May 1, 2025 • 43 mins
Mort & Stephen Noh from The Sporting News look at their pre-season awards picks, and thoroughly laugh at themselves.
Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
https://www.fanduel.com/research/nba
Use the promo code "buzzerbeater30" for big discounts at HelloFresh.
Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
https://www.fanduel.com/research/nba
Use the promo code "buzzerbeater30" for big discounts at HelloFresh.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Hi, my name is Morton Jensen, and you're listening to
the NBA Podcast. Hi, and welcome to the NBA Podcast.
My name is Morton Jensen, and today we're about to
make fools of ourselves because the great Stephan No, senior
NBA writer over at Sporting News, is joining me today
(00:31):
where we're gonna look back at our preseason awards predictions,
all of whom look just egregious at this point for
a variety of reasons. And look, Steph, I know you
agree with me, man like, sometimes the best thing out
there is just to laugh at yourself.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Yeah, we were discussing before we started recording. I don't
remember what I picked. So this is this is gonna
be ugly. I think I don't know why there's so bad.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Oh no, yours, yours, I will say yours were better
than mine. I will I will say that. So uh.
And and there is one that should be absolutely shoe
in because the awards are still trickling out, we don't
really have the final ones in, say, but there is
one specific award where I think you're just gonna kneel
it out of the ballpark. But I think we should
(01:22):
start with the m v P because that was one
of two awards where we were completely in line. Both
for both of those were like, this is the year
of Luka Doncic. Well, he didn't win the MVP, he
didn't even finish the year as a Maverick. So how
do we feel about that?
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Well, okay, so this one I kind of remember. I
think I said that Jokish was still going to be
the best player in the world, but I just thought
the Nuggets weren't going to be that good, which ended up,
you know, kind of happening. I mean, I think that
if they had finished in first place, he would have won, right,
So I will not accept defeat or mort Yeah, but
(02:03):
you know's I assume he's probably gonna win. He's a
very deserving winner. I think Luca would have been right there,
you know, if he'd stayed healthy. Yeah, it's not like
he had a terrible year or anything.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
No, I agree, I don't think that's particularly greecious. I
still have Jokich over Shay.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
I maybe I'm just say as well, Oh, okay, I
think we're on the minority.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Yeah, which which is wild. Like, here's a guy who's
the three time MVP winner. This is hands down the
best season he's ever had. Like, I understand the team's
success does factor in, but they still won fifty. It's
not like they came out of there and like one
forty two or anything like. I just I can't. If
I had a vote, I would have voted Jokic and
(02:45):
I would have no issue just going to bat for him.
And that's not trying to talk down Shaye, who's been
amazing and it's probably the closest we have to like
a new age Michael Jordan in the way that he's playing,
I think, which is fantast well. I mean like he
leans into the mid range game a lot, he gets
to the foul line a lot. He's athletic, He's created
(03:07):
a lot of steals, right, like both the statistical profile
the eye test also a little bit like I'm not
saying he is Mike, but if we're going like with
the whole, oh, Anthony Edwards is the new Michael Jordan.
I have a guy in Okase who's like, no, he's closer,
He's he's probably more in line.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
I don't know, I haven't really thought of that comparison.
That's an interesting one. I mean, like mj was just
so good at getting to the rim just out out
athleting everyone. I feel like Shaye is a little bit
more slithery. He uses that forearm, which is like a
crazy unstoppable move. But as far as scoring profile, yeah,
you might be right there.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
It's interesting because it's so it's so long ago with
Mike now, Like I understand why there are a lot
of a young NBA fans who are like Mike who
because it's been like, when was he last in the lead?
Two thousand and three? That's twenty two years ago, and
that was as a whizzer, which doesn't even count really.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Actually two thousand and three was seven or eight years ago.
I'm pretty sure.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Yeah, you're soaping, you're soping. Okay, so we're not bowing
out on the Luca thing. That was a fair pick.
I think you and I are going to be even
more satisfied with our next pick because had it not
been for a deep vane thrombosis, he would have won
this Viswmbanyama as the Defensive Player of the Year, Like,
(04:25):
come on, how could we not have him there? I'm
not out on that pick still, like unforeseen circumstances.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Yeah, I mean, he he was going to win in
a landslide, and you could just tell by the cluster
f that happened after he was not eligible for the
Awardingmore like nobody really knew who they were going to
vote for until maybe like the last week of the season.
I had Dyson as my guy. I don't know who you.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Had, so yeah, I had b Bleep, but Dyson was
like second on that list.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
I mean, both those guys are fine, right.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Like, you can't go wrong there. And I don't even mind, Like,
because we're all optimistic about Wemby, like if he's gonna
come back fully healthy and have you know, a fifteen
year career whatever we're looking at, I'm pretty sure he's
gonna get plenty of this. So like for him to
not win his first two years like he was second,
I believe in voting in his rookie season, which, by
(05:20):
the way, he's absurd wanted that year. Yeah, I think
so too. I think so too. It's I just have
no issues with this, but I want you to walk
me through the case for Dyson Daniels as well, because
is it justice steals? Is it also like the size
the positioning? Like you, what's your mindset?
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Well, let's start with the case against Dyson. I think
the biggest thing people say is I think the Hawks
were seventeenth or something in defense somewhere around there. I mean,
like these same people who are pointed that we're going
to vote for Wemby when the Spurs were nineteenth in
defense when he was injured. So I do think that
with the NBA defense, I mean, there's only so much
that one person can do. Defense is like a weak
(06:02):
link kind of activity where you're just attacking the weakest
person over and over. So Dyson does make a difference there,
even when the Hawks have so many weak links, but
he covers for them a lot. They're a team that's
just always in rotation, so he's getting a lot of
steels without gambling. You know, he's an amazing one on
one defender if you look at his numbers, like he's
keeping all these all stars to way below their their
(06:23):
season totals. Yeah, I mean, like I don't think that.
I don't think he's the best perimeter defender. I think
he's the best perimeter defender that was eligible. Like I
think Caruso is a better defender than him. I think
Jalen Suggs is probably a better perimeter defender than him.
Oh but yeah, just the fact that he played so
many games and his deflections and steels were so outrageous.
(06:44):
I think, Yeah, Mobley is also fine if you want
to go there. I think Draymond this was not his
best defensive year and the guy was swept like thirty
four or something. He's been really good in the playoffs,
but in the regular season, I just I wasn't really
there on him. And then you know, lou Dord was
another person people were talking about. I thought he was
the fourth or fifth best defender on his own team,
So I wouldn't give it to him either.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
No, that's okay, So he should have like a team
oriented defensive.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Yeah, I mean he's really good. Doors are really good,
but they have so many guys that are just amazing defenders.
That's why they're like the best defense maybe since the
Bill Russell Celtics.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Yeah no, right, in the new era, like since nineteen eighties,
the best rating.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Right, Uh well, I mean like best relative, yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Right, right, No, it's it's yeah. See, And that's also
always the issue to me with the awards. It's you
can have the individuals. Obviously, that's fine. I would like
to see more team oriented awards too, Like why not,
it's the same with coach and executive. Like you could
have a best coaching staff, you could have a best
(07:51):
front office. You don't have to like sinkle out a
single dude.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
We got to go the other way more. We gotta
do worst worst front office. We gotta we gotta get
our bullies in here.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
That's true. Well, I mean this is not the year
our trust corner show us could win a worst front
Office award because you know, Nico Harrison exists, So that
would be a bad year to go that route. But
that if there is a way to get the bulls
involved in here, that would be it.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Most play in defeats to the Miami Heat.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Yes, there we go very specific, but I want it. Yeah.
Do they get a Kia car for that? Like is
there some sort of prize?
Speaker 2 (08:33):
I don't know. We're gonna have to We're gonna have
to work shop that out, But.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
I think so. I think so, because that that car
has to come in a hideous color or with some
type of writing on it for sure. So this next one, look,
I'm just gonna say, you kick my ass on this one, right,
m I p most Improved. You had Jalen Williams. I
(08:57):
had Trenton Watford. Uh yeah, I.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Remember, Yeah, that was That's probably the only pick that
stood out of my mind because I appreciate you going
out on a limb. You know, you gotta get points
for that.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
I will also say, like I always skewed towards lesser
names with this award. I think this should be two awards.
Like you know how Kate Cunningham is being mentioned as
an MIP candidate. I think that's ridiculously average twenty three
and like almost eight assists last year. I think we
should have two awards like Most Improved or maybe you
(09:35):
can even rename that and the next Star like a
Next Star's type of award, because that makes more sense
to me. I don't think you know, when Luca was
in the conversation some years ago, that never made sense
John m'rant winning it was also weird. I think, like
I like to have the guys coming out of nowhere,
But even that one I was I was very wrong
(09:56):
on I thought Trent would play more. I thought Jordy
Fernandez would like go with the best players because he's
that type of dude. And I thought Trenton would just
sort of shoehorn his way into the starting lineup. I
was very, very wrong on that. Jalen looks like a
stud though, not that he didn't do that last year,
but he took a step up this year as well.
