games to get thatdone.

Velz (32:46):
Okay, celtics in six is what you got.
That's what I have, and I don't, and I don, I don't.
You know, I don't think that'sa bad prediction all right.

Lyse (32:55):
So over on the west, uh, it was the denver nuggets and
the minnesota timber wolves, andthat went seven and to my
surprise, the minnesota timberwolves knocked out the denver
nuggets.
This, any takeaways, anythoughts, any feelings from that
series?

Velz (33:15):
Well, it's kind of like I'm happy that they did, because
it kind of let us get a littleget back on.
You know what I mean, becauseDenver was on their high horse
after they won theirchampionship.

Lyse (33:27):
You think so, or was it Mike Malone?

Velz (33:29):
Denver.
I'm going to just say, well, itcould be Mike Malone.
I'll say Mike Malone, and Idon't know if you saw his press
conference.
Yeah, he's salty, it's allright, it's okay it was funny.
And I love how.

Lyse (33:41):
He said stupid ass questions.

Velz (33:42):
Yeah, he was upset y'all.
He was angry and I get it.
You know what I mean, becauseyou thought she was going back
to back and that didn't happen.
But I'm happy that it happened.
And I don't hate Denver becauseI like Jokic.
I like Jokic a lot.
I think he's funny off thecourt.
I think his game is crazy.
I think he's unstoppable inthat paint, in that restricted

(34:04):
area.
You can't do nothing with him.
He can pass the ball, he canrebound.
He's an unorthodox player.
So I like Jokic Right.
But I am kind of I'm glad thatthey went home.

Lyse (34:15):
You know let's go sip with this Typical Lakers hater.

Velz (34:16):
You know what I mean.
Let's humble ourselves againand let's regroup and recoup and
think about you know what youcould have did better.
You had a 20-point lead in gameseven and you blew it.
You know what I mean.
And people talked about youknow the Lakers whenever they
blew those leads against Denverand lost the game and we said it
can happen to anybody.

(34:37):
You know what I mean, becauseno lead in the NBA is safe and I
say that for any team Like youcannot get comfortable when you
have a big lead and y'all evencame back from a huge lead
against the Clippers.
We did In the second roundright, was it second?
round, the first round firstround, first round against the
Clippers, so, um, but I'm I'mhappy they're gone, I'm happy
that Mike Malone is mad and he'supset and he's feeling it.

(34:59):
Um, and I also love how, uh,anthony Edwards you know they,
the cameras was following himand he was just like you know, I
had Jamal Murray in handcuffs,yeah, and then he was like who
the pappy?

Lyse (35:12):
because you know they were talking about who's your daddy.
No, who the pappy?

Velz (35:15):
yeah, like you know, we here and that that game seven
was crazy though it was, thatwhole entire series was really
good and entertaining, um, but Iam happy that the minnesota
timberwolves um got rid of thenuggets, yeah.
So it makes it even moreinteresting now because you know
, and we haven't talked aboutthe Mavs yet but we have the

(35:36):
Mavs left, we have, I mean,minnesota left, and then we have
the Celtics and the Pacers.
So this is it's interesting.
It's interesting, it'sinteresting to see who's going
to win their first win.
Who's going to get their firstwin.
So now the playoffs is startingto get real now.
But yeah, those are my thoughtson that series.

Lyse (35:58):
Yeah, I definitely had.
I knew that series was going togo seven, so I had Denver in
seven.
Yeah, you cannot lose that gameup 20 at home in a game seven.
You just cannot do that, denver.
So you're right, you need tosit back, take a step back.
You just cannot do that, denver.
So, you're right, need to sitback, take a step back away from

(36:19):
the game, reflect, humbleyourself, come back next year.
Man, the Timberwolves, they'rerolling, they're confident and
they get out there and they runand they're big and so, yeah, I
just think it was just a littletoo much for him.
You know, going down, oh two,but then coming back winning

(36:39):
three straight, yeah, uh, yeah,that that's a, that's a tall,
tough task.
It is um.
To then try to win fourstraight.
You know what I mean.
So the odds weren't in theirfavor, really, um, but what they
had going for them was becausethe game seven was at home.
Hey, I'm not a Denver haterLike the Laker fans over there.

(37:00):
They wanted to see Mike Malonelike how he was today.
I just laughed at it.

