#25 - SNSW Hour 2 - NBA Predictions
On this episode of Missing the Point, it's hour number two of our monthly Sunday Night Sports Wrap.
In our number two: with the NBA tipping off this week, we give our official previews of what we expect to happen in the NBA in 2021. Will it be another title for the Lakers?
Will Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving own the East?
Will the Celtics finally get over the hump and make it back to the NBA Finals?
Stay tuned to hear our thoughts.
Tweet your questions to @MTPshow with hashtag #askMTP, email us at Craig@MTPshow.com, or leave us a voicemail on our website!
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So the missing point, it's our number two of our monthly Sunday night sports wrap. In our number two with the NBA tipping off this week, we give our official previews of what we expect to happen in the NBA in 2021. will be another title for the Lakers, will Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving only east. Will the Celtics finally get over the hump and make it back to the NBA Finals? Stay tuned to hear our thoughts. But first, some housekeeping. missing the point is a one hour podcast recapping the biggest stories in the world of sports with the New England flavour. The show notes and transcript from today's episode can be found in the description box below, as well as on our website www dot MTP show.com. If you're new to the show, please consider subscribing. It's the easiest way to see when we publish new episodes. We are on iTunes, Spotify, Google and wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to rate us and leave a review of any of our shows. We always appreciate your feedback. Let us know how we're doing and how we can sound better. Also, be sure to follow us on all of our social medias. All of our links will be in the show notes and check out our brand new website WWW dot MTP show calm, that's MTP show.com. And now this is missing the point. Well, it's all relative.
Dave Clarke:Moving on, so in into transition here, I did mention at the start of the show that we had a lovely guest Come on, from Celtics nation, Abby chin, the pre and post game host on NBC Sports. She was great. Bob, Ray and Mike, I had you guys on all three of us came over and interviewed Abby, I thought she was wonderful. She was so nice to give us her time. And she had a lot of very interesting things to say namely about one Kyrie Irving, which I think we all thought was quite interesting to get some insight into that because it's as Joe oft claims Kyrie is not his favorite player. And I think Joe enjoyed that interview for that reason. And, Craig, I think we have a little clip, little teaser clip of the FBI interview to play for the folks at home. You got that queued up. Here we go.
Rayshawn Buchanan:You mentioned
Michael Marcangelo:before that you that you came in here with the new guard. Right. And so you've been here since at 25 win season all the way through, you know, a couple of Eastern Conference final runs. You've been through it. And the guy that I want to mention now, Kyrie Irving, who has made some headlines recently about how he feels about people like us more particular you in the media and how we will not deal with them because they're pawns what what was your experience, like with Kerry? And how do these comments like really make you feel?
Abby Chin:he clarified those comments saying that he wasn't specifically speaking? Yeah, but um, I don't know. We're gonna give him the benefit of the doubt there. What I remember about Kyrie is he came in on that first press conference day and was gregarious and so excited to be there. And I remember scowl and Kyle and Mike all introducing themselves He's like, I know you guys have been watching you he was great. And I'm seeing seemed really excited to be there and you know, really had the charm on and then just slowly over those next two years, it just kind of fell away. I luckily was in on my second maternity leave with Silas, that press conference after the shoot around in New York where he said I don't know anybody anything. And I feel like that's really where the tides turned. And then I remember I told the story on air the other day, the we had, there was a practice right before their first postseason series. And that last season, he was here, and I asked him, you know, what do you take away from those 82 games because they were all over the place that season and and had really low lows and some really high highs where they looked amazing, like they did in that first round series against the Pacers. But
Dave Clarke:yeah, we love to have an Abby on a lot of great insight into the Kyrie Irving Celtics, the Isaiah Thomas Celtics, that interview is going to go live Tuesday, December 22. So right on our feed wherever you get your podcast, Instagram, sorry, Spotify, apple, podcast Stitcher, all the different podcast places you can listen to this talk to Abby. She was fantastic. So thanks. Shout out to Abby for that. A little bit more housekeeping. Craig. Have you done your Christmas shopping yet? I know we love asking ourselves this.
Craig D'Alessandro:I have I'm not sure if Joe has yet. I know we were just talking to him last night. They hadn't started yet.
Joe Malkin:I played babysitter yesterday. Well, my wife went on did some of it so that that was a help.
Dave Clarke:Well, Joe, you know you have kids and we have a wonderful sponsor. supplies a great crafts project for kids. And that's box Oh crafts Wow,
Joe Malkin:tell me about them.
Dave Clarke:So box Oh crafts is great bait they send you like a little package of different craft supplies that only got you can eat left, they've only got three last holiday boxes left. So if you want to get your kids a craft box that is fun for the whole family, you'd like Bobby said, You better hurry, don't walk, run to the box of crafts website and enter code, MTP for 15% off your order. boxercraft is a parent own company, they're super sustainable, everything they use is from recycled material. They're a great bunch of people that own it, and the kids are going to love it. And it's a great thing to do to distract them. Or if you want to participate with them, whatever you want to do. So boxercraft Go go get that. So moving on to the second part of the show, we're gonna switch gears from the NFL, which obviously we all care about quite a bit as if, you know, thankfully, we do this podcast on zoom so that like Bobby didn't punch me in the face in the last lesson. But, you know, at least we get along great during the NBA season. Right, Bob. So here we are moving on just like we reviewed our our NFL predictions. We're now moving on to making our NBA predictions because I snuck up on me, you guys but the NBA season is right upon us. You know the preseason games have been happening. And I know you can't glean a lot from that. But we got to figure out what's going to go on this NBA season. So it's the same teams, the teams are already adversarial. We need them to keep fighting. But I've given I've given myself a reprieve. I'm not going to be on a team. Craig's not gonna be on a team. It's gonna be two versus two. And I'm just going to host this prediction show. It's the West versus the east. The reigning looking like the reigning prediction game champions, the AFC team are we're not not quite yet. We're not naming them a winner yet anything can happen. But it's looking like the reigning champions that the AFC team will have the Western Conference and the NFC team and a chance to redeem themselves potentially, again, not not 100%. On will, we'll have the East where the Boston Celtics reside. We thought it was only fair since Joe and Ray had the Patriots, Bobby and Mike now get the Celtics. So I'm going to start off with the Western Conference, we're going to go through your 15th ranked to your 12 rank team. I want Ray and Joe to tell me why the stinkiest stinkers in the Western Conference are going to stink as bad as they do. So go ahead guys. Take it away.
Joe Malkin:So Ray Shawn, I've been I've been looking at our one through 15 here that we've put together and it's very interesting. Now that I've really had some time to put it together. And the more I look at it, the more I love it. And I'm gonna I'm gonna let you take the the four teams here on the bottom. But it's very interesting how they're going to move around after a very strange 20 2019 2020 season. So right, who do we have at the bottom? And why? Because I agree 100%
Rayshawn Buchanan:by so before we get into it, like what we're definitely get one of these things wrong for sure is gonna happen. Let's just put that out there. Right as a first, right, yeah, that's fair. Right. You know, but the 14 that we have from 12 to 14, so we have a 15 is Oklahoma City at 14. It is the Minnesota Timberwolves at 13 the Sacramento Kings and then at 12 the San Antonio Spurs. Now, this the thunder made a lot of moves in the offseason. So for those that are listening, you know, at this moment, Oklahoma City has more trading sessions in a new town. That's just how I see it. I'm Shay Gill, say gilders Alexander, who they got in the poll. George trade was really good for them. Last year, he played well with Chris Paul, but they traded Chris Paul to Phoenix to trade away Steven Adams to change the way Dennis shrewder so they do bring back al Horford but al Horford and everybody on this show and my mother and my grandmother so I'm just not sure what you can do. Grandma mom are very young. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Right. You know, so it's just like, it's amazing to me how people think he's gonna do well over there. But I just yeah, so that's why we have them at 15. And, you know, Minnesota, I mean, they've always sucked. I mean, we know the show, like, you know, they haven't been good since the Kevin Garnett era. Um, you know, they've had some decent players come through there. I mean, I do like Anthony Edwards. I like deselection. Um, but I just think that they, you know, they just jump so I just and they never perform well. So until they give us reason to think so they're just going to be you know, bottom feeders of the West. And then up at 13 with Sacramento. They got the guy that I was telling you guys about and I you know, I told Joe told you guys about on NBA free show that we did or draft review. I love Halliburton. I think calibre is going to be great. I don't agree with them, comparing him to magic. I don't know where that I can't even though magic says something about like magic. Just just worry about the Lakers. I don't worry about anybody else and giving predictions like, you were a great player, but you weren't that great of a GM or evaluator of talent, just just chill out. That's just my take on it. But, um, calibre is going to be good. Dr. Fox just got a max deal in the offseason signing $495 million, which to me was crazy. But then again, if you no one wants to go to Sacramento, so you know, they have to sign those APA guys, but I think that he's going to be someone that's going to be okay. But at the same time, in a 72 games season, they may win 2728 games, maybe? Um, and then it's weird, right? Because I feel like
Dave Clarke:we were high pawns on the Kings off seasons, the past few seasons, and it doesn't seem like it has really paid dividends, is it? Do you think that we're still waiting on those moves to come to fruition? Or do you just think that they're the wrong moves?
