2025-26 Season, NBA Conference Finals Preview

WEBVTT

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Greetings my peeps and welcome to the all things

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basketball podcast with you boy GD in this episode

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my conference finals preview will go through

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all four teams that's left and then of course

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we will talk about the teams that got knocked

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out and what they'll be doing next going forward

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in the offseason so all that and more to sit

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back relax and enjoy the show Okay guys podcast

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and guys It's getting to the home stretch guys

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You have the conference finals coming up and

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then of course your NBA finals So a lot of riveting

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basketball that's gonna take place. So Of course,

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this is the exciting time of the year With that

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going on, the WNBA in full swing. So you have

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that basketball taking place as well. So I will

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get into the conference finals preview. And then

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from there, once we talk about each of the series,

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we will talk about those teams left. You know

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on the outside looking in so there you go alright

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with all of that said Let's get down to it So

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we will start in the West guys in the West it

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ended up chalk guys you have the number one see

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the Oklahoma City Thunder Taking on the number

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two see the San Antonio Spurs This is the matchup

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that everybody was salivating for in the west

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and lo and behold you now have it in the season

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series the spurs took three of the games three

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out of the four games so they went three and

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one guys so it seems like they match up very

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well with this thunder team so i think it's going

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to be a tough one but let us talk about how Okay,

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see got here They got here by sweeping before

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seed the Los Angeles Lakers guys, I think To

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any fan That knows something about basketball,

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you knew this The Lakers were just a lamb for

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the slaughter pretty much and it turned out.

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Yeah, they couldn't even get a game off them

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So okay see starts out Oklahoma City and they

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get game one and game two there 108 to 90 and

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then the second game 125 to 107 thus the scene

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shifts to the Kryptos arena over there in LA

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okay see they take game three 131 to 108 then

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you had your game four which was actually a closer

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game guys so the Lakers had some fight in them

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but when all is said and done okay see prevails

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115 to 110 in the series shy Gilkes Alexander

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doing what he does guys 24 and a half points

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per game over six assists for him And then you

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have Ajay Mitchell. Now remember, Jalen Williams

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missed that series with the hamstring injury,

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so he didn't play in the series at all. Thus,

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Ajay Mitchell, he was started by coach Mark Daigneault.

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And I tell you what, the young man showed & proved.

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22 and a half points he averaged in the series.

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along with six assists, so You talk about Stepping

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up when the time when they call your number Ajay

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Mitchell did just that guys Chet Holmgren he

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averaged 20 points in this series nearly 10 rebounds

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so he averaged nearly a double -dub double as

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far as that goes and Then on the other side What

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are Lakers? LeBron James leading the way. Now

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you know you're a team in trouble when you're

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hanging your hat on a 41 year old to lead you

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through a series. But that's the way it shook

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out guys. No look of dark edge in the entire

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series. So LeBron led the way over 23 points

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per game, six rebounds and nearly six assists.

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So I mean you know what more could he do besides

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that. Austin Reeves he does okay in the series

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nearly 21 points per game nearly seven assists

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and over four rebounds for him. Rui Hachimura

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really stepped up you know all things considered.

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Average 20 points in this series guys 20 points

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per game along with four rebounds Then you have

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Deandre Ayton. This guy man you you needed him

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to show up in some capacity and he did not do

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that Over seven points per game and nearly eight

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rebounds and he had the nerve the audacity to

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Prior to game four he had this gold chain and

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the name played on there said Dominayton, it

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was like a play on words with the h -shun being

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a -y -t -o -n as in this last name And I'm like

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man listen you threw that in the trash The jeweler

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should have looked at you and said you sure you

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want this? You sure you want this kind of chain?

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I mean come on What are we even doing? That you

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might as well have burnt that money. Just throw

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it in the fireplace and burn it so But I digress

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but he was a no -show. He was a no -show guys,

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so You're not gonna get it done with those type

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of dumbas, so So with all of that said, that's

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how OKC got here. We'll talk about the Lakers

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more when I do my wrap -up of them. How did San

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Antonio get here? Well, they played a tough series,

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guys. They played a series against the Minnesota

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Timberwolves to succeed, and they prevailed,

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guys. Four games to two. crazy because the Minnesota

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Timberwolves they take game one in San Antonio

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so people are like oh boy it's gonna be some

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series you take the first game on their home

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court and a close one to 104 to 102 then you

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have game two where San Antonio writes the ship

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and they get their get back 133 to 95 Thus setting

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up the stage heading to Minnesota to play their

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game three San Antonio takes that 115 to 108

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and then you have game four which I thought was

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a critical game in this series because San Antonio

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could steal two on their floor that would have

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been something but What happens in the game?

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Victor Wembanyama throws this vicious elbow at

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Nas read and So much so after a review he was

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given a flagrant to When you know what that means

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guys, you're out of here. He was ejected from

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the game, and I think that there turned the tide

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for Minnesota. They would go on to win game four,

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114 to 109. Thus, setting up San Antonio heading

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back home for game five, where it's knotted up

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2 -2, guys. And San Antonio said, you know what?

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Let's put foots in them. The fact that we were

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without went by Yama and now remember with that

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flagrant to The league had an option here. They

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could have suspended him for game five. They

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could have find him for his actions They didn't

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even want no fine. No suspension which I Was

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gonna say I'm surprised but I think the league

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looked at it and said, you know, this is a first

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-time offense for him So we're gonna give him

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a slap on the wrist if he will so So he plays

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game five and they crush him 126 to 97 thus setting

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up a game six and Minnesota and Again San Antonio

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came out guns blazing and absolutely put a spank

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on them 139 to 109. And with that, game six.

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Here's the controversy now. In the fourth quarter

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with eight minutes to go, Anthony Edwards, who,

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oh, by the way, he came into the series not 100

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% healthy. Remember he had the injury in the

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Nugget series. So he wasn't completely himself

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So eight minutes left and San Antonio crushing

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them at home he goes over to the San Antonio

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bench while they're in the huddle and he goes

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and congratulate these guys and You know wish

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them the best for the next round or what have

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you? and of course all your ex players in the

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media starting with The guys on Amazon, there's

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an in -studio show there. Dirk Nowitzki, he said.

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He has never seen anything like that in his 20

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years of playing basketball. I was like, wow.

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So he's never seen anything like that. Blake

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Griffin said the same thing. That was a bit odd.

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Adonis Haslam also Steve Nash as well but Adonis

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Haslam he had some pointed words for for Anthony

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Edwards he said that's not leadership it's a

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bad look all those sort of things so so you have

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that camp of God saying that you had others who

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are ex -athletes in fact Ryan Clark he even talked

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about it on his show on his podcast so Yeah,

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a lot of ex -athletes Were puzzled by it Where

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I come down on it You know It's like you're damned

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if you do you damned if you don't would I have

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done that with so much time left in the game?

