#36 NBA Overs and Unders: Eastern Conference

Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
What is going on everybody? And welcome to another episode
of the Huddle Within podcast. Thank you very much for tuning
in today. It's a bit of a different one
this week. We have the NBA over and unders
that we're going through as the NBA begins at the time of this
recording tomorrow, I'm hoping to get both episodes out this

(00:20):
week. So there'll be actually 2
episodes coming out this week. This one broken up into two
parts, East and West, quite similar to what we did after the
the preseason or postseason shakedown of over every team
that had new acquisitions and stuff.
We're doing it for the over and unders Sportsbet released there
over and unders and myself, Kenny and Nathan, who are

(00:42):
legends and and love talking about basketball went through
and yeah, really excited to get this episode done.
That obviously means that we don't have room for the latest
and greatest Sporting News. So what I thought I'd do is sort
of touch up on on the latest things that happened in sport

(01:03):
this week and basically talk about it quickly in this sort of
wrap up before we get into Part 1, which is the Eastern
Conference over and unders that 1 was definitely quite easy
compared to the West. So yeah, this one was quite
sophisticated, but they're very good listen nevertheless.
But I'm starting off with, yeah,I guess the F1 we had back to

(01:26):
stop and winning again, which was great.
It's tightening the gap for the the drivers championship.
And then I was finishing second,which also tightened the gap
between Oscar Piastri. So F1's looking really good at
the moment. It's ramping up who I think will
win, obviously going to be biassed and hoping that Oscar
Piastri will win. I don't want Lando to win.

(01:46):
I'll be honest, I think that he's getting favoured by McLaren
at the moment and it's quite frustrating.
But if I did see Max Verstappen miraculously come back and take
his drive a championship and regain it, that's crazy to me.
I think that would be one of thebest, if not all time comebacks
ever in F1 history and in sportsas well.

(02:08):
You can make an argument for because this guy was down and
out. He was over 100 points away from
the drivers championship and he's he's put it down to 40 with
about four or so races to go. So F1 is getting really exciting
as well. The biggest news for me is that
Manchester United. Did get the victory.
Against Liverpool, winning two, one at Anfield.

(02:30):
The last time Manchester United won at Anfield against
Liverpool, Juan Mata was playingin the Premier League.
He's now playing in Melbourne, Australia as a out for victory,
which is which is crazy, crazy how time flies.
But yeah, Mata scored two goals in that game and then it came to
a Harry Maguire header that won us the game against Liverpool.

(02:50):
When yeah, I mean, it's hard notto get carried away with that
victory because it's something that hasn't happened in a while.
But we're still Manchester United and we got Brighton
coming up this week, although wehave beat Liverpool and we are
playing Brighton at home. Can we really say that we'll
beat them? I don't know, I don't think so.
It's hard to guarantee us a victory there.

(03:12):
But Brighton coming up, it's an opportunity for us to get three
wins in a row and that will really kick off our season big
time. We're we're two wins on the
chart. We're only two points behind
Liverpool now, which which is quite spectacular.
You wouldn't think of it, but Liverpool.
Are just they're. Just a mess at the moment.
They really should have won the game.
Kakbar had more than enough chances to seal it.

(03:34):
But yeah, United played to the tactics perfectly, getting a
second minute goal with Brian and Boomer and then followed up
by an 86th or 7th minute goal byHarry Maguire.
Could have been 82nd there and yeah, they played the game
paying perfectly. Reuben Amberum got it right.
Ballsy decision to take Cesco off, but he did it.
And yeah, you know how to get the victory there.

(03:57):
In other news and poster, Koglu gets sacked once again.
I think he was put in a pretty shit position there to try turn
around that Nottingham Forest team which was very much set up
to be a defensive minded team. He's come in with none of his
signings given no time and yeah,he gets sacked and I can't stand

(04:17):
this, this owner, I think this owner's an idiot, straight up
idiot. And he's got no idea, no, no
concept of of being an owner. Lucky he's rich that he has the
club. But the way he treated Nuno last
year, cracking the shits on the pitch and then now just
emotionally sacking and it's just a joke.
Like it's just too emotional forme.
I just don't like it. I don't like the the idea that

(04:40):
you hire someone and then sack them straight away because
things are not going your way. Like, look at yourself and look
at what you've provided and given there's no accountability
by the owner and whoever comes in, good luck to him because I'd
hate to work for this owner, let's be honest.
But Nottingham Forests are in trouble, Another team that's in
trouble beside Liverpool or Tottenham, they take another
loss to Aston Villa. And West Ham just lost two nil

(05:02):
this morning. And if you saw there, the crowd,
a lot of white seats, very concerning.
They built that new stadium about six or seven years ago
now. And yeah, they look like they're
going to be borderline relegating and it'd be crazy to
see a club like West Ham go down.
So we're hoping they don't they don't go down as well.
Wolves also took a took a loss to, they're in big trouble as

(05:24):
well. So across the board there, there
are a lot of teams that are thatare struggling at the moment.
Liverpool's one of them, and then Arsenal.
Continue to just be. On top of the table and are in a
poised position to potentially win the league, which is quite
crazy. And they're hoping that that's
going to be the case for them aswell.
And then to wrap it off quickly,the NFL keeps ramping on.

(05:46):
The Jets are still shit. They lose that home to the to
the Carolina Panthers, which Oh my God what a disgrace Justin
Fields didn't start the game. Oh, The Jets.
The Jets, The Jets, The Jets. So the only team that haven't
won a game this season, A-Team that's no better than them is
Manuel and Saints. They cop another loss to the
Chicago Bears, got smacked up. The Bears are in top form at the

(06:07):
moment. You had the Giants that were up
by 22 or so points and the Broncos scored 30 points in the
last quarter, which what a what a comeback from them.
They came back and yeah, the Giants defence was killing it
for 3/4 and in the fourth quarter they literally just shut
the bed. They had a chance to to to make

(06:28):
the game a three point lead to to send it to overtime, which
probably they could have lost bytheir field goal kicker.
After Jackson Dart had an amazing rushing touch touchdown,
he bowled out as usual. The kicker missed the sitter and
yeah, that really put them in a terrible position to lose the
game. And that's what happened.
The Giants did lose the game. They're still fun, but at the

(06:49):
same time, they need to win those type of games, especially
when you're up by that much. But the Broncos showed that
they're the real deal and when they really want to turn it up,
they do. And they're going to be serious
contenders for the AFC. I'm looking at the live scores
now. The Lions are taking on the
Buccaneers. That's going to be an amazing
game. I will tune into that for sure.
They're up 70 at the moment, theLions.

(07:10):
So I'm expecting the Lions to give the Buccaneers another loss
here. But you never know of how the
league is at the moment. There's enough football starter
with Flacco killing him, killingthe Steelers.
Jamar Chase had a super game, which wasn't good for me as my
opponent did have Jamar Chase inhis fantasy league as well.
We had the Browns getting a big win against the Dolphins.

(07:32):
They're also in big trouble. The Raiders getting smacked by
the Chiefs, also in big trouble 31 to 0.
You had the Eagles beating the Vikings 28 to 22 and you had the
Colts who are on fire, beating the Chargers 38 to 24 as well.
Massive victory for them and theCowboys beating the Commanders

(07:52):
2, doubling their points. So the Cowboys are looking like
they're still mean serious business in the NFC.
So we'll see what happens there.George Pickens is bawling.
Shout out to George Pickens, bigfan of him.
Shows that when you have a passing quarterback.
I mentioned last week the stuff you can do and him being wide
receiver one at the moment without CD Lamb is proving to
pay dividends and. What we don't do on this?

(08:14):
Podcast much and I love to do isjust to preview the next games
as well. So for Thursday Night Football,
we do have the Vikings taking onthe charges now.
I think that's going to be a tough game to call.
The Vikings have struggled and it feels as though that losing
Sam Donald has been a big loss for them.
They've had Carson Wentz playingwho hasn't has been OK, but not

(08:36):
enough to suggest that he's goodenough to get this team to get
any wins. JJ McCarthy, they've put their
eggs in him, but he hasn't paid dividends for him and it looks
as though that he's been struggling as well.
Jed is his elite, but they're not giving him the ball enough.
And the charges are playing good, too.
So they're in a similar position.
Vikings have played one game less, but they're three and

(08:57):
three. The charges are four and three.
I'm going to take the Vikings onthis one.
I think they'll turn it around against the Chargers.
I think they will get the victory here and I think it's
much needed for them, especiallyto just keep forth their season
and compete with a very competitive conference that
they've got with the Troy, GreenBay and the Bears that are all
playing really well at the moment as well.

(09:20):
In other news, you've got Tampa Bay taking on New Orleans in an
NFC South match. So that's going to be quite
exciting. I think the Saints will get
smacked up, though. Indy will take on Tennessee,
which will be an easy win for Indiana.
You've got the Giants taking on the Eagles again.
So they're playing again. I'm pretty sure they played two

(09:42):
weeks ago and now they're playing again.
So I don't know how the fixturing works, but there's a
chance for the Giants and the Eagles to to take on each other
again after. Two weeks which?
Yeah, maybe, maybe the Philly Eagles will get the win back and
and just show that whatever happened was just a fluke.
But at the end of the day, the Giants are still pretty fun and

(10:02):
exciting and keen to still watchthem play.
But I think, yeah, the the Eagles will get the victory
here, I'm sure. And then we've got Packers and
Steelers on Monday. Monday morning football, Sunday
Night Football for you Americans.
The Packers should win this one expecting.
I think the Steelers were terrible last week and they
could recover playing at home. But I think the Packers are a
well ordered machine. And then you've got the

(10:24):
Commanders taking on the Chiefs.And I think the Chiefs get the
victory here. They're very much arrive now.
Patrick Mahomes is playing at anMVP level now, decided to do it
in the regular season. And it's great for me because I
have them on fantasy. But I think the Commanders are
struggling this season and they've got a pretty tough run.
So I don't see them winning thismatch as well.
Our team that we haven't really been speaking about are the

(10:47):
Baltimore Ravens. They had a buy this week and I
think they really needed it. But they're one in five.
That's not good. Like they are supposed to be a
team that was competing this season.
We had Kenny and TJ saying that they were going to make the the
Super Bowl. They're one in five at the
moment and they haven't informedChicago Bears team.
And if they win the Bears, I'm saying the Ravens are

(11:09):
struggling. You're going to have to make
some really tough calls because they're too good of a team to be
one in six. But I'll be looking out for that
one because the Bears are are firing.
And yeah, I think that pretty much wraps the NFL and I think
that pretty much wraps overall all the news for the NBA today.
Oh, well, before the NBA today and and all the Sporting News as

(11:32):
well. We did have a bit of AFL saga.
We had Zach mirror drama there. He's staying at Essendon so
there's no real more things to talk about just besides laughing
at his his manager who was just cracking the sheets in into the
Hawthorn play ball, which was which was quite funny.
But again, nothing really too major there.

(11:53):
In terms of Premier League. The only game to really look out
for for me is the Aston Villa, Man City match.
You've got Liverpool taking on Brentford.
Brentford at home, they're in good form.
Liverpool could lose another match, five in a row.
Could you imagine? That would be wild And I
wouldn't count them out because yeah, Brentford have been
playing pretty well. They just get a victory today
and it was away from home and now they're playing at home.

(12:14):
So yeah, that pretty much wraps up the sporting you.
Just a quick one before we jump into the NBA Eastern Conference
over and unders. This is the Part 1 of a Part 2
episode that will come also thisweek.
And yeah, hoping to get this outsoon.
So thank you very much for listening to that.
And now I'll put you over to theNBA unders and overs, which you

(12:35):
all should be excited for and hope that you enjoy.
What is going on everybody? And welcome to this week's
episode of the Huddle Within podcast.
Thank you very much for tuning in once again.
Now we've got a bit of a different episode today, but a
really exciting one. We are going to discuss the NBA

(12:55):
pre season with a copy and an inspiration from Bill Simmons.
We're doing the over and unders and I've brought in two so
called basketball experts to jump on the pod with me and
discuss this. Kenny from the US.
You may have remembered him fromthe NFL preseason pod that we
did a few months ago. And also Mr Nathan Campbell, we

(13:15):
all familiar with doing the Liverpool and the NBA offseason
trade moves and free agency moves.
So it's a great way to segue that.
So really keen to get this across to you guys and how we
all doing and. It's been a.
It's been a long, long we're getting here, but you know,

(13:35):
we're here and we're ready to go.
Pretty good overall too, about like 5:00 AM over here.
Got a bright and early ready to go, just ready to talk some
hoops. That's it.
Yeah, that's 25 AMS in a row. So yesterday we had our NBA
draught, so Kenny's just dedicated to ball.
So how? To get him.
On here to talk all things hoops.
That was again, maybe that's it,you know?

(13:57):
More problems how we feeling about our fantasy teams.
We obviously spoke about a bit off air but.
I love the draught. It's, I don't know, one of the
one of the most, one of the things I look forward to the
most. So yeah, I love it.
I love my team. I reckon my team's got high
upside but I guess we'll have towait till Wednesday.

(14:18):
Yeah, let's see how that influences our over and unders
in this show today. But what I will say is that I
didn't really, I wasn't really like overly keen on NBA until
honestly yesterday when we did the draught.
And like, the only thing I've been thinking about is Wednesday
morning for our first game. And that's going to be a Tuesday
night for you, Kenny. But Wednesday morning will be

(14:39):
the start of the NBA season, andthat's why we've come here
today. To go through.
All the overs and unders before the season starts, we're going
to go with the easier and shitter conference, the Eastern
Conference and just go through all the teams based on sports
bets, A sports bet for all you guys that don't know have their
over and unders there. So feel free to whip these on.

(15:01):
Your your bets if you if you. Feel confident in what we're
saying or else go against the grain of what we say as well.
But I'm hoping to have a bit of a contrast in differences here
to make it a bit more exciting and interesting.
But yeah, I think we'll get kicked off underway with
arguably the worst team in the Eastern Conference, and that is
the Brooklyn Nets. So they're sitting at a 19.5

(15:24):
line at the moment. Yeah, the Brooklyn Nets, we
spoke about them before with theoffseason trades and moves, and
yeah, I think that is pretty accurate to what they're going
to get. I think.
I think that it might be worse personally, given that they
don't really have a definitive star.
The only person that I feel confident in potentially

(15:47):
actually scoring the basket is Cam Thomas.
And in a team where he's taking most of the shots, does that
equate to winning? I don't know.
They obviously pick up Michael Porter Junior too, and he might
have his role improved as well from Denver.
But yeah, I don't know. I don't know about this one.
I think this one's an easy one to go the under.
I don't think they're going to hit twenty wins.

(16:12):
I'm probably probably on the same track as you.
I mean, Michael Porter junior isa bucket get up.
I recommend he'll get buckets. Cam Thomas too, he can get
buckets too. But they don't really have too
much veteran presence. I think they drafted 5 kids.
This draught added it to anotherthree or four that they got the
last few. I do.
I do like Igor Damon. Yeah, and it could be something

(16:33):
special, but I mean, he's not a proven player and like most of
the roster, they're not really proven players.
So I think the Unders is probably the safer bet on this
one. Do you think that Igor Damon
could lead the the rookies in assists though, based on the
team that he has? Just based on the upside that
I'm seeing as we've lost Kenny. Look, it really depends.

