Sizing Up the NBA Season with Mason

Basketball is back! We're bringing in Mason (@thebrandonblitz), our resident basketball savant to lay down the game plan! We're kicking things off by sizing up the Bucks. With Dame and Giannis, who is going to stop them? Add to that, the strategic spacing coming from Middleton and Lopez - they're certainly one to watch. We also say don't sleep on the Oklahoma City Thunder's rookie, Chet Holmgren, whose anticipated performance could just be the wildcard sparking major trade talks!

Keeping the ball rolling, we're talking all things trades. Imagine a world where the Timberwolves' Karl Anthony Towns switches jerseys with the Knicks' RJ Barrett. What if the Lakers somehow manage to snag Kyrie Irving? Our crystal ball predicts the Suns might be offering us a glimpse of their new super team. We're dissecting the ins and outs of these heavy-hitting trades, their effects on the teams, and how they could potentially reshape the NBA landscape.

And what's a good NBA discussion without some playoff predictions and trade rumors? We've got the Western Conference under our microscope, scouting for teams that could make a mark this season. We're keeping tabs on the Kings, Grizzlies, OK City Thunder, Lakers, Clippers, Suns, Nuggets, Bucks, Celtics, and Knicks. Will the Knicks pull a power move involving Donovan Mitchell or Joel Embiid? Strap in for our fearless forecasts for the season, get acquainted with the rumblings in the trade market, and join us in sizing up the Houston Rockets, Portland Trailblazers, and Minnesota Timberwolves. This season is going to be fun!

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:03

All right, everyone. Welcome back to fandom from afar. We're doing something a little bit different today. We brought back Mason to preview the NBA season. You might remember Mason from his New York Giants fandom episode early on. So welcome back, mason.

Speaker 2: 0:19

I appreciate you having me. I'm excited so.

Speaker 1: 0:22

I'm excited because basketball is back and no one better to talk about with you. So what Mason and I did is we tried to think of things we're excited for for the season. It could be a question about a team, maybe just a statement we think is going to happen. It could be anything. So we kind of didn't tell each other what we're thinking and we'll hopefully have some, some good discussion around it. So, mason, as the guest, please tell me one thing you're excited for One thing you're excited for this basketball season.

Speaker 2: 0:54

One this is my first one is coming as a statement. I think the Bucks will clear the East by a lot this year and hit 61 for the first time for them in like five years. I think 2018 was the first time they had 61.

Speaker 1: 1:08

I like it. I think I'll hit 61 again. Clearing the East by a lot is a big statement just because obviously everyone expects the Celtics to be really good as well. So we'll kind of tie those two in together. You think that Dayum and Yannis are obviously going to work.

Speaker 2: 1:25

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 1:27

Tell me why it's going to work defensively.

Speaker 2: 1:31

Interior defensively, like they're still the same Bucks team. I know Drew Holiday is clearly an elite defender, but I don't think they had the spacing that they really wanted to compete at the highest level. I think now they're going to be, and Yannis is only going to be better now that Dayum's at the three point line consistently. I think team's just going to have a hard time, like picking and choosing.

Speaker 1: 1:50

It's kind of scary, because if Dayum is sitting out there on the perimeter and then Yannis is doing his thing, driving to the hoop, it's like we're kind of screwed either way. So what do we do?

Speaker 2: 1:59

Yeah, I think to me, the biggest things is like Chris Middleton and Brook Lopez are like the perfect role players now that you can actually space the floor and they're not like Chris Middleton's not your main three point shooter on your team and Brook Lopez shouldn't have to shoot eight threes a game to be for them to score from the outside. I think it just makes them better.

Speaker 1: 2:17

With those two. My biggest concern would be age. It seemed like Middleton was kind of maybe it was just a bad injury season for him last year, but they're both kind of up there in years. I'd actually say that'd probably be the number one thing I could see holding the bucks back this year is those two guys kind of being in and out all the time.

Speaker 2: 2:35

Yeah, I just think hopefully with Dayum now they shouldn't have to have so much of an impact. They can be more role players and just be really really good role players.

Speaker 1: 2:44

I'm right there with you. I think they're going to be awesome. 60 wins, though that's a big number, but I guess there's a lot of weak teams in these.

Speaker 2: 2:51

They hit 58 last year, so without Dayum. Yeah that's a good point.

