October 28, 2024 • 42 mins
" Let The Games Begin" former NYC basketball legend, David Cain joins the show to break down the upcoming NBA season and,what you should be looking for as an NBA fan. See if you agree with who we think will be our good surprised teams and who will be our biggest disappointments.
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Twitter: @19MGroup
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Discover our favorite podcast gear and support the show—shop our studio must-haves on our Amazon Affiliate page! https://www.amazon.com/shop/19mediagroup
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
What's up everybody? Once again, Gerald Brown, Heavy in the Pain,
another episode on the Horizon, and again it's all about
the NBA season, because it's here, It's NBA season.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
We got it all.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
We got basketball, we got baseball, we got football. But
we're gonna break down the NBA. And it's honor and
the privilege right now to bring on this gentleman with me.
He's one of the best basketball players to ever come
out of the New York City area of Harlem, one
of the best point guards ever that should.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Have been included in point guards and all.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
That other stuff. What he did at Saint John's was incredible,
and I had the fortunes and the pleasure of being
right along his side and watch this whole thing play out,
even back when he was in junior high school.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
My brother from.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
One of the best in the business, a true, true friend,
and I adore greatly. Mister David K.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Thank you, brother, appreciate that intro.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Don't get too used to it, David. So, David, you know,
we go at it so much in terms of when
it comes to sports, and especially when it comes to
the NBA. The NBA season is here, and we look
at this this season, and right off the back, David,
we know that. Obviously, it's great to be back, and
(01:35):
I think it's even more special because we just came
off the New York Liberty winning the w NBA Championship.
But when you look at this season, Dave, I'm already
having concerns to say that I can safely say the
Eastern Conference is Boston and everybody else, provided no injuries happen.
(01:58):
How do you see that East?
Speaker 2 (02:00):
No?
Speaker 3 (02:00):
I agree with that.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
The way they looked last night, they looked like they
was in mid season form Theesday night Tuesday night, I'm sorry, No,
that was last night?
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Right?
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Did I say ten Tuesday night? Okay, I'm sorry. Yeah.
And the way they shot the ball, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
They with that confidence of already winning the championship behind them,
I think they gonna. I think they're definitely coming out
the East. I think thank You're right, is Bosston and
everybody else for sure.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
You know what really surprised me about them in that
first game? Yeah, you get your rings. And we've witnessed
teams that, you know, a little sluggish. You know, it's
all the hype that the hoopla, and they come out
a little sluggish, and you know, maybe they'll pull away.
But what was surprising to me, Dave and I don't know,
(02:52):
agree to disagree. They just looked like they picked up
right off, right where they left off, and it was
like no missteps or anything like that, especially bringing back
pretty much the same team. How surprised were you at
the fact that is how easily they made it look
(03:13):
in terms of the cohesiveness, chemistry and everybody just fall
on one same page.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Well, I wasn't really shocked last night. From the Knixt perspective.
I knew that would take time. They're incorporating two new
major pieces with Cat and Bridges, so I kind of
figured it's gonna take them a little bit of time
to get together, get the chemistry together. You add that
with the fact that everything you just said about Boston,
everything we've heard on the off season, how motivated Tatum
(03:42):
was after the Olympic experience, how motivated Jalen Brown was
after not being on the Olympics. And I'm sure a
guy like Derek Brown, Derek White, I'm sorry, like Derek
White being included in the Olympics had to do great
wonders for his confidence and building what he's been established
in the last two years.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
You know, Drew was Drew.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
So wasn't really shocked at what happened really Tuesday night,
but very impressed, or I must say.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
As we head into this NBA season, we're already hearing
about Surprisingly, Joel Embiid is indicated he's not gonna play
back to back yeah, I mean for the rest of
his career. Paul George has already been indicated that he's
going to be out the first week of the NBA
season due to the hyper extended me. This is a
(04:31):
team that was pretty much constructed with buying it, bringing
in Paul George and saying, okay, look we got embid
Maxy George, we got enough that now we're gonna put
our hat in the ring and we're gonna aim to
take down the Boston Celtics. How surprised are you to
hear that first from Joel and b especially with a
(04:52):
team that's trying to, you know, looking for redemption.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
I would say I'm not surprised at all. I mean,
he was hurt when the season, he wasn't healthy in
the Olympics, so him not being healthy now shouldn't be
a shocked to anyone. I guess the plan is not
the player as much in the regular season to try
to have him healthy in the postseason. I mean, I
don't know how you build chemistry and go with that plan,
(05:17):
but I guess, yeah, at the point where we have
to try something. Man, it's been probably five postseasons and
I don't know if he's ever been healthy in the postseason.
So I can't be mad if wanting to try something different,
But I don't know how how you build that chemistry
you might need with that type of schedule like that.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Give me a surprise team in the East. You know,
like last season, Orlando just pretty much surprised everybody. And obviously,
you know, young team really really took great, great strides
getting out of the playing tournament excuse me, and not
only getting out of the player tournament, but it really
elevated themselves up into the playoffs. When you look at
(05:58):
this East, and obviously it always injuries the fact that
they But give me a team, David, that you got
your eye on, that you say will perhaps be a
surprise team that either will contend for a playoff spot
or perhaps maybe contend for a playing tournament spot. Mm hm,
can you ease.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
I think, well, I'm not pretty sure, but I think
Cleveland has been flying under the radar. I mean, it
was big they we signed they two big guys, Mobley
and Mitchell, and you really haven't heard anything about them
this offseason.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
So I think, if anything, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
If that's considered like a dog horse, because they was
in the playoffs last year, but it went to the
second round.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
I believe last year.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
I think they they've definitely been flying under the radar.
I'm trying to think of a team who didn't make
the playoffs who might can make a push.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
This year for it.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
It's hard.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
I give you one that's just not that impressive so
at all.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
And I'm one of the things I said, and obviously
this provided that health is a factor, I think that
there's a bottom tier team that potentially could push for
a playoff team like I'm rooting for Chicago Bulls and
Lazo Ball. You know, thinking about the fact is that
he missed two years with that knee injury, and if
he's able to come back, and you got Zach Levine again, what's.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Going on is that Levin? I mean, is he healthy,
is he playing? I haven't heard his name, he's gonna
be May.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
But I think the biggest thing was, look, Chicago made
it clear that they didn't really want him. He was
made available via trade dead line, but there was no
takers even in this offseason. And you know, there's pressure
has to be on Levine, Billy Donovan and really get
that team going in the right direction because this team
was putrid when it comes to talk about playing defense.
(07:47):
But I'm gonna throw out a team that might just
be crazy. And you know, people said I'm gonna throw
out the Washington Wizards, and I'm gonna say the Washington Wizards.
From this standpoint alone, I think the Washington Wizards will
perhaps maybe contend for a playing tournament team a spot.
And the reason why I think if you get Jordan Poole,
(08:08):
Kyle Kuzma, you know, among others and voluneeris I believe
is there you got some guys that have playoff experience
and if they can really pull this thing together, and look,
they're not nobody's going in saying, oh, we really got
to gear up to face them. Their team that's gonna surprise,
perhaps can have the ability surprise with our teams. And
(08:29):
then I think the thing that works in their favor is,
like we just said, the East is so weak that
essentially you could get somewhere between thirty thirty five wins
and potentially be on the coup of maybe contending for
a playing tournament spot. But that would be one of
my teams potentially contending for a play in tournament spot.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Well, I think instead of Washing I would go with
Chicago over Washington for the fact that for me, it's
hard for me to believe in Washington when your two
best players are low IQ players and that's Pool, and
Pool's talented but not not the greatest IQ player as
far as I'm concerned.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
I like, I think Chicago.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
I don't know if they can put it together, but
I believe they do have some good pieces. Like I
don't know how long Loneso Ball going hold up, but
he looked good that O the night Kobe White was
top three, and what most improved last year. I like Vocevich,
you know, the bean come back healthy. I like I
like Josh Giddy more than most duo. So I mean
(09:29):
they got some I like the pieces. I don't know
was that Patrick Williams.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
I mean they.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
I was I would pick them for any team that
didn't make the playoffs off the East last year, I would.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Go with Chicago.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
They made the playing tournament last year, they.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Made the player last year, they made.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
The playing tournament along with Miami. Excuse me, they made
it along with What was that.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
About Miami this year? Nobody?
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Yeah, they were Philly. I mean, Chicago and Atlanta were
your four playing tournament teams. Toronto was right there, you know, Toronto, Brooklyn,
but I don't know, you know, look, Detroit. I think
that Detroit has a lot to prove, you know, if
it's important. I think for teams like Washington and Detroit,
(10:17):
it's important for these teams to really get off to
a fast start because I think it builds confidence. And
I think that worked in the favor of the Orlando
Magic last year, building their confidence, especially when you're a
young team, because if you have wins in the bank, Dave,
it really really helps when you do go through those
losing stretches because it's not a situation where you're finding
(10:38):
yourself like the Pistons last year, where five losses to
turn into ten, which turns to fifteen. Next thing is
twenty and now it's just very, very difficult to fight
to even get somewhere back to five hundred. So I
think it's so important for those teams like that Detroit
and Washington get off to the Detroit.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Might even be in a better situation because they added
some veterans this off season, which I think will help
them out a lot, and just some veterans and professionals.
