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NBA Playoffs Preview ! Plus Our NBA Awards Picks
12 Plays1 month ago
- Regular Season Awards Winners: MVP, DPOY, COTY, MIP, ROY, MOY
- Playoff Picks & Predictions: Which series are we most looking forward to ?
- Which player would we most like to see win their first ring ?
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Transcript
Introduction and Episode Overview
00:00:10
Chino Onwuka
Hello and welcome to another episode of the love of the game. We're bringing this one to you back to back. This is your boy Chino. You know, there's so much been happening in the world of sports and we just have to drop another pod to talk some NBA today. We've got the playoffs coming around. So want to wrap up the regular season and get us prepped and ready for the real season, which is the playoffs. So I'm joined with my with my co-host as usual, Chukusew, what's up to the fam?
00:00:44
Chuku
What's up, guys? glad to be going back-to-back here with these pod episodes. You know, just ready to give people what they want. And, yeah, looking forward to another banging episode with the boys.
00:00:57
Chuku
Let's see what we got cracking today.
00:01:01
Chino Onwuka
And Emeka, how you
Excitement for NBA Playoffs
00:01:01
Chino Onwuka
doing? How excited are you for NBA playoffs?
00:01:05
Emeka
Hey, we going back to back. i don't know about y'all, man, but and NBA playoffs is my favorite time of the year sports-wise. Just day after day, month, two months pretty much every day of just high-level basketball.
00:01:19
Emeka
And, huh, Adam Silver was cooking with the NBA Cup was cooking with the play-in because I'm building the vibes ready this week and I can't wait for the main course starting tomorrow.
00:01:29
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, those are definitely been some good additions to the NBA calendar and NBA structure. And, you know, talking about how and NBA playoffs are your favorite time of the year, you know, where we are, you know, in in Canada, like NBA playoffs also usually means like that's when the weather is starting to get better.
00:01:45
Chino Onwuka
That's when the sun is shining till late at night. You know, it's it's sort of like you're mentally, you're triggered that, oh, summertime is coming.
00:01:52
Emeka
Exactly. It's spring.
00:01:55
Chino Onwuka
It's spring, summertime, and so good vibes all around.
00:01:55
Emeka
Yeah.
00:01:58
Chuku
It's no more snow. That's what it signifies to me. No more snow.
00:02:03
Chino Onwuka
I mean, it's still Calgary, it's still Edmonton, so let let's let's not be too excited about that.
00:02:09
Chuku
One can hope.
00:02:10
Chino Onwuka
It should mean no more snow, but sometimes it'd be like that.
00:02:11
Chuku
One can hope.
00:02:14
Chino Onwuka
because
00:02:14
Chuku
Yeah.
NBA Awards Discussion
00:02:15
Chino Onwuka
yeah So you know we're we're just going to start off with by by wrapping up the regular season. I thought it was a really exciting regular season with... You know, due to some some younger teams rising up to the top and starting to establish themselves as NBA championship challengers, you know, we saw young players come and establish themselves. We saw teams that were previously in the doldrums, you know, start to reach their potential and and challenge and be exciting. So it was a really, really exciting regular season. I think some of the previous seasons have been a little boring where everyone was just went to the playoffs, but there was there were a lot of different narratives that that kept you going through that 82-game grind.
00:02:53
Chino Onwuka
So with that, you know, what I want us to do is we're just going to, at the beginning of the season, we we we came in and we did our NBA award predictions. And now we're going to circle back to that and and give it our our awards for NBA.
00:03:13
Chino Onwuka
and MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Rookie of the Year. So Chukwu, we're going to start with you.
00:03:25
Chino Onwuka
Who are your your winners for those awards? You know what? Here's here's how we're going to do it We're going to start with each one award and then just go around the table before we go on to the next one. So we're going to start with ahs start with Let's start with six man of the year and we're gonna build build build our way up.
00:03:48
Chino Onwuka
So Chukwu, who's your vote for six man of the year?
00:03:55
Chuku
Man, this year, six man of the year. i think it's tough. I think it's tough to say. you know There's been some interesting folks around the league, but I feel like the player that I'm about to mention, i don't know if he gets and enough respect. i got I got really, got two names.
00:04:18
Chuku
But actually, no, I'm gonna stick with the one. And it's this guy named Pritchard from Boston Celtics, man. I feel like... This guy has been underrated all year, you know, basically been one of the top shooters in the league from, you know, a backup point guard position.
00:04:38
Chuku
feel like his numbers, I mean, look, a player on a team like Boston that's so stacked, like you're going to go unnoticed, obviously, if you're not one of the the big names, you know, big dogs on that team. But I'm going to tell you, man, Pritchard, I mean, he was part of that crazy, crazy, you know,
00:04:55
Chuku
two 40-point-plus games but with him and Derek White, and he's been a part of some, you know, mini-explosions that I feel like maybe don't get talked the about enough.
00:05:06
Chuku
But, yeah, no, I'll go with, you know, Soan Lukey, and I think Pritchard is the perfect fit for the last six men of the year.
00:05:16
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, I'll go next and and give my pick. And I don't think it's... i i my My vote is Pritchard as well. And I don't think... I think he's going to win it pretty comfortably.
00:05:27
Chino Onwuka
I think... you You say he's been underrated. I feel like he's...
00:05:33
Chino Onwuka
it's It's been known. He's been considered as a huge part of that team and what he brings off the bench and his shooting from three. So I think Pritchard is a clear favorite to to win the award. You know, if i would give someone a second place, probably with Malik Beasley and what he's done for the Detroit Pistons. But yeah, I think Pritchard's going to easily run away with with with this award.
00:05:54
Chino Onwuka
Emeka, your vote.
00:05:56
Emeka
Yeah, because I like to maybe you know throw some money here and there. Peyton Pritchard is the overwhelming favorite for Sixth Man of the Year. And I think last year he was a little underrated. This year, even though Boston it definitely took a step back, I don't know. I feel Pritchard gets his respect. Maybe it's just the circles I watch because he's had those 40-point explosions.
00:06:19
Emeka
He's had some games when he's just been going off and... Again, Boston's kind of slowed down. Tatum's not tatum's still Tatum. Jalen Brown's not really popping off. The only guy can really say who's really took a step forward this season is Peyton Pritchard. He's been on fire. Yeah.
00:06:36
Emeka
Weird year. Usually you have there know like the Lou Williams Jamal Crawford type guys. Not really that many. Malik Beasley's amazing. And most other years I think he'd win. But Peyton Pritchard this year, I think unquestionably.
00:06:49
Emeka
Of all the awards... Outside of the last one thing we're going to talk about, I think this is the most clear, clear winner for me. Peyton Pritchard, Sixth Man of the Year.
00:06:59
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, and you know just talking about Boston, I think it's it's it's a clear case of
Most Improved Player Candidates
00:07:04
Chino Onwuka
a championship hangover. you know The East, there's there's only a few really competitors they have in the East, probably their minds, and they'll probably try to ramp it up for the playoffs.
00:07:15
Chino Onwuka
This is probably spoiling some of the series previews in a little bit, but I think there's A little bit of jeopardy with you know Jalen jale Brown's knee issue, but yeah, I think just a a clear case of championship hangover.
00:07:29
Chino Onwuka
Okay, next award that we're going to go to, i don't think I mentioned it and the in the intro, but most improved player of the year. Most improved player of the year.
00:07:40
Chino Onwuka
So Emeka, I'm going to start with you for that one.
00:07:40
Emeka
so
00:07:44
Emeka
I have what I think is controversial. So the what I've seen, this is the one award too where I don't know who's going to win. Most of the time, it was I think was Cade.
00:07:56
Emeka
And then last minute, it's been a lot of Dyson Daniels. But for me, i think the most improved player this year is Austin Reeves. This guy is legitimately...
00:08:09
Emeka
I would say, a top five third option in the league. He was undrafted. Last year, he was good, but I don't think anybody saw... He was still splitting time with D'Angelo. Like, they really only gave him the keys...
00:08:21
Emeka
Funny enough, two months before they traded for Luka. But if you go back and see from January on, he's been averaging 23, 24, 30-point games consistently. Really stepped into that third banana roll. When I made the Luka trade, I was thinking, you know what? You got to bring Austin off the bench. Like he's, well, all that stuff.
00:08:39
Emeka
Sure is what I know. Start the guy because he's a sniper. And... Most improved is is tough because there's no set criteria. What's more impressive? Going from a role player to a starter?
00:08:51
Emeka
Going from a you know star to a superstar? we No one knows. But for me, making the the leap from... An other, as Shaq would say, to a guy is the biggest league you can make in basketball.
00:09:04
Emeka
When you talk about the Lakers on a team of Luka Doncic and LeBron James, it's a big three. That says a lot to me, and that just shows how good Austin Reeves has got.
00:09:15
Emeka
So I hate the Lakers, but I got to give it up to them. Austin Reeves is my most improved player of the year.
00:09:22
Chino Onwuka
That's a really good shout, actually. you not Not a name that I'd actually thought of or considered because just in my point, think sort of that leap that Reeves took, I think last year is sort of when he started establishing himself from being undrafted, you know, player to to being a a key cog in that Lakers organization. And so, but but that is a really good shout.
00:09:46
Chino Onwuka
I'm going to go sort of give my answer it in two ways here because I think who the the player that's going to win it is Cade Cunningham. I think it's going to be much deserved, you know, taking the Pistons from, you know, losing, what was it, 18, 28 straight games in a row and being, you know, last place in the league to to being a key player in the Eastern Conference, making the playoffs, you know, not even just a plane, but making the playoffs proper. So, know, he's someone that, you know, i watched, you know,
00:10:16
Chino Onwuka
a lot in high school, you know, his one year in Oklahoma State. And, you know, he had a lot of potential. People were looking at him as, you know, Luca light a little bit and a lot of growing pains with the situation he was in Detroit with injury, but it's really good to see him start to shine and blossom. So I think Cunningham is going to win, but, you know, like America, you alluded to like Most improved is sort of a really weird award because there's no criteria.
00:10:46
Chino Onwuka
I feel like a lot of times it does go to players like Cunningham who are supposed to be stars and then they make the leap that people always expected them to make where, you know, I feel like a little bit most improved to go to someone.
00:11:00
Chino Onwuka
weren't really thinking of and they just became something that they weren't expected to be so that's why like i know cunningham's gonna be there no even mobile he's gonna be there but if there's two players that i would sort of think i would like them to at least get some some shout out for this award it'd be two guys on the clippers norman powell who he's been a solid you know role player for a while you know was on those on those Raptors teams and what he did at his age for the Clippers to carry them while Kawhi was hurt.
00:11:34
Chino Onwuka
I didn't see that coming at all. I was never i was never in the card. So I think he deserves some love. And Ivan Zubac as well. He's just a solid player, but such a key cog for them defensively and offensively. So I think they should get some love for most improved as well.
00:11:52
Chino Onwuka
Chukwu.
00:11:52
Emeka
I mean, make a pick, though. to pick one between the two. I like both those picks for the record. And i'mre I'm a rat.
00:11:57
Chino Onwuka
i think my my my vote I think Cunningham's
00:11:57
Emeka
I'm going to go at the end.
Rookie of the Year Contenders
00:11:59
Chino Onwuka
going to win it.
