WEBVTT
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[SPEAKER_00]: Now, playing, open, floor.
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[SPEAKER_01]: This is open floor.
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[SPEAKER_01]: Sports Illustrated's Chris Manix back at.
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[SPEAKER_01]: An NBA podcast with Sports Illustrated Senior Writer.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's time that the world gets to know.
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[SPEAKER_02]: My guy, Chris Manix.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I think your opinion's shared by everyone.
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[SPEAKER_02]: And now it begins.
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[SPEAKER_01]: Now it begins.
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[SPEAKER_02]: This is the open floor NBA podcast where we talk about the league and all the big stories that are going on in it back with me this week.
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[SPEAKER_02]: The monumental sports network Fox sports wanted right here on this podcast, the great Rachel Nichols.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Hello, Rachel.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Hello, Chris.
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[SPEAKER_00]: What city in the country are you coming to us from?
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[SPEAKER_02]: I am in Boston right now, uh, parachuted into my house here, uh, was in Connecticut over, uh, on Monday, Sunday, Monday for NBC's orientation year two of the NBA on NBC, excited to have been, uh, invited back.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I just assumed that I'm a clerical error today.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Said alright, well, Manix is still here, you know, some surprise faces.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I walked into the building at Stanford, Manix is here.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I guess he's part of the team.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Okay.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Okay.
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[SPEAKER_02]: It's decided to be doing that once more for NBC as we get ready.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Just about a week away from the scene.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I know it's crazy.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, it's, it's, come on pretty fast.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, like, what is it that's an abbreviated number of exhibition games, right?
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[SPEAKER_02]: Like they shorten that schedule and they get right into the regular season Tuesday night triple header on NBC.
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[SPEAKER_02]: They've got a 3 p.m. game, Celtics Pistons 3 p.m. Eastern on NBC.
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[SPEAKER_02]: The rare afternoon game in the opener.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Usually it's a bunch of prime time games, but they're going early on that slate to see if they can capitalize on maybe a younger audience that's watching that.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I like it.
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[SPEAKER_00]: It's going to be fun.
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[SPEAKER_02]: All right.
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[SPEAKER_00]: The two later matchups are insane, so you're being really fun.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Nick six years LeBron doesn't need to help add in.
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[SPEAKER_02]: You can just hang out in New York.
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[SPEAKER_02]: And I think the best game of the night is spurs thunder.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, you know, chat versus Wemby, Shay versus Wemby for the MPP chase begins in earnest.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, the two best teams in the Western Conference by far.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I think that's going to be a fun match up as well.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I'll be in San Antonio.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to go down and watch that open or live and in person.
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[SPEAKER_02]: All right, on this episode, I want to do a little predictions, some predictions on the season.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I want to look at the overunders for the teams in the Eastern Conference.
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[SPEAKER_02]: We'll look at the Western Conference next week.
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[SPEAKER_02]: But Eastern conference overrun is going to run through these teams that have their overruns.
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[SPEAKER_02]: And I want to go in alphabetical order with this group, if we can.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I don't want to go by conference.
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[SPEAKER_02]: We'll just go alphabetical order with these teams.
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[SPEAKER_02]: So let's start Rachel.
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[SPEAKER_02]: with Atlanta.
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[SPEAKER_02]: 46 wins in the 25 or 26 season.
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[SPEAKER_02]: They're over under.
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[SPEAKER_02]: These overunders are courtesy of Fandwell, by the way.
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[SPEAKER_02]: The overunder is 44 and a half.
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[SPEAKER_02]: They added Lou Dort, Aaron Wiggins, Dorian Finney Smith.
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[SPEAKER_02]: They lost Zach Risha Shaye, Jonathan Kominga, buddy healed, Ryan Nemhart.
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[SPEAKER_02]: And the odds makers got them right around the same wind total as last season.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Are you going over or under the Atlanta Hawks 44 and a half?
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[SPEAKER_00]: Right off the bat you're going to one of the ones that I agonized over Chris.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I just don't know what this team is going to look like so that makes it a little tougher.
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[SPEAKER_00]: But because the competition in the East is going to be more significant this year, that's where I'm going to fall back on throughout this podcast if I don't really I can't make a call.
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[SPEAKER_00]: So because I think the competition's going to be tougher in the East because I'm not entirely sure how Lou Dort is going to fit into the starting lineup.
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[SPEAKER_00]: You obviously need him on the floor.
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[SPEAKER_00]: The reason you got him is he guards the other team's best player, but it changes what they can do on the floor if the way that Quinn Snyder likes to coach.
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[SPEAKER_00]: So.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to go under but only because I just think the competition around them is more significant and if we're saying how will they do compared to their 46 wins last year, it's going to be a little less for everyone I think.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to go under as well.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I think they have a chance to be really tough defensively.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, if you look at the wings that they have with Alexander Walker, Daniels, not even a door in that mix, I also think that Aaron Wiggins is a candidate for most improved.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, that's a guy that can play and now he's presumably going to get an expanded role.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I've been here in some pretty good things and
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[SPEAKER_02]: They're liking Aaron Wiggins a lot down there in Atlanta.
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[SPEAKER_02]: My issue with them is like offensive shot creation I think it's a lot of pressure on Jalen Johnson to take his game up to another level and continue to grow As a player there's a lot of pressure on CJ McCollum to continue to be a consistent playmaker at the point guard position I think offensively they're gonna have some ups and downs this season and they're gonna have to grind out some wins the defensive end of the floor to
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[SPEAKER_02]: get back to that 46-ish windows.
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[SPEAKER_02]: So I'm gonna go in the under.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I'm gonna say like early 40s for Atlanta.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I'm gonna take the under on that
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[SPEAKER_00]: All right, we're both under.
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[SPEAKER_02]: No, take it to the both under of that.
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[SPEAKER_02]: All right, let's go to the Boston Celtics, 56 wins for the Celtics last year, one of the surprise teams in the NBA.
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[SPEAKER_02]: They add Paul George, Mitchell Robinson, Mike Conley, they lose Jalen Brown, and I guess you can say they lost Nicole LaVouce of it, so I don't think they consider that big a loss.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Um, the odds, the Vegas odds makers, they have the Celtics at 49 and a half.
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[SPEAKER_02]: So I was shocked at this sub 50 wind team, Rachel, is what the odds makers have, the Celtics has.
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[SPEAKER_02]: You taking the over the under unboston.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I am going over.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going passionately over on this one because I think Joe Masoola teams are built.
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[SPEAKER_00]: When I say this, it is not a rip on how they do in the playoffs.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I am only saying that if we look at the regular season in its entirety, they are built for this regular season.
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[SPEAKER_00]: This is a team that just knows how to play.
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[SPEAKER_00]: And obviously, Jalen Brown is a huge loss.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I respect him so much as a player.
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[SPEAKER_00]: But I just think Joe Misula can plug and play.
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[SPEAKER_00]: And we saw that this past year.
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[SPEAKER_00]: And I just have faith that especially during a regular season run, this is where this team can excel in a way others can't with diminished personnel.
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[SPEAKER_00]: And I'm taking the over.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I'm taking the over, and I'm hammering that over as well.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Yes, I look, the Southics, I agree with you.
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[SPEAKER_02]: They are a team that is built to have a lot of regular season success.
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[SPEAKER_02]: They are deep, going 10, 11 guys deep with real NBA rotation players, which is going to matter in the regular season.
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[SPEAKER_02]: The additional Mitchell Robinson, pluses up that front court, gives them a front line rebounding guy.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Paul George got my questions about his ability to deliver in the playoffs, but in the regular season, if they can squeeze 60s wins out of George, he's going to be a good complementary piece to Jason Tatum, Tatum, going to be playing with a chip on a shoulder all season long, trying to show everybody that he's capable of being the kind of alpha that he believes that he is.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to get an organic growth from Baylor Shireman from
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[SPEAKER_02]: Jordan Walsh from Ugo Gonzales.
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[SPEAKER_02]: You've still got Peyton Pritzard there.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's going to have a big year.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Derek White.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Even with the shooting woes last year was a really consistent defensive player and playmaker.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Look, in the playoffs, like, do I think they're going to have some problems with shock creation?
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[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I do.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I do think they have some issues there.
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[SPEAKER_02]: But I think in the regular season, that depth.
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[SPEAKER_02]: uh... this personnel that coach i think they're going to get close to that fifty six win mark like they may not get to fifty six but fifty four fifty five i can see that easily so if they're healthy uh... i i think they're there in the mid-fifties couldn't agree more
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[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, they're right there.
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[SPEAKER_01]: That's a, that's a good team.
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[SPEAKER_02]: All right.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Um, next up on the list.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Let's go with the Brooklyn nets 20 wins last year in the 25 26 season second straight year.
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[SPEAKER_01]: They went for 20ish.
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[SPEAKER_02]: They add Julius Randall, they add Keyon Ellis, they add Mowbogner, they get McElbrown, Jr. and the draft, Joshua Jefferson, also in the draft, they lose Nick Claxton and Ziya Wands.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Vegas has them at 24 and a half, so they're anticipating some improvements from Brooklyn.
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[SPEAKER_02]: You go on over under on the Brooklyn Nets.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I was really hoping when I reached Brooklyn on the outsheet that it the over under would be like 22 because I feel like then I could go over at 24 and a half.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I just feel this is another team that I thought was real toss up.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I was about to say I'll back the upside and go over, but that's really hard for me again in this like more competitive
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[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to go over on this one.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I really like the potential of that back court.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Diego Demon, I think, is a real player.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I think him and Brown are going to be a dynamic back court as the season develops.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I think the roster's weird.
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[SPEAKER_02]: This Michael Porter journey get traded at mid season, probably, you know, we probably that was went into my thinking, but like if he's around like he's a big time shot maker, Julius Randall.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He's going to put up numbers for this team, yeah, you know, that was off the bench.
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[SPEAKER_02]: No, a clown is still around.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Look, I don't think they're a 30-wint team, but can I see them getting to 26-27?
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[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I think they can get in that range.
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[SPEAKER_02]: That's the first one we disagree on.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I'm gonna go over, I just, I like the back one.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I watch that game against the 76ers, and I watch them, and I think he's a real guy.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think he's a true guy.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, but I don't think he has to be with this group.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Look, I could just as easily upset over.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, this team, I just don't know what they're going to be.
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[SPEAKER_00]: It's hard to know what injuries to other teams are going to give some of these teams more wins because last year, of course, the last two, a couple of years, we saw teams pick up.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know, eight to 10 wins because teams were tanking, right?
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[SPEAKER_00]: So that's not gonna happen this year, but then you go back to the more regular thing, which is injuries.
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[SPEAKER_00]: So if they stay healthy and you've got a handful of teams that we think are gonna win a bunch of games suffer because of injuries, Brooklyn is really poised to take advantage of that.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I just don't know if it full strength versus full strength.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I'm willing to buy a five-game improvement over last year in an Eastern Conference that is going to be harder.
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[SPEAKER_00]: But I love Julius Randall as a player and I think as long as Michael Porter Jr. is around, of course he will help, but I do anticipate I'm not being around all season.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I like Jordi Fernandez as a coach too.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I know he hasn't won all the games, but everyone I talk to in the business says he's really good.
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[SPEAKER_02]: And if this team's at full strength, if this team's trying to win games, which again, because of this new lottery system, there is no upside whatsoever to pull in the shoot and be in the worst team in the NBA.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I think they've got the potential to creep up into those mid to high 20s and be an improved team from last year.
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[SPEAKER_02]: A lot of it's going to depend on these young guys how big a leap they take, how quickly they develop.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Do they mesh with some of these veterans that are probably not in the long-term plans of the nets?
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[SPEAKER_02]: But I think they're mid 20s mid 20.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I think they get over that 24 and a half number.
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[SPEAKER_02]: All right, Charlotte, a team that, you know, kind of cut up its roster this year.
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[SPEAKER_02]: We got Nasri, Dennis Schroeder, Grayson Allen, Roy Soneel, they're added to the mix.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Lamella ball is gone, Miles Bridges is gone, Josh Green is gone, look, they sold high, I thought they've said this before.
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[SPEAKER_02]: They sold high on Lamella ball.
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[SPEAKER_02]: They sold high on Miles Bridges or at least as high as they could.
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[SPEAKER_02]: And they're now kind of retooling this thing around con-caniple and Brad Demiller, I guess.
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[SPEAKER_02]: They won 44 games last year.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Vegas has them at 37 and a half.
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[SPEAKER_02]: So a 6 plus game decline is what Vegas is predicting there.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Are you going over under 37 and a half?
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[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to be optimistic.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to go over.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I think that this team has a lot more to it than just lamellaball.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I like Conconniple.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I think he's poised to take a leap.
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[SPEAKER_00]: And six game is a lot to drop.
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[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm going to go over barely, barely over, but barely, over.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to go under on the Hornets.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I get what they did this off season.
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[SPEAKER_02]: It seemed unusual at the time to sell off good young players, like ball and bridges, but you know, they really had to kind of...
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[SPEAKER_02]: duct tape lamello together to get him to the finish line last year, keep him under 30 minutes per game and I can see why they didn't want to go all in on investing in him as their franchise player and they were able to get real assets back in terms of players and capital draft capital from Minnesota in that deal.
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[SPEAKER_02]: So I get that same thing with bridges.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Um, I think they've got some pieces there in Charlotte.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I think Kniples really good.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I think Brandon Miller is good.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know exactly how good, uh, Nas Reed.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's going to be a good fit at the power forward position.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I Kobe White.
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[SPEAKER_02]: You know, good scoring guard is the able to duplicate what Lamello did.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think so.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Dennis Schroeder's there on like his 47th team.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Grace and Allen is there.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He's a shot maker.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Like I think they have the potential to be good, but I think they're going to come in a little bit under.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I think like 35, 36 wins for Charlotte this year.
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[SPEAKER_02]: And that's partly because as you mentioned, like the these turn conference is really good.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Like there's a lot of good teams out there.
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[SPEAKER_02]: And I think Charlotte,
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[SPEAKER_02]: It's going to have a tough time, some nights.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Unless Konnip will take a big step, maybe he will.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Brandon Miller takes a big step, maybe he will.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to go slightly under on the Charlotte horns.
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[SPEAKER_02]: All right, Chicago Bulls, 31 wins last year.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Evan Turner and I were in Chicago this week.
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[SPEAKER_02]: We were talking about the bulls and how they have some direction to this team.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Finally, with the front office, with the coaching staff, they've got a young roster.
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[SPEAKER_02]: They just seem like they've reestablished some direction.
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[SPEAKER_02]: uh... the odds makers have them at twenty nine and a half wins after the add-and-aclactin norma power buddy healed Caleb Wilson comes in as a rookie they lose simons sexton nick Richards uh... what do you think the odds makers basically have them at kind of right around where they were last year maybe a little bit less uh... what do you think of twenty nine and a half
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[SPEAKER_00]: I got to say this to me is a provit situation.
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[SPEAKER_00]: And until the Chicago Bulls show me, they know what they're doing, collectively is an organization.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not going to bet them.
15:22.779 --> 15:28.060
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not going to give them the benefit of the doubt because my heart has been broken too many times by this team.
15:28.100 --> 15:29.280
[SPEAKER_00]: And they're not even my team.
15:29.920 --> 15:33.121
[SPEAKER_00]: It's just has felt so fruitless for so long.
15:33.621 --> 15:36.321
[SPEAKER_00]: I like Nick Claxton, but he's had some injury issues.
15:36.361 --> 15:38.422
[SPEAKER_00]: I think he's missed the entire preseason, correct?
15:39.102 --> 15:41.703
[SPEAKER_00]: status for the season opener is a little unsure.
15:42.144 --> 15:43.564
[SPEAKER_00]: I like Tiago Splitter a lot.
15:43.684 --> 15:47.746
[SPEAKER_00]: I thought he did a lot with less than people expected last year.
15:48.447 --> 15:50.868
[SPEAKER_00]: And I'm eager to see what he can do there.
15:51.268 --> 15:57.431
[SPEAKER_00]: I am hopeful but I'm not going to say, oh, they're going over until I see it work.
