IT IS WHAT IT IS - GREEK FREAK IS BACK, NBA SUPERSTAR PRESSURE RANKINGS & IS IT FINALS OR BUST FOR NEW YORK?

Episode Date: March 3, 2026

Ma$e, Cam’ron & Treasure "Stat Baby" Wilson are back with another one!! Please rate, review, and follow the podcast for more content.  Sign up with promo code IIWII and play $5 to get $75 in bonus funds: https://play.underdogfantasy.com/p-itiswhatitis #UDpartnerMake sure to support the show by hitting the link in the bio and downloading the Underdog app. Use code MASE, CAM, or STAT to get up to $1,000 in bonus funds with your first deposit! Follow the show and our hosts on social media: ⁠It Is What It Is⁠, ⁠Cam'Ron⁠, ⁠Ma$e⁠, and ⁠Treasure "Stat Baby" Wilson⁠ , ⁠Producer Ayooo Nick⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to It Is What It Is. This episode is presented by Underdog. If you're new to Underdog, today's the day, get $75 in bonus entries when you play just $5 with code. It is what it is. Underdog is available right now in most states, including Florida, Texas, and California, just to name a few. So make sure you all support the show. Hit that subscribe button, lock in your bonus and start playing today with code. It is what it is. I'm Treasure Wilson, aka Stat Baby, along with your host, Mace, and Cam.

It was good, man. You ready to record? Can you give Nick and them by 500? I feel more comfortable with them with it, to be honest with you. I just feel a little more comfortable. It's not a fight if possible. You could just leave the money with them. Actually, you owe them money.

You could just give everybody 400. And Nick, hold my 100 for me. I feel way better. I thought we was in. getting on the flights like right time you was out i thought we had a pat oh i got my du rag on you got start all over so you're not ready to film that's not what i'm hearing i'm ready to film so you're not so you're not ready to film is that what you're saying that was a good one that was a good You know, who you let know that you was not going to be here today?

I don't know. Did you let anybody know? I spoke to you. We said we wasn't getting on no planes. I thought you ain't telling me nothing else. Yeah, yeah, you're not going to flight. You ain't tell me now. I got on a jet.

Hit Nick, it go to five, man. You told me it was bloodshed an anniversary. He wasn't moving. Yeah, I jumped on a jet. at. All right. Nick. Yeah.

I thought we got to watch Nick, man. The fix is in, man. The fix is this. Did you all rules, man.

I didn't want to start. I started to my wait, wait, wait. No, I was ready to start. I need to start at nine,

nine. I need to start on time. We still did. Okay. You still did. You should start the whole show over, Nick.

Go ahead. We roll. Just making sure. I'm not putting up with no type of my old anymore. So we got it. Okay. This nigga always talk about this. Yo, murder, you did that the other day.

Let me tell you something. The other day, I'll see you, right? He's in the studio. I wasn't even by the camera. You come in 20 minutes late talking about. I'm like, look at this thing. I talk about this and you don't want 20 minutes late. This thing is amazing, man.

I've never seen none like it. Thank you. Hey, man. Let's do it. No, that means motion. You know the offense. No, I noticed, but you came in Twainman's Lane. And I was walking back to my chair.

And you talked about something. Like, I wasn't there for 30 minutes waiting for you. I said. I didn't see you. Let's do it through. I know you ain't see me. I see you. It was crazy.

I said, I've been saying for 20 minutes wait for this, me you're talking about so. You 20 minutes late. All right, man. Let's do it. Yeah, I see they're helping that. They're helping everybody get the 500. So it's all good. All right.

The fix is in. Murder, you're doing good. You're doing good for somebody else. I only get $100 out of the jury, Nick, whoever in there today. They should be thanking you, man. Yeah, the fix is in. The fix is in. With your rules.

Yeah, I'm just here. Okay, so got a lot of basketball to talk about. Janice makes his return for the Bucks versus the Celtics after missing 15 games with a calf strain. So Celtics went on to win 108-281. So Mace, what are your expectations for the Bucs as a whole? Because they've been through a lot. I don't have no expectation of the Bucks right now. You know, I love the city of Milwaukee, but I have no expectation.

You know, having an expectation of Milwaukee is like having an expectation of your ex. I just don't have it right now. Do you have expectation of your ex? I don't have an ex. You don't have an ex. Oh, my goodness. So that answered that. Yeah.

Killer doesn't have any expectation of his ex or he might do. That's how I feel about Milwaukee. What do you mean you don't have an ex? I don't have an ex. He said, what are your expectations for your ex? I'm like, I don't, I, you can't have any expectations if you don't have one. And you're saying you never have, you don't have an ex. Oh my goodness.

Come on, man. That's crazy, bro. How is that crazy? Yeah. I'm getting, I'm moving the side for the lightning here. I know your, I know your ex. That sounds crazy. I don't have an ex.

You don't have an ex? No. And I know what Kay. was alluding to, that was never my, that was never my boyfriend. What's just that? And what was they? I don't know. That's why I didn't work out.

Yeah. Killer, that's how they talk when they get born against. You kill her. They never had an accident. They don't remember anything. I don't know what the fuck if I was junior high school. You got to ask somewhere. I know.

I never, like, I don't even, I'm not even trying to be funny when I say that. I never had a boyfriend. Like, I never had a prom date. Like, I just, it was just school. I think you guys think I'm joking when I say that. Like, I strictly. You never had an ex. You never had a boyfriend.

I'm leaving this segment. I don't know what to tell you. I literally don't know what to tell you. I don't know what this show. I don't know what this show. My parents were never. like, oh, go date. Like, that was not a conversation.

