[00:00:00] We're in the Western Conference. Our is Monday, you know what time it is, is FRPC Hoops, I'm your guy Vince and we are doing the second part of the storylines and thoughts and questions.
[00:00:23] We're in the Western Conference and we're going to be doing that, but we have one thing to talk about before we get to all of that. And unfortunately, we have to bring up James Harden.
[00:00:40] According to Sam Sharanya and Fisher, Yahoo Scorts, it is known that James Harden has only practiced one time with the Philadelphia 76ers. And it is also known that his desire to still be a clipper is out there.
[00:01:08] So when we talked about Philadelphia, you know, I talked about how I felt bad for the fans and I'm just going to re-interaided again, you know.
[00:01:23] You never got to see this team fully together and, you know, I'm not going to talk about anybody's bread, I'm not going to talk about anybody's how they're doing the contract situation or how to go about anything.
[00:01:41] You know, we'll see what the NBA thinks of next off season with James Harden. And I mean, that's all I can say on that situation.
[00:01:53] I think one thing is clear, we're at a point where it's not far fetched to ask the question, what's going to happen, game one. What are we doing?
[00:02:16] All right, let's get to these teams in the Western Conference. I want to have some fun with this and we're going to do some, it's going to be either just straight up questions,
[00:02:33] story lines, like things to look for and we're going to try to do it in a funny way. So let's get to it. First and right off the bat, the okay see thunder. Man, shots out to fans in okay see anytime I do a YouTube clip.
[00:02:51] I mean, I don't have to do really any advertising whatsoever and get to a bunch of you. So shots out to our people in Oklahoma City. The one thing that I could say about Oklahoma City is this is that it might be time.
[00:03:11] It might be time to to make a move or they might buy themselves be like a number six seed. They're just deep and young and they come in waves and that there are a lot of them. I mean, SGA chat Jay Jay Doe.
[00:03:40] You know, I mean, this is you know, and they in case and Wallace this year, there's a lot of dudes. It's a it's a lot.
[00:03:53] Now, it might be all good this year next year might be might be a little bit more of a struggle just because of the fact that you know, you know, might be time for other people to get paid.
[00:04:10] I mean, it's a lot of things that nature, but this year we are we are looking at a really dangerous team. Plan them in Oklahoma City is going to suck if you're posing to. They're going to have a tremendous home field advantage.
[00:04:33] And I think that you're going to see like the role players play well at home. I think it's a group is a really good coach team. And all is is really good.
[00:04:49] And here's the one thing with okay see, which makes them the scariest team in the league to me. They might be the, I don't know what's scary now. I'm trying to think of some series that's really scary.
[00:05:07] They might be the insidious of the NBA and because they got all the picks still. And at any point, they could say hey, we can trade this business. Here's three picks and we got whatever it is that they feel they need.
[00:05:29] They still also might be a year away from that even Sam Presty has talked about it. So they're still preaching patients with the young guys, but they might just be talented enough to get into a six seed and it's that's the case.
[00:05:46] It's going to be scary is we're hitting scary hours in okay see. Then we can move on to the Utah Jazz Utah got off to such a fast start last year. And here's another great well coach team, will Hardy is excellent. We love his staff.
[00:06:09] They picked up John Collins from Atlanta. A lot of people were kind of in on the deal. I liked it. And you get an adult in the room, not saying that you had a bad locker room at all. You just had another professional guy in there.
[00:06:28] And with John Collins it's always going to be the shot and then when you talk about the shot it's always the finger, that's all jacked up and is that fixed and. You know, is the shot fixed. So those are the type of things that.
[00:06:45] Other kind of storylines there. And here's the thing I think Utah can be as good as they were last year and have a and have a worse record. I think teams like the Lakers.
[00:07:08] I mean, depending on health with the Lakers, Clippers and Golden State, you don't look to them to have the starts that they had last year. So they can play as well as they did last year.
[00:07:24] And a record not be indicative of what it was in the previous season. You talk about just one of those situations. Okay, just might just be one of those deals. And then we're going to move on to a team that is really intriguing.
[00:07:49] The Minnesota table wolves and here's the one thing I want to say about the Minnesota table wolves. I've been awesome. Let's get rid of cat noise for a while. Now here's the thing. Excuse the Hawking somebody is. Apparently needing somebody.
[00:08:17] Anyways, the thing that I will say about this is that. I understand the willingness and the want to see it work or see it for a whole year. Here's my thing. I understand that as well. But what you want to see from cat is that this is.
[00:08:48] He's willing to play that second fiddle role that he is okay with our guy. And it was being number one. If he can fall in line on that, I have no problem with this year being like an experimental year seeing how it all works. And seeing how maybe.
[00:09:13] You know, cat takes you know three to four less shots a game and whatever occasion being we allow an awards grow. That's how we're doing it. I'll find with it. If it's a situation where. Cat is. Doing cast stuff and.
