NBA Playoff Predictions (ALL 8 Series) 🔥 + Warriors Dynasty OVER?! | Who Ya Got Ep. 151

Cold Open On Awards Eligibility

SPEAKER_02 0:00

I don't agree with the exceptions at all. I don't care why you missed the game. I don't even think that's relevant. It's just, did you play the game? I mean, okay, yeah. Great that you had a team exception to go for, you know, witness the birth of your child, but you were suspended from getting 16 10.

SPEAKER_00 0:17

Oh, like you have enough for load management. Right, right.

SPEAKER_02 0:19

So you have enough of a buffer, but oh, I had these other games where I would have been able to play, so that would have counted to my 65. Like that's that's the whole thing. That's that's why it's not an 82-game rule, 65-game rule to account for whatever exceptions you want to have. This is getting ridiculous. You already live in a fantasy land. You already live, you're already not living in reality. So now here it is, one of the rules that's actually like real world stuff. And now we're gonna go ahead and remove that just to make sure that you know you can be eligible for post-game awards. This is Derek Thompson from Pick'em Pros. You can catch us on all podcast platforms, including YouTube and now 104.5 WCCG in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Let's go.

SPEAKER_04 1:11

I pick them up bro, global drop ball, talk a pick and roll. We're gonna up the go, touchdown, this drop, feel go. We the winning team champions when you walk.

Show Intro And Agenda

SPEAKER_02 1:22

All right, ladies and gentlemen, welcome back. You know who it is. I am Derek Thompson.

SPEAKER_08 1:28

I'm Diego Thompson. And I'm Mike Sims. And who are we? The Pick'em Pros.

SPEAKER_02 1:33

We are the Pick Em Pros, baby. We are here coming at you live from Relevant Media Solutions, Carrie, North Carolina, fire show today, NBA playoffs. Let me give you the rundown real quick. We're going to recap the play-in tournament games from last night. The Suns, Warriors. Uh man, is this the end of the Warriors as we know it? Uh the Hornets, Magic. We're going to talk about that. Uh Hornets absolutely collapsed. Uh, some predicted that, some didn't. So, was there a season of success or a failure? We're going to talk about that. We're going to go into all of the round one matchups in the East and West, give you our picks, tell you how many games each one is going to win in. So we'll dive into that. Then we'll go into the NBA awards. Uh, the 65-game rule. Is it still the rule? We're making exceptions. What's up with that? Um, we'll tell you who MVP should be, coach of the year, all that good stuff. And then we'll finish off by telling you who's gonna be in the NBA finals and who is gonna win it. So that is our rundown. Um, as hot, how you guys doing, man? Y'all ready to get into this? Yeah, ready.

Michigan Wallet And Pre Show Banter

SPEAKER_11 2:39

Yeah, yeah, yeah. We're ready to kick this off. But before we kick this off, okay, before we kick this off, you know, uh, we already did a show, we talked about Michigan winning and all of that, but I saw when I showed something that yourself and I also heard, all right, because David wasn't able to be on the show then. That's right.

SPEAKER_02 3:00

Yeah, right. He he was missing after Duke for some reason.

SPEAKER_11 3:03

But we didn't, I ain't gonna hit him up hard on that. But I saw you there, and I heard through the grapevine that when I flashed, you know, had all different items, I had the socks and all that, yeah, but also show a particular item, and that item was a Michigan wallet. So, what I thought I would do is for both yourself and Diego, because you go, Zon, I heard y'all wanted one of those or whatever. That you can you know show around proudly. Uh uh, you can say, hey, um I'm a Michigan fan now, or I got this because it's an M, I got it from Mike.

Suns Beat Warriors What Now

SPEAKER_02 3:40

Yes, I love that. I love that however you want to use it. Thank you, thank you. Yes, yes, but I'll do that. Hopefully, this will uh make my bigger bank account bigger. So yes, yes, yes. I need the mojo. Yeah, touch that for me, man. Michigan win some more. We need that. We need that. Shout out to all the Detroit fam, everybody watching. Uh love y'all. So, all right, all right. Well, let's get into this fire show here. So, man, let's talk about the uh Warriors and Sons. Let's recap that first. Phoenix, we see here, they went ahead and got into the playoffs. Devin Booker, shout out to him. Yeah, uh, you know, gave us an interview with Brianna. So uh, you know, we're definitely fans of them. And, you know, Dylan the villain had a big year. Uh man, they got rid of KD. And here it is. Now they uh have chemistry. Um, you know, our guy Green, who was run out of Houston, yeah, couldn't miss a three. Man, he was shooting like Steph Curry. Yeah. So, man, Diego, man. So, what's your take on just that game? The Suns and then the Warriors, you know, is this the end? Should it be the end? Kind of re-recap all that for us.

SPEAKER_08 4:48

Yeah, so um, let's start off with the game, obviously. So um, I thought it was cool to see the Suns, you know, good, good this year, bounce back after, you know, a lot of people not thinking they could they could um go that far. Right. But um, yeah, and then seeing Dylan Brooks and all of them play well and and especially Jalen Green, because they they gave up on I mean, they gave up gave up on KD to try and get him and Jalen Green last year. He couldn't couldn't make a three against the series against the Warriors. Nope. You know, that and that's a lot of the reason why they got rid of him.

SPEAKER_10 5:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 5:19

And now it just shows why he shouldn't really give up on on young on young guys like that, because you never know how improved they can get.

SPEAKER_09 5:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 5:27

So um, yeah, I mean it was cool to see that. But then the Warriors, yeah, I think I think it's probably over. Um and it's just and it's not just because of the fact that you know, you know, we got old rosters, just because, you know, like a lot of the moves we make and just hadn't really we've been working out like Jimmy Butler. We don't really have a lot of young up-and-coming stars. Like before, we had Jordan Poole, we had some guys that it was like, okay, if you know Steph, Draymond, they're they're gone. Right. We have Jordan Poole and all them up, but now all those people are gone. Yeah, you punch. It's like no, no future, really.

SPEAKER_02 6:00

You punch Jordan Poole.

SPEAKER_08 6:02

Yeah. Yep.

SPEAKER_02 6:02

Um you didn't you didn't play Kaminga.

SPEAKER_10 6:05

Exactly. Wiggins? Wiggins? Yeah, Wiggins.

SPEAKER_02 6:11

You know what was so funny? Because shoot, I can't even think of the team he's on now. Um, do you know what team he's on, Diego? The Wiggins? He's on the Heat, yeah. Yeah, he's on the Heat. That's it. Because I was watching them play the Hornets. That's correct. On Two. That's Wiggins.

SPEAKER_09 6:32

Yeah.

unknown 6:33

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 6:34

Uh yeah, that's wild. Yeah, yeah. So yeah, yeah. I mean, you know, giving up on Young Town, you have to. And the core was aging. Yeah. And they never cultivated that that new talent. I think there was also some jealousy and animosity between them, clearly, um, and not wanting to um, you know, have that core really.

SPEAKER_08 6:58

The fact that Clay left kind of made a lot of things weird. I thought like you're gonna get rid of clay, you also have to get rid of Draymond. Yes. I don't see why they can't have Draymond. I agree.

SPEAKER_02 7:10

I agree. That's a great point.

SPEAKER_11 7:12

Outstanding point. Uh, because uh, you know, when I look at the Warriors now, there's a song, this is old school right here. All right, everybody out there, this old school right here. Okay, there's a song by Barbara Streisand called The Way We Were. Right. And in that song, they said, she says one of the verses she said is scattered pictures, right? And uh, all I was looking at was scattered pictures. They ain't no longer the warriors. It's just scattered pictures now. And um um Diego brought up an outstanding point, and I have been saying it, they should have let go of Draymond and got some trades, got whatever they could to continue to build the team. You could have still got so we see that. You could have still, you put some other people around, Steph Curry and got a little younger, you still kind of could have got some stuff, but you wanted to, you know, you could have kept on and continue to build, but you all wanted to live and die off of that. And and that was just uh crazy, crazy.

SPEAKER_08 8:10

Yeah, and 2022, um Draymond and Clay did not play well in the finals. That's that's a point. Yeah, but and and they got the words got rid of you know, Poole, Wiggins, all a lot of the people that helped Curry win win that title. And Clay didn't even play half that year anyway.

SPEAKER_02 8:25

So that's right, yeah. He was still battling from injury, yeah, not all the way back, had a few moments, and we know you know Green famously had a bad run. Yeah, like you said. It was Poole, it was Wiggins, it was the young guys, uh Looney, you know, all those guys were the ones that and then you know Curry went nuclear, but it was Curry and the young guys.

SPEAKER_08 8:46

Couldn't have done that without the help, especially Wiggins. Wiggins.

