The Deep 3 Podcast - Power Ranking Every 2026 NBA Playoffs Team | Ep. 203

Episode Date: April 9, 2026

The final NBA power rankings of 2026! #nba   Check out the TD3 merch: https://the-deep-3-shop.fourthwall.com/   Listen on Spotify!: https://open.spotify.com/show/3elbbqVumwqz8wlIdknsLW   Listen on Apple Podcasts!: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-deep-3-podcast/id1657940794   Follow us on TikTok!: https://www.tiktok.com/@thedeepthree   Follow us on Instagram!: https://www.instagram.com/thedeep3podcast/   Isaac's twitter: https://twitter.com/byisaacg   Mo's twitter: https://twitter.com/Mojo99_   Donnavan's twitter: https://twitter.com/Dsmoot3D   0:00- Intro 3:05- Power Ranking NBA Playoff Teams 1:44:44- Producer Corner 2:02:41- tiktok time Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Have y'all realized that we have two episodes left, at least main episodes from Thursday, until the playoffs begin? I've not realized that. The regular season is pretty much over. We're kind of in that recapping the regular season era of the show now. And as you got to see about title, today, we are here to sit down and do the ultimate version of that. We are going to do our final power rankings of the season. See how every single team stacks up against each other heading into the playoffs, basically like an index of who we have the most faith in to make a deep run. Hell yeah.

end of the season already fuck man can you believe that my team's gonna be the lowest listen man I always wish for you to have I wish like the best things for you in your life but when it comes to your personal like sports life the worst but I didn't imagine being like this though the Lakers will be very low

yeah I know we did it it took a long time like you was a part of it yes every day yeah the scope He took his voodoo dog just, Austin Reeves oblique. Rib shots don't shake kidneys.

Gator FC. We are. We're in a great spring. We up and is stuck. Yeah, like I said, we're going to rank the top 20 teams in the NBA, so the 10 teams that are currently slated to be in the plane. There's not really room for any of those teams

to fall out at this point in the season. So those will be the 10 teams that compete for a playoff spot. We're going to rank them all. And for me, at least, it was, as we doing all power rankings, It's indexing on what you've done from you lately, you know, since our last part breaking episode, who currently stands up high. But with this one being playoff focus, we kind of do a little more projection in terms of who we think will, you know, translate to a playoff setting. That's kind of the tiebreaker.

So it's how much faith that have you to make a deep run, but you have proven it to me. It's not just blind faith. Yeah, that makes sense. I'm along those side. I'm along those same lines too. And then I'm also thinking about how things have changed for you over the course of the last 15 to 20 games, but also seeing all the. issues that a lot of people pointed out where they even have whether or not those have like fixed themselves so yeah it's a little bit of both i close my eyes a lot of this might be some

black faith the last the last like love it the last three to four weeks exactly the last three to four weeks has been such this wildly fake basketball that for a lot of teams like every every team that you look at oh seven game win streak here six game win streak here it's like all right like we i know what's going on. I know the game. So like it honestly like the last like in the last month and up until right now, I don't feel like I've learned a whole whole lot. Hell, definitely disagree about some of these things. This guy just don't be learning what you mean.

This dude is pre-firing hate. We're throwing it back. Whoa. That's crazy. He was bragging. I don't know. The cranium is. Crazy.

Oh my God. Crowd eaters rejoice. All right. Let's jump straight into it. Starting with the bottom five teams from 20 to 16, the play in invitational. Who do we have but first? Be souls. Oh.

Blood froze. He's like, who's first? I'm crying. At 20, we have the Portland Trail Blazers. 19, Golden State Warriors. 18. Los Angeles Lakers, 17 Miami Heat, 16 Orlando Magic. How do you feel about these Florida teams right now?

Okay, okay, okay. I think I have Miami over Orlando. I can't remember if I can't do that, but waking up this morning, yeah. Because Orlando, they are just so disappointing on a night-to-night basis. And even whenever you get a good palo game, that doesn't necessarily mean that you're getting a good offensive

overall and they've had so many struggles and they feel like a team that has that is like is waiting for the end of the year so that we can get all of the major changes that we've been talking about and I in terms of making a run I have no faith in them to beat you know that they're going to be like in the in the 7-8 I don't have faith in them to beat the Boston Celtics in the series I don't I don't have faith in them to beat the the Detroit Pistons even if Cade wasn't there I don't have faith in them to do that. So I think Miami just because it's quote-to-quote heat culture and whatever, like if I trust them more than I trust the dysfunction of Orlando.

Is there any reason you trust them besides heat culture? No. There you go. There's no reason to trust the heat, man. Do you know what they are? Is there any reason to trust Orlando? Franz Wagner's back. That's something.

That's going to make them meaningfully different. I think you could trust that Desmond Bain after the slow start this season has been consistently really good for the last six months of the year. That means something to me. That makes a difference what we've seen from the playoffs as of late. I disagree on the Bain point.

The Farns thing means something. Dismayne has been good for six months. This team has been trashed for six months. But now you have Fromm's coming back. Hopefully you get a healthy version of this team. I think what we saw in the playoffs in previous years, Desmond Bain comes in as a little of injection there. So with these two teams, like,

you know, talking about heat culture, we're coasting off of, like, previous ideas of what they did in years past where they, like, overachieve, and Eric Spolcher just has that demon gene that will find a way in the playoff setting. So if we're going just off of like previous expectations of both these teams, Frant's coming back,

Baines's a slightly higher injection. Actually, I'm saying this now, I'm having this conversation. I can't believe I'm being tricked into defending the Orlando Magic. I don't give a shit about any of these teams. 16 and 17. They're the lowest possible teams on here

amongst the teams that have absolutely no chance that probably won't make it out of the playing. Warner Lakers' case just got completely nuked. So you know what? I would give it to you. The heat can be one spot higher than magic. Thank you. Yeah.

Last 30 days of the year, 25th in defensive rating, and that disgust me. That's a point right there. Honestly, I think that there's only two teams that I thought about, like, the least when it comes to this ranking. I convinced them, by the way.

I should get a point. Okay. Bang it for points? Sorry. Wow. Can I get a point, too? Because? Sure.

Yeah. Okay. I'm not losing today. We got a GERDGEL I'm not losing to this. We got an easy judge. Hell you. I'm not losing.

All I got is ask for it. Close mouths don't get fed. Dude, it's so crazy. Come on now. Let's come down. I got to see where your line is. I think the best thing that the Orlando Magic can walk away from this season is knowing that after all the moves that were made and how, you know, expectations have like fall through the fucking roof. At least doesn't Bain is playing well.

At least he's averaging what, like, 20, 21 points. His numbers are like been like pretty much average throughout the, throughout the rest of his career or past career that he had. And so I think at least you can walk on with that being like a thing. Outside of that, you know, their offense is still, man. It's not like 27th, 30th, 26 like it's been over the last few years. It's 22nd now. I remember specifically, still ass. But I was like, yo, if this is not a top 17 offense, top 18 offense,

yo, like Jamal Mosie, you got to go. Last 60 days, they are 14th in offense and 13th in defense. Okay. And that's counting Palo's magical run after the All-Star break where he came out playing some of the best basketball of his life, obviously, after the break, was slashing, doing all these things that we plotted him for after saying the right things, saying that I got to look himself in the mirror, started to stink it up a little bit after that.

But it's up and down, no, he's having good games again. It's not quite as consistently downtrodden as it was in, like, January or whatever. So I'm kind of, I guess I'm putting some of that into the mix of my faith in them that I don't think Powell is going to shoot 20% from three and be, like, horrible like he was earlier in the season. So if Franz comes back and they get a good version of that, hopefully, I mean, hopefully the rest of the guard is going to stay healthy at some. point and we get a first on series where they have all three their good guards healthy in

sugs, bane and black. Yeah. If everybody's whole, I have more faith that they have upper level talent to do something than the heat who I have absolutely no faith in the heat to do anything of merit this season. They're both like that for me. I really, I really just hate Orlando at this point. At the end of the year.

Does I hate off? Yeah, I don't, I don't like them. And I think that they are also primed to. to just be a first round next day. And I think that for them it's going to be more disappointing in the way that they go out. Yeah. And I agree.

And that's because we have higher expectations for them. Yeah. So that really carries a conversation that like, nobody expected the heat to be a top three team in the conference, whereas the magic is supposed to be their year. So I definitely dislike them more as well for that reason for disappointing me. But I think they have essentially an equal chance of losing the first round and that equal chance is 100%.

Yeah, probably. Also, you're talking about high-end talent. They got a guy who scored. Yeah, man, the Warriors and Trailblazers, I mean, what are you going to do? Yeah, at least Curry's back. Like, shot to them. That's the only reason why the Warriors are at 19 outside of 20. Yeah, exactly.

Yeah. Like, they have stuff and he's back. And that's it. And like, what did you all do to the Lakers? Because I put him down here, like, I feel like they have to be at the bottom now of all the teams that you think we'll make it out of the playing or at least have a chance to you. I don't, like without, without Reeves and without Luca, LeBron, Microsoft.

smart canard lead hoops i have them a little bit higher than this um i think there's no chance to win a first round series right now and if i that's again that's the end i'll be all for this list is like how much faith do i have in you to make a run to win a series and beyond because it kind of goes tier by tier the top tier it's like how much faith do i have in you to win a championship compared to the teams next to you next year talking like eight through 12 or whatever it's how much fate to have you to make a conference finals push and so forth that seems to get better down here it's do i think you can win a playoff series and maybe some maybe sometimes in these conversations, I kind of give like Eastern Conference

or Western Conference tax. But for the Lakers, regardless of what conference they're in, I have absolutely no faith they can win a playoff series without Luggan Reeves. Yeah, but I think when it comes to my placement for the Lakers, which is not too drastically different at all from yours, I think they can at least get a game, just purely shooting luck. They can get a game. I think the Warriors and Trailblazers, which I have in similar places as well, they're probably going to get sweat. But the Lakers, they could get a game.

That's my, that's my guess. I think Curry can get a game. I think they all can get a game. I don't know. I don't know, man. The bottom is crazy, man. So 20, I got the Trobleas. 19, the Orlando Magic.

The stink on them is really bad. A lot of the size to expectations, so I can understand why and put them higher. But 19. Orlando Magic. 18 Warriors, 17, the heat, just respect and 16 Lakers. Respect. Yeah.

Respect goes a long way, man. Respect. I guess I just don't care about the heat as much I haven't been as tidily close to them when it comes to expectation at all, but I just don't, I feel very mid and regular about them. And so do Heat fans. Everybody knows their mid. So, like, we don't got to spend too much time talking about it.

They are what they are. They can give the Celtics or the Pistons, whoever they face out of the play in. It's a very entertaining series, hopefully. Yeah. But we don't got to pretend that heat are anything other than what the heat are. Yeah, exactly. Again, you guys know, the Heat Hater podcast is alive and well. Yeah.

So you put the Lakers a couple spots above. them I'm not even to pretend that there's a lot thought to that whatever. Exactly. Let's get through this tier and get to the interesting parts. Donovan, what you got? Wow. At 20 I have the Blazers and 19 have the Warriors, 18 I have the Sun, 17 I have the Magic, 16 I have the Raptors.

Wow. You hear that Canada? Donovan continues to hate you. Dude, it's Canada and Phoenix. They suck. They suck. I'm not like, I'm not going to sit here and be ghastly into thinking that the Toronto Raptors can win a playoff series.

not going to happen. A series? I don't think they... Right now there's Slater we go to Knicks. So yeah, you're probably right. I don't think, yeah. Like, I think that whichever of the teams

that they play and right now, like the Knicks are basically going to be the three. It's not really going to happen. Even if they went up and got to the five and they played the cabs, I don't think they're beating the Cavs in the series. They mentioned pretty well defensively, so it may be like interesting.

That's more castellant or anything. I think if they were to face the Hawks or Magic they could get. it because they're equal caliber teams, but you're right. They can't get on that side of the bracket anymore. So you can't, yeah, you can't jump up to four. And so you're going to, you're going to be there. If you are not beating any of the top three teams in the, in the Eastern Conference. And it's the same thing for the Sons. The Sons are going to be the seven or eight seed. They are not beating Oklahoma City in a series. They are not beating San Antonio in a series. So unfortunately,

for them, great, great season. We love it. They're just not in a position to even have a real series. And honestly, all those teams, I have the Raptors a little bit higher, but I don't remember where I put them. It's probably one spot higher. So it probably is, I agree with you fully. They just got slightly more respect for how they've been playing over the teams that I feel the same way about and the magic and the heat. Yeah. You have the Lakers higher. Is there any reason for that other than somebody had to be 15 or do you feel the same way about them? Probably the same way. Okay. It is it is the same way. And like with Toronto, there's, there's a, well, with the Lakers, slight possibility that like maybe maybe in like game four or something that luca injection comes in

yeah the plane the tranquilizer the plane comes back from from spain Lucas is okay there's a small small hope of you're getting this guy back maybe you can you know somehow hold on to a series and stay alive and now if you're 3-1 and lucas coming back oh wow we have a chance like yeah Maybe. Comes back like Thorne and Infinity War? Yeah. That's the only reason why the Lakers would be above this. And I have the Lakers one spot above the Rappas.

Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah, there's like the bottom, this is five teams on our screen. The bottom six or seven are like the playing caliber teams. Four of them are actually in each conference going to be the play. And so really is about eight teams that are actually going to be in the play in. Plus the Lakers who have, you know, injury-wise got themselves down into that conversation. They're all kind of like whoever you think would get their ass beat by the bottom two seats.

I don't see. I think out of all these teams, I'm probably. probably the highest or the most shocked about the Phoenix Sun's placement. I would think you respect them a little bit more because, you know, the old Dylan Brooks thing or whatever. But overall, yeah, but overall, like they're the most respectable team out of all these because they have like a solid, like consistent defense and the most workable offense out of all these guys, out of all these times teams here.

Rashir Fleming is like, he's a fucking goon. He barely gets any play. But when he does get play, it's amazing. Kamam Moloash is slowly coming to his own, Colin Gilip. He's like just a good. offensive player. Everything like works as a team. They're not like obviously I agree with you. They're going to be bouncing the first round, but it's going to be like the most respectable bounce ever. It is. They're just set up in a situation where they have they have no chance.

Yeah. See, I don't know what respectable bounce means. They're probably going to get a sweat by the spurs. I think they could get a game. Maybe. Maybe. And salute to them. You're right. They are the most like respected more than like these teams that are more disappointing to get here because they they overachieve to get to where they are. So yeah, they deserve more respect. But when it comes to a playoff power ranking and it's about like put aside the emotion like how far we actually think you can go yeah they're in the same tier yeah i do like the blazers consistency here so everyone gets a point there we go uh nobody respects the blazers man yeah man they're 18 it's bad over there they're 18 all right let's go on to start having conversations that actually matter 15 through

11 donovan who do you have oh okay 15 out of the heat 14 out of the lakers forgot that i did that 13 to 76ers, 12 Clippers, 11 Rockets. Wow. Okay, very similar tier to what I got. I want to put the sixers so much higher, so bad, now at their hole. Because on paper, they once again look at a team that makes sense with Paul George Beck. Playing, well, this last game, he had like shot 30% percent from the field. But before that game where he shot toward eights in the field, looking a little clippers,

Paul Georgie at times, looking like he was working on that body during the suspension. It kind of paid him off a little bit. Got some veteran rest. if he's going to be playing well in the playoff series and assuming Joelle and Bita's healthy, which we have no reason to believe he won't play every playoff game as of now, they kind of move me.

Well, you said what? As of now, we have no reason to assume Joel and B won't be there for the playoffs. As of now, that can change any given day. As of today, I can allow myself to assume he'll play in the playoffs. You can't do that.

Probably not. You can't do that. But I can. You can't do that, and that's the problem. That's the problem with him. But if he does play. I legit on his shirt. He's not going to be there.

Like consistently. Yeah. I don't think, yeah, I don't think it's safe or smart to assume that he's going to be there. But they don't play back to back. So like right now, like the plan, I'm sure is going to play in the playoffs, right? And if he's going to be there, I'm not saying for two, three, four rounds. That's how they get you every time. Every time.

W. Embed realist. You get a point. I like the idea of their roster again. Like the fact they have their young guards healthy. They have a slew of athletic wings with Paul George being there being a super role player veteran guy, Joelle and Bid,

not having the movement he once did, feeling like when you watch him play, you're like, damn, this guy can't be that good, right? And then you see the final stat lines. And you're like, oh, okay, he's still amazing, even though he can't move defensively,

he's still in pack from both sides of the ball. When I look at the teams around them, and I'm like, you guys just aren't as talented and aren't as thoroughly built as a roster. Like, obviously, Lakers don't have their ball handlers. The Rockets, we know

their playmaking issues and how just, you just cannot trust them as a crutch time offense in the playoffs at all, I feel like if they get into a late game where it's a tie game with a minute left, I can just guarantee they lose every single one of those.

Clippers don't have a starting caliber center because they traded Zubach, so they're pretty good outside of that. But how are you going to tell me you're going to want a playoffs series of Brooke Lopez and John Collins center minutes? The Sixers don't have that type of glaring issue on their roster. Yeah. Now, I put them here around here as well. I'm just saying I would like to have a reason to put them higher

because they check so many boxes, but it just hasn't came together yet. Yeah, I agree. I think I'm like slightly lower than you when it comes to the sixth. For me personally, I'm just waiting for the plane to crash. I'm waiting for some, like, cataclysm thing to happen right now because I just have no faith at all in this team. They're lucky to be where they're at.

I'm happy so that they're at where they're at because, of course, like Vijay's Kome, he is a ready-made product and he's already productive rookie. Tyrese Maxi is amazing. But I just don't know how stable the foundation of Paul George is right now. And Joanne B. just throws off every single question always. So I think Paul George is completely fine with the idea of where you. thinking about him as like a super role player now that we're no longer hoping star Paul George comes in.

Yeah. If he's not against us better, he's completely fine. And I think that having that wing defender, even if we just think about him like he's McAil Bridges, having that wing defender in that mode that lineup makes their team make so much more sense, which with how small a lot of their role players are, or at least like play small, they don't have a very good rebounders around Jwell and Bede. Having Paul George there makes so much of a difference that, you know, for the last 30 days, there's 17th in offense, 16th in defense, perfectly average.

Yeah. now you inject Paul George into there. I think being decent on both sides of the ball and then hopefully having your star's hole and having Paul George there, like, that can be a extremely competent team that if we can get vintage Joel and Veed for a couple games,

maybe there's an upset potential there. Okay, I can understand that. I think that's... Look at his face. He can't believe in none of it is. Keep in mind, I'm just talking. I'm just talking about the possibility of a cool story for the six years.

I'm just yapping. The thing is, I believe in everything that Isaac said outside of D and B'd stuff. That's the only thing that I even like I like what I've seen from Paul George since he's come back. I agree with everything and he is hooping. And I'm low-key, listen, lo-key kind of happy that there's not going to be a situation where the Knicks have to play the Sixers in the first round because they are the team where if everything does come together for a week and a half, which,

kind of happens for the Sixers throughout the year. They have a week and a half, two weeks where they reel you in, everything comes together. And you're like, wow, they can actually be a team. And then, like Moses, the plane crashes, everything, you know, everything basically dies and all hope is lost. But the Embedith stuff is just so big of a factor to where I, and it's so consistent. And even when he is there, because the defense is not as great as it once was, because we also, I won't say we because I still have

a little bit of questions of like okay let's see you at the end of these of these games we will like there's just a lot of questions for them that I probably I think the highest I could put them

if I was really really all in was right where the rockets are at at 11 and right outside the top 10 because like knowing all the stuff that the rockets have gone through I really I really wanted to put the rockets as low as possible See that's what I wanted to talk about because that's the most jarring placement to me I wanted to and then at the end of the day I was like

11 is still crazy to me it's too hot to 2 oh you have in top 10 yes oh get ready to be the glazer of the show I don't have him top 10 oh no they are they are a walking lick yeah yeah I'm I'm they're they're a walking league there I legitimately thought about putting them um the lowest I could go with them was at 14, right where the Lakers are at. Yo, you're really grinding to find ways. So they've had a good, they've had a good couple weeks. They've stabilized a little bit.

But that means nothing, of course. We know what that is. They mean something. I'm not going to discredit the entire recent stretch. It means something, but not everything. We're not going to just fully coast. But I'm with you. I don't believe in the Rockets at all because of the fact that, like I said,

last five minutes of the game, half court offense, I do not have faith that they have any chance of beating the top teams in the Western Conference that have four times. 100 times more dependable offense, zero faith in that. I look at the teams around them. I'm like, oh, I don't know how much more faith than you. So I can't think you too low. This is a year where there's not a lot of serious playoff teams,

that there's quite the discrepancy in the top five and then six to 12, wherever else would be actually in the playoffs. There's a volcanic gulf between the fifth best team and then the sixth of the rest. So they end up being here in a normal year where a few more teams are healthy and it's a little more regular. I would have them much closer to 15. Yeah. I did want to ask, what's the justification for the clippers over the Sixers? Because a lot of the concerns we all have about Embed, I personally feel like applies to Kauai.

Kauai's been more available this season. I think, I think. So you're right. We always have that looming. But as of today, Joel and B's not playing back to backs. They clearly are nursing him. When he's on the court, he looks a little like, like they said, you're feeling like you're waiting for the shoe to drop. It's a purely like emotional thing, not like this action injury.

Kauai looks completely fine. We have no reports of him having any issue right now. Now, granted, we've been this spot's based report where there's no reports in the first game, he tears his ACL and he misses the next season. No, the first game he goes off. The second game is the one he misses.

He tears his ACL and they don't talk about it for like three games. He misses. Then turns out he misses the entire next season. That has happened before. It's crazy. And that's why they're grouped together for me and Kauai's just played better this year

so they get the nod. Yeah. But that's it. Kauai's really good. And Darius Garland isn't playing really good too. And they have a good group of defenders around them. I would actually love that the Clippers top 10

with the fact they have Garland and Kawhi and that gives you a very good punch of chance but once again they traded their starting center and didn't bring a starting center back at all they punted their ability to have a good rep protector on the season Brooke Lopez hoops John Collins hoops against top tier offensive players in the playoffs

is going to get filthy real fast and there's Garland playoff stuff also looming over your head a little bit it's not it's not the best or at least you can't have 100% faith right like we don't know how real it is because he's been dealing with injuries. We don't know if he turns into someone

that's not the same level in the playoffs or not, but you can't feel confident in him. Yeah. All right. And as to say, they're the eight seed, they're going to face the thunder or spurs. So you're going to have Shay or 1B

attacking those centers. It's not going to go well. Wow, man. That's tough. Okay. What's the next list? Yeah, where are you at? Mo, what you got?

15. Raptors, 14, sixers. 13. I got the Phoenix Suns. 12. I have the clippers,

just like you, Donnie. And at 11, I have the Atlanta Hawks. I don't think I've ever heard you call him Donnie. I was thinking the same thing. I think it's the first time. It's because you read it on the screen, so I get it.

Yeah. I was like, well, that was weird. I thought it was just me? Yeah. But yeah. You feel closer now? Do I feel like you know I'm a little bit better now? I've called him smoothie pie way more than I've called Donnie.

I don't know. It was kind of weird. It was kind of out of body moment. I think you called him Big D as well. Never the little one. Never the little one. You're projecting right now. I'm just remembering.

How many times do you call them Big D in your life? I thought him a little D. All right. So. Sometimes the little one I get. Sometimes. Occasionally the little one. Okay, so I will say this, the little one.

This is the first time the entire season where I looked at my favorite player right now currently in the league. I see what he did last down against Cleveland Cavaliers. He looked like he had the little assuble. one. He had so much pissed down his legs and I foreseen what was going to happen in the fucking playoffs. He did nothing. He was the scariest one. I envision of how he's where he's like rolling out the series as the number one option and he's averaging like 13, 14 points shooting like 43% from the field. Half court offense is just cooked. Yeah. I was wondering where he was going with that because he was like, speaking of the littlest one.

