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NBA 🏀 Basketball Season Preview ft. Omar 'Sports Professor' Fonseca @BALLandBUDS (Audible Sports Podcast #80)
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NBA 🏀 Basketball Season Preview ft. Omar 'Sports Professor' Fonseca @BALLandBUDS
PLUS Shout-Outs, Honorable Mentions & STFU’s, Fit Friday & Mental Health Check-In
DON’T FORGET TO LIKE, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE: _________________________________________
And if you want to continue the conversation: Follow the fellas on Social Media here: X (formerly twitter) @Audible_BobbyG @KCWildCardMar @Audible_Podcast
More from Prof. Omar: I.G. - / ballandbuds YouTube: / @ballandbuds
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Transcript
Introduction and Special Guest
00:00:05
Speaker
That's straight on high five beat Give me paper pen and one mic to make this man complete I'm always they sucker free So haters hop off my dick till the day I D.I.E Focus till my mission complete Never stops that victory from the jaws of defeat Focused on create heat Missile shot, war down enemies We must defeat this MC is so unique Rockin' heads, stop them dead Then bring them back defeat You better watch what you speak Popping off with the mouth, I leave your body feel weak Switch your face and grit your teeth Cause anything else will have your outlook look bleep Death is the time for sleep Never slow down, never stop I'm always on my grind And any mountain I will climb Reach my physical prime and I ascend to the peak
00:01:01
Speaker
What's happening? Oh, you hate us. yeah was It's Friday, and if it's Friday, that means it's time for you to be heard in Audible Sports Podcast, where sports
Cam Newton's Super Bowl Performance
00:01:14
Speaker
meets life and culture. I am half of the world's most dangerous podcast crew. That is Bobby G. and Wildcard Mar. But today, joined by our special guest from Ballin' Buds, the sports professor,
00:01:27
Speaker
Professor Omar, what's happening? Yes, sir. Yo, yo. What up, my brothers? Thank you, thank you, thank you. appreciate y'all having me on, brothers. It has been a long time coming. I've been looking forward to this day, and it is finally here.
00:01:47
Speaker
Hopefully, you know, we make we make it worthwhile. I know going to come up with some good content, some good solid bites and stuff for the masses and some great knowledge for your ass. Let me be quick cause i hate Cam Newton's guts, man. I ain't quoting that dude no more. Man, fuck Cam Newton.
00:02:02
Speaker
That's what it is. but It's fine. No, i actually, Cam, he's been pretty decent lately. He's been pretty solid lately. He's been pretty solid lately, I can't.
00:02:13
Speaker
What did he do to me? He didn't pick up the damn fumble. That's what he did to me. He didn't pick up that damn fumble in the Super Bowl. He didn't lose me money, but my best friend who's since passed away was a Broncos fan.
00:02:26
Speaker
And you know, I had to give him shit and I couldn't. I had to stay silent and watch the Super Bowl as the Broncos stomped on the Panthers. So, Cam, you let me down, man. you You took my bragging rights away from my homie. And so for that, will be forever ungrateful.
Podcast Structure and Segments
00:02:42
Speaker
Oh, no, I got a freaking net in here bothering me, man. What's going on? I mean, first of all, I lost one of my best friends early, too, so my condolences for your loss, first of all.
00:02:54
Speaker
And second all, I'm very just very also very disappointed that you had to watch the Super Bowl silent because you couldn't even enjoy the game and, like, yell a yellow peep. You just had to... Every time you wanted to cheer, you just sit your ass down. It had to be payback, though, because ah when they played when they played ah the Seahawks you know a couple seasons earlier, um I gave somebody 20 points. and 20 points.
00:03:20
Speaker
ah gave him the broncos and twenty points I was like, yeah, they about to get stomped. And obviously I won the bet because they won, was it 40 to 8? That Super Bowl? Yeah. forty and on my day Yeah, so it was probably just karma just paying me back.
00:03:35
Speaker
Okay. But, hey, appreciate y'all tuning in. and if you've been with us, you know what I'm about to say. And if you haven't, Please do us the biggest favor, man. Go ahead, follow the rest of the screen. Hit that like button. Subscribe if new.
00:03:50
Speaker
Turn your notifications on so you know the next time that we are here talking whatever you want to hear, which is every Friday, 7-ish Eastern. four-ish Pacific and six-ish Central time you know outside that we got a good one for you today there you go you know most of the time we are it used to be Martin's fault today it was my fault I'll take that blame
00:04:24
Speaker
with our twenty five twenty six itba preview basketball so season starts officially next tuesday with the ah reigning champs i hate the word defendants so i refuse to use it the reigning and nba champ Oklahoma City Thunder tipping off their season against the Houston Rockets on Banner Night.
00:04:41
Speaker
So, yeah, that that should be a good one. And then the rest of the and NBA schedule, you know, teams kick off the subsequent days, you know, your Wednesday, your Thursday, your Friday. And so, yeah, we're going to talk about it, give you what you need to know to get it get off to a good start this season.
00:04:56
Speaker
And if you, you know, happen to be a fan of one of those have-nots, yeah, I'm talking to you Wizards fans. I'm talking to you, Blazers fans. Shout out to J. Demasi.
00:05:08
Speaker
I'm talking to Sacramento Kings fans. You know, we're going to tell you what you should expect as well. And, of course, as usual, our shout outs and FTFU's. And, of course, we end the show with our Fit
WNBA Advocacy and Labor Negotiations
00:05:20
Speaker
Friday challenge. Yes, mental health check-in.
00:05:22
Speaker
You know, we like to promote good mental health in the male community. So, okay without further ado, y'all know how we get it going every time. Make sure I hit the right buttons because I be messing up sometimes. You know, players mess up.
00:05:37
Speaker
It is what it is. Hey.
00:05:42
Speaker
Shout out. And, you know, hey, since we got special guests in the building, we'll go ahead and let him lead the way. And today he wanted to shout out ah this young lady right here. So, you know, have at it, Omar.
00:05:55
Speaker
Well, see, anyone who watches ball and Buds, shameless plug, at Ball and Buds on YouTube, um you would know that we are a supporter of the WNBA.
00:06:08
Speaker
We always have been. um You know what? Shout out to my brother, AP. He's out here in the grizzle. um let but Let me back up for a second because it's not just Nafisia Collier, right?
00:06:23
Speaker
It is a litany of ladies that have come before her and have put in the work and laid down that foundation that has now allowed them to get to the place where they can do things, like wear a wear shirts that say, pay what what you owe us.
00:06:44
Speaker
Right. Which is great. It's a great statement to make. And it is something that you should do as a labor force is advocate for a better rights and more pay.
00:06:58
Speaker
That's what you should do if you feel like you are in the rights for that. And in the day and age that we live, gentlemen. with the increase in media rights deals for all leagues, for all sports, that means that everybody needs to be getting that money and that windfall.
00:07:19
Speaker
And just like we have seen within college sports with NIL, and now the new the newly the new program with the basically salary cap where they're allowed to pay players 20.5 million dollars that they split as a pool among the athletic department basically as we know going mostly to football and basketball but what I'm trying to get at is everybody is getting this windfall and so the WNBA players are like well where's ours now
00:07:55
Speaker
We must also, as you know, if you watch, again, shameless plug, I apologize to Professor Sherman Almente. You've heard me talk many times before um ah about how the NBA has subsidized the WNBA for a long, long time, actually since their inception.
00:08:16
Speaker
So if the NBA has been forking in hundreds of million dollars, training facilities, sharing stadiums, so on and so forth in order to get to ladies, to the WNBA, excuse me, to this point, well then in all recompense, the WNBA in theory could ask for all that money back.
00:08:41
Speaker
They could ask for those payments and installments to pay what you owe us. In essence, they're not going to do that because it would be a lot of money. It would crush the WNBA from where they are. I'm sure they will get it back over time through other avenues.
00:08:57
Speaker
That being said, the WNBA now is in their labor negotiations. The players want more money from the aforementioned media rights deal. The commissioner is stuck in. We know that a couple of people, y'all told me, as we talked about, have been on the show, talked about Kathy Engelbert and where she is in her position. So I don't need to go into that. We know that obviously she has to be opposed to the players.
00:09:25
Speaker
and the Players Association and Nefisia Collier, who is the one that is the leader of said formation. um This all came into the limelight. Everybody's heard of it.
00:09:37
Speaker
They got into their little battle back and forth through the media. She, he said, she said, no one knows what was truly said. Meeting set, meeting canceled, things starting to fizzle out.
00:09:49
Speaker
Now we are hearing that, not that we couldn't have figured this out anyways, but this... First of all, no free agents can be signed until this labor negotiation comes into set. But anyways, if this labor negotiation is not set and if it is not set before that date and if it is not come to a resolution with the players that they come to some sort of agreeance with kasthy engelberg Kathy Kathy Engelbert better have her resume already pre-polished and ready for some kind of lawyer job. Maybe she need to go find a civilian job because she out.
00:10:29
Speaker
She done. You're gone. Peace. Bye-bye. Whatever you want. Sayonara. Whatever you want. She out of there if she can't get this resolved in an am amicable matter.
00:10:42
Speaker
It's not going to happen. We're already past amicable. And my shout out is to Nefisia Collier and the young ladies of the WNBA for standing their ground saying, no, this is what we believe we're worth.
00:10:56
Speaker
And if you're going to get this much more money because you're showing us on the air, yeah, Maybe you maybe it's been a subsidization to this point, but don't act like we put in the work and we put in the foundation and Lisa Leslie and Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi and ah you know, Tina Thompson and all the greats right at putting all that work and laid all that found and I know I'm forgetting so many more This is for them This is a legacy that is going to be defined. And if the ladies did not keep their foot down, they would let themselves get run over and it would hurt their future because exponentially, if you were to extrapolate the losses they may take on this deal, that only compounds as you go year over year.
00:11:49
Speaker
So. Great job, Nafisa and ladies, for keeping your foot down. Continue to keep your foot down in the fit in the fight and get what they owe you.
00:12:01
Speaker
That's the professor's shout-out. So from the professor to Nafisa, guess what? And you're the real MVP. All right. i Hey, that's a tough act to follow, Amar.
00:12:15
Speaker
so if it's Tough and tough act follow.
NFL Veteran Shoutouts
00:12:17
Speaker
and I just got to be straight up and down with lines of the A. Shout out to the geriatric bowl that we got on Thursday. This was sponsored by Ben Gaze. What? Sponsored by AARP. It was sponsored by all people.
00:12:37
Speaker
that's crazy. That's crazy. That's crazy.
00:12:45
Speaker
but man did they turn back their hands a tiny these boys was ball they were falling shout out to and man ah joe co of joel flackco had it pop it up and drop three, what, 342, 352? Mm-hmm. Three tutties.
00:13:06
Speaker
I mean, a man, man threw the ball, what, 50 times, and he was flinging that thing. He's like, you know what? I got Jamar chasing T. Higgins. I'm just going hey, run around. I'm to throw it to you. Yeah.
00:13:19
Speaker
<unk> but I'm gonna throw it to you. I put it in there. I put it in the vicinity. You go catch it. ah Cooked up that there's still his defense. I know they got two sacks, but man, they had to earn it. And somehow the Browns online playing magnificent. Aaron Rodgers, if he, I'll put one interception on him.
00:13:40
Speaker
The other one, DK, you got to do a little bit more fighting on that one, dawg. Yeah. but um But he he was flinging that pill in. in eight And, hey, man, quiet as kept looking at that Hail Mary throw. He flung that rock now.
00:13:56
Speaker
a And he got it down. That's what was saying. That's what I was saying. 70 yards, man. And he got it down, He got him. So, what hey, man, hey, so old gunslingers, they just, until they ready for their last shootout, they still going gunsling. So I give it to Joe and Aaron for putting on the hell of a show in their senior years.
00:14:22
Speaker
I mean, that was fantastic football, man. They was just gunslinging, man. It was for the scene, man. I mean, we even saw Rodgers do the little leprechaun leap. You know. Yeah.
00:14:34
Speaker
yeah So, you know, shout out. He might carry another Achilles. I know. That's what I'm saying. He might want to chill. Then he got tackled by his own line. He was mad about that. So, you know. Good job, fellas.
00:14:50
Speaker
Hey, so from Rodgers and Flacco from Marr, guess what?
Tribute to D'Angelo
00:14:55
Speaker
You the real MVP. For sure, for sure. Um, mine is kind of adjacent to that. Actually, no. No, that's my S.M.U.
00:15:04
Speaker
Now, my, my shout-out, little bit simpler, little more emotional. I hate to do it this early in the show, but, hey, we got it, man. And I swear, it's not on purpose, but it feels like the last three weeks now, my my shout-out has been the same. And as much as I enjoy giving people their flowers, like, the circumstances got to change.
00:15:27
Speaker
Um, We lost another one, man. Yeah, if you hadn't heard or you've been on a rock somewhere, man, D'Angelo passed away. ah This one, probably, if any any recent passing, this one hit me. I was a huge fan of D'Angelo's music.
00:15:45
Speaker
um
00:15:48
Speaker
The dude was a genius, man. He was a genius, and I i feel like ah feel like this is the second time he was taken from us. Because we know he battles substance abuse.
00:16:01
Speaker
And that was the first thing that kind of took him from. It's like, if he hadn't been going through that battle, man, what what would he have been able to produce?
00:16:13
Speaker
You know, like, put out one I mean, your first album is classic. That's hard to do within itself. Then follow it up with another one.
00:16:25
Speaker
You know, he was just one of those dudes, man. Like, few people can stand stand on their own in this business. Like, all that man needed was a stage and a piano.
00:16:39
Speaker
That's it. Well, a stage, a piano, and some of that brown sugar, so to speak.
00:16:47
Speaker
But, you know, condolences to his friends and family, and real condolences to his son. For those who don't know, his son that he shared with Angie Stone also passed away.
00:17:02
Speaker
And as somebody who's unfortunately had to bury both of their parents, like, that's a different feeling, man. Like, for a while, you can feel lost like you really have nobody.
00:17:13
Speaker
and And so that that's tough, the I feel, for for the young man. no But, hey, salute to the legend. And again, just condolences to the friends and family.
00:17:26
Speaker
You know, in my mind, D'Angelo. You the real MVP. Yeah. So, some... um
00:17:38
Speaker
And now that I've said all that... Stop it. Get some help. Stop it. Yes, I got it. Yes. D'Angelo is is brown sugar lady.
00:17:51
Speaker
How does it feel? Or untitled as it was titled. no Devil's Pie. Yeah, that's D'Angelo, man.
00:18:02
Speaker
Cruiser. He remade Cruiser. Smokey's Cruiser. It's on point, too. Okay. for show I don't actually know names of songs and I never have been one to know like titles of songs or even
Debate on Paul Pierce's Legacy
00:18:13
Speaker
albums. like i just I'll know them when I hear them.
00:18:16
Speaker
So like even the albums I've ever had, like it's not one that I'll... No, I'm just... Oh yeah. No, I'm saying it's all good. that That's why you got your brethren here. You got some. Yeah, that we have our brethren. is Every once in a while they need to tell us when Hey, just zip it.
00:18:31
Speaker
you know the hey just zip it And that's what we are also here to do. We've been blessed with that call to fellowship.
00:18:43
Speaker
And so we got some interesting ones. And once again, we'll let our guests lead the way. Let me hit hit a couple of these comments first, though. ah who sir Let me tell you, you don't quite have enough for a retirement fund.
00:18:56
Speaker
That was from the Flacco and Aaron Rodgers. That's crazy. Big Ron, shout out to Big Ron. Charles Barkley ain't know what what he was talking about. I got Don from San Antonio. Oh, talking about them um big old women down in San Antonio.
00:19:13
Speaker
And yeah, we let our old mark get to it. And yeah, Mr. O'Reilly, you've been called to the floor.
00:19:25
Speaker
Charles Barkley, stop talking about my thought does like that, okay? this Get you a nice little thought that everything gonna be good, okay? Stop. Alright, anyways, let's get, alright, so I didn't mean to make it political y'all watching out there, and it's not a political one, but it does involve politics. The other day, if you did not see it Stephen A. Smith, Bill O'Reilly joined Chris Cuomo and a bunch of politicians for a town hall um to talk about just all different sorts of subjects.
00:19:57
Speaker
Look, it's great to have these town halls. You learn a lot from perspective people, especially Stephen A going out there and showing off his personality and also his intelligence and especially his knowledge when it comes to the political world. And I mean, hey, don't let me hold y'all.
00:20:14
Speaker
ah Stephen A. ain't far from being a presidential candidate in 2028. So there's reasons that he does things like this. Not that he would do it, but there's reasons that he does things like this, not only to increase his
Joe Flacco Trade and NFL Implications
00:20:27
Speaker
monetary worth, but also get his name out there. boy So when he made the statement at one point, walking off the stage in a rush, he knew what he was doing. Stephen A. knew what he was doing. He was putting on a show for the crowd.
00:20:40
Speaker
that's a good show that's a good point to make because it was pointing at the point that he did it um you know uh advocating for the common man but it's different when you take over the show and end up in some bland word salad ruminations and you're taking over important topics especially when you have two young men arguing over this racist a horrendous abhorrent group chat that recently came out this week You have two young men debating about this group chat and you step in, step over the line and start rambling like an old ass man for five damn minutes when don't nobody wanna hear you. Ain't nobody come for your old ass.