Having Tobias Harris there, I think Tim Hardaway Junior is
there now, so they got a few guys who maybe
can help them, and that help some of them young guys.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Whether some of those stones then.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Yeah, Like I said before, I think when I look
at some of these teams in the Eastern Conference or
a majority as a whole, with the exception of Boston,
and maybe you can include them. I think the title redemption.
You know, Detroit was was terrible last year. Let's be honest,
they went through a lot. Nobody believes in them or Washington,
(11:39):
you know, Alex sar right young, nobody's expecting anything from them.
Atlanta is a team that made the playing tournament. But
let's be honest, you know out you know, it's just
a matter of time where it seems like the Hawks
have fallen out of favor with Trey Young, Milwaukee got
something to proved this year. True, Well that's why I said, gemption.
(12:00):
When you look at them, and I know you spoke
about you know, I want to focus on the East,
take a little time. But I know you spoke about Miami. Miami,
Jimmy Butler. Look, he's got a contract that's on the
line that he's trying to look and get an extension.
When you look at the Miami Heat, I have the
biggest problem with them, and that is, you know, I
(12:21):
think sometimes the expectations don't match the reality of the
talent that they have there. You know, granted they made
this improbable run to whose expectations?
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Whose expectations?
Speaker 1 (12:33):
I think a lot of people say that, you know what, Well,
you look at them, Oh they're dangerous team, that's this, But.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
They're all dangerous. They're not a top four team. But
I think those one of those teams that you don't
want to see in the first round.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Well, I think they're playing tournament team. And I think
a lot of that stuff. They're playing tournament team.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
I think they're playing they're playing tournament team because I
don't think they care about the rec at least Jimmy
Butler does it. So like that's what we had to
talk this week about certain teams. Everybody don't care if
they are playing tournament all, top season SUC seed because
they feel I can go get it done no matter
where we at. Just put us in a dance whever
and we'll take it from there. So Jimmy Butler's not
gonna over extend himself in the regular season one bout
(13:14):
being a top four, top six seed, because he feel
if here an eighth seed, he can go into a
one season gym and go get busy. So I don't
really get caught up in the seasons like that because
everybody not value in the regular season the same way.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
So when you look at Miami, what do you look
at them as, what do you see them in terms
of do they are? You saying that essentially they put
no stock in the regular season. But yet it's just
making sure we gear up and try to be able
to be a great postseason team.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Yeah, and we've seen it.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
They're a better postseason team than they are a regular
season team. So if I had to pick where they
were finishing the regular season, I was saying the playing
because I mean, you got you know, you got your Boston,
Philly Nicks, Milwaukee probably top four, got your Cleveland, Orlando
probably right in there, and I was they would probably
be seven or eight. But if there are seven, I
(14:08):
don't know if whoever, I don't know whoever had two
would want to see them in the first round.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
I mean, if you look at their team, I mean
they're starting five. I think you're talking about the potential
starting five with Terry Rozier, Tyler Herroll, Butler Jovic and
baan Oa bay You and then you.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Bring off the hot Cares. Right was the kid from
last year?
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Josh said Alex Burns duncan.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
I think they could beat anybody really besides Boston. I
would like if they played in one of those other
three teams we just named besides Boston.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
And beat them.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
I wouldn't be shocked if they played in the first
round this year.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
I wouldn't be shot.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Would you say that perhaps they might be the strongest
mentally strong, the mental the most mentally strong. Would you
consider them perhaps the strongest team in that Eastern Conference
because they they've had the number of the Celtics. They
definitely had the number of the Milwaukee Bucks. But you
know it's like that team that you don't really want
(15:07):
to face. So you really can't look at their record exactly.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
You can't really judge them off of what goes on
in the postseason because obviously they have another level that
they're capable of taking.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
Into and they've shown that the last few years.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
So, you know, and it's unfortunate in a way because
of the regular season. You know, as you start really dissecting,
start to realize this really doesn't tell you what it
looks like is telling us, you know what I'm saying,
Like people are just not valuing it like that, which
is which I get, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
But that's why I don't really get caught up in what.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Seed in such and such is who had a better
record or at the stats, because I know history had
shown is like the Lakers went from two years ago,
went from a playing team to the Western Conference finals.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
So it's like, guys, I.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Mean, I'm just guessing, but I think a Lebron or
Jimmy Bunckle, looking at what am I killing myself for
eighty two games? For all I gotta do is win
one role game. We got home court advantage in a
playoff series, So do I really care if I'm a
succeeed or two seed? And that's kind of like that
seemed like what's becoming the mentality, even when in being
saying I'm not playing them on back to backs, so
(16:13):
obviously they're not worrying about seeding. You just like, if
I'm healthy, we can beat anybody.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Well, I think, okay, let's look at Milwaukee. When you
look at the Milwaukee Bucks redemption, and I think that
kind of that goes against what you're talking about. I
think they're a situation where they need this regular season.
They need to show a lot of people that at
the end of the day, look, they were the ones
that were kind of predicted last year to potentially maybe
come out of the East once they got Damian Lillard.
(16:42):
And look, it's already a situation where Chris Middleton has
been he's going to be out, he's batting that ankle
and had surgery. So I went to him a long Yeah, Yeah,
they've gotten a lot older, and I think at this juncture,
when you look at them especially, I'm not surprised that
they've they've lost in the first round because they've done
(17:04):
it so much with Miami and now last year with
the Indiana Pacers, how how important?
Speaker 2 (17:11):
And again I've never said we didn't even mention. I'm
sorry we didn't even mention the Pacers. I'm gonna get
to them.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
I got you, Covid, I'm going to give you this.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
I'm going to give you this. But when I talk
about the Milwaukee Bucks and I look at them, I'm
really disappointed in Giannis's game, and easily right now when
I look at his game, I think it's regressed as
opposed to uh progress. When you look at the Milwaukee Bucks,
(17:39):
how important is this regular season for them from a
mental standpoint, being that they've had so much high expectations
and they fell short last year.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
I don't think it's so much important for them for
that reason. I think, really you just need reps with chemistry.
I believe with the List and Dane even I was
watching a little bit of the game to night. For
some reason, they standing their menace a lot, and they
doesn't and they don't play as many minutes together as
I think they should. But I don't really challenge their
mental toughness because you got Dame was probably the cold
(18:13):
the coldest blood of killing in the game with the
game with ice in his veins.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
So I definitely don't question him. Janna's gonna give you.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
One thousand percent all the time, So I really so
I don't even question their mentality or they just learnt
about the outside noise.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
I don't.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
I don't really think Milwaukee has that problem. I just
think they just need you got new coach, you got
you know, second year with Dame and Giannis playing together.
I just think they just need chemistry more than anything else.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
Yeah, when you look at Indiana, was that a one
hit one year, one hit wonder? You know, they got
a lot of attention soft seasons spot and really again
they surprised a lot of people. But when you look
at them, what's the biggest thing you take away from
the paces going in the season.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
I look at them, they're a deep team. They actually
have about six or seven wings, which is actually this
is a wing lead. And they probably gave Boston the
biggest fight out of anybody. I mean, what was that
a four to one series? If I'm not mistaken, But yeah,
(19:21):
a couple down to the wire. Ben math People forget
Ben Maths was out last year. Who's who's tough. So
I like the pieces that they got. They got a
lot of bodies and it was interesting like the narrative
last years that they didn't play defense, and I think
that was really like overstated because they gave up a
lot of points with the pace they was playing.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
But it's not like there it was a bad defensive team.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
So when I watched them in the playoffs, I was
impressed with their defense with n Smith, I believe, I
like the point guard.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
Yeah hard them hard. I mean McConnell. I like their team.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
I like their team man, And they have a bad matchup
for a few teams. I'm not sure those top four teams.
I want to see one of them in the first
round either. So I think the East is pretty good,
better than what most people think. Like we had a
good eight in the East. It's just that that bottom
group makes it East not as competitive. But if you
just want to talk about a good, solid eight, you
(20:20):
got a hell of a playoff, some hell of a
playoff matchups.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
Yeah, I mean, you know that is that is very
interesting you say that when I look at the paces,
you know, look, their thing was they really really you
know again, shot the ball incredibly well. All that stuff.
And look, they had a lot of success and they
surprised a lot of teams. And I've always questioned that
(20:47):
when you surprise teams that following year, you know, now
teams are going to gear up and say, okay, we
got to get ready for them. And you know they
you know, they should have won a game in that series.
Get Boston. Remember, I think they had to play down
the stretch and stow the ball something like that. But
they got swept. And it's a young team. But I
just questioned the fact is can they do it again?