Rayshawn Buchanan:Um, I think it's a little bit of both, right. So I mean, you know, when you sign Harrison Barnes turn 90 something million dollars. Now, granted, I think a lot of people have been waiting for him to be that guy. You know, he was a number seven picker in 2012. And, you know, he went to, you know, just go to that love. You know, he went to he was a tar heel, he was a tar heel. So, um, you know, he was he was good at USC. But, you know, um, you know, he hasn't really panned out he did okay, and go to state obviously, he won the championship there in the 2014 2015 season, but rightfully so has asked got replaced by Kevin Durant as he shut up, because he's Kevin Durant's much better than
Dave Clarke:anybody can really get on the bus and Golden State and go win the championship, right? Yeah.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Right, right, but Right, exactly. Yeah, no, no, that's
Dave Clarke:true. I got looks to me, it looks to me like Bobby has some to say about that
Rayshawn Buchanan:guy. But, ya know, I
Rob Kelly:just think the biggest thing with the Sacramento team, if Dr. Fox can take that next step up, and Marvin Bagley can stay healthy, they do have a shot, I think to sneak into the playoffs. That's just my opinion. I really liked that. I really liked the Aaron Fox and I think buddy healed. I know he's been he's underperformed since he came out of Oklahoma. But I do feel like buddy hield does have another level two go to and I just hope Fox can get that out of them. But I do like Halliburton, though. I agree.
Rayshawn Buchanan:That's all. That's all. That's all Luke Walton. All right, because we're talking about coaching. Him and Luke Walton had a bit of a rift last season, and that's why he ended being on a bench. Right. So, um, but he could say he wants all the stuff he wants to say during in the media. I don't think he could stand Luke Walton. I mean, hey, I mean, it is what it is. But you got the contract last year big fella. Everyone was saying that she would ban Jalen brown the other guys that came out of the 2016 draft. You got it. You got to get yourself together managers play so we'll see. But then, to number 12, though, we had to send a Tony whispers they missed the playoffs for the first time since 1997. Last year, which is crazy to me, right. So and you know, for those for the younger Listen, that's when this guy Tim Duncan out of Wake Forest came up there. They had that
Dave Clarke:same team that whole run though, you know what I mean? Like they had essentially the same, right, but
Rayshawn Buchanan:they had they had the same core three, right, so Parker djanogly. And and Dunker, right. So it really didn't matter who they put around them, or why
Dave Clarke:was a stopgap in there a little bit. But I think that once those guys went away, we kind of knew the Spurs were going to be in for a pretty serious rebuild. And a pretty serious rebuild for a seam. That's but you know, we talked about this with the New England Patriots in the NFL, it's a pretty serious rebuild for a team, there have been perimeter printing winners, they're not going to have a lot of trade exceptions, they're not going to have a lot of cap space, and they're not going to have a lot of draft picks ready. So it might take a few years for them. Right. So you know,
Rayshawn Buchanan:yeah, I mean, I mean, even I mean, I like what they didn't have to they got Devin wsl out of Florida State. You know, Leonard Hamilton has a pretty good program down there. Trey Jones from Duke, you know, was a good pick in the second round. So, you know, they got a piece of Lonnie Walker out in Miami, the guy like amperes ago. Yeah, I like him, too. I hate that. I hate that he cut his hair though. I'm like, dude, I gotta keep it.
Dave Clarke:But that's where the power is. You can't Don't lose your powers. Right. As
Joe Malkin:far as roster re is good. But it's not a bad roster.
Rayshawn Buchanan:No, it's not. But it's got to be healthy.
Rob Kelly:Do you think? Do you think the Rosen makes it the whole season there?
Rayshawn Buchanan:It's I mean, but I could I don't know if you haven't in front of you, john. I don't know his his number his salary numbers for this year? Um, I know, he's in the last year of his deal. But I think that he, um, I think if they're going to get something back, I think they need to move him by the trade deadline, which should be I guess, March, April. Now this year.
Dave Clarke:It's a little strange with the Spurs too, right? Because they had that core for so long and they move some pieces around them but they're not big traders. You know what I mean? They don't get on the trading floor like a time. Yeah, they were involved in that to Rosen deal. You know, stuff like that. And kawhi became like a talking point, but I don't think Popovich is the kind of guy that goes and splashes, big moves on blockbuster players and then goes
Rayshawn Buchanan:out of style. Nope,
Dave Clarke:not at all and agency. Yeah, and I think he also improves players that a lot of other teams are Coaches couldn't improve, you know, and I I'm worried a little bit of the NBA the way that the NBA is moving is gonna leave Popovich behind. And that's
Joe Malkin:Oh, yeah, without a doubt, we talked about that in the NFL. Right. We talked about what the what the 40, Niners were pre salary cap pre free agency before 1993. And what the Patriots were after that, you know, Popovich is very much like a Bill Belichick of the end of the NBA. So we're sure that's, that's really the biggest piece where you look at that team and say, all right, they have pop, they still have a chance at the playoffs. But it's just like us with the Patriots this year, right? Like, let's not hold our breath, because it's still going to be a good team because of pop de mardiros. And all these guys, and if they trade duros in and he can bring in some pieces, then maybe we can change our minds, and we can put them into those bubble teams or into the playoffs, but it's not going to be very high.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Yeah. All right. Can we agree? So yeah.
Dave Clarke:Those are the bad teams of the West. I think added it's not much to argue with me on there. Is there any any extreme criticism from the east team for those stinky West teams, or do you want to go go on to your guys's selections?
Michael Marcangelo:I actually agree. I think that the that the thunder are probably going to be tanking for the number one overall pick. I just don't think that there's any talent on that team. And I also I also think that having a shorter season probably helps the Spurs get more wins. So I don't think they might not be as bad as you think they're going to be because they have a great head coach. Yeah,
Dave Clarke:I mean, they still have Popovich.
Rob Kelly:Sacramento has more upside than you guys are giving him credit for. But again, it's a I don't think it would be crazy if they finished that low. Right. So I don't disagree. I think they have more upside I think they could finish higher. But again, that's not you know what I mean? That's maybe
Joe Malkin:wrong about it's it's them if there was a team that I would want to be wrong about in the West, it's any San Antonio team because it's a small market. We like to see small market succeed for the most part. We like to see Gregg Popovich succeed. So that would be the team I would want to be like, Alright, good.
Rayshawn Buchanan:I'm glad we were wrong on that. Like Can I can I can I be Can I be honest for a moment like the only reason why I kind of crap on San Antonio light. Listen, I wanted Marvin bachlin in Boston badly like out. I was like, Look, man, like this 611 capacity. I was like, Listen, man, like, if we could get brown Tatum did badly and three consecutive years, like let it happen?
Unknown:I don't even want to think about that.
Rayshawn Buchanan:I know. I'm a little salty about that, that we didn't do. Dope, but it's all good. So that's why they're gonna start up right here first.
Joe Malkin:Just to put a bookend on your comment about the Rosen's contract he is in the last year. He's making 27.7 this year.
