Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Wvuafm tuscaloosa.
[00:00:09] Speaker B: Quan cook. Hello, everybody. This is WVUA 90.7 FM, the Capstone. And welcome to episode 75 of the Folcor Press podcast. My name is Jamie Martinez, and I'm joined by Nick Atkinson and Kaden Johnson to stay up to date. Make sure to follow us on igppodcast UA. With that being said, let's get into it with the news. Some sad news to start us off. Extremely depressing, but Basketball hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo has passed away at the age of 58 years old due to brain cancer.
Past too young. Really hate to see it. Living legend Dikembe Mutombo was four time defensive player of the year. Hate to see him go. Very, very unfortunate. Any thoughts on Mount Mutombo? Has a beer or anything? For sure.
[00:00:58] Speaker C: Rest in peace. I think my favorite memory of him is that commercial. I think it was like a GEico. Oh, no, the Geico commercial. He was, like, in a grocery store, and he just, like, blocked everything, like, the whole commercial. So rest in peace to a legend.
[00:01:12] Speaker B: Rip the cookie.
[00:01:13] Speaker C: Gone too soon.
[00:01:14] Speaker B: Moving on, Nick's 18th favorite player, Los Angeles Clippers guard Terrance Mann, has agreed to a three year, $47 million contract extension with the franchise.
The fully guaranteed deal makes man a Clipper through the 2027 through 28 season. Terrence, man, he's been upgrading. He's been doing his own thing. What do we think on t man staying with the Clippers?
[00:01:37] Speaker C: He balled out that game. We went and watched.
[00:01:40] Speaker B: Yeah, he did. He did.
[00:01:41] Speaker C: He had a pretty solid little rim.
[00:01:43] Speaker A: I mean, that team thinks that he's a superstar.
[00:01:46] Speaker C: They like good.
[00:01:47] Speaker B: He's good. He's a philosophy superstar at 28 years.
[00:01:50] Speaker A: Of, like, low end role player or high.
[00:01:52] Speaker C: I wouldn't say lower mid role play. Yeah, I would say he's like a. He's like a solid role player. Like, he'll be in the league. He has a career.
[00:01:59] Speaker A: He's like a 77 overall. Like, out of 100, that's like, where.
[00:02:02] Speaker B: I'd rank him, 77 overall.
[00:02:03] Speaker C: Think that's a low? I'd give him like an 80, 80.
[00:02:06] Speaker B: I think 79, 78.
[00:02:08] Speaker A: I mean, I just think that he. But they treat him like an all star. It's like 75.
[00:02:11] Speaker C: He's a good defender.
[00:02:12] Speaker A: But there's been multiple situations where, like, they could have avoided the Clippers last year, could have avoided trading all their depth if they just gave the Sixers Terrence Mann and two first, and they would have gotten hard and they would have kept Covington batum all the guys that they lost.
[00:02:27] Speaker C: That's valid. That's really valid.
[00:02:28] Speaker A: I mean, that's a joke.
[00:02:30] Speaker C: I think the contract, would you say three years, 47. That's about right. I'd say that's a. I'd pay him a year.
[00:02:37] Speaker A: Very tradable.
[00:02:38] Speaker B: Yeah. So Terrence Mann is a 76 overall with three badges on. NBA two k for everybody wondering, Russell Westbrook is 76. Also.
[00:02:45] Speaker C: 76 is low, dude. Like, they're maybe being a little too harsh.
[00:02:50] Speaker B: You know, sometimes it's how the cookie crumbles.
[00:02:51] Speaker C: Unfortunately, 76 is too low for Russ. That's what I'm saying.
[00:02:54] Speaker A: That's just like a 79, 86, 96. Miss those days.
[00:02:59] Speaker B: Yeah. Moving on. The Chicago Bulls will be honoring Derrick Rose on January 4 against the New York Knicks. The recently retired Derrick Rose getting his flowers from Chicago, the place where he won the mvp, got them some playoff success. No ring, unfortunately, but some very, very fun bulls teams with luau Dang and Joachim Noah amak. Dang. So really, really good times back then. It's good to see him get his flowers.
[00:03:26] Speaker A: Who?
[00:03:27] Speaker B: Amec dang lu al dang. You know, the bronze.
[00:03:29] Speaker A: Jimmy Butler.
[00:03:29] Speaker B: Jimmy Butler and fellows like that.
Moving on, Toronto very own baby boy Drake has unfollowed DeMar DeRozan and LeBron James on instagram. I just saw this 15 minutes ago.
[00:03:43] Speaker C: What is this all about?
[00:03:46] Speaker B: This is the direction this podcast is going in.
[00:03:49] Speaker C: Are we just like. Are we clickbaiting?
[00:03:51] Speaker B: Yeah, we're clickbaiting. This is gonna go in the show title. This is going on the Instagram.
[00:03:55] Speaker C: Yeah, this whole. We had, like a thumbnail. Yeah, we should do. We should put this. Let's advertise this episode on the Instagram and put, like, drake in the thumbnail controversy question mark. And it's just a picture of, like, Drake.
[00:04:10] Speaker B: Pretty crazy. No, not Blake Sherman, for all you guys wondering.
[00:04:13] Speaker C: But DeMar DeRozan's in California now, and Drake knows he can't go to California.
[00:04:16] Speaker B: I hope he can not allow him. He also unfollowed Kendrick Lamar.
[00:04:20] Speaker A: Good.
[00:04:21] Speaker C: Really? He did.
[00:04:23] Speaker B: He unfollowed, like eight people.
[00:04:24] Speaker C: But I, too, would unfollow people that accuse me of being a pedophile.
[00:04:30] Speaker B: Maybe. Maybe. Okay, moving on to the biggest news aside from Drake this week. Prisjam Strania. The New York Knicks have acquired a Carl Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves for Julius Randall, Dante Devicenzo, and a protected first round pick via the Detroit Piston, sources tell me. And his friend. So a big, big deal happened just a few days ago. September 27, very late at night as well. This was quite shocking because this is a deal, really. Nobody expected to see Carl Anthony Townes be sent off to New York and DeVincenzo breaking up the boys alongside with Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and McHale Bridges. The Nova boys getting broken up in playoff performer Julius Randall. So how do we feel about, you know, all of this?
[00:05:20] Speaker C: I think it's a solid trade. I thought it was a really even trade at first, and then I saw the report about them getting a first.
I'm not sure about the protection on the first round picks.
[00:05:30] Speaker A: Top 14 protected.
[00:05:30] Speaker C: Top 14 protected. And then it's like, what, 2027?
[00:05:34] Speaker A: No, it's next. It's this year.
[00:05:35] Speaker C: Oh, thanks. So they're not getting it.
They're not, no, but I mean, you.
[00:05:40] Speaker A: Can still flip that for something.
[00:05:41] Speaker B: I don't know, Kate kind of hamster.
[00:05:43] Speaker C: Yeah, but I don't know. I think it's not necessarily a win now move for the Wolves, but I do think it could be better for them or it will be better for them in the future. You'll have a really good role player in Devon Chinzo and then be able to get rid of Randall's contract when it expires. What, like next year?
[00:06:03] Speaker A: This year?
[00:06:04] Speaker C: Yeah, but as for the Knicks, though, it is a win now move for sure. Like that propels them into, I think, this really close to being the second best team in the east. I think in the regular season at least they'll be the two to see now because of that. And they are, they finally have like a really solid piece in the front court after losing Hardenstein and Randall didn't even want to play there anyways.
[00:06:29] Speaker A: Yep. For me, yeah, first I was kind of the same way. I kind of thought that the, I was like, whoa, why, why give up size? But then it also, yeah, it's like a good move for Diminisho to have a good backup player and then, you know, Randall could easily be moved to a team they're already bleach report already like made a bunch of posts about different teams you could get traded to at the deadline. But, um, anyways, they did the trade so they can pay Nas, Reed and max contract.
[00:06:56] Speaker C: Yeah, that's valid. I don't think it makes the Timberwolves better next year, though.
[00:07:00] Speaker A: No, it doesn't. It might make them a little worse, but like considerably. They'll still be top five, top four. Yeah.
[00:07:05] Speaker C: But I do think, like in the long run though, that was, that was probably the smartest.
[00:07:09] Speaker A: Yeah, for sure. Cat's 30. He's getting paid $220 million over four years.
[00:07:13] Speaker B: So absolutely just a real jaw dropper of a deal going down on the 27th. It'll be very interesting to see how much this changes both the Timberwolves and the Knicks going forward. Two real contenders in the NBA, if you were asking anybody. So now let's move on to a brand spanking new segment, hoop grids. We've played it before on a whole new episode. If you don't know what Hoop grids is, go back and watch that other episode we did because it was awesome. But a quick synopsis.
Nine little spots got to be filled out on this grid. A little three x three grid. The top of the grid for this one has three NBA teams. The side of the grid has another NBA team, a player and a category. And you have to find an NBA player that fits between the same categories. So say the top of the grid has the Lakers and the one side of the grid has the Cavaliers. You can say, oh, LeBron James. Lebron James. He fits junior Smith.
