Early NBA Season True or False | Morning Shoot Around

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Athletic NBA Daily – "Early NBA Season True or False | Morning Shoot Around"

Date: November 19, 2025
Hosts: Andrew Schlecht, Dave DuFour, Zena Keita, Esfandiar Baraheni

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Overview

This episode of The Athletic NBA Daily’s “Morning Shoot Around” focused on rapid-fire “true or false” debates about the NBA’s early season trends. The hosts dig into which teams are truly the league’s best, conference strength, the pitfalls of tanking culture, and which struggling franchises most desperately need to win the upcoming draft lottery. On top of that, the episode delivers lively banter, in-depth stats discussion, and a lighter final segment with food hot takes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Are the Early NBA Season's Top 5 Teams Legit?

(Thunder, Nuggets, Rockets, Pistons, Knicks – by net rating)

• Debated List: Thunder, Nuggets, Rockets, Pistons, Knicks as the top five by net rating.
• Panel Response:
  • Most agreed: The list is close, but not quite the actual “best 5”.
  • Cavs vs. Pistons:
    • Esfandiar: “I think the Cavs should be here… over the Pistons at this point.” (05:01)
    • Injuries to Garland and experimentation with Mobley have weighed on the Cavs, but most still view them as a top squad when healthy.
    • Pistons are “rolling” despite injuries, showing a strong identity, but panel consensus leans toward Cavaliers being a more playoff-ready core.
• Notable Quote:
  • “I think the Pistons are a very good team. They’re obviously incredibly young, but I would still have the Cavs over them as the top dog.” – Host 2 (07:43)

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2. East vs. West – Which is Deeper?

• Initial Response:
  • Dave DuFour: “False.” (10:14)
  • Zena: Briefly played contrarian, but ultimately, most hosts leaned West.
• Breakdown:
  • East: Top has the Bucks, Bulls, Heat, Raptors, Magic, Celtics. Bottom is “hellfire” – Pacers, Wizards, Nets, Hornets.
  • West: Even struggling teams like the Jazz, Kings, Mavericks, Grizzlies, Clippers have competitive rosters.
  • Competitive Games: West’s bottom teams play many close games; East’s bottom is mostly “blowouts.”
• Notable Quotes:
  • “The east right now because of those saddlebags… that automatically erases the entire argument for the East.” – Host 1 (12:00)
  • “Those aren’t even basketball teams at this point.” – Host 3, on the bottom of the East (16:24)
  • “All five of those teams in the bottom of the west are there accidentally. None of them want to be there.” – Host 3 (20:21)

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3. Tanking Culture and the NBA Lottery System

• Discussion:
  • Tanking is still incentivized despite flattened odds; teams like Brooklyn are “being ignored” because they aren’t trying to win.
  • Andrew draws parallels to the Nets’ failed roster-building attempts and how that leaves franchises gutted for years.
  • Alternative Lottery Suggestions:
    • “Reverse” lottery—reward teams that just miss the playoffs with better odds.
    • Wild suggestions: “all 30 teams in the lottery,” adding competitive physical challenges, etc.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “They incentivize losing and tanking, and... that’s really bad for the league.” – Host 3 (16:44)
  • “Why not try?” – Host 3 (32:33)

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4. If Conferences Were Abolished: How Many Eastern Teams Are True Title Contenders?

• Andrew’s Provocation:
  • “How many of these Eastern Conference teams would even be contenders to win the whole thing?” (22:04)
• Host Rankings:
  • Dave: “I would say one, actually… I have the Cavs as that team and nobody else.” (22:36 – 22:41)
  • Zena & Host 1: Include Cavs and Knicks; no real faith in the Pistons without playoff proof.
  • Skepticism about Knicks’ defensive ceiling, questions about Celtics’ health and big-man depth.
  • Cavs considered perhaps “sixth or seventh” best even in a league-wide bracket, behind OKC, Denver, Houston, Lakers, Spurs, Wolves. (23:40)

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5. Injury Talk: Celtics and Tatum’s Achilles Comeback

• Should Boston Be Counted Out?
  • Zena: “I’m not ready to count the Celtics out. If Tatum comes back healthy, you just never know.” (25:05)
  • Pushback: Medical science, severity of Achilles injuries—Tatum returning isn’t realistic this year.
  • General: Boston has “monotony,” “continuity,” but lacks the top-end talent healthy. (26:41)

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6. Who Needs This Year’s Draft Lottery the Most?

• Central Question: “The team most desperate to win the lottery… is it the Brooklyn Nets?” (38:00)
• Host Arguments:
  • Zena: “I think it’s the Kings.” (38:54)
  • Kings’ loss of identity post-beam era; no young talent on horizon.
  • Es: Nets also in huge trouble—they have a pick swap coming and failed star projects behind them. “The Nets have to get a good pick because 2027, they’re not getting a good pick.” (42:25)
  • Mavericks (brief mention): have their pick this year, little future capital.
• Tankathon Lottery Spin:
  • Simulated live. Kings win, causing joking celebrations. (44:10)

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7. Trade Candidates & Difficult Contracts

• Kings’ Asset Pool:
  • Little trade value on the roster, possibly Keon Ellis, but otherwise, “no future in Sacramento right now.” — Host 1 (43:53)
  • Zach LaVine’s unappealing contract: $47.5M this year and a $48.9M player option. (49:09)

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8. Food Takes & Lighthearted Closing Segment

• Monk Fruit Debates:
  • “Monk fruit is delicious. It does not belong as a sweetener in food.” – Host 3 (50:52)
• Other Food Takes:
  • Golden kiwis > green kiwis.
  • Potato chip flavors in other countries outclass the U.S.
  • Steak-flavored Lays potato chips exist (and taste like beef). (54:17)
  • Cereal nostalgia and allergies.
• Show Banter:
  • Ongoing jokes about NBA-themed cereals and future sponsorships.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Cavs over Pistons:
  “The Cavs push come to shove, are the better team.” – Host 2 (07:43)
• On East’s bottom teams:
  “Those aren’t even basketball teams at this point.” – Host 3 (16:24)
• On Kings as a franchise:
  “There’s no future in Sacramento right now.” – Host 1 (43:53)
• Lottery Simulation Excitement:
  “Sacramento Kings got the first pick. There we go.” – Andrew (44:52)
• On Monk Fruit:
  “Monk fruit is delicious. It does not belong as a sweetener in food.” – Host 3 (50:52)
• On the Kings’ roster building:
  “They see one thing they like and they’re like, you know what? Hey, Zach Levine, he can score points per game, baby.” – Host 3 (41:12)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• True/False: Top 5 Teams Debate: 03:27 – 09:49
• East vs. West Depth Debate: 09:58 – 21:10
• Tanking & NBA Lottery Riffs: 16:28 – 33:14
• Conference Abolition & Title Contenders: 22:01 – 29:28
• Celtics Injury Future: 25:05 – 28:25
• Who Deserves/Wants Lottery Luck Most: 38:00 – 45:13
• Tankathon Lottery Simulation: 44:10 – 45:13
• NBA Food Takes & Final Banter: 50:52 – 56:19

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Recap/Tone

The episode was lively, playful, and freewheeling but always NBA-obsessed, blending advanced stats with a healthy dose of skepticism about early-season data, conference narratives, and the future of precarious franchises. The regulars maintained their slightly irreverent, knowledgeable banter, punctuated with memorable one-liners and a running thread of tangential fun.

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For fans wanting a witty, stat-laced, and speculative NBA discussion—with a touch of foodie nonsense—this “Morning Shoot Around” hits the mark.

