October 18, 2025 • 64 mins
If you love bold calls and smarter hoops talk, pull up a chair. We’re breaking down the 2025–26 NBA season with a roundtable that isn’t afraid to challenge the consensus: international stars versus U.S. headliners, why culture may beat hype this year, and how one coaching switch could redefine the Knicks’ identity. We get specific on who gains ground in the East, which West team can actually threaten OKC, and whether Denver’s quiet roster shifts leave Jokic carrying too much on his own.
We start with the talent map, acknowledging a global top tier—Jokic, Giannis, Luka, SGA—while making the case for American stars who still change series: Edwards, Tatum, Mitchell, Brunson, and a rising Mobley. Then we tackle New York’s pivot from Tom Thibodeau to Mike Brown, exploring how more ball movement, heavy pick-and-roll, and better corner shooting could unlock a top-three seed, even if the defense dips. Across the East, the Cavs’ continuity earns real trust, Miami’s culture lurks, and Boston’s ceiling hangs on Tatum’s timeline. Expect razor-thin margins, ugly wins, and one play-in result that jolts a narrative.
Out West, we lay out the case for OKC’s depth and versatility while flirting with Houston as the chaos team nobody wants in a seven-game series. The biggest potential letdown? Denver if injuries and rotation losses stack up, even with a transcendent Jokic. We go deep on MVP odds—Jokic’s inevitability, SGA’s two-way engine, Wembanyama’s leap if San Antonio wins enough, Luka’s best-case scenario with a stronger supporting cast—and we crown the coaches still setting the standard: Erik Spoelstra’s relentless culture and Steve Kerr’s adaptable offense.
The fireworks arrive when we ask if LeBron is helping or hurting his legacy by staying this long. Stats say he’s still elite; narratives say endings matter. The truth, as always, lives in the details—and in the way his presence still reshapes every matchup. Come for the hot takes, stay for the nuance,
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_06 (04:32):
Welcome everybody to another episode of the Ride Home
Rants Podcast.
This is, as always, your host,Mike Bono.
I got a great annual episode forus today.
I have our NBA preview show forthe up-and-coming 2025-2026
season.
I have a panel of guests herethat we're going to be talking
(04:54):
ball all night long here.
So, guys, I'm going to let themintroduce themselves.
I need the answers to these twoquestions first and foremost.
Obviously, I need your name, butI also need to know are pogo
sticks overrated or underrated?
And is eating a bag full ofplain marshmallows something to
be proud of?
And TJ, we're going to startwith you.
SPEAKER_04 (05:16):
Yeah, um, TJ Lett, uh, we've been on the show
multiple times.
It's always a great time.
Um, pogo sticks are I thinkthey're underrated because
they're not talked about as muchanymore.
I don't I've I haven't seen apogo stick in probably 10 years.
So I think they're underrated.
I think they need to make acomeback.
Um eating a whole bag ofmarshmallows, I think it's
(05:38):
something to be proud of becauseafter two or three, and you
know, if you're not feeling itat that point, then you know
there's something you're builtdifferent, you know.
SPEAKER_06 (05:47):
Built different for sure.
Cole, what about you?
SPEAKER_00 (05:52):
Hey, Cole Schneider.
Uh, been on a few times.
Uh, really appreciate you guyshaving me as usual.
Um, pogo sticks, I've actuallynever used one, so I can't
really say if they're over orunderrated.
Um, I know that they're funnywhenever somebody falls on one.
Uh, and then marshmallows.
If I've ever finished a bag ofmarshmallows, could really be
the question it I have.
(06:14):
Uh I used to be a really fat kidwhen I was little, so I think
I'm pretty proud of that.
That's pretty cool.
SPEAKER_06 (06:19):
Yeah, that's built different, Cole.
I mean, we've already said it.
Uh, Tony, let's go to you.
SPEAKER_02 (06:26):
My name's Tony, and I am also like TJ, um a
reoccurring guest on Ride HomeRants.
Pogo sticks.
I never I never hopped on a pogostick in my life, or if I did,
it was a long time, so I cannottell you whether they are
underrated or overrated.
And eating a bag of marshmallowsjust is.
(06:47):
It's nothing to be proud of orashamed.
It just is.
unknown (06:51):
Okay.
SPEAKER_06 (06:53):
And last but not least, we here we got stoy.
SPEAKER_03 (06:57):
What's going on, guys?
Good to be back on the show.
Um, as far as pogo six go, man,when you're a guy my size,
they're just bad news.
Uh I can't see anything goingright if I try and hop on one of
them things.
So uh we'll we'll say overratedfor that sake.
And then I don't know who likesjust raw marshmallows, but we'll
(07:18):
go with impressive.
You're gonna go through a wholebag.
I feel like you got thedetermination on it uh to get
through that thing.
So build different, right?
SPEAKER_06 (07:25):
Yeah, absolutely.
Um always the everyone, MikeBonnehoe.
Pogo sticks.
I mean, in my 20s, you know,they were they were underrated.
I mean, hopped on one when Icould bounce back after the
fall, you know, uh quicker thanI than I can now.
I'd say that right now.
I'm gonna go overrated becausejust thinking about that made
both my knees hurt.
(07:46):
Um just thinking about it.
So yeah, that's where I'm at inlife.
And eating a full bag of plainuh marshmallows, I mean, I'd be
proud of it at the time.
Maybe not the aftermath that'sgonna happen afterwards, but you
know that yeah, you're builtdifferent.
You got that iron stomach if youcan get through a whole bag of
just plain marshmallows.
(08:07):
But yeah, that's that's a toughone for me.
I mean, I'd I'd be proud in themoment, but after that, yeah,
we're not we're not gonna dealwith the with the aftermath too
well here.
But we're not here to talk aboutfood or pogo sticks, we're here
to talk about the NBA and theup-and-coming season here.
So uh Cole, let's start with youon this one.
Um, but you know, there's a lotof people who say the top five
(08:31):
NBA players are allinternational, and maybe even
the top seven to eight uh out ofthe top five players in the NBA
right now.
Does an American player evenrank in there, in your opinion?
SPEAKER_00 (08:46):
Oh, absolutely.
I mean, you could say AnthonyEdwards is up there.
Um, you know, it just kind ofdepends on the year he has and
how consistent he can be.
Um, I think Jalen Brunson isprobably up there.
Um, I don't know.
If the top five is so toughbecause you got Giannis, Luca,
Shy, uh, and then uh Jokic.
(09:10):
So it's just like, yeah, I mean,I do think some of those
American players can crack inthere, but I think that top five
is really good.
Um, but I think on any givenyear, one of those American
players are up there.
SPEAKER_06 (09:22):
Yeah, I this is the top one for me.
But Bill, what about you?
SPEAKER_03 (09:29):
Yeah, I mean, I I just started thinking, and
similar to how Cole was saying,though those top guys, I mean,
Giannis, Luca, Shy, or Shay werekind of on down the list.
Um, you know, Wemby, you want tokind of even go further down
into that, projecting forward.
Internationals, man, they'reputting out some players, but
um, I think the the uh Americanguys still still are there.
(09:53):
I think if you put together, youknow, the combination, NBA, um,
or if you're looking at kind ofworldwide, the US is still um at
the top, you know, Tatum, yougot you know, Edwards, like we
were saying, um, best collectionof talent, but um the
international guys are reallyshowing up and and definitely
some of the top guys.
SPEAKER_06 (10:12):
Yeah, for sure.
TJ, what about you?
SPEAKER_04 (10:17):
I I think that this is one of the most talented just
pools of players all through theentire league.
But I would say that you know, atop five, there's always gonna
be an argument.
You have your three, maybe giveor take, but everybody's a
little bit interchangeable.
Um I I I'm looking at somebodylike maybe like Apollo Banquero,
like somebody like that, wherewe kind of forget about him
(10:39):
until you're facing them.
You're like, this guy's ananomaly, you know, match, you
know, you have those matchupnightmares.
Um, and then you get yourunderrated guys, in my opinion,
like uh like a Donovan Mitchell,like some of those other players
that maybe don't, you know comeout and make the crazy, crazy
plays and the big dunks oranything like that, but they're
(11:00):
doing it night in and night out.
So no, there's definitely alittle bit of an argument that
there's uh, you know, there's anAmerican uh born player within
that top five, top seven forsure.
Okay, Tony, run us out here.
SPEAKER_02 (11:14):
I would have to I'd have to say, um, if there was
prior to his injury, I probablywould have had to say Jason
Tatum prior to his injurybecause Tatum was putting up
points in bunches, and he's andit I he was also, I believe, I
don't know whether he evenplayed on the USA's gold medal
(11:36):
team.
I don't know whether or not heplayed, but I know he was part
of that team.
That team was just so stackedthat some of the stars didn't
even get any playing time.
But mark my words, and I knowpeople probably aren't gonna be
happy with this take.
There's gonna be a country otherthan the USA that wins the gold
medal in 2028.
I mean, the the gap is justclosing.
(11:58):
I mean, look at Serbia.
They took the USA to the brinkbefore USA won.
France did well.
And I mean, if Luca decides tokeep putting to play for
Slovenia, those stars make thoseinternational teams better, like
the Slovenias, the Greeces, theGermanys, the Australias, and
(12:19):
Canada, too.
Can't forget about our neighborsin North Canada.
It's not as big as a gap as likeit was when you had the dream
team.
SPEAKER_06 (12:29):
Well, I mean, come on now.
We're talking about the dreamteam there.
That's that's apples to orangeswith this this league and
playing in now and the differentstyles of play.
But I mean, I see your point tothat.
In that, you know, thesomebody's gonna give the U.S.
a run for their money.
I can give them that.
I still think the U.S.
(12:50):
pulls it out at the at the endbecause it's just it's the
American thing to do, to just begritty and come down to the wire
and just outlast people uh withour with the endurance that we
have.
But um it's gonna be a lotcloser than a lot of people are
wanting it to be.
Um I'm kind of with all y'all onthis one in that you know the
(13:14):
international players aredefinitely in that top five
right now.
Um going to seven or eight,seven to eight.
I mean, you can you can make theargument for the American-born
players in uh Tatum and allthem.
And um uh Cooper, you know, justCooper Flag coming in, you know,
(13:34):
don't know what he's gonnareally do, you know, being a top
pick.
Uh interested to see what hedoes and where he starts to
build his career again, lookingforward with like the Wimby uh
for the internationals.
But it it's it's gonna be aclose race, but definitely,
definitely more internationalplayers are gonna be cracking
that top 10 and pushing thoseAmericans out for sure, um, just
(13:58):
with the sheer ball that they'replaying right now.
Um, but you know what?
I I was gonna go back around thehorn, but uh Cole with the
Knicks hat, I got to go to youfirst on this one here.
Um, what are your thoughts onthe Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau
being fired and being replacedwith Mike Brown?
Do you think it makes the Knicksbetter with this move?
SPEAKER_00 (14:20):
Yeah, I I'm one of the Knicks fans that really
loved Tibbs, so um, I was reallysad to see him go.
Uh, do I think they're betteroffensively?
Yes.
Defensively, I'm not sure yet.
Um, I think offensively they'regonna move the ball more and
more pick and roll uh withtowns.
I think that's gonna work reallywell for them.
(14:40):
Um they already have, I thinkthey were top 10 corner shooters
in the NBA last year with OG anduh Mikel Bridges, so that makes
their pass out shooting a lotbetter.
Um, so yeah, I foresee thembeing great offensively.
Defensively, I'm not sure withBrown.
Um, I know that when he was withthe Kings, they weren't the best
defensively, but they wereincredibly good offensively,
(15:03):
pass the ball around.
Um, so it's gonna beinteresting.
I think I think overall, atfirst they're gonna be a little
rough, uh, but I think later inthe season they're gonna really
bring it together like they didlast year and um probably end up
in the top three in the east.
SPEAKER_06 (15:18):
Do you do you think it's gonna be more shootouts
now, with you know the defensebeing a question mark going into
this year?
SPEAKER_00 (15:26):
Well, the NBA is all shootouts nowadays, anyways.
Like it's so rare to have a verygood defensive team, um, you
know, that keeps a team under100 every game.
Like that's almost impossiblenowadays.
But um, yeah, I think I thinkthey're probably gonna score
maybe like the Cavs did lastyear, where it was a ton uh in
the wins.
And uh, but I don't know aboutdefense with them right now
(15:49):
because they don't have a lot ofthey have OG, who can play great
defense, and they got MitchellRobinson.
Um, but I don't know if they'veeven really fleshed out their
starting roster quite yet.
I think they're still trying tofigure out who's gonna be
starting at center for you knowall of these different
positions.
SPEAKER_06 (16:04):
Yeah, I mean that's tough coming down here to the to
the open there.
But uh Stoy, what are your whatare your thoughts on this one?
SPEAKER_03 (16:12):
I I'm a big Mike Brown guy.
I I do think he's a really goodball coach, and I I thought
Tibbs was a great ball coach aswell.
So um better, I I'm not sure.
Um, and and when you kind oflook at the East, I think you
know it's not a ton ofcompetition there.
You got the Cavs, number threeteams kind of the magic, and the
(16:33):
Knicks.
Um, and when you kind of look atthat, I think if you could have
stayed steady, I think you couldhave been enough without making
a move.
Um, but I I get the NBA isresults oriented, and uh they
kind of want to make a movethere.
And even though the uh Knickslooked a way we haven't seen in
quite a long time, it must nothave been enough.
(16:54):
So um I I I can see it workingout for him, but I I definitely
can see why not making the movecould have been the right time
to run it back one more year andkind of a week east um and have
some continuity to kind of beable to make a run there, but
we'll see.
SPEAKER_06 (17:09):
Yeah, okay.
I I get your points.
But TJ, what about you?
SPEAKER_04 (17:14):
Yeah, I mean, it's it's remarkable because I mean,
we just saw, I forget the guywho got fired from Milwaukee.
I mean, having the number oneseed, he got fired the next
year.
So you're always looking for thenext best thing, you're always
looking for the next, you know,shiny piece or whatever comes
with coaching.
