January 3, 2023 • 49 mins
On today’s show, Rohan and Chris run over Rohan’s list of contenders headed into 2023. Which of the Grizzlies, Clippers, Warriors and Nuggets is the best team in the West? Are the Cavaliers and Pelicans too young to make a title run, or are they ready now? Have the Nets overtaken Bucks as the second best team in the East? Rohan and Chris break down all of these questions and much more!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome back to another episode of Open Floor, our first
of three. I'm Rohan Attorney, joined today by my friend
and colleague and Sad Michigan Wolverine Sports Illustrated Senior writer
New York Times bestselling author Chris Herring. Chris, how's it going.
(00:23):
I'm good. Um, I got engaged over this this holiday break.
And yeah, the first test of love, if you want
to call it that or like true love, came about
twelve hours after I proposed, when Michigan was losing that game,
and as me and my fiance now we're sitting and
(00:45):
going through the engagement photos, I had to leave, you know,
a TV screen with Michigan, Michigan behind by one touchdown
to TCU, and and she's just She's like, I know
you're not serious right now, looking at like the ESPN
app as we're going through engagement photos, and then not
just that, but then me essentially throwing my phone after
(01:06):
Michigan lost that game, which was infuriating. But let me
not spend more time talking about Michigan football than my
fiance and engagement, because I think it was a beautiful moment.
But yeah, that that Michigan game was frustrating for lovely photos. UM.
I'm honored that you told me about it before you
told Pena. UM, who had to find out on Twitter
(01:26):
like the rest of the normal people in the world.
I'm like me, who knew a long time before everyone else.
Is one of your closest friends. I appreciate that, Chris. UM.
We did get an email. This one came in from
Sean Elliott. I don't think it's San Antonio spurs Sean Elliott,
but Sean Elliott wrote in YO, just adding to what
I'm sure it's already a long list of people congratulating
(01:46):
Chris on his engagement. I know Michigan lost, but I'm
sure this makes up for it and more. I don't care.
Enyld Swinton thinks spending some time on the podcast congratulating
the same We actually got in a follow up email
from Darryll Swinson within all caps L O L, I
love your guys. We shout shout out to him starting
the year right and not being a bad spot about
(02:09):
it because we obviously appreciate the emails from everything. UM,
did it make up for it? Chris? Did the did
the engagement make up for the Michigan lass or no? Yes?
And uh? I mean, what I'll say, I mean it's
gonna sting for a while, uh, because I mean, if
(02:30):
if you watch the game, Michigan had essentially two drives
from inside the three yard line that didn't result in
any points, including the first one of the game where
they tried to double reverse pass on a fourth down
from like the two and it was just like, what
are you doing? Um And then they also threw two
pick sixes. So when you factor in that, they either
(02:50):
gave away fourteen points and then you know, lost fourteen
pointments of their owner at least six in a game
where they lost by six, it's infuriating. But what I'll
say is that I've notice that um my fiance doesn't
understand my affinity for Michigan football. To to her, she
thinks every because of the way I described these games,
(03:12):
she thinks every game is like, you know, the end
of the world if they lose. And I mean, look,
they play let's let's see, they play Ohio State once
every year. They play Michigan State once every year, which,
given that rivalry and the way it's gone for like
the last ten fifteen years, matters a lot more than
it usually does. As of right now, they play, you know,
(03:34):
a lot of the weekends that we've hung out because
we're long distance. They're playing like Penn State, Michigan State.
Like these are like holiday weekends or like weekends that
we plan to hang out. The Ohio State game was
during Thanksgiving, and then my birthday falls on the weekend
of the Big Ten title games. So I was telling her, like,
it's not that every game matters this much, but once
(03:55):
you get to a certain stage and you're undefeated, they
all matter a lot. And so when they beat Ohio
State and they win the big tense title game, and
I said, those games matter a lot, and then you
play in the playoff and you lose. She's like, Okay,
but like they won all these other games. I'm like, yeah,
but this one knocked them out. Uh. So what I'll
say is that her being around or her having been
(04:16):
with me for these losses mellows me out in a
way where it's like I do realize it's not the
end of the world, but damn if it doesn't feel
that way sometimes. Um, the Georgia game last year was
like a blowout loss, and it it made it a
lot easier. It's like, Okay, we had New Year's Eve
dinner reservations last year. This makes it way easier to
just leave and not worry about what the score is.
(04:39):
This one was brutal in the exact opposite way because
they absolutely had a chance to win. They were favored
and you know, and and it was close. Uh and
so you know, but still it absolutely takes some of
the just raw nature of the loss, um and in
dulls it some because it's like, I've got a fiance now,
and uh and really really scited about that process. I'm
(05:01):
excited to be moving back to New York and uh yeah,
I'm excited to give a speech at your wedding. Um.
At least she's learning early just how much of a
Michigan sick oh you are, and she will be prepared
for a lifetime of you caring deeply about the Wolverines.
Um Chris on today's show. First of all, I just
(05:21):
want to shout out our listeners. I know we were
on a we finished the end of twenty two on
a weird schedule there. Obviously people are traveling. Chris has
these amazing things about his personal life. I was traveling,
so apologies for kind of the up and down schedule.
We're back, We're here, and I thought, what better way
to start the new year then kind of take a
big picture look at the league. I did a contender
(05:42):
ranking for s I last week, Chris, and I'm already
regretting some of my decisions. And in a week, within
a week, so much has changed. Um, and I just
I have no idea how to handicap who's gonna win
the title this season. I really don't. I think my
number two might be my number one. Now I think
my number nine on this list is is now off
(06:03):
the list entirely. Um, I'm gonna run you my list, okay,
and you you either say pause where you want to
discuss a team, you can wait until after I read
the whole list and we can discuss it and its entirety.
But this was This was how I ranked contenders on Decembay.
(06:25):
M hm. At eleven, these are I have eleven teams
that I think could actually win the title. This is
a number crazy, It's crazy, and I think it's down
to ten almost half. At number eleven, I put the Cavaliers.
At ten, I put the Pelicans. This is where it
gets dicey. At nine, I put the Suns at eight.
(06:49):
I put the Grizzlies at seven, seventies, Sixers at six,
the Warriors five, the Nuggets for the Clippers, three Bucks,
two Nets, one Celtics. Okay, I don't want to pause
you there at all, just because I think it's useful
(07:09):
for everybody to hear the whole list. I mean, look,
I don't think the list of teams is crazy. Although
I'm side of Phoenix right now, and obviously they're banged
up and Bookers out. I have a story to tell
about Phoenix, by the way. Okay, so all right, big,
go ahead, look at look at Chris having the cultural right.
There we go, starting off the new year. Right. So
(07:31):
normally I don't really like to talk about my reporting
trips until they're done. Okay, it's just kind of a
superstitious thing. I don't but I don't know what's going
to happen here. But I was recently in Phoenix to
work on a story. Okay, I don't know when this
story is gonna come out because they've been on a
massive slide, you know, I got I had a chance
to speak with Devin Booker for a few minutes after
his fifty eight point game He's played like three minutes
(07:52):
since then, but you are listeners can't see this obviously.
I'm wearing a purple l a Dodgers hat cly while
we do this podcast. I'm in Phoenix and it's a
last minute trip and I have to go to Phoenix
and I have to go to New York. And I'm
in Phoenix and I have not had a chance to
get my hair cut yet, so I need to buy
a hat, and I go to the I go to
(08:13):
a local urban outfitters in Phoenix and I buy this
Dodger's hat. I wear it to the game. I'm in
the pregame press conference. I start to ask Monty Williams
question in the pregame press conference, and Montie Williams, staring
right at me, goes, I know you're not wearing a
Los Angeles hat right now. And I'm like, oh, I was, like,
I was, like it was it was an oversight. I
(08:36):
didn't mean to, and Montie Williams, still staring right at me, goes,
that's an excuse. And now I'm just terrible. He put you,
he put you in. DeAndre Ayton not happy. He was
is not happy. And I'm a very serious and I
was like, I legitimately apologize, and he was like, apology accepted.
(08:59):
I've I have not been scolded like that in a
long time. I was terrified, so much so that at
halftime I went to the Sun's team store bought a
new hat. But now I don't want to show up
to the press conference wearing a Sun's hat. Now I'm
wearing a backward black Sun's hat in the postgame press
comedy of of hat purchase airs. So yeah, and Monty
(09:21):
Williams after the games like, I'm glad you turned your
hat around, and I was like, I actually bought a
new one, and it's like that's even better. So shout
out to Monty Williams straight up yelling at me. But dude,
I think, yeah, I think I got to take the
Suns off this list. You let's start there. Do you
see a world in which the Phoenix Suns could still
win the NBA champ? Okay here, um, yeah, But I
(09:44):
you know, it's like, you know how if you look
at like ESPNS standings for these different things, and they
give like the probabilities, and when a team is essentially
eliminated but not quite, they get the point one chance
of you know, one percent chance, the point one percent chance. Uh,
I'm gonna put Phoenix there. One. Their record could easily
(10:06):
drop to I haven't looked at their um their upcoming
schedule lately, but there wreck I mean there, what are
they three games over right now? Um, they'll have chance,
a chance to build that back up. But also, you know,
they've been kind of impressively up until recently, had been
impressively I would say overachieving, giving their injuries, given all
(10:29):
the offseason stuff, and maybe the most polite way to
put this, because I've been so impressed with how they've
managed to stay afloat and even not stay a float,
but like kind of thrive in the midst of the
Starver stuff and the questions about eighton and Monty Williams.
Booker has has just been chugging along and now he's out.
(10:49):
Chris Paul is not playing to his normal standards, which
by the way, he's of an age now or like
you can't expect him to do that anymore. Um, it's
a team that's deep, but it's a team that, for
the first time we're seeing have real injuries. It was
a team that was healthy for the better part of
the last three seasons, and all of a sudden is
not healthy. So it makes total sense that some of
these things are gonna fall apart. I think that they'll
(11:11):
rebound a little bit, but I have many, if not all,
of the same questions that I had after the way
they folded last year in Game seven. So I don't
you know, I came into season not expecting them to
win the title. I came in expecting that they would
maybe still finish as a home court advantage team. But
that is you know, in risk right now too, So
(11:31):
I don't know. I didn't expect them to win the
title this year to begin with, and I feel more
confident that they probably won't now. So do they have
a chance yes? Is it slim as hell? Yes? Um,
And stuff will change once they get healthy a little bit.
But I you know, I still think that their flaws
with this team. Yeah, I mean, for whatever reason, I
can't quit them. You know, they've been really good with
(11:53):
Devin Booker this year. Devin Booker is now the best
player in that team. I think he doesn't get talked
enough about as a number one guy and a great team.
