June 7, 2025 • 27 mins
Sean Brace and Sam Oshtry open the show talking #NBAFinals as Game 1 tips off Thursday night between the #Thunder and #Pacers in Oklahoma City.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Number one on your car radio preset hand the new
and improved Iheard Radio app WDS and WD two seven
three D Philadelpia is Fox Sports Radio the Gambling.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
One ninety four of the final of thirty point Round.
Not a single day went by this season, but.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Oklahoma City did not hold the best record in the West.
And now this historic relentless thunderstorm has und probably emphatically
and officially earned the Moniker Best in the West, and
the Eastern Conference Championship has been captured by the Indiana Pasernship.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
And here the crowd, they are just ecstatic.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
I'll tell you what, if we were judging the NBA Finals,
in picking winners based off of the play by play
announcers calls as they wrap up both Western and Eastern
Conference championship games, that's easily a route for the Oklahoma
City thunder And if you polled half of America right now,
I'm pretty sure they would be in agreement.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
There.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Good Afternoon Daily Ticket Live.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
Sam Oustrie from the Score, Sean Brace, We got Julian
Edlo from DraftKings Sportsbook at three point thirty.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
He gets Shaan Benard at five o'clock.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Oh, by the way, Natalie Eganoff is gonna be joining
us at four thirty. She's been brought on and being
a part of all things iHeartRadio here in phil and
we know about her sports background, so she's going to
be getting involved with us here on the Gambler side.
A lot more moving forward sam exciting stuff around these
these parts, and of course NBA Finals Game one tonight.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Man, How you doing. I'm doing great.
Speaker 5 (02:15):
It feels like we haven't played ball in a long time, right,
and as the season winds down, you gotta embrace every
chance we can get to watch some hoop.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Before we're all for a long time.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
See I heard you know, like there are a lot
of people that aren't even going to watch.
Speaker 5 (02:29):
There are a lot of my friends have been texting
me saying they won't even turn on this finals. I
call bs on, no, no, no, no, I don't think so.
These's gonna be one of the worst rated finals. Not
that it should matter, but this is gonna be one
of the worst rated finals in a long time. That's
a shame.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
It is a shame. You're judging a book by its
cover in what way?
Speaker 4 (02:47):
By not tuning into the NBA Finals, the two best teams.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
There's just there's not a lot of star power.
Speaker 5 (02:54):
And like SGA is a superstar, he's about to do
something that only.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Three other ever done in the history.
Speaker 5 (03:01):
How many people actually know what SJ even sounds like?
I'm serious, all right? Like SGA on the court is
a superstar. But how you get people into watching the
NBA Finals, your marquee event, your championship.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Series, Lakers and Knicks, not just Lakers Knicks, forget that.
Speaker 5 (03:19):
Like Cleveland was great and grated great when they were
in the finals because they Lebron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant,
all those guys. Those are popular names. Superstar isn't just
about who you are on the court. Sj's definitely superstar.
He's one of the three or four best players, and
he's been that way for the last couple of years.
Last year was his first year in the NBA playoffs,
and last year was the first year he really exploded.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Onto the scene as an MVP candate.
Speaker 5 (03:41):
So without that visibility and that marketability, you're not necessarily
a superstar. And without a lot of superstars, I don't
I understand why casuals would tune out and you're gonna
see a lot of casuals tune out.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
All right, Well, then I ask this question, dude, what
else are you watching? Doesn't that play into something yet?
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Like are we that over the top when it comes
to like the star power? And I'm not a dummy,
I understand how this works. But again, it's Thursday. It's
June fifth, Like, there's no Stanley Cup games tonight. I
think there is college baseball, maybe maybe super Regionals. I
know there's college World Series, major League Baseball. Sure, Phillies
(04:23):
played at three o'clock today. So whatever they're like, tone in,
give it a shot. At least I agree.
Speaker 5 (04:29):
I would encourage everyone to watch because it's great basketball.
It's two great basketball teams who plum play a really
fun style, yes, and similar styles but also contracting contrasting
styles in this matchup. So I would encourage everyone to watch.
It's gonna be awesome basketball. But I also understand why casuals.
I understand the business. I get why at house sports
and why people watch and what attracts them to it.
(04:49):
And if it's two teams where one is a massive
favorite without a lot of superstar power in terms of
the marketability of the superstars, a lot of people are
gonna turne now so no one else they're watching, but
you're gonna see a very poorly rated fan.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
And you know what, shame on me because I'm going
down this path to open up the show. I think
casuals ruin things. I think the fact that we worry
about the casual.
Speaker 5 (05:12):
But you need, you need them for ratings in the NBA,
Like the NFL and football, it's a different.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Breed because every Wednesday, Ryan Beeve Coyle and Nick mcley.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
Exactly, that'll always be the pinnacle of sports in this country.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
It's baked into American fabric. Football. NBA is different.
Speaker 5 (05:32):
You need the casuals like you need those casuals for
the popular and the ratings because a lot of the
casuals are the people who love the drama. They love
to talk about the league in the offseason as opposed
to actually watching the games during the season. And in
terms of popularity and ratings and all that, you need
those people. You want those people to be enamored with
the NBA, with with NBA basketball, but you don't always
(05:54):
get that.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
I think casuals are ruining it. That's that's my take
right now. I don't care about the casual fan. You
know what, I care about the hoop the hoop guy,
the hoop girl that's been watching the NBA season, that's
been watching the playoffs. I care about the people that
have money on this. I care about the people that actually,
you know what, are sports fans. That's where it starts
and ends for me. Like if it's a sport, I'm
(06:15):
tuning in because I'm a sports guy. I love sports. Yeah,
I don't need the superstars. And you know, look, you
want me to build this series up, I can because
to me, that's where I want to start the show
with you. Was when we talk about where we're at
right now with these two teams. And we've talked about
last week, what does it say about the state of
the NBA with these two teams. And it's a different conversation,
(06:36):
but you know, two three weeks ago, the Boston Celtics were.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
A slam dunk to be in the NBA Finals.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Two months ago, it was all about the Boston Celtics
in the way that they play the game. Of course,
they just won the championship last year, so we understand
that they were dominant this year.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
And look if the Tatum injury doesn't happen. I don't know.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
I still don't think that they win that series, but
we'll see or it could have been a different story whatever.
So where we're at right now my question to you
to open up this show here is as far as
the NBA Finals when you look at and it comes
home here to Philadelphia with this discussion as well, But
we're way off the beaten path. How far off are
the Sixers? And with that, what is the best plan
(07:19):
of action for teams moving forward to And it's a
different conversation because we're talking about a teams winning a
championship playing in the NBA Finals. I'm not talking about competing.
I'm not talking about getting the one seed and then
gett knocked down. I'm talking about building a roster from
top to bottom, a style of play, a coach, a
(07:39):
general manager that you can believe in and not get
rid of after three four years. And credit to the
Sixers for hanging on to Darryl Moray for that point.