[00:09:33] We're taking a bunch of shots and it's it's the same old same old. And it looks clunky and it's a slog and. Then let's go ahead and get a trade and figure some stuff out because this is not working for either one of them.
[00:09:53] And I rather pull the band aid off snatch it off then just kind of pillar off little by little and whatever I think it hurts more. So my thing with Minnesota is you know if. Cat wants to be the good soldier then I'm with it.
[00:10:11] Cat doesn't want to be the good soldier and you should know that why like December 15 when all the. Trade options and all that fall through you should be all on that. And then we're going to get to. The dinner nuggets for kind of about the nugs.
[00:10:37] And I get forget about the defending champions and I know Denver. I know what you're saying y'all forget about us all the time me. Honestly. Until somebody knocks them off they're the best. Yoke is. He can't be guarded. I mean.
[00:11:02] Anthony Davis is one of the best to do it. You know, and he still was getting buckets and. Whatever, where. This is Larry Bird, but bigger a bigger version of bird. He's he's just his shot selection is ridiculous. His vision is impeccable.
[00:11:31] I mean, I don't know what other superlifters I can give them. Honestly. The supporting cast. I mean, Jamal Murray healthy for all season he didn't have to rehab anything. That's that has to be a win.
[00:11:48] Another year where Michael Porter Jr came out the year unscathed and you know, hopefully had a pretty. Normal offseason works out very well. And another season of Aaron Gordon I mean, you talking about cohesion. You tell them about togetherness.
[00:12:10] If I'm Denver, I'll be site about where where they are and where they kind of stand in all in all phases. I think the storyline for them is that they're still going to go off that they're not getting a ton of respect. And I can see it.
[00:12:33] I can see them living off that. Michael Malone is that type of coach. He's gritty. He's he's testing when it comes to media a little bit. He wears it on his chest. I kind of like that. And then you have Yokey Chou kind of is a loof.
[00:12:55] And you know, some people say well, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, how see, you know, he's not marketing the game and all this and all that. And I don't understand it. I mean, you want your best player to be marketable because, you know, that drives revenue.
[00:13:12] I get all that part. But him having the attitude that he has might be just the thing that this team needs in the sense if it was going to defend the title. Because he's out of to dislike we go to work, the play, we play well.
[00:13:32] We, you know, we execute, try to be efficient that the duck and then we go home with those sleep. You know, and we wake up next day and try to do it all over again. I mean, you know, I know.
[00:13:50] We question is it all real the way he handles it? I mean, at this point we got to take a foot what he what it is. He went to the, when does he ask for the line line? He doesn't. None of it.
[00:14:05] Denver is going to have a special season again. There's just, they're just good. Andrew is the only thing that can derail Denver and to get into a late late playoff. Playoff. Next up on the block would be the blazers. The trailblazers of Portland.
[00:14:32] I'm so ecstatic with what they've done and what I'll say is finally, finally we're at a stage where we are. Developing, you know, we are completely in rebuild mode. There's no other question about it.
[00:14:51] They got access that they can either continue to grow with the team that they have or they can go ahead and trade those assets for even more first round picks. Then they got even previously so far with Dame and Drew Holiday and those two prescriptive deals.
[00:15:09] Now, with all that being said. Is this a year where we're looking for a lot of W's out of Portland? No, all you're looking for is. Developing it from scoop. Developing it from Simon's. Developed it from sharp. Some steady from Jeremy Grant for however long he's there.
[00:15:33] And then, you know, what we see out of eight and then what we see out of. A Robert Williams. So that's kind of where we are. I don't know about it now. Anyways. I've picked out the pot. Okay, so. We're in a situation where.
[00:16:10] I know that now, which is something. Anyway, um, so development, development for trailblazers, development. Keep finding gems. See what they have in DeAndre 8 and see what they have in a while.
[00:16:28] Well, you don't see if this is any items that you want to trade down the line and just keep it moving. This year is making sure that scoot is comfortable and also starting to. Peace together. What is going to be. You know, a fruitful situation for school Henderson.
[00:16:59] I'm glad that they got Dame out of there before the season started. I'm glad that they got this team kind of together and then they can kind of go forth and you know as the season will belong.
[00:17:12] If they need to go ahead and move some pieces, they do have the capability of doing so. So the blazers to me are in a just.
[00:17:22] You know, they just remind me of the big bank theory. It's just a lot of numbers on a whiteboard and we're just trying to figure it out from this point. Trying to figure out strength theory. All right.
[00:17:34] Now let's move along to the Dallas Mavericks. The Dallas Mavericks have Luca Donchage. He has a strain cap. They don't think it's serious. They also have Kyrie Irving. They also have Grant Williams and then they drafted OMAX Prosper and they also drafted Derek Lively Jr.
[00:18:01] Now I don't know where we are in the sense of what we think the team is going to look like. Luca is extremely talented. He is ridiculously gifted, offensively. Kyrie is one of the best.
[00:18:26] Curvil packages and lay up packages in the NBA. He's just electric with the ball with a wall. There are no questions there. So when you are talking about a. A deal where, you know, you got these two great offensive players.
