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NBA 🏀 Season Preview Interview ft. Basketball Insider Warren Shaw
0 Playsin 11 hours
Omar 'Sports Professor' Fonseca interviews NBA Basketball Insider Warren Shaw from The Baseline NBA Podcast @baselinenbapodcast & 19 Media Group @19mediagroup on 2025-26 NBA Season Preview, plus Champions & MVP Predictions! #nba #basketball #nbabasketball
The Baseline NBA Podcast, go-to source for in-depth NBA analysis, breaking news & expert insights! Hosted by Warren Shaw and Cal Lee, must-hear discussions on the latest trades, game breakdowns, and behind-the-scenes buzz straight from the hardwood. With exclusive interviews, expert takes, and in-depth coverage of all 30 teams. From trade rumors to playoff predictions, we break it all down like an elite pick-and-roll duo. Exclusively on MILLIONS .CO!
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Transcript
Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:00:00
Speaker
checker with Ball and Bud Sports and Entertainment and we have a special special guest on with us tonight as the NBA is in full swing.
00:00:13
Speaker
Yes, basketball is back baby and we are graced by the wonderful presence of the baseline NBA podcast Warren Shaw.
00:00:27
Speaker
Thank you very much for being on with us today sir. This energy right here is what I'm talking about when we talk about the em NBA. This is what I love, man. I'm excited. I truly am. um don't have the same zest, but trust me, I'm in here bubbling right now, brother. I really do appreciate this opportunity to be in grace on your platform, brother. Real talk, real talk. i appreciate you.
00:00:46
Speaker
Hey, no, we appreciate you on Ball and Buds. Please go ahead and promote Baseline NBA podcast first. Where can everybody find you and go connect? You know what it is, Mike G. Yeah, definitely you can follow the Baseline NBA podcast on millions.co.
00:00:58
Speaker
Also, on audio anywhere you find podcasts, too. And don't forget to follow mike
Promoting the Baseline NBA Podcast
00:01:02
Speaker
my amazing co-host, Cal Gameface Lee. ah We've been doing this thing. Dang, I think this is year 13, brother. Year 13 covering this cover this lovely sport. This brown ball has taken me to some really amazing places, man. So the Baseline is a is a really great podcast. And we've been at it for a long time.
00:01:17
Speaker
Two New York dudes. I live in Florida now. He lives in Jersey now. but but But we just love hoops, man. And, yeah, we're excited to be rocking with you. So follow us on social medias, NBA underscore baseline, NBA baseline, Dave Warren Shaw, Kyle Gameface, Lee, all the socials, man. We out there.
00:01:32
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. And you all have your own website as well. So thebaselinemba.com if you need to find those socials as well if you don't remember everything. Yes, sir. You're doing better
Podcasting Journeys
00:01:41
Speaker
than me. Hey, you know, I've been doing the host interview thing for a while, so I kind of like to help out if I can. No, but but honestly, I want to ask you about that before we actually get into the basketball side of things.
00:01:53
Speaker
It is a ball night, so we definitely want to go watch some of that ball. I know you got league pass like I do.
00:02:00
Speaker
Are you all old friends? Did you all know each other for a long time before you started the podcast? How did this podcast come about? Yeah, I mean, real talk. We've been friends since literally, I think, since I was five. I remember him around since I was about maybe nine.
00:02:13
Speaker
But he says, oh, no, bro, because he's a little older than me. But ah yeah, man, and we've we've been at this thing with the college together. um And we started the podcast six amount of years ago. Like, he just had some access from a writing, I mean, from a media standpoint.
00:02:26
Speaker
I was doing some writing. I was working with Dianne Magazine, I think, at the time, little writing for Yahoo!, And, you know, the podcasting hadn't really popped at the time. And he was just, hey, man, I heard this thing is, know, kind of new that you want to podcast. and And like everybody, like, what's that?
00:02:40
Speaker
And, you know, you fast forward and we just been kind of rocking and rolling. when you listen to episode one, like to where we are now, like 500, 600 episodes in, like it's it's just vastly, vastly, vastly different. And the amount of guests that we've been able to bring on our platform.
00:02:53
Speaker
Mm-hmm. ae His charisma, he's got he's you know he's got he's got the energy like how you got. I'm more of the stay in the box lane and kind of do the give the analysis.
NBA Offseason Highlights
00:03:02
Speaker
It gives a great, great balance. But that's my brother truly, truly from another mother knowing that guy for literally over 40 years, man. It's crazy.
00:03:10
Speaker
That's awesome. And yeah, it reminds me because on my network, I try to bring a lot of ah experts, but I also try to bring my own friends from my past on that like to talk sports. And one of the first shows we ever did on Ball and Buzz, actually the first show we ever did live, was it is a combat sports show that we still do know now.
00:03:26
Speaker
Clubber D's combat sports and Clubber D is one of my best friends since childhood. And so we started doing that. We've been doing it for three years now. So we're definitely aspiring to be where y'all are at some point. But um no, it's awesome to be able to have that kind of thing with your friends and be able to, you know, just have fun and talk about your passions with people that you really care about. So.
00:03:46
Speaker
Yeah, man, the rapport, the energy, like all those things, like it's good. And you just feed off of each other and you know, what hey, they're not having a good day. like Let me pick it up and and and vice versa. And also there you can have that. You can you can argue or a debate, I guess is a better way of saying it.
00:04:02
Speaker
But that are really becoming contentious because like at the end of day that's like that's my bro. Like that's my guy. So there's not going to be like, oh, I don't talk to you now because you you'll take is crazy or you take is trash. Like ah that's right, bro. So it's always going to be love.
00:04:15
Speaker
Exactly. No, you couldn't have said it any better. Well, that's awesome. I love hearing that. Let's get on into the NBA. Kick this bad boy off. Season is underway. Before we get into last night's games specifically, what were your thoughts on the overall offseason? You could talk about the draft. You could talk about it. We'll go wherever you want with that.
00:04:37
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I think the draft will we pick up where you left off the draft. I think we're going some good players you know out of this. You know, last year's draft, there was a lot of like him in and on. You kind of squinting to see if the talent is really there.
00:04:48
Speaker
um I think we're seeing some guys kind of pop off the page early. Obviously, you know, Cooper Flagg and Dallas, you know, making a big splash on Harper, San Antonio, et cetera, et cetera. But Edgecombe as well, too, in in um in Philadelphia. yeah I think he's going to have a really amazing, amazing season. And, you know, all the way down to that. And so the draft was really interesting. But I think the story of the summer really was how the financial impact, maybe a little too nerdy for some, but the financial impact and the roster building is is really starting to change. As you see, Boston had to blow up their team.
00:05:16
Speaker
um as a result. And everybody's now having to make really, really conscious decisions about how they spend. And even if I give you, Omar, i give you like one more dollar, is that going to put me you know in in the second apron? So you know what? You might need to take 50 cents less just so I can stay below that threshold.
00:05:30
Speaker
So now I'm not cap strapped and truly can't make roster moves. And that's been the biggest difference. The second apron thing is not like when people were just like, oh, pay the money, screw it. Now your roster is frozen. but You can't do certain things or acquire certain types of players if you're over and into that second apron. and So the financial implications of the summer, I think, was a hard lesson for a lot of and NBA fans, as it has been for obviously NBA rosters as well, too.
00:05:53
Speaker
And then I think some of the movement that we saw, obviously the big move with KD going into Houston, you know, was a big situation. And that changes kind of like the landscape of the Western Conference to a large degree. um So for me, those are the overall thoughts, man. I think, you know, I'm just really excited to to kind of get the season started.
00:06:08
Speaker
You know, even kind of offseason as it bled into even to the preseason, this Kawhi Leonard story. Like, don't know. um don't know if that's really going to be a thing or not, but it's something to watch. ah But the NBA, man, it's a gift that keeps on giving, as we say on the baseline. Like, if we go
Impact of Financial Rules on NBA Teams
00:06:21
Speaker
zero days without any drama in the NBA, brother, zero days.
00:06:24
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. No, I love i love when I have synergy with my guests. We're definitely going to have do this again sometime in the future. But um you brought up three things that I wanted to ask you about. Exactly. i Look, at you we could be nerds if we want to.
00:06:40
Speaker
but the second apron is going to start affecting teams. There are no more super team models that can be done as we saw with our Celtics. Those things are very much so cut after a few years of overspending.
00:06:55
Speaker
And now we should, as what Adam Silver and the m NBA wants to see, more balance and more parity across the league. Now that remains to be seen considering how ah low, ah small market teams will always be,
00:07:08
Speaker
Lower spenders no matter what. But what do you see in the future? What would even be the new model to overcome the second apron restrictions?
00:07:19
Speaker
Yeah, I don't know that you can overcome it, but the way what you have to invest in now, to me, is you truly have to invest in your talent evaluation so that you can get younger guys on cheaper contracts.
