IT IS WHAT IT IS - WHICH NBA SUPERSTAR WOULD BENEFIT THE MOST FROM THEIR FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP?!

Episode Date: April 14, 2026

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Okay, we're back at it. Back to it is what it is. I'm your host, Trista Crick, with analyst Mace and Treasure Wilson. Hey, Statt, what's going on? How are you? Great, Trisha, how are you doing? I'm good. We're back in the same place.

Yeah, everybody's in the same place. We get to get some fire takes from Treasure today. Oh, my goodness. We're on, are we on the slander Detroit Pissons time or we did? I'm not here to Slander Detroit. It should really be interesting. You got the, The biggest haters of all on the show today.

You? Right. His haters of all. Yeah, the biggest haters of all. Oh, man. We got playoff matchups, though. We got to talk about them. Let's start with the series that I feel like is really exciting on the

East Coast, as you would call it. Hawks versus Knicks. The Knicks are back in the playoffs for the fourth straight year. They do draw a very tough playoff matchup in Atlanta instead of the Toronto Raptors, which I think a lot of Knicks fans would prefer. Hawks have won 19 of their last 24 games to start the season. They played each other three times in the regular season. Nicks took two.

Atlanta took one. all the road teams won in this one. So, Mace, I'll start with you. Who wins this series? How many games and what do you think that key to the matchup is for the winning team? Man, I think the Knicks win this series. You know, living in New York and living in Atlanta, you know,

sometime, you know. House divided. No, we're not really divided. I mean, on this, I got to go with the Knicks, you know. Shout out the Sin City and all of the, um, the Knicks fans, they get to celebrate. I like this for them. You know, they get some happy times, but don't celebrate too long.

You know, you know, it's going to eventually happen. It's like Groundhogs Day. We all know what's about to happen. So, but this should be interesting. This will be the most interesting playoff history of the Knicks. I think if something magical was to happen, this is the year. happened. I can fill it in the air. If something magical was that happened for New York, this would be the year. So in that matchup between New York and Atlanta, what do you think makes

New York too tough for the Hawks? I just think sometimes you got big wings, which you should win the series when you have big wings. But I don't think they're going to be able to find an answer for Jalen Brunson. I just don't think, you know, sometime is either those bigger wings are going to dominate or they're going to be too slow for that type of guard.

So there's always one of the other every now and then you get a smaller guard that get it done, i.e. Isaiah Thomas, you know what I'm saying? Or Kyrie Irvin or Stefan Curry. Hopefully this year for the nick's sake, Jalen Brunson can be added to that list. Stap.

So here's the thing. I'm really excited about this series because I think, like Truss has said, this is definitely going to be a good one. I know from the games

that we've seen, the Nicks do have the edge against the Hawks. And when I give my answer, I am not being a Nix hater. Here we get this is what we're here for. Let me make that clear. Like, I think that...

Biggest haters of all. No, I think that the Nix are a great team. I think that they're a complete team. But something is telling me, first of all, I think it's going to go all seven games, okay? I think that this is going to be a close one. Something is telling me to go with the Hawks.

Like, I feel like this is the team that if it's going to happen, like, no, it's round one, they might actually be able to have an edge versus the Knicks. Even that last game that the Hawks actually lost to, it was a close game. And that's also because we saw a superb performance from Kat. And if that stays consistent, and I'm not trying to be switching here, if that stays consistent from Kat, then I could see the Knicks winning this game. But if it doesn't, this is where I'm kind of leading a little bit more towards the Hawks. I think that they have a little bit more versatility on offense.

And even if it's not this, I'm not going to say this is their year, because it's definitely not their year this year. But even this round one kind of gives insight into how it's going to go for their next years to come. And I think I'm kind of ready to claim new hotness, because this is the type of team that kind of creeped up in there. A lot of people didn't have the hawks on the radar. And ever since they traded Tray Young, I think that they've actually been a better team.

And I hate to do that because, you know, we see Ice Trade a gang. We like, hey, okay, Tray Young, like this young team. However, we've seen recently, it's been Jalen Johnson's team. And we're seeing Dyson Daniels and we're seeing Onlyke. Like, they have a great core. But their issue is also the Knicks advantage. The Knicks have a deeper bet. So I'm a little back and forth, but I'm just going to say just because...

A little back and forth. Yes, but I'm still going to go to the Hock. No, because I'm giving you the reasons of why I'm kind of in between both, but I'm going to go with the Hocks and strictly off of just, like I said, a little bit more versatility to me just with their starting five, and then just a little bit younger energy, maybe just like, you know, people have been downing us all year, this is our year. That's kind of where I'm going with this.

But it's real hard because also the NIC should win this. So I'm going with the Hawks, but I think the Knicks should win this. That's going to be my answer. Let me ask you a question, St. Since I have you here, right? Since you have you here. Yeah, since I have you here, since I can speak to you directly. Okay.

Do you just go, as younger people, do you just go with whoever's young, even if they're good or not, you just think because they're younger, this is who you're going with? Do you just go with whatever team you think is lit? We can both answer. But the question is yours first. Do you just go with? No, I don't.

You don't? I don't go with whoever's. I go with whoever has the chemistry and the winning integrity. If they have the fortitude to get it done, I go with that team. The team that showed me the greatest character. So you think the Knicks have the winning integrity? I think for this level, They do.

You know, right? Do you think the Knicks have what it takes to get out of the first round? Yes, so you go with the Knicks. Do I think Atlanta have what they need to get out of the first round? I do, but not as much as the Nix. I go with the character of the team. Nix and how many games? I don't know if you said.

Six or five? So five is like quick work kind of. Yeah, six or five. I didn't say five or six. I said six. My first answer is six. First answer is six. If you're into the new, new hotness, I've got a team for you.

