Greetings my peeps and welcome to the All Things Basketball Podcast with your boy GD.
In this episode I'll be going around the Eastern Conference, give you some quick looks at all
of the teams in the East and I'll give you my assessment of all that's going on.
So just sit back, relax and enjoy the show.
Okay guys, it's your boy GD back once again with the All Things Basketball Podcast and
it's been about a month or so so we're going to go around the league and we're going to
take a look at all of the teams, you know, quick tidbits to talk about in terms of the
teams and we'll just take it from there.
Right now we're in the midst of that N-Season tournament.
I'll probably talk about that when everything is said and done with that and they're heading
to Vegas for the knockout rounds I guess if you will.
In any case let's get right into it guys.
We're going to start in the East.
We'll start with the Atlantic Division and we'll start talking about the Philadelphia 76ers
who right now pretty much had a feeling that Tyrese Maxi was headed for a breakout season
especially once you lost Harden, once you traded him away and actually Tyrese Maxi has
been very supportive of James Harden.
He said he gave him a lot of good advice, he empowered him so to speak to have more confidence
in himself in his game so he credits Harden for that.
For what is worth at least Harden was a good teammate to at least one person we know of.
Tyrese Maxi right now is having that breakout season guys.
I think if things bow well for him right now he's averaging 28 a game over 7 assists over
5 rebounds with a steal and a block per game.
Right now he is balling guys.
If he continues on this pace it'll be hard to keep him off of all star team that's for
sure.
Embiid of course is doing Embiid things, your reigning MVP of the league just playing well
and you're getting support from guys like Anthony Milton to buy his Harris as well.
Kelly Ubre who was playing well for them but he got hit by a car as a pedestrian.
Well it turns out he was on a bike and got hit even though now they're saying that's
sketchy because where he said he got hit is not the place he got hit in.
And in the event something happened to the man and he's working his way back nonetheless
so hopefully they get Kelly Ubre back and then this team will be really poised to make
some noise.
I was completely wrong about Philly guys.
I was completely wrong.
I didn't see Tyrese Maxey playing out of his mind like he's playing right now.
I definitely didn't see that.
I knew he would improve but I didn't see this.
But kudos to Philly man.
They're getting it done so that's one of your top teams in that division coupled with the
Boston Celtics of course and we all know about the additions they've had in terms of
Chris Dapport, Zingas who's playing pretty good for them.
Drew Holiday he's working himself in as well.
Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown their numbers are slightly down but I think they're down
because they're accommodating these two players who can bring some offense so if that's the
case you definitely take that.
You got Role players as well.
They're doing their job in terms of Derrick White.
I thought he might take a slight hit with the arrivals of these guys but that's not
the case.
You got Bench help from Sam Hauser, Peyton Pritchard as well, Al Horford who's pretty
long in the tooth guys so you would like to get another big in there just in case especially
if something were to happen to poor Zingas.
You know he has the injury history of course so you would like to have another big around
so we'll see how that transpires but nonetheless Boston is playing well and amongst the top
teams in the east.
Then we talk about my New York Knicks.
They got off to a slow start due to Randall his struggles actually he shot the ball very
poorly in the first few games and also too he's still trying to get himself his legs
under him and he had the ankle injury, the one that required surgery in the off season
so he's still getting himself right and then also you had RJ Barrett who's missed a few
games here and he's suffered from migraines from what I understand.
There'll be a touch and go situation when he's been in there he's been playing well.
Jalen Brunson still looking great, still the catalyst, still the one who gets these guys
going.
Emmanuel Quickley continuing his stellar play from the bench he's been playing well.
Bench guys as a whole has been playing well.
Deven Chenzo he's fitting in nicely guys in fact he had a start a couple of nights ago
and he shot the lights out 25 points made 7-3's in that game actually.
Mitchell Robinson he's being talked about in the early running for defensive play of
the year that's how well he's been playing in the middle guys.
Quintengrimes I think he still needs more touches if you ask me he could definitely
use more touches that's for sure.
Off the court for the next craziness going on Mark Jackson was supposed to start calling
games.
There's been reports leaked that he wasn't allowed on the plane and all kind of craziness
then Mark Jackson had to go on IG live and kind of correct it saying that he had turned
down the job about a week or so ago and it could have been because of that that he wasn't
allowed to be on the team plane and he has history with one of the assistant coaches
and it's just a adulterated mess so all in all you have no Mark Jackson now and it seems
like this forces out there that's out to get him still try to keep him from being employed
which seems weird because he was with ESPN all those years working as an analyst but
nonetheless so you have that going on there and I just got worried that the owner James
Dolan he is no longer on the board of governors.
