WEBVTT 00:00:00.010 --> 00:00:02.330 Welcome in to the newest edition of the Justin 00:00:02.330 --> 00:00:04.969 Time Sports Podcast. I am your owner and host, 00:00:05.110 --> 00:00:07.830 Justin Jackson. In this week's episode, we'll 00:00:07.830 --> 00:00:10.330 be talking about the NBA playoffs as we are roaring 00:00:10.330 --> 00:00:13.470 in our second round. We will touch on the NBA 00:00:13.470 --> 00:00:16.690 draft lottery. We'll also have a little WNBA. 00:00:17.390 --> 00:00:19.589 And as always, we'll spread some other random 00:00:19.589 --> 00:00:22.690 sports in there as always. Don't forget to sit 00:00:22.690 --> 00:00:25.750 back and get ready to learn something also. Follow 00:00:25.750 --> 00:00:28.829 the social media handle at J time sports. I repeat 00:00:28.829 --> 00:00:31.690 at J time sports for all of your breaking news, 00:00:31.769 --> 00:00:36.130 coverage updates, and et cetera. Now, as always, 00:00:36.130 --> 00:00:37.710 again, don't forget to sit back and get ready 00:00:37.710 --> 00:00:55.420 to learn something. JTS. Just in time sports. 00:00:58.579 --> 00:01:02.460 Life is good. Look. This is just a town sports. 00:01:02.740 --> 00:01:04.939 Come and get your weekly takes. His opinion from 00:01:04.939 --> 00:01:07.280 the heart. He can never show you fake. If you 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:09.280 winning or you losing, he gonna tell it to you 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:11.459 straight. How we talking basketball without a 00:01:11.459 --> 00:01:13.519 Jordan Brown to base? If you got the hottest 00:01:13.519 --> 00:01:15.560 dicks, you better come and make your case. If 00:01:15.560 --> 00:01:17.799 you win a couple games, he might even show you 00:01:17.799 --> 00:01:20.599 grace. JCS on every platform. We growing adaptation. 00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:23.480 Numbers going up the charts. We create the separation. 00:01:23.959 --> 00:01:26.180 Louisiana till I die is where I'm from. I can't 00:01:26.180 --> 00:01:28.420 replace it. Some people minds are obtuse, but 00:01:28.420 --> 00:01:40.400 I like to be adjacent. Giving my opinion. We'll 00:01:40.400 --> 00:02:05.129 be right back. Just In Time Sports, come and 00:02:05.129 --> 00:02:07.950 get your weekly taste. Come and get it. He gon' 00:02:07.969 --> 00:02:13.830 tell it to you straight, to you straight. Welcome 00:02:13.830 --> 00:02:19.409 into the show. Welcome into the newest edition 00:02:19.409 --> 00:02:22.349 of the Just In Time Sports podcast. I am your 00:02:22.349 --> 00:02:24.949 owner and host, Justin Jackson. I am recording 00:02:24.949 --> 00:02:29.189 this on, let's see, what is it now? Monday evening. 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:33.319 uh before the nba draft lottery so the nba draft 00:02:33.319 --> 00:02:35.900 lottery is currently happening you know the reveal 00:02:35.900 --> 00:02:38.020 is as the time it is recording seven minutes 00:02:38.020 --> 00:02:42.300 and 40 seconds away from being revealed we will 00:02:42.300 --> 00:02:47.639 see the order of the picks uh pretty sure everyone 00:02:47.639 --> 00:02:53.599 knows this draft is the cooper flag draft um 00:02:53.599 --> 00:02:55.219 he is the number one overall pick regardless 00:02:55.219 --> 00:02:58.620 of who gets the team it literally does not matter 00:02:58.620 --> 00:03:06.219 who picks number one, it will be the Cooper flag 00:03:06.219 --> 00:03:09.159 draft. It's very reminiscent of 1984 with Michael 00:03:09.159 --> 00:03:12.939 Jordan, very reminiscent of 1997 with Tim Duncan, 00:03:13.159 --> 00:03:21.800 1992 -93 with Shaq, 2003 with LeBron, 2019 with 00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:25.860 Zion. You know, there are certain drafts, especially 00:03:25.860 --> 00:03:29.199 in the NBA, that The number one pick is decided. 00:03:29.419 --> 00:03:31.479 It doesn't matter who gets it. So like in the 00:03:31.479 --> 00:03:34.919 NFL, it's not always the case. Jacksonville ended 00:03:34.919 --> 00:03:36.020 up number one. They weren't going to pick Cam 00:03:36.020 --> 00:03:38.360 Ward. They were probably going to draft Travis 00:03:38.360 --> 00:03:40.439 Hunter at number one or trade out of the pick. 00:03:40.780 --> 00:03:42.360 It's probably three or four and allow somebody 00:03:42.360 --> 00:03:44.000 else to get the quarterback and still try and 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:47.180 get Travis Hunter on the back end. That's a much 00:03:47.180 --> 00:03:49.639 more likely situation in the NFL because it is 00:03:49.639 --> 00:03:52.419 so much team -based. In the NBA, you get the 00:03:52.419 --> 00:03:53.840 best player and you'll figure it out from there. 00:03:55.229 --> 00:03:59.009 Cooper Flagg at 6 '10", long wing, can shoot 00:03:59.009 --> 00:04:01.810 the ball, explosive leaper. We've seen him dunk 00:04:01.810 --> 00:04:04.870 on people all season. Pretty good rebounder, 00:04:04.889 --> 00:04:08.370 good passer, above average defender. He's going 00:04:08.370 --> 00:04:10.550 to be all rookie. He's my rookie of the year. 00:04:11.750 --> 00:04:14.090 I won't even debate that. Like, it's a situation 00:04:14.090 --> 00:04:16.629 people are going to say, oh, could, like this 00:04:16.629 --> 00:04:21.850 year, you know, Zachary Regenche to Atlanta and 00:04:21.850 --> 00:04:24.980 then Alexander Saar. To Washington, neither one 00:04:24.980 --> 00:04:27.319 of those guys were dominant picks. There were 00:04:27.319 --> 00:04:29.240 no clear -cut number one overall picks. Atlanta 00:04:29.240 --> 00:04:33.240 ended up choosing Richard Shea and Stephon Castle 00:04:33.240 --> 00:04:34.939 to win the Rookie of the Year. It's not going 00:04:34.939 --> 00:04:37.220 to be the case next year. Outside of, I think 00:04:37.220 --> 00:04:38.860 Cooper Flagg is easily the best player in the 00:04:38.860 --> 00:04:41.220 class. I also think that it's going to be a storyline 00:04:41.220 --> 00:04:43.459 for him to win it. So in order for somebody to 00:04:43.459 --> 00:04:46.459 come in and take it from him, it is going to 00:04:46.459 --> 00:04:49.959 require them to be considerably better than him. 00:04:50.439 --> 00:04:52.079 And I don't think anybody's going to be considerably 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:55.680 better than Flagg. I honestly think, truly, I 00:04:55.680 --> 00:05:00.160 think Washington finally gets their guy. I don't 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:03.500 think the NBA is going to reward Utah. I mean, 00:05:03.500 --> 00:05:05.480 they've been openly tanking for years. And Danny 00:05:05.480 --> 00:05:08.839 Ains did it in Boston. But they've been openly 00:05:08.839 --> 00:05:12.839 tanking for years. Philly, I just don't think 00:05:12.839 --> 00:05:15.160 the draft, the basketball guys just don't love 00:05:15.160 --> 00:05:18.680 them like that. I don't. I think New Orleans. 00:05:19.579 --> 00:05:21.079 I don't think the NBA is going to want to stick 00:05:21.079 --> 00:05:23.399 another superstar in New Orleans, not through 00:05:23.399 --> 00:05:25.360 the draft. Now, if they make a trade for a John 00:05:25.360 --> 00:05:27.939 Morant or something like that, that's different. 00:05:28.040 --> 00:05:29.920 But do I think the NBA is going to just stick 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:37.240 an elite talent like Cooper Flagg in New Orleans? 00:05:37.860 --> 00:05:44.660 Even at our peak, we're at 75 % capacity, 80 00:05:44.660 --> 00:05:47.220 % capacity. We're still not selling our games. 00:05:47.899 --> 00:05:50.420 The road team in a big game has more fans than 00:05:50.420 --> 00:05:53.560 us. Like, you know, stuff like that, right? So 00:05:53.560 --> 00:05:54.779 I don't think they're going to stick another 00:05:54.779 --> 00:05:57.139 superstar in New Orleans. I could be wrong. I 00:05:57.139 --> 00:05:58.639 hope I'm wrong. I would love Cooper Flagg or 00:05:58.639 --> 00:06:01.379 at least the leverage of Cooper Flagg. Okay, 00:06:01.399 --> 00:06:03.399 I'm kidding. I would love Cooper Flagg. Six foot 00:06:03.399 --> 00:06:07.180 ten. Then Zion, you know, six six. And it's not 00:06:07.180 --> 00:06:09.839 as bad about a center. And Flagg's going to get 00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:12.180 you six seven rebounds from the door. And, you 00:06:12.180 --> 00:06:16.120 know, there's certain situations that. can be 00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:17.680 helped by the guy like Cooper Fly. He can space 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:19.920 the floor. When you go quote -unquote small, 00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:22.600 there's a 6 '10 guy on the court, and Zion, of 00:06:22.600 --> 00:06:27.459 course. So there's benefits. Number two and number 00:06:27.459 --> 00:06:32.019 three, I think those picks become trade bait 00:06:32.019 --> 00:06:35.399 for a Memphis, who I think are going to get a 00:06:35.399 --> 00:06:37.199 new coach. They're going to build around Jaron 00:06:37.199 --> 00:06:38.959 Jackson. They're going to get out of the John 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:41.879 Morant business. I think us being in the John 00:06:41.879 --> 00:06:47.389 Morant business. would suit us and I think we'd 00:06:47.389 --> 00:06:50.009 move at that point we'd move what's left of DeJounte 00:06:50.009 --> 00:06:56.149 Murray out and I'm trying to stall a little bit 00:06:56.149 --> 00:06:58.670 because I kind of want to discuss the lottery 00:06:58.670 --> 00:07:01.689 immediately when it happens and then we'll get 00:07:01.689 --> 00:07:04.810 into the playoffs and then of course we'll talk 00:07:04.810 --> 00:07:07.810 about the NFL today we'll talk about the WNBA 00:07:07.810 --> 00:07:13.759 as well always interesting to see What teams? 