00:21:23
Speaker
So sit the fuck down and... WHAT?
00:21:30
Speaker
Do me a favor. Shut the fuck up. Yeah, O'Reilly, he's also habitual, man. Hey, don't forget, we still need the sick loot on you. oh For causing him a couple dollars.
00:21:41
Speaker
So, yeah, Bill O'Reilly, he's a habitual. He's from the old school of needing to shut fuck up. Hey, yo, that's my hour, bro. part of the eighty Part of the HLS fraternity. And then another dude who is a cop. Yeah, he's habitual too.
00:21:59
Speaker
ah Mar? No, you did not. I told y'all not to do this to me. ah
00:22:10
Speaker
I mean, look, just some people, you know, they they do it to themselves. You know saying? butmar left They get a microphone and and they start talking.
00:22:24
Speaker
Mid-range, off the dribble three, yes step back, off the pick and roll. We're not talking about nothing. out there Just getting buckets. Right. I feel like post game, mid game, elbow, three, all the way out.
00:22:38
Speaker
I had no offensive weaknesses. Like not one. Take all the top scorers, take the best thing they do. Right. And you can take the best thing I do. See, the thing about me, you can't even tell me what's the best thing I do offensively because I think I do all of the same. Really well. You know what I'm saying? Like you can save courage. Shoot the ability away. Right.
00:22:57
Speaker
and Jordan was his fade away or whatever like you like what do you take away from me like I can do right what's my greatest scoring strength nobody can even tell you because I did it all well I'm pushing to the three-point line I won a three-point championship contest. I won a three-point contest. That ain't nobody guarding you.
00:23:19
Speaker
um mean I mean, I've dominated the games from the three. Yeah. Like, you know what I'm saying? see it like that. And it's not a knock on the great scorers because I respect of them. And, you know, want to knock on Jordan because I respect Carmelo, Kobe, and all of them. But I'm like, I'm right there. Gassing that up.
00:23:35
Speaker
Let me gassing.
00:23:38
Speaker
Like Paul Pierce, like you cool bro, like you had a solid career bro, like but ain't nobody in basketball will ever talk about your name with them names that you talking about. Never.
00:23:50
Speaker
Ain't nobody put you in no conversation with no Kobe. Ain't nobody put you in conversation with no we no Jordan. Ain't nobody put you in no conversation with no Steph, with no KD. Don't do that.
00:24:04
Speaker
I know you feeling yourself, that's cool. You did that. You had a nice career. Enjoy what you had. but stop this fooling this dog. Now I feel like you click baiting me.
00:24:15
Speaker
Now I feel like you click baiting me. Ain't nobody annoying that now to nail another hood. Part about you, no barbershop. What? No workplace.
00:24:29
Speaker
Ain't nobody. a may paul pe man, Pierce, man. I take him over COVID. Never. Hey, man, I take him over Jordan. Never.
00:24:40
Speaker
I take him over Steph. Never. I take him over Kate. Never.
00:24:48
Speaker
Hey, man.
00:24:53
Speaker
Crazy dog.
00:24:56
Speaker
Do me favor. Shut the fuck up.
00:25:02
Speaker
I got to go with you. Come on. you even You can love Park Pierce all you want. He is not the most efficient scorer in the history of the NBA.
00:25:16
Speaker
He was sipping on that little party he had.
Upcoming NBA Season Preview
00:25:20
Speaker
He had to be sipping on that thing hard. Like, come on, man. No, i think I think he had some ah i think he had him some glass going.
00:25:30
Speaker
That was 48 was popping for him or something. I don't know.
00:25:38
Speaker
you can Come on, Paul.
00:25:43
Speaker
He said it with conviction like he meant it, too. And that's that's the problem. that that Yeah, that's that's the sad part. He means it. And I ain't, look, ain't gonna knock nobody, you know, swag, you know, you feeling that way about yourself. Oh, cool.
00:25:58
Speaker
But let's be real, Is Paul Pierce even a top five Celtic? Top ten, even? There's conversations to be had. I mean, that's a long list of greats. I mean, i let I'll let the Celtics fans fight that battle, but.
00:26:15
Speaker
Yeah. Omar's so mad he shut his mic off. oh I thought y'all could hear me the whole time. No, no, I will not let this happen any longer.
00:26:26
Speaker
I thought y'all were hearing me whole time. No, this will not happen any longer. No, I will not, will not allow the besmirchment of the great name of Paul Anthony Pierce be taken down and denigrated on this, what I used to call a moral standing program. I do not call this a moral standing, you got no morals on this program.
00:26:56
Speaker
You'll bring a guest on, thought I was supposed to be special, and then you'll railroad me with Paul Pierce pictures of his worst time in his life. you just giving him a moment of respect let him have some time no you had to take him out like his knee got taken out and now you're trying to rob him of the legacy that he has set as one of the most efficient scorers in the history of the nba oh my god
00:27:33
Speaker
I cannot believe ah you have said all of these things and don't get into standings of the Celtic. He is a top three Celtic of all time and there is no that.
00:27:44
Speaker
Okay. You know what, AP, no. I'm not letting this happen anymore. Man, if you would have caught me when the Celtics were, with Paul Pearson on the Celtics, we were battling the Lakers all the time.
00:27:55
Speaker
Shit, I was the one saying Paul Pearson better than Kobe. That was me. That was me on the block saying that. I got a challenge. I got challenge. Wearing all four. what's the challenge for I got a challenge flag.
00:28:07
Speaker
I got all four of my Pierce jerseys here. What, you want more of the Pierce jerseys? You want me to bring all of them out? I wouldn't put them top three. If I was going top top three Celtics, Bird would be one. That's pretty good. Okay. Yeah, Bird would be one.
00:28:25
Speaker
ah Russell would be two. As matter of fact, no, screw that. Russell would be one. um Bird would be two. Mm-hmm. I would honestly put Reggie Lewis above Paul Pierce.
00:28:37
Speaker
ah just think he I just think he was taken too soon. Wow, rest in power to Reggie Lewis. If Reggie Lewis would have been able to finish his career, we could be having a...
00:28:49
Speaker
a Well, and rest in power to Lem Bias, if he was able to get his career started, they said he might have been better Michael Jordan. But things happen in life. But we don't move. I have i have NBA proof of of Reggie Lewis giving MJ the business and shutting down on the other end.
00:29:05
Speaker
I got proof of that. i I have proof of Paul Pierce beating your beloved Kobe for a championship. So what? are we talking about right now? i'm not. well no I don't want to say I'm a Kobe fan. man I'm a Cavs fan. That Morris Kobe guy.
00:29:20
Speaker
But, i yeah, I mean, there's Pierce, but. i As a basketball player, fine. But, I mean, he even gave, like, Reggie Lewis' game was better than Paul Pierce's. I mean, i don't think so. I think Paul Pierce probably a taller Reggie Lewis, if you're being honest.
00:29:34
Speaker
But, I mean. Maybe he didn't move as fast or as quick as him or have the agility, but I think he he was better, if not in anything else. Yeah, but ah co um'm as I'm pretty sure Kobe pays our back, though.
00:29:47
Speaker
You know. He did. Well, if Kendrick Perkins not got hurt, we would won that championship. We ain't gonna talk about that. We ain't gonna talk about that. Big Perkins wouldn't have got hurt, if Big Perkins wouldn't have got hurt, we don't want to hear nothing about that. All right.
00:30:03
Speaker
It's good. We all hyped up on basketball. I love it. But before we turn it over full time. paul pierce's Hold on. Paul Pierce's career shooting percentage places him among the top shooters in in NBA history with an overall student percentage of 44.5 on twos and 36.8 on threes. So I don't want to say that. You said 46? He was not a 40 per six.
00:30:25
Speaker
You didn't say 46. I I misheard you. My apologies. No, you good? You um just saying. He up there. ain't number one. No, he's not. Steph Curry. Of course not.
00:30:37
Speaker
He know not to say that. That's clickbait. But he up there. up there. Up where? I don't know where he I don't know because I'm chart of top shooting percentages and I can't find it. JaVale McGee is up there.
00:30:50
Speaker
and what everybody Everybody playing the NBA is up there. But the question is where? Disrespect.
00:31:02
Speaker
Hey, let's keep this basketball energy high. But before we get to that. Let me close out the STFUs with, ah and I hate to do it because y'all know how I feel about this dude. But, ah you know, again, we are here and it's all love. Sometimes you got to tell the people you love.
00:31:17
Speaker
and sit for And so Mike Tomlin, what he did was he spoke out of turn. And ah he kind of went at ah RGM for trading Joe Flacco to the Bengals.
00:31:31
Speaker
And see, ah the thing that hurts about this is Mike Tomlin is one of the greatest coaches for for keeping his players from ah giving other teams that bulletin board material, right?
00:31:48
Speaker
He keeps his players in check. They don't speak out of turn most times, more often than not. And he fell victim to his own trap. When he spoke on RGM, you know, saying, well, he must be smarter than than me or us.
00:32:06
Speaker
ah Why would you you you trade your quarterback that you thought was still good enough to start week one to a team who was lacking in that area? Well, I'll tell you why, Mike Tomlin. It's because more than likely when Joe Flacco got benched up here because he was throwing, I don't know, two interceptions per game.
00:32:26
Speaker
and got benched maybe they came to a gentleman's agreement Mike and said you know what hey we know this is probably your last year plan so hey if we can find a trade for you or if you can go out there and you and your agent can find a trade for you we would try to make that happen for you and guess what somebody picked up the phone it just so happened to be the Cincinnati Bengals and guess what We didn't have time to waste.
00:32:51
Speaker
We have two rookie quarterbacks that we need to play see play this season. And so, you know, we had to free up that roster spot and move Joe out of the way so Shador could be the backup.
00:33:03
Speaker
Yeah, it happened to be the Bengals. It sucks to go in division, guess what? We're trash. We don't care who the trade comes with. Just give us the extra draft capital and we'll be happy happy to do that.
00:33:16
Speaker
Win-win for us. But what you did, Mr. Mike T, is as much as I love you, bro, you kind of showed the chink in your armor. Because by talking that crap, you didn't really embarrass us or put us on Front Street what you showed us.
00:33:34
Speaker
You're afraid of Joe Flacco.
00:33:38
Speaker
And with good reason. Because Joe Flacco proceeded to embarrass your defense all night long. ah With the help of Jamar Chase, by the way, and T. Higgins, who almost had 100 yards.
00:33:54
Speaker
um He dog walked, no pun intended. Your defense all up and down the field with the help of Jamar Chase and Tee Higgins and Noah Fant.
00:34:07
Speaker
So, um you know, my Tee, in the future, you're just a coach. And not to say that you couldn't be a good GM, but you haven't decided yet. We're trying to demonstrate that skill.
00:34:19
Speaker
You just want to coach football. And that's great because you're a great coach. So when it comes to the ways and activities and how people operate in the front office, especially outside of the city of Pittsburgh, do me the biggest favor.
00:34:36
Speaker
Do me a favor. Shut the fuck up. And pay attention to the Steelers, bro. Play, vote to concentrate on playing varsity football against the Bengals. That's what you do.
00:34:49
Speaker
That's what you like to do, right? My time, you know. Yeah, you know, that's varsity football right there. Yeah, wasn't varsity last night. like damn, middle school defense. Y'all's playing. My damn son go out there, could have went out there and threw three touchdown passes on y'all defense.
00:35:06
Speaker
So, yeah.
00:35:13
Speaker
Yeah, man. Always fun. And now that we got that out of the way. I mean, I feel like that's a little bit of just interdivisional rivalry, too, though. I feel like most people wouldn't even have known about that news story that don't even follow. mean, we heard about it because we're football fans. But I mean, like most people of that conference would have never even heard about that story. Yeah, like I say, it showed more chinks in his armor than it did damage to us.
00:35:38
Speaker
Like he thought he was getting at us. Chinks in your armor that you're letting him get you upset in a division. Right. Like, ain't nobody nobody in anybody worried about the Browns, don't. The only thing people worried about in the Browns is Shadur Sanders.
00:35:52
Speaker
Don't nobody give a damn about Joe Flacco until Mike Tomlin said something. As matter of fact, again, he was averaging two interceptions a game. You should have been looking forward to playing Joe Flacco.
00:36:04
Speaker
But we see why you weren't. So.
00:36:09
Speaker
And one more coming in from AP. You know that de defense is booty juice. So why is everyone trying to embarrass the Browns anyway? They do that to themselves enough. You know what, you were also a victim of the STFU.
00:36:22
Speaker
Don't you become a repeat offender. your Hey, I got plenty to say about them Cowboys now. You know, before we get into the real talk, one more time, do us the biggest favor.
00:36:38
Speaker
Hit that like button, subscribe, and turn notifications on. As we now get into that 2526 NBA season preview. man. um thiss gonna be a weird season man there While there are a few good basketball teams, may be great. We have to see.
Southeast Division Analysis
00:36:57
Speaker
um This might be, I don't know about throughout, but coming into the season, I think this is like the most injury-riddled season I've experienced. I can't remember so many big-name players being injured coming into the season.
00:37:11
Speaker
Like, I've seen seasons where we've seen them get hurt during, but I've never seen it where we came into the season and did. We got Tatum out. We got Halliburton We got Kyrie out.
00:37:23
Speaker
Dudes are just not there. um How big of an impact do you guys just off the rip just just see injuries playing in this season?
00:37:41
Speaker
hey Go ahead. hey Go ahead. You do yes. Okay. My bad. Oh, okay. My bad. You ain't got mute yourself. Huge, huge, huge, huge, huge. Look, y'all, in terms of the NBA, we just talked about it earlier with the WNBA and their new media rights deal.
00:37:58
Speaker
Everybody has media rights that they need to get deals on and then live up to because if not, their next media deal ain't going to be as good. And right now, when you're looking at this last season, we saw the beginning of the decrease in ratings in the NBA.
00:38:17
Speaker
We heard, oh is it due to the three-point shot? Is it due to the amount of games? Is it this? Is it that? Whatever it is that people think it is, in theory, the problem is that ratings decreased whether you like it or not.
00:38:31
Speaker
Now, you're going to have a season that, excuse me, as you mentioned, and won it.
00:38:39
Speaker
And we're going into a season, and as you mentioned, is now riddled with injuries. Well, what's going to happen when all your top superstars are out? Most people are going to tune out, especially the casual fans.
00:38:53
Speaker
The casual fans are what boost up your Saturday audience. Other days where mainstream games are on. And when you have teams like Boston, Indiana, losing their superstars, it does take people out of the game. Now, is it going to take the hard ground? No. I already re-upped to my league pass for all the teams so I can watch all of them because I love basketball.
00:39:16
Speaker
But I'll also be watching my Celtics every day. I know we're going to suck, but I want to see the development. I want to see if Jalen Brown can at least carry us to a playoff spot, which I believe that he can. oh neither here nor there it is very important to them because if their ratings continue to decrease their next media rights deal will not be worth as much um and they're already losing out right now to the nfl the nfl keeps coming in and stealing all of their main days they already took christmas or they already took uh thanksgiving now they're taking christmas like you've got to put your foot down you've got to have something else and if you're already losing ratings
00:39:54
Speaker
And now you have a bunch of people out there bring the ratings. I don't know, y'all. Mass was my favorite subject, but I'm no mathematician. But one plus one equals two, not three. So I don't know. Great point, man. now I never thought that perspective before. Absolutely right, though. If if your best players aren't around, you know.
00:40:14
Speaker
You can't, there can't cause a dip in viewership. And I mean, they're already faced dipping viewership during the regular season. Um, Marwood about what's your thoughts on the early injuries? No, Omar really pretty much hit a majority of the talking points when I, especially when it comes to that. Um, yeah.
00:40:31
Speaker
because I mean they're therere just as much as a sports entertainment entity just as much as the NFL major league baseball or WWE so it's all about trying to maximize your your dollar figures when it comes to viewership so oh But ah to me, it also kind of hurts the, ah eight well, I don't want to assume that because there are times where if there's a certain superstar, you know, that is missing, it it gives opportunities for it somebody else to showcase their talents.
00:41:04
Speaker
But, yeah I mean, but it does at the same time ah change the quality of basketball because, hey, some of these guys are, you know, they're box office and they're they're missing. Right. Right.
00:41:16
Speaker
certain a quality of basketball bar that you're just not getting no matter how you how you try to spin it. But I... oh but i What it also does is kind of you know gives some teams that's kind of been on the cusp of being playoff ready or not. It might give them opportunity because now there there might be a certain, you know there was a certain gap, you can start to kind of shorten it.
00:41:46
Speaker
um So it might be another team that might sneak their way in and make some noise. Who knows? so yeah That's up, though. All right. are we going to do it? We're going to go division by division, you know, talk about the teams. Real quick for you all, though. Would that not be a testament to what you just said, though, Mar? And wouldn't that just increase decrease the quality of play? Now, next time around, we might have a Wizards team sneak into the back end of the play-in tournament, or we might have.