15:57.511 --> 16:01.313
[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm happy to be wrong on this by the time we get to the end of the season.
16:01.353 --> 16:05.675
[SPEAKER_00]: I will be actually happy to be wrong, but until I get there,
16:07.400 --> 16:09.581
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to go over on the bulls.
16:10.001 --> 16:11.582
[SPEAKER_00]: I think they're being today, Chris.
16:11.602 --> 16:12.422
[SPEAKER_00]: This is like you.
16:12.803 --> 16:14.063
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they crack 30 wins.
16:14.463 --> 16:16.404
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm not saying they're going to be great or even a play in team.
16:16.504 --> 16:17.965
[SPEAKER_02]: But I think they crack 30 wins.
16:18.846 --> 16:21.467
[SPEAKER_02]: I watched them play in Chicago against Memphis.
16:21.487 --> 16:23.408
[SPEAKER_02]: I watched some of that game against Denver.
16:24.409 --> 16:29.113
[SPEAKER_02]: There's obviously going to be some growing pains with Caleb Wilson.
16:30.715 --> 16:36.920
[SPEAKER_02]: Maybe he's not physically ready to be in every day forward, but he's a super talented kid, aggressive.
16:36.940 --> 16:37.941
[SPEAKER_02]: That's a moxie to him.
16:37.981 --> 16:39.483
[SPEAKER_02]: I think he's going to be a good defensive player.
16:39.503 --> 16:40.464
[SPEAKER_02]: Really a good defensive player.
16:41.685 --> 16:42.325
[SPEAKER_02]: I like him a lot.
16:42.626 --> 16:44.327
[SPEAKER_02]: Bousalis, what is he?
16:44.427 --> 16:45.709
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know, but he's a...
16:46.797 --> 16:52.442
[SPEAKER_02]: I think he's really good is he a third option on a really good team, probably, but I think he's a really good player.
16:52.943 --> 16:57.567
[SPEAKER_02]: Giddy has a chance to compete for an all-star spot this year, I mean, it's a six eight point guard.
16:57.607 --> 16:59.188
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, he's really good.
16:59.348 --> 17:07.135
[SPEAKER_02]: I love the Powell edition, like Powell proved last year in Miami, he can kind of fit into whatever situation you want to put him in and be productive.
17:07.776 --> 17:09.297
[SPEAKER_02]: So I like this team.
17:09.317 --> 17:11.819
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't love their bench, like Patrick Williams, like E.T.
17:11.839 --> 17:12.800
[SPEAKER_02]: and I talked about this, I
17:13.961 --> 17:16.163
[SPEAKER_02]: The Patrick Williams experiment seems to be at an end.
17:16.183 --> 17:17.544
[SPEAKER_02]: And the name sure is going to be part of the rotation.
17:17.564 --> 17:25.911
[SPEAKER_02]: No coros, okay, you know, Jalen Smith is there, uh, uh, trade zones, they're fine.
17:25.931 --> 17:29.033
[SPEAKER_02]: Like, I don't think they're going to be like close to 500.
17:29.614 --> 17:31.775
[SPEAKER_02]: But I like the rotation enough.
17:32.056 --> 17:40.723
[SPEAKER_02]: And it like powers ability to fit in enough to make me believe they crack that 29-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-
17:42.946 --> 17:48.330
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't, I mean, I didn't even think of that like gizzy, I mean, I think the second year is a team option.
17:48.990 --> 17:54.174
[SPEAKER_00]: Jerry Rensdorf has said, I'm not going to pay the luxury tax unless we're a contender.
17:54.735 --> 17:58.758
[SPEAKER_00]: Meaning a contender for a title, this team is not going to be a contender for a title.
17:59.358 --> 18:05.565
[SPEAKER_00]: So that to me says that they will least explore what they can get at the trade deadline for normal.
18:05.625 --> 18:12.772
[SPEAKER_00]: So I just that's another one of the things where the bulls circus that we've seen for the last I don't know.
18:12.833 --> 18:14.815
[SPEAKER_00]: I wanted to say five years, but is it 10 years.
18:16.677 --> 18:17.878
[SPEAKER_00]: I just I don't trust it.
18:19.126 --> 18:21.948
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I hope they hold on to them because I actually think I hope so too.
18:22.688 --> 18:32.694
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, if he, look, he's been healthy, if he stays healthy, if he stays healthy, if if, you know, Bousalis stays healthy, like that's a pretty decent 1, 2, 3 there.
18:32.874 --> 18:38.257
[SPEAKER_02]: Like not playoff contender championship contender 1, 2, 3, but that's pretty good.
18:38.277 --> 18:44.560
[SPEAKER_02]: And if Caleb Wilson develops faster than most rookies do, you know, they could be surprised.
18:44.580 --> 18:45.981
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they cracked that 29 on F wins.
18:46.001 --> 18:47.702
[SPEAKER_02]: So I think they're at that over 30 wins.
18:48.062 --> 18:51.443
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, Cleveland 52 wins last year.
18:51.483 --> 19:01.166
[SPEAKER_02]: They add Peyton Watson, they add Cam Whitmore, they lose Mcstrews, they lose Schroeder, Keyon Ellis, Dean Wade, which is a big loss among others.
19:01.866 --> 19:05.087
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, the odds makers have them taking a pretty big fall.
19:05.127 --> 19:10.168
[SPEAKER_02]: They go from 52 wins last year to predicted that 47 and a half.
19:10.248 --> 19:12.569
[SPEAKER_02]: What do you think, going over under 47 and a half with the calves?
19:13.396 --> 19:18.579
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going over just because odds makers have given us a big cushion from what they had last year.
19:18.600 --> 19:20.841
[SPEAKER_00]: I like the Peyton Watson edition.
19:21.061 --> 19:25.644
[SPEAKER_00]: I think James Harden holds up in the regular season, especially when they can get him the rest they need.
19:26.064 --> 19:30.167
[SPEAKER_00]: Diamond Mitchell is really, really, really good at playing basketball.
19:30.587 --> 19:33.970
[SPEAKER_00]: And I have a lot of faith in him, especially as they face, weaker teams.
19:34.090 --> 19:41.655
[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm going over, I'm not saying they're going to win the title, but I do think I think we'd go over that win total because it's so much further down than last season.
19:42.077 --> 19:43.357
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I think they go over as well.
19:44.258 --> 19:46.918
[SPEAKER_02]: Maybe they don't crack 50, but 49 ish.
19:47.158 --> 19:48.759
[SPEAKER_02]: I think is certainly realistic.
19:49.479 --> 19:55.541
[SPEAKER_02]: A lot of it's going to depend on Evan Mobley and how he continues to develop.
19:56.241 --> 20:05.464
[SPEAKER_02]: He's kind of stagnated over the last year or so, where he's still a really good defensive player, but he's an erratic offensive player, some nights they're great, some nights they're not.
20:05.504 --> 20:05.904
[SPEAKER_02]: Like can he
20:06.944 --> 20:25.217
[SPEAKER_02]: a level of consistency offensively can he continue to expand his game still young enough still talented enough like him a lot how to see develop i think the Watson edition is really good like they they wanted that guy they paid a premium for that guy they're spending on this roster and hardened i've got my issue with hard in the playoffs everybody does
20:25.577 --> 20:27.720
[SPEAKER_02]: But in the regular season, he's a proven commodity.
20:27.820 --> 20:30.024
[SPEAKER_02]: So I think the calves go over.
20:30.184 --> 20:33.468
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they're competing for one of the top two with three seeds in Eastern Conference.
20:34.510 --> 20:35.852
[SPEAKER_02]: And then we'll see what they look like in the playoffs.
20:35.872 --> 20:38.856
[SPEAKER_02]: For regular season, I think they go over that 47 and half wins.
20:39.137 --> 20:40.038
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, Detroit.
20:40.939 --> 20:41.900
[SPEAKER_02]: Talk about the biggest flaw.
20:41.940 --> 20:49.886
[SPEAKER_02]: I think this is the biggest drop of any team in the in the prediction and when it comes to predictions.
20:50.026 --> 20:52.428
[SPEAKER_02]: Sixty wins last season.
20:52.468 --> 21:05.259
[SPEAKER_02]: The ad John Collins, the ad Isaiah Joe, the ad Torian Prince, they lose to bias Harris, Isaiah Stewart, Carrus Levert, odds makers have been going from sixty and the overunderers 49 and a half.
21:05.279 --> 21:05.719
[SPEAKER_02]: What do you think?
21:05.839 --> 21:07.621
[SPEAKER_02]: Overunder 49 and a half of the pistons.
21:08.361 --> 21:08.981
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, over.
21:09.541 --> 21:11.622
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't expect them to hit 60 wins again.
21:11.842 --> 21:14.323
[SPEAKER_00]: But again, we're talking about the regular season.
21:14.823 --> 21:16.643
[SPEAKER_00]: This is a great defense.
21:17.043 --> 21:18.044
[SPEAKER_00]: I just, I don't know.
21:18.344 --> 21:20.704
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that they definitely have holes.
21:20.764 --> 21:22.925
[SPEAKER_00]: I've talked about it on several of our pods.
21:23.605 --> 21:27.966
[SPEAKER_00]: They still haven't gotten someone that's going to complement Kate cutting him and the way they need to.
21:28.586 --> 21:30.447
[SPEAKER_00]: But again, in the regular season, I
21:31.207 --> 21:33.788
[SPEAKER_00]: I think they just have the advantage over a lot of teams.
21:33.808 --> 21:49.614
[SPEAKER_00]: They place so hard just that in general, you know, when teams are in what the dog days of February and March and they don't want to show up and certainly in Detroit when they come to Detroit and it's still cold and rainy and all of the things, I just think that they are an over team.
21:49.794 --> 21:56.757
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think they're going to hit 60 again, but I do say during the regular season, they're going to hit the over and I really hope
21:57.907 --> 22:01.989
[SPEAKER_00]: that they can make a trade to do what they, and everybody knows they need to do.
22:02.770 --> 22:09.173
[SPEAKER_02]: Well, the name obviously to watch as Kyrie Irving, he makes the most sense in Detroit.
22:09.413 --> 22:14.536
[SPEAKER_02]: The Pistons, they hung on to some of their assets with some of the deals that they did make.
22:15.936 --> 22:20.339
[SPEAKER_02]: They can probably make an interesting offer to Dallas for Kyrie and Kyrie as,
22:21.079 --> 22:32.910
[SPEAKER_02]: That secondary score opposite-cade kind of ham just makes all the sense in the world and it It gives them the kind of weapon they didn't have last year They don't look like they have this year The roster though has currently constituted.
22:32.970 --> 22:46.401
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to go with the over, but it's not much It like I think they can get to 50 51 But I do think there's an eight nine game drop-off coming I don't think they I don't they improved as a team you know Isaiah Stewart
22:47.302 --> 22:51.506
[SPEAKER_02]: kind of crazy out there, but part of that team's identity in the locker room.
22:51.566 --> 22:52.847
[SPEAKER_02]: Really close with Jalen Duran.
22:53.247 --> 23:01.114
[SPEAKER_02]: Jalen Duran said all the right things at that press conference last week, but is there a hangover from these contentious contract talks?
23:01.174 --> 23:01.914
[SPEAKER_02]: And look,
23:02.635 --> 23:05.696
[SPEAKER_02]: It detains figure something out about Duran in the playoffs.
23:05.716 --> 23:15.299
[SPEAKER_02]: Like is there a new way to play him, the way that Wendell Carter played him in the magic series, the way that the calves played him in their series, or was just a couple of bad matchups for Duran.
23:15.319 --> 23:19.421
[SPEAKER_02]: Like what's the, does he take go up or down with this next room?
23:19.441 --> 23:26.423
[SPEAKER_02]: I like Isaiah Joe, but I think that the loss of Tobias Harris, both in that locker room and on the court is a real loss.
23:26.443 --> 23:28.644
[SPEAKER_02]: So I think they're, I think they're weaker team.
23:29.384 --> 23:30.185
[SPEAKER_02]: Do they go all the way down to 49?
23:31.545 --> 23:33.147
[SPEAKER_01]: No, I don't think they do that.
23:33.187 --> 23:43.795
[SPEAKER_02]: Now, they get to 50, they're somewhere inside the top four, but they're a team that, like you said, they do need to make a trade if they want to be a real contender in the Eastern Conference.
23:44.035 --> 23:46.056
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, Indiana.
23:46.357 --> 23:51.741
[SPEAKER_02]: 19 when team last year is they were kind of taking the gap year with Tyre's Haliburton being hurt.
23:51.841 --> 23:55.443
[SPEAKER_02]: They add Kelly Ubridge Jr. Larry Nance, of course, getting
23:56.544 --> 23:58.485
[SPEAKER_02]: However, in back is the big addition there.
23:58.885 --> 24:01.026
[SPEAKER_02]: Zuboch, of course, there now as well.
24:02.667 --> 24:03.467
[SPEAKER_02]: This is a big question.
24:03.487 --> 24:11.930
[SPEAKER_02]: When I talk to people around the league like does Indiana pick up where it left off in the 24 or the 25-26 season or 24-25 season, they got to the finals.
24:12.430 --> 24:20.834
[SPEAKER_02]: 19 wins last to the projected 43 and a half this year, which would be a 24-and-half game improvement, but still puts them kind of in the middle of the pack.
24:21.354 --> 24:23.355
[SPEAKER_02]: Over under 43 and a half for Indiana.
24:24.213 --> 24:29.417
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to have faith in Tyreys, Haliburton's health leg, whatever we're calling it, and I'm going to say, over.
24:29.697 --> 24:32.899
[SPEAKER_00]: I just don't think the jump from last year even means anything.
24:33.480 --> 24:40.365
[SPEAKER_00]: When your best player is gone and collectively, you're just sort of not emphasizing winning in the way that you might.
24:40.385 --> 24:43.407
[SPEAKER_00]: I just, I think that he is a stud.
24:43.607 --> 24:46.289
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that he isn't the exact position.
24:46.409 --> 24:51.133
[SPEAKER_00]: He likes to be in, which is everybody thinking he's not going to be able to do what he thinks he's
24:52.794 --> 25:02.422
[SPEAKER_00]: for a team that made the finals and almost won it two years ago, there's just been such a drop-off in confidence around the league about him and them.
25:02.442 --> 25:05.364
[SPEAKER_00]: I just like the idea of fighting the way out of it.
25:05.404 --> 25:08.307
[SPEAKER_00]: Rick Carlisle is a great coach, especially for regular season.
25:08.367 --> 25:10.389
[SPEAKER_00]: I just know what thinking knows how to hit the right button.
25:10.469 --> 25:16.954
[SPEAKER_00]: So the increase the improvement from last season, it just doesn't mean anything to me and so
25:18.767 --> 25:24.770
[SPEAKER_02]: So they were a 50 win team in 2425, fourth in the Eastern Conference when they made that run to the finals.
25:24.830 --> 25:33.716
[SPEAKER_02]: So they were not the runaway favorites to get to the finals by any stretch and not a great team when they went on, or considered a great team when they went on that run.
25:36.157 --> 25:38.698
[SPEAKER_02]: I want to say over as well, but again, it's like Detroit.
25:38.738 --> 25:41.599
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they're like one or two games over.
25:41.619 --> 25:43.259
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think they're a 50 win team this year.
25:44.119 --> 25:48.860
[SPEAKER_02]: I think there's going to be an adjustment period for Haliburton coming back.
25:49.201 --> 25:54.582
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think he's going to pick up and be the guy that he left off with at the finals in 25.
25:55.882 --> 25:57.803
[SPEAKER_02]: Zubatch, really good player.
25:58.583 --> 26:14.812
[SPEAKER_02]: really different player than what Miles Turner was like does Rick Carl I'll have maybe another reinvention uh in his bag for how this team's gonna be offensive because I don't think they can play the exact same way with Zubotch who's more of a paint-oriented big uh taking the place of Miles Turner.
26:15.112 --> 26:16.093
[SPEAKER_02]: I still like Siakum.
26:16.233 --> 26:17.173
[SPEAKER_02]: I still like Neismith.