Maybe they should maybe they shouldn't have, but at least
they're giving him the golden opportunity. So, sim where are
we at right now with that discussion? Is it no
longer about what the Celtics did. Can teams like the
Sixers look to do, O Kate what the Oklahoma City
(08:02):
Thunder are doing a little bit better than the Pacers.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Aren't they in the same ballpark?
Speaker 5 (08:06):
They are in this sense that for years the NBA
was about who is the best player, and who is
the best player in a series is going to win
that series. Now it's not about who is the strongest link.
It's about who is the strongest weak link. You can't
have weak links on your team anymore. Like we look
at these two rosters, the Pacers and Thunder, it's about
both ends where they are so deep and they don't
(08:28):
have weak links. Look at how the series played out
throughout the playoffs against the Nuggets. The Nuggets had a
bunch of weak links. They didn't have a bench, they
had to play Russell Westbrook a ton of minutes. Michael
Porter Junior was a liability out there. Look at the
Knicks Cornthony Townsend, Jalen Brunson both liabilities defensively, which the
Pacers perfectly exploited throughout that entire series. So if you
have weak links on your roster on one end or
(08:49):
the other, and multiple of them that you're consistently playing,
you're not going to be able to make a long
playoff run. It doesn't matter if you're the best player.
The Knicks had, in my mind, the best player in
that series. The Nuggets had the best player in the
series with Nicole Jokic against the Thunder. It's not about
the best player, it's who is the best worst players.
And that's what these two teams have done so well
is building complete teams where there are no weak links
(09:11):
on the team, where there's so much depth and so
many opportunities for different guys to contribute.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
On both ends. Like this entire Thunder team.
Speaker 5 (09:19):
They play a bunch of guys, but their production defensively
never drops. It never drops no matter who they have
coming in off the bench Offensively, Yeah, you want Tyre
Salib Bernard Pascal Siakam on the floor, but the play
style they play with and how they operate offensively doesn't
drop when you have TJ.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
McConnell coming and off the bench.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
So that's how rosters are built now, and that's how
these two teams have made the finals. That's why the
Thunder have been so dominant all season and are historically
great team based on some statistics like net rating. You
could throw out there the Sixers and teams like that.
Those teams are far far away. Yeah, and when you're
just trying to build a team based on superstars and
(09:58):
throwing a bunch of superstars together, you're not going to
succeed in today's version of the NBA because you need
a complete, deep roster.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
And you know what of course that that would you
know that goes back years and you need a great roster,
a great team. I think, I know things change from oh,
you got the two superstars, and then now you need
to surround them with three point shooters. And then okay,
now you get the three point shooters, but they can't
lack on defense, similar to what your point is saying.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
But and then the the ultimate kicking.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
The rear in is this from the Sixers perspective, and
teams that are off and nowhere near competing for an
NBA championship again, I'm talking about winning a championship. Yeah,
you know, yesterday two thousand and four or two thousand
and one, January fourth, the anniversary of AI I believe
it was.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Yeah, it's because I got the picture.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
I tweeted it out today, AI holding up the Eastern
Conference championship to go to the NBA Finals. It's been
a long damn time. It's been a long damn time.
I remember how great that felt. It was one of
the highlights of my sports fandom. Nobody carried the time
like AI and that Sixers team. For me, I got
goosebumps talking about it.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Right now.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
I can remember where I watched all those games for
three straight seasons, my boy Pilgrim's Howls. We would get
together up there and scran. We watched every single Sixers game,
every single Sixers game. We got together all because of
AI love. And I just want to get back to
the NBA Finals. Want to get back to competing for
a championship. And here's the big issue I have, Sam,
(11:26):
tell me I'm wrong about this, because things change like that.
Sometimes things change in season for the NBA, like we're
talking about right now, three months ago, two months ago,
the Celtics, Yeah, we're the leaders in the clubhouse to
win the NBA Championship because they shot.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
A boatload of threes.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
Now, that's not the answer to winning at all, right,
And it's like, okay, So if the Sixers are that
far off. What happens when they start to finally get
caught up, The game's gonna change.
Speaker 5 (11:51):
There's different ways to construct winning teams, like it works
for the Celtics last year when they shot a ton
of threes because that fit their personnel. Like the pacer
how they play extremely fast, that fits their personnel. And
Pascal Siakam, a guy who even played up mostly he
was pretty slow player, like he operated in the half
quarter a lot. He's changed his game playing alongside Tyre's
Alburn and playing in that pacer system where he's been
(12:13):
awesome in transition and he's playing faster than he ever
has in his career. So there's different ways that you
can play to fit your personnel.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
For the Sixers, it's.
Speaker 5 (12:24):
All about Joel Embiid, Like when you have a big
guy like that, it's all about Joel Embiid and surrounding
him with the right parts. Where whether it is three
point shooters, where are the three and D guys When
you have a great pick and roll partner like Tyre Smaxi,
when you have a spot up guy that Paul George
was supposed to be but obviously didn't live up to that,
and those got three guys that never even really played
(12:44):
together at any any real minutes other than a few games,
so you never even got to see that trio work
and operate. And then you had Jerry McCain to the equation.
There's different ways to build teams, and I just think
that the things that are necessary is depth and having
five five guys really seven, eight, nine, ten guys. If
you're the Pacers, stake who can defend at high level
(13:06):
and hit shots and pass and or not liabilities and
any any of the fundamentals of basketball.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
They're not liabilities.
Speaker 5 (13:13):
And that's what the Pacer and Thunders have done so well,
and that's what every team is going to strive to
do moving forward.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
You know, it's crazy when you start talking about the
first thing that that is their strengths. For both of
these teams specifically definitely the Pacers. I always say Oklahoma
City is more defense for me, but as I said,
they played a high pace as well. So like Mike
d'antelli right thinking back to his days like this.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Seven seconds or less he started this run era. Yeah,
I think the Sixer are still trying to hire him.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
But again, I just want to bring it into like
as we move on to two teams that remain, and
one of them will be the NBA champion for this year,
most likely going to be the Oklahoma City Thunder, although
we do have some major line move We'll get into
that in just a second. It is alarming how far
off this seventy six ers team is, but with a
(14:04):
chance of if they can get McCain to continue to
move into the right direction that he was last year,
if they can get Maxie Grimes comes back right. And
I know we've said this before, but now you're building
a roster. Now you're building a team that could at
least compete as far as with the pace, with that style.
Now is that the end all be'll? No, but those
(14:25):
are at least, like you said, both of these teams
run ten deep.
Speaker 5 (14:29):
Well did you did you see where Joel Embiid was
ranked in the top one hundred on the Ringer?
Speaker 4 (14:33):
The Ringer is a joke. Joe's still a top ten
player in the league.
Speaker 5 (14:36):
I actually, I actually think the Ringer does awesome basketball coverage.
I think them and Yahoo might go to for basketball coverage.
The Ringer has always been and Bilsimmon specifically has always
been very anti empad correct The thing for me is
that's why I don't go to the ringer. The thing
for me is I don't even rank him bead Like.
I don't put him in a ranking because it would
be the top ten player in the league.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
How can I answer that question? But how can I
answer that question.