What the fuck? We'll let you go with this verse. I don't feel good at all. So last time my guy shriveled up, it's fine. Happens the best one. So you're saying that if it's hogs calves, round one, Jan and Johnson getting blown out in the meet all. Yes.

Damn. You have no faith in winning the meetoff? That's a bad place to be. No, not yet. I think we, us as a team, yes, but we can only go so far as, as far as like, Jane Johnson takes us at the end of the day. I had a lot of debate about the Hawks as well. they have been incredible post all-star break.

They, in the last 60 days, our top five in net rating are truly a very good team post-Tray Young. Everything that people said they wanted to see after the Trey Trey-Trey-Young, getting rid of a defensive liability, putting the ball, more players' hands, having an egalitarian four-ball handler's approach that works better than playing through Trey Young as a primary ball stopper. It's been true. 100%. They've been a top-10 offense, top-10 defense. The Kill Alexander Walker is one of the biggest X factors of the playoffs because he looks like a legitimate high-end ball handler in lieu of Trey-Yung. being there. Jalen Johnson isn't quite as mediocre as he was to start the season numbers-wise,

but playing his role, I agree with you that they don't have the top-tier playmaker that you typically would see in a playoff series and foot good about in the half court. Their first option isn't up to snuff. I don't think they win because their first option at all. I don't think obviously like, you know how NBA goes that

Jaylon Johnson gets the point of rebounds assist. He gets the nod of like, oh, he's the franchise player, the Hawks don't need trade because they got Jaylen. The Hawks don't win because of Jaylen. They win because they have a well-built roster now that can facilitate an elite defense and multiple ball handlers to all do their jobs, they win because Jalen and a killer's underwalker

and Dyson Daniels as a group and C.J. McCollum, who after that terrible start is like a meaningfully important ball handler for you guys now, that I had the same hesitation. I put the hawk stop then. Just because I don't think it really matters what the first option gets compared to a lot of teams just because they're so spread out

that they can afford a Jalen Johnson stinker, which will happen for everything you said. 100%. And still won a game, potentially. A game, yeah. I'll fucking hope they won a game that Jalen Johnson stinks. Okay.

Like, you know, like, they can win a playoff series, for sure. Gotcha. Yeah, I feel like we could win a playoff series too, but I feel very skeptical about it, and I think it'll go,

it'll be like a six, seven game playoff series at the end of day. Oh, for sure. And that's fine. For sure. They are, like,

what's probably going to happen is like they're going to be in the four or five against the Cavs. They're not going to have home quarter advantage. And the Cavs are going to be heavy favorites in that series. And rightfully so,

they are the better team. I don't think it's crazy if in two weeks you're like, you know what? Fandom aside, I'm picking the Hawks to beat the Cavs. It would be an upset. It would be unlikely. It's very possible and it's very much on the table. Especially with all, like the Cavs themselves, they're obviously top 10, but they're not world beaters themselves.

They also have issues that they have to go through. But I think that like when you talk about the defense that you can get from Dyson Daniel, the two-way play that you can. can get from Nikola Alexander Walker. You have one crazy playoff, comminga game. Like, there's, there's a way that you can get into a, into the second round. Yeah. If you play the Cavs.

I think, uh, everything you just said, I agree. Um, on Monday we talked about it. And I was like jokingly like, Hawks are going to get blasted by the Cavs just to troll you. I'm really opening up to the fact that the Hawks can win that series. Yeah. Maybe I'll say Cabs and seven and like, I'll just go towards the superstars doing superstar things, right? And I'll go towards the fact that Evan Mobley theoretically matched up well with Jalen Johnson to given troubles. Maybe I'll end up going there. But you said it's unlikely the Hawks win is possible

but unlikely. I don't even think it's unlikely. I think it's like very, very reasonable to pick the Hawks. You know, the cabs better get it together, man. They better. Assuming that when to kill Alexander Walker is doing, can't translate to playoffs. Yeah. And I feel perfectly fine about him doing that because he just is like so audacious. Him and C. Jim McCollum, they have like what they think of themselves, how offensively they think they're like a top literally like five flare. And that's exactly the energy that we need on this team, considering how creation is so limited. We have bodies, we have depth,

shots come from anywhere. We don't necessarily have any type of like offensive hierarchy just for the team. And that's what makes it so dangerous. But at the end of the day, when it comes to, for one, okay, like a major thing that happened on the team recently. We lost Jocongdale. And of course, like, Joccalondos or Londale, whatever.

But at the end of the day, like, he was really good for us. And now we're just running with, yeah, like, Oneyko has our standalone five and also Mo Gay, which is like two good players, but we need someone physical there. And that's where we had that advantage over the Cleveland, over the Cleveland Cavalier, someone who will really like get into your chest. And now we're running with like, bro, Tony Bradley, you know? I got back.

I hear you. Terrible news. I don't know if Jack Lawndale was going to be the one to put Jared Island in a blender personally. No, it was going to be in. It was going to be in. I could Jared down's easy. He put the blender.

He says it himself. Yeah. But we lost the body, an important body, impactful body. I still think, like, yeah, a couple weeks or two weeks ago, I did come up here and say, like, hey, we can give the Cleveland Cavalier's a fit. I still believe that. I don't think it's going to be easy sweep. But when it comes to winning the series, this tier right here, really like 11 on,

because I don't think the clip, the clippers can give the, okay, see, under whoever they face off in the first round, like a real run for the money. But 11 on is like, okay, like, you guys have a chance. I agree with you. Yeah, that's how I'm viewing it as well. Nikile Alexander Walker, the way he's playing right now, averaging 20 while still being a primary defender, still being like exactly as good of a defender you were,

not falling off at all, like not doing the whole, I gotta score more, someone put less effort over here. Jaylon. Yeah, not doing the Jaylon Johnson. But Jaylon Johnson was also never like this great of a defender. Yeah. But the Jontere Murray,

the tale is oldest time. Now I'm in Tompson was not quite the same level defensively. Still really good, but there's naturally a give and take there when you have to expand more effort to the other side of the ball, hasn't been the case yet. Now, that gets really difficult in a playoff series

where you're playing every other day against elite teams that are game planning for you specifically. If he can still do that, that's like Derek White. That's a Derek White level player. That's what makes Derek White so special.

And very few guys can do that, and that's why he sets an anomaly that returns all-star level value as a traditional role player type of player. You have one of those players right now. Again, I don't know if it happens if it translates to the playoffs because it's extremely difficult

to expand that type of energy. But if it does, the ceiling is much different than we thought. Derek White mentioned. Derek White glazed even. Come on, man. Yeah. What's so special about his attention is, of course, like, he's just flat out, been better overall offensively.

And I think his ability to create and the actual, like, ability to have more counters and see those counters coming to fruition. Hit guys, move behind the backs, hit guys with, like, little post moves and shit like that is so amazing. I think that's what's literally giving him a couple points per game throughout the entirety of the year. on top of that too. Of course, he's just been like a genuinely like better shooter on the ball, off the ball. And I think that's why we're seeing this level of sense of him right now. Yeah. We're talking about the offense entirely right now in the last 60 days. 11th and offensive rating 11th. 19.5. Makes sense. Everything we're saying. Four ball handers now. You're starting lineups into Benz, Zachary, Risha Schaefer, C.J. McCollum, and a five out space are at center and O'Neke. That makes sense. I get you to 11th best offense with that type of spacing and four guys who can dribble. Makes Dyson Downs, life better at two. Everybody kind of benefits than that. to the number two defense in that time.

That's really the story here, is that offense will see if it's good enough. You can win a playoff series in the first round off of just being a dominant defense, especially against a team that has players like the Cavs who have some, a history of not exactly performing at their best when elite defenses come up to them and face them every other night in the first round of playoff series. You can win with the strength of that, and the offense can be secondary. You get hot shooting from a few role players, Nick Alexander Walker's playoff series of his life,

carrying this momentum, you maintain that level, the defense, that's a perfectly reasonable recipe. Yeah. Yeah, man. What's so sad about all this is like, man, you're going to lose. Seid McCollum still not. Whoa. That's what's so sad.

You're saying all this and you're going to be disappointed. No, I'm happy as hell at the end of the day, regards with how this season turned down. I'm building you have to tell you down. Who would have a fucking thought, like, we would not have Treong on this team or Chris Osprezingis on this team? Almost everybody thought that actually. I've been 10 years of 3. But still be 45 wins?

Come on. I'm not going to lie. That's ridiculous. Most of the NBA. community told you that that is time to trade trade young because they can be better without them. And at the beginning of the year, when we were talking about, you know, this, the second tier of teams and we were talking about the hogs being really good, I had them at five because I was like, yeah, what if after this entire offseason where we said that they won is they just come up here

and be the same more Atlanta Hawks and they end up as the five seed. They're the five seed right now because they are, again, the road travel was very, very different than what we thought. obviously because Trey Young is not on this team and they finally got to a point where they traded him away. But the ethos of where you guys are is still a middling team that now has a much different foundation that you can build on. And that's good because you know that the Trey Young Foundation wasn't going to, it wasn't going to get you back to conference finals or or a final. You weren't going to get there with Trey as the league guy. Now you have a different, a different outlook, a different, a different future. And this feels more like ground zero of

a good new era as opposed to we're running this back and we've squeezed all the juice out of out of this let me say this so there's a few games the defensive numbers are great but i i just know like we're not that level of defense pretty easy schedule pretty yeah exactly and we faced like the wizards twice we and also the portland trade blazers only the blazers cracked like 101 outside of that like everyone else has been yeah but looking at the teams that we face who are like legitimate me play a legitimate playoff teams those are like the real missus and that told me everything i needed to know about this team so we faced off against the houston rockets the detroit pistons without kate but still that's a good team the boston celtics and then lastly the nix and the

cleveland calvian cavilers uh tell them what happened the other day i called i phasedom donovan called him a pussy when he got up i said where you at pussy next thing you know i turn it around he's like what are you talking about you lost cidem conmova he took like this half court three it went in but time expired i was like you put He, fuck, and I hung up immediately. Felt wildly embarrassed. But needless to say, back to my point, every single one of those teams.

Big old dummy. Who you feel very confident, at least like being productive in the playoffs, we lost against. It wasn't a disgusting loss. But that just tells you like this team is like still a step behind compared to where the rest of the competition is at. Yeah, in many ways they are a Eastern Conference March basketball merchant

in terms of the defensive rating itself. So, yeah, you're right. Maybe that's the one reason for pessimism is that. it was pretty much an easy scheduled thing as far as number two goes. Yeah. We did beat the Celtics

also too. We lost the Celtics we won't a game against them so that's without Tatum so it's like I got but still a good win. Okay so cautiously optimistic about the Hawks in the first round

but again that's really rooted in Cavs hate more than anything at its core is rooted in Cavs skepticism killing dynasties. I have the sons of 15, Raptors at 14, Rockets at 13, 76ers at 12,

Clippers at 11. You guys fucking hate the Rockets, man. Why don't you hate the Rockets? I think the Rockets hate the Rockets. I don't hate them. I just don't think as lowly of them. I don't feel confident to put them in the same tier as the Sixers and Clippers. I feel exactly confident to put them the same tier as Clippers.

Like they're all deeply fought. I think the Rockets are the best flawed team here just simply because of talent. That's it. They started starting Reed Shepard over the last, I think, seven or so games. And their offensive has been better. Now, of course, like, they've been playing such, like, Fugasey basketball teams, and I think they're on, like, a seven or eight game winning streak right now, which means nothing. But I feel a little bit better about them because Torres is no longer in that starting lineup.

I just see Tories and just literally bring the ball up and just, like disrupt their offense, literally and try to be, do Kobe-esque things dribble into the paint with no fucking plan at all. And now that he's out of the starting lineup, I'm like, hey, you get a little bit of a better of a problem. The ceiling is a little bit higher. Now their defense is going to take a hit, you know? But at the end of the day, like, I think they're more of a, they took another step I saw. It took another step and I'm saluting them for that. I think they have the same issues they've always had.

And it's always been the long thing all year that EME has had to decide between starting those two players you mentioned, slanting offense, slanting defense. He's had the desire to slant defense and hope they can rely on their two stars to get them out of it offensively and be the half-core playmakers that they were in the beginning of the season when we were talking about Shingun and KD is such an amazing duo. If Shingun was playing the best basketball of his life, that disappeared. He is still Shingun, the same way he's always been, which is a good player. but not the great player he seemed like he was going to be. So that push and pull has been the case all season.

And I think when you have a clear push and pull and you have to decide offense or defense and there's no way to optimize your team, I cannot have any faith in you to beat the Spurs or the Thunder in the second round. Thankfully they're going to play the Lakers now. So they'll get a Cupcake first round playoff series win that'll let them go into the summer and say,

hey, we want a playoff series. We had the foundation. Let's build on that. And I'm happy for them. They're going to get beaten five games for the Thunder. Four. Now the Thunder are going to go ice cold

from three at least one games. They don't see people. the rockets are going to go ice-coot. Oh my gosh. Probably more often than not. Yeah. Like, Shingoon, we'll see. Because he did have, like, I think last year and last year's series against the Warriors

was the perfect opportunity for him to get his specific kind of game off. Where it's like the super, like this super rugged style of basketball. I'm going to into the post. I'm going to be physical because the Warriors also did not have. a great offense. They were going to go and beat you by Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, Jamon Green out executing you doing all these things. I think that now with the Rockets, if Kevin Durant is not going to be what he was even a year and a half ago, if a man Thompson has not taken this leap, if Reed Shepherd does get hunted and eventually played off

the floor, you're going to need some constant offensively and Shangun is going to have to be that guy. Yeah. If you are playing against an okay C Thunder we literally are going to have to see what you did the first game of the year where you were like four for five from three you were scoring 30 you were doing all these other things you're going to have to be a top 15 player in the world

to get over that hump and I'm not sure I am sure that's not going to happen again of him scoring like 35 and shooting 60% from three in a series keep in mind they lost that game it was as close as you could lose

but like that was like the best case in here It's like the best game they've had all year. Fair. I think that if we're talking about, if we're comparing them to O KC, then obviously like all these teams losing this tier and every single team pretty much behind them or in front of them will lose if we're being honest. But I'm just thinking about them from the frame of like

what they've looked like from the start of the year till now is pretty much still the same story. So that's a shitty story to me. One way players on the team. They're trying to figure things out. I looked at what KD and look, KD and Alfred Shangoon look like when they play together. when it comes to their numbers.

And it's like so baffling. It's so like shocking that, you know, they all their offensive numbers are so much better without each other. And defensively like it pretty much is what it is. And you already know the story too. Like when Shangoon's there, it's just a completely looking defense compared to when he's not there. And with that in mind, while also knowing that, okay, like it feels like they finally decided

a way to die. They don't want to get stabbed in their heart. Instead they want to get blown. They want their brain's blown out. At least they decided at this point in time of the year. the entire season, I was like, fuck, man. Like something needs to change. And I think this outlook with the lineup that they've been running as of late

feels like a better process at the end of the day. And I finally seen I may do something worth noticing. Well, we've, I don't know. I feel like right now we're in that zone. Where especially about like a month, month and a half ago, really started to question Dukkah and was like, you can you draw something else up on the board like can you actually do something you got it and when we get into yeah when we get into the last five five minutes of the game i am very very

skeptical that they're going to be able to to do something positive um over and over and over again and that's why even in the series with the lakers they should they should beat beat the lakers right they will don't don't have have anybody yeah they're going to give up at least one game because they're going to turn the ball over five times in six minutes and it's going to be nasty and then we're going to come up here and talk about like you know what what this means for the series and are they in trouble but i i just don't have faith in them yeah i just think even like outside of blaming udoka he's dealt a bad hand like they lost for event of lead and lost even Adams they lost their playmaker that can keep the turnovers low and get the ball where it needs

to go and they lost their advantage of offensive rebounding you take away their two superpowers and they're just a team full of guys. And it's nobody's fault. They just nuke by injuries. And yeah, they're going to win a first-on playoff series. Maybe they can even beat the Lakers if they didn't get injured. That's still, like, in the realm of possibility. They can beat the Lakers.

They can beat the Timberwolves. They can beat those other mid-tier teams in a four-five series. But for the top three teams, that being the spurs, the thunder, and the nuggets, no order. They're, like, miles behind. If you say that, then why do you have them right below the Clippers and also the Sixers? A Clippers probably shouldn't be there. I don't have any argument for that.

Sixers are everything I said earlier. that like if joellen beats healthy like and no this is too i mentioned earlier in the beginning of the show there's probably some western conference tax being had here that's what i see is that like the six years have a better chance to go further which isn't fair to anybody i guess but i mean i don't know i mean i don't think there's any chance the rockets make a run yeah i mean i i agree with if they're in the east i think it would change a little bit i think there's no chance they have nothing with them i just i disagree a little bit so in the west there's three teams had no chance of beating in the east there's two teams i think the pistons and the celtics have no

chance of being those teams. So like, yeah, they've been a slightly better spot. But either way, I just think they're, so to your point, they're more proven and more talented than the teams above them, right? But I think for a playoff setting, they're uniquely set up to fail compared to those other teams that have better half-court playmakers, better offensive chemistry, less lack of shooting liabilities, less issues with getting their best defense and offense out there at the same time.

Yeah. Those are like unique problems that, that's exactly why a team doesn't translate from regular season to playoffs. Yeah. Okay, I see that I'm just thinking about it from Lenza Like whoever you have at 10 and 9 The Rockets probably be meeting them in a playoff series

And obviously I think you would agree with the same thing When it comes to the Sixers and the Clippers The Rockets will whoop their ass in the playoffs Oh, I don't agree at all Who do I have a 10 and I disagree I think the Clippers can win I think the Clippers can win The Clippers to me would be top 10

If they had Zubatch If they didn't do that trade They'd be easily top 10 to me Having Darius Garland Like I don't know if people realize How good he's looked It's getting there And having Kauai who's been

One of the best players In the NBA for the entire season that as a duo moves me in a playoffs plus defenders around them it just comes down to the fact they don't have room protection and don't have like a play finisher that I feel good about

because Brooke moves like you would move on an NBA court at this point he's incredibly old and slow and shout out John Collins for what he is as a small ball backup five that's not a real center rotation so that's holding them back but I moved tremendously

by Kauai Garland in the playoffs series way more than I'm moved by anything the Rockets bring and Tyler they have a way better coaching advantage best player in the series lineups that make sense two ways like it really is like it's so

impossible to win playoff series when you can't put your best offensive lineup and defensive lineup out there at the same time. W. Rocketee all around all you all get three points. And the six thing like the sixers thing is like yeah if Joe if he gets hurt obviously they're cooked he probably won't make it through a deep playoff run that's like with how intense things get it's probably not likely

what am I supposed to do with that man I don't know he's healthy now let me just show them some love for what they are right now and I don't have any what do I say? say besides like, oh, I seen him get hurt. Like, I don't know how to do anything productive with that combo wise. Okay. Wow, man.

Like, it's probably, it's probably the reality, but like, I don't know. I feel, I agree, I agree with you guys all around. I think I just finally got over the hump of like, finally, like, Rita starting at the end of the day. And you guys will still go out and I know what will happen. I don't care of Freethars personally. I do. I do.

I think it makes a difference. But I think it also just puts, it's just about that time where, okay, like, you, you're going to be given this opportunity. literally what are you prepared to do because you are going to be attacked every single time the limit to which you can to which you can survive

in a playoff series will be tested right now yeah and if they get the best case version of Reech Shepherd and he does hold it defensively and brings that shooting and playmaking like great that makes a big difference right I'm glad I spent time on them too

because this is like one of the most interesting teams in the playoffs they're the team that we have the least like sure idea of so it's worth spending 20 minutes in the Rockets I don't know of Shepard is the playmaker for it to matter. It'll be nice. They have more shooting, right?

I don't know if just having Reeshepard out there. Let's say he holds up defensively is fine. Makes him a little bit worse because he's not Tarresen, but the spacing makes up for it. You're not giving him to touch his late game, so that isn't addressed the late game offense. The spacing does help having that out-lute valve on the Kevin Rand double teams, but I don't know if that's enough for me to feel any different compared to the top teams they have to go through. For them, playmaking, obviously, like, it matters. I don't care as much about the playmaking with them

just because they haven't had it all year. And so what I really would want for them is that shot making, is the spacing. I feel the opposite. You're right. They haven't had all year. And that's why I've had no faith in them all year. That would be what's needed for them make a run.

The reason why I don't really care about it that much is because I don't think Reed is going to elevate to it. Now, yeah. That's what I'm saying. Yeah. I don't think he has the juice to elevate to that level. And so if he's not, then putting him out there to be this, Like to be this point guard, I think it's, it's a little bit of like, of just wasted energy.

I'd rather you go out there and be this like this crazy shot, take your crazy shot maker. You try and go and go get hot. You provide some space. You provide some shooting. And we try to be the best version of ourselves because I think at this point, having, having the rockets try to try to turn their offense or try to succeed in a way that all the other playoff teams do with competent shooting, competent ball handling, all this stuff. They don't have that.

They haven't had that for nine months. So what we have seen them do in previous situations is really over index on the margins and really over index in the specific things that they are good at and turn those things into strengths and superpowers. Do I think that they are going to have the best basing in the league in the playoffs? Absolutely not. But can you really, really lean in to the things, to the small advantages or the small things that you do well?

Yes. One of those things. That's what if when Reechard is is hot and when Reechard is playing well, he provides spacing and shot making for them, which if you have a man Thompson out there, that's not, that's not happening. You want to have Kevin Wright have somebody that he has an outlet to.

If you start throwing doubles two, if you have Shangoon going one-on, playing it in the post, you want him to have somebody that he could spray the ball out to. Read can be one of those guys. I know what you're saying, but you said the ideas or lean on things, your superpowers and your strengths you have.

as a team, I don't think Reed Shepard makes them a good shooting team. Is what I'm saying? Is that like, I don't think there's a path to him single-handly fixing that. Of course, it helps. He has, he literally is,

he has to shoot well. And that, that's it. Like, I don't, I don't think that. That's mad. Like, if he's your only shooter and that's so easy a game plan for it. That's why I have them low. That's why I don't,

I don't believe in them. But what, but I think that for the, for the Rockets, they don't have, they haven't had a lot of options. And the one thing that we have said on and off this year is do you play, do you play read, do you play TARP, right? What versions of your lineups do you want to see or what side of the ball do you want to index on? Frankly, I don't know what we're disagreeing on anymore.

I'm lost. Okay. I think I don't know. Yeah, I don't even know. Okay. So I think an answer, something that's very like a clear cut answer for you. Free points. We have in discourse.

I know. I lost the plot of what we're both saying. two weeks ago, the Minnesota Timberwolves faced off against the Rockets. We're potting. And this perfectly captures. So this is why they suck. No, this is why they suck.

Yes. That game ago, that happened two weeks ago, perfectly captures which you guys were, I don't know, for disagreeing versus the Minnesota Timber Wools. Okay. Where this game went into fucking overtime. And it was,

I think the Houston Rockets were up like 13 points in overtime. And they fucking fumble that game to an Anthony Edward Lisp team to a team that also lost Nasreid, to file trouble to a team that also lost Jada McDaniels, I think to injury or file trouble, one of those two. Yeah. And they fucking soiled it. They sold it because I think ultimately what came to bite them in the ass.

Now, Reech Shepherd, he did play. He got up his shots. He didn't shoot well. But at the end of the day, too, that's not the only thing. Make or miss those shots. They were going to lose that game regardless because of how their offense process was, which ultimately leads back to like their playmaking, how things line up in order in order in there having anyone to set up a table on a consistent basis.

They're asking Katie to do those things. They're asking Alfred Schengun to do those things. When both of those guys, they're good at it. They're not, they're like above average, obviously. But when it comes to actually like setting up certain players and having the right offensive sets and doing just the easy, simple stuff, don't have that. They can't do that on consistent basis. That's what I'm saying.

