October 22, 2024 • 41 mins
In this special NBA season preview, we dive deep into the upcoming year with Toronto Star's Libaan Osman. We kick things off with a comprehensive look at the Toronto Raptors, breaking down their outlook, key players to watch, and what defines success for this team.
We reflect on lessons from last year's playoffs and what they mean for teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, and Oklahoma City Thunder. Finally, we spotlight 5 Teams to Watch this season—Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, and Phoenix Suns—and discuss how they stack up in the race for the title.
You can listen to the radio show every Wednesday @ 11 AM EST
1280AM on your Radio 📻
metradio.ca Online 💻
We reflect on lessons from last year's playoffs and what they mean for teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, and Oklahoma City Thunder. Finally, we spotlight 5 Teams to Watch this season—Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, and Phoenix Suns—and discuss how they stack up in the race for the title.
You can listen to the radio show every Wednesday @ 11 AM EST
1280AM on your Radio 📻
metradio.ca Online 💻
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Old man.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Hey everyone, this is Neo.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
It's your boy, Funky, the coolest teen rapper online. What's up?
It's me Alfie. You're listening to the Cool Table with.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
A listening to You're listening to the Cool Table.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
You're listening to the Cool Table.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
And I'm not sure if you know this, but right
now you're in the cut with my man, Adri Smile.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, and good night. Welcome
to the Cool Table. My name is Adri Smiley aka
Agrolsmiley dot com aka Adri Smiley Official, aka the Godfather.
Now we are here with a special guest digital producer
for the Toronto Start covering basketball basically all over the
country and beyond, Leevan Aestman.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Thank you for joining us, my guy. I appreciate you man.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
I'm excited about this season honestly, like I feel like
it's been a long time coming. The hype feels like
it's built, almost like a season of a show, and
we waited a long time for this, so I was
excited to bring you on. I wanted to talk ball
before we even get into like the nitty gritty, like
how has your summer been in terms of just like
covering the league, following the league, like, how's your summer been.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
It's been good. I was, well, I've covered recently the draft,
some of the league now preseason started that he was
on Montreal, wasn't out there, but yeah, it's it's an
interesting team. Like I wouldn't say I'm super excited because
this team, like there's two ways that can go right. Yeah,
But in terms of my cover, I'm like, I'm you
(01:25):
know me, I'm focused on Canadian basketball coverage. There's a
lot of Canadians also on the Raptors too, so following
r J. Barrett, those guys, and yeah, just very exciting.
I would say, watch for development. That's what I'm excited
about with the Rappers this season.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Yeah, I think it's just an exciting time in Canada
basketball in general because sure to have, like you know,
a couple of good, good Canadians on the Raptors.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
We don't always get that.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
We usually had a couple of one or two of
the past few seasons, but I think RJ and Kelly
are probably someone was decorated we've had. And then the
w NBA team coming here, that's pretty exciting. The guys
coming up in the coming up is exciting. So all
of the team itself is not the same. I think
it is still an exciting time. I want to talk
about the Raptors actual team, Like a lot of people
(02:10):
I think are kind of confusing how to view this team.
Of course, you know, Scotty got a big contract, big I,
Q got a big contract. So for those people who
are you know, not sure of like what those contracts
came from.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
How should someone be perceiving this team.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Like is this a playing team, playoff team, or do
you see them as more kind of in the lottery.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Again, I think Massi and Darko said the best in
the opening presser at media Day. This is year one
of the rebuild. That's what they said. That's how we
should look at it.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
I even will take a step back and say, hey
they should tank straight up this next draft class studs,
but also just looking at it as development here just
in terms of your building around Scotty, you're building around IQ,
You're also building around RG. Looking at them as or
like the big three of this team. So when I
think about it, it's like, hey, can can Scotty take
(03:06):
that next step to be an all NBA guy? Can
quick prove that he can lead a team as a
lead guard, you know, because he's been off the bench
in New York. Now he just got paid, so let's
see if he can do it. Take this exactly, so
if you can prove it consistently and that he can
lead a team as a point guard. Right, So it's
it's a lot of things to look at, but I'm
(03:29):
excited just to see like Scotty's next leap like that.
That that, to me is gonna be really exciting.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I think that you mentioned Scotty because this is probably
their first time using the word rebuild so publicly. So
when you say tank, I'm like, you just got to rebuild.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
But those guys don't want it. Like if you ask Scott,
he's not taking tank. Like those guys want to compete, right,
and that's what you expect, Like miss I even said it,
like he's when he talks to those guys, they want
to win. So at best, I expect a playing team,
Like if everything hits, they'll be a playing team. If not,
they'll be tanking. They'll be like they'll like especially injuries
piling up right now. Yes, I expect them to try
(04:04):
to win. The schedule is like, right now, it's tough.
It's gauntlet right now, and it's a start too, and
it's it's insane. So for me, I'm like, Okay, go
out prove see what you can do in this in
this conference, and if you exceed expectations, amazing. But if
you don't, hey, man, Cooper, flag.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Man, capture the flag. We're trying to catch a flag,
my flag.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
My My hashtag though, is wave the white flag.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Wait. I like that, Wave the white flag. I like that.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
I think we're in an interesting spot too, because I
think my TA players to watch. The Big are Big
three is obviously the guys to watch, but these guys
all have been in playoff situations even though they're all
young players. R J and IQ been to the playoffs
with the Knicks, Scotty's been to the playoffs with the
Raps already, even Purtle's been to the playoffs with a
few teams. So I think that these guys all have
(04:49):
the chances down to be the leaders on this team,
and I think that's probably why they're trying to go
for the play in.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
For me, RJ is the guy to watch.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
I think RJ had his best, like kind of stretch
of his career for the Raptor at the end of
the season last year in the Olympics, maybe the second
best player on that team. I agree, So I think
even myself what I thought of RJ. I kind of
got to recalibrate everyone.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Do you see what they were saying about him before
they even traded for him, Like he was described as
a toxic asset.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Trade people are like, oh, Okay, Quickly is the big draw. Amazing? Oh, RJ,
We'll see what you could do, like kind of revamped
your image here. But to me, he's been the best
player in this trade so far, and it Quickly needs
to prove that he's worth what we're talking about. RJ's
to me is like efficiently wise, he's been able to
shoot the ball. He knows what he's doing. He just
(05:44):
needs to improve, probably on the defensive end a lot.
So other than that, I'm like, hey, I know what
I can get from RJ. Barrett. I'm just looking at Quickly.
I'm like, can you lead a team and be the
main point? That's my biggest question.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Do you think he can do that?
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Because I was a big Quickly fan when he was
in New York and when the happened. I was so
hype for Quickly. I've always liked him as a player.
I thought here he could do big things. Do you
believe in him and actually becoming that starting point guard
or do you think that as asking a little too much.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
I'll be honest, I'm kind of iffy. I'm iffy. And
in terms of just I know he's been working hard
in the summer, just from what Massai has been saying,
like they invested it, and honestly, like the contract he's
making is not massive when you think about it in
the next three four years, like thirty what plus million
is It's not too crazy. It's worth the investment. But
(06:30):
it's just being able to see is he gonna be
able to gel with Scotty and the pick and roll?
What does that look like?
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Right?
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Got to see yeah, so and his touch around the rim.
I want to see if it gets even more efficient.
That's he's a great shooter, but can he get to
the rim? And his Florida touch wasn't wasn't really that
there as it was in New York. So yeah, I'm
just trying to see if Quickly can be that guy
and if it isn't on the right trajectory, and he's
still young. He's what twenty four to twenty five.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Yeah, these guys are all still super young, so they
have time. They do have time, and I think I'm
looking at it in a positive sense.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Of course.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
The positive look on this is IQ can kind of
be the next Kyle Lowry. If you think about when
Kyle Lowry came to the Raptors, how he was in
the league is not that different from or IQ was
in the league. Not always an assistant starter at that time,
remember him and called on where no, we're kind of
fighting for him.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
I laugh to this day, Like Jose calder On was
still a point the starting point guard while Larry still
on his team at certain points and then they had
to trade him and then okay, now Larry gets the full,
full lead role. But I remember the games where like
Larry was still coming off the bench, obviously still deal
with injury at that time.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Yeah, and in case you were kind of butting has
but like like you said, like like Lowry had to
earn his.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Yeah, And I think that's what I'm thinking of IQ
is at this point, we're not looking at him like
multiple time All Star, you know, leader of a team,
But I think when Kyle got here, we didn't look
him like that either, And so to see where Kyle became,
I'm kind of hoping i Q can have something like
that before we move on. How are you defining success
this year for this team? Like what it's a successful
(07:59):
year for you for the Raptors.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
For me, it's can quickly take that next step? Can
Scotty take it that next step? And can Grady dick?
To me, he's also a vital piece like the Raptors,
Like if you look at the last five years, what
development success story have they had?
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Scotty? Probably Scotty, but.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Like to me, that's a given, right. But then when
you think about the prior you had what you had
Fred van Vliet, you had Ojenanobe, you had Norman Powell,
Like the list goes on, right, this you have you've
had pretty much none. Right, So like this class this
upcoming that they drafted what four or five guys, So
when you're looking at it like this is very important
(08:38):
that they strike on one of the people they drafted
and that Grady dictates the next step. He's getting what
fifteen pounds this summer. He was getting pushed around last year,
So he's I'm excited to see what he looks like.
He's he potentially is gonna be like starting for this
team is upcoming season.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
So it's it's his spot to lose, I think.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
Especially with all the injuries.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
So and he's played we also in preseason obviously preseason
not you know, look into it, but he looks at
least more comfortable on the court. There were some games
last year where it's like this guy needs some time.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Still.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
He seems more comfortable this year. What I've been doing
this summer, I told you about what you were doing
the summer. I was watching a lot of the playoffs,
and I was going back in time and saying, that's
how I remember it at the time, this is how
it felt in the moment. Watching it back, does it
give the same vibe? And I think I learned a
lot about a lot of teams watching the playoffs, because
(09:28):
now we're looking at all these teams differently. You know, Minnesota
was a team that I was high on at the
start of last season. I can't tell you how many
of my friends told me I was stupid. We like
in Minnesota last season. Now I feel like.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Are you jumping off the cliff.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
No, I'm staying there. I'm staying there.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
But I think there's a bunch of teams like Minnesota,
like the Knicks, who we kind of learned more about
them as a playoffs went on. I want to talk
about the Wolves, obviously a huge trade. Julius Randall de Vincenzo.