I just didn't. Sorry. But back to the bucks. Milwaukee, man. I can't do it, man. I can't. This is an all-time low for you, Stan. I'm gonna keep it a hundred, man.

Murder even come out the box once in a while. My man, my man, murder even go back sometime, man. Once in a while, yo. God damn, murder. Stat, if murder, if murder, if me, Murder could go back once in the blue. Come on, man. She got no exes, killer.

I don't know what you want me to say. Look, I'm going to stick to Milwaukee. Let me stick to that. Yeah, look, Milwaukee, the season has just been overall a mess from the beginning of the season. It's been a mess, actually, to me, for the past few seasons, since they won that championship, maybe the season, next season was decent. Since then, it's been a mess. They tried.

They did get rid of Drew Holiday. Got Damien Lillet. That didn't work out. Before that, they fired the coach. Got Doc Rivers. Doc Rivers end up coaching an all-star game after coaching two and a half quarters that season. Look, Milwaukee has been a total mess, man. Best thing they got going over there is my man, the Nassas.

man. What up to now? I fuck with tonight. After we met, that's my nigga. But outside of that, I'm with Mace. I don't have any expectations from Milwaukee. Right now, they're not even in the player. They're about eight games under 500. Janice, he didn't want to be there. He didn't say he wanted to, he didn't want to be there. Then when he didn't meet the trade, when the trade deadline came and he didn't get traded, he talked about I always wanted to be here. He diagnosed himself with his own injury. seen when he fell. He didn't collide with nobody. He wasn't going to the basket. None happened. He was running and fell. Now, I know that happened sometime when people

popped the Achilles or something like that. That wasn't even the case. I don't know what his injury was. He sat there and said, excuse me, yeah, he felt his leg and said, yeah, this feel about four to six weeks. Who are you to diagnose yourself after you fall and don't even collide with anybody? And I just don't like the whole. whole, I never wanted to leave Milwaukee shit. I get, he has to see that, knowing he's going to be there for a while. I totally get that. But look, if you want to find a bright point in anything and all this,

is that, well, he had 19 points in 25 minutes, so he had that in less than two quarters or about, and about two, a little bit over two quarters. Outside of that, there's no expectations for the bucks as an organization. I think Yonis is going to play nice from now until either the next trade that line. or until next season when he can actually leave. Will he leave? I don't know because he's probably going to get offered the, you know,

if you don't leave, you get offered the max max. His deal might be worth $400 million something. So that depends on what's more important to him, trying to go win the championship or the money. He already got a championship, so maybe he wants the money. But we know him wanting to leave Milwaukee, eludes to him wanting more championships. But you know him right now,

going on this campaign like he never wanted to leave Milwaukee. I don't really like it because I see through it. But as far as expectations to answer the question, I agree with Mace. I have no expectations whatsoever. Okay. They're just there. Yeah.

Okay. So now let's discuss Star Power. Mace, do you think teams should prioritize depth over Star Power in today's NBA? Absolutely not. When it comes to the NBA, Hey, it's ran on stars. Like, why would I, why would I diversify from stars that have a bunch of depth?

I mean, the only time that really worked is with the Detroit teams. Other than that, it seemed like everybody else that has won championships have come from teams that have major stars. Like the Detroit Pistons of the early 2000s won a chip, and then you got the 1990 Detroit Pistin that won a chip. and they had a bunch, they had a bunch of players. But when I think about it, those were stars too. So I only think of one team when I think of that just had a bunch of role players

and they all got together and won the championship. For the most part in this league, it's a superstar league. Even it seemed like even if you got two, that's not enough no more. You need three and you need an age and one that used to be a star to play with them as well. That's what it looked like every championship team has. You know, that's a great example, Mace. I thought I was going to go to the 2000s Detroit

Pistons, where they had more of a unisex, not a unisex unit, than just outright stars. But to me, my team, right, the Spurs. I think what happens is when you win, whether you have stars or superstars on your team

and not, pardon me, sorry, is that they'll NBA make you a star. When you start winning, they'll market you as a star. We don't know that Tim Duncan doesn't have superstar personality, but they'll say market them as the big fundamental, a guy who won five championships,

you know, very quiet. You don't know a lot about Tim Duncan's personal life. You know, Tony Parker, he's from Pat, he comes over there. They're winning, Genobey. They make them in the stars because they were winning, but I don't think any of them, actually have superstar quality.

My personal opinion. Now, when you're winning, that makes you win a star or superstar quality. But we know what a superstar is. You know a nigga who know how to sell it. We know a nigga who sometimes don't even necessarily have to talk that much. We can look at a Shay Gilger's Alexander, right?

And see, that nigga come in with a halter top. And we're like, oh, this nigga is somebody. This nigga here wants to show his belly button. And they, fuck it if you don't have 40. Fuck it. You want to show his ribs. That's right. Yeah.

He's like clapping. You know, they're thinking. This thing is different. Yeah, he's different. Yeah. You're going to show your ribs or your belly butt. All right, you're a star, nigga. You get what I'm saying.

There's different niggas, you know, who the NBA will turn you into the star. So Mace is correct. It's nobody that you could think. outside of that Detroit Pistons team, to me, there wasn't a star. And we can go there on the list of us. You know, we'll talk about the Celtics in the 80s, and we know Larry Bird and Kevin McHale.

And then we talk about Magic Johnson Showtime with Karima, Doobar. Then we think about the bad boy pistons. Then we go to the Bulls with Scotty and Mike. And then after the Bulls, we go back to the Lakers with Shaq, Phil, and Kobe. Then we get into the San Antonio era. Then we get into the Golden State era. And the Lakers come back and went on. Look, it's always going to be a superstar.

