NBA Dark Horse Rankings | Morning Shoot Around

Summary

The Athletic NBA Daily — March 11, 2026

Episode: NBA Dark Horse Rankings | Morning Shoot Around

Hosts: Andrew Schlecht, Dave DuFour, Zena Keita, and “Bam” (& guest appearances)

Overview

This episode dives deeply into two primary topics:

• Bam Adebayo’s shocking 83-point game and the broader meaning and history of massive scoring nights in the NBA
• The state of ‘dark horse’ playoff contenders — in both the Eastern and Western Conferences, with a thorough ranking of teams capable of surprising in the playoffs, including lively discussion of their merits and shortcomings

The tone is lively, irreverent, and full of both basketball analysis and offbeat humor, characteristic of The Athletic’s style.

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Episode Highlights and Key Segments

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1. Bam Adebayo’s 83-Point Game & Massive Scoring Nights

[03:00–23:30]

Key Discussion Points

• The Context of Bam’s Performance

  • The group is in awe but also finds humor in Bam, viewed as a defensive big with limited scoring, exploding for 83 points.
  • “Even if you were the biggest, most staunch Bam Adebayo fan, you could not in a thousand years picture him scoring more than 50. Forget 83!” — Dave [07:31]
  • The Wizards’ dreadful defense and the nature of “tanking teams” are discussed as contributing factors:
    • “How about the fact that the Wizards are bad enough that you can take a random Tuesday night in March, and Bam Adebayo could be like, hey, I'm gonna score 83 points on these dudes because they can't stop me.” — Bam [06:50]

• Comparisons to Wilt, Kobe, and Others

  • They joke about the way such huge scoring nights now exist in the internet and 4K video era and how the reaction is very different compared to the mythic quality of Wilt Chamberlain’s 100.
  • “Now that it is in 4K HD, all the clips in the world, people are gonna be like, well, obviously this can happen again.” — Xena [13:05]

• The Role of Modern NBA Circumstances

  • Examination of “intentional fouling” and defensive indifference in games with tanking teams.
  • Laughs about how low-tanking games could become shows or American Gladiators/Harlem Globetrotter spectacles to keep them entertaining.
  • “If you're not going to give me the competition, at least put on a spectacle.” — Bam [10:43]

• Debate: Did Bam’s 83 Actually ‘Count’ the Same?

  • Some fans nitpick the achievement; the hosts reject that:
  • “I just don't...this nitpicking like...like, we have to run everything through so many purity tests to whether it's good or fun. And that's kind of annoying me today. But other than that, I actually think it was great.”— Bam [06:01]
  • “Just have fun. Just enjoy yourselves.” — Dave [08:05]

• His Place in NBA History and the Hall of Fame

  • “He could retire right now and he’s forever in the history book.” — Xena [15:58]
  • Playful debate if one colossal game moves a player’s Hall of Fame case.
  • “In my hall of Fame, there’s like seven guys.” — Bam, mocking the easy NBA Hall entry [17:52]

• Bam’s Mindset and Growth

  • NBC halftime interview revealed how a trainer’s trash talk sparked Bam’s aggression. “It was actually funny… the trainer was actually talking trash to him… and that got him mad. So he channeled it into the game. I thought that was really interesting…” — Dave [11:57]

Memorable Moments

• Jokes about “simulation theory” when discussing jazzed-up stat lines.
• Side comments about Lisa Leslie’s 101-point half (WNBA history) and cross-league scoring feats.

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2. NBA Hall of Fame Bar & Player Legacies

[16:02–18:59]

• In-depth debate whether Bam Adebayo is a Hall of Famer — based on All-Star nods, All-Defense, Olympic gold, and now the scoring record.
• “To me, you have to make all-NBA to get into the hall of fame. Like, you had to have been one of the 15 best players in a given year. And if you're not, then you're probably not a Hall of Famer.” — Andrew [18:08]
• “Derrick Rose will be interesting” — Bam, pointing out injury and MVP impact [18:24]

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3. NBA ‘Dark Horse’ Rankings & Playoff Tier Debates

[25:55–51:15]

How “Dark Horse” Candidates are Defined

• “The teams that we feel like could sneak up and do some damage... can you see these teams getting to the conference finals?” — Andrew [26:45]

Tier Definitions

• Dark Horse: Possible to make conference finals, real upset value
• Medium Horse: Could win a round, less likely but not impossible for further run
• Light Horse: Playoff teams unlikely to advance
• Contenders: Serious favorites for Finals
• Tankers: Out of the picture

Western Conference

• Contenders: Thunder, Knicks, Cavs, Nuggets, Pistons, Celtics, Spurs; Minnesota added: “They’ve made a conference finals two years in a row. I feel like they're… playoff proven.” — Bam [27:25]
• Dark Horse/Medium Horse Candidates Discussed:
  • Rockets (Dark Horse): “They have Kevin Durant, playoff experience now because of last year... defense can win you a couple of rounds.” — Dave [28:40]
  • Lakers (Dark Horse): “Luka can just do stuff.” — Andrew [36:53]. LeBron’s old, pieces don’t fit, but talent/experience remains.
  • Clippers (Medium Horse): Size, Kawhi, Matherin, and Garland boost. Could be a threat, but probably a step back from true dark horses.
  • Suns (Light-to-Medium): Too many injuries. “I just don’t think they’re gonna beat anybody.” — Andrew [36:21]
  • Warriors (Light Horse): Too many health and chemistry issues for a serious run.
  • Hornets (Medium Horse): “Charlotte is very capable… of being one of those teams that pushes you to seven and you were trying to get out in four.” — Xena [41:02]

Eastern Conference

• Dark Horse Candidates:
  • Magic: “They're getting more reps, they’ve become healthier and they’re back on their defensive grind.” — Xena [42:27]
  • Heat: “They’re going to have a coaching advantage against a lot of teams.” — Bam [48:33]
  • Sixers: Health of Embiid and Maxey is everything. “The Sixers need every… they need Maxey to come back healthy, they need Embiid to come back healthy…” — Bam [45:55]
• Discussion of Other East Teams:
  • Raptors and Bucks: “They wouldn't even be a light horse. They would just be a horse to me... I do not think this team has even a little bit of a chance to win a first round series.” — Dave, on Toronto [32:13]
  • “Just leave them actually a good place for them and they’re just in purgatory right now.” — Andrew, on the Bucks [32:44]
  • Cavaliers: Debate if they're true contenders or simply a dark horse — “They have the pressure of having a contending level roster.” — Andrew [44:39]

The Case for Miami

• “If you were to tell me that they somehow with a healthy Tyler Hero and Norm Powell and 83 point Bam... beat the Cavs... then played a Pistons team... and they're in the Eastern Conference Finals, that wouldn't surprise me.” — Dave [48:02]
• “They're scrappy.” — Xena [49:34]
• “What if they're the seventh seed and they go against Boston, who we all agree is a better team, but there's still those Miami Heat demons with the Celtics.” — Bam [48:38]

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4. Who’s Next for an 80+ Point Game?