Velz (37:05):
I thought it was hilarious , but that's all I got.
See Laker fans are terrible man, that's why they sitting at
Edwards.

Lyse (37:13):
See, laker fans are terrible man.

Velz (37:13):
That's why they sitting at home, hey hey, hey now, hey,
now, hey now Playoffs.

Lyse (37:18):
Ain't no boy now hey, I'm just saying At the end of the
day, we have gone further thanyou.

Velz (37:24):
Just like last year, I get it, so we was here last year,
so this is y'all turn now.
Y'all got it this year we wasin the Western Conference Finals
last year.
I was at home.
Y'all didn't even make theplayoffs last year Again we
tanked.
I get it.
We was in the play-in.
We made it all the way to theWestern Conference.
From the play-in we're here now.

Lyse (37:49):
We got to talk in presence .

Velz (37:50):
We got to talk in presence , brian, and them getting ready
to go get this gold medal in thesummer.

Lyse (37:56):
so get your rest, brian we got a gold medal to win.

Velz (37:58):
They're worrying about the gold medal yeah, I am, I ain't
gonna lie.
I've been looking forward tothis, so for me at least, I have
something else to look forwardto.
The summer ain't justcompletely over this is starving
.
I ain't gotta wait till October.
I can see these fellas winAfter everything is said and
done.
I can see these fellas go tryto get a gold medal.

(38:18):
And you know, some of theplayers that are going to be
playing for Team USA are stillplaying in the playoffs right
now.
So it's just going to beinteresting to me.
I can't wait.

Lyse (38:26):
Anyway, you know, vails is getting ready for the summer
Olympics.

Velz (38:30):
Yeah, yeah, I'm ready to get my gear.

Lyse (38:32):
Some of us are, you know, anticipating the NBA Finals, and
my best, buddy Bales, is overthere gearing up for the
Olympics.

Velz (38:40):
I get it.
Y'all happy, y'all excited.
No, I mean, I get it.
Y'all haven't been in theWestern Conference Finals since
Since 2022, kavale, yeah, it'sbeen a minute Two years ago.
I understand, I understand.

Lyse (38:54):
See, look, at least look, we didn't want a championship
ring in 20.

Velz (38:58):
You're right.
We got that one and then wewent to the West Conference
Finals last year.
All right, so you know it'scool because, like I said, this
summer, Just wait for theOlympics.
This summer.
Just wait for the Olympics.
This summer is going to be veryinteresting in the NBA.
I believe that let's go aheadand move on.

Lyse (39:14):
Alright, so second round, and I called it, I called it, I
said Mavs in six.

Velz (39:21):
I think we both did Yep.

Lyse (39:24):
Let me have my moment.
Mavs in six and if you don'tknow what I'm talking about,
you've been listening to therock.
The Mavericks played the numberone, seeded Thunder and took
care of business.
Four games is two, took care ofbusiness.
We don't want to hear you sayThunder no more.

(39:45):
Remember, y'all was all SGA,y'all ain't going to be able to
do nothing.
They're young.
Yeah, absolutely.
And what did I say?
I said I wanted to bank onyouth, those boys, okay, let's
just start over here.

(40:07):
The Mavericks have just amazedme so far in the playoffs man,
and particularly in this serieswith the thunder, because the
thunder are fast.
They're young, um, they have abona fide superstar and, uh,
shay gilligan's alexander uh,unfortunately j-dub didn't,

(40:30):
didn't arrive to the party.
He had moments in games wherehe was taken off.
But I will honestly say youthkilled the Thunder in this
series.
The inexperience killed theThunder in this series and
that's it.
But I don't want Oklahoma Citybecause I don't hate the Thunder
man.
I actually found a new respectfor the Oklahoma City Thunder

(40:54):
because I'm a boy's hoop.
They play together, they playfor each other and they're going
to be scary because they'realready a little spooky, but
they're going to be scarybecause, for one, they got draft
picks at the Wazoo, so it'slike they're going to just keep
getting better for one.
What the Thunder are lacking,though, for moments like this

(41:15):
that they were in, they werelacking that veteran.
They were lacking that veteranleadership Because in game six,
which was the deciding game,they were up 17 points.
We stole that game.
We literally stole that game atthe end, and that's where that

(41:35):
veteran leadership would havecame into play, would have
settled the guys down when, whenthey went cold and we went on a
run, that veteran leader wouldhey, hey, settle down fellas.
Hey, we're just in a cold spot,let's just play defense.
Let's try to slow this Mavsteam down if we can.
Let's not make these idioticfouls and these idiotic mistakes
.
That's where that veteranleadership comes in, and that's
the only thing that I feelOklahoma City is missing is that

(41:59):
kind of player.
Vales, what do you think aboutOklahoma City?

