Early Mock Trades, Hot vs. Cold Teams, & NBA Rooks

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Those fifteen minutes of his defense staggered with the starters
and the bench is a lot better than what they
have right now, and that would be something I would
consider if I were the Sacramento camps. A lot of
bigger guards and even smaller guards who just like to rebound,
like to get their teammates involved, and they just become
great players to build your team around. And that's what

(00:21):
Josh Getty is. Josh Getty's legit. And I think it's
only going to get harder for them because now Trey Young,
not only has he had a slow start production wise
shooting the basketball, but now he's out with a knee
injury for at least the next four weeks. And again,
when your star point guard is out like this is
who you build your team around is gonna change a

(00:43):
lot of things. This was a guy that I did
like that pick in the NBA draft. I thought he
was a sleeper pick and I love that he's proven
to already be the exact player. I always wanted the
Memphis Grizzlies to have. Welcome to Hip to the Games,
the podcast for you the Basketball Junkie and the hip
hop hit. I'm your host, Desmond and I too have
had hoop dreams and enjoy the beautiful genre of hip

(01:05):
hop and his systory. Together we will enjoy some of
the greatest albums, songs, artists, players, moments, teams, and so
much more, while even mixing the two on occasion. All
in my hope that you remember why you love both
or either of these to begin with. You'll soon understand
that Hip to the Games is more than just a podcast.
It's a lifestyle and if you were looking for a

(01:25):
platform that combines both basketball and hip hop, you've come
to the right place. They play my kind of basketball
and a lot of layers to this song. If you're
really paying attention, there's a huge shout out to you
for being Hip to the Games. Welcome to another episode

(01:48):
of Hip to the Games. Whether you are new to
the h TWODG family or a Day one supporter, I
appreciate you listening or watching today show. All praise to
the creative director Jesus Christ as it's always a blessing
to in front of this microphone and share what he's
put in my heart with you. And a special special
shout out to the home Team nineteen media group for
the opportunity to represent a network filled with passionate independent podcasters.

(02:11):
If you consider yourself hip to the games, I would
really appreciate it if you took a few seconds sometime
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and review on audio platforms like Apple Podcasts or Spotify,
so we can continue to grow the h TRDG family.
For now, though, as the NBA season has tipped off,
there are already some teams who haven't gotten off to

(02:33):
the best starts. And while I wouldn't encourage anyone to
hit the panic button this early in the season, for once,
I have to, I think I'm gonna put my GM
hat on. I brainstormed some trades for a few teams
that should look to salvage their season before they find
it getting worse. So I'm going to get into some
GM talk, a little trade talk with the ESPN Trade

(02:54):
machine to start this episode, and then after that, I
do want to share some general analysis and commentary and
thoughts on teams who have started off hot versus teams
who have not. And then lastly, I want to end
the episode showing love to three rookies who have looked
like seasoned veterans already and just their young careers. So
a lot of good stuff come in this episode. A
lot of variety come in this episode. And without further ado,

(03:15):
let's get right into it with some front office frolikin.
Shall we now? Early this season, it's been clear that
teams like the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, and Sacramento Kings
have already experienced hardships due to holes in their roster construction.
And I actually want to start with Houston because if
you remember my early season Storylines episode, I severely underestimated

(03:38):
their point guard situation. I was wrong, and being honest,
my thought process was this, in the past, my traditional
NBA values often turned out to be outdated. In twenty
twenty one, I was huge on the Clippers trading for
Rajon Rondo. I thought it was one of the best
moves of the deadline that year, and I thought it
was going to be guaranteed the final piece that they

(04:02):
needed to cruise to an NBA championship. Of course, they
ended up making the Western Conference Finals that year, and
I've been of the notion that the twenty twenty one
finals was supposed to be the Los Angeles Clippers and
the Brooklyn Nets. That's neither here nor there. But although
they did make the Western Conference Finals, Rajon Rondo was
not the biggest part of the journey to that round.

(04:24):
So then you look at last year, right, we fast
forward to last year, and I initially wasn't buying the
Indiana Pacers because I felt they were missing a go
to half court score that could take over games when
they needed the most. On an everyday basis, all right,
And most of the time they found ways to win
as a team, and if they absolutely needed buckets, it

(04:47):
was gonna be Pascal Siakam or Tyres Halliburton's takeover. So
they often traded the role. So when it came to
this season and we're talking about the Houston Rockets, I
figured this year I'd switch it up, right, I'm I'm
you know, I'm like, okay, Well, if I was wrong
in the past, you know, it's okay to be human
and change your opinion and change your your world views

(05:08):
and whatnot. Right, So I'm like, okay, maybe maybe my
stuff is outdated. Right, Maybe the NBA that I grew
up loving and became a fan of and studied all
these years is no more. I have to adapt with
the times. Right, So I'm like, oh, they'll be fine.
The Houston Rockets will be fine. It's the new NBA.
Some of the best teams don't even have pure floor generals.
They'll be all right. So I went with that approach

(05:30):
and let this be a lesson play your game, okay,
double entendre, right, Like, if you're a hooper, it's gonna
make perfect sense. But if you're a human being, everyday
human being, man like, it's gonna it still makes sense.
Play your game, or as we heard growing up, do
you do you You won't win them all, but you'll
always be able to honorably accept defeat when you play

(05:52):
your best. Right, I should have stuck to what I
knew and what I genuinely genuinely believed in my heart,
because man, the Houston Rockets have rugged to fill the
void left by Fred van Fleet's injury, and it hasn't
been super ugly per se. But after watching that opening
night game versus Okay, see Thunder, you just already know
come playoff time, when they're facing good teams out West,

(06:15):
no matter what round they make it to in the playoffs,
they are going to face somebody that they can't take lightly.
That flaw is going to be exposed in the playoffs,
and we saw that versus ok See. I think Amen
Thompson is a great connector. He's not a floor general.
Watching Reed Shepard, the more I see him, he plays
like he's meant to be more of a spark plug

(06:36):
as opposed to an offensive initiator. And don't get me
started on alper and Sengoon, who I'm afraid is while
I love his game, I'm afraid he's starting to fall
more in love with his growth on the perimeter than
his inside presence. And again I can be wrong. It's
still a very long season ahead. I think he's actually
done a pretty good job supplementing both his inside presence

(06:57):
and his outside strengths. But that is something that I'm watching.
I think he's now forced to bring the ball up
a little bit more, especially in that opener versus ok See.
He's succumbed to a lot of the same traps and
pressure at the top of the arc, the same way
Nikola Jokic was in the playoffs. If you watch that game, okay,
see guarded Alprinson Sengun the exact same way they guarded

(07:20):
Nikolai okicch put Caruso on Sengun or even put you know,
make traps with caseon Willless and lou dord or Case
and Wildless Alex Caruso like whatever it was. And I
think the only difference in that game is that as
the fourth quarter and overtime periods developed, Alprin Sengun was
able to use some of his drop steps and post
moves and strength advantage that he kind of had on

(07:42):
those smaller lineups to get closer to the basket and
or fight for position, get easy put backs and so forth.
So I thought he did a better job of that
despite them losing the game still, But call me what
you want. But again, when I mentioned these things, this
is why I've been saying that we have to be
very careful with this idea of positionless basketball. I'm not

(08:03):
saying I'm against it. I think it's a beautiful thing
when done the right way. You know, the idea of
a Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith, alper and Sangun and
Steven Adams starting five sounds fun and unique and like
a cheat code. Until thirty seven year old Kevin Durant
is focused on the marathon of the NBA season and
not the sprint. Until Jabari Smith realizes that by experience,

(08:27):
he's going to learn how to not step on Kevin
Durant's toes while feeling confident enough to be the help
that Katie and his team needs. Until Amn Thompson realizes
that the team will benefit from his drives more than
him being passive. Until Alpah and Sangun realizes it's physically
and mentally exhausting to be the point guard and the

(08:50):
power forward at the same time, and how that's going
to tire him quicker than his typical workload. So all
of a sudden, the Rockets point guard hole looks bigger
than ever right now. So, while not perfect by any means,
I'm not an expert by any stretch, and I'm not
saying that these are the only viable trade scenarios. I

(09:11):
did just for fun in the love of the game.
I took a stab at solving the Rockets point guard
scenario in a way that accounts for their present dilemma
and their vision for the future and their overall style
of play. All right, So again, it's easy for me
to be in front of his microphone and let's hear
what Desmond thinks about the Houston Rockets, But how about
we actually put solutions in place? How about we actually