What are you expecting from them this year? We saw
that they're capable of big stuff in the playoffs, you know,
kind of wing their first two rounds and basically twenty years.
What do you see for them this year?
Speaker 3 (10:02):
It's tough because my first reaction to the trade between
them and the NIXT sending kar Anthony Towns to New York.
I'm like, why don't you wait, Like you just had
all this success, get into the Western Conference finals? What's
the rush to just get rid of him? Like you
just had this success? And I would have said, hey,
like if another year you get more experienced, Anthony Edwards develops,
(10:25):
like you could potentially beat that Dallas Mavericks team. Right,
So for me, it was just I was questioning him,
like what's this move? Obviously, like the salary cap and
all that kind of stuff, like Anthony town.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
It felt crazy.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
I felt rushed just in a way that like because
I thought kar Anthony Towns and like they worked well together,
Like you beat the defending champions on like like that
was that was a crazy series. So for me, it's like,
why break up something that got you to the West
Conference finals? That was my biggest question.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Yeah, I think I have that question too. Obviously they
get more depth and Vincenzo that first death.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Yet, like Rob Dillingham's not pressure to become off the
bench and deliver right away.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Now he's a fifth guard. If he works out, he plays.
If he doesn't, it'll be okay. But I think I
still worry about them because I think Julius Randall's the
playoff player, one of the worst we've seen in NBA history,
definitely in the past twenty years. And I think that
this team in the playoffs, like Cat had some bad games,
or Cat had some games where he rescued them, and
I think that of course Cat's been like you know,
(11:26):
the NBA Twitter's punching bag for a long time and
put him on that list of guys and be sure
it doesn't like, but he helped them a lot last year,
and so I think they're gonna miss that going forward.
The other team that I feel like, I don't want
to say this out loud, so please grain and salt
the okay, see Thunder a built overrated right now? Oh really,
I think we've all fallen in love with them over
the past year, and I think that.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
It's a hot take. I see everyone putting them number
one seed in the West.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
I think regular season team, they're absolutely great, But I
think the playoffs what I saw last year is it
all came down to Shade scoring. And I think we
look at them as a deep team. How they have
a bunch of guys, a bunch of two way players.
But in the playoffs, James Williams, J Dubb didn't play well,
Chat had trouble shooting the ball, you know, Isaiah Joe
that trouble playing. You know it was Wiggins, who's usually
(12:11):
their seventh eighth man, who is closing games for them.
And so right now, I'm like, are they a regular
season team and in the playoffs it's just Shade by himself.
They got to prove that.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
To me still, it's like wondering, is the youth well
that cuts cash up in the playoffs, right? But to me,
it's like I look at it like they addressed a
lot of the concerns, right they rebounding was a major
concern they Isaiah seen. So it's like and then you
get Alex Crusso, to me.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
That was like a big thick.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
That was a crazy Like you got rid of Josh Giddy,
who kind of brought you nothing. He was unplayable in
the playoffs, Yeah, because he can't shoot the ball, can't
space the four when she's doing his thing. And you
bring a guy like Alex Cruz was gonna be able
to card. He's one of the best, like wind defenders,
and then you're also going to be able to have
him like space the floor. It's it's And then to me,
it's like, even if it's not this year Man chat
(12:59):
and two three three years, you got Williams in two
three years, Like, it's it's hey man, the core three
of them, of Shaye, j Dubb and chat Man.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
That's that's a successful three. It seems like I think
in theory they should be great. I think chat like
chet was rookie last year, we almost forget that because
he played so well where he's in the league now
almost almost like you know, Dylan Brown Jason Tatum. When
they were coming up as rookies, they were so competent
right away. Chet has so many years to grow, you know.
Big man sometimes take the longest to develop. For Trett
(13:32):
in his first year back to chetting four years, five years.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
They asked him do a lot last year. Now he
can breathe with Azio backing them up.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Right, Yeah, So I think I'm mentioned to see what
they do because right now I think they're overrated.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
I think right now they have the potential that.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
I love that though.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
No, and my my main thing is they don't have
enough guys that can dribble it. Honestly, as an old
school Raptors type of team, where when we were in
our heyday, you know, we had Damar Kyle and it
felt like we didn't have the ball handlers. It was
Corey Joseph saved us and obviously we saw how that went.
So they feel kind of like that where Jay can
(14:06):
handle the ball, make plays. J Dubb can handle the ball,
make plays, but after that, you know who they have,
So that I'm kind of worried about. A team that
does have enough guys is the New York Knicks. I
loved them during the season last year because Jylen Brunson
is one of my guys, Like yeah, like he's one
of those players that I've always thought of him as
an All Star caliber player. So to see him become
(14:27):
this MVP candidate, I didn't see that coming. I knew
he was nice, but we didn't know he was that nice.
What do you think about them? Because now the ad
Kat they have all these guys on the wing, not
as deep as before, but we saw what they could
do even last year when they're missing a bunch of guys.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
To me, they're the biggest challenges to the Boston Celtics
in the East. They have the guys that can guard
Jason Team and Jillan Brown, Kel Bridges and oj Ananobi
to the top five I would say, like wing defenders
in the league right for sure, So you address that
concern you can match up with them. You got Brunson.
To me, Julius, I like, you had so much success,
it's like where did he kind of fit right? And
(15:04):
now you get cat who can space the floor for you, Like,
hey man, the question is it's like, hey, Mitchell Robinson's
out now until January. So the question, big question is
where does the forward position, like I don't believe in
pressures are true and no offense. But it's like, hey,
like where's like, where's Cat's backup?
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Right?
Speaker 3 (15:22):
And he struggled a lot. Now he's going to go
back to his old coach, Tom Thibodau, where he struggled
as the main big man at center. Defensively, so it's
like they were ranked Minnesota back in the day when
down Tom Thibdau was there, they ranked twentyeth defensively. So
it's now you're wondering, like where does that Where could
they be defensively?
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Right, we're almost in a twilight zone where Tom Thibodau
is going to be leading an offensive team because the
Knicks are probably going.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
To be you'd hope that Michel and Og could help
Cat out, right.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Yeah, I think that's going to be the question because Og,
you know where we're familiar with him in Toronto. Injuries
all over his career such part of who he.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
Is, so it's like freakingies. It's like the most random
injuries were ever to hear about.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
You know, every single time. So it's like I think
that's going to be a big thing for them because
they don't have the depth of that forward position. I
think they're going to be a team where guys want
to go play with them because I think that having
someone like Brunson and Kat as your two anchors offensively,
the role players and minimum guys and that are minimum
guys are going to want to join them. So I
think in that way they're going to pick up some pieces.
(16:25):
But those are the teams that I thought about from
last year. Now we're going to look forward. Okay, I
got five teams for you that I'm focused on personally.
I know everyone has their own team and all. Okay,
see fans, let me hear tired of hearing that. But
number one for me is the Dallas Mavericks. To me,
probably the most underrated team right now. They made the finals.
Luca is an MVP favorite basically every season. They added
(16:47):
Klay Thompson, added Naji Marshall, PJ. Washington, and Gafford for
a full season now. But a lot of people are
not picking them to go as far this year. What
am I missing about that? Because I think all the
ingredients are there, but people are not taking them to
go as far.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
I'll be honest, I'm a bit down on them, but
I see your point, like, to me, I'm just not
sure how much Clay still has in the tank. That's
my biggest concern, And say, okay, but Luca's gonna make
everyone look amazing on the floor, Like this is gonna
be the most open shots Clay Poby gets in the
last five years. That's what I think so and what
(17:22):
I love about what Dallas is doing, especially when you
look at the last few years, Dallas Boston seems like
a pattern. Like a lot of these teams go all in, right,
they go and they get guys that know will fit
with Luca and will help them chase a championship, and
they'll be willing to trade whatever. Like Boston traded for
Drew Holliday, they traded for Kris Stabs to help solve
them right, and then for Luca, they traded PJ Washington.
They shared a bunch of picks for that, they got Kyrie,
(17:44):
they got another bunt hunter to help out Luca. And
then now you have Lob Threats with Derek Lively Gafford.
So that team is kind of fit fits perfectly. You
just gotta hope they stay healthy.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Yeah, to me, they would be one of my choices
to go to the finals, well, they also get to
that at the end. But I think why I believe
in them so much is the Luca factor. There are
really four guys in the league for me that you
can guarantee you're gonna have a good playoff game every
time they're on the court, injury, no matter what's going on,
they're gonna have a good game. I think it's Giannis, Jokic,
(18:15):
Lebron and Luca. Basically everybody else is like, I hope
you're feeling good today, you know. And I think when.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
You have forget about Shae Man, shaes on that list.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
She doesn't have the reps, of course, but Shay would
be the kind of the honorable mention on that list.
But I think if you have one of those guys,
you got a shot to win it all unless you
have a stacked team, of course. So that's kind of
why I believe in Dallas a lot.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
One of the other.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Teams on my teams to watch is the Milwaukee Bucks.
We were all hype last year when they got Damian Lillard.
Listening back to some of those podcasts, seeing some of
those stories, it felt like it was four years ago
when everyone wrote this team's gonna win sixty games, They're
gonna have the best offense, and in the end, they
didn't have a horrible season from a winstand point. Agent
(19:00):
different probably has the best winning percentage of any coach
that's ever been fired. But the narrative just saw like
there's such a negative on that team and they really struggled.
And when I told you I was watching back some
old clips from the last year's playoffs, one that set
out to me was Chris Middleton once Dane was injured
in when now Chris Middleton stepped up in a huge way.
I think he had thirty eight in that Game three
or Game four. So seeing that he still has that
(19:22):
gear in the playoffs, I believe them a little bit more.
How do you feel about them and their chances going
back to the finals ultimately winning another one?
Speaker 3 (19:30):
To me, they have to be one of the favorites
in that mix with the top three teams. Maybe maybe
I've put them four. Like to me, the East kind
of looks like it's Boston, it's New York, it's Philly,
and it's Milwaukee. Those are the four teams. I'm just
concerned about the age of that roster man Brook Lopez
even like you mentioned Chris Milton played well, but like
he's agent also even And what I was really concerned
(19:54):
about was when I think Dame and Giannis talked about
they didn't really work out together this summer. Yeah, and
that's supposed to be your most important partnership that carries
you to the finals, right, Yeah, so my big concern
is just how is that partnership going to work? Are
they going to get the reps and they're supposed to
be the most lethal pick and roll duo. They haven't
seen it yet, hasn't become hasn't like, hasn't showed it
(20:16):
out yet. So yeah, it's it's going to be interesting,
but they're they're definitely up their least.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
I think for me, the two things I want to
see is their guard defense. Gary Trent, I think, you know, yeah,
he's not that guy to guard the best defender in
a way that Drew Holliday or Derek White can. Like,
he hasn't shown that in his career yet. But I
think it's going to come from Dame. I've always said,
like when the worst defenders on your team buy in
and put the effort in, you see the team defense
go to great heights and The example has always been
(20:42):
Steph Curry. You know, there was times in those finals
when they would switch on him and he would be
ready for that matchup and he might still you know,
get blown by or bodied, but he was ready for that.