I don't think Reed Shepard moves that needle to make that different at this point of his development. So whether they start him or not, I think those problems will be ever present regardless. He makes it marginally better shooting-wise. But nevertheless, what you said, the process is having to play through Shangoon. and Kevin Durant, playmaking in the half court, will be fucked either way.

They're not one shooter away. They're several layers of development and roster reconstruction away from that being viable. Too much has fallen in her face this season, but Atari Easton just turned into a fucking pumpkin. DFS, what does he do? I don't know why he's here.

We'll save him. There are two vet guys just got injured towards the very end or beginning of the season or before the season started. This is a lost product, but I like what they've been doing as of late. I'm glad someone. I see what you guys do.

I did put them high, though. I did put them too high. As we see, who are doing. Hell, no. Six? What? Listen.

Listen. Hammers. Listen. So at 10. Brass knuckles. This is crazy. Chainsaws. Guillotines.

I did have been too high. Take all of his six. Looking back. Looking back. Firing squads. Like maybe nine. Over the Knicks. Or put him 10.

Yeah, because I fucking hate the nicks. So 10, I have the hornets. Nine. I have the cats. have the calves, eight, I have the Knicks, seven T-wolves, and six, I have the Rockets. Okay, let's reveal some more of ours so we can have some reference points here. I have, Donovan, who you got? I have the Hawks at 10, the Hornets at 9, Cavs at 8, T-wolves at 7, Pistons at 6.

Pistons at 6? Wow. I have the Hawks at 10, T-wolves at 9, calves at 8, Hornets at 7. Oh, you are high on all. And Knicks at 6. Mm-hmm. Okay, so where did, okay, so first off, start with the rocket. So you feel like you have them too high. Go ahead and tell us where you put them now after reflection.

After I put them now, after this whole conversation, I would put them at probably 11 or 10. Okay, so let's just treat them at 10 and move everybody up a slide. We don't got to, we don't know a rock a stock. Let's assume there's just one spot above. We went through it all. I love where you put the hornets. I wanted to put them as high as possible, but I couldn't convince myself to do so.

Let's start there. Let's start there. Let's start there. Before I tell you why I have them so, tell me why they can't be. I did not want to put them so high because at the end of the day, they're relying on the first full year of Brandon Miller being healthy. They're relying on the metal ball who's just so up and he's so down. But when he's up, motherfucker, he is up.

And there's no point. At times, I feel like there's only like three or two point yards who are better than him in the league when he's up, when it's all clicking. He takes the most audacious shots. His ability to get to the rim and just make plays happen is ridiculous. And how he just sets other players up and really puts people in line. to like make plays whether it be like move get the ball moving again to a certain spot or just hey like take this easy layup or take this easy jumper charles lee and how creative he is offensively it moves me there's just so much firepower on this team musa diabate bro he's like a top i don't know 12 center in the NBA now he's like modern it feels like he's

modern day desmond uh Dennis rodman with how just much hustle and how much he gives a fuck like that this team is special but i don't want to rely on rookie con scoring what you're year one Brandon Miller and also the mellow ball at the end of the you just named three factors you don't rely on the good thing about having three factors you don't want to rely on is you don't have to rely on any of them because you have three of them like they have so many layers of what made some good that not wanted to rely on one of those things that make total sense to me if that was the driving force of why they're good but they got like six driving forces of why they're good that you just eloquently laid out but it feels like you have a table here and all three of them you can

kick them down at any moment they're not necessarily stable just yet that's for a lot of all these teams six through 10 are tier either but these are the least proven guys you're obviously seven through 10 and of course at least for me are like tier tier two contenders even tier three contenders these are all teams that are like you know they are that are going to have to punch above the weight class and if you say yeah we're going to knock a leg off of your your foundation that's fine since since the all start breaking even since longer this team this team is like is like second or third in net rating they're good yeah last 60 days they're third in that rating versus the Spurs, 13.7 net rating.

If you're above 11, you're one of the greatest teams of all time. But, of course, it's a small sample size of 60 days. 2. OKC, 12.6. Bro, the Hornets are plus 11.4. In the last 60 days of sample size, number 2 in offense, number 8 in defense. Of course, they never been here before. And that's the real point here, is you've never seen them in the playoffs. And there's an element of, you have to prove it to me because we've seen so many young teams get to the playoffs.

And the first time, they learn that playoff basketball is not the same very fast, right? they learn that lamella ball your half court scoring all of a sudden matters a lot because teams are not letting you get out in transition these type of learning curves happen all the time

you've seen it so many times if that's the only argument fuck that shit if the only thing is they're young and you have nothing to point to on the court you can't say the offense isn't consistent

it's been incredible you can't say the defense isn't good enough anymore we have a large sample size and then be more than good enough because Brandon Miller is healthy there because Musa Badebatte has given them a perfectly capable

center rotation come playoff off time. They're doing this while having mild bridges at the fore. They're still having a good defense. There's nothing on the court to point to you other than inexperienced to say they can't be as good

as these teams around them. I'm not saying they're for sure make a deep run. They have to make it out of the playing first. You're at the mercy of one game. Maybe they end up falling on their faces. But as far as the powering goes, that if we go today,

compared to their peers around them, how much faith I have in them, I have absolutely zero fucking reason in hell to have more faith in the Timberwolves than the Hornets other than what this team has done in past years or previous iterations of this team that aren't who we're talking about today.

The 2023 Hornets, I mean the 2023 Timberwolves, the 2024 wolves are not who we're discussing today. They have literally zero merit on this season. And of course there's some element that I've seen you get there.

You get some credit in my mind. But if that's the only thing I'm pointing to, fuck that shit. The Hornets, I've earned so much more respect as of late in these teams next to them. Yes, I agree. Yeah.

And for seven and eight for me, for the Timberwolves at seven, calves at eight, the calves, Listen, you got a lot of big names. If we're talking about what you've actually done as an iteration of a team and the core of your team

and even now the history of the third member that you've added to this core, they have shown nothing that indicates to us. Oh yeah, this is a team that can be trusted for a first round and a second round. And then for the wolves, I have them at seven. I want to drop them. I like where you put them.

I'm starting to get a little bit nervous. about the injury. I'm fully expecting him to get back. They got like a positive, like, injury report. They're saying, like, Chris Finch says that he's going to play one or two games before the end of the year. However, if he's just coming back, right? Because we, you're going to have the playing, I guess, next week.

Yeah. And then the playoffs start the Saturday after. You're going to have some time. He's, he was already having those, those questions and the jokes about, being in shape, are you going to be able to just walk in and boom, be right back into I'm scoring 30 efficiently and carrying the playmaking for this team? I'm not sure. And it's not even just that. So the ant thing is a question mark, right? I don't know if y'all have been noticing paying attention to local Timberwell's media over the last few weeks.

These motherfuckers are crumbling. They hate Rudy Gober right now. They're doing anything they always do where the team goes through a lull and Rudy Gobert is an easy target because he misses layups and so forth. The value he brings is defensively, which can get overlooked, even by his teammates and his players who know that he got their back and carries the whole defense but then they throw him a lob and it goes through his hands out of bounds and they say God damn Rudy he'll fucking catch the ball

and they get all mad at him that's been happening as of late tremendously the body language is horrible right or wrong yeah sure right or wrong it's happening and they're turning on Rudy like they always do obviously Randolph has slump stuff and down the season Julius McDaniel hasn't been super healthy Dante DiVincenzo hasn't been a consistent

shooter all year he has to be consistent since he got For this team and time, like since the All-Star break happened, every single player's numbers are down. Yep. Anthony Edwards, of course, he's having a good season. Same thing with Jada McDaniels and their numbers are terrible. But there's a tick. They're all a tick down.

I don't know if that has to do with this like, you know, post-all-Star break and they're all-star starting to slow down and everyone's getting tired. Maybe that's league-wide. They hate each other. It's not. And for Rudy Goberr specifically, his defense, which is what he should be known for, hasn't been, like, tier one at the second, like, since the second half of the season starting. And that's what it should be. For someone like him, there's no root for error at all because you have all the grace in the world when it comes to what people think about you offensive. You have stone hands for a living.

No, I'm not going to say no one cares. But at the end of the day, like, no, they care. Yeah, people care. They care more anything. No one, no one's going to be overly like harping on. That's the reason why they lost the game. It's all defensively for them. Yeah.

Every element to the team, there's a feedback loop of the offense falling apart a little bit and Briega Bear is not getting his touches. And when he gets them, they fall through his hands. So his defensive effort wanes a little bit. And then when the defensive effort wanes, they look at him sideways because he's not bringing anything offensively. And it's just constant feedback loop where everybody's shinned themselves,

everybody getting mad at each other. So we get to this point where the team chemistry is at an all-time low. Their star player, that's the reason we have faith in to make deep runs isn't healthy, isn't his best self. The supplementary players have not had strong seasons to offset that and make you feel better.

Nothing inspires confidence right now other than the simple fact that they've been in the conference finals two years in a row with teams that aren't the same as this team. Rudy, you're going to have to drop 27 and 20 again. Shit. He's Eureka.

Say goodbye. Yeah, he's going to have to do that. I think the wolves just have, we've seen, you know, and for their top player, we've seen it be at a certain level. We've seen Julius Randall last year have a decent playoff run. We're really, really hoping that all of those things just magically click in the next week and a half. to give them this push. But the other teams, I just don't have massive faith in them.

And so the wolves, the calves, the hornets, this year alone, the hornets have shown us more than all the other three teams or than the other two teams above them. But again, the calves have D. Mitch. The calves have more high in talent, I would say, and then the wolves have the best player of the three. And that's why you can put them above. but any assortment of those three teams is fair.

Yeah. And the Hornets, I mean, listen, they're the playing team right now. They're currently nine. They can get to eight and get the chance to get as high as a seven seed at the playing tournament. Maybe they're the eight seed. We'll see which one it goes to. Either way that goes, they're going to face the pistons of the Celtics,

who I will not be picking the Hornets to win a playoff series over. So in terms of who actually of this group of teams can make it the furthest, they're not going to be that team just because they start the season so slow. So you can look back. this and when the Cavaliers are in the second round and the T-Wilts might be the second round and the Hornets are not then okay that was the wrong ranking but if I'm measuring who they are

in the second half of the season who they are currently today if there was a different type of playoff system where the Hornets could face off against the Cavs or the T-Wools right now I would pick the Hornets to beat them. Yes. Over those two teams. So that was my end logic is they won't make it further for different reasons but I think they're a better team today.

Yeah, it's about to ask, we'll make you go with that verse. Yeah. Man, it's just, the Hornets thing is just tough for me at times. because they're shot variance. This is just so crazy to me. And going back to the Celtics game, actually, happened a couple of days ago. Like, once you shut the Mello ball off,

this team is just so getable offensively. And that's where things get kind of spooky. And I think that if we're talking about like year two con or like full season year two, Brandon Miller, then I feel way more confident about this team. And I think next year, bro, you tell me, like they win 55 games.

I believe it. I believe in a fucking heartbeat. But I think I just need another. year for them to get to that point. But I can understand it. I agree with you. If they were seated, like, where the Hawks are at, hey, man. Yeah.

They could advance. They could advance. But overall, for the quality of the same world, the cards are they dealt with right now, maybe I did do, like, a little bit of seating bias for two seconds here, which I can admit. So maybe, I think, ultimately, like, this would be the team where I kind of shift higher and they could, they could go as high as fucking seven for me, maybe eight. Yeah.

Pistons at six. Hater. They're a nick casualty. That's what it is. Ah. Yeah. Oh, because we both put the Knicks down. Okay.

So, I mean, I understand it. I get it. I get it. I don't harp on it too much. We can talk about it because I do think that it's interesting. Who do you have a fire? Probably Pistons. I can't remember.

Pistons, I think. So, yeah, they're clearly close to each other. Those two teams comes down to fact that to me the Pistons have given us zero reason not have faith in them on the court all year. Kate goes down. They don't lose a step. J. Lindurne takes on more of a load. Danis Jenkins plays better than he did after that slump when he got his contract

when he got paid he slowed down a little bit step back up ripped the Lakers hard out in a one-on-one game Jalen Duren playing even better everybody's really answered and risen a little bit with Kate Cunningham gone

that moves me a lot just to say that they aren't Cade merchants doesn't actually matter in terms of like them being whole and comparing them but gives me no reason to ding them when maybe you could find

some kind of logical reason to say oh see what happens what's going to happen when Cade gets double team, then these guys have to create, well, they can do it without him on the court in some sense in a regular season standpoint. So I'm not really going to lean on that anymore. The shooting is the shooting. The playmaking is the playmaking. We know that's not perfect. They've shown us for 82 games. They have a very high-level winning model without that. That I don't think we can just lean on the

crutch of we've seen teams like this fail before when they're showing us that they're winning in ways that we've seen teams like that win before too with off defense and high-level playmaking from an all-in-bba guard. Yeah, that's fair. Um, I, I, I just, and I did have, at the pigeons at six, had the Knicks at five. Listen, I don't know if you guys saw the two main game, the cat and Brunson, especially against y'all. I know you saw two. And better? Started, started to come alive.

Start, started to come alive. Oh, wow. And I think that that's, that's something that you can actually point to. We've had a lot of conversations. There was one very, I would say, overblown conversation that was had last week. about the potential downfall of Jalen Brunson. And I'm just ahead. It's okay.

The Java rantification of Jailen Brunson? Yeah, we were saying his name in that context and it was crazy. But the also what happened on- Was it overblown or was it just mentioned at all? I think, I think- To mention it was overblown. From him overblown. Okay, man.

We'll revisit this conversation a year from now. I'm just saying, I still think. that brunson uh right now and i it's it's me and every other nick fan that's holding on and being the last wave of defensive like brunson's still the best guard the best point guard in the eastern conference and all of and like all of the the the shot making all all of the the clutch stuff that is that is real and i think that with with the way that the nix offense is coming together with the fact that Their defense has been, has been good for, you know, for wherever amount of stretch of time that you want to look at. And that Jayne Brunson can still lock into these moments where he can go, like in the Hawks game, two for eight in the first half.

And then score 17 in the fourth quarter, have 13 assists, make every, every clutch shot that's necessary and be there exactly when the team needs him to be. I think the combination of those three teams, of those three things really makes them a dangerous team. And so I still do believe in them as a top five team and a team that has that type of ceiling. Yeah, no, I agree. That's why I have them at five. There's no, the tier break is six. I know on the graphic it's five just because of how we display it every time, but the tier break is six. I think Nixon Pistons are rightfully right next to each other.

I don't think it's ridiculous from above them. You said for a time, how time period they've been a good defense. I keep referencing the last 60 days as I've done the whole time, fit in offense, fits in defense. Yeah, that moves me. It's where you want to be. And then, you know, in that rating, they're directly next to the Detroit Pistons. So, yeah, it's them too, it's neck and neck. I can understand also that, you know, the Pistons being ahead of them just because in the

head-to-head matchups this year, they killed them every single time. And so that is something that is a different element this year as opposed to last year's matchup where last year the Pistons were completely green into the playoffs and had no, had no experience, had nothing. And now they've taken not only that, those battle scars, but they've come. come out and every single time they backhanded the Knicks four straight times this this year. They do have that experience. They do have that, you know, mental leg up, whatever. And with, with the, um, with the ascension of Jalen Duren, that's also something that is much different

this year than last year and last year's playoffs where you legitimately have to have to figure out how are we going to, how are we going to handle this? And I can't, I can't remember, um, in the, in the last game because they beat them by 30. But like specifically, you know, you know defensively what teams are going to do. We're going to put a wing on cat, right? We're going to put a big on Josh Hart, and that normally messes up a lot of the two-man game. They were still kind of figuring that out,

even, you know, over these last couple games and the last couple times that they played and the two-man game has started to get going. So I think with that being the biggest wrinkle, I do think that the Knicks still have a very, very good opportunity of advancing, you know, past the Celtics in the second round. If the pistons on that side of the bracket, if they play them, I think they can get it.

Even the Knicks have a very good chance of advancing past the Celtics in second round. That's what you just said. Did you mean to say that? You have a very good chance. That's the word you want to use. Yeah. I would still have, if I'm making the odds,

I'm still having the Celtics as the favorites in that series. Okay. But I don't think, I don't think it's like last year where we go into that series and everyone's like, oh, you know, cute story.

Like, Knicks are just going to be easy out of here. I think that I think we come into this into this year a much more even team in terms of feeling and belief about what the mix can do in that series. Fair, fair. It's not an instant win or anything. We can't say it's 80% chance of Celtics win. Yeah, I typically dock points, but I like the belief in your team, man, so I'm going to give you a point. So that shit's cute. Glad you got something going for you.

It's not going to be a victory. Head to head, I have no doubt the Pistons could beat them. Celtics will see. You got to beat them last year. so they're better last year so I don't know I don't know but Pistons you know you said the Knicks are figuring out the wing on cat thing

is different when that wing is Asar Thompson You can just switch the best wing defender in the NBA on to Brunson Ask us how that went Not good Not good Assar was losing his mind last year He was getting caught for every single foul

Oh you mean last year okay Yeah last year in the playoffs Assar's better this year though Sar's leveled up fully healthy season to develop Amen Asar Asar is like I'm just saying it was one-on-one with the series of the line. I saw it end up outside the frame.

So it is what it is. Outside the frame. Top five now. Let's get to the true championship contenders. I think these top five teams, to me, I put the Knicks at six, because I don't think they can beat the top team out east. Am I confident in that? The top five teams are the teams that realistically to me can win the championship.

To varying degrees, I think the top three teams have the real chance. But the top five have somewhat of a chance to me to win the finals. At five, I have the pistons. Four, I have the Nuggets. three I have the Celtics, two the spurs, and one, the thunder. Okay, we just go all of our five. Yep. Yeah.

So at five, I got the Pistons, four Celtics, three spurs, two. I got the Denver Nuggets again. And I won, okay, see. Glazer. Donovan. One, I have the Thunder. Two have the Celtics. Three, I have the spurs.

Four, I have the Nuggets. Five, I have the Knicks. Don gets another point. Let's go. For the Celtics. By you. judge. Yeah.

Okay. I mean, yeah. So the, the clearest difference is I got the nuggets in number two. Yeah. Spin it on it. I'm not going to make too much of it.

I don't think he's going crazy on it. Like there. He's not going crazy on it. It's what you do? Just sitting. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. There's no. Just on it. It's not moving. It's not. It's not crazy. He didn't say. not on it. He said he's not going crazy.

No, it's obviously not crazy to have the Nicole Yolishla-teema, too. It's not ridiculous. This is more like a, no, more important. No. Wow. You're going to participate in this? I thought more highly of you. He thought better of you. Wow.

He said he's not on it. He's just offering the ability to get on it. It's like a BYU situation. He's soaking on it. He's soaking. He's shaking. He's shaking. Let's frame up. Listen, man, they're all healthy, and they just went 10 straight games. Their defense's been better in the fourth quarter.

That's all I think. That's what I'm saying. It's not crazy. It's not crazy to say. It's not ridiculous. It's not crazy. The last 30 days of defense is sixth in the NBA. So that's something, like you said, they're all healthy.

It's not ridiculous. Obviously, you thought they could be that preseasoned and they've dealt with injuries all year and now they're back. I'm so dubious still how that defense will. translate compared to the spurs that I have them at four it's not really for slander I put them above the pistons for everything you put them at two for for the fact that they've really got together cam johnson i don't think is really an issue at least offensively maybe that he contributes to the defense being a little iffy they're a little for lack of better word they're softer

defensively and not in a like mentally weak type of thing but like there's just weaker players out there that don't offer quite as much force you're right and i think that the main talking about behind that is like, bro, they're the oldest team here. Yeah. You know, they're not unks, obviously, but everyone's literally at the peak peak of their career or maybe they're like defensively taking a step down from that. Yeah. Which is very fair.

And also, above all that, Yolkits is there. Yeah, so that's the thing. That's why I had them at four just because I don't think they have that upper two-way ceiling that the teams above them have. And the Celtics haven't been a top five defense or anything either. We talk about them that way because they have such amazing game plans with Joe Mazzula. But, you know, they are still a good, not amazing defense because they don't have the room protection.

Shout out to me as Kada. Shout out what they've done to build. build up that rotation despite the talent they've lost. They haven't had the talent to have like a truly elite rim protection unit to give them like a top five defense like the Spurs of Thunder have. So I can understand from the Nuggets above them. This is probably Eastern Conference of bias because I think this will win their conference. So I have kind of auto put them into the finals in my head in some way.

But if you want to tell me things are the better team on paper as of late with them being fully healthy, I buy that. The crux of it to me though is just the Spurs and Thunder are just so so incredible right now that I can't quite go that far. I can kind of get there with the with the nuggets just because if there's if there is a player that can nullify what what Victor can do as a defender. It's joking. And he has every match. And he does it.

And the last two times that they've played them, the Nuggets have won both of those games. They put a 136 in both of those games. Clearly they have something to where offensively you can score. And it's not going to be some crazy like. some crazy rock fight and the spurs are not going to hold them down to that to that level you're really going to have to see the all the things that everybody is asking of the spurs it's their first time here can they actually come out and execute you are going to have to see that against the nuggets yep and now that erin gordon is back that series is going to be very very interesting and i hope

that we get it um so i can yeah i can have the nuggets over the spurs and yeah it's it's not again it's not ridiculous at all to put the nuggets at too fully understand i just feel like the spurs have like, like, just like earned it. Like they haven't given us any real reasons of doubt other than generalities, which half the time those generalities become true and these young teams do end up faltering. Half the times they're, the Thunder last year,

they're the Warriors and they just are ready to be a contender. So who's to say, it's a coin flip on if the platitude is going to be real or not, because it does apply, obviously. The main reason I can't ding them is since the All-Star break, Stefan Castle and Dylan Harper just don't miss threes anymore. Those guys are shooting 40% and three each. And, you know, obviously that's going to come up

down. I'm sure they'll have some down games in the playoffs and we'll see early season where there's a little spacing issues. I kind of buy the improvements though. And I kind of buy that. Stefan Castle, Dylan Harper and Deer and Fox is just an insane tactical advantage on both sides of the ball to have those type of ball handlers. And the same thing we've been saying all year that I do buy that when we get to a playoff series and we see a smart young coach get to deploy Victor Women Yama in creative ways, especially even against the nuggets in ways that I'm sure they've been kind of holding out a little bit for that it's going to be game breaking. I don't have I have really zero reason to doubt the Spurs outside of youth.

They've lost three games since the All-Star breaks. What the fuck? Two of them have been to the Nuggets and then one of them they lost to New York. Like what do you point to to say? They don't make the conference finals. How's their schedule look? Is it weak or? Their last two games.

So they have a game against Dallas on Friday and then Sunday, game against Denver again. Oh, you mean the last like 20 games? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh. They've been going on. I don't know. So they, it's a lot of complaints.

I'm not going to like. I'm not going to lie. It's Portland, Philly. Then they have the Denver game, LA, Golden State, No Step, Chicago, Milwaukee, Memphis, Miami, Indiana, Phoenix, Sacramento, the Clippers, and then Charlotte, Denver. To be fair, at this point in the year, half the teams don't league are cupcakes, so everybody has cupcakes in their schedule. It's about how bad you beat their ass. It's really what I think you want to measure for Martian April hoops. I mean, they've been stomping over.

They've been doing what they need to do to be a top of their team. Since their game against Sacramento, 132, 101, 1-1-1-1. 134, 136, 123, 127, 127, like they're, they're getting buckets up. Yeah. And so they are, they are dominating. Wembe has had multiple 35, 40 point games, 39 point games. So he's doing exactly what you want to see. Yeah.

In these situations, this final game of the year against Denver, obviously it's going to be fun because they, you know, they keep going back and forth. But that is going to be something where also is when we're going to play or are we going to get this, the 65 game thing? I hope he does, but that's going to be something interesting to watch for. Is he who we should play? I mean, the Nuggets should probably just sit their guys at the last game. They're locked into the three seed.