They're called the Portland Trailblazers. Best defensive rating in the NBA in the last 15 games. You missed that one last night. They're not rolling, but maybe I can get you on the bandwagon there for next year. For me, I see what you're saying in terms of, listen, like, Nikale Alexander Walker and Jalen Johnson, both top of the odds board in terms of most improved player. That's pretty rare, right? For sure.

Nikiel Alexander Walker, 6-5, Jalen Johnson, big wing. And he's been tremendous. You also have Dyson Daniels there, one of the best defenders in the league. So I get why, and my first instinct before I started digging in, was that I thought this was the one series that could be on upset alert. But the thing for me that gives me a confidence in the Knicks, and I think the Knicks win this series in six. And these games have...

So you're going with my number. I'm going... I had it written. I had it written down. Okay. It's in the notes. Is really the issue with the center position for Atlanta. Because Oneyka Kangu is an undersized center.

Jock Landale is not back for a minute now. He heard himself close to the end of the year. And they don't have an answer for Carl Anthony Towns. Like you said earlier. Like they put a traditional center on Kat the last time out. and Cat was 9 for 12 from the field, two for four from three, got to the free throw line,

12 rebounds. I don't think they're going to be able to rebound with the Knicks. You got Mitchell Robinson there, you got Carl Anthony Towns there, I think they're going to be able to feast on the boards. And if you can't defend Kat and he gets his little zesty swag going on. Not zesty swag.

Jesus. That's crazy. But shout out to the next, though. Shout out to the next, though. Shasty swag. You can't do that. You can't throw that. We can't do that.

Justy swag is crazy. You have no respect. You have no respect for New York. I think it's the East Coast thing. East Coast thing. I don't have any respect for the East Coast? No, I mean, you don't have it for New York. You don't have it for Detroit.

Do you have it for Chicago? Oh, I definitely don't have any for Chicago. Yeah, so you're working on the East Coast, the Northern East. Maybe. Your comment throws, it's kind of like when you're, you're about to butter somebody up, but you know you're about to say something that's going to, like, the way you went with that, I'm like, damn, like, you, she did all this about saying cat was this and this, but he got that zesty swag, like, that fucks it all up.

You know what, you're right, you're right. It's part of, like. What happens if you see, like, what's her name, Jordan? What's his girlfriend name? Oh, Jordan. Yeah, Jordan. Yeah, what if you see Jordan? Do you say hi?

Like, ladies, how do you do that? I don't know Jordan. I'm saying if you like, you say something crazy about a man, or you see it, do y'all just say hi? Here's the thing I feel like people have to kind of understand when it comes to me. Like, I'm really just here for the jokes. Like, the basketball is great,

and, like, analyzing the game is really important, and I love hoop. But really, I'm trying to get some jokes off. And so if I saw Jordan, I'd be like, you know what, like, Cat does when he gets really excited in the game. and he's playing well and he's feeling himself. When Cat feels himself, it's a meme. Pause, pause, pause.

It's a meme. And it's, you don't want Cat really to be, what did he say when he was playing Memphis? We in Minnesota now. We in Minnesota now. And like, Cat, you know what I'm talking about. Like, everybody who watches Cat knows the type of swag he's on when he's playing really well. And that's a bad sign for anyone who's playing against him because he's an emotional player. And if his emotions are high and he's riding high and he's shooting.

nine for 12 from the field, then he's going to show out. And so that's the key factor to me is like, can you, can you stop Kat? And the three-point shooting is, is, is. And can you stop his zesty swag is what you mean? Can you put it damper on the zesty swag? Jordan, I don't even know. Not me, Trista. That's why I'm trying to get Trista back.

He's trying to get me beat up. Back on the road. Yeah, yeah. No, I'm trying to get you back on the road. I'm trying to get you back on the road. You're trying to get you back on the road. That's why I asked you, how does this work for females? Because I know how I work for guys,

so I don't know if women feel like that's something different. You know, like I was talking one time, and I said something about a player, and then that day I saw the player's mom. It was really interesting, right? Yeah. So I don't know how I work for women with women, right? You never know what you're going to get.

It depends on how the conversation for them went that day. You know, it's funny because I see people that, you know, I've lit Doc Rivers' ass. up a lot. And all of a sudden, he starts following me on Instagram. And I'm like, why would you do that? Why would you subject yourself to you know I'm going to like flame you? You want to know what you got to say? Yeah, and you see these people and they're like, I love your takes. And I'm like, thinking in my head, I've had so many takes. Honesty. Honestly. Some people like the motivation. Some people like that. Do y'all like the motivation? Because I don't.

Y'all can keep that away from me. I don't like the motivation. I actually. People like the motivation. They say, you know, heard you. Got you. Got you. I needed that. I needed that. Yep.

Yep. Well, let's move forward in this Cavs Raptor series. This feels like the game. This feels like the series will probably not talk about a lot. Like just in general throughout the course of it. We'll watch it. Cleveland looks like the safer pick. Toronto did sweep them 3-0 in the regular season.

James Hardin wasn't in any of those games. though. Since Hardin arrived at the deadline, Cavs have been one of the best teams on the East Coast, as you would say, who wins Mace, how many games, and why? I'm going to have to go with the calves. I think this is a

sensational year for the Cavs. I think the moment they get James Harden, their hearts are set on proving everybody wrong. I think they come out of the first round playing with a lot of tenacity. And, you know, this team, I see being

right there in the conference finals. They should make it to the East Coast conference finals. I think there will be an upset in the East Coast playoffs. I think the Cavs should do it. If there was ever a time, remember I'm talking about this magical year. If there was ever a time for the magic to show up, this is it. And not the Orlando Magic. We're talking about magic when it comes to like the Knicks,

magic when it comes to the Cavs or Boston, right? One of those teams. I mean, or Detroit, not Boston. I think somebody get upset out of those top teams that we thought was going to win the East. So I'm looking for either the Cavs or Detroit. One of them is going to upset somebody. And even though the Detroit is number one, it will still be upset if they beat Boston or they beat the Knicks and keep them from going to.

to the East Coast Conference Finals. Pistons play, they would play the calves in the next round. You think the Cavs could beat the Pistons? Hmm. I think if this is a magical playoffs, so I'm sticking with that. Somebody is going home that we don't expect. Stad, what do you think about this series? I don't want to talk bad about the Pistons

because, like, I salute them, right? So I know. Both of y'all are here? eating on a piston? No, no, no, no, I'm making that clear. I have to make things clear before I say certain things because people will be trying to tell you said things that you never said.