And even if they don't have a superstar, they'll turn somebody on a championship team into a superstar. Because to me, my personal opinion is that Oklahoma City has one superstar. And because the team is so good, now you're looking as Cheddar as a star. You're looking at J. Dub as a star. To me, but these are guys, to me, that wouldn't be stars, were all losing teams. So when you're a team and you're winning as convincingly as okay,

CIRR is, then you become a star too. Maybe Mason's correct, or yesterday's take one star per year. This year, there you go. Get one star per year. It starts to make sense. You know, I normally say things ahead of time.

Then they come back. Oh, man. I'm glad I could be of assistance, man. I was thinking of your exact take as he was saying that, too. That's funny. What a star for a year? Yeah. Okay.

So speaking of stars and the stars that we are seeing, since we're discussing individual players, Mace, which star, in your opinion, is under the most pressure to deliver? Um, I really think the pressure is on. Anthony Edwards. Anthony Edwards and Anthony Edwards

because he's the guy that should this should be his turnaround year. This should be the year that he just going to his domination bag, pause and just really start taking over the West. I mean, that's what I was really expecting.

I also feel like there's some pressure on the Lakers. As much as people don't like to talk about it, there's rumblings that, you know, what do we do next year? If we don't win it this year, do we stick with this team? Do we let Brian go? Do we let them go somewhere else?

You know, all of those things you got to consider if they don't win it this year because it's not going to get better next year, right? So they got to make a real push to keep them two together. So I would say the most pressure, though, is on Anthony Edwards. Because he got enough pieces to get it done. He does have enough pieces. If he really took it upon himself, he have enough pieces to get it done.

He got, you got... They might need one more piece, but they got enough if he get in to, like, you know, like Kauai did. You remember that run Kauai had killer? Where Kauai just said, everybody come with me. Pause. We go into the chip and we're going to get a ring.

And he just put the team on his back. He had niggas crying. He had niggas crying from shots. I was like, yo, Kowai just victimized the whole East Coast. And that's how you got to do it sometime. When you speak about the Lakers, sorry, Kim, just wanted to ask, are you alluding to that star being Lucas specifically

or you don't even put it on a specific person that has a lot of pressure to deliver? No, the Lakers, the Lakers, I mean, the pressure's on JJ Reddick. Okay, you put on a coach maybe. Yeah. Because I'm like, who would be that one person? Yeah, there's a lot of point of fingers. on them because, you know, the Lakers can't lose two seasons, three seasons.

That's not a place for that, you know. Like, if you were in Milwaukee or somewhere, you see Milwaukee's not even putting up with that. So if you're at the hottest city, you don't get to just sit there and lose. Like, no, you got to win, and you got to win now. So I think the pressure is on them. Okay, Kim. My opinion is, and they would probably disagree with me.

And I know they probably don't give a fuck, but my opinion is just from NBA circles and people talking to me because the clock is ticking. The most pressure to me is on Kevin Durant. And the reason I say Kevin Durant is because a lot of people include to him only winning his championships with Golden State of team that previously won before he got there. And I said that it was a foregone conclusion that they would win without him. And when he got there, he made his mark. He wasn't just there. He was the finals MVP. Both times they won the championship.

But you know, people are always sitting there and be like, when is he going to do it without that system? We've seen them and didn't work out in Brooklyn. We see him didn't work out in Phoenix. And now you're with a pretty good stack Houston Rockets. Not only that, with a great coach there. So to me, a lot of people, like I said, not me personally, just people who talk about him would say, when is he going to do it? When is he going to be by himself? You know, Sin has this argument when we all talk.

Yeah, Kevin DeRen good, but he doesn't lead a team. And that's a lot of people's argument. Like I said, we know Kevin are saying me like, get the fuck out of it. I don't get the fuck with nobody. We already know what type of time he on. But people do want to see him winning without Golden State. And I think that this Houston team is good enough to actually. actually win a championship if they could pull it together.

So we know the club. I think Kevin Durant still has a lot more years left in them. We don't see him slowing down every year anytime soon. But, you know, we look at this with LeBron, right? We'll sit there and say how, oh, the 41-year-old LeBron is still doing this. And 41 LeBron, his age always gets mentioned whatever's going on since he's turned 39. And we have to think about our superstars that we love right now. And we're thinking about this time next year, Steph Curry will be 39 years old.

Karen Duran will be 38, 39 years old. And they're both still, all three of them, LeBron, Steph Curry and Katie, playing at a really high level. I don't think we've seen this type of high level from people this age ever in the NBA, my personal opinion. But I would say the most pressure is on him, not coming from him personally, but for people who mouthful about him and say, when is he going to do it outside of going to state.

Mace, what's your opinion on that? Because Houston is your team, allegedly. Yeah, I'm really expecting. I'm really expecting KD to get it done, you know? I mean, this is a phenomenal time to do it. But I think it's really going to come down to San Antonio and O.K.C. That was just a far-fetched, you know, wish in mind. Because I want to see KD win without, without, without Draymond, and the rest of

them and Stefan Curry. So I'm one of those people that echo that sentiment, you know. So that's why I'm rooting for Houston. Okay. And then just curious, because I'm just going to throw it out there. Because we haven't really talked about Embed a lot, of course, because his situation has been. Where is Embed? I'm just curious on your thoughts.

I'm just like, alive and well, yes. But I'm just curious. Like, we haven't even spoke on him. Shut out, Embed. What is your opinion on Joelle? And B like, does everybody kind of just like, okay, he just does what he wants? Like, what is the conversation? I don't know what's going on with him be.

You know, when he's playing, he's, you know, it's pretty good. But I, you know, this is a forget about you league, right? Like, one day you're that guy. The next day is like, yo, we might, we can't even put him on a team. The NBA is so bipolar. Some days you're, like, you just think about it. Like, you see people like Westbrook and then it's just the next season. They don't even want them on a team.

