The 'What If' Playoffs: And Why the NCAA Needs a Wake-Up Call

Dive into the ultimate 'What If' scenario this week's episode! We're breaking down and bringing the basketball banter as we dissect the NBA PLAY IN Tourney scenario. 

So what would the Play In truly look like if the season ended today, predicting potential upsets and analyzing the current standings.

Get ready for some hot takes on the NBA PLAY IN TOURNAMENT and how it will shape the playoff picture. 

Plus, we shift gears to the college hardwood, tackling the pressing issue: Does the NCAA Tournament need a wake-up call? 

We're discussing whether the NCAA's current rulebook is keeping pace with the modern game, and comparing it to the NBA's evolving rules.

This week's episode delivers all the latest basketball news, in-depth analysis, and passionate debate you crave.

Whether you're obsessed with the NBA PLAYOFFS or locked into March Madness, this is a must-listen for any basketball fan.

Tune in and Turn Up with Your Boyz as we discuss the hot button topics of the NBA!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-baseline-nba-podcast--3677698/support.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Free audio post production Byolphonic dot Com.

Speaker 2 (00:07):
This is the baseline discussing the hot button topics of
the NBA. Welcome everybody, your tune to the baseline Cali
Warrenshaw discussing the hot button topics of the NBA. We
are riding high, baby. A lot of basketball's happening, NCAA tournament,
home stretch of the regular NBA season. So much going on.

(00:30):
Good stuff as always, and it's always a blessing. And
I'm always fortunate to make sure that when I'm talking
about this basketball culture, this life that surrounds us, that
engulfs us, and I'm always doing it with my right
hand man Www. Dot Shaw Sports at in net BIGAHUNAPNC,
My man, mister Warrenshaw, repping out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
What's good, mister Shaw. I know it's probably a nice

(00:53):
and warm and toasty and I'm going to again up
here in New Jersey. You know what I'm saying. It
hit us with the ookie dough. Give me sixties something
degree weather in the middle of this week. And then
next you know, I'm looking outside and I see you know,
ice icy grass man? You have we talking about grass,
you know, we're talking icy grass, you know what I'm saying, Like,

(01:14):
it's just what the deal? Man, Enough with the teasing
going on. Man, I'm up for it, man, I'm ready
for spring, ready for my softball league, ready for all
kinds of leagues. Man, I gotta walk out here with
another scully on my head.

Speaker 1 (01:27):
I'm sorry to hear that, because I mean, it is
officially spring. We even had you know, the daylight saving
time switch here and all of those things, and yeah
it's nice. I mean, we had some cool weather for
South Florida. But people loved it because it wasn't the sixties,
and we're like, oh wow, you know, not the eighties
right now, so sixties and low.

Speaker 2 (01:44):
They didn't call out a state of emergency in Florida
because it could drop down to faith.

Speaker 1 (01:48):
I didn't see the boots sixty, you know, you see
the ladies and they rock in the boots, and you know,
the bombers come out. I think people were just like
kind of shocked, you know, by the sudden air quote
dip in temperature. But South Florida is always a time
so I'm chilling, man.

Speaker 2 (02:01):
You know.

Speaker 1 (02:02):
And who got a great share on the baseline as
we always do, man. I love what you've been doing
with us with the content, so keeping us rocking and rolling.
The fans and listeners are enjoying what we're doing here
last couple of weeks here as we pushed towards these playoffs.

Speaker 2 (02:12):
Yeah, man, listen, listen. Credit to the to the basketball culture. Man.
They don't disappoint the ones that got my juices flowing right,
that got me talking about some things. But as always, man,
we appreciate you and yours for hopping on board with
us this week. Want to highlight something really quick, man,
I want to shout out some of our you know,
to our listeners man, who've been catching us on the

(02:34):
different media outlets and stuff like that. You know, we
just want people to understand we you know, when we
come up with some of these topics, man, it's not
because we're trying to gain clicks. We actually want to
build out a community of conversation about some of the
things that maybe you know, you think that you might
be the only person thinking about these things. You're not right.
We're just fortunate enough to do it on a platform

(02:55):
that allows it to be where we're trying to gather
everybody on board and speak about it. Now, if we
say something that's controversial, you know, okay, you call us
out on that, and hopefully that engages conversation, not vitriol
or you know, feeling some kind of way and stuff.
So I want to make sure that, man, we give
our kudos and our flowers to some of our listeners. Man,

(03:16):
they've been tuning in with some of the topics that
we've been dropping. You've been catching a couple of the
clips of the things that we've been saying. And it's great, man,
because it tells us is that you're engaged, you're locked in,
whether it's a team that you're fully fully vested in
your favorite team, or you're just someone who's you know,
paying attention to what's going to happen as we start
getting ready for the playoffs. Right like, you know, you're you're, you're,

(03:37):
you're tuned in. And that that's all that we ask for, man,
is we just want to make sure that we're laying
out available platform for people to kind of like you know, feel,
make their voices heard, get their thoughts out there and
and and engage in that space. Man. And so you know,
I just want to make sure that we give those
those props to those who are doing it and continue

(03:59):
to keep doing it, because it's through you that encourages
us to come up with the concepts and the topics
for conversation. It keeps us focused and locked in and
try to follow those threads in the storylines as they
happen in the association.

Speaker 1 (04:11):
I think that's very well said. You know, I love
our engaged community, some of our friends and some of
the people who are just finding us, you know, even
for as long as we've been out here. So we
welcome you know, young, old, new, doesn't matter what race, creed, color, gender,
none of that tip. We're talking hoops here on the baseline,
and we love that conversation. So let's keep it going here. Man,
it's gonna be a great time here again as we
get into the playoffs.

Speaker 2 (04:30):
Absolutely, and it also be a great show as well too.
Got a couple of things that we need to get
into with some news and notes happened in the Association,
and then in a little bit we're gonna kind of,
you know, play the scenario game, man, Like if the
playoffs were to happen today, if the playoffs were to
start today, where teams would fall in in the play
in situation. So we're gonna talk about those teams who

(04:53):
are right now riding out in that play in tournament
scenario and how things are looking a are they on
the uptick or are any on the down tick? And
so we're gonna weigh in on that both on the
East and the Western Conference, so you definitely don't want
to miss out. As always, be sure to get my
man Shaw Astra Sports NBA Get at me at Gayfa Slee.
The show's twitted on NBA based on available on all

(05:13):
the major platforms. You know where to find this. You
can go to www dot the Baseline NBA dot com
to not only check this episode, but also the archive
of great episodes that we've got laid out for you.
And as always, when you see us on the YouTube
channel and you catch the blue and white logo, you
know that's us in the nineteen Media Group family. Nineteen
Media Group you're running these content streets, so as always

(05:35):
be sure to check out the family of great content
creators that are part of the nineteen Media Group family.
You know, we got a little something for everybody's listening pleasure,
So go to www dot nineteen MediaGroup dot com to
not only check us, but again the family are great
content creators that are part of the whole nineteen media group.
Fanman again, Man, definitely check it out. We got something

(05:57):
for your ear for your listening pleasure. Before we get
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(07:45):
your game coming up, sew and I hit up the
news that's happening in the association. You don't want to
miss it here on the baseline. This is the baseline.

(08:06):
Calie warren Shaw discussing the hot button topics of the NBA.
Time to get in a little news and notes happening
Shaw before we do that. I it's interesting right like
right now, the NC DOUBLEA Tournament is certainly one of
the topics of conversation, even for the NBA basketball community.