Speaker 1: 2:56

I think they're going to miss Drew, though I think it's so nice to have that perimeter guy that can just shut down all the good guards that are out there. So I like it. That's a good one. We'll go into predictions later. I was going to say if you want to go even further with the bucks, but we'll get into that later Okay, well, I like that. That's a good way to start. So the bucks are actually number one on my list too, so we'll cross that one off. Let's go. I'm going to switch it up a little bit from one of the title favorites to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Chet Holmgren is coming back. How does it change Oklahoma's really future if he can become like a legit superstar big man Some people are expecting to be. Some people think that he's a twig that might blow away in a strong wind, but I think he's awesome. So I guess, give me your thoughts on what you think of Oklahoma City, their roster and specifically, what Chet can do for them.

Speaker 2: 3:56

I obviously the first round picks that they've been building up is. Everyone jokes about it but it is crazy. But last year we saw success with the young guys. They were winning games against teams that were better than them at the end of the season, with guys that were 20 years old and 21 years old. So if Chet can come in and even if he has an okay impact to year one, I think they're going to be set up really, really well.

Speaker 1: 4:15

I just think it's so exciting for them. You know me I love to talk about trades and all those random future possibilities.

Speaker 1: 4:22

But with the amount of picks they have, like you said, and all the young guys if you can surround SGA, chet, giddy, jalen Williams, is awesome. They can make a huge trade and all of a sudden level up really quick, and so I think Chet has to become that guy, though Well, I don't know, I guess he could become the centerpiece of a big trade if he's just kind of like okay, but not a superstar. But I don't know. I saw him Maybe I just caught him on a good night in the preseason and he's. I like him. He's skinny, like skinny as can be, but he plays tough and he can block any shot Like he's long.

Speaker 1: 5:03

So I don't know I like him. I'm very interested to see how he turns out.

Speaker 2: 5:07

Yeah, I don't like the people that. It's like you know they need to put on a weight or they'll do nothing in the mails, like come on.

Speaker 1: 5:11

Have you seen Kevin during? Yeah?

Speaker 2: 5:13

It's like these guys are twigs and can do whatever they want, so at some point it does matter. But you know, I think he's going to be great.

Speaker 1: 5:20

Do you view SGA as a superstar?

Speaker 2: 5:23

I don't view him as like a number one on like a team that's maybe contending. I could see him as like a super strong number two guy.

Speaker 1: 5:30

I can see that he was super impressive last year. Like just, he seems to be able to get to the basket anytime he wants.

Speaker 2: 5:36

Oh, for sure.

Speaker 1: 5:38

I love watching Oklahoma City because they're like a fantasy team almost. They just have a million young guys that all have super crazy potential and, who knows, it might turn out to something this year.

Speaker 2: 5:50

All right, what else do you got? So, speaking of the Celtics, I'm I. My question is did they get better in the off season or do they just go sideways as a team? I think the main reason I think that is I don't know if I see Tatum leading like a championship team, when you know I think we saw in the playoffs him and Jalen Brown kind of were iffy the whole time, and they added Drew Holiday, who was a third player on a team, and Chris Topps, who was like a second or third player on a team. Like, did they really go all in or was it just like another year where they're setting up to be a two or three seed and get knocked out?

Speaker 1: 6:23

I think that's interesting because I agree Tatum, he is so good, but every year in the playoffs, yeah, just something goes wrong or he just doesn't quite perform. Well, I shouldn't say it doesn't quite perform, because we've seen him have games where he can't miss, but he hasn't done it yet and everyone thinks of him as this level one tier, one superstar. But eventually you got to, got to lead them all the way. So who? That's a good question. Porzingis I think we can say this for almost anything we bring up. But prosingus, if he stays healthy, I think will be a big addition for him. But Way, which deal did they have to give up Robert Williams in the drew deal, or was it porzingus?

Speaker 1: 7:09

Porzingus was Marcus smart that was a three team. That's right. So which to me, like Marcus Mart, is just as important to that team as I say, and there there may not be that much difference between Marcus smart and drew defensively.

Speaker 2: 7:23

That's why. That's why I just don't know if they got better or just yeah moves and pieces around and it looks flashier, but it's still the same outcome, you know and Marcus smarts, kind of like the heart of their team.

Speaker 1: 7:31

He's like their leader, but maybe that was part of their plan. They want Tatum to step up as a as a leader now, not just their best player, I Guess, the more I think about it. Maybe, maybe they did just go sideways.

Speaker 2: 7:45

It's just different players, but yeah, like I said, I've just seen them. We've seen them in the playoffs last two or three years. I mean they made the finals and then lost to the you know, the Warriors right. But even last year lost to a heat team that really shouldn't have been there. They just kind of got a cut fire game after game after game, like by roleplayers like Tatum and Brown, and then they just paid Jaylen Brown ridiculous money.

