2025–2026 NBA Season Recap + Play-In and Playoff Preview

Ben joins the show as we take a look back at the 2025–2026 NBA season and discuss the biggest moments, storylines, and takeaways.

We also preview the Play-In Tournament and break down the playoff matchups that are already set, giving our thoughts on how things could play out.

A great listen for anyone looking to get ready for the NBA postseason with a full season perspective.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:11

What's going on? What's going on, everybody? Welcome back to the warm-up. I'm your host, John. Joining us today is Ben. Ben, how you doing? Doing good.

SPEAKER_01 0:20

Excited to be back.

SPEAKER_00 0:20

It's been too long. Welcome back, man. I'm happy you're here. Um, before we get into it, please uh subscribe to the warmup and turn on that notification bell so you never miss an episode of the warmup. All right, Ben, yesterday uh uh was game 82. It was a crazy, crazy 2025, 2026 season to say the less, and we're gonna get into it. We're gonna talk about it, we're gonna dissect the play-in, the playoff matchup that we know already. So, yeah, let's get into it.

SPEAKER_01 0:51

Yeah, um, just some kind of like season in review headlines that kind of make sense to talk about. I mean, uh, looking at the top of both conferences, obviously um OKC is once again sitting at the top. Um, that was an expectation that kind of everybody had going into the season and they lived up to it. Um, and then I think the biggest surprise of the season when we look back was obviously the Detroit Pistons ending up at number one. I think I remember, you know, we were talking about like, hey, there's gonna be like a lack of shooting there or a lack of playmaking, but they looked absolutely stellar this season. So um that's a great storyline. Um, Charlotte uh getting into the play-in after that brutal start, putting together what looks like could be a really good future there. I'm very excited about that. Um then obviously out west, you've got you know a log jam there from like three to six of teams that are very competitive, and then San Antonio sitting at the top. Um, San Antonio is a team that I expect to be very competitive in the playoffs, and I I fully expect that they'll be seeing OKC at some point. But looking back, I mean, you know, there was craziness in the standings, the play-in looks very interesting this year. Obviously, there was all the tanking, and then you have the news of like expansion teams coming. So it's a very like fun season for the NBA. And I think this was uh obviously ratings were way up this year, which is really good. Um, it was a great season all around.

SPEAKER_00 2:18

Yeah, I mean, I feel like for me, to just to add on to what you said, um, when we look back at the season, uh, you know, five, ten years from now, if Victor Wembenyama does what we think he's gonna do, eventually win a championship, not create a dynasty, but be one of those impact players all time. Um, we'll look at his third season in the NBA where it's like, oh, this was his coming out party. Um, from day one in that Dallas matchup where he just had that 40-point game, was blocking everything, going against 80 and gaffer and them, just totally lit them up, and then he continued that momentum throughout the rest of the season. Like, that was very impressive, uh, impressive to watch. Um, Giannis, the whole Giannis saga has been such a nightmare to cover, to follow. It's a it's Giannis versus Shams versus the Bucks organization at this point. Um, that story's not over with, that'll continue into the summer. And then um just a little other things like Celtics. We thought the Celtics were gonna be a bottom five team in the East, or at least maybe a play-in-ish team, and they Joe Mazzo doesn't know how to tank, and nor he should, because they blew my expectations out the water. Jalen Brown has taken a step up with his playmaking, his leadership. He's been super impressive to me. And then I think for me, the last like crazy thing was like the aging superstars that we've all grown to love, grew up with. They're kind of on the way out. The Steph Curry's the LeBron. Yeah. The the next set is here the Victor Women Yamas, the Shays, um, Anthony Edwards, um, and even more. The Cooper Flags, the Doncan Nipple. Like the NBA is in such a great place right now. It was a hell of a season to watch.

SPEAKER_01 4:04

Yeah, I definitely agree. Um, I think there's two more things out east I want to cover as well. Yeah. Um, two teams that really surprised me sitting at five and six, um, Toronto and Atlanta. Um, those were two teams. I you just don't expect those to be top six teams. Atlanta's a play-in team, Toronto's in rebuild, they're way ahead of schedule. So I'm interested to see if either of those teams can win a playoff series. I think that Hawks next series is gonna go a smooth seven games. Um I think I think that's gonna be a dog fight. Um so I'm excited to see what those two teams do, um, especially Toronto, because like going into the season, we're just thinking like long term with this situation. Like, you know, Toronto's not where they need to be. They've got BI, but it's like they don't really have the core that they're looking for. But they have just put on a show out there. So I'm very excited to see what they do in the playoffs. So hats off to them for making it in. And then Atlanta, obviously, bad start to the season, but once they traded Trey Young, they took off. And I think that's one of the things we talked about when the trade went down was like, you know, these are pieces you can plug and play into the system, and it allowed for other guys to step in and be better. Um, so yeah, those are two.