It's a lot to go through. You guys can go watch the other one because I actually explain it really well.
[00:08:17] Speaker C: Yeah, you want to go over the rules?
[00:08:21] Speaker B: Yeah, sure. Kaden, if you want to go over.
[00:08:22] Speaker C: The rules real quick. All right, so just like the episode where we did like an entire hoop grids themed episode, we're going to go from left to right. Each of us get a turn. If we miss, we can pass.
So it goes on to the next person and whoever has the most by the end of the hoop grid. Whoever has the most spots filled by the end of the hoop grid gets the win. We're going to keep track of it all throughout the year. Or if, say, all three of us go three for three, then we will add up the percentages that it gives you based on how many other people around the world that have played the hoop grid have picked. And whoever has the lowest percentage will get credited the win.
So without further ado, but yeah, we gotta think of a punishment, or maybe not a punishment, but of a reward for whoever has the most wins by the end of the year.
So can't wait for Nick to name some 2008 two way pound twelve, like every week. Yeah, and win.
[00:09:24] Speaker B: All right, so this grid, top of the grid, we have five plus turnovers per game in the regular season. Second one is a former NBA player of the week, and the third is a former member of the all defensive team on the side. Our first one is 1000 blocks in a career 2nd, 3000 assists in a career. And third, spent five or more seasons with any NBA team. So Nick will go in table order. So Nick, me, Kaden, let's kick it off. He could pick any which one he wants.
[00:09:59] Speaker A: No, I don't know if he did. Oh, that's rough.
[00:10:02] Speaker C: Five turnovers a game and 1000 career blogs.
[00:10:05] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:10:05] Speaker C: That's crazy.
[00:10:06] Speaker B: That's pretty wild.
[00:10:07] Speaker A: I was thinking of somebody for all defensive, but I don't think he's gonna be on there.
[00:10:12] Speaker C: Who has averaged five turnovers a game.
[00:10:16] Speaker B: He's going five seasons with the team and five turnovers a game.
[00:10:26] Speaker A: I don't know.
[00:10:27] Speaker B: This is a pretty tough one. It's all categories. So this one's different. No teams are involved. No, certain players are involved. Like a teammate of a player going 3000 assists in your career and five plus turnovers. Russell Westbrook is correct.
[00:10:42] Speaker A: So low.
[00:10:43] Speaker C: Four points.
[00:10:45] Speaker B: That's not terrible.
[00:10:46] Speaker C: It's gold. It's gold.
[00:10:47] Speaker B: Yeah, that's gold. Okay, now it's my turn. I feel like all defensive team and 1000 blocks in their career.
Kind of.
It's gotta be easy, right?
I'm thinking like a Brook Lopez, maybe. I'm wondering if he hit that 1000 block total yet.
[00:11:03] Speaker C: Definitely.
[00:11:04] Speaker B: That's what I'm thinking. But I don't know if he was as good of a defender earlier in his career, in his time with Brooklyn and stuff.
Screw it. We'll go. Brooke Lopez.
[00:11:13] Speaker A: You're going to get a good percentage on here.
[00:11:14] Speaker B: Probably 2.11%. So 1000 blocks in her career. All defensive team. Brooke Lopez is correct. Now we go to Kaden.
[00:11:23] Speaker C: NBA player of the week and five plus seasons with the team.
[00:11:29] Speaker B: Oh, that's. Yeah, that's definitely got.
[00:11:30] Speaker C: Give me.
Hold on.
[00:11:37] Speaker A: Oh, that was probably the best one to go with.
[00:11:39] Speaker C: Yeah.
All right. Crazy pool. Chris Middleton.
[00:11:43] Speaker B: Ooh. Ooh. Diamond.
[00:11:46] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:11:46] Speaker B: Dang good pull from Cl Johnson. Go back to nix.
All right, hold on.
[00:11:54] Speaker A: All defensive team.
Oh. NBA player of the week, though. I can do that still.
Of the week. That's really crazy.
[00:12:06] Speaker C: That's what I'm saying. It could be like, not as great a player.
[00:12:10] Speaker A: You can do that? Cause that doesn't make any sense.
[00:12:13] Speaker C: I don't know. Put him on here.
[00:12:15] Speaker B: All right, he's going, oh, Scottie Pippen. Incorrect for NBA player of the week and 1000 blocks in a career. Scottie Pippen is not right. So it goes to me, I can get kind of conservative here.
All defensive team, five plus seasons with a team.
[00:12:34] Speaker C: Yeah, we can play a little more conservative. Cause make this.
[00:12:38] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. Some conservatives who spent a lot of time with the team. Hideo turkulu kind of bounced around for a little bit.
I'm gonna go Marcus Smart for this one. 4.64% for Marcus smart. All defensive team. Five plus seasons with a team is correct.
[00:13:01] Speaker C: Okay. Five turnovers a game in the regular season and five seasons with team.
Just trying to think like guards that turn the ball over a lot.
It's not good.
We could go be a player of the week in a thousand blocks career. Okay.
Hmm.
What's like a. What's like a solid? Oh, okay. I mean, this is risky. This could end up being bad.
[00:13:47] Speaker B: Gotta risk it for the biscuit.
[00:13:49] Speaker C: Yeah, well. Nah. All right, I'm gonna play it a little more safe.
[00:13:52] Speaker B: Dirk.
[00:13:52] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:13:53] Speaker B: Dirk Nowiski is correct.
Kaden's doing really good here.
We're back to neck.
[00:14:13] Speaker C: Walk us through what's the, what's the thought process.
[00:14:15] Speaker A: It was like all defensive team, 3000 assists. I was thinking like Drew holiday, but I guarantee he won't have 3000 career assists.
[00:14:22] Speaker C: I mean, he might. He's played for a long time.
[00:14:24] Speaker B: Yeah, he's been in the league for a bit. He had Anthony Davis back in the day, you know. Could have thrown up a few lobsters.
[00:14:28] Speaker C: Yeah, he's played with good players too, so that helps.
[00:14:31] Speaker B: I mean, he played with Giannis. Can't be that hard to get assists.
Draymond Green. Correct. What a pull.
[00:14:38] Speaker C: Yeah, good one.
[00:14:39] Speaker A: Mid.
[00:14:41] Speaker B: Okay, so I could do 3000 assists with NBA player of the week. I could do five plus turnovers a game with 1000 blocks or five plus turnovers a game with five seasons a game.
[00:14:53] Speaker C: I don't want the five turnovers a game with 1000 blocks. That's. I don't want either of the five turnovers game.
[00:14:58] Speaker B: I don't either.
[00:14:59] Speaker C: The only player that I could think of would have been Russell Westbrook to even average five turns.
[00:15:04] Speaker B: I just gotta think of a player who got a fair share.
Oh, did Darren Williams rack up 3000 assists in a career?
[00:15:15] Speaker C: Maybe, but I think Drew Holiday has a better chance of that. But Drew Holliday probably has never been NBA player of the week.
[00:15:21] Speaker B: But Darren Williams really good passer. Or I could go with like a Steve Nash, but that would definitely not happen.
[00:15:27] Speaker C: He's gotta be like 25%.
[00:15:29] Speaker B: That would kind of kill my odds if we were going by percentage.
Mmm.
I could just play it safe.
Jason kidd.
Screw it. I'm gonna go. Steve Nash. I'm gonna play it safe.
[00:15:44] Speaker A: Oh, my go. Oh, wow. I thought that meant like per game. Five turnover.
[00:15:50] Speaker B: Oh, a five turnover game.
[00:15:52] Speaker C: What? Oh. Oh, that is way easier. Yeah.
Okay. Okay. Yeah, I mean, that definitely.
Wow. Maybe we're just. We're all illiterate guys.
We have the reading comprehension of third graders.
[00:16:10] Speaker A: That is unfortunate.
[00:16:12] Speaker C: Okay, this makes this a lot easier, and I'm gonna play it somewhat safe. I mean, me and Jimmy are gonna have a tiebreaker, I think, right?
[00:16:22] Speaker B: Yeah.
Unless you were to just get this wrong, which would be kind of cool.
[00:16:27] Speaker A: Either that or are we not weighing the percentages?
[00:16:30] Speaker B: I think we are.
[00:16:32] Speaker A: Well, then he has that Chris Middleton.
[00:16:35] Speaker B: Yeah. That's unfortunate.
[00:16:38] Speaker C: See, when it was per game, I was thinking maybe, like, James Harden has done that before.
[00:16:42] Speaker A: I mean, him and Trey Young and Harden have the highest number per game ever.
[00:16:49] Speaker C: Did Baron Davis play with the warriors for five years? Ooh, that's sketchy. That's scary.
[00:16:55] Speaker B: He's another little journeyman at one point.
[00:16:59] Speaker C: What about Monta Ellis? Did he play for the Warriors?
[00:17:01] Speaker B: I was thinking Monte Ellis, too. Monte Ellis was in my mind for that one.
[00:17:05] Speaker C: Oh, man, this is bad. I don't know. I don't know. This is bad.
Geeze, did he play for five years, though? I might need to just go like Harden and keep it easy. Yeah, this is really eating at me.
