1 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:24,519 What is a fellow thermonuclear a efforts. I am Dana Valley dropping another NBA 2 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:28,679 team look ahead for twenty two twenty three, we are onto the Boston Celtics, 3 00:00:28,679 --> 00:00:31,839 which means if you listen to this podcast before you know that, I'm 4 00:00:31,839 --> 00:00:37,200 gonna talk to Alex Kungu, fantastic NBA follow Follow him on Twitter at Kungu 5 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:41,600 Underscore NBA. That's at k U n g U Underscore NBA. He does 6 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:45,240 a great job talking and covering not just the Celtics but the entire league. 7 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:48,520 He's very insightful when he does decide to post his takes on Twitter, so 8 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:53,119 I appreciate him always taking the time to speak with me. One of my 9 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:55,960 many questions for this podcast, though, Alex, and the most important one, 10 00:00:56,320 --> 00:01:00,200 how the heck are you doing doing well? Man? Doing well? 11 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:06,519 Can't complain, I'll circumstances the side. It's been good to have two preseason 12 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:12,439 games against the Hornets, I'll say that, yeah, to shave more of 13 00:01:12,519 --> 00:01:19,120 those games will come against that we'll come against. So I think the place 14 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:22,480 to start is just do you have any thoughts that you wanted to convey about 15 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:27,799 the Yoka suspension situation? And then the decision to name Joe Mazul as the 16 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:33,280 interim head coach. H yeah, I mean it was obviously, like everyone 17 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:36,799 else, was pretty crazy to just see that kind of just build like a 18 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:44,000 week before the preseason. I think this year is probably not the year it's 19 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:46,680 gonna in affect him. Really, It'll be next year to see what you 20 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:49,200 do what you DOOKA staff is gonna work, Yoka staff is gonna go. 21 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:55,200 I know, guys like Damons Dodomar, Ben Sullivan, Aaron Miles, Tony 22 00:01:55,280 --> 00:02:00,519 Dobbins all have very high ranks around the league. Brad immediately came out and 23 00:02:00,799 --> 00:02:05,879 hired Joe Mazula, who who just mentioned who was you know, the one 24 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:10,719 the one member from his coaching staff that that remains he stayed there. You 25 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:15,120 don't go hide a whole new team now, you don't gone. And Brad 26 00:02:15,199 --> 00:02:17,719 put appoints him as a coach. So I don't know what that means for 27 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:23,599 the rest of the assistance and they'll stay. But I think those contributions next 28 00:02:23,599 --> 00:02:25,599 to and stuff like that, I think that's where we'll really start to see 29 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:29,919 the impact because right now there's still a lot of familiarity in the coaching staff. 30 00:02:30,199 --> 00:02:34,479 Place. But as as as for Judoka, you know, I don't 31 00:02:34,479 --> 00:02:37,120 know. I don't know, Like like everyone else, we don't know. 32 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:42,159 So just hoping that the people that were affected by that are in a better 33 00:02:42,199 --> 00:02:45,759 place. And it's already to really say about it. Yeah, that is 34 00:02:45,759 --> 00:02:50,039 all you can say. And we actually rescheduled this because we we're gonna record 35 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:53,039 like the day after that the suspension came down, and it was I think 36 00:02:53,039 --> 00:02:55,719 he only takes to really because we still don't know the full details, and 37 00:02:55,719 --> 00:02:59,319 I don't know that we shouldn't because that involves giving people's names out, and 38 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:02,199 as we saw, speculation on Twitter is already bad when we don't know who 39 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:07,960 it is. I can't imagine that the female employee involved she faced more harassment. 40 00:03:07,319 --> 00:03:12,280 But so there was just the responsive there was irresponsible reporting in the way 41 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:15,439 that things were framed as well, went from you know, the power dynamic 42 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:20,080 was potential, power dynamic was ignored to it was consensual to allegedly consensual. 43 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:22,800 So that stuff is tough to grapple. And I think the one thing that 44 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:28,080 you can maybe analyze is it feels like the Celtics don't or don't expect, 45 00:03:28,159 --> 00:03:30,680 don't want him or don't expect him to come back. How do you suspend 46 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:32,400 someone for a year and just think this is going to blow over? And 47 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:37,599 then there's the reporting that they support other teams that want to inquire about him. 48 00:03:37,639 --> 00:03:39,759 Feels very much like we don't expect this guy to be back, but 49 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:43,479 we're trying to figure out if we have grounds to fire him just yet. 50 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:47,759 Yeah, that's my doubt that that's mine. This would take too just to 51 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:52,039 not fire him, but then to still be leaking out. I think even 52 00:03:52,039 --> 00:03:55,319 Wilds reported that they were open to teams who wanted to maybe interview him or 53 00:03:55,319 --> 00:03:59,360 get more information about it. So if you're doing stuff like that, you 54 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:01,840 know that's a guy that you plan on keeping. And so I agree with 55 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:05,439 you on the continuity, I guess just only does it become something that is 56 00:04:05,479 --> 00:04:11,960 a distraction just in general, becomes a bigger storyline sometime there is actual basketball, 57 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:15,719 lots of basketball questions to talk about with this team, and I'd be 58 00:04:15,719 --> 00:04:17,720 remissed though if I didn't ask you since we haven't spoken. Is there just 59 00:04:17,759 --> 00:04:23,920 sort of any arcing themes concerned sentiments you have from their finals loss to the 60 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:29,480 Warriors that are sticking with you entering the regular season this year, I would 61 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:34,240 say just a general feeling of like it takes it's very hard yet to the 62 00:04:34,319 --> 00:04:38,079 final it's a lot of still has to go your way and you don't know 63 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:42,240 if you're ever going to be back. So it's it's more of that feeling. 64 00:04:42,399 --> 00:04:45,319 But I do feel like, you know, the way the season progressed 65 00:04:45,319 --> 00:04:47,279 and how they played, it did look like they just ran out of gas 66 00:04:47,319 --> 00:04:50,079 at the end, and that's understandable. I mean, in large part of 67 00:04:50,079 --> 00:04:54,680 it was their fault for you know, sucking for sixty percent of the regular 68 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:59,040 season and then having to go as hard as they had to go to get 69 00:04:59,079 --> 00:05:01,680 to that seating. So that's when you send the something that they can learn 70 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:04,360 and take from. But you know, there's no promise out that we get 71 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:08,199 back, and that's probably like the hardest point. It's like, you had 72 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:12,319 a really great run, you beat a lot of very hard teams that I 73 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:15,480 don't know if you could, if anyone could repeat that again. So you 74 00:05:15,519 --> 00:05:18,839 know, things have to go your way and maybe they don't go their way 75 00:05:18,879 --> 00:05:24,120 again. So that's so that's probably the biggest thing I have that tis in 76 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:26,800 the back of my mind too now, even more so than ever, because 77 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:29,199 I think there would be a tendency to look at the Jay's and say, 78 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:31,120 well, they could be here for a while. And the windows in the 79 00:05:31,199 --> 00:05:34,600 NBA have just been closing so quickly lately, and the fact that they went 80 00:05:34,639 --> 00:05:39,360 to the finals, it's like, might they not never get but they'll be 81 00:05:39,399 --> 00:05:42,480 in a conversation, but look how robust the East looks this year. And 82 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:45,240 so that stuck with me too. Whereas we have a tendency to think these 83 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:48,519 younger cores will be around longer than they actually end up being around. We've 84 00:05:48,519 --> 00:05:51,160 just seen the NBA as a ship show when it comes to that stuff. 