(10:16):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
I love what we're doing here. Mark, We're not wrong.
The awards are wrong. We need to make new awards, though,
we are right right?
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Oh no, I look, I am definitely wrong on that
one too, Like you could have gone with Dyson Daniels instead,
for example, tied Jerome, Like there were a couple guys
there that may say, no, wait a second, tied Jerome
not eligible, right because he played under twenty minutes per
game or something along those lines or something.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
This was really borderline. Yeah, I can't remember. There's like
there's exceptions to that sixty five game rule where you
can fall a little bit under, and I think he
might have qualified or might not have. It was very
close though, like within the game.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
But to your point about j Dubb, I mean twenty
one and a hal half points per game, five plus rebounds,
five plus assists, just like a Swiss army knife. What
position doesn't he play really? Like? Maybe not center? But
he's on ball, he's off balls. Yeah, that's true. That's true.
So like if we go by the old ideology that
(11:18):
you you are what you guard, then yeah, center minutes
as well and at six five six six two, I
don't remember a player quite like him, Like what are
we is? Like? Is he the new age Scottie? Like
I that would be fun. I'll just bring up Mike
Forshay and I'll bring up Scott That wasn't intentional, But
(11:41):
like it's tough to me to find like a comp
from the past I can go to on this one.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Yeah, who is the Judd Buschler of the Okay? See thunder.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Aaron Wickins?
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Okay, all right, I could get there.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
Yeah, just obviously a lot better than Judd. Sure, but
like the role is similar.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Yeah Caruso as Dennis Rodman perhaps, Yeah, I say it.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Joe is definitely Steve Kerr.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
There you go.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Yeah, Okay, see if they went six of them? Yeah,
I see what you're doing. Okay, see smart? Smart? All right?
So are there anyone else in them? I p sphere
that you think should have gotten more attention?
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Who's the Who's the favorite? Is a Dyson?
Speaker 1 (12:32):
I believe it's Dyson, let's go.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
People have talked about kid as well. I mean, m
I p is the award that I think of the least,
just because, like you said, I mean, it's kind of
the criteria is just whatever, you know. It's it's like
guys that are already good that just jump into All
Star status. So yeah, it's more fun to pick out
the Uh who's the obscure player going with next year
(12:56):
Baylor Shireman?
Speaker 1 (13:00):
No, no, no, so because he's a second year guy.
I never go with second year guys. And I don't
go well, that's not in case for for Shaler, but
like I never go with lottery picks either. I don't
like that.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
I have a rule I have about vit You like
vit out in Atlanta?
Speaker 1 (13:18):
That would be fun. I wouldn't hate that. Like that
is the type of dude. See now you're now you're
singing my tune, sir. This is this is what we're
talking about. Those are the type of players I'm gonna
be looking at. Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Okay, So here's a question for you. Who's like a
guy that's definitely not going to win the award, who
maybe people have not heard of that you think made
big improvements this year. Oh, good question, So I gotta
think of one.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Yeah. So obviously, like before I answered that, I will
say I Actually, I'm just gonna answer in the opposite
way because there's a guy who actually made a lot
of improvements where I didn't buy it. Initially, I was like, uh,
And that was Davian Mitchell in Miami, and I was like,
like do we I wasn't sure if I trusted that
production and felt very you know Marchie basketball, Like, I
(14:05):
don't know if I trusted. Then he started doing it
both in the play and in the playoffs. I know
they got swept, but that's not you know, one person's fault.
I want to give him some credit because I was like, no,
it's it's Davion Mitchell. I'm not buying that. Hell yeah,
I'm buying that now. I think the Champagne brothers, the twins,
(14:27):
I think both of them got a lot better this year,
but they just played for bad teams, so no one
really tuned in. Sure, yeah, both of them really, And
I'm kind of hoping that we're seeing them level up again.
It'd be fun to have, you know, another set of
twins just kind of becoming like starter caliber level. We
(14:49):
need something to just wash out the Marcus and markif
Morris era out, that left the bad taste. We need
something else.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Yeah, Robin's gone too now and Brooke is getting played
off the floor. We need some more twins.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
It's it's yeah, and like, look, with all due respect
to Cody and Caleb, it's like, eh, eh, like, could
there be a more mess set of NBA twins? I
don't know. Oh, actually I do have a fun one
for you. Okay, how do you feel about Julian Strawther
next year?
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Julian Strawther, I don't know, Like I feel like all
of these guys on the Nuggets rotation. I mean they've
had chances, you know, like they've needed they've needed anyone
they can play. So you know the fact that Calvin
Booth is so invested in these guys, I don't know, man,
(15:44):
I mean like I feel like we're just you know,
we only see like a small part of the picture.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Too.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
Michael Malone is seeing these guys in practices and there's
a reason why, you know, he's just like doesn't have
their trust.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Yeah, all right, so you I can sense you're not
all in on on my Julian Starlar selections. That's that's fine.
Maybe I'm waiting for my big Tarry Eastern breakout, like
for like he's already good. Yeah, I need to see
him like reach that level then we can talk about it,
because I don't think he qualifies as like a next star.
(16:17):
I think there's been there have been so many players
who are better than him that kind of gets that award.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
Yeah, getting he was getting some deepoy buzz at the
beginning of the year, like has advanced stats are amazing,
defensively huge, hustle guy, kind of has not been great
in the playoffs. But yeah, always next year.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
So I don't have one final name I'm gonna throw
at you for MP next year because I can't figure
out if he's like already too good or if the
secret's out. Denny Oh, I love that one, right, Like
he's he finished the year on such a high note,
ended up the year averaging like seventeen seven with four assists.
(17:00):
I don't know too yeah, like yeah, I mean he's
not bad in that area as well, and he's hitting
the three. He's also getting to the free throw line
a lot more. I wonder if like his second part
of the season became too obvious, and like when he
busts out next year, everyone is gonna go, oh, no,
we already knew that, Marten.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
I promise you that is not true, because you have
to keep in mind that the media is these the
words and they give ballots too, like a lot of
like it's one hundred ballots, probably ninety five of them
did not watch the Blazers in the last month of
the season. So I think we're I think we're safe there.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
That that is so true and also very depressing in ways.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
Well, maybe one day they'll open up the voting. I
would love to see some some new faces on there,
people that just binge games, like there's there's so many
of us, So yes, I'll get some fresh faces in there.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Reward the people who stay up very very late to
catch games. That's all I'm saying. Yes, absolutely, But Denny
is a guy who's on my short list for next
year for sure. Like there there's a I'm not even
closing the door on next year. He's an All Star
like that. The level that he played at to wrap
up the year just ridiculous. I think they found.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Yeah, he was he was good at Washington too, like that.
The towards the tail end, you know, it's just like
he's had really bad luck on being on terrible teams.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Yeah, and then he's on arguably the best non rookie
contract in the league. Two Hell yeah, hell yeah. Okay,
Rookie of the Year, you made out a lot better
than I did. You picked Edie. I picked Reach Shepherd,
which was like I was.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
I was really low on read all year. Yeah, I mean,
like I even pre draft process, I thought that he
was a little bit overrated, like maybe he'll be good
down the line, but he he kind of disappeared in
some of those Kentucky games.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Well, you nailed it, because he barely played this year,
and if he did, it was like low minutes count.
I am so. I was not out on eighty by
any stretch of the imagination. I thought the criticism around
him got way too ridiculous as he came into the league.
I did, not, however, anticipate this. The rebounding is off
(19:23):
the charge.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
I thought he's already like a top five rebounder in
the league.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
It's crazy so good, like so good on that end,
to the point I thought he would like I bought
into like, oh, he'd be a little bit slow, so
I thought, you know, he would have not necessarily the
best way to go in and get those boards like
more athletic players, which just kind of swooping and get them. Nope, nope.
(19:47):
He is gobbling up like crazy. Ended up the year
grabbing thirteen point nine per thirty six And that's like
even a little bit misleading because in the second half
of the year that tacked up substantially. He started hitting
a couple of threes here and there, did very well
from the free role line. I think the offense kind
(20:07):
of came along as well. This was a good ass
year for sach Edie. Like I have Stefan Castle as
my Rookie of the Year over him, but like clearly
first All Rookie, First Team that's what he's called.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Yeah. The other thing about his rebounding, I mean, even
beyond the numbers that he gets, he I think he
was number one in the league, I want to say
in box outs, and his contested rebounding percentage is also
really high. So not only is he getting a ton
of rebounds, but he's also just clearing multiple dudes out
allowing other teammates to get rebounds. Do you see that
(20:43):
in the on off dattaitude. The team rebounds way way
better when he's on the floor. Yeah. I had Reese
Cha as my Rookie of the Year, and I think
Castle is going to be a better player. It definitely
has more potential, But I kind of just based it
on who was better this season, and you know, both
guys had kind of ups and downs this year. I
(21:04):
think Castle's efficiency was just like not great, though I
don't think that's like a long term issue. But yeah,
J was a little bit better. Started out the year terribly,
but his three pointer kind of came along middle end
end of the season. He also disappeared in that playing game,
which kind of sucked. But overall, I thought re J
was pretty good. You can go either way there. I
(21:25):
think either of those guys is fine.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Yeah. No, I have no issue with Rishacha. I give
it to Castle because I think the defense was as advertised. Yeah,
I think his playmaking, his rebounding was pretty good. And
I said this on a podcast with Dan Fivalley at
the other day. I was just surprised at the sheer
(21:50):
audacity he had going up against like big centers all
the time, Like he understood right off the bat. Oh yeah,
Like I'm six six to twenty five and I'm basically
all I can get up there. I can challenge those
guys at the rim and I could win that matchup.