SPEAKER_00 5:09

What's so interesting too about the Hawks thing is when when before the season, I think we had the Hawks as a top six team, but we thought Trey Young would be here. And so to see that that injury Trey Young had at the beginning of the season, he was at what like six to seven, eight weeks or something like that. Yeah, Jalen Johnson took that step and it was like, I knew like I feel like we all knew Jalen Johnson had it in. I didn't think he had it in this quick, and then they trade Trey Young and they kind of struggled for a couple weeks, and then this last month and a half, it's just been one of the hottest teams in the league post-all-star break. So yeah, it's been awesome to watch for sure.

SPEAKER_01 5:45

Yeah, definitely. Um, I I guess one more question I have for you is if you look at the, and I know this is a touchy subject for everybody. Uh obviously, you know, you look at the tanking situation in the NBA right now, and this was one of the worst years. But I think a record team, a record number of teams drop 50 games at least. Um, so what are your like basic baseline thoughts on like, hey, what does the NBA need to do to either correct this or how can we move forward here?

SPEAKER_00 6:10

So I'll start with the correcting it. I don't really have a solution, and I think either way, teams will find a way to be bad because the only way to have like talent or success is through the draft. Um, one thing I will say, like, yes, tanking was like really bad this year, probably at all-time high. But tanking's always been here. Tanking's been here for the last 40 years, you know what I mean? And I don't think it's really gonna go away. Like, they try to flatten the odds and it's only gotten worse, right? So, regardless, teams will figure out ways to I mean, look look at the Mappers, for example, they traded their generational player in Luka Dante, and then you get Cooper Flag. Like, they're not set, but like you need those guys to be um to be successful in the league. So, like when we look at this year's draft, they think Darren Peterson, AJ Devanta, Cameron Boozer, these are those generational, well, maybe not generational, but those are those franchise players, so you need them um period. So, yeah. Um, and the nutshell, I think tanking was like bad, but it I didn't mind like I thought some of the stuff was crazy, but I wasn't surprised because you gotta do what you gotta do. It's better to be, you know, tanking than middle of the pack, like hence Chicago each year, right? And they finally picked the direction, and I think the fans were happy because of it. What about you? What do you think?

SPEAKER_01 7:31

I have a lot of thoughts on it. Earlier this year, I think it was after the trade deadline. I started thinking of like, you know, what are some ways that you could, I guess, spice it up. And I always said, like, hey, you could always like, you know, move the draft lottery to All-Star Weekend, and you know, you could like do it live during All-Star Weekend and like freeze the odds, like going into the All-Star Weekend just to kind of save that last couple months of the season to just you know what I'm saying? So that's an idea I had originally, but you know, it's it's just there's a lot of moving parts with it. But as far as like what I think of it, you know, um, do I think that you know we should be intentionally losing games? No. But at the end of the day, your reward for losing games is not as great as you initially think, right? Because, you know, you look at a team like um the Utah Jazz, right? The Utah Jazz were probably the worst tanking team this year as far as and I also the Memphis Grizzlies, too. They tanked a lot at the end of the season. So if you look at those two teams, you lose all those games, but you're still sitting at like, you know, four in the four, five, six range, which is just not a guarantee. You could easily drop two spots, you could move up into the top four or get one, but it's like it's you're literally putting the fate of your franchise on ping pong balls. So it's like, you know, um, it would make a lot more sense if it was like how the NFL did it, and it's just like one through 32, you draft. But in the in the NBA, you simply can't do that. Um, it just doesn't work. So ultimately, I think it's gonna get resolved. I just hope we don't overcomplicate it because I was reading those proposals that Silver sent out, and it just like they're just complicated to me. I feel like it's gonna really kind of just jamble things. It's like I feel like the current system in the NBA right now is already kind of getting, you know, complicated enough, and we're about to add two more teams in a couple years, too. So it's like we got to just like pump the brakes on these proposals a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 9:20

Yeah, no, I I completely agree with like the thing is too, like that what they did with the play-in, or not the play-in, the um all-star weekend, where they kept changing it each year and each year. Like, I don't want the draft lottery and them addressing tanky to be like that. We're like, we try this one year, and then we scrap in, try something different. Like, I I don't like that at all. But to your uh but to your point for one of your solutions with the you freeze the lottery odds, so everything past like let's say the last month like kind of counts or doesn't count, like that's kind of interesting because I feel like after the football season it and the Super Bowl's over, like that's when the majority of the fans um start watching the NBA anyway. So I think tanking was so loud because like your best product is after football, and then our product is a bunch of tanking teams, and you got a bunch of people trying to win and Jackie um or jockey uh playoff position. So yeah, that's yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:15