[00:17:28] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:17:29] Speaker C: Yeah, I'm gonna go. James Harden.
[00:17:34] Speaker B: Oh, he's still gold.
[00:17:34] Speaker C: That's still 3.18%.
[00:17:36] Speaker B: I'm pretty sure you just put it away with that one regular season.
So Nick just has five turnover game and a thousand blocks in a career.
[00:17:46] Speaker A: If this guy.
[00:17:51] Speaker C: Wait, if Nick misses this, is that. Would that be your four, Jamie?
[00:17:55] Speaker B: Yeah, then I would.
[00:17:55] Speaker C: Jamie can win.
[00:17:57] Speaker A: If the guy that I'm about to put is not on here, he is not the greatest player of all time.
[00:18:02] Speaker B: Oh, he's definitely done.
[00:18:03] Speaker C: Is he gonna be LeBron?
[00:18:04] Speaker B: Yeah, he's definitely done.
[00:18:05] Speaker A: But what is it, a thousand blocks?
[00:18:07] Speaker C: Oh, yeah. Lebron surely has a thousand blocks.
[00:18:09] Speaker A: Dude, I bet he doesn't have.
[00:18:10] Speaker B: He definitely does.
[00:18:10] Speaker A: I bet he does.
[00:18:11] Speaker C: Just do it.
[00:18:11] Speaker B: Hold on. He's been in the league for so long.
[00:18:13] Speaker C: Dude, I promise you, LeBron has a thousand blocks. Just put, like, he's been in the league for 20 years.
[00:18:19] Speaker B: Put Mugsy.
It's right.
[00:18:22] Speaker C: Well, it was gold, too.
[00:18:24] Speaker B: It was gold. Very surprising. Dang.
[00:18:27] Speaker C: Okay, so I had Middleton, Durkin Harden. That's about, like, I don't know, maybe right at, like, 5% or a little more. Little more than five.
[00:18:36] Speaker B: And, yeah, I mean, Caden wins this one, my percentages were slightly higher. So Kaden Johnson comes away with the inaugural hoop grids weekly win putting his tag. How did I still get three to one?
[00:18:49] Speaker C: Did you.
[00:18:50] Speaker A: Yeah, I got LeBron, Westbrook, Draymond.
[00:18:54] Speaker C: How did you do that?
[00:18:55] Speaker B: Yeah, how I got.
[00:18:57] Speaker C: How does that work?
[00:18:57] Speaker B: What are we, a. Nash.
What?
[00:19:02] Speaker A: Y'all skipped over.
[00:19:03] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:19:03] Speaker A: It's like y'all skipped me and then it's still.
[00:19:08] Speaker C: Did someone miss one?
[00:19:10] Speaker B: No.
[00:19:12] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:19:13] Speaker B: Well, I'm pretty sure Cade wins anyway.
[00:19:14] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:19:15] Speaker B: Cause.
[00:19:15] Speaker C: Okay. Okay. Yeah.
[00:19:17] Speaker B: How the heck. I got smart.
[00:19:19] Speaker A: Nash.
[00:19:20] Speaker B: Brooke.
[00:19:21] Speaker C: Dude, we're really dumb. Like, we just really.
[00:19:25] Speaker B: You know what? We're just gonna fly past this. Well, this will be ironed out eventually.
[00:19:29] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:19:30] Speaker B: So now let's get to our main segment.
[00:19:32] Speaker C: We're gonna review the tape.
[00:19:33] Speaker B: Yeah, we're gonna have to go through the tape at some point.
Let's get to our main segment of, like, I don't even know. All right, today, top five players per position by the end of the season. So we have each put together our top five players per position. And it's a prediction by the end of the year. So, I mean, say right now we have Luka Doncic at number one for the point guards. Because obviously is maybe by the end of the year. I don't have them in my top five. That's what we're going off of.
[00:20:00] Speaker C: And that is you don't have Luca in your comfort.
[00:20:02] Speaker B: That could be a hint.
[00:20:03] Speaker A: Yeah. You have Jalen Green as best shooting guard.
[00:20:06] Speaker B: Zip. Okay, so we're gonna go 55544. Okay, fine.
[00:20:11] Speaker A: All right. Yeah.
[00:20:12] Speaker B: So add number five. Flanker.
[00:20:14] Speaker A: How about one of y'all start with five?
[00:20:16] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:20:17] Speaker A: I wanna feel one of y'alls.
[00:20:18] Speaker C: I'll start.
[00:20:18] Speaker A: Cause I don't like.
[00:20:19] Speaker C: I'll get going here. Cause I have. I mean, maybe. Maybe a little bit of a hot take. If your name is Alex, Jason, you wouldn't like this take. But just outside of my top five, I have guys like Halliburton, Darren Fox and Tyrese Maxey. And at number five, I have ja Morant.
[00:20:38] Speaker A: I thought he was gonna say Damian Lillard. Loki.
[00:20:40] Speaker C: Heck, no. By the end of the year.
[00:20:43] Speaker B: All right, my number five, shout out Tyres max. He shout out Tyrese Halbert. And shout out Darren Fox, my dog. But number five, I have Jalen Brunson.
[00:20:53] Speaker C: Okay, that's low.
[00:20:55] Speaker A: I gotta be a little different. Just a little bit.
I hate to be this guy, but I do have Tyrese Halliburton at my fingertips.
[00:21:02] Speaker C: Yeah, that's fine. It's close. It was really close.
[00:21:04] Speaker B: Co king especially.
[00:21:05] Speaker C: It was close between all three of the ones that I had. Right outside, like Halley Fox or Maxi. You can make an argument for being five by the end of the year.
[00:21:12] Speaker A: Yeah. And so four.
I think it's just crazy how good the point guards are.
[00:21:18] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:21:18] Speaker A: But I have Jalen Brunson at four.
[00:21:20] Speaker C: So I, too have Jalen Brunson at four. Or do you want to. Do you want to pivot backwards, spin it backwards?
[00:21:28] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:21:29] Speaker C: Cause you just kind of went like five, four.
[00:21:33] Speaker A: Yeah, well. Cause I usually go, okay.
[00:21:35] Speaker C: Yeah. All right, Jamie.
[00:21:37] Speaker B: My point guard list is hot, I guess, because at number four, I have Stephen Curry.
[00:21:43] Speaker C: What makes you want to put curry like that low?
[00:21:47] Speaker B: Because there's this guy that has a few charges against his name and was hurt last year and was suspended for a long time.
[00:21:54] Speaker C: Oh, my gosh. Good take. Never mind.
[00:21:57] Speaker B: I took it back.
[00:21:58] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:21:58] Speaker B: Yeah. That's what we're doing. We get spicy on this show.
[00:22:01] Speaker C: I like that. Yeah. We need the clickbait guy. Big drake.
[00:22:04] Speaker B: Drake bait. Yeah. I have Draymond Green in my top five shooting guards.
Yeah.
[00:22:13] Speaker C: Yeah. At four. Abja and Brunson. Knicks are really good. It was really close between him and Steph, but I just think after seeing Steph in the Olympics, he's got some in the tank. And I do think the warriors are going to be pretty solid this year, actually. So.
[00:22:28] Speaker A: Yeah, three. I have, you know, the greatest point guard of all time, Steph Curry.
[00:22:35] Speaker B: Yeah. I would have liked to have had him higher, but I'm pretty big on the Grizzlies, and I'm also big on John Morant this season.
I mean, he showed what he was all about for, like, the five games he played last year before he got hurt and he missed a lot of time. I'm pretty sure it was 25 games with a suspension.
But Marantz is a dog. He's one of the best interior players at slasher. One of the best slashers in the league. Gets it done from all facets of the game. I had him top ten in MVP in our last, our last episode. So I'm big on John Morant this season. I think he brings a lot to the table, and I think him and the Grizzlies are going to be back and very good in the NBA this season.
[00:23:14] Speaker C: Yes, sir. At number three, I have Wardell, Stephen Curry as well. Like I just said, kind of rejuvenated my hope for him, seeing him in the Olympics. I think he's got something in the tank.
We'll see how it goes.
[00:23:30] Speaker B: Absolutely.
[00:23:31] Speaker A: Number two, I have my second least favorite player of all time.
[00:23:34] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:23:35] Speaker C: Wow.
[00:23:36] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:23:36] Speaker C: Who's won?
[00:23:37] Speaker A: Dame.
[00:23:38] Speaker C: Dame.
[00:23:38] Speaker A: Well, yeah, probably dame or. Yeah, but yeah.
[00:23:41] Speaker C: Shay, is there potential there for Shae to take the number one spot by the end of the year?
[00:23:46] Speaker A: It's getting close.
[00:23:47] Speaker C: What if they like win a rank? How bad would that be?
[00:23:49] Speaker A: Yeah, because that's. I mean, for one, they're like the wolves rival kind of.
[00:23:53] Speaker C: Yeah, that is valid.
[00:23:54] Speaker A: And so then also, you know, I.
[00:23:57] Speaker C: Need to see them play you then playoffs. That would be so fun.
[00:23:59] Speaker A: So I. Such a guy. Series in a horrible mood. All, all for the whole.