Transcript

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[Host 1]

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[Andrew Schlecht]

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[Host 2]

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[Andrew Schlecht]

Forget that.

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[Host 3]

Sounds like my family drama.

[Host 1]

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[Andrew Schlecht]

Hey, Andrew Schlecht here. The NBA on Prime is back this Friday with another great Emirates NBA cup doubleheader. The night starts with Pascal Siakam and the Indiana Pacers meeting Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers. And then it's down to Texas as Nicole Jokic and the Denver Nuggets get their first look at Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets. And if you're not a Prime member, that's not a problem. Sign up for a 30 day free trial and get started today. Remember, it's the Pacers and Cavs, the Nuggets and Rockets. If you are a hoops head at all, you're going to be locked in to Nuggets Rockets. These are two of the best teams in the Western Conference. Two teams that should be VYING for the Western Conference finals. Both fan bases should be disappointed if that's not where they get. And we get our first look on prime at this big time matchup. Coverage starts Friday at 6:30 Eastern only on Prime. Restrictions apply. See Amazon.com amazonprime for details. Welcome to the morning shoot around here on the Athletic NBA Daily's YouTube feed. We are live. If you're listening on the podcast feed, we'd love to see you join us. Already have somebody in the chat telling us this is not a morning shoot around. This is happening in the afternoon throughout most of the country.

[Host 2]

We know, we know it's morning somewhere.

[Host 1]

It's morning here.

[Host 3]

That's right.

[Andrew Schlecht]

It's always morning on the West Coast.

[Host 1]

West coast bias is still alive.

[Host 2]

Like the whole. It's happy hour somewhere.

[Host 3]

Also, I gotta say, I, I love that in the chat we have evening in Spain and France.

[Andrew Schlecht]

There you go.

[Host 3]

Pretty awesome. Thanks.

[Host 2]

Shoot around.

[Host 1]

Is that my mom? Is my mom here? No.

[Host 3]

No.

[Host 1]

Okay. Not John Paul.

[Andrew Schlecht]

That would be. That would be awesome. All right, so we're a few weeks into the NBA season. We've got some stats, we've got a bunch of stuff going on. A lot of storylines, a lot of injuries, which is sad. But have some true or false questions for you guys. And listen, we got time, so don't. Don't feel like you guys got to rush through these. We can explore the studio space with these questions. Okay. Okay, first one. These are the top five teams. And this is the correct order for the top five teams. Okay. Are we ready? Thunder, number one. Nuggets, number two. Rockets, number three. Pistons, number four. Knicks, number five. This is the top five. And this is the correct order. True or false. This is. This is by net rating dot com. Anyways, so I feel like this is.

[Host 1]

False, but it's not terribly off.

[Host 2]

I'm. I'm waiting for my net rating.

[Host 3]

I think it's true.

[Host 1]

I mean, wait in.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I'm asking you. This is the net rating.

[Host 3]

Oh, oh, oh.

[Host 2]

Statistically, right now, it is the top.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Five, but are these actually the top five teams in the NBA? That's my question to you guys.

[Host 2]

No.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

False.

[Host 1]

I don't think it's true, but I, I don't think it's off.

[Andrew Schlecht]

All right, where's it, where, where we. Where do we differ from. From my list. Thunder, Nuggets, Rockets, Pistons, Nicks.

[Host 2]

So I think the Cavs should be here.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Okay.

[Host 2]

Is where I would put them over the next. I would probably. No, I would probably put them over the, The. The Pistons at this point, I think.

[Host 3]

The Pistons look really good.

[Host 2]

I. I just think the Cavs have been decimated by injuries and they have not had a good start to the season. Garland played like what, like two games, three games and then got hurt again. They're working to experiment with Evan Mobley and honestly, the experimentation has been slow to start. Like, they are working through the kinks. I actually think that's good for them in the long run, but I think they are taking this season to experiment as much as possible. And so that net rating might not be there this year, but they are definitely a top five team to me. So. By the way, I agree. Like, you guys know how much I love the Pistons. I think, I think the world of the Pistons, but I just think the Cavs push come to shove, are the better team.

[Host 3]

Yeah, that's where this year for them, it's kind of like that title year for the Bucks. The Bucks had had so much regular season success and then they got to the playoffs and they had no curveball. Like, they just. It was fastball, fastball, fastball. And then they, they kind of played around all year that season trying to figure out what worked. How much can Giannis play the five? You know, I mean, just. And this is pretty similar to that. I liked. I, I will say I like that Bucks team better than I like this Cavs team. Actually come playoff time because they have Giannis. Right.

[Host 2]

That team had a fire number one option. They don't have that with the Caps.

[Host 3]

But I agree with you there. Yeah, I think that that's a good call.

[Host 2]

I will say there are people saying the Pistons have been injured too. I agree. Shout out Dennis Jenkins, who's been awesome. They've had other guys step up. Tobias Harris hasn't played in a couple weeks. Isaiah Stewart just came back from injury. K just came back from injury. This team is rolling. And they honestly might end up being first in the Eastern Conference when it's all said and done. Like, record wise, net rating wise, we've seen this a bunch of times over the course of the last, I don't know, decade where there will be just one dominant Eastern Conference team. I think of the, what, 2021 heat, the 2016 or 2015 Hawks. Not to say they are that caliber of team where they're kind of paper tigery, but. But just that they have this like, surefire identity that helps them win games. Honestly, even the Cavs last year, like the Cavs last year won 64 games, but come playoff time, there were some questions. I Don't know. I, I think the Pistons are a very good team. They're obviously incredibly young, but I would still have the Cavs over them as, as the top dog, if you will.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah. How do we feel about the Cavs shift in the way that they're playing on the off offensive side of the ball because, like, they are taking a lot of threes and it is, it feels like they're trying to like copycat the Celtics in, in some ways and abandoning like their, and some of like their, their dribble drive game is just that they only have one guy that can drive the lane. And also that guy has not been driving like he has in the past either in Donovan Mitchell. I just wonder how we like feel in general about the way that the Cavs have looked offensively because it has not been anywhere near what they were last year.

[Host 3]

I wonder how much of that is not having Darius Garland. Yeah, you know, he, he's their best passer, best on ball, playmaker for other guys. Donovan Mitchell is obviously one of the seven or eight best guys in the league at getting to a spot, getting his shot, but it's hard to just run an offense around that guy. There's. And there's more mouths to feed than just Donovan Mitchell. That's the other thing. I think just not having Darius Garland is, is really one of the biggest problems. And you know, Lonzo Ball has been okay as a connector. The shot is just, you know, it's not totally there, but he's been okay as a connector. But without that high level guy who you can put in a high pick and roll and he can find every single pass that's available on the court, I think that their offense is gonna, gonna have some issues and, and really they got to figure out how to play without him. The guys hurt all the time. And so, you know, this is where I think Mobley's growth as an offensive player is super important. They need him to be able to do more with the ball in his hands, you know, and attacking, which I think we've seen a little bit of. But I, I just think it's Garland's absence. It's hard to judge them. I mean, they've been hurt.

[Host 2]

It's a fair question. By the way, did you mean right now the best five best teams or in life in general?

[Andrew Schlecht]

In life, I mean, yeah, the five best teams right now.

[Host 2]

Then I, then I understand the Pistons thing. Then I. Yeah, then I would agree.

[Host 3]

You know, they're playing, they're playing really good basketball. Right. And they've had a good schedule too. Let's. You know, not that they haven't beaten some teams, but they've had a good schedule.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Okay, next question. True or false? The east is deeper than the West. True or false?

[Host 3]

False.

[Host 1]

False.