Velz (42:08):
Like you said they're young and they're coming, said,
uh, they're young and they'recoming, um I.
So you said you were impressedwith this, um, with this victory
that the mavs got over thembeat them in, yeah, in six and I
had them.
I had the mavericks winning insix two only because of
experience.
Um, they are talented butthey're not as good as I feel

(42:32):
like, and I've and I talkedabout this in the group I feel
like OKC was one of those teamsto where, even if they would
have beaten y'all, I stilldidn't see them like, I didn't
see them going to the finals.
I didn't see them winning thefinals.
I just felt like they were verybeatable.
They were also the number oneseed, which was Everybody saying
the weak number one seed yeahit was a week number one seed,

(42:53):
which I mean it was one, two andthree, it was Minnesota, it was
Denver and it was OKC.
I just didn't, even though theystayed at the top of the
Western Conference throughoutthe entire season.
I just felt like they werealways beatable.
It just was something.
They're missing something.
But when they get thatsomething, they're going to be
really good.

Lyse (43:13):
Yeah, I can see that turn into a dynasty.

Velz (43:14):
Yeah, yeah, they can be really good now, but, like this
year and this is just my opinionI just feel like they're
repeatable.

Lyse (43:22):
Yeah, I mean literally they're ahead of schedule.
They wasn't supposed to be init, Like nothing.
They wasn't supposed to benumber one, they definitely
weren't supposed to be going tothe conference semis.
They're so ahead of schedule.
Yeah, but do you agree thatthat's what they're lacking?
The talent is there but it'sthat veteran leadership.

Velz (43:44):
Yeah, they need that veteran leadership.

Lyse (43:46):
And, like you said, had they had that, then maybe things
would have been a little bitdifferent.
You've already said thisoffseason is going to be insane.

Velz (43:52):
It's going to be a little bit different.

Lyse (43:52):
You've already said this offseason is going to be insane,
it's going to be crazy.
Yep, what veteran do you seecome into the Oklahoma City team
that can take that team to thatnext level?

Velz (44:02):
I don't want to cheat the game, because we talked about
this with one of our friends,but I feel like and they made me
see this and they made merealize this I wouldn't mind
seeing KD go back.
Right, I wouldn't mind seeingKD go back.
I wouldn't mind seeing him goback to OKC and having that
reunion and kind of likerighting the wrongs or whatever

(44:22):
the case may be him.
But other than KD, I can'tthink of anyone off the top of
my head who will be willing togo to OKC, move to OKC and be
willing to play with those boys.
And we've been kind of talkingabout this the draft is not
going to be exciting this year.

(44:44):
So, even with the picks thatOKC has, it's just like who are
you going to take?

Lyse (44:48):
You know what I mean.
Who are you going to draft?
That's trade.

Velz (44:52):
It is trade value, you're right, it's take.
Yeah, I mean, who's gonna?
That's trade, that's that's.
That's true, it is trade value,you're right, it's trade value.
So, um, I don't know that thatokc is one of those mysterious
ones that you, they, may make amove that we may not see coming,
yeah, you know.
So, other than katie, I wouldlove to see him go back to okc.

Lyse (45:07):
Other than katie, I don't know yeah, and and that's a good
point and we gotta make sure webring him on.
Let him get off into that.
When he brought that up, thatwas I see that and I think
that's what they're missing.
They're missing that KD, kevinDurant type player.
They're missing Kevin Durantand I think Kevin Durant in some

(45:28):
sort of way owes OKC achampionship.
So come back, lead those boys,be that veteran and go get you
another ring, and then all willbe like like we said all will be
forgiven.
Yeah, you know, because youknow if I was on the wrong side,
I would have Kevin to rap.
If you came back and won a ring, it's all love.

Velz (45:47):
Yeah.

Lyse (45:56):
But I would like to say a turning point in that series,
the Mavs against OKC, was PJWashington's big play.
Pj Washington stepped up bigfor us Three games straight.
He was putting up either 30 or28 or 25.