[00:24:04] Speaker B: What would it take for Shae to be your least favorite player ever? Like, what if he hard fouls just to win?
[00:24:08] Speaker A: I don't care what he does to Westbrook. It's just the fact that he's in OKC and they're good.
[00:24:14] Speaker B: What if he pulls a Pat Bev on, on Anthony Edwards?
[00:24:18] Speaker C: What do you mean?
[00:24:19] Speaker A: I just wouldn't like it. Then he like purposely injured Westbrook. But I mean, I just wouldn't like him. I'd like him even less.
[00:24:25] Speaker B: Dang. That means the dame hatred runs deep.
I also have Shay Gildas Alexander.
I mean, he's a dog. I think he's going to finish number two in MVP rankings this season, which is crazy because usually if you're the number two in MVP, that means you're like the top of your position. But that's just not the case because there's this wonder boy that's in a number one. But we'll get to that in a sec.
[00:24:44] Speaker C: Yeah. I have my pick for mvp of the league at number two, Shea Gilgis Alexander.
I raved about the thunder last episode. I think they get 60 plus wins. I think they're the one seed going into the playoffs. And I think Shea has a career year. Averages 30 yet again. Really efficient score, really solid defender, especially off the ball. His wing wingspan lets him be able to make a lot of gambles in the passing lanes. And his playmaking ability is pretty up there. I think he's definitely one of the best point guards in the league. And I mean, in almost any other era, he would be the best point guard in the NBA.
[00:25:22] Speaker B: Yeah, but. Yeah, he's not.
[00:25:25] Speaker C: Yeah, but there's just this one guy.
[00:25:27] Speaker A: Yeah. And that's Luca.
[00:25:29] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:25:30] Speaker B: Yeah. Luka Doncic is the unanimous number one here. I mean, I have never seen a player do anything in my entire life like Luka Doncic. He'll just throw a ball out from half court. And that John is all net.
[00:25:41] Speaker C: Yeah, he's definitely one of the best players I've ever seen.
[00:25:43] Speaker B: Yeah. With my own two eyes. I think Luka Doncic is like the best player I've ever seen.
That's right.
[00:25:48] Speaker C: I think.
I mean, over LeBron.
[00:25:52] Speaker A: Yes. Yes. Curry's in my me when I started watching Curry.
[00:25:57] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:25:57] Speaker A: When I started watching basketball in 2011, the best player I've ever watched is 2016. Curry that I've ever watched.
[00:26:04] Speaker C: Yeah, that's valid.
[00:26:05] Speaker B: All star game. Stephen Curry.
[00:26:06] Speaker C: That's valid. I mean, I would say, yeah. Curry, any of those years. Kevin Durant, like 2013. Yeah. 2014. Westbrook.
[00:26:16] Speaker A: 2017.
[00:26:18] Speaker C: Yeah. Yoko. 2023 playoffs.
[00:26:21] Speaker A: And the best player last five years.
[00:26:22] Speaker C: Yeah. Harden in 20. 1718. Giannis in the 2021 playoffs.
[00:26:26] Speaker B: Giannis was crazy. I loved Giannis in that playoff round. But Luca, what he does, just because of the degree of difficulty of shots that he takes and hits and how often he does it, that's what is just captivating to me. I got Luca Vader, big words, shooting guards.
[00:26:45] Speaker A: I don't really like my bottom two, but I feel like these two guys definitely deserve to be here. At five. I have Desmond Bane.
[00:26:53] Speaker C: Disclaimer we don't have Jalen Brown as a shooting guard.
[00:26:55] Speaker B: Disclaimer.
[00:26:56] Speaker C: Disclaimer I did this.
[00:26:59] Speaker A: What do you have to find?
[00:27:01] Speaker B: My freshman year, when we first started the podcast, I had a certain guide as a top five shooting guard and it just did not pan out.
[00:27:08] Speaker A: I thought you were about to say that he. Oh, well, it's panning out this year. Something really stupid, like, are you gonna.
[00:27:13] Speaker B: Say that he's panning out this year?
[00:27:15] Speaker A: That's really bad.
[00:27:16] Speaker B: It's Jalen Green. I like Houston a lot this year. I think Houston's gonna be very good. I really like Oprah and Senguin and his playmaking ability and all of the weapons they added guys like Reed Shepherd. Fred van Vliet's going into year two with Houston. Amen Thompson. Houston has what it takes to be very, very solid, a really young core. Jabari Smith. And I think Jalen Green is going to have to take a really big leap if they want that top dog, because I think every team needs that number one guy if they're going to want to be a playoff team. And I still think Houston's really trying to look for that. Alpern Sengu is ridiculously good. I understand that. But I think Jalen Green needs to step up and be the top guy. Houston wants to take that jump, and I think he's very, he becomes very solid this season. So that's my hot take. Jalen Green don't prove me wrong again.
[00:28:00] Speaker C: It's not that hot. I mean, like, it's a good take. I have Jalen Green as my first one left off. Yeah, I think he's the 6th best. He'll be the 6th best shooting guard by the end of the year. I also have feel like I need to mention Bradley Beal and Derek White, too. They were just left off the lifts. I would hear arguments about them being number five as well, but at number five, like Nick, I have Desmond Baindeh big on the Grizzlies this year. I think Desmond band will be a large part of that. He's a great defender and a knockdown shooter.
[00:28:29] Speaker A: Number four, I have Kyrie Irving. He was pretty good last year. I expect him to take less shots and have a little bit of a regression. And that energy that they have from last year, definitely, I think won't be there as much just because, I don't know, I feel like in some series, some cases they were a little lucky, but I do think that he's still going to be good, but a lot of shots are going to be taken away from him. So.
[00:28:51] Speaker B: Yeah, four. I also have Kyrie Irving. He still has a lot of juice left in the tank. He was pretty solid in that playoff run. Obviously, they kind of crumbled in the NBA Finals, but I think with Luka Doncic and what he's about to do this year, Kyrie is going to be very solid. It should be interesting to see how Klay Thompson also fits into that role, being the new addition to the Mavericks after they lost in the finals. So I'm not saying clay is going to take a whole lot of shots away from Kyrie because Kyrie is still the number two option, obviously, but nonetheless, Kyrie, greatest, greatest. One of the greatest ball handlers of all time. I know people like the Iverson, but you know Kyrie number four.
[00:29:28] Speaker C: Yeah, I think something tells me we're gonna have really similar lists. I also have Kyrie at four, had a really good.
He had a solid playoff run, good series against the Thunder. Kind of disappeared against Boston, per usual.
Yeah, he's a good player. He's got some in the tank left.
He's aging a little bit. I don't think the Mavericks will be as good as they were last year, but that being said, shooting guard is a little bit weaker in the back end, so Kyrie will get to benefit from that and be number four.
[00:30:05] Speaker A: Yeah, I think we're potentially going to have the same top three. Three. I have Donovan Mitchell, you know, he had a really good year last year. I think that he is going to low key, have, like, a little bit of a regression this year just because I think that they've had a lot of controversy over the last couple of months. So I feel like there's going to be like a little bit of that rubbed off. And then Darius Garland had a really, really bad showing in the playoffs. I think the chemistry is really bad right now between them because there was so much talk about trades and stuff.
[00:30:36] Speaker C: So it's got. It's gotta be like, for the whole team. Yeah, I mean, that's all. They talk about it every offseason. Like, every offseason, it's like the Bulls and I mean. Cause on paper, they have a really good roster. Like a great roster, even. And it just never frames out well.
[00:30:53] Speaker A: They should have.
[00:30:53] Speaker C: There's just always problems with coaching. There's always problems.
[00:30:55] Speaker A: Well, they fire chemistry well. And also, I thought they were going to have to choose between Booker, Donovan Mitchell and Jared island or Mobley and Garland. And they didn't. They didn't do that. They decided to keep all four of them. I felt like this offseason, I probably would have looked to trade Garland and then potentially Jared Allen move. Yeah, but them too. Donovan Mitchell and Jared Allen are really good. Apparently, that was like his thing. If you trade Jared Allen, you gotta trade me.
[00:31:26] Speaker C: Really?
[00:31:27] Speaker B: So my number three, I also have Donovan Mitchell. It was kind of tossed up between him and Devin Booker, but I'm big on d book and I think the Suns will be very solid this season. And after what I saw from Cleveland kind of underperforming last year, I think that was enough for me to put D Mitch at three. Mitchell, I mean, 2022 to 23, he was ridiculous. He was six in MVP voting, averaging 28 a game last year, a slight falloff, averaging 26.6 a game. So still very, very good.
So it'll be interesting to see how Cleveland does this season, how the chemistry picks up, how Darius Garland comes back because his injuries were non stop last year and if the team could just stay healthy in general. But I think regardless of all of that, Donovan Mitchell is still very, very good enough to be number three.
[00:32:14] Speaker C: Yeah, I think this is the top tier of shooting guards. I would say, like, from here up. But that being said, I do have Donovan Mitchell at three. Jamie was kind of spot on. He individually continues to impress, but the team depresses.