[51:42–56:47]

• A roundtable on plausible names who might have the next 80+ point outburst, excluding usual superstars like Luka, Ant, Wemby, Cade.
  • OG Anunoby, Aaron Gordon, Derrick White, Jalen Johnson, Jalen Green, Devin Booker are mentioned, with tongue-in-cheek logic.
  • “Jalen Johnson feels like a good time. He might pass too much though.” — Bam [54:26]
  • Reflection that 80-point nights are probably a quirk of circumstance: “It takes, we've seen, like—it takes a special set of circumstances. Yeah. Like, you have to be playing a team that, like, you basically ended the game in the first quarter and now it's like, okay, now let's play a new game. It’s called I Score all the Points.” — Andrew [55:05]
  • “People have been saying that for years — Bam’s not a scorer, Bam can’t score. It’s like, I don’t think that anyone can fully comprehend how good these guys are at this game.” — Andrew [55:30]

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Notable Quotes by Timestamp

• On Bam’s Unlikely Scoring Record:

  • “You could not in a thousand years picture him scoring more than 50. Forget 83.” — Dave [07:31]

• On the Nature of NBA ‘Fun’:

  • “We have to run everything through so many purity tests to whether it's good or fun. And that's kind of annoying me today... I actually think it was great.” — Bam [06:01]

• On Hall of Fame Standards:

  • “The bar for hall of Fame in the NBA, it's hall of the decent in the gutter. So yeah, Bam. Out of bio is absolutely…” — Dave [16:14]

• On Tanking and Entertainment:

  • “If you're not going to give me the competition, at least put on a spectacle.” — Bam [10:43]

• On the Heat as a Playoff Threat:

  • “They're going to have a coaching advantage against a lot of teams.” — Bam [48:33]

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Podcast 'Dark Horse' Rankings Summary

(as recapped at the end):
Dark Horses: Rockets, Lakers, Magic, Sixers, Heat
Medium Horses: Clippers, Hornets
Light Horses: Warriors, Raptors, Suns, Blazers, Hawks
Contenders: Thunder, Knicks, Cavs, Nuggets, Pistons, Celtics, Spurs, Timberwolves
Tankers: Bucks, others not mentioned

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Final Segment: Perspective on Greatness

[55:24–56:47]

• Appreciation for NBA players’ absurd skill level, regardless of public perception:
  • “People have been saying that for years — Bam’s not a scorer, Bam can’t score. It’s like, I don’t think that anyone can fully comprehend how good these guys are at this game.” — Andrew [55:30]

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Summary Chart — Timestamps of Major Segments

| Segment | Start – End | |-----------------------------------------------|-----------------| | Bam’s 83-Point Game, Hall-of-Fame Debate | 03:00 – 23:59 | | Dark Horse Tier Introduction, Rankings | 25:55 – 51:00 | | “Next 80-Point Guy” and Skill Reflections | 51:42 – 56:47 |

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Takeaways

• Bam’s 83 was stunning and historic, sparking both celebration and skepticism, and raising fun what-if scenarios about the future of scoring in the NBA.
• The NBA’s ‘dark horse’ middle is full of intrigue, especially with health and matchup quirks. The group has confidence in Miami, Houston, and possibly Orlando, but skepticism toward teams like the Bucks and Raptors.
• The show blends sharp basketball talk with humor and a critical look at sports media reflexes, offering big takeaways for hoop heads and casual fans alike.

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For the full Dark Horse charts and ongoing debates, catch the show live on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Transcript

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[Xena]

We have got to figure that out. That countdown is so long.

[Bam]

But can we. I mean hey. Or at least some music. Yeah.

[Dave]

Can we get the like 5 4.

[Bam]

I mean we've got. Listen, we've got the best theme song in the game. It's a.

[Andrew]

It's a test in yalls patience.

[Dave]

I'll tell you right now Andrew, as. As a person whose brain is mush. No patience.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Bam]

Never Had a hot mic on this show.

[Andrew]

Never had a hot mic issue ever. Who's ever heard of that? Okay.

[Bam]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

Okay. Any. Anything that you guys want to talk about? Any. Any leftover Bam comments before we get to.

[Xena]

Yes. I did not get to communicate.

[Dave]

Hey, by the way, you got your shout out yesterday.

[Xena]

I did, I did.

[Dave]

You deserve it.

[Xena]

I. I did not anticipate Bam Adebayo being the person to break that record.

[Andrew]

Absolutely crazy. And you're like the craziest Bam.

[Xena]

Yeah, that would be insane.

[Bam]

Goes to show our bold predictions are not bold enough. That's it.

[Xena]

Yeah, I think you said that was my very first. That was my very first hot take on this show, which is not even that hot. It was actually from a hotel room. Very similar to the one I'm in now, which is hilarious. Actually, it might have been the same one. I don't know. No, we were in la. Never mind. So, yes, Bam out of bio. Did not get a double double, so that's unfortunate. Hey, did not get a double double. So two though. Awesome for him. Great for him. Three though. How did y' all go through that whole show and not mention Asia Wilson? Come on. She was previous high holder in their house and now she's like, man, she's like got something strides for. So I. I thought the. The fact that she was like in his post game, that was awesome. Conference was so cool. Like it was just goats right there. It's pretty crazy.

[Dave]

Like if they were to ever have children, like their children. Well, no, no, this is the, this is the thing. Like imagine having to explain to your child that you have scored 83 points in a basketball game and you are still not the better player in your relationship.

[Xena]

Yeah, right. Exactly, exactly. The other thing that made me that, that made me think of was at one point last this year, maybe last year, Wendell Carter Jr. Said that in a battle between him and. And Angel Reese, his partner versus Asia and Bam, that Wendell and Angel would win. And I'm like, baby, you're not holding up your end of the bargain. Okay, you said what?

[Bam]

Who's gonna dribble for them?

[Xena]

That's a great question. But I'll say this. Angels unrivaled. I'm worried about Wendell's contribute contributions in comparison. But yeah, I was just like, I just wanted to throw in the women's basketball touch on there. But yeah, fun night.

[Dave]

The NBA, I love it. Julian Reese, by the way. Let's throw him in that conversation too, you know.

[Xena]

Oh my gosh.

[Dave]

Wizards legend. Yeah, I. I still can't believe it. Like, I. I woke up this morning and I'm like, we live in a reality where Bam out of Bio has scored 83 points in a basketball game.

[Bam]

You know, simulation theory here, right?

[Dave]

It's working, it's cooking, you know? Oh, my God. Yeah.

[Xena]

Fairly impressive.

[Bam]

I. I gotta. I've been shocked by the takes and also unshocked by the takes that I've seen. Incredible amount of sadness by Lakers folks. I guess it's like, bittersweet to see it pass, but I. I don't know, man. It was cool, right? Like, 83 points. We've only seen. We've only seen two guys even score over 80. Yeah, it doesn't happen every night.

[Dave]

I just don't.

[Bam]

This nitpicking like. Like, we have to run everything through so many purity tests to whether it's good or fun. And that's kind of annoying me today. But other than that, I actually think. I think it was great. I think the 43 again. I went back again and watched all the fouls. They're fouls. That conversation.

[Xena]

I do agree.

[Dave]

And by the way, like, people are bringing up the fact that he was getting triple teamed in the fourth quarter like he was getting triple teamed. You know, like, that actually is a. A Pro to the 83 points.

[Bam]

The one thing we can knock is that there was the intentional fouling to get more possessions. All right, we can do that. We. We can hate on that if we

[Andrew]

want, but it was either going to be intentionally fouling or the Wizards were going to bleed the clock. Right?

[Bam]

Also, hey, how about the fact that the Wizards are bad enough that you can take a random Tuesday night in March, and Bam Adebayo could be like, hey, I'm gonna score 83 points on these dudes because they can't stop me. Nobody, like, nobody's having that conversation. We're gonna have Josh Robbins on the show tomorrow. Maybe we'll ask him how come the Wizards are so bad Bam was able to score 83 points? I mean, you gotta stop the guy.

[Xena]

That's the question. That's true.

[Dave]

It's kind of crazy because, like, Alex,

[Bam]

I can't believe I'm having to stick up for Bam out of Bio, by the way, who I like as a player, but it's not like he's, you know, it's not a top 10 guy.

[Xena]

Yeah, well, even, like, even if you

[Dave]

were the biggest, most staunch Bam Adebayo fan, right? You could not in a thousand years picture him scoring more than 50. Forget 83. This is a guy who's he broke his career high that same night, obviously, when he got to, I think 40, 41. 41 to double that and get to 83 is just laughable. It doesn't make sense. You know, I. I think there's part of me that. That kind of understands the, like, the. The reaction from fans, which is.