SPEAKER_11 8:49

Right, yes, yes. I always say this with with Draymond, and I'm not hating, I will always say this because I give Draymond this thing like he is the top defensive guy ever around and to Robin's status. He's a great help defense person, not a one-on-one. He is not, and you're you you invested all of this in a help defensive person, not a one, not a one-on-one.

SPEAKER_02 9:15

Yeah. Now, now people would push back on that because of um the performance against Kawhi uh yesterday. But I'm not sure. Absolutely no, no, no, no.

SPEAKER_11 9:25

You you you're right. And and we all know this. We talk uh that's a one-off, right? And I still say I actually kind of blame Kawhi on that because Draymond can't check if he would have been in foul trouble, right? I give I get Draymond one of the, I give him all the credit. Draymond is a very good guy as far as getting in the heads of well, people don't look at they look at players, but he gets in the heads of the refs. Right. Yeah, at the start of the game. Yes. Yeah, yeah. Just to know so that now he makes him feel okay. Should I call this foul or not? Because Draymond will fall out, foul out in half the game that he's in.

Hornets Collapse And Magic Advance

SPEAKER_02 10:02

Exactly. Exactly. Yeah, he definitely does. So let's let's move on to the Hornets and the magic. So let's talk about that. But so we're still on the play-in here. Um, so we'll still talk about the play-in. But with the Hornets magic game specifically, um, Diego, what's your take on just that game and and go going into it? Did that go the way that you did that you thought it would?

SPEAKER_08 10:25

Yeah, I I I actually thought they were gonna win that because I Orlando wasn't looking that great especially in their first playing game against um against the Sixers. Yeah. And yeah, I thought this was the Hornets year to kind of Hornets looked really good against the well, uh they didn't look really good, but they looked good when they had to have it against the Heat. So uh so I thought they'd have enough magic to pull through, but no pun intended, but they but they that's good.

SPEAKER_02 10:52

And and they had the run, you know, after all-star break, I believe they had the best record in the NBA, you know, post-all-star break. So everybody was going crazy over that. But if you look at who they played, you know, the the schedule was soft. Yeah, a lot of people were tanking. You know, there were a lot of factors in in place there. But even as I was saying, okay, yeah, if they have nothing to lose going into that game, they're they're they're dangerous, right? Because they have weapons, they have talent. But the moment there's something on the line, they're a totally different team. And that it looks like that's exactly what will happen.

SPEAKER_11 11:25

Lomelo couldn't reach out, you know, in time to grab somebody's ankle in the first quarter and trip them in on uh on the land off. He, you know, he didn't have the right situation set up for him to do that. Because the reality is of it is they barely got by Miami after they took their main player out. All right. So I think the right was on the wall. I wasn't shocked by the the the the whole uh magic there. Now I'll say this, I didn't think magic was gonna blow them out like that, but I think you said that before. Yeah, they're that you know they they either all in or they all out. They were checked out. Yeah, yeah. They were checked, they didn't want none of the magic after that first quarter.

SPEAKER_02 12:01

Right, right, yeah, they they definitely, definitely were. And so it looked like, you know, from what we were saying earlier, Mike, that we weren't surprised because of what happened at the end of the game before that when they were playing the heat, because we didn't like the fact that they benched Knipple at the end of that game. So you want to talk about how that played out.

SPEAKER_11 12:22

Yeah, yeah, you know, because you know, you and I, we we we kind of uh hate to use key the word as far as old school, but how you how you do it for player is going to affect that player. That nobody's doubting. I mean, he's in running for rookie of the year. So why you would bench him in your most critical moment as a true coach, a true leader, he should be imparting to him, say, hey, you the man, you this, you that, right? Stick him back back out there because win, lose, or draw, he got them to that point because of that second half, you know, second you know, part of the season shift.

SPEAKER_10 12:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_11 12:55

Uh he, you know, then and you know, you you can see it bleed over in the Orlando game. He wasn't there, he was out, he was checked out mentally. Yeah, because you already told him, hey, you you good during the regular season, this playoffs right here. I'm gonna have to uh so somebody gonna have to be talking to him in the out all season, get his head back on track.

SPEAKER_02 13:12

Yeah, they definitely will. And then it's one thing to bench him in the game, but then to bench him for and having Grant Williams in there, shooting threes or not can nipple, I'd rather have a cold Knipple. I agree, I agree. That's a good point.

SPEAKER_08 13:26

Yeah, and they're gonna still guard Knipple like they've been guarding him all year. They're gonna be doubling him, they're gonna be throwing some attention. Then that leaves, you know, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, yeah, all of them, all of them get opportunities. So decoy, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 13:40

They they really botched that. They they dropped the ball with that, and they're gonna have to they're gonna have to build him back up. And then also another point with Kanipple is okay, this is gonna start to become a narrative because what happened last year?

SPEAKER_11 13:54

Right. Right.

SPEAKER_02 13:56

Right, Diego, Duke. Right, right. They had the epic collapse against Houston in the final four.

SPEAKER_11 14:02

So we got to start labeling that.

SPEAKER_02 14:04

Exactly, exactly. You got the epic collapse against Houston in college. That was right, and it may not necessarily be him, but again, just being a part, a part of that. So now big games, the biggest moment, something's not going your way. You're kind of waiting for something to go wrong.

SPEAKER_08 14:21

If it happens one more time, I feel like that'll be yeah.

SPEAKER_02 14:23

But but again, that's why the coach needed to try to instill confidence in him. Yes, and say, hey, okay, you've been cold. Let's get you in the game in this clutch moment so you can make a big bucket when the money's on the line. That's right. That builds you up because we're gonna need you, just like you said. We're gonna need him.

SPEAKER_11 14:39

Well, to your point, you know, I talked about earlier. I also put some of that on on balls, the point guard. He got it, he got it, you know, he has to get those. All right, he's cold. We need him, right? I gotta get him going. Right. You know, right. I mean, he went like I think it was like two for 16 uh on the three-pointers in that Miami game. Yeah, uh, everybody talk about that, the layup that he made at the end, but how about getting Kanipple involved and get because then you get something from everybody, and that's what you gotta look at. Now, not that, oh man, I'm I'm two for 16, I gotta shoot another one so I get myself on right, exactly, exactly.

East Round One Predictions

SPEAKER_02 15:13

Yeah, all right. Well, let's move on to uh the first round of the NBA playoffs. So, Sims, I think you've dodged a bullet. We're gonna start with the Detroit Pistons here. Uh we thought you may uh you know face the um the Magic, but we're not. So you're gonna be, well, facing the Hornets, I should say, but now you're gonna be facing the Orlando Magic. Um, I'll tell you what, let's go out of order just for this one, because this is your, these are your Detroit Pistons. So we'll go you and then Diego. Um man, tell us about this first round between the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic. How does this play out? And ultimately, uh, how many games uh does this series go?

SPEAKER_11 15:56

Uh, this is gonna be uh boring. This is probably gonna be a gentleman's suite. Uh just to keep the ratings up. We'll probably let them taste uh uh one game uh just to keep the little ratings up, but this really isn't gonna be they're gonna take care of business. They got their mindset, they're all locked in, they're focused. I'm not even gonna I'm not even gonna think about this. It ain't even gonna be that kind of game and stuff. Okay. It ain't even gonna be that kind of game. Okay. So we're gonna blaze right on through them.

SPEAKER_02 16:25

Okay. What about what oh hot so it's a sweep? Gentleman's sweep. So don't let them get it. Okay, gentlemen's sweep. Gentleman sweep. Okay, and then just one housekeeping note. So, Brandon, if you could just any comments there, just keep pulling those up for us uh so we can see those and shout everybody out. So thank you on that. Okay, so gentlemen's sweep, and so Diego, tell us about this this series.

SPEAKER_08 16:48

Yeah, I think the pistons are gonna sweep the magic. Um, yeah, I just don't believe in the magic. I mean, I've the only reason they they're here is because they ran into Hornet, the they ran into the Hornets when they when there was something on the line. And um, yeah, and I think Pistons just more physical than the magic. I mean, magic, they got they got some size. They got uh Apollo, uh Franz Wagner, but I think the Pistons just are gonna outphysical them and bully them. So yeah, got the Pistons. Pistons sweep. Pistons sweep.