[00:18:58] You definitely have a cut of bugs and other people when it comes to that. What the problem is is that I think you're too young on defense and your at a point where it's not like the young guys can get on Kyrie or Luca.
[00:19:14] I'll all you missed the defense of assignment. Now this was a vet, somebody who was, you know, seven eight years in and they looked at Luca and say hey man, you know, I understand you score the ball all that but I kind of need you to, you know,
[00:19:37] this dude need to fill you a little bit. I need a little more impact on this end. You know, that might carry a little more weight but, you know, jailing green and, you know, and all my cross square and dairy lightly, Junior, this is definitely not.
[00:19:54] None of those guys are going to be able to step up to Luca or Kyrie and tell them anything like that. So I, I'm in a real days to confuse situation with where the Mavericks are as an organization and I don't know what direction they're going.
[00:20:16] I have no clue. The Houston Rockets, let's get to it. The Houston Rockets, new coach, Ema Adelka, they added some free agency, very aggressive in free agency signing a family to a 40 million dollar a year deal. Also Derek Brooks getting 20.
[00:20:43] They did, they had a thing and the theme was we want grit and we want, we want some defense and I think what is going to happen with this team this year is if you haven't seen the movie, Major Payne, right? So,
[00:21:08] Jamie Wands is this drill sergeant that goes to this like, this kids academy, like this Junior ROTC and he's like this whole blonde like Navy Sil, crazy dude whatever. And you know, he's he's looking on the shape and that's what Ema Adelka's going to do in Houston.
[00:21:30] This year is basically a well like structure. Like yes, they want to win. You know, they want this pick to Brooklyn not to be great but I think somebody said it. I can't remember who it was.
[00:21:47] I want to say it might have been a recital on a recital pot. But I think we're out of situation where the first 40 games, you know, these kids are going to have to, they're going to have some real growing pains.
[00:22:08] Because Ema is going to want them to play a certain way and it's going to take them a second to get used to that because unfortunately, I don't believe they had a lot of structure with their previous coach Steven Silas.
[00:22:27] So they're going to a completely different system. This is going to be a lot more, you know, micro managing and things of that nature it will be like if you make a mistake, you might get pulled those sacrifices you will have absolutely consequences to your actions.
[00:22:50] So first 40 might be a tough watch and then let's see what the last 40 looked like.
[00:22:57] See if they're pulling it together and things of that nature. So they are just a working progress, but I like the direction Houston is going and trying to figure out who's going to get the shots.
[00:23:11] Because I know where Nico stands with Jalen Green, I understand where a lot of Houston fans think on Jalen Green. I do believe that Jabari Smith is the guy that you should be giving the shots to.
[00:23:29] That package was opened up a little bit at summer league and I think we should take advantage of that at 16, 6, 11 definitely think that's something should be looked into.
[00:23:44] Okay, we move on to the San Antonio squares. Well obviously look has lady luck has hit it again in San Antonio Victor when by Yamma is in the building and let me tell you something this dude is incredible incredible.
[00:24:10] We just got to understand we're just going to see stuff that we've never seen before actually is stuff that we've seen before we've just never seen it at that height doing it.
[00:24:24] Because he's doing step back freeze like dribble anguething the legs side step you know step back side step three he's got a 3. Floater he's got incredible quickness even when he is out of defense position because of his length and his dexterity.
[00:24:51] He's never really out of the play even though he might be like two feet behind the play. I mean we're just just know we're gonna see some real cool stuff out of San Antonio as far as wins are concerned we ain't worried about that.
[00:25:08] We're worried about Victor figuring out what he is and where he's comfortable and that's a whole year process we want to make sure going into next year.
[00:25:20] Okay, I think we got to beat a what the first four years are gonna look like five years are gonna look like and then you know maybe we can reassess after you know four years of now and see what the next four five years are gonna look like.
[00:25:38] Come out of this year with a plan going into next year that's really all you're looking for so health. Development a win by Yamma is the utmost importance. The cell can hold can carry a scoring load.
[00:25:58] Trade that trade Jones is down there and trade is a solid point guard as ties to his brother. Kind of cut from the same claw type of situation. Malachi gran them looks like he could be a good score.
[00:26:21] So they got some dudes killed in Johnson so and Anna our guy so here. We look so here. They're gonna run out some fucking lineup so it's just gonna be a lot of fun in San Antonio. But wins don't worry about that just enjoy enjoy the ride.
[00:26:41] All right, so we went through there there. Oh, we got to hit the new Orleans pelicans okay now no honest pelicans. Stop me if you heard this before but um health like health. Zion again is the key. I mean we could be seeing some crazy stuff this year.
[00:27:12] We could see we could see a Zion win by Yamma situation. You know San Lake. School versus one by Yamma part two, electric bug aloo. We got some crazy matchups with some of the young guys and I'm really intrigued about how it's all going to play out.