00:12:00
Chino Onwuka
That's my vote. If I was to pick between the two, I'd go Norman Powell.
00:12:04
Emeka
I mean, let's not do who we think is going to win. Because I think Dyson Dango is going to win. But I still would vote for Austin Reap. So I think let's do who you you would pick for the award.
00:12:13
Chino Onwuka
right, Norman Powell.
00:12:13
Emeka
But I like
00:12:14
Chuku
Yeah, who'd you pick?
00:12:14
Emeka
I like it. I like Paul.
00:12:16
Chino Onwuka
i would I would actually still pick Cunningham, but Norman Powell is the other side of that pick, to be honest.
00:12:16
Chuku
Yeah, fair enough.
00:12:24
Chuku
I hear all y'all guys' picks. I like those names. You know, for the record, I will say, personally speaking, I would, if I was voting, I would pick Kate Cunningham just for what he's done for the team and, like,
00:12:39
Chuku
what he's done in terms of taking this you know taking this Detroit team from where they were a year ago to now, i mean and then also improving on his numbers.
00:12:51
Chuku
I just think, yeah, that step that he took this year warrants receiving such an award. But again, that's, I guess, more of like you know what's going on with national media and and what, in my opinion, I think is going to be the outcome.
00:13:09
Chuku
But personally speaking, for my most improved, because there's so many angles you can go with most improved, I personally like to see the jumps from rookie to your next year.
00:13:20
Chuku
Because, you know, you come in as a rookie, you know, especially when I was a lorry pick and, you know, you have a decent year. But it's always, for me, i always find a lot of interest seeing what that next year looks like. after having another Having one year under your belt.
00:13:37
Chuku
And for me, The player that would have, you know, I feel like deserves like a huge shout out for most improved has to be Armand Thompson, bro. Like, this guy has shown me, you know, he is the real deal. Like, I can't emphasize how much I've talked about this guy in previous episodes. And, I mean, I think we can all agree that, you know, this kid is one-on-one. He's special.
00:14:03
Chuku
And this year he's truly showed me what a defensive force he is. what an athletic freak he is. Like, there's just so many so many freakish things in the league that has a lot of freakish players. He stands out as one of the freakier freakier players in the league in terms of what he brings to the court. And I definitely think, like, he if he could ever just sustain some sort of semblance of a, you know, consistent jump shot, this guy will be a
00:14:35
Chuku
huge, huge problem. And I mean, i guess that's something we're going to have to wait and see. But personally, even with what he's just done so far, I think he definitely wants heavy shots for most improved and what he's done for this Houston squad and where they finish this year.
00:14:53
Chino Onwuka
No, that is a good shot. I think we're starting to get a little bit of a pushback, you know, to giving second year players most improved because that's the type of development that you expect.
00:15:00
Emeka
Oh my god.
00:15:05
Chino Onwuka
So like, you know, you come in as a rookie, you don't know what you're doing. It's the NBA. It's man. Everyone is bigger, faster, it can jump higher. So Like, I feel like that's probably why we haven't heard as much as a man because just, you know, listening to, you know, and NBA discourse, I think people are like, okay, you know, that that that rookie to second-year player, is that really most improved is that just the type of development you expect to see from rookies?
00:15:32
Chino Onwuka
So I think that's a good shout out for us.
00:15:32
Emeka
So I think that's a good start.
00:15:34
Chino Onwuka
That's probably why, you know, a man probably isn't featured as much in in these discussions because he has –
00:15:39
Emeka
Forget NBA discourse. I'm going to go. I was winning for this rant and yeah double rant now. like the The two, first of all, I don't think Cade's going to win, but even if he does win, i can't i to me, it goes against the spirit of the award if we're giving it to guys like Cade or second-year players.
00:15:57
Emeka
You're supposed to do this. K went first overall. He scored 22.7 points last year. last year you so He has a max deal. You're supposed to be this.
00:16:09
Emeka
I'm at Topps as a second-year guy. You're supposed to be better in your second year. If I was the commissioner, no one drafted Topps five could win the award in the rookie contract. It's just, you're supposed to be this good.
00:16:23
Emeka
And even if you've won number one, you've never won this award. we're expecting this from you. So, to me, it goes against, I think, J.J. already kind of good rants about it. I'm just paraphrasing what he's saying. But, we're giving most, I blame Ja Morant.
00:16:34
Emeka
Ever since Ja got it, it's now been given the award to high draft pick who started off, not even start off slow, but went from scoring 20 to 25 in a year. When it should be for like, the Kevin Loves, the Laurie Markinins, the guy who was in the league for a minute,
00:16:50
Emeka
Ideally, your second deal, and you just took a leap that you took a, you went from somebody to nobody.
00:16:55
Chuku
I hear Kevin Love.
00:16:55
Emeka
You knew what was happening.
00:16:58
Chuku
Hold on, did I hear Kevin Love?
00:16:58
Emeka
Kevin Love won a black ball. People forget when Kevin Love drafted. He wasn't that guy. And we yeah, one year randomly, he starts going like 25 and 15 all of a sudden. Like, I like those kind of, and it shouldn't be in your first three years. You're supposed to do that.
00:17:11
Emeka
Surprise me.
00:17:11
Chino Onwuka
But Kevin, well he was a lottery pick, though.
00:17:11
Emeka
Yeah,
00:17:14
Chuku
I about to say, what's Kevin Love a topic?
00:17:15
Emeka
but I said first, I said no one in top five should win it in the rookie deal.
00:17:18
Chino Onwuka
Martin was a lottery pick as well.
00:17:20
Emeka
Under a rookie.
00:17:21
Chino Onwuka
Okay, yeah means you used the qualifier of the rookie deal. I think the reason why – honestly, Emeka, I agree with you.
00:17:24
Emeka
yeah Thank you.
00:17:29
Chino Onwuka
The reason why i think Cunningham's a bit different is – I think it's just like the the difference, the night and day difference between Detroit last year and Detroit this year. Yes, a little bit of that is the coaching.
00:17:43
Chino Onwuka
You know, the situation is different, but he he took sort that from the third room.
00:17:45
Chuku
Free agent sign-ins. I mean, that also plays a part...
00:17:49
Chino Onwuka
So um I'm adding that tax in there, to be honest. But I hear what you're saying, to be very honest. I hear what you're saying. I think that's a good point. I think that's a fair point. I think that's a fair point.
00:17:49
Emeka
up the i just I'm with the NBA people.
00:18:02
Emeka
It's not a hot take. A lot of people agree are talking about this. And I'm with them. like When I read those arguments, I'm like, yeah. Why are we giving guys who Cade went first overall? If Cade wins it, man. oh i like I love Cade for the record.
00:18:14
Chino Onwuka
He's better on it.
00:18:14
Emeka
I love Cade. I love Cade.
00:18:15
Chino Onwuka
I don't bet you bet. If you look at the odds, I'm sure he's he's the heavy favorite to win that as well.
00:18:19
Emeka
I checked. Dax and Daniel was the heavy favorite, funny enough.
00:18:22
Chino Onwuka
Really?
00:18:23
Emeka
Yeah. It's funny. We didn't really mention him.
00:18:24
Chino Onwuka
Okay.
00:18:26
Emeka
It's, again, just to wonder why I'll say that.
00:18:27
Chino Onwuka
and that's but That's a fair shot as well, to be honest.
00:18:28
Emeka
Yeah, hey.
00:18:30
Chino Onwuka
That's a fair shot as well. think Jalen Johnson, I mean, he he's probably another one that doesn't fit your criteria. Before his injury, I think he would have been in with a shot as well.
00:18:39
Emeka
Yeah, I think for injury, would have been in the shot, for sure.
00:18:41
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, yeah. Okay. Next question.
00:18:43
Emeka
Maxie was born last year. That's the type of guy that's perfect for it. Drafted late, took a while, and took a step. No one, two years ago, if you said Maxie would be scoring 25 a game, no one would ever believe you.
00:18:53
Emeka
That's the guy I want. Two years ago, you tell me Cato's going to be scoring. I'd be like, yeah, he's definitely going to be doing this.
00:18:59
Chino Onwuka
True.
00:19:01
Emeka
That's my criteria for the award. If two years two seasons prior, you said, look at the outcome, would you be shocked? That's the ideal.
00:19:08
Chino Onwuka
Nope.
00:19:09
Emeka
a
00:19:09
Chino Onwuka
Nope.
00:19:09
Emeka
That's just one guy.
00:19:11
Chino Onwuka
Fair enough. Fair enough. All right. Next one, we're going to do rookie of the year. and I'm going to start this one off because... I think there can only be one winner. Actually, it's it is a little bit close. It wasn't the most stellar rookie class, but I think there were a couple of guys who really showed you know their potential, who who showed they could be key contributors in the league right now and going forward. So my winner is Stefan Castle. I think he was a revelation. you know When we did our predictions, I didn't think he would win it because I didn't think he'd get the opportunity it.
00:19:45
Chino Onwuka
to win it. But he came in right off the start of the season, showed that you could count on him on defense. Anytime they played him as a starter one due to injuries, he he showed off next to Wemby next to Chris Paul.
00:19:58
Chino Onwuka
And he just kept getting better and better. And they kept trusting him more and more, you know, throughout the season. So with everything he brings on defense, his ability to drive to the cup with physicality, with guile, know, shoot free throws, he still has to work on his His three-point shooting a little bit, but he he's shown he can be an effective player.
00:20:19
Chino Onwuka
He's shown that he can play, he can fit well next to Wemby. So it was a home run pick by the Spurs. I love him. love everything he's about. He's the quintessential Spur, and I'm just excited. So I think we're going to have back-to-back Rookies of the Year, and hopefully that...
00:20:35
Chino Onwuka
that portends good things in the future for the Spurs. I don't know when last a team had back-to-back rookie of the years. I'm sure, you know, one of you stat heads will tell me if that's ever happened before. Some guys that I think are also deserving of shot. think Jalen Wells was probably a ahead in the race for most of the season until he faltered the last little bit.
00:20:57
Chino Onwuka
You know, early in the season, if he didn't get injured, I think Jared McCain probably had a really, really good chance. You know, before Maxie came back, Jared McCain probably had a good shot at winning it. And, uh,
00:21:09
Chino Onwuka
Zachary research a he's someone who also came on really strongly for Atlanta Hawks and I was a key part of their of their their drive to the plane and their drive to the plane but I think Stefan Castle edges it out Chukwu who do you go for rookie of the year
00:21:30
Chuku
I'll preface this by saying this this class, in my opinion, wasn't really, I mean, they were all right. there were not no one No one stood out for me, at least in a special way.
00:21:44
Chuku
But, I mean, I feel like at the end of the day, you know, if you have to pick one, you know, I think the word has to be Stephen Castle. I mean, he's the one that's you know had a lot more bright spots than the rest. I was a little bit disappointed because I really thought the kid drafted by Houston was going to... I don't know, for some reason, I really thought Houston would let him ball out. and I don't know, just thought a guy like him with the kind of shooting pedigree he had, I thought he was and the perfect situation to possibly
00:22:20
Chuku
know go for that Rookie of the Year title. But... To be fair, Houston was a a lot better team than people expected entering the year.