[Andrew]

Sure.

[Dave]

Which is like, this is comical. You know, this is. This is March basketball at its worst. I understand that to some level, but I also am like, just have fun. Just enjoy yourselves.

[Xena]

You know, I mean, let's just be real. 43 points in 19 minutes was crazy.

[Dave]

Yeah. It's insane, right?

[Xena]

So even before you get to the 83, which is great because of the history lesson there, but the 43 and 19, when the game was still being played, right before all the fouling, before the white flag was basically being raised in a way that's still incredibly impressive. But, yeah, it is kind of crazy that this is not of the greatest scorers of all time doing this. Which means we know who's doing this next, right? Derek White. Come on. That's the trend. You go to Team usa, Honestly, you make it. You make it. You make an indelible impact on Team usa. You are a guy that people are like, thank goodness for him and his minutes for Team usa And then you come in the next season, you just score 83. So Bam did it. And Derrick White, I feel like this is his moment before then Derek White,

[Bam]

actually, that's the type of guy that just sometimes will pop off for like a game like that.

[Xena]

That's what I'm saying.

[Bam]

Not 80, not 80.

[Xena]

Come on.

[Andrew]

Come on.

[Bam]

Nobody. Nobody pops off for 80.

[Xena]

Figure it out.

[Bam]

Only Bam.

[Andrew]

This is what will fix tanking, right here, is that we can let tank, but the challenge goes to somebody on the other team has to be the one to score a vast majority of the points against these teams that want to lose. Right. Because they're going to lose anyways.

[Bam]

Right? And there are some.

[Andrew]

When these good teams play these tanking teams, they're going to lose anyways, and there's no value to be taken. I mean, there. I talked to a scout and talked to, like, team employees the other night, and like, they're like, yeah, I. I need to go see teams, but I can't go watch these, like, double tanking games. Like, there's. They're useless.

[Dave]

Yeah. There's no value to that. Yeah.

[Andrew]

Here's how you make it valuable is you just go try to break Bam's record like these. There's a lot of teams not trying right now.

[Bam]

Right.

[Andrew]

A lot of, A lot of teams still have to play the Wizards.

[Bam]

You know, what would the ABA do?

[Andrew]

Right?

[Bam]

If this was a problem that they had, they. Number one, maybe they'd say, hey, you're gonna play four on five. But the team with four players has a bear on their team, right? Like, they're gonna do something crazy. So, like, give me a show is the thing. Like my biggest problem. Like, it is. The NBA is an entertainment thing.

[Dave]

Okay?

[Bam]

It is sports and we want competition. But if you're not going to give me the competition, at least put on a spectacle. Yeah, maybe we gotta.

[Xena]

Yeah, it's got to be Harlem Globetrotter esque, right? At this point.

[Bam]

Give me some American Gladiators esque, like obstacles. Maybe we, we have a joust. You know, the thing where they used to shoot them with the tennis balls. That would be awesome, right? Fans able to.

[Andrew]

American Gladiators.

[Xena]

Yeah, that's what it is. Okay. Got it. Just want to make sure.

[Bam]

I don't know. But I, I, I don't know. I enjoyed this game that I accidentally watched. You know, it was. I had it in the quad box and I just noticed Bam was going off and I tuned in and next thing you knew, he 31 points in the first quarter.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Bam]

And, and I was annoyed at him because I'm like, why don't you play like this more often? And I don't mean, you know, score 80. But.

[Dave]

God.

[Bam]

Well, the, But I guess just.

[Xena]

You don't have Tyler Hero. You don't have Norm Powell, you don't have Claire Ware. You don't have all these people that could typically have their hands on the ball that leans into the aggression. No, Dave.

[Bam]

Well, yeah, but it was also the game plan. But Bam is. Bam is a better player on offense than we get to see. And part of it is about his mindset.

[Dave]

It was actually funny. Like, dur. NBC did a halftime interview with him during the Wolves Lakers game, and they asked him, they're like, hey, did you feel like you were going to go out there and drop 40? And he said he had a good pregame workout with one of the trainers for the Heat. And the, the trainer was actually talking trash to him, saying, you can't be aggressive. Why can't you be this aggressive constantly? And that got him mad. So he channeled it into the game. I thought that was really interesting because it's.

[Bam]

That coach should get a promotion.

[Dave]

He hugged him. The, the. At the end. If you watch the video, you know, obviously he Hugs Bo and then he goes and he hugs, I think one of the assistants that was the assistant

[Bam]

that he was hugging half the battle with these guys. It's not talent, it's mindset. It's how do you get this? How do you get Bam out of bio to act like he's, you know, the best player on the court? I mean, in a game against the Wizards, this is what I expect from Bamboo. Like he has to do that because he is the best player by far.

[Dave]

Yeah. I want to see 83 every night.

[Bam]

Yeah, well, I mean, not. I want an 83 mindset every night.

[Xena]

See, this is, this is now the problem because it's been, it's been 20 years since Kobe did what he did. 20 years, right. And we've never seen footage of Wilt doing what he did. But now that it is in 4k HD, all the clips in the world, people are gonna be like, well, obviously this can happen again.

[Dave]

I actually was going to say, I think this is proof that we will get a 101 point game at some point.

[Xena]

See, now the standard has been.

[Bam]

But then people will say, man, this is garbage. And let me, let me just say this. The Wilt game, right? The stories that you hear, they were just letting the other team score.

[Xena]

Sure.

[Bam]

So they could throw the ball down to Wilt. And Wilt was the only tall guy on the court, by the way. Yeah, yeah, right. Imagine if Bam Adebayo went out and did this against, I don't know, a middle school basketball team. That's basically what Wilt did.

[Xena]

Yeah.

[Bam]

Because a mid. A team of middle schoolers, if you could put them in a time machine and drop them off in the NBA, they would probably run. Those dudes disrespecting Paul. Ay, I'm disrespecting all of them.

[Andrew]

A lot of middle school basketball this year. There's some good middle school basketball players.

[Xena]

You guys know that Lisa Leslie once scored 101 points and a half.

[Bam]

Yeah. Yes.

[Dave]

Yeah, yeah.

[Xena]

Like I want to know what kind of game. What was happening?

[Bam]

That was Wilt versus middle school

[Andrew]

shot. Like, right.

[Xena]

You're not even running up the court. You're just standing. You're cherry picking the whole game, just waiting. But yeah, alas, now, anyway, S's of the world that are like 84 or die.

[Bam]

Yes. That's what, that's what we need. That's the mindset. But yes, it was fun, man. I, I enjoyed it. And, and even. Look, Eric Spoelster is about as serious of a basketball coach as you have in the NBA.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Bam]

And he was in on it, right?

[Xena]

Like, dude, we're having fun. That's the thing.

[Bam]

Bam is a franchise legend. Let's just do this like it's fun. Man.

[Andrew]

I can't stand people that are like, man, I just wish we could have just a normal wizards. Okay.

[Xena]

I'm just trying.

[Bam]

They wouldn't watch.

[Andrew]

I'm just trying to watch Wizards Heat in an ethical way.

[Bam]

Like you're, oh, by the way, this game, this game was, I believe, blacked out. It was black so wizards and, and Heat fans couldn't watch at home. I, I, I wait, really? I read that. Yeah. This was not, this was not a national TV game. It was. I watched it on league pass.

[Dave]

I watched on league passes.

[Bam]

Well, yeah, I, I just, look, I just think, you know, let things be fun. We don't need to have some kind of a serious take about it.

[Andrew]

Yeah, that's crazy.

[Bam]

That's my serious take on this.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Bam]

Everybody's too serious about it.