00:07:30
Speaker
So you invest in your your scouting teams. You're going to have to scour and really do a lot of homework and research on guys and try to project, you know, hey, and also into your overall player development.
00:07:40
Speaker
Because you can say if this guy has all the talent, then once he gets in the door, is he somebody who's going to work hard on top of it to try to get to whatever that next level ultimately is. So to me, it's the players are always going to run and rule the league, but to kind of not circumvent, because that's definitely the wrong termro choice of verbiage here, but to try to acquiesce to what the new rules are, you need to have the ability to roster construct in a way that OKC, I don't know Sam Presti did this on purpose, but it's really kind of worked out for him. You know what mean? He got all this draft capital
00:08:12
Speaker
All these young players and guys like SGA who just really just popped, Chandler Williams who just popped in a way, you get Chet Holmgren. Not everyone's going to have that path, but if you can't have the picks, then you have to make sure that whatever picks you do have, you're maximizing them you know in terms of your scouting and then doing the player development in a way.
00:08:31
Speaker
And I don't know, man. I mean, maybe maybe every now and then you'll get a gift horse where maybe somebody's like, listen, I'll take a couple extra dollars, you know, because I think this is a good situation and try do that. So the other part of that too is like, you got to make sure, you got to make sure that,
00:08:46
Speaker
so I'm not going to throw any teams under the bus, but not everybody's like capologists are created equal. So your cap guy needs or cap person, let's just say, Gary, your cap person needs to be really on point with and the intricacies of the rules and how we can kind of, you know, Hey, this is how we can extrapolate every last dollar out of the talent that we have on our roster, whatever that that looks like. a long answer, but I don't, I don't think it's just, Oh, players are going take less money.
00:09:09
Speaker
I think it's more about the team itself, investing in its resources to find talent and then ultimately develop it well too. Does that make sense? No, it makes complete sense to me. And, and yeah, it seems like to a lesser extent, that's what the Celtics were trying to do.
00:09:26
Speaker
And now the Oklahoma city thunder actually took it a step further with all of the draft picks that they, you know, essentially hoarded for years, but turned out to work for them. So we'll actually see if going forward, they will be able to continue to get maybe two,
00:09:45
Speaker
If maybe more titles if they can before they have to break it apart. But at some point here in the future with the new contract the STA got, we I mean, they're going to have to break it up at some point. They're not going to be able to keep everybody with all those players they got on that team.
00:10:00
Speaker
Well, you can't keep it ah you know and and try to make other moves. So that's why they already – even though they're probably still two years away from really being in trouble. I mean, they just signed – signed Chet and Jalen gave them their extensions, et cetera, which is you know the right things to do, obviously.
00:10:15
Speaker
But that's why like a guy like Lou Dort becomes like maybe pseudo expendable because you have Casey Wallace, right? And you have Wiggins, you know, and it's just like, all right, well, if somebody has to go, maybe that's the guy, right?
00:10:27
Speaker
But they, for a lot of people's taste, they probably overpaid Hartenstein, but that's what they needed at the moment, right? Like they needed to do that. But at some point, all right, check continues to develop.
00:10:38
Speaker
Do you still need to pay him whatever he's making, like 30, $32 million dollars a year? And do you move on from a contract like that? But they're still two years away from even having that problem. So if you have, you know, a three or four year window now, and that's the thing that we're talking about, windows are no longer going to be like, hey, i have a five to seven year run.
00:10:54
Speaker
You probably have three years before you really have to start thinking about what your team is going to look like, you know, for the following season. That's it. Yeah. These years. I mean, once you sign...
00:11:05
Speaker
one player to that max contract and again I go back to the Celtics as that's my favorite team but when when they signed Jalen Brown to the big contract and then they knew Jason Tatum's contract was going to be even bigger and was coming up and that they were to have to start making these moves now his Achilles injury obviously ah made that a lot easier for them to make those cuts but um ah it still holds that teams aren't going to have a long time in order to construct rosters with really great players that command big salaries and still be able to ah keep those teams for long
NBA Season Opening Analysis
00:11:41
Speaker
periods It's a way shorter. Like, it just it just is. So you just have to have smart people running your organization and then teams that are brought in. And that's why OKC, to me, really is like a a little bit of misnomer because I don't believe what they're doing is like –
00:11:54
Speaker
is fake. like They genuinely like each other, you know, and they have ah an MVP and captain who is galvanizing in a way that not all MVPs are, or players are, and so, like, they have something truly special, so that's the intangibles that you can't you can't really, like,
00:12:12
Speaker
Pay or bill like like some of those things just kind of happen naturally. And so I don't know like who the next OKC is in terms of that. But, you know, what they have right now is really, really special and truly, truly a test case. And like, wow, they're really doing it right. And hence why, you know, they have the they should be the onside favorite because of all the things we just mentioned. And they have the talent, obviously, to back it up.
00:12:33
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. So it's not, it's not the, uh, they're not corny as everybody wants to make them out to be. is that you're saying? I mean, you know, again, your one man's corn is another man's goal. Right. So, you know, yeah.
00:12:48
Speaker
yeah I mean, like you may not rock with it, but hell it's working for them. So like, you what mean? hate if you want to, but they're the chance. So like, what i say which that's all that matters. Right. Who got the ring? Right. Yeah.
00:13:00
Speaker
Oh, man. No, you're completely right about that. And so, okay, let's talk about another one that you brought up. Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers. This was a crazy offseason story that we heard about him getting a side contract with a company they had gone into agreements with.
00:13:18
Speaker
Apparently, this is what that was for, um you know, appearance, performance, other things of that nature. ah Pablo Torre on e ESPN did a great job of, ah you know, digging deep into this.
00:13:32
Speaker
What is going to shake out of this? it a possibility that Steve Ballmer loses the team? What what could we see from this fiasco fallout? Yeah, I mean, I think we're so many months away from it happening because there's so much smoke where you feel like, oh, there has to be fire. But the league and Adam Silver, like they can't get it wrong.
00:13:51
Speaker
So they have to slow roll like this. you know from What I'm hearing and from even you know reporters that are truly, truly kind of tapped in rather is that, yeah, we may not actually get a resolution until January February.
00:14:02
Speaker
like They have to like go and dig, dig, dig, dig because they can't get it wrong. There's so many governors that are are already kind of like upset that this has even come out and they want to throw the book at them, so to speak.
00:14:13
Speaker
But I don't know. Right. And I don't know what's going to happen with Bomber. And I don't think anything's going to happen to Kawhi. And quite frankly, this isn't a this. But Kawhi is the type of personality. He doesn't give a damn. He's just like, whatever.
00:14:25
Speaker
like He's unbothered. As I say, water off a duck's back. He's chilling. yeah He probably ain't even paying attention to it at all. We could if we could only have Kawhi's not giving an F's mentality. if We could only be so so blessed.
00:14:40
Speaker
you know I'm looking at somebody. looking right I'm like, yo, what's up? But Kawhi's, it doesn't even faze him. and I think that's what that's part of what makes him great, but also it can be very frustrating from a media standpoint because it's just like, yo, bro, tap in.
00:14:52
Speaker
At the end of the day, No clue what's going to happen with that situation other than it's going to take a while, I think, for itself to play out. um And as my guy, Cal D said on the baseline to like this, it reminds him of the Sopranos with a no show job.
00:15:04
Speaker
And I said, that's exactly what this joint is. I ain't got to do nothing. And here's 28, $28 million. dollars Like that's crazy work. So, yeah, slipper require interesting test case right now, my G, but we'll see what ends up happening.
00:15:17
Speaker
Yeah, very, very interesting. um Everything that was just dug up in this story is just, it's not something that's completely unfathomable because you could completely see this happening in every organization. But as you mentioned, there may be some skeletons in some closets of some of these GMs who may have done similar type things. And as you mentioned, not wanted to come out. Facts.
00:15:41
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. right, cool. well We'll talk a little bit but ah more about the Clippers and their 2K roster here in a little bit. um But let's move it on into the opening day games from last night. I mean, that first one was ah was a was a doozy, a humdinger.
00:16:00
Speaker
They had Ring and Banner Night and OKC. Kevin Durant on his new team with the Rockets, which I definitely want you to touch on because I personally love You know, even before he got traded, I said that's where he needs to go because of the young team that they have. That's all they need. That's the piece they need to take them to the next level.
00:16:18
Speaker
Came in. It was an amazing game, but we also had a little bit of controversy following the Kirby Smart at Georgia College Football fake timeout.
00:16:30
Speaker
We had a little bit of that here with Kevin Durant as well. Multiple overtime game came down to the wire, Thunder winning 125-124. Talk to us about this wild
Game Reviews and Key Players
00:16:41
Speaker
but amazing opening night game.