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Probably not I would have waited until You know

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the end or you know as the Clock was winding

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down and I go over and congratulate eight minutes

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in the game does seem a bit odd but Would I have

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done that no, I wouldn't have done that I would

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have cut and waited towards the end a bit, but

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you know Now if he had gone the other way and

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just went in the locker room people would X athletes

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would have killed him over that so like damned

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if you do damned if you don't so I Won't go crazy

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over it. I know this guy is a gamer everybody

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knows this guy is a gamer so he's not a guy who

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who will quit on his team, so I I give him a

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pass so There you go there alright, so for the

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series Stephon Castle had a fine series for them,

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averaging 20 points per game, over six assists,

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nearly six rebounds. So solid all around. Victor

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Wembanyama, doing Wemby things, nearly 20 points

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per game, 12 rebounds, and over four blocks,

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guys. I mean, he was putting in that work. The

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Aaron Fox had a solid series as well nearly 18

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points per game five assists for him Anthony

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Edwards again led the way for them nearly 24

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points per game didn't shoot it sensationally

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but again, you know, he was Dealing with his

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injuries toughen it out in the series Average

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and five rebounds as well Julius Randle As a

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Nick fan, I've seen this story before. Average

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in 13 points per game. Not what you want from

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your number two guy. And nearly eight rebounds.

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Definitely not what you want from him. And Rudy

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Gobert. Remember, he played a sensational defense

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on the joker in the previous round. I thought.

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Him knowing Victor Wimayama, you know both being

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Frenchmen both, you know playing on the same

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team You know internationally, I thought maybe

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that would give him a slight edge him being the

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veteran and all but that wasn't the case guys

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nearly seven points per game eight rebounds and

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a singular block average per game, so There

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you go there so That is how San Antonio got there.

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Now the matchups. I think Shai Gilgeous Alexander

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versus Stephon Castle. I think that. Who's sorry

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about that guys. I don't know what happened there

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Yeah, I think that matchup is gonna be all eyes

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will be pointed on that matchup, that's for sure.

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So there you go there Also Isaiah Hartenstein

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more likely than not he will be facing a He will

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be facing a Victor Wembanyama, I think it'll be

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him. I think it'll also be Chet Holmgren. You'll

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see a little bit of him there as well. So, there

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is that. Also, it's been confirmed, guys. Okay

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guys, we are back at some technical difficulty

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Can't get the background there. So we'll just

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deal with what we're dealing with here. So there

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you go anyhow You have Jalen Williams, like I

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said Fresh off his hamstring injury that kept

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him out the previous series against the Lakers

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Now you have him in this series here go And he'll

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probably be matched up with a Julian Champagnie.

00:18:15.049 --> 00:18:18.569
So that probably be the match up there. And then

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I'm looking at the bench, guys. OKC's bench,

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which is very deep. You got AJ Mitchell going

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back to the bench along with guys like Isaiah

00:18:31.529 --> 00:18:36.730
Joe, the other Jaylin Williams, the guy who's

00:18:36.730 --> 00:18:40.859
a big. He could play the four or the five. Also

00:18:40.859 --> 00:18:45.819
Alex Caruso, you know him, a grizzled tough veteran.

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Also Cason Wallace and Jared McCain, who the

00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:56.000
Sixers pretty much gave away to the Oklahoma

00:18:56.000 --> 00:19:01.440
City Thunder. So that's their bench versus San

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Antonio's bench, which had Keldon Johnson. along

00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:13.859
with Derek Harper, Keldon Johnson, oh by the

00:19:13.859 --> 00:19:18.359
way, your sixth man of the year, Dylan Harper,

00:19:18.900 --> 00:19:23.700
the sensational rookie, Luke Kornet, who can

00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:28.680
back up Wemby in the pinch, Harrison Barnes,

00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:32.599
their longtime veteran, and another rookie, and

00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:37.039
Carter Bryan as well. So, the match of the...

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The benches should be interesting as well guys

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my prediction I'm going with the champs

00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:51.019
Oklahoma City Thunder in seven I tell you what

00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:56.140
it's gonna be a tough series because of how well

00:19:56.140 --> 00:19:59.700
the San Antonio Spurs match up against these

00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:04.819
guys, so I Think it could go either way But I'm

00:20:04.819 --> 00:20:11.769
going to say Okay, see We'll get it done in a

00:20:11.769 --> 00:20:17.470
seven game In their building, so I'm going with

00:20:17.470 --> 00:20:22.450
the thunder all right guys let us move on the

00:20:22.450 --> 00:20:26.630
New York Knicks my New York Knicks the 3 seed taking

00:20:26.630 --> 00:20:32.789
on the 4 seed the Cleveland Cavaliers now guys as

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far as the season series goes The Knicks took

00:20:36.990 --> 00:20:40.630
two games out of the three games, so they went

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two and one. Mind you, the two wins were prior

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to them getting James Harden. And they last played

00:20:50.869 --> 00:20:56.710
on February 24th. That's after they acquired

00:20:56.710 --> 00:21:02.049
James Harden and they got the win there. I'd

00:21:02.049 --> 00:21:05.960
say both teams look very different now. as far

00:21:05.960 --> 00:21:10.220
as how they run things as opposed to that February

00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:16.619
24th meeting. But let's talk about how the Knicks

00:21:16.619 --> 00:21:21.799
got here. The Knicks took care of business sweeping

00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:26.420
the number 7 seed, the Philadelphia 76ers. A

00:21:26.420 --> 00:21:33.119
lot of people were worried, hand -wringing because

00:21:33.420 --> 00:21:38.220
you know this 76ers team took down the 2c the

00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:42.539
boston celtics so everybody was nervous but the

00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:44.960
nicks played their game they played their game

00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:50.539
and what helped them that game won came two days

00:21:50.539 --> 00:21:54.660
after the sixers knocked off the celtics in that

00:21:54.660 --> 00:21:58.619
grueling seven game series so the nicks come

00:21:58.619 --> 00:22:07.079
out and throw a haymaker game one 137 to 98 a

00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:12.779
game where Brunson Did Brunson things guys? He

00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:17.460
dropped 35 points in that one moving to a game

00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:24.859
to with no one no, uh Embiid in this one and

00:22:24.859 --> 00:22:28.920
be they sat him out for this one So but this

00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:31.859
was a close one. This was a close one. They came

00:22:31.859 --> 00:22:34.420
to play both games were in the garden by the

00:22:34.420 --> 00:22:39.079
way game one and game two but the Knicks pull

00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:45.880
it out 108 to 102 in that game guys Brunson again

00:22:45.880 --> 00:22:50.119
leading the way with 26 points eight assists

00:22:50.119 --> 00:22:55.619
OG Anunoby with 24 points five rebounds four

00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:59.440
steals but late in that fourth quarter he pulls

00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:03.609
his hamstring He's out the rest of the game guys

00:23:03.609 --> 00:23:06.250
and then call Anthony town with an all -around

00:23:06.250 --> 00:23:11.170
performance 20 points 10 rebounds and 7 assists

00:23:11.170 --> 00:23:23.769
for the campaign So with that said guys You have

00:23:23.769 --> 00:23:30.009
OG Anunoby they decided Mike Brown and in

00:23:30.009 --> 00:23:34.950
the The upper management with the Knicks said

00:23:34.950 --> 00:23:39.809
look We'll hold OG out for game four game five

00:23:39.809 --> 00:23:43.549
if the series goes that then we'll think

00:23:43.549 --> 00:23:47.089
about bringing them back. So They aired on the

00:23:47.089 --> 00:23:52.430
side of caution. So But it just so happens didn't

00:23:52.430 --> 00:23:58.430
have to do that game three in Philadelphia a

00:23:58.430 --> 00:24:02.369
game three that I watched with my peoples there,

00:24:02.730 --> 00:24:07.769
Knicks OmniFan, the ladies there, Jen and Jasmine.