[Dave]

Shout out to Bam, man.

[Bam]

Yes. Shout out to Bam for giving me.

[Dave]

Yeah, he could retire right now and

[Xena]

he's forever in the history book.

[Bam]

Well, okay. Yeah, he's made a lot of money, so yes, he could now.

[Xena]

Oh, question. He's a Hall of Famer now?

[Bam]

Oh, no.

[Dave]

I would say he was a Hall of Famer before him.

[Xena]

Oh, look at this.

[Dave]

You guys have to understand that the, the bar for hall of Fame in the NBA, it's hall of the decent in the gutter. So yeah, Bam. Out of bio is absolutely.

[Andrew]

Okay, okay, okay, okay. So hall of Fame is largely based on accomplishments, right?

[Dave]

Yeah. Two time gold medalist, right?

[Bam]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

Three time all star. Five time all defense. Is that enough?

[Dave]

100 no questions.

[Andrew]

100 is crazy to me.

[Xena]

He's probably not first now that he's done this. That he is.

[Bam]

Oh, I don't think, I mean, yeah,

[Dave]

I agree with you, Xena. 100 But I think even before that he was a Hall of Famer. I wouldn't say he was a lock. Like he's not first team all ballot, right? Like, no, that, that wasn't getting in there. But I, I think he would have been a Hall of Famer. Yeah. Probability.

[Bam]

That's what I'm looking up right now. I'm looking this up.

[Xena]

There is a. See, these are the things I'm learning. A Hall of Fame probability.

[Dave]

Hall of Fame probability. Yes.

[Xena]

Wow.

[Bam]

He's 41. His probability is. 0. 081.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Xena]

081.

[Bam]

So he, so 8%.

[Xena]

8%.

[Bam]

That's a little disrespectful like Rudy Gobert is 32%.

[Dave]

Hold on. Isn't Mitch Richmond in the hall of Fame? Huh? Okay, let me go.

[Bam]

Did you. Did you see Mitch Richmond? I mean, Mitch Richmond was a very good player.

[Andrew]

I don't think Mitch Richmond made all NBA. Five times.

[Dave]

Five time all NBA player.

[Andrew]

Okay.

[Xena]

Oh, wow. Yeah, I just.

[Dave]

I. Okay.

[Bam]

But I also don't think he was a Hall of Fame.

[Xena]

Shots at the Warriors.

[Bam]

Look, in my hall of Fame, there's like seven guys.

[Andrew]

Okay, well, that's crazy.

[Bam]

7

[Xena]

is kind of crazy though.

[Andrew]

Yeah. I don't know. To me, you have to make all NBA to get into the hall of Fame like you have. You have to at least make like all NBA. You had to have been one of the 15 best players in a given year. And if you're not, then you're probably not a Hall of Famer.

[Xena]

No, I'm with that. I think that's a really good standard.

[Bam]

Like the MVP thing. If you get an mvp, that's like you're a lock for the hall of Fame, basically. I think Derek. Derrick Rose will be interesting.

[Andrew]

Yeah, he's the only. Yeah. And it's due to injury, not due to.

[Dave]

Right.

[Andrew]

Career.

[Bam]

He still could get in.

[Dave]

Wait, so you guys are saying Even with the 83 point game, he's not a Hall of Famer?

[Bam]

Okay, correct. One game, I think that's a little. One game changes your career. I actually think that's a problem though.

[Dave]

Come on, dude, he scored 83.

[Bam]

I don't care.

[Andrew]

Yeah, that's.

[Bam]

It's one game.

[Andrew]

I'm not gonna look.

[Dave]

It's not like he scored 60, okay? 83 points.

[Bam]

83 real 20 points a game on the season.

[Xena]

I don't know what our YouTube stream looks like right now.

[Bam]

We gotta pump the brakes.

[Andrew]

Wait, wait, wait.

[Xena]

I don't know what our YouTube stream looks like. Like, if it actually is laid out exactly how I'm looking at this. But it's basically sni. Like looking up, come on, two boxes above us. Like, are you guys serious? It's 83 points. Okay?

[Bam]

That's can get you into hall of fame. It's one game.

[Andrew]

It's the two old guys, right?

[Dave]

It's one 83 point game, bro.

[Bam]

They say you get more conservative as you get older.

[Andrew]

Come on, y' all an example. We gotta have standards.

[Bam]

You know what?

[Xena]

You know what? That's fair. That's fine. All I'll say is this. I bet you anything now that Bam has seen what he is capable of. Watch these Next few games, we'll see what happens.

[Dave]

I would love. I would love for him to like.

[Xena]

I would love a breakout.

[Bam]

Here's the thing I worry about also. It's like the Home Run Derby, you know? And. And well, no, now he's like, okay, I'm gonna start gunning. And he's awful.

[Andrew]

Oh, that is definitely possible.

[Xena]

That is possible. That's possible in every sport.

[Dave]

I saw something like he. The amount of threes that he took for the first five seasons of his career was basically the amount that he took in that one game last night, which is just crazy to think about in terms of his output and. And how much he was getting out there. Also, I will say to Bam's credit was the second best player on two finals teams. Another hall of Fame case. Just want to say

[Bam]

maybe the best.

[Dave]

Maybe in that bubble.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Bam]

Two losing finals teams, man.

[Dave]

Wow.

[Andrew]

Right?

[Xena]

Yeah. I can't even back you on that. S.

[Bam]

This is not. I mean, if they had made it like four years in a row. You know what I mean? But no.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Bam]

No, we can't do it. Hey, here's a good question from the chat, by the way. Genuine question. Does Bam ever make an all NBA team?

[Xena]

See, here's my thing. Why maybe is not make the all NBA team, but technically he makes the team USA team and gets minutes and they beat the whole world. So what are we. What are we doing?

[Dave]

Xena's cooking right now, by the way. Yes, I do think Bam could make an all NBA.

[Bam]

He's like.

[Dave]

He's been borderline all NBA in past crazy numbers.

[Xena]

He's incredibly amazing defensively. I think if he locks in off. Off of this performance, he could.

[Andrew]

He could be.

[Bam]

How many centers go. Let's just draft centers real quick, right?

[Dave]

Sure.

[Bam]

How many centers do you think, Wemby?

[Xena]

Well, you know, now is he. Is he really a center anymore with Kalaware?

[Bam]

Yeah.

[Dave]

Well, okay, look, all NBA is positionless anyway, so it doesn't really matter that we're doing.

[Bam]

I think it matters for Bam because if it's positionless, it's going to go to guards and wings before it goes to Biggs. Yeah, that's the NBA.

[Andrew]

And when you're averaging like 18 points a game, it's really, really hard to make all NBA.

[Bam]

Oh, another good question as they're picking on you in the chat. I. I will defend. I'm ready as. How many draft picks do you give up for Bam out of bio? I love that this has become the same cast.

[Dave]

Is this. Is this in relation to the Raptors. Because I wouldn't trade for Bam out of. Okay, the Raptors already have a band.

[Bam]

You're gon trade for Bam. Bam is the missing piece to your team. What are you giving up for him? Are you doing four first for Bam.

[Dave]

Three. I think three is probably the most I'd go, but like, I don't know. Mikhail Bridges went for five. You know, that was.

[Bam]

How's that working?

[Xena]

Well done. S. Well done.

[Bam]

Oh, yeah. You know what? This is a. This is a good one.

[Andrew]

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[Dave]

So we can win fast.

[Andrew]

Cards, fast. Puzzles, fast.

[Bam]

Team games at your door in a day fast.

[Andrew]

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[Xena]

Not the team I'm talking about. Don't even play that. Not the Team USA I'm talking about. Kelden did not win.

[Dave]

The game was not horrendous. You said what game was not horrendous? That's all I'll say. Yeah.