(09:32):
try to think critically, think about how, you know, what
would you do in this situation? Right? So, using the
ESPN's trade machine, I came up with the trade involving
the Utah Jazz in this scenario for the Houston Rockets. Now,
if you are watching on YouTube, you do see the
trade in front of you. But for my audio listeners,
I have the Houston Rockets trading Reed Shepherd, Steven Adams,

(09:54):
Jayshawn Tate, and JD. Davidson's at the Utah Jazz for
Isaiah Collier, Walker Kessler, George Nyang, and Kyle Anderson. Okay,
now here's the thing about this trade. Okay. I know,
and even a lot of the trades that I'm gonna
talk about today aren't the sexiest trades. They're not the
flashiest names, and a lot of there's, in some way,
shape or form, somebody in there is involved with some

(10:17):
kind of injury history or current injury or what have you.
These are by no means perfect trades, but just roll
with me. The thing about this trade is that I
was really just trying to hypothetically find a way to
get Isaiah Kyleier in a Rockets jersey, and I added
Walker Kessler by accident, like I accidentally clicked on his name,
and I'm just like, well, let's see where this go is, right,

(10:37):
Walker Kesler is somebody who's been in trade rumors the
last couple of seasons. Why not, right? And maybe again
it'll sweeten that deal for the Houston Rockets. Right. They
may not be as excited about Isaiah Kyleier, but that
Walker Kesler getting a younger rent protector, somebody who can
still rebound. Again, losing Steven Adams would be tough, but
you have a young Walker Kessler who's on a playoff
team and a team that wants to win now, like Houston,

(10:59):
I think that would be really intriguing. And like I said, that,
that's how it went. And I liked it for Houston because,
like I said, although they lose Steven Adams's strength and
his veteran presence here, you know you can never beat
having those guys in your locker room and on the floor.
They do get younger by acquiring a good rebounder and
really good shot blocker that Walker Kessler is. And then

(11:20):
despite Isaiah Khalier's shooting twenty four percent from three last season,
I think bringing in George Nyang helps make up for
that weakness while allowing the Rockets to keep perimeter shooting depth.
With George and then along with Kyle Anderson, you still
have against somebody that can play in bigger lineups, even
if it's just a few minutes a game. And if
you've listened or watched the pod over the past year,

(11:40):
you'll know that I am a believer in Isaiah Collier's
upside and feel for the game. He currently has yet
to make his sophomore debut due to a hamstring injury,
and I know it would be hard to have him
and Amen Thompson on the floor together. I know that's
not ideal in that trade. Again, this wouldn't be a
trade with a high grad grade right, but I think
that he is a player that has the ability to

(12:03):
see the floor the way a point guard should see
the floor, evaluate matchups, find mismatches, call plays that will
get the guy with the hot hand opportunities to score,
or ones that will help the quiet guy get involved
in the game, so he you know his rhythm isn't
off and you're playing essentially four on five basketball, right,
knowing when to run versus when to slow down, knowing

(12:25):
when to look for his own shot, versus making sure
his teammates are in rhythm. All of those qualities right,
making reids on the floor, recognizing plays, you know, calling
those things out, recognizing I mean, all of those things.
There's so much that goes into the point guard position
other than bringing up the basketball. Now, on the flip side,
I do see this as a good trade for Utah

(12:45):
as well, because again, despite having quality guards like Keyant
George and Walter Clayton Junior, Reed Shepherd would still have
pretty much the same opportunity he has with the Rockets
right now to earn more minutes and balance a bigger
roster with more guard depth, even as they would hypothetically
get Steven Adams. It would further open the door for
Kyle Philipowski to not just grow as a starting caliber

(13:07):
forward slash center, but become a permanent piece for the
Utah Jazz's future. Again, this is all hypothetical and they're
not perfect, and I know this would be a big
responsibility for a guy like Isaiah kyleier right to step
in this young coming off injury on this playoff team
and they're expecting big things from him. That would be
a lot to carry right now. Again, he's still a

(13:28):
raw talent himself, not the greatest shooter, and still I
think needs to bridge his talent with his efficiency. You know. Again,
hasn't played yet this season, but to me, I think
he has all the instincts, he has the field for
the game, and quite frankly, he is a point guard
by definition, right, not a scoring guard that happens to
be small, or a shooting guard with point guard skills,

(13:49):
but a point guard that wants to be the quarterback
on the court, right. And the reason why I went
a little bit deeper with a cut like Isaiah Kyllier
is because, in a perfect word, my dream scenario for
the Houston Rockets is to get de john Ty Murray.
As to me, he fits their defensive identity perfectly. And
I think the last time we saw him run a
team by himself was his All Star season in San Antonio.

(14:12):
He was averaging like twenty eight and nine and two
steals a game, you know what I mean. Like, I
think his time in Atlanta allowed him to grow his
offensive game. That's why you saw a little bit less
of his playmaking, and I think even his defense took
a little bit of a hit because he had, you know,
he had to help Trey generate offense, scoring the ball, right,
that was his role over there. And even as I

(14:33):
say that, right, I think of Drew Holliday. I know
a lot of people have said, Drew Holliday, who's been
playing great basketball this year to start the year. I'm
so happy for him because I saw my timeline so
many people saying he was washed, and I just hate that. Right.
The thing about it is like my generation, I've said
it before, we're getting used to this is really the
first time we're seeing people we've watched their whole careers

(14:53):
like get older, and now they're getting older in a
new NBA where it's cool to be older technically, right,
guys are playing still playing productive. Dare I say All
Star basketball at thirty six thirty seven years old? Right? So,
like it's really cool to see Drew Holliday. I think
he would be even now with how he's playing to
start the year. I think he's an even better fit

(15:14):
for Houston, and I think brings a similar impact to
Fred Van Fleet. But you know, financially those trades are
virtually impossible. I tried trying to get de Jontay Murray.
I tried throwing in Drew Holliday, and there was just
nothing that could work without the rockets trying to include
Aman Thompson, Kevin Durant, Steven a you know, what have

(15:35):
you like or excuse me, Operation Sangoon, not Steven Adams.
You know it would take that to at least financially
get Drew Holliday or de Jontay Murray. So I had
to think a bit outside the box. Again. I know
there are other names. I saw Kobe White's name as
a target, and I think this trade would work involving Shepherd,
Jayshaun Tate, JD. Davidson, and Jeff Green to the Chicago

(15:57):
Bulls for Kobe White. And though I do think that
would be really good for Houston, Kobe White, to me,
has been more of a score than a facilitator, so
I'm not entirely sure he'd be the true point guard
Houston is looking for sure. Is he somebody that's been
in the league for a little bit has found his
rhythm as as a player? Absolutely? Would you know, would
he be a great fit, especially with his you know,

(16:18):
ability to score and shoot. Absolutely, but to me, there
are some similarities to D'Angelo Russell, just in the sense
that these guys are really they can be really talented playmakers,
but it just seems like when I watch them, they
would rather score, and I don't think Houston technically needs
another score. They need somebody to feed score like Kevin Durant, right,

(16:40):
Jabari Smith, and then somebody who can play inside out
like alperh and Zangun Right. This is why we're here
to talk about those kind of point guards. So again,
I'm not against against that trade by no means that
would be cool, Like again, as a as a Bulls fan,
as somebody from the Chicago Land area, Like absolutely it
would be cool to see Kobe White on a team
like that. But I still just don't know if that's

(17:01):
the perfect fit. But it is something good and obviously
he's better than Isaiah Collier in that regard as far
as all around talent, so you know, it would be nice,
it would be nice, But nonetheless, these are all are
are all options that I think if you want somebody
more established than Isaiah Collier, yeah, go for Kobe White
and then do I guess, see what's out See if

(17:24):
you can make anything happen for de Jontay Murray at
some point down the line when he returns, or or
you know, if there is a way to somehow get
Drew Holliday. You know, once some of these the signing
thresholds are up right, and you know, I know it's
like past December fifteenth for a lot of these guys.
So there are options that the Houston Rockets have slim
options financially, They might have to go for more lower

(17:45):
key guys, like I said, like Isaiah Collier. But it's interesting,
you know, I think most teams choose to stick it out.
I think Houston, you know, they haven't really been that bad.
It's just more about are they going to be ready
come playoff time to play more of those games that
they played versus okay see, and that's what you're kind
of gonna be. Be a little anxious to see how
they respond in that regard, because again, it could be