SPEAKER_02 17:16

So sweep, no, gentlemen sweep or sweep? Sweet. Like straight broom, yeah. Okay, okay, sweep. Okay. All right. So yeah, I'm fairly with you guys here. So Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic. Um, I'm gonna say Pistons and five. I'm gonna say, I'm I'm gonna say gentleman sweep. So I'm with I'm with Sims on this. You know, I feel that Cade is still gonna have to work himself back into this. This is playoff basketball. He is coming off of a collapse long, all right, or partial or what minor minor, yeah, minor collapse long is coming off of that. Still looking that up. Yeah, yeah, still looking that up. So yeah, yeah, we need some doctors to educate us on that. So with that, and then the fact of how the media was ready to pounce on Bancaro uh inevitably. I I was surprised by the level of heat that he got for that. So by that being the case, they think are definitely gonna be motivated. I see them at least getting a game um in this series and everybody kind of feeling this out. So I see this one going five. All right, so let us know. Let us know how far you guys see this one going, and um we will uh look forward to that. All right, so next, we've got the Celtics, the Celtics playing the Sixers. So uh I thought all along that this might end up being the matchup. The Sixers to me are a dangerous team that um nobody's talking about, but hey, that might just be me. So Celtics, Celtics, okay, so Celtics are the toast of the town. Everybody's hyped about the Celtics. Um Tatum is back. Everybody has them going to the finals right now. So um, man, Diego, curious to hear your take on this series. Who wins and then how many?

SPEAKER_08 19:03

Yeah, um I'm gonna go with the Celtics in six, if Embiid is playing.

SPEAKER_02 19:10

Okay.

SPEAKER_08 19:10

Embiid's back. Is he back?

SPEAKER_02 19:12

He so he did not play in the plan. I don't think he's gonna play in game one. They're not they're not saying they're very quiet about it. They are now he was on the bench, he was on the bench, street closed, he was there. So I would say I I personally think he's gonna play.

SPEAKER_08 19:33

I'll say Celtics and Six.

SPEAKER_02 19:34

Yeah, since they haven't they haven't definitive definitively said that he's not gonna play, and they're being very quiet about it, they're being suspiciously quiet about it. I feel he'll actually play. I I do. I'm gonna say Celtics and Six. Celtics and six. And anything else you want to say on this game or or this series?

SPEAKER_08 19:52

Yeah, I mean the Sixers, they got they got some pieces. Maxie, uh Hitchcombs playing well. Yes. And if they get embied, then I think he'll feel like he he has something to prove. Give give him at least one good one good game in the postseason and show that he's still one of the top players in the league. So yeah, I'm I'm still I still got the Celtics. They got playoffs. Overall, they uh well see that you might make me pick him in five now. But yeah, so they just got a better team overall. Pritchard and just they got all the guys, man. Yeah.

SPEAKER_11 20:24

All right. All right, okay. Celtics. Yeah. Uh so I'm gonna go in two parts.

SPEAKER_02 20:32

Okay, all right, two parts. Give it to us.

SPEAKER_11 20:34

Uh and B, if he is not there, sweet.

SPEAKER_02 20:39

Okay, okay, all right.

SPEAKER_11 20:40

He's he's sweet. Okay. If he is, I think I think they'll go six. Okay, all right. I think they'll go six. And it'll actually be a tough fought six. It's gonna wear the Celtics down. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 20:55

Okay. Tough fought six. So if he's there, okay, all right, I got you. Okay, so I'm gonna go on this one. I've got the Sixers in seven. I think the Sixers, I think the Sixers beat the Celtics. I said, yeah.

SPEAKER_11 21:13

So when I'm watching Yes, yes, the you say you got them taking the take the Celtics out for dinner.

SPEAKER_02 21:19

Wait, why? The 70 Sixers, like I've I've said during the regular season, they are the dangerous team nobody's talking about. They have one of the best rosters, and nobody's talking about it. Yes, they do.

SPEAKER_08 21:31

Can you name five people in the team?

SPEAKER_02 21:33

Yes, they do. I already said they've got Maxie, they got Maxie who's feeding around everybody. Okay, they've got the best center, hands down in the East who will be playing. They're being quiet about them. Okay. They've been load managing the whole year, making sure that they're fresh for this moment, for this time. Philly is a very tough place to play. We already know what what the vibe is going to be there. And and the Celtics is that bad. The Celtics have not failed. Any anything. The moment something gets tight, the moment they get physical, like you've been saying about the Pittsburgh playing against the finals like a billion Eastern Conference finals? I'm telling you, you will see with that that first loss at home, then you're gonna see all the cracks that they have. Okay. Is Tatum all the way back? We've seen them against loads, load managing teams, and we've seen them against free flowing, but they're coming up shooting 50, 60 threes a game.

SPEAKER_08 22:28

Tatum's a champion.

SPEAKER_02 22:29

If that three is not falling, they are a totally different team. Can they make all those threes for four games? I say no. I say they make them for two or three games. I don't think they shoot a high enough clip from three. And the other thing, okay, because they have good defenders, Edge Comb can defend. Playoff P can still move, okay, especially since the suspension. He's looking, he's moving a lot better now. Okay? Well for whatever reason. All right. So all they gotta do, what they have to do is make Tatum and make Brown put the ball on the floor because neither of them can still dribble. Okay. So if they put the ball on the floor, it's a problem.

SPEAKER_11 23:12

So I wanted to get I wanted to hear your whole take on that. Yeah. Or whatever. So I'm understanding, I'm getting that that that that the Celtics can 76ers, and you're talking about the volleyball playoff championship. So let's talk about the how you feel for the basketball ones. So let's just see how you feel who you want to pick for the basketball ones. Because we all know that had to be for volleyball.

SPEAKER_02 23:33

Yeah, yeah. No. NBA Eastern Conference first. Okay. That's right. That's right. Amazon Prime. Okay. Okay. Amazon Prime is in Seattle. You can view it. I believe they plop, I think they're like the 6 6 30 game or something like that. Brandon, let us know on that.

SPEAKER_08 23:53

Being a good picker means you don't take unnecessary losses. This is something you don't need to take a loss on. This isn't risky. This isn't uh sleeper take. This is just wrong. Call me tonight.

SPEAKER_02 24:06

It's a bad pick. Oh, okay. Call me because okay, because you're gonna you're gonna be at your friend's house. Call me tonight after the game when you see it. You're gonna say, uh oh. Uh-oh. No, I'm gonna say, oh man, they won by 50. Oh my god. Uh-oh. Watch. Never seen a team win by 50 in play. Derek White is not not looking the same. You're gonna you're gonna see it. You're gonna see it. That's that's my take. Watch. Watch, watch. Brand Brandon knows I'm I'm telling the truth. He's gonna come on, and Brandon's gonna back me up. He's gonna co-sign everything that I'm saying. I'm looking at him backstage. He's gonna co-sign everything that I'm saying. All right, okay. Let's move on to the next series. We're gonna see if somebody has an upset in this one, setting this thing off right. We've got the New York Knicks versus the uh, who we got? The Knicks versus the Atlanta Hawks. Okay. We got your guy that used to be with um the Warriors, that's now with the Hawks. They got rid of Trey Young. Now they're looking like an entirely different team than they were before. So the Hawks used to be the play-in Hawks. Uh now they're the sixth seed Hawks. So they've made a big leap in improvement. In New York, New York, I can see people picking this as an upset because they have been looking shaky. And uh the Hawks are athletic. Diego, judging by your jersey, I wonder where you're going with this.

SPEAKER_08 25:26

Yeah, Brunson uh again. I'm gonna go with the Knicks. You know, they got they got Brunson. Okay. You know, um, he usually always puts the team on his back first round, and um, you don't need that much help. So, I mean, it's gonna be what it be. And uh the Hawks aren't used to playing outside of the play-in. Okay. So I think that it might take them a little while to get adjusted. I still think they'll get two games because you know, Brunson, I don't know if he can sweep, you know, play, play well, just four straight games sweep. But I think the Hawks will make his year because they do have some talent. They got Jalen Johnson and he's get gotten a million triple doubles this year, and Kaminga's giving the Gundam a boost. I wonder which team he could have helped. Yeah, but I know, man. I know, I know. But yeah, I'll go with the Nixon six.

SPEAKER_02 26:07

Okay, all right. Nick Nixon six. Okay, that's right. Nixon six.

SPEAKER_11 26:10

All right, okay. What you got, Sims? I actually got the upset. I got the Hawks, but in all fairness, if they don't, it don't it's gonna go, it's gonna go the the distance or the full um um seven games.

SPEAKER_02 26:23

So this is involved because I know you thought I was going to volleyball. You still basketball.