And I think Dave need to kind of embody some
of that and be ready on the defensive end. He
said it, you know that he wants to do that.
He said he's ready for that. Obviously, we got to
see if it actually happens.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
He's also aging too, no.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
And that's the thing is like aging in this era
in the NBA is such an odd thing because I
think about how many players we have who are some
of the best players in the league in their early thirties,
mid thirties. The Jimmy Butler is the Steph Curry's the
Kevin Durance. So it's like, will Dame be you know,
like a Steph Curry, like the Kevin Durant still good
in his mid thirties, or will he be more like
(21:25):
a Chris Paul.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Yeah, it's interesting to see. Philly is the other team
there was the thirteen. I'm really trying to watch.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
I don't want to root for them, but hey man,
that they're intriguing.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
They are intriguing.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
I will say this, they kind of have a caveat
to me because I don't really believe in Joelle as
their leader. He gives me like he's more kind of
an introverted guy, not really that guy to lead a team,
especially on the floor. But they have the talent, like
I think one to ten, like maybe one of the
deepest teams in the league. What do you see for
them this year? Because they're going to be just judged
(21:59):
off what they do in the player exactly.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
For me, regular seasons should not matter at all. Play
Joel Embiid maybe fifty minutes, fifty games max. He should
just be getting ready. Who cares about most of the
most MVP ward who cares about that damn award? Let
Tire's Maxi Paul George gets you to the finish line,
gets you to the playoffs, and Joe and Bid this is
the time you've had stinkers in the playoffs. Just be real.
(22:21):
This is your opportunity to show why you consider yourself
the best player in the world. So it's just gonna
be a like, we don't care about regular season, no momore,
especially with the Philadelphia team, so joean Bee's gonna have
to show in the playoffs and that's the only thing
that matters. Like the amount of jokes I've seen, like, hey,
this person made it to the first NBA finals before Joel.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
And that's pretty funny, right.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
It's like what it's like people getting rings. People that
you didn't expect to get married have a ring before
Joel Embiid. Like he needs to dead those talks. He
needs to be that guy in the playoffs and be dominant.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
I think at least we need to see that it's
not his reason why they don't go far. I think
that's the main thing why I compare to the Harden
in the past, is that a lot of the top players,
we kind of give them, you know, a leeway when
they don't make it far of circumstances.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Things happen. It's a small number of guys who are.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Balling out for the whole series and when the team loses,
are like it wasn't their falls.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
You know. Luca has been one of those guys.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
But a lot of the top guys sometimes in the
playoffs they can't perform. Joel Embiid has been, you know,
sometimes great games like the two point game he had
last playoffs or some stinkers like in that game six.
So I think we're gonna see kind of what he's
really made up. He has the talent around him now
where there's really no excuse at all.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
That's what I want to see, just a playoffs with
no excuse. He's healthy full time. There's no like eye
problem with him, there's no like him getting like elbowed
or rapidly by passcal Siakam, Like, I just want to
see a full playoff where there's no no excuses.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Right, yeah, yeah. My one reason why they will do
well is a Kyle Larer factor. You know, Kyle lor retrust,
So just having that literaly from Kyle maybe that takes
them to another level. But personally, I'm not gonna lie.
They're not on my believe list. I'm choosing them to
not make it to the finals. This team also underrated.
(24:09):
I don't know if I believe in them, but I
want to give them their credit because they actually haven't
cheated them stuff. That's the Indiana Pacers Eastern Crawfords Finals
last year, NBA Cup Finals last year as well. But
you know, Tyres Taliburton had a great start to the season. Pascal,
NBA champion, joins the team. We saw a bunch of
their role guys played great, so you know they should
(24:32):
be on the up. They have a bunch of young
role guys who are only getting better. They have an
NBA champion also our All NBA player in Pascal joining them.
So why are we not believing in them? Because you know,
they showed they can win. They added this new start
to their team, a bunch of up you know, young
guys coming up. Why is this team not in the
top four for everyone? Because I think if you know
(24:53):
you're looking objectively, they've kind of showed that they've done
what it takes to be in that top four.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
I think the biggest concern with Dumb is they love
to score. They don't play any defense. Yeah, they just
you will see them score one hundred to twenty and
you check the scoreboard out like if you're betting, that's
the team you go over on. But everything they also
allow one to thirty every night, yeap. So it's just
it's just like and then you wonder, like in the playoffs,
who's your best defender? Pascal siakamm Hard Maybe he's their guy.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
But you're right.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
That's their issue is Miles Turner is basically an offensive
player now, which I never thought I would say that.
So defensively, I don't know if I believe in them,
but I still was surprised that they've made it as
far as they did.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
Of course, injuries played a huge part is.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
That, but nothing has to change, like their identity of
running the floor, that kind of stuff. It's gonna pay
well in the regular season, like they could be a
top cannon to finish the top in the East. Like
I don't won't be surprised if that happens. I just
when it gets the playoffs seasons where you're playing half
court basketball, can this team actually defend?
Speaker 1 (25:52):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (25:52):
I think that we're gonna have to see, because there's
enough teams in the East this year that are good
that they're gonna have to beat some healthy team, you know,
even going down to Orlando or Cleveland. There's enough decent
teams where it's like you're going to have to defend
at some point.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
So we're going to see, We're going to see. I
want to give them their.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
Credit though, because listen, a big swing in the small
market Eastern Conference finals, how many teams, you know, would
want that to be their destiny, adding a former NBA champion.
So I think this may be the highest they get
in the next few years. If we're being honest, they
could kind of have like a Raptors run of not
(26:32):
making it far them playoffs, putting a lot of regular
season games. So I want to acknowledge this moment right
here where they just made the Eastern Conference Finals. Maybe
maybe the NBA Cup is there this year, the NBA
Cup favorites heading into the season, it might be. Yeah.
The last thing I want to talk about is the
Phoenix Suns. I feel like they've just kind of been
gone by the wayside.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
Yeah, I don't care about them, to be.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
Honest, No, I realized that, and I think that why
I thought of them is, you know, the NBA narratives
like almost like every six months changes course. And I
remember this time last year, people were choosing them to
be a top four team because they took the Nuggets
of six games, and that feels like it happened what
eight years ago now, but it was really just last
season where they Nuggets are six games. They added Bradley
(27:15):
Beil since then added two of the most you know
conservative safe point guards in the league, but still it
seems like nobody cares.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
So is that two years ago?
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Doesn't It doesn't not matter what happened against the Nuggets,
Like where are we with them? Because they have a
ton of talent, they showed they can play, that, they're
adding a new coach who's won a championship before in yep,
so what about them is like we're never going to
turn on them because they could have the best player
in a lot of series.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
They could and they could have probably three best if
you rank it, they probably like those three best will
probably better than any of the three plus players on
other team. Right, Yeah, the depth, they just they just
missing guys like you obviously you have to pay Bradley Beal,
you got to play paid the rant, you got to
pay Booker and like where else is that money? So
I think a lot of what they're banking on right
(28:02):
now is development guys or guys coming up will help
hopefully helped them out. But also just like Bradley Bual's
missed what forty plus games last year? So can this
team actually stay healthy? Durant's agent like we said, and
I'm not I'm never I'm never never want a doubt Durant,
but that team is just I don't know if they
can stay healthy full three. Like we're I watched twenty
(28:23):
straight games of Bradley Bill, Devin Book and Kivandrant play together.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
I think we're asking a lot a lot for that.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
So then what we're supposed to see.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
My suggestion is Badley Bill comes off the bench. I
think it's been so interesting that no one has said that.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
You think he would do You think that would be I.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Don't know if he would do it an ego.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
That's probably the highest paid player to ever come out
of the bench, making fifty million dollars a year. But
I think it's interesting that no one's mentioning it because
when Mellow went to Okay See people brought it up
right away.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
When Westbrook went to LA who brought it up right away.
So to me, I.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
Think this is another one of those situations where had
him come off the bench, the whole team is better,
like Bradley Beal as your lead bench scorer, best bench
player in the NBA right away if you do that, So,
that to me is what I think would would help
fix a lot of their depth issues. It's put Bradley
Beal on the bench, stagger the three guys, because I
(29:16):
think the three of them together, they haven't shown that
that is like absolutely killer where it needs to be
playing all the time. So that's my suggestion, Bradley Beal
off the bench and see how that goes.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
Yeah, I just don't think he'll ever do it. He'll
never he'll never co sign that. I don't think it'd
be a hard sell. He'll ask for trade immediately once
that happens. Yeah, it's just a lot of like those
are the three you paid him, You trade it for him,
like you're gonna have to treat him nice.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
I think that's when I realized that maybe Bradley Beal
isn't the winning player we thought he could be. I
think that we kind of gave him the pass of
it's Washington, it's not his fault. And I think that
on this team, like.
Speaker 3 (29:54):
But lights on when you're playing with Durant, And.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
That's that's the part where I think he's still trying
to kind of prove himself more than I'll do whatever
it takes for the team to win. Because Bradley Beal
should be the glue guy, the hustle guy you know,
you know, Kawhi and Paul George have talked about it
where they loved having the Batoons the Covingtons of the
world because those guys did all the dirty work. Bradley
Beal should be that guy for Booker and KD like
(30:17):
KD shouldn't be gardening the best player like that should
not be happening, and sometimes the other guys aren't two
way players, so it hurts to play them in the
same way. So to me, I think that that would
be helpful to the team, but obviously probably not likely.
But I'm interested in Phoenix this year because again it
was only a year ago. Phoenix was the Minnesota of
this year. Like Minnesota, we're talking Minnesota this year. That
(30:40):
was Phoenix last year. And Durant and Booker are much
more accomplished than anyone on that Minnesota team.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
So maybe something could happen.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
I'm not sure, but I do think that that big
three of Durant, Steph and Lebron they're probably done in
terms of playoff success. Yeah, I want that to not
be true. I want one of them to go far
at some point in the next couple of years. But
doesn't it feel like that's over with for all of them. Like,
do you see any of those teams going far in
the playoffs?