(18:07):
one of those seasons where it's like, Okay, the Rockets
got their scorer and Kevin Durant, but now when they
got their score, they don't have the point guard that
they that they need to thrive in the playoffs. So yeah,
it's gonna be It's gonna be tough if they don't
figure it out. But I just threw all my GM
hat and decided to do it for him and see,
so let me know what you think about that trade.
But next up is the Sacramento Kings, who are a

(18:29):
very interesting group. Okay, I know I didn't have a
lot of great things to say about them in my
episode where I predicted the NBA standings for the year,
but they do have all Star caliber players in Zach Lavine,
DeMar de Rozen and Demonisa Bonus obviously former All Star
Russell Westbrook. Now you know, they have those high energy
guards Schroeder, russ Kean Ellis I really like over there,
and they have that microwave six man and Malik Monk

(18:51):
right like and and while out with the injury, they
have shooting coming from Keegan Murray and because of his
six to eight frame, he hasn't guarding the opposing team's
best player most nights. But this is the problem with
the Sacramento Kings, is that outside of this talent that
I listed, they have more guards who are talented enough
to see the floor and then this weird mix of raw,

(19:14):
scrappy frontcourt players who can play the small ball five
in limited minutes. And in my opinion, it's the lack
of wings, most notably on the perimeter, and their lack
of interior defense that has made this team look a
lot worse than what they probably should be now. No
matter the talent, they often struggle to win games because

(19:34):
to me, their best defenders are six to three Kean
Ellis and Dennis Schroeder. Right. I believe it was the
Laker game, like the fact that Doug Christy he had
to put Dennis Schroeder on Austin Reeves. Right, Austin Reeves
went off for fifty that game, and the best player
that you could put on sixty five Austin Reeves is

(19:56):
sixty three six' Two Dennis schroeder For Keon, ellis which
again not bad height, wise, right, energy they give great,
Energy BUT i was, like, Man Austin reves is gonna
find a way to get around those, guys which he, did. Right,
so because their best defenders are generally smaller, players and
because they have virtually nobody on their roster that limits

(20:17):
teams from attacking the, BASKET i had to go to, work,
MAN i had to go to work on THE espn
trade machine and try to find somebody actually for both
of those, roles, RIGHT i wanted to find somebody that
could be a perimeter presence and somebody that could be
more of an interior. Present, so given their current roster,
Construction i've noticed that unless they don't mind giving up Malikue,
monk most trades are going to have to Involve Keon.

(20:39):
Ellis and, AGAIN i love watching that brother defend and
disrupt passing. Lanes but, man it just seems like in
every trade, situation The kings are going to have to
sacrifice his presence if they want to fill the more
dire holes in their. Roster so that being, said both
of these trades That i'm gonna propose Involve Keon, Ellis Devin,
carter And Dario. Sorry, now if they would like to

(21:01):
feel their need for interior, DEFENSE i propose these gentlemen
going to The Portland trailblazers in exchange For Robert williams The.
Third and you, KNOW i think for The, blazers Receiving
Keon ellis And Devin carter allows them to maintain their
reignited defensive identity that we've seen the past year or
two while getting an emergency Stretch big And Dario sarich

(21:22):
and With Donovan klingen And Hanson young as the team's
centers moving, FORWARD i think there's room for teams to
try to Steal Robert williams as a Backup. BIG i
think his ability to protect the rim is probably his strongest,
attribute and he attacks the glass with. Aggression these are
all skills That sacramento, needs and they've been in need
of for quite some time. Now they weren't able to

(21:44):
get and even passed on guys Like Kamal mala Watch
Thomas sorber And Ryan cologbrenner in the, draft and free
agents Like Clint capella and Even DeAndre. Jordan you, know
those guys went. Elsewhere and despite his injury, HISTORY i
Think Robert williams would Be it wouldn't be a bad
look if they are desperate to bring in an intimidating
presence off the bench to improve their defensive. WOES i

(22:05):
think he'd be Great matt. Role all he's got to
do is really play fifteen minutes a, night. RIGHT i
think he's capable of doing that when he's, Healthy but
of course you never. Know but then, again you gotta
be willing to take some of those those decisions when
you want your team to. Improve, now if they would
rather add a presence off the, bench that's that's you,
know an additional body who can be versatile enough to

(22:26):
lock up the perimeter and help out in the, interior
then they might want to make that same trade THAT i, mentioned,
Right Keon, Ellis Devin, carter And Daria sarage to The
Orlando magic For Jonathan isaac. Right, obviously bringing In Keon
ellis And Devin CARTER i think would give The magic
an abundance of. Guards so maybe it would be better
if a third team was involved to diversify those contents

(22:48):
of the. Trades SO i also added some trades here
where Maybe Keon ellis goes To milwaukee For Andre jackson,
junior or you, know To phoenix right With orlando Receiving
Nick richards With Mo wagner out with. Injury, Right so
there's some ways you can do, it but The magic
still have enough size and versatility in my opinion where
Losing Jonathan isaac it would, hurt but it wouldn't be that.

(23:11):
Bad and, besides they haven't played him very much to
start this. SEASON i, know, again he's another guy that's
really been getting about fifteen MINUTES i saw the other.
NIGHT i, THOUGHT i think there was a game they
played The Charlotte, HORNETS i want to, say and within six,
Minutes Jonathan isaac already had three. Blocks like, again The
kings need somebody like, that and it's a guy who

(23:31):
can hold his own on the perimeter and do things
like that protect the. Basket SO i think it would
be a really good. Trade. Obviously the thing With Jonathan,
isaac you, know is that this brother hasn't been the healthiest.
Dude you, know he struggled with injuries throughout his. Career
but LIKE i, said last, season in fifteen minutes a,
game he managed to play seventy one games plus the.
Playoffs so For, SACRAMENTO i, think, again those fifteen minutes

(23:53):
of his defense staggered with the starters and the bench
is a lot better than what they have right, now
and that would be SOMETHING i would consider IF i
were The Sacramento. Kings many teams around the league have
prepared their rosters to face teams LIKE okc And cleveland
who have these double big lineups right or should we
say TRADITIONAL nba lineups? Right and then there's teams that

(24:14):
are trying to prepare to individually contain superstars Like victor
Webin yama And Joannison. Tetokumpo The Sacramento kings have none of.
That they don't have any of, that, Right and if
they don't consider making a move in hopes of being
the kind of competitive team they want to, be especially
in a Stack western, conference the only move left to

(24:35):
make might be a. Rebuild and then, lastly it's The Dallas,
mavericks Another texas team that somehow has a need for
a point. Guard AND i think the first THING i
thought it was like the mystery Of D'Angelo Russell. MAN
i will never understand it how a former second pick
in THE nba draft suddenly isn't fit for a team
that is without their superstar point guard due TO acl.

(24:58):
Rehab LIKE i under, saying he has his. FLAWS i
understand some people think he plays lazy. Basketball you, know
he seems to take knights off some. Games but this
was a guy that ten years ago was drafted to
be the guy that makes places for his teammates and
hit big. Shots he showed flashes of that IN la
with The, lakers and it even eventually got him his
Lone All star appearance with The Brooklyn nets in twenty.

(25:21):
Nineteen but despite stints in The, Bay, minnesota The lakers,
again and Then brooklyn, again since, then he's found himself
in a situation where his head coach still goes to
the media and, says we're shorthanded with point. Guards and you,
KNOW i Love Ja. Kidd you know What i'm. SAYING
i LOVE J. Kidd grew up WITH J kidd as
AN nba, fan you know WHAT i, Mean like on the,

(25:43):
court that. Dude but WHEN i heard him say, THAT i,
said are you? Serious you mean to tell me D'Angelo,
Russell Brandon, williams who has a little bit of That Kyrie.
Irv he's like a Baby Kyrie, irving, right and Then Ryan,
nemhard who people. LOVED i thought people had great things
to say bottom around. Draft around the draft, time like
you have all those options to work with and none

(26:05):
of these guys are playing like OR i shouldn't say,
that but like none of these guys are given the
kind of basketball you want to have for your. Team
to where you felt like you had to Start Cooper,
flagg who isn't even a point. Guard sure he's gonna
learn some tips and tricks that'll do well for him
as he continues HIS nba. Career but, again you drafted
him because in a perfect, world you saw him With

(26:29):
Kyrie irving And Anthony davis as a great connecting forward.
Piece and mind, You Jason kidd is the same head
coach who tried to put that lineup together when he
was Coaching milwaukee Of giannis And, Tetekumpo Chris, Middleton Jabari,
Parker John, henson And Thom. MAKER i believe it, was
and we saw how that worked. Out it, didn't so.