85 00:05:51,959 --> 00:05:55,360 Oh yeah, I think no one can, no one should be able to 86 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:58,279 project that side of their team more than three to four years. Yeah, 87 00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:00,240 that's just really how it is in this league. Now, I be ambitious 88 00:06:00,319 --> 00:06:03,680 if you look at the Brooklyn Nets a little bit at me, Yeah, 89 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:08,720 honestly. So the other thing too, I can't remember. I think this 90 00:06:08,759 --> 00:06:11,480 came out before we were slated to record the first time. But Robert Williams 91 00:06:11,519 --> 00:06:14,480 goes from needs a second knee procedure and it's gonna be out four to six 92 00:06:14,519 --> 00:06:16,959 weeks to now eight to twelve is the expectation. How big of a deal 93 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:20,279 is this for the Celtics both during that span and they're kind of monitoring him 94 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:24,480 coming back. I mean, it's a hit, it's a huge deal, 95 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:28,040 you know, as as bron Wyn Horse says, it's most of the things 96 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:32,040 that matter surgery, and he's had two of them very and very very close 97 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:38,279 times, and that's a problem that's persisted him coming into the league with injuries 98 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:42,920 and staying healthy. So it's definitely concerning, you know, I think talent 99 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,160 wise, there's no question that, like when he's on the floor, like 100 00:06:46,199 --> 00:06:49,680 he's part of the core that you see going forward. It's just the problem 101 00:06:49,759 --> 00:06:55,240 is that, you know, the best skill is still availability, and right 102 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:59,160 now we don't know how available he's going to be. They said eight to 103 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:03,959 twelve until he's you know, getting ready to ramp up to begin massive activities. 104 00:07:04,199 --> 00:07:06,519 So chances are we're not going to see him in the year twenty twenty 105 00:07:06,519 --> 00:07:11,800 two and maybe not before the All Star break, and it's just going to 106 00:07:11,879 --> 00:07:15,680 be a question of like, is this something that is going to be continuously 107 00:07:15,959 --> 00:07:19,800 ongoing with him or not, but history suggests that it is. So that's 108 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:25,519 kind of concerning for someone that you know unlocks. I think the next unlocks. 109 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:28,800 The thing about their defense that makes it, you know, the nightmare 110 00:07:28,839 --> 00:07:32,759 that it is. And at the same time as like the real only really 111 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:38,600 like really really dangerous, like vertical spacing threat with that ability in passing that 112 00:07:38,639 --> 00:07:42,160 they have. So it's it's a lots on both ends of the court. 113 00:07:43,079 --> 00:07:46,240 And it is concerning because he does mean a lot to the team. So 114 00:07:46,639 --> 00:07:49,120 the dough I don't expect that being a big issue in the regular season. 115 00:07:49,839 --> 00:07:54,040 They should be able to hold a forth with the regular season, but it 116 00:07:54,079 --> 00:07:58,360 will be a difference in the playoffs. It'll be a difference maker when you 117 00:07:58,439 --> 00:08:01,360 look at that, so when you factor the Nila Gallanari injury, by the 118 00:08:01,399 --> 00:08:03,399 way, so that's just looming over all this he's out for the season with 119 00:08:03,439 --> 00:08:07,160 an ACL injury. I've heard a lot of rosy things being said about Luke 120 00:08:07,199 --> 00:08:11,120 Cornette and Sam Howser if you care to. My first question would be, 121 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,439 what are your hopes for those guys or do you think that they're fit to 122 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:18,360 play a bunch more minutes? And then does this team need to go out 123 00:08:18,399 --> 00:08:22,480 and get another front court body because there's okay, maybe you have guys you're 124 00:08:22,519 --> 00:08:24,920 roster that you like, but Al Horford's thirty six. How many minutes do 125 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:26,360 you want him playing? Do you want Grant Williams playing at the five? 126 00:08:26,639 --> 00:08:30,560 And so how do you envision them kind of sorting this all out at least 127 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:35,960 through that initial you know, twelve plus week period without RW three. I 128 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:37,879 mean it's gonna be hard. I mean they're gonna have to base there. 129 00:08:37,879 --> 00:08:43,159 I mean they have to play Luke. I'm assuming maybe Noah Bala might make 130 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:46,679 the team now, just you know, to add to add additional depths. 131 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:50,679 So maybe you have something I was all in on, Like, was that 132 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:52,159 twenty twenty when Noah was on the Knicks. Maybe it's twenty nineteen. I 133 00:08:52,159 --> 00:08:54,440 was all in on that version of no von Le So if we relat a 134 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:58,759 few years, I might like this. Yeah, he he just looks like 135 00:08:58,799 --> 00:09:01,120 he can play, you know what I mean. It's like, oh, 136 00:09:01,279 --> 00:09:03,279 look at him. He's so in shave. He just run up and down 137 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:07,440 the court. He can do something. But I mean it'll be hard. 138 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:11,639 I mean, they like Luke Cornette in a few minutes. He's played with 139 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:16,679 the with the Celtics last year. He seems to be some of that at 140 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:20,519 least position. He's he's positional sound and he's really big, so that's a 141 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:24,799 big part of the battle defensively. Offensively, I don't really know what his 142 00:09:24,919 --> 00:09:30,600 role is. He's not much of like a like a floor spacer. They're 143 00:09:30,639 --> 00:09:31,919 not gonna have I don't think they're gonna be picking them popping him in the 144 00:09:31,919 --> 00:09:35,399 mid range. And I mean, we'll see how he is, but he 145 00:09:35,399 --> 00:09:39,320 could just be like a hard roller type of guy. So it's limited, 146 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:43,799 it's it's it's limiting. I can see them getting creative, maybe having some 147 00:09:43,879 --> 00:09:48,480 more grants at the five Luke for as long as they can whatever whatever time 148 00:09:50,519 --> 00:09:54,000 out the same way, and you just have to you know, put together 149 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:58,200 like a ragtag crew, like I think you can do stuff like pairing maybe 150 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:01,679 a guy like Noah Bondley with the Jay's and Brogden and stuff like that, 151 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:05,120 just so you know, even when you're kind of like playing big or less 152 00:10:05,159 --> 00:10:09,279 talent, there's like so much trying talent with them, and they just they 153 00:10:09,279 --> 00:10:13,360 are able to place a more like limited role. But it'll be a lot 154 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:16,039 of bandaging until Rob gets back. But you know, that's that that's a 155 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:20,440 choice that they made for not going after I'm sorry Blake Griffin too. He'll 156 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:28,120 got about him second. Yeah, so he'll be another guy in there getting 157 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:31,120 whatever minutes he can handle too. But I definitely think it's going to be 158 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:35,240 a bi committee, by matchup type of deal. I am semi intrigued by 159 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:39,080 FIANDU Cavin Gelly just feels like a shot of adrenaline when you watch him. 160 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:41,600 But I'm just like, once we get to that point, I'm just you're 161 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:45,399 right, it's gonna be by committee, and so I hope I'm here for 162 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:48,120 the Noa von la resurgence. Although it might be a startup, when you 163 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:52,039 look at the rest of how his career has panned out, it's kind of 164 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:56,480 I think it speaks to how wonky an off season the Celtics had that it 165 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:58,360 took me this long to get to Malcolm Brogden. But how do you feel 166 00:10:58,399 --> 00:11:01,720 about that trade now that we've had a few months go by, and then 167 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:07,360 what do you just think about his overarching fit on the team. I think 168 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:09,360 it's actually scary how well he pissed on the team. I feel like, 169 00:11:09,519 --> 00:11:13,600 almost as a fan, i feel like I'm almost like a picture picture no 170 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:16,120 hitter. I just don't want to say anything, you know what I mean, 171 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:20,519 Like you just don't want to jinx it because he's becoming even with the 172 00:11:20,519 --> 00:11:24,360 way he looks like in the and just in the preseason, the way he's 173 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:28,399 just a connector that he can just move the ball, have somebody else I 174 00:11:28,399 --> 00:11:31,519 can do that type of stuff, push the pace. He just looks like 175 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:35,120 such a seamless fit. And it's just like, man, like, how 176 00:11:35,159 --> 00:11:37,080 are they going to survive the thirty five forty games that they're probably gonna have 177 00:11:37,159 --> 00:11:43,519 to survive without him now? Because he seems very solidified so basketball wise, 178 00:11:43,519 --> 00:11:46,960 like you see the fit, you could see him even being closing lineups even 179 00:11:46,039 --> 00:11:52,080 with a healthy Rob and which is saying something. He could probably be in 180 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:54,960 the starting lineup, but they're probably trying to like space out the talent, 181 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:58,000 which is why he's not starting. I would assume that, man, he 182 00:11:58,039 --> 00:12:01,480 looks every bit. He hasn't been shooting well in the preseason, but he's 183 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:05,440 taking the right type of shots. He's creating a lot of open shoft especially 184 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:09,960 for Sam Houser. So he's just a guy that's he's fitting in vary seems 185 00:12:11,039 --> 00:12:13,960 like as advertised, It's just it's just a matter of how important does he 186 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:18,279 get and how much does that start to matter when you start to factor in 187 00:12:18,399 --> 00:12:22,679 his injury history? Unfortunately, Yeah, that's true. They have to factor 188 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:26,639 that as well. Do you think just between him and Derek White that they 189 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:31,600 now sort of have now Gallows gone, Do they have enough like tertiary creation 190 00:12:31,759 --> 00:12:35,519 to be a more dangerous playoff offense where maybe they don't have to rely on 191 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:39,360 Jason Tatum as much. I mean, they're sure hoping, Like I mean, 192 00:12:39,399 --> 00:12:43,879 if Braddon can make it to the playoffs and he's healthy, then yes, 193 00:12:43,639 --> 00:12:48,120 I'd say yes. If he doesn't, it's a it's a toss up, 194 00:12:48,159 --> 00:12:52,440 like maybe maybe Sam Houser takes this step, you know what I mean, 195 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:56,039 maybe something like like maybe someone else is not on the roster right now 196 00:12:56,159 --> 00:12:58,480 or something like that steps up. But it would be like something like that 197 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:03,039 right now. I think the paths without answer being yes and Ribbing being healthy 198 00:13:03,039 --> 00:13:05,240 for the playoffs, he's the one that He's the one that takes it. 199 00:13:05,639 --> 00:13:09,240 He definitely is better suited for that than Derek White because he's historically been a 200 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:13,600 more reliable shooter, even tho I think Derek White is definitely more disruptive on 201 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:16,879 defense. Is there also still an element. You and I have talked about 202 00:13:16,879 --> 00:13:18,399 this so many times at this point, neither of us fall on the side 203 00:13:18,399 --> 00:13:22,000 of the fence that Jalen Brown is this super robotic player, But there's still 204 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:30,120 sort of a huge chunk of Boston's fate that hinges on him still progressing as 205 00:13:30,159 --> 00:13:31,679 an offensive player. Where Yeah, we've seen him hit step backs, it's 206 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:35,519 he shot like a really high clip on step backs last year. He's got 207 00:13:35,519 --> 00:13:37,799 a really high clip on turnaround jumpers. I think that stuff's valuable, But 208 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:41,039 does is the next frontier for him doing more as a passer, maybe some 209 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:46,679 more methodical initiation for the offense involving others or is this kind of no, 210 00:13:46,759 --> 00:13:50,759 If we're gonna get there, it's gonna be because of we either get other 211 00:13:50,759 --> 00:13:54,000 players or it's because of these other players by committee. Dang. I hate 212 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:56,960 to bring it back to bribing. I think a lot of that depends on 213 00:13:56,039 --> 00:14:00,480 him too, because you have a healthy bribing going in some player. He's 214 00:14:00,519 --> 00:14:05,720 gonna be a big time but play handler, ball handler, playmaker, so 215 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:09,320 you could probably you're probably gonna want to have Jalen plan off of him more 216 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:13,320 often. But if you don't have a guy like like Brogden or some of 217 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:16,440 the big playmakers, and yeah, you are gonna need your you know, 218 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:18,000 like your second best player, a guy that might take the most on your 219 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:22,440 team to make somebody else better. You know, that is going to be 220 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:26,600 important. And we did see during the playoffs there were stretches where even when 221 00:14:26,639 --> 00:14:31,080 he was having like good performances and good nights and stuff like that, it 222 00:14:31,159 --> 00:14:33,759 was just him. And the reason why I it's like that because he isn't 223 00:14:33,799 --> 00:14:37,919 really creating for others. That's that's something that he wants to start doing and 224 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:41,200 he sees himself as someone that can do that, and I think for his 225 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:46,080 personal development maybe outside of the Celtics, that's something that he should still want 226 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:48,840 to, you know, pursue if he wants to be like a number one 227 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:54,559 at some point in his career. But right now, that's still the hardest 228 00:14:54,639 --> 00:14:56,600 jump in Basso want to make. And it would be crazy to sit there 229 00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:58,559 and say, after like six seven years, oh yeah, that guy's just 230 00:14:58,639 --> 00:15:01,600 gonna pick or that one out. He could because because that stuff you learned 231 00:15:01,639 --> 00:15:05,600 later and learn in your career. But it's not something I could like with 232 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:09,279 like oh yeah, that stuff mixed up it's not like scoring and things. 233 00:15:09,279 --> 00:15:13,559 If you just get in the lab and practice the movements, like that's field 234 00:15:13,679 --> 00:15:18,320 that's knowing the game. So it'll we'll see. But I do think if 235 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:22,440 they go into playoffs Skinny without Brog, then without some of their other playmakers, 236 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:26,240 they are going to need Jayalen to make that type of leave. Do 237 00:15:26,279 --> 00:15:30,120 you think even though his even his scoring offense is kind of misperceived, maybe 238 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:33,080 if it's even nationally where I think a lot of people still view him as 239 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:37,480 just a driver and shooter. And this is someone who we shot fifty on 240 00:15:37,519 --> 00:15:41,240 turnaround jumpers last year seventeen or forty one on step back threes. I'm not 241 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:46,000 saying I'm not saying he's your best bailout option, but his bet his offensive 242 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:48,399 armory, I still feel like it's a lot deeper, deeper than people are 243 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:54,879 crediting him for. Or do you think like I'm just overstating man, No, 244 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:58,200 I'm sorry, my dog no good. We love dogs on this podcast. 245 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:03,639 No, I would say that you're absolutely correct, like he has turned 246 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:07,080 himself from maybe more of like what he started in the league with, like 247 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:10,039 a stationary three and D, which I like to remind people so did so 248 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:11,879 did so did Jason Tatum. When he first came and started starting, he 249 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:17,080 was not creating at that type of level. It was spacing the floor three 250 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:21,480 and D. And I think Jalen has progressively grown and add and added to 251 00:16:21,519 --> 00:16:25,679 his game where like he is a complete self creator now and when he plays 252 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:26,720 off the ball, it's like for the better of the team and it's not 253 00:16:26,799 --> 00:16:30,799 something that he needs to get his points. So I think, even going 254 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:34,279 back to your playmaking question, a lot of that is a balance that he 255 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:41,080 has to strike knowing that, yes, I do have this capability to create 256 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:45,080 for myself to be to be like an engine for an offense and spurts. 