00:16:43
Speaker
Yeah, lots of fun, man. And, you know, the NBA on NBC getting that type of game to like like ratings, darling. If if you' you know you're the owners and TV, you're just like, you're thanking the heavens for what an amazing, amazing opening night that was. Again, for that game to go into double OT.
00:17:03
Speaker
And kevin Kevin Durant trying to play spoiler, but ultimately coming up a little bit short. I have a lot of thoughts, you know, in general. I'll start just kind of in general with KD to Houston. I like yourself, but it made a lot of sense. Like, like Katie's a guy's of the players who really does fit anywhere. Plug him in is you forget about like he's going to rock.
00:17:20
Speaker
um But Houston, because they didn't have that level of, you know, elite level shot making towards the down stretch of games. This would made the perfect sense. The Fred Van Vliet injury is it knocks, at least in my opinion, it knocks them down peg in terms of their title contention.
00:17:35
Speaker
While it also opens up a way for a man to continue to develop, maybe even out of, faster than would have been had Fred Van Vliet been here for the entirety of the season. and So it's a double-edged sword, but I i don't know if they can ultimately get over the hump, although they played extremely well last night.
00:17:51
Speaker
Shang-Goon looks like every bit of the player that we selling him saw him to be in Eurobasket. He was hooping. um Maybe a couple of errors here and there. I think the missed free throws is what caused Houston the game really down down the stretch.
00:18:03
Speaker
SGA and company just hung around, hung around, hung around, and ultimately ended up getting it done. But my quicker thoughts on this, have like two things I really want to say. I'm concerned about Reed Shepard because Reed played well in some of the preseason games.
00:18:19
Speaker
But I don't know, like SGA and the Thunder, are like that's elite. So like he won't have that level of defense and that level of toughness every single night. But he was hunted every single time he was on the floor. Luke Dork feels like I can take you off the dribble, bro. Like something something's up.
00:18:36
Speaker
That's bad. George Kuhl and all, but he's not like, take you off with the bounce cool. And he did that like first play in. I was like, all right, this is a problem. And that's Jay hunting him. Then he's going to struggle to get a shot off against you know bigger guards and things that nature. And they really need him to be able produce.
00:18:50
Speaker
But again, OKC is the elite of the elite when it comes to tests, especially defensively. The other side, though, is Houston did make some peculiar things, especially in the latter part of the fourth quarter before a man went out. where KD wasn't really doing the job he was brought in to do.
00:19:05
Speaker
And they were going to other guys, in essence, to try to close the game, which I thought was peculiar. He wasn't like super efficient and super on point last night, but I was just like, well, this is the exact reason we brought him here. give him round.
00:19:18
Speaker
But, you know, that's just it. Warren, my brother, my brother, gee, say it louder for the people in the back that apparently are not listening.
00:19:29
Speaker
While I was watching that game and Seng Goon took the last shot at the end of the regular, at the end of the game, I was like, wait a second. What the hell did you bring in Kevin Durant for? I don't care how good he is.
00:19:41
Speaker
You give Kevin Durant the ball in that situation in his first game there, especially sentimental, and let him, one of the best shooters in the history of the game of Balancesto, let him get a shot off. And then you give it to Sangoon in the in overtime, which, by the way, then in overtime they didn't go to Sangoon, but they went to Jabari Smith.
00:20:04
Speaker
And I'm like, what who is calling these plays right now? Yeah, it was. I mean, at the end of the day, you know, I'm like, let's let's get a pop in like this boy brought him here for like, let's get a pop in immediately and see what's good. So it was peculiar.
00:20:18
Speaker
Some will say, well, you know, he was smothered and OKC defense didn't allow him. and He was trying to make the right plays, et cetera, et ceterat cetera, et cetera. I get all that. I will. I mean, again, I'm a blessed from that lens, the first game, but peculiar to me. But again, shout out to o OKC because they just found a way to get it done. Remember, they didn't have Jalen Williams as well.
00:20:35
Speaker
Doreen Finney-Smith didn't play on the Houston side. So that again, it wasn't even either one of those teams were at the full strength that they'll be for this season. We know for everybody. So like we just kind of like throw that away. He's to be there all year. But Houston still has a lot of room to grow.
00:20:47
Speaker
And that that ability to truly play make. um without a without a real point guard, i don't i'm I'm wondering to see if they'll go with this lineup all all year long. Or do they say, you know what?
00:20:58
Speaker
We need to figure out a move here that that makes sense to try to get us somebody who truly can set guys up. Because a man, while as talented and I love him like everybody else does, he's not a real point guard. He's a guy who can give you point guard minutes, but he's not in point guard.
00:21:13
Speaker
And so I think Yudoka and company need to figure out that's how they want to rock all year long, that big lineup. Yeah, I mean, you made two very astute observations, and I saw your Twitter last night, where you or your ex, where you tweeted about the Reed Shepard thing on defense. But yeah, amen, they've been looking at as all offseason as possibly being their their point, their one.
00:21:34
Speaker
um And you're right, while he... played okay last night, decent. It's not his natural position.
MVP Contenders and Voter Fatigue
00:21:41
Speaker
So in order for them to be able – now, I'm not against them working it in if you're going to start now and work it through the whole season and hope that he gets there by the postseason. But you're right. If not, then you're going to – if he doesn't work out by midseason, you're going to have go out and make a trade for somebody or hope that Van Vliet is going to be your go-to during the playoffs.
00:22:02
Speaker
yeah Yeah, I think that's an excellent point. And some some teams are willing to just say let's let's just see and let's let's go through the growth period. um And there's going to be growing pains that come alongside with that.
00:22:13
Speaker
I think Houston's got to just be very careful with how much they want that to be because you brought KD in, as we alluded to. Yes, they signed up to an extension, and theoretically, he can probably play until he's 40 or whatever the case may be, but each each year, each day, you're truly losing daylight with his elite-level ability. At some point, it's going to truly decline on the other side.
00:22:34
Speaker
So you don't have, like... years in that sense of, oh, well, we'll we'll get him next year. ah It can't be that. like You're trying to get in that championship window today. So that's for me. and It's like, it hey, you you can give it some runway, but at some point you got to like really figure out if this is how you want to your season to go with the men and Reed Shepard as the primary play creators your roster.
00:22:55
Speaker
Although KD can play great and Shingun can as well too. I think that's why they're like, oh, we'll we'll be all right. But you're better off just having a true table setter, at least in my opinion. Exactly. No, I mean, you want to have playoff time, somebody that's experienced and can set, you know, KD up properly. Not that it takes much you just put him on the block there and let him do his jump shot. But, you know, either way, you want to have somebody that is experienced. And so we'll see what happens there, what they end up doing. But yeah, okay, how about that next game?
00:23:23
Speaker
We had the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers, Sands, LeBron James, who is currently injured. Luka, huge game, 43 points, 9 assists, 12 rebounds.
00:23:35
Speaker
um Kind of ah a s Sangoon line there. Sangoon the 39 and 11. ah So, again, European players playing really well. Luka is the face of this franchise now going forward. Jimmy Butler looked really good in their final, I think, what is, i think,
00:23:52
Speaker
They played well, obviously, last season when he came over. They were undefeated for a stretch after he was traded. um But I just don't think they were completely gelled. Now, with them having an offseason and also bringing in Horford, I think that really helps them.
00:24:06
Speaker
And then you got, obviously, Buddy Hill, Kaminga, other things. I know you're going to talk about all that. What did you feel about these two teams and and last night's game? A lot of momentum has been gained, I think, especially from the preseason, that Golden State may truly not be dead yet, um depending on who lesson is. And so I'm in the mindset of like this is a middle of the pack, which is not bad, a middle of a pack team in the Western Conference who is extremely dangerous when it comes to playoff time. like like I'm not looking forward to play them if I'm any team in the West you know when the playoffs are on the line. And you have Curry and Butler, guys who've proven to be able to do it, even Draymond in terms of like what he does with the intangibles.
00:24:42
Speaker
um So it was nice to see them go into L.A. you know and truly get the dub, no pun intended, without LeBron on there. And you know what I was really impressed by, somebody who I've been down on, and ah I'll be happy to eat my words.
00:24:54
Speaker
I really will be, too. like I really would be happy to eat them. I'm just not a Kaminga guy, but he played so well last night. You know what mean? He was doing the right things, and more than him hitting his shots, he was trying to defend, although Kaluka was cooking, and Kaluka cooks everybody.
00:25:09
Speaker
And then he was rebounding. And he was, again, and it was a play creation. Like, I didn't, you know what mean? He was a little bit unselfish. you You know, he would draw and kick and pass it listen last minute for to get somebody open for a layup and a jumper. i was like, all right, JK. Like, this is who you're going to be. Like, this is dope.
00:25:25
Speaker
And this is a this is a player the Warriors can use and Kerr cannot deny. So if this is the start of what Jonathan Kaminga's year is going to be like, I'm more encouraged about Golden State's ability to maybe really do something later on.
