1 00:00:15,359 --> 00:00:20,320 What is Cracklac and fellow thermonuclear a efforts. I am Dampa Valley coming at 2 00:00:20,359 --> 00:00:24,760 you with my certified fantabulous go host, mister Grant Hughes. We have a 3 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:29,320 mini episode exercise for you before. We have two megapods coming out where we 4 00:00:29,399 --> 00:00:33,039 cover the entire Western Conference to wrap up a series we've been doing. But 5 00:00:33,119 --> 00:00:37,520 we decided to take a look at the NBA Playoff Pressure Index, where we're 6 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:41,479 looking at teams that are under the most pressure to not only get into the 7 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:44,799 playoffs or have a specific seed, maybe not get in by way of the 8 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:47,799 plane, but who's going to be under the most pressure once they get there 9 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:52,359 because of what that means for their short and long term future. And we're 10 00:00:52,359 --> 00:00:55,320 going to separate them into tears where if you're watching on YouTube you can see 11 00:00:55,359 --> 00:00:58,359 that we have the nice little tear maker up there. Grant and I will 12 00:00:58,399 --> 00:01:00,200 just kind of go back and forth with suggests the teams and will sort them 13 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:03,079 from there. Uh, if you are on a you know, if you're 14 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:07,760 a fan of let's say, you know, the Charlotte Hornets, the d 15 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:11,200 T here, you're under no pressure, congratulations, because you're not going anywhere 16 00:01:11,599 --> 00:01:14,239 the Pistons. You're not under pressure to close the season either, even though 17 00:01:14,239 --> 00:01:17,599 there's probably stuff that your fans want to see. So I'm just gonna automatically 18 00:01:17,599 --> 00:01:21,480 throw those teams in there as as gramp as gramp there. Let's see what 19 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:23,239 the YouTube cash is do with that one, Grant. Uh And even just 20 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:26,680 like the Nets, it's just like, yeah, that ship is saying they 21 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:30,519 need to figure out what what they're doing. So this is just about teams 22 00:01:30,519 --> 00:01:34,959 that are playing playoff I don't want to say eligible, but hopeful. Still, 23 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:38,319 yeah, you're gonna definitely also want to oh you Oh wait, you 24 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:41,040 gotta lead off with the most important question, right, Yeah, I was 25 00:01:41,079 --> 00:01:44,319 about to and you were just you were you were so excited to talk about 26 00:01:44,359 --> 00:01:49,480 the Washington Wizards that h Grant, how the heck are you doing? I 27 00:01:49,519 --> 00:01:53,959 am, I'm doing so well that I'm just trying to preempt your question. 28 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:56,079 I guess. Yeah, I was gonna say, you better get the Blazers 29 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:59,599 and the Wizards in there. Uh je Oh sorry, Jazz, that's too 30 00:01:59,599 --> 00:02:02,239 bad, uh, raptor Spurs. Who else are we missing that needs to 31 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:06,680 go in there? I think so maybe we should start with like some of 32 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:10,080 the playing ish teams then where it's like I would specifically, well, so 33 00:02:10,159 --> 00:02:15,039 let me start off and we'll just do wrap two into one. This Atlanta 34 00:02:15,159 --> 00:02:17,680 Chicago stuff. How much how much pressure you want to start with Atlanta? 35 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:23,759 Yeah, I think I guess. I guess really you should decide it based 36 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:28,280 on like which has got the most like blow up potential if things go the 37 00:02:28,319 --> 00:02:30,400 wrong way and the Bulls don't blow it up. So I guess Atlanta is 38 00:02:30,439 --> 00:02:34,879 probably under more pressure than the Bulls. But it's still like, I don't 39 00:02:34,879 --> 00:02:38,639 know, nobody expects anything out of them, right, Let's let's go with 40 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:40,800 like the B tier for them, like kind of in the middle, I'd 41 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:46,240 say, just because like what are you going to learn about this team if 42 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:47,879 they're going to be a playing team, And let's say if Trey Young, 43 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:53,319 you know, and like in everybody's healthy, what is actually if they lose, 44 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:54,680 like, what is it? Is it materially gonna change what you thought 45 00:02:54,680 --> 00:03:00,439 about the Tray Young de Jonte Murray pairing or whether they should move Trey Young 46 00:03:00,479 --> 00:03:04,479 if you fall into that camp or not. Mm hmm. I think so 47 00:03:04,759 --> 00:03:09,000 let's take the Bulls. Though comparatively less pressure on the Bulls than the Hawks. 48 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:13,319 Right, yes, and I would agree if anything, although if you 49 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:15,719 wanted to so, I'll put them in the C tier the Bulls S, 50 00:03:15,879 --> 00:03:20,319 by the way, is the like the most urgent pressure and then there's pressure. 51 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:23,599 Yeah, then there's a which is lots of pressure. B the Hawks 52 00:03:23,599 --> 00:03:27,280 they're in the middle shock or the Hawks in the middle C m ND where 53 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:29,879 there's just no pressure where there might be. I think there will be some 54 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:31,319 good teams that end up in the no pressure tier, just to be clear. 55 00:03:31,599 --> 00:03:35,400 So with the Bulls, though, let's galaxy brain this for a minute. 56 00:03:36,039 --> 00:03:39,639 You're almost worried that what if they just outperform expectations and then this emboldens 57 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:44,080 the front office to run it back anyway, because I think fans want them 58 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:49,000 to blow it up, and so are they under pressure to suck its reverse 59 00:03:49,039 --> 00:03:53,800 pressure Like it's this is the only team where it would be bad if they 60 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:57,879 did well. But I think it's when it comes to identity long term, 61 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:02,199 the Hawks definitely have more because there could just be sort of this organic pivot 62 00:04:02,199 --> 00:04:05,719 point for Chicago where what if, Okay, Zachlvine's injured and they might trade 63 00:04:05,759 --> 00:04:09,479 him, and then what if DeMar just leaves him free agency and so like 64 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:12,919 a lot of some of this stuff is not out of their hands necessarily, 65 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,079 but it's just not as high as stakes as well. Is Trey Young the 66 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:17,680 right best player for the Hawks? Can it work with de Jontay Murray? 67 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:20,720 What are they doing up front with Jalen Johnson's injured now? But you have 68 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:24,560 a Yaka Kongou and Clin Capela. How is that all gonna? Where is 69 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:28,240 DeAndre john Hunter? Is he just a career six man now? So there 70 00:04:28,319 --> 00:04:30,560 they have higher stakes questions. I think, Yeah, all right, So 71 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:34,920 there's a team that's really uh like catching my eye that I want to put 72 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:40,360 next to the Bulls in the minimal pressure but just above all these lottery teams. 73 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:45,199 Can you guess which team that is? Ooh, the Rockets. It's 74 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:50,439 the Rockets at the next to the Bulls right there. Yeah, because like 75 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:54,959 I don't know, I you know, it's kind of the ahead of schedule 76 00:04:55,079 --> 00:05:00,920 argument that like they they they're super young still they they've been shing you may 77 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,480 or may not be healthy enough to play and contribute, so you kind of 78 00:05:02,519 --> 00:05:06,680 have that as an excuse, like it would be disappointing after if they make 79 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:10,439 the play in like they're still just on the edge of it as we're recording 80 00:05:10,439 --> 00:05:14,639 this on the outside. But the momentum like for them has been very, 81 00:05:14,759 --> 00:05:19,360 very very positive of late, so be disappointing to fall short if basically, 82 00:05:19,399 --> 00:05:24,160 you know, after kind of having this late season surge. But it's like 83 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:29,120 nobody expected anything out of them anyway, and they've already just exceeded what you 84 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:31,319 know, the most optimistic outlook really could have had in store for them. 85 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:34,399 So if they get into the plan and they get bounced, like nobody's gonna 86 00:05:34,439 --> 00:05:38,759 care, the future still so bright for them that it's not a big deal, 87 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:41,800 right, I feel like that's the right spot for them. I'm almost 88 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:44,279 wondering, like, do don't they belong in the no pressure to here? 89 00:05:44,319 --> 00:05:46,399 What is actually at stake for them? Is it just kind of figuring out 90 00:05:46,439 --> 00:05:50,079 because they did spend some money on veterans this past summer, that would be 91 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:54,160 nice to at least make the play in and you owe your pick anyway this 92 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:58,120 year, so let's make sure it's not you know too, So I'm just 93 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:00,839 like curious, like what pressure are they actually under. I think you could 94 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:05,399 argue because of the way they performed defensively, because of Shangun's emergence. Uh, 95 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:09,720 like, should they be in the no pressure tear. It feels weird 96 00:06:09,759 --> 00:06:12,879 to put them down there with those because those other the teams in the absolute 97 00:06:12,879 --> 00:06:16,279 bottom level are just a very specific type of team, Like most of them 98 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:20,560 have stopped. You're operating into the assumption that if you can still make the 99 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:25,879 playing basically you have to be under some semblance of press. I kind of 100 00:06:25,879 --> 00:06:29,360 think so, and just specifically with the Rockets too, because they've looked so 101 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:32,480 good of late. It would be a little disappointing, I think, certainly 102 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:35,319 to Rockets fans if they didn't make it, but not to the point, 103 00:06:35,399 --> 00:06:40,319 you know, it would just be outweighed massively by app the optimism that everybody 104 00:06:40,319 --> 00:06:42,600 has about them. I just can't put them next to like, they're just 105 00:06:42,639 --> 00:06:46,319 not the same as the Spurs and the Blazers and the Wizards and the Pistons. 