So I'm saying that right now. I don't have anything against the piston is my case. Is it good or bad? Two things can be true at the same time. That is your quote. So it can be good. It can be good and it can be bad.

And unfortunately, I don't think this series is going to be good. So I'm going with the Cavs. I just think that they're the stronger team in my opinion. I think the Rafters, like, hey, shout out Scottie Barnes, but I'm not really looking for them to shake up too much. They might win a game, so I'm going to say Cavs in five, that next round. Cabs and five? Yeah.

No Andre Barrett, no Scotty Barnes. Do you believe? Do you believe? We always talk about hope. Is it here? Is hope in the room with us? Because I'm not really sure about that one. I'm going with the Cavs confidently.

Now, I would love. Who used to say Keep Hope Alive? That was Jesse Jackson, right? Mm. I should know. Yeah, you should know. I should know. Shoutouts to the whole Jackson family, you know, and prayers up for the late Jesse Jackson.

You're supposed to know that. How is that even black and she doesn't know keep hope alive? Do you know all the words to lift every voice and sing? Do you know how the words face? You definitely been sitting with me and care more too long. Who acts people do they know lift every voice and sing it? You said I've been sitting with y'all too long. Nah, because y'all made me click on my toes, but I don't either.

We just mean like I just the time. You want to have something crazy. In my middle school, we didn't have an action. Do you know lift every voice and sing? We sang it in my middle school every single assembly. I could go right now. Ring with the harmonies of. I can start anywhere you want.

Ring with the harmonies. You don't start from there. That's crazy. Everybody in the comments, let us know if that's how the song starts. This song does not start. like that what's the start like no what's the start like lift every voice and sing yeah

till I'm going to see I'm with you okay you're trying to quote Jesse Jackson she got the song okay I have the song it's in there she started with ring he said that's a bar part that's the bar part I sing it in the shower

Mays don't approve he said that's the wrong part of the song you gotta start with the beginning and he doesn't know any piece Listen, June team wasn't popping When Mace was in his pride I gotta bring that up Then it doesn't start like that

Trish Back to the Raptor's Take Oh my God Oh my goodness I think it's clear I know I think that's just the part I like You don't know

And we don't have enough time to prove You don't know But you're definitely off Go ahead Back to the Raptors. Yes. I shout out to them, you know, for getting here. But do I believe in them?

Maybe at a different point in life, but I'm definitely going Cavs and Five. Yeah, different point of life. Different point of life. I root for everybody. I'm just not rooting for them right now. That's what I'm going with. That's fair. Listen, everybody knows this Raptors team's offense has been very suspect when you play against good teams.

Like, that's just what it is. There's a bunch of wings like Scotty Barnes who can do awesome things defensively. Yes, Brandon Ingram is a bucket. I don't have much belief in this Toronto team to do much. They can force a bunch of turnovers. Cleveland's defense hasn't been great. So I think this could be like a closer game by game in the series than a blowout, which you've seen in other matchups that have this type of high-octane, high offensive.

Donovan Mitchell and James Hardin versus a team that can't. really score. But yeah, I have Cleveland in five. Like just and... See? Yeah, Cleveland are five. That's pretty much it. You know what? I did not know I was looking up the lyrics. It starts with lift every voice and sing. I did not know the second part. I'm not sure if this is really a part of it. The Stoney the Road, you know that part? Is that the second verse? Yeah. We never sung the second verse. We just only the only the the first verse. Yeah, we stopped on, let us march on to victory as one. Yeah, that's when we stopped. Okay, I was just making sure. If they said second verse, I don't know the second

verse. No. But I did know the first, the first part. Where are we going? Nuggets, what? Got the two biggest-tater. Mace is like my uncle with the mint julep. Where are we going next? Nuggets, Timberwolves, I think it's the glasses. Three, three, three, three. versus six, it's a rematch. We've seen them play two times in the last couple of years in the playoffs. Minnesota knocked out Denver out in seven games a couple of years ago. Same stars. Nuggets are deeper this year. They found themselves some more role players. Bruce E. B. is back. Yokic just led the league in rebounds and assists. The Wolves want another trip to the Western Conference Finals. I think that's going to be tough. Who wins this series? How many games, Mason? Why?

And as much as I love Anthony Edwards and the way he attacks the rim and plays, you know, with a lot of courage and bravado, I just don't think Minnesota gets past Denver. I think Denver with Bruce B being back, Bruce Brown being back, I think they're pretty much unshakable because when they see him in that lineup, it reminds them of what they once were us, right? So every time that you unite this team together, whether you got Mike Malone there or not, this is the caliber of team that could upset anybody in the West, right? It's just a matter of if they come to play every single day. You know, when you think of Joker, there's nobody got an answer for Joker in the West Coast. So if he begins to get on a roll and start having those 50, 15, and 12 games,

It's going to be really shocking. I really think this is the playoff year with somebody who's supposed to make it, doesn't make it. And there's been a long time since that happened. Normally, we're looking at the usual suspects. But I think this year it'll be something different. So I'm definitely going with Denver. I'm going with Denver in, I want to say five games.

