Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: WVUAFM Tuscaloosa.
[00:00:10] Speaker B: Hello everybody, this is WVUA 90.7 FM the Capstone. And welcome to episode 78 of the Full Court Press Podcast. My name is Jamie Martinez and I'm joined by Nick Atkinson and Kayden Johnson. To stay up to date, make sure to follow us on Instagram at fcppodcastua. With that being said, let's get into it. Shout out. Iman Schumpert. Let's kick it off with the news. Pretty, pretty hefty news to begin it. So far, per Shamsherania, the NBA has suspended Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid for three games for an altercation shoving a columnist in a post game locker room. A whole lot of, a lot of things went into this one. I'm pretty sure the journalist said something about his family.
I believe it was about his dead brother and Embiid proceeded to shove him afterwards. So I'm not going to say this is a hit for the Sixers because all but I mean he's a top three player in the NBA, but he hasn't stepped on the court this season. So what's three more games? You know, I'm saying he probably wasn't even going to play them anyway. So how are you feeling about this whole Joel situation? I'm a little uneducated on it, but I do know that it, you know, had to do a journalist mentioning his dead brother and shoving him. Protecting much?
[00:01:23] Speaker C: Well, there's, I think there's two sides of it.
Both, both are in the wrong. I feel like it's not crazy to say that there's a certain line that you and there's a certain standard you have to hold yourself to as a journalist or as a columnist, whatever this guy was and he crossed a line talking about players personal life that, you know, maybe he's not too comfortable talking about with. But then on Joel and beat side of things, violence isn't is not the answer. Like, like just straight up hitting somebody or shoving somebody is just never pretty much never going to end well for you.
[00:01:56] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:01:57] Speaker C: No matter what the person says.
[00:01:58] Speaker B: Yeah, I agree completely.
Moving on. A lot of injury news this week considering it's the first week of the NBA already tipped off. A lot of good games going on but unfortunately a lot of injuries as well, the most recent of which injury blow for the Denver Nuggets who are I'm not going to say struggling but not off to certain expectations. But Aaron Gordon will miss multiple weeks due to a right calf strain. Sources tell ESPN a bit of a hit for their fringe, all star type of guy, Aaron Gordon. Obviously he was there for their championship team and now they're going to be without him for the foreseeable future. So how much does this hurt Denver right now without Aaron Gordon?
[00:02:37] Speaker A: Pretty big because they don't have anybody that could even really fill that need, I don't think. Yeah.
[00:02:41] Speaker C: Who knows?
[00:02:41] Speaker A: Watson's probably backup power forward.
[00:02:46] Speaker C: Clemson guy, Hunter Tyson. You think he'll. But I mean he'll have to get.
[00:02:50] Speaker A: He'll have to get minutes.
[00:02:51] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:02:51] Speaker A: But I don't know if he'll start. I think P. Watt will start.
[00:02:53] Speaker C: Yeah. Yeah. I don't think he'll start either. But I just mean guys that they're going to try to fill in that.
[00:02:57] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:02:58] Speaker C: Position for AG's been pretty good this year too.
[00:03:02] Speaker B: Who?
[00:03:03] Speaker C: Aaron Gordon.
[00:03:04] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:03:04] Speaker B: Really?
[00:03:04] Speaker A: He's been like probably the second best player on there.
[00:03:06] Speaker C: Yeah. So that's, that's a big loss for them. And like Jamie was saying, they're already struggling. Yeah, I think they are. I would say offensively especially that.
[00:03:15] Speaker B: I mean they can't shoot for nothing.
[00:03:16] Speaker C: They can't 45 points a game with his already given 10 assist just for them to be able to compete with high level offenses.
[00:03:25] Speaker B: Completely agree. Moving on to some more unfortunate news. San Antonio spurs coach Greg Popovich suffered a health issue before Saturday's game and assistant Mitch Johnson is expected to be the interim head coach for the indefinite period.
So Popovich goes down and I saw something earlier today that Shams didn't tweet, but something about how spurs officials are beginning to be worried about his health in this situation. So prayers up to spurs legendary head coach Greg Popovich in these pretty rough times. So hopefully health is not the biggest concern, but the spurs will have to move forward with it regardless. So I'm going to pivot to you. Kaden, really quick. Did you have any other news while.
[00:04:07] Speaker C: I'm scrolling through more? Just unfortunate injury news. This is a little bit dated, but Orlando Magic superstar Paulo Benchero diagnosed with a torn right oblique and he's out indefinitely, but he'll be reevaluated within four to six weeks, depending on how he responds to therapy and treatment.
Any thoughts on that? I mean, especially just from how well he started the season.
[00:04:31] Speaker B: Honestly, this was a massive blow to not just the Magic, but to me as a man, considering he was on my fantasy team and he was having one heck of a year, I'll say that. Averaging 29, nine and five through the first about week and a half. He's been incredible MVP candidate and the Magic were doing really well. Jalen Suggs has been playing very, very well off of him. But Paolo goes down. Hate to see it. He's been playing like a top 10 guy in the league. Undoubtedly. He's been amazing.
[00:04:57] Speaker C: 50 big 50 ball from Paulo. Um, yeah, it, it stinks because he, he had really taken that third level jump. Nick was telling me the other day he thinks he's, he was top 10 this season like as far as just based off play so far in the year. And I, I completely agree.
[00:05:12] Speaker A: Yep. And they were, they were winning too, so.
[00:05:14] Speaker C: Yeah. Yeah. And it, it's already shown their offense struggling without it. They scored what, 84 I think the other night against the, the Mavericks and their leading scorer was Franz with 13.
[00:05:24] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:05:25] Speaker C: So when you take Paulo out of an already, you know, not great offense, it gets even worse. Paulo's playmaking, Paulo's scoring like he, he really is maybe the only shot creator on their whole team. Like, Franz can kind of create his own shot, he can drive well.
And then like Cole Anthony is a bucket off the bench. But other than that, Paulo is really the only one that has that post up mid range game in his arsenal.
[00:05:50] Speaker A: Yeah, he's the only one that can really score.
[00:05:52] Speaker C: Yeah, really.
Other than that, I have a couple more injury news. Pelicans forward Herb Jones, Roll Tide is out two to four weeks with a right shoulder strain and partial tear in his rotator cuff. And then CJ McCollum is also out two to three weeks with a right adductor strain. So Pelicans just getting smacked. Yeah, he's, I think injured too already, so.
[00:06:16] Speaker B: Hate to see that. For a very promising, promising New Orleans team. I know it's early, but injuries, they can stack up over time. It's good to get them out of the way.
[00:06:24] Speaker C: And it's always the issue with the Pelicans too.
[00:06:27] Speaker B: That's their thing.
[00:06:27] Speaker C: And it's not even one guy is injury prone. Like they just. The injury bug just bites them in different places every year.
[00:06:33] Speaker B: It feels like it's terrible.
[00:06:35] Speaker C: And then lastly, Pacer center Isaiah Jackson has sustained a torn right Achilles tendon.
The second time the Pacers lost a big man to a non contact Achilles tear this year already.
[00:06:47] Speaker B: I hate that.
[00:06:48] Speaker C: Insanely unfortunate.
[00:06:49] Speaker A: Who else? Miles Turner?
[00:06:51] Speaker C: I think one of their other bigs, like further down the bench.
[00:06:56] Speaker A: Oh, okay. Okay. Yeah, I have no clue who you're talking.
[00:07:00] Speaker B: Yeah, man, that sucks.
[00:07:02] Speaker A: Yeah, it's terrible.
[00:07:03] Speaker C: And he was playing good too. He was a big Big part in there. Went over the Celtics earlier this year. That was so annoying, too.
[00:07:12] Speaker B: Yeah, you hate to see that. Shout out the Pacers. Shout out Tyrese Haliburton.