00:22:30
Chuku
And, I mean, it shows that there was no and there was no no space to let a young rookie guard, you know, in that team that already is full of guards, get in the game time.
00:22:41
Chino Onwuka
I called that. i told I think when we had the preview put, I told you all that Reid is good. He's just not going to get the opportunity this year.
00:22:48
Chuku
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:22:48
Chino Onwuka
I told
00:22:49
Chino Onwuka
And I know you're hoping. How come you only talked about your boy Dillingham? What's up?
00:22:49
Chuku
I mean,
00:22:55
Chuku
i don't What do you mean? look and you Did I mention that he was going to win rookie of the year?
00:22:57
Chino Onwuka
Oh, you remember when you were like, oh, well, Dillingham, he's going to come and he's going to blah, blah, blah, hot take, this, this, that, you forget?
00:23:07
Chino Onwuka
We were talking rookie of the year. You brought him up.
00:23:11
Chuku
i mean, I brought him as a possibility. he has a chance, an opportunity.
00:23:13
Chino Onwuka
you How you it?
00:23:14
Chuku
But I mean, the same thing, just the i thought just like how I thought, again, Reid was a possibility for him. He didn't get the... Look, you're playing hes playing you're playing on a team that has Ants playing, number you know, shooting guard.
00:23:30
Chuku
You have a veteran playing guard in Mike Conley.
00:23:33
Chino Onwuka
all like All these things that you're saying right are the things that I was trying to tell you at the beginning.
00:23:34
Chuku
Like,
00:23:40
Chino Onwuka
You were trying to be like, I don't know what I'm talking about. That's why I'm bringing it up. Just to, you know, I can't let you get away with that. Because I told you, this boy has potential, but he is 160 pounds, can't play no defense.
00:23:55
Chino Onwuka
He ain't going play. And you saw here have a good game in summer league and you do you did what Chupu does and you got excited. And just to tell you that, you know, when your elders tell you something, it's always good to take note and pay attention learn.
00:24:09
Chino Onwuka
That's how we get better. That's how we grow and we learn. So just, you know, good note for next year.
00:24:15
Chuku
All right, all right, uh, fair enough, okay, uh, but yeah, Back to the question and answer. Yeah, Stephen Castle is still probably going to my shot for Rookie of the Year. So, well done to the kid in Spurs.
00:24:31
Chuku
But, yeah.
Coach of the Year Nominees
00:24:33
Chino Onwuka
Okay, so that's two votes for Stephon Castle. Emeka, where's your vote going?
00:24:36
Emeka
me
00:24:39
Emeka
So preseason, I really thought it would be Edie and he's tried. He's playing a lot, but now he's not working for the year. I'll give a quick word to Zachary. riha Got to be one of the least talked about first or overall picks in history. And honestly, he showed a little, a little juice the last couple of months of the season, a little bit of juice. I mean, obviously nothing too crazy, but I'm curious to see how yeah how he, how he plans out in the future.
00:25:02
Emeka
But, uh, Yeah, I think it's going to be three for three for Castle. And to your point, you know, I think, guy you know, I always like fun quizzes. If goes as we predict, the Spurs will win back-to-back rookie of the year.
00:25:16
Emeka
Something that's happened one time in the last decade. Can you remember the two players that happened with?
00:25:22
Chino Onwuka
Okay, so it was in the last decade.
00:25:24
Emeka
In the last decade.
00:25:26
Chino Onwuka
So this is 2015, back to back rookie of the year.
00:25:32
Emeka
And a spoiler is of all people should know the answer.
00:25:36
Chino Onwuka
is is Is it the Celtics?
00:25:38
Emeka
Wow.
00:25:39
Chino Onwuka
I feel like.
00:25:41
Emeka
You're disrespecting your boy. Chico, do you know the answer?
00:25:45
Chuku
Nah, bro. Just some.
00:25:46
Chino Onwuka
Last 10 years.
00:25:48
Emeka
Andrew Wiggins and Carl Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
00:25:52
Chino Onwuka
Man, that was 10 years ago.
00:25:52
Chuku
Oh, word.
00:25:53
Emeka
and How's 10 years?
00:25:55
Chuku
That's crazy.
00:25:55
Emeka
2014, 2015.
00:25:56
Chino Onwuka
That was 10 years ago. That's true.
00:25:58
Emeka
I said, of all your boys,
00:25:58
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, back you know that makes sense because that was back-to-back number one picks as well.
00:26:03
Emeka
I can't give them one overall pitch.
00:26:03
Chino Onwuka
That makes sense.
00:26:05
Emeka
Yeah.
00:26:05
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:26:06
Emeka
a I mean, I know...
00:26:09
Chino Onwuka
They've moved teams, so my mind wasn't putting them in the woods.
00:26:11
Emeka
And that's what happened to me too.
00:26:12
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:26:13
Emeka
I looked it up.
00:26:13
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:26:14
Emeka
Cause I was like, does it happen before? And I saw it. I was like, I really forget. i mean, it's funny how the only three years ago, they, they stopped playing together, but I really do for half a quarter.
00:26:22
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:26:23
Emeka
The wolves had these but guys back to back and then got Edwards like four five years later. You know, I mean, they't obviously they didn't draft Wiggins. They traded love for him, but that's one of the first overall all picks in a short period of time on the same roster.
00:26:36
Emeka
Like had, you interesting.
00:26:37
Chino Onwuka
you know Yeah. No, no. Good shout. Thanks for looking that up. Yeah. So in 10 years, you can expect another team to do it again if the cycle stays the same. Okay.
00:26:50
Chino Onwuka
Coach. of the year. And Maka, we're going to start with you, Coach of the Year.
00:27:00
Emeka
It's me it's cutting only two candidates and All the love Cade is getting for most improved. I think should be given to JB Bickerstaff for coach of the year because Free agent signings. Yes, there are a lot of young guys on the team and he made them read the heights like but Even though not his fault I think how much of it is him being a good coach and really how much of it is that Monty Williams was on a generational money heist last season.
00:27:31
Emeka
So I'm going to give it to the winner. I think will be the winner at least of Kenny Atkinson in the Cleveland Cavaliers. When they appointed him in the off season, I would have bet a lot of money. They got to trade Garland. I thought, all right, the Cavs,
00:27:48
Emeka
we've experiments done, not only to trick trade Garland, also I think you trade Jared Allen. I think like two guards, two bigs, and it happened, and the Cavs, you've tried, remake the roster, blah, blah, blah.
00:27:59
Emeka
Without any major off-season acquisition, that's the key for me, without any major off-season acquisitions, the Cavs went from a nice team to an elite 60 plus win team.
00:28:13
Emeka
First time in their franchise history, they won 60 games without a certain lamon LeBron, Ramon James on the roster. And to do that, I guess, look, they got good players. I'm acting like he's making you know magic happen. They got good players, but we saw the same team for through two seasons prior, and they didn't move anybody. didn't make anybody shake without any major acquisitions, trades, nothing.
00:28:36
Emeka
He took the group of players, coached them up, and now there's a world I can see the Cavs in the finals. And if you told me that when they hired them, I never would have believed it. So I got to give my flowers to Kenny Atkinson, my coach of the year.
00:28:48
Chino Onwuka
Chiku, how about you? What's your take on that?
00:28:51
Chuku
Man, listen, I'm going to just say start off with i understand the shouts for Kenny Atkinson. I get it. But we've seen this before with the Cavs. It's not like we're seeing the Cavs be a good team or a an elite team in the East without LeBron James. like We've seen this team do this before. So for me, i he's probably going to win it.
00:29:14
Chuku
I'm pretty sure last I looked he was the favorite. But for me, that's not my coach of the year. I want to give it to JB Bickerstaff as well, just because of the insane, insane turnaround of where the Detroit were and where they are now.
00:29:30
Chuku
But again, love key acquisitions, nice additions, and plus I already have like a money-high situation with the the previous coach.
00:29:42
Chuku
And you know ah and this the team, Detroit are not as bad as people make it them out to be, especially with, obviously, I mean, how bad can you be when you're getting, like, you know, you're getting number one overall picks, you know, so on a regular basis. Like, at some point, you're expected to turn things around when you find when you get a a good pick, and, you know, they got that number one pick in KC on them, so, you know, it was to be expected.
00:30:11
Chuku
But, for me, I feel like the manager who's not, like, the but head coach who's not getting enough respect, in my opinion, who I think should win this award, is the man down in Houston, man. Ime Odoka. Like, bro, the Houston Rockets.
00:30:32
Chuku
Do you guys see where they finished in the in the Western Conference? but if I'm not mistaken, my eyes don't deceive me. They finished third?
00:30:43
Chuku
Or is second?
00:30:45
Emeka
Second.
00:30:45
Chuku
I a wrong confirm.
00:30:45
Emeka
that
00:30:46
Chuku
They finished second in the West? team that I believed I had, you know, at some point, i was is my mind i was wondering if they're ever going to be able to get to over that hump of mediocrity.
00:31:00
Chuku
They finished second in the Western Conference that everyone has been talking about Houston. by far the most difficult of the two conferences in terms of level of competition and teams in that conference.
00:31:15
Chuku
And he got this Houston boys as young as a team as they are. Goddamn. I remember when he signed from Vliet and I was just thinking, like, yo, what are you doing? In I just thinking, what are you doing, Houston? Like, you're trying to rebuild. You're signing, you know, old vet top players for huge money.
00:31:34
Chuku
And, you know, What's that going to lead lead you to, you know, in terms of standings? Are you ever going to be able to, you know, get over to be, you know, a very, very good team?
00:31:45
Chuku
Are you going to be a just an okay team that's going be around the play-ins? No! Houston finished second. And Imei Odoka has got these boys believing.
00:31:56
Chuku
Got these boys playing strong, amazing defense. They got, know, good veteran leadership around them. Van Vliet, Jeff Green. You got young talent, Amit Thompson, Jalen Green.
00:32:09
Chuku
Like, it's amazing to me the work that, you know, Odoka has these boys doing. And, I mean, look,
00:32:19
Chuku
I don't feel like Imei gets enough credits for what what he did for the Boston Celtics. I mean, obviously, he never got to win the ring. But I think if Imei has stayed with the Celtics, they still win that ring, in my opinion.
00:32:30
Chuku
And he's gone to shows. Now, Fluke has gone to Houston, done an amazing job. I think he deserves Coach of the Year. And what he's doing in Houston is just downright amazing. So that's my pick for Coach of the Year.
00:32:45
Chino Onwuka
I think those are all really good shouts and who I think will probably be the the top three in voting based on what Chukubo, Q and Mekke have said, you know, Imelduk, why am I saying that? Why is my fellow evil brother?
00:33:01
Chino Onwuka
Imelduk will definitely get a shout. Bickerstaff with a turnaround in Detroit, he's going to get a shout. think he's going to come second. I think... I think...
00:33:12
Chino Onwuka
Kenny Atkinson is going to win it. But not to belabor the point, the person I would give Coach of the Year is Mark Daniel of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
00:33:22
Chino Onwuka
They won 68 games in the West. I know they did. They finished well last year as well. But 68 games is no joke. like The number of teams that are have won that amount of games have been the elite of the elite. And to do that,
00:33:39
Chino Onwuka
in the Western Conference, the gong with that it is, i just i think deserves a shout out. So I would give him coach of the year.
