Play-In Pressure & Playoff Fireworks: First-Round Face-Offs!

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
What's good. Everybody is your boy cal game face Lee.

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(00:53):
the Baseline Cali Warrenshaw discussing the hot button topics of
the NBA. And we are finally here last day of
the NBA regular season. That means we are in play
in mode, which then will lead us to playoff mode.
So now it gets really interesting. But let it not

(01:14):
be said and applause to the NBA they're making us
work man, and the Western Conference they made us work right.
They took literally the last day of the NBA regular
season for us to get in totality, the play in
seeds and the playoff seeds to be finalized, for us
to finally get into our conversations. Let me go ahead

(01:35):
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Dot Shaw Sports at net, Big gunipean c my me
and mister Warrenshaw repping out of Fort Lauderville, Florida. What's
good Shaw? Shake them dice baby, Hey, heymen, we're ready
for snake eyes. Now, let's go.

Speaker 2 (01:51):
I'm bringing about the old meme bird man rubbing my
hands together, brother like it's it's it's not time, It's
that time. It's been a lot of long months, a
lot of law sledging through some of the drugs of
the NBA season. But we are here at the play
in and the playoffs are upon us. The baseline is here,
rocket and rolling. We've been on a hot streak ourselves too.
We're playing our best basketball, we're podcasting our best podcast

(02:14):
right now as the playoffs come into it.

Speaker 1 (02:16):
Man, we're peaking at the right time. Brother, and I'm
excited fan. Yeah, absolutely, man. And again, we don't get
to this point without our fans and our listeners, without
our peoples. Man. So again, we want to make sure
that we give the proper shout outs and we give
our flowers to those of you who've been rocking with
us from day one, right, not just day one of

(02:36):
when we first started doing this, but day one of
the but also day one of the regular season, because
it's led to this. Right, whether you are a novice,
whether you're a true fan, or whether you're an NBA pundit,
we are at a place where we all now can
come together and all eyes are fixated on who is
destined to actually get to the NBA Finals, and the

(03:00):
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(03:22):
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(03:43):
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let's get right into the digs of it. It is
play in time right, so over the next couple of days,
the play in Tournament will then finally round out what

(04:26):
should be in totality, the playoff situation that's going to
take place for the East and Western Conferences, respectively. Shall
will start off with the Western Conference play in situation
the number ten Dallas Mavericks. And I can't believe I'm
saying this because it wasn't but a couple of weeks ago.
I was saying how the Phoenix Suns was going to
backdoor their way into this play in situation. Somehow they

(04:50):
backdoored their way out of the play in situation, and
the Dallas Mavericks said, excuse me, let me go ahead
and do what it needs to do. Ten seed they
will be taking on the Sacramento Kings. No. Ironically enough,
the Dallas Mavericks had an opportunity to position themselves to
at least have home court advantage in this nine to

(05:10):
ten matchup. They were not able to win their final
regular season game, which again goes and leads into what
we were talking about before, how the last day of
the NBA regular season was so important for the Western Conference.
Dallas Mavericks now have to travel to Sacramento. Sacramento has
been a very heady team in the second half of
the year, especially since Doug Christy has taken over. What

(05:32):
are expectations for this particular matchup and is it really
predicated on the coming out party for Anthony Davis to
take the reins and figure out a way to get
them passed a pretty decently competitive Sacramentos team. Yeah, I'm
gonna pick up right there.

Speaker 2 (05:49):
Right, I think Dallas is only shot really and this
is a historically type game from Anthony Davis and don't
know if he's capable of delivering that right now, with
his history his injury coming back from what he's been
able to come back from, he has looked amazing. Since
he's been back, he's been impactful and think of the
winning he even hit a game winner, you know, since
his return.

Speaker 1 (06:09):
But he would have to carry so much.

Speaker 2 (06:11):
On his shoulders on the road against the Sacramento team
that had a lot of offensive firepower and they don't
rely necessarily on getting to the room where he's going
to be doing the most of his damage, doing a
lot of riom protection Drozen with that MIDI exactly being
kind of attacking at all three levels and so bonus
you know, yes, on the glass, doing some offensive offensive
rebounding and things on nature, but also doing a little
bit of the mid range jump shooting as well. It

(06:32):
will take a lot for the Dallas Mavericks, I think,
to pull this off, you know, contributions from that Maggie
Marshall and Spencer did we and the like.

Speaker 1 (06:39):
They'll all have to have really plus games.

Speaker 2 (06:40):
But Sacramento has been a little Jeklin Hyde as we know,
so I guess we can't put anything past them to
maybe kind of give it away, but this should be
a game Sacramento ultimately wins when all this said had done.

Speaker 1 (06:52):
I wish that this was the game that I would
be like, man, I would love to see Klay Thompson
come out and do some things, but that's just not happened, right,
I think, more than ever, when you've got that kind
of championship, how do you say cache right in an

(07:12):
Anthony Davis, in a Klay Thompson and whatever other veterans
that are there. I wish Jason Kidd could have the
confidence to say, I don't want to just only put
it on Anthony Davis's shoulder. But with that being said, Shaw,
I think the only way that the Dallas Mavericks win
this game is they have to make this about as

(07:33):
ugly a basketball game as you could possibly imagine, They're
gonna have to be physical. And it's not that they
don't have the capabilities to do that because when you
really look at the Sacramento Kings. In no disrespect to
the Sacramento Kings, because from a talent perspective, they to
me are the better team, but they can also get
muddled up. Right, They're to me too much of a

(07:55):
finesse team. I think you need to have a level
of physicality that will allow you to be able to
open up the floor the way that it's necessary. I
don't know if maybe maybe Doug Christy can be that
guy can influence that, but I think the starter for
that to me is Demonta Savonus. He has to make

(08:17):
a statement. He's got to get physical with Anthony Davis.
He's got to make Anthony Davis look like he is
not one hundred percent and essentially compromise at his role
at his position. But if the Dallas Mavericks figure out
a way to be physical with the Sacramento Kings, they
may actually have a chance. But they cannot allow this
to be an up and down game. They can't allow
this to be a game where Zach Levine and company

(08:40):
just get off their shot the way that they want
to and just shoot and jack shots up get anything
that they want. The Dallas Mavericks have to figure out
a way to be physical from not just the defensive
side of the ball, but also slow down the Sacramento
Kings to give themselves a chance.

Speaker 2 (08:54):
Yeah, I mean, you bring up great points, right, So
this is why they brought Max Christian, Like, he's not
just a Bison and he's there to try to play defense.
So if you get the combination of Christy, PJ. Washington,
and Ad kind of going out there switching defenders and
trying to muck things up, maybe you can slow the
pace down enough. I just think Sacramento has so much firepower.
Didn't even talk about Malik Monk and what he brings

(09:15):
to the table on a regular basis, especially in big
game situations, like he's been able to perform in playoff situations.
You know, previous of this as well too, So it
really is a classic case of supreme level offense. Sacramento
Kings are like eighth offensively. You know, when the defense
that the Dallas Mavericks are trying to curate now obviously
bolstered by Anthony Davis, Jason Kidd is going to have
to scheme a hell out of this from a defensive

(09:36):
side standpoint to slow down Sacramento's high point in offense
and Sacramento's ability to rebound, especially with the bonus in
the middle. And remember they also add to Valentiunas you know,
for that size, and while we don't see a lot
of Valentinis si Bonus minutes together, they will always have
somebody who's big and or rebound capable on the floor
now with Valentunas into too. So that's why I'm leaning

(09:56):
heavily towards Sacramento, and I still think it's better for
Dallas his long term future to enter the lottery anyway
and not say that they're tanking, because they clearly are not.

Speaker 1 (10:06):
But I think we I hope, even if they wanted to,
the Phoenix Suns figured out a way to mess that
up so you won't keep the kicking digging on the grave.
But they're gone, Brother, we don't need to talk about it.
We talk about maybe I'm just maybe I'm just I'm
just maybe I'm just a little antsy about my about
my about my autopsyne I didn't Maybe I didn't bury
him enough.

Speaker 2 (10:27):
I see you itching, But like what I'm saying is
like I do well, I'd love to see a vintage
performance from Anthony Davis, you know. I think that would
also give the the mause Faithful some hope. And it's like,
all right, well, you know, look what this guy could
potentially do. And if they get that and it ends in
the win, great, but if it if it comes in
a loss, you know, the lottery isn't the worst thing

(10:48):
in the world, I think for them and for this
rest of this team to get some rest and try
to get healthy for what for what next season, because
even if they get in, they're they're not making a
long run here no matter what.