[00:07:16] Speaker C: It was. Oh, Wiseman. Wiseman.
[00:07:18] Speaker B: Oh, yeah, that was. That was the first game.
[00:07:19] Speaker C: I couldn't remember who it was.
[00:07:21] Speaker A: I forgot they even had him.
[00:07:22] Speaker B: Yeah, that was the first game. That was like 10 minutes in too. He just blew his Achilles out immediately.
[00:07:26] Speaker C: That's. That's insane too, though. The. In the first couple weeks of the season, you lose two.
[00:07:31] Speaker B: Yeah, that's big.
[00:07:31] Speaker C: Into a non contact Achilles tear.
[00:07:34] Speaker B: That's. Yeah. They're gonna have to be playing Obi Toppin a lot at that, you know, at the final.
[00:07:38] Speaker C: Yeah, he'll have to. They're probably wishing they didn't trade Jalen Smith away too.
[00:07:43] Speaker B: Probably. Yeah, for sure. And then they get. How long. How long ago was Goga bizarre?
[00:07:49] Speaker A: He's on Orlando.
[00:07:50] Speaker B: Yeah, I know he's on Orlando.
[00:07:51] Speaker C: Orlando for a couple.
[00:07:52] Speaker B: Yeah, okay. That's what I figured. I knew he was on Orlando, but didn't know how long the gap was. So with the news out of the way, we can move on to.
Let's go over some of the biggest games that have happened since the initial tip off of the NBA Day 1. So I believe we're about a week and a half, two weeks in now. Games have been. Games have been good. A lot of surprises. We'll get into our overreactions later, but let's just kick it off with. I'm trying to go back to the first games, but it won't let me.
[00:08:23] Speaker C: Yeah, we haven't done a show in a week.
[00:08:25] Speaker B: It's been a little bit. There was some busy schedules last week, but yeah, for sure. Is there any games that stick out to you guys while I'm looking through? Because I was trying to. I'm being screwed with right now.
[00:08:37] Speaker C: Yeah, let's go.
Let's go back a couple weeks. I won't do like very, very early in the season, but wanted to get Yalls thoughts on one of the earlier, earlier games of the year. Clippers beating the Nuggets. This one kind of talks about or like goes back to our point about the. The. The Nuggets offense struggling. The Clippers beat the Nuggets second. It was second game of the year. 109. 104. In Denver. Norman Powell had 37, Jokic had 41, and Nuggets still only scored 104 points.
[00:09:10] Speaker A: Yeah, that's ridiculous. It's ridiculous how nobody besides their Top, I'd say like seven players can do anything. And those like bottom three, the other ones that get minutes can't provide.
[00:09:21] Speaker C: Well, even guys, guys that they need to make an impact just aren't. Like, Sarge is just nothing. Like Darius Arik has not done anything.
[00:09:29] Speaker B: Zero points.
[00:09:30] Speaker C: And then they. They have guys that. That. I mean, I don't know. I just need to Play. Is. Is DeAndre Jordan hurt or is he just.
[00:09:36] Speaker A: He's been playing and he's really bad.
[00:09:37] Speaker C: Yeah, exactly. It's just guys that they need to step up. Zeke Naji is someone. They've paid already, you know, and he's not doing anything.
So they. They've just got to figure something out offensively, whether that means in the draft, in the next draft, they're making a move at the deadline.
[00:09:52] Speaker A: Yeah, they definitely need to do.
[00:09:53] Speaker B: They need shooting desperately.
[00:09:54] Speaker A: And I. Yeah, they need a backup center, too. I'd say that something. Yeah.
[00:09:58] Speaker B: I think just getting rid of KCP in general just sucks.
[00:10:01] Speaker C: Y. Yeah.
[00:10:01] Speaker B: He's the best shooter on the team. Not named Michael Porter Jr. But MPJ is not going to shoot that well every night. He only has nine points in this game out of. In 38 minutes. He led the team in minutes. And cardio. Yeah. Big cardio day. Big Tony Snell day for Michael Porter Jr. But I'm sorry, Nick, but Russell Westbrook is also, you know, barring yesterday's game, he played well yesterday, but in this one he struggled with a two, two and one stat line.
[00:10:26] Speaker A: Yeah. So he has not been good this year at all.
[00:10:28] Speaker B: Yeah. And it definitely does not help the shooting struggles for Denver. But shout out, shout out the Clippers too, for beating them in this one. They've been surprisingly.
I'll just say they've been a surprise to me so far. I thought all of us thought they were going to just be really bad. But three and four, I think, yeah, they're not horrible. But Harden leads the league in assists. He had 16 assists in this game. Geez. 23, 16 and 6. And then Norman Powell, who I will get to later, has been a very, very big surprise to me as well. I'm pretty sure he's averaging 24, 25 a game at this point, which is extremely surprising. Norman Powell, of all people, is averaging these numbers. And in this game, he has 37 against the Nuggets, so I feel like.
[00:11:08] Speaker C: That'S a little disrespectful.
[00:11:09] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:11:10] Speaker C: Is it really, you know, that big of a surprise. Did he.
[00:11:13] Speaker A: Yeah, he looked up at you whenever we went to that game.
[00:11:15] Speaker B: That's true.
[00:11:16] Speaker A: Eye contact with me.
[00:11:17] Speaker B: And Norman Powell did make eye contact with him.
[00:11:18] Speaker C: He's our background of our group chat. Yeah, he's the background of the podcast.
[00:11:22] Speaker B: That is true.
[00:11:23] Speaker C: Norman Powell.
[00:11:24] Speaker B: I'm sorry, Norman Powell. I should have known this was coming. He's like that. Oh man, I'm gonna get into him later. He's. Yeah, we don't need to be surprised anymore.
But moving on, like I said, we haven't covered really any of the games since the tip off. So I want to go back to opening day.
Celtics, Knicks, the very first game of the NBA season. We talked about it, we gave our predictions. Pretty sure I said Celtics would win in a, in a fairly close one. I did say it was going to be high scoring. But the Celtics just smoked the Knicks in this game. 132 to 109.
The Celtics shot the three ball unbelievably. I believe this was the night they tied the all time NBA record for three pointers in a game.
Literally everybody played very, very well. Shout out. Jason Tatum, who has been on an absolute tear this season, had 37, 10 and 4 in only 30 minutes. He's been playing very efficient basketball, I will say. But any thoughts on this? Celtics, Knicks opening night game?
[00:12:24] Speaker C: Yes, lots of thoughts. It's banner night. You know, we weren't going to come out there and lay an egg.
[00:12:31] Speaker B: True.
[00:12:31] Speaker C: This is a little preview for what it's going to look like in the, in the playoffs as well, I think. I mean we're, we're going to demolish every team in the east. And I think I didn't even know necessarily how much. I believe that to be the case going into the season. But after the first two weeks, that's definitely a big takeaway that I've had. Especially with the Knicks, the Bucks and the Sixers all semi disappointing. Especially the Bucks and the Sixers. They're big disappointments so far this year. But the Knicks even don't necessarily look great. Like there's definitely holes that they need to fix. But as for the Celtics, this is without Kristaps Porzingis as well. And then Al Horford played 25 minutes. Derek White played 27 minutes. Nobody, none of the starters played more than 31 minutes actually. So I mean, this is, this is us just absolutely laying the hammer on somebody. I mean, Jason Tatum is playing at an MVP level right now and this game got that started. And then like you were saying, Jamie, nobody on the team could miss a 3 until we needed one more to break the record. And then we missed, what, 13 in a row.
[00:13:34] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:13:35] Speaker C: So good. Good things from Boston, though. Peyton Pritchard, he didn't have a great game in this one, but he's in the lead, I think, Vegas, odds wise, to win six man of the year.
[00:13:46] Speaker B: Very deserving. He's been.