00:42:16
Speaker
and na no Well, even, you know, i'm getting little I'm getting a little too wild with that. I was trying to trying to help out my D.C. peoples, but that's okay. oh you know You get what I'm saying, though, right? Because those those better teams that were the top of the tier last time, but some of them won't be there.
00:42:33
Speaker
Like you said, that elevates the bottom teams, but that also also elevates the or decreases the quality by elevating those bad teams. Yeah. So, I mean, just at once.
00:42:44
Speaker
or Or it can make them raise a game. Like sometimes sometimes when you don't think something is attainable and you actually attain it, it makes it it's going to make you want it that much more. I want that feeling again. now That was nice.
00:43:01
Speaker
So it could make them step their game up for the future. ah sure Also, um that's for for the team and player standpoint. For the league as a whole,
00:43:14
Speaker
you now got to change your focus. um Instead of going to the same... mother i I know we go through it every year. Why are the Celtics on TV every night? why Why are the Lakers on TV? Okay, now...
00:43:26
Speaker
hey, we need to show Apollo down in Orlando. We need to show Trae Young. We need to show what's going on in Dallas with Cooper Fleck. We need to show, hey, the Cavaliers got something going. we need We saw that last year happen, happen, love. We need to show.
00:43:40
Speaker
I think we had 11 games on TV that we weren't supposed to be on TV. They gave us 11 extra in the middle of the season when we got on that 20-game win streak. Like, hey, we need to see Ant-Man. You know, is' it's going to make them – it's going to force the NBA to develop new stars.
00:43:58
Speaker
That's a great point. Yeah, that's a really good one. Work in that direction. nice airlane I can dig there. Yeah, but, you know, going to do it. Go division by division. Can they step up? You know what i mean? Can they step up? We'll see if they can.
00:44:14
Speaker
That's the question. that can tre can Can Trey finally elevate his team to the play? Are you coming out with songs with Quavo and 2 Chainz like he a rapper? Get out of here and focus on basketball, fool.
00:44:25
Speaker
Hey.
00:44:27
Speaker
that is That is the question.
Atlantic Division Discussion
00:44:29
Speaker
Pause from that on that podcast. Who was that that got a ball up in him getting him upset? Y'all see that? I do not pay attention to Trae Young.
00:44:39
Speaker
Until he shows me he can do something other than win it win a game in the garden. Yeah, he ain't on my radar. Oh, Pat Bev? That gets on everybody's neck. Yeah! Pat Bev and him got into like a video war. i didn't watch all of them. They were going back and forth talking shit about each other.
00:44:55
Speaker
Shit was kind of funny. Pat Bev is hilarious.
00:45:01
Speaker
but oh man go ah you good You're good. you good Speaking of Trey and Paolo, we're going to start right there with the ah Southeast Division. Paolo, definitely looking like he next in line. We got Miami. ki i mean What is Pat doing, man? Does he have a plan for the future?
00:45:21
Speaker
This is not your same reload and retool heat team. okay Can Charlotte ever get it right? What are they doing? And The Wizards, man, like, what's going on? Is is this the ah Orlando invitation?
00:45:38
Speaker
How we feeling about this division out the gate?
00:45:42
Speaker
Is it me? you want to start with me? Go for it.
00:45:47
Speaker
you know, we talked about this on my NBA season preview. We did it on Ball and Bloods, Bobby G. But we had talked about how Orlando may have, at that point in time, been the actual favorite as we went through all the teams in the East trying to figure out.
00:46:04
Speaker
Who might be good enough to take over that spot or at least compete with your beloved Cleveland Cavaliers? um But, right, it's a whole new season.
00:46:16
Speaker
We can't trust what we saw last season. Even Cleveland winning as many games as they did proved you know that to all of our teams i'm saying that it does not matter.
00:46:29
Speaker
One game, one play can take a whole team out And that's what we're seeing is now that there have been so many injuries that we talked about, it's going to be an invitational. Now, will it be an invitational solely for the Orlando Magic?
00:46:46
Speaker
I actually would like to disagree. Now, I assume but we're giving picks at the end of the show, so I'm not going to give mine now. Going as we go along. We're doing division about division. Oh, so I can, well, I was talking about like my Eastern Conference champions. Oh, yeah, we will say that today. well We'll hold off on that. Okay.
00:47:03
Speaker
Well, in this division, yes, this is the Orlando Invitational. You were correct about the heat. Pat Riley needs to make a move. um He had the chance.
00:47:15
Speaker
to get Kevin Durant. He didn't do it. Fine. You don't want to necessarily bank on old legs. Well, what are you going to now? Are you goingnna go out and get Giannis? Because that's your best shot at this point in time to to be able to field championship-level team because you don't have one right now, just strictly with, you know, look, ain't going hate on Bam and the rest of the crew, it's my brother, Triple Jaime, Hawkins junior but you know yeah it is the Orlando's to lose the hope is that Trey can finally as I just know I guess I was a good segue on my part that Trey can actually get the Hawks over the hump I mean if if it's this open you should at least
00:47:57
Speaker
at least be in the top six seats if you're a Hawks team led by Trae Young, in you eye in your mind, at least. um The Wizards, my hometown team, will always suck for the foreseeable future because their ownership only their ownership cares more about the Capitals than anything else.
00:48:18
Speaker
And LaMelo Ball, no matter how much i love the Ball family as a UCLA fan, and um yeah, they're never going to be anything. Michael Jordan realized that.
00:48:29
Speaker
That's why he got out when the Gittin is good. ah He's going to sell that team at some point where he already has sold them. Somewhere in the process. I'll go for one more.
00:48:41
Speaker
This is an easy division. It's Orlando's to lose, in my opinion. I think the Heat will try to compete for it. um With Atlanta and Charlotte and Washington, they'll be fighting for less.
00:48:55
Speaker
More than likely, Washington's going to get that honor. I just see it that way. You think Atlanta will be that low? I'm sorry. I don't mean to stop. Do you think Atlanta will be that low? I don't think Trey's going to finish there.
00:49:07
Speaker
no Okay. Oh, wow. Okay. okay wow I don't think you saw it. They're already what saying it. but they not't even gotfin They're not even to bother having contract negotiations.
00:49:18
Speaker
So, I mean, they they just shut it down. So, you think he's going to have a deadline? Wait, if I may, um he may get traded, but i believe I saw they signed him to an extension today.
00:49:32
Speaker
I believe that news came out today. Yep. I think that news came out earlier today, if I am not mistaken. I believe so. I saw an email. I thought about it. Let me see if I still have my email. Mr. Givin, man, man, man, man. I said, Hawks, Trae Young receives bad news on possible contract extension.
00:49:51
Speaker
Oh, is that what it I swear I did. My bad. didn't mean to interrupt. I swear I saw that email. ah cause That's what I saw. yeah i a as so say You might have seen something that didn't.
00:50:01
Speaker
No, I mean, think Charlotte, I like what what Miller and Lamella are doing. A guard combo that they got going on. but I don't know. They just never can make nothing really mature and turn into anything. So,
00:50:22
Speaker
Hopefully they can sell some tickets. yeah But, yeah, this this is our land, though. I just need Paolo to stay healthy, man. Yeah. get him Get a full season. If he do, he's going to ball out.
00:50:38
Speaker
I can see it. Yeah, from what I just saw, basically they didn't get the deal done. He can't sign during the season. Maybe read that wrong. Yeah, all I see is he has to wait until the offseason.
00:50:50
Speaker
My bad, y'all. Maybe I read that wrong. Oh, no, you're good. You're good. Damn, that's two today. Two strong. I'm almost out, y'all. I got three stacks, y'all. Jesus, Louise.
00:51:02
Speaker
Hey, for me, yeah um'm I'm with you both. I think this is Orlando's division for the taking. Paolo, what can I say about the young man? He's, for my own team, he's the only power forward in the league I would i would trade Evan Mobley for.
00:51:17
Speaker
um The dude this is just talented. um I do have a surprise, though. Look out. I'm to say look out for the Wizards, man. oh You got some Jerry McCollum. Hey, you acquired Chris Middleton. These are two veterans. They've been to the postseason. Chris Middleton's the champion.
00:51:32
Speaker
You get them and them young fellas, man. You get them and them them young fellas. That's sweet. Hey, look out for them to make a run at that 10 spot. I'm not saying they'll be one of the top eight, but they can make a run at the 10 and be in the playoff.
00:51:46
Speaker
Again, this is kind what Omar was talking about, talking about the entire league. One of those teams raising up somewhere where they shouldn't be because of the injury situation.
00:51:59
Speaker
They can take advantage of You got to see that not trying to go there and play losing basketball. I don't think neither is Chris Middleton. They're either going to be plaque trying to play their way into a trade at the deadline to to get to a contender,
00:52:11
Speaker
But they're going playing ball. I think they'll kind of take the challenge like Chris Paul did when he got traded to the Thunder.
Central Division Predictions
00:52:18
Speaker
Everybody thought it just loss and he was to try get out of there. No, he turned the boys into winners.
00:52:22
Speaker
Now, I don't think they'll have that effect, you know, to where, because the Thunder was super competitive that season. i said Yeah, well them making a plan at the 10th spot wouldn't surprise me.
00:52:36
Speaker
um The Hornets, yeah, they got issues. They just and need to manage. just needs It's like a daycare over there. For real, like one one day they have to grow up.
00:52:49
Speaker
One day they got to grow up as a team and and and start, you know, playing. We're going lose interest in the behind-the-back pass. We're going to lose interest in the between-leg, off-the-backboard alley-oop on the fast break, Melo. That ain't going to work, man. We need you get into some playoff games.
00:53:03
Speaker
like We need you to start winning playing winning basketball. All that cute stuff, you're getting older, not younger. That cute stuff, yeah. Hey, we are cute when we're babies. When we get up, everybody's looking for it loud.
00:53:16
Speaker
That's not usually how Pat Riley does things. He keeps things tight to the vest and in-house. That was out loud. That was in public. People kind of saw how you operate. And in this era of player empowerment, dudes ain't going for that.
00:53:31
Speaker
So, you know, do people really want to go to Miami anymore? Yeah, you know, you lost some superstars. Who have you brought in recently? You know mean? So and Atlanta, tre yeah, I just need you to I need Trey.
00:53:48
Speaker
His career highlight can't be a I want a game in the garden. that That's over. We get it. You can score in the garden. You can beat the Knicks. Can you beat the Bucs when it matters?
00:54:02
Speaker
Can you beat the Pistons? Can you beat the Knicks? Can you beat the Cavs? Like, yeah, you can beat the Knicks in the garden, but that that that can't be your only resume point. so oh and that was ah that was And not the new Knicks that they had in the Eastern Conference Finals last year. so Yeah, this Knicks team, they got five All-Stars in the starting lineup. he How the hell did that happen?
00:54:28
Speaker
But yeah, I got Orlando winning it probably Depends on how Jalen Johnson comes back and when he comes back oh I Can see the Hawks finishes and the heat fighting for that two spot yeah Which are two delphi's second and third with the Wizards fourth and the Hornets fifth
00:54:51
Speaker
no Moving on
00:54:55
Speaker
The Atlantic. Guys, by the way, i just want to say i apologize. What's that? Bring in incorrect information on your show. I read that incorrectly. They will not. Yes, you are correct. Will not talk this season before the season. Oh, it's all good. Players suck up.
00:55:13
Speaker
You what saying? There you go. Be so hard on yourself, guy. I'm having a bad game, man. I'm having a bad game. We were just thinking about my mistakes. I'm like, shit, I've been thinking about this all night. Atlantic Division.
00:55:26
Speaker
Obviously, we know what's going on with Celtics. Jason Tatum. Possibly out for the entire year. ah The Nets. What are we doing here? The Knicks.
00:55:37
Speaker
The new era. Mike Brown. Tibbs out. Mike Brown in. ah Philly, are we restarting the process? And the Raptors,
00:55:49
Speaker
I don't know what they're trying to They've just got a hodgepodge of ah what the fuck likes going off oh tomorrow you kick this one off man what what are we looking for with this division who you got win is it's Nick's Nick's it this is the time you know this is the time it's awesome if Boston is down all right ah you And like you just described the other four teams, the other teams in there, like, ah what are you feeling? Don't know what you are.
00:56:22
Speaker
hey You don't know if you even going to get Joel Embiid for any point at the time of this season. ah He's bound to get hurt.
00:56:32
Speaker
Brooklyn, don't know, Mass, Toronto, Mass. This is the time. you like There are a lot of things that are going in your favor right now, and you are the only sign of stability in this division right now.
00:56:47
Speaker
Yeah. ah Come on. Next. If you don't win this division, date man, shut it down. and Matter of fact, explode it up, blow it up.
00:56:59
Speaker
Because this ain't going work. Because if this roster can't take this division this year with a lot of factors working in their favor, blow it up.
00:57:11
Speaker
big Big facts, man. You ain't told no lies yet.
00:57:17
Speaker
ah to What's your finishing order? um
00:57:25
Speaker
I know Boston is down... tat them But I think they'll still compete. You know, can't still can't there's a lot of championship DNA that's on their roster. and So they ain't just going sit down and fold.
00:57:43
Speaker
Right. So I got them picking up second. By default, Toronto third.
00:57:55
Speaker
Billy fourth in and bal Brooklyn fifth. no
00:58:02
Speaker
Sports professor, what got? Yes, yes, indeedy. I know this division quite well with my champion, most world championships, shall I say, in the NBA. Boston Celtics, where we have the legacy and the likes of great Bill Russell, Larry Bird, Paul Anthony Pierce,
00:58:29
Speaker
Jason Tatum. that was for you my Jason Tatum. And finally, Jalen Brown. And Jalen Brown, my friends, is not a number two like everybody wants to call No, no, no, no, no.
00:58:45
Speaker
He just hadn't had the chance to shine and show he is a bona fide numero uno on this basketball court. Now, let's start at the bottom of this division.
00:58:56
Speaker
Doesn't really matter. Brooklyn, Toronto, both suck. Not going to anything. Moving on. I'm going to have to... flip that order though from Marr between Philadelphia and Toronto and I believe that a Tyrese Maxey led team that may even be able to get some healthy games possibly out of some of those older veteran players we talked about you know if they can get any games out of the rest of that core then that'll be nothing but a help to possibly move them up further but I think Philadelphia does take that third spot
00:59:32
Speaker
And, drum roll please, the number one spot in the Eastern Conference will go to the Boston! No!
00:59:43
Speaker
It will the hell not. We suck. We'll take second. The New York Knicks
00:59:51
Speaker
will win this. All right, all right. And I actually think Philly could get above us, too, depending on how healthy they are throughout the season. Okay. that would oh I got more faith in the Celtics than that but I do it I do see in the Knicks winning division if if if they don't win the division now then win like it's just one of those situations even though to me the biggest question mark is Mike Brown Mike Brown and
01:00:27
Speaker
has done He hasn't done the greatest things outside of LeBron James. A bulk of his success who's with LeBron James is his best player. And I know because I watched it in Cleveland. um I don't know if he's approved his ability to get it done in the playoffs.
01:00:45
Speaker
and Bro, you got fired by Kobe. That's a huge indictment for most coaches. You got fired by Kobe. um Yeah, man. i don't...
01:00:59
Speaker
I don't know. I'm kind of... I like the Mike Brown hire because if the Cavs and Knicks meet in the playoffs, I know exactly what to expect.
01:01:10
Speaker
yeah I know exactly what to expect from the Knicks if that happens. That's why I like the hire. But... um He will...
01:01:25
Speaker
He will... He still... A lot of lot of things they do and they're used to as Knicks fans will probably remain the same because Mike Brown is a de defense he's ah ah defense guy. you know Comes from that that pop lineage.
01:01:39
Speaker
um And that's one thing we did. All his teams, do they they they defend very well, above average.
01:01:49
Speaker
Cat, can we get ah some consistency? We're going to need you on the inside a little bit more. And like ah that's almost a... Cat doesn't really shoot as much as people think.
01:02:02
Speaker
He uses the outside to get to the inside, but I need you to sometimes start on the inside. i don't need you i don't need to see you pump and go the outside. I need you turn your back to the basket, go down there and receive the entry pass sometimes.
01:02:18
Speaker
um
01:02:20
Speaker
OG and Mikael, can they continue to lock down on on the perimeter? And Brunson, I think Brunson has to become more of a distributor during the regular season so he can get these guys ready. Because in the playoffs, it can't just be the Jalen Brunson show.
01:02:38
Speaker
They tried that, and it didn't work. Not because he can't do it, because, I mean, he's just like said, he's going to wear down. And if he wears down... You know, exactly.
01:02:51
Speaker
um The Celtics, again, I'm just like, you I don't think they're going to be as bad as people think. I think there's still big playoff team. I think they, ironically, I think they could potentially compete for the three or four seed, three seed at best.
01:03:06
Speaker
um That's just what injuries have done to the East. Yeah. If Jalen Brunson is really like if he really is a number one, yeah, I think they still can be to be a three or four seed in the East.
01:03:17
Speaker
If he is that number two, I still think they they have enough, and I think zo Missoula is good enough as a coach, but they'll definitely make playoffs. Philly, my high take is if I'm Philly, I'm trading Allen B. I need to get him off my books, off my roster, out of my city.