[00:27:42] Don't forget our guy can't take George and Utah. You know, respect to the Utah Jazz and the fans. You know we love y'all. All right so who okay so now enormous. Here's the situation in New Orleans. We all know what's gonna go down.
[00:28:06] This is kind of the year. This is kind of the year on whether. Is Zion gonna be greater or not? Does he have it in them? And all the reports are this year. You know they're talking about how professional he's being and things of that nature.
[00:28:31] And maybe it just took him longer to grow up. And maybe some of this this off the court stuff that he had to deal with. That was kind of embarrassing kind of you know made him go into the lab because that was his only sanctuary.
[00:28:51] Whatever is gonna get him on the court and get him to play you know 60, 70, 72 games somewhere near. I don't care just we just got to have it. And it's been tantalizing the 29 games and playing here and there.
[00:29:16] But it just seems like the momentum gets going and as soon as the momentum was about to hit like a fever pitch. There's an injury and then we just go down. This is terrible. So now let right now let now what do we do with all this?
[00:29:33] What do we do with this information? Well, all I can tell the fans in New Orleans just like what the football team. This is a 50 50 proposition you know you're gonna have good days. You're gonna have bad days.
[00:29:49] I would love for Zion to be healthy because every you know every podcast is talked about it. Oh and he was healthy they were like you know number one number two see.
[00:30:02] We all know how successful they can be with Zion Williamson and tell we know it's just we got to see it.
[00:30:16] And you know because the other thing that comes along with that is we get to see how the number one number two thing works out with Brandon Ingram. But Brandon Ingram has had enough of the stage in the spotlight because of the absence of Zion.
[00:30:37] You know to say hey yo on the guy. So there's a lot to kind of maneuver in New Orleans and you just got to see what the first 20 look like. And just hold your breath that Zion stays healthy and stays on the court.
[00:30:55] That is all we're looking for at this point. You know I don't even know what categorizes as a successful season for New Orleans. I think just him being healthy.
[00:31:08] You know yes you would love to make a playoff run and all that but if he played 60 something games I think New Orleans. The town would freak out they'd be on fire and then we moved to the other team with the number two pick in the Zion draft.
[00:31:28] Which is the myth is Grizzlies and the job thing so the job out the first 25.
[00:31:37] Marcus smart moves in you know they still got the cast of characters does me bang who we love that's our guy on this podcast we will always have a love shout out to our guy. Debane. And it is it is one of those crazy situations. Right now.
[00:32:01] In there because he has a thing the West is stacked there's a lot of teams in the West we haven't even got to the Pacific division yet where there's so much power in the Pacific. And here's New Orleans without job for 25 games now.
[00:32:20] We've always said Memphis is being good without job you know it's all worked out but remember that was the Tias Jones era that was not the Marcus smart era. Marcus is a very hustle friendly guy defensive mindy guy.
[00:32:40] You know team leader type of guy all of these things stand up all of it he's not the decision maker that Tias is. Running the team is not going to be as as fluid as it would be with Tias and also this is another get to know me.
[00:33:04] Tias situation right get to know Marcus smart get to know how he gets down in the four quarter all of these things right.
[00:33:15] So I expect them to have some slow out the gate you know do they kick it you know when do when do they kick it into gear.
[00:33:29] You know is there enough time by the time when job comes back and then gives a reaclimated into the team is there enough time to make the play off push what will the record have to be.
[00:33:46] And then in the true second half not the off start break because by the end you know pretty much what the hell's going on.
[00:33:54] But if that's the case you know this could be a season where you know they they fall back because all it takes is one real injury.
[00:34:09] You know you don't want to put that on team but you know if Jaws out and then let's say something happens a pain on me at you know we.
[00:34:17] Start going down here real quick so the hope is that Marcus can do his best Tias Jones in person nation. Keep this team afloat if they're like 15 and 10 when job comes back.
[00:34:33] You know they have a really good shot of making a good little run in the second half and getting to the playoffs now positioning might be an issue but you know at this point you just kind of this is what you got and this is what we've got to roll it.
[00:34:48] All right we're going to move on to the Pacific division I told you it was packed and we're going to start off in.
[00:34:56] We're going to start off north and then we're going to work our way south so we're going to start off with the Sacramento King so the Sacramento Kings last year. Like to being when the Pacific division now we're going to remind yourself that they won the Pacific.
[00:35:15] They made the playoffs of the first time in a long time. Everything was gravy up in the state capital of California. They get bounced by the Golden State Warriors in the first round.
[00:35:37] Deer Fox hurts his breaks his finger and couldn't shoot it the way he was shooting it early. That's a great. Didn't make a lot of adjustments during the off season, surprised me a little bit.
[00:35:57] I talked to one Sacramento Kings fan shout out to my guy Nick or I think it wasn't Nick or dang.
[00:36:06] I didn't make a dumb move you know they didn't getting over shoot for something and it wasn't the right move so by not making a move he was happy that you know just being good that being said.