[00:13:47] Speaker C: Yeah, he's been a.
[00:13:48] Speaker B: He's been out of his mind this year. I can't lie.
I have two games here, both of them connecting due to the, you know, being about the same team, but. First game, Thursday, October 31st, Halloween night. The Milwaukee Bucks going into Memphis to take on the Grizzlies and Damien Lillard with quite possibly the worst game of any star player. Just about ever. 33 minutes, two rebounds, four assists, four points. Damian Lillard played 1 for 12. Yeah, 1 for 12. He was awful in this game. Giannis has 37 and 11 in 34 minutes. He's plays incredible. But the Grizzlies dominate the Milwaukee Bucks 122 to 99. And this has kind of been the story of the Milwaukee Bucks season because we can go. So the very next game, they are back home against the Cleveland Cavaliers and they lose 114 to 113, despite incredible games from both Giannis and. Where'd he go? Damian Lillard. Damian Lillard, 41 points, Giannis 34 and 16 rebounds. They play great, but they lose to the Cavs, who I want to say.
[00:14:52] Speaker C: The Cavs have beat him twice in a row. Yeah, yeah.
[00:14:56] Speaker B: Yesterday, Garland, I believe, at 37 or 39. And they won in this game. Donovan Mitchell led scoring with 30 points for the Cavs, but I don't know what's up with Milwaukee. They have been atrocious.
[00:15:08] Speaker A: I mean, I could have told you they weren't going to be good.
[00:15:10] Speaker B: They are currently sitting at one and five, not one in five.
[00:15:13] Speaker C: Yeah, it's the biggest disappointment in the NBA this year. I would say we all had them.
[00:15:18] Speaker A: At the back end of the playoffs, though.
[00:15:20] Speaker C: I don't know. I think I had them at like, the four.
[00:15:22] Speaker A: I think I had them at seven or six.
[00:15:24] Speaker B: Because you predicted the Giannis MVP season, which. Not crazy. He's been incredible.
[00:15:29] Speaker C: I'm second.
[00:15:31] Speaker B: Second.
[00:15:32] Speaker C: Yeah. But I had the Bucks at four, behind the Magic.
No, no, I had him at five because I had the Sixers above them, too. Okay. I mean, but yeah, I still didn't think they would be like this level of bad. Like they're.
I don't know. We'll get. We'll get into that for the overreactions I didn't want to give one of my.
[00:15:48] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:15:49] Speaker C: Overreactions away.
[00:15:50] Speaker B: I got the same.
[00:15:51] Speaker A: You have the Pacers at two, right?
[00:15:52] Speaker B: Like the Pacers at one.
[00:15:53] Speaker A: Like you thought they should have been once the two seed.
[00:15:55] Speaker B: Yeah. One seed.
[00:15:57] Speaker C: Yeah, one seed. Okay. Yeah. Yeah.
[00:15:58] Speaker B: Not because of Tyrese Halliburton. That's my guy, but Andrew Nemhard, TJ McConnell. TJ just knows what he's doing out there. So.
[00:16:04] Speaker C: Yeah, I like last one out kind of guy.
[00:16:06] Speaker B: Yeah. Bring your lunch pail to work type of guy.
[00:16:08] Speaker A: Rick Carlisle.
[00:16:09] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah, Rick Carlisle.
Real gritty dude. Love him. But moving on to our next game. This one's from yesterday, actually. The Philadelphia 76ers headed to Phoenix, and Phoenix pulls out the W, 118 to 116 in a very, very close game where Paul George misses the winning shot. KD drills the winner with 35, 6, and 4. KD has been phenomenal this season.
Just incredible. Devin Booker did not really play well with 13 points. Bradley Beale with 17. Yousef Nurkic with 15 and 15. Suns sitting at 61 in Philly without Joellen Bead sitting at 1 and 5. Very, very surprising start for the 76ers. Don't really feel like they're getting talked about as much as somebody like Milwaukee who's also struggling. Do we believe Philly deserves the same treatment, or how are we feeling about Philly so far?
[00:17:01] Speaker C: I.
I would say no, not yet, because they're. They've been plagued with injuries a lot more than Milwaukee has, but they're. They're getting close. I mean, if they keep this up, say, maybe they, like, they're like, 3 and 10 here in a couple of weeks, then. Yeah, then they do definitely deserve to be in those kind of conversations about being a bust of a team.
[00:17:21] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:17:21] Speaker C: But I would still say that it's a little too early right now, because what they're asking of Tyrese Maxey and what they have asked of him so far this season is ridiculous. I mean, he's playing 40 minutes a game. Feels like an. And being asked to score 40 points if they want to even be able to compete in a game.
[00:17:37] Speaker B: Yeah, it's very surprising. Max, he's been very, very good this season, and this one, he has 32 points in 41 minutes. But you got to get it more out of Paul George, who only has.
[00:17:46] Speaker C: Yeah. First game back.
[00:17:47] Speaker B: That's true. Yeah. I'll. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. He plays 32 minutes first game back, so. But Caleb Martin plays 39 minutes. That's a lot of minutes.
[00:17:56] Speaker C: Yabu played 30. He had 19, too.
[00:17:58] Speaker B: Yeah, he was good. Yabu's been very, very good. I like Yabu. Shout out Jared McCain. He got three minutes out there, too, so. But nonetheless, the Suns get the W. The Suns are sitting at 6 and 1 even with Devin Booker playing, you know, not like himself. So could the Suns be threats?
[00:18:16] Speaker C: Yeah, they locked in this year. It's already. The advantage of having a real point guard is already showing. Bradley Bill has played significantly better this season as opposed to last year, and I think they're looking like a contender. Yeah.
[00:18:29] Speaker A: Yeah. If they were to get a better center, I feel like they'd be top five team in the NBA.
[00:18:36] Speaker B: I completely agree. So now you guys want to get into some overreact?
[00:18:41] Speaker C: Yeah. Meat and potatoes and titers.
[00:18:43] Speaker B: Let's get into our main segment. We've gotten some overreaction statements, and we're going to talk about them through the first week and a half, two weeks of the NBA. We've got some takes, we've got some crazy things to say. So we'll start with Kaden. We're going to Nick. We'll go to me afterwards. So let's kick it off.
[00:18:59] Speaker C: All right, first up, going back. I just, like, hinted at this a second ago, but I think the Milwaukee Bucks might need to call it in and Tank, like, I know that's crazy, but this isn't just for this season type of thing, because obviously they're good enough to make the playoffs and they're good enough to be the six or seven seed. This. This is a team that could split even. They could end up.500 on the year, but I just don't think it's getting. They're not getting anywhere, and they're constantly getting worse, and that's shown since they won that ring. I think this is the time now where we decide, like, are we going to trade Giannis and go in a completely different direction with the entire franchise, or are we going to utilize Giannis's prime, which I think they should do, maybe Tank, hold Giannis back a little bit and try to pick up a young star that they can build around because they don't have many more years of Dame left either. But going into next year with Dame Giannis and say, an explosive young wing like they used to have in Chris Middleton, Say, maybe like VJ Edgecomb, they're Ace Bailey. Like, there's guys in this draft that they could realistically get. They could change their team, but they.
[00:20:09] Speaker A: Probably don't have their pick. The Blazers probably have their pick.
[00:20:12] Speaker C: Yeah, well, they need to trade for. Yeah, like they, they, they need to be on that.
[00:20:19] Speaker B: Yeah, send him back to Portland.
[00:20:21] Speaker A: I mean, he'd definitely have to go if they want to do something. I think at least they could probably trade him to, like Miami for hero or something.
[00:20:29] Speaker B: It's funny, crazy that Giannis is in trade talks. I feel like that's like one of the most untouchable players in basketball, or at least should be. He's a debatably the greatest Milwaukee buck of all time. Yeah.