(08:27):
A lot of people are focusing in not just because
of you know what I'm saying, March Madness and the brackets,
your office brackets, your pool brackets, and everything that's bracket, bracket, bracket,
but a lot of people are obviously paying attention to
the talent that is on display during the NC DOUBLEA
Tournament because we're gonna be talking about these guys some

(08:47):
three four months from now when time for us to
start considering, you know, what's gonna happen with the NBA Draft, right,
and so obviously the big names like Hooper, flag and
Crier and guys are awesome. But one of the major
things that's been going on charda I've been really, really
really it's like, this is me wanting to be on

(09:08):
my soapbox for a moment. Is for the life of me.
I still do not understand why the NC Double A
is not on board with the style of how the
NBA is set up, with the rules and the time
clock and the way that the game is being played.
It almost feels like it's a slap in the face
at times when you're watching an NC Double A game

(09:31):
and you see that the coaches want to implement a
pro style of basketball, and yet you're asking these guys
to do that while confined to the same strategy of
clock time, and it's just it's amazing to me. They're
still playing halves, right, They're not playing quarters, They're still

(09:53):
playing with a thirty second shot clock. I don't understand
why are we still doing this? Like if if you
really want to see how great these potential kids are
going to be, get them on the same page to
what they're going to be preparing themselves for when it's
time for them to start playing in the you know,
competing in the combine and ultimately getting drafted in the NBA.

(10:14):
It's just amazing to me that we're still at a
time where when I'm watching an NC double A game,
guys are still passing the ball around for like fifteen
of twenty seconds. That eight second difference from what you're
getting in the NBA to what's actually happening when you're
watching an NC DOUBLEA game being played feels like an
eternity because of how these guys developed the offensive styles

(10:35):
still for the college game, but not ready to available
for what's supposed to happen for the NBA game.

Speaker 1 (10:41):
You know. See, I think that's a really interesting question.
It got me to hypothesize. While I haven't been ultimately
tapped into the tournament itself, I have heard some some complaints,
if you will, about style of play, lower scoring, and
so forth and so forth. But you know, I would
only challenge your notion in that while we are show
is actually an NBA is NBA based one podcast, so
obviously talking about pro basketball in that sense, But there's

(11:05):
more basketball out there than the NBA. So I think
when college is you know, I think a lot of
coaches are transitioning to more NBA fluid style offenses and
maybe some more complications on defenses in terms of those schemes.
But in terms of how style of play in terms
of the haves and the shot clock and so forth
and so forth. And I remember there's FIBA basketball, there's

(11:25):
all these other European leagues, and you know, very various
leagues in the Philippines and Mexico and wherever else. I mean,
because I was thinking about something really random today and
I was like, is the NHL like the standard of
professional hockey or is there there being are as hockey
being played at league levels in these other countries, Like
I just I didn't know because I don't follow hockey.
But as you've bring this conversation up, I know that

(11:47):
basketball has various forms of basketball, and most of the
collegiate players were seeing that we're seeing in the NCAA
they're not going to go to the NBA or even
the G League. They're going to go to another European
league or be done, you know, all together. So that's
where I can see, like I think for the lead
of the LEITE it would make some sense. But again
that's what one percent two percent of all college players

(12:09):
or that are actually going to go on to that
next step. So rule changes in that and that in
that way serves the fans purpose more than it might
the actual player's purpose more than I think we might
be thinking about right now, right in this conversation.

Speaker 2 (12:22):
Well, and I didn't want to, you know, belabor it,
so I will I will slightly nudge you back on
this shaw is is the NC double A a proving
ground for the NBA or are we saying that the
NC double A is in of its own right its

(12:42):
own entity and therefore they become what that standard reflects. So,
in other words, it's easier when you're coming out of
high school that if you're still playing second half, if
you're playing two halves, that when you go to college,
that's the transition, right and then eventually the transition from
sin C double A if you're going to go in
and get into the into the NBA, that you're now

(13:02):
going to transition to playing quarters. But we've seen that
there are high schools that are playing four quarter basketball
yet right, So and again, so when when you see right,
the NCAA like loves bringing NBA assistant head coaches to
come and be the head coaches for most college basketball.

(13:25):
They love it that they're coming and bringing that style
of basketball that seems to be very popular and reticent
to the popularity of how the game of basketball is
being watched and being consumed. You want to implement that,
but in doing that, you do it the sense of
I gotta do it working with a thirty second shot clock,
I gotta work with it, doing it playing with only

(13:47):
five fouls. You know what I'm saying, Like, there's some
there's some inconsistencies that has taking place, and I think
in a way it takes away from the strategizing and
the importance of those coaches and what they're asking their
kids to do and how they're developing them and keeping
the level of consistency and doing it simply because what

(14:07):
we're seeing, what's being laid out with the what the
ask is, especially now with nil, If there's an incentive
for these guys to gain more for what they're doing,
prepare them more for what they're getting themselves into, that
might help a little bit more from what we're seeing,
because even from what I'm looking at SHAW watching some
of the games that are being played, and there's some

(14:28):
good matchups, but man, you can clearly see that there
is uh, how do you call it? In Ghostbusters? You're
crossing the streams. There's a danger when you're crossing the
streams of what these guys are trying to implement from
a pro style for what the ask is of playing
within the confines of what college basketball is basically giving you.

Speaker 1 (14:47):
Now, I hear you, and the NBA borrows I think
they borrowed from FEBA. You know, even with the when
the shot clock resets and resets at fourteen, that was
a Fever rule before it was an NBA rule. So
I think, you know, the basketball collected, if you will,
could maybe get together and trying to figure out, okay,
what would be the best situation. But with all the
various leagues and where the talent is coming from, you know,

(15:08):
when you think about all the professional leagues specifically, from
my understanding, like for the NFL, the majority of the talent,
of not all the talent is coming from college. Right
the NBA, the majority is coming from college, but you
do have a lot of overseas guys coming in, you know,
and being drafted in the high regard. And then baseball
I think similarly, you know, but you might have some
guys being drafted out of high school in baseball right now.
So it's very very sports specific in terms of you

(15:29):
know how some of the draft stuff goes, But the
draft is you're also maybe trying to prepare them for
what that next level professionalism will be. And I'm just
saying that I think it's going to be different because
of the various populations that basketball specifically is trying to
serve and the various avenues players can potentially find themselves.
But there could be some synergy in trying to bring
some stabilization across that in terms of the rules, and

(15:51):
like you're saying, with the shotcock and overall the quarters
as well too, I can see it.

Speaker 2 (15:54):
Let me ask you this real quick. Would you watch
the NCAA more if those say, those two rules, at
least those two rules right, because I mentioned getting away
from the halves and getting down to a twenty three
second shot clock, would you watch the nc double a
more because of it?

Speaker 1 (16:15):
I don't think the haves bothers me as much that
I mean, but the shot clock, you know, maybe potentially
you know what I mean, just looking for a more
faster pace because I think the college game can slow
down just because of even the extra six seconds it
takes in that sense to be forced to get a
shot up. So I mean that part would probably interest
me more than I would say necessarily the two twenty
minute halves that is currently in place.

Speaker 2 (16:35):
All right, but listen, and it's a fair conversation, and
I think it's an interesting conversation to throw out there
for our listeners as well too, Right, Like, Hey, if
you're someone who follows pays attention to the NC Double
A game, do you think those at least those two
rules would improve the eye candy of what people are

(16:55):
expecting to see in the NC Double A, not just tournament,
but also through the course of the NCAA season, is
seeing a more pro rule implementation being applied to the
college game. All right, how about that? All right, let's
move it along. Shaw. People have probably caught on and

(17:18):
saw that Steph Curry suffered a pelvic contusion and so
he has been forced out. I know that a lot
of people are more fixated on the loss of Steph Curry.
I'm just thinking of what does the loss of Steph
Curry mean to the game itself? In what the Warriors

(17:41):
are doing. I have a mentality of saying they have
enough good players that they should be able to position
themselves where they're going to be in the playoff picture,
and we'll talk about the Warriors in a little bit,
But I'm just saying overall, missing Curry down this stretch
of gas with the type of team that he has

(18:03):
access to. What are we talking about here in the
loss of Curry for this period of time.