Speaker 1: 8:07

So he's interesting too, because he's been in a million trade rumors and yeah all that stuff. It's like a certain point you got to be like these guys don't really want me here and like he's gonna want to get out of town too. So yeah, that's a good question. I think they're gonna be awesome, as long as they're healthy.

Speaker 1: 8:24

I think as soon as one of those guys gets hurt, that kills them, because I wouldn't say they're necessarily deep anymore. No, al Horford's about 74 years old and Peyton Pritchard's fine, but like I don't know it, they used to be so deep with all their guys, but it seems like they kind of gave that up.

Speaker 2: 8:41

Yeah, they kind of gave up the depth now for like a better starting five. But, like I said, is it a better starting five or is it look better on paper?

Speaker 1: 8:48

So well, remind me when we get into predictions. I'm interested to hear where you think they're gonna finish. Yeah, cuz everyone's predicting Milwaukee Boston, milwaukee, boston.

Speaker 2: 8:57

I still think they'll be like in the top two or three.

Speaker 1: 9:00

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 9:00

I just don't know if we'll see them go far.

Speaker 1: 9:03

Yeah that'll be interesting, I like it, that was a good one, let's do. Let's do another young, up-and-coming team, the Orlando Magic, kind of a similar thing. They have so many young guys with potential, but do you see them fitting together or do you see them needing to make a trade this year to really, I guess, help Paolo and Franz Wagner Grow into superstars? Or do you even view them as superstars, like, I guess I have four different questions for the magic.

Speaker 2: 9:37

No, it's. I haven't even heard Paolo's name, I think, since draft night when we heard umanyama. Yeah, that's all they talk about now.

Speaker 2: 9:41

People forgot he's like had a really good year last year. Oh yeah, I think the magic, the biggest hope they have to get over, is finding guards that actually work out and, you know, do above what they're supposed to do. They just took two, you know, really high in this draft. So I think that's, they know that's where they need to be. But, like I said, if the guards work out for them, then sure I see them going. You know be growing really fast and I'm surprised they haven't already.

Speaker 1: 10:03

I loved Jaylen Suggs coming out of college, yeah, but apparently he's just kind of turning into more of like a 3 and D guy, not not so much as a as a point guard. The young guy you were talking about, anthony Black. I love him like I think he's one of those super athletes that also loves getting other people involved, so I think I think he's gonna be awesome for him. Yeah, I call even guys like Cole Anthony. It's like he's a good role player and on their bench.

Speaker 2: 10:26

But it's like they drafted him hoping he would be the point guard of their future and just never panned out. So they can get a couple of those and I think you know they'll be skyrocketing. It's Franz, is all. I love Franz. Oh, I think he's great. Yeah, he, he could end up being their best player.

Speaker 1: 10:40

Yeah, I don't think that's out of the, out of the realm of possibility, but they remind me a lot of the nuggets, where the nuggets were maybe like four years ago, when we just had a bunch of young guys and we had to figure out who who was the right piece to keep and who fits around the superstar. Now it's a little bit tougher for the magic because they have two guys that they think could be their superstar. They got to figure out which guy is their yokich and which guys their Jamal, and then and then find the pieces that fit around them.

Speaker 1: 11:08

But it's nice to have that starting point of having two young guys, that that you can build around, so I'm intrigued by them.

Speaker 2: 11:16

I know.

Speaker 1: 11:16

I'll have some magic fans on here Pretty soon to talk about their fandom, but at the very least it's nice to be able to drive down to Orlando and see some games every now and then. For sure, what else you got?

Speaker 2: 11:27

So this one is just Carl Anthony towns make it to the trade deadline and still be on the temper walls. So that's, and that's been a question. Now I think, third season, fourth season, it like every season, it's the same thing, but I think this season is the one we might actually have an answer. Great minds think alike. That was on my list too, really, yep, yep, I agree, I think.

Speaker 1: 11:45

Minnesota's kind of realizing maybe he's not the superstar that everybody thought he was gonna be and that he's just kind of a weird dude, yeah, and so, yeah, I feel like.

Speaker 1: 11:58

If I were the Timbler's, I would for sure trade them, but they're probably gonna want a superstar hall for him when every other team has seen the same thing over the last couple years too that he's not the Guaranteed Hall of Famer that everybody thought he was gonna be when he got picked number one and everybody thought he was the the number one guy to build a franchise around, like that was really like three or four years ago. He was yeah.

Speaker 2: 12:20

GM's all ranked him like number one dude. I want Carl in the towns.