(21:10):
Because they had the match ups in their favor, right,
They faced Milwaukee was decimated by injuries, They faced New
York and then you know that was such a grind
of a series.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
By injuries also, yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Yeah, decimated by injuries and then you turn around and
and have that happen. So I just questioned if they
could do it again. When you look at the Knicks,
we swap up on this Eastern Conference and switch quickly
second to the Western Conference. When you look at the
Knickerbockers got off to a sluggish start against Boston. Karl
Anthony Towns twelve points. Really, they were out of the
(21:43):
game before they even started. It's one of those games.
Look Boston shot, just throw it away and obviously you know,
don't judge them on that game, but I do.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
Can't.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
I want to do that. But when I look at them, Dave,
I look at the Knicks and say, as much as
you look at how much effectiveness of Karl Anthony town
It's a great name, good, you know, is the name.
He's brought a lot, but does he fit. He's great
when you can do that pick and pop and he
can shoot those threes, that's excellent, But can he be
(22:16):
that guy that's a pick and roll that with Isaiah Hartenstein,
with Mitchell Robinson, those guys that are rim runners. Guys
are also defensively a presence. When I look at Karl
Anthony Towns, I think he's more offensively, more offensively made
with this team than defensively. How do you look at
(22:36):
this team, this next team.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
I like him.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
I don't like the trade, but I understood why they
did it with Mitchell Robinson being hurt. Lose the hardest
thing you wanted, the seventh foot, but I think losing
something they death, giving up Randall and Devincenzo for Towns.
I wasn't really a big fan of I think Kat
could be some of those things that you just mentioned,
But watching that first game, they wasn't using him like that.
(23:02):
So I don't understand, Like, if you're gonna have him
in picking rolls and it's never gonna be any rim running,
if it's just gonna be picking pops, then we're not really.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
Taking advantage of his size.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
And I was really disappointed the other night because I
couldn't believe they had Drew Holliday guarding him and they were.
They really didn't exploit that on the on the block. Now,
this is the same problem Philly had a few years ago,
Like who are we blaming for this?
Speaker 3 (23:30):
If the coach not call.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Them whatever, plays whatever to get to play at the
ball on the box on the block, or is it
the player refusing to.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
Go down to the block, Like what's the issue?
Speaker 2 (23:40):
What's the point we're going to get a seven foot
of if we're not gonna have no post presence. You know,
we could have just kept we could have just kept
sho He's randw for that, you know what I'm saying.
So I think potentially he could be something. I just
don't understand. What's the system that or what's the game plan,
because if he's gonna just spend three quarters of the
game on the three point.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Line, then then I don't know what they're doing.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Then Yeah, and there's a lot of high expectations.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
One other thing, real quick on that game, very disappointed
at og and the Obi two. You just got two
hundred million. Did he did he score last night? I
mean Tuesday night? You know what, I can't remember? Six
points maybe the most.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
If he did score, and if he was, did he
get in the score on column? The biggest thing is
it wasn't impactful.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
So I know, impact on the game.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
And y'all supposed to be three elite preminal defenders with him,
Michale Bridges and Josh Hart, and there was no signs
of that.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
So well, think about it this way. Between Bridges and Anonobi,
their first game combined twenty points and they both were
pretty much eight of like twenty something shots. Eight of
twenty something shots not really good at all, you know,
so it was really and then two of eleven from
(24:59):
the three.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
Point A lot of it looked like last year, just
the burden on brunching, the carry and so and it's
like you added these pieces and it's still the same.
We should have took some of the burden off of Brunton.
So I'm interested to see how they as things progress,
how how it moves along.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Yeah, and now we go over to the Western Conference
real quickly, Dave, I look at that West. It's very
hard for me, as I've always said to you, to
pick the top four teams, because it's all about matchups.
When I look at Denver, Minnesota, Oklahoma City, Golden State,
will even include.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Dallas, Lakers, Dallens, New Orleans.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
It's it's so many teams that barn any injuries. I
think that clearly this will be one of those pretty
much like you talked about it doesn't matter where you finish,
because still in all like and then let me take
that back, because I I think it doesn't really matter
where you finish if I'm thinking about it correctly. But
(26:05):
it's all about matchups, right, because I think you can
finish in the age, you can finish in the play
and then run the table. But it's all about matchups
when it comes to the West. And I think that's
all the way across the board. When you look at
this West as a whole, what do you stands out
to you about this Division A conference?
Speaker 3 (26:26):
How deep it is?
Speaker 2 (26:27):
First of all, like you said, we probably was it
fifteen teams and we probably named thirteen the fourth that
got a chance to really be in the playing in
the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
That's how deep it is.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
It might be like a few years ago, if you remember,
I think See three and See eight was like a
three game difference, you know what I'm saying. Or you
had like six or seven teams that might have had
fifty wins or something crazy like that. So I think
it's I think it's that type of conference this year. Like, yeah,
I think matchups. But I like Dallas. Yeah, I think
(27:00):
I already told you I like Dallas coming out of
there because I think anytime you get on the court
and you pretty much got the best player, I think,
maybe with the exception that Joker Lucas gonna be the
best player on the court out of any series that
they have. So when you have the best player, I
usually lean towards that they made it to the finals
last year. I believe they got better this offseason another year. Chemistry,
(27:24):
I think Lively from what I'm hearing, Lively's progression, you
got it that Washington and Gaffert in the middle of
the year last year did that. Now you have a
whole training camp with that. So I believe Dallas is
the one coming out the West this year.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
Think about it this way. The last seed to get
into player in tournament in the West, it took forty
six wins Golden State to get into playing tournament. In
the East, it took thirty six wins. That's a ten
games difference. So right there just goes to show essentially
like if you're Houston, you won forty one games, you
(27:58):
were in you were in tournament in the Eastern Conference
and stuff. But give me a surprise team out of
that Western Conference day that provided that, you know what
they potentially they weren't a playoff team last year, potentially
could make that next leap up and being the playing
tournament team, a playing tournament team, let one playoffs.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
I think people has kind of forgotten about Memphis. I
think Job's been off the radar. I think people really
forget how how how explosive, how great he is. I mean,
before Ann l was ascension, it was all about John
Morant in that space before you know, off the off
the court issue. But they were way better. You know,
(28:43):
obviously they had injuries and suspicions everything last year. But
you bring job back with desney Band and Jackson. You know,
they added the rookies ZD I mean eat exact Edie.
So we'll see how he pans out. So but I
think they might be this, They might be the sleeping
man because same thing how I feel about Lucas similar
the jibt like you got one of those how we say,
(29:04):
one of those guys that that accounts for a lot,
that make up for a lot of a lot of things,
you might be lacking it. And you even see what
he came back from his injury, you know, his suspension
last year, how he was just carrying them game winners
and just putting working before he got hurt. So I
think he's that redemption thing we was talking about in
the East. I believe he's coming back on a mission
(29:25):
this year. Yeah, I look at you know what, I
got a team.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
I got Houston because Houston, you know, it took some
time figured things out and really establishing the roles. And
remember they went on a nice run, you know, towards
the you know, the close of the season, and then
obviously they fell back, lost a couple of games with
that dug themselves such a big hole. But I like
the work that Emodoka has done with that team. They
(29:50):
do have that mixture of young players and veterans. And
then also too, I think our friend Sangoon is such
a dominant play, dynamic player that's gonna be even more
dynamic going into this season and dominant. Uh So I
look at Houston to really really step up. Is this
the end for the Golden State Wards and the Clippers.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
As far as winning the championship, Well, clearly.
Speaker 1 (30:20):
Win a championship, but really just if anything, considering the playoff.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Teams, they'll definitely still be in a fight for the
play in for the playing to him obviously, I don't
think neither one of them will be a top six seed,
and I don't think it would be because they're just
taking the regular season, you know, not as serious like we.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
Were speaking about with some other teams.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
I just think that's just what level of at the
Clippers without Kawhi is not gonna be able to do it.
And I just don't think Steph has enough help. Man,
He's not getting any younger. I mean, he's still great,
but that's a lot to ask him to try to
carry that all mean through a playoff run. I just
see that for them at this point.
Speaker 1 (31:02):
Who's your biggest disappointment. Give me a disappointment team in
the West that will be disappointed, and I'll give you one.
I'll start off one. I'm not really believing it in
the Phoenix Suns. I think the biggest thing with them is, Look,
they're gonna be able to score right, hands down, but
you know, the best ability is availability, and Bradley Bell
really struggled to stay healthy. You look at Devin Booker
(31:24):
and Kevin Durant. I just think that clearly because of
those those three contracts, it's really hamstrung them. Now, look
they got tyas Jones, that's in there. You know. I
like Nurkice, but I just don't see enough off that
bench to be able to sustain them. And it's really
all about their offensive scoring. But they were forty nine
(31:45):
games last year. I think they will step back.