Rob Kelly:Oh, so that was an expiring deal. Right there. That's
Rayshawn Buchanan:so that so that makes it easier to move on. So
Dave Clarke:yeah, a little bit easier that easier than I thought. All right. So to the Eastern Conference, tell me in the many teams you honestly in the east, in the bottom five, you have to choose from who's going to be the worst, tell me who's going to be the worst. And who's going to be 12 through 14.
Michael Marcangelo:I've no actually because I'm so magnanimous and generous. And I know my strengths. Bobby's going to lead us through the basement of the Eastern Conference from 15 to 12.
Rob Kelly:So in the basement to me, and I don't think there's any doubt about this, that's the New York Knicks. They're in the basement. They're not climbing out anytime soon. I love the moves they made this year I love bringing in od I love RJ Barrett. I love tibideaux. But I just don't think that this team has and I think they finally have accepted their identity of we need to be in the basement and actually try and draft and work our way out of here. rather than waiting for that big
Dave Clarke:free agent rather than the plan of having no plan. Right. Exactly, which is what they've done for the last few seasons feel
Rob Kelly:like they are on that track. But again, they still suck so they're 1514 I think this would be a surprise to some. I think the Hornets are going to be absolute garbage this year. I think the Gordon Hayward contract to me is it just an abomination? He's already hurt you ever Terry rozier contract in abomination yell ball? Who is he's gonna be good magic. Can I just say I think the Hornets are going to be garbage this year. And
Dave Clarke:I just say like 14 I've been I've been I hate to interrupt your flow, but I've been down on on ball and my whole Instagram is just preseason ball highlights right now. Like the dude is legit. He's a problem. I just I know. But it's like he did
Michael Marcangelo:like Carson Edwards drop eight, three pointers.
Rob Kelly:Yeah, dude, he's
Dave Clarke:doing stuff. He's doing stuff. That's like I did not know he had in his locker he's doing he's making passes that that, you know, six and seven year veterans need to be making like, the guys legitimately good. I would be shocked if he doesn't have if he's not the Rookie of the Year. I would be shocked if he's not.
Michael Marcangelo:Well, he might be but i think i think there's gonna be in 14. I mean, I don't think they're any better. Because Hey, we're,
Dave Clarke:I think that elephant Personally, I'm not on your team. You know, because you guys didn't want me in team anymore. But I think that i think that that elevates them again. have teams like the pistons and the bulls, you know, like, I don't have anybody like that. But that's just me. It's your prediction. So like, I
Rob Kelly:just think that that Gordon Hayward contract to me is just it sticks out to me is hurt again. Right? He's already hurt. It's like, What?
Unknown:What were you expecting?
Rob Kelly:You know what I mean? It's like you what do you do it? So that's why they're 14 to me. I also agree with you on the ball saying I was not high on him coming into the draft, watch this tape from overseas and it did not impress me at all. But this preseason, he's, he's looks like something else, man. 13 is the Cavs again. dumpster fire. Andre Domine. Drake, Tommy, Andre Drummond. Andre Drummond and Kevin Love, aren't going to take you to that. Next up, I get that they're both serviceable big men. But if all your team is built around is Collin Sexton and servicable Big Man, you're in trouble. Chicago Bulls. All they have is Zach Levine. That's it. The bulls are garbage that I don't have anything else said about bulls. bulls are garbage.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Well, okay, so i don't i don't i don't disagree with the four teams. Um, I think all those teams were scenes in these for sure. Um, I just now, I disagree with who you have number 12. Silent seven. What's going on? Mike? I just thought okay, so to both. So, Coby White was pretty good for last year, then he was like 13 and five, so
Rob Kelly:I'll call it I met I met Kobe, white. Not bad. Yes. Yeah.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Well, I mean, well, I mean, no, exactly. Being is also a problem, too. So I mean, you you were you were correct with that one, but I just I think that I'm as bad. I mean, even though Charlotte historically has been awful. I really liked devonte Graham man like, I think I think he is someone that gets buckets. I remember last year on the eight threes. He had in the garden and me in the crowd was buzzing for him. They had they had an opposing player. I mean, they had an opposing player had him going crazy. So I just felt like he's someone that needs to eventually start starting over and Terry rozier sorry, scary, Terry. But to me, you're not as good as you thought that you you know, we're going to be coming out of Louisville, you've had some decent moments for sure. And don't get me wrong, but not as good
Rob Kelly:as in four years for 70 million.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Right? Yeah, exactly. But it's like, a grand man that that dude is to me, he's gonna be special. Right? Um, and I mean, honestly, and this is this is where like, I mean, I don't think they would make the playoffs but it's like if if Hayward was to be healthy and great. We keep saying African is the biggest effort. That's been since 20. St.
Unknown:Louis, we don't have to worry about that anymore.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Exactly. Correct. Um, I just felt like he was someone. They could be on that bubble. Maybe a seventh AFC, maybe, maybe? And I'm sure you're gonna talk about Orlando being a bubble, or it seems like you know, sooner or later but, um, but yeah, but I mean, far is like it seems like the end of next year. They're definitely definitely heading in the right direction we would have drafted this year. You know, when you draft Obi toppin when you draft? I got it at one two Celsius to get Daniel oturu. Who was on? Oh, God was he Oh, he's a senator from Minnesota. Data really did a really good job on
Michael Marcangelo:data. They have a outlandish amount of cap space going into. Yes, they
Rayshawn Buchanan:did. Correct.
Michael Marcangelo:Yeah, they're they're doing it. They're gonna do something big next offseason Or else, they're there.
Rayshawn Buchanan:That's what they always think though. Yeah, I
Joe Malkin:have one question. Who did you guys have 15th
Michael Marcangelo:we had the New York knickerbockers. Alright,
Joe Malkin:so I had to use a little boy's room for that one. So I missed that one. However, I honestly believe that the Charlotte Hornets are too high. And the reason why I think they're too high at 14 is because as much as Kyrie Irving lives in my head, so does the ball family. Because until I'm proven otherwise, all three of those kids are fraudulent until they do something,
Michael Marcangelo:I mean, and can be a great player. But that doesn't mean that they're going to do anything. I think 14 is probably their ceiling right now, especially if Gordon Hayward is not healthy. Because it would mean that he would have to be healthy and then be an all star and then all their depth and and bench players actually performed pretty well to even have a shot at the eight seed. That's not going to happen. He's not healthy, which is why there's they're just better than the next by a little bit. And that's it.
Dave Clarke:I'm high I'm hiring both the Knicks and the Hornets then you guys but um, you know my pain doesn't matter here. So I guess we'll see as we go in,
Joe Malkin:going back to them didn't put yourself on a team. I don't understand what
Rob Kelly:he's saying. He keeps saying subtle shots.
Dave Clarke:Creating an error. Or just creating a narrative guys, like try to keep up don't bring down the whole fucking fourthwall here.
Unknown:Yeah. Jesus was
Dave Clarke:not supposed to. You're not supposed to say it while we're in the ring. Okay, I feel so, the bubble teams to the Western Conference, tell me why you guys have the teams that you have. That might be good might be bad, but aren't probably going to end up mattering. Go
Rayshawn Buchanan:Okay, so from lemington nyasa 11 we have Portland So, uh, so Joe, I'll ask you like, you know, what do you, you know, are you a fan of Damian Lillard? Do you think he's a good player? Like do you think he's kind of like a good leader? Like, you know, how do you how do you think his career has gone so far in Portland?
Joe Malkin:I like Damian Lillard. I think their biggest issue in Portland is Carmelo Anthony. That's the biggest issue in Portland because he's been an issue everywhere he's been good player. good shooter, right? Like we know Carmelo can play. He always has been able to play but I think he's a problem. I like the ns canter signing in Portland. I that that one I really do. Like Damian Lillard, I think, I think is a good piece there in Portland, I think you're right on or we're right on putting them at number 11. Just for the simple fact that I don't think they're going to be bad with the roster that they've put together in the Pacific Northwest. But there's nothing to write home about at least not yet.
Dave Clarke:So right random ask you something. Okay. Let me ask you something. Are you are you are you about to insinuate that you're saying the Portland Trailblazers are gonna be the 11th seed in the West. So like, I don't think Dane can be the best player on a team that wins a championship.
