Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers - NBA West Squad: Will Luka Doncic Change Lakers Championship Chances?

Episode Date: March 12, 2025

In this episode of the NBA Squad Show West, hosts dive into the Western Conference landscape. They discuss the Oklahoma City Thunder's dominance and their potential to win the NBA championship. The conversation shifts to the Denver Nuggets' defensive struggles and their chances against the Los Angeles Lakers in a potential playoff matchup. The hosts also explore the Phoenix Suns' recent performances and the Minnesota Timberwolves' intriguing playoff potential. The episode concludes with a debate on the Golden State Warriors' playoff prospects and speculation about future trades and team dynamics in the Western Conference. 0:00 Intro: Thunder-Nuggets crossover in Western Conference5:49 Thunder's path to NBA championship success12:14 Lakers vs Nuggets: Who wins playoff series?18:59 Suns' struggles and potential playoff push23:28 Timberwolves as threatening playoff matchup28:28 Warriors' playoff potential and Steph's renaissance32:37 Outro: Speculation on future NBA trades Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!PrizepicksNow’s the perfect time to join.Download the app today and use code LOCKEDONNBA to get $50 instantly when you play your first $5 lineup! That’s right—no need to win to get the bonus, it’s guaranteed. PrizePicks—Run Your Game! TALKSPACETherapy is a game-changer. To match with a licensed therapist today, go to Talkspace.com/LOCKEDONNBA and enter promo code SPACE80 to get $80 off your first month and show your support for the show.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelFrom the first whistle to the final drive, FanDuel makes the NFL Playoffs even more exciting! Right now, new customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get THREE HUNDRED BUCKS in BONUS BETS – if you win your first bet! Visit FANDUEL.COM to get started. Make this playoff season unforgettable with FanDuel, an official sportsbook partner of the NFL.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today's episode of the Lockdown Nuggets Thunder Crossover. Three, two. On today's Lockdown NBA Squad Show West, it's a Thunder Nuggets crossover. The two best teams in the Western Conference, who's coming out of it, and then what else is going on in the conference?

And today's Lockedon, Mughey's Squad Show West. You are talking ball with the NBA West Squad Show. From the Warriors to the Lakers, the Mavericks to the Nuggets, and everyone else in the West. experts of the Locked-on Podcast Network bring you all the scoops, breakdowns, and the most comprehensive look

at the Western Conference. Trash-talk and big takes included. No holding back, we're giving the green light. It's time to talk NBA West. And welcome. You were locked down to the NBA Squad Show West. My name is Nick Engstead, host of the Lockton Mavericks podcast. Wow.

This is the squad show where we take over the feet of your favorite show, and it's an open invite for any host to join, talk about anything they want in the NBA's Western Conference. Joining me today from Lockdown Thunder, the top of the conference, Ryland Stiles. And from the team looking up, Lockdown Nuggets, Ryan Blackburn. Looking up a long way, man. It's unfortunately the gap continues to widen between the Thunder and the rest of the Western Conference. We saw that on Sunday.

But fortunately, as we're dropping this on Tuesday, recording on a Monday, like clearly the Nuggets have already won and even up this. That is what's going to happen tonight, probably. That's how I'm going to talk about it. It's great. We may end up somewhere completely different, but gentlemen, let's start here. The Thunder, it would be an epic collapse if they don't come out of the West now, right? I think that's how we have to position it.

They have pushed away all oncomers. They're 12 games up as we're recording this on the Lakers for number one. Nuggets, they're up 12 games as well. They've beat everybody. They have one of the deepest teams. They're singing their praises all over the place. How much more can we sing their praises? Thunder fans don't think that their praises are sung enough, Rylan, but it's the thunders to lose.

And everyone else. Yeah, I mean, it is the thunder. The thunder are clear in a way the best team in the Western Conference. And then you can get into splitting hairs between Cleveland and Boston. But even then, the Thunder have a really great shot to go win the NBA finals, which is insane to think about, considering how young this team is. And considering that for this roster, it'll be their second ever time in the postseason. And I think that that's the only, that's the only. That's the only, like, what happened the first time?

They did lose to the Dallas Mavericks, and it forced Nico to be like, you know what? This Luke a guy. He couldn't get it done. He couldn't get it done when guarded by J-Dub, so we're done with him. PJ Washington is still, man. Guys, I only have memories. I only have memories to hold on to. We got to build around PJ Washington, the real savior of that series for Dallas.