Speaker 3 (31:48):
That was still good.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
That was everyone turmoil injuries, first year together. That wasn't
a bad year. Like you said, they might have just
caught a bad matchup. So I don't know, you know
what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (32:00):
The Minnesota hammered them in that first round.
Speaker 2 (32:03):
They was too big, a bad matchup for them. So
what I mean, so.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
I hate the State is to you, but maybe Sacramento.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
Because it's like, all right, they added some pieces, they
added the rolls in, they had, you know what I'm saying,
Like two years ago they when they took Golden State
to seven, like we was on the start or something,
and it's kind of like leveled out right now. I
don't think Keithan Murray took the leak we was looking for.
I'm not the biggest the Bonus fan in the postseason,
(32:36):
so I'm kind of like, I'm kind of like fifty
to fifty with.
Speaker 3 (32:39):
Them right now.
Speaker 1 (32:41):
I've set before. I wish that they would have been
able to go out and get a big and really
trying to slide a brim protector's slide some the bonus
over the four. I think he's most effective if he's
at that four spot, provided you bring in the right
type of fit.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
Gold On, if you can guard the forest though that's
the problem.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
Yeah, but I like him more at the four than
the five. You know, I just don't see him, you know,
at that five spot because that's a lot of weird channel.
It's not a good matchup for him, So.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
I disagree with that.
Speaker 2 (33:12):
I think the guy has seven I mean, broke the
double double record last year.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Right, he broke the double double. But you know what
when they played teams, you know, certain teams to look
out in the West. If you're going to win, you're
gonna have to have size, right because the Jokers there,
you got Anthony Davis there, he's seven feet yeah, but
I mean he just specifically he looked very small when
he compared against them Oklahoma City Day. They surprised a
(33:40):
lot of people last year, including you as truly they
won fifty seven games, and Dave, they went from sickly
forty wins to seventy excuse me forty wins actually forty
like forty something wins. I think it was forty two
(34:01):
wins and forty six wins to the fifty seven wins.
That was amazing, right that. I think that was truly
true amazing to add that many type of wins and
still run to the young team. And then they add
Isaiah Hartenstein who's going to be out for some time
to start the season. But David, I love the Oklahoma
(34:24):
City Thunder. How big of a surprise or do you
think they can do it again and remain a top
tier team?
Speaker 3 (34:31):
I think so.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
I think what you felt you didn't mention, you mentioned
hardest time. You didn't mention Alex Caruso.
Speaker 1 (34:38):
Alex Caruso very that's.
Speaker 2 (34:41):
A major, major pickup and underrated because what you really
have now as good as Okay season. I think people
don't rather how great defensively they are.
Speaker 3 (34:51):
If you if you get Dort Shay is pretty good.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
You got Dort, you had Caruso, Jayden Williams, you got
check Back. So I mean, I think they can do
it because it's not there are Success is not just
predicated on offense.
Speaker 1 (35:06):
So yeah, they won forty games. That that which cong
they won forty games two years ago. Uh, forty games
and then you jumped from forty forty games and forty
fifty seven And look, Alexander clearly should have been the
MVP last year.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
But I mean you added Chad holmgren SGA took the lead,
and Jalen Wims took the lead, you know what I'm saying.
So right, he took another lead, but he still he
got he was consistent that that.
Speaker 1 (35:39):
Twenty three, twenty four, and it took that to the
it showed it again. So he developed the level of
consistency SGA in his game.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
No, he took it that to thirty.
Speaker 1 (35:49):
Yeah, yeah, I mean he just he took it to
another level. I on that.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
Yeah, he took to another level. I considered him.
Speaker 2 (35:58):
I consider him one of those dudes also, so like,
and you look at most teams, those are the ones
that one of those dudes where like, we just need
to get one. Like, he's just really unstoppable offensively. He
can get a bucket pretty much at any time, and
that matters because you know, once you get to the
postseason and me scheming and the defense and all that,
(36:18):
sometimes it ain't no offense. It's just it's just great
one on one offense is just gonna beat great defense.
And he's one of those guys also, so I think
they can duplicate it. And they're young enough to take
the regular season serious too.
Speaker 1 (36:30):
So, yeah, who do you have in the playoffs? And
I know a lot of people scratch their heads and say,
we haven't mention to the Lakers, but give me your
teams that are not playoff teams in a Western Conference. Aside,
we already know Utah.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
If I job be Utah, probably Portland, probably San Antonio,
those three, those three don't anybody. If I had to
pick it up and go state, okay, for it gotta
be one more? What is it? And yeah, probably uh,
(37:11):
I probably have to be Houston. Houston might finish one
one one spot back again this year. If I had
to pick it out, you have Houston not in Yeah,
because I like, I don't like them better than Sacramento,
OKAC or Memphis or the Lakers.
Speaker 1 (37:30):
Okay, so we say Portland, Houston, San Antonio, Portland, Houston,
San Antonio, Golden State, Golden State. Who's your fifteen Utah? Utah, Okay,
I'm gonna go Portland clearly. San Antonio. I'm just not
(37:51):
believing just and again the impact of CP three, I
think it's gonna be minimum. It will have some impact,
but again they'll be all right. It's just another step.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
They get seven eight more games this year, win thirty.
Speaker 3 (38:03):
That's a good year for them.
Speaker 1 (38:05):
Yeah, Portland, San Antonio, I'm not really so Utah. If
marketing can stay healthy, I think they'll be on the
cuss of that. But I'm gonna say for the argument's sake,
I'm gonna put the Portland San Antonio, Utah. I'm gonna
say Golden State is my fourth team. And I just think,
(38:28):
like you said before earlier, you know what, Look, they've
run their course. It's steph and and the others and
stuff like that, and I think it's gonna be an
adjustment period for that and just again if they can
be able to stay healthy. But I just don't think
they have enough ammunition to get it done. That would
be my that's my fourth teen and my fifteen. You know,
(38:57):
it's a toss up, and there's a reason why it's
a tossing between the Clippers because of Kawhi in and out.
So then you developed that, that developed that chemistry.
Speaker 2 (39:08):
I think I will take the Clippers if Kawhi is out,
like you said, I would put. Yeah, that's that's a
good that's a good pick.
Speaker 3 (39:17):
And then.
Speaker 1 (39:19):
Like New Orleans, you lose valentinnis right, and now you
add the John J. Murray and you move C. J.
McCollum to that two spot. Well that's that's still kind
of small at the two. But I think this is
a make or break season. Look, Brandon Ingram has got
to really he looks in the playoffs, they're in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (39:44):
They got the health issue too, worrying about Zion.
Speaker 1 (39:46):
Exactly the health issue. And then how do you feel
that spot in the middle, that five spot, like this
is the West the Jokers there a d is there,
you know, go Bears there. I mean it's yeah, I
don't don't.
Speaker 2 (40:02):
Yeh yeah, I mean I don't even know who they
got to even put in the middle service.
Speaker 1 (40:06):
With me exactly. So when I look at them, that
is just my biggest cars for concern because they're playing
Herb Jones at at the five. Yeah, so that that
that right there would be my five teams, uh or yeah,
(40:26):
I think that would be my fifteen that potentially would
not make the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (40:33):
So you had to but you had you had the Clippers,
and you at New Orleans. That's so one of them
got to be out.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
I had the Clippers. Well, I said, okay, So I
mean it's a toss up. I really say, if anything
I could look at potentially just to I think more
than anything health, I would say maybe the Clippers take
a step back. You know, James Harden, can he really
carry that load of what you once did before that
(41:02):
that that that remains to be seen. You know, I
don't think so, and that is gonna be huge for
them moving forward. Who is your team's in the NBA Finals,
David Dallas and Boston Redo Part two.
Speaker 3 (41:18):
Yeah, I believe so with Boston repeating.
Speaker 1 (41:22):
Mm hmm, I'm gonna take a leap of faith. I
don't think it's gonna be Boston. Uh, I'm gonna say
it's New York.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
That I wouldn't be mad at that.
Speaker 1 (41:40):
You know, part of me wants to say either New
York and Denver.
Speaker 2 (41:44):
I'm just thinking that has been under the radar too.
Speaker 1 (41:47):
Yeah, I question if their window of opportunity has closed.
Speaker 2 (41:51):
You know, you've got the best player in the league,
so you you're not You're never gonna be too far off.
Speaker 1 (41:55):
So yeah, but matchups in that West and it's too
much regauntless.
Speaker 2 (41:59):
But well, I'm saying it's not two seven foot is
no more neither, So.
Speaker 1 (42:04):
Yeah, I would maybe I would say maybe New York
and Okay, see, you know, I think okay, see, you know,
provided Hart and Stein and could come back and stay
healthy with home Grin and now you s g A
and then Williams and the Crusoe. I mean they are
really really loaded, you know, and that that would be
(42:28):
it man, you know, not a bad pick. Yeah, Dave,
I appreciate it. Man. We definitely got to do this again.