[Host 3]

I'm gonna say true just contrarian for the sake of it.

[Host 2]

No. Okay, look, I just. I have the standings out right now, and I think we can all agree, like, obviously the bottom of the east is. Is hellfire. You know, Indiana Pacers, Wizards, Nets. I would. You can even throw in the Hornets there. Although the Hornets have been pretty competitive.

[Andrew Schlecht]

The Hornets have as many wins as though those three teams combined. Okay.

[Host 3]

Right.

[Host 2]

Yes. Yeah, I. Honestly, I would.

[Host 3]

I got the Rookie of the year.

[Host 2]

Let's elevate the Hornets. Fine. This. This just helps my case. The Pelicans, the Kings, the Mavericks, the Grizzlies, the Clippers, they all look destitute. And even on top of that, the Jazz, while they are competitive, I think eventually will start to fall into that category. So I actually do think the east is a little bit deeper because if you look at it, the Bucks, the. The Bulls obviously are playing a little bit better basketball. The heats are exceeding expectations. We've talked about how the Raptors are doing the same. The Magic are starting to figure things out. The Celtics are a little bit better than people imagined. This is all like teams in that, I don't know, I guess playing territory, if you will. I think the east is deeper.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Nobody believes I didn't make a good case.

[Host 3]

I don't know. Zena. Zeno, let me ask you a question. I'm looking at the standings, and Portland right now is ninth in the West.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

Where would you rank them if they were in the East?

[Host 1]

I think that's the point that we're trying to make here. To the question. I was trying so badly to insert myself in that first question as to, you know. Yes. When you're looking at the East, I'm. I'm obviously taking Cavaliers right now over the next. I'm sorry, that's just. That's where I'm at. And when you look down the standings, I really do put a lot of weight into how our teams performing against teams that are over.500. And if you compare the east versus the west in terms of just performances over.500 and then also teams that are over.500 at this point, the west has had so much more battles against teams over.500, and they've had to battle against teams that are over.500 and dominating. I mean, I personally feel Like Oklahoma City counts for three teams by themselves, right? I mean. Yeah, I mean, they. I just feel like the. The east right now because of those saddlebags that you just mentioned us. That automatically erases the entire argument for the East. Right? They're just so bad and they perform so badly against teams of their caliber and teams, of course, of higher caliber. And in the west, you almost. You almost give participation trophies because it's like, everyone is so tough to beat. Everyone's so competitive on any given night. Like, we're looking at the Utah Jazz, like, they're good, right? They're competitive. But the way that the Utah Jazz are playing, if they go to the east, we're like, all right, playing for sure. Territory. Yeah, right. Playing for sure. Could be competitive to get a playoff spot. So that's when I'm looking at. I'm not even necessarily looking at numbers. I'm looking at, like, what we're seeing as a product night in, night out. And the teams in the west are putting up more numbers. They're way more competitive. The games feel like they're harder and. No, no shade on these. But it's just not the same. It's not the same as in the West.

[Host 2]

Can I. Can I counter here? Just a little. A little tennis swing back. Okay. Okay, so let's do point differential. All right? And we're going to pick the playing teams in each conference right now.

[Host 1]

So the Utah, first and foremost, Orlando did not dominate the Warriors. Let's just calm down. Chicago did not beat up on Denver.

[Host 3]

Yeah, yeah, they were close. Games lost to Utah the night before, by the way. And. Yeah, yeah, and Denver.

[Host 1]

We gotta calm down with these, you know, hyperboles.

[Host 3]

All right?

[Host 1]

Yeah, we're using some interesting words here, guys, in the comments.

[Host 2]

Okay.

[Andrew Schlecht]

All right.

[Host 3]

The Lakers. Look, look.

[Host 2]

So, so playing territory, point differential wise, in the west, you've got the Utah Jazz, the LA Clippers, the Portland Trailblazers, the Golden State warriors, and the Phoenix Suns. Okay? In the east, you have the Milwaukee Bucks, the Chicago Bulls, the Orlando Magic, the Sixers and the Hawks. Which group of teams is better, in your opinion?

[Host 1]

Oh, I'm not gonna lie. My ADHD didn't.

[Host 3]

I mean, I'm sorry.

[Host 1]

Okay.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I don't know.

[Host 1]

Honestly, I'm a visual learner. I was like, wait, I would say.

[Host 3]

I would say the east is a. Probably a better group.

[Host 2]

That's my case.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Right.

[Host 3]

Like, because Utah. Look, Utah is tanking. All right? They're going to be bad. We already know that. It's built in. And maybe that built in bias is the problem. But Portland is not. And Portland, I. I would put them. They're probably fourth or fifth best team in the east if they're over there. I mean, I guess it depends on Giannis, right? They, like. They're just. They're good. The west is. Is tough, but the east, the top half of the east is. Is pretty competitive.

[Host 1]

Very good.

[Host 3]

The bottom of the east being so bad really drags it down. And that's where, you know, they get to beat up on these soup cans all the time. You get the Brooklyn Nets four times a year, right? Like, yeah, no Wonder Boston wins 65 games a season. They get four times with the Wizards, four times with the Hornets, four times. You know, at the Sixers, when everyone's broken down and not playing, this is the thing that makes the east kind of fraudulent. And then when you look at the fact that we're now a month into the season and you still got two teams in the east with one win, like, there's a lot. Look, there's a lot of people that are starting to point out that the bottom right now of the NBA is worse than it's ever been. The top is also really high. There's this. This huge discrepancy. There's not much of a middle class as far as teams go. But the bottom in the east is just abysmal. Those aren't even basketball teams at this point.

[Host 2]

Yeah, they could get relegated to the G League at this point, but, yeah, it's bad.

[Host 3]

It's better if you replaced the Brooklyn Nets NBA squad. It just. Let's say Michael Porter Jr. Is the only guy you leave out there and you just took their G League team. Not the average NBA fan would have. No idea, because they don't know who's playing for Brooklyn because Brooklyn's not even trying to win.

[Andrew Schlecht]

So sad.

[Host 3]

And that's how it ought to be. If you're losing on purpose, people should ignore you. You shouldn't exist. I. I like. I actually hope that nobody goes to a Nets game for the rest of the season. Man, this is. It's ruining. It's really bad for the league, Alex. They. They incentivize losing and tanking, and I don't want to get into the gambling implications and how, you know, that's exacerbated by that. But like Brooklyn, it should be ignored. So the bottom of the east is impaired.

[Host 2]

I feel like the league has not incentivized tanking as much.

[Host 3]

Well, they flatten the odds, right? But like, you still are Gonna pull out all the stops to be in the bottom three.

[Andrew Schlecht]

These are the. I mean, these are the rules, you know, and like, teams are. As long as these rules exist, teams are going to do this. And a part of the reason why the Nets are in this place is because they tried so hard to win and through every resource that they had into that Kevin Durant team that now they're left. They were. They were left with nothing and they still have picks being taken from them and. And lucky for them, they were able to make. Make a deal to get some of their stuff back. But yeah, this is in large part like a. A story of a team that tried to build with guys that were in like, their prime or their post prime, and it just fell apart much faster than they thought it would. And now they're just scrambling.