You got to go to China. It's like, I don't understand this NBA. But I'm definitely trying to study it more because I don't understand what's going on. It's like the people that got the talent don't want to play. They're looking for everybody trying to rest into the playoffs. I don't get it. And then they're trying to figure out why they keep getting hurt because they're not ready to play. And then, Ken, what's your opinion on MB, just because?

If I'm the owner of the something, 76, I'm just pissed, bro. I'm pissed, bro. You talk about where I'm the deed is at? Where's poor George? Where's the goat murder? Like, yo, you got me spending this chicken. Niggins is missing.

The only person I can really rely on from that three is Tommy Smacks. And, you know, you got the rookie as come doing good. But, yo, I paid top dollar for these niggas, man. Like, where's niggins at? You know, when you said that just now, stat, I went to the last. last game to the box school. The niggas not even in the box school. He didn't play.

Got Andre Drummond and there. Where's the year? Where's the, yeah. Where's the nigga's at? You know, you know, how can I pay this money? You know what I'm saying? And I think they got to the point where

my personal opinion, when it comes to MB, then Paul George, is that they like, let me get what I can get for this shit over with. That's how it looks to me. you're like, let me grab with the little money. I've been out here, though. Paul George, what, 13 years now, 14 years,

how long he's been, let me grab what I could grab. We see that project didn't work out. Paul George is another guy. It's like, before we get to MB, I'm just off MB. I don't know where MB is. I'm just thinking about the season as a whole. Like, yo, because he plays when he won. You know, it's been times I've seen MB play the season.

I'm like, okay, okay. It looked like he came back to his groove, and then you don't see him for two, three. games. Then you forget about them because you got other shit going on and he trying to study other games and football and so on and so forth. And then we come back around to today like, what do you think of him being? Where the fuck is he at? Then we think about Paul George, right? Think about that. Paul George was about this much when he is with Indiana from the throne in LeBron. Not saying throwing him off him being the king,

quote unquote king thing or, you know, his slogan. But at least he's, least one year beat them. You know what I'm saying? Like, Indiana, they was there a couple times, and you're like, yo, this is why I think a lot of kids think that Paul George is really good because he was right there with LeBron, but never could get over the hump. Then when he left him, okay, C, and the clippers, and you're thinking, okay, you got Paul George, you got Paul George.

And it just never panned out. And then get the fill of you, like, okay, they got Paul George. It's not an exciting thing anymore to have Paul George. She used to be like, oh, Paul George is going there? It's going to be crazy. And I think that Paul George, the lot of reasons these kids grew up liking him, because he has a lot in his bag. When I say in his bag, his moves, his techniques, he has a great bag.

You know, me and Mo, shout out to Maurice Claret, we'll be on the show tomorrow. Me and him was talking one day about Caitlin Clark and Paige Beckers. and he was like, yo, Cam, who you like, Ben? I'm like, Caitlin Clark. He's like, yeah, Caitlin Clark is nice, but Paige Becker's is nice suit.

She might got more in the bag. And then I started watching Pagebeckers. I saw I had to go to Women's Basketball for this, but it was a great example by Maurice because I started watching Caitlin Clark, right? And Caitlin Clark get buckets. She's pulling up from three-sheet, pulling her way to the basket.

But if you watch Paige Beckers, she got a burking she put bough bough outfit that those shangar the bag for page beckers as well

I never realized until Mo pointed that out to me and I think Paul George has an exceptional NBA bag I'm talking about

moves getting to Spitz getting to you didn't recognize this you didn't recognize when I was saying about page Beckham Beckers her last name

is not Beckham that's what I'm talking about maybe I didn't know who you're talking about Maybe that's why I didn't know what you was talking about. When you were talking about South Carolina and I was bringing her up, Kim. Murder, I've been talking about Page. I just didn't know a badger's that deep.

How many schools did, how many years to, how many years did Pacee go to UCon, murder? Let's do a Pache's argument right now. How many years did she go to UCon? Because I know about Pace. Let's do it. Let's do it. How many years, murder, what's she in UCon? Maybe.

You know, now that I'm sending it, You know what I'm thinking, murder? Maybe I think, maybe when you were talking about, I thought she was talking about the soccer player's wife. What's the next soccer player? It's man to the space girls. Beckham. Yeah, because you keep calling him Beckham,

so I don't know who you're talking about. Maybe I thought you're talking about. Yeah, maybe I thought you're talking about David Beckham, maybe David Beckham wife, because he keeps called a Paige Beckham, so I didn't know who he was talking about. Beckham, baby Beckham, you know what? Okay. You've got some nerve, right?

Like, he put down to everything, right? You go ahead, go ahead. It's your goal. I'm not going to step on your line. I'm not going to step on your line. I'm just saying, maybe that's what I think you talk about. The more of the story is murder is that I didn't give, I like Paige Beckers, but she went to school for like six years.

And I never took nothing away from her. But to this day, I'm still not taking over Caitlin Clark. I'm still not. I'm just saying that her bag, she probably got a better bag than Caitlin Clark. But, you know, I need two or three points. I'm going to Caitlin Clark before I go to Page. So my bad murder, if you got a Page Becker story. No, that's good.

She was hurt. If she got six years, she got an older bag, you know. That's why her bag is bigger. She got an older bag. niggas is in college today, 22 and 23. That's different. We have to go there as 17. This is true.

