Welcome to the podcast with Michelle writing my cross Brendan on a sit down and enjoy a fight All right, let's move on to the playoffs or the non playoff teams first They also ran in the east. We've got the 76ers train wreck. We all know Sam Hinky retired the Colangelo's are in They both and Brian and Jerry. Yeah, so I think Jerry went in last year I think or the beginning this year and once he was in its sign it signed Hinky's Papers basically you know he's gonna have to leave and so he brought in his son now So it's all Colangelo all the time.
So wait, what's the name Toronto? How do you wind up on a Toronto? I think so. I don't know.
I can't follow all these guys But so they have three players that made I mean made sense Ten years ago. They don't make sense in today's NBA to have these three guys on your roster putting aside the injuries for a second No, no one's Noel bad player bad player call him a bench player with defensive energy You know he's six-hand or whatever he is fine. You can find those guys anywhere right Joel and Bead who has yet to play a snap in the NBA. Never will never will that's unbelievable another 6-11 and then following those two guys up with Jalil Okopor a 6-11 pound it out center like drumming or whoever Yeah, he's got he's got game.
He's got game, but yeah You can't start too big in the same lineup in the NBA if they were healthy a three big first round picks or top picks Worst team ever there were 10 and 72 this year I Was the last year right yeah, I think so yeah, it's the year three of that tanks to rebuild project that got there and it's not working Yeah, but let's talk about that for a second So they actually the blind dog found a bone with Michael Carter Williams Yeah, and then traded him so that's the question why draft him if you want a tank and but why draft him having to be rookie The air and then trade him for wide. What do they get for him? I only remember nothing a bag of bones Was he healthy this year? Did he get hurt?
He went to Milwaukee didn't he yeah, you must have gotten hurt Milwaukee though, because he's part of the reason why they didn't make playoffs Yeah, they're a big disappointment. So they finished 33 and 49 the bucks and They were a playoff team last year with high hopes. They got back to Barry Parker. So they should have been better What happened they acquired Greg Monroe a big body inside, but whatever he still helps Giannis Greek Greek.
I love the Greek Greek Me too. I don't know if he's his ceiling. Maybe he might be Rudy Gay. I don't know It's a point guard for crying out loud a guy.
I know He's amazing. Yeah, that's I vote for Jason kid for worst coach of the year. Like there's no way without telling yeah, you went 33 games That's pathetic. Yeah, they're doing what they did last year.
I don't understand. Yeah, I think every other year He will be up for worst coach of the year. Yeah, he's a terrible coach. I think we established that we couldn't believe what happened last year.
Yeah Fluke The nets they're 21 and 61 Oh, and I think that they overachieved they overachieved at 21 wins. I was just gonna say how did they win 21? I know Um, the only salvageable piece they have I think is brookalopes a guy who I like but he's not a top player Yeah, he's um, he's a nice third option on a great team He would actually look good with the bulls in a year or two He might be older, but he could be a solid force who could give you minutes and bang down low, but he's not gonna cost a lot It'll be crippled though in a few years. I know I'm wondering about that.
Yeah, uh, then we come to our favorite the nicks 32 and 50 this year overachieved Well, at least at least the first half of the year they overachieved last half they tanked Um, they're sitting with We could go on and on about this but they've got mellow We know what mellow is uh, persingus nice player. Yeah, seven three. He's I don't know uh He's maybe Dirk Nwitski light or he could be um, I mean hopefully He could be a cross between Nwitski and uh, subonis. Actually, it's not a very similar game, but his name is chris tops I know just go with chris.
Yeah, right. Don't throw the tops on there really lowers your value their current coach is rambus Not as a coach is their coach and there's talk that they're gonna bring him back Phil Phil Jackson and work what a disaster Um There's rumors that they might be looking at david blatt Hmm. I don't think new york's right for that. Uh mark Jackson The former nick did some things with the warriors set him up at least I'm not sure how good or bad he is or isn't but he could fit fine and of course they're talking about fibs a little bit tibs I don't see him going there.
I don't know why you want to go there You're set up to fail Well, let's talk about um Um, what did you say before before tips mark jackson? Yeah mark jackson. So mark jackson will never get along and feel jackson And down man down Yeah, he's too he's too wwe for Phil. It's not gonna work right right once his n master one is just a you know like a he's like al green You know, yeah, yeah, so there's a place for him Um act he'd be good on the bowls for instance.
That'd be a good coach with the chicago bowls mark jack Yeah, but yeah, you know, I mean like you could do something but with that team he has there's nothing he can do No, with uh tips Um he could do something with any team he can make any team 500. Oh, I think he'd be okay I don't think he wants to jump into the new york media with mellow on his squad. No, I think you take the minnesota job over that one Right there where he fits perfectly. Absolutely.
He'll coach there for 20 years and and we'll get to that but that is uh The primo job sitting out there for somebody that roster is ready to rock. I agree. All right. Uh, let's move on You know else is a good roster for tips that I could see him landing his new orleans Yeah, so We'll get to them in the west, but I understand that team at the moment.
So the problem is avant gentry is their coach Yeah, we'll get to that later. Yeah, uh, the bucks we talked about the magic. I thought the magic would be better this year Um coach is the magic by the way. I don't know That's another place that they would be perfect.
So they got a lot of young guys. Yep, a lot of activity Potential with defense there and tids like that Um, so they got like ole depot. I like as a two guard Um elford paton at a point. He's kind of I don't know he's weird.
I like him though Um, they got the hair though. I know it's a little out of control. Yeah, it's like the hair of a hobo Exactly. Uh, they've got the slam dunk champ in uh erring gord.
Yeah, fine. He's a versatile player He's got no game offensively, but he's a spectacular player. Yeah, right. Uh, they got vousavic where I like and This is the best part on their uh bench.
They have um, what's his face? Uh, hirr hizonia who? Part of my predictions. I picked him as rookie of the year this year.
Oh, you call Because I didn't want to go with towns and we'll get to that in a minute, but I didn't want to go with the obvious ones I'm trying to pick a sleeper and he didn't get off the magic bench. So no wonderful sounds Completely more polished player than I ever thought he could possibly yeah. He shot the shit out of me. I had no idea Uh, we move on to the wizards 41 and 41 500 and miss the playoffs horribly under achieved horribly Uh arguably the worst coach in the league or he's in the running for worst coach in the league.
Um, Randy Right, who was good. Yep. Good. Yeah, that's embarrassing to not win 50 games for that roster So they you know with john wall and bradley beale, uh, beals got to stay healthy.
Um, but he can be a force We know what wall is like. I mean, I think uh, he's a I think I don't know about this year, but the last two years I believe they led the nba Um in The worst shot to take on the floor, which is the long two They would always settle for the long two like with your heels on the three point line or a step inside in the three point line They led the league in that like every year and that's just coaching. It's field of game. It's facing, you know, it's it's easy stuff step out or step up So 41 and 41 they should have been a top five team I had both.