I want to say Denver in five. or six, but definitely not seven. Hmm. For this one, I just think. Gentlemen sweep alert. Gentlemen sweep alert. Gentlemen sweep alert. Gentleman sweep alert is 4-1. Did y'all know that?

Did y'all know that's the gentleman sweeps stat? Okay, yeah, gentlemen sweep. You think these people in the mirror know? Let them get a game so they can go back and see their auntie and all of that. Gentleman sweep. Give a little taste. I learned that from Charles Barkley back in the days. He used to always say, gentleman's sweet.

He's got a lot of tips and comments from back in the days. Charles Markley got some good, some good gems. Do they apply to my life? Not all the time. But some good tips. Definitely don't apply to me, but he missed my time. Okay. My pick for this, I just think it's really hard.

It's just so hard, just when you see Yokic, even though it's like we love Antman. Like I don't want to go against Antman, kind of like Mace was saying, because Mace just made great points. Yeah, take my takes. And if I take it then, what? No, like you honestly, what they say, hit the nail on the head. I hate those sayings because I'm like, what does Bill?

I know what that one is, but that's not part of my everyday vocabulary. Yeah, no, Mace made great points. I agree with him. I love, you know, what the Timberwolves got going on. but do I think it's enough this year to beat the Nuggets? No, I think the Nuggets are a great strong team. Yokic is always going to perform the way that he does. He's still forever going to be one of the best players in the league.

We know what we're going to get from Jamal Murray. He's a great player, and he also always delivers in last-minute moments. Like, he's good under pressure. He's great. Even just, like, the younger guys that we've seen from Strother, Peyton Watson. I just think overall the Nuggets are a great, solid team. Now, I'm not going to go gentlemen. I don't know about five. I'm thinking around six. I could see the Timberwolves winning around two games, and that's how I'm going to go

with it. But shout out to both teams, but I'm going with the nuggets. Definitely going with the nuggets. Yeah, I agree with both of you guys. I think the thing that it comes down to is what are the wolves going to give us? Like, can they give us what they're capable of? because when your head coach... What are they capable of? They're capable of the Western Conference Finals appearance. That's what they've done two times in a row. But when Chris Finch, after a loss early this month,

says we're a million miles away from the team that we can be, I think that's a big red flag in terms of you not taking the regular season seriously. This has been an up and down, inconsistent team for the entire year. This is a team that probably should have been highly motivated to do more after the way they looked against OKC, but they came back and they looked worse. Dante DiVincenzo and Julius Randolph had to hold it down for Aunt Edwards and Jaden McDaniels when they've both been injured. I need to see Ant Man be Superman. If they're going to win this series, that's what he's going to have to do. And Rudy Gober is going to have to turn back the clock, and he's going to have to figure out a way, which he never is able to do, really.

No one is. Slow down Joker. But you see what happens when these two teams play in the playoffs. Rudy Gober has to sit his ass on the bench. Like that's what they have to do. They have to play Nas Reid a bunch more minutes. They have to go small. They have to try to figure out a way to say, okay, well, Jamal Murray will beat us. And Jamal Murray, though, is having an all-MBA season.

He's averaging 26 a game. He's shooting 44% from three. Aaron Gordon is back healthy. I just think when you talk about a team that's not as motivated as the Timberman wolves have have been they've been very lackluster all season and then you've got a team on a 12 game win streak like the nuggets i think it's going to be really really tough for the nuggets or for the wolves to beat the nuggets so i'm i'm with you guys i got the nuggets in five yeah i also think that the timbrelaves are some of them players are going to face the boot yes immediately and we're

going to talk about that later on the show like who giving the boot who is really like it's giving hot seat. Yes. Giving, oh, like maybe you're on the trade machine. Yes. Spotrack. But the Lakers and the Rockets are an interesting matchup. This is, it could have been awesome, but no Austin Reeves, Mace, no Luca. And you've got a 41-year-old LeBron. You got a KD that's 37. These guys have faced each other multiple times in the NBA finals. And so now you've got a completely undermanned Laker team versus a Rockets team. that blowout. Yeah, they need to win this game convincingly or the series convincingly.

What do you think the factor is in this game besides just the injuries to the Lakers? Yeah, this is, I don't know what else you could make it about. If you don't have, you don't have Austin Reeves on the floor, no Luca, you got LeBron pretty much saying that he could be potentially injured and not 100%. what are we expecting? Your second unit to beat KD and Sagoon? No, that's not going to happen. I look forward.

In order to do it in real Rockets fashion, they should blow them out pause every game. Blow them out four games in a row. Get them out of it. This should be a real sweep. I would be surprised if it's not a real sweep. If it's not a real sweep, then Houston is not focused. Houston got to get them out of there

the first four games so they could get rested for the second round and consider this a gift from heaven, right? The basketball guys gave this to Katie and Sagan. And maybe that's why the God name is amen, right? Amen, Thompson, right? Because they needed this. They would not want to put together this type of team

and lose first round to the Lakers. That would have been a great debacle. it would have crushed Houston heart and their future of hopes. It would have just been very hard to really stomach that falls. So I think this was a gift to the Houston Rockets. So they might as well make the most of it. You know, you can't people be like, well, they didn't win the game because their team was hurt. Well, that's a part of championship pedigree.

Good fortune. Good fortune. So I look out, that's another thing I look out for. Good fortune. not just championship integrity, but good fortune. Good fortune for sure. I'm just going to say it really sucks because this would have been such a good series to watch. And I always say this, but it's like, I want to see these players play.

Like, what are we going to get from LeBron, Rui, and Aiton? Nothing. Well, this is how LeBron used to play KD, right? He used to play KD with a stack team. So now he gets to see how it feels to suit up against somebody who got a few extra players on a team. He said that get back. I'm not going to say it. But y'all know the song I'm talking about because that's exactly what's going on over here.