Very true. Yeah. So I know we were talking about expectations and then you guys did bring up players. I'm not going to say forgot about because you can't forget about M. B and Paul George, but it's kind of like, where are they? I think another team slash specific player that is a pretty good discussion is the Pelicans because DeJante Murray made his return and then Zion actually came back with one of his first interviews in a while. He spoke on his injuries and he said the most difficult

point was when I missed my third year with a broken foot. There was a lot of criticism on my weight, my care for the game. I was really low because I just wanted to play basketball. Just curious, Mace, what's your opinion on Zion, what he had to say? Pelicans, I guess trying to kind of have a mesh come back or whatever you want to call it. What do you think about that? I wish Zion all the best, but I can't sit up here and say that Zion wanted to play basketball. It's not, how they said, it's not giving basketball. It's not giving basketball. It's definitely not giving basketball.

It's been too many things off the court, and I wish I could, like, champion them and, you know, root for them. But it's too many things off the court that's proven otherwise, you know. And that's why they say you got to, you know, God a good name. Now I understand why they used to tell me that. Because once it starts going in that direction, it's hard for people to believe the best, right? Like, if you bring this up and you're like,

Zion wants to really play basketball in New Orleans, that's like saying, Janis want to stay in Milwaukee. It's the same thing. It looks like you're pulling every hand to get out. But at the meanwhile, you're lowering your brand and lowering your stock and lowering your name. And it's just not worth it.

I wish you would just go back to, being diesel, Zion, dunk on everybody and take, you know, New Orleans to the playoffs like you should. As far as Zion's concern, I've seen a clip. I don't see the whole interview. I've seen a clip of the interview you're talking about stat. And he came on pretty sincere. And myself, Mace, a lot of people, we criticize a lot of athletes for not playing,

but we don't really know what they're going through. But with this particular case with Zion, I'll go back. back to him getting hurt at Duke when a sneaker busted open or some shit. Yeah. And he was heavier and then came overweight. And he has one of them bodies paused to where he or used to where it looked like a lot of weight may come down, ankleish for the whatever. He loses the weight, still misses games. I can only take him at face value when he said he's hurt.

Mace made some absolute great points, though. It looks like you're trying to get out of there. But then when you sign an extension, are you really trying to get out of it? of there. And it comes down to this, right? This is the question, right, for me. Is that, let's say you really are hurt. What are you allowed to do or what aren't you allowed to do? That's the question, right? So when you're hurt and you're rehabilitating, so on and so forth, you can't hollet bitches in the DM? You're not allowed? I'm just asking you don't look good. You can't, you can end up having sex with somebody and then she end up

in a hole and a loud mouth and everything else because I run into all that, that don't mean I'm hurt or that don't mean I'm trying to rehabilitate because the bitch is posting my DMs. I could use my thumbs. They're not hurt. So what can you do and what can't you do? That's the real question.

But to the public eye, it looks crazy. So, yeah, when you get hurt and you're not leading the franchise and you DM in the bitch, that's everything you don't. When your main thing is basketball, you DM a DM in a girl and she ends up putting it on social media, it looks like you're not focused on basketball.

When you may be focused on basketball, but it just doesn't look good to the audience, to the analysts, to the organization and so on and so forth. That's why you got to tread lightly when your main thing is basketball, your main thing is a sport, but you're getting talked about for everything else. But as far as the New Orleans Pelicans are concerned, it's a mess over there.

they're 19 and 43. Pack it up for the season. Like, you know, I appreciate Murray trying to come back getting the group, but it's over. 19 and 43? It's a duh. So I don't know with their future is going to look like moving forward. We can't get a full season out of his eye on. Really sad story, man, because we think about this, right?

When's the last time we talked about a scene, John Moran? So you got the top. two picks up that year in the draft just not playing or things off the court. These are two people that we talk about more off the court than we should on the court. Whether it's drugs, guns, or bitches. Take the drugs out. Guns and bitches. This is what we're talking about with these two, spectacular talents.

It's just so funny because I know you're being so dead ass. He explained all of that with two. He's like, yeah, I appreciate DeJonti Murray coming back or whatever, but like, y'all are already at the bottom. And Zion, like, yeah, you're her. You can DM people, but like, you really just going to have them come over and record you in the crit, like, which is so valid because I feel like people forget, like, I can't even say that's what it looks like because that's the reality.

That's literally what everybody else is seeing, no matter how much. And I'm going to go back to that conversation, Mace, we had about people having the heart. You don't see the heart people have on the court. Like, we're seeing what the facts are. We're seeing what the videos are. We're seeing the girls who are posted up at your crib. Like, I just think decisions need to be smart all across the board because it does suck.

No matter how much passion you have for the game, there are other people who could just come and mess it up. Be like, yeah, I was over at Zion's crib the other day. Like, when you knew they had a practice day. Like, things like that are just so detrimental to the brand. Like, you've got to stick to the plot. Yeah, he was. to the plot. We was playing paintball.

It's like paintball for real. Where's his wingman? Like, where's his best friend? Who? At least Jai got his dad rolling with him. Who's with Zion? Sometimes you can't. Like, I could see, and this is just my thought process, I could see him thinking like, dang, like, really want to play, the internet saying all this.

You know, I'm just like invite somebody over. And you're not going to tell like your friend, because you just want to do what you want to do. You don't need everybody's. unnecessary commentary because I know for men like y'all will show a girl and some one of your homeboys will be like nah you could do better or like oh she's this or she all those unnecessary opinions sometimes people just want to do what they want to do and don't have to worry about all the added commentary so I could fully see him just inviting somebody over thinking he was doing his thing and it ended up backfiring unfortunately yeah so I stand correct that might be right

That's what I'm thinking. Like, you're not even if you're going to tell your home boys for them to go run their mouth or be like, you know. You know, such and such was over here. Yeah. I can see that. Like, just. That's crazy. That's how crazy it is.