Um, and then good organizationsum are looking for that guy, but
great organizations have foundthat guy and have established
(17:35):
that guy.
So you wonder if this move isgonna be, you know, what it is.
Um, but the Knicks are adangerous team.
I mean, they got a lot ofpieces, and they got and again,
with the East being as injuredas it is right now, um, with
Tatum, with Halburton, um I Ithink they can make a lot of
noise.
So I think Mike Brown mightaccidentally slip into a good
situation versus him being agreat coach.
(17:57):
I think he's a good coach, but Ithink the situation is just good
for him.
I think that if he cannot screwit up, uh it he'll be
successful.
SPEAKER_06 (18:05):
Okay.
SPEAKER_04 (18:05):
Tony, what about you?
SPEAKER_02 (18:09):
From Mike Brown being having been a Cavs coach,
I think the Knicks are more orless gonna be the same.
There's not really gonna be anykind of difference other than
the coaching change.
Knicks are gonna still make theplayoffs, probably be a top five
seed, not four or five seed inthe east.
And you know, they win whichthey'll probably end up losing
(18:29):
to either one of the Cavs or thePacers or something again.
Wow.
SPEAKER_06 (18:35):
Just wow, with that though.
That's that's a bold stance withthem being five.
I I don't see them falling tofive in the east with where the
east is this year.
Um, I don't think the move makesthem better, but I don't think
it makes them worse either.
It's just the the nature of theleague, the talent they have on
(18:58):
that team.
I mean, hell, I think anybodycan go in and just coach that
team to a three seed.
And just kind of making that runwith where the East is this
year.
I mean, you got um the Cavs, uh,the Pacers, and I mean, I don't
I don't trust the Celtics thisyear with with everything that
(19:18):
happened there.
We're we're gonna get into thathere in a little bit.
Uh but Tony, we're just we'rejust gonna get it out here then
now for you.
Who's your NBA finals previewand who wins?
SPEAKER_02 (19:28):
Ooh, this one might actually be tough.
Take me a moment.
I am going to say this.
LA Clippers are gonna make theirfirst NBA Finals appearance.
They're gonna finally break thecurse.
The Clippers are gonna maketheir first NBA Finals
appearance just out of the blue.
(19:50):
And out of the East, they'regonna go against the Indiana
Pacers.
We're gonna get another LAIndiana final.
I'm probably going to be wrong,but this is the best, uh it's
probably the best that I cancome up with now because I
haven't seen any preseason ballat all.
(20:14):
I basically haven't watched anybasketball since Game 7, so I
haven't looked at any rankings,any previews, none of that.
SPEAKER_00 (20:23):
But I do know and I do know.
SPEAKER_06 (20:31):
I got you with that one.
I know it's tough.
I know when we're recordingthis, there's still a couple
preseason games left here uh toget through to the start of the
season by the time this airs isgonna be tip off of the regular
season.
Um but you know, we asked thetough questions here on the show
here.
But uh, TJ, what about you?
SPEAKER_04 (20:51):
All right.
A lot like Tony.
There's uh I've caught a coupleof games, but um not not
followed a lot of stories yet.
Not a lot of stories yet.
Um give me give me Houston inthe West.
Give me a team that's gonna kindof come around, get hot.
(21:12):
It's a weird organization thatjust finds a way to stay
relevant, and then you get theplayoffs.
You're like, why do I why do wenot want to face that team?
Or you know, I just thinkthey're one of those guys.
Uh so give me Houston in theWest.
And then um, and they gotta stayhealthy, obviously.
Uh, and give me Miami.
I I I just they're a goofy team.
(21:33):
They're they're a team that isslowly every year they get a
little better and a littlebetter and a little better.
And again, this is the f thisyear with the injuries, with
everything, this is the timethat they can take advantage,
you know, between them, theKnicks, um really the Cavs, but
I think I I'm not sold on theCavs right now.
Uh, but I think Miami just youknow beats down other teams and
(21:57):
they're physical.
So uh give me Miami versusHouston.
SPEAKER_06 (22:01):
Okay, Stoy.
I see that little grin on yourface there.
We need to talk about your Cavs.
Well, what do we got here?
SPEAKER_03 (22:07):
Yeah, we'll start there.
And uh not a big Cavs fan oranything over here, but I I'm
gonna say I'm gonna say theCavs.
I think similar to how I wassaying about the Knicks, you
have a ton of continuity comingfrom really a great year last
year.
Obviously, didn't work out inthe playoffs, but um I think we
got the guys, and and again, alittle bit of the continuity,
(22:28):
um, a couple small offseasonadditions, and um really being
kind of a wide open east, whynot?
Why not the Cleveland Cavaliers?
Um, and then out of the West, II think we'll say OKC.
I think they're just so strong.
Um, hard to go against them.
Um so we'll go Cavs, OKC.
(22:51):
Um, you asked for a winner aswell, Bonner, or no?
SPEAKER_06 (22:53):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (22:54):
Um might as well give it to the Cavs, right?
SPEAKER_06 (22:57):
There we go.
There it is.
SPEAKER_03 (22:58):
Cavaliers, we need another one.
We need something up here, butum, I'd love to see it.
Love to see the run there.
I think them and OKC would begreat finals.
Um, kind of seeing Mobley goingagainst Chad and um some of the
guards.
Um, obviously, I think it'd besome good matchup.
So um would love to see it.
Maybe a fight dream, but that'swhat I got right now.
SPEAKER_06 (23:17):
I got you.
Cole, what are you about?
What about you?
SPEAKER_00 (23:20):
Yeah, just as a pure basketball fan, I think the Cavs
would be great in the finals tosee.
I like that team, the makeup ofthem.
Mobley's awesome.
Um, I really love like the coreof the team that they have.
I think they're really good.
Um, as a delusional Knicks fan,I think the Knicks are gonna be
going into the finals.
Um, I don't think there's anyother team that's uh gonna be in
(23:41):
there other than OKC and that'sgonna win it.
I just think that they're sogood, they're so young, unless
they have some kind of crazyinjury, like a Tyrese
Halliburton type player losingthat.
Like, I just don't see howthey're gonna miss the playoffs
and miss the finals at that.
Um, oh, and also by the way, uhjust so you know, the the Cavs
(24:01):
lost to the Knicks a coupleyears ago, pretty
embarrassingly.
Um, so I wouldn't say that theCavs have beaten the Knicks in
the in the playoffs very muchlately.
SPEAKER_06 (24:09):
Just to say there it is.
There we go.
Now we're cooking here.
Um I'm I'm very torn on on thisright now.
I do like the makeup of theKnicks this year.
I uh but I feel like thisCleveland team is dangerous in
the East right now with theircontinuity.
(24:29):
Um flip-flopping between thosetwo in the East.
I gotta say, I give the edge tothe Cavs this year.
I think with Mike Brown'sdefensive question marks and
just his style with that, Ithink the Cavs take them this
year.
Um and in the West, I gotta Igotta go Houston.
(24:54):
I I I like OKC, but I thinkHouston's that gritty team
that's gonna just like we weretalking about with the American
team, they're gonna find a wayto win the game.
Um, and I think they make it tothe finals this year.
I got Cleveland and Houston, andI'm gonna go out on a limb, and
I'm gonna say the Cavs and sevenand is my prediction for that
(25:18):
one.
TJ, don't you laugh at me forthat?
Like with that there, I can seeI can see you're on mute.
I know it, but I got it.
And it's just I don't likeanything from Cleveland.
I'm a huge Pittsburgh fan.
Like anything from Cleveland, Ijust always like the crap on,
but I can't, and the sports fanin me is just I see that team.
SPEAKER_02 (25:38):
They look where's Pittsburgh's NBA team?
SPEAKER_06 (25:41):
I we're not we're not talking about that right
now, Tony.
SPEAKER_04 (25:44):
All right, we're not talking about somewhere
somewhere down the line, it'sgonna happen.
Uh don't such a great sportscity.
Come on, man.
Come on now.
SPEAKER_06 (25:52):
It's just the the Pittsburgh growing up that close
to Pittsburgh.
I can't root for anything fromCleveland, like, regardless of
what it is.
But yeah, that's yeah, I thatthat that's that's where we're
at right now, uh, with me forthat.
Um uh NBA, let's talk about ateam for Pittsburgh.
(26:15):
Uh let's that let's let's talkabout an expansion team.
Other other leagues with likethe NHL are expanding.
Let's let's get another team inthe NBA and let's bring them
into the East and Pittsburgh andjust really shake up everything.
SPEAKER_00 (26:25):
Um that's gonna be we gotta bring back the
Supersonics.
SPEAKER_02 (26:30):
The supersonics would be we're taking the Nets
from Brooklyn and put them inPittsburgh.
Ooh, I don't hate that.
SPEAKER_04 (26:39):
That's a bold statement.
I you know, Brooklyn doesn'teven well, not saying they don't
want them, but that's bold.
I don't know if they would missthem.
I don't hate it.
I don't hate it.
You get you would give way morefanfare, they would appreciate
it in that city.
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_06 (26:57):
I just don't understand I just don't kind of
understand why like New Yorkneeds that many pro sports teams
in in the same league.
Like all of them have two uhteams in every major sport.
Like, why why why do you why doyou get two?
SPEAKER_04 (27:13):
Yeah, for everything, yeah.
For everything hockey, three,yeah, three in hockey.
SPEAKER_06 (27:18):
There's uh what two in the NBA, there's two in the
NFL, albeit they play in NewJersey, but still like yeah,
yes.
That's just share the love.
SPEAKER_05 (27:30):
Yeah, I mean it's just kind of gotta go a little
bit west a little bit toPittsburgh for you guys there.
SPEAKER_02 (27:35):
That's just that's just it's a short drive.
It's not a clean Pittsburghrival.
SPEAKER_06 (27:40):
There you go.
Now that now we're talking uhwith that one.
Uh Cole with this one, uh what'swhat with staying in the East
here and talking about Eastteams, you know, the Celtics,
what's their ceiling this yearafter their trades, the free
agency losses, and obviously theTatum injury?
SPEAKER_00 (28:01):
Well, from what I understand, Tatum may actually
come back this year towards theend of the year.
So if they make the playoffs andthen he's playing, I mean,
they're gonna be tough.
They were tough last year.
They beat the Cavs, who wereheavily favored.
Well, they weren't reallyheavily favored, but it was a
good matchup, right?
And really, it should have beena little close.
It was a good series, but,anyways, I think if Tatum's back
(28:24):
for the playoffs, even with thetrades and some of the losses
they've had, I I just they'regonna be scary, whoever has to
play them.
I wouldn't want to play thembecause if even if Tatum's at
80, I mean it's just likethey're gonna be good no matter
what.
SPEAKER_06 (28:38):
So an 80 Tatum is still dangerous in in the east,
there.
Um Stoy, what about you?
I need to I need to mull thisone over a little bit.
SPEAKER_03 (28:51):
Yeah, the the Cleveland fan to me, this is
like the nightmare scenario.
We like get the one seed, andthe Celtics are sitting there in
the eight, and they just gotTatum back, and you run through
a hell of a series there.
So um I I I think you know, Ithink they should be a a playoff
(29:12):
play-in team.
Um, get Tatum back, and there'sa lot of noise there that should
be made when you got you knowDerek, Derek White, Jalen Brown,
Tatum.
Um, one of the better trios Ithink you can put out there.
So um, yeah, we'll we'lldefinitely say they can kind of
make a run if they get back andget healthy, but um it
(29:32):
definitely depends a lot on thatinjury for Tatum.
SPEAKER_06 (29:35):
Absolutely.
Uh TJ, what about you?
SPEAKER_04 (29:38):
I'm going the other way.
Uh I think they're eliminated inMarch, and Tatum doesn't come
and Tatum doesn't come back.
Um they got they traded toomany, they got rid of too many
pieces.
So, I mean, you look at a guylike Drew Holiday, yeah, he
don't realize how talented hewas until he's gone.
(30:00):
Then you're gonna ask JalenBrown, who is very good, to be
the number one guy for theentire year.
And not saying he can't do that,but you're playing at uh, you
know, an MVP level for theentire year without a guy that
you have just gelled withthroughout, you know, the first
couple years while he was there.
(30:20):
Um it's I just don't see thembeing as big of a threat in the
east as they have in the pastcouple of years.
Just they're gonna have a lot ofyoung guys, they're gonna have
to get those guys acclimated.
Uh I I think they're eliminatedin March.
SPEAKER_00 (30:34):
March is.
SPEAKER_04 (30:39):
I'm telling I I don't see it.
I don't see it.
SPEAKER_06 (30:43):
March is a March, though, is a bold stance.
I I just Tony.
What what about you?
On the I got that I need I needto chew on that one too for a
second.
SPEAKER_02 (30:56):
With the Celtics, I I they're not gonna win the
finals.
I think they summoned theplayoffs.
I think that they'll probably bethey'll they'll make it out of
the play-in.
They're not gonna go far, but Ijust think that they're just
gonna make they're gonna make itout of the play-in, because who
do you really have behind?
(31:16):
You got Chicago, who is always aplay-in contender, but can't
ever break through for whateverreason.
Atlanta, I don't know how thehell they lost in Miami.
They were the eight, how andthen you've got Charlotte,
Washington, Brooklyn, allPhilly, all teams that are
(31:37):
rebuilding.
Yes, I'm counting Philly becausethe process obviously hasn't
worked.
So there's a really, really hugedrop off.
SPEAKER_04 (31:47):
So So they're gonna make it by proxy.
So you're saying they're gonnamake it by proxy, they're gonna
make it because there's otherEast teams that just won't make
it.
SPEAKER_06 (31:54):
You're but you're saying just because of how weak
the the East is that theCeltics, Celtics make it in.
I I I don't I don't discreditthat a that that much.
I think they squeak it into theplay-in.
I think they make the play-in,and that's it.
I think that is their ceilingthis year, is the play-in
(32:15):
tournament.
And it's just not gonna go overwell with them.