106 00:06:46,319 --> 00:06:48,040 To me, Can we put their alternative logo, which I keep forgetting 107 00:06:48,079 --> 00:06:50,480 I have in my logo folders. I think it's cool this Rocket will put 108 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:57,759 the alternative there split the difference. So my next team is and I'm kind 109 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,439 of fascinated by this one, and I'm gonna go, oh, here, 110 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:03,199 grant, where do the Knicks belong? Oh Man, Well, on the 111 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:08,680 one hand, you've got the injuries as an excuse. I think Robinson back 112 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:15,000 though, is back giving you some cover. But I think coming at their 113 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:17,879 absolute best, So obviously they're gonna make the playoffs, and you know, 114 00:07:17,959 --> 00:07:21,240 should be a top well, the top four seed. I'm looking at the 115 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:27,439 standings now, it's not a given. Seems likely, though I think they 116 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:31,199 belong. I'd still put them. You can't go lower than the Hawks, 117 00:07:31,199 --> 00:07:33,800 so they're at least next to the Hawks in the middle tier, the B 118 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:38,279 tier there. I think. I think that's right, if you would allow 119 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,439 me to interject, because yeah, I don't think we're moving them up. 120 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:45,399 The injuries do give them cover, and they're not you know they're right now. 121 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:48,240 Julius Randall and og Aanenobi are two of your three most important players. 122 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:51,600 I know, doubt they've Evencenzo has been great, same with Hartenstein, same 123 00:07:51,639 --> 00:07:56,000 with Josh Hart. But the peak version of the Knicks, your three most 124 00:07:56,000 --> 00:08:00,360 important players are Ojan Andobe, Julius Randall, Jalen Brunson. That gives you 125 00:08:00,399 --> 00:08:01,879 cover and you're not an imminent danger of losing any of them. I know, 126 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:05,360 oh he's a free agent, but he's gonna resign. I think where 127 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:09,120 it gets complicated and you could make the case for a if they were healthy, 128 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:15,040 is okay that boy on Bardonovich Alec Burk's trade, which we both very 129 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:18,360 much supported. It's been an abject failure because of how little they're using them, 130 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:22,639 and part of that is Duce McBride's emergence, but that doesn't really explain 131 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:26,399 the Bogdanovitch stuff, but that gives you some cover for the Burkes happenings. 132 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:28,360 And now it's at the point where, okay, we still have these picks 133 00:08:28,399 --> 00:08:31,720 to trade, but no more blue chip prospects, I guess unless due McBride 134 00:08:31,799 --> 00:08:37,039 is really like what if Steph Curry was the defensive player of the Year type 135 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:41,200 deal? So like, But so I think I think it's right because you 136 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:45,240 want to you also to be under pressure as a form of respect. So 137 00:08:45,279 --> 00:08:48,399 this team is good enough to where it's okay, it's good that they have 138 00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:52,519 like a very fully functioning, coherent front office now, but they've been kind 139 00:08:52,519 --> 00:08:56,360 of waiting to be a capslock contender for still a minute, and now you 140 00:08:56,399 --> 00:08:58,279 need to make that jump. And this is supposed to be the year that 141 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:03,960 progresses, especially after making the kinds of trades that you did to get to 142 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:07,360 get Alec Burks, to get og At andob of course they've just been so 143 00:09:07,519 --> 00:09:09,799 banged up to still even being contention for like because look at a team like 144 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:13,240 the Heat that have been so banged up and where they're at, and they 145 00:09:13,279 --> 00:09:16,720 have one of the best head coaches in the league. Right all right, 146 00:09:16,799 --> 00:09:18,919 So here's here's where I want to go. I need I feel like I 147 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:22,840 need parameters. We need to bookend this. So I want to pick a 148 00:09:22,879 --> 00:09:26,720 team that has maximum pressure, just so we kind of have because we got 149 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:30,399 all these the teams at the bottom that set the no pressure. I think 150 00:09:30,399 --> 00:09:35,559 the easiest maximum pressure pick has got to be Phoenix because of the financial situation 151 00:09:35,639 --> 00:09:39,320 they're in, because of the total lack of draft picks, because of the 152 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:45,399 three stars setup. They just have no outs and things have not gone as 153 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:48,120 expected or as hoped this year. Uh. Part of that's been health, 154 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:52,559 but I don't this is interesting. We gave the Knixt cover because of health 155 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:54,159 reasons, We're not giving it to the Suns right there. That does not 156 00:09:54,240 --> 00:10:00,000 alleviate the pressure in the same way. So every situation is different than Phoenix 157 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:01,879 is all in gambit is just like, well, yeah, you gambled on 158 00:10:01,919 --> 00:10:05,600 guys that might get hurt, so that Bradley Beal specifically, and you're you 159 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:09,080 got a thin roster because that's the only one you could build around him. 160 00:10:09,639 --> 00:10:13,159 That ups the pressure. That's not like that doesn't diminish it, that doesn't 161 00:10:13,159 --> 00:10:16,039 give them any kind of reprieve. So I think Phoenix is the first like, 162 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:20,320 Okay, this is it. It has to be this year because next 163 00:10:20,399 --> 00:10:24,159 year and the years certainly down the line are like nothing is promised. So 164 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:28,080 I think they've got to be among the handful of teams with the most pressure. 165 00:10:28,519 --> 00:10:33,120 I would I think I would argue that Phoenix is single handling under the 166 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:35,720 most pressure of any team in the league, because it's like, what is 167 00:10:35,759 --> 00:10:39,720 the You can argue, well, look at the timelines of Steph Curry and 168 00:10:39,799 --> 00:10:43,000 Lebron in those instances, and maybe we should just go to those teams next. 169 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:46,879 But I think you could probably make a well let's actually go here. 170 00:10:46,279 --> 00:10:50,440 I would have the Clippers in the S tier as well. Paul George is 171 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:52,799 gonna be a free agent. It seems like there's some weird standoff going on 172 00:10:52,919 --> 00:10:56,039 with his extension at some point, if it just hasn't happened, if you 173 00:10:56,039 --> 00:11:00,039 get bounced earlier, if you're not healthy enough for some reason leading into the 174 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:03,720 playoffs, this is the year, it feels like to where if they don't 175 00:11:03,759 --> 00:11:07,159 make I would say, if they don't get to a game seven of the 176 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:09,600 semi finals, and that's like the bare minimum, it ends up just being 177 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:13,279 a disaster, and it's not merely well, then what do we do about 178 00:11:13,279 --> 00:11:16,960 the Paul George stuff? Do we have the stomach to go into the second 179 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:20,679 apron? Actually, just knowing how rich Steve Bomber is, that's not the 180 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:22,279 main equation. It's well, how much money do we pay James Harden and 181 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:26,720 how do we improve the team from here under the stringent trade and free agent 182 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:31,320 tools that we're going to have at our disposal. Yeah, it's interesting. 183 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:35,120 I think you might one of the ways you could delineate teams that belong in 184 00:11:35,159 --> 00:11:37,759 the top tiers, like this might be the last best chance. Yeah, 185 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:43,720 and for the Clippers too, like a failure would be a referendum on like 186 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:48,559 a half decade's worth of seasons that just did not work out. So like 187 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:50,879 they've got it they're kind of getting it both ways. What about Milwaukee. 188 00:11:50,919 --> 00:11:54,960 Doesn't Milwaukee kind of have a last best chance vibe to them too. I 189 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:58,879 mean, you make the Dame Lillard trade, you break up a core that 190 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:01,399 like, look, you had the first round elimination last year, so you 191 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:05,000 know, you fire the coach and then you fire another coach, but hold 192 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:07,960 on by the by virtue of the fact that the Bucks are on their third 193 00:12:07,039 --> 00:12:11,720 coach in like a yew they gotta be at the top. And also it's 194 00:12:11,799 --> 00:12:15,480 just look at the you know, you could look at it because but we're 195 00:12:15,519 --> 00:12:18,639 not giving the same greens to Phoenix where it's well they went on. They 196 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:22,440 try to implement such a huge star that maybe it takes year for this to 197 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:28,679 figure out. It's well, Damian Lillard is thirty three and Brook Lopez is 198 00:12:28,759 --> 00:12:31,759 old. And Chris Middleton been playing well offensively since his return, but he's 199 00:12:31,759 --> 00:12:35,159 on the older end, has a bunch of lower body injuries in his rearview, 200 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:39,879 it's going this this core, I would say, you're not at the 201 00:12:39,879 --> 00:12:43,519 point where Giannis is either gonna sustain or maybe get a little bit better each 202 00:12:43,559 --> 00:12:46,519 year. Everyone else among the most important players to your team, and I 203 00:12:46,519 --> 00:12:50,320 don't know where you consider aj Green there now and the marj On Champ stuff 204 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:54,159 clearly hasn't happened. They're not getting any better, and so I do think 205 00:12:54,159 --> 00:12:58,480 they belong in the last best Chance crew, And unlike the Clippers, I 206 00:12:58,519 --> 00:13:01,480 would say, I think you've maybe could you make the case that the Clippers 207 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:05,240 are under less pressure than the Bucks, just because if they really wanted to 208 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:07,720 go the let's just say it has to be like dollar for dollar and they 209 00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:13,639 can trade one first round pick. They kind of have more tantalizing stuff where 210 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:16,679 if they gave up someone who matters, they could still be a contender, 211 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:20,480 where with the Bucks it's where you trading Brook Lopez or Middleton or even Dame 212 00:13:20,519 --> 00:13:24,039 and getting better. I don't see that scenario, but they're in the same 213 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:28,320 tier. So I think I agree with you they need to be in the 214 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:31,440 last best chance kind of category. Let's kind of go to the Golden State 215 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:35,720 Warriors and Lakers, though you want to start with the The Lakers are fascinating. 