[Host 2]

They've done that twice in the last 15 years, by the way. KG Pierce. Yeah, the.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

With different owners. Right? Like different owners, different front office. It's funny, but you're. Do you remember, though, they broke up a really fun team. That Kenny Atkinson coach team was a lot of fun. And like, I felt like if I was a Nets fan, I would have been very annoyed by that. I mean, I don't know, what are you into sports for? Is it only just to win? Like, is it your team has to win? Is that the only thing? Or do you like to root for your guys? I, again, I. I grew up. I went to AAA baseball a lot growing up. So, you know, I kind of had this connection with these players, like Tony Graffanino, who was a utility infielder for the Braves for a bunch of years, played with the, the Tampa Bay Rays and I mean, I loved rooting for Tony Graffanino. He was like a.260 hitter.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

You don't get that. Like the NBA. Like, you just can't have a good, young, fun team that makes the play in all the time. Unless you're the Chicago Bulls. That's why, like, it's hard to hate on them.

[Andrew Schlecht]

And then you get made fun of for doing.

[Host 3]

You get made fun of. I know. Yeah. So not around here. We respect the cup and the play in. That's right. That's right. Sorry, I'm. I'm in a mood today with these.

[Host 2]

I like it, though. I like it.

[Host 3]

I hate the tanking thing. Really drives me nuts.

[Host 1]

Sorry to wrap my bow on the competitive.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Aspects and comparison between the two bottoms of these leagues. I say look at the amount of games that the West Westerns, bottom five, the Clippers The Grizzlies, the Mavericks, the Kings, the Pelicans have played where it's ended up in three point games versus games where it's ended up in 10 point games. Look at that differential between the east and the West.

[Host 2]

Oh, my God, you are right.

[Host 1]

Okay. And that is what I mean by competitiveness. Okay. You can't tell me. Yes. Okay. They're the Kings and the Pelicans, et cetera. They're bad, et cetera. But we're talking about watching the basketball games and realizing that a lot of these games are ending up close. Whether it's ending up close for reasons beyond our understanding or they are just actually competitive. The west is on a different level than it comes to the East. So that's actually my. My drop on.

[Host 3]

That's a great one. Hey. All five of those teams in the bottom of the west are there accidentally. None of them want to be there. They all were trying to win. The Utah Jazz is the one team that actually has incentive to lose, and they're in the play in right now.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Host 2]

That's true. That is true. Just to illustrate what Xena said, because it is such a firepoint. So in the three, like three point games, basically between the bottom four in the east, they have played four games that have ended in three or less points.

[Host 1]

Thank you.

[Host 2]

The west has played 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 games. And they actually have. They have an above.500 record in those games. Those bottom four teams, if it's close, those bad teams in the Western Conference can actually pull it out. Which is not to be said about the Wizards.

[Host 3]

More competitive by definition.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

There you go.

[Host 1]

Thank you.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah. By the way, I. I agree that the west is much better than the East. I just heard people start. I've heard people start saying that the east is better than the West. I'm like, wait, I'm just loving people just saying that.

[Host 1]

Andrew is like throwing these gren.

[Host 2]

And then just stepping back.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Watching it unfold. Coming with the fire extinguisher, being like. Yeah, I agree.

[Host 2]

There's this new show called Pluribus and this girl gets handed a live grenade. It's a good show, you guys.

[Host 1]

It's been all over my. My feed.

[Host 2]

Yeah. Yeah. This girl gets handed a live grenade. And she's like, you actually gave me a live grenade. And she opens it. She's like, you didn't give me a live grenade. And then she's like, yes, I did.

[Host 3]

And they.

[Host 2]

She throws it out. So anyways, that's what Andrew is Doing.

[Andrew Schlecht]

You guys live grenades?

[Host 2]

Yes.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Okay, so let's say this. This is not true or false, but. Okay, let's say the league abolished conferences. Okay. There's. You just have all 30 teams in the mix now. Like, how. How many of, like, these Eastern Conference teams would even be contenders to win the whole thing? Two, like, legit, like you would say. I think that they have a better than 10 chance to win this whole thing.

[Host 3]

Yeah, I would say one, actually. Wow.

[Host 2]

Okay.

[Host 3]

Yeah. I have the Cavs as that team and. And nobody else.

[Andrew Schlecht]

The Cavs.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Yeah, I. I have the Cavs and Knicks. I can't take the Knicks out of that equation. I'm gonna. I'm gonna stick with two.

[Host 1]

Yeah, I would have the Cavs and the Knicks. I just don't quite trust the Pistons yet.

[Host 3]

Yeah, they haven't done anything in the playoffs. Really. No, they have to. The Cavs haven't either. Right. But they're the team I trust the most. That's the thing. And I don't. I really. I'd put them. Man, I would put them. If I was going down the list, I'd have them behind Oklahoma City. Like, if I'm saying they're going to play in the finals. OKC wins. Denver beats them. Houston beats them. I think the Lakers beat them. I think the spurs, it's. It's six or seven and. Wow. Depending on what Wim's doing. I think the Wolves beat him because, again, like, once you get to playoff time, having a guy like Anthony Edwards just matters so much. And not that Donovan Mitchell can't do things like that, but I just don't. I. I don't know. I don't trust the Cavs in the playoffs yet, but they would be the one. If I was saying, hey, one team in the east has a chance. Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

What's keeping you from trusting the Knicks? Is it just hate or what?

[Host 3]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Just hating on the Knicks.

[Host 2]

They still.

[Host 1]

Listen out, Andrew.

[Host 3]

I mean, what. What are they gonna. What are they gonna do defensively with Brunson and. And Carl Anthony Towns on the court.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

Yeah, they're gonna get cooked.

[Andrew Schlecht]

The what. What they need is Mitchell Robinson to have a new body.

[Host 3]

Yeah. Yeah. Really? I mean, if they could trade, like. And maybe they're a team that. That makes a move and can trade for a center to play.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

Next to Carl Anthony. I mean, maybe, like, are they. Are. Are they an Anthony Davis trade destination?

[Andrew Schlecht]

I don't.

[Host 3]

I don't know.

[Host 2]

Like Josh Harden, Mitchell Robinson contracts work.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I mean, no.

[Host 3]

In which case. Yeah. Then I, I feel a lot better about him. That offense is crazy, though. So, you know, and offense wins championships.

[Host 1]

I think heard that one.

[Host 3]

Defense wins games. Offense wins championships.

[Host 2]

We just saw the Thunder. We just saw the Thunder very emphatically win.

[Host 3]

All right. We're gonna see the Thunder do a lot of things that defy convention. Okay. We're gonna, we're gonna just see that.

[Host 2]

They shot like 5% from 3 in one of those finals games.

[Host 3]

They're gonna shoot like 28% from three for the season and win 75 games.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Wait, there's a, There's a good point. And I, and I actually felt this when you first asked the question, Andrew, am I. I feel a little crazy, but I'm not ready to count the Celtics out.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Okay.

[Host 2]

I can't do that.

[Host 1]

I'm just. Because, Just because this on the break pod just threw that out there. If Tatum comes back healthy, you just never know. You just never know. And I mean, I doubt they're going to make a move or anything, a deadline, but I just. They, they are so. They know themselves so well. And there is something to be said about knowing your identity, knowing your system. Playing quote, unquote, boring basketball like it can run some teams down.

[Host 2]

You can take the quotes out.

[Host 1]

Let's be real, guys. I put air quotes up. That's the same. Put those down for the boring basketball.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I, I think if Tatum came back and he was healthy and if they dealt for a big. Because I think that they're.

[Host 1]

Yeah, they are struggling with the bigs. Yeah, they. Nehemiah's case. I love him.

[Host 2]

It has been good, though.

[Host 1]

He's been good.

[Andrew Schlecht]

It's a really good backup.

[Host 1]

Those type of players can get exposed in the playoffs.

[Host 3]

100.