[00:36:27] We're always very quick to say oh well this team you know it didn't make a moving into this now there are windows right we always talked about we you know we talk about the windows and.
[00:36:39] You know you got to be going forward or you got to be doing this, you got to be doing that. Listen.
[00:36:45] I can see here all day and say all these type of things but as fans of these of these fan bases listen you guys deal with it on a daily basis and God bless you and.
[00:36:57] All that you go through so I understand that you're going to take it a little more personal than I do but. You know we're quick to say hey we got you know got to make this rule got to do this sometimes. Not making a move.
[00:37:15] Is the best thing. I'm talking you back to like a year and a half ago. And it was the trade deadline and there were talks of. Russell Westburg going from the Lakers to Houston for Christian wood and air Gordon in the two first round picks.
[00:37:41] Now we all knew that Russ wasn't a good fit we all knew it was going work.
[00:37:48] And I know we're talking about the Lakers and I know Sacramento's like we're talking about the Lakers you saw me we talk about the kings trust me on getting to y'all just give me a second. But they don't make that trade. They go into the off season.
[00:38:06] They still do not trade him and then they trade them at the deadline and they get all these dudes and you know and then the off season the rest of history will get to them a second but. If there's not the piece that really. Elevates.
[00:38:27] Sacramento out there and let's think about it okay they would have got a wing. Well they got a developing wing in Keegan Mark Murray. So does a more dynamic wing hurt his development. There's an argument now you could say well. A more of a shot blocking presence.
[00:38:54] At the four would be helpful I get you. Well you also need somebody who's going to be kind of spread the floor because he couldn't be like a shot blocking big that.
[00:39:09] You know didn't have any range whatsoever because you know so bonus can shoot it a little bit but he's not the three point shooter he's more of a mid range dude. Do everything at the nail right.
[00:39:23] So those are hard to come by right it's hard to find those type of guys so my question is is like if it wasn't out there. Listen I force it let's not do something.
[00:39:42] You know, reckless and less continuing to build you know I like what they did in a draft like. Young pieces and yeah I would have loved for them to upgrade the Harrison Barnes position 100% but for what was out there you know what was out there.
[00:40:06] I mean I can't I can't really complain what they did. So I kind of like the patients I like I like what they're doing here. I don't like I love the you know just the positive progression the continuity build and then.
[00:40:26] See where you can make adjustments you know maybe you have a clear picture of what kegins is going to be because if kegins takes a leap. Now you're parent kegins with the Montes du Wonis and Deer Fox.
[00:40:47] Okay now you really push Kevin Hurder to like a more natural. Fourth option type person and he'll be more comfortable in that aspect along with Harrison Barnes. So it kind of it will really kind of help the team establish their kind of pecking order.
[00:41:13] And then we're going to move on to the golden state warriors who you got mortal enemies now on the same team Chris Paul. Is down with the gun state warriors with stuff Jordan pool is gone him getting punched in the face.
[00:41:33] Look like it was a big deal last year even though they told us it wasn't and we said yeah that's got to be a big deal. And get a little liquid. I was dry.
[00:41:49] Okay, um where's we still need some size on golden state right like I mean I understand that Kevin Lune is an absolute animal and an offensive rebound in machine. To likes that we haven't seen since like Michael Cage and kids if you're young.
[00:42:13] I'm telling you do yourself a favor and you too so Michael Cage because. Let me tell you the Jerry curl was in full effect okay Michael Cage. Yeah, chef kiss with the with the Jerry curl.
[00:42:32] All right Kevin Lune is just a beast but they have no size I understand they they couldn't do anything more with wise men. They they asked Jonathan coming in the Aussies and to really really work on his rebound and something that it had asked.
[00:42:53] And we're going to get a couple of years back and. My thought is that this is where they believe they're going to go ahead and get that edge at the rebounding is they're going to give it to the athletic freak that is Jonathan coming.
[00:43:09] Now does it all work. Does it all work in one year now I do believe that CP3. Could be the key to unlocking moody and coming. Honestly, I think taking away Jordan pool from ghost state no shade to Jordan.
[00:43:34] But a shot first looking dude and you replace someone with somebody who's going to get everybody in our active in the offense. I think only help Jonathan coming in and Moses and moody can only help them so I like that part. I think the theme is just.
[00:44:01] You know final countdown. This is oh 80 song and it's like the final countdown. I like that right so. I mean we're holding we're holding on by a string here basically.
[00:44:25] I still believe in stuff I still believe in the talent I still believe in how he can affect the game. I still think that dream on and you know I think with age and maturity and just his.
[00:44:40] His knowledge of the game he could still be effective in a role my only problem is as I don't know what we're getting from clay tossing. I don't know a clay can be clay any more. I think the two injuries took his toll.
[00:44:58] I'm not saying Clay can't have great games and you know scare me your your your your ex of post where all he's still got it and all that. Yeah listen.
[00:45:11] It can all show up and even Kobe you talked about this in the later stages of his career or after he retired he said yeah I could do it. You know and put out the energy well then I was done for like a week you know and.