00:25:39
Speaker
But we'll see. Right. You know, we will ultimately see on the flip side, the Lakers. I think it's going to be tougher sledding than they then they think it is going to be without LeBron. Why? You have to turn over the ah franchise to Luka without a doubt.
00:25:52
Speaker
This has to happen. He's he's still one of the elite levels, elite elite elite level players in the NBA. And you don't have a true number two. And I get it.
00:26:03
Speaker
I like Austin Reeves as much as the next guy, you know, but he's high-level compliment. He's not a star. And um' that's not and people will hear that and think that's a knock. It's it's's is not.
00:26:15
Speaker
You can be even an 18, 8-5 guy, but it's what's the impact and how do you do that, you know, in in the flow of the game and the roster? Again, Austin Reeves is fine. He's good.
00:26:26
Speaker
um he will if he's If the Lakers are going to make another move, he's going to have to actually be the trade piece, the centerpiece of the trade that ends ends up happening. but i think the Lakers are going to struggle a little bit more than maybe some are. And I, I know everyone wants to put them kind of in the middle to maybe even the upper tier because of the Luca and LeBron factor, but I got to wait to see what LeBron feels like, you know, with this new direction.
00:26:48
Speaker
i mean, I mean, that sounds like, like, I don't maybe weird to say, yeah, He's never really been, you know, it's funny you mentioned the baseline awards earlier. And I voted, you know, LeBron James to be my, like, we do something that's called the Robin Award.
00:27:02
Speaker
So was basically the best number two option on a team. And I was like, well, LeBron's going to be the best number two option. So I'm going to pre pre-award him the Robin Award on our rock and not from our baseline awards for it. But does LeBron feel like that? Does LeBron feel like he's robbing yet? And that is something that he, JJ Redick and Luka need to figure out.
00:27:21
Speaker
You know, everything else is telling us otherwise, need to see it on the floor. so so youre So what you're saying essentially is that ah last week I did a season preview on that another channel, the Audible Podcast. Shout out Bobby G and Walcott Mar.
00:27:36
Speaker
And we did an NBA season preview. And my my suggestion was, look, he's injured. Bring the old man back slowly. Six man of the year award. Let's just bring them all. Wow. Yeah. Okay, okay. Wow.
00:27:51
Speaker
LeBron six man. Oh, God. Yo, I'm such a hater. I'm such a LeBron hater as a Celtic fan. I figured that that was – I'm such a hater. I figured that that's how I had to do do him. But, yeah, no, I figured that's not actually going to happen. But I thought that that was a pretty funny suggestion. Oh, man. Well, you know what?
00:28:09
Speaker
He's somebody who likes to collect awards. So that would be something I'd be – if he wanted to, there's no doubt he would win it. there's ah There's no doubt. No, no doubt. And I'm obviously being facetious, but, you know, they are going have to figure out how they're going to, you know, work together because he is no longer the number one. That is, Luka is the face of that franchise now, and he's going to have to figure that out or he's going to get traded. And I don't even, I mean, with the with the contract that he has at his age, I mean, there's so many things that go into ah the restrictions of a trade or even the possibilities of a trade. Yeah.
00:28:42
Speaker
Yeah, um yeah know true. Yeah, and Lakers got to defend. You know, Redick, that's what he wants to. He's an analytical, you know you know, maniacal person. So he's going to look at every possible angle to try to get that team to extrapolate every last ounce of whatever talent they have and then scheme it to death.
00:28:58
Speaker
But at some point, like the bill just comes, dude, you need the appropriate players. And, you know, this team is obviously it's going to get an incomplete right now until we see LeBron back. So whenever that is, and we can talk again about what the Lakers really look like, you know, for the rest of this regular season.
00:29:13
Speaker
Okay, awesome. Well, thank you for that. Really appreciate that. We're going to now look at that both conferences going into the season, how you feel about these conferences. First, let's start off in the Open East Invitational.
00:29:27
Speaker
Tonight, we have the two favorites. Facing off, actually, they are playing right now ah the Cavaliers at the Knicks on ESPN, which, by the way, all these new new broadcast networks and everything, NBC bringing back the round ball rock. They had Michael Jordan on last night.
00:29:44
Speaker
Said he hadn't shot a basketball in forever. I mean, do we really believe that? I don't know, maybe. um Yeah, right. The Cavs and the Knicks to tonight. ah this could be and is most people's Eastern Conference finals preview.
00:30:00
Speaker
So do you agree with that? And also give me your thoughts on the East as a whole. I know before the show we were talking, do the Pacers and and the Celtics make the playoffs with Halliburton and Tatum being injured? Tell me your thoughts about the Eastern Conference as whole.
00:30:16
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I'll start off at the top. It should be. On paper, you know, the Cavs and the Knicks are 1-2. um I'm watching, like a lot of people, keeping a very close eye on Atlanta.
00:30:28
Speaker
um i I really, really like their roster. I like what they did getting Porzingis for the cheap. I think Jalen Johnson is an absolute stud. Dyson Daniels is a great connector on from the defensive side of things.
00:30:41
Speaker
You Trey Young is going to buy in under Quinn Snyder scheme. Like they can be extremely, extremely dangerous, but on paper it's, it's, it's the Knicks and the Cavs granted, but. Both of those teams have injuries, even as we're talking about here now. Like, Cat wasn't sure if he was to play with the calf. i I think he ended up being out there.
00:30:56
Speaker
No Max Truce, no Darius Garland for Cleveland, no Mitchell Robinson for the – like, it's just – don't know, bro. Like, some of those things is weird. Like, we're just we're just getting started and we already have like these kind of major injuries. But, again, so watch Atlanta.
00:31:09
Speaker
As I kind of comb through the rest of the Eastern Conference, you know, obviously Orlando made a big splash um getting Desmond Bain. Hopefully Tyus Jones will be able to fill in while Jalen Suggs is recovering from injury. But Jalen Suggs is like a connector in the same way that I think Dyson Daniels is for Atlanta.
00:31:24
Speaker
He needs to be out there for the for the entirety of that roster, in essence, to pop. But you can get another lead from Bancaro and Wagner as well, too. Like, I'm just like rattling off things. Yeah. No, man, please. This great. i love it.
00:31:35
Speaker
And, you know, I like Detroit still. They've lost a little bit of their continuity, you know, because they had some roster turnover with some of the bench plays, especially Schroeder and Malik Beasley. You know, Duncan Robinson Karis LeVert do it for you.
00:31:47
Speaker
Me, not particularly so much, but, you know, we'll see. That's a good point. at me but We'll see how it goes. And Cade is continuing to develop and grow, as is Jalen Duren. um so But they had Jaden Ivey already starting off with an injury.
00:31:58
Speaker
um Then you slide down into the Milwaukee's of the world. And, you know, they are one Giannis five game stretch away from, you know, being in the plane or even in the lottery.
00:32:09
Speaker
Like he's going to play so many minutes this year that while he is a floor raiser, the ceiling seems to be a little bit capped because the rest of the roster, I just don't trust. And I think Doc Rivers is starting to lose his touch a little bit while I appreciate him, especially from the Celtics days.
00:32:24
Speaker
I just don't know that he has the same... bite and oomph when it comes to motivating the guys anymore but that's my opinion right i'm entitled to it that's my opinion we we we've never been on together so i'm not going to give you my normal reaction where i go off about anybody that talks about doc rivers and the besmirchment of his good name but uh as we're both celtics fans i i won't do that but um uh no uh so what about a john yannis trade do you see that happening um i'm I'm dubious on that. i mean, I know it's been come up and then the Knicks have been obviously rumored to be a team that he'd have interest in.
00:32:59
Speaker
i i think it would have to go so sour but be like before the trade deadline for us to like really see. like I mean, like five, seven games under 500 sour, right? If they're at 500 or even slightly above, like I don't think that's enough for Giannis to like, you know what? like Get me the hell up out of here.
00:33:15
Speaker
that That may come this summer, but you know barring any other injury or any kind of like nefarious behavior that ends up happening, I think he plays it out and the Bucs at least just try to figure this out and then see get him to a destination of his choosing because of everything that he's done for the franchise.
00:33:30
Speaker
The rest of the East, you know it's it's kind of like dealer's choice. you know What do you think about Miami? The Sixers, you know they they feel like they're the quietest kept sleeper and everyone's given up on them, so like maybe this is the time they strike.
00:33:43
Speaker
That's obviously remains to be seen and as much as I you talk about BJ Edgecomb later, early on, and everyone loves Tyrese Maxey. You know, McCain is already starting on the injury. PG is already starting on injury. So you just can't trust Philadelphia. Like you just can't, no matter how much you like them. Like, why would you trust that? That's always been, that's always been the problem is injuries.