Speaker 3 (31:07):
It's tough. No, I don't, to be honest, And I
think Lebron's fine with that too, if you ask him,
like he has nothing to accomplish left, He's he's gonna
go down, in my opinion, as the second greatest basketball
player of all time. What can you like, There's there's
nothing else for him to do. Kevin Durant too, Like
to me, he's arguably top ten greatest players of all time.
Same with Curry. It's like like there's nothing for them
(31:27):
really to do.
Speaker 1 (31:29):
Their legacy is stamped. I think who needs it the most?
Of their legacy is you're at you think so?
Speaker 2 (31:33):
Like Durant's legacy would benefit the most from another championship,
obviously on a separate team, not with the Warriors. You know,
people love to kind of take those championships away from
him and then late in his career. The other two
guys have a late career championship, you know, it's Stephen
twenty twenty two, Lebron in twenty twenty. If Katie gets one,
I think it helps his career the most. But you're
right to me, he stamped. It doesn't matter, he doesn't
(31:55):
get one like we can talk. Oh, he joined a
seventy two win team. He Kerol drank Durant one of
the greatest scores of all time. Yeah, and I think
his legacy is cemented in the way that he affects
the next generation if they've been paying attention the past
few years the GM survey, Kevin Durant is the players.
Is the player that players are more trying to be,
like emulating their favorite player over Lebron And even though
(32:17):
it may not show it in the All Star voting,
Kevin Durant has a huge impact on the Stars today.
At edwards, we've mentioned Dran's his favorite player. You know,
maybe the future face of the league. Kevin Durrant is
who he's emulating. So I think even though people do
have some hate for him, his legacy is absolutely stamped.
(32:38):
Before we get out of here, we got to get
some predictions. Of course, listen, people, this is not betting advice.
Don't put any money on these predictions, but to be trusted,
to be trusted, I think let's start with MVP. Of course,
we got a bunch of guys in the mix this year.
I feel some voter for TV. I think Yo kicch
they don't want him to get another one. I don't
(32:58):
think that's happening, and I don't think that's happening Jannis.
Speaker 1 (33:02):
I would say it's a long shot, but I don't
think that's happening.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
I think it is probably gonna be between Luca, Shay
and Jason Tatum. Is anyone outside of that three things
gonna win? Or as one of those three guys who
your choice is to win MVP.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
My pick will be shake just Alexander m M and
I think he has the pieces to do it, like
it's to me, honestly, he could have should have won
last year. I think Yo kich is like we're the
m v P, but to me, he wasn't as great
as he was defensively as he was the year prior.
So yeah, for me, I think Shaye Chase my front runner.
I put the whole house on it. I don't bet,
(33:38):
but I if I was a betting guy with that,
with the team just perfectly around him now like Chase
the guy Luca too, you could you can put a
case for.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
I think whoever wins the most games out of those
two guys is gonna get it, Like, whichever one of
these guys wins more games, and I think it's gonna
be Shaane. Okay, see, but I do have kind of
a tough time giving the MVP to someone who we
don't think is the best player in the league. Like
I think we'd agree Shay's top five and top ten
for some, but I don't think anyone would argue sha
is the best player in the league.
Speaker 3 (34:07):
I would argue his top three. To me, it's Yo Kisch. Actually,
i'd probably argue the top four, it's Yo Kich, Giannis Luca,
and I think it's that's my top four.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
I agree with that, but I think that most people
wouldn't make the argument for Shade actually jumping most of
the other guys.
Speaker 3 (34:24):
I think he will. That's that's my case too. I'm like,
I think Shay's about to take that next sleep where
it's like and if he stacks up with the MVP,
he wins a championship. We're soon talking. Okay, this is
Shay's erat.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
I love Shae.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
I don't want to talk bad about Shape, but I
think the size of those other guys will always kind
of standest of time. I think the larger players always
are going to be the more impactful players, and why
someone like Yannis a seven, fo Yo Kic, even Luka,
those guys always just have more impact because of their size.
Shae's an outli already in his career, so I don't
want to supposed to be Yeah, I can't put limits
(34:58):
on that guy at all, but I would love to
see him win another MVP. Of course, we love to
shout out the Canadians m VP like that would be big.
He probably be painting player of all time already, so
the MVP would just stamp it even more.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
So.
Speaker 2 (35:13):
My pick is actually Luca to when MVP. I think
that he's someone who everyone's just penciling and in for MVP,
feels like for four seasons now. Yeah, and I think
that he's getting to the point almost jokicesque, where the
things he's doing are scene as normal.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
Yeah, it's crazy.
Speaker 2 (35:31):
Yeah, Like I realized that, I said, like, this is
kind of if you, Like, he had almost thirty four
points a game last year and when James Harden did it,
it felt like the world was crashing down, and when
Luca does it, it's just like normal, simple, Yeah, so
I think he's my choice for MVP. Let's talk finals. Okay,
this is really what matters. Who's making the finals. Give
(35:52):
me your two teams in the East and your two
teams in the West.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
It's tough. Boston to me's going to be the US
to conference finals, and I will picked them to go
to the finals. It's just trying to figure out who
that second team would be. In the East. I'm gonna
I'm gonna go in New York. Okay, I'm gonna go
in New York. I wanted to say Philly, but I'm not.
I can't say Philly. I can't say Philly.
Speaker 1 (36:17):
Just I'm not gonna argue with that one.
Speaker 3 (36:19):
So I would say Boston, New York. And then I'm
gonna go with Okay C in the West because I'm
very high of them, as you can see, Okay, Ce,
and I will go. I'll go with a rematch. Okay,
see Dallas, Dallas. But I'm picking Okay, see the win. Okay,
see Boston finals, and I'm going with on Okay, see win.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
That I think would be historic, like a team this
young making the finals.
Speaker 3 (36:49):
You know that, I just want I want to have
I want to bet on it too. It's just like,
you know, it's just they're young. That's the biggest thing.
That's the biggest critique we have for them. And the
fact that it's just we're saying they're young and they
can't do it makes me want to bet on it. It
just wants to see it, you know.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
I want to see it too, because this is almost
in sports across the board where the young teams don't
usually win at that level right away, but if they
can be the outliers, Like we're already in an era
of the NBA where things are different. We have had
any repeat champions since the Raptors went in twenty nineteen.
We've only had two teams make the finals more than once.
So this feels like this era is wide open. And
(37:24):
I think if Okay So he could win, that be
part of that.
Speaker 3 (37:26):
And I think chemistry goes a long way. Like those
guys actually like each other, yes, yeah, like they get along.
I'm like, these guys are all doing postgame interviews together,
Like that's going to carry on, you know, So I
pencil them in.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
Okay, I like that in the East, I got Milwaukee
in Boston. I do believe in Giannis if Yannis is healthy.
I think if he's healthy, he's the best player in
the East. In the playoffs, no one has shown they
can stop him. So as long as Giannis is healthy,
I like them going to the finals. In the West,
I got Dallas and Denver in the West Arms finals.
(38:01):
I've been back and forth between like Denver and Dallas.
Denver is the iffy team. You didn't talk about them
much today, but obviously lost KCP Bruce Brown the season before.
Michael Porter has been iffy the last couple of playoffs,
so I am kind of iffy on them. But jokicch right,
So I'm gonna end up choosing Dallas Milwaukee in the final.
I mean Denver Milwaukee in the final. Right now, I'm
(38:25):
really leaning on the best players. That's kind of where
my mentality is is there's a lot of great teams
and a lot of great rosters, but the best players.
Speaker 3 (38:33):
Usually dictate the league.
Speaker 1 (38:35):
Yeah, they're the ones that win.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
And you know, the Olympics was fun, of course seeing
Steph Curry have like one of his best moments ever.
But if you watch the Olympics, ain't nobody guarding Yo Kisch.
That's that's a moral of the story, not one player
on one team from any country could guard Yo Kitsch
and if that continues in the playoffs, I see them
going far. So I got Denver winning it, Denver being
(38:56):
in Milwaukee in the finals, I feel like I'm probably
the only one who has that final. But again, I
love to see the top two guys in the league
that feels like the safe pick to make the finals.
I want to hear what you guys think in the comments,
like who are your teams that are going to win it?
Anyone that we forgot to mention there's so much to
watch this season, Like we didn't talk about a lot
of the stories on the side of course, what's Wemby
(39:18):
gonna be?
Speaker 3 (39:19):
Like, he's he's if I'm if I'm a fantasy, fantasy,
he's my number one pick, number one, He's my number
one pick, number one, crazy, crazy, Chris Paul is going
to get that guy the easiest basket ever.
Speaker 1 (39:32):
Number One's kind of crazy, but I would go number one.
Speaker 3 (39:34):
In the blocks he's going to get man, Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (39:36):
No blocks steals.
Speaker 3 (39:39):
Crazy, But hey, i'm picking, I'm picking. I'm picking.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
I don't know what number one, but he's up there
for me.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
Like, he's one of those players that I can't even
tell you what he's going to be, Like, I'd give
me like eighteen months to decide how I feel about
what he can be, because he could be the best
center we've ever seen, or the best wing.
Speaker 1 (39:56):
He's already one of the best defenders.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
We've ever seen, one of the greatest players of all time.
Speaker 1 (40:00):
He's already in that category.
Speaker 2 (40:01):
So yeah, I want to see what y'all think in
the comments, like who are the players you're excited to
watch the season? And the last but not least, I
wanted to check them out because this is a conscious
for another time midseason we do this again, we'll talk
about them. But the Memphis Grizzlies, I think they were
in that spot before Minnesota got in that spot, So
I'm interested to see what they're gonna do.
Speaker 3 (40:22):
I'm very excited job back and Zachieedy's sending him screens.
He's going to go downhill. He ham it on these people.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
Man, hes like he's in shape.
Speaker 3 (40:30):
He's in shape, man, and he's showing the stroke the
shot man. They can stay healthy, Memphis can stay healthy. Man.
They got some injuries piling up a bit, but hey.
Speaker 2 (40:38):
I'm very, very excited man, as I want to hear
what everyone thinks, like, let us know your final specs. Okay,
the finals. Who's in the East, who's in the West,
who's making it? I kind of feel like neither of
us is going to be correct. I don't know, I
don't know what what gives me that vibe.
Speaker 3 (40:55):
That's why I always hate making predictions because I look
back at it and I'm like, damn, I was way off.