216 00:13:37,399 --> 00:13:41,279 Yeah, it's it's hard obviously, like the clock ticking with Lebron, 217 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:46,360 free agency, with Lebron potentially like that's that's been a major storyline. You 218 00:13:46,399 --> 00:13:50,600 know, I think that that makes me want to put them in the top 219 00:13:50,639 --> 00:13:54,720 tier. Oh it's I hope you don't. I don't think you can, 220 00:13:56,679 --> 00:14:01,120 because like they're definitely gonna make the play in at least, so that wasn't 221 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:05,080 a given. They've been good enough lately to do that. You still have, 222 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:07,000 Anthony Davis, you still have some I mean, how many picks get 223 00:14:07,039 --> 00:14:09,480 do you? This is putting you on the spot, But they they still 224 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:13,840 because they didn't burn them all. They've got outs. They've got first to 225 00:14:13,919 --> 00:14:16,840 trade this offseason, I think, get up to three, right something, 226 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:20,159 and then sprinkling some swaps from there. Yeah. So so like, yeah, 227 00:14:20,159 --> 00:14:24,200 the Lebron thing certainly pressurizes it, but I can't. I can't put 228 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:28,320 them. They don't seem quite the same to me as the Suns, Clippers, 229 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:31,080 and Bucks. So I think you got to put them in the currently 230 00:14:31,159 --> 00:14:37,559 unoccupied a tier, which is below the top, just by virtue of Lebron, 231 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:39,919 Like you're not. It's not even just the free agency stuff. It's 232 00:14:39,919 --> 00:14:43,480 okay, well, what if he's not one of the ten best players in 233 00:14:43,519 --> 00:14:48,720 the NBA at the age of forty Yeah, right right? I mean hypothetically, 234 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:52,919 who's to say why wouldn't he be. I go ahead, it's your 235 00:14:52,919 --> 00:14:56,879 turn. I don't understand what to do with the Warriors because I think they 236 00:14:56,879 --> 00:15:01,159 probably belong in the eight tier as well, but they see under more pressure 237 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:05,840 in regards to the offseason because even if they make like the Lakers, if 238 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:09,440 they make a deep playoff push, they're gonna read into that more. Where 239 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:11,799 if the Dubs, if for some reason they get into the play in, 240 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:13,399 they win a playoff round, maybe they go to a game seven in the 241 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:18,000 semifinals, you're going to make the conference finals. You cannot possibly go into 242 00:15:18,039 --> 00:15:22,200 next season thinking that this is the core with which to move forward, because, 243 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:24,679 as we've talked about, and especially you have harped on, they don't 244 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:30,720 have a reliable second best player on this team, and like the Lakers have 245 00:15:30,879 --> 00:15:35,559 that, right. Yeah, well, I think though one thing the Warriors 246 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:39,159 do have. And look, I I don't think a trade is the way 247 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:43,080 to necessarily fix this. But if you put Pajemski and Wiggins in a deal, 248 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:46,720 or you could move Trace Jackson Davis, you know with the salary, 249 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:50,519 you could trade Moses Moody, you could trade commit like there, you know 250 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:54,879 you have the I guess flexibility to not low ball, but definitely reduce what 251 00:15:54,960 --> 00:16:00,200 Klay Thompson makes next year if he comes back. The Curry timeline is real 252 00:16:00,279 --> 00:16:03,759 scary in a weird way, like feels more frail than Lebron's does, even 253 00:16:03,759 --> 00:16:07,159 though Lebron is so much older. Yeah, I still I can't put the 254 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:11,720 Warriors in the absolute top tier because they still sort of have some outs and 255 00:16:11,799 --> 00:16:15,159 Curry is still really great, but the road to improvement is tricky. I 256 00:16:15,159 --> 00:16:18,320 still think there are some So let's put them with the Lakers. I think 257 00:16:18,399 --> 00:16:22,080 I think that feels right because you can't put them lower than that, but 258 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:26,840 also they don't also belong in the like this is absolutely it uh here. 259 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:30,120 You know what's kind of muddying My vision of this is that we've seen so 260 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:33,080 much basketball already that I'm kind of in the camp of teams have shown us 261 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:37,399 what they are and so I just don't have expectations for the water. That's 262 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:41,279 the other thing. I nobody seriously thinks they're going to make major noise. 263 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:44,840 That. Yeah, that's another factor. I have an S tier nomination, 264 00:16:45,279 --> 00:16:47,960 and Okay, I think you could maybe argue a little bit like if you're 265 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:49,200 they're in the same tier she made case for any of them, but the 266 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:55,159 Celtics got to be any s tire because you we've all they've first of all 267 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:59,399 killed everybody except for the Nuggets in the regular season basically, and you did 268 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:02,440 kind of over your roster. You still have outs when you look at pick 269 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:06,119 equity and the value of the actual players under contract, but you've now kind 270 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:08,920 of said if you if you get bounced before the conference finals this year, 271 00:17:10,559 --> 00:17:12,200 I just like, what are you? What is the answer? Okay, 272 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:15,599 well, let's go out and trade for a point guard who can run the 273 00:17:15,599 --> 00:17:18,759 crunch time offense. When we got to pay Drew Holliday? Do we want 274 00:17:18,759 --> 00:17:22,039 to pay Drew Holliday? Are we extending him? This is I'm saying. 275 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:25,839 I don't think they're gonna need to get to a point to answer those questions. 276 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:29,079 But if they do, there's kind of some real trouble because they have 277 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:33,359 outs. But it's they're so clearly on paper, which should be the second 278 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:37,319 most complete team in the NBA, because I think Denver one to one to 279 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:41,319 five is the most complete team in the NBA. Boston is probably the most 280 00:17:41,319 --> 00:17:44,200 complete one to six, one to seven, whatever you want to frame it. 281 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:47,880 So they're just done. I mean by virtue of being this good and 282 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:52,640 being basically what are they They're in first place and they're there, and there 283 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:56,720 are good bet to win sixty five games. You can't win sixty five games 284 00:17:56,799 --> 00:17:59,799 and then fall short of like you got you gotta make the finals. I 285 00:17:59,799 --> 00:18:03,599 think to do eleven games eleven losses, like better than second place in the 286 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:08,000 East. Yeah, they gotta be up there. It's interesting that you can 287 00:18:08,039 --> 00:18:11,920 get to the top tier via a lot of different reasons. Like there's a 288 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:15,880 lot of day though, even if they do bow out, are you going 289 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:19,400 to fall into that? I'm not hot taker recamp. But it's because when 290 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:22,319 you look at the salary they would have to move to make trades. It's 291 00:18:22,359 --> 00:18:26,880 a little harder to make impact moves without dipping into your top six players. 292 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:30,200 But even if they fall really short, I'm probably gonna be team like, 293 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:33,759 no, you need to float this another Like this team is just too good 294 00:18:33,799 --> 00:18:36,880 to say we need to overhaul it, run it back. You say it 295 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:41,559 all the time. Jason Tatum is still only nineteen. He got all the 296 00:18:41,599 --> 00:18:44,200 time in the world. Oh, he's gonna make three hundred million dollars this 297 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:48,359 summer. Probably, Yeah, So I think maybe there there might be another 298 00:18:48,519 --> 00:18:56,440 S tier team. What Okay, so let's talk about the Timberwolves. They're 299 00:18:56,480 --> 00:19:00,039 no lower than the Lakers Warriors tier. I think just because the season has 300 00:19:00,079 --> 00:19:04,039 been so good, I could be talked into the top tier, just because 301 00:19:04,039 --> 00:19:11,200 of the looming luxury tax stuff and the fact that this has basically been the 302 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:15,000 best season in franchise history, although like that won't be fully determined until you 303 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:19,359 see what they do in the playoffs. But the just the idea that like 304 00:19:21,039 --> 00:19:25,440 this is a team that will get broken up at some point for financial reasons. 