Rayshawn Buchanan:I know. We know how you guys feel about point guards. But no, i'm, i'm not i'm not basing it off. Yeah,
Unknown:I know. But it was my take originally just for the record.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Right. I know the narrative, right narrative.
Joe Malkin:But since he's not a team on a team, his opinion doesn't matter.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Matter, right? No, it's really not about damos why I picked them 11th I think that so use of nourish has been their big man of the last few seasons. He's really been a guide and made them go. So when they went to the conference finals four years ago, and got swept because going to state, you know, he really was a guy that really meant the middle and really just gave them another option, right? So you know what you're going to get out of McCollum and Lillard right? Because they they're going to score they're going to get buckets when it matters. That's just how they are. But, you know, you're you're nervous was that defensive presence? You know, he was the guy who's gonna get you an automatic Double, double. So I just feel they're they're not at full strength. They're still going to server like how they struggled last year, they just got into the playoffs last year, they won a game one game. Yeah. Right, you know, saying so I just don't see them really being down. But if everyone comes together, then who knows? Maybe they jump into a top eight or top six. But I think just right now how it's currently constructed. And like Joe alluded to, right? Um, Melo hasn't always been that cancer, but he has moments when he can be right and because I
Dave Clarke:think he's I think he's been buying in and Portland of all places.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Well, guess what? Because he couldn't. He has to now. Right? Um, and then you know, rated mellow now? I know. I see that. That's dope. But
Dave Clarke:still my favorite one How do you vote email is still my favorite because he doesn't
Rayshawn Buchanan:miss so could we didn't touch on this. But, uh, do you think do you think mellow accepts a roll off the bench this year?
Unknown:Yes. Yeah, I
Joe Malkin:think he has to. I mean, he's at Portland. And it's because he has to. Yeah, but but I think you're absolutely right, that he's buying in because he's also not in a big market anymore. Right. Like, he's not, he's not the guy and he's not expected to be and I feel like if a lot of other professional athletes in any sport accepted that role, when they're a good piece on a team. We can talk about this when we get to it, but Marcus smart is kind of one of those guys, like, just accept what your role is. And everything will fall into place. I feel like if Melo was just that guy, like obviously he was a dude coming out of out of Syracuse like he was he was the guy that found everything. Right, like that's who he was at that point in his career. And that fell off after a few years and now he's at this point, which if he can buy in and Portland can play well, I mean, I don't think anybody's getting past a few teams in the West. Definitely not Portland, but I mean, they can at least do something with him if he's a role player and, you know, shuts up in place so
Rayshawn Buchanan:right, exactly, exactly. Um, and as I saw that's all that we mean it's nothing more nothing less so you know?
Joe Malkin:Yeah, the smallest roster in the NBA
Rayshawn Buchanan:the Portland what at what sort of debt but that's that's why I'm saying about nerds like he has to be out there because he's seven foot seven foot one. He's going to get to double doubles. Like he's gonna play really good defense so that that's the guy they really need and it you know, they lost a solid white side in the offseason because he went back to Sacramento. So they brought
Rob Kelly:in a pretty good piece to replace him. Yeah, no, no, I mean, our job is pretty good.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Yes, yes. Yeah. I forgot the sound over there for
Michael Marcangelo:you. Are you down on Robert Covington to like I'm pretty sure like he's gonna make their defense that much better. Yeah. From Yeah,
Rayshawn Buchanan:get so. Oh, you know what? That that's that's that's a good look. I forgot about coming to one up there. I forgot he got down a few times.
Dave Clarke:But you can't change it. Now. We're already locked. Up. Tell me about about your 10 and you're not
Rayshawn Buchanan:right. Yeah, good. So good, good save there, Dave. Um, but uh, so, so 10 we had the neuromas, pelicans and then a nine was the Houston Rockets. And that's probably going to be the shock of the list maybe. But the reason why I had no we had pelicans at 10. You know, obviously, Zion is the big attraction. You know, I think the NBA is looking to market him to be what LeBron has been, um, because he knows on every national television game, he's done some commercial
Dave Clarke:Yeah, but he's not right. He's not the player LeBron is but yeah,
Rayshawn Buchanan:right. But no, I'm saying but just I mean, from a physically I mean, we haven't seen something like this as LeBron James, if we're being honest. He just has to be in shape. And I think if I if I am Zion, I'm calling the brawn and saying, hey, you've done this for 18 years,
Dave Clarke:how I paid a million dollars a year to a nutritionist and a physical trainer.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Right is that but I mean, but I say if you want to get that type of money, if you want to be the marquee guy, that people that the guy that fans come to see, they make that phone call, it's just that plain and simple.
Joe Malkin:That's just a tough spot for him to be in one when he was playing in a market like New Orleans and to win there are guys like LeBron and Yanis. And Kyrie and Katie like it's just that's not that's not an easy spot for him to get into. And it's not he's
Dave Clarke:not gonna he's not gonna play out he's not gonna play any years after his rookie contract in New Orleans I can I can personally guarantee that.
Rayshawn Buchanan:We also we also debate about that, but yeah, honestly, when he shows the state so I mean, it can happen Milwaukee goes wrong.
Joe Malkin:It's a small it's a small market, but you
Rayshawn Buchanan:have a million reasons to stay. I mean, but um,
Rob Kelly:yeah, different dudes.
Dave Clarke:Yeah, and it goes a long way in Wisconsin. Wait,
Rayshawn Buchanan:he's he's 20 years old blog. We don't know what he is yet. Well, actually, no, no.
Joe Malkin:We also do because we've talked about it and we can all agree and we all we all did agree. So let's agree outwardly on on our live Sunday night sports rap here that players that come from Europe, the very good ones are a different breed than the guys that are like, Oh,
Unknown:yeah, honestly,
Joe Malkin:Yanis isn't a dude that's gonna go out and there's gonna be like, Hey, I got it. I want to be the face. I gotta make this money. And I don't think that Zion is either, but I think Zions more that that guy I think what you just said is if they can make him the marquee guy, which I just don't think he is right now. But they eventually couldn't make him that guy he he wants to be that guy. I don't think Ghana stops I think Jonas wants to win the champion win championships and make his money and play basketball
Rayshawn Buchanan:right and just chill right? Yeah, no, I feel you I feel you So no, that's that's valid so you know we can leave it at that for neurons but on a for Houston. Really? It just banks on what what James Horner is going to do we're going to do with them right right but so saying so if he if he leaves
Dave Clarke:there right though if he it's not a surprise to put them there because if he leaves or he stays as fat as he is, you know, you're not gonna win.
Rayshawn Buchanan:I'm not mad about the 100 ones. Okay, so I'm not mad about that. So let's just be honest about that. I'm not mad about the honey bus but
Rob Kelly:I tuned in Baker overnight
Rayshawn Buchanan:No, but I just I just think that you know, I like to Krishna would signing for Houston on that's someone I thought that could be a replacement here in Boston. I'm especially for the money he and him getting they gave the same money to him today. We got four trips, it's often so Oh, no, that's not sure we got 41 million Nevermind. We weren't paying 14 million every time but he has a pretty good talent. Um, but you know, when you have a new coach is always hard to kind of establish that culture right away. Unless you have a top tier player. Now they do because heart is there but like you said he's made it clear. He doesn't want to be there. I thought it was so funny. That when Ramona Ramona Ramona Shelburne and and what would you have reported like oh, like the moves or john roll and you know jamarcus cuz they're just didn't move them and I just bust out laughing I'm just like, well Damn, like, you know, wait way to throw your new teammates under the bus. But um, I don't know how you feel about cousins of wall Joe. I'm not a fan of Well, I'm a fan of Boogie cousins. But I am not a fan of john wall.
Dave Clarke:JOHN. john was
Rayshawn Buchanan:my Kyrie Joe. I can't I can't stand them. Um, I disagree. He throws all these gang signs but this is the this is the game sign. So how about that?
Dave Clarke:I thought it was funny when he popped up on the table when they won a game six when we had exactly like you know, champions don't champions don't see. They don't celebrate like that
Rob Kelly:when they were on that series, didn't we?