01:03:35
Speaker
Like, why why is he there? it's It's so time to cut bait with that. like got you yeah You got to start fresh, man. It's over. I mean, should yeah should have yeah it's been it's it's way overdue. I completely agree.
01:03:50
Speaker
I may try and move Paul George as well. Let's just cut. Let's move forward. Let's build around Maxie. Let's build around Vijay Edgecombe. And, you know, let's move let's move
Western Conference Highlights
01:04:00
Speaker
forward. Let's move on.
01:04:03
Speaker
with the Raptors the Raptors I need I think the Raptors and the Nets are ironically in the same boat like what are we trying to do you traded Pascal looked like you were gonna try and build around Scotty Barnes I love Scotty Barnes but then you go get Brandon Ingle what you might as well kept Pascal Siakam at least he gives you defense oh And better durability, too. Yeah, and he's a champion.
01:04:35
Speaker
Like, Paskin is probably literally top five in your franchise history.
01:04:41
Speaker
Like, so I need to know what the plan is. Brooklyn, the same thing. I need to know what the plan is. Because, yes, Cam Thomas is a bucket getter, but he's you can't build a franchise around him.
01:04:54
Speaker
Michael Porter Jr., you're not building a franchise around him. And it's just... Like, you have all these draft picks. Now, and what what is the plan? What are we doing?
01:05:04
Speaker
So, yeah, I got the Knicks winning in. I got the... um I'm going to Celtics. I think the Celtics are going to second. Second is the reason I got the Raptors, Finch, and third. Philly fourth and the Nets fifth.
01:05:20
Speaker
And next is the division with the future Eastern Conference champion. ah six Central division.
01:05:33
Speaker
Omar, let you lead it off, man. ah I mean, look. The Cavs being the front runners last year are obviously should be considered in the front running here this year.
01:05:50
Speaker
You can't, oh, you can never, excuse me count out. Giannis Antetokounmpo. And the great, may I add, the great, and I don't need to hear anything from Hot Take Jake or anyone else, the great Glenn Dock Rivers. One of the greatest coaches of all time.
01:06:13
Speaker
You can't count out the Milwaukee, don't look at me like that, Mark, the Milwaukee Bucks. What? What? Indiana Pacers, as you mentioned, Pascal Siakam, look, they were a good team.
01:06:26
Speaker
And yes, obviously Halliburton made them a better team, but... I think they were still a pretty decent team without him, sort of thing like the Celtics too, with like Jalen Brown. You still have a fringe number one that can, as long as the rest of the team is built around them properly, take that next step.
01:06:46
Speaker
And then the young guys in Detroit only keep moving up every year and getting better. So we're looking at Cade Cunningham and that crew to obviously ah continue to ascend. But I would say...
01:06:59
Speaker
ah that's That's tough to say who's going to. I'll say the Bulls bring up the rear. I would say Detroit in four.
01:07:10
Speaker
i will say Indiana three. Milwaukee. Oh, no. You know what? I don't know. That Detroit, Indiana has got me. Milwaukee two and Cavs one for me on this.
01:07:24
Speaker
All right. Mark? i Give me Cavs.
01:07:33
Speaker
Detroit.
01:07:38
Speaker
Yeah, I'm cool with that. Detroit.
01:07:42
Speaker
Milwaukee, Indiana, and Chicago brings up the red game.
01:07:51
Speaker
i
01:07:55
Speaker
No disrespect to your squad, Bobby. I can't keep having it, man. Detroit is good. If K can get them boys going too, yeah, you can always look out for them. but yeah That's how I got the order for that for Central Division right there. Fair, fair oh fair.
01:08:17
Speaker
I think this might be the toughest division in basketball. um Overall, top to bottom. Like light the Bulls, I don't see them making the playoffs, but they're not going to be an easy win on nightly basis, man. They got some guys can play basketball and they play good together, especially with Giddy running a point.
01:08:34
Speaker
Kobe coming off the bench, dry he's giving me 20 off the bench. So, yeah, they ain't going to be an easy win on nightly basis. Obviously, I still got us taking the division. um As disappointing as last season was,
01:08:50
Speaker
For me, it was still a successful season because most Cavs fans don't listen to what they think or say.
01:09:05
Speaker
If they listen to what they think or say, they can't call last season the disappointment because most Cavs seasons would have been like, hey, if the Cavs lose in the playoffs to the Celtics,
01:09:17
Speaker
I'm good with that. Why? Because they thought the Celtics were going to go to the finals. Well, guess what? We lost to a fate to the Pacers. And the Pacers went to the finals. So it did like they did exactly what you thought they'd do. They just did it to It was a different team.
01:09:30
Speaker
so But now the entire team understands the severity of the of the situation, which is should it get off the pot? Like, this is just the universe cannot have rolled you a better red carpet.
01:09:42
Speaker
Hey, we took care of Jason Tatum for you. We took care of a Halliburton for you. um Milwaukee's in disarray. yeah Like, it's... Orlando's still playing catch-up.
01:09:59
Speaker
The Pistons really shouldn't be a threat, in theory, but here it is. Here's the East. All you gotta do, can you beat the Knicks in seven games? Which is how this whole is how how this whole thing started.
01:10:11
Speaker
A few years ago, us losing in the first round to the Knicks. And that's what brought all the questions about our supposedly core four. Well, you know, you got to exercise your demons if you want to take that step, right?
01:10:23
Speaker
Jordan had to get through Pistons. You know, Shaq and Kobe had to get through Spurs. and but Like, air everybody's got their demons. Can we beat the Knicks in the playoffs? That's the only thing people care about.
01:10:34
Speaker
And from all the interviews and just watching people in offseason, it's on their mind, they're conscious of it, and they know about it. And I love that. You know what you have to do. Get it done.
01:10:45
Speaker
And I think we can. I got the pi the Pistons finishing second in the division. Like I say, J.B. Biggestaff is one of the most underrated coaches in this league. ah We are where we are because he built the foundation.
01:11:01
Speaker
Um... Kenny Atkinson is just benefiting from that. He's doing the same thing in Detroit. And, yo, if you have never seen Cade Cunningham play basketball,
01:11:14
Speaker
yourself a favor Yeah, because whatever you think about SGA, K can be better than that. And that's crazy to think of. That is crazy to think of.
01:11:25
Speaker
um Yeah, I don't know that I would go that far. But yeah, okay. He's a better shooter. as He's a better natural shooter. I mean, I've watched him play. I just think all around SGA is the better shooter. Yeah, right now. Right now. tutor sure Right now. I'm saying like three, four years from now, though.
01:11:43
Speaker
Yeah. but um He's a good player, no doubt. Yeah. The biggest question for me for them is when does Jaden Ivey come back and how quickly can he re-acclimate himself to the team?
01:11:58
Speaker
because he's a key piece. He's that guy. He's one of the guys on the team. He don't need Kay Canahan to set him up. He can go get his own shot. He's explosive. ah he can he He can play off ball. He can start or he can come off the bench.
01:12:11
Speaker
So how quickly can he get back? How quickly can he acclimate himself and find a role that will help the team? um Indiana, ah think they're to miss Halliburton too much.
01:12:22
Speaker
hes He's just... He's the run starter. When they're down, he makes them believe that they can they could do anything. right But yeah, they're scouting team. you know it They'll be in the playoffs for sure still.
01:12:34
Speaker
But you don't believe back to the L.C. Ockham can be that? No, it think he's. He's not a one. No. He'll get them as far as he can. But if they want to reach the max potential with their ceiling, they need Halliburton.
01:12:48
Speaker
They need to this day. I swear if he doesn't get hurt, they win game seven. he came He came out with 12 points in the first quarter. Four for four for three. you ready like He was busting their ass. He was busting their ass. You're right about that. so But yeah, they they need... You can't... That'd be like us losing Donovan Mitchell, man.
01:13:10
Speaker
Like, yes, Mobley can do it with a healthy garland, yet but we still need Don, man. So for them, yeah. ah Milwaukee...
01:13:23
Speaker
stop Just stop trying to appease Giannis. If he wants to leave, he's going to go. And you're going to let him. Like, he's signed with his nephews, his aunties, cousins. He probably got his mom running he's working working in in the front office somewhere.
01:13:36
Speaker
Like, stop it. Stop it, man. Stop it. Stop it. Get some help. Like, stop trying to appease. If he wants to be out, he's going to be out.
01:13:47
Speaker
And you're going to let him out. Like, You can't cater to this dude forever. but um Signing his brothers, two of the worst basketball players in the NBA, was horrendous.
01:14:02
Speaker
Right. And ah it will be interesting to see him, what kind of effect Miles Turner can have, though. He's a younger, more athletic version of Brooke Lopez.
01:14:17
Speaker
And we saw how effective Brooke Lopez was able to be next to Giannis. yeah And that's another thing that I think hurt the Pacers. um Not only did they lose a Miles Turner, we got a Thomas Bryant from him.
01:14:30
Speaker
And he was a very solid big coming off the bench. so But yeah, I got the Cavs, Pistons. ah I think... Go Indiana three, Milwaukee four, Bulls five.
01:14:43
Speaker
And cause that's the last of the East. we Go ahead. East playoffs, who y'all got?
01:14:49
Speaker
Oh. Who want to go first?
01:14:56
Speaker
Go ahead. Okay. You remember me? Okay. All right. Cool. So I'll just give you ah my top four and then give you my champion. So obviously, in in no particular order, Cavs, Orlando, the Knicks.
01:15:12
Speaker
And I believe, and I know y'all are going kind of sit on this, I guess, but I actually think that with the moves that were made on in the offseason,
01:15:26
Speaker
um i think if Trey Young can step up, he can get them to that fourth position ah in the East. I mean, they they did a lot of work in the offseason to try to work around him, adding Nikal Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard to the backcourt, Jalen Johnson is underage. So, I mean, Grzingis is there now.
01:15:50
Speaker
If he can step up, this can be a team in the top half for the East. So that's going to be my fault. And then for my championship game, I am going to agree with you, Bobby.
01:16:04
Speaker
It's going to be the Cavs and it's going to be the Knickerbockers. I don't believe the Orlando is ready just yet. I believe Orlando next year will probably be an Eastern Conference champion representative, but I believe they need a year to get it all figured out, get it gelled, let Paolo Bancaro grow another year.
01:16:22
Speaker
And in the Eastern Conference Finals, going to your NBA Finals representing the Eastern Conference,
01:16:33
Speaker
Ah, man. Mike Brown has been the coach of this team
01:16:43
Speaker
for three months now. I can't believe I'm saying it. I am going with the New York Knickerbockers to get to the NBA Finals.
01:16:55
Speaker
Now I'm going to go throw up. I'll be right back. Stop it. can stop it Get some help. oh You got more. No, I'm just going to go ah Nixon and Cavs in the East Conference Finals, but I'm going the opposite way and say that Cleveland rocks and gets back the final. It's violent.
01:17:21
Speaker
Finals. Hey, come on, man. No, believe me. Get some to the finals. So, I mean, it's going to be a collective unit out there doing it.
01:17:36
Speaker
And they're going to do it for the land. So, yeah. Give me the cash in the finals. All right. got a I think we can finish with one seed again in a close race. I think we finish in the one seed, the Knicks finish in the two seed. I'm going go and give Detroit to finish the three seed and give Orlando the four.
01:18:01
Speaker
And um yeah, I like the Knicks and Cavs to meet in the conference finals. oh And I think we can exercise that demon. I think Mobley's going to take another step this season, and I think that can put us over the top.
01:18:18
Speaker
And I think we will come into the playoffs this year actually healthy. And finish healthy. If we do that, yes, we'll be a tough out. So, we're going to that Western Conference.
Northwest Division Deep Dive
01:18:34
Speaker
Starting home the champs, Northwest. OKC, again, reigning champs. Hey, Timmy. Ant-Man and the Timberwolves, Ace Bailey and the Jazz, the Joker, the Nuggets, and A. Yang.
01:18:52
Speaker
I'm just calling Yang. Yang. What should we call him? People call him Shungun, Baby Joker. I think this dude is the new baby Joker, man. If you watch him, man, his game is smooth, like Joker. Like, Shang-Goon is a little bit more thuggish.
01:19:08
Speaker
oh Yang is like, he's smooth. It's fun to watch him play. Portland might have finally found him a new ah a franchise player, but it'll start this time. Margot, let's start this one off.
01:19:23
Speaker
Oh, yeah. Let me... So, OKC, I think they win the division again.
01:19:33
Speaker
Look, I love Ant-Man, but he he he he ah he ain't got enough to get past Denver.
01:19:40
Speaker
You know, let alone get past OKC. Just my opinion. So, Denver 2, Minnesota 3. three and then Portland gets the four and then Jazz gets the five.
01:19:57
Speaker
I don't know, for some reason Portland always kind of, they almost end up being like the farm system for everybody else at the trade deadline.
01:20:06
Speaker
You know, you need some talent? Yeah, we got it right here in Portland, but they always, you stop with talent because they always got a whole bunch of draft picks they ain't trade rates every year, so It's a revolving door with him, but no.
01:20:21
Speaker
and Sometimes talent just overcomes some circumstances. and in in in the and For me in the NBA, I feel is when you got a nice amount of talent, it can win you a couple of games that over, I guess, over scheme sometimes.
01:20:36
Speaker
Northwest is going to be interesting, but I still kind of see it, you know. Especially with OKC really pretty much retaining a a championship team. for the most part.
01:20:53
Speaker
yeah Yeah, that's the key.
OKC Dynasty Debate
01:20:55
Speaker
The key is that they retained their championship squad. um And, you know, aside from the fact that eventually, as Jokic gets older and Ant-Man gets more into his prime, they're going to switch that position that Marr has them in.
01:21:12
Speaker
Other than that, as the kids say, no notes. Yeah.
01:21:18
Speaker
I agree with Mars order completely. No no's. I am with y'all. You know, this I guess the only question this year for OKC fans is is it a dynasty or is it not?
01:21:31
Speaker
So they're they're all about repeating. And it's insane to think about. actually think there's one other question, though, you got to think comp about. What's that? 73 wins.
01:21:46
Speaker
They're young enough. Do you go for it or do you say no we already had that home injury, want to save ourselves for the playoffs. I mean because those teams, the 73, the Warriors, the Bulls, all the teams that won a lot of games ah still won the championship.
Impact of Record Wins on Championships
01:22:03
Speaker
So not like they lost the championship no matter how much harder they had to play in the season. um oh Sir, you talk about your ah two strikes. see that Is that the first strike? That was your third. That's right. Damn, that's right. They didn't get the job done. That's right. They lost to your Cleveland Cavaliers. That's right.
01:22:27
Speaker
God bless. See, there's our third strike. All right, I'm out. I'll see you on the show. Stop it. Get some help. They they didn't finish the job. I need help. This is my worst showing ever. I'm sorry, bro. Y'all caught me off the bench and I just came in shooting like Russell Westbrook. No shots, Brody. You know I love you.
01:22:47
Speaker
You know love you, Brody. Oh, God bless. No, but to your point, though, I hate that people use that as an excuse. Like, that them going for 73 wins cost them, like, really you really? Going for 73 wins stopped them from winning one more game in the playoffs?
01:23:08
Speaker
Yeah, we couldn't win the championship. We couldn't win that one extra game because we won 73. Really? people and People forget that that was completely necessary, too. People forget the San Antonio Spurs won like 67 games that season.
01:23:21
Speaker
It's like to go the Warriors needed to win those games to get the number one seed. Yeah.
01:23:28
Speaker
and That's tough, man. I think they'll just play basketball. I don't think they'll necessarily go for the record, but I think it'll just be like last season. they'll They'll just play basketball and see where they are at the end. Okay. For future episodes, I just really recommend you get one of those. you remember that game show, Press Your Luck, way back in the day?
01:23:48
Speaker
No whammies. No whammies. Just get an honorary whammy for anybody messes up and call it Omar's honorary whammy. Because I don't even know what to say about my performance. You're good, bro. la This... If the Central is going to be...
01:24:13
Speaker
the I think the the best division, I think this may be the toughest, if if that makes sense. I think overall, the Central, top to bottom, may be the best.
01:24:26
Speaker
But come on, man. You got the Nuggets, Thunder, and Wolves. Right there. Right. Yeah, it's going to be tough. Yeah, those three. And I mean, it just so happens that it's bad luck for the Blazers and Jazz to be in this division at this time.
01:24:41
Speaker
like
Competitive Nature of Northwest Division
01:24:42
Speaker
because you got you basically got two juggernaut i mean but you got like two jokers and a deuce right there in that division big joker little joker and the dude's that the truth yeah no pun intended uh oh yeah good point oh yeah yeah and i i agree with more like ant-man while ant-man may be My opinion of people, people, they get this out of the way.
01:25:11
Speaker
What? Ant-Man may be the second best player in this division.
01:25:17
Speaker
He doesn't have enough around him to overcome the depth of OKC.
01:25:25
Speaker
like i'm sorry judas randall yeah use a dog and and you can do some things but you ain't enough to to beat shay jdub chat that it's just too much overcome same with naz reed it's just not enough if he needs another superstar teammate to overcome that firepower um i do like uh I like the Nuggets getting Cam.
01:25:53
Speaker
I like them getting Cam over MPJ. I think that's an upgrade. Clearly, Cam's better defender, and ah think he'll get enough open looks to give you the same offensive spark that MPJ does.