Speaker 1 (10:56):
All right, So to me, it sounds like your prediction
is Sacramento will wind up winning that first playing game,
which then means that they would essentially wind up playing
the loser of the seven to eight matchup. Right, So
we'll get into that in a moment, right as far
as our predictions go, But now we can focus our
attention to the seven to eight situation, and the Golden

(11:17):
State Warriors had an opportunity to not be in this
playing situation, the unfortunately lost their last regular season game
and it took an overtime victory, So it's kind of
a double whammye Right. When we're talking about what took
place for the Golden State Warriors, one of the things
that really concerns me is the fact that if you

(11:38):
ask the Golden State Warriors, the team that you do
not want to play against is ultimately the Memphis Grizzlies, right.
And it's not because the Memphis Grizzlies are not a
team from a matchup perspective. They can go and do
what the Warriors have been able to do since they've
gotten Jimmy Butler. It's just that the Memphis Grizzlies seemed

(11:59):
to be always in the Golden State Warriors' way in
anything that they try to do, anything they're trying to achieve,
relitigate the dynastic days of the Golden State Warriors. Who's
up there to upset the apple cart? The Memphis Grizzlies.
And now that you have a healthy or should be
a healthy John Morant, you're gonna make this road for

(12:20):
the Golden State Warrior. They're gonna make them work for it,
you know, And I'm just more interested on what is
it going to take because now we have two very
different storylines. When we talk about the Golden State Warriors.
Do we want this to be about the Jimmy Butler
playoff Jimmy Butler or do we want this about about
this you know, are you know twenty fourteen to twenty

(12:43):
twenty eighteen, you know, Steph Curry esque type situation. I
don't think to can function at the same time for
the Golden State Warriors, for them to do what's necessary,
especially in this series against the Memphis Grizzlies, and I'm
presuming that they're going to prevent one or the other
from thriving like that in this type of matchup.

Speaker 2 (13:01):
Yeah, Memphis has a lot of size and they have
a lot of players that they can throw at this.
But remember they're also in a situation with a with
a another kind of rookie head coach, if you will,
going into his first playoffs, and I don't think that
can be underestimated, especially on the road, you know, in
the play in situation. So while the Grizzlies the theoretically
will have two chances at it, you know, and be

(13:23):
able to potentially say face if they were to lose.
You know, it's a hard ask, I think, to go
against the generational talent of Stephen Curry and what is
also we know as playoffs Jimmy Butler, you know, in
this situation. But again, the Grizzlies have the horses they have,
they have the defensive capability to make a game tough
for Golden State. I just think it's a matter of

(13:44):
the veteran presidence that Golden State has. We saw Jimmy
Butler play like that guy, like that heat guy. We
saw him play in Game eighty two versus Clippers that
ultimately to end up in an overtime loss that sent
them into play anyway. But there were waves of Jimmy
playing that way. But what is not known at this
time at BARBA recording is how bad he bangles with
Kawhi towards the end of that game. And how bad
is that going to be? Is that going to limit

(14:05):
him you know when the playing comes against the Memphis
Grizzies too. So those are a couple of big stories
to kind of watch in this situation. But I think
this is going to be a really fun matchup and
it's probably my favorite matchup of all the plays that
we have so far in the first round.

Speaker 1 (14:17):
Give me your X factor player. My X factor player
that I think people are not going to be talking about,
but I think will have a very very big impact
on the momentum of this particular game. Desmond Bane. I
think if Desmond Baine finds his shot and John Morant
doesn't have to lean heavily in being the aggressive John Morant.

(14:39):
And I'm not saying that John Morant can't take over
a game. As a matter of fact, I would love
to see him go out there and take over a
game because it'll be interesting to see how Steve Kerr
will throw out whatever bodies he can to find the
best matchup possible. I often sometimes think that Steve Kerr
does not do enough from the defensive side of things
in order to produce the best matchup possible to give
the Warriors a chance, because he leans so heavily on

(15:01):
what kind of offensive weapons they have at their disposal.
But you've got Moses Movie Moody, You've got Gary Payton Junior,
you got a bunch of guys. I think you have
to be very strict and diligent in who you deploy
and who you expand your resources on because if you
tend to put the least best matchup that Desmond Bane

(15:23):
can get off on. I think he is the bat
breaker for the Golden State Warriors. I think he has
the good He has just the right combination of physical
strength and also shot making ability that can counter the
idea that you're only gonna be fixated on John Morant
and Jaron Jackson junior and what he does, and don't
let me get get started about the Jaron Jackson Junior thing.

(15:44):
I think that he could be the Achilles Heel for
the Golden for the Memphis Grizzlies if he's all he's
gonna do is camp out there or shoot damn three
point shots and not become some kind of a presence
in the post. I'm not saying he's got to take shots,
but he has got to rebound the basketball. And you've
seen him over the last couple of weeks, Shaw, he
has just been hanging around the three point line, and
that is just inexcusable now, especially in a situation where

(16:08):
the Golden State Warriors will give you the ability to
be a dominant presence down there in the blocks. If
the only Pierson you're gonna worry about. Is Draymond Green
being on you.

Speaker 2 (16:17):
I mean, I think to a lesser degree it's that's
maybe under something as Ali like Draymond Green is something
to worry about.

Speaker 1 (16:24):
No, no, he is, that will be. But but what
I'm saying is is Jaren Jackson has got to inject
himself in the fray and force Draymond to overplay and
be over aggressive. If all Draymond's gonna do is sit
there and watch Jaron Jackson Junior shoot shoot three point shots,
he can be so much more of a menace to

(16:44):
everyone else out there because Jaren is not putting himself
in the position that allows his height and his size
to be a uh the.

Speaker 2 (16:53):
Thing, I don't think that Jaren can stand Draymond up
in the post. And what's worse though, is that where
when Jaren is Jaren doesn't do a lot of straight
post ups. So but he does do some ball fake
and two dribbles, you know, try to slither into the paint,
and he's a little awkward, Like the finishes look weird,
and I think that could be problematic against Draymond as
well too. Like I don't really love the Jaron Jackson

(17:15):
Draymond situation for Memphis at all, because I think Jaren
can very easily be taken out of the series but offensively.
But where he can help is if he is getting
offensive rebounds, which he doesn't technically do, but also being
a plus defender, which we know he can be on
the other side of the basketball, if he can be
that rim deterrent and not ball you know, jump on
Jimmy Butler's ball fix as he's coming and slashing into

(17:36):
the lane.

Speaker 1 (17:37):
That's where he can have a significant impact in.

Speaker 2 (17:39):
This one game scenario against a very, very tough veteran
Golden State roster.

Speaker 1 (17:43):
I agree with you.

Speaker 2 (17:44):
I think Jared Jackson for me, is the X factor
in terms of what he's able to do on both
sides of the basketball. Does he get baited, you know,
into drives and getting stripped and getting the ball slapped
off his knee or getting stood up in the posts,
you know against Draymond, or again, does he end up
having a hot shooting game because those options are not
attractive and he ends up camping out as you're alluding to,
and then maybe he's his shot us on that night

(18:05):
and it started to work, and then Dremond now has
to vacate the paint because he's got to go out.

Speaker 1 (18:10):
There and respect that.

Speaker 2 (18:11):
Those are all things that I'm really interested to see
kind of in this first round again, you know, especially
with the rookie head coach kind of in play, John
Moran still battling some nagging injuries. But they do have
some other guys, you know, For me, the Memphis Grizzlies
have the most amount or like kind of quote air
quote random guys who could get high and be like, oh,
where did that come from?

Speaker 1 (18:30):
Like it could be Scotti, Pippa Jr.

Speaker 2 (18:32):
It could be Santae al Domo or whatever the case,
being like, ah, I can't believe we lost because those
guys got high, But they've all have done that throughout
the course of the season. Whereas Golden State, you know,
it's driven by what Curry does and what Butler does
period the end.

Speaker 1 (18:43):
Do you think it was concerning to see Steve Kerr
not even play Jonathan Kaminga in that game? Right? Why
are you throwing that out of you? For me? Brother,
I'm just saying, like you know, I'm would we be
remiss not bringing that up? And I'm saying maybe you
probably saying, please cal don't bring that not that up
because you know what I'm gonna do. You know what

(19:05):
I'm saying, but listen, we gotta do it.

Speaker 2 (19:08):
So I I myself was surprised he didn't play in
that matchup against the clip like that's that was a
little strange. But they are also saying that it just
it just wasn't it hasn't been working.

Speaker 1 (19:19):
I think in a.

Speaker 2 (19:20):
One game scenario, we will probably see kaming I can't
imagine that he benches them Jason Tatum style, you know,
in the Olympics here and just says, you know what, No,
I'm not gonna go to this, especially with the way
Memphis can kind of throw different different size and and
and and types of players at them throughout the course
of a forty eight minute game. I think kaminga will
get some minutes in that situation, especially if Butler is

(19:40):
hobbled it anyway, But I don't know how much of
an impact you'll have, you know, in that one game.

Speaker 1 (19:44):
I'm gonna say this, seaw and and listen, I completely Actually,
I feel you were being very light on the situation.
I think you probably have more that you really want
to say, but maybe you're just reserving yourself for you know,
I don't want to be the horse, but but I'm
gonna say this. I think it is concerning to see
that in a situation where you had an opportunity. And
I'm putting this on Steve Kerr as much as I

(20:04):
respect and I love Steve Kerr as a head coach,
and he has done so much, he's revered, he's up there, right.
This is sometimes the thing that drives me nuts about him.
This is a one game situation that you have an
opportunity to not have to play an extra one or
two basketball games in a playoff run, right, and you

(20:25):
can clearly see that some things are not working right.
I don't care you empty out the tank. You've got
available bodies. You use that opportunity where you can and
whenever possible. I understand that you're trying to stay within
the you know, within the white line, so to speak,
on how you doing it. But there is an able
body player who is produced for you, right, and you

(20:47):
have not figured out a way to get him out there.
That's on you, because now what you've done is you
actually hindered his confidence. You're just gonna throw him out
there in a situation, well, because you think it's the
Memphis Grizzlies. Sometimes it just doesn't work like that. John, Again,
when I see things like that, it irks me because
it's not so much about the player, but it's about
how you're utilizing the player. And in this situation, there

(21:09):
was an opportunity in that game against the Clippers. I
don't even care if it's only but a minute or
two minutes. You get him out there, because you know,
you need something to put yourself in any position possible
to not have to lose that game in which they
wound up losing it. And now they've been to play
in situation I'm gonna listen, we gotta move on. But
I will I agree with you.