He's hurt, too, by the way. That's tough. That's tough. But as you Marshall, the new hero of the Mavs now. 34-19. man. They get rid of everybody that Nick likes, but when you look at this Thunder team,

yes, on paper, they should go and win this NBA championship. And not just the West, they should win the NBA championship. The whole thing. The whole thing. They're that good. They're that talented.

And it's a mixture of how much do you want to lean into history, because history tells us they shouldn't, actually, because this is their second ever playoff run. And you have to go accumulate the scars and these big games, these tight moments that guys like 83 win percentage. that guys like Kaysen, that guys like Isaiah Joe, the guys like Lou Dord, they haven't been in enough to get it done.

However, you can't base everything based upon the history of this league. We have to at some point based on what's happening this year. Now, what's happening this year is the Thunder are dominating. What's happening this year is that the Thunder are the best team in the West by far, and they should make their second finals appearance at a minimum just based upon this year. Now, if they don't do that, it would be a massive disappointment for where this team is. long term, it would kind of just be a nothing burger, but short term, this team is so talented that they should get it done this year. And the benefit of the Thunder team is they have so many

resources to address any issues that pop up. Because let's face it, if this Thunder Team doesn't get to the finals, there will be a glaring reason why. Just like last year, whenever they lost to Dallas, there were two glaring reasons. I think that it would really come down to you. You have a lot of good shooters. You don't have anyone who's great at, like, you know for a fact that when they get the they're going to knock it down in a big game. I think that that's the only thing that could pop up for this Thunder team. And if that's the case, well, then guess what? You're going to do this summer what you did last summer,

and you realized you didn't have enough size, you wouldn't got Isaiah Hartnstein. You realized that Josh Kitty was a problem. You wouldn't got Alex Caruso. This team is willing to adapt. This team is willing to build its roster out. And so they might have to do that again this season. Or they might be able to get by with a cast of shooters who are all good.

Again, none of them proven to be great in the playoffs. but you have to imagine in a seven-game series. Well, Matt Moore rightfully has questioned this team, and I think that he's, I think that he's right. I'm saying that as an example of a past conversation. Don't fall for it, Rylan. No, I think that he's right,

because I have those same questions. Matt Moore hates your favorite team. I have those same questions about, well, can they go hit a big shot whenever they're all alone in a playoff game, game on the line? Maybe they can. What the Thunder are banking on is, okay, let's say that, let's say that Isaiah Joe misses.

Well, he's not having an off night. Wiggins can have a great night, And you can flip through that Rolodex each game and find a hot hand. I think it's a good plan. I think that they're going to be able to find the hot hand any given night. They're going to be able to find stellar performances any given night to win them four before the other team wins for and get through all these series. I think that that would be the only thing that you'd have to address in the summertime if it didn't happen. But what I'm saying is it would be a disappointment for the Thunder not to go get it done.

However, it would not be a disaster long term because this summer they have a ton of resources to fix whatever issues pop up. have draft picks or like what's their yeah you know they have draft yeah by the way though oh no just this massive war chest of of talents of yeah they have a few the couch cushion you know you mentioned like let's let's just dig out of find our 11th man kenrich williams who'd be like the eighth man in the playoff rotation on every other playoff team that's the thing i mean this team this team is set up for success better than any other squad in in the NBA in the sense of like they can afford an injury or two in the playoffs, which which knock on what, hopefully it happens for no team, but other teams can afford that. But Matt, I'm glad you're here. I've been missing you.

I've been wanting to talk to you. We said his name three times. We said your name and you're here. So, Matt, help me defend these guys off. Would you agree with me that if the Thunder don't make the finals, we haven't said anything this whole show. It is a disappointing season for this 24, 25 calendar year. But it's not disappointing for the Thunder's future at all. Okay. Don't miss an opportunity, man. I think

the standard has to be that every year that if you have the ability to win the title and you don't, that's a big deal. Because like, even the Knicks, you have to be like, they just aren't that good.

Like, I'm not going to be, You can't be, like, crushed if the Knicks don't win the title, if you're a Knicks fan. Because, like, you're not that good. Thunder are that good, right? And, like, everything's gone their way. I understand that Thunder fans would be like, no, no, no, no, because I'm down and, and Chad and we had to. I get it. I get it.