Velz (46:05):
At the beginning of the series.

Lyse (46:06):
Yeah, yeah, because he kind of like he cooled off game
five and six but he came up bigin six when we needed him he did
.
But games two, three, three andfour magnificent he, you know,
he capitalized on the moments,he capitalized having the ball,
shooting the ball.
And you know what I know y'allcall paul george playoff p, but

(46:27):
now the real playoff p is pjwashington, because he has been
big and I want to see that Ican't give it to Paul.

Velz (46:32):
George, I'm not even trying to give it to Paul, but
we're not going to call him.
I got to.

Lyse (46:37):
But I'm going to see, especially what he does in this
next series against Minnesota.
Hey, PJ has, I got to give itto him.
He showed me a different side.
I like his tenacity.
I love the tough guy role he'sembracing the standing on
business.
I ain't no punk like I'm herefor the big moments.

(46:59):
Pj has been on a tear and shoutout to pj man, okay, keep doing
the damn thing.
He he's, he's been great.
And another thing I want toaddress I want to address they
talking about kairi, becausekairi made only nine points and
he ain't been looking for a shot.
Now, trust and believe kairican go off at any moment he
feels like it.
Kyrie purposely didn't put upthe points and I believe that

(47:21):
was like game four, game three.
We got the dub though that.
That's see that basketball is ateam sport, right.
If, if, if PJ is doingeverything, he got like
30-something points and Lucas,it's not necessarily I need to
score, I need to do everythingelse.
I need to be trying to feedthem guys the ball.
I need to be locking in ondefense and that's what Kyrie

(47:43):
did.
So when people say like, oh, ifyou hold Kyrie, you can't you
can't hold, Kyrie.

Velz (47:48):
Oh no, you know.

Lyse (47:49):
Kyrie just said oh, they don't need me for scoring, I'm
just going to facilitate, I'mgoing to make sure I'm locking
in on defense.
I'm going to be that veteran,I'm going to be talking to my
guys, I'm going to keep themengaged.
That's what Kyrie did in thatnine-point game.
Again, like I said, he scoresat will Whenever he feels like
taking over.
He will Trust me, that's not anissue.

Velz (48:14):
That's not.
That's not an issue.
That's not an issue.

Lyse (48:15):
Well, I know some average fans that had an issue, as the
games are going on yeah, I mean,I was saying he needed exactly.

Velz (48:19):
Yeah, I was saying that he needed to be more aggressive,
he needs to be trying to score,absolutely.

Lyse (48:23):
And but now you say well, because and let me let me
clarify that because I took, Itook kairi 19 and a half points
over and he no.
But that's the truth.
I mean, that's why I care.
Right, I'm called Spade Spade,that's the only reason why I
care.
Shout out to Prize Peace.
That's the only reason why Icare, other than that Kyrie can

(48:44):
score five points and we win thegame.
I don't give a damn.

Velz (48:48):
I don't care, I'm there with you.

Lyse (48:52):
You know what I'm saying now, if I'm betting on you, yeah
, I need you to cover, but if Iain't, I just want the dub.
I don't care how we get it yeah.
I don't care.
The whole bench can score allthe points None of my starters
scored.
As long as we won, that's allthat matters to me, so I just
wanted to shout that out.
And man, djj Derrick Jones Jrhas had a hell of a playoff

(49:13):
series.

Velz (49:14):
Now, that's who I like.
I've been liking Derrick JonesJr.
Yeah, he came up big for us in36.
And those ducks been nasty.

Lyse (49:19):
Y'all man like.
This team is just different.
The chemistry is different, thecamaraderie is different.
Everybody's locked in, no punintended.
Everybody is dialed in,everybody's playing for each
other, everybody's smiling, likewhen you have a team that looks
like that, that's dangerous forwhat we're getting ready to
enter into.

(49:40):
So look, I'm not trying to beall Maz, maz, maz, but I'm
looking at this team and thisteam looks different.
I haven't seen this Mavs teambefore.
This is a different team andI'm loving every minute of it,
every minute of it.
All right, let's move on.
So now the West Carver's finalstage has been set.

(50:01):
It's the Mavericks against theTimberwolves.
Who's winning?
And in?