00:24:08.369 --> 00:24:12.210
They do an excellent job with their watch party.

00:24:12.589 --> 00:24:16.769
They had it at Hill Country Barbecue downtown

00:24:16.769 --> 00:24:20.849
Manhattan. It was fantastic. They do a bang up

00:24:20.849 --> 00:24:24.869
job. And it was great being in the atmosphere

00:24:24.869 --> 00:24:28.049
with fellow Knick fans watching and enjoying the

00:24:28.049 --> 00:24:30.779
game, especially when it's a victory. Which it

00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:36.279
was guys 108 to 94 So they get the victory in

00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:41.019
Philly and then that game once again Jalen Brunson

00:24:41.019 --> 00:24:45.920
Doing what he does 33 points nine assists five

00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:50.400
rebounds Mikal Bridges I tell you what he has

00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:55.880
come to life since the Atlanta series like after

00:24:55.880 --> 00:25:01.980
game about game three he seemed to come to life

00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:08.480
so uh and he's he's showed up here 23 points

00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:12.220
and on the other side kelly ubray with 22 points

00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:17.299
and eight rebounds and then in game four again

00:25:17.299 --> 00:25:21.059
the nicks jumped out just jumped right on them

00:25:21.059 --> 00:25:26.180
guys the big story deuce mcbride he was absolutely

00:25:26.180 --> 00:25:31.660
sensational from long range 25 points seven threes

00:25:31.660 --> 00:25:35.480
he shot in that game i mean he could not miss

00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:40.920
also call anthony towns 17 points and 10 assists

00:25:40.920 --> 00:25:47.299
jaylen brunson a quiet 22 points with six assists

00:25:47.299 --> 00:25:51.160
and jolin b oddly enough he was perfect from

00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:55.099
the field guys 8 for 8 from the field and 2 for

00:25:55.099 --> 00:25:57.779
2 from 3 point range as well. He finished with

00:25:57.779 --> 00:26:02.660
24 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, but too little,

00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:06.359
too late for the Sixers and the Knicks prevail

00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:10.740
in that series. Overall in the series guys, Jalen

00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:14.259
Brunson averaged 29 points per game, 6 assists.

00:26:15.220 --> 00:26:18.880
You love seeing that those type of numbers. Carl

00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:23.890
Anthony Towns again, he has Expanded his game

00:26:23.890 --> 00:26:27.430
in the playoffs guys 15 and a half points per

00:26:27.430 --> 00:26:30.990
game eight rebounds seven and a half assists

00:26:30.990 --> 00:26:35.029
I'd be all -around basketball from him Mikel

00:26:35.029 --> 00:26:39.009
Bridges guys 17 and a half points per game you

00:26:39.009 --> 00:26:42.690
love to see that three and a half rebounds three

00:26:42.690 --> 00:26:46.890
and a half assists so fantastic series for him

00:26:46.890 --> 00:26:52.539
so there's that on the other side And you gotta

00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:56.859
give him credit too. He was able to keep Tyrese

00:26:56.859 --> 00:27:03.200
Maxey at bay. In fact, Maxey only averaged above

00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:06.099
18 points per game, which is well under his season

00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:11.519
average, and nearly five assists. Joel Embiid,

00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:16.480
remember he played three of the four games just

00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:23.210
under the sky of 19 points per game. five rebounds

00:27:23.210 --> 00:27:25.450
is what he averaged in the series I mean he couldn't

00:27:25.450 --> 00:27:31.569
even you know battle on the boards Paul George

00:27:31.569 --> 00:27:34.670
14 and a half points per game mind you he had

00:27:34.670 --> 00:27:41.230
a sensational series against Boston but the Knicks

00:27:41.230 --> 00:27:45.049
kept him at bay as well and mind you in game

00:27:45.049 --> 00:27:48.269
three he started out hot he scored 15 points

00:27:48.269 --> 00:27:51.559
in the first half they shut him down in the second

00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:57.880
half so there you go there but the Knicks prevail

00:27:57.880 --> 00:28:02.039
in that series let us move on Cleveland how did

00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:05.420
Cleveland get here well they pulled the upset

00:28:05.420 --> 00:28:09.680
guys they beat the number one seed the Detroit

00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:16.140
Pistons in a seven game ruling series guys they

00:28:16.140 --> 00:28:22.259
get the victory there and this is how the series

00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:26.500
went. Game one and game two goes to the number

00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:31.200
one seed, the Detroit Pistons. They get the first

00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:37.660
two in Detroit, 111 -101, game two, 107 -97.

00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:43.859
Thus setting the stage for game three in Cleveland,

00:28:45.400 --> 00:28:47.940
where Cleveland would get the win on that night.

00:28:50.539 --> 00:29:00.140
And they get the victory 116 to 109 guys Thus

00:29:00.140 --> 00:29:04.259
setting up game four in Cleveland where they

00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:11.559
get the win there 112 to 103 Setting up the crucial

00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:18.519
game five where in Detroit Cleveland Gets the

00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:25.359
overtime win guys 117 113 Thus setting the stage

00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:28.079
for heading to Cleveland where they can close

00:29:28.079 --> 00:29:31.759
the deal on their home floor That did not happen

00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:36.720
Detroit gets the win on the road 115 to 94 and

00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:42.579
then game 7 in Detroit, you know home court advantage

00:29:42.579 --> 00:29:46.339
that's what you get it for but That wasn't to

00:29:46.339 --> 00:29:52.839
be for Detroit Cleveland just pounding them in

00:29:52.839 --> 00:29:59.019
the final score 125 to 94 in the series Donovan

00:29:59.019 --> 00:30:04.259
Mitchell absolutely spectacular averaging over

00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:08.579
28 points per game over five and a half rebounds

00:30:08.579 --> 00:30:12.940
and Over three and a half assists for him giving

00:30:12.940 --> 00:30:17.069
them exactly what they needed James Harden he

00:30:17.069 --> 00:30:22.410
averaged over 19 and a half points but he was

00:30:22.410 --> 00:30:25.730
horrendous from the field and even worse from

00:30:25.730 --> 00:30:30.549
three guys but hey they were able to overcome

00:30:30.549 --> 00:30:34.930
that so um he's a high volume shooter so you

00:30:34.930 --> 00:30:38.890
know you know that's in this repertoire uh average

00:30:38.890 --> 00:30:43.049
over six assists per game and over five rebounds

00:30:43.049 --> 00:30:50.480
for him So there you go there and then Evan Mobley

00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:56.599
had a nice all -around two -way series nearly

00:30:56.599 --> 00:31:01.039
16 points per game almost seven and a half rebounds

00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:06.079
nearly five assists and oh by the way over two

00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:10.339
and a half blocks and a steal and a half per