[Host 1]

They can get. They can be schemed for. They can be exposed. And we've already seen folks be able to do that with Nehemiah's kid and get them in foul trouble and.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

You know, get them mixed up in pick and roll schemes and stuff like that. So as much as I do love him and we do have almost the same last name, I just. I, I don't know. I don't want to count the Celtics out. There's just something about their. They.

[Host 2]

I have no problem counting this.

[Host 3]

Yeah. I, I just find this realistic. The Tatum coming back thing, it's like the Kyrie thing. I like medical science in this country is halted anyway. But, you know, I just don't know players. Yeah, that's fair. But I just don't. Listen. Ten months removed from an Achilles tear. If he did come back and was able to, like, run and be healthy, he's not going to look like Jason Tatum. We. We knew know that. Yeah, the guys coming back from injury, they take. It takes a while before they're themselves. So unless he is first. First case ever of this, I just don't know.

[Host 1]

NFL player that came back from it. There's like a crazy Achilles. Yes, there was an NFL player that came back from a crazy nf, like, Achilles injury and, like, played and was running. And I am bl. I can see the video where he's like, doing drills and jumping over things.

[Host 3]

I remember Adrien Peterson, who's a running back, he had an ACL tear and came back, like, in the same season. But I mean, NFL, let's be honest, like, I mean, that's a different breed.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Host 3]

That's like. I don't even. Those, Those guys, the stuff that they put their bodies through makes no sense. Yeah. But I just. I. I don't know. I just have no expectation that Tatum's gonna come back this year, period. It. Honestly, it doesn't make much sense if you're the Celtics. It's, you know, just take the year off and come back next season and.

[Host 2]

Be healthy and get a good draft pick, man.

[Host 1]

That's the other Cam Acres. Cam Acres came back five and a half.

[Andrew Schlecht]

There it is.

[Host 1]

After his Achilles.

[Host 2]

Five and a half is nuts.

[Host 3]

Crazy.

[Host 2]

What in the world?

[Host 1]

I mean, what are we talking about? Right? Like, that's. I was like, there's a guy that did this and it was ridiculous.

[Host 3]

And he played well. Yeah, he.

[Host 2]

He told them to just chop out, let me play. That is nuts.

[Host 3]

Let's go get a leather belt and let's staple that in there, you know?

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah, they use.

[Host 2]

They used. What's that belt they use in cars for your.

[Host 3]

Yeah, yeah, that's. Yeah, the fan belt.

[Host 1]

Those aren't top saying that Jason Tatum is going to be cam makers, but who knows? I. There's. There's. There monotony. That's what it is. I was trying to find the word about Boston that you can trust monotony. You can trust that continuity. And so I. That's. That's the thing that, you know, people are talking about, you know, how are we slandering the Pistons? We're not slandering the Pistons. Trust me. We're not. It's just you do have to prove yourself and able to get. Be it. To be able to be in those conversations, and you might not find a.

[Host 2]

National Podcast that likes the Pistons as much as this one.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Right?

[Host 1]

We love the Pistons. Exactly. We love the Pistons.

[Host 3]

With the Pistons. What they're going to do when teams take away Cade and when they. You know what I mean? Like what. What's the next solution for this team? Yeah, yeah.

[Host 2]

If anything, they're. I mean, we talked about this last night, but they're one of the team. Teams where like if they make a big splash move, then you're in that conversation.

[Host 3]

Right?

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

You know, now you enter because they have the capability to do that. They have the flexibility, they have the cap, they have the trades, contracts, etc, they have the picks. They can do it just depends if they want to.

[Host 3]

Hey, have we just forgotten that Kawhi Leonard exists or is that just me?

[Andrew Schlecht]

No, he's forced us to. To forget about him.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

It's kind of crazy, you know, I was just reading the comments and someone's talking about the Clippers have no star power and I'm like, it's kind of true. They don't.

[Host 2]

James Harden's not a star.

[Host 3]

I mean, he's been. He's been great, but he's post prime. Come on. I mean like, James Harden's not winning you a title. He's not, he's not gonna win you a playoff series at this point.

[Andrew Schlecht]

No, he can be.

[Host 3]

He's a complimentary player.

[Andrew Schlecht]

He's a bit more than that, but.

[Host 3]

He'S also second best. Third best.

[Andrew Schlecht]

You just went from like two steps down like 30 steps. Yeah, he's not winning you a title. He's a complimentary player. It's like he's. Yeah.

[Host 3]

Better than him on the team. Right? That's my point.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah. Yeah, no, I, I think that's right. And for Boston too. Like, I agree. S. Like in theory, they should be tanking it. It's. It's almost over. I don't think they can. I don't think they can, bro. They are tgtt too good to take. Okay.

[Host 3]

Yeah, well, you can't catch. You can't catch the Wizards, Pacers and Nets.

[Andrew Schlecht]

No. Yeah, they can't catch the Kings, but this is.

[Host 2]

Well, I mean. Yeah, that's the other thing. Like, they can't catch any of the west teams either.

[Andrew Schlecht]

No, no, it's that, that, that group is solid. Like Indy, Washington, New Orleans, Brooklyn, Sacramento. Like those teams are solid. Dallas is, Is going to have a bad record.

[Host 3]

Oh, yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

You know, like, it's.

[Host 1]

I'm not even gonna lie to you guys. I was very confused because when you said they can't catch.

[Host 2]

I was like, oh, oh, the reverse. The reverse tank race.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Oh, yeah.

[Host 3]

I was like, wow.

[Host 1]

Okay, got it. I'm caught up. Don't worry. My bad.

[Host 2]

But at the same time. Yeah, look on the break pod makes a good point. You just need a little bit of a chance. The Hawks showed us that. The Mav showed us that you can be in the playing and bounce.

[Andrew Schlecht]

It's true.

[Host 2]

Get yourself a pretty good pick.

[Andrew Schlecht]

That's true.

[Host 2]

And if there's anything, if there's any kind of history behind this, we have seen the team that is down and out gets injury player or whatever. Like the Celtics.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Get gifted.

[Host 3]

Well, I would rather that happen. I mean, I would rather reverse the lottery and say, hey, if you just missed the playoffs, you have a better chance at getting a good player and becoming a much better team. I mean, that would be cool. Perhaps trying is a good thing.

[Host 1]

They'd just be deeper and deeper into oblivion. I just, I'd be so sad for them.

[Host 3]

Try harder. You know, I mean, I, I just don't. I'm just, I'm not into the not trying thing. And it's not the players that's real. I don't even need to put this out there. But you know, the. Why not try?

[Host 2]

You know, that is kind of a cool idea.

[Host 3]

Have some shame. And now you'd have to do it in a way that you. There's got to be a cutoff point or something like that because otherwise you guess what teams will tank out of the play into. They do that now. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know, maybe just do a. How about just do a lottery every year with every team in it and just say, hey, sometimes the Lakers are going to get the number one pick. Two years and it just is what it is.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Hate this. Hate this.

[Host 3]

We leave so many things in life up to chance and dumb luck. And for some reason we. We let losing dictate who wins the lot. It's just, it's weird.

[Host 2]

I have an idea. All 30 front office members to walk at a 3 mile per hour pace until the last person is standing and they will get the lottery. Go watch.

[Host 3]

You will see. No, listen. And again, you're asking people who love to break rules and find ways to get loopholes. They're gonna be taking steroids.

[Host 1]

Hollywood person right now. Pluribus.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Long walk.

[Host 1]

I plug in shows.

[Host 2]

I. I like my movies and TVs. You know, I don't know how you.

[Host 1]

Have time to watch them in the midst of the season, but yeah, I don't sleep.

[Host 2]

That's the. That's the way.

[Host 3]

Yeah, yeah.