Speaker 1 (18:08):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's just a matter of
how long it is. You know, Reports are that it's
day to day. He'll be reevaluated. He might play as
we're recording, he might play in the next game against
the Miami Heat, you know, and Jimmy Butler's return to Miami.
You know, but they are right in the midst of
a very very contentious playoff battle, you know, where they
could get up to potentially as high as five, but

(18:28):
they could slide down into the to eight, you know,
and being that playing situation, so each game for them
is very very important. So Curry not being there puts
additional pressure, you know, on this on this Warrior staff.
Now you can say, thank the heavens that they did
make the Jimmy Butler situation, because one or two games
without Curry would almost surely be losses almost against who
anybody they were playing, based on how they were previously constructed,

(18:50):
even the comunkat kind of coming back and finding his way.
So for me, it's just like, hey, how soon can
he get back? He might try to push himself, and
I think he's he's shown himself to be a professional
who does try to play through like nagging injuries. But
they want to say about the play in line more
than anything else. So you know, I think for the
basketball landscape, not having him available is going to be very,

(19:11):
very tough and very interesting to kind of watch in
this final roughly three weeks of the season.

Speaker 2 (19:16):
Yeah, but then it kind of highlights what we were
talking about in the previous week about Jonathan Kaminge's presence,
because I think what is going to keep the Golden
State Warriors in this conversation is the depth and now
that makes me think more about Steve Kerr and the
headiness of where he needs to be as a coach,

(19:37):
because if you really think about it, Shaw, he's not
just only managing Steph Curry, He's also managing Jimmy Butler. Right,
Jimmy Butler has been in and out of the lineups. Now.
I don't know if that's a load management thing or
whatever the case. Draymond Green has been in and out
of a lineup as well too. There's plenty of games
where these guys collectively together will have that chemistry. I'm

(19:59):
not worry about that, But I think I'm worried about
is Steve Kerr's reliance on the roster and how he's
utilizing the guys that he has. You know, there's even
guys that are on the ross, Gary Payton, Junior, Moses Moody,
these guys in and out of the lineup, and not
because of you know, DNPS, it's because of how Kerr

(20:20):
utilizes these guys. Because they don't stay healthy. So it's
as deep as that team can be. They can also
get be ravaged with injuries as well too and not
be available and then suddenly this team now becomes very
one dimensional in what they want to do and execute.
So it'll be interesting to see how Steve Kerr manages
that aspect of it.

Speaker 1 (20:38):
I mean, for sure, and Moody's playing work pretty well.
There's some weird stat going rout there, like when he's
in the starting lineup there they are like a seven
hundred winning percentage team something crazy. I was like, I
don't think most Moody would be that impactful, but apparently
it is. And then even the changes that they made
in their starting lineup, you know, you know with the
big man, who's like stretching the floor a little bit
for them. But Butler's been relatively healthy. Think it's miss

(20:59):
two or three since since since the trade again Cominga's
back as well too, and and Pods is back as well.
So you know, but Semski being out there has been
helpful and I think he's he's re he's figured out
a role I think within the Jimmy Butler of it
all now, so it's created a better role delineation I
think for the rest of that roster, wish where I
think I said many times, I think everybody was probably
slided up or a notch too high in the beginning

(21:21):
of the year and that ultimately did come back to
bite them. So now with Butler there, it creates that.
But with Curry out, you know, we'll see how that
how how he what how his ties.

Speaker 2 (21:30):
Lifts the rest of the ships in the Golden State roster.
Absolutely your tunes to the baseline. Cali Warrenshaw discussing the
hot button topics of the NB A couple of other
news and notes happening. Shaw Clint Capella out three to
four weeks. You know, I would have probably said to myself, man,
this is like, this is a pretty big injury when

(21:53):
we talk about the Atlanta Hawks, But I don't know
this this this past year, and I think maybe it's
because of his you know, obviously he's diminished some and
there's a lot of focus on the other core players
and Quinn Snyder's alliance on those guys, and I think
the system, the offensive system doesn't seem to feature Capella
in that same kind of way. Like I'm not saying

(22:14):
that he was being featured exclusively anyway, but I think
the style of offense has lent himself that they need
him more for just being a presence in the paint,
rebounding where possible, and just cleaning up the glass as
much as possible. I feel like the Hawks will be okay, right,
they just can't afford to lose Daniels and Young. They

(22:36):
can be okay if they don't have Capella. But that
being said, if this team from a matchup perspective, because
he's gonna be gone through to four weeks, that's gonna
basically put him right in the thick of when the
playoffs begin. I think Snyder's definitely gonna probably need him
for those matchup situations in which you need a presence

(22:56):
in a plane, a reliable, veteran guy that could probably
get you buckets because Atlanta Hawks have been prone to
have those stretches where they just can't score the basketball
from the front corner. Now that they don't have DeAndre Hunter,
they more so need to get as many bodies as
possible that can at least do something from the front
court perspective.

Speaker 1 (23:13):
Yeah, I mean, I'm with you in the first tament
is like, I don't think it matters as much. A
Congo's kind of come on, while he is air quote undersized,
you know, he's not a you know, six to eleven
seven footer. You know, with that, you know Capella could
be back in there to play kind of spot minutes.
Congo is kind of overtaken him for the starting role here. Anyway,
even when Capella was fully healthy, and I think it
lads played differently and better, especially since the loss of

(23:33):
Jalen Johnson, which you know, in a sense and essence
should have tanked their season. But they've been able to
figure it out. Congo has been able to help. When
they traded DeAndre Hunter, yes that was a change, but
Karaseil Verda Nang has come in there and they've they've
been alright like so like those like you talk about
a trade that's air quot worked out for both both sides. Listen,
they basically got two guys who are rotation pieces that
are playing extremely well in Karas Silverta and George Yang.

(23:56):
So Atlanta's going to be a tough out when it
comes down to and Copella can kind of come back,
you know, and if they end up in a matchup,
I wish it would look like right now, and we'll
talk about the plane a little bit. Uh, if they
end up in a seven eight versus Orlando, Orlando's not
huge in the front court, so you know, they can
try to get my back. But then if they were
able to sneak into the first round, then you'd want

(24:16):
to have some size, especially if you're up in a
matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, you know with Jared Allen
and Evan Mobley, just to have another rim to turn
there too. So I agree with you Capella again, he's
not long for the Atlanta Hawks. Roster. I'd be surprised
if he's really a part of this of the team
next year. He's not a part of the long term
future in any way, and they can get by without
him for the next couple of.

Speaker 2 (24:36):
Weeks, absolutely, all right. So, and finally, Memphis Grizzlies were
also dealt a pretty big blow as well. To pardon
me if I don't get.

Speaker 1 (24:46):
His is it? Is it?

Speaker 2 (24:48):
Stanley Clark, Brandon Clark, Brandon Clark, Brandon Clark. I don't
know why I was thinking Stanley Clark. Was there ever
a Stanley Clark in the NBA?

Speaker 1 (24:56):
No, Probably there's a Stanley Roberts.