257 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:51,960 But is that the best for the Boston Celtics right now? Or should I 258 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:55,600 be looking to get Luke Cornett engaged who hasn't touched the ball in a little 259 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:56,679 bit, And let me try to get this guy in touch as well. 260 00:16:56,840 --> 00:17:00,360 I mean, and let me make this extra pass here even though I'm open, 261 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:03,000 it's a good shot for me, just so Grant can take that shot 262 00:17:03,039 --> 00:17:07,480 and feel good about himself that level of thinking the game like at on that 263 00:17:07,599 --> 00:17:11,119 level of the playmaker, I don't necessarily see it, but I don't necessarily 264 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:15,279 think that's a problem on this team because he is such a talented offensive player 265 00:17:15,519 --> 00:17:21,240 and it do have so many so much playmaking that I would still probably be 266 00:17:21,279 --> 00:17:25,880 okay if he just moved off ball, and I could easy to see him 267 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:29,559 taking like an off ball role and just playing playing off these guys, and 268 00:17:29,599 --> 00:17:32,680 he would still be able to get his twenty plus. So ideally, I 269 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:36,920 think the team is set up for him to kind of do that, and 270 00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:41,680 there's a there's less pressure for him to turn to playmaker, even because of 271 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:45,640 the fact that he has grown so much as an offensive player. Do you 272 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:52,359 glean anything profound from Boston's involvement of the Kevin Durant pursuit or is it just 273 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:56,160 like, oh, was Kevin fucking Durant and so we were involved. I 274 00:17:56,200 --> 00:18:00,319 mean, I don't know, right, because I mean it clearly to a 275 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:03,200 level where, I mean everyone knew that, everyone else was talking about it, 276 00:18:03,279 --> 00:18:07,680 but nobody else had a report out where it was like Jaylen Brown, 277 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:10,920 Derek White, first round pick, you know what I mean, Like, 278 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:15,160 there's no one. There's not many other teams that were that I were as 279 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:19,720 good as the Celtics that had that type of level of offer like out there 280 00:18:19,759 --> 00:18:25,039 publicly, even though we heard Miami raps as all those people, all of 281 00:18:25,039 --> 00:18:32,119 them had leveling interest. So in my in my opinion, I don't really 282 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:34,799 know, it seemed like it had maybe upset Jalen. No one asked Theeric 283 00:18:34,839 --> 00:18:37,039 White for there White, no one asked him how he felt about this. 284 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:41,160 I thought of many being in trade rumors, but I think as of right 285 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:44,279 now, from what we're sitting on the court and what people have talked about, 286 00:18:44,319 --> 00:18:49,279 at least publicly, there wasn't. I don't. I don't think anything 287 00:18:49,319 --> 00:18:52,920 will come with it. I think Kevin is okay and understands the landscape, 288 00:18:53,319 --> 00:18:59,039 and I means the season started now right so, and I think because of 289 00:18:59,079 --> 00:19:02,599 the other news that happen, it kind of took away from that as well, 290 00:19:03,359 --> 00:19:07,440 regarding Emay, So it could have been maybe something that stuff always had 291 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:11,359 the possibility maybe come up again when it comes back to contract extension time and 292 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:15,599 maybe like we saw that in Utah of Gordon Hayward and in a little bit 293 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:19,319 of different circumstances when they made him go out and get his deal. It's 294 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:22,599 not that it impacted him going for those next four years, but he remembered 295 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:26,400 that when it came time to the free agency. So maybe for Jalen that 296 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:30,359 means, hey, I'm making all NBA teams did not expect to get a 297 00:19:30,839 --> 00:19:33,680 to get any type of discount for me. You know, you clearly show 298 00:19:33,759 --> 00:19:36,599 me you would trade me. So yeah, I need, I need the 299 00:19:36,599 --> 00:19:40,240 max contracts. Maybe that's where where where it actually impact the Celtics on the 300 00:19:40,279 --> 00:19:42,880 line. Yeah, And that's just what I was thinking, especially because there's 301 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:48,279 gonna be time for the speculation to fester because we know Jalen Brown is not 302 00:19:48,279 --> 00:19:51,480 going to sign an extension because the CAP's going up and you can't even get 303 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:53,880 to his max by extending him off his current number. And that's what I'm 304 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:56,599 just because he was so Yeah, the other the rest of the offer wasn't 305 00:19:56,599 --> 00:20:00,240 necessarily thrown out there, but it was just so like free we've flown around 306 00:20:00,319 --> 00:20:04,039 and you know, WOES isn't necessarily writing that stuff unless it's like those dialogues 307 00:20:04,079 --> 00:20:07,759 have been happening. No matter how you feel about, we'll just reporting. 308 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:11,920 And so I understand players understand that it's a business. But if I'm Jalen 309 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:15,440 Brown just coming off the finals and hear my name mentioned in rumors this summer. 310 00:20:15,519 --> 00:20:18,759 It's just it. It impacts me a little bit differently. But I'm 311 00:20:18,759 --> 00:20:21,440 just soft and probably can't play like I don't have a thick enough skin for 312 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:23,240 it. Maybe, But that's what I what you outlaid towards the end is 313 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:27,519 exactly what I was thinking. Yeah, yeah, so, I mean it'll 314 00:20:27,519 --> 00:20:30,240 see, it will be something. And I mean if if if you're the 315 00:20:30,279 --> 00:20:34,599 Celtics and like you did actually have a chance of the rant and you stopped 316 00:20:34,599 --> 00:20:37,839 it at like Jailan or whatever, you really can't like you have to go 317 00:20:38,039 --> 00:20:41,319 all in on Jalen. Yeah. Now, like you can't sit there and 318 00:20:41,359 --> 00:20:44,400 then go, oh, well, you know, I don't want to pay 319 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:47,000 you this and this if like you you said no to Kevin dur and you 320 00:20:47,039 --> 00:20:49,160 said no, why you know what I mean, Like you cannot can Like 321 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:52,759 you have to pay him. You have to. You have to. You 322 00:20:52,799 --> 00:20:57,519 have to be comfortable about uh, do you Jalentatum Galentatum? Wow, Jason 323 00:20:57,559 --> 00:21:07,359 Tatum had a Yeah, Jayson Tatum had a rough NBA Finals. Do you 324 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:11,079 actually take anything like consequential away from that or was this very much just sort 325 00:21:11,079 --> 00:21:15,200 of like a young superstar first taste of the Finals. There was definitely some 326 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:18,400 of the things he shots, he passed up at points, some of his 327 00:21:18,559 --> 00:21:22,319 finishing was all over the place. Is this just like getting his first taste 328 00:21:22,319 --> 00:21:26,200 of finals basketball, also against a Warrior's defense that was hillacious and totally geared 329 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:30,880 towards just making his life absolute Hell? I mean yeah, I mean I 330 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:34,319 think there's been like a historical like blueprint of like some of like the young 331 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:41,440 stars coming in against great dynasty teams. Lebron compared himself to Tatum's experience the 332 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:45,000 summer, So I think there's I think there's definitely I think there's definitely an 333 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:51,640 element of, yeah, this was like, you did not play well at 334 00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:53,720 all. But I think in the grand scheme of things for him in his 335 00:21:53,799 --> 00:21:57,480 career, I still think they were they were really gassed, and they were 336 00:21:57,599 --> 00:22:02,160 playing a team that you knew what they knew what to do, knew how 337 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:03,480 to play. And he was going against the guy that, you know, 338 00:22:03,759 --> 00:22:08,839 a wing with very great length and Andrew Wiggins, who also wasn't being asked 339 00:22:08,839 --> 00:22:11,400 and carried the same offensive burden. So it wasn't the kind of the samest 340 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:15,279 playing against Kevin Durant where it's like, yeah, even I'm defending you, 341 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:18,440 like we're both carrying so much for our team. Like it kind of evens 342 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:22,480 out with Wiggins, like his job is just shut down Katie and play off 343 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:26,759 my team, right, And that's hard because he's a really good defender too. 344 00:22:26,839 --> 00:22:30,640 So I think the Warriors didn't really great. They played him extremely well. 345 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:34,400 But I think for Tatum Hill ultimately, like look at that as just 346 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:38,640 a learning curve for his next for his next step. And do you buy 347 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:42,640 into the playmaking jump because when you go back and watch Jason Thames passing from 348 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:47,759 last year, my fucking god, man, he it feels like he was 349 00:22:47,839 --> 00:22:49,880 materially different and a lot of the passes he were throwing were just so much 350 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:53,920 more complicated and difficult than he wasn't an even years past. And it's been 351 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:57,000 probably like a linear progression too. I think we've talked about how he's kind 352 00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:00,880 of improved incre mentally and passed you and so I'm fully on board it. 353 00:23:02,039 --> 00:23:06,039 And if this is someone who then like takes it to the next level if 354 00:23:06,039 --> 00:23:07,440 he needs to, who knows if the Celtics need him through this season when 355 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:11,400 you have a Broadden coming in, you have a full season of Derek White, 356 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:15,839 not to mention Marcus Martin Jaylen Brown as well. This is very much 357 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:21,519 someone to me who may have entrenched himself in that MVP tier of Superstar. 