And they've been a great team when he's been healthy. Um,
you know, the Warriors are on this wind streak. They
could have easily gone into a tailspin without Steph Curry
and we'd be talking about them like we're talking about
the Sons potentially. But I'm not saying Devin Booker Steph
(12:15):
Curry obviously, but I do think, you know, the way
people talk about him early in his career, I think
still colors some of the Devin Booker analysis. And I
think it's just gonna come down to his health. I'm
with you. I think their chances are very slim. I
think they're gonna need to make a couple of moves.
I think they will make a couple of moves, but
(12:36):
it's really not looking good right now. Let's talk about
the team that I had number eleven, because I put
the Calves and Pelicans at eleven and ten, and my
reasoning was, I think they're great teams. I think they're
a year away. I think they both need a deep
playoff run together before I can say they're they're capable
of winning a ring. I need to see how both
(12:56):
teams work in the playoffs, especially defensively, before I'm ready
to say they can definitely win a championship. I think
they have a chance right now if they get the
right breaks and injuries, etcetera. But Donovan Mitchell goes off
for seventy one and it's just comical. And I know
that we're I wouldn't say the scoring numbers are inflated.
(13:17):
We're just at a time in the league where teams
are shooting thorn threes and ever paces high, etcetera. We're
just offense is better than ever before. But one, no
matter how you get it, it was an incredible performance.
I mean his pull up three when he's hitting that,
there's nothing you can do. I wrote today, it's it
(13:38):
would have been harder. It would have been harder for
the Calves to fill their specific need better than what
they did this summer when they were like, we need
someone else who can take the pressure off Darius Scarland,
who can go get his buckets late in the game,
who can run pick and rolls, who can create. Obviously,
every team needs that guy, but when you're an already
good team, it's hard to make a move like that
(13:59):
that doesn't ruin your rotation. It's just a home run
move on so many levels. But yeah, I had the
Caves at number eleven. Uh they've been good. I mean,
top ten defense, top ten offense, one of very few
teams in the league that have that distinction. Do you
do you put them closer to the Nets Celtics Bucks
(14:20):
category or do you think they need some more seasoning.
I think they need more seasoning. But here's the thing
that the numbers don't show it that to some extent,
the experience doesn't show that because you've had some guys
that have been involved in playoff series before. Um, Jared
Allen is right there, and obviously you've got Mitchell who
(14:44):
who has been in the playoffs out of the first round.
You've got Kevin Love who has won a championship. UM.
So it's strange. I am of the opinion that teams
that this iteration of this team hasn't been to the
playoffs before. Hard for me to believe that they'll go
out and and make the finals, make the East Finals. Um.
(15:06):
But I mean, where are they right now in terms
of of NET ranking? They've got to be they I
know they were one as recently as like a week
or two ago, and they've continued to win, So I
imagine there's still right there. Um net rating, They're they're
right behind Cleveland. They're right behind Boston in net rating
right now, but then there's a pretty decent gap between
them Brooklyn and New Orleans. So their number two and
(15:26):
net rating and they're they're right there in terms of
the standings in terms of the net rating. So this
is real. Not to mention that their defense, which is
what I had the most questions about with Darious Garland,
and to six ft one guards and you're starting line up,
albeit at all Stars, but to six ft one guards, um,
who aren't known for their defensive ability, if anything, are
known that they're they're not really good defensively, and you've
(15:48):
got the top defensive best. So this is absolutely a contender. Um,
whether you want to think that they don't have enough
experience or not, um, they're absolutely k bole. If you
have Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland on your team and
then you've got two people that are as good defensively
as they are offensively, uh, you absolutely have a chance.
(16:10):
I do think that their depth on some level is
going to be tested a little bit. I do think that, Um,
the question that I had going into season is still
gonna be one that's relevant, which is who do you
use to guard the honestes of the league, UM, which
you know every team has that question on some level.
But um, the keVs don't have like one clear guy
(16:32):
that's just there. They're three, they're they're small forward really
in a line up where you've got two All Star
guards and and two potential All Star bigs. Um, they
could potentially trade for somebody. They're going to get Ricky
Rubio back pretty soon as well, which helps their depth, UM,
especially in a in a grouping where you were trying
to stagger Garland and Mitchell. So I mean there there's
(16:54):
a lot of good things to come here. Also, if
you're worried about the team and maybe not having enough experience,
the more they together, the better, UM, and the more
opportunities they get to to kind of just jell this roster,
the better. So it's a scary team. You know, I
would not want to play them, But I also think
that on some level you're not afraid of them. If
(17:15):
you're Boston, you're not afraid of them, And if you're
Milwaukee necessarily I think because of the fact that it's
a team that you know, you've been there, you've done
that to some extent. Now Cleveland is that didn't get
on the block, so to speak. But they there's a
whole lot of metrics there to suggest that this is
absolutely a contender. There's a whole lot of metrics to
suggest that they're they're too low on your list. Um,
(17:38):
even if I do think they've got some questions to answer. Still, man,
the league has been so fun this year. It's been
so fun this year. I'm I'm thinking as you're talking,
I'm thinking of the questions I want to ask you,
Like I didn't. I didn't run down with Chris exactly
what I was gonna ask him today, And I'm like,
I'm excited to hear Chris's opinion on this because it's
it's all over the place. I'm with you. I I
(17:59):
think Mitchell is so good. But yes, I think they
still need that that swing piece. Like they're starting five
is the little wonky and they're still searching for that
fifth guy. I think who makes sense. Um, Mitchell, I
think has been competing harder defensively this year. We still
need to see it in the playoffs. And yeah, I'm
with you. I think the right way to characterize it is,
(18:20):
I don't think Boston, Brooklyn, Milwaukee are necessarily scared of them,
but they're not going to be an easy out certainly.
I want to switch to the West West for a
second because this thought hit me. I mean another the
guy who's been on an absolute heater recently is Luca
don Chich. I mean, there's no there's just nothing left
to say about him. He's incredible every night, he's worth watching.
(18:41):
I didn't put the Mavericks on my list. I think
they've won seven games in a row. They're now in
fourth place in the Western Conference. Um, the MAVs are
nine in net rating. They have the sixth best offense
in the NBA, you know, average defensively. Um, do you
(19:02):
think they deserve to be on the contender list? What
do you make of the maps? Because we actually got
let me they actually loop in this email we got. Um,
we got this from Ben Steiger, who wrote in late
last year, I'm just coming off watching the preposterous Luca
performance put on my Knicks last night. Don't really know
what there is to say about this man. I'll put
(19:24):
asign my concerns about tips, stubbornness and setting rotations and
asked this, wouldn't it behoove the Mavericks bass brass to
move heaven and Earth to get a better team around Luca. Um.
Having Christian what is your second best player, isn't gonna
get you anywhere. They have been good with Christian Wood
in the starting lineup, I believe seven three or something
(19:44):
along those lines since he moved in. I think I
saw a guy Dan Divine tweeting about it this morning.
But yeah, I'm just throwing all this math stuff on you, Chris.
What do you make of it? Are they currently a contender?
I don't know that. I'm with Ben, but I don't
even know what moves are really realistic for them out there. Um.
In a normal situation, I would say no, I don't
(20:06):
think they are. UM. I just think it's a little bit.
I'm also probably a little salty for having said that
I thought that they would beat the Warriors going in
that series, um, and then laying out a whole list
of reasons why. Um, But you know, I feel like
you have to include them. If not on your list,
then just kind of like in the back of your mind,
because the West isn't like a runaway for anybody, and
(20:29):
because of that, you know, if your thought last year
was that, oh, the Warriors are so great that you
know that they're gonna run to the league this year.
Obviously not and you know the Sons aren't there, Um,
you know they're they're There are teams that make sense
out of the West, but none of them is infallible.
Uh So I think Luca is just so great that
(20:50):
because of that, he could overcome any one of those
teams on his own. I also don't like the idea
of having to rely on him or any one player
in the league to have to do that. UM, So
I would still say it's very, very unlikely with this group. UM.
I'm still kind of blown away that they let Jalen
Brunson walk because it was very clear that Luca was
(21:11):
kind of on this ascent. And I think that you
you increase the odds that he can stay healthy if
you at least have someone else that in addition to
Den Witty and and everybody else in that roster, that
you can kind of depend on with the ball as
opposed to just Luca. Um. But you know, we're we're
watching Luca deal with it, and we're watching Luca thrive
this this way, and we're watching them now catch a
(21:32):
hot streak. I just worry a little bit about you know,
how much you're depending on Luca and then an array
of shooters and really few other guys to really break
down defenses. Um not to mention that so far their
their defense has been average, whereas last year they were
they were much better than ever. So that's my fear
here with this team. So I'm I mean I would
(21:53):
lean more towards no, but again that the nature of
the Western Conference won't allow me to count them out
or count Loo go out. It really is what I guess.
It's probably more accurate to say, yeah, it's crazy because
there's all this talking to Ben's email. How do you
not move heaven and earth to get better pieces around Luca?
I think obviously it's like you don't want to lose
a guy like Jalen Brunson. But Luca is a paradox
because do you ever want to take the ball out
(22:15):
of his hands? That seems silly. He's probably the best
manipulator in the NBA right now. On the other hand,
that style of play just typically does not work in
the playoffs. The high usage, super super high usage, one
guy we just have not seen at work, And yeah,
(22:36):
I'm struggling even to think who are the right pieces
to put around Luka? Do you know, I think we're
still figuring that out, and they he would is a
fantastic pick and roll partner, and he's been very good.
I don't know that Christian would, to Ben's point, is
the second best player on a title team. I that's
really the question I have is I don't know who
(22:58):
the best guy to put around Luca is. And I
think that's a very open question. And yeah, that was
the reason I left them off. It's it's nothing about
I think Luca has proven he can win you a
playoff series or two if you if he's if you
were the bad matchup for him, he will just dominate.
He will take over the game, and he will completely
manipulate the flow of what's happening on the court. But
(23:20):
I think there's just a limit on how far that
can go. You mentioned the West is wide open. I'm
gonna put you on the spot a bit here. This
is a tough question because I had an incredibly difficult
time separating these teams. I don't know if I had
to pick, my favorites are coming out of the East
right now, but among this group, either rank them wonderful
or tell me who you like the best out of
(23:42):
this group? All right, the Clippers, the Nuggets, the Warriors,
and the Grizzlies. I'm gonna go Grizzlies here. Oh I
had them lowest on my life. I know you had
them eight and that was kind of Again. I said,
I was gonna let you run all the way through
your list so that people can hear all eleven of
the teams, But I was kind of surprised you had
(24:02):
him that low. Can I give a quick explanation for that? Sure?