Speaker 2 (24:58):
Isn't Stanley Jubbards? Yeah? Okay, Stanley Johnson. That that that
that name resonates with me. Uh, Brandon Clark. He's gonna
be out for the remainder of the regular season, probably
the remainder season itself. But I think if the Memphis
Grizzlies are able to make her deep run, he may
be able to come back by that time. But he's
definitely not gonna be available for the remainder of the
regular season. Obviously, the Memphis Grizzlies are still in the

(25:20):
throes of you know, trying to elevate themselves to at
least the two seed in the Western Conference. But you know, listen, man,
he's he's actually had a pretty decent season. You know, again,
kudos to Jenkins for figuring out a way, you know,
to to to utilize him in the way that he's
been utilizing him. So yeah, it eats at the depth

(25:40):
at the depth. But is is Is the Grizzlies gonna
be okay without him?

Speaker 1 (25:46):
The short answer, yeah, you know, I think Clark. It
was nice to see him kind of come back and
be a contributor to this team. But as we've said
many times throughout the course of the year, and this
Memphis team has been unexpectedly deeper than we would have imagined.
And yeah, they've stumbled some here and they're not looking
quite as formidable as they once were in the middle
part of the year. But again with the Jay Huffs
of the world, and you know, even they scooped up

(26:07):
Marvin Bagley, which I had no idea they ended up
getting him, and he was on this in this roster,
and Jake lob Riva and guys like that, like they
can get by without without with what Clark, Without what
Clark provides so sorry, excuse my excuse my French. There,
Vince Williams Junior's bag Gig Jackson as well too, like,
so you know, they have guys in essence that can
fill in those minutes. And I'm not too worried about
Memphis without Brandon Clark.

Speaker 2 (26:27):
Yeah. By the way, I thought it was a part
of my Portuguese. I thought that was Portuguese he was spinning. Sorry,
Uh yeah, listen, I agree with you. I you know,
it's just so weird though, man, Like when he came out,
you know, Rookie Year first what two years, came out
like gangbusters, man, And I thought that that, you know,
it's because of him that ultimately they moved on from

(26:51):
Xavier Tillman, you know. And then he suffered I think
a pretty significant injury. Uh and then like all of
a sudden, man, he's in the back of the back
of the lunch line. Like It's just crazy to me.
And it's amazing how many players the Memphis Grizzlies have
gone through. There have been quite a few guys who
have come in and have ultimately contributed in some way,

(27:13):
shape or form. It's like they give us these flashes
of guys that'd be like they could be probably starting
on some other team and then next thing, you know,
very next season is a whole new batch of other guys.
So I don't know what magic Jenkins is working, man,
but you know, don't let him get a handful of ragtag,
you know what I'm saying outcast man, because he's gonna
have them guys playing up and outside of their heads.

(27:34):
You know that that is one of the things that
I can appreciate about Taylor Jenkins and what he does
for the Memphis Grizzlies. Man will he will go thirteen
deep without question with his roster fourteen and probably if
you're the Dallas Mavericks, you may want to consider what
kind of formula it's needed to get that to get

(27:55):
that movement for the future, for the foreseeable future.

Speaker 1 (27:59):
Yes, sir, it's all in discounting. So you know, shout
out to about scouting team, that general management, you know,
and then Jack Kins ultimately being able to you know,
deploy those guys. Yeah, but it comes with finding them
first and foremost and getting them on the roster. So,
you know, great job by the Memphis organization. I think
to be as deep as they are, and we'll see
what it leads to when it comes to the playoffs.

Speaker 2 (28:17):
Absolutely your tune to the Baseline Cali Warrenshaw discussing the
hot button topics of the NBA coming up. If the
playoffs were to start today, the play ends would be
like what you don't want to miss that? Catch us
here the baseline, don't go anywhere. We are back, Cali

(28:48):
Warrenshaw at the Baseline NBA podcast. So, if the playoffs
were to start today, the play ins or the Eastern
Conference currently would be lined up as the seventh seed
would be the Atlanta Hawks, eight seed would be Orlando Magic,

(29:09):
nine seed would be the Chicago Bulls. Ten seed would
be the Miami Heat. So Shaw, you know, we were
kind of looking at this, you know, kind of from
a micro level because you know, we were just talking
about a few moments ago things that are happening over
in the Western conferences. We'll get into a second. You know,

(29:30):
on a micro level, we look at a team like
the Hawks, We look at a team like the Magic.
If they're fully healthy, right, they could literally be a
very dangerous team. No matter how you slice it, they
would be a dangerous team for any of the higher
seeded teams, but a lot of them are gonna, like
these two teams especially, are gonna probably be limping into
this situation. And it's just ironic. You know, where teams

(29:54):
like the Hawks and the Magic are and where they
could probably try to find the opportunity to make up ground,
but now it just feels like that that is not
what's going to happen. So it's almost like they've got
to prepare themselves. They're gonna have to go the long
you know, road travel for them to get themselves into

(30:14):
the play off situation. And then you look at a
team like the Bulls, and you look at a team
like the Heat, where you say to yourself, you know,
should the Heat really be that far behind? Like the
way that they've lost games, the way that things have
just kind of fallen apart with this team and stuff
like that, is it really that that Jimmy Butler did

(30:35):
have that much of an impact on this team to
such a degree. And you look at the Bulls, who
are like, man, this is a team that's like every
time that we think that they should probably be eleven, twelve, thirteen,
fourteenth seed, you know, they somehow are still in the
conversations where they're giving themselves an opportunity to play into
the situation. So people don't realize it, but it's kind
of crazy how this whole playing situation in the Eastern

(30:55):
Conference might lay itself out, and there's opportunities here for
teams to do some things to give themselves the edge,
to give themselves an opportunity to get into the playoffs.

Speaker 1 (31:05):
Yeah, I'll start with Chicago, probably the most unlikely of
the teams to probably be in this conversation because if
you would have you know, magic eight balled your way,
you know, the beginning of this year, shake it up,
all right, we're going to be the top you know,
ten teams, you probably would have said Chicago would have
been like you said, eleven twelve, because you would have
had Philadelphia somewhere within that top ten. Even your wildless

(31:27):
scenarios would have predicted the Sixers to be this bad
and completely out of the conversation I think at this stage.
So Chicago ends up slotting up a notch because one
team just completely fall off a proverbial cliff. The trades
Zach Lavine, you know, and you know they traded obviously
Drozen in the offseason, as well too, And you know,
Kobe White now starting to become the guy. Mattias is
out there, he's ball in as well. Futavi still on

(31:49):
this roster, you know, hey, And they find themselves in
a situation where they'll be in the plane most likely,
most likely against the Miami Heat for the third time,
you know, different scenarios each that they've matched up, but
now looking like the probably the nine to ten game.
Chicago has an outside chance of maybe catching Orlando if
they continue to struggle a little bit. But I think

(32:10):
it's going to be as as currently constructed as you lose.
And you lined out her in the East, Atlanta at seven,
Orlando at eight, and then Chicago and Miami at nine
and ten, and this Heat team, it's it's been bad.
It's been nothing but bad. It's Jimmy Butlers a bit
Jimmy Butul the trade. And I don't know that it's
going to get any better anytime soon. That they do
not seem like they're long for this, for this, for

(32:31):
this regular season. And while you would never think of
a Heat team to give up, they're not tankers or
none of that. They're trying to win games. And they've
just been blowing them, but them versus this suddenly plucky
Chicago team, it's hard to not It's hard to pick
against what I'm seeing right now, although you have Spolstra
and the body of work that he's he's provided, especially
in a one game scenario, you know, I mean, we're

(32:53):
I don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves,
but I'm just surprised to see the Heat here at ten,
and I think the Bulls are surprised to see themselves
here at nine.

