EPISODE 32: 2026 NBA & NHL PLAYOFF PREVIEW

Chris (Robert & Bean) & Heff recap the first weekend of the NBA Playoffs and make their First Round predictions. They recap the first weekend of the NHL playoffs & make their Stanley Cup predictions.

NBA GAME 1 RECAPS & FIRST ROUND PREDICTIONS: 2:00 - 41:15

NHL GAME 1 RECAPS & STALEY CUP PREDICITIONS: 41:15 - 1:24:15

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:00

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to episode one of the Nosebleed Narrative. Our first episode, and what better way to start off with playoff basketball and playoff hockey. My name is Ryan Heffernan. Who is this to my left? Chris Robert. Who's to my right?

SPEAKER_00 0:17

Chris Bean.

SPEAKER_03 0:17

And man oh man, we have a lot to talk about. We got YouTube TV on, split screening, and we're ready to go. Let's talk ball, bean.

SPEAKER_00 0:26

Yeah, thank you for listening. Really appreciate it. Uh me and Hef kind of well, we did have uh earlier version of his callboost balls, but uh with our good friend Tristan Mabin, but now we're doing it with Chris Robert and uh basically starting starting anew. So we're excited to uh get this going, and like you said, what what better time of the year, Hef?

SPEAKER_03 0:48

What better time of the year?

SPEAKER_00 0:50

We got NBA, NHL playoffs, we got the draft, MOB is underway just uh just under a month in their season, and uh we're excited to uh bring you this new podcast. But uh we'll uh introduce ourselves really quickly. Uh like Hef said, I'm Chris Breen. Uh half introduced himself. Uh Chris, introduce yourself a little bit um before we get going.

SPEAKER_01 1:16

Yeah, Chris Robert here, absolute sports nerd. Uh known these fellows for a long time, going back from elementary school. And um bean, let it uh I'm gonna throw it back to you, but uh let the audience know what our new name is.

SPEAKER_00 1:35

Yeah, it's uh the nosebleed narrative, and we uh um we've known each other, like Chris said, for almost 20 years at this point. We went to uh elementary school, uh we went to St. Fabian in uh in Michigan, and and then we went to high school together at St. Mary's. So and now we're now we're it's uh we're starting a new chapter in our life and uh very excited for it, no doubt. Um but without further ado, let's uh let's talk uh some NBA playoffs. Hef and I went to game one on Sunday of the uh Detroit Pistons Orlando Magic first round and it was Unfortunately. It was a tough it was a tough watch. Uh I lost you know some of my voice. We were driving back uh on Sunday night together, and you know, Hef asked me a couple questions and uh he couldn't understood understand a word I was saying, and I'm like, well, I'm talking the loudest I can right now. Um but yeah, it it was tough. Uh Hef, let's start with you. What did you think about that game one?

SPEAKER_03 2:39

It was a fun obviously it was electric to go to. Um obviously I wish we won. But you know, we got kicked in the mouth, kicked in the teeth. But that's what you get. And now we got game two coming up. That's why you have it's first of four games, best of seven. Um but I do want to say, Bean, you at the game was the funniest shit I think I've ever seen in my life. Bean was uh next to random people on his left side, and he was just absolutely screaming. He was he was like, Stop the dribble drive, you pussy. He was just going off and going crazy, and it was the funniest thing ever.

SPEAKER_00 3:15

Yeah, so um the magic they started nine for ten uh in uh for field goals in the in the fourth quarter. They made nine of the first ten shots, and they were I mean, they were getting it everything they wanted layups, jumpers, but yeah, they got most of their uh points, at least to start the fourth, on easy bat I mean, easy baskets. I mean we we've been watching the Pistons the whole year, they haven't you know given up that um that easy um amount of points in probably a whole year. And it you know, it's the playoffs. This is when you're supposed to, you know, step up your defense. And uh yeah, I I was I was screaming at them. Uh and it's so great. I could see there was two ladies sitting in front of me and they were just cracking up when I was you know stood up and I I I was I was so pissed.

SPEAKER_03 4:07

I love the passion, the passion, like for those who have never met Bane, biggest most passionate sports fan you'll ever meet in your entire life, and it is it's is a pa it is a blessing to be sitting next to him watching sports games. But I do want to say about um the matchup we had, um I tr I didn't think that the magic would be that tough of a a series for us. But looking like looking back on it now, or I guess looking back on it like whenever, like after the game, they do have a lot of size advantages. Or like the pistons thrive on physicality and making just strength and just like bullying teams. Right. Like the magic of the one team like in the NBA and the Thunder. And like obviously the magic aren't as good as the Thunder, but like size, physicality, they have all of it.

SPEAKER_00 5:01

Like, yeah, their best players are power forward, and then they have a couple good, really good wingers, and then they had a you know, they they have a center and one Del Carter who outperformed Dern, who's an all-star, and it was so frustrating too, because they would get it to four points in the fourth quarter or five points, and then they magic will get it back right back to ten ten points. So it was uh like you said, Hef, it was a good atmosphere. Um, but it was a frustrating result for sure. But for it's you know, this time of year four to seven, so you know it's all about adjustments, and Dern only shot it four times the other day. That was free.

SPEAKER_01 5:44

Are you guys going to game two?

SPEAKER_00 5:45

I'm not, no.

SPEAKER_01 5:47

Um do we have any uh clips of Bean going crazy in game one?

SPEAKER_03 5:54

I wish we did. I'm more of a no like less phones guy when when we're at a a sporting event. Like I want to be present because I spent frickin' 200 bucks to go there. But I really do wish I got some content of being.

SPEAKER_01 6:08

Very fair. I think uh next time we gotta get some clips for our viewers to see Bean in action uh during a game.

SPEAKER_03 6:17

This is exactly what I was saying. After like Bean, you gotta do post game and just hop, like send me the video and I'm gonna post on our TikTok. People are just gonna love your passion for the game.

SPEAKER_00 6:29

Unfortunately, they wouldn't have been able to hear me after game one. That would have made it better.

SPEAKER_03 6:34

I'll tell you what, me, Pat, and Maben were talking a good amount on the drive home. I didn't I don't think I heard a word from Bean on the ride home. He was just he was just bad.

SPEAKER_01 6:43

He was furious. I don't blame him. So, question for you guys. Um, when was the last time the Pistons won a home game? Twenty years ago. 2008, right? 19 years ago. I guess 2008. 18, 18, yeah. Did you look it up?

SPEAKER_03 6:56

No. Oh, I thought there was like an answer. Yeah, 2008. There is, I just don't know it. It's been a very long time.

SPEAKER_00 7:02

It was 2008 uh what Eastern Conference finals against Boston. That was our last home win at home.

SPEAKER_01 7:09

Like some sort of curse that we don't know about. Like what what's going on, fellas? Number one overall, number one seed in the Eastern Conference, and we can't win a game? Like what what the heck? It could be us going to the games.

SPEAKER_03 7:22

Because last year I went to game three, we lost. Bean went to game four, we lost. So it could be us. Maybe we should just stop going to games.

SPEAKER_00 7:32

Yeah, I mean, I'm not going to another game this the rest of the series. Maybe we'll go in round two if we make it, but definitely not going to another game.

SPEAKER_03 7:42

I will be sitting in the nosebleeds if I do that, because I do not have a lot of fun right now. What I have a question for you, Bean. Um, do you think we should have been playing Asar Thompson Moore down the stretch? Because that's a that's uh where JB Bickerstaff's getting a lot of backlash right now. Because Asar obviously Asar's our best defender and probably the best defend defensive player in the entire league outside of Weminyama. Um and he only played, I think, nine minutes in the second half. If I I think I'm right. He didn't play many minutes in the second half, and obviously that didn't really help us because they were scoring on damn near every possession.

SPEAKER_00 8:22

Yeah, that's part of the adjustments. He'll I think he'll play a lot more. Maybe not um, you know, maybe not 35, 40 minutes, but he'll he'll definitely get more. Um I I wish yeah, I wish he would have played more. I I it it's funny because he he's he's done this this year when they're struggling offensively, they'll they'll take him out, they'll supplement, you know, defense for offense, which I understand. And and he had he did have some bad turnovers that he's gonna have to obviously improve on as well. Um But when when you're you know catching trying to catch up and you know their identity has been defense offense. JB talks about it all the time. You know, it would make sense to have your best defender, and he was you know third in um defensive player of the year, so one of the best defensive players in the league, it would be Gobert. No, Gobert was fourth, Chet was second behind Wemby. Oh, Chet. But nonetheless, I mean I I would I would expect him definitely to to play more. And it's funny because the magic too, they had the same amount of threes made as the Pistons. Pistons shot it uh two more times. It just felt like they were way more effective and they made a lot early on to build um build part of the part of the lead. But um a lot of a lot of shots, open shots the Pistons made, so um they're definitely gonna have to hit some of those too as well.

SPEAKER_03 9:57

Yeah, I'm excited for game two. As soon as the game one ended, I was like, wow, can we just run it back tomorrow? Because like I just like hate having that loss in my head for two days. Like I wish we played tonight, but obviously the extra rest day, hopefully, I mean honest honestly, it benefits the magic more than us because you know we had a week off and they were they played for a full week to try to play in the play-in. But if I had to predict this series, I would probably say before the series I said Pistons in five. I think I'm gonna move to Pistons in six just because I realized how bad the matchup is really for us. Like I I think if we played the Charlotte Hornets, or if we played the team that I didn't want to play, Philadelphia, I think we actually would have had a better matchup now that I am like reflecting back on that.

SPEAKER_00 10:48

Also, it's a real thing, game one magic. They've won in the last 15 years, 14 years. They won three game ones or four game ones, and then they ended up losing the series in five or six. So what's I'm not too worried.

SPEAKER_03 11:04

What's your prediction for the series? Like what how many games?

SPEAKER_00 11:06

Uh I'll go six. I did say Pistons and five, but I bet uh Pistons kill them in game two and then they split in Orlando, and then Pistons won't win the next two games. Shex, how many games are the Pistons gonna win it?

SPEAKER_01 11:22

Five.

SPEAKER_03 11:22

Five? Not lose another game?

SPEAKER_01 11:24

That's right. Wow.

SPEAKER_03 11:26

You are the ball knower, so I I trust you. I trust you wholeheartedly. That is what I'm known for. Definitely not known for Puck or anything, right?

SPEAKER_01 11:33

I think um Well, I mean, what do you guys think? Do you think that too much of the offense was flowing through Cade in game one? I mean, uh, it seems like you know, Dern wasn't shooting very much. Cade was shooting a lot. I mean, he he was very effective, but do we need to, you know, pass the rock around a little bit more and get more guys going?

SPEAKER_00 11:58

Part of it is they gotta be more creative because they were trying to force feed Durn and they were packing the paint, and they did a great Orlando did a great job of preventing Durin just getting touches in the post. Like Dern he shot it four times and made three of them. Like that's it says, you know, in the box in the box score it says he shot 75%, but the problem is he only shot it four times. So they're gonna have to be more creative of giving of giving him touches. And uh another thing, like I said a little bit earlier, is you know, Tobias Harris was getting open shots, Robinson was getting open shots, and they were they were missing. So Jenkins too. Yeah, Jay Jenkins made his first one and then he was just chucking up shots, and that weren't very good looks. So um yeah, definitely a little bit more creativity and um and they gotta start hitting their shots too.

SPEAKER_03 12:48

Yeah, the m I think a big part of why Cade was um so ball dominant and scoring like shooting so many shots was nobody else was doing anything. Like it felt like it felt like Cade was the whole offense, like Jenkins couldn't get going, really. Uh I think we only had two scores and double digits, isn't that right? We had Tobias Harris who had 17 and then they had a couple guys on the fringe, but yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:16

And that's the thing too, Orlando, all their starters had, I think, 14 or 15 plus points.

SPEAKER_03 13:21

Yeah, it was just like Orlando did a really good job of making us go off script because that's like Cage shooting 27 shots is not really the way the Pistons have won throughout the year. Right. And um I just think they did a really good job on Durin. Durin's gotta be like if Dern wants that contract extension, he's gotta he's gotta do a lot better than eight points and seven rebounds because obviously he's in the contract year. Um do we give him the max? Do we not give him the max? Like Wendell Carter Jr. kind of like made him look a little bit soft when Dern was the one who was the most physical. We might have to switch to beefs too if like Dern continues to play like this.

SPEAKER_00 13:58

No, yeah, he definitely babied him, but it's you know, that's the good thing about you know, best four to seven. It's it's all about adjustments. And um the Pistons are you know, they've had good thing, I guess the good thing is they're gonna have two days off to fix it, uh, because the game's not till tomorrow night. So you know, I'm excited to see how uh how they uh how they fix that. And I I don't expect them to miss that many shots like they did the other day, and I know that was an issue for the Piz uh Pistons, but they were uh when Kate got hurt, they were one of the best three-point shooting teams uh when he got hurt. So we know they can do it. It's uh it's just uh matter of fact that they gotta go out and and do it on tomorrow night. And obviously I don't expect the defense to play as poor. I know 112 points is is not too too many points, but in the playoffs it's almost like giving up 120 just because uh you know the it is so much harder, so much more physical. The rest give you um let you get away with with more. So um I I do expect like not g giving up uh nine out of ten field goals to start the fourth quarter is not is not a recipe for success, and I expect them to fix that tomorrow.

SPEAKER_03 15:20

Yeah, hopefully.

SPEAKER_00 15:22

I agree. Uh we had a good good game, two good games yesterday uh in the NBA. Uh because all of the game, because Orlando was the only team to have an upset over the weekend. Um, but the Atlanta Hawks and Minnesota Timberwolves both six seeds, one in the east, one in the west, got two big road wins to even up the series. I think every uh other series is looks like it's probably gonna go four or excuse me, five or six max with the home teams winning in those series. Yeah. I expect the Thunder to to sweep the Suns. Um but I was it was good to see the Hawks and and T-Wolves get uh two big road wins and show some competitive spirit in this playoffs because it looked like it was gonna be a rough first round in terms of entertainment and enjoyment.

SPEAKER_03 16:16

That was my biggest concern, Ben, because the first eight games of round one, uh Saturday and Sunday, not much competitive basketball going on. A lot of blowouts. And I was getting concerned because you know, like usually the first round of the NBA playoffs, because like there's a lot less parity in the NBA compared to the NHL. You know, like the NHL first round is probably the most electric round. In the NBA, you know, you got like these dominant teams playing these teams that barely made the playoffs. But I'm glad we got what we got. You know, the Hawks, I was cheering my ass off for them. I never cheered for the Atlanta Hawks like that in my life, just because obviously I'm not you know, the Knicks knocked us out last year, so I have a bitter taste in my mouth about them beating us. Right. And I just want most series to get prolonged because I'm I have a feeling this Pistons Magic series is gonna get um maybe six games, maybe seven games, who knows? So um if we're you know getting fatigued throughout the rounds, I hope the other teams do as well. But I was very happy with the basketball being played yesterday. Ant-Man, absolute monster. Dante DiVincenzo hit that big three in the final minute. That was amazing. Yeah, Rudy Gobert's been the best player in the series. He locked up Jokic shot one for seven in the fourth quarter. Yeah, yesterday.

SPEAKER_00 17:40

And Murray wasn't hitting his shots, and a couple of them are over Gobert. Uh yeah, they they took Gobert out yesterday in the third quarter because he got his fourth foul. And it was I Nuggets may have had a lead, but it was pretty much even. And I think he had twelve he had twenty-four points yesterday, half of what came in the third quarter when Gobert was out. So um I mean he's been phenomenal. Even in game one, when they lost, Gobert was eaten down though. He had 17 points. Jokic did have a triple-double, but he uh he still you know did the best he could to slowing down Jokic and yesterday. Uh it was funny, Jokic had that cool dunk over him and that poster in the final minute of the game, but it was a little too little too late. And uh, I mean he just he affects everything. And he he keeps Jokic out of the post, and when Jokic does go down low, he's I mean, Jokic missed uh three layups, and at the at the end, even though it was Ant-Man on Jokic, I it was you know one of the few times where Jokic did make that uh wrong mistake because he should have, you know, sh he said in his postgame he should have shot it over Ant, but instead he gave it to Christian Brown and Braun did get fouled, but then he he split it would have had a chance to tie it and instead of taking the shot, Christian Brown had free throws and he spl he he split them, and that was that was pretty much the game.

SPEAKER_03 19:17

So um how do you feel like that series is gonna go, Ben?

SPEAKER_00 19:21

Now that you like I I'm still going nugs and six. I probably gonna go seven, but I'm I'm still still leaning nugs and six. Uh I I just think unfortunately for the TWOs, uh McCause McDaniels went to the locker room, Ant was very slow in game one. It did it did seem like he got some of his legs under him in in game two. He did have a 30-point game. But I I think uh the the nuggets depth and if they can get PWAP back at any point, that uh that I I'm giving I'm giving them the edge. It was interesting though, uh McDaniels, his comments on the game. I was just about to say that. And uh, you know, even though it's you know it's true, obviously um they were not very good on defense this year. It was interesting you said it after game two. Like usually you say that after this series. Uh but I it just goes it just speaks to the rivalry they have. This is the third time they're meeting in the playoffs in in four years. So uh obviously they don't like each other and that's how it should be. I just I found the uh I found the comments interesting and and and uh we'll see too. I I agree with most of those people on that list uh being good defenders, but calling Aaron Gordon not a good defender, I think that's definitely gonna tick him off a little bit to say the least.

SPEAKER_03 20:49

I think that that's exactly what I was gonna say. Aaron Gordon's obviously a good defender. I that's also I was gonna mention Eric Gordon again. So I think Aaron Gordon's gonna be that the one who's gonna play who has to play a lot better in that series for them to win.

SPEAKER_00 21:00

Yeah, he did make that three-pointer late, but it was canceled out by Devin Chenzel, and he only had eight points.

SPEAKER_03 21:06

Yeah. I think Aaron Gordon's gotta play. Like, obviously, sometimes Aaron Gordon looks like the second best player on that team. Right if he's going off. Like he could he looks better than Murray sometimes. Yeah. So shooting three for nine is not gonna cut it for them. I know he's been hurt in and out of the lineup all year. He's just gotta figure something out. Um Cam Johnson as well. Um, I f I don't know. I just feel like he's been a little bit quiet. Like, I thought he was gonna be a like he's averaging like 12 points per game this year. I thought he was gonna be a lot more effective this year, with like obviously them getting rid of Michael Porter Jr. Adding Cam Johnson.

SPEAKER_00 21:39

I thought I thought they were gonna be a lot more uh Yeah, it it definitely took him majority of the year, and then once you know Aaron Gordon and Christian Brown got healthy, and he was hurt a little bit too. But once they got the chemistry, they went on that twelve game winning streak uh to end the year, and then they won their first game, so it it reached thirteen. But yeah, when it once Uh when they're sh losing and struggling, he's definitely uh ineffective and he was good in game one. Uh but he's you know he's gonna have to be a good defender too because they're gonna have to r rely on his length to get some stops. Uh but I you know Adam Silver was definitely happy when the Nuggets got the three seed and and saw that the Nuggets and T-Wolves were going up for the third time in four years.

SPEAKER_03 22:26

Yeah, that's obviously a matchup that's been happening a lot. I feel like both I think both have beaten each other once. Is that what's happening?

SPEAKER_00 22:34

Uh yeah, both both have uh beat each other once. Obviously, the T Wolves have gone to the Western Conference Finals the last two years, and then when the Nuggets beat the T Wolves in the first round, they they won it all. Uh we'll get to NHL in a second, but you know, this we don't get too many rivalries like uh Chris. Obviously, the NHL tries with their seating, they try we'll get into that later. Yeah, Bettman tries to, you know, kind of force these rivalries because it's uh Chris has got a lot to say about that. We'll pause on that.

SPEAKER_01 23:06

Um but I I wanted to say a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 23:09

But what I was gonna say is the NBA, you don't have too many rivalries, I would say, uh, like the Knicks Pacers the last two years, but now we're starting to see it in in the West too. And obviously, I'm sure Silver is hoping that the th that the Spurs and Thunder have a rivalry to come.

SPEAKER_01 23:30

Yeah, I I think that so many NBA star players moving to different teams all the time uh impacts some of the rivalries in the NBA. I think that the uh Timberwolves are gonna win this series um in seven. I love that. I think Ant-Man's just gonna put the team on his back, kinda similar to uh Luca when he was on the Mavs, and he would just like just take over an entire series, even though his teams like on paper worse. I I think that's gonna end up happening in an upset.

SPEAKER_03 24:04

Do you think the Timberwolves uh could beat OKC like do you think they would beat OKC in the Western Conference Finals? I think that's probably where their time would end. So OKC is just so scary, obviously. But like I love that call. I think the Timberwolves uh I was gonna I was gonna agree. Um that that that was obviously the hardest series for me to pick. Like part of me thought like you know the Nuggets were gonna win at five, and then part of me thought the wolves were gonna win at seven, but like I feel like yesterday kind of did it for me. I honestly feel like the like what uh McDaniels was saying, uh I think they found something, and I just keep driving at the paint and um see if they could stop you. And I'm excited for that series. That's probably the most excited time for a series, but obviously Nick's Hawks is another one I'm very excited for, and obviously we got that game last night. CJ McCollum had 28, 26 points. Or did he have more than that? 20. I think he had about 28 points. He um obviously missed those two free throws at the end of the game, which gave Mikhail Bridges that final shot. And right when we I don't know about you, right when I saw Mikhail Bridges shoot that shot right before the ball was even in the air, I knew the Hawks tied that series up.

SPEAKER_00 25:21

I uh I mean he got a good look. He knew what he was doing, the step back, but yeah, he hasn't uh he hasn't been the clutch guy that they thought they would. I mean, giving up five first rounds.

SPEAKER_03 25:34

Five first round picks for a guy who's not even he's probably the third best player on your team. I think it's the dumbest trade. Obviously not the worst trade ever, but it's a horrible trade. You see that Luka trade? That Luka trade's gotta be up there too. I mean that and the SGA trade, two of the worst trades in probably NBA history for me. But um yeah, I think.

SPEAKER_00 25:55

McCullum had 32 points, by the way. 32 points?

SPEAKER_03 25:58

Yeah. I think the the Knicks are still gonna win that series. Both games, they look like the better team. Yeah. They just choked it. The Knicks never lose playoff games in like an actual like wow, I got outplayed fashion. They always just lose games in heartbreaking fashion. You could go back from last year, Pistons won two close games, round one. Hal Burton hits that three, does the choke, the Reggie Miller choke on in Madison Square Garden. Like, I just feel like it's non-stop. Um and I just think they gotta get better at closing games.

SPEAKER_00 26:32

Yeah, I mean, they they did it against Boston when they did it, was it 20 points in the first two games? Um and that they came back and won. But then they're also on the other end of it where you know they're up the whole game, even by double digits, and then they blow it late like yesterday. C J CJ McCollum took over in the fourth quarter. Um, yeah, I I mean I thought they had they had that locked up, didn't go up too well. But I mean it's it's always something with the Knicks. Uh they're always gonna give you an entertaining series.

SPEAKER_03 27:05

Yeah, I think it's good. I think I hope it's a good series, but like I said, I think the Knicks are probably gonna win. I wasn't shocked if they win three in a row, but I also wouldn't be shocked if it goes to seven. I just the Knicks are just a hard team to read. Yeah. Because uh, I don't know, like Mike Brown with like with those starting lineup or like doing a lineup without Carl Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson, I think is absolutely mind-boggling to me. When they had um Jose Alvarado and uh who's that other guy? Uh what's his name? Um who's the guard that they have? Clarkston. Clarkston, Jordan Clarkson, yeah. There you go. Jordan Clarkson and Alvarado on the on the court at the same time is just not gonna yield winning numbers in my mind. So not a lot of offense from that. I don't think it matters who wins that series, though, in general, because I think Boston's gonna beat both either team maybe in five games. I think they have a clear path to the Eastern Conference Finals. I think they're gonna avenge their loss against the Knicks last year. Um then yeah.

SPEAKER_00 28:07

Yeah, I think I'm actually going with Hawks in six. Oh, really? Yeah, I think I said I said six or seven before the series started. It wasn't looking good uh until McCollum took over. I think I don't know if they'll take both, but it'll definitely be 2-2 back coming back to New York at least, if not 3-1 in favor of Atlanta. So you think so? Yeah, you seem pretty confident. I don't I don't think I would be shocked if New York's up 3-1 going back to New York.

SPEAKER_03 28:36

I I said Hawks went seven as well before the series, but like the way that I saw both those games played, it just seemed so apparent to me that the Knicks are the better team. And like, if they don't choke away that 14-point lead, like they're obviously going up there 2-0 and feeling as confident as ever.

SPEAKER_00 28:56

So obviously But that's also in their heads and Atlanta can feed off that.

SPEAKER_03 29:00

Yeah, yeah, you gotta play that into account. Like, that's obviously a factor, them choking away games.

SPEAKER_00 29:06

And they've been Atlanta's been playing well, man. They've they as soon as they've traded Trey Young, they they found something and they've been clicking.

SPEAKER_03 29:13

So also shout out Knicks fans too for changing the uh the F Trey Young chance to uh F CJ. CJ McCollum.

SPEAKER_00 29:22

CJ had a good presser. He's like, I'm not a bad guy. I got two wife's and a kid. Or two kids and a wife. No, I'm sorry, he's not a little Mormons. I got two kids and a wife.

SPEAKER_02 29:33

I was like, he's playing for the wrong team. Yeah, Utah. Two wives and a kid. I'm not a bad guy.

SPEAKER_01 29:42

That's great. Yeah, I think uh I think the Knicks in five here. Um I I mean CJ's playing well, Hawks are playing well, I just uh I just think CJ's old. And uh I think the Knicks are are just a way better team.

SPEAKER_03 30:01

Yeah, I mean if you look at the top, if you rank the top four players on that team, the Knicks arguably have the top four or top three. I mean, Jalen Brunson's the best player in that series. Yeah, Carl Anthony Towns is the second best player in that series. Who were you going, Jalen Johnson? Uh maybe Jalen Johnson or Mikhail Bridges, I would say. I mean he's still a good player. Like it was a horrible trade, but he's still a good player.

SPEAKER_00 30:27

I would go Jalen Johnson, yeah. And then CJ, probably. And then CJ. I mean, he was the best player late in that game, so he's definitely top five in the series.

SPEAKER_02 30:40

That's funny. He's so lit right there.

SPEAKER_03 30:43

Um, yeah, I'm excited for that series. Those are the two most excited series I am.

SPEAKER_00 30:47

But um Yeah, I think every other series is gonna be a walk in the park for everyone else. I agree.

SPEAKER_03 30:55

What about the Lakers Rockets series? That's the other series that I think we definitely gotta get into. Absolutely. Obviously, Chris, you're a huge LeBron fan. That's correct. Um, do you think the Lakers could win that series? I do. You do? Absolutely. Kevin Durant might be coming back game two. I they the game is tonight.

SPEAKER_00 31:12

Yeah, they're up optimistic. Uh I hope he does come back.

SPEAKER_01 31:16

Uh I think he will make their team worse.

SPEAKER_00 31:19

No. They missed him vitally on over the weekend.

SPEAKER_03 31:23

Honestly, they did.

SPEAKER_00 31:27

But like if he will if he plays that game, they they probably win. They're gonna win tonight if he plays a game.

SPEAKER_03 31:33

A hurt Kevin Durant out there screams like taking shots and missing them to me. Because like, I mean, like I don't know. I mean, like, he has like a bruise on his knee. That seems pretty serious. And he and he missed a playoff game for a a bruise? It was a severe bruise, but yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:53

I'm sorry, I can't help but laugh.

SPEAKER_00 31:57

It was I don't know the medical term for what happened. Um I mean they figured they had the game to give with Luca and Reese not coming back until well Reese is gonna miss the whole series.

SPEAKER_03 32:07

They said they said this injury for most if it wasn't the playoffs, you'd be you'd you'd be you'd m likely be out four to six weeks, I think.

SPEAKER_00 32:13

Who for Kid E?

SPEAKER_03 32:14

Yeah, I believe so. For for a bruise? Well, it's I think it's you could what look it up. Look up exactly like what the diagnosis is. Um But like my point is is if Kevin Durant is sitting out a playoff game, like it's kind of hard to keep Kevin Duran off the floor, I would say. Like him sitting out in a playoff game means it's pretty severe. Like he doesn't he wants to play in game one, you know?

SPEAKER_00 32:39

Right, and he's 38, so he's he doesn't have too many of these playoff series left.

SPEAKER_03 32:43

You know, this is the best scenario for the Lakers. Absolute best scenario. You couldn't ask like if Luca and Austin Reeves are out, like for the foreseeable future, maybe even they come back game six, game seven, if there is one, like this is the best like this is the best team you could have played round one.

SPEAKER_00 33:00

Yeah, yeah, I I would say it's a good matchup, but uh it's I mean it's a wash if they they lose tonight. They probably have to go up 2-0. I mean when Luca come I don't think Luca's what what are you looking up? What's your research telling you, Chris?

SPEAKER_01 33:14

A knee contusion? What's that mean? I have no idea.

SPEAKER_03 33:18

So why are you laughing? It doesn't sound like a real injury. What do you what do you um it's I I don't know what it is. I mean I I just I heard like a knee bruise is what that is. Um I'm looking it up. But like in basketball you're cutting and you're doing all this like pivoting and movement and defend like you can't defend with that.

SPEAKER_01 33:39

Yeah, it's a bruised knee.

SPEAKER_03 33:43

Wait, do you think he should he should have played game one? I mean absolutely Kevin Arrant played through an injury? He tore his Achilles, yeah. Tore his Achilles. So um maybe it's because he's getting older, or maybe like a y'all like a younger LeBron, he would play through that, I'm sure. Like, but LeBron doesn't get hurt, so it's not like that big of a deal. I mean like a Halliburton, right? He played through he played through an injury, then tore his Achilles. Calf injury, right? Yeah. Those calf injuries are serious though. Like you can't, like those feels like all those calf injuries lead to Achilles injuries. Yeah, it seems like it's just happens, it's inevitable.

SPEAKER_00 34:23

Especially when you're cutting and moving the way you do on a court.

SPEAKER_03 34:26

Like I get a hamstring injury, like Luca and Reeves. Because like ham like hamstring injury is like they can linger. They can linger for a long time, and like you can't really walk on them. Or like can't really like run on them. So like I get those, but like, yeah, Chris, I mean, he probably could have played, like if he was like six years younger, I bet.

SPEAKER_01 34:43

Yeah, are you guys thinking it was a strategy for him to not play? Throw a game in the playoffs.

SPEAKER_00 34:49

I mean, I don't think they were gonna rush him back because they know Reeves and Luca aren't coming back for a majority of this series at least.

SPEAKER_03 34:58

They probably thought they could have won that game without him because obviously, like it's like a four-year.

SPEAKER_00 35:01

Because they were still favorites in that game, even though they lost. Yeah. So I I think they'll be fine. You think the Lakers winning that series? No. Oh, you think the Rickets are? I think the Rackets are, yeah. And how many games? Uh I'll I'll go. I did say five, I think, but I'll go six because Lakers got the first one. Uh but I I do think the Rackets win tonight. Cause I don't I don't see Luca coming back to at least game five. And if they're down three to one, I don't see them winning three in a row, even with Luca.

SPEAKER_03 35:30

I think tonight's the biggest game for the Lakers. I said that well, obviously game one was, but if they win this game, I think they're I think whoever wins I'm gonna say this. Whoever wins this game tonight is gonna win the series. That's what I'm gonna say.

SPEAKER_00 35:44

I think you said that last year about Lakers and T-Wolves, and the Lakers won game two, and then they didn't win a game the rest of the series.

SPEAKER_03 35:51

Well, I'm gonna say it again. Um I'm gonna say it the same thing again. I just think if Luca like it's different though. This Rockets team just does not look good. I'm so like I'm so they're they're not that good. They're not that good. Like the Lakers were on a heater after all-star break. I think they should be realistically, if this series is 2-2 with Luca coming back, there's no reason for the Lakers to lose that series, is what I'll say. There's no reason. Even without Reeves.

SPEAKER_00 36:20

Yeah, if it's uh if it's 2-2 and Luca comes back, well, first of all, we would have to see how Luca is. Um because if you can't move, then it's a problem. But uh Yeah, you would probably definitely give the edge to the Lakers, but I they still I I think KD makes makes uh obviously the Rockets a lot better, and the Rockets are the better team uh in in that scenario. Um but yeah, the the the Rockets they they miss advantage because a lot of people thought they were true title contenders and then they just I mean they had a good regular season, but uh a lot of their offense, especially late in games, is K like K D and Sengoon Cook. And without KD, they were they they had really nowhere to go the other day.

SPEAKER_03 37:12

I think the biggest injury that that team had was before the season even started and Van Vliet. I think Van Vliet being their point guard was the biggest loss because they have no one like they have no one to bring the ball up right now. Like and that's it's been evident in every Rockets game I've watched. It just doesn't look like there's somebody who could start the offense and manage the offense. Um they stall out every every fourth quarter game. Exactly. Van Vliet was a massive loss, like severely under underestimated that that loss for the Rockets. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, like I said, if if the if the Lakers win this game and they're up to a well one, if KD plays two, there's no reason they could they they could even win a game in Houston if they could if they win two in a row here or in Stable Center. Um crypto.com. Crypto.com. Oh fuck, I forgot. Come on, Huff. But yeah, I think uh and St. Goon is pretty inconsistent. I think he's a good player, but he hasn't proved so boring to me.

SPEAKER_01 38:12

I think you guys are at just absolutely crazy. Lakers and four. LeBron 35, 14, and 10. I think that's a good one. I've read uh that old Pistons draft picked. Kennard. Yeah. Kennard, whatever his name is. If he gets hot, man, he he can delight it. He can shoot that ball, man. You got LeBron, best player of all time.

SPEAKER_00 38:37

What about Bronny?

SPEAKER_01 38:39

Uh, you know, the bench, the bench is warm.

SPEAKER_00 38:42

That was a pretty cool moment, though. They got to play the other day. Because with the injuries, Bronny was, you know, getting a little little bit of time here.

SPEAKER_01 38:49

I think the clips of him playing were hilarious. I've never like his ball handling, his ball security, I mean, no one is he like one of the worst players in the league at ball security. Well, he's should I don't even know if like he should be in the league.

SPEAKER_00 39:06

I think like if LeBron wasn't in the league, who knows if he would be actually be in the league. So right. He would probably be like a rookie if LeBron wasn't in the league. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:16

Yeah, absolutely brutal.

SPEAKER_00 39:17

So you got Lakers and Fort Chris.

SPEAKER_01 39:20

Easy. Easy.

SPEAKER_03 39:21

Easy, easy. No sweat.

SPEAKER_01 39:22

Easiest series of the playoffs. No sweat.

SPEAKER_03 39:24

Um I'm gonna go uh like I said, I think tonight decides it. I'm gonna go, but I think the Lakers are gonna win. I I don't know. I always have this like confidence in the Lakers just because I've always liked the Lakers. Well, when they had Kobe, but um I'm gonna say I'm gonna say yeah, R. I P Kobe. Um Rest in I almost just said rest in peace, like out loud. Like that's not what I meant to say. Um I'm gonna go Lakers win this game tonight, win game two, and I think they're gonna win in seven games. I think it's gonna be a seven game series now.

SPEAKER_00 39:56

I think uh I'm still going Rockets in six.

SPEAKER_01 39:59

I think I've been against your prediction, and every prediction be so far?

SPEAKER_00 40:04

Oh yeah, yeah. I think I picked a team.

SPEAKER_01 40:07

Oh, except for Pistons. Except for Pistons.

SPEAKER_03 40:10

Someone's gonna be super correct and someone's gonna be flaming.

SPEAKER_00 40:14

Or we'll be in the middle. Could yeah. Yeah. Um anything else in NBA boys? I think Thunder will win in four.

SPEAKER_01 40:23

If you guys want to talk about Cavs Raptors, no, that's boring.

SPEAKER_03 40:26

Nah, Cavs Raptors, like we all know Cavs are gonna switch.

SPEAKER_00 40:30

I bet Toronto wins game three and then Cavs will close it out in five.