I think another thing to note is like we can use the Pelicans, for example, right? They don't have they don't own a first-round pick next year, so they just play basketball, right? And down the stretch, like you know, I'm watching the standings, and the one thing I'm noticing is like, hey, the Pelicans are like going in and winning basketball games, yeah. Not because they don't want to or anything, because like they're just playing basketball and their guys are healthy. Um and so that's a prime example of like, hey, that could work. Because let's say you're a Utah Jazz team that's trying to tank, right? Um, if you want to tank before the new year, if you want to tank in the winter, go right ahead. I mean, like it at that point, that's just losing mentality. So if you want to tank going into winter, you can. So let's say you have the draft during all the only reason I say All-Star Weekend is for ratings alone. It just helps, it just helps All-Star weekend because people are gonna watch the lottery. Um, but when you look at it from that perspective, if you have the lottery then and the Utah Jazz get the sixth pick in the draft and they drop two spots for four to six, what are they gonna do for the rest of the season? You know, they're just gonna play basketball. I mean, there's no need to like intentionally rest guys over and over and over because you want to try to lose games. It's also good for your young players' development, I think, and like it also getting your core together because you're not trying to intentionally just sit these guys out for a losing matter. But that's kind of my two cents on it with the tanking.

SPEAKER_00 11:32

Yeah, and then one thing too, like with tanking, like the Washington Wizards have to have technically the best odds to get the number one overall pick. But when's the last time the worst team has gotten the number one overall pick? It has they're not gonna get it. You know what I mean? So it's like, yes, tanking's bad, but it still doesn't even guarantee you to be have even a top four pick. I think Washington and the Jazz had the worst record last year, and they end up falling to like full five and six in the draft, you know what I mean? Because two two or three teams jumped them.

SPEAKER_01 12:03

So I mean, shoot, you know, like there are teams that are about to go play in the plane in a couple days that could get the number one pick. Dallas was the prime example last year. Like, you know, you easily a 1.8% chance, like it could happen. It could be any of those teams, like it could be a team in the middle of the pack, it could be the Washington Wizards, it probably won't be. Like, it could be the Pacers, we have the Kings, we have no clue. So it's like that's why I say it's like, why are we tanking when it's so uncertain? You know, and the NFL, I get it. If you got a chance to go get the number one pick in like week 17, lose the game, you know. I I get it, but like you're you're basing it on ping pongs, ping pong balls. So yeah, I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 12:40

But I think it's got the NBA's draft order isn't like that. Could you imagine how bad tanking would be then? I mean, the whole the whole league would the whole league would tank. It would, it would, it'd be awful. So I do think they gotta be careful too, because there's gonna be some consequences that are unintended, you know what I mean? So, or unintended consequences, so it's like you they gotta be careful like what they do and how they change the things. Because if you start like a team like Indiana, like who didn't have Halliburton all year, like they weren't supposed to be here, but they did it because it incentivized them, right? So it's like it's not technically their fault, but then you have teams like Utah, you have teams like um um Washington that are doing everything in their power to just tank their ass off. So yeah, yeah, it's hard. But yeah, it was just uh it was a crazy season. Um, I'm happy it's playoff time, it's best time of the year. Uh March Madness wrapped up about a week and a half ago. And yeah, let's get into the tomorrow's games, uh, or this week's games with the plan. So I think tomorrow they got in the plan, who they got? Hornet. Is it is it 7-8 first or is it 9-10 first?

SPEAKER_01 13:52

I believe it's 9-10. I I need to go check the schedule again, but we can go and break these down. Um you can see.

SPEAKER_00 14:02

West? Yes. All right, let's start with the 7-8 matchup in the West. So let's go Suns, Portland. Um I think Portland has been one of my favorite teams to watch of late. They've been my favorite league pass team over the past month. Um, I I love them. I like their defensive identity, their size, their shot making. If Shade and Sharp was playing, I would like their chances, but I just I think Phoenix has just been so much better, uh, tier better than them this entire year. And I think them being home, them having a bit more experience on that, on those ends of things, I think they'll they'll handle the business for sure. Because they don't want to play OKC round one, I've tell you that much.

SPEAKER_01 14:46

Absolutely not. No, um, yeah, I'm with you. I'm I'm going Phoenix in this one. I think they could give San Antonio like, I'll call it issues. I'm not gonna say trouble. I think they give issues and steal a game or two. Um because you know, you got um Phoenix just has a really good young roster who I didn't believe in at first, so um, but I'm actually very pleased with their development. No, um yeah, I I feel bad. Portland's kind of in a rough spot because it's like you know, no matter what happens here, you're out in the first round, in my first, in my personal opinion. If you're not beating San Antonio, and you're certain you're certainly not beating OKC, so it's kind of a tough spot. But I'm gonna take Phoenix in that one.

SPEAKER_00 15:21

Yeah, and well, I will say, like, for Portland too, like even if let's say if they do get in and they have to play OKC, I think just that experience and that playoff atmosphere, just getting you know, Scoot, Klingon, um, Tomani Kamara, like just them smelling what playoff basketball is like, I think could benefit them in the long run. But you're right, like yeah, they're they're dead way against the long scene.

SPEAKER_02 15:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:44

Now it would be interesting if Portland upset uh Phoenix tomorrow, and then now it's Portland, San Antonio, which I think the Spurs would just Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:54

I think they'd break out the brooms on Portland, unfortunately.