00:07:14.339 --> 00:07:17.100 Houston gets the number one pick. That would 00:07:17.100 --> 00:07:19.839 be insane. Cooper flag mix with that young team. 00:07:21.139 --> 00:07:22.939 And then you still have the cap space to go get 00:07:22.939 --> 00:07:26.819 a superstar. That would be crazy. Giannis goes 00:07:26.819 --> 00:07:29.399 there. Cooper flag is off the table, but everybody 00:07:29.399 --> 00:07:33.139 else is available. And it ends up being, you 00:07:33.139 --> 00:07:36.879 know, you make some package around three first 00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:40.459 round picks, two swaps. And, you know what I'm 00:07:40.459 --> 00:07:44.120 saying, your starting five can be Sengun, Giannis, 00:07:44.220 --> 00:07:47.160 Flagg, Green. Green probably gone, and Brooks 00:07:47.160 --> 00:07:49.839 are some of that to make the money work. Mitch 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:51.839 Johnson is the representative for the Spurs, 00:07:51.939 --> 00:07:54.079 the new head coach. The first head coach of the 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:56.060 Spurs that did not name Popovich since 1997. 00:07:56.699 --> 00:07:58.860 Masai Ujiri goes for the Raptors. Not shocking. 00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:02.680 It's Masai. Jody Fernandez goes for the Nets. 00:08:02.740 --> 00:08:05.500 He was the head coach of the Nets. Jared McCain, 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:07.939 their first -round pick from last season, goes 00:08:07.939 --> 00:08:13.160 this year. For Philly. Zion is interesting. A 00:08:13.160 --> 00:08:17.759 choice for the Pelicans. He wears the polo. Terrible 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:20.139 to the Pelicans. Very team mistake. He looks 00:08:20.139 --> 00:08:23.740 very svelte. He looks very svelte. I think that 00:08:23.740 --> 00:08:26.220 was a jewel situation. Because it's not. It's 00:08:26.220 --> 00:08:28.120 in the playoffs. Usually at this point of the 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:31.420 year, the big guy starts to get a little big. 00:08:31.480 --> 00:08:34.259 Starts to get a little chunky. But he looks pretty 00:08:34.259 --> 00:08:38.529 svelte right now. He's a dad, so maybe the baby's 00:08:38.529 --> 00:08:41.110 keeping him up. The Hornets sent their head coach, 00:08:41.230 --> 00:08:45.669 Charles Lee. Wizards sent their first -round 00:08:45.669 --> 00:08:47.429 pick from last year, Bub Carrington, or their 00:08:47.429 --> 00:08:49.610 second first -round pick from last year. And 00:08:49.610 --> 00:08:53.809 then the Jazz sent co -owner Ashley Smith as 00:08:53.809 --> 00:08:58.649 their representative. Oh, man, it's getting dicey. 00:09:02.190 --> 00:09:07.059 About to see who ends up with the pick. Man, 00:09:07.080 --> 00:09:09.779 the Cooper flag. He says Cooper flag draft. Like 00:09:09.779 --> 00:09:11.980 I said, once the lottery is discussed or once 00:09:11.980 --> 00:09:14.299 the lottery is announced, then I'm going to talk 00:09:14.299 --> 00:09:16.360 about it a couple of minutes how I see flag fitting 00:09:16.360 --> 00:09:17.820 on that team because it's pretty much Cooper 00:09:17.820 --> 00:09:22.659 flag. Mark Tatum always does the lottery, who's 00:09:22.659 --> 00:09:26.960 the deputy commissioner and COO of the NBA, a 00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:31.559 .k .a. the next NBA actual commissioner. Okay. 00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:34.539 Here we go, man. I'm actually a little nervous. 00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:37.690 I guess I feel like a fan. Spurs keep 14. That 00:09:37.690 --> 00:09:39.750 wasn't shocking because that's Atlanta's pick. 00:09:40.809 --> 00:09:44.269 Unless he went top four, that was going to stay 00:09:44.269 --> 00:09:50.789 14. 13th pick, Atlanta from the Kings. No surprises 00:09:50.789 --> 00:10:03.090 here. 12th pick, Chicago. Again, no surprises 00:10:03.090 --> 00:10:07.190 here. Again, like these picks this low either 00:10:07.190 --> 00:10:10.450 have to go in top four or they have to stay where 00:10:10.450 --> 00:10:12.809 they are pretty much. Portland gets pick 11. 00:10:13.610 --> 00:10:17.750 So that means Dallas goes to top four. Wow. Because 00:10:17.750 --> 00:10:21.090 Portland gets 11. So Dallas is top four. Holy 00:10:21.090 --> 00:10:25.909 crap. Houston is now the 10th pick from Phoenix. 00:10:28.490 --> 00:10:30.450 Holy crap. Dallas is in the top four. Dallas 00:10:30.450 --> 00:10:32.950 has a chance to coup a flag. This is massive. 00:10:34.789 --> 00:10:39.409 Toronto is picking nine. So Toronto sticks, which 00:10:39.409 --> 00:10:41.629 means San Antonio has to go in the top four. 00:10:41.649 --> 00:10:44.950 San Antonio is in the Cooper flag race. Holy 00:10:44.950 --> 00:10:47.330 mackerel. There's two spots left in the top four. 00:10:49.409 --> 00:10:53.629 Philly currently is keeping their pick. Brooklyn 00:10:53.629 --> 00:10:58.429 is pick eight. Brooklyn has high odds. But they 00:10:58.429 --> 00:10:59.690 stick and pick at eight. So they're going to 00:10:59.690 --> 00:11:03.909 be at eight. Ah, fuck. The Pelicans are seven. 00:11:05.230 --> 00:11:09.250 Crap. So that means somebody else took our spot 00:11:09.250 --> 00:11:12.029 in the top four. Because we were fourth. Man, 00:11:12.049 --> 00:11:15.870 we're seventh? The Wizards are sixth. That means 00:11:15.870 --> 00:11:22.649 Philly's in the top four. Holy mackerel. Philly 00:11:22.649 --> 00:11:29.190 has a chance at Cooper flag. Whoa. New Orleans 00:11:29.190 --> 00:11:34.100 is seven? That hurts. Cooper Flagg smiled at 00:11:34.100 --> 00:11:40.379 Philly. Utah is five. So that means the Hornets. 00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:44.659 So Utah, with their shameless tanking, ends up 00:11:44.659 --> 00:11:50.059 at five. New Orleans at seven. That hurts. Which, 00:11:50.100 --> 00:11:55.559 New Orleans actually, and the pain, the pain 00:11:55.559 --> 00:12:03.139 with... The pain with New Orleans is the fact 00:12:03.139 --> 00:12:10.320 that they are actually a pretty good team. They 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:14.919 were just always injured, you know. So, yeah, 00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:24.899 my Pelicans group chat is pissed that my Pelicans 00:12:24.899 --> 00:12:27.100 group chat is pissed they were seven. Seven's 00:12:27.100 --> 00:12:29.899 insane. We went from four to seven. That hurts. 00:12:31.309 --> 00:12:42.649 But now Philly has a chance to get... Now, seven 00:12:42.649 --> 00:12:44.909 actually is not bad for Memphis. And again, I'm 00:12:44.909 --> 00:12:46.309 going to speak selfishly here, and this podcast 00:12:46.309 --> 00:12:48.490 is going completely differently than what I would 00:12:48.490 --> 00:12:52.149 have expected it. So I guess I'll run through 00:12:52.149 --> 00:12:54.970 some of the playoff series while it's on commercial 00:12:54.970 --> 00:12:59.830 break. Kind of want to break all these down individually. 00:13:02.059 --> 00:13:04.460 Yeah, no, I'll wait. I'll wait. You know, this 00:13:04.460 --> 00:13:06.480 is kind of one of those live podcast moments. 00:13:06.600 --> 00:13:08.080 I wish I was doing this live. It'd be a little 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:10.039 more smooth and flowing. I kind of have the person 00:13:10.039 --> 00:13:13.919 to bounce this off of. But I guess I'll go get 00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:17.080 you a little, bring you a little behind the scenes 00:13:17.080 --> 00:13:21.240 in this situation. So the NBA playoffs are going 00:13:21.240 --> 00:13:22.759 well. You have a lot. This is one of the most 00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:24.580 entertaining playoffs I've seen in a long time, 00:13:24.679 --> 00:13:26.600 right? So we're going to talk about that first. 