The Mismatch - Six Questions Before the Homestretch, Hawks' Streak Hits 10, and Introducing the Prospector

Episode Date: March 17, 2026

Verno and Jacoby return to react to last night’s matchups and the Hawks' rise in the East, they ask some important questions before the homestretch, and introduce the Prospector. Welcome to The Mismatch! (0:55) The Atlanta Hawks' win streak reaches 10 in a row (8:30) Suns-Celtics: Jaylen Brown drops a season-high 41 points to seal thriller (12:20) Lakers-Rockets: Lakers turn back the clock with defensive win (16:13) Six questions before the homestretch (16:32) Can all 10 teams in the East win two games in the playoffs? (21:35) Are the Thunder the team everyone wants to lose? (28:12) Do we need to take the Lakers seriously as a West contender? (34:34) What do we think of expansion? (38:42) Who would the Knicks rather see: Raptors or Magic? (41:53) Who’s the top-4 seed in each conference you trust the least? (45:10) The Prospector joins the show (47:35) The Prospector's favorite prospects (50:52) The Prospector is out on these prospects (53:39) The Prospector's deep cuts Leave us a message on our Mismatch Voicemail line! [phone] Hosts: Chris Vernon and David Jacoby Producers: Stefan Anderson and Jeff Shearin Social: Keith Fujimoto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the mismatch. I'm Chris Vernon. And joining me to see us every week from the ranger.com is Dave Jacoby. Jacoby. Verna, you're not wearing green. Very concerned. Yes, I am. Yes, I am. It doesn't look green.

It is dark green. What are you talking about? You're trying to call me out right when the show starts about this as green as can be? I have a pair of Air Force ones, their first St. Patrick's Day. And I always forget to wear them. and today I remembered them. Because you can't wear them on any other day. There's no other day you can wear the St. Patrick's Air Force ones.

But I wore them today. I'm very proud of myself. We were recording this on Tuesday morning. Last night was actually a super interesting night in the NBA. We'll go through a couple of things that took place on Monday night. I think for the first time all season, we're starting with the Hawks. Oh, yeah. Now, we probably would have started with this game, no matter

what, considering this was supposed to be Magic City Monday. Yes. But instead, it just turned into the Hawks or the story in the NBA because they're the hottest team. People are trying to register how dangerous they are. They've won 10 games in a row and they were playing the other team on the longest win streak, the Orlando Magic, and absolutely thumped them. the final score is not indicative of what this game was.

I watched this one and in the third quarter up 25, Buddy Healed is on a headset talking to Austin Rivers and the broadcast crew in the middle of the game. That's how this game was going. Chivano. They're just talking back and forth about his role on the Hawks and what it's been like on the Hawks. And then there's like, it was like it was summer league.

And there's this game going on in the background with the Hawks pounding them. By halftime, Atlanta was up 17. And Nikiel Alexander Walker had 24, 4 and 4. That was at half time, at half time of last night. Crazy game from McEll Alexander Walker. Holy mackle. I mean, they are so locked in. They generate so many good looks.

They've got athletes all over the. the floor. Like I was watching it last night and obviously Orlando was lame as hell. But it was one of those where you watched it and you're like, all right, Orlando's lame as hell and obviously not locked in for this moment. On the other hand, this Atlanta team looks dangerous. Like they are playing at such a high level. They look all locked in. They look like they're all like the vibes are good. And they just like all over the. It just feels like wing after wing after wing and long athlete after long athlete. I was like, do we need to start thinking about these hawks differently?

Do we though? I don't know. I don't know either. Do we? I mean, I can't believe I'm about to say these two a name and a noun in the same sentence. Is Jalen Johnson like a superstar? Like are we going to live in a world where like two, three years from now, it's like Jalen Johnson top five in MVP voting? Two or three.

Oh, top five from MVP. I will say this. I mean, it was on literally the last show that I named off the guys that were, that had been this age under 24 and have averaged 2010 and 7.

And it was Oscar Robertson, Yokic, and him. So that should have given us an idea, like what he is doing at his age is truly unheard of. It has only been done. by two of the greatest players to ever walk the planet. And so I guess my answer would be, yes. Like, what is the, what's a ceiling if you're doing this at the age that he is doing this at?

And they made Orlando look so bad last night. Like, that's what was jarring because Orlando has been cracking. They keep winning every single night. I'm like, all right, they finally got it. together. They got the Bain Paolo thing with the Silva and Suggs and Carter chipping in. They've kind of got the stars and the role players and whatever. And then last night, it was like, they can't defend these guys. It's just a bunch of- I think they really miss Anthony Black. Anthony Black was key for them. I think he raises the

defensive floor so much. And, you know, Vagner, I think everyone points to Vagner being out, but I think Anthony Black was playing so good this year. And I think they're really missing him you saw last night. Yeah, and they didn't even like chip into the thing until they just put in a bunch of like bench guys, Batasi and the rest of them to try to like play hard. Right. But I was, I was super impressed at Atlanta. And look, 10 in a row is 10 in a row. And they've got. I'll just say this. If it's Pistons Hawks round one. If it's Celtics Hawks round one. Are you concerned if you're one of the top seats? Are you concerned? Yes. because the only reason is they are awkward.

They are not like, that's a good point. You know, me, they're, so many of these templates are the same. And their template is different. Like I'm watching last night, O'Conwo shoots this three and then, but then they got guys like flying to the rim

that can all rebound it because it feels like they just got all these six, six to six nine crazy athletes. Obviously, Johnson. is the one, but Alexander Walker. Now, in fairness, he had the game of his life. He was like nuclear

last night. So that's a thing. But they're just... It's also... Then you're like, CJ McCollum is on this team. You know, he's like in the last game, not last night, the game before that, he scored 30. Right. It's like he's still CJ McCollum.