SPEAKER_00 15:58

Yeah. All right, so now we got the 9-10 gang, um, Clippers and Warriors. Um, what's your thoughts on this one? I'll let you go first.

SPEAKER_01 16:06

I think the Warriors are getting slammed by 30, bro. Like it's just they're they're just they're not winning, bro. I'm sorry. Um Steph Steph is Steph just came back. Um, you're on the road. I think the Clippers have proven themselves. Now, let me speak on the Clippers for a minute. Um, this is a team that if they can get out of the play-in, I do think they can give some trouble to um OKC. I I think out of all the the four teams here in the play-in, the Clippers can do the most damage. Um, do I know what the most damage looks like? I don't, honestly. I mean, it could be one game, it could be two, but when you've got Darius Garland, Kawhi Leonard, um, then you brought in Mathrin. Um, you know, you they have a good solid core, and they've really had a great second half to the season after that brutal like 6-21 start. So they are the team out of the four that I really like to make some noise. Now, I'll say this too. I don't want to discount Steph Curry. Steph Curry is, you know, one of the greatest players of our generation, one of the greatest players of all time. He could easily go in here and have one of those new fear games and get him through. I just simply don't think it's gonna happen with where he's at and where the team is at right now.

SPEAKER_00 17:14

Yeah, I I agree with you. Um, Steve Kerr coming out today and saying that nobody will play over 30 minutes and everyone's on a Curry's on a minute's restriction. And I think the writing's been on a on the wall too for the last month and a half. Like they are jogging for a potential big lottery pick, and I just think them winning doesn't change anything. I don't think they whoever wins this game, or if the Warriors were to win, I don't think they beat Portland, anyways. But um, yeah, I'm not gonna count Steph Curry out, but I just think the level and intention uh the Clippers have been playing like I think they'll win pretty pretty handily.

SPEAKER_01 17:56

Yeah, we can go and move to the east now. We uh we'll go ahead and start with the 9-10, we'll go across uh Hornets Heat. What are your thoughts on that one?

SPEAKER_00 18:05

So my gut tells me the heat the Heat are gonna win that, but my heart really wants Charlotte too, because I really want Charlotte in the first round against Detroit. No, absolutely just to rehash that whole bra that we had earlier. Oh shoot. Oh yeah, like oh my gosh, I just realized that not that they would give the Pistons like any problems, but I think it would just be great, great cinema. But hey, if Charlotte gets hot, they can honestly know what I mean. If Charlotte gets hot, like again, like they the Buzz City killers for a reason. So what's your thoughts on that?

SPEAKER_01 18:40

I like Charlotte. I just don't think um it's I think the biggest thing here is it's at Charlotte, and those fans are gonna have something to cheer for for the first time in years, and so I think they're gonna pack out uh the Spectrum Center and get it get it rolling. I I think they'll win this one. Um, I think their second round matchup against the seven or eight will be the writing on the wall. But I'll take Charlotte in this one.

SPEAKER_00 19:03

Yeah, I I agree. I think I think Spo and them, like if they do end up losing this game, that organization needs to look at themselves in the mirror. We are the Miami Heat. Why are we constantly playing? Why are like there needs to be some structural change that like not saying fire spot or anything, but they need to bring an influx of talent that works, like some of the heat culture, some that works for them. There's just no way you have Bam out of Bayo who scored 83 points later earlier this year. You have Norman Powell, Tyler Hero, all on contract um negotiations this summer, like they gotta make something shake. I don't know if the star becomes available, but every star that's become available, they said they want to go to Miami, they don't go to Miami. You know what I mean? So it's like I don't they gotta look at themselves in the mirror.

SPEAKER_01 19:51

Yeah, I I I fully agree. I think with Miami, like you're Miami, you should be able to acquire talent based on literally your geographic location. So um, and plus you got Bam out of bio, build around him, you know, it's not too late. Um, so I think there's definitely something to be said for that. So yeah, I fully agree with you. Um, this is this is an interesting one. Philadelphia and Orlando, where are you going in this one?

SPEAKER_00 20:12

So I don't know if you guys watched that Orlando game versus the Celtics yesterday, but the Celtics had their top nine players out in the Magic School loss. It was absolutely one of the most mind-boggling things I've ever watched. Baylor Steirman, Ron Harper Jr. just went just went off. It was just it was just crazy. Desmond Bain wasn't supposed to play and because he wanted the 82 game rule, and then he just checks backs in with like in the fourth quarter, like without playing the entire first three quarters. Like, that was insane. That was just yeah. Um, let's see. If it embeds out for sure with that appendicitis, I still I'm leaning Philly only because there's not one thing Orlando's done this season where I'm like, yeah, like like I just can't pick with Orlando right now. Like they're just not fun. Like, I don't think they they like each other. They kind of seem one of those teams where like they can't wait to just be done with the season. And if your head's already looking out, like I would like that's a team where it's like we're paying our starting five like 90% of our cap sheet. Oh, Paulo might be on the move, bronze might be on the move, Jamal Mosley might be gone. Like, I think that's an organization that don't be surprised if they even if they do make the playoffs shortly after, um, there'll be a lot of change and a lot of costs.