Tatum's not, I mean, the thoughtof him coming back, I don't I
think they rest on that toolong, but they have to make the
playoffs with this injury forhim to even sniff being 80% to
make a difference in playingthis year.
I just that it's just it's notlooking good up there in Boston
(32:39):
for how they've looked in thepast what four or five years at
minimum.
You know, they they've beenpretty dominant there.
Um, but I just I don't I don'tsee it.
I I I see playing at best andgetting bounced into playing is
is my ceiling for for theCeltics.
(33:02):
Um but Tony, who has the betterrecord this up and coming
season, though?
Um the Pistons Cavs or theMagic?
SPEAKER_02 (33:11):
The Magic are definitely up and coming.
They pushed uh Cavs to seven acouple years ago.
I still haven't forgotten aboutthat.
Um the Pistons.
You would think coming off of a69 loss season two years ago, a
season in which they lost 28straight games that they would
(33:32):
even be close to 30 wins, letalone push the Knicks to six.
I gotta say, I am very impressedwith what Detroit did.
To go from that to uh damn nearmaking a conference semi-final,
I'm in a way, I'm glad to see.
I I like and hate to see theDetroit's in contention again.
(33:54):
Uh I am going to have to sayman, that's actually a tough one
because the South was just notthat good this past year.
But if I had to pick one, I'mprobably gonna have to say
Detroit.
Uh probably around 46 47 wins.
Oh what?
(34:15):
46 47 wins.
I'm just not sold on the SouthSoutheast division because the
Southeast Division was just sobad.
I think the magic worked 42 and40 last year, and the Cavs.
I think we'll make the playoffs,but it's not.
Gonna be like last year.
SPEAKER_06 (34:35):
Well, I'm just gonna call you bold stance, Tony, from
here on out.
Like everything that has comeout of your mouth on this one
has just been a the hot take andjust the bold stance.
I just I feel like the the thedude from dodgeball, it's a bold
strategy, cut.
Let's see how this plays out forwith his airs and how this
(34:57):
actually plays out.
But TJ, I follow that.
I don't know.
SPEAKER_04 (35:01):
Like I guess I'm just I'm the devil's advocate
for everybody here.
The Cavs win 60 games.
Um their confidence going intothis year, they are, you know,
last year they were extremelyhungry to outdo what they did
the previous year.
Like they had an expectation andthey lived up to it.
(35:23):
They were hungry.
This year, they're sitting therebeing called frauds.
You know, hey, you guys made itand then what?
You know, and that they're sickof hearing that.
That um, you know, those reportsare sick of hearing that.
So I think they come out blazinghot.
I think they're gonna be uh anextremely top talented team, a
number one seed, uh 60 wins.
(35:45):
Now I said that Magic would beatthem in the playoffs, but I
think the Cavs win or are one ofthe most dominant teams in the
regular season.
Okay.
Stoy, what about you?
SPEAKER_03 (35:57):
Yeah, I mean, for everything I said earlier, I'll
go with Cavs, number one therewith the most wins.
I think just a really well-builtteam and a lot of continuity
there.
But I do want to say the magic,I think, could be a really,
really interesting team.
Um, they have good players umwith Wagner, um, Bancaro, um,
(36:19):
and they added Bain, um,obviously in a big deal um
coming into this year.
So um I think they can be 100% atwo, three seed, um, and and
definitely can kind of give arun for the money.
Detroit, I think, showed outreally well last year, and I
think every everything pointstowards the trajectory up, but
I'm not sure if I'm totallybought in on them really being a
(36:41):
contender.
I think they'll kind of be inthe mix in there.
Um, but I'll put them third kindof behind the other two teams.
SPEAKER_06 (36:48):
Okay.
All right.
Uh, Cole, what about you?
SPEAKER_00 (36:53):
Yeah, uh, like I said, Cavs are definitely gonna
be either top seed or numbertwo.
Like, there's just no doubt.
Um, you know, I know there's alot of hate on Kenny Atkinson
and what he did in the playoffs,and there's always it always
seems like there's a lot of hatefor the coaches that uh coach
the Cavs for some reason in theplayoffs, uh, with JB as well.
Um, but I think the Cavs easilyhave the best record uh out of
(37:17):
those three, if not the bestrecord in all of the East.
Um, I do think that the othertwo teams are very player
dependent.
You know, when it comes to KateCunningham, if he has what I
think is going to be an MVP runthis year, like at least in the
top five, because how he wasperforming at the end of last
year was insane.
Um, I see him playing very well.
(37:37):
Um, I also see uh Paulo playingextremely well for the Magic,
but I do think that they're verydependent on those two guys as
to where the Cavs have just likean overall stacked roster,
starting and bench.
So, although I do think the Cavslost uh one of their big bench
guys, right?
Um I'm trying to think of hisname right now, but uh they did
(37:58):
lose somebody, which was prettymajor.
I think it was the six man,their six man, but anyways, I
still just foresee them playingreally well.
And I think probably behind themthe magic, very close, and then
the Detroit uh is kind of a darkhorse team.
SPEAKER_06 (38:12):
Yeah, with with these three teams, I just I have
like uh I I think that the theright just solely based on
record.
I had the Cavs with a betterrecord over the Magic by two
games.
It's gonna be close.
Pistons are are still the thirdteam to be out of those, just
solely based on record.
(38:33):
I I just yeah, I don't I don'tsee anybody out of those three
having a better year than theCavs are gonna have with the way
they're built this year.
Um, and just all the narrative,like TJ was saying, like they're
they're tired of being calledthe pretenders, like they're
tired of being like, Oh, yeah,this was a one-off.
Like, that's just fueling thisteam and with where they're at.
(38:56):
Um, and speaking of the Cavs, Icannot wait for this question
here because I feel like thisone may just end the show with
how long I could go on thistopic.
But uh, Cole, is LeBron ruininghis legacy by staying around too
many years with the Lakers on ateam's that are greatly
(39:18):
underachieving with him on them?
SPEAKER_00 (39:22):
I mean, look, LeBron is one of the most successful
players, if not you could argue,most successful player ever in
the NBA.
I mean, the thing is, like, he'snot ruining anything.
And if in fact, he's helpedevery single team that he's gone
to to win those championships.
Uh when it comes to the Lakers,I don't think that they're that
bad.
I mean, they have Luka Doncic,who's an MVP caliber player, so
(39:46):
I don't think he's wasting anytime right now.
I think this is probably one ofthe best situations he could be
in.
Um, I also don't think he's Imean, he's injured right now,
right?
Like they're they're saying thathe's gonna miss some time.
Um, so I do think he's gettingto that age where you will start
to see him lose it a little bit.
I mean, he already has to anextent, but at this point, he's
(40:07):
gonna retire in LA.
Why wouldn't he?
He's involved in the music theuh in uh entertainment industry,
like he's kind of in the perfectsituation.
His kid plays with him, likehe's not going anywhere from LA
at this point.
He's gonna retire there.
SPEAKER_06 (40:19):
Well, yeah, we I figured he was gonna retire
there, but like, I mean, andbeing injured, I mean, when
you're 87 years old and youknow, still trying to play
basketball, like, and thenpeople are like, Oh, he's broken
this record, he's broken thatrecord, he's outscored this
person.
Yeah, he's played for a hundredfreaking years.
Like, of course he's gonna bebreaking those records.
Like, when you're playing aslong as he has, I mean, it uh
(40:43):
doing that before he was old.
SPEAKER_00 (40:44):
I I I look, I'm a Michael Jordan, like I think
Michael Jordan is the greatestplayer to ever play.
Okay, he saved yourself.
I think that I think that LeBronis I mean, he's incredible.
I I do think there'sgenerations, right?
Like Michael Jordan was the bestplayer of his generation, Wilt
was the best player of hisgeneration, and then you got
Lebron as the best player since2000.
(41:05):
So uh, you know, he he can play,he could probably play another
10 years at a high level, andthat's insane to me.
Like, no other players doingthat.
Um, it's just it's insane, andit's awesome.
Like, I will I love LeBron.
I think everything he's done isincredible.
He gets a lot of hate for goingto different teams, but he's
just proven that he can winanywhere, and that's pretty
(41:25):
impressive to me.
SPEAKER_06 (41:26):
You think he could play another decade in in the
NBA?
SPEAKER_00 (41:31):
Have you looked at his stats the last two years?
He's still at a high level,yeah.
I mean, he could play on the hecould play off the bench in
eight years.
Who's who's to say he couldn't?
Oh, that's that's physically,he's better than most of the
players in the NBA.
SPEAKER_06 (41:47):
That's that's tough for me to get on board with idea
there, Cole.
Ten years that that's that'sjust let's the come on.
Yeah, Bill, save us here.
SPEAKER_03 (41:58):
Not gonna save you.
I'm not gonna save you.
I think he's ruining his legacy.
I think no way.
Um, he's still playing in thetop 15, top 20 player right now,
I think.
Um, I I think you'd be hard andpressed to argue against that.
Um playing super well.
Um, I don't know how you cankind of tarnish your legacy when
(42:20):
you're still a top 20 basketballplayer at that age.
I think it's um impressive whathe's doing.
I do think we're coming to theend here soon.
I I think just I don't know ifhe has the fire and and
everything to continue to dothat.
I think just it just kind ofhappens when you have
accomplished so much, played somuch.
(42:42):
Um, I think you know he's gonnagive another one, two years
probably.
I'd imagine maybe next year, um,maybe another year after that.
I think we'll probably um behanging it up.
So I think we're kind of gonnabe coming to the end here, but
um, I mean he's gonna go downhis I want to wait till after he
retires, give a few years, andthen I think we really need to
(43:03):
have the LeBron and Jordandebate.
Um, I think while he's playingright now, it's a little bit too
hard.
So let it sink in, let thelegacy kind of sink in a little
bit.
And I think um both incredibleplayers, and and the legacy, I
think the LeBron is definitelynot going the wrong direction.
Um still playing at a highlevel.
SPEAKER_06 (43:21):
All right, all right, TJ, what what do you got?
I'm trying to woosa over herewith this with this question.
SPEAKER_04 (43:30):
Every year they sit there and they say, Oh, look at
this new young guy.
He is going to take the throneaway from LeBron every year.
It was Zion, it was Ja, it wasAnthony Edward.
It's all of these guys, and noneof them are gonna be even close.
(43:50):
None of them are gonna be closeto be able to put up the
accomplishments he is, thelongevity that he's put in, the
impact on the league, thepolitician that he is.
I mean, he can play on and off.
He's done absolutely everything,which is also why I do believe
that he's only playing to pisspeople off at this point.
He could have stopped five yearsago.
He's only doing it because otherpeople are telling him he should
(44:12):
stop.
And oh, he's slowing down.
He's like, Okay, fine, I'll goput up 30.
I'll do a triple-double tonight.
He and then I'll take two weeksoff.
Just it's it's amazing how muchhe has this league in his hand.
We're gonna see this with PatMahomes.
We kind of saw it with Brady alittle bit, and then Brady kind
(44:32):
of, all right, I'm gonna go homenow.
But we're gonna see this withPat Mahomes at the end of his
career, where he's gonna sitthere and be uh no, not yet.
I'm not going anywhere.
I know they drafted this guy,but nah, not yet.
I'm not ready to give it up.
LeBron literally, he he he's onhis own.
He doesn't care what we think,he does not care at all.
(44:53):
He's doing his own thing.
So he can if he wants to playfor the 10, he will play for the
10 in his own way.
SPEAKER_06 (45:02):
Oh, this this is tough for me, Tony.
What do you got?
You guys are just raising theblood pressure here.
This is what we're doing.
SPEAKER_02 (45:11):
If he wanted to retire, he would have already.
He's already approvedeverything, but you know, he's
just probably he's like, I'dsay, Snoop Dogg, just completing
side quests at this point.
LeBron is gonna be done when hefeels like he's done.
And for me, I know I'm sorry,it's gonna blood raise your
(45:32):
blood pressure a little higher.
He's not gonna retire until the2020 Olympics.
If USA wins the gold medal, thenLeBron will probably take off
his shoes, set him at centercourt at the arena, and then say
peace out.
You know what it has to be.
SPEAKER_04 (45:49):
It's gotta be a show.
It's gotta be theatrics.
SPEAKER_02 (45:52):
It's gonna, it's gonna it only make sense if he's
a Lakers and it's Team USA andthe Olympics are in Los Angeles.
Yeah, that's it'd be aHollywood, I think.
SPEAKER_06 (46:07):
I honestly really thought I'd have one of you on
my side here with this one, andI got zero help on this one
here.
Um, because don't get me wrong,LeBron, I'm not discrediting
what he's done in the NBA.
He's a phenomenal player.
Uh he plays his ass off, but youknow, it's it's the Brady
(46:34):
effect.
Uh, I'll give you that one, TJ.
Brady should have retired beforehe went to Tampa.
Um, I'm happy he did and got myBuccaneers a Super Bowl.
I am so happy that happened.
Um, but you gotta know when it'stime to hang the cleats and the
shoes up.
And for me, that was three yearsago with LeBron.
SPEAKER_03 (46:57):
I mean, he's he's so much better now than when Jordan
was with the Wizards, though.
And you don't know.
Here we go.
Here we go.
You know, you don't knockJordan, you don't say, Oh, you
know, he's not his legacy ishurt because he wasn't playing
for the Wizards.
LeBron's ten times the playerthat Jordan was when he was
playing for the Wizards.
SPEAKER_06 (47:15):
I just can't see how it could turn into like it's
it's a it's a different era withlike Cole said with LeBron and
Jordan and Wilt and all thoseguys.
It's there's generational,there's generational talent to
to say that LeBron would havebeen able to play in the 90s
(47:37):
when all those guys were playingback then in that style of ball,
where they didn't call theseticky tac fouls, and you were
just allowed to maul people ifthey went into the paint.
LeBron does not hold Jordan'sjock strap on that one.
SPEAKER_04 (47:54):
Now he I just think that he wouldn't have lasted as
long.
LeBron at the no give me a guywho was 6'8, 260, moving like
LeBron in the 90s.
Give me one, give me one.