[00:32:29] Speaker B: Yeah, for sure.
[00:32:31] Speaker A: Yeah, for sure. Number two, I have Devin Booker. I think that he's going to be good this season. Once again, I think that it's kind of going to be the same thing that we've seen with the Suns the last three seasons. I think they'll be like a.
I think they'll be a lot better than they were last year just because Booker will actually get to score and not have to play, make and do all that kind of stuff. But yeah, I think that they'll be a good, a good team. You know, he'll be like an All NBA third team kind of guy again.
[00:32:54] Speaker B: So, yeah, two. Outside of Booker last year he was all NBA third team and I think that's right around where he's going to sit again.
As we saw, KD did not take a lot of those points per game away from him, really at all. He kind of stayed right around the same slight drop off, but still, 27 a game is ridiculous. Now that they get Ty's Jones, I think playmaking is going to get better now that he doesn't have to do all of it for the starting offense and Bradley Beal now doesn't have to take up a bunch of shots. So I think Booker will be just fine. He'll all NBA third team, maybe even second team, depending on how he plays, and he's going to be just as good as he always has been.
[00:33:31] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:33:31] Speaker B: All right.
[00:33:32] Speaker C: So it's so close for me because I think Booker's better right now going into the year than Ant.
So close that I have a one a, one b situation.
But yeah, I think they're both great and I think they'll both continue to improve this year. In the long run. I think Ant has the potential to be better, or I think Ant will be better than like a prime Booker, so to speak. But as for right now, and even by the end of this year, Booker is in his prime right now.
He's still cooking. He's one of the best scorers in the game. He's got a smooth jumper, he can score in isolation, and he's opened up his ability to playmake a lot with some of his star teammates being around him. They've let him take some of the point guard responsibilities.
So, yeah, I have Booker up, you know, one a, one b, whatever you want to call it.
[00:34:25] Speaker A: And obviously I have Anthony Edwards at one and just kind of.
I mean, yeah, I think there's, it's close, like you said, but I think that the reason that it said I've had him above him was just kind of like. I think that there's certain things that each of them are better at. I think Anthony Edwards better finisher. I think Booker's a better three point shooter, better playmaker. I think we're just a better defender. It's just, you know, they're different play style, different play types completely, you know, but they're both very, very good. And I think that.
I think the Ants can have a really big season. I think he'll average roughly 30 points per game just because he doesn't have another second scoring option. Really. I mean, Julius Randall maybe average 1819, but I mean, he'll be the only all star, only all NBA player on the team.
[00:35:09] Speaker C: Nasrid will average big numbers, like I was saying the other day, like 17.
[00:35:13] Speaker A: Or 18 now, though, with Devon Chenzo on the bench, too. I don't. I think that takes a lot of shots.
[00:35:19] Speaker C: Not really. I mean, that's different games, that's different positions.
[00:35:22] Speaker A: So I was like 15 apiece, I think.
[00:35:24] Speaker C: Yeah, I could see that. I think I'd give divvy, like 1213, I hope.
[00:35:28] Speaker A: I hope so just because I want to average a lot of points, but. But, yeah, I think ants gonna have the best year of his career yet and then just keep on going up and kind of like you were saying, the playmaking thing with Booker, I think Ant's gonna really look to develop that this year.
[00:35:42] Speaker C: They said he needs to know.
[00:35:43] Speaker A: Yeah, that's what Finch said, that they want to play him a lot of point guard minutes this year and, like, really try to develop that out for him because they want to.
[00:35:51] Speaker C: Cause when it comes down to the playoffs, like, you want the ball to be in his hands at the end of the game.
[00:35:55] Speaker A: I mean, now. Cause you don't have cat, so it has to be in his hands. Exactly. Nobody else on the team can do that besides him.
[00:36:00] Speaker C: Yep.
[00:36:01] Speaker A: So.
[00:36:02] Speaker B: Absolutely. I also have Anthony Edwards at my number one spot. He's coming off the best year of his career, averaging 26 a game, finished 7th in MVP voting. I have him finishing around six, if not higher, depending on how the timber rolls perform. I think Anthony Edwards will be around 30 points per game. And hopefully the ball security improves because I know playmaking has been a bit of an issue for him, and it kind of showed in the playoffs, but I think Anthony Edwards is as legit as it gets.
I don't. I love Devin Booker, but I think ant man's number one right now, so I gotta give it. I gotta give it to ant as number one.
[00:36:35] Speaker C: Yeah, I have ant as my other number one. And it's insane because he's gonna be the number one shooting guard. In the NBA. And he's not even in his prime. Like, he's not even like, at his prime yet. He's still got, you know, probably three years until you could say that he's really, like, reached his prime. He's going to continue to get better. There is going to be a time where Anthony Edwards is a top three player in the NBA for sure. I don't think that'll be this year. I think he'll still be like a fringe top ten by the end of the year, but maybe between nine and twelve. I think right now he's sitting at twelve or 13, but I do think he'll take another jump, and then the year after, he'll take another jump and it'll continue to improve until he gets into that prime range of 26 to 31 or whatever you want to call. Call it. And that's when, you know, he'll win his MVP's and probably bring home a championship to Minnesota. But it's just insanely impressive that even now, as, what, 23 year old, he's still probably the best shooting guy in the NBA. Yeah, insane small forwards.
[00:37:39] Speaker B: We're not a small forwards.
[00:37:40] Speaker A: So I have a guy that I really want to have a really big season this year. Just, you know, not contract you or anything. I just think it's about that time for him to get back to all star. Cause he showed a lot of a couple of seasons where he's been good enough to do that. And it's Brandon Ingram. I think that having a real point guard for the first time probably since 2017 when he had Lonzo, you know, I think, yeah, I think it's gonna be huge to have DeJonte Murray and then, you know, to have CJ be a real shooting guard, it kind of takes off a lot of that, that issue. And then, you know, Herb Jones and Trey Murphy are gonna be off the bench. So I think that it's gonna allow him to really be the number two. And they're going to be really good this year. And I think that he's going to be the second best player on the team.
[00:38:20] Speaker B: My small forward list, I don't like really.
I'm going to just keep it a buck. I don't really like it because there's a lot of guys that I think could be here.
Like, I want to say Brandon Miller's so bad, I'm fighting. You know what? Screw this. I'm going Brandon Miller at number five.
Let's get spicy. I'm click baiting today. That's what we're doing Brandon Miller last year was very, very good. A pleasant surprise to be as good as he was that early for Charlotte. Finished third rookie of the year. I think he should have been second. I thought he was second.
Average 17 a game as a rookie, which is phenomenal. And now that he's going to get LaMelo ball back healthy, I think that playmaking is going to help him so, so much. Those kickouts for three, those lobs, because Brandon Miller can really do it all offensively, and I think he's really going to be able to showcase it this year as a six nine small forward. So I'm really hoping he shows that Paul George esque playstyle that he. That he likes to have. So hoping that jumps from 17 to maybe 24, 23 points a game. Because if that. If that were the sophomore jump for Brandon Miller, he's definitely a top five small forward. So I'm going to predict it. Brandon Miller top five I think small.
[00:39:31] Speaker C: Forwards, a little too deep to have Brandon Miller there just yet. Yeah, just outside of mine, I have Brandon Ingram and Jimmy Butler.
Maybe not having Jimmy Butler's in the top five is a little bit of a hot take, but he's getting old and he's not the number one option on his team anymore with Bam Adebayo and how he continues to improve.
Don't be surprised if Jimmy barely averages 20 again this year. I think he barely averaged 20 last year. At number five, though, I have Paul George. I think Paul George has. Has found a place that suits him a little better in Philadelphia. And I think they have a great supporting cast around him. Obviously, he's got a good point guard in Tyrese Maxi. He's got a good big he can depend on. And Joel Embiid. And I think that maybe if Embiid misses some time, some of that scoring load will fall on Paul George. If PG at five.
[00:40:24] Speaker A: Okay, I have LeBron at four. Um, you know, he's getting up there in age. I would. There's an argument in my eyes that Ingram could maybe be better than LeBron. I think that LeBron took a huge. The defensive hit that I saw LeBron take this year. And if you watch the Lakers, you saw it too. You know, like, he just. He's never been that amazing of a defender anyways, in my opinion. But he had a huge fallout defensively and it was. It was very obvious he just can't stay in front of these big wings anymore. And he playmakes at an okay level still. But I think.
I think that there's not a huge gap between any of these small forwards.
[00:41:03] Speaker B: Really?
[00:41:03] Speaker A: That much? He could still be one, honestly. But, you know, he's forward for me.
[00:41:08] Speaker B: For right this minute, so I think I'm missing somebody.
[00:41:11] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:41:12] Speaker B: Like, I don't know if I'm tripping or something. Like, I gotta be missing somebody. But at four, I'm gonna go J dub again. This is by the end of the year because, you know, we got to get things spicy around here.
[00:41:22] Speaker C: Dude, you're on one today. I like it. I like it. It's keeping things light.
[00:41:27] Speaker B: Yeah, we gotta, we gotta. We gotta shuffle things around a little.