26:17.253 --> 26:18.154
[SPEAKER_02]: I still like Neymarad.
26:18.754 --> 26:22.118
[SPEAKER_02]: I think Ubrae is a kind of a Swiss army knife playing off the bench.
26:22.598 --> 26:24.600
[SPEAKER_02]: TJ McConnell, still TJ McConnell.
26:25.081 --> 26:26.282
[SPEAKER_02]: Obi-Toppin's still there.
26:26.502 --> 26:28.284
[SPEAKER_02]: Jar's Walker is still there like there.
26:28.885 --> 26:29.466
[SPEAKER_02]: They're good.
26:30.106 --> 26:31.788
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they're around 45 wins.
26:31.808 --> 26:36.053
[SPEAKER_02]: So I am going to take the over, but I don't think it's going to be by that much.
26:36.773 --> 26:37.454
[SPEAKER_02]: Um, all right.
26:37.554 --> 26:43.299
[SPEAKER_02]: Another kind of polarizing team, if you will, the Miami Heat 43 wins last year.
26:43.319 --> 26:44.900
[SPEAKER_02]: They make the big trade this off season.
26:45.261 --> 26:52.487
[SPEAKER_02]: They get y'all's tend to cumpo, but the odds makers, they've only got them two and a half wins better this year.
26:52.587 --> 26:55.330
[SPEAKER_02]: 45 and a half are the odds for the Miami Heat.
26:55.350 --> 26:58.232
[SPEAKER_02]: They get Bobby Portis, Clay Thompson, Tim Hardaway, Jr.
26:58.612 --> 26:59.533
[SPEAKER_02]: They lose Tyler Hero.
26:59.894 --> 27:03.257
[SPEAKER_02]: They lose Norman Powell, Khalil Wair, Jaime Huskies, Yuckishonish,
27:03.837 --> 27:05.380
[SPEAKER_02]: basically all their depth.
27:05.560 --> 27:06.021
[SPEAKER_02]: What do you think?
27:06.141 --> 27:13.274
[SPEAKER_02]: Like Vegas doesn't love Miami's chances of being a great regular season team, even though they picked up a pretty great player.
27:14.131 --> 27:26.320
[SPEAKER_00]: This is one of those odds that I feel like is so influenced by where the betting line is, by where the money is coming in from fans, that I was very surprised to see this number as low as it was.
27:26.600 --> 27:40.151
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think they're going to blow the eastern conference away, but I think there is low confidence about them, not just among insiders, but among fans of the game and so therefore there's not as much money coming in and that's how the line moves often.
27:40.791 --> 27:43.535
[SPEAKER_00]: And I just, I got to go with the over on this team.
27:43.555 --> 27:45.518
[SPEAKER_00]: You add Janice, and it's a cool go.
27:46.179 --> 27:52.208
[SPEAKER_00]: I just, I don't understand why that is not making people think this will be a better team than it was last year.
27:52.809 --> 27:53.530
[SPEAKER_00]: How is that possible?
27:54.542 --> 27:54.902
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know.
27:55.002 --> 28:00.327
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, this is the tough one because I am not bullish on the heat.
28:02.569 --> 28:10.015
[SPEAKER_02]: I listen when Pat Riley talks and Pat Riley in the off season said we needed more playmaking.
28:10.796 --> 28:11.476
[SPEAKER_02]: Shock creation.
28:11.496 --> 28:13.498
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm kind of paraphrasing or combining some things there.
28:14.639 --> 28:15.899
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think they got it.
28:16.820 --> 28:22.824
[SPEAKER_02]: I think Davey and Mitchell is a high level defensive guard, but is he a starting point guard?
28:23.425 --> 28:23.825
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know.
28:24.345 --> 28:27.107
[SPEAKER_02]: Clay Thompson, what does he have left?
28:28.248 --> 28:32.831
[SPEAKER_02]: Look, it's, whatever I see one of these guys become available via bio.
28:32.871 --> 28:35.693
[SPEAKER_02]: Clay Thompson got me signed somewhere and there's this big celebration.
28:35.753 --> 28:38.035
[SPEAKER_02]: Like how often does that work out?
28:38.275 --> 28:41.217
[SPEAKER_02]: Like how often does the player with the big name?
28:41.817 --> 28:44.960
[SPEAKER_02]: who's on the back end of his career, live up to the expectations.
28:45.740 --> 28:48.242
[SPEAKER_02]: Wiggins is fine, not a shot creator.
28:49.743 --> 28:53.847
[SPEAKER_02]: Tim Hardaway Jr. shot maker, like it was a really good player in Denver.
28:54.327 --> 29:00.652
[SPEAKER_02]: Last year, I just, I don't know where the consistent offense comes from with Miami.
29:00.872 --> 29:08.798
[SPEAKER_02]: Like, can Mitchell make shots, can Thompson make the kind of shots we're used to seeing and make during his better years, Wiggins same thing.
29:11.184 --> 29:36.886
[SPEAKER_02]: and yonis and ban those are two guys on the front line that are not three-point shooters like they're just not like you know every team in the league is going to look at yonis and ban and say if you want to shoot threes go ahead go ahead and do that we're fine with that I just look Eric's bolster might be the best coach in the NBA so and look and he's he's evolved in ways that Rick Carlouse evolved over the years like that offense last year that Noah LaRose offense that they ran you know
29:40.188 --> 29:54.215
[SPEAKER_02]: I need to see more, because right now this roster to me doesn't have enough shot making and shot creation for me to think they are going to be in the middle of the pack or above in the Eastern Conference.
29:54.235 --> 29:57.657
[SPEAKER_02]: Much say the love, yeah, this is also the variable and I guess we're not really factoring in injuries.
29:58.017 --> 30:00.738
[SPEAKER_02]: But yeah, it's been hurt a lot the last couple of years.
30:02.459 --> 30:02.639
[SPEAKER_02]: Good.
30:02.659 --> 30:04.780
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, but not as much during the regular season.
30:05.159 --> 30:08.921
[SPEAKER_02]: You're right, you're an end-of-rank of the season, which is unfortunate for Milwaukee.
30:10.041 --> 30:16.524
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to go under, because I'm going to have about 45 wins, which will put them right at the under.
30:16.584 --> 30:17.385
[SPEAKER_02]: So I think they're good.
30:17.545 --> 30:18.505
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they're a playoff team.
30:18.585 --> 30:20.766
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think they're a top half of the Eastern Conference team.
30:22.227 --> 30:31.832
[SPEAKER_02]: And I fully, I'm ready to get cooked by Miami Heat fans that consistently feel offended that they're not paid enough attention to in their team.
30:31.892 --> 30:31.972
[SPEAKER_02]: And
30:32.472 --> 30:32.832
[SPEAKER_02]: and all that.
30:32.872 --> 30:34.094
[SPEAKER_02]: But I love the front line.
30:34.134 --> 30:35.455
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they look defensively.
30:35.975 --> 30:39.318
[SPEAKER_02]: Like, again, another team I think can grind out some wins if they wanted to.
30:39.478 --> 30:41.160
[SPEAKER_02]: Like, Yannison, Bam, and that front line.
30:41.860 --> 30:43.522
[SPEAKER_02]: Good luck getting a bucket in the paint.
30:43.622 --> 30:45.163
[SPEAKER_02]: Davey and Mitchell, big time defender.
30:45.303 --> 30:46.885
[SPEAKER_02]: Andrew Wiggins really good defender.
30:46.905 --> 30:47.926
[SPEAKER_02]: They've got some guys there.
30:47.966 --> 30:50.248
[SPEAKER_02]: The personnel to be a really good defensive team.
30:50.268 --> 30:51.429
[SPEAKER_02]: It's like offensively though.
30:51.469 --> 30:52.590
[SPEAKER_02]: Like, what are they going to look like?
30:52.630 --> 30:57.474
[SPEAKER_02]: Are you going to put the ball in Yannison's hands and just say get down hill for us and shock rate that way?
30:57.594 --> 30:58.034
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know.
30:58.174 --> 30:58.335
[SPEAKER_02]: Like,
30:59.335 --> 31:04.119
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know, that's that's there to me a pretty big wild card in the Eastern Conference.
31:05.300 --> 31:07.381
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, let's talk about Milwaukee.
31:07.441 --> 31:08.782
[SPEAKER_02]: 32 wins last year.
31:08.842 --> 31:11.644
[SPEAKER_02]: The Trader Janice obviously revamped their team.
31:12.185 --> 31:15.007
[SPEAKER_02]: Vegas got them at 24 and a half.
31:15.147 --> 31:16.027
[SPEAKER_02]: Tyler, here always there.
31:16.087 --> 31:19.049
[SPEAKER_02]: Back home, Khalil Ware, Jaime Hawkeyes, all the guys used to be in Miami.
31:19.069 --> 31:25.594
[SPEAKER_02]: The Lucianis, Bobby Portis, Torian Prince, eight, around eight losses, eight extra losses on their,
31:29.423 --> 31:30.284
[SPEAKER_00]: I got to take the under.
31:30.564 --> 31:34.309
[SPEAKER_00]: I just think he lose a player like Anderson to cook both Tyler Harrow's not.
31:34.990 --> 31:36.612
[SPEAKER_00]: He's not picking up for that.
31:36.752 --> 31:39.315
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I like what he said during the preseason.
31:39.375 --> 31:41.758
[SPEAKER_00]: He said, oh, it's tougher here than it is in Miami.
31:42.359 --> 31:45.423
[SPEAKER_00]: It's better the heat culture, but it's not actually.
31:45.683 --> 31:47.866
[SPEAKER_00]: And so I got to take the under on these guys.
31:48.363 --> 31:48.483
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.
31:48.503 --> 31:50.746
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to take the under as well.
31:51.868 --> 32:00.099
[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's close because I think Taylor Jenkins is a really good coach and I think not having the pressure of like having to tank.
32:00.259 --> 32:06.447
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they've got some guys that can play, but 24 wins sounds about right for me in Miami.
32:06.467 --> 32:11.413
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, the defending champs, the New York Nix, 53 wins last year.
32:11.853 --> 32:16.759
[SPEAKER_02]: They add Andre Drummond, they lose Mitchell Robinson, Jerry's show, Jerry's show, and all right.
32:16.979 --> 32:17.980
[SPEAKER_02]: So shan, sorry.
32:18.400 --> 32:20.743
[SPEAKER_02]: Earl Hockporty also gone as well.
32:20.783 --> 32:23.967
[SPEAKER_02]: Vegas got him at 51 and a half Rachel, what do you think?
32:24.950 --> 32:28.993
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going over, man, the champions always get the benefit of the doubt for me.
32:29.033 --> 32:37.958
[SPEAKER_00]: You know that after all these years of doing this together, I think they're going to, you know, last season you have to remember, they had so many ups and downs.
32:38.699 --> 32:41.801
[SPEAKER_00]: And it's what got lost in the championship run because it was so dominant.
32:42.241 --> 32:45.983
[SPEAKER_00]: But they lost a lot of games last year that they should have won.
32:46.164 --> 32:51.147
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think those are the kinds of games that they will make up for this season because they are clicking.
32:51.567 --> 32:52.768
[SPEAKER_00]: and they know what's up.
32:53.129 --> 32:56.652
[SPEAKER_00]: I think Mitch Robinson is definitely a loss, but I just have faith.
32:56.712 --> 32:57.293
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to say over.
32:57.959 --> 33:04.044
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going under Robinson's, not by much, like 49, I would say, probably happen there.
33:04.804 --> 33:10.649
[SPEAKER_02]: Robinson's a big loss and now that, you know, they lose talkporty, that's a loss as well.
33:11.330 --> 33:21.177
[SPEAKER_02]: You're backing on Andre Drummond being able to give you those kind of consistent minutes, but moreover, like I do think there's likely to be some kind of championship hangover and maybe I'm being a prisoner of the moment, but
33:22.018 --> 33:30.485
[SPEAKER_02]: The vibes don't feel like they're that great right now with all these contract extensions kind of going nowhere and you know, the next putting it out there that they're not going to do extension talk right now.
33:30.645 --> 33:33.507
[SPEAKER_02]: Towns certainly doesn't sound pleased at at all this.
33:33.727 --> 33:36.409
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm sure Josh Hart isn't pleased.
33:36.469 --> 33:37.810
[SPEAKER_02]: Do Spick Bride isn't pleased.
33:37.870 --> 33:38.130
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know.
33:38.150 --> 33:39.471
[SPEAKER_02]: Maybe Tyler Cole like isn't pleased.
33:39.512 --> 33:39.832
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know.
33:41.533 --> 33:49.135
[SPEAKER_02]: is a little bit of dissatisfaction in New York that these guys weren't rewarded for their championship marks.
33:49.155 --> 33:52.075
[SPEAKER_02]: So I'm going to go in the high 40s for the next.
33:52.095 --> 33:54.776
[SPEAKER_02]: Still dangerous playoff team and I'm going high 40s there.
33:54.876 --> 34:01.818
[SPEAKER_02]: Orlando magic 45 wins last year, 44 and a half there listed at this year, the ad voos of it.
34:01.838 --> 34:06.479
[SPEAKER_02]: They lose Wagner, but most importantly, the ad Sean Sweeney, who's the new head coach down there.
34:06.579 --> 34:09.099
[SPEAKER_02]: Vegas has them right around the same level.
34:09.119 --> 34:09.420
[SPEAKER_02]: They were
34:12.301 --> 34:22.467
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going barely over, barely just a little bit over just because a healthy Franz Wagner, which we have to assume health and all of these conversations, right?
34:23.028 --> 34:30.012
[SPEAKER_00]: There will be injuries, but we have to assume health and I'm assuming that a guy who played 34 games last season is going to play more.
34:30.412 --> 34:37.197
[SPEAKER_00]: So I just think that they are going to do better than they did, but I also think it's going to be by a little bit.
34:37.735 --> 34:41.078
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I'm going over, but I'm going more over.
34:41.118 --> 34:41.939
[SPEAKER_00]: You're going way over?
34:42.539 --> 34:43.280
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to 50.
34:43.480 --> 34:44.581
[SPEAKER_02]: I think there are 50 win teams.
34:44.681 --> 34:45.122
[SPEAKER_02]: Wow.
34:45.162 --> 34:45.362
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.
34:46.283 --> 34:48.065
[SPEAKER_02]: They are the last couple of years.
34:49.307 --> 34:50.988
[SPEAKER_02]: injuries in consistency.
34:51.128 --> 34:53.951
[SPEAKER_02]: I felt they have not lived up to their potential.
34:54.931 --> 34:57.954
[SPEAKER_02]: If they're healthy, I think Sweeney is the right coach for that team.
34:58.154 --> 34:59.935
[SPEAKER_02]: I think he's going to be a great hard.
35:00.536 --> 35:02.317
[SPEAKER_02]: I think he's going to get more out of them.
35:02.577 --> 35:03.558
[SPEAKER_02]: They still have flaws.
35:03.798 --> 35:04.539
[SPEAKER_02]: Not enough shooting.
35:04.799 --> 35:05.519
[SPEAKER_02]: That's a problem.
35:05.960 --> 35:07.541
[SPEAKER_02]: Is Jalen Sugs a true point guard?
35:07.641 --> 35:08.422
[SPEAKER_02]: Probably not.
35:08.522 --> 35:12.645
[SPEAKER_02]: So they've got some playmaking issues there, but they can be a nasty defensive team.
35:12.965 --> 35:15.067
[SPEAKER_02]: And I think that's going to be enough to get them to 50
35:16.988 --> 35:18.050
[SPEAKER_02]: inside the top five.
35:18.190 --> 35:20.813
[SPEAKER_02]: They're a top five team extra conference this year.
35:21.013 --> 35:25.078
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm bullish again I'm dying in this Orlando magic hill over in over here.
35:25.118 --> 35:28.683
[SPEAKER_02]: This is like three years in a row three years in a row I've just been able to believe for the magic.
35:28.703 --> 35:31.105
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe this is the year at some point You've got to be right Chris.