Speaker 2 (21:29):
I think you made an excellent point in the aspect
of Kaminga's confidence now going into what is a play
playoff basically scenario for them. He's going in there with
the lowest amount of confidence and they played fifty three
and they do this.

Speaker 1 (21:43):
They've been doing this now for how long he's been
in one minute of that, they've been doing this last
where that's gonna come back to potentially bite them, you know,
in the proverbial. But I will say this last thing, though,
I don't know how, I don't.

Speaker 2 (21:53):
Know how much long for this roster or this rotation
minutes is Buddy Healed because he has been god awful.
You've seen Kerr even talking to him about some decisions
he's made. You've heard seen Currie talking to Healed about.

Speaker 1 (22:05):
Some of the decisions he's made.

Speaker 2 (22:07):
You know, Healed might be the guy who gets no minutes,
you know when that playing game against Memphis and maybe
coming and can take those minutes.

Speaker 1 (22:13):
That from there, it'll be interesting to see your tune
to the baseline Calie Warrenshaw discussing the hot button topics
of the NBA. Coming up, we will focus our attention
to the Eastern Conference playing situation. Got some nice matchups happening,
you don't want to miss it. Here on the baseline,

(22:39):
we are back, Callie Warrenshaw Baseline NBA Podcast. Time to
focus our attention now to the Eastern Conference playing situation.
We have the ten seeded Miami Heat and the nine
seeded Chicago Bulls, both teams under five hundred basketball struggled
down the stretch, and as much as it was the

(23:01):
rest of the other teams are just that bad that
it just basically left them as the last two standing
for the play in situation. You gotta wonder, though, when
you look at this matchup Shaw, is it a matter
of rooting for less to get more or getting more
out of what has been has been much less in

(23:21):
this particular matchup. I don't know where to go with this.
It has a lot to be desired.

Speaker 2 (23:26):
But I think at this point the Bulls and the
Hawks are in the heat, I guess to another degree,
and again they are playing veterans. I think at this stage,
like the Eastern Conference tournament can be named after them
in some sort of you know, form of fashion. Bulls
end up with home court advantage in this situation, so
that's not something that they've often had, you know, when
it comes to the play in conversation, and they are

(23:47):
going against a team, a heat team that I wouldn't
say it has figured it out, but they've played better
than obviously the ten game losing street that I was
bearing them, you know, roughly two and a half weeks ago.
You know, they ended up winning I think seven out
of their last ten or you know, or maybe six
out of their last ten, you know, just a little
bit over five hundred and they have some sembilats more
of an of an identity I was on serious intent.

Speaker 1 (24:08):
I'm recently talking about this team, this Heat team specifically, and.

Speaker 2 (24:12):
I trust Eric Spulsion in a one game scenario, and
I think that's really the difference maker here too. I
think the talent holistically is even Miami has traditionally, I
don't know, they're not always great when they have that
kind of this flat delineation like Tyler hero Ban, Addebayo
Andrew Wiggins, Like there's I guess who's really is the alpha,
and you don't really know who's gonna take the reins

(24:33):
of the situation from there. But that's where I think
they can rely on their defensive principles and obviously the
scheming of Spolstra to potentially get them through a matchup
with the Chicago Bulls team that they didn't expect themselves
to be here as well too, despite the excellent play
of Kobe White, Bussellis and Giddy. I think more specifically,
you know a lot of stretch of this game, but
I think it's going to be a fun one. I
don't think this is going to be a blot in
any way. Heat on the road, they don't usually have

(24:55):
to deal with that part of the situation. So Chicago
has a lot going for them. But you know again,
Spostra first, Donovan I leads to swell in matt most
days out of most hundred times out of run.

Speaker 1 (25:05):
Look, the Bulls have beaten the Heat the last two
games and all have been within the last month. Right literally,
I think if if we're talking about, you know, revisionist history,
who who want to you know what I'm saying, revise
this history, like right now for if you're the if
you're in the Miami Heat, this is a great opportunity

(25:26):
for you to right the wrongs and the actuality. Look,
the Bulls took three or four you know in this
series of them. So here's my thing. I think the
better well rounded team is the Chicago Bulls. The team
that to me has the better opportunity where the coming
out party needs to happen is with the Miami Heat.
This needs to be Tyler Heroes coming out party. Bro

(25:47):
Like seriously, like, I think we've waited way, way, way
too long. Like, I know you know what you're getting
with Bam out of Bayue. You already know what you're getting.
I think this is an opportunity to your point about
how Eric Spolstraw manipula roster to get them over quote
unquote the proverbial hump. Right, you do what's necessary, put
yourself in that position. All you want to do is

(26:08):
give yourself a chance. Who none better to roll the
dice than you have with Eric Spolstra. It's kind of
tough because Billy Donovan is a heady guy and you're winning, Like, man,
I would love to see Billy Donovan actually win on
the side of this, right, Like he's still that dude
sort of speak right my whole thing, though, again, Tyler
Herro's got to be that dude. He has the opportunity

(26:30):
here for him to say, this is my team, this
is all of the hooplah and everything that happened all
the way going back to the trade deadline with the
Jimmy Butler thing or whatever the case may be. You've
maligned me going back from almost a year and a
half two years now not giving me the respect I deserve.
If there's ever a time now where he has that
opportunity for him to put himself in the hat to say,

(26:51):
you know, I deserve the same kind of respect that
you're gonna start giving all of these other quote unquote
potential stars in the in the game. This needs to
happen because if you're the Miami Heat, the Miami Heat
is gonna be a good team, no doubt. You're gonna
have Eric s Bostra, but you need a star. You
need a guy to come in and just take over,
like literally sim well.

Speaker 2 (27:13):
So I think it's interesting because that was kind of
my point where with Miami, where like, I know you're
looking for it to be Hero, but I think it
can be Hero, it could be bam And and in theory,
it could be Andrew Wiggins. While that sounds crazy, but
Wiggins has played really good basketball. He's been kind of
a one A for them since coming over there, since
in the Jimmy Butler deal. He's had a couple forty point,
you know games and has really looked like, hey, I

(27:35):
can I can showlder the load. I think at times,
I think if you're looking at the two rosters and
if you were closing your eyes or even for the
beginning of the season, right, who's more likely to have
a bad game in a in a situation like this
with the lead with the league guy and Kobe White,
or Tyler Hero, and I think most people would say
Kobe White probably might shrink in that in that in
that scenario, the difference is if if Tylly Hero were

(27:58):
to shrink, Bam and Wiggins are still there. I think Offensively,
I don't think most people are looking at the Bulls
saying it's like, all right, well, Boots is going to
lead them to a win or baselsis or giddy is. Offensively,
they don't really have somebody that you trust like that offensively,
especially Booch being guarded by Bama on the other side
of the basketball. That's where it's just like, wow, you know,
in a one game scenario, as far as bad as

(28:20):
Mimmy has played, I would have to lean towards them
a little bit because I think they have more bites
at the apple to be successful offensively, even if one
guy was off. I trust the other guys and that's
just to be able to get that with the Bulls.
While they've played some sneakily good defense, I don't believe
they're reps. Like I don't believe that this is a good,
solid defensive team right now. So that's where I land

(28:42):
on it. As much as I love to believe in
Chicago and the great buys that they've created since exactly
being trained. I'm just a little bit dubious on their
ability to do this even with home court advantage.

Speaker 1 (28:51):
Yeah. Look, this is the type of game where if
the Chicago Bulls buys into their total team effort, they
have enough able bodies that can can actually fill up
the scoreboard. I think we're to your point. This comes
down to discipline. This comes down to who gets in
who's you know, roster's ear more to do. Not create

(29:12):
those self inflicted wounds that will hurt you because neither
team exhibit the level of whatever mistakes I make can
easily be made up for it. I have enough great players. Now. Again,
this is the opportunity for some guys to kind of
have their moment in the sun. But I think if
it's gonna be maligned by just bad basketball, crazy turnovers,

(29:36):
sloppy play, then you're gonna lean on your head coaches
to figure out a way to get you through this
that normally you would figure out. You would actually lean
on the talent that you have on your roster to
help you get you through this. Your tune to the
baseline Cali Warrenshaw discussing the hot button topics of the NBA.
Let's go ahead and focus on the other playing matchup.

(29:57):
Orlando Magic will be taking on the Alanta Hawks Hawks
traveling to Orlando in that seven to eight matchup. I
really wish man Orlando Magic was just fully healthy. I
felt like, man, this was their year for them to
be a dangerous team, and they are. Let's not get
it twisted. I do think that a lot of people
might lean to the idea that the Atlanta Hawks have

(30:19):
as good a chance as any and maybe this might
actually be a bad matchup for the Magic. But I
think from a defensive perspective, the Orlando Magic has the
bodies and they also have the talent to not just
stop but also box the Atlanta Hawks. What do you
think about this particular matchup shot, I find it as
intriguing because I don't think people are truly respecting the

(30:40):
potential that you get with the Polo Bonchero and Wagner combination. Listen,
I'm there for it to see them possibly play either
the Cavaliers or to take on the Celtics. This could
be a great opportunity for them to do so. I'm
sure they don't want to play the Cavaliers though a
second time, a second year around.