00:31:10.339 --> 00:31:15.420
game for Mobley Then on the other side Kate Cunningham

00:31:15.420 --> 00:31:20.400
listen he did the best he could Nearly 24 points

00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:25.400
per game Just a shade under eight assists and

00:31:25.400 --> 00:31:28.980
over four and a half rebounds Tobias Harris who

00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:33.200
had the fantastic series prior to this playing

00:31:33.200 --> 00:31:43.769
the Orlando Magic In this one not so much what

00:31:43.769 --> 00:31:46.529
just above fourteen and a half points per game

00:31:46.529 --> 00:31:59.190
for him and then also Over six rebounds Jalen

00:31:59.190 --> 00:32:02.890
Durant, I don't know what to deal with him is

00:32:02.890 --> 00:32:05.609
he didn't have a good series against the magic

00:32:05.609 --> 00:32:09.829
and he doesn't have one here Just under ten points

00:32:09.829 --> 00:32:13.079
per game and above seven and a half rebounds

00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:17.559
guys that's not going to get it done so so there

00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:22.160
you go there matchups jalen brunson versus shames

00:32:22.160 --> 00:32:25.079
heart and i love this matchup for the nicks i

00:32:25.079 --> 00:32:29.579
think jalen brunson can uh have his way with

00:32:29.579 --> 00:32:34.279
hardened in this series so i like that matchup

00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:38.680
michael bridges versus donovan mitchell i think

00:32:38.680 --> 00:32:43.559
the job Michael has done in these playoffs holding

00:32:43.559 --> 00:32:47.279
down CJ McCullum after he had that explosion

00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:52.039
in game two at the Garden. He pretty much held

00:32:52.039 --> 00:32:57.779
him at bay after that. Him holding Donovan is

00:32:57.779 --> 00:33:01.000
going to be critical in this series, guys. I

00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:04.319
think you'll see some of Deuce McBride on him.

00:33:04.359 --> 00:33:07.279
You'll see some Josh Hart on him. I think they'll

00:33:07.279 --> 00:33:11.950
throw him a variety of looks. So slowing down

00:33:11.950 --> 00:33:16.869
Donovan Mitchell is critical for the Knicks to

00:33:16.869 --> 00:33:20.789
succeed in the series. Carl Anthony Towns versus

00:33:20.789 --> 00:33:23.950
Jared Allen. That should be an interesting match

00:33:23.950 --> 00:33:30.509
inside there with Katz all around game now. That

00:33:30.509 --> 00:33:34.509
should be a sight to see. And Oji Ananobe, who's

00:33:34.509 --> 00:33:36.910
back now for the Knicks. They said he's going

00:33:36.910 --> 00:33:41.039
to be ready for game one. Him versus Evan Mobley

00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:43.519
asked the matchup. I'm looking at right there.

00:33:43.599 --> 00:33:46.900
I think the guy who gets the advantage there

00:33:46.900 --> 00:33:51.720
that Team will win the series. So with that said

00:33:51.720 --> 00:33:56.539
my prediction I'm gonna go Knicks. I'm gonna

00:33:56.539 --> 00:34:00.740
go Knicks. I was gonna say five I'm Gonna kind

00:34:00.740 --> 00:34:04.299
of give Cleveland their respect being that they

00:34:04.299 --> 00:34:09.019
knocked down the one seed I'll say Knicks in

00:34:09.019 --> 00:34:12.519
six. I don't think they push it to seven. I think

00:34:12.519 --> 00:34:15.400
they can go into Cleveland and take care of business

00:34:15.400 --> 00:34:18.920
and get out of there with a victory. So I'm going

00:34:18.920 --> 00:34:24.340
Knicks in six, guys. So there you go. And also,

00:34:24.719 --> 00:34:27.619
the bench for the Knicks have to continue to

00:34:27.619 --> 00:34:30.940
hit on all cylinders. You got guys like Landry

00:34:30.940 --> 00:34:34.639
Shaman, who had a fine series. Deuce McBride,

00:34:34.639 --> 00:34:40.869
I just talked about him. Also, you have Mitchell

00:34:40.869 --> 00:34:43.550
Robinson who you know, he had his moments. They

00:34:43.550 --> 00:34:47.130
tried to do the heck of Mitch But overall he

00:34:47.130 --> 00:34:51.210
was a presence inside You got guys like Jose

00:34:51.210 --> 00:34:54.889
Alvarado coming in in a pinch. So They got a

00:34:54.889 --> 00:34:57.210
bench there. They got a bench that they can go

00:34:57.210 --> 00:35:03.230
to so Jordan Clarkson as well. So It's gonna

00:35:03.230 --> 00:35:06.789
be interesting for them. So I say that bench

00:35:06.789 --> 00:35:10.250
has to prevail in the series so there you go

00:35:10.250 --> 00:35:14.269
there all right guys so now we turn our attention

00:35:14.269 --> 00:35:18.650
to the teens that did not make it so we will

00:35:18.650 --> 00:35:24.070
start with philadelphia the 76ers who got swept

00:35:24.070 --> 00:35:31.349
by the nicks as far as they go darrell morrie

00:35:31.349 --> 00:35:38.789
out as the President and the The guy in the front

00:35:38.789 --> 00:35:43.170
office making all the moves he is out guys, so

00:35:43.170 --> 00:35:48.889
We'll see who they bring in They've been getting

00:35:48.889 --> 00:36:06.929
consulted From the from Golden State Hang on

00:36:06.929 --> 00:36:20.110
one second. Sorry to do this to y 'all. Bob Myers,

00:36:20.409 --> 00:36:23.590
yes. Bob Myers has been consulting them as far

00:36:23.590 --> 00:36:26.590
as that goes. And a lot of people saying, I've

00:36:26.590 --> 00:36:28.869
heard Steven A say, why don't you just give the

00:36:28.869 --> 00:36:31.389
job to Bob Myers? Does he want the job? That's

00:36:31.389 --> 00:36:36.059
the whole thing. I mean. Being a consultant is

00:36:36.059 --> 00:36:38.860
one thing being D guy is another but we've seen

00:36:38.860 --> 00:36:41.639
him. We've seen this handiwork over there in

00:36:41.639 --> 00:36:46.900
Golden State, so Maybe this is not the job Bob

00:36:46.900 --> 00:36:48.960
Myers want maybe he wants somewhere where he

00:36:48.960 --> 00:36:56.539
can build from the ground up so Yeah, so I yeah,

00:36:56.539 --> 00:37:05.030
I don't see Bob Myers wanting that job You may

00:37:05.030 --> 00:37:09.750
ask why? Because you got three players consuming

00:37:09.750 --> 00:37:16.309
the bulk of your salary cap space. Between Joel

00:37:16.309 --> 00:37:21.309
and me, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey, next year

00:37:21.309 --> 00:37:24.929
on the books, between the three of them, over

00:37:24.929 --> 00:37:32.269
$154 million. Wow. That's a lot of dough. And

00:37:32.269 --> 00:37:36.090
mind you there salary cap is at a hundred and

00:37:36.090 --> 00:37:40.409
seventy two well There's a shade under a hundred

00:37:40.409 --> 00:37:43.809
seventy three million, so you're talking about

00:37:43.809 --> 00:37:49.510
those three guys taking up all but 20 million

00:37:49.510 --> 00:37:58.849
less than And on top of that Joel and be disappointment