I think I had them in the bowls three four in any order. Yeah, right in the east and we come to the bowls 42 and 40 Uh under achieved, but we expected it you and I expected it. Um, made no moves made zero moves in the off season to improve Themself none that one so they got rid of tibs because he wore on the players and the practices were too hard supposedly And they wanted a more offensive coach Offensive or offensive both I think they got one not the other Um, so last year under tibs, they scored 101 points a game and their defense gave up just under 98 points a game Yeah Under Rookie coach fred hoyberg. They scored 101 points a game and gave up 103 points a game That's a big swing.
So their offense exactly the same defense got five points worse Yep, that's your offensive juggernaut coming from college this guru in uh fred hoyberg. Come on pax. Come on foreman What are we gonna be doing? Well, let's let's talk about that for a second So if you're looking at bringing him in and developing the offense that includes a couple things I would say if you were to make a list from the beginning of the year It was to develop doug Mcdermitt and to turn merit attention to an all-star type player In opposite order in opposite order.
Yep, and merit is look like he was on the cusp We all could see like wow this guy might be no whiskey. He might be he looked lost this year I haven't seen a player take that much of a reverse step in a long time I mean, he was he was really good for a good 30 games last year Yes in solid the whole year really yep hustle Yeah, hit some clutch shots. He became a guy You can put in 12 points in the fourth quarter. He was like was a top five and fourth quarter scoring in the league last year Yep, and then this year he looks like a lost Croatian, you know the Croatian sensation.
I think he already rid of the beard too by the way. Yeah Forget it. Most guys in the NBA the beard does not work Well, not that one not that thing where he's hiding something you know, it's okay if it's a beard But yeah, you're right Once again how much would it take to smell his beard that prices very high? That one it's gotta be worse than hardens actually it would smell like creation hookers and vodka I don't know.
I think just just vodka. Yeah, which is the same as Croatian hooker. Yeah. Yeah All right, moving on to the west bottom to the top bottom.
Well, I don't want to spend too much time on the bottom the Lakers 17 and 65 in the Kobe Bryant farewell show with another candidate for the worst coaching the league uh Byron Scott Byron Scott if they say that you have a horseshoe up your ass for good luck Oh my whatever he's got a bazazz is the opposite he let's let's think about Byron for a second up He he was with the nets right didn't get them to uh the finals a couple times Yep, and then after he got whacked by the nets He winds up being going to cleveland the year that LeBron bolts Yeah, and then follows that up with going to the Lakers the year Kobe blows out his uh, Achilles exactly Now before that wasn't he the coach of the Hornets when Chris Paul was there? Oh, yeah, that's right Something else happened there too. That's when he like showed promise like oh he might be a coach and then the last four stops He's just disintegrated. Yes Was he the Clippers too or no?
No, I don't think so. No, okay. Yeah, he was a he did a nice job with uh with New Jersey He did a nice job in on warlands. Um, but then yeah, he He biero yeah Well, I'll make it forget it.
We'll move on It's waste time to spend any more time on that a bad comment there. All right, by the way There was a great quote from Kobe that I saw in the paper And it was a while back when he took like a zillion shots in the game and he said something like what was I supposed to do past the christmim? What was I supposed to do dumping into christmim? I thought that was hilarious.
I love it. We're Kwame Brown He was on this. That's what he said. That's it.
He said I'm supposed to dump it into christmim and Kwame Brown So he can get on the right night. He gives you the sound bite. That's the Kobe we love right right? I want yeah, actually a nice guy.
I want the asshole Kobe. I love the asshole Kobe. He's I love him bad Kobe It's like bad tiger. We like bad type right?
You're a bad guy right? You're a bad guy right? You're a bad guy where the black hat somebody's got to wear the black hat Goddamnit All right, uh, now we come to the team that I know almost nothing about because they I'm not even sure they're in the NBA They're so like in purgatory. Yeah, the Phoenix Suns 23 and 59 a couple years ago.
They had a great nucleus of young athletic guards. Uh, Eric Gordon was there. Uh, uh, Bledso was there not Gordon. Yeah, Bledso and uh, they had they had a couple young young small guards that were just running up They had, I say, at Thomas and Gordon draggett.
I say on Thomas and draggett. That's right. Yeah, so they have Bledso They have Brandon Knight. Eh, they have A creaky Tyson Chandler.
Yes, very creaky and without looking who's their coach? Uh, it was Hornesack. It was it was it's not anymore Okay, hold on. Let me think because I had no idea.
Okay, so Hornesack got canned. So who could it possibly be? Um, is it like a Thai Corbin guy like like that or it's definitely not but it's in that vein. Okay, I might have this wrong Let me let this one like a guy who shouldn't be a coach at all, but he's too young former player too young Was he a son?
He was a son at some point. Uh, so he was I think he was a son. He's not a lot of teams. Um, give me a hint.
Give me a hint His first name is the same name as one of your dogs Not Dixie. Yeah, it's the little guard, right? Earl uh Earl Watson Earl Watson. Yeah, he's a little guard.
He played on Seattle He played on a bunch of teams. Uh-huh. That gets too young Like he played like two years ago. Yeah, right.
So yeah Their coach is nothing their players are nothing. I don't know they are completely rudder Rudders the clan's you loads are gone. Um, so This team could be in the basement for years to come. I don't know what's up with them Well, I'll tell you what when everything turned for the worst They did a couple of things uh first of all they dicked around with blood so if you recall and strung them out right on his contract and while they did that They signed Isaiah Thomas.
Yeah, and then they signed dragons And they had like three point cards that were making $120 million and everyone was like, why did you do that? Right and then by the all-star break they traded Isaiah Thomas for god knows what? Yeah And then they wound up with Brandon Knight who sucks? And I like blood so on the right team the right situation when he was on the Clippers He would come off the bench for Chris ball.
He was he was electric. Yes, he was not anymore I mean, he probably is but that team is just so bad. He also has knee problems. I believe he's right.
Yeah, so that's too bad That team's going nowhere next up the timber wolves the At 29 and 53 they underachieved but I put an asterisk by them They have definitely the worst coach in the league. Sam Mitchell. Oh He was the coach responsible for Kobe's 81 against Toronto eight years ago Uh, you know, Sam Mitchell one coach of the year at one time, right? Yeah, that coach will show you what a worthless award that is well in the old the joke is that when you win it the next year You're fired and it's always exactly.
Yep. By the way in Tecmo basketball, Sam Mitchell was the only guy I'm in his photo Who could put the ball in the basket? Really? Yes.
He was the only guy in Tecmo basketball Uh, Doug West or uh, jr. Rider. You know what I forgot about Doug West. I love Doug West.
Was he from Missouri? Oh, he might have been he might have been yeah, he was part of their original draft. I think right. I think he was from a zoo So this team has towns they have Levine they have Wiggins who is going to be If not a perennial all-star a nearly perennial all-star to come right with towns They have Rubio at the point guard who sucks is the worst shooter in the world.