Unless the Lakers or Rockets, when the next two games, they lose both their games, which I don't think is going to happen. They need to get ready for the Timberwolves, man. They need to get ready for goals. So we'll see if that's actually electric. With the top five, it's tough because, like I said, in different tiers of the list, I feel like my criteria slightly shifts up and down just because, like, you know, you're in a different caliber team. The goal is a little different. The expectations are a little different.

So in the top four specifically, they'll say top five, throw the pistons in there. It's truly like what percentage chance where I think you have a winning the championship. So maybe then I enter for the Celtics some like conference biased that I think you're going to walk through your conference.

And then for the West, it's really like, do I think you can beat the Thunder? I don't know that I think the Nuggets to beat the Thunder. I think they can. Okay, they can. I mean, I say,

there's a coin. All these teams are amazing. There's a non-zero chance, right? Anything can happen? Do I think there's any part of me that will pick them to beat the Thunder? No. No.

No, you won't. Spurs. There's a world that beat the thunder. That's much more reasonable to me. So, so when you're saying, do they have a chance? If it's Thunder Nuggets,

are you going Thunder like 60%? Nuggets 40? How do I quantify this? Yeah. Or like, how do I quantify this? If it's Thunder Nuggets, I will get up here and I'll say,

I'm not losing sleep. I'm picking the thunder. I'm not really going to think about it. I'll come up here and I'll say, but you know, Yokich is Yokic. They can make this sticky, yada, yada. Respect to the Nuggets. I won't spend any time thinking about my album.

You simulate that series 100 times. How many times of the Thunder winning that series? I don't know. That I got to think about different framework. Quantify it. Go pod, bro. 75? Okay.

They play the Spurs 100 times. How many times? 58. That's a meaningful difference. Yeah. I think the spurs are meaningfully capable of beating the Thunder. Okay. That I think if we get the conference finals

and those two teams, I'll pick the Thunder. I won't compare and say if I'll good about it. I'll be like, this is their best test they've had in two years. Like now this is the team that in many ways in the regular season so far in every measurable way are just as good as them. Okay. That like this is a real threat to them that last year I didn't feel like they faced a real threat to them. There was some sticky series that went seven, which if we want to relitigate that,

terrible shooting luck, Mark Dagnall, brain farts. A lot of those games that series got pushed to seven. Had no business going seven. It was about the Thunder playing below their expectation level. I didn't see a single matchup last year why I felt. Thunder we're going to lose. Now, of course, when you get to game seven, I'm like, okay, well, now they can lose because it's the fucking game seven.

But before that series, never once even thought about it. I will think about it. Come play out of time with the Spurs. Okay. Okay. I understand that. And the Celtics. I will think it's very fair to, because we literally seen it this year.

The Spurs are a much better matchup for OKC than the Denver Nugget, which is very fair to say. I just feel like for the Nikes, there's always something left on the table that I haven't seen yet. And in the last three matchups that we did see, okay, see in the Nuggets face off, obviously, it's like, they're always close. It's always neck and neck. But ultimately, okay, C defensively always nudges their way out towards the top of this matchup. But there's, like, consistencies that I've seen through these matches where I'm like, okay, like Julian Strother starting here. And I see, okay, Peyton Watts is not not playing at all. And Christian Brown's going like 0 for 3, 0 for 5 from the 3 point line.

There's so much like variance there. But I need, I haven't seen them like fully healthier hole. now to the okay to okay see side they haven't been pretty much fully held their whole throughout the entirety of the year which like at the end of the day it doesn't matter for them but i think for the nuggets if they're going to win it's going to be by small margins and i haven't yet seen them giving i haven't seen them have the opportunity to do so just yet straight out because of the health and i think they have i'm not going to say more of an opportunity or chance to do so against okay c but when it comes to the nugget i mean against when it comes to the spurs yes i can see that happening.

Yeah. So there's a world where the Nuggets can beat the Spurs. That's very reasonable. I think. This is straight of matchup. Yeah, because they can get into Victor's chest with Yokic and try to nullify him.

Sure. I understand that. And I have, because I haven't seen the Nuggets fully whole against O.K. Which they need to, everything needs to be perfect. You know, for the Spurs, that doesn't necessarily need to be the case at all. But for the Nuggets, everything needs to be perfect.

I can see them being pound for pound I don't think that's a good argument. I think nobody's going to be fully whole. That's just how playoff basketball goes. And if a team needs to have best case scenario to win, that's like the reason to put them lower, I think. Because I agree. If everything's perfect and you have fully the best case version of the Nuggets,

we've seen that team win a championship. And we've seen that team be a little deeper now than when they want a championship. So I agree that like Apex idealized version of the Nuggets with the best player in the world, the most complimentary power forward you can imagine. Jamal Murray having a season that to start the year was Steph Curry-level shooting.

Then these wings in between all shoot the ball. well and the defense is fine. That's just to beat O'KC. I think they're two to turn two no matter what. They don't have to be perfectly against the fucking spurs. They weren't throughout the entirety course of the year. They didn't have everything perfect. They didn't have everyone healthy.

That's fair. Personally, I don't really care about regular season matchups. I think. I mean, I tell some. They tell some. You should care. I don't think so. I, we've done this every year.

People went with the Thunder last year. People were like, oh, regular season they were losing to so-and-so. Like, there's always that. I'm not going to index on that too much just because. Who they lose to in the regular season? I remember they're doing the Lakers bullshit too early the season, which that was nonsense. I can't remember exactly who I'm thinking about, but there was another one. It might have been the Nuggets where people were like there were some big games last year.

And that series went to seven. No, one to seven. Whatever. Like, we know we shouldn't have went to seven. We were there. But it did. Okay, but that doesn't have anything to do with the quality of the team. You know, you know what I'm saying?

Like, like, you can, you can have your thoughts based on like, I've seen what the Thunder have done to, to the Nuggets. And I can end what they've done to the rest of the league. And, yeah, based on their entire body of work, they should be this far ahead of everybody else. But you play against this team, it went seven for a reason. And there were things that even aside from just bad shooting luck, there were things that the Nuggets did with six and a half players

that really did affect the Thunder in that match. I'm not trying to discredit what the Nuggets did it all. It's not my point at all. I'm not saying that whatever. Again, I don't want to own index two getting the conversation of last year because there's some way thing. Now we've got to unpack Mark Dagnall's dumbass decision and the ability of Aaron Gordon to hit two game winning threes.

Now we've got to get all deep into shit. that happens once every 100 simulations doesn't matter i don't know Aaron gordon clutch is fuck i don't know that's what it is i guess i guess he does his game when he got to do it sure does it doesn't really matter i don't want to get too much into that that's missed the nugget to you yeah respect him as said if that's the case and i guess you got to pick the spurs at one then because they beat the shit out of the thunder like you can do this every year that's part of i do think that that's part of the reason why why you feel even better about about the spurs against the thunder even with even with the team to where like for for the second half like you've seen we've had stretches this year

where Stefan Castle and Dylan Harper have not shot well from three early in the season yeah and when that happens you know that the spurs look look much different than when they are hitting three and a lot of this also is wendy in a playoff series and like that's gonna that's gonna take the spurs to a different level but I think the fact that we've seen the spurs on multiple occasions in this ascension, go in and beat the hell out of the thunder. Also really helps inform the way and the level in which you are as confident in then beating the thunder. Not for me.

I get it. Not for me. I disagree. I disagree. I think it matters just even more than you may be given it. Well, then you never heard anything I've said because I'm a net rating truther. And I'm all about they from start to end of the season have been dominant and measurable in that way.

that I mean it helps obviously but like I promise you I don't I promise you I don't care about that very much because I I mean if anything some guys just lead this so if if the series flipped 04 or whatever it is and the the thunder beat the shit out of the spurs you would still have the spurs that too

yeah because I didn't put them at one did I like that is no bearing to me I put them behind the thunder as is you know like either way I still think thunder or better even getting the shit kicked out of them by the spurs so yeah that is no bearing to me fairs fairs it's I think the spurs and the Celtics are the teams I have the best chance of beating them in the finals

because of their strengths and what they've showed to us all season in a very measurable way in a very understandable way. Like you said, they had the slow start with Castle and Harper's shot. Since then, it's just been up.

It hasn't been up and down. It's just been up. So I think they've kind of figured that out a little bit. Harper's leveling up. They have a good rhythm with Deer & Fox playing on and off ball. He still has his moments on ball

that goes little sideways, which could be their downfall. We'll see. They found a way to win all season without having big wings. They weaponized Victor Womaniama really smart all year. all these things that,

independent of any four or five game sample size against whatever teams, for the entire season, those two teams showed me to be the teams have the best chance of beating the thunder. They'll be standing on business. The nuggets aren't far off. I'm not here to, like, downplay the nuggets.

They had fucking Nicole Yokic. They can win. I just think the top three teams are the teams that, if I were to bet, have the by far most chance to win the championship. Okay.

I'm worried about the Celtics with the championship, by the way. We're not talking about them very much. I'm very worried about this ends with them winning the championship. I mean, as a hater, I'm worried.

Yeah, I feel you. They feel like damn near the thunder of the fucking east when it comes to their game plan and how it is they win, you know? They operate in very like similar, similar-ish ways and with how good Brown has been playing in this like new reformed version of Jason Tatum where he's just like even heavily indexing more

on like all the other stuff outside of getting buckets, which have been getting better at, by the way too. They're fucking scary, man. They're scary. And I can understand you, if you wanted to put the Celtics as high as too what you did, I'm not betting an eye at that. It's very real.

I didn't even realize you do that. Yeah. I'm mad at it. Over the Spurs is like, wow, but I get it, right? Yeah, you don't have to go through the Thunder or the Spurs to get to the finals. Yeah, I do think they're going to probably win the Eastern Conference. They're my favorites to win the East right now. Maybe I'm glazing too much.

That kind of scares me. I ain't going to lie. Yeah, I guess everyone assumes they will. That makes the targets on your bet. Again, as a Celtics fan, we suck when we're our favorite to do. things. I know we won in 24, but still it's the feeling of like these gody expectations. Outside of one of the greatest teams of all time, every other time you've been here.

Which this is much, this team is much closer to the rest of the Celtics era than it is to, again, one of the greatest teams in modern NBA history, which is what they were in 24. Put that magical year aside, we've seen the Celtics in this position a lot. I think there's a reason why even in 24, there wasn't a lot of belief in the Celtics winning it, despite having a stack team is because they've had stacked teams before. They've been favored before and didn't get the job. Preseason we're talking about Dame and the Bucks, man. Yeah. That's crazy, man. No, granted, that's a little about them.

But I think that is just my trauma speaking. But, hey, it's okay for the trauma to speak sometimes. What has to happen for the Knicks or Pistons to make the finals to you guys? I mean, we just have to play the stuff. Nix or Pistons? Guys got to show up. I think for the Pistons, Cade has to, like, more actually level up as a score. And everyone else, when it comes to, like, being on par offensively,

when it comes to the shooting, their cutting has to be even better, which is already has to be better even with how it he is right now. That has to be a thing. But Cade Moore or so has to level up as a score and all the other perimeter guys like Duncan Robinson has to go fucking dummy mode, right? He has to shoot like fucking 50, 50% from the three point line,

which in a series, if you tell me that's what happens, hey, okay, I could see it happen. I wish there was a stronger second team that I didn't have any questions about to be the Celtics. Because like the Spurs were in their conference. Would you feel good about the Celtics getting past? of spurs. It's dicey.

It would be a cornflip. It would be a cornflip. It really is that the Knicks and the Pistons have such clear present flaws that like, and no it is too. The Celtics aren't perfect. We're talking with them like that is juggernaut. They aren't perfect by any means. Like we love the way they reinvented their wing rotation with these young players.

Those are, he's still Baylish Ironman. He's still Hugo Gonzalez. It's not like they have demons up in another roster that are playoff proof demons that are going to lock everybody up. That can still, something back can happen there. And they do still have Namias Keda and the. Colo Vucevic. Oh, no.

Shout out there. Shout out. That's too much on the friendship right now. No, but I mean, like, it's all gone well, but they are still, we're not talking about

24 Celtics where it's six all-star level guys. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's just a matter of the fact that Joe Mazzula has proven to me be so good at attacking specific matchups that I look at the Knicks and I look at the Pistons.

And I'm like, those guys are perfectly good enough with the demon tear Joe Mazzu's been on and how the Js are playing that I just don't know who's a worthy person, worthy team to take advantage of those guys.

Let me ask you all because I know last year there was a lot made of like the three-point attempts and Joe Mazzula's lack of ability to address from that. Y'all think he's changed his philosophy on that this year? Definitely, definitely. This team doesn't play anywhere near the same. Past few years it was Jason Tatum driving kick threes and it was very, very math-bound. Jason Tatum wasn't there.

Jalen Brown hasn't played like that. They've been doing a lot of mid-range attack with Jailen Brown. They supplemented a lack of playmaking with tons of off-all movement, tons of split actions, beautiful coaching, like I said. They are so much more versatile schematically now. And maybe that's a good thing to play. through Jalen Brown has they've been forced to do that without the same old, same old attack with Jason Tatum.

Yeah. And defensively, even though they aren't like a top two defensive rating, I feel so good about their game plans. Yeah. Last year, they're by far in a way like number one in three point attempts at least like 45. This year, the 39, but they're 10th in the NBA, which is still a lot, but still, that's drastically different compared to being towards the top of them over the last three, four years.

And I do think that because, because Tatum is not healthy. or like like because he's not you know jason tato yeah the his style of play that sometimes he could fall into last year i don't think you're going to get into a situation where the entire team gets three point happy and the entire team and like drew holiday the way that he was used last year was like derrick white was like all of those guys were hey we're like like i said driving kick you have to be ready to to knock down this open three everybody else has a little bit of but more ability to create this year. And so I don't see that happening where they take like 63s in a, well, yeah, where

they take 63s in a game that they're up 20 in. Are we, uh, do it three straight times, I should. Yeah. Are we not doing enough talk about Jason Tatum about the injury stuff? Are we, are we assuming that he'll be fine too much? We'll see what happens. I will officially be like, okay, this might not happen. Let's get to game three, around one.

Yeah. get a couple games into the first playoff series and after seeing how he's adjusted throughout this entire period and with those first two games of like playoff like intensity and all that type of stuff that is going to be where I really start to look in because we've kind of talked about it like hey your shooting hasn't been amazing now no no no no he's over the last five games he has been shooting 40% from three yeah taking eight threes a game shooting 49% from the field, 25, 8 and 10. And these teams are not like the worst teams in NBA that he's been facing to.

Who they play? What's the schedule? They played Charlotte. They played Miami, the Milwaukee Bucks, which is whatever, then the Raptors and the Hornets. Good defenses for the most part. The Hornets are a good defense. The Toronto Raptors are for sure a good defense as well. So it's like, hey.

Yeah. Like he's, it's coming together. If you, if that's cool. And that's obviously like the, and that's the, and that's the, I'm a fan. Yeah, that's the, that's the direction that you wanted him to see. I think what I've always been wary of is, like, coming back and just being consistent. And being able to do that series after series after series. Yeah, having your legs under you and, like, being going to deal with the stamina of it all.

And so it's, it's really tough to now go and say, and we're going to have, they're going to have a week off between the end of the regular season and the playoffs. That's going to be very good. What is a conference finals, game seven against the Pistons after Assar Thompson beat, the piss out of you for six games look like? Dude, conference finals is crazy. That's tough. Seven games in conference finals.

Let's say the first two rounds, five games, six games, seven games against the Pistons. Before you get to one of those demon defenses out west, what does Jason Tainter's legs look like for three playoff rounds? And one round is against the Pistons, and insanely physical defense. I've no idea. Jalen Brown, take us home.

That's going to be your game. What does Jalen Brown look like dealing with that first option usage then? He should be fine. He should be fine. He's a very well-conditioned player, so he should be fine. but I don't want to discount that is a different thing for him to

like that's an adjustment to his role in the past yo this playoff series this playoff run that they're the Celtics are about to go on honestly will be like legacy defining for Jason Tatum if they win the finals

you know we're saying crazy things I'm gonna talk crazy on this podcast man I ain't going to lie yeah me too I'm gonna call Joe Mizzula one of the greatest coaches of all time I don't think he's one of the smartest coaches in modern NBA history already has one ring put together one of the greatest

teams in modern NBA history if he does it again off of a season that a lot of the players get credit for as they should he's the first one to give his players credit but I think if you peel back the curtain is really a Joe Mazula master class for 82 games in a playoff run I'm gonna put him in the fucking highest order of ranks

Gary Arrow my ass I'm redefining this whole decade on Brad Stevens putting this team together again I already I mean I'm saying all these things that I will say if they win I already feel this way I already think Joe Mazula and Brad Stevens are like defining people at their job for this decade

Yeah, yeah, exactly. And for Tatum to come into and come into a season that's a situation that's not the same as it once was last year where, like, Dylan Brown's taking the rain. And of course, like everything else is pretty much the same. But there's different guys. Things look differently. You have Nemeske, who's a good center, but he's unproven in the playoffs. Having to see Tatum over index on all the other little things will also slowly start to put together, like the things that he used to be elite at just last year.

that'll be for me personally that'll put him in like different air of conversations and like I view him right now if he was to continue this run over the last five games into the playoffs amen it's gonna get I think Jason Tamm is the one three points all around I'm not gonna lie I think Jason Tamm is the one that this championship would do the least for me in terms of how I view them differently she's already he's already shown he can do as the first option being able to do it as a second option it'll be impressive and I'll be like oh my God what an

amazing story and recovery from the injury but I'm not going to view Jason Tamm differently. I already like after 2024 and the whole run already kind of like it depends how he goes. It depends how it goes. It depends how it goes similar to the 24 run or like the feelings that we had during that run then it probably might not do anything.

Like I already view him as a top five player when he's healthy so like this doesn't change that. It's just like oh cool I'm glad he's back at that level good for him. It's awesome but I already view him at that top of player. If he comes back and is a timely player and a time of a

family player. Okay, clutch? Is that you mean? Yeah. Okay. And can do all of those things like consistently in a run? That's something he's never done to, which if he does that off of the Achilles will be crazy. That's and that's why that's one of the situations where I can truly shift my view on Taylor after after a run like this.

I will say we recently did the tier list of all the NBA players currently who are legends. if Tatum wins a ring, is he a current legend? Because I know we put him in... To come off of an Achilles and win a ring here. That's a legendary moment. That's legendary shit. That's a good. More free points.

That's what that stake is I don't think I'm going to view him differently as a player, but his legacy and career can be like so unique and defined that it's really interesting. Yeah, I agree. I think there's nothing that you can do for the rest of his career to ever like budge into the top three conversation or top four player in the league. But when it comes to like how your career is built up and the storylines within that and all the things that you had to overcome. That's things legends

do, bro. The last time we've seen a player tear his fucking Achilles and come back to even debate will be like better level as fucking Kevin Durant. He came off like it was fucking nothing. And Tatum we of course like, he relies on athleticism way more than KD, way more than KD did at that point in time. But to see him

just be better at certain niche things in the game right now, yeah, he's in legendary status. Absolutely. If he does it in the playoffs. Yeah. Fair, fair, fair. well this is good yeah can't wait notice there was zero discussion about the thunder at one

yeah yeah what are we say about then yeah they are the favorites and like and maybe say's gonna get MVP does anybody have doubt they're gonna win again like obviously anything can happen but like do you guys have any compared to last year do you have any reason to doubt that they're not gonna win again

no I feel doubt with the reason you know what I mean like obviously there's other teams that can win but like as a clear cut favorite like I'll say my prediction is they're gonna win? Is there any party that's scared to say that? I think something that used to scare me. So I'm answering your question. Something that used to scare me was J-dub and his injury issues and stuff like that.

But now I don't think they're do or die by J-Dub anymore. I feel good about that. They've built. I feel really good about that. They're insulated themselves really well without him. So no real doubt. I think they're going to win the championship again. It's back-to-back.

I think so. I'm not, they should win. I'm still. I'm still like him. I don't know. Like, I picked the nuggets to, beat them early on it in the like in the preseason and now that the nuggets have have you know done done what they done over the last 10 games that part of my brain is starting to like to

turn on again so now march basketball matters and so it's like look how they pick and choose you know we'll see now I said I did not learn anything I've been okay I've been so I can't learn new information I can just have my past information confirmed yeah okay great It's straight confirmation. You can make March into whatever you want. You know, that's actually not that crazy, honestly. That is a rule is that I can let March confirm what I already thought,

but I won't let myself be tricked by all new things that didn't happen until March. That sounds funny, logically, but it's kind of like probably what you should do in some ways. So that, yeah, that part is like, okay. You just say, I didn't learn anything. It's so funny. Straight dunderhead mode. Anything you guys would want to tweak in the top five before we finish this? No.

Do you still feel good about it? I feel very good about this top five right now. I'm giving all the grace in the world to the nuggets. And these 10 games, these last 10, really 15 games for me, moved me a lot. Same question still prevail. But I feel good better than ever, considering how their defense has moved me slightly, which has been the biggest question. Outside of your team, who do you want to see win the championship?

the, I think the thunder because I'm so stick at this quote. I'm the parody era. No, man. I don't like it. And I understand, I understand the argument also.

And it's like, I, I'm okay with any team having the ability to be good. Like I'm, if Sacramento, like, when I say like, I don't like parody, it's not because I'm like, I only want the Lakers or the Knicks to win. Like, I'm,

fine with anybody rising up and being the best team in the league. I just want to see that team do great things and like really push the boundaries of historic limits. And so I would like to see the thunder go back to back. I would like to see, you know, Shea in his second MVP year really push and make that, make that push for a second title. I think it would be cool to see that. Yeah. So I want the thunder to win. I think that's the best thing for the league right now in like the storylines that are absent what we need is we need the spurs and thunder to go to seven and the Thunder to win, and Thunder to win the championship again, and everybody to hate them and have this villain that everybody across the league

roots against, like they were against the KD Warriors, like a true, true band of evil human beings for 30 other franchises to be like, I want to take them down. And for Wemey to be set up to have barely lost to them in his first real playoff run and be at the precipice of being the next face of the league that can take them down. Honestly, I think what would need to happen to get there, though, is for the Thunder to lose. them to trade for Janus and now we hate that.

Or to win and then trade for Janus. Yo, these are horror stories. That's, you might be the greatest one of all times. Nah, man, they would never do that. Yeah, when he's getting real close, it would be very good for the league. Yeah. He's going to talk about it. He's going to be like next year I'm back.

I promise he owes one game away. He's going to build up his own story. For me, and I don't like that I'm saying this, but it's my truth. I think what I would like to see is the Celtics win or the spurs. Maybe I'm leaning towards the spurs more. Because, like, having this new dude just come in and taking the reins be a top, what, two MVP candidate in his, what, third year in the league right now. And have guys like Dylan Harper still, like, walking to the league as a rookie being impactful day one, Stefan Castle, go through all the woes and all, like, turnover stuff throughout his first year and also early in the season. Dearen Fox, proving that he was worth that $200 million contract.

That would be, like, the best storyline for me. And then after that, I thought seeing the Celtics win would just be so cool because just a, just a, just a. Just because of expectations. The Spurs championship rise will feel so much better with some defeat first. And with Dylan Harper making that second year lead being like, we'll push him over the edge. It'll make the Janus holding his arm out of the trophies moment that much better, knowing he got beat up in the bubble, knowing he got beat up by the Raptors. When he needs a little bit of adversity. Yeah.

And it's going to happen. I don't think they're going to win. So I haven't met to you. That's for that reason. What's crazy is they could? Yeah. Oh, God. Now, that is the end of our final power rankings of the 2026 NBA season.

The season is coming down to an end. With that being said, one more producer corner. Just one more. Who. This corner. There's a corner. That's your jingle? Yes.