Speaker 2 (30:57):
So yeah, I mean with their defense, that's no matter.
With all the interesting they had, they still manage to
have a top two defense this year, like that is
something to really hang.

Speaker 1 (31:09):
Your hat on. Conversely, they're twenty seventh offensively, and so
while it hasn't been sexy on that side of the basketball,
Ben Carol and Wagner have been playing pretty good basketball.
You know, for the latter part of the last fifteen
twenty games. Orlando's really kind of turned things around, and
you know, they've they've salvaged what was looking like a really,
really poor season. In a game against Atlanta, Trey Young

(31:30):
would like, you know, everyone kind of rooting against them.
That could be scary, Right.

Speaker 2 (31:34):
He can go into Orlando and maybe he can try
to get off and you know, have one of those
thirty forty point games.

Speaker 1 (31:39):
And fifteen assists or whatever the case of people. Will
that be enough?

Speaker 2 (31:42):
Will he get enough help on the other side of
on that side of the basketball in addition to be
able to stop you know what Ben Caro and Wagner
are providing on the offensive side. I think it's closer
than most people are going to give it credit for
because I think it's very easy to want to just
kind of turn your nose up at what Tree Young
is and who he is. And while we at one
point like he was doing really well the part of
the season got was doing good in the play intern Sorry,

(32:04):
the SOFI Midseason Tournament or whatever the case may be,
Emirates Place, Emirates mid Season Tournament, Apologies, sponsors would kill me.
But you know we're we're we're far removed from that,
right and we're like we've kind of forgotten that. And
now Jillen Johnson has been out and they're kind of
a different team than they were a kind of in
December and January.

Speaker 1 (32:23):
But Orlando is is is a good match for them.

Speaker 2 (32:27):
And I think when you're thinking about it from like
the true like a truly offensive versus defensive kind of approach,
here is what's taking place.

Speaker 1 (32:34):
I'm interested in this one. I think it's gonna be
a lot closer than some people are giving you credit for. Well,
I'm gonna put it like this. I think if the
Orlando Magic don't don't want to see uh Ice Tray
in the in the building, blow them out, just blow
him out just what it, you know, just what it
really needs to come down to. I think that Dyson

(32:54):
Daniels to me, is a is a person you got
to watch out for because he's really been putting up
some pretty impressive numbers over the last few weeks. And obviously,
you know, again the loss of Jalen Johnson. You know,
you can make the argument as well too that you
know what Jamal Moseley needs offensively, losing Jalen Suggs and
his three point shot making ability is going to be
a problem. But again, I just look at what this

(33:17):
team could potentially do and what Mosley has been able
to get from his bench. He's listen, it's not like
you know what, it's what the Memphis Grizzlies have. But
Anthony Black, the Silva and these guys they have come through.
I think there's opportunity there. I'd like to see probably
a little bit more emphasis from the Orlando Magic in

(33:43):
playing a faster pace. I know that they don't probably
want to do that if you're dealing with the Atlanta Hawks,
but I just think they have able bodies and I
think it's going to be vitally important for the rest
of that roster to get easy looks and easy baskets,
and the Atlanta Hawks are very much capable of accommodating that,
so to speak. They're not like one of the best
teams defensively either. So there's opportunities there for Orlando Magic

(34:06):
to get some of their other role players involved to
make things a little bit easier, because I do think
Snyder is going to focus on shutting one of these
guys down and listen, while Boncaro is a great player, right,
he has his moments where he'll go on offensive drafts.
Wagner as well too, So it'll be interesting with this
particular matchup because I do think it's gonna come down

(34:26):
to which role players are going to have that breakout
game to help augment what's been going what's going on
with the star players.

Speaker 2 (34:35):
Yeah, I mean Atlanta they're gonna try to push the pace.
You know, they're one of the I think top five teams,
top six teams in fast break points you know, this season.
What I'm interested is what they do on the other
side of the basketball. As you will dive into, does
Dyson Daniels take the Wagner situation or the Ben Carroll situation,
you know, and then who's left to guard whoever's left,
you know, out of that in a real meaningful way.

Speaker 1 (34:55):
I think it's.

Speaker 2 (34:56):
Probably Dyson Daniels on Wagner and then on Congu trying
to his best job, on n Carroll trying to stay
in front of him. Well, I just don't think Carroll
are sorry a coongu is is that.

Speaker 1 (35:07):
Fleet of foot? You know? Really?

Speaker 2 (35:08):
And I think they're gonna have to send some doubles.
But then you're having forced forcing bank Carroll to be
a playmaker in that situation and find open guys. I
think you send two at him on a regular basis
and see what he does with it from there, unless
and let see if Orlando guys can hit shots.

Speaker 1 (35:22):
What are you doing? What's up? Anthony Black? You know
what I mean? KCP. Yes, you're known for being a shooter,
but you've had your wolves this year.

Speaker 2 (35:28):
I'd rather go down like that if I'm Atlanta as
opposed to in Van Kara and Wagner, you know, drive
and mid range me to death.

Speaker 1 (35:35):
I'm making all those other guys beat me. If I'm Atlanta. Yeah, absolutely, man,
I bet you. Though Snyder is probably looking at the
owner of the GM of Atlanta saying the hell you
move DeAndre Hunter? For damn you, this has been a
perfect game for uh DeAndre Hunter to do some things. Man,
I was I actually would have loved that matchup for

(35:56):
him and Capon.

Speaker 2 (35:57):
Maybe they're not even in this situation, but you know,
if they are, obviously that's somebody else that they can
go to and then another offensive weapon that they'd have
in their in their side.

Speaker 1 (36:04):
Listen, let's not.

Speaker 2 (36:06):
Pooh pooh the aspect of what Karasover has been able
to do offensively. Now, He's not gonna come here and
stop anybody, I think, as you're alluding to. But the
combination you know of Niang and and Lavert has been
pretty solid, you know, especially from they could very much
be an X factor.

Speaker 1 (36:22):
They could be very much an X factor in this
in this scenario, you know, all right, seaw so very quickly,
let's let's run through. Let's run through the tape, right,
who is who is going to have a second bite
at the apple? Per Se? I think you, uh, I
think you would. You had spoken to the fact that

(36:43):
the Kings were going to uh outlast the Mavericks, and
I think you were saying that the Grizzlies, right or
the Warriors. I think you said to grizz.

Speaker 2 (36:56):
I didn't really give it a prediction there, but I
will now I will say I I'm going to lead
on the brilliance of Steph and and Jimmy Butler at home,
you know, in in Golden State to take out Memphis,
leaving Memphis and Sacramento to battle it out for what
we the eight seed. And I'll just preempt that there.
And I think you know Memphis does ultimately get in

(37:16):
as the eight seed. Uh your commental thoughts on how.

Speaker 1 (37:19):
That may shake out. I like it. I want to go.
I want to go Grizzlies taking out the way. Actually,
I'm gonna do that. I think ultimately, I think ultimately
it's gonna come down to where the King's a damn it,
We're gonna see the damn Warriors again. The Warriors will
figure out a way to get into the playoff situation.
But I think the Grizzlies take out the take out

(37:41):
the Warriors. There's just something I don't know, man, There's
something I'm just not trusting about the Golden State Warriors. Man.
This it's it's it's just an inkling with me. I
think you could be right, especially if Jimmy.

Speaker 2 (37:52):
Jimmy is banged up, like if he's not right my
Tuesday or whenever it is they ultimately play, then yeah,
that could be extremely problematic for them, and they shouldn't
be here like they had that game.

Speaker 1 (38:00):
They should have been head exactly. That was my that
was my perspective, all right. And then quickly Bulls Heat.
I think you said it's gonna be heat, right, and
then Magic Hawks. I think you said that the Magic
figure out a way, So.

Speaker 2 (38:14):
Yeah, I mean that's where I'm leaning. So I'm gonna
take the Heat for over the Bulls. I'm gonna take
the Magic over the Hawks, and then I'm going to
take the Hawks.

Speaker 1 (38:22):
Over the Heat. Yeah. I like the Magic over the Heat.
I just don't think that there's enough bodies that that
that supposure can throw. And I think when you're playing
against really good defensive teams. As much as I want
this to be about a Tyler Herro coming out party,
I only meant that for the game against the Bulls
because I just I don't know where you got Atlanta

(38:42):
beating you got Atlanta beating Orlando in Orlando, No, no, no,
I have I have I'm sorry, you're I'm sorry, my bad.
I have the Magic beating the Hawks, right, but then
I have the Hawks outlasting the Heat. Yeah, I I
I just think from a talent perspective, I think the

(39:02):
Hawks will just figure out a way to just beat
the Heat. They may expend it a little bit too
much energy to get themselves in this position and may
not have enoughing to tank to deal with a very
heavy Hawks team or maybe even a very angry Hawks team,
depending on how bad the Magic might beat them. Okay,
that we're free.

Speaker 2 (39:19):
Now, we're all line there and list in the Eastern
Conference West, we have a little bit of FlipTop in
the playing tournament is going to be live. Brother, I
cannot wait to see, cannot wait to see. Hope everybody
is healthy, you know, to be able to give us
the best basketball.

Speaker 1 (39:30):
Absolutely your tune to the baseline, Cali warn't y'all discussing
the hot button topics of the NBA coming up. Time
for us to get into the play in playoff situations.
We're talking about the four to five and the three
six seeded matchups that be taking place in the Eastern
Western conferences, respectively. You don't want to miss out here
on the baseline. We're back, Cali Warrenshaw Baseline NBA Podcasts.