Speaker 1: 12:22

Yeah, exactly out, flipped. Now Nobody would say that yeah, yeah, he's, he's a good shooter but plays no defense, winds the referees all the time and I don't know I Don't see him making others a wreck. I don't know I I don't see him making others around him better.

Speaker 2: 12:42

So I saw a trade offer this offseason because I'm a Nick's guy so of course I see all the Nick stuff and it's like, should the next go after Carl Anthony towns and First of all I don't even know where he'd fit on the next team and the package has given up like RJ Barrett, like three first round. It's like I'm not giving up three first round pigs for currently town no.

Speaker 2: 13:00

I would think twice about giving up our J Barrett like to me, I'm like I don't have RJ Barrett, but, like I said, it's just a weird question. I don't even know what they even want. Like I said, they probably want a superstar. But who's willing to give a superstar for crown thing towns, like yeah, at this point in his career You've seen consistently like him do the same thing over and over and over.

Speaker 1: 13:17

They're gonna have to get lucky and just someone fall in love with him for some reason. Maybe he'll start off the year just on fire from three and someone will be like, ooh, we need a shooting big man, like something like that. But I Hope it happens, just because I know you're an Anthony Edwards fan, I, I want cat out of there, just so it can be Anthony Edwards team, no question. Just that way he can kind of ascend to the next level and be a superstar, because I think he's awesome. But yeah, I don't know, tim Conley is their gentleman here and I don't know how you get rid of because he's on a giant contract too, right, yeah well, they went and got go bear too and it's like, yeah, I got a big three.

Speaker 2: 13:55

Now when it's like they finally get the interior defense, and then last year they made they made a little bit of run, but it's like this team's not beating anybody when it matters.

Speaker 1: 14:03

No, like they were tough in the playoffs for the Nuggets, but nothing, not anything that it was gonna beat the Nuggets, but yeah, I think that's a really good one. I think we can talk more about trades too, if they don't come up, but you, I hope the Knicks don't get them, because obviously I don't want any of the trades. Yeah, we're gonna talk about the next later, but I think that would be just putting an anchor on your team and just in any hope that you guys have been building towards would be like Gone yeah.

Speaker 1: 14:31

So that's a good one. As much as I hate to do it, I'm gonna talk about the Lakers on this one. Yeah, yeah so my question is Will the Lakers trade for Kyrie? Because have you heard the rumors that the Jared Vanderbilt contract and the D'Angelo Russell contract are perfectly? Gonna match matched with Kyrie's contract that he signed. So everyone thinks that they're trading for Kyrie. So, a do you think they're gonna do it? And B if they do do it, how will Kyrie tank the team and destroy their hopes?

Speaker 2: 15:10

I think it's more of a Maverick's question, because I feel like they did play well at the end of the year. That's a toss up and Kyrie and Luca is like a weird combo. It should. It sounds like dead-dumb paper but like if they don't win quick, then you're. Kyrie could easily be just gone.

Speaker 1: 15:25

They could be unstoppable offensively Kyrie and Luca. Yeah but they could also give up 150 points, so like they may not win very many games being unstoppable like that, so I don't even know what his value is at this point either, like Kyrie, yeah, well, I think they showed it when he couldn't get a contract from anybody this offseason and then he had to go back to Dallas and they're like, well, I guess we traded all those things for him, so we might as well sign them yeah so I don't know, I think it's.

Speaker 1: 15:49

I'm not a fan of Kyrie, just like I'm not a fan of cat. I think it would kind of destroy either team, and so they're both in the West, so that's good for the Nuggets.

Speaker 2: 15:58

So it's like too many egos on one team it is the Lakers.

Speaker 1: 16:02

Yeah, like I think I think he. Well, that's a whole nother subject. I don't think the Lakers are as good as everybody thinks they are, but especially with Kyrie coming in, I just don't think that would work, because LeBron still wants the ball. Anthony Davis wants to prove that he's Good. Yeah. So I don't know. I I See it happening, but I don't see it happening or going very well for the Lakers.

Speaker 2: 16:26

Yeah, all right. And then my last question Do the Suns have enough like to go all the way? And then part of that is I actually just learned this, but they basically came out with a new thing that they're gonna like punish teams that are more top-heavy with their Contracts. So this could technically be one of the last like super teams of three all-stars that we see like this. So do you think they have a chance like this or do you think it's gonna implode how we've seen? You know, kevin right with the nets and and all this. Do you think they have enough?