358 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:23,960 Yeah, I mean, I think that was like the last friends here for 359 00:23:25,039 --> 00:23:27,440 him and some elected. The differentiator between him and some of the best creators 360 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:30,880 in the league is how well they were able to create for their team and 361 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:36,000 how they could easily go into seven and tennis is a game, and I 362 00:23:36,039 --> 00:23:40,279 think we started to see that understanding Potatum, learning how to leverage his gravity, 363 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:44,079 learning where his reads are. I think as a year went on, 364 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:48,160 he actually even got more accurate with his passes where at first he was. 365 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:49,720 He has been able to make the read a long time in his career, 366 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:53,440 but there's so much more to making the read, like knowing the timing down, 367 00:23:53,799 --> 00:23:57,039 knowing getting it in the shooting pocket every time, and different guys at 368 00:23:57,079 --> 00:24:00,880 different kind of levels where they liked to touch the b and you could even 369 00:24:00,880 --> 00:24:06,759 see on something that's passed like look some of the system picture versus Grant versus 370 00:24:06,839 --> 00:24:10,960 al. You're seeing a guy that's understanding like his teammates and where his teammates 371 00:24:11,039 --> 00:24:12,920 like like to shoot it, like to shoot it and like to get the 372 00:24:12,960 --> 00:24:17,960 ball as well. So for me, I don't that's not like shooting for 373 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:18,880 me, I don't know. I don't know, that's something that just falls 374 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:22,480 off or comes ebbs and flows, because that that's a read and understanding of 375 00:24:22,519 --> 00:24:26,319 the game that you can make. You might not always get tennis, it's 376 00:24:26,319 --> 00:24:27,519 a game, but you can always make that read. You always know where 377 00:24:27,559 --> 00:24:33,559 that read is. So I think his passing leap was real, and I 378 00:24:33,559 --> 00:24:37,720 would adventure even as far as say, I think even with the extended playmaking 379 00:24:37,759 --> 00:24:41,400 that they have on the team now, I think he's still going to see 380 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:44,359 the ball of fair fair bit amount. And I really expect him to be 381 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:48,400 in the in the five to eight assists per game range this year. And 382 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:52,400 I have a couple of triple doubles on on on on him this year. 383 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:56,400 Triple doubles, how do you have one? Last year? I can't remember. 384 00:24:57,799 --> 00:25:00,200 I think he's had winners and in his whole career, and it was 385 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:03,839 it was pretty weak, like he wasn't in control of the game. He 386 00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:06,480 just he fell into that. So this one, I want to see him 387 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:10,480 actually control of the game, actually get it. When you step back and 388 00:25:10,519 --> 00:25:15,240 look at this roster. Is there a concern that you have aside from you 389 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:18,319 know, RW three's health and maybe even we talked to the front court rotation 390 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:22,680 that you don't think is receiving enough attention. I would say the overall health 391 00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:29,079 of the team just being great consideration. You touched on Robert Williams, We 392 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:33,240 touched on Al Horford. Who's who's thirty six right? Marcus Smart misses a 393 00:25:33,279 --> 00:25:36,839 lot of games. Malcolm brogg Man, we talked about missing a lot of 394 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:40,359 games the past two years. Jaylen Brown has missed, you know, at 395 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:44,920 least more than ten games himself. Blake Griffin is pretty old. I don't 396 00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:48,279 think he'll be able to He's not a guy that you're expecting to play all 397 00:25:48,359 --> 00:25:52,839 eighty two. That's like half our rotation right there, that has some type 398 00:25:52,839 --> 00:26:00,119 of varying, varying injury concerns, So that staying together and being okay for 399 00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:03,440 a full season, I don't know. At some point, you know, 400 00:26:03,440 --> 00:26:06,039 there's gonna be a time where I think Payton Pritcher is gonna start at point 401 00:26:06,079 --> 00:26:08,000 guard. It's how I feel like at some point of the year. So 402 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:12,839 I think I think injuries could be the thing that you know, makes or 403 00:26:12,839 --> 00:26:18,119 break. This makes or break this team ceiling, and I don't think I 404 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:21,519 think people see it from like the raw perspective in the Brock then I don't 405 00:26:21,519 --> 00:26:25,839 think people realize like it's a it's it's across the team that there's at every 406 00:26:25,839 --> 00:26:30,400 position there's like someone that has had some type of recurring injury that that has 407 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:34,160 required rest and who knows, Like you don't always get the time your injuries. 408 00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:37,440 If you have smart em Brogman, I would at the same time, 409 00:26:37,799 --> 00:26:41,720 like I was saying, suddenly like your backup point guard is JD. Davidson, 410 00:26:41,599 --> 00:26:45,039 things can happen like that, So that would be that that would be 411 00:26:45,079 --> 00:26:48,680 my biggest concern right now. And also it's just Al Hoover being thirty six 412 00:26:48,759 --> 00:26:52,440 too, and he's I think he's at twenty nine minutes last year, and 413 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:55,160 I just wonder early on if that number is going to have to be ticked 414 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:59,640 up because of our W three not being there. I hope not. I 415 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:02,400 mean, they like Luke Cornett, so we'll see. Yeah, what is 416 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:04,920 Brad Stephen's fascination was Luke Cornette. He's like loved him since the Dawn of 417 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:10,880 time man one of his only LIFs. I guess he just likes very fundamental 418 00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:14,079 basketball. And you know it's funny though, because the video he liked that 419 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:17,559 Luke Cornette was not fundamental basketball. It was him trying to break down guys 420 00:27:17,559 --> 00:27:22,720 off the dribble and it looked like a Summer twenty four seven gem or something 421 00:27:22,759 --> 00:27:25,680 like that. So that was that was very interesting. Maybe he just likes 422 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:27,400 Luke. You know, guys have guys that they stand, maybe Brady, 423 00:27:27,519 --> 00:27:32,799 maybe Brad is a is a Luke Cornette stand somewhere. So we should expect 424 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:37,400 to see Luke Cornette grabbing, go run the floor, run the offense based 425 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:40,440 off that liked video. That's all I'm That's all I'm understanding. I mean, 426 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:42,880 that's all we can take from it. Honestly, are there any does 427 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:47,960 this team have any underrated strengths or even hidden gems on the roster that you 428 00:27:47,960 --> 00:27:52,680 don't think you're receiving enough attention heading into the season. M everyone has the 429 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:55,720 same Howzard point now and I think everyone has kind of seen him a little 430 00:27:55,759 --> 00:27:59,240 bit, but you know, I don't not all your listeners are locked in 431 00:27:59,279 --> 00:28:03,599 the Celtics Twitter. So Sam, how there's is a shutter that they got 432 00:28:03,799 --> 00:28:07,400 last year? Undrafted actually stole him from from the mind heat. It was 433 00:28:07,519 --> 00:28:11,680 those who were competing for his services. He played. He played a man 434 00:28:11,759 --> 00:28:15,039 a little bit that did really well, got a two way and last year 435 00:28:15,079 --> 00:28:22,119 before the year ended, they gave him his his his full contracts. He's 436 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:27,480 a sniper like legitimately, whether there's NBA length on him, no NBA length, 437 00:28:27,559 --> 00:28:32,759 like lights out type of god, the type of guy that you know 438 00:28:33,079 --> 00:28:37,319 gives you like little remnants of like how Korb a little bit, just like 439 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:41,400 his size and like the way he plays and stuff like that. So that 440 00:28:41,519 --> 00:28:45,680 type of shooting has never really existed with the Celtics core, with the Jay's 441 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:49,039 especially now like now, the type of playmakers that they have on the team, 442 00:28:49,359 --> 00:28:52,759 the fact that they're at this age now or like they're kind of ready 443 00:28:52,759 --> 00:28:56,200 to win and see it having a guy like that that can just prate so 444 00:28:56,279 --> 00:29:00,200 much gravity just from moving around conflict like that. I'm very interest to see 445 00:29:00,200 --> 00:29:04,480 what type of what type of what type of like spacing and stuff like that 446 00:29:04,480 --> 00:29:08,839 that that opens up for them. So I think I think I think Sam 447 00:29:08,839 --> 00:29:12,839 Houser is probably like Uno. Honestly, I also think Payin Pritchard is too. 448 00:29:14,279 --> 00:29:15,960 I know he's very behind on the depth chart, but he's a hooper 449 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:21,039 man like, he can really really play. He shoots well, he's fearless. 