And he did so again and again and got to
the free thro a line and all those things where
(22:10):
I'm like, Okay, it just feels like he's got a
type of in factor. So like, I'm just buying the
hype there, but I agree that Risach shake him alive
in the latest part of the season. Jimen Wells also like,
right there, Memphis have two good rookies, which is encouraging.
Now they just need to figure out what the hell
they're going to do with John Jaren because I don't
(22:33):
know if I'm with it long term. It's a little
bit discouraging there for the moment, but at least they're
walking away with two guys, both of whom should make
All Rookie First Team.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
I'm guessing, yeah, I right, have both of them there.
I actually think that McCain probably Jared McCain probably would
have won this award, but he I think he only
played twenty five games or something towards meniscus, But I mean,
he was just carrying the Sixers to the first part
of the year, and he his shooting was amazing. I mean,
like he was not. He was a very divisive prospect
(23:05):
on you know, draft Twitter and stuff like that, but
I think he kind of proved a lot of those
concerns wrong. He's just able to create separation, get to
the rim, and like I said, the shooting was just
otherworldly off off the dribble, coming off screens. So I
really like McCain. I think he's gonna be the best
player in this class.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
Oh nice, I don't. I don't hate that at all,
but you're also right, like the numbers back it up.
He took a ton of threes, which I don't think
is always easy for rookies to come in because they
want to make sure, oh, it's a good shot. He
came in and just did not hesitate right off the jump,
which I think is is such a good sign of
someone who trusts disabilities. And twenty three games played, fifty
(23:44):
one triples made. That's a sigh volume. Look, they're gonna
need everything they can because we have no idea what
the state of that roster is going to look like
next year or a couple of years. Down the line,
MAXI McCain like, yeah, it's a small backcourd. I will,
I will, I will grant you know the criticism of that,
(24:05):
but that should be dynamic, and it should be fast,
and it should be fluid, a lot of shooting, a
lot of scoring. I mean, I'm not down on it.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
All right, you're already making bad predictions before the next season,
even stressed because the Sixers have her pretty big mess.
I mean, I do like that backcourt, but I think
that they're uh, their problems are not going to be
necessarily super fixable.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
No, no, no, those issues are not fixable for sure. Uh.
I just wanted to find the silver lining on this
team because I.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
Think that would be a fun backcourt. I like that backcourd.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Alex Crusoe, Buddy Healed. We chose in the next category
with which was six man. I chose Alex Crusoe, you choose,
you chose Buddy Heel. That's not bad. I feel as
though that's probably like the most realistic, non semi obvious,
like in terms of when before example, like we both like, well,
(25:03):
oll wait a second, has has six Men even come
out yet? Or have I already forgotten about that?
Speaker 2 (25:07):
No? That was Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
Yeah, like it's I don't hate those guys, that's I
think that's pretty fine.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
Yeah, I mean Caruso would have won it if he
had played enough minutes. I don't know if he would
have won it, but he certainly would have been in
contention for it, right, and body healed would have won
it if they ended the season after ten games, right,
So we both kind of nailed that one.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
It's It's true though with Caruso, you only played fifty
four games, also played under twenty minutes per game, but
like they didn't even need him to do more. They
he is so preposterously good. It's I don't understand why
there are still people who feel as though, okay, see
you walked away from this trade as losers, Like what
(25:55):
seriously did are you seeing this guy? I understand that
ross stats is very appealing to a lot of people,
but what Caruso did also in like the first round
series against Memphis, just working every ankle, especially in Game three.
This dude is he's somehow leveled up from Chicago somehow.
(26:17):
I didn't think he could, but he did.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
I'm looking forward to the next twelve Thunder wins watching
him because he's gonna help them just steal like at
least two of them.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
Right, Yeah, And he's he plays so many positions too.
He's almost like jdeb Like you can play him at
the one, you can play him spot minutes, at the four,
the three.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
Yeah, he's guardian Jeron Jackson Junior for most of that series.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
And should we talk about Pritchard a little bit? I
feel like we should give him some love.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
I think we should. Well, the shooting, obviously is what
people hang their hats on. I love the tempo he
sets coming off the bench as well. Like I think
the idea that a guy comes in and like injects
energy that is so obvious with him, like that just
stays the course there. When they need something, they put
(27:07):
him in and he just goes balls to the wall
from the start. What do you like about Pritchard's season?
Speaker 2 (27:13):
So, you know, he demanded a trade multiple times because
he just could not break the rotation and the reason
for that was that he was a defensive liability every
time he went out there. He's just put in pick
and roll, like you know, basically every possession. So he's
gotten tougher, like you can't quite exploit him as much. Obviously,
the shooting is the shooting is an awesome shooter. He's
an awesome score. I think the other stuff though, Yeah,
(27:36):
just like the peripheral stuff, he's really gotten better at.
If you look at his offensive rebounding, this is off
the top of my head, So I think he's he
averaged like one point three or something correct per game,
which is incredible for a guard, and especially for a
guard that's like six foot two. Yeah, that just shows
you that, like, this guy's really tough. I talked to
him actually this season. He was telling me about how
(27:57):
he just built up these crazy strong hands. He used
to dribble weighted ball in the winter in his garage
and he would dribble until his hands bled, So he
really like got these callouses and these tough, tough hands.
So I think, like, yeah, he's just like he's a
much more deep player than I think he's given credit for.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
Yeah, I've seen some of those the videos as well
where he's just like working on his ball handling in
his garage and yeah, he's he's like I don't know
how to phrase this in a way that that doesn't
sound wrong, but like I don't think he ever made
it to the league off of sheer talent. I think
this is a guy who, yes, clearly he was talented,
but you would always have that concern like is he
(28:41):
an NBA talent player? And you could finally, you could
definitely see how the answer could be no. But the
work ethic and his understanding of oh, yeah, so I
need to work extra hard to you know, stay in
the league. I need to work extra hard to crack
the rotation, to work extra hard to actually become a
player of a certain value. That just matters a great deal.
(29:04):
And it again also shows how ridiculously good NBA players are.
I showed that that dribble video to my son, who's
playing basketball at a high level of MSEL, and he
was just like, good, Lord, good, how is that possible?
The average NBA player is ridiculous, and that he serves
as a good reminder of that. I don't think he's
average anymore, but he was for a while. I wonder
(29:27):
if there's still like an evolutionary step to him.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
Though, yeah, I don't know. I'm really interested to see
what happens in this next series. You know, when he's
up against the Knicks, they're gonna try to get him
on Jalen Bronson a million times too, So I mean
that's like a much tougher matchup than what he's doing
in the regular season. So yeah, we'll see if those
improvements are for real or not. He's definitely gonna be tested.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
Yeah, yep. So Clutch Player of the Year is such
a weird award. I it to Damar and I think
I told you, I'm just going to give it tomorrow
until he gets it, simply because he got screwed out
of the award not existing that one year, you had
a far more reasonable option in Nicola Jokic. It was
(30:15):
Bronson who ran away with it, right, if memory serves it's.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
I'm not even sure. Yeah, I know Jokic didn't win,
but he was like one of the finalists. He should
have won. He should win, like all of these he's
the best player, Like what are we do it? Like why?
I mean, look at the playoffs. You know he's been
so good in the clutch.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
Yeah no, Look, it's the playoffs just confirms what everyone
is thinking that he's the best player in the world,
and it's the second guy on that list is tiered down,
Like there is a significant step.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
I mean I think Shay is great, like Luca's great,
Gianness is great, but there's a clear differentiation there right
in my opinion.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
So I Clutch is difficult to me because it's such
a new award that it hasn't been I want to say,
defiled by you know, narratives, because so many of these
awards have changed some of their original meaning. I think
like as at some point the MVP was taken very literally,
(31:21):
and then it changed to best player, best teams. Then
it changed to like best player generally, then it changed
to okay, see guard grabbing a triple double or averaging
a triple double for a whole season despite clearly not
being the MVP still winning it. It's that's all over
the place. Like at least Clutch, the only thing you
(31:41):
kind of look at is clutch stats and you kind
of get there, right, Like, I don't know how you
can otherwise look at this award and like, oh, I'm
going to make a call on this, Like you can't
really make a gut feeling call on this one.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
Yeah, I think this one's kind of fun too, because
I mean you're talking about a sample of what what
is that like the most game winners that somebody takes
like six maybe. Yeah, so it's kind of fun that
you can spread that award around as well.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
Yeah, I don't think we've had have we had a
repeat winner so far?