I don't know. I mean come on man Hit a 15-foot jumper Keep the defense honest. I think he was in minutos. I'm not even sure that he was a basketball player before they signed him No, they saw the hair in the nose.
They just signed him Yeah, he's he's bad. He's he's bad Uh, so they add a player to make a couple of just minor tweaks bringing a real coach. They're a playoff team Right. Yeah, and let's give them a pass because remember flipsunters took a dirt nap right before the season So you got to put that to the side and then they're left with Sam Mitchell.
That's why they got screwed So I think this is the guy I can't imagine a better situation for any coach, especially him Although he will absolutely strangle Ricky Rubio. Oh, I think he would get rid of him quick Yeah, you know, I mean trading for something Uh, I think he would absolutely love wiggens because wiggens loves to play d It also loved to trade for Jimmy Butler. Oh my god. Oh, can you imagine that?
Yes, but later on that squad Yep, that would be deadly with those other two. Holy shit. That's I mean, it's a it's a much lower version But that's a little Jordan pippin sort of Greyhound defense type of deal, right? That concept is why we have a podcast right now The fake trade that will never happen.
What could be awesome. Yeah, yes. I love it Uh, all right move on the pelicans 30 and 52 way underachieved big Anthony Davis was hurt, but when he was healthy I don't know why he is not able to make that team better because he is so good I don't know what's up with that guy. Well, let's look at that team.
So eric Gordon always hurt Never play longer than two weeks in a row drew holiday. Not very good. He's not really he's not a front line, you know point guard at all Maybe it's part of being in the west, but they've got the guy they got NBA players not great players But they have guys who should be in the league, you know, they're not the sons. They're not the Lakers But goddamn man Anthony Davis needs to make the playoffs It's tough in the west though.
I know he needs a sidekick. He's got nothing Ryan Anderson. Come on. Yeah Well, so the the pelicans finished 30 and 52 just above them Is the dumpster fire of the west and that is the second man with kings.
Oh god 33 and 49 They finished above the pelicans. How in the world did they win 33 games? Exactly. I don't I don't get it George carl was the coach.
He's fired fine Cousins we talked about him. He's just he's gonna make it hard for anyone Rondo is the worst teammate in the league behind Kobe, maybe And they have Rudy Gay who I can't figure out. He just makes teams worse But I like I like what he does sometimes. I like Rudy Gay as a player.
I think he's got bad luck I know like what was the name of the guy who would go to a sitcom in the sitcom with tank Uh, he would be on the he was on happy days when happy days went down. Fred McGinley Um, John John McGinley, Ted McGinley, Ted McGinley, the guy from Revenge of the Nerds. Yes So he would go to it. He would go to quote unquote revive a sitcom But upon him showing up the sitcom with tank.
Yes, that's Rudy Gay. Where did Rudy Gay go? Oh, he's in Memphis or something wasn't he? Did he have a yeah, he was there for a minute and that was a great trade for them I think it was Memphis.
He was in Memphis for a while. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, and then uh, he's bounced around but Everywhere he goes he fucks it up.
You know, Toronto. Maybe did he play in Toronto to play in Toronto? Yep, I mean If he had the stones to play defense, I'm not sure he does. He's not sure he has either But if he could play defense He's got the physical makeup of the LeBron stopper He's six eight with arms longer than Marcus Canby.
I mean, he's out there like a spider He could defend guys if he wanted to but he doesn't he doesn't play defense. No, you know when he um, um When he when his stock was highest, it was on one of those Olympic teams He stepped up as like one of the best five players on that team. He does good stuff offensively, mostly I don't know man. He's he's a riddle.
I can't figure him out Yeah, I like him, but I can't figure him out Well, and you have to give him you have to give him a total pass because he's in Sacramento That's gotta be depressing think about he wakes up every day and he's like I play for the Sacramento Kings That's such a bad franchise top to bottom. That's another podcast by itself. It's it's so bad I mean, but the thing is the record isn't bad. I can't figure that one out The record is shockingly good for his bad They should have 10 wins they should be 10 and 72.
I agree like I think that um elven gentry probably cries when he sees the record Okay, then we move on to two teams that may have a future and we've got one in the nuggets. They're kind of confusing Um, I really like kenith reed. I like the manimal That he's not gonna succeed with that team, but I like him as a player. He this is a lot of stuff man He would look good in Black white and red.
Yes, he would he could do a lot of things put him with uh, Jimmy That's that's that's a start or something. Um, they've got will Barton young player. Um, is he a rookie I think he's up for rookie the year or multiple He did that whole scheme at the dunk contest where he like came out with an entourage of people Oh, yeah, that's right. Yeah, exactly.
I can't root for him, but he's becoming a good player Yeah, that that reveals something right there. Oh, definitely. Yeah, so oh didn't he nickname himself the thrill Well when your first name's will not super creative That that's the equivalent of my nickname is cweb like all right. Great one fool.
Um, So and they've got moody a an interesting guard. I'm not sure he's a point, but he's a combo guard I like him. I like his game. He's good and they have I only wrote one down, but they've got Three or four, uh eastern european imports, uh, gallinari gazte alte Gallinari as well, uh, nicola joke yo kitch joke.
I can never pronounce it. I know not a girl He's young and going to be solid good for a long time But yeah, a lot of those guys like the six 10 to six eight, uh, european forward who can do a lot of stuff They're growing trees. Yeah, and uh, so I think it could be good, but they're just not there yet. I'm Either gonna break it up and start over or they've got to add a big piece and I don't think they'll add a big piece Lastly the jazz nice young team should have made the playoffs, uh Under a coach is them who's coach the jath Quinn's niner.
I think it's quince niner. Yep. Yeah, okay. I mean, uh, he's a young up-and-coming coach Um, he was a dookie, right?
He was a dookie. Yep. He played like mark alorie in those guys. Yeah.
Yep quince niner. Yep. There he is. Yep Um Jazz have a lot of good young players.
I think they I don't know They've got to do something to improve in the west because the west is so goddamn hard, but uh, that's a nice roster I mean if if quin wasn't there that'd be a primo job as well. Although you have to live in utah, that's the problem Especially for a brother. Uh, it's a tough place to be. I lived in utah for two years and it was Even in fourth and fifth grade.
I'm like this place is You lived in utah for two years? Yeah, I've been around. What the hell were you guys doing all over the place? Uh My dad would get bored and take different jobs and they'd be in different states and we just moved around.
I mean, he would He was like a fixer. He didn't want him to there to maintain whatever he was doing He wanted to go fix something and make it better and then when it was fixed running it is boring So he wanted to move on and so we ended up in utah for a couple years. Uh odd odd plays. Yep nice, but odd All right, so those are the shitty teams now the playoffs.