But, like, also. And it's the percentage of all time. Like, yeah, yeah, right? And, like, everything is. And this is one of the interesting things is, like, Ryan can kind of attest of this. You can have the same pieces. and it not be the same, right? The other thing is that I am of this opinion with OKC

where you have to understand, like, I think San Presi is the best executive, maybe ever. I just think he's probably, like, that is not based off of just the pick stuff, not the cap stuff. It's, I have an outsider understanding, having visited several times and done stories, on the thunder of what the program is like and how good it is and something has always been in his way

something always always happens and so it's like i will just say that i definitely do not agree with the idea of like well sure they could lose this year but you know and it's like you you got to do it like you got to do the thing you got to do the thing or it just never happens you know and like it's not like san press he's going to turn to nico harrison overnight but luckily but but hope you're watching on youtube.com slash will i will i ever know peace will i ever know peace gentlemen ever the curse of the great bambino the curse of the great luca just gonna sit here in the corner over here i do think there's a level of like you you got to get it done when when you have the opportunity um i understand how wide open the future is for them but it's also like so so it was for

the 2012 thunder yeah like we just after the 2012 thunder everyone was like they'll be back and we do we do this consistently with young teams by the way it's not just them um there are other teams where it's like they'll be back Memphis narrator they were not back and yeah that that I think is where the pressure kind of comes from be and the other problem is everything fits this year right like it all comes together and it all works and it's all all together and it's all great if you come up short and then you start being like all right so what change do we make okay we didn't have the shooter let's go add the shooter up no start unraveling defense wasn't as good the next year uh okay okay all right so we need like another like a bigger wing okay so we'll trade some of these guys

and some picks and we'll get a bigger wing uh no that didn't quite work and and so when you have this opportunity when everything comes together you better win Like you got to win because or because if you keep coming back to it time and time again, the pressure ramps up and then it just gets more difficult. The difference though is that if I will say this, if you win this one, then it's like, yeah, they might win like three and five years. Like that's possible. That was promised to Denver.

That was cool. Yeah. And Boston the very next year. I mean, I kind of look at Boston as a team that that, that the Thunder obviously are trying to obtain one, they won a championship, but it took them a little bit to obviously get over the hump, and they had to deal with the questions of the Thunder have dealt with a question after their first shortcoming in the playoffs,

and we'll see what happens in their second playoff attempt. But they do have the assets and the leader necessary from the executive level with Sam to the coaching level with Mark and then the player level at SGA to navigate whatever happens, whether they go and actually win it, whether they only win the West, or whether they fall short of even doing that, that still should give some promise for their future. But yes, if they don't win it this year, as clearly the best team in the Western Conference

and arguably the best team in the NBA, it would be a disappointing season and a disappointing way to end. I think that if they didn't do it, though, with all of their pieces, with all of their array of ways they can play lineup-wise, whatever would stop them would be pretty clear and obvious, just like what stopped them last year was pretty clear and obvious. Coming up, the Nuggets and Lakers are,

set to face off in the second round as of right now. Who's coming out of that series? We got both the Nuggets guys and the host of the team that used to have, Luca. We won't talk about that anymore. Coming up, Locked on a media squad show West. Today's episode of Locked on a media squad show West brought to you by Skims. I'm wearing skims right now.

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that follows skims.com slash locked on lockdown NBA. Thanks for hanging out of us on Lockton &Ba Squad Show West. We have a show that covers your favorite team every single day. Check the link to the description or subscribe to the feed that you're listening to this right now. Lockdown NBA Squad Show West. Matt, you had one more thing to say.

I'll let you. I was just going to add that like, what could go wrong? What could go wrong? For the Thunder? Ryland's lack of understanding of how much he's jinxed in this team is amazing. He's holding them to the, but you said you have to win. He's holding them to the expectation. I hear you.

I hear you. And the only thing I would say, though, is when you're like, well, I'll be very clear what they need to do. Yeah, Sam had that same problem in 2013, 2014, when it was like, we got to get a shooter. And then he was like, okay, we got one. We got Thabosephylocia. Crickets chirp. Crickets chirp.