[00:20:40] Speaker C: If he did get traded, he'd be the best player of all time to be traded.
[00:20:43] Speaker B: Yeah, definitely. He is incredible. Who do we think it is right now? Kd, best player of all time to get traded?
[00:20:49] Speaker A: Yeah, probably.
[00:20:50] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:20:50] Speaker A: Or LeBron. LeBron got treated to the Heat.
[00:20:53] Speaker C: Oh, yeah. Okay, true. KD gets. LeBron didn't get traded to the Heat.
[00:20:57] Speaker A: For like Jay Crowder in like a second. Yeah.
[00:20:59] Speaker C: You mean serious?
[00:21:00] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:21:00] Speaker B: Well, he, he wouldn't be the best anyway.
[00:21:02] Speaker C: Oh, is it. Was it like just a sign and trade?
[00:21:03] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:21:04] Speaker C: Yeah. Okay. I mean, I guess that counts.
[00:21:06] Speaker B: Poor Jake Crowder got traded for LeBron, but yeah, it's still, it's surprising to see Yanis and trade talks. I wonder where he would end up.
[00:21:13] Speaker C: Oh, okay. Oh. I'm looking at Milwaukee's draft pick for this year, and it's protected to the pelicans for selections five through 30. But if they're one through four, then it goes to Brooklyn.
[00:21:28] Speaker B: Oh, so they ain't even getting it.
[00:21:30] Speaker C: Yeah, that sucks.
[00:21:32] Speaker B: Brooklyn. Brooklyn's about to get a steal.
If the Bucks are that bad.
[00:21:37] Speaker C: Yeah, they don't have. God, they're so screwed. Never mind. All right, take back everything I said. I mean, they do need a tank still, I guess. I don't know, maybe they do need to just trade Giannis. They don't have a draft pick until 2031.
[00:21:49] Speaker A: Oh.
[00:21:51] Speaker B: Oh, my God.
[00:21:51] Speaker A: They could get a whole lot of picks for Giannis.
[00:21:54] Speaker C: Yeah, a whole lot of picks you can get.
[00:21:56] Speaker B: I mean, franchises you would have to.
[00:21:58] Speaker A: Have sent him to OKC and I.
[00:22:00] Speaker C: Takes like six first an all star caliber player and a young guy probably.
[00:22:04] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:22:05] Speaker A: Like I'd say, J Dub.
[00:22:06] Speaker C: I mean, he's the second best player in the NBA.
[00:22:08] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:22:09] Speaker B: You know, DeMar DeRozan.
[00:22:14] Speaker C: Every year. Giannis is on pace to have the best year of his career this year.
[00:22:17] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:22:17] Speaker C: After having the best year of his career last year.
[00:22:19] Speaker B: It is incredible what he is doing. And I. I mean, we called it too.
[00:22:23] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:22:23] Speaker B: This has been incredible.
But still the Bucks. I don't know if it's a depth thing or what's going on, but they have been straight up atrocious. Is it Doc Rivers fault? Maybe Darvin's fault?
Is that. Is that dumb and dumber right there? Yeah, that is. I don't know why they even hired Darvin Ham.
Definitely weird.
But Nick.
[00:22:50] Speaker A: Huh?
[00:22:50] Speaker B: You got an overreaction.
[00:22:51] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. Okay. So my overreaction is that LaMelo Ball is not as good as everybody says that he is.
[00:22:59] Speaker B: That's crazy.
[00:23:00] Speaker C: That's crazy.
[00:23:01] Speaker B: I have a lamelo ball thing in here too. Me too.
[00:23:03] Speaker C: Me too. But it's completely the opposite. I said LaMelo Ball is close to being a top five point guard in the NBA.
[00:23:09] Speaker B: I said LaMelo Ball. Barring injury, LaMelo Ball lands on an all NBA team this season.
[00:23:13] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:23:13] Speaker B: Easily second or first.
[00:23:16] Speaker C: He's playing on pace to be second team all NBA. I would say.
[00:23:19] Speaker A: Yeah. Okay. So here's my thing. He has been playing good, but they haven't been winning. Then last night, once Brandon Miller came back and kind of all the offensive pressure was off of him, he wasn't what he has been. I had like 19 points and you know the Wolves beaten by 30 on 21 or something like that. So I don't know. I think that they'll. He'll be have a good season, but I just don't see like a. The consistency of a 28. 5 and 5 like what he's been doing. I don't see that.
[00:23:45] Speaker C: I don't. I'm not going to hold them not winning against him at all. I mean they're the worst run organization in the NBA and it's not even.
[00:23:52] Speaker A: Promoting close, but I don't think he can consistently put up those numbers.
[00:23:55] Speaker B: He did have a pretty bad game yesterday. He had 19, 2 and 2.
[00:23:59] Speaker C: I mean that's probably the first bad game he's had this year.
[00:24:02] Speaker B: Yeah, the fir. The game before that he had 36, 6 and 4.
[00:24:08] Speaker C: Yeah, that's. That's like what he's been all year. I. I don't know. I. Yeah, I just straight up disagree because I think he'll. He'll end the year averaging probably 27 or 28 with probably five, six rebounds and seven or eight assists a game.
[00:24:24] Speaker B: Yeah, right now he's averaging. He's averaging 28.66 assists, five rebounds. Yeah, that's low on the assist then for him too.
[00:24:31] Speaker A: But point, I don't think that the scoring will continue as much. Cause I know that they're gonna want him to pass the ball more and then.
[00:24:37] Speaker C: Yeah, definitely.
[00:24:38] Speaker A: People are coming back. Mark Williams is coming back, you know.
[00:24:40] Speaker C: So, yeah, I think because winning basketball for them will be Brandon Miller scoring. Brandon Miller scoring. 24, 25 a game. And Miles Bridges still giving them probably 17 to 22.
[00:24:51] Speaker B: Yeah, I think it's going to take a bit for them to adapt to. Miller just came back from that injury that took him out.
[00:24:56] Speaker C: Yeah. And I mean, he hasn't been healthy for much of his career so far of his short career. And then him and Lamelo have never.
[00:25:01] Speaker B: Really played together and Mark Williams hasn't touched the court this season, so they're missing out on a lot still.
Obviously this is first week overreactions, but I'm excited to see what the Hornets bring.
[00:25:10] Speaker C: Yeah, me too.
[00:25:12] Speaker B: All right. My first hater aid like Nick. Yeah. My first overreaction. The most improved player this season will be Grady Big.
[00:25:21] Speaker C: That's pretty good.
[00:25:22] Speaker B: Yeah, that was good.
[00:25:22] Speaker C: That was a good use of.
[00:25:23] Speaker B: That was good.
[00:25:24] Speaker C: That was nice.
[00:25:24] Speaker B: Grady Dick, Toronto Raptors.
He has been amazing this season. He's averaging 22 points a game currently, which is extremely surprising. I don't think if you would have asked anybody outside of Toronto what Grady Dick would be doing right now, it wouldn't be this. So my overreaction. Toronto necessarily hasn't been great, but Grady Dick has, and I have him as the most improved player by the end of the year.
[00:25:48] Speaker C: Well, I mean, he wouldn't be the only Toronto Raptor up for most improved player of the year. With RJ Barrett averaging 26, he's been very good this year on 45% shooting. He's having a career year. But yeah, Grady Dick's been awesome for them. This team is struggling. I had them like eight or seven in my Eastern Conference predictions. I had them really high. And I don't think they'll be able to achieve that unless something seriously changes. But they have had a lot of these young guys show a lot of promise, like RJ Barrett and like Grady Dick. Grady Dick's taking a huge jump. I know he worked with a trainer last year during the year to help improve his defense and shooting. I think he spent a little bit of time on the 905, the G League team for the Toronto Raptors, and it's definitely showing. And you know, once again, it just goes to show how beneficial it is for these, even for these lottery picks to be able to spend some time in the G League.