Maybe you should workshop that a little bit. Yeah. It's the work on it more. I'm going to come in here one time and just like have an actual song page. All right. Question. What's everyone's hidden talent? If y'all have one.

I'll start. I'm double jointed. Okay. Yes. What did you show me? What was that? I'm double jointed. In your middle fingers?

Ring finger? Ring finger. Oh, I am on my thumbs. I'm double jointed only one of my thumbs. My left. Dare, everyone appears double jointed with me. Yeah. Wait, where's yours?

My left thumb. Yeah. Okay. Oh my God, you're a freak. That looks crazy. Boy. Do it again? Ooh.

There we go. Yeah. Okay. Well, that was my. until you can't use it. That's so fucking funny. Hidden talent. I don't think I have anything hidden.

All your talents are just out there. If I have something I'm good, I'm going to tell you about it. I think for me, I got two hidden talents. Number one, I'm really good at reorganizing fringes. I'm really good at organizing fringes and making it look aesthetically pleasing. It's my bag. Wait, are you the type of person that takes the same thing? cereal?

No, I don't do that shit. No. No, that's a waste time. Does TikTok? I don't do that shit. No, I'm fucking into own little glass canisters. Yeah.

Do the same thing with fucking eggs. Hell no, I don't do that shit. That's the fucking worst. No, that's annoying. Second one is I'm really good at unwiring things that are like coiled up. Now, these are real hidden talent.

Okay. Yeah. Okay. So I'm really good at those two things. Um, do I have a hidden one? I'm not going to happen. Is there something like hidden?

That's just like a small thing that nobody would ask about. So I'm trying to think about that. Something I wouldn't ever think to bring up. I haven't, I haven't done it in a long time. So I guess at this point, it would be hidden.

Do you give me two and a half weeks? I can get back on it. Because I used to be pretty nice at that trombone. There you go. There you go. Again, I haven't played since the senior year of high school,

but you give me two, three weeks. I'm back. Like what does that mean though like you're back like you can play the whole song like what was that was that mean? Yeah. Okay listen That's it Hot cross buns. I was I was all city.

All city? What does that mean? Is it a top 10 player? Houston's a big city. You were top 10? I was top 10. No, okay. I'm probably because so here's how it goes here's how it was right because you have so in every like all

his Elo is crazy in the in the all city bands you have first chair second chair chair and and third chair. Wow. And so first all in Bates team, second or third. Yeah, basically I was on the third team my senior year. Wow. You got to put everything in your top of team terms. Not top of 10 top of team.

No, because you only have like three. Oh, like three first chairs, three second chairs. Oh, okay. Or like around that. Wow. And so I was playing third chair. Wow. That's crazy.

And how to like people like gauge how well you do is this highlight. You have at least fuck up? There's a, there's a whole day where they have like Allcity like, auditions and so everybody has the same piece of music that you have to go in and like practice for oh is it like drumline for real for oh is it like drumline for real for me my jumping kind of yeah yes yes okay they give you a piece of music like two months before you go in and you workshop and you work on that specific piece of music and then you have all city auditions and it's just like a whole night of just going in and and playing whatever instrument you are to whatever judges and then based on that

either at the end of the night or the next day they post the list of who made all city and so you do that for a city for your region and then for a state until you do that I was never going to make it to reach it I listen I hit my ceiling like my

my my third team that was as good as it was going to get it's crazy okay I got it for one year I was going to get that super max you know I think of you figured yourself I can't think of a damn thing I'm trying to think of stuff like that like I'm really good at like cleaning fridges and shit like that.

I can't think of anything. Can you solve a puzzle really fast? Maybe not hidden, but like... Reasonably fast, I'm sure. I don't know. Maybe it doesn't have to be hidden, but like something that if people found out you were doing that. Yeah.

Yeah, I get it. I can't think of anything. You're not like a crossword puzzle demon or something like that. Like my grandpa, you put a word search in front of my grandpa. He's killing. I'm pretty good at those games, but like I don't think about that as like a talent.

Like, I don't know. You can like identify songs with his... like the first three seconds of a beat or instrumental. No, no, not. Those are things that I would think you're good at. Do you see music and color? Oh, my gosh. Yeah, I'm good at Word Search or something like that.

Like on the New York Times, something like that. I'm really good at those, but not like extraordinary where I'm like, I got to tell people I'm like kill Word Searches. Oh, I got another one. I'm really good at jump roping. I'm a demon at jumproping. Double Dutch? I could do that.

Yeah. I could do that. I could do the heavy jump rope or like a light speed jump rope. demon at that. Been a demon since I was in fifth grade. Very bad at jump rope. Yeah. I can't remember last one of my jump rope. I tried to do, we went to a gym one time. I tried to do the little like the boxer like tempo jump rope in.

Yeah. Man, I quit. I was out there just pogo hopping. All the time. Just one, like jumping off a two feet. It was bad. I'm not going to lie. Yo, I'd be rage quitting when I jump rope.

Really? When I keep on stopping at something, but I'm like, yo, this is mad annoying I'm gonna just I'm gonna just stop it is hard jump rope in with tempo is it's much more difficult than people give you credit for yeah yeah all right so is everything else besides me

double jointed it's not really a talent that's just a by a last year I mean I may be watched now but back in the day I was a good enough singer to get a solo act at the school play singer yeah yeah and it was a Celine Dion piece too Damn.

Okay. It was kind of crazy. Were you in high school? No, it was like elementary. Elementary middle school. You're a 10-year-old singer. That does. Yeah.

Before the voice got deep. My expectations have been tempered. I mean, still not deep. I ain't old. Well, imagine what it was like when you were 10 if you listen back. Oh, wow. He's trying to get it off now. No, I'm not.

You're a 10-year-old. Big squeaker? Yeah. Oh, yeah. Hell, yeah. You have a squeaker at 10. Do you have a video of it? No.

No. I don't. Damn. Yeah. Damn. You don't have nothing extraordinary that you do. No. Extraordinary?

I can't think of anything. Well, I do have a second prompt here that might. You should be able to answer. That's really nice. I think you iron your clothes like at a pristine level. Iron my clothes? Yeah. True.

I don't ever iron my clothes. What the fuck? I never. I just hang everything up so things don't get that wrinkly. I don't stuff things in drawers. With like quickness. Okay. Yeah.

Hidden talent. There you go. I actually just bought an iron because I've like my whole life I never iron my clothes. I actually just bought one like two weeks ago

haven't opened it. Yeah. There you go. I need a new one. I can't even claim ironing which I would also never claim that as a hidden skill.

That's fucking funny. I'm back in iron clothes. That's your back. Okay. That's funny. All right. My second prompt is what's something you believed

as a kid that you're embarrassed you ever believed in? Maybe WWE was real. I used to like, you know, like two hour, like arguments of my dad about how real that is. He'd be like, if they did this, we're like, they would kill themselves. I'm just like, you don't understand. You're 5, 10, you're mad.

You can't do this. That's why you're just aiding. You don't understand. You're mad. You're not triple age. Yeah, you never seen fucking Randy Orden at the corner just looking her way. You just wish you were the Undertaker, dad. Yeah, exactly.

What do you mean? It's fake. Show me a video. I want to go live with John Cena. I told that idiot. Show me a video. can show me no damn video. I'm like, where's the proof?

Where's the evidence? You have the blood, right? Exactly. I'm like, where's the disclaimer that's saying that it's fake or it's acting? You can't show me anything. So yeah, probably that.

When I found that it was real, I saw some, like, some YouTube clip where they were like, someone got bashed in the head. You know how sometimes, like, they bleed and they really be dragging it? I saw some player or some person take a little razor

razor, just cut themselves at the safest part of their forehead. And I was like, oh, fuck, man. I was spiraling for that weekend. Damn. Still kind of crazy. Question my whole. So what was the question?

I believe as a kid and I feel like was stupid now? Yeah, pretty much. Oh, so my favorite movie is Remember the Titans. And so, you know, whenever, like, you'll see, like, a Disney movie or, like, some, like, a bi-movie. And then you'll, you'll see afterwards of, like, here, like, this is what actually happened. And this is what was, like, translated to the movie. where I actually saw the other like write-up or description of what actually happened

and like all the specific scenes that showed one thing and then they're like actually it went nothing like this. It actually crushed my soul. Because they were because it was based on a true story isn't actually.

Yeah, but it was like because it was like crushed your soul. The idea of fiction ruining it? Because it was saying yeah, it was saying based on the true story. And so for the longest I was like

okay like this is kind of how it like a majority of the stuff went down. Like this thing was really like that. And then you just see like the write-up. And they're like, actually, these two guys really never got along. And nothing never went well. And I was like, dang. That hurt.

Like, because I thought they were family. You know, I thought that they were actually like that. And it would. You know what's crazy? I still don't believe that. Like, until I see the actual story, it is. It's true to me. That's true.

So this is reality. Y'all followed each other. Yeah. I think the stupidest thing I thought when I was young is that it was smart for me to try to have a career where somebody paid me to write words about sports for people now It's like looking back

Like damn I was dumb Yeah Listen the written word was already dying as a video When I decided major in journalism It was already not smart I did it anyway That was pretty dumb year old me was pretty dumb.

Mine was when I was a kid I thought kissing was making love. It was like a seven-year-old thought though? Did you have that for concerningly long amount of time? No, no, it was a seven-year-old thought. I didn't think that when I was 17.

But that's a reasonable thing to believe as a child. I think every child probably believed that at some point. Yeah, that makes sense. Now, if you believe that at like 12, then it's like, okay, you're kind of stupid. I don't know, no, no, no. I think it caught off as like,

11 What do you think? Pushing it Yeah it is pushing it Sixth grade Pushing it Yeah Yeah six grade is pushing

I think by the time You're like 7th or 8th grade Hopefully you Got the talk or whatever Oh if you're 8th grade You're cooked Yeah

You're cooked I'm not gonna lie What's like the perfect days For you to like Get over the humpin Fifth grade You should go into 6th grade Knowing some things

What are you gonna What are you gonna teachers on some things. You said what? When I found out of my classmates were dating and kissing oh my God you're horrors.

Y'all are crazy. Yo, Jill! You watch your friend, give his girlfriend a peck on the cheek and he started slush saving him. No, I always had the distinction that it had to be mouth to mouth though.

Like a kiss on the cheek that don't count. Mouth to mouth. You're going to get a pregnant. Oh, you're a whole. I don't know I believe as a kid my memory sucks today

I'm blanked on everything like surely these things I can remember if I think hard enough yeah yeah I don't know there's not

we all I don't think I was a particularly gullible kid real I mean I'm gullible now okay were you a gullible kid

um I think I was more like a realist when he comes to certain things it depends on what what I'm a gullible if it's like

something fun. A realist kid. Yeah. It was something fun. I was just a kid. You can tell me anything. Yeah. That's exactly the phrasing. You couldn't tell me anything. I'm always in a skeptical kid. I've always been an arguer. My parents from a young age. I've always been, why? Why? Why? I have one question in me. I ask why one time. You give me a solid answer to that first why? Oh, you're good. You're good. You can run off anytime you want. I've been, I was probably the most annoying ever. I'm thinking to put it in my mom's shoes. The amount of questions and answers I demanded and refusal to ever hear because I said so, I must have been the most annoying kid on earth. My mom was like, just go do this one thing. And I had to ask why with like seven different levels

of explanation. They just throw them out of trash away. Goddain. But why? Exactly. And she'd say, because I said so. And I was old enough to know that because I said so was a bad argument because it didn't make sense. So I'm like, what do you mean because I said so? I need a reason. It must have driven her mad. I go, I mustn't do that. Put hands on them, bro.

I'm putting belts of fucking ass. Ask me that one time, but I saw you why. Dang. Yeah. I saw you why, yeah. You know, I'm going to talk to my kid and tell him why. Fuck that. You ask me too many questions.

And I'll show you why. You're going to find out. Oh my God. You're going to find out. I believe in that. I'm scared. Oh, shit. Who are you asking why seven times?

seven times, bro, you got like Because they won't give me good reasons. You got three levels of curiosity. Would that actually have been a good reason? Well, I don't know. I can remember every circumstance, but I mean, I think I was right. I think I deserve the response. I don't think it's bad.

I don't think it's crazy for a kid to deserve to understand why he has to do things. But I do think that like if the kid is in like the in the why phase, you can give them a good reason and they still might be like, why. And then you punch him in the nose like, no. Yeah. I ain't punching him. slapping you. Did you hang in by the ankles

and fucking shit? It's the coin to his pocket. Yeah, it's not, you got two answers. You got, you got a Y limit. We can't, we can't sit here all day.

You want to go be a cool down pain. See, my mom agreed. She, that's when we get sued because I said so. But I was hardheaded

from a young age where I just wouldn't take, I wouldn't accept it. So I just kept going. But that's the thing. It's like, it's not because I said so. Because this hand told you.

You know, that's why. Yes Yes Dude if I'm my dad I never like had the ability to have a real back and forth I didn't even get him like it happened Yeah

But also like I had like I got hit like maybe like once or twice I had worked on me I didn't I didn't do anything after that My sister me and I never learned My sister just the strongest head of all time She could take all the hits possible. She was, she was, it was never going to work. And so, like, she had to, she had to take a couple more, a couple more licks,

a couple more pops than I did. But, like, once I got hit a couple times now I was like, well, I don't really like how that felt. I'm just not going to put myself in that position. Skill issue. And so I was like, you still don't tell me why. I told my head. Why does my head hurt? Yo, shut up.

my mom my mom didn't when I was like six or seven like real young like the same way you're describing it's not pretty young

because like it stopped working because I would just like keep arguing this dude was born to be a podcast I know every argument

he was living for yeah at seven o'clock go over the trash this discourse final boss no like every

arguments of kid you know what their parents tell him you should be a lawyer when you grow yes I got told that more in my life that I could fucking count. Did you ever join the debate team?

No, there was no debate team as schools I went to. If they existed, maybe I probably would have. Those poor schools, I went to some poor schools. They didn't have debate teams. Their extra curriculum weren't deep at my broke-ass-Kaleen high schools. The teachers were just trying to go home. I had so many coaches as teachers. There was no money for a debate team.

I thought you were about to say, nah, them boys were ass. So I just didn't join. There's no cop. No car. Low Elo debate team over here. So it's not worthy. Only AAU. A.U.

A.U. That's tough. Hey. I think there are. That's how you're at Harvard. That's insane. Honestly. I'm sure that exists in like New England or something.

Probably. You got like a rich wide neighborhood that have AAU debate teams. I would fucking debate class. Reason class. Wow. All right. That's funny. With that being said, that is the end,

producer corner. It is time. For TikTok time. Woo! Welcome to TikTok time. As usual, we're going to begin with a draft. In fact,

we're going to begin with two drafts. Wow, I know. I know. The power of two drafts ended up show. That's heavy week, man. God damn. Trying to get too excited. Ooh.

With that being said, let's start off. By doing a draft together as a team, a couple weeks ago, we did a draft where we tried to build an 82 NBA team with players in 2016. Now we're gonna do with players in 2012. Okay.

Most favorite year. Mo's favorite year. Yeah. Shout out producer corner. Most favorite year ever. He loves this year. He loves 2012. Don't forget it.

Listen, man, Fuddwarkers. That is a 2012-ass name. Wow. It means the food burger place. I know. I know, yeah. Remember those thick-ass burgers. I had it once.

So we're going to draw a team at the top. We pick a player that was on that team in 2012. Just once. Yeah, it wasn't good. Never went back again. Shripping. So first spin, which team are we going for in 2012? We have the Miami Heat.

Oh, man. Who do we take? Are we actually going to be built an 8-2-0 team for the first time? I fucking hope so. LeBron, welcome to Small Forward. Get Bron on the phone. We never get superstars when we do this. All right.

We're in great position right now. Team number two. Who were we pairing the goat with? We're barely winning 30 games already. Lakers. Wow. Kobe Bryant, 2012. That's pre-Equilles, right?

Yes, 100% it is. We still want 2012, Kobe? That's the answer? Yes, 2012 Kobe is the only answer. Okay, because Dwight wasn't there yet, was he? No, Dwight was not there. He was still in Ireland. Is it 2013 he went there?

No, no, no, it was 2011. He went there. 2012, 2013 was the season that he went there. Yeah, 2012, 2013. Okay, so we're doing 2011-2012 season. Exactly. Yes, exactly. So Dwight wasn't there?

Either way, in the calendar year of 2012, Kobe's Achilles had not roached yet. We're taking him. Well, we finally get to see Kobe and Lerbrisian Ron play on the same court? Kobe was still elite that year. Let's go. Let's do it.

Yeah, he was averaging 25 fourth in MVP that year. Hey, man. We got two top of MVP candidates. I think we're actually going to do it with the first time. Don't sell this for us. Team number three. Raptors. All right.

So let me look at the 2012 Raptors. That's the sale. Larry. That Mr. Larry. I got to see what version of players are talking with. He was still selling at this time, but it's okay. I mean, not really.

I don't think he had enough to sell. 2011, 2012 Raptors. There were 23 and 43. Yuck. DeMarre Rosen was already there. We can't take DeMar. Why, DeMont, the 6th?

The 6th. Oh, DeMars is a 6th man in 2012. Okay, okay, okay, we could do that. The barred coming off the bench. He averaged 16 that year, shot 42% from the field. We can do better. It's a 6 man, though.

It's a 6 man. We can do Bariani. High fly. We are not taking Barney down. Listen, man. High Flyer. Demar de Rosen. We're getting too caught up.

Yo, this team is terrible. Yeah. James Johnson was there. Brother. I mean, brothers. This is 2012 LeBron, so we could, like, overcome so much. But I think we should do. We're putting DeMarz on the bench.

Jose Calderon. Yeah, it wasn't good, DeMarine yet. He wasn't a star or anything yet. He was mid. He's still super athletic. The exact archetype of what people think about is, like, a sixth man. That is that version of DeMarters. When he's coming off the bench for Kobe and Lebron.

I don't want to close any line of him. him as a six man. He's not going to close. Like there, wait, wait, wait, there is Leandro Barbosa here. There is Leandro Barbosa here.

What am I arguing again? He did average a smooth 12 points. Okay, so the other options are 36% from three point in who else? It's Barbosa or DeMar? Pre-all-Star Damar, young Damar that is not particularly good. So you want to take Leandro Barbosa?

You're telling me that. I'm thinking about for the sake of this team. Like we need elite speak. We need a, spacers. I would probably rather have a spacer, honestly. This is a massive over thing. Y'all got it though. Y'all got it though. This is so this is not an over thing. Young DeMarr wasn't that good yet. This is

so stupid. Bron would fucking, Bronn and Kobe would feed the fuck out of these shooters. This is. And Barbosa could play with these guys. It's not even open. He shot 26% from 3. Yeah. On point 6%. We're in 2012. I'm saying Dway then Braun was just, you think that Amon Trump for Clinton? You think we didn't know

Braun needed shooters in 2012? He's a sixth man So it's either him or Jose Calderon You'll take whoever y'all feel Jose average 11 and 9 Kobe and LeBron Y'all take whoever you're I guess I'll put DeMar there

I'm not excited about it I'm not either but I'm thinking about We better have good spacing bro for this year We picked the trash team in 2012 This is gonna happen All right you guys are talking about Jose Calderon And Landon basing Why are you actually you learned about team building

yesterday you know we don't only need on ball scores Paul George or Roy Hibber Who we feel like that? Oh, Indiana Pacers. Yeah. Paul George. He was a problem. He was a demon.

Was he DPL Y that year? We could put LeBron at Power 4 to go Paul George, though. Like that's... Yeah, I want to do that. I want to go for straight ceiling here. 2012 is the year before he was an all-star, Paul George. But this is an all-star Roy Hibber though. 12 point per game, Paul George.

Dude, this is... Oh my God, Roy Hibber won. He was the all-star this year. It was the year before Paul George's most improved player, so it's straight role player 3 and D. Paul George. I'm going to go right here. Yeah, let's do Roy Hibber.

He was an all-star. There's not that many centers better than him at this point. They're really nasty. So, yeah, Roy Hibbert. Donovan, just wanted to see where y'all were going to go. I just want to see the landscape of my GM room. You could.

If you wanted, you could argue, like, oh, Danny Granger was good, too. Danny Granger was good. He would fit, maybe we should do Danny Granger, actually. David West. That was the last year. That was his team, probably. Yeah.

We have George Hill as a role player point guard next to LeBron. like a 3D point guard. I don't want George Hill again. Dude, he would hate his life with Kobe and Braun. So much fucking pressure on his shoulders. In 2012, George Hill was 18th and 6th man of the year voting.

18. I don't know how, when they started riding down to 18. Yo, 18. It's on there. After six, give it up. Can we just take Roy Habert? Do we think we can do better?

Do you want spacing? Is it, are we cool with that? We could go Roy Hibbert because... 3 and D.D. Paul, George, wouldn't be terrible. It wouldn't be terrible. I'd rather Danny Ranger before Paul George at that point because the spacing would be like really nice Well I don't know what the fuck you're laughing about

What are you gonna do? What are you thinking? What do you know we're thinking is too? We're trying to go 82 and give an opinion What are you doing? Let's go right here It's a bad reasonable debate He's meditating

Do some input Take the good player They're both going We're talking no no Cause y'all should we take George Hill Take Roy Hibbert. Take the dude who is an all-star. We need a center.

We need a center. There's an all-sign center who plays really good defense. Let's take him right there. Let's take him right there. This is back to the team. Obviously, we're not drafting the best players in the world. But damn. That was not reasonable to think about a 3D small forward.

Apparently it's not reasonable. Roy Hibor at center. You know who the good players are. We need a uter. Do you do duplicates? Are we go again? Let's go again. I think we should go again.

No, let's... Okay, we don't allow duplicates. New rule. We've been doing the past few times. No duplicates. Otherwise, we get Dwayway. Yeah, I know. Okay.

Okay. Fuck you. Chaos. My face. Okay. Washington Wizards in 2012. Ooh. Okay.

So this is... They won 20 games this year. They were not good. And I think this is... Okay. Take whatever spacer you want from this. There's Nick Young. He could get them bitches off.

I guess. And we're sharp. We're sure. Charles Lewis was there in your 13. Yeah, but he was 32 and not good. Andre Blotch, he had like two eight years. We had not to get on. The only real answer is like, yo, we could move Braun to the four and put Nick Young at the three.

Unless you won't rookie year, John Wall, but he was. Honestly. Guess his three point zero percent is that year. 0.17.071. This is your two, John Wall. 42 percent from the field. 7 percent from three. That's okay. 0.07

That's okay. Let's take John Wall. No, no, no, no. Why? We need shooters. We need shooters. Nick Young will be much better. You're trying to build a horrible team. Yeah, Nick Ket will be much better.

We're playing in 2012. What is John Wall going to do on this seat with Kobe and Braun? What is you doing? I'm running half back dive every time. Brother. Every time. Y'all, don't act like, obviously. Let's take that.

Obviously, you want to make, you know, a three here, three there. Don't act like in 2012 we need to get 33's up a game. We're making these guys life. We're trying to go 82 and O, meaning no hiccups at all. Nobody's ever played in the NBA with bad spaces. We have decades of people still being able to get. We're trying to give ourselves an advantage going to go 82 and O.

First of all, we're playing in 2012 right now. Kobe and Ron and Hibbert wins already. Yeah, but not why not like insured they win everything. That's 50 games minimum. What is he doing right now? Now, minimal. John Wall is ludicrous. He's griefing.

Come on. John Wall is. No, no, no, no. Oh, my God. You're killing my team. Don't write his name. No, you're, write his name.

You're killing our team. Don't write his name. Because apparently that's bad team building. So who would y'all, who, who fits here then? Does Mr. Andre Blacks fit the profile? Come on. What do you want now? Nick Young does 37% from three.

And he shot, he took five a game, which is insane that year. You're trying, you're trying to win games. Go 82 or though. You say, yeah. Nick Young is the game. guy I'm gonna call. Is the year two, John Wall was an impact player?