Speaker 5 (14:59):
When he doesn't play bad his talent level, when he
is completely healthy. Absolutely he's the top five player in
the league. But how could you rank a player that
is never available in crucial moments? But now he's just
never available period? So how can you ranke up play
I don't even put him on a list. I just
put him to the side. The playoffs, he was but
(15:20):
he was also banged up. He's hosted that regular season,
which is why they were playing teams, and he was
banged up in the playoffs. Consider him like around the
last two seasons. I really don't like. He missed most
of that regular season two years ago. Please don't where
am I supposed to rank him? How can I say
his top ten player? How can I say he's better
than Steph Kurr right now? Like Steph Curry is like
(15:43):
a borderline top ten guy these days, Like Kevin.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Durant, How is Jolan better than Kevin Dray. If you
don't play basketball games.
Speaker 5 (15:50):
It's the oldest saying in basketball, your best available, best
ability ability is availability. I can't even get it out
of here, but it's like that's true.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
I mean, he can't play.
Speaker 5 (15:59):
And doesn't play basketball games. What am I supposed to say?
How am I supposed to rank him? So eighty four
is ridiculous if you are going to rank him Christ
it's absurd. If you're gonna rank him and put him
that low, I just wouldn't rank him periods. Put him
on this list by himself and be like a guy
who is top ten when he does play, but he
never actually plays.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
So I don't know how you rank a guy like that.
Speaker 5 (16:19):
But again, to the Sixers point, it's all about him,
like everything the Sixers can hope for next year and
all their goals, which should be winning an NBA championship
or winning the East at the very least. That's that's
the goal, that's the pinnacle. It all is about if
Joel and beat is healthy or not, And there's no
reason to believe he will.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
It can't. It just cannot be. But it is, but
it is, And that's the thing.
Speaker 5 (16:38):
They're set up enough in the future where in the
post Joel and beat ever, they're not gonna be a
horrible team. I with the third pick with Maxie McCain.
But right now, it's all about if Joel and Beata
is healthy.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
I don't agree to a point.
Speaker 4 (16:50):
Yes, you're right, but Jodan bees is not gonna be
healthy to start the season next year.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Why not? He hasn't played basket Get didn't he get surgery?
Speaker 5 (16:58):
Yeah, he got surgery a couple months ago, but he
then played basketball before that a long time. There's no
reason by the end of October. Maybe training can there's
no reason the end of October he should.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Mean Look, look, you're probably.
Speaker 5 (17:11):
Right, it's not going to till January of next year.
But but like what, how should he not? How can
he not be ready back the end of October?
Speaker 4 (17:19):
It might be the best thing for the for the
organization as a whole to go about it.
Speaker 5 (17:23):
Like that, him and Paul George and Tyre Smacks whenever
else is coming in with this third pick. They need
reps together, They need reps together.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
This plan.
Speaker 5 (17:32):
How many times are we gonna go through this plan
where Joel Embiid is just gonna load, manage or not play,
or play till Jen not play till January, and then
he's just gonna be fine and the team's gonna be fine.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
That's not how you build a winning Wow, bring him
back in January. Don't even think twice about that. The congrats.
Speaker 5 (17:48):
They'll make the playoffs and then they'll be a first
round exit. It's like, it's like, what do you want?
Speaker 2 (17:52):
I think the focus needs to be on And I
mean this.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
I didn't think we were gonna be talking six ers,
but I just think you have to you you have
to have Tyree Smaxy be the guy.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
You have to have Jared McCain take that next s.
Speaker 5 (18:05):
Tyre Smacksy will never be the guy on a championship.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Can't be like, I love ty S. Max is a player,
but he won't be.
Speaker 5 (18:12):
McCain also won't be like that's a really small backcourt,
which we'll have a lot of problems defending.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
Yeah, I'm not talking championships next year, but I'm talking
about the approach for this organization to move forward and
the best method possible. You cannot go in going it's
all about Joel Embiid. You just can't well the reality
of the situation is you are right, but you can't
do that.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
But I actually think they're they're decently positioned because they
have pieces to carry them pat into the post Joel
Embiid area whenever that comes, right, maybe it's after next season,
or maybe it's a few years down the road. But
so but but those players can also develop while working
through playing alongside Joel Embiid, who should be your centerpiece
(18:54):
if he's healthy. So it's like, yeah, it shouldn't be
as disastrous as last season where things just completely fell
apart when Joel Embiid wasn't playing. There was also Paul
George and other injuries that that happened too. But at
the same time, next year is all about, like this
team thinks and believes they can compete for a championship.
I think Daryl Mory believes that next year. But it's
all about if Joel Embid is they.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Don't have any other option. Yeah, like that's it. That's
what I'm saying. That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (19:18):
It's like, of course that it's because Joel Embiid's status
is why they're desperate to win a championship within this
next two years.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
Yeah, I just think if Daryl Moury was smart, he
has to go about it another way. But you know,
I'd into the Juell Andbiid deal and it's like, look,
you just gave him the new contract.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
He's not going anywhere.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
Uh and and to a to a fault, he's cornered
himself with this and that's the issue.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
But as a as a.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
Sixers fan, as somebody that wants something new here, I
just you can't like Joel Embiid. Hey, if he plays great,
and I do believe in his ability, as I just said,
he's a top ten player. When he's out there, he's incredible. Yeah,
when he takes the floor, he's the best damn player
on the court usually majority of the nights. Absolutely when
he takes the floor.
Speaker 5 (20:04):
But even last year when he played, there's something off
with him, which is why I think there's even more concern.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
Whi's like he was completely injured all year last year. Well,
I just think he's cooked complete.
Speaker 5 (20:14):
But then if he's cooked, then the Sixers are cooked
because he he needs to be like he might ever
be a top ten player again in the league. He may,
he'll probably never be an MVY status. He needs to
be a top fifteen to twenty player of the league
when he gets back on the court.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
How are the Sixers cooked when we're really not talking
about them winning a championship?
Speaker 5 (20:30):
To me, it's about okay this past year, so, I mean,
obviously the expectations completely flipped.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
But going into this past season, everyone was talking about
them winning.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
A champion I know, but they were idiots. People were
idiots to say that.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
I see you.
Speaker 5 (20:44):
When next season starts, they'll be a top They'll have
one of the top four odds to win these they're twenty.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Five to one right now.
Speaker 5 (20:50):
He's to win the championship to win the champions Okay, yeah,
but who else in the ahead of them? The Knicks,
but the Celtics to pay Celtics, I don't think the
Celtics are ahead of the next year without Tato, not
next year, not next year without Tata.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
No, no, no, no, without Tatum. I got the Sixers health.
That's why you can't even have these conversations. Yeah, he
won't even know if that be's gonna be healthy. Who
if he's healthy, the Sixers are way better than Celtics next.
Speaker 5 (21:12):
Year, No, because weems also gonna look completely different.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
I know that's my point.