00:33:49
Emeka
no No beef with that.
00:33:49
Chino Onwuka
Any thoughts?
00:33:50
Emeka
No beef with it. I mean, again, the last thing we talk about is where I'm going to give OKC all the flowers. But I have no beef with it. They were just the one seed last year. That's the thing. like You're the one, and i unfairly, I think Coach of the Year ends up being the most overachieving team.
00:34:09
Emeka
And it's hard for me, even though you can make the case that was OKC. Like, they were the one seed last year. But again, the now they're 68-win, legendary, point differential, 16-game ahead of second place, first place.
00:34:20
Chino Onwuka
I'm dealing with injuries as well.
00:34:21
Emeka
Like, so, you know, fair. No problem with it.
00:34:25
Chino Onwuka
It's like they were healthy the whole season.
00:34:27
Emeka
Oh, absolutely.
00:34:28
Chino Onwuka
They lost Chet for the first half of the year. So, yeah. So, okay. Now that would be my vote. Next one, Defensive Player of the Year.
Defensive Player of the Year Debate
00:34:40
Chino Onwuka
Chukwu, we're going to start with you for this one.
00:34:43
Chuku
Defensive player of the year. This is one that I don't know. always find it difficult to to give someone because I feel like this is an no award that I feel like a lot of the times it's just so easy to give it to the bigs because of the the defensive, like, you know, the blocking and, you know,
00:35:06
Chuku
I guess it's just so easy to give it to the big that just gets a lot of blocks. I mean, obviously, i think, you know, I'm not sure, but i think and on this panel, a lot of us probably would have agreed if this dude didn't get hurt, Wembeyama was walking away with that award, in my opinion, at least is the case, in terms of defensive player of the year.
00:35:28
Chuku
Obviously, we know what happened. He got hurt, and... Therefore, you know, not going to be able to come away with that trophy. But, again, I might be, you know, a radio, a stereo playing backwards and, you know, playing the same tune over and over again. But I really do think this guy I'm about to mention, who I don't think is going to win it, but I would also give probably this award to is Ahmed Thompson. I just think...
00:36:04
Chuku
is like what he's been able to do defensively for this Rockets team goes, I don't want to say it goes unnoticed because if you have two eyeballs and watch what this guy does on the defensive end of the of of of things as well as on help defense and and just how he's able to cover so much floor space with his speed and athleticism. like He is primetime scary defender and I just think for's some of the things I've seen, some of the blocks i've I've seen him do, like he just does some things that make me, like make my eyes just pop out. Like it does, it's not normal to see this, you know, type of movements. And yeah, I mean, i think, you know, I'm pretty sure I'm going hear some different names here.
00:36:53
Chuku
and a love them. I'm thinking I'm going to be Biggs, but I think for this award this year, I'm willing to give it to someone that I think a guard that has shown that you know he can not only just block shots, but just be a hell of a perimeter pest and is all over the passing lanes. And yeah, he's been amazing in terms of steals and what he's been able to produce this year.
00:37:18
Chuku
And it shows on the you know on this Houston team in terms of the the metrics and the the defensive numbers. So yeah, my vote would be Amon Thompson for Defensive Player of Year.
00:37:32
Chino Onwuka
No, Amani, you know, he's hes he's a good shot. I think he's definitely going to be on some all-NBA ballots. You know, I think he'll probably make – he should make the second team.
00:37:44
Chino Onwuka
But my vote is is is pretty clear. It's pretty straightforward. Victor Wemba-Nyama is the clear defensive player of the year.
00:37:53
Chino Onwuka
I don't care about your stupid rules, about your 65-game rules. He still leads the league in blocks even after being out since the All-Star break. And for a month before they found the issue was playing on block plots and could barely breathe.
00:38:10
Chino Onwuka
And he still leads the league in blocks by a wide margin. So my vote is for Victor Wambayama, Defensive Player of the Year, long live the king.
00:38:22
Emeka
we Just we just make this stuff up now. I mean, hey man, listen, was gonna win the award i think it's anyone of eyes would have seen it really sucks. that He got blood clots. I hope he's healthy.
00:38:34
Emeka
He should win the award, but there's rules for rules. So you gotta pick somebody and Since as soon as Victor went down, I really thought it was gonna be Mobley the Cavs are great defense. He's been kind of anchoring them And, i you know, cars on the table. I made a, put a little, a little coin purse on it. Like, yeah, won't be going to defensive player of the year.
00:38:57
Emeka
And then right around, end of February, early March, some donkey won podcast. Like, we're doing now. And he said, why can't I be defensive player of the year? And I wanted to hate on him.
00:39:08
Emeka
Draymond Green. I want to be like, man, shut your old mouth up, man. what are you talking about? He's hyping yourself up. And then they made the Jimmy Butler trade. And I started watching the Warriors play. And,
00:39:20
Emeka
He won me over. My pick for defensive player of the year is Draymond Green. I've never had a player who I wanted so hard to hate, because my goodness, he does some really stupid things that annoy me, but I have to give him the respect.
00:39:34
Emeka
this There's no one better, even with Mbemayama, I feel like I can say this. There's no one in the NBA that I've seen in my eyes better at stopping a fast break than Draymond Green. It's actually absurd how often I'll see two-on-one against the Warriors, and Draymond's there, shuts it down.
00:39:51
Emeka
He's just a defensive savant, And it doesn't seem right. To me, the biggest injustice is that Tim Duncan never won defensive player of the year. I think Draymond only winning one would also be an injustice.
00:40:03
Emeka
He's been so good for a decade plus. I'm not mad about giving him this fake award because Wemby got out and he's balled out. I'm not mad at it. So my pick, it pays me to say it, Draymond Green.
00:40:18
Chino Onwuka
You're a better man than me. You know, even if I thought J-Mon was the defensive player of the year, I probably would not vote for him because I just don't like the guy. i'll you know I'll be honest. I just don't like the guy. The only redeeming quality that he has is that he's LeBron's boy.
00:40:37
Chino Onwuka
that's really That's really the only redeeming quality he has in my eyes.
00:40:38
Emeka
done who
00:40:42
Chino Onwuka
I have very strong negative feelings for that guy, and I have for a long time. But he is a great player, even at his age. He still, you know, always laugh when Warriors fans, spoiled Warriors fans are like, get rid of Draymond.
00:40:56
Chino Onwuka
I'm like, you guys don't understand how important he is to your team.
00:40:57
Emeka
about to say
00:41:01
Chino Onwuka
For all his antics, he is the glue that holds that team together. I've said it here on this pod several times. Whenever Draymond is gone and it's just Steph, the Warriors suck.
00:41:11
Emeka
Big
00:41:14
Chino Onwuka
That's just the facts.
00:41:15
Emeka
big factx
00:41:16
Chino Onwuka
And Starr is a great player, but Dream On holds that team together defensively and makes everything work, even offensively as well. So with that, we are going to move on to the big one.
MVP Contenders: SGA vs. Jokic
00:41:29
Chino Onwuka
MVP, most valuable players. Another award where there's always a lot of consternation about what really is the criteria for MVP. Is it the the best player on the team with the most wins?
00:41:46
Chino Onwuka
Is it the guy that has the narrative behind them or is it actually the best player in the league or is it the most valuable player in the league by whatever metric you decide you use to attribute value to? Because if it was just the best player in the league, LeBron should have a lot more MVPs.
00:42:09
Chino Onwuka
A lot of other players should have more MVPs. But to me, flip-flopped on this so many times because cars on the table, there's two guys it's going to come down to for MVP.
00:42:23
Chino Onwuka
Giannis, great season. You're going come third. It is between sga and Jokic. If you ask me who the most valuable, I'm just trying to take the definition based off the name of the award.
00:42:38
Chino Onwuka
the most valuable player in the league, to me, that is Jokic. What this guy has to do on a nightly basis to carry his team is unreal.
00:42:55
Chino Onwuka
Average a triple-double for the whole season, 30 points, 10 assists, 12 rebounds, or 12 rebounds, 10 assists, something like that.
00:43:07
Chino Onwuka
40% shooting from three. Like, he just did everything for that team. And SG has a compelling, more than compelling argument. He is just as good for his team for OKC. But I just think OKC, clearly, you can see their record. And part of that is because of him.
00:43:26
Chino Onwuka
OKC has more than Jokic does, I believe.
00:43:31
Chino Onwuka
i think... Jokic is the best player in the NBA and he's also been the most valuable to his team. So my vote is Jokic.
00:43:43
Chino Onwuka
i i will I will be very happy for and probably when SGA wins it, you know, Canada, all Canada, you know, I love that for him. He's someone that nobody, just like Jokic, to be honest. If you look at you know the three frontrunners for MVP, these are guys, all three of them were not highly drafted.
00:44:02
Chino Onwuka
so These were not things that people saw in their careers where they were drafted, and those just happened to be the best players in the NBA. I think SGA is going to win it, but my vote would be for Nikola Jokic.
00:44:14
Chino Onwuka
Emeka, what do you think about that?
00:44:16
Emeka
Chukwu, please go next. guess I have a rant and im I'm just loading up. So please, please, please go next.
00:44:23
Chuku
Alright, I got you. Man, I'm starting 10 tools in my pick. I mean... Yo, I think MVP...
00:44:33
Chino Onwuka
I know who you're going pick for MVP. Let me guess. Aman Thompson.
00:44:38
Chuku
Ha, you got jokes. My MVP is the Canadian point guard that has been taking this lead by storm this last couple of years and has done it again, rallying the number one team and in the West in the toughest conference.
00:45:00
Chuku
He has been playing out of his mind. in terms of getting those buckets and collecting those W's.
00:45:14
Chuku
His name is Shea Gilgris SGA, to be exact. And Shea Gilgris Alexander, he's the guy that I just think, man, he amazing.
00:45:28
Chuku
special And I mean, I don't think I need to go on too much of a rant talk about how special he is. But this is someone that pretty much went almost the entire season not having a game with less than 20 points. Like, I don't think people understand the consistency this man put forth this year in terms of getting his buckets. And yeah, no, SGA has been amazing.
00:45:58
Chuku
He's been the shining light in OKC for some time. I just can't believe he's been... you know I honestly still can't believe he turned out to be this good. I mean, i remember I still remember when they made the deal for Paul George. And SG at the time was almost felt like a throw-on in that trade. And boy, oh boy, OKC knew what the hell they were doing. Because clearly, they...
00:46:26
Chuku
They had a lot of faith and a lot of belief. And this, again, this is I guess, on this but random tangent on this, but it goes back to show in terms of the Mavs deal earlier. This SGA, I mean, obviously, I mean, these are two guys at two different stages of their career, but...
00:46:50
Chuku
I still think it warrants a discussion in terms of you see what the haul Paul George got and how they were able to not only add the draft picks but a player like SGA as well in that deal.
00:47:05
Chuku
I'm saying how did the Mavs trade away Luka and rarely get any draft picks. Sure, you got AD, but you don't add the white boy assassin AR-16.
00:47:21
Chuku
How do you not get Reeves in that deal? It's just mind-boggling to understand. But regardless, not going to go too much on on that random tangent. And SGA, what a player, what a season.
00:47:37
Chuku
He's my pick for MVP.