Joe Malkin:Yeah, that was a lot of guys who came out of that that era of drafts that had that attitude similar to john wall. I feel like it was just they thought they were something before they were something and I agree like good basketball players right? But that that organization down there, especially with harden and then bringing these two guys like that that has the ability to be Really good, or an absolute dumpster fire and neck? And if they don't move James Harden? I think it goes towards the dumpster fire end of the spectrum real fast and they finish lower than that nine spot.
Dave Clarke:I think they'll be worse if harden stays. I mean, I think that's a valid thing.
Unknown:Well, yeah, I
Joe Malkin:think
Unknown:they're, well,
Joe Malkin:I think they'll be worse in the standings, if he leaves just because of the play the the the overall player that he is right. Like, I've never felt the same way about James Harden as I do about Kyrie because he's not as outward about it. But they're both really good players and very good talents. And you have to recognize that like, if James Harden is on the floor, that team has a chance to win. And it's been like that. It's been like that most of his career, Mike, and I know you're
Michael Marcangelo:not James Harden.
Joe Malkin:No, you're absolutely you're absolutely right. And and if James Harden is on that team in Cleveland, in the same situation, Kyrie is they probably don't win that championship, like, you know what I mean, like points at that
Dave Clarke:point being that harden is gonna move on, we don't know where he's gonna go. And, you know, as much as I like James Harden as an offensive player, we can't make this James Harden show because it's just too much NBA Twitter drama, so we have to move on. I do. Take your point, though, Joe, I think you're I don't think you're wrong about that. We're going to move over to the east. And Bobby, tell me about your bubble teams.
Rob Kelly:Alright, so bubble teams. We have, in my opinion, a lot of people who have this team at the bottom, I don't think that they are going to be as bad as influence thinks they're going to be honest. That's the Detroit Pistons. I actually don't hate the Detroit Pistons again. I think that they have a couple of veterans who have a lot to prove. Again, I don't think they're gonna be good. But I think Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose can lead this team into that bubble area. And I think that they do have something moving forward with them. Other than than they don't have much I like Troy Weaver. I like Jeremy grant. And also Kilian Hayes coming in, he's a great addition. But I think that they have a chance to get on that bubble like I really
Michael Marcangelo:did. If Blake Griffin goes back to this 24 and a half, seven and a half and five and for statline. From like 20 1821 and Derrick Rose stays healthy and plays as well. This team could make us look bad. I mean, because there's enough there. I just don't think it's gonna happen. I mean, I think 11 is probably a pretty good place for them.
Rob Kelly:Kilian Hayes is good. He's really good. Yeah, he's gotta be
Dave Clarke:they might be they might be served by a 72 game season more than some of the other teams on your bubble, considering the injury prone veterans they have on their team. But yeah, I think that's I think that's fair enough. whose job?
Rob Kelly:Can we have the magic? I don't hate the magic. I just don't see them being better than the teams that we have above them. I like Cole Anthony the rookies I brought in. I really like Aaron Gordon. I've always liked him. I know he's underperformed but I think he's just an athletic freak. If he could develop a jump shot, Matt would be all over with him. And I think Markel faults, I think we'll actually see something out of him this year. Do you? I do. I take I think that this is based on what they he wasn't bad last year. And when he had the whole year in that system he actually had in, he wasn't, he wasn't what he was supposed to be. Thank God, we traded that first pick back. Okay.
Dave Clarke:You could feel it when it was happening. They were like, I don't think I want him like he was just worried about it. Yeah,
Rob Kelly:agreed. But I think I think that we're never gonna see him get to that superstar status but I think he could fall into that range of like Eric Gordon type player like someone like that, who does have who's like right in that middle range and I think that that's why I do have them right at 10 and then
Michael Marcangelo:I also think that like, unlike the Detroit Pistons, like where they could actually go and make make a run into the playoffs, like 10 is the highest probable spot for the magic. I think they just they have not done anything like anything major to replace Jonathan Isaac. And until they do that, right. He's this team who he was a borderline Defensive Player of the Year last year before going out with an injury and there's no real replacement that they've made for him. So I think 10 is probably their best Bobby Are you still there? Should I go on with number nine
Rob Kelly:No, I'm here Yeah, no, I was oh wait my camera go off again.
Michael Marcangelo:Oh, yeah. We got oh
Unknown:my god
Joe Malkin:Can I can I just say real quick while during that during that segment there marquel folds picking the trade of that pick bye bye Boston as much as I we us rip apart Danny for some of the things that he does and has done in the recent past very recent past. That was such a good move
Michael Marcangelo:when he Well,
Unknown:yeah, but
Joe Malkin:right because it was kind of an if at that point, right. Like everybody was like all Markel faults, Markel faults but Ray was never super high on Mark alpha. So now you like I'm gonna take Ray's opinion on a guy over a lot of other people because you know, Encyclopedia Britannica. As I said earlier, but it just it made so much sense and it was such a good move just speaks to Danny's ability. But
Michael Marcangelo:Bobby and I actually battled over the number nine tech like this is a text exchange. This lasted for 24 hours. Yeah. So what we what we ended up going with again because I'm just I'm just going to defer to Bobby is number nine is the Washington Wizards. And it's because I think you know, even with Russell Westbrook, big on going to that team, we think more of the eight seed then we do have the 92 Bobby can give you a little bit more in depth and, you know, analysis on the wizards.
Rob Kelly:So I just think that the wizards you know, obviously when you saw wall and Beal together they were special. It's just a matter of how Westbrook and Beal play off of each other. If Westbrook can take the heat and actually become Russell Westbrook that we saw in Oklahoma City where he's putting up triple doubles every single night, and Beals putting up 30 and Burt hands is sitting there waiting for those open threes. Yes, this team can absolutely make some noise. But I don't see that happening. I think Russell Westbrook right now is is trashed. He's washed and I don't think Russell Westbrook is the answer for a team to actually have a legitimate shot to make noise in a league and even possibly get into the playoffs. I don't see it happening
Dave Clarke:I think that's I just I just can't believe you're so low on on Russell Westbrook after like you know getting thrown around a bunch of different teams I get it you know him plane is all out
Rob Kelly:Why is he getting thrown around all these teams?
Dave Clarke:Well because of the style of point guard that he is can win you a championship as well as I've always said, but the but also Bradley Beal I love Bradley Beal like how if you're a basketball fan How can you not love that bro I love
Rob Kelly:you. I think Westbrook was the wrong person from the bringing there man I really do I don't think he's the answer that I think
Dave Clarke:that's a fair call because he hasn't been the answer anywhere he's gone but it's guys that's tough
Joe Malkin:because of him.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Right No, right Right. Right right thank you Joe right exactly facts but anyways but no i i agree Bobby um you know to an extent but I don't think that Westbrook has to be MVP Westbrook and that's the problem was first he has to be MVP Westbrook and that's why you know the things have happened the way they've happened right? I'm Bradley Bradley bills team. Here's the younger guy. He's the guy that I was ever started last year. That's the guy that should be getting the brunt of the Westbrook weapon be the guy he has to if Washington's gonna get to a point he may not but it's like I feel like Washington for Washington to be the best version of themselves as they always say now it has to be built being that guy you know six five guy who can run soft screens really well just shoot really well plays defense really well and actually is a pretty good playmaker himself. I'm I'm very high on that Davis bertans I wanted him to come to Boston also during the during the trade deadline last year and I'm like whoa, if we're looking to get better shooters this man she was 42% from three bring him to Boston like this. it to me is a no brainer but um I guess they didn't want to do a rental for a guy that was going to get paid when he got paid which was like 16 mil a year but um, I like hush hush amaura got a got a couple years ago on the draft I like him can Zagat get from because Agha right now I just I just think that um, I like I like to killing hasting to I told you I think I said on the draft a draft review shots at a Detroit one of the draft because they got Sydney Bay. And as they stole it from mom, Washington from I almost had a brain freeze there from Washington. So I just think that um, yeah, I made the sponsor correct. But I do think that Washington, someone that can sneak up if those things come together, it's a major.