(40:05):
Time now to get right into it, baby, layoffs, playoffs, playoffs.
Time for us to talk playoffs. Man, got some really
really good interesting matchups taking place. Let's start with the
four or five seeds in the East, in the Western
and the Eastern Conferences, respectively. We have the four seeded
Denver Nuggets. They will play hosts for the Los Angeles Clippers.

(40:27):
The Los Angeles Clippers found themselves in the in the
enjoyable situation after winning that last game of the regular season,
putting the Warriors in their play in playing situation. They
wind up traveling to Denver to take on Jokic and
the Denver Nuggets. What are we making about this matchup?
I think listen, man, there's a lot of buzz about

(40:48):
the Los Angeles Clippers. Now. People are like, don't sleep
on the Clippers. You know, this is probably gonna be
the most dangerous team that's gonna be. You know, that's
entered into the playoff situation. It would have been better
to see them in the play in situation. What are
we talking about here or should we continue to lean
back on the fact that, hey, the Nuggets are the Nuggets.
They will again figure out a way to outwill and

(41:09):
outlast and be right in the in the in the
throes of being in the semi in the conference semi
final round situation, regardless of whoever they're going to play
in the first round. Ah.

Speaker 2 (41:23):
I think we have a couple of contenders for probably
some of the best matchups in the first round. And
this is one of those series that I think could
be like, Yo, watch out. It could be an absolute
just juggering out of a slugfest.

Speaker 1 (41:35):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (41:36):
This Clippers team has really kind of come along. Tylu
has just been exactly who we know him to be.
One of the better coaches in the NBA. You know,
I put on on on X earlier, you know, during
the Warriors game, I was like, I need my Zubac
guy to win something, Defensive Player of the Year or
most improved something, because he is absolutely hooping hooping for

(41:56):
this Clippers team.

Speaker 1 (41:58):
Harden is unlocked.

Speaker 2 (41:59):
The best version of uh Kawhi is obviously back to
the Kawhi levels that we've known him to be, you know,
getting his shot looking you know, almost dare I say bouncy,
you know, off on the dribble and you know, still
playing the passing lanes, you know, like you know the
sleuths that he is.

Speaker 1 (42:15):
Uh, this Clippers team is.

Speaker 2 (42:16):
Extremely is dangerous, and I think with the changes going
on in Denver, not that I would ever doubt the
best player in basketball, the Nicola Jokic. I'm just concerned
about their ability to mend. While they have won three
straight since firing Michael Manone, the playoffs are going to
be a lot different than what we've seen here in
the final three games of the regular season. Wat Jamal

(42:37):
Murray as a killer, Michael Porter Junior, all those guys have
the experience.

Speaker 1 (42:40):
You know.

Speaker 2 (42:40):
It gives me a little bit of pause based on
how they close out the season and with all the
turmoil surrounding their front office.

Speaker 1 (42:48):
I've said this before and I'll say this again. Will
the real Michael Porter please stand up if there's ever
an opportunity for Michael Porter Junior to be an X factor.
For the number of times that I've yelped about this
all over the you know, every time we do a podcast,
this is again another chance and another opportunity for him

(43:10):
to be so right now, you can't change his game
his game is what it is. He's not someone that
that that truly takes advantage of smaller players because he
loves to just shoot the basketball. But he has got
to he has got to figure out a way where
his size has to have some kind of an impact
in the game and not just be predicated on the

(43:31):
hot and cold shooting that typically is exhibited. Because if
he's cold, it's it's a rap. It's like having really
one less man on the basketball court because he doesn't
do all of the other things that are necessary for
what his height size actually gives you. And in a
situation like this jaw against the Los Angeles Clippers, which
they're a relatively small team in comparison to the Denver Nuggets.

(43:54):
But it can't only be on joke. Its to be
the big right, it can't just only be on what
he does and how he does things right. And so
I feel like this is again an opportunity where the
Denver front court has a chance to kind of flex
their muscles and exhibit a different style of basketball that
could actually push the Los Angeles Clippers back. To your point,

(44:18):
if Zubac is that guy, he's going to cause problems
for Nicola Jokic. He doesn't necessarily have to stop Yolkic,
but what I'm saying is he's going to force Jokic
to do more than even what's necessary that he's already
been doing. And there just comes a point where what
is the point of the other guys that you've got
on that roster and what you have them out there

(44:40):
for if they're not going to be the kind of
players that are needed for them to get past a
series like this against the Los Angeles Clippers. And to
your point, Shaw, obviously you're betting on Tyron lu to
have the right roster to put the right pieces in
place to force a rookie coach in a playoff situation
to make the those kind of adjustments. Where are we

(45:02):
seeing that scenario play itself out to the advantage of
the Denver Nuggets.

Speaker 2 (45:06):
Yeah, I mean, I think the aspect for the Nuggets
is that the rest of their guys are all veteran
guys in championship laden So can they overcome like whatever
deficiencies you know the new coach has, and this is
in this situation to ultimately match the wits of another
veteran team on the other side in the LA Clippers.
You know, Michael Porter Junior still has. He had a

(45:26):
good season of numbers wise, eighteen and seven, shot over
fifty percent, almost forty percent from three, and I think
sometimes it just it feels like, well, did he do something?
But in some ways it's the it's the aspect of
those numbers still they still they still add up like
they're still there. And while the impact may not be
as rabose as maybe some of us would hope like

(45:47):
they where would they be without that eighteen and seven
and with those levels of efficiency, he's played really good basketball.
In addition to Aaron Gordon Shore in the best three
point percent she's ever shot. So I like Denver's you
know obviously front five from five with Christian Brown as
well too, And then I think then you're like just
dubious about what's happening on the bench. Obviously with Westbrook
and some others, DeAndre Jordan and others kind of coming

(46:07):
into this. The Nuggets is going to be extremely, extremely
top heavy, and those guys are going to play, you know,
thirty eight to forty five minutes a night, you know,
in this tough series against the Clippers.

Speaker 1 (46:17):
But on the other side of it, with Harden, with Kawhi.

Speaker 2 (46:20):
With Norman Powell, Denver's achilles, He'll has been the defense,
and all of those guys can score the basketball. Zoo
is going to sit in the dunker spot, wait for
lobs or catch on the roll, or get offensive rebounds
and put backs. I think the Clippers pose a huge
problem for Denver in Denver's inability to stop all the
Clippers that can ultimately get off.

Speaker 1 (46:41):
Yeah. Well, listen. My final thought on this is the
Clippers need to get to the free throw line, and
they've got the able bodies to be able to do
it right, but they've got to want to get to
the free throw line if they just start getting perimeter happy.
You know, listen, like watching this in this game against
the Golden State Warriors, right, Chris Dunn was on a heater,
and I love that. I love seeing this guy finally

(47:01):
get find a place where he actually can belong. He
can actually be an X factor in this situation. But
it means nothing if the LA Clippers are not going
to make the Denver Nuggets pay. If you allow the
Denver Nuggets to be who they are and play the
way that they want to play, the Clippers are not
going to win this series, so they ultimately have an
advantage by forcing the Denver Nuggets since the Denver Nuggets

(47:22):
have been a very less have been a very less
disciplined defensive team since they won the championship. And it's
not because Kic, you know, is a liability or actually
Jokic's defensive numbers have improved since they've won the championship.
He's literally one of the few people that has actually
improved on that aspect of the basketball where everyone else

(47:43):
is taking a step back. So even as good as
the numbers are for Michael Porter Junior, even as good
as the numbers probably are for the rest Christian Bondar
and all those guys offensively, defensively, that team is taking
a step back. The Clippers have to make the Denver
Nuggets pay for their lack of defensive discipline by getting
those guys in foul trouble. And if the Clippers do that,
they will find an easiest path forward for them to

(48:05):
advance in this series. Well said, brother, and well said,
what'll be gotten next? All right, what are your predictions.

Speaker 2 (48:15):
Seven games? And I'm going to lean against my better judgment.

Speaker 1 (48:21):
I'm going to lean.

Speaker 2 (48:22):
Clippers while I'm still concerned about the health of Kawhi.
I want to stand on my business in general in
terms of like my non disbelief, things have looked different,
you know, and I think all for all the reasons
you just laid out in terms of Denver's even defense,
I'm concerned about their ability to defend in this series throughout.
I think it's gonna be a very very good series
seven games.

Speaker 1 (48:43):
But I'm going to lean La Clippers. If it goes seven,
I go Nuggets. If it goes five or six, I
got Clippers. All right, there you go. All right, let's
go ahead and focus our attentions to the Eastern Conference
four or five matchup, and that's gonna be between the
Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee Bucks. Pacers figured out a
way for them to be the host against the Milwaukee Bucks.

(49:05):
And this one, again is an intriguing matchup. I mean,
you know, I'm old school. I look at this as
more of being a rivalry, right. These teams do not
like each other, and it's apropos because I want to
see some bite in this in this first rounds of
the playoffs, and I like the idea of seeing what
this Milwaukee Bucks team can really do because I don't

(49:27):
think people are giving the respect due for the Indian
paper Indiana Pacers. I think people still look them and
look at them as as as as a as a
paper team sort of speak, because of what they achieved
last year. But I think this is a great platform
that if people don't want to buy into how dangerous
the Indiana Pacers can truly be run over the Milwaukee
Bucks and see what people are going to say about
them now.