Speaker 1: 16:55

Again. I think when they're healthy their offense is gonna be ridiculous like just raining down jump shots. But Kevin Durant's pretty old Bradley Beale seems like he's never quite healthy, but that also maybe because he was in Washington. I just didn't really want to play and nobody really cares if he plays out there. But If they stay healthy they're gonna be scary like they'll score 150, but they might give up just as much. And and they signed a bunch of minimum guys that everyone kind of recognized the names and so everybody was like, oh wow, they won the offseason, but like yeah, I saw that, like their depth to me is very weak, which that's what you get if you pay your.

Speaker 1: 17:39

Yeah, that's how you guys so much money but that's where I think we're up.

Speaker 2: 17:42

They'll fold in the in these big series. I think they're bench will kill them. I.

Speaker 1: 17:47

Think Booker is elite like I was very impressed with Booker last year and I have no doubt I think he's gonna be one of the best players this year. I think Durant's just kind of on the downhill now, like he Is not quite as quick as he used to be. He's just always doing his kind of little crossover fade away step shot like he.

Speaker 1: 18:06

I don't know, he's still amazing, obviously, but he just can't quite be Kevin Durant anymore. And then, who knows, the Bradley Beale like. The last time I feel like I saw Bradley Beale play was what five years ago, six years ago, when it was him and John Wall making it to the playoffs.

Speaker 2: 18:22

Yeah, I saw last year he played and when he played it was like 25 points, 12 points, 35 points, like it was never consistent. So, like I said, he may not need to be that for the, he may not need to be like a insane score for the Sun's for them to be Good, but I think to me they made a mistake trading for Nurkic.

Speaker 1: 18:40

I feel like they should have got someone else for eight and because I feel like eight and is decent. Mm-hmm and I just feel like Nurkic is such a downgrade. Now. I do say that For those listening. We're recording this the night after they played last night I forget who they beat, but our two nights ago. Nurkic will play hard for like a month Just to try and prove people wrong and then the real Nurkic will kick back in and he'll get lazy, he'll complain a lot, he'll get hurt like he's.

Speaker 2: 19:12

He's okay, he's he's not, he's not good, and they're.

Speaker 1: 19:15

They're putting a lot of pressure, their eggs on on Nurkic and I don't know when, when you got to go up against Anthony Davis or Yolkic in the playoffs. I just don't think Nurkic is the guy you want to have on your team, so I think that's going to hurt them. And then, going back to what you were saying about the super teams, I totally agree, I think, with the way the rules are set up now. They literally are going to punish teams for having big, giant contracts that make you go over the hard cap or whatever it's called. So, yeah, this could be the last time and I don't know if it's going to work.

Speaker 2: 19:50

I wonder how it would affect marketing and stuff, because obviously the Nuggets won last year with one all-star yeah, they won the whole thing and it's like they were one of the least marketable teams of all time. And the Lakers, who of course have Anthony Davis and LeBron that's all they got posted about was those two dudes.

Speaker 1: 20:04

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 20:04

I wonder if they made like hmm.

Speaker 1: 20:07

But I think it's more of a, it's more fair league.

Speaker 2: 20:10

I think it makes it more evenly, like every team.

Speaker 1: 20:12

Yeah, I think the league wants to spread out the superstars. But I will say if the Nuggets starting five played in New York and they played the way they do and they won the championship, it would be marketed like crazy. Yeah, it's just the Nuggets. No one cares about the Nuggets, but that's okay, we'll fly into the radar again as the defending champions.

Speaker 1: 20:34

Yeah, it'll be interesting. You kind of saw those rules come into play for the Nuggets too. They traded for a bunch of second round picks and took a bunch of older guys that can play and help now and are just super, super cheap because they have all the expensive guys on their team too. So I think it's going to change things, but we'll see. Yeah, good or bad. All right, I'll do one more, one of my other least favorite teams, the 76ers.

Speaker 2: 21:03

Oh yuck.

Speaker 1: 21:05

Yeah. So I think it's pretty much a given that Hardin will be out of there At some point, Because he's crying his way out, basically Like nobody wants him and he still doesn't want to play for the 76ers. I don't know if you saw the story today. He finally came back because he's just been missing from the team and they have a road trip coming up and they said why don't you just stay here? We're good. And he tried to get on the plane and they had to have security stop him from getting on the plane. It's like you couldn't ride a soap opera like that and make it believable, but it's real. But that's not my real question. We all think that Hardin's gone.

Speaker 2: 21:45

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 21:45

How soon after Hardin leaves, because it doesn't seem like they're going to get much for him, will he be in the Dascout?