SPEAKER_11 26:28

But see, what you got what you gotta do is right, and I like how you try to hop on my thing and stuff, right? You you really want to hop on my pick and stuff, but that's fine. Uh but what you gotta look at is a couple things. Like you said, the gentleman that they got from the War they got rid of Kaminga, thank you, and Trey Young, yeah, leaving. Yep, it's a whole different team now, and you can see it because of what they did uh come close to the second uh the second half of the season, yeah, and there's how they have been progressing more and playing more as a team. That sixth seed traditionally has always been kind of a shaky one. You said yourself, Knicks have been kind of up and down all season, yeah, right? And now you're still trying to see and feel, and they, you know, in the natural progression in the NBA, you reach to this point, then you start to go back down. I think the Knicks are on their way down, and I think this is the prime thing to start to try to show it and stuff. So uh I you know, I I don't even look at it as I kind of stepping out there on a limb. I I I just think we should be shocked if they if they they they take them out. Again, if they don't take them out, they take them to full length. I guarantee you. I guarantee you.

SPEAKER_02 27:36

Yeah, no, I I agree with a lot of what you said. Um, you know, I do feel like the Knicks are on the way down. I mean you you can tell by the way they played in a lot of games this this season, especially I equate them a lot to how the Hornets look this season. The big games when the money was really on the table, they did not look good. And if you look at the Knicks throughout this season and like the big games, they did not look good. Um so I think they're they're gonna struggle in this. I feel that this series will go seventh. Uh, but I am sticking with I'm going with the Knicks in this one. Um, I could see it being an upset. I wouldn't be shocked, but I'm picking the Knicks in seven. But I do think this is gonna go the duration because I think the the Hawks, the way that the Hawks are playing right now, I feel that they pose a bad matchup for the Knicks. Yes. And they're gonna, they're they're gonna they're gonna struggle.

SPEAKER_11 28:32

Yes, that's a good that's a good point. And I and I just think even if the Knicks come out of this, they go to cover because again, when you get into this stuff, it's how you come out of that. Yeah, the series.

SPEAKER_10 28:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_11 28:43

Uh, you know, healthy, you all rejuvenate, you ain't all beat down. This is one of those series that even if they get out of this, I think that whoever they get at, you know, that next opponent is gonna be it's gonna be rough.

SPEAKER_02 28:55

Yeah, yeah, I can definitely see that. All right, okay. Well, let's go to the next one, the last one in the east. We've got the Cleveland Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell, uh, James Harden, the beard. We got the whole crew there. Uh uh might be LeBron's destination, LeBron and Bronny's destination next year. We'll see. But um, they are playing the Raptors, okay? And uh four or five matchup. Cavs have home field, home turf. Diego, what happens in this one, man?

SPEAKER_08 29:24

Yeah, Cavs are gonna sweep the Raptors. Um, yeah, playoff Mitchell always plays well in the playoffs, obviously. And and he's got some help. Got James Harden in the second round. So James Harden should give him some help in this first round. And I think with playoff, playoff Mitchell with another star next to him, I think that creates for uh a good first round. And the Raptors, you know, they're the Raptors, so um, yeah, calves, calves all day. Sweep.

SPEAKER_02 29:53

Sweep. They're gonna sweep Scotty Barnes.

SPEAKER_08 29:56

No tucks, just sweep. Wow, Scotty Barnes.

SPEAKER_02 30:02

Dang, okay. So they're gonna go from one of the most underachieving teams to now sweeping people in the first round. What they do. Okay. All right.

SPEAKER_11 30:12

I got Cleveland. Also, I don't know how to sweep uh, I think Raptors will pull out one game. But um Harding with Jays Hardy on the team, he's gonna win you maybe one series, but after that, because uh after this matchup, I think they'll play the Pistons and you can go ahead and stick a fork in them. All right, just fry it up, flip it over, or whatever, right? Add it to a baloney sandwich.

SPEAKER_02 30:38

You got something tasty. Yeah.

SPEAKER_11 30:40

Cavs are gone.

West Bracket Starts With Thunder

SPEAKER_02 30:42

Ah, man. Yeah, yeah, I I do agree with that. Um, yeah, and I I have the Cavs winning this one as well. I have the Cavs winning this in six. So I think Toronto, yeah, yeah. I have them winning in. Two then. Yeah, yeah. I think Toronto will get two games uh in in this series. They're gonna be hyped to be back in the playoffs. They haven't been there in a while. They have a great home court advantage. They're gonna have Drake and all of them in the building. I know they've already dressed up his seats, you know, next to the bench and everything, got the ice dripping from it for his new album and all that. So no, they they're they're gonna be hyped, they're they're gonna be hyped, they're gonna get a couple games off of this. I think Hardin and uh Mitchell uh pull this out, but um the Raptors are gonna take their pound of flesh on this one from them. So I think they they get this one in six. So let us know the outcome in this one in the comments. All right. Okay, let's move on to the West. Let's move on to the West. We've got the Thunder and Suns, uh, OKC. Man, um, you know, Thunder have rolled through this this season, had an amazing season. Phoenix Suns, we know what they've done. Uh many people did not see them being in the playoffs with, you know, the fact that they shipped off KD, the direction that that organization was going, but they've uh bounced back, started to turn things around. And uh Diego, how do you have this series turning out?

SPEAKER_08 32:04

Yeah, I think this is gonna be a close sweep. It's gonna be a sweep. The Thunder are gonna sweep the Suns, but the Suns will, I think there'll be about two games where they play them tight. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_10 32:14

Okay.

SPEAKER_08 32:15

But uh I know SGA is mid out the first game, I think. So um, yeah, I think they're they're gonna play them pretty good, but I think the Thunder will still sweep them.

SPEAKER_02 32:25

Okay, okay, close sweep. So I heard that I know first things first, they used that um with the Lakers Nuggets, I think a couple years ago. They were using that analogy as a close sweep. Yeah, because it was a sweep, but every game was competitive and you know it's like close sweep. So I like that, but you just kind of calmly slid some in there. You said something about SGA not playing?

SPEAKER_08 32:50

Yeah, I was checking, I think SGA is out for the first game, or he's at least a game decision.

SPEAKER_02 32:55

Yeah, okay. Yeah, we gotta yeah, yeah, yeah. Fact go to ESPN. Don't don't don't be looking at Instagram. Yeah, let's go to go go to a main source.

SPEAKER_08 33:04

Hey hey, Brent, Brandon. He's rule he's ruled out for these for Sunday's game. He's ruled out for Sunday's game? ESPN? Yeah, yes, yeah, yeah, he is, he is. It was announced seven a week ago though, but still. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 33:17

Are you sure?

SPEAKER_08 33:17

That's what it says.

SPEAKER_02 33:18

Brandon, fact check that. We need another source here because we're doing this live. I need another source on SGA not playing. That's what it says.

SPEAKER_08 33:26

Unless they played the Suns.

SPEAKER_02 33:27

Would have seen that before if that was the thing. So I don't know. Seemed like that'd be a bigger headline.

SPEAKER_08 33:32

Oh.

SPEAKER_02 33:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 33:34

Oh, they played the Suns the last game of the game. Yeah, no, okay. That's what I'm saying. Never mind. Okay, yeah, yeah. Okay, that's what I thought. Okay, but it's like we would have heard that. I still said the SGA oblique is out versus the Suns.

SPEAKER_02 33:46

I thought that was low man.

SPEAKER_08 33:48

So never mind. It's still gonna be a sweep, but yeah, it'll still be a close sweep. I still stand by.

SPEAKER_02 33:52

Close sweep. Okay. Yeah. All right. Sales, what you got in this one, man?

SPEAKER_11 33:57

The sons might as well go and put on a pair of sunglasses because uh that bright light is not going to be getting out. Yeah. Yeah, going up under the shade, Thunder Wheel sweep them.

SPEAKER_02 34:07

Yeah, let me go on and hold on. Let me change my hat for the rest of the show. For the rest of the show here, move to the mic. Yeah, so yep, sons, it was great. I had a good time. I was there last year visiting Brianna, our pick and pros correspondent. Had a great time seeing y'all, love y'all. But now it's time to switch the hat. So we're gonna move on over. Yeah, yeah. This is uh OKC time. So yeah, the Thunder. The Thunder will take care of business in this game.

SPEAKER_11 34:37

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 34:37

Um, but I'm actually I'm gonna say five. So as the final shout out to the Suns, I'm gonna say that uh the Suns get one. The Suns get one game, but uh Thunder take care of business and five in this one. All right, okay. Well, let's move on to the next one. So, next one we've got the Spurs. We got um Sims Wemby led Spurs, all right, playing the Portland Trail Blazers here. So the Spurs have shocked the world and are clearly a year or two early in their ascension, and many people have them going to the finals. Some many people have them winning the whole championship. So the the Spurs are doing big things, shocking people. The Blazers are also shocking people because I don't think anybody thought that they would actually make the final eight and not even make the final eight, but make it as a seventh seed. I don't think anybody started, especially the way the season started, yeah, with Chauncey Bills being in the FBI pro and like it just this is a huge, huge shock there. Um, I don't think anybody's still seen uh Scooter um play.