00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:27.840 We're going to touch on the NFL, and then we'll 00:13:27.840 --> 00:13:29.970 do best for last, which will be the WNBA. But 00:13:29.970 --> 00:13:31.750 it's been the most interesting playoffs I've 00:13:31.750 --> 00:13:35.990 seen in a long time. Basketball had a problem 00:13:35.990 --> 00:13:38.750 at the start of the year. The season started, 00:13:38.990 --> 00:13:41.549 no one cared. And then you got to Christmas, 00:13:41.590 --> 00:13:43.789 and Christmas is genuinely the kickoff point 00:13:43.789 --> 00:13:46.470 for the NBA. Okay, it's the unofficial start 00:13:46.470 --> 00:13:49.789 of the season. The NFL, all my life until maybe 00:13:49.789 --> 00:13:53.210 two years ago, has seeded Christmas. So once 00:13:53.210 --> 00:13:55.429 Christmas hit, like unless Christmas was on a 00:13:55.429 --> 00:14:00.000 Sunday or a Saturday, They would see Christmas 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:03.960 to the NBA. The NBA would be five mega games 00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:07.720 and it'd be Kobe versus LeBron. It'd be Kevin 00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:12.259 Durant versus the Spurs. It'll be trying to think 00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:14.379 of stars of yesteryear. The Clippers would play 00:14:14.379 --> 00:14:20.259 the Knicks and Carmelo. You would get, you know 00:14:20.259 --> 00:14:21.710 what I'm saying? Back when it was the big three 00:14:21.710 --> 00:14:23.490 heat days, the Heat would play the Lakers. You 00:14:23.490 --> 00:14:26.210 would get these matchups to where you would almost 00:14:26.210 --> 00:14:31.429 have no choice but to watch Christmas Day. Because 00:14:31.429 --> 00:14:34.370 if you didn't watch Christmas Day, you missed 00:14:34.370 --> 00:14:36.769 one of the greatest matches of the season. And 00:14:36.769 --> 00:14:39.110 again, it was the unofficial start to the season. 00:14:39.710 --> 00:14:42.289 So that was the way people said it. So when we 00:14:42.289 --> 00:14:43.730 got to Christmas, the ratings were still down. 00:14:44.250 --> 00:14:45.929 Now, I was probably watching around Thanksgiving. 00:14:47.309 --> 00:14:49.529 And I thought the basketball was great. And it 00:14:49.529 --> 00:14:50.769 wasn't just if I thought I was watching LeBron 00:14:50.769 --> 00:14:51.990 game. I thought I was going to think LeBron game 00:14:51.990 --> 00:14:53.429 was great, even though it's stressful for me. 00:14:53.649 --> 00:14:55.269 I'm only going to think LeBron game was great. 00:14:55.590 --> 00:14:57.470 I thought the basketball was great. I thought 00:14:57.470 --> 00:15:00.429 that we're shooting too many threes. But I think 00:15:00.429 --> 00:15:02.870 I'm also being of the younger generation. I'm 00:15:02.870 --> 00:15:05.490 just I just turned 28. I think being in that 00:15:05.490 --> 00:15:08.610 age group and understanding why these things 00:15:08.610 --> 00:15:12.570 are happening helps. So I understand, you know, 00:15:12.570 --> 00:15:17.690 that we're shooting so many threes because. analytics 00:15:17.690 --> 00:15:20.970 has a bunch of smart guys sat in a room, did 00:15:20.970 --> 00:15:23.690 some math and they discovered that a mid range 00:15:23.690 --> 00:15:27.710 jump shot has all the risk of a three with none 00:15:27.710 --> 00:15:31.289 of the benefit of a three. So why would I, why 00:15:31.289 --> 00:15:33.929 would I take a shot that I'm going to make it 00:15:33.929 --> 00:15:37.669 40? I say 3 % for two points. When I'm going, 00:15:37.730 --> 00:15:42.090 I can take a shot at 41 or 42 % for three points. 00:15:44.139 --> 00:15:49.360 You know, and that is and that is the level of, 00:15:49.419 --> 00:15:54.879 I guess, talent. I guess that's not talent. That's 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:56.480 a level of math and what's happening with the 00:15:56.480 --> 00:16:01.059 NBA. So you have people that struggle watching 00:16:01.059 --> 00:16:04.820 the modern game. They struggle watching the modern 00:16:04.820 --> 00:16:07.360 game because the post up is dead. The post up 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:09.899 is dead because, again, that shot is worth about 00:16:09.899 --> 00:16:13.039 one point one points a shot. For a really, really 00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:15.240 good post -up player, you get an efficiency of 00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:18.039 about 1 .1. If you count their passing, a really 00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:21.059 good post -up player gets you about 1 .2. An 00:16:21.059 --> 00:16:23.940 average post -up player in the NBA gets you about 00:16:23.940 --> 00:16:28.759 0 .8, 0 .9. An average three in the NBA is 1 00:16:28.759 --> 00:16:34.580 .5. So those make up about 40 -ish, 42 -ish percent. 00:16:35.159 --> 00:16:39.299 So a lot of that stuff is being analytic, taken 00:16:39.299 --> 00:16:41.690 out of the game. The pick and roll for the mid 00:16:41.690 --> 00:16:46.809 -range jump shot is a horrible shot in the NBA, 00:16:47.029 --> 00:16:51.830 right? It is a terrible shot in the NBA analytically. 00:16:52.610 --> 00:16:54.929 So no one shoots it. You might get three or four 00:16:54.929 --> 00:16:57.230 mid -range shots a game. That's why those guys 00:16:57.230 --> 00:17:00.830 who are quote -unquote mid -range merchants eat 00:17:00.830 --> 00:17:02.370 because no one ever guards mid -range shots. 00:17:02.649 --> 00:17:06.859 Drop coverage gives that shot up. Even hard hedging. 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:08.740 Give that shout out in the modern NBA. All right. 00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:13.480 Back to the lottery. Holy crap. All right. Number 00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:15.240 four is the Hornets. They are out of the Cooper 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:19.259 flag race. Number four is the Hornets. Wow. So 00:17:19.259 --> 00:17:20.759 somebody who was not supposed to be there is 00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:23.339 going to get Cooper flag. This is wild. Philly 00:17:23.339 --> 00:17:27.519 gets three. Either San Antonio or Dallas is going 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:33.380 to get Cooper flag. If it's Dallas. Oh, my God. 00:17:33.380 --> 00:17:36.559 The Dallas Mavericks have landed Cooper flag. 00:17:37.859 --> 00:17:45.119 Oh, my God. The gamble of all gambles have just 00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:48.299 paid off. So when the trade went down for Luka 00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:53.259 Doncic, they were looking for another star to 00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:57.680 replace him. Oh, dear God. The Mavericks have 00:17:57.680 --> 00:18:01.650 Cooper flag. The management is pointing to Cooper 00:18:01.650 --> 00:18:04.730 Flagg. He's a Maverick. He used to be in Dallas. 00:18:05.529 --> 00:18:12.690 Oh, my God. The Dallas Mavericks had a 1 .80 00:18:12.690 --> 00:18:17.069 % chance to win the lottery. And they won the 00:18:17.069 --> 00:18:26.410 Cooper Flagg lottery. Wow. I mean, wow. That's 00:18:26.410 --> 00:18:30.990 all I can say right now. It's wow. This is not 00:18:30.990 --> 00:18:36.029 a good day for the NBA. And actually, before 00:18:36.029 --> 00:18:39.950 I get into the playoffs and I get into NBA history 00:18:39.950 --> 00:18:42.089 and I get into what I was going to break down 00:18:42.089 --> 00:18:47.250 and you can tell my energy shifted and it shifted 00:18:47.250 --> 00:18:50.910 quickly. And this is a bad day for the NBA. This 00:18:50.910 --> 00:18:54.210 is probably the worst day the NBA has had in 00:18:54.210 --> 00:19:01.890 12 months. The team that notoriously traded, 00:19:02.109 --> 00:19:07.210 infamously traded, Luka Doncic, a 25 -year -old, 00:19:07.250 --> 00:19:10.710 five -time All -NBA. If he retired today, he's 00:19:10.710 --> 00:19:13.750 in the basketball Hall of Famer, five -time All 00:19:13.750 --> 00:19:16.390 -NBA, six -time All -Star. He's won a couple 00:19:16.390 --> 00:19:20.890 of Eurobaskets, been Eurobasket MVP. My apologies. 00:19:21.029 --> 00:19:24.029 If he retired today, he's a basketball Hall of 00:19:24.029 --> 00:19:26.630 Famer. He could never play dribble basketball 00:19:26.630 --> 00:19:30.569 again. He's made hundreds of millions of dollars 00:19:30.569 --> 00:19:34.029 from the small country of Slovenia. They traded 00:19:34.029 --> 00:19:37.309 that man to the Los Angeles Lakers for what everybody 00:19:37.309 --> 00:19:41.089 saw was a very small. I mean, Anthony Davis is 00:19:41.089 --> 00:19:43.329 worth it. Anthony Davis is notoriously healthy. 00:19:43.430 --> 00:19:46.130 He's 31 years old. He's probably got four good 00:19:46.130 --> 00:19:54.099 years left. And I'm being nice, right? Max Christie, 00:19:54.359 --> 00:19:57.819 what was, you know what I'm saying? Max Christie, 00:19:58.019 --> 00:20:00.420 some other stuff. And I won first round pick. 00:20:01.299 --> 00:20:06.720 That team entered the night with 1 .8 % odds 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:09.980 to win the finals, to win the lottery. 1 .8. 