Speaker 5 (21:16):
So but it's they're still gonna look at as a
bridge year until Tatum comes back.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
So yes, I think the Sixers will be better than
the Celtic. Well, that's my big picture point about the Sixers.
And we'll wrap up with this. Julie Edlad's gonna join
us here at three thirty. We'll get over to the
NBA Finals. All things in depth game one. But that's
my big point with the Sixers. It's like, next year
can't be with yeah, it's great, everybody starts out zero
and zero, let's go win a championship, like, get out
of here with that non sense just can't be. It's
(21:41):
got to be about Tyree Maxi taking the baton and
running with it.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
It has to be.
Speaker 4 (21:46):
It's got to be about Jared McCain hopefully taking another step.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
It's got to be Paul George again, temperty expectations.
Speaker 4 (21:54):
He's thirty five years old, but like, what can they
get the max from Paul George?
Speaker 2 (21:59):
Right?
Speaker 4 (22:00):
I just look at Joel Embiid as a lost cause,
and I know that there are a lot of diehard
jojo fans that were just like, dude, that's so wrong.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
But it's the reality of where we're at right now.
Speaker 4 (22:10):
It's where I was last year, and I said last year,
I got an arguments in November, I said, he has cooked.
You can't look at him like that. I didn't think
he would play thirty games. And guess what, I was right,
And I still don't think that he's going to play
thirty games next year and moving forward.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
That body is beaten.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
He is a huge dude, and it's just it's happened
before big men, you know, father time.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
That's a bad combination.
Speaker 5 (22:33):
It's impossible to disagree with you because, like, look, the
track record is there, like more likely than not, Joel
Embiid's career as we knew, Joel Embiid at is done.
Whether how many games he plays at what level, who knows.
But you gotta hope, like you gotta hope because that's
all the Sixers have and that's all frankly, Darrel Morey
(22:54):
has at this point, because that guy's probably not going
to usher the Sixers into the post em beat era
because he doesn't want to go through it.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Not a rebuild but a retool. So breaking news, we
got breaking news. How about it, ladies and gentlemen, it's happening.
That's no idea of the pills.
Speaker 4 (23:12):
No, Aaron Rodgers is informed the Steelers he'll fly to
Pittsburgh on Friday and signed before next week's Rogers.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
He's back. He's back.
Speaker 5 (23:26):
Good for the Pittsburgh st Everyone knew this was coming.
That's why they didn't draft the door, That's why they
didn't take a quarterback.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Yeah, you had to believe that he was going to
end up there.
Speaker 4 (23:33):
Yep, we'll take a look at some of those Steelers'
numbers and Julian Edlow, I'm sure we'll give us his
take on that.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Again, that's a tough division.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
I do believe that the Cleveland Browns are gonna better
than what people believe. Of course you got the Ravens
in that division. It's I don't think that the Steelers
are going to be good by no means, but at
least they have somebody at quarterback other than who they
already had, which was what Mason Mason Rudolph and then
who's the other.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
Quarterback that was there? It was ridiculous. What is the
Steelers' depth chart? Mason Runolf has been having a time though.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
His name.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
Yeah, he's out there. Will Howard and Skyler Thompson. Those
are your three amigos out there at the quarterback posiness.
Speaker 5 (24:16):
Just at some point when do the Steelers actually want
to get a quarterback who they can build with long
term and will be part of the long term future.
Like next year, you're also going to be looking for
another quarterback and that's going to be what the fifth
straight year, really every year since Ben Roethlisberger left that
that you've had uncertainty at quarterback. He look this, it's
always a good roster. It's one of the best coaches
in the NFL. It's always a team that is going
(24:37):
to win more games they lose and compete for a
playoff spot. It's just like, you could be so much
more if you actually bring in a quarterback that that
could have some staying power there.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
All right, NBA Finals Game one, we do have movement,
major movement too, because this number, as far as the
series price was concerned, was as high as minus eight
hundred now down to minus six fifty for ok. See,
a lot of people are like Jason mcutyre who before
us on the cow Heard Show saying, hey man, I
don't really think the Pacers can win this, but there's
no way I'm laying that number with okay See. So
that's why we're seeing somewhat of a line movement there.
(25:09):
Pacers plus four seventy five. They were plus five hundred
majority of the past few days. Major line movement in
my opinion. As far as a tick up, we are
now looking at ten teen the Oklahoma City thunder a
ten point favorites two thirty. I like the Pacers tonight
plus the points. I don't like them to win, but
I think this is a six seven eight point victory
by Oklahoma City. I think the Pacers are going to
(25:32):
The Pacers are a good team. Like that's the issue.
It starts it ends there. They are a good team.
They have proved their worth since the NBA playoffs have
started and then some going up against good teams. What
they did to the Knicks was very impressive. I know,
Okaysee's a different monster, but ten can we show them
a little bit of respect, just a little bit.
Speaker 5 (25:50):
I mean the odds makers have showed them disrespect to
have this entire playoffron They were underdogs to the Knicks,
underdogs to the Cavs. Yep, and time and time again,
they've proved the odds makers wrong again, and how I
view this series is no respect to the Pacers. They
deserve all the credit for what they've done, but they
haven't faced the defense like the Oklahoma City Thunder and
the aggressive ball pressure, how they shut down drives, how
(26:11):
they rotate and recover all of it.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
And that's why I just don't.
Speaker 5 (26:15):
See that this Pacers team really being able to compete.
Maybe tonight's closer, but I also think at the same time,
I would lean. I'm not going to touch that number,
it's too big, respect, but I would lean if you
had to ask me a lean, I would lean the Thunder,
just because I don't think the Pacers know exactly what's
coming in terms of the ball pressure, in terms of
their plan for Tyree Saliburn to shut him down, and
(26:37):
when he shut down, the Pacers entire offense is shut down.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
Okay, see has slipped up a few times the course
of this playoffs, and all it takes is just a
little bit of a dry spell in this game. Ten
points is a lot. But at the same time, we
were talking about this earlier with Shan Bernard. Third quarter
has been an absolute beast of a quarter for Oklahoma City.
They get hit the gas pedal and then the Pacers
could be in a rearview.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
We'll see. It's gonna be an interesting series.
Speaker 4 (26:59):
I did talk to uh good friends of the program,
mister Elton Brand this morning, and UH asked, I kid.
I bumped into him again, local Jim, and I asked him.
I said, out and want one final squares?
Speaker 1 (27:11):
What up?
Speaker 4 (27:12):
I said, Pacers hanging? He said, yeah, definitely, that's a
good team. It's a good team. He said two games,
two games.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (27:19):
And don't quote him on the oak Lim City because
he didn't say, okay, see will win, but he did
say Pacers will got.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Two games, and I just took it as sport took
all right. Julian edla we'll find out how he's wagering.
Speaker 4 (27:30):
Always love to hear how Julian gets involved with all
these games, points, spread series, markets, all that and more
in depth Game one, sam ou Street from the Score.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
Julian Edlough from DraftKings sports Book. I'm sean brace back
of this.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
The NBA playoffs are here and nobody has you covered.
Like the Gambler gang. We don't just watch the playoffs.