01:26:07
Speaker
I think he'll be more consistent. um And they got ah Bruce Brown back. So I think that's huge also. yeah play out Come down playoff time. But yeah, I'm i'm with you guys. I got the Thunder winning in the division.
01:26:20
Speaker
had the Nuggets finish second. Timberwolves third. I'm going to take the Jazz over the Blazers, though. ah They got more greedy players. they They have more players I believe in. Like the Blazers, what's up with Scoot? Still still learning the game. Shade and shard. It's like their young guys are just trapped in being young. They're not really improving. they're just They're still young guys.
01:26:42
Speaker
yeah Whereas, you know, Utah, you got guys like Kyle Suck. He's just trying to get buckets. Laurie Markkinen. Like, these are proven guys. Just a little bit more experienced in Utah. So, yeah, I got to finish him fourth. a think a lot of probably, this probably be the division most people pay the most attention to.
01:27:05
Speaker
Pacific got the Lakers here to the first full year with Luca and Ron the Clippers the Clippers who are reminding me of the 2000 Trailblazers If anybody remembers that squad, you Scottie Pippen, Brian. The Jail Blazers. Yeah, day they were like, they were literally 15 deep.
01:27:28
Speaker
And this Clippers team reminds me of that. Of course, you got Steph and the Warriors, DeMontis, Sabonis, and D-Book, man, back to being all alone.
01:27:41
Speaker
Omar cracked this one over, man. We're sticking to the Pacific. Yeah, so... I'll try not to be as much as a Lakers hater as I truly, truly am.
01:27:55
Speaker
Let's go ahead. and I'm not going to put them in last place. I promise I won't do that to you. ah All right. I'm going to have... This is tough, too, because you're right.
01:28:06
Speaker
Devin Booker is all alone and after they got rid of Kevin Durant. But at the same time... ah Fuck. It's like the Sacramento Kings...
01:28:18
Speaker
have been, well, at least for a few years there, they were, kind the you know, the run where you're lighting up the beam and all that stuff. ah Yeah, they traded away their main players. What in the world ghost was that?
01:28:32
Speaker
I don't know what that was. Something dropped. But anyways, um i'll but i'll put I'll put Phoenix last. I'll put Sacramento fourth. But you to me, i don't know. you could You could change either one.
01:28:44
Speaker
Whatever. i good Look, the Lakers are going to be in third. I, as much as this Lakers team will get better in the future, LeBron is obviously going to be a morass on this team last year. That doesn't mean an ass.
01:28:59
Speaker
That just means another word for being an anchor and weighing them down.
Clippers' Roster Analysis
01:29:04
Speaker
So I think he'll be more of a hindrance than a help. And that will have the Lakers in third.
01:29:10
Speaker
ah Both of these other teams, though, I thought the Warriors had it last year with the addition of Jimmy Butler. I thought that that was going to, you know, they played really well off the break once they got him.
01:29:22
Speaker
I thought that was going to help them further in the playoffs. It did not, as I thought it would. This year, what can they do? Oh man, and then the Clippers, huh? The Clippers, if you were looking at this team back in 2015, man, you'd be like, this is a super team. ah But it's not 2015.
01:29:39
Speaker
two thousand and fifteen ah So I am to go with the Clippers taking the division, staying healthy, and somehow, some way.
01:29:54
Speaker
Yes, I am. That is what I am doing. All right, Mark. And ain't nobody falling for that hype. Lakers, Lakers, Lakers. No, you are not. don't want to hear that. I don't want to hear that.
01:30:14
Speaker
One going into his, you know, and getting into his prime. And, you know, he look like he trying to, you know, get get off them little snacks and and get a little healthier. but Because he in LA, you know, you got to get slim and trim for the honeys.
01:30:28
Speaker
You know, They're like a bulging wallet and a fit man. So, you know, that's what they like out there. But, hey, Lakers to me get number one.
01:30:39
Speaker
ah Just because of the roster talent of the Clippers, they get number two. But they are going to have people in and out of that lineup. So that's why I think you just kind of load up on veteran talent. But it makes sense.
01:30:50
Speaker
oh But, uh, I got go to state three, you know, Steph, he's starting to show that he, you know, there's going be some periods he's going, you know, I just hit it down and, and it's the, I mean, he's getting older. So body ain't reacting the same way. He ain't running in and cutting through all them screens like he used to no more. Right.
01:31:13
Speaker
So, uh, it, Other than that, I don't know. was you know i guess ah ah a full season with Jimmy. Well, we know what Jimmy does in the regular season. He ain't turning the switch on to playoff time anyway, so he be chilling.
01:31:30
Speaker
Yeah, and then give yeah yeah me Phoenix 4th and Sacramento 5th.
01:31:42
Speaker
Okay. I just think there's too much pride in D-Book, man. You know, I'm going to be like, I'm going to still show that I'm a hooper out here. I'm still nice like that. you know, you can't forget this man dropped 70-plus in the game, bro.
01:31:58
Speaker
He did. He did that. yeah Yeah. Wait, well were were weren't they, like, didn't they only have, like, 20, 25 wins before Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal came along?
01:32:10
Speaker
So how are they going to be better than that? don't understand. That's crazy, bro. I mean, i just asking. Just asking. He ain't got all distractions now.
01:32:21
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, maybe could. And he's in his prime. Now he's in his prime. He was younger then. You could argue that he was too young back then. That's true. Good point. But, uh... Anyways, you just worry about Joe Lakers. Just be worried about that. They ain't going to be him first. They definitely ain't going to be him first. don't know how you look at that come out your mouth like that.
01:32:39
Speaker
Hey. Hey.
01:32:42
Speaker
Luca, man. Yeah, and DeAndre. Hey, he trying to, he going to be playing with his team. And DeAndre Ayton. Like, he hasn't been on 15 teams already.
01:32:58
Speaker
ah For me, this might be the most competitive division in league. Like, you can literally make an argument for any any team in it to win the division. You can make an argument for any team to finish in any place in the division, really.
01:33:14
Speaker
oh But for me, yeah, i said it. Golden State Warriors are going to win this division, and here's why. Steph is still Steph, but I like their pickups, man. They picked up Al Horford.
01:33:31
Speaker
um so Don't forget the timeless wonder. um He helps them on offensive and defensive side. um I'm going to count Jimmy Butler as a pickup. Yeah, they picked him up last season, but it was really for the future more so than last season.
01:33:50
Speaker
He gets his full summer work in. He gets to start and from the beginning of the season because coming in the middle, you know that can you're trying to fit in. You're not really trying to do your thing. like Now he gets to kind of you know from the jump establish who he is and who the team is ah Steve Kerr let Jonathan Kaminga play ball please like the dude can play just cause he can't play in your system hey bring him off the bench and just let him loose yeah this dude man don't matter how he gets it he will give you 20 off the bench
01:34:33
Speaker
oh He's the most athletic dude that you have. Let him get his experience so that he can be there when you need him in the playoffs. ah Like, don't don't treat him like Jason Tatum, man.
01:34:45
Speaker
Don't do that to yourself. Oh, that's wild. Yeah. You gave him the money you thought he was worth. Now let him go earn it. oh For second, I'm going to go with the Clippers, man.
Lakers Roster Critique
01:35:03
Speaker
We'll to Clippers to finish second. yeah This team reminds me of the 2000 Blazers. they're just too like pro They literally have two starting lineups. They literally have a bench. They have two starting lineups.
01:35:14
Speaker
Like you got James Harden. You got Chris Paul coming off of James Harden. You got Bradley Beal. You got Bogdan Bogdan coming off of Bradley Beal. You got Kawhi Leonard. You got Nicholas Batum coming off of Kawhi Leonard.
01:35:25
Speaker
You got Evince Zubac. You got Brooke Lopez coming off for Evince Zubac. You got Derrick Jones Jr. And oh, his backup or his backup is freaking John Collins, bro.
01:35:40
Speaker
Like what is going on? That's a 2K squad. I told you, 2015. That is a 2K squad. No, today, that's a 2K squad. All they got to do is like average eight, nine points apiece, let Harden get 20-4. They're going to be a tough out playoffs, man. They're going be tough out playoffs.
01:36:03
Speaker
ah And for that, I got the Lakers finishing third. Luka is Luka. Mar, you know how I feel about Luka. One of the greatest episodes in the history of this program is when I told Mar and Big Ron that Luka Doncic was better at basketball than Kyrie Irving, they both thought I was crazy, all he did was go ahead and take the Mavericks to the finals.
01:36:30
Speaker
That's all he did. Yeah, you know Yeah, yeah. i would say at the I would say in their primes though, like a better basketball player was Luca. Luca's been better basketball than Kyrie Irving since he was 15.
01:36:47
Speaker
I'm sorry. Oh man, don't do that to him though. He has been. Yes. Okay. When he was 15, Kyrie was the rookie of the NBA. up That's not good. Don't do that. Don't disrespect him like that. now like He was playing pro ball. He was playing pro ball.
01:37:04
Speaker
I get it, but pro ball in Europe is a lot different than pro ball in the NBA. Apparently not to him because he's treating it the same.
01:37:13
Speaker
He was an MVP at 16. He ain't been an MVP in the league yet, but it's coming. It might be this year. could be. You're completely right. He's going to get at at some point. Yeah, he's going to get one.
01:37:24
Speaker
But ah I just don't think the Lakers have enough. I think their depth is just not as deep as the Clippers, and that's health permitting. Yeah,
01:37:36
Speaker
I mean, of course you got Luka LeBron. How consistent can Reeves be? How consistent can Aiden be? We don't know. But like the rest of that depth. How long you hold onto that turtle head just poking out your ass and not letting go? You know, like.
01:37:52
Speaker
Yo, that's crazy. Stop it. Get some help. it smell I got the Kings fourth and I'm going to put the Suns fifth.
01:38:03
Speaker
The only
Rockets' Potential with New Players
01:38:04
Speaker
question I have for the Kings is, A, make sure you call the Cavs first if you decide to trade Keegan Murray.
01:38:12
Speaker
That's it. I like that kid.
01:38:17
Speaker
And that leaves one more. One more division to get through.
01:38:23
Speaker
Ooh, most intriguing division. This is going to be nice. like this division. KD, I mean, the Rockets are on everybody's radar. We've got Koot down in Dallas. They've been working or playing them at the point last couple of preseason games.
01:38:38
Speaker
Ja, can we stay on the court, sir? Please, please. Hey, Zion. ah a za Finally got in shape. It only took eight years and $300 million later to get in shape, but he he did it.
01:38:57
Speaker
And Wimby, man, how's he going to come back? Mark, go ahead and kick this one off. Oh, man. um Obviously, ah Houston was ah was already cream of the crop as it was last year.
01:39:12
Speaker
and i know the injury that we've been paying attention to, that Fred VanVleet injury. So I think that kind of ah sucks right there. But hey, KD.
01:39:27
Speaker
yeah You do got KD, no lie. oh that ah Houston still kind of hangs on to that. um But give me Dallas at two. um Because I don't know if we somehow, some way, whether it's an injury or off the field something, we you don't get a full job lately.
01:39:48
Speaker
And... ah will I don't want to say he cleaned up his act 100%. He just ain't been as foolish as he was before, but he's he still got his moments. So let's not act like he ain't a moment away from doing something crazy on social media. So, but, um,
01:40:08
Speaker
don't know. My man, john I love his game, but I've been begging him to develop a mid-range so bad because you can't throw, you can't leap over everybody and you keep throwing your bike around.
01:40:23
Speaker
You're going to keep getting hurt. And until I can see that you consistently are trying to, you know, I'm not saying kill your attack game and get to the cup. That's not what I'm saying. You can't leap over everybody.
01:40:37
Speaker
And, like, bruh, get your mid-range. ah you want to want to add another five six years to your career get a mid-range because that means you can pull up bam get to your spot you're not doing all that damage to your body throwing it around then you can jump over every seven footer bro so um i will i'm gonna put them at third um
01:41:07
Speaker
That's tough because I think San Antonio squad, if they're fully healthy with like D Fox and Wimby and what they got going on, they can be nasty too. Yeah.
01:41:20
Speaker
Yeah, I'm going to stick with that. no San Antonio four and New Orleans five. ah Look, it looks good. Zion, you're doing the whole I'm getting myself back into shape. But I –
01:41:35
Speaker
You've fallen under that, for for me, that Embiid category where, like, I'll see him on the court. So, yeah.
01:41:47
Speaker
Until then, until further notice. Yeah, and and more, the only thing that ah Zion is getting himself in shape for is to get his ass traded. That's it, because he is not long for the New Orleans area, just like AD was, and just like every player that they draft that's good eventually leaves.
01:42:09
Speaker
That being said, that yeah, I agree. They will be rounding out the bottom there, and and and so I'm not even going to go through the division because, again um Mar has has pretty much touched on everything I do want to give you one professor's ah fun fact that I found out about John Morant when I was looking it up the other day but he has not played get this professor's fun fact he has not played six consecutive games in a row since March of 2023
01:42:44
Speaker
And has missed at least 20 games in the last four seasons. So when you're superstar, and we can question that now too, when you got Jaron Jackson Jr.
01:42:58
Speaker
ah out here. oh So I will put them at... I'm struggling between them and and San Antonio. a lot of people want to LA San Antonio all the way up to number two in this division. I think that's too early. I still think when Ben Yana and De'Aaron Fox need more time to gel.
01:43:17
Speaker
So going to put them at four, put Grizzlies at three. um And yeah, Dallas is mad. They're being mad disrespected on right now. There are people that got him. People got him at six, seven in the conference. I'm like, are y'all kidding me? Like, look, I know Kyrie got the ACL and he may not play this season.
01:43:34
Speaker
But you still got AD, you still got Cooper flagged in the number one picture, by the way, what the fucking crock of conspiracy the NBA is. How you gonna train Luka to the Lakers so they can have a face in the franchise and then give him the number one pick? We know what you're doing.
01:43:50
Speaker
We know what David Stern was doing. That's why they got Tim Duncan when the Celtics should have got him. That's why the Knicks got Patrick Ewing. You ain't slick, Adam Silver. We see you continuing the legacy of David Stern. May he rest in peace.
01:44:05
Speaker
God bless. Anyways. Oh my God. ah Dallas coming up in second. Yeah, I thought and we talked about this Bobby G on the media and review last season when we all said that the pick to be was the Rockets trading for Kevin Durant. and It happened a couple weeks later after we talked about it. And yes, it is a huge pickup.
01:44:27
Speaker
You pair him on that team with them young gunners, A-Man Thompson, all the rest them, good young defenders too. Alpha Singung, I even know how to say his name, but he's a beast. And you bring Steven Adams in to be an enforcer and bow people out the way like it's a mosh pit at Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1996. I got the Rockets winning this division.
01:44:53
Speaker
Let's go.
01:44:55
Speaker
Yeah, y'all covered it all. ah
01:45:01
Speaker
And I can't say that there's been no lies detected. ah
01:45:10
Speaker
As the kids also say. yeah You know what?
01:45:18
Speaker
I can't disagree. The Rockets, um they're almost... winning by default, right? Because Coop's too young and as much as people want to say he could have a LeBron-like effect for the Mavericks, he ain't LeBron coming into the league.
01:45:37
Speaker
LeBron was different and even he didn't take the Cavs to the playoffs his rookie year. That's a good point. Ja,
01:45:49
Speaker
Ja Morant is literally might be the only player in the right now casual fan from a casual fan to the hardcore fan if he is playing you are turning the channel to that game just to see what he's gonna do people can't do that if you're not on the court bro that's just what it is when he's on the court they are conference contenders When he is not on the court, they are lottery team.
01:46:19
Speaker
And it sucks because they may be the only team in the league who has a built-in answer for Wimby. hey got They got their own 7'5 monster down there.
01:46:32
Speaker
And, you know, I'm looking forward to see his development. Can he develop an outside shot so he can stay on the court and not have to be subbed out like the last two, three minutes of a ball game? So that's fun.
01:46:47
Speaker
Jared Jackson, can we learn to rebound? You know? That's fun. How much is the Desmond Bain trade going to hurt? You know, so they got lots of questions down there in Memphis.
01:47:01
Speaker
Wimby, yeah. Just watching him improve and get better year to year is fine. yeah It is going to be fun watching D-Fox control that that squad down there and see what he can do.
01:47:12
Speaker
ah New Orleans, I'm not sure they want to trade him. I mean, you know, jeep Joe Dumont is their new GM. He's had conversations with the young man, but I will tell you what, if...
01:47:24
Speaker
if he is off the path of the things that he discussed with Joe Dumars, yeah, Joe will get him up out of there. That's no question. But as long as, you know. We know that. Yeah, for sure, for sure. He'll get him up out there. But as long as, you know, he's on the right path and Joe D is one of the better execs in the league, you know, as long as he's doing, you know, he's accused. And Joe Dumars has proven he can build a roster. He's done it in the past.