00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:14.470 And they won. not only did they win, they didn't 00:20:14.470 --> 00:20:15.950 win like last year's lottery, where it's like, 00:20:16.029 --> 00:20:20.250 okay, you get Zachary Regisher, or you get Alexander 00:20:20.250 --> 00:20:23.710 Saar, whatever, like, good players, I'm sure, 00:20:23.789 --> 00:20:27.349 but no specialties. You get the no doubt slam 00:20:27.349 --> 00:20:31.690 dunk, number one pick. This is a bad day for 00:20:31.690 --> 00:20:32.930 the NBA, because not anyone's going to scream 00:20:32.930 --> 00:20:36.349 rigged. Even if you're an NBA supporter, you're 00:20:36.349 --> 00:20:41.210 looking at this like, uh? Like in 2019, the NBA 00:20:41.210 --> 00:20:43.910 gained nothing. Well, 2019, it felt that way. 00:20:43.950 --> 00:20:45.930 And it benefited me, but in 2019, it felt that 00:20:45.930 --> 00:20:49.369 way. Anthony Davis pieces up New Orleans to go 00:20:49.369 --> 00:20:55.410 to L .A. New Orleans get the Zion pick. The Mavericks 00:20:55.410 --> 00:20:59.809 inexplicably trade Luka Doncic and Dallas gets 00:20:59.809 --> 00:21:03.170 the Cooper flag pick. This is Frozen Envelope. 00:21:03.690 --> 00:21:06.529 This is LeBron stays in Cleveland. LeBron's at 00:21:06.529 --> 00:21:09.470 a Pat McAfee show. Yeah, the superstar from Akron 00:21:09.470 --> 00:21:13.150 stays in Cleveland. Like, I'm saying there's 00:21:13.150 --> 00:21:15.069 a certain moment. This is not a good day for 00:21:15.069 --> 00:21:20.390 the NBA. This is bad. Like, this is one of those 00:21:20.390 --> 00:21:30.490 moments that in 10 years, you're gonna. Yeah, 00:21:30.569 --> 00:21:34.329 I mean, you're gonna. You're gonna look at this 00:21:34.329 --> 00:21:39.069 one. And so Dave McManaman is tweeting about 00:21:39.069 --> 00:21:41.250 how he was in the lottery room in 08 when the 00:21:41.250 --> 00:21:45.849 Bulls won with a 1 .7 % chance in 2008 for Derrick 00:21:45.849 --> 00:21:54.150 Rose, who's from Chicago. It's just, I mean, 00:21:54.170 --> 00:21:58.069 as bad as Dallas was. So now if you're Dallas, 00:21:59.490 --> 00:22:01.970 it still looks bad. And Dave McManaman, you know, 00:22:01.970 --> 00:22:03.650 he's an ESPN guy. He's a basketball guy. He's 00:22:03.650 --> 00:22:05.150 already jumping on saying save the conspiracy 00:22:05.150 --> 00:22:12.549 theories. Okay. Now if you're Dallas, what do 00:22:12.549 --> 00:22:15.470 you do with Kyrie Irving? Because now if I'm 00:22:15.470 --> 00:22:18.150 Dallas, if I'm Nico Harrison, I'm gutting it. 00:22:19.109 --> 00:22:25.589 I ship AD. I ship Kyrie. I'm gutting it to the 00:22:25.589 --> 00:22:29.789 brass tacks. Or I may not gut it. Wow, Dallas 00:22:29.789 --> 00:22:31.789 has both number one overall picks. They get the 00:22:31.789 --> 00:22:34.250 WNBA overall pick, Paige Beckers, and the NBA 00:22:34.250 --> 00:22:37.349 number one overall pick, Cooper Flagg. Okay, 00:22:37.470 --> 00:22:40.289 that's pretty cool. But, like, Nico Harrison 00:22:40.289 --> 00:22:41.789 is now at the thread of the needle because Cooper 00:22:41.789 --> 00:22:44.369 Flagg tomorrow, or even next year, is not going 00:22:44.369 --> 00:22:47.349 to help you win the title. That goes to start, 00:22:47.529 --> 00:22:51.269 I'm sure. But, like, he's 13 points a night on 00:22:51.269 --> 00:22:53.509 40 -some percent shooting. He's just the number 00:22:53.509 --> 00:22:55.849 one overall pick. Plus, if Kyrie Irving's healthy 00:22:55.849 --> 00:22:57.869 or AD's healthy, he's the third option on the 00:22:57.869 --> 00:23:01.329 floor. How is he playing off those guys? I'm 00:23:01.329 --> 00:23:04.130 saying I would make a move on Kyrie or AD. One 00:23:04.130 --> 00:23:06.309 of them has to go and start the Cooper Flagg 00:23:06.309 --> 00:23:09.829 process. But not a great day for the NBA. Great 00:23:09.829 --> 00:23:12.609 day for the Mavs. You know, and they didn't look 00:23:12.609 --> 00:23:16.529 all that surprised. Great day for the Mavs. Like 00:23:16.529 --> 00:23:18.710 I said, it feels like the Mavs were handed a 00:23:18.710 --> 00:23:21.829 thank you for facilitating the Luka Nachos trade. 00:23:22.910 --> 00:23:24.730 It is what it is. I ain't afraid to say it. I 00:23:24.730 --> 00:23:31.049 don't work at ESPN. It feels like the NBA finished 00:23:31.049 --> 00:23:34.009 the Luka trade. So now the full Luka trade details 00:23:34.009 --> 00:23:39.880 is Anthony Davis, Max Christie. that other person 00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:42.920 a first -round pick and coop a flag. I mean, 00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:45.960 that's like, you know, now it's like, oh, okay, 00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:49.740 now that's legitimate compensation. But, hey, 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:52.940 the NBA did it. The draft lottery's done. Congrats, 00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:54.799 Dallas Maverson, winning the draft lottery, even 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:56.279 though I feel like he won it three or four months 00:23:56.279 --> 00:24:04.920 ago. All right, now getting into what I want 00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:09.259 to start this show with. The NBA is in the playoffs, 00:24:09.400 --> 00:24:11.400 and currently the series, Oklahoma City 2 -2 00:24:11.400 --> 00:24:13.160 with the Denver Nuggets. Again, this is entering 00:24:13.160 --> 00:24:17.019 Friday's games. Minnesota's up 2 -1 on the Timberwolves. 00:24:17.579 --> 00:24:19.339 I mean, Minnesota's up 2 -1 on the Warriors. 00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:22.500 They'll play tonight. Cavs are down 1 -3 to the 00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:24.759 Pacers. They'll play tomorrow when you guys hear 00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:27.119 this. And the Knicks are up 2 -1 on the Celtics. 00:24:27.180 --> 00:24:28.880 They're about to play action in a couple of minutes. 00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:32.420 But at this time of year, everybody wants to 00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:33.599 know who's going to win. Who's going to win? 00:24:34.619 --> 00:24:36.359 Who's the betting favorite? Who would you take? 00:24:37.450 --> 00:24:41.569 It's simple. The two people, the two teams with 00:24:41.569 --> 00:24:48.349 a chance to win the NBA title are as followed. 00:24:48.829 --> 00:24:58.170 The Boston Celtics and the Denver Nuggets. Those 00:24:58.170 --> 00:25:02.730 are the only two teams in the NBA that can win 00:25:02.730 --> 00:25:12.049 the that can win the NBA title. But Justin, what 00:25:12.049 --> 00:25:18.130 about New York? New York's up 2 -1. You know, 00:25:18.190 --> 00:25:21.150 Pacers, they look great. We'll get into them. 00:25:22.569 --> 00:25:27.289 Sure. But over the course of human history, and 00:25:27.289 --> 00:25:29.430 this is my NBA draft theory, and I would actually 00:25:29.430 --> 00:25:31.329 love to clip this out at some point, make a mental 00:25:31.329 --> 00:25:37.730 note of this, 25 -30. In the course, of NBA history, 00:25:37.910 --> 00:25:43.990 there has been three ways to win the NBA title. 00:25:48.529 --> 00:25:51.950 That way has been to one of the following three. 00:25:53.029 --> 00:25:57.369 You either have the best player on the planet, 00:25:57.430 --> 00:25:59.269 which is the most popular way. Think about the 00:25:59.269 --> 00:26:03.390 last 75 years. Bill Russell. The 70s are weird, 00:26:03.430 --> 00:26:05.230 but if I went through the 70s titles, I'd probably 00:26:05.230 --> 00:26:08.269 get to this conclusion too. Bill Russell. Michael 00:26:08.269 --> 00:26:16.829 Jordan. Magic Johnson. Larry Bird. You know. 00:26:17.529 --> 00:26:21.289 LeBron James. Kobe Bryant. Shaquille O 'Neal. 00:26:22.809 --> 00:26:27.950 More recently, Stephen Curry, KD, like you, Giannis, 00:26:28.009 --> 00:26:31.069 Jokic, you have Dirk. At the end of the run, 00:26:31.190 --> 00:26:34.430 you have the best player on the planet. The only 00:26:34.430 --> 00:26:37.269 one that's arguable over the last 75 years, again, 00:26:37.410 --> 00:26:43.410 70s titles notwithstanding, is Dirk. You can 00:26:43.410 --> 00:26:45.930 argue Dirk, and I will argue back. He beat Kevin 00:26:45.930 --> 00:26:48.250 Durant in the Thunder, Kobe Bryant in the Lakers, 00:26:48.390 --> 00:26:50.750 and LeBron James in the Heat in back -to -back 00:26:50.750 --> 00:26:53.400 -to -back series. So if you want to argue that 00:26:53.400 --> 00:26:55.039 he ain't the best player in the world, by all 00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:57.380 means, do what you got to do. But his next best 00:26:57.380 --> 00:26:59.240 player on his team is either Jason Terry, J .J. 00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:03.079 Beret, or Jason Kidd. But, hey, if you want to 00:27:03.079 --> 00:27:04.299 argue the fact that he ain't the best player 00:27:04.299 --> 00:27:09.200 in the world, do what you got to do. All right, 00:27:09.220 --> 00:27:12.440 so that's way number one, best player. Method 00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:15.799 number two is to have two of the top ten players 00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:18.900 see those big three heat. Actually, they kind 00:27:18.900 --> 00:27:20.180 of fall in all the categories, but see those 00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:30.009 big three heat. C, Shaq and Kobe. C, those great 00:27:30.009 --> 00:27:32.670 tandem, Scottie and Jordan. And usually if you're 00:27:32.670 --> 00:27:34.250 two of the top ten, one of them is really, really 00:27:34.250 --> 00:27:39.609 close to one. Or you have three of the top 25. 