Speaker 2 (49:49):
I mean I agree with that in the Indiana Pacers
had an opportunity to catch the next really you know,
they were one game behind them and could have ended
up being the three seed. So they've really turned things
rounds since they're their struggles to begin the year or
where I was, But I was dubious on them to
begin the year and kind of throughout. I still don't
believe them. I still don't think this is a you know.

Speaker 1 (50:07):
Are people.

Speaker 2 (50:10):
I just I'm just not there. And while I respect
what Tyre's Haliburton brings as a game manager and what
he can do to kind of get his guys open, uh,
I just feel like they're going to struggle when it
matters most to defend Doc Rivers, for all his flaws,
has figured things out from Milwaukee. You know, they end
the season, I think, on an eight game winning streak. Yes,
the schedule was kind to them, you know, win that

(50:33):
and we saw that a couple of times for the Bucks.
They stacked up a lot of their wins against some
of the lesser, lesser tiers of the NBA. But you
need to win the games that you're supposed to win,
and you can only be who's in front of you.
But I do think they've figured out a little something
here with their current rotation, even without Dame, who was
not expected to be back here in this first round.
And I think, you know, the the brilliance of Giannis,

(50:54):
coupled by what Brook Lopez is doing, and even guys
like that Conton and Kevin Porter Junior just contributing in
another way in another level, this Bucks team is a
lot more dangerous than I think we were thinking about them,
you know, you know at the midpoint of the season
where especially when they just a lot looked so much
more mortal with Damon Jannison to there's a lot of

(51:15):
pressure off this Bucks team because Dame is not there.
So they have, like they've been playing a lot more free,
with a lot less expectations, and that has resulted in
w's and I think that could that could be problematic
for this Indiana team who's riding prety high themselves.

Speaker 1 (51:27):
Yeah, it's interesting you don't believe in the Indiana Pacers.
I don't know if I if I believe in the
Indie in the Milwaukee Bucks as heavily like. I just
there's just something that is missing about what I'm seeing
from this team in the inconsistency now. I don't know
if it's more about not the players, but more about
the coaching. Maybe I'm just getting kind of tired of

(51:48):
of of of of Doc Rivers and how he can't
hold this momentum that the team typically has because when
they come off of their high, when they lose, they
lose badly, They really lose badly. I just that kind
of fluctuation just doesn't cut it for me. You're either
really good or you're not really good, you know what

(52:10):
I'm saying. And I understand you don't have Damian Lillard.
But at the same time, shaw I would have been
saying the same thing even if they did have Damian Lillard,
because that's just what happens with the Milwaukee Bucks. I
wanted to we were talking about them from the beginning
of the year. If they're you know, if they're that team,
and you know, I know a lot of people are
not talking about them. We've even had guests on who
have spoken about the fact that this could be the

(52:30):
year that people are not speaking about the Bucks, which
makes them the type of team that should make them dangerous.
I just to me, this is the kind of matchup.
This is the kind of series that I think exposes
either we see the ultimate dominance of the Milwaukee Bucks
team and people buying into how dangerous they can be
throughout this playoff run, are we actually are looking at

(52:51):
the demise of what is arguably one of the more
disappointing stretches of runs when you have a good basketball
team like the Milwaukee Bus going all the way back
to what happened to Budenholzer. So to me, if you're
the Milwaukee Bucks, you need to look at this as
like you need to play like this is your championship
series ultimately one because it's the Indiana Pacers, two because

(53:15):
it's the Indiana Pacers. Like there's no excuse for why
Giannis does not go out there and ultimately dominate because
I just to me, this just comes down to, if
you are the Milwaukee Bucks, you cannot get knocked out
of the first round, especially against the Indiana Pacers. Well,
I agree, and we'll see now. Well, Kyle Kuzma is

(53:36):
also made of less. There's a great opportunity for him,
you know, to play for at least playoff level of basketball.
I won't say championship Lebble, but at least playoff level
of basketball.

Speaker 2 (53:44):
And we haven't seen this from him in a minute,
So is he up to the task? Bobbifter is coming
back is no small thing, you know, from you know,
with the drug suspension that he had, and he's been
back and played relatively well in this time as well.
So you know, between that and what they've been able
to get out of aj Green on the perimeter, its
Milwaukee te Bucks team.

Speaker 1 (54:02):
Again, they're they're a little different. They're different than we
expected them to be.

Speaker 2 (54:05):
But I think that makes them maybe even a little
bit more dangerous to the Indiana Pacers team, who who
while they have also been disrespected, they have a lot
of confidence that I think might be slightly misplaced against
this Bucks team.

Speaker 1 (54:17):
But we'll see what happens here. You know, in this
four or five matchup, do you think Doc Rivers unleashes
Kyle Kuzma. I hope not unleashing Kyle Kuzma. I don't
think is good for anybody.

Speaker 2 (54:29):
I think he's got to be able to be in
a space where he's he's doing well on catch and
shoot opportunities, especially on drives from Rannest. So he's got
to be able to knock down that perimeter jumper, but
then also be able to put it on the floor
our same thing, one or two dribbles and then be
able to you know, do a pull up or finish,
you know, with a layup or maybe even over somebody
at time. We need to see some level of aggression

(54:49):
from Kuzma, but not unleashing him where you're featuring him
in any real way. He has to be ready, you know,
kind of as an auxiliary piece to what Milwaukee's doing,
especially if Lopez is going to camp out. Kuzman needs
to be more of a of a cutter and a
slasher and a plush rebounder on the defensive side of
the basketball.

Speaker 1 (55:05):
All right, So what are your predictions who's coming out
in this series.

Speaker 2 (55:09):
Uh, I'm I'm I'm gonna stand up my business again.
I just I just can't get there. In Indiana, I'm
gonna pick the Bucks upset the Pacers and six.

Speaker 1 (55:17):
I got Pacers taking out the Bucks in six fair.

Speaker 2 (55:21):
I mean, that's the right pick. That's the right pick.
I'm just going with my heart. And you know just
how I felt against about Indiana kind of all season.
I will probably pick against them in every single series
series until they are ultimately.

Speaker 1 (55:34):
Looking I hear you, I hear you. I just felt
like the umbutu was singing to you a lot more
your belief of it. You're too to the base. Like
Cali Warris discussing the hot but topics of the NBA
coming up, let's talk them three six seating matchups that's
gonna take place in the Eastern Western Conference, respectively. You
don't want to miss it here in the baseline. We're

(56:04):
back Cali Warrenshaw Baseline NBA podcast, and time for us
to go into the three six matchups in the West
and the Eastern Conference respectively. Let's talk three to six.
The Los Angeles Lakers will play hosts to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
I'm looking at my chops on this one. Man, I
am liking this. Man, there's some unfinished business. So now

(56:28):
I'm actually happy that Luka Donkis is playing with the
Los Angeles Lakers because I want to see Anthony Edwards
and Luka Donkitch going at it. And I know there's
a whole lot more to this series and the matchups
that are going on. But you cannot tell me that
Anthony Edwards has this circle on his calendar that if
they got to that sixth seed and have to play

(56:49):
the Lakers, that he is not ready to put Luka
donkich on a in that spin cycle and and actually
put the Minnesota Timberwolves in that conversation. End up, Hey,
don't get it twisted. This wasn't a you know, an
afterthought of what we did last year. We're here to
We're here to close the deal, like we're gonna We're
gonna do what we need to do, and if it's

(57:10):
at the expense of taking out Luca and the Lakers,
so be it. It's gonna be a fun, fun series.

Speaker 2 (57:17):
Anthony Edwards has an opportunity to, for the second year
in a row, take out like a legend, taking out
KD last year, you know, in the first round in
a sweep ironically was obviously the highlight of his of
his career, ultimately losing though, you know, to Luca in
the conference finals. Now he has to go against Lebron
and Luca again to where he it'd be a great

(57:38):
opportunity to beat another Luminaria in Lebron and maybe exercise
some demons against Luca. You know from from last season
that the problem here is that he doesn't have the
requisite running mate offensively and es to be able to
keep up with the Lakers. And the Lakers are the
Lakers are a great defensive team as of late in
the latter part of the season, and everybody, like literally
everybody said, it's because they try hard. Literally, they effort

(58:02):
the hell out of the thing on on the on
the defensive side, and they just try hard and they're communicating,
and they're going to be able to do that against
this Minnesota team. I'm concerned about their ability to match
that match that defensive intensity, but more so the offensive
side of the basketball.

Speaker 1 (58:19):
Where do they get points from?

Speaker 2 (58:20):
You know, if Phinney Smith and Vanderbilt and guys are
like swarming and swamping, you know Anthony Edwards. Now you're
relying on Julius Randall to be, you know, a playmaker
and a scorer, and or Ruby Gobert to catch some
things things off some lobs.

Speaker 1 (58:34):
You know.

Speaker 2 (58:34):
I think when you talk about X factors, this is
going to be a big nose read series because he's
gonna have to provide some offensive punch for them that
might be lacking from other.

Speaker 1 (58:41):
So you're looking at this as saying, the Minnesota Timberwolves
are going to have to outscore the Los Angeles Lakers,
like in other words, they got to out out uh
out outplay the Los Angeles Lakers.

Speaker 2 (58:55):
Defensively, Yeah, I mean, and Minnesota has finished think top
ten in both right, so they're fifth or six defensively
and they're like eighth or ninth I think offensively.

Speaker 1 (59:06):
So in theory that works.