SPEAKER_06 (48:06):
You probably can't, he probably can't.
SPEAKER_04 (48:09):
All those guys, big guys moved slow as hell and
stood in the paint and knockedpeople over.
Small guys moved fast and theymoved around guys.
They all might have had theskills better than LeBron, like
the technical skills of ballhandling, passing, all those
things.
But LeBron was something thatthey didn't experience at all.
Like Jordan was something thatthey didn't experience at all.
(48:29):
And Jordan's what 6'6, 230.
Now add two inches and 35pounds, and a guy who's faster
than him.
Have fun.
They were the LeBron wouldn'thave lasted as long because they
would have knocked him overmore, but they wasn't gonna,
they weren't gonna stop him.
SPEAKER_06 (48:44):
I didn't say they would stop him.
I he just we wouldn't be havingthis conversation.
SPEAKER_02 (48:49):
Add that same weight and add a couple inches to Kobe.
And if he doesn't get injured,he probably lasts into the
2020s, too.
SPEAKER_04 (48:56):
Okay, ready?
If Kobe, if Kobe played becauseKobe played against both.
No, no, I know.
If Kobe played 10 years later,Kobe surpasses LeBron.
Because Kobe was able to scorewhenever he wanted in that era
anyway.
If he plays 10 years later withall offense, Kobe's averaging 50
a game.
SPEAKER_06 (49:14):
Easy.
Easily, Kobe's averaging 50 agame.
Like I it it in my hierarchy, Ihave Kobe above LeBron.
And obviously, I have Jordanabove both.
It's it's it's not even close,it's not even close for me on
(49:34):
this one.
It's not even close.
I don't I don't what chaos inthe bono house happening behind
like because it just can't be anormal night when I have to
record a show.
We got my son cutting balloonsdown that are apparently right
behind my camera, and likesomething's happening,
(49:55):
something's going to pop.
I don't know what to know what'shappening right now.
But this is just I think thatwhat's going to hurt LeBron's
legacy is the fact thateveryone's just gonna say he
stayed in too long.
(50:16):
He stayed in longer than heshould have.
SPEAKER_05 (50:21):
Okay, that's that's gonna be like no matter where
you go, no matter what you do.
SPEAKER_04 (50:26):
You say Brady stayed in too long and he won a Super
Bowl in the second last year.
Like he I'm not saying he can'twin a championship in that in
this time.
I'm just saying, so we'rerecency bias.
We're sitting there thinking,like, okay, what what did we
have lately?
And the last thing I rememberfrom you is this, you know, like
that's we're sitting there.
(50:47):
Uh I I just Tom Brady is stillthe best, the greatest
quarterback of all time, even ifhis last year sucked.
So LeBron is still gonna be oneof the greatest of all time,
even if his last year is awful.
SPEAKER_02 (50:57):
And Jimmy Johnson's still one of the greatest NASCAR
drivers of all time, and hislast few years were nothing to
write home about, and he's aseven-time champion, just like
Tom Brady.
SPEAKER_06 (51:09):
I'm not discrediting that, I think that's what people
with the way people want theinstant gratification nowadays.
I think they're only going toremember the end with LeBron.
So I agree.
SPEAKER_00 (51:22):
I agree with your so to kind of use your own argument
against you, does anybodyremember Michael Jordan's last
couple years with the thewizards?
Yeah, does that tarnish it?
SPEAKER_01 (51:32):
He's pushing around and it doesn't tarnish his his
legacy, though.
SPEAKER_02 (51:38):
Now it's I wish that he stuck around for one more
year after that just to haveplayed against LeBron.
SPEAKER_04 (51:45):
Yeah, I think I think it's long.
I wish, no man, he made abusiness decision.
SPEAKER_06 (51:50):
Yeah, that's that was absolutely a business
decision.
SPEAKER_03 (51:54):
I think as long as we just debate it kind of proves
what type of legacy he has.
Um, we're going off five, tenminutes on the same topic, and I
think that kind of proves howvaluable he is to the league.
SPEAKER_06 (52:06):
And I don't I don't discredit that.
I just think I know what some ofthese sports reporters are gonna
do, and some of these peoplethat just trust me, I'm I I love
to hate on LeBron because I knowit just riles people up.
That's my favorite thing to doin the world is to just get
people fired up.
(52:26):
I mean, I don't discredit thathe's a great player, I don't do
that, I not at all.
Uh part of the reason, like ifwe just keep we keep bringing
him up with Tom Brady, the partof the reason I didn't like Tom
Brady is because he wasphenomenal.
Like, that's part of the it'slike, why are you that good?
And why can you do it that long?
I don't like just be a normalhuman being, don't be a machine
(52:49):
like LeBron has been in the NBAfor as long as he has.
And yeah, we've gone on for waylonger than I thought this was
gonna go on, but that's justthat's just that's just where
I'm at with with LeBron.
I mean, I it can go either way.
It is, it is, and lately I'vebeen more fired up than lately.
(53:10):
I don't know why, but I've beenI've been getting off on a lot
more rants than than usual,especially with the round tables
here.
Uh, but we'll get back into thisbecause I got a couple more
questions I want to get throughhere.
Um, so Tony, uh, who's the bestcoach in the NBA right now?
SPEAKER_02 (53:27):
I will have to say simply because of the culture,
Eric Spolstra.
He may not he may only have acouple rings, but just the fact
that Miami's been in contentionyear after year, and even in the
times they missed the playoffs,it's been no more than two
games.
And they were 37 and 45 lastyear and still somehow made to
(53:49):
the eighth seed.
SPEAKER_06 (53:51):
Yeah, that says a lot.
That that's a solid pick,Bispolstra.
I I kind of I agree with youwholeheartedly on that one.
Uh TJ, what about you?
SPEAKER_04 (54:01):
That was the first one that came into my head
because you listen to all theother players and other coaches
on other teams talk about him,and he's one of the coaches that
consistently comes up.
So I and he turns players, theplayers he has the biggest egos
on those teams, and somehow hemakes it all work.
(54:21):
It's a timeline, you know, he'sa timeline of the NBA, he just
takes what he has and makes itwork.
SPEAKER_06 (54:28):
Okay, Bill, what about you?
SPEAKER_03 (54:32):
Might be an unpopular one, but I think
there's a lot of names can goaround.
But I'm gonna throw Steve Kerr'sname out there.
I think the resume he has um isprobably the best still.
Um could put him right up therewith uh um a lot of the greats
as far as championships and rugsand stuff.
And I think that you know, oncethey kind of get a nucleus
(54:54):
rebuilt over there, that theycan make some damage.
So I'll throw his name in there.
I think he's a hell of a ballcoach and definitely has a
resume to kind of back it up.
SPEAKER_06 (55:02):
Okay, cool.
Round of sell.
SPEAKER_00 (55:04):
Yeah, uh, I'm on the Spolster train uh train.
I also think Steve Kerr is anincredible coach.
And now that Popovich isretired, uh uh for me it was
Popovich before that.
But um, yeah, at this point, Ithink you're probably sitting at
Spolstra and Kerr really closetogether.
Both are great culture guys,both are great player coaches.
They're just they work, also.
(55:26):
Um, you know, just as kind oflike other coaches that are
really great.
I love Ime Yadoka down inHouston.
I think he's a really greatcoach.
Maybe not the best guy in theworld, but he's a really good
coach.
Uh, and then the um uh what'shis name in Boston?
Uh I can't think of his name offthe top of my head right now,
but the the coaching staff inBoston is also really solid.
SPEAKER_03 (55:48):
Mazzo, I think.
SPEAKER_00 (55:49):
Mozilla.
Yeah, I think.
Joe Mazzula, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_06 (55:53):
Yeah.
I I think the Spolstra and Kerrare like 1-1A.
Uh just with the the culturesthat I think I like those uh
picks for sure.
Um that's that's kind of where Iwould be at with that.
But Cole, uh, which team will bethe biggest disappointment this
(56:14):
year?
SPEAKER_00 (56:17):
That's a really hard question, actually.
Um man, it's gonna be somebodyin the West.
Uh I just I have a feeling it'sit honestly, it could be uh the
Nuggets, even with Jokic.
Uh, but they just they've kindof moved their roster around a
little bit.
They weren't fantastic lastyear.
(56:38):
I kind of foresee them beinganother mid-tier team uh next
year as to where like theyalways are gonna be in the
running with Jokic, but um, I dothink that they're probably
gonna be the biggestdisappointment in the league.
SPEAKER_06 (56:50):
Okay.
Stoy.
SPEAKER_03 (56:54):
Yeah, I think tough one as well.
Um expectations seem to be kindof low all around, low tempered.
Um, and I think outside of maybeOKC, and I think they're gonna
live up to life over there.
Um I think I like the theNuggets pick, honestly.
I think you lose um MichaelPorter Jr., I think they could
(57:15):
be there again, but I think wecan kind of see a little bit of
uh regression if you have aninjury to Murray or something
going on with Yokich.
So we'll go with Nuggets, but umI think it's really wide open
this year.
I think there's a lot of kind ofdown expectations and wide
openness, especially in theEast.
So um, I don't know if there'sanyone really set up for a big
(57:36):
disappointment.
SPEAKER_06 (57:37):
Okay.
TJ, what about you?
SPEAKER_04 (57:42):
I'm gonna go with the Celtics again.
I I I think that they have aculture and an expectation of
winning, and it's gonna smackthem in the mouth when they're
not living up to that.
And um I don't know if that'sgonna be a they're gonna have
the most losses or anything likethat, but I just think that it's
(58:03):
gonna be shocking for that fanbase, on top of it just being
wow, the Celtics have were ontheir way, they just won the
championship.
They they were building thatdynasty, and now it's like wow,
roadblock right here.
So um I'll I'll say Celtics.
Okay, and Tony, what about you?
SPEAKER_02 (58:22):
I'm gonna have to say the defending Eastern
Conference champion, IndianaPacers, not that they won't make
the playoffs, it'll just be abit of a drop off from last
year.
Because essentials tough, theythey'll still qualify for the
postseason, I feel, but nothaving Tyrese Halliburton or
Miles Turner is huge.
(58:43):
It's gonna be the road's gonnabe a lot more difficult for them
than it was last year.
And Halliburton was a huge andthis is another state, a huge
factor for them throughout theirtheir their run postseason.
SPEAKER_06 (59:01):
I gotcha with that one.
I I I don't hate any of thosepicks uh for sure.
I I'm kind of on the the DenverNuggets train there.
I just I think they're going tobe the the team everyone's
thinking is gonna be better thanwhat they're gonna be this year.
I think they're gonna be the thethe disappointment uh this year,
(59:24):
uh just with everything that'shappened there.
The Celtics, obviously, I meanit's hard not to say that with
what they lost in the trades andnot obviously free agencies and
the Tatum injury.
I mean, I I I don't think it'sgonna be as big of a
disappointment because peoplehave been aware of the Tatum
injury.
It's not like this just happenedand they're losing him for that.
(59:46):
Like this was this was okay,yeah.
He's gonna be done for until thepostseason next year.
So like they're alreadyexpecting not to have him, and I
think that helps with with themand why I'm going with the
Nuggets over the Celtics.
Uh, but Tony, we're gonna roundit out with this, and who's your
regular season MVP?
SPEAKER_02 (01:00:08):
I man, that's gonna be a tough one.
I am gonna go with, I'm justgonna throw this out there.
I'm gonna go with uh I'm gonnago with Donovan Mitchell,
actually.
I'm gonna stick with thehometown team.
I'm gonna go with DonovanMitchell.
Donovan Mitchell.
I think he's choice for a greatbreakout.
SPEAKER_06 (01:00:25):
Solid pick off the rip.
TJ, what about you?
SPEAKER_04 (01:00:29):
Evan Mobley.
Evan Mobley.
I think that they're gonna Ithink he's I think Mitchell was
a little telling last year.
He started to take a step backto let Mobley take a step
forward.
And I think Mobley's now reallygonna take that step forward
where he's gonna be around 30points a game.
He's gonna be around 12, 15rebounds a game.
(01:00:51):
I I really think, and with Ibelieve the Cavs will have the
best record in the East.
I believe they'll be a numberone seed.
I think Mobley will be they'lllook at him defensive player,
you know, top three defensiveplayer in the league with the
offense that he's gonna add in.
He's gonna hit his three-pointshots this year a little bit
better uh without injury.
I think after Mobley gets theMVP this year.
(01:01:13):
I got you, Stoy.
What about you?
SPEAKER_03 (01:01:15):
Yeah, I mean, I love those bits, the gaps, man.
I think um I I think honestly,because you have Mowgli or
Mowgli and Mitchell, they mightkind of even each other out a
little bit in the votes and kindof cancel each other out, maybe.
Um, I'm gonna throw a long shotout there.
Um, and I'm gonna say Webby.
Um, I think if you can they theygot the guards now, and and I
(01:01:40):
think if he can, I mean, him andthe pick and roll with all the
guards that they've accumulated,if they can be a good team,
which you need to be to be inthe MVP running.
Um, I think it might be time forhim to kind of take that step
forward.
So I thought, you know, I knowit's a little bit of a wild
card, but I think he candefinitely take that step to
Zelda and see him kind of inthat running.
SPEAKER_06 (01:01:59):
Okay, cool.
What about you?
SPEAKER_00 (01:02:01):
I love the Wemby pick.
I think that he could absolutelygo off this year.
Uh, he's been working out, he'sdone a lot of stuff to kind of
make himself stronger.
I love that pick.
I just I can't go against Jokic.
I just think that um even iftheir team is underwhelming,
he's still insane.
Like he's just so much betterthan everybody else.
(01:02:22):
I think uh, and I know I'm notanswering this really, but SGA
is also an incredible pick.
Like, I just think there's likethree guys with Wemby if he
plays to expectation that couldabsolutely do it.
But I do think Jokic probablyends up taking it home this
year.
SPEAKER_06 (01:02:37):
I uh I I I don't hate any of those.
Uh I'm gonna throw another nameinto the into the ring that I
don't think I think people aregonna sleep on, but I got Luca.