Crickets chirp. But they also didn't have the anywhere close to the assets level that they have right now. If you get a Thabasafelotia, who was a solid player, you can then you can then you can kind of redo it and get a Joe free card, so to say, with all these reserved picks. Like I just don't think there's anyone in better position than the Thunder. And if they can't pull it off, then there's probably no one that can pull it off, frankly, without a fluke run to the finals. So I think that, like, this.

team long term is set up great no matter what happens this playoffs and this playoffs they should also have a really good run i can't believe they needed shooting around kendrick perkins it's true if you're asking um who could pull it off the answer is the lakers that's always the answer to that question because someone will just keep them what could go wrong like what could what could go wrong that sam presti worked very closely with uh hammering out also so he is there going to be little built in things that we all of a sudden figure out the the presti rule is going to show the athletic like had reported that he was like involved than like the process of making draft picks more valuable.

Surprise, surprise, surprise. He has to make draft picks. That's like insider trading. Okay. Oh my God. All right. Matt mentioned the Lakers. The Lakers and Nuggets are both kind of,

they're basically tied for second in the West right now. Ryan, right now, if it was a Lakers Nugget series, who's coming out of that series? Oh, that's like picking between your, your favorite child and the redheaded ugly stepchild. and right now the red-headed ugly stepchild is the Nuggets. Yeah.

Who is the parent? Are you the parent in this scenario? Could not follow that metaphor. We'll have no idea what's going on. No, I think the Nuggets probably still come out of that series. It's a stressful one to be clear. The game that they just played, of course, is going to be on everybody's minds.

That was one where it was very clear that the Lakers got up for that. they spent as much time as possible to get up for that game and then crafted a perfect game plan and lo and behold they won. I think that Denver will have more counters to that, but you have to have enough shooting in order to break that and Denver doesn't have that. They're going to have to be better defensively and we still don't know whether Denver's a serious defense or not. Actually, I think we do. They're not. And I think unfortunately that when you pair Luca and LeBron, things get a lot easier to navigate the trials and tribulations of playoff spacing and questions and all of the different wrinkles that teams are going to be able to throw at that team.

I would pick Nuggets in seven, but like, am I really going to bet against Luka and LeBron in a game seven? I could say the same thing about Yokach and Murray, but that's a tough one. You dropped off there when you're. Great. What's wrong with the Nuggets defense, either of you guys? Well, they don't have enough serious defenders. They also, like, the problem that you run into is that when you're building a defense around Yokic, everybody else needs to be working in concert in order to, like, it be as athletic as possible, as physical as possible. And on a string when you're playing the up at the level, aggressive defense that they try to play.

And they just haven't been good enough in the details. They foul a little bit too much now. they are missing rotations on the back line. They're too small when Aaron Gordon is not their backline defender. And they also are horrible in transition. Now, some of that gets cut out when you play play playoff basketball. But, I mean, it also isn't to say that they're going to be saved when they're, if they're turning the ball over and they kind of play a relatively high turnover style.

So it's going to be interesting to see how they handle it. Yeah, they got their defense at least cutting up for games. Can it? Like, does it have a peak? it gets up for quarters it gets up for quarters it gets up for halves it gets up for uh five minutes of the end of the game and they have relied a lot they have like leaned heavily on that idea of like we know what to do when it's time and every we're all like yeah but like you don't consistently do it so what if you just like don't do that or what if you're down by too much and they're like we know

what to do with it's time and you're just you don't trust them um to ride i made a joke by the way earlier about the Nuggets or the Nix being an unsurious, like not good team. The Nuggets and the Nix are right there in terms of their ability to challenge top level teams. Yeah, they can't. They're really good teams. It can't be anybody who's really good. You play at the level.

Watch the way that the, watch the, if you are watching a game and you're watching OKC, Orlando, Boston, and even the Lakers, okay? Watch what happens when they face an elite perimeter player. and when they've applied pressure there, watch what happens on the backside. Watch how the weak side defenders will help down into a spot where they can both contest to the corner and contest down low to the guy in the dunker spot so that you're able to make all plays on the short roll, the dunker spot and the corner three, even if the dunker spot guy screens, their players are big enough, athletic enough, smart enough to make those rotations.

Denver consistently, it's back cut. If they focus on the interior, it's wide open corner threes. If they focus on making the rotations, it's wide open layups. They are not able to make those rotations clean enough, sharp enough, strong enough. And that has just been a massive issue for them. MPJ's been terrible on that end. Christian Brown's too small. Russell Westbrook is too small.

They are missing one more defender for them to be able to do that. And it's really caused some issues. you're going to see the Nuggets play more drop than ever in these playoffs because they have to try and contain. But even on drop, they don't trust each other. You're going to play. Allow them. You're going to play drop against Luca Dodgich. Well, I would actually do that.