Speaker 2 (32:14):
Now, I'm pretty sure we have not. So Darren Fox
one one, Yeah, Curry one one.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
Yoki did Yokich win last year?
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Hasn't won one?
Speaker 1 (32:25):
Nope? Should have well and no, Tomar, no Toamar. He's
gonna have to say goodbye to the NBA without having
won a clutch Award player that or a Clutch player Award.
That's that's brutal that that would have been his one
claims of fame Coach of the Year. We're both. Yeah,
(32:47):
So I had Pop obviously that did not materialize for
a lot of sad reasons. You had Taylor Jenkins, which
also not materialize, but for a home for a very
different reason because he got fired near the end of
(33:08):
the regular season. Is he still eligible even like technically.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
You know, he did have the Grizzlies in second place
for a lot of the season, So I was taking
an early victory lap before collapsing ten feet from the
finish line. Yeah, I don't know. I don't think he
did like a terrible job. It seems like he might
have lost the team, which you know, like it's hard
to be aware of that when you're not in the
(33:37):
locker room or on the beat or whatever.
Speaker 1 (33:39):
Right, I mean, it's not gregious at all. I understand
the thinking, definitely. I just I don't know what to
make of this Grizzlies team at all. I think I
had the same mindset going into the season. There's a
part of me that never really trusted them. Still don't.
(33:59):
Still don't think you can build anything sustainable around Jaw.
I don't if he's your best player. I think you're
a flawed roster. I think you're a flawed team. Perhaps
it was just best to try something else, Like we know,
organizations aren't going out and trading players before they make
it change a head coach, unless you're the Dallas Mavericks apparently.
(34:19):
But it just it felt like that was that was
what they were trying to do.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
So I've been I've been workshopping a nickname for Isaalo.
Do you want to hear it? Oh? Yes, Helsinki Hoiberg.
What say you? Very similar circumstances. Yes, it was brought in, uh,
very clearly as the replacement for Jenkins because it offensively minded.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
Yeah, offensively minded. And there's even like a physical appearance
similarity there.
Speaker 2 (34:54):
Yeah, great hair for both of them.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
Yes, right, yep. They keep themselves tight. Absolutely. Yes. Do
we know if he has a pacemaker because then it's sold?
Speaker 2 (35:05):
I don't know. We got to get to the bottom
of that.
Speaker 1 (35:07):
We gotta to figure that out. So this last award,
I mean, Steph, you you completely kicked my ass on
this one again. Not just kick my you wipe the
floor with me. Okay, I'm down there, I am trying
to tap out and you're still trying to break my
(35:28):
arm this one.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
What is the award?
Speaker 1 (35:30):
I'm so curious now, Executive of the Year?
Speaker 2 (35:33):
Who did I say, Sam Presty Okay, and I sit there, Maury.
Was this uh after they had done all their moves
or was this before? I can't remember.
Speaker 1 (35:42):
It was right before the start of the regular season.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
Okay, so they had already gotten Caruso and Partenstein.
Speaker 1 (35:49):
Yep. And I said, Maury, because I I think it
was more me wanting that to work in Philly. I
was skeptical of Paul George, but at the instant at
the same time was no, you know what how could
that feel. It's like Paul George, he might be annoying,
he might ruin the locker room in Los Angeles, but like,
this is a new team, all kompa. Yeah, he's gonna
(36:11):
be like that, you know, not not even a three
and D wing. He's gonna be like a guy who
cans two under triples. He's gonna be like a secondary playmaker.
He's oh yeah, this is going to solve the sixers.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
Oh boy, Oh yeah, I did I have like a
model that ranks the worst contracts in the league and
Embeid I think was I want to say it was
number three and Paul George was in the top six. Maybe. Yeah,
So it's a it's a pretty ugly situation for them.
Speaker 1 (36:41):
It's very, very very bad. It's very bad that like that.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
The album was good, though, Yo had a good year.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
Well look he did. And McCain's whom we talked about. Yeah,
that's great. Not enough to win Executive for the Year
award though, nor should it be because big time yikes.
Is there any other executive though where you're looking around
the league going oh this guy or this this front
office in its entirety actually did a really good job.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
Uh, Cody Allman, I think you got to give a
little bit of credit just because there were so many
it's what he didn't do. I think people make this
mistake is they point to the big moves the teams did,
but oftentimes not making a move is just as important.
And I was one of these people that said, oh,
you know, their pieces don't really work well together. They
have too much overlap between their guards and their bigs.
(37:36):
And luckily he didn't listen to idiots like me, and
he figured, you know, maybe if we just changed the coach,
this thing will work, and that's exactly what happened. So
credit there, and also just like finding you know, Tijer Roup,
there's so much good depth on that team. DeAndre Hunter
was a good trade, so they've done a great job there.
Speaker 1 (37:56):
I want to shout out Brian Wright in San Antonio
team there as well, or suld be a version of
those guys, because you were met with this pop issue
early in the season where obviously that's not something you're
planning for to go and like pick out Mitch Johnson
(38:17):
and for him to just click with this roster to
the extent that it did. Also pulling off the darn
Fox trade, which I think like without giving up Castle,
without giving up a lot of these like truly main
core guys. That was impressive to me. You know, obviously
it's such a small sample sized Fox. It's only played
(38:37):
seventeen games, so it's like it's something that we might
be able to give them as an award next season,
because then we'll really see how it's looking. But I
thought that was impressive, especially like especially Mitch.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
So.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
I spoke to Mitch a little bit in Paris as
well when I was there, and he just seems to
have like totally and totally he gets total buying top
to bottom. Also spoke with CP who's just praising him.
Speaker 2 (39:07):
Oh cool.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
Yeah, it's so that to me is also important. It's
not just like the roster things, but like that you
can go in and identify who's going to take over
in this very unexpected situation. Who do we think who
can handle like this burden, who can sort of like
quote unquote Phil pop shoes in this scenario, and then
(39:28):
actually do find the right guy who's like, yeah, I'm
down for it, let's go, let's rock and roll. And
it's a young guy too. I think he's forty eight,
So I think that this serves.
Speaker 2 (39:39):
Some of some Yeah, I'm very curious to see if
he stays on because they have so many good coaching
candidates to choose from. You know, Taylor Jenkins is part
of that Spurs coaching tree. You got butt out there
who worked under Pop Becky Hammond. So there's a lot
of people, you know this more a lot of European
coaches too, that have just been waiting for that job's
(40:00):
like the best job in the NBA. Oh yes, I
think Mits has done a good job, but he is
going to have a lot of competition to hold on
to that job next year.
Speaker 1 (40:08):
I've spoken to European coaches who just want like an
assistant job somewhere where they're like seriously and they have
people hired over them who have very limited experience or
has a bad track record, or like I would love
to see like the bench being filled out with yours,
just as the league has done with players as well.
(40:30):
I think there's something to be found there. So we'll see,
we'll see. I might be a little biased on that one, perhaps.
So that was MVP dp O y m I p
Roy six Man Coach of the Year Executive clutch player. Yeah,
I overall, what kind of grade should we give ourselves here?
(40:52):
Because I mean I'm an F. I'm clearly an F.
I will take that. I can you get an F
minus in the States? I don't know if that's possible,
But if you can't, I'm there. What what is your
uh grade? You're you're self grading.
Speaker 2 (41:10):
I mean, the European school system is so much better
than ours. So if you're an F minus, I got
to be like a Z. You know, it's pretty pretty
bad for me.
Speaker 1 (41:20):
No, you're you Definitely you definitely had a lot better.
I like, if I would, I would say, like a
solid B minus for you.
Speaker 2 (41:29):
Okay, I'll take it.
Speaker 1 (41:30):
Yeah, I think I guess Look, at the end of
the day, we can't predict that Lucas gonna get traded
mid season or Wempy goes down with deep main thrump Boses.
So like, I think Luca would have been an MVP
finalist that would have bumped you up. Wempy obviously would
have wanted that bumps you up. Jaen Williams m I
P come on, that's like as good as he is.
Speaker 2 (41:51):
It's pretty easy pick though. I mean a lot of
people had that one.
Speaker 1 (41:53):
Well still Roy, like with with Zach was good. It
had a good year. I think a lot of people
spoke him down. The Boddy heel one is that pulls
you down a little bit. Taylor Jenkins is just that's fun.
That's fun, that goes down a little bit. But overall
that's where we landed. We promised our listeners when we
did the initial episode that we come back after the
(42:16):
regular season, and here we are. So thank you Stephan
No of the Sporting News senior NBA writer. There. Let
the good people know where they can find your work
and what you're working on.
Speaker 2 (42:28):
Yes, you can find my work at Sporting News. I
tweeted out on X at Steph No on Blue Sky
what are they calling them skeets?
Speaker 1 (42:36):
Yeah, I think we just call it post now because
the other one sounds diurdy.
Speaker 2 (42:40):
Okay, So yeah, at steph No dot bsky dot Social Yeah,
what am I working on right now? Just you know,
playoff observations Generally, I got some predictions solid B minus
predictions for some of these series as they as the
matchupskot finalized.