Speaker 2 (59:08):
But again, we know what it is when the you know,
the bolt the bolts tighten up here in the playoffs,
how are they going to really truly manufacture the offense
in a way that I think is requisite what you
need to keep up what Lebron and Luca are doing,
not just from a scoring side from those two, but
from the playmaking side, like This is the genius that
they create to make other guys better in a way

(59:29):
that I think Minnesota is going to struggle to keep
pace with. You know, when Jackson Hayes is all of
a sudden catching lobs and he's getting twelve to fifteen,
fifteen points a game, like, well, dang, it's Jackson Hayes,
you know, but you can't stop it because you have
to worry about the threat of Lebron and Luke on
a on a regular basis, each and every possession. And
the fact that I can always have one of those
guys out there is a luxury no other team really

(59:49):
has in terms of that offensive brilliance and genius. So
where Minnesota is going to struggle as Anthony Edwards is
going to truly have to play both sides of the basketball.
And yeah, maybe he can air quot lock up Luke
per se and make Luca Moore of a pastor and
posted a score, but still has to score on the
other side of the basketball. And that's where I think
that's is gonna probably wear him down. You know, unless
you get something crazy from Nasrieda or Nikill Alexander Walker

(01:00:12):
or something like that, who goes off offensively throughout the
course of the series.

Speaker 1 (01:00:15):
And this is where that trade has a very interesting appeal.
Right at the beginning of this year, when they moved
Karl Anthony Towns and they got back Julius Randall. Here's
the thing. If you had told me that getting Julius
Randall Dante je Vincenzo was not going to help the

(01:00:36):
Minnesota Timberwolves in a series like this, I would have
told you, don't make this deal happen whatever, because the
chemistry that Edwards and Carl Anthony Towns had, especially given
the run that they had last year, would be so
important for type of run like this in this particular
first round of the playoffs. But I'm going to lean
into what you were just talking about before. Shaw. This

(01:00:56):
really comes down to these guys doing what they do
more offensively and what you're asking these guys to give
you defensively against the Los Angeles Lakers. Julius Randall has
to figure out a way to score that basketball, Dante
jian Vintento has to figure out a way to get
his three ball shot to fall. They have to have
an impact. I know you were mentioning nas Reid as

(01:01:16):
well too. My thing is is that I feel like
Anthony edwards imprint is not going to be on what
he does offensively, but to your point, what he does defensively.
To flip the script, sort of speak on Luka Dankic,
on Gay Vincent, on Austin Reeves, basically creating havoc for
those guys. If these guys are just basically gonna go

(01:01:38):
out there and just make their shots and jack up,
you know, three point shots from halfway point and just
you know, with no resistance or whatever the case may be.
To your point, I don't see the Minnesota Timberwolves coming
out of this series. But part of that, though, still
comes down to leaning on the strengths of what you
got these other guys for, meaning Julius Randall has to
make the Lakers front court pay him down in the

(01:02:01):
paint downte Jen Potenzio, extend the floor, give more opportunities
for Gobert and for for for Julius Randall, more opportunities
for nas Reed right open up the Anthony Edwards And
this was my last point about this real quick. Anthony
Edwards has fallen in love with the three point shot
a lot this season. Right, I don't know as to
the detriment. But we're gonna find out in this particular series,

(01:02:22):
because if he's gonna basically back off and just shoot threes,
he is basically conceding. He's giving the Lakers a gift. Essentially,
he has got to be the aggressive Anthony Edwards that
we saw last year that was basically putting the opposition
in foul trouble every game in the series, which is
what gave them the confidence to push them all the
way to the Western Conference Finals.

Speaker 2 (01:02:43):
I mean, he ate over three hundred threes almost on
basically forty percent this year, So I mean, yes, the
volume is up, but the efficiency is there, and you know,
I think that has been able to save him from
some of the physical demands, you know, and going into
the paint and getting hacked and you know, taking all
those tumbles and falls.

Speaker 1 (01:02:59):
It's interesting he brought up, you know, tangentially.

Speaker 2 (01:03:01):
You know, in this year, we talked about Austin Reeves,
like Austin Reeves is not you know, just some guy
out here, like he's a major factor of what's going on.
And I think that is another weapon for the Clippers.
And that's where I'm just I'm concerned about Minnesota's and
all of.

Speaker 1 (01:03:14):
Those guys you said Clippers, you meant Lakers, right, the Lakers.

Speaker 2 (01:03:20):
So then with Randall in in in that, it's like,
all right, Randall's not this great post up guy, you know,
but does he try to play some vulleyball in this situation?

Speaker 1 (01:03:31):
You know? And then what does McDaniels ultimately do. Can
you give them anything offensively? Because you know he's got
to he's got to basically set out.

Speaker 2 (01:03:37):
Defensively, but can you do anything when he's on the
other side of the basketball or did they just leave
him open? I think it's a tough series for Minnesota
despite what their uh, their output has been throughout this
throughout the season offensively being a top ten offense, I
just don't know if that's going to translate in the
same way here against a Lakers team that is is
really ready and playing some of their best basketball, especially
on the defense side of the basketball.

Speaker 1 (01:03:57):
All Right, what do you what's your prediction?

Speaker 2 (01:04:00):
I won't Shannon Shannon Shannon sharpest would have the case
it be, but I'll say Lakers in six.

Speaker 1 (01:04:10):
All right, I'm gonna say Lakers in seven. I think
the Minnesota Timberwells give them a run. For their money.
But I think in the end, I just think too
much Lebron, uh, too much, Reeves, too much Donkage, how
about that that work?

Speaker 2 (01:04:24):
I agree, Yeah, the Vincenzo can be something in this series.
On the other side from Minnesota too, Like there's just
a lot of people who could be X factors, but
a lot of people were not sure are going to
be X factors, And I think you just go with
the brilliance of what the Lakers have, especially with the
way Alstin Reeves has been playing alongside Luke and Lebron
as well.

Speaker 1 (01:04:42):
I just think the swing and miss, you know, on
where you played the percentages of the Minnesota Timbers was
just too great, not like last year. It's just too
it's too extreme for me to to to to say
that I can. Yeah, they literally would have to like
shock the crap out of Los Angeles to give me
any confidence they're going to wind up winning this particular series.

(01:05:03):
Like that's just my perspective, all right, Sean. So let's
finally talk about the last three six matchup, and that's
in the Eastern Conference, and that's going to be between
the New York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons. Look, man,
I'm already on a high with what we've seen what
the Detroit Pistons have been able to do. The first
team in NBA history to basically go from a fourteen

(01:05:24):
win to a forty five win season or forty four
win season to triplicate their win total, unheard of. That
makes them as bout as dangerous as a team you're
going to probably see in this first round of the
NBA playoffs. And if I am the New York Knicks, yes,
I would be very concerned about this situation because nothing

(01:05:45):
from what we've seen from the New York Knicks throughout
the course of this year. While it's a fifty one
season is a successful season, nothing is giving you this
confidence that they're legitimately ready to make a true run
to the Eastern Conference finals. And it would just be
devastating for them to get taken out in the first
round by this team that JB. Bickerstaff has assembled. But

(01:06:08):
let's not make light of the fact that they are
for real and they definitely should not be slept on.

Speaker 2 (01:06:15):
Yeah, I think when it comes to the lower seeded
teams like truly, because I think the four or five
is about as even as you can really get right.
So I think of the lower seeded teams, this might
be one of the more popular picks. The Pistons are
until I guess Golden State probably ends up in a
matchup against the Rockets or whatever the case may be.
But this Detroit Pistons team has surprised, and I think

(01:06:38):
in some ways the Knicks team has somewhat underwhelmed despite winning.

Speaker 1 (01:06:42):
The fifty games.

Speaker 2 (01:06:42):
As you alluded to, they've looked, you know, pretty average,
especially since I'm runs an injury but runs in his
back and you know he's playing, you know, good basketball.
He's playing in the level of basket what you would
expect him to. I think you always concern yourself with
the New York's ability to or inability to have a
certain level of depth, and will they wear themselves or
the course of the seven game series against a team
that can be physical in Detroit, you know, Jab's saying, listen,

(01:07:05):
we're gonna defend here, right. They got them into you know,
in the top fifteen defensively, which is something that a
lot of people wouldn't have expected from this Detroit team
going into the regular season. And then offensively, you know,
they're actually top.

Speaker 1 (01:07:17):
They're actually tent in defense. Right.

Speaker 2 (01:07:19):
Offensively, they're still middle of the pack, if you will,
but you have somebody who can be a closer in
Kid Cunningham. And I think nothing about the Knicks is
like what it was in the beginning, where the offense
was just stellar for whatever reason. And I didn't believe
those raps either. In the beginnings, it was like it
seemed like an anomaly, but they were getting, you know,
shooting in three point percentage. Well, Townsend and Brunson were
playing so super efficiently. But I just haven't seen some

(01:07:40):
of that same levels. And I just don't believe they're
that level of an offensive druggernaut. And I think, you know,
in a one on one byal cad versus Jalen Brunson,
I think it can be pretty even where you lean
towards the Knicks is just that they have they've been
here before, you know, the Pistons, I'm sorry, the Pistons
have not. Rather, Karl Anthony Towns is fresh off a
conference finals run. You know, Brunton and company made it

(01:08:02):
to the Semis last year, Like they know what it
is to be in the throes of this where the
Pistons teams does not, and I think that's where Nicks
have the ultimate edge despite not being able to have
the same level.