(26:51):
Clearly The MAVs are also in need of a floor.
General and WHILE i also Think Dejontay murray would be
a great fit for this team as, well defensive minded
floor general doesn't mind making plays for. Himself The mavericks
are financially. Cooked they are financially, screwed so they cannot do,
that and they are so far over the tax. Line

(27:11):
virtually any TRADE i tried to make on THE espn
trade machine was not even close to being. SUCCESSFUL i
got excited ONCE i realized that, hypothetically The bulls would
probably be okay with A Kobe white For D'Angelo russell
And Max christie Swap right thanks to guys Like Josh,
Giddy Trey, Jones Io desumo And mantus buzzellis playing good

(27:32):
basketball Without, kobe UNTIL i realized that The Dallas mavericks
are just way beyond the tax. LINE i even tried
to see if they could Steal Scottie Pippen. Jr From
memphis To No. AVAIL i don't know if it's the
trade machine or like literally this franchise just absolutely cooked,
financially but by the looks of, things J kid and
The MAVs are just gonna have to figure this. Out

(27:52):
they're gonna have to make do with their point guards
that they have Until number eleven. Returns it's sometimes it's that,
simple gotta play the hand that you were, dealt AND i,
think unfortunately that's where The Dallas mavericks. Are so there
you have. IT i told you THE gm role was
never my go, to but there's the first time for, everything.
Right what do you think of the hypothetical TRADES i

(28:14):
proposed what other trade targets should The rockets and The
kings look at do you think The MAVs have enough
to withstand their point guard? Dilemma be sure to let
me know in the comments whether you are watching on
YouTube or listening on audio, platforms or of, course you
can hit me on the socials to share your thoughts with.
Me but in the, meantime it's time to. Transition AS
i discussed who's hot and who's not My Chicago, bulls

(28:36):
The philadelphia seventy Six, ers The Boston, celtics and The Atlanta.
Hawks all, right so for starting with the hot, hands you,
KNOW i gotta start with the home. Team, Man My
Chicago bulls were one to be few undefeated teams to
start the, season AND i was basking in it because why, not, Right,

(28:57):
Listen we've known that The bulls aren't a franchise that
has embraced, tanking and they have been able to get
players who fall in line with that. Mindset does it
put the team in the best position for draft? Picks not?
Exactly but do you respect it from a competitive? Standpoint? Absolutely,
well at LEAST i, do but absolutely, Right and, Man
i'm really impressed with this. Team and you, KNOW i

(29:19):
tweeted if you follow me On. TWITTER i, tweeted you
knew teams were going to be inspired by what The
Indiana pacers did last, season you just didn't expect it
to be The Chicago. Bulls AND i said, this, right,
like we all knew whoever makes the finals heavily influences
what THE Nba draft is going to look, like what
free agency is going to look, like and even what

(29:40):
the on court stuff is going to look. Like and
The bulls realized we have a lot of the same, personnel,
Right AND i think they realized team basketball is the
new swag nowadays again thanks to twenty twenty four to
twenty Five Indiana. Pacers, Man, like you look at who
they have on, right The Chicago. Bulls And i'm gonna

(30:03):
speak a little bit more on this, later but like
you Have Josh, giddy, right who is somebody that pushes
the pace and gets teammates. Involved this is exactly. Why
AND i keep thinking back to The Alex caruso trade
Because i'm, LIKE i can't believe people thought that this
was only a win for THE Okc thunder because they
Got Alex, caruso who was, gonna you, know hustle his

(30:24):
tail off and play really great, defense which actually happened
and they ended up winning a. Championship absolute w. Trade
we knew, that but there were so many people sleeping
On Josh giddy and then when it was time to
pay the, man nobody wanted to pay the man BECAUSE
i don't know if it's. LEGIT i don't know if
the triple doubles was. Legit, like, nah can we look
at this LIKE i felt there were some points WHERE
i felt LIKE i was tripping where it's, LIKE i,

(30:45):
Know i'm a generally optimistic, dude AND i like to
see the glass half, full, right but, like, dang whatever
happened to the eye? Test can we just look at
What Josh giddy did with The Chicago bulls and understand
that this dude has is the moment and embracing his
role and this is exactly why he wanted out OF
okc because he KNEW i was a lottery. PICK i

(31:09):
was one of the best prospects of my draft, class
and this is what everybody drafted me to. Do i'm
finally able to do. It heck. Yeah so now you
look at, that, right and that's exactly what The Indiana
pacers have With Tyree'z, haliburton somebody that's gonna push the,
pace drop, dimes get his teammates. Involved they don't care who,
scores and they have somebody to get it to in
the half, court, Right Pascals. Yakam The bulls have that

(31:31):
With Nicola, Vusovich Kobe white when, healthy and you, know
it's just empowered. Everybody when you share the, wealth it empowers.
Everybody and and The bulls took that exact formula and,
said let's do. That EVEN i think it's even hilarious
right that we Have Jalen smith now, right who was
An Indiana, pacers so he was already familiar with what
was brewing over. There he was somebody that that could

(31:52):
stretch the, floor protect the, rim you. Know uh he
does a lot of the little things on the court
as a as a backup big. Man and so, again
team basketball is the new swag, nowadays, Man like like
we've been, saying gone all the super teams and all, that,
like team basketball and depth is, everything absolutely everything in TODAY'S,
nba and we're seeing The bulls copy that same. Formula

(32:16):
another thing that stood out to me is That Nicola
vusovich and engaged In Kola vusovich is always, better always.
BETTER i mentioned this all the. Time. Man the reason
why it didn't work. Out one of the reasons why
it didn't work out With Zach levin And DeMar De
rozen is because at the end of the, day both
of those guys are isolation. Scores they're gonna look Off
Nikola vusovich a. Lot it's it's just you gotta charge

(32:38):
it to the game. Sometimes and the problem with that
was that when that happened and The Kola vusovich was
on the other end getting in foul, trouble he was
dejected out of it. Mentally but now he's on a
team that shares the wealth and they recognize, That, Hey Nikola,
vusovich is he the Same All star that he once? Was,
no but he darn shore has the same skill. Set
we're gonna keep him. Involved we're gonna feed him on picking,

(32:59):
Pops we're gonna feed him in the post when he
has a, Mismatch we're gonna try to get him the.
Ball AND i love that because there were so many
opportunities in past seasons where The bulls didn't always take
advantage of those, opportunities And lo and, behold he's feeling,
good he's making, shots and he's one of our better
players on the. Team so and Engage vucevic. AGAIN i
say this basketball one oh. One keep your bigs. HAPPY

(33:21):
i don't care what changes about THE nba for the
next decade. Plus that will always be a. Thing your
bigs are always gonna. Fight they're gonna fight for extra,
Rebounds they're going to call out. Screens they're gonna be
better defensive. Communicators they're going to play their best when
they are. Involved if you reward them in transition when
they run the, floor if you reward them when they

(33:41):
set a good, screen if you reward them when they
steal their defender in and have a good look in
the post right underneath the, basket they will play harder for.
You if you look them off and you're doing all
these immature, decisions making all these immature, decisions they aren't.
There they're gonna throw their hands up and look at
the coach and be, like you want me to get,
engaged and wonder WHY i. Can't, Right, so none of

(34:01):
that is all out the window this year with The Chicago. Bulls,
AGAIN i alluded to it. Earlier josh giddy is. Legit
and AND i AND i say this to, say welcome
to the, Post LEBRON. Nba, Okay and WHAT i mean
by that is this so so so much of my.
Upbringing we we we had guys that Revered, jordan right

(34:24):
and every it was the growth of the two guard
and the wings score. Right but Then lebron comes along
and he's like this hybrid Magic, Johnson Carl malone figure,
right absolute freaking, nature and he takes THE nba by.
Storm and now notice that a lot of teams are
taking that. Formula, oh. Okay and and, HONESTLY i and

(34:45):
this is a this could be a whole nother podcast,
episode BUT i Think Russell westbrook has a great deal
to do with this as. Well but, team a lot
of teams are like, yo if we have a point
guard that can rebound and can run the run the,
show that already puts us ahead of some, teams even
if we're not the greatest team, offensively having a guy