But it's also fun, you know, you know.
Speaker 2 (41:02):
It's it's fun to be wrong sometimes this is the
only time it is. I want to thank everyone for
watching make it this part in the podcast. Of course,
you can find us on Instagram at the Cold Table
live on YouTube at the Cool Table. You can find
me on TikTok at agelsmii dot com. Make sure you
follow everything Lee ban is doing at the Toronto Star
and of course, until next time, know yourself.
Speaker 1 (41:23):
Know you're worth
Old man.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Hey everyone, this is Neo.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
It's your boy, Funky, the coolest teen rapper online. What's up?
It's me Alfie. You're listening to the Cool Table with.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
A listening to You're listening to the Cool Table.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
You're listening to the Cool Table.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
And I'm not sure if you know this, but right
now you're in the cut with my man, Adri Smile.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, and good night. Welcome
to the Cool Table. My name is Adri Smiley aka
Agrolsmiley dot com aka Adri Smiley Official, aka the Godfather.
Now we are here with a special guest digital producer
for the Toronto Start covering basketball basically all over the
country and beyond, Leevan Aestman.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Thank you for joining us, my guy. I appreciate you man.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
I'm excited about this season honestly, like I feel like
it's been a long time coming. The hype feels like
it's built, almost like a season of a show, and
we waited a long time for this, so I was
excited to bring you on. I wanted to talk ball
before we even get into like the nitty gritty, like
how has your summer been in terms of just like
covering the league, following the league, like, how's your summer been.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
It's been good. I was, well, I've covered recently the draft,
some of the league now preseason started that he was
on Montreal, wasn't out there, but yeah, it's it's an
interesting team. Like I wouldn't say I'm super excited because
this team, like there's two ways that can go right. Yeah,
But in terms of my cover, I'm like, I'm you
(01:25):
know me, I'm focused on Canadian basketball coverage. There's a
lot of Canadians also on the Raptors too, so following
r J. Barrett, those guys, and yeah, just very exciting.
I would say, watch for development. That's what I'm excited
about with the Rappers this season.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Yeah, I think it's just an exciting time in Canada
basketball in general because sure to have, like you know,
a couple of good, good Canadians on the Raptors.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
We don't always get that.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
We usually had a couple of one or two of
the past few seasons, but I think RJ and Kelly
are probably someone was decorated we've had. And then the
w NBA team coming here, that's pretty exciting. The guys
coming up in the coming up is exciting. So all
of the team itself is not the same. I think
it is still an exciting time. I want to talk
about the Raptors actual team, Like a lot of people
(02:10):
I think are kind of confusing how to view this team.
Of course, you know, Scotty got a big contract, big I,
Q got a big contract. So for those people who
are you know, not sure of like what those contracts
came from.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
How should someone be perceiving this team.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Like is this a playing team, playoff team, or do
you see them as more kind of in the lottery.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Again, I think Massi and Darko said the best in
the opening presser at media Day. This is year one
of the rebuild. That's what they said. That's how we
should look at it.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
I even will take a step back and say, hey
they should tank straight up this next draft class studs,
but also just looking at it as development here just
in terms of your building around Scotty, you're building around IQ,
You're also building around RG. Looking at them as or
like the big three of this team. So when I
think about it, it's like, hey, can can Scotty take
(03:06):
that next step to be an all NBA guy? Can
quick prove that he can lead a team as a
lead guard, you know, because he's been off the bench
in New York. Now he just got paid, so let's
see if he can do it. Take this exactly, so
if you can prove it consistently and that he can
lead a team as a point guard. Right, So it's
it's a lot of things to look at, but I'm
(03:29):
excited just to see like Scotty's next leap like that.
That that, to me is gonna be really exciting.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I think that you mentioned Scotty because this is probably
their first time using the word rebuild so publicly. So
when you say tank, I'm like, you just got to rebuild.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
But those guys don't want it. Like if you ask Scott,
he's not taking tank. Like those guys want to compete, right,
and that's what you expect, Like miss I even said it,
like he's when he talks to those guys, they want
to win. So at best, I expect a playing team,
Like if everything hits, they'll be a playing team. If not,
they'll be tanking. They'll be like they'll like especially injuries
piling up right now. Yes, I expect them to try
(04:04):
to win. The schedule is like, right now, it's tough.
It's gauntlet right now, and it's a start too, and
it's it's insane. So for me, I'm like, Okay, go
out prove see what you can do in this in
this conference, and if you exceed expectations, amazing. But if
you don't, hey, man, Cooper, flag.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Man, capture the flag. We're trying to catch a flag,
my flag.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
My My hashtag though, is wave the white flag.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Wait. I like that, Wave the white flag. I like that.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
I think we're in an interesting spot too, because I
think my TA players to watch. The Big are Big
three is obviously the guys to watch, but these guys
all have been in playoff situations even though they're all
young players. R J and IQ been to the playoffs
with the Knicks, Scotty's been to the playoffs with the
Raps already, even Purtle's been to the playoffs with a
few teams. So I think that these guys all have
(04:49):
the chances down to be the leaders on this team,
and I think that's probably why they're trying to go
for the play in.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
For me, RJ is the guy to watch.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
I think RJ had his best, like kind of stretch
of his career for the Raptor at the end of
the season last year in the Olympics, maybe the second
best player on that team. I agree, So I think
even myself what I thought of RJ. I kind of
got to recalibrate everyone.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Do you see what they were saying about him before
they even traded for him, Like he was described as
a toxic asset.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Trade people are like, oh, Okay, Quickly is the big draw. Amazing? Oh, RJ,
We'll see what you could do, like kind of revamped
your image here. But to me, he's been the best
player in this trade so far, and it Quickly needs
to prove that he's worth what we're talking about. RJ's
to me is like efficiently wise, he's been able to
shoot the ball. He knows what he's doing. He just
(05:44):
needs to improve, probably on the defensive end a lot.
So other than that, I'm like, hey, I know what
I can get from RJ. Barrett. I'm just looking at Quickly.
I'm like, can you lead a team and be the
main point? That's my biggest question.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Do you think he can do that?
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Because I was a big Quickly fan when he was
in New York and when the happened. I was so
hype for Quickly. I've always liked him as a player.
I thought here he could do big things. Do you
believe in him and actually becoming that starting point guard
or do you think that as asking a little too much.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
I'll be honest, I'm kind of iffy. I'm iffy. And
in terms of just I know he's been working hard
in the summer, just from what Massai has been saying,
like they invested it, and honestly, like the contract he's
making is not massive when you think about it in
the next three four years, like thirty what plus million
is It's not too crazy. It's worth the investment. But
(06:30):
it's just being able to see is he gonna be
able to gel with Scotty and the pick and roll?
What does that look like?
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Right?
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Got to see yeah, so and his touch around the rim.
I want to see if it gets even more efficient.
That's he's a great shooter, but can he get to
the rim? And his Florida touch wasn't wasn't really that
there as it was in New York. So yeah, I'm
just trying to see if Quickly can be that guy
and if it isn't on the right trajectory, and he's
still young. He's what twenty four to twenty five.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Yeah, these guys are all still super young, so they
have time. They do have time, and I think I'm
looking at it in a positive sense.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Of course.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
The positive look on this is IQ can kind of
be the next Kyle Lowry. If you think about when
Kyle Lowry came to the Raptors, how he was in
the league is not that different from or IQ was
in the league. Not always an assistant starter at that time,
remember him and called on where no, we're kind of
fighting for him.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
I laugh to this day, Like Jose calder On was
still a point the starting point guard while Larry still
on his team at certain points and then they had
to trade him and then okay, now Larry gets the full,
full lead role. But I remember the games where like
Larry was still coming off the bench, obviously still deal
with injury at that time.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Yeah, and in case you were kind of butting has
but like like you said, like like Lowry had to
earn his.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Yeah, And I think that's what I'm thinking of IQ
is at this point, we're not looking at him like
multiple time All Star, you know, leader of a team,
But I think when Kyle got here, we didn't look
him like that either, And so to see where Kyle became,
I'm kind of hoping i Q can have something like
that before we move on. How are you defining success
this year for this team? Like what it's a successful
(07:59):
year for you for the Raptors.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
For me, it's can quickly take that next step? Can
Scotty take it that next step? And can Grady dick?
To me, he's also a vital piece like the Raptors,
Like if you look at the last five years, what
development success story have they had?
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Scotty? Probably Scotty, but.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Like to me, that's a given, right. But then when
you think about the prior you had what you had
Fred van Vliet, you had Ojenanobe, you had Norman Powell,
Like the list goes on, right, this you have you've
had pretty much none. Right, So like this class this
upcoming that they drafted what four or five guys, So
when you're looking at it like this is very important
(08:38):
that they strike on one of the people they drafted
and that Grady dictates the next step. He's getting what
fifteen pounds this summer. He was getting pushed around last year,
So he's I'm excited to see what he looks like.
He's he potentially is gonna be like starting for this
team is upcoming season.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
So it's it's his spot to lose, I think.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
Especially with all the injuries.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
So and he's played we also in preseason obviously preseason
not you know, look into it, but he looks at
least more comfortable on the court. There were some games
last year where it's like this guy needs some time.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Still.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
He seems more comfortable this year. What I've been doing
this summer, I told you about what you were doing
the summer. I was watching a lot of the playoffs,
and I was going back in time and saying, that's
how I remember it at the time, this is how
it felt in the moment. Watching it back, does it
give the same vibe? And I think I learned a
lot about a lot of teams watching the playoffs, because
(09:28):
now we're looking at all these teams differently. You know, Minnesota
was a team that I was high on at the
start of last season. I can't tell you how many
of my friends told me I was stupid. We like
in Minnesota last season. Now I feel like.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Are you jumping off the cliff.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
No, I'm staying there. I'm staying there.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
But I think there's a bunch of teams like Minnesota,
like the Knicks, who we kind of learned more about
them as a playoffs went on. I want to talk
about the Wolves, obviously a huge trade. Julius Randall de Vincenzo.
What are you expecting from them this year? We saw
that they're capable of big stuff in the playoffs, you know,
kind of wing their first two rounds and basically twenty years.
What do you see for them this year?
Speaker 3 (10:02):
It's tough because my first reaction to the trade between
them and the NIXT sending kar Anthony Towns to New York.
