Who do you TRUST more? | Morning Shoot Around

Summary

---

The Athletic NBA Daily | Morning Shoot Around

Episode Theme: Who Do You TRUST More?
Date: February 25, 2026

---

Episode Overview

In this lively “Morning Shoot Around” episode of The Athletic NBA Daily, hosts Andrew Schlecht and S. (Esfandiar Baraheni) dive into a spirited debate about which current NBA playoff hopefuls are the most trustworthy down the stretch. Through a head-to-head “Who do you trust more?” format, they critically assess squads from both conferences, exploring their playoff identities, strengths, and fatal flaws, while weaving in real-time listener comments and plenty of NBA nuance.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trusting the Lakers or Rockets?

(03:32-09:42)

• Hosts: Andrew Schlecht & S.
• The Lakers’ inconsistency is at the forefront—elite on some nights, disastrous on others.
• Defensive struggles called out:

  “The Lakers right now are probably not getting enough flack for being the 24th ranked defensive team in the NBA.”
  — Andrew Schlecht (04:16)

• Their identity feels adrift, mainly relying on LeBron and Luka Doncic:

  “What's the identity of the Lakers? We have LeBron and Luka. That's our identity.”
  — Schlecht (05:28)

• Meanwhile, the Rockets, though offensively limited and clutch-challenged, at least know who they are:

  “Give me the Houston Rockets all day…they at least have an identity.”
  — Schlecht (05:10)

• S. doubts either team’s ability to get past round one against tougher West competition but leans Rockets over Lakers for a hypothetical matchup.

---

2. Who’s More Trustworthy: Suns or Lakers?

(09:42-11:20)

• Debate on the Suns’ injury issues vs. Lakers’ lack of identity.
• Schlecht notes the Lakers' talent could mean an explosive playoff series, but the Suns face a much tougher play-in scenario.
• S. concludes both have big hurdles, with injuries being the deciding factor for Phoenix.

---

3. Spurs vs. Pistons: Young Contenders

(11:28-17:32)

• Hosts question: Which inexperienced team do you trust more in the playoffs?
• Schlecht picks Pistons for their prior playoff run:

  “They've been through a playoff series. I do think that matters.”
  — (11:57)

• S. believes Spurs’ dynamic backcourt and more balanced offense will help in high-pressure moments:

  “When the going gets tough for the Spurs, they have a way to outsource some offense.”
  — S. (13:45)

• Both agree the East’s relative weakness is a Pistons advantage. Spurs’ and Pistons’ mediocre three-point shooting (both around 35%) could be a playoff issue.

---

4. Knicks vs. Celtics: Who Inspires More Confidence?

(18:06-26:17)

• Schlecht is adamant:

  “Give me the Celtics. The Knicks…are confounding. They’re inconsistent. They don’t know who they are.”
  — (18:21)

• S. supports the Celtics' steadiness, especially in playoff settings, but makes a case for Jalen Brunson:

  “I’m not sure there’s a player in the east that I trust more in the playoffs than Jalen Brunson currently.”
  — S. (22:34)

• Both agree playoff experience and team identity favor Boston, but acknowledge Brunson’s rising postseason stardom.

---

5. Thunder or Nuggets: Who’s the West’s Surest Thing?

(27:03-32:47)

• S. leans Thunder:

  “Even without their stars, they are finding ways to win...Since [Denver’s] star has come back, they haven’t looked the same...Can you get to a point where your defense gets good in six weeks? I don’t think you can.”
  — S. (27:34)

• Schlecht agrees, citing OKC’s depth and two-way prowess, but stresses health (particularly Jalen Williams):

  “It’s really just like which of Aaron Gordon or Jalen Williams’ hamstrings is going to heal and stay healthy?”
  — (30:16)

• Both note how playoff rotations shrink and untested depth becomes less reliable.

---

6. Cavaliers or Timberwolves: Which Do You Believe In?

(36:44-40:54)

• S. acknowledges the Cavs’ argument, but both ultimately trust the Wolves—thanks to playoff pedigree and Anthony Edwards’ ascendancy.
• Schlecht highlights Cleveland’s recurring playoff issues and questions around James Harden and Evan Mobley:

  “Now you add a guy who has just as many question marks as anybody throughout the history of the NBA in the playoffs...”
  — (38:10)

• Lighthearted tangent: Jared Allen’s “three-two-one” rule for reading, gaming, and movies (39:16).

---

7. Raptors vs. Sixers: A Play-In Dilemma

(44:14-48:15)

• Schlecht dismisses the Sixers out of hand:

  “If Joel Embiid is on the roster, that football is being pulled, period. I will believe in this Philly team when Embiid is gone.”
  — (44:24)

• Raptors, despite offensive limitations, get the nod due to defensive identity and lesser history of postseason heartbreak.
• S. prefers Tyrese Maxey’s scoring but admits both teams have fatal flaws.

---

Timestamps for Notable Segments

• (03:32) — Lakers vs. Rockets debate opens
• (05:10) — “Give me the Houston Rockets all day.” (Schlecht)
• (11:28) — Spurs vs. Pistons trust question
• (14:00) — S. breaks down Spurs’ offensive options in crunch time
• (18:21) — Knicks or Celtics: Trust breakdown
• (22:34) — “I trust Jalen Brunson more than anybody else in the playoffs right now.” (S.)
• (27:03) — Thunder vs. Nuggets discussion
• (29:49) — Schlecht details OKC’s depth and playoff question marks
• (38:10) — Schlecht on Cavs’ playoff mystery with Harden and Mobley
• (44:24) — “I will believe in this Philly team when Embiid is gone.” (Schlecht)

---

Memorable Quotes

“Teams will tell you who they are over the course of a season.”
— Andrew Schlecht (04:16)

“There's not any perfect team [right now]. And even the Celtics ... the league's going to look a lot different next year.”
— S. (48:42)

“Their [the Lakers’] identity is: We have LeBron and Luka. That’s our identity.”
— Schlecht (05:28)

“Jalen Brunson ... is a bona fide playoff player.”
— S. (22:34)

“I agree. I think they [the Cavs] just have to go prove it. Like, I won't believe it until I see it with the Cavs—just won't.”
— Schlecht (43:39)

“If Joel Embiid is on the roster, that football is being pulled, period.”
— Schlecht (44:24)

---

Additional Fun & Tangents

• Spirited debate on whether audiobooks or Kindle count as “reading” (40:54 onward), prompting playful banter and audience participation.
• Jared Allen’s quirky monthly goal: “read three books, beat two video games, and see one movie in a theater” (39:14).
• Acknowledgement that looming offseason changes (potential Giannis trade, East’s reshuffling) could dramatically impact teams’ futures.

---

Listener Value

The episode offers an insightful, conversational rundown of the current NBA landscape, perfect for fans wanting a sharp, opinionated overview of contenders’ strengths, weaknesses, and true playoff viability. By focusing on “trust,” the hosts go deeper than standings or stats, challenging assumptions and voicing what many fans might quietly wonder.

---

For more rapid-fire, entertaining NBA debate and daily analