EPISODE 26 FULL COURT PRESS

The OGs shake things up, moving away from their usual three-part format to focus on just two topics this time. First, they break down the closing chapter of the NBA season, reflecting on highlights of playoff storylines and standout performances. Then a pivot to the start of the WNBA season, previewing key teams, fresh faces, and early expectations.  It’s a full-court look at one league wrapping up as another tips off. 

SURVIVE AND ADVANCE     Mary Lou and Phyllis break down the transition into the NBA Playoffs highlighting which teams carried momentum forward and which stumbled under pressure. They then shift to the second round, analyzing key matchups, emerging stars, and how injuries and adjustments could shape the path to the conference finals.                                                                                      WNBA TIP-OFF TALK     The OGs discuss the start of the WNBA 30th season, highlighting the league’s growth, rising talent, and increased visibility. They cover early-season highs like strong performances and team identity, along with lows such as injuries and roster challenges. The episode also dives into team projections and a few early surprises—all with a mix of insight and excitement about the season ahead.

🏀🏀🏀With Spring in the air and the summer months coming, the OGs will ease-off weekly recording - about every other week. Later in the summer, a couple of official breaks will happen. 🏀🏀🏀    Thanks for listening and we'll keep you posted!              

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Transcript

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Welcome to OG's Talk and Ball. This is Phyllis and Mary Lou again. We're going to discuss the NBA and the WNBA in that order. Okay. A little bit different today too. We're going to do two fift approximately 15-minute segments, up to 15 minutes, we'll put it that way, on these topics, um, rather than uh doing three 10-minute sessions. And I think we decided to do that because there was certainly enough to talk about with both of those to start with. And since college is not playing right now and there's not much going on there, so let's just we'll see what happens, huh? Yeah, and there is a lot going on in the NBA because it is playoff time. Playoff time, I know. And I know for some of you that doesn't matter. Maybe your home team is not playing, but boy, there's been some tremendous basketball. And there's been some not so tremendous basketball, depending on what uh what team you're on and what team you're cheering for. I know my SoCal friends are probably very sad today because last night was it for the Lakers, and now the big question comes into play about what LeBron might be doing from now on. Yeah, you know what he said last night he said he didn't know. Yeah, that he's gonna take the time, hang with his family. There's a big push to get him back in Cleveland, you know, for the locals there, and maybe from some of his family, since that's where he hails from. Um it's gonna be interesting because he's a high ticket item, obviously, right? A lot of still has a lot of game in him. A lot of game in him, and um yeah, it's just gonna be it'll be interesting. And Cleveland's still in there. Boy, oh boy, what a game last night too between Cleveland and the Pistons. If any of you are watching that series, if you're not, you might want to, because it's good basketball going on there. A lot of good basketball. Yeah, so so we're recording on Tuesday. Right. So this is gonna drop overnight, so yeah. So it it really wasn't when you hear us, it won't have been last night. It'd be the night before. Right. Okay, so recently the most recent that we can talk about would be Monday night. Okay. Which means tonight on Wednesday is the next Pistons Calfgang. Right, right. And it has been good. And they're back in Detroit. So we'll see, we'll see what happens with that. Um yeah, that that series is very intriguing to me because I could see it going either way. You know, I think you see the youth of Detroit getting a little deer in the headlights every now and then, and then you've got the other side on Cleveland with Donovan Mitchell, who has been almost to the playoffs so many times and not quite there. You've got James Harden. I mean, you've got some players there that are quite seasoned and quite serious, I guess I would say, huh? Yeah, and you know, the Pistons were were the number one team in the East during the regular season in the conference. Uh huh. And then the Cavs were number four. Right. So this is they weren't that far apart. Right. But in the last game between the Pistons and the Cavs, you know, they held Donovan. The Pistons held Donovan Mitchell to four points in the first half. I saw that. I saw that. And they were so proud. They they let um James Harden score some points and really concentrated on Donovan Mitchell, and they kept him down. Well boxed out, as they would say. Then they had halftime, and something happened at halftime. Big time. They fed him superfood or something because he came back in the second half and made 39 points. Yeah, yeah. Yes, he did. He any place he wanted. Yeah, he was on fire. I think, you know, sometimes maybe you have to kind of start to head toward the bottom before you can pull yourself back up again. And again, that's where I see that he is a veteran player, even though he's still quite young, you know. I don't think he's 30, but um, he's still in my mind, uh, still a young player. I, you know, he was on the jazz forever prior to that, and they just never quite made it to, you know, the promised land, so to speak. So I I'm happy for him that this is, you know, this is very exciting basketball, is all I can say. Oh yeah. You know, um uh and the other one would be the Spurs and the T Timberwolves. So the Timberwolves are not letting are not rolling over for the Spurs. No, and and you know, the Wolves were number six in the conference, and uh the Spurs were number two, right, sixth place. But uh as we speak, they're tied to two. There'll be a game on Tuesday night that we won't know the outcome of yet. Right, until yeah, until after this. But anyway, and they're back they're back in San Antonio tonight, too. Game five. Right. Uh huh. And you know, the lucky winner of that game gets to play OKC. Of that series, yeah, not just the game. Not the game because it's just uh game five, but yeah, yeah, yeah, of that series. I know, I know. So that's a whole other story. Uh I don't, you know, uh what can you say? I don't know. There's nothing negative I can say about OKC at all, nor would I really want to. I mean, they are playing high-level basketball. I think that all of the teams probably look at them and say, I want to be that. You know what I mean? Or something like that, some version of that. Right. To really well, they were the champions last year. Right, right. And this year they played um two rounds. The first round they swept, and the second round, they swept. And that means they they won every game that they played. Right. Now on um Monday night, it was a very close game. Right, it was. Los Angeles was ahead. I think they only lost by five. Over and over they were ahead, and it it was not clear who was gonna win right up until the last seconds. Wow. So it it was m much tighter than that. It sounds like, well, OKC wins every game, which they did, you know, every game of the playoffs so far. But it wasn't easy. I was gonna say, it's not like the other team just sits back and says, Yeah, you're gonna win, so go for it. However, JJ Reddick after the game three said, I don't know. You know what I mean? The coach of the Lakers. Like, okay, we're playing this best we can play with the excuse me, with the guys that we have. Excuse me, allergies are kicked in. Um, with the guys that we have, and uh I will come up with another plan and see what we can do. So at least they did give it the good old try, you know. Um, but to be honest with you, Phyllis, games on Amazon, and I don't want to get in trouble for this, are hard to watch. And I don't know about other areas if you all are experiencing, but here in Portland, there are minutes that go by that the sound poops out that you don't get any sound connected to the uh video. It's like okay. Mini minutes. Yeah. I put my closed captioning on to at least kind of, but that means I'd have to anyway, um, not real thrilled, and that's an 11-year part of that 11-year contract with the NBA with uh ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Amazon's included in that for televising all the games. So yeah, there's a problem with that. I cannot figure out why they knew from the very beginning that the sound was gonna kept going off during the games. I don't see and I don't know if that's our cable service. This is what I would so if any of you out there are having the same issues with Amazon, would you jot us an email and let us know? Because now I'm curious if it's just a Portland area, Pacific Northwest thing, or is that go on all over the place? Yeah. I do have friends in Riverside that earlier on, much earlier on in the season, were kind of at the point where we're not digging Amazon because their feed is so iffy, you know, that they weren't getting real clear pictures and all that kinds of stuff. So I'm I'm curious, but you know, it's uh og's talking ball at gmail.com if you want to let us know what your experience with Amazon. Not that I'm out to get Amazon, but certainly it's not like there's some kind of poor podunk operation either. You know, they gotta get it together if they want us to be enjoying watching games on Amazon. Period. End of story. All right, move on to another topic because I could go on for this one for a bit. Okay. So all right, so we've got talked about the Lakers and OKC. And then there's the Knicks. Oh my gosh, that's right. We need to move east another time moving east. Yeah. Who really have set their tone and their standards way high. All of a sudden, people are saying, Where was this team about a month ago? Because they were maybe just starting to kind of surface, but boy, oh boy, they have really pulled it together. They are playing their best basketball ever. Yeah. Yeah, they are now. Yeah. And they they just they're sitting there, they've won round one, they've won round two. In a sweep, yep. And you know, the kicker with round two is that the 76ers is who they played, and the 76ers beat the Celtics in round one. So I think the people, especially the Philly folks, were thinking, oh my, we've really got a chance here. You know, something good is gonna come of this. And not that getting into the second round is a totally bad thing at all. It's not bad at all, but it's like, okay, that winning a game or two would have kind of at least softened the blow of New York taking the series. But after four, now New York is resting and getting ready for either the Cabs or the Pistons. Right. So right. But and but but they've been winning in amazing ways. I mean bigger, much bigger ways than OKC is. Very true. Very true. OKC is sitting there after winning two rounds, and so are the Knicks, right? Sitting there resting. Um, and the but in the first round, their fourth game, they won by like 51 points. Yeah, yeah. And then this game, this last game where they they swept Philadelphia, yeah, they ended up winning by 30 points, but that was because they had three quarters of amazing offensive basketball. Yeah. And they put in the end of their bench for the fourth quarter and still won by 30 points. You know, and I know a lot of people are not Knicks fans, but I'm a Mike Brown fan, you know, the coach who uh was let go by Sacramento and then didn't work for a year or so and then was hired to do this job. And I, you know, I just wish him nothing but the very best. And I'm gonna flip off of that for a moment, Phyllis, and let's just dip into the draft just a tiny bit. Oh, you have one more. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Yeah, Miles McBride uh on on the Knicks. You know, he's filling in for injured uh Ananobi. Uh uh Ananobi, uh-huh. OG, uh-huh, uh-huh. Another OG in this world. Oh, yes, we're not one of our offspring, but he's he's one of us. OG Ananobi. McBride has been doing a wonderful job. You know, in the last game, he made seven out of nine three-pointers. Yeah. I mean, he made four in a row. Right. I know. I know it was it was worth it. He's been impressive, definitely. Cookies could be in order for him. Some fresh baked chocolate chip or whatever you're making um that day would be good. I think cookies are in order, definitely. Okay. For you, Miles. Yeah. Well, and for the draft, you know, here we go. And I'm really uh very happy that the NBA is going to talk about this whole process coming up in June after this draft happens, uh, because this just kind of is rotten for a lot of player teams. And the one that I think really took it the hardest or got hit the hardest was the Pacers. And they were pretty much primed to be in the top five and ended up because of the trade that they made with uh uh Zubotch earlier in the year that the Clippers ended up. So at one point they could have had a 52% chance of getting the top team or the top guy, I should say. And the number one choice. Yes, I know, and then it went to like from that to like nothing. They're not they're not getting anybody. So um Rick Carlisle's gonna need to roll up his sleeves, and he's an excellent coach as well, and he'll figure something out with and hopefully um Tyrese comes back at full strength after his healing. And you know, he had shingles on top of all this, too. Oh, ouch. Oh, and it was a bad case, just bad. Folks, if you haven't gotten your shingles vaccine, get it. Because it's this was brutal for him on his eye. I mean, everywhere, you know, he said it was the worst thing ever. So, anyway, that was poor Tyrese. Okay, so so the Pacers actually got the number five pick in the draft, but they had traded that pick to the Clippers. So that's why they're not getting a good pick. You know, and again, Phyllis, these trades and you're projecting four and five years ahead with who's gonna get how can anyone, I mean, I guess they do because people are probably paid to do that, keep track of all of this. Yes. It is crazy because I can't, and then they tell me that and think, oh my god, really? You know, I didn't know that. But I mean, there's a lot I don't know, of course. But anyway, um, and the Jazz ended up with number two. So, you know, but I think their guy who I think uh rumor has it that they really wanted or want AJ DeBanza, the kid that's playing out right there under their nose at BYU, that he may go first. But also the Wizards are the team that got the first pick. They've already got Anthony Davis and Trey Young coming to join them this coming year. You know, they made trades late in the season, so they may not want a newbie because they've got uh what's his face, Alex Sarr as well. So maybe they'll trade that for something else. What we'll have to wait and see. I don't know. I don't know. Anybody would want anybody would want to bounce out, wouldn't they? I but you would think so, but who knows? You know what? Who knows what they what they could be offered, you know? You just don't know. So the draft lottery is Wizards, Utah, Memphis, Chicago. Yeah. And then the Clippers and the Nets. Right, right. Those are the top six. Yeah. Okay, Phyllis. That's it. Okay. NBA is over. WNBA for today. M WNBA coming up. We'll see you in a few. We're back. Phyllis and I are going to spend a few minutes here, probably about 15-ish, uh, talking about the WNBA. And their season started last weekend, and with just rave reviews and record-setting attendance for several teams, and just kind of very a lot of excitement in the world for them. This is the the best season ever. Uh start. And wow. Yeah, I think the with the rumble about their C their contract, their CBA contract, and some of the other things, I was a little worried that people were gonna be put off by that, you know, that oh no, they're making all this money. Well, you know, compared to the NBA, they're still not making anywhere close, but they're making more than women have ever made in a professional in professional basketball. Let's just put it that way. Okay. So um we've got, you know, some excitement too, with two uh uh two um expansion teams that have joined, and uh the Toronto Tempo, who is being coached by Sandy Brondello, who was the coach of the Liberty, and there was kind of some jokes on the airwaves about Sandy has her own vengeance tour, revenge tour happening. You know what I mean? You hear about teams. Well, they think Sandy might, and probably especially when that team plays um the Liberty, and that uh Tempo only lost by three points their opening game. So that was that was pretty impress I was impressed when I saw that. Yes. I didn't see the game. It was very competitive. Uh because I happened to go and was fortunate enough uh to go with my daughter uh to attend the Portland fire game and be a part of the s audience, arena audience that was 19,355 people. That was their very first game. I mean Portland. And at the same time, the Portland Timbers had a sellout at Providence Park. So it wasn't like, okay, all the sports people went over to Moda. It's no, that was like over 50,000 or close to 50,000 people that were out and about on Saturday evening to watch a sporting event in Portland. That's pretty for Portland who only has about 600,000 people, for just a little bit of perspective, that's pretty strong. That's pretty strong, you know, it's a pretty strong attendance for both both of those groups. So anyway, that's just a little off the Okay, so that tidbit that that sellout game set um was the highest number of people that saw the first game uh in an expansion for an expansion team ever. That's pretty that's pretty awesome. Yeah, yeah. Pretty awesome. Yes, that was a good showing for the Portland Fire. I agree, I agree. And it was a fun game. They were really in it until the last two or three minutes of the game, and then Chicago, they played the Chicago Sky. Uh Chicago kind of got ahead of them and they were a little bit, they looked like a new team, you know, all of a sudden. You know, they looked pretty strong earlier, and it certainly came out the second half looking like they were all put together and ready to go. And they were for quite a while, and then they weren't. So, you know, it just kind of happens. And you know, with both of those expansion teams, they're hoping that if each of those teams win 10 or 12 games, that would like be a big deal. And gosh darn, those Valkyries last year really kind of broke that whole thing open as an expansion team, and they ended up going to the playoffs. So they had a very, very successful year, but this year there are people are concerned because they did some things that weren't um expected, I guess, during the um draft lottery, and then also with some trades that have happened. So it'll be interesting. All these teams are gonna be interesting to watch, definitely. They sure have been so far. You know, the um Las Vegas Aces won everything last season, including MVP for Asia and yeah, yeah, they they kind of took it all. And Saturday they got their diamond championship rings. Wow. And then they lost to Phoenix 33 points. Not just a little loss. And at the in the playoffs, the last playoffs, that they swept Phoenix. Yeah, and then Phoenix came back for the first game of this year and beat them really badly. Yeah, yeah. Well, they turned it around quickly, 24 