305 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:29,480 We've talked a lot about, like it doesn't necessarily need to be until 306 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:32,440 like the end of next year, maybe if you're really just concerned about the 307 00:19:32,559 --> 00:19:36,599 tax. But they got to at least be the A tier, which is 308 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:38,599 next to the Lakers and Warriors. But do you have an art Are you 309 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:41,000 good with that or do you think there's a case that they belong at the 310 00:19:41,039 --> 00:19:45,039 absolute top? No? I don't. The Cat injury too is just I 311 00:19:45,039 --> 00:19:48,680 don't want to be a fan of excuses, and he's had some rough playoff 312 00:19:48,759 --> 00:19:52,039 runs. But when we kind of talk about the Warriors not having a clear 313 00:19:52,079 --> 00:19:56,839 second best player, the Wolves no longer have like a clear second score without 314 00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:59,960 Karl Anthony Towns, and so if he's gonna miss the first round or trying 315 00:19:59,920 --> 00:20:02,920 to come back early from the meniscus injury, that needs to be caked into 316 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:07,880 the calculus. And that coupled with the fact they don't have to make first 317 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:11,640 of all, if you're gonna own an NBA team, if you're worried about 318 00:20:11,079 --> 00:20:15,440 one or two years of this second apron stuff, maybe you shouldn't be owning 319 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:18,519 an NBA team. But how I digress there, because the decision doesn't have 320 00:20:18,599 --> 00:20:22,440 to be made until I'll say, at the absolute earliest, the twenty twenty 321 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:26,079 five trade deadline, because let's say they underachieve at the start of next season, 322 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:30,039 that lowers the pressure level that coupled with the Karl Anthony Towns injury for 323 00:20:30,079 --> 00:20:32,759 me, and there's also an element of for the fan base, this is 324 00:20:32,759 --> 00:20:36,720 not an insult. If the Wolves win a playoff round, their fans are 325 00:20:36,759 --> 00:20:38,519 going to be through the moon and that should absolutely matter. They should be 326 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:42,279 over the moon and that should absolutely matter. And so I can't maybe if 327 00:20:42,319 --> 00:20:47,559 Towns was healthy, but like just knowing how brutal the West is and just 328 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:52,160 their previous playoff track record. To get to this point after the season you 329 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:55,839 had last year, which was muddied by a bunch of stuff chemistry, lack 330 00:20:55,839 --> 00:20:59,359 of availability from Karl Anthony Towns. To be where you are now, there 331 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:04,720 is at least some level of moral victory here. Yeah, my nomination here 332 00:21:06,039 --> 00:21:08,680 which I'd be fascinated with. For you, where do we put the Kings? 333 00:21:11,519 --> 00:21:17,359 I think you can put the Kings with the Knicks and the Hawks a 334 00:21:17,359 --> 00:21:23,359 couple reasons. They still have outs they they aren't like. I don't think 335 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:29,200 expectations are super high. I think the fan base is generally pretty satisfied. 336 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:33,039 If they're a playoff team, they're certainly gonna be that. If they are 337 00:21:33,039 --> 00:21:36,119 another first round out, I think that's mildly disappointing. But I think if 338 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:41,039 you're being objective about it, it's probably the expectation. So yeah, I 339 00:21:41,039 --> 00:21:44,839 don't know, I guess it. I guess it's lower expectations, but maybe 340 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:47,680 I don't know. Maybe I'm just telling all myself there. But no, 341 00:21:47,759 --> 00:21:51,319 I think they are season away from being yes or the eight here. And 342 00:21:51,319 --> 00:21:55,200 I've kind of come around on this idea that there was no opportunity at the 343 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:57,400 trade deadline to really level up this team. I still if you want to 344 00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:00,799 get to the point of why weren't they the squad that gave up seconds to 345 00:22:00,799 --> 00:22:06,119 get Royce O'Neill, That is absolutely fair game, So don't I don't want 346 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:08,519 to like the fact that they didn't do anything at that level is disappointing. 347 00:22:08,799 --> 00:22:11,880 But when you look at I never thought Siakam was a good fit, so 348 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:15,559 why give up the value to get him? And then it's clear that Ojiannanobi 349 00:22:15,599 --> 00:22:18,880 didn't want to be there, so why would you ever even entertain giving up 350 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:23,039 Keegan Murray in first to get him. That pressure comes leading into this offseason 351 00:22:23,079 --> 00:22:26,279 when we now have two years worth of information of Okay, yeah, there's 352 00:22:26,279 --> 00:22:30,599 some weird stuff this year with the Keegan Murray shooting, that Kevin Herder shooting, 353 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:33,680 even the darn Fox stuff from the in between. This year has fallen 354 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:37,160 off, or at least of late it has, but we have two seasons 355 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:38,920 worth of information of well, these are the biggest issues, and for the 356 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:42,880 most part, they're the same biggest issues, So that the pressure is gonna 357 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:45,680 kick in in the offseason, and it's in a way where it's lower than 358 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:49,720 the Lakers. The Warriors because Fox and some Bonus are just younger, so 359 00:22:51,279 --> 00:22:55,599 you have more time there. Yeah, what do we do? Denver is 360 00:22:55,640 --> 00:23:00,000 just sitting there and they're the defending champs. I think you and I both 361 00:23:00,039 --> 00:23:04,319 agree that they're the most likely team to win the title this year. That's 362 00:23:04,319 --> 00:23:08,599 how I feel. I think I think they're I think they are the favorite, 363 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:11,920 right I don't know. I haven't looked at the betting odds. I 364 00:23:11,920 --> 00:23:15,880 think the Celtics have to be the favorite. I'm sure based on market like 365 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:19,079 knowing how that stuff sort of works. Okay, they shouldn't be, but 366 00:23:19,359 --> 00:23:25,799 right so, I think, like there's the grace period they won it last 367 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:29,480 year, but there's also the like so it's like, I don't know, 368 00:23:29,599 --> 00:23:32,480 you know, it could they could make the conference finals and bow out, 369 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:34,559 and like we'd go into next year thinking like, well, Jokis just won 370 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:38,319 is third MVP and like everybody's still here, so you know, not no 371 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:42,200 real concerns there. But at the same time, like if you should win 372 00:23:42,279 --> 00:23:47,200 it and you don't win it, like you know that there's some pressure there. 373 00:23:47,799 --> 00:23:51,480 It can only be one of the top two tiers for them, just 374 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:56,039 because they're so good and they should be expected to win it. There's just 375 00:23:56,079 --> 00:23:59,960 like the the the like disaster potential is not there, which is weird. 376 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:02,200 I just I want to put them in the A tier. I don't want 377 00:24:02,200 --> 00:24:04,680 to put them up there with Boston and the Bucks and Clippers and Sons. 378 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:08,039 I don't know. Why does that seem crazy? No? And look, 379 00:24:08,079 --> 00:24:11,920 part of it is because they're so good and they just won, so that 380 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:15,519 doesn't alleviate some of the pressure. And the other thing is what did you 381 00:24:15,599 --> 00:24:19,480 want them to do to better cement their odds this year? And now this 382 00:24:19,519 --> 00:24:22,680 is where you get into well, they are trying sort of the two timeline 383 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:26,960 thing, but what was the trade? They couldn't bring back Bruce Brown. 384 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:30,279 That was just financially they weren't allowed to do it. And then what was 385 00:24:30,319 --> 00:24:33,720 the trade? Because yeah, you could suggest, well, if they would 386 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:37,000 have used some of their first like rather than trying to get off these salaries 387 00:24:37,079 --> 00:24:38,319 or part of these smaller deals, if they would have traded distant first for 388 00:24:38,359 --> 00:24:42,279 actual players, where are you getting your matching salary from? It would have 389 00:24:42,279 --> 00:24:45,799 been from one of your five most important players who should be deemed untouchable. 390 00:24:47,079 --> 00:24:48,839 There's a level of pressure there just because you have the best player in the 391 00:24:48,920 --> 00:24:53,359 NBA. You're getting to a point where you have to reinvest Inkentavious Caldwell Pope 392 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:56,279 again after this year, who has the player option? And you have to 393 00:24:56,279 --> 00:25:00,359 start thinking about, well, what do we do like Aaron Gordon on his 394 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:03,720 next contract, and then with Jamal Murray and then even like we know what 395 00:25:03,160 --> 00:25:07,000 the deal is going to be with Jokic. So there's the level of pressure 396 00:25:07,039 --> 00:25:11,279 there, but I don't think it's any more urgent than other contenders at this 397 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:15,279 moment. And like, I think next season, if they come out flat, 398 00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:17,839 or if they were bounced early in the playoffs, or even think it 399 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:21,599 bounced really early this year, that's where you can start to question leaning into 400 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:25,240 next season of like do they continue down this path of trying to make sure 401 00:25:25,279 --> 00:25:29,559 that they have this open ended timeline thanks to Christian Brown and Peyton Watson and 402 00:25:30,079 --> 00:25:33,079 Julius Strouther. So that's still kind of up for debate. But they've been 403 00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:37,000 so good this year against some of the top end teams. I'm with you, 404 00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:40,559 they're out of at in respect, but I could even just I wouldn't 405 00:25:40,559 --> 00:25:42,079 even put them in the bet here just because if they lose in the first 406 00:25:42,119 --> 00:25:45,480 round, I might still if they're going to keep their top five guys, 407 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:48,759 I'm just gonna pick them to win the title again next year. They're so 408 00:25:49,039 --> 00:25:56,119 stable in a way that distinguishes them from really everybody in both of the top 409 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:57,680 two tiers. Yeah, so I think we got to leave them in a 410 00:25:57,799 --> 00:26:02,440 but there's a case for here's here's one for you. I think this is 411 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:07,599 an easy one. Well maybe not the Indiana Pacers. I would put them 412 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:11,920 in the seats here next to the Bulls and the Rockets, even after giving 413 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:15,000 up multiple first round picks to get Siakam. I think they're just gonna pay 414 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:18,720 whatever the hell it takes to keep him because they have to. And so, 415 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:22,839 like I guess, I guess if you're really worried that they might have 416 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:26,119 just set those picks on fire and they aren't gonna keep him, you could 417 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:30,000 move him up. But like you have, Tyre's Halliburn, and he emerged 418 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:33,240 when healthy this year as like an All NBA first team or potentially he was 419 00:26:33,279 --> 00:26:36,599 way up in the MVP voting before he hurt the hamstring. He's looked better 420 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:38,599 lately. I think everybody agrees. But Carlisle is a good coach. They 421 00:26:38,640 --> 00:26:42,839 have a bunch of like nice depth pieces. Your Nie Smith's, your Nemhard's 422 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:48,799 like you're Jalen Smith, like they they just like I think next year, 423 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:52,759 if they stay healthy, the expectations should be that they're gonna fight for a 424 00:26:52,839 --> 00:26:56,440 top four seed. Potentially they're gonna need defensive help and some organic growth. 