I thought that Christmas Day game. I'm not trying to
read too much into one regular season game, especially the
Warriors without Steph, but that was an impressive punk job
by the Warriors. I gotta say, I love I love
how brash the Grizzlies are. I love how they don't
(24:23):
care about going at the Warriors. But I also love
when the veteran team is like, hold on, hold on
just a minute, you know, hold on, That's exactly what
it sounds like. And you know, Draymond barking at guys
on the floor, Clay Thompson taunting Dylan Brooks, the Grizzlies,
Grizzlies Nation, I don't know what they call themselves. They're
(24:45):
in shambles. They're like, Clay is a weirdo for saying
that this was a rivalry, and oh my god, the
refs let Clay shoot. Listen, you got punked on Christmas Day.
You talked a lot of smack and it happens, and listen.
Another thing is they've had a lot of weird shooting
games this year. They're hitting like four threes. And if
(25:06):
Desmond Baine is not hitting threes, who are the shooters
you're counting on in a playoff series? Is Contra are
going to play that much as Aldama gonna play that much? Like, uh,
there's an on the court worried there too where I'm
a little dubious of their shooting. Um, is David Roddy
gonna get minutes in the playoffs? I'm not sure? Um yeah.
(25:26):
So that was kind of my hesitation, and maybe I
was feeling myself a little bit coming out of that
Christmas game. But I have a little bit of a
little bit of a hesitation with the Grizzie. So I'm
interested to hear why you're high on them. Sure, okay,
so let me go through it. One. I'm gonna give
Baine more time. Uh, you know, obviously he hasn't been
healthy the whole year, which to me that makes them
(25:47):
more impressive that up until was it a week and
a half ago, two weeks ago that you know they're
big three if you want to call it, that had
played together at all. Um. So the fact that there,
what are they? They are a half game out as
we're recording this, a first place behind the Nuggets despite
not having had their their trio really together much at all.
(26:09):
One of whom is is a shooter, and so you know,
it would make sense that he might need some time
to develop more rhythm. Um. I'm looking at Tankatan right now,
which is a weird sight to be looking at when
you're talk about the Grizzlies, But I'm looking at the
strength of schedule, the remaining strength of schedule. Uh they
are they have the fourth easiest schedule left in the league.
(26:30):
The only team in the West that has an easier
schedule remaining is Sacramento. Their strength of schedule is for
eight seven memphiss is eight, So they're gonna have an
opportunity to rack up some pretty you know, a pretty
easy remaining schedule. Um. New Orleans is also also right
there with them as far as how easy their remaining
(26:50):
schedule is. Uh So, I think both them and I
think New Orleans for that matter, both have a chance
to really if and when they get fully healthy, if
then when they to bulper them. By the way, Brandon
Ingram is not played in a really really really really
long time, and as we look at the standings and
you look at like, to me, my main question about
New Orleans at this point, it's just like, can he
(27:13):
Ingram and and and Zion develop a rhythm um that
they really haven't had a chance to develop yet. It
has been incredible, but it's a good point. Without Ingram
is significant. Yeah, I mean Ingram has played fifteen games
out of the how many of they played thirty somewhere
around thirty five at this point, you know, most teams
have played about games, so that that's actually my bigger
(27:34):
question about them. But Memphis, you know, Memphis has now
been deep in the playoffs. They're kind of the opposite
of what I've said about Cleveland, where it's like, Okay,
their cast of guys is actually scary. Their top flight
guys are scary, um, but they do have the experience
in a team like Cleveland doesn't, at least collectively UM,
and who knows, maybe they pushed Golden State even more
(27:56):
if they have jobs last year. I probably do if
he's healthy and he plays out that series in which
they took the Warriors to six, So I you know,
I feel pretty good about them. I think that there
UM as of right now, a more complete team than
Golden State is because of the way their bench just
constructed and who they let go in free agency. UM
(28:16):
doesn't mean Golden State can't develop. It doesn't mean that
you know that their bench guys. It doesn't mean that
UM Denver can't go out and get pieces that help
them more defensively. And it doesn't mean that that Kawuhi
Leonard won't start to put it together and look like
Kauhi Leonard, which he has lately. So you know, it's
not me saying that I don't believe in the other teams,
just me saying that I think the Grizzlies have more
(28:38):
room to grow to develop to gel um with their
top light guys, and if they stay healthy or if
they can you know, be healthy for that run, UM,
I think that this just might be the Grizzlies time
and uh and you know, I really do feel strongly
about that. Wow, So you'd you'd have the Grizzlies as
your current favorite in the West. Wow. What do you
(29:01):
make of the Warriors? Last night Clay Thompson goes off
for fifty four points. I touched on them again in
a small piece I wrote for Aside today, which they've
won five in a row. Granted all have been at home,
but that's the longest win streak they've had all season,
and all five games have been without Steph Curry. They
looked like you wrote about this. I mean, they were
in potential going from a massive tailspin here, Chris. They've
(29:21):
been terrible without stuff this year. They're always bad without stuff,
this year was particularly bad. They've won five in a row,
they're at home, but Portland's not a cupcake, Utah is
not a cupcake. Atlanta is not an easy win. Um
Memphis again on Christmas Day, that was the start of
the streak. Those of all those were all really solid winds. Um.
(29:43):
They're finding ways to win without Steff. I think they
found something in DiVincenzo. I think Moody's playing better. Um
Ti jer Rome. I'm not sure if that's going to
translate to the playoffs, but I I just I Steph
claimed Dre have not lost healthy in a playoff series
(30:04):
since the two thousand and sixteen finals, which is the
only time they've lost, and it took like just a
truly absurd set of circumstances for that to happen. Um,
where do you have them in this race? Do you
like them more or less than teams like the Nuggets
and the Clippers. Um, I'll say for now, if if
(30:27):
they're fully healthy, I kind of trust them to find
a way to beat Denver. Um. Denver just doesn't. We've
talked about this a little bit, and it's like people,
I feel like the Venn diagram of people that don't
like Yo Kitchen, think that he's overrated or over build
(30:48):
or whatever you would call it, are are also the
same people that mostly watch him in a playoff series
against Golden State, where it's like, yeah, he looks somewhat
deficient defensively when he's having to try to figure out
how to guard or how to try to, you know,
get up to the level of where Steff Curry is,
which is like eighty feet away. Um, so you know
(31:10):
that matchup for Denver is just not particularly great. I mean,
it would be fun to watch that series now when
you've got Michael Porter and and um and obviously Jamal Murray,
but I don't love that matchup for the reasons that
we saw last year, which is just that stuff is
going to annihilate that defense at least as constructed. Um,
the Clippers would be a fascinating matchup for them, yeah,
(31:33):
I mean they beat them once. Yeah, I mean it
would be a fascinating match to watch the Clippers against
the Warriors or the Nuggets quite frankly, but yeah, sorry,
that's where I meant the Nuggets. Yes, yeah, so you know,
I'm a little bit torn on that one. I also
want to see the Clippers, like, are they fully healthy
when they take on that matchup? Are they down one guy?
As as we talk about Kauai and his health, I'm
(31:54):
pretty sure PG is now out for a little bit injury.
So it's just know like on some level, the Clippers
are tough, just because I feel like they they just
have a little bit of the feel of a team
that I remember watching the Bulls for so many of
those years. Um, you know, with Derrick Rose and everything.
And they had their their starting lineup was something like
(32:18):
twenty five and three, you know, when they were fully healthy.
But that also tells you that their starting lap was
only healthy twenty eight games. Um, So they were dominant
when they were healthy, but they were never healthy. And
it's starting to feel like the Clippers are kind of
that team a little bit. Um. Maybe it's even conservative
to say, starting to feel it that way because obviously
the last couple of years have been the last couple
(32:38):
of years. But between that and their rotation, Uh yeah,
they have the potential to be dominant if they're ever
fully healthy. But will they ever fully be healthy? And
uh it it kind of does feel like that c
saw effects. So I don't know what to think of
them other than no, I really wouldn't want to play
them if they're fully healthy. It's just a question whether
they will be. But I trust the Warriors more than um,
(33:01):
the Nuggets if if Step is available, I'd like to
say I trust them a little bit more than the
Clippers too, if Step is fully healthy. Um, just because
I don't really trust the Clippers to be fully healthy. Um,
But I would take the Grizzlies over all. Three of
those other teams, I would wow, Um, yeah, damn Okay,
(33:21):
I don't know that I was expecting that. I I'm
starting to get talk myself back into the Nuggets. We
we got asked for bold predictions and I always picked
the Nuggets to win the finals. But I'm feeling better.
But this in first place in the West. They've been
on a tear lately. I think they finally lost to
the Wolves last night. But I mean, Yokich, I think
(33:43):
at some point we're gonna have to talk about him
possibly winning his third rade M v P. He's been
That conversation should have started at this point. Absolutely, he's
been fantastic. The defense with Michael Porter Jr. In the
starting lineup is actually been pretty good. And I think
they'll probably never have a great defense, but I can
(34:06):
that get stops when it matters. I think they can
get enough stops when this matt when it matters, and
more importantly, can other teams stop them when it matters?
And I don't know the heat. We're playing a great
game against the Clippers and that was getting close, um
in the final few minutes, and you know Miami is
bam at a bio. Jimmy Butler Kyle Lowry, no answers none,
(34:28):
Um Bam. I think Bam can guard every single player
in the NBA one on one credibly. Doesn't mean he's
gonna stop him every time. I think he can credibly
guard players and one on one in the NBA, I
think the only one he can't is it's uh man,
(34:49):
I just don't At some point, almost like if Yokich
is as good as we think he is, and we
I think we both think he's very good, he's got
a breakthrough and it the same time, mean I put
the Clippers over them because I think Kauai is really
starting to look like Kauai. But you know you mentioned
the health. Kauai gets sick, he misses the game last
(35:09):
night against Miami. Um now Paul George has this hamstring injury.
Maybe they are just snake bitten. But it's just so
hard for me to separate these teams. I think I
still think the the promise of the Clippers is maybe
higher than the promise of all the other teams in
the West as presently constructed. You know, if Golden State
(35:30):
makes a move, if they get a vetter two, it
could be different. But god, it's so hard to separate them.
I do want to talk about one team that we've
not talked about in a long time on this podcast
that is now by far the hottest team in the
NBA sixteen and one of their last seventeams with twelves
in a row. Kevin durant Is is Kevin Durant. I
(35:51):
mean he's playing like the Kevin Durant we know and love. Um,
you want to you know, it's funny Kevin Arnovit's on
the pod a couple of weeks ago, Chris and we
talked about how you know he's watching the NBA as
a casual fan, and it's it's not always a great product.