You know what I mean? He's a vet. Like you always say, point guard, table setter. Offense runner, like, they are dangerous. They're dangerous. If I'm the pistons and you draw them in the first round, it's tough. Well, the other thing is I worry that they're the kind of team that makes you, that can force you to match up with them because of the length and the athleticism and the, like, the ability to, like, they can five out you.

And then you got to do something with Johnson because he's just, He's at the rim in two steps. He is, I mean, I don't know. I just, maybe it was just a perfect, a perfect storm of one team playing poorly and not really having it. The other team playing great and Alexander Walker having this career. Magic City Night. Yeah, you know. The whole thing.

But my God, I mean, you know, you tune them in because they've won nine in a row. And it's like, all right, let's see what this is all about. And I was like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Because the crazy thing is, they've won the 10 in a row and have it, like, moved in the stand. That's the thing. They're still setting at eight. Yeah. How do you win?

Like, if you win 10 games in a row in the Western Conference, you go. You're climbing seven spots. Yeah. The play into home court advantage. The problem is, is the Raptors had a big weekend. The heat keep winning. The magic we're on a street, too. Like, they can't really gain that much ground because the teams around them are playing well as well.

Well, and then there's nobody to really gain ground on behind you. all those teams are losing on purpose. Yeah. And the Sixers. So that one ended, well, ended for all intents and purposes. By the time it was the third quarter, it's like, all right, they're interviewing Buddy Heel. I can disengage.

Chavano. So, yeah, Chavano Heel. Sun Celtics. Great King. Oh, my goodness, was this great. So the first thing that stood out was in the third quarter, like, you know, they're both in the 60s by halftime.

In the third quarter, Devin Booker was an absolute force of nature. He had 23 consecutive of their points. And I'm like, there's nothing. And it's all three levels, and there's nothing you can do with him. And then. But Verno, there's like five Celtics that I would say

that you could match up with Devin Booker. You would think. I could name five Celtics. You would think. and yet he is just destroying them. And well, he's destroying them, but meanwhile, just keeping Phoenix in the game, right? Like, that's what it's taking to stay in the game.

It's him being that great. And then by the time they get to the fourth quarter, this was one of those, it's two good teams playing against each other. The sons need all of these games like blood because now they're two out of the six seed. now. And you know they don't want to have to be in that play in and have to mess around with the clippers and the Warriors. And so they want to try to get to that sick so that you don't have to play the way in. Well, these are the games where it's like there's two of them in a row where they've had these leads. They had the Toronto lead and then they had this lead. Yep, good point.

And it's ones that they're going to look back on and be like, God, because they very easily could have had both of those games. But it was interesting because you get to the fourth quarter, it's a nip-tuck game. And there's no question. It's Chandler Brown's team. If we don't even have to discuss this. Yeah, we don't have to discuss this. It's Jaylin Brown's team.

If there was a wonder of pecking order, there's not. He's at the line getting the MVP chance, you know. And Tatum's just kind of assimilating, you know, to the situation. Well, no less. but I mean, Brown. In a tight game, he scored 18 in the fourth quarter. And 18 points in the fourth quarter. 41?

Yeah, 41. Like, he was awesome. Awesome. So good. Transition, half court, ISO, everything. And he's getting the MVP chance. And like, that was a signature-esque game for him. Jason Tatum tearing his Achilles was the best thing that happened to Jalen Brown's career.

Might be so. I mean, it's terrible. It's awful, which it didn't happen. But, you know, it is what it is. It did happen. It's the best thing that happened in Jaylen Brown's career. I mean, you remember early in the season, I highlighted that article that I had read about how Jalen Brown was having his Scotty Pippin season.

Yeah. That Jordan went out. And then the next year, it was like, wait. It was an 18-year-old's tweet, right? Did we play an 18-year-old's tweet? No, no, it was like an article. It was a real article. And I was like, this is such a good idea that I wish I would have come up with.

But he, I mean, he really has. He really has. Like, it is the, in the same way that when Jordan went to go play baseball, we're like, all right, the Bulls are done. That's exactly what we thought when Jason Tatum tore his Achilles. This is a gap year. And now Brown has just been absolutely awesome. I thought what is currently happening with the Pacers is what was going to happen with the Celtics.

Yep. And it's the exact opposite. Now they're, you could call them favorites in the East if you wanted to. Could it be hard to argue. So it was Magic City Night in Atlanta. I don't think it was a special night in, I guess it was maybe St. Patrick's Day. They could celebrate that with the Sun's game. But it was turned back the clock night between the Lakers and the Rockets,

because that game was 100 to 92 and had a combined 13 three-pointers made in the game. The Lakers were eight for 34 and Houston was five for 26. Ooh, from three. Houston, I think twice in the last three games, has scored less than a hundred. You got to do some figuring out here. And a fourth quarter that saw the score be 17 to 20. 12. That was the total.