SPEAKER_08 35:44

That's great because Wendy and Scooter, they're facing off against each other. That's right.

SPEAKER_02 35:48

That's right. The one and two pick one. That's a great debate. There was actually a debate if Scooter should have gone number one over Wemby. So that was that was funny. But uh yeah, man, what's your take on this series, Diego?

SPEAKER_08 36:01

Yeah, I mean, trouble is they've had a great run, you know, um with dealing with all the adversity, but I think the Spurs are gonna sweep them. That's gonna do the Thunder. Yeah. Yeah, I just I I just yeah, I just can't see I just can't see them getting a game, you know. I just I just can't really see it. So yeah, I'm going with the Spurs and a sweep.

SPEAKER_02 36:20

Okay, Spurs and a sweep. Is is it a close sweep or is it just a sweep?

SPEAKER_08 36:24

Uh I think it's probably just gonna be a sweep.

SPEAKER_02 36:25

Just a sweep.

SPEAKER_08 36:27

They might play them tight for like one game, but it's gonna be it's gonna be three blowouts and one close traditional sweep.

SPEAKER_02 36:33

Yeah, okay, right, or original. This is not an OG sweep. Regular Buffalo wing to sit in lemon pepper or barbecue or any other flavors, just straight up traditional regular wind. Straight up sweep. Okay.

SPEAKER_11 36:44

All right. I'm going to give uh I'll I'll I'll just I'll give Trailblazers maybe one game, but at the end of the day, um the Spurs are in this mindset right now, and that's what's going to elevate them through this. Is that okay, now nobody expects us to be here. They talk about us that we're way, like you just said, way ahead of schedule, and we shouldn't even be sitting here. And they're gonna use that and ride off of that. Because again, I I saw them when they played the pistons, they got some dogs on that team. And um, I just think that they're gonna, you know, now it's time to eat your food. Trailblazers is some food, time to munch it up. Man, so they're gonna they I think they're gonna dig in, chew it all up, and then go on to the next meal.

SPEAKER_02 37:28

But if if Wimby is the the generational talent that you've been saying, yes, and is the MVP and all these things, how are they gonna lose the game in this series? I don't understand how that is possible, Mike.

SPEAKER_11 37:40

That just comes down from the front office, as they say. We need to go in on that. That's what that is, that's all it is. We need to keep the TV ratings up a little bit. We need to help take care of a couple sponsors. Y'all know what to do. Let them get one in.

SPEAKER_02 37:54

We need this check from from from the game five home uh rep revenue. That's right. Ticket sales.

SPEAKER_11 38:00

Okay, just keep that goal. That's all that is.

SPEAKER_02 38:02

Okay, all right. I got you, I got you. Well, I I have the Spurs and five as well with this one. So uh not much else.

SPEAKER_11 38:09

You gotta keep some sponsors up too, dear.

Nuggets Wolves The Best Series

SPEAKER_02 38:11

Yeah, yeah. Shout out to Pure Green Eclipse. Yes, thank you for the love. That's it. Shout out, Pure Green, yes, yes, yes. Stay healthy, y'all. Um, but uh yeah, but hey, for for the Blazers, I do have to give them a shout out on their uh Red Road Jordan edition, our city edition jerseys. Those things are fire. Oh my goodness. Yeah, they're red with the black, the black logo on it, and everything. I love that contrast. So we're working on our pick and pros gear. I can already tell you our our 27 edition gear is gonna be that. It's gonna be the red with the black letter and on it. It's gonna be hot. So already talking to Ben Jeanette, shout out to him. One of our designers already working on some of that stuff. So we all gonna get red scooter jerseys. That's right. That's right, that's right. Uh, love it, love it. All right, okay. So let's move on to the next one, y'all. We got oh man, this one's gonna be a good one. This is gonna be a good one. This is I I would say arguably. Nah, this is gonna be the best series of of the first round for for sure. For sure. Once I say what a rival it is when once when y'all see how the Sixers are are repping, then that's gonna end up being one because like, oh my goodness. But for now, we'll say Nuggets and uh Wolves. This was gonna be great, man. We got um, we got Ant-Man here, we got Joker, Jamal Murray, uh Nuggets of the 3C. They've got home home court. They're mad because the Wolves have knocked them out before, but the Nuggets have knocked them out, so they've both knocked each other out in previous years. But the Nuggets have the chip. Wolves don't have one. Diego, how does this one play out?

SPEAKER_08 39:51

Yeah, I think I'm gonna go with the T-Wolves in seven. I think they're gonna knock off the Nuggets. Um, uh first round, Ant-Man always goes crazy. And um, yeah, you know, especially when he's always gone against big stars in that first matchup. And even in the regular season, he's turned it up a notch at 20 29 a game, like not playing around. Um, so I think Ant-Man is gonna show wise, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 40:17

Okay, for sure. Wow. All right, yeah. Timberwolves in seven, knocking out Nuggets, Joker. Yeah, many have him as MVP. Okay.

SPEAKER_08 40:27

He's not the MVP. All right, it's G A.

SPEAKER_02 40:30

Okay, all right, okay, all right.

SPEAKER_11 40:32

Sims, what you got in the Nuggets. I'm going nuggets. Um, you know, let's look at it. They got the real last what six, seven year MVP that's on the team, actually on the Nuggets team. Or Joker, we all really want to know everybody knows, but he should have won it multiple times. But what's going to happen, what you will see take place, because everybody's expected as we talked about the tiers, you start to shift, you start to go up or down. If you notice though, Joker has actually even risen up his game. And he, as it's been close, coming out to the end of the year here, I think he's getting rejuvenated with this competition that's going on. And right now, he knows he's getting compared right now, him and Ant-Man, and he loves him. Yeah. I think at the end of the day, when we get right on down to it, Ant still ain't there to boost that team over the top. Is that good? I'm not saying Ant ain't good. Ant the man, right? But Joker still the Joker. Okay. And I think he's on, you know, can you say Ant-Man makes the team better as much as Joker makes his team better? We start talking about assists, those things. Yeah, I think so.

SPEAKER_08 41:41

Well, I mean, that's the thing. Overall, I think it's in the energy too. Like, he just so he just gives that team belief. Like, I think where where would the T-Wolves be without? I think it's kind of similar. You can say, where would the Nuggets be without Joker? I think you can also put Ant-Man in that same conversation.

SPEAKER_11 41:56

So who's gonna wheel whose team over? I think Joker did it. He knows what buttons to push. Uh Ant-Man's trying to get there. I still don't think he's he's there yet. I don't think he's there yet.

SPEAKER_02 42:09

So Diego makes an interesting point about first round Ant-Man. First round Ant-Man is uh he's a beast, he's legendary. Um, and even second round is is nice. I mean, second round they beat, they beat the Nuggets in seven. Um, won that seventh game in Denver uh before, with uh with you know both teams being full strength. The Wolves are constructed to match up very well with the Nuggets. Uh they've got the size, they've got Gobert, um, they've got Nas, you know, coming off. So they have that size to bang with Joker. They've got defenders, they've got length. They, I mean, you know, structurally, they're they're very solid and I feel are a problem for you know pretty much every team in the West when when they're they're at their best. It's just they seem to run out of gas as they get in the in the later rounds from from what what I see with the the way that they that that they play. So this is a tough one, man. Um I'm a side with Diego. I'm going, and y'all know how I do when when the when the wolves do anything, I start to get excited. All right. So I'm going wolves and seven as well. I had that written down on my card.

SPEAKER_10 43:20

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 43:20

Yes. Yep. I had them in seven, had them in seven right there. Yeah, right there. So I'm going, I'm going wolves and seven with this one.

SPEAKER_11 43:28

Should I get y'all at the end of this? So I get y'all Denver Nuggets wallets.

SPEAKER_02 43:33

Uh yeah. Well, I I have so full disclosure, I have Nuggets gear. I have Denver Nuggets shorts. Okay. I have a real nice throwback. Um, but no, I'll I'll bring that in. A warm up. I got a Denver Nuggets warm-up jacket. Okay. I've got a Joker t shirt. Oh God, you got all the gear. And and I have a Nuggets t shirt. So I have four pieces of Nuggets gear because on on the run when they won the championship. I was the one that called it out and said they were gonna win that year. So on the show, I was wearing all the Nuggets stuff. So I have all my stuff packed and it's ready to come out at any time.

SPEAKER_08 44:09

I mean, either you're talking about the Nuggets, Gary. You got uh T-Wolves, Gary, you got the Phoenix hat right there. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 44:18

I have most of the West covered. Yeah, most of the West covered. Yeah, yeah, most of them covered.