(16:57):
I feel like if if Cooper flag keeps, say, playing point guard
for Dallas until Kyrie Irving comes back or gets good minutes,
I wouldn't be shocked if he led the rookies in assists.
But I think you'll get a good opportunity.
And I mean, you're a tanking team.
You're a poor team. Why wouldn't you just lean into
a player that's, you know, six, 10611 massive point guard?

(17:20):
Because if he can play make, if he can get buckets, you know,
he's a prototype that not many teams have and a lot of teams
want. So I don't see why the minute
shouldn't be there. It's just really up to him to
take that opportunity, I think. I think the only reason why I'd
watch the Brooklyn Nets this season is just to see how Igor
Damon goes as such as a big 610 point guard as you mentioned,

(17:43):
also led his draught league in assists.
Hence why I thought to say if hecould lead the league there,
Especially if you do have so called shooters in if Alco
Porter junior on the spot up andthen also Cam Thomas.
But I feel as though Cam Thomas is going to take 2-3 dribbles.
But that's too much talk for theBrooklyn Nets.
I think they're just going to goover and that's just a clear a
clear one for me. And I'm sure Kenny would think

(18:04):
the same when he does decide to return on this.
Yeah, you had Brooklyn Nets and he didn't want that, so he left.
And he's back again. So Kenny, we go on there.
Brooklyn Nets over or under 19.5.
I'm sorry about that Internet connection.
Look like he was bugging out a little bit, but over.
I'm going to take the over. But like one or two wins.

(18:25):
I just think Jordy Fernandez does such a good job coaching
his team. I think having they have a lot
of like talent, like right now in terms of veteran talent like
Terence man, they got MPJI, think Cam Thomas is guaranteeing
them a few wins just with his scoring ability.
I think at some point though, I think at some point in the year
though, they're going to shut everyone down.

(18:46):
But I'm going to say they get like if I say over, I don't mean
like they're going to get like 25 wins.
I think they'll probably hit like the 21 win mark.
I think like 2161, but when? You were off.
We had confidence that they weren't going to hit.
You weren't going to hit the over.
That's no. I.
Respect it starting off this part of the bank.
I got I got them over just by a win or two just because again, I

(19:08):
think like MPJ will win them a few games.
I do think they have like, you know, some quality young talent
too. I like some of the young guys,
but I just think they're going to win a few games.
I think out of just Jordy Fernandez coaching his butt off
and getting them ready for some some of these games.
So I'm going to just say over bylike a win.
I would say Max. I don't like your Terrence
Mantec though. I think he's.

(19:28):
And the borderline right, you know what's only I've watched
him have a good year this year. I'm telling you, watch him have
a good year this year just because just because, again, I
think Jordan does a good job andI think, dude, the messy
relation is just so bad that he has no pressure.
He's just going to go up there and just play his game.
And I don't know, like I just think he might.
He did that at. Atlanta I didn't get a game
though you. Know I drasted that guy last
year. I got sucked in very it doesn't

(19:48):
nothing for me. Yeah, you'd think that after we
saw what we saw a few years backin the Western Conference
semifinals when he put that dunkof a go there, you thought he
was going to take a leap, especially playing a a a long
way. Yeah, it.
Was supposed to be a way better.I'm not even James Hamback,
remember? George, it's supposed to be a
big trade asset. And then I looked looked at his

(20:09):
age and he's 31. Remember the the Clippers were
elected to move him at one point.
They were like, they, they were going to, they weren't going to
move him at all. They were like, oh.
There, I remember there was some, I forgot who was on the on
the trading block at the time, but they're like, oh, we want
Terence, man. He's like, they were like, no,
he's untouchable. I was like Terrence.
He's definitely touchable, man. I think yeah, if they go back in

(20:31):
time, they would have probably not done that trade, but they
would have probably not done another trade as well.
That is very infamous. But we'll move on 2/1.
So we're getting off start. So can you take the over on
Brooklyn? Yeah, I've taken under hard.
I think they're going to be 15thin the in the East.
I don't think they're good at all, but no.
Yeah, I think they'll be 15th. I just don't think they'll be
like, I don't know, it's so hardto lose like to be like a 15 win

(20:53):
team. Nowadays, I still know when the
Wizards got eighteen wins last year, being the 5th brilliant
seed, yes. So, so maybe, maybe then maybe
they might be under by a little bit.
I gotta recap it and if you change your mind at the end,
we'll go through it, but we'll move on.
We'll go on with a much better team here, A-Team, that's
arguably made the biggest leap in the Eastern Conference with

(21:15):
their acquisition of Desmond Bain and that is the Orlando
Magic. They're at a 50.5 now.
Every time I see A50 win in the Eastern Conference, I think that
is very high. But looking at how weak the
conference is at the moment witha lot of the injuries that we're
going to talk about to a lot of competing teams that will

(21:36):
probably not be competing this year.
Is it that? High.
I don't know, I got them at, I think I'm going to take them on
the over there. I just think they're going to be
healthier this year. I think Desmond Bayne adds a lot
to their team. I think especially if Jalen
sucks, comes back healthy for the majority of the year.

(21:56):
Having him and Desmond Bayne as your like 2 backcourt players
with Franz, I think Franz is going to take another leap this
year. I think Paulo is going to be
just as good, maybe better than he was last year.
Wendell Carter has looked reallygood in the pre season, which is
like surprising. I didn't think he was that great
last year, but I think this yearhe's looking like he could be a
really good player. And they obviously Jace
Richardson, they're Dirky, they drafted really good player.

(22:18):
I, I just, I have a lot of belief in them.
I now like again, they're another team where it's like
they're teetering. I think like for me like 'cause
if injuries happen, they might not hit that line, but they
might. I think they're going to be like
a 52 win team this year, 52 and 30, like solid third or fourteen
team type of thing in the East. That might be kind of like my
take on I'll say over, but like I'm not like super, I'm not like

(22:42):
100% confident, but I'm like 90%confident.
Yeah, I reckon the top, top, maybe top three seed in the
East, I reckon that when they'vegot thugs playing and they've
got, you know, Paulo France, they're just hard to beat.
And you could you've seen that every time they had all of them
in together, there was they werescruffy.

(23:04):
They were hard to hard to be. They got a bit more shooting.
So they drafted him. Yeah.
And it just looks like their rosters built out a little bit
more as well. So Desmond Bain is a bona fide
shooter and they needed the extra shooting.
And I know that we said on the last pod that always Lincoln
Anthony Simon's there for shooting.
But I think this is just a massive upgrade.

(23:24):
And at the end of the day, getting rid rid of some picks
for a bona fide player, I think it's worth it.
So in the East this week, I'm probably taking the over as
well. Yeah, I'm also going to take the
over. You guys sold me on this.
I'm relying on Anthony Black to get some good point guard
minutes to give a fantasy. But I think I think just having
Desmond Bain is going to make a big difference for them,

(23:45):
especially just the feet just works like someone that doesn't
need the ball to make an impact on the floor when you have Paulo
and France are going to be dominating the ball, you would
think. And then you've got Jalen Suggs,
who I think he's the one that needs to stay healthy.
If we can get like 60 plus gamesfrom Jalen Suggs, I think
they're a lock for over 50 wins given his defence and his
tenacity. So yeah, I'm happy with that.

(24:07):
The next one is the, you would say the consensus number one
seed, the Cleveland Cavaliers, given the talent that they have.
Obviously the New York Knicks can make an argument for that,
but they're sitting at 57 1/2 wins and I, I'm going to get the
over on this one as well. I think it is a opportunity for

(24:27):
them to get sixty wins this year.
Getting in Lonzo Ball as an additional playmaker is
something that I think is going to be really important to them.
Yes, they lost, tried Jerome forscoring, but I think this team
does need a well rounded player that can kind of set the tone on
on offence and also play a bit of defence as well.
Obviously this is another team that we're going to make that
conversation if they can stay healthy, and I feel like that's

(24:49):
going to be the trend of of thisseason.
But if they do stay healthy, especially the players of Darius
Garland and Lonzo Ball, I don't see how they not go easily over
60 wins to be honest. Nathy go.
Ahead Well, yes, there's something about the Cubs that
just reminds me of Utah when they were top seeding and then

(25:12):
then eventually blow it up. And I really hope it's not like
that because they have some goodplayers, have fun players.
Mobley showed that he's can takeanother leap and he's a
defensive anchor, I think. I think last season they were
had a crazy record to start withand no like 20 and 2 or 23 or
something like that and they'll just firing their head looking
the best team in the league. So I can't see why they can't do

(25:35):
that again. They've got the continuity.
I mean, the the only really pressing thing is probably
Garland and fitness always seemsto be injured and he's going to
miss the season at the start of the season with these two
injuries. So that 1-2 months, you know,
main leave a few wins on the floor, but I think they have
enough death, like you said, andhopefully Ball can come in and,

(25:58):
you know, do what he does because when he's fit, I always
thought he was a solid playoff. He could shoot as well.
So I'm probably just taking the over, but not with confidence.
Yeah, I, I agree with you guys on the overs.
I just think I'm my reasoning isjust because I think they're
more like, I just think they're regular season team.
I think like their team will play very well like Kenny

(26:18):
Jackinson. His style of play fits the
regular season very well. I think Lonzo was a great pick
up like Alonzo. I think Lonzo could help them in
the playoffs as well. Honestly to make them better
than they were previous year. The biggest thing is their
injuries. Like they have a lot of guys
like Schruse is already out for like God knows how long.
I think it's like a Jones rack. For months or something, yes.

(26:39):
Yeah, but like Jones rap, this is like apparently one of those
things where it's like they don't, there's no like set
timetable for it could be three to four months.
It could even be like 6-7 months.
So it could be longer. So he's already out for a long
period of time. DeAndre Hunter usually isn't the
healthiest player, like usually he usually has misses games too.
Garland, like you said, is out. So like I could see them also

(27:00):
losing games early on in the year just because they have a
lot of these injuries packed up right now.
But I just think Donovan Mitchell of Mobley and Allen are
enough to like kind of win them games.
I think Lonzo raised their floora little bit.
I do see them as a 60 win team, though.
I think they they play a really good style of ball in the very
one season. I think a lot of teams come in
there and Cleveland and they kind of you know, they get ran

(27:20):
out the gym sometimes with Tylerfast.
They do the how fast they play their shooting abilities.
So I'm going to say around theirsixty win team too.
I'll say the over, but I, I alsoagree with you guys that the
injuries could could derail thatteam pretty quickly if like
let's just say Mobley gets hurt during the year now like that
could be a big, big hit. You never know.
So I. Mean they're they're probably

(27:43):
the the number one seed, but like the key term you said is
regular season like this has to equate to something like
especially this season. This is the one year that they
need to actually at least make acapitalise conference final at
least. Like it's the bare minimum for
this team. Like, if they're not making the
Eastern Conference finals, you've got to have a
conversation as to whether players like Alan and players

(28:03):
like Doris Garland can be on this team because clearly
Donovan Mitchell and everyone Mobley.
They're the ones, yes. I think if they if they think
they don't, if they if they don't make these cards finals
this year, I think they move offfrom at least one over both of
Garland and Allen and they try to get somebody that's more like
more playoff ready because I'll be out playoff time, Jared Allen

(28:24):
and come playoff time, there's something like regular season.
He's like an All Star calibre big.
He's scared. Well, he's he's the lights are
too bright. So you know what it means.
You know, the lights might be too bright for him a little bit.
But I also think Garland, both years, like one year he got
injured, one year he didn't playthe best.
Like at some point you got to concentrate.

(28:45):
Yeah, that's the only thing. Yeah, he is.
He's a great player. I think he played, when he
played healthy, he was pretty good.
It's just like, again, I don't know.
So I think it depends. They they could, they could
easily see themselves in the conference finals, but they I
could also see them being a second round exit again too.
So I guess, you know, we'll haveto see who they play.

(29:05):
So we're all agreeing with the over on that one, Nathan.
Not as convinced as myself and Kenny, but still nevertheless
the over. And can we all blocking them for
a first aid you would say? I don't know about that.
I'll give you a, I'll give you atop 2.
I think they're top 2 for sure right now, but I again, I have
to. We'll see when we get to the

(29:25):
other team that I think for the other.
Team that's whoa, we'll get to ateam that's always been a top
two seed, but this year will definitely, most definitely not
be a top two seed and that is the Boston Celtics.
They are at 41 1/2 and I feel like they're just teasing us
there with that line just to saythat Jason Tatum is a massive

(29:46):
loss. But then you have Joe Missoula,
you have Jaylen Brown, you have Derek Wyatt, you still have your
sort of core. Obviously Al Horford's a big
loss for them and they virtuallydon't have a centre anymore.
You can make that case, but it is the Boston Celtics.
Can I see the Boston Celtics going negative on their season
or under 500? It's so hard for me to say.

(30:09):
I feel as though when you do have Joe Missoula there, when
you still have Jaylen Brown and I think Derek White takes a leap
this year, I'm hoping for it as well.
They just have this sort of culture that I feel like won't
drop them down too hard. And I could be very wrong, but I
think in this case, I'm actuallygoing to go over by like maybe

(30:30):
half a win there. So like getting like 42 and 42
and potentially making the play in spot.
I just, I just can't ride off the Celtics even with their best
players out. Like I think you have Jalen
Brown, he's still a a finals MVP.
And like there are players that have won championships, like you
can't, I don't feel like you canrob them down that bad to get
them to be under 40 wins at least maybe 40 on the dot.

(30:53):
You can make that case if you want to go under, but I don't
think they're going under than 40.
So I'm saying 42 and I'm going over.
I see where you're coming from because I've got a winning
culture. We haven't seen them, you know,
being so gutted in such well andit's hard to really think that,
you know, they're not going to go positive.
But then when you look at their team and they've lost obviously

(31:15):
Titan, but they've lost your holiday as well and pausing us,
they're big key players that youcan look to to win your games.
I mean, they're brought in Anthony Simons and you know,
I've watched a lot of balls withhim, but he's not going to
single handedly win you many games.
So it's going to come down to the core of Pritchard Brown

(31:35):
White. Who am I missing?
Anyone. They're not really.
They're not really, they're not really strong.
I don't I don't think they're going over to be honest.
I'd probably hit the unders on this one probably by 1/2.
I could see him getting around 38 wins and I think what it'll
come down to is if Jaylen Brown is healthy, if he played the
whole season, he might be able to hit the win total.