That stat is right when this is my point. Thank you, Stats. Thanks, Stad, for making it right. No, you already were right. It was just funny. Like, that was funny. No, no, no, no, no, you was adding on to what I was saying. But murder seeing it now when you said.

It's crazy. Yeah, Nick, go ahead and put the thumbs up on the screen. You might as well. Put the bubble up. Put the bubble up. This is where you bubble up right here, Nick. Go ahead. It's like for instance, right?

The Giants running back. Scataboo, right? He gets hurt for the season. And then he's at WrestleMania. Niggas like, what you doing at WrestleMania? nigga, fuck as you do? You get what I'm saying? You're not supposed to be a athlete.

We tend to think that you're not allowed to do nothing but get better and go play football, basketball, whatever the fuck it is, and entertain us that you are not allowed to do anything else. Yeah. So that's be a lot of people's perspective when you're a pro athlete. And they think that your life is 24-7 revolving around whatever sport you play. It's like, you know, when we look at the Joker as well, they'll sit there and be like, yo, this think I just want to get back and race horses, man. You know, that's what he loved to do.

If he's over here pouring his heart out for eight to nine months and he want to go back and race horses, that's his passion. I'm pretty sure if he could make 400 million races and horses, he probably wouldn't play in the NBA. But us is a society that loves sports, we tend to think that, nigger, get better and get back on the floor. We don't want to see you DM in. We don't want to see you at WrestleMania. We don't want to see you out in the club. We don't want to see you doing nothing else.

And sometimes it's just not fair to be honest. Yeah, I'm going to agree with you, Cam. I think realistically, this might be the way they're getting better so fast. You know, back in the days, if somebody get hurt, they really put all their focus on getting better, and then they end up tan their knee again. So this might be a way to really, like, rebound mentally and come back better, you know?

I mean, the way it seems like everybody's recovering now, they're like, well, I got two weeks off, or I got three months off. And that seemed like how people are doing this. So if that's what they need to do, I understand it. I just wish they get a wingman. Like, if Zion's going to do that, he need a wingman.

He needs somebody to be making them calls for him. He don't need to be the guy doing it. He need a sugar dougar. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That would... But the thing is, too, right?

Right, Mace? So, listen, when you think about this, right, we'll talk about Zion or we'll talk about John Moran. But let's look at the other side of coin. We didn't hear nothing from Tyrese Hallibur. We ain't hear nothing from Jason Tatum, but all we see in his workout videos. Yeah.

We don't hear about niggas in the DMs. Yeah. We don't hear about niggas and so-and-so. So that's why sometimes you get so opinionated on it, you like, this nigga DM and bitches, this nigga, I ain't talking about him about him. And the gym, he's trying to get back this season. So it's different type of people for different shit.

And like you said, Mesa, if you got an assistant, a wingman or whatever, they know how to cover up a few things to where maybe some of your personal habits don't get seen if you do have personal habits that's not according to the public. Yeah, he's single. He got the right to be in DMs. Yeah. But that's also the point. I was going to argue because I know you guys are saying wingmans and stuff, but Cam just gave

like Hallibur and as an example, fiance. Like, you name people who are like tight-knit camp. Like there's nobody doing nothing, trying to spread nothing, nobody with ill intent. They just got good people around them. So partner, the right partner matters. Yeah, you need, you need to, you got to have a wingman. If you're going to be single, you got to have a wingman. Yeah. That's, that's not bad advice at all. It's actually. great advice. I second that. Okay. You got a wing man? I mean,

I don't have a wing man. You know, I got my brightsades. That's all. And I got a mother and a father who will tell me the truth. Oh my goodness. And then y'all tell me the truth. So I... You never had an X. You can't have a wing woman.

Look, they go to your wing woman. Look at it. That was my thing too. Ooh, they can't even see it. I'm screaming. Asian dude out here trying to do a little oozy dance. That's what I do.

I'm like a little bit crazy. I'm telling you, everybody does it. Y'all just don't want to do the dance. And that's fine. That's fine. What's the name of it? This one? I don't know.

I don't know. But go check it out my Instagram if y'all want to see what I'm talking about. Okay, y'all. So we discussed individual players, but we will eventually. evaluate some of the top teams after the break. Welcome back. Now let's get into our option. Maybe I'm my own problem big.

She's tired of hearing and I don't know what's happening me won't. Welcome back. Now let's get into our underdog picks of the day. Tonight, the Pistons will play the Cavs. dog has paid at 25 and a half points. Do you have higher lower Mace? I'm going higher. This is going to be a really good game. I think both back courts are going to show up.

But I'm looking for Cade to go crazy. So I'm going higher. I agree. I'm more high. Okay. Then we got Jalen Dern at 18 and a half points. Do you have them higher, lower cam? Higher.

Higher. Okay. And James Hardens at 20 and a half points. Do you have him higher lower mace? I'm going higher. You know, James. James is part of the August group, man. I got to go with that.

I'm going to hire. I'm going to go low. I think you have 19 and a lot of assistance, I'm going to go. Okay. Make sure you all download the Underdog app and you can make your picks too. Just a quick note, Mace.

I know you said like you like the Rockets and you've named a couple other teams, but you really do have a liking to the Pistons. The more we discuss and talk about Cade and how you've like kind of vouched, you don't really do that for players. So I'm like... It's a Detroit thing.

It's a Detroit thing, you know. Detroit was a real good city to me. So, you know, it's a Detroit thing. Okay. Just asking. We've been talking about them, and you've had very high. Let me ask you a question, murder. Murder.

What's the name of the family? I'm asking if you know, I don't know. What's the name of the family in Detroit? It's like, you know the family of Milwaukee that you know. What's the Detroit version of them? Shout out Can you really shout to them out in a while What's the Milwaukee family?