Speaker 2: 21:53

I've seen it. We've seen all the trade every year as the trade stuff, whatever I mean. He did just win MVP on the sixers. It was with Hardin, but I think he might just stay. I think he might ask for another person instead of Hardin.

Speaker 1: 22:07

And I think that's their plan. They're trying to build up all this cap space for next year.

Speaker 2: 22:11

Yeah, it's almost. I think it's harder for you to go to another team and instantly become a better team. It's easier to just bring in a dude with people you've already played with so much.

Speaker 1: 22:21

And so my question to that would be at what point do we just say people don't like playing with Embiid? He's had some really good players around him.

Speaker 2: 22:33

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 22:34

Like was Jimmy Butler, the first kind of like top level guy he had around him.

Speaker 2: 22:40

He played really well. I wouldn't say, ben Simmons, like now is great, but no, but Ben Simmons is a good player.

Speaker 1: 22:47

He was close to all pro back then. Right yeah, At least defensively Number one overall pick he's had. James Hardin he's had. Tobias Harris he's had.

Speaker 2: 22:58

Tyrese Maxi is now Maxi. He's had a lot of help, yeah, and he's not getting any younger, so to me he almost feels like the Celtics now, where it's like they've got, they have all these dudes, but it's like is it enough? When it really matters, like Embiid is awesome, I enjoy watching him play.

Speaker 1: 23:18

Never made it out of the second round.

Speaker 2: 23:19

But it's like yeah, like when it matters are you? Ever in Embiid for being in the championship or his 1NVP season.

Speaker 1: 23:25

Always someone else's fault. Gotta get rid of the coaches. Gotta get rid of the front office. Gotta get rid of his sidekicks. At a certain point it's gotta be Joelle's fault Just six years down the road, it's finally his 1NVP season.

Speaker 2: 23:39

Yeah, really Like seven years.

Speaker 1: 23:41

And his name may come up again when I ask you about the Knicks. Oh gosh. So the way Mason and I did it because You've seen throughout the conversation already, I can't help but bring up the nuggets and he's a big Knicks fan I told him that our questions could not be about the nuggets for Knicks because we would just guarantee one of those at the end. So I'm going to go first, we're going to talk about the Knicks, Perfect. So my question for you and I'm going to have more but my main question for you is are Tibbs and Julius Randall good enough to lead the Knicks to, let's say, the Eastern Conference Finals or even the Finals Like, do you feel like they are pieces or are they eventually going to have to go?

Speaker 2: 24:27

I definitely think they're pieces. I mean, I've seen Randall just kind of not show up the last two years in the playoffs.

Speaker 1: 24:34

It's been bad.

Speaker 2: 24:35

Like the regular season. I mean, he's on fire. So I think if we get through the playoffs and he does a regular season game like he pretends a regular season game, we might be in a better spot, do you?

Speaker 1: 24:45

think the pressure gets to him, or like is it just a level? Of competition, because it seems like he's a totally different player in the playoffs.

Speaker 2: 24:52

No, I know. Well, like last year, we played the heat in the second round and I'm like, dude, we got lucky. The heat beat the bucks. I'm like I did not want to play the bucks and then the heat give us a run for our money and take us out, I think in six games or even maybe even five games. It's like what happened to the team I just watched play 80 games, like Julius Randall did not seem to be there, but I mean, like I said, I think I think him and Tibbs we've seen more success with them than the past 10 years.

Speaker 1: 25:15

So it's true, I don't know. Tibbs worries me because I feel like he takes the regular season so seriously that he burns everybody out and that's why they're tired. We can play off time, yeah. So I guess my next question is if you want to keep those guys, are the rest of the guys a championship team this year? Like you have pretty much every Villanova player that ever played, and obviously Calbridges.

Speaker 1: 25:46

Yeah, and we finish it off Might as well, but do you feel like they're a championship team or are they, for you, still level below Boston and Milwaukee?

Speaker 2: 25:58

I think they're below Boston or below Milwaukee. I think they could take Boston.

Speaker 1: 26:02

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 26:03

Yeah, I think this season actually just depends on RJ Barrett like 100%, because if he could be like a third star then I think there's as much pressure on Randall and because of the chemistry they play with is like when I watch them play, barrett has to have 20 points and we kill teams, but if he has anything less than that it's like, hmm, our team can't score.

Speaker 1: 26:22

So what would you say would be the year you're looking for out of Barrett for 0.3 bounces?

Speaker 2: 26:28

I would even just maybe like 23, 7 and 5. Like, doesn't have to be a superstar, but just be consistent.