Speaker 2 (33:01):
I completely agree with you, and I feel like I
think something is resonating when I look at this Miami
Heat team. Who wants this team? Right? Like? Who wants
to be the captain of this team? And in being
that captain, is it the kind of captain that had

(33:21):
the same effect that Jimmy Butler had, or if not
more of an effect. And I feel like that is
just what's so sorely missing. Listen, Tyler Herrow at one
point wanted to be that guy, right, and I think
he got humbled very quickly that Like, if he is
not executing at a high level, if he's not executing
and handling himself in the in quote unquote the Heat culture,

(33:43):
then he's not. He's not He's not gonna, you know,
get the love per se from the rest of the team,
right because the guys like the Bam out of Bayos
and all of them, you know, Eudonnas Haslam's influence still
happens to be there no matter how we you know,
scoff At, it seems to still have some kind of
teeth in the way things are. And it feels like

(34:04):
that transitioning to whoever that needs to help lead this team,
move this team in that next direction. Outside of Jimmy Butler,
it's just not there and it's just happening at the
worst time, which is why if in a nine to
ten situation, I'm looking at the Bulls, look, as much
as I love Eric Spolstra, he's not the one that's
out there playing the game. Right. Billy Donovan seems to

(34:28):
have more of a pulse of how he you know,
with the roster and the guys that he's got on
his roster, and how they go out and they'll go
and execute. It's just comes down to will they be
talented enough to beat a team like the Miami Heat,
And certainly when you look at the matchups, it's certainly
there except for maybe a couple of players who are
like rookies right now who have never been in that

(34:48):
scenario situation. That's maybe the one thing that the Miami
Heat have going for themselves is the fact that they
have played in playoff experience on your roster still and
that might actually help you win the day, But I
don't know if it'll help you necessarily win the war
because when you look at them, they again, they just
lack that team cohesiveness. Like I get it. Jimmy Butler was,

(35:11):
you know, he did everything for him, but it's almost
like he's covered up so much that now this slide
that they've been on, it's like, what none of you
guys played, you know, any level of exceptional basketball the
moment that he left, like you're not even seeing it
from bam out of by you. So it's it's kind
of interesting, Sean, because you look at all of those

(35:31):
teams up and down of the four teams, and I'm
speaking of I would have three years ago, no, not
even three years ago. Two years ago, I would have
said I don't want to play the Miami Heat. But
now you're kind of like, yeah, bring me the Miami Heat.
Because I just feel like there's something that's not there
that used to be there, even when we didn't think

(35:53):
it was there.

Speaker 1 (35:55):
Well, what's happening is Miami's blowing games late primarily, you know,
they've been in a lot of the games that they
lost here in this recent stretch, it's just been fourth
Quarner execution has been been poor, to say the very
very least. I think there's been one or two overtime
games mixed into that as well too, So they're not
getting their doors blown off per se, but they're just
not playing good basketball. The difference from this year, even

(36:16):
from this year compared to last year is right now,
is that well, they also wouldn't have home court advantage
in that scenario when it comes to the play in picture.
So now if you have to go to Chicago to
beat them, and maybe you can say spolture can scheme
is a way to be, you know, a plucky Chicago
team that they didn't expect to be here. But then
it's very little chance I think they could beat Atlanta
Orlando to actually get into whatever ends up happening in

(36:39):
that seven eight. So I think my amiasc season is
essentially finished. But you know, I don't want to put
the nail on the coffin of an er exposure team
just yet, because you know, they could pull out a
miracle and they're not void of talent, they just haven't
executed in a way. And then suppose you get the
random you know what, BAM's gonna take over and I'm
gonna go for twenty five to twenty eight tonight and

(37:00):
I'm gonna rebound the hell or the ball and Tyler
Hero again, he's had a really good season. But does
you know Terry Rozier finally say, you know, well, let
me stop, you know, fing around here and turning the
ball over. Can I be an acceptable scorer off the bench?
Like they've tried so many things Davi and Mitchell I
think is starting from them now, you know. In the
point guard spart kelloware again nice prospect, you know, but
is he truly ready? There's just a lot of questions

(37:20):
in Miami. But I'm I'm I'm dubious at best. I
think at their prospects of you know, really being able
to get into the play offs this year, even if
they get a play and win over the Chicago Bulls.

Speaker 2 (37:32):
All right, I'm gonna I'm gonna I'm gonna play Devil's
advocate here real quick for you, Sha, I'm gonna put
you on the spot. Let's say the Miami Heat, Let's
say the nine to ten matchup happens, right, Miami Heat
pulls out a victory against the Chicago Bulls. Who do
you want the Miami Heat playing against? In that?

Speaker 1 (37:48):
I think they have the best shot against Atlanta if
Atlanta were to crap the bed against Orlando as currently
constructed again, because Chicago could still technically catch Orlando here
and I guess technically the good catral Atlanta. I just
don't know what the tie breakers are off hand, but
I like them better off against an Atlanta team who
they also have some confidence and some experience with. Then
I think that the not say the length, but I

(38:09):
think the scrappiness and the defensive minded's mindset of Orlando.
You get into our rock fight with the Magic, and
he'd aren't like this great offensive juggernaut, especially with Butler out.
I just wouldn't. I wouldn't bet against, you know, the
Orlando Magic and their ability to try to come out victorious.
So you know, I could think you can get an
offshooting night from Trey Young. You know, something kind of
goes awry. You're just like, all right, well, who else
is Atlanta gon gonna kind of turn to? And maybe

(38:31):
you can upset them if you were to even get
past the Bulls in that first first match up.

Speaker 2 (38:35):
Yeah, I like where you're going with that, because I
would be curious to see if how Miami handles Apollo
Banco and and a A Fronts Wagner. All Right. I
just think that we've seen that when those guys are
on and the lights are on, you know, they can
show up and show out. You know, it doesn't necessarily

(38:55):
mean that the Magic are gonna beat anybody per se.
But to your point, the way that the Miami Heat
have been playing, and the calling card has always been
their scrappiness in their defense. The way the Miami Heat
have been playing, especially in some of those games, those
those those overtime games which have been high scoring at best,
I think that they've taken a step back defensively in
some regard, and I feel like that kind of matchup

(39:19):
would not bowld well. They may be able to throw
multiple bodies at at at at Young and Daniels, but
I think that if the Atlanta Hawks had Jalen Johnson
will be a much different conversation to what you're talking
about as far as matchups go, and and and just
really like the Atlanta Hawks just run a rough shot,

(39:40):
you know against the Miami Heat. So it'll be interesting
if to see if Eric supposed to can pull them
out of their funk. But I think to your point Shaw, Well,
I think people need to pay attention to is how
they're losing these games. It's not just the losses. Let's
let's just assume that the majority of teams that are
in the Eastern Play in situation will probably have a

(40:03):
losing record, right Like, It's definite the Bolts in the
Heat are going to have a losing record going into
that situation. How far down the Atlanta Hawks and the
Magic are going to, you know, go through those struggles
and whether they flip flop I think will make a
difference of that as well too. But just assuming that
if you are the Miami Heat, now you have to
pay attention to how you're losing these games going into

(40:25):
the rest of the regular season, because I think that
will definitely speak to how you how you will compete
against any of these other teams that you'll have to
deal with in order to get out of the play in. Yeah,
very well said, Yeah, so you know Atlanta Orlanto, Chicago,
Miami pretty much locked in here as the play in teams.
Atlanta is not going to be able to catch, you know,

(40:45):
in any real ray Detroit. So I think you know
where you can see some Hay is probably between eight
and nine right now, and even I guess the Heat
are two back from from Chicago. Like it's just it's
just not getting a good vibe about what they're going
to be able to do.