00:27:40.069 --> 00:27:42.930 Now, this is those Spurs teams. Maybe Tim Duncan 00:27:42.930 --> 00:27:45.309 wasn't the best guy. Tony Parker wasn't maybe 00:27:45.309 --> 00:27:48.349 top ten, but him and Joey both top 20. Think 00:27:48.349 --> 00:27:51.700 about Bird, McHale, and Parrish. Think about 00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:57.559 Magic, Worthy, and Kareem. Think about Jordan 00:27:57.559 --> 00:28:00.660 Pippen -Rodman. Think about LeBron, Wade, Bosh. 00:28:01.319 --> 00:28:06.000 Think about Jokic, Murray, and Gordon. But again, 00:28:06.140 --> 00:28:09.400 a lot of those trios still have the best player, 00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:11.279 Bill Russell, whoever you want to put beside 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:15.420 Bill Russell. But again, a lot of those trios 00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:17.980 had the best player or close to the best player, 00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:19.779 and then the trio kind of put it over the top. 00:28:20.140 --> 00:28:22.619 But that is the way that you win in the NBA. 00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:25.039 You either win with the best player, two of the 00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:28.400 top 10, or three of the top 25. The three of 00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:30.359 the top 25 being the rarest one because you kind 00:28:30.359 --> 00:28:32.180 of need that dog at a certain point to carry 00:28:32.180 --> 00:28:35.680 you. So a lot of those trios had a top three 00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:39.920 -ish player in their mix. But that is the way 00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:43.180 simply that you win the NBA. So let's go through 00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:45.519 the teams left in the playoffs. Oklahoma City. 00:28:45.660 --> 00:28:47.339 Does Oklahoma City have the best player in the 00:28:47.339 --> 00:28:50.650 NBA? No, they don't. Do they have two of the 00:28:50.650 --> 00:28:54.109 top 10? No, they don't. Do they have three of 00:28:54.109 --> 00:28:57.329 the top 25? No, they don't. Oklahoma City cannot 00:28:57.329 --> 00:28:59.549 win the title. Denver has the best player in 00:28:59.549 --> 00:29:01.589 the league in Nikola Jokic. Denver can win the 00:29:01.589 --> 00:29:05.690 NBA title. Minnesota has a very high player in 00:29:05.690 --> 00:29:07.150 Anthony Edwards, but he's not the best player. 00:29:08.349 --> 00:29:10.269 And I don't even know who their second best player 00:29:10.269 --> 00:29:12.710 is. Nonetheless, none of them are top 10 or top 00:29:12.710 --> 00:29:15.769 25. So, no, they can't win the title. Warriors, 00:29:15.930 --> 00:29:18.690 again, Steph Curry is really high. Do you feel 00:29:18.690 --> 00:29:23.410 Jimmy Butler is a top 10 player? No. Now, they 00:29:23.410 --> 00:29:25.789 can make the case for top 25 with Draymond and 00:29:25.789 --> 00:29:28.130 Jimmy, and I would allow you to make that case. 00:29:28.269 --> 00:29:29.809 If you want to tell me the Warriors can win the 00:29:29.809 --> 00:29:32.170 title because of Steph, Draymond, and Jimmy, 00:29:32.309 --> 00:29:34.829 those are three top 25 players, I would allow 00:29:34.829 --> 00:29:38.029 you to make that argument. The problem is the 00:29:38.029 --> 00:29:40.230 best guy is out. He's injured. So I kind of pull 00:29:40.230 --> 00:29:41.650 them out of the mix. But if you want to tell 00:29:41.650 --> 00:29:44.029 me that those are three top 25 players and they 00:29:44.029 --> 00:29:45.769 can win the title, therefore, I will allow you 00:29:45.769 --> 00:29:49.250 to make that case. Cleveland. Outside of being 00:29:49.250 --> 00:29:51.730 down 3 -1, they don't have a top 10 player on 00:29:51.730 --> 00:29:53.970 the roster. Like, Donovan Mitchell could be it. 00:29:54.470 --> 00:29:57.670 Maybe. But if it's him, who's your another top 00:29:57.670 --> 00:30:01.390 10 guy? Nobody. Okay? Who's your top 25 guy? 00:30:01.609 --> 00:30:05.930 Is it Mobley or Garland? It's not both. So, therefore, 00:30:06.009 --> 00:30:08.049 Cleveland cannot win the title. Indiana Pacers, 00:30:08.150 --> 00:30:12.230 don't make me laugh. The New York Knicks, their 00:30:12.230 --> 00:30:14.450 best player is shorter than me. I love Jalen 00:30:14.450 --> 00:30:17.029 Brunson, but he's not a top 10 player. Him and 00:30:17.029 --> 00:30:20.990 Cat, they're not top 10 players. And then him, 00:30:20.990 --> 00:30:23.769 Cat, OG, and Inouye are not top 25 players, all 00:30:23.769 --> 00:30:25.470 of them. And then Boston, of course, they have 00:30:25.470 --> 00:30:28.150 Tatum and Brown. To me, two top 10 players. And 00:30:28.150 --> 00:30:30.009 if you want to expand it further, they have Tatum, 00:30:30.009 --> 00:30:32.049 Brown, Porzingis, and Drew. They might have four 00:30:32.049 --> 00:30:36.069 of the top 30. And that's not even talking about 00:30:36.069 --> 00:30:39.529 Derek White. So that's why I looked at Denver 00:30:39.529 --> 00:30:41.609 and Boston as the only two teams to win the title 00:30:41.609 --> 00:30:43.750 based on the course of human history or based 00:30:43.750 --> 00:30:46.869 on the course of NBA history. with a Warriors 00:30:46.869 --> 00:30:50.329 caveat if they were to get out of this round 00:30:50.329 --> 00:30:52.349 due to Steph's injury. Because they could also 00:30:52.349 --> 00:30:54.690 do it, like I say, with Steph, Butler, and Draymond. 00:30:56.029 --> 00:30:57.869 But let's get into these series. Oklahoma City 00:30:57.869 --> 00:31:00.329 and Denver, to me, is the most entertaining series, 00:31:00.369 --> 00:31:03.970 the most fun series. These games have come, I 00:31:03.970 --> 00:31:06.650 mean, game two was a blowout. Better than that, 00:31:06.670 --> 00:31:08.630 these games have come down to the wire. They 00:31:08.630 --> 00:31:12.150 have come down to battles late. Every single 00:31:12.150 --> 00:31:14.890 time between these two. The two MVP candidates 00:31:14.890 --> 00:31:19.349 and neither one of them are playing well like 00:31:19.349 --> 00:31:30.589 at all. I mean, it is pretty eye -opening how 00:31:30.589 --> 00:31:37.750 these teams are shooting the ball as of late. 00:31:37.950 --> 00:31:42.079 You got... Jokic struggling a lot. You've got 00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:44.019 Shea struggling a lot. It's been a lot of role 00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:47.259 players. Watch Game 4. Man, Game 4 was bad, man. 00:31:47.319 --> 00:31:56.240 Game 4. Game 4 was rough. Game 4, at one point, 00:31:56.279 --> 00:31:59.619 the teams were a combined 2 for 36 from 3. The 00:31:59.619 --> 00:32:03.440 Nuggets shot 19 % for a vast majority of the 00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:06.079 first half. They only kept the game close to 00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:08.519 the free throws. And it was one of those situations 00:32:08.519 --> 00:32:13.099 where, like, it was bad basketball. A lot of 00:32:13.099 --> 00:32:15.680 breaks. We had more air balls in the first half 00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:20.839 between the two teams than made threes. It was 00:32:20.839 --> 00:32:25.980 rough. In the second half, play picked up a little 00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:29.779 bit. And then you got to a good crunch time ending. 00:32:30.180 --> 00:32:34.269 And it was a pretty solid end of the game. But 00:32:34.269 --> 00:32:36.269 this series is interesting. Again, in order for 00:32:36.269 --> 00:32:38.170 me, in order for my theory to hold true, Denver 00:32:38.170 --> 00:32:39.849 has to win this series. I'm going to go with 00:32:39.849 --> 00:32:41.750 Denver to win this series. If I had to put an 00:32:41.750 --> 00:32:43.750 NBA finalist exact to bet, I would go Denver 00:32:43.750 --> 00:32:48.930 and Boston. Those are just my two teams that 00:32:48.930 --> 00:32:51.109 I just, like I said, the only two teams to me, 00:32:51.269 --> 00:32:53.410 based on the course of human history and NBA 00:32:53.410 --> 00:32:55.690 history, that can win the NBA title is Boston 00:32:55.690 --> 00:32:59.789 and Denver. All right, so Minnesota and Warriors, 00:32:59.990 --> 00:33:01.970 the Steph Curry Hamstring Series. For the first 00:33:01.970 --> 00:33:04.769 time in the history, second time in the Warriors 00:33:04.769 --> 00:33:06.869 history, this modern history, injuries have killed 00:33:06.869 --> 00:33:09.349 them. Of course, you remember the Kawhi Championship 00:33:09.349 --> 00:33:11.950 in Toronto. Boogie Cousins called it like the 00:33:11.950 --> 00:33:14.890 Hunger Games. Who's next? Like, who's next going 00:33:14.890 --> 00:33:17.609 to fall? Kevin Durant pops the Achilles. Klay 00:33:17.609 --> 00:33:21.890 Thompson pops the ACL. At one point, DeMarcus 00:33:21.890 --> 00:33:25.250 Cousins, he's down. Like, they're just so beat 00:33:25.250 --> 00:33:30.509 up. In that Toronto Raptors series, they were 00:33:30.509 --> 00:33:33.009 absolutely brutalized with injury. At one point, 00:33:33.029 --> 00:33:34.630 when Klay's down, Steph is sitting on the ground 00:33:34.630 --> 00:33:38.609 crying. It's just like there's nothing else they 00:33:38.609 --> 00:33:41.569 could have possibly done. And then this is the 00:33:41.569 --> 00:33:44.029 second time. So this team was built as kind of 00:33:44.029 --> 00:33:47.009 the last ride team. Draymond Green, reportedly, 00:33:47.150 --> 00:33:52.390 whenever they traded for Jimmy Butler, called 00:33:52.390 --> 00:33:54.690 Steph and said, hey, this is our last shot at 00:33:54.690 --> 00:33:56.519 it. We're going to go. We're going to go for 00:33:56.519 --> 00:33:59.660 it now. You know, I know we're the 10th seed 00:33:59.660 --> 00:34:02.740 or whatever, but with Jimmy on the team, we're 00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:05.059 going to go for it now. And so that's pretty 00:34:05.059 --> 00:34:06.440 much what they decided to do. And then Steph 00:34:06.440 --> 00:34:12.619 Curry hobbles and grabs his hamstring. Now, people 00:34:12.619 --> 00:34:15.639 will say that it is due diligence. It is comeuppance 00:34:15.639 --> 00:34:18.400 for the Warriors because they, all four of their 00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:21.940 titles, have a major injury asterisk at some 00:34:21.940 --> 00:34:27.960 point, usually to a point guard. in their dynastic 00:34:27.960 --> 00:34:30.139 run is that they deal they you know they get 00:34:30.139 --> 00:34:33.739 the benefit of the injury almost undoubtedly 00:34:33.739 --> 00:34:36.460 and unfairly every single time they get the benefit 00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:41.579 of the injury so that is um you know kind of 00:34:41.579 --> 00:34:43.539 a sad situation for Steph who's a boy to cry 00:34:43.539 --> 00:34:46.119 and hold his hamstring um in the locker room 00:34:46.119 --> 00:34:47.699 because you know he wanted to keep playing it's 00:34:47.699 --> 00:34:49.639 the playoffs you know they had built up this 00:34:49.639 --> 00:34:53.860 run in their heads where they were going to go 00:34:54.429 --> 00:34:56.849 And it's one last time. Go try and win it. And 00:34:56.849 --> 00:34:58.329 it looks like they won't even get the chance 00:34:58.329 --> 00:35:04.809 to with Steph's hamstring. The Cleveland Cavaliers 00:35:04.809 --> 00:35:09.000 and Indiana Pacers. The shocking series in the 00:35:09.000 --> 00:35:11.599 NBA, especially how it's been happening, the 00:35:11.599 --> 00:35:14.340 Pacers are just mauling the Cleveland Cavaliers. 00:35:14.460 --> 00:35:16.619 And the Cavs had injury issues between Garland 00:35:16.619 --> 00:35:19.900 and Hunter and Mobley, especially in game two. 00:35:20.079 --> 00:35:22.000 None of those guys I mentioned played, even though 00:35:22.000 --> 00:35:24.219 Cleveland probably should have won game two. 00:35:24.760 --> 00:35:26.500 Even though none of those guys I mentioned just 00:35:26.500 --> 00:35:28.659 played, Cleveland definitely should have won 00:35:28.659 --> 00:35:31.039 game two. And if they had won game two, this 00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:32.619 is a whole different series. This series is 2 00:35:32.619 --> 00:35:38.360 -2 instead of 3 -1. And then I also want to speak 00:35:38.360 --> 00:35:42.239 about how the Indiana Pacers, to me, well, the 00:35:42.239 --> 00:35:43.699 Indiana Pacers, not even to me, they're a 60 00:35:43.699 --> 00:35:47.300 -win team. The Pacers started off horrible. But 00:35:47.300 --> 00:35:49.480 then after, like, the first, like, 14 games, 00:35:49.659 --> 00:35:52.079 I don't know, first 20 -ish games of the season, 00:35:52.179 --> 00:35:56.860 the Pacers were a 60 -pace win team. And when 00:35:56.860 --> 00:36:02.969 you, good Lord, Derek White. I'm sorry, Derek 00:36:02.969 --> 00:36:04.309 White said his first three threes. I got the 00:36:04.309 --> 00:36:06.250 Pacers and the Knicks game on. I mean, Knicks 00:36:06.250 --> 00:36:09.130 and the Celtics game on. But whenever you have 00:36:09.130 --> 00:36:12.710 a team like Indiana, they were in the conference 00:36:12.710 --> 00:36:15.630 finals just last season, right? And so people 00:36:15.630 --> 00:36:17.989 kind of had high expectations of them. Then they 00:36:17.989 --> 00:36:20.610 lost early, a lot early. And so people kind of 00:36:20.610 --> 00:36:22.769 ignored them. And being in Indiana, it's pretty 00:36:22.769 --> 00:36:27.550 easy to ignore. And so people kind of ignored 00:36:27.550 --> 00:36:30.610 him, kind of brushed him off. And now they're 00:36:30.610 --> 00:36:32.889 up 3 -1 on the one seed. Now it's not a healthy 00:36:32.889 --> 00:36:35.150 one seed. It's a one seed that is nicked up, 00:36:35.210 --> 00:36:37.849 but it's the playoffs. You know, excuses don't 00:36:37.849 --> 00:36:42.610 exist. You have to produce. And so, you know, 00:36:42.630 --> 00:36:44.510 congrats to the Pacers for holding a 3 -1 lead. 00:36:44.789 --> 00:36:47.070 And then Knicks and Celtics. So this is a series 00:36:47.070 --> 00:36:51.849 that's not as shocking as Pacers and Cavs nationally. 00:36:53.119 --> 00:36:57.099 But the best player on the Celtics, hell, the 00:36:57.099 --> 00:36:59.420 second best player on the Celtics, probably better 00:36:59.420 --> 00:37:02.820 than the best player on the Knicks. And it's 00:37:02.820 --> 00:37:04.739 not from lack of talent. It's from lack of size. 00:37:05.380 --> 00:37:07.179 Jason Tatum and Jalen Brunson do a lot of the 00:37:07.179 --> 00:37:09.179 same stuff. The problem is Jason Tatum is 6 '8", 00:37:09.179 --> 00:37:11.639 6 '9", and Jalen Brunson is 6 '1". And that's 00:37:11.639 --> 00:37:16.480 being very generous on the 6 '1". I think this 00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:17.940 series is going to go 7. I think it's going to 00:37:17.940 --> 00:37:20.159 end up in Boston for game 7. Neither one of these 00:37:20.159 --> 00:37:21.559 teams seem like they want to run a home game. 00:37:22.360 --> 00:37:24.059 And I think that the Knicks, you know, bow their 00:37:24.059 --> 00:37:27.579 backs, get game five in Madison Square Garden, 00:37:27.679 --> 00:37:30.210 in Boston Garden. The Suds come back in Madison 00:37:30.210 --> 00:37:32.289 Square Garden in game six. And then all bets 00:37:32.289 --> 00:37:34.929 are off for a game seven. It's the most dangerous. 00:37:34.989 --> 00:37:37.429 It's the most fun two words in sports. Game seven, 00:37:37.429 --> 00:37:39.889 but it is fun. Boston is living and dying by 00:37:39.889 --> 00:37:42.030 the three. They shot badly for three in the first 00:37:42.030 --> 00:37:43.869 two games. They lost. They shot pretty good for 00:37:43.869 --> 00:37:45.949 three last game. They won. So they're going to 00:37:45.949 --> 00:37:47.849 live and die by the three. The Knicks have to 00:37:47.849 --> 00:37:51.050 continue to just pound them inside, make their 00:37:51.050 --> 00:37:52.750 open threes when they get them, because eventually 00:37:52.750 --> 00:37:54.730 Boston is going to start crashing. So make your 00:37:54.730 --> 00:37:57.619 open threes when you get them. And that is how 00:37:57.619 --> 00:38:01.639 the Knicks will win this series. But up next, 00:38:01.739 --> 00:38:03.260 we're going to shift to the NFL and talk about 00:38:03.260 --> 00:38:31.559 what's going on with the Shield. Welcome back 00:38:31.559 --> 00:38:38.360 into the show. Welcome into the NFL part of the 00:38:38.360 --> 00:38:41.099 show as we are firmly at the end, actually, of 00:38:41.099 --> 00:38:43.699 Rookie Minicamp. We've got our first look at 00:38:43.699 --> 00:38:46.139 rookies and jerseys. We've got, you know, Shadua 00:38:46.139 --> 00:38:49.500 Sanders in 12 orange. We've got Scataboo in like 00:38:49.500 --> 00:38:53.059 44 white and blue. We've got Abdul Carter in 00:38:53.059 --> 00:39:00.679 51. Travis Hunter in his teal 12. I mean, you 00:39:00.679 --> 00:39:05.960 know, it looks fun, right? It looks pretty cool. 00:39:06.000 --> 00:39:07.619 All those stars, especially because they were 00:39:07.619 --> 00:39:09.480 the first stars of the EA. They were the first 00:39:09.480 --> 00:39:11.840 stars of the expanded playoff. To see them on 00:39:11.840 --> 00:39:14.840 the NFL is pretty cool, not going to lie. But 00:39:14.840 --> 00:39:17.119 we had quarterback news before we really dive 00:39:17.119 --> 00:39:19.599 into minicamp. Derek Carr, after 11 seasons, 00:39:19.780 --> 00:39:23.139 has decided to retire from the NFL. The reason 00:39:23.139 --> 00:39:26.739 being is he was suffering from a labrum. A labral 00:39:26.739 --> 00:39:33.019 issue and a degenerative rotator cuff. So outside 00:39:33.019 --> 00:39:35.719 of having to get surgery in order to fix said 00:39:35.719 --> 00:39:38.320 labral issue, which is probably going to knock 00:39:38.320 --> 00:39:40.699 him out for the season, his rotator cuff is degenerating. 