00:37:58.849 --> 00:38:02.170
with the front office after they traded Jared

00:38:02.170 --> 00:38:06.590
McCain I just told you about him he's in OKC

00:38:06.590 --> 00:38:09.469
now he didn't like that trade at all because

00:38:09.469 --> 00:38:12.150
they got pennies on the dollar back from him

00:38:12.150 --> 00:38:18.010
for a young guard who can actually play both

00:38:18.010 --> 00:38:23.469
guard positions so I understand this disappointment

00:38:23.469 --> 00:38:29.510
there but Yeah, that's how it goes as far as

00:38:29.510 --> 00:38:33.429
free agents guys Quinton Grimes he's a free agent

00:38:33.429 --> 00:38:39.170
for them guys He made eight point seven million

00:38:39.170 --> 00:38:42.789
He's gonna see some big -time money and free

00:38:42.789 --> 00:38:47.610
agency Calliubra as well make it eight point

00:38:47.610 --> 00:38:50.469
three million. I think that's a steal at that

00:38:50.469 --> 00:38:55.840
price for him Andre Drummond Making five million

00:38:55.840 --> 00:39:02.059
Does he come back again? We'll see Dominic Barlow

00:39:02.059 --> 00:39:06.340
He has a team option for 3 .4 million. I believe

00:39:06.340 --> 00:39:12.380
they bring them back Kyle Lowry, I think he I

00:39:12.380 --> 00:39:15.880
think he's heading for greener pastors. He's

00:39:15.880 --> 00:39:19.880
ready to retire. So I don't see him coming back

00:39:19.880 --> 00:39:24.389
I see him retiring and probably taking me Assistant

00:39:24.389 --> 00:39:30.389
coach jobs Trending Walford he has a team option

00:39:30.389 --> 00:39:34.210
as well at 2 .8 million they exercise that he's

00:39:34.210 --> 00:39:38.469
been a Good piece coming off your bench and they

00:39:38.469 --> 00:39:41.670
can't campaign I don't even know what happened

00:39:41.670 --> 00:39:45.530
to him. I remember they signed him 1 .1 million,

00:39:45.530 --> 00:39:51.230
so I Don't know what happens with him. So there

00:39:51.230 --> 00:39:59.400
you go there So let us continue on The Detroit

00:39:59.400 --> 00:40:03.900
Pistons now Detroit You're actually in a good

00:40:03.900 --> 00:40:07.860
place guys. They over achieved. They over achieved

00:40:07.860 --> 00:40:13.260
all season long guys But they have major free

00:40:13.260 --> 00:40:18.780
agent decisions But on the good side, they have

00:40:18.780 --> 00:40:22.170
a lot of cat space Mind you they're gonna have

00:40:22.170 --> 00:40:24.969
to dedicate money to Jalen during if you're gonna

00:40:24.969 --> 00:40:29.730
bring him back You know, he's coming off an all

00:40:29.730 --> 00:40:34.250
-star campaign you can Kind of toss to the side

00:40:34.250 --> 00:40:37.670
what happened in in the playoffs and say, you

00:40:37.670 --> 00:40:42.429
know, this is kind of his you know He's still

00:40:42.429 --> 00:40:45.369
like getting his feet wet as far as that goes.

00:40:45.369 --> 00:40:47.469
This is the second go -around in the playoffs.

00:40:47.510 --> 00:40:51.969
So you can kind of Give them a pass if you like,

00:40:52.449 --> 00:40:54.389
but you're gonna have to sign up to long -term

00:40:54.389 --> 00:40:59.469
money So right now on the books for them next

00:40:59.469 --> 00:41:02.329
season a hundred and four point three million

00:41:02.329 --> 00:41:05.190
dollars, so they got the space guys They'll be

00:41:05.190 --> 00:41:08.489
able to add some pieces here now in free agency

00:41:08.489 --> 00:41:12.250
Tobias Harris his money's coming off the books

00:41:12.250 --> 00:41:16.750
26 .6 billion That's a big chunk of money there.

00:41:16.750 --> 00:41:20.219
That's coming off. Do they bring him back? You

00:41:20.219 --> 00:41:23.539
know he gave me flashes of what he can do in

00:41:23.539 --> 00:41:29.159
the prior series against Orlando but against

00:41:29.159 --> 00:41:35.659
the Cavaliers not so much so Do you bring them

00:41:35.659 --> 00:41:40.960
back at a? Feasible number we'll see Kevin Herter

00:41:40.960 --> 00:41:45.019
is another guy making nearly eight mil 18 million

00:41:45.019 --> 00:41:49.139
dollars, so do you bring him back you have a

00:41:49.079 --> 00:41:53.780
team option for Osar Thompson. Now, Osar Thompson

00:41:53.780 --> 00:41:56.980
was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year,

00:41:57.019 --> 00:42:01.539
so a vital piece to your team, making 11 .1 million.

00:42:01.619 --> 00:42:04.980
You'll bring him back at that number. Ron Holland,

00:42:05.019 --> 00:42:08.219
he has a team option at 9 million. I think he

00:42:08.219 --> 00:42:11.860
comes back. And then Jalen Durant, he has a qualifying

00:42:11.860 --> 00:42:17.210
offer, guys, at 8 .9 million, so. You're going

00:42:17.210 --> 00:42:21.210
to have to negotiate big time with him and figure

00:42:21.210 --> 00:42:25.710
out where the market is with him. Dan is Jenkins.

00:42:25.809 --> 00:42:29.010
Now, this is a guy. He has a team option at $4

00:42:29.010 --> 00:42:32.789
billion. They will exercise that with ease. He

00:42:32.789 --> 00:42:36.889
was a guy who's come in. Remember when Cade Cunningham,

00:42:36.889 --> 00:42:39.670
he went down with the collapsed lung. This guy

00:42:39.670 --> 00:42:43.590
has come in and stepped in and played and played

00:42:43.590 --> 00:42:49.480
well. So they're gonna bring him back. Marcus

00:42:49.480 --> 00:42:52.539
Sasser, another guy with a team option, over

00:42:52.539 --> 00:42:55.559
5 million. They bring him back as well. He was

00:42:55.559 --> 00:42:58.880
a vital piece for them down the stretch. And

00:42:58.880 --> 00:43:04.659
then you have Gervonta Green at 2 .8 million.

00:43:05.360 --> 00:43:10.179
So he's flat out free agent. So you can make

00:43:10.179 --> 00:43:13.969
a decision there. Detroit's in good shape, guys.

00:43:14.329 --> 00:43:18.849
They're in good shape. Like I said, you have

00:43:18.849 --> 00:43:23.090
space to add pieces in to what you have already,

00:43:23.190 --> 00:43:26.949
a 62 -win ball club. You add some pieces in.