SPEAKER_08 44:25

And then you have Warriors, probably.

SPEAKER_02 44:27

Uh I'm sure I've got something. Warriors. Yeah, I've got Warriors. Yeah, yeah, I have Grizzlies from back in the day. They can have Jazz. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, I got Jazz. That's actually from Sims. I'd have a throwback Malone uh jersey. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yes. Yes, yes, yes. Mailman. Shout out to the mailman. Yes, for sure, for sure. So yeah, I got all that stuff. Well, what I don't have is the Spurs. Uh, I don't have the Spurs, but that's fine, because I don't I don't think I really need any Spurs gear. I think I'm okay with that.

SPEAKER_10 44:59

Oh gosh.

SPEAKER_11 45:01

I remember that now.

SPEAKER_10 45:03

I remember that.

Lakers Rockets Old Man Bowl

SPEAKER_02 45:04

I don't have any Spurs gear. I don't have any Lakers gear. I don't need any of that. So I don't have to worry about any of those things. So I'm good on those. All right. All right. Okay, well, let's move on to the uh last round one matchup here before we move into the awards and then finish off with the finals and Brandon. So we've got the Lakers and Rockets. This is the old man bowl here. Um, LeBron, um, you know, take your son to work. You know, we got got Brianny on the squad. He's gonna get some playoff minutes. So that'll be uh interesting to see. Uh KD, although I did see a report, uh, well, he's got some knee issues or something. He's questionable for game one. I'm sure he's gonna play, but they're they're reporting that, you know, I think he tweaks something in practice there. So uh I'm just kind of getting that getting that out there. But uh Diego, how do you see this one going?

SPEAKER_08 45:54

Yeah, I'm I'm gonna go with the Lakers in seven. Yeah, um, my thing is I know I know they're not without Luca or Asteries right now, but but they they'll be back later in the series. And the reason I'm I'm still picking them is because they have the home court advantage. So I think all you need to do is get one of these first two games. They get one of these first two, and I think they're set for the rest of the series. And I think then they got LeBron to to put the team on his back and and carry them. And you know, then once Luca and Austin Reeves come in later, I think they'll that's when they'll really start cooking. So yeah.

SPEAKER_02 46:29

Luca has a grade two hamstring, right? He's yes, so he'll be back.

SPEAKER_08 46:34

He he's game to Europe movement anyway, so he can just play with a with a torn hammy, whatever it is, and be fine. He's all he does is that step back three the whole game. Oh man, that is not like he's cross people up and dunking and all that. Right. All he needs is that one move. So he's all good.

SPEAKER_02 46:53

Wow, okay. All right, Sims, what you got?

SPEAKER_11 46:55

Too much, man. It's way too much. Uh uh Diego just said that uh LeBron's gonna put the team on his back. Um, first of all, you gotta have a back to be able to put your team on. You can't put the team on a walker. Hey, yeah. Like now he's on the walker.

SPEAKER_10 47:10

41 years old. 41 years old.

SPEAKER_11 47:13

He is, he is. I agree. You make him my argument. You know, he goes, right? This playoff do it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I can see it right now. How long the walker with you guys? Yeah. I I got I got Houston. They might, you know, Lakers might get one, maybe two, one, maybe two, but in the end of the day, it's gonna be Houston. Because they got K KD over there, he's an old man too, but they got too many other players, yeah, younger ones, who are effective with Austin Reeds and Lukeout. That's just too much. Yeah, I just think because again, we everybody got a you we in playoff mode now. We ain't regular season mode. We in playoff mode. And I just think that that's just uh you're gonna see you're gonna see a game, right, out of Braun where everybody's gonna be like Braun, he yo, he back up. You can't you can't hold that up. You saw during the season, you can't hold it up like that no more.

SPEAKER_02 48:01

No, and I say if Austin Reeves and Luca are not coming back, I don't even think you see one game out of LeBron.

SPEAKER_11 48:09

Wow.

SPEAKER_02 48:10

Because who are they gonna put on LeBron? They're gonna put a mere top, they're gonna put Thompson. They're gonna put him in. Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 48:16

Hey, LeBron, this is uh farewell tour of um play of playoff basketball, and he can just see with one last time.

SPEAKER_02 48:26

Udoka's one of the best defensive coaches in the NBA. Hey. So, yeah, they they're gonna put size athleticism on him. Just like that's why the the Timberwolves ran over them last year, that they were able to put your guy that used to be with the Knicks, um, that's with the Timberwolves. Um, you know what I'm talking about? Oh, you're talking about Townsend? No, not Timothy.

SPEAKER_08 48:47

No, not Thompson, um Di Vincenzo? No, the the po the power forward. Oh, cat. Oh, not cat.

SPEAKER_02 48:53

Um, I'm looking at him too. Uh I know. He used to be with the Knicks. He, you know, would take all the bad shots. The power forward for uh for the Timberwolves. Randall. Randle. Julius Randle. Julius Randle. They had Julius Randle because Julius Randle was a big body. LeBron can play bully ball against certain people. As long as you put a body that can move where he can't play. Any kind of size on it, any kind of way he does it, yeah. That that's over. Yeah. So if they're gonna put some size on him, and then the other issue that they're gonna have is I'm probably gonna change mine because I had Rockets in six. I'm probably gonna change the at least, probably might be a sweep now. Because the more I talk about it, because also, also, your guy down low, um, Turkish dude, they're not gonna be able to stop him at all.

SPEAKER_08 49:37

Just like how you do go DeAndre Aiton.

unknown 49:40

Who?

SPEAKER_08 49:40

DeAndre Ayton. Yeah, right. Right. Okay, number one pick.

SPEAKER_02 49:44

Yeah, former number one pick, plays no defense. No, no Shangun. Shangoon, also known as by Perk uh baby joker, is gonna back him, back him. He's gonna play bootyball. He's gonna play old school bootyball and back him down and be getting little three-footers all day long against him.

SPEAKER_08 50:03

That's all cool because Luca's gonna come back. So it's uh all this stuff isn't even gonna matter. All these points are. Okay, that's all I want to say. How's Luca coming back? Luca coming, he I'm telling you, he needs one unathletic move. He doesn't need the hamstring. Man, okay. All right, all right.

SPEAKER_11 50:18

Luca coming back to that bitch to cheer him on. Exactly. That's all he needs. That's it. Say do it up, Bronny. Do it up, Bronny.

SPEAKER_10 50:28

Okay, and we have Bronny too. Yeah. Yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_11 50:32

You know where he mentioned the Bronny, you know we heard. That's right. We heard him mentioned Bronny. This is time to sign. That's why you know this is the end.

SPEAKER_10 50:40

We're probably getting all these minutes like a G League order. Oh, yeah, horse picks out.

NBA Awards And 65 Game Debate

SPEAKER_02 50:48

We'll see. Let's move all bad. All right, so we're gonna get to the NBA awards and then the finals here. So, NBA awards, man. 65-game rule here. Um then, but now they're making exceptions. So that's really interesting. So now, because we talked about this before, I think there were some people that were out of it. So now everybody's in it. Cade is in it, so that might change Sims uh mind. Cade is in it, Luca's in it, everybody but Ant Man is in it. And Ant probably had the most uh legit reason to get the exception. He's the one that didn't get the exception.

SPEAKER_11 51:21

So well, did Wimby get one? Oh, he had enough games.

SPEAKER_02 51:24

Well, when Wimby had enough games, yeah, yeah. He got 65 on the note. Okay, okay, yeah, okay, yeah. He had exactly 65.

SPEAKER_10 51:31

I thought he was at 64. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 51:32

Yeah, yeah. That was K. He played enough minutes or yeah, it was something there, but yeah, he he he got in. Um, but K got the exception, and Luca got the exception. So, Jaygo, what do you think of the um the rule not kind of being a rule anymore? And uh does that change MVP?

SPEAKER_08 51:51

Yeah, I don't agree with them making exceptions for it. Obviously, I think and even it doesn't even have to be 65, just have have it be something like even if you have to bring it down, and maybe if it's like 60 or 58 games. I know like to get the scoring tile, you have to play like at least 58 games. So maybe they just bring it down to 58 so you can have more people. But um, yeah, and I I don't think it should um impact the MVP, but I I don't even think so, because I don't think Cade, Cade or Luca is gonna win it anyway. So um I guess it can take people's votes away, but yeah, I yeah, I don't think they should be making sense.

SPEAKER_02 52:28

So you you you don't agree with the exceptions and you still have SGA?

SPEAKER_08 52:32

Yeah, I still have SGA winning.