Yeah, the Hans family, man Shout out to Dishie Hans, man Shout out to the Hans family, you know Shout out Shout out to the Flinnories, man. The Flinnories, man. Yeah. Yeah, shout out

to my God, You know, dog face, man. You know? I know people out there, killer. What you want me to do? I know real ones, man. The flenteries are stressed. You set yourself up for that one.

You want. You want it. You got it. You got it. You got it. I got it. I'm about it. You got it.

You won the day. I ain't even got nothing I'm talking about. You won. You won the day. You want me. Look at Stapp. Do you know the Flennery's? Is that not the right?

Did you look at me? Yeah. That's why I'm sitting here. I just, sometimes I don't ask questions. I just move upward and odd word. Yeah, man. One of the whole show.

You won the day murder with the Flanneries, man. And dogface. Yeah. Okay, well, on from the Fletters to the teams. Let's evaluate some teams at the top of their conference. Might as well start with the next, Mace. Do you think that they're built for long-term success, or do you see it as a short window? we've had a lot of back and forth, like, this is their time.

But, like, let's talk about their future. What are we thinking? I don't know. I'm starting to believe, you know, over the last day, things turned around, man. I've been receiving a lot of applications from Titletown. I mean, about the New York Knicks. They might be going to the Eastern Conference final. I might have to get them an invite.

So, you know, this is, I'm telling you. telling you before it happens that, don't be looking crazy when it happens. I'm telling you, somehow I'm seeing the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. And right now, they shouldn't be. Right now it should be like Detroit and Boston,

but somehow one of them might not end up there. Detroit or Boston, you see them surpassing? I think the Knicks is going to be in the Eastern Conference. Okay. Cam? Well, that's a big change in 24 hours because that's not what you say yesterday. Why have you had an epiphany?

What the fuck? You just say yesterday. I just told you, I'm receiving a lot. I just told you, Killer, I'm receiving a lot of applications. A lot of applications. This calls being made. You know people. I know people.

The fix is in. Remember I told you about the fix, man. Niggas want to see New York win. They saw the ratings go down. They know the Knicks is a team that you want to see when, because no matter who they play, they come with a lot of fans, right? So I'm not just talking about basketball. You know how much money the NBA would make if the Knicks were in the championship?

Forget if they won it or not. Just being there. You know how crazy. They were already naming streets for niggas killer, and they won two games. Just imagine if they wanted... If they got to the championship, you know how crazy New York would be, man. Yeah, but this ain't nothing new. We know that.

They've been thinking about how upset that the commissioner been thinking for the last 15-something years, y'all can't get it done because you ain't lying. New York would go fucking crazy. You're right. If they just make it to the championship. And that was our prediction before the season started that they should be in the finals. It's just us watching throughout the season. that gave us pause the course.

Let me ask you this before I answer the question, murder. Do you think that's a successful season for the next getting to the Eastern Conference Finals being that they were in the Eastern Conference Finals last year? Hmm. It'll build a delusion. You know the delusion gets stronger. Two years back to back.

They got to win it next year. You know what I'm saying? That's what NY stands for next year. It's the next year next, man. But what do you think? Do you consider it successful or no? I think for the Knicks, yeah. Nobody else but the next.

Nobody else. I'm going to have to disagree. No. Nobody else. Because it'll buy the coach some time, right? He said, I got you to the same place. They got you to. in one year.

So with a new coach saying he got him there in one year would actually mean a lot. It's a black guy. It's not, you know, and not take away the black guy's statement. But in him being the coach, it's like, I got you to the same place. Tibado got you to, and I was only here one year. So you know next year we're going to do it. Pause, and that's what niggers will be thinking.

I ain't mad at that. Don't mean, Steve Kerr vibes. All you did was getting us where we were already in. Then ain't even Steve Kerr vows. At least Steve Kerr came in and won his first year that he got the Golden Estate. You know what I'm saying? I just wanted to ask you that because me and, you know, that's sentence question all the time. Because he asks as me, is it successful?

I told him last year, if you're going to get Eastern Conference Finals, it's a successful season. If you get to the championship this year, it's successful season. If you don't, yeah, I get what you saying. The progress. I get what you said too. Yeah, I get what you said too. But what you say is making a lot of sense. For New York, that is 100% correct what you say.

We did it two years in a row. That's exactly what they would say. That's 100% what they would say. Fuck you want. We went to the East of Congress back and back. Then they'll say, we're the Emerald Cup champions. So don't act like we ain't win anything this year. We want something all right.

This is the delusion that are going in the next. Fiz, you know, before I answer the question, too, man, spoke to sin last night, murder. He's mad at us. He's mad at us. He's mad you put Jalen Brunson number five on the point guard list. We always hate him. What number he thought Brunson should have been? What number he thought he should have been?

I really would like it. I was thinking of calling for five minutes. Say, if you actually sit. Yeah. Jalen Brunson is bad than Magic Yard. And so, right? You know, I mean, I'm exaggerating, but this is what they're talking about. This is how they look at it.

You know what I'm saying? Yeah, I've seen you a murder-hating. Y'all niggas never give us up. I say, yeah, I don't know what you want me to tell you, man. I said, at least I said he tied for third with two other niggas. Then they're going to get mad at me. Listen, man, it was the whole thing to do. But as far as the next step, just the exact question,

because when we start talking about the nix, I wanted to ask him to make some things. the exact question. Yeah, do you think the Knicks are built for a long-term success, or do you see this is still as a short window? I think that the Knicks have to get over the hump. It's one of those situations where once they get over the hump, pause, that they could be built for a couple years to get to the championship, when I'm not sure. But you need that confidence, because if they get knocked down again, and let's say they get knocked down this year by let's just not even use Boston

let's use Detroit right now you're sitting there saying damn we got to deal with these niggas for another three four years you lost the Boston that year not the year that they beat Boston last year you lose to Indiana

now it's another young up-and-coming team to where you have with Detroit you're like damn we got to deal with these niggas not to mention Orlando may be a piece away from creeping up So I think that this is the year they need to get over that hump to build confidence for the team that they have now. Because if they don't get to the championship, all those trade rumors that we were talking about right before the trade deadline, they'll start happening.