The NBA C Yeah. I always love you, man, appreciate
your time. David Kame one of the best in the business.
It's heavy in the paint. Peace.
Speaker 3 (42:45):
Peace,
What's up everybody? Once again, Gerald Brown, Heavy in the Pain,
another episode on the Horizon, and again it's all about
the NBA season, because it's here, It's NBA season.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
We got it all.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
We got basketball, we got baseball, we got football. But
we're gonna break down the NBA. And it's honor and
the privilege right now to bring on this gentleman with me.
He's one of the best basketball players to ever come
out of the New York City area of Harlem, one
of the best point guards ever that should.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Have been included in point guards and all.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
That other stuff. What he did at Saint John's was incredible,
and I had the fortunes and the pleasure of being
right along his side and watch this whole thing play out,
even back when he was in junior high school.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
My brother from.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
One of the best in the business, a true, true friend,
and I adore greatly. Mister David K.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Thank you, brother, appreciate that intro.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Don't get too used to it, David. So, David, you know,
we go at it so much in terms of when
it comes to sports, and especially when it comes to
the NBA. The NBA season is here, and we look
at this this season, and right off the back, David,
we know that. Obviously, it's great to be back, and
(01:35):
I think it's even more special because we just came
off the New York Liberty winning the w NBA Championship.
But when you look at this season, Dave, I'm already
having concerns to say that I can safely say the
Eastern Conference is Boston and everybody else, provided no injuries happen.
(01:58):
How do you see that East?
Speaker 2 (02:00):
No?
Speaker 3 (02:00):
I agree with that.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
The way they looked last night, they looked like they
was in mid season form Theesday night Tuesday night, I'm sorry, No,
that was last night?
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Right?
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Did I say ten Tuesday night? Okay, I'm sorry. Yeah.
And the way they shot the ball, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
They with that confidence of already winning the championship behind them,
I think they gonna. I think they're definitely coming out
the East. I think thank You're right, is Bosston and
everybody else for sure.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
You know what really surprised me about them in that
first game? Yeah, you get your rings. And we've witnessed
teams that, you know, a little sluggish. You know, it's
all the hype that the hoopla, and they come out
a little sluggish, and you know, maybe they'll pull away.
But what was surprising to me, Dave and I don't know,
(02:52):
agree to disagree. They just looked like they picked up
right off, right where they left off, and it was
like no missteps or anything like that, especially bringing back
pretty much the same team. How surprised were you at
the fact that is how easily they made it look
(03:13):
in terms of the cohesiveness, chemistry and everybody just fall
on one same page.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Well, I wasn't really shocked last night. From the Knixt perspective.
I knew that would take time. They're incorporating two new
major pieces with Cat and Bridges, so I kind of
figured it's gonna take them a little bit of time
to get together, get the chemistry together. You add that
with the fact that everything you just said about Boston,
everything we've heard on the off season, how motivated Tatum
(03:42):
was after the Olympic experience, how motivated Jalen Brown was
after not being on the Olympics. And I'm sure a
guy like Derek Brown, Derek White, I'm sorry, like Derek
White being included in the Olympics had to do great
wonders for his confidence and building what he's been established
in the last two years.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
You know, Drew was Drew.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
So wasn't really shocked at what happened really Tuesday night,
but very impressed, or I must say.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
As we head into this NBA season, we're already hearing
about Surprisingly, Joel Embiid is indicated he's not gonna play
back to back yeah, I mean for the rest of
his career. Paul George has already been indicated that he's
going to be out the first week of the NBA
season due to the hyper extended me. This is a
(04:31):
team that was pretty much constructed with buying it, bringing
in Paul George and saying, okay, look we got embid
Maxy George, we got enough that now we're gonna put
our hat in the ring and we're gonna aim to
take down the Boston Celtics. How surprised are you to
hear that first from Joel and b especially with a
(04:52):
team that's trying to, you know, looking for redemption.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
I would say I'm not surprised at all. I mean,
he was hurt when the season, he wasn't healthy in
the Olympics, so him not being healthy now shouldn't be
a shocked to anyone. I guess the plan is not
the player as much in the regular season to try
to have him healthy in the postseason. I mean, I
don't know how you build chemistry and go with that plan,
(05:17):
but I guess, yeah, at the point where we have
to try something. Man, it's been probably five postseasons and
I don't know if he's ever been healthy in the postseason.
So I can't be mad if wanting to try something different,
But I don't know how how you build that chemistry
you might need with that type of schedule like that.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Give me a surprise team in the East. You know,
like last season, Orlando just pretty much surprised everybody. And obviously,
you know, young team really really took great, great strides
getting out of the playing tournament excuse me, and not
only getting out of the player tournament, but it really
elevated themselves up into the playoffs. When you look at
(05:58):
this East, and obviously it always injuries the fact that
they But give me a team, David, that you got
your eye on, that you say will perhaps be a
surprise team that either will contend for a playoff spot
or perhaps maybe contend for a playing tournament spot. Mm hm,
can you ease.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
I think, well, I'm not pretty sure, but I think
Cleveland has been flying under the radar. I mean, it
was big they we signed they two big guys, Mobley
and Mitchell, and you really haven't heard anything about them
this offseason.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
So I think, if anything, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
If that's considered like a dog horse, because they was
in the playoffs last year, but it went to the
second round.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
I believe last year.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
I think they they've definitely been flying under the radar.
I'm trying to think of a team who didn't make
the playoffs who might can make a push.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
This year for it.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
It's hard.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
I give you one that's just not that impressive so
at all.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
And I'm one of the things I said, and obviously
this provided that health is a factor, I think that
there's a bottom tier team that potentially could push for
a playoff team like I'm rooting for Chicago Bulls and
Lazo Ball. You know, thinking about the fact is that
he missed two years with that knee injury, and if
he's able to come back, and you got Zach Levine again, what's.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Going on is that Levin? I mean, is he healthy,
is he playing? I haven't heard his name, he's gonna
be May.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
But I think the biggest thing was, look, Chicago made
it clear that they didn't really want him. He was
made available via trade dead line, but there was no
takers even in this offseason. And you know, there's pressure
has to be on Levine, Billy Donovan and really get
that team going in the right direction because this team
was putrid when it comes to talk about playing defense.
(07:47):
But I'm gonna throw out a team that might just
be crazy. And you know, people said I'm gonna throw
out the Washington Wizards, and I'm gonna say the Washington Wizards.
From this standpoint alone, I think the Washington Wizards will
perhaps maybe contend for a playing tournament team a spot.
And the reason why I think if you get Jordan Poole,
(08:08):
Kyle Kuzma, you know, among others and voluneeris I believe
is there you got some guys that have playoff experience
and if they can really pull this thing together, and look,
they're not nobody's going in saying, oh, we really got
to gear up to face them. Their team that's gonna surprise,
perhaps can have the ability surprise with our teams. And
(08:29):
then I think the thing that works in their favor is,
like we just said, the East is so weak that
essentially you could get somewhere between thirty thirty five wins
and potentially be on the coup of maybe contending for
a playing tournament spot. But that would be one of
my teams potentially contending for a play in tournament spot.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Well, I think instead of Washing I would go with
Chicago over Washington for the fact that for me, it's
hard for me to believe in Washington when your two
best players are low IQ players and that's Pool, and
Pool's talented but not not the greatest IQ player as
far as I'm concerned.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
I like, I think Chicago.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
I don't know if they can put it together, but
I believe they do have some good pieces. Like I
don't know how long Loneso Ball going hold up, but
he looked good that O the night Kobe White was
top three, and what most improved last year. I like Vocevich,
you know, the bean come back healthy. I like I
like Josh Giddy more than most duo. So I mean
(09:29):
they got some I like the pieces. I don't know
was that Patrick Williams.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
I mean they.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
I was I would pick them for any team that
didn't make the playoffs off the East last year, I would.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Go with Chicago.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
They made the playing tournament last year, they.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Made the player last year, they made.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
The playing tournament along with Miami. Excuse me, they made
it along with What was that.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
About Miami this year? Nobody?
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Yeah, they were Philly. I mean, Chicago and Atlanta were
your four playing tournament teams. Toronto was right there, you know, Toronto, Brooklyn,
but I don't know, you know, look, Detroit. I think
that Detroit has a lot to prove, you know, if
it's important. I think for teams like Washington and Detroit,
(10:17):
it's important for these teams to really get off to
a fast start because I think it builds confidence. And
I think that worked in the favor of the Orlando
Magic last year, building their confidence, especially when you're a
young team, because if you have wins in the bank, Dave,
it really really helps when you do go through those
losing stretches because it's not a situation where you're finding
(10:38):
yourself like the Pistons last year, where five losses to
turn into ten, which turns to fifteen. Next thing is
twenty and now it's just very, very difficult to fight
to even get somewhere back to five hundred. So I
think it's so important for those teams like that Detroit
and Washington get off to the Detroit.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Might even be in a better situation because they added
some veterans this off season, which I think will help
them out a lot, and just some veterans and professionals.