[00:26:42] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, he's shooting 38% from three at a high clip too. And 21.6 points per game. Rebounds and assists aren't really there right now, but it's not his part of the game. He's going to shoot that rock and he's doing it at a very, very high level. So shout out Grady Dick. Hopefully he keeps it going as the season goes on.
[00:27:01] Speaker A: Yeah. Okay. My next one would be that. What I was just looking at you. Okay.
[00:27:06] Speaker B: All right.
[00:27:07] Speaker A: Julius Randle is much, much better than call Anthony Towns and that he's a better fit and that the Timberwolves are going to be better than they were last year. So, you know, firstly, I think that the way that Julius Randle was able to like play, make, play defense and finish is all better than Cat. I think Cat really only can shoot better. But then on top of that, the way that Julius has been shooting this season, it's like you're not missing Cat at all because Ant is now shooting seven threes a game on like 45%. That Nas Reed, he's a good shooter. And then Julius Randle, he's been shooting like, you know, mid to high 30s also. So you're not really missing anything with Cat. You only got better than you got Divincenzo on top of that. And you've got the money away from Kat. So I just think that, I think that, you know, they are right up there with OKC to be the favorite to come out the West.
[00:27:54] Speaker B: So yeah, I like that. Julius Randle has been very, very good this season. It's surprising to see how much chemistry they have just this early into the season.
And honestly, I think it's been a win, win kind of situation for both teams because the Knicks are playing well, Cats playing well, and Julius Randle plays very, very well off Anthony Edwards. They have chemistry already, like I said. And Ant's playing some of the best basketball of his career right now, especially shooting. Shooting wise from three.
So yeah, I gotta say it's a win win. And it's not crazy to say Julius Randle.
[00:28:23] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:28:23] Speaker B: Has been a better fit.
[00:28:24] Speaker C: Yeah, I agree. I agree. I think, I think it's a win win. But the, the Timberwolves have the slight edge as far as who got the better end of the trade just because they got that DiVincenzo. They got DiVincenzo's production as well. And I, I do believe that Julius Randall is a thousand percent a better fit than Carl Anthony Towns. Not to hate on Carl Anthony Towns. I just think Julius Randall's Game kind of matches the Timberwolves philosophy a little bit better. He's very similar to Ant in terms of he wants the ball in his hands late in games. He's a confident player, maybe sometimes a little too like, a little overconfident, a little too confident. Tries to do a little bit too much sometimes. But what he does do well is bring a scrappy aspect to the game. He plays hard nosed defense and he can get hot every once in a while and give you 35 on any given night. As for Carl Anthony Towns, I think he's been great for the Knicks this year. He had 40 something one year.
[00:29:17] Speaker B: 44. 44 one year against Miami.
[00:29:19] Speaker C: So he, he's been nice as well. But yeah, I think Julius Randall just kind of fits that Timberwolves scheme a lot more and he brings a level of defense to the interior that that Cat couldn't bring.
[00:29:30] Speaker B: He.
[00:29:30] Speaker C: And on top of that, he's able to stretch out and guard on the perimeter a little bit better than guys like Carl Anthony, Townsend, Gobert.
[00:29:36] Speaker B: Yeah, I really like this trade for. For both teams.
[00:29:40] Speaker C: Yeah. Yeah.
[00:29:40] Speaker B: Julius Randle's shooting 57% from the field, 46% from three this season. So I mean, that's really everything and more that you're asking for out of Julius Randle with the 21.4 points per game. And then on the flip side, Cat is shooting 58% from three right now and 52 from the field. Yeah, that's insane. He's shooting very, very well through six games. But I will say Julius Randle is averaging 0.1 points per game more than Carl Anthony Town. So that means Julius Randall is better.
So yeah, shout out Timberwolves. They've been very, very good.
[00:30:14] Speaker C: All right, his turn. Is it me or you, Jimmy?
[00:30:16] Speaker B: Oh, it's my turn. Oh, dang. Okay.
Norman Powell. We've talked about him earlier. Norman Powell is going to be an All Star this season.
[00:30:24] Speaker C: Whoa.
[00:30:25] Speaker B: Western Conference All Star. I'm saying it. He's shooting. He's shooting that rock. I love what he's doing right now. He's sniping that rock.
[00:30:32] Speaker C: How many is he at? What's the average in 2025?
[00:30:37] Speaker B: So how we feel about Norman Power right now?
[00:30:39] Speaker C: I don't think he'll be able to hold it up long enough to be an All Star. Yeah, probably solely because I just think there's too much talent in the West. I mean, OKC's got three guys that I think are going to end up being All Stars.
The Wolves probably have two if that Nuggets have one. Like these are all just locks. Lakers have two locks. I mean, you know, they're LeBron's.
[00:31:00] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:31:01] Speaker C: Star. Even if he's not playing good enough. And then Anthony Davis has been great. Suns probably have two.
You know, like already there's kings after nine or ten. Yeah. Kings have three. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Haha.
[00:31:15] Speaker B: It's not crazy to say.
[00:31:18] Speaker C: Buddy Hill's gonna be an All Star.
[00:31:19] Speaker B: He's playing crazy.
[00:31:21] Speaker C: I can't lie that that's actually one of my. My takes.
[00:31:24] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:31:24] Speaker C: Buddy Hill. It's going to be an All Star. That seems a little more sustainable.
[00:31:28] Speaker B: That makes me really mad game.
[00:31:29] Speaker C: Just from the coaching aspect. Like it. They, they are telling Buddy Healed, who's already probably the second best three point shooter on the face of the planet right now, that he can shoot 12 threes a game.
[00:31:41] Speaker B: That's insane.
[00:31:41] Speaker C: When you have that kind of freedom. I think he just said it's the most free he's felt since he was in Oklahoma. When you have that kind of freedom, it's. It's crazy. Like the type of potential you could tap into.
[00:31:50] Speaker B: Yeah. I mean I was Buddy Heald's biggest fan back when I was really starting to watch basketball. Like when I. Yeah, I'm being serious. When I first started watching basketball, it was. I'm actually looking at the year here. 2018 was 2018. 19 season is when I was really starting to pay attention. And that was when buddy healed averaging 20 points a game. And I was telling people, you guys don't know Buddy Healed. Like he, he's like that. And I had people telling me, you don't know nothing, kid. You're stupid.
[00:32:14] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:32:14] Speaker B: And then I show him Buddy Healed stats and they're like, whoa, who is this guy? I'm like, he's Buddy.
[00:32:18] Speaker C: Buddy Time Wooden Award winner.
[00:32:19] Speaker B: Yeah, the goat.
And now look at him in Golden State. He's thriving.
[00:32:24] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:32:24] Speaker B: He hates Sacramento now.
[00:32:25] Speaker A: He's better than anybody that's ever probably played for Sacramento.
[00:32:28] Speaker B: Well, other than like Ben McLemore. Yeah.
[00:32:32] Speaker C: Okay. Yeah, yeah.
[00:32:34] Speaker B: Kevin Herder back in the day. Yeah, I miss it.
[00:32:38] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:32:38] Speaker B: But 22 points a game.
[00:32:39] Speaker C: Bobby Jackson.
[00:32:41] Speaker B: That's a good poll. I like Bobby Jackson, Jack Twyman, Otis Byrd song, you know, really taking me back. But 22 a game for Buddy Healer. I would. It's not crazy to say he's gonna be an All Star. I like it.
[00:32:51] Speaker C: You missed some of those like Sacramento legends like you said you like.
[00:32:54] Speaker B: Right.
[00:32:55] Speaker C: When you started watching in 2017, 18, that was like Right at the end of, like Otis Byrd songs. Prime.
[00:32:59] Speaker B: Yeah. Like, Oscar Roberts was kind of like the.