(35:06):
like that is automatically gonna put us a little bit
ahead of some of the teams in the lottery or
even some playoff teams that are in weird spots with roster.
Construction because we have somebody that is selfless and somebody
that somebody that has a skill set that's really in
tune with what this brand OF nba basketball needs now and,
AGAIN i think Of Josh. GIDDY i think of somebody

(35:30):
who's six' eight, tall, guard right somebody who just floats
across the court and just somehow finds the open man
but doesn't mind scoring for himself. On, Occasion right like
a lot, of these It's These, Luka Doncic's josh giddy's
like this is the this is This is we're gonna
see a lot more, of these just like we saw
a lot of the shooting guards and small forwards that

(35:52):
wanted to Be like jordan in the two thousands. And,
WHATNOT now i think we're going to start to See
a Lebron Slash russell westbrook boom where we're gonna see
a lot Of Guards kate, cunningham right a lot of
bigger guards and even smaller guards who just like, to
rebound like to to get their, teammates involved and they
just become great players to build your. Team around and
That's What josh. GETTY is i FEEL like i have

(36:14):
to say no MORE because i went on my, Tangent
Already josh getty. Is legit the Confidence. Of mantis bozelli's
again having a full year now to get legit minutes,
he's starting he's figuring out. His game, YOU know i
Think they're the Thing about mantis is that he still
has to figure out what his what his skill set,
is like he has to figure out what his offensive.

(36:34):
Makeup is because the CLOSEST comparison i HAD when i was,
watching Him and, i'm like he does remind me a
Lot Of. Jalen johnson he's just not as aggressive as.
A rebounder and, you know he's a he Is a
he's a very good shot blocker for. His SIZE but i,
was like Nothing about mantes stands out as like as

(36:56):
far as what he can do with. The rock but
he is a. Great cutter he he can shoot the spot.
Of three he's athletic. As heck, YOU know i think it's,
Those Things but i'm anxious to see what it's gonna
what it's gonna look like when he puts it. All
together but at the end of, the day he's getting
minutes fresh off. The boat that's something that didn't happen
last year and it's paying. Off Again billy donovan had

(37:18):
finally come to his senses and senses AND realized i
gotta play. This kid and, playing him he got, more
confident he, got better and now he's got this season
to build. On THAT so i Love what i'm seeing.
From him absolutely Love what i'm Seeing From Ile, Desumu
man like this is a guy he's he's he missed
the rest of the season last year due. To injury
he picked up an injury early on in the season

(37:39):
and then missed the. Whole year so he's back like he.
Never left he's been such a spark plug off the bench.
For us awesome to see. Him again he's another, low key,
all around all. Around guy he's gonna give high energy,
on defense he's gonna rebound, his position he's gonna get his.
Teammates involved but he also knows when to get going
with the scoring. As WELL so i love what. He's

(37:59):
Doing Trey Jones Man. Trey jones last year when we
When The chicago bulls, ACQUIRED him i was a. LITTLE
skeptical i thought he was a, little raw, you know
and even again seeing him, IN person i just felt
like he was trying to do, too much sometimes trying
to push the pace a little, too much and and
it was it, was. Expected right we got him at the,
trade deadline and that's, always tough especially coming into a

(38:21):
situation with a team that's gonna be a lot, Of,
reteam like, you know you just kind of feeling things.
Out still but, this year, oh man this is What
the jones. Guards do that's LITERALLY what i have in my.
Notes here this is What the jones. Guards Do, Tias
Jones trey jones, beat like he's showing a lot of
that same skill set that his. Brother has be a,

(38:42):
floor general push the pace, when necessary slow it down,
when necessary make the, right reads make the, right plays
just find ways to just like affect the game that
may not always show on the. Stat sheet but then
you blink and this dude has like, thirteen points, five assists.
No turnovers like IT'S it's i Love what i'm Seeing
from he looks a lot better than my premature assessment

(39:03):
of him. Last SEASON and i think, the bulls, you,
know again it's we're shocking a lot of people right
now because again we're Copying the. Pacers, FORMULA obviously i
don't think we're the best, team defensively there's still some
holes that we got to, fix defensively and obviously we
got to think about what Happens When kobe white. Comes
back in a, perfect world you would think we find

(39:23):
we have it's just an extra person to get, us,
buckets right Like Having nikola vusovich inside out And Then.
Kobe white that's like perfect because we can play that.
Team basketball but when we absolutely, need buckets we gotta
throw It To kobe white and we gotta Look towards
vouch a. Little MORE so i think with that, strategy
Alone the bulls are gonna. Sneak, Up, like, okay sure

(39:44):
if you think about What The chicago bulls did last
year and still we're kind of the play play, in
conversation they should be looking at the play in. THIS
year i know that's Where The chicago bulls. HAVE been
i know their north star is a actual. Playoff spot
but it's still too early for me to have that
much confiden it's in, the team, You KNOW like, i
said it's still. VERY early a lot of teams that
do this kind of slow down at. Some point so. We'll,

(40:06):
See okay i'm gonna pump the brakes from a. Hometown
TEAM but i do Like what i'm. SEEING offensively i
just think we could be, better defensively and that's what's
really gonna dictate how well we do as the. Season
Progresses But josh giddy's playing Like An. All star he
absolutely should Be An all star if all things go
well and everybody can keep. It up, and yeah they

(40:27):
are definitely a. Hot team. THAT'S legit i would, say
again at the time of me, recording this we are
in the midst of a tough schedule With The, eastern
Conference Some eastern conference contenders. AND whatnot I know weinby's
gonna be, coming soon, so yeah we, you know we're
in a tough schedule and this is where true character
and TRUE assessments i. Think reside but at least to start,

(40:49):
The year i've Loved what i've seen From The. Chicago
bulls another, hot, team though comes From, the east and
that Is the philadelphia seventy, six ers who have they
look like they got they swag after an underwhelming twenty
twenty four to twenty, five SEASON and i think that
started with the Leadership OF tyreese, maxi right this is
a guy that, you know it came out during, MEDIA

(41:10):
day i believe where, he said like the BIGGEST thing
i wanted to do this year is get the team
on board with, like yo no matter who's on, the
floor we, gotta give we gotta tell our sales were
given the. Same EFFORT and i think that was the
issue with, Last, year right you didn't Start the you
started the Year without Embiid And. Paul George Then paul george.
Came Back Then paul george couldn't play back to backs

(41:31):
or something. Like, that Right then, embiid's back then, he's
out then, he's back then, he's, out right then you
have all, these vets then you got these, young guys
and it just it was. Just weird it was a
different team, every night and it's very hard to build
continuity when you. Have THAT so i was a little
bit nervous. This year but you can see that that
that is facts, This Year Like tyrese maxi has taken

(41:51):
a lot of minutes He Like nick nurse has been
playing him like again early two, thousands minutes Like when
homies was playing, forty one, forty two forty three minutes.
A game he's going OFF and i hope it doesn't
come back to bite them because he's been going off
and if it weren't for some of his, scoring explosions they,
probably wouldn't at least, record wise wouldn't be as good
as they've looked to start. This SEASON but i think

(42:15):
it Started With tyrese, maxi's leadership and that's been really cool.
TO see i think everybody's, dialed in everybody's. On board
they know they want to give the same effort, every
night no matter who's on. The FLOOR and i Think
To nick, nurse's credit he did a better job including guys, with.
Energy right that was, the thing because again they have
such a old head young person roster that it's such a.

(42:40):
Weird MIX but I Think nick nurse, Finally, realized okay WE. Drafted,
vj edgecomb who looks. Absolutely Outstanding, adm bona who's already
a really good rin protector in. This league underrated in
the sense that he doesn't get a lot, of minutes
but he's somebody that gives great. Energy inside, you know
you Still Got, andre drummond who can re bound the
heck out. The Basketball. Quinton, GRIMES again i wasn't always

(43:04):
High On, quinton, Grimes Man like i'll, Be honest especially
when he Was In. NEW york i, WAS like i
don't see the hype with. This kid and and then
when he got To, to dallas and then he Went
to philly and then, you know he ended up really
going Crazy. In PHILLY but i, WAS like i was
one of those PEOPLE where i, was, LIKE well, i
Mean the sixers have so, many injuries somebody's got. A
SCORE so i didn't know if his his his play.