So we just said Jalen Brown scored 18 in the fourth quarter himself. He outscored both. He outscored both the Rockets and the Lakers in the fourth quarter. And the reason we're bringing this one up is because, A, the Lakers are pistol hot recently. It's crazy. And have really figured some stuff out. But more importantly, you watch the rockets and you watch them against like the teams,

the kind of teams you're going to have to face when it comes playoff time. and I would be concerned that last night, the Lakers in the second half just said, you know what, to hell with it, we're going to double this guy on the touch. And Durant turned it over six times, had like two points. I know he, after the game, you know,

took all the blame for himself. But you watch them and you go, all right, this is kind of their offense, right? Like Durand is especially in the absence of Shengu. It's last night. Right. But I mean, bro, they, that is,

they were not playing the 04 pistons or and they turned it over 24 times. 24 turnovers. To who? It scored 92 points. Who are you turning the ball over to that? To be fair, the Lakers have been playing better defensively. I got it. Let's acknowledge that.

I'm not saying that they're going to shut anybody down. They're not a team you can't complete a pass against. Yeah, yeah, yeah, they're not the thunder. Yeah, yeah. 24 turnovers. But when you look at the Houston Rockets with Schengun, they have two people that can create offense. Without them, they have Kevin Durant. That's it.

Like, who else is creating offense on the roster? Well, and that's what you worry about is, all right, what happens when we get playoff time? And they sell out on Durant. Didn't give the ball of Schengu. That's why it was worrisome last night. And also when you watch Shangun on defense, like, well, you can't put him out there. and then he's not available. Well, you can't not have him out there.

They're in a tough spot. They sold out on Durant last night and they couldn't do anything. They scored 12 points in 12 minutes, Jacoby. That was alarming. Have you reconsidered your Lakers feelings? Because I'm starting to reconsider my Lakers feelings. We're going to get to that. We got questions that we've got to get to for the home stretch.

I heard we're going to have a first ever guest on the mismatch. We've never had a guest. We're going to have a guest on the mismatch? Yeah. Who? The prospector. Oh, I heard he is coming. I haven't confirmed him.

It's NCAA. It's NCAA tournament week. You just never know. You never know if he's going to show up or not. He's got a lot of work to do. At the end of last show, I told you, by the next show, by the next show, the prospector would show up. And so immediately after we got done with that show, I emailed him. And he told me he will be here by the end of the show today.

Really? Yeah, to talk to you about the NCAA tournament. So you will get to meet him. All right. Six questions for the home stretch. Here we go. It says five on my rundown. Well, no, it doesn't.

It's just right there. Printed out five questions before Homestretch. You printed it out before I edited it. Well, that's on you. So get ready for the sixth. It's a real current. I didn't read the first five, so don't worry about it. All right, good.

Could we see all 10 teams in the East win at least two games in a series? So this is what- This threw me for a loop a little bit. Yeah. So what you're saying is, is I had to translate from Bruno to English. No. So what you're saying is, when I look at the East, one through 10, can I see every one of those teams winning two games in a first round series?

That's literally what the question is. I don't know why you spend 10 minutes explain. Eight teams make the playoffs. Well, 8 teams make the playoffs. Well, 8, 10 make the play in. So we're saying of all those that are included, even in the play in, is there anybody in the top 10 in the east that you would be shocked if they won two games in the first round? I think shocked isn't fair, right?

Because shocked is too big of a word. But I'll say, would I? What did you say? I'm the Prince of Fairness. What do you talk about? It's unfair. The Prince of fairness? Yeah.

That many have called me that. The Prince of fairness? Yeah. Mirror on the wall. Who's the fairest? Come on. Furno. All right.

I will say that I would not pick the heat or the Rafters or the current Sixers to win two games in the series. Would I be shocked? I would not be shocked. I would not be shocked. I'm taking shocked out of the conversation. But would I pick. There's certain matchups.

I just don't think. Who? Like the Raptors? Raptors Knicks is a five game series. Right now as it stands three six. That's a five game series. Wow. Oh, this is getting clipped when we're headed into game six.

Oh, they hate me in Toronto already. In Jurassic Barth. They hate me in Toronto already. They hate me so much in Toronto. Last time I went to Toronto, they wouldn't even let me cross the border. Oh, my God. We heard what you said about Scotty, Scottie Barnes farm. Yeah.

We heard what you said. them. And then, and then they're going to be a Jurassic Park. They're going to have this on the Jumbotron of Jacoby going. The next Toronto is a five-game series. Five-game series. And Drake's going to be like, you know, flipping off the jumbo-tron and you. And then we've got to become enemies with him. And then Kendrick's going to be on the show.

And it's going to be awesome. Really? You don't believe that. Oh, no. I don't. Oh, you come on. You could see Scotty Barnes giving towns absolute hell for two games. Come on. Yeah, but like offensively, it's like Brandon Ingram or nothing. It's like they rely on like RJ Barrett.

Oh, IQ and RJ Barrett. I'm familiar with their work. I'm familiar with their work. You don't understand revenge games. Those are revenge games. You discard us? No, we discard you. That's the way.

that goes. In a Heat Celtic series, you think the Heat went to games? Oh, I can hear the podcast now of Bill Simmons can't believe that they drew the heat. Of course we drew the

zombie heat. Tyler Hero has 37. Bam and a bio. Yes. The reason I pose this is because I think that that conference is now so deep. When Charlotte and Atlanta have been cracking like they have since January 1st. Right.

And the Raptors just beat the pistons. I could see any of those teams forcing a game six. Again, most series are going to win at least one. So I'm really just saying, could they win one more than the cursory, gentleman sweep, we win game three

in our home arena after the other teams up to oh. And I think all of those are capable of it, especially given the scenario, right? Atlanta would be raring to go for a game three. And Charlotte, if they got there, would be rare to go for a game. I think all of those would be like really good environment.