Speaker 1 (42:59):
Nice. Definitely give Steph a follow grateful have been following
for years and years and years cannot recommend his work enough.
Everyone out there, thank you for listening in and until
we speak again, stay safe and have a good one everyone,
Hi, my name is Morton Jensen, and you're listening to
the NBA Podcast. Hi, and welcome to the NBA Podcast.
My name is Morton Jensen, and today we're about to
make fools of ourselves because the great Stephan No, senior
NBA writer over at Sporting News, is joining me today
(00:31):
where we're gonna look back at our preseason awards predictions,
all of whom look just egregious at this point for
a variety of reasons. And look, Steph, I know you
agree with me, man like, sometimes the best thing out
there is just to laugh at yourself.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Yeah, we were discussing before we started recording. I don't
remember what I picked. So this is this is gonna
be ugly. I think I don't know why there's so bad.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Oh no, yours, yours, I will say yours were better
than mine. I will I will say that. So uh.
And and there is one that should be absolutely shoe
in because the awards are still trickling out, we don't
really have the final ones in, say, but there is
one specific award where I think you're just gonna kneel
it out of the ballpark. But I think we should
(01:22):
start with the m v P because that was one
of two awards where we were completely in line. Both
for both of those were like, this is the year
of Luka Doncic. Well, he didn't win the MVP, he
didn't even finish the year as a Maverick. So how
do we feel about that?
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Well, okay, so this one I kind of remember. I
think I said that Jokish was still going to be
the best player in the world, but I just thought
the Nuggets weren't going to be that good, which ended up,
you know, kind of happening. I mean, I think that
if they had finished in first place, he would have won, right,
So I will not accept defeat or mort Yeah, but
(02:03):
you know's I assume he's probably gonna win. He's a
very deserving winner. I think Luca would have been right there,
you know, if he'd stayed healthy. Yeah, it's not like
he had a terrible year or anything.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
No, I agree, I don't think that's particularly greecious. I
still have Jokich over Shay.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
I maybe I'm just say as well, Oh, okay, I
think we're on the minority.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Yeah, which which is wild. Like, here's a guy who's
the three time MVP winner. This is hands down the
best season he's ever had. Like, I understand the team's
success does factor in, but they still won fifty. It's
not like they came out of there and like one
forty two or anything like. I just I can't. If
I had a vote, I would have voted Jokic and
(02:45):
I would have no issue just going to bat for him.
And that's not trying to talk down Shaye, who's been
amazing and it's probably the closest we have to like
a new age Michael Jordan in the way that he's playing,
I think, which is fantast well. I mean like he
leans into the mid range game a lot, he gets
to the foul line a lot. He's athletic, He's created
(03:07):
a lot of steals, right, like both the statistical profile
the eye test also a little bit like I'm not
saying he is Mike, but if we're going like with
the whole, oh, Anthony Edwards is the new Michael Jordan.
I have a guy in Okase who's like, no, he's closer,
He's he's probably more in line.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
I don't know, I haven't really thought of that comparison.
That's an interesting one. I mean, like mj was just
so good at getting to the rim just out out
athleting everyone. I feel like Shaye is a little bit
more slithery. He uses that forearm, which is like a
crazy unstoppable move. But as far as scoring profile, yeah,
you might be right there.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
It's interesting because it's so it's so long ago with
Mike now, Like I understand why there are a lot
of a young NBA fans who are like Mike who
because it's been like, when was he last in the lead?
Two thousand and three? That's twenty two years ago, and
that was as a whizzer, which doesn't even count really.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Actually two thousand and three was seven or eight years ago.
I'm pretty sure.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Yeah, you're soaping, you're soping. Okay, so we're not bowing
out on the Luca thing. That was a fair pick.
I think you and I are going to be even
more satisfied with our next pick because had it not
been for a deep vane thrombosis, he would have won
this Viswmbanyama as the Defensive Player of the Year, Like,
(04:25):
come on, how could we not have him there? I'm
not out on that pick still, like unforeseen circumstances.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Yeah, I mean, he he was going to win in
a landslide, and you could just tell by the cluster
f that happened after he was not eligible for the
Awardingmore like nobody really knew who they were going to
vote for until maybe like the last week of the season.
I had Dyson as my guy. I don't know who you.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Had, so yeah, I had b Bleep, but Dyson was
like second on that list.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
I mean, both those guys are fine, right.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Like, you can't go wrong there. And I don't even mind, Like,
because we're all optimistic about Wemby, like if he's gonna
come back fully healthy and have you know, a fifteen
year career whatever we're looking at, I'm pretty sure he's
gonna get plenty of this. So like for him to
not win his first two years like he was second,
I believe in voting in his rookie season, which, by
(05:20):
the way, he's absurd wanted that year. Yeah, I think
so too. I think so too. It's I just have
no issues with this, but I want you to walk
me through the case for Dyson Daniels as well, because
is it justice steals? Is it also like the size
the positioning? Like you, what's your mindset?
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Well, let's start with the case against Dyson. I think
the biggest thing people say is I think the Hawks
were seventeenth or something in defense somewhere around there. I mean,
like these same people who are pointed that we're going
to vote for Wemby when the Spurs were nineteenth in
defense when he was injured. So I do think that
with the NBA defense, I mean, there's only so much
that one person can do. Defense is like a weak
(06:02):
link kind of activity where you're just attacking the weakest
person over and over. So Dyson does make a difference there,
even when the Hawks have so many weak links, but
he covers for them a lot. They're a team that's
just always in rotation, so he's getting a lot of
steels without gambling. You know, he's an amazing one on
one defender if you look at his numbers, like he's
keeping all these all stars to way below their their
(06:23):
season totals. Yeah, I mean, like I don't think that.
I don't think he's the best perimeter defender. I think
he's the best perimeter defender that was eligible. Like I
think Caruso is a better defender than him. I think
Jalen Suggs is probably a better perimeter defender than him.
Oh but yeah, just the fact that he played so
many games and his deflections and steels were so outrageous.
(06:44):
I think, Yeah, Mobley is also fine if you want
to go there. I think Draymond this was not his
best defensive year and the guy was swept like thirty
four or something. He's been really good in the playoffs,
but in the regular season, I just I wasn't really
there on him. And then you know, lou Dord was
another person people were talking about. I thought he was
the fourth or fifth best defender on his own team,
So I wouldn't give it to him either.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
No, that's okay, So he should have like a team
oriented defensive.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Yeah, I mean he's really good. Doors are really good,
but they have so many guys that are just amazing defenders.
That's why they're like the best defense maybe since the
Bill Russell Celtics.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Yeah no, right, in the new era, like since nineteen eighties,
the best rating.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Right, Uh well, I mean like best relative, yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Right, right, No, it's it's yeah. See, And that's also
always the issue to me with the awards. It's you
can have the individuals. Obviously, that's fine. I would like
to see more team oriented awards too, Like why not,
it's the same with coach and executive. Like you could
have a best coaching staff, you could have a best
(07:51):
front office. You don't have to like sinkle out a
single dude.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
We got to go the other way more. We gotta
do worst worst front office. We gotta we gotta get
our bullies in here.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
That's true. Well, I mean this is not the year
our trust corner show us could win a worst front
Office award because you know, Nico Harrison exists, So that
would be a bad year to go that route. But
that if there is a way to get the bulls
involved in here, that would be it.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Most play in defeats to the Miami Heat.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Yes, there we go very specific, but I want it. Yeah.
Do they get a Kia car for that? Like is
there some sort of prize?
Speaker 2 (08:33):
I don't know. We're gonna have to We're gonna have
to work shop that out, But.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
I think so. I think so, because that that car
has to come in a hideous color or with some
type of writing on it for sure. So this next one, look,
I'm just gonna say, you kick my ass on this one, right,
m I p most Improved. You had Jalen Williams. I
(08:57):
had Trenton Watford. Uh yeah, I.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Remember, Yeah, that was That's probably the only pick that
stood out of my mind because I appreciate you going
out on a limb. You know, you gotta get points
for that.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
I will also say, like I always skewed towards lesser
names with this award. I think this should be two awards.
Like you know how Kate Cunningham is being mentioned as
an MIP candidate. I think that's ridiculously average twenty three
and like almost eight assists last year. I think we
should have two awards like Most Improved or maybe you
(09:35):
can even rename that and the next Star like a
Next Star's type of award, because that makes more sense
to me. I don't think you know, when Luca was
in the conversation some years ago, that never made sense
John m'rant winning it was also weird. I think, like
I like to have the guys coming out of nowhere,
But even that one I was I was very wrong
(09:56):
on I thought Trent would play more. I thought Jordy
Fernandez would like go with the best players because he's
that type of dude. And I thought Trenton would just
sort of shoehorn his way into the starting lineup. I
was very, very wrong on that. Jalen looks like a
stud though, not that he didn't do that last year,
but he took a step up this year as well.
(10:16):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
I love what we're doing here. Mark, We're not wrong.
The awards are wrong. We need to make new awards, though,
we are right right?