[00:45:29] You just don't have the legs that you want to did and those two injuries which is energy sapping. Just debilitating injuries and it wasn't like he was 25 and got it. You know he was passed 30 and now.
[00:45:48] You know we can't ask him to read that that like dynamic dude that can just go off like 30 and a quarter. But yeah we can ask for more consistency so basically at this point you got actually so who is the second the second to me is the weekends.
[00:46:05] I mean I don't it is your question about who the second. And Golden State is at this point. I mean I know splash brother there's still a lot of a lot of t-shirts and not that but if you want to put the two players.
[00:46:26] They're going to help are going to be instrumental in your team success. You were put stuff you read a clip and your wagons up there because that there it is.
[00:46:38] Yeah they're going to be we're going to see I want to see it first I'm still skeptical I'm not saying I don't I'm not saying they can't be good because I think. As long as Steph can shoot it.
[00:46:50] I think Golden State can be good he just changes geometry on the court. But I think that we're looking at a at a different type of animal. All right let's get to the Phoenix Sun's the Phoenix Sun's you know where I will get a direct.
[00:47:10] Kevin Brooker they got it all I mean they got air goring call off the pinch bro they you know listen. Points aren't going to be an issue. Issue health. Booker a lot of a lot of soft muscle things. Kevin Durant a lot of lower body things.
[00:47:38] Bradley Bill growing hamstring. Lower body things all right I'm not trying to damper the the situation in Phoenix. I'm not saying these are the realities all right now offense stupid. I mean honestly I don't know how you guard them I really don't.
[00:48:10] Booker is an assassin and I honestly think that Booker has another gear and if don't rent and build a lalium to. I think Booker could be like a 32 33 point again guy in an offense like this because you got to pay so much attention to Durant and Bradley Bill.
[00:48:35] And Booker is one of those dudes that can get real hot real quick and give you like 16 like bone just like I'm right here right. I don't know listen Phoenix I know you love them right now we'll see we'll see if he can stay healthy.
[00:48:59] We can see we'll see he'll do the things that you're asking him to do I don't know what would be the reason for him not to do those things. We can see if he provides a physical presence for for geokage I don't know we'll see.
[00:49:20] There's a lot to be answered but. I just they're going to be so entertaining there's going to be a lot of very very entertaining Venexon games and I just can't wait to see it.
[00:49:34] I can't wait to see how it works I can't wait to see Booker make a MVP run because I do. I'm going to go ahead and announce it now I'm not saying he's going to win it but I think he's going to make a run.
[00:49:48] I think Devon Booker is is is going to be in the hunt for MVP this year. I think he pushes to the 30 point of game dude.
[00:50:00] Durant is like you know what man older now man I don't care if I score 30 I can score 25 would be just as happy.
[00:50:09] You know and maybe build says the same thing like hey I just you know I just want to be in meaningful games I want to play play all games and.
[00:50:19] The Black player secondary role to this do straight go ahead score all the points and if that happens Devon Booker has a chance to really make a real viable MVP push so.
[00:50:34] You heard he here first FOTC is saying it Devon Booker is a early candidate of ours for MVP.
[00:50:44] Do I like to dig on jury eight and trade or not? I mean you know what at this point we're going to just let it ride you know we're going to see what grace and Allen can give them.
[00:50:57] And again I'm still kind of I'm hung up on the serial little little and what he can give you so I'm interested to see all of it.
[00:51:06] Now let's move on to the clippers the clippers are still looking to see if they can make the hardened trade and basically from what I'm going to be able to gather is what they're trying to do is take their 20 28 for a frown pick.
[00:51:20] And then give that to Philadelphia to appease them in the sense of. Multiple for a frown pick with James Harden this is where we are there seems to be no traction and either way. Yeah they're not going to get their not going to get a.
[00:51:44] Terrence Man from the clippers or trade man from the clippers. No, Terrence Man from the clippers and you know we're just in this mirror going on. Here's the thing are you two simple stars going to play. I mean it really comes down to that.
[00:52:05] Is Kawai going to play is it is it going to happen. Mr. and Jerry's is he going to tell the staff though we know this were fact we have years of data that tell us that he will not do that.
[00:52:21] And really here's the thing man we know he liked money. So at the end of the day I expect Paul George and Kawai Leonard to be on their best behavior because at the end of the day contract extensions are on the line.
[00:52:37] And for no other reason but for actual more money. Which I don't fall anybody for. But you gave us like four years of nothing and then this is the year where you're going to pull it out. Okay.
[00:52:58] Good luck to bomber and given that money and see in what year one of that those contract look like but anyways. You know I expected to be on their best behavior if nothing fluky happens and you know knock on wood they can stay healthy.
[00:53:20] You know we'll see what the clippers can do. West work is the point guard. It worked in a short sample can it work all season only talking till I think Ty Ron Loo can get his ear.