425 00:26:56,480 --> 00:27:00,920 But like, this doesn't feel like an urgent and we got to do it 426 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:03,960 this year. There's nothing other than Siakam walking, which I just don't think 427 00:27:04,079 --> 00:27:07,400 is gonna happen. You wouldn't have traded for him if that were a real 428 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:11,000 pos even how he lit up the other night, with how Jars Walker played, 429 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:14,880 I'm just assuming he wants to have his statue get Indy. The other 430 00:27:14,920 --> 00:27:18,119 thing, too, is of the picks they gave up, there's just like 431 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:19,799 the one of them where the twenty twenty six to one is the one where 432 00:27:19,839 --> 00:27:23,319 it's a little bit iffy. And then also, to borrow the phrase that 433 00:27:23,359 --> 00:27:27,079 you you used, they still have outs because they still have future. First, 434 00:27:27,319 --> 00:27:30,799 if you wanted to, you can move Walker, you have Bette mc 435 00:27:30,839 --> 00:27:34,440 matthew probably up his stock a little bit this season. I think I thought 436 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:37,160 about them as a B tier team, but this was never supposed to be 437 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:41,319 the year, supposed to set them up maybe next year or the year after 438 00:27:41,359 --> 00:27:44,000 to be the year. And that's when you talk about them under more pressure 439 00:27:44,039 --> 00:27:47,359 and talk about outs. God knows every team in the world wants a Miles 440 00:27:47,359 --> 00:27:51,480 Turner type, so you can always move Miles Turner. All right, that's 441 00:27:51,519 --> 00:27:56,279 a good one. Uh what do you think about the sixers? So this 442 00:27:56,440 --> 00:28:00,880 is gonna? I would argue that they belong in the seat year, and 443 00:28:00,279 --> 00:28:03,160 I would either, okay, good. So it's yes, you're on the 444 00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:07,480 Joel eband timeline, but he's we know he's gonna come back from the meniscus 445 00:28:07,480 --> 00:28:11,400 injury. You just can't reasonably expect him to be the Joel embiid that he 446 00:28:11,680 --> 00:28:15,920 was leading before the meniscus injury, and that you're just a contender again. 447 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:18,880 And the other thing here is that, yes, you did trade for Buddy 448 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:22,960 Heel, but like you set your books up so that you could go all 449 00:28:23,039 --> 00:28:27,119 in ahead of next season, right, so that this clearly wasn't the season. 450 00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:32,279 Especially you know, in most cases you can make jokes about how James 451 00:28:32,279 --> 00:28:37,440 Harden team trajectories pan out. In most cases, you're not gonna trade James 452 00:28:37,440 --> 00:28:40,839 Harden. Then expect to be under pressure to win a title that season. 453 00:28:41,119 --> 00:28:45,480 The Sixers were unique in that scenario because unlike the Rockets, unlike the Nets, 454 00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:48,000 they were still kind of expected to contend because of the leap that Tyres 455 00:28:48,079 --> 00:28:51,680 Maxi made him when you had him beat healthy, the fact that you don't 456 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:53,359 have him be healthy, and that you've telegraphed, hey, we want to 457 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:56,279 use our cap space, probably not in free agency, but on the trade 458 00:28:56,279 --> 00:29:00,000 market, and maybe it is free agency if Paul George decides to walk. 459 00:29:00,519 --> 00:29:03,880 I really think that, No, you're not dealing with found money because just 460 00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:06,559 I don't want to say punting on a year of Joel Embiad's prime, because 461 00:29:06,559 --> 00:29:08,519 part of the reason you're missing out on it is he was injured. There's 462 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:14,839 urgency there, but it's you haven't like if he wasn't injured, then maybe 463 00:29:14,880 --> 00:29:17,799 this would be a different discussion. And just you said it, but like 464 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:22,279 having having one foot in this year because of Joel Embiid's prime and one foot 465 00:29:22,359 --> 00:29:26,519 in, let's clear as much room as possible for maximum flexibility for next year. 466 00:29:26,759 --> 00:29:30,799 It's like, by definition, you're not all your eggs are not in 467 00:29:30,880 --> 00:29:34,319 this basket like you've got you've got two distinct baskets and now like you're focusing 468 00:29:34,359 --> 00:29:38,960 on the more distant one. Like that's that's a terribly mixed metaphor. Uh, 469 00:29:40,079 --> 00:29:45,519 but you get the idea. I am ready to do the Oklahoma City 470 00:29:45,519 --> 00:29:49,000 funder okay, and I am like, I want to put them in the 471 00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:55,799 Sea tier I under is that insulting? No. I think you could make 472 00:29:55,839 --> 00:29:59,079 a case that they belong in the lower tier than that, but we just 473 00:29:59,119 --> 00:30:03,400 can't do that because so, like you know how every so often Kirk Goldsberry, 474 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:06,759 I think will put up like team efficiency rankings and like quadrants, right, 475 00:30:06,799 --> 00:30:10,839 and it's like what stands out the Thunder are by far, they're like 476 00:30:10,920 --> 00:30:15,799 in their own quadrant in terms of like maximum championship potential, minimum pressure. 477 00:30:15,839 --> 00:30:18,000 So they're like all the way to either the top right or the bottom left, 478 00:30:18,039 --> 00:30:23,640 depending on how it's set up in those kind of graphical illustrations, Because 479 00:30:23,680 --> 00:30:30,000 like, they could make the finals and nobody would be upset if they lost 480 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:32,960 in the first round, because the only thing that changes next year is all 481 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:37,039 their best players get a year older and they're and better. And so I'm 482 00:30:37,039 --> 00:30:40,559 with everything you said. The only thing I'd add is, even if this 483 00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:45,880 ends in disaster, which disaster means having a top three record when no one 484 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:49,119 was really even smashing. You're over at the start of the season, is 485 00:30:49,160 --> 00:30:52,880 you have the information necessary to say, well, this is what we need, 486 00:30:52,240 --> 00:30:55,440 and now the pressure's on to go out and get it. But there's 487 00:30:55,519 --> 00:31:00,599 no pressure to getting to that point because you want to have that information not 488 00:31:00,640 --> 00:31:06,319 only to lose, but like Sam Pressy's gonna find value because this team is 489 00:31:06,359 --> 00:31:10,759 so malleable moving forward with its picks, with the players, the salaries they 490 00:31:10,759 --> 00:31:12,559 have on their roster, the prospects, they can move in so many different 491 00:31:12,559 --> 00:31:18,720 directions that they're going to value the resolution to this season whatever it is, 492 00:31:18,200 --> 00:31:23,880 right. And it's just like talking about outs like they got they got nine 493 00:31:23,880 --> 00:31:27,720 innings worth of them, like they have twenty seven first round picks. You 494 00:31:27,799 --> 00:31:32,599 know, it's just it's ridiculous. Like so they'll be able to identify what 495 00:31:32,640 --> 00:31:34,960 they need and what they need honestly, might just be more experienced and that'd 496 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:37,920 be fine, but if it's a certain type of player, like no one's 497 00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:41,960 more equipped to just go out and make it happen, like you, you'll 498 00:31:41,960 --> 00:31:44,880 know what you need and you'll have more means to get it than anyone else 499 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:48,079 in the league. So there are like maybe three teams that have the assets 500 00:31:48,079 --> 00:31:52,279 necessary to create their own trade market. What I mean by that is just 501 00:31:52,319 --> 00:31:56,440 going out and getting a player who's not readily or even considered available because they 502 00:31:56,480 --> 00:32:00,599 have the ability to make that type of offer. There's OKC, and there's 503 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:05,119 probably Utah, and then like, I think you could throw the Pelicans in 504 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:07,480 there when you're dealing with if they wanted to include some of their actual players. 505 00:32:07,480 --> 00:32:10,400 But I don't know that there's another team that would fit under that umbrella. 506 00:32:10,519 --> 00:32:14,720 No, I don't think so either. Yeah, that that's I was 507 00:32:14,720 --> 00:32:16,119 wondering what you're gonna do with them. I think that's the right decision. 508 00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:20,960 Okay, Uh, let's well, you said the Pelicans. Uh, let's 509 00:32:21,079 --> 00:32:23,960 let's do them. I feel like they've gotta be no lower than be you're 510 00:32:23,960 --> 00:32:28,559 hovering around a you think there's that much pressure on them. Well, at 511 00:32:28,599 --> 00:32:32,200 some point, it's just like like how do we see like what it's not? 512 00:32:32,319 --> 00:32:36,119 Have we seen this movie before? Can we get to see this movie? 513 00:32:36,160 --> 00:32:38,519 Actually? Can we get through the trail which is healthy Zion, healthy 514 00:32:38,559 --> 00:32:44,200 brandon Ingram in the actual playoffs? I think it needs to be a because 515 00:32:44,200 --> 00:32:46,599 it's just like we talk about, Okay, we know this team's identity is 516 00:32:46,599 --> 00:32:51,200 best with point Zion. We know that it can mesh with Brandon Ingram. 