[Host 2]

Lack of sleep.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah, that's the way. Okay, we're gonna take a quick break, we'll come back and we'll answer a couple more true or false questions. Hey, Andrew Schlecht here. The NBA on Prime is back this Friday with another great Emirates NBA cup doubleheader. The night starts with Pascal Siakam and the Indiana Pacers meeting Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers. And then it's down to Texas as Nicole Jokic and the Denver Nuggets get their first look at Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets. And if you're not a Prime member, that's not a problem. Sign up for a 30 day free trial and get started today. Remember, it's the Pacers and Cavs, the Nuggets and Rockets. If you are a hoops head at all, you're going to be locked in to Nuggets, Rockets. These are two of the best teams in the Western Conference. Two teams that should be vying for the Western Conference Finals. Both fan bases should be disappointed if that's not where they get we get our first look on prime at this big time matchup. Coverage starts Friday at 6:30 Eastern only on Prime. Restrictions apply. See Amazon.com Amazon prime for details.

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[Host 1]

Mine.

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We live in one state. My parents, brothers and sisters live in a different state and my wife's family is in a third state. Oftentimes we want to share pictures of my daughter with her grandparents but don't want to post them to social media and we know they just get lost in text messages. Enter Aura. We can upload pictures and videos directly to the Aura digital frame whenever we want and take them down whenever we want just as easily. With Aura, you get unlimited free photos and video. Just download the app and connect to WI Fi. You can preload photos before your gift arrives so the frame is ready to go when your loved one opens the box. You can share photos and videos directly from your phone. It's so easy and every frame comes packaged in a premium gift box with no price tag. For a limited time. Visit auraframes.com and get $45 off or as best selling Carver Matte frames named number one by wire cutter by using promo code athleticnba at checkout. That's a U R A frames.com promo code athletic mba this exclusive black Friday Cyber Monday deal is their best of the year, so order now before it ends. Support the show by mentioning us at checkout. Terms and conditions apply.

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[Andrew Schlecht]

All right, we're back from that break. All right. True or false?

[Host 1]

Oh, my God.

[Andrew Schlecht]

True or false? That was super loud, Xena.

[Host 3]

Wow.

[Andrew Schlecht]

True, true.

[Host 1]

Listen, the break wasn't long enough. I need a sip of water.

[Host 2]

Okay.

[Andrew Schlecht]

No water.

[Host 3]

I was on a. I was on a podcast once, and someone started eating a banana.

[Andrew Schlecht]

That's a crazy move.

[Host 2]

That's awesome.

[Host 3]

Insane.

[Andrew Schlecht]

That's a crazy move.

[Host 3]

Of. Of all the things.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Of all fruits to choose.

[Host 1]

I almost. I almost spit out my water. Dave.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah, that's. I mean, that's a wild one.

[Host 1]

Oh, the timing.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Great. That is a really wild one. Okay, okay. True or false? The team that is most desperate to win this lottery of all these loser franchises is the Brooklyn Nets. True or false?

[Host 2]

Oh, false.

[Aura Frames Advertiser]

False.

[Host 3]

Desperate.

[Host 2]

Desperate.

[Host 3]

I think. Yes, I think that's true. Kind of what I just said before, right? Like, for those reasons, I don't want to.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Ah, you know what?

[Host 2]

What about the Pelicans, though? I mean.

[Host 3]

Well, actually.

[Host 2]

Never mind.

[Host 1]

I actually think.

[Host 3]

Win it again.

[Host 2]

No, no, no. They can't. They can't win the loss.

[Andrew Schlecht]

They can't. They gave away their unprotected pick. It's unprotected. It's not even protected. Golly. That's a loser team. That's truly a loser team.

[Host 3]

You might be right, Xena.

[Host 1]

I think it's the Kings.

[Host 2]

The Kings are not a bad.

[Andrew Schlecht]

All right, that's the case for the Kings. Make the case for the Kings. Let's hear it.

[Host 1]

I just.

[Host 3]

But over the Nets.

[Host 1]

I know. And you know what's so funny is that my. My reasoning for the Nets has less to do with them and more to do with their sister franchise. Like the New York Liberty are just killing it in comparison to them. And it's just like, come on, keep up with the family dynamic here. Like, do something right. Oh, the Kings, man, I just feel like we are so. We were just lighting the beam, right? And now they have. They've become what we're calling them the Chicago Kings and. And their. Their identity is lost and it. It's weird.

[Host 2]

And they wish they were the Chicago Kings right now.

[Host 1]

I know.

[Host 3]

Well, maybe just move the Kings to.

[Host 1]

The period of relevance for them since the Beam. And then before that, Chris Weber, like, you know what I mean? It's just been a while since the Kings have got. Been able to. That fan base deserves something. I feel like I'm putting on a very emotional voice right now.

[Host 3]

It's a bit. Guys, it's a very special episode of the NBA D. Thinking, like, thinking about the Kings have caffeine pills in their locker.

[Andrew Schlecht]

How could you not. How did you not think about do. Come on.

[Host 3]

They went from lighting the beam to lighting the beans because they stink. Shout out to Jared Weiss made Shout.

[Host 2]

Out to Jared Weiss bean joke last night.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

We were talking about beans and fiber, and then he just came in and just started making bean jokes.

[Host 3]

So I think it's. I think I. I think it is the Kings, Xena. I think you're right. It's this. They aren't stinking on purpose, no matter what they try.

[Andrew Schlecht]

No, they would like to be good.

[Host 3]

Yeah. Bless their hearts.

[Host 2]

Right?

[Host 1]

I mean, they're going to get people like, they're. They've gone out looking for help. They have not come to fruition.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

Do you have any friends that, like, date around? But, like, it's like, they have awful taste.

[Host 2]

Yes.

[Host 3]

Like, man, why is this person so loud, man? This person chews with their mouth open. What are we doing here? That's basically how the kids go and find players, right?

[Andrew Schlecht]

Just.

[Host 3]

Just no taste whatsoever. Like, just absolutely blinders on. They see one thing they like and they're like, you know what?

[Andrew Schlecht]

Hey, Zach Levine, he can score points per game, baby.

[Host 3]

That's it.

[Host 1]

And I actually really love this analogy for even a deeper level to it, because when you date people that like, you know, chew with their mouth open or they're loud, that doesn't mean that they're bad people. It just. There's something that doesn't fit.

[Host 2]

No, it's not true. They are bad people. I'm kidding.

[Host 1]

Who's listening? But it's just like, you know, it's not like we're talking about someone that's. That treats waiters bad or that, like, is mean to their mom. It's just that the thing that they do is annoying and doesn't fit. Right. And I feel like that there's something to be said about the. The Kings and the people that they've Brought in have been good. Other places, they. They have done good things other places. It just hasn't created anything great in Sacramento.

[Host 2]

Can I. Can I be the. The. Like the net? So I'm. I'm debating between the Nets and Kings right now, because I was looking at their stuff.

[Host 1]

Okay.

[Host 2]

The Nets have their own pick this year.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yep.

[Host 2]

But next year, it is a pick swap with the Houston Rockets. So they don't own their own destiny.

[Andrew Schlecht]

That's getting swapped, baby. That's swapping.

[Host 2]

That's getting swapped.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Okay.

[Host 2]

And the Rockets are somehow going to get a pretty good pick there. On top of that, the Kings own their 2026 pick. They own their 2027 pick. They own their 2028 pick. I think they. They don't own. I think it's 20, 30 something. I don't know. They don't own one of their later ones, but they're pretty safe for now, so they can tank for a while. The Nets, however, have to get a good pick because 2027, they're not getting a good pick.