They'll start seeing what they can get for Carl Anthony Towns or in a Josh Hart combination. They'll start, niggins will be on the move. They will not have the same team next year if they don't get over this hump this year. I think that Leon Rose and Worldwide West said, look, we don't want to break this up. We got everybody in. We got rid of Randolph. We got rid of Devin Tenzo for this unit particular. We gave up 2,000 draft picks for McKell Bridges.

Let's see if we can get over the hump this year. But if it doesn't happen this year, I don't see this team being the same team next year. And I don't see them built for long-term success, especially, like I said, Tatum return at Halliburton. don't know about how Indiana is going to look because, you know, Miles Turner is going. But I think Boston is still right there. Detroit is younger up and coming. The Knicks have to get over that hump. And when I say over the hump in the championship, not necessarily winning, but have to be in the championship.

Well, I don't think you'll see the same team together next year. Yeah, I think when it comes to this Nick team, they might need to look into getting DeVincenzo back. How do you say his name? DeVenzo. Devenchino, get them back for Miles, Mikel Bridges. That would be a good trade because it will work out for both teams. The wolves need, need McHale,

and the Knicks need that shooter back. That's the only way they can advance in that league the way they need to. They need more shooters. Well, the thing about it is this, for a lot of people that don't know because we probably don't pay attention to it, the most important shots of that I'm not an NBA song when I hear all the NBA players are coming

talk about it is is layups and corner threes and they talk a lot about how corner threes are important and McKell Bridges actually leads the NBA in corner threes at the point we don't you know we sit there and see De Ventzo which is he's a great shooter absolutely but if we're counting where NBA players say and coaches say I don't know I'm just going off what they say what's the most important shot is a corner three when Cal Bridges does leave the league in corner three is that going to equal out of championship? So maybe you might be right.

Maybe it's just the complexion that you need in there. I don't know. Okay, so you bring up DeVincenzo, and I think let's go to the West. Let's talk about the Timberwolves. And when we're talking about long-term success, of course, the conversation always is going to go to OKC and the Spurs right now.

They're hot right now. We get it, and rightfully so. But what do you think about the Timberwolves? do you think they stack up when you talk about long-term success or do you think that this is a short period for them as well? I think they definitely got to make some moves, especially in the front court. They got solid players, but the West Coast is too strong in the front court to not have major players, right? Like you got Randall, but what's Randall to Wembe, right? You got you got Randall, but what's Randall to Joker?

You get what I'm saying? The people that you're looking at, that's not going to, you can't compare those. Those are apples and oranges. So what they need is somebody really dominant. You know, they're looking to blow this Sixth team up. They're going to have to look into that direction and see if they could get Joel and Bede or something like that. That'll make them a formidable opponent.

Other than that, they're just going through. through the West to get knocked out until Anthony Edwards, he got to play like his hair is on fire to make that team win. But I think he could do it. But he definitely needs some help. And repeat this stat, as far as I'm saying. Yeah. So basically, do you think the Timberwolves are built for long-term success

or you think it's a short window for them? Just looking at the West now. I think that when Mace just said Julius Randall, when we talk about the Joker and talk about Wendy and so on and so forth. I don't think that's his responsibility. What happens is this and I don't know what happened,

but we have a two-times, minimum two-time, might be three-time defensive player of the year when we talk about Rudy Gobert. And it's like, where are you at? You know, Julius Randall is the power forward on the team, and I know we have to change positions if you're in the NBA and switch up and so forth.

But it was a time where he was a defensive prowess, and we don't get that from, I don't get that anymore. Ever since May 7, and it seems realistic. After COVID, he just wasn't the same. I don't know if the James when he's playing games with the COVID or whatever, but he had a little presence at one time as a big man. Not saying the scoring dominant center, but he had a presence, block shots, rebounds.

You don't just get defensive player the year. year by accident. And we don't talk about him anymore. We talk about Airman as we should. And we talk about where's the hell with Airman, Antman, and we go straight to Julius Randall. We have a former six man of the team on there. Nass Re, you know, we have Devin Chenzo, who hasn't been shooting the best, but we know he can get streaky. But I think with the names, Mace just mentioned, we're not going to ever say that Rudy Gobert can be as good as the joke or he could be as good as Wimby. But the one thing that they did do is beat Denver when Carl Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert was there.

It was like two seven-footers or one seven-footer. And that was a very, very good series. But as far as Minnesota, they're another piece of way, I believe. Like I say, I think Julius Randall, and I love Julius Randall, but I think he's more of a third option than a second option. And I think that's what Minnesota is missing, a second option. Because he's not Scotty Pippen. He's not going to be Kobe Bryant to Shaq.

He's not that. He's a great third option to me. Fantastic. He could probably be top two or three third options in the league, but I don't think he's the second option to go to on that team. And I think that's when Minnesota is missed. Do you mean on that team on a championship team? On the team presently constructed.

in Minnesota as we speak. All right. Good discussion. We will see what happens for all the teams. It's an interesting NBA year for sure, especially with a lot of injuries playing into account. So we'll see who steps up to the plate. But that is all the time that we have for today.

Thank you all for watching. And as always, it is what it is.