(31:58):
But I reckon if he rolls his ankle or something, has some
extra week off here and there, they're going to stuck in the
Owls pretty quick so. I will say before Kenny goes, I
don't think pausingness is availability was that strong
last season when he played. He was obviously good and I
think that Drew Holiday took a massive downgrade from from the
season before. So that's the only reason why I

(32:20):
could say that there's opportunity for players like
Payton Pritchett to step up and be a starter and then Anthony
Simon's to go in that role. But I'm interested to see what
Kenny's saying as the deal breaker.
But I I just can't see them go under 40 wins.
I'm taking I'm taking under actually.
I think I think Nathan made a good point.
I think Jaylen Brown is a key part to his team.
I think Derek White obviously isgood, like great player, but I

(32:42):
don't think he's good enough to be like like a top two option on
like a on a team. And like, especially if like
Jalen Brown does miss time and there's always been instances
throughout the years where he misses time.
No, no, but it's not even about him as a player.
It's more so his availability aswell.
Like if he's healthy all into I could see this line going over
for sure. But if let's say he missed like

(33:02):
1520 games with an ankle injury or something like that, like
which again, it's it's very plausible with him, especially
with his play style and the way he plays, he could get hurt or
like something like that. And this team can't afford that
because their depth is like ravaged, especially their wing
depth. They have George's Niang, they
have George's niang replacing Prezenius.
They have rookies like Jordan, like a like a second year, but

(33:23):
like really his rookie year would be Jordan Walsh.
Like he could be good, but like I'm not betting on him making a
lot of impact with his minutes. Like especially not Jaylen Brown
level impact. You know, Baylor Shireman is
another guy who's going to come in and play for this team, which
last year he couldn't even crackthe rotation realistically.
Like again, I just think they have a lot of questions.
And I also think the draught comes into play too, where you

(33:45):
have your own pick. You don't have Tatum.
And I don't think they're going to rush him as much as he says.
He's going to be back in March and I don't think they're going
to rush him. I think by then they'll be a
little bit kind of out of like that.
They'll be in that playing range.
And I have a feeling the Brad Stevens is going to make the
call from above and say, you know what, guys like, let's not
risk it. Tatum's going to probably let's
say Jalen's not playing the bestor Jalen is out and Jason is

(34:08):
already still out. Kind of say, OK, Jalen, sit the
rest of the year out. Derek, you know, we don't want
to risk you get injured. Let's let's go, let's go for
let's go for one of these top picks.
Let's add some let's reload withthe young talent coming into
next year, a healthy Tatum and there'll be a force we reckon
with next year, I think. But this year I think they're
going to take a gap year and just kind of sit it back.

(34:29):
So I see like 3536 wins. I think like a tenth seed, 11
seed. That's a bit cool, yeah, I
think. Have you seen Jason Tatum,
though? Did you see that video?
That got posted online of him doing crossovers.
I seen him. I, I listen again, we saw the
same thing, remember with like just going back, just talking a
little bit NFL here. Like we saw Aaron Rodgers, Tory
Achilles last year. He was already throwing the ball

(34:49):
and on the field within like 6 weeks time.
But it doesn't mean he's necessarily ready to go.
I just I I think like at the endof the day, like yeah, and the
especially the Achilles, especially when Achilles
injuries like those things take time, like take the floor, take
the full 1618 month rest, get the fully rehab.
They come back next year ready to go because this year I think

(35:10):
it's a loss. Even if you come back, I don't
think they have a chance to win.I don't think they're strong
enough. They're they don't have enough
depth to beat a Cleveland, a NewYork, even Orlando even I have
Atlanta too up there as well. But like I wouldn't even rank
them above those guys with like with Tatum back like half
they're. Definitely not up there.
I wouldn't say that I would justdo that coaching and just a few

(35:31):
of their core players can get them to 40 too, but.
I just, well, I'll be honest with you, I'm skept, I'm
sceptical. I'm I'm giving them I'm giving
them 36 right now, 36 wins. If I had to put them, put money
on a line, I'd say 36. But like just because, again,
like I, I agree with you, like there is talent there like
obviously and you have coaching,but I just.

(35:52):
I better than them right now. The team that you mentioned,
those four, who else? I got ahead of them.
I definitely got I actually do have Indiana better than them.
I have Milwaukee better just because Giannis, right, I'm
going to put surprise team. I'm going to put I'm putting
Toronto up there. Toronto I think is going to be
better than them this year for sure.
I think they're just have a deeper team, more well rounded.

(36:14):
They got some, they got a new, they got a lot of a great
defence going on over there. I like their coach there too.
I think. I think again, you had to yeah,
like Brandon Ingram, they'll be better.
I think Philadelphia, if they're, I think Philadelphia is
going to be slightly healthier this year.
You're. Losing me?
Nah, you're losing me big time. Detroit I would put on there,
you even. You haven't even mentioned them
yet. And Detroit, I mean, Detroit is

(36:35):
up there. Obviously, I'm going to put
Detroit probably Detroit's like top five up there.
The top five How? Many is that.
That's like around like 7, that's like 7-8.
That's like 7-8 teams around I would say right there.
And then I would also, I mean, you could argue A-Team like
Charlotte comes in this year andhas a big like a big jump with
Brandon Miller. Continople looks pretty good.

(36:55):
Lamella if he's healthy. Like there's some questions
there, but there's other teams that have some talent like in
depth. I actually I like their, I like
some of these teams depth betterthan the Celtics depth right
now. To be fair, it's not really
about the top level talent. It's more so like the full
composition of the roster. That's my personal point.
I would say they are back in depth, that's for sure.
Yeah, that's what I think. Boston again, I think the I

(37:17):
think they'll be I think they'regoing to end up being smart.
My whole thing is them not they can't win 42, but I think
they'll be smart and say, you know what, we have a draught
pick this year. Why don't we get one of these
elite top young guys that are coming out.
This one are going to be one of the best draughts coming in like
in the decade pretty much even better than last year's draught.
Somehow on the top, like you have a chance to get one of
those guys to add to this core. And especially a young player

(37:40):
like Brad Stevens is probably licking his chops right now
saying, man, like we could do that.
We come into next year, we can go.
Yeah. Do you think there is another
move coming like Anthony Simon'sat the trade deadline or
something try to flip him against?
Yeah, that's what I'm, that's what I'm thinking saying they
already tried trading him, they already tried flipping him.
I think they already were looking for it.
But they probably said, you know, we'll go into the year
where we have see how we could do.

(38:01):
I think come to deadline, I think guys like like Simons and
I think they have a couple otherguys maybe off the bench, maybe
they're getting some salary thatthey'll probably feel like we
could, should not. Even name them can you that low?
That's what I'm saying. There's some guys, Luca Garza,
like Luca Garza's not a playoff depth big man.
Like he's good, but he's not. He's a solid big, but he cannot

(38:22):
play playoff minutes and I don'tthink he's I don't think they're
they have they're they don't even have the size.
I don't think to compete with some of these teams like, let
alone like the depth, like they don't even have like K you're
you're asking a lot of cater to to come in there and anchor that
defence, you know what I mean? And.
Chris Fuschet, I was saying Chris Fuschet there somehow.
David Tillman's been looking good in pre season.

(38:43):
They might pencil him as a starter.
Look man, you've made some very good points.
You've, you've convinced me likeI'm going to stick with it and
not going to go under 40 playingthat confidence.
But look, I, I can see A and a realistic thing is if they do
lose, I can definitely see like them shutting down Jaylen Brown
and like wrapping up that pick. And considering that, yeah, you

(39:05):
make a, you make a pretty valid point in that aspect.
We'll go to Charlotte Hornets. They're at 27 1/2.
And I'll start with you, Nate, what are your thoughts on these
Hornets? Because I'm already hearing,
what can you say? And it feels as though he might
go the over on this one. But I'm interested to hear yours
before I chime in. I just don't trust the to be
completely honest with you. They seem fun.

(39:27):
Obviously the Mueller's fun. Miller looks good.
He can be a star player. I think in the league if he, you
know, becomes more two way, but I don't know if I'm really sold
on him. I think Conan Nipple looks like
a good connector and he looks like someone that can just be
maybe a leader in a different way to what they have there.
Instead of having the mellow running around doing these

(39:49):
things. It's just the unserious team in
my opinion, 27 1/2 and definitely achievable because
they've got a lot of talent on the team and they filled out the
roster a bit more. They got backup point guard
there as well, but who did they get in as a centre like they've
got? They had Mark Williams, who did.
Who did they have now? I think they're running with the
about and they've got Plumley aswell.
They got Plumley black. And that's that's the thing,

(40:14):
it's like you look at all the teams that end up finishing
towards the bottom and the centre rotation is usually
awful. And to me they don't really have
this, you know, a strong frontalcourt, whether that be centre,
they got Miles Bridges. Do you have anyone behind him?
Not too sure. So I wouldn't be surprised if
they hit it around the 272829 mark.

(40:36):
But I'm just going to hit the. I'm just going to hit the.
I'm just going to hit the under on this one.
I I'm going to take the over on this.
I think it's, I think 27 just solow for like, for like what like
the front end talent they have that.
I think if they're, I guess the question is health really like
lamella is not healthy this year.

(40:57):
You kind of start to question about him.
You start to start to question alot about him because in the
last few years he's been like really good, but then he gets
injured and then you know, there's some questions about his
play as well with his shot, making his shot take his shot
creation is good, but like some of the shots he takes is bad.
Like some of his shot selection isn't the best, but I think he's
a great playmaker. I the one thing I will say, I

(41:19):
think the centre rotation did make a good point about I do
think that guy they drafted tallBrenner.
I just looked it up because I was like, you know what, maybe I
I think I remember they drafted somebody.
That guy Cal Brenner looked pretty good for them.
And I think he could come in andstart playing minutes right away
if like Musa isn't cutting it orif like obviously Plumley's kind
of like a serviceable big at this point.
He's not really like a starting calibre big.

(41:39):
I think Cal Brenner looked pretty good for them.
I think he comes in and he played him some good minutes
here and there, you know, but I'm really big on Khan, no pool,
and I'm big on Brandon Miller this year.
I think Brandon Miller had a badinjury last year, but I think
he's going to come this year. He's going to kind of make the
jump. So that's what kind of what I'm
betting on is Khan coming in being a really good rookie off
the RIP, being a great shooter for them.
Obviously he said a connector isa great point.

(42:01):
He's a great connector for them,but I think Brandon Miller is
going to come in and make a difference for this team big
time. And I think if Lamelo's at least
healthy for 60 games, 65 games, I think they crushed this long.
But like. You're asking for too much
today. I think 60 plus, yeah.
I think, yeah, that is a dream. But like, I think even if he
gets like 55 games, I think theywin at least twenty of those.

(42:22):
And I think there's going to be games he doesn't play where
Brandon Miller might be able to win them somewhat.
Miles Bridges, they got Sexton on the team.
Now he's he could come in and play some minutes for them.
He's pretty good so. Yeah.
Yeah. So it's like, you know, I'm
going to take the over on this just because I think the line is
really low. I think if it was like a 3534,
then it's like kind of like pushing it.

(42:42):
I think 27 for this kind of Eastern Conference.
Like I got them at least better than I think it'll very minimum
the Nets, obviously the Wizards.I think this year I think
they'll they'll be competing with teams like the Bulls, you
know, stuff like that. Like I, I, I don't know.
I just think there'll be a thingat least I think A32 win team is
fair. I think 2027 wins is a little

(43:05):
low. I feel like I take the over
here. It's a it's a very like bait
line as well this one, because it can go one of two ways.
They're obviously considering the talent, but you're also
considering the the franchise and the it's losing culture and
also it's like inability to havetheir star players stay on the
floor. I'm talking Lamelo talking

(43:27):
Brandon Miller, but look, I I'm going to have to agree with you,
Kenny. I don't think that 28 wins.
We really reflects this team if you look at them right now.
And if lamello can play 50 gamesand I'm even saying 50, he does
win 20 himself. I I do agree with that.

(43:47):
I think Conquer Nipple is a great addition as well because I
think it's something that they've never really drafted
before, Someone that's a good overall person to begin with,
but someone that's going to justdo the right things and make the
right plays and, and just be an overall good teammate as well.
He knows how to play with stars around him and he just seems
well reserved and he's a good shooter too.

(44:09):
So I just think Charlotte's never drafted a player like
that. And then they've also never
drafted a player in a long time like Brendan Miller, who I think
this is the year where he takes a massive bump.
And I think this is where the conversations might come to if
Lamalla does sustain another injury and Brandon Miller can
play a season where he's not. I wouldn't say injury prone.

(44:30):
He had a freak injury last year.We'll find out this year if
that's the case or not. But I think he has the ability
to really take a team on and lead this team to to some
different futures. And for that alone, I'm going to
get them the over. But I don't think they're going
to be a 30 win team. I think they float around the 28
to 30 zone and nothing other than that just because of the

(44:54):
shallow Hornets being the shallow Hornets.
I think you made a great point with with Brandon Miller.
I think I personally think that at some point I think he will
end up overtaking Lamelo as the best player on this team.
That's my personal interest to. I think he has.
To he has to go further. I think he has to, but I also
think he will because I just think his skill set is there and

(45:14):
I think he has I think in his positional size, he's good.
He play, he can play both sides of the ball.
He's a really good offensive player.
And I think again, you know a lot of these players, a lot of
these teams. What do you talk about when you
know, when they become really good is you talk about the wing
depth a lot of times, like if you don't have a lot of wing
depth guys at the wing that could play defence and hit some
threes or get some shots off, atthe very least be a three and D,

(45:37):
you're never going to win this league.
Like you need those those those are the most necessary to win in
the league nowadays. Like you could have.
We've seen elite point guards come into situations like we see
Trey Young every year, right? Like for example, just he's an
elite point guard, but when it comes to then, you know, the
wings, they've had the, the wingdepth like they can never find a

(45:57):
guy or now they have, but like before there was always guys
that you couldn't find that werelike, oh, like how are you going
to win with this team around Trey Young?
Like you need more wing depth. You need a lot of more guys that
are at the wing 'cause sometimeshaving that one guard like that
could lead the way isn't enough.You know what I mean?
So same thing with Lamello. And he's obviously not healthy
enough to be even considered on,even on Trey Young's level, to
be honest with you, let alone his own.

(46:18):
So I agree with you on that, butI just think again, I, I just, I
just also think of it, the East is also a big component with
that too. I don't think the East is as
strong, especially with all these injuries.
They have a lot of winnable games just to get over that
line. I will say if they go lower than
that line, I will be very concerned about their future in
terms of just like especially. If they go, if they go over,

(46:40):
they'll forever be a joke of a franchise, let's be honest.
Yeah, they go under. Yeah, if they go under, I agree.
They'll they'll always be like the butt of the joke I feel like
for sure. You still back in the over,
Nathan? Look, man, I'll, I'll, I'll be
honest that the odour is very appealing, but I guess the
constraints that I'm really thinking of is they're just
always injured and it always feels like when they're playing,

(47:01):
they're not playing as a team. They're just playing for views,
for laugh to be like trending, like that's what like Melody
does. He's doing one, one step
backward shots. Like that's not winning plays.
That's if. I know it's like the personality
thing, but there comes a point where you've been a joke, your
team been a joke for too long. If you just play serious, I

(47:22):
think they can hit the overs easily.
But it's just I've seen it for too long and it's just like, I
don't really know if I can trustthem.
They need Thibodeau in there. I'm telling you right now, they
need a Thibodeau. They need someone.
I'm not saying Thibodeau is like, I think Thibodeau is a
great coach. Obviously I loved him in New
York. But I think they need a guy like
that to come in there and set the camp straight because they

(47:42):
need a guy that culture setter because their culture has been
way out of whack, like for like God knows how long, man.
And this it doesn't seem like they've got a coach and Steve
Clifford that really has come inthere and set a set a culture
tone. So they need, I think I
personally think if at some point they think about that,
they go get a guy like Tibbs or somebody along those lines.
I could come in and set establish a foundation of like

(48:05):
the way you want to hold yourself as a professional and
how you want to play the game the proper way.
So I think that's that's my takeon them too.
Yeah, they will. They've they've drafted like
conquerors, an example of I think the player they want to
sort of draught as well. And I think we can all agree
that it's not like a we're not disregarding Lamela Ball as a
bowler, as a player, but I just don't think him being the number

(48:26):
one option will equate to winning.
And as mentioned, him being non serious maybe suits his game
style and how he plays. But at the end of the day, the
only way not to be the leader one and the only way that you
can prove people wrong is by winning games.
And if he's winning games 5060, being unserious, then we can
have a different conversation because we look at the the guys

(48:47):
in at the Oklahoma City Thunder,you can make a case that they're
very unserious when it comes to their off field antics, but they
definitely lock in and they get 65 wins on your head.
So, yeah, yeah, I think that's that's the one the.
Problem is they're they're the problem is they're not serious
on the court too. And you see them play a lot of
times they look like they're just like out there like you
guys said, like they're kind of out there playing pickleball.