I'm like, why don't you wait, Like you just had
all this success, get into the Western Conference finals? What's
the rush to just get rid of him? Like you
just had this success? And I would have said, hey,
like if another year you get more experienced, Anthony Edwards develops,
(10:25):
like you could potentially beat that Dallas Mavericks team. Right,
So for me, it was just I was questioning him,
like what's this move? Obviously, like the salary cap and
all that kind of stuff, like Anthony town.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
It felt crazy.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
I felt rushed just in a way that like because
I thought kar Anthony Towns and like they worked well together,
Like you beat the defending champions on like like that
was that was a crazy series. So for me, it's like,
why break up something that got you to the West
Conference finals? That was my biggest question.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Yeah, I think I have that question too. Obviously they
get more depth and Vincenzo that first death.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Yet, like Rob Dillingham's not pressure to become off the
bench and deliver right away.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Now he's a fifth guard. If he works out, he plays.
If he doesn't, it'll be okay. But I think I
still worry about them because I think Julius Randall's the
playoff player, one of the worst we've seen in NBA history,
definitely in the past twenty years. And I think that
this team in the playoffs, like Cat had some bad games,
or Cat had some games where he rescued them, and
I think that of course Cat's been like you know,
(11:26):
the NBA Twitter's punching bag for a long time and
put him on that list of guys and be sure
it doesn't like, but he helped them a lot last year,
and so I think they're gonna miss that going forward.
The other team that I feel like, I don't want
to say this out loud, so please grain and salt
the okay, see Thunder a built overrated right now? Oh really,
I think we've all fallen in love with them over
the past year, and I think that.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
It's a hot take. I see everyone putting them number
one seed in the West.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
I think regular season team, they're absolutely great, But I
think the playoffs what I saw last year is it
all came down to Shade scoring. And I think we
look at them as a deep team. How they have
a bunch of guys, a bunch of two way players.
But in the playoffs, James Williams, J Dubb didn't play well,
Chat had trouble shooting the ball, you know, Isaiah Joe
that trouble playing. You know it was Wiggins, who's usually
(12:11):
their seventh eighth man, who is closing games for them.
And so right now, I'm like, are they a regular
season team and in the playoffs it's just Shade by himself.
They got to prove that.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
To me still, it's like wondering, is the youth well
that cuts cash up in the playoffs, right? But to me,
it's like I look at it like they addressed a
lot of the concerns, right they rebounding was a major
concern they Isaiah seen. So it's like and then you
get Alex Crusso, to me.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
That was like a big thick.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
That was a crazy Like you got rid of Josh Giddy,
who kind of brought you nothing. He was unplayable in
the playoffs, Yeah, because he can't shoot the ball, can't
space the four when she's doing his thing. And you
bring a guy like Alex Cruz was gonna be able
to card. He's one of the best, like wind defenders,
and then you're also going to be able to have
him like space the floor. It's it's And then to me,
it's like, even if it's not this year Man chat
(12:59):
and two three three years, you got Williams in two
three years, Like, it's it's hey man, the core three
of them, of Shaye, j Dubb and chat Man.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
That's that's a successful three. It seems like I think
in theory they should be great. I think chat like
chet was rookie last year, we almost forget that because
he played so well where he's in the league now
almost almost like you know, Dylan Brown Jason Tatum. When
they were coming up as rookies, they were so competent
right away. Chet has so many years to grow, you know.
Big man sometimes take the longest to develop. For Trett
(13:32):
in his first year back to chetting four years, five years.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
They asked him do a lot last year. Now he
can breathe with Azio backing them up.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Right, Yeah, So I think I'm mentioned to see what
they do because right now I think they're overrated.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
I think right now they have the potential that.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
I love that though.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
No, and my my main thing is they don't have
enough guys that can dribble it. Honestly, as an old
school Raptors type of team, where when we were in
our heyday, you know, we had Damar Kyle and it
felt like we didn't have the ball handlers. It was
Corey Joseph saved us and obviously we saw how that went.
So they feel kind of like that where Jay can
(14:06):
handle the ball, make plays. J Dubb can handle the ball,
make plays, but after that, you know who they have,
So that I'm kind of worried about. A team that
does have enough guys is the New York Knicks. I
loved them during the season last year because Jylen Brunson
is one of my guys, Like yeah, like he's one
of those players that I've always thought of him as
an All Star caliber player. So to see him become
(14:27):
this MVP candidate, I didn't see that coming. I knew
he was nice, but we didn't know he was that nice.
What do you think about them? Because now the ad
Kat they have all these guys on the wing, not
as deep as before, but we saw what they could
do even last year when they're missing a bunch of guys.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
To me, they're the biggest challenges to the Boston Celtics
in the East. They have the guys that can guard
Jason Team and Jillan Brown, Kel Bridges and oj Ananobi
to the top five I would say, like wing defenders
in the league right for sure, So you address that
concern you can match up with them. You got Brunson.
To me, Julius, I like, you had so much success,
it's like where did he kind of fit right? And
(15:04):
now you get cat who can space the floor for you, Like,
hey man, the question is it's like, hey, Mitchell Robinson's
out now until January. So the question, big question is
where does the forward position, like I don't believe in
pressures are true and no offense. But it's like, hey,
like where's like, where's Cat's backup?
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Right?
Speaker 3 (15:22):
And he struggled a lot. Now he's going to go
back to his old coach, Tom Thibodau, where he struggled
as the main big man at center. Defensively, so it's
like they were ranked Minnesota back in the day when
down Tom Thibdau was there, they ranked twentyeth defensively. So
it's now you're wondering, like where does that Where could
they be defensively?
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Right, we're almost in a twilight zone where Tom Thibodau
is going to be leading an offensive team because the
Knicks are probably going.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
To be you'd hope that Michel and Og could help
Cat out, right.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Yeah, I think that's going to be the question because Og,
you know where we're familiar with him in Toronto. Injuries
all over his career such part of who he.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
Is, so it's like freakingies. It's like the most random
injuries were ever to hear about.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
You know, every single time. So it's like I think
that's going to be a big thing for them because
they don't have the depth of that forward position. I
think they're going to be a team where guys want
to go play with them because I think that having
someone like Brunson and Kat as your two anchors offensively,
the role players and minimum guys and that are minimum
guys are going to want to join them. So I
think in that way they're going to pick up some pieces.
(16:25):
But those are the teams that I thought about from
last year. Now we're going to look forward. Okay, I
got five teams for you that I'm focused on personally.
I know everyone has their own team and all. Okay,
see fans, let me hear tired of hearing that. But
number one for me is the Dallas Mavericks. To me,
probably the most underrated team right now. They made the finals.
Luca is an MVP favorite basically every season. They added
(16:47):
Klay Thompson, added Naji Marshall, PJ. Washington, and Gafford for
a full season now. But a lot of people are
not picking them to go as far this year. What
am I missing about that? Because I think all the
ingredients are there, but people are not taking them to
go as far.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
I'll be honest, I'm a bit down on them, but
I see your point, like, to me, I'm just not
sure how much Clay still has in the tank. That's
my biggest concern, And say, okay, but Luca's gonna make
everyone look amazing on the floor, Like this is gonna
be the most open shots Clay Poby gets in the
last five years. That's what I think so and what
(17:22):
I love about what Dallas is doing, especially when you
look at the last few years, Dallas Boston seems like
a pattern. Like a lot of these teams go all in, right,
they go and they get guys that know will fit
with Luca and will help them chase a championship, and
they'll be willing to trade whatever. Like Boston traded for
Drew Holliday, they traded for Kris Stabs to help solve
them right, and then for Luca, they traded PJ Washington.
They shared a bunch of picks for that, they got Kyrie,
(17:44):
they got another bunt hunter to help out Luca. And
then now you have Lob Threats with Derek Lively Gafford.
So that team is kind of fit fits perfectly. You
just gotta hope they stay healthy.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Yeah, to me, they would be one of my choices
to go to the finals, well, they also get to
that at the end. But I think why I believe
in them so much is the Luca factor. There are
really four guys in the league for me that you
can guarantee you're gonna have a good playoff game every
time they're on the court, injury, no matter what's going on,
they're gonna have a good game. I think it's Giannis, Jokic,
(18:15):
Lebron and Luca. Basically everybody else is like, I hope
you're feeling good today, you know. And I think when.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
You have forget about Shae Man, shaes on that list.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
She doesn't have the reps, of course, but Shay would
be the kind of the honorable mention on that list.
But I think if you have one of those guys,
you got a shot to win it all unless you
have a stacked team, of course. So that's kind of
why I believe in Dallas a lot.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
One of the other.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Teams on my teams to watch is the Milwaukee Bucks.
We were all hype last year when they got Damian Lillard.
Listening back to some of those podcasts, seeing some of
those stories, it felt like it was four years ago
when everyone wrote this team's gonna win sixty games, They're
gonna have the best offense, and in the end, they
didn't have a horrible season from a winstand point. Agent
(19:00):
different probably has the best winning percentage of any coach
that's ever been fired. But the narrative just saw like
there's such a negative on that team and they really struggled.
And when I told you I was watching back some
old clips from the last year's playoffs, one that set
out to me was Chris Middleton once Dane was injured
in when now Chris Middleton stepped up in a huge way.
I think he had thirty eight in that Game three
or Game four. So seeing that he still has that
(19:22):
gear in the playoffs, I believe them a little bit more.
How do you feel about them and their chances going
back to the finals ultimately winning another one?
Speaker 3 (19:30):
To me, they have to be one of the favorites
in that mix with the top three teams. Maybe maybe
I've put them four. Like to me, the East kind
of looks like it's Boston, it's New York, it's Philly,
and it's Milwaukee. Those are the four teams. I'm just
concerned about the age of that roster man Brook Lopez
even like you mentioned Chris Milton played well, but like
he's agent also even And what I was really concerned
(19:54):
about was when I think Dame and Giannis talked about
they didn't really work out together this summer. Yeah, and
that's supposed to be your most important partnership that carries
you to the finals, right, Yeah, so my big concern
is just how is that partnership going to work? Are
they going to get the reps and they're supposed to
be the most lethal pick and roll duo. They haven't
seen it yet, hasn't become hasn't like, hasn't showed it
(20:16):
out yet. So yeah, it's it's going to be interesting,
but they're they're definitely up their least.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
I think for me, the two things I want to
see is their guard defense. Gary Trent, I think, you know, yeah,
he's not that guy to guard the best defender in
a way that Drew Holliday or Derek White can. Like,
he hasn't shown that in his career yet. But I
think it's going to come from Dame. I've always said,
like when the worst defenders on your team buy in
and put the effort in, you see the team defense
go to great heights and The example has always been
(20:42):
Steph Curry. You know, there was times in those finals
when they would switch on him and he would be
ready for that matchup and he might still you know,
get blown by or bodied, but he was ready for that.