Like, I would legitimately just be like, if Luca has 60 and LeBron has a quiet 20 and Rui Hachamura and Dorian Finney Smith don't have any corner threes and Austin Reeves is quiet. you probably are okay. Is letting the role players on a Luca team in the playoffs get open threes? Is that a way to win, Ryland? It is not. I would agree with match strategy of just, you know, let Luca kill you because he's probably going to kill you anyway and then set everything else down and see if you can just take it one-on-one the entire series, an entire, especially if you're good enough to take them

to seven, like an entire seven-game series can Luca go out there and four times give you 70, 60 points and win you a series. We'll see. And that's a win-win for both teams because that way Luca, will have done so much cardio he'll be in shape finally so we've tried that for you for years ago in the finals and he was wrapped up like a mummy by the end of it trying to figure out how he's going to get through that series how did we get here with the lakers that they are now this like that you guys are nervous about playing against them in the in a in a playoff series like

they they fundamentally changed they're just a very different beast and when you don't have to worry about whether Anthony Davis is going to show up or not. And you just know that Luke is not showing up right now. I just want you to. That definitely, definitely helps. That's, I mean, Luke is a gamer. Luke is a playoff guy. And LeBron is LeBron.

I mean, that's just who he is. And the Dorian Phiddy Smith trade, it went under the radar. I think a lot of people were concerned. Okay, so they spent DeAngel Russell in a first round pick to try to get that move or whatever it was. like that seems like a pretty big overpay and it just wasn't because dorny finney Smith is a really good basketball player and the exact kind of playoff player that you need next to two superstars. So they had the formula.

They just needed guys that like were healthy and capable at the right time and now they they don't have to worry about Anthony Davis. So on February 1st they were 14th in point differential and they were 2819. They had the 12th best offense, 18th best defense. And they had climbed a long way out. Like they were 23rd in defense for a wide part of the season. And a lot of the stuff that I pay attention to, half court numbers, actually projected pretty well for them.

They had a tough straight to schedule. There was kind of, I kind of had like a, you know what? I'm not sure the Lakers are like, like, they're not bad. They're not good enough. But like, they're still dangerous. Like, there's something here. And then they did kind of just like reshape things, getting ruined. It is funny to me that Lakers fans kind of have a level of like Rui's now, like the guy that there's, there's always a player on team that everybody's like, yeah, I don't know about this guy, except for like the Thunder.

Because Thunder fans are just like, and the Raptors because they're the who's and who built. But like, I think with most teams, there's a, there's a player that annoys everybody. And with Lager's fans, who is it? The Tim Hardway Jr. Memorial roster. Yes. Great point. And it was, it's kind of been Rui, but like, Rui's vital for all. all of their good lineups.

He's just, he makes a lot of the stuff that they want to do work. I think they were pretty good. And then they got, they got gifted Luca Dodgich. And like, look, I'm captain of the Anthony Davis is,

the narrative around him is incorrect, which is not that he's a bad player, just that like, he's not this elite all-time top 75 guys. Just not. And hasn't been. And there's all these numbers and stats, and I can pull you the film to show it to you.

But even we move beyond that, like it just didn't work as well. Like, all the numbers show that Anthony Davis just did not, work as well and this works. I don't know. Sometimes basketball is weird, man. Sometimes the Mavs make the finals when they're not very good and sometimes. Fluke run. This happens. Do I still need to get, after the trade, do I still need to get mad at Matt for saying that it was a fluke run to the finals last year? I think internally I still do

get mad. Nico agrees with him. Yeah, he does. Apparently. I've been doing it to Mavs fans just so that they can feel something else accepts that. Yeah, feel something again. Yeah, you got to do that. Is this an emotion other than anger and rage? I'm your counseling. Feeling that right here, my nervous center. Coming up, let's talk about who else are you interested in in the West. We're just going to start throwing out teams that you're interested in in the West. You're like, what are they doing?

What are you interested in? We'll talk about that anymore on Lockdown and NBA Squad Show West. Today's episode of Lockton & A Squad Show West brought to you by Wayfar. They got just what you need. Your home should reflect your style, whether it's wayfair. It's easier to, with Wayfair, it's easier than ever to make that happen. Whether you're looking for a simple refresh or tackling a big home, project. You can get everything you need all in one place. I recently have had a reason to

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Locked on Be a Squat Show, West, and take over the feed of your favorite lockdown show. So subscribe, follow, rate review, wherever you are. Don't rate this show. Rate this show that is in the feed because that one's probably better than this one. Happy Juice. Will, I need it, right? I need it all the time. Do I still have them?