[00:41:29] Speaker A: I might as well say Westbrook's gonna be the best point guard in the NBA at this point.
[00:41:32] Speaker B: It's not that hot.
[00:41:34] Speaker A: It's pretty hot.
[00:41:36] Speaker B: But J Dub took a big jump last year, 14 points per game his rookie year, to 19 his second year. And if OKC is gonna be as good as they wanna be, I think he's gonna take another jump.
So a huge improvement from JDub from his first to second year. I think he takes another one in the third. Probably gets up to around 22, 23 points per game. And I think OKC finishes as the one or the two seed. It's a toss up between them and Minnesota for me, but I think J Dub is going to take a big jump, get that three point percentage higher, and I think OKC is going to be really good.
[00:42:06] Speaker C: Number four, probably the hottest take I'll have for the show.
I have Scotty Barnes. I think Scotty Barnese, I mentioned him when we were talking about like MIP or whatever last episode. I think. I know he was close to winning it this year, and I think he'll take another jump this year and lead the Raptors into a high seed.
Maybe not a high seed, but a playoff seed. I think they could be a seven or eight seed. Best case scenario, I talked a little bit about RJ Barrett and Manuel quickly and how they'll develop as well. But Scotty Barnesen, he came out of his sophomore slump last year and rose back up in his third year. He continues to improve in scoring, and we already know about his playmaking and defensive abilities. He's really versatile. I like the way he plays. I think he'll really develop into that point forward. Kind of like Jason Tatum LeBron role with the Raptors.
[00:42:57] Speaker A: So, number three, I have Kawhi.
I think it'll really be up to if he's healthy or not. But even last year on the Clippers, I thought Paul George was better than Kawhi Leonard. Last year.
So that's what influences me to have my next guy where he is. But yeah, I think Kawhi is going to be okay this season. More of the offense is going to fall on them. They're not going to be a good team. They'll finish like 40 and 42, in my opinion. They'll be under 500. So that'll influence a lot of where I have him ranked. But I still just think that he's such a good player and if he got treated to the right situation, they could probably win the title.
[00:43:32] Speaker B: Yeah. Number three. I also have Kawhi Leonard.
Kawhi's still really good. When we went and watched that game, he had a couple little posters, showed me that he still got it. Played 68 games last year, which was, I don't know why, a lot more than I thought he did all NBA second team. Kawhi was very good last year and I think he'll be just as good this year just because the way he plays, I don't think his body is going to ask a lot out of him. Just take a lot of those mid range jump shots that he loves and he's very good at a lot of those post fades and play as good of defense as anybody in the NBA, which Kawhi has done for his entire career. So I think that lands him at the number three spot for me.
[00:44:10] Speaker C: Yeah, I too have quiet three. He's one of the best open catch and shoot shooters I've ever seen. Like, it's crazy, his efficiency on open threes off the catch. He's got a great mid range game as well. Probably one of the best mid range shooters of all time and obviously one of the best defenders of all time as well. It's, it's no hidden secret that, you know, when he's 100% healthy and even when he's not 100% healthy, when he's out on the court, he's a top 15 player in the NBA. And really, I mean, that's going, that's for this year. And even last year, I was saying when he's playing, he's top eight, probably top ten. He's, he's very, very good. Still, even to this day, I would love to see one more season out of Kawhi healthy or one more playoff run out of Kwai.
[00:44:54] Speaker A: Not with James Harden, but.
[00:44:55] Speaker C: Yeah, but I don't know if it'll happen.
[00:44:56] Speaker A: Yeah, as long as it's not with James Harden. For me, I have Paul George at two.
And so kind of your point earlier about him having the star big man, the star point guard. I still think last year, I think he averaged like 24, 22, something like that. And he had Kawhi Harden, Westbrook. He had two other guys that were doing good in terms of scoring. And I think that he's still gonna be able to do that consistently with, you know, 23, 24 points per game. I think that actually now that he will have a. In my opinion, I mean, Harden, in my opinion, was not a good playmaker for the Clippers last year. Just he would only really find Xubotch and then Kawhi and Paul George would get their shots off of Westbrook when he'd be in.
And so I think having a point guard, that's gonna drive and get Paul George open every time, just like Westbrook did. No, KC, he's going to have a huge season. I think he's going to average like 23.
[00:45:46] Speaker C: Yeah. I mean, Tyrus Maxey, we know he can hit wings. I mean, we saw what he did for Uber a scoring last year.
[00:45:51] Speaker A: Yeah, that's true. And then now they're going to have three really good wings, you know, Uber.
[00:45:56] Speaker C: I guess, I mean, and Eric Gordon coming off the bench, too. Yeah, Eric Gordon coming off the bench. And then they're going to try to develop Jared McCain. He'll probably end up playing.
[00:46:03] Speaker A: I hope so. I hope he plays a little bit.
[00:46:04] Speaker B: They're going to be good. That'd be cool to see my top two small forwards kind of like Kaden with the shooting guards. I have a one a one b type of thing. I'm going to just start it with Jalen Brown.
This dude's an award winner. Got his first championship in the NBA, took home Eastern Conference Finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brown coming off of a phenomenal playoff run. And I think he's going to be just as good come regular season time average 23 game last year. Obviously, a very stacked Celtics roster. Kind of dropped his points per game a little bit, but I don't really think that matters much because Jalen Brown is very, very good.
Upgraded his three point shot tremendously. Again. There's the whole left hand, left hand argument out.
[00:46:47] Speaker C: That's whatever. I mean, it's just. That's tick tock knowledge.
[00:46:51] Speaker B: That's how I brought it up.
[00:46:52] Speaker A: He'll probably average like 31 this season.
[00:46:55] Speaker B: He'll be 31, be top two in MVP voting.
[00:46:58] Speaker A: Best player in the Celtics.
[00:46:59] Speaker B: Yeah. And that'll be that.
[00:47:01] Speaker C: Yeah. Number two, I have Jalen Brown. I do think he'll continue to improve this year. He's in his prime. Right now, he's a beast. He's one of the best wing defenders in the NBA. No doubt. He ups his game in the playoffs. He's a great scorer. The only thing I'd like to see more out of him is being able to facilitate.
Facilitate an offense, like when Tatum goes out. It's notable when Tatum's on the court. Jalen Brown is a lot better because Tatum finds him. But when Tatum's not on the court and the ball handling responsibility falls upon Jalen Brown, it gets really sketchy. Like, the Celtics offense becomes a lot more stagnant, which is kind of an argument to him, being like, oh, if Jalen Brown was the number one option somewhere, he'd average 30 because he really can't run an offense. But that being said, when he's in a situation like Boston, where good thing there's five all star caliber players there, he's going to perform well. And that being said, like, like you saw in the finals, he can guard Luca, he can guard the best of the best at a high level.
He's explosive at the rim, he makes big plays. And like I said, he's timely, he's clutch. I think he'll be number two in small forwards by the end of the year.
[00:48:14] Speaker A: I have dinner on one running finals MVP. He'll be pretty good this year. Once again, I think potential all star appearance, but, yeah, I think that it'll just be another Jalen Brown season for me.
[00:48:28] Speaker B: So, yeah, number one. One. A one b type thing again. I have lameicky James, as much as I hate to say it.
[00:48:37] Speaker A: Yeah, that's horrible.
[00:48:39] Speaker B: Lakamala James, I think he's gonna be. He's got one more good year in him, so let's see. It'll be interesting to see if he retires this season. He's getting his one season in with Bronny. Who knows what. What's in his mind right now. So I know he's.
It's media day, so he's gonna be all up in the media. That's all I'm seeing right now. So I guess that's why he's on my mind.
[00:48:59] Speaker C: Yeah, number one. I also have LeBron James, senior.
[00:49:01] Speaker B: Yeah. Lebron James, senior.
[00:49:03] Speaker C: Yeah.
Pops at number one. I think seeing in the Olympics, he's still. He's still really good. I think this is probably his last year or second to last year of being, like, a top ten player and a definitive number one small forward. But that being said, I do think he'll still be the number one small forward expect him to average 25, seven and seven, typical LeBron year. And I think that's enough to keep him as the number one small forward in the NBA.
[00:49:28] Speaker B: True, true, true. Power forwards.
[00:49:30] Speaker A: Power forwards. So I don't like where I have this guy, but I'm just going to put up. I think, like, this is really so interchangeable between these two.
But I'm going to say Zion is my five.
You know, like I said earlier about him and Ingram, they're going to have huge seasons. I think Zion is going to be all NBA 13 this season, things going to be an all star. I think that the Pelicans are going to be a top six team out West. I don't think they will be in the play and I think they will be in the playoffs. And I expect a really big season from Zion having a real point guard for the first time in his entire career.
[00:50:03] Speaker B: So yeah, I'm fairly certain we have a toss up between the same two guys.
But at number five, I put the other guy. I'm going to go Paolo Banquero at number five just because I really like the argument with Zion having a true point guard now, I think that's going to be huge for him and him being an all NBA talent, which I think he will be. Moncro. This is going to be his third year in the NBA now, and he has been straight up good for his first two years. Rookie of the year, his first year in 2022. Last year was an all star, averaging 22.6 points per game. Yeah, he did. He's very, very good and I think they're going to be even not. I don't know.