Having Tobias Harris there, I think Tim Hardaway Junior is
there now, so they got a few guys who maybe
can help them, and that help some of them young guys.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Whether some of those stones then.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Yeah, Like I said before, I think when I look
at some of these teams in the Eastern Conference or
a majority as a whole, with the exception of Boston,
and maybe you can include them. I think the title redemption.
You know, Detroit was was terrible last year. Let's be honest,
they went through a lot. Nobody believes in them or Washington,
(11:39):
you know, Alex sar right young, nobody's expecting anything from them.
Atlanta is a team that made the playing tournament. But
let's be honest, you know out you know, it's just
a matter of time where it seems like the Hawks
have fallen out of favor with Trey Young, Milwaukee got
something to proved this year. True, Well that's why I said, gemption.
(12:00):
When you look at them, and I know you spoke
about you know, I want to focus on the East,
take a little time. But I know you spoke about Miami. Miami,
Jimmy Butler. Look, he's got a contract that's on the
line that he's trying to look and get an extension.
When you look at the Miami Heat, I have the
biggest problem with them, and that is, you know, I
(12:21):
think sometimes the expectations don't match the reality of the
talent that they have there. You know, granted they made
this improbable run to whose expectations?
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Whose expectations?
Speaker 1 (12:33):
I think a lot of people say that, you know what, Well,
you look at them, Oh they're dangerous team, that's this, But.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
They're all dangerous. They're not a top four team. But
I think those one of those teams that you don't
want to see in the first round.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Well, I think they're playing tournament team. And I think
a lot of that stuff. They're playing tournament team.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
I think they're playing they're playing tournament team because I
don't think they care about the rec at least Jimmy
Butler does it. So like that's what we had to
talk this week about certain teams. Everybody don't care if
they are playing tournament all, top season SUC seed because
they feel I can go get it done no matter
where we at. Just put us in a dance whever
and we'll take it from there. So Jimmy Butler's not
gonna over extend himself in the regular season one bout
(13:14):
being a top four, top six seed, because he feel
if here an eighth seed, he can go into a
one season gym and go get busy. So I don't
really get caught up in the seasons like that because
everybody not value in the regular season the same way.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
So when you look at Miami, what do you look
at them as, what do you see them in terms
of do they are? You saying that essentially they put
no stock in the regular season. But yet it's just
making sure we gear up and try to be able
to be a great postseason team.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Yeah, and we've seen it.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
They're a better postseason team than they are a regular
season team. So if I had to pick where they
were finishing the regular season, I was saying the playing
because I mean, you got you know, you got your Boston,
Philly Nicks, Milwaukee probably top four, got your Cleveland, Orlando
probably right in there, and I was they would probably
be seven or eight. But if there are seven, I
(14:08):
don't know if whoever, I don't know whoever had two
would want to see them in the first round.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
I mean, if you look at their team, I mean
they're starting five. I think you're talking about the potential
starting five with Terry Rozier, Tyler Herroll, Butler Jovic and
baan Oa bay You and then you.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Bring off the hot Cares. Right was the kid from
last year?
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Josh said Alex Burns duncan.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
I think they could beat anybody really besides Boston. I
would like if they played in one of those other
three teams we just named besides Boston.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
And beat them.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
I wouldn't be shocked if they played in the first
round this year.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
I wouldn't be shot.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Would you say that perhaps they might be the strongest
mentally strong, the mental the most mentally strong. Would you
consider them perhaps the strongest team in that Eastern Conference
because they they've had the number of the Celtics. They
definitely had the number of the Milwaukee Bucks. But you
know it's like that team that you don't really want
(15:07):
to face. So you really can't look at their record exactly.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
You can't really judge them off of what goes on
in the postseason because obviously they have another level that
they're capable of taking.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
Into and they've shown that the last few years.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
So, you know, and it's unfortunate in a way because
of the regular season. You know, as you start really dissecting,
start to realize this really doesn't tell you what it
looks like is telling us, you know what I'm saying,
Like people are just not valuing it like that, which
is which I get, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
But that's why I don't really get caught up in what.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Seed in such and such is who had a better
record or at the stats, because I know history had
shown is like the Lakers went from two years ago,
went from a playing team to the Western Conference finals.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
So it's like, guys, I.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Mean, I'm just guessing, but I think a Lebron or
Jimmy Bunckle, looking at what am I killing myself for
eighty two games? For all I gotta do is win
one role game. We got home court advantage in a
playoff series, So do I really care if I'm a
succeeed or two seed? And that's kind of like that
seemed like what's becoming the mentality, even when in being
saying I'm not playing them on back to backs, so
(16:13):
obviously they're not worrying about seeding. You just like, if
I'm healthy, we can beat anybody.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Well, I think, okay, let's look at Milwaukee. When you
look at the Milwaukee Bucks redemption, and I think that
kind of that goes against what you're talking about. I
think they're a situation where they need this regular season.
They need to show a lot of people that at
the end of the day, look, they were the ones
that were kind of predicted last year to potentially maybe
come out of the East once they got Damian Lillard.
(16:42):
And look, it's already a situation where Chris Middleton has
been he's going to be out, he's batting that ankle
and had surgery. So I went to him a long Yeah, Yeah,
they've gotten a lot older, and I think at this juncture,
when you look at them especially, I'm not surprised that
they've they've lost in the first round because they've done
(17:04):
it so much with Miami and now last year with
the Indiana Pacers, how how important?
Speaker 2 (17:11):
And again I've never said we didn't even mention. I'm
sorry we didn't even mention the Pacers. I'm gonna get
to them.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
I got you, Covid, I'm going to give you this.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
I'm going to give you this. But when I talk
about the Milwaukee Bucks and I look at them, I'm
really disappointed in Giannis's game, and easily right now when
I look at his game, I think it's regressed as
opposed to uh progress. When you look at the Milwaukee Bucks,
(17:39):
how important is this regular season for them from a
mental standpoint, being that they've had so much high expectations
and they fell short last year.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
I don't think it's so much important for them for
that reason. I think, really you just need reps with chemistry.
I believe with the List and Dane even I was
watching a little bit of the game to night. For
some reason, they standing their menace a lot, and they
doesn't and they don't play as many minutes together as
I think they should. But I don't really challenge their
mental toughness because you got Dame was probably the cold
(18:13):
the coldest blood of killing in the game with the
game with ice in his veins.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
So I definitely don't question him. Janna's gonna give you.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
One thousand percent all the time, So I really so
I don't even question their mentality or they just learnt
about the outside noise.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
I don't.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
I don't really think Milwaukee has that problem. I just
think they just need you got new coach, you got
you know, second year with Dame and Giannis playing together.
I just think they just need chemistry more than anything else.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
Yeah, when you look at Indiana, was that a one
hit one year, one hit wonder? You know, they got
a lot of attention soft seasons spot and really again
they surprised a lot of people. But when you look
at them, what's the biggest thing you take away from
the paces going in the season.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
I look at them, they're a deep team. They actually
have about six or seven wings, which is actually this
is a wing lead. And they probably gave Boston the
biggest fight out of anybody. I mean, what was that
a four to one series? If I'm not mistaken, But yeah,
(19:21):
a couple down to the wire. Ben math People forget
Ben Maths was out last year. Who's who's tough. So
I like the pieces that they got. They got a
lot of bodies and it was interesting like the narrative
last years that they didn't play defense, and I think
that was really like overstated because they gave up a
lot of points with the pace they was playing.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
But it's not like there it was a bad defensive team.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
So when I watched them in the playoffs, I was
impressed with their defense with n Smith, I believe, I
like the point guard.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
Yeah hard them hard. I mean McConnell. I like their team.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
I like their team man, And they have a bad matchup
for a few teams. I'm not sure those top four teams.
I want to see one of them in the first
round either. So I think the East is pretty good,
better than what most people think. Like we had a
good eight in the East. It's just that that bottom
group makes it East not as competitive. But if you
just want to talk about a good, solid eight, you
(20:20):
got a hell of a playoff, some hell of a
playoff matchups.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
Yeah, I mean, you know that is that is very
interesting you say that when I look at the paces,
you know, look, their thing was they really really you
know again, shot the ball incredibly well. All that stuff.
And look, they had a lot of success and they
surprised a lot of teams. And I've always questioned that
(20:47):
when you surprise teams that following year, you know, now
teams are going to gear up and say, okay, we
got to get ready for them. And you know they
you know, they should have won a game in that series.
Get Boston. Remember, I think they had to play down
the stretch and stow the ball something like that. But
they got swept. And it's a young team. But I
just questioned the fact is can they do it again?