00:34:02
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, so and then to our beloved Celtics and the Pacers, I think these are teams that are going to fight um probably six and seven, like right respectively. I'm not as high on like a guy like Aaron Emherd as some others are.
00:34:16
Speaker
I think he'll have a good year. but i know and know like i just i just I just can't get there. I think you know he plays oh you plays amazing defense, not because good, but amazing defense. But over the course of the year, is you're going to be able to handle that with defensive scheming for him and the amount of minutes that he's ultimately going to have to play, teach him and condoms out to begin the year? like just There's just a lot of things happening there. But I think Indiana and Boston will be similarly ranked in the Eastern Conference.
00:34:41
Speaker
I think some people are sleeping on Boston, not because I'm a Celtics fan. I just think there's a – There's a grit to Jalen Brown that people seem to consistently underestimate. And there's a grit to Peyton Pritchard that people seem to consistently underestimate.
00:34:56
Speaker
And Derek White, I think, is poised to take another step forward as a guy who could literally average 20, you know, in 20 and seven and like four this year. Like it could very easily be something where he's like a fringe all-star or an all-star the Eastern Conference.
00:35:09
Speaker
And that might be enough like to keep them in the sixth and seventh seed while the front court might as well have you and me out there, my G. But the end of the day, I think White, Pritchard, and Brown can lead to some really amazing things, especially when they get high and shoot those three shoot the three in the way that Missoula loves.
00:35:26
Speaker
And not to mention Anthony Simons coming off the bench, obviously six-man-of-the-year candidate as well, too. That's the rundown. Sorry I didn't mention Charlotte in Washington and some of these other teams out here, Chicago and they're yeah know their their annual Mecca trip to the play-in.
00:35:38
Speaker
um I'm good on all that, but I think those are the real players. in Look, if you're not going to invest in your team, we're going to pay you little attention. We'll still watch you on TV, but we ain't going give you no time on the airwaves.
00:35:50
Speaker
I do think – look, man, I've been shouting it all offseason. Jalen Brown has never been given the chance. He is a number one. ah Is he a – Giannis, number one, maybe not, but he's still a number one. There has to be 32 number ones in this league.
00:36:05
Speaker
And I know he's in the top 15 of them. I know that, um especially with the injuries now that we have some of these other people out like Tatum and Halliburton, people may have put above him either way. I got him and White an all-star, as you mentioned, your MacGyver from the Baseline Awards, the do-it-all man himself.
00:36:25
Speaker
Love me, D-Dub. So anyways, okay, cool. So i I guess is your Eastern Conference Finals then? Is that going to be the Knicks and Cavaliers? Do you agree with that?
00:36:38
Speaker
i'm I'm growing hesitant. I really am. Okay. So let me just keep it a buck. I'm growing weary of Cleveland, and I know Mobley is that guy everybody loves, right?
00:36:53
Speaker
Mm-hmm. I just don't think they're going to be able to sneak up on people regular season-wise, number one, right? And number two, like they just – they haven't performed in the playoffs. like right i I can't trust them. I just – I don't trust them. That's what is. So I'm going to go from what my original prediction was. I think in one show I was picking the Cavs to come out of the Eastern Conference.
00:37:15
Speaker
um I just – I don't know. If something is giving me a pause, I'm going to change. I hate to be, no you know, whatever, a flopper or whatever the case may be. But think I'm going to go Knicks in Atlanta. And um again, maybe I'm i'm i'm i'm sipping the Atlanta Kool-Aid a little bit too, too, too heavy.
00:37:30
Speaker
you know what mean? Was it a scissor-up that they drink out there? Yeah, a scissor-up. Ah, baby. I need to get off the lean. But ultimately, I'm going to go with the Hawks and the Knicks um in the East. And I think the Knicks have the pedigree ultimately, as long as Mitchell Robinson and company like that are healthy to come out of the East.
00:37:48
Speaker
What about you? i mean get you right i I didn't get a chance to do all my research. What what is your prediction in the Eastern Conference? Yeah, so I actually am going to go straight up with everybody else. I do agree with you on the Atlanta, which I got shot down with on a couple podcasts when I said that I thought they were going to be much better this year. But I do believe that it is going to be the Knicks and Cavs. I agree with you the Cavs just don't get it done in the playoffs, which is why i've been making I've been making myself throw up on all the rounds because I chose the Eastern kind the eastern Conference champion to be the Knicks.
00:38:22
Speaker
Yeah. Oh, God. Excuse me. Excuse me. That hurts so bad. every time Every time that comes out of my mouth, I just want to go puke. Anyways, but I do. I do think they have the best team, even if people want to fault Cat for this and that and not playing down in the block everything else.
00:38:39
Speaker
I think Jalen Brunson is an MVP candidate. I think Mike Brown was brought in to bring them over the hump and has championship coach experience. um And I do believe the Cavs are a good enough regular season team ah to get that many wins and get them there again. But like you, I believe that they they always falter in the playoffs. And i don't think that this year is going to be any different.
00:38:59
Speaker
um At least I can't see it. So I have the Knicks over the Cavs. God, it makes so makes perfect sense. ah That's the right pick. I'm just going with like, listen, I don't trust these dudes, bro. Like prove me wrong and I'll be happy to give you your prompts.
00:39:11
Speaker
You know, if they do, awesome. But I just can't. I love the Atlanta pick though, because everybody is hating on Atlanta. And the one thing is exactly what you said. If they can just get Trey to completely buy in,
00:39:22
Speaker
um You know, stop making records with Quavo and 2 Chainz and actually, you know what saying, play some ball, then they have a good enough team to win this East Open. Even the Orlando Magic have a chance when they, you know, went out and made that splash that we talked about. These are deep teams, man. These are deep teams, like like we we talked about.
00:39:41
Speaker
you know, what, what Atlanta has in terms of getting Jalen Johnson back from injury and added Porzingis, but you still have Okongu. They added to kill Alexander Walker. They added even a guy like Luke Kennard who soaps up minutes and you know, nothing that does nothing but bang threes. Like it makes a lot of sense, right? Like they have the right rockctor roster construction. They just need the right mindset and health like everybody else as well too. So to me, the sky is the limit per se, but I can understand like, Oh, how can you pick Atlanta? Cause they haven't done anything yet.
00:40:08
Speaker
um At the end of the day, they also haven't failed with this roster yet, too. So i good I'm also going to give them some credence and say, you know what, give them a little bit of the benefit the doubt here and see if they can rock out in the East and how.
00:40:21
Speaker
There you go. right, cool. Let's move it over to the Western Conference. Tonight we have some matchups going on, including the Spurs. Victor Wimbledon-Yama obviously going to be the face, one of the faces of the NBA going forward.
00:40:35
Speaker
Very European heavy face going forward, if you're asking me. um Against the Mavericks, who...
00:40:44
Speaker
NBA conspiracy theories aside, but ah pretty much proven to me. um You can't tell me when we didn't get Tim Duncan back in the day. there I'm not even going to go there. But ah Luka Doncic getting traded to the Lakers and then them getting the number one pick.
00:41:01
Speaker
of Cooper Flagg. So we have Flagg and Wemba Myama tonight, and as well, two other trade candidates, possibly, Zion Williamson, the newly fit, Ja Morant with the Grizzlies.
00:41:14
Speaker
How do we feel about this Western Conference as a whole? Yeah, I mean, it is deep it's deep. It's stacked, and it's going to be treacherous. And so, you know, you get it. you Again, you turn an ankle.
00:41:25
Speaker
yeah That's four or five games down the standings. You know what mean? And now you're in play-in or lottery territory. um So you've got to have, you know, deep roster construction. and with guys that you can trust and hopefully rest when appropriate, but keep everybody healthy throughout the course of the regular season.
00:41:42
Speaker
OKC is obviously still the the clear the clear favorite there. I know what Denver has done to rebolster this lineup. He's Jokic has never played with somebody as good as Valanciunas in terms of being his backup and the ability to run those guys together. They add Cameron Johnson as well to you know, a defender.
00:41:59
Speaker
in a three-point shooter um who's going to just fit in perfectly and and come with maybe a little less um gravitas and, you know, funny business than Michael Porter Jr. It can just kind of play in his role. And they get Bruce Brown back as well, too. So you think the vibes just kind of but come back into the energy because of that.
00:42:16
Speaker
Jamal Murray looks like he's refocused, which is an important thing because he can be a little bit aloof, I think, at times, too. So I like what Denver's done to try to, you know, Make headway here. We already touched on Houston and everything that they've done too. So to me, that's kind of like one, two, three, whatever order you want to pick them.
00:42:31
Speaker
But like my guy, Cal Lee on the baseline, he's a big Anthony Edwards guy, like huge. And feels like Minnesota is going to like kind of upset the party again and that they're kind of being forgotten about.