Let's start in the east Cabs pistons whatever yeah calves win by default because the pistons suck It would be hilarious if somehow the pistons won that series, but there's no chance I'm hopeful that one game let's say Cabs are up 3-0 Maybe 3-1 but 3-0 and drummin just gets pissed off and LeBron comes down the lane one time and drummin's like You're gonna go on the floor. I Somehow you're going down and he just takes him out Maybe not an injury but enough to shake him up and fuck him up a little bit Uh, what happened? No one happened because those guys don't exist in the NBA probably have the same agent for all we know, you know It's not like the typical yeah nobody hates each other anymore. I want that sucks I want drummin or someone to be charl'd Oakley.
Yeah, god damn it Now what you could have is like somebody could get under jr. Smith I think you and I agree jr smith's most valuable guy in the cast other than LeBron He could take aim instantly. Yeah, except he hasn't had one of those in a long time. Yeah, but it's playoffs He's lazy.
I know you saw him the playoffs last year though. He uh He can catch fire definitely yeah, but fuck what do you do like here's the conundrum with the cash Can we talk about the cash for a minute? The problem is what i'm about to say would get a lot of ridicule if it wasn't just you and I on the phone bring it But kyrie Irving is their best player Like he's the guy you'd want to build around if you had kyrie Irving and Kevin love and a couple other pieces In other words if what's his name was still there wiggins right with kyrie Irving and Kevin love and you got a really good balanced team Right for a long time. I'm worried about Urban Irving because I don't know if he is going to develop it for bronze there He's not right He has to move or the brawn has to move or because they're not going to coexist Lebron is not moving so now it's going to be a matter of do they go and try to rate and get something big for him like pick a disgruntled Point guard that's good somewhere else right?
Well, I mean the the uh rumor or the argument a month ago was chris paul chris paul for Irving straight up or some combination of bullshit to Make great trade that would be for both teams. I know I I don't want it to happen because it helps the calves become what they should be but they but they won't because vahog I know I know it'll screw it up chris paul will become uh trintucker Right. Well, so that's the question Chris paul is the Alpha bulldog with the ball. He has to have the ball.
He's the point guard. He's the general and and he's earned it and he just is that Yeah, can lebron Play off the ball. No, right. Can he can he or will he?
Well, we know he won't but can he I don't even think he can he definitely can't I don't think he runs off picks He's definitely shitty in the post although he could learn that if he wanted to yeah He wouldn't do it. No, but he he's never he's never been on a team where he wasn't the primary passer Think about this. What if they got chris paul and they made lebron into a power forward See that's what you should do right? Yes at this stage in his career.
He should make that transition He wouldn't change his production at all. It would save his legs. He's the ultimate stretch for Well, yeah, yeah, uh, I mean he's not a three point shooter, but He's still stretches out there. You gotta go play him Exactly.
I mean the league has changed rules because the way he plays like he just runs people over and they let it happen. Yeah So, oh There we go. That would be interesting. I know So Okay, so pistons calves we know.
Hey, I got one more the wrong question because I'm torn on this one Uh Would he leave? Oh, yeah, yeah, right? I think he wouldn't heartbeat. He wouldn't know heartbeat.
He's he's not gonna leave you yet He's gonna have to fail a few more times and then blame someone else for the failures That's what he's gonna do. He's gonna fail two more years I'm praying he leaves He will because that'll just get more and more people against him because he's just he's just he's he runs for adversity It seems to me and god damn you're gonna fuck that. You're gonna fuck your own team twice Yes, son of a bitch, but here's the thing never in a million years that he think that he was gonna go there and not win I know he's gonna win every year Well, and the best part is now he has all he has everything he ever wanted Control of the entire franchise his boys are in there doing their thing. He's got his he's got his lr mr He's got his clutch sports.
He owns the city again more than he even did before He ran the coach out. He has his own coach that he hand-picked Cut to Ron Lou was his hand-picked choice. Yeah, exactly And it's still not gonna work out. It's not gonna work out because he needs to be controlled I know he was controlled in Miami not by spolstra.
He was controlled by panorrhythic It's the same problem with we had with Kobe last time. He was controlled and focused by Phil yes once Phil wasn't there he ran him up and fucking entire franchise Yeah, I mean they won they won a championship. Let's remember this with Sasha Vuyas Vuyasitch starting Gasol Who was pretty soft at the time, right? Right?
Right? Great player same player he is today But who else was in that starting lineup? Derek Fisher? Uh, yeah, and Jordan Farmar was on there.
I believe he was there Who was their power forward on that team? World be free or whatever he goes by a piece right? So The most memorable shot in Kobe's career or most important was him passing it out to world be free to shoot the three That was the most clutch shot of his career. It wasn't him.
By the way, it's meta world piece I like our world be free better. I prefer world be free But how did they win my point is they won because of Phil Jackson? I know how do you win with that? But we just said that's the Sacramento Kings.
We just need we love talking about Kobe. We do all right I gotta move on Robin. This is gonna be an hour and a half Okay, uh, the that was just the first matchup in the east. Let's let's power through this Okay, uh number two Raptors Pacers.
I think we'll be an interesting matchup A little bit uh Raptors will win. Uh, I like the Raptors. That's a well coached team. Yeah, they If the stars align they could give the Cavs a problem, but I'm not sure it's gonna happen.
Uh, Paul George Amazing comeback. I I was shocked. I had no idea. I Came back.
I'm very clear broken leg. Uh, it's great. By the way, it's a lose David West and make the playoffs with Paul George coming back for that injury phenomenal Frank Vogel's a very good coach. Yep David West sitting on the bench for the Spurs is so infuriating because He's a weapon and he's just waiting to attack.
Goddamnit that team Wait to get to them in a minute. So by the way, let's get through the run after the attack. I got some predictions for yeah East uh, Celtics Hornets. Uh, that's gonna be a nice series.
The horn is super surprising. I didn't see this coming I like kimba. I didn't think they had anything else around him, but that's a nice two. The tomb is a nice player I like the tomb in uh, portland, but I didn't think I thought he might have been I thought he hit his ceiling.
I thought he might have uh taken a backslide because he wasn't with Willard or Aldridge Uh, he's nice. He's a good solid player. Yeah, he also has gotten a ton of production on a Jeremy land. Jeremy lens a very good NBA player Did you see that uh stuff today about him with the flagrant fouls?
No So somebody I assume it's a Carolina fan. Um, they put together a video of um, Jeremy Lynn getting flagrantly fouled any number of ways by any number of players And he hasn't received a flagrant foul call Uh in like 380 games or something insane, but he's been demolished and he's been decapitated by kobe and whoever else Rachael. So that's the only thing people are pointing to like, we don't want to say that but what else could it be? This is look at the tape.
This is obviously a flagrant foul and he's never gotten one Yeah, even one the ref is like about to blow the whistle and he's like, that's a china man. Never mind. That's right So I don't think that but like you start looking at the variables. I'm like, I don't know man.