Stars are missing time and you get excited for a
big matchup and you find out somebody's missing. You know,
(36:12):
who cares about the regular season? Kevin Durant. Uh, this
guy competes every night. I love the competitiveness he has.
And I mean that like he's drawing with guys, he's
drawing with fans. But in a way that's just clear
that he just loves the game man, Like he's genuinely
so thrilled to be out there. Um, it's just hard
(36:32):
to explain. It's hard to translate it, but like competitiveness
is is not the just the right sell, but he
just brings like a great I'm really happy to be
out here attitude every single night, and I'm gonna make
the most of it, like I'm gonna enjoy every minute
I have on the floor. It's kind of the way
I see him playing and listen, they've been a juggernaut.
Ben Simmons is being the role player everyone wanted him
(36:55):
to be in terms of a defender. Distributor, Nick Claxton.
I read about Brick Lopez and what he's doing protecting
the paint Classon's right there. It's at least statistically Royce O'Neill.
I think they've gotten good mautes from t J. Warren Dah.
I mean, all these guys coming off the bench, Patty
Patty mills, Um, what do you make it. I think
(37:17):
the Nets are a better team than the Bucks right
now in Milwaukee's dropped to twenty two, I think in offense.
I don't know if that's just all Chris Middleton, but
I'm starting to worry about them. I know you are
the the chief operating the chief operating officer, the number
one hype man, the communications director of the honest is
(37:41):
the best player I would if you had said that,
I was going to bring it up myself because it
has not been a good to three weeks for that
compared at least not playing the way he's playing in
the nets to play the way they're playing. So tell me,
tell him, give me a vibe check right now? You're
are you are confident in the nets? Are box at
(38:01):
this present moment. Ah, I'm gonna go with the Bucks
like for a little bit longer, a little bit longer
because Chris Middleton, and and not just him, but the
offense as a whole, because sometimes you can have a
player that's struggling and the offense still can do well
(38:22):
because just having that player, his presence, his facing, his
threat can can add to your offense. And Milwaukee has
not had that yet are benefited from that yet. Middleton
is shot really, really really poorly, um to an extent
where it's like, I don't think he's capable of shooting
this poorly for much longer. Um. I do believe a
(38:44):
little bit more in the Bucks defense when it comes
down to it, than the nets, although the nets are
a top ten defense at this point. Um, they've played
well for long enough to be legitimate. They've won, as
you said, uh, sixteen out of seventeen, twelve in a row. Um,
I mean they have two guys that like It wouldn't
(39:04):
be the craziest thing in the world if they ended
up going. Um. I mean, Kyrie's right there, you know,
is it basically shooting thirty eight percent from three He's
already at nine, Durant, it would take him a little bit.
It would take a big heater from him from the
three point line to get there. Um. But he's shooting
fifty six percent from the field. He's averaging almost thirty
(39:28):
a game on less than nineteen shots, and his defense
has been fantastically defensively. For them to go to where
they were to start the season to top ten defensively
is yeah, we need to be having more conversations about
him in the VP conversation. I think even more so.
And I'm saying this granted because they're on a long
winning streak, but also that their defense is legitimate that
(39:49):
Durant probably, especially if there's voter fatigue as it relates
to UH too, that Durant needs to be the beneficiary
of that in my opinion, Um, so I mean, this
team is is real. I also think that the idea
of the the concern about, um, will there be something
else that happens with them, whether it is Ben Simmons
(40:11):
in his back, Uh, whether it is Kevin Durant having
an injury. He stayed healthy all year. He's played in
every game I think you've had so far, which is unusual.
And also, you know was always was always the main
impetus for me saying clearly that Janice was the best
guy in the world. Um, Durant can make that a
(40:32):
very good case if he can stay healthy, obviously and
hold down the fort in a year where uh, frankly
he was kind of well, let me not say he
was dealta a bad hand of cards, because obviously Durant
kind of put a question mark on this season two
with everything that he said and did during the off season. Um,
but this team is real, and they have just enough
(40:53):
of a blend of everything from from spacing and shooting two. Uh,
the fact that they do have some guys that are
people of really getting after it defensively. Uh, It's it's
a good roster. And this is kind of what everybody
thought and why so many people said going into the year.
This team, you know, even if you hate the guys
on the court, because of the different off court stuff
(41:13):
that's going on, the trade demands, the vaccines, UF, the
you know, potential anti semitism, the anti semitism, whatever you
want to call it, um, not even whatever we call it,
the stuff that very clearly looked like anti semitism for
a while. Uh. You know, but this team is deep.
This team has you know, some some great players on
(41:34):
it and also some stability now and not a question
mark over hanging over them as far as the coach.
Uh So, it's it's not terribly terribly surprising, but it's
refreshing to see them play well finally. Um, there is
a part of me that wants to see them prove
it when it counts. Uh. They are coming off of
a sweep. Uh so, so we'll see. But I would
(41:56):
take Milwaukee over them slightly right now. But I would
also love to see at Hockey Brooklyn series. I would
love it. Uh. I would love to see the top
four in the East really go after it. That even
the top five, like if we if we throw a
Billy in there to Philly becomes very interesting. They didn't
make your list, did they in terms of they were
they were? They were number seven, They were number seven
(42:19):
and beat has been fantastic, and beating Harden together have
been fantastic. The hardened reports about him maybe wanted to
go back to Houston or a little weird to me,
and you just wonder if he's going to be fully invested.
But the fact that they've been this good without Tyrris
Maxie has been great. To your point, I think the
Nets and Celtics play each other on the twelfth. I
really hope everyone's healthy for that game. And also, yes,
(42:42):
as you alluded to, we're focusing on the Nets on
the court. Um, they've, to their credit or however you
want to describe it, they've they've quote unquote managed to
avoid distractions if we don't know how you want to
phrase it. Obviously the Kyrie stuff is still out there
it or was out there whatever it was bad, But um, yeah,
(43:04):
I mean that stuff. And and please let's not have
this this conversation about a redemption or an adversity because
it was all self basically self inflicted. So I don't
want to hear anything about that. We can just call
it what it is. For the fact that the team
is talented, was always really talented. They're playing up to
(43:25):
their potential. They're healthy to some extent, this is what
we would have expected. And then if you stripped away
all the controversy that was self inflicted. Um, but also
shows you like maybe if you just handed Jacque Vaughan
the job to begin with and and not ever considered
even Doka, not brought in Steve Nash, you'd never coached before. Uh,
(43:48):
you know, but it it's it's nice to see them
playing the way that we all thought that they were
capable of playing last year before a James Harden trade.
Now after James Harden trade, the team has talent. There
was never any question about out that. It's been really
cool to see them finally put it together and finally
do it as a healthy squad. And I'm very happy
for Jack Vaughan, who deserves this opportunity. And it's a
(44:09):
difficult opportunity for coaches of color to get teams this good.
Uh frankly, And you know, I think that it took
a lot of public shaming of the Udoka potential hiring
and Jockomon, I think two and seven he's been great.
He's pushing all the right buttons, and especially the way
he's coached up and coaxed out that defensive effort has
(44:31):
been remarkable. I do have them number two in the
My Contender rankings right now, and I stand by it.
I like them more than the Bucks. I'm with you
on the Middleton thing. I think that it's obviously playing
a significant role right here, but I just have some
questions about their half court offense. And yeah, sometimes obviously,
(44:53):
honest is, the numbers are so good that it can
sometimes obscure the fact of how much of a slog
their offense is. And yeah, I mean, I mean, now,
Middleton's missed a lot of time, and I'm interested if
he can get enough of rhythm and if he can
stay healthy for the playoffs. Let's end with this, Chris.
You know it's our first episode of the new year.
(45:13):
If I've we've now seen nearly half a season's worth
of evidence of who these teams are where they are now.
Keep in mind last year Boston around this time was
five at the end up going on this big run,
so things can change, although that's that's not typically the norm.
What's what's your finals pick as of the start of
the new year headed into three, I'm giving you an option.
(45:36):
Who are you picking in the finals to win? And
against who? You know? I think I kind of outed
myself already, is like, at this point, I'm probably taking
Memphis and so in the West and and granted they
haven't played really well lately, but I don't know that
I'm taking anybody over to Boston at this moment um.
(45:58):
I mean, granted, we just talked about Brooklyn looks um
much better and and and finally you know, whole um
no controversies hanging over them at least for the time being,
thank goodness. Um, But I you know, Boston did sweep them,
and and the two key guys were out there last year,
(46:19):
and Durant and and Kyrie, so you can benefit from
having other guys healthy and and and playing well. But
it's still it's still Boston. It's still the depth that
Boston has. And by the way, Boston is still kind
of you know, if I'm going to give Memphis the
benefit of the doubt in terms of not having all
their guys out there, um, if I'm gonna give them
(46:40):
that benefit of doubt not having their guys out there
for an extended amount of time, to develop rhythm. Uh,
Robert Williams had had missed a lot of time, and
it's still pretty new. Um to being back in the
mix and kind of the way that changes the way
they look as far as the way they play offense,
as far as the way they play defense. Um. So
I'm still gonna with Boston here. I think to get
(47:01):
back to the finals, I would take the Grizzlies over
anybody in the West right now. Um, And so I
would have a Boston Memphis final right now. I'm gonna
you won't do it, So I will. I'm gonna be
the prisoner of the moment, and I'm gonna go with
my Denver Nuggets. Shout out to the Joker. Shout out
to the borderline All Star maybe All Star Aaron Gordon,
(47:22):
Bruce Brown, k CP, Christian Brown, Braun, whatever you wanna
call him, my guy, Michael Malone, my guy Calvin Booth.
Shout out to the Denver Nuggets. They are going to
win the NBA Finals against Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets.
That's right, I'm putting the nets in the moment, I
figured that's who you were taking. I'm gonna go full chaos.
(47:45):
I you want to talk about salty. I picked the Net.
I picked the Nets to beat the Celtics in the
first round last year, and I said, you know what,
I'm not picking against Kevin Durant. And so you know,
fool me once, shame on you. Is it gonna be
fool me twice or they gonna prove me right? We'll
find out um of Chris that I think was going
(48:05):
to do it for today's episode. Once again, congratulations. My
brother were also proud of you. Once again, I would
like everyone to know that A we are feuding with
Michael Peanut. We are upset about the way he left
the show, and I'm glad that you I'm glad that
you told me that you got engaged before he did.