Speaker 1 (01:08:13):
Of depth that the Detroit Pistons do. Yeah, this is
gonna be a tough situation for the Detroit Pistons because
you've got a lot of players who've just been in
this space before, and we've seen, especially as successful as
the Detroit Pistons have been over the last couple of weeks,
they've had their inconsistencies in their ability to score the basketball.

Speaker 2 (01:08:33):
Let me hold on, let me interject from this from
this lanes because I think what you brought up as
an excellent point. How much do you feel Leap Leasley,
Tobias Harris, and even Tim Hardaway Junior, the true veterans
on this guys who have playoff experience, how much do
you think they can help bolster what the Pistons lack,
you know, in terms of that playoff integrity.

Speaker 1 (01:08:53):
Where they can help is not something that is tangible
on scoring the basketball as much as what they need
to do in order to keep either within relative distance
or to help elevate the rest of the players. Maybe
not so much, Malik Beasley. I think Malik Beasley has
a good opportunity for him to score the way that
he has been scoring. I mean, it's why he's been
in the conversations for six Man of the Year. But

(01:09:16):
him Kay Cunningham, those two guys can can actually be
a problem for the New York Knicks, especially for what
they do defensively. Guys like Tobias Harris. Again, you know,
this is again when I talk about coming out moments,
this is what I'm talking about. You would think that
you can speak with confidence a guy like Tobias Harris
come out here and he can actually, you know, give

(01:09:38):
you fifteen sixteen points for a team like this, and
it has it has a significant weight, a significant weight on,
you know, changing the momentum of a series like this,
like actually putting the Pistons in a position to win
games like that. I'm looking at it more of keeping
the rest of the other upside talent impossible matchups. To J. B. Bickerstaff,

(01:09:59):
Ma be able to utilize and play against the New
York Knicks, maybe force them into playing nervous basketball, force
them to making silly fouls and silly turnovers and things
of that nature. If he's if these guys can have
a veteran presence in calming the rookies down sort of speak,
so that they understand at this moment, I think that

(01:10:21):
will have more of an impact than worrying about whether
or not these guys are gonna come in and score
points and stuff like that, because I've just seen way
too many times when the Tim Hardaway juniors and the
the Obias harris'es have not really shown up in that
kind of way. And it's not like they're not going
to be put in a position to do so, but
I think they'll be better suited to help add on,
helping the Jalen Durans and those guys to play within

(01:10:44):
themselves and to not cause mistakes that it exacerbates the situation,
especially if you're in striking distance against a team like
the New York Knicks.

Speaker 2 (01:10:52):
Well, one thing the Pistons will have going for them
is that they have I think two as.

Speaker 1 (01:10:57):
I think if Bill Simmons says to the irrational.

Speaker 2 (01:11:00):
Confidence guys on their team, and that'll be Tim Hardaway
Junior and Blake Beasley, those guys will not be afraid
to take shots now whether or not they're successful, you know,
in big game shots and opportunities that will remain to
be seen. But I think there's something about even having
the guy alongside Kate obviously, who'd obviously be the primary
option there. But if if he's isolated or he's isolated,

(01:11:21):
I think both of those guys will be ready and
capable to make shots, especially in the hostile, violent hustle
environment of New York City.

Speaker 1 (01:11:27):
But do you know what this is going to come
down to, Shaw, This is gonna come down to does
Kay Cunningham really really really believe in and rely on
those guys? And I think he does. And I think
if you are Tim Hardaway Junior and you want to
put Malik Beasily in that conversation, you can. Albeit I
feel Kid is more confident in Malik Beasily than I think.
Maybe we're discussing in the factors of this, but I

(01:11:48):
want to see where Kate Cunningham's confidence in Tim Hardaway
Junior lends itself to Tim Hardaway Junior coming big, coming
up big for him, right like making those shots because
Kate is putting him in the best position possible for
him to make those shots. And I think that to
me is where we're part of that kind of that
that mindset to me or what we're talking about is
coming from because I don't I think Kate Cunningham will

(01:12:11):
have his chances and he's gonna have an impact. I
don't think he's gonna be scared of the moment. So
to speaker, he's gonna play, you know, horrible basketball like
we've seen some star players in their first rounds or
you know, when they put a team in this position
to do what they've accomplished this year. But I do
think that the confidence of Kate and the other players,
they have to step up and make it count when

(01:12:31):
Kate puts him in that position, because ultimately the Knicks
are going to be honing in on him and forcing
him to try to do too much to make it
easier for them to to win the series.

Speaker 2 (01:12:42):
Yeah, I mean, I think you're gonna see Thibs, you know,
just isolate an Ice Kate a lot, but throw Ojan
andob and Bridges at him on a regular basis, and
to continue to give him different looks. You know, that
could ultimately be frustrating where other pissons do have to
truly step up to win this for them, you know,
and then that is you're Tobias Harris as you make
Beasley's and Tim Hardaway juniors.

Speaker 1 (01:13:03):
But let's not forget about Dennis Shruder as well too.

Speaker 2 (01:13:05):
You know, he's got some great playoff acumens that he's
been helped by.

Speaker 1 (01:13:08):
Mean you laugh, but he's been very helpful for this.

Speaker 2 (01:13:11):
He was kind of a throw in to me or
just you know, he got moved and it moved again
and just kind of ended up in Detroit. But by
by no small thing has he has he been impactful.
So you know, he could be out there and impact
this series. But you know, on the flip side of it,
I think with tis ability to throw bridges and I know,
be at things in the way that I think that
the Pistons could potentially struggle with Towns can keep durn

(01:13:33):
away from the rim where he's ultimately most most impactful.

Speaker 1 (01:13:36):
But Town's ability to shoot the three on a regular
basis and even dribble and drive somewhat effectively, you know,
I think gives the Knicks a lot more edge in this,
despite the Pistons being a very very popular pick with
all the success that they've had this year. All Right,
so basically you're saying Nixon.

Speaker 2 (01:13:53):
Yeah, I'm gonna say Nixon six. I mean, my heart
is with Detroit in this one, you know. I I'd
love to see them be able to do it or
whatever the case, to be nothing against New York in
this case.

Speaker 1 (01:14:01):
I just like the story of Detroit.

Speaker 2 (01:14:03):
But I'm just I gotta go with what history has
taught me in terms of you gotta take your licks.

Speaker 1 (01:14:08):
You get in here, you got to understand.

Speaker 2 (01:14:10):
What it is a little bit, and you don't usually
get success your first go at this.

Speaker 1 (01:14:14):
So I'm gonna pick the Knicks and six. Yeah, I'm
taking the Knicks and six as well too. I just
think that the Knicks just have just a better all
around team. And the person that we're not talking about
that I think is going to have a serious impact
on the way that this game gets played, as Josh Hart.
I just think that his all around game is going
to cause problems for the Detroit Pistons. And I guess,

(01:14:37):
like when I look at teams like this, man, it's
more than just what the score reflects. It's the other
intangible things that have to be looked at in a
series like this. Rebound steals, you know, defensive assignments and
abilities and things of that nature. I just feel like
if Josh Hart continues to be that kind of presence,
he will have an imprint to take the load off

(01:14:59):
of that response. It's ability that Jalen Brunson I think
is gonna need for the next series and the next
matchup ultimately. And so that's what it comes down to.
Can the New York Knicks basically get through this series
without putting a lot of the onus and pressure on
their star players to come like this is a great
opportunity for Michale Bridges, this is a great opportunity for

(01:15:23):
ogn Andobi. This is a great opportunity for them to
start finding their rhythm. And I'm not saying at the
expense of the Pistons, because I think the Pistols are
gonna make it tough for this Knicks team no matter
how you slice it. But this is a great opportunity
that if you're ever gonna have any kind of confidence
about this roster and the New York Knicks being serious
against the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Boston Celtics, whoever,

(01:15:44):
they have to find their rhythm in this series. And
I I'm just curious to see whether or not you know,
when it's all said and done and the Knicks advance,
what version of those guys are gonna be like going
into the next round as well? Too?

Speaker 2 (01:16:00):
Yeah, I think great points. Right, So if they get
bettered and bruised by Detroit Pistons team, then presumably they
faced the Boston in the next round presumably, So you know,
and then you know, that's something that they've obviously struggled
with the course through the course of this regular season,
you know, andre previous to that. So what lessons have
they learned and what they've been able to take out
of the series with Detroit that can ultimately propel them

(01:16:21):
to be competitive and what they hope will be a
semifinals matchup.

Speaker 1 (01:16:24):
So a lot to a lot.

Speaker 2 (01:16:26):
We've discussed a lot here, but I'm excited about these playoffs.
My luster has not waned in any way. I feel
like we're going to get some really great basketballs with
the course of this playoff run from a bunch of
different teams, and maybe some heroes we haven't discussed will
ultimately emerge to which will give us some more conversation
conversational pieces in future episodes of the baseline.

Speaker 1 (01:16:44):
Well Spoken brother Man, This extended version of our show.
Let it not be said, Man, we covered a lot
of ground, but man, it's not without us being able
to recognize some great matchups they're going to be taking
place in the play in and ultimately the first round
of the playoffs. Man, and this is exciting stuff per usual.
Well sir, all right, man as again once again, Man,

(01:17:05):
we appreciate everybody hopping on board with us this week
for the baseline. Calie warren Shaw, we appreciate you guys
because you know we do. We'll catch up with you
next time.

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