00:47:40
Chino Onwuka
Hi, Emeka, rant away. I'm interested to hear what you're saying.
00:47:45
Emeka
I want to start off this rant because I'm going to disrespect him throughout it by saying Nikola Jokic is by far the best player in the league. This man is average 30, 13, and 10, 58% shooting, 40% from three while taking all these heaves.
00:48:02
Emeka
He's fantastic. I love Jokic. So what I'm about to say next is by no means a slight to him. But I am sadly turning 30 in a month. I'm watching basketball since I had memories. 20 plus years I've watched basketball.
00:48:18
Emeka
The MVP award has never met the best player in the league. It's always been, and the yes, is the criteria can change once in a while, but 99% of the time, it's who is the best player on the best team.
00:48:32
Emeka
And if not the best team, at the very least, a top three team in the league. It's always been this. Always, always, always been this. Like you said, if it was the best player award, MJ would have 12, LeBron would have 10.
00:48:46
Emeka
you just it would be completely different. So why have we decided that for all players, it's now Jokic that we're changing the whole thing for? Literally last year.
00:49:00
Emeka
Jokic won MVP over Luka Doncic because his team was better than Luka's team. You can tell me all about better. Pull up Luka's stats last year. They were as good, if not better, than Jokic's.
00:49:12
Emeka
But the argument I kept here and I agreed with was Jokic's team is essentially tied for the first seed. Luka is barely above the play-in. Jokic should win MVP. I was cool with it.
00:49:23
Emeka
That's a fair argument. but Then the next year comes and Shea Gilders Alexander wins 18 more games than Denver. This isn't just a one seed versus a four seed. This is 18 more games than Denver.
00:49:37
Emeka
And everyone's not talking about the OKC supporting cast. They have a very good supporting cast. so the Denver Nuggets have at least five good players. know why know this? Because they won a chip two years ago.
00:49:49
Emeka
Like, the way people have been slandering the Nuggets players, you would never believe they won a chip two years ago. you and I was hearing them in the offseason talk about they were a dynasty. Now, all a sudden, two years later, they're scrubs because they lost KCP.
00:50:02
Emeka
Man, what you can tell you, can't make a fucking three for the Magic this season. But because they lost him, all of a sudden now, they're garbage. They're the Nuggets joke team. You just put them on his back. I don't want to hear it.
00:50:14
Emeka
SGA is by far. This isn't a KD Curry Warriors thing. He is by far the best player on the Thunder. By far. Carrying this team to 68 wins.
00:50:27
Emeka
his His Robin is J-Dub. Great player. You tell me if I put J-Dub on the Nuggets, he's better than Jamal Murray? His quote-unquote second guy you think, Chet, missed 50 games this year.
00:50:40
Emeka
50 games Chet missed. Hardenstein, who's going got to be his backup, he also missed like 30 games. People forget there was like a two-week stretch. The Thunder didn't have a center. They were playing six, seven guys, Lou Dort at center.
00:50:52
Emeka
You wouldn't notice why, because SGA kept us putting 35 a game, every game, consistently. Like my brother Chukwu said, He does not score below 20. And i love SGA because he's not a guy who will give you like 61 game and then 15 and then twelve bla blah, blah, blah.
00:51:09
Emeka
It's 30 to 35 every single night. Consistency. on this on fuel On efficiency we haven't seen since literally Michael Jordan. Like people don't realize this SGA season is essentially...
00:51:23
Emeka
As boss was to say this, this is a prime Michael Jordan season. Essentially, we're watching the NBA right now. A mid-range assassin. You can't stay in front of him. Bucket getter. And oh yeah, plays defense.
00:51:36
Emeka
Because Jokic this year is garbage on defense. And one will talk about it. And fair enough, because he's carrying the boys on offense. But there's a reason why Denver has took a step back. Because if you looked at it...
00:51:47
Emeka
This year, Jokic has by far the worst rim protection stats of his like last five years because he's doing so much on offense. He's just letting managers get layup lines against the Nuggets. SGA, yeah, he's not Lou Doherty. He's the best defender on the Thunder.
00:51:59
Emeka
But he's top three. At the very least, he's a good defender. and Give him a 33 a game. And all those advanced stats that I i don't know much about. But what I'm reading, a lot of the advanced stats, SGA is even better than Jokic in them.
00:52:13
Emeka
This should be an 89. He should win this award by far. And he's probably going to because the Vegas line is literally minus 20,000.
00:52:24
Emeka
So, yeah, he's probably going to win. But I'm getting this rant because I've been hearing all the Bill Simmons and all these guys who, if you go through their voting history, would have knocked guys previously. Bill Simmons, I want to rant on him.
00:52:37
Emeka
Last year, he explicitly said he could not vote for Giannis for MVP because his coach got fired. Last I checked, Demi Nuggets coach got fired. he's But Jokic is MVP vote.
00:52:50
Emeka
It's just all these criterias I've read and I've watched basketball for so long. Everyone always acknowledged, yeah, MVP is not the best player. i mean I'm sure people have this idea, but I'm giving it Rachel Nichols because hear from her.
00:53:02
Emeka
Rachel Nichols always says, There should be an MVP award, and there should be a most outstanding player award. And that award is just who's the best player in the league. Simple question. Who's the best in the league? Whatever. When LeBron ties, even named him the LeBron James Award.
00:53:14
Emeka
Who's the best player in the league? We don't have that award. We have an award that has a 75-plus year history. And throughout that history, it's always been who is the best player on the best team.
00:53:25
Emeka
That is unquestionably SGA. And give my brother his MVP. Rant over.
00:53:32
Chino Onwuka
Nah, I ain't got nothing to say to you, Ran. I agree and understand a lot of your points. you know As to your fact, I think what's happening is we're seeing the the the voting behavior change because we're seeing a lot of the voters change. I think there was a previous old school mentality about how MVP was voted for and it was very narrative based and there was a thing where they didn't want the same person winning it too many times or you know you you you touched on it.
00:54:07
Chino Onwuka
Jordan should have 12 MVPs, LeBron should have way more than he does. Shaq should have way more than he does. But I think it became a thing where, okay, MJ won so many MVPs so we can only give so many other people, so many MVPs because we're were so we can't have somebody equal to LeBron, to Jordan, I mean. And what's happening is a lot of the the voters have changed, voter education has changed because there's more advanced stats and things out there. So that's why we've seen some some winners that have gone against the trend start to win more recently. So,
00:54:43
Chino Onwuka
So you make a good point because I think now they they pay a lot more attention to advanced stats where they're trying to deem who's more valuable. And that's why Jokic has won it in previous years. But like you said, you know if you look at the advanced stats, SGA tops the list in a lot of those metrics. So SGA
00:55:03
Chino Onwuka
will win MVP in my opinion. My thing just goes back to... Yes, 99% of the time, it's the best player on the best team. It's not who's the best player in the and NBA, but the way I was thinking about it is most valuable player.
00:55:21
Chino Onwuka
And I just think just just because of the... Yes, SGA carried the team. I just think the carry job that Jokic had to do is just...
00:55:32
Chino Onwuka
really noteworthy and the efficiency I do, but yeah, like again, I'm really looking forward to SGA winning the award.
00:55:40
Chino Onwuka
Really looking forward.
00:55:40
Emeka
I love you, Jokic. If you hear that rant, I have no disrespect against you. You're the best player in the league. I love Jokic. Maybe because it's Canadian, but I don't know. me It's just something about hearing all the narrative, and I'm like, this is not what you were saying three years ago.
00:55:53
Emeka
I get what you're saying, a different voting class, but...
00:55:55
Chino Onwuka
There is lot of flip-flopping going on when it suits them.
00:55:56
Emeka
The flip-flopping is crazy.
00:56:01
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, when it suits them. So, no, fair enough. Okay, so those are all our award winners. would be cool to come back in and compare them to to who actually wins those awards. But, guys, if you're listening, you know, see if who wins the awards. see See the names that we called out, and I think we're going to do pretty good.
00:56:20
Chino Onwuka
on our thoughts for, for the award winners. Now we're going to go into, going to move from the regular season into playoffs.
00:56:31
Chino Onwuka
You
Eastern Conference Playoff Predictions
00:56:31
Chino Onwuka
know, looking at the time where we are, know, mountain time, play-ins are over. All the series are set. We know who's going to play who.
00:56:41
Chino Onwuka
So just because of time, because I think we can spend 30 minutes on each series really. And maybe one day, you know, when this is in our when we when this maybe hopefully becomes our day job, we can spend you know an hour breaking down each series.
00:56:58
Chino Onwuka
What I'm gonna do is everyone's gonna start off listing, we'll go through each series, give me your winner and how many games, and at the end, after we've all given our predictions, then we'll touch on the ones that we really wanna discuss, challenge, you know critique, or look into why we've said what we've said.
00:57:19
Chino Onwuka
So we're going to do it that way. We're going to start with the Eastern Conference. And so we're just going to go round and round and pick our winners and how many games. So we're going to start with Cavs.
00:57:36
Chino Onwuka
Cavs versus heat.
00:57:39
Chino Onwuka
I'm going to go first. Cavs versus heat. I'm going to go Cavs winning four zero
00:57:47
Chino Onwuka
Chico we got
00:57:51
Chuku
Cubs 4-1. cus for one
00:57:54
Chino Onwuka
Okay, I'm Kazim back, okay, all right Boston Orlando I feel like someone's gonna want to talk about this one Boston Orlando
00:57:59
Emeka
Caps in five.
00:58:12
Chino Onwuka
401 Boston. Boston.
00:58:17
Chino Onwuka
ah mecca
00:58:19
Emeka
Boston loves to give a game away. So I want to say sweep out of respect to my brother. I'm going to say five as well. count i mean, Boston in five.
00:58:30
Chuku
The disrespect, man. All I gotta say is you're gonna be in for a hell of a series. Boston's still gonna probably edge us, but I'll say Boston in seven.
00:58:42
Chino Onwuka
okay all right next series we got next versus detroit i think this one could be good i'm going next for two
00:58:53
Chino Onwuka
chukwu
00:58:54
Emeka
I'll go. oh you can go.
00:58:56
Chuku
Yeah, i don't know, man. I think this might shock a lot, people. But I got Pistons
00:59:09
Chino Onwuka
Wow.
00:59:11
Emeka
I like it.
00:59:11
Chino Onwuka
Okay. All
00:59:11
Emeka
I like it. i like it. I really wanted to do the same.
00:59:18
Chuku
I just think Pistons are a deeper team, man.
00:59:18
Emeka
but just think this time.
00:59:20
Chuku
just think they're a deeper team. And I think this is... This is a bad matchup for the Knicks to to want to play. These boys, with the way Cade is going to eat up Brunson, they're going to have to
00:59:32
Chino Onwuka
right, Chukwu, we're gonna, just because of time, let's get through, weekend and we'll come back if you really wanna talk about this series.
00:59:38
Chuku
right. All good.
00:59:41
Emeka
Nixon 7 Nixon
00:59:43
Chino Onwuka
makes it so All right, we we're definitely have to talk about this one then because this has been our most competitive series in the East so far. Okay, box pacers. Now, this is going to be spicy.