00:42:42
Speaker
I got to see it to believe it, you know, even though they proved it the last two years. Like I, I, so there's no reason for me not to believe that that can happen. I just feel like the those are the three teams that made more of a significant move than I think what Minnesota did, um especially when they lost to kill Alexander Walker.
00:42:58
Speaker
um while Randall is there for a second year, he has some continuity. I'm concerned about their ability to play make with Mike Conley just kind of just getting older, right? And is Dillingham ready to take take that leap?
00:43:08
Speaker
are you going to ask more from Ant or more from Julius Randall for that play creation? And can you still defend that kind of like a demon-like level as well too? Then anyway we talked about Warriors. We talked about the Lakers a little bit.
00:43:20
Speaker
The Clippers, long in the tooth, a lot of names, a lot of guys you know. So you feel like maybe they'll be able to You know, stem the tide for the rest further the west of the regular season. I can't interest you in a 2K squad. No, no. and No, I'm actually because like I was asked on one show, like, you know, who would be my surprise team? And I was like, well, the West is so deep. I know there's any surprise teams. But if I had to pick one, I think a dark horse team, I think the Clippers, again, pending health.
00:43:45
Speaker
But I mean, how many years are we going the same exercise? Like it's literally the same thing. It's the same thing they always do. You know, you feel like, but now they got more of those guys. Yeah. Chris Paul into that. Yeah. Bradley Bill into that. Yeah. Brooke Lopez into that.
00:43:59
Speaker
Nice dudes, guys who can really play. They're smart, even cerebral dudes. But with the exception of Chris Paul, who's been relatively healthy in the latter part of his career, everybody kind of goes to a little bit of something ebbs and flows there. so But I like what they've done.
00:44:11
Speaker
um In general, i just got to see it on paper. I mean, see it in actuality to figure out. The team that I'm probably continuing to down spiral on is is the Memphis Grizzlies because the same thing we just talked about. like they can They cannot stay healthy.
00:44:23
Speaker
like scotty I was like, Scottie Pippen is out 12 weeks. for Scottie Pippen Jr. is out. When are they going to catch the right break? like Everything is broken wrong for them. While Jaron Jackson came back maybe a little bit ahead of schedule, like it just it frustrates me to know when that all their dues. So what is happening?
00:44:40
Speaker
you know What are they doing in Memphis? That's a team we probably need to really develop and put some money into me i mean their training staff or something because guys are dropping like five. Ownership, executives, everything. yeah it it just It just doesn't make sense, man. so And then the team that I think everybody is high on, but it is so player dependent is obviously San Antonio Spurs.
00:45:00
Speaker
You know, I i think Wemby is like ready to like take a huge leap forward. um I believe his raps, as they say, you know, nobody's work harder than me. I know we get all that stuff, but I don't know anybody's going to work harder than him, but I don't know anybody that's truly more talented than him kind of across the board when it comes to being able to impact the floor defensively and now spacing the floor.
00:45:23
Speaker
He's not necessarily a play creator just yet, but he's just he's going to be a true ceiling raiser for the San Antonio Spurs. You can add that with Dylan Harper, and obviously he did Darren Fox hopefully coming back from his entry as well too.
00:45:35
Speaker
um And I think the Spurs have the makings of a team that I would say maybe a Pistons-like leap. You know what mean? Where maybe maybe not in terms of the many wins, but in terms of like how they ascend in the standing. So if the Spurs were a five seed, would you maybe you'd be surprised, but would you be like, oh, that's that's impossible?
00:45:55
Speaker
I think the Spurs can be like a five or six seed, obviously, if Wembley plays 68, 70, 72 games, something like that. And he's also just, he's a genetic freak. He's just more genetically gifted than everybody else. He's a seven footer who can shoot three pointers and go off the dribbles. So it's like, who is like, who are his parents? I need to, does he have a sister? I mean, I'm still single. Right. I need them jeans. Right.
00:46:22
Speaker
um So anyways, okay, so then looking at the Eastern Conference you've gone through and give us your preview. Who is your – oh, Western Conference, excuse me. Who is – oh, actually, before we get there, um um the other question, do you see John Morant or Zion getting traded?
00:46:39
Speaker
um I don't because I thought the Zion thing would have happened over the course of the summer. And so since he, you know, rebuilt his body and he's come in all svelten, you know i mean? the hole nine, you know, maybe we see we see what ends up happening there. But I think i think for both of these teams, maybe it's kind of like the last ride.
00:46:58
Speaker
um okay But I thought Joe D was going to come in and and get rid of Zion over the course of the summer. like I really did. like I thought him. I thought so too. I was like, man, here you brought Joe Dumars in? He don't play games. Yeah, I thought yeah i thought it was rap city for Z. But you know he was able to hang on whatever conversations they had.
00:47:14
Speaker
Zion worked on his body as we alluded to. And I think it's going to be all right. And I think with the Grizzlies, they want to at least see this iteration without Desmond Bain there. Can Joss stay relatively healthy? I mean, again, we're starting off, you know, the the season injured, but can he stay healthy enough?
00:47:29
Speaker
And can they get into a playoff run where they like, they're not just completely, you know, banged up. And then that really gives you like, all right, have we run out of, as I continue to say, have you run out of runway here? And is it time to make a move? So i think both guys stayed this year.
00:47:41
Speaker
While there might it might get loud in terms of noise and and trade rumors, I don't think either one of these teams may pull the trigger because I think it will probably be easier to do you know over the course of the summer where maybe they can extrapolate a little bit more value.
00:47:54
Speaker
Yep. No, completely understood. Cool. Awesome. Thank you for that update. And then so now who are going to be Warren's Western Conference representatives?
00:48:05
Speaker
yeah So I got, I mean, it's not necessarily chalk. I would have picked Houston for a bad lead injury, you know, not a happening ah to meet OKC, but I'm going to go OKC and Denver.
00:48:16
Speaker
um I think, you know, again, I just, I believe in what Jokic does and he's not getting enough talk in terms of what he'll be able to reenter the chat when it comes to the MVP conversation. I think we just kind of take him for granted.
00:48:27
Speaker
But why would he, why would he regress? Like what would happen? there What would give us any indication that he wouldn't be just as amazing as he's always been? And I think with the deeper roster, him actually being a look be um fresher in a lot of part of the season and games because you have a valentunas and more depth on that team. I think Denver has a really great chance to challenge OKC, but I will say I have OKC coming out of the West still.
00:48:50
Speaker
I just think they're too deep, too fast, too young, too dedicated to defense with another envied perennial MVP candidate in SGA. um While I think they'll be challenged and it won't be, I don't i won't even say that last year was easy. I think they had their challenges last year as well, too, but they're going to find it that much, that sledding even tougher as they are now truly the hunted, right? Like they have the chips.
00:49:10
Speaker
So everyone, they're always going to get everybody's best shot. As you see, even a depleted Rostick's practice team gave them all the hell they were looking for on on ring night. ah But I think they still ultimately get it done. Davinault is an amazing, amazing, amazing head coach.
00:49:22
Speaker
He does the right adjustments. And he goes 11-10. He trusts all the – I was like, who is this dude out here right now? was like, let me flip through the sheets. I'm not even sure. He's on the rock. Who is this guy?
00:49:32
Speaker
He plays with everybody. And I appreciate that. You what mean? So that goes to show you the the depth and trust that the OKC Thunder has. And I think they'll be though the Western Conference representative.
00:49:43
Speaker
What was your pick in the West, bro? Yes, so i I agree completely with you about OKC. I cannot see a team that performed so well last year um performing any less well, God forbid, any injuries or anything, and just growth in the team.
00:50:00
Speaker
um So they will obviously be one. i do like your Nuggets pick. I believe that that Twin Towers setup, to throw it back old WWF wrestling days, I think that Twin Towers setup is very good. I think that the resurgence of the team, again, the new coach, just a new vibe, a new feeling, a new energy is going to do them very well.
00:50:23
Speaker
ah I also like Houston. I believe that, again, Kevin Durant was that missing piece in order for them to take that next step to championship contention. Does that mean they can do it in the first year? Do they need that second year? I mean, you so we talked about he signed a two-year $90 million dollars extension, so he's there for three years technically.
00:50:42
Speaker
ah Then you got the LA Clippers. We talked about the squad. If they can stay healthy, that is a... I mean, forget a super team that's like, as we mentioned, right? Make it, create your own ah best toon squads. You know I'm saying? The Monstars.
00:50:57
Speaker
um So you've got to look out for them. But obviously with all those players, I mean, how how health is always going to be something. And especially when it comes to an older team, you've got to always you know sort bring that down a level. So, I mean, this is this is hard for me.