[Andrew Schlecht]

They need Darren Peterson so bad.

[Host 2]

So that would be my. My thing there. How do we feel about that?

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah, I. I tend to. I tend to agree that they're the team that has screwed themselves over probably more than anybody in the past, and they don't really have anybody.

[Host 3]

The King.

[Andrew Schlecht]

The Kings do need a. A young prospect who's, like, their best young prospect, I guess. Like, if you still think Keegan Murray.

[Host 1]

Is a young, young, hurt a lot. Like.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Keegan Murray is what, 25, 24 at this point?

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

How.

[Host 1]

I mean, I was gonna say how old is Keon Ellis?

[Host 2]

But yeah, keegan Murray is 25. Also, on the break pod mentions that Mavs own their pick this year and don't own their pick for the next five years. So maybe the Mavs also.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah, they already have Coop, though.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Yeah, they. I. Yeah, there's. There's no. Like, there's no future in Sacramento right now.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah, there's not.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

And that's really tough.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah, they. They could use some luck. Let's. Hold on. Let's do a tankathon spin just for fun.

[Host 2]

Okay?

[Host 1]

Oh, okay.

[Host 3]

Just like it.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Because I like to do tankathon spins. Okay.

[Host 3]

Okay.

[Andrew Schlecht]

All right.

[Host 2]

Well, I. Because you are heavily invested in this year's tankathon.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Heavily invested in every tankathon but this one. Yes. All right.

[Host 1]

I'm so grateful for you introducing me to this, because I did not. Did not know about it.

[Host 2]

It's magic for bad teams, for people who cover bad teams. It is the greatest thing of all time.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I passed on the Tankathon addiction to my oldest, so. And he spends a lot of time on Tankathon as well. So shout out to the people at Tankathon. All right, here we go. Lottery simulation. Sacramento Kings got the first pick. There we go.

[Host 2]

Congratulations.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Great job, King, by the way, the.

[Host 2]

Celtics jumped ten spots to the fourth, to number four.

[Andrew Schlecht]

There you go. So Kings are. For our audio listeners. We did a Tankathon spin. This is fake. This doesn't amount to anything, but it's just kind of fun. Kings, Wizards, Mavs. So the Mavs jumped up. Celtics, Pacers. Pacers fell.

[Host 3]

This.

[Andrew Schlecht]

This is what so sucks for these teams that are in, like, the top five.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Look at where the Nets landed.

[Andrew Schlecht]

The nets fell to seven. Yeah. The Grizzlies fell to eight. The Thunder get 10 and 11 because they, in this scenario, keep the Jazz.

[Host 2]

10 and 11, plus A.J. mitchell for number two. Who says no, but me?

[Andrew Schlecht]

Mitchell, get out of here.

[Host 3]

All right.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Get out of here with that. But, yeah, and, like, just one of the reasons why you want to be the team that loses the most games is the furthest you can fall is 5. So, like, in this scenario that we're looking at right now, the Pacers fell to five. That's the worst case scenario for them.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

But it's also, like, you have just as good of odds of getting the number one pick as you do the number five pick, which is terrifying.

[Host 2]

Pacers are. Are playing with house money, too, because, like, you know, Halliburton's coming back. They still have their core. Getting a top five pick is actually kind of nice.

[Andrew Schlecht]

You know, it's. It's a huge opportunity for them to get a shot in the arm that they.

[Host 1]

And if they move for a big. Yeah.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Definitely playing with house money.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

All right.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Welcome back.

[Host 2]

Kings won the lottery. Congratulations to the Sacramento Kings, man.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Good job.

[Host 2]

You.

[Andrew Schlecht]

You won the morning shoot around. Morning slash afternoon shoot around.

[Host 3]

Man. It was. Listen, I'm gonna say this. Andrew definitely needs to be under investigation. That was fixed. I'm calling it right now.

[Host 2]

He had that. He had that loaded.

[Host 3]

He had it loaded.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Isn't that awesome? I did shift it.

[Host 1]

I thought it worked out beautifully.

[Andrew Schlecht]

That rocked. That was awesome. That was amazing. Wow. That was great shot. That would be amazing for Kings fans. As. As somebody who has experience, some of, like, the most, like, jubilation that this city has experienced was, like, getting the second pick in the draft.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Like, that was, like, such a fun day. We had. We had a giant party at this place called the Jones assembly downtown in OkC. We had, like 1200 people packed into this, like, outdoor patio.

[Host 1]

That's.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Everybody was just going berserk. It was awesome. See, like, one of the most.

[Host 1]

What did Dallas do? Did they show the same level of gratitude?

[Host 3]

Did they.

[Host 2]

Well, did you see that front office? Nico Harrison looked like his life was saved.

[Host 3]

Oh, for sure. Well, it showed us.

[Host 2]

I know. Yeah.

[Host 3]

Them winning the.

[Andrew Schlecht]

The lottery, I finally started to see, you know.

[Host 2]

Yeah, that's a good point, though, Zena. I think the last time I remember a team celebrating that crazily was the Pelicans. Like New Orleans. You saw the fans when Zion. It was the Zion draft and everybody knew and they got the pick. That was the last time.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I remember Sixers fans with Ben Simmons went.

[Host 2]

Yes.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Went nuts.

[Host 3]

Spurs.

[Host 1]

Right now, if Sacramento gets the number one pick, they are getting all the power sources from Northern California to have a light beam that will.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah, that'd be great.

[Host 3]

Here's my question, and I'll defer to Andrew and s. Our draft guys here.

[Host 2]

Sure.

[Host 3]

I mean, isn't this the draft where if you're in the top five, you're in really, really great shape? Yeah. Right. So to me, like, this three, for.

[Host 2]

Sure, top five, you're still cooking, though.

[Host 3]

So this could be a transformational draft for four or five teams, theoretically. Right. Like, why not the Kings? And this is why I think the Kings need to pull the plug. Don't play around. Right. Like, try to move. I think they need to try to move some of these guys for assets.

[Host 2]

But, Dave, they're already losing.

[Host 3]

I know, I know. Like, can you do it better? Like, can you do it better? Maybe it's more fun.

[Andrew Schlecht]

What assets could you get, though?

[Host 3]

I don't. I. That's the issue. I mean, like, Zach Levine isn't worth anything to anyone.

[Andrew Schlecht]

No, no.

[Host 3]

Who is Trading Keon Ellis is about the only guy that's got any value.

[Andrew Schlecht]

You don't really want to trade that.

[Host 3]

They might move.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I wouldn't trade Keon.

[Host 3]

They don't play him.

[Andrew Schlecht]

They don't play him anyways. Don't trade him. I don't know. Like, Zach Lavine. I'm looking up his contract. He's got 47 and a half this year. And then he has a. He has a player option, which I'll go ahead and say not a player option anymore. Pick up that baby. 48.9 million.

[Host 2]

He's also extension eligible this summer.

[Host 1]

Oh, that's up. That's Rough.

[Host 2]

All right.

[Host 3]

Okay. So, but this is probably his last contract. I don't know, man. Can you get him down to something reasonable?

[Host 2]

Like 30 would be like, hey, is that reasonable?

[Host 1]

S. What happened with Brandon Ingram's contract?

[Host 2]

It was three years. 120. So 40 a year.

[Host 1]

Okay.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

What was he expecting, though?

[Host 2]

Yeah, about, probably about that. Also, I think the final year is a player option, which basically everybody's throwing out player options to people now, but.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I mean, not, not everybody else. Come on.