(49:08):
It feels like instead of just locking into organised
basketball, which is. Yeah.
It's fun. It's.
Crazy. That's not going to win and
like. They're a league pass team.
They're a fun league pass team. And that's why they got one of
the best commentators, and that's a.
Commentator that's fact Oh yeah yeah com 2 is great he's.
Started to do. He's been starting to do NFL
apparently from what I've had. He's going to start NFL games.

(49:29):
Yep, he starts. Crazy.
Yeah, he's I won't be surprised if we see him on on on ESPN or
Amazon Prime in a few years for sure.
No, he's he brings the heat. That helped you there.
We'll move on because again, I think it's another team we've
spent too much time on the Charlotte Hornets, but we'll get
on to the New York Knicks. Kenny, they're 53 1/2 go.
For it slam I am I'm slamming the over on this one and I'm I'm

(49:55):
going to actually give you a reasonable reason why I think
the minutes distribution, obviously compared to Thibodeau
from Mike Brown is going to be way different.
I think guys like I think McHaleBridge is going to have a way
better year this year. Looks like already he's going to
have a better year just because he likes playing for the guy.
I think he didn't like playing for Tibbs.
So it looked like he was kind ofalways checked out.
So I think he's going to have a big year, which would be really

(50:16):
big for us because obviously we traded so much for him and I
think he's necessary for us to where they want to get to where
we want to go. I think Cat, I think Cat's going
to be obviously again, all NBA big.
Bronson's going to be Bronson. I just think that depth is the
biggest thing. You get Yahoo Celli, who hasn't
looked the best of pre season, to be fair, but I trust his
regular season, you know, will will pick up.

(50:36):
I think he'll be good. He's big.
Yeah, he's big. He'll be he'll be big come
regular season. I think Clarkson is going to be
bit better than like campaign atthe very least, even if he's not
like this elite playmaker off the bench.
I think he'll be good. McBride, you have Josh Hart
coming off the bench now. I think they're going to
probably change the rotation a little bit.
Biggest thing for me, as always with this team going in is going

(50:58):
to be the health. OG, Ananobi, Mitchell, Robinson
are two guys I always have an eye on with injuries because
they're always in and out of thelineup, usually year in and year
out. Those guys missed at least 10 to
15 games of times. Obviously OG was pretty healthy
last year but they got to stay healthy.
Josh obviously is dealing with afinger injury I think for the
through the year, so that's going to be something to

(51:19):
monitor. But I just think this team has
the depth and the ability to go and I think Mike Brown's offence
will have them playing like similar to how Kenny Atkinson
likes to do his his team in Cleveland is play fast, get a
lot of threes up. And I think we have a lot of a
lot of opportunity here, especially with the injuries to

(51:39):
capitalise. And I think the start of the
year benefits them too. They have a really light
schedule to start the year outside of Cleveland.
I think game one, which is always a tough match up, but
they have a light schedule to start and at that momentum will
I think propel them into some crazy record this year.
I don't think they'll win like north of I think they'll win
like I think the right with the line 53 1/2.
I think they'll win like 5758 games personally, I just think

(52:03):
that's like the kind of outlook I have for them.
But again, you know, it's all dependent on health.
But I think 58 wins is fair. I think they'll be competing for
that top seed. And yeah, I'm excited for them
this year for sure. I'm looking the over.
I think this is a lock. This is the probably the most
confident that I have of the five that I have as an over 53

(52:23):
1/2 wins. That gets you a top four seed in
the Eastern Conference, especially with how low it is.
So even putting them on 54, thatputs you top four.
And I don't think they're going to be a top four seed.
I think they're going to be a top 2.
And yeah, they clear the pack when it comes to depth.
Those acquisitions of the other Cell and Jordan Clarkson is just

(52:44):
going to make a massive difference.
And like, we all know about whatteams did and it it derailed
them. I think against Indiana Pacers,
especially when they play with such speed, they're not going to
be a problem this year. But you could tell that the lack
of depth was a big issue for them in that semi final in that
conference finals. And I think this year is not
going to be a problem. I think they actually make the

(53:04):
NBA Finals with their squad. And I think with New York and
their culture and just Jalen Brunson leading the helm, it's
it's time for New York to finally have a good franchise
that goes and makes a deep run to a finals.
And I think it's amazing for basketball if we see it as well.
I think you'll know you'll be there in New York, I think going
crazy on on Times Square and on the streets.

(53:25):
So I'm keen for that. More episodes of side talk.
So yeah, I've got this over here.
Yeah, I I think I'm smashing theovers as well.
I mean, the Knicks have been building for a long time,
getting that sneaky Bronson acquisition and then you've just
gone ahead and got bridges smashit up for OG and then get cut.
They're just being building for ages.

(53:47):
And like you said, it was like they never had enough depth.
But I think that it was more down come to Tibbs just didn't
trust the bench pace and that hehad and he had players that
could play. He just never really fully
trusted him. And when you know, push comes to
shove and you're looking for something off the bench, the
outer confidence, you know, theyhaven't really figured out their
role and that's what and then killed him.

(54:09):
And we even seen that when they were down, they looked down and
now they had injuries. They will fight.
They have that hunger. They have that, you know, that
dog and like Josh Hart coming off the bench, that's not going
to give up. They got that in Bronson as
well. So they've got the core and the
culture there. It was just came down to a coach
and him getting it together. And I think they've got a easy

(54:30):
runway to finishing top two really.
So like you both said, I'm smashing the overs for this one.
And yeah, we'll see what they do.
I know they've recently got rid of Brogdon or Brogdon retired.
So it'd be interesting to see what they do with that roster
spot because I thought he was going to be a key bench bench
piece there as well. So, but hey, I think buy out,

(54:53):
they'll get some off. I think the one thing to take
into account, there's a line too, is last year they were at
what, 52 wins last year? And you take into account last
year Brunson missed 15 games. You had guys like Bridges and OG
Anobi playing like 3738 minutes a game, which is like absurd.
Like for at this like, like thistime of era, like in like

(55:15):
basketball, it'd be like playing38 minutes a game.
But this pace is insane. And then you had Kat also
dealing with a lot of in nagginginjuries through the year.
Like not saying he missed a lot of games, but he definitely had
a lot of injuries nagging. Like he had some runners knee
like majority of the season justfrom all the minutes he would
run. And then the bench would have
like the bench production was like less than 20 points a game

(55:35):
all year long, which that kind of and they still equated 52
wins. They still equated 52 wins
somehow. Like that's like that's what I'm
saying is like they got better and they also have a better, I
think a coach that will help them throughout the year do
better. And like you said, I think that
the the mentality of this team, they just they have a different
level of mentality. I think they have that dog, like

(55:56):
you said, like Josh Hart going after rebounds.
Sometimes our rebounds opposing teams, big man, like by like 5-6
rebounds a game, which is insane.
You know what I mean? You have some guys on this team
that just are like also vets. You have a lot of guys that want
to win, like they're hungry to win right now.
You got guys cramming to come, like Clarkson took a minimum to
come here by Yabuseli left Philadelphia to come here, like

(56:18):
guys want to come here and try to win.
So it's like I, I just think it's like the perfect storm.
And obviously, you know, Boston being unhealthy and obviously
Halliburton and obviously being in there too plays a full role
in that too. So I think it's it's kind of
like a perfect storm for me. Yeah, I would say so too.
Do they still have Landry Shamanon the roster?
I'm sure he's gone, yeah. He was a he was a player.

(56:40):
I like him man, He. Played so well in the playoffs
against Indiana. He was making shots.
And then to me, it just frustrated me because Tibbs left
it so late. Like when you come to like
trusting your bench players, whatever you think of them, you
have the opportunity for them toplay.
And then he was running out with7 to 8 men lineups for the whole
season. Just doesn't work in the NBA.
You got he. Waited till he waited till the

(57:00):
conference finals to run Delon Wright.
And Delon Wright looked pretty good out there too.
Even like for like 5 minimum minutes for like yeah, well,
they waved him. But my, my point is, is like you
had guys like down in depth thatlike made contributions when
they came in of course. And you waited till all
different finals of them. Like that's, that's insane.
That's both Ryan and Shaman wereplaying for the Wizards and they

(57:21):
were getting 20 plus minutes in our team and I'm not saying they
were amazing, but they were OK. Yeah, I think they're, I mean,
NBA players in the end of the day, you know, you should have
played more minutes though, is apoint like they, they didn't get
enough playing time. They should have played so.
Again, the role if the role's established and it was just
never established the roles and that's what it was in the end.

(57:41):
And I think, yeah, we all can agree that Mike Brown will not
do that. And that's why we're taking a
clear over. And I think that's probably the
best agreement will come up with, I reckon the whole time
for the Eastern Conference. Yes, we'll move on to another
playoff contender and that is the Detroit Pistons.
And they're currently sitting at45.5 as their line.

(58:02):
And Nathan, I want to start withyou because I want to think
about this one and what you guysare going to say because I'm
torn between this. Yeah, the Detroit is a hard team
to kind of gauge on how to goingto go because losing Bailey
seemed like a big piece and I'm not too sure if he's going to
get resigned or what to go with him is.
But he was a steady shooter for them.

(58:22):
And I know they suddenly replaced him with Tim Hardaway
Junior or something. Was it?
Who else did they replace him with?
They got carried over in, they got.
Duncan Robinson and Duncan Robinson came into.
From my moments. And yes, they came both.
So and then. Last year 44 was there long last
year? OK, 44 look, I think 44 is

(58:44):
probably bang smack where they're going to go if they can
to be honest. I reckon Cade's going to take a
jump and run. Holland looks good but I'm not
too sold on the Duran pick or how he's been going at the
moment. He does look a bit injury prone
and I don't know, there's just something lacking with your game
and although I like B Studio andhe's from play, I don't actually
think he's all but a special player to be honest.

(59:07):
I think you're losing Beasley. Like I said, it's a big loss and
yeah, I don't know, I think if they can carve some minutes into
a sore hope he takes a jump. And again, Ron Holland, I think
they might be OK, but I'm probably going around the 44 to
40 mark somewhere in there. I disagree with you.
I'm going the over on this one, I think.

(59:27):
Kate Cunningham is poised to be a potential MVP candidate this
season and I'm saying he's goingto win it, but I think that he
is going to take a massive jump this year.
Last year was his first season when he was fully fit and when
he was fit, he got them to a sixseed with the Boston Celtics and
with the Indiana Pacers fully healthy.

(59:50):
And in that in the conference aswell, they took New York Knicks
to the limit. They almost forced a game seven.
It was magical performance from Jalen Brunson that got them to
an unfortunate first round exit.But this team I think is poised
to make a massive jump. And if you take them out, and if
we're giving Orlando Magic 50 plus wins, how can we not give

(01:00:12):
the Detroit Pistons 45.5 plus wins, especially when they're in
the league? And especially when they do have
Kate Cunningham and I know the, the, the sort of, I guess lack
of reliability on Jalen Duran. They still have Jalen Ivy to
come back and he's going to comeback sooner rather than later

(01:00:34):
and they're going to be able to run lineups with Jaden Ivy and
Kate Cunningham, which is something we weren't able to see
last season. And I think that's almost like
having a new player, especially with how the team has sort of
changed the way they were like they tripled their wins last
year. It's only up for the Detroit
Pistons. I think the acquisitions of
Duncan Robinson and Karis LeVertare serviceable.

(01:00:56):
Obviously Tim Hardaway and MalikBeasley are big losses and I
think very underrated losses. But you still have that veteran
presence in Tobias Harris, who Ithink changed the narrative on
his career as a player after leaving Philadelphia.
I think people have started to respect and even myself
included, how good of a player Tobias Harris is in the right

(01:01:16):
situation as well. And I think their coach is a
very good coach as well. He did the same thing with the
Cleveland Cavaliers JB Bicker staff I'm talking about got them
to a point where they were a playoff team and I think he's
doing the same here. Hopefully he gets the
opportunity to continue with these guys and not a better
coach taking over. But I just see again we go back

(01:01:36):
to the East being weak and we goback to another year of Kate
Cunningham, who I think again, and I'm saying it with
confidence, a high level MVP candidate, especially when it
comes to the the Eastern Conference side and a first team
I think player this year, yeah, I got to take the over on this
one. I won't go over 50 wins, but I
definitely think they'll go between 47 and 48 this season

(01:01:57):
and lock up a top. Four seed I got.
I got the over here for a couplereasons.
I agree with you about Cade. I think Cade will be better this
year. Somehow.
I think he'll be even better this year.
I think he'll look at teammates.He'll he'll I think he kind of
like last year was kind of like a trial year for him to kind of
figure out his team. And now that they're coming back
with kind of similar roster, added a few pieces, even though

(01:02:20):
they lost a few. And I think there's still a
chance that Beasley comes back because I think they're like,
you know, the whole investigation.
There's a chance they bring themback.
Maybe it's like a probably like a way cheaper contract.
I have a big prediction to make with them though.
I think they're the team that makes the big lorry marketing
trade that they need to get overthe hump.

(01:02:40):
I think they get more marketing from Utah at midway through the
year. I think they've been talking
about this nonstop. They're the perfect fit that
he's the perfect fit for this processor.
He slots in so well. He would be just with Kate.
Imagine if Lorry and Kate pick and pop pick and roll duo like
that. Would be goodness.
You make you make a really good point honestly.

(01:03:01):
I think. Getting like we've never seen
no, we've never seen sorry, we've never seen the Detroit
Pistons like in a long time evermake a pre All Star break trade.
And I think this year is the year that they finally do that.
And I forgot to mention that andI think.
I think they need it. I think, yeah, yeah, I know.

(01:03:23):
I think they need it because I think Tobias Harris is good,
like you said. I just think he's serviceable as
well at this point. Like I think they could upgrade
him. I think.
I think someone else that's really good for them is like
Ivy, but he's also injury prone for them.
That's the problem I have with him is he's very injury prone.
I think though that Laurie wouldbe such a good fit.

(01:03:44):
I also just think Karis averts agood pick up as well and I think
Karis will be a better player for them this year than people
will admit. I think he's a very good bench
player for them. He's a really good like 15.
I think he'll average a good 1415 a game.
I think they're I think they're going to be around like you
said, like a 4850 win, maybe team pushing for that top 4

(01:04:05):
seeds for sure. I like their team a lot though
for sure. I think they'll be really good
and also I hope also takes a jump.
Make a good point as well. I think that team is primed for
a trade and I think they need ittoo because when you're spitting
out the names, I think the team only really goes as far as Kate
is. He's a, like you said, he could

(01:04:26):
be an MVP candidate. He's unguardable.
He took massive strides last year when he was fit, so he
looks real good. But yeah, Kenny, you make a good
point. Ivy's been injured.
He's not really reliable. You got old head Tobias Harris
reliable, but you're really going to get you over the hump
if you can somehow get Laurie inand just keep him around the

(01:04:46):
squad. That that would be a leap.
But you're going to give up. Something I guess say.
We're not even we're not even talking about the West yet, but
we're looking at Utah situation.They clearly are going in a
different direction. He's getting up there and he's
28 years old. Like they're it's, it's like the
most obvious trade like candidate for the mid season
like that you could come up with.
And I think Detroit has the mostassets.