[00:33:02] Speaker C: You like, just missed some of those King's legends.
[00:33:05] Speaker B: Like. Yeah. Like Jerry Lucas. Yeah. A lot of those guys. Wayne Embry. Really, really wish I could. Really wish I could have watched these.
[00:33:13] Speaker C: Don't even get. I could. I could go on and on all day about film on Wayne Embry.
[00:33:17] Speaker B: Yeah. Greatest. One of the greatest players that I never got to watch was Wayne Every.
[00:33:21] Speaker A: You really miss Henry Ellison?
[00:33:22] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:33:23] Speaker A: Kings, right?
[00:33:23] Speaker B: Yeah. Purvis Ellison. And man, I was born in the wrong generation.
[00:33:28] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:33:28] Speaker B: Tell you why.
[00:33:29] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:33:31] Speaker B: Ralph Sampson. Man, times were good.
[00:33:33] Speaker C: Ralph Samson.
[00:33:34] Speaker B: Yeah. So who's next, Nick?
[00:33:37] Speaker A: Me.
[00:33:37] Speaker B: Yeah. Because we just talked about. Buddy. Healed.
[00:33:39] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:33:39] Speaker A: Oh, okay. Yeah. My next one is that the Cavs are not as good as they are.
[00:33:43] Speaker B: Really. I have the dead opposite.
[00:33:46] Speaker C: I have. The Cavs are a lock for this two seed in the East.
[00:33:49] Speaker B: Yeah, I said Cavs look like a Finals threat.
[00:33:51] Speaker C: Whoa. Chill out.
[00:33:52] Speaker B: It's an overreaction, man.
[00:33:53] Speaker C: Calm down.
[00:33:54] Speaker B: It's an overreaction.
[00:33:55] Speaker A: So. Yeah, I don't think.
I don't think that. I think that they're off to a hot start and I think that their level of competition hasn't been anything too crazy. You look at his scoring distribution, nobody even looks that good. Donovan Mitchell hadn't even been playing that good. He's averaging like 23.
[00:34:09] Speaker C: He had a really good game the other night. That was about the first time that I'd seen him like go off.
[00:34:13] Speaker A: He had like 14 last night. Played terrible.
[00:34:15] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:34:15] Speaker A: You know, it was all Garland, but I. I don't know. I don't think they're going to be able to keep it up. It'll be the same thing as last year, you know?
[00:34:22] Speaker C: Yeah, I agree the wheels will fall off at some point, but I think that'll happen in the playoffs. I think regular season wise. I also just think the east is weak. And especially if Philly and New York, Milwaukee and New York all stay down like this and then Orlando doesn't have Paulo for weeks, the Cavs are going to build up this. This gap early in the season between themselves and every other team in the east not named Boston to where they'll. They'll. I bet. I'm telling you, I think in a couple months we'll have Boston, Cleveland and then probably like a seven game gap.
[00:34:57] Speaker B: New York.
[00:34:57] Speaker C: It starts. Starts going on towards the end of the season. Yeah. Maybe maybe like three games and then New York and then like a five game gap. Yeah. I could I could see something like that, but I think the east is definitely going to have a really top heavy season.
[00:35:10] Speaker B: It just sucks. I'm a big Orlando believer and I.
[00:35:13] Speaker A: Thought, well, not anymore.
[00:35:13] Speaker B: Not anymore.
[00:35:14] Speaker C: Well, that, that's a team that, that.
[00:35:15] Speaker B: Really could end of the season if they get healthy. Yeah, they could be scary.
[00:35:20] Speaker C: Yeah. I just don't think the Cavs have. Have it in the playoffs, though. That's kind of shown time and time again. They have guys that underperform a little bit or guys that have holes in their games that don't get exposed until the playoffs. Like Evan Mobley. Yeah, Evan Mobley's gotta. Which he has improved a little bit this year, but come playoff time, he's got to be a consistent scorer and it's just something that he's missed.
[00:35:39] Speaker B: Same with Darius Garland. He was out a lot last season and in games he played he was kind of inconsistent. And I will say this season he's been pretty good. I think he had 39 last night, which has to be one of his best games ever. But who's to say next game he doesn't have like 122 and 2 because that's the type of guy Darius Garland is. So for Cleveland, they have to stay consistent and come playoff time, they really got to lock in because like we've talked about before, they didn't make a single move the off season.
[00:36:06] Speaker C: So at all, other than just firing jb, bigger stuff.
[00:36:09] Speaker B: So, I mean, not doing anything. I feel like that hurts more than talked about this.
[00:36:13] Speaker C: But. Who, who, who was it that they hired?
[00:36:16] Speaker B: Was it Kenny Atkinson?
[00:36:17] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:36:18] Speaker C: It wasn't.
[00:36:19] Speaker B: Okay, okay, I like Kenny Atkinson, but I mean, no head coaching experience with a team that likes to choke. It's a little scary.
[00:36:26] Speaker C: What makes you think that they're like. What makes you think that they're not? Just the schedule.
[00:36:32] Speaker A: Yeah, that.
[00:36:33] Speaker C: Because that is true. That's a valid point. Like they, they have played the Cavs.
[00:36:36] Speaker A: Twice or the Bucks twice. I think they play like the Pistons and the Nets. They're just not.
[00:36:41] Speaker B: I'm looking at it right now. They've beaten the Raptors. Pistons. Only. Only name that they've beaten is the Knicks. Who beat them by.
[00:36:48] Speaker C: Yeah, I was just about to say who. What teams have they beaten that have over a.500 record?
[00:36:52] Speaker B: The Knicks. The Magic. But I'm pretty sure the Magic are.
[00:36:56] Speaker C: Under now without Paolo. Yeah, I want to say they're like three and five right now.
[00:36:59] Speaker B: The Lakers.
[00:37:01] Speaker C: Lakers are probably up there and then the Bucks twice. So. Yeah, so maybe just Lakers And Knicks, like, maybe two out of their eight wins.
[00:37:08] Speaker B: Yeah, because the Raptors are eight.
[00:37:10] Speaker C: No, I don't think we've established that. Yeah, they're undefeated right now.
[00:37:14] Speaker B: Yeah, that would record them and okc, the only two undefeated teams left in basketball.
[00:37:18] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah.
[00:37:19] Speaker B: Very, very surprising.
[00:37:20] Speaker C: 7.
[00:37:21] Speaker B: And oh, yeah, they look very, very good. Which kind of leads into my overreaction. But OKC finishes with the best record in basketball.
[00:37:30] Speaker C: That's not crazy. I have one on here for them as well. I said OKC is the clear favorite to come out of the West.
[00:37:35] Speaker B: Yeah, definitely. I think they're the clear favorite other than Minnesota, who looks very, very good. But this OKC team is just. It's deep. It has. Covers every facet of the game that you need. You have your stretch big. You have your MVP candidate. You have the defense with Lou Dort and Alex Caruso. That's one of the most dangerous perimeter defensive duos. Yeah, by a lot. And then Chet, who blocks all these shots. And then you have Jdub. It's a very, very good team. And I think they're the favorites out of the West. And who's to say they don't finish with the best record in basketball?
[00:38:05] Speaker C: How many. How many wins do you think that is?
65.
[00:38:09] Speaker B: I'm only saying this because the Celtics have lost the game and they're not undefeated. Yeah, but I could see 65, 66 wins, maybe push it up, maybe 67, 68, who knows?
[00:38:19] Speaker C: 68 is a lot.
[00:38:20] Speaker B: It's a lot of wins.
[00:38:20] Speaker C: It is a lot. But I mean, this is a core that's been together for a while, too. Like, they have that chemistry. And like you were saying, they're the best defensive team in the NBA, which gives me reason to believe that this is a team that's going to hold this down in the playoffs as well, just because they can bring that high intensity defensive play. And then, you know, just as you were saying, they've got the MP mvp, one of the MVP favorites right now. They've got Chet Holmgren, who's looking like he's going to have an all star season.