We bet the hell out of him.
Speaker 5 (27:51):
Oh,
Number one on your car radio preset hand the new
and improved Iheard Radio app WDS and WD two seven
three D Philadelpia is Fox Sports Radio the Gambling.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
One ninety four of the final of thirty point Round.
Not a single day went by this season, but.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Oklahoma City did not hold the best record in the West.
And now this historic relentless thunderstorm has und probably emphatically
and officially earned the Moniker Best in the West, and
the Eastern Conference Championship has been captured by the Indiana Pasernship.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
And here the crowd, they are just ecstatic.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
I'll tell you what, if we were judging the NBA Finals,
in picking winners based off of the play by play
announcers calls as they wrap up both Western and Eastern
Conference championship games, that's easily a route for the Oklahoma
City thunder And if you polled half of America right now,
I'm pretty sure they would be in agreement.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
There.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Good Afternoon Daily Ticket Live.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
Sam Oustrie from the Score, Sean Brace, We got Julian
Edlo from DraftKings Sportsbook at three point thirty.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
He gets Shaan Benard at five o'clock.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Oh, by the way, Natalie Eganoff is gonna be joining
us at four thirty. She's been brought on and being
a part of all things iHeartRadio here in phil and
we know about her sports background, so she's going to
be getting involved with us here on the Gambler side.
A lot more moving forward sam exciting stuff around these
these parts, and of course NBA Finals Game one tonight.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Man, How you doing. I'm doing great.
Speaker 5 (02:15):
It feels like we haven't played ball in a long time, right,
and as the season winds down, you gotta embrace every
chance we can get to watch some hoop.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Before we're all for a long time.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
See I heard you know, like there are a lot
of people that aren't even going to watch.
Speaker 5 (02:29):
There are a lot of my friends have been texting
me saying they won't even turn on this finals. I
call bs on, no, no, no, no, I don't think so.
These's gonna be one of the worst rated finals. Not
that it should matter, but this is gonna be one
of the worst rated finals in a long time. That's
a shame.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
It is a shame. You're judging a book by its
cover in what way?
Speaker 4 (02:47):
By not tuning into the NBA Finals, the two best teams.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
There's just there's not a lot of star power.
Speaker 5 (02:54):
And like SGA is a superstar, he's about to do
something that only.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Three other ever done in the history.
Speaker 5 (03:01):
How many people actually know what SJ even sounds like?
I'm serious, all right? Like SGA on the court is
a superstar. But how you get people into watching the
NBA Finals, your marquee event, your championship.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Series, Lakers and Knicks, not just Lakers Knicks, forget that.
Speaker 5 (03:19):
Like Cleveland was great and grated great when they were
in the finals because they Lebron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant,
all those guys. Those are popular names. Superstar isn't just
about who you are on the court. Sj's definitely superstar.
He's one of the three or four best players, and
he's been that way for the last couple of years.
Last year was his first year in the NBA playoffs,
and last year was the first year he really exploded.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Onto the scene as an MVP candate.
Speaker 5 (03:41):
So without that visibility and that marketability, you're not necessarily
a superstar. And without a lot of superstars, I don't
I understand why casuals would tune out and you're gonna
see a lot of casuals tune out.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
All right, Well, then I ask this question, dude, what
else are you watching? Doesn't that play into something yet?
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Like are we that over the top when it comes
to like the star power? And I'm not a dummy,
I understand how this works. But again, it's Thursday. It's
June fifth, Like, there's no Stanley Cup games tonight. I
think there is college baseball, maybe maybe super Regionals. I
know there's college World Series, major League Baseball. Sure, Phillies
(04:23):
played at three o'clock today. So whatever they're like, tone in,
give it a shot. At least I agree.
Speaker 5 (04:29):
I would encourage everyone to watch because it's great basketball.
It's two great basketball teams who plum play a really
fun style, yes, and similar styles but also contracting contrasting
styles in this matchup. So I would encourage everyone to watch.
It's gonna be awesome basketball. But I also understand why casuals.
I understand the business. I get why at house sports
and why people watch and what attracts them to it.
(04:49):
And if it's two teams where one is a massive
favorite without a lot of superstar power in terms of
the marketability of the superstars, a lot of people are
gonna turne now so no one else they're watching, but
you're gonna see a very poorly rated fan.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
And you know what, shame on me because I'm going
down this path to open up the show. I think
casuals ruin things. I think the fact that we worry
about the casual.
Speaker 5 (05:12):
But you need, you need them for ratings in the NBA,
Like the NFL and football, it's a different.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Breed because every Wednesday, Ryan Beeve Coyle and Nick mcley.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
Exactly, that'll always be the pinnacle of sports in this country.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
It's baked into American fabric. Football. NBA is different.
Speaker 5 (05:32):
You need the casuals like you need those casuals for
the popular and the ratings because a lot of the
casuals are the people who love the drama. They love
to talk about the league in the offseason as opposed
to actually watching the games during the season. And in
terms of popularity and ratings and all that, you need
those people. You want those people to be enamored with
the NBA, with with NBA basketball, but you don't always
(05:54):
get that.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
I think casuals are ruining it. That's that's my take
right now. I don't care about the casual fan. You
know what, I care about the hoop the hoop guy,
the hoop girl that's been watching the NBA season, that's
been watching the playoffs. I care about the people that
have money on this. I care about the people that actually,
you know what, are sports fans. That's where it starts
and ends for me. Like if it's a sport, I'm
(06:15):
tuning in because I'm a sports guy. I love sports. Yeah,
I don't need the superstars. And you know, look, you
want me to build this series up, I can because
to me, that's where I want to start the show
with you. Was when we talk about where we're at
right now with these two teams. And we've talked about
last week, what does it say about the state of
the NBA with these two teams. And it's a different conversation,
(06:36):
but you know, two three weeks ago, the Boston Celtics were.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
A slam dunk to be in the NBA Finals.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Two months ago, it was all about the Boston Celtics
in the way that they play the game. Of course,
they just won the championship last year, so we understand
that they were dominant this year.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
And look if the Tatum injury doesn't happen. I don't know.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
I still don't think that they win that series, but
we'll see or it could have been a different story whatever.
So where we're at right now my question to you
to open up this show here is as far as
the NBA Finals when you look at and it comes
home here to Philadelphia with this discussion as well, But
we're way off the beaten path. How far off are
the Sixers? And with that, what is the best plan
(07:19):
of action for teams moving forward to And it's a
different conversation because we're talking about a teams winning a
championship playing in the NBA Finals. I'm not talking about competing.
I'm not talking about getting the one seed and then
gett knocked down. I'm talking about building a roster from
top to bottom, a style of play, a coach, a
(07:39):
general manager that you can believe in and not get
rid of after three four years. And credit to the
Sixers for hanging on to Darryl Moray for that point.
Maybe they should maybe they shouldn't have, but at least
they're giving him the golden opportunity. So, sim where are
we at right now with that discussion? Is it no
longer about what the Celtics did. Can teams like the
Sixers look to do, O Kate what the Oklahoma City
(08:02):
Thunder are doing a little bit better than the Pacers.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Aren't they in the same ballpark?