SPEAKER_03 40:34

I do hope that series goes super long just because I think the Pistons Magic series can um go a little longer, which will you know, even out the fatigue. They just they just don't have the scoring depth Toronto. And Brandon Ingram's been playing horrible.

SPEAKER_00 40:47

Scotty Barnes is really good.

SPEAKER_03 40:48

Shout out Scotty.

SPEAKER_00 40:49

Yeah, if Ingram is is playing like he did yesterday, there it's gonna be a quick series for sure.

SPEAKER_03 40:54

Yeah, and obviously Boston Philly. I thought that series was gonna be a lot closer. I'm going Boston, maybe I'm I said Boston at six before the series, and I feel really dumb doing that. Um I'm gonna I'm I'm gonna say Boston at four or five. Yeah, Boston and five. OKC, obvious sweep.

SPEAKER_00 41:12

And then yeah, I think we can move on to hockey. Yeah, as we're watching the Montreal Tampa game right now and playoff hockey, Chris. We we got a fight going on right now. Well, that's typical in hockey, right, Bean? A lot of scrums.

SPEAKER_01 41:27

A lot of scrum. That's playoff hockey. I mean, it's nonstop. I I I've been watching this game when we've been talking NBA, and it's been we're the game we're talking about is the Tampa Montreal game too. And it has been non-stop hits, a huge fight going on right now. 10 man brawl. It they just don't stop. Um you even have like uh Gensel fighting right now. Like I I mean these guys just want it more than anyone else.

SPEAKER_00 41:56

Uh the Montreal's player player right now is trying to get through the ref to get to Gensel. I mean, it's unbelievable. I mean what always stands out to me too in the in the playoffs is obviously the scoring's down. It's obviously harder to create um offense, but less penalties. Less penalties, right? And but it's just the shots. It's it's so much harder to even get a shot on net. Um and then you and then you turn on a game like yesterday, uh Oilers, Edmonton played their first game last night, and they're just they're just so smooth. And and then on the other end, they they gave up a ton of goals. Like they blew a 2-0 lead in about 10 minutes yesterday. Uh, but then they you know they pulled out and get two late goals, two uh two third period goals to win it. Uh but the majority of you know of the actions so far, you know, we're four days into the playoffs, is you know, low scoring games, and it's uh hard hard like the Flyers and the Penguins game yesterday. There's a total of nine shots in the in the first half of the game. And and and the Flyers have, you know, given up, you know, few to little opportunities to Pittsburgh, and they're they got a 2-0 lead going back to Philly.

SPEAKER_01 43:18

So it uh Yeah, I think that's a great place to start being um the Battle of Pennsylvania. Uh, you know, I think everyone sees uh Pit Pittsburgh in the playoffs, and you know, Malkin, Crosby, the history, just kind of assume this is gonna be, you know, somewhat easy for them because Philadelphia the last few years have not been very good. Um but I mean you can't talk about these this series without bringing up Porter. Um Philly, you know, they signed him out of college out of MSU and And he's been electric in this series. I mean, driving offense. Um, I think he's got three points goal in both games. He had the game winner la uh last game. Um he he's looked really good. Philly's looked really good. It's funny to think that goal tending's been good.

SPEAKER_00 44:22

It's funny to think too just the way NHL does it and with the college season. Like, if he if MSU goes to the final four, he wouldn't even be playing right now for the Flyers. I think it's that's just that's just hilarious to me. Like and and he's helped Phil, like Philly is better with you know with him on their team, and they s you know, stuck into the playoffs, and and now they're they're in a good position and to move on to the second round.

SPEAKER_01 44:50

Yeah, I do I do think this is the place to bring up because this series is is it the is it the sixth and seventh seed? I mean, what the hell are we doing here? The seven and eighth seed are are meeting both of these teams are I mean, let's be honest, they neither of them have any chance of winning the Stanley Cup, in my opinion. Right. And they're playing each other first round when we have way more worthy teams. We have two we have teams that are playing against each other that are way better and deserve to, you know, have an easier first round matchup because Gary thinks that this is gonna promote rivalries. I think rivalries happen naturally and we don't need to force this. It should be how it used to be, where it's just one through eight. We don't need right, we don't need like divisions deciding things, especially when you only have two like mega divisions in each conference. It's it it's really stupid. It's it's it's just really dumb that they're playing each other right now. Right. And we have, you know, uh we have Tampa and Montreal playing each other. Um but I mean Tampa and Montreal could be in the Eastern Conference Finals against each other. This is the two and three seed. Um both I they finished with the same amount of points in the regular season, very physical um matchup. It it it's it's just I mean, I don't know. What what are your guys' thoughts on this?

SPEAKER_03 46:24

My question is this real quick, Chris. This happened like 10 years ago, like this dropped like a long time ago, right? Yeah, have you had this opinion on this this whole time? Like the same exact like when they first announced this, were you like happy about it, or were you like, uh, we'll see? Or were are you like you you always never liked this idea?

SPEAKER_01 46:42

I I've always thought it was stupid.

SPEAKER_00 46:44

Yeah, it's been really extreme though, like especially like this year, like I'm sure Bettman envisioned all like you know, the two one seeds, the two teams that won their divisions will play the two wild cards that'll be lower. But like in this case, you got Pittsburgh and and Philly, who would be the seven and eight seeds, who would be playing the top two seeds in the conference. That hasn't happened too much over the years. Um, but then you always but this has always happened where in in the in the West you've got Minnesota and Dallas playing each other, and that should be like they they could be playing in the conference finals. And and they they easily like could both make the second round, but one of them's gonna be eliminated because they have to play each other in the first round.

SPEAKER_03 47:32

What are the highest seeds that are playing each other right now? Like the one seed playing the is there like a one seed playing a four seed, or there's like no one is uh there's a one and six seed.

SPEAKER_01 47:43

Yeah, Carolina. Ottawa and Boston.

SPEAKER_03 47:45

Yeah. That's the best matchup for a one seed out of all. Ray Buffalo got the one seed.

SPEAKER_00 47:48

Carolina was the number one overall. They're playing Ottawa, who's a sixth seed.

SPEAKER_03 47:52

Yep, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 47:53

That's that's right.

SPEAKER_03 47:55

And the Flyers got a better matchup. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 47:57

Yeah. It makes no sense. I mean, but Ottawa is a real team. I mean, I know that they're they're down to oh I had I I did a filled out a bracket before the playoffs started. I had Carolina winning the series. Uh, but Ottawa is a is a very good team, great goaltending, very physical. They're built through the playoffs, they got some young guys. Um but I mean Carolina under Brent uh under Rod um Brendamore. Brindamore, they they they they're just probably one of the best coach teams in that NHL um consistently.

SPEAKER_00 48:38

But they're one of the teams that always gets rewarded with this format because they don't have to play against the Atlantic division, and if you are like they're playing Ottawa, which was the fifth best team in the Atlantic, and they don't have to play, you know, one of the best Atlantic team uh Atlantic teams until the conference finals, and then they get to the conference conference finals and they always lose.

SPEAKER_01 49:00

They get smoked every time. And that's exactly the prediction I have for this year. I mean, they'll they'll make it to the conference finals. You're saying Iowa? Carolina. Carolina. Carolina will make it to the conference finals, and and they'll get smoked like they do every single year.

SPEAKER_03 49:16

Can we get a teaser on who you have them getting smoked by?

SPEAKER_01 49:20

Uh that that's a great question. Um I have them getting smoked by the the winner of the Tampa Montreal series. And before uh the playoffs started, I did have Tampa beating Montreal and uh and going to the Stanley Cup Finals. Um, but if Montreal wins this, I think they'll be going to the Stanley Cup Finals.

SPEAKER_03 49:46

So whoever wins this series, you think is gonna make the cut.

SPEAKER_01 49:49

That is how I feel. Uh I don't think Buffalo or Boston can make it to the finals this year. I think Boston really overachieved this year. Yeah, and um they have a really hot goalie, which uh helped them out a lot. I don't think they have a good enough team. Um and Buffalo, I think, is absolutely loaded. Their their decor is insane.

SPEAKER_00 50:15

Can we talk about that game one the other day? Hef and I were driving back from the uh Pistons game on Sunday in Boston. We were leaving the parking garage. Boston went up 2-0 early in the third, and then once I dropped Hef off, Bost or Tage Thompson scored his second goal to tie it up, and uh then they scored a couple minutes later. I mean the the and I you know watching the the replay on Twitter and stuff, the crowd was I mean to wait 15 years for this, and you know, I you know, watching them over the years, obviously the wings play them a lot. That building's almost like empty, almost like to the brim. And to see that place rocking uh the other day and come back from to uh 2-0 in the third, uh it was it was phenomenal.

SPEAKER_01 51:08

Yeah, I feel like it's been the empty since they had like Ryan Miller on the team. Um I mean it it was so cool to see the clips pre-game of the fans, you know, beating up Boston dummy dummies, uh, getting to see the fans, um, get to enjoy some saber beers.

SPEAKER_03 51:28

I was about to mention that. That was the coolest part I saw.