Dave Clarke:All right, well, it's time for the actually good teams, the teams that are excited to talk about let's go to the Western Conference. We're gonna switch the order a little bit here because I want to hear I want to hear who you guys think are going to win the Western Conference. So let's do it like this. Ray. Tell me your one through eight before you go into any detailed analysis, and I'll decide what's interesting about that one through eight then we can talk about it.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Gotcha. Cool. So at one we had the Lakers
Unknown:as friends there,
Rayshawn Buchanan:right? That's right. So we had the clippers. At three this is probably the one you're gonna ask me about three we had jazz for the Denver Nuggets, five, Dallas, six, Phoenix, seven golden state and eight Memphis.
Dave Clarke:So I have two questions one do you think that the jazz are going to be good because they're too centerpieces just got locked into contracts? They have a good foundation there. What What is it that's going to jump through what's different about them coming in six last year till now like what's Why have they gotten better?
Rayshawn Buchanan:So I think it's just strictly they're gonna kill it in the regular season. Right? Like I just think that I don't see them going crazy in the playoffs. I just don't. But I think some of them are very loose either standpoint. Donovan Mitchell is going to play hard. Joe angles is going to play hard. You know, right. Sonia is going to play hard. We're gonna go They're gonna play hard. Um, I love that five year $205 million extension. I didn't understand. I just think you're able to find other guys that could do it. Now, he's a he's a two time Defensive Player of the Year. And yeah,
Dave Clarke:so I think the locker room it's like us paying, it's like us paying smart you know what I mean? It's like, I wonder the intangible
Rayshawn Buchanan:result. So as you get no wait and Mike and you can't teach us that. You know, you can't you can't teach that. So, you know, so I just think that that's something where, though gel because that core has kind of been together. Um, Mike Conley, who was in the last year of his deal, I believe was to get out I'll let Joe be my statistician on that one to see if there's last year I forgot. But at the end there's last year the deal Mike Conley, um, so I think he'll be motivated to do something there. You know, he he got a really big deal a few years ago of like, for like 150 mil. And, you know, he hasn't really done much like Westbrook has done much. Um, wherever He's
Rob Kelly:like, he hasn't fit with bed put spider. He does little cooking. That's my problem.
Rayshawn Buchanan:I mean, but I mean, he but he should though, that's the price you should write. You should note, like, you know, I mean, he's not the best shooter, but it's like someone that um, I feel like that jazz scene was better than the scenes he had in Memphis. You know, just from a talent perspective, but that Memphis team just meshed together Tony Allen Zach Randolph you know young Marcus all
Dave Clarke:they did they did until they didn't you know what I mean? It's right. Well,
Rayshawn Buchanan:I mean, when you want it to go and stay in the playoffs, and oh, yeah, with Duran and Westbrook that's what happens but
Dave Clarke:they had that overrated under underrated thing happened to them, right? underrated operator where I was like, Oh, I think Memphis might be better than we think that like on paper, they play really well. And then it was like Memphis and it's like, well, they're still not gonna beat the Golden State Warriors, you know? Right. Exactly. Right class. And that was a tough era for them to be in Where did you have Golden State instead of curious.
Rayshawn Buchanan:I had Golden State at number seven. We have seven. Um, so I was like, you know, Joe, you know, curry was out for most of the year. So
Dave Clarke:how do you think down on them?
Rayshawn Buchanan:I am but I might not. Notice I'm in no way how do you how do you think he does without Klay Thompson this year?
Joe Malkin:Well, I mean, just to have him back that automatically is gonna jump them at least six or seven spots right like they finish in 15th in the in the conference last year. And I think it just came down to this is a strange year we don't have our best guy. So let's just you know, let's let's write it out and see what happens. And that's and that's what they did and that's going to be a tough conference for them to win in without Tristan Thompson. I'm sorry Klay Thompson. I had Celtics on the brain already but to put him back in the lineup you're gonna see them get into the playoffs. I think I think sevens a good spot because down on them when you're talking about the Lakers the Clippers that nuggets and Dave just to your point of wire the jazz third the nuggets were third last year and he has him down in fourth. Well the jazz are gonna jump three spots because we have the rockets and the thunder outside the top eight and they were in the top eight last year so
Dave Clarke:other teams around them are gonna get worse is what you're saying.
Joe Malkin:Well, it's gonna be pretty good. I mean, there's going to be pretty good
Rayshawn Buchanan:Phoenix though so we didn't talk we didn't say anything about that. Maybe because you didn't find interesting which is okay, but Chris Paul going there is a really big deal. I like Dr. Dre and Devin Booker gonna look at man Yeah, shout out to Drake you know see the sauce that suck. I do think that's phenomenal.
Dave Clarke:I do think that the Phoenix Suns are a team to watch something about Chris Paul and this might be a me thing but something about Chris Paul being on a team makes me think they're never gonna win. Maybe it might be because playoffs that's all it Yeah, but then it's like he doesn't he's not healthy. You know when you need him. So I mean,
Rob Kelly:it's not all ever had a big man like DeAndre aten No, never right? No, he's never had that that pick and roll that lob city that comes from
Michael Marcangelo:Wait, wait, wait.
Rayshawn Buchanan:No, no, wait. DOJ is better than Jiajia Jordan
Rob Kelly:am absolutely better than sure but because
Dave Clarke:nobody he did he did have Blake Griffin but I think yes, he is better but because of the way the NBA transitioned stylistically, left DeAndre Jordan behind a little bit which is a little unfair. Saying Chris Paul, yes and St. Chris Paul didn't have love city when he invented love city was hilarious but i i will say I don't think the Phoenix Suns are going to be a factor come playoff time but but my other question is regular season la clippers you got them a number two you still think they're gonna explode in the play and the playoffs?
Rayshawn Buchanan:I don't actually I do think that they implode
Unknown:implode I should say
Rayshawn Buchanan:yeah implode or explode or whatever but I think either way I think they do find a way to write the ship not necessarily get to the finals but I do think we'll see them in the conference finals against
Dave Clarke:George claims he has a different attitude now.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Yeah, I'm well I mean, hell, you better and they reinvested in your wares, you better figure it out. You better figure it out. Paul, like that, you know, it's that's just not it's not okay. Once again, yeah, you averaged 20 852 years ago. You're like, Oh, I'm
Unknown:back home. trainer dog well
Rayshawn Buchanan:I have my every PC isn't it sir you need to go back to the Indian apologize forget about okay see in the Interpol George was a game away from one to the finals against LeBron and those he led teams that's the guy they need in LA not not the guy that was that was running around with Russell Westbrook and
Unknown:how can that guy yeah,
Rayshawn Buchanan:I'm coming back I'm never leaving and it's two years later your West has gone don't worry about that be the guy that she wasn't Indiana and I promise you him and kawhi can get to the conference.
Dave Clarke:Yeah, the humble yeah and the humble but also he was he was he was a prolific one on one defender he did all the simple stuff that right right and I think if he gets back to basics and he plays his game from the ground up and just starts to get the simple stuff right passes the ball properly, get himself in that mindset going into the playoffs and maybe he can take it through just because because honestly the Clippers are the only team I see on paper that could possibly beat the Lakers in the West if they achieve if they achieve their their potential no surprise the Lakers win number one I think LeBron is gonna have a chip on his shoulder about people people putting an asterisk on his bubble when I think I was gonna do that with whoever won if it wasn't the Celtics so that's just my facts
Rayshawn Buchanan:right
Unknown:the Celtics was actually right
Rayshawn Buchanan:we are what what a tough ride Yes, they
Dave Clarke:are better they are either even better. Doesn't look like he's slowing down and they made a lot of really good offseason
Rob Kelly:resume I'm not bringing it up.
Dave Clarke:sets me how good they are Bobby. I'm gonna Yes, I think he is I think I think especially in that in really in that system. Moving back over these because we're officially running over now. I'm the conference at this club. I would I would like you to tell me just like Ray did your one through eight and I'll pick out what's interesting from your calls especially if you don't put the Celtics at number one we're gonna Yeah, I'm just kidding. Go ahead.
Michael Marcangelo:Cool number one. Number two is the 76 years never three or
Unknown:Oh, wow
Joe Malkin:was three
Michael Marcangelo:the heat number four we have the Celtics with the Nets of the fifth seed Raptors with the six seed the Pacers seven and the Hawks and eight.