01:47:49
Speaker
So we'll see what happens
OKC's Potential as Top Seed
01:47:50
Speaker
down there. But, yeah, it's like default. The Rockets are that they're clearly looked far. the way the best team in the division oh yeah the VanVie I'm with you that that's that is the only thing the Scott and so does the VanVie injury cost them a high C in the West or does Udoka figure out a way for Houston to get a top three seed I don't think so that that roster is just too talented um
01:48:25
Speaker
ah Okay, see and maybe we're at the end so I just go ahead kick it off with with that question then I got okay see finishing as a one seed again um
01:48:37
Speaker
ah ah Think I think the Warriors and climb up and get grabbed to see No, no I'm gonna go Houston Houston to see that I think go stay gets three C Clippers get the four
01:48:52
Speaker
But ah the one thing you know, man, Kevin Durant must be allergic to point guards because ever since lo lo leaving Golden State, can't keep one. Kyrie could stay healthy. He goes down to Phoenix. They never even signed a point guard.
01:49:08
Speaker
And then as soon as he gets to Houston, you know, Van Vliet goes down. Like, dude cannot, like, Steph Curry must have put a hex on that dude because he cannot keep a point guard next to him. But, um yeah, that that's my order. And That's wild, bro. I'm going to go with OKC coming out of the West again.
01:49:31
Speaker
I definitely see OKC the one seed. Go ahead and give Houston the two.
01:49:45
Speaker
Vegas three and then got Denver's. Denver's four. But in the West Conference Finals, go ahead, give me OKC in Houston.
01:50:00
Speaker
um But i'm I'm with you, Bobby. OKC in Cleveland, that's my finals. Small market finals, man. yeah Back to back. Loving it.
01:50:15
Speaker
First of all, you know you wrong. Okay, you know you wrong. Stop with the Lakers, bro. Stop. Just stop.
01:50:26
Speaker
You trying to force it. Look at him. Look at him. Look at him. Look at him. Look at him. Come on. No, if you try to force feed me broad anymore, I'm tired of it. Retire.
01:50:39
Speaker
Take your son and go home. Angel basketball. Take your son and go home. and We ain't doing all this. Luca ain't being good enough with LeBron to get a top four seed.
01:50:52
Speaker
Get them the hell out of here. I can't believe that even happened. um Anyways, I think we all know Oklahoma City bringing back a championship squad that, by the way, was heads and tails above every other team aside from the Celtics in terms of like scoring differential.
01:51:11
Speaker
And in terms of like offense, defense, people know that, and especially if you watch Ball and Buds and you heard me talk anything about the NBA, in order to be a worthy NBA contender of a champion, you've got to have a top five, sometimes top 10 offense and defense. You've got to have that because if not, if you don't have a balanced roster in the NBA, you're going to have a very, now there's obviously outliers. I know I've looked at the list. There's obviously times when one team is really good scoring.
01:51:41
Speaker
and their defense you know whatever I've seen it but for the majority of champions you have a balance then you have a good very good defense and a very good offense so a be that they do at for the other three um I'm gonna agree that that the that the earth Houston's gonna be too
Minnesota's Trade Speculations
01:52:02
Speaker
I do think they're gonna be too I I don't want to put them there yet, though, because I think they still need to gel the young guys with Durant. So I still think they ah may need one more. You know what? I just, yeah, I'm talking myself out of it. going to put them in number three. ah Number four, and only for a little bit, because like like I said earlier, Minnesota, Ant-Man, and the rest of the crew, eventually they're going to take over for the Nuggets because the Nuggets are only going to get older as Jokic gets older.
01:52:31
Speaker
So they're going on different paths. The Timberwolves are on the upswing. and the Nuggets are on the downswing. But I'll, for one more year, put the Nuggets there at number four.
01:52:43
Speaker
um And so what would I confuse myself? The Nuggets are four. um Excuse me. i had the up room at one. and Oh, yeah. And at number two, i am going with the 2K squad.
01:52:58
Speaker
Wow. Making the Lakers look like some fools. The L.A. Clippers at number two, baby. so All right, so I got Oklahoma, L.A., Houston, and Denver.
01:53:10
Speaker
That's my top
01:53:14
Speaker
four. Boy, it's going to look like the 49ers have it. Scott said Minnesota is the team this year. He likes Minnesota coming out of the West. Would you be shocked if that happened?
01:53:28
Speaker
ah For me, absolutely as constituted, I'd be absolutely shocked. Only way I can see Minnesota coming out of the West is if they make a move. If and that happens, that's an admin MVP season loaded.
01:53:40
Speaker
Yeah. Well, and and honestly, they don't have a weak link really in their top seven. It's just the rest of their team, right? Like, I mean, I think i think in their top seven, they have a solid playoff team.
01:53:55
Speaker
Even the championship, not yet, but continuing squad kind of thing. Maybe if I put a smile on No, they're just a playoff team. yeah today they They got to make a move. They got to.
01:54:09
Speaker
Julius Randle can't be your second best player and think you're going to beat SGA and Jalen Williams. Is he the second best player? Yeah. I would have put him at three. I would have put Rudy Gobert as their second best player.
01:54:25
Speaker
I mean, look, he still makes a difference it still made our difference defensively. Get some help. No, no, no, no, no. He is still a defensive player of the year candidate, and he earns it year in and year out. And if you want to go talk about JaVale McGee, let's bring it back around like a comedian would.
01:54:47
Speaker
Rudy Gobert got one of the top field goal percentages, two shooting percentages in the NBA, so I don't want hear nothing. Yeah, but he's unplayable in the playoffs. Rudy, just because you gave the whole world COVID, don't let him shit on you. Let me stop. That's not true. That's not true.
01:55:02
Speaker
What? No, you just gave it to Donovan Mitchell. and And the whole NBA. And then in lieu of America. Yeah, but he's unplayable in the playoffs. And he proves it every year when they have to sit him in the last five minutes of the game.
01:55:16
Speaker
So, like, with that, it's Julius Randle. And plus, I mean, Rudy isn't a guarantee on the offensive end. Yeah, he hits you with a couple of pick and rolls and drops from the you know from the corner to the dunk spot. But, you know, he you can't give Rudy the ball and say, here, give me a bucket.
01:55:32
Speaker
That's Julius Randle. And to me, Julius Randle last year played to the best of his capabilities in the playoffs last season. it is I mean, to me, he's not ah he's not a he's not a star anyways. He's just a complimentary player to me. He's like number three. Right, and that's then that's exactly my point. Like, Julius Randle can't be your second best player if you think you're going to compete with dog or the Nuggets for that fact.
01:55:57
Speaker
Like, nah. They got they upgrade. they upgrade that that with with somebody else, let's see, who's probably the first player that's going get disgruntled this season or who could be had at a fair, hey, Trae Young.
01:56:13
Speaker
They get Trae Young to Minnesota. and Now we talking. am i A shooter? Yeah, shooter. Give him a nice shooter to pair with. it i do like i do want to say i do I was trying so hard to put them in because I think they do deserve some credit.
01:56:30
Speaker
good Let's not count the Warriors out yet. They're not done yet. They're not cooked. Just yet. People sleeping on You never know. I mean, you got three of the, you know, top players of the past 10, 15 years on one team. is Anything can happen is what I'm saying.
01:56:51
Speaker
Anything is possible. I love you, KD. Come on. Did he mean it? I mean, KG. Damn it. There you go. Did he mean it or did he mess How many strikes do I get half?
01:57:05
Speaker
Yeah, um I'm agreeing on that. Did KG do that on purpose or did he mess up the Adidas?
01:57:14
Speaker
No, he did that on purpose. KG is a man of his own. He's a wild man. good I think he was supposed to get a bonus if he said possible is nothing. You think so? What was it at the time? Impossible is nothing?
01:57:27
Speaker
Yeah, you're right. didn't think about that. I've never heard that theory. always thought he said the right thing. Oh, that's funny. You know what? I never let the truth get in the way of a good story. I like that.
01:57:40
Speaker
Yeah, I think he's supposed to get a bag if he would have said impossible is nothing. I like that. that's That makes me pop.
Final NBA Predictions and MVP Candidates
01:57:47
Speaker
That makes me pop. right, let's get some off-seasons out of the way. MVP. Who we got running the MVP this year?
01:57:57
Speaker
Ooh.
01:58:01
Speaker
If I have, well, we haven't even picked our championship team, but I know who they are. All right, I'll go first. I need a second to think.
01:58:11
Speaker
I got Cavs, Thunder, in the finals. Mm-hmm. You got to get somebody from one of your top four teams, right? so I can't. ah That's a tough series, man.
01:58:23
Speaker
if we're hunt you're joking I know you're joking right now. I know you're joking right now, right? um You're on your own TV show. You're on your own TV show. listen Hey, Marzzi, I'm not a homer. You can do whatever you want. I know, but I'm just saying. That's tough. I think you go seven games again.
01:58:45
Speaker
I'll leave it at that. OKC Cavs, seven games. And I'll be here for it.
01:58:54
Speaker
MVP. i don't I don't like giving people MVP twice in a row, although the NBA is known for doing that. So SGA would be your easy pick here, right? Especially if the Oklahoma City Thunder leads.
01:59:07
Speaker
Yeah, that's tough.
01:59:13
Speaker
Well, Mar, I'll let you go last on this one. i already know who my championship who my championship teams are going to be. So I have, obviously, Oklahoma City in in the West.
01:59:24
Speaker
And then in the East, I told you I had the Cavs and the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. And you're right, that's ah that's a very, very tough series as well.
01:59:37
Speaker
And I think to the fact that you're you're right, Cleveland needs to get over the hump, right? They have come every year and, pause, very far, but have not been able to get over the hump and been able to complete the the journey and able were to win the championship. And now is the time.
01:59:58
Speaker
um Not that Cleveland is bereft that they had ah you know the LeBron come back and win them a championship, but you know if every every team wants to win more. So led by Donovan Mitchell, this is the time in this wide open invitational that we talked about.
02:00:14
Speaker
of the Eastern Conference Finals. And then you've got the Knicks, right? Solid, solid, solid team. They traded Julius Randle. They brought in Cat. And like you said earlier, Cat not only needs to get off the the three-point line and and get into the block,
02:00:31
Speaker
Just stand your ass in the block half the time, please. but Okay? Just at least half the time. Just post your ass in the block right when the play starts, all right? We don't need all the bullshit. You wasting 10 seconds trying to show you fancy off the dribble. Man, you are six foot ten You know, whatever. 7'0". Use your damn size.
02:00:53
Speaker
And oh Jalen Brunson, man, he's an MVP candidate. I can't believe the Dallas Mavericks and someone so astute as a businessman as Mark Cuban lay him get away, but I know they were fancying the Knicks anyways, so.
02:01:08
Speaker
Oh God, I feel myself getting sick again.
02:01:15
Speaker
I feel myself getting sick again, y'all. ah The New York Knicks win the Eastern Conference Finals and go to the NBA Finals.
02:01:27
Speaker
yeah
02:01:31
Speaker
What? I'm back. Excuse me. Take all Yeah. Yeah, I'm sorry. Anyways, Knicks beat the Cavs. Cavs again fail at the mountaintop.
02:01:43
Speaker
Knicks go on to face the Oklahoma City Thunder. I can't really, in all honesty, as a realist, say that this is going to happen. But because i need to be a little different right now, because I am the guest on the show,
02:01:58
Speaker
The New York Knicks are going to win the championship, and Jalen Brunson is going to be your MVP of the league. Of the league? Okay. Wow. Wasn't that what you asked at first?
02:02:09
Speaker
Wasn't that the original question that's on the screen as MVP? Okay, all right, good. um I do not expect that one, though, of the league. Okay. I got you. have Wow. i was goingnna go as i think I really think SGA is going to win it second time, but I don't like to say that. All right, go ahead, Mar.
02:02:26
Speaker
um To be honest, this man, this might be a long shot. um Because of the roster that is around KD, I can see KD just getting a chance to snap.
02:02:42
Speaker
Interesting. I like that. like that. Give me KD. That's hot take Jake. That's a hot take Jake MVP pick. I like that. That's spicy.
02:02:53
Speaker
oh Before I say my MVP, I'm going to say the Cavs win the championship because just thought of something. They got some extra motivation. This is actually the 10-year anniversary of our championship team.
02:03:06
Speaker
So there's there's no better motivation because all year they're going to have to listen to how great LeBron is and how bad everybody else has played for the Cavs is and how lucky it was that we came back and he got a championship.
02:03:20
Speaker
And they're going to have to listen to this all year long. That's what makes them hungry to want to go get their own. Especially Donovan, who's he's a real student of the game. so He knows the history. even knows history of Cleveland because he was the LeBron family when he was a kid.
02:03:35
Speaker
And he knows that if he goes and gets one, ah maybe not on the all-time tier list, but on the Cavs list, he can pass LeBron.
02:03:49
Speaker
He gets two rings in Cleveland. If Donovan Mitchell gets two rings in Cleveland. Wow, get out of here. If Donovan Mitchell gets two rings for the Cavs, he's now the best player to play for the Cavs.
02:04:03
Speaker
Yeah, and you know what opened the door for that? LeBron leaving twice. If LeBron's card said Cleveland all the way through and he only won one, Yeah, he'd be the greatest cap ever. But he left the door open.
02:04:16
Speaker
He left the door open for another player to come get it. not act like you are placating right now one of the worst owners in sports history, Dan freaking Gilbert. Get out of here with your Comic Sans letter of how you feel about LeBron leaving the organization. How he one of the...
02:04:35
Speaker
Y'all lucky LeBron came back and blessed you with a championship. Because if was LeBron, I'd have said, screw y'all, I ain't never coming back to this shit over. But isn't that what I just said? I'm sorry, I apologize. I don't know. Isn't that what I just said in the speech? They're going to have to listen to you. I apologize, everybody in Cleveland. Yes.
02:04:54
Speaker
Didn't I just say that though? How going to have to hear how lucky they're... Yeah, but that's the reason why no one will ever eclipse his legacy there. That's what I'm saying. Okay, but you say see you you're like killing your Paul Pierce argument because if you're saying that, then there's no way Paul Pierce can be top three in Celtics because there are so many Celtics who basically his accomplishments trash compared to.
02:05:17
Speaker
compared to No, i'm not even talking about accomplishments, though. I'm just talking about being the better player, being the bigger the bigger star. and i mean, he was a star in Cleveland when he was a high school.
02:05:28
Speaker
So, again, and wasn it wasn't his fault that Andrews forced him out. Like, there's so many things. He would have stayed in Cleveland. He would have been in Cleveland lifelong. No, he wouldn't. don't Don't make me put you on the SDFU list, man.
02:05:43
Speaker
Let me give you the real. Let me give you the real. Check me on the program. I'm never allowed back on the Audible podcast again. Let me give you the real.
02:05:56
Speaker
The decision to leave Cleveland wasn't made in 2010. The decision to leave Cleveland was made in 2004 during the Olympics when D-Wade and LeBron decided they wanted to play with each other.
02:06:08
Speaker
with each other That's why their contracts align because it was supposed to be LeBron D-Wade and Melo. But Melo was greedy. He wanted to take the guarantee money. That's why his contract extension was longer than theirs.
02:06:20
Speaker
So with that, they had to find a replacement. Who can we get? Oh, Bosh's contract is up. Let's get him. So he was never going to stay in Cleveland his entire career. That's what people don't understand.
02:06:32
Speaker
That if Cleveland would not have treated him better if the owner was not a better person if they treated him but better If they wouldn't have put better teams around him that he wouldn't have stayed no matter what he could have got with D Wade at the end of the careers They didn't have to do that shit at the beginning. It could have been at the end of the career. There was timeline on that It was. why Again, why do you think the kind their contract is in at the same time?
02:06:55
Speaker
Because we want to play together 20 years from now. I don't even know if you'll be healthy 20 years from now. Because remember, Dwayne Wade is like five years older than LeBron. I mean, there's a lot of conspiracy theories that go around. That's not a conspiracy theory. That is a fact. That is a fact.
02:07:10
Speaker
I know they said they want to play together. I just, I don't know. Yeah. um meow Mellow's confirmed it. No, mellow's Mellow's the only one that's verbally confirmed it because he nothing happens to him. They can't confirm it because it's tampering.
02:07:26
Speaker
See? The NBA can come You are Cleveland fan, so you get to rape them. should shut the fuck up, as you said. And second, LeBron is from Akron, not Cleveland. Let's stop that, people.
02:07:39
Speaker
Now, Donovan Mitchell ain't from nowhere over there. He's from New York. Yeah, but he could still be the best player in team history if he gets to the ranks. And what about ah what about ah what was Larry Nance?
02:07:51
Speaker
I got him on my Cleveland top list. What about but about a little Mark Price action? He would probably be third. He'd be third. Top five. Yeah, he'd be third. I thought he would been.
02:08:03
Speaker
Okay, what about a little bit of Hot Rod Williams? Hot Rod would probably be outside the top 10. Maybe 12. I'm going to give up now. Maybe 11 or 13 range. I liked him. I liked his cards. I liked his little Hot Rod. That was a great card. I love it. But moving to the MVP I got this year. Dang.
02:08:23
Speaker
Dang. um um
02:08:30
Speaker
dang I'm mad at Allen now, not not the Cot. I'm not mad at it's Cade Cunningham, choice. ah
02:08:40
Speaker
He'd have to get busy, but um I like the Durant pick too. that that's Yeah, if he balls out, that could be a real thing.