But yeah, this is a blessing to the Rockets. They actually get to chill for a little bit, I think. I don't think they're going to have to put up too much pressure. And then just it's unfortunate for the Lakers because I know the conversation and keeps being like, what happens to LeBron? Is he returning? What's next? It's like you don't even want to go out like that.

Now, as LeBron beat the Rockets? Then. By himself. Yeah. I'll put them up there. Yeah. This will do it. Yeah, this will do it.

This will do it. This is the time. This is the moment. I want to go on the record. I know Cam is not here today. It's the anticipation. Like, we hyping it up. If the Ron gets this done.

I'm putting them right there with Michael Jordan. He's not in front of Michael Jordan, but Mike is not in front of him. I'll make it that clear. That's all I'm looking for. Right there, neck and neck. Yeah. So this is him saying they're not neck and neck because it's not going to happen. So LeBron's forever going to be right here because he didn't get it done.

No, no, no. I'm letting people see that I'm not just biased. There are things you can do. Yeah. To reach that level. Okay. But this is how you do it. You got to pull, pause out something heroic.

You got to do something that defies the art. Right? Like when you beat Isaiah, you beat Mark McGuire. You beat like five all-stars on this one team. Then you're one of them guys, Joe Dumars, right? I forgot the name. Dantley. I forgot his name.

but it was like five all-stars on this one team, and he beat all of them. That'll do it, y'all. Well, if Houston does not convincingly win this series against the zombie Lakers, we need to have a real conversation about whether IMEU DOC is the right coach to be coaching this. You're putting them on Doc Rivers Alert?

I'm just putting them on warm, yeah, warm but alert. Yeah, warm but alert. He's, because he kind of like Doc Rivers, throws his players under the bus at every chance that he gets. And listen, I have no reason to want to diminish what I'ma yu-yoka has done. What is that call when it's never you, when you're never the problem? Yeah, it's like a lack of accountability. What's the word for it, though? Is it, is that narcissistic?

Not that he is. we're not saying Amen Yodoka is. I'm saying, but is that a trait that is never you? Probably. Yeah,

that's a trait of it for sure, but I don't, I know what you're trying to say. I just can think of the word for it. It's like, it's never you. Yeah. If there's a problem,

it's like, it got to be them because I don't do anything. Because I'm perfect. I'm always doing it. And I think you saw that and I mayudocas from one. That's a horrible trait

to have as a leader I might add. Yes. And that's the thing that when I, I evaluate coaches and give my opinion on them, that's like the number one thing. It's you. At the end of the day, if your players are not prepared, that's because they weren't locked in and that's your responsibility to get that out of them.

You've had the opportunity to get Reed Sheper ready to go and put him in the starting lineup as your starting point guard to get him those important minutes ahead of the playoffs, but you won't do it. fans have been going out of their mind trying to figure it out. And now Katie's bringing the ball up. And again, he just continues to shirk or push off the blame. So I think a lot of people are kind of annoyed by that. This may have a lot to do with what's going on off the record, right? Because sometimes there's things going on that nobody's discussing, but obviously there's something if our team needs a point guard. And we drafted a young point guard from a blue.

Blue check state, right? Or blue chip state, right? This guy comes from Kentucky. We need a shooter. His resume is shooting. Why is he not playing? We need a point guard. And we need one who can shoot,

and he checks both boxes. And he's young. Why is he not playing? Yeah, it's stunning. It's stunning. The rotations for Houston have been head scratching, and I think that's a big red flag.

If they don't get this thing done convincingly, you wonder, okay, like Fred Van Fleet, you guys brought this up yesterday. Fred Van Fleet tore his stuff up later than Damien Lillard did. That's why Damian Lillard, I think, is going to be ready to go. And Fred Van Fleet has a little bit more time on top. Because he did that. He tore his Achilles or his ACL or his Achilles.

I think it was his Achilles. History with small guys tearing their knee. His ACL? Yeah, ACL. He tore his ACL. What's the history with smaller guys tearing their ACL? You know, I think in general it's just a hard thing to come back to, but they have a lot

of more technology overseas. You've got the, like, platelet replacement therapy and all this stuff. I think also Fred Van Fleet has had issues with his back over time as well. So I'm concerned about him being the point guard and getting ready to roll. So anyway, all that to say, Houston better put belt to ass.

I do want to add, though, and I think Houston will put belt to ask, which I think we're all in agreement with that. I don't know. As far as email you don't. I actually think he, not actually, like, he's a great coach in my opinion. And I understand how we were saying, like, not take accountability. He's blaming the players. But also, like, business-minded, too.

Like, he also wants to keep a job. Yes. So unfortunately, he's going to put it on another play. probably put on the KD, whatever the case may be. So he's good. No, if he wants to keep his job, he better win. Well, yes, that for sure. But also, I could see the answers not really taking accountability.

He's going to be like, this person didn't do this. This is the play that I drew up. This didn't have, like, you know, I see that. So, like, I kind of get it. He's trying to keep that job. Yeah. And this is a great team to be coaching right now because the Rockets, the Rockets are on five.

This was really your team. The Rockets are on fire. I ain't going to lie. So this is a smooth first round for them. Just say it. He's shaking his head because he knows. He's like, yeah. This is a safety net too because he knows the rockets are tough right now.

He's talking about like, they better win. You know they're going to win. This is one of your teams. And they're actually good. Like, they're actually smooth right now. That second round is when I start to worry, but I'm not worried about that. Who's your team right now? I'm a Blazer fan, remember?

Oh, my. My goodness. Best defensive rating in the last 15 games, Portland Trailblazers. Watch out. Just watch out for us next year. We got to go to break. The shenanigans will continue. Which player in this playoff field will benefit most from winning their first ring?