Come on, man. They won't 20 games. You think Nick Young at any point in his career is legitimately like that? Which is why is it? The debate. Why are you having to like this?

Come on. Be insane. Come on. Come on. Come on. We can go, John Wall. We'll pick the talent.

We'll go. No, no. Oh my gosh. You're fucking our team. Go, go. You're fucking our team, bro. I did not pick that.

We better have a sniper. I did not pick that. I'm telling you guys to take whoever you feel necessary to go. Who do you want to pick? Who do you want you to have who you want? Ely conversation happening here.

Oh my God. I want you to, I want you to look video editors making this to a TikTok and cutting out the eight minutes of Donovan grieving. I want you to be happy with your choice. Last team who we're putting at one of our forward spots. Oh, Trailblazers. Oh, Aldridge. No spacing.

We're fucked. Congratulations. No space. Our team was cooked. Aldridge doesn't provide spacing? Not three points spacing? Who's it? Who's the spaceer on that team?

Who should we pick there? Let's see. We're cooked. There is no. We should have had Nick Young. Probably. There is none. We probably should have Paul George.

They won 28 games that year. This is before they got Dame. Fuck. Dude, we had such a good start. We could pick Wesley Matthews. Oh, that's not bad actually. Yeah, let's take Wesley Matthew. That's actually not a bad.

He's like joking like he's funny, but it's actually the right choice. Dude, he shot like 38%? Five years a game? That's actually the right choice. Wesley Matthews soon. Yeah, put Braun and Power Forward. You know, everything works out at the end of the day. Braun, Kobe, we have spacing now?

No matter what you're going through, just no God got you, bro. That kind of works. We got Wesley Matthews in this bitch. Young Wesley Matthews is nice. That actually works really well. This was the best year of his career, I believe. John Wall, Wesley Matthews, Kobe, Braun, Hibbert, DeMarro off the bench. Wow.

Okay, you're through Leslie Matthews. Y'all sold an 82 and O team. No, no, no. What would you like this to do to have a baby team? And y'all just took Lamarcus, you all would have been fine. No. This team is better with Wesleyan, No, it is not.

You don't know what you're talking about. That is easily better with the space. I think we are talking way too much with like the modern day basketball. Where do you think we live? No one's ever playing in 2012. We have to be stupid on purpose. It's just in 2012. We're drafting from players in 2012.

Don't act like we don't know what the fuck we're doing right now. Lamarcus Alders as a one option led this team to 20 wins. He led this team to Damien. Well, it's a good thing that he's on a team with LeBron and Kobe. And we don't need number of options. Yeah. better as a fifth option. Next to LeBron and Kobe.

I'm good, off ball of Marcus Alder's beautiful player. He would occupy all the areas or I want Kobe and Braun at. The second he had to go off ball for Damon Lillard. He said, get me to do a new team.

I'm sure he'll love to play with Kobe. He would kill himself literally. Yes, he would hate this. Because going off ball for young Damian Lillard is the same thing as going off ball for Kobe Bryant. You're right.

He can even less touch is now. He can even less touch is now. He'd like it even less. I promise you the team is much better with we obviously need this facing. I don't know what you're talking about. What? Y'all tripping.

Y'all are too name bias. 100%. You're trying to pick Marlis, man. Over who? Over DeMar. Demar. As a sixth man. As a sixth man.

Pull up his numbers again. Listen, man. You act like DeMar de Rosen is not some crazy athlete. You act like he wasn't. But can he play with Kobe and LeBron? In spurts, yes. In spurts. As a six man.

Yeah. That's what a six man does. You don't have to play in sports. Now, now, now, Two athletic guards have never played at all together. Two non-shooting guards have never played at all with anybody. You've never, you've never seen that before. And that is, and that's crazy to have coming off the bench as a sixth man.

And you said, oh, I don't want to close games. He's the sixth man. He's not going to close the games. Do you feel like you're leading productive conversation right now? Do you feel like this is good? Are you happy with this? Do you? Yeah.

Yeah. I do. Again, what was you? I'm happy to you there. being dense. Come on. Because y'all would be in dance. If you're happy, I'm happy.

No. No. DeMarter Rosen. Mind you. Always said it's consider someone else. And he was like, you guys are done as rocks. How dare you? No one said Jamar was a terrible choice.

He said, we need to consider other choices. And he said, have you ever watched basketball? And I said, no. We should probably take the better player. And then all of a sudden, it's like, no, he can't, he can't do this. He can't do that. But the thing is you don't always have to take the better player every single time. He knows this, by the way.

You don't got to tell him. He understands that. He understands that. He's just fine. He's just arguing. He's the six man. Yeah, it is a six man. Come on, man.

Do you think the war? Okay, so do you think the Warriors back in 2015 or whatever would rather have rookie version of Demard de Rosen or Landryor Robosa? They would take Leonardo Robosa. I'm not sure. You are out of your mind. Come on now. I'm not sure of that.

Which team? The 2015. Warriors right before, right when they were ascending. Landrable Borosso was an integral part of that team too, which is, with the spacing is on ball movement. We would expect the same thing. Knowing, knowing what they've accomplished, you know what Leandro Borboso. We're trying to do the same thing for the team right here.

Men to that team. But I'm also saying like, it's not crazy to think. No one said you're crazy. You said we're crazy. Y'all was acting mad wild. You're the one that started doing tantrum because we thought about other players. We're just playing a game and you freaked the fuck out. Y'all was acting mad wild

And acting like Lay and DeMarbord should be the guy And I acted like, oh no, we can't We can't survive because Because DeMars is going to be out of our bed We could say we should consider Out of the players We had LeBron and Kobe and you

Like if we take DeMar Debrose Right now, we are losing 30 games off of our wedding This is 20 minutes of conversation On the opening segment You want to talk to answer None of us said any of this Listen man, regardless of the fact

We're going 80 to you no matter what Nobody said any of these things he's saying We're just trying to max the minds. My bad. I'm just trying to be the best possible. How dare we have conversation on a conversation-based platform? Our dumb asses. Next thing we are going to do, we are going to play NBA deal or no deal as a draft.

You guys have seen as of late, we've been doing a few new draft formats. We did pop the balloon. We did build it with a budget. Today, we're going to build NBA teams with deal or no deal. How those will work is. We have this hat here with 15 to 20 names. We'll draw a player. Let's say I draw Leandro Barbosa.

And he's my player. I will be presented with hints from one of Beesoles player. Beesols is the banker. I will see those hints and decide if I want to keep Barbosa for my team or trade him for the player that Beasol's has as the banker. We're all going to do that go through until we have teams of five players each. I have sucked in all of these formats. It's quite difficult. You got to step into the mind of Beasles and guess who you think he has?

Okay. I tried to do that the last time I think I ended up with my worst team. You had Patrick Pee Will. He spent a lot of money on them. Yeah. So I will go first and we'll hand the hat around to see who we get. Starting off, I'll pull my first name. Ron Artesse, Meta World Peace Player number one.

It's not bad. Ron Artecest. It's a good start. All right. All right. Beasles, who do you got for me in the first case? All right. First case.

I show the hints, right? Yep. Okay. His father played in the NBA. Okay. Solid bet. Okay. I think.

Nepotism. Drafted by a struggling franchise. Okay. Okay. Ooh, that means... Could be a little Steph Curry like. Okay. I don't feel a little Austin Rivers like.

Not recognized as a two-way player. Okay, I'm thinking this is Steph Curry or Austin Rivers. How many of him do you guys? Or it could be Kevin Love. Kevin Love at a dad in the NBA? Yeah. I don't even know that. Listen, there's a lot of guys.

His father played and they just come into the league kind of buckets. It could be Garland. Not really two-way players. Man. This could be anybody else swinging for your fences. I'll take the deal. Give me your player. You got an all-star no matter what.

No, I can just could be Austin Rivers. You're taking a player? I'm taking the player, deal. All right. First player. Steph Curry. Let's go. So you sweep for the fences.

Playing the game conservatively is how you lose the game. I'm a swing for the fences and get awesome rivers. Facts. You know, 100% have got awesome rivers. I'm mad I would be if I did that. So first player on my team, I got Steph Curry at Point Guard. Okay. Took a player out and I got Blake Griffin right now.

And it's a version of the, player in the picture. You have Nets Blake Griffin? This is disgusting work. But you're still playable. No. So who you got for me. Here we go. Selected straight out of high school. Okay. That's out of that. Gotta be elite.

Played at least 12 seasons in the NBA. Long career. Okay. Could be Richard Lewis. Okay, okay, okay. Stephen A hates him. Yeah, let's do it. Give me Bron. Let's do it. Hold on.

I think I need to double check that second. I'm praying it's Ron, but. Who else does Stephen A. hate that came straight out of high school? Does LeBron like, does he like Dwight Howard? I don't know. I doubt. Even if it's Dwight,

I'm taking him. Yes. No matter what, also yeah, he has Nettsbaker. You got to take him. Let's do it. It's going to work out for you.

You're taking him? Yep, let's take him. If he's better than Blake, hey, that's all I need. You get Kwame Brown. Dyes. Let's go. He found the one high school player worse than that's Blake Griffin.

Listen, 12 years. Where do you want? Shout to Quamper. Respectable. Yeah, I had to double check that. I was like, did he play talking? Where you want him? Put his ass at center.

I want Kwame at point going. Let's do it. All right, here is a big quamie. Never the little. Never. Never that. I should have never doubted you. Fuck, man.

Never that. Here we go. All right. I am taking. DeAndre Aiden. Lakers Aiton. 2026 Aiton. I'll take the deal.

No matter what. Damn. You don't give him a chance? Let's see. Okay. Selected straight. No. Second round pick.

I'm taking the deal. Oh, shit. Damn. White. Okay. Okay. Tracking well. International player.

Yeah. I'm taking Yokin. Zioch or Genoblee. Known for his patent. Fuck. This can be a lot of people. I played conservatively in the past. I'm taking this deal.

Welcome Faku Campazo. All right. You played your card, right? Because you do get Nicola Yolich. For the first time, I get a start. You took a back. And I upgraded from Ait into Yolkich. Damn.

We're so back. There you go. There you go. Okay. Is your team so far? I was hoping it's screaming compaso. Mo with Kwame. Yeah, just shit luck, bro.

am I going to do about it. Horrible. Oh, fuck. Oh, are we going to do, you put it back to him. So are we doing snake or am I going back to me? I assume we was snake. Well, then he should have went twice.

Oh, shit. Then just go back to me. Okay. No, we don't really have got to snake. Also go back to you. You go back to me. Yeah, no reason to snake is since it's not like, sure, you know, that type of thing.

Would you pull? Fucking. Just throw back in you. Benton, somebody pulls him. Well, lokey. What? I don't care I don't care what the format is

It's pretty random There's no benefit to go Yeah You're insane My next player Jonathan Camingo Warriors Warriors Cummina

As if Fox Camiga Is that much better We got cum bucket in the building He's a more confident Caminga Sure There you go He's doing better mentally

All you can eat Caminga Oh Whoa Let's calm down Mystery player next mystery player one a natty okay

okay Olympic gold medalist okay not a lot of those two sport athlete two sport athletes last in I do have one last hint okay

69 is a significant number in this career I don't know who the fuck this is isn't the bronze career high or is 63 the bronze career high is 62 yes not 69 is that Michael Jordan's playoff career high in that one game?

Maybe. I'm not sure. Two score athlete, baseball. What was the hints before that? Just get a come bucket, man. Gold medalist. Come bucket, better.

I want a natty. This is Michael Jordan. It better be Michael fucking Jordan. Give me the deal. Kaminga, goodbye. Show me what's in the case. All right. You do get money.

Let's go. Yeah, this draft is over. Let's go. It's over. I knew it was Mike when he said two sports athlete. I tried to swear him away. I said, nah, man. I don't know.

I don't know. who Danwell's six-nine. Yeah. So we can't let him get stuff in Jordan. Well, and this is why. It should have been me.

He should have been me. It should have been snake. But he didn't care about the format. Okay. Your cook, buddy. Well, it would have been Moe because you gave him the hat. He pulls up. Fair.

All right. Next player. Well, do you already got your play? No, he didn't pull yet. Okay. Bro, I get all the worst players. There's. Okay, C.

Derek Fisher. He wasn't even good this year. Okay. You know it to the camp? O.K.C. Derek Fisher. Ooh. I never looked at someone with so much disgust. He didn't even do anything wrong.

Okay. Okay. See what you end up with. Yeah, I'm cooked. Don't even read it. Just show me my player. One of the first two picks in this draft. He's on my team.

Okay. Yeah, give me James Wiseman. He's on my team. Give me James Weiss and I don't get fuck. Whatever, bro. Fuck my life. Average 2010 as a college freshman. Fuck my life.

Last hint. Has Roman numerals in his name. Yeah. Give me James Wiseman. Oh, that's more. Something like that. I don't know. Oh, it's Marvin Badley.

Yeah, it may be him, but I don't care. I have to, bro. What do you mean? He's scared. He was 40 at this time. I don't want him on my team. What? Did you see him this year?

He was not great. He was 40. Yeah, give me this. I didn't hit you since the Thunder, right? I didn't remember just one, but neither than more good, so it doesn't matter. Well, he got hit with a double-edged sword because he does get Marv Bagg. Yeah, whatever, Brad. This is, fuck this team.

Marvin Bagley and Kwame Brown, oops. This is horrible. I'm filing a fucking grievance, bro. This is disgusting. 2026, Paul George. Interesting. Playing better post suspension. Hold on.

Let me just show the, the pin. This is interesting. I don't know what to do. All right. All right. Let me see the deals. Here we go. Barbara Bagley.

That is tough. I'm sorry. All right. Notorously doesn't have a bag. Okay. Bron. All right. Has a popular nickname.

That's Brian. Okay. Popular nickname. Swole. You know exactly what this is. I'm taking this. This can be a lot of players. 12.7 points for gaming gear, too.

Oh. Year two. I think I know exactly who's looting towards a surge. Do you want him? Slow down. I can't remember. This honestly can be a lot of people. No bag in your swole.

You scored a little bit in year two. Fuck, man. He's been to have Yokic and Janus. It's going to be Rashopekins. 12.7. You know what? Is this Rashop against? And you want us to think it's Janice?

Donovan, I need to answer, man. Yo, guns to your head. What are you doing right now? Rashad or PG? You choose. Listen. if I Yo, Isaac fucked you up mentally

Yeah He fucked you up crazy Demons You have a chance This is your make or break mode It might be honest Listen It might be my cats

Say no If I are you I'd say no You say no If I are you I would say no That's been for the fences You're swinging If I'm already cooked If I'm at the blackjack table

And I see that That 1415 I'm taking that hit I'm taking this player he's taking the deal who is it he's taking it he's getting big yonis i had a feeling you got yonnas never the little one okay okay okay yogurt and yannis i'm out of this race yeah you're good quam and what a draft what a draft yeah great nitty great placement be i love the patterns i'm fucked regardless you really got to fuck by the players you've been

that you have to take the deal I swear you got the two worst players in here there's mad respectable players even this this is pretty respectable I got Ron Hart test yeah you know how glad I would have how love middle world peace on my team right my next player

Kyle Kuzma Big Coos Bucks Kyle Kuzma Yikes Kyle Kuzma okay we go Yikes You got a DMP recently Number one overall pick

Okay I can narrow this down There's only so many. Okay. Okay. Reisha and the building? 6-8. Oh shit. Oh shit.

He's in the building. Oh shit. Played for the cabs. Oh. Played for the... Uh-oh. Bennett? Multiple double doubles in his rookie season.

Oh, come on. Everybody has multiple doubles in the rookie season. It means nothing too much. Amen. This is Anthony Bennett that would suck. Could be Wiggins. Anthony Bennett's like 6-9. I don't think he's 6-8.

Could be Wiggins. Could be LeBron. Wiggins didn't play for the cabs in his rookie year. He got traded. He just had played for the Cavs. Oh, no, he didn't play for him at all. I'm dumb. Yeah.

Oh, okay. LeBron or who? Or Bennett. Bennett's not 6-8, I don't think. Maybe. I don't know. I don't know. I shouldn't talk.

I shouldn't talk like I left up Anthony Bennett's. I don't know. Like I know. So if you get to a bad pick, I'm bad at my job. I shut you up. You know what? Kyle Kuzma is sold buns this year. The cost benefit of me getting someone better is worth it.

If it's Anthony Bennett, doesn't, change too much. Give me this player in box number seven. Well, box number seven is. Anthony, but he is 6-8. Okay. At least on basketball. I believe. Yeah. I believe. Stay in all. There you go. Talk to shit.

You do your job. You do your job. Three or four. Four. It was worth it for the chance of Ron. I should have known. Tough. Big Bennett. Hey, but stuff in MJ can carry a bummer, too. I'm still in it. The only way I can come back is if I have like three Hall of Fame players, right?

Which you very well could still have. You're no one close out of it. How's my drawing luck? Ooh. Suns Bradley Beal. You know, first year of the Suns, he wasn't unplayable. Not bad. He was the best player who I've taken so far.

Not bad. Is this inspiring? No. 20 point per game scored. Means nothing to me. You need buckets. I just have a bunch of empty players on my team. You just got guys.

You do just need players. Okay. Okay. So who, what are my options looking like to me? Please. Top five pick. So was Brad Bue? They exist.

Has played 10 plus seasons in the... So is Brad Bee. What was Brad Biel? The son's Bradley Biel or whatever version of Peak Bradley Biel. Okay. Okay. All right. Signature play was on defense.

Oh, man. Signature play was on defense. Oh, man. Got one more hint. One more hint. Okay. Stream was Casey. Oh, man.

No way. stream with kaisnett stream with kaisnett yes i'm assuming kaisenai's not going to bring anyone on the honest stream bro you got to have some you know to your name so give me give me mr streamer right here bro all right don't tell me you're giving him i think you're giving him you are getting someone good for you oh i do not me nothing yes i know the love of god i'm on my fucking run right now thank the lord

come back season yeah i said it I need three Hall of Fame worthy players. Two more. I'm back in the sweepstakes. It's never over. It's never over till it's over. Two more and then I'm back in it. All right.

Here we go. Quamey and Bagley. Sorry, Ron. Uh-oh. What did you get? Warriors Jordan Pool. Okay. Not bad.

Usable. That might be a player you want to keep. That's what I'm saying. Not terrible. Inside Janus and Yokic, it's kind of nasty. That's kind of nasty. I know.

But you can definitely do better still. Okay. Here we go. I know. What do I do? Seven two or more. Four more. Seven to.

No. Both work. Okay. Acceptable vocab. The bowl-bo era. Okay. Okay. Dekem Batumbo comps.

It can only be like one guy. Maybe two. Okay. Last hint. Average 4.2 blocks in college. Okay. So now I don't know who it is. And that's how we got the DeKembe Matumbo comps.

Oh. I don't know who this is. Taco Fall, welcome to the team. That's pretty funny. I don't remember I don't have a good idea about who this is so if I miss out I don't really care

so I'm gonna go the team building around and I'm gonna keep Jordan Pool Ooh team builder You don't put yons to the three Over talent no I do not I will take I will keep Jordan pool Smart okay You need the spacing

Spacing this player is It's the only thing that matters Hashim for B Oh he dodged the bullets He dodged it. Okay. I was thinking Gobert until I saw college. And I was like, oh, because never mind.

Yep, yep, yep. Okay. We're out here. Pool at one or two. Put pool at the two, please. You got a nasty team, man. Here we go. He's the only one with no shitters yet.

Yeah. But listen, man, there's two more spots. The shitters everywhere you look. Yeah, it can still happen. It can still happen. I got Anthony Bennett after I have the two best players. If I get one, if I get one quality point guard, I'm good. Yeah.

Yeah, every team can sustain one shitter when you have two of the best ever. Yeah. All right, next up. Alex Caruso Wow Fuck I can live with that I mean

You can live with that Okay You need a role player You better show me someone Promising Steph Jordan Caruso Who Here we go

Bennett Not the biggest team Chronically Hennett Hit one Chronically online Oof Okay

Ooh Caruso KD Has played for multiple franchises Smells like Kevin Durant Currusor KD It's over

This happens As a rap song Smells like Kevin Durrance It's over It's KD. Oh, play for multiple franchises. This could be Jeremy Kane.

He's not picking McCain. I think he wants to think it's KD, but it's Jared McCain. Maybe. Do what you told me. Swing for the fences. He wants me to think it's Jared McCain or KD. That's the pickle I'm in. But you know what he thinks.

If I have Jerry McCain, my space is just crazy. And he knows that you know what he's thinking. So he's going to switch it up. Hey, man, I got here, swing for the fences. It got me, Michael George. got me Steph Curry. I'll swing again.

If I have McCain, I'll live. Give me the player. All right. Let's go. Never be conservative. Take the player every time. What a lesson. Facts.

Wow. He ate with that one. It's over. His big one with that one. I think I'm in a position that I could change Anthony in his life. He played with these guys. He would have a better career. He'd be Wiggins.

We'd look out for him. I think we're facilitating the rise of Anthony you better here. I need a star to keep up with this now. Yeah, and I got Josh Giddy to start out. I don't know what's wrong, my pulling ability from this hat. Maybe I got to start pulling my left

instead of my right. Yeah, you're not good at pulling out. But I got Gettie. Who am I taking B? Please. Number one overall pick. Okay. Okay.

You can keep. Josh Giddy. I can't. No, you can't. Don't lie to him. David Robinson, comps. Fuck, this is Aiton, man. You gotta keep kidding.

Led team to a natty appearance in college. Whoa, this is not Aiden. Oh, Aiden didn't do that. This is not Aiden. To a natty appearance. Got one more hint. Okay, one more hint. Played with LeBron.

Oh, I know exactly who this is. Natty appearance. I didn't know he had David Robinson Combs, but that makes sense to me. I never Yeah, I never heard that. But I'm ever. Wasn't around.

I get it. Play with LeBron. Aydden's play with LeBron. You know what? Choose wise. You play with LeBron. I don't, I just don't want to get any on my team. No matter what.

Like, I'd rather go for the scene. You got Bron. You got Bron. So you got one of his teammates as well. Yeah. Give me LeBron's teammate, bro. All right. Good choice.

Good choice. Please. You get. The Brown. Let me ask you this. Do you think it's Anthony Davis or Greg Oden? Oh, it could be Greg Oden? Greg Oden played with LeBron?

He did. Oh, you already said your answer. I mean, regardless, I'm not taking Giddy. You got Greg Oden. I was sure it was Anthony Davis. Sorry, Brian. I was close. Sure.

I was positive. I was Anthony Davis. I forget he played with Ron. I was like, they're calling David Robinson? All right. Sure. I didn't know that, but it makes sense. God, I'm putting on a master class.

Dude, I'm so good at my job. Holy shit Talk your shit, babe LeBron Where do you want to put in Greg Cohen? Fuck my life So LeBron is that point guard

Yeah put Bron at point guard Bagley at the three Doesn't matter, yeah Bagley at the two or three Fuck it man At this point you can just build the biggest team ever And have an advantage there Aet in that

Oh no, Odin Yeah, Odin, sure there's nothing that can unfuck my team Michael Jordan but I already got I want even think MJ could do this You need will You need prayer When be at the two

Loki Look at you Oh you just soiled everything No it's all No it's up It doesn't matter if I see You can show me every player I'm cooked regardless

All right Ready Brandon Ingram this year The I Okay Okay. You got a score. Not terrible.

All right. But this is definitely a diet, Kevin Durant. Yep. And last time I had a good player, Kevin Durant was on the other side. Mm-hmm. Okay.

Rookie of the year. Mm. Okay. DeMitch is in my mind. He didn't win it. One of the most hated. Ooh, Ben Simmons is in my mind, actually. Okay.

They don't be disgusting on this. Known for being fat. Oh. Oh shit. Rookie of the Year Known for being big. This is Shaq and I don't... I got one more hand.