And so now you're just asking for one more game. The Western Conference, seven and eight seeds, whoever comes out of the playing, feel like sacrificial lambs for the top two seeds. I agree. It doesn't feel that way in the Eastern Conference. I'll agree with you there. No, no, all the way down to all the way down to 10. And part of that is part of that is the lack of,

dominance that we feel from those top teams, right? We don't sit there and go. In the same way that we think the Thunders or the Spurs could lay waste to somebody, you don't feel like the pistons, the Celtics, or the kind that are just going to wheylay somebody or the kind of team that's going to get to a NBA finals

losing three games. Like, that's just not. not that's not in the cards for the Eastern Conference teams, you know, in the same way. Next one, are the Thunder now the team that everyone wants to lose? The resent seems very high recently. All right. So I'm not going to answer this question. I'm going to ask you why you pose this question. And I want you to work out how you feel about the Thunder because I feel like you're asking this question. You're like, the resent seems high. Because everything. You're the person where the resent lies. Oh, no, no, no, no. This is you, bro.

No, no, no. This is a you thing. Absolutely not. As someone who is consistently online, last year it was, and maybe it is just because they won their championship. And this is the way it goes. Maybe, and this was the case for the Warriors once upon a time, right? It is celebrated at first and then all of a sudden.

But this year, it can't, you know, Dort, you just saw it with the, I mean, were you not online all weekend after Jay. Brown was talking about unethical basketball. Of course. This whole, it has been a avalanche of people bitching about Dort and bitching about Shea and bitching about the way the game is played physically and that they get calls and they don't. And in a way that last year it was not at all. It just wasn't.

It was more of a celebration of, oh, wow, people don't realize how good this team. is and they're going to do it at this age and they you can't even score on them and they've got the historic this and historic that and this year it's like screw those guys and players are like routinely coming out and bitching about it it the resentment does feel high across the league but I think that's because they are so good like they're so good their second best player hasn't played in a month and they've won every single game except for one. Oh, no. That's really what's happening.

And I think that he's played 20-something games. I think that it's the bump and jump from SGA is getting kind of crazy. Because it's like, all right, he gets every call. He gets every call. He goes to the line so much. But every time he's seeing a game winner from SGA, outside the Nuggets game winner, he's getting a little, you know, a little elbow, little shoulder into the defensive player, creating space and then rising up.

He does that on most possessions. So it's like, you can push me, but I can't touch you is how it feels. And I guess this is always the way it goes. Everybody is celebrated until they get torn down, right? Like it just gets so high. And then, by the way, can we go ahead and acknowledge

that maybe my greatest prediction on the mismatch was not basketball related that Timothy Shalloway went 0 for 9 with Marty Super Bowl. when it came to the Academy Awards and I told you that it was gonna turn the thunder or Shalameh.

That's what it is. The Thunder are Timothy Shalame. He got so hot. Young and hot. Everybody loved him. We're going to deal with them forever. Dynasty talk. And then guess what?

You say one thing about opera and ballet and it's all over. But it was Nick's front row. No, it was. It was bringing a Jenner to the front row. All of it. That's when I was like, wait a second.

Okay. And the Marty Supreme stuff. Did you see Marty Supreme? I saw for the first time this weekend. I haven't yet. I haven't watched it. It's good. You'll enjoy it.

But I'm saying, I told you at that time, it's too much. He's cloud nine in this. He's the hottest thing. This is a great take. The thunder are Timothy Shaliman. Everybody loves him. Great take. It's everybody loves him.

It's going so great. Just wait. This is going to be brutal. Biggest thing in the world. They are going to tear him. down can do no wrong. They're going to tear him down. And he went 0 for nine.

He's like, all right, now you're humbled. You're 0 for nine, bro. You showed up with her. And man, did she look good? And he said, and he went home empty handed. Well, not empty handed, but he didn't have trophies. But boy. And then it went.

I told you this was going to happen. And this is, it is, I'm working this analysis. out right when we're talking. It goes from, oh my God, this guy's awesome. This guy, that movie's awesome. This guy's cool. It's like, he's going to be a leading man for 20 more years.

The same we were talking about the Thunder being a dynasty for the next 10 years. This guy knows ball. This guy got the cool rap song. This guy. And then it turned to F him. And that's what's happened with the Thunder. And it's like, it's too much. It's too much.

So now people are like, yeah. I hope they lose. You know what I mean? I feel like this might be more you than quote unquote people. No. No. It's everywhere. Nobody is celebrating the thunder.

Nobody. Nobody. Nobody. Royce Young. He's celebrating the thunder. The rest of the world is not. I don't know. After the Nuggets Thunder game.

No, they're not. The Nuggets Thunder game. Go. The Celtics Thunder game. We talked about how. he had locked up MVP, and that was a Gildes Alexander like, oh my God, this guy's so clutch or whatever. Like there are moments within individual games of celebration.

But go back and listen to last year's podcast and read last year's articles and this year's. They've been shallomade. Interesting. I don't know. I remember him hitting a game winner, and then Yokic and Murray do this weird thing. where they tie the game, they hits another game winner.

And then Jalen Brown, another MVP candidate comes to town, hits a go-ahead, and then SGA hits a bucket. Chet hits the free throws. Like, I don't know. Okay, here's what I would tell you. The only person that, the only people that wanted SGA to hit that game winner

in the Nuggets game were Thunder fans. That's what I'm saying. I was reading against them. Of course you were. Yeah, because they're good. They chalemate. They're shallomay. They've already had their good stuff.