And Luca in LA, I think he takesthat step forward um with them
there in uh playing with uhLeBron.
We're not even gonna I didn'teven want to mention his name
(01:02:58):
because I didn't I don't wedon't have another 10 minutes
here to to go off on that, but Ithink Luca takes that step that
he needs to get into that MVPconversation, and I think he
takes it this year.
I think he helps them uh berelevant in the West.
And yeah, I think I I I got Igot Luca on this one, but that
(01:03:20):
is actually going to do it forthis week's episode of the Ride
Home Ranch podcast.
I want to thank all of myguests, Cole, Tony, Bill, and
TJ, for being on and getting totalk everything with the MBA
here with the start of theseason, right around the corner
here.
And as always, if you enjoyedthe show, be a friend, tell a
friend.
And if you didn't, tell themanyways, they might like it just
(01:03:42):
because you didn't.
That's gonna do it for me, and Iwill see y'all next week.
Welcome everybody to another episode of the Ride Home
Rants Podcast.
This is, as always, your host,Mike Bono.
I got a great annual episode forus today.
I have our NBA preview show forthe up-and-coming 2025-2026
season.
I have a panel of guests herethat we're going to be talking
(04:54):
ball all night long here.
So, guys, I'm going to let themintroduce themselves.
I need the answers to these twoquestions first and foremost.
Obviously, I need your name, butI also need to know are pogo
sticks overrated or underrated?
And is eating a bag full ofplain marshmallows something to
be proud of?
And TJ, we're going to startwith you.
SPEAKER_04 (05:16):
Yeah, um, TJ Lett, uh, we've been on the show
multiple times.
It's always a great time.
Um, pogo sticks are I thinkthey're underrated because
they're not talked about as muchanymore.
I don't I've I haven't seen apogo stick in probably 10 years.
So I think they're underrated.
I think they need to make acomeback.
Um eating a whole bag ofmarshmallows, I think it's
(05:38):
something to be proud of becauseafter two or three, and you
know, if you're not feeling itat that point, then you know
there's something you're builtdifferent, you know.
SPEAKER_06 (05:47):
Built different for sure.
Cole, what about you?
SPEAKER_00 (05:52):
Hey, Cole Schneider.
Uh, been on a few times.
Uh, really appreciate you guyshaving me as usual.
Um, pogo sticks, I've actuallynever used one, so I can't
really say if they're over orunderrated.
Um, I know that they're funnywhenever somebody falls on one.
Uh, and then marshmallows.
If I've ever finished a bag ofmarshmallows, could really be
the question it I have.
(06:14):
Uh I used to be a really fat kidwhen I was little, so I think
I'm pretty proud of that.
That's pretty cool.
SPEAKER_06 (06:19):
Yeah, that's built different, Cole.
I mean, we've already said it.
Uh, Tony, let's go to you.
SPEAKER_02 (06:26):
My name's Tony, and I am also like TJ, um a
reoccurring guest on Ride HomeRants.
Pogo sticks.
I never I never hopped on a pogostick in my life, or if I did,
it was a long time, so I cannottell you whether they are
underrated or overrated.
And eating a bag of marshmallowsjust is.
(06:47):
It's nothing to be proud of orashamed.
It just is.
unknown (06:51):
Okay.
SPEAKER_06 (06:53):
And last but not least, we here we got stoy.
SPEAKER_03 (06:57):
What's going on, guys?
Good to be back on the show.
Um, as far as pogo six go, man,when you're a guy my size,
they're just bad news.
Uh I can't see anything goingright if I try and hop on one of
them things.
So uh we'll we'll say overratedfor that sake.
And then I don't know who likesjust raw marshmallows, but we'll
(07:18):
go with impressive.
You're gonna go through a wholebag.
I feel like you got thedetermination on it uh to get
through that thing.
So build different, right?
SPEAKER_06 (07:25):
Yeah, absolutely.
Um always the everyone, MikeBonnehoe.
Pogo sticks.
I mean, in my 20s, you know,they were they were underrated.
I mean, hopped on one when Icould bounce back after the
fall, you know, uh quicker thanI than I can now.
I'd say that right now.
I'm gonna go overrated becausejust thinking about that made
both my knees hurt.
(07:46):
Um just thinking about it.
So yeah, that's where I'm at inlife.
And eating a full bag of plainuh marshmallows, I mean, I'd be
proud of it at the time.
Maybe not the aftermath that'sgonna happen afterwards, but you
know that yeah, you're builtdifferent.
You got that iron stomach if youcan get through a whole bag of
just plain marshmallows.
(08:07):
But yeah, that's that's a toughone for me.
I mean, I'd I'd be proud in themoment, but after that, yeah,
we're not we're not gonna dealwith the with the aftermath too
well here.
But we're not here to talk aboutfood or pogo sticks, we're here
to talk about the NBA and theup-and-coming season here.
So uh Cole, let's start with youon this one.
Um, but you know, there's a lotof people who say the top five
(08:31):
NBA players are allinternational, and maybe even
the top seven to eight uh out ofthe top five players in the NBA
right now.
Does an American player evenrank in there, in your opinion?
SPEAKER_00 (08:46):
Oh, absolutely.
I mean, you could say AnthonyEdwards is up there.
Um, you know, it just kind ofdepends on the year he has and
how consistent he can be.
Um, I think Jalen Brunson isprobably up there.
Um, I don't know.
If the top five is so toughbecause you got Giannis, Luca,
Shy, uh, and then uh Jokic.
(09:10):
So it's just like, yeah, I mean,I do think some of those
American players can crack inthere, but I think that top five
is really good.
Um, but I think on any givenyear, one of those American
players are up there.
SPEAKER_06 (09:22):
Yeah, I this is the top one for me.
But Bill, what about you?
SPEAKER_03 (09:29):
Yeah, I mean, I I just started thinking, and
similar to how Cole was saying,though those top guys, I mean,
Giannis, Luca, Shy, or Shay werekind of on down the list.
Um, you know, Wemby, you want tokind of even go further down
into that, projecting forward.
Internationals, man, they'reputting out some players, but
um, I think the the uh Americanguys still still are there.
(09:53):
I think if you put together, youknow, the combination, NBA, um,
or if you're looking at kind ofworldwide, the US is still um at
the top, you know, Tatum, yougot you know, Edwards, like we
were saying, um, best collectionof talent, but um the
international guys are reallyshowing up and and definitely
some of the top guys.
SPEAKER_06 (10:12):
Yeah, for sure.
TJ, what about you?
SPEAKER_04 (10:17):
I I think that this is one of the most talented just
pools of players all through theentire league.
But I would say that you know, atop five, there's always gonna
be an argument.
You have your three, maybe giveor take, but everybody's a
little bit interchangeable.
Um I I I'm looking at somebodylike maybe like Apollo Banquero,
like somebody like that, wherewe kind of forget about him
(10:39):
until you're facing them.
You're like, this guy's ananomaly, you know, match, you
know, you have those matchupnightmares.
Um, and then you get yourunderrated guys, in my opinion,
like uh like a Donovan Mitchell,like some of those other players
that maybe don't, you know comeout and make the crazy, crazy
plays and the big dunks oranything like that, but they're
(11:00):
doing it night in and night out.
So no, there's definitely alittle bit of an argument that
there's uh, you know, there's anAmerican uh born player within
that top five, top seven forsure.
Okay, Tony, run us out here.
SPEAKER_02 (11:14):
I would have to I'd have to say, um, if there was
prior to his injury, I probablywould have had to say Jason
Tatum prior to his injurybecause Tatum was putting up
points in bunches, and he's andit I he was also, I believe, I
don't know whether he evenplayed on the USA's gold medal
(11:36):
team.
I don't know whether or not heplayed, but I know he was part
of that team.
That team was just so stackedthat some of the stars didn't
even get any playing time.
But mark my words, and I knowpeople probably aren't gonna be
happy with this take.
There's gonna be a country otherthan the USA that wins the gold
medal in 2028.
I mean, the the gap is justclosing.
(11:58):
I mean, look at Serbia.
They took the USA to the brinkbefore USA won.
France did well.
And I mean, if Luca decides tokeep putting to play for
Slovenia, those stars make thoseinternational teams better, like
the Slovenias, the Greeces, theGermanys, the Australias, and
(12:19):
Canada, too.
Can't forget about our neighborsin North Canada.
It's not as big as a gap as likeit was when you had the dream
team.
SPEAKER_06 (12:29):
Well, I mean, come on now.
We're talking about the dreamteam there.
That's that's apples to orangeswith this this league and
playing in now and the differentstyles of play.
But I mean, I see your point tothat.
In that, you know, thesomebody's gonna give the U.S.
a run for their money.
I can give them that.
I still think the U.S.
(12:50):
pulls it out at the at the endbecause it's just it's the
American thing to do, to just begritty and come down to the wire
and just outlast people uh withour with the endurance that we
have.
But um it's gonna be a lotcloser than a lot of people are
wanting it to be.
Um I'm kind of with all y'all onthis one in that you know the
(13:14):
international players aredefinitely in that top five
right now.
Um going to seven or eight,seven to eight.
I mean, you can you can make theargument for the American-born
players in uh Tatum and allthem.
And um uh Cooper, you know, justCooper Flag coming in, you know,
(13:34):
don't know what he's gonnareally do, you know, being a top
pick.
Uh interested to see what hedoes and where he starts to
build his career again, lookingforward with like the Wimby uh
for the internationals.
But it it's it's gonna be aclose race, but definitely,
definitely more internationalplayers are gonna be cracking
that top 10 and pushing thoseAmericans out for sure, um, just
(13:58):
with the sheer ball that they'replaying right now.
Um, but you know what?
I I was gonna go back around thehorn, but uh Cole with the
Knicks hat, I got to go to youfirst on this one here.
Um, what are your thoughts onthe Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau
being fired and being replacedwith Mike Brown?
Do you think it makes the Knicksbetter with this move?
SPEAKER_00 (14:20):
Yeah, I I'm one of the Knicks fans that really
loved Tibbs, so um, I was reallysad to see him go.
Uh, do I think they're betteroffensively?
Yes.
Defensively, I'm not sure yet.
Um, I think offensively they'regonna move the ball more and
more pick and roll uh withtowns.
I think that's gonna work reallywell for them.
(14:40):
Um they already have, I thinkthey were top 10 corner shooters
in the NBA last year with OG anduh Mikel Bridges, so that makes
their pass out shooting a lotbetter.
Um, so yeah, I foresee thembeing great offensively.
Defensively, I'm not sure withBrown.
Um, I know that when he was withthe Kings, they weren't the best
defensively, but they wereincredibly good offensively,
(15:03):
pass the ball around.
Um, so it's gonna beinteresting.
I think I think overall, atfirst they're gonna be a little
rough, uh, but I think later inthe season they're gonna really
bring it together like they didlast year and um probably end up
in the top three in the east.
SPEAKER_06 (15:18):
Do you do you think it's gonna be more shootouts
now, with you know the defensebeing a question mark going into
this year?
SPEAKER_00 (15:26):
Well, the NBA is all shootouts nowadays, anyways.
Like it's so rare to have a verygood defensive team, um, you
know, that keeps a team under100 every game.
Like that's almost impossiblenowadays.
But um, yeah, I think I thinkthey're probably gonna score
maybe like the Cavs did lastyear, where it was a ton uh in
the wins.
And uh, but I don't know aboutdefense with them right now
(15:49):
because they don't have a lot ofthey have OG, who can play great
defense, and they got MitchellRobinson.
Um, but I don't know if they'veeven really fleshed out their
starting roster quite yet.
I think they're still trying tofigure out who's gonna be
starting at center for you knowall of these different
positions.
SPEAKER_06 (16:04):
Yeah, I mean that's tough coming down here to the to
the open there.
But uh Stoy, what are your whatare your thoughts on this one?
SPEAKER_03 (16:12):
I I'm a big Mike Brown guy.
I I do think he's a really goodball coach, and I I thought
Tibbs was a great ball coach aswell.
So um better, I I'm not sure.
Um, and and when you kind oflook at the East, I think you
know it's not a ton ofcompetition there.
You got the Cavs, number threeteams kind of the magic, and the
(16:33):
Knicks.
Um, and when you kind of look atthat, I think if you could have
stayed steady, I think you couldhave been enough without making
a move.
Um, but I I get the NBA isresults oriented, and uh they
kind of want to make a movethere.
And even though the uh Knickslooked a way we haven't seen in
quite a long time, it must nothave been enough.
(16:54):
So um I I I can see it workingout for him, but I I definitely
can see why not making the movecould have been the right time
to run it back one more year andkind of a week east um and have
some continuity to kind of beable to make a run there, but
we'll see.
SPEAKER_06 (17:09):
Yeah, okay.
I I get your points.
But TJ, what about you?
SPEAKER_04 (17:14):
Yeah, I mean, it's it's remarkable because I mean,
we just saw, I forget the guywho got fired from Milwaukee.
I mean, having the number oneseed, he got fired the next
year.
So you're always looking for thenext best thing, you're always
looking for the next, you know,shiny piece or whatever comes
with coaching.
Um, and then good organizationsum are looking for that guy, but
great organizations have foundthat guy and have established
(17:35):
that guy.
So you wonder if this move isgonna be, you know, what it is.
Um, but the Knicks are adangerous team.
I mean, they got a lot ofpieces, and they got and again,
with the East being as injuredas it is right now, um, with
Tatum, with Halburton, um I Ithink they can make a lot of
noise.
So I think Mike Brown mightaccidentally slip into a good
situation versus him being agreat coach.
(17:57):
I think he's a good coach, but Ithink the situation is just good
for him.
I think that if he cannot screwit up, uh it he'll be
successful.
SPEAKER_06 (18:05):
Okay.
SPEAKER_04 (18:05):
Tony, what about you?
SPEAKER_02 (18:09):
From Mike Brown being having been a Cavs coach,
I think the Knicks are more orless gonna be the same.
There's not really gonna be anykind of difference other than
the coaching change.