Speaker 1 (40:58):
So chances are right stage chalk. But if there's even
some slight variation to that, I don't think the variation
actually would Fay remind me very much at all at
this stage. But again, you know, a spocial lead team
is always going to be one that I think, in
when their backs are truly up against the wall in
an elimination situation like that, maybe we'll see a better
version that we've seen her over the last you know
month and change from the.

Speaker 2 (41:18):
Heat interesting stock high on the Bulls, stock low on
the Heat, stock high on the Hawks, stock.

Speaker 1 (41:26):
Low on the Magic, I mean the Magic because they
didn't expect to be this bad either, right, they I
had them as a you know, a top four at
least five seed, you know, in the East, and they
just fell off a cliff in the middle of part
of the season.

Speaker 2 (41:39):
But I think a lot of it too, is just
the lack of contribution that they're getting from their role players.
You know, they were getting them with the deadline, you
know that the other part, and they didn't do anything. Yep,
absolutely listen. Mostly can only do so much, and he
obviously was was able to extract as much as he
could those the rash of injuries that they suffered von Caro,

(42:03):
both Wagner's right and now losing sugs for the regular season,
knowing that you only have Franz Wagner Mortz now you
can clearly see how big a deal it is him
not being there to clog the paint and everything like
all of that is played, and none of the guys
that they have on this roster he's been able to
get any level of consistency of flow for them, you know,
to be able to help out. And the losses that

(42:24):
they've taken have just been just catched. Like they go
on eight nine, ten games losing streets. There's way too
many times over it's just going to be a tough,
you know, climb for them. I think the only saving
grace is what I was alluding to before with them
is that if you get bon Carrol and Wagner, they're
on their playoff ish, you know, like they were last year.

(42:45):
You know, they can knock off the Hawks if everything
stayed the same. But that's a tall ask, and if
you really think about it, you know, Snyder in many regards,
still can get a lot out of that roster that
he has. There's more that he can do with that
than mostly can with the Orlando Magic.

Speaker 1 (43:04):
Yeah, I'll say this last thing about Orlando. This is
where sometimes early season success it more or less, it
hides some wards and then you can kind of trick
yourself into being something that you're actually not. Because remember
they were getting some wins with with Ben Caro out
and some some wins with Wagner out. It had some
unbelievable wins being completely short staffed because of all the

(43:24):
injuries when they had seven or maybe even eight guys,
so they pulled out some some of those things. You're like,
you know what, well, hey, we'll we'll just be fine,
but the proof was always in the pudding there, Like
they still laughed offense, you know, they still needed to
have that punch, And while KCP has been a nice addition,
I don't think it's translated in the way that they
would have wanted to for the majority part of the
regular season and not addressing what was a true need

(43:47):
of even a gods a offensive steering point guard expecifically
with Sugs with his injuries as well too, and no
other offense besides Ben Carol and Wagner Like it's it's
it's been. You've seen the wards of this team really
kind of come to fruition, and there's a lot of
a lot of the Magic fans who are upset. They're frustrated,
you know, but I think they I think the management

(44:09):
got fooled by the success and some of the wow,
they really pulled, pulled a rabbit out of a hat
with some of these wins. They're like, oh no, what,
We'll be fine. You know, look, how how plucka have
something that we are And that just ended up being
the wrong move. But again, they'll still be a tough
op because they are well coached and they do have
great defensive principles. So I'm still looking forward to I
wouldn't want I wouldn't be lining up to play this

(44:30):
Rolando Matic team. But they're not nearly as as fearful
as I thought they were going to be at this.

Speaker 2 (44:34):
Point, maybe like they were last year, you know which, again.

Speaker 1 (44:38):
Last year they didn't have the experience, right, So.

Speaker 2 (44:42):
Your tunes to the baseline, Cali, warn't you discussing the
hot button topics of the NBA coming up? Will focus
our attention to the Western Conference playing situation and what
that's going to look like and how that might actually
shape out. Keep it locked here on the baseline. We're back,

(45:08):
Cali Warrenshaw based on NBA podcasts Now to focus our
attention to the Western Conference. If the playoffs were to
happen today, Shaw, the play in situation would have us
looking at the Clippers as the seventh seed taking on
the Minnesota Timberwolves, and then in the nine seed the
Sacramento Kings and the ten seed the Phoenix Suns. So

(45:29):
before we were gonna start doing our recording for this podcast,
you know, I was, I was lamenting on this and
saying to myself, how in the bloody hell does the
Phoenix Suns get to have how do we have a
conversation about the Phoenix Suns being in a play in right?
And then I say to myself, Oh, that's right. They
back they backdoored their way into the play in situation.

(45:53):
Because the teams that we thought would have basically distanced
themselves distanced themselves from the Phoenix Suns are all in
all their quality players are gone for the regular season.
So it's like we don't have anybody else to to,
you know, to throw out there, right, Like, we have
nobody else that we can actually put up there to
say that they're in striking distance. They're going to be

(46:15):
chasing down the Phoenix Suns. Even if let's say we
wanted to throw the Dallas Mavericks. What I'm saying, we
were pleading for that to happen, at least give us
something to work with. It doesn't look like the Dallas
Mavericks will be able to recover and be able to
make a race out of getting in between that nine
to ten seed. So we're looking at this situation and
scenario and we're saying to ourselves, could it be that

(46:38):
if you are the Sacramento Kings or the Phoenix Sons,
you arguably are going to be considered one of the
more dangerous teams that people don't want to play against.

Speaker 1 (46:46):
Where do you think about that from the Sacramento side, No,
not even a little bit. Yeah, listen, I think Sabonus
is he's struggling with injuries. I think the fit of
the ving into row in again now with Si Bonus
is something that is going to take some more time
than they have to truly be able to muster a

(47:07):
real threat. And while we're talking about Phoenix kind of
back during their way even into ten, Dallas is not
out of it. You know, they've been playing hard. Although
they obviously severely underman they've been playing pretty well, you know,
for what the roster allies. But I think, you know,
Phoenix is in the situation where even the league and
most most people are like, all right, just because of
the star power, they'd rather see them and see them

(47:29):
get into this somehow, some way, and then there's a
really great I think as of right now, matchup with
Phoenix and Sacramento at the end of the season. That
is the last game of the season for both those
teams where they play against each other, So that could
end up determining home court advantage, if you will, in
that in that nine to ten game, which I'm sure
Phoenix would absolutely love to have. But the Sun's team
has been an unmitigated disaster for the good part of

(47:50):
the season. You know, Bud and Katie don't get along,
and you know you've have you know, obviously Booker and Beal,
that whole situation them coming in and out of the lineup.
Then they tried to did they try to trade Kid, Well,
they eventually try to trade Booker. They can't trade Bal
he doesn't want to go. They benched Bial to try
to Like it's been nothing but drama for this Phoenix
Suns team. But yet the star power of it will

(48:11):
I'll probably align for them to actually get into the
play in where I think they could actually beat a
Sacramento team and then see what ends up happening, you know,
with what ends up happening with the rest of the West,
because even that seven six, seven and eight is a
little dicey right now as well too, So we're we've
been focusing ourttention, especially in the East, kind of on
the on the true play in side of things. We
know nine to ten, but even you know, six seven

(48:34):
eight right now was very much in flux. But the
afore mentioned Golden State Warriors, and then with the Curry injury,
you know, Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves like all that.
As we always say, styles makes fights, and that could
determine everything for the Phoenix Suns as well too, if
they were to somehow get out of that first playing game.