(21:10):
Because they had the match ups in their favor, right,
They faced Milwaukee was decimated by injuries, They faced New
York and then you know that was such a grind
of a series.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
By injuries also, yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Yeah, decimated by injuries and then you turn around and
and have that happen. So I just questioned if they
could do it again. When you look at the Knicks,
we swap up on this Eastern Conference and switch quickly
second to the Western Conference. When you look at the
Knickerbockers got off to a sluggish start against Boston. Karl
Anthony Towns twelve points. Really, they were out of the
(21:43):
game before they even started. It's one of those games.
Look Boston shot, just throw it away and obviously you know,
don't judge them on that game, but I do.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
Can't.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
I want to do that. But when I look at them, Dave,
I look at the Knicks and say, as much as
you look at how much effectiveness of Karl Anthony town
It's a great name, good, you know, is the name.
He's brought a lot, but does he fit. He's great
when you can do that pick and pop and he
can shoot those threes, that's excellent, But can he be
(22:16):
that guy that's a pick and roll that with Isaiah Hartenstein,
with Mitchell Robinson, those guys that are rim runners. Guys
are also defensively a presence. When I look at Karl
Anthony Towns, I think he's more offensively, more offensively made
with this team than defensively. How do you look at
(22:36):
this team, this next team.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
I like him.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
I don't like the trade, but I understood why they
did it with Mitchell Robinson being hurt. Lose the hardest
thing you wanted, the seventh foot, but I think losing
something they death, giving up Randall and Devincenzo for Towns.
I wasn't really a big fan of I think Kat
could be some of those things that you just mentioned,
But watching that first game, they wasn't using him like that.
(23:02):
So I don't understand, Like, if you're gonna have him
in picking rolls and it's never gonna be any rim running,
if it's just gonna be picking pops, then we're not really.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
Taking advantage of his size.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
And I was really disappointed the other night because I
couldn't believe they had Drew Holliday guarding him and they were.
They really didn't exploit that on the on the block. Now,
this is the same problem Philly had a few years ago,
Like who are we blaming for this?
Speaker 3 (23:30):
If the coach not call.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Them whatever, plays whatever to get to play at the
ball on the box on the block, or is it
the player refusing to.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
Go down to the block, Like what's the issue?
Speaker 2 (23:40):
What's the point we're going to get a seven foot
of if we're not gonna have no post presence. You know,
we could have just kept we could have just kept
sho He's randw for that, you know what I'm saying.
So I think potentially he could be something. I just
don't understand. What's the system that or what's the game plan,
because if he's gonna just spend three quarters of the
game on the three point.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Line, then then I don't know what they're doing.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Then Yeah, and there's a lot of high expectations.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
One other thing, real quick on that game, very disappointed
at og and the Obi two. You just got two
hundred million. Did he did he score last night? I
mean Tuesday night? You know what, I can't remember? Six
points maybe the most.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
If he did score, and if he was, did he
get in the score on column? The biggest thing is
it wasn't impactful.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
So I know, impact on the game.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
And y'all supposed to be three elite preminal defenders with him,
Michale Bridges and Josh Hart, and there was no signs
of that.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
So well, think about it this way. Between Bridges and Anonobi,
their first game combined twenty points and they both were
pretty much eight of like twenty something shots. Eight of
twenty something shots not really good at all, you know,
so it was really and then two of eleven from
(24:59):
the three.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
Point A lot of it looked like last year, just
the burden on brunching, the carry and so and it's
like you added these pieces and it's still the same.
We should have took some of the burden off of Brunton.
So I'm interested to see how they as things progress,
how how it moves along.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Yeah, and now we go over to the Western Conference
real quickly, Dave, I look at that West. It's very
hard for me, as I've always said to you, to
pick the top four teams, because it's all about matchups.
When I look at Denver, Minnesota, Oklahoma City, Golden State,
will even include.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Dallas, Lakers, Dallens, New Orleans.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
It's it's so many teams that barn any injuries. I
think that clearly this will be one of those pretty
much like you talked about it doesn't matter where you finish,
because still in all like and then let me take
that back, because I I think it doesn't really matter
where you finish if I'm thinking about it correctly. But
(26:05):
it's all about matchups, right, because I think you can
finish in the age, you can finish in the play
and then run the table. But it's all about matchups
when it comes to the West. And I think that's
all the way across the board. When you look at
this West as a whole, what do you stands out
to you about this Division A conference?
Speaker 3 (26:26):
How deep it is?
Speaker 2 (26:27):
First of all, like you said, we probably was it
fifteen teams and we probably named thirteen the fourth that
got a chance to really be in the playing in
the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
That's how deep it is.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
It might be like a few years ago, if you remember,
I think See three and See eight was like a
three game difference, you know what I'm saying. Or you
had like six or seven teams that might have had
fifty wins or something crazy like that. So I think
it's I think it's that type of conference this year. Like, yeah,
I think matchups. But I like Dallas. Yeah, I think
(27:00):
I already told you I like Dallas coming out of
there because I think anytime you get on the court
and you pretty much got the best player, I think,
maybe with the exception that Joker Lucas gonna be the
best player on the court out of any series that
they have. So when you have the best player, I
usually lean towards that they made it to the finals
last year. I believe they got better this offseason another year. Chemistry,
(27:24):
I think Lively from what I'm hearing, Lively's progression, you
got it that Washington and Gaffert in the middle of
the year last year did that. Now you have a
whole training camp with that. So I believe Dallas is
the one coming out the West this year.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
Think about it this way. The last seed to get
into player in tournament in the West, it took forty
six wins Golden State to get into playing tournament. In
the East, it took thirty six wins. That's a ten
games difference. So right there just goes to show essentially
like if you're Houston, you won forty one games, you
(27:58):
were in you were in tournament in the Eastern Conference
and stuff. But give me a surprise team out of
that Western Conference day that provided that, you know what
they potentially they weren't a playoff team last year, potentially
could make that next leap up and being the playing
tournament team, a playing tournament team, let one playoffs.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
I think people has kind of forgotten about Memphis. I
think Job's been off the radar. I think people really
forget how how how explosive, how great he is. I mean,
before Ann l was ascension, it was all about John
Morant in that space before you know, off the off
the court issue. But they were way better. You know,
(28:43):
obviously they had injuries and suspicions everything last year. But
you bring job back with desney Band and Jackson. You know,
they added the rookies ZD I mean eat exact Edie.
So we'll see how he pans out. So but I
think they might be this, They might be the sleeping
man because same thing how I feel about Lucas similar
the jibt like you got one of those how we say,
(29:04):
one of those guys that that accounts for a lot,
that make up for a lot of a lot of things,
you might be lacking it. And you even see what
he came back from his injury, you know, his suspension
last year, how he was just carrying them game winners
and just putting working before he got hurt. So I
think he's that redemption thing we was talking about in
the East. I believe he's coming back on a mission
(29:25):
this year. Yeah, I look at you know what, I
got a team.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
I got Houston because Houston, you know, it took some
time figured things out and really establishing the roles. And
remember they went on a nice run, you know, towards
the you know, the close of the season, and then
obviously they fell back, lost a couple of games with
that dug themselves such a big hole. But I like
the work that Emodoka has done with that team. They
(29:50):
do have that mixture of young players and veterans. And
then also too, I think our friend Sangoon is such
a dominant play, dynamic player that's gonna be even more
dynamic going into this season and dominant. Uh So I
look at Houston to really really step up. Is this
the end for the Golden State Wards and the Clippers.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
As far as winning the championship, Well, clearly.
Speaker 1 (30:20):
Win a championship, but really just if anything, considering the playoff.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Teams, they'll definitely still be in a fight for the
play in for the playing to him obviously, I don't
think neither one of them will be a top six seed,
and I don't think it would be because they're just
taking the regular season, you know, not as serious like we.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
Were speaking about with some other teams.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
I just think that's just what level of at the
Clippers without Kawhi is not gonna be able to do it.
And I just don't think Steph has enough help. Man,
He's not getting any younger. I mean, he's still great,
but that's a lot to ask him to try to
carry that all mean through a playoff run. I just
see that for them at this point.
Speaker 1 (31:02):
Who's your biggest disappointment. Give me a disappointment team in
the West that will be disappointed, and I'll give you one.
I'll start off one. I'm not really believing it in
the Phoenix Suns. I think the biggest thing with them is, Look,
they're gonna be able to score right, hands down, but
you know, the best ability is availability, and Bradley Bell
really struggled to stay healthy. You look at Devin Booker
(31:24):
and Kevin Durant. I just think that clearly because of
those those three contracts, it's really hamstrung them. Now, look
they got tyas Jones, that's in there. You know. I
like Nurkice, but I just don't see enough off that
bench to be able to sustain them. And it's really
all about their offensive scoring. But they were forty nine
(31:45):
games last year. I think they will step back.
Speaker 3 (31:48):
That was still good.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
That was everyone turmoil injuries, first year together. That wasn't
a bad year. Like you said, they might have just
caught a bad matchup. So I don't know, you know
what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (32:00):
The Minnesota hammered them in that first round.