That might be the only one Uh, it's interesting though, but I like Lynn. Um, does he start for Charlotte? No, they bring him off the bench and they play in a combo guard role They play sometimes with kimba, which is deadly right both of them can get to the hoop and both of them can do a lot of things Steve Clifford's a very good coach like the hips very similar totally. That's perfect for Lynn He should be your sixth man or seventh man like come in in instant offense or whatever, right?
If he came in the balls, he would have been like DJ Augustine that one year ever got out of him Right. Right. That alone tells you what what tips is as a coach DJ Augustine is the microcosm of what dibs is as a coach Anyone's all star on the balls anyone who talks shit about dibs I'm fighting. Come on.
You know the DJ Augustine led the polls and scoring that year Look it up. That's unbelievable. Look it up. Think about it.
Who else would it be? He averaged like 16 points a game off the bench. They had boozer, right? They had uh D rose Jimmy Butler who was on his way up at the time.
They had D rose Oh, they had D rose right Some of the bitch They have teams. Augustine led the bulls and scoring that year See that's a little I think tibs a hall of fame right now. I did this point because of that He did right. All right.
Uh the next uh so the the Celtics beat the hornets, but uh, it's a good series, right? I think they will but that's a very tough series, but kind of similar teams they're Small they're kind of scrappy um good series a lot of potential for the future on both teams Yep, fucking Celtics have a ton of picks too and they could get real good real fast. Yeah, he gets the most out of that team Yeah, absolutely. I would love to see Crowder somewhere else though As a as a Marquette guy.
Uh, I want to see Crowder on a team I root for god damn it. Yeah, uh Four five Hawks heat If that's tough if the heat had a healthy criss Bosch and they don't if they had a healthy Bosch They would contend. I still say they would contend with the calves for the eastern conference But they know well, they got a lot of talent like between players five through nine. They've got a lot of talent there I know McRoberts is underachieve there like there's a guy who I would have thought it would have done better I'll tell you here's a classic pet Riley move that I could see speaking of moves that won't happen that we would like to see oh Here we go white side who's crazy by the way.
He's absolutely out of his gourd to sacramental for boogie cousins. Oh, no That's not even crazy. That's a death. That is a possible trade that that yes That's in play Uh boogie cousins then becomes a perennial all-star and uh, you know and everything else boogie learning from wade and riley analogs a morning Morning's there too.
Oh, sign me up. Make it happen. That's incredible That's nice trade white side you trade him when his stock is high and it's sky high right now. I'll trade him Yeah, so the rumors of like him being traded for Dwight Howard made no sense to me Did you hear those if they do that?
They're out of their mind like Houston. I would do that all day. Yeah. Hey, I would trade him for a white side white side The better Dwight Howard exactly still crazy.
You know still completely crazy too. Yeah, yeah I wonder if he's as crazy in a sleepy town like uh Indianapolis. Oh, yeah. Yeah, he's crazy.
Yeah, yeah He's from charlie. He's from gas stonia out in the middle of nowhere. He was crazy there motherfucker. Yeah But he's crazy also he's like a poor man's drummond.
Yeah, right But he's athletic and he's long he blockshots. God damn. Yep. I hope he I hope he becomes something I mean he is something.
I hope he continues to become something he'd make a nice bowl. As a matter of fact He would about that. He might go crazy in Chicago though. Yeah, he might When you're no he can't be a bull not with hoiber.
That's I'm saying he you put him on that team at hoiber He takes over the team and you're fucked. You're right with tibs? Sure, right? No, he couldn't deal with that either Thibs wouldn't beat the shit out of him.
He's got a he could play for like a Rick Carlisle or a Guy like that even hand, but you know steady. He can't play for a volatile guy put him in Dallas That's a good spot for him. That's fucking interesting. Yeah I like that.
He's out of Miami though. You can count on it. Yeah, he is they're done with him Which he's gonna break the bank. He's free agent.
I believe. Yeah, I know so anyway, so the heat in the hawks I'm gonna say the hawks pull that out just because they got balanced and everything else if the heat were full strength I take the heat but uh, well if they're If the heat rep full strength they would not be the fifth seed. They'd be the third but they're not agree So fuck that. All right, we're moving on to the west Uh So pretty quickly although I know we have some comments on some of these uh mid level teams But Warriors rockets the warriors are a juggernaut the rockets are a fucking train wreck Can we can we um predict?
The number of points combined that the warriors will beat them by in the four games. Oh, okay Because yeah, it will be four games. Yes, um, okay. Hmm four games Like let me let me say it differently.
Is it possible? is it possible for the Rockets to keep them within 80 points of them in four games in four games In other words, can it yeah, okay? Not get blown out by over 20. So the question is Is it a is it a two three two format?
I forget? No, isn't it five games around one? So so three games so 60 points. Am I not paying attention?
No, it's gotta be seven games, right? I don't think round one is I think round one is five. Oh my god. If this is true.
I'm still pissed off on my own self here I'm pretty sure I feel like there's a little pressure in round one. You can get bounced All right. I'm looking this up. I don't care if this is good radio or not fucking hell And they play Games around one I'm gonna use book of pedia even though it's not a great source, but I'll go with it with this Uh all games all rounds including the finals are in a two two one one one format.
Okay, so it is seven Yeah, go so two two so it'd be two in Two home games two way games if we do four right at home the warrior is beaten by 30 each right and then How many points do they score though like oh my god, is it 140? I mean is it no? I think there's one of those in play for sure. I think for the most part It's in that 115 to 120 range because they pull Thompson and curd.
Yeah, probably yeah, okay Um, yeah, my first thought is can Houston keep the deficit the total deficit under 100. I don't know Uh, they can go either way Does josh mith play? Yeah, oh of course then no Dwight Howard sees him as the x-flat factor. I'm sure he's the reason they won last year, right?
Jesus. No, so all right The warriors win for nothing and they beat the rockets by an average of 20 points a game Somewhere in there, right? I mean, I can't see this going any any other way. I mean, I'd be shocked I know harden can explode, but who cares?
Yeah, exactly. Uh, so fuck that whole series. It's over and Whatever, let's move on because that that's a whole That's another podcast. The rockets make me sick.
So the firing of Kevin mcl made me so angry I know after nine games you fire Kevin mcl. The guy did a great job with that band of imbeciles last year Me got Corey. What's his name, too? In the eastern conference finals the western.
Yeah, they were western. Yeah, western conference finals with those jokers And you should he should have been coach of the decade for getting to the finals with that That team I said I'm okay with that Uh next spurs grizzlies. Wow, that job was first. No, uh, I think it was a couple years ago Grizzlies are uh decimated by injuries.
I think still right. I don't know. You never know what those guys though They play hard. They do play hard Spurs have too much depth too much talent.