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Oh no, I look, I am definitely wrong on that
one too, Like you could have gone with Dyson Daniels instead,
for example, tied Jerome, Like there were a couple guys
there that may say, no, wait a second, tied Jerome
not eligible, right because he played under twenty minutes per
game or something along those lines or something.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
This was really borderline. Yeah, I can't remember. There's like
there's exceptions to that sixty five game rule where you
can fall a little bit under, and I think he
might have qualified or might not have. It was very
close though, like within the game.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
But to your point about j Dubb, I mean twenty
one and a hal half points per game, five plus rebounds,
five plus assists, just like a Swiss army knife. What
position doesn't he play really? Like? Maybe not center? But
he's on ball, he's off balls. Yeah, that's true. That's true.
So like if we go by the old ideology that
(11:18):
you you are what you guard, then yeah, center minutes
as well and at six five six six two, I
don't remember a player quite like him, Like what are
we is? Like? Is he the new age Scottie? Like
I that would be fun. I'll just bring up Mike
Forshay and I'll bring up Scott That wasn't intentional, But
(11:41):
like it's tough to me to find like a comp
from the past I can go to on this one.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Yeah, who is the Judd Buschler of the Okay? See thunder.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Aaron Wickins?
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Okay, all right, I could get there.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
Yeah, just obviously a lot better than Judd. Sure, but
like the role is similar.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Yeah Caruso as Dennis Rodman perhaps, Yeah, I say it.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Joe is definitely Steve Kerr.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
There you go.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Yeah, Okay, see if they went six of them? Yeah,
I see what you're doing. Okay, see smart? Smart? All right?
So are there anyone else in them? I p sphere
that you think should have gotten more attention?
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Who's the Who's the favorite? Is a Dyson?
Speaker 1 (12:32):
I believe it's Dyson, let's go.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
People have talked about kid as well. I mean, m
I p is the award that I think of the least,
just because, like you said, I mean, it's kind of
the criteria is just whatever, you know. It's it's like
guys that are already good that just jump into All
Star status. So yeah, it's more fun to pick out
the Uh who's the obscure player going with next year
(12:56):
Baylor Shireman?
Speaker 1 (13:00):
No, no, no, so because he's a second year guy.
I never go with second year guys. And I don't
go well, that's not in case for for Shaler, but
like I never go with lottery picks either. I don't
like that.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
I have a rule I have about vit You like
vit out in Atlanta?
Speaker 1 (13:18):
That would be fun. I wouldn't hate that. Like that
is the type of dude. See now you're now you're
singing my tune, sir. This is this is what we're
talking about. Those are the type of players I'm gonna
be looking at. Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Okay, So here's a question for you. Who's like a
guy that's definitely not going to win the award, who
maybe people have not heard of that you think made
big improvements this year. Oh, good question, So I gotta
think of one.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Yeah. So obviously, like before I answered that, I will
say I Actually, I'm just gonna answer in the opposite
way because there's a guy who actually made a lot
of improvements where I didn't buy it. Initially, I was like, uh,
And that was Davian Mitchell in Miami, and I was like,
like do we I wasn't sure if I trusted that
production and felt very you know Marchie basketball, Like, I
(14:05):
don't know if I trusted. Then he started doing it
both in the play and in the playoffs. I know
they got swept, but that's not you know, one person's fault.
I want to give him some credit because I was like, no,
it's it's Davion Mitchell. I'm not buying that. Hell yeah,
I'm buying that now. I think the Champagne brothers, the twins,
(14:27):
I think both of them got a lot better this year,
but they just played for bad teams, so no one
really tuned in. Sure, yeah, both of them really, And
I'm kind of hoping that we're seeing them level up again.
It'd be fun to have, you know, another set of
twins just kind of becoming like starter caliber level. We
(14:49):
need something to just wash out the Marcus and markif
Morris era out, that left the bad taste. We need
something else.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Yeah, Robin's gone too now and Brooke is getting played
off the floor. We need some more twins.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
It's it's yeah, and like, look, with all due respect
to Cody and Caleb, it's like, eh, eh, like, could
there be a more mess set of NBA twins? I
don't know. Oh, actually I do have a fun one
for you. Okay, how do you feel about Julian Strawther
next year?
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Julian Strawther, I don't know, Like I feel like all
of these guys on the Nuggets rotation. I mean they've
had chances, you know, like they've needed they've needed anyone
they can play. So you know the fact that Calvin
Booth is so invested in these guys, I don't know, man,
(15:44):
I mean like I feel like we're just you know,
we only see like a small part of the picture.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Too.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
Michael Malone is seeing these guys in practices and there's
a reason why, you know, he's just like doesn't have
their trust.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Yeah, all right, so you I can sense you're not
all in on on my Julian Starlar selections. That's that's fine.
Maybe I'm waiting for my big Tarry Eastern breakout, like
for like he's already good. Yeah, I need to see
him like reach that level then we can talk about it,
because I don't think he qualifies as like a next star.
(16:17):
I think there's been there have been so many players
who are better than him that kind of gets that award.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
Yeah, getting he was getting some deepoy buzz at the
beginning of the year, like has advanced stats are amazing,
defensively huge, hustle guy, kind of has not been great
in the playoffs. But yeah, always next year.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
So I don't have one final name I'm gonna throw
at you for MP next year because I can't figure
out if he's like already too good or if the
secret's out. Denny Oh, I love that one, right, Like
he's he finished the year on such a high note,
ended up the year averaging like seventeen seven with four assists.
(17:00):
I don't know too yeah, like yeah, I mean he's
not bad in that area as well, and he's hitting
the three. He's also getting to the free throw line
a lot more. I wonder if like his second part
of the season became too obvious, and like when he
busts out next year, everyone is gonna go, oh, no,
we already knew that, Marten.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
I promise you that is not true, because you have
to keep in mind that the media is these the
words and they give ballots too, like a lot of
like it's one hundred ballots, probably ninety five of them
did not watch the Blazers in the last month of
the season. So I think we're I think we're safe there.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
That that is so true and also very depressing in ways.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
Well, maybe one day they'll open up the voting. I
would love to see some some new faces on there,
people that just binge games, like there's there's so many
of us, So yes, I'll get some fresh faces in there.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Reward the people who stay up very very late to
catch games. That's all I'm saying. Yes, absolutely, But Denny
is a guy who's on my short list for next
year for sure. Like there there's a I'm not even
closing the door on next year. He's an All Star
like that. The level that he played at to wrap
up the year just ridiculous. I think they found.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Yeah, he was he was good at Washington too, like that.
The towards the tail end, you know, it's just like
he's had really bad luck on being on terrible teams.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Yeah, and then he's on arguably the best non rookie
contract in the league. Two Hell yeah, hell yeah. Okay,
Rookie of the Year, you made out a lot better
than I did. You picked Edie. I picked Reach Shepherd,
which was like I was.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
I was really low on read all year. Yeah, I mean,
like I even pre draft process, I thought that he
was a little bit overrated, like maybe he'll be good
down the line, but he he kind of disappeared in
some of those Kentucky games.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Well, you nailed it, because he barely played this year,
and if he did, it was like low minutes count.
I am so. I was not out on eighty by
any stretch of the imagination. I thought the criticism around
him got way too ridiculous as he came into the league.
I did, not, however, anticipate this. The rebounding is off
(19:23):
the charge.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
I thought he's already like a top five rebounder in
the league.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
It's crazy so good, like so good on that end,
to the point I thought he would like I bought
into like, oh, he'd be a little bit slow, so
I thought, you know, he would have not necessarily the
best way to go in and get those boards like
more athletic players, which just kind of swooping and get them. Nope, nope.
(19:47):
He is gobbling up like crazy. Ended up the year
grabbing thirteen point nine per thirty six And that's like
even a little bit misleading because in the second half
of the year that tacked up substantially. He started hitting
a couple of threes here and there, did very well
from the free role line. I think the offense kind
(20:07):
of came along as well. This was a good ass
year for sach Edie. Like I have Stefan Castle as
my Rookie of the Year over him, but like clearly
first All Rookie, First Team that's what he's called.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Yeah. The other thing about his rebounding, I mean, even
beyond the numbers that he gets, he I think he
was number one in the league, I want to say
in box outs, and his contested rebounding percentage is also
really high. So not only is he getting a ton
of rebounds, but he's also just clearing multiple dudes out
allowing other teammates to get rebounds. Do you see that
(20:43):
in the on off dattaitude. The team rebounds way way
better when he's on the floor. Yeah. I had Reese
Cha as my Rookie of the Year, and I think
Castle is going to be a better player. It definitely
has more potential, But I kind of just based it
on who was better this season, and you know, both
guys had kind of ups and downs this year. I
(21:04):
think Castle's efficiency was just like not great, though I
don't think that's like a long term issue. But yeah,
J was a little bit better. Started out the year terribly,
but his three pointer kind of came along middle end
end of the season. He also disappeared in that playing game,
which kind of sucked. But overall, I thought re J
was pretty good. You can go either way there. I
(21:25):
think either of those guys is fine.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Yeah. No, I have no issue with Rishacha. I give
it to Castle because I think the defense was as advertised. Yeah,
I think his playmaking, his rebounding was pretty good. And
I said this on a podcast with Dan Fivalley at
the other day. I was just surprised at the sheer
(21:50):
audacity he had going up against like big centers all
the time, Like he understood right off the bat. Oh yeah,
Like I'm six six to twenty five and I'm basically
all I can get up there. I can challenge those
guys at the rim and I could win that matchup.