This is a great take. You should tweet it right now, so no one else can take it. No, I don't care. I'll come up with something better in a minute. Is the prospect you're coming later? For sure. Do we need to start taking the Lakers seriously as a West contender? I don't think so.

I don't know, man. Like, it's just, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's like, do you see his block against Yokch? Like, yeah, I did. I also saw Yokich, the next possession. just put him in the stanchet and get an open layup. But you know, I just can't take down or eight in serious. But you know they might not have to play them in the playoffs, right?

Like, that is a possibility. No, I know how it works. But the thing I, the thing I worry about a little bit is, like, when you're already playing, Donchitz 39 minutes, Reeves 40 minutes, and Marcus Smart 35 minutes, because the guys you bring off your bench, just in last night's win. The 100 to 92 win against the Rockets. Hachimura, Kamar, Knaard, La Ravia, Jackson, Hayes.

A bit worrisome once we get in the playoffs. There's no back-to-backs. There's no back-to-backs. In the playoffs, you just play everybody 40 minutes. And, like, if you see it, if it's second round, this is the mental exercise I did. I was like, somehow they're still the three-seat. I don't understand it.

But they are. They're right there. And in the second round, if they play the spurs, I can see a world in which this goes the Lakers way. I'm not predicting it. I'm not saying it's going to happen. But I can see a world in which this goes the Lakers way. Then stop fence.

What are you, your fence riding then? You're like, no, we should not consider them contenders. I can see them beating the spurs. What are you talking? Which is it, bro? Do you want me to pick a side? Yes.

Yes, I would like for you to pick a side. Like, are they, do we need? to start thinking about him as contenders. I would pick him over the spurs in the series. No, you would not. I would. Battle scars. Battle scars.

Listen, if one thing that mismatch is good for is underestimating young teams. It's one thing that mismatches good for is underestimating young teams without playoff experience. And we have to be consistent in that. I told you. I told you. In the manifesto, battle scars are irrelevant if you have. a 7-5 alien.

I told you that. That's part of the... That's not in the manifesto. That's not in the manifesto. Yes, it is. I've read the manifesto was tattooed on my right butt cheek and it just, it's not there.

All right. I'm telling you, uh, that's ridiculous. But, but I do think we got to like, you got to put them... It's the defense.

Marcus Smart meets a huge defensive plays. Here's what I'd say. I'd say there's two there's two that are very clear favorites and that's the Thunder and the Spurs. Yes. And I would, I think the Lakers deserve to be in the Lakers, Denver, Timberwolves, confo.

Those are the three that I would say. The rockets are out. Yeah, they're not, come on. They're not, they're not Western Conference. I don't care what their record is. I don't care where they're standing is. They're not going to be in the West Finals, bro. That's not happening.

So, I mean, with the Shengoon thing and a 37-year-old that you can double team. Lakers, I'm out, I'm out. Nuggets, Timberwolves. If I had to power rank those, it would probably be Nuggets, Lakers, Timberwolves. Oh, interesting. Yeah. All right. Well, unfortunately, I had to watch JJ Reddick concoct a game plan.

that allowed Rudy Gobert to turn into Bill Russell a year ago. That was wild. I forgot about that game until you just mentioned it. It was one of the worst things that's happened in NBA history. He went like 11 for 11 or something. It was one of the worst things that has happened in the history of the league. So you just mentioned it. I completely forgot about that game.

And Rudy Gobeer was unstoppable. It's one of the worst things that's happened in NBA history. That's not true. And so I think I, until I see different, I think I have to put, I think I have to put Minnesota higher. But I would say they're in that mix. I certainly, if we are, if we're saying there's two like super favorites and then there's three others that are contenders, that's, and I would put that, I think we do. In a month ago, I would not have put the Lakers in the same mix.

I would have told you that I would not be surprised if the Nuggets made the West finals. I would not be surprised that the Timberwolves made the West finals and that I would if the Lakers did. And now I think I'm to the point where it's like, and I know you would have to get past one of those awesome teams, but they're certainly, they've proven to be dangerous enough. Yes. And it's defensively, the last month defensively, they played much better. And I think Marcus Smart helps them a lot. They need, they just need anyone that can get a stop. I agree. And they play a ton of zone too. They're like, we can't defend. So guess what? Well, let's play zone. They play more zone than anybody in the league.

Well, and the other thing is, you know, LeBron is assimilated to this third wheel. Go look at last night. It's third most minutes. It's third most shot attempts. It's like, and JJ Reddick kind of talked about it. And like, it's happened. It has happened where it's like that's, it's Donchitz.

Like the pecking order is now Donchich, Reeves, LeBron. And I don't think anybody ever thought that was going to happen. I think that clarity has helped them. Yes, of course it has. That clarity has helped them. He's making role player plays. Him diving on the ball,

diving on the ground for that ball. That was crazy. That was crazy. I mean, he said after the game, he thinks that's the first time he's ever done that. Yeah, that's what JJ Redick said too. JJ Redick was like, I literally have never seen him do that in his career.

That was awesome. Think about how many games this man has played. I've never seen him do that either. What do we think about league expanding. Seems like we're a week away from the board of governors getting together and inevitably

approving. I think it would shock everybody. It's happening. If Seattle and Las Vegas are not approved as new NBA franchises for the 2028 season. What do you think? I was reading something yesterday about how the expansion draft would happen, like what the

rules are about what players you can take and how it all works. And once I saw that level of detail. I was like, oh, this is happening. For sure. I absolutely love it. I don't see a downside. Someone explains me what the downside is. Like, oh, it dilutes the talent in the league. There's plenty of talent in the league. There's plenty of talent in this league.