SPEAKER_01 51:31

Those were awesome. The the crowd was absolutely electric, as being mentioned. Uh, you know, Boston took the took took the 2-0 lead early in the third, but for much of the game it was just one zero, and then um Tage with the quickest hands ever, wraparound, backhand to get him into it, 2-1, gets the one-timer, 2-2. I he really took over the game. You know, it ends up being a 4-3 game, but that was kind of slop because you know, it had the empty netter to go to 4-2, and then Boston scores with a few seconds left. Um I I I I I think the games will be, you know, relatively close in this series. And um, but I I I do think Buffalo will win a playoff series, which is awesome for the city of Buffalo. And then I think they will uh lose to Tampa or Montreal, because Tampa and Montreal are way more physical. They have so much heart. I mean, we're watching this game right now. There's like eight guys in the penalty box. Like it it's um it's unbelievable. I I I love both of both of uh Tampa and Montreal. Great coaching on both sides, John Cooper and San Louis. Um very physical players. Of course, we got Corey Perry in the box right now. Um so yeah, that's what that's what I think. What do you what do you guys think about the uh the Eastern Conference series is?

SPEAKER_00 53:03

Yeah, I think Carolina, like you said, conference uh conference, another conference final appearance. And then yeah, one of the four. I I you know I'm not too haven't been too dialed in on um the other four teams. Yeah, I think hurricanes come in. Uh hurricanes.

SPEAKER_01 53:27

And you got Tampa, Montreal, Boston, Buffalo.

SPEAKER_00 53:30

Yeah, I think hurricanes have easily gets to the conference finals, and then yeah, one of the four, Montreal, Tampa. I'm gonna give Buffalo the edge against Boston, then I'm gonna give uh even though Tampa's losing the series right now, I'm gonna give the edge just because they've, you know, been been in this position plenty of times in Montreal. This is their second year together, uh, even though um they don't really play like it and they've you know match Tampa's physicality so far. I'm just gonna give the edge to them. And then uh yeah, I'll have What did you think about game game one in that series? Yeah, the hat trick from Sl was it Slavkowski.

SPEAKER_01 54:10

Slavovsky comes in hatty, uh game winner and overtime right away. I I thought the key there was uh Montreal was on the power play to start the overtime, and they're uh I think it was 48 seconds into the into the OT. Saint Louis calls a timeout to make sure that all of his big guns are well rested and ready to go. Let's win this now, let's get in on this power play. And right away Slavoski uh nets nets his hat trick and and wins the game for him. Pretty cool.

SPEAKER_00 54:49

I mean, yeah, he's he was a hell of a player and he's done I mean he's turned Montreal around pretty quickly. Um I they would definitely have a bright future. I just think Tampa's experience will propel them. I agree. If if but I will say this if Montreal wins and they're about to go on uh power play and their power play is really good, they scored their first goal of the game on the power play. If they went tonight, then I I I'll change that and all I think I'm with you, Chris. I think the winner of this series would go to the cup.

SPEAKER_01 55:23

Um and isn't that messed up that they're playing in the first round? It's absolutely ridiculous. Um, especially knowing the toll that the NHL playoffs takes on guys. I mean, everyone's breaking bones, you know.

SPEAKER_00 55:39

Um I want to say like I want Carolana like to finally go to a cup, but I thought they would end that streak last year, but they got dominated last year in the conference finals, just like they have every every year. They've made it the last five years. So um I, you know, it's at this point, it's like you gotta see it to believe it, and you know, we'll see if they can do it this year, because I'm sure they're gonna get back to it. But I think I just think the talent and the physicality that whoever comes out of of the Atlantic side, I think they'll they'll beat Carolina again.

SPEAKER_01 56:13

Yeah, I I agree. Uh yeah, Rod the Bot's gonna lose again. I did love uh how they started the series off. Uh, I don't know if you guys saw this. Um be right as the puck dropped to start the series, uh Brady and uh Stahl went after each other, which was awesome to see. What a great and it was actually the puck drop for all of the NHL playoffs. What a what a great moment.

SPEAKER_00 56:39

They knew what they were doing, and no better way to start the playoffs than you know, an all uh, you know, uh a fight to to start it off. And that's what Kachuk does. Remember Four Nations, and he started off the Four Nations with Canada last year with the fight. And then I was watching their game. I think it was against the Islanders the week before. He uh I forgot who he got in a fight. I think with Brooks Lee, he got in a fight with. So Kachuk knows how to set uh set the tone, even though it hasn't quite worked out for them uh so far in the playoffs. Uh I wouldn't I would be shocked if Ottawa went down without a fight. So I I think they'll they'll extend that series a little bit even though they're down 2-0. Um but again I can't see Carolina losing until the conference finals.

SPEAKER_03 57:25

So boys, I did a vibes bracket. You guys want to hear it? Please. So like I said, uh I'm not the puck knower in this group, but I I did a bracket based on vibes and vibes alone. Um I got Boston beating Buffalo. Any rationale there? Um The only rationale I have there is Boston's overall been a better team.

SPEAKER_00 57:51

Yeah, but Buffalo's had the better vibes for sure.

SPEAKER_03 57:54

I was going b well, I think part of it is because like I don't know, Dave Portnoy might be like putting something in my mind because I f I follow him and he always talks about the Bruins. That could be part of it. Um then I got Montreal over Tampa, and then Carolina over Ottawa, and then um this one's already wrong. Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_00 58:15

Pittsburgh.

SPEAKER_03 58:17

I I put I put Pittsburgh over Philly in four. Oh, well maybe six. But then I got Boston. I I have Boston in the cup final. You have Boston in the cup final? You wanna ask me why? Why? I'm not really sure. Vibes. Um that that will not happen.

SPEAKER_01 58:40

Is my bracket busted already? You're screwed. You think so? I wish we had a bracket challenge together and had a lot of money on it. But what I what I did realize though is like is the West a lot better than the East?

SPEAKER_03 58:52

No.

SPEAKER_00 58:53

That's not the reverse.

SPEAKER_01 58:55

Because the Avalanche are like the one team that uh there's really two divisions that are just like way better than the other two divisions. So you have the Atlantic in the east, and then is it I forget what they call it, the Central The Central and Pacific in the West. Um, and so in the central you have Colorado. This is a great transition over to the Western Conference. You have Colorado, Dallas, and Minnesota. Same same story, the three best teams in the conference.

SPEAKER_00 59:27

That's why Edmonton always and and they obviously do have to beat you know one of those teams, and they have the last two years, but the last two years they they benefited from not having to play, you know, those teams, and they're and they they're hosting a first-round playoff run, and that wouldn't be the case, uh, I believe, if they did the traditional one through eight.

SPEAKER_01 59:49

No, I don't think so.

SPEAKER_00 59:50

Um and they they get to avoid they only have to play one of those teams versus obviously the stars and wild are playing each other, and then if they win, they're gonna have to play Colorado. And Edmonton, or yeah, Edmonton doesn't have to play one of those teams until the conference finals.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:09

I got a question for you boys. Um speaking about Edmonton, do you guys think that uh Connor uh McDavid will ever win a Stanley Cup? Do you think he could do you think uh they'll make like it doesn't have to be this year. Do you think like in the next like one to three years like that he can win? Like it's like or maybe even in his career. Do you think he'll win one?

SPEAKER_00 1:00:32

Yeah, oh yeah, I would be stunned if he didn't. It was it was Hot is such like a team game. It's not like it was the same conversation with Ovi um for you know for his entire career until he he got it, he won it eight years ago. And his his kryptonite, uh, you know, with the new format too, or I guess with the newer format, was he would have to play Pittsburgh every year, and Pittsburgh beat um beat him twice going to the cup when they went back to back in 16 and 17.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:00

Well weren't they in different conferences at one point?

SPEAKER_00 1:01:04

They might I don't know, I'm not sure. I would be stunned if they were. I have to look that up. But uh oh yeah, they might have when they did those uh I forget what they called it back in the day, before they did East West. But uh, anyways. Um and then um then Ovechkin eventually beat Pittsburgh in the second round in 2018 and they went on to win the cup. So I I bet McDavid will definitely win one. I think the question now is because his contract's coming up in a couple of years, will he win it with Edmonton or somewhere else? I think that's probably the bigger question.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:41

I agree. You think he'll leave Edmonton, Chris? Like you think there's a chance of him doing that? Um I mean his wife has a is running a small business in Alberta. Um, so maybe not, but and you know, he's a he's a Canadian boy. Um and I I mean I don't think he would ever go to the Leafs uh or Montreal or Ottawa. I think if he leaves he'll Winnipeg? He'll come to no no no no one wants to come to Winnipeg.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:10

He'll come to the US.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:11

I think he'd come to the States if he did. Um if he did leave. I really hope that he leaves because I hate him being on uh, you know, Pacific time zone. You know, uh it stinks uh having to stay up so late to be able to watch the best player in the NHL. Um you know there has been some rumors about not to bring the uh but I will to bring the Red Wings into it. Um there have been rumors linking him to uh signing with the Wings at some point in time, which would be stunned. Which would be there's no way there's no way he does that.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:51

Keep going. I'll do that.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:53

I'll cite my sources here. Uh the Spit and Chiclets Podcast, Barstool Sports, uh no free shout-outs. They uh they have talked about this. Yandel and um and Witt ha have uh have talked about how they think that McDavid could sign with the wings. Um I would love to see that happen. I I wouldn't mind if he like won a cup and then left or or anything like that. I I I just would love to see him uh in the Eastern time zone, honestly, just selfishly. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:31

I wouldn't be shocked if he left. What team do you think he would go? I would be stunned if he went here.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:37

Where do you think he would go, Ben?