(01:05:08):
They have a combination of youngplayers and salaries to match.
They have picks. Like I just feel like it's a
perfect fit and I I just see it working out because I think
that's like literally what like a player like him, his his
archetype is what they need and he's elite at what he does.
Like to be fair, like he's very good.
He's another one that also has injury problems.
But that's my prediction why he's thinking he'll be overs

(01:05:28):
because I think they'll get a guy like him mid season at some
point. I think you will give in if it's
not him. They're going to get someone I
think. Yeah, I think, I think that
will. I think they will.
That's why I'm saying I think that's why I predict them to be
over, just for the fact I think they're going to make that
splash trade to get them a second star that they need.
Because what about us make his eye on play?
What do you reckon? Oh man, I mean, Zion would be

(01:05:49):
great too, but I just, I don't know how they're going to do.
I don't know what, I don't know what they're going to do there,
but I think. I can't see that happening, but
if he was there like that's that's a top, that's a top two
statement. That's probably one of the best
teams in the league, to be honest.
Yeah, you'd. Ask how the best team would be
in the. Championship.
Yeah, I would agree with that. I agree with that too.

(01:06:10):
I think of healthy life would becrazy there, but I think Lori is
the best option. He's the most realistic option
right now and I think he would fit so perfectly.
Personally, I think he fits whatthey need.
So that's just, that's why I have them over for that reason.
When was the last time the Lionsand the Pistons were good?
Kenny? Honestly, Detroit would be
partying right now. Last year, last year was the

(01:06:32):
first time. Last year they were both really
good. Last year that was the first
time I think in years because lions have been bad for like 20
years. So you talk about a long time.
Detroit Detroit fans are vibing right now for.
Sure. We'll move on to we'll move on
to the Chicago Bulls mate. This team, my gosh, this team is

(01:06:54):
like any anyone that follows fantasy knows that they have
three players in the top 50 rankfor NBA fantasy.
Giddy was like ranked what 15 Vuch was like under like in the
top 30 and then you had Kobe Wyatt in the top 50 like this.
They're at 33 1/2. I'm go, I'm I'm going under like

(01:07:16):
first of all, under under under like no, I got no like argument.
I just. This is sure that's.
My opinion, I have to go under I'm I'm sick of this fucking
team. I have to be honest.
They piss me off because that what is this?
The roster construction doesn't make sense and like just piss

(01:07:36):
off vuch already, like you know what I mean?
Like Giddy's exciting. You've got Bazalis, who I think
is the guy that's going to take a massive.
Leap. That's a.
Positive. I assume you.
Maybe he's a bit off. He's not probably the best
player, but he's Chicago born. He brings the vibes, he makes
the building exciting. I'd keep around him.

(01:07:57):
The rest they can go. Let's be honest, like Kobe
Wyatt, he'll give you one day 30points and the next day he'll
give you 3. That's not going to equate to
winning as much as I do like what I see in Kobe Wyatt, I
don't think it's good enough. And then vouch is just like it
just doesn't fit. Get him out.
And then like Patrick Williams, if you went and saw the media
that they team, they put PatrickWilliams in the photo with all

(01:08:19):
four of them. Like that should never happen.
Like he he he's a he's a nightmare.
That's got to be one of the worst ever picks done because
that was just so out of the bluewhen they picked him up. 33 1/2
wins is is generous and like it's screaming under for me.
Screaming. I'll go.
I'll go next. I think this is one of the most,

(01:08:39):
I think this is one of the most poorly run organisations in the
league right now. Personally, I think this should
be under. I want them to be under because
I think they got to get rid of like almost everybody.
But zealous Noah Sangay, who they drafted was a good pick I
think too. I think he'll be good for them
and I think. He's, he's on the main wall.
Yeah, he's on the main wall. Yeah, he's not think that.

(01:09:03):
Yeah, I know. He's, yeah, Johnny Fur Few.
That was a clutch moment right there.
That was so fun. He's going to be in the dunk
contest. Man, he's going to be the first
Aussie to win it. The Bulls.
It's crazy the. Bulls are like the Bulls are a
meme team right now and it's sadto say because the team with
such a historic history, like with them, like having guys like
Jordan prime Derrick Rose, you even go dating back.

(01:09:25):
So the artist Gilmore days, likethey have such a history of like
having talented guys and for thelast 10 years they've been a
laughingstock in this league. Like the only year they had a
good year was when they had Damar, Alonzo, Zach for like
half a year and they were like a25 win.
They were only like a 60 win pace.
That was like their best year. They've had what ifs in that.
Franchise, they were looking good.

(01:09:47):
Yeah, they were looking really good that year.
I will. I agree with that.
But like didn't work out and theGM just decided to not pivot at
all and he lost all those guys like all talents, all great
talents where they had peak vowsat some point where they were
going for first round picks likeyou know, they had they were
going for really good packages and they lost.

(01:10:07):
He was actually for essentially nothing.
The more left for nothing. Vuchi is essentially going to be
gone for nothing too, because nobody wanted him to.
Have that next team. I can't wait to talk about them.
So maybe where they went, Yeah. I mean, it's just it's Yeah,
yeah, exactly. I agree with you.
Yeah. They're like the the bulls of
the West, but they're the Bulls of the West.

(01:10:28):
And we'll talk about that. But I mean, it's just been it.
It's been more about. I hope they're under.
I hope they're under. I hope they're under for
everybody's sake. And I I agree with you.
Patrick Williams is a bust of this decade for sure.
Like you had so many players in that draught that could have
went and they they could have taken that would have helped
them immediately or even at thattime would have been better.
And they, they, they dropped theball there.

(01:10:50):
And I think their, their management's got to go at some
point too if they don't make a shift because Colby White should
be gone too. Not that I think he's a bad
player. I think he actually would be a
good player for some contending teams to be a bench scorer.
Like if you look at like some teams that need like bench play
or guys like he's a, he's a six man for any, I think for a
contender, he could be a really good six man player for someone.
He's on a cheap contract right now, $12 million.

(01:11:12):
How are you not getting offers for him that you like that like
people are? People are definitely offering
packages for him. He's the the manager just wants
to keep this guy. Along by January.
I think so. He's another one.
Imagine him off a Nuggets or something off the bench just
coming on, just dropping 15. 20 That's gonna be perfect.
Well, that's what I'm trying to say is like you have some teams
out there that will that that could really use a Gala Kim.

(01:11:34):
I think a team that actually, I'll be honest, A-Team, I think
that could use him is a Houston.They need a point guard right
now. They don't have a guard.
They can use a Gala Kim that cancome and get bucked.
Houston's a good Houston's a good idea.
Like a good fit I could see happening midway through the
year just because they need one.But again, like, you know, not
talking about Houston. Talk about the Bulls here.
They they are, they're moribund.I think they're going to go

(01:11:54):
under. I think they might actually be
the 13th seed this year. I think they might be really
that bad because I think halfwaythrough, I think halfway through
till January, they're going to be a really bad team and their,
their manager's going to say, you know what, we got to scrap a
lot of this. Get rid of these, some of these
guys, we'll keep giddy around. We'll keep obviously Bezelis and
we'll see what we got out of therest of the guys.
But get rid of Lucevic, get rid of Kobe White, blow it up.

(01:12:17):
They need a, they need a complete blow up option like
they got if there was a, a nuke option on this team, I would
have nuked it like 3 years ago. But like they need a nuke option
right now. That's that's an under for me
too. Definite under.
I'm I'm taking the under on them.
The the the Americans coming outof this.

(01:12:38):
Yeah, Luke, that's it. Dude, that's so wild.
That's crazy, man. I probably, I probably agree
with everything you said that tobe honest.
And I think, look, man, I reckonall the Bulls fans out there
were saying Nukem 3-4 years ago,they've been won in this.

(01:13:00):
They wanted a direction. And you know, even when they
traded the Levine, the the DeRozan, they still kind of the
next season was simulating wins.And it was just weird.
It's like just be not good, get us a good pick.
Yeah, you know, yeah, all the fans are freaking out.
You know, it's just like pick, pick a lane.
And like you said, then the similarly looks OK, but I don't

(01:13:22):
think it'll be anything more than a bench play out.
Why? It's got some value, see what
you can get. I think the future is probably
bizarrely and look as as much ina lot of giddy Giddy's an
Australian legend at this point.But there's a reason why OKC got
rid of him. It's because he can't shoot
right. And if you're a point guard and
you can't shoot, then there's only so far the team can go.
I know he's probably a stop gap now.

(01:13:44):
They got to pay someone but they're lacking seriously in
depth and with that alone I'm smashing the unders.
Which is crazy. Go ahead, go ahead, go ahead.
No, I was saying I'm under 30. If it was just A345 I'd smack
the under clear all. Right.
And then? I'm sure he wins.

(01:14:04):
No, I don't think so either. I think they're I think they're
going to be really bad to start the year out.
I think they have a little bit of a rough schedule to start.
I think they get up to a really bad start.
I don't think, I don't even think Billy Donovan's that great
of a coach to be honest with youtoo.
Like I think he's a good coach. I just like he's like that
great. That's like, you know,
sometimes, sometimes we have a good coach.
You know, sometimes you have a coach that like will elevate

(01:14:24):
your ceiling a lot. Like I said, like Thibodeau is
like a kind of guy like or not your ceiling, but your floor.
He'll bring you, he'll raise your floor even if your
ceiling's limited. Like he'll make you like a 40
win team just because he's a good coach.
Like Billy Donovan, I don't eventhink he's like, I think he's
good, but I don't think he's good enough to like will this
team to be good at all. Like I think they're just such a
bad team. Like it's so bad.
Like I don't even look at this roster.

(01:14:45):
I look. Funny, they get planes in, yeah.
They get played in like a trade zone, trade, trade Jones and
like at a Coro and you're just thinking they're not really
going to help. It's like they're not really it.
Makes it worse. Taking a slide on it makes.
It worse, I don't think it. Just sounds like that GM needs
to get fired. Like, it's not those swing

(01:15:07):
players on like championship teams that, you know, oh, maybe
I'll take a swing on him. He's not getting minutes of like
say for instance, that backup toe pitch for, you know, OK,
save for instance, in one year, 2 years, he's not playing.
Let's take a swing on him. They come in for players that
you know, and just what they are.
You know what I mean? Yeah, the organisation.
They don't take enough swings. They don't take any swings.

(01:15:29):
I agree with that. They have no teams.
Got to go. GM's not going.
That's where I'll see changes. GM will go and then obviously
whoever comes in as AGM will probably fire Billy Donovan
because he's not their coach andthen that's probably where we'll
see real change. Other than that, I reckon
they're going to be shoot for a long time and that's a shame to
say about. The team that.
Probably, yeah, it's crazy good city too.

(01:15:51):
Probably one of my favourite cities to visit in in the United
States as well. So yeah, it's a shame.
Good families. The thing is, they're great fan
base too. A lot of them are loyal fan
base, you know what I mean? So been there for a while.
Obviously Jordan kind of maybe read a lot of them, but I mean,
hey, lol, you talk about people,there's not that many people
that like you, don't you? You look around people own bull

(01:16:12):
jerseys everywhere. Like I think I have a bull
jersey in my my thing just from like Derrick Rose.
I think we all. In our lifetime would have wore
something of Chicago Bulls like.Yeah.
Just wanted to take a moment to thank you guys for tuning in to
another episode of the Huddle Within podcast.
If you do enjoy episodes like this or this episode
specifically, be sure to leave acomment and a five star review

(01:16:35):
wherever you do get your podcasts.
It'd be also great if you could like and subscribe wherever you
do get your podcasts so we can continue to show this out to
people that see sports exactly the way that you do.
But without further ado, let's get straight back into it.
All right, so we're getting on to the Washington Wizards.
My team we're at. 20 1/2. 2020 1/2 wins OK, 20 1/2 wins, you

(01:17:02):
know, I'm taking the over here and I have to and I'm not.
We're going to finish 14th, OK, but there is no world where
we're going to go under twenty wins this season, especially
with our rookies having that experience.
Last year, they had the most exposure to playing minutes than

(01:17:22):
anyone else in the NBA. We had Keyshawn George, we had
Bob Carrington, we had Alex Starr playing over 25 minutes
again. Bob Carrington played 82 games
last season. Unfortunately, that probably
won't happen this season. He's picked up a little niggle,
but we still have Alex Starr, who's destined to take a leap
this season. We've seen what he can do on the

(01:17:44):
defensive end. The question will be, can he do
the same on the offensive end? And Keyshawn George is looking
to be the best of the three. That guy has been incredible in
preseason and is probably one ofthe most underrated rookies in
his class. That guy can simply do it all.
He's got that charisma, he's gotthat energy and that will to win
around him where I think he's going to take a massive leap.

(01:18:05):
I'm really excited for vacation on George.
But I think the biggest thing that we've acquired is veteran
presence. And by that we have CJ McCollum,
who I think this guy was a president of the Basketball
Association for four years now. Now it's Fan Vlee and obviously
that probably doesn't relate to playing, but it does relate to

(01:18:26):
the person he is and the leader he can be and what he represents
as a player. And he's also an unbelievable
player too. Let's not forget the times when
he was with Dame at Portland, which Nathan will know very
well. I think he for at least till
January, will provide us with a lot of wins this season and I

(01:18:46):
think that the Wizards are not going to tank.
I think they're genuinely going to go for a lot of wins this
season. We've been bummed out with
getting pick pick six in the draught despite being one of the
worst seeds. So we understand how the lottery
goes. We also are in a Eastern
Conference that's extremely wideopen and a lot of teams are are

(01:19:07):
very unsettled and and lack identities as we spoke about.
And I think the Wizards know what they are.
They're figuring that out on thefly and I think the only way to
go about it is to start winning games.
So for that alone, I am going totake the over and I'm going to
be optimistic about what we're going to do.

(01:19:28):
Oh, I'm going to take you over as well.
I think they're like a TWEN. I think they're like a prime
2526 one team. I like they're they have a lot
of good vets. I think they're rookies.
They're coming in. I think Trey Johnson, I'm big on
Trey Johnson. I think he's going to be a
really good smile in this. They're making me smile.
Kenny 26. Yeah.
I think honestly you made a goodpoint.
I think sometimes getting that like bottom, like top three

(01:19:52):
odds, whatever isn't always a guarantee anymore to get a top
pick. So it's like you might as well
try to win as much as possible because there's no point in
tanking at this point. You're just you could end up
first with the first odds and end up with the 5th pick.
And there's teams like the Spurshave like 36 wins last year, end
up with the second pick like TheMavericks trade Luka Doncic, get
a forty wins and end up with a number one pick.

(01:20:12):
Some out right like the end of the day like.
Reminds me of that shit. At this point, at this point,
you might as well just go for wins and I think they're going
to go for that. I also think the coach probably
wants to go for wins this year too, because I don't think he
wants to have his job in jeopardy.
Like, you know, you don't want to be like just a lame duck
coach. You want to kind of try to show
that you can coach some wins andget some of these guys going.