35:31.526 --> 35:35.451
[SPEAKER_02]: It's at some point, but this is the final year if they stumble this year I'm jumping off the bad way
35:35.931 --> 35:36.692
[SPEAKER_02]: Uh, Philadelphia.
35:36.932 --> 35:37.612
[SPEAKER_02]: We know what they did.
35:37.913 --> 35:52.985
[SPEAKER_02]: LeBron James is in Jalen Brown is in Amphrine, Simon's, the Los Paul George, Quentin Grimes, Ubridge Jr., but they are star-studded Rachel and Vegas has them going from 45 wins last year, which is kind of a lost year to 50 and a half this year.
35:53.005 --> 35:53.425
[SPEAKER_02]: What do you think?
35:54.860 --> 36:00.002
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to go under, but barely, barely under, this was another real toss up for me.
36:00.062 --> 36:03.183
[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm going with my role of, hey, the East is tough for this year.
36:03.884 --> 36:07.285
[SPEAKER_00]: I think this is going to be a very, very powerful playoff team.
36:07.425 --> 36:11.987
[SPEAKER_00]: I think when it counts in the post season, they are going to be ridiculously dangerous.
36:12.547 --> 36:18.490
[SPEAKER_00]: During the regular season, I see them resting a lot of their guys, especially the older two guys.
36:19.230 --> 36:21.251
[SPEAKER_00]: Just so they can have that postseason run.
36:21.331 --> 36:24.614
[SPEAKER_00]: So I don't think LeBron is going to play as much as he did last year.
36:24.974 --> 36:30.918
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think Joell and Beat is going to play as many games as some people expect because they want to keep those guys healthy.
36:31.338 --> 36:45.728
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, of course, we have seen when they're off the floor, Tyreys Maxi, VJH comb, a lot of these guys can still do their thing, but I'm going to say barely under and a tougher east with the caveat that I think they're going to make a strong run in the playoffs.
36:46.028 --> 36:50.389
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I'm with you on the the barely under 48 49 wins sounds right to me.
36:50.409 --> 37:06.875
[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's gonna look clunky early on and I think there's gonna be some like drama you know early on we already had like I mean I didn't have Mike brain creating drama on my bingo card with no with the sixers but like we're gonna have some of that with this team some big personalities there mismatched parts a little bit.
37:07.075 --> 37:13.937
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they're the kind of team that's gonna look really good in March and April and that's why I think they're gonna make a run that's why I have them going to the finals.
37:14.397 --> 37:21.599
[SPEAKER_02]: but I think early on it's going to be a little bit messy and I'm going to want to have it to get to the finals from one of those middle seeds in the eastern conference.
37:21.619 --> 37:22.999
[SPEAKER_02]: All right Toronto.
37:23.099 --> 37:24.460
[SPEAKER_02]: 46 wins last year.
37:24.520 --> 37:25.760
[SPEAKER_02]: They add Kauai Leonard.
37:25.780 --> 37:30.001
[SPEAKER_02]: They lose Brandon Ingram, Grady Dick, uh, Mama Kailus Vili.
37:30.842 --> 37:34.683
[SPEAKER_02]: Um, but the odds makers got them right around the same number 45 and a half.
37:34.723 --> 37:35.183
[SPEAKER_02]: What do you think?
37:35.323 --> 37:35.803
[SPEAKER_02]: Over under.
37:36.880 --> 37:40.221
[SPEAKER_00]: This is like the sweetheart pick from NBA insider people.
37:40.241 --> 37:43.202
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, everyone's just so excited to see the Raptors.
37:43.782 --> 37:46.162
[SPEAKER_00]: I think Kawai Leonard is not going to play as much as you think.
37:46.222 --> 37:49.543
[SPEAKER_00]: You and I live in LA, and we've seen what happens with him, Halquas.
37:49.603 --> 37:57.185
[SPEAKER_00]: He is not afraid to take games off or to rest in baby and injury for a while because he wants to be ready for the post season.
37:57.225 --> 37:59.145
[SPEAKER_00]: And he doesn't want to get hurt in a big way again.
38:00.926 --> 38:01.866
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to take the under.
38:03.430 --> 38:04.939
[SPEAKER_00]: It's not because they don't have faith in them.
38:05.200 --> 38:07.172
[SPEAKER_00]: I just think that everyone is old to eye on them.
38:08.220 --> 38:18.747
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I'm going to go over, I'm going to go over and like, yeah, everything is predicated on Kawaii self, but he's with the organization that knows how to deal with him better than any other.
38:18.987 --> 38:35.499
[SPEAKER_02]: Like, they've done the Kawaii Leonard load management stuff and if he's healthy and able to give them 65 plus games, like he's exactly what they need, like exactly he's playing more than 65 games, 60, 60 games, if it's a six in front of him, they're going to have
38:38.030 --> 38:40.011
[SPEAKER_02]: They were like, I think he, I think I'm going to get there.
38:40.151 --> 38:46.736
[SPEAKER_02]: I think, and like, I like the mix, I like what he's able to do with the rest of that team.
38:46.756 --> 38:49.938
[SPEAKER_02]: Like he takes more pressure off Scotty Barnes, he can be an offensive hub.
38:50.238 --> 38:55.302
[SPEAKER_02]: They're going to be great on a perimeter defensively with Kawai and Barnes as a one-two punch there.
38:57.263 --> 38:59.004
[SPEAKER_02]: I like them a lot.
38:59.044 --> 39:02.567
[SPEAKER_02]: Look, and defensively, I know people at Toronto were like, I said this a couple of times.
39:03.167 --> 39:04.128
[SPEAKER_02]: They needed him for defense.
39:04.148 --> 39:04.768
[SPEAKER_02]: They do.
39:05.308 --> 39:06.749
[SPEAKER_02]: People in Toronto have texted me
39:07.710 --> 39:08.070
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, yeah.
39:08.110 --> 39:10.451
[SPEAKER_02]: We were, I think they were fifth defensively last year.
39:10.471 --> 39:11.772
[SPEAKER_02]: They were kind of average in the playoffs.
39:12.172 --> 39:15.133
[SPEAKER_02]: Um, they had a couple of few games that first round where they gave a bunch of points.
39:15.893 --> 39:23.276
[SPEAKER_02]: Um, but people in Toronto have texted me and been like, you know, the 18 19 team was a championship defensive team last year was not a championship defensive team.
39:23.336 --> 39:25.617
[SPEAKER_02]: Like this year, you get a why you have barns.
39:25.637 --> 39:27.958
[SPEAKER_02]: Those are two championship level defensive wings.
39:28.158 --> 39:29.059
[SPEAKER_02]: I like them to go over.
39:29.099 --> 39:33.000
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they flirt with 50 wins, but they go over that 45, 46 number.
39:33.020 --> 39:33.440
[SPEAKER_02]: All right,
39:37.222 --> 39:38.643
[SPEAKER_02]: the Washington Wizards.
39:39.183 --> 39:44.847
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, baby, who have been, you know, bottom feeders for the last few years.
39:45.848 --> 39:51.112
[SPEAKER_02]: 17 wins last season, Rachel Nichols, they are projected to have 35 and a half.
39:51.172 --> 39:53.153
[SPEAKER_02]: That's the overunder for Washington.
39:53.173 --> 39:54.674
[SPEAKER_02]: So they're projected to have more wins.
39:54.714 --> 39:55.335
[SPEAKER_02]: So they go up here.
39:55.375 --> 40:02.380
[SPEAKER_02]: Then Milwaukee, then Chicago, they're projected to be a vastly improved team.
40:02.400 --> 40:05.382
[SPEAKER_02]: Do you see the Wizards doubling their win total from last year?
40:06.122 --> 40:08.144
[SPEAKER_00]: This is when I have to give my usual caveat.
40:08.264 --> 40:11.606
[SPEAKER_00]: I am biased, I grew up in DC, fan of this team.
40:11.666 --> 40:14.649
[SPEAKER_00]: I now do some work for the organization, so I am biased.
40:14.669 --> 40:15.810
[SPEAKER_00]: There is no question about it.
40:16.330 --> 40:20.834
[SPEAKER_00]: However, in my biased state, I'm picking the overgrace.
40:20.914 --> 40:23.556
[SPEAKER_00]: I really think people are underestimating this team.
40:23.576 --> 40:24.897
[SPEAKER_00]: They have so much young talent.
40:25.137 --> 40:26.799
[SPEAKER_00]: They just beat the nicks in the preseason.
40:26.839 --> 40:28.180
[SPEAKER_00]: And again, I know it's preseason.
40:28.200 --> 40:29.541
[SPEAKER_00]: I know it doesn't count for much, but
40:29.961 --> 40:46.737
[SPEAKER_00]: if you look at the way they have played fine fine if you look at the way they played when they've been out on the floor if you look at the way they have looked in practice I think the chemistry is really good here I think that Anthony Davis was very unhappy for months and months but I don't think he's as unhappy now and
40:46.917 --> 40:51.620
[SPEAKER_00]: I have not had this in-depth conversation with him, so take it for what it is just my opinion.
40:51.960 --> 40:59.445
[SPEAKER_00]: He looks like he's having a lot of fun out there, and he looks like he likes these guys, especially AJ, and they've had some great connections on the court.
40:59.545 --> 41:01.466
[SPEAKER_00]: So yes, I'm biased.
41:01.686 --> 41:03.027
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, I'm also taking the over
41:03.568 --> 41:12.783
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think Washington is going to win the title this year, but I do think they're going to surprise some people you have to remember that 17 games last year was suppressed for a reason.
41:13.284 --> 41:13.644
[SPEAKER_00]: It worked.
41:13.885 --> 41:17.531
[SPEAKER_00]: They got AJ and now they get to sort of play it a full run.
41:17.962 --> 41:23.385
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, what was it, but was carrying to say that was out of his line there, and it got to set the quiet part out loud.
41:23.785 --> 41:24.726
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to take you over as well.
41:24.746 --> 41:25.827
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they can get into the house.
41:25.847 --> 41:26.027
[SPEAKER_02]: Yes!
41:26.627 --> 41:27.568
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they can get the house.
41:27.588 --> 41:30.269
[SPEAKER_02]: Like, trade young, I watched him in the priest's whip in the ball around.
41:30.349 --> 41:33.911
[SPEAKER_02]: Like, I think he, he might compete for the assist title this year.
41:33.991 --> 41:40.055
[SPEAKER_02]: And if AD stays out of the, him and Saur next to each other's good combination, I guess it comes down to like, how do you blend
41:40.715 --> 41:46.476
[SPEAKER_02]: all this rising young talent with the veteran stars that are Anthony Davis and Tray Young.
41:46.516 --> 41:47.996
[SPEAKER_02]: Like does that come together quickly?
41:48.176 --> 41:54.817
[SPEAKER_02]: Is Brian Keith built to coach this type of team after coaching kind of a losing situation for the last couple of years.
41:54.857 --> 42:04.679
[SPEAKER_02]: But they have the talent to be 36, 37, flirt with 500, flirt with the play in spot with the Plafsquad via the play in, they've got that kind of downright.
42:04.719 --> 42:05.359
[SPEAKER_02]: So I'm with you.
42:05.719 --> 42:06.419
[SPEAKER_02]: I am on board.
42:09.768 --> 42:10.029
[SPEAKER_02]: All right.
42:10.850 --> 42:14.378
[SPEAKER_02]: That's it for the work is done here work is done.
42:14.518 --> 42:16.362
[SPEAKER_02]: We will do the Western conference though.
42:16.382 --> 42:17.925
[SPEAKER_02]: A much tougher comfort thing to project.
42:18.206 --> 42:19.068
[SPEAKER_02]: We'll do that next week.
00:00.291 --> 00:02.832
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, playing, open, floor.
00:03.252 --> 00:05.393
[SPEAKER_01]: This is open floor.
00:05.413 --> 00:07.473
[SPEAKER_01]: Sports Illustrated's Chris Manix back at.
00:07.733 --> 00:11.334
[SPEAKER_01]: An NBA podcast with Sports Illustrated Senior Writer.
00:11.595 --> 00:14.035
[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's time that the world gets to know.
00:14.195 --> 00:15.276
[SPEAKER_02]: My guy, Chris Manix.
00:15.636 --> 00:17.056
[SPEAKER_02]: I think your opinion's shared by everyone.
00:17.236 --> 00:18.197
[SPEAKER_02]: And now it begins.
00:18.357 --> 00:19.297
[SPEAKER_01]: Now it begins.
00:23.915 --> 00:33.125
[SPEAKER_02]: This is the open floor NBA podcast where we talk about the league and all the big stories that are going on in it back with me this week.
00:33.765 --> 00:39.891
[SPEAKER_02]: The monumental sports network Fox sports wanted right here on this podcast, the great Rachel Nichols.
00:39.912 --> 00:40.512
[SPEAKER_02]: Hello, Rachel.
00:41.353 --> 00:42.054
[SPEAKER_00]: Hello, Chris.
00:42.935 --> 00:45.918
[SPEAKER_00]: What city in the country are you coming to us from?
00:46.710 --> 01:04.470
[SPEAKER_02]: I am in Boston right now, uh, parachuted into my house here, uh, was in Connecticut over, uh, on Monday, Sunday, Monday for NBC's orientation year two of the NBA on NBC, excited to have been, uh, invited back.
01:04.510 --> 01:06.532
[SPEAKER_02]: I just assumed that I'm a clerical error today.
01:07.653 --> 01:10.857
[SPEAKER_02]: Said alright, well, Manix is still here, you know, some surprise faces.
01:10.897 --> 01:13.199
[SPEAKER_02]: I walked into the building at Stanford, Manix is here.
01:13.219 --> 01:14.380
[SPEAKER_02]: I guess he's part of the team.
01:14.440 --> 01:14.740
[SPEAKER_02]: Okay.
01:14.861 --> 01:15.041
[SPEAKER_02]: Okay.
01:15.441 --> 01:18.785
[SPEAKER_02]: It's decided to be doing that once more for NBC as we get ready.
01:18.885 --> 01:20.787
[SPEAKER_02]: Just about a week away from the scene.
01:20.807 --> 01:21.968
[SPEAKER_00]: I know it's crazy.
01:23.335 --> 01:25.817
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, it's, it's, come on pretty fast.
01:25.977 --> 01:28.599
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, like, what is it that's an abbreviated number of exhibition games, right?
01:28.619 --> 01:34.963
[SPEAKER_02]: Like they shorten that schedule and they get right into the regular season Tuesday night triple header on NBC.
01:34.983 --> 01:40.206
[SPEAKER_02]: They've got a 3 p.m. game, Celtics Pistons 3 p.m. Eastern on NBC.
01:40.246 --> 01:43.268
[SPEAKER_02]: The rare afternoon game in the opener.
01:43.308 --> 01:50.273
[SPEAKER_02]: Usually it's a bunch of prime time games, but they're going early on that slate to see if they can capitalize on maybe a younger audience that's watching that.
01:51.945 --> 01:52.306
[SPEAKER_00]: I like it.
01:52.326 --> 01:53.408
[SPEAKER_00]: It's going to be fun.
01:53.428 --> 01:54.249
[SPEAKER_02]: All right.
01:54.490 --> 01:58.337
[SPEAKER_00]: The two later matchups are insane, so you're being really fun.
01:58.799 --> 02:00.781
[SPEAKER_02]: Nick six years LeBron doesn't need to help add in.
02:00.801 --> 02:02.702
[SPEAKER_02]: You can just hang out in New York.
02:03.083 --> 02:06.986
[SPEAKER_02]: And I think the best game of the night is spurs thunder.
02:07.667 --> 02:13.551
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, you know, chat versus Wemby, Shay versus Wemby for the MPP chase begins in earnest.
02:14.873 --> 02:17.255
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, the two best teams in the Western Conference by far.
02:17.935 --> 02:19.416
[SPEAKER_02]: I think that's going to be a fun match up as well.
02:19.436 --> 02:20.177
[SPEAKER_02]: I'll be in San Antonio.
02:20.197 --> 02:24.881
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to go down and watch that open or live and in person.
02:25.353 --> 02:32.504
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, on this episode, I want to do a little predictions, some predictions on the season.