Dave Clarke:What on earth wow tells you that that the Philadelphia 76 series and I'd like Bobby to answer this question please. No,
Unknown:no. I don't agree with Okay,
Dave Clarke:why are the Philadelphia 76 us at number two Why?
Rob Kelly:Wow.
Dave Clarke:Tell me why. I think Detroit Lions circuit envy and obviously,
Michael Marcangelo:I think the Joelle and bead and Ben Simmons are they just have a better rotation around them this year than they did last year? I think that Tobias high no Tobias Harris, Dwight Howard, Tyrese, Maxey, but I think the most important thing for me and I rayshawn I want you to hear this. Doc Rivers will lead them to a very very high wind season. And then they will fucking lose in the first round of the playoffs because they're a Doc Rivers lead team.
Rob Kelly:You had who's you have a seven? There's a reason I let him do it.
Rayshawn Buchanan:You guys have a seven?
Michael Marcangelo:Oh, so it could happen. So.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Okay, okay, Indiana, they play extremely hard to me. And I'm just I'm still in Bobby's for here. Their carries through it so that they can stay healthy. Oh, my
Dave Clarke:god, that was such a good Bobby impression. I thought he was in a different box on the zoom for the night.
Michael Marcangelo:No, but um, I do think that Danny, Danny green and Seth and Seth curry are great additions to this team. And I do you think that doc has a really good? I mean, historically, he does coach teams to a really, really good regular season record. He really does. He has his trouble the playoffs like I'm gonna do a hit job on him. But I do think that he will get the most out of these players in the 72 regular season. Yeah,
Rob Kelly:yeah. So I I agree that Danny green and Steph Curry were the perfect additions to the Sixers team they are they're exactly what they were missing these last two years need spot up three point shooters completely agree. And I do think that doc will take them to that next level. Because I just I remember his name who's our coach rusher? Brooks, right. Yeah, I just think he was. I remember his name right now. Yeah. But Brown. Brown, right. Like, I think he was the worst coach, maybe in the league. He was he just mismanaged that team from beginning to end. So I think that that while too, I think is Yeah, well, hi. I do like the Sixers this year. It's a brave call.
Dave Clarke:That's a great call. Now I will just reiterate the rules of the of the of the NFL or the NBA prediction game. It's much like the other one. It's obviously not gonna be two games within. It'll be two spots within so they could come first and you'd still get the point or they could Fort Worth and you still get the point which fourth seems Safe, reasonable and safe so you know I don't want to get on mic too badly about that number to pick especially since we just did discuss that his we clowned on him this hard for the Detroit Lions and Detroit Lions still could potentially get disappoint in our NFL predictions. So you had the Boston Celtics, you had the Boston Celtics at number four, is that correct?
Michael Marcangelo:That is correct.
Dave Clarke:Okay, so explain to me your dumb and wrong reasoning for that.
Michael Marcangelo:Well, I think that we saw in the playoffs if the heat are better, they just are better than the Celtics and they I think that if it makes funny about remember what what in slack my Asher we're doing records. It's because I had the heat at 44 and 28 and the self is at 44 and 28. I just assumed that the heat would beat them in the regular season, so they would win that they would have the tiebreaker so it wasn't like it wasn't a far leaps and bounds I just think that I think that the heat are better and until we see maybe Tristan Thompson Jeff Teague will shock me and but we this needs to be the year that Tatum and brown take another big leap to to be great if that happens and maybe they're number three but it's not me Bobby you're okay with this you
Unknown:said enough on this Celtics that number four you saw my records.
Rob Kelly:I'm a team player.
Rayshawn Buchanan:No, I'm not. I'm fine. Go on with number four. Honestly, but good.
Rob Kelly:So I I do think that the Celtics again, we have that too. Spot leeway. So that's why I was okay with it. Cuz I do see them as finishing too. I told Mike this right before the show. I do think they are going to finish checking the conference behind the box. That's just my opinion. But I think that Tatum and brown do make that leap this year. And if it does end up the way we see it and we get that four or five nets first round matchup, man, that would be juicy and beautiful. So you're there. Yeah,
Joe Malkin:there's fans back in the stands. There's not enough Sage in the world. That could keep Irving's mind. Listen,
Rayshawn Buchanan:I gotta
Rob Kelly:do Arden with Kyrie my
Unknown:will. I know.
Joe Malkin:I know. We're nine minutes over eight o'clock here. But I jumped on this because I think I actually think you guys have the Nets spot too high. And it's fine where you have them because you get that two spots. They'll probably jump up one spot because that's going to be a very good basketball team, right? Like, yeah, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant are their world class talents. There's no denying it. But they are going to lose games because those two either aren't going to get along, or Kyrie is not going to be on the floor, or he's not going to want to play somewhere because the fan base is in his head. Like the best thing that's going to happen for the Nets is if there's no fans at all in the 2020 2021 season, that's going to be the best thing for Kyrie Irving in the nets. And and that's fine if that's the way it goes. But this guy, he he needs to figure his stuff on debut and I talked about it the other day that like, hopefully this guy is okay. Like legitimately Okay, mentally because he's off. He's off. friggin rocker nuts, man. Otherwise, He's nuts. And I just can't I can't see a team and Mike, you and I have argued about this before. I cannot see a Kyrie Irving lead team, which is what this next team is right
Michael Marcangelo:now. No, no, this is.
Joe Malkin:You think you think this is Katie. So do you think they can win a championship with the Katy lead team with Kyrie Irving on it with Steve Nash as the head coach? Well,
Michael Marcangelo:okay, so yeah, there are a lot of variables to this. I do think that Steve Nash being the head coach that you know, they need to get off to a couple of wins at first before they before Kyrie loses interest. But unlike Boston, like this isn't a chance for Kyrie to come in and be the man. This is him doing what he did best in Cleveland, which is being the best compliment player that there is out there with kd 100% true and hitting all believe it when you hit the nail on the head. If you want to see it. You just have to go Yeah, I
Joe Malkin:remember I remember seeing that but Katie also isn't LeBron
Dave Clarke:so yeah, he's better not better. Who's better and no, he's he's better in the in the situation it better for Kyrie is what I mean, like he got better. Yeah, you better
Rayshawn Buchanan:get a rise out of us that he was better. No, No, I wasn't.
Dave Clarke:I think that I think that the point was that Mike just made was that Kyrie Irving is the best complement player to a score that you could possibly have in the NBA not not even because he's the best passer because he can take the scoring load off of a perennial score and playmaker type like LeBron James. I think that KD fits even better more than that. I think that having them at fifth is too low. I think to say that that that that's high, just to say to me, I think it feels like I'm taking crazy pills that you think that the Philadelphia 76 is going to be better than the Brooklyn Nets or Brooklyn Nets or the seven C's last year. I would second all and say the Brooklyn has to have seven seat last year they won 35 games in unmanly and 82 game season and now they're adding a generational talent of their frontcourt and a generational talents. Their backcourt and you're telling me they're only going to go to spots? That's fucking absurd.
Joe Malkin:You went huge on Next Generation. Yeah, but,
Michael Marcangelo:but but I do think that they are. I agree, I do think that we're going to see a little bit of what we saw with the heat the first year that Bosch LeBron James and Wade were there where they were kind of like they were kind of middle of the road until like December, January, and then they hit a rock. Right? They just don't have that much runway this time. So I think that, I think that they'll have 10 less games. That's
Rayshawn Buchanan:fair. So I think that's what I'll add on to that. Right. See, also to the because now everybody's, you know, just so buddy, buddy, right. And to me, it's also a problem. They got the Andre Jordan starting at center. Jared Allen needs to be the center for the Brooklyn Nets. He is he is phenomenal defensively, he jumps to the roof, if he gets near a basketball is going into stance period. Um, now he may not be as the light, you know, he may not be as gifted defensively as the entrepreneur wasn't as prime, but he's definitely better than him right now at age 32. So
Michael Marcangelo:you would think that the roster, I mean that they probably have the deepest roster probably in the NBA with with with
Rayshawn Buchanan:which, which is why it is why they wanted to make the they don't that's why they should not just
Dave Clarke:right there this last year, right. Is that right? They were 1717 last year when you add before right there.