517 00:32:51,240 --> 00:32:53,599 We've seen it before his uh, his knee injury, but are we ever 518 00:32:53,599 --> 00:32:57,319 gonna get a chance to actually see it? And you also have Yonas Valancunas 519 00:32:57,359 --> 00:33:00,480 entering free agency. You're starting to get to the point where no team is 520 00:33:00,519 --> 00:33:02,279 I don't think they've ever paid the tax, and now if you want to 521 00:33:02,319 --> 00:33:06,799 get better or even retain your talent, you might have to start paying the 522 00:33:06,839 --> 00:33:08,960 tax, if not next season, and then certainly the season after. And 523 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:12,440 then you're dealing with, well, what is Brandon Ingram worth to us on 524 00:33:12,519 --> 00:33:15,119 his next contract? And oh, Trey Murphy's next contract's gonna be coming up 525 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:19,000 as well. I think they're under a ton of pressure, and part of 526 00:33:19,240 --> 00:33:22,880 it's almost the antithesis of some of these other teams where it's we just don't 527 00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:29,000 have enough information about like what they are operating as currently constructed at their peak 528 00:33:29,279 --> 00:33:32,599 because it's never sustained long enough. But you're also running out of time to 529 00:33:32,640 --> 00:33:36,359 just say, well, we can just wait and like they're not the thunder, 530 00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:38,960 like they've they've waited out this core long enough to where if they don't 531 00:33:39,279 --> 00:33:43,079 if they won, can't even get to see their best shot or two just 532 00:33:43,119 --> 00:33:45,960 see that their best shot isn't enough. Uh, there's like they're gonna have 533 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:52,000 to start asking some awkward wholesale questions. Yeah, I think I think they're 534 00:33:52,119 --> 00:33:55,960 so young that it feels there's I mean, it makes it feel a little 535 00:33:55,960 --> 00:33:59,839 weird to put them up this high. But we've been asking, well, 536 00:33:59,839 --> 00:34:02,279 what about the zion ingram fit for like three years now, like we're not 537 00:34:02,559 --> 00:34:07,400 sure about that, and like the fact that they've been so good lately just 538 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:12,679 sort of starts to kindle some hopes that like, oh man, they might 539 00:34:12,719 --> 00:34:15,639 be I think JJ Reddick said he liked them to come out of the West 540 00:34:15,639 --> 00:34:19,519 potentially or like make the conference spot. Like there's definitely like enough hype now 541 00:34:19,559 --> 00:34:23,519 that we sort of have created some artificial like pressure. You know, there's 542 00:34:23,639 --> 00:34:27,639 organic pressure, but now we've added some, right. Yeah, And it's 543 00:34:27,639 --> 00:34:31,880 also it's a different type of pressure to where it's like, I get similar 544 00:34:31,920 --> 00:34:36,239 to the Knicks, except I think because the Pelicans have dealt with this, 545 00:34:36,440 --> 00:34:39,280 like they've had this corn place a little bit longer. You're gonna be if 546 00:34:39,320 --> 00:34:42,880 the Knicks get bounce in the first round. Let's say there are people are 547 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:44,920 gonna push for them. Okay, this has to be the summer they make 548 00:34:44,920 --> 00:34:49,159 the blockbuster trade. The Pelicans, I think will be under that same pressure. 549 00:34:49,199 --> 00:34:52,519 But theirs is more complicated because I don't know that there's a When you 550 00:34:52,559 --> 00:34:54,639 look at how good their players are, it's okay, well, you could 551 00:34:54,639 --> 00:34:59,119 say, well you need to upgrade the CJ. McCullum lineup spot maybe not 552 00:34:59,119 --> 00:35:01,440 not that position necessary, or the Yonus doll and treated at spot well with 553 00:35:01,519 --> 00:35:07,239 who is it worth to upgrade from? And so that makes what they're doing, 554 00:35:07,760 --> 00:35:09,480 depending on how the season ends, a lot more difficult. Yeah, 555 00:35:09,599 --> 00:35:13,840 let's let's pick an easier one. Let's do Orlando next. I feel like 556 00:35:13,960 --> 00:35:17,280 they belong next to OKC in the second and it's just like we know their 557 00:35:17,280 --> 00:35:20,840 defense is going to be for real, and we know what they need on 558 00:35:20,880 --> 00:35:25,639 the offensive end, and so they're almost honestly among all these teams, maybe 559 00:35:25,679 --> 00:35:30,000 the Rockets, but like you, I think you could make the easiest case 560 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:32,519 of their magic to be in the D tier just because they haven't even tried, 561 00:35:32,880 --> 00:35:36,119 they haven't gone out and spent a ton of mon long term money in 562 00:35:36,159 --> 00:35:38,639 free agency. They haven't tried to make some big trade and so it's just 563 00:35:38,679 --> 00:35:42,400 like they're they might have home court advantage through this. And it's not an 564 00:35:42,400 --> 00:35:44,760 insult. It's if they get bounced in the first round. I think that'll 565 00:35:44,800 --> 00:35:47,960 be the expectation no matter where they end up. Quite frankly, right if 566 00:35:49,119 --> 00:35:52,400 I feel like if Orlando takes a team to six in the first round, 567 00:35:52,440 --> 00:35:55,639 everybody's gonna be like, oh awesome, look out next year. There'll be 568 00:35:55,719 --> 00:36:00,440 no disappointment. I don't think are you ready for a harder team? These 569 00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:02,599 are all three of the ones that are left are tough. Uh well, 570 00:36:02,719 --> 00:36:06,440 you know what, I'm gonna make a case for the heat needing to be 571 00:36:06,480 --> 00:36:08,280 in the S tier. Oh wow, I thought we were done with this. 572 00:36:08,559 --> 00:36:12,360 Here's the thing is that you could look at it say, well, 573 00:36:12,360 --> 00:36:14,760 they've been so banged up and like, if they're gonna get in through the 574 00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:19,440 plane and we've seen them make these conference finals and NBA Finals pushes at some 575 00:36:19,679 --> 00:36:22,880 point, not finishing in the top six of the conference is an indictment of 576 00:36:22,920 --> 00:36:27,480 the way that you have built your team, Like the fact that you need 577 00:36:27,519 --> 00:36:31,119 to go through that entire stretch of postseason to reach the finals. And the 578 00:36:31,239 --> 00:36:36,119 other thing here, which I think adds pressure, is they kind of decided, 579 00:36:36,920 --> 00:36:38,440 oh, we're not gonna hold out, or we don't have the ammunition 580 00:36:38,480 --> 00:36:40,840 for a star trade, so we're gonna trade a distant first round pick to 581 00:36:40,880 --> 00:36:46,800 get Terry Rozier, who is maybe like I'm not exactly Like that's kind of 582 00:36:46,840 --> 00:36:51,840 like when you say maybe he's the fiftieth best player in the NBA, Like 583 00:36:51,920 --> 00:36:53,880 that's just a very I don't want to say. Maybe it ends up panning 584 00:36:53,880 --> 00:36:58,880 out. Otherwise it's an uninspiring move. And so now you've hamstrung your trade 585 00:36:58,880 --> 00:37:02,079 assets even more. Or the fact that you unearthed Jimai hawk as is great, 586 00:37:02,480 --> 00:37:06,320 but like, what is Kayla Martin's next contract going to look like? 587 00:37:06,360 --> 00:37:09,840 Jimmy Butler's not getting any younger. What is tyler Heroes value to this team 588 00:37:09,880 --> 00:37:13,920 long term or as a trade asset? No, Look, he's injured as 589 00:37:13,960 --> 00:37:15,960 well, and Duncan Robinson looks like a bargain. But oh he's hurt again 590 00:37:16,280 --> 00:37:20,400 too. So this team is just even if you want to focus on the 591 00:37:20,440 --> 00:37:23,760 Jimmy Butler timeline, you're just you know, you can't play the the heat 592 00:37:23,800 --> 00:37:28,320 culture cards forever, and I'll shut my mouth for good if they make the 593 00:37:28,400 --> 00:37:30,719 NBA Finals again well backing their way into the play in But like, do 594 00:37:30,760 --> 00:37:36,119 you even expect them to catch the Pacers at this point to be with a 595 00:37:36,199 --> 00:37:38,480 top six spot? And so if you're gonna constantly be in this position to 596 00:37:38,519 --> 00:37:43,920 where you're not a top six team in your conference and yet you don't have 597 00:37:43,960 --> 00:37:45,920 the assets to go out and get a star. You have one young star, 598 00:37:46,119 --> 00:37:50,920 but I guess you know Tyler Heroes, young jimay hawks Is is young, 599 00:37:50,960 --> 00:37:54,400 so you have outs. But the player who drives everything, who is 600 00:37:54,400 --> 00:37:59,599 one of the five to seven most valuable players come playoff time, that dude 601 00:37:59,639 --> 00:38:02,480 is in getting into his mid and late thirties. You're just running out of 602 00:38:02,559 --> 00:38:06,920 time. And now you decided that, oh, we're actually not gonna chase 603 00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:10,480 that we're okay trading a distant first round pick in a non blockbuster, And 604 00:38:10,480 --> 00:38:15,760 so I do think you've now inherently increased the pressure factor for yourself. Whereas 605 00:38:15,760 --> 00:38:17,679 if they didn't make that trade, Grant, I think, based on the 606 00:38:17,719 --> 00:38:21,199 injuries, I would have said that they could have been like an A or 607 00:38:21,239 --> 00:38:24,920 B tier team. Yeah, I think you talked me into it. It's 608 00:38:24,920 --> 00:38:29,840 still they're they're my They're the shakiest of the top tier, but it does 609 00:38:29,880 --> 00:38:32,079 it would feel weird to put them in the same tier as like Denver and 610 00:38:32,159 --> 00:38:36,159 like a couple of teams that might not even make the plan and are well 611 00:38:36,199 --> 00:38:38,519 at least one in the Warriors. So I'm good with that. Okay, 612 00:38:39,400 --> 00:38:43,840 all these teams, the last two are still difficult. Let's do Cleveland. 613 00:38:44,719 --> 00:38:47,519 And this is a case where you got a way whether the injuries are cover 614 00:38:49,400 --> 00:38:52,920 or if it's like and and the fact that like you're two if not your 615 00:38:52,960 --> 00:38:55,719 two best players, but certainly two of your four best players are still in 616 00:38:55,719 --> 00:39:00,079 their early twenties in Mobile and Garland, and like Allen's on a good cont 617 00:39:00,239 --> 00:39:07,480 like we cannot put Cleveland in the top tier. I'm vacillating between the middle 618 00:39:07,480 --> 00:39:12,639 tier, the B tier, and the A tier. I don't I don't 619 00:39:12,639 --> 00:39:15,599 know what to do with them, just because the samples are all sorts of 620 00:39:15,599 --> 00:39:17,360 fucked up because of all the injuries. They don't and like, so what 621 00:39:17,519 --> 00:39:22,519 to you would be an unqualified disappointment in terms of their playoff fate. This 622 00:39:22,719 --> 00:39:27,440 they pull the Orlando magic in round one, get stifled by their defense and 623 00:39:27,480 --> 00:39:30,119 lose. You lose, right, which is what happened last year when they 624 00:39:30,119 --> 00:39:34,679 were healthier. So it's like, I don't know, I think I think 625 00:39:34,920 --> 00:39:37,719 I do, so I think the only reason to put them in the A 626 00:39:37,880 --> 00:39:45,199 tier would be do you think that a first round exit would result in a 627 00:39:45,239 --> 00:39:50,440 referendum on Donovan Mitchell wanting to be there? I'm not ready to go there 628 00:39:51,119 --> 00:39:54,639 just because I haven't seen any signals privately publicly that seems like he's unhappy. 629 00:39:54,679 --> 00:39:58,880 And even if he was unhappier on the fence, like you just still have 630 00:39:58,960 --> 00:40:01,480 him under get you could see this through you really wanted to and decide what 631 00:40:01,519 --> 00:40:06,159 to do it next year's trade deadline. So mott my gut says B tier 632 00:40:06,320 --> 00:40:10,079 just because of all the injuries I could I do if if you feel strongly 633 00:40:10,119 --> 00:40:14,639 about the Donovan Mitchell factor. Though I totally get the A tier argument. 