[Andrew]

No, also team. I can't use Team USA just because there's so many good world players right now that will make all NBA. You know, that will take so many spots.

[Bam]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

Yeah. Okay. The, the main event today is I want to talk about some of these teams that are kind of in the middle. I think most of our conversations moving forward will be about contenders and jockeying for playoff position and all of that. And then we'll have the lottery here in like a couple months and we'll talk about that quite a bit. But these kind of middling teams aren't going to get a ton of conversation, so I wanted to at least bring them into the fold. Oh, I did not mean to do that.

[Dave]

Bring Dave into.

[Bam]

Oh, that was a great. That was a great move.

[Andrew]

There we go. Just Dave only, everybody. Here we go, Dave. All right, Dave.

[Bam]

My reaction to the team names.

[Andrew]

What am I doing now? Okay, sorry.

[Xena]

All right.

[Andrew]

So we're going to rank the dark horses of the NBA right now. Okay. So the teams that we feel like could sneak up and do some damage. Okay. That we're not expecting. Meaning, like can these, can, can you see these teams getting to the conference finals?

[Dave]

Yeah. I think that's a good barometer.

[Andrew]

Nobody. Nobody's. None of these teams down here, I don't think will make the NBA Finals. I think like Thunder, Nicks, Cavs, Nuggets, Pistons, Celtic, spurs are probably the teams that are most likely to make the NBA Finals.

[Bam]

Can I make a case to throw Minnesota in that mix? I would also because they've made a conference finals two years in a row. I feel like they're. Yeah.

[Andrew]

Okay.

[Dave]

I like that case I would. I would vouch for them to be in the contenders.

[Bam]

Like they're playoff proven to a certain extent. If that. I don't. I don't know. Maybe. Maybe that's not the argument that we're trying to make.

[Andrew]

I'll throw them in. I'll throw them in. Any disagreements?

[Dave]

No, I. I mean, I don't.

[Bam]

But yeah, I mean, now that, now that Bam is gonna be, you know, this high powered guy, maybe Miami.

[Andrew]

Let's start. S. Yeah. Of these teams that are left, which one do you trust the most or you think has, like, the best case?

[Dave]

So just to be clear, dark horse's best case, right. Or is light.

[Andrew]

So we have dark horse, medium horse, light horse. I don't know if this is the best way to have the conversation. I hadn't really thought about this a ton, if I'm being honest, about the dark horse meeting horse, Lighthorse. But that's what we're going with. Dark horse is like, this is the team that I think has the best chance.

[Dave]

Best chance. Okay.

[Andrew]

Get to the conference finals of all. All these teams.

[Dave]

I would. For these cases. Yeah. I think it would be the Houston Rockets.

[Andrew]

Okay.

[Dave]

That you have.

[Bam]

Interesting.

[Dave]

Of all the teams that you have remaining, just because they have Kevin Durant, they actually have had playoff experience now because of last year. And I. I think their defense is very good. So defense can win you a couple of rounds, in my opinion. Depends on matchup. But, yeah, I mean, I would. Truthfully, I would be shocked, but I think if there was a team of the group that we have here, it probably makes sense for it to be the. The Rockets.

[Xena]

Now, question, how realistic are we being about health issues?

[Dave]

I would say realistic in the sense

[Xena]

of if this person comes back, this could be a game changer. But, like, are we assuming 100 health or. No, we're.

[Dave]

Correct me if I'm wrong. We're assuming whatever's happening right now.

[Bam]

Yeah, whatever's happening right now.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Xena]

Okay, that's fair.

[Bam]

Who's coming back for the Rockets?

[Xena]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I'm already thinking about the Warriors.

[Bam]

Oh, oh, Warriors.

[Xena]

Yeah. I'm trying to. I'm trying to figure out if the warriors with Christoph Sporzingis, with Stephen Curry, with Al Horford, with the Anthony Melton, with all of them, are they a medium horse or dark horse? I just feel like when you have Stephen Curry being added back into the fold, he's already going to push it to the medium horse. Maybe not dark horse, but. Sorry, keep going.

[Dave]

I mean, I That's a pitch. If you guys want to throw them

[Andrew]

in there, we can talk about Warriors.

[Bam]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

I mean, to me, it's like, do we think that all those guys can make it through two full rounds in the playoffs? I think is like, especially Porzingis. Like, do we think that Chris Apps for Zingus can make it through two rounds?

[Dave]

Dude, like, can't even make it through a week. Yeah, exactly.

[Andrew]

I know. That's what.

[Xena]

That's tough.

[Dave]

I would. I would if I had to. This is. This might be a little crazy, but I do have a slight inkling that it feels to me from the outside looking in that the warriors are actually probably going to be in the tanker situation. Tanker group.

[Bam]

They.

[Dave]

They feel like they're kind of conceding on purpose.

[Xena]

Now.

[Dave]

I know Steph might come back and

[Bam]

that can't really improve is one thing. And I think that the idea that they can't drop out of the play in.

[Andrew]

Yeah, there's. What are they.

[Dave]

There's no way they'll drop out.

[Bam]

Yeah, they're in. They're in limbo.

[Andrew]

They're 11 and a half games up. Like, you can't. They can't tank.

[Dave]

But they could lose in the plan.

[Andrew]

Right.

[Dave]

They could tank a playing game.

[Bam]

No way that they're gonna have Steph Curry sit a playing game if he's.

[Dave]

That's fair. Yeah, that's fair.

[Bam]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Andrew]

Playing with Steph before. So they have.

[Dave]

They have Light horse.

[Andrew]

They're a light horse to me.

[Bam]

Yeah. Light horse.

[Xena]

Okay.

[Andrew]

I just can't. I mean, because they. They'll have to play one of these west teams that we have down here. Right. We conceivably think that they could be any one of those teams in the. In round one.

[Bam]

No, I don't see it.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Dave]

By the way, OG unnamed YouTuber says S is going to hate me, but I don't believe Toronto will do anything in the playoffs as constructed. Well, guess what? I completely agree with you.

[Bam]

First round out.

[Xena]

Yeah. I would not a white horse.

[Dave]

They would. I don't. They wouldn't even be a light horse. They would just be a horse to me. You know, I. I do not think this team has even a little bit of a chance to win a first round series.

[Xena]

I feel similarly about the Bucks.

[Andrew]

Oh, yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah.

[Bam]

Get them out of there.

[Xena]

Wait.

[Dave]

Throw the Bucks in the tanker, man.

[Bam]

Yeah, they're tank.

[Xena]

Yeah.

[Bam]

I mean, they're not tanking on purpose, but they're bad.

[Xena]

I. Yeah, I was like, I don't know what's worse than light horse, but they're definitely not a contender and they're

[Andrew]

not anything else down here. Like, they're just like, just leave them actually a good place for them and they're just in like purgatory right now. Yeah. Like, until they make the honest decision, they're just, they're, they're kind of nothing. There's nothing really that interesting about them either.

[Xena]

Nope.

[Andrew]

You know, like, I mean, they have Yanis. They do. They have a, A trade chip. That's losing value. Cool.

[Xena]

I'll say. Clippers.

[Andrew]

Okay.

[Xena]

Light, maybe medium horse.

[Andrew]

But what do we think about the, the Clippers?

[Xena]

For whatever reason, Clippers. I like their size.

[Andrew]

This tier maker has it says Lippers. Honestly, that makes.

[Xena]

That's uncomfortable.

[Andrew]

I don't know why that happened.

[Bam]

They're gonna have to.

[Xena]

It got clipped.

[Andrew]

They got clipped there.

[Xena]

It got clipped. Yeah. I feel like Clippers are probably, they're in a better position than the warriors though. So I feel like that's why I feel like they are probably a medium horse.

[Andrew]

I agree.

[Xena]

Like, they have Kawhi, they've got Benedict, they've got size.