SPEAKER_00 1:03:39

Probably out west, like LA. Ironically, like Gretzky, or probably somewhere down south, maybe even like uh one of the Florida teams because no Texas. Um or maybe like big market like New York. I could I obviously I would love Detroit, but that would be such a pipe dream.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:59

So make David like a big market kind of guy. Like can you see him going to like like these LAs or New Yorks or like maybe, maybe.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:09

I mean, um being in Edmonton is a really hard place to play. Because I from the state's perspective, we don't think of that as like a big like market. It's a small market, right? Um But it is just in general, if you play in Canada, you have way more media attention than if you're in the States, outside of maybe a couple of teams like um Boston. But um yeah, I I I don't know. I I hope I hope that he uh leaves because I I mean I don't yeah, I just hope he leaves.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:48

So what since we're on the topic of the Oilers, obviously they're playing the Ducks right now. Oilers lead 1-0.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:53

Like, what are your guys' predictions in that series? I think Oilers will make the conference finals. I I don't think AM's, you know, good upcoming team, but they'll dust them. And then I think they'll dust Vegas because Vegas just got a new coaching change. Um and I I I would be surprised if they lost if the Oilers lost them. But I I I I would think it's one of those teams in the other on the other side of the bracket, and I it's gotta be Ads to lose, Chris. I mean I would be I would be stunned if if they or Dallas or Minnesota don't come out of the West. And specifically the Az, because they they had a great regular season, and that's with being in the same division as those other teams. So I I I think it's gonna be Colorado versus Edmonton, and then I would think Colorado wins in six.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:52

Yeah, I got um I have Edmonton beating Anaheim. I d I I mean, I don't I don't think it's gonna be A very long series. Uh Edmonton had a lot of struggles in the regular season. The first game seemed pretty close. It was, but um I think the craziest stat out of the first series or out of the first game in that was that Connor McDavid had zero points. Um I I I I don't know this for a fact, but out of the last uh every playoffs that McDavid has played in almost maybe um I think he he's been like leading in points per game. I mean he's he's been just a menace in the playoffs, like so many points in the playoffs. You're you're not gonna see that happen another night. Like uh for them to win with McDavid having zero points, right? And I don't even think they got a power play goal.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:50

Yeah, they're in trouble. Like they needed to win that game and they didn't. Uh and you right, like you said, that's not gonna happen probably again this series.

SPEAKER_03 1:07:01

It seems like um because like I feel like every time like I was like I'd randomly tune into the NHL, I feel like the Oilers were playing, and I feel like every single game was like five to three or like six to four. Oh wait, never mind. Is there a goalie like ass, or is there defense? Edmonton's goalie? Yeah, like is there a defense really bad or something?

SPEAKER_01 1:07:22

Edmonton's had a ton of goalie struggles. They've they've gone through like ten goalies the last few years. Like every year they it seems like they got another couple goalies. They they uh uh are all over the place in that aspect. And then defensively, they have Norse candidate Bouchard. Uh, I believe he led the league in points out of defenseman this year. Power play merchant, though. Um, and then they have uh a familiar face in Jake Wallman. Um so the defense is okay. Um, you know, they spent a lot of their money on the offense, and then they they've just had a ton of goaltending issues.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:08

I know uh obviously they have uh Dreisidel. Is he like would you consider him a top five player in the NHL? Is he up? Is he like that good?

SPEAKER_01 1:08:16

Absolutely, and um he missed the last few regular season games as well. Uh I actually don't know load management? No. We're talking hockey.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:32

Yeah, he did he just came back, didn't he, Chris?

SPEAKER_01 1:08:34

I believe, yeah. I believe he just came back. I don't remember what the injury was, but he took a dirty hit, I remember. Um yeah, I think Edmonton's Edmonton's got this one.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:47

What about the Utah Mammoth and the Vegas uh Golden Knights? Vegas will win. I Chris, I didn't even know Utah made it when I saw the playoff matchup, so I'm like, what the fuck? Uh good for them though. They moved to Arizona or they moved from Arizona two years. It was his or his second year, I think. Second or third year. I think their second year. Yeah. Uh good for them. Good upstart team. Or not an upstart team, but um good for for them, obviously building their franchise in Utah now. But I Vegas does I Vegas was a weird team because they only they uh only won what like 35 games but won a lost a lot of games. So many overtime losses. Yeah, I mean it's crazy, and that's what helped them helped them get into the playoffs and and win their division. Uh but I I would I would be shocked if if they lost. And but I I still think because Emmonton they're usually not a top seed. They're usually like the second in their division, and but they always last couple years they've won their won their conference. So I would be I would be shocked if Vegas beat Edmonton next round.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:59

Yeah, I mean Vegas being number one in their division is a joke, because their division is a joke. And they just fired their head coach, too. They did. I they did, yeah. That was that was crazy. They just fired the head coach. But I don't know, like uh ten games left in the regular season or something.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:14

I was on Easter Sunday, I think. Wasn't it? Something like that.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:17

Yeah. Yeah, something something like that. That's gotta be rare. Well, no, because Islanders did it too.

SPEAKER_03 1:10:23

Yeah, and and the Islanders aren't in the playoffs, right? No, but they were on the team going into the playoffs playing the head.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:31

They were they were right on the line and they did it. Um But I think uh I think Vegas wins this series. I think Utah is way more is more skilled, honestly. They're faster. They've got a bunch of young guys, Kruz, Schmaltz, Keller, um that had really, really good seasons. They helped me a lot in fantasy hockey this year. Did you win your league? I came in second. Oh damn. Um I think I think Vegas is just way more physical, way more experience. I think it's an easy series win for them, and they'll play Edmonton, and then I think Edmonton will just absolutely destroy them as everyone's getting more healthy. Playoff McDavid is just a different level. I don't even think that's gonna be close. Um, so yeah, I got Edmonton in the Western Conference Finals. Um moving on to the uh central division. Yeah, that's I'm curious who do you have coming out? So I have um Colorado being the Kings. It's nice to not see the Kings in Edmonton playing for like the eighth time in a row. Um brutal. Yeah. Uh yeah, I I think Colorado's gonna win this easily. I mean uh four or five. I think that I think the Kings, you know, uh who was it, Fiala that got hurt in the Olympics out for the year, right after they traded for Breadman, that really screwed them. Um I they're good on the power play, but that's that's about it. Then for um for Dallas and Minnesota, I do have I I was extremely surprised in game one when Minnesota blew Dallas out of the water.

SPEAKER_00 1:12:14

Three goals in the first six minutes in the second period.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:16

On Honor two. I Right. And then you know Dallas comes back, ties it back up. Uh I I I have Minnesota. That's I that's going seven, right? Uh I think this is for sure. Well, actually, I totally forgot. In my official prediction before before the playoffs, I actually have Dallas and seven. And the reason why I have Dallas and seven is because they win all I what Debore's uh Yeah, he's undefeated in game seven.

SPEAKER_00 1:12:52

This guy's the anti-Doc Rivers huff.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:54

Is his name uh is that uh what's his first name? Uh Peter Debore. Okay. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:58

So I I That's a pretty good rec when I couldn't figure out like who I was gonna take in this, and I was like, well, I think it's gonna go to seven games, then I was like, Dallas has to win then.

SPEAKER_03 1:13:10

So you wanted to go with the the Wild? I wanna go with the Wild games. But since you had it in seven.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:16

Because it's game seven, Dallas has to win that series. And then we have Colorado Dallas. I think Colorado takes it to them, and we end up seeing Colorado and Edmonton in the Western Conference Finals.

SPEAKER_00 1:13:28

What what are your guys' thoughts? I uh I I could totally agree with you, but that would be I mean, with all the rearrangement, obviously with the seating and stuff, uh Colorado and Edmonton would be cinema, Chris, even though you probably wouldn't get that in a normal like you'd probably see that in the second round or something. That still would be, you know, for Colorado's obviously won a cup four years ago, and then Edmonton has won the West uh in the last two years coming into this year. So um I think you know those are the two you know the two standard teams in the West right now. Um and this is Colorado's best chance probably to win a cup since they won it in four years ago. So I I uh I would probably lean Colorado, but I wouldn't be stunned at all if if Edmonton won.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:18

What do you got, Huff?

SPEAKER_00 1:14:20

Yeah, what do you got in your bracket? Yeah, in your vibe bracket.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:24

You guys are gonna hate it. You guys are gonna be like, does this guy even watch Buck? And that's a good question.

SPEAKER_00 1:14:30

Vegas.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:31

Uh no.

SPEAKER_00 1:14:32

And you got Vegas Utah. Vegas Utah. I knew it.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:38

Oh, I got the Aves beating Utah in the in the semis. Um or in the Converse Finals. Covers Finals Finals, yeah, sorry.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:47

Um the Aves coming out of the West against Utah.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:51

Yes, I do. I have the Aves winning the cup against the Bruins in five games.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:58

If they both make it there, then that would be a good idea.

SPEAKER_03 1:15:00

I feel like there's a lot of upsets in hockey, guys. Like, I feel like I feel like every single year there's there's more upsets and than people think. Like, obviously, like I'm not the guy to pick the upsets, but I feel like there's gonna be a lot more upsets than you guys than you guys have in your brackets.