02:08:51
Speaker
And there was SGA could be a good repeat candidate. Who's new?
02:09:01
Speaker
Don't screw it. I'm going to get on on board with the train.
02:09:07
Speaker
Kevin Durant. I mean, that's that's there's lots of logic to that pick. and Yeah, if he has good season and and and they don't regress, yeah. So wait, you like the Kevin Durant pick, but you don't like the Jalen Brunson pick? I'm confused now. I mean, that's a similar pick.
02:09:25
Speaker
Nah, Jalen Bronson. Both number two, number three teams in this division in this conference, led leading player on the team, leading scorer, bunch of complementary pieces. It seems similar to me.
02:09:37
Speaker
I know, but here's what it's like. I believe Cade Cunningham is a better player than Jalen Bronson. And I believe Cade Cunningham is going to put up better numbers than Jalen Bronson and have an equivalent team. Wow. So if I give it to Jalen, I got to give it to Cade.
02:09:53
Speaker
Okay. You mean Kevin Durant, right? No. kevin Kevin will probably be on name recognition. oh thank you I apologize. I thought you said you were jumping on board with Marr and you were picking Kevin Durant. I apologize. I did. No, did. that's what that I did. That's my pick, Kevin Durant.
02:10:12
Speaker
You said Jalen Brunson. It's not that I think he's a bad pick. I just think Cade Cunningham is better. Oh, got it. Okay, so you were just inserting him into the... okay Right. It's like if I would vote for Cade over Jalen, so that's why I would pick Kevin Durant. I would pick Kevin Durant over both.
02:10:30
Speaker
I guess only because Brunson would have to split the ball with Catt, and that would pretty much be the reason there. No, just think Cade's a better player. yeah At the end of the season... You think that he would score more than Brunson?
02:10:46
Speaker
I don't think so. No, no. Because when Cat wasn't there, he see he'll score the same. His production will be the same. But Brunson will be, what, 26, 9, and 4, right? Okay. will probably average a double-double this year, whether it be with points or rebounds.
02:11:04
Speaker
I mean, assists or rebounds. So, whereas Brunson will be 26, 9, and 4. Like, is going to be, like, 27, 10, and 8.
02:11:14
Speaker
twenty seven ten and a Okay. And I think he's doing it with and slightly less slightly less talent. Sure. Not a whole lot, but slightly. The Knicks are a better team, sure. Yeah.
02:11:29
Speaker
So, that's all. Okay. We're next up on the slate. Defensive player of the year. This might be easy and unanimous.
02:11:41
Speaker
If it ain't Evan Mobley, what we talking about? Oh. It's not going to unanimous.
02:11:50
Speaker
What, I mean, wait but you can go with Rudy? No, I'm going with Wimby. Because if Wimby hadn't got hurt last year, he would won it. i I'm a Cavs fan, but i that's a fact.
02:12:03
Speaker
No, that's fair. notice Evan Mobley always wouldn't be one. I didn't look at it that way.
02:12:12
Speaker
Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. I was thinking Victor Romo Ben-Yon was close last year. So yeah, that's what I was going to pick too. Yeah, but I ain't mad at you, Mar. Matter of fact, we in the city of Cleveland appreciate you for showing some love.
02:12:27
Speaker
Although, I could also see Jaron Jackson Jr. having a resurgence season and possibly being up there as well. Agreed.
02:12:39
Speaker
the That's your final answer? Or you're on the Wimby train? No, I'm sticking with it. ah Omar. oh Me? Yeah, I'm going with you. I'm with Wemba Yama. i think I don't think there's any... I mean, he dude's going average at some point in time 10 blocks a game. Like, this is ridiculous. Yeah, that's very possible. I mean, come on, dude.
02:13:03
Speaker
That is very possible. He's just too long to not be Defensive Player of the Year. I'm sorry, how are you not? Like, if you don't block everything that comes around you in a 20-foot span, then we got a problem. Shit. All right.
02:13:21
Speaker
rookie of the year
02:13:31
Speaker
ace is wild baby give me ace bailey baby okay i'm not mad at that i would say even though we know who they giving is he's a huge favorite And he will probably end having the most team success. So that'll, but just to, to kind of go against the grain, I'm going to go with VJ, VJ Eshcombe.
02:13:58
Speaker
I think he's going to get a lot of opportunities. Uh, he scored a basketball, especially, you know, i mean, we know Joel's going to miss time. Paul's going to miss time. It's basically just going to him and Tyrese Maxey running the show.
02:14:12
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, when you put it up there, we already know who's going to be the automatic pretty much as long as he doesn't get hurt. So I was trying to think of somebody else as well that could possibly be up there. And even though the team is going to suck, and I and they and and and i love my my hometown team, but even though they're going to suck,
02:14:31
Speaker
a wow. I don't know. I've got to think about this. Yeah.
02:14:44
Speaker
No, never mind. I take that back. I got to think about it for a second more. Oh, I know a good one. We just talked about their team. um On the Spurs, Dylan Harper.
02:14:56
Speaker
I'll go with Dylan Harper. Okay, not mad at that at all. I like that one. I was going to pick somebody else, but yeah, I don't think so. Yeah, it definitely gets my... Matter of fact, I may go with him for the next one.
02:15:12
Speaker
Sixth man of year. Ooh, of the Because, you'll be in that role. Let's see.
02:15:23
Speaker
Who else will move into a six-man role? Trying to think of other six men around the league because Peyton Pritchard ain't going to be a six-man this year. He's going to be starting for Boston. They're going to start him?
02:15:35
Speaker
Yeah, they're starting him for sure. and Most disrespected man in the last 48 hours. Give me Russell Westbrook. Hey. Ross Brody come back and get six men of the year. Let me put it down.
02:15:52
Speaker
Ooh, I like that. You know I love Brody. Know I love you some Brody. Hmm, interesting. believe it took him this long to get signed right before this season, a week before this season. Ain't that the truth Tell me about it, man. That's some bullshit.
02:16:07
Speaker
That's right. He can go you gonna be lighting the beam out there in Satchel. We're good. Go get help, Brody. I feel like it's going to be somebody on the Clippers with all the stars they got. Who's going to be their sixth man? The whole bench.
02:16:22
Speaker
The whole bench is sixth man of the year. I'm going with the whole LA Clippers bench for sixth man of the year. No, that's good. No, I don't know. That's a good question. I'm going to go with the disrespected man in the NBA. I'm going go with Jonathan Kaminga.
02:16:41
Speaker
Okay, that's a good pick. That's a very good pick. like that. I like that.
02:16:46
Speaker
I'm a big Comedian fan. I was like, yeah, I'm like, yo, like, he could come up with all the juices to try to ride. He couldn't elevate his minutes. Like, yo, bro, like, who's athletic? Like, let him ball.
02:16:59
Speaker
Yeah. Jump at the gym. Shit. Yeah, I knew he was the savage when he was playing out here with the, uh, with the, the G League squad, the, uh, elite.
02:17:14
Speaker
a be be would Oh, I've got a great sixth man in the year, at least what should be the leading candidate if I was running the team. Let it rip.
02:17:25
Speaker
LeBron Joseph James Jr. Let's go. Send his ass to the bench. Send his ass to the bench. Don't nobody want him in the league no more.
02:17:37
Speaker
Take your son and go home. All right, please. said Bronny James. Go back to Cleveland, okay? They don't even want you there, apparently, if you ask Bobby. Hey, well what's in that cup?
02:17:50
Speaker
What?
02:17:55
Speaker
a I'm a liquor hater, I know. don't care. I hate him freely. ah Did you say yours, Mar?
02:18:06
Speaker
Oh, yeah, Brody. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. And who you got, Omar? I don know it ain't LeBron James Jr. No, it is LeBron James. It's LeBron James.
02:18:19
Speaker
No, not even Junior. I just said Junior. No, send LeBron's the bench. Oh, actual LeBron. Oh, my God. Actual LeBron James. Put him on the bench. Let him come off the bench. No, look. Wait second.
02:18:32
Speaker
Wait a second. Think out the box of me now. Hear me now. Hear me now. Listen to the professor. Sometimes the professor will like to experiment with different types of mushrooms and LSD and things like that. And maybe this might have...
02:18:45
Speaker
At one point in time came upon ah dream that he had, but Luca plays one LeBron's on the second team and you have two starting lineups that you can interchangeably run through the game and throughout the season without tiring old man Rip Van Winkle out.
02:19:04
Speaker
LeBron James is not coming off anybody's bench. Put Rip Van Winkle on the bench, damn it.
02:19:13
Speaker
me I'm trying so hard to get Mar to crack on me. This is great. Most improved player this season. You got me more worried about you, Omar, than anything. ah ah I'm not getting up to tony umm not getting up to Tony levels of LeBron hate yet.
02:19:36
Speaker
Where'd that dude been at? That dude, MIA. He on the milk cart margin. On the milk cart margin. cooker it yeah well Who do we got for most improved player?
02:19:48
Speaker
Damn, I didn't think of that. I mean, damn, the whole league? Shit, hold on. Everybody's improved. God bless. There's a whole whole lot of people.
02:19:59
Speaker
oh What's the rules on that, are how you come up with a candidate for most improved? Anybody you think? I've seen like young players win it. I've seen...
02:20:11
Speaker
Veterans win it. and Injured? Oh no, that's not most improved. That's a comeback. Yeah.
02:20:20
Speaker
who Most Most improved. Hell, John Morant won it after winning rookie of the year. He won rookie of the year and the next year he won most improved. That is true. That's funny.
02:20:32
Speaker
Oh, no, no. I mean, maybe Tyrese Maxey, because I think his lows might fall as well. His work will... What?
02:20:47
Speaker
Wreckless. Holy moly. Philly, in the 76ers basketball organization, going to increase. to get that tap oh my gosh that was crazy what holy shit to get that tap oh my gosh this that was crazy what that no why oh I mean it's always somebody that you don't know though, cause like not that you don't know, we know who they are, but it's always like somebody like a boy like a fringe reserve kind of player like Dyson Daniels won last year.
02:21:23
Speaker
Who else was there? Ivaka Zubak was in the running. And your boy Cade Cunningham came in third last year. What? You know what, i'm gonna go with hey i'm going I'm going with my brother. I named him earlier.
02:21:37
Speaker
I love him. Can I get a hallelujah? Amen. Thompson. Okay. Not mad at that. Yeah, they've been trying to get him an award the last two seasons. That might work.
02:21:51
Speaker
Most improved, most improved.
02:21:57
Speaker
You know what?
02:22:00
Speaker
Yeah, because this dude, yeah, his role is going to be greatly improved. I'm going to with Andrew Nembhard from the Pacers.
02:22:12
Speaker
Ooh, I like that one. Because without Tyrese, somebody's going to have to step up. ah ah Yeah.
02:22:21
Speaker
Andrew Nembhard. Yeah. oh He's going to have to go from six-man to now in the starting lineup.
02:22:37
Speaker
Who you got, Mar? Nah, nah, I was going with Tyrese Maxson. Oh yeah, yeah, i yeah, I feel that. Trippin'.
02:22:49
Speaker
What's in your cup? What's in your cup, dawg? What's in your cup? You know what's in my cup. back
02:23:00
Speaker
That's brisk, baby. yeah Crazy man Final award Final award Coach of the year Hmm
02:23:13
Speaker
I'm going with Mike Brown. I know you said you don't like Mike Brown, but I think Mike Brown is being brought in in the perfect position to coach this team. I know all about Coach Thibodeau. Me and Moore talked about this on a program with Canteen a few months ago.
02:23:28
Speaker
Shout out our boy Canteen. But Coach Thibodeau, as a Celtics fan, I know, is known to run his teams into the ground. And eventually those teams get very, very tired of playing that style.
02:23:41
Speaker
And that's what happened in New York. And as you mentioned, Mike Brown, sure, he won with LeBron and won the championship, but he's he's been a coach that has taken people to the playoffs and has done well. And I am saying that he will take them over the top.
02:23:55
Speaker
And if Jalen Brunson is going to be my MVP, And if the Knicks are going to win the chip, no, they're not going to win the chip. They'll lose those games pretty properly, but they do have a chance to
Coach of the Year Predictions
02:24:08
Speaker
win.
02:24:08
Speaker
I'm going with Mike Brown to complete the Knicks trifecta. I can't believe I just said that. I'll be right back. I'm going to throw up again. Why are you doing that to yourself? boy just I don't know. decide it The real answer is because he made those games.
02:24:27
Speaker
It's such a damn good coach that he's going to make people forget that he was messing around with somebody's wife in Boston. What? um Stop it.
02:24:38
Speaker
Get some help. Get some help. For the full redemption tour. The full redemption tour. You know. yeah Give me an email. I think this is going to be kind of a this is kind of a ah payback award this year.
02:24:56
Speaker
ah You know, Kenny Atkinson got it last year, and it was well-deserved. We didn't come out of nowhere, but I don't think anybody thought we we would do what we did last season. And what got overlooked was the Oklahoma City Thunder. So if they finish with the one seed again in the West, I think their coach will take it home because the NBA kind of owes him.
02:25:17
Speaker
So, you know, they'll pay for it this year. ah as a backup plan or if he doesn't I can see you going to I thought about you made to but I'm like I don't know if he's on it be as good side again yet oh
02:25:37
Speaker
I can also see ah should the Clippers kind of finishing top three in it in the West I can see T Lou getting that yeah he's kind of He's kind of one of the better coaches that doesn't have one yet.
02:25:59
Speaker
ah Question for you. Where hurts more Omar picking the Knicks to win the East? We're seeing Taylor Swift wear Chiefs gear. T.A.P. I didn't want to come at you today, bro. Pause. I don't need you being up in here.
02:26:18
Speaker
Are you a Swifty? About my baby Tay-Tay. Don't be talking about my baby Tay-Tay. I'm a Swifty since teardrops on my guitar, which was written about me since we met back in Nashville back in the day.
02:26:35
Speaker
We fell in love. And then Travis Kelsey's bitch ass came along and took her from me. I still remember you took my woman, Travis.
02:26:46
Speaker
I will never forget it. And when y'all get married, you better watch out. There might be a sniper in the trees, and it might be my crazy ass with ah we Okay, let me stop. Let me stop before I get arrested and shit. They might send somebody to my house.
02:27:03
Speaker
They might send somebody to my house, no matter what the way I'm talking. Hey, you gotta chill, man.
02:27:12
Speaker
It's Allen's fault. Go get Allen. They both hurt equally, actually. I never thought I would say the Knicks are good at anything. I fucking hate the knicks A wild, wild Friday. but a I do like the Emei Adoku bitch, though.
02:27:29
Speaker
I do like that, though. Yeah, for sure. wouldn't have it any other way. And, I mean, Hell, we've been acting crazy. You know, when you act crazy, man, sometimes you got to check in with your mental, man, get that together, all the way together.
02:27:43
Speaker
I think we need it right now.
Importance of Mental Health
02:27:46
Speaker
I think we all need it right now.
02:27:50
Speaker
If y'all know we're doing all the room, man, hey, we care about each other. We are big on mental health, especially in the male community and especially on black males, man, hey. You gotta do more than just ask your homie what's up and say I'm good and just accept it. You know what i mean? Hey, find out what's going on with each other because today's day and age, you never know what people are going through. You never know what what may tip somebody over the edge. And for me, the the the the S word nobody wants to talk about, that rate is just a little bit too high.
02:28:25
Speaker
ah amongst people in general, but especially in the but in the black community. and And if you don't talk about what's going on, man, just gets bottled up and comes out in ways that you don't expect or that you may not want.
02:28:41
Speaker
And so... You know, we devised a good way to check in with each other. And, you know, to get to the bottom. man And I think it's it's really helped me. It's paid difference in a couple x episodes on this show from for me personally, I know. So I will ask my brothers, hey, what stresses are you dealing with lately?
02:29:02
Speaker
What have you done to eliminate those stresses? And what do you need from me to help you get through?
02:29:11
Speaker
There you go, Edmar. Hey man, nah. I guess, the yeah you know, just trying trying to eliminate a a certain expenses that I no longer need or just in general.
02:29:29
Speaker
You know, do away with something. Trying to clean up that credit, man. For sure. Yeah, man, and just you know, the only thing I need is, you know, just encouragement. Be like, hey, man, it's going to be a process. It's something that's not fixable, like, so instant. so Right.
02:29:51
Speaker
Yeah, just, you know. So I'm just kind of in that mindset, just, you know, make sure that child is just, hey, bro, take it a day at a time, bro. It is what is. It ain't all I'm meant to be fixing so instantly. So, yeah, that's all I need from y'all.
02:30:08
Speaker
So, oh you know, I'm throwing right back at you, bro, man. What are some of the stresses you're dealing with? How you, you know, trying to solve those things and anything I, you know, I can do to help you eliminate those stresses, man.
02:30:22
Speaker
What about you, Omar? Yeah, i I'm like, there's no pressure to participate. If you feel comfortable, go ahead. If you don't, again, no pressures. It is what it is. Yeah, well first of all, let me say to my brother Mar, for encouragement my friend, I saw your post the other day about what would you choose, very good choices by the way, about what you would choose if you could, i think it was like $12,000 a month or a credit score or whatever, just that the other.