(01:20:32):
I agree Keyshawn George is goingto make a big jump this year.
SAR defensively at the very least, going to be very good.
I also think I think Bob Carrington is a good player, but
I I really am big on Trey Johnson.
I think Trey Johnson is a is a is going to be an elite scorer
in this league. I have a great feeling about
him. I think he has all the
intangibles to be that and I think he has also the

(01:20:53):
intangibles to be a good defender too.
It's not like he's just going tobe an offensive juggernaut.
Like let's say we talk about CamThomas before Brooklyn, like he
just scores the ball and like that's his that's his Moi think
Trey Johnson can be a dynamic player for them.
And again, I like their vets too.
You got Middleton, you got CJ there.
Those are guys who like that, I think, you know, could come in

(01:21:14):
and kind of teach these guys theropes a little bit.
And I again, I think I could seethem at 2627 wins.
You know, Max, I don't know if Iget 30, but I think if they do
get to 30, that'd be a big, big jump.
And it's only it's looking bright for for Washington.
They got a good direction going there.
We still have Cam Whitmore too. We forget about him, but I'll
let. Nathan talk about him, I'm sure
he's. Keen to talk about Cam Whitmore?

(01:21:35):
He's. A big fan of him and that's the
name on the tip of my tongue, man, because I think that guy
can get a bucket. And, you know, he was starved of
an opportunity last season. And when he came in and he was
just lighting it up. If you just think, imagine he
had consistent, you know, consistent minutes to see what
he could really do. And Wizards might be the place
for that. And like you both have said, and

(01:21:55):
I'm just going to echo the same Wizards, they've put minutes
into the kids. And I think it's just a natural
progression to semester 20s 2020, 1/22/23 wins because you
know, the the put minutes into the kids, like you said, they
got steady presence. They got a championship winner
in Middleton. You got CJ who's done it in the
league for 10 plus years. He can play and make, he can

(01:22:16):
shoot. He's going to be there riding
the bench. He's going to be there starting
bringing the kids along with him.
And style looks like he's that, you know, almost like that
Mobley prototype that he can shoot, he can defend, he's
mobile. And yeah, they just got building
a really nice core. And like Kenny said with Philly,

(01:22:37):
you know, getting picks when they probably don't deserve it.
What's what's the what's the problem in just trying to get
some wins on the board? You're going to come against a
week. Exactly right.
And you're coming against a weekE you're going to pick up wins,
you know, against some teams that aren't on it with it's
playing, you know, wizard basketball, moving that thing
quick. You know, they're going to get
wins on the road. And even last year, until they

(01:22:58):
actually pulled the pin and thatwould proper tanking, they were
quite competitive in a lot of games and then you'd see them
just fade out in the fourth. So if they were really going for
it, that would be getting 25 wins.
So I'm going. I'm excited this season because
I think this is where we're going to see as we go for it.
And I'm not saying that we're going to win a lot of games, but
I'm going to definitely see us try to win games.

(01:23:21):
And I think trying to win games is always exciting when you have
a young team. And like, obviously this bias
comes in. But like, if a team is trying to
win games, like you can never know.
They could do at Detroit. I'm not saying tripling their
wins, but they could make a playin push.
You never know, especially when teams are riding on a highest.
So yeah, excited this season. I think they get that 20 win

(01:23:42):
mark. And I'm glad we all agree on
this one. We'll quickly move on before I
start taking this becoming this becomes the Wizards podcast.
We're going to a team that's taken a massive jump in terms of
their player acquisitions, and that is the Atlanta Hawks and
they're sitting at a 46.5 line and that one is a juicy 1.

(01:24:04):
So I'm interested to let you guys take the floor on this one
because yeah, again, this is this is a spicy one for me as
well, I think. I'm I'm going to go first.
I'm slamming you over on this one for sure, too.
I think there are 50. I think they're they're going to
be. I think my personally, I have
them. I like in my personal ranking, I
have them as a third seed in theeast of my opinion.

(01:24:24):
I think Jaylen Johnson's going to take another leap this year.
I think they have a lot of depthin every position you're talking
about. Maybe the backup guard is the
only one they really need a little bit more depth in.
But I think they have some guys there that could come in and
fill it. I love Nikhil Walk, Alexander
pick up. I love the Porzingis pick up for
them. I think those are like perfect
slots for next to Trey Young, Dyson Daniels.

(01:24:45):
Another year of improving being other getting better again I I
love their roster man I don't know I just think they're going
to be a really good team and there's probably even players
that I've been mentioning that are there are congu another guy
that I didn't even mention really good player recession
recession yeah yeah the Aussie sorry listen you got all these

(01:25:07):
guys there I'm sorry, but like you have really good talent
recession by the way the French kid he looks pretty good too
like he's shooting the ball really well right now as a great
spot shooter. I I love their team right now.
I think they're going to be I think they're going to be the
third seed. They're going to be a tough
team. I think we're seeing a possible
Trey Young versus New York semi final potentially.

(01:25:28):
Oh man, like that's. Scared again.
That's. That's a great storyline to do
that is that is that is going tobe the storyline of the
playoffs. Have a feeling because it's
going to be just like Trey Young, the villain back in Mass
Square Garden again, like seeingwhat he could do and I got to
get Trey Young his props. I think he's going to be a
really, I think his impact's going to be a lot more proven
this year with an actual team around him that could defend,

(01:25:48):
shoot the ball really well. You guys are like multiple
different defenders on the team,but also guys that could attack
the pain. He could throw lobs to heck and
pops Prezenius. I, I just, I'm very high on
them. I think they'll be like a 5253
win team this year for sure. Yeah, I'm, I'm smacking the
unders for the Hulks as well. I really love that offseason and
what they've done. I think that I think their whole

(01:26:12):
the whole roster is a lot more versatile than what it was last
year. And I think just picking a lane,
you know, saying, you know, we're not going with Capella,
we're going with conga and just going to solve problems in
itself. Because last season I was
watching and I'm like a conga. What's he going to do to start?
He can do everything. He can shoot the ball, he can
move it, just just just free him.
And they've finally done it. So and look, if they really need

(01:26:34):
to stretch the floor and they say I want to go for spot up
shoot, I'm putting Bazinga's there.
That guy can shoot. And you've seen it at the wind,
it's there. If he gets hot, he shoots and
you can't stop him. So I really like what they've
done as well. They've got the length around
Trey. So yeah, we'll just see what he
does because yeah, he's going toget his 1213 assists at night.
And yeah, it'll be fun to see what they do.

(01:26:55):
This is Trey Young's, I think, opportunity.
He's finally, there's no excusesnow.
He's finally got the players in Atlanta, has finally built
A-Team around him that can compete.
So I think Trayon's got the ability to obviously do that
because we've seen that in the past before.

(01:27:16):
And yeah, it's going to be very reliant on him to to be the
driver in this one, and I think you'll be able to do it.
Will I take the over? Yes.
Let's smack the over. No reason being is that we still
have a lot of teams there. That one we've put the overs on.
I think Magic are probably well rounded, better than them at the

(01:27:38):
moment. You can lock in the Cavs and you
can lock in the ninks ahead of them.
And I think there's a fight between the Hawks and the
Detroit Pistons for like that sort of next spot.
Or even if you don't have, even if you don't have the, even if
you have Detroit at 3, then you have Orlando at 4:00.
I think the top 4 is a lot for me with those 4 as a crazy take

(01:28:03):
because as much as I think Atlanta of good, I don't think
we've seen enough of this team together to really see how it
goes. I think there's been a lot of
turnover and changeover for him to to get like a smacking of the
over. In my opinion, it's going to be
very reliant on on Jaylen Johnson to stay healthy.
I think for them to make a really good push, I think he is

(01:28:24):
the player that is the biggest XFactor for this team.
He's got a lot of scoring punch.He's two way and when you talk
about teams that need those versatile wings, I think Jalen
Johnson is the player that screams that.
We know the injury problems withKristaps Porzingis, so we can't
get too much into that, but if he's fit, that helps.

(01:28:45):
And Akong Wu, I like the direction of them pencilling him
as the starting big man. This is the first time he's
going to have that role, so I think defensively I have no
issues. I think from the offensive side.
Can he contribute and can you run smart pick and rolls for
Trey Young to get into spaces and help them out?
That's going to be a big question and I am going the

(01:29:07):
over, but I'm not fully convinced by it because of that.
That's fair. Yeah, fair.
Oh, I was expecting more arguments on that to save.
We can move on and we're going to the Philadelphia 76ers 42 1/2
under. I've seen that many that many

(01:29:29):
people trying to give this Philly.
I I don't trust them. I I no like I'm not getting
baited by this shit anymore. Like 42 1/2 wins.
Sounds like it's. Good for Philly.
But it's it's under for me, likewe've got that many teams that
are more stable. We've got more teams that are
consistent. We've got players that I think

(01:29:50):
are more prone. They've got Maxie, who I think
is a star, Joel Embiid. How many games is he going to
play realistically? I've picked up Paul George in
fantasy and I'm screaming that he can be fit this year.
But let's be honest, it's probably not going to happen,
especially given. He's not right now.
They don't even know when he's going to come back yet.
Yeah, well, we're not. We're not even like, well, he

(01:30:10):
practised that training. I was looking at the stats if it
was a full participant. So let's see.
But again, he might play that game and then not play.
I like VGJ Edgecombe. I think he's going to be a
fantastic rookie. I think he's someone that can be
their future. Obviously Tyus Max is their
future. John McCain is also their
future. But I don't think they have a

(01:30:32):
lot of wing depth. That convinces me to suggest
that they're able to guard any of the other teams better
players. So I'm taking the under.
I don't trust it. If they miraculously stay
healthy, we're talking about a top three seed.
But I just, I just can't, I can't give it to him especially.
I've given too many overs as well.
And I don't like the franchise to begin with as well, if you
know me very well. But yeah, I'm going under.

(01:30:57):
Nathy, go ahead. I think it's quite a smart line
that the 5th for that one because it can go either way
depending on injuries. Well, I think I, I think with
the full roster, I think they can get 45 wins.
And I, I mean, I'm not even talking about Embaid MVP type
season. I'm just talking him playing if

(01:31:19):
he's playing and Paul George is playing playing.
They've got that young call of Maxi, you know, McCain coming
in. They've got VJ Edgecomb looking
good, got that punch off the bench, Quinton Grimes and Kelly
Ubrey. They've got a decent team, but
like you said, I I can't see anyone that's going to be able
to stop someone getting a bucketeither.

(01:31:40):
And Philly have done it so many times and I've said, oh, maybe
this is the year Philly done it,but kind of like the one that's
I've lost all faith in them and I just can't see it.
The one thing I do hope though, is they're just not rewarded for
it. And going into the draught next
year is not getting a top four pick for it because they didn't
deserve that thing. They don't deserve it.
But yeah, I'm probably just hitting the unders.

(01:32:02):
I again, I want to KV at that because I think a full roster,
they kind of hit it hit the overs, but yeah, I just don't
trust them. This is the one team I'm not I
will never bet on. I never want to bet on because
they are like the most unpredictable roster in the
league. Like one day they'll look like
world beaters, be like an unbelievable to have an

(01:32:24):
unbelievably great win against the top team, look like wow,
like this is the team we want tosee next game.
Paul George goes out. Joe Embiid goes out, Maxi gets
hurt some like like crazy stuff.I I don't trust them either.
I said before, I think they'll be better than like, I think
they'll be in the obviously they'll be in playing contention
this year. I don't think they'll be like
where they were last year, but I'm going to say, I'm going to

(01:32:45):
say under. I think they're just at like 38
to 40 wins. I think they'll be just under
it. If anything.
I think you, like you said, if they're healthy, like a
moderately healthy, they'll probably hit the over on it like
by like one or two wins. Again, like that's why I said
it's a good line too. I agree with you.
It's a great line because they can either just miss it or just
make it one of the two. I'm going to say they just
missed it though. I think Embiid misses too much

(01:33:06):
time. I think Paul George is very
unreliable at this point of his career and I don't think Maxi
has shown that he could be. He's a star player, but there's
a lot of times where he's very inefficient as a number one
option, especially if he's by himself without like Embiid or
without Paul George. If you look at some of the stats
without those guys playing, his stats like his efficiency stats
like plummet like pretty bad. And for a guy that's like a top

(01:33:30):
scorer for the team, like I justthat's tough to rely on.
And I like Maxi a lot. Obviously he's big time when it
come even post season. I remember he played the next
few years ago. He was big time last like 2
years ago, like he was big. So I just don't believe in their
team as much. I agree with you Nathan.
I think they have a couple guys like Grimes, VJ, Ubre, even at

(01:33:52):
the centre of Bona was pretty good.
He looked pretty good in the preseason.
I just, I can't buy into it. I think they're, I think I'm
gonna, I'm gonna put the unders for this one for sure too.
I like Bona. He had a really good last two
weeks one me Rihanna league in fantasy.
Yeah, he gave me Bona, to be honest.
What's the end? But yeah, I just man, like I

(01:34:13):
think they're like. A lot of.
People are really thinking that these guys are going to be good.
Like I just can't. I can't trust them like and and
if. They do.
It's pretty young health. That's what I'm least think.
If they were healthy, they'd be a better That line would be
fancy holy healthy if they were let's say like everyone's
healthy, no injury concerns. Their their line is 5051 but

(01:34:34):
like when they're not since they're not healthy probably.
Praying for. It they're praying.
For it, because their bogey teams are out.
They're like they have a chance,like if they're fit, they could
compete. It's it's so crazy, like you'd
like you said, they're so unpredictable, but I can't trust
it and I'm not going to. If they do, they prove me wrong.
Fair enough. And I'm they're like, they're
not. Behaving.
I'll be on hate watch but yeah. They're my no bet lists that

(01:34:56):
they I can't bet on them, so I'mnot taking any.
Yeah, yeah, I'll keep them underfor now.
That's yeah, that's a cheeky line.
We'll move on to the Toronto Raptors.
They're 40 1/2. And yeah, I think we're going to
have a lot of disagreements for this one because I was hearing
that you were big on the TorontoRaptors, Kenny, so.

(01:35:17):
I don't know about that line, though.
I don't know about that line. 401/2 is like teetering.
Like they might be like a 41. That's a funny thing is they
might either win 40 or they might win 41.
Like that's my opinion. I think they could do that.
I'm going to take the under though on this one too, because
I, I have a lot of like I'm veryover it.
Like I'm over on a lot of the top East teams.

(01:35:37):
So a lot of these lower teams I'm going to probably take
unders on like for example, likethe Bulls, I'm under on.
I took over on Hornets, but I took under on like, you know,
the Sixers, I think this is one of those teams that they'll be
just under that like again, likethey'll be like 3738 wins, maybe
be in the I think they'll be in the playing spot for sure.
You know, they have talent, Theyhave a lot of guys.
I think they could be better this year, especially if Scotty

(01:35:58):
Barnes takes a leap potentially like on it.
He looks like he showed he couldtake that 2410 and five leap
like which is like very good. The biggest thing for them is RJ
Barrett is not a good defender and he's like 6768 and he's like
a big part of their team. He's offensively he's very good.
Like he gets hacked to paint quickly.