(43:27):
Was legit but this year he's showing. It was, it's legit.
It's legit he's made, a jump he's made, a jump
and that that dude. Can play, so again they're they're
supplementing a lot of those vets on that roster with
these young guys that can just flat. Out hoop AND like,
i SAID. Man, VJ edgecombe i thought he was gonna
be a slasher who could play, good defense but he
totally looks like a franchise altering. Swing man. That dude

(43:49):
you could tell he studied the mess Out Of, anthony
edwards who himself is, still, growing right but he's Already
Studying Anthony, anthony edwards and. He's amazing. He's explosive he
gives them the exact energy burst that that. Team needed
that is Exactly What nick nurse And the philadelphia seventy
six ers needed. Last year they needed a punch of

(44:10):
energy and that HAS. Been vj edgecomb and even again
some of those, other GUYS like, I Said quentin grimes
can give a. Scoring Spark, Dominic, barlow right this dude, sneaky.
Energy sneaky he even earned his starting spot from. Training.
Camp right it seemed like the power forward spot was
the one spot that was wide open For the sixers
coming into, the Year And dominic barlow snatched that and he.

(44:33):
Showed it, you know he had a good game the.
OTHER night i think it was like thirteen eight. And
five like he's a, versatile forward makes the, right plays.
HIGH energy i LOVE what i saw. From him AND like,
I said i showed Love To. Den bonas so they
got high energy guys because the thing With the sixers
is that they struggle scoring when It's Not tyreez maxi
And When joel embiid's not. Out there so they got

(44:54):
to get a lot. Through transition That's Where kelly ubre.
Steps up THAT'S. Where vj edgecomb. Comes in that's where
a dem owner turns defense. To, Offense right That's Where
dominic barlow. Gives energy That's Where quentin grimes gives. A
spark and when you think, about This WITH joel mbi
slowly but surely getting back, into, Form Right paul George
and jared McCain, coming, back right You Want paul george

(45:17):
to return to be an, added playmaker to be an,
added score to be AN added i know some of
the flaws that they've experienced this year is that they
don't have a lot of. Wing depth they don't have
a lot of size at the at the forward, Spot
Specifically So paul george is gonna be able to fill
in and take his time as he, comes, Back right
he's not gonna be expected to drop twenty points. A
night i THINK if I, know PG like i know,

(45:39):
my guy, YOU know i think he's gonna come in from.
His injury he's GONNA, Feed vj he's Gonna FEED tyree
maxi and and he's going to score when. ABSOLUTELY necessary
i would love to see him become a twenty point
per game score again and Really take philly, to be,
you know to be that third Score that philly needed
and that. They signed but you know he is, getting

(46:01):
older and we just have To see. JARED McCain i
was really. High on, you know he's gonna be coming,
BACK soon i think at the time of. This recording
by the time this, episode drops maybe these guys will
be back in the lineup and we'll really get to
See what philly looks like. Full strength, but again They
need jared McCain's off ball movement and also ability to
be a. Secondary, PLAYMAKER again i think that part of

(46:21):
his game is very slept on because he's such a,
good shooter but he's somebody that can that can handle
the rock. As well, so again you pair this With
What quinton grimes is Doing, Vj Edgecombe tyrese maxi and
obviously the big fella he can Stay healthy sixers like
and even their. Locker room it looks like the joy
is there Again With joel embiid. And everybody so it's
looking like they're already they they're already mixing the recipe

(46:44):
of what could be a much better season compared to,
last year a much. Better SEASON so i Love what
i'm seeing From the Sixers and i'm actually happy, for
them AND hopefully i really do believe that it should
only get better, moving forward just as long as they can,
stay healthy. All right, but then fortunately there are teams
that have not been as good as these two TEAMS
that i just. Talked about and these TWO teams i

(47:08):
came To The boston celtics And The, atlanta HAWKS and
i really only Threw The boston celtics in HERE because
i was wrong, about them a little bit wrong. ABOUT
them i had faith that they could still find a
way to be, a, fifth, fourth fifth maybe sixth seed In.
The east currently they're out of the playoffs right now

(47:30):
as far as the. Standings, go, okay yeah see. RIGHT
now i mean there's a lot of teams that are
three and four at the time of, this recording But
the celtics are sitting twelfth right now In. The east,
and yeah IT'S it's i was wrong. ABOUT them i
just thought they would, be better, YOU know. I didn't
i understood that they had a very unproven, front court
right with Guys Like, Nimaiya's Cada, luca garza so many

(47:53):
guys Somebody else i'm Thinking Of, chris, Bousche right so it's,
a lot it's a lot like that's where a lot
of their, Flaws were and, YOU know i was a.
BIT surprised i, WON'T lie i was a bit surprised
at how bad they were playing to start. The season
and some of IT, that i at Least that i've
noticed Is that, NUMBER one i thought they just Weren't

(48:15):
Letting aunt simon's. Cook ENOUGH and i think it was
more so An ant simon's thing than it Was A boston, celtics,
Thing RIGHT like i Think ant simon's was in that
early stage, Of, LIKE okay i want to, fit, In
right i'm gonna take a few games to feel things
OUT before i really play, My GAME and i think
it just naturally comes with time as the. Season progresses
he's in a, new city he's wearing a, new jersey

(48:36):
playing a new, offensive systems a, new team all, that
stuff so he's got to find. His FOOTING but, I
again i was of the notion, that, like nah if
you Don't, have tatum you gotta let these. Guys cook
you Gotta Let peyton, pritrick cook you Gotta Let jaylen,
brown cook you Gotta Let derek white have, his knights
and you definitely gotta Let ant simons off that. Bench
cook you don't bring him in to, not shoot like

(48:58):
he has got to be that guy every time he
steps on, the FLOOR and i didn't always see that
With The. Boston, celtics again that leads me to my, next, Point,
RIGHT like i think their bench is. Very raw they
have some they have some bright spots WITH like, I
Said ann simon's and The Kid. HUGO gonzalez i know
they like. His energy he's shown to be a really
good defender to be. So young but outside, of that

(49:20):
they don't really have guys that jump off. The page
LIKE like, I Said, Chris bouchet he's been a, solid
forward but not somebody that like really impacts in terms
of winning to. MY estimation i would love to hear
if you. Feel otherwise but, you know this isn't a
guy that jumps off. The page he's gonna play. His,
role well he's a. Lanky guy, you know he's gonna do.

(49:41):
His thing he could stretch. The floor but it's not.
Nothing Crazy. Luca garza this is really his first real
shot playing legit minutes and being on a rotation on
a consistent basis since he's came into. The league so
this is new. For him this is new for a lot,
of guys AND and I just i thought The so
celtics starters was going to, be enough especially In The.

(50:04):
EASTERN conference i figured their starters were going to be
enough to carry a lot of. The, LOAD again i
know that's. NOT ideal i know that's not the best,
winning formula right we Obviously the celtics aren't a. Championship
TEAM but i thought it was gonna be a. LITTLE
bit i thought it was gonna. Be enough and it hasn't.
Been enough, and sure Maybe, out east maybe they can

(50:25):
find their way in the play in maybe they can
find their way even to an eight seed or what.
HAVE you i. Don't know there's a lot of, season left,
but yeah it's just it just hasn't been. Looking GOOD
and i think a lot of that is because of their.
Their bench EVEN when I watched i caught a little
bit Of the, CLEVELAND game, i, think like what the
first half Of the, cleveland game and obviously Is, the cavaliers,
But Man sam houser had a hot night and and

(50:46):
they just they cruised to. A victory oh and oh,
MY gosh i CAN'T believe i didn't, Mention him josh. Miy,
not man what a bride spot for a team that
has a lot of front court holes and Not Having. Jason,
TATUM kid i see exactly why he earned the. Starting
spot that dude's energy and his like never say. Die

(51:07):
attitude It's Perfect boston. CELTICS basketball i Love what i've seen.
From him is? He, perfect no but this is like
again the first time he's getting. Real minutes another guy
who's getting his opportunity IN the nba, finally right and
he's coming through In that, CAVALIERS game i. Tweeted, it
man the thing About The, cleveland cavaliers most likely it's.