Speaker 2 (48:49):
So it's really it's okay, So it's pretty realistic, right.
The Phoenix Suns are not going to catch the Clippers.
They're not going to catch the Minnesota Timberwolves. And if
I'm Mike Budenholzen, right, I mean, because you know, listen,
there there's there's a handful of games left. But I
just think that the Clippers and the Timberwolves are going
to handle their business right, and they're going to put
some distance between you know, the nine and ten. I

(49:11):
don't think they want to be anywhere near that stuff.
And you know, look, the Timberwolves are starting to get
healthy again, right, They got back, they got back Gobert,
they got Julius Randall. I think it now comes down
to they just need to get it together, right. I
understand this team is a completely different team than what
they were last year, and you basically could just throw

(49:31):
out what they did getting to the Western Conference Finals,
you know, out of the window, right, because they're not
working with the same roster. But I think if the
health the roster is healthy, you'd bank your chances that
the Minnesota Timberwolves will figure out a way get it
done and at least keep themselves in playoff situation. What's
interesting to me is what you just brought up a

(49:51):
moment ago about Budenholzen Shaw. If I'm Mike Budenholzer, I
would have loved, I would really, really really would have
loved to find myself somewhere in the seven eight situation
playing against either Tyron lun the Clippers or playing against
Chris Finch in the Minnesota Timberwolves. Because think about it
like this, right again, this is me thinking out of

(50:11):
the box. If you're Mike Budenholsen, can you really afford
to lose a playing game situation against the Sacramento Kings
and a rookie head coach and Doug Christy, Right, This
would be Vogel all over again, right, which just isn't
a good look. Forget the Sons, because everyone understands this

(50:33):
is the Suns, right like this, they put themselves in
this situation. If you're my Budenholsen, you didn't really sign
up for this, right, So now this is now a
scenario where like for your you know, credibility as an
NBA championship head coach who has had access to star
players and you've won a championship, you cannot lose against

(50:56):
the Sacramento Kings in that first playing game, right you
just can't. It's just not going to be a good
look for you because then it validates Kd's dissatisfaction with him,
and it validates part of the fact that this was
all on management not doing what was necessary, not listening
maybe to the players or whatever, getting the right head

(51:16):
coach that's going to be able to get these guys
to play together, you know, to play to the level
that they're capable of. That's just me again, you know,
And I don't want to sidetrack where we're going at
I'm just saying, if I'm Budenholzer, there's a lot more
at stake if I'm sitting around in that ten seed
now knowing that you're going to play a Sacramento Kings
team which you should be able to beat, but you

(51:37):
look nothing like that because of the inconsistency that you
get from your star players.

Speaker 1 (51:41):
I mean, but what's more embarrassing because again, they're in
a actual tie with the MAVs still currently and the
Suns have the hardest remaining schedule of any team. Again,
we've outlined this a couple of times now, they could
get the benefit of playing like Oka see when they're
gonna rest guys. So maybe that strength of schedule isn't
truly a strength of schedule because he's not gonna have
anything to play for other than maybe just screw the

(52:02):
Phoenix Suns out of the playoffs if they were wanted
to do that, right, But in theory, Dallas can still
catch them. So what's worse for coach? But here not
even getting in the play on playing or getting in
and losing to you know, a rookie head coach in Sacramento, Like,
what would you what would you? What would be your
dealer's delight there? You know, if you were a coach.

Speaker 2 (52:23):
But oh, I would just not even want to be
in it at all. At least this way I extend
at least this way I extend my you know, you
can't get rid of me after you know what I'm saying,
At least in that scenario, you can't get rid of
me after the first year, right, you'd have to be like,
oh Jesus, we just did this with Vogel. You know,
but if I'm amazing, I don't want to lose. I

(52:45):
don't want to think about it like this show. Would
you rather lose to the Sacramento Kings, It would you
rather lose to a Dallas Mavericks team that might not
even have enough players to roster the playing game. They
were all that hard to get to say that they
got into the situation and I can't.

Speaker 1 (53:01):
I think that's more embarrassing if you were somehow to
not still not get in and Dallas were to somehow
usurp you here despite whatever the strength of schedule says here. Now,
I think even that's more embarrassing. It's like this guy,
this team could barely able to able to field dudes,
and they got into the playoffs play in, you know,
without ahead of us. I mean, that would be an
indelible blemish I think on him.

Speaker 2 (53:22):
Wait man, wait, just just just wait. Be a will
get injured, someone someone will get injured, and it'll it'll
it'll justify that the season is to to crap for
the Phoenix.

Speaker 1 (53:33):
Well, while we focused on While we're focusing on Phoenix here,
I think if they were, if they are lucky to
get into play and yes I do, I would pick
them against Sacramento, but I don't know that again, they
would have a whole lot of luck against the Warriors,
Clippers or Timberwolves, you know, in actually getting into the
actual playoffs. I think all three of those teams are
obviously much better than them currently and are playing at

(53:54):
a level that's much better them, not just by by
virtual record, and even all those all three of those
teams have had their various strugg throughout the course of
the regular season. But I just kind of trust them
what they're going to be able to do in a matchup,
even with KD, you know, having the ability to go
super saying if you will, you know, on score thirty
five forty if need be. I just trust those other
rosters more so. I can't see Phoenix long for the
playoff situation here, even if to get into the play

(54:16):
in and win that first game.

Speaker 2 (54:17):
Which is great. You bring up a great point here,
because now we're talking about, you know, that the race
to stay out of that seven to eight situation. Right,
And so if you are the Lakers, the Nuggets, and
the Warriors and even the Grizzlies, you know, in some way,
shape or form, because all of them are within striking

(54:38):
distance right now, Now, we're not putting the rockets in,
but again, we've seen situations where the rockets, you know,
have had their moments. Right, if everything stands, they stay
as a two seat. So I'm only speaking within the
confines of the teams that are somewhere within proximity of
a game and a half two games of each other. Yeah,
if you are the LA Lakers or you're the Golden
State Warriors, Shaw, you don't want to be in that situation,

(55:00):
especially given the fact that your star players have all
have had late season injuries, right. And one of those
things that kind of carries over is the fact that
you're going into the playoffs, you're not one hundred percent
like how you started the season. So knowing that you're
now getting these nagging injuries towards the end, even if

(55:21):
you're being given the opportunity to rest, you're not one
hundred percent. But now you will not have an opportunity
to rest, because now you have to factor in an
extra game that's got to be played for you to
make sure that you can still be you still have
an opportunity to play in the to play in the playoffs.
So yeah, it's very critical, right if you're the Clippers

(55:42):
in the Timberwolves, maybe to find yourselves not in that
scenario or situation as best as possible. If you're the
Lakers and the Warriors, to make sure you keep yourselves,
you know, stand pat or elevate yourself to let somebody
else worry about that kind of headache as well too.
I don't think it changes the fact that if you
are the Phoenix Suns or you're the Sacramento Kings, you've
played most of those teams anyway through the course of

(56:04):
the regular season, so it's gonna be what it is.
What you want to make sure is that your best
players are fully healthy for that fight, because part of
it is going to be taken out of you knowing
that you had to play a game to get into
that situation to begin with.