00:59:57
Chino Onwuka
And Emeka, I know you're really looking forward to this one, so i'm gonna have you go first.
00:59:58
Emeka
Nixon I really wish i had a doctor who could tell me, is Dame going to play? I don't think he's going to play, I'm going to say Pacers in seven. well We'll talk about it later, but yeah, that's where I'm at.
01:00:13
Emeka
Pacers in seven.
01:00:13
Chino Onwuka
Oh, okay, Chukwu.
01:00:17
Chuku
Giannis is the best player in that matchup. Bucks in six
01:00:23
Chino Onwuka
That is really interesting because I want to, mean, we'll talk about this later, but you didn't use the same logic for the Pistons, but...
01:00:36
Chino Onwuka
Okay, let's see. Yeah, the I know Dame isn't going to be there to start the series. You have this thing with
01:00:45
Chino Onwuka
Milwaukee where they have players hurt and it's always or players going to come back in time. It's a tough one to call. i will go Bucks 4-3. Bucks four three but four three Okay, next we will move on to the Western Conference.
01:01:07
Chino Onwuka
We got
Western Conference Playoff Predictions
01:01:08
Chino Onwuka
OKC versus Memphis. I think this will be a good series, a nice good 4-1 series for OKC.
01:01:20
Chino Onwuka
Chukwu.
01:01:22
Chuku
OKC in five. It's easy buckets, easy money. So I don't know. But yeah, OKC. OKC in five.
01:01:32
Emeka
but Thunder in four.
01:01:32
Chino Onwuka
Oh, you
01:01:33
Emeka
Yeah. They're not losing the Grizzlies.
01:01:37
Chino Onwuka
got a sweet. We got a sweet. We got a sweet. Okay. Next one. We got Houston Golden State. I think this is going to be a good one. I am going.
01:01:51
Chino Onwuka
man. I'm I'm going in Golden State in seven.
01:01:56
Chino Onwuka
going Golden State in seven. I want Houston to win. I want Houston to win, but I think Golden State in seven. My first upset. Okay. Chukwu.
01:02:06
Chuku
He said Golden State's in seven.
01:02:09
Chino Onwuka
I did, yes. i know i know I know a man is placed for Houston. I'm sorry. But, yeah.
01:02:15
Emeka
met Thompson four.
01:02:16
Chuku
That's crazy, man.
01:02:17
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
01:02:19
Chuku
That's crazy. But yeah, nah, give me Houston. and Houston in five. sit five
01:02:26
Emeka
Oh, wow. I thought I was going to be the most high. can be right together. Houston at six.
01:02:33
Chuku
This is disgusting. Like, what? You you disrespected Emei Uduka. But anyways, you have your reasons. You still think, guess, the Warriors got something in tank. But, all right.
01:02:45
Chuku
Fair play.
01:02:46
Chino Onwuka
I will speak now, but I have to hold on.
01:02:46
Chuku
But, yeah, Houston will be done.
01:02:48
Chino Onwuka
have to keep my word. we'll We'll talk about the ones you want to talk about later. Okay. All right. That one seems spicy as well. This is Lakers, Minnesota.
01:03:02
Chino Onwuka
You know, Timberwolves, Gabaguls, Direwolves, Lakers in six.
01:03:12
Emeka
Ant-Man, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Lakers in 5.
01:03:21
Chino Onwuka
Can
01:03:23
Chuku
Lakers in five. Let's just keep it a buck. Come on. liers Lakers in five.
01:03:30
Chino Onwuka
I ask you a question Chukwu?
01:03:32
Chuku
Go ahead.
01:03:33
Chino Onwuka
And be honest, when you're trying to think of your own to say and nothing came to you and you just went Lakers and five.
01:03:38
Chuku
No, I didn't, wouldn't bother to think about you, I didn't know.
01:03:40
Chino Onwuka
Okay. Because I was thinking and and what I came up with was pretty ass. So I get why you wouldn't have tried what I did.
01:03:48
Emeka
I recycled mine. I don't care.
01:03:50
Chino Onwuka
Yeah. Okay. All right. Nuggets versus is the Clippers. I think this one, yeah, 4-5 series. This one could be pretty good. i will go Denver in 6. Emeka?
01:04:05
Chino Onwuka
Emeka?
01:04:07
Emeka
This is my hardest series to pick. So I'm just going to go Nuggets in seven.
01:04:12
Chino Onwuka
Thank chiku
01:04:15
Chuku
damn. Yeah, I'll go. this is This is definitely a tough one because, man, I really like both teams.
01:04:25
Chuku
Man, it'll be so weird to see Jokic losing the first round. I'll give Nuggets in seven. Nuggets in seven. Yeah. I gotta stick with Nuggets, man.
01:04:37
Chino Onwuka
oh Okay, so we're an hour in. I'm to keep it a buck. the The series that it looks like we need to talk about, you know, the one with a lot of different views are Knicks Pistons,
01:04:52
Chuku
All right.
01:04:56
Chino Onwuka
Houston Warriors,
01:05:00
Chino Onwuka
And those are those are the first two to talk about for sure because you you have different votes different votes for that one.
01:05:09
Emeka
Buck's place is disrespectful.
01:05:11
Chino Onwuka
Bucks Pacers as well, so I'm just trying to read through read through all all the votes. So yeah, so right now the ones with different views are again, Knicks Pistons, Bucks Pacers, and Golden State versus Houston. So we're going to start with Knicks versus Pistons. So Chukwu, you are the dissenting view.
01:05:37
Chino Onwuka
Why do you think Pistons are going to win? I know you started off last time.
01:05:42
Chuku
So I know you wanted to come and mention to me about my pick of Milwaukee and mentioning that they had the best player Giannis. But see, the issue is in that series, my belief in Giannis being the best player is that he's by far the best player in terms of it's not even close, in my opinion, with who they got on the other side with Tyrese and Siakam.
01:06:09
Chuku
So that's why I can go off the belief. Giannis alone should be enough, in my opinion, to carry the Bucs without Dame in this series against <unk> the Pacers.
01:06:23
Chuku
Now, to your question, why I select Detroit in this, knowing that on paper, the Knicks probably have the bigger names, per but Detroit...
01:06:40
Chuku
for me, have a better team. See, New York sacrificed a lot to get that starting five that they have going, and their bench leaves very much to be desired at the moment, even to the point or to the tune of the reports of starters complaining about the minutes that they were even playing to get through the regular season.
01:07:06
Chuku
Now, I understand, you know, playoff time comes... Benches get shorter, know I'm saying? and And, you know, you're more heavily reliant on your main players, right, to come up big for you in in these playoff games.
01:07:21
Chuku
However, I just think with Detroit, you have a series of players that can come in and change a game in terms of you never know who's going to have the hot hand We just talked about Malik Beasley, who has been, you know, in some people's eyes, their number one pick for six men of the year.
01:07:44
Chuku
We've talked about the improvements that Cade Cunningham has shown, you know, since his rookie year up until now. I mean, I've been talking about Arvin Thompson, but we all know about his twin, Osar, who has been playing just as well and doing is his thing in Detroit. And in in his own right, he's a freakishly athletic, you know, talent that plays both and ends of the court.
01:08:15
Chuku
And, you know, I just think the Detroit have the makings of a very well-rounded team. They seem to have, know, cut, hit stride at the right time.
01:08:27
Chuku
You know, they're quote they're being coached phenomenally. Like, they're very well tough. defensive team, and I think that their size in terms of the guard position going against Jalen Brunson, I feel like you know that's going to help. And if they can get Kat in foul trouble, which we're not going to say he's immune to to you know and immune to not in those type of scenarios or situations, it could be a pretty long day.
01:08:59
Chuku
It could be a long day for the Knicks. And I just think Detroit, for the most part, match up really well. And they're going to be able to give the Knicks a run for their money. That's my my thoughts on it. So it's going be a very interesting matchup.
01:09:15
Chuku
very don I'm going to be very you know happy to get to see Detroit with the team they got and see what know where they stack up amongst the the the the rest of the East.
01:09:31
Chuku
in a playoff setting, but I definitely think Detroit would be able to do more than more than enough to hold their own, and I think they can surprise some people and make some noise in the playoffs.
01:09:42
Chino Onwuka
of Your fair point, you know i see your points of view, but, you know, if I was to, you know, give a rebuttal to some of those comments, you know, I think, you know, what you talked about depth, you know, in a way, playoffs is the arena in which depth doesn't matter as much, at least depth to a certain a certain level, because usually once you get into the heat of things in the playoffs, you really only have eight-man rotations anyway, so...
01:10:12
Chino Onwuka
I don't see depth being that big of an issue in the first round. Now, new York Knicks, their team that went to the the conference finals last year, and they added Macau Bridges on top of that. So seeing if if this was maybe the second round or third round, you know, the minutes are starting to wear on them.
01:10:31
Chino Onwuka
You know, I can see it being an issue, but you know, you've got killer starting five lineup. You know, there's team that went to the conference championships that, that added Mikael Bridges on top of that, you know, they have a lot of playoff experience with Detroit doesn't, you know, i I think we're giving Detroit their flowers by saying it's going be four two. I just think, you know, Detroit has a long way to go. I i personally think this is two.
01:10:58
Chino Onwuka
It's their first year in the playoffs. So, you know, there's going to be some growing pains there, but I just think as talented as they are, you know, even with all those things you mentioned, I think, you know, Knicks are just goingnna have too much for them.
01:11:11
Chino Onwuka
Emeka, do you have anything to...
01:11:13
Emeka
the
01:11:13
Chino Onwuka
What's your view on that?
01:11:15
Emeka
See, big market bias. I was going on this slide the first time. Twice you said the Knicks made the conference finals last year. They got bounced by the Pacers.
01:11:23
Chino Onwuka
They didn't make the conference finals last year?
01:11:24
Emeka
They did not beat the conference finals. The Pacers beat them. It was Pacers-Celtics.
01:11:27
Chino Onwuka
Oh, man. Oh, man.
01:11:30
Emeka
Big market bias. That's what I'm saying. Chukwu's braver than me. I really wanted to pick... the Pistons. But what it came down to it, tried and shoot Axiom, always picked the best player in the series, played off Brunson,
01:11:46
Emeka
I have respect to playoff Brunson. I give a Knicks in seven, but I agree everything Chukwu said. Like, no that for me is what it is. Even starting five on starting five, the Knicks lost some of their identity by giving up all these grinders for Cat. I love Cat, but in the playoffs, he fouls too much.
01:12:05
Emeka
And if you really rely on him to be your big, I can see a world where Jordan and Beef Stew, what rough him up a little bit. Cade can match Brunson and then just come down to shooters. And I love OG. I love Mikael Bridges.
01:12:20
Emeka
look I'm picking Malik Boosley and Tobias Harris and they can match them. There's easily a world where all these guys match each other and The Pistons are gonna make this a series. I really do believe that but when it just came down to it I just out of respect to pull off Brunson I just I just lean towards the Knicks but I really am looking so forward to this and you know we're young teams always a risk that they just the lights are too bright. That's fair I just, I see something in the Pistons.
01:12:51
Emeka
Pistons crowds are going to be rocking as well. That's all I know as well. They need this win. So I look forward to this series a lot. That's all I can say.