00:51:15
Speaker
I am going to... Let me know. Oof, oof, oof. I'm going to say that the Clippers stay healthy and the Clippers go to meet the OKC Thunder in the Western Conference. look, it's standing on business. i ain't mad at I ain't mad at the pick, man. it it takes It takes a real G to go out here on the limb and bet on the Clippers. You know what we've seen. I'm very scared. I'm very scared. but I wouldn't actually put money on it. No, I feel that. But they're competent dudes. And it's just like it's very tantalizing because you look at that and it's like, well,
00:51:49
Speaker
damn, if, you know, and if this, and you you you can talk yourself into it. So I'm not mad at the pick at all. And I would like nothing more than to see the Lakers, you know, kind of have to like look up at their baby brothers, you know, and see the Clippers finally achieve some level of success.
00:52:06
Speaker
So that'd be a lot of fun for me as a Celtics fan. I'm all about storytelling. So anytime I can weave a couple of storylines to make the the dig series even better. And look, I mean,
00:52:18
Speaker
Oklahoma City, they're they're a very, very good team, awesome team, but they're just not – they're not everyone's cup of tea. They're fine for me. I love watching them. But they're not a mainstream team for, you know – That's true.
00:52:31
Speaker
Different reasons that people would have on them. So, anyways, it I just – it is what it is. But, yeah, let's see. and I'm not confident in that pick, but I'm going stick with it. LA Clippers, I want to be, you know, a little different here. But I do think that the Denver Nuggets are ready. I do think the Denver Nuggets are, you know, resurged.
00:52:47
Speaker
And by the way, in the athletic poll, it was Oklahoma City and Denver were the top two options. Every other teams were were pretty far behind in who it's going to be in terms of that. so Yeah. oh i'm Okay.
00:53:01
Speaker
I'm a little surprised by that only from the Houston side, I guess, maybe a little bit. But at the end of the day i think everyone is probably – not everybody, but a good amount of people are like, ah, Fred Redley not being there is a big problem. But if Houston makes a move, they still have assets, then, you know, I think they get right back into this conversation one way or another.
00:53:16
Speaker
so Yeah, I just think it's i think they're one year too early. i at think Next year, i think they'll be my pick to probably even win it all maybe next year. So, I mean, Imei Adoka, as we know, is is a great coach. And if it wasn't for improprieties that were called out, he would still be in Boston.
00:53:32
Speaker
so Yeah, that's very true. That's very true. Not that I mind Missoula. I love Missoula. He's yeah awesome to me. Joe's coming to his own. He really has. And, again, he's not everybody's cup of tea, as you just said.
00:53:44
Speaker
You know, like he's definitely in a acquired taste. And in my days covering the Celtics, it's been interesting because I got to do a podcast with Gary Washburn, who was literally in the locker rooms. And it became a national thing that Washburn and Missoula were just kind of at odds.
00:53:59
Speaker
Like, you know, Gary would ask, like, a really real question. And Missoula would like, yo, like, yo, Brian, why are you asking me that? You know what I mean? Not that terminology, but you can see he does. Yeah, yeah, like you know i mean? Like smoke coming out of Zier sometimes. I think when he and G were but kind of getting at it too. So, but I respect him.
00:54:14
Speaker
And, you know just like touch on this real quick. I had never seen a team. want to say maybe never, maybe want prisoner in the moment, but it's been a while since I've seen a team truly adopt their coach's identity in the way that they did. And it wasn't something for that title.
00:54:26
Speaker
um when they were just saying you know what mean like i and i even put it up on my board it takes what it takes like all the things joe was doing like after that first year where he wasn't calling timeouts and he was just kind of like you know farting away games because he was inexperienced to come back that second year and have that team locked loaded bought in and everybody was just like marching to the same beat like it was really palpable to watch and galvanizing in a way that yes i'm a celtics fan but just as a fan of sports in general it's You don't see that.
00:54:54
Speaker
um You don't see that all the time. Like you just don't. And teams need to be connected. They need to believe and they need to like truly believe in what their coach is saying for that, for that success to really kind of pop. You rarely see teams just winning NBA championships, despite their head coach. Like, like, don't know. Maybe there's, maybe there's an example here and there, but it's just, it's so far and few between that Boston team in 2024 was really, really special to watch because of Missoula how he was able to galvanize that roster.
00:55:23
Speaker
It actually reminded me of the 2008 roster the Ubuntu that they used. yeah Very similar vibes, really and truly. Really, really similar vibes. And, you know, again, we're close to it because, you know, we care about that team.
00:55:37
Speaker
um And there's other teams that I'm sure that have certain mantras that seem to, you know, and then sometimes you don't hear about them because maybe they don't win. um but all Exactly. Yeah. But these really were on full display. And, you know, again, I had some access, you know, to that team and to that roster and insight because of, you know, the great Gary Washburn. That was like really, really cool for me to learn. And it was a great time for me to go on. I went on on top begin before I walked away from that podcast.
00:56:02
Speaker
So, ah you know, a last year was rough, but, ah you know, we went out on top of the year before. Nice. Awesome. Okay, cool. Well, two last questions. Obviously, I know we both want to go watch ball, and it's been an hour here. So what is – well, first of all, everybody go check out the Baseline MBA podcast. They did their Baseline Awards already. So we're not going to go through all the awards because you got to go watch that one and find it out there. But they did went through every single award you can think of.
00:56:31
Speaker
The one award I do want to go through just for the channel here is most valuable player. Obviously, you're looking at the the people that are going to be in there. Jokic going for possibly a fourth and MVP. Voter fatigue has might have set in.
00:56:45
Speaker
already SGA winning last year, going for a second. Luka has not won one yet. Giannis, Wemba and Yama. I mentioned Jalen Brunson earlier. um Anthony Edwards, you mentioned from your brother, Kyle Lee. So who do you have as your MVP?
00:57:03
Speaker
I'm saying consistent here. um I'm a year early. I continue to say that, and I'm okay with it, but I believe this is a year of Wemby, and I think we're going to have him as the player of the year and MVP.
00:57:15
Speaker
I think it's going to be like, wow, he averaged 4.2 blocks? Oh, and he had five assists? Oh, and a steal and a half? Wow, 25 and 13? And the Spurs are four or five in the in the West?
00:57:27
Speaker
I think those things are going to – really be eye-popping while the greatness of Joker and SGA and Giannis and Luka cannot be denied. I think if you couple the narrative of a third-year leap from Wemby with the Spurs leap in terms of the standings, and and if all these things happen, again, it's a big if, and of course he needs to play the 65 games,
00:57:47
Speaker
I don't know how I think statistically we'll have a case that will endear him to the media and and the public. Because SGA is not truly like, you know, to a referenceend wrestling reference. He's not the people's champ. Like people think he's cool, but they don't love him.
00:58:01
Speaker
Right. And then there's like this, just this fatigue, I think, of Jokic, as you alluded to. And Giannis, I don't think but the Bucs will be good enough, just so quite frankly. Luka has a skinny man narrative.
00:58:11
Speaker
So if the Lakers somehow do pop in a way that I don't think they will, he probably could probably sneak on here. But I think Wembe is going to have an unprecedented year. I think it was my guy who said, Jabari who said, oh yeah, it was like the 89 Jordan when he was defensive player of the year in MVP.
00:58:24
Speaker
I think Wembe can do that. I really do. Yeah, I mean, it's definitely coming at some point, whether it's this year or next year or whatever. He's going to be a MVP. He's going to be an MVP and probably multiple-time MVP. Again, graced with just the genetic freak limbs that he has that are so long. I mean, I even said in one podcast, and I was i was being a little facetious and exaggeration, but I really – it's possible. i was like, man, he's going to average 10 blocks one season. Watch.
00:58:53
Speaker
He's just like – it's crazy how many plays he can affect with just the length of his arms and his legs and how far he can get out to them. Yeah. Like, it's just wild, so... Yeah, no, I'm with you. You may be early, but...
00:59:06
Speaker
We were talking on the show, and I was just like, well, like no, really. When he jumps, like what is the max height? right Is he 20 feet in the air, 25 feet in the air, like like fully extended? like What is it? like You're talking like like truly like a walking skyscraper, you know walking around. um on the um Who can jump?
00:59:22
Speaker
And is athletic. so He could be in the block and block a three-point shot. Easy. like His closeouts are different from anybody else you'll that you've ever come across. ah just because of the sheer length of, you know, of his arms and the fact that he's smart.
00:59:36
Speaker
You know, he's not, to this date, not somebody gets in a lot of foul trouble. So I understand, like, hey, bro, like, you're wilding like this too early for this pick. I'm just a believer in and what he is and what he'll be able to do. And I think if nothing else, he's he he'll be in the running.
00:59:49
Speaker
Like, there's no way he he doesn't finish within the top five, again, assuming he has a 65-game play limit. I just think, you know, this could be the year that he does, you know, some something truly, truly special and amazing statistically.
00:59:59
Speaker
Mm-hmm. And agreed, you're right, he is going to win. auto I mean, it would take a, a God forbid, an injury or or something else massive for him not to win defensive player of the year already.