I don't ever bet against pop except for in the final Except again, no, don't get through them, but I think it possibly goes six. Oh, that's interesting I will say it's a sweep. It's four. Oh, but it's not 20 points a game.
It's it's no Yeah, they're good team. They play hard. Yeah. By the way, what was Gisall thinking reciting there?
I know okay. Anyway, he Had to see that that window was closing if not closed, right? I thought he was gonna be a bull That would have made sense. I mean big as all brothers would have been cool Whatever.
Yeah, fuckers. Exactly. Uh, number three an interesting match up Uh thunder versus mavericks three versus six Um I'm taking the thunder. I think the mavericks are well coached in which he's still a threat Uh, but around which he they have a bunch of I don't know uh action figures.
They just tape together and throw on the court I don't know who the rest of the team are. They're like a bunch of lego figures, you know Uh, I can't even name the mavericks anymore. No, exactly like it's yeah, it's Darren Williams and some other random guy You heard of a couple years ago, but he They deserve Darren Williams. They deserve him Uh, did you like my comment about Jerry Sloan throwing his tv out the way?
No, I love that I I like Sloan. I like the mystique of Sloan or the aura of Sloan Just a hard-nosed motherfucker who's gonna make it like always bubbling underneath the surface He always wanted to kill someone even in the best years. I imagine he He's always healing from a broken nose from a bar fight. Yeah, his nose is broken every day.
It's true Let me tell you something about the Oklahoma City Thunder That team intrigues me more than any team in this in these playoffs. Yeah, we're not talking about them at all really We're saying it's fursing Golden State. They could beat Golden State Right, right, right They can lose in the first round or they can lose in the first round, but I'm gonna tell you right now They're gonna beat Golden State. Whoa Now, uh Because that's a tough matchup for Golden State So in the second round no so they have to go the thunder has to go through the spurs and state Right Because they're third the clippers are fourth Clippers get the warriors in the second round Clippers suck.
I know but you would want the thunder in that spot. Yes Thumbs not be the spurs they cannot be spurs and warriors. You're not gonna make it through that No, if they were the four they would be they would beat the warriors That's interesting. I never considered that of the teams.
I considered I didn't think that would happen. Hmm I like that's a team. That's the team the warriors don't want to play right They also give the spurs fits because Westbrook lights up the spurs because they don't have a guard against the front of them Right That's a good team. I know but as good as they are they still underachieve like they're so herky jerky They are god damn it That's gonna be a frustrating team to be a fan of granted.
I'm just happy to have a team over there But I know they're on the clock Ibaca was a guy I was a fan of for the last I don't know four or five years Uh, he has shit the bed this year, but Ennis canter has come up and been a nice offensive player defenses bullshit But uh his offense is nice. So that team is it's so they're so frustrating Yeah, they should have 67 wins or what pick your number you almost want to be his cancer and Steven whatever Uh, you want to meld them together and you have a player. Mm-hmm. You know, oh that'd be amazing.
Yeah, I like that The next match up clippers trailblazers four five. Uh, I like the trailblazers there. Uh, absolutely. I'm taking the trailblazers too All right with damian lillard dame lillard Uh clippers Although clippers are have been and probably are better without Blake Griffin plays back.
So who the fuck knows what they're gonna do Um, I like CP3, but that team is just a nightmare They're just bad. I mean Blake Griffin is Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan is I mean just a bad basketball player They're they're kind of like uh, they're a lot like the grizzlies. They haven't addressed their weak points In any of the last four years. They're the same team.
They've always been they don't have a A three who can get their shot. Uh, they don't have a backup four So you can put Blake at the five and have a athletic four. They don't have that guy And it's crazy. You have assets to trade it amazed me when they fought so hard to get DeAndre Jordan back.
They just did themselves a favor. Go sign Reggie Evans for crying out loud. They'll get 18 rebounds a game I mean they were living with matt barns as their three four combo right what he's bad. He's bad At least now he's bad.
He passes prime in come on He was good last in golden state back when they had the Baron Davis matt barn show That Baron Davis team Very Davis was a great player. Yep. Did you see he was trying to come back this year? Yeah, yeah, we're played in the nb The deal league I think and uh was trying to come back got in shape kind of but he's he's our age or better He's younger believe it or not, but well his knees are our age his knees.
Remember when his knee went the wrong way. Yeah Remember the baseline dunk over here linko in the in that uh, when they won the what was it the two seven match up or the one eight match up? That was a great golden state team. It was nice.
By the way, he's on the all beard team. Oh, yeah, he had a beard He needs to go down there and uh talk to the harden. He had a great beard. I know that was a man's beard I don't know what harden is dammit.
All right, I'm losing you. Hello. There you are. All right, sure.
We'll keep going. We're pretty good here Okay, so I'm gonna run through I have a list of my personal preseason predictions And I'm just gonna run through them and you react because they are all over the map. Some are good some are Most of them are horrifically bad, but let's just go through so my preseason predictions as predicted in October, I think it was In the east so I did it east and west here in the east I'm gonna look mine up while you're talking. See if I can find it.
Okay. Just uh, you pipe up and you hear something that interests you Otherwise, I'll run through them in the east the calves are the team to beat by default, of course Uh, I like Miami's potential, but I'm wary of picking them to upset cleveland. That's a good one Um, the bojo here we go. The bulls will win their share of games I'd expect them to finish with roughly 47 to 48 wins I think this is before I considered the way break factor Yeah, but that's only because of how weak the eastern conference is so yeah, I wasn't picking him to do well, but the east is so bad They should have done well by default.
Oh, I had him at least 48 wins easy. Yeah, so they got 42 right under 41 Uh, 42 not there Uh, the hawks and wizards both lost key pieces, but I think they'll both give a calves a problem. Nope Nope wizards are real disappointment. They're bad They're just not I don't know man The bucks raptors pacer's hornets pistons 76ers nicks and hornets I mentioned the hornets twice for some reason.
Uh, we'll basically stand pat of this group The bucks could possibly improve, but I think they're a year away They are a year away and they did not improve Goddamn it I still for life when he can't figure out how Jason kid made the playoffs with that team the year before Like that alone. I could never figure out. I always thought he was one of the worst coaches in league and I still think enough I know He must have paid somebody off or something. I don't know what happened there Speaking of him.
Do you remember when his wife was all over the place? Remember she used to like put her way in kind of like Kobe Bryant's wife was always hanging around the hoop But remember that little bubble headed kid is It's like a precious moment Like a little homo figurine or something That kid was on camera. You know Jason kid was like can you get that kid off camera? It's like a potato on a toothpick.
Mm-hmm How's he even keeping his head up? Okay, with Jason kid, uh, do you remember the maverick's team with Jason kid? Jimmy Jackson and Jamal Mashburn when they were all trying to bang Tony Braxton right? Yes She the rumor is she broke up the team effectively because her she did her involvement in that all that that those three guys Should have figured that shit out that could have been an amazing Threesome or beyond uh for years and years to come.