(48:28):
Just for when we get people read it threads apparently
to call out that we we hate Michael. Shout out
to Michael who you're having lunch within like ours, like
even better minutes, minutes even uh got to do for
today's episode. Everyone, please keep your emails coming. We definitely
want to get to some more emails to kick off
(48:50):
this YAR open for mail at gmail dot com. Thank
you to everyone for bearing with the schedule. We're excited
to be back on track here for the you know,
the last six months of this NBA season until the
next episode continues to enjoy all the hoops, whoa, whoa,
(49:13):
what what what what
Welcome back to another episode of Open Floor, our first
of three. I'm Rohan Attorney, joined today by my friend
and colleague and Sad Michigan Wolverine Sports Illustrated Senior writer
New York Times bestselling author Chris Herring. Chris, how's it going.
(00:23):
I'm good. Um, I got engaged over this this holiday break.
And yeah, the first test of love, if you want
to call it that or like true love, came about
twelve hours after I proposed, when Michigan was losing that game,
and as me and my fiance now we're sitting and
(00:45):
going through the engagement photos, I had to leave, you know,
a TV screen with Michigan, Michigan behind by one touchdown
to TCU, and and she's just She's like, I know
you're not serious right now, looking at like the ESPN
app as we're going through engagement photos, and then not
just that, but then me essentially throwing my phone after
(01:06):
Michigan lost that game, which was infuriating. But let me
not spend more time talking about Michigan football than my
fiance and engagement, because I think it was a beautiful moment.
But yeah, that that Michigan game was frustrating for lovely photos. UM.
I'm honored that you told me about it before you
told Pena. UM, who had to find out on Twitter
(01:26):
like the rest of the normal people in the world.
I'm like me, who knew a long time before everyone else.
Is one of your closest friends. I appreciate that, Chris. UM.
We did get an email. This one came in from
Sean Elliott. I don't think it's San Antonio spurs Sean Elliott,
but Sean Elliott wrote in YO, just adding to what
I'm sure it's already a long list of people congratulating
(01:46):
Chris on his engagement. I know Michigan lost, but I'm
sure this makes up for it and more. I don't care.
Enyld Swinton thinks spending some time on the podcast congratulating
the same We actually got in a follow up email
from Darryll Swinson within all caps L O L, I
love your guys. We shout shout out to him starting
the year right and not being a bad spot about
(02:09):
it because we obviously appreciate the emails from everything. UM,
did it make up for it? Chris? Did the did
the engagement make up for the Michigan lass or no? Yes?
And uh? I mean, what I'll say, I mean it's
gonna sting for a while, uh, because I mean, if
(02:30):
if you watch the game, Michigan had essentially two drives
from inside the three yard line that didn't result in
any points, including the first one of the game where
they tried to double reverse pass on a fourth down
from like the two and it was just like, what
are you doing? Um And then they also threw two
pick sixes. So when you factor in that, they either
(02:50):
gave away fourteen points and then you know, lost fourteen
pointments of their owner at least six in a game
where they lost by six, it's infuriating. But what I'll
say is that I've notice that um my fiance doesn't
understand my affinity for Michigan football. To to her, she
thinks every because of the way I described these games,
(03:12):
she thinks every game is like, you know, the end
of the world if they lose. And I mean, look,
they play let's let's see, they play Ohio State once
every year. They play Michigan State once every year, which,
given that rivalry and the way it's gone for like
the last ten fifteen years, matters a lot more than
it usually does. As of right now, they play, you know,
(03:34):
a lot of the weekends that we've hung out because
we're long distance. They're playing like Penn State, Michigan State.
Like these are like holiday weekends or like weekends that
we plan to hang out. The Ohio State game was
during Thanksgiving, and then my birthday falls on the weekend
of the Big Ten title games. So I was telling her, like,
it's not that every game matters this much, but once
(03:55):
you get to a certain stage and you're undefeated, they
all matter a lot. And so when they beat Ohio
State and they win the big tense title game, and
I said, those games matter a lot, and then you
play in the playoff and you lose. She's like, Okay,
but like they won all these other games. I'm like, yeah,
but this one knocked them out. Uh. So what I'll
say is that her being around or her having been
(04:16):
with me for these losses mellows me out in a
way where it's like I do realize it's not the
end of the world, but damn if it doesn't feel
that way sometimes. Um, the Georgia game last year was
like a blowout loss, and it it made it a
lot easier. It's like, Okay, we had New Year's Eve
dinner reservations last year. This makes it way easier to
just leave and not worry about what the score is.
(04:39):
This one was brutal in the exact opposite way because
they absolutely had a chance to win. They were favored
and you know, and and it was close. Uh and
so you know, but still it absolutely takes some of
the just raw nature of the loss, um and in
dulls it some because it's like, I've got a fiance now,
and uh and really really scited about that process. I'm
(05:01):
excited to be moving back to New York and uh yeah,
I'm excited to give a speech at your wedding. Um.
At least she's learning early just how much of a
Michigan sick oh you are, and she will be prepared
for a lifetime of you caring deeply about the Wolverines.
Um Chris on today's show. First of all, I just
(05:21):
want to shout out our listeners. I know we were
on a we finished the end of twenty two on
a weird schedule there. Obviously people are traveling. Chris has
these amazing things about his personal life. I was traveling,
so apologies for kind of the up and down schedule.
We're back, We're here, and I thought, what better way
to start the new year then kind of take a
big picture look at the league. I did a contender
(05:42):
ranking for s I last week, Chris, and I'm already
regretting some of my decisions. And in a week, within
a week, so much has changed. Um, and I just
I have no idea how to handicap who's gonna win
the title this season. I really don't. I think my
number two might be my number one. Now I think
my number nine on this list is is now off
(06:03):
the list entirely. Um, I'm gonna run you my list, okay,
and you you either say pause where you want to
discuss a team, you can wait until after I read
the whole list and we can discuss it and its entirety.
But this was This was how I ranked contenders on Decembay.
(06:25):
M hm. At eleven, these are I have eleven teams
that I think could actually win the title. This is
a number crazy, It's crazy, and I think it's down
to ten almost half. At number eleven, I put the Cavaliers.
At ten, I put the Pelicans. This is where it
gets dicey. At nine, I put the Suns at eight.
(06:49):
I put the Grizzlies at seven, seventies, Sixers at six,
the Warriors five, the Nuggets for the Clippers, three Bucks,
two Nets, one Celtics. Okay, I don't want to pause
you there at all, just because I think it's useful
(07:09):
for everybody to hear the whole list. I mean, look,
I don't think the list of teams is crazy. Although
I'm side of Phoenix right now, and obviously they're banged
up and Bookers out. I have a story to tell
about Phoenix, by the way. Okay, so all right, big,
go ahead, look at look at Chris having the cultural right.
There we go, starting off the new year. Right. So
(07:31):
normally I don't really like to talk about my reporting
trips until they're done. Okay, it's just kind of a
superstitious thing. I don't but I don't know what's going
to happen here. But I was recently in Phoenix to
work on a story. Okay, I don't know when this
story is gonna come out because they've been on a
massive slide, you know, I got I had a chance
to speak with Devin Booker for a few minutes after
his fifty eight point game He's played like three minutes
(07:52):
since then, but you are listeners can't see this obviously.
I'm wearing a purple l a Dodgers hat cly while
we do this podcast. I'm in Phoenix and it's a
last minute trip and I have to go to Phoenix
and I have to go to New York. And I'm
in Phoenix and I have not had a chance to
get my hair cut yet, so I need to buy
a hat, and I go to the I go to
(08:13):
a local urban outfitters in Phoenix and I buy this
Dodger's hat. I wear it to the game. I'm in
the pregame press conference. I start to ask Monty Williams
question in the pregame press conference, and Montie Williams, staring
right at me, goes, I know you're not wearing a
Los Angeles hat right now. And I'm like, oh, I was, like,
I was, like it was it was an oversight. I
(08:36):
didn't mean to, and Montie Williams, still staring right at me, goes,
that's an excuse. And now I'm just terrible. He put you,
he put you in. DeAndre Ayton not happy. He was
is not happy. And I'm a very serious and I
was like, I legitimately apologize, and he was like, apology accepted.
(08:59):
I've I have not been scolded like that in a
long time. I was terrified, so much so that at
halftime I went to the Sun's team store bought a
new hat. But now I don't want to show up
to the press conference wearing a Sun's hat. Now I'm
wearing a backward black Sun's hat in the postgame press
comedy of of hat purchase airs. So yeah, and Monty
(09:21):
Williams after the games like, I'm glad you turned your
hat around, and I was like, I actually bought a
new one, and it's like that's even better. So shout
out to Monty Williams straight up yelling at me. But dude,
I think, yeah, I think I got to take the
Suns off this list. You let's start there. Do you
see a world in which the Phoenix Suns could still
win the NBA champ? Okay here, um, yeah, But I
(09:44):
you know, it's like, you know how if you look
at like ESPNS standings for these different things, and they
give like the probabilities, and when a team is essentially
eliminated but not quite, they get the point one chance
of you know, one percent chance, the point one percent chance. Uh,
I'm gonna put Phoenix there. One. Their record could easily
(10:06):
drop to I haven't looked at their um their upcoming
schedule lately, but there wreck I mean there, what are
they three games over right now? Um, they'll have chance,
a chance to build that back up. But also, you know,
they've been kind of impressively up until recently, had been
impressively I would say overachieving, giving their injuries, given all
(10:29):
the offseason stuff, and maybe the most polite way to
put this, because I've been so impressed with how they've
managed to stay afloat and even not stay a float,
but like kind of thrive in the midst of the
Starver stuff and the questions about eighton and Monty Williams.
Booker has has just been chugging along and now he's out.
(10:49):
Chris Paul is not playing to his normal standards, which
by the way, he's of an age now or like
you can't expect him to do that anymore. Um, it's
a team that's deep, but it's a team that, for
the first time we're seeing have real injuries. It was
a team that was healthy for the better part of
the last three seasons, and all of a sudden is
not healthy. So it makes total sense that some of
these things are gonna fall apart. I think that they'll
(11:11):
rebound a little bit, but I have many, if not all,
of the same questions that I had after the way
they folded last year in Game seven. So I don't
you know, I came into season not expecting them to
win the title. I came in expecting that they would
maybe still finish as a home court advantage team. But
that is you know, in risk right now too, So
(11:31):
I don't know. I didn't expect them to win the
title this year to begin with, and I feel more
confident that they probably won't now. So do they have
a chance yes? Is it slim as hell? Yes? Um,
And stuff will change once they get healthy a little bit.
But I you know, I still think that their flaws
with this team. Yeah, I mean, for whatever reason, I
can't quit them. You know, they've been really good with
(11:53):
Devin Booker this year. Devin Booker is now the best
player in that team. I think he doesn't get talked
enough about as a number one guy and a great team.