01:13:01
Chino Onwuka
not Fair enough. you know I think I got, you know terms of points of view, I got outvoted on this one and I respect Joe's view. So yeah, really really looking forward to that.
01:13:10
Emeka
I mean, I still picked the Knicks. little wrong I still picked the Knicks.
01:13:13
Chino Onwuka
At least she like you you you you agree with a lot of the the reasons. i You guys feel it's going to be You guys think Pistons gonna do better than I think they'll do.
01:13:26
Chino Onwuka
And I feel like I'm giving Pistons a lot of love.
01:13:27
Emeka
Yeah, sir. It
01:13:29
Chino Onwuka
So I respect that. So fair enough, fair enough. Okay, we're gonna jump over to the West. We're gonna talk Warriors Rockets. So the dissenting view was, if I go back to our nifty little table
01:13:44
Emeka
was you. we You picked Warriors in seven?
01:13:47
Chino Onwuka
here. I have the dissenting view. i So when the trade deadline happened and Jimmy Butler got traded to the Warriors, we just thought it was was
01:14:03
Chino Onwuka
a dying shot in the dark, you know, a gamble that was not going to pay off for the Warriors. We all said here that, yeah, Warriors aren't doing anything this season. Jimmy Butler's passed it.
01:14:17
Chino Onwuka
You know, he's not going to...
01:14:20
Chino Onwuka
I at least will say got proven very, very wrong. Jimmy Butler came in You know, we've talked about, you know, Steph's been Steph. Draymond's been the candidate for defensive player of the year, but Jimmy Butler really breathed some life into that team.
01:14:38
Chino Onwuka
So now you have a case where he looks like he still got, you know, that beast within him. So now you have... Steph Curry, who's Steph Curry. We see what he just did in the Olympics. We see what we can do when he has help.
01:14:55
Chino Onwuka
Draymond, as long as he can keep his wits about him. And you've got playoff play of Jimmy, not playoff P. He's on the bench. He's in
Knicks vs. Pistons Series Analysis
01:15:04
Chino Onwuka
Cancun. You've got playoff Jimmy, who has a lot to prove and who's relishing.
01:15:10
Chino Onwuka
having a better player beside him and he can slot perfectly in where he needs to be as your, your second best player, not the guy leading the team. So I think that's a really dangerous combination.
01:15:23
Chino Onwuka
I think Houston's a great team, but I think, I just can't count against the combination of those three together. So I would love Houston to win. I just think about all the experience, all the scar tissue that Warriors team has, you know, Houston was a lot better the regular season, but you know, there's still a lot of questions as to how well they can score. They're really going to have lean in on defense in this one, how well they can score.
01:15:51
Chino Onwuka
yeah, you know i wonder if the Warriors, with their know-how, are just going be able to negate a lot of their top players. Can you have Draymond lock up and just focus on you know his his favorite type of player to go against with
01:16:12
Emeka
Thank you.
01:16:13
Chino Onwuka
Shangoon? Then you can put Jimmy Butler on. Jalen Green, we know how hot and cold Jalen Green can be, and that those are their two big areas of scoring.
01:16:24
Chino Onwuka
And then if if you're sort of locking them up, then you're relying on those other guys to try and keep up with Steph on offense. you know do you Do you put Amman on Steph and try to wear Steph down? So you know we have two great coaches, two of the best coaches in the league.
01:16:40
Chino Onwuka
You have a really veteran team, a really young team. So I think this is Probably one of the best contrast of styles. So I just think just that that scar tissue is it's just gonna be enough to to take the Warriors over the edge. If it was any other team, I would probably still give Houston the benefit of the doubt, but I don't know, i just have this feeling within me, but you know I'm sure you guys have other views on this.
01:17:08
Chino Onwuka
I don't know who wants to go first.
01:17:10
Chino Onwuka
I've definitely known Chuka's views on this. I don't know, yeah.
01:17:13
Emeka
Hey, and for once, I agree fully with my brother's views on Alman Thompson. He's going to put Curry. Obviously, Curry's going to get his, but he's going to fight for his.
01:17:27
Emeka
And you guys have, I mean, you guys have done for a while. You could do it my entire life. But we've been in group chats for you know a very, very long time now. And I have a list of phrases I say all the time. I think number one is probably OT, OT.
01:17:39
Emeka
I know much love when we go to OT whenever a game goes to overtime. But I think top three at least is my favorite, for UFC at least, the young eat the old. And this is what we're going to see in this series.
01:17:50
Emeka
The young, hungry Houston Rockets are going to out-muscle, out-work, out-rebound, out-physical everything. Golden State. It hit me when I was watching the Golden State-Memphis play-in game.
01:18:04
Emeka
Golden State start and play a lot of guys who don't really score. Like, you're going to get the odd Brian Pujanski game where makes like seven threes. You're going to get more games when he makes one or two and he goes two for five, two for 20. Like, you're going to get moody game where he gives you like 15, but you're going to get a lot where he disappears and gives you like four.
01:18:22
Emeka
They obviously play Draymond Green. but He's not giving you 10. They rely on guys that quit in post. Santos, like the Golden State Warriors, this isn't your your dad's Golden State Warriors team. Now, obviously they have the chef and his butler.
01:18:35
Emeka
Two stars. The two best players in the series. i You could tell me Houston has players 3 to 10. And I wouldn't be that mad at it. They're just so deep, so talented.
01:18:48
Emeka
And for yeah we've been having them up all podcast. going to hype them up even him more again. They have the best defender for Steph Curry in the league. Ahmed Thompson is so athletic. He can navigate the screens and he can just make life miserable for him.
01:19:02
Emeka
And what I love about how Houston play is perfect for the playoffs. They just have decided we're going to foul every single time and we're going to dare the refs to call it. day If you watch when they play in the regular season, I noticed it.
01:19:16
Emeka
But when you watch this series, I want people watching at home to look at how they guard Curry when he's off the ball. They're going to be molesting this man all series long, just grabbing ahold of him. And you mentioned it, Jermon's favorite type of big man to you know mess around with is white Euro bigs.
01:19:32
Emeka
What love about Shang-Goon is that he's not a soft guy. He throws his body in there. He's going to bang with Draymond. And Draymond's going to get in foul trouble. And if Draymond's in foul trouble, the Warriors have no defense.
01:19:42
Emeka
And unlike Zach Eadie, my Canadian, Shang-Goon can catch a ball, he can pass the ball, and he can finish inside. And I'm expecting to have a big series this game.
01:19:53
Emeka
And huh I'm not five. Five is alive. can see it, though. But I just think... Take out the names. Houston are just a much better team. And I'm with it, man. I think the fact that this Houston team finished second in the crazy West should tell you a lot. Now, the half-court offense isn't the best.
01:20:14
Emeka
That could be how the Warriors win. If the games are close, I'll pick the Warriors just because I trust two guys in Houston more than... I mean, Golden to the State more than I trust anyone in Houston in crunch time.
01:20:25
Emeka
But I wouldn't be shocked if a lot of these games are are not close in the end. They're blowouts because... The young and hungry Rockets. like Jabari Smith is coming off the bench.
01:20:35
Emeka
This is top three pick. just have god They just have so much depth and talent. They can play eight deep of eight guys who, as my manager on rules like to say, how many people on your team can do two of pass, dribble, and shoot?
01:20:48
Emeka
Everyone on the Rockets can do two at least. Even guys like Tariq Easton. You see him come in and you think he's just sort of a bruising athletic guy. He's hitting threes. I am high on the Rockets.
01:21:00
Emeka
And I'm with my brother Chukwu on this. Rockets in six. Let's go.
01:21:04
Chino Onwuka
sure The floor is yours.
01:21:06
Chuku
All I got to to what my brother has just so eloquently described and explained is when we watch this series, you're going to see why one team finished second in the West and the other team had to get through in the play-ins.
01:21:28
Chuku
That's all I got to say. Houston... ah i would be I would be shocked, honestly speaking, if you still have to if the Warriors take this to six. I would be pleasantly shocked. Because for as great as Stephen Curry is, for as great as the Warriors have been, this ain't your same old usual Warriors.
01:21:53
Chuku
And this is not the same old Houston Rockets. This is bona fide team. that has talent oozing out of their jersey.
01:22:11
Chuku
They literally had a top three pick who did not even play for shit this year, bro. would They didn't even need him. That's how talented and deep this Houston Rockets team are.
01:22:28
Chuku
And like i said, like, you know, when When we watch this matchup, I just want to just want you to remember, we're watching. There's a reason why Rockets finish second and the Warriors just buy us to get it together in the play-ins. You know, scraping, getting through with, obviously, with the addition of Jimmy Butler, which is great and all, but I do recall mentioning that I was not by any way, shape, or form moved by that addition.
01:23:01
Chuku
just think... a good for Jimmy to be playing ball again. should be playing ball for as much as he can because we know he ain't got a you know he ain't got too many more years left in his career before he's probably going to call it quits.
01:23:15
Chuku
And, you know, playoff Jimmy is a thing. I'm sure it is. You know, Stephen Curry. Again, it's another matchup where obviously the best player plays on the Golden State Warriors. But the problem is that best player is playing on the worst team.
01:23:30
Chuku
Between both teams. And it's going to show. i just think the class, the golfing quality amongst not just the starting lineup, but from 1 to 8, 1 to 10, is going to show.
01:23:45
Chuku
And yeah, Houston. I mean, I got Houston 5. And I mean, probably wanted to go Houston sweep. But you know, just said, let me just give Wooden State Warriors at least some respect.
01:23:56
Chino Onwuka
Hey, hey, hey, hey, look, sit with your chest.
01:23:58
Chuku
Some respect.
01:24:01
Chino Onwuka
Sweet.
01:24:02
Chuku
No, no, no, no, no. Like I said, I'm giving you my layout.
01:24:03
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
01:24:05
Chuku
I'm explaining. Part of me did want to go there, but I said let me give out of pure respect because there's – oh, you can never account for a Stephen Curry game where he goes ballistics, you know, goes 10 of 11 from three.
01:24:08
Chino Onwuka
yeah
01:24:21
Chuku
Anything is possible with this guy, right? Anything is possible. But I'm just saying, putting that aside, this should be a comfortable
Playoff Concerns and Anticipated Matchups
01:24:30
Chuku
beating – I believe Houston is going to be winning the majority of their games in this matchup. And, yeah, they got the best Steph Curry defender in Amon Thompson. I mean, my brother said it the best. Like, this dude is going to maybe not stop Curry, but damn sure going to make his life a living hell trying to get buckets. And, you know, obviously we still expect Curry to do his thing, but I can promise you,
01:25:00
Chuku
It won't shock me if his averages come a little bit down this matchup because, again, there's going to be some young legs chasing that that and not curry around. And, yeah, it's going to make for a very entertaining basketball for me.
01:25:16
Chuku
I know I'm going to enjoy it, and I stand on it. Houston in five. Houston in five.
01:25:23
Chino Onwuka
Okay, okay, there we have it. All right, Emeka, now i'm going to quickly give you the floor to to discuss what you want to about Buckspacers.
01:25:32
Emeka
I mean, I said, i really wish I had a doctor. don't know much. I do know blood clots are very scary. And when Dame had his, i my brain just went, he's done for the season. Like, damn.