And a lot of it just doesn't play. And the other thing is, I am, I am much less concerned about adding teams when I understand that the first thing on the docket in the off season is going to be to incentivize winning. Exactly. I'm taking it as a given that we're not going to incentivize losing anymore. Correct. Because this is, it's a mockery. We don't have to talk about it. Every single day, I just look at the matchups on my phone. I'm like, well, there's two games tonight.

There's actually nine games, but there's only two games. Do you want to know the most depressing? Let me look at tonight's matchup. Hey, hey. Tonight's, go ahead. I'm going to tell you the most depressing of the headlines. So, you know, I get, like when I'm scrolling through my feeds, it'll be like on, like, say like on Yahoo Sports, it's, it knows who like all my favorite teams are. And so I was scrolling through this morning on the sports news feed.

And I swear to you, this was the headline for the Grizzlies. It said, it said, Jemai Meshack plays 26 minutes versus Bulls. That's a headline? That was the headline. That's in bold at the top of the article? What's underneath it? Place 26 minutes versus the Bulls. And I was like, okay, this is Rockboss.

When it's minutes? Minutes? Minutes? That's insane. Minutes. Here we go. Tonight's matchups. Heat Hornets, that's a game.

Thunder Magic, that's a game. and then listen to the rest. Pistons, Wizards, nope. Oh, no, no, Trey Young. He heard his quad last night, so we're done seeing him. Cabs, bucks, nope. Suns, Timberwolves, that's a game. Sixers Nuggets, that's a game.

Spurs, Kings, no. Every night, it's like four games, three games. So just the, look, we like the expansion. I like the idea of Seattle getting a team again. Awesome market. and then I love the idea of Vegas having a team because those teams so far have been wildly successful, obviously. And they're, I mean, Vegas is going to become a full on sports town

in between having the A's are going to be. By the time this gets going, A's, Nights, Raiders, expansion basketball team. And the WNBA champion, Aces. Right. Yeah. Vegas turned it into a sports hotbed. I have all these teams going on there. And so, and plus that's a fun trip, too.

If they ever get good, right? Everybody always likes to go to Vegas. And so, yeah, I, as long as they're going to, that's my contingency. As long as they're going to de-incentivize losing, I'm fine with expansion. I'm for it. I love expansion. If we de-incentivize losing. Orlando and Toronto have the same exact record.

And it's right there in the standings. around first round matchup for the Knicks. Who would you rather see in the first round if the Knicks were three? Unconcerned about both. Wow. Unconcerned about both. And as I said earlier, there will not be a six game if they play the Raptors. So that is the answer.

There will not be a six game. The revenge game, the RJ Barrett, IQ. Revenge Scotty Bard or the notorious BI3 I'm unconcerned about B.I.3

shout out Matt Devlin. Is it their only offensive creator, basically, is Brandon Ingram. The not Tori. They've had a great season. And Darko and the chain and the synergy.

Oh my goodness. Yonka portal. They're all. high-fiving, the Knicks are yelling at each other in the huddle and Brunson's rolling his eyes at towns. I can see it now. I can see it now. Yacca portal's going to dunk all over Mitch Robinson, please. You would rather play Toronto than Orlando? I, I'd say this, I watch both of those teams. I think Toronto's got infinitely better vibes. Like togetherness. I do. I see that magic thing get so fractured too often

where it's just like they're all kind of like looking at each other all kind of walking their separate ways. Mosley is like rolling his eyes at the defense and it's like I don't know man. I don't know. They never it never took off the way I thought they were going to.

I know recently they had that win streak but then maybe it's just bad timing. Maybe I'm pre-imprisoner of the moment. They suck last night. Bro, they got their ass kicked like hardcore. Yes. Alexander Walker's and busting their ass. And I was like,

I'm done with damn. Done. I can't watch this. Why do the Hawks look so much better than them? It didn't make any sense. You think the Raptors would put up a bigger fight than the magic against Knicks? I think they both will go to a game six.

The Knicks have a weirdly bad history with the magic too. It's one of those teams that has their number. It's weird. I honestly, I honestly think going back to our first question, I think all of them could go, but I think all of them could possibly play a six game. no matter what the, no matter what the matchups are.

I think all of them could possibly go a six game. You're telling me to pick a side of the fence. Could possibly? I got to see the matchups. I just think there's no team. You can't be like, oh, you're playing both sides of the fence. You're going to pick a side. And they'd be like, oh, I think they could possibly go six.

Like that's the softest take in the world. It's not soft. I just told you any of those teams could win two games in the playoffs. That's what I said. Of course. But, I mean, if there is some kind of uniquely horrible matchup, I would have to reconsider whether they can win two games. I think the Knicks would beat the Raptors.

That's not fence riding. I think the Knicks would be the Raptors, like the last 13 times they played or something. It's not fence riding. It's wisdom. Oh, please. The top four seed in each conference that you trust the least. Oh, that's pretty easy. Oh.

Okay. I'd love to hear it. the Houston Rockets. That's easy. They are still four. It's the Houston Rockins. They are still four. They're a half game up on.

I know. I know. I know. You made it easy. All right. Stephen Adams and Van Bleed, I would feel totally differently. But like,

they've got Kevin Durant. And without Sanguon last night, like you don't have anyone that can get a buck. And in fairness, if that was flipped, you'd say, you would say the lake. Because you trust Denver more than the lake.