And they've been a great team when he's been healthy. Um,
you know, the Warriors are on this wind streak. They
could have easily gone into a tailspin without Steph Curry
and we'd be talking about them like we're talking about
the Sons potentially. But I'm not saying Devin Booker Steph
(12:15):
Curry obviously, but I do think, you know, the way
people talk about him early in his career, I think
still colors some of the Devin Booker analysis. And I
think it's just gonna come down to his health. I'm
with you. I think their chances are very slim. I
think they're gonna need to make a couple of moves.
I think they will make a couple of moves, but
(12:36):
it's really not looking good right now. Let's talk about
the team that I had number eleven, because I put
the Calves and Pelicans at eleven and ten, and my
reasoning was, I think they're great teams. I think they're
a year away. I think they both need a deep
playoff run together before I can say they're they're capable
of winning a ring. I need to see how both
(12:56):
teams work in the playoffs, especially defensively, before I'm ready
to say they can definitely win a championship. I think
they have a chance right now if they get the
right breaks and injuries, etcetera. But Donovan Mitchell goes off
for seventy one and it's just comical. And I know
that we're I wouldn't say the scoring numbers are inflated.
(13:17):
We're just at a time in the league where teams
are shooting thorn threes and ever paces high, etcetera. We're
just offense is better than ever before. But one, no
matter how you get it, it was an incredible performance.
I mean his pull up three when he's hitting that,
there's nothing you can do. I wrote today, it's it
(13:38):
would have been harder. It would have been harder for
the Calves to fill their specific need better than what
they did this summer when they were like, we need
someone else who can take the pressure off Darius Scarland,
who can go get his buckets late in the game,
who can run pick and rolls, who can create. Obviously,
every team needs that guy, but when you're an already
good team, it's hard to make a move like that
(13:59):
that doesn't ruin your rotation. It's just a home run
move on so many levels. But yeah, I had the
Caves at number eleven. Uh they've been good. I mean,
top ten defense, top ten offense, one of very few
teams in the league that have that distinction. Do you
do you put them closer to the Nets Celtics Bucks
(14:20):
category or do you think they need some more seasoning.
I think they need more seasoning. But here's the thing
that the numbers don't show it that to some extent,
the experience doesn't show that because you've had some guys
that have been involved in playoff series before. Um, Jared
Allen is right there, and obviously you've got Mitchell who
(14:44):
who has been in the playoffs out of the first round.
You've got Kevin Love who has won a championship. UM.
So it's strange. I am of the opinion that teams
that this iteration of this team hasn't been to the
playoffs before. Hard for me to believe that they'll go
out and and make the finals, make the East Finals. Um.
(15:06):
But I mean, where are they right now in terms
of of NET ranking? They've got to be they I
know they were one as recently as like a week
or two ago, and they've continued to win, So I
imagine there's still right there. Um net rating, They're they're
right behind Cleveland. They're right behind Boston in net rating
right now, but then there's a pretty decent gap between
them Brooklyn and New Orleans. So their number two and
(15:26):
net rating and they're they're right there in terms of
the standings in terms of the net rating. So this
is real. Not to mention that their defense, which is
what I had the most questions about with Darious Garland,
and to six ft one guards and you're starting line up,
albeit at all Stars, but to six ft one guards, um,
who aren't known for their defensive ability, if anything, are
known that they're they're not really good defensively, and you've
(15:48):
got the top defensive best. So this is absolutely a contender. Um,
whether you want to think that they don't have enough
experience or not, um, they're absolutely k bole. If you
have Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland on your team and
then you've got two people that are as good defensively
as they are offensively, uh, you absolutely have a chance.
(16:10):
I do think that their depth on some level is
going to be tested a little bit. I do think that, Um,
the question that I had going into season is still
gonna be one that's relevant, which is who do you
use to guard the honestes of the league, UM, which
you know every team has that question on some level.
But um, the keVs don't have like one clear guy
(16:32):
that's just there. They're three, they're they're small forward really
in a line up where you've got two All Star
guards and and two potential All Star bigs. Um, they
could potentially trade for somebody. They're going to get Ricky
Rubio back pretty soon as well, which helps their depth, UM,
especially in a in a grouping where you were trying
to stagger Garland and Mitchell. So I mean there there's
(16:54):
a lot of good things to come here. Also, if
you're worried about the team and maybe not having enough experience,
the more they together, the better, UM, and the more
opportunities they get to to kind of just jell this roster,
the better. So it's a scary team. You know, I
would not want to play them, But I also think
that on some level you're not afraid of them. If
(17:15):
you're Boston, you're not afraid of them, And if you're
Milwaukee necessarily I think because of the fact that it's
a team that you know, you've been there, you've done
that to some extent. Now Cleveland is that didn't get
on the block, so to speak. But they there's a
whole lot of metrics there to suggest that this is
absolutely a contender. There's a whole lot of metrics to
suggest that they're they're too low on your list. Um,
(17:38):
even if I do think they've got some questions to answer. Still, man,
the league has been so fun this year. It's been
so fun this year. I'm I'm thinking as you're talking,
I'm thinking of the questions I want to ask you,
Like I didn't. I didn't run down with Chris exactly
what I was gonna ask him today, And I'm like,
I'm excited to hear Chris's opinion on this because it's
it's all over the place. I'm with you. I I
(17:59):
think Mitchell is so good. But yes, I think they
still need that that swing piece. Like they're starting five
is the little wonky and they're still searching for that
fifth guy. I think who makes sense. Um, Mitchell, I
think has been competing harder defensively this year. We still
need to see it in the playoffs. And yeah, I'm
with you. I think the right way to characterize it is,
(18:20):
I don't think Boston, Brooklyn, Milwaukee are necessarily scared of them,
but they're not going to be an easy out certainly.
I want to switch to the West West for a
second because this thought hit me. I mean another the
guy who's been on an absolute heater recently is Luca
don Chich. I mean, there's no there's just nothing left
to say about him. He's incredible every night, he's worth watching.
(18:41):
I didn't put the Mavericks on my list. I think
they've won seven games in a row. They're now in
fourth place in the Western Conference. Um, the MAVs are
nine in net rating. They have the sixth best offense
in the NBA, you know, average defensively. Um, do you
(19:02):
think they deserve to be on the contender list? What
do you make of the maps? Because we actually got
let me they actually loop in this email we got. Um,
we got this from Ben Steiger, who wrote in late
last year, I'm just coming off watching the preposterous Luca
performance put on my Knicks last night. Don't really know
what there is to say about this man. I'll put
(19:24):
asign my concerns about tips, stubbornness and setting rotations and
asked this, wouldn't it behoove the Mavericks bass brass to
move heaven and Earth to get a better team around Luca. Um.
Having Christian what is your second best player, isn't gonna
get you anywhere. They have been good with Christian Wood
in the starting lineup, I believe seven three or something
(19:44):
along those lines since he moved in. I think I
saw a guy Dan Divine tweeting about it this morning.
But yeah, I'm just throwing all this math stuff on you, Chris.
What do you make of it? Are they currently a contender?
I don't know that. I'm with Ben, but I don't
even know what moves are really realistic for them out there. Um.
In a normal situation, I would say no, I don't
(20:06):
think they are. UM. I just think it's a little bit.
I'm also probably a little salty for having said that
I thought that they would beat the Warriors going in
that series, um, and then laying out a whole list
of reasons why. Um, But you know, I feel like
you have to include them. If not on your list,
then just kind of like in the back of your mind,
because the West isn't like a runaway for anybody, and
(20:29):
because of that, you know, if your thought last year
was that, oh, the Warriors are so great that you
know that they're gonna run to the league this year.
Obviously not and you know the Sons aren't there, Um,
you know they're they're There are teams that make sense
out of the West, but none of them is infallible.
Uh So I think Luca is just so great that
(20:50):
because of that, he could overcome any one of those
teams on his own. I also don't like the idea
of having to rely on him or any one player
in the league to have to do that. UM, So
I would still say it's very, very unlikely with this group. UM.
I'm still kind of blown away that they let Jalen
Brunson walk because it was very clear that Luca was
(21:11):
kind of on this ascent. And I think that you
you increase the odds that he can stay healthy if
you at least have someone else that in addition to
Den Witty and and everybody else in that roster, that
you can kind of depend on with the ball as
opposed to just Luca. Um. But you know, we're we're
watching Luca deal with it, and we're watching Luca thrive
this this way, and we're watching them now catch a
(21:32):
hot streak. I just worry a little bit about you know,
how much you're depending on Luca and then an array
of shooters and really few other guys to really break
down defenses. Um not to mention that so far their
their defense has been average, whereas last year they were
they were much better than ever. So that's my fear
here with this team. So I'm I mean I would
(21:53):
lean more towards no, but again that the nature of
the Western Conference won't allow me to count them out
or count Loo go out. It really is what I guess.
It's probably more accurate to say, yeah, it's crazy because
there's all this talking to Ben's email. How do you
not move heaven and earth to get better pieces around Luca?
I think obviously it's like you don't want to lose
a guy like Jalen Brunson. But Luca is a paradox
because do you ever want to take the ball out
(22:15):
of his hands? That seems silly. He's probably the best
manipulator in the NBA right now. On the other hand,
that style of play just typically does not work in
the playoffs. The high usage, super super high usage, one
guy we just have not seen at work, And yeah,
(22:36):
I'm struggling even to think who are the right pieces
to put around Luka? Do you know, I think we're
still figuring that out, and they he would is a
fantastic pick and roll partner, and he's been very good.
I don't know that Christian would, to Ben's point, is
the second best player on a title team. I that's
really the question I have is I don't know who
(22:58):
the best guy to put around Luca is. And I
think that's a very open question. And yeah, that was
the reason I left them off. It's it's nothing about
I think Luca has proven he can win you a
playoff series or two if you if he's if you
were the bad matchup for him, he will just dominate.
He will take over the game, and he will completely
manipulate the flow of what's happening on the court. But
(23:20):
I think there's just a limit on how far that
can go. You mentioned the West is wide open. I'm
gonna put you on the spot a bit here. This
is a tough question because I had an incredibly difficult
time separating these teams. I don't know if I had
to pick, my favorites are coming out of the East
right now, but among this group, either rank them wonderful
or tell me who you like the best out of
(23:42):
this group? All right, the Clippers, the Nuggets, the Warriors,
and the Grizzlies. I'm gonna go Grizzlies here. Oh I
had them lowest on my life. I know you had
them eight and that was kind of Again. I said,
I was gonna let you run all the way through
your list so that people can hear all eleven of
the teams, But I was kind of surprised you had
(24:02):
him that low. Can I give a quick explanation for that? Sure?