00:43:27.170 --> 00:43:30.050
I think you'll do just fine. Jamie Bickerstaff

00:43:30.050 --> 00:43:35.210
has done a fine job, all things considered. So

00:43:35.210 --> 00:43:38.889
I wouldn't touch a thing. I would just tweak

00:43:38.889 --> 00:43:44.840
the roster a bit. and Come back for next season,

00:43:45.119 --> 00:43:51.860
so that's Detroit the LA Lakers and The saga

00:43:51.860 --> 00:43:56.820
continues is this LeBron's last season in LA

00:43:56.820 --> 00:44:02.440
now there's been rumblings guys About LeBron

00:44:02.440 --> 00:44:05.960
and you know how he's feeling underappreciated

00:44:05.960 --> 00:44:10.639
in LA. It's a lot of that talk going around.

00:44:12.239 --> 00:44:15.300
In fact, I want to play some sound for you guys.

00:44:16.139 --> 00:44:20.599
This is Dave McMenamin. He was on Rich Eisen's

00:44:20.599 --> 00:44:24.980
show and he talked about it, guys. He talked

00:44:24.980 --> 00:44:33.360
about the situation with LeBron. Remember, he

00:44:33.360 --> 00:44:36.380
was following him all season long. So remember,

00:44:36.460 --> 00:44:40.889
he was around for a lot of this, what was taking

00:44:40.889 --> 00:44:46.969
place with LeBron. So, he's on Rich Eisen, like

00:44:46.969 --> 00:44:50.170
I said, and he explains the situation with the

00:44:50.170 --> 00:44:54.730
game ball. They were, it was on March 31st. Okay.

00:44:58.110 --> 00:45:04.389
Hang on one second. First things first, why aren't

00:45:04.389 --> 00:45:07.659
there more than one game ball? It's a good question.

00:45:07.659 --> 00:45:09.059
Wouldn't that have been, wouldn't that have been

00:45:09.059 --> 00:45:12.699
great? Yeah. You know, hey, some foresight there.

00:45:14.179 --> 00:45:17.800
This would be like, well, we're giving away cards.

00:45:17.960 --> 00:45:21.139
You didn't. But there were so many milestones.

00:45:21.179 --> 00:45:24.179
Yeah. So we're talking about March 31st. Yes,

00:45:24.420 --> 00:45:27.840
sir. Lakers beat the Cavs. The complete split

00:45:27.840 --> 00:45:29.760
ends up, we don't know, you know, at this point

00:45:29.760 --> 00:45:33.400
in retrospect, they've now gone 16 into over

00:45:33.400 --> 00:45:38.260
32 days stretch. game against the Cavs, Lebron

00:45:38.260 --> 00:45:41.500
games, most wins in NBA history combined regular

00:45:41.500 --> 00:45:46.860
season and against the Cavs. 15 ,000 points for

00:45:46.860 --> 00:45:49.219
Luka Dacic for his career, 5 ,000 points for

00:45:49.219 --> 00:45:53.820
Rui Hachimura, and it secures back to back 50

00:45:53.820 --> 00:45:56.880
win seasons and 100 wins in JJ Reddick's coaching

00:45:56.880 --> 00:46:16.860
career. is addressing the room, Rob Polinka takes

00:46:16.860 --> 00:46:19.260
his turn to address the room, is holding the

00:46:19.260 --> 00:46:22.960
game ball, and presents it to JJ Reddick. Shortly

00:46:22.960 --> 00:46:27.079
thereafter, LeBron James, who, you know, of course,

00:46:27.300 --> 00:46:30.260
he arrives to the arena wearing like an outfit,

00:46:31.559 --> 00:46:34.599
and then showers and changes and stuff that leaves

00:46:34.599 --> 00:46:38.000
in that outfit, while this night was still in

00:46:38.000 --> 00:46:40.579
the practice shorts, face bags on his knees,

00:46:41.019 --> 00:46:43.289
slide sandals on his feet. And he walked right

00:46:43.289 --> 00:46:46.429
out. So to be clear, this isn't because he doesn't

00:46:46.429 --> 00:46:49.469
think J .J. Reddick is deserving of a moment.

00:46:49.670 --> 00:46:53.409
It's not about that at all. It was taken by LeBron

00:46:53.409 --> 00:46:58.650
to be another example of the Lakers not appreciating

00:46:58.650 --> 00:47:00.690
him and everything that he does. Where does it

00:47:00.690 --> 00:47:04.590
come from? I think it's from an eight year relationship

00:47:04.590 --> 00:47:10.710
that a lot of stuff build up. It's LeBron. after

00:47:10.710 --> 00:47:13.789
game four against the Thunder. In order for you

00:47:13.789 --> 00:47:15.929
to come back to play for the Lakers, I understand

00:47:15.929 --> 00:47:17.469
you're going to have to figure out whether you

00:47:17.469 --> 00:47:19.690
want to play. I understand you're going to have

00:47:19.690 --> 00:47:23.590
to figure out what the money, but that side,

00:47:24.289 --> 00:47:26.389
is there any static that needs to be cleared

00:47:26.389 --> 00:47:29.170
up? And he said, there's no static for me. March

00:47:29.170 --> 00:47:33.849
31st, Lakers beat the Cavs. It completes what

00:47:33.849 --> 00:47:36.030
ends up, we don't know. But at this point in

00:47:36.030 --> 00:47:39.170
retrospect, they've now got 16 and two over.

00:47:39.469 --> 00:47:42.809
32 days stretch. And in this game against the

00:47:42.809 --> 00:47:46.610
Cavs, LeBron James, most wins in NBA history

00:47:46.610 --> 00:47:53.070
combined regular season 15 ,000 points for Luka

00:47:53.070 --> 00:47:55.849
Dacic's first career, 5 ,000 points for Rui Hachimora.

00:47:57.050 --> 00:48:00.469
And it secures back -to -back 50 win seasons

00:48:00.469 --> 00:48:03.269
and 100 wins in JJ Redick's coaching career.

00:48:04.010 --> 00:48:07.349
So in the postgame locker room, JJ Redick doing

00:48:07.349 --> 00:48:11.550
a good job. recognizing this group accomplishment,

00:48:12.150 --> 00:48:14.289
is listing off all the things that were done

00:48:14.289 --> 00:48:19.090
by his team that day. And as JJ's addressing

00:48:19.090 --> 00:48:23.670
the room, Rob Polinka takes his turn to address

00:48:23.670 --> 00:48:26.789
the room, is holding the game ball, and presents

00:48:26.789 --> 00:48:30.750
it to JJ Reddick. Shortly thereafter, LeBron

00:48:30.750 --> 00:48:34.469
James, who, you know, of course, he arrives to

00:48:34.469 --> 00:48:38.659
the arena wearing like an outfit, and then showers

00:48:38.659 --> 00:48:41.360
and changes and stuff and leaves in that outfit.

00:48:41.900 --> 00:48:45.059
Well, this night was still in the practice shorts,

00:48:45.599 --> 00:48:47.820
face bags on his knees, science handles on his

00:48:47.820 --> 00:48:50.619
feet and he walked right out. So to be clear,

00:48:50.699 --> 00:48:53.360
this isn't because he doesn't think JJ Reddick

00:48:53.360 --> 00:48:56.380
is deserving of a moment. It's not about that

00:48:56.380 --> 00:49:00.920
at all. It was taken by LeBron to be another

00:49:00.920 --> 00:49:05.300
example of the Lakers not appreciating him and

00:49:05.300 --> 00:49:07.119
everything that he does. Where does it come from?