I got one more hand. Has brown-like qualities. What? You know how to get to that money to B-Shack? Yeah. It's Shack, but I don't want to... Is it Shaq?

I think so. I think I'm... I'm pretty sure it's Shack. But I have Janus and Yokic. You're a brand-neagim over Shack. I'm trying to figure out to do this. Yeah, I'm not doing it. Take the talent.

Fuck it, man. Of course. I'm not going with team building. I'll take the player. Okay. I'll take your player. Because I think it's Shaq. It is.

Luca Donchich. You put number one of all pick? No, I put rookie at a year. Oh, I thought you put in a wonderful pick. No, no. Number one overall pick was for Greg Gordon. Oh.

You could have had? Oh, no, you did. Oh, you got so backwards. I'm so backwards. You got Luca. Yeah, you got Luca. Wow. I was like, damn, did I fuck up?

I was so confused because I was like, something doesn't make sense of my brain. Luca, Poole, Janice Yokic. Got like the three best players in the world. Okay, okay. You're a player away. I'm a player away.

This is coming down to literally the last player, which one of us is going to win? A player away. I need a center really, really, what if I don't get a center here? What if he puts, what about point cards next? Fuck, my last player, Ben Simmons.

It's not bad. Clippers Benson. Clippers post-injury Benson. He wasn't ass. He was playable. You could play metal five. With the lineup I have, I could get away with it. Anthony Bennett grabbing boards.

KD. grabbing boards. I can live. This is making or break it. All right. Please tell me it's a big. Otherwise, I'm going to lose. It would be really well alongside death.

Top ten selection in this draft. Okay. Wasn't top three, though. Yeah. Okay. So seven to ten. International player. Okay.

This is Ricky Rubio Drafted in the 2020s Man what the fuck am I supposed to do with that Is this Denny? No he wasn't drafted in the top 10 I think he was just the side of it wasn't he Or was he like nine? I thought Denny was nine

I don't want fucking Denny Oh 20 he wasn't drafted Was he twin 20 draft? Yeah he must have been Yeah he was the COVID drive Oof Could be Denny So pick four through 10

International player Draft in the 2020s You're swinging I got Ben Simmons in my hand Yeah but this is bad back Ben Simmons But I think I don't get it big I'm putting Anthony Bennett

I'm putting KD at center Could be worse That's fine With MJ and Curry Could be worse It'll be fine But also Ben Simmons You know

No take Ben Simmons I've taken the player That Beasol's had every single time so far And it's worked out Three or four times Yeah I'm on the side of math

Beasoles Give me their player Right on my team Heyes there we go Please please please please please be Kallian Killing him, Killing him, Kelyn and him. Killing him.

Fuck yes. This is why I shut the fuck up. Yes. I still have no chance, but I like to see you lose. Anthony and you Bennett, welcome to center. You tested your luck too much. I mean, I had Benzzi. It wasn't going to be sweet either way.

Way better than fucking Killian Hayes. I'm not going to lie. It's kind of better than Killian Hays. Fuck. No. Nothing can be way better when it's washed up. It's Kelly and Hayes. Pro Benson was garbage.

Listen, man. So then he's at the two? Oh, yeah, killing those at two. It doesn't matter. He can defend. Today's killing a he's got a roster spot. Okay. Now, at this point in time, do you think you have any chance to construct a better team than Donovan?

Do you think Donovan could sell so bad on this next pick that you could be? Sure, if you're giving the worst player of all time. Like, Hayes, you give him another garbage player, anything's possible. Okay. It's not looking good, though. Yeah, because I don't have a bad player yet. Yeah, it's not looking good. So my turn?

Yep, your turn. Yes. Okay. Hey, go ahead and get Kobe on right now. Who did you pull? I wish I pulled the other Jordan last time. Nuggets Dianj Jordan, who's known nothing for just team morale at this point.

Just clapping. Mind you, you need a shooter guard. Yeah, who you got for me? This is the worst basketball of all time for me. You see how I feel? You're just so dejective. Hey, why am I here? Loves women's basketball.

All right, yeah. Hit number one. Love women's basketball. Okay. Like that, like that, like that. Like that. Has played with D. Wade before? Not Kobe.

He's going to say international. Play with D. Wade before. Okay. Scored 80 plus points. Oh, wow. No. He got bam. He got bam.

Is he the Bam or Kobe if you think he's doing the international loophole? You got a 50-50 shot here, man. I ain't going to lie. It both fits. You score 80 shit. Listen, you've been an all-star. I need anything I can get. I'm not taking DeAndre Doris.

I know Ben is way better. Give me whoever this is. All right. You do get the one and only. Kobe Bryant. Kobe. LeBron and Kobe. Listen, man.

They're going to fucking hate their life. Zero space and baggedy-owned crumbs. Fuck. Who has a better supporting cast right now? MJ and Steph or LeBron and Ben, Kobe? I got Bennett and Hayes. You got Kevin to Rant.

Oh, I forgot him with Kevin Rance. Come on now. All right, Donovan. All right. Last player. Last player. To fit this three. Austin Reeves.

Austin Reeves. He's drawn all the good players. I might just keep Reeves. We're going to be. Okay. All right, here we go. He has a good team. Last player.

He drew all the good players of the hat. Lefty. Okay. Top five pick. Ooh. not that many lefty top five picks were good. Right pick at the time. What? Yeah, yeah.

You gave way too much. Last, last, last, last, last, last, last, last, last eight. Ninety six overall on NBA draft net. Yeah, now. You think I have a working memory of NBA draft. What does that mean? Does that mean like as a prospect? Yeah, yeah, okay, okay. He was the right pick at the time.

Mm-hmm. You said top five pick? Yeah, top five pick. Top five pick, right. 96 overall prospect. Lefty, who were good, top five lefties. I don't even know.

There's not a lot of them. I can think of one. I'm thinking right now. I'm thinking Benson. But I don't think he had a 96. I'm thinking Benson. Benson was on your team. Would be fucking filthy.

That would be filthy. But if I just take reason. That's all I'm saying. If I just have pool, Reeves, you're going to win them. Or what? Now your defense is cooked.

Yeah, I just have Janison. Yeah, just Yonison. Yeah. It's okay. What's going 150? I'm gonna keep Austin Reeves here. Okay.

He's keeping Austin Reeves here. But I think it's Hardin. What's he tough? I think this is Ben Simmons. You think this is Ben Simmons? You think this is Ben Simmons? Who do you think it is? Maybe James Hardin? I have no idea of this.

Because right pick at the time. Yeah. It means that like now it's like, oh, I wouldn't have done that. That's what they're not necessarily. It might just be the right pick at the time. It might just do the right pick. Yeah. Yeah.

I think he made the right decision. All right. Well, I think it's Ben Simmons. Regardless, the player is James Y's. James Wiseman I made the right pick the only reason I was thinking maybe not James Harding because I was like I don't think he's a 96 prospect

he was a good prospect then again he went like number four didn't he no way because those teams weren't yeah they weren't it's kind of small but it's okay you're three they're that bad yeah yeah James Harman was not my pick I think yeah we got it I want to say Russ was three

and Hardin was four I think they picked two three and four three years in a row it's crazy no Hardin I think Harden was three. Then was Russ four? Maybe. Okay. Wow. All right. So, audio listeners, I have Steph Curry,

Killeen Hayes, Michael Jeffrey Jordan, Kevin Durant, and Anthony Bennett. Katie Files, you're going to lose because he's talking shit about everyone. Well, damn. He will talk. He will say the craziest things about Killian Hayes and AJ. What would this team actually do? Would they just, would they still win a championship?

Even with Bennett and Hayes, probably, right? I think Hayes he holds up way more than Bennett. I can imagine. Bennett's got to grab boards. that's it he's not really there yeah and play defense

I don't know all right my team I have Luca if he could do that he'd be in the league right now fair I have Luca

Donchage Jordan Fool Austin Reeves Janice and Yokic dude his office finally this is the greatest

offense of all time finally one of these goes well for me well suddenly I lost my ability to read

how unfortunate wow welcome to the club I just have 18 welcome to the club Oh, nice, LeBron and Kobe. I don't know who the rest of those three guys are.

And that is our draft. You let us know the comments who you think won. Next thing we are going to do. I'm going to show you guys a young core in the NBA. We have to rank every single player in that young core. So we're going to go through about 10 young cores in the league right now. Rank their most important players, long term, short term, whatever means to you, how you'd rank these players. All right.

First off, Charlotte Hornets. Who was a number one player in this court? Put Khan at one. Me, person, I put LaMella at one for this singular year, but I think con, I know Con will be better. Yeah, I think for a young core, we gotta go long term. So, Khan's clearly one, I think. Just in terms of how good he is right away,

Convo is, though? Is Lamello too? Yeah, he's two. You sure? I think I'm waiting for Brandon Miller to, like, make... He needs to, like, solidify a spot defensively in the league in general, like, make it sound like, yeah, this is your role in this team.

but also filling in still like the other random gaps. He's been really good the second half of the year since it's been healthy. He's, but he's pretty efficient. He is. Do it again. I'll take Lamella at two, Brandon Miller. Yeah. Like there's so many efficient players in the league,

but there's not that many talented playmakers and shot creators like Lamella. It's not even a combo long term? I feel Lamello's at his ceiling. He's at so many years in the league we know who he is. It's a very, very good player. Can't make all start teams. If we're playing the potential game, then yeah. It's, you know, it's young court.

We've got to play a potential game. That's the whole conversation. But I'm also kind of being real, too. Lamello's so special. I'd rather have him to have him that too. So special? As a creator. He's more special than Brandon Miller.

Yes. We sure? As a, I'm not disagree for sure, but I think it's a debate. Like that singular school right there is so rare compared to like, and it's so tangible too compared to all the things that we want for Brandon Miller. Brandon Miller is real young. He's been injured a lot. Slow down his progression.

Should be better by now ideally. But it's because of injuries, not just because he sucks. I think there's still so much on tap potential that like that could be an elite wing still. I agree. but I write that with Mello. Okay, I'm aborted. It's fine. Again, I don't even know if I disagree.

I just think it's a combo. Lamello 2, Brandon Miller 3. Now we have Calk Runner, we have Cian James, we have Tijon Salon. And who's the name? Oh, and DiBate. DeBate is four, easily. Easily four.

You don't want to be Tijon Salon? Get out of my face. Harassment. Calk Britter, Tijon Salon, and Cian James. Cion. Cion or? I would assume Calk Brenner has the most long-term value at these things.

Yeah, I'd rather, if I was doing like a redraft or a keep, yeah, redraft or whatever, I think I'd rather have Colchbriner on my team than those two right now easily. Seon's just like, you can find Seans all the time. Damn. Yeah, I call these Rockets. It's a J-Sont-Tate right there. That's a J-Saint-T-T-Rae. Yeah.

Okay. Call that Madstres. Now do you go T-Jon Salon or Cion James? Sealing, T-Don. Do you probably? Sealing as a rookie, sure. What do you think's going to happen? Come on, man.

T-John. T-John. I'm gonna go. What the fuck was that? I feel like, I feel like T-Jong should be seven in this conversation. Yeah, it's T-Jon. All right.

T-Jon number seven, see on James, number six. Number six overall pick, by the way. Yeah, we'll live with it. It's okay. You win some, you lose some. Next team. Houston Rockets Young Corps.

Alperin Shungoon, Amen, Thompson, Jabari, Smith, Reed, Shepard, and Tari-Eason. All right. We'll put him in a minute. one. Puttari 6. You zoom in?

Yeah. I'm not going to laugh. I thought that was KD a part of the Yon. I couldn't see nothing. That's funny. Stuck. L track pad. Dude, stop.

Stop. I swear it was stuffed, bro. Yo. We already talked about this, man. Okay. We'll never beat the track pad allegations. So a men one? It's a men or St. Goon, right?

Yes. A men won. Yeah, I think the whole league feels better about Amen. You can the Rockets front office agrees? In terms of potential and long-term future, yeah. Yeah. Is there any argument for Shingun? No.

Yeah, the real argument. Long-term, no. I think Shingoon is much closer to his ceiling than a men is. Yeah, that's fair. We say that, though, because a man can't shoot and, like, the ceiling is if he can shoot. When does that stop being a realistic ceiling, though? Maybe next year. Like, year three, it's still not.

still not starting to click, but I think the first two years is definitely like, okay, you can start to start that process. But I think amend is definitely one. A man can just do things. I think today I'd rather have a men in Schengun even with where they're at in their development. If I'm starting a team today to win

only in this playoffs, I'd probably still rather have a man. If you're starting from scratch, yeah, I agree. Because there's so many creative ways that you can work your offense around the men compared to Shangun where you have to work your offense and your defense around him. So Targis is number five because he's about to be a Laker this year.

You're about to walk in free agency. About to be. I thought we were going to Jibari 2. Jabari 2. Okay, come on now. My bad. Let's see for her. Come on now.

That's on me. Come on now. Reach up or Jemper. Javier. Javier. Javier. Javier. Yes.

The two way value is like, yes. Dement's. Yeah. Very valuable player. They already paid him. I'm going to keep him for a long time. Good role player.

Mm-hmm. You don't think there's a world where Reed Shepard is like an elite role player or borderline All-Star? I think there's a world, but to get to that world, you have to go through like a couple galaxies. You have to fight. I know about a galaxy. Yeah, you have to fight some aliens on different planets.

It's a very specific path that you have to go down to get there. I think Jabari in the- Got a boxable of a viltramites. Yeah. I think I think Jabari in the role that he is right now as the player that he is can play on any team in the league can be very valuable. I would have him at three. You slot him in literally any starting lineup in the league and he does not make them

worse. Okay, well, what Tarisan? I would like to think that Tarisan also has a ceiling like that. Right now, he's closing my eyes. I can't see nothing. So the ceiling has caved in. He's definitely five. Yeah, so.

Not a bad offensive season. I still believe him, though. Like, I still very much want the Lakers to sign him this over. If he knows his role, then yeah. But I don't think. You don't think he knows his role? Yeah. I think he hijacks the offense a little bit too much sometimes.

Damn. Reach up before. Carriason five. He has value. He's a hijacker. Highjacker. Next one. Utah Jazz, a seven-man young core.

This is too much. We got Ace Bailey. We should be having seven-man young cores. They've been bad for a long time. What can I say? You should have three, four maximum. Keonti George, Ace Bailey, Walker Kessler. This is number one.

A wide open conversation. You could go Keontay, but I can understand if someone wants to do Ace Bailey. I think Keontay's defense is so horrible that it's not a shoeing for number one. despite the offense being the best. I think Ace Bailey at one. Most untapped potential? Yeah.

Yeah, I think so. I think he could be at one. Low key, you can talk me, you can talk me to Walker Kessler at two. You can talk about Kessler 1. That's fair. The way that Walker Kessler,

obviously, great defender, the way he was shooting the ball at the start of this year before he got hurt, again, that moves a lot. Super, super, super small sample size. But what he was doing there,

legitimately was like, Oh, we, we have a different level of, of player. Mm-hmm. You know what? Let's go Walker 1. Let's go walker one. Why are we tap dancing around the truth? Walker Castle number one.

Okay. Ace Bailey too? Yeah. Sure. Or is Keante 2? No. Ace 2. We could do the ceiling of Ace Bailey.

What he can beat that 6-9 frame. If he buys into the wall hardy offense, the shotback can comes around with the on-ball stuff, they handle develops. He can be a top 30 player. Yeah. And I like, I like Cante George a lot. I really like the Ascension to go get buckets. But as we've seen plenty of times.

I think that if you start asking County George to be a better defender, his scoring is not going to be the same as it is right now. I don't think it's right to believe that he's going to stay on that level. So that's why I think Ace Bailey is a better long-term outlook than he does. Okay, okay. Now we got Kyle Filipowski, Bryce Sensible, Cody Williams, and Isaiah Collier. But them all at seven. So Cody Williams is probably seven.

He's been better as of late. A few more betters to go. Listen, he, at least he can... How many more betters? Like three. Okay. Yeah. I think Kyle Filipowski's probably four.

It's him or Isaiah Collier. I think Calioree is going to be their Nazaree for a long time. Okay. We can put him at four. I think when they're good, he'll have a role on this team. I have no opinion on these two guys. No opinion. And I guess we'll go Sensibah.

He's Cam Thomas with good PR and Collier at six. All right. Do you want to change that? No, put Collier above him? I think Collier probably... Do you want to turn them into Camp Thomas with Midler? with mid-PR now. I'm sorry,

Collairs of both of them. Okay. I think they're both pretty good. Honestly, pretty good young core. I don't hate it, especially with the fact

they have two All-Star players as well. Yeah, I forget Jaron Zer. Yeah, Darren Jackson there. They're going to draft a good prospect. Oh, cats are fighting again. Ooh. Oh, they're going to fight.

World Star, let me record this year right now. She's going crazy. Yeah, honestly, if they get a top three or four pick, not a bad young court at all. Mm-hmm. We can get involved with that.

We can get involved with that. New Orleans Pelicans. We have five players here. Derek Queen, Jeremiah Fears, Jordan Hawkins, Trey Murphy, he's still 25, or East Missy? Oh, man, old as hell for you, of course. It's 25 and under. Okay.

Zion really not young anymore, man, that's tough. That's so tough. Dude, I feel so down. Better than Zion. God. I feel so down on Derek Queen right now. Tough second half of the year, but we did see the first half before the rookie wall hit. Jeremiah fears have a good second half of the season.

Who's better in three years? Jeremiah, I fear is a Derekeen. I think, Jeremiah, you can, I think there's a conversation is the way where we can,

I can see, Jeremiah Fier is having a job. Having a job is there. They're both going to have a job in three years. They're both going to have a job. Yes. But for Derek Queen, I don't think,

I don't know, man. I don't, I don't think I'm as high as far as the more. He's not, he's not getting the promotion. He's not going to be the regional manager. Nah.

Is he going to be the assistant to the assistant regional manager? Will you reference Yeah Who's one? No one feels good about this one at all right now I'll go Derek Queen Sure

Just because It better be Derek Queen Otherwise their GM is getting fired In 18 months Yeah I could have did that yesterday Derek Queen better be number one First part of the year

He looks fantastic When he overcome the defense The offensive skill was there Second half of the year He's not overcoming shit It was quite terrible I guess he's going to trade Murphy one Just a cop out

Derek Queen 2 and Fears 3? Yeah, yeah, Fears 3. Fears is always going to be behind Queen. Yeah, but honestly, the beginning of next year comes around and Derek Queen shoots like this, Jeremy Fears is instantly too.

It's over. It's over. Instantly 2. East Missy 4. Jordan Hawkins 5. Jordan Hawkins. Oh, he's so sad, man. Oh, my God.

He's a turnover machine. Like, people were saying, he's going to be the next Ray out of Yukon and yada, yada, yada, yada. Do you know how bad it is to get your miss taken away from I think his name is Micah Peavy bro

he's so bad it's sad man being sad is hilarious damn that's great one less friend to the show sorry Jordan he's so sad he's so sad

he's crazy career's not going well what can I say Oklahoma City Thunder they still got a young core they got a deep young core eight eight deep all right so we're going

set one I think he's overtaking Jada for sure right like he's clearly most important young player. Yeah. Listen, if Wembe doesn't play

these last couple games, that's DPI O.I right there. Facts. Yeah. And obviously J. W. Wendellah's number two. Okay. Bliss Manila,

A.J. Mitchell, get hot this playoff run. That's crazy. Yeah. I need, I need to see the playoff run, but right now, Kays and Wallace is three.

I think I right, no, I think I definitely would rather have, like, if I'm drafting, I'd rather AJ Mitchell than Kays and Walsh. Case and Walsh is

really, really bad offensively. Defensively, still amazing. But offensively, that man is more than stagnated. I can understand you because he did have that stretch when Shay was out where he just looked like a completely different player.

But like if he can't show shades of like actually being productive whenever Shay is there, then it's like. Yeah, Zachary Shee had a stretch last year looking a completely different player. Everyone has stretches. Are the Hawks on this? Eventually. I have words for them. AJ Mitchell number three?

Yeah, AJ 3. Kason 4. We also have Big Jalen Williams, Jared McCain, and then Sorber and Toepitz on the back end. I was sober and Tobidge that's 7 and 8 yeah but they just don't exist yet Figment some imagination for now yeah I think case and Wallace should be

4 easily I agree a big gentleman Williams at 5 he's been a sniper this season row real hub over McCain a lot of teams would love to have McCain might not play in the finals this year yeah I think I'd rather have but they got a bunch of guards

to like yeah if he's on a different team like he would be when everybody's healthy he'll be out the rotation because of defense yeah they're one of Yeah. They're one of those teams. It has nothing to do with McKaynor.

I think Jan Williams is going to end up being a team legend that there for like 12 years. I hope so. I think he's never going to leave. He's the next Nicollison. Yes. And that's me as value. I want him from O'5.

Okay. Let's do it. I think he's a future Thunder legend. I think he'll have three rings. Sure. Let's do it. I think he's going to be a goat's. Team legends are important, man.

He's Patrick McCaw. Do they love McCall like that? Fuck no. Who? Who's they? Atlanta Hawks. We have a six-man young core. I'm gonna let you cook.

Go pod. Dyson Daniels. Jalen Johnson. O'Necki Okongwu. Aes-Noole. Zachary Ries-Sachay. And who was that? I put on there.

Did that Kaminga? And Kaminga. And John the Kaminga on there. All right. So. Go, pod, man. No hard feelings. Kamega, you're six.

No hard feelings. No hard feelings at all. You are a firm six for me. Are you sure? Yeah, 100%. He's six. Because he might not be here next year. Bro, Zachary Shay is on this list.

Fun fact. Zachary Rishay got a DMP last night. On his birthday. Healthy. On his birthday? Oh, my God. Yeah. No, that's actually mean.

That's insane. You can't get 15. And guess what? It was his big 21. Yeah, that's stuff. But you're still not, you're still not drinking after the game. He went straight to the club.

They didn't have to shower or anything. Nope. Straight. He was fresh already. I think he's got to be six. He put two more sprays of Colon and was like, yeah. I'm out there. That has to put him at six.

I can't lie. Just because our coach thinks your ass don't mean you're really ass. I mean, but you think they're. So now that coach is wrong? I don't think, yeah,

there's been plenty of times where I'm like, what is Quinn Seider doing? Yes, 100%. Is he wrong in this instance? Yes. He's not ass. Okay. I think coming gets six.

Cheeks? Is he back? Hips. Hips are pretty good. Hips don't lie. Okay. Camiga six. Rises Shee five.

Yeah. Okay. You're lucky to kill Alexander Walker isn't too young enough. He'd been number one. Oh yeah, it would have gone crazy. One is funny. Obviously, Jalen Johnson number one. Yep, easy.

A's Nala has to be four. Hasn't been four. Not really his fault, just too young. Rish is three. No, he's, dude, there's so much that Aza does is untapped. Hell, no, he can't be over Asa. Yeah, no, sorry, it's not a conversation.

Ace is so good. He's just killing a G-League whenever he's there. I don't even know that he's so good. I just know that he's not. Risa Shetka. Trust me. Getting DMPs on your brain. You know,

Lerite's an otherworldly piece of ass. He's not. Low key. From. Low key. There's like 2011 LeBron and then that dog. Like that's

Ritza Shait just be running around. Listen, his lack of activity is kind of otherworldly ass. I miss Trey, man. Like a year ago, I jokingly said he's

Torian Prince. And as a days go by, I'd rather have Torian Prince. I promise he's a much useful player. don't know. Dyson Dengen is number two and Yenka's number three. Is that a conversation?

No, it's not. I honestly like I don't want Anya Kongu as my starting center this year. Like he can be on the team. That's crazy. What a fall from grace. You used to love on Yenka Ongo. I'm going to start spamming.

Yeah, I love ideas. No conversation. I just don't want to talk about it, man. You said you have words to them. We give you the words? No conversation. Yeah, no words. I'm keeping the words.