02:32.524 --> 02:38.112
[SPEAKER_02]: I want to look at the overunders for the teams in the Eastern Conference.
02:38.132 --> 02:40.736
[SPEAKER_02]: We'll look at the Western Conference next week.
02:41.317 --> 02:48.186
[SPEAKER_02]: But Eastern conference overrun is going to run through these teams that have their overruns.
02:48.206 --> 02:52.030
[SPEAKER_02]: And I want to go in alphabetical order with this group, if we can.
02:52.050 --> 02:54.093
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't want to go by conference.
02:54.113 --> 02:56.576
[SPEAKER_02]: We'll just go alphabetical order with these teams.
02:56.596 --> 02:57.577
[SPEAKER_02]: So let's start Rachel.
02:58.518 --> 03:00.840
[SPEAKER_02]: with Atlanta.
03:00.940 --> 03:03.782
[SPEAKER_02]: 46 wins in the 25 or 26 season.
03:04.623 --> 03:05.564
[SPEAKER_02]: They're over under.
03:05.584 --> 03:08.026
[SPEAKER_02]: These overunders are courtesy of Fandwell, by the way.
03:08.046 --> 03:10.968
[SPEAKER_02]: The overunder is 44 and a half.
03:11.269 --> 03:15.672
[SPEAKER_02]: They added Lou Dort, Aaron Wiggins, Dorian Finney Smith.
03:16.012 --> 03:20.936
[SPEAKER_02]: They lost Zach Risha Shaye, Jonathan Kominga, buddy healed, Ryan Nemhart.
03:21.337 --> 03:26.261
[SPEAKER_02]: And the odds makers got them right around the same wind total as last season.
03:26.781 --> 03:30.023
[SPEAKER_02]: Are you going over or under the Atlanta Hawks 44 and a half?
03:30.883 --> 03:34.885
[SPEAKER_00]: Right off the bat you're going to one of the ones that I agonized over Chris.
03:35.145 --> 03:38.707
[SPEAKER_00]: I just don't know what this team is going to look like so that makes it a little tougher.
03:39.167 --> 03:50.073
[SPEAKER_00]: But because the competition in the East is going to be more significant this year, that's where I'm going to fall back on throughout this podcast if I don't really I can't make a call.
03:50.593 --> 03:57.838
[SPEAKER_00]: So because I think the competition's going to be tougher in the East because I'm not entirely sure how Lou Dort is going to fit into the starting lineup.
03:58.178 --> 03:59.619
[SPEAKER_00]: You obviously need him on the floor.
03:59.679 --> 04:07.564
[SPEAKER_00]: The reason you got him is he guards the other team's best player, but it changes what they can do on the floor if the way that Quinn Snyder likes to coach.
04:07.624 --> 04:07.844
[SPEAKER_00]: So.
04:08.865 --> 04:20.749
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to go under but only because I just think the competition around them is more significant and if we're saying how will they do compared to their 46 wins last year, it's going to be a little less for everyone I think.
04:21.175 --> 04:21.295
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.
04:21.335 --> 04:22.836
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to go under as well.
04:23.936 --> 04:28.759
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they have a chance to be really tough defensively.
04:28.979 --> 04:40.585
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, if you look at the wings that they have with Alexander Walker, Daniels, not even a door in that mix, I also think that Aaron Wiggins is a candidate for most improved.
04:40.605 --> 04:46.228
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, that's a guy that can play and now he's presumably going to get an expanded role.
04:46.368 --> 04:47.969
[SPEAKER_02]: I've been here in some pretty good things and
04:48.809 --> 04:51.451
[SPEAKER_02]: They're liking Aaron Wiggins a lot down there in Atlanta.
04:51.471 --> 05:16.432
[SPEAKER_02]: My issue with them is like offensive shot creation I think it's a lot of pressure on Jalen Johnson to take his game up to another level and continue to grow As a player there's a lot of pressure on CJ McCollum to continue to be a consistent playmaker at the point guard position I think offensively they're gonna have some ups and downs this season and they're gonna have to grind out some wins the defensive end of the floor to
05:17.613 --> 05:19.578
[SPEAKER_02]: get back to that 46-ish windows.
05:19.598 --> 05:20.340
[SPEAKER_02]: So I'm gonna go in the under.
05:20.360 --> 05:22.465
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm gonna say like early 40s for Atlanta.
05:22.485 --> 05:23.347
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm gonna take the under on that
05:24.378 --> 05:25.199
[SPEAKER_00]: All right, we're both under.
05:25.219 --> 05:26.880
[SPEAKER_02]: No, take it to the both under of that.
05:27.120 --> 05:36.709
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, let's go to the Boston Celtics, 56 wins for the Celtics last year, one of the surprise teams in the NBA.
05:37.589 --> 05:47.438
[SPEAKER_02]: They add Paul George, Mitchell Robinson, Mike Conley, they lose Jalen Brown, and I guess you can say they lost Nicole LaVouce of it, so I don't think they consider that big a loss.
05:48.158 --> 05:53.362
[SPEAKER_02]: Um, the odds, the Vegas odds makers, they have the Celtics at 49 and a half.
05:53.382 --> 05:59.106
[SPEAKER_02]: So I was shocked at this sub 50 wind team, Rachel, is what the odds makers have, the Celtics has.
05:59.126 --> 06:00.587
[SPEAKER_02]: You taking the over the under unboston.
06:01.418 --> 06:02.519
[SPEAKER_00]: I am going over.
06:02.539 --> 06:08.482
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going passionately over on this one because I think Joe Masoola teams are built.
06:08.522 --> 06:12.144
[SPEAKER_00]: When I say this, it is not a rip on how they do in the playoffs.
06:12.224 --> 06:17.887
[SPEAKER_00]: I am only saying that if we look at the regular season in its entirety, they are built for this regular season.
06:18.347 --> 06:20.969
[SPEAKER_00]: This is a team that just knows how to play.
06:21.089 --> 06:23.470
[SPEAKER_00]: And obviously, Jalen Brown is a huge loss.
06:23.510 --> 06:25.071
[SPEAKER_00]: I respect him so much as a player.
06:25.511 --> 06:27.992
[SPEAKER_00]: But I just think Joe Misula can plug and play.
06:28.012 --> 06:29.733
[SPEAKER_00]: And we saw that this past year.
06:30.454 --> 06:40.379
[SPEAKER_00]: And I just have faith that especially during a regular season run, this is where this team can excel in a way others can't with diminished personnel.
06:40.419 --> 06:41.220
[SPEAKER_00]: And I'm taking the over.
06:41.547 --> 06:45.829
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I'm taking the over, and I'm hammering that over as well.
06:46.549 --> 06:49.491
[SPEAKER_02]: Yes, I look, the Southics, I agree with you.
06:49.531 --> 06:54.353
[SPEAKER_02]: They are a team that is built to have a lot of regular season success.
06:55.014 --> 07:02.377
[SPEAKER_02]: They are deep, going 10, 11 guys deep with real NBA rotation players, which is going to matter in the regular season.
07:03.898 --> 07:09.821
[SPEAKER_02]: The additional Mitchell Robinson, pluses up that front court, gives them a front line rebounding guy.
07:10.521 --> 07:34.678
[SPEAKER_02]: Paul George got my questions about his ability to deliver in the playoffs, but in the regular season, if they can squeeze 60s wins out of George, he's going to be a good complementary piece to Jason Tatum, Tatum, going to be playing with a chip on a shoulder all season long, trying to show everybody that he's capable of being the kind of alpha that he believes that he is.
07:34.698 --> 07:37.400
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to get an organic growth from Baylor Shireman from
07:38.000 --> 07:40.162
[SPEAKER_02]: Jordan Walsh from Ugo Gonzales.
07:40.182 --> 07:41.524
[SPEAKER_02]: You've still got Peyton Pritzard there.
07:41.604 --> 07:42.805
[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's going to have a big year.
07:43.205 --> 07:43.866
[SPEAKER_02]: Derek White.
07:44.527 --> 07:49.632
[SPEAKER_02]: Even with the shooting woes last year was a really consistent defensive player and playmaker.
07:50.693 --> 07:54.637
[SPEAKER_02]: Look, in the playoffs, like, do I think they're going to have some problems with shock creation?
07:54.657 --> 07:55.138
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I do.
07:55.178 --> 07:56.299
[SPEAKER_02]: I do think they have some issues there.
07:56.339 --> 07:58.821
[SPEAKER_02]: But I think in the regular season, that depth.
07:59.542 --> 08:16.444
[SPEAKER_02]: uh... this personnel that coach i think they're going to get close to that fifty six win mark like they may not get to fifty six but fifty four fifty five i can see that easily so if they're healthy uh... i i think they're there in the mid-fifties couldn't agree more
08:17.107 --> 08:18.448
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, they're right there.
08:18.468 --> 08:19.688
[SPEAKER_01]: That's a, that's a good team.
08:19.748 --> 08:19.968
[SPEAKER_02]: All right.
08:20.188 --> 08:23.249
[SPEAKER_02]: Um, next up on the list.
08:23.450 --> 08:30.772
[SPEAKER_02]: Let's go with the Brooklyn nets 20 wins last year in the 25 26 season second straight year.
08:30.792 --> 08:31.573
[SPEAKER_01]: They went for 20ish.
08:32.725 --> 08:44.758
[SPEAKER_02]: They add Julius Randall, they add Keyon Ellis, they add Mowbogner, they get McElbrown, Jr. and the draft, Joshua Jefferson, also in the draft, they lose Nick Claxton and Ziya Wands.
08:44.918 --> 08:51.024
[SPEAKER_02]: Vegas has them at 24 and a half, so they're anticipating some improvements from Brooklyn.
08:51.405 --> 08:53.307
[SPEAKER_02]: You go on over under on the Brooklyn Nets.
08:54.117 --> 09:04.303
[SPEAKER_00]: I was really hoping when I reached Brooklyn on the outsheet that it the over under would be like 22 because I feel like then I could go over at 24 and a half.
09:04.403 --> 09:07.445
[SPEAKER_00]: I just feel this is another team that I thought was real toss up.
09:09.706 --> 09:15.809
[SPEAKER_00]: I was about to say I'll back the upside and go over, but that's really hard for me again in this like more competitive
09:25.360 --> 09:27.924
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to go over on this one.
09:28.624 --> 09:31.769
[SPEAKER_02]: I really like the potential of that back court.
09:33.491 --> 09:35.634
[SPEAKER_02]: Diego Demon, I think, is a real player.
09:35.935 --> 09:41.202
[SPEAKER_02]: I think him and Brown are going to be a dynamic back court as the season develops.
09:42.003 --> 09:43.225
[SPEAKER_02]: I think the roster's weird.
09:44.586 --> 09:54.656
[SPEAKER_02]: This Michael Porter journey get traded at mid season, probably, you know, we probably that was went into my thinking, but like if he's around like he's a big time shot maker, Julius Randall.
09:55.878 --> 09:59.902
[SPEAKER_02]: He's going to put up numbers for this team, yeah, you know, that was off the bench.
10:00.422 --> 10:02.044
[SPEAKER_02]: No, a clown is still around.
10:05.436 --> 10:09.638
[SPEAKER_02]: Look, I don't think they're a 30-wint team, but can I see them getting to 26-27?
10:09.898 --> 10:12.419
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I think they can get in that range.
10:13.400 --> 10:14.640
[SPEAKER_02]: That's the first one we disagree on.
10:14.660 --> 10:16.841
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I'm gonna go over, I just, I like the back one.
10:16.861 --> 10:21.564
[SPEAKER_02]: I watch that game against the 76ers, and I watch them, and I think he's a real guy.
10:21.704 --> 10:22.604
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think he's a true guy.
10:22.624 --> 10:24.245
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, but I don't think he has to be with this group.
10:25.644 --> 10:27.947
[SPEAKER_00]: Look, I could just as easily upset over.
10:28.147 --> 10:30.310
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, this team, I just don't know what they're going to be.
10:30.810 --> 10:40.042
[SPEAKER_00]: It's hard to know what injuries to other teams are going to give some of these teams more wins because last year, of course, the last two, a couple of years, we saw teams pick up.
10:41.304 --> 10:44.407
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know, eight to 10 wins because teams were tanking, right?
10:44.987 --> 10:50.792
[SPEAKER_00]: So that's not gonna happen this year, but then you go back to the more regular thing, which is injuries.
10:51.393 --> 11:01.722
[SPEAKER_00]: So if they stay healthy and you've got a handful of teams that we think are gonna win a bunch of games suffer because of injuries, Brooklyn is really poised to take advantage of that.
11:02.322 --> 11:04.803
[SPEAKER_00]: I just don't know if it full strength versus full strength.
11:05.444 --> 11:10.987
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm willing to buy a five-game improvement over last year in an Eastern Conference that is going to be harder.
11:11.487 --> 11:21.172
[SPEAKER_00]: But I love Julius Randall as a player and I think as long as Michael Porter Jr. is around, of course he will help, but I do anticipate I'm not being around all season.
11:21.649 --> 11:23.550
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I like Jordi Fernandez as a coach too.
11:23.590 --> 11:28.434
[SPEAKER_02]: I know he hasn't won all the games, but everyone I talk to in the business says he's really good.
11:28.934 --> 11:40.043
[SPEAKER_02]: And if this team's at full strength, if this team's trying to win games, which again, because of this new lottery system, there is no upside whatsoever to pull in the shoot and be in the worst team in the NBA.
11:41.503 --> 11:48.066
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they've got the potential to creep up into those mid to high 20s and be an improved team from last year.
11:48.086 --> 11:52.147
[SPEAKER_02]: A lot of it's going to depend on these young guys how big a leap they take, how quickly they develop.
11:52.627 --> 11:57.549
[SPEAKER_02]: Do they mesh with some of these veterans that are probably not in the long-term plans of the nets?
11:58.449 --> 12:00.970
[SPEAKER_02]: But I think they're mid 20s mid 20.
12:00.990 --> 12:03.051
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they get over that 24 and a half number.
12:03.398 --> 12:08.882
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, Charlotte, a team that, you know, kind of cut up its roster this year.
12:08.902 --> 12:14.986
[SPEAKER_02]: We got Nasri, Dennis Schroeder, Grayson Allen, Roy Soneel, they're added to the mix.
12:15.626 --> 12:24.632
[SPEAKER_02]: Lamella ball is gone, Miles Bridges is gone, Josh Green is gone, look, they sold high, I thought they've said this before.
12:24.652 --> 12:25.713
[SPEAKER_02]: They sold high on Lamella ball.
12:25.733 --> 12:28.155
[SPEAKER_02]: They sold high on Miles Bridges or at least as high as they could.
12:28.715 --> 12:34.361
[SPEAKER_02]: And they're now kind of retooling this thing around con-caniple and Brad Demiller, I guess.
12:34.381 --> 12:35.862
[SPEAKER_02]: They won 44 games last year.
12:36.383 --> 12:38.385
[SPEAKER_02]: Vegas has them at 37 and a half.
12:38.485 --> 12:43.911
[SPEAKER_02]: So a 6 plus game decline is what Vegas is predicting there.
12:44.111 --> 12:45.492
[SPEAKER_02]: Are you going over under 37 and a half?
12:47.017 --> 12:48.018
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to be optimistic.
12:48.218 --> 12:48.859
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to go over.
12:48.879 --> 12:53.084
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that this team has a lot more to it than just lamellaball.
12:53.625 --> 12:54.546
[SPEAKER_00]: I like Conconniple.
12:54.566 --> 12:56.328
[SPEAKER_00]: I think he's poised to take a leap.
12:56.689 --> 12:59.132
[SPEAKER_00]: And six game is a lot to drop.
12:59.492 --> 13:03.077
[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm going to go over barely, barely over, but barely, over.
13:03.610 --> 13:06.193
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to go under on the Hornets.
13:06.573 --> 13:08.475
[SPEAKER_02]: I get what they did this off season.
13:09.756 --> 13:19.806
[SPEAKER_02]: It seemed unusual at the time to sell off good young players, like ball and bridges, but you know, they really had to kind of...