When we come back from it is what it is. Back on, it is what it is. We were talking about the playoff match. So we went through all the ones that we have so far locked in. But I wanted to pose this question because there's a bunch of players in this playoff field that I think we all are in agreement are really, really freaking good and going to be good for a long time. Wait, wait, while we're talking about the playoffs?

Mm-hmm. Where's Miami in the playoffs? Oh. He said, let's bring up somebody else's team. He's not even in the conversation whatsoever. I'm just saying, I heard everybody, but. stats team in this whole debacle. I have two teams and they're both

not doing so well. We see where the Warriors are. She became a Golden State fan. I know they were hating on Jaime Hawkins last night. Like, I don't know what you want me to say. I don't know what you want me to say. So she knows what it feels like when the

boat leaves the dock and the boat is left the dock. The boat leaving the dock is crazy. I've never got left from the boat ever. But I've seen people get leave from the boat. You've got to have your path to be ready. It's not fun.

It seemed like in Miami the boat left the dark, but we'll see. We have nothing to see, unfortunately. Yeah, because now it makes sense why the hate is directed. All the missiles are directed.

Can I get a solo, Nick? This is where I need Nick to put the bubble up there and put the thumbs up and all that. Nick. You know, this is where the hating comes from. It comes from Stats team. The boat leaving the dock.

And then she's joining in with Trista. The double hate, the new hotness alert is crazy up here. So she's going for Portland. She's saying next year, I guess she's joining the New York, the New York Knicks every year is next year. So. No, I always thought we wouldn't compete. The way that that roster was set up for a very long time,

We had nobody that was defensive-minded. The wings were not athletic. Like, we were having Al-Farouca Meno and guys like Evan Turner and Myers-Lennard. Anyway, we got to get to these rings. I think the blazers, I'm going to tell you something from the basketball guards. I think something happened. You think we're cursed? I was going to say that.

I think Portland is cursed. They had Brandon Roy. They had Sam Bowie. Just think they had Greg Odom. It's like every time you think they had something, they had nothing. And then they had the young boy and they trade him to Boston, which I thought was so crazy for Drew Holiday. And then the coach get put, get mentioned in an indictment.

This is just you can't make this kind of luck up. I remember when Terry, what's his name, Terry something used to limp, but he was getting 30. I said, this team, something is wrong with this team. Terry Porter. Yep. Just never been able to do it, man. Never.

Never. And then remember you guys had Damien Lillard, and then he left you guys because you guys weren't good enough. No, I saw a graphic the other day. Yeah, we did take San Bui over Mike. Yes, that's that win in history. We took Greg Oden over Kevin Durant. We know, we know.

Yes. I saw the top 10 biggest busts. How did you feel about that? When they picked Greg Oden, did you think, like, oh, we got the one we needed? I thought to myself, we took a big. This is not going to end well. Then when they get DeAndre Aiden, it's like they keep doing it. It's something about the GM.

But Donovan Klingin's really good. He's a big. I know, but they always. They only had one big man pause that was really good to my understanding. Bill Walton. And that was, no, I got to add Bill. Then they had three. They had Cursie.

Cursie was getting busy. And then they had Bill Walton. And Sabonis. Sabonis was the one I was thinking about. Sabonis was really good. So back to these players that don't have rings that we think are. really good. We've got Wemby. We've got Aunt, one of the more charismatic

players who can end up becoming the face of the league. If you want to that. Wemby is getting a ring, I might add. By the way. I want to just put that disclaimer out there. Don't go too far with Wemby's name. Wimby will be getting an NBA championship.

At some point, yes. Donovan Mitchell. Some point soon. Some point soon. I think his His attention to detail and being 7-4 will play a role. I don't think you pause can have somebody that tall, that dominant, and not win a ring. Every person that was ever super tall and dominant got a ring. Kareem Abduljabar, Shaquille O'Neil, right?

The list goes on. Do you mean soon as in this season? Are the basketball gods telling you? I wouldn't be surprised if the Spurs won at all. I would, me personally, either this year and the next year or the next year after that, one of those years they get a ring. I think this team is too stacked

unless they just do something stupid when it's time to re-up. This team have too much firepower pause. And even when you think of the people that come off the bench, They're bringing Ron Harper, Jr. off of the bench. I don't think it's Ron Harper, Jr., but is that his name? Dylan.

Dylan Harper, but it's impossible to not get a ring. I think he's as good as the starting players, and he's coming off the bench. So this team is ready to cut the nets down. So out of Wembe, Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Brunson, and Aunt Edwards, and then we'll add Cade as well. Which one of these guys do you think benefits the most by winning their first championship this year? I think Wembe. I think if he wins the championship this year, the NBA gets really crazy because now they can definitely transition the league away from guys like Kevin Durant, LeBron, Steph, and now they know the future is secure.

This is a person that we can hang the NBA on Because if you get one this year, there's only more to come What do you think, Stett? I think Benefit the most? Yeah. I think Jalen Brunson. Yeah.

Because I, like, I hear Ant Man. I can see that too. Yeah, like I hear Ant Man and I hear Wembe and I still, I don't know, for whatever reason it's just like specifically Jalen Brunson in the Knicks in my eyes and probably to a lot of other eyes they have less time like I think these other guys have more time I think that I don't want to say higher ceiling but a higher ceiling like we're excited to see what the future holds for them I don't want to say we're not excited to see what the future holds for the Knicks but I think we're all in agreement

that's like it needs to happen now because if it doesn't it's kicked to the curb so I would definitely say Jalen Brunson. I know you're going to add. I think that, yeah, when you was talking about who benefits the most, you're correct in Jalen Brunson. I think a championship in New York would make so much money, right? I think there's no other place that would make as much money other than Los Angeles. But the realm that New Yorkers would go to for a championship in New York, oh, they may a rap song. They might get a rap deal. You know, they already gave them streets and they won a few games. You don't want to see the Knicks in the championship. I'm telling you the tickets might be

100,000 just to send it. It might be crazy. Wow. And honestly, even if the reason being the city isn't big enough, I think that this also gives Jalen Brunson validation. Because I feel like in all these conversations, he does kind of like, oh, Jaylen Brunson, if they get it done. If he brings a championship to New York, he will be God. Yeah. The media will make a list.