I thought that Christmas Day game. I'm not trying to
read too much into one regular season game, especially the
Warriors without Steph, but that was an impressive punk job
by the Warriors. I gotta say, I love I love
how brash the Grizzlies are. I love how they don't
(24:23):
care about going at the Warriors. But I also love
when the veteran team is like, hold on, hold on
just a minute, you know, hold on, That's exactly what
it sounds like. And you know, Draymond barking at guys
on the floor, Clay Thompson taunting Dylan Brooks, the Grizzlies,
Grizzlies Nation, I don't know what they call themselves. They're
(24:45):
in shambles. They're like, Clay is a weirdo for saying
that this was a rivalry, and oh my god, the
refs let Clay shoot. Listen, you got punked on Christmas Day.
You talked a lot of smack and it happens, and listen.
Another thing is they've had a lot of weird shooting
games this year. They're hitting like four threes. And if
(25:06):
Desmond Baine is not hitting threes, who are the shooters
you're counting on in a playoff series? Is Contra are
going to play that much as Aldama gonna play that much? Like, uh,
there's an on the court worried there too where I'm
a little dubious of their shooting. Um, is David Roddy
gonna get minutes in the playoffs? I'm not sure? Um yeah.
(25:26):
So that was kind of my hesitation, and maybe I
was feeling myself a little bit coming out of that
Christmas game. But I have a little bit of a
little bit of a hesitation with the Grizzie. So I'm
interested to hear why you're high on them. Sure, okay,
so let me go through it. One. I'm gonna give
Baine more time. Uh, you know, obviously he hasn't been
healthy the whole year, which to me that makes them
(25:47):
more impressive that up until was it a week and
a half ago, two weeks ago that you know they're
big three if you want to call it, that had
played together at all. Um. So the fact that there,
what are they? They are a half game out as
we're recording this, a first place behind the Nuggets despite
not having had their their trio really together much at all.
(26:09):
One of whom is is a shooter, and so you know,
it would make sense that he might need some time
to develop more rhythm. Um. I'm looking at Tankatan right now,
which is a weird sight to be looking at when
you're talk about the Grizzlies, But I'm looking at the
strength of schedule, the remaining strength of schedule. Uh they
are they have the fourth easiest schedule left in the league.
(26:30):
The only team in the West that has an easier
schedule remaining is Sacramento. Their strength of schedule is for
eight seven memphiss is eight, So they're gonna have an
opportunity to rack up some pretty you know, a pretty
easy remaining schedule. Um. New Orleans is also also right
there with them as far as how easy their remaining
(26:50):
schedule is. Uh So, I think both them and I
think New Orleans for that matter, both have a chance
to really if and when they get fully healthy, if
then when they to bulper them. By the way, Brandon
Ingram is not played in a really really really really
long time, and as we look at the standings and
you look at like, to me, my main question about
New Orleans at this point, it's just like, can he
(27:13):
Ingram and and and Zion develop a rhythm um that
they really haven't had a chance to develop yet. It
has been incredible, but it's a good point. Without Ingram
is significant. Yeah, I mean Ingram has played fifteen games
out of the how many of they played thirty somewhere
around thirty five at this point, you know, most teams
have played about games, so that that's actually my bigger
(27:34):
question about them. But Memphis, you know, Memphis has now
been deep in the playoffs. They're kind of the opposite
of what I've said about Cleveland, where it's like, Okay,
their cast of guys is actually scary. Their top flight
guys are scary, um, but they do have the experience
in a team like Cleveland doesn't, at least collectively UM,
and who knows, maybe they pushed Golden State even more
(27:56):
if they have jobs last year. I probably do if
he's healthy and he plays out that series in which
they took the Warriors to six, So I you know,
I feel pretty good about them. I think that there
UM as of right now, a more complete team than
Golden State is because of the way their bench just
constructed and who they let go in free agency. UM
(28:16):
doesn't mean Golden State can't develop. It doesn't mean that
you know that their bench guys. It doesn't mean that
UM Denver can't go out and get pieces that help
them more defensively. And it doesn't mean that that Kawuhi
Leonard won't start to put it together and look like
Kauhi Leonard, which he has lately. So you know, it's
not me saying that I don't believe in the other teams,
just me saying that I think the Grizzlies have more
(28:38):
room to grow to develop to gel um with their
top light guys, and if they stay healthy or if
they can you know, be healthy for that run, UM,
I think that this just might be the Grizzlies time
and uh and you know, I really do feel strongly
about that. Wow, So you'd you'd have the Grizzlies as
your current favorite in the West. Wow. What do you
(29:01):
make of the Warriors? Last night Clay Thompson goes off
for fifty four points. I touched on them again in
a small piece I wrote for Aside today, which they've
won five in a row. Granted all have been at home,
but that's the longest win streak they've had all season,
and all five games have been without Steph Curry. They
looked like you wrote about this. I mean, they were
in potential going from a massive tailspin here, Chris. They've
(29:21):
been terrible without stuff this year. They're always bad without stuff,
this year was particularly bad. They've won five in a row,
they're at home, but Portland's not a cupcake, Utah is
not a cupcake. Atlanta is not an easy win. Um
Memphis again on Christmas Day, that was the start of
the streak. Those of all those were all really solid winds. Um.
(29:43):
They're finding ways to win without Steff. I think they
found something in DiVincenzo. I think Moody's playing better. Um
Ti jer Rome. I'm not sure if that's going to
translate to the playoffs, but I I just I Steph
claimed Dre have not lost healthy in a playoff series
(30:04):
since the two thousand and sixteen finals, which is the
only time they've lost, and it took like just a
truly absurd set of circumstances for that to happen. Um,
where do you have them in this race? Do you
like them more or less than teams like the Nuggets
and the Clippers. Um, I'll say for now, if if
(30:27):
they're fully healthy, I kind of trust them to find
a way to beat Denver. Um. Denver just doesn't. We've
talked about this a little bit, and it's like people,
I feel like the Venn diagram of people that don't
like Yo Kitchen, think that he's overrated or over build
(30:48):
or whatever you would call it, are are also the
same people that mostly watch him in a playoff series
against Golden State, where it's like, yeah, he looks somewhat
deficient defensively when he's having to try to figure out
how to guard or how to try to, you know,
get up to the level of where Steff Curry is,
which is like eighty feet away. Um, so you know
(31:10):
that matchup for Denver is just not particularly great. I mean,
it would be fun to watch that series now when
you've got Michael Porter and and um and obviously Jamal Murray,
but I don't love that matchup for the reasons that
we saw last year, which is just that stuff is
going to annihilate that defense at least as constructed. Um,
the Clippers would be a fascinating matchup for them, yeah,
(31:33):
I mean they beat them once. Yeah, I mean it
would be a fascinating match to watch the Clippers against
the Warriors or the Nuggets quite frankly, but yeah, sorry,
that's where I meant the Nuggets. Yes, yeah, so you know,
I'm a little bit torn on that one. I also
want to see the Clippers, like, are they fully healthy
when they take on that matchup? Are they down one guy?
As as we talk about Kauai and his health, I'm
(31:54):
pretty sure PG is now out for a little bit injury.
So it's just know like on some level, the Clippers
are tough, just because I feel like they they just
have a little bit of the feel of a team
that I remember watching the Bulls for so many of
those years. Um, you know, with Derrick Rose and everything.
And they had their their starting lineup was something like
(32:18):
twenty five and three, you know, when they were fully healthy.
But that also tells you that their starting lap was
only healthy twenty eight games. Um, So they were dominant
when they were healthy, but they were never healthy. And
it's starting to feel like the Clippers are kind of
that team a little bit. Um. Maybe it's even conservative
to say, starting to feel it that way because obviously
the last couple of years have been the last couple
(32:38):
of years. But between that and their rotation, Uh yeah,
they have the potential to be dominant if they're ever
fully healthy. But will they ever fully be healthy? And
uh it it kind of does feel like that c
saw effects. So I don't know what to think of
them other than no, I really wouldn't want to play
them if they're fully healthy. It's just a question whether
they will be. But I trust the Warriors more than um,
(33:01):
the Nuggets if if Step is available, I'd like to
say I trust them a little bit more than the
Clippers too, if Step is fully healthy. Um, just because
I don't really trust the Clippers to be fully healthy. Um,
But I would take the Grizzlies over all. Three of
those other teams, I would wow, Um, yeah, damn Okay,
(33:21):
I don't know that I was expecting that. I I'm
starting to get talk myself back into the Nuggets. We
we got asked for bold predictions and I always picked
the Nuggets to win the finals. But I'm feeling better.
But this in first place in the West. They've been
on a tear lately. I think they finally lost to
the Wolves last night. But I mean, Yokich, I think
(33:43):
at some point we're gonna have to talk about him
possibly winning his third rade M v P. He's been
That conversation should have started at this point. Absolutely, he's
been fantastic. The defense with Michael Porter Jr. In the
starting lineup is actually been pretty good. And I think
they'll probably never have a great defense, but I can
(34:06):
that get stops when it matters. I think they can
get enough stops when this matt when it matters, and
more importantly, can other teams stop them when it matters?
And I don't know the heat. We're playing a great
game against the Clippers and that was getting close, um
in the final few minutes, and you know Miami is
bam at a bio. Jimmy Butler Kyle Lowry, no answers none,
(34:28):
Um Bam. I think Bam can guard every single player
in the NBA one on one credibly. Doesn't mean he's
gonna stop him every time. I think he can credibly
guard players and one on one in the NBA, I
think the only one he can't is it's uh man,
(34:49):
I just don't At some point, almost like if Yokich
is as good as we think he is, and we
I think we both think he's very good, he's got
a breakthrough and it the same time, mean I put
the Clippers over them because I think Kauai is really
starting to look like Kauai. But you know you mentioned
the health. Kauai gets sick, he misses the game last
(35:09):
night against Miami. Um now Paul George has this hamstring injury.
Maybe they are just snake bitten. But it's just so
hard for me to separate these teams. I think I
still think the the promise of the Clippers is maybe
higher than the promise of all the other teams in
the West as presently constructed. You know, if Golden State
(35:30):
makes a move, if they get a vetter two, it
could be different. But god, it's so hard to separate them.
I do want to talk about one team that we've
not talked about in a long time on this podcast
that is now by far the hottest team in the
NBA sixteen and one of their last seventeams with twelves
in a row. Kevin durant Is is Kevin Durant. I
(35:51):
mean he's playing like the Kevin Durant we know and love. Um,
you want to you know, it's funny Kevin Arnovit's on
the pod a couple of weeks ago, Chris and we
talked about how you know he's watching the NBA as
a casual fan, and it's it's not always a great product.
Stars are missing time and you get excited for a
big matchup and you find out somebody's missing. You know,
(36:12):
who cares about the regular season? Kevin Durant. Uh, this
guy competes every night. I love the competitiveness he has.