Do you remember who the coach of that mess was? I was in Dallas. No who was it Jim Clemens? All right.
That's the kind of answers the question what happened right there Yep Uh, all right, uh Orlando will improve to about 35 wins. All right. I nailed that fucker Yeah, and well, but here's where I lose it. It will boast the rookie of the year Mario Hisonia Don't try and outthink the room you asshole.
Yeah, Carl. It was Mario. His name wasn't Mario. You you went to fell for it Ah, all right the Celtics will make the playoffs They have a great young coach and Brad Stevens and have tons of picks and next three drafts including three first founders, blah, blah, blah, whatever Uh, all right, so that's gonna be good basically.
So fine. Brooklyn will be the worst team in the league this year Yeah, I have the same comment of mine and we can argue that they are frankly. Yeah, the record's not there, but yeah, they're horrible Okay in the west my predictions in october This here we go. The Spurs are the runaway best team Uh regardless of record.
Okay, uh, that's that may hold Uh pop dunkin park in parker don't care about the regular season. They will destroy people in the playoffs We'll see that my hole too. Yeah, I'm afraid that one by the way What's with that giant seven footer looks like the guy from the princess bride Andre the giant Bobon Bobon. He's seven three He uh has the biggest hands in the league bigger than uh, uh, uh, Leonard's apparently big ears biggest ears in the league too makes uh, michael rubio look like he's got lilliers Exactly.
He's got a big giant european melon on top of his head. Yeah, he looks like a chromagnet man. Yeah, he's impressive He's got a giantism. I'm sure he'll be in the ww next year fighting somebody.
He's gonna grow four inches in the off season His hat size gives triple Like a bruce pochie size Berry bonds All right, uh, the warrior is still very good and will win well over 60 games. Wow nailed it so hard Currier is great, but won't be in the top curries great but won't be in the top two of mvp voting dumbass Uh, the clippers will be good as usual but not good enough as usual fine Uh, the thunder will look great when Duran's healthy, but he won't be healthy all year his feet will break down Uh in west brick will take over and dominate by the way is it me or is Kevin dranking angrier by the year? Yeah, oh definitely and he should because he's not doing what he should be doing. Yeah, great Um, so that's real to be accurate although drian has been healthy.
I didn't see that one. I didn't predict that at all Where's he gonna wind up? I'm here for agent. Yeah, uh, I'm not sure if this is off season.
He might I think he stays I think he thinks I think he stays and west brook goes when he's available. See there's no way He's gonna leave before west brook because he knows west brook is leaving He's not gonna get trapped there unless he does a LeBron holds him hostage with a one or two year deal Well, so the question is do you want to play without west brook? He doesn't know. I don't think he does either.
No Hold that fox. I have a west brook thing later on. Okay Uh, all right my early thoughts in october continued the rockets will push the warriors for the best record And harden will finish second in the mvp voting and he regrets in terms of everything. Yeah, Dwight Here's one you like Dwight Howard will continue to prove that he doesn't get it Easy.
Yep. Other way up Grizzlies jazz nuggets kings and marvix will all basically be the same as last year, right? Yeah uh blazers will fall and Losing the market's phenomenal phenomenal season c these guys that team is the Most improved or surprise team of the year. No question.
They lost patoom. They lost wesley matt wesley matthews Yeah, they lost all dredge. Aldridge. He was three starters left losing the market's aldridge really hurts them The tea wolves will continue to improve thanks to wiggling during that garnet.
Why do I mention garnet? That's not idea That's my head was alright wonderful. Uh the pelican if you get the five seat with myers Leonard starting You should win coach of the year. I know well he should too.
He should win it. Yeah, uh Pelicans will improve purely on the back of ampity Davis They'll have stretches where he will look unstoppable on both ends of the floor. Mm. Not so much Uh I'm expecting 30 12 8 and 4 numbers for a 10 10 game stretch.
No, he didn't do that. He didn't play well at all Well, he had stretches but not like that later. The Lakers are terrible They'll battle brooklyn and new york for the worst unwatchable team in the league Toby will implode 20 games in taking the young team with him He uh, he'll shoot under 42 percent. Yeah, but she did and shoot more than twice as many shots as his nearest teammate probably true Pretty close.
He didn't play as many minutes, but sure that's that's not bad And let me just add there's only one reason why you didn't nail that whole prediction and that was because the he got so into the going away party That it's distracted him from being angry coby. Yep. Yep. I really I wanted angry coby so bad in this last year Angry defiant terrible Kobe Yeah, I wanted it so bad 35 percent shooting jack up 30 shots a game mad coby We're gonna pull us a dale three with the young players Bull's had to trade to the L3 because he was taking pippin and jordan out to the strip clubs.
So that's a We should have predicted something like that like uh, Kobe will punch four teammates in the face this year Right, it should have happened. It should have but i'm telling you that the going away tour distracted him from his normal self Goddamn dude lost his balls Alright, and here's my nba notes part three from october. I do a couple of stupid predictions in what's the other room LeBron will play fewer minutes, but still suffer a significant injury No injury and i checked his minutes are virtually identical as last year. So nothing which i'm surprised about that actually He should play lower fewer minutes Durans fragile feet will force him to appear in fewer than 60 games i checked he played 72 No dice, uh, which i'm happy to see that actually but yeah Uh, Derek rose his fragile body and mind will force him to appear in fewer than 60 games i checked he played 66 So let's talk can we talk about Derek rose from it let's do that Derek rose i've never seen a bigger about face in a player's mental makeup and external communication um Treatment of reporters fans image i've never seen an image take a bigger tumble without a scandal than Derek rose So do you think that was him or is he just so susceptible to the people around him So i think with him we saw the real Derek rose the year he won the nvp he was a humble kid Yeah, he was a hard hard nose player.
He loved his team. He loved the city of chicago And that's who he was at Memphis too. That's who he was in Memphis too. Then what happened is it all went to his head It all went to his head.
Yep. He resented that the team sort of went out without him Yep, and he didn't like the fact that it wasn't his team when he came back He didn't like that and he never went after like no, because they're buddies and everything So it wasn't like that he he resented no, uh He resented that the fans no longer wanted to be his team He's a head case. I know And with all that talk of like it's like we're all supposed to just watch him Uh work himself back in a shape and be okay with it like well, you know, so what if I turned it over eight times my knee feels good Fuck you. Don't care about your new Yeah, you were mvp, but you're not anymore.
You're not anymore. Exactly. Well, it's I don't understand why a guy like him It's not super uncommon, but it is uncommon at his level, but When you're that guy you get injured you come back and you're not that guy anymore You should see that as an opportunity to work harder become that guy again earn that spot and he didn't either through effort or will or just uh accidental reasons Reasons out of his control. He maybe he can't be that guy, but he didn't It looks like he didn't try he was just mad about it Well, I'll compare his injury to a power pitcher that blows out his arm Successes think to it.