Velz (50:06):
how many games I'm going Minnesota in seven.
I feel like they have a lotmore size over you guys.
I feel like they just have adepth that y'all don't have now.
And I'm not shading the Mavs,because the Mavericks do look
scary, you know what I mean.
And Luca didn't even have agreat, great, great series you

(50:26):
know what I mean, because he'shalf hurt.
Right, but I just feel like so Isaid this to someone last night
.
I was like I feel like Luka andKyrie are going to have to go
2016, bron and Kyrie in order towin this series, but it could
go either way, because wheneveryou're talking about game sevens

(50:46):
, it could be anybody's game inthat game seven you know what I
mean and that team could go onto the NBA finals.
I feel like PJ if he's going tobe guarding Cat, I don't know.
I don't know Gafford or PJ,whichever one y'all choose.
And then you got Rudy, whoreally, to me, is overrated it's

(51:09):
probably going to be PJ on cat.

Lyse (51:12):
It's going to be between him and DJJ yeah, yeah.

Velz (51:15):
And then I feel like I feel like Rudy is overrated, I
feel like he's shouldn't havewon defensive player of the year
.
That's just my opinion, youknow, maybe that could like
balance itself out, but I thinkthat the Minnesota Timberwolves
they just look a littledifferent right now and if you
can knock out the defendingchamps like you have the
potential to make it to thefinals.

(51:37):
Right, I would love to seeDallas go to the finals because
I know Dallas would be lit andyou know we got to max our way
out to downtown Dallas one goodtime during that series.
If they do make it to thefinals, but I don't know, I just
I got Minnesota in seven.
I think it's going to go thedistance.
For sure.
It's not going to be an easyseries for any team, either team

(51:58):
.
So yeah, that's just how I feel.

Lyse (52:01):
That's fair and I respect that.
I can't call you a hater oranything like that, because I
respect that, because itliterally can go either way.
I'm taking Mavs in seven.
Again, it's going to go to this.
This is not going to be a quickseries.
There's a lot on the line.
Obviously, going to the finalsis on the line.
Also, that sense of pride.
Both teams are playing outsideof their minds right now.

(52:24):
Both teams are locked in.
I feel like that because itlooks like the Minnesota
Timberwolves are having a greattime whooping people's ass and
we're having an exciting timewhooping people's ass.
So it's just going to be aseries full of whooping ass.
It's going to be a veryphysical series and I'm glad
that it's going to be because wejust came out of a physical
series, so we know what aphysical series feels like.

(52:44):
We know what it's like to beprepared and what to expect.
It's going to be fun.
They said Mavs and Timberwolvescan feed generations.
I do believe that it's going tobe fun.
But I got Mavs and SevenAssembly 2 Minnesota.
This team has never been hereeither.

(53:08):
A lot of our team hasn't beenhere either, but the two people
that have have and one of thosetwo people actually has a ring
so they know what it takes toget to that next step.

Velz (53:23):
And I'm assuming you're talking about Jason Kidd and
Kyrie Irving- I'm definitelytalking about Luka.

Lyse (53:28):
You said they have a ring.

Velz (53:29):
You said two of them have a ring.
I said one out of two have aring.
Okay, my bad.

Lyse (53:32):
My bad, and that's Kyrie Irving, but Jason Kidd does have
a ring and Jason Kidd, he'sbeen better and I thank Jason
Kidd.
He's been better.
And I think, jason kid, I thinknow he finally has the pieces
that he wants and he's able to,um, you know, do the kind of
defensive schemes that he wantto do and stuff like that.
So he's been better.
Now he does take too long calltimeout.

(53:54):
I want him to work on that.
But as far as this playoffs beengoing, I've been, um, happy
with Jason kid, um, but back tothe matt uh, mavs and
timberwolves series.
Man, it's going to be good, um,I'm banking again on us being
more physical, us wanting itmore, us having the experience

(54:15):
of being at this point, um, butliterally can go either way, but
as a mass fan, maz and sevenbaby and that's what I got, all
right.
All right, and just in case wejust in case we're not able to
get back on with you all anddiscuss the conference finals
going into the finals, we'regoing to go ahead and do our
finals predictions, all right.

(54:36):
So you got Celtics andTimberwolves Vails who's winning
the Larry O in how many games?