Speaker 2 (32:03):
They was too big, a bad matchup for them. So
what I mean, so.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
I hate the State is to you, but maybe Sacramento.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
Because it's like, all right, they added some pieces, they
added the rolls in, they had, you know what I'm saying,
Like two years ago they when they took Golden State
to seven, like we was on the start or something,
and it's kind of like leveled out right now. I
don't think Keithan Murray took the leak we was looking for.
I'm not the biggest the Bonus fan in the postseason,
(32:36):
so I'm kind of like, I'm kind of like fifty
to fifty with.
Speaker 3 (32:39):
Them right now.
Speaker 1 (32:41):
I've set before. I wish that they would have been
able to go out and get a big and really
trying to slide a brim protector's slide some the bonus
over the four. I think he's most effective if he's
at that four spot, provided you bring in the right
type of fit.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
Gold On, if you can guard the forest though that's
the problem.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
Yeah, but I like him more at the four than
the five. You know, I just don't see him, you know,
at that five spot because that's a lot of weird channel.
It's not a good matchup for him, So.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
I disagree with that.
Speaker 2 (33:12):
I think the guy has seven I mean, broke the
double double record last year.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Right, he broke the double double. But you know what
when they played teams, you know, certain teams to look
out in the West. If you're going to win, you're
gonna have to have size, right because the Jokers there,
you got Anthony Davis there, he's seven feet yeah, but
I mean he just specifically he looked very small when
he compared against them Oklahoma City Day. They surprised a
(33:40):
lot of people last year, including you as truly they
won fifty seven games, and Dave, they went from sickly
forty wins to seventy excuse me forty wins actually forty
like forty something wins. I think it was forty two
(34:01):
wins and forty six wins to the fifty seven wins.
That was amazing, right that. I think that was truly
true amazing to add that many type of wins and
still run to the young team. And then they add
Isaiah Hartenstein who's going to be out for some time
to start the season. But David, I love the Oklahoma
(34:24):
City Thunder. How big of a surprise or do you
think they can do it again and remain a top
tier team?
Speaker 3 (34:31):
I think so.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
I think what you felt you didn't mention, you mentioned
hardest time. You didn't mention Alex Caruso.
Speaker 1 (34:38):
Alex Caruso very that's.
Speaker 2 (34:41):
A major, major pickup and underrated because what you really
have now as good as Okay season. I think people
don't rather how great defensively they are.
Speaker 3 (34:51):
If you if you get Dort Shay is pretty good.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
You got Dort, you had Caruso, Jayden Williams, you got
check Back. So I mean, I think they can do
it because it's not there are Success is not just
predicated on offense.
Speaker 1 (35:06):
So yeah, they won forty games. That that which cong
they won forty games two years ago. Uh, forty games
and then you jumped from forty forty games and forty
fifty seven And look, Alexander clearly should have been the
MVP last year.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
But I mean you added Chad holmgren SGA took the lead,
and Jalen Wims took the lead, you know what I'm saying.
So right, he took another lead, but he still he
got he was consistent that that.
Speaker 1 (35:39):
Twenty three, twenty four, and it took that to the
it showed it again. So he developed the level of
consistency SGA in his game.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
No, he took it that to thirty.
Speaker 1 (35:49):
Yeah, yeah, I mean he just he took it to
another level. I on that.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
Yeah, he took to another level. I considered him.
Speaker 2 (35:58):
I consider him one of those dudes also, so like,
and you look at most teams, those are the ones
that one of those dudes where like, we just need
to get one. Like, he's just really unstoppable offensively. He
can get a bucket pretty much at any time, and
that matters because you know, once you get to the
postseason and me scheming and the defense and all that,
(36:18):
sometimes it ain't no offense. It's just it's just great
one on one offense is just gonna beat great defense.
And he's one of those guys also, so I think
they can duplicate it. And they're young enough to take
the regular season serious too.
Speaker 1 (36:30):
So, yeah, who do you have in the playoffs? And
I know a lot of people scratch their heads and say,
we haven't mention to the Lakers, but give me your
teams that are not playoff teams in a Western Conference. Aside,
we already know Utah.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
If I job be Utah, probably Portland, probably San Antonio,
those three, those three don't anybody. If I had to
pick it up and go state, okay, for it gotta
be one more? What is it? And yeah, probably uh,
(37:11):
I probably have to be Houston. Houston might finish one
one one spot back again this year. If I had
to pick it out, you have Houston not in Yeah,
because I like, I don't like them better than Sacramento,
OKAC or Memphis or the Lakers.
Speaker 1 (37:30):
Okay, so we say Portland, Houston, San Antonio, Portland, Houston,
San Antonio, Golden State, Golden State. Who's your fifteen Utah? Utah, Okay,
I'm gonna go Portland clearly. San Antonio. I'm just not
(37:51):
believing just and again the impact of CP three, I
think it's gonna be minimum. It will have some impact,
but again they'll be all right. It's just another step.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
They get seven eight more games this year, win thirty.
Speaker 3 (38:03):
That's a good year for them.
Speaker 1 (38:05):
Yeah, Portland, San Antonio, I'm not really so Utah. If
marketing can stay healthy, I think they'll be on the
cuss of that. But I'm gonna say for the argument's sake,
I'm gonna put the Portland San Antonio, Utah. I'm gonna
say Golden State is my fourth team. And I just think,
(38:28):
like you said before earlier, you know what, Look, they've
run their course. It's steph and and the others and
stuff like that, and I think it's gonna be an
adjustment period for that and just again if they can
be able to stay healthy. But I just don't think
they have enough ammunition to get it done. That would
be my that's my fourth teen and my fifteen. You know,
(38:57):
it's a toss up, and there's a reason why it's
a tossing between the Clippers because of Kawhi in and out.
So then you developed that, that developed that chemistry.
Speaker 2 (39:08):
I think I will take the Clippers if Kawhi is out,
like you said, I would put. Yeah, that's that's a
good that's a good pick.
Speaker 3 (39:17):
And then.
Speaker 1 (39:19):
Like New Orleans, you lose valentinnis right, and now you
add the John J. Murray and you move C. J.
McCollum to that two spot. Well that's that's still kind
of small at the two. But I think this is
a make or break season. Look, Brandon Ingram has got
to really he looks in the playoffs, they're in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (39:44):
They got the health issue too, worrying about Zion.
Speaker 1 (39:46):
Exactly the health issue. And then how do you feel
that spot in the middle, that five spot, like this
is the West the Jokers there a d is there,
you know, go Bears there. I mean it's yeah, I
don't don't.
Speaker 2 (40:02):
Yeh yeah, I mean I don't even know who they
got to even put in the middle service.
Speaker 1 (40:06):
With me exactly. So when I look at them, that
is just my biggest cars for concern because they're playing
Herb Jones at at the five. Yeah, so that that
that right there would be my five teams, uh or yeah,
(40:26):
I think that would be my fifteen that potentially would
not make the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (40:33):
So you had to but you had you had the Clippers,
and you at New Orleans. That's so one of them
got to be out.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
I had the Clippers. Well, I said, okay, So I
mean it's a toss up. I really say, if anything
I could look at potentially just to I think more
than anything health, I would say maybe the Clippers take
a step back. You know, James Harden, can he really
carry that load of what you once did before that
(41:02):
that that that remains to be seen. You know, I
don't think so, and that is gonna be huge for
them moving forward. Who is your team's in the NBA Finals,
David Dallas and Boston Redo Part two.
Speaker 3 (41:18):
Yeah, I believe so with Boston repeating.
Speaker 1 (41:22):
Mm hmm, I'm gonna take a leap of faith. I
don't think it's gonna be Boston. Uh, I'm gonna say
it's New York.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
That I wouldn't be mad at that.
Speaker 1 (41:40):
You know, part of me wants to say either New
York and Denver.
Speaker 2 (41:44):
I'm just thinking that has been under the radar too.
Speaker 1 (41:47):
Yeah, I question if their window of opportunity has closed.
Speaker 2 (41:51):
You know, you've got the best player in the league,
so you you're not You're never gonna be too far off.
Speaker 1 (41:55):
So yeah, but matchups in that West and it's too
much regauntless.
Speaker 2 (41:59):
But well, I'm saying it's not two seven foot is
no more neither, So.
Speaker 1 (42:04):
Yeah, I would maybe I would say maybe New York
and Okay, see, you know, I think okay, see, you know,
provided Hart and Stein and could come back and stay
healthy with home Grin and now you s g A
and then Williams and the Crusoe. I mean they are
really really loaded, you know, and that that would be
(42:28):
it man, you know, not a bad pick. Yeah, Dave,
I appreciate it. Man. We definitely got to do this again.
The NBA C Yeah. I always love you, man, appreciate
your time. David Kame one of the best in the business.
It's heavy in the paint. Peace.
Speaker 3 (42:45):
Peace,
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