SPEAKER_02 52:33

Okay. All right, still got SGA. All right. What about you, Sams? What do you think about the rule and who do you have winning MVP?

SPEAKER_11 52:39

So I'm gonna talk out of two sides of my neck here. That's what they call it.

SPEAKER_02 52:43

Okay.

SPEAKER_11 52:44

I actually agree with the 65 rule, but I I'm okay with the exceptions because again, in cage, I mean it was a collapsed lung. If we all look at how, you know, they put that in place for guys to to play uh pretty much. And uh, you know, when I mean he couldn't, his lung was collapsed.

SPEAKER_09 53:07

Right?

SPEAKER_11 53:07

And then in uh uh was it uh Lucas K who went overseas? Yeah, Luca. Because his uh his child was born. Right, his kid was born. Come on, you know, come on, right? Two days or whatever that he went over. So I I think you still should, you know, bring it up in front of a you know uh uh you know non-partial board and they take a look at it and make exceptions. So I'm fine with the actual exceptions, but still keeping the 65-game uh rule.

SPEAKER_10 53:34

Okay, okay, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_11 53:36

Um I'm still I I think Wimby kind of dropped off a little bit down there towards the end. They had something to do with the the the the the injuries. Uh I'm still not and and a lot of people probably think I'll be looking at K, but I think SGA is probably is still in the lead right now.

SPEAKER_02 53:54

Hey, all right.

SPEAKER_11 53:56

This is this is this is this is this is a pick of pros show. This ain't drink this ain't a drinking Kool-Aid show.

SPEAKER_02 54:03

Hey, we need Joe, we need some confetti to fall on the sink, man. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_11 54:09

At the point in time that I I I said that, Wimby Wim Wimby was rolling. Yeah, that was it. Okay, true, true, true. That was it.

SPEAKER_02 54:17

And then he missed a couple games after that. That is correct. That is correct. And it started out, you know. Okay.

SPEAKER_11 54:22

Um we're gonna talk about some picks and some other you know, uh wars here and there and stuff, but okay, but yeah.

SPEAKER_02 54:29

Yeah, yeah. So yeah, I I don't agree with the exceptions at all. I I don't care why you missed the game. I don't even think that's relevant. It's just did you play the games? I mean, okay, yeah. Great that you had a team exception to go for, you know, witness the birth of your child, but you were suspended some games from getting 16 techs. So those are games you could have played.

SPEAKER_00 54:50

So like you have enough for load management. Right, right.

SPEAKER_02 54:53

So you have enough of a buffer. So it doesn't matter that, oh, okay, so you you load manage some games, but oh, I had these other games where I would have been able to play, so that would have counted to my 65. Like that's that's the whole, that's that's why it's not an 82-game rule. It's a 65-game rule to account for whatever exceptions you want to have.

SPEAKER_07 55:13

Right.

SPEAKER_02 55:13

Those are your exceptions. Yeah, so you have, you know, whatever that number, 82 minus 65, right? So what 17? Whatever. You you you've got 17 exceptions already there. Right. So I don't care what it is. So what? So somebody has an amazing five games and then something happens and they can't play the rest of the year, then we're gonna let somebody be the MVP because they had the most amazing five games we've ever seen in the world. Like, this is this is getting ridiculous. I don't care. So yeah, that's that's just the weirdest thing. And to me, the other thing is to pet peeve were just athletes in general. And I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone when I hear all these athletes talk about how you know the 65 route game is so unfair. I'm like, you already live in a fantasy land, right? You already live, you're already not living in reality. Right. Okay, yeah. So now here it is, one of the rules that's actually like real world stuff, and now we're gonna go ahead and remove that just to make sure that you know you can be eligible for post-game awards. It's it's just it's the craziest thing ever when I hear when I hear it, man. So yeah, that's that's my take on that. And of course, I got SGA for MVP. Yeah, so let's uh wrap this one up with coach of the year because we already know Wimby's defensive player of the year. We already know that. Oh, yeah, it's no debate on that. And I think we all probably got Cooper Flag for rookie of the year, especially seeing what's happened with Kanipple and whatnot.

SPEAKER_11 56:34

That's what, yeah, yeah. I I I had them kind of neck and neck, but that that hurt. I agree. I agree, that hurt.

SPEAKER_02 56:41

Yeah, yeah. So we're all there. But culture the year.

SPEAKER_11 56:44

That's the easy one, too. We already okay.

SPEAKER_10 56:49

Sorry, okay. JP Bukestack.

SPEAKER_11 56:55

That's isn't that what everybody has? I would have assumed it would have. Right?

SPEAKER_02 57:00

That's what I picked, too. That's who you picked? Yeah, I picked it. Oh, yeah. Look at them. Okay, look at there.

SPEAKER_11 57:04

Somebody's drinking pure green.

SPEAKER_02 57:06

Yeah, well, I I do have JB. Technically. But technically, I would be fine if it was co. You know, people have like a half a vote. Yeah, I I would be fine if there was actually co-coach of the year. But I think that's really what it is. But if it has to be one, I would say JB. So I would give it to him if he has it. But I think I think, yeah, I think Joe Mazzoula, though, has a very strong case for Coach of the Year. I mean, did anybody think the Boston Celtics were gonna be second seed this year? Like, I think that's that's been without Tatum and everything. And, you know, that's that's the where I I struggled with that because I, you know, wanted to give it to Joe, but I'm I'm going JB.

SPEAKER_08 57:52

That that is a that that's debatable.

SPEAKER_02 57:54

Okay.

SPEAKER_08 57:54

But I'd still go JB. But it's debatable. That's that's fine. Yeah, all right, okay. All right. Outraged if someone said Missoula.

Finals Picks And Dynasty Talk

SPEAKER_02 58:01

Okay, all right. I would be outraged. Well, let's let's we'll give our finals prediction. Okay, who is in the finals and then who wins it, Diego? So who's who's your NBA finals matchup?

SPEAKER_08 58:17

Yeah, I got the Thunder uh reigning champs versus the Boston Celtics. So the last two champions, actually. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, and and I I got the Thunder to win it. Um SPA is a finals MVP. So cement themselves as a up-and-coming, as a as a up-and-coming dynasty fully. Because all these teams, the Nuggets, the Celtics, all these teams, we said all that they're definitely going back to back, and they haven't done it. And then they haven't really been close to winning the championship since. Right. Thunder, if they go back to back, then this will cement them as being the next up-and-coming dynasty NBA.

SPEAKER_11 58:51

Okay. All right. What you got, Sims? I mean, since I'm the only person here that has made a recent pick, especially the Final Four, 64 teams. Yeah, uh, I don't want to emphasize my genius on making that pick of Michigan as I go into these NBA picks here. So uh, in case anybody wants to write it down, and you know you want to go on and make your place your vets, you're going to see the San Antonio Spurs against the Detroit Pistons. Now, watch this. The San Antonio Spurs will win and beat the Detroit Pistons.

SPEAKER_02 59:31

Woo, woo. So the Spurs go from not being in the playoffs to winning, winning the entire championship against the Pistons. Okay. All right. All right. Well, I like you, Mike, I do have the Detroit Pistons. Yes, Detroit family. I have the Detroit Pistons going to the NBA finals. Yes, I do. All right. Uh, because you know, the way this is this um will unfold, the Celtics are gonna get shocked in the first round, and then they they might be in the Giannis sweep stakes. Who knows? Uh after this uh collapse. So they're gonna get knocked out in the first round, okay? Then you're gonna have the the Sixers in that second round, all right. But then they're gonna you got the Knicks in there. Okay. I think the Knicks pose actually bad matchup is gonna ultimately be Knicks Pistons. Pistons will beat the Knicks. I think that's how that's the the Pistons road to the NBA finals. Out in the West, Timberwolves uh have them beating the Nuggets, all right. So the Timberwolves will face the Spurs, okay? Okay, and then the Timberwolves and Ant-Man is gonna go ahead and knock Wimby out. They're gonna be the ones that are gonna be, so they won't even get to OKC. All right.

SPEAKER_10 1:00:51

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:52

OKC is gonna go ahead and cruise through, all right, their first two rounds. They will get into the Western Conference Finals by then. Ant-Man will be tired as always and beat up. OKC will roll through there. They will play the Pistons. It will be the OKC Thunder, Detroit Pistons, Midwest Showdown, NBA Finals. OKC wins the championship. SGA is also MVP back to back there and uh cements himself. So that's how the NBA finals will shake out. It was a synopsis. Yeah, yeah. Y'all gave you the whole thing. Ran it all down, ran it all down. Not just gonna give you finals, ran it all down. All right.