Velz (54:46):
I hate to keep riding this bus, but I'm going.
I'm going Timberwolves, I'mgoing Timberwolves in seven.
I think that one can go thedistance as well.
Now it's going to take a lotout of the Timberwolves Because
they've been playing someDepending on how the series goes
against the Mavericks.
They've been playing some long,long series To get that chip,
but I feel like I have theTimberwolves over the Celtics.

Lyse (55:08):
All right, that's fair.
I'm not mad at that Because ifthey were to beat us I would
have Timberwolves beating theCeltics.
So obviously I'm goingMavericks and Celtics in the
finals and I think that could beMavs in six.

Velz (55:29):
It's going either way.
Either way, it's going to beinteresting because, like we
mentioned before, somebody isgoing to get their first ring,
yep, and so it is definitelygoing to be interesting to see
and I cannot wait.
And yeah, yeah, that's the NBAfor you, and I cannot wait, and
yeah, yeah.

Lyse (55:46):
That's the NBA for you.
That's the NBA.
All right, we got one moretopic, then we're going to get
up out of here.
Busy drop, that beat it.
Ain't nothing wrong with that.
We're better off, all right?
Yep, let's just talk about theRangers right now man, we got
two more topics then.

(56:10):
So right now, man, um, moretopics then.
So the rangers, we're, we're.
We started off hot, but we havedefinitely cooled down so much
so that they actually got booed.
Um, they're not.
They're not this past last game, but the game before last they
got booed against the.
Uh, they were playing thecleveland.
I think either it was theCleveland, I think either it was
the Cleveland Guardians or itwas the Los Angeles Angels.
It was one of those two gamesthat they got booed, and that's

(56:31):
not good, especially just comingoff a World Series, and we're
still riding high over thatchampionship and you're playing
to the point where now you'regetting booed.
That's a problem here.
Of course, we are injured andinjuries is plaguing our team,

(56:54):
but this is still early.
They played 5 million games, soit's still early.
I'm not pushing the panicbutton, but I'm starting to
raise my eyebrows because youcan't feed me a championship,
can't?
And, and then, and then thentake it away.
Like you know, I, I it.
How do you think?
Like, why did y'all get used tothat?

Velz (57:12):
well, because I did, okay, because it was when you win a
championship it's different youknow I'm saying, when your city,
your city and your state win achampionship, yes, I mean, you
can't help but to be spoiled.

Lyse (57:29):
Right, and I want that man , and I want that feeling again.
I mean, I can't even describewhat it was like out here during
that time yeah, and so I needour Rangers to pick it up.
Man, let's get healthy, let'scome on, man.
But I need to see somethingdifferent.
By the time we get to All-Starbreak and just to give a little
breakdown, I'm only going to dothe AL West the Seattle Manors

(57:55):
are now number one.
They're one half games above us.
We are sitting at number two.
We're exactly at 500, 24-24.
So that tells me we're just anaverage team and I don't want to
be an average team coming off aworld series.
That does not sound right.
Um, and houston, like I said,houston started off at the
bottom.
They have now caught up andthey're in third place.

(58:17):
Um, so I never counted houstonout.
Even though I hate Houston, Iknow what kind of team Houston
is.
So we need to focus on, youknow, getting healthy for one,
and then like, because our whatwas that?
Wyatt Lankford?
He's out, you know, and he'sbeen out for the longest, and
that's supposed to have been oneof our pick.

(58:37):
That was just supposed to justtake us to the next level, and
he's hurt.
Like I said, we're battlinginjuries and he's hurt.
Like I said, we're battlinginjuries.
I'm not giving up on the team.
I just need my team to dobetter.
Let's get better, let's gethealthy and I think we'll be
alright.

Velz (58:49):
I think right now the hottest teams in the league are
the Dodgers at 32-17.
The Phillies at 34-14.
And then you have the Guardiansat 31-17.
And then the Yankees at 33-15.
So those are the hottest teamsright now in the league.

Lyse (59:12):
They're doing their thing, man Yankees.
Yankees number one team in thewhole league.

Velz (59:16):
And they've been on fire.

Lyse (59:17):
They done brought that back because they got Juan Soto
out there and they just beenkilling it.
So baseball is up and know wecan, we gotta get on the train
and we're gonna get left behind.
Yeah, we definitely have to didyou hope we pick it up?