00:49:07.920 --> 00:49:10.559
I think it's from an eight -year relationship

00:49:10.559 --> 00:49:15.199
that has had a lot of build -up. Now, yeah, I

00:49:15.199 --> 00:49:18.599
asked LeBron after game four against the Thunder,

00:49:18.800 --> 00:49:21.000
in order for you to come back to play Fiddle

00:49:21.000 --> 00:49:23.039
Acres, I understand you're going to have to figure

00:49:23.039 --> 00:49:25.400
out whether you want to play. I understand you're

00:49:25.400 --> 00:49:28.699
going to have to figure out what the money, but

00:49:28.699 --> 00:49:31.920
that aside, is there any static that needs to

00:49:31.920 --> 00:49:33.940
be cleared up? And he said there's no static

00:49:33.940 --> 00:49:36.280
from me. Perhaps that means that even though

00:49:36.280 --> 00:49:39.920
he had this moment, That was a real moment of

00:49:39.920 --> 00:49:43.280
big nation is what he felt. Yeah It's not something

00:49:43.280 --> 00:49:45.780
you can't get over in order to keep playing for

00:49:45.780 --> 00:49:50.519
the Lakers So that's a little bit of what was

00:49:50.519 --> 00:49:56.480
said by David Benjamin to Rich Isen so my take

00:49:56.480 --> 00:50:01.639
on all this Yeah, I think there is a feeling

00:50:01.639 --> 00:50:05.559
of LeBron being underappreciated And not just

00:50:05.559 --> 00:50:09.780
with this. Remember, I reported earlier in the

00:50:09.780 --> 00:50:14.059
season about the comments made by Jeannie Buss,

00:50:14.260 --> 00:50:18.780
where, you know, she didn't like the idea of

00:50:18.780 --> 00:50:23.539
the fact that when LeBron came, he saved the

00:50:23.539 --> 00:50:28.440
franchise and all this sort of stuff. She didn't

00:50:28.440 --> 00:50:32.960
like that at all. So there, you know, she's been

00:50:32.960 --> 00:50:36.889
trying to Make it seem like that's not the case,

00:50:36.909 --> 00:50:39.630
but you know they've done everything Just about

00:50:39.630 --> 00:50:42.730
everything LeBron wanted you know it was time

00:50:42.730 --> 00:50:45.590
to bring in talent. They brought in talent They

00:50:45.590 --> 00:50:49.590
brought the graph this on all that sort of stuff

00:50:49.590 --> 00:50:52.849
and still with all that LeBron doesn't feel appreciated

00:50:52.849 --> 00:50:58.429
so I don't know what to tell you But the Lakers

00:50:58.429 --> 00:51:02.960
got some big decisions to make First you got

00:51:02.960 --> 00:51:06.280
to figure out the situation with Austin Rees

00:51:06.280 --> 00:51:09.820
as far as the contract extension goes there They

00:51:09.820 --> 00:51:13.380
too have a lot of money that they can spend the

00:51:13.380 --> 00:51:16.380
salary cap for next year right now stands at

00:51:16.380 --> 00:51:19.300
a hundred and six and a half million dollars

00:51:19.300 --> 00:51:23.460
Your free agents are LeBron. He's a right straight

00:51:23.460 --> 00:51:26.820
-up free agent. No team option. No player option

00:51:26.820 --> 00:51:30.489
He made fifty two point six billion Does he come

00:51:30.489 --> 00:51:34.210
back at a lower number in order to, you know,

00:51:34.269 --> 00:51:36.969
enable the Lakers to bring another pieces? We'll

00:51:36.969 --> 00:51:44.030
see. Roy Hachimura, he made 18 .2 million. I

00:51:44.030 --> 00:51:46.130
think if he goes on the open market, he's going

00:51:46.130 --> 00:51:50.289
to double that. He had a fine showing in these

00:51:50.289 --> 00:51:54.670
playoffs between the Rockets series and the series

00:51:54.670 --> 00:51:58.429
here with the Thunder, albeit they got swept,

00:51:58.650 --> 00:52:02.539
but He played well, so I think he's gonna command

00:52:02.539 --> 00:52:06.340
some money. Austin Reeves, he has a qualifying

00:52:06.340 --> 00:52:11.559
offer of 14 .8 million, so you're gonna have

00:52:11.559 --> 00:52:14.719
to renegotiate with him. Give him a contract

00:52:14.719 --> 00:52:18.980
extension you would think. And then Luke Canard,

00:52:19.000 --> 00:52:23.179
who did a fine job stepping in for Reeves. He's

00:52:23.179 --> 00:52:27.980
at $11 million. Maxi Cleber, I don't know if

00:52:27.980 --> 00:52:32.219
you bring him back. He's at 11 as well. Deandre

00:52:32.219 --> 00:52:37.139
8. Now I spoke about him and how he disappointed

00:52:37.139 --> 00:52:41.300
in this last series. He has a qualifying offer

00:52:41.300 --> 00:52:46.159
of 8 .1 million. Do you bring him back at that

00:52:46.159 --> 00:52:53.860
number given his inconsistencies? I think you

00:52:53.860 --> 00:52:56.599
got to figure out what's out there as far as

00:52:56.599 --> 00:53:01.000
your sinners go. and what you can bring in. But

00:53:01.000 --> 00:53:07.260
I don't know. If I had the guests today, I think

00:53:07.260 --> 00:53:09.219
they would bring him back because they have no

00:53:09.219 --> 00:53:12.880
other choice. But if they had their choice, they

00:53:12.880 --> 00:53:17.119
would bring somebody else in. I think so. Marcus

00:53:17.119 --> 00:53:20.539
Smart has a qualifying offer at $5 .3 million.

00:53:20.679 --> 00:53:23.480
I think they bring him back. I think he's had

00:53:23.480 --> 00:53:25.739
a renaissance here with the Lakers. So I think

00:53:25.739 --> 00:53:28.769
they bring him back. and then Jackson Hayes at

00:53:28.769 --> 00:53:32.369
3 .4 million more likely or not maybe he comes

00:53:32.369 --> 00:53:36.170
back so Lakers with a lot to think about and

00:53:36.170 --> 00:53:41.070
then the last team I'll talk about the Minnesota

00:53:41.070 --> 00:53:43.909
Timberwolves I think they're in need of a roster

00:53:43.909 --> 00:53:49.349
shakeup guys and I think it happens between Julius

00:53:49.349 --> 00:53:53.170
Randall or Rudy Gobert Rudy Gobert I think at

00:53:53.170 --> 00:53:56.960
his age At his salary, he'll be very hard to

00:53:56.960 --> 00:54:00.260
move. I think Julius Randall, that's the move

00:54:00.260 --> 00:54:04.860
that's possible, guys. Julius Randall set to

00:54:04.860 --> 00:54:09.639
make $36 .5 million next year, and then he has

00:54:09.639 --> 00:54:13.820
a player option at $38. This is the trade I'm

00:54:13.820 --> 00:54:18.019
looking at, guys, if I'm the Minnesota Timberwolves.