hours later, when they played the LA Sparks, and they uh the um aces won 105 to 78. So they kind of said, okay, time out, you know, or they did probably take a timeout. Regroup, and I don't, you know, I don't know about you, Phyllis, but I wouldn't want to get on Becky Hammond's bad side, so it's a good thing they won on Sunday because it wouldn't have been pretty for this week. But that first gave was pretty embarrassing. Yeah, it was, it was, it was, and you know, it happens. What can you say? You know what I mean? You think it happens to the best of the best, absolutely, and everybody else in between and and you know, above and beyond, and er yeah, it's pretty amazing that a team can have an off night and it's just what it is, you know. Yeah, yeah. So with and and they have all their starters back. I know, yeah, yeah. They're they're the same starters as last year. They are yeah, they're nothing to sneeze at. That's really a strong group of women uh playing a sport that they all love, you know. Yeah, and I really I like Aja, I think she just cracks me up. She's got a great personality, and she and uh Bam Ottabayo are a couple. Oh, did you know? I didn't know. Oh my god, yeah, and they're just hysterical because you know she's a year older than he is, and she'll throw that out there every now and then. I mean, a year is like nothing, right? But anyway, it's just it's cute. They're just a cute couple. Well, at least they're both really tall. They are both very tall. Yeah, definitely, definitely. Yeah, and I enjoyed Indiana this uh this weekend. Oh yeah, they oh my gosh, Dallas is gonna it's kind of like come and calling look out with both uh Paige Beckers and Azy uh Fudd as their kind of dynamic duo, kind of like a a Steph and Clay Thompson used to be, or a dame and CJ. Yeah, but Ozzy didn't she didn't start. No, she didn't start, she didn't, but when she was in there, she made a difference. Yeah, but it was really um a Rike that was carried. with um with page because they they were they made like 42 points between the two of them yeah yeah that was that was a very strong showing for the Dallas Wings yeah very strong um yeah some really fun games out there and hopefully your local television has uh the option of either Ion and some of the games are on the ESPN and also on Amazon and I know here in Portland uh there's a local station that's uh televising all the games so if you have the opportunity to watch one um take advantage of it because there really are uh very a lot of fun to watch because there are some outstanding players on every team and again I mentioned Aja and she is really um the undisputed number one women's basketball player um well whether her team wins or loses. Yeah however however Caitlin Clark came back yes she did she she was off since last July with injuries and so she played her first game on Saturday and you know she was a little rusty but still made twenty points and seven assists and five rebounds. And it was a close game Indiana did not win but it was And the Wings beat them. Yeah and the Wings team they were not good last year but no this year I think they're putting everyone on alert that we're here and we know what the heck we're doing and be careful. So which is good. You know it just it's good for the game it's just good for the game. So um Yeah they got the number one pick in the draft Ozzy right and um they they look good. Yeah they do they do. I like that team yeah and also you know I didn't realize that Nafisa Collier is still rehabbing from ankle surgery and that was the second one she had. She had surgery on both of her diff you know both ankles over the past I guess since the season ended last uh October November for them. And this one was just on March 24th so she probably is not going to be coming back for a little bit but ankle surgery is pretty pretty intense. And she's another player who is just elite and always in that N VP talk you know by the time a season ends. So um yeah she's another one to take a look at. And Sabrina hopefully she she's not playing tonight I know in Portland but rumor has it she might appear on Thursday night um for New York because she had a little bit of a tweak of something that has put her out for a week or two. So Sabrina Ionescu who we're all kind of uh like a lot because she went to University of Oregon and we kind of know her from the area and you know have we kind of know of her of her yeah well yeah I'd love like to know her you know really as a friend or a you know a a colleague or what not a colleague I'm not playing basketball at this point in my life but I'm a good fan I'm a good fan and you know Brianna Stewart is back. I mean New York is another team that has some pretty outstanding players. Yes you know you're talking about Sabrina and um uh Brianna and there's a couple others with them that are um pretty pretty amazing so yeah well you you know um the number two