(01:36:19):
The Knicks guys, the guys they got from in the OG trade have
been up and down for them. Like they've been somewhat
inconsistent. Like if they could find
consistency, they'll be good. I trust.
Obviously Brandon Ingram is likeif he's healthy, he'll be a good
fit for them. I think he they need a guy in
the half court that could score the ball at A at some type of
pace because I feel like they'd otherwise they didn't have that.
But I'm going to say under, I'm going to say there are 38 win

(01:36:40):
team. I think there'll be a playing,
you know, playing level roster again.
And yeah, I'm going to say 38 wins.
It's such a it's such a huge wintotal for the Raptors and I was
thinking if it's somewhere around that 3738, I could

(01:37:02):
convince myself to go in overs, but just because it is the 40s,
I just, I just can't do it. And again, I haven't seen a
season where Scotty Barnes and Brandon Ingram has just remained
healthy and they're obviously going to be key to what they do.
Same as quickly. They're just not healthy
players. The idea of them kind of makes

(01:37:23):
sense, but in a sense the organisational direction
doesn't. So I just really think I'm not
too sure what they're really doing with that current squad.
I know towards they got some funplayers.
They got Jacoby ball to look solid.
They got CMB looks like he mightbe a defensive BC MB C MB is
really good, like exactly right.They got shade and probably a

(01:37:46):
few other guys that I can't justname off the top of my head.
So they got some. Inappropriate, mate.
Yeah, and they got, they got bigDick as well.
So yeah, look, they've got some nice young guys there, but I
just don't know how that all mess messes together.
It's a super funky team. You know, if it does pop, you
know, I'll, I'll, I'll hit the overs button.

(01:38:08):
I don't think it will. So that's what I'm going on.
This they're. They're they're definitely like
a boomer bust type of roster too.
They're like a boomer bust for me in my opinion as well.
But go ahead, Dan. Nah, 40.5 is ridiculous.
That's a number that's a clear under for me.
Like you look at the team and how they're presently
constructed, it just doesn't make any sense.
You've got 3 of like massive church chuckers or shot chuckers

(01:38:30):
that are not even efficient at 3point line.
Like you've got RJ Barrett, that's Cody Barnes and Brandon
Ingram, who like maybe Brandon Ingram's probably the best
bucket of all of them. But all three of them like
frustrate you as players anyway individually.
And now you put them all on the same team with Emmanuel Quickly,
who has looked good in some flashes, but again, he can't

(01:38:50):
remain fit. And just how how are they going
to share the ball between the three of those guys?
And with Emmanuel Quickly, It just doesn't make sense.
You've also got young talent that I think are getting held
hostage. I think they need to be the ones
to sort of take the keys. Grady Dick is a nice young
player. I think he has a potential to in
his third season to make a leap if they decide to play him.

(01:39:12):
And then I think CNB is is a massive pick up for the Raptors
on draught day. I think he's going to be elite.
I think if you trade RJ and you put a Grady Dick in that
starting too, they become betterimmediately.
Personally, I think you can't play with those three.
One of them, one of them, or if not, two of them have to go.
I think Brandon Ingram has a chance to to reshape his career.

(01:39:33):
But like, I just don't like thisteam.
I've never liked the look of it.I never liked the acquisitions.
I thought they were. This is just a place where
they're just coming for a holiday.
They want to stamp their passports and then go back to
the US. Some of these players because.
They're mid. I've got they're mid teams.
They're one of those 20.5 like they're not bullsh.
It's funny. A4 and 1/2 though, is like right
in the middle. Like that's like exactly where

(01:39:54):
they are, just like they're in that very.
Playing spot and I don't even think they're in a playing team
like as. Crazy as it sounds, I think I
still think yeah might. Be a crazy take.
But I got, I got, I got Indiana ahead of them, which we'll talk
about soon. And I've got Boston, even though
they've got injuries, much better teams.
And you can't write off the Heatwho haven't talked about the
next three teams that we are going to talk about to wrap it

(01:40:14):
up are teams that are floating around the plane.
And I think they're the teams. And then everyone else has made
a massive jump off the plane to go into the playoffs.
And then I think even like a team like the Wizards, when we
say we're going to get wins, like the Wizards can take two
wins off off the Raptors and play it four times.
So I just, I just don't see themlike 40.5 is just an invitation
for me to go under. Even if this was like a 37, I'd

(01:40:36):
still go under. I think they get around 35
boots. I just the RO, the roster's just
not. It they're at the range of 32,
they're they're in a weird ro, they're weird roster for sure.
And we're moving on to the NBA finalists, the Indiana Pacers,
man. I feel so bad for this.
Team What a story. Tyrus Halliburton I've been

(01:40:59):
watching starting five. I haven't gone up to the part of
the finals, but it's just. The fact that they're.
Covering that if you haven't watched it already, it's pretty
good hard and so funny off the record.
It's just hilarious in this if you know you know when you watch
it. But yeah, the Pacers man, like
this is going to be the biggest what if in history.

(01:41:20):
Like that Game 7 is forever going to be a stain on their on
their finals. And I think 99% of Pacers fans
will sit there and say that theywill they should be NBA
champions if Tyreus Halliburton didn't go down with that
Achilles, which was just so unfortunate and just so
emotional. And it takes a big, big cut in
their sort of season. But they're sitting at 36 1/2

(01:41:42):
and I'm going to take the over because I saw I saw enough
without them in Game 7 and Game 6.
And yeah, I count Game 6 becausehe was basically running off a
calf. And This is why I think they
will go over one. It unlocks the opportunity for
Benedict Matheran to take the scoring load.

(01:42:02):
Tyrus Halliburton is not a scorer.
He is a playmaker. And he can score the ball, of
course, but his primary job is not to score the ball.
However, we have someone that can primarily score the ball. 12
Andrew Nemhart. I think he's a contender for the
most improved player this year. I wouldn't say he's going to win
it flat out, but I think the opportunity that he has after

(01:42:25):
that legacy playoff run in two straight seasons, he didn't do
it in one straight season on a defensive end was simply
amazing. Now a lot of people have
questions whether he can translate this to regular season
because he hasn't shown that, but I think he's got no choice
in this matter to do that. Yes, they lose Miles turn out,
yes, they lose shooting, but I think it comes on through the

(01:42:46):
scoring loads that Benedict Maffron's going to provide and
also what Andrew Nemhardt will will, I think, take a leap for.
I think he'll definitely be someone that can definitely get
that digit scoring. And then you also have Aaron
Naismith, who when Halliburton wasn't scoring, he came out and
was just getting buckets. Like 16 to 20 points in that

(01:43:08):
range was what he was getting without Halliburton.
I think when you come from a finals, it's hard to just say
that they can't get under 36 wins.
Like they know how to win games.They've proven that like,
especially when it matters. And they love being the underdog
too. So it's going to work perfectly
in their favour. A lot of people are going to
count them out to say that they can't do anything with Tyrese.
And I think the mentality of those players, they they will

(01:43:30):
have something different to say about that for sure.
And I think, yeah, this is the chance for Matheran to take a
leap and carry the scoring load because they're really going to
have no scorers. And you also have OB Topping,
who I think with an opportunity when he does play 20 plus
minutes, can contribute as well.So I'm going the over on this
one. If I'm doing it for the Boston
Celtics at their line, I have todo it for the Indiana bases
here. I'm I'm hitting the overs on

(01:43:55):
this one as well. I think I was sold all playoffs.
Just the way they've played thatteam ball.
They love that underdog and every single time they were
underdogs, they just showed up and I know they're going to be
without one of their leaders in Halliburton.
Obviously a clutch player. He came up with big moments, but
the team as a whole came up withbig moments where there was, you

(01:44:18):
know, open block going to a dunk, you know, TJ McConnell
dropping 15 points in the third quarter or something like that.
The team, they're just built to win and we can't forget that.
Carlisle is just a great coach and he's one of the best in the
NBA and that alone just similar to like what the Heat and
Spoilstra is. That alone is a 3036 to the 45

(01:44:39):
winning team. I also forgot about Siakam.
I'm so sorry, but Siakam is there and it's more convinced.
Yeah, and and spicy P, he's a champion, obviously he can do it
all on the floor and he's he's still an All Star.
And I think that's one thing that maybe Toronto don't have
that calibre player and I think that's why I elevates them just
ahead of them just that having him alone.

(01:45:02):
So yeah, I really agree. I do agree with, you know, the
guard playing them hard. It's going to be taking huge
steps, hopefully for myself, my friend and my boy on the wings,
just getting the job done. And I'm so yeah, we'll see what
happens. But yeah, I'm smacking overs.
Nathan's a big Pacers fan, threeplayers in his fantasy, so

(01:45:22):
expecting to to smack the overs on this one rooting time.
Smacking overs. I'm I'm going to take the overs
here as well. I think Nemhard is going to be
primed for like a really good season.
I agree with you. I think my opinion, I think he
probably might. I think he's our top candidate
for most improved in my opinion this year.
I just think he has all the tools.
He has the play making ability, he has the scoring ability and I

(01:45:44):
think he'll he'll do a very goodjob at the leading point guard
spot. I do think Pascal being there is
the biggest thing why I want to take the over because I think
Pascal has shown he could lead teams to even just a high floor
at the very least, even if theirceiling isn't this high.
Like he leaves, he guarantees you a lot of wins just from his
play alone. I agree.
A lot of the depth too, like NeeSmith, Mathrin, Furphy, Furphy

(01:46:09):
coming in now, I think he's going to step in and play a big
role and he's going to become a prominent part of their team.
Are we talking in the slam dunk contest?
He better meet the slam dunk competition.
He'll be in there, but I think he'll he's an elite.
He's a great shooter though, too.
Like that was one of his things that he was known for was when
he came out of college, his biggest thing wasn't even his
his his ability to tack the rim.It was his shooting ability.

(01:46:30):
So you know one thing for sure, he can shoot the heck out of the
rock. And if you're an Indiana Pacer
fan, you see these demon ball like these.
What are the magic ball threes that they've got like the three
ball that they were hitting likea lot to the playoffs, which was
like the last two minutes of thegame.
They would hit like every three.Furphy's going to fit that
perfectly. He's going to hit every three.
Probably down the stretch for them too with like me Smith,
like Nemhard. The biggest question I have for

(01:46:53):
them is their big man spot. Obviously Miles Turner being
gone, but I want to see what's his name, Isaiah Jackson.
I want to see how he plays this year because he's like kind of
coming back. He wasn't healthy last year.
He's going to be big for them and.
They really rayed him too, yeah.Yeah, he didn't play many
minutes, but he was very solid from the minutes he did play.
Yeah, and I think he'll be a bigpart of this year, like to see
how he comes in his place for them, because if he could come

(01:47:14):
in and replicate kind of like any close to what Miles did,
that would be very good. That's something they'll
probably end up addressing in the offseason, though.
I could see them picking up somebody there, drafting maybe a
centre that could replace Miles.But I think overall, they're
just, again, Rick Carlisle, unbelievable coach.
The way they played basketball is very, very fun to watch.

(01:47:34):
And it's also very a very winning style of play.
Like they pass the ball a lot. They get a lot of open shots.
They push the pace, you know, AKA the Pacers, they push the
pace. They played by name for sure.
Yeah, I think they're, I think Iagree with you guys.
I think they're like a 4243 win team easily in my opinion.
I think they'll be in the playoffs.
And six. .5 So disrespectful. I agree and I think Kenny as

(01:47:58):
well, what you're saying with the.
Having the Raptors at 40 and thePaces at 36 is crazy.
Yeah, that's ridiculous. That's.
Crazy what I was going to say istouching on the centre rotation
as well. I think where it shows that
they've got the depth is at the centre rotation.
Yeah, they may as lost Turner, but they've got three different

(01:48:18):
types of bigs. You know, you're going to big
that's you know, athletic and jump rim run in Jackson, and
then you've got like a more traditional big and Bradley
who's just there in the paint cleaning up there and then
you've got and he and the serviceable and he was getting
in it. And now Hoffa's coming in is to
be like that replacement moles Turner who can stretch the floor
shoot, and he's he's numbers. I I was reading something.

(01:48:41):
His numbers were off the charts.And I'm not saying that it's
scalable or whatnot, but the onething I do know about the pace
is is they draught well and theythey know what tell the
acquisition is and that's why they're in the position.
Like that's why they're so deep,because I haven't made crazy
moves. Game off with my fancy saviour
last year a little bit he was saving my team a couple of times
last year he had a couple of biggames and he was like the

(01:49:03):
starting calibre. Settled with the Grizzlies for a
bit. He saved my team a little bit.
So I love for him to say I agreewith you.
That's a good. Then you're probably seeing a
lot of them at the Wizards too, so.
Yeah, yeah, I'm a big fan of half ball.
I do like half. So hopefully he plays.
I don't see him playing more than 15 minutes in the game, but
I think in the 15 minutes he'll play, he'll maybe make two or

(01:49:24):
three threes and light the team up a bit.
So yeah, I love the paces. I think 36.5 is extremely
disrespectful, especially as youmentioned, Kenny, the 44.5 line
for the Toronto Raptors. Like, come on now.
Like they still have Siakam, who's, yeah, they forget that
he's a champion. And yeah, I think.
Like, hands down. The, the, The funny thing is

(01:49:44):
like Siakam would be the best player in a lot of these teams
that we're projecting under or like even our higher lines like
QDS would be their best player right now, so.
And he's got that beauty, beautything in the tunnel going on
there, so, so. So, magic man, he's got that
going. Go ahead, though.
We'll, we'll, we've got 2 left and we're going to go with the

(01:50:06):
Milwaukee Bucks next. And they're at a spicy line of
43.5. Look, if Giannis is not there,
they're probably, would you say they're probably the worst team
in the league, or like in the East at least.
There would be, there would be, there would be 15th.
There would be 14th. Next to Brooklyn, there would be
14th. I think even Brooklyn has more

(01:50:27):
power. I think even Brooklyn has more
than them. But it's it's encouraging me to
go over because of how good Giannis is.
But I think for this one, I'm gonna take the under.
I'm just going to do it because I think that just the team is so
bad around him. Like, unless we see Karl Kuzma

(01:50:49):
in the first 2-3 seasons at the Wizards and Kevin Porter decides
to stop, like, fighting demons and actually become the player
that we all expected him to be. And yeah, there's nothing that
I'll see that can reflect that. Maybe we'll see some Bobby
Porter's excitement to be that. I think he's going to be a very
good fantasy player this year, by the way.

(01:51:10):
I think he's going to have a very big impact if if he does go
if if, if he's over 43.5, I'm saying him is by Morgan Bucks.
It's basically Giannis. If he can get this team to over
43 wins, then we have to have a conversation of him being an MVP
candidate. Let's be real.
And he's got that capability. But I just like, I can't, I

(01:51:32):
can't do it. I just can't a lot.
As much as I love Giannis, he's my first pick in this year's
fantasy draught. I think he's an unbelievable
player, top five in the league right now.
Definitely has the chance to break all records of his numbers
in past seasons. Given that he's going to
literally carry this team on hisback.
I just don't think it's going tobe enough.
The team is that bad and they'rethey're stuck.

(01:51:53):
They're going to be stuck for a long time as well.
The way they're going with theirassets and accumulation.
I'm taking the under. I got to do it.
Nathan, I'm going to, I'm going to cut this.
I'm just going to cut. I'm just taking the under.
I'm not, I'm not a believer. That's all I'm going to say.
I'm not a believer, right? Dude, I was just going to segue.