634 00:40:14,760 --> 00:40:16,960 What's interesting is I don't know which way the Donovan Mitchell factor cuts or I 635 00:40:16,960 --> 00:40:21,760 don't think the Donvan Mitchell factor cuts any direction, because if you're I, 636 00:40:21,920 --> 00:40:24,519 I kind of would go the other way with like, I don't think I 637 00:40:24,880 --> 00:40:30,159 think he's gonna leave or tell them he wants to be traded regardless of what 638 00:40:30,199 --> 00:40:35,519 happened, not necessarily like not on July one or whatever. I just think 639 00:40:35,639 --> 00:40:39,920 the way that at some point he will either his contract will expire or he 640 00:40:39,960 --> 00:40:44,000 will before that say like yeah, you know New York one or the other 641 00:40:44,280 --> 00:40:47,000 just or Miami something so, and like, I think that's gonna be my 642 00:40:47,079 --> 00:40:50,639 opinion on it, whether they get bounced in the first round or whether they 643 00:40:50,639 --> 00:40:52,320 make the conference finals. So let's let's go be tier. I don't think. 644 00:40:52,360 --> 00:40:55,079 I don't think that weighs too heavily. And the other thing is, 645 00:40:55,119 --> 00:40:58,880 just like even I they just get bounced in the first round, you're still 646 00:40:58,960 --> 00:41:01,960 left with the these top four guys who are so good. And then Garland 647 00:41:01,960 --> 00:41:06,519 and Mobley have not even hit their primes yet. I know Garland's had some 648 00:41:06,519 --> 00:41:08,039 weird stuff going on this season, and will he ever be a good finisher? 649 00:41:08,119 --> 00:41:10,800 YadA, YadA, YadA. They're just still in a really good position, 650 00:41:10,880 --> 00:41:14,960 even though they're kind of it's hard to upgrade this roster, but they're 651 00:41:14,960 --> 00:41:17,599 also they're not expensive to the point yet where they're not going to have some 652 00:41:17,639 --> 00:41:22,000 spending tools in free agency. Yeah, I'm with it, Okay, the 653 00:41:22,039 --> 00:41:27,239 Mavericks, which is does I think I want to put them in the s 654 00:41:27,320 --> 00:41:29,760 t here? I think I want to put them all the way up. 655 00:41:30,239 --> 00:41:31,800 I look, you gave me the heat, so i'll give you the MAVs. 656 00:41:31,880 --> 00:41:36,960 I would argue that, you know what, they did trade like first 657 00:41:37,039 --> 00:41:39,280 round picks at the deadline, so they they did come from stuff. Yeah, 658 00:41:39,320 --> 00:41:44,400 they burned the picks. I think, you know, you'd be a 659 00:41:44,440 --> 00:41:47,639 fool not to at least think you probably would. You don't need to fixate 660 00:41:47,679 --> 00:41:51,480 it on it, on it as much as I do, but you got 661 00:41:51,599 --> 00:41:54,639 to at least think about the Luka Doncic like satisfaction index. We're doing the 662 00:41:54,639 --> 00:42:00,440 pressure index. But like if they get eliminated in the first round, you 663 00:42:00,480 --> 00:42:02,760 know that you're still gonna ask all these questions like what do we put around 664 00:42:02,800 --> 00:42:05,760 this guy? And how long is he gonna put up with this? You 665 00:42:05,760 --> 00:42:08,440 know? And they got so again the word of the day is outs. 666 00:42:08,639 --> 00:42:14,000 Like they're running out of them. They've they've burned on middling moves. They 667 00:42:14,039 --> 00:42:15,119 do have some, but they don't have as many as they used to. 668 00:42:15,519 --> 00:42:20,559 Right, Yeah, I could see the case for what's tough with them? 669 00:42:20,840 --> 00:42:22,480 Is that, And I think it's the same with the Heat. Is that 670 00:42:23,079 --> 00:42:27,840 the other four teams, the Bucks, the Celtics, the Clippers, and 671 00:42:27,880 --> 00:42:31,079 the Suns, it'll be inexcusable if they get bounced in the first round. 672 00:42:31,119 --> 00:42:34,800 And you can even say, well, what if Phoenix pulls like a really 673 00:42:34,840 --> 00:42:37,199 like the Nuggets in the first role, so well, then Phoenix should have 674 00:42:37,199 --> 00:42:40,159 won more fucking regular season games to avoid that. Whereas the Mavericks, it's 675 00:42:40,199 --> 00:42:45,159 just sort of like they were at the talent deficit. The matchup could be 676 00:42:45,159 --> 00:42:49,440 really difficult. Could you see at least them thinking we did remake our roster 677 00:42:49,519 --> 00:42:52,519 a little bit mid season. Yeah, sure we lost, but we pushed 678 00:42:52,639 --> 00:42:54,760 whatever team we faced the first round of six or seven games and it was 679 00:42:54,760 --> 00:42:59,639 competitive. I think that that I'm leaving them in the st here, just 680 00:42:59,639 --> 00:43:01,679 because when the stakes you're dealing with Luka Donci who's one of the five best 681 00:43:01,679 --> 00:43:06,880 players in basketball. The stakes are so high on any given season. But 682 00:43:07,159 --> 00:43:10,599 I think I've seen enough signs of progress with him and Kyrie Irving and to 683 00:43:10,679 --> 00:43:15,400 at least like, Okay, well you have something in the front court that 684 00:43:15,519 --> 00:43:17,960 I could understand the argument for the a tire, But it's just I, 685 00:43:20,199 --> 00:43:22,039 yeah, I don't want you to give it to me just because I, 686 00:43:22,400 --> 00:43:27,280 like I gave I conceded on the heat. I'm kind of arguing against myself. 687 00:43:27,679 --> 00:43:31,039 I want, like a he would be why the pressure is not as 688 00:43:31,119 --> 00:43:37,280 high because Luka Doncic is good enough to where you see it through until the 689 00:43:37,400 --> 00:43:38,920 end of his contract, even if he at some point decides not to sign 690 00:43:38,960 --> 00:43:43,280 an extension and we know that that's not going to be an issue for at 691 00:43:43,320 --> 00:43:46,960 least another year. It's like, I'm wondering if that detracts from the pressure 692 00:43:47,000 --> 00:43:52,360 at all. Here Again, as you've said, some picks will open up 693 00:43:52,400 --> 00:43:54,960 for them to trade moving forward, but they still just have so few outs 694 00:43:55,000 --> 00:43:59,599 to where no, they're not locked into this core, but what are you 695 00:43:59,719 --> 00:44:04,280 moved aside from what little first round equity you have left to go and make 696 00:44:04,320 --> 00:44:08,480 that needle nudging trade. I it's I understand the case. They have to 697 00:44:08,519 --> 00:44:10,360 be one of the top two tiers, let me make that clear. But 698 00:44:10,360 --> 00:44:15,480 I for sure I wonder though, like we've focus focused a lot on like 699 00:44:15,519 --> 00:44:19,119 the last best shot thing, it don't it doesn't feel like their last best 700 00:44:19,119 --> 00:44:22,360 shot just because like you said, they're gonna have Luca for as long as 701 00:44:22,400 --> 00:44:25,599 it's possible to have Luca. So maybe let's let's bump them down. They 702 00:44:25,920 --> 00:44:30,800 can't go lower than that. But I think, I think I like the 703 00:44:30,840 --> 00:44:35,039 look of the of the five teams we have in the top tier in Dallas 704 00:44:35,639 --> 00:44:38,119 because Luca is there, Like, I guess, if you really think he 705 00:44:38,239 --> 00:44:42,239 will not be there if this goes badly, then they have to move up. 706 00:44:42,280 --> 00:44:46,360 But I just they're not gonna if he demanded a trade, imagine what 707 00:44:46,440 --> 00:44:51,519 you'd get for him. Like, So, I mean, I I guess, 708 00:44:51,559 --> 00:44:52,760 I yeah, I think, I think. Uh, I think we've 709 00:44:52,760 --> 00:44:57,400 got it. We've got it right there, they're not quite maximum pressure so 710 00:44:57,519 --> 00:45:01,440 quickly to wrap this up, which team is U under the single most pressure 711 00:45:01,639 --> 00:45:06,599 entering the twenty twenty four playoffs, I know it's either the Heat, the 712 00:45:06,639 --> 00:45:08,199 Celtics, the Bucks, the Clippers, or the Suns based on our tiers. 713 00:45:08,559 --> 00:45:14,039 Yeah, I rule the Celtics out because they could just run it back 714 00:45:14,079 --> 00:45:17,840 with no problem. I rule the Heat out because I don't think their expectations 715 00:45:17,840 --> 00:45:23,920 are quite as high. Yeah, I think I probably gotta. I think 716 00:45:23,960 --> 00:45:30,280 it's Phoenix just because like there's no second option, Like this is just you 717 00:45:30,360 --> 00:45:35,719 gotta Kevin Durant's gonna be a year older next year. This you're not that 718 00:45:36,280 --> 00:45:37,920 like it would be a shock if they want a title to me, but 719 00:45:38,039 --> 00:45:42,599 like that is the expectation, and that is sort of what the way they 720 00:45:42,599 --> 00:45:45,840 put their roster together demands they do. So I feel like Phoenix is the 721 00:45:46,039 --> 00:45:50,280 is the highest pressure. What do you think I would actually I would agree 722 00:45:50,280 --> 00:45:52,679 with you there. And it's also just if you're looking at kind of breaking 723 00:45:52,800 --> 00:45:57,480 up the top of the roster, they have more outs because it's like if 724 00:45:57,480 --> 00:46:00,400 they have to sign and trade Paul George, there might be a worse team, 725 00:46:00,760 --> 00:46:01,639 but they're still gonna get a lot of value for him. Where it's 726 00:46:01,639 --> 00:46:05,119 like, what would the value being a Kevin Durand or Bradley Beal trade, 727 00:46:05,280 --> 00:46:07,960 the latter of whom has a no trade clause right now, And if Devin 728 00:46:07,960 --> 00:46:10,519 Booker requests out, that's just an abject disaster. So yeah, I think 729 00:46:10,760 --> 00:46:14,920 if he wants out, Yeah, yeah, they're they're they're absolutely done. 730 00:46:19,559 --> 00:46:22,360 We are on the stat padding. Guess a player. We're gonna keep this 731 00:46:22,639 --> 00:46:24,440 short because we're pressed for time, so we'll do each of us. We'll 732 00:46:24,440 --> 00:46:28,679 get to do you wanna do you want to start us off? Yes, 733 00:46:28,840 --> 00:46:32,840 I have a guess a player for you from Rubik scale here. Uh. 734 00:46:34,039 --> 00:46:42,000 Clue number one. Kevon Looney wishes he could be me. Uh this is 735 00:46:42,239 --> 00:46:45,480 can I yeah. No. Clue number two, I I have no trade 736 00:46:45,480 --> 00:46:50,159 staction Davis to start naming players who I read guys that are playing ahead of 737 00:46:50,199 --> 00:46:53,199 them. Clue number two. I made only eight threes in my career in 738 00:46:53,280 --> 00:46:57,119 eighty three attempts, but the longest was when I took a heave from the 739 00:46:57,119 --> 00:47:04,079 opposing free throw line in my final game and rap I didn't remember that final 740 00:47:04,159 --> 00:47:07,320 game and rattled it in. So I'm thinking it's got I'm assuming he's got 741 00:47:07,320 --> 00:47:08,679 to be a big guy at this point, just based off those clues. 742 00:47:08,719 --> 00:47:15,440 I got no this. That's my facial expression trying to give away nothing. 743 00:47:15,519 --> 00:47:20,760 Uh. Clue number three. I was the first basketball player to turn pro 744 00:47:20,880 --> 00:47:27,920 immediately after high school, the first basketball player to turn pro immediately after I 745 00:47:28,239 --> 00:47:32,840 already know I'm not going to get this one. Uh you well, you 746 00:47:32,920 --> 00:47:37,159 might get it all right. Clue number four. I am the only NBA 747 00:47:37,239 --> 00:47:44,079 player to win the MVP Award in consecutive years with different teams. So back 748 00:47:44,079 --> 00:47:49,159 to back MVPs, but changed teams. Only Barry Bonds has ever replicated this 749 00:47:49,239 --> 00:47:52,800 in any of the other four major American pro sports. I'm also a lot 750 00:47:52,800 --> 00:47:57,960 of information in this clue. The only the MVP with the fewest assists per 751 00:47:58,000 --> 00:48:04,360 game in an MVP season under to assists per game? Good? Uh? 752 00:48:04,639 --> 00:48:08,800 It a multi time MVP? Is it Bill? Not? No? It 753 00:48:08,840 --> 00:48:15,920 is not Bill Russell. Uh Charles Barkley? Did he went to MVPs? 754 00:48:15,320 --> 00:48:21,079 Do even win MVP? I think he wanted in Phoenix. It's not Charles 755 00:48:21,159 --> 00:48:23,199 Barkley. Okay, And I don't know why I said two different teams. 756 00:48:23,239 --> 00:48:25,119 I forgot about that clue. I don't know why I would have went with 757 00:48:25,159 --> 00:48:29,440 Bill Russell there. Uh yeah, I keep going. I got all right. 758 00:48:29,559 --> 00:48:34,400 Clue five. I made eight all NBA teams and two all defense teams. 