Knicks are gonna still make theplayoffs, probably be a top five
seed, not four or five seed inthe east.
And you know, they win whichthey'll probably end up losing
(18:29):
to either one of the Cavs or thePacers or something again.
Wow.
SPEAKER_06 (18:35):
Just wow, with that though.
That's that's a bold stance withthem being five.
I I don't see them falling tofive in the east with where the
east is this year.
Um, I don't think the move makesthem better, but I don't think
it makes them worse either.
It's just the the nature of theleague, the talent they have on
(18:58):
that team.
I mean, hell, I think anybodycan go in and just coach that
team to a three seed.
And just kind of making that runwith where the East is this
year.
I mean, you got um the Cavs, uh,the Pacers, and I mean, I don't
I don't trust the Celtics thisyear with with everything that
(19:18):
happened there.
We're we're gonna get into thathere in a little bit.
Uh but Tony, we're just we'rejust gonna get it out here then
now for you.
Who's your NBA finals previewand who wins?
SPEAKER_02 (19:28):
Ooh, this one might actually be tough.
Take me a moment.
I am going to say this.
LA Clippers are gonna make theirfirst NBA Finals appearance.
They're gonna finally break thecurse.
The Clippers are gonna maketheir first NBA Finals
appearance just out of the blue.
(19:50):
And out of the East, they'regonna go against the Indiana
Pacers.
We're gonna get another LAIndiana final.
I'm probably going to be wrong,but this is the best, uh it's
probably the best that I cancome up with now because I
haven't seen any preseason ballat all.
(20:14):
I basically haven't watched anybasketball since Game 7, so I
haven't looked at any rankings,any previews, none of that.
SPEAKER_00 (20:23):
But I do know and I do know.
SPEAKER_06 (20:31):
I got you with that one.
I know it's tough.
I know when we're recordingthis, there's still a couple
preseason games left here uh toget through to the start of the
season by the time this airs isgonna be tip off of the regular
season.
Um but you know, we asked thetough questions here on the show
here.
But uh, TJ, what about you?
SPEAKER_04 (20:51):
All right.
A lot like Tony.
There's uh I've caught a coupleof games, but um not not
followed a lot of stories yet.
Not a lot of stories yet.
Um give me give me Houston inthe West.
Give me a team that's gonna kindof come around, get hot.
(21:12):
It's a weird organization thatjust finds a way to stay
relevant, and then you get theplayoffs.
You're like, why do I why do wenot want to face that team?
Or you know, I just thinkthey're one of those guys.
Uh so give me Houston in theWest.
And then um, and they gotta stayhealthy, obviously.
Uh, and give me Miami.
I I I just they're a goofy team.
(21:33):
They're they're a team that isslowly every year they get a
little better and a littlebetter and a little better.
And again, this is the f thisyear with the injuries, with
everything, this is the timethat they can take advantage,
you know, between them, theKnicks, um really the Cavs, but
I think I I'm not sold on theCavs right now.
Uh, but I think Miami just youknow beats down other teams and
(21:57):
they're physical.
So uh give me Miami versusHouston.
SPEAKER_06 (22:01):
Okay, Stoy.
I see that little grin on yourface there.
We need to talk about your Cavs.
Well, what do we got here?
SPEAKER_03 (22:07):
Yeah, we'll start there.
And uh not a big Cavs fan oranything over here, but I I'm
gonna say I'm gonna say theCavs.
I think similar to how I wassaying about the Knicks, you
have a ton of continuity comingfrom really a great year last
year.
Obviously, didn't work out inthe playoffs, but um I think we
got the guys, and and again, alittle bit of the continuity,
(22:28):
um, a couple small offseasonadditions, and um really being
kind of a wide open east, whynot?
Why not the Cleveland Cavaliers?
Um, and then out of the West, II think we'll say OKC.
I think they're just so strong.
Um, hard to go against them.
Um so we'll go Cavs, OKC.
(22:51):
Um, you asked for a winner aswell, Bonner, or no?
SPEAKER_06 (22:53):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (22:54):
Um might as well give it to the Cavs, right?
SPEAKER_06 (22:57):
There we go.
There it is.
SPEAKER_03 (22:58):
Cavaliers, we need another one.
We need something up here, butum, I'd love to see it.
Love to see the run there.
I think them and OKC would begreat finals.
Um, kind of seeing Mobley goingagainst Chad and um some of the
guards.
Um, obviously, I think it'd besome good matchup.
So um would love to see it.
Maybe a fight dream, but that'swhat I got right now.
SPEAKER_06 (23:17):
I got you.
Cole, what are you about?
What about you?
SPEAKER_00 (23:20):
Yeah, just as a pure basketball fan, I think the Cavs
would be great in the finals tosee.
I like that team, the makeup ofthem.
Mobley's awesome.
Um, I really love like the coreof the team that they have.
I think they're really good.
Um, as a delusional Knicks fan,I think the Knicks are gonna be
going into the finals.
Um, I don't think there's anyother team that's uh gonna be in
(23:41):
there other than OKC and that'sgonna win it.
I just think that they're sogood, they're so young, unless
they have some kind of crazyinjury, like a Tyrese
Halliburton type player losingthat.
Like, I just don't see howthey're gonna miss the playoffs
and miss the finals at that.
Um, oh, and also by the way, uhjust so you know, the the Cavs
(24:01):
lost to the Knicks a coupleyears ago, pretty
embarrassingly.
Um, so I wouldn't say that theCavs have beaten the Knicks in
the in the playoffs very muchlately.
SPEAKER_06 (24:09):
Just to say there it is.
There we go.
Now we're cooking here.
Um I'm I'm very torn on on thisright now.
I do like the makeup of theKnicks this year.
I uh but I feel like thisCleveland team is dangerous in
the East right now with theircontinuity.
(24:29):
Um flip-flopping between thosetwo in the East.
I gotta say, I give the edge tothe Cavs this year.
I think with Mike Brown'sdefensive question marks and
just his style with that, Ithink the Cavs take them this
year.
Um and in the West, I gotta Igotta go Houston.
(24:54):
I I I like OKC, but I thinkHouston's that gritty team
that's gonna just like we weretalking about with the American
team, they're gonna find a wayto win the game.
Um, and I think they make it tothe finals this year.
I got Cleveland and Houston, andI'm gonna go out on a limb, and
I'm gonna say the Cavs and sevenand is my prediction for that
(25:18):
one.
TJ, don't you laugh at me forthat?
Like with that there, I can seeI can see you're on mute.
I know it, but I got it.
And it's just I don't likeanything from Cleveland.
I'm a huge Pittsburgh fan.
Like anything from Cleveland, Ijust always like the crap on,
but I can't, and the sports fanin me is just I see that team.
SPEAKER_02 (25:38):
They look where's Pittsburgh's NBA team?
SPEAKER_06 (25:41):
I we're not we're not talking about that right
now, Tony.
SPEAKER_04 (25:44):
All right, we're not talking about somewhere
somewhere down the line, it'sgonna happen.
Uh don't such a great sportscity.
Come on, man.
Come on now.
SPEAKER_06 (25:52):
It's just the the Pittsburgh growing up that close
to Pittsburgh.
I can't root for anything fromCleveland, like, regardless of
what it is.
But yeah, that's yeah, I thatthat that's that's where we're
at right now, uh, with me forthat.
Um uh NBA, let's talk about ateam for Pittsburgh.
(26:15):
Uh let's that let's let's talkabout an expansion team.
Other other leagues with likethe NHL are expanding.
Let's let's get another team inthe NBA and let's bring them
into the East and Pittsburgh andjust really shake up everything.
SPEAKER_00 (26:25):
Um that's gonna be we gotta bring back the
Supersonics.
SPEAKER_02 (26:30):
The supersonics would be we're taking the Nets
from Brooklyn and put them inPittsburgh.
Ooh, I don't hate that.
SPEAKER_04 (26:39):
That's a bold statement.
I you know, Brooklyn doesn'teven well, not saying they don't
want them, but that's bold.
I don't know if they would missthem.
I don't hate it.
I don't hate it.
You get you would give way morefanfare, they would appreciate
it in that city.
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_06 (26:57):
I just don't understand I just don't kind of
understand why like New Yorkneeds that many pro sports teams
in in the same league.
Like all of them have two uhteams in every major sport.
Like, why why why do you why doyou get two?
SPEAKER_04 (27:13):
Yeah, for everything, yeah.
For everything hockey, three,yeah, three in hockey.
SPEAKER_06 (27:18):
There's uh what two in the NBA, there's two in the
NFL, albeit they play in NewJersey, but still like yeah,
yes.
That's just share the love.
SPEAKER_05 (27:30):
Yeah, I mean it's just kind of gotta go a little
bit west a little bit toPittsburgh for you guys there.
SPEAKER_02 (27:35):
That's just that's just it's a short drive.
It's not a clean Pittsburghrival.
SPEAKER_06 (27:40):
There you go.
Now that now we're talking uhwith that one.
Uh Cole with this one, uh what'swhat with staying in the East
here and talking about Eastteams, you know, the Celtics,
what's their ceiling this yearafter their trades, the free
agency losses, and obviously theTatum injury?
SPEAKER_00 (28:01):
Well, from what I understand, Tatum may actually
come back this year towards theend of the year.
So if they make the playoffs andthen he's playing, I mean,
they're gonna be tough.
They were tough last year.
They beat the Cavs, who wereheavily favored.
Well, they weren't reallyheavily favored, but it was a
good matchup, right?
And really, it should have beena little close.
It was a good series, but,anyways, I think if Tatum's back
(28:24):
for the playoffs, even with thetrades and some of the losses
they've had, I I just they'regonna be scary, whoever has to
play them.
I wouldn't want to play thembecause if even if Tatum's at
80, I mean it's just likethey're gonna be good no matter
what.
SPEAKER_06 (28:38):
So an 80 Tatum is still dangerous in in the east,
there.
Um Stoy, what about you?
I need to I need to mull thisone over a little bit.
SPEAKER_03 (28:51):
Yeah, the the Cleveland fan to me, this is
like the nightmare scenario.
We like get the one seed, andthe Celtics are sitting there in
the eight, and they just gotTatum back, and you run through
a hell of a series there.
So um I I I think you know, Ithink they should be a a playoff
(29:12):
play-in team.
Um, get Tatum back, and there'sa lot of noise there that should
be made when you got you knowDerek, Derek White, Jalen Brown,
Tatum.
Um, one of the better trios Ithink you can put out there.
So um, yeah, we'll we'lldefinitely say they can kind of
make a run if they get back andget healthy, but um it
(29:32):
definitely depends a lot on thatinjury for Tatum.
SPEAKER_06 (29:35):
Absolutely.
Uh TJ, what about you?
SPEAKER_04 (29:38):
I'm going the other way.
Uh I think they're eliminated inMarch, and Tatum doesn't come
and Tatum doesn't come back.
Um they got they traded toomany, they got rid of too many
pieces.
So, I mean, you look at a guylike Drew Holiday, yeah, he
don't realize how talented hewas until he's gone.
(30:00):
Then you're gonna ask JalenBrown, who is very good, to be
the number one guy for theentire year.
And not saying he can't do that,but you're playing at uh, you
know, an MVP level for theentire year without a guy that
you have just gelled withthroughout, you know, the first
couple years while he was there.
(30:20):
Um it's I just don't see thembeing as big of a threat in the
east as they have in the pastcouple of years.
Just they're gonna have a lot ofyoung guys, they're gonna have
to get those guys acclimated.
Uh I I think they're eliminatedin March.
SPEAKER_00 (30:34):
March is.
SPEAKER_04 (30:39):
I'm telling I I don't see it.
I don't see it.
SPEAKER_06 (30:43):
March is a March, though, is a bold stance.
I I just Tony.
What what about you?
On the I got that I need I needto chew on that one too for a
second.
SPEAKER_02 (30:56):
With the Celtics, I I they're not gonna win the
finals.
I think they summoned theplayoffs.
I think that they'll probably bethey'll they'll make it out of
the play-in.
They're not gonna go far, but Ijust think that they're just
gonna make they're gonna make itout of the play-in, because who
do you really have behind?
(31:16):
You got Chicago, who is always aplay-in contender, but can't
ever break through for whateverreason.
Atlanta, I don't know how thehell they lost in Miami.
They were the eight, how andthen you've got Charlotte,
Washington, Brooklyn, allPhilly, all teams that are
(31:37):
rebuilding.
Yes, I'm counting Philly becausethe process obviously hasn't
worked.
So there's a really, really hugedrop off.
SPEAKER_04 (31:47):
So So they're gonna make it by proxy.
So you're saying they're gonnamake it by proxy, they're gonna
make it because there's otherEast teams that just won't make
it.
SPEAKER_06 (31:54):
You're but you're saying just because of how weak
the the East is that theCeltics, Celtics make it in.
I I I don't I don't discreditthat a that that much.
I think they squeak it into theplay-in.
I think they make the play-in,and that's it.
I think that is their ceilingthis year, is the play-in
(32:15):
tournament.
And it's just not gonna go overwell with them.
Tatum's not, I mean, the thoughtof him coming back, I don't I
think they rest on that toolong, but they have to make the
playoffs with this injury forhim to even sniff being 80% to
make a difference in playingthis year.
I just that it's just it's notlooking good up there in Boston
(32:39):
for how they've looked in thepast what four or five years at
minimum.
You know, they they've beenpretty dominant there.
Um, but I just I don't I don'tsee it.
I I I see playing at best andgetting bounced into playing is
is my ceiling for for theCeltics.
(33:02):
Um but Tony, who has the betterrecord this up and coming
season, though?
Um the Pistons Cavs or theMagic?
SPEAKER_02 (33:11):
The Magic are definitely up and coming.
They pushed uh Cavs to seven acouple years ago.
I still haven't forgotten aboutthat.
Um the Pistons.
You would think coming off of a69 loss season two years ago, a
season in which they lost 28straight games that they would
(33:32):
even be close to 30 wins, letalone push the Knicks to six.
I gotta say, I am very impressedwith what Detroit did.