And he did so again and again and got to
the free thro a line and all those things where
(22:10):
I'm like, Okay, it just feels like he's got a
type of in factor. So like, I'm just buying the
hype there, but I agree that Risach shake him alive
in the latest part of the season. Jimen Wells also like,
right there, Memphis have two good rookies, which is encouraging.
Now they just need to figure out what the hell
they're going to do with John Jaren because I don't
(22:33):
know if I'm with it long term. It's a little
bit discouraging there for the moment, but at least they're
walking away with two guys, both of whom should make
All Rookie First Team.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
I'm guessing, yeah, I right, have both of them there.
I actually think that McCain probably Jared McCain probably would
have won this award, but he I think he only
played twenty five games or something towards meniscus, But I mean,
he was just carrying the Sixers to the first part
of the year, and he his shooting was amazing. I mean,
like he was not. He was a very divisive prospect
(23:05):
on you know, draft Twitter and stuff like that, but
I think he kind of proved a lot of those
concerns wrong. He's just able to create separation, get to
the rim, and like I said, the shooting was just
otherworldly off off the dribble, coming off screens. So I
really like McCain. I think he's gonna be the best
player in this class.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
Oh nice, I don't. I don't hate that at all,
but you're also right, like the numbers back it up.
He took a ton of threes, which I don't think
is always easy for rookies to come in because they
want to make sure, oh, it's a good shot. He
came in and just did not hesitate right off the jump,
which I think is is such a good sign of
someone who trusts disabilities. And twenty three games played, fifty
(23:44):
one triples made. That's a sigh volume. Look, they're gonna
need everything they can because we have no idea what
the state of that roster is going to look like
next year or a couple of years. Down the line,
MAXI McCain like, yeah, it's a small backcourd. I will,
I will, I will grant you know the criticism of that,
(24:05):
but that should be dynamic, and it should be fast,
and it should be fluid, a lot of shooting, a
lot of scoring. I mean, I'm not down on it.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
All right, you're already making bad predictions before the next season,
even stressed because the Sixers have her pretty big mess.
I mean, I do like that backcourt, but I think
that they're uh, their problems are not going to be
necessarily super fixable.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
No, no, no, those issues are not fixable for sure. Uh.
I just wanted to find the silver lining on this
team because I.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
Think that would be a fun backcourt. I like that backcourd.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Alex Crusoe, Buddy Healed. We chose in the next category
with which was six man. I chose Alex Crusoe, you choose,
you chose Buddy Heel. That's not bad. I feel as
though that's probably like the most realistic, non semi obvious,
like in terms of when before example, like we both like, well,
(25:03):
oll wait a second, has has six Men even come
out yet? Or have I already forgotten about that?
Speaker 2 (25:07):
No? That was Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
Yeah, like it's I don't hate those guys, that's I
think that's pretty fine.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
Yeah, I mean Caruso would have won it if he
had played enough minutes. I don't know if he would
have won it, but he certainly would have been in
contention for it, right, and body healed would have won
it if they ended the season after ten games, right,
So we both kind of nailed that one.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
It's It's true though with Caruso, you only played fifty
four games, also played under twenty minutes per game, but
like they didn't even need him to do more. They
he is so preposterously good. It's I don't understand why
there are still people who feel as though, okay, see
you walked away from this trade as losers, Like what
(25:55):
seriously did are you seeing this guy? I understand that
ross stats is very appealing to a lot of people,
but what Caruso did also in like the first round
series against Memphis, just working every ankle, especially in Game three.
This dude is he's somehow leveled up from Chicago somehow.
(26:17):
I didn't think he could, but he did.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
I'm looking forward to the next twelve Thunder wins watching
him because he's gonna help them just steal like at
least two of them.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
Right, Yeah, And he's he plays so many positions too.
He's almost like jdeb Like you can play him at
the one, you can play him spot minutes, at the four,
the three.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
Yeah, he's guardian Jeron Jackson Junior for most of that series.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
And should we talk about Pritchard a little bit? I
feel like we should give him some love.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
I think we should. Well, the shooting, obviously is what
people hang their hats on. I love the tempo he
sets coming off the bench as well. Like I think
the idea that a guy comes in and like injects
energy that is so obvious with him, like that just
stays the course there. When they need something, they put
(27:07):
him in and he just goes balls to the wall
from the start. What do you like about Pritchard's season?
Speaker 2 (27:13):
So, you know, he demanded a trade multiple times because
he just could not break the rotation and the reason
for that was that he was a defensive liability every
time he went out there. He's just put in pick
and roll, like you know, basically every possession. So he's
gotten tougher, like you can't quite exploit him as much. Obviously,
the shooting is the shooting is an awesome shooter. He's
an awesome score. I think the other stuff though, Yeah,
(27:36):
just like the peripheral stuff, he's really gotten better at.
If you look at his offensive rebounding, this is off
the top of my head, So I think he's he
averaged like one point three or something correct per game,
which is incredible for a guard, and especially for a
guard that's like six foot two. Yeah, that just shows
you that, like, this guy's really tough. I talked to
him actually this season. He was telling me about how
(27:57):
he just built up these crazy strong hands. He used
to dribble weighted ball in the winter in his garage
and he would dribble until his hands bled, So he
really like got these callouses and these tough, tough hands.
So I think, like, yeah, he's just like he's a
much more deep player than I think he's given credit for.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
Yeah, I've seen some of those the videos as well
where he's just like working on his ball handling in
his garage and yeah, he's he's like I don't know
how to phrase this in a way that that doesn't
sound wrong, but like I don't think he ever made
it to the league off of sheer talent. I think
this is a guy who, yes, clearly he was talented,
but you would always have that concern like is he
(28:41):
an NBA talent player? And you could finally, you could
definitely see how the answer could be no. But the
work ethic and his understanding of oh, yeah, so I
need to work extra hard to you know, stay in
the league. I need to work extra hard to crack
the rotation, to work extra hard to actually become a
player of a certain value. That just matters a great deal.
(29:04):
And it again also shows how ridiculously good NBA players are.
I showed that that dribble video to my son, who's
playing basketball at a high level of MSEL, and he
was just like, good, Lord, good, how is that possible?
The average NBA player is ridiculous, and that he serves
as a good reminder of that. I don't think he's
average anymore, but he was for a while. I wonder
(29:27):
if there's still like an evolutionary step to him.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
Though, yeah, I don't know. I'm really interested to see
what happens in this next series. You know, when he's
up against the Knicks, they're gonna try to get him
on Jalen Bronson a million times too, So I mean
that's like a much tougher matchup than what he's doing
in the regular season. So yeah, we'll see if those
improvements are for real or not. He's definitely gonna be tested.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
Yeah, yep. So Clutch Player of the Year is such
a weird award. I it to Damar and I think
I told you, I'm just going to give it tomorrow
until he gets it, simply because he got screwed out
of the award not existing that one year, you had
a far more reasonable option in Nicola Jokic. It was
(30:15):
Bronson who ran away with it, right, if memory serves it's.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
I'm not even sure. Yeah, I know Jokic didn't win,
but he was like one of the finalists. He should
have won. He should win, like all of these he's
the best player, Like what are we do it? Like why?
I mean, look at the playoffs. You know he's been
so good in the clutch.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
Yeah no, Look, it's the playoffs just confirms what everyone
is thinking that he's the best player in the world,
and it's the second guy on that list is tiered down,
Like there is a significant step.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
I mean I think Shay is great, like Luca's great,
Gianness is great, but there's a clear differentiation there right
in my opinion.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
So I Clutch is difficult to me because it's such
a new award that it hasn't been I want to say,
defiled by you know, narratives, because so many of these
awards have changed some of their original meaning. I think
like as at some point the MVP was taken very literally,
(31:21):
and then it changed to best player, best teams. Then
it changed to like best player generally, then it changed
to okay, see guard grabbing a triple double or averaging
a triple double for a whole season despite clearly not
being the MVP still winning it. It's that's all over
the place. Like at least Clutch, the only thing you
(31:41):
kind of look at is clutch stats and you kind
of get there, right, Like, I don't know how you
can otherwise look at this award and like, oh, I'm
going to make a call on this, Like you can't
really make a gut feeling call on this one.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
Yeah, I think this one's kind of fun too, because
I mean you're talking about a sample of what what
is that like the most game winners that somebody takes
like six maybe. Yeah, so it's kind of fun that
you can spread that award around as well.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
Yeah, I don't think we've had have we had a
repeat winner so far?
Speaker 2 (32:14):
Now, I'm pretty sure we have not. So Darren Fox
one one, Yeah, Curry one one.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
Yoki did Yokich win last year?
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Hasn't won one?