01:00:11
Speaker
So once you got that in the pocket, it's just, okay, was my team good enough? And did I have the counting stats? ye to you know the m be So I'm going to stick with it then on my end and keep consistent with what I've done, which again,
01:00:24
Speaker
Just makes me queasy. But I did say that the Knicks were going to be the Eastern Conference champion. And I just think that Jalen Brunson is a player that, um yeah, he he gets a little bit of pub, but I don't think he gets enough.
01:00:39
Speaker
Um, he, yes, you guys, said he has cat there, but cat, as most people have noted, most NBA experts will note could always be a lot better, especially playing more in the post and in the three point line, but that's neither here nor there.
01:00:53
Speaker
Jalen Brunson is an animal and I can't believe Mark Cuban ever let him get away from Dallas. I know he wanted to play in New York, but still I would have done everything to keep him, including a max contract.
01:01:03
Speaker
Um, Jalen Brunson, man, he' just he's on another level. And not only is he able to score at a high rate, but he's also a good assist man.
01:01:14
Speaker
um he I mean, he knows how to distribute the ball to the players on his team in the best places that they need to be. The Knicks have an overall, like I said, a roster that is...
01:01:26
Speaker
Ready to win the championship and a coach that, look, we both know as Celtics fans, Tom Thibodeau, he only has about three, four years ah in a coach head coaching position because he runs people into the ground. We all know that.
01:01:38
Speaker
um Mike Brown was brought in to lift the team over that last hump over Everest. to get them to where it's going to be. And I believe Jalen Brown Brunson obviously is the catalyst of that. And we'll take that to the next level this season. And we'll be your MVP of the NBA. I like you. You spicy brother. You know what you got, you got a Clippers pick in the Western conference. You got Dylan Brunson capturing the MVP.
01:02:04
Speaker
You're not afraid to go on a limb. That's what we got to bring you on the baseline. Sometimes like we need this. and We need this. and I appreciate how would that. I really, really do. I would love that. Invite me on anytime. But yeah, no, but I also don't like to pick, like this is the thing. Once I get my votes, I know one day I'll be a voter.
01:02:21
Speaker
I'm not one, I get voter fatigue. I don't want to pick the same people every year. If you're really that great, okay, you can get it two years, maybe even three years in a row. But after that, I'm like, no, Jokic, you had it already three times. Let me give it to somebody else.
01:02:32
Speaker
yeah
NBA Finals Predictions
01:02:33
Speaker
got well yeah also it Yeah, but also SGA like last year, like he had a really great year. um But yeah, i can I could see Jalen Brunson having a very similar type of year and and and winning MVP. So, it you know, let's keep it spicy, as you said, and move it in to the championship, the NBA championship. What is your pick for the finals and your NBA champ?
01:02:57
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I got a little bit of chalk, I guess. You know, I'm going to go with the Foul Merchants, SGA and Jalen Brunson, really getting and getting into it.
01:03:08
Speaker
But I got the OKC Thunder winning this thing and and repeating, again, injury aside. I just think OKC really is built for a a sustainable run because of their roster construction, because of their defense as much as anything else, and their temperament as well.
01:03:24
Speaker
And, you know, Knicks fans will already just be happy to make the NBA Finals. It will be like they won the gym anyway with the amount of coverage that that's going to get. And just the media attention um from that lens, but it would further bolster.
01:03:36
Speaker
I think even your case for gentlemen, Brunson to be in the conversation for MVP as well, too, with the season that I both think we think the Knicks are ultimately going to have the Eastern conference, but I got OKC over the Knicks. What about you? Yeah, I mean, this really anybody that's looking at a team like OKC cannot say that they are not the better team when it comes between the Knicks. And honestly, the better team than every team in the league, if you're actually looking at the statistics and the peripherals and everything that goes into how dominant they were as a team last season, and not just on the offensive end, but defense. And I've always said this, and i it's something I like to hold to, but for the majority of times, if you go back in history, obviously there's outliers so from time to time, but for the majority of teams that win the and NBA championship, you're going to have a top 10 even a top five offense and defense, like when the Celtics won, like when OKC won, right? So yeah, there are outliers sometimes that that happen to win, but but for the most part, you need to have a really balanced team that's going to perform to an excellent level on both ends. And that's what the Thunder does. And as much as I think
01:04:44
Speaker
that the Knicks are going to have an excellent season. As much as I do believe that Jalen Brunson is an MVP candidate and can win it, and I do think they have team that wins the championship, are they the better team than OKC?
01:04:58
Speaker
No, not not in
Knicks' Championship Speculation
01:05:00
Speaker
my opinion, right? umm already good that being it's It's hard to get that. It's hard to to make that that that leap, right? But that being said, I'm still keeping it spicy. We're going with the... yeah Oh, my God, no. Don't do it. Don't say it. Don't say it.
01:05:19
Speaker
We're Stephen Hand. Orange and blue skies. Orange and blue skies, brother. The New York Knickerbockers. Wow. are going to win the NBA championship over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
01:05:31
Speaker
that is some That is some ish right there, man. Yeah. yeah You know what? Again, keep being you, and you've just made lot of people extremely happy. um including my mom in New York right now. Including a bunch of people I don't want to make happy. but Yeah, yeah, yeah. It would be something. And if nothing else, honestly, like, you know, all all jokes aside, the NBA is better when the Knicks are good.
01:05:56
Speaker
Like, it it just really is because they are a premier franchise that, There's a lot of interest in their fans. Like a lot of fans can be maybe a little much and maybe even tad bit obnoxious, but it's just fun because New York truly is the Mecca.
01:06:10
Speaker
um So i would I would love nothing more to see them maybe in the finals, so to speak, about winning it. But again, if they get there and then ultimately get it done. I can respect that. And again, Jalen Brunson is somebody that I think a lot of people can root for.
01:06:22
Speaker
You know, he's not overly flashy, not overly cocky. He just kind of puts his head down, gets the ball, gets the job done. He seems to be a great leader and teammate as well. So
Personal Basketball Experiences
01:06:31
Speaker
I can rock with that if it were to happen.
01:06:33
Speaker
I feel you on that, Omar. Yeah, and I'd be much more happy if they made it and lost. believe We both know that. but But just to keep it a little different and not choose Oklahoma City Thunder again, which, again, I mean, everybody is in their right to choose them because they probably are going to win a back-to-back. And by the way, that would be the first time in seven years. I thought it was going to be our Celtics. But look, injuries don't care who you are or what team you play for.
01:07:00
Speaker
C'est la vie, brother. C'est la vie, man. and the That was heartbreaking, man. And the fact that it was the Knicks who took us out. who Yeah, that was that was a tough build to swallow. I am thankful, though, that me and my pops, I got us tickets to game one of the championship that we won, and we sat courtside right by the bench. It was one
Future Collaborations and Conclusion
01:07:19
Speaker
of some of the most amazing time ever.
01:07:21
Speaker
It was so great, dude. i have to show you pictures sometime. Anyways, but yeah, hey, I'm having an NBA season preview next week, and um I needed one more because somebody just dropped out. I would love to have you on if you're free Wednesday, next Wednesday.
01:07:34
Speaker
Yeah, man. let's let's Let's set it up. I mean, and, you know, again, if it's i will I will get you somebody, even if it's not me. You you you have a guest. You have a guest from our network, which is also a 19 Media Group.
01:07:45
Speaker
We got a lot of great basketball content creators on that joint as well, too. So if for some reason I can't be on what? Next week is the What I'm not trying to whatever. I really got to look skin in front of me. um But if I definitely, i will I will get you somebody if it is not me But hopefully it will be me and we can rock out again, my G. Appreciate it. It's been amazing. Either way, even if it's not next week, we will definitely get together at some point again and and rock this sure. Keep the ball rolling and and keep the picks spicy.
01:08:13
Speaker
Well, please, hey, let everybody know again where they can find you, the 19 Media Group, all that good stuff. Yes, sir. man So, yep, 19 Media Group is the home network where all of our content is the baseline as a part of that network.
01:08:25
Speaker
But as I said before in the beginning of the baseline continues to rock and roll. Follow us on all our socials. Follow us anywhere podcasts are found and obviously find us here on the millions platform as well. Rock out with me, TheWarrenShaw on all social media, and my guy, CalGameFaceLee.
01:08:40
Speaker
Make sure you follow him on those on those platforms as well too, man. And we're going to keep it pushing, man. The Baseline 19 Media Group here with Ballin' Buds, my new G. Hey, yes, sir. I love it. Thank you so much, Warren, for blessing the pod, the Baseline NBA podcast.
01:08:58
Speaker
Truly, what an amazing stream it was today. I really appreciate you, brother, and enjoy the games tonight. And I will ah message you, and we'll get together about that stream. Will do, brother. Enjoy the night. Peace out, yo. Salute. Take care.