450 00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:23,119 He's a good point of attack defender, even though he's not versus hound 451 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:27,119 due to his guide if he handles two yes, and he's very shifty, 452 00:29:27,279 --> 00:29:32,000 very very like kind of explosive within his moves. I just think he's a 453 00:29:32,039 --> 00:29:36,279 guy that playing around the type of talent Sultans have coming into that year four 454 00:29:36,319 --> 00:29:38,559 and kind of having that confidence about him. I think he's gonna find his 455 00:29:38,599 --> 00:29:42,880 way on the court. I think some people forget that, Like even towards 456 00:29:42,920 --> 00:29:48,599 the end of last year, he was closing games over Derek White at times. 457 00:29:49,079 --> 00:29:52,119 He's not someone that you know, it's just like a clear stuff below. 458 00:29:52,880 --> 00:29:57,039 I think at times he might even warrant playing over some of those guys 459 00:29:57,079 --> 00:30:00,759 like like Derek White at times. So I think he's a secret guy that 460 00:30:00,839 --> 00:30:04,559 I think because the team that didn't have a lot of wings outside of them 461 00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:07,519 Jays, you could see them kind of get funky with them through dark line 462 00:30:07,559 --> 00:30:11,359 up sink, he might end up being, you know, a bigger part 463 00:30:11,359 --> 00:30:15,119 of the rotation than them. People imagine, so payin Princher, someone payin 464 00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:19,720 Princher and Sam Houser. Those are two guys who I think can really like 465 00:30:21,519 --> 00:30:25,799 do some special things with the Celtics, just kind of playing off those those 466 00:30:25,920 --> 00:30:30,240 top core members. Yeah, sam Houser specifically, then, like Jason and 467 00:30:30,279 --> 00:30:33,519 Jalen have never really played with someone like this, this like iteration of the 468 00:30:33,519 --> 00:30:37,440 Celtics. They've had good shooters, but like the functional, complimentary shooter who 469 00:30:37,480 --> 00:30:40,599 can just fly all over the place. It's not necessarily I'm trying to remember 470 00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:42,920 my missing someone that they played with along similar lines. It's just like their 471 00:30:42,920 --> 00:30:45,839 first crack at it. Yeah, the closest thing with them in Fournier. 472 00:30:47,079 --> 00:30:51,599 So yeah, it's a good point. Nick's legend Evan Fourier, I think 473 00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:55,720 very much. I didn't ask this in the outline I said, but Grant 474 00:30:55,720 --> 00:31:00,160 Williams extension eligible been oddly quiet on that front. What would be do you 475 00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:02,440 want? Do you expect an extension to get done or is this league in 476 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:04,359 restricted free agency? And if you have the opportunity to sign him, you're 477 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:11,920 the Celtics, what would be your your walk away number? My probably guess 478 00:31:11,039 --> 00:31:15,359 is that they probably want him around the same money as Rob which is like 479 00:31:15,799 --> 00:31:21,319 Rob was four fifty two, it's like thirteen mile average out. So I 480 00:31:21,400 --> 00:31:27,000 think anywhere between maybe like twelve thirteen and be the perfect perfect amount. Fifteen 481 00:31:27,119 --> 00:31:32,480 is probably where you're like I'm getting I'm getting to my breakaway point. Bank 482 00:31:32,480 --> 00:31:36,160 You still see them even going up to like sixteen seventeen, but I don't 483 00:31:36,160 --> 00:31:38,559 think anything passed. Like you start getting to seventeens, like the twenty mills 484 00:31:38,599 --> 00:31:42,319 and stuff like that, that's probably where you start like walking away in that 485 00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:47,279 range. And a lot of that just kind of depends on how people see 486 00:31:47,359 --> 00:31:51,119 Grant, because I think Grant probably sees himself as maybe more of like over 487 00:31:51,200 --> 00:31:52,519 until like like he's a four, but like he can play five, he 488 00:31:52,599 --> 00:31:56,880 can play like he was up all over the court, and people just kind 489 00:31:56,920 --> 00:32:00,880 of only see him as like just a front court guy. That could change 490 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:06,119 how how his market is perceived. I don't think it's a mistake that during 491 00:32:06,119 --> 00:32:09,400 this preseason we're seeing him break out a lot of like hesitations and a lot 492 00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:13,200 of times the stuff you start like tennessee some of the mid post games and 493 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:16,880 stuff like that. I think he's trying to make a point within the within 494 00:32:16,920 --> 00:32:20,519 the offense because it hasn't looked selfish at all, but within the offense, 495 00:32:20,519 --> 00:32:24,359 he's trying to show that he's not just some three and D guy that can 496 00:32:24,400 --> 00:32:27,880 just you know, maybe just like guard especially or something like that. Like 497 00:32:27,880 --> 00:32:30,519 he's some of that have the full arsenal game that can't do something creating and 498 00:32:30,599 --> 00:32:32,920 you know there's something some don't get a deal done and that ends up being 499 00:32:32,920 --> 00:32:37,960 true throughout a whole year. You know, someone is going to throw him 500 00:32:37,960 --> 00:32:42,079 a lot of money. That eighteen twenty midd number not maybe that's somewhere where 501 00:32:42,079 --> 00:32:47,160 like he is getting So I think right now, right now, they probably 502 00:32:47,160 --> 00:32:51,680 think they can get him around like twelve to fifteen. And it's just a 503 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:57,000 matter of whether it's okay with that or he's willing to bet on himself and 504 00:32:57,160 --> 00:33:00,480 his work and think that may be showing more so creation going into this year 505 00:33:01,720 --> 00:33:06,640 will help raise his stock. But that's obviously that's a that's a tough game 506 00:33:06,640 --> 00:33:08,599 because you have a bad year too, you know, you end up you 507 00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:12,799 know, maybe losing a lot of money at the same time. So we'll 508 00:33:12,799 --> 00:33:15,799 see, but I think I think they'll get a deal done though. Yeah, 509 00:33:15,799 --> 00:33:19,440 And also the non star big market can be weird and Grant Williams is 510 00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:22,599 not your traditional big but maybe some team I think they're probably somebody's out there 511 00:33:22,599 --> 00:33:24,119 that don't think he could play the five. They're probably other teams out there 512 00:33:24,160 --> 00:33:30,160 that don't think he warrants more like on ball activity. If if the Celtics 513 00:33:30,160 --> 00:33:31,480 to get him for between twelve and fifteen, I think I do it on 514 00:33:31,559 --> 00:33:35,680 their part, But if I'm him, I might also roll the dice on 515 00:33:35,720 --> 00:33:37,640 myself, thinking, well, Rob's gonna miss this time. My role is 516 00:33:37,680 --> 00:33:39,680 gonna be elevated for at least, you know, a third or a half 517 00:33:39,680 --> 00:33:44,359 of the season. Maybe I get myself paid. So it wouldn't shock me 518 00:33:44,400 --> 00:33:45,920 if they don't get a deal going to well say that or I think some 519 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:50,559 people might get stick or shock from what his deal is actually worth. Should 520 00:33:50,559 --> 00:33:53,119 they agree to an extension. Yeah, And I mean the other proponent that 521 00:33:53,119 --> 00:33:57,599 I think it sells again to consider as like if it gets like the fifteen 522 00:33:57,599 --> 00:34:00,880 million stuff like that within the context of the TV deal, like that just 523 00:34:00,960 --> 00:34:07,400 might be like standard money for a core player, you know, So I 524 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:10,079 think they understand that. So to me, I think he's he's young enough, 525 00:34:10,159 --> 00:34:14,039 this is not his last deal where I think they can both kind of 526 00:34:14,039 --> 00:34:19,199 like give a little and meet around that like fifteen mode number. Given the 527 00:34:19,519 --> 00:34:22,480 I mean, some of the injury concerns on this roster, the fact that 528 00:34:22,519 --> 00:34:24,519 they made the move for White last season in the middle of the year, 529 00:34:24,519 --> 00:34:29,679 they make the move for Brogdon this offseason. They're in on some level on 530 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:32,159 the KD discussions. Is this a team that you could see, knowing how 531 00:34:32,239 --> 00:34:35,920 deep the East is, if they're not sort of just in the thick of 532 00:34:35,960 --> 00:34:37,840 the tile race again they are, they're a step behind or something that will 533 00:34:37,880 --> 00:34:44,039 continue to be aggressive in making trades. They do have some mid trade exceptions 534 00:34:44,039 --> 00:34:45,400 that they could use as well. Or do you think that they've they're very 535 00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:49,800 much short of in we need to see a full year from what we have 536 00:34:49,920 --> 00:34:53,119 from this group sort of mode. I think I think they'll make it. 537 00:34:53,159 --> 00:34:57,920 Do it because it's gonna be a lot of opportunity because there's a seven four 538 00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:00,559 alien coming out of the draft, and I think it's and to make a 539 00:35:00,599 --> 00:35:05,159 lot of teams feel that are there's a lot of in the middle teams that 540 00:35:05,280 --> 00:35:07,320 might decide, you know, the plan is not for us this year. 541 00:35:07,719 --> 00:35:12,840 I think a chance that at you know, what's what's what's coming in this 542 00:35:12,960 --> 00:35:16,400 draft might be it might be more appealing than fighting, and I think because 543 00:35:16,400 --> 00:35:20,280 of that, I think there's gonna be a lot of options for them. 544 00:35:20,320 --> 00:35:23,519 And they do have Gallows contract who towards acl and at his age, you 545 00:35:23,519 --> 00:35:27,760 don't know how you're gonna recover, you don't know what's have a player he's 546 00:35:27,760 --> 00:35:30,400 gonna be able to be asked or something like that so late in his career. 