SPEAKER_01 21:31

Yeah, definitely. Uh, we had Orlando pretty high this year, too. So this is we did, yeah. Um, so for Philly, I mean, um I'll take them in this game. I don't think they Embiid won't be back by the first round, right? No, no shot, right?

SPEAKER_00 21:48

Well, because the first round, you know how they space out each game like so long. They they say he might be like a game three or four, but I mean, append like he got cut open too. Like this.

SPEAKER_01 22:02

My confidence in Philly making noise versus Boston is solely what based off whether Embiid's on the floor. Because when they're complete with Embiid, Edgecombe, um Paul George, and the crew, like you know, with and Maxi, like when they're complete, they can compete. Um, so I think it's really going to depend on that. But I'll go ahead and take them in this game. I think Maxi and Edgecombe, that backcourt will be enough to get them past Orlando. And obviously, you've got you got you've got backup big men that you can utilize and uh make it work. Because Orlando is a much smaller team than that meets the eye. So I'll take Philly in that one.

SPEAKER_00 22:35

I'll definitely trust. I I think I think also, too, like if Philly does get into the actual playoffs, um, I just trust Maxi to win you a game. So like tomorrow, I'm betting on Maxi to win a game for sure. Yeah, I definitely. Yeah. All right. Um, let's talk about some of the matchups we do already know.

SPEAKER_01 22:55

You want to start the west of the um let's go, let's start east. Let's let's do east first. Because I mean, I mean, I mean the west we could make a movie on. So um yeah, let's do let's do Cavs, uh Cavs Raptors. Um I this could be this gonna be an interesting one, dude. I'm not gonna lie. Um I my gut sets Cleveland, obviously, but they've kind of just been, you know, playing around a little bit. Um Toronto's young and hungry. I think Toronto's gonna win their home games, especially because you know those fans have waited a while to get it to get into the postseason and make some noise. Um, Cleveland's got to capitalize and win those home games. Um it's actually like when you look at it, it's a good path for Cleveland to make some noise because you're playing an inexperienced Toronto team and you're most likely gonna play an inexperienced Detroit team. So you you're avoiding a Knicks, you're avoiding a Celtics until the Eastern Conference Finals. So if there was a year for Cleveland to make noise, it would be this year, but I just don't know. They like Donovan Mitchell with this Cavs team in the playoffs has never clicked. So we'll have to just wait and see what happens.

SPEAKER_00 24:05

I think for me, I'm gonna take Cleveland for sure. I think there's so many like hidden gems throughout this series, though, like Scotty Barnes uh and Evan Mobley that beat for rookie of the year season. Um Jared Allen, how he plays in physicality. Like we've seen when he goes up against um, you know, Miles Turner or the Knicks in the past, like he kind of shines away, and he has that famous quote, the lights were too bright. Like um, this is a huge playoff um playoff year for the Cavs. Like, they're at a crossroads where like I get Donovan Mitchell signed that extension, he's happy, but he's just one of those players, like, how many times as an organization, like, you're just gonna keep watching the same thing. And maybe it'll be the inverse of last year, where like they had this magnificent um regular season they and they stuck in the playoffs, whereas this year they weren't as good in the regular season and something clicks from playoff time. Yeah, um definitely I think I think for me their defense has just fallen off a cliff, um, which is concerning. Well, not really because they acquired James Harden. If you get James Harden, your defense will be worse, but they got rid of Garland, and Harden's a better defender than Garden. So I think it'll be interesting to see that dynamic work. I'm I'm just waiting on Evan Mobley to break out, man. Like, you got defensive player of the year last year because Wemby was out, but listen, you need to take an offensive jump. Like this one to two threes a game. Like, go be big, like go dunk on somebody. Like, maybe it's the spacing with Allen that doesn't work. I will say how Toronto plays, they run a lot of CMB at center. I think there's a chance that Mohu plays a lot of center in this series because that they'll be a lot quicker, and you'll see more like Sam Merrill, Dean Wade, Jalen Tyson lineups with the other guards, and the guy and the Cavs, you know, they got Keon Ellis, uh Dennis Schroeder, I think match up really well against uh Toronto's guard. So yeah, it's gonna be the series for sure.

SPEAKER_01 26:03

Definitely. I couldn't agree more. Um, and then we go, I think this will be the sleeper matchup of the um first round, Knicks Hawks. Um, what are your thoughts there?

SPEAKER_00 26:13

Um, so I off a first glance I was like, oh, I think this series has a chance to be like super like closer than a lot of people think, like where it's next six or seven. But I keep I keep coming back to where like the Knicks are just such a playoff team to me. Where like I wouldn't be surprised if they won um if they won in like five or six games, like pretty not easily, but a lot easier than people would think. Just because they're one of those teams that they've been here before. This is their second or third year altogether. Um, I like OG on Jalen Johnson a lot, but go back to the regular season matchups, the Hawks have been a problem for them. They hunt Kat, they hunt Jalen Brunson on the other end, and I think it's gonna be it's gonna be a hell of a series. I'm not gonna lie. I'm excited to see what Nikhil Alexander Walker does, Kaminga does. Um yeah, what's your thoughts?