13:20.927 --> 13:41.042
[SPEAKER_02]: duct tape lamello together to get him to the finish line last year, keep him under 30 minutes per game and I can see why they didn't want to go all in on investing in him as their franchise player and they were able to get real assets back in terms of players and capital draft capital from Minnesota in that deal.
13:41.062 --> 13:42.383
[SPEAKER_02]: So I get that same thing with bridges.
13:43.123 --> 13:46.625
[SPEAKER_02]: Um, I think they've got some pieces there in Charlotte.
13:46.645 --> 13:48.207
[SPEAKER_02]: I think Kniples really good.
13:48.347 --> 13:50.768
[SPEAKER_02]: I think Brandon Miller is good.
13:50.808 --> 13:53.490
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know exactly how good, uh, Nas Reed.
13:53.690 --> 13:56.192
[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's going to be a good fit at the power forward position.
13:56.372 --> 13:57.773
[SPEAKER_02]: I Kobe White.
13:58.786 --> 14:01.988
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, good scoring guard is the able to duplicate what Lamello did.
14:02.189 --> 14:02.849
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think so.
14:02.909 --> 14:05.211
[SPEAKER_02]: Dennis Schroeder's there on like his 47th team.
14:07.112 --> 14:07.993
[SPEAKER_02]: Grace and Allen is there.
14:08.033 --> 14:08.894
[SPEAKER_02]: He's a shot maker.
14:09.034 --> 14:13.577
[SPEAKER_02]: Like I think they have the potential to be good, but I think they're going to come in a little bit under.
14:13.597 --> 14:17.500
[SPEAKER_02]: I think like 35, 36 wins for Charlotte this year.
14:17.520 --> 14:21.984
[SPEAKER_02]: And that's partly because as you mentioned, like the these turn conference is really good.
14:22.164 --> 14:23.645
[SPEAKER_02]: Like there's a lot of good teams out there.
14:23.665 --> 14:24.326
[SPEAKER_02]: And I think Charlotte,
14:26.187 --> 14:27.368
[SPEAKER_02]: It's going to have a tough time, some nights.
14:27.408 --> 14:29.710
[SPEAKER_02]: Unless Konnip will take a big step, maybe he will.
14:29.890 --> 14:31.832
[SPEAKER_02]: Brandon Miller takes a big step, maybe he will.
14:31.852 --> 14:34.755
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to go slightly under on the Charlotte horns.
14:34.775 --> 14:37.957
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, Chicago Bulls, 31 wins last year.
14:38.017 --> 14:39.419
[SPEAKER_02]: Evan Turner and I were in Chicago this week.
14:39.439 --> 14:43.202
[SPEAKER_02]: We were talking about the bulls and how they have some direction to this team.
14:43.642 --> 14:47.466
[SPEAKER_02]: Finally, with the front office, with the coaching staff, they've got a young roster.
14:49.007 --> 14:51.910
[SPEAKER_02]: They just seem like they've reestablished some direction.
14:52.650 --> 15:12.907
[SPEAKER_02]: uh... the odds makers have them at twenty nine and a half wins after the add-and-aclactin norma power buddy healed Caleb Wilson comes in as a rookie they lose simons sexton nick Richards uh... what do you think the odds makers basically have them at kind of right around where they were last year maybe a little bit less uh... what do you think of twenty nine and a half
15:14.097 --> 15:16.738
[SPEAKER_00]: I got to say this to me is a provit situation.
15:17.098 --> 15:21.198
[SPEAKER_00]: And until the Chicago Bulls show me, they know what they're doing, collectively is an organization.
15:21.759 --> 15:22.599
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not going to bet them.
15:22.779 --> 15:28.060
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not going to give them the benefit of the doubt because my heart has been broken too many times by this team.
15:28.100 --> 15:29.280
[SPEAKER_00]: And they're not even my team.
15:29.920 --> 15:33.121
[SPEAKER_00]: It's just has felt so fruitless for so long.
15:33.621 --> 15:36.321
[SPEAKER_00]: I like Nick Claxton, but he's had some injury issues.
15:36.361 --> 15:38.422
[SPEAKER_00]: I think he's missed the entire preseason, correct?
15:39.102 --> 15:41.703
[SPEAKER_00]: status for the season opener is a little unsure.
15:42.144 --> 15:43.564
[SPEAKER_00]: I like Tiago Splitter a lot.
15:43.684 --> 15:47.746
[SPEAKER_00]: I thought he did a lot with less than people expected last year.
15:48.447 --> 15:50.868
[SPEAKER_00]: And I'm eager to see what he can do there.
15:51.268 --> 15:57.431
[SPEAKER_00]: I am hopeful but I'm not going to say, oh, they're going over until I see it work.
15:57.511 --> 16:01.313
[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm happy to be wrong on this by the time we get to the end of the season.
16:01.353 --> 16:05.675
[SPEAKER_00]: I will be actually happy to be wrong, but until I get there,
16:07.400 --> 16:09.581
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to go over on the bulls.
16:10.001 --> 16:11.582
[SPEAKER_00]: I think they're being today, Chris.
16:11.602 --> 16:12.422
[SPEAKER_00]: This is like you.
16:12.803 --> 16:14.063
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they crack 30 wins.
16:14.463 --> 16:16.404
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm not saying they're going to be great or even a play in team.
16:16.504 --> 16:17.965
[SPEAKER_02]: But I think they crack 30 wins.
16:18.846 --> 16:21.467
[SPEAKER_02]: I watched them play in Chicago against Memphis.
16:21.487 --> 16:23.408
[SPEAKER_02]: I watched some of that game against Denver.
16:24.409 --> 16:29.113
[SPEAKER_02]: There's obviously going to be some growing pains with Caleb Wilson.
16:30.715 --> 16:36.920
[SPEAKER_02]: Maybe he's not physically ready to be in every day forward, but he's a super talented kid, aggressive.
16:36.940 --> 16:37.941
[SPEAKER_02]: That's a moxie to him.
16:37.981 --> 16:39.483
[SPEAKER_02]: I think he's going to be a good defensive player.
16:39.503 --> 16:40.464
[SPEAKER_02]: Really a good defensive player.
16:41.685 --> 16:42.325
[SPEAKER_02]: I like him a lot.
16:42.626 --> 16:44.327
[SPEAKER_02]: Bousalis, what is he?
16:44.427 --> 16:45.709
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know, but he's a...
16:46.797 --> 16:52.442
[SPEAKER_02]: I think he's really good is he a third option on a really good team, probably, but I think he's a really good player.
16:52.943 --> 16:57.567
[SPEAKER_02]: Giddy has a chance to compete for an all-star spot this year, I mean, it's a six eight point guard.
16:57.607 --> 16:59.188
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, he's really good.
16:59.348 --> 17:07.135
[SPEAKER_02]: I love the Powell edition, like Powell proved last year in Miami, he can kind of fit into whatever situation you want to put him in and be productive.
17:07.776 --> 17:09.297
[SPEAKER_02]: So I like this team.
17:09.317 --> 17:11.819
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't love their bench, like Patrick Williams, like E.T.
17:11.839 --> 17:12.800
[SPEAKER_02]: and I talked about this, I
17:13.961 --> 17:16.163
[SPEAKER_02]: The Patrick Williams experiment seems to be at an end.
17:16.183 --> 17:17.544
[SPEAKER_02]: And the name sure is going to be part of the rotation.
17:17.564 --> 17:25.911
[SPEAKER_02]: No coros, okay, you know, Jalen Smith is there, uh, uh, trade zones, they're fine.
17:25.931 --> 17:29.033
[SPEAKER_02]: Like, I don't think they're going to be like close to 500.
17:29.614 --> 17:31.775
[SPEAKER_02]: But I like the rotation enough.
17:32.056 --> 17:40.723
[SPEAKER_02]: And it like powers ability to fit in enough to make me believe they crack that 29-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-
17:42.946 --> 17:48.330
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't, I mean, I didn't even think of that like gizzy, I mean, I think the second year is a team option.
17:48.990 --> 17:54.174
[SPEAKER_00]: Jerry Rensdorf has said, I'm not going to pay the luxury tax unless we're a contender.
17:54.735 --> 17:58.758
[SPEAKER_00]: Meaning a contender for a title, this team is not going to be a contender for a title.
17:59.358 --> 18:05.565
[SPEAKER_00]: So that to me says that they will least explore what they can get at the trade deadline for normal.
18:05.625 --> 18:12.772
[SPEAKER_00]: So I just that's another one of the things where the bulls circus that we've seen for the last I don't know.
18:12.833 --> 18:14.815
[SPEAKER_00]: I wanted to say five years, but is it 10 years.
18:16.677 --> 18:17.878
[SPEAKER_00]: I just I don't trust it.
18:19.126 --> 18:21.948
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I hope they hold on to them because I actually think I hope so too.
18:22.688 --> 18:32.694
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, if he, look, he's been healthy, if he stays healthy, if he stays healthy, if if, you know, Bousalis stays healthy, like that's a pretty decent 1, 2, 3 there.
18:32.874 --> 18:38.257
[SPEAKER_02]: Like not playoff contender championship contender 1, 2, 3, but that's pretty good.
18:38.277 --> 18:44.560
[SPEAKER_02]: And if Caleb Wilson develops faster than most rookies do, you know, they could be surprised.
18:44.580 --> 18:45.981
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they cracked that 29 on F wins.
18:46.001 --> 18:47.702
[SPEAKER_02]: So I think they're at that over 30 wins.
18:48.062 --> 18:51.443
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, Cleveland 52 wins last year.
18:51.483 --> 19:01.166
[SPEAKER_02]: They add Peyton Watson, they add Cam Whitmore, they lose Mcstrews, they lose Schroeder, Keyon Ellis, Dean Wade, which is a big loss among others.
19:01.866 --> 19:05.087
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, the odds makers have them taking a pretty big fall.
19:05.127 --> 19:10.168
[SPEAKER_02]: They go from 52 wins last year to predicted that 47 and a half.
19:10.248 --> 19:12.569
[SPEAKER_02]: What do you think, going over under 47 and a half with the calves?
19:13.396 --> 19:18.579
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going over just because odds makers have given us a big cushion from what they had last year.
19:18.600 --> 19:20.841
[SPEAKER_00]: I like the Peyton Watson edition.
19:21.061 --> 19:25.644
[SPEAKER_00]: I think James Harden holds up in the regular season, especially when they can get him the rest they need.
19:26.064 --> 19:30.167
[SPEAKER_00]: Diamond Mitchell is really, really, really good at playing basketball.
19:30.587 --> 19:33.970
[SPEAKER_00]: And I have a lot of faith in him, especially as they face, weaker teams.
19:34.090 --> 19:41.655
[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm going over, I'm not saying they're going to win the title, but I do think I think we'd go over that win total because it's so much further down than last season.
19:42.077 --> 19:43.357
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I think they go over as well.
19:44.258 --> 19:46.918
[SPEAKER_02]: Maybe they don't crack 50, but 49 ish.
19:47.158 --> 19:48.759
[SPEAKER_02]: I think is certainly realistic.
19:49.479 --> 19:55.541
[SPEAKER_02]: A lot of it's going to depend on Evan Mobley and how he continues to develop.
19:56.241 --> 20:05.464
[SPEAKER_02]: He's kind of stagnated over the last year or so, where he's still a really good defensive player, but he's an erratic offensive player, some nights they're great, some nights they're not.
20:05.504 --> 20:05.904
[SPEAKER_02]: Like can he
20:06.944 --> 20:25.217
[SPEAKER_02]: a level of consistency offensively can he continue to expand his game still young enough still talented enough like him a lot how to see develop i think the Watson edition is really good like they they wanted that guy they paid a premium for that guy they're spending on this roster and hardened i've got my issue with hard in the playoffs everybody does
20:25.577 --> 20:27.720
[SPEAKER_02]: But in the regular season, he's a proven commodity.
20:27.820 --> 20:30.024
[SPEAKER_02]: So I think the calves go over.
20:30.184 --> 20:33.468
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they're competing for one of the top two with three seeds in Eastern Conference.
20:34.510 --> 20:35.852
[SPEAKER_02]: And then we'll see what they look like in the playoffs.
20:35.872 --> 20:38.856
[SPEAKER_02]: For regular season, I think they go over that 47 and half wins.
20:39.137 --> 20:40.038
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, Detroit.
20:40.939 --> 20:41.900
[SPEAKER_02]: Talk about the biggest flaw.
20:41.940 --> 20:49.886
[SPEAKER_02]: I think this is the biggest drop of any team in the in the prediction and when it comes to predictions.
20:50.026 --> 20:52.428
[SPEAKER_02]: Sixty wins last season.
20:52.468 --> 21:05.259
[SPEAKER_02]: The ad John Collins, the ad Isaiah Joe, the ad Torian Prince, they lose to bias Harris, Isaiah Stewart, Carrus Levert, odds makers have been going from sixty and the overunderers 49 and a half.
21:05.279 --> 21:05.719
[SPEAKER_02]: What do you think?
21:05.839 --> 21:07.621
[SPEAKER_02]: Overunder 49 and a half of the pistons.
21:08.361 --> 21:08.981
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, over.
21:09.541 --> 21:11.622
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't expect them to hit 60 wins again.
21:11.842 --> 21:14.323
[SPEAKER_00]: But again, we're talking about the regular season.
21:14.823 --> 21:16.643
[SPEAKER_00]: This is a great defense.
21:17.043 --> 21:18.044
[SPEAKER_00]: I just, I don't know.
21:18.344 --> 21:20.704
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that they definitely have holes.
21:20.764 --> 21:22.925
[SPEAKER_00]: I've talked about it on several of our pods.
21:23.605 --> 21:27.966
[SPEAKER_00]: They still haven't gotten someone that's going to complement Kate cutting him and the way they need to.
21:28.586 --> 21:30.447
[SPEAKER_00]: But again, in the regular season, I
21:31.207 --> 21:33.788
[SPEAKER_00]: I think they just have the advantage over a lot of teams.
21:33.808 --> 21:49.614
[SPEAKER_00]: They place so hard just that in general, you know, when teams are in what the dog days of February and March and they don't want to show up and certainly in Detroit when they come to Detroit and it's still cold and rainy and all of the things, I just think that they are an over team.
21:49.794 --> 21:56.757
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think they're going to hit 60 again, but I do say during the regular season, they're going to hit the over and I really hope
21:57.907 --> 22:01.989
[SPEAKER_00]: that they can make a trade to do what they, and everybody knows they need to do.
22:02.770 --> 22:09.173
[SPEAKER_02]: Well, the name obviously to watch as Kyrie Irving, he makes the most sense in Detroit.
22:09.413 --> 22:14.536
[SPEAKER_02]: The Pistons, they hung on to some of their assets with some of the deals that they did make.
22:15.936 --> 22:20.339
[SPEAKER_02]: They can probably make an interesting offer to Dallas for Kyrie and Kyrie as,
22:21.079 --> 22:32.910
[SPEAKER_02]: That secondary score opposite-cade kind of ham just makes all the sense in the world and it It gives them the kind of weapon they didn't have last year They don't look like they have this year The roster though has currently constituted.
22:32.970 --> 22:46.401
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to go with the over, but it's not much It like I think they can get to 50 51 But I do think there's an eight nine game drop-off coming I don't think they I don't they improved as a team you know Isaiah Stewart
22:47.302 --> 22:51.506
[SPEAKER_02]: kind of crazy out there, but part of that team's identity in the locker room.
22:51.566 --> 22:52.847
[SPEAKER_02]: Really close with Jalen Duran.
22:53.247 --> 23:01.114
[SPEAKER_02]: Jalen Duran said all the right things at that press conference last week, but is there a hangover from these contentious contract talks?
23:01.174 --> 23:01.914
[SPEAKER_02]: And look,
23:02.635 --> 23:05.696
[SPEAKER_02]: It detains figure something out about Duran in the playoffs.
23:05.716 --> 23:15.299
[SPEAKER_02]: Like is there a new way to play him, the way that Wendell Carter played him in the magic series, the way that the calves played him in their series, or was just a couple of bad matchups for Duran.