I do trust Denver more than the league. Okay. Yes, especially if Peyton Watson comes back. Maybe this is easy. Is it Cleveland? No. On the other side? No, I like Cleveland.

Okay. Then who do you trust the least? Oh, don't you do it. Don't. Don't. Don't. Don't do it. What do you send me up for?

Do your Easter conference one. First of all, that's not the question. The question was of the top four teams in each conference, who do you trust the least, and I answered the Houston Rockets. Now you've got to do the other conference. That wasn't part of the question. There it is. In each conference.

Hold on. Oh, this is the one that you added to the rundown that you didn't show me. In each conference. I mean, I didn't show you. It is literally a collaborated notes file that says Chris Vernon updated the collaborated notes file. Let me see this. Chris made notes at nine. Chris made edits at 917.

We tape at 930. Great. That's plenty of time. Each conference you trust the least. Boston Celtics. Oh, I thought for sure you were saying the pistons. Boston Celtics. Why?

Sometimes I'm just like, too many white guys. Shiremen. Yeah. Too many white guys. It's just like, you think there's milk out there. You think. Too much leach.

Too much leach. I'm just like, Shireman is going to, like, shoot us out of the series. This is the, this is the, this is the, this is the, this is the Lakers issue as well. It is. Slow feed, don't eat. Yeah. Right. If I can.

Too many white guys, he says. All right. Vucevich. Too many white guys, huh? Does Derek White count? No. Last name's white. Yeah, I got it.

it, but I mean, like, they, they're not giving, they're not giving him to us. No way. They're keeping terror quite. You know, the NCAA tournament is coming up this weekend. Oh. NCAA tournament is coming up on, what, Thursday? Thursday. Yeah, the game started.

Well, I mean, there's first fours that are going on over the course of the next couple of days. But then obviously the full-on tournament is Thursday and Friday, right? We just got a couple games here and there until that comes around. and on the last episode of the mismatch, you asked about the prospector. The prospector. Who has been doing player evaluation for a long time.

And you asked if he was going to be able to come on the show. And I told you at the conclusion of last week's episode, I emailed him immediately and asked him if he would make an appearance. on the show. And I just heard him walk into the house. Do you want me to go get him? Yeah, I'll go get him. He's there?

If you want him to be on the show, I'll go get him. While you get him, I'll explain to the people why he is so important to the mismatch. Because I don't watch a lot of college hoops. I watch NBA every night. It is literally my job. So every single night, I'm just locked in an NBA action. Anytime there's a college game going, there's also an NBA game going. So even if it is two taking teams, I will just default to the,

the NBA game. And as basketball enthusiasts, and as people that are, care a lot about the future of teams, we need to bring someone on who knows ball. We need someone who knows college ball. So we have the prospect. Ladies and gentlemen, joining the mismatch. Hello, Jacoby.

Thank you so much for taking time out of your very busy schedule prospecting. I have some questions for you about, you've witnessed in college. Oh, you don't get to ask me any questions, son. I'm sorry. The prospector's been doing this for many years. Yes. Been doing this for many years.

He has players he loves. Oh. Prospects that have got to win him over. Oh. He's got ones that he's completely out on as you're watching this NCAA tournament. Oh. And he's got some fun ones that you can watch during the NCAA tournament. Now.

Can you grace us with those lists? prospector? Yeah, I forgot my. What? Prospector. Oh, the Prospector forgot something. All right. Now.

He's got earmuffs over his headphones. All right. Now. They're going to take us off Netflix. The prospect. Prospects you love, Prospector. Don't worry about your earmarketer.

All right. The Prospector loves AJ to ban stuff from BYU.Y. Loves him. Really? Loves him. Loves Darrys A. Cuff Jr. Love. From Arkansas. Loves him. Everybody. Everybody loves him.

Now. The prospector's been talking about him for months. People watch a couple of SEC tournament games and now they're on as nuts. But I'm going to tell you this. The Prospector told you earlier this year. Shade Yields is Alexander,

Jamal Murray, Tyrese Maxie, Eric Rose. This kid has had better stats than all of them. Every Caliperi guard, he's better than all of them. And he also told you, the prospector said,

be careful with the little guards, unless they're awesome. The prospector's here to tell you he is awesome. All right. Not a problem. Thank you, The prospector loves A-Cuff. The prospector loves Keaton Wogler.

Oh. At Illinois. Loves him. Yep. Chip on his shoulder. Three-star guy everybody missed on. And you would think that they missed on him because they didn't see him. He was playing in some auxiliary gym.

Nope. They all saw him and all missed him. Not the prospector. Every one of them. Except Brad Underwood. at Illinois. And it's him and a bunch of

Eastern Europeans and they pop that ball around. Keaton Wogler. Keaton Wogler, pay attention. Okay. The prospector's got to be

won over by a couple of these guys that are projected to be in the lottery. Oh. Darren Peterson. Full body cramps. I mean,

I never even heard of that. Drink some pickle juice, son. Shit. He ain't ever heard of pickle juice. They're bananas in Kansas? It's a potassium. Kingston Fleming's. Love that he's a dog.

Love that he plays for Houston. Feels a little, little to the prospector. Oh. But you said, no, prospector. You said, if you're little, you have to be what? Awesome. He's got to prove to me that he's awesome. I know he's had some big games.

Okay. A-Cuff, awesome. A little. Fleming's. Not sure yet. We're not sure. We're not sure. Thank you, prospector.