SPEAKER_01 27:10

Yeah, I definitely think this is a series that could go six or seven. Um, I think the Knicks will ultimately win it, um, but Atlanta's gonna give them a lot of crap. So um I I I think that's really the only prediction I have there. Um this is a really big playoff season for New York because um two years ago you lose in the semis. Last year you lose in the conference finals. If this is a championship team, you got to go all the way here. And if you look at your path, you're gonna have to play Atlanta and then you're probably gonna have to rematch against Boston, and then you're gonna have somebody else after that. So, like, you know, um Knicks Boston in the second round would just be just perfect. So I'm I I'd like to see that happen. But yeah, I I do think Atlanta does have a chance to take this from them if they do it right.

SPEAKER_00 28:01

Yeah, do you do you think that the Knicks have a like a like a cloud of judgment? Like they feel a lot of pressure going into this series. Because I feel like if they don't do it this year, I feel like they all of a sudden become like the number one Giannis team again. Oh, Mikhail Bridges was traded for all these picks, like this was the best move a hit. You know, you know what I mean. I feel like they're one of those teams that have like the most to lose. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 28:30

They're a team that if you don't make a deep playoff run or get to the NBA finals this year, they're gonna start making uh panic moves that are gonna only hurt them. I just see that happening. Like, you know, like let's say they lose in the first round, right? You're right, Giannis destination number one, this star player, destination number one. They're gonna go star hunting, trade picks, trade players, and it's just gonna be like so. It's like I don't really know um what's gonna happen there. So we'll have to just wait and see.

SPEAKER_00 28:58

All right, so the let's take it out west, where we have the uh let's start with wolves and nuggets. Let's save Lakers and Nuggets. Um Wolves, Nuggets, they're playing again. Um, what's your thoughts on that?

SPEAKER_01 29:16

Um, I also think seven on this one. I think I think it's gonna be um it's gonna be a good series. I really do. Um it just feels very similar to last time that the rosters are fairly similar. The the star players are still there. Um, Denver's had their weak moments this season, but so has Minnesota. I I just think this is it, it's gonna be a dog fight. That's I if I had to pick, honestly, like this might sound crazy. I think Minnesota's gonna win this one.

SPEAKER_00 29:44

Well, it's so funny. You're like the first person I've seen say that because I feel like a lot of people, when they think of Denver, they think of only Jokic. And Jokic has been absolutely unbelievable this year. Like, don't get me wrong, but like as a team, they've had their highs and lows for sure. And it's like like Jokic is gonna get his. I'm not worried about Jokic in the playoffs.

SPEAKER_01 30:03

No, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:03

Last time we saw Jamal Murray against these guys, he was absolutely shook. You know what I mean? Like they were up 3-0 in the series, and I think I mean if you look at uh Minnesota, like yeah, McDaniels has been hurt, and has been you know sick and hurt at the same time. But they had they don't have cat when they beat like they when they beat them last time. But I think they're they have some they have a little bit more experience, they have a little bit more of something else, like where it's like, oh, I don't think it's like the cake walk it's not for sure.

SPEAKER_01 30:34

Yeah, definitely. That that'll be a really interesting series for sure. But I like your thoughts.

SPEAKER_00 30:39

But I would definitely say I will I would probably lean wolves in pro not wolves, nuggets in about six, because that is my championship favorite. I picked them at the beginning of the season. I'm not I'm not gonna back out now, but it's not looking good. But I will say the San Antonio might regret not winning that game yesterday. And um because if they if they didn't have to see OKC or Denver to the conference finals, I really like their chances going, yeah, going all the way in.

SPEAKER_01 31:09

That'll be rough if they have to play Denver second round. Jokic versus Wenby would be unbelievable.

SPEAKER_00 31:13

That gave them a couple of sides.

SPEAKER_01 31:15

Uh yeah. All right, the last one, ja.

SPEAKER_00 31:20

Oh god.

SPEAKER_01 31:22

Uh you know what? Like, I'll give I'll give you some early thoughts. You couldn't have matched up with a better playoff team here in your current position. I'm just gonna be honest with you. Like, you look at Houston, like, no offense to my Rockets fans out there, but like Houston has been up and down all season long. So, do could I definitely see LeBron James get them out of this series alive? I do think there's a chance. Um, you could potentially get Luca back, maybe. I don't know. You could get one, I don't I don't think so. I don't know. LeBron James is gonna have to turn it up, honestly. I I just think you're he's gonna have to get 30 and 9 for them to have a chance. The role players are gonna have to play well. But again, you could not have asked for a better team to match up against because if you look at the one through eight, I mean, like this is your best matchup. So, like, because if it was Denver or Minnesota, it would be done in four or five. So I do think there's a sliver of hope, but again, based off the injuries, I've got to go with Houston. Now, if Luca does somehow get back in time to save them, I give the Lakers more of a chance, but I'm going Houston right now.