player who you know who that was last year's number two the in the draft this year oh okay who was that remind me um she plays for Minnesota is it Lauren no no Lauren's not with Minnesota's short her name is Olivia Miles oh that's right that's right she was the number two pick she plays for the Minnesota Links she started in their game oh good and she made 21 points they played she played Atlanta you know and Gabriela Jaquez from UCLA started for the sky on Saturday and I don't know if she ever sat every time I looked out there I was at that game as I said and every time I looked out there she was playing and I told my daughter I said you know her brother plays for the heat and you know the family is real supportive of their kids and playing basketball but uh yeah she's another one that started and and really made a difference in that game for sure for sure yeah yeah so it was Olivia Miles the rookie against uh Alicia Alicia Gray uh she's placed for the uh Atlantic dream uh she made 24 points you know she is their star yeah she is she is and and there she is projected to break all kinds of records for that particular franchise this coming year too just because of her ability to score and to get in there and make a difference in a game. So that's all pretty exciting stuff. So Phyllis I I was so tempted and I just couldn't resist the temptation to after watching Saturday's game and seeing um Carla Liette who's from France on the Portland fire to figure out how what's the French connection like for the WNBA and I found that there are seven women that we the United States teams have draft drafted or are employing the WNBA the W excuse me WNBA um and so I you know I had to mention that so this Dominique Malonga and I heard her interviewed uh with Holly Rowe the other day on the radio when I was out and about and just a really lovely young woman telling her story and her mom has not yet been able to come I believe her mom's in Africa uh to visit and Holly Rowe I mean you don't talk about like oh my gosh she told this gal on the air so like people were listening um that she would be happy to give her her frequent flyer miles because she has so many of them so that her mother would be able to come. And it's and Dominique said you know it's a it's a visa thing too and and so Holly said as soon as your mom's ready to come you let me know. I want you to call me I'm serious. But I just thought that was the night you know we again we talk about things away from the court that happen. I mean Holly didn't have to do that. You know what I mean? She just didn't but she did and I thought that was the sweetest thing and this Dominique's like about six foot five and she's a force for the Seattle team um when she plays uh as a center and then there's Gabby Williams and also uh Ileana Rupaire who are both on the Valkyries there are two French women on those teams and I mentioned the gal um from the fire and then there's uh Leila Le Cahn who's on the Connecticut Sun and she's a um 5'11 she was drafted in 2024 and she uh is definitely known for her ball handling and speed and then Marine Johannes is a combo guard and another one who um played for the Liberty for a few years and then Janelle Saluant Salut oh another one on the Valkyries so the Valkyries went French big time with three players from France on their team so maybe the gee I wonder if that's why they made it into the playoffs last year. I don't know that I'm just saying I'm just thinking out loud what else do you have Phyllis those are my tidbits and my thoughts about the WNBA for today well the that Marine Johansson Johannes she had a career high this weekend 25 points. Oh good for her yeah good for her she's doing well you know it's not like uh the beginning of the year means that there people are not going to be effective on the court you know what I mean uh they're not you know some of the teams still haven't quite gelled I think as a collective group uh because they've just been recently put together and things have happened and you said there's our team or the fire I should say have people on the injured list already. I mean you know those kinds of things and like I said Sabrina um had an Aoi and she's not gonna play uh we didn't play the other day nor was she playing tonight but um anyway all good yeah you know there's there's uh there's a game almost every night W NBA game that you can that you can find and see some fantastic basketball I I agree I agree and there's a new league too called what's it called up Uproar so I gotta look that up I will talk about that next time another women's league for up and comers and there's only four league kind of kind of like a G League but it's different. So I'll look it up I'll get more info and we'll talk about it next time. Okay so we're gonna call it a day thanks everyone for listening and life is so much better with basketball. Be kind to each other out there