[Bam]

And if they get out of the play in they play the spurs or the Thunder. I mean, I don't, I actually don't. I don't think the spurs are going to catch the Thunder.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Dave]

Oh, I just mean like seven, eight.

[Bam]

Oh, yeah. No, I mean I say if they get out, like if they win the play at their first playing game.

[Andrew]

Right.

[Bam]

But they're gonna have to beat the Suns, the Nuggets, the Wolves.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Bam]

Or the Lakers.

[Andrew]

Yeah. And even right now with Niedenhauser out, like, yeah, it's like Brooke Lopez and then Isaiah Jackson is their center rotation.

[Bam]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

Not. Is not great.

[Bam]

They are likely 8C too, by the way.

[Andrew]

Yeah. They got Garland back, which is great. Like that. I don't even know what to think about their new team. I kind of. Especially if this pick hits in this draft because I wind up with like the fifth pick in this draft.

[Dave]

I don't hate it.

[Andrew]

Yeah. And like you, you're kind of restarting with like whatever Kawhi is plus Garland and Matherin and Jordan Miller. And like I like this is, this is kind of cool one year deal, right? It's kind of cool.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Bam]

Inspiring.

[Dave]

I actually, I agree. I, I think the Clippers have a little bit of fight to them. Like I, I like Garland. I, he. He's looked okay so far health wise. And Matheran scoring has been a huge punch, you know, even before they Traded for him. We talked about how much they missed that, like, Norm Powell role, but he's been that for them. And then, you know, I like, Kawhi is still Kawhi in a playoff series. You don't want to be on the other side of that, so.

[Bam]

I agree.

[Dave]

Medium horse is where I would land.

[Xena]

I have another medium horse.

[Andrew]

Okay.

[Xena]

Phoenix Suns.

[Andrew]

Okay.

[Dave]

Okay.

[Xena]

Yeah.

[Bam]

What's still in Brooks timetable?

[Xena]

Six weeks at least.

[Dave]

Well, six weeks from when he. When he got hurt.

[Xena]

Right.

[Dave]

Like two weeks, I want to say.

[Bam]

So he could be back for. For a play in playoff situation?

[Dave]

Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

[Bam]

Probably will be.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Dave]

But Mark Williams is also out for a little bit too, right? Three weeks or something.

[Andrew]

Yes.

[Bam]

Yeah. They're going to need some help to get out of the plan.

[Andrew]

They're kind of a light horse, to be honest. Really?

[Xena]

Why?

[Andrew]

I just don't think they're gonna beat anybody. Like, I just. I don't think that they have, like, the. The juice to beat a team if

[Dave]

we're basing it off, like, make a conference finals run. Yeah, that's tough. I agree.

[Andrew]

I don't. I think I would put the Clippers above them. Obviously, the Rockets are above them. I would put the Lakers above them because, like, did you make the Lakers

[Xena]

a dark horse or a medium horse? I just don't think that the Lakers have enough size inside to be a dark horse.

[Andrew]

Yeah. I still think, especially with the way that Luca has been playing lately. Like, Luca can just do stuff.

[Xena]

Yeah, he can. You're right. I've seen it with my own eyes many times.

[Andrew]

I would. I'll put them here. I'll put them as a dark horse with the Rockets just because, like, I just. Now maybe they just tell LeBron go home. Because it's been.

[Dave]

We were talking about this on the show yesterday, but it's just weird that they. Not weird. Weird is not the right word.

[Bam]

But it's.

[Dave]

It's strange that they keep winning. You know, like, we keep talking about how much we do not believe in this Lakers team as currently constructed with the defense and everything. And yet still with Luca and Austin, they win a bunch. I just.

[Xena]

They just out score folks a lot of the times. Yeah, but I ain't gonna lie. Like, against the Knicks, they were actually playing defense. Like, they were rotating. They were on a string. But we don't see that enough. We don't see it consistently enough. So it's not something that we can count on. But what we can't count on is their ability to win on the margins Just putting up enough possessions or having enough possessions, put up enough shots and making enough and. Yeah, I don't know. It works.

[Bam]

Can I. Rui Hachimura has been really, really good.

[Xena]

He's an X factor for them.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Xena]

Especially shot is hidden. Yeah.

[Bam]

You give him. It's another play finisher, you know, instead of a guy like LeBron, who. Who's not. He's a great play finisher, but it's not his primary, you know, motivation when he's not on the court. And I just think having a guy who does that, he's like, I'm gonna shoot threes, I'm gonna space the floor, I'm gonna cut. Try hard on defense. He is bad on defense, but he tries hard.

[Andrew]

Yeah. Yeah. Their problem is that they just have too many guys that defend the same position because it's like, yeah, Luca, LeBron, Rui, Jake, Laravia, they like all basically defend fours now. And so, like. But they all have to play together. And so that's the biggest problem with the defense. And that's. And that's why, like, having LeBron has been. It's just. He just does too much of the same stuff. Right. And he's just old and it's just not a great combination.

[Dave]

Can I throw out a. A dark horse contender that may shock you all?

[Andrew]

Yeah,

[Xena]

you better not.

[Dave]

The Charlotte Hornets.

[Xena]

I knew you were gonna say that. I knew it. I knew you were gonna say that. No, I just. I don't. Don't see it. I don't see it. I'm winning a round. I've already said that.

[Dave]

Look, if you win around, it doesn't take that much to win another.

[Xena]

I don't. I don't see them getting to the conference finals.

[Andrew]

Conference finals would be crazy.

[Bam]

Okay, here's the thing.

[Xena]

Here's. I feel like they're a medium horse.

[Bam]

They're gonna have to win likely two play in games to be the eight seed. And then that gives them the Pistons.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Dave]

Guys, they're not that far away from six. I'm just saying it's. It's hard. It's an uphill climb.

[Bam]

Well, no, Miami and Orlando have tightened up, right?

[Xena]

They have, exactly.

[Bam]

Yeah. And I think that that matters quite a bit. It's gonna be hard for them to

[Andrew]

catch four games is all. Is a lot.

[Dave]

It is a lot in this point of the season.

[Andrew]

Okay. It's a lot.

[Bam]

Yeah.

[Dave]

I think the reason it's dark horse is because you throw them up against, you know, one of the Pistons.

[Bam]

The Pistons should be nervous if it's Charlotte? Nah, the scoring, the scoring that Charlotte can do, I just think that that's a real issue for Detroit.

[Xena]

I think I, I agree. I'm with you, Dave. I do believe that Detroit should be nervous, whether it's them picking up some wins.

[Bam]

Right.

[Xena]

Or just them slowing them down.

[Bam]

Look, I still pick the Pistons to win this. Like if that series, let's say the playoffs were tomorrow, I'm still picking the Pistons.

[Xena]

I'm exactly same. And I'm just talking about. Charlotte is very capable in my eyes of being one of those teams that pushes you to seven and you were trying to get out in four. And that, that is, that's what I would be nervous about from a Pistons perspective is that you're going into the second round tired or, you know, spent in a way that you were not expecting to and you thought you were going to, you know, be able to recalibrate after the first round really quickly and you just can't.

[Dave]

This is my thing. We just picked two Western Conference teams as dark horses and yeah, we feel like it's a lot harder to make a dark horse run in the Western Conference when you have the Thunder and the Nuggets and the spurs and the Wolves and it's just, it's hard for me to envision, you know, even as I've said the Rockets are a dark horse team and we, we agreed that the Lakers are a dark horse team. It's like the path to make a surprise run is easier in the Eastern Conference just by process of the teams that we had.

[Xena]

That's why I think Miami and Ma, the Magic to me are more the dark horse. The dark horses of the East.

[Dave]

No love for Philly, huh? I mean, they're hurt. I get it.