SPEAKER_00 32:24

I think it's like Houston and like four, honestly, even like I think LeBron can't be. Yeah, I think like I think LeBron cavers 30, and they could still like we just don't have a lot of shock creators, like besides LeBron, Marcus Smart, like Luke Kennard and Bronny James are our third and fourth best ball handle. You know what I mean? Like, and it's just so depressing because like all year it was like like everybody, including myself, was so pessimistic on the Lakers, and it seemed like something finally had clicked. And then Luca and Austin were like were like they were in a rhythm, and then to have this happen, like, because if Luca and Austin were healthy, I I think the Lakers had a chance to definitely go to the second round. I think they would absolutely yeah would have beat the Rockets and it would have been like a better season, but they've built a lot of good habits going into next season. But I I just don't think like I I get the Rockets have been struggling and all that. I just you're asking a men like Luke Kennard's gonna get guarded by Amen Thompson. Aiden, he he's not dominating. Like, I think Shangun's gonna have a field day. I think Jabari Smith Jr. is gonna have a great series. Amen, I think, is gonna be back during. He might be the all-star in the series. Like, I just I think it's just a bad matchup. I don't like LeBron getting guarded by Amen Thompson for four straight games. I will say I think their best chance to have any chance of winning the series is you win game one. I think if you win game one, because like the like let's be honest, Lakers have nothing to lose. The Rockets have everything to lose. Like everyone's going in, oh Rockets got this. So Lakers are naturally just gonna play for here, they're gonna be home. If they could like win that game one, you lose game two, and then you you that's eight days between games one and game three. Like, we have a chance. If Luca comes, but even if Luca comes back, like we've seen ever uh Aaron Gordon, Peyton Watson this year hamstring injuries, like they come back there immediately out.

SPEAKER_01 34:22

Like it's then you immediately injure it.

SPEAKER_00 34:24

Yeah, especially for a guy like Luca, who's like who makes his money off the slow pace basketball and those quick stops, like he's not gonna be able to like pull up and do the things he does, like that handy's off the bone. No, um sucks overall.

SPEAKER_01 34:39

I know it's terrible, it's terrible because I wanted to see playoff Luca as well. Um, let me ask you a question. So obviously, you have your championship pick and I have mine. Um, and I do think that both of those options are obviously still in play. But if you had to pick another team right now to go all the way, who would you pick?

SPEAKER_00 34:57

To the finals and and win it?

SPEAKER_01 35:00

Uh yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, a team to go to the finals and win it. If you had to pick a team right now that wasn't Denver, I think it would be for sure okay.

SPEAKER_00 35:09

See, I've just never seen a team. I mean, there odds are against them in a way, because no team that's won the championship has gotten past the second round in seven and eight years. So, like, there's that, but I just have never seen a team that's legitimately 11 deep in a playoff rotation, which could be to their detriment, you know what I mean? But like, like J Dub's not what he was last year, but they don't really need him to be, probably until they face Denver or San Antonio. But I I would pick Denver, or I would pick OKC. I'm sorry. What if I do?

SPEAKER_01 35:44

Yeah. Um, it's easy for me. I I think I've I've said this since the half middle half of the season. Like, I think San Antonio is going all the way. I think they've just got all the pieces. If Wemby stays healthy, I just think he's gonna kill everybody in his path. Um, I obviously for me, like, you know, um as a Texan, like seeing San Antonio in the uh finals again would be fantastic. I think it's great. I think it's great for the league. So um they are my pick. I just think it's a it's not a terrible route either. You're not gonna have a hard first round. You'll have Denver, which will be tough, and then then OKC. I the also the reason I pick them over OKC is just their dominance over them in the regular season. It just feels like they understood they understood how to get them better than anybody. And so I think if it gets to a conference finals, they have the ability to do it. Um, but you know, in a dream realistic world, San Antonio versus New York would be would be nice. And then I'd obviously root for New York to let all the haters know. So um, but yeah, that's my pick if I had to pick one right now.

SPEAKER_00 36:44

I feel like the biggest knock against San Antonio that people say I don't believe this is that like they don't have experience. But we've also never seen anybody like Wendy before, whose game should translate really well. Um, his main thing is defense. We've seen great defensive players have great playoffs. Like, I think the closest thing I could think of is Anthony Davis. Um, his first playoff series against the Warriors, he dominated. Um, I think the San Antonio, like Anthony Davis, it's the others. Like, is De'Aaron Fox gonna be that clutch player of the year? He was a couple years ago. Is Steph out is Stefan Castle ready to take big shots? Because quite frankly, they're gonna leave him open, they're gonna leave Dylan Harper open a little bit. Can the others make make the shots? Because I think Wemby's there. Wemby's ready. I'm not worried about Wemby. It's the others for me. But yeah, that that's a great pick.