And I think Dave need to kind of embody some
of that and be ready on the defensive end. He
said it, you know that he wants to do that.
He said he's ready for that. Obviously, we got to
see if it actually happens.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
He's also aging too, no.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
And that's the thing is like aging in this era
in the NBA is such an odd thing because I
think about how many players we have who are some
of the best players in the league in their early thirties,
mid thirties. The Jimmy Butler is the Steph Curry's the
Kevin Durance. So it's like, will Dame be you know,
like a Steph Curry, like the Kevin Durant still good
in his mid thirties, or will he be more like
(21:25):
a Chris Paul.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Yeah, it's interesting to see. Philly is the other team
there was the thirteen. I'm really trying to watch.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
I don't want to root for them, but hey man,
that they're intriguing.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
They are intriguing.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
I will say this, they kind of have a caveat
to me because I don't really believe in Joelle as
their leader. He gives me like he's more kind of
an introverted guy, not really that guy to lead a team,
especially on the floor. But they have the talent, like
I think one to ten, like maybe one of the
deepest teams in the league. What do you see for
them this year? Because they're going to be just judged
(21:59):
off what they do in the player exactly.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
For me, regular seasons should not matter at all. Play
Joel Embiid maybe fifty minutes, fifty games max. He should
just be getting ready. Who cares about most of the
most MVP ward who cares about that damn award? Let
Tire's Maxi Paul George gets you to the finish line,
gets you to the playoffs, and Joe and Bid this is
the time you've had stinkers in the playoffs. Just be real.
(22:21):
This is your opportunity to show why you consider yourself
the best player in the world. So it's just gonna
be a like, we don't care about regular season, no momore,
especially with the Philadelphia team, so joean Bee's gonna have
to show in the playoffs and that's the only thing
that matters. Like the amount of jokes I've seen, like, hey,
this person made it to the first NBA finals before Joel.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
And that's pretty funny, right.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
It's like what it's like people getting rings. People that
you didn't expect to get married have a ring before
Joel Embiid. Like he needs to dead those talks. He
needs to be that guy in the playoffs and be dominant.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
I think at least we need to see that it's
not his reason why they don't go far. I think
that's the main thing why I compare to the Harden
in the past, is that a lot of the top players,
we kind of give them, you know, a leeway when
they don't make it far of circumstances.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Things happen. It's a small number of guys who are.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Balling out for the whole series and when the team loses,
are like it wasn't their falls.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
You know. Luca has been one of those guys.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
But a lot of the top guys sometimes in the
playoffs they can't perform. Joel Embiid has been, you know,
sometimes great games like the two point game he had
last playoffs or some stinkers like in that game six.
So I think we're gonna see kind of what he's
really made up. He has the talent around him now
where there's really no excuse at all.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
That's what I want to see, just a playoffs with
no excuse. He's healthy full time. There's no like eye
problem with him, there's no like him getting like elbowed
or rapidly by passcal Siakam, Like, I just want to
see a full playoff where there's no no excuses.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Right, yeah, yeah. My one reason why they will do
well is a Kyle Larer factor. You know, Kyle lor retrust,
So just having that literaly from Kyle maybe that takes
them to another level. But personally, I'm not gonna lie.
They're not on my believe list. I'm choosing them to
not make it to the finals. This team also underrated.
(24:09):
I don't know if I believe in them, but I
want to give them their credit because they actually haven't
cheated them stuff. That's the Indiana Pacers Eastern Crawfords Finals
last year, NBA Cup Finals last year as well. But
you know, Tyres Taliburton had a great start to the season. Pascal,
NBA champion, joins the team. We saw a bunch of
their role guys played great, so you know they should
(24:32):
be on the up. They have a bunch of young
role guys who are only getting better. They have an
NBA champion also our All NBA player in Pascal joining them.
So why are we not believing in them? Because you know,
they showed they can win. They added this new start
to their team, a bunch of up you know, young
guys coming up. Why is this team not in the
top four for everyone? Because I think if you know
(24:53):
you're looking objectively, they've kind of showed that they've done
what it takes to be in that top four.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
I think the biggest concern with Dumb is they love
to score. They don't play any defense. Yeah, they just
you will see them score one hundred to twenty and
you check the scoreboard out like if you're betting, that's
the team you go over on. But everything they also
allow one to thirty every night, yeap. So it's just
it's just like and then you wonder, like in the playoffs,
who's your best defender? Pascal siakamm Hard Maybe he's their guy.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
But you're right.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
That's their issue is Miles Turner is basically an offensive
player now, which I never thought I would say that.
So defensively, I don't know if I believe in them,
but I still was surprised that they've made it as
far as they did.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
Of course, injuries played a huge part is.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
That, but nothing has to change, like their identity of
running the floor, that kind of stuff. It's gonna pay
well in the regular season, like they could be a
top cannon to finish the top in the East. Like
I don't won't be surprised if that happens. I just
when it gets the playoffs seasons where you're playing half
court basketball, can this team actually defend?
Speaker 1 (25:52):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (25:52):
I think that we're gonna have to see, because there's
enough teams in the East this year that are good
that they're gonna have to beat some healthy team, you know,
even going down to Orlando or Cleveland. There's enough decent
teams where it's like you're going to have to defend
at some point.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
So we're going to see, We're going to see. I
want to give them their.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
Credit though, because listen, a big swing in the small
market Eastern Conference finals, how many teams, you know, would
want that to be their destiny, adding a former NBA champion.
So I think this may be the highest they get
in the next few years. If we're being honest, they
could kind of have like a Raptors run of not
(26:32):
making it far them playoffs, putting a lot of regular
season games. So I want to acknowledge this moment right
here where they just made the Eastern Conference Finals. Maybe
maybe the NBA Cup is there this year, the NBA
Cup favorites heading into the season, it might be. Yeah.
The last thing I want to talk about is the
Phoenix Suns. I feel like they've just kind of been
gone by the wayside.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
Yeah, I don't care about them, to be.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
Honest, No, I realized that, and I think that why
I thought of them is, you know, the NBA narratives
like almost like every six months changes course. And I
remember this time last year, people were choosing them to
be a top four team because they took the Nuggets
of six games, and that feels like it happened what
eight years ago now, but it was really just last
season where they Nuggets are six games. They added Bradley
(27:15):
Beil since then added two of the most you know
conservative safe point guards in the league, but still it
seems like nobody cares.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
So is that two years ago?
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Doesn't It doesn't not matter what happened against the Nuggets,
Like where are we with them? Because they have a
ton of talent, they showed they can play, that, they're
adding a new coach who's won a championship before in yep,
so what about them is like we're never going to
turn on them because they could have the best player
in a lot of series.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
They could and they could have probably three best if
you rank it, they probably like those three best will
probably better than any of the three plus players on
other team. Right, Yeah, the depth, they just they just
missing guys like you obviously you have to pay Bradley Beal,
you got to play paid the rant, you got to
pay Booker and like where else is that money? So
I think a lot of what they're banking on right
(28:02):
now is development guys or guys coming up will help
hopefully helped them out. But also just like Bradley Bual's
missed what forty plus games last year? So can this
team actually stay healthy? Durant's agent like we said, and
I'm not I'm never I'm never never want a doubt Durant,
but that team is just I don't know if they
can stay healthy full three. Like we're I watched twenty
(28:23):
straight games of Bradley Bill, Devin Book and Kivandrant play together.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
I think we're asking a lot a lot for that.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
So then what we're supposed to see.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
My suggestion is Badley Bill comes off the bench. I
think it's been so interesting that no one has said that.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
You think he would do You think that would be I.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Don't know if he would do it an ego.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
That's probably the highest paid player to ever come out
of the bench, making fifty million dollars a year. But
I think it's interesting that no one's mentioning it because
when Mellow went to Okay See people brought it up
right away.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
When Westbrook went to LA who brought it up right away.
So to me, I.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
Think this is another one of those situations where had
him come off the bench, the whole team is better,
like Bradley Beal as your lead bench scorer, best bench
player in the NBA right away if you do that, So,
that to me is what I think would would help
fix a lot of their depth issues. It's put Bradley
Beal on the bench, stagger the three guys, because I
(29:16):
think the three of them together, they haven't shown that
that is like absolutely killer where it needs to be
playing all the time. So that's my suggestion, Bradley Beal
off the bench and see how that goes.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
Yeah, I just don't think he'll ever do it. He'll
never he'll never co sign that. I don't think it'd
be a hard sell. He'll ask for trade immediately once
that happens. Yeah, it's just a lot of like those
are the three you paid him, You trade it for him,
like you're gonna have to treat him nice.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
I think that's when I realized that maybe Bradley Beal
isn't the winning player we thought he could be. I
think that we kind of gave him the pass of
it's Washington, it's not his fault. And I think that
on this team, like.
Speaker 3 (29:54):
But lights on when you're playing with Durant, And.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
That's that's the part where I think he's still trying
to kind of prove himself more than I'll do whatever
it takes for the team to win. Because Bradley Beal
should be the glue guy, the hustle guy you know,
you know, Kawhi and Paul George have talked about it
where they loved having the Batoons the Covingtons of the
world because those guys did all the dirty work. Bradley
Beal should be that guy for Booker and KD like
(30:17):
KD shouldn't be gardening the best player like that should
not be happening, and sometimes the other guys aren't two
way players, so it hurts to play them in the
same way. So to me, I think that that would
be helpful to the team, but obviously probably not likely.
But I'm interested in Phoenix this year because again it
was only a year ago. Phoenix was the Minnesota of
this year. Like Minnesota, we're talking Minnesota this year. That
(30:40):
was Phoenix last year. And Durant and Booker are much
more accomplished than anyone on that Minnesota team.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
So maybe something could happen.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
I'm not sure, but I do think that that big
three of Durant, Steph and Lebron they're probably done in
terms of playoff success. Yeah, I want that to not
be true. I want one of them to go far
at some point in the next couple of years. But
doesn't it feel like that's over with for all of them. Like,
do you see any of those teams going far in
the playoffs?
Speaker 3 (31:07):
It's tough. No, I don't, to be honest, And I
think Lebron's fine with that too, if you ask him,
like he has nothing to accomplish left, He's he's gonna
go down, in my opinion, as the second greatest basketball
player of all time. What can you like, There's there's
nothing else for him to do. Kevin Durant too, Like
to me, he's arguably top ten greatest players of all time.