Let's just say it wasn't a tommy john type injury Let's say it was a shoulder injury There's many a pitcher that have had to relearn the way they pitched have to become a pitcher And not just be a thrower. He refuses to do that like he wants to just continue to play his same game Instead he could dial it back and be a shark like an assassin. He's still just as athletic He has all the same abilities. He won't pull it back.
He still makes those hard cuts and those uh aggressive sort of powerful jumps And it's not the same. No, but he could do it. He could say you know what? I'm gonna play 30 minutes a game.
I'm gonna be like just out of this world 30 minutes Same thing that alan iverson could have done towards the end of his career You would still be playing today. Yeah, if he could like tim dunkin You know, you could just say you know, I'm gonna do I'm just gonna kill people 20 minutes a game, right? But he lost his rhythm. He turns the ball over incessantly.
He doesn't care He lost his mojo and he he doesn't I said he doesn't know how to play number two He only can be number one and if he's not number one and he's he's not He fades into the background. He's just not a he's a luke. He's a luke and then it's like he gets the mic in front of him and he's like well, you know, I Feel good my game feels good. Nobody cares if you feel good that you just turn the ball over eight times So Putting aside since we don't know off top of our heads we don't know Contract status and money owed or not and all the details you need to know to properly do this but I don't do it properly I'm just gonna get we have no capologist here.
It's just a Does he stay with the bulls in the not the long term but the medium term in the next over the next three years is evil No When does he leave? He leaves his own contract, which is after next year, I believe is it? Oh shit. He signed a five-year deal When he blew his knee out the year he blew his knee out.
So The bulls trade him or they just don't resign him. You got you got to trade him right? They won't trade him They're the bulls. That's true.
The bulls are gonna trade him. That's the obvious thing to do. So they're not gonna do it Paxon and Foreman come on. Yeah I would trade him for Kyle Corvers backup.
Whoever that is. I would trade him for him Right anything anything addition by subtraction at this point. I can't even believe we're saying it He's going to leave Your your paxon your form and your paxon. You know this by the way he He's still here.
It's my know I know god damn it What is wrong with the bulls? You know they should do you know they should call up the Lakers right now. Let's see if you can get d'Angelo Russell for him Yeah, oh in arby right now. Well everybody's down on him and everything.
How about Ricky Rubio? I would take him It's so sad. I think I would too He would help he'd be better for this team. Oh, you know what I do I put a shock collar on him We're like if you shot the ball he gets a shock.
Yeah. Oh Ricky Rubio Here watch tape of rondo. He doesn't shoot. He can't shoot.
Yeah, he's he's 12 assists the game. He can't shoot do that That's it. It's not great, but it's gonna help the team. It's fine.
Oh fucking hell. All right. I gotta move on before I explode Yeah, all right. So end of season awards the usual MVP defensive player rookie all that stuff all right Let's go through who we think's gonna win and if you have a second place we'll mention that as well um MVP Should be unanimous step curry.
Yep. No argument for me. Number two is Westbrook. Agree.
Okay. Now I want to go on a rant or a tangent Because I have said this I think for the last Two years maybe maybe more but definitely two years um I think and I will defend it if needed. I think Westbrook is a better player than Durant I agree Goddamn it Also Westbrook is one of the best players in the league right So that doesn't mean he's a more talented player than Durant. I understand what you're saying anybody who watches the thunder play And it drives me fucking nuts I thought maybe a change in coaching would affect this but it hasn't if you watch the thunder play For I don't know half the time or three quarters of time that Durant on the floor.
He Is not engaged in the offense right? He stands 28 feet away in the corner waiting for a pass He doesn't move he should be moving like Reggie Miller like Rip Hamilton. He should be constantly constant motion But he doesn't he just stands and waits for the ball and then does something and he's a good enough shooter He'll sort 28 points a game. Yeah, let me just say he's a phenomenal talent one of the most unique talents the game has ever seen He should be the best player in the league.
He could be he could be right But he um the reason why he doesn't move around a lot like that is because he can shoot over everybody. I know that's why I know Never goes to the hoop by the way. Never. All right.
He should watch a guy like Larry Bird who is 6-9 or Nuecky How do they get open where where where do they find shots? He has no host game either the corner of the corner three doesn't have to be your only shot Goddamn it. He never goes up never never never goes out and by the way, that's the reason why the thunder can't beat anybody right never What's up? So imagine a world in which Durant got in the gym lifted some fucking weights got on LeBron's hg h program, which apparently is buying for the NBA.
They don't care sure uh, puts on Just say 20 pounds 20 pounds of lean muscle So he's he still runs and jumping whatever but he's got some beef to him And he plays half the game in the post. He's your stretch for That team wins 70 games They win a lot of games. What the fuck are you? Yes, I think he's Most people would say uh, he's a better player than Westbrook.
I think Westbrook's far and away a better player just on motor Westbrook can do it all he can shoot he can you can get down the floor in like six steps Yep, he's gonna make mistakes. He's gonna throw the ball away. He's gonna have six turnovers one game He's gonna miss shots. He shouldn't have taken but he makes up for every every bad thing he does Well, he could take over the game a lot of different ways whereas back only take it over by shooting So and that's my point is that Durant doesn't do anything but score.
That's right And his scoring is Almost half-assed at best. His defense is not great. He rebounds only because he's 6'11 Uh, he doesn't put an effort into it. He doesn't he's not a presence on the floor besides a 3-point shooter.
Really great player That's good. Goddamn it. Hey, I'm annoyed that you agree with me B we are right. Yes, we are Same thing.
I couldn't play D couldn't do anything but you know, but score I mean, it's it is important, but it's He's gotta do more. He's gotta do more He you can build a team around him. He could be the he's top five player in a league for sure Kevin, but you need the other He's like Dominique too. Dominique could do more things more physical more of an athletic player But Dominique couldn't do anything either You are walking into very dangerous water right now Whatever He's my guy I'm gonna defend that asshole one way or another.
All right Oh I know you're breaking up. Hang on. All right. We may reset here.
All right. That's fine We should follow up and have another podcast at some point about Eero's gone by Talk about some of our favorite players favorite teams in the past. We'll do that sometime soon. Yeah, okay in the meantime here we go MVP we got it Steph Curry defensive player of the year this can go a couple of ways Who would you put in that spot one easy?
Quiliner? Yep. I think it's a no brainer, right? Yep.
No brainer. So a guy I Like in respect to opinion bill Simmons would say dream on green He's in the conversation, but he's not Leonard Just envelopes people he's everywhere. He guards three people at a time I mean look we're both fans. We saw Scotty pippin in his prime.
We saw MJ. He is better defender than Scotty pippin on the ball. Yep he He can guard legit four positions And not just guard him but smother them into a bad game Fundamentally to fundamentally shut them down. Yeah, he can shut down the MVP Steph Curry.