No, I don't know. All right, let's just start throwing out teams in the West. Who are you interested in? What teams making you just, like, cock your head and go, like, what are they doing? Mine is the Phoenix Suns. And I got to see them in person yesterday, and they have all, they should be in the playoffs right now. They should be a top, like, six, five team in the West right now, just looking at their roster up and down, thinking about all the moves that they made. And they're just a disaster.

You just can't watch that team without going, man, they have they have given up in some way. And I kind of don't. And it looks like Kevin Durant's going to be gone. It seems like he wants out now after they were going to try to trade him during the trade deadline. Like I don't know where that team ends up next season after they make that move. Like what are they? I'm zagging. I'm zagging.

Stop. On this year or like that they have a great future? On this year. I bet them to make the playoffs 10 to 1. Yes. Look. Devin Booker going to start caring again because it does not look like he cared at all in that game. Well, I mean, they were playing the Mavericks. Can you blame him? Like, they were.

They do play up and down. That's a good point. They just, they just went overtime to the nuggets recently, right? Yeah, so the Clippers get, look at this, the stretch here, okay? They're down 25 of the Clippers, and the timeline on your favorite social media feed is just like, L.O.L. This team is sad. The team is pathetic. And then they will. This cannot be aware. And then Kevin Durant comes in, and he has an inter altercation with Mike Boodenholzer, leaves them in the in the win. feeds Colin Gillespie who has 10 points in that fourth quarter big like really big emotional story okay and then afterwards he defends Mike Boottenholzer and it's like you guys don't know like this is our relationship you have no idea about about me and bud stands up for butt

they go into Denver the next game and they force overtime after trailing again by by big by double digits then they go and they take care of business it may not have been impressive but they take care of business versus a mavericks team you can't scout them how you scout the mavericks yeah what's your scouting report you watch you watch gile games for the last couple of years. Exactly. So this sample of three games has been legitimately is, yeah,

bark for the sun. They got dogs over there. Because Dallas is going to sound like a thunder post game interview. All you need is one year or under like the nine. And then I'm like, yeah. Like I think there's something here, even if it's just for this run and then Katie's

going to be gone in the summer. They have the tiebreaker with the Mavs now. I mean, they're going to get that. 10 spot at least. And they can get past Sacramento, they're in a really good spot. If they can get past Sacramento. That's a sad statement. That's about it.

About as a gift, man. In the East squad show, we were talking about they should just get rid of the 10. There's just no reason to have the 10 anymore. It's so sad every year. There's no reason for the 10 in that conference. It's just. Ryan doesn't think there's reason for the six in that conference. Has there been like ever?

And he's right. The Pistons. The Pistons is a great story this year. Oh, man. What a good story. They're fun. They're fun. I'll throw out the Timberwolves because I love what Matt said on a previous West Squad show.

I like what's under the hood in Minnesota. Like forgetting the record, forgetting whatever overall stats you want to use, I like the ways that they can match up with each individual team. Not to say they're going to beat like the Thunder or the Nuggets or the Lakers or whatever, but I like the way and a lot of versatility that Chris Finch can use to match up with them specifically against the Thunder. I like the way that they can go small with Nasree at the Center. I like the way that they can match the Thunder's double Bigs if they need to.

So I just like what Minnesota is doing. I think that they're a threatening team. It's not just going to be some pushover in the Western Conference. I like Minnesota's always been, they've always been a threat. They always are. They have the capability. They've still got one of the best defensive players in the league, one of the best defensive schemes in the league based off of how they can play

around Rudy Gober. And Anthony Edwards is a playoff riser. We've seen it over and over. And he's like, I think, graduated into a different level. if Denver were to face Minnesota in the first round, I would probably pick Minnesota. That's more about the Denver matchup specifically than it is about Minnesota, I guess.