Speaker 1: 26:34

If you get that from him and add him into what Brunson and Randall give you and then quickly like that's pretty solid.

Speaker 2: 26:41

Yeah, like you don't. I don't think you need a superstar, superstar to win the finals. You just got to have people that are consistent, you know, in my opinion, well, and, just like Miami showed, get hot at the right time. No, after sure You'll be good to go. At least they smoked us, dude yeah.

Speaker 1: 26:56

Yeah, but I think something they were doing last year did that to everybody, so it's not like it was a mixed problem. All right, you got nuggets question for me? I do so without injuries.

Speaker 2: 27:07

What is the one thing you think that could stop the nuggets from going back to back, because obviously they're the favorite and I think since we've seen them, even last year, just kill people like they like in a whole another league, without any injuries? Is there a team, is there maybe a person downgrading that from their play last year? Like, what do you think it is that could stop you guys?

Speaker 1: 27:26

or really hurt you. So if they're healthy, I'm very confident in their ability to go back to back. But I will say the number one thing to hold us back would probably be the bench, because it's just really young. Our sixth man is going to be Christian Brown, who's in a second year. We'll be depending on Peyton Watson, who's in a second year a lot, we have three rookies. And then it's like Reggie Jackson, who's not young, which might be the opposite problem. He's getting up there in age.

Speaker 1: 27:59

And so, yeah, the bench. We just have no idea what the bench is going to be. It could work out awesome where these young guys just have so much energy that they come around and fly and just kill people in transition, or they might not know what a basketball looks like some nights and you could just to play 46 minutes. I think the bench should probably be the biggest thing. That worries me about our chances to repeat. If it was another team, I'm going to say Milwaukee, but obviously, if we are lucky enough to get to the finals and worry about Milwaukee, that'd be still a pretty great season.

Speaker 1: 28:35

But we always play Milwaukee pretty well. Yanis and Yokec just they don't guard each other that much, but when they do, yokec actually does surprisingly well, just because he's so strong. Dame has killed us in the playoffs before. It seems like he just doesn't know how to miss. Whenever he plays a nugget, whether it's from 30 feet out or anywhere, he's amazing. So, yeah, I would say our bench and Milwaukee are my biggest concerns.

Speaker 1: 29:03

There you go All right. So let's get into some predictions you mentioned Milwaukee is going to win at least 60. Do you think anyone in the West can get up to that level as well? I?

Speaker 2: 29:17

don't think so.

Speaker 1: 29:19

West is tough.

Speaker 2: 29:20

Yeah, I think. I think it's going to be like obviously the nuggets will be the first team in the West, I think. But I have zero clue for number two through eight, like through 10 now, with plans like that you could see it being anyone.

Speaker 1: 29:34

But I think a lot of teams have the attitude that let's just make it to the playoffs healthy and we'll be fine. So like I could easily see the Suns kind of just taking it easy the last month of the season they slip in there as like a six seed and then all of a sudden they're the scariest six seed ever.

Speaker 2: 29:51

When we saw the Warriors last year as a six seed, they put the Kings who, like Kings are. You know, everyone's rooting for the Kings. Yeah make it as the three seed and then they lose in a tough series. But it's like you guys killed it in the season just to get you know. Lose to Curry who like.

Speaker 1: 30:04

Exactly, and same Lakers finished seventh, yeah, and so it was all the lower seeds that made it. So, yeah, it'll be interesting, because I think some teams have urgency and want to prove that they're good. Like you said, the Kings, I think the Grizzlies really want to prove something without jaw, and then I think Oklahoma City wants to show that they're not just a young, fun team anymore. They want to show that they can actually win some games. So, and then there's the older teams that want to prove that they're still championship material. So you got, like the Lakers the oh, my goodness, the Clippers.

Speaker 1: 30:42

I always forget about them. They play basketball but like, yeah, like the Warriors, the, the Suns, they're not young, they kind of have a small window here where they can't really coast too much, but at the same time they don't want to push too hard and be injured. So I think the West is going to be so fun. Besides the, really besides the Rockets, maybe everyone could be decent.

Speaker 2: 31:06

Maybe the Jazz? I feel like maybe the Jazz, or yeah, still outside, but I could see everybody else competing because the Spurs will have Wemby.

Speaker 1: 31:14

So they're I think. I think he's going to be awesome, I think he's legit, he's going to be good, no matter what. So, yeah, I don't know, I could see the Nuggets being number one and then, if I had to guess right now, I'd say it's probably going to be. I'll say Phoenix two and Golden State three.