Same with Curry. It's like like there's nothing for them
(31:27):
really to do.
Speaker 1 (31:29):
Their legacy is stamped. I think who needs it the most?
Of their legacy is you're at you think so?
Speaker 2 (31:33):
Like Durant's legacy would benefit the most from another championship,
obviously on a separate team, not with the Warriors. You know,
people love to kind of take those championships away from
him and then late in his career. The other two
guys have a late career championship, you know, it's Stephen
twenty twenty two, Lebron in twenty twenty. If Katie gets one,
I think it helps his career the most. But you're
right to me, he stamped. It doesn't matter, he doesn't
(31:55):
get one like we can talk. Oh, he joined a
seventy two win team. He Kerol drank Durant one of
the greatest scores of all time. Yeah, and I think
his legacy is cemented in the way that he affects
the next generation if they've been paying attention the past
few years the GM survey, Kevin Durant is the players.
Is the player that players are more trying to be,
like emulating their favorite player over Lebron And even though
(32:17):
it may not show it in the All Star voting,
Kevin Durant has a huge impact on the Stars today.
At edwards, we've mentioned Dran's his favorite player. You know,
maybe the future face of the league. Kevin Durrant is
who he's emulating. So I think even though people do
have some hate for him, his legacy is absolutely stamped.
(32:38):
Before we get out of here, we got to get
some predictions. Of course, listen, people, this is not betting advice.
Don't put any money on these predictions, but to be trusted,
to be trusted, I think let's start with MVP. Of course,
we got a bunch of guys in the mix this year.
I feel some voter for TV. I think Yo kicch
they don't want him to get another one. I don't
(32:58):
think that's happening, and I don't think that's happening Jannis.
Speaker 1 (33:02):
I would say it's a long shot, but I don't
think that's happening.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
I think it is probably gonna be between Luca, Shay
and Jason Tatum. Is anyone outside of that three things
gonna win? Or as one of those three guys who
your choice is to win MVP.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
My pick will be shake just Alexander m M and
I think he has the pieces to do it, like
it's to me, honestly, he could have should have won
last year. I think Yo kich is like we're the
m v P, but to me, he wasn't as great
as he was defensively as he was the year prior.
So yeah, for me, I think Shaye Chase my front runner.
I put the whole house on it. I don't bet,
(33:38):
but I if I was a betting guy with that,
with the team just perfectly around him now like Chase
the guy Luca too, you could you can put a
case for.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
I think whoever wins the most games out of those
two guys is gonna get it, Like, whichever one of
these guys wins more games, and I think it's gonna
be Shaane. Okay, see, but I do have kind of
a tough time giving the MVP to someone who we
don't think is the best player in the league. Like
I think we'd agree Shay's top five and top ten
for some, but I don't think anyone would argue sha
is the best player in the league.
Speaker 3 (34:07):
I would argue his top three. To me, it's Yo Kisch. Actually,
i'd probably argue the top four, it's Yo Kich, Giannis Luca,
and I think it's that's my top four.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
I agree with that, but I think that most people
wouldn't make the argument for Shade actually jumping most of
the other guys.
Speaker 3 (34:24):
I think he will. That's that's my case too. I'm like,
I think Shay's about to take that next sleep where
it's like and if he stacks up with the MVP,
he wins a championship. We're soon talking. Okay, this is
Shay's erat.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
I love Shae.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
I don't want to talk bad about Shape, but I
think the size of those other guys will always kind
of standest of time. I think the larger players always
are going to be the more impactful players, and why
someone like Yannis a seven, fo Yo Kic, even Luka,
those guys always just have more impact because of their size.
Shae's an outli already in his career, so I don't
want to supposed to be Yeah, I can't put limits
(34:58):
on that guy at all, but I would love to
see him win another MVP. Of course, we love to
shout out the Canadians m VP like that would be big.
He probably be painting player of all time already, so
the MVP would just stamp it even more.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
So.
Speaker 2 (35:13):
My pick is actually Luca to when MVP. I think
that he's someone who everyone's just penciling and in for MVP,
feels like for four seasons now. Yeah, and I think
that he's getting to the point almost jokicesque, where the
things he's doing are scene as normal.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
Yeah, it's crazy.
Speaker 2 (35:31):
Yeah, Like I realized that, I said, like, this is
kind of if you, Like, he had almost thirty four
points a game last year and when James Harden did it,
it felt like the world was crashing down, and when
Luca does it, it's just like normal, simple, Yeah, so
I think he's my choice for MVP. Let's talk finals. Okay,
this is really what matters. Who's making the finals. Give
(35:52):
me your two teams in the East and your two
teams in the West.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
It's tough. Boston to me's going to be the US
to conference finals, and I will picked them to go
to the finals. It's just trying to figure out who
that second team would be. In the East. I'm gonna
I'm gonna go in New York. Okay, I'm gonna go
in New York. I wanted to say Philly, but I'm not.
I can't say Philly. I can't say Philly.
Speaker 1 (36:17):
Just I'm not gonna argue with that one.
Speaker 3 (36:19):
So I would say Boston, New York. And then I'm
gonna go with Okay C in the West because I'm
very high of them, as you can see, Okay, Ce,
and I will go. I'll go with a rematch. Okay,
see Dallas, Dallas. But I'm picking Okay, see the win. Okay,
see Boston finals, and I'm going with on Okay, see win.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
That I think would be historic, like a team this
young making the finals.
Speaker 3 (36:49):
You know that, I just want I want to have
I want to bet on it too. It's just like,
you know, it's just they're young. That's the biggest thing.
That's the biggest critique we have for them. And the
fact that it's just we're saying they're young and they
can't do it makes me want to bet on it. It
just wants to see it, you know.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
I want to see it too, because this is almost
in sports across the board where the young teams don't
usually win at that level right away, but if they
can be the outliers, Like we're already in an era
of the NBA where things are different. We have had
any repeat champions since the Raptors went in twenty nineteen.
We've only had two teams make the finals more than once.
So this feels like this era is wide open. And
(37:24):
I think if Okay So he could win, that be
part of that.
Speaker 3 (37:26):
And I think chemistry goes a long way. Like those
guys actually like each other, yes, yeah, like they get along.
I'm like, these guys are all doing postgame interviews together,
Like that's going to carry on, you know, So I
pencil them in.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
Okay, I like that in the East, I got Milwaukee
in Boston. I do believe in Giannis if Yannis is healthy.
I think if he's healthy, he's the best player in
the East. In the playoffs, no one has shown they
can stop him. So as long as Giannis is healthy,
I like them going to the finals. In the West,
I got Dallas and Denver in the West Arms finals.
(38:01):
I've been back and forth between like Denver and Dallas.
Denver is the iffy team. You didn't talk about them
much today, but obviously lost KCP Bruce Brown the season before.
Michael Porter has been iffy the last couple of playoffs,
so I am kind of iffy on them. But jokicch right,
So I'm gonna end up choosing Dallas Milwaukee in the final.
I mean Denver Milwaukee in the final. Right now, I'm
(38:25):
really leaning on the best players. That's kind of where
my mentality is is there's a lot of great teams
and a lot of great rosters, but the best players.
Speaker 3 (38:33):
Usually dictate the league.
Speaker 1 (38:35):
Yeah, they're the ones that win.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
And you know, the Olympics was fun, of course seeing
Steph Curry have like one of his best moments ever.
But if you watch the Olympics, ain't nobody guarding Yo Kisch.
That's that's a moral of the story, not one player
on one team from any country could guard Yo Kitsch
and if that continues in the playoffs, I see them
going far. So I got Denver winning it, Denver being
(38:56):
in Milwaukee in the finals, I feel like I'm probably
the only one who has that final. But again, I
love to see the top two guys in the league
that feels like the safe pick to make the finals.
I want to hear what you guys think in the comments,
like who are your teams that are going to win it?
Anyone that we forgot to mention there's so much to
watch this season, Like we didn't talk about a lot
of the stories on the side of course, what's Wemby
(39:18):
gonna be?
Speaker 3 (39:19):
Like, he's he's if I'm if I'm a fantasy, fantasy,
he's my number one pick, number one, He's my number
one pick, number one, crazy, crazy, Chris Paul is going
to get that guy the easiest basket ever.
Speaker 1 (39:32):
Number One's kind of crazy, but I would go number one.
Speaker 3 (39:34):
In the blocks he's going to get man, Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (39:36):
No blocks steals.
Speaker 3 (39:39):
Crazy, But hey, i'm picking, I'm picking. I'm picking.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
I don't know what number one, but he's up there
for me.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
Like, he's one of those players that I can't even
tell you what he's going to be, Like, I'd give
me like eighteen months to decide how I feel about
what he can be, because he could be the best
center we've ever seen, or the best wing.
Speaker 1 (39:56):
He's already one of the best defenders.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
We've ever seen, one of the greatest players of all time.
Speaker 1 (40:00):
He's already in that category.
Speaker 2 (40:01):
So yeah, I want to see what y'all think in
the comments, like who are the players you're excited to
watch the season? And the last but not least, I
wanted to check them out because this is a conscious
for another time midseason we do this again, we'll talk
about them. But the Memphis Grizzlies, I think they were
in that spot before Minnesota got in that spot, So
I'm interested to see what they're gonna do.
Speaker 3 (40:22):
I'm very excited job back and Zachieedy's sending him screens.
He's going to go downhill. He ham it on these people.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
Man, hes like he's in shape.
Speaker 3 (40:30):
He's in shape, man, and he's showing the stroke the
shot man. They can stay healthy, Memphis can stay healthy. Man.
They got some injuries piling up a bit, but hey.
Speaker 2 (40:38):
I'm very, very excited man, as I want to hear
what everyone thinks, like, let us know your final specs. Okay,
the finals. Who's in the East, who's in the West,
who's making it? I kind of feel like neither of
us is going to be correct. I don't know, I
don't know what what gives me that vibe.
Speaker 3 (40:55):
That's why I always hate making predictions because I look
back at it and I'm like, damn, I was way off.
But it's also fun, you know, you know.
Speaker 2 (41:02):
It's it's fun to be wrong sometimes this is the
only time it is. I want to thank everyone for
watching make it this part in the podcast. Of course,
you can find us on Instagram at the Cold Table
live on YouTube at the Cool Table. You can find
me on TikTok at agelsmii dot com. Make sure you
follow everything Lee ban is doing at the Toronto Star
and of course, until next time, know yourself.
Speaker 1 (41:23):
Know you're worth
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