Step down from that because he has that lawsuit going against Toronto we'll see what we make
of that but nonetheless the Knicks are battling to be amongst those top six as I told you
guys.
They want to be in the top six spots so they're battling their way to maintaining in that
regard.
The Brooklyn Nets right now they're a team that will probably continue to struggle because
they don't have that true alpha right now.
McKell Bridges numbers are slightly down that could be a myriad of reasons also you have
been Simmons who was playing the first few games but he's been out now about four or
five games and counting and that's been because of injury of course of course you want to
treat him with kid gloves and see what happens with that.
You just got a couple of guys back you got Nick Claxton back he missed the first nine
games and then Cam Johnson he missed the first seven games.
Nick Claxton with the ankle, Cam Johnson with the calf injury so they're back so maybe
that will help things as far as the team and record goes.
Cam has played well starting the season but he's been out recently because of an ankle
injury so you got guys shuffling in and out of lineups Lonnie Walker the fourth he's playing
well for them he was a free agent pick up for them.
Think it's going to be touch and go with the Nets so we'll see what happens there and then
you have the Toronto Raptors.
Team I'm still trying to figure out what they are.
Pascal Siakam he's had a slow start but he's starting to come on as of recently.
Scotty Barnes seems like he's in the midst of a breakout season he's about at 20 points
per game nine rebounds about six assists and he has the defensive numbers as well.
Oji Anunobi he's slightly down and he's been in our lineup with injury also Dennis Schroder
he's playing well he's had a bit of a resurgence now.
Memo he's with the Lakers last season and seemed like he's more confident now being
with the Raptors but the Raptors although they're right now lodged in last place I
know I predicted them last place but this division is going to be tough anyway so it
could very well they can leap above the Nets maybe who knows but you got to get all-star
play from Siakam that's it has to start there for them guys.
With that said let's move to the Central Division.
Central Division has been very interesting you have Indiana up there with Milwaukee right
now they're the surprise team of the East guys and this team goes as Tyrese Holly Burton
goes who's playing fantastic guys they're getting balanced from their number three guy all the
way to the number nine guy and that's been helping Obi Toppin he's been starting but
you know he's been getting pushed a bit by the other guys you got guys like Aaron Nessmith
Andrew Nimhart there as well they still have Buddy Heald in the fold of course you have
Miles Turner in the middle Jaylen Smith you still have but this team to be up there you
know it's a bit of a surprise but you know Rick Carlisle the man could coach you give
him talent he can coach so I think again Tyrese Holly Burton he's like the Jaylen Brunson
for that team he's that much important for the Indiana Pacers.
Then you have the Milwaukee Bucks who's kind of struggled a bit if you really think about
it you need more production outside of Yannis Honta-Tacumpo and Damian Lillard it seems
like Chris Miller then slightly coming around he had a good game the last game there Brooke
Lopez had a slow start as well but it seems like he's rounding out I think it's just
a matter of everyone getting used to the Damian Lillard factor him being on the team not having
that kind of player so I guess it takes a little time for them to gain a chemistry if
you will but I think before long the cream will rise to the top and you'll see Milwaukee
start to take off eventually.
The Cleveland Cavaliers they've had guys missing games as well you had Darius Garland
missed some games with his hamstring also Jared Allen he missed the first five games
with an ankle injury Matt Streus has been solid but from the field he's been very inefficient
of course Evan Mobley he's been playing well Donovan Mitchell's being Donovan Mitchell
doing his thing but this team they'll be in the mix you know you have that kind of talent
they will be in the mix but JB Bickerstaff he's going to have to get these guys sailing
in the right direction.
Again it's early but you want to start making those strides towards improving and you want
to do that kind of sooner than later.
Then you have the Chicago Bulls who I say still is without a playmaker right now could
there be a case where their top three guys are broken up eventually I think it could
happen guys you're already hearing disenchantment from Zach Levine so it could be a matter of
time before he's moved maybe it waits all the way up to the trade deadline but I think
something will happen in terms of I don't see the Chicago Bulls coming out of that
trade deadline without trading at least one or two of those guys that's the way I'm seeing
it between Levine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vusovic I think one of those three if not
a couple of those three get moved.
So that's the Chicago story and then you have Detroit.
Marty Williams right now he's shuffling guys in and out of the lineup right now you've
got Killian Hayes starting over Jaten Ivy which I don't understand but I just recently
saw Jaten Ivy back in the starting lineup so I guess Marty Williams trying to get a
feel for this squad.
Kay Cunningham is officially back he's playing well.