(51:28):
Not always there's still a good enough team to win games,
Without this but most of, the time if you managed
To Beat jared Allen And evan mobley in the, rebounding
battle you increase your chances. Of, Winning right and even
in a game like That Where donovan mitchell most of
the shots he took were threes and he didn't finish
with that, many points like it made sense Why the
celtics won that Game because Josh may Not And mayas

(51:49):
cada had the glass. On lock they combined for twenty seven,
rebounds together as Opposed To jared Allen And evan mobley
only combining. For seventeen, so Again the clicks have it
low key like if they can Beat, the calves they can.
Beat anybody in, my opinion like they have it. In
them but it's just some of those things where again
obviously they won, the rebound their their their, front court

(52:12):
took care of, The Glass sam houser had a really
hot night. From three those are factors that are gonna increase.
Their chances, BUT again i think they gotta figure out
what it's gonna look like on a day, to day
like how can we get the best out of our guys,
that really how are we gonna get the best out
of our guys Not Name, Jalen Brown, Derek White peyton
prichard And and simons that like that's gonna separate them and

(52:34):
and and improve their season this year if they still
and that's if they still want to be good enough
and play, good, basketball right because there's still people who, are,
like Yeah the celtics need, a tank like just throw.
It In jaylen brown already came in with the, shoulder
thing like let's just let's just tank and and And
Get darren peterson or Somebody Or cam bruiser who, Knows
RIGHT but i think If the celtics do want to

(52:57):
compete and and they want to still be afloat and
foster a, good environment and you know to a, point,
where hey, you know if we Do Get jason tatum back,
this year we can see how things go With, ant
Simons With, jason tatum things. Of, NATURE again i don't
recommend That For, jason Tatum but i'm trying to factor

(53:19):
in a lot of the possibilities That the celtics have.
THIS year i, think again, TO me i always SPEAK like,
i SAID if i was in, THE league I know
i wouldn't be somebody that wants to lose. On Purpose
so i've never been a big fan, of tanking And
the celtics have it to do some. Good things, like
again This Is jalen brown's opportunity to really lead a
team for eighty. Two games this Is ant simon's opportunity to, show,

(53:41):
like OKAY am i somebody that can fit With this,
celtics team or maybe, you know they should flip me for.
Somebody Else If I'm, namaia's, cata right this IS where
i learned to be a really good. Big Man If I'm.
Luca garza this is HOW can i get? My value
HOW can i find my value on a team? Like
This josh mine? Not, Right, LIKE okay i won, my
Spot but i'm not necessarily like this might not be

(54:03):
my Spot When jason tatum. Comes, Back right, so again
HOW can i develop my confidence? To win, you Know
if i'm still around and let's say it's, NEXT season
i can still play impact. FOR basketball i Think the
celtics can solve a lot of those questions this year
if they stick. With it, but yeah it hasn't looked good,

(54:23):
right now and they are a TEAM that i feel
like can turn. It around BUT like, i said they
really got to get the most out of that bench
and a lot of these pieces that are getting opportunity
for the. First time and then the other team who
hasn't been doing that well Is The, atlanta, Hawks MAN
and i hate to. SEE it i hate to, see
IT and i hate to say IT because i was
one of those people that was high On. The. HAWKS

(54:43):
man i really thought they had it in them this
year to do, something special and they just haven't had
the best start to. The SEASON and i think it's
only going to get harder for them Because Now. Trey
young not only has he had a slow start production
wise shooting, the basketball but now he's out with a
knee injury for at least the next. Four weeks, and
again when your star point guard is out like this

(55:06):
is who you built your, team around is gonna change
a lot. OF things i think they're getting really good Basketball,
From Nikhil alexander Walker And. Jalon, Johnson right Nikiel has
a has a greater opportunity with. This Team jalen johnson
is pretty much picking up where he left off from
the injury. Last Year luke kenard's shooting the. Lights out,

(55:26):
you know even a Nick On yaka kongwu is shooting
good from three. Point percentage but outside, of THAT like,
I Said trey young had a Rough Goal dyson daniels
is under double, digit scoring, you know doing great as,
a player doing, you know playing his role as a playmaker,
and defensively but not anything, crazy special which again is
going to have to Increase With trey. Young. Out Now

(55:48):
christas porzingis has has done. His thing he's he's still
working in the, form again he was in and out.
The lineup he's still working in. THE form i would
like to see him do a better job protecting, the rim. Getting,
blocks again that's what they brought him. In for and
BUT like, i said at the end of, the day
you're You're Without, trey young and that's going to be
tough to come. Back FROM and i think that's the.
Big question a team that's already twenty fifth in offensive

(56:10):
rating to start. The season who is going to step
up as the creator for? This team who is gonna
hit big shots down, the Stretch, right like the these
next four Weeks Where trey young out is gonna be
very crucial If the hawks still want to have a,
good season, because man it's this is the type of
stuff where it just turns your whole. Season AROUND and i, don't,

(56:31):
know again it, could be it could very well be
one of those things Where the hawks are just gonna
have to do a lot of their hard work the
second half of. The SEASON but i JUST don't i
don't have a good feeling about this, at, All MAN
and i DON'T have i don't have that much. To
say like a lot of, their, pieces again they were
meant to Play With, trey young and now you Don't Have,
Trey young so now what do? YOU do i look at,

(56:51):
that TEAM and, i THINK like, I Said jalen johnson
has really stepped up as a as a playmaker on.
This team but outside, of that AND like, I Said
Nikil alexander walker is probably gonna have some. Good basketball
but this is not The same this is definitely not
the same team that a lot of us thought was
gonna make a leap this year and even Become Like

(57:13):
eastern conference finals threats because they have a. SLOW start i,
Thought THIS like, i said Outside Of, onyaka congou Outside,
of lukenard they aren't the best three point shooting team
to start. This year, you KNOW like, i said they're
twenty fifth. In offense it's not looking good a lot
of their and THAT'S what i think. SCARES me a
lot of their their surrounding pieces are guys that can,

(57:34):
play defense but they're not necessarily guys that can get you,
a bucket RIGHT like, i said it was meant to
Be With. Trey young so they're guys that benefit from
having a primary ball handler and a. Primary initiator and
when you don't have that now you're forced to figure
a lot of those things out, by yourself which again
are like Guys Like Nikkeil alexander walker can can score off.
The Dribble jalen johnson thrives, in Transition Though, dyson daniels in,

(57:58):
my opinion thrives. Off transition christaps thrives off pick, and
roll picking Pop on yakakongo thrives off picking pick. And,
roll like you can't really give it to. These guys
the ONLY guys i would trust to give it to
in the Post is Kristaps And. Jalen johnson, you know
it's Like Like luke kenard coming, off screens like you
need a point guard that's gonna, take that and they
don't have. That now, so, YEAH man i Hate what

(58:20):
i'm seeing From The. ATLANTA hawks I like, i said it's.
JUST sad i don't have much. To say it's just,
really SAD and i hope they can turn. It AROUND
but i think it's similar To the sixers. Last year
it might reach a point where they're gonna find themselves
scrambling and then it's not gonna be fun to come.
Back from, so Unfortunately the celtics And the hawks are
teams that haven't been hot to start. THE year i

(58:41):
do Believe the celtics can kind of stay afloat with
more games under. Their belt but With The, Atlanta hawks
i'm starting to. Get sad, and again you don't want.
To overreact it's still, very Early but I'm just i'm
very disappointed On The atlanta HAWKS because i thought they
had it. This. Year man, but again it's still way
too early in, the Season Right the Bulls and sixers could,
Cool off they'll still have things to, figure out While

(59:02):
the Celtics and hawks there's still a little bit of
room to maybe turn up somewhere down the line and.
Everything between maybe, they will maybe. They won't it's a
long season and teams always overachieve and underachieved this early in.
The season but who's likely to keep that? Momentum Going
the bulls might, be Legit. The sixers they got a.
Hot start that's a. Great sign be sure to let

(59:23):
me know which teams do you think are going to have?
Hot starts are they going to build off their? Hot
starts are there other TEAMS that i haven't mentioned that
are going to do. The same are the teams that
are COLD that i haven't? Mentioned that you're really, just, like,
hey man, this team Ain't it they need to? Do?
This that and, the third let ME Know i, but

(59:44):
lastly here are some rookies that have looked like the
opposite this early part of. The, season okay let's get
away from the teams and talk about, individual rooks the
young bucks who are doing their thing to START their.
Nba careers and the FIRST one i Got Is. DYLAN
harper i think this kid playing as expected a good
secondary ball handler for a team with really good. GUARD depth,

(01:00:05):
i mean you Look At. STEFAN castle i. Just checked,
you know this is a guy who's flirted with nineteen
six And Five, dylan harper, you know fourteen four, and
four like all around Guards Like stefan Castle And dylan
harper is such a great guard tandem For The San
antonio spurs to Be With, victor Webiniana For webin yama
for years. TO come i Love That, dylan HARPER and
I think i think he's not getting. Enough. Credit man,