23:15.319 --> 23:19.421
[SPEAKER_02]: Like what's the, does he take go up or down with this next room?
23:19.441 --> 23:26.423
[SPEAKER_02]: I like Isaiah Joe, but I think that the loss of Tobias Harris, both in that locker room and on the court is a real loss.
23:26.443 --> 23:28.644
[SPEAKER_02]: So I think they're, I think they're weaker team.
23:29.384 --> 23:30.185
[SPEAKER_02]: Do they go all the way down to 49?
23:31.545 --> 23:33.147
[SPEAKER_01]: No, I don't think they do that.
23:33.187 --> 23:43.795
[SPEAKER_02]: Now, they get to 50, they're somewhere inside the top four, but they're a team that, like you said, they do need to make a trade if they want to be a real contender in the Eastern Conference.
23:44.035 --> 23:46.056
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, Indiana.
23:46.357 --> 23:51.741
[SPEAKER_02]: 19 when team last year is they were kind of taking the gap year with Tyre's Haliburton being hurt.
23:51.841 --> 23:55.443
[SPEAKER_02]: They add Kelly Ubridge Jr. Larry Nance, of course, getting
23:56.544 --> 23:58.485
[SPEAKER_02]: However, in back is the big addition there.
23:58.885 --> 24:01.026
[SPEAKER_02]: Zuboch, of course, there now as well.
24:02.667 --> 24:03.467
[SPEAKER_02]: This is a big question.
24:03.487 --> 24:11.930
[SPEAKER_02]: When I talk to people around the league like does Indiana pick up where it left off in the 24 or the 25-26 season or 24-25 season, they got to the finals.
24:12.430 --> 24:20.834
[SPEAKER_02]: 19 wins last to the projected 43 and a half this year, which would be a 24-and-half game improvement, but still puts them kind of in the middle of the pack.
24:21.354 --> 24:23.355
[SPEAKER_02]: Over under 43 and a half for Indiana.
24:24.213 --> 24:29.417
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to have faith in Tyreys, Haliburton's health leg, whatever we're calling it, and I'm going to say, over.
24:29.697 --> 24:32.899
[SPEAKER_00]: I just don't think the jump from last year even means anything.
24:33.480 --> 24:40.365
[SPEAKER_00]: When your best player is gone and collectively, you're just sort of not emphasizing winning in the way that you might.
24:40.385 --> 24:43.407
[SPEAKER_00]: I just, I think that he is a stud.
24:43.607 --> 24:46.289
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that he isn't the exact position.
24:46.409 --> 24:51.133
[SPEAKER_00]: He likes to be in, which is everybody thinking he's not going to be able to do what he thinks he's
24:52.794 --> 25:02.422
[SPEAKER_00]: for a team that made the finals and almost won it two years ago, there's just been such a drop-off in confidence around the league about him and them.
25:02.442 --> 25:05.364
[SPEAKER_00]: I just like the idea of fighting the way out of it.
25:05.404 --> 25:08.307
[SPEAKER_00]: Rick Carlisle is a great coach, especially for regular season.
25:08.367 --> 25:10.389
[SPEAKER_00]: I just know what thinking knows how to hit the right button.
25:10.469 --> 25:16.954
[SPEAKER_00]: So the increase the improvement from last season, it just doesn't mean anything to me and so
25:18.767 --> 25:24.770
[SPEAKER_02]: So they were a 50 win team in 2425, fourth in the Eastern Conference when they made that run to the finals.
25:24.830 --> 25:33.716
[SPEAKER_02]: So they were not the runaway favorites to get to the finals by any stretch and not a great team when they went on, or considered a great team when they went on that run.
25:36.157 --> 25:38.698
[SPEAKER_02]: I want to say over as well, but again, it's like Detroit.
25:38.738 --> 25:41.599
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they're like one or two games over.
25:41.619 --> 25:43.259
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think they're a 50 win team this year.
25:44.119 --> 25:48.860
[SPEAKER_02]: I think there's going to be an adjustment period for Haliburton coming back.
25:49.201 --> 25:54.582
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think he's going to pick up and be the guy that he left off with at the finals in 25.
25:55.882 --> 25:57.803
[SPEAKER_02]: Zubatch, really good player.
25:58.583 --> 26:14.812
[SPEAKER_02]: really different player than what Miles Turner was like does Rick Carl I'll have maybe another reinvention uh in his bag for how this team's gonna be offensive because I don't think they can play the exact same way with Zubotch who's more of a paint-oriented big uh taking the place of Miles Turner.
26:15.112 --> 26:16.093
[SPEAKER_02]: I still like Siakum.
26:16.233 --> 26:17.173
[SPEAKER_02]: I still like Neismith.
26:17.253 --> 26:18.154
[SPEAKER_02]: I still like Neymarad.
26:18.754 --> 26:22.118
[SPEAKER_02]: I think Ubrae is a kind of a Swiss army knife playing off the bench.
26:22.598 --> 26:24.600
[SPEAKER_02]: TJ McConnell, still TJ McConnell.
26:25.081 --> 26:26.282
[SPEAKER_02]: Obi-Toppin's still there.
26:26.502 --> 26:28.284
[SPEAKER_02]: Jar's Walker is still there like there.
26:28.885 --> 26:29.466
[SPEAKER_02]: They're good.
26:30.106 --> 26:31.788
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they're around 45 wins.
26:31.808 --> 26:36.053
[SPEAKER_02]: So I am going to take the over, but I don't think it's going to be by that much.
26:36.773 --> 26:37.454
[SPEAKER_02]: Um, all right.
26:37.554 --> 26:43.299
[SPEAKER_02]: Another kind of polarizing team, if you will, the Miami Heat 43 wins last year.
26:43.319 --> 26:44.900
[SPEAKER_02]: They make the big trade this off season.
26:45.261 --> 26:52.487
[SPEAKER_02]: They get y'all's tend to cumpo, but the odds makers, they've only got them two and a half wins better this year.
26:52.587 --> 26:55.330
[SPEAKER_02]: 45 and a half are the odds for the Miami Heat.
26:55.350 --> 26:58.232
[SPEAKER_02]: They get Bobby Portis, Clay Thompson, Tim Hardaway, Jr.
26:58.612 --> 26:59.533
[SPEAKER_02]: They lose Tyler Hero.
26:59.894 --> 27:03.257
[SPEAKER_02]: They lose Norman Powell, Khalil Wair, Jaime Huskies, Yuckishonish,
27:03.837 --> 27:05.380
[SPEAKER_02]: basically all their depth.
27:05.560 --> 27:06.021
[SPEAKER_02]: What do you think?
27:06.141 --> 27:13.274
[SPEAKER_02]: Like Vegas doesn't love Miami's chances of being a great regular season team, even though they picked up a pretty great player.
27:14.131 --> 27:26.320
[SPEAKER_00]: This is one of those odds that I feel like is so influenced by where the betting line is, by where the money is coming in from fans, that I was very surprised to see this number as low as it was.
27:26.600 --> 27:40.151
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think they're going to blow the eastern conference away, but I think there is low confidence about them, not just among insiders, but among fans of the game and so therefore there's not as much money coming in and that's how the line moves often.
27:40.791 --> 27:43.535
[SPEAKER_00]: And I just, I got to go with the over on this team.
27:43.555 --> 27:45.518
[SPEAKER_00]: You add Janice, and it's a cool go.
27:46.179 --> 27:52.208
[SPEAKER_00]: I just, I don't understand why that is not making people think this will be a better team than it was last year.
27:52.809 --> 27:53.530
[SPEAKER_00]: How is that possible?
27:54.542 --> 27:54.902
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know.
27:55.002 --> 28:00.327
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, this is the tough one because I am not bullish on the heat.
28:02.569 --> 28:10.015
[SPEAKER_02]: I listen when Pat Riley talks and Pat Riley in the off season said we needed more playmaking.
28:10.796 --> 28:11.476
[SPEAKER_02]: Shock creation.
28:11.496 --> 28:13.498
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm kind of paraphrasing or combining some things there.
28:14.639 --> 28:15.899
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think they got it.
28:16.820 --> 28:22.824
[SPEAKER_02]: I think Davey and Mitchell is a high level defensive guard, but is he a starting point guard?
28:23.425 --> 28:23.825
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know.
28:24.345 --> 28:27.107
[SPEAKER_02]: Clay Thompson, what does he have left?
28:28.248 --> 28:32.831
[SPEAKER_02]: Look, it's, whatever I see one of these guys become available via bio.
28:32.871 --> 28:35.693
[SPEAKER_02]: Clay Thompson got me signed somewhere and there's this big celebration.
28:35.753 --> 28:38.035
[SPEAKER_02]: Like how often does that work out?
28:38.275 --> 28:41.217
[SPEAKER_02]: Like how often does the player with the big name?
28:41.817 --> 28:44.960
[SPEAKER_02]: who's on the back end of his career, live up to the expectations.
28:45.740 --> 28:48.242
[SPEAKER_02]: Wiggins is fine, not a shot creator.
28:49.743 --> 28:53.847
[SPEAKER_02]: Tim Hardaway Jr. shot maker, like it was a really good player in Denver.
28:54.327 --> 29:00.652
[SPEAKER_02]: Last year, I just, I don't know where the consistent offense comes from with Miami.
29:00.872 --> 29:08.798
[SPEAKER_02]: Like, can Mitchell make shots, can Thompson make the kind of shots we're used to seeing and make during his better years, Wiggins same thing.
29:11.184 --> 29:36.886
[SPEAKER_02]: and yonis and ban those are two guys on the front line that are not three-point shooters like they're just not like you know every team in the league is going to look at yonis and ban and say if you want to shoot threes go ahead go ahead and do that we're fine with that I just look Eric's bolster might be the best coach in the NBA so and look and he's he's evolved in ways that Rick Carlouse evolved over the years like that offense last year that Noah LaRose offense that they ran you know
29:40.188 --> 29:54.215
[SPEAKER_02]: I need to see more, because right now this roster to me doesn't have enough shot making and shot creation for me to think they are going to be in the middle of the pack or above in the Eastern Conference.
29:54.235 --> 29:57.657
[SPEAKER_02]: Much say the love, yeah, this is also the variable and I guess we're not really factoring in injuries.
29:58.017 --> 30:00.738
[SPEAKER_02]: But yeah, it's been hurt a lot the last couple of years.
30:02.459 --> 30:02.639
[SPEAKER_02]: Good.
30:02.659 --> 30:04.780
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, but not as much during the regular season.
30:05.159 --> 30:08.921
[SPEAKER_02]: You're right, you're an end-of-rank of the season, which is unfortunate for Milwaukee.
30:10.041 --> 30:16.524
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to go under, because I'm going to have about 45 wins, which will put them right at the under.
30:16.584 --> 30:17.385
[SPEAKER_02]: So I think they're good.
30:17.545 --> 30:18.505
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they're a playoff team.
30:18.585 --> 30:20.766
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think they're a top half of the Eastern Conference team.
30:22.227 --> 30:31.832
[SPEAKER_02]: And I fully, I'm ready to get cooked by Miami Heat fans that consistently feel offended that they're not paid enough attention to in their team.
30:31.892 --> 30:31.972
[SPEAKER_02]: And
30:32.472 --> 30:32.832
[SPEAKER_02]: and all that.
30:32.872 --> 30:34.094
[SPEAKER_02]: But I love the front line.
30:34.134 --> 30:35.455
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they look defensively.
30:35.975 --> 30:39.318
[SPEAKER_02]: Like, again, another team I think can grind out some wins if they wanted to.
30:39.478 --> 30:41.160
[SPEAKER_02]: Like, Yannison, Bam, and that front line.
30:41.860 --> 30:43.522
[SPEAKER_02]: Good luck getting a bucket in the paint.
30:43.622 --> 30:45.163
[SPEAKER_02]: Davey and Mitchell, big time defender.
30:45.303 --> 30:46.885
[SPEAKER_02]: Andrew Wiggins really good defender.
30:46.905 --> 30:47.926
[SPEAKER_02]: They've got some guys there.
30:47.966 --> 30:50.248
[SPEAKER_02]: The personnel to be a really good defensive team.
30:50.268 --> 30:51.429
[SPEAKER_02]: It's like offensively though.
30:51.469 --> 30:52.590
[SPEAKER_02]: Like, what are they going to look like?
30:52.630 --> 30:57.474
[SPEAKER_02]: Are you going to put the ball in Yannison's hands and just say get down hill for us and shock rate that way?
30:57.594 --> 30:58.034
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know.
30:58.174 --> 30:58.335
[SPEAKER_02]: Like,
30:59.335 --> 31:04.119
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know, that's that's there to me a pretty big wild card in the Eastern Conference.
31:05.300 --> 31:07.381
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, let's talk about Milwaukee.
31:07.441 --> 31:08.782
[SPEAKER_02]: 32 wins last year.
31:08.842 --> 31:11.644
[SPEAKER_02]: The Trader Janice obviously revamped their team.
31:12.185 --> 31:15.007
[SPEAKER_02]: Vegas got them at 24 and a half.
31:15.147 --> 31:16.027
[SPEAKER_02]: Tyler, here always there.
31:16.087 --> 31:19.049
[SPEAKER_02]: Back home, Khalil Ware, Jaime Hawkeyes, all the guys used to be in Miami.
31:19.069 --> 31:25.594
[SPEAKER_02]: The Lucianis, Bobby Portis, Torian Prince, eight, around eight losses, eight extra losses on their,
31:29.423 --> 31:30.284
[SPEAKER_00]: I got to take the under.
31:30.564 --> 31:34.309
[SPEAKER_00]: I just think he lose a player like Anderson to cook both Tyler Harrow's not.
31:34.990 --> 31:36.612
[SPEAKER_00]: He's not picking up for that.
31:36.752 --> 31:39.315
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I like what he said during the preseason.
31:39.375 --> 31:41.758
[SPEAKER_00]: He said, oh, it's tougher here than it is in Miami.
31:42.359 --> 31:45.423
[SPEAKER_00]: It's better the heat culture, but it's not actually.
31:45.683 --> 31:47.866
[SPEAKER_00]: And so I got to take the under on these guys.
31:48.363 --> 31:48.483
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.
31:48.503 --> 31:50.746
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to take the under as well.
31:51.868 --> 32:00.099
[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's close because I think Taylor Jenkins is a really good coach and I think not having the pressure of like having to tank.
32:00.259 --> 32:06.447
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they've got some guys that can play, but 24 wins sounds about right for me in Miami.
32:06.467 --> 32:11.413
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, the defending champs, the New York Nix, 53 wins last year.
32:11.853 --> 32:16.759
[SPEAKER_02]: They add Andre Drummond, they lose Mitchell Robinson, Jerry's show, Jerry's show, and all right.
32:16.979 --> 32:17.980
[SPEAKER_02]: So shan, sorry.
32:18.400 --> 32:20.743
[SPEAKER_02]: Earl Hockporty also gone as well.
32:20.783 --> 32:23.967
[SPEAKER_02]: Vegas got him at 51 and a half Rachel, what do you think?
32:24.950 --> 32:28.993
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going over, man, the champions always get the benefit of the doubt for me.
32:29.033 --> 32:37.958
[SPEAKER_00]: You know that after all these years of doing this together, I think they're going to, you know, last season you have to remember, they had so many ups and downs.
32:38.699 --> 32:41.801
[SPEAKER_00]: And it's what got lost in the championship run because it was so dominant.
32:42.241 --> 32:45.983
[SPEAKER_00]: But they lost a lot of games last year that they should have won.
32:46.164 --> 32:51.147
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think those are the kinds of games that they will make up for this season because they are clicking.
32:51.567 --> 32:52.768
[SPEAKER_00]: and they know what's up.
32:53.129 --> 32:56.652
[SPEAKER_00]: I think Mitch Robinson is definitely a loss, but I just have faith.
32:56.712 --> 32:57.293
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to say over.
32:57.959 --> 33:04.044
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going under Robinson's, not by much, like 49, I would say, probably happen there.
33:04.804 --> 33:10.649
[SPEAKER_02]: Robinson's a big loss and now that, you know, they lose talkporty, that's a loss as well.