547 00:35:30,199 --> 00:35:32,159 But it's like, you know, it's a good number, like six 548 00:35:32,239 --> 00:35:36,639 mols something like that, you feel like you really need you really need some 549 00:35:36,679 --> 00:35:38,679 wing depth at this time, like you pair him with maybe like Pritchard. 550 00:35:39,519 --> 00:35:44,199 I think it's a good backup guard in this league for a team that's maybe 551 00:35:44,199 --> 00:35:47,079 just now ready to tang and stuff like that that you know, maybe they 552 00:35:47,159 --> 00:35:52,000 do something like that, but I think they'll it'll obviously be something like on 553 00:35:52,039 --> 00:35:54,800 a small scale. I think it's gonna be more of like like a rotation 554 00:35:54,840 --> 00:36:00,119 guy like something just to more to solidify their floor then to raise or sealing. 555 00:36:00,639 --> 00:36:02,800 Yeah, this isn't a team that's going to try and like acquire a 556 00:36:02,840 --> 00:36:07,760 top six player now, like they've done that twice basically with White and Brogden, 557 00:36:07,800 --> 00:36:09,559 it's sort of anything happens like that. Again, the durant interest, 558 00:36:09,840 --> 00:36:14,320 it didn't throw me off, but they're they're strong links to It threw me 559 00:36:14,360 --> 00:36:15,199 off a little bit where it was, oh, are they still sort of 560 00:36:15,239 --> 00:36:20,000 in like this weird aggressive talent acquisation more near the top of the roster. 561 00:36:22,280 --> 00:36:24,559 So when you look at full strength this team, the ten man rotation, 562 00:36:25,199 --> 00:36:30,320 it feels like they're probably it might be eight locks with Smart Brown, Tatum, 563 00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:36,039 Horford, RW three, Broggden, White and then Grant Williams. Would 564 00:36:36,039 --> 00:36:38,679 you agree with those eight locks for their ten man rotation? Who? How 565 00:36:38,679 --> 00:36:43,159 would you flesh out the final two or how do you expect that to pan 566 00:36:43,199 --> 00:36:49,239 out? I think I think they're gonna play Cornette off top. I'm pretty 567 00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:52,800 comment in Corrett that I would almost even name him just someone just just off 568 00:36:52,840 --> 00:36:57,440 of the fact that they need they need another center, like they need someone 569 00:36:57,480 --> 00:37:00,239 else to blink twice. If Pratt Stevens is in the room with you right 570 00:37:00,280 --> 00:37:02,480 now, he's he's right here. You can't even see him. He's just 571 00:37:02,639 --> 00:37:07,000 right here looking at me. So I think I think he's gonna play. 572 00:37:07,119 --> 00:37:09,920 And then I think Howser's gonna play but then you know, when you start 573 00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:13,519 getting like eight, nine, I think in the regular season, maybe they're 574 00:37:13,559 --> 00:37:17,440 more liberal, just just just based off how it's going when it gets serious 575 00:37:17,480 --> 00:37:22,480 or maybe more competitive games, and probably gonna match up based they have like 576 00:37:22,599 --> 00:37:24,480 robbfully healthy, maybe you're not going to see a lot of Cornette. They 577 00:37:24,519 --> 00:37:29,039 might just go a little bit more smaller with like Brand and Blake and stuff 578 00:37:29,079 --> 00:37:32,960 like that. So I would say for sure, I would think, I 579 00:37:32,960 --> 00:37:37,519 would say for sure, and eight Cornett's gonna have to play out of necessity, 580 00:37:37,599 --> 00:37:40,360 so maybe nine. And then you're playing and then you're tinkering around with 581 00:37:40,440 --> 00:37:45,559 Howser, Griffin, Pritchard, and then maybe even you know, having Yelli 582 00:37:45,679 --> 00:37:49,760 and von Ley, just based off how things go. But pretty much what 583 00:37:49,800 --> 00:37:52,079 I'm saying is the rest of that is probably gonna be matchup dependent. When 584 00:37:52,079 --> 00:37:58,000 you do have White brogged in and Smart all available, is that gonna on 585 00:37:58,039 --> 00:38:00,840 a regular basis then squeeze Putcher out of the rotation or do you think there 586 00:38:00,880 --> 00:38:05,800 would still be room to get him in there? It depends. It depends 587 00:38:05,840 --> 00:38:10,239 because White and Broad there are both pretty big guards. So depending on what 588 00:38:10,320 --> 00:38:14,360 type of second second unit lineups they have, they played pretty small in the 589 00:38:14,360 --> 00:38:16,360 preseason. They even tried out like a Tatum at the Bob line up, 590 00:38:16,719 --> 00:38:20,960 So they go like a three guard lineup for example, That might be the 591 00:38:21,000 --> 00:38:23,760 way to steal minutes. But then again, you know, if Hawser shows 592 00:38:23,840 --> 00:38:27,320 himself, you know it, to be a good shooter, able to kind 593 00:38:27,320 --> 00:38:30,280 of hold his own defensively, and maybe just that size is what end up 594 00:38:30,280 --> 00:38:34,159 winning out most of the time, then maybe you know that does end up 595 00:38:34,159 --> 00:38:36,639 squeezing him out. But that's kind of where I go back to. Maybe 596 00:38:36,679 --> 00:38:40,079 it's going to end up being a matchup dependence type a thing unless someone really 597 00:38:40,159 --> 00:38:45,679 like shows themselves to be a player that has to play every night. This 598 00:38:45,800 --> 00:38:49,639 question's matchup dependent as well. But what do you envision as their go to 599 00:38:50,119 --> 00:38:52,000 closing unit? Is it just in crunch time? Is it just going to 600 00:38:52,039 --> 00:38:55,239 be what the full strength starting five would be like we should expect to be 601 00:38:55,239 --> 00:38:58,440 at or do you think they'll be some tinkering You know, you could make 602 00:38:58,480 --> 00:39:00,480 it when you're looking at Robin Horford, but then also you have these different 603 00:39:00,519 --> 00:39:05,760 guards and Brogden and White as well. Oh no, I think it'll be 604 00:39:05,800 --> 00:39:09,039 Broggden over Horford like closing when it's like serious, and I think they'll keep 605 00:39:09,440 --> 00:39:15,360 They'll keep Rob because Rob Rob. They need Rob for the vertical throat, 606 00:39:15,440 --> 00:39:20,159 obviously, the obviously the defensive ability and stuff like that, some of his 607 00:39:20,519 --> 00:39:23,440 some of his own passing ability. But I definitely think it'll be smart Brogden, 608 00:39:24,119 --> 00:39:29,960 Jalen Jason and Rob when it's like go time, like season on the 609 00:39:30,039 --> 00:39:32,960 line whatever, like that's gonna be. There a lot of Is there a 610 00:39:34,000 --> 00:39:38,920 weirdo quirky Bonker's lineup that you want to see Missoula try this year? I 611 00:39:39,039 --> 00:39:45,320 do. I do like they have some weird lineups that can allow them to 612 00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:50,239 kind of play. I like, I like seeing this might not be weird 613 00:39:50,280 --> 00:39:52,320 because it's like world guys, But like, I think there's some type of 614 00:39:52,360 --> 00:39:58,920 symmetry that can go on between Brogden, Howser and Rob Williams because Rob is 615 00:39:58,920 --> 00:40:01,199 a little bit better and pass than how some people realize. I think there's 616 00:40:01,199 --> 00:40:05,559 a lot of like type of like trible handoffs giving go action that him and 617 00:40:05,639 --> 00:40:07,920 Hawser can and a lot of the brig and thing that you see is like 618 00:40:08,000 --> 00:40:13,599 him make having a lot of chemistry with the Manta Sa Bonus and him becoming 619 00:40:13,639 --> 00:40:16,840 like a completely great like pick and roll partner with him something I think something 620 00:40:16,880 --> 00:40:22,440 I think he can develop with rob in different ways. And during the preseason 621 00:40:22,519 --> 00:40:25,039 he's been, you know, saying, how the biggest benefactor. So I 622 00:40:25,039 --> 00:40:29,440 think starting off, I want to see those three, and then I'd want 623 00:40:29,480 --> 00:40:35,239 to have Grants in there, and then I'd probably want to have another small 624 00:40:35,320 --> 00:40:38,400 guard like Pritchard, just because I want to like the intense floor spacing, 625 00:40:38,960 --> 00:40:44,480 just because Pritchard being able to Prichard began to shoot from thirty, Grant being 626 00:40:44,480 --> 00:40:46,679 a marksman. Then you have kind of like Robin, there is like the 627 00:40:47,199 --> 00:40:51,360 ultimate vertical throughout, and then you have a pick and roll like Master and 628 00:40:51,400 --> 00:40:53,559 Malcolm Broda. So maybe like something like that. It's not really like long, 629 00:40:53,679 --> 00:40:57,800 it is kind of like traditional in that way, but just I think 630 00:40:57,800 --> 00:41:02,280 those collection of players when weirdly like an interesting chemistry. I'm gonna use Tatum 631 00:41:02,280 --> 00:41:05,920 spending time at the five in the preseasons the impetus for mine. I think 632 00:41:05,880 --> 00:41:07,199 that I think that was against the Hornets. Oh that's the only teams they 633 00:41:07,239 --> 00:41:12,159 played against the Hornets. Is recording this forgot. I'm gonna go with Tatum, 634 00:41:12,199 --> 00:41:15,639 Brown, Brogden, and then I kind of want to put Sam Howser 635 00:41:15,719 --> 00:41:20,480 in there, and