Speaker 1 (32:25):
Nope? Should have well and no, Tomar, no Toamar. He's
gonna have to say goodbye to the NBA without having
won a clutch Award player that or a Clutch player Award.
That's that's brutal that that would have been his one
claims of fame Coach of the Year. We're both. Yeah,
(32:47):
So I had Pop obviously that did not materialize for
a lot of sad reasons. You had Taylor Jenkins, which
also not materialize, but for a home for a very
different reason because he got fired near the end of
(33:08):
the regular season. Is he still eligible even like technically.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
You know, he did have the Grizzlies in second place
for a lot of the season, So I was taking
an early victory lap before collapsing ten feet from the
finish line. Yeah, I don't know. I don't think he
did like a terrible job. It seems like he might
have lost the team, which you know, like it's hard
to be aware of that when you're not in the
(33:37):
locker room or on the beat or whatever.
Speaker 1 (33:39):
Right, I mean, it's not gregious at all. I understand
the thinking, definitely. I just I don't know what to
make of this Grizzlies team at all. I think I
had the same mindset going into the season. There's a
part of me that never really trusted them. Still don't.
(33:59):
Still don't think you can build anything sustainable around Jaw.
I don't if he's your best player. I think you're
a flawed roster. I think you're a flawed team. Perhaps
it was just best to try something else, Like we know,
organizations aren't going out and trading players before they make
it change a head coach, unless you're the Dallas Mavericks apparently.
(34:19):
But it just it felt like that was that was
what they were trying to do.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
So I've been I've been workshopping a nickname for Isaalo.
Do you want to hear it? Oh? Yes, Helsinki Hoiberg.
What say you? Very similar circumstances. Yes, it was brought in, uh,
very clearly as the replacement for Jenkins because it offensively minded.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
Yeah, offensively minded. And there's even like a physical appearance
similarity there.
Speaker 2 (34:54):
Yeah, great hair for both of them.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
Yes, right, yep. They keep themselves tight. Absolutely. Yes. Do
we know if he has a pacemaker because then it's sold?
Speaker 2 (35:05):
I don't know. We got to get to the bottom
of that.
Speaker 1 (35:07):
We gotta to figure that out. So this last award,
I mean, Steph, you you completely kicked my ass on
this one again. Not just kick my you wipe the
floor with me. Okay, I'm down there, I am trying
to tap out and you're still trying to break my
(35:28):
arm this one.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
What is the award?
Speaker 1 (35:30):
I'm so curious now, Executive of the Year?
Speaker 2 (35:33):
Who did I say, Sam Presty Okay, and I sit there, Maury.
Was this uh after they had done all their moves
or was this before? I can't remember.
Speaker 1 (35:42):
It was right before the start of the regular season.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
Okay, so they had already gotten Caruso and Partenstein.
Speaker 1 (35:49):
Yep. And I said, Maury, because I I think it
was more me wanting that to work in Philly. I
was skeptical of Paul George, but at the instant at
the same time was no, you know what how could
that feel. It's like Paul George, he might be annoying,
he might ruin the locker room in Los Angeles, but like,
this is a new team, all kompa. Yeah, he's gonna
(36:11):
be like that, you know, not not even a three
and D wing. He's gonna be like a guy who
cans two under triples. He's gonna be like a secondary playmaker.
He's oh yeah, this is going to solve the sixers.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
Oh boy, Oh yeah, I did I have like a
model that ranks the worst contracts in the league and
Embeid I think was I want to say it was
number three and Paul George was in the top six. Maybe. Yeah,
So it's a it's a pretty ugly situation for them.
Speaker 1 (36:41):
It's very, very very bad. It's very bad that like that.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
The album was good, though, Yo had a good year.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
Well look he did. And McCain's whom we talked about. Yeah,
that's great. Not enough to win Executive for the Year
award though, nor should it be because big time yikes.
Is there any other executive though where you're looking around
the league going oh this guy or this this front
office in its entirety actually did a really good job.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
Uh, Cody Allman, I think you got to give a
little bit of credit just because there were so many
it's what he didn't do. I think people make this
mistake is they point to the big moves the teams did,
but oftentimes not making a move is just as important.
And I was one of these people that said, oh,
you know, their pieces don't really work well together. They
have too much overlap between their guards and their bigs.
(37:36):
And luckily he didn't listen to idiots like me, and
he figured, you know, maybe if we just changed the coach,
this thing will work, and that's exactly what happened. So
credit there, and also just like finding you know, Tijer Roup,
there's so much good depth on that team. DeAndre Hunter
was a good trade, so they've done a great job there.
Speaker 1 (37:56):
I want to shout out Brian Wright in San Antonio
team there as well, or suld be a version of
those guys, because you were met with this pop issue
early in the season where obviously that's not something you're
planning for to go and like pick out Mitch Johnson
(38:17):
and for him to just click with this roster to
the extent that it did. Also pulling off the darn
Fox trade, which I think like without giving up Castle,
without giving up a lot of these like truly main
core guys. That was impressive to me. You know, obviously
it's such a small sample sized Fox. It's only played
(38:37):
seventeen games, so it's like it's something that we might
be able to give them as an award next season,
because then we'll really see how it's looking. But I
thought that was impressive, especially like especially Mitch.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
So.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
I spoke to Mitch a little bit in Paris as
well when I was there, and he just seems to
have like totally and totally he gets total buying top
to bottom. Also spoke with CP who's just praising him.
Speaker 2 (39:07):
Oh cool.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
Yeah, it's so that to me is also important. It's
not just like the roster things, but like that you
can go in and identify who's going to take over
in this very unexpected situation. Who do we think who
can handle like this burden, who can sort of like
quote unquote Phil pop shoes in this scenario, and then
(39:28):
actually do find the right guy who's like, yeah, I'm
down for it, let's go, let's rock and roll. And
it's a young guy too. I think he's forty eight,
So I think that this serves.
Speaker 2 (39:39):
Some of some Yeah, I'm very curious to see if
he stays on because they have so many good coaching
candidates to choose from. You know, Taylor Jenkins is part
of that Spurs coaching tree. You got butt out there
who worked under Pop Becky Hammond. So there's a lot
of people, you know this more a lot of European
coaches too, that have just been waiting for that job's
(40:00):
like the best job in the NBA. Oh yes, I
think Mits has done a good job, but he is
going to have a lot of competition to hold on
to that job next year.
Speaker 1 (40:08):
I've spoken to European coaches who just want like an
assistant job somewhere where they're like seriously and they have
people hired over them who have very limited experience or
has a bad track record, or like I would love
to see like the bench being filled out with yours,
just as the league has done with players as well.
(40:30):
I think there's something to be found there. So we'll see,
we'll see. I might be a little biased on that one, perhaps.
So that was MVP dp O y m I p
Roy six Man Coach of the Year Executive clutch player. Yeah,
I overall, what kind of grade should we give ourselves here?
(40:52):
Because I mean I'm an F. I'm clearly an F.
I will take that. I can you get an F
minus in the States? I don't know if that's possible,
But if you can't, I'm there. What what is your
uh grade? You're you're self grading.
Speaker 2 (41:10):
I mean, the European school system is so much better
than ours. So if you're an F minus, I got
to be like a Z. You know, it's pretty pretty
bad for me.
Speaker 1 (41:20):
No, you're you Definitely you definitely had a lot better.
I like, if I would, I would say, like a
solid B minus for you.
Speaker 2 (41:29):
Okay, I'll take it.
Speaker 1 (41:30):
Yeah, I think I guess Look, at the end of
the day, we can't predict that Lucas gonna get traded
mid season or Wempy goes down with deep main thrump Boses.
So like, I think Luca would have been an MVP
finalist that would have bumped you up. Wempy obviously would
have wanted that bumps you up. Jaen Williams m I
P come on, that's like as good as he is.
Speaker 2 (41:51):
It's pretty easy pick though. I mean a lot of
people had that one.
Speaker 1 (41:53):
Well still Roy, like with with Zach was good. It
had a good year. I think a lot of people
spoke him down. The Boddy heel one is that pulls
you down a little bit. Taylor Jenkins is just that's fun.
That's fun, that goes down a little bit. But overall
that's where we landed. We promised our listeners when we
did the initial episode that we come back after the
(42:16):
regular season, and here we are. So thank you Stephan
No of the Sporting News senior NBA writer. There. Let
the good people know where they can find your work
and what you're working on.
Speaker 2 (42:28):
Yes, you can find my work at Sporting News. I
tweeted out on X at Steph No on Blue Sky
what are they calling them skeets?
Speaker 1 (42:36):
Yeah, I think we just call it post now because
the other one sounds diurdy.
Speaker 2 (42:40):
Okay, So yeah, at steph No dot bsky dot Social Yeah,
what am I working on right now? Just you know,
playoff observations Generally, I got some predictions solid B minus
predictions for some of these series as they as the
matchupskot finalized.
Speaker 1 (42:59):
Nice. Definitely give Steph a follow grateful have been following
for years and years and years cannot recommend his work enough.
Everyone out there, thank you for listening in and until
we speak again, stay safe and have a good one everyone,
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!