SPEAKER_08 1:01:31

I don't need to do I'll I'll I'll make my other picks when it's time to make them. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_02 1:01:35

Okay, okay. Well, yeah, I just gave you the whole player.

SPEAKER_08 1:01:39

If these picks don't work out, then see me, uh no one knows what my second and third round picks are. You know what I mean? Except for the Thunder and the Celtics. I mean, yeah, I bought myself something.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:49

I'm so confident in my, I just laid out the entire you know, I I actually ruined it for everyone. So I apologize. I actually ruined it for everybody because I told you exactly how so it's a spoiler alert. So we're gonna might have to block this on the internet to make sure because I don't want us to get sued by Amazon Prime and all the sponsors, because I just ruined it for everybody. So actually disregard that. It might just be the complete opposite of what you're saying, right?

Brandon Joins With Full Bracket

SPEAKER_11 1:02:15

Right, just to say kind of who he picked, Arkansas, Arizona?

SPEAKER_02 1:02:22

All right, what's up? What's up, Brandon? What's going on? All right, all right, man. Welcome back to the show, man. NBA final uh NBA playoffs time. So that first game is uh tipping off right now. So we're gonna get to that here soon, man. But wanted to uh just get you on here. Uh, I know you gave you know your picks throughout the show, so thanks for posting those. But let's uh start, man, with um let's go. The two things that we want to get from you is your take on the 65-game rule, um, your um MVP, coach of the year, and then who is gonna be in the NBA Finals. So let's start with 65-game rule. Do you agree with the exceptions?

SPEAKER_03 1:03:04

Um yes, because of who they gave it to. Like, I feel like the best players this year have been, you know, Luca, Cade, Shay, Wimby, you know, and Jokic. So I feel like if you take Luca and Cade out, the biggest question was, okay, who do you replace him with? And then are their seasons comparable to Luca and Cade seasons? So it was like, yes, Jalen Brown had a if you replace him with like Jalen Brown, yes, Jalen Brown has a case for that. But then after Jalen Brown, who would have been the other guy? Would have been, you know, Donovan Mitchell, would have been, you know, Brunson, you know, who would have been like that other person, that other player. I feel like like you said, it could have been Ant, but Ant apparently didn't make the 65 game list. I if you were if if they did, I think that like if Luke and K didn't make their list, yeah, it would probably have been Ant and J B to replace them.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:16

Okay, okay. All right, so you got them there, but I think you still have SGA overall as your guy. I believe you've been saying that for yeah, SGA is my MVP, yes. Okay, all right, got him. Coach of the year, are you with uh JB like uh lot like the rest of us, or do you have somebody else? Um, I got Miss Johnson from San Antonio.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:39

Okay, okay. I got Miss Johnson from San Antonio. Yeah, I ain't mad at that.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:43

That's a good point, not mad at that.

SPEAKER_11 1:04:45

Yeah, um, I didn't even think about that. Uh yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm not mad at that.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:51

Going playing to like 61st win season, you know, beating OKC, you know, two C like now. Yes, I had JB, like JB was a close second to me. Like JB Biggers was a close second, obviously posting the 61 season. Um, I did I do notice he had Missoula's on that list as well. Yeah, but um actually I got Missoula like fourth in a roundabout way. Um actually third, I have the Raptors coach. I think um I don't think he gets like I think he gets more credit. Like I get it what the Celtics went through, but I don't think the the coach uh from the Raptors don't get nearly as credit as he should. True. Like from, you know, nobody expected the Raptors to even make the playoffs. That's true. At best, you know, they was like maybe what playing at best, and then people was questioning it would, you know. Scottie Bones and Brandon Ingram would they even work out and with the team identity and all that stuff. So for them to figure that out and to even not only be in the playoffs but be a fifth seed at that, it shows that like okay, like yeah, even though they might be not might be a glamorous team, but they've done a really good job down there in Toronto.

SPEAKER_02 1:06:27

Okay. They have done a have done a great job. Now that's a that's a sleeper pick there. Okay. And then last one we get you out of here on this, NBA finals, man. Who's who's matching up and who's winning it?

SPEAKER_03 1:06:39

Uh it's the same. I think I got I got the Thunder and the Pistons. I have OKC winning in six. I have SGA being finals MVP. Um I have, let's see, Thunder making it out. Thunder beating Suns in four. I have uh Spurs beating Blazers in four. Um I have Nuggets and seven over the Wolves. I have the Rockets and five over the Lakers. I have the Nuggets beating the Spurs out in the second round. So it'd be OKC and Denver in the conference finals after Thunder beats the Rockets out, and then obviously Thunder beating the Nuggets in seven to get to back to the finals in the West. In the East, I have Cavs and seven over the Raptors. Um I have the Pistons in six over the Magic.

SPEAKER_10 1:07:40

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 1:07:41

Um Celtics in the Sixers. I have the Celtics in six games over the Sixers.

SPEAKER_10 1:07:48

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 1:07:49

I have the Knicks in six games over the Hawks. Okay. I have Celtics over the Knicks in six games. They get them back in the rematch.

SPEAKER_10 1:08:03

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:04

I have the Pistons over the Celtics in six games in the conference finals.

SPEAKER_09 1:08:11

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:12

And that's how everybody gets in the finals. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:15

That's how the Pistons get there. Okay. All right. Ooh, that'll be a showdown. So Pistons Celtics Eastern Conference Finals?

SPEAKER_03 1:08:23

Yes, Pistons Celtics Eastern Conference Finals.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:26

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:26

All right. Okay. And Thunder Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals.

Weekend Watch Guide And Sign Off

SPEAKER_02 1:08:30

Okay. Yeah. Well, it's gonna be great to watch. Uh, we're excited. That's just tipped off. So uh we'll uh we'll get to that. Uh appreciate you, my man. Thanks for running the comments as well. And uh and yeah, we will uh see you next time, man. Thank you for your takes and everything. Yeah, and that was a great take on the uh Spurs coach, too. That was a great one. Thanks for having me. All right, all right, you bet. Thank you, Brandon. All right, all right, all right, cool, cool. All right, fellas. Well, uh man, I think we're about to get on out of here. I think this first game is um what Toronto? Toronto Cavs? Are they are they are they kicking it off? Okay, okay. They they they got the illustrious uh 1 p.m. Saturday start. That's what they got.

SPEAKER_08 1:09:17

Who else who else is on today? Um I actually think the Wolves and um Nuggets play after at 3 30. Oh, okay. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:26

Brandon actually sent it to me. So yeah, we got the because it's really, it's really, really good. Yeah, no, you're right. Yeah, so it's uh Raptors, Cavs right now, one. Then you got the Wolves and Nuggets at 3 30. Dang, so that's good. I'm gonna have to watch that. Amazon Prime. So the first three games are Amazon Prime.

SPEAKER_10 1:09:46

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:46

The 6 p.m. Eastern, these are all Eastern. 6 p.m. game is the Hawks and Knicks, Amazon Prime, Hawks and Knicks, 6 p.m. And then the nightcap, the 8.30 game is ABC, Lakers, Rockets.

SPEAKER_11 1:09:59

Oh, man, that looks like I'm gonna be, oh, I'm gonna be parked. Yeah, yeah, be parked. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:10:04

So, so get your wings out. Get all your errands done by 3.30. From 3:30 on, it's gonna be on tonight. Yeah, you got you got two and a half hours to get all your stuff done. That's a good lineup right there. Yeah, oh yeah. That's a really good lineup. First three games, Amazon Prime. Uh, last one is ABC.

SPEAKER_11 1:10:24

So I know Stephen Curry will be watching that too.

SPEAKER_02 1:10:28

Yeah, he is. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_11 1:10:29

He'll be watching right now with me.

SPEAKER_02 1:10:31

All of them.

SPEAKER_10 1:10:32

I'd be happy they found it.

SPEAKER_02 1:10:34

Well, thank thank you guys for rocking with us. We appreciate it. We will see you next time. Enjoy sports, enjoy family, enjoy the weekend. Until then, pick em pro. Pick em pro. We are out later. Thank you.

SPEAKER_06 1:11:02

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SPEAKER_06 1:11:58

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SPEAKER_01 1:12:08

Start on the right track, what if I can fold that? Don't stop ran. I'm a dance on fando. With a pair of speakers, I'm a so-eager and a phone call, feature and I fand up. When it comes to the right thing, girls like it. Then it's fancy like it. Oh, the activity is time. So I can't climb it. Wanna be on the team that elevates, then I better rate than a better weight first of heavyweight. There we go, better weight, and I'm on a better rate. I feel go, then they blow it up on a real go. Without that, we would never know what team is done and I let every total platform to be that on the find up on the door, on the stop.

SPEAKER_06 1:12:58

Make it shore, linking it for the store.