But like, you know how many good guards New York has had over the years from Rod Strickland, the Stefan Marbury, Kenny Ann, and it's just, the list is so long that if you're the first Rod Strickland, And if you're the God that gets it done, even Kari in Brooklyn, James Hardin in Brooklyn, if he's the first God in New York to get it done, like my son say, after the 1900s, right? This is going to be huge.

Yeah, and it's not even a bad thing for him because it's like he does frequently deliver. So I know for him it's got to be frustrating even when we have these conversations with top three points. Because even when we were talking about point guard, I think you, did you say you had Cade over him? I don't recall. Yeah, I did have Cade. Yeah, which is not even, like, that's a great take because I understand that. But this right here kind of solidifies his standings because, I mean, like we say, no, we went the whole show without saying Title Town. But, like, that's kind of what he needs to be able to secure that.

So I think Jalen Brunson, he definitely benefits the most. And I know we know we gave her takes earlier and I did say the Hawks. and I understand that just because I think I'm just getting it a little bit more edge, maybe that's wishful thinking, call it what you want. But like if the Knicks do win and that's going to come down to Kat's performance, even Josh Hart's performance, this is that moment. Like this is that moment that we actually want to see. And then all that stuff that we said about the Knicks throughout the season,

throughout the year, throughout all our episodes, throughout all our team. No, that you said. That you said. And you included. No, no, no. We could go back and get the tape. We can't go back. The killer said that if there was ever a year for the Knicks to win it, I said that he agreed with me.

No, I'm not saying it not being the year. I'm not saying you didn't say it wouldn't be the year. I'm just saying the doubts that we've had because you guys have really kind of taught me like, it's always next year and like why trust them now? Like we haven't gotten that yet. And like they disappoint us every single time. That's what NY stands for, Trista. Next year. Yes. And that's what I'm alluding to. Those takes, sin has every reason to. to say whatever the heck he wants to say to all of us if they win it all because I understand that frustration. He's going to be happy because he knows I said it.

I put the blessing out there for the Knicks to win it this year. If they want to win it, they got to talk to me, though. And they got to talk to me nice because I know the basketball god. You're like chin gigante. You need a cut. I know the basketball god. He said they got to talk to at this point. We got to talk to them nice because if they win, they deserve this.

No, we don't have to. Talk to them nice just yet that this is a going thing. This thing has been going on since I was wearing acid wash jeans. This is how long this has been going on. As it was what I'm

trying to tell you. AJs, the buttons that snap, you know, the weapons. Do you remember that Easter with the weapons? I had the yellow T-shirt cut up with the A-Js and the yellow

and purple magics. I was freshen than everybody. I was cleaner than the pastor in church. They probably wanted to kick me out of Canaan Baptist on the 116th. Y'all remember y'all kicked me out. I was too fresh. They thought it was picture day. People wanted to take pictures. I had to get out of there. We need that picture. Now I got to see you. I had to lick a t-shirt cut up, you know. The way y'all wear it now, I was wearing it like that back in the days. That was my fashion. Trendsetter. Yeah, trendsetter.

I ain't even know what I was doing, though. It was by accident. So when I saw a little Uzi do it, I said, I had a t-shirt like that. Little Uzi got the drip from murder, man. I like that. What's the problem with acid-washed jeans? We don't like acid-washed jeans. I'm saying back then we didn't know they were skinny.

We was wearing those skinnies. We just didn't. I didn't know they were skinny's. I feel like... Okay. It was the electric boogie, yes. You know how the electric boogie? No.

Oh, okay, I figured that. I don't even know what that is. You know that? How is that different than the electric slide? Oh, my goodness. If Cameron was here, he will walk out. The electric slide... What's the electric...

I don't know the electric buggy, no. It's when the people are doing their moves and they're going like this. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I know I know that. Yeah. Statt, you guys are on a culturally appropriate show And you don't know, look it up That's what they're doing.

This is literally what they're doing. Let me see that. That's the electric buggy. That's what they're doing in the thing. It's like a step. Put the camera on. We represent. Do it again.

Do it again. Statt said this is an electric buggy. They're sitting here doing this. They're doing that. It's not an electric buggy. You're going to have to teach me because I ain't ever seen no electric buggy in my life. When the people did it like this,

You ever seen them do that? Yes. That's electric boogie. Okay. You know sticking and roll it? We got different dances, y'all. Like, I don't know the electric boogie, but I can stick it and roll it.

I don't really know what you want me to do. I don't really know what you want me to do. Yeah, that was crazy. Sticking and roll it. I love stick and roll it. And they know what I'm talking about. Some people know the electric boogie. Some people know sticking and roll it.

Some, I can't even name another. You said electric slot is the electric book. No, I just asked. Because I only know, I didn't know that that, I know that. You can't be doing, you can't be doing hip hop just to, you don't know what. Maybe there was a different term on the West Coast. You haven't in a backspin? Yes.

Okay, okay. Back to your point about Jalen Brunson, though. I think the thing that's like really interesting is that it, changes the possibility for a small guard. Because right now we say that only six four, six, five guards and above will win titles. And that you can't win with someone who's like, I think Jalen Bruns is not really six foot. He's probably 5.11. He's got thick, thick-soled shoes on to be six feet, six feet one.