Speaker 5 (08:06):
They are in this sense that for years the NBA
was about who is the best player, and who is
the best player in a series is going to win
that series. Now it's not about who is the strongest link.
It's about who is the strongest weak link. You can't
have weak links on your team anymore. Like we look
at these two rosters, the Pacers and Thunder, it's about
both ends where they are so deep and they don't
(08:28):
have weak links. Look at how the series played out
throughout the playoffs against the Nuggets. The Nuggets had a
bunch of weak links. They didn't have a bench, they
had to play Russell Westbrook a ton of minutes. Michael
Porter Junior was a liability out there. Look at the
Knicks Cornthony Townsend, Jalen Brunson both liabilities defensively, which the
Pacers perfectly exploited throughout that entire series. So if you
have weak links on your roster on one end or
(08:49):
the other, and multiple of them that you're consistently playing,
you're not going to be able to make a long
playoff run. It doesn't matter if you're the best player.
The Knicks had, in my mind, the best player in
that series. The Nuggets had the best player in the
series with Nicole Jokic against the Thunder. It's not about
the best player, it's who is the best worst players.
And that's what these two teams have done so well
is building complete teams where there are no weak links
(09:11):
on the team, where there's so much depth and so
many opportunities for different guys to contribute.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
On both ends. Like this entire Thunder team.
Speaker 5 (09:19):
They play a bunch of guys, but their production defensively
never drops. It never drops no matter who they have
coming in off the bench Offensively, Yeah, you want Tyre
Salib Bernard Pascal Siakam on the floor, but the play
style they play with and how they operate offensively doesn't
drop when you have TJ.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
McConnell coming and off the bench.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
So that's how rosters are built now, and that's how
these two teams have made the finals. That's why the
Thunder have been so dominant all season and are historically
great team based on some statistics like net rating. You
could throw out there the Sixers and teams like that.
Those teams are far far away. Yeah, and when you're
just trying to build a team based on superstars and
(09:58):
throwing a bunch of superstars together, you're not going to
succeed in today's version of the NBA because you need
a complete, deep roster.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
And you know what of course that that would you
know that goes back years and you need a great roster,
a great team. I think, I know things change from oh,
you got the two superstars, and then now you need
to surround them with three point shooters. And then okay,
now you get the three point shooters, but they can't
lack on defense, similar to what your point is saying.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
But and then the the ultimate kicking.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
The rear in is this from the Sixers perspective, and
teams that are off and nowhere near competing for an
NBA championship again, I'm talking about winning a championship. Yeah,
you know, yesterday two thousand and four or two thousand
and one, January fourth, the anniversary of AI I believe
it was.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Yeah, it's because I got the picture.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
I tweeted it out today, AI holding up the Eastern
Conference championship to go to the NBA Finals. It's been
a long damn time. It's been a long damn time.
I remember how great that felt. It was one of
the highlights of my sports fandom. Nobody carried the time
like AI and that Sixers team. For me, I got
goosebumps talking about it.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Right now.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
I can remember where I watched all those games for
three straight seasons, my boy Pilgrim's Howls. We would get
together up there and scran. We watched every single Sixers game,
every single Sixers game. We got together all because of
AI love. And I just want to get back to
the NBA Finals. Want to get back to competing for
a championship. And here's the big issue I have, Sam,
(11:26):
tell me I'm wrong about this, because things change like that.
Sometimes things change in season for the NBA, like we're
talking about right now, three months ago, two months ago,
the Celtics, Yeah, we're the leaders in the clubhouse to
win the NBA Championship because they shot.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
A boatload of threes.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
Now, that's not the answer to winning at all, right,
And it's like, okay, So if the Sixers are that
far off. What happens when they start to finally get
caught up, The game's gonna change.
Speaker 5 (11:51):
There's different ways to construct winning teams, like it works
for the Celtics last year when they shot a ton
of threes because that fit their personnel. Like the pacer
how they play extremely fast, that fits their personnel. And
Pascal Siakam, a guy who even played up mostly he
was pretty slow player, like he operated in the half
quarter a lot. He's changed his game playing alongside Tyre's
Alburn and playing in that pacer system where he's been
(12:13):
awesome in transition and he's playing faster than he ever
has in his career. So there's different ways that you
can play to fit your personnel.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
For the Sixers, it's.
Speaker 5 (12:24):
All about Joel Embiid, Like when you have a big
guy like that, it's all about Joel Embiid and surrounding
him with the right parts. Where whether it is three
point shooters, where are the three and D guys When
you have a great pick and roll partner like Tyre Smaxi,
when you have a spot up guy that Paul George
was supposed to be but obviously didn't live up to that,
and those got three guys that never even really played
(12:44):
together at any any real minutes other than a few games,
so you never even got to see that trio work
and operate. And then you had Jerry McCain to the equation.
There's different ways to build teams, and I just think
that the things that are necessary is depth and having
five five guys really seven, eight, nine, ten guys. If
you're the Pacers, stake who can defend at high level
(13:06):
and hit shots and pass and or not liabilities and
any any of the fundamentals of basketball.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
They're not liabilities.
Speaker 5 (13:13):
And that's what the Pacer and Thunders have done so well,
and that's what every team is going to strive to
do moving forward.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
You know, it's crazy when you start talking about the
first thing that that is their strengths. For both of
these teams specifically definitely the Pacers. I always say Oklahoma
City is more defense for me, but as I said,
they played a high pace as well. So like Mike
d'antelli right thinking back to his days like this.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Seven seconds or less he started this run era. Yeah,
I think the Sixer are still trying to hire him.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
But again, I just want to bring it into like
as we move on to two teams that remain, and
one of them will be the NBA champion for this year,
most likely going to be the Oklahoma City Thunder, although
we do have some major line move We'll get into
that in just a second. It is alarming how far
off this seventy six ers team is, but with a
(14:04):
chance of if they can get McCain to continue to
move into the right direction that he was last year,
if they can get Maxie Grimes comes back right. And
I know we've said this before, but now you're building
a roster. Now you're building a team that could at
least compete as far as with the pace, with that style.
Now is that the end all be'll? No, but those
(14:25):
are at least, like you said, both of these teams
run ten deep.
Speaker 5 (14:29):
Well did you did you see where Joel Embiid was
ranked in the top one hundred on the Ringer?
Speaker 4 (14:33):
The Ringer is a joke. Joe's still a top ten
player in the league.
Speaker 5 (14:36):
I actually, I actually think the Ringer does awesome basketball coverage.
I think them and Yahoo might go to for basketball coverage.
The Ringer has always been and Bilsimmon specifically has always
been very anti empad correct The thing for me is
that's why I don't go to the ringer. The thing
for me is I don't even rank him bead Like.
I don't put him in a ranking because it would
be the top ten player in the league.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
How can I answer that question? But how can I
answer that question.