SPEAKER_01 1:15:16

I I don't hate Boston beating Buffalo, but I just don't see them getting past Tampa or Montreal. But if that's that'd be crazy.

SPEAKER_03 1:15:26

I'm not I'm not defending what I'm saying. I'm just I'm just saying I feel like there's gonna be more there's gonna be more upsets in hockey. At least like from like I could see reliable.

SPEAKER_00 1:15:38

Honestly, I could see Utah beating Vegas. I would be stunned though if they beat Vegas and call uh Edmonton.

SPEAKER_03 1:15:44

I want I won't agree. The only reason I picked Utah is because I watched like one of their final. We know why. I've walked I watched one of their final regular season games, like two in a row, and they looked really good. I don't I can't name a s like a single player on their team, but they looked really good.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:02

So I don't know. Their captain was uh scratched most of the Olympics for team USA. But they they're really good. You think you think they you think they have a chance to like They're really young, they're really fast.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:17

I wanna maybe I shouldn't say Because if you if Utah beats the Golden Knights, then they would have to play either Anaheim or Edmonton.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:25

Yeah, Edmonton. I I I just think I I I just think like Carolina, Edmonton has a cakewalk to the Western Conference Finals.

SPEAKER_04 1:16:35

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:36

That's the that's the but that's what also sucks about this format. At least it makes the first round matchups good. But like I feel like the first round matchups would have been good either way. I agree. Depending because like I feel like hockey it's a lot more clo it's it's not fifty-fifty if it's like one vs eight, but it's a lot closer to um like five twenty-five compared to like the NBA, like unless it's the Pistons versus the Magic. Right. But like OKC Sons is usually like what what like a a one vs eight in the NBA would look like.

SPEAKER_01 1:17:10

But um yeah, so uh close closing out the Western Conference for me. Um like I said, I have Colorado versus Edmonton in the Western Conference Finals, and for the third year in a row, Edmonton. I have Edmonton um winning. I've predicted this three years in a row. Uh hopefully it happens again. I yeah, I I with the wings being so bad, you have to find um teams and players to root for in the playoffs. McDavid's a good one. I found that in Edmonton, so I'm definitely rooting for them, and I hope that they can beat Colorado. Um, and I think that they will. And so that puts me having Tampa versus Edmonton in the Stanley Cup finals. Um, or that's what I have officially, but I wouldn't be shocked if it was against Montreal either. And I think Edmonton, again, I will predict for the third year in a row that Edmonton wins the cup. Wins the cup. Um mostly just out of because I I really want McDavid to get a cup. I think it would be cool for Canada to finally win a Stanley Cup. They needed it.

SPEAKER_03 1:18:36

Has it been like 23 years or something?

SPEAKER_00 1:18:37

No, 34, 35 years. How many teams do they have?

SPEAKER_03 1:18:41

Like seven, eight? Uh I think six or seven. So we got Edmonton, Ottawa, Winnipeg, uh, Toronto. Yep. Um Calgary. Calgary. Oh, I always forget about Calgary. Um Montreal. Montreal, that's six. There might be Vancouver. Vancouver. So that's seven. Wow. Seven teams? Yeah. That's actually like I mean. What was it? 93.

SPEAKER_00 1:19:09

It was Montreal 1.

SPEAKER_01 1:19:11

Montreal won, yeah. This is the last time.

SPEAKER_00 1:19:14

So it's 33 years. That's insane. They need to because they lost the gold gold medal. So hockey's not their sport right now.

SPEAKER_01 1:19:21

Yeah, but right now the US owns them.

SPEAKER_00 1:19:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:19:24

For at least four more years. And until they win a cup. Until they win a cup. I mean, that's just embarrassing.

SPEAKER_03 1:19:32

Do you think do you think the Canadians are gonna be like, like if one of their teams like wins a cup, they're gonna be like, oh, we own hockey again? Like even though like the Americans won the Olympic. You know they will, but they they don't.

SPEAKER_01 1:19:43

I mean, their top end players are are better. For sure.

SPEAKER_03 1:19:48

The Oilers are gonna win, the Oilers are gonna win the cup, and then some Vancouver Canucks fans are gonna be like, oh, the Canadians own hockey again. Right, yeah, 100%. I don't think Vancouver's ever won a cup.

SPEAKER_01 1:20:00

Yeah, I was just I was just saying like like those fanbase. Oh, they'll go crazy. I mean when they lost in the uh cup finals, um they like burned their city down.

SPEAKER_03 1:20:12

But like wouldn't like I don't know how it is in Canada, like do all like the Canadian hockey teams hate each other, or do they have more of like a like like around provinces?

SPEAKER_01 1:20:24

So, right, like the Alberta teams, the Ontario teams, they hate each other. I I would assume, I mean, I don't live in Canada, but I would assume anytime there's a Canadian team in the conference finals, all of Canada is rooting for them. Um I could be I could be wrong on that.

SPEAKER_00 1:20:43

I I think that the they're not like they're probably like obviously they wish their team wasn't like if it's Kalgier and Emmonton, I you know, if if you know, obviously Kalgier isn't rooting for Edmonton, vice versa. Right. Same thing with like Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, when those teams are playing each other, the opposition, but it um like if it's I just think if one of them's in the cup final, I don't like they'll be like, yeah, you know, Canada finally ends the same. Like I think they're so sick of this streak that I think whoever wins, like obviously they want to be the one be the one to end it, but if another team ends it, I don't think they'll be too upset.

SPEAKER_01 1:21:29

Yeah, that's probably that's a fair way of thinking about it. So being you have the Aves winning it all?

SPEAKER_00 1:21:35

As being the winner of Tampa and Montreal, whoever wins that series, I am going to the cup finals.

SPEAKER_03 1:21:41

And half you also have the Aves winning at all? I have the Abs winning it all just because I saw their point total and they just look far superior to anyone else. Um Although, like, I mean, obviously, I feel like anyone could win in hockey. I feel like I like Edmonton, you know, obviously they could win it all. I feel like anyone I I feel like any team could win it all. Like if you get hot at the right. Can't win it all? Um, I would say the Penguins.

SPEAKER_01 1:22:14

Yeah, I totally agree.

SPEAKER_03 1:22:17

I feel like Crosby how old is Crosby now?

SPEAKER_01 1:22:19

Oh man, he's old. 38?

SPEAKER_00 1:22:22

Yeah, he might be 40.

SPEAKER_01 1:22:24

40?

SPEAKER_00 1:22:25

38, 39, maybe.

SPEAKER_01 1:22:27

Let's look it up.

SPEAKER_03 1:22:28

Is Malkin still on that team? Absolutely. Yeah. Damn. Like are they still like the two best players on that team? What's up with Latang? I remember.

SPEAKER_01 1:22:41

Um yeah, they have Letang. Uh, you know, they actually one of their best players is from Farmington Hills, Brian Rust.

SPEAKER_03 1:22:48

Oh, that's cool. That's right, yeah. Have you ever played puck with him?

SPEAKER_01 1:22:52

No. But my sister's teacher in high school is uh was her brother, I believe. Oh, nice. Wow. Yeah. It's a lot to follow, but that's awesome. Yeah. Real close connection, you know.

SPEAKER_03 1:23:08

Brian and I go far back. Yeah, it's a beautiful time of the year. We got we got NBA and NHL playoffs going on at the same time. We got a quad box on our YouTube TV right now. Like nothing better. You simply can't beat it. You simply can't beat it.

SPEAKER_00 1:23:24

There's not much that can beat it. And you got MLB season underway in the draft on Thursday.

SPEAKER_03 1:23:30

Yeah, everything's picking up at the right time.

SPEAKER_01 1:23:33

Cricket is really uh picking up right now. Who you got?

SPEAKER_03 1:23:38

Pakistan. You know what? It's hard to argue against that. Part of it because who the fuck's good at fucking? I actually do know England and Bangladesh are good at cricket. I used to bet on them when I was degenerate.

SPEAKER_01 1:23:56

You've got a problem.

SPEAKER_03 1:23:57

Yeah, I have to call the number for sure. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:24:04

This is a great first pod gentleman.

SPEAKER_00 1:24:06

Yeah, I can't wait for uh future episodes, boys. Absolutely. Is that we are we wrapping it up, man?

SPEAKER_03 1:24:12

Hell yeah. Alright, well, thank you guys for watching our first or inaugural podcast um in Chris's beautiful house. Chris, thank you for hosting. No problem. Thanks, brother. We're gonna be here every Thursday. We just did it on a Tuesday today because you know, I got a bachelor party and you know Yeah, pretty cool. My first one ever that I'm going to. I'm excited for that. Um actually. But um, yeah, we'll be talking about the NFL draft next week. It'll be concluded from then, and we'll be talking about more of the NHL and NBA playoffs. They're gonna keep rolling around. Without further ado, my name's Ryan Heffernan. Chris Robert.

SPEAKER_00 1:24:55

Chris Bean.

SPEAKER_03 1:24:56

And we'll see you guys next week. Deuces.

SPEAKER_00 1:25:00

Peace, happiness, and love.

SPEAKER_01 1:25:02

This is Noseblue's narrative.