then maybe we'll go with Marcus Smart. I'm trying to 636 00:41:20,480 --> 00:41:22,000 think of how's the best way to flesh out of Jason Tamotham. I would 637 00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:25,000 like to see Pritchard and just go all offense and sup it up. And 638 00:41:25,039 --> 00:41:28,360 I know you said he can be an underrated point of attack defender, but 639 00:41:28,360 --> 00:41:31,559 I'm wondering if you need Smart more than Pritchard in the way that that lineup 640 00:41:31,599 --> 00:41:35,840 structure is. No. I mean you need Smart if you didn't have the 641 00:41:35,840 --> 00:41:37,679 center on the court now you and now you have, you know, the 642 00:41:37,840 --> 00:41:45,079 ultimate center and Marcus Smart. Yeah. So as we're recording this, their 643 00:41:45,360 --> 00:41:50,519 wind total over under is set at fifty three point five. I believe it 644 00:41:50,559 --> 00:41:52,480 dropped from fifty four and a half to fifty three point five. Are you 645 00:41:52,519 --> 00:41:55,039 hitting the over the under on that? And where do you think they stack 646 00:41:55,159 --> 00:41:59,559 up relative to the rest of the East as of right now. I think 647 00:41:59,599 --> 00:42:02,000 they're gonna hit the over on it. I think with all the stuff going 648 00:42:02,079 --> 00:42:06,679 on, I think a lot it's been pushing a lot of the focus just 649 00:42:06,840 --> 00:42:10,039 on the basketball. Everything that everything that's coming out of them is how they're 650 00:42:10,039 --> 00:42:15,199 ready to play. How the continuity and kind of the chemistry built last year, 651 00:42:15,199 --> 00:42:19,239 it feels like it's just coming right in to this year. And I 652 00:42:19,280 --> 00:42:21,639 think it can kind of be Simmons kind of like the Sounds, where it's 653 00:42:21,679 --> 00:42:23,000 like they just came out to the finals, they kind of figure something out, 654 00:42:23,159 --> 00:42:25,519 they knew who they know, who they are as a team, and 655 00:42:25,519 --> 00:42:29,119 it just kind of just come in and just play really hard in the regular 656 00:42:29,119 --> 00:42:32,079 season. So I think they're actually going to be over the over I would 657 00:42:32,079 --> 00:42:37,079 put them even. I'll put them at like fifty five wins one. I 658 00:42:37,199 --> 00:42:42,000 guess that's too far over if you're gonna go fifty yeah, I would so 659 00:42:42,079 --> 00:42:44,239 like so like the fifty sixth one, I would have gone under, But 660 00:42:44,360 --> 00:42:46,400 fifty three, I think they'll go over that one. I think they were 661 00:42:46,440 --> 00:42:49,960 when I first noted it before the whole thing happen, it was a fifty 662 00:42:49,960 --> 00:42:52,599 four and a half, so it did drop a win. I'm I've been 663 00:42:52,679 --> 00:42:55,239 hitting way too many overs in this exercise and with them, I'm just so 664 00:42:55,440 --> 00:43:00,599 unbelievably worried about the front court rotation and its fragility with out RW three, 665 00:43:00,800 --> 00:43:05,440 and I'm curious as to whether if we could see some defensive regression for half 666 00:43:05,440 --> 00:43:09,280 of the year without him, and whether that winds up seriously repressing their their 667 00:43:09,320 --> 00:43:12,800 win total. Squere No, I don't think they're gonna be like forty five 668 00:43:12,880 --> 00:43:16,719 wins, but something like forty nine fifty fifty one. That's interesting. I 669 00:43:16,760 --> 00:43:21,559 mean, it's possible. It's very possible. Rob was a very special piece 670 00:43:21,599 --> 00:43:24,239 for them. I just I don't know. I think regular season it's so 671 00:43:24,440 --> 00:43:30,480 like teams really don't target your weaknesses as much. A lot of it is 672 00:43:30,519 --> 00:43:34,360 just trying to do what they do best a lot of times. So for 673 00:43:34,360 --> 00:43:37,000 me, I just kind of feel like there's still enough talent for the Celtics 674 00:43:37,039 --> 00:43:39,119 that even missing Rob, the type of like space and that they have now 675 00:43:39,280 --> 00:43:43,039 type of offense that they're kind of playing that's a little different than Emays, 676 00:43:43,119 --> 00:43:46,480 Joe's doing a little bit of different stuff. I think that's like enough that 677 00:43:46,519 --> 00:43:51,239 they're still gonna kind of for regular season purposes, still be able to be 678 00:43:51,280 --> 00:43:53,599 a contender. So going to be consistent and do that for kind of like 679 00:43:53,599 --> 00:43:58,599 a full year, That's that's kind of where my where I'm going with it. 680 00:43:59,079 --> 00:44:01,960 And I think I think I kind of, you know, I don't 681 00:44:02,039 --> 00:44:07,280 I think playing five the people that they have and played the five I think 682 00:44:07,320 --> 00:44:08,519 for like three months, you know, if you want to put if you 683 00:44:08,519 --> 00:44:12,679 want to put a lot on al to start the year and then kind of 684 00:44:12,760 --> 00:44:15,199 wane him down to the second half of the year when teams are tanking, 685 00:44:16,039 --> 00:44:20,639 new teams that didn't realize they were taking starting to tank. Now it's a 686 00:44:20,639 --> 00:44:23,599 little bit lighter on the schedule, Maybe you start pushing his minutes down there 687 00:44:23,599 --> 00:44:28,199 and setting him in the second in the back half the year, and play 688 00:44:28,280 --> 00:44:30,719 him heavy there in the first first half, so you're playing maybe twenty five 689 00:44:30,840 --> 00:44:36,639 twenty seven minutes just exclusively at the five. Then you know, Luke adds 690 00:44:36,639 --> 00:44:38,679 a little bit, Blake adds a little bit of Bondler or whatever, Grant 691 00:44:38,679 --> 00:44:42,000 adds a little bit, and you're able to kind of, you know, 692 00:44:42,119 --> 00:44:45,840 still get your forty eight without it being too much of like you know what 693 00:44:45,159 --> 00:44:49,440 many of us believe at this DAYE is still like below average and the eight 694 00:44:49,480 --> 00:44:54,039 players. Yeah, that's a I've I've yet to sort of reconcile how there 695 00:44:54,119 --> 00:44:57,920 might be more available wins for the top of the East. And I'm expecting 696 00:44:58,039 --> 00:45:00,679 if teams like Charlotte and Walk Sheton pivot into a tank. But I also 697 00:45:00,719 --> 00:45:05,519 then look at the East and I'm like, with Cleveland and Miami and Philly 698 00:45:05,599 --> 00:45:09,920 and Milwaukee, Toronto, whatever the hell Brooklyn winds up being. I'm not 699 00:45:10,000 --> 00:45:14,519 like too confident Atlanta, but they're still really good. Those first like seven 700 00:45:14,599 --> 00:45:20,199 eight spots in the East are just so jam packed with teams that are gonna 701 00:45:20,199 --> 00:45:22,840 make it difficult to pick up wins. And I'm just curious whether that not 702 00:45:22,920 --> 00:45:28,880 the Celtics specifically, does that almost like create this parody of wins near the 703 00:45:28,920 --> 00:45:31,960 top of the East to where oh, just fifty three like or something win 704 00:45:32,039 --> 00:45:36,400 the East like it to come up with the one seed. And so it's 705 00:45:36,440 --> 00:45:38,159 just it's so tough for me to wrap my head around because it feels like 706 00:45:38,440 --> 00:45:43,800 the East from the middle to the top is just an absolute beast this year. 707 00:45:44,360 --> 00:45:45,679 It's true, and I think that the heat where I think the first 708 00:45:45,679 --> 00:45:51,559 seed of fifty three last year, So that's some reason you're right, and 709 00:45:51,559 --> 00:45:54,440 so just fifty one get the one seed this year or something, just like 710 00:45:54,440 --> 00:46:00,639 because those late season games against the Calves and then presumably the net like we're 711 00:46:00,639 --> 00:46:02,159 gonna matter more. But then you can counter that with Ball, Washington, 712 00:46:02,280 --> 00:46:07,000 Charlotte, maybe even Chicago looks pretty combustible. I don't know what the Knicks 713 00:46:07,039 --> 00:46:10,000 are, to be honest with you, it's it's just fascinating. There's still 714 00:46:10,039 --> 00:46:13,519 the Celtics are still near the tippy top of the East for me, but 715 00:46:13,840 --> 00:46:15,599 it feels like it's almost or doesn't feel almost. It does feel like it's 716 00:46:15,599 --> 00:46:19,719 going to be tougher to come out of this year than it was last year. 717 00:46:20,480 --> 00:46:22,159 Oh, I for now, you know from what we had right now, 718 00:46:22,239 --> 00:46:27,280 I completely agree. I just think, yeah, it's too much talent, 719 00:46:27,639 --> 00:46:30,559 way too much talent. Alex this did I not ask you about anything 720 00:46:30,559 --> 00:46:35,679 that you think it needs to be covered with regards to this team? Hmm, 721 00:46:36,000 --> 00:46:37,519 man, I feel like there's been so much carbage being a finals team. 722 00:46:37,559 --> 00:46:44,119 I can't even think of an angle that has not been hit. Yeah, 723 00:46:44,119 --> 00:46:45,679 man, I A letts want to talk about our second two way spot 724 00:46:46,000 --> 00:46:52,199 Justin Jackson, Boordick Thomas. I don't want to put the sleepers asleep, 725 00:46:52,239 --> 00:46:54,079 but I think yeah, I mean that's the biggest point. Can they stay 726 00:46:54,119 --> 00:47:00,000 healthy? Can they survive without Rob And let's see I Jones Luking coaching them 727 00:47:00,039 --> 00:47:02,960 a team, Alex this was great As always, I appreciate you being so 728 00:47:04,000 --> 00:47:06,519 generous with your time in case anyone skipped the intro. Are you able to 729 00:47:06,519 --> 00:47:09,880 tell our listeners where they can find you? Yes, you can find me 730 00:47:09,920 --> 00:47:16,599 on my Twitter handle ku n gu Underscore NBA. With the season up and 731 00:47:16,679 --> 00:47:22,960 running, I'm looking forward to posting about it and I think I think this 732 00:47:23,039 --> 00:47:25,880 year I'm going to be guests running at a couple of places, So hell 733 00:47:27,000 --> 00:47:30,079 yeah, now over there, Hell yeah. I always enjoyed you when I 734 00:47:30,119 --> 00:47:32,199 got to read you, so that's that's exciting to hear. Go follow this 735 00:47:32,239 --> 00:47:35,920 man. He's also, as we know now pro dog, so that's another 736 00:47:35,960 --> 00:47:38,079 reason to go follow him. Thank you so much, Alex, And as 737 00:47:38,119 --> 00:47:42,360 you know, I will be spamming your DM again in the future and our 738 00:47:42,400 --> 00:47:43,760 problem hopefully could get news.