[00:38:45] Speaker B: He's been incredible.
[00:38:46] Speaker C: Jdub's been good. And then, I mean, they have the role players as well. I don't even think Artenstein's been playing either. So that's another area of the game that they're just going to get better.
[00:38:54] Speaker B: Russo, Lou Dort, Isaiah, Joe.
[00:38:56] Speaker C: Yep.
[00:38:57] Speaker B: The other Jalen, Aaron Wiggins. Aaron Wiggins, Yeah. It's insane. They are very, very good.
[00:39:01] Speaker C: Yeah. And I just think Right now they're playing better than anybody probably in anybody in basketball. Them in the Celtics, I would say. I mean, Cavs too, but Cavs haven't had that like a tough schedule. But I would say OKC and the Celtics have been the most.
I feel the most impressed with them. Like, I think that, that. I would safely say that that's going to be the finals matchup. As of right now, I don't think anybody in the west has proven that they can take.
I don't feel confident saying anybody on the west would beat the Thunder in a series. Right now. I think the Wolves are probably the best bet. But I would still, if they played right now, if they started right now, I would say Thunder in six or seven.
[00:39:40] Speaker B: I will say I'm looking at their schedule now. They haven't faced anybody really incredible. They faced the Clippers, who have been surprising. They beat them by a good amount. They beat the Nuggets by a good amount. But then the Bulls.
[00:39:52] Speaker C: I mean, they beat Denver in Denver opening.
[00:39:54] Speaker B: That's true. That's true in Denver. Orlando, first game of the year. Next game they have is against Denver again.
Really, they don't really have a lot of tough games coming up. They do have the warriors, who are pretty good. And then in about a week and a half they have the Suns and then the Mavericks. So a little bit of a back to back there. I think that'll really test them. Yeah, that'll show.
[00:40:15] Speaker C: Warriors, Suns, Mavs. That's. That's a really good stretch for them. And all three of those games are like. Must watch too. Like those, those three really entertaining games.
[00:40:23] Speaker B: Yeah, the Suns game is a NBA cup game, so.
[00:40:26] Speaker C: Oh, that'd be nice. Awesome.
[00:40:27] Speaker B: That'd be fun.
[00:40:27] Speaker C: Cool.
[00:40:28] Speaker B: So okc, best schedule or not schedule, but best record in the NBA. Who knows?
[00:40:33] Speaker C: Yeah. Nick agrees.
[00:40:34] Speaker B: Oh, yeah.
[00:40:35] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:40:35] Speaker B: Yeah, he loves it.
[00:40:37] Speaker C: All right.
I'll go back to the Suns. I have sun. Suns are serious this year and I think our finals champion contender. I think the Suns are a serious cont. I would put him in my top four. I like that. To win the NBA finals.
[00:40:53] Speaker B: Of all the teams in the NBA.
[00:40:54] Speaker C: Yeah. So I'd go Celtics, Thunder, Wolves, Suns right now.
[00:40:57] Speaker B: I like that. I like that. So you don't think anybody else out of the East?
[00:41:00] Speaker C: No, I haven't seen anything. I haven't seen. I think Philly could. I said that before the season, but I haven't seen it yet from them. I'm saying right now, based off what I've seen this season, I would go Celtics, Thunder, Wolves, Suns.
[00:41:12] Speaker B: I like that. I love, love Phoenix. This team looks really good with Ty Jones, like you said earlier, tying it all in, being that real point guard. This helps them so much because like, like we saw yesterday, somebody like Devin Booker can have an off night and somebody else can pick it up and get them to win like kd.
[00:41:29] Speaker C: Yeah, these, these shooters off the bench have been good for them to. I mean, Grace Royce O'Neal's had a really good year. Quietly for them as well. They're having guys step up and when you have, when you can see that, when you can see like guys that have declined but are stepping back up, it kind of shows that the team's a little more bought in. I think they're, they're serious this season about championship or bust. And I think that'll show in the playoffs.
[00:41:51] Speaker B: Yeah, they're sitting at six and one only loss this season comes to the Lakers in a Mickey Mouse win. I'll say that because everyone they get is.
[00:41:58] Speaker C: Yeah. And they blew like a 20 point lead in that game. They were up like 22.
[00:42:02] Speaker B: So yeah, Lakers adjusted. But I mean they've beaten the Mavericks, the Clippers. They beat the Lakers. They beat the Clippers twice. And then Philly yesterday. So Phoenix. I really like that take. I would love to see them come away with the championship. And barring no injuries, knock on wood.
I could see Katie holding up another trophy.
[00:42:23] Speaker A: Thoughts on that?
[00:42:25] Speaker C: Yeah, no, I don't think.
[00:42:26] Speaker A: I don't agree. I don't like, dislike Katie anymore. So that's not like something that bothers me. It's just. I don't agree. I think they'll be like you. I think they are top five team in the NBA though.
[00:42:36] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:42:36] Speaker A: Top five favorite to win for sure. But yeah.
[00:42:40] Speaker C: Do you all have any more? I have a. I, I have a few.
[00:42:43] Speaker B: Yeah, man, throw them out.
[00:42:44] Speaker C: All right. I, I would say that Edie.
[00:42:45] Speaker B: Zach.
[00:42:45] Speaker C: Edie is the favorite for rookie of the year.
[00:42:48] Speaker A: I agree with that right now.
[00:42:48] Speaker B: Yeah, I agree that hasn't he had.
[00:42:50] Speaker C: Probably the best game a rookie he's had in a very long time. Last night or other than like Wemby.
[00:42:55] Speaker B: I guess mommy's had a few good ones.
[00:42:57] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:42:59] Speaker B: But yeah, none of this rookie class outside of Edie has been very impactful. Impactful.
[00:43:04] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:43:04] Speaker B: Shepherd's which not playing leads me to.
[00:43:06] Speaker C: Another one I had is recess. Should go to the G League.
[00:43:10] Speaker B: Oh, I like that. I mean he, he said it himself. He's just not as athletic as his competition.
[00:43:16] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah.
[00:43:17] Speaker B: He was the athlete in France, obviously, but now he's, you know, seen all these other guys. Whoa.
[00:43:22] Speaker C: He's about to learn the meaning of.
[00:43:24] Speaker B: Three and go be a cone.
But yes, I like that. Resasha should probably go to the G League.
I'm actually not sure what his season's looking like.
[00:43:33] Speaker C: I mean, it's all right. He's not playing bad, but it's. It's just the Hawks aren't going anywhere. Why. Why not just like, tap in to recession and try to get the most out of him that you can. Stashing him away for a year, letting him. Letting him spend time in the G League. They can bring him back up whenever, but I just think he needs to spend, you know, maybe a month or two in the G League, like out of the grand scheme of the season.
Yeah.
[00:43:57] Speaker B: His stats aren't looking great.
[00:44:00] Speaker C: Another thing, too, he's playing losing basketball. So you know that that's going to tear down his confidence even more than his confidence. Lower than his confidence already has with all the media things.
[00:44:10] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:44:10] Speaker C: Around them.
[00:44:11] Speaker B: Averaging nine points, one assist.
[00:44:13] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:44:14] Speaker B: Shooting is not looking good. 32% from the nail 23. Definitely. I think a trip to the G League would definitely help him out more than it would hurt work for Grady Dick. Look what he's doing.
[00:44:25] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:44:26] Speaker B: He's been crazy.
[00:44:28] Speaker C: All right. This one's kind of interesting. I think the. The Denver Nuggets have to make a move at the deadline.
[00:44:33] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:44:34] Speaker C: They have agree with that.