02:30:47
Speaker
But I will let you know, as a person who has worked at a financial corporation before that was completely centered around credit, ah Credit score is not the end all be all and it never will be.
02:31:01
Speaker
Even if your credit is 500, 600, 650, you are never truly out of the game. Don't let them tell you that you need 800 credit score, this, that, and the other to be able to get shit because it isn't about that. It's more about your history.
02:31:16
Speaker
and how you've handled your payments and things like that. Because I personally have 800 credit score, but I also have never owned anything really other than one than a couple of cars.
02:31:28
Speaker
So if I went to go buy a house and you went to go buy a house, you're going to be approved before me because I ain't never owned nothing long-term than that. I just pay my credit card on time every month for the past 20 years.
02:31:41
Speaker
25 years and that's why I got such a good credit score so don't let that ever get you down it ain't the end all be all and honestly i hate that they portray credit score to be everything in society because it really makes people try to live up to something that they can't now if you're late on your rent all the time and you ain't paying it well that's one thing but if you are are mostly good and do it your credit score ain't shit that's just a fucking number so anyways that's a good game right there's encouragement so um as for As for my portion, if you don't mind, I would actually like to go off script a little bit. I've watched this show now for a while since i um since i first not first met with Mar, but I got Bobby G on the program at least. I didn't know when I knew Mar first. But since I have been watching this program nonetheless, this has been my favorite segment.
02:32:28
Speaker
Appreciate that, man. Yeah. Why? I'm going to get a little deep, if you don't mind, and kind of go off off script here for a second. So mental health is one of the biggest things, most important things in my life. It's one of the things, along with homelessness, that I advocate and fight for and volunteer for and donate most of my time and money to.
02:32:50
Speaker
um because I'd like to do a lot of volunteer work and those are like my my things I like to focus on my specialties and there are reasons for that aside from the fact of how my mom raised me to care for the people that have less and blase blase blah it's just sad to see people that are homeless on the street and have to deal with these mental illnesses that um that sometimes are too debilitating to be able to have jobs or to be able to live normal lives.
02:33:19
Speaker
But instead, these people are shunned and shit on in our society and pushed to the side, which, okay, I... If that's how most of society wants to be, it's one thing to push a certain segment of the population to the side.
02:33:35
Speaker
It's a whole entire another thing to extrapolate what has happened to that population, which most of the time is mental health related, and then not use that data to help you in the larger segment of society.
02:33:50
Speaker
As you mentioned, mental health just keeps getting worse every year. And is it is it because we've noticed and it's become more prevalent along the way? Of course, yes. As people talk about it more, as more people are diagnosed.
02:34:03
Speaker
um Is there times when you know diagnosis has even been to a point where people were getting diagnosed with things that maybe they shouldn't have been along with? Sure, yes, that happens as well as it does with any type of medical thing. um but the But the thing is, is that we don't attack At the root of the problem and in this society, mental health is one of the biggest issues in society of why we are having extended homelessness of why we are having these mass shootings where people go out to to school and and and and unhar and hurt children, which is the worst thing in the world.
02:34:40
Speaker
These are all stemming from a lot of different factors. But one of those factors in all of these different things is mental health. And mental health is not treated properly. It's not recognized properly.
02:34:55
Speaker
People would rat they would rather throw people in jail than rehabilitate them mentally. And it's why we have the pay for prison system in this country, which is a bunch of bullshit, first of all. So um I just want to say to everybody out there, i have dealt with mental health for a long time now.
02:35:17
Speaker
I've dealt with depression, I've dealt with anxiety since after I got out of the military and tried to transition to the college life and I got myself into a bunch of different shit I probably shouldn't have and and went down into a a bad place for a long, long time.
02:35:32
Speaker
ah Get help. Call the 988 suicide line is there if you need it. As you said, call a friend, right? This is awesome what they do here.
02:35:44
Speaker
Always reach out because I am in a much better place now because of where my parents, my friends and other people helped me to be too. So be blessed, everybody. Take care of yourselves. be kind to yourself.
02:35:57
Speaker
Love one another. And yeah, reach out if you need help. Thank you for letting me share. hey Awesome, man. Thank you for sharing. that That's awesome to hear.
02:36:09
Speaker
Awesome to hear that you've recovered and and still advocate because I don't know if if you've ever heard story. i was it The reason we do this um was in my podcast journey. I started with my best friend at the time.
02:36:24
Speaker
He's since passed away, but he was diagnosed bipolar. And in our original podcast, it was important for him that we discuss mental health. And so after he he passed away and I decided how I wanted to continue my podcast journey, I made the one thing I knew that I was going to do was incorporate something like that for him because, uh,
02:36:50
Speaker
At the time, I didn't know how important it was until he brought it to my attention. And so ever since then, then it became a part of my personal journey.
02:37:03
Speaker
And then looking back at my own life, yeah, I've been through depression. like My mom passed away.
Overcoming Personal Struggles
02:37:10
Speaker
I was depressed for like three years. not even realizing and Not even realizing I was depressed probably until I came out of it.
02:37:19
Speaker
Like, you know, and not feeling that I could talk to anybody about, you know, what was going on. Thinking can nobody gives a shit, nobody cares. And not knowing how untrue that that is.
02:37:33
Speaker
And, you know, just thinking, man, I could have helped myself a long time ago had I just opened door opened up about it. So, um, absolutely. Currently, currently I'm good. Uh, same thing. I would kick, uh,
02:37:49
Speaker
Whereas tomorrow, I've done that all this year. So I know if I can do it, you can do It just takes a little bit of self-discipline.
02:37:59
Speaker
And for lack of a better term, we are sports fans, so trust the process.
02:38:07
Speaker
um Yeah, ah I've been doing it all this year. And I mean, over the last couple weeks, like you've heard, hey, because of the the work that I was putting in, just day by day, week by week,
02:38:19
Speaker
yeah cut a couple bucks out of my, refinanced my vehicle, dropped that freaking interest rate like crazy. I think got dropped I dropped it by more. I dropped it by like 60%. So yeah.
02:38:30
Speaker
and so yeah So yeah. Oh, and, and, you know, Mark had good credit. Got with the wrong person.
02:38:40
Speaker
two Credit went down, but yeah, so if I can work it back up from trash to where it is now on the straight Yeah, you definitely can man. Yeah, I got no doubt. No doubt you can do it.
02:38:52
Speaker
So Yeah, just just remember it's a it's a it's a marathon not a sprint. Oh, yeah Yeah, oh Far as does what else was going on with me? Oh
02:39:09
Speaker
just loving and appreciating where I'm at right now. I had migraine the other day.
02:39:19
Speaker
Oh, man. Took away half my day. But after I came out of it, just, yeah, like appreciating the people that I have in my life right now. Appreciating just where I'm at, the path I'm on, the journey I'm on.
Family and Personal Life Reflections
02:39:34
Speaker
ah
02:39:37
Speaker
even though I had to ground QB1 this week but it honestly grounding him kind of made me appreciate being a parent weirdly enough because I know I'm teaching him the the the life lessons that I wish I would have had a male figure in my life to teach me at his age Like, so, yeah, man, just in a good space and, uh, yeah, just in a good space overall, man. Life, uh, professionally, um, even though my wife is over there looking sad as a puppy, uh, I hope we good marriage-wise.
02:40:15
Speaker
Uh, that's to be, to be decided. she said She said, maybe if you're taking me to dinner after this, how long are you going to be on that damn podcast? Ashley is probably what she is saying. tonight tonight is our Tonight is our date night. We have a committed date night every other Friday.
02:40:33
Speaker
That's unbreakable date. so It is tonight. so yeah ah yeah That's about it, man. Challenge for the week, man.
02:40:45
Speaker
What you got for the people, man? Hey man, nah man, my mine's just simple man. Just ah make sure that you, you know, not focus on the things that you don't have. Focus on the things that you do.
02:41:03
Speaker
I think this a real simple one. itd be Be grateful the things that you do because there's a lot of people that's struggling for just even the bare necessities right now.
02:41:15
Speaker
Yeah, i yeah not not to be Debbie Downer, but you know, gotta go bury, bury uncle to mom, and then meet up with the fam.
02:41:27
Speaker
So i it's weird, because now it's like, damn, man, we at the age where that's...
02:41:36
Speaker
and You never know what to happen. It's like, start losing generations. So it's crazy right now, man. Obviously he was uncle by marriage, but he's been my uncle my whole life. So my auntie.
02:41:50
Speaker
ah making sure I'm there for her because she's now a widow. So, you know, so make sure that we show her love, the mom. So
Spreading Kindness and Gratitude
02:41:59
Speaker
just, yeah, man, appreciate what y'all got, people, man, because never know when they that that clock hits you over all of us. Yeah, for sure.
02:42:10
Speaker
Yeah, you told no lie. my My prayers and deepest condolences to you and your family for your boss. Absolutely. First of all.
02:42:21
Speaker
Also, yeah, gratitude. I mean, you can never never beat that. i don't even there's no There's no way that you're going to get through life if you're not grateful for what you have because, as Mar said, there are so many other people out there that just don't.
02:42:34
Speaker
But I will say, first of all, because I'm not sure that I'll ever be allowed on this program again after my four-strike performance tonight. oh You get four strikes. You only get three, Omar. They allowed me one extra and I still took it.
02:42:51
Speaker
So i don't know if I'll ever see any of y'all faces again. But if I don't, be kind to each other. Please go spread a smile. um I know people, I'm not going to tell you to give to the homeless because I know people are sometimes shady about that, whatever, whatever.
02:43:07
Speaker
But at least give a smile. If you see somebody down and out, give me hold a door. for somebody. um Be kind, spread love, um you know, just if if we could all just love each other, and I know that's impossible because there's some people in life are just not gonna get along with, but if we can try at least,
02:43:26
Speaker
For the most people in our lives, the world would just be such a better place. And right now with all the division and hate in this world and, you know, you see the world wars and everything we got going on, we just need to try to just spread that love at least in our little circles um because you never know when that may generate and radi out to radiate out to other circles. And, yeah, be be blessed and be successful this week. Go out and do something good, kind, and and for yourself.
02:43:55
Speaker
Absolutely, I love it, I love it. ah For me, my challenge to the people is some sometime within the next week, something's good is going to happen to you.
02:44:06
Speaker
as' That's just the law of averages tells me something good is going to happen to you this week. So my challenge for you for you is after that happens, pay it forward. You know, whatever whatever grace or act of kindness or blessing is placed upon you this week, pay that same blessing or grace yeah act of kindness or blessing forward to another.
02:44:29
Speaker
And, you know, each one to each one, so to speak. Mm-hmm. And it goes into the quarter of the week. Quarter of the week comes from... May I add on to your point real quick? Go for it. Go for it, for sure.
02:44:44
Speaker
Karma is real in life, y'all. I was back home for my birthday and we went out to dinner and there was ah me and my parents and there was a lady sitting at the other table with just her and her baby, right?
02:44:55
Speaker
So I was paying for me and my parents' meal anyways. So I just told them to throw her check on mine and I pay for hers. Right? Whatever, not thinking nothing about it, just trying to be nice. I got to the airport and i'm I'm in this conversation with these two ladies and we're just having such a great time talking, I lose track of time.
02:45:12
Speaker
I don't, because I'm sitting in front of what I thought was my gate. They happened to change the gate at some point in time during that past hour and I didn't realize it. And so I find out right before my flight is like loading and I got to run all the way to the other side.
02:45:27
Speaker
of the airport. Well, thank God the ladies next to me offered to pay my cab for me so I could run. So I was played back in that blessing. so Hey, for real. There you go, man. Hey, the universe talks.
02:45:39
Speaker
And it listens if you speak. Amen. Amen, man. Do whatever. Quote of week comes from ah Karen E. Keonez Miller.
02:45:52
Speaker
And it goes as such. When someone tells me no It doesn't mean I can't do it. It simply means I can't do it with them. One more time.
02:46:04
Speaker
When someone tells me no, it does not mean that I can't do it. It simply means that I can't do it with them. So, hey, take that for what it's worth.
02:46:16
Speaker
And, hey, almost our time. And, hey, if you enjoyed the Sports Professor, you want to hear more, hey, head over to the Ball and Buzz YouTube page. Go and hit that subscribe button like I did right there.
02:46:30
Speaker
It's free. We both did. Yeah. Hey, costs you nothing, but it but it means so much. to us and don't let them know what you got going on bro Yes, thank you my brother. I appreciate you putting the YouTube up there. That is the most important thing y'all if you're watching
Promoting Ball and Buds Channel
02:46:47
Speaker
this show that is where you will find everything ball and buds related We also have Instagram where you can find pictures and stuff, but this is where all the videos will go so when Mar comes on I think we're actually gonna do it next week mark is your brother your brother is still working on his internet over there got some internet like dial up you know, she'll well internet going on over there
02:47:07
Speaker
We're still waiting on him, but we'll have that show next week. And Bobby G will be on for our NBA season preview on the Ball and Buds channel, where we'll get Man Down Mel in the house as well. And we'll get my brother Jay from Unfair Sports. That'll probably be in a couple weeks.
02:47:21
Speaker
Also, check out our new show every Sunday, Sunday Showdown. It is our football show, so it's similar to here. When Bobby and Mar go after the game, we go after the Sunday games and then before the night game.
02:47:34
Speaker
every sunday about 7 15 ish eastern 4 15 ish pacific so yeah please just subscribe to ball and buds and support the the channels you're gonna see mar and bobby on there uh till i i guess i die and the channel doesn't go anymore guess
02:47:51
Speaker
It's a blessing and thank you all for having me on. I really, really appreciate it. Hey, no doubt, no doubt. And if you want to hear hear more from YKAR Mar, head over to the IOW Sports Network YouTube page. And again, go ahead and hit that subscribe button, just like I did right there.
02:48:05
Speaker
Again, it's free, but it means so, so much to us. Know what you got going on, brody? Hey man, a whole bunch stuff. You just make sure you hit that subscribe button because I'm always dropping content, man. So appreciate all the love and support, man.
02:48:20
Speaker
We it. The hardest working man in the business. For real man, every time I turn my YouTube on and say this man's live. Right! Like damn! You gonna live five times a day sir?
02:48:34
Speaker
And of course, you wanna hear me run my mouth like you don't hear me talk enough in this mouth? Now head over to the Game Time 2.162 channel.
02:48:46
Speaker
And go ahead and hit that subscribe button again like i did right there. Mondays and Wednesdays, me and Big Mike from the Man Cave giving you all Cleveland all day. Mondays and Wednesdays at 2.16 Eastern.
02:48:57
Speaker
And of course, remember, we are now available on YouTube. now We can't can't stream on YouTube yet. We still got like... What, about 50-something days or something like that?
02:49:10
Speaker
Stupid Facebook regulation regulations. Oh, yeah. Facebook got their weird little regulations. I know. and a But you can go over there and follow and like the page. You know, again, cost you nothing. Wait, what happened?
02:49:25
Speaker
Yeah, Facebook has regulations. you can't You can't go live on Facebook for like 60 days after starting an account. Interesting. Yeah. So I guess it helps them weed out bots and fakes. Weed out the bots. Yeah, yeah, that makes sense. So, uh... 60 days in a long time. That is, man. Can you figure that shit out in 10 days?
02:49:48
Speaker
The advanced technology y'all got right now? AI taking over? The robot overlords about to make us their slaves? And you can't... I mean, what is happening right now? I gotta make sure you are precisely a human being.
02:50:01
Speaker
Yeah. Without,
Ambitions for Diverse Media Representation
02:50:04
Speaker
without. but but ah But yeah, man, we've been at it for, hey, almost three hours, aren't we? I don't mind. It just shows to big the big boys that, hey, we could do three hours worth of content, too. Y'all ain't special.
02:50:17
Speaker
Hey, man.
02:50:20
Speaker
Ooh, yay! We can go ESPN late for time. Forget first take. Forget first things first. What about the Audible Sports Podcast? You know what saying? What's happening? McAfee? Nah, I mess with McAfee. That's my dude, man.
02:50:34
Speaker
I do like McAfee. But I think, no, I think, though, and this is this is this would be my next move if if we if I can get get us up there, get get bought you know get situated up there.
02:50:45
Speaker
I think that they need a program on ESPN that's the exact same thing as Pat McAfee, but just what with us brown and black brothers, just with us just brothers, just one full of their brothers. And you can't have one of the the mainstream podcasts like like they have out there. no, no. no We need some Bobby G. We need some Wild Card Mar. We need some Omar. We need some...
02:51:04
Speaker
Clever D, we need all the hitters to be on there. yeah ESPN, come get us paid. Holla at your boys. There you go. I even take the crap, man. Hey, you give me that 1 a.m., 2 a.m. time. I don't give up, huh? I got an insomnia. I'll be up.
02:51:20
Speaker
Long the check clear, dog. Long the check clear, dog. It don't matter what time you put it on. You know what I'm saying? That's right. And yeah, if we get out of here, again, do us a biggest favor. Go ahead, hit that like button, subscribe if you're new, turn notifications on so you know the next time that we are here, which is every Friday, 7 Eastern, 4 Pacific, 6 Central.
02:51:38
Speaker
And for the homie, Waka Amar, for the sports professor, amen. Appreciate y'all for hanging with us, and we will catch y'all next time. Peace.