It's nothing to talk about. Nothing to talk about. Portland Trailblazers. Another six-man young core. Denny is still under 25. You think I give a damn? Book Klingin number one. Donovan Klinger.

Thank you. Scoo Anderson. Shaden Shade and Sharpe, Tumani Kamaura, and Yonge Hansen. Put Klingin one. Over Denny. Yep. Over the All-Star. It's not a conversation.

Stop. Damn. Kling is three-point shooting ability. No words. Elite offensive rebounder. A lot of teams would fucking feed for that. No, I do think Donovan Klingin's like a clear cut. I was going to say Future Top 10 Center.

low key might be a top scene center right now the way he's been playing he's like that Is there any reason to say that he's not as good as Zubatch? No reason Oh, his defense is crazy His defense is crazy And like obviously Dubach is a better offensive player Kling is a better defensive player

I think it's like comparable level of players these days Yeah, that's fair to say He's so good He should be a hawk right now, man Denny number two He really should be a hawk right now, it's crazy Your GM's stupid as fuck Or past him

Yeah Yeah, let's put Denny two It's cool at three you can tell me anyone at three honestly I don't push it I've been very very Are we off of Shaden Sharp Maybe it's too Monty Kamara at 3

It's easily too money Kamara at 3 Yeah easily too money I've never been a Shaden Sharp guy I'm waiting for someone to prove to me I should be a Shaden Sharp guy So Shaden at 4 But I'm certainly not a scoop guy

So Shading gets number 4 Yeah No man Listen out of just pure ceiling Yo Y Young has Yeah He said yo

He said yo Dot da da da da da He has a ways to go And the next one was young Yeah He has a lot of stuff that he can learn Yeah that's the worst player in the NBA right now And it's not a conversation

Yeah Maybe time will change I mean he's raw He's a young prospect I'm buying stock right now Yo them ducks Well he literally can only go up from here Exactly

So it's fair Don't make some Some modicum of a profit Let's lock in I'm putting half a unit on On Yangha Half a unit You're looking bad right now again

Come on Let's lock in It's not pretty Yeah So what wouldn't you want somebody to believe in you when you're having a tough time? No, I'm saying, yeah, we got to lock in. To not hand out that belief to people who need hope.

To people who need belief in their life. Okay. That's what I'm here for. Okay. Praise. So, y'all, I'm with you. With you, too, man. Lock in.

I'm with you. Lock in. He said I'm standing for y'all, man. Yeah. Nice, man. He's just calling him the worst player in the NBA. You think he likes to hear that? No.

you're right man now I never called him a liar there you go waiting for the shooter drop Detroit Pistons Cade Assar Jenkins Stewart Holland

and Duren put Mr. Cunningham at 1 obviously Mr. Cunningham at 1 is there any conversation for Asar to be 2 over Duren Not yet trick question there would never be a conversation Jail and Dern number 2

Never Okay that's a drag Never How about put Jail and Dern at 1 Then what? All right. Then what do you say to me? Going to happen next.

You like him. He's a Dern sexual, man. He loves him some Dern. It's so good. I'm like, I love Jail Lendurie. Yeah, I know. He's so good. I know.

He's so tough. Tell me about it. Very comfy. Very comfy. Asar, Stuart, Holland. Put a sire at three. Yes. When you can be the best wing defender in the NBA in your three?

You're special. You're a special. How far is Stuber going to fall, man? He's so good defensively. I have a lot of faith in Runn's still. Mm-hmm.

But he's like many prospects. He needs to develop a three-point shot. Yeah, I don't think he can be four right now. Yeah, I think so. Was he a Stewart, the more ready-made product? I think I'll go Stewart right now. Another guy who might be a Pistons lifer. I know that means something.

For life. You're going to keep him around. They can retire two numbers. One, two. Pubuteuette 4 Yeah Holland at 5 Dennis Jenkins

It's cool He just got on the C man I should have laughed I had to sneeze I've never seen that Combrick's a combination That's funny Yeah

John 6th 6th 6th 6th 6th dog They got so lit He's so lit I haven't seen him in a while Fell off Hope he's doing well man And that's

Pistons. Next one we got San Antonio Spurs. This is a fun one. Obviously, Victimony Yamagos number one. Stefan Castle versus Dylan Harper. Give me Harper at number two. Not a conversation? His ability just to get to the rim against anybody and his strength literally at the

rim, his angles. Castle doesn't have that. That's a gap for you. Castle would fit on every single playoff team ever and make them better. You would. Like there's, the floor is outrageous. Today, he'd be one of the best role players in the league for a decade if he never got better.

I'll take Castle at two. What? I'm sorry. Keep mine, I was just starting conversation. It's either Harper. It's not close. No, no. I need to make anybody to agree with me. No, I'm, no, I'm taking Castle. I'm taking Castle. I'm taking Castle. No, it's Harper. Keep him. His potential is tantal.

Dad, I think that you know, might be a top ten player in this world. We did our rookie tier list a couple of weeks ago as the main episode. We put him an All-Star. And as soon as it ended, I was like, why didn't we put him a superstar? We'd like glaze past that because we put Conn there and put some whole time talking about him. Harper is a future superstar. Yeah, he has like top five point guard. Castle's crazy.

Castle's just a... Yeah, I really like Castle. He's an elite role player, but I don't know. He's crazy. Castle's extremely good. I think it's insane. They have both these guards next to him to be for his whole prime. It's outrageous.

His defense plus a three-point shot that's coming around, a little bit of creation. Like, it's nasty. No, he's filthy. Yeah. The fact that's their third best prospect of their young court, insane. Yeah.

He would change the Hawks' lives. You would? Best player of the Hawks by far. All right, let's relax. I don't know about it. Wouldn't be a conversation. Listen, you roll the ball out. One-on-one, he's locking the day.

Oh, my. He put Jaylon Johnston in the fucking. All right, let's relax. One-on-one? He put him with a straight jacket. We're talking about a six, nine guys. He's 30% from the time. He timed with ropes and throwing out.

I'm sure he has something for that. That's clever. He timed. He timed in fish wire and throw him into the bay. If there's one thing I love, it's the roll the ball out. It works every time. It's awesome. Because you just say whatever.

Fuck the I-Tez. Roll the ball out. If I took everything away. And I just roll the ball out. Just roll the ball out. What happens next? If we get down to the essence of the game,

if I put you two in a room with one peach basket, who's coming out on top? Stefan Castle's beating Jain and Chalman. Mind you, we talked about the Hawks like seven minutes ago. What are we doing? I told you, I was letting you cook. Devin Bacelle, Champany, and Carter Bryant. Oh, oh.

World Star. I had a couple of licks in. I wonder if the mics picked it up. I wish it did. Carter Bryant, Devon Vassell, Champany. Carter Bryant, four. Comes to... Over to the cell?

The cell's very good right now. Carter Bryant is different. Vassel is the type of player that might decide playoff series. Might get hot. Where they are now and that's like... Yeah. That's his role. Carter Bryant going forward, his defense right now is already

fantastic. He's obviously another one of those guys. If he can figure out how to shoot, he's going to be unstoppable. Like, we obviously, yes, that needs to get there. He needs to be a consistent, shooter. We've seen stretches like that already this year. I, I believe in Carter Bryant so much. I do too. But Devin Vassel is such a sure thing, and he's someone who can play on literally any single NBA team because of a combination. Bro, same team. Cardo Price Lock him. That's what you want to do. Actually, at this point of his career, though, would sell Mike him right now. He's a rookie. He might get fried.

I don't. You started the roll of ball out logic, so I got to continue it. Vassel would fry him today. Yo, Carter, Cartagwright, moving forward is different, though. I think he is a better prospect right now than. I wanted him on the hawks so bad, man, so bad. I'm telling you all these people would change the hawks broadcast lives. Yeah, champagne would too.

Fuck out of here. No, he would not. He's way better than Risesha. All right, man. He is way better than Risesha. I'm not even talking. Yeah, don't let him do this to you, man. I'm not even talking

Richie Shee. Come on, man. Are you disagree? He's easily better than Richie Shea. Sure, yeah. Sure. Are you joking? Sure, man.

You, Quintz-Snyder, bro. This is going to... I'm coming to Atlanta tonight. Let's see what happens. We'll see those convos out of year from now. All right. Quince Knight is always right. Yeah, right.

Chicago Bulls. Ooh. Josh Giddy Yo, this is tough Robert Dillingham Patrick Williams Modis Bezellis and Leonard Miller Shout to Morris

He's one Modis is one by fucking far True, no conversation Leonard Miller deserves like the ultimate Salute He's been good since he got there He's finally getting minutes First time of his career

He's getting more than 20 minutes a night After him everyone else deserves to be five Right now You'd rather pay Josh Giddy Or take the swing on Leonard Miller I'm taking the swing Yes, 100%. I don't want to pay Josh Giddy like big, big money really ever.

Not a good decision. Who's going to be a more winning team than their career? Leonard Miller and Josh Giddy. Josh Giddy already had that opportunity, man. And the dynasty started after him. I know. They won it immediately after they traded you. Welcome to number two, Leonard.

Welcome number three, Josh Giddy. Number three? He said that with the straight face. Isaac Coro number three. now for a quarter of four I guess Dillingham has to be five and Pat Will is six Pat Will man

He doesn't he honestly gets away With so much Lander bro He doesn't get in the worst player in the NBA Patrick Williams He said he just sucks And I don't hear a single lie told Bro I've seen a video of someone saying There's A Cuff got Robert Dillingham disease

Oh my God Come on him That stuff A Cuff has more weight in one bicep than Dillingham Has in the whole left side of his body You got to weigh 30 pounds more than it That's tough Washington Wizards

Last one Alexar Bub Carrington Bilal Kulabali Trey Johnson and Will Riley I think Bub is five Start there Like I would cut everyone before him

Yeah And I know it I think Bilal is four Yeah Yeah That's fair Put Drey Johnson won No

Alex Sar is clearly one You're not You're delusional right now You can't do that Who are you to tell me? Alex Sar, you want to cut him? Yo, like, we can have a whole bunch of discussions and conversations about stuff. Where do you get off at?

Telling me what I can and cannot do. Alex, did you hear what you just said right now? Who the hell of you? He's a discussion platform. Alex Sar? You want to cut Alex Sar? I've never said anything about cutting anybody. Come on, man.

What is happening today? You said, what hell are you? Uncle did not take his men today. No vitamins, no iron, no vitamin D. This is the straight glues. Someone give him smoke wheels. What fuck are you talking to? Oh, retreat Johnson.

Would you like a receipt today, sir, or not? Fuck you. He started to sound like dames and eaters in that one. Bodies, bodies, bodies, bodies, bodies. I air this bitch all right now. Alexar number one, Trey Johnson versus Will Raleigh for two. Will Raleigh is really fucking good. Yeah.

He shoved me so much more this year than Trey Johnson has. I'm not going to lie. I don't know. This year, this season, Will Raleigh has easily shown more. I don't know. Now, you still have the preconceived notion of who Jay Johnson can be. I'm not out on here. Trey Johnson is still like that.

He had it. like output this year. I guess. No, it's not like, and I guess, Trich Johnson legitimately had, like,

had a lot, had stretches and moments where he looked really good. I'm not saying you look bad. I'm saying Wool Riley's looked exceptional. You're taking Will Riley over him? I'm opening the conversation for the possibility to be on the table.

Delusional, buddy. That's the least delusional thing ever to take Will Riley with Tray Johnson. It's up for discussion. That's mad, reasonable. Everything's delusional today. we can at least have the discussion

type shit that's what's potting's about yeah I guess I don't want to do that though like if that's what we want to be about then okay but I think I really

But we shouldn't be about it Trey Johnson too we're really three of Don't this conversation Like we're arguing about Trey Johnson I legitimately think that like Trey Johnson is just such a talented shooter in in like one he's just like pure ability but then also the ways that he can

get to his shot and i think that once once the wizards actually have somebody i'm very high on tray especially next year as tray comes in you have a more traditional point guard where he can be set up in different ways i'm i'm buying all the trade johnson stock i can yeah that's fair next thing we're going to do. B. Souls has put together a category players for us to blind rank. I have no idea what's coming up. I told him to pick a category of whatever he wants and we'll run with it. Don't know what the mind

of Kinky Souls did with that. I can only assume it's cool stuff. Let's calm down. It's aura. Oh yeah. Pretty Kinky. Oh, okay. The category's aura. Okay.

Player number one, Anthony Edwards. I love that it is a little kinky. one that's level two level two or there's no argument for number one no that this there's an argument oh my guys there's some guys you can talk about this for days there's a possibility of discussion for it be souls is this all time or earn the league right now um all are in the league all in the league i said earn the league right now like a gorilla i would just say around the league and i said in who said earn the league oh if it's just

if it's only current day players this There's a real argument for one. What if you pick your man's? Who's my man's? Mr. Durham. Oh, fuck. And you know what's great? That's his man is who.

I bet Jailen Duren's on here. I think that, I think that Dern's on here. So that's why I think. Okay. That's what I think like the top spot may not be as solidified. All right.

Next up, Dremont Green. Five. What the fuck? Bottom of the list. Dremont Green or. Bottom of tier four. The last name?

Yeah, no. KD. Well, next to Draymond. I'm not going to like Katie has very little. These days, it's gone. Post-K-D files? It's gone. Post-Twitter burners?

Katie has very little aura. He's lost a lot of aura post-Brooklyn. He's lost a lot of aura. The only aura that he'll have is like in the future. And from here on now, people are going to be like, yeah, bro, Katie was an inspiration. I molded my game after Katie. That's the only answer he has. I don't think he'll ever recover to the same pre-sun's aura he had.

And he's not even sticking to his foundation. Like, he has a, what's it called? like a campaign with a lotion company now. You used to not put lotion. You used to be ashy all the time. Listen. And he would stand on that business. Now he wants to go chase a check.

I don't like that. Listen, yeah, that check was disgusting. He did disclose those numbers. It was a million dollar commercial for like 12 minutes. I thought everybody was to say, oh, now you don't want to be ashy all of a sudden. I mean, he said, well, he, all of the time, everyone's like, yo, put on lotion. He's like, basically, who are you to tell me?

What I should be doing with my body. Now he wants to go do it for a check, for personal game. Nah, man. Shay, Gildes Alexander. Well, like the fuck that we do. One. One. One.

Who has, yeah, consensus, who has, like, more aura. Well, the consensus these days, people don't like him anymore. People hate him. Man. He's lost O-R-Man title. People just view his free throw man now. The fuck. Me, I know the war is so strong.

You know what a street-to-called him? You should call him FTA. What's that? So the SGA. Oh, my God. So terrible. I think he's negative,

but aunt. Who the fuck can be number one then? It's really you're just saving the spot for his man. Stop saying his man. I guess. It is your man. Your toes are curling as you can smell him. Stop.

Stop blind. Kyle Kuzma. For bottom of the list. When he was in D.C., he could be three. But it's four now. Is that Shagoon? Yes. Again, bottom of the barrel.

Fuck. Now I feel bad for Dramod. Draymond Dylan Brooks That's real or That's real over three Yeah Put him at three

That's real villain aura Yeah They get you somewhere He got dropped by KT Right after he was talking shit The other day Who is that? That's

Leangelo Bho Hey man I hear that new hit piece I mean Hip? Hit piece I actually don't know how it sounds

But I mean I know how it sounds But I don't like Rats many lyrics at all Let me hear your best impression One of the songs I don't know

He was talking about his mom and how we made it and shit. So I don't know. Let me hear a different song. My business when I cover a corner, whoa, whoa. What's something like that? I don't know.

What was the hand motion? Listen. I have no idea what the hand motion was. Langell who's not rapping about any of that. Yeah, it was like, it went like, my bend and started that corner, whoa, I'm not lying right now. He's rapping like he's Coke.

I don't know a rapper. Whoa. We'll go. Level three. At level three, Lance La Paulele. W. Podcasting.

Who the fuck is that? Jared Vanderbilt. He'd be putting that shit on. Now we're deleting ourselves. Off the court, ORA? He just argued with Ginger Redick. He took him out of the game

after one minute in the second quarter and he charged him up, got in his face. What the fuck are you doing? I just got in the game. What the fuck? Is that Oara? I mean,

that's what he did. He was like, we can't put him out one. He's a Laker. He puts that shit on. He's 6.7. He has the most aura in most buildings. You go on.

You could convince the number three. Well, that's your only option. Yeah. Number one. Bam! He got it for the year. He got it. He honestly does.

83 point aura is unmatched. He got it. Wow. It's not bad. It's pretty terrible. I mean, who should we have moved? KD. up? No.

I think even today he has more more than the... No. No. Tripping. Drain Then Le Angeo Oh, man

We got a real suspect here That was crazy Yo, shit, then the Eangelo You jumped out of the chair That was crazy Leangelo just dropped the single today That was crazy And it is

It's kind of decent Whoa Nelly Slow down That was nuts Whoa Whoa You said to Leangelo Turn to be so else.

I think not. Nay, nay. Next thing we're going to do, you guys know the the legend of Celtic shack. The goat. We got to pick. The other best Celtic shack players

of all time from point guard through center. Who embodies the ethos of Celtic shack across history? Okay. Okay. Point guard through center across history Yeah whatever comes to mind as the most Celtic shack players Oh shit okay

It's not currently cool For center outside of obviously Celtic shack Man that That Orlando magic Patrick Ewing Oof More than Raptor is Hakeem They I've always seen the picture of them Playing against each other

I'm sorry but it's just so wrong On so many levels But okay Ewing looks worse though He does. He looks bad. But considering where the Raptors were as a franchise. Yeah, I think Ra-

And then for Heim to go there, it's like, oh, wow. You needed expansion for you to keep playing. That was very rough. Okay. So the Heim? Yeah. Yeah, either Heim or Pat. Okay.

Heem gets it. Who else jumps to mind? Obviously, Brooklyn Nets KG. That's out there for powerful. You know what I always think about that gets under talked about? Orlando Magic Sean Kemp Orlando Magic

Sean Kemp is up there That picture alone is just crazy as hell It's a bad picture It's not It's not a great thing That picture Kemp's got to be on there He looks more washing that picture

Hold on Hux Vince Carter Nah But he was like so respectable As an old man Yeah He still added him Nah

Why he left What's up with you What's going on, man? Because he posed the question and he made a little face and everyone was like, nah, bro. Everyone was like,

actually, that's a pretty bad answer. I respect Hawksmitz Carter. Yeah. All of a sudden, we respect Hawksman's Carter. You knew what Vince Carter was doing. You know what Vince Carter was doing.

You know what Vince Carter was doing. Mr. I got one more in me. All of a sudden, we respect this, dude. Yeah. Yeah. Fuck y'all, man.

He was usable. Who's a shooter, bro? Okay, well, if Hawksman's card is in the running for the two guard, does he beat up Mavericks, Clay Thompson? Fuck no.

Maverick Clay Thompson for sure. Fuck no. Now, one up the Maverick's Clay Thompson. Mavericks Chris Middleton. Ooh. Oh, my God. Oh, no one looks more watching that.

You know, I've seen her she looks like the oldest man on the planet. Dude. A stack came. Moses, man. It looks so bad. I got to go Mavericks. It looks biblical. Dude, what do he say?

He said, yeah, I can't teach Cooper Flagg anything. Literally, there, why are you here? He's holding a staff. Why are you here? Chris Milton makes it on the list at the two or the three. It's so over, man. And I feel so bad for Chris Millington, too. What do we think about the idea of second stint Clippers Chris Paul?

Because he got fired. Yeah. That's bad. Quite bad. That might be. Or any which of the late Russell Westbrook seasons. But no, he's bouncing. Not right now.

He's good right now. So I guess he can't make it. He's athletics. Got another fire answer. Hold on. Caves D. Wade. Caz D. Wade's up there. There you go.

Definitely. Thank you guys. Spurs. T-Mack. They didn't even play. It's like so goofy. Nick's T-Mag too. No.

Clippers Chris Paul On point guard Chris Middleton We need one more wing All right Who are these ones I mean we can just go Withers Jordan

Clippers Paul Pierce It looked like It hurt for him to run It did look bad for Clippers Paul Pierce And then Jemann had that You ain't Yeah You ain't Kobe Clip

Yeah So Clippers Paul Pierce Is definitely up there Could still go Clay Who else Is look real downtrod And I know we're gonna forget someone. Chris Milton's crazy

man. Lakers Mello? Nah. No? He still had a little bit more. Honestly, Rockets Mello looked way more washed. True. Than Lakers Mello. So that's a, yeah, that's a weird way to parse it. Who else on the wings?

There's got to be a funny one we're forgetting about. On the wings. We're going super big. I mean, Blake Griffin looked washed with the subtakes. Should we do the last year? Jared Dudley I'm not bad the last year

Jared Dudley he became a coach the next year yeah he was bad maybe we might we might have to do that I'm not mad at Jared Dudley

it doesn't ring quite as hard because he wasn't good enough yeah the last year Jared Dudley was fucking wicked if you want to play Middleton yeah if you want to go

somebody that's good then Clay and Middleton would be the okay we do those too and end it with Chris Ball so it's just the mavericks Clay and Middleton

So what Akeem, Sean Camp Clay Middleton now and Chris Paul now Yeah Pretty short-sighted on the guards But listen man When you got him you got him

You got him You know I'm not gonna lie You're deadly My head to win He sounds like a wild boy Who the fuck Whose life is he threatening with this

You gave Ben Simmons Fitz that one here fuck oh my god man Jared Dudley you saw that I couldn't reach my water I reached in a stupid way

I reached under the table because I thought it was on this little basin right here but it's just off camera I was reaching around dumb like it was in the finger shot it wasn't last thing we're going to do today

playoffs around the corner this episode is so stupid I miss Jared Dudley, man I wish like a minute He's so honest You never thought about Jared Dudley before Honestly What's he coaching for right now?

Don't lie to me and say I think about Jared Dudley once a week I think he's on the Mavericks coaching staff Or is the Suns I believe unless he didn't he change teams Because somebody got hired Did he go to the sons of Jordan Hut? He left the Mavs to go with somebody

To get an elite assistant position That's some of my favorite things to see Like former players Just on random coaching staffs Like Damari Kara Yeah, I don't remember if it's a son's or not, but I know he left the Mabbs. I think you're right. Yeah. It's tapping with Jared Dudley.

I think I saw Kim Wan like the Hornish coaching staff. Oh, he is. He is. I didn't even know that one. Yeah. Good for him. He's an assistant with the Nuggets. Oh, okay. He went with Adalman. Yeah. Last thing we're going to do another point guard through center thing. But this time, we got to pick the players that we most want to see in the playoffs this year.

So it could be because you want to see them improve themselves because you're excited to see them. Somebody that you're watching and have your eye on come playoff time. that needs to show you something. Point guard through center. Where do we go? Can I put cast on my one or my two? Whatever you want, it's our world. He could be,

he's an incredible X factor. I think he should probably be at the two. What is so funny? I don't know, just the way he started. It was just hilarious. I'm sorry. What's happened? I'm sorry.

I really do a apologize I really do a podjohn Yeah, it got It got to be the glasses Throwing him off right now Lighting the glass is different, bro It is Friing

He's been delirious He's been delirious all day He's so hyping him up It's two dummies in the corner Ah What the fuck? Bro, can we end that episode? He's asking to end it.

He's never done this before. What's wrong with him? We have quotas. I'm talking about some shit for a phone. What is wrong with you? This is an all-time Donovan episode. Put it in the rafters. He's asking to end the episode.

You're normal as fuck. Look at him. He's crying. He's crying. He's sweating. He's in hell. You don't want to end. Bro, you're fine.

Like your stomach hurts inside your gut. Oh, my God. This is hurting my stomach. All right, let's end this episode. If y'all ever believe this without me? Is it me? Am I no problem? What the fuck?

Oh, my God. I have no idea what's going on. We'll see y'all. This has been the deep three. No, we're actually ending. Oh, shit. Saloon.