00:39:40.820 --> 00:39:44.739 So being able to play football as well as he 00:39:44.739 --> 00:39:46.780 would like was going to be virtually impossible, 00:39:47.159 --> 00:39:49.320 and because of which he decided to walk away. 00:39:50.619 --> 00:39:53.949 Now, that kind of helps both sides. For Derek, 00:39:54.050 --> 00:39:56.170 he gets to keep his $10 million signing bonus 00:39:56.170 --> 00:39:59.769 and roster bonus. However, he decided to forego 00:39:59.769 --> 00:40:03.909 and give, I guess, basically rip up the $30 million 00:40:03.909 --> 00:40:07.789 guaranteed he was supposed to be getting next 00:40:07.789 --> 00:40:11.730 season, allowing the Saints for instant cap relief. 00:40:11.969 --> 00:40:13.809 Now, they don't get the whole $30 million in 00:40:13.809 --> 00:40:16.860 one season. It's divided out half and half. For 00:40:16.860 --> 00:40:19.800 a team that constantly, and I do mean constantly, 00:40:19.880 --> 00:40:23.019 every single year find themselves north of negative 00:40:23.019 --> 00:40:26.360 $40 million a year in cap space. I'm being nice 00:40:26.360 --> 00:40:30.000 and saying 40 instead of 70. Instantly creating 00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:33.980 $16 million is golden. I mean, $16 million is 00:40:33.980 --> 00:40:38.260 two players. I mean, that $16 million is at least 00:40:38.260 --> 00:40:45.369 a player and a half. And so just. Rolling out 00:40:45.369 --> 00:40:47.550 of bed basically and collecting $16 million is 00:40:47.550 --> 00:40:50.690 huge for a team that is struggling and that is 00:40:50.690 --> 00:40:54.969 going to need all of the cap it could get in 00:40:54.969 --> 00:40:57.090 order to build a team around whoever the hell 00:40:57.090 --> 00:41:02.190 the quarterback is. But it also raised levels 00:41:02.190 --> 00:41:06.050 of concern for the New Orleans Saints not picking 00:41:06.050 --> 00:41:10.570 a Shador Sanders. Speaking of which, he has apparently 00:41:10.570 --> 00:41:13.429 been crushing Brown's minicamp. The reporters 00:41:13.429 --> 00:41:15.429 will tell you that. The broad social media page 00:41:15.429 --> 00:41:18.510 will tell you that. They are openly posting a 00:41:18.510 --> 00:41:22.110 lot of Shador content. Now, I will preface that 00:41:22.110 --> 00:41:24.409 by saying Shador is the ultimate cash cow right 00:41:24.409 --> 00:41:26.550 now, especially for that rookie class. So if 00:41:26.550 --> 00:41:28.250 I had an option between posting Dylan Gabriel, 00:41:28.530 --> 00:41:32.929 who many of the fans hooed, and Shador Sanders, 00:41:33.090 --> 00:41:35.170 who many of the fans cheered excoringly about, 00:41:35.289 --> 00:41:37.849 I'm going to post Shador Sanders. Now, also... 00:41:38.559 --> 00:41:41.260 backs what local media has been saying. Local 00:41:41.260 --> 00:41:44.139 media has been saying that it ain't close. Like, 00:41:44.139 --> 00:41:46.960 just watching them put on shoulder pads, jog 00:41:46.960 --> 00:41:49.159 out to the field, take the ball from center, 00:41:49.260 --> 00:41:52.099 and throw it, it's not close. It's Shador Sanders, 00:41:52.500 --> 00:41:55.880 which you knew that already. Dillon Gabriel's 00:41:55.880 --> 00:41:58.599 clips on Twitter, for the most part, is great 00:41:58.599 --> 00:42:03.590 defensive plays. It's a pick. It's a... bat down. 00:42:03.789 --> 00:42:06.630 It's something defensive. And he's the quarterback. 00:42:06.789 --> 00:42:09.070 So it's a very concerning time when a lot of 00:42:09.070 --> 00:42:12.250 your quarterback stuff is an interception or 00:42:12.250 --> 00:42:13.949 it's a bat down. It's a great defensive play. 00:42:16.110 --> 00:42:19.190 In other rookie news, the Cincinnati Bengals 00:42:19.190 --> 00:42:23.969 do not have any, I repeat, any of their rookies 00:42:23.969 --> 00:42:30.010 in too many camp. Reason why is 31 of 32 teams 00:42:30.010 --> 00:42:34.059 have a clause. That's basically if we draft you 00:42:34.059 --> 00:42:35.599 and you don't have your contract by the time 00:42:35.599 --> 00:42:38.920 camp starts, we're going to protect you probably 00:42:38.920 --> 00:42:41.900 with guarantees or whatever, just trade deposits. 00:42:42.320 --> 00:42:46.039 We're going to protect you from having to deal 00:42:46.039 --> 00:42:53.400 with so much of the system. We're going to protect 00:42:53.400 --> 00:42:56.019 you without you having to worry about an injury. 00:42:56.079 --> 00:42:58.940 You can just play football. You don't have to 00:42:58.940 --> 00:43:00.789 worry about like. Oh, I can't twist my knee. 00:43:00.849 --> 00:43:04.710 Oh, I got to sit out. Oh, whatever. 31 teams 00:43:04.710 --> 00:43:09.949 have that clause, except for the Bengals. The 00:43:09.949 --> 00:43:14.590 Bengals are the only team in the NFL to not have 00:43:14.590 --> 00:43:18.750 effectively an insurance policy on all the draft 00:43:18.750 --> 00:43:21.590 picks because you're going to logically need 00:43:21.590 --> 00:43:27.010 one for all draft picks. And so having that just. 00:43:27.769 --> 00:43:33.809 Handy would be incredibly beneficial. But regardless, 00:43:34.289 --> 00:43:38.389 the Bengals need to come with the times. Man, 00:43:38.409 --> 00:43:43.489 like, we are way past not having rookies in for 00:43:43.489 --> 00:43:48.449 language. That's inappropriate. George Pickens 00:43:48.449 --> 00:43:51.250 is headed to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for 00:43:51.250 --> 00:43:53.090 a third -round pick, and they swapped late -round 00:43:53.090 --> 00:43:56.329 picks. This makes them incredibly interesting. 00:43:56.429 --> 00:43:58.309 This makes them incredibly dangerous. I think 00:43:58.309 --> 00:44:01.210 it also makes them a bit of a powder keg. You've 00:44:01.210 --> 00:44:03.750 got CeeDee Lamb. You've got Dak Prescott's ego. 00:44:03.989 --> 00:44:06.389 You've got Jewish Pickens. Pickens has not been 00:44:06.389 --> 00:44:08.889 traded yet. If I am the Dallas Cowboys, I would 00:44:08.889 --> 00:44:14.369 have had that deal in place before. I would have 00:44:14.369 --> 00:44:16.449 had that deal in place before Pickens arrived 00:44:16.449 --> 00:44:20.670 in camp. Before Pickens becomes official, that 00:44:20.670 --> 00:44:22.769 just makes it easy for me. I would have had that 00:44:22.769 --> 00:44:25.170 deal in place. Whether that extension was going 00:44:25.170 --> 00:44:27.449 to be what it was, I wouldn't have made the trade 00:44:27.449 --> 00:44:30.670 without it because now... Okay, do I think you're 00:44:30.670 --> 00:44:32.550 going to lose him? No, I don't think you're going 00:44:32.550 --> 00:44:33.650 to lose him. I don't think you're going to lose 00:44:33.650 --> 00:44:36.210 him at all. Do I think it makes it interesting? 00:44:37.010 --> 00:44:39.110 Yes, I think it adds unnecessary complication. 00:44:39.909 --> 00:44:42.090 Now, you're basically trading him for a compensatory 00:44:42.090 --> 00:44:45.110 pick. So, if he walks out of the door, you'll 00:44:45.110 --> 00:44:47.389 probably end up getting a third -round pick for 00:44:47.389 --> 00:44:51.869 him in the compensatory draft. Or you're probably 00:44:51.869 --> 00:44:54.170 going to get a compensatory third -round pick 00:44:54.170 --> 00:44:59.210 for him. So, yeah. But, again, I think they have 00:44:59.210 --> 00:45:01.210 visions of Chase trying to give Dak every weapon 00:45:01.210 --> 00:45:04.929 on the planet. And I think that it is counterproductive 00:45:04.929 --> 00:45:08.699 to not have the deal in place. But it's like 00:45:08.699 --> 00:45:10.699 not having a deal in place. Pittsburgh Steelers 00:45:10.699 --> 00:45:13.480 have no deal in place for a quarterback. At the 00:45:13.480 --> 00:45:16.840 moment, it is a lot of I don't even know who's. 00:45:17.300 --> 00:45:20.360 And Rodgers seems to be dying out. No word they're 00:45:20.360 --> 00:45:23.579 going to make a move on Kirk Cousins. They decided 00:45:23.579 --> 00:45:26.480 to not draft the quarterback at all in the NFL 00:45:26.480 --> 00:45:28.679 draft. That might wreck a leg shot. No one in 00:45:28.679 --> 00:45:31.860 the first six rounds. And so they're just, you 00:45:31.860 --> 00:45:33.480 know, they're just out here. I don't know what 00:45:33.480 --> 00:45:35.179 they're doing. Trying to tank, trying to rebuild. 00:45:35.360 --> 00:45:37.579 I don't know. Mike Tomlin's not a tanking coach. 00:45:37.619 --> 00:45:39.980 He's going to win nine games from existing. But 00:45:39.980 --> 00:45:43.099 it is definitely not going to make his job much 00:45:43.099 --> 00:45:47.880 easier. But up next, we're going to talk about 00:45:47.880 --> 00:45:49.420 the Dem NBA and talk about what's going down 00:45:49.420 --> 00:46:19.289 there. Welcome back into the show. And now I 00:46:19.289 --> 00:46:22.449 want to talk about the WNBA as the W returns 00:46:22.449 --> 00:46:27.630 this Friday for the regular season. They open 00:46:27.630 --> 00:46:30.449 us up actually with a triple header of games. 