I'm taking notes here. Next one, Mikhail Brown Jr. Did not play for Louisville in the conference tournament. He's been out. Another point guard. Scored an ACC freshman record in points one time this year. Little slat. But this is going to be his return.

He shows up for the NCAA tournament, and he balls out, the prospector may be won over. Okay. So, jury's still out, jury still out. Okay, got it. The prospector is out. You're out on. These are people that you're just completely out on,

prospect. The prospector does, yeah, it can not win you over. Prospector's out on them. Dead to you. Okay. Yaxel-Lendembourg, Michigan. Old as crap and immature in the press conferences.

No. I don't want him. The guy's 30 years old, and he acts like a 14-year-old in his press conferences. Done. Prospect is out. Can't even win you over.

Nope. Done. The name sounds like a guy that sucks. Speaking of, another name of a guy that sounds like he sucks, Co-a-Pete, that is a bust if I've ever heard it.

Also, look like his cats. ran straight into his ankles. The prospector needs small ankles. Oh, yeah. The prospector likes big calves. The ratio. It's got to be a nice, a nice,

a nice, small, skinny ankles. I want a big, the prospector wants a big ass calf and a little ass ankle. These are important things to consider. This guy looks like a damn mannequin. Oh, prospector. See, these are the things that I don't see.

So no. Coa Pete. Out on the last one. Tennessee's Nate I meant Nate A meant, who cares? I meant to make a basket

The prospector has The prospector has no use for six nine skinny guys that face up Unless you're Kevin Durant You're Zaire Williams You're Cody Williams You're all these guys

That I got no use for I can't play you at small five You get pushed around by anybody with few muscles. And so everybody's got him in the top 10. You can have him. The prospector will keep digging for somebody else.

So if I may... It's how the prospector digs, by the way. I'm digging for prospect. The prospector is digging for prospect. Prospector, may I ask one question? Please. I have a friend who's deeply invested in the Memphis Grizzlies, and he has been looking at prospects.

And who do you think would be a good? fit for the Memphis Grizzlies. Let's say they're picking in sort of like the four to seven range. Acuff. A Cuff. You know, they used to have an exciting guard there.

I've heard. I've heard. They still do. Still do. Well, thanks for you're doing the show. Oh, there's more. Okay. Yeah, here's a couple guys in the NCAA tournament you've never

heard of, but that's why you've got the prospector. This is why you're here. And you're going to look at a Mott draft and you're going to look at a two-round mock draft. And you're probably not going to see him there either. You might, you might, you might, you might. John Blackwell at Wisconsin. Oh, not familiar with his game.

Check him out. Shake him out. John Blackwell. Seems like the kind of guy that's drafted in the second round and everybody's like, how did they miss on John Blackwell? He's not even on a, he ain't even on a mock draft I could find. He had 34 in a game over the weekend.

I was like, Tarnation. John Blackwell. Wisconsin. Yeah, I'm Googling him right now. Trayvon, Brazil from Arkansas. Had the huge SEC championship game. Everybody saw him. I kind of want to root for this kid because he was a...

Great name. Unbelievable freshman prospect. Had one of the greatest dunks I've ever seen in my life. Kid tore up his leg completely. and now as, and now he's a little bit older, but he has fought through it and fought through it, X factor for Kentucky. People are going to be watching for A-Cuff,

but this guy's like a college Marion, kind of does a little bit of everything. Six-nine, flies around everywhere, mega-athleteat, knocked down three-threes, I think, three or four-three in the SEC championship game. Yeah, Brazil. I'm looking at him out.

Blackwood. well. John Blackwell, Trayvon, Brazil. These are just, these are role player NBA guys.

Like, just keep a look at them because it's, these are guys that could shock you. And then obviously, Zuby at St. Jones, watched him over the weekend and was just a menace

against Yukon. Again, it's a role player. But this guy was blocking everything, stealing everything. I went to a St. John's game with, my co-host, Chris Vernon, and Zubi was not impressive.

He was not that impressive in the first half. But in fairness, Chris Vernon told me that in the second half of that game, he was very good, and both of y'all were drunk. So never evaluate after you've had shots and beers. The prospector. The prospector only evaluates sober. Okay. And he watched Zubi over the weekend sober.

So there you go. Here's your names. DeBansta Acuff Wogler. Love him. Got to win the prospector over. Peterson Fleming's, McKell Brown. Oh, also, the prospector also liked LeBaron Phelon at Alabama. And keep an eye on this because LeBaron Phelon is going to have a lot on his plate

because his running mate got caught with a pound of one. weed yesterday. That's a lot. That's a lot of marijuana cannabis. A pound of weed. It's hard to convince somebody that's for personal use.

So this is going to be, there's a lot on phylon during this NCAA tournament. Keep an eye on phylon. Prospectors out on Yaxel, Lindenborg, Nate Ahmet, and Co-Apeat. All three of those guys are projected to be

top 10 lottery style picks. You can have them. And then fun ones that the prospector wants you to keep an eye out for Zubi at St. John's, John Blackwell at Wisconsin, Trayvon, Brazil, at Arkansas. I can't imagine a better way to get ready for the NCAA tournament than talk to the prospector himself. I really appreciate you taking time out of your very busy schedule. There is no better way. Appreciate you taking time on this very busy schedule to prospect for us here in the mismatch.

You're welcome. And because my co-host, Chris Vernon, isn't here, I want to say that we will catch up with you later on the week. We have a Friday show coming up. I want to thank our producer Jeff and Stefan. And I want to thank my co-host, Chris Vernon. I want to thank the first ever guest on this era of the mismatch, The Prospect.