00:54:19.980 --> 00:54:26.059
Julius Randall. I understand he played very well

00:54:26.059 --> 00:54:32.000
for you, but he has value and some second rounders,

00:54:32.420 --> 00:54:34.800
maybe about two or three second rounders, maybe

00:54:34.800 --> 00:54:39.599
two in the second round swap. That's enough to

00:54:39.599 --> 00:54:47.679
get it done to bring in a Zion Williamson, a

00:54:47.679 --> 00:54:51.480
Zion Williamson from the New Orleans Pelicans.

00:54:52.539 --> 00:54:55.679
I think this would be an ideal situation for

00:54:55.679 --> 00:54:59.440
Zion. He doesn't have to be the guy. He can be

00:54:59.440 --> 00:55:04.219
the number two to Anthony Edwards. I think that

00:55:04.219 --> 00:55:08.619
would do wonders for him in this situation here.

00:55:09.820 --> 00:55:12.719
It's high risk though if you're the Minnesota

00:55:12.719 --> 00:55:16.039
Timberwolves, but it's also high reward if you

00:55:16.039 --> 00:55:20.179
can get this guy. It seemed like his health is

00:55:20.409 --> 00:55:23.110
He's come out on the other side as far as that

00:55:23.110 --> 00:55:28.530
goes. So that's possible. I don't see a Yanis

00:55:28.530 --> 00:55:32.130
move that they can make there because remember

00:55:32.130 --> 00:55:35.369
Yanis makes much more money than Zion Williamson.

00:55:35.989 --> 00:55:41.429
So I don't see that unless you're throwing in

00:55:41.429 --> 00:55:47.170
throwing in first round picks along with Julius

00:55:47.170 --> 00:55:51.130
Randall going to Milwaukee. I don't see it. I

00:55:51.130 --> 00:55:53.750
don't see the honest going there, but I could

00:55:53.750 --> 00:55:57.550
see a Zion Williamson going there so I'm putting

00:55:57.550 --> 00:56:03.730
it out there guys, so We'll see but I think they're

00:56:03.730 --> 00:56:06.449
They want to get out of the Julius Randall business.

00:56:06.889 --> 00:56:11.210
So there you go there alright, so their salary

00:56:11.210 --> 00:56:16.130
cap 188 point eight million dollars, so they

00:56:16.130 --> 00:56:19.340
got some substantial money on the books As far

00:56:19.340 --> 00:56:25.639
as free agents go, Oye, Dusamu, their addition

00:56:25.639 --> 00:56:29.599
that they got from the Chicago Bulls at the trade

00:56:29.599 --> 00:56:32.699
deadline played very well for them, making 7

00:56:32.699 --> 00:56:37.800
.5 million. That number gets bumped up. Joe Ingles,

00:56:37.840 --> 00:56:41.280
I think he's on his way out. I think retirement

00:56:41.280 --> 00:56:46.099
is on the horizon for him at 3 .6 million. Bones

00:56:46.099 --> 00:56:50.760
Highland. Possibly you bring him back. He made

00:56:50.760 --> 00:56:54.599
2 .4 million Julian Phillips has a team option

00:56:54.599 --> 00:56:59.599
at 2 .4 million and then you have a Mike Connelly

00:56:59.599 --> 00:57:03.099
who remember he got traded and he came back 1

00:57:03.099 --> 00:57:08.980
.1 million so You have him and then Kyle Anderson

00:57:08.980 --> 00:57:14.059
who didn't even make a million. He made a $898

00:57:14.059 --> 00:57:18.849
,000 so another option for you to bring back.

00:57:19.170 --> 00:57:22.849
But I think the T -wolves are heading for a shakeup

00:57:22.849 --> 00:57:26.369
in the off season. So there you go. Speaking

00:57:26.369 --> 00:57:30.130
of the New Orleans Pelicans, congrats to them.

00:57:30.409 --> 00:57:34.230
They signed Jamal Mosley, who was just fired

00:57:34.230 --> 00:57:37.809
by the Orlando Magic. Five -year deal for him.

00:57:38.090 --> 00:57:40.710
I think this is a nice landing spot for him.

00:57:42.190 --> 00:57:45.570
What New Orleans does as far as changing the

00:57:45.570 --> 00:57:49.869
face of that franchise? I think Like I said,

00:57:50.070 --> 00:57:54.269
it's not I don't think Zion Williamson and Jamonte

00:57:54.269 --> 00:57:57.829
Murray I don't think both of these guys on the

00:57:57.829 --> 00:58:00.650
roster. I think either one of them goes or both

00:58:00.650 --> 00:58:05.449
goes so I'm just saying so keep an eye out for

00:58:05.449 --> 00:58:07.650
that in the offseason Alright guys. Thank you

00:58:07.650 --> 00:58:09.889
for listening as always all things basketball

00:58:09.889 --> 00:58:13.130
with gd .com the website there you find my clips

00:58:13.130 --> 00:58:17.570
my full episodes donate guys donate donate i

00:58:17.570 --> 00:58:20.909
got three buttons on the website paypal buy me

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dollar sign gd that sports do right to the show

00:58:31.409 --> 00:58:36.409
guys all things basketball gd at outlook .com

00:58:36.409 --> 00:58:40.309
right to the show whatever ideas whatever comments

00:58:40.309 --> 00:58:43.829
you have to make I read them on the show. Also,

00:58:45.329 --> 00:58:47.750
guys, podcast platforms. I'm on all of those.

00:58:47.809 --> 00:58:50.409
My YouTube channel, as well, where you got clips

00:58:50.409 --> 00:58:54.170
in. I haven't done clips out recent, but I need

00:58:54.170 --> 00:58:57.230
to do some. But full episodes are there. Also,

00:58:57.610 --> 00:59:03.010
guys, social media, TikTok, Instagram, some blue

00:59:03.010 --> 00:59:06.389
sky, some Facebook, and that is it. Guys, next

00:59:06.389 --> 00:59:09.630
time you hear from me, post -season awards wrap

00:59:09.630 --> 00:59:13.480
up. I'll go through all the award winners. Got

00:59:13.480 --> 00:59:16.300
some right? Got some not so right. We'll talk

00:59:16.300 --> 00:59:20.920
about that. And then also one last news item

00:59:20.920 --> 00:59:25.980
before I check out. Rekia Jackson, prayers up

00:59:25.980 --> 00:59:31.139
to her. She tore her ACL in a game on Sunday,

00:59:32.320 --> 00:59:36.199
May 17th, a game against the Minnesota Lynx.

00:59:36.829 --> 00:59:39.369
tore up her knee she's done for the season guys

00:59:39.369 --> 00:59:42.710
it was a non -contact so you know how that goes

00:59:42.710 --> 00:59:46.710
but uh prayers up for her speedy recovery she's

00:59:46.710 --> 00:59:49.210
been through a lot this year guys so definitely

00:59:49.210 --> 00:59:53.369
prayers up to her and a swift recovery for her

00:59:53.369 --> 00:59:55.829
so there you go thanks for listening as always

00:59:55.829 --> 00:59:57.210
we'll talk soon take care