00:46:31.989 --> 00:46:34.030 There's me and me charging correctly. So the 00:46:34.030 --> 00:46:36.309 Liberty closed the preseason out tonight. Yeah, 00:46:36.369 --> 00:46:40.389 triple header on Ion. So you're either going 00:46:40.389 --> 00:46:43.280 to get. So the 630 slot's either going to be, 00:46:43.340 --> 00:46:45.099 which I live in Louisiana, so hopefully I get 00:46:45.099 --> 00:46:48.360 this game, the home debut of the NBA regular 00:46:48.360 --> 00:46:52.340 season debut of Paige Beckers against the Minnesota 00:46:52.340 --> 00:46:56.559 Lynx, who are fresh off a title contending level 00:46:56.559 --> 00:47:01.139 run with Nafisa Collier. Or you'll get Atlanta 00:47:01.139 --> 00:47:03.500 Dream with their new big three, Ryan Howard, 00:47:03.699 --> 00:47:05.320 Brittany Griner, and I cannot think of the third 00:47:05.320 --> 00:47:08.449 person. And then the DC Mystics, who is going 00:47:08.449 --> 00:47:10.809 to be the Oklahoma City Thunder in a couple years. 00:47:10.929 --> 00:47:14.550 So much young talent on that team. And then everyone 00:47:14.550 --> 00:47:18.210 across the country is going to get Friday night 00:47:18.210 --> 00:47:23.769 the debut of the Valkyrie. The Golden State Valkyrie 00:47:23.769 --> 00:47:26.909 will host Los Angeles Sparks at 9 p .m. Central 00:47:26.909 --> 00:47:30.230 on Friday. So everyone is going to get that game, 00:47:30.389 --> 00:47:35.639 which I am not shocked at all. And then there's 00:47:35.639 --> 00:47:39.539 a triple header, a correct triple header on Saturday 00:47:39.539 --> 00:47:43.980 when the ABC Network picks it up. Aces and Liberty. 00:47:44.539 --> 00:47:46.739 So the two best teams in the league will square 00:47:46.739 --> 00:47:49.480 off, in my opinion. The two best players in the 00:47:49.480 --> 00:47:51.019 league are the Nefisa Call. You would have a 00:47:51.019 --> 00:47:52.840 conversation about that. And Brianna Stewart 00:47:52.840 --> 00:47:56.179 and Asia Wilson will play each other as well. 00:47:56.340 --> 00:47:59.679 But they'll play at noon on Saturday. I'm not 00:47:59.679 --> 00:48:01.820 sure what I'm doing Saturday, but WNBA is going 00:48:01.820 --> 00:48:08.289 to be high on that list. And then right after 00:48:08.289 --> 00:48:13.489 them, the battle that made everyone watch women's 00:48:13.489 --> 00:48:16.489 basketball. Say what you want. It's Kaitlyn Clark 00:48:16.489 --> 00:48:20.690 versus Angel Reese. It is Fever versus Sky. And 00:48:20.690 --> 00:48:22.789 that is at 2 o 'clock. And I'm sure whether that's 00:48:22.789 --> 00:48:25.449 in Chicago at the Wintrust Arena or that's in 00:48:25.449 --> 00:48:30.010 Indiana at the Pacers' home. I think it's at 00:48:30.010 --> 00:48:33.530 the Pacers' home right now. Barring NBA conflict. 00:48:35.389 --> 00:48:38.230 You know, that is going to be a game. Like I 00:48:38.230 --> 00:48:40.469 said, that got the entire league, that got the 00:48:40.469 --> 00:48:43.010 entire world watching. Kaelin Clark versus Angel 00:48:43.010 --> 00:48:44.449 Reese. You picked the side and you picked it 00:48:44.449 --> 00:48:49.889 early. And so, you know, the women's college 00:48:49.889 --> 00:48:55.869 basketball rating spiked with those two. The 00:48:55.869 --> 00:48:59.949 championship game spiked with those two. The 00:48:59.949 --> 00:49:02.670 draft lottery spiked with those two. The draft 00:49:02.670 --> 00:49:05.239 spiked with those two. Both of their games had 00:49:05.239 --> 00:49:08.119 the highest, some of the highest ratings of the 00:49:08.119 --> 00:49:09.760 season. Kaitlin, I think, had most of the high 00:49:09.760 --> 00:49:11.719 ratings. Angel sprinkled in some with Chicago. 00:49:12.539 --> 00:49:15.679 And then, of course, you, Jesus, Jason Tatum. 00:49:16.119 --> 00:49:22.840 And then, of course, you had the Liberty and 00:49:22.840 --> 00:49:24.900 the Aces and et cetera all sprinkled in as well. 00:49:25.820 --> 00:49:28.619 So, you know, WNBA is back. I do think they still 00:49:28.619 --> 00:49:31.539 have some issues. With their functional governing. 00:49:32.039 --> 00:49:36.500 As far as I think their marketing sucks. I think 00:49:36.500 --> 00:49:39.719 their marketing budget. Probably has to suck. 00:49:40.159 --> 00:49:42.039 Alright. At this point the Celtics are taking 00:49:42.039 --> 00:49:47.340 bad threes. And they're still going in. I mean 00:49:47.340 --> 00:49:48.800 literally. The one Peyton Pritchard just shot. 00:49:49.079 --> 00:49:51.019 Deuce McBride hands up before he even thinks 00:49:51.019 --> 00:49:58.679 about shooting. And he still makes it. But. You 00:49:58.679 --> 00:50:05.920 know, there's a lot of stuff wrong with the functional 00:50:05.920 --> 00:50:10.000 ability of the W, but it's grown a lot in the 00:50:10.000 --> 00:50:12.900 past couple of years. And they're a mainstream 00:50:12.900 --> 00:50:16.079 league. There's a lot of times, and Tatum, shout 00:50:16.079 --> 00:50:19.679 out, stepped back 27 footers. So the Boston Celtics, 00:50:19.760 --> 00:50:24.260 in a minute and 12 seconds, scored about 12 points 00:50:24.260 --> 00:50:29.139 on four straight threes. Tatum hits three, and 00:50:29.139 --> 00:50:31.119 then Peyton Pritchard hits another. And it goes 00:50:31.119 --> 00:50:34.900 from New York up 28 -27 with about a minute and 00:50:34.900 --> 00:50:46.460 some change left to Boston 39 -28 with end of 00:50:46.460 --> 00:50:53.139 the first quarter. So Blitzkrieg. But ultimately, 00:50:56.460 --> 00:50:59.320 which the phrase means lightning war, blitzkrieg. 00:50:59.320 --> 00:51:07.820 But ultimately, the WNBA is, like I said, they're 00:51:07.820 --> 00:51:10.739 trying to grow as this mainstream league, kind 00:51:10.739 --> 00:51:14.579 of as the plane is built. Now, you had a year 00:51:14.579 --> 00:51:18.679 to prepare, but even... as the biggest of WNBA 00:51:18.679 --> 00:51:20.820 fans, I didn't see that coming. I didn't see 00:51:20.820 --> 00:51:23.119 where they're going to sell out NBA arenas on 00:51:23.119 --> 00:51:24.860 a regular basis. And every time Kaelin Clark 00:51:24.860 --> 00:51:26.539 comes to town, they're going to have to move 00:51:26.539 --> 00:51:29.079 their game to the NBA arena because they're going 00:51:29.079 --> 00:51:31.360 to sell it out regardless of the team she's playing. 00:51:32.360 --> 00:51:34.940 Indiana's the home team everywhere they go. Like, 00:51:34.960 --> 00:51:37.900 it's a wild situation. And Chicago was getting 00:51:37.900 --> 00:51:40.019 that love from other teams, too. Like, the Chicago 00:51:40.019 --> 00:51:42.139 played Washington. They had to move it to the 00:51:42.139 --> 00:51:47.750 Reds arena. Like... It's pretty crazy. But they're 00:51:47.750 --> 00:51:49.969 dealing with it. They're figuring it out. Luckily, 00:51:50.030 --> 00:51:52.449 expansion's coming around this time, trying to 00:51:52.449 --> 00:51:54.849 get some of those more talented players in. So 00:51:54.849 --> 00:51:58.130 expansion's coming in. But all in all, it should 00:51:58.130 --> 00:51:59.570 be fun. They're setting up for a hell of a draft 00:51:59.570 --> 00:52:03.070 class in 26 as well. So this should be entertaining. 00:52:03.309 --> 00:52:05.750 But congratulations to the WNBA on becoming a 00:52:05.750 --> 00:52:09.210 mainstream sport. I will give my picks for the 00:52:09.210 --> 00:52:13.010 major awards. My WNBA champion is the Las Vegas 00:52:13.010 --> 00:52:16.889 Aces. I think Aja Wilson gets back on top because 00:52:16.889 --> 00:52:20.190 of it. I think my MVP is either Aja Wilson or 00:52:20.190 --> 00:52:23.130 Kaitlyn Clark. And I say Aja Wilson is my real 00:52:23.130 --> 00:52:26.489 pick, but I think if Indiana has a good season, 00:52:26.670 --> 00:52:29.809 Kaitlyn's going to win MVP. My rookie of the 00:52:29.809 --> 00:52:32.070 year is obviously Paige Beckers, and my DP of 00:52:32.070 --> 00:52:35.510 Y is going to be Aja Wilson. So ultimately, I 00:52:35.510 --> 00:52:37.230 think Kalen's going to win the MVP, and they're 00:52:37.230 --> 00:52:39.650 going to give Aja DP of Y as kind of a consolation 00:52:39.650 --> 00:52:41.849 prize. Even though I do think Aja Wilson is the 00:52:41.849 --> 00:52:44.570 best defender in the entire WNBA. Again, Nafisa 00:52:44.570 --> 00:52:48.130 Collier would have something to say about that. 00:52:48.230 --> 00:52:50.789 If the W has a most improved, that I think is 00:52:50.789 --> 00:52:52.909 Angel Reese. She just looks like a different 00:52:52.909 --> 00:52:56.230 player after Unrivaled, which was huge for a 00:52:56.230 --> 00:52:59.659 lot of the players' development. But that is 00:52:59.659 --> 00:53:02.460 all I have for you guys today. I hope you guys 00:53:02.460 --> 00:53:05.280 enjoy this night of playoff game. I say you guys 00:53:05.280 --> 00:53:08.159 will hear this Wednesday morning or Tuesday morning, 00:53:08.280 --> 00:53:09.800 I'm sorry, so you'll know what happens tonight. 00:53:10.039 --> 00:53:12.519 I guess I'll pick it real fast. The way Boston's 00:53:12.519 --> 00:53:16.320 shooting, give me Boston and Minnesota. Boston 00:53:16.320 --> 00:53:18.699 ties it up. Minnesota takes 3 -1 lead and all 00:53:18.699 --> 00:53:22.619 but ends the series as they will head back to 00:53:22.619 --> 00:53:25.789 Minnesota for game five. So that's my prediction 00:53:25.789 --> 00:53:28.690 as it sits. But we'll see what happens tonight, 00:53:28.789 --> 00:53:31.789 right? That's why they play the games. But anyway, 00:53:31.929 --> 00:53:33.789 this is your host, Justin Jackson. Thank you 00:53:33.789 --> 00:53:35.349 for rocking out with me. Signing out.