Speaker 5 (14:59):
When he doesn't play bad his talent level, when he
is completely healthy. Absolutely he's the top five player in
the league. But how could you rank a player that
is never available in crucial moments? But now he's just
never available period? So how can you ranke up play
I don't even put him on a list. I just
put him to the side. The playoffs, he was but
(15:20):
he was also banged up. He's hosted that regular season,
which is why they were playing teams, and he was
banged up in the playoffs. Consider him like around the
last two seasons. I really don't like. He missed most
of that regular season two years ago. Please don't where
am I supposed to rank him? How can I say
his top ten player? How can I say he's better
than Steph Kurr right now? Like Steph Curry is like
(15:43):
a borderline top ten guy these days, Like Kevin.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Durant, How is Jolan better than Kevin Dray. If you
don't play basketball games.
Speaker 5 (15:50):
It's the oldest saying in basketball, your best available, best
ability ability is availability. I can't even get it out
of here, but it's like that's true.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
I mean, he can't play.
Speaker 5 (15:59):
And doesn't play basketball games. What am I supposed to say?
How am I supposed to rank him? So eighty four
is ridiculous if you are going to rank him Christ
it's absurd. If you're gonna rank him and put him
that low, I just wouldn't rank him periods. Put him
on this list by himself and be like a guy
who is top ten when he does play, but he
never actually plays.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
So I don't know how you rank a guy like that.
Speaker 5 (16:19):
But again, to the Sixers point, it's all about him,
like everything the Sixers can hope for next year and
all their goals, which should be winning an NBA championship
or winning the East at the very least. That's that's
the goal, that's the pinnacle. It all is about if
Joel and beat is healthy or not, And there's no
reason to believe he will.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
It can't. It just cannot be. But it is, but
it is, And that's the thing.
Speaker 5 (16:38):
They're set up enough in the future where in the
post Joel and beat ever, they're not gonna be a
horrible team. I with the third pick with Maxie McCain.
But right now, it's all about if Joel and Beata
is healthy.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
I don't agree to a point.
Speaker 4 (16:50):
Yes, you're right, but Jodan bees is not gonna be
healthy to start the season next year.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Why not? He hasn't played basket Get didn't he get surgery?
Speaker 5 (16:58):
Yeah, he got surgery a couple months ago, but he
then played basketball before that a long time. There's no
reason by the end of October. Maybe training can there's
no reason the end of October he should.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Mean Look, look, you're probably.
Speaker 5 (17:11):
Right, it's not going to till January of next year.
But but like what, how should he not? How can
he not be ready back the end of October?
Speaker 4 (17:19):
It might be the best thing for the for the
organization as a whole to go about it.
Speaker 5 (17:23):
Like that, him and Paul George and Tyre Smacks whenever
else is coming in with this third pick. They need
reps together, They need reps together.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
This plan.
Speaker 5 (17:32):
How many times are we gonna go through this plan
where Joel Embiid is just gonna load, manage or not play,
or play till Jen not play till January, and then
he's just gonna be fine and the team's gonna be fine.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
That's not how you build a winning Wow, bring him
back in January. Don't even think twice about that. The congrats.
Speaker 5 (17:48):
They'll make the playoffs and then they'll be a first
round exit. It's like, it's like, what do you want?
Speaker 2 (17:52):
I think the focus needs to be on And I
mean this.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
I didn't think we were gonna be talking six ers,
but I just think you have to you you have
to have Tyree Smaxy be the guy.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
You have to have Jared McCain take that next s.
Speaker 5 (18:05):
Tyre Smacksy will never be the guy on a championship.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Can't be like, I love ty S. Max is a player,
but he won't be.
Speaker 5 (18:12):
McCain also won't be like that's a really small backcourt,
which we'll have a lot of problems defending.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
Yeah, I'm not talking championships next year, but I'm talking
about the approach for this organization to move forward and
the best method possible. You cannot go in going it's
all about Joel Embiid. You just can't well the reality
of the situation is you are right, but you can't
do that.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
But I actually think they're they're decently positioned because they
have pieces to carry them pat into the post Joel
Embiid area whenever that comes, right, maybe it's after next season,
or maybe it's a few years down the road. But
so but but those players can also develop while working
through playing alongside Joel Embiid, who should be your centerpiece
(18:54):
if he's healthy. So it's like, yeah, it shouldn't be
as disastrous as last season where things just completely fell
apart when Joel Embiid wasn't playing. There was also Paul
George and other injuries that that happened too. But at
the same time, next year is all about, like this
team thinks and believes they can compete for a championship.
I think Daryl Mory believes that next year. But it's
all about if Joel Embid is they.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Don't have any other option. Yeah, like that's it. That's
what I'm saying. That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (19:18):
It's like, of course that it's because Joel Embiid's status
is why they're desperate to win a championship within this
next two years.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
Yeah, I just think if Daryl Moury was smart, he
has to go about it another way. But you know,
I'd into the Juell Andbiid deal and it's like, look,
you just gave him the new contract.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
He's not going anywhere.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
Uh and and to a to a fault, he's cornered
himself with this and that's the issue.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
But as a as a.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
Sixers fan, as somebody that wants something new here, I
just you can't like Joel Embiid. Hey, if he plays great,
and I do believe in his ability, as I just said,
he's a top ten player. When he's out there, he's incredible. Yeah,
when he takes the floor, he's the best damn player
on the court usually majority of the nights. Absolutely when
he takes the floor.
Speaker 5 (20:04):
But even last year when he played, there's something off
with him, which is why I think there's even more concern.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
Whi's like he was completely injured all year last year. Well,
I just think he's cooked complete.
Speaker 5 (20:14):
But then if he's cooked, then the Sixers are cooked
because he he needs to be like he might ever
be a top ten player again in the league. He may,
he'll probably never be an MVY status. He needs to
be a top fifteen to twenty player of the league
when he gets back on the court.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
How are the Sixers cooked when we're really not talking
about them winning a championship?
Speaker 5 (20:30):
To me, it's about okay this past year, so, I mean,
obviously the expectations completely flipped.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
But going into this past season, everyone was talking about
them winning.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
A champion I know, but they were idiots. People were
idiots to say that.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
I see you.
Speaker 5 (20:44):
When next season starts, they'll be a top They'll have
one of the top four odds to win these they're twenty.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Five to one right now.
Speaker 5 (20:50):
He's to win the championship to win the champions Okay, yeah,
but who else in the ahead of them? The Knicks,
but the Celtics to pay Celtics, I don't think the
Celtics are ahead of the next year without Tato, not
next year, not next year without Tata.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
No, no, no, no, without Tatum. I got the Sixers health.
That's why you can't even have these conversations. Yeah, he
won't even know if that be's gonna be healthy. Who
if he's healthy, the Sixers are way better than Celtics next.
Speaker 5 (21:12):
Year, No, because weems also gonna look completely different.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
I know that's my point.
Speaker 5 (21:16):
So but it's they're still gonna look at as a
bridge year until Tatum comes back.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
So yes, I think the Sixers will be better than
the Celtic. Well, that's my big picture point about the Sixers.