[00:53:38] I think he can look at us and like hey man I'm looking out for you. I think Russ also understands that you know I think he gets where he is now with the 3.8 million dollar contract so I think he knows what's going on there.
[00:53:57] So I think you're going to get the best of us too. I like to KJ Martin deal. I think bringing more athleticism to phase out some of the guys who were the wings that we're guarding before and possibly can't guard down is a good thing.
[00:54:17] I think you know Marcus Morris is long in the tooth. You know our guy.
[00:54:28] You know I think you got to start looking for younger players to start filling these roles and this is why man needs more playing time and all of these things so at the end of the day.
[00:54:44] You know the lineup that you see at the first part of the year what the clippers might look terribly different and it's not just because of trade it actually might be because it's time for you to be served.
[00:54:58] And man and KJ Martin to take more of a production role in the regular rotation. So the clippers are really interesting team. Ryan Racer Lowe said something that was kind of cool he said I can't he said.
[00:55:22] I wouldn't feel good about taking the over on their win total.
[00:55:28] Even if they hit it I still wouldn't feel good about it and knowing that there's a good chance that they won't because they won't play the games and he said I rather be wrong about them you know them not hitting it.
[00:55:41] And I'm kind of the same way until quiet and PG proved it that they're going to be on the court and these injuries aren't just going to linger and all these other things stuff like that will see I don't know but.
[00:56:00] They're a fascinating team because it's always always been about health with them it's always been about.
[00:56:11] You know can we get these two guys on the court together at the same time you know with another another game underneath their belt to say okay we're clicking we know what's going on with one another and everything like that and it just never has happened.
[00:56:29] Just hasn't and that leaves us with the lot to do with the lakers right no doubt I was going leave the lakers last right. And here's the thing.
[00:56:44] I'm going to critical of the lakers all off season not because I didn't like any other moves or whatever the case may be. I think they did a smart. I had a really smart off season honestly. There's nothing about their choices that I could be mad at.
[00:57:05] The only place that I can quibble is the extension on Anthony Davis and whatever and we'll get to that in a second. But all in all.
[00:57:18] Broccoli can over the last two you over last year and a half has done just an excellent job of just re-tool it not even a year and a half half season. This is an hell of a job just re-tooling this franchise and still has still has bullets.
[00:57:35] You know there's still no one pick out here that they still can use. And seconds and contracts that fit certain salary so if they need something. They had the ability to go out and get it so. Rob was done it he's built.
[00:57:57] Wings that we clamored for four years. I'm still worried about the size not because of the length just because of the girth. That might be the move in the in the season maybe that's where you get better.
[00:58:18] But all in all Rob has done an excellent job he's he's turned it over so whatever complaints we've had while rob and pass about what he did in the AD deal or. What he didn't the Westward deal he has cleaned it all up.
[00:58:36] And we're young and we're getting production from young players and got more young players on the way ie max christie. Max will Lewis as well. Jaylin who is chafino. Castle 10 who I love I love castle 10.
[00:58:58] So we'll see how it all goes now let's get to the nitty gritty where are the lakers and the lakers are it's you know it's digital underground is with feature in two pot. Same song. LeBron stay healthy. AD stay healthy. This team can go far if they don't.
[00:59:23] It's going to be a struggle especially in the West with all these good teams you know i feel out of number that was like i say a one 35 was the magic number for the lakers. S. H. as LeBron and AD plant.
[00:59:40] I might want to go back a little bit on it but i can't go back too far. I think you can go down to like 128. But i think that's the cut off. That's the cut off right there.
[00:59:55] But you got to get you got to get 64 games from both those dudes. Or you know more from one or other.
[01:00:10] And then the other thing is what they talked about the two of them who talked about and something that we've talked about in this podcast in one form or another. Another. Over the last two or three seasons is this is that.
[01:00:25] AD has to be the guy this year. You know i think LeBron with the ruptured tendon that he had in his foot that he had fixed over in Germany and miraculously is one and around here like nothing ever happened. Um. Yo. German. German medical.
[01:00:48] German science as far as they're their medical procedures is so far ahead of ours. So keep that keep that thought in mind. As Aaron Rogers attempts to come back from a killie's entry. All right getting back to basketball.
[01:01:05] Um, I think with LeBron knowing that he had the ruptured tendon is what. Uh, not saying that he's going to pay himself more just knowing that like hey. We got this killer option. In AD.
[01:01:24] And you know, let's listen lean on him a little bit and you know give him more of a voice on the team and all that.
[01:01:33] I think this is the first year where you actually saw LeBron kind of really hand the baton off because on the podium first day, a media day, 80. Not LeBron. Um, that says a lot right there that just says this is volumes of what's going on.
[01:01:57] Now, a LeBron is still LeBron and LeBron is still going to do what is going to take for this team to win. But here's the thing. If Marie Hottom was playoff situation and listen, no way say he's going to shoot 50 degrees. No one's stupid.