[Xena]

Yeah, they're hurt. But like, who? I don't know who just said it. I think it was Dave that, you know, mentioned the Magic in the Heat. Florida, they tighten it up down there.

[Andrew]

So I just feel like Orlando's been better.

[Xena]

Orlando's been much better. They've been back on their defensive grind. We're seeing the fruit of the big three a little bit more, I think, than we were at the beginning of the season. Yeah, I just feel like they've now become healthier and they're getting more reps with each other. So I don't know, I feel like Orlando's my dark roast at the East. Is that too much, though?

[Bam]

I'd feel better if I knew, like the Franz injury story, you know what I mean? If I, I had some idea that he was going to be available for.

[Dave]

For a run.

[Bam]

I'd feel better. But they would be honest.

[Xena]

Do you? Because they've actually been better when they're

[Bam]

not fully healthy, but healthy.

[Xena]

Like, I actually. I'm not gonna lie, I don't want to ever wish injury on anyone. But, like, seeing Desmond Bain and Paolo or Desmond Bain in France has been better than seeing all three of them together all season.

[Dave]

That is true. Yeah, that is true.

[Xena]

Like, their Big Three situation is actually better. Like an on and off situation. So.

[Andrew]

And Palo's been really good lately.

[Dave]

Yep.

[Andrew]

Like, he's. He's played really well. He's scoring well, is rebounding really well. Yeah.

[Dave]

I'm happy to put them in dark horse.

[Andrew]

Yeah, I. I think that. And it's not like we are picking them to make the conference, but, like, if they match, like, would it be crazy if they matched up with Cleveland and beat them? Is that crazy?

[Dave]

No, I wouldn't be surprised. Yeah.

[Bam]

I think Cleveland, like, if. If they're the. If they're the seven seed, I think, like, Boston runs through, but if somehow they lose in the play and they're the eight seed and they got Detroit, I think that that's. That's a problem for Detroit.

[Xena]

Do we really feel. And I'm just asking, do we really feel that confident in the Cavaliers?

[Andrew]

No,

[Dave]

I don't think you can be confident in a team that has Jared Allen and Evan Mobley as your front corner.

[Xena]

So are they even in the contender bracket or are they a dark horse?

[Dave]

No, they are. They are a contender.

[Andrew]

They have the pressure of having a contending level roster. Yeah.

[Xena]

Okay. Okay, okay.

[Andrew]

It's like part of it is, like, I don't think that any of these teams we have here now have contending level rosters. Like, they need something to go right for them.

[Xena]

Yes.

[Bam]

Like, the Sixers need every. They need Maxi to come back healthy, they need Embiid to come back healthy, and they need Paul George in two weeks to come back jacked but not juiced.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Bam]

What if Paul George took. Took the 25 games off and put on 5 pounds of muscle?

[Xena]

YouTube can see our faces. Those listening,

[Andrew]

y'.

[Bam]

All.

[Andrew]

Y' all ain't seen playoff P yet. Okay.

[Bam]

Right.

[Andrew]

All I have to say.

[Xena]

That's right.

[Andrew]

Y' all ain't seen playoff P yet.

[Xena]

I'm so through.

[Andrew]

Just get ready.

[Bam]

I mean, listen, I. I'm. I'm willing to put the Sixers in dark horse, actually, because we saw what they looked like when everybody. Look, when. When everybody was rolling. They Were good and Embiid. Embiid in the playoffs is actually pretty good. You know, he's a hub. He can get you buckets. He gets to the free throw line. Maxi's great. They just. It's the health thing, and that's why they're a dark horse.

[Andrew]

They may not even get to the playoffs.

[Dave]

No, they might not even get to the playoffs, but there is a. A chance in which they make it to the playoffs and they're healthy and they face like, the Cavs or the Celtics or the Knicks or something and miraculously beat them in round one. And now they're in round two, and they're playing a Pistons team that doesn't have as much. You know, like, there's. There's a world in which you could see that happening.

[Xena]

I feel like that's the one pick that kind of breaks our whole thing because it is so health dependent.

[Dave]

Yeah, it is.

[Andrew]

Yeah. I mean, the football's already been pulled from the fan base. They're all on their butts now, and that's where they will remain. But I'll put them here because you guys want them there. Okay. All right. Blazers are a light horse. I don't think.

[Bam]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

Anything. I don't think they're getting out of the play in. I don't think the Hawks. I think they're playing. I. I like some of what the Hawks have been recently. Jalen Johnson is. That dude is for real. Yeah.

[Dave]

He is very good basketball player.

[Bam]

Yeah. Jokic talking about how he's been watching Hawks games to watch. Jalen Johnson was pretty funny.

[Dave]

I thought he's.

[Xena]

I don't think I heard that There's

[Bam]

a little bit of Jokic to his game. Right.

[Andrew]

Like, I mean.

[Bam]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

Yeah. He's really. He's really, really good. And like, I. I think they need to continue to pursue this, like, developmental track for their team.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

And like, get a good draft pick in which they're gonna have a real shot at one this year and then, like, go try again with the younger team. And Kaminga has. Has played pretty well so far.

[Bam]

If Risa Shea. If Risa says shot ever starts to drop, I think he's gonna wind up. I mean, it's funny to say about a guy who's, you know, number one pick, but I think he's gonna wind up being a, like, a contributor.

[Dave]

He was good last year as a rookie.

[Xena]

I was gonna say he was a contributor last.

[Bam]

All right, so Bucks nothing. All right, let's talk about the Heat. I would.

[Dave]

I would put the Heat in the dark horse category because right now they are hunting down the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.

[Andrew]

They are.

[Dave]

And if you were to tell me that they somehow with a healthy Tyler Hero and Norm Powell and 83 point Bam out of bio and you know, this kind of like fun nucleus where you're playing fast, beat the Cavs. Right. First round series, I would not be surprised by that. And then if they went into the second round and they played a Pistons team and somehow, somehow some way there was this, I don't know, I guess you would say, like experience factor that helped them and they're in the Eastern Conference finals. That wouldn't surprise me. Truthfully. Would not.

[Bam]

They're going to have a coaching advantage against a lot of teams.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Bam]

What if they're the seventh seed and they go against Boston, who we all agree is a better team, but there's still those Miami Heat demons with the Celtics.

[Andrew]

Yeah, there are. They exist.

[Bam]

I, I just, you know, I do think that they're. I can't believe I'm doing this Heat bit. Where's Zach Harper? But I really do, I think that Miami is, is oddly in a good position, but they also, they need health, especially Tyler Hero.

[Dave]

Yeah, Yeah, I agree.

[Xena]

They're good for a last minute play. Like if it comes down to getting you a buzzer beater, like, Miami will deliver.

[Dave]

So they've been playing well too, man. Yeah, they've been playing well.

[Bam]

Got some famous last words here from a Celtics fan. Not worried about Miami.

[Xena]

I've heard this is like the John Morant. We're good in the West. Okay.

[Bam]

My thing is that it's not like Miami is as good as any of those teams. Yeah, that's not the thing. They're scrappy.

[Xena]

They're scrap. Exactly.

[Dave]

They're really good defense. Yeah. They play fast, they turn, they force turnovers.

[Xena]

And they make crazy end of game shots.

[Dave]

And they make crazy end of game shots. And I think Hero and Powell can go in like a first round series. Can go toe to toe with some guys. You know, we've seen them do it actually in some moments. Maybe not. Norm Powell, not as much. Has not been a good playoff performer. But it's not audibly.

[Xena]

I just appreciated you. We've seen him do it. I liked it. It's great.

[Andrew]

All right, Any, any last minute changes

[Bam]

here now the Bucks just completely being left off, I think is. Is very apropos.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

I would rather watch a lot of the tanking teams and watch that team.