Velz (59:31):
yeah, I hope we pick it up .
I didn't have much to say aboutthem.
I hope we pick it up and, likeyou said, we play a lot of game.
Well, uh, baseball players,they play a lot of games.
It's like 100 and some games inthe season.
So I'm not not going to hit thepanic button just yet, I'm just
going to root for the Rangersand I feel like as long as we
make the playoffs, anything canhappen.
So let's just try to get there.

(59:52):
First We'll see what we'relooking like at All-Star, like
you said, and then we'll go fromthere.

Lyse (59:57):
Sounds good, sounds good and Vales before we get out of
here.
We must.
It would be so wrong if wedidn't.
It's not just the DallasMavericks that's in the Western
Conference Finals, it's in Vails.
No, it's not.
Our beloved Dallas Stars havemade it to the Western
Conference Finals.

(01:00:18):
I mean, dallas is turning.
We literally have games everyday, starting this week
Mavericks Stars, mavericks Stars.

Velz (01:00:26):
All week.

Lyse (01:00:27):
All week.

Velz (01:00:28):
It's Western Conference Finals playoff sports going on
in our state that's crazy.

Lyse (01:00:34):
So, man, how are you feeling right now with these
Dallas Stars?
Because they had a game sevenand they took care of the
Colorado Avalanche.
So how are you feeling rightnow about the Stars?

Velz (01:00:44):
Actually, we beat them in six.
Oh, game six.
Okay, yeah, we beat them in six.
I'm loving the energy right now, the Dallas Stars energy.
Let's make it to the StanleyCup final and see what we do.
We have to take care ofbusiness in the Western
Conference finals.
Yes, we do.
I will be getting my jerseysoon.
I've been trying to get ajersey even before they, you

(01:01:08):
know, were making all this noisein the league and I just have
been procrastinating.
But I will be getting my jerseysoon.
I would love to go to a game.
I just know that those ticketsare expensive, but I would
definitely love to go to a Starsgame just to kind of like be in

(01:01:29):
that playoff atmosphere andjust feel the excitement.
You know celebrate.
You know the city, you knowwe're winning right now.
Like the city is winning,period.
I may not be a mavs fan, yeah.
But like the city of dallas iswinning, yeah, you know, I mean
the, you know.
So the metroplex is winning.
So, um, I just hope that wekeep it up.
Uh, we are now waiting on thevancouver canoes and the edmund
oilers to finish.
They are currently in the gameseven right now.

(01:01:49):
So we'll whoever wins thatseries, whoever finishes tonight
, that's who we'll be playing inthe western conference finals.
So it's getting real.

Lyse (01:01:57):
So I can't wait to see.
It's fun.
It's fun, man, and I secondeverythingails, said man, the
city is turned up, we got gamesall week.
Go stars, whoever we play,let's whip they ass and I'll
catch y'all in the Stanley CupFinals.
That's all I got to say.
Man, alright Vails, is that awrap?
On episode 28?

(01:02:17):
I believe that's a wrap.
Alright, I think we got us agood one.
What you think?
I think so too, yeah alrightalright, y'all know what to do.
Uh, continue to.
You know, tap in with us.
Um, you know, we, we payattention to all things.
Sports man, it's going crazywmba nba playoffs, nhl playoffs.
Like it is, it's real stupidright now.

(01:02:38):
So you know, we're gonna staylocked in, as always, and I
always want y'all to stay lockedin.
Don't forget to like, follow,share, listen, download,
whatever.
Do it all.
Um, definitely catch us onFacebook at LOCD the letter in
sports, spell the correct wayand also on Instagram by the
same name locked in sports.

(01:02:59):
That's LOCD, the letter insports, spelled the correct way.
And where else can they find us?
Vils, you?

Velz (01:03:03):
can also find us on X, or aka Twitter, at L-O-C-D, the
letter N and sports spelled thecorrect way.

Lyse (01:03:11):
All right, I think that's it.
Y'all, as always, go check outour dude Dev at the my Thoughts,
my Opinions Sport Podcast.
They dropping that good ishstraight out of Baltimore.
Go check our boy out.
And also check out our man theAnt-Man on Beat the Clock Sports
Podcast.
He will be dropping someepisodes soon, so be on the

(01:03:32):
lookout for that.
We're going to get out of herelike this.
It's the one and only.

Velz (01:03:36):
Lise, and this your girl, vels, aka Velly Vell, if that's
what you want to call me, andtogether we are Locked In Sports
Peace.