(01:52:14):
Hopefully they stay terrible andpull and take all those assets
because we we got their trade for the day.
Lily. Then, to be honest, white, this
wave and stretching Lily has puttheir organisation in them.
Dire spot, Dire spot I. Like AJ Green, I forgot to
mention him. He's nice.
That's the only young talent to have that.
Yeah, AJ Green will get minutes,but he's not going to be the

(01:52:36):
difference between hitting 45 plus.
And you know, if I honestly think that a Giannis Turner
pairing actually could be quite fun, be quite good.
But the problem is they don't have that three, that four, that
five. They've just got a bunch of 7 to
12 players. They don't have anyone in that
midsection. Kuzma is just terrible and pick

(01:52:56):
like what's his name? KPJ.
He's he's just taught in college.
You got Cole Anthony as a backupand it's old on them.
I think I'm going unders as well.
And I think Giannis is, I've seen some clip the other day and
he's just in the paint with fiveof the other players and he's
just doing everything dunking onhim, get the put back.
And I was just thinking, man, ifhe's doing that in preseason, 82

(01:53:18):
games of that, no chance. It's for a lot on their
shooting. Their shooting needs to be
really good for them to be a better team than I have.
I don't, I don't mean that's in most.
I don't buy into their shooting at all.
I think. I don't think they have a lot of
shooting outside of just those two guys.
And I think Giannis, I think Giannis is good enough to win
the 40 games, but I don't think I think 44 to 45.

(01:53:40):
You're talking about like a top five, six seed in the East.
No, not happening. And I don't, I, I, I struggle to
even put them over Indiana rightnow.
I struggle to put them I, they're kind of like, it's sad
to say they're kind of in Philly's range for me right now
where it's like Philly has a waybetter poster.
No, they are in my opinion just because the roster is so bad.
Like if Philly's roster. Is a bad, rough stuff.

(01:54:01):
Really not health has equivalentto the like.
Even Philly not healthy has equivalent to the roster as
Milwaukee does with Giannis on, they can win 38 games without.
Like not without. But like with the injuries and
everything involved, Giannis, noGiannis on this team.
This team is not winning. This team might be 1516.
Wins. Not even Joe if they'll be that
terrible without him. Like, Dad, they're really bad.

(01:54:22):
They're really bad. So that's why my point is
without Giannis, like if he goesdown at all during the year,
they're in danger of missing theplayoffs.
But he doesn't. Please, I'm Yeah, we'll be done.
More don't make that team work. And then and then, what's your
thoughts on Doc Rivers? A man look.
Forgot about that guy. Look.

(01:54:44):
Yeah, I don't know. I, I was, I was comfortable him
being on Bill Simmons podcast and being on media.
I don't think he should have went back into a coaching gig,
if I'm honest. I think the Milwaukee job, OK,
it's attractive. You have the opportunity to play
with Giannis. But like right now, do you think
he really wants to coach? Like deep down, do you think he
wouldn't prefer to just be on his and tall groups like let's

(01:55:06):
go? Like he wasn't, he was enjoying
that. Like I know all coaches wouldn't
be coaches, but like he's been in the league that long.
He was enjoying. I felt to me that he was
enjoying being just someone thatwas an analyst.
And then he went back to a coaching gig and it just doesn't
seem like he cares enough. I think he knows the team's not
good enough and I think he's just writing the paycheck.
Like, yeah, I maybe deep down you always want to be

(01:55:28):
competitive and win, but like, Ithink for his sake, he's done
enough for the league. Maybe not recently, but that
championship at Boston, I think that was just the thing he's
just laying on in his coaching career.
I don't think it's going to get better, so.
He's going to bring I. Think he'll stay there?
Yeah, he'll stay in my. You might have to put him on the
coaching staff, but I think, yeah, the Bucks need to.

(01:55:48):
I think Giannis is going to haveto just say goodbye.
He's they're doing everything they can.
They brought his two brothers into be part of the roster, so.
You got nothing to offer him anymore man they look like.
He's sent, he doesn't even want to be in Milwaukee.
He sent his family to Greece. Like like this guy, he's so
loyal. Respect to him, but like.

(01:56:09):
It's over. He's getting paid though.
Don't forget he's getting paid. He didn't pay for free.
Yeah, he getting paid, but he's done enough for that city.
He's done enough for that city. He's going to be the best ever,
like besides probably Kareem, but Kareem I wouldn't even say
did his best work there. He's probably the best player
they've ever had at the box, let's be honest.
No doubt. He's crazy and I think I think
it's time for him to go and justfinish up his career winning and

(01:56:32):
competing for championships. Like, I don't know if he wants
to do that because he's a very little guy, but I think after
this season he might really consider that because his back's
going to hurt. No, he he, he said, he said
himself he loves Milwaukee, but he values winning a championship
over everything. He doesn't feel like he won a
championship with the team anymore, which he.
Will not win. I think if he's going to find
out fast, I think he's going to find out fast.

(01:56:52):
He's not going to win a championship with that team.
But you know, again, I guess we'll see if he if he somehow
musters up 45 wins with this team.
I agree with you Dan. He might have to be the MVP if
he goes. If he wins 4546 wins they might
have to bid him an MVP for. This is This is a worse team
than Russell Westbrook team whenhe lost Kevin Durant.
This is worse when Yokich had all these players injured.

(01:57:13):
He finished 6th with that team in the Western Conference.
It's a worse team. Hey Gang is up this team.
This is a 1561 roster, no doubt in my mind.
Yeah, and everyone knows it. Everyone knows it and I think
everyone's low key excited to see how Giannis will carry this
team. So he's probably an average I'm
looking forward to. He's gonna average like 3518 and
8 like he's gonna ambience. Me bring it bring bring me 70

(01:57:34):
Fanny fantasy point averages. Please, you might get close to
80 with the way he might have toplay.
He might have to average 80. Thank you very much.
I'll take that in a heartbeat. We'll finish it off with
probably the hardest team to predict.
And it's because everyone writesthese guys off the Miami Heat
like they're 38 1/2. It's screaming like take the

(01:57:57):
over. It's baiting me to take it
because like every time you willsay, like, you just undermine
this team. They figure out a way to just
prove you wrong. And they lose Butler, but they
bring in Norman Powell, who I think is actually an extremely
underrated acquisition. I think he's going to provide
them with a lot of scoring. David Mitchell, and I mentioned

(01:58:20):
this on my last part when we're talking about the Miami Heat, I
think has found his home. And he was someone at college
that was you would know too, Kenny following college more
than us. Yeah, he was unbelievable as a
defender. They they nicknamed him off
night. And that's like, that's a great
nickname for a player that's going to give you an off knife
defensively. And he couldn't find the home in

(01:58:40):
the league. But then when when you think of
a player like David Mitchell andwe're giving probably a lot of
talk about David Mitchell, you think that guy belongs on a team
like the Mountain Heat with their culture and their
tenacity. And he's there.
And he just for me, he showed enough to be a really good
player for them. So I think he's going to give a
lot. They're obviously missing Tyler
Hero, which is going to be a bitof a loss, but they've got Bam

(01:59:02):
still there, All Star defensive beast, someone that I think is
going to be serviceable and again I've got another player
that's in my fantasy, but I'm very excited for Kalal Ware and
I'm riding on the Kalal Ware stock now, taking a massive leap
in his second season and pickingup Yaquinis from the draught.
This year has also been a underrated pick and every time

(01:59:26):
we see the Heat going to the draught, they 99.9% of the time
they hit on their picks and they're always picking between
10 and 20 and they're always hitting on them.
So in saying all that, I want totake the over and you know what,
fuck it, I think I will. I think I will take the over on
this one just because it's the Miami Heat.

(01:59:46):
And every time I I knock them down, they'll find a way to
prove me wrong. But to be honest, I ain't gonna
argue if this is the under between you guys because we put
a lot of guys over. But yeah, 38.539 wins.
They're not getting 40 I'm they're hitting, they're hitting
the over just by .5 for me. I'm going to put him at over.

(02:00:07):
I think I'm going to put him at forty wins at the dot.
They have a lot of serviceable talent.
I think the biggest thing, the biggest hit for them right now
is Tyler hero being out for a little bit because he's like
their main playmaker right now, like obviously, but Davion
Mitchell's a great point. Kello Ware second year should be
really good. Bam has, you know, been Bam
Wiggins. I think Wiggins was pretty solid
for them when he came in for theoff the Butler trade.

(02:00:28):
And I also think that a guy likeNorman Powell was a big
acquisition for them, honestly, and I think that'll keep them.
If they didn't get Norman Powell, I probably would have
them lower, but I think them getting Norman Powell raises
their ceiling and I think Spell always finds a way to raise his
team's floors no matter what. So I think they'll be
serviceable at very least. And again, I think Yakochones is

(02:00:48):
going to be a big time acquisition for them.
I think he looked really good inpre season and I think he's
going to look really good in theseason.
I think Wunder Spell, he looks like Dragic again, another
Dragic and I think about them. They had Dragic, Yeah.
You know, they had a, they had acouple, they had a, they had a
radio Gore and Dragich, right. They had Gore on before and he
was good. I think he looks so much like
him and he plays just like him, like it's, it looks so like

(02:01:10):
similar. And I think it's going to work
and I think he'll fit well. I just think the problem is I
think they're capped at like 40 wins.
I don't think they're, they're better.
I don't think they're worse thanthat.
I think they're like, I think 301/2 is such a, a teetering line.
If they were higher, I'd probably take the lower.
I'd probably take the under but.They're asking us to go over
with that line. Yeah, I think 38 and.
Having us too. Kind of like I think if they're

(02:01:32):
going to just get 3940 wins, like you said, they're like
right there. So I'd probably say that.
If not, they're literally at 38.So it's between 38 to 40.
I'll take the over. Yeah, they're definitely A-Team
between the 36 to 40 range. And it's hard to bet against
them because they've always shown that that, but against

(02:01:52):
them playing team and they're just bouncing teams in the first
round. And I'm thinking, well, how
silly am I? And they do it consistently.
And like you said, small shows. He's a great coach and they've
still got they've still got Bam.It looks like Kalauawek is going
to be quite an interesting player next to him as well.
Looks like they're going to playtogether.
I think the hardest thing for meis to see where the shooting

(02:02:14):
comes from other than error. I know Norman Powell can shoot,
but he's a bit of a streaky shooter sometimes forces that.
Not too sure about Wiggins shooting anymore.
Obviously Kalawa and they're notreally known for shooting, so
they obviously need to get the shooting from somewhere.
No Duncan Robinson anymore even.Don't even really trust them.
So yeah, I'm probably just goingto hit the unders on this one,

(02:02:37):
maybe by 1 one loss because likeyou said, it's really tight.
It's probably the perfect line as well because you know what
they can do. And look, I much rather back the
culture than a team like Charlotte and backing them.
So look, I'm, I'm, I'm pretty close on that one.
But look, I was reading that, you know, they're building all

(02:02:59):
these young assets to make it appealing for lucky Yanis or
something to come and free agency.
Who knows? I wouldn't be surprised if they
get some sort of free agent and then just back up there again.
Because while I'm trying to pay it, then there is competing, you
know, they play the right way. They hit on peaks, they got
assets going forward. Nice weather.
Yeah, it's, it's a tough one, but yeah, probably just going on

(02:03:20):
this. Sweet.
Well, that pretty much wraps up the over and unders for the
Eastern Conference. We'll obviously come back with
the Western Conference for a Part 2, that's for sure.
And we'll also include the player awards as well with that
and probably team awards too. But before we wrap up, we just
want to go through all the teamsthat we've discussed.

(02:03:42):
We have the Brooklyn Nets, I took the under, Nathan took the
under, Kenny, you took the over.Do you want to actually?
I'm going to switch my. I'm going to switch my pick on
that. I'm going to take the under for
that one. I think I'm thinking about it
more. Yeah.
I think it's like it's, it's close, but I thought about, I
looked, I just actually looked at it.
I don't know why I thought aboutit.
I looked at their schedule and Iwas like, wait, they're gonna,

(02:04:02):
they might actually start like 2and 30, like to start the season
out. They might be really bad.
So, you know, I I'm taking it back.
I think they'll be under this year for sure.
We'll take the under for Brooklyn unanimously.
We got all unanimous decisions for Orlando Magic, taking over
at 50.5. We also did the same for
Cleveland Cavaliers at 57 1/2. I went for the under on the

(02:04:26):
Celtics about the over, sorry, on 41 1/2 used to took the
under. I'm sticking with the over, but
I can probably make a case for them to get 40 wins, but I'm
going to stick to that. We all.
Kenny, I think you went over on the Hornets, myself and Nate.
Yeah, I went over on the Hornetsjust for the talent wise, but
yeah, I could see the world where you guys said they could.

(02:04:47):
Their organisations saw more, but they can go under for sure.
Yeah, we have an unanimous decision for the New York
Knicks. We're taking the over.
Myself and Kenny went over on Detroit Pistons at 45 1/2.
Nathan went under. Still sticking with that.
The the overs of I've smashed the overs and those teams like
the Hawks stealing all those wins.

(02:05:09):
I think it'll be closer to Pistons, but I'll just keep him
as the news. I'll keep him as the news for
the other. Fair, fair, unanimous on the
Bulls. I think even if it was 30 1/2,
we'd go under on that. So that was no argument.
What my Wizards? Thank you, boys.
Yeah. Thank you boys for 20 1/2.
Can you 26 1/2? That's generous.
I'm glad that you're backing me for there.

(02:05:31):
I'm not going to stay too high, but yeah, 20 1/2 I think is a
clear over for all of us and. 261/2 What is that pig?
That might be easily 250 or something, at least double.
Yeah, what would that be? Plus 250?
Yeah, maybe plus 250 + 200. I'd probably I'd probably put
I'd. Put some money on that.
You've got to give us an education session on how the

(02:05:52):
odds work in the United States because they don't make any
sense. But anyway, that's another
conversation. The Atlanta Hawks, we all hit
the over on that one. I wasn't convinced as much as
used to were, but I still went the over at 46 1/2.
We all went under on the 76ers. We also went under on the
Toronto Raptors. We all went over on the Pacers.

(02:06:13):
We also went all under on the Bucks I'm pretty sure as well.
And finally Nathan went under onthe Miami Heat and we myself and
Kenny went over. So overall a quite accurate and
non argumentative take on our overs and unders.

(02:06:33):
And the east is, the east is easy to be, the West is when
it's going to be crazy. I think W is round.
No, that's why, that's why it's the second part, because we we
are going to be discussing the West and I'm really excited for
that because although my team and Kenny's team is done in the
West, it is probably the more better conference and the most
unpredictable. And let me tell you, I'm looking
at the lines right now on my notes and the juicy ones.

(02:06:56):
Yeah, they're juicy so. Yeah, we'll catch you guys.
In the second part, again, thankyou very much for tuning in to
this episode of The Huddle Within, where we've broken down
the unders and ovens for the NBAEastern Conference.
But yeah, we'll catch you guys in the next part Cheers.
So that's a wrap for this week'sepisode of The Huddle Within
Podcast I. Appreciate you for tuning.

(02:07:17):
In and being part of this community where we go beyond the
game and into what really matters.
If this episode resonated with you, make sure to subscribe,
leave a review, and share it with someone who sees sports
just the way that we do. And hey, I'd love to hear from
you. Connect with me on my social
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Send in your thoughts and even be part of a future episode.
Until next time, keep that passion alive, stay in the

(02:07:39):
huddle, and remember it's alwaysdeeper than the game.
Cheers.

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