[01:02:18] What I'm saying is if he is. If he's 80% of what that is or 75% of what that was and he shoot in like 38% from three, he's being aggressive and doing all the things that. Um, he was doing it in the playoffs now.
[01:02:35] He's kicking in mind. He worked with LeBron all all season. LeBron said that, you know, his, his work out buddy was really hot for more and he's going to do a lot of skill work with Phil handy as well. So the improvement could be permanent.
[01:02:57] What we saw in the playoffs could be a version of really we could the 17 million that were panome. And then we ended up being a really, really good deal at the end of the day. So if he's what he showed to be in the playoffs, Austin is.
[01:03:17] To me going to take another jump. This year. Then you got to orient your crints and I think low key that might be everybody was talking about the gay, Vincent pick up and don't get me wrong. I'm not going to disrespect that pick up.
[01:03:35] What if Tony and Prince is going to provide this type of shooting in this type of defense. This team is going to is going to scare a lot of teams in the West. So I like the Lakers.
[01:03:49] It's all in the health of the two guys and history has shown us that they just haven't stayed healthy. So, you know, I mean, I have been a fifth or sixth seed is probably what they are.
[01:04:05] Now if you're telling me hey, Vince, it all worked out. They played 130 games. You know, the ground was a beast, 80s of beast. You know, we got all the, you know, We got all the the production from Rue and Austin and whatever.
[01:04:26] Then Lakers are going to have a special team and they're going to be in that that that that top three mix. But it's really hard to prognosticate them being in that top three mix.
[01:04:38] I mean, we make think knowing that I can't sit here and say that it's going to be closer to 110 games for 80 in the broad. Then 120 a games and that 18 game difference. We just talked about it with John earlier. He's missing 25 games.
[01:04:58] If he's missing 25 games and we're saying that's a big deal for Memphis. We actually have the idea and LeBron, you know, missing like a total of like almost 50 games between them.
[01:05:12] That's that might be too hard to borrow. Two out of a row for the the Lakers to cover. Now they do have a lot of depth to try to do it. And we didn't even talk about Christian wood and gave Vincent.
[01:05:27] My feelings on Christian wood is this is that he listen. You're a minimal player if you play well great. If you don't, you can be easily getting we can get ready.
[01:05:41] I don't have a lot of belief in Christian wood, but at this point in the game, a 16 guy who can spread the floor shoot the three. He's athletic enough if he really wanted to be a defensive player. He's never shown that.
[01:05:56] And I am a realist. I'm not sitting here thinking like, oh, we're the team that's going to unlock Christian wood. You know, I would love to be able to say that with confidence and tell you that that is actually what's going to happen.
[01:06:11] But I can't. I can't tell you that. Now this was LeBron at Miami. He days or even cleaning Cavalier days and stuff like that. Yeah, I would be like, yeah, Christian wood would have come over here and shut the hell up and do exactly what LeBron say.
[01:06:30] But LeBron is about to turn 39 and this is his 21st season of lead. And I'm not saying that people don't respect LeBron because they do, but Maybe the messaging won't work from LeBron. Maybe it'll have to be from somebody else to get Christian wood to do it.
[01:06:50] Maybe it is Darwin ham and loving on Christian wood and tell them, hey, man, listen, if you do all the things you're supposed to do here, The money will come. You know, those are going to come to the conversations that Christian wood has had with the leakers and
[01:07:07] Darwin ham has said, hey, listen, you know, you're going to be a part of this team. We all need you. So Christian wood is going to play a real integral part of this team. We weren't seen it. And he's going to get 20 plus minutes again.
[01:07:23] He's the de facto big off the bench along with ruling whatever. So, whether I like or not, that's that's the situation. Christian wood is going to be placed in the middle of the team.
[01:07:46] Now, the defense is what it is. If they can get him to do one thing, if they can just get him to contest week side.
[01:07:59] And say, hey, listen, we're going to play this. This is the defense of strategy. We're going to play this is the role we're going to ask you to play and can you do this?
[01:08:08] We're not going to actually do this, this and this. We're just going to actually do this. Maybe we can just kind of centralize his positives and kind of negate the negatives.
[01:08:21] I don't know. You know, I just think somebody going to try to get that dude in picking a roll action and he's going to get lost in there. I think that's the first thing we can do is we're going to do this.
[01:08:37] And there we go. There it is. You know, we'll see. We'll see. But the makers are much squat. I love them. I think six places kind of where they are. Provided my guys are relatively healthy. If they are significantly healthy, we can be taught three.
[01:08:58] But I put the link or is up against anybody at their healthy. But as far as records for the year, top six is kind of where I got them. Not saying they don't care about the regular season. I just don't think they're top two will stay healthy enough.
[01:09:13] So with that being said, I'm going to sign off these are the two pods. So we have the eastern conference in the western conference. They'll go broke the up. So
[01:09:21] Thank you for tuning in and, man, we'll see you back on this feed tomorrow because I'm a drunken football actually. So Check in with that on Wednesday and we will see you soon. Peace.