Michael Marcangelo:Steve Nash, I listened, I think that they will go deep in the playoffs, where you're asking me for my seedings. And I and I think that I just don't think there's enough time for them. It's
Dave Clarke:funny you say that because I actually think they have a worse chance in the playoffs playing against certain matchups. Like I'm not super nervous about how the Celtics matchup against them because we have length on the wing. Maybe we can keep
Michael Marcangelo:working a little bit.
Dave Clarke:I wasn't nervous about the years when I was completely wrong about that. But that doesn't mean I'm gonna go on forever about everything.
Joe Malkin:Mike, I have a question for you. And it pertains to the to the nets, mostly, but with with those two guys in that team, right. They were the two of the best players in the world. They have a coach that has little to no coaching experience, right?
Unknown:Yep. So
Joe Malkin:we all have our feelings on coaching in the NBA. But do you feel that coaching even that Brooklyn Nets team do you feel that coaching is important?
Michael Marcangelo:Yeah, but I think that there's reeks of Spoelstra in Miami with all those stars. I think that you could be on the verge of seeing a guy that has little to no coding experience that we know about and then that just develops with these huge talents and becomes a guy that can actually manage big ego talented players and win championships.
Joe Malkin:That's, you know, I agree with you. But you know, the only difference that that the Nets don't have that Miami
Michael Marcangelo:Riley Yeah, yeah, no, yeah.
Unknown:Oh, God.
Dave Clarke:I just think I just think if you boil it down, as simple as you possibly can, as far as coaching goes in the NBA comparatively to other sports, it just doesn't matter as much. And I think when you have guys like Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, you can pretty much just say to them go out and play like Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. And I think that you know, Steve Nash knows the game of basketball, he can run plays and he but it's his job to get the most out of everybody else there. That's not Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant and I think that that's probably the easiest job that any coach has going into this next NBA season.
Michael Marcangelo:So I think that's the caveat that you were just kind of alluding to right here though is that the coaching does it matters less than the NBA when you have those players right and once once pollster lost those players we find out that he's actually a good coach. So I think as long as as long as Nash kamisha there's no like locker room brawls and there's no Sage being spread at the Barclays Center. I think like I said, the
Dave Clarke:sage help does you see their game? Okay, we've gone 15 minutes over, I feel like Craig is gonna have a coronary.
Unknown:We're gonna make one more.
Dave Clarke:One more to go. I'm gonna go around and do final word so you can put it in final words if you want to make that point, but I really appreciate everybody tuning in. Thank you guys for letting me host I had a blast. We had so much fun here on the month, monthly two hour long Sunday night sports wrap IMD cases with Dave Clark for all the folks here gonna go around. Do some final words, Bobby, I'll let you I'll let you start cuz you're champing at the bit just there.
Rob Kelly:Okay, so my upset upstart came to what I fought for to get into that top eight in the NBA shares the Atlanta Hawks. I think the Atlanta Hawks is going to make some noise to get in this NBA season and I think if they do get into that eight seed with Rajon Rondo, taking away the point guard position from Trey young and letting Trey young betray our we're going to see another level of hitting this year. And I think if they get in the playoffs, they actually have a legitimate shot to beat the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round the playoffs. If that happens, I want to bonus points. Wow, big hawks guy Well, you're
Dave Clarke:not gonna get him rayshawn Buchanan, go ahead.
Rayshawn Buchanan:First off, whoa, um, but it's funny. I'm actually gonna touch on the AFC for me too. So the AFC ad you know I talked about was the Memphis Grizzlies and I am a big time john Moran supporter. I will keep talking about him and his life and the slack. I was talking about him on that. If I have to Zama right to me is everything that I thought Russell bursar was going to be and more already yes I'm extremely biased but I'm a fan. And I just think that him and Jared Jackson are the next door that we have to look out for and the NBA that does young so I'm excited to see what they do in Memphis and I won't go as far as I'm beating the Lakers but I would love to see john go against LeBron in the first round. You know, just to see how he fares fares against the best competition.
Dave Clarke:Mike Mike mark or Angela one of the three
Michael Marcangelo:I think we're all gonna stick at the same time so just try and listen but i think you know 2020 has dealt us you know, a lot of different kinds of cards and it's been a pretty weird and some you know, some I would say catastrophic year but for me I know my final word is gonna be like that part of the light within the darkness of this year has been this and has been you guys and has been the thing that we all did 10 years ago and that we restarted and that we've turned into this you know, one hour weekly to our monthly as Craig likes to say show and I am just very very thankful for I've been told not to say that anymore. Well, I said it so I am thankful for this for all of you and for everyone that's that's kind of listening in and sharing home. Ah,
Unknown:that was so nice job.
Joe Malkin:Wherever right I got I got a few for you. So unlike a lot of high profile, or at least a high profile person in this country, that won't concede defeat when they have lost. I would like to formally I would like to formally concede defeat to Craig in our fantasy football semi final game in the playoffs as I am now currently down three points. So Nick Chubb would have to lose two fumbles on two carries and not gain any yards for me to lose. So I concede defeat to you, Craig. So people when you have lost it's okay to concede defeat, we can all win all the time. Not talking about anything specific Dave. Secondly, Dave, I really liked your interest today instead of getting a state of the sizzle we got a very very well planned out intro and the jokes were great. You know the one about rate the one about rate Well, I mean Mike is clearly for people in a in a bodysuit race so but the one I really liked was rayshawn Buchanan's interest mind like likeness to Michelle Pfeiffer. And I thought you were gonna go a different direction because while Michelle Pfeiffer is a very attractive woman we all think rays are pretty attractive guy another guy I thought that was very attractive in the in the early 2000s was MCI Pfeiffer, who Ray really very much resembles. So I'll give Ray the MCI five for look. And echoing Mike's sentiments. Yeah, guys, I mean, I've loved this all year. So you know, it would be it's always been a resolution of mine, if you will, to start this back up with you guys. Because it's so much fun. And it's amazing that it really started as a conversation between Bobby and Ray in the summer. And we said, hey, let's get back into this and do this once or twice and look what we've made out of it. So yeah, for all of you that have have, you know, made it through 2020. There is light at the end of the tunnel, and at some point, it will come and we will be back to normal. But this this is part of my normalcy now. You guys are awesome. And I'm glad we got to do this so that that's where I'm gonna leave it.
Dave Clarke:Well said well said I think is a gift to Craig. I'm gonna skip him on last words because he desperately wants this to be over.
Craig D'Alessandro:I do have I do have one little thing though.
Dave Clarke:Okay, yeah. Okay.
Craig D'Alessandro:First of all, I'm quitting. Yeah.
Rob Kelly:This is Russia.
Michael Marcangelo:Right.
Craig D'Alessandro:Just Just a little behind the scenes for everyone at home. This will be the last to hear from us live for about two and a half weeks, as we will have our Abbey to interview Abbey. Abbey chin interview out this upcoming Tuesday on the 22nd in the week after that. We will hear from the great tronic cousin Eric.
Dave Clarke:All right. Well, I think that'll do it. We went a little bit over but I really appreciate really sticking it out. Thanks for coming in. Thanks for listening. This has been the Sunday night sports wrap coming at you once a month Don't forget to tune in next time we do it. Yeah, there's no movie there's no Makai Pfeiffer but that's it for me DK sizzle Dave Clark for the real BK Bob Kelly Broadway Joe Malkin. Craig D'Alessandro the best producer in the game. ration Hollywood while a Buchanan and Mike mark and Angelo, I bid you Good night.
Craig D'Alessandro:Thanks for listening to this episode and missing the point. missing the point it's a one hour podcast recapping the biggest stories in the world of sports. What the New England flavor. The show notes and transcript from today's episode can be found in the description box below. As well as on our website, www dot MTP show.com. If you're new to the show, and enjoyed what you heard, please consider subscribing. It's the easiest way to see when we publish new episodes. We are on iTunes, Spotify, Google and wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to rate us and leave a review of any of our shows. We always appreciate you feedback. Also be sure to follow us on all of our social medias. All of our links will be in the show notes and check it out brand new website WWW dot MTP show calm that's MTP show.com. For all of us here at missing the point. I'm Craig D'Alessandro. We'll talk to you next time.