But they have the capability to do that to just about any team. And now would they face, like, would they do well against the Lakers? Probably not. I think the Lakers would actually clean their clock a little bit. But would they do that? OK, see? No. So Luka destroys them, but I don't know as much about that matchup compared to like the mavericks one right because the maverx one was like hey we're going to pack

the paint with all these yeah they're as much size like daniel gaffer derrick lively all the pj washington instead the the lakers are more we're going to switch everything and i think ants a lot more comfortable in that situation luka would destroy them because they have no defender for him um i would legitimately i just don't know how how minnesota would score against the lakers it depends on how good do you think the lakers defense is all the data says that they're really good I've watched the film and they look really good. I mean, just in a playoff setting, though, when you can game plan, when you can set up, I mean, you can pack the paint with anybody.

You just put bodies on there at a certain point and force them to shoot. Are they going to out shoot them? The wolves are really good as a three-point shooting team. They're surprisingly, shockingly great as a three-point shooting team. Like, I'm telling it. Like I said, under the hood, there's a lot to like here. Like the Wolf's Thunder series, I think, is a really interesting one. If they wind up on that side of the bracket.

I think that one's really fascinating. Matt, as an NBA historian, like, if the Timberwolves got the eight scene, wouldn't this, wouldn't this be one of the better one-eighths we've ever seen? Yeah, I'd be up there. There's been some absolute classics, but I do think that that would be a really great matchup. You have Anthony Edwards and you got all these guys. I do want to say I have a psycho, absolutely insane Lakers matchup idea. Good.

Cagilius Randall and Luca. Oh, goodness. So listen, Nick can attested this. What was the biggest reason that Luca absolutely smacked the Minnesota Timberwolf's number one defense last year? Oh, they just kept putting Gobert's guy in screens over and over. It was part of that. It was also, I was actually a lot of isolation because Jade McDaniels is a screen defender. Yeah.

And the screen defender. You have to have size. You have to be able to keep Luca from bodying you. Julius is big. You just feed him. You feed him to the wolves and you let Julius just get torched over and over and over and over and over and over. and over and over again. It would have to be on stepbacks

because Luca doesn't have that same burst that he used to have. I mean, you watch some of the old videos of him and Luca was like dunking and he just doesn't do that stuff. Nick Nico Engstead. Yeah, he's been,

he's been, he's been Nico killed. Listen, guys, he was he was always called him Mav State Media. It's not Stockholm syndrome, guys. He was right about this, right? One more year. It's like if there was a team

other than, let's say the, the Thunder, the Lakers, or the Nuggets, to make it to the Western Conference finals, who would be the most likely to you? I don't know what to do with the Warriors. I don't. I would love to hear everybody's thoughts

because I don't know what to do with them right now. I've been watched enough of them to really feel good about either way, but I mean, it does feel like Steph has had a significant renaissance over the course of this past couple weeks. Yeah, my thoughts are pretty elementary on that. I'm like, do we have to worry about playoff Jimmy for them? Yeah, right? Thank you.

Is he still going to rise? Playoff Jimmy's a riser. Steph Curry's had this renaissance. You have Drey Mon who is a player that like against the thunder, like a young Thunder team, could he get under their skin? Could he do something to impact that series? Even if it's not in the box score, probably, probably could. And then Steve Kerr is a good coach.

And if you can get some role player help, I mean, that they could pull something off, even if it is just driven by two guys out of a 15-man roster. I've made the joke that playoff. is unlikely to show up unless they face the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. If you really look at the history of playoff, Jimmy, that's kind of it.

Aren't the Nuggets, aren't the Noggins Milwaukee Bucks West? No, they're Nick's West. Nick's West. Yeah, show some respect, Nick. I don't know if that's respectful, too, though, because I feel like the Bucks were. Yeah, that would be like the same record, don't they?

Nick's West is definitely way more insulting. Bucks are really. like I think the Warriors are Bucks West that's actually kind of it like yeah another place where Janus is going to go yeah he's coming to the Mabs

I'm dead serious I'm like I'm going to figure out who the big the Lakers are going to get why did they why did they pull back in the Mark Williams trade they got they need those assets for something and Adam Silver who I

Let us just have this season, Matt, please. Hey, you get this season. And that's it. That's what Matt Horns said. It's done after this. It's over. It's finished. Better win.

No news. Sam's going to trade FTA. It's going to be crazy. Oh, my God. That's how we end Lockdowny, MBA Squad Show West. Guys, check out the favorite show on the feed. There's a link to the description. Guys, thanks for hanging out with us on Lockdown and B Squad Show West.

Thunder got a win or blow it up. No.