33:11.330 --> 33:21.177
[SPEAKER_02]: You're backing on Andre Drummond being able to give you those kind of consistent minutes, but moreover, like I do think there's likely to be some kind of championship hangover and maybe I'm being a prisoner of the moment, but
33:22.018 --> 33:30.485
[SPEAKER_02]: The vibes don't feel like they're that great right now with all these contract extensions kind of going nowhere and you know, the next putting it out there that they're not going to do extension talk right now.
33:30.645 --> 33:33.507
[SPEAKER_02]: Towns certainly doesn't sound pleased at at all this.
33:33.727 --> 33:36.409
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm sure Josh Hart isn't pleased.
33:36.469 --> 33:37.810
[SPEAKER_02]: Do Spick Bride isn't pleased.
33:37.870 --> 33:38.130
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know.
33:38.150 --> 33:39.471
[SPEAKER_02]: Maybe Tyler Cole like isn't pleased.
33:39.512 --> 33:39.832
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know.
33:41.533 --> 33:49.135
[SPEAKER_02]: is a little bit of dissatisfaction in New York that these guys weren't rewarded for their championship marks.
33:49.155 --> 33:52.075
[SPEAKER_02]: So I'm going to go in the high 40s for the next.
33:52.095 --> 33:54.776
[SPEAKER_02]: Still dangerous playoff team and I'm going high 40s there.
33:54.876 --> 34:01.818
[SPEAKER_02]: Orlando magic 45 wins last year, 44 and a half there listed at this year, the ad voos of it.
34:01.838 --> 34:06.479
[SPEAKER_02]: They lose Wagner, but most importantly, the ad Sean Sweeney, who's the new head coach down there.
34:06.579 --> 34:09.099
[SPEAKER_02]: Vegas has them right around the same level.
34:09.119 --> 34:09.420
[SPEAKER_02]: They were
34:12.301 --> 34:22.467
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going barely over, barely just a little bit over just because a healthy Franz Wagner, which we have to assume health and all of these conversations, right?
34:23.028 --> 34:30.012
[SPEAKER_00]: There will be injuries, but we have to assume health and I'm assuming that a guy who played 34 games last season is going to play more.
34:30.412 --> 34:37.197
[SPEAKER_00]: So I just think that they are going to do better than they did, but I also think it's going to be by a little bit.
34:37.735 --> 34:41.078
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I'm going over, but I'm going more over.
34:41.118 --> 34:41.939
[SPEAKER_00]: You're going way over?
34:42.539 --> 34:43.280
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to 50.
34:43.480 --> 34:44.581
[SPEAKER_02]: I think there are 50 win teams.
34:44.681 --> 34:45.122
[SPEAKER_02]: Wow.
34:45.162 --> 34:45.362
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.
34:46.283 --> 34:48.065
[SPEAKER_02]: They are the last couple of years.
34:49.307 --> 34:50.988
[SPEAKER_02]: injuries in consistency.
34:51.128 --> 34:53.951
[SPEAKER_02]: I felt they have not lived up to their potential.
34:54.931 --> 34:57.954
[SPEAKER_02]: If they're healthy, I think Sweeney is the right coach for that team.
34:58.154 --> 34:59.935
[SPEAKER_02]: I think he's going to be a great hard.
35:00.536 --> 35:02.317
[SPEAKER_02]: I think he's going to get more out of them.
35:02.577 --> 35:03.558
[SPEAKER_02]: They still have flaws.
35:03.798 --> 35:04.539
[SPEAKER_02]: Not enough shooting.
35:04.799 --> 35:05.519
[SPEAKER_02]: That's a problem.
35:05.960 --> 35:07.541
[SPEAKER_02]: Is Jalen Sugs a true point guard?
35:07.641 --> 35:08.422
[SPEAKER_02]: Probably not.
35:08.522 --> 35:12.645
[SPEAKER_02]: So they've got some playmaking issues there, but they can be a nasty defensive team.
35:12.965 --> 35:15.067
[SPEAKER_02]: And I think that's going to be enough to get them to 50
35:16.988 --> 35:18.050
[SPEAKER_02]: inside the top five.
35:18.190 --> 35:20.813
[SPEAKER_02]: They're a top five team extra conference this year.
35:21.013 --> 35:25.078
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm bullish again I'm dying in this Orlando magic hill over in over here.
35:25.118 --> 35:28.683
[SPEAKER_02]: This is like three years in a row three years in a row I've just been able to believe for the magic.
35:28.703 --> 35:31.105
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe this is the year at some point You've got to be right Chris.
35:31.526 --> 35:35.451
[SPEAKER_02]: It's at some point, but this is the final year if they stumble this year I'm jumping off the bad way
35:35.931 --> 35:36.692
[SPEAKER_02]: Uh, Philadelphia.
35:36.932 --> 35:37.612
[SPEAKER_02]: We know what they did.
35:37.913 --> 35:52.985
[SPEAKER_02]: LeBron James is in Jalen Brown is in Amphrine, Simon's, the Los Paul George, Quentin Grimes, Ubridge Jr., but they are star-studded Rachel and Vegas has them going from 45 wins last year, which is kind of a lost year to 50 and a half this year.
35:53.005 --> 35:53.425
[SPEAKER_02]: What do you think?
35:54.860 --> 36:00.002
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to go under, but barely, barely under, this was another real toss up for me.
36:00.062 --> 36:03.183
[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm going with my role of, hey, the East is tough for this year.
36:03.884 --> 36:07.285
[SPEAKER_00]: I think this is going to be a very, very powerful playoff team.
36:07.425 --> 36:11.987
[SPEAKER_00]: I think when it counts in the post season, they are going to be ridiculously dangerous.
36:12.547 --> 36:18.490
[SPEAKER_00]: During the regular season, I see them resting a lot of their guys, especially the older two guys.
36:19.230 --> 36:21.251
[SPEAKER_00]: Just so they can have that postseason run.
36:21.331 --> 36:24.614
[SPEAKER_00]: So I don't think LeBron is going to play as much as he did last year.
36:24.974 --> 36:30.918
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think Joell and Beat is going to play as many games as some people expect because they want to keep those guys healthy.
36:31.338 --> 36:45.728
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, of course, we have seen when they're off the floor, Tyreys Maxi, VJH comb, a lot of these guys can still do their thing, but I'm going to say barely under and a tougher east with the caveat that I think they're going to make a strong run in the playoffs.
36:46.028 --> 36:50.389
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I'm with you on the the barely under 48 49 wins sounds right to me.
36:50.409 --> 37:06.875
[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's gonna look clunky early on and I think there's gonna be some like drama you know early on we already had like I mean I didn't have Mike brain creating drama on my bingo card with no with the sixers but like we're gonna have some of that with this team some big personalities there mismatched parts a little bit.
37:07.075 --> 37:13.937
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they're the kind of team that's gonna look really good in March and April and that's why I think they're gonna make a run that's why I have them going to the finals.
37:14.397 --> 37:21.599
[SPEAKER_02]: but I think early on it's going to be a little bit messy and I'm going to want to have it to get to the finals from one of those middle seeds in the eastern conference.
37:21.619 --> 37:22.999
[SPEAKER_02]: All right Toronto.
37:23.099 --> 37:24.460
[SPEAKER_02]: 46 wins last year.
37:24.520 --> 37:25.760
[SPEAKER_02]: They add Kauai Leonard.
37:25.780 --> 37:30.001
[SPEAKER_02]: They lose Brandon Ingram, Grady Dick, uh, Mama Kailus Vili.
37:30.842 --> 37:34.683
[SPEAKER_02]: Um, but the odds makers got them right around the same number 45 and a half.
37:34.723 --> 37:35.183
[SPEAKER_02]: What do you think?
37:35.323 --> 37:35.803
[SPEAKER_02]: Over under.
37:36.880 --> 37:40.221
[SPEAKER_00]: This is like the sweetheart pick from NBA insider people.
37:40.241 --> 37:43.202
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, everyone's just so excited to see the Raptors.
37:43.782 --> 37:46.162
[SPEAKER_00]: I think Kawai Leonard is not going to play as much as you think.
37:46.222 --> 37:49.543
[SPEAKER_00]: You and I live in LA, and we've seen what happens with him, Halquas.
37:49.603 --> 37:57.185
[SPEAKER_00]: He is not afraid to take games off or to rest in baby and injury for a while because he wants to be ready for the post season.
37:57.225 --> 37:59.145
[SPEAKER_00]: And he doesn't want to get hurt in a big way again.
38:00.926 --> 38:01.866
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to take the under.
38:03.430 --> 38:04.939
[SPEAKER_00]: It's not because they don't have faith in them.
38:05.200 --> 38:07.172
[SPEAKER_00]: I just think that everyone is old to eye on them.
38:08.220 --> 38:18.747
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I'm going to go over, I'm going to go over and like, yeah, everything is predicated on Kawaii self, but he's with the organization that knows how to deal with him better than any other.
38:18.987 --> 38:35.499
[SPEAKER_02]: Like, they've done the Kawaii Leonard load management stuff and if he's healthy and able to give them 65 plus games, like he's exactly what they need, like exactly he's playing more than 65 games, 60, 60 games, if it's a six in front of him, they're going to have
38:38.030 --> 38:40.011
[SPEAKER_02]: They were like, I think he, I think I'm going to get there.
38:40.151 --> 38:46.736
[SPEAKER_02]: I think, and like, I like the mix, I like what he's able to do with the rest of that team.
38:46.756 --> 38:49.938
[SPEAKER_02]: Like he takes more pressure off Scotty Barnes, he can be an offensive hub.
38:50.238 --> 38:55.302
[SPEAKER_02]: They're going to be great on a perimeter defensively with Kawai and Barnes as a one-two punch there.
38:57.263 --> 38:59.004
[SPEAKER_02]: I like them a lot.
38:59.044 --> 39:02.567
[SPEAKER_02]: Look, and defensively, I know people at Toronto were like, I said this a couple of times.
39:03.167 --> 39:04.128
[SPEAKER_02]: They needed him for defense.
39:04.148 --> 39:04.768
[SPEAKER_02]: They do.
39:05.308 --> 39:06.749
[SPEAKER_02]: People in Toronto have texted me
39:07.710 --> 39:08.070
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, yeah.
39:08.110 --> 39:10.451
[SPEAKER_02]: We were, I think they were fifth defensively last year.
39:10.471 --> 39:11.772
[SPEAKER_02]: They were kind of average in the playoffs.
39:12.172 --> 39:15.133
[SPEAKER_02]: Um, they had a couple of few games that first round where they gave a bunch of points.
39:15.893 --> 39:23.276
[SPEAKER_02]: Um, but people in Toronto have texted me and been like, you know, the 18 19 team was a championship defensive team last year was not a championship defensive team.
39:23.336 --> 39:25.617
[SPEAKER_02]: Like this year, you get a why you have barns.
39:25.637 --> 39:27.958
[SPEAKER_02]: Those are two championship level defensive wings.
39:28.158 --> 39:29.059
[SPEAKER_02]: I like them to go over.
39:29.099 --> 39:33.000
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they flirt with 50 wins, but they go over that 45, 46 number.
39:33.020 --> 39:33.440
[SPEAKER_02]: All right,
39:37.222 --> 39:38.643
[SPEAKER_02]: the Washington Wizards.
39:39.183 --> 39:44.847
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, baby, who have been, you know, bottom feeders for the last few years.
39:45.848 --> 39:51.112
[SPEAKER_02]: 17 wins last season, Rachel Nichols, they are projected to have 35 and a half.
39:51.172 --> 39:53.153
[SPEAKER_02]: That's the overunder for Washington.
39:53.173 --> 39:54.674
[SPEAKER_02]: So they're projected to have more wins.
39:54.714 --> 39:55.335
[SPEAKER_02]: So they go up here.
39:55.375 --> 40:02.380
[SPEAKER_02]: Then Milwaukee, then Chicago, they're projected to be a vastly improved team.
40:02.400 --> 40:05.382
[SPEAKER_02]: Do you see the Wizards doubling their win total from last year?
40:06.122 --> 40:08.144
[SPEAKER_00]: This is when I have to give my usual caveat.
40:08.264 --> 40:11.606
[SPEAKER_00]: I am biased, I grew up in DC, fan of this team.
40:11.666 --> 40:14.649
[SPEAKER_00]: I now do some work for the organization, so I am biased.
40:14.669 --> 40:15.810
[SPEAKER_00]: There is no question about it.
40:16.330 --> 40:20.834
[SPEAKER_00]: However, in my biased state, I'm picking the overgrace.
40:20.914 --> 40:23.556
[SPEAKER_00]: I really think people are underestimating this team.
40:23.576 --> 40:24.897
[SPEAKER_00]: They have so much young talent.
40:25.137 --> 40:26.799
[SPEAKER_00]: They just beat the nicks in the preseason.
40:26.839 --> 40:28.180
[SPEAKER_00]: And again, I know it's preseason.
40:28.200 --> 40:29.541
[SPEAKER_00]: I know it doesn't count for much, but
40:29.961 --> 40:46.737
[SPEAKER_00]: if you look at the way they have played fine fine if you look at the way they played when they've been out on the floor if you look at the way they have looked in practice I think the chemistry is really good here I think that Anthony Davis was very unhappy for months and months but I don't think he's as unhappy now and
40:46.917 --> 40:51.620
[SPEAKER_00]: I have not had this in-depth conversation with him, so take it for what it is just my opinion.
40:51.960 --> 40:59.445
[SPEAKER_00]: He looks like he's having a lot of fun out there, and he looks like he likes these guys, especially AJ, and they've had some great connections on the court.
40:59.545 --> 41:01.466
[SPEAKER_00]: So yes, I'm biased.
41:01.686 --> 41:03.027
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, I'm also taking the over
41:03.568 --> 41:12.783
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think Washington is going to win the title this year, but I do think they're going to surprise some people you have to remember that 17 games last year was suppressed for a reason.
41:13.284 --> 41:13.644
[SPEAKER_00]: It worked.
41:13.885 --> 41:17.531
[SPEAKER_00]: They got AJ and now they get to sort of play it a full run.
41:17.962 --> 41:23.385
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, what was it, but was carrying to say that was out of his line there, and it got to set the quiet part out loud.
41:23.785 --> 41:24.726
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to take you over as well.
41:24.746 --> 41:25.827
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they can get into the house.
41:25.847 --> 41:26.027
[SPEAKER_02]: Yes!
41:26.627 --> 41:27.568
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they can get the house.
41:27.588 --> 41:30.269
[SPEAKER_02]: Like, trade young, I watched him in the priest's whip in the ball around.
41:30.349 --> 41:33.911
[SPEAKER_02]: Like, I think he, he might compete for the assist title this year.
41:33.991 --> 41:40.055
[SPEAKER_02]: And if AD stays out of the, him and Saur next to each other's good combination, I guess it comes down to like, how do you blend
41:40.715 --> 41:46.476
[SPEAKER_02]: all this rising young talent with the veteran stars that are Anthony Davis and Tray Young.
41:46.516 --> 41:47.996
[SPEAKER_02]: Like does that come together quickly?
41:48.176 --> 41:54.817
[SPEAKER_02]: Is Brian Keith built to coach this type of team after coaching kind of a losing situation for the last couple of years.
41:54.857 --> 42:04.679
[SPEAKER_02]: But they have the talent to be 36, 37, flirt with 500, flirt with the play in spot with the Plafsquad via the play in, they've got that kind of downright.
42:04.719 --> 42:05.359
[SPEAKER_02]: So I'm with you.
42:05.719 --> 42:06.419
[SPEAKER_02]: I am on board.
42:09.768 --> 42:10.029
[SPEAKER_02]: All right.
42:10.850 --> 42:14.378
[SPEAKER_02]: That's it for the work is done here work is done.
42:14.518 --> 42:16.362
[SPEAKER_02]: We will do the Western conference though.
42:16.382 --> 42:17.925
[SPEAKER_02]: A much tougher comfort thing to project.
42:18.206 --> 42:19.068
[SPEAKER_02]: We'll do that next week.