To go from that to uh damn nearmaking a conference semi-final,
I'm in a way, I'm glad to see.
I I like and hate to see theDetroit's in contention again.
(33:54):
Uh I am going to have to sayman, that's actually a tough one
because the South was just notthat good this past year.
But if I had to pick one, I'mprobably gonna have to say
Detroit.
Uh probably around 46 47 wins.
Oh what?
(34:15):
46 47 wins.
I'm just not sold on the SouthSoutheast division because the
Southeast Division was just sobad.
I think the magic worked 42 and40 last year, and the Cavs.
I think we'll make the playoffs,but it's not.
Gonna be like last year.
SPEAKER_06 (34:35):
Well, I'm just gonna call you bold stance, Tony, from
here on out.
Like everything that has comeout of your mouth on this one
has just been a the hot take andjust the bold stance.
I just I feel like the the thedude from dodgeball, it's a bold
strategy, cut.
Let's see how this plays out forwith his airs and how this
(34:57):
actually plays out.
But TJ, I follow that.
I don't know.
SPEAKER_04 (35:01):
Like I guess I'm just I'm the devil's advocate
for everybody here.
The Cavs win 60 games.
Um their confidence going intothis year, they are, you know,
last year they were extremelyhungry to outdo what they did
the previous year.
Like they had an expectation andthey lived up to it.
(35:23):
They were hungry.
This year, they're sitting therebeing called frauds.
You know, hey, you guys made itand then what?
You know, and that they're sickof hearing that.
That um, you know, those reportsare sick of hearing that.
So I think they come out blazinghot.
I think they're gonna be uh anextremely top talented team, a
number one seed, uh 60 wins.
(35:45):
Now I said that Magic would beatthem in the playoffs, but I
think the Cavs win or are one ofthe most dominant teams in the
regular season.
Okay.
Stoy, what about you?
SPEAKER_03 (35:57):
Yeah, I mean, for everything I said earlier, I'll
go with Cavs, number one therewith the most wins.
I think just a really well-builtteam and a lot of continuity
there.
But I do want to say the magic,I think, could be a really,
really interesting team.
Um, they have good players umwith Wagner, um, Bancaro, um,
(36:19):
and they added Bain, um,obviously in a big deal um
coming into this year.
So um I think they can be 100% atwo, three seed, um, and and
definitely can kind of give arun for the money.
Detroit, I think, showed outreally well last year, and I
think every everything pointstowards the trajectory up, but
I'm not sure if I'm totallybought in on them really being a
(36:41):
contender.
I think they'll kind of be inthe mix in there.
Um, but I'll put them third kindof behind the other two teams.
SPEAKER_06 (36:48):
Okay.
All right.
Uh, Cole, what about you?
SPEAKER_00 (36:53):
Yeah, uh, like I said, Cavs are definitely gonna
be either top seed or numbertwo.
Like, there's just no doubt.
Um, you know, I know there's alot of hate on Kenny Atkinson
and what he did in the playoffs,and there's always it always
seems like there's a lot of hatefor the coaches that uh coach
the Cavs for some reason in theplayoffs, uh, with JB as well.
Um, but I think the Cavs easilyhave the best record uh out of
(37:17):
those three, if not the bestrecord in all of the East.
Um, I do think that the othertwo teams are very player
dependent.
You know, when it comes to KateCunningham, if he has what I
think is going to be an MVP runthis year, like at least in the
top five, because how he wasperforming at the end of last
year was insane.
Um, I see him playing very well.
(37:37):
Um, I also see uh Paulo playingextremely well for the Magic,
but I do think that they're verydependent on those two guys as
to where the Cavs have just likean overall stacked roster,
starting and bench.
So, although I do think the Cavslost uh one of their big bench
guys, right?
Um I'm trying to think of hisname right now, but uh they did
(37:58):
lose somebody, which was prettymajor.
I think it was the six man,their six man, but anyways, I
still just foresee them playingreally well.
And I think probably behind themthe magic, very close, and then
the Detroit uh is kind of a darkhorse team.
SPEAKER_06 (38:12):
Yeah, with with these three teams, I just I have
like uh I I think that the theright just solely based on
record.
I had the Cavs with a betterrecord over the Magic by two
games.
It's gonna be close.
Pistons are are still the thirdteam to be out of those, just
solely based on record.
(38:33):
I I just yeah, I don't I don'tsee anybody out of those three
having a better year than theCavs are gonna have with the way
they're built this year.
Um, and just all the narrative,like TJ was saying, like they're
they're tired of being calledthe pretenders, like they're
tired of being like, Oh, yeah,this was a one-off.
Like, that's just fueling thisteam and with where they're at.
(38:56):
Um, and speaking of the Cavs, Icannot wait for this question
here because I feel like thisone may just end the show with
how long I could go on thistopic.
But uh, Cole, is LeBron ruininghis legacy by staying around too
many years with the Lakers on ateam's that are greatly
(39:18):
underachieving with him on them?
SPEAKER_00 (39:22):
I mean, look, LeBron is one of the most successful
players, if not you could argue,most successful player ever in
the NBA.
I mean, the thing is, like, he'snot ruining anything.
And if in fact, he's helpedevery single team that he's gone
to to win those championships.
Uh when it comes to the Lakers,I don't think that they're that
bad.
I mean, they have Luka Doncic,who's an MVP caliber player, so
(39:46):
I don't think he's wasting anytime right now.
I think this is probably one ofthe best situations he could be
in.
Um, I also don't think he's Imean, he's injured right now,
right?
Like they're they're saying thathe's gonna miss some time.
Um, so I do think he's gettingto that age where you will start
to see him lose it a little bit.
I mean, he already has to anextent, but at this point, he's
(40:07):
gonna retire in LA.
Why wouldn't he?
He's involved in the music theuh in uh entertainment industry,
like he's kind of in the perfectsituation.
His kid plays with him, likehe's not going anywhere from LA
at this point.
He's gonna retire there.
SPEAKER_06 (40:19):
Well, yeah, we I figured he was gonna retire
there, but like, I mean, andbeing injured, I mean, when
you're 87 years old and youknow, still trying to play
basketball, like, and thenpeople are like, Oh, he's broken
this record, he's broken thatrecord, he's outscored this
person.
Yeah, he's played for a hundredfreaking years.
Like, of course he's gonna bebreaking those records.
Like, when you're playing aslong as he has, I mean, it uh
(40:43):
doing that before he was old.
SPEAKER_00 (40:44):
I I I look, I'm a Michael Jordan, like I think
Michael Jordan is the greatestplayer to ever play.
Okay, he saved yourself.
I think that I think that LeBronis I mean, he's incredible.
I I do think there'sgenerations, right?
Like Michael Jordan was the bestplayer of his generation, Wilt
was the best player of hisgeneration, and then you got
Lebron as the best player since2000.
(41:05):
So uh, you know, he he can play,he could probably play another
10 years at a high level, andthat's insane to me.
Like, no other players doingthat.
Um, it's just it's insane, andit's awesome.
Like, I will I love LeBron.
I think everything he's done isincredible.
He gets a lot of hate for goingto different teams, but he's
just proven that he can winanywhere, and that's pretty
(41:25):
impressive to me.
SPEAKER_06 (41:26):
You think he could play another decade in in the
NBA?
SPEAKER_00 (41:31):
Have you looked at his stats the last two years?
He's still at a high level,yeah.
I mean, he could play on the hecould play off the bench in
eight years.
Who's who's to say he couldn't?
Oh, that's that's physically,he's better than most of the
players in the NBA.
SPEAKER_06 (41:47):
That's that's tough for me to get on board with idea
there, Cole.
Ten years that that's that'sjust let's the come on.
Yeah, Bill, save us here.
SPEAKER_03 (41:58):
Not gonna save you.
I'm not gonna save you.
I think he's ruining his legacy.
I think no way.
Um, he's still playing in thetop 15, top 20 player right now,
I think.
Um, I I think you'd be hard andpressed to argue against that.
Um playing super well.
Um, I don't know how you cankind of tarnish your legacy when
(42:20):
you're still a top 20 basketballplayer at that age.
I think it's um impressive whathe's doing.
I do think we're coming to theend here soon.
I I think just I don't know ifhe has the fire and and
everything to continue to dothat.
I think just it just kind ofhappens when you have
accomplished so much, played somuch.
(42:42):
Um, I think you know he's gonnagive another one, two years
probably.
I'd imagine maybe next year, um,maybe another year after that.
I think we'll probably um behanging it up.
So I think we're kind of gonnabe coming to the end here, but
um, I mean he's gonna go downhis I want to wait till after he
retires, give a few years, andthen I think we really need to
(43:03):
have the LeBron and Jordandebate.
Um, I think while he's playingright now, it's a little bit too
hard.
So let it sink in, let thelegacy kind of sink in a little
bit.
And I think um both incredibleplayers, and and the legacy, I
think the LeBron is definitelynot going the wrong direction.
Um still playing at a highlevel.
SPEAKER_06 (43:21):
All right, all right, TJ, what what do you got?
I'm trying to woosa over herewith this with this question.
SPEAKER_04 (43:30):
Every year they sit there and they say, Oh, look at
this new young guy.
He is going to take the throneaway from LeBron every year.
It was Zion, it was Ja, it wasAnthony Edward.
It's all of these guys, and noneof them are gonna be even close.
(43:50):
None of them are gonna be closeto be able to put up the
accomplishments he is, thelongevity that he's put in, the
impact on the league, thepolitician that he is.
I mean, he can play on and off.
He's done absolutely everything,which is also why I do believe
that he's only playing to pisspeople off at this point.
He could have stopped five yearsago.
He's only doing it because otherpeople are telling him he should
(44:12):
stop.
And oh, he's slowing down.
He's like, Okay, fine, I'll goput up 30.
I'll do a triple-double tonight.
He and then I'll take two weeksoff.
Just it's it's amazing how muchhe has this league in his hand.
We're gonna see this with PatMahomes.
We kind of saw it with Brady alittle bit, and then Brady kind
(44:32):
of, all right, I'm gonna go homenow.
But we're gonna see this withPat Mahomes at the end of his
career, where he's gonna sitthere and be uh no, not yet.
I'm not going anywhere.
I know they drafted this guy,but nah, not yet.
I'm not ready to give it up.
LeBron literally, he he he's onhis own.
He doesn't care what we think,he does not care at all.
(44:53):
He's doing his own thing.
So he can if he wants to playfor the 10, he will play for the
10 in his own way.
SPEAKER_06 (45:02):
Oh, this this is tough for me, Tony.
What do you got?
You guys are just raising theblood pressure here.
This is what we're doing.
SPEAKER_02 (45:11):
If he wanted to retire, he would have already.
He's already approvedeverything, but you know, he's
just probably he's like, I'dsay, Snoop Dogg, just completing
side quests at this point.
LeBron is gonna be done when hefeels like he's done.
And for me, I know I'm sorry,it's gonna blood raise your
(45:32):
blood pressure a little higher.
He's not gonna retire until the2020 Olympics.
If USA wins the gold medal, thenLeBron will probably take off
his shoes, set him at centercourt at the arena, and then say
peace out.
You know what it has to be.
SPEAKER_04 (45:49):
It's gotta be a show.
It's gotta be theatrics.
SPEAKER_02 (45:52):
It's gonna, it's gonna it only make sense if he's
a Lakers and it's Team USA andthe Olympics are in Los Angeles.
Yeah, that's it'd be aHollywood, I think.
SPEAKER_06 (46:07):
I honestly really thought I'd have one of you on
my side here with this one, andI got zero help on this one
here.
Um, because don't get me wrong,LeBron, I'm not discrediting
what he's done in the NBA.
He's a phenomenal player.
Uh he plays his ass off, but youknow, it's it's the Brady
(46:34):
effect.
Uh, I'll give you that one, TJ.
Brady should have retired beforehe went to Tampa.
Um, I'm happy he did and got myBuccaneers a Super Bowl.
I am so happy that happened.
Um, but you gotta know when it'stime to hang the cleats and the
shoes up.
And for me, that was three yearsago with LeBron.
SPEAKER_03 (46:57):
I mean, he's he's so much better now than when Jordan
was with the Wizards, though.
And you don't know.
Here we go.
Here we go.
You know, you don't knockJordan, you don't say, Oh, you
know, he's not his legacy ishurt because he wasn't playing
for the Wizards.
LeBron's ten times the playerthat Jordan was when he was
playing for the Wizards.
SPEAKER_06 (47:15):
I just can't see how it could turn into like it's
it's a it's a different era withlike Cole said with LeBron and
Jordan and Wilt and all thoseguys.
It's there's generational,there's generational talent to
to say that LeBron would havebeen able to play in the 90s
(47:37):
when all those guys were playingback then in that style of ball,
where they didn't call theseticky tac fouls, and you were
just allowed to maul people ifthey went into the paint.
LeBron does not hold Jordan'sjock strap on that one.
SPEAKER_04 (47:54):
Now he I just think that he wouldn't have lasted as
long.
LeBron at the no give me a guywho was 6'8, 260, moving like
LeBron in the 90s.
Give me one, give me one.
SPEAKER_06 (48:06):
You probably can't, he probably can't.
SPEAKER_04 (48:09):
All those guys, big guys moved slow as hell and
stood in the paint and knockedpeople over.
Small guys moved fast and theymoved around guys.
They all might have had theskills better than LeBron, like
the technical skills of ballhandling, passing, all those
things.
But LeBron was something thatthey didn't experience at all.
Like Jordan was something thatthey didn't experience at all.
(48:29):
And Jordan's what 6'6, 230.
Now add two inches and 35pounds, and a guy who's faster
than him.
Have fun.
They were the LeBron wouldn'thave lasted as long because they
would have knocked him overmore, but they wasn't gonna,
they weren't gonna stop him.
SPEAKER_06 (48:44):
I didn't say they would stop him.
I he just we wouldn't be havingthis conversation.
SPEAKER_02 (48:49):
Add that same weight and add a couple inches to Kobe.