(01:00:27):
LIKE again i know he was before, my Time But,
ron harper like, You KNOW i'm i do. My homework i'm,
A HISTORIAN like i knew that before he Was a
chicago bull like that dude was good for twenty five
and five With. The CALVES and I Watched, dylan Harper
and i'm like he did get a lot of that from.
His pops like when You Watch ron harper With the
bulls and even With the lakers later even later into,

(01:00:50):
his career it was a guy that played, solid defense
made the, right plays right shot when he, Was OPEN
like i see a lot of That With. DYLAN harper
i think he's a great secondary. BALL handler i think
he's a. Good defender it's a guy that's not afraid
to guard ninety four, feet again locking up like. His
POPS and i think the dopest thing about his game

(01:01:11):
is that he has already a tremendous sense of pace on.
HIS drives i think it's already. VETERAN esque i saw Him.
Versus brooklyn it was his first twenty. POINT game i
thought he protected the ball well off the dribble when
he goes in. The lane he just has a tremendous
pace about HIM where i think he knows what he
wants to do and he doesn't settle until he gets what.
He wants, and again he Was facing brooklyn, that game

(01:01:33):
SO like i gave him. Some grace, I'm, like okay
there's a bunch of babies on. That team they don't
have a lot of bigs on, that team like, all
right and then but, you know you've. Seen it he
had eleven six and six Versus The. Toronto raptors he
was doing a lot of the. Same things again a
team that isn't the, tallest team but they got some defense,
over There And dylan harper was still able to find
his footing in. That GAME so i think again he's,

(01:01:55):
a great really good all around guard can be great
in this league with. More DEVELOPMENT and i think, again
THAT like i said, it before it's. Proven, true Man
The San antonio spurs. Are coming they. ARE coming i
just had. That, Feeling man wemby was only, you Know
obviously WENBY is, Mvp level but it's these guys that
they got, Around Them, Stefon Castle, Dylan Harper, devin vsel,

(01:02:19):
you know the these these guys can, hoop man and
and this is All Without. Dearon fox so again It's
the spurs got a really good guard corps, right now
And And dylan harper is is gonna, be good really
good from year for for years. To, come man he
he's got the. Total package he's a really good all.
Around guard that's always the first thing that comes. To
mind he's just your quality all around guard that like

(01:02:40):
any team would love to. Have him the next guy
has a pretty similar, skill set And That's. Jeremiah fears,
YOU know i had to. SHOW love i know He,
claimed chicago but you know he did spend some Time, In.
Joliette illinois, so again it's really cool to see somebody
coming out of the hometown at, this Level RIGHT and,
i mean he's just another kid that genuinely like he's been.

(01:03:00):
Here before like, to me it's NO so i know
he caught a lot of flag, for it but, to
me it's no Surprise That willy green started Him Over
jordan poole after just. Two games and AND like, I
said i think he's got that similar skill Set To.
DYLAN harper i Play like i've been. Here before i've done,
MY homework i work on my change, OF pace i
work on my pick and, ROLL reads i, PAY attention

(01:03:20):
i watch FILM like i am. VETERAN esque i see
the same Thing With, Jeremiah fears like his his his
attack offensively is like it's like he's been. Here before
like some of these rookies come in, the league and
especially now at an EVEN. Faster nba, they rush they're
out of control a. Little bit they tend to do.

(01:03:42):
Too much but these guys are just like fitting like,
gloves man AND and i think that's. The thing That
the pelicans haven't won a, game YET but i notice
everybody's saying the. Same, Thing Man jeremiah fears is, Their
guard like he's got to be. Their guy and that's,
Why again i'm so big on some of these teams
trying to Get John ty Murray because, I'M like i
think they're all In On jeremiah fears. Right now his

(01:04:03):
biggest strength is his, slashing ability can slither through the lane.
At will like that kid's got great pace about him.
As WELL and i Love what. I'm seeing, you know
the jump shots can, get better, you know some of
those things can, get better but and they will get better.
With time but for what his biggest, STRENGTH is i
think they need to let that young. And fly no
matter What the pelicans season, looks like they gotta let

(01:04:23):
that kid FLY because i believe he is their guard of.
The future the last Name Is. Cedric coward this was
the GUY that i did like that pick IN the.
NBA draft i thought he was a, sleeper PICK and
i love that he's proven to already be the EXACT
player i always Wanted The memphis grizzlies. To HAVE when
i watch, him play he has the. Total package he

(01:04:43):
can shoot, the three he can shoot the, mid range
he can get to. The cup he's got post. Up
game he's big enough to post smaller. Guards up he's
big enough to be an. Impactful, Defender, right like this
dude has, everything everything, and usually, you know with him
being twenty two, years old mature rookies usually figure it. Out. Faster,
right again a lot of the when it comes to

(01:05:05):
the college AND the, nba draft a lot of the
franchises they want the. YOUNG pups a lot of these
young kids want to go one and done because, it's,
like look let me get to. The bread I'M already,
Nba ready i'm. Talented ENOUGH the nba, is younger, so
right a lot of these kids are thriving quicker than they.
ONCE did i, would say, you know because it's not
really a, man's league so they don't got to worry
about some of them. Growing pains they're growing pains come

(01:05:25):
more in the form of making mistakes because they're getting
a lot, of opportunity but not necessarily in the form
of the physicality and whatnot in my opinion opinion. At
LEAST but I Think cedric coward being twenty two, years
old being an older rookie like, mature mindset. Mature game and,
you know it. Was funny some people, were, saying, LIKE
man I can't i don't know who to compare. Him

(01:05:46):
to and this is a name that randomly came. To
MIND and i don't think it's a, perfect COMPARISON but
i don't, know WHY but i immediately Thought Of. JAMAL
mashburn i think it's just the, the strong you, know
guard not, the quickest but like has the skill set
can drop twenty has the skill set to drop via

(01:06:06):
twenty point per, game score all those things can, post up,
you know a, bigger GUARD like. I think and, YOU
know i HAVE to i have to watch a little.
MORE match i haven't watched a lot of mash in
a lot. Of TIME but i, don't, know man just
somebody from my CHILDHOOD who i knew could score and
and was just an. Underrated, PLAYER man I think i
think he's gonna be in. That tier hopefully he's. Even

(01:06:27):
better but, YOU know I just i, don't know just
off off the top of, MY head i don't know
why his name came, to me but THAT'S who i.
Thought of it might not be the most, accurate comparison,
BUT like i just. See similarities an effective guy that
kind of hits you under the radar because he's not the.
Most athletic he's not the. Flashies dude that that's the
main takeaway. From it, but, yeah man Really Like. Cedric

(01:06:49):
coward and, you Know the grizzlies aren't a weird spot.
Right now, You know john's going through some stuff where
he's the trade rumors, are flying, you know and By
Default jared jack thrown in those. As, well yeah just
weird stuff going on With. The, Grizzlies Man So cedria
coward might really be that bright spot. Moving forward, but
again he's another ROOKIE where i love, his, game MAN

(01:07:12):
and i really want him to thrive there if they
especially if they manage to keep that, team TOGETHER because
i really hope they can figure it Out Because cedriac coward,
to me is just such a perfect puzzle piece if
they steward. Him correctly, so, yeah man it's always good
to see rookies not hesitant to take the league, by
storm and these are just a few. Of them with a.
Talented class these are just a few of the young
bucks who look prime to have long and successful careers

(01:07:35):
thanks to their strong. Showings early certainly hope it Continues
and i'm rooting for. These guys if there are any
OTHER rookies i should have shot, it out definitely let
me know in. The comments but, with that we have
made it to the end Of another hip To the.
Game's Episode From, hypothetical trades Hot and cold TEAMS And Nba,
ready rooks today's show was filled with early, season evaluations positives,

(01:07:55):
and negatives but, as always these were just. My thoughts
so now it's time to hear. From you you can
tweet the Show at hip To the games or tag
me Directly on twitter or Ig At Dosmene power underscore
to share your thoughts on any of the, topics DISCUSSED
as i would love to know what you think, As
well and OF course i simply want to say thank
you for listening to another Episode of hip To, the
games all for the love of the best combo. There

(01:08:16):
is and here's a huge shout out to you For
being hip To. The games peace Out and god bless
hope you enjoyed this Episode of hip To the games
and if you enjoyed, this episode be sure to hit
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(01:08:37):
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