[00:44:35] Speaker B: They have to.
[00:44:35] Speaker C: They have to. They have to get specifically a bucket getter.
Look for a team that's selling and try to overspend a little bit just to get some instant offense.
[00:44:47] Speaker B: I think it has to be a shooter, somebody that could. It's just.
[00:44:50] Speaker C: This is crazy, but I was thinking, like, what if Cam Thomas.
[00:44:53] Speaker B: Oh.
[00:44:54] Speaker C: And I know that this doesn't fit the Nuggets, but the. The Nuggets need somebody that can. They can put on the point. This put on the court and score. I mean, like. Like something as simple as that. They don't have. Especially in that bench unit which Maury.
[00:45:09] Speaker B: Was supposed to be, and he just hasn't.
[00:45:11] Speaker C: He can be, but. But when you get down to that second unit, nobody can. Like, obviously Russell Westbrook is the best player on the bench, but they. He doesn't. Russell Westbrook's not, you know, 28 anymore. You know, he can't. He can't call an ISO and hit a step back three on somebody.
[00:45:27] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:45:28] Speaker C: And then you've got Strother, who's who's developing. But he's even looking like someone that's not going to ever be like a real shot creator in the NBA. More of a three and D kind of guy. And then you've got. I mean, who else off the bench for Peyton Watson? Obviously not a shot creator. They could go after some big depth too. They should probably do both. Just go after depth in general. Kind of make moves similar to like the Mavericks did at the deadline. Go out and get like a Gafford or like a PJ Washington, get some offense and then get some interior defensive help off the bench.
[00:45:59] Speaker A: I don't know if they have any picks to give or first.
[00:46:02] Speaker C: They don't even have to give first though. I mean, get rid of Zeke Najee if you're not going to play. Yeah.
[00:46:05] Speaker A: Oh yeah. Well, he's horrible anyway.
[00:46:07] Speaker B: Yeah, I like that Cam Thomas pick Thomas.
[00:46:11] Speaker A: Surprisingly, they'd have to give picks up to get.
[00:46:13] Speaker B: Yeah, he's too good. Yeah, Cam Thomas has been way too good this season. He's averaging 25, but I could see that going up.
[00:46:18] Speaker C: Like, look at the Blazers too. The Blazers have a lot of just random guys. What if. What if they could make a move for Simons?
[00:46:23] Speaker B: I like that too. Anthony Simon, that's.
[00:46:25] Speaker C: That's a guy that's just, you know, kind of rotting away.
[00:46:28] Speaker B: Yeah. Cause over in Portland, I mean they already have Scoot, Henderson, Sharp.
[00:46:32] Speaker C: They're obviously not trying to like build around Anthony Simons or anything. I feel like that's somebody that they would pretty easily give up.
[00:46:39] Speaker B: I completely agree. But back to Cam Thomas. It's been surprising. Averaging 25 a game. Just the Nets in general. Dennis Schroeder is also having incredible season.
[00:46:48] Speaker C: They're not a terrible team, not a pushover.
[00:46:51] Speaker B: I feel like a lot of people thought they were going to be a top three projected team, but they have been very, very good. Shout out. Alabama. Alabama. No, Clowney. That's who it is. Yeah. No, Clowney has been very, very good. And then Cam Thomas, Dennis Schroeder, Ben Simmons has been Ben Simmons, but Cam.
[00:47:07] Speaker C: Johnson's Cam Johnson games.
[00:47:09] Speaker B: So Nets are sneaky good there. They've been beaten up on some or not beaten up, but they've been beating good teams. They've been giving other teams some, some challenges. So Thomas has put together a couple of back to back slow games, but we've seen what he could do. He could, he can average, not average, but he could put up 40 on any given night.
[00:47:25] Speaker C: So yeah, I mean, but it's not Crazy to say you could average 27, 28 as well.
[00:47:29] Speaker B: Yeah. I saw somebody say he could be, like, a scoring champion, which.
[00:47:33] Speaker C: That.
[00:47:34] Speaker B: I don't think it's really.
[00:47:35] Speaker C: I mean, that far out of, like, top five, like, bottom end of top five, like four or five.
[00:47:41] Speaker B: But, yeah, I could see him hitting 28. Yeah, I think that's fair. I don't know if he'll do it this season, but who knows?
[00:47:47] Speaker C: Along down the line, especially if he stays with Brooklyn's whole thing. Yeah, we're gonna stink every year.
[00:47:53] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:47:54] Speaker B: They're gonna let him shoot.
[00:47:56] Speaker C: All right, I got. I got one more. I think it's safe to say that this is going to be yet another year where Luka Doncic doesn't win MVP.
[00:48:03] Speaker A: I agree 100%, because he hadn't even been as good as he was in any other year of his career.
[00:48:07] Speaker C: And that kind of poses the question, like, does he get one?
[00:48:10] Speaker A: No, it is early.
[00:48:12] Speaker C: Like, he's still young, but, you know, there's just some guys that just. I just. They just don't want him.
[00:48:17] Speaker B: Would he. If he were to never win an mvp, would he be the best player to never win an mvp?
[00:48:21] Speaker C: That's what I was trying to think of. Tatum.
[00:48:24] Speaker A: If Tatum doesn't do it, Tatum.
[00:48:26] Speaker C: I think Luke is better than Tatum.
[00:48:28] Speaker B: I think Tatum might win it this.
[00:48:29] Speaker C: Year, but, yeah, I think Tatum could win it.
[00:48:32] Speaker A: I think Tatum. I think I was this whole time.
Tatum has always been better than Luca. Now that I think about it, dude, it's.
[00:48:38] Speaker C: There are people that believe that, and it's. I'm not saying that it's not close. Like, I definitely have had my, like, times of thinking. I mean, a lot of people hype up Luca's performance in the playoffs last year, but I think Tatum, even with the criticism he gets, had a better finals than Luca. I think Tatum outplayed Luka in the finals.
[00:48:53] Speaker B: I mean, everybody on the Mavericks just sucked in that final years, and everybody on the Celtics was very, very solid, especially Jalen Brown.
[00:48:59] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:49:00] Speaker B: But, yeah, it is weird how off Luca has been. The efficiency just has not been there. Not saying he's the most efficient player ever, but shooting wise has just fallen off a bit of a cliff. And I feel like we kind of averaged him to be. Or thought he'd be averaging like, 34 a game. Right now he's sitting at 29, which is obviously not awful, but it's not the Luka Doncic we know who's been averaging 32 plus the last two seasons. So right now he's sitting at 29, 8 and 7. That's not the 34, 9, and 10 that he was averaging last year. So I think he'll pick it back up. But it is weird. He might not ever win an MVP with those numbers put. Put Luca in any other year averaging 34, 10, and 9.
[00:49:44] Speaker C: He should have won last year. I mean, that's the bottom line. He should have been the MVP last year.
[00:49:48] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:49:49] Speaker B: And obviously Jokic is very, very good, but that was Lucas award last year, especially considering he took him to the finals. Yeah, that was his award, but it's the last one you got.
[00:49:58] Speaker C: Yeah, that's it.
[00:49:59] Speaker B: Yeah, I think that's the last one's over here.
[00:50:01] Speaker C: Last one. Dark horse for mvp, Daquan Cook. Yep.
[00:50:04] Speaker B: Yeah, that's a good one.
[00:50:05] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:50:06] Speaker C: Yeah, we can all agree.
[00:50:07] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:50:07] Speaker C: Yeah. Pretty easy. Okay.
[00:50:09] Speaker B: Yeah, I really like Daquan Cook. But with all that being said, thank you all for tuning in to WVU 890.7 FM and the full Core Press podcast. Stay up to date. Follow us on Instagram at fcppoddcastua. See y'all next week. Peace.
[00:50:27] Speaker A: Wvuafm, Tuscaloosa.