And if he doesn't get injured,he probably lasts into the
2020s, too.
SPEAKER_04 (48:56):
Okay, ready?
If Kobe, if Kobe played becauseKobe played against both.
No, no, I know.
If Kobe played 10 years later,Kobe surpasses LeBron.
Because Kobe was able to scorewhenever he wanted in that era
anyway.
If he plays 10 years later withall offense, Kobe's averaging 50
a game.
SPEAKER_06 (49:14):
Easy.
Easily, Kobe's averaging 50 agame.
Like I it it in my hierarchy, Ihave Kobe above LeBron.
And obviously, I have Jordanabove both.
It's it's it's not even close,it's not even close for me on
(49:34):
this one.
It's not even close.
I don't I don't what chaos inthe bono house happening behind
like because it just can't be anormal night when I have to
record a show.
We got my son cutting balloonsdown that are apparently right
behind my camera, and likesomething's happening,
(49:55):
something's going to pop.
I don't know what to know what'shappening right now.
But this is just I think thatwhat's going to hurt LeBron's
legacy is the fact thateveryone's just gonna say he
stayed in too long.
(50:16):
He stayed in longer than heshould have.
SPEAKER_05 (50:21):
Okay, that's that's gonna be like no matter where
you go, no matter what you do.
SPEAKER_04 (50:26):
You say Brady stayed in too long and he won a Super
Bowl in the second last year.
Like he I'm not saying he can'twin a championship in that in
this time.
I'm just saying, so we'rerecency bias.
We're sitting there thinking,like, okay, what what did we
have lately?
And the last thing I rememberfrom you is this, you know, like
that's we're sitting there.
(50:47):
Uh I I just Tom Brady is stillthe best, the greatest
quarterback of all time, even ifhis last year sucked.
So LeBron is still gonna be oneof the greatest of all time,
even if his last year is awful.
SPEAKER_02 (50:57):
And Jimmy Johnson's still one of the greatest NASCAR
drivers of all time, and hislast few years were nothing to
write home about, and he's aseven-time champion, just like
Tom Brady.
SPEAKER_06 (51:09):
I'm not discrediting that, I think that's what people
with the way people want theinstant gratification nowadays.
I think they're only going toremember the end with LeBron.
So I agree.
SPEAKER_00 (51:22):
I agree with your so to kind of use your own argument
against you, does anybodyremember Michael Jordan's last
couple years with the thewizards?
Yeah, does that tarnish it?
SPEAKER_01 (51:32):
He's pushing around and it doesn't tarnish his his
legacy, though.
SPEAKER_02 (51:38):
Now it's I wish that he stuck around for one more
year after that just to haveplayed against LeBron.
SPEAKER_04 (51:45):
Yeah, I think I think it's long.
I wish, no man, he made abusiness decision.
SPEAKER_06 (51:50):
Yeah, that's that was absolutely a business
decision.
SPEAKER_03 (51:54):
I think as long as we just debate it kind of proves
what type of legacy he has.
Um, we're going off five, tenminutes on the same topic, and I
think that kind of proves howvaluable he is to the league.
SPEAKER_06 (52:06):
And I don't I don't discredit that.
I just think I know what some ofthese sports reporters are gonna
do, and some of these peoplethat just trust me, I'm I I love
to hate on LeBron because I knowit just riles people up.
That's my favorite thing to doin the world is to just get
people fired up.
(52:26):
I mean, I don't discredit thathe's a great player, I don't do
that, I not at all.
Uh part of the reason, like ifwe just keep we keep bringing
him up with Tom Brady, the partof the reason I didn't like Tom
Brady is because he wasphenomenal.
Like, that's part of the it'slike, why are you that good?
And why can you do it that long?
I don't like just be a normalhuman being, don't be a machine
(52:49):
like LeBron has been in the NBAfor as long as he has.
And yeah, we've gone on for waylonger than I thought this was
gonna go on, but that's justthat's just that's just where
I'm at with with LeBron.
I mean, I it can go either way.
It is, it is, and lately I'vebeen more fired up than lately.
(53:10):
I don't know why, but I've beenI've been getting off on a lot
more rants than than usual,especially with the round tables
here.
Uh, but we'll get back into thisbecause I got a couple more
questions I want to get throughhere.
Um, so Tony, uh, who's the bestcoach in the NBA right now?
SPEAKER_02 (53:27):
I will have to say simply because of the culture,
Eric Spolstra.
He may not he may only have acouple rings, but just the fact
that Miami's been in contentionyear after year, and even in the
times they missed the playoffs,it's been no more than two
games.
And they were 37 and 45 lastyear and still somehow made to
(53:49):
the eighth seed.
SPEAKER_06 (53:51):
Yeah, that says a lot.
That that's a solid pick,Bispolstra.
I I kind of I agree with youwholeheartedly on that one.
Uh TJ, what about you?
SPEAKER_04 (54:01):
That was the first one that came into my head
because you listen to all theother players and other coaches
on other teams talk about him,and he's one of the coaches that
consistently comes up.
So I and he turns players, theplayers he has the biggest egos
on those teams, and somehow hemakes it all work.
(54:21):
It's a timeline, you know, he'sa timeline of the NBA, he just
takes what he has and makes itwork.
SPEAKER_06 (54:28):
Okay, Bill, what about you?
SPEAKER_03 (54:32):
Might be an unpopular one, but I think
there's a lot of names can goaround.
But I'm gonna throw Steve Kerr'sname out there.
I think the resume he has um isprobably the best still.
Um could put him right up therewith uh um a lot of the greats
as far as championships and rugsand stuff.
And I think that you know, oncethey kind of get a nucleus
(54:54):
rebuilt over there, that theycan make some damage.
So I'll throw his name in there.
I think he's a hell of a ballcoach and definitely has a
resume to kind of back it up.
SPEAKER_06 (55:02):
Okay, cool.
Round of sell.
SPEAKER_00 (55:04):
Yeah, uh, I'm on the Spolster train uh train.
I also think Steve Kerr is anincredible coach.
And now that Popovich isretired, uh uh for me it was
Popovich before that.
But um, yeah, at this point, Ithink you're probably sitting at
Spolstra and Kerr really closetogether.
Both are great culture guys,both are great player coaches.
They're just they work, also.
(55:26):
Um, you know, just as kind oflike other coaches that are
really great.
I love Ime Yadoka down inHouston.
I think he's a really greatcoach.
Maybe not the best guy in theworld, but he's a really good
coach.
Uh, and then the um uh what'shis name in Boston?
Uh I can't think of his name offthe top of my head right now,
but the the coaching staff inBoston is also really solid.
SPEAKER_03 (55:48):
Mazzo, I think.
SPEAKER_00 (55:49):
Mozilla.
Yeah, I think.
Joe Mazzula, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_06 (55:53):
Yeah.
I I think the Spolstra and Kerrare like 1-1A.
Uh just with the the culturesthat I think I like those uh
picks for sure.
Um that's that's kind of where Iwould be at with that.
But Cole, uh, which team will bethe biggest disappointment this
(56:14):
year?
SPEAKER_00 (56:17):
That's a really hard question, actually.
Um man, it's gonna be somebodyin the West.
Uh I just I have a feeling it'sit honestly, it could be uh the
Nuggets, even with Jokic.
Uh, but they just they've kindof moved their roster around a
little bit.
They weren't fantastic lastyear.
(56:38):
I kind of foresee them beinganother mid-tier team uh next
year as to where like theyalways are gonna be in the
running with Jokic, but um, I dothink that they're probably
gonna be the biggestdisappointment in the league.
SPEAKER_06 (56:50):
Okay.
Stoy.
SPEAKER_03 (56:54):
Yeah, I think tough one as well.
Um expectations seem to be kindof low all around, low tempered.
Um, and I think outside of maybeOKC, and I think they're gonna
live up to life over there.
Um I think I like the theNuggets pick, honestly.
I think you lose um MichaelPorter Jr., I think they could
(57:15):
be there again, but I think wecan kind of see a little bit of
uh regression if you have aninjury to Murray or something
going on with Yokich.
So we'll go with Nuggets, but umI think it's really wide open
this year.
I think there's a lot of kind ofdown expectations and wide
openness, especially in theEast.
So um, I don't know if there'sanyone really set up for a big
(57:36):
disappointment.
SPEAKER_06 (57:37):
Okay.
TJ, what about you?
SPEAKER_04 (57:42):
I'm gonna go with the Celtics again.
I I I think that they have aculture and an expectation of
winning, and it's gonna smackthem in the mouth when they're
not living up to that.
And um I don't know if that'sgonna be a they're gonna have
the most losses or anything likethat, but I just think that it's
(58:03):
gonna be shocking for that fanbase, on top of it just being
wow, the Celtics have were ontheir way, they just won the
championship.
They they were building thatdynasty, and now it's like wow,
roadblock right here.
So um I'll I'll say Celtics.
Okay, and Tony, what about you?
SPEAKER_02 (58:22):
I'm gonna have to say the defending Eastern
Conference champion, IndianaPacers, not that they won't make
the playoffs, it'll just be abit of a drop off from last
year.
Because essentials tough, theythey'll still qualify for the
postseason, I feel, but nothaving Tyrese Halliburton or
Miles Turner is huge.
(58:43):
It's gonna be the road's gonnabe a lot more difficult for them
than it was last year.
And Halliburton was a huge andthis is another state, a huge
factor for them throughout theirtheir their run postseason.
SPEAKER_06 (59:01):
I gotcha with that one.
I I I don't hate any of thosepicks uh for sure.
I I'm kind of on the the DenverNuggets train there.
I just I think they're going tobe the the team everyone's
thinking is gonna be better thanwhat they're gonna be this year.
I think they're gonna be the thethe disappointment uh this year,
(59:24):
uh just with everything that'shappened there.
The Celtics, obviously, I meanit's hard not to say that with
what they lost in the trades andnot obviously free agencies and
the Tatum injury.
I mean, I I I don't think it'sgonna be as big of a
disappointment because peoplehave been aware of the Tatum
injury.
It's not like this just happenedand they're losing him for that.
(59:46):
Like this was this was okay,yeah.
He's gonna be done for until thepostseason next year.
So like they're alreadyexpecting not to have him, and I
think that helps with with themand why I'm going with the
Nuggets over the Celtics.
Uh, but Tony, we're gonna roundit out with this, and who's your
regular season MVP?
SPEAKER_02 (01:00:08):
I man, that's gonna be a tough one.
I am gonna go with, I'm justgonna throw this out there.
I'm gonna go with uh I'm gonnago with Donovan Mitchell,
actually.
I'm gonna stick with thehometown team.
I'm gonna go with DonovanMitchell.
Donovan Mitchell.
I think he's choice for a greatbreakout.
SPEAKER_06 (01:00:25):
Solid pick off the rip.
TJ, what about you?
SPEAKER_04 (01:00:29):
Evan Mobley.
Evan Mobley.
I think that they're gonna Ithink he's I think Mitchell was
a little telling last year.
He started to take a step backto let Mobley take a step
forward.
And I think Mobley's now reallygonna take that step forward
where he's gonna be around 30points a game.
He's gonna be around 12, 15rebounds a game.
(01:00:51):
I I really think, and with Ibelieve the Cavs will have the
best record in the East.
I believe they'll be a numberone seed.
I think Mobley will be they'lllook at him defensive player,
you know, top three defensiveplayer in the league with the
offense that he's gonna add in.
He's gonna hit his three-pointshots this year a little bit
better uh without injury.
I think after Mobley gets theMVP this year.
(01:01:13):
I got you, Stoy.
What about you?
SPEAKER_03 (01:01:15):
Yeah, I mean, I love those bits, the gaps, man.
I think um I I think honestly,because you have Mowgli or
Mowgli and Mitchell, they mightkind of even each other out a
little bit in the votes and kindof cancel each other out, maybe.
Um, I'm gonna throw a long shotout there.
Um, and I'm gonna say Webby.
Um, I think if you can they theygot the guards now, and and I
(01:01:40):
think if he can, I mean, him andthe pick and roll with all the
guards that they've accumulated,if they can be a good team,
which you need to be to be inthe MVP running.
Um, I think it might be time forhim to kind of take that step
forward.
So I thought, you know, I knowit's a little bit of a wild
card, but I think he candefinitely take that step to
Zelda and see him kind of inthat running.
SPEAKER_06 (01:01:59):
Okay, cool.
What about you?
SPEAKER_00 (01:02:01):
I love the Wemby pick.
I think that he could absolutelygo off this year.
Uh, he's been working out, he'sdone a lot of stuff to kind of
make himself stronger.
I love that pick.
I just I can't go against Jokic.
I just think that um even iftheir team is underwhelming,
he's still insane.
Like he's just so much betterthan everybody else.
(01:02:22):
I think uh, and I know I'm notanswering this really, but SGA
is also an incredible pick.
Like, I just think there's likethree guys with Wemby if he
plays to expectation that couldabsolutely do it.
But I do think Jokic probablyends up taking it home this
year.
SPEAKER_06 (01:02:37):
I uh I I I don't hate any of those.
Uh I'm gonna throw another nameinto the into the ring that I
don't think I think people aregonna sleep on, but I got Luca.
And Luca in LA, I think he takesthat step forward um with them
there in uh playing with uhLeBron.
We're not even gonna I didn'teven want to mention his name
(01:02:58):
because I didn't I don't wedon't have another 10 minutes
here to to go off on that, but Ithink Luca takes that step that
he needs to get into that MVPconversation, and I think he
takes it this year.
I think he helps them uh berelevant in the West.
And yeah, I think I I I got Igot Luca on this one, but that
(01:03:20):
is actually going to do it forthis week's episode of the Ride
Home Ranch podcast.
I want to thank all of myguests, Cole, Tony, Bill, and
TJ, for being on and getting totalk everything with the MBA
here with the start of theseason, right around the corner
here.
And as always, if you enjoyedthe show, be a friend, tell a
friend.
And if you didn't, tell themanyways, they might like it just
(01:03:42):
because you didn't.
That's gonna do it for me, and Iwill see y'all next week.
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