[00:50:45] Speaker C: They got better.
[00:50:45] Speaker B: Yeah, I think the KCP edition. The KCP edition was very, very good.
[00:50:49] Speaker C: Their young players are getting older.
[00:50:51] Speaker B: I just had to think of the teams in the east. I think they'll finish round four right under the Sixers, Knicks and Celtics. I think they'll be right there, but Paolo's gonna be very, very good. Should be interesting to see how the Magic season turns out.
[00:51:05] Speaker C: Honorable mentions Pascal JJJj Kat that being said, I'll broaden the argument. I think it's between Paulo, KD and Zion. I think that's the close argument. But at number five, I also have Paulo and Bankero. I do think the Magic have a breakout year, though, and I think that will be in large part to having some shooting now, as well as Franz Wagner. I expect him to be in the gym all summer after a really, really bad game seven performance out of him. But Paulo at five he's a playmaker, he's a defender, he's clutch, he's a scorer, he's a number one option. He's kind of like that Scottie Barnes role, except he's a little more post centric and he can playmake out of the post a little better than some point forwards that you will see. But I do think. I do expect a big year for Paulo. And five, honestly, feels a little disrespectful. But power forwards are kind of stacked.
[00:51:55] Speaker B: Yeah, it's loaded.
[00:51:56] Speaker A: Yeah. So for me, I have Paulo at four as well. I think Paulo is going to be like, you know, we were talking saying Ant will be top three in, you know, the next five years. I think it'll be Wemby. Ant and Paulo could be. I think Luke will be like Ralph could be. So I think. Yeah, I think Paulo, I think, was. He had, in my opinion, the second greatest rookie season of all time behind Michael Jordan. So I think that we're going to see another huge jump this year to like 27 points per game.
[00:52:23] Speaker B: That'd be awesome.
[00:52:24] Speaker A: All in. Be a second team.
[00:52:27] Speaker B: Yeah. Number four. I have Zion Williamson again. The true point guard thing with Dejante Murray, I think, is a big factor. He's going to be able to eat in the paint. And we saw what he could do in the playoffs or that play in game. That was utterly insane, what he was doing. It was like a 50 bomb against what was the Lakers.
[00:52:45] Speaker A: He got hurt.
[00:52:46] Speaker B: Yeah, he got hurt. And he was on a roll, too. So sucks to see that's how the season went down for the Pelicans. But I think they'll be much better this year, barring any injuries. Cause that's what really hurt them last year. So, Zion, he's gonna be all NBA, he's gonna be an all star, and he's gonna be very, very good. Top four power forward.
[00:53:02] Speaker C: That's where it gets wicked. Number four up, Kevin Durant.
I just think. And again, this is kind of like with Paulo. This isn't any knock towards KD at all. I think with. It's just how good power forwards are. I. I think with his age, I would probably expect to see scoring decline a little bit this year. I think it'll fall to more like 24 points per game. Maybe like 24, 25. I think it was 27 last year. Yeah.
[00:53:28] Speaker B: Really?
[00:53:28] Speaker A: I don't know if I ever see him scoring lower than 25.
[00:53:31] Speaker C: I mean, he has to at some point, you know? And I just think that it'll be this year. I mean, he's not going to be 40, right?
[00:53:36] Speaker A: He did go to 27. He was 26 the year before that.
[00:53:39] Speaker C: Yeah, I think this will be the year that it goes to 24 or 25 and book gets better. I think book, this will be the year that book kind of consumes more. More of the scoring role. That being said, when it comes. Exactly. And when it comes to the playoffs, they need to have a true number one.
But Kevin Durant, expect to see him go off in some games. I don't expect the Suns, if they get to the playoffs again, which I think they will, to have like a no show like they did in the first round against Minnesota last year and just stink it up. I think they're a better, more well built team now. And I think Brad Beal has had time to kind of mesh with the guys a little bit. And like you said, they've got Tyus Jones and Grayson Allen, so you already know they're really great at evaluating players and knowing which players assign.
Yeah. But that being said, I do think KD has a solid year.
[00:54:28] Speaker A: Number three, I have Kevin Durant. I kind of agree with what you're saying, and I could see all that happening and I think it probably will happen. I think that. But I don't know if I necessarily see KD dropping down to like 24. I can see like a 26, but.
[00:54:41] Speaker C: I mean, a smooth 24, though. Like a 24 on like eleven shots.
[00:54:46] Speaker B: Or twelve shots, that would be insane. Like, I don't know if I see.
[00:54:49] Speaker A: Him shooting that little amount of game.
[00:54:51] Speaker C: But like 13 or 14 shots a game. Like, I do think he'll be. He'll kind of start to fill into a role more. I think. I think he wants to win another one before his career is over.
[00:55:01] Speaker A: Yeah, well, I mean, he'll be coming to Minnesota after next year and then he'll really.
[00:55:06] Speaker C: And that's when he really has to do that. Yeah, yeah.
[00:55:08] Speaker A: But not realistically, though. I think I. Like what, the Paulo thing. You have Zion ahead of.
[00:55:14] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:55:14] Speaker A: Okay. Well, yeah. Regardless, I think that's good because I think the Paolo and Zion are on the same exact level. I, you know, that's how I feel.
[00:55:20] Speaker C: About Zion, KD and Paulo.
[00:55:22] Speaker A: And I think KD's only a little bit ahead of them for right this second, but they, them took it easily. Steal that away if they really come out swinging. So. Yeah. Kevy at three.
[00:55:30] Speaker B: Yeah, three. I also have Kevin Durant. I don't know if he's going to want to fill that role just yet. He saw a boost in scoring from since last year. Last year, again, only on eight games, average 26 game, and then that jumped up from this year averaging 27. So I don't know if that rule thing's going to happen yet. I still think he's going to be at least 26 point per game type of guy. One of the. One of, if not the greatest scorer that ever lived.
[00:55:54] Speaker C: Yeah, the greatest.
[00:55:55] Speaker B: Yeah. I honestly think the greatest scorer that ever lived, Kevin Durant. And I don't think he's ready to, you know, kind of part ways with that. I still think he thinks that he's the best. So.
[00:56:06] Speaker C: He's a bucket.
[00:56:07] Speaker B: He's a bucket if I've ever seen one. I watched that man drop 40 live, and I'm a KD's the top five player ever. I'm gonna say it now, so.
[00:56:15] Speaker C: Okay, Jamie.
[00:56:15] Speaker B: Yeah. That's how spicy we're getting today. Katie.
[00:56:18] Speaker C: Number three, I have Zionda. I think Zion's like maybe even first team, all NBA good this year. I think he's great.
Second team, though, for sure. I mean, we've seen a healthy. Zion was like third in the league in scoring. I think he averaged 28 or something like that. But I expect to see that continue to blossom with a true point guard. I think this Pelicans team is really going to buy in this year. I expect big things out of them, and that will include a breakout year from Zion Williamson.
[00:56:48] Speaker A: Okay. I don't think this is hot at all, but I suspect Jamie, to say this is hot, but I. I have Giannis at two. Uh, you know, I. I think that Tatum. I'll make my argument for Tatum, but, uh, Giannis is injury prone. The last since they won a title, he's been very injured prone. He's missed games, and it doesn't look like his, uh, what's it called, his play type, whatever. You know, I took a hit, but, you know, when you play 65 games compared to playing, you know, 80 all these other years, it kind of just. It, like, shows something, you know, comparably to like a guy like, you know, curry or something. You know, he played a bunch of games and he slowly slowed down and, you know, he came back up. But Giannis, his play style doesn't necessarily support that. He relies too much on his athleticism, and he has not developed a three ball yet, and he's 31 years old.
He's still going to be amazing. He's still going to be top five, top four, but I don't think he's going to be as good as my.
[00:57:44] Speaker B: Number one, number two, I have Jason Tatum.
I think that between him and Giannis is very close, but again, I'm a very, very big Giannis guy, so I have him at one, but we'll get to that in a sec. But Jason Tatum finally got his ring last year alongside Jalen Brown. Tatum, one of the best shooters in the league, one of the best creators in the league. He's very good at getting to his own shot, and that's what he does best. He knows how to win basketball games, and the Celtics are going to win a lot of basketball games this year, just like they did last year. So Tatum's going to be just as good as ever. And I think despite being as good as he is, I think Giannis is still slightly better just because of everything he does on the court, including defensive.
But Tatum, number two, it's not a knock on of at all because he is a certified bucket.
[00:58:33] Speaker C: Yeah. Number two, I have the most versatile player in the NBA, Jason Tatum.
I was talking to Nick about this yesterday. He's the only player you can really think of other than honestly. Well, other than honestly probably the guy ahead of him that's like top ten to 15 defender, top ten to 15 scorer, top ten playmaker, and a top 15 rebounder in the NBA as well. I think Jason Tatum's awesome. He's gonna have a great year, and I really like how much he's developed as a playmaker. Like I. I said top ten as a playmaker and not ten to 15 because I think he's definitively top ten as a playmaker. I mean, it showed in the playoffs.