759 00:48:34,480 --> 00:48:37,239 Don't worry, I played more than sixty five games each time, and 760 00:48:37,320 --> 00:48:45,280 my jersey has been retired by two NBA teams. I feel like I should 761 00:48:45,440 --> 00:48:52,440 know this. I still I still have He's a multi time MVP that I'm 762 00:48:52,480 --> 00:48:55,920 not like I should just start naming MVPs that I know have won multiple ones. 763 00:48:57,000 --> 00:49:02,400 Why I will say this is one of those guys that's like in a 764 00:49:02,440 --> 00:49:08,880 weird period in NBA history for me that like I just I don't think I 765 00:49:09,199 --> 00:49:13,920 remembered the two MVPs for different teams, but it's like it's in a weird, 766 00:49:14,119 --> 00:49:19,719 like I don't know, like gray section of NBA history. I can 767 00:49:19,760 --> 00:49:22,559 give you the final, sixth and final clue here, yes please. I 768 00:49:22,719 --> 00:49:28,400 famously predicted the outcome of the playoffs in my MVP season with the new team. 769 00:49:28,559 --> 00:49:31,960 So second MVP season, we dropped just one game more than I said 770 00:49:32,000 --> 00:49:35,760 we would, which was none. So he said, we're not going to 771 00:49:35,800 --> 00:49:39,840 lose any games. Uh, And that year's championship rings were inscribed faux five 772 00:49:40,039 --> 00:49:52,719 foe. You have to know what he actually predicted. I have no idea. 773 00:49:52,000 --> 00:49:57,199 Okay, so do you remember? So probably not. But he predicted 774 00:49:58,280 --> 00:50:00,280 going into the playoffs like how the playoffs are go, he said, faux 775 00:50:00,320 --> 00:50:04,559 faux foe, like as in four wins, four wins, four wins for 776 00:50:04,599 --> 00:50:09,360 all three playoff series. I am the chair give give up. Yeah, 777 00:50:09,679 --> 00:50:15,880 I am the chairman of the boards and NBA champion and finals MVP Moses Malone. 778 00:50:15,719 --> 00:50:19,599 Ah, that was a good one. It's just one that, like 779 00:50:20,039 --> 00:50:25,239 you see records, and yeah, I didn't know he won multiple m vps. 780 00:50:25,599 --> 00:50:30,440 Yeah, that's that's good trivia. All right, I have be rich 781 00:50:30,800 --> 00:50:34,639 for you. Clue one. I was a lottery pick in the early nineties 782 00:50:34,639 --> 00:50:38,159 and traded on Draft night. Then made the All Rookie team. Ooh, 783 00:50:38,360 --> 00:50:45,360 lottery pick early nineties, traded on Draft night, made the All Rookie team. 784 00:50:45,599 --> 00:50:50,880 M okay, next clue please clue number two. In my next four 785 00:50:50,880 --> 00:50:53,719 seasons, I was an All Star each year and made three All NBA squads. 786 00:50:55,480 --> 00:51:02,559 Early nineties lottery pick, traded and then it's just awesome right away. 787 00:51:05,239 --> 00:51:12,599 I wish I knew the year early nineties is so tricky? Who was a 788 00:51:12,639 --> 00:51:16,559 lottery pick in the early nineties? He said he won. He was on 789 00:51:16,639 --> 00:51:21,199 all NBA teams too, in addition to All stars. So yeah. In 790 00:51:21,239 --> 00:51:23,280 the next four seasons, he was an All Star four times and made All 791 00:51:23,360 --> 00:51:28,960 NBA three times. Jesus Christ, so like in his second, third, 792 00:51:29,639 --> 00:51:37,719 fourth years. All right, I don't have it. Clue three. In 793 00:51:37,760 --> 00:51:40,880 the ninety seven playoffs, I became the first player ever to drop back to 794 00:51:40,920 --> 00:51:45,719 back forty plus point games in which my team scored fewer than one hundred points. 795 00:51:46,079 --> 00:51:52,280 I did this against pat Riley's heat, by the way, so it's 796 00:51:52,320 --> 00:51:59,960 an NIX guy. It's not Larry Johnson. It is not Larry Johnson. 797 00:52:00,920 --> 00:52:08,760 Oh that's yeah. Uh, not a terrible guess. And it's not Alonso. 798 00:52:09,000 --> 00:52:14,800 Is it Alonso Morning? It is not Alonso Morning? Alonso. The 799 00:52:14,840 --> 00:52:17,159 clue would have been if he dropped forty points again past Riley's heat. Alonzo 800 00:52:17,239 --> 00:52:22,519 Morney was on bat Riley's heat. Oh if I was thinking Nicks, Oh 801 00:52:22,599 --> 00:52:24,840 well, then Larry Johnson was also a stupid guess. Okay, it's against 802 00:52:24,840 --> 00:52:32,559 pat Riley's heat in the late in ninety seven, God damn it. All 803 00:52:32,639 --> 00:52:37,000 right, what's the next clue? In nineteen ninety nine, I was traded 804 00:52:37,039 --> 00:52:40,079 for two first round picks to the Western Conference, winning fifty plus games on 805 00:52:40,119 --> 00:52:45,719 a team with six players averaging ten plus points per game, including the immortal 806 00:52:45,800 --> 00:52:54,079 Clifford Robinson. Cliff Robinson in ninety nine. So where's cliff Robinson in ninety 807 00:52:54,159 --> 00:53:04,400 nine? It's got to be is that Portland or is that Phoenix who's getting 808 00:53:04,400 --> 00:53:10,719 all these forty pointers traded on Draft night? Early nineties. Oh, I'm 809 00:53:10,719 --> 00:53:14,679 blanking. It's too late. It's too late for my brain. How many 810 00:53:14,679 --> 00:53:19,119 more clues do I have? Two? Okay, let's hear them clue five. 811 00:53:19,159 --> 00:53:22,039 In two thousand and three, I was traded with Steph Marberry for cap 812 00:53:22,079 --> 00:53:27,119 filler including Howard Heisley and Antonio mcdyce and two first round picks back to the 813 00:53:27,159 --> 00:53:30,480 Eastern Conference, where I disappointed due to continuing injuries that plagued in my career. 814 00:53:30,840 --> 00:53:34,800 If I could say so myself, I would have been a sure fire 815 00:53:34,880 --> 00:53:37,880 Hall of Famer had I not had roughly three hundred and fifty knee surgeries. 816 00:53:38,840 --> 00:53:46,039 Oh uh, is this Penny Hardaway? It is nice job. Final clue 817 00:53:46,079 --> 00:53:51,880 was Chris Rock was my little pal. Okay, I always appreciate. I'm 818 00:53:51,920 --> 00:53:55,320 definitely gonna get it with I like the last clue being like a very sporting 819 00:53:55,559 --> 00:54:00,199 like, here you go. You'll get it on this one. Okay, 820 00:54:00,280 --> 00:54:05,000 Oh, Penny Hardaway, all right? I got one from from Mike. 821 00:54:07,039 --> 00:54:08,360 He has a segment. We need to go more in depth with it. 822 00:54:08,400 --> 00:54:13,079 Should we each do the oh yeah, talking about we'll do one of each 823 00:54:13,079 --> 00:54:15,400 of those. Yeah. I totally forgot about the Bill Walton stuff. We 824 00:54:15,840 --> 00:54:21,079 have to do that. Okay, hold on, let me get down to 825 00:54:21,159 --> 00:54:25,280 it, all right. So the bit here is who is Bill Walton talking 826 00:54:25,320 --> 00:54:34,599 about? And you're gonna get the choices don't even matter, all right, 827 00:54:35,440 --> 00:54:37,880 Uh, these are all things Bill Walton said. I'm gonna trust that Mike 828 00:54:37,920 --> 00:54:42,599 has fact checked these, and honest actually I don't care if they're because they're 829 00:54:43,880 --> 00:54:47,840 all right. Well. Number one A thing of beauty Einstein, Da Vinci 830 00:54:49,199 --> 00:54:55,360 Jobs and now Tyreek Evans, Stro Miles Swift, Nate Robinson, Tony Parker 831 00:54:55,679 --> 00:55:06,800 or Andre Miller, Tony Parker. It's Tyreek Evans for some reason. All 832 00:55:06,920 --> 00:55:12,840 right. Blank looked like doctor J. There, Greg Buckner, thank thank 833 00:55:12,880 --> 00:55:16,920 you, Mike Carry Kittles, Sean Kemp, Sean Bradley, Joe Smith. 834 00:55:19,400 --> 00:55:23,960 Uh, we'd read it back one more time. Blank looked like doctor J. 835 00:55:24,199 --> 00:55:30,119 There you have Greg Buckner, Carry Kittles, Sean Kemp, Shawn Bradley, 836 00:55:30,719 --> 00:55:35,960 Joe Smith, Sean Bradley. You are correct. What did he do 837 00:55:36,159 --> 00:55:37,920 well? I wonder what Sean Bradley. We need to find that highlight. 838 00:55:39,199 --> 00:55:49,320 Uh three, Blank is one of the finest centers in the history of Western 839 00:55:49,360 --> 00:56:00,000 civilization. Presumably there were finer centers than Eastern civilization. Are Vita sabonas Dale, 840 00:56:00,039 --> 00:56:05,320 Davis Donald Foyle, Greg Oaster tag, Eric Dampierre, Please let it 841 00:56:05,320 --> 00:56:10,880 be Eric Dampierre. No, it's Greg Oaster tag. Oh that's just number 842 00:56:10,880 --> 00:56:15,960 four. This game should be a blowout. The Lakers have absolutely no way 843 00:56:16,000 --> 00:56:22,840 to defend the power that is Blank. Sean Kemp, Boris Diao, Anthony 844 00:56:22,920 --> 00:56:28,960 Randolph, A Donald Foyle, second appearance for a Donald Foyle, Keith Closs 845 00:56:30,360 --> 00:56:34,800 a Donald Foyle. It is Keith Closs. Fun fact, Keith Closs scored 846 00:56:34,800 --> 00:56:39,320 twelve points in this game, his career high as fifteen. Last one. 847 00:56:40,159 --> 00:56:46,400 Blank should be playing a minimum of forty five minutes every game. Sam Josh 848 00:56:46,480 --> 00:56:52,840 Harden, MILESBC Bride are the correct answer. Samuel Dallenbear, Keon Clark, 849 00:56:52,239 --> 00:57:00,000 Mike Dunleavy Junior, Corey mcghetty, Ruben Patterson, Keon Clark, it's Corey 850 00:57:00,079 --> 00:57:05,079 mcgetty forty five minutes, that's all. Oh, those they are so fun. 851 00:57:05,559 --> 00:57:08,960 Yeah, he's got six for you. I'm gonna split him up so 852 00:57:09,000 --> 00:57:13,079 that we could save some of them because this bit is Mikey's. Feel free 853 00:57:13,119 --> 00:57:15,519 to add more of them. But who is Bill Walton talking about? Grant? 854 00:57:15,639 --> 00:57:21,199 The only man who can stop Blank is himself, the man is unstoppable, 855 00:57:21,400 --> 00:57:24,519 even at thirty eight. Lebron, James, Karl Malone, ar Vitas 856 00:57:24,519 --> 00:57:30,320 Sabonis, Cliff Robinson or Zadrunas Olgauskas. Please be Cliff Robinson. That is 857 00:57:30,400 --> 00:57:37,480 correct, A nice job. Who is Bill Walton talking about you? Look 858 00:57:37,519 --> 00:57:40,239 at Blank? This guy is cut from stone. It's as It's as if 859 00:57:40,280 --> 00:57:46,039 Michaelangelo were reading and a lightning bolt flashed before him. Run our test, 860 00:57:46,440 --> 00:57:52,760 Gary Payton, Vladimir Rodmanovitch, Karen Butler or Nicola Pekovich. Oh, I 861 00:57:52,880 --> 00:57:59,119 have to pick Vladimir Redmanovitch. You are two for two. I just I'm 862 00:57:59,199 --> 00:58:02,840 in. I'm I understand, Bill Walton. I think I get it all 863 00:58:02,960 --> 00:58:07,320 right. The third one and it'll be our last one. Yesterday we celebrated 864 00:58:07,360 --> 00:58:13,000 Sir Isaac Newton's discovery of gravity. Today Blank is defying it is he talking 865 00:58:13,000 --> 00:58:19,559 about Vince Carter, Desmond Mason, Brendan Haywood, Gerald Green or Fabriccio Alberto. 866 00:58:20,840 --> 00:58:24,719 Oh, I'm gonna go against what's been working and not say Fabricio Oberto. 867 00:58:24,760 --> 00:58:28,480 I'm gonna say Gerald Green, you should have went with your gut. 868 00:58:28,519 --> 00:58:31,360 It's Fabricio Alberto. Oh, that's so great. That's such a better answer. 869 00:58:32,199 --> 00:58:35,519 That was a lot of That was a great idea, Mike. Thank 870 00:58:35,559 --> 00:58:37,719 you for that grant. Would you like to take us out of here? 871 00:58:37,840 --> 00:58:40,440 Oh? I sure would. This is gonna be the greatest outro in the 872 00:58:40,519 --> 00:58:45,360 history of Western civilization. This will be the greg Oaster tag of outros. 873 00:58:45,920 --> 00:58:51,519 Thank you everyone for your specifically for your contributions to stat padding. I just 874 00:58:51,679 --> 00:58:55,280 never knew I needed so much Bill Walton in my life. Please as always, 875 00:58:55,360 --> 00:58:59,800 rate, review, subscribe, tell your friends, tell your enemies, 876 00:59:00,360 --> 00:59:02,800 spread the news. Let everybody know you're listening to Hardwood Knox and that you 877 00:59:02,880 --> 00:59:07,280 like it or that you hate it, but make sure that other people listen 878 00:59:07,320 --> 00:59:10,199 to it. That's the kind of the goal here. You can join our 879 00:59:10,199 --> 00:59:14,199 discord, which is where we get a lot of our stat padding suggestions and 880 00:59:14,199 --> 00:59:19,280 guests the players and have good conversations live game campfires. Everybody likes to just 881 00:59:19,360 --> 00:59:22,599 talk about what they're watching, and we have great discussions all over the place. 882 00:59:22,639 --> 00:59:27,679 There link to do that is in the YouTube and podcast descriptions has listen 883 00:59:27,679 --> 00:59:30,599 link to our merch and I think that's going to cover it. Thanks again, 884 00:59:30,920 --> 00:59:32,559 shout out Frank Milakina. Apologies Jared Allen,