And we'll wrap up with this. Julie Edlad's gonna join
us here at three thirty. We'll get over to the
NBA Finals. All things in depth game one. But that's
my big point with the Sixers. It's like, next year
can't be with yeah, it's great, everybody starts out zero
and zero, let's go win a championship, like, get out
of here with that non sense just can't be. It's
(21:41):
got to be about Tyree Maxi taking the baton and
running with it.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
It has to be.
Speaker 4 (21:46):
It's got to be about Jared McCain hopefully taking another step.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
It's got to be Paul George again, temperty expectations.
Speaker 4 (21:54):
He's thirty five years old, but like, what can they
get the max from Paul George?
Speaker 2 (21:59):
Right?
Speaker 4 (22:00):
I just look at Joel Embiid as a lost cause,
and I know that there are a lot of diehard
jojo fans that were just like, dude, that's so wrong.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
But it's the reality of where we're at right now.
Speaker 4 (22:10):
It's where I was last year, and I said last year,
I got an arguments in November, I said, he has cooked.
You can't look at him like that. I didn't think
he would play thirty games. And guess what, I was right,
And I still don't think that he's going to play
thirty games next year and moving forward.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
That body is beaten.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
He is a huge dude, and it's just it's happened
before big men, you know, father time.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
That's a bad combination.
Speaker 5 (22:33):
It's impossible to disagree with you because, like, look, the
track record is there, like more likely than not, Joel
Embiid's career as we knew, Joel Embiid at is done.
Whether how many games he plays at what level, who knows.
But you gotta hope, like you gotta hope because that's
all the Sixers have and that's all frankly, Darrel Morey
(22:54):
has at this point, because that guy's probably not going
to usher the Sixers into the post em beat era
because he doesn't want to go through it.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Not a rebuild but a retool. So breaking news, we
got breaking news. How about it, ladies and gentlemen, it's happening.
That's no idea of the pills.
Speaker 4 (23:12):
No, Aaron Rodgers is informed the Steelers he'll fly to
Pittsburgh on Friday and signed before next week's Rogers.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
He's back. He's back.
Speaker 5 (23:26):
Good for the Pittsburgh st Everyone knew this was coming.
That's why they didn't draft the door, That's why they
didn't take a quarterback.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Yeah, you had to believe that he was going to
end up there.
Speaker 4 (23:33):
Yep, we'll take a look at some of those Steelers'
numbers and Julian Edlow, I'm sure we'll give us his
take on that.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Again, that's a tough division.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
I do believe that the Cleveland Browns are gonna better
than what people believe. Of course you got the Ravens
in that division. It's I don't think that the Steelers
are going to be good by no means, but at
least they have somebody at quarterback other than who they
already had, which was what Mason Mason Rudolph and then
who's the other.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
Quarterback that was there? It was ridiculous. What is the
Steelers' depth chart? Mason Runolf has been having a time though.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
His name.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
Yeah, he's out there. Will Howard and Skyler Thompson. Those
are your three amigos out there at the quarterback posiness.
Speaker 5 (24:16):
Just at some point when do the Steelers actually want
to get a quarterback who they can build with long
term and will be part of the long term future.
Like next year, you're also going to be looking for
another quarterback and that's going to be what the fifth
straight year, really every year since Ben Roethlisberger left that
that you've had uncertainty at quarterback. He look this, it's
always a good roster. It's one of the best coaches
in the NFL. It's always a team that is going
(24:37):
to win more games they lose and compete for a
playoff spot. It's just like, you could be so much
more if you actually bring in a quarterback that that
could have some staying power there.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
All right, NBA Finals Game one, we do have movement,
major movement too, because this number, as far as the
series price was concerned, was as high as minus eight
hundred now down to minus six fifty for ok. See,
a lot of people are like Jason mcutyre who before
us on the cow Heard Show saying, hey man, I
don't really think the Pacers can win this, but there's
no way I'm laying that number with okay See. So
that's why we're seeing somewhat of a line movement there.
(25:09):
Pacers plus four seventy five. They were plus five hundred
majority of the past few days. Major line movement in
my opinion. As far as a tick up, we are
now looking at ten teen the Oklahoma City thunder a
ten point favorites two thirty. I like the Pacers tonight
plus the points. I don't like them to win, but
I think this is a six seven eight point victory
by Oklahoma City. I think the Pacers are going to
(25:32):
The Pacers are a good team. Like that's the issue.
It starts it ends there. They are a good team.
They have proved their worth since the NBA playoffs have
started and then some going up against good teams. What
they did to the Knicks was very impressive. I know,
Okaysee's a different monster, but ten can we show them
a little bit of respect, just a little bit.
Speaker 5 (25:50):
I mean the odds makers have showed them disrespect to
have this entire playoffron They were underdogs to the Knicks,
underdogs to the Cavs. Yep, and time and time again,
they've proved the odds makers wrong again, and how I
view this series is no respect to the Pacers. They
deserve all the credit for what they've done, but they
haven't faced the defense like the Oklahoma City Thunder and
the aggressive ball pressure, how they shut down drives, how
(26:11):
they rotate and recover all of it.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
And that's why I just don't.
Speaker 5 (26:15):
See that this Pacers team really being able to compete.
Maybe tonight's closer, but I also think at the same time,
I would lean. I'm not going to touch that number,
it's too big, respect, but I would lean if you
had to ask me a lean, I would lean the Thunder,
just because I don't think the Pacers know exactly what's
coming in terms of the ball pressure, in terms of
their plan for Tyree Saliburn to shut him down, and
(26:37):
when he shut down, the Pacers entire offense is shut down.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
Okay, see has slipped up a few times the course
of this playoffs, and all it takes is just a
little bit of a dry spell in this game. Ten
points is a lot. But at the same time, we
were talking about this earlier with Shan Bernard. Third quarter
has been an absolute beast of a quarter for Oklahoma City.
They get hit the gas pedal and then the Pacers
could be in a rearview.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
We'll see. It's gonna be an interesting series.
Speaker 4 (26:59):
I did talk to uh good friends of the program,
mister Elton Brand this morning, and UH asked, I kid.
I bumped into him again, local Jim, and I asked him.
I said, out and want one final squares?
Speaker 1 (27:11):
What up?
Speaker 4 (27:12):
I said, Pacers hanging? He said, yeah, definitely, that's a
good team. It's a good team. He said two games,
two games.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (27:19):
And don't quote him on the oak Lim City because
he didn't say, okay, see will win, but he did
say Pacers will got.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Two games, and I just took it as sport took
all right. Julian edla we'll find out how he's wagering.
Speaker 4 (27:30):
Always love to hear how Julian gets involved with all
these games, points, spread series, markets, all that and more
in depth Game one, sam ou Street from the Score.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
Julian Edlough from DraftKings sports Book. I'm sean brace back
of this.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
The NBA playoffs are here and nobody has you covered.
Like the Gambler gang. We don't just watch the playoffs.
We bet the hell out of him.
Speaker 5 (27:51):
Oh,
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