[Bam]

Anybody done the math on Doc Rivers as Their coach, what's his winning. What's his winning percentage since he got there? Sure it's out there.

[Andrew]

Oh, it can't be good.

[Bam]

He took over a 3113 team.

[Andrew]

Yeah, he did. And they still probably made the right decision to let the other coach go. But like not. I don't know. Yeah, Adrian Griffin, that was a. It was. The stories coming out of there was crazy. He was. He was 17 and 19 and then was 48 and 34 last year and it's 2737. So do your, do your numbers number people. Okay.

[Bam]

Hey, by the way, the Charlotte Hornets play the Kings tonight. Putting call out right now. Come on, lamello, give us 84.

[Andrew]

Yeah, that would be. God, that would rule.

[Xena]

I was dying this morning when listening to the show J. King talking about Jason Tatum doing a one legged three. What kind of sessions is he having with Lamello Ball? I was crying. That was funny.

[Andrew]

Awesome. That was awesome.

[Bam]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

Shout out to J. King's haircut too. Looking good. Looking good, my man. All right. Anything else before we get out of here, guys?

[Dave]

Yeah, I do have a question.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Dave]

Who do you guys think will be Bam Adebayo's 83 point game? You have to pick one player.

[Andrew]

Oh, okay. And it can't be. You can't pick Luca. You can't. You have to pick. You have to. You have to pick somebody that's a little. Little off.

[Dave]

Off the beat. Yeah. Off the beaten path. Yeah. No, like Luca and Ant and Wemby and those guys. And Cade. Don't count those.

[Andrew]

Don't.

[Dave]

Not counting that.

[Bam]

No.

[Xena]

So you know what's so funny is that I, I'm automatically thinking about someone like Bam in terms of build, right? Like, whereas Bam, you get to the free throw line, 80 get to the free throw line. Right. He can handle the ball somewhat. He bulldozes through people if he needs to, but can also shoot the outside shot. And there's a few people that come to mind. The first that comes to mind is OG Anunoby. The second that comes to mind is Aaron Gordon.

[Andrew]

Aaron.

[Bam]

Gordon's a good one.

[Andrew]

Aaron.

[Dave]

Gordon's a really good.

[Bam]

He's a good one.

[Dave]

OG Is a little crazy.

[Bam]

Like, I, I know Gordon's a good

[Xena]

one, but think about it. Just think about it. OG And Bam are very similar in build. Like, I just feel like OG And Aaron would be.

[Andrew]

I don't know.

[Xena]

It's like these four fives that can also shoot the three.

[Dave]

What about Jalen Johnson we just talked about?

[Bam]

Jayla scored 41 last night.

[Andrew]

Yeah, he did.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

Poor guy.

[Bam]

Under the radar.

[Andrew]

No one cares.

[Xena]

I know.

[Andrew]

That's 440. Terrible.

[Bam]

You know, I'll go back to Derrick White. I think Derrick White. That's a good, that's a good call.

[Xena]

Like, oh, Derek White is. Yeah, Derek White is still on there for me as well. That's true. I could see the size if you. Because at the end of the game, they're going to be throwing three bodies at you. You still need size.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Xena]

And that's what Bam. At the end of that game, like, they were throwing over the defense like he's, he's.

[Andrew]

He.

[Xena]

You need the agility as well as the brawn. And that's why I'm like, bro, Wemby.

[Dave]

Wemby would have to have a really good shooting night. But I could, I could see it. I, I feasibly could see it. I think like, I, I kind of like the build of Bam. It's crazy. I can't believe we gotten to this point. But I, I like the build of BAM. For an 80 plus point performance.

[Bam]

He just hammers the paint. Well, a lot of theories.

[Andrew]

The problem with last night, I don't think we would have picked anybody with that. Bill.

[Xena]

Bill. Right. Absolutely not.

[Dave]

I know.

[Xena]

Absolutely not.

[Andrew]

You know, so I'm going Jalen Green. I just think he has no conscience.

[Bam]

I like that one too. How about Jalen Johnson?

[Dave]

Yeah, Yeah, I, that's what I said. Jalen Johnson feels like a good time.

[Bam]

He might pass too much.

[Andrew]

Yeah, he does pass too much.

[Xena]

You know, I mean, this isn't supposed to be one of those guys. But I do think since we've already seen 70. Devin Booker's up there too.

[Andrew]

Yeah. Book could book that.

[Dave]

That type of player has the best, like, floor to get to 60, you know, but it's from 60 to 80 that we've seen. Like, you need a level of.

[Bam]

You gotta have a special level of getting to the free throw line.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Bam]

Alexander score 84 points.

[Andrew]

He would. No, I don't think.

[Dave]

I feel like Mark Dagno would be like, nah, let's. Let's get A.J. mitchell back in the basketball.

[Andrew]

I mean, it really, it's really going to depend on it. It takes, we've seen like, it takes a special set of circumstances. Yeah. Like, you have to be playing a team that like, you basically ended the game in the first quarter and now it's like, okay, now let's play a new game. It's called I Score all the Points.

[Xena]

You know, like, that sounds like a backyard or on the driveway type of game.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Xena]

Your little brother.

[Andrew]

It kind of was. It kind of was that. Which was fun to see because, I mean, these are the best basketball players in the world. And it, like, is another, like, point of, you know, like, some people are like, oh, this guy's trash. Or like, oh, Bam can't score. You know, like, we. People say that. People have been saying that through the years. Like, bam's not a scorer. Bam can't score. It's like, I don't think that anyone can fully comprehend how good these guys are at this game.

[Xena]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

Like, I don't think that any normal person that has actually played basketball can actually, like, soak in how good these guys are. Bam did it. Is, like, just more proof of that.

[Bam]

You've been in a bunch of NBA practices, right? You know what it looks like?

[Andrew]

I mean, it's.

[Bam]

The worst shooter on the team is out there. They'll hit 20 threes in a row.

[Andrew]

Yeah, yeah.

[Bam]

I mean, and it's just. There's a different level. I mean, it's just a different level of skill. And obviously the. The degree of difficulty goes up. And for all that we're saying about Bam not being, like, a hall of famer or whatever, he is a very good player in the NBA.

[Andrew]

Dude.

[Dave]

He's a hall of Famer, man.

[Bam]

We're gonna disagree on that. But he's a very good player, right? Like, he is a very good player. He is a borderline all NBA guy. Like, we should.

[Xena]

Perfect timing.

[Andrew]

I did.

[Bam]

Yeah. I don't know. Anyway, I love it. Jalen Brown 84. I like that. Maybe he'll do that tonight against Oklahoma City.

[Dave]

That would count as like, 120 to me if he scored.

[Xena]

Okay.

[Andrew]

See?

[Dave]

Yeah, no, it may be more. It would count as 200 to me. Like, that.

[Bam]

I don't think he's gonna get the free throws. Not after the other night.

[Andrew]

God, that sucks. I hated that. I hated that whole thing. Yeah. That was so dumb. The whole thing was so dumb.

[Dave]

It's funny for Bam Adebayo to be the guy to get the free throw discourse off of Shay Gilgis Alexander.

[Andrew]

Hey. Oh, listen. Whenever you shoot four free throws a game, it's just. It's killer, man. It's like, why are you even. What's happening here? All right, thank you so much for tuning into the morning shoot around. If you're not watching on YouTube, would love to have you on YouTube also. We have the visuals here. We have our dark horse, medium horse, light horse, contenders, tankers up there. Just to recap real quick, Dark Horses the official athletic NBA Daily Dark Horses, Rockets, Lakers, Magic, Sixers, Heat, Medium Horses, Clippers and Hornets. Light Horses are the Warriors, Raptors, Suns, Blazers and Hawks. Let us know where you agree or disagree on any of that. Hope everybody's doing great. We'll talk to you guys again tomorrow.

[Xena]

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