[Host 2]

Oh, yeah.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Three years guaranteed. Nine million for A.J. congratulations. Yeah.

[Host 3]

That, that is. I don't know. We'll. We'll see. I, I, It'll be funny to, to look at that A.J. mitchell contract, like three years from now.

[Host 2]

Depends on your definition of funny.

[Host 3]

To see what he does. Yeah, I guess. I don't remember anything. For me, it's all funny. I mean, yeah, actually, that's, that's a good, good call on that one. Christian Brown. I mean, Christian Brown, I think is. It's going to wind up being like a value contract.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Agreed. Agreed. I like that deal.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

All right. Anything else you guys want to get off your chest before we get out of here?

[Host 3]

Monk fruit. Okay. Monk fruit is delicious. It does not belong as a sweetener in food. Okay. That's it. That's all. That's, that's what I got to get off my chest.

[Host 2]

Half of us hate monk fruit as a sweet.

[Host 1]

Is when I tell y', all, that is one of the most random things.

[Host 2]

Sorry.

[Host 3]

Yes. I was on my mind before the pod.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Monk fruit.

[Host 3]

I was in a ranty mood because of monk fruit.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I was in a ranty mood because of monk fruit.

[Host 3]

Yeah. Don't put monk fruit in stuff as a sweet.

[Host 1]

Andrew, if you needed the title for the show.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I was in a ranty mood because of monk fruit.

[Host 2]

Is it Malik? Monk fruit.

[Host 1]

Malik. Monk fruit. That's it. That's.

[Host 3]

I mean, you know, you asked I.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Did anybody else have any food takes that. That you need to, that you need.

[Host 2]

To say, green kiwis are worse than golden kiwis. Golden kiwis are better.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Golden kiwis. I'm learning things today.

[Host 3]

Golden kiwis are delicious. Delicious.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I've never had a golden kiwi.

[Host 2]

Really delicious. You should try it.

[Host 3]

They are good. Best game tonight is probably from someone in the, in the YouTube comments, which by way, we do this show on YouTube every week. So if you want to come hang out. Asked what the best game is tonight and the sl like the schedule right now is not great. The NBA cup is really eating up a lot and I think affecting the schedule big time. We actually just went through the. The schedule for the rest of the year to kind of see what the big games were going to be every night. Tonight it's. It's the Rockets and the Cavs and I know we. We kind of made fun of the Cavs a little bit, but for not being able to get over the hump. But this is the kind of game that. Where the Cavs really have to figure out how to win. You know, it's another team that can play big. We watch them get out big. They're down a couple guys. So I'm looking forward to this game. Plus, you know, we haven't seen the Rockets in a few nights and they've been electric.

[Host 2]

Yeah. Number one offense.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

I'm just looking at Sixers, Raptors, also a good one. Just if you want a nice little early game.

[Host 1]

Oh, yeah, that's a good one. I'm excited for that one.

[Host 2]

That's still seven o'. Clocker.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Some of these Golden Kiwis have red centers. What do you know about that?

[Host 2]

I have no idea what you're talking about. All Golden Kiwis I've had have had like white centers. Red centers.

[Host 3]

Really?

[Andrew Schlecht]

I'm looking at one right now.

[Host 3]

Oh, you're right.

[Host 2]

I see that. I haven't tried it.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I wasn't aware there.

[Host 3]

Oh.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Oh.

[Host 2]

So there's apparently three different types of Golden Kiwis. There's red, yellow and green. Yellow is the one I'm talking about. Golden cube.

[Host 1]

Okay, we have officially gotten off. Yeah.

[Host 2]

Yeah. Zena's like, come on, let's. Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

All right, now it's your turn.

[Host 3]

We're looking for a cereal sponsor, by the way, just as. As long as it's nothing with monk fruit as a sweetener.

[Host 2]

That's shooty hoops.

[Host 1]

Literally shooting hoops.

[Host 3]

That's coming soon from the NBA Daily.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Xena, you have to. You have to give us a food take before we go.

[Host 3]

Oh, my gosh.

[Andrew Schlecht]

A food take. A food take. A food take.

[Host 1]

Holy crap. Oh, you know what? Festus? Aeli has been bringing random snacks.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Uhhuh.

[Host 1]

And foods to the. The studio to. For us to try part of Festus Feasts that he's been doing. And we got a package out of like, like an Asian type of snacks package.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Had these steak garlic steak lays. Could taste the beef.

[Host 3]

Wow.

[Host 2]

Really?

[Host 1]

It was the wildest thing.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Good.

[Host 1]

Like is this like, was it good?

[Host 2]

Did you like that?

[Host 1]

I mean, I. I was like. I was Fine on them. I would not be eating chips that give me beef flavor though. Yeah, it did make my mouth water though. I, I, you could taste the beef.

[Host 2]

If you wanted steak afterwards. You're like, oh my God.

[Host 1]

Yeah, yeah. It was very strange, but very good.

[Host 3]

Xena, you traveled a lot around the world. You, you ever tell your friends that we're kind of gaslit here because other countries have so many amazing flavors of potato chips, chocolate bar or whatever. Right.

[Host 2]

Like, yeah, Mexico has great potato chips.

[Host 1]

Very, very limited in the amount of snacks that we have. Very limited also in the ability to make these snacks healthier.

[Host 3]

Sure.

[Host 1]

Like there is a way to still have great sugary cereal and bad chips and all these different things, not be.

[Host 3]

Anything but monk fruit.

[Host 1]

So yeah, that is my, my food take, but that's a good point.

[Host 3]

That's a good one.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Okay, shout out to Lawrence Fields says Cinnamon Toast Crunch needs to sponsor.

[Host 1]

That's a good one.

[Host 2]

You know what?

[Host 1]

Captain Crunch, Cinnamon Toast, Frosted Flakes.

[Host 2]

We are a morning podcast. We should have some cereal.

[Host 1]

Can you imagine us crunching into the mic? Absolutely not.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Hit me up. Kellogg's hit me up.

[Host 2]

You know, I, I used to have cereal so much as a kid that I am now almost basically allergic to cereal.

[Host 1]

Okay, Andrew, wrap it up because now.

[Host 3]

Yeah, I think that that's officially the.

[Host 1]

End that needs to be discussed offline. Are you okay?

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yes.

[Host 2]

I'm no longer okay. No, yeah, no, well, I, I don't have cereal anymore, so now I'm, I'm fine.

[Host 3]

But yes.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Poor guy. All right, well, I loved it. Thanks so much for listening to the the Morning Shoot Around. Please go and like the video on YouTube. We'd appreciate that. Leave us a five star review and mention the morning shoot around. We'll read it on the show. You mentioned the morning shoot around. So hope you guys enjoy the rest of your day. We'll talk about to you guys again tonight. Boom.

[Host 2]

Boom. We done.

[Host 3]

That was fun.

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[Andrew Schlecht]

Oh hey.

[Host 2]

Welcome to gift wrapping.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Whoa.

[T Mobile Representative]

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[Host 3]

Wow. IPhone 17s.

[T Mobile Representative]

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[Host 3]

I'm the worst. I only got my mom a robe.

[T Mobile Representative]

Well, it's better than socks.

[Host 3]

So I have to trade in my old phone, right?

[T Mobile Representative]

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[Host 2]

Incredible.

[T Mobile Representative]

In fact, wrap up my old phone too for my Aunt Rosa.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Forget that.

[T Mobile Representative]

Aunt Liz will be jealous.

[Host 3]

Sounds like my family drama.

[Host 1]

Oh, I got it.

[T Mobile Representative]

I'll give it to my abuela. I'll take reindeer paper with hey, where are you going?

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