Speaker 1 (56:16):
Yeah, there's a psychology to this that is very real,
I think for the head coaches and everything that's happening
in leaguing. So I'm going to bring to a larger
conversation and kind of bring it back to what we're
saying here. Everybody at this point right now is jocking
for something, and that's real. So you have your bottom feeders,
if you will, too, are now trying to jockey for
the lottery. And we're seeing some lineups out there that

(56:39):
I couldn't conjure up in my wildness imagination. I think
by some of these teams who are tanking, I'm like,
who is this guy? And then I apply here playing
thirty eight to forty minutes a night, like it's really
wild stuff. What's going on with Utah and Philly and
some other things currently right now? Right, So that's playing
into maybe even some other teams who are like, all right, well,
I may not even even trying to do anything. I'm
just playing my regular situation, but you're forcing you're forcing

(57:02):
my hand to win because I'm clearly better then I
could just go ahead and roll the balls on and
be better than whatever lineup is being put out there.
That bleeds in now I think to the rest of
the situation, Like you take a team like Denver struggling
with injuries with Jokers, Jo Kisch and Jamal Murray. Murray's back,
Joker should be back any moment now, but they at
least want to just remain somehow in the top four.
They prefer to have home court advantage. But they're an

(57:22):
experienced team. They're not as worried about seeding as maybe
some other teams. Like a team like Houston is like, yo,
we need every advantage we can possibly get because we're
super young. But you take the Lakers dealing with injuries
to Lebron who's back, and Luca who's having just having
nagging injuries. John Moran is not healthy now going down
the stretch fard of the season. Despite how deep Memphis is,
as we've outlined now we've already talked about the Curry

(57:42):
injury as well. The most healthy teams of the all
the teams in that right now, if you can whisper,
if you believe this is the Clippers. The Clippers are
the healthiest team alongside I guess the Minnesota Timberwolves who
had their had their injuries with Randul and Gobert, but
now they're back as well. So it's really interesting when
you talk about that one or two games missed can

(58:03):
really make the difference whether you're in the play in
or have home court advantage one way or another when
it comes to the Western Conference. And that's what I
really be watching towards a latter part of the season
here and see who's matching up against who and who's
jockey is like, you know what, I think this might
be a better matchup because I think there are gonna
be a lot of teams angling to try to play
the young Houston Rockets and that that may or may
not be your best bet. But I understand why you

(58:24):
might think it, why you might think it so so
watch out for the play in here. Nothing is subtly
in the Western Conference. It's going to be a wild
while race here down the stretch of the season.

Speaker 2 (58:33):
Yeah, man, listen, spot on especially. It's interesting, man, because
you know, last year, we didn't give any you know,
credence or we didn't give proper credit, you know, to
the Oklahoma City Thunder being the number one seed because
you know they've we just didn't you know, a lot
of people just didn't buy into them, right their their
paper one seed, right listen. The same argument could be

(58:56):
set again for this year and for the two seed,
the Houston in Rockets. However, what we have been seeing
from the Oklahoma City Thunder is that a lot of
the things that we question about them, they did things
in the off season and they've played like the season
matters for them to say we are going to be
the best, well rounded team that you don't want to

(59:17):
play against, especially given what happened last year. Whereas with
the Houston Rockets, this is going to be uncharted territory
for them, right So, like any one of these other teams,
if they're in a position where they wind up having
to go through that gauntlet, might be better for it
because now you can really gauge and see if you
have quote unquote the stamina to hang with them. I

(59:37):
think the Rockets are going to be the kind of
team where they're just they're going to lean on you
as much as possible and hopefully not let the rookie
ism catch them, being that high of a seated team
that you know people perceive them like how they how
we perceived Oklahoma City Thunder last year. But again, mans
a war of attrition and how those lineups play out
to the remainder of these games on it is going

(59:59):
to have a significan efficant, significant say on where we're
going to be talking about, you know, the final seatings
to take place, and who's going to be in those
playing situations.

Speaker 1 (01:00:08):
Brother, Yeah, the only teams that I can see reasonably
like oh, what wouldn't be worried per se would be
in the veteran teams in terms of the Lakers and
the Warriors that they ended up in some sort of
a matchup with Rockets. However, the standings ultimately felt within
the first round. But if you're the Clippers, I think
the Rockets have played very well against the Clippers this year,
and I know they played well against the Timberwolves as well.

(01:00:29):
Those are not two teams that should be angling themselves
and and hoping to get you know, that Houston Rockets
team wherever wherever they end up landing. So h this West,
I guess it's gonna be a lot of fun. And
injuries unfortunately, are going to play a little bit of
a role into how the final seatings are worked out.
But as we close, you know, the Phoenix Suns are
not safe. They they're they're in here right now as
we record, and I expect them to probably at least

(01:00:52):
be in the plane here now. But Dallas is not
giving up. So you know, Coach Budd has a lot
staking riding on his on his reputation here to even
get in. And let me just say this, last, last
last thing quietly, like a piano in the dark. It's
still the Portland Trailblazers who are not eliminated. I'm just saying,
you know, they could try to put some pressure on
here in the final whatever it is, twelve games, and
that'd be a miraculous story for Chauncey Billups. But I

(01:01:15):
feel like they've they've they've lost too much ground kind
of initially, but they have been playing really good basketball,
you know a lot of parts, especially since All Star Breaking.
It'd be really interesting to kind of see them have
something to say about this playing race.

Speaker 2 (01:01:26):
Wouldn't it. I would really like for for them to
not be who we need to talk about in our
coveted autopsy reports. Let's not say, let's let's not have
them lead off that conversation, right, Let's let's see them
actually make a race out of this, you know what
I'm saying. Which, by the way, Shaw, it's around that
time of the year. I know we've been kind of

(01:01:47):
teasing it. We've been talking about it, but it's that
time of the year. Man, It's time for us to
get on with to getting on you know what I'm saying,
doctor Kavorkian, doctor kill patients. Yeah, man, I'm ready for it.
Time to start burying them bodies.

Speaker 1 (01:02:00):
I just want to I want to thank the futility,
you know of the Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans, the
Washington Wizards you know, and and the like, if you will,
for allowing us to get into this a little bit early.
It's again, it's a fun time for us.

Speaker 2 (01:02:16):
Is this your Is this your ode to the grateful dead?
Is that's what this is? This is this is your
grateful dead moment.

Speaker 1 (01:02:26):
I I appreciate you know, I mean the league continuing
to provide us content. So while there's obviously a great
conversation to focus on here as we just stayed here
with the playoff and play in situation, it is time
for some people to want two three, can't coon their
ways up out of here, and we are ready to
put them on the slab, my brother, and get things popping.

Speaker 2 (01:02:45):
Absolutely man. So yeah, be on the lookout for our listeners.

Speaker 1 (01:02:48):
Man.

Speaker 2 (01:02:48):
You know what I'm saying, it's autopsy and time, Sean,
I will get you, get you right, you know what
I'm saying. And for for all of those who are
for fans for those teams, this is a great This
is a great time of the year, man, because rather
than feeling miserable about the remaining two three weeks left
to the season, you actually get to look forward. We
get to help you, We get to help you steer
your ship forward, you know what I'm saying, hopefully out

(01:03:10):
of the Bermuda triangle, but we try to get you
moving to something more more tropical, a little bit more,
you know what I'm saying, fruitful, something where getting those
peanut collides actually mean something. You know what I'm saying,
Those little straws and young brothers and stuff like that's
got to mean something for you know what I'm saying. Anyway, Man,
awesome show this week, Man, great stuff to talk about,
and we definitely want to hear from our listeners as

(01:03:32):
well too. What are your thoughts about some of the
things that we were dropping, you know, regarding you know,
the Warriors, the heat, the play in all of that
good stuff. Man, be sure to get at us on
all of the outlets. You know where to find this
man and as always Shaw love chopping it up with
you brother.

Speaker 1 (01:03:49):
You know what it is, man. So yeah, I hope
everybody will tap in let us know you're playing predictions
you know who will actually sneek in or firmly some
plant their way into the playing and ultimately playoffs. But yeah,
and I love your thoughts here on the NCAA tournament
and some good rule changes as well as my brother
cal here. I'll propose for us too, So we'll catch
you next. Become a based one man al always a
good vibe.

Speaker 2 (01:04:07):
Oh absolutely, man, absolutely, once again for the baseline, Calie
warren Shaw. We appreciate you guys, you know we do.
We need to catch up with you next time.

Speaker 1 (01:04:23):
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