01:25:45
Emeka
Rest up, Dame. The fact that I'm reading reports, he's getting cleared and coming back. I read a lot of people's articles about it, and every medical professional they talked to said...
01:25:56
Emeka
Blood clots are a two to three month injury. He got diagnosed March 12th. So about a month ago, they said this is entirely unprecedented. In fairness, Dame has a million billion dollar organization monitoring his health every day.
01:26:10
Emeka
Civilians don't get m MRI checks every single day. So they're going to see if a blood clot's forming. I just hope he's healthy. I like this game aside. I really hope nothing goes wrong.
01:26:21
Emeka
If you told me Dane was healthy game one and they played, I could lean the Bucs. But because of that little thing alone, I got to go with the Pacers. like It's funny how you're not only person who just automatically just think the Knicks made the conference finals last year. It's their brainer. It's what made sense.
01:26:39
Emeka
The Pacers beat them last year. The Pacers are for real. Halliburton, he can go between looking like the best player on the court and looking like a scrub. I wish he could figure that out a little bit more.
01:26:51
Emeka
But the talent on this team, and I just love that there's a little bit of a rivalry between the Bucs and the Pacers. Obviously, Giannis scares me, and I can see a scenario where Giannis just goes supernova and drags the Bucs to the win.
01:27:05
Emeka
But if Dame is, i I'm not hearing what I'm seeing from what Dame is happening. I got to go with... With the team that beat them last year and and got even better this year, the Indiana Pacers are going to but I've got give it to the Pacers, man. Pacers in seventh.
01:27:26
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, like I was surprised when I heard that there was a chance he might be back by the end of the season. I don't know. you know Looking at some of the other guys that have had blocked odds and the timelines they've had, you know like you, I thought, you know especially considering how late into the season he got his, I thought it might even be tough for him to get back you know beginning of next season. but Hey, I hope he's listening to the medical experts. I hope he's being smart about this. I know he wants to be back for his boys, but you know first and foremost, we know we all love sports, but we want guys to be healthy and to live good, long, fulfilling lives even after their careers. So yeah, praying for him, praying for the best for him.
01:28:06
Chino Onwuka
But okay, what we're gonna do now, I'm gonna give each of you a chance to, to tell me the series that you are most looking forward to Chukwu what series are you most looking forward to
01:28:22
Chuku
I mean, it's definitely bias, and you should know where I'm going with this. But, hey, everyone writing this off. i love I love to see it. But I'm going for Orlando-Boston. I really do think it's going to be a closer matchup than people think.
01:28:41
Chuku
I mean, I wish we were fully healthy with everyone you know on deck, but fortunately we're not. But that says the point, even with the the guys we got, I still think we have enough talent on the court. I mean, we don't we don't play the prettiest basketball. like We're still one of the worst. I think we're still the worst three-point shooting team out there with the addition of a KCP that I thought initially would help. But, I mean, this year it's been a tough watch. It's been a tough watch.
01:29:14
Chuku
But, Damn, it's like, yo, we are one of the better better defensive teams in the league. We defend the three-point shots, top three best in the league, and Boston is a team that likes to shoot a lot threes. I just think we are a team that's built to play against a team like Boston.
01:29:36
Chuku
We just saw up as our best players happen to be perimeter, you know, bigger, know, point forwards, and... that matches up well with what Celtics got going on with their point forwards. And, you know, if, if, if things can align for us on the offensive end, and we just get, you know, the production we've been getting from Cole Anthony, which has been immense, if he can continue that and, you know,
01:30:03
Chuku
Franz can never just find his shooting truth in touch, which was missing during the playing tournament and has been missing towards any of us the end of the season. He needs to find that shooting range again.
01:30:15
Chuku
i really do think we have a chance to make some noise. Ultimately, I don't think it'll be enough, as I still predicted Boston to win in seven, but I just think it's going to be a closer matchup than people think, and I just don't think it's going to be and easy sweep or a gentleman sweep. So,
01:30:32
Chuku
That'll be my matchup I'm keeping an eye on. And if I'm going to remove my Orlando bias as well from this, just to give a little shout-out.
01:30:39
Chino Onwuka
No, no, no, no, you just get one.
01:30:40
Chuku
All
01:30:41
Chino Onwuka
You just get one. Just looking at time. So, well for just quickly name the other ones you're interested in and then we'll just move on.
01:30:44
Chuku
right.
01:30:51
Chuku
Yeah, we're just going to be the Houston houston series. Just seeing...
01:30:55
Chino Onwuka
Okay.
01:30:56
Chuku
That was it.
01:30:56
Chino Onwuka
and And we've we've spoken about that one.
01:30:59
Chuku
Exactly.
01:30:59
Chino Onwuka
Okay.
Players' Championship Deservability
01:30:59
Chino Onwuka
For me, I think, you know, we've talked about
01:31:00
Chuku
but
01:31:03
Chino Onwuka
you know, some of the ones we advised, not because I think it's the closest, but the one i'm most excited to watch, which I think will still be a good series, is Lakers-Minnesota. I think it's going to be real exciting to seeing LeBron and Luka together, you know, on the playoff stage. And, you know, on the other side, you know, Ant-Man, he's always exciting to watch. We saw him level up.
01:31:27
Chino Onwuka
In the playoffs last year, we saw him carry that into the regular season, and you know that he's going to be up for it. he He thinks he's the best player in that series, which is what we love. So, you know, having three alphas, you know, I think that one almost has the most star power.
01:31:43
Chino Onwuka
that That is the series that I'm looking forward to the most. Emeka.
01:31:50
Emeka
Even though it was Lakers in five, fully agree. I look forward to seeing Lakers wolves is where the Anthony Edwards is in a series.
01:32:01
Emeka
And I think he's the third most compelling guy, which is unbelievable because he's, you know, Anthony Edwards, Ant-Man obviously is LeBron. And I've said way too many things about LeBron to even go off. But come on, that my King has a chance to win a ring. I'm locked in.
01:32:16
Emeka
Believe that. But most importantly, Luka Doncic. the Honestly, if you look at the stats, I love it in hot take. The best playoff performer of his generation.
01:32:28
Emeka
is finally going into a series as the favorite. This is the first time in Luka's entire career he's entering a series as the favorite. And this a guy who's made NBA Finals and a Conference Finals in two separate years.
01:32:41
Emeka
I can't wait to see Luka cook people when he's got a running mate like LeBron and Austin Reeves and and dogs with him. You saw what happened when he got Kyrie last year. Yeah, get LeBron in there instead.
01:32:53
Emeka
I'm watching every Lakers play all game. That's all I can tell you about that. hope it is a lot of them. That's all I can say. hope it is a lot of them.
01:33:01
Chino Onwuka
No, a lot of that. That should be an exciting series and a lot of exciting times overall, the whole thing, the whole thing. I don't think there's going to be too many duds this year.
01:33:12
Chino Onwuka
Next, the question i want to ask is, you know and I really, you know, I think it's a really good question. A little bit different is which player who hasn't won a ring do we most want to see win a ring this run?
01:33:27
Chino Onwuka
I'm going to go first. Um, first.
01:33:30
Chino Onwuka
And my pick is going to work in two ways. The player that I i most want to win their first ring is Luca. You know, just considering everything, you know, that happened last year, he came close, he led an underdog team to the finals.
01:33:46
Chino Onwuka
The way the trade that happened, you know, having his foot cut underneath him. You know, I just think it would just be such... beautiful story if after all that if after all the stuff you know Nico Harrison said you know Lucas said oh yeah I am a winner championship on top your head and that would be amazing and it works double better for me because if Luca wins his first ring that means LaBrizzle LeBron gets another ring as well so It's all GG's there. So that's who I would most love to see win their first ring. The other guy, just because I love him as a player, and my fellow Canadian would be SGA.
01:34:31
Chino Onwuka
Chukwu, how about you?
01:34:33
Chuku
I think it's simply for the sake of point of seeing LeBron win another ring. It has to be Luka. I think Luka and the Lakers winning a ring would easily be my pick.
01:34:47
Chuku
Apart from obviously a bias of seeing Orlando win a ring with Paolo and France. But that's the point. But yeah, Luka. Luka would be the one.
01:34:57
Chino Onwuka
Okay.
01:34:58
Emeka
okay
01:34:59
Chino Onwuka
michael
01:34:59
Emeka
alright Okay. I'll say Luka, but the real answer is LeBron because LeBron, win like you said, LeBron wins if Luka wins. But I love Luka, and it'd be great if he won. he's i don't know. Maybe talk something about my earlier rant maybe changed my answer.
01:35:16
Emeka
SGA should win a ring this year. I don't think people, i one of those things where people don't respect regular season things until you win a ring. I don't think people going respect this Oklahoma City Thunder season if they don't win a ring this year.
01:35:29
Emeka
So for that alone, I want them to win a ring so that the record books can accurately reflect just how dominant this season was from SGA, but only from him, from the Thunder in general. 68 wins in this West, 54 double-digit wins, the best point differential in and NBA history.
01:35:47
Emeka
Again, you can do all these things. You don't win a ring. No one cares. So I really, really, truly hope they win a ring. Everyone shuts up and actually respect what they're seeing with their eyes from this season's Thunder Team and SGA in particular.
01:36:00
Chino Onwuka
You know, im likeca I think this is a real case of something you said before of, you know, not big market bias, but small market bias. Because if what the thunder have done if what Thunder did this year was done by a Boston or a Warriors or a Lakers, we would be hearing it on ESPN night and day.
01:36:20
Emeka
My brother, every second, we hear it.
01:36:21
Chino Onwuka
68 million times. it is no joke.
01:36:23
Emeka
but here
01:36:25
Chino Onwuka
like That needs to be respected regardless of what they do in the playoffs. There have been teams that won more than 68 games. There have been teams that won the record number of games that didn't win the championship and those teams are still remembered for for what they did and that they were great team that probably matched up against another great team.
01:36:34
Chuku
Thank you.
01:36:45
Chino Onwuka
So I think regardless, Thunder deserved their flowers. I think... You know, we didn't have time to do it today, but I think they the title favorites.
01:36:59
Chino Onwuka
They should be the title favorites. They're the team I have coming out of the West. I would have them over any team in the East as long as they can stay healthy. But, yeah, I think they deserve their flowers for whatever it is that they've done, and it would be really, really cool to – to see sga win a ring so with that that is all we have for you today thanks again for tuning with us you know i hope you are as excited about the playoffs as we are so looking forward to watching the games looking forward to recapping the games in the series and and chatting with y'all about it but you so much stuff to happen that we're going to try to get to in you know the next couple of episodes we have the nfl draft
01:37:41
Chino Onwuka
you know coming up next week. So we're going to do a little bit on that. you know for you know I'm sure you know with the NFL draft, you know everyone's so excited to see no who their team's going to pick to help them get to the next level, or some of the maybe the fantasy guys that to sort of start looking forward to and trying to maneuver to stash on your team.
01:38:00
Chino Onwuka
you know or maybe like who is this left guard that's coming from Missouri State? Can you tell me about him? We'll see what we can do. We'll see what we can do to help you out on that. So stay stay tuned for for some sort of some sort of NFL draft content as well. So, again, thanks for sticking with us. We will be back again to chat, discuss, hopefully not argue on another episode of The Love of the Game.