SPEAKER_01 37:32

Yeah, I think uh I think Carter Bryant will be an X Factor. Carter Bryant and Castle both, if if they're able to perform in the I am such a big Carter Bryant fan, I it's literally not even funny. So um I yeah, if their young core can pull it together, they're gonna be fine. But yeah, I I think that's I think that's a valid concern, but I'm I'm not as worried about it as most.

SPEAKER_00 37:50

Yeah, I would you remember I had Carter Bryant fifth on my board last year. He fell all the way down. Oh, absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 37:55

Yeah, I I think he I thought he was one of the best defensive prospects in the draft. I mean, like he's he's proven that he can do it at both ends, so yeah. This is a wild bracket. I think it's gonna be a fun playoffs. We're just gonna have to wait and see what happens.

SPEAKER_00 38:09

Uh, two things before we go. What team do you think has the most to gain during this playoff uh season? And then what team do you think has the most to lose?

SPEAKER_01 38:20

Um the team that has the most to lose is the Knicks, in my opinion, regardless. Uh, the team that has the most to gain, I think, is Cleveland. Um, and I already covered that. I think Cleveland has, you know, if you're looking at their bracket, I think they can make noise just based off the fact that you're avoiding a Boston, you're avoiding a New York, you're avoiding those that juggernaut. And yes, you're playing Detroit, but Detroit, this is their first year. You know, you could easily knock them off in the second round if you if that backcourt of Mitchell and Harden plays well enough. So if Cleveland can make a run, they have a lot to gain. Like I said, with New York, if you lose early, panic moves, chaos, it's New York trying to win now. Um, and yeah, I I think those would be my two picks. What about you?

SPEAKER_00 39:05

I think for me, the team I think that kind of has the most to gain is Detroit in a weird way, because even though the number one C, you know, Cain was out, I I still think they're being underrated. Like, I think if we were to rank the top two, they'd probably go four. So I think if they could even get to a conference finals and prove to everybody, oh, this was legit in a way, I think they have a lot to gain. Because even myself, like, I don't think they have enough top score offense. But hey, like, who knows? Like, they they could surprise a lot of people. Um, a team that has a lot to lose, I actually picked Cleveland in a way because I think if they okay, if yeah, only because the same situation with uh the Knicks, like I think if they do lose it early, like panic moves, like Harden's a free agent. Like, do I really want to bring Harden back? Is Mitchell like I think Mitchell didn't pick up that's true, you know what I mean? That's true. Is that a Mobley Jared Allen work? Is LeBron coming back next year? Like, there's just so many better things like I could see them see them as well. But I think the safe teams are like the Celtics, the Raptors.

SPEAKER_01 40:11

Yeah, you know what I mean. Boston exceeded Boston exceeded everybody.

SPEAKER_00 40:16

Who would you have the favorite coming up the East Boston right now? Or you still got New York?

SPEAKER_01 40:24

I'm not there with Boston yet. I'm just not. Um, I'm just not there. I don't know. I I like I like either I like Cleveland a lot, honestly. Like if they can pull it together, I just like them a lot because again, inexperienced Toronto, inexperienced Detroit, and you're either getting New York or Boston, which I think both of those matchups are manageable. I like their chances. Um, I obviously do, I obviously want to root for my championship pick. I do think they could knock off Boston if Boston's not ready. I don't know. I just like Cleveland. I I don't know why.

SPEAKER_00 41:02

Yeah, no, I mean that that's a good pick. I don't think there's like a wrong answer either. Like, I feel like for me, I would probably still pick I I would probably pick Boston only because I like the type of shots they take, but like as we saw last year, like you live and die with a three. Um, but I've just been so impressed with what Jalen Brown has done this year and the type of rim pressure he puts on the rim. Like, he's been absolutely phenomenal. And I just like his shot selection better than like a team like Cleveland, where it's like, okay, we're down 15 or we're down 10, Donovan Mitchell just jacking up all the three. You know what I mean? But it's all variance from him. So I do like, like to your point, I do like the Knicks' psychological advantage over Boston because I know Tatum's back, but he did tear his Achilles in Madison's first. I know he played last week, but there is something like every time he steps on this court, especially if they match up again in games three or four, they will be on the road. It's like, oh, remember this? Like, there is something there.

SPEAKER_01 42:04

Yeah, it's like same, same situation. Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_00 42:08

So I'm excited. Yeah, I'm excited. It is playoff basketball.

SPEAKER_01 42:14

Indeed.

SPEAKER_00 42:15

You got anything else?

SPEAKER_01 42:17

Um, I don't think so. Good questions. I think it'll be it's gonna be a fun bracket. We'll have to you know keep checking back in to see what happens.

SPEAKER_00 42:24

Yeah, I think we're we'll do another pod when we find out the 1-8 and 2-7 matchups. But yeah, guys, uh let us know in the comments who you guys got winning the championship, your favorite team, are they in the playoffs? Um, let us know your favorite things going around the league right now. Uh, appreciate you guys for listening and peace and stay safe.