Speaker 2: 31:36

I think Golden State will be like four to five.

Speaker 1: 31:38

I don't think the Chris Paul thing is going to work, but I think Golden State is good enough anyway.

Speaker 2: 31:42

I think in the playoffs it'll be, it'll be awesome to have Chris Paul, but like until then it's like just too much yeah.

Speaker 1: 31:49

What about so Milwaukee, one in the East, who's who's your two and three out there.

Speaker 2: 31:54

I think you may have teased it earlier. Yeah, I think Boston will still be two or three. I think the Knicks will probably be four, three or four.

Speaker 1: 32:03

Okay, so who else is in there in that mix for you then?

Speaker 2: 32:05

Trying to remember.

Speaker 1: 32:07

Cleveland.

Speaker 2: 32:08

Yeah, they were. I think they were four last year.

Speaker 1: 32:10

They're pretty good.

Speaker 2: 32:13

Yeah, I feel like. I feel like at best they're still probably four or five.

Speaker 1: 32:16

And then, who's your prediction for finals championship?

Speaker 2: 32:19

I think it'll be Nuggets Bucks, and I think it'll be Nuggets again. Great minds think alike.

Speaker 1: 32:24

I like it.

Speaker 2: 32:25

Back to back. I just like I said, if you watch and play, it just feels like they're going slower than everybody and still beating everybody. It's like they play in slow motion and still win they have such good chemistry.

Speaker 1: 32:35

Yeah, like they're just a step ahead of everybody. Like I said, that's starting five. If they stay healthy, unstoppable. They just fit together so well.

Speaker 2: 32:44

I'm definitely, I'm definitely excited for the Bucks. Like I said, I like you honest as a player.

Speaker 1: 32:48

Me too.

Speaker 2: 32:50

So I hope he does well.

Speaker 1: 32:51

Can I throw one more trade question at you for?

Speaker 2: 32:55

the.

Speaker 1: 32:55

Knicks? Sure, because you know I love trades. Oh yeah, would you rather the Knicks trade for Donovan Mitchell or Joellen Beat?

Speaker 2: 33:05

I'd say Donovan Mitchell yeah, I feel like he doesn't demand the ball as much. I feel like their entire offense just runs through Embiid. I feel like we did that, we'd lose everything we've built for like two or three years.

Speaker 1: 33:18

I agree. I just, I'm obviously very biased, but I just don't think Embiid can be your number one guy.

Speaker 2: 33:27

I feel like guys like Josh Hart who, like Nick's fans, love and he watches Nick's play like he's awesome I feel like on a team with Embiid, Josh Hart would be a nobody.

Speaker 1: 33:35

Yeah, like he wouldn't be here, he'd be standing around watching them. He'd have the best seats in the house.

Speaker 2: 33:38

I feel like he'd just take away half the guys that, like, have an impact on our team now wouldn't have an impact, so to me it wouldn't be worth it.

Speaker 1: 33:45

I like it and, for the record, I think the Knicks very well could make a big trade this year. There's too many rumors about Kat, about Mitchell, and then even that they're saving everything to go after Embiid. It's like they want to do something big.

Speaker 2: 34:03

Yeah, they'll have Dallas's first round pick and their own. So I mean, you know they could throw something. Yeah, something together.

Speaker 1: 34:10

It'll be fun. Well, cool man. Any other wild predictions you want to throw out there? Just to get on record.

Speaker 2: 34:17

No, I don't think the Rockets will be the worst team they made this year, though I don't know who's going to be the worst, but I don't think it'll be the Rockets. That's my one prediction Could be.

Speaker 1: 34:24

Portland.

Speaker 2: 34:25

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 34:26

Because I think they're still going to trade away some of the guys that they got in all those trades and really try and be terrible. Yeah, rockets have some good young guys. I like Sangoon.

Speaker 2: 34:35

I think they got. Like Van Vleet, they got Dylan Brooks, they got, they got. It's not just like 20 year olds playing basketball, that's true.

Speaker 1: 34:40

They brought real players in yeah, teach Jabari how to play a little bit. I like that. Let's see One more wild prediction. Anthony Edwards averages 33 points a game this year. I don't know, I'm just throwing it out there.

Speaker 2: 34:59

They could. I think if Kat's going he definitely could yeah.

Speaker 1: 35:01

There you go. Okay, well, cool man, we're going to be back on season and I'm sure we'll we'll have you back on to talking more when we're not just guessing what's happening and we can actually talk about what it has happened. All right, you said go next. Yes, okay, it's.