[00:59:12] Speaker A: He's the best playmaker on the team.
[00:59:13] Speaker C: Yeah, he is. He is the best playmaker on the team. He's a beast. I mean, there's not much else to say. I think scoring might continue to dip a little bit. He could even get down to 25 or 26, but.
[00:59:24] Speaker A: Okay. Yeah. So I'll just start by saying why I think Tatum's won. I think that he does everything offensively besides interior scoring, miles better than Giannis does. I think that defensively in the perimeter, better defense, perimeter defender. I think that the only two things that Giannis has on him is interior defense and interior scoring. And I think Tatum is significantly better shooter, significantly better playmaker, and God forbid I say just as good of a rebounder.
[00:59:52] Speaker B: So, number one, I have Yanisanta da Kounmpo again. He just gets better every year. That's really what it is. Like, I don't know how he does it. He's 30 years old now, and he's still just as good as he was when he was 27, 26, 25. And he's a dang bucket.
[01:00:09] Speaker C: He shows absolutely no signs of decline.
[01:00:12] Speaker B: Yeah. And he just gets injured at the wrong times because he played more games than he did his second. Yeah, he played one more game than he did his second mvp year.
So he's played between that. It was like 62 games every season, and then last year, he played 73 games. Just missed out on the key ones at the end of the year, which was really unfortunate.
But Giannis is legit. As legit as it gets.
Other than web and yama, I think he's the best shot blocker in basketball because he does it so in such a versatile way. He can just chase people down. He does everything. Giannis is a freaking monster.
[01:00:49] Speaker C: Yeah. My argument for Giannis being one is like, he's. He falls in a very, like, short list of players that are currently in the NBA that are, like, so good that they're victims of voter fatigue. Like, right there with Jokic, LeBron and Curry, the only three other ones that are so good, you know, on an all time scale, that they are victim to voter fatigue. Like you, if you look at Giannis stat lines over his career, you would say that he has like four or five MVP's. That's how good he is. And I think this is a year where on top of probably, like Jamie was saying, have the best year. Having the best year of his career last year. Statistically, I think it gets even better this year. I just said I think he'll be the number two in MVP voting. And that's why I expect Giannis to be the best power forward in the NBA.
[01:01:35] Speaker A: Okay, so last position centers. So starting off, I have bam at five. Like you said, he'll be the first option this year on the Heat. So, yeah, I think he'll be all right. The four guys ahead of the guy that is at four, I don't think is really even better than him, but I think he'll maybe be a little bit better at the end of the season.
[01:01:54] Speaker B: Number five, I have Devonis bonus.
Had to get a king in there somehow.
[01:01:59] Speaker A: Bam.
[01:01:59] Speaker B: Adebayo. I think it's more of a. Not really that Sabonis is so much better than bam at all. It's more of like a five eight five b type thing. But Simonis wasn't even an all star last year, but made all NBA best rebounder in basketball, was one of the best playmakers for his position in basketball. Not named Nikola Jokic. And he scores at a very significant level. Defensively, obviously not the best, but offensively, you're not really going to find a big that does as much as he does. Not named Nicola Jokic. So Simone decided to get my guy in there.
[01:02:32] Speaker C: All right, my just shout out, Christoph Simonis and Sengun. They were just left off the list for me. You know, I was talking to Nick about this.
I wanted to put christophs on here so bad. I think when he's healthy, he's really, really good. At number five, though, I have, bam, dare I say, the second best defender in the NBA behind Giannis Antonokounmpo. I think that's what elevates him over guys like Christops and Sabonas, especially Sabonis's defense and Sengoon for this year. And I was just talking about how I think he assumes that role of being the number, the true number one option on the Heat this year. I think he was last year, too, but I think this is the year where it becomes more official.
[01:03:13] Speaker A: Well, yeah, so, number four, I have Anthony Davis.
You know, he's actually been pretty healthy the last two years. You know, right when Westbrook left, I guess he decided he wanted to be healthy, so. But it doesn't really matter. I always make this argument for him and LeBron. It doesn't matter. Doesn't win them any game, no matter how much they play. They always though they'll win these games on primetime television, then lose eight games to the, to the Pistons, Hornets and Js, you know, so, yeah, I think he'll be all right, you know, overrated, but he'll be good.
[01:03:43] Speaker B: Yeah. Number four, I also have Anthony data Davis again, defensively, you're not really gonna find a whole lot better than him. He still scores at a high level shooting. His efficiency has gone down a tad as his career has progressed, especially since 2020. His three point shot has dropped a decent amount, but nonetheless, he's still a beast. And alongside LeBron James, they're gonna dominate and end up as a ten seed. So, yeah, go ad.
[01:04:07] Speaker A: Can't wait to see those open.
They'll probably beat the Wolves on opening night, and they'll say the lakes are in for a, you know, Showtime's India.
[01:04:14] Speaker B: Showtime's back, baby, with 55 games.
[01:04:16] Speaker C: Yeah. Number four, I also have Anthony Davis right up there. Top five defender in the NBA for sure. His scoring continues to get better. He's a solid playmaker, too, but, yeah, like Jamie was saying, shooting gone down the hill a little bit. They don't really need him to shoot, though. So no worry there. I'm not really taking that into too much cow. He's going to have a solid year. Solid year for ad.
[01:04:42] Speaker A: For sure. Number three, I have one, Mignama. I think that he'll be really good this year. I think, you know, he'll probably be the vote. He'll probably be like the second highest voted player in for the all star game this year. Yeah, I think he'll probably be that. Everybody just wants to see him be in it. He arguably could have been in it last year just based off of oats. I mean, yeah, he'll have a really good season. Depoy probably all NBA third team.
[01:05:02] Speaker B: So yeah, number three, I also have Victor Webinar, but I don't think there's a whole lot more time left before he starts climbing that ladder a little more to those, towards those top two guys. My pick for defensive player of the year and I think with Chris Paul and I think he's going to get more minutes. Webbanyama is going to dominate. He's going to average 25, 26 points a game, three blocks, two steals and yeah, he's going to dominate. He's going to have a quadruple double at some point, too. Maybe a few of them. Who knows?
[01:05:29] Speaker C: Yeah, I think he's averaging more than that at this point.
[01:05:31] Speaker B: I hope so.
[01:05:32] Speaker C: I think all three of these centers are top like six or seven players by the end of the year. Women Yama I think he'll average like 27 28 this year. I don't think the spurs will be great, but I think he'll get into that, to that level where he's good enough to make them compete, at least for a play in spot.
Women Yama is going to be a beast and it's really hard to not put him higher, but it's coming soon. I'll be a little more patient, but yeah, I expect a big year out of Wemby depot as well.
[01:06:02] Speaker A: I haven't beat it, too, and honestly, I could see Wendy being better than him this year, but we'll see how that all pans out.
[01:06:08] Speaker B: So, yeah, I also have Joel Embiid it, too. Hopefully injuries don't borrow him back too much because that's been his big issue over the last couple of years. But scoring the basketball doesn't really get better than Joel Embiid. He does it at such a high level, including free throws. You got to be able to hit free throws and he does it so Joel, very, very good. Hopefully he could just stay healthy.
[01:06:31] Speaker C: Yep. At number two, I have Joel Embiid. I have him finishing third in MVP this year. I think he's going to buy in. I think he's going to play a lot of games for the Sixers and I mean when he plays, he's. He's scoring 70 like we saw last year. So this guy's a beast. He's the best scorer I've ever seen at the center position.
He can score from anywhere and he's 71250. So it's kind of unstoppable. Yeah.
[01:06:56] Speaker A: Number one, I think we this should be consensus for everybody that watches basketball. The best player in the NBA. Iv. Jokic at one think that he's gonna have a good season and they've said a lot of things lately about how they think or Malone specifically said that he said some things that Westbrook is the only point guard on the roster. So I think that they're really going to look for them too to be the main playmakers. So I really look for him to lead the league and assist. That's what I think is going to happen. I think Jokic is going to average like twelve assists per game this year.
[01:07:25] Speaker B: Yeah. Nikole Jokic, easily the number one guy most. I don't even know how to explain his playstyle because he plays like he doesn't care. Methodical, yeah, it's something. But Nikole Jokic, easily the best center in basketball, best playmaker.
Never seen that man miss within 5ft of the basket. He shoots well, does everything you need for him to do on the court. He's got the MVP's and he's got the finals ring to prove it. Number one.
[01:07:50] Speaker C: Yep. The Joker is number one. Oh, serious? All it said has been said. Yeah. All that's needed to be said has been said. Yeah. Jokic is a beast. The best playmaking center I've ever seen and probably the best playmaker in the NBA day. And then like Jamie said, you just don't see him miss around the basket as well. And he's not a bad defender by any means.
[01:08:13] Speaker B: That's all we got for you guys. For you guys this week.
Drake, please follow us on Instagram. And I you have room now. Thank you all for tuning in to WVUA 90.7 FM, Tuscaloosa student section fantasy sports. We'll see you all next week. Peace.
[01:08:36] Speaker A: Wvuafm, tuscaloosa.