And if he can do it in big moments and take those crucial clutch shots that we know that he does, gets into the body, creates space, little mid-range, you know, passing, whipping the rock to, you know, Mitchell Robinson or Josh Hardin underneath the basket and gets Madison Garden up. MSG to win a title on the back of him. I think buys them more time, stat, like to keep this thing rolling, but puts them in a situation.

What do you mean by buy them more time? In terms of, I think James Dolan said, hey, if we don't win a title, I'm going to make some changes. And so you get to keep McAill Bridges, you get to keep Carl Anthony Towns. Maybe you go out and re-get Isaiah Hartenstein.

Maybe you figure it out if you can win a title, right? Like it at least buys you the idea that, hey, we can do more, we can keep this. And I think you're right. I think time is starting to tick out. But he gets a restaurant. I mean, the city probably gives

Jaylen Brunson his own... Yeah, if he goes to the championship, he gives his own restaurant. Yeah, he'd get a car dealership and everything. If he, he might get an avenue. They might give him an avenue. The way media work today with the internet, he can force his avenue.

You know, he can say, you know what? I'm the only one that ever gave you our championship. I want it right here. I want eighth avenue between this and this to be Jalen Brunson Avenue. Do it too. So everybody that comes here knows that. you see it up on the signs. Does he become the greatest nick of all time?

If he wins the championship, I think he does. I think he's had these same type of moments that, you know, that other players have had, you know, that when Willis Reed ran out the locker room, you know, Bernard King, he's one of the great Knicks. But I think Brunson has had some amazing games in that garden. I think if he wins the championship, we got to make him the greatest nick. Because I haven't seen the Knicks win in my whole life.

When they won the championship, we weren't born. Phil Jackson was on the team. That's too long ago. It's too long ago. You know, so to think of that, if he wins the championship, because I know all the players I saw come through there. Steve Francis, Anthony Hardaway, Alan Houston. The list is just too long of guards who was supposed to be great

to say that he got it done at 5-11 from Jamaica. We got to give. And in the second round, too. Yeah, we got to give this some real. This might need to be a case study. Yeah, I do think. Jalen Brunson need to be a case study. Because in my growing up, we've never seen a guard 5-11.

Get this much done. Six feet, get this much done. Not on the East Coast. Not on the East Coast. Not on the East Coast. Who are you about to say? No, I was going to say not on the East Coast. I was just, we're saying 5-11.

Do we actually think he's 5-11? Oh, definitely. Yeah. Because AI was 6-1. AI was 6-1. So AI was 6 feet. I got a look. I think he was like that.

Oh, that's why I said at that height because AI was 6-1. His height is listed at 6-flint. I know you never go off because you just never really know. You see him in person and you're like, yeah. No. Then it's like I'm seeing Jalen Brunson and Steph

at the same height, so it's really throwing me off a little bit. And so I'm like, I don't know. I got to see that. I think Steph is 6-2. Yeah, but it's also said Jalen Brunson is 6-2. So that's what I'm like which one is. Oh, definitely not. That matters.

That matters. I will say. But back to your question that you asked real quick before we were moving. So are you saying Steph is six feet? No, it says he's six two. No, but I'm saying with your eye test. You might.

Nah, no, nah. Steph is actually six two. Then why does him and Jalen Brunson look the same height? Well, they're listed at the same height. I would say they're about the same height, actually. Like in person, they definitely are about the same height. You just don't, it doesn't seem like it, but they definitely are.

probably about six one, six two, that's what I would say. It's hard though. You need to be Jalen Brunson's hype PR publicist. No, I know a thing or two about hype because that's why we had the whole conversation about Russell Wilson, because when I be seeing people in person, that's the first thing, because I'm a lot taller than people expect me to be.

That's the first thing that I'd be peeping, especially when I have my heels on, because my heels on probably about six foot, and I'm like, just peeping. But as far as Jaylen Brunson. Were you looking at the top of his head, Paul? It'd be leveled. You're talking about Russell Wilson. Russell Wilson was shorter than me.

Oh, you was looking down? I'm rolling with that till the end of time. He was shorter than me, and I got a picture to prove it. So you get upset, you swing on him? Was he that much shorter than you? No. Never that. I ain't just going to swing on people.

That's crazy, but he's definitely shorter. Now, Steph is taller, and Jalen Brunson is taller. So I'll give him that. just in comparison, they don't look like it. But as far as the greatest thing of all time, the rings do matter, I think I have to go with that as well. It just sounds crazy because we're actively seeing, like when you actively see greatness, that's what I'll say.

It's really hard to kind of put people in rankings of something that you're saying all time. Like that's just a big commitment to say, this person is a da-da-da-da-da of all time, and I'm actively watching them play. That's always been a little difficult for me, but in this conversation, yes. Yeah, I can see that.

It's not difficult for me because I've seen all of them. I've seen the people my dad said to watch. I've seen the people my coach said to watch. And then I saw the people that I was watching at my time. Then as I got older, the people that were my peers that went on to play basketball. And now I'm watching their sons do it, right? So I have this history of knowledge. Sometimes I try to play around, but my thinking about basketball goes way, way back.

So as I'm watching people play generation to generation, I'm thinking about 40 to 50 years of basketball that I've watched. So when I'm looking at somebody today, I'm not gauging them by just today. I have that history. I saw every type of guard that was six feet of 511, right? So that's why I can say if he gets this done, he have to be up there. He have to be up there. The last guard that got a championship that was 5-11 was Avery Johnson. Right?

So he's better than Avery Johnson. He got to be up there. Well, that is going to do it for us today. Awesome conversation. Let us know in the comments. Will Jalen Brunson be the best New York Nick ever? if he can get a ring this year, and does that buy the New York Knicks time

to keep this core and this roster together. As always, I've had a blast. Shout out to Mace. Shout out to Treasure as our guest analysts. And as always, it is what it is.