Osar Thompson he's been as good as advertised guys and I don't mean in terms of the scoring
he's giving you like the rebounding he's giving you the defensive numbers as well and he's
forced Marty's hand to where he has to start the kid so but the kid has been playing that
well.
Then you have up and coming big man Jaylen Durin you have him there as well still haven't
seen Bojan Badanovich but I would imagine he makes his appearance soon we'll see but
even with that Detroit is still languishing behind the other teams in the central so
Marty Williams still trying to figure out this roster here.
So that is your central division there and then we will talk about the south division.
On top of there pretty much actually it's been kind of a three headed race here guys.
Of course you have Miami there of course sure they could have used team that would have
really put them head and shoulders above the rest but what can you do there.
Bam Adaba is playing well as well as Tyler Hero he's really had a good start to the
season.
Khalid Martin he has yet to play because of that knee injury but it seems like he's inching
his way back.
Jimmy Butler has had a slow start for them and they really need him to pick it up because
that's your catalyst right there so Jimmy Butler he needs to pick up his play.
In terms of Atlanta it seems like Trey Young and Dejante Murray are gelling together now.
Trey of course as always he can always shoot better.
Right now his percentages from the field and from three point range are pretty much abysmal
but you know he takes so many shots that you know he'll get his 25 points per game based
on the amount of shots he's hoisting.
Right now you're getting good balance from guys like Jalen Johnson who actually looks
good guys.
The young man is looking good Sadiq Bey is playing well Deandre Hunter and also you
have Bogdan Bogdanovich the other one who's coming off the bench and giving them some
punch there.
Of course you have the two headed attack of Capella and Akangu who's playing in the
middle there.
Atlanta hanging around that's for sure.
And then the third team is the Orlando Magic.
Jamal Mosley is really coaching up those young guys.
They're no longer the pushovers that they used to be guys they're formidable.
And you got a nice foundation there with Paolo Boncaro and Franz Wagner.
Franz of course he can be more efficient as well.
He's shooting a little over 40% from the field.
You'd like to see that go up.
You still have injury concerns with Markel Faults.
It seems like that's always par for the course with him.
And then Wendell Carter Jr.
He's out with a hand injury.
And then of course you have the precarious situations with Jonathan Isaac.
But guys have been stepping up.
Jalen sucks.
We've had the Jalen sucks sighting guys and he's playing well.
It's like Cole Anthony there as well so this team is again they're not the doormats that
they used to be guys.
They're a tough team when they're on your schedule.
Then we move to the Charlotte Hornets.
Right now they're towards the bottom of that division.
The middle ball is back but his numbers are down.
And then you have Terry Rose here who's going to miss some games there.
He has the growing injury there.
Miles Bridges just made his return back guys.
So he's back in there.
Looked like he's ready guys.
He's been contributing for them.
So far Gordon Haywood has been healthy.
That's been a help.
Brandon Miller their high draft choice.
He's showing flashes.
Mark Williams in his second year.
You see the improvement there but there's always room for more improvement of course.
PJ Washington he's been up and down.
So this team they're going to take their lumps.
They're going to take their bumps.
But again with the Terry Rose here injury that doesn't help matters for them.
And then you have the Washington Wizards who actually have the second worst record in the
East been very disappointing so far.
Jordan pool and Tyus Jones are among the underachievers with that team.
I thought both guys would be playing better.
Maybe it's just about them getting acclimated with one another.
And then we saw Jordan pool.
I saw a clip of this.
I couldn't believe it.
Him during a timeout seemed like he's doing everything in the world but concentrating
on the play.
He actually missed the design play that was being laid out by his coach Weston sell junior
and then most of the things he was saying in the huddle was it's his team.
I'm like no it's not actually is Kyle Kuzma's team more so than yours.
Jordan pool.
But you know people will say yeah that's why I draped my punch in the mouth.
I'm like I don't know if I go there but you know he's a cocky guy.
But he has to acclimate himself with his teammates and help this team improve.
We'll see what happens there.
But Kyle Kuzma right now he's playing very well for them and you're getting contributions
from other guys as well.
So that's the story with the Washington Wizards.
All right guys so that is it for this episode.
I'm going to give you the Western Conference as well.
I'll get to that.
So again guys I thank you for listening as always.
GD I'm back.
I'm back in the fold now.
It was a case of life was life and at the time so that kind of kept me away a little
bit but I did want a month of the season to go by before I can kind of break things down.
So with that said we looked at the East the West is up next.
All right guys so until then we'll talk soon.
Take care.
Hello my Peeps.
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