And I mean that like he's drawing with guys, he's
drawing with fans. But in a way that's just clear
that he just loves the game man, Like he's genuinely
so thrilled to be out there. Um, it's just hard
(36:32):
to explain. It's hard to translate it, but like competitiveness
is is not the just the right sell, but he
just brings like a great I'm really happy to be
out here attitude every single night, and I'm gonna make
the most of it, like I'm gonna enjoy every minute
I have on the floor. It's kind of the way
I see him playing and listen, they've been a juggernaut.
Ben Simmons is being the role player everyone wanted him
(36:55):
to be in terms of a defender. Distributor, Nick Claxton.
I read about Brick Lopez and what he's doing protecting
the paint Classon's right there. It's at least statistically Royce O'Neill.
I think they've gotten good mautes from t J. Warren Dah.
I mean, all these guys coming off the bench, Patty
Patty mills, Um, what do you make it. I think
(37:17):
the Nets are a better team than the Bucks right
now in Milwaukee's dropped to twenty two, I think in offense.
I don't know if that's just all Chris Middleton, but
I'm starting to worry about them. I know you are
the the chief operating the chief operating officer, the number
one hype man, the communications director of the honest is
(37:41):
the best player I would if you had said that,
I was going to bring it up myself because it
has not been a good to three weeks for that
compared at least not playing the way he's playing in
the nets to play the way they're playing. So tell me,
tell him, give me a vibe check right now? You're
are you are confident in the nets? Are box at
(38:01):
this present moment. Ah, I'm gonna go with the Bucks
like for a little bit longer, a little bit longer
because Chris Middleton, and and not just him, but the
offense as a whole, because sometimes you can have a
player that's struggling and the offense still can do well
(38:22):
because just having that player, his presence, his facing, his
threat can can add to your offense. And Milwaukee has
not had that yet are benefited from that yet. Middleton
is shot really, really really poorly, um to an extent
where it's like, I don't think he's capable of shooting
this poorly for much longer. Um. I do believe a
(38:44):
little bit more in the Bucks defense when it comes
down to it, than the nets, although the nets are
a top ten defense at this point. Um, they've played
well for long enough to be legitimate. They've won, as
you said, uh, sixteen out of seventeen, twelve in a row. Um,
I mean they have two guys that like It wouldn't
(39:04):
be the craziest thing in the world if they ended
up going. Um. I mean, Kyrie's right there, you know,
is it basically shooting thirty eight percent from three He's
already at nine, Durant, it would take him a little bit.
It would take a big heater from him from the
three point line to get there. Um. But he's shooting
fifty six percent from the field. He's averaging almost thirty
(39:28):
a game on less than nineteen shots, and his defense
has been fantastically defensively. For them to go to where
they were to start the season to top ten defensively
is yeah, we need to be having more conversations about
him in the VP conversation. I think even more so.
And I'm saying this granted because they're on a long
winning streak, but also that their defense is legitimate that
(39:49):
Durant probably, especially if there's voter fatigue as it relates
to UH too, that Durant needs to be the beneficiary
of that in my opinion, Um, so I mean, this
team is is real. I also think that the idea
of the the concern about, um, will there be something
else that happens with them, whether it is Ben Simmons
(40:11):
in his back, Uh, whether it is Kevin Durant having
an injury. He stayed healthy all year. He's played in
every game I think you've had so far, which is unusual.
And also, you know was always was always the main
impetus for me saying clearly that Janice was the best
guy in the world. Um, Durant can make that a
(40:32):
very good case if he can stay healthy, obviously and
hold down the fort in a year where uh, frankly
he was kind of well, let me not say he
was dealta a bad hand of cards, because obviously Durant
kind of put a question mark on this season two
with everything that he said and did during the off season. Um,
but this team is real, and they have just enough
(40:53):
of a blend of everything from from spacing and shooting two. Uh,
the fact that they do have some guys that are
people of really getting after it defensively. Uh, It's it's
a good roster. And this is kind of what everybody
thought and why so many people said going into the year.
This team, you know, even if you hate the guys
on the court, because of the different off court stuff
(41:13):
that's going on, the trade demands, the vaccines, UF, the
you know, potential anti semitism, the anti semitism, whatever you
want to call it, um, not even whatever we call it,
the stuff that very clearly looked like anti semitism for
a while. Uh. You know, but this team is deep.
This team has you know, some some great players on
(41:34):
it and also some stability now and not a question
mark over hanging over them as far as the coach.
Uh So, it's it's not terribly terribly surprising, but it's
refreshing to see them play well finally. Um, there is
a part of me that wants to see them prove
it when it counts. Uh. They are coming off of
a sweep. Uh so, so we'll see. But I would
(41:56):
take Milwaukee over them slightly right now. But I would
also love to see at Hockey Brooklyn series. I would
love it. Uh. I would love to see the top
four in the East really go after it. That even
the top five, like if we if we throw a
Billy in there to Philly becomes very interesting. They didn't
make your list, did they in terms of they were
they were? They were number seven, They were number seven
(42:19):
and beat has been fantastic, and beating Harden together have
been fantastic. The hardened reports about him maybe wanted to
go back to Houston or a little weird to me,
and you just wonder if he's going to be fully invested.
But the fact that they've been this good without Tyrris
Maxie has been great. To your point, I think the
Nets and Celtics play each other on the twelfth. I
really hope everyone's healthy for that game. And also, yes,
(42:42):
as you alluded to, we're focusing on the Nets on
the court. Um, they've, to their credit or however you
want to describe it, they've they've quote unquote managed to
avoid distractions if we don't know how you want to
phrase it. Obviously the Kyrie stuff is still out there
it or was out there whatever it was bad, But um, yeah,
(43:04):
I mean that stuff. And and please let's not have
this this conversation about a redemption or an adversity because
it was all self basically self inflicted. So I don't
want to hear anything about that. We can just call
it what it is. For the fact that the team
is talented, was always really talented. They're playing up to
(43:25):
their potential. They're healthy to some extent, this is what
we would have expected. And then if you stripped away
all the controversy that was self inflicted. Um, but also
shows you like maybe if you just handed Jacque Vaughan
the job to begin with and and not ever considered
even Doka, not brought in Steve Nash, you'd never coached before. Uh,
(43:48):
you know, but it it's it's nice to see them
playing the way that we all thought that they were
capable of playing last year before a James Harden trade.
Now after James Harden trade, the team has talent. There
was never any question about out that. It's been really
cool to see them finally put it together and finally
do it as a healthy squad. And I'm very happy
for Jack Vaughan, who deserves this opportunity. And it's a
(44:09):
difficult opportunity for coaches of color to get teams this good.
Uh frankly, And you know, I think that it took
a lot of public shaming of the Udoka potential hiring
and Jockomon, I think two and seven he's been great.
He's pushing all the right buttons, and especially the way
he's coached up and coaxed out that defensive effort has
(44:31):
been remarkable. I do have them number two in the
My Contender rankings right now, and I stand by it.
I like them more than the Bucks. I'm with you
on the Middleton thing. I think that it's obviously playing
a significant role right here, but I just have some
questions about their half court offense. And yeah, sometimes obviously,
(44:53):
honest is, the numbers are so good that it can
sometimes obscure the fact of how much of a slog
their offense is. And yeah, I mean, I mean, now,
Middleton's missed a lot of time, and I'm interested if
he can get enough of rhythm and if he can
stay healthy for the playoffs. Let's end with this, Chris.
You know it's our first episode of the new year.
(45:13):
If I've we've now seen nearly half a season's worth
of evidence of who these teams are where they are now.
Keep in mind last year Boston around this time was
five at the end up going on this big run,
so things can change, although that's that's not typically the norm.
What's what's your finals pick as of the start of
the new year headed into three, I'm giving you an option.
(45:36):
Who are you picking in the finals to win? And
against who? You know? I think I kind of outed
myself already, is like, at this point, I'm probably taking
Memphis and so in the West and and granted they
haven't played really well lately, but I don't know that
I'm taking anybody over to Boston at this moment um.
(45:58):
I mean, granted, we just talked about Brooklyn looks um
much better and and and finally you know, whole um
no controversies hanging over them at least for the time being,
thank goodness. Um, But I you know, Boston did sweep them,
and and the two key guys were out there last year,
(46:19):
and Durant and and Kyrie, so you can benefit from
having other guys healthy and and and playing well. But
it's still it's still Boston. It's still the depth that
Boston has. And by the way, Boston is still kind
of you know, if I'm going to give Memphis the
benefit of the doubt in terms of not having all
their guys out there, um, if I'm gonna give them
(46:40):
that benefit of doubt not having their guys out there
for an extended amount of time, to develop rhythm. Uh,
Robert Williams had had missed a lot of time, and
it's still pretty new. Um to being back in the
mix and kind of the way that changes the way
they look as far as the way they play offense,
as far as the way they play defense. Um. So
I'm still gonna with Boston here. I think to get
(47:01):
back to the finals, I would take the Grizzlies over
anybody in the West right now. Um, And so I
would have a Boston Memphis final right now. I'm gonna
you won't do it, So I will. I'm gonna be
the prisoner of the moment, and I'm gonna go with
my Denver Nuggets. Shout out to the Joker. Shout out
to the borderline All Star maybe All Star Aaron Gordon,
(47:22):
Bruce Brown, k CP, Christian Brown, Braun, whatever you wanna
call him, my guy, Michael Malone, my guy Calvin Booth.
Shout out to the Denver Nuggets. They are going to
win the NBA Finals against Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets.
That's right, I'm putting the nets in the moment, I
figured that's who you were taking. I'm gonna go full chaos.
(47:45):
I you want to talk about salty. I picked the Net.
I picked the Nets to beat the Celtics in the
first round last year, and I said, you know what,
I'm not picking against Kevin Durant. And so you know,
fool me once, shame on you. Is it gonna be
fool me twice or they gonna prove me right? We'll
find out um of Chris that I think was going
(48:05):
to do it for today's episode. Once again, congratulations. My
brother were also proud of you. Once again, I would
like everyone to know that A we are feuding with
Michael Peanut. We are upset about the way he left
the show, and I'm glad that you I'm glad that
you told me that you got engaged before he did.
(48:28):
Just for when we get people read it threads apparently
to call out that we we hate Michael. Shout out
to Michael who you're having lunch within like ours, like
even better minutes, minutes even uh got to do for
today's episode. Everyone, please keep your emails coming. We definitely
want to get to some more emails to kick off
(48:50):
this YAR open for mail at gmail dot com. Thank
you to everyone for bearing with the schedule. We're excited
to be back on track here for the you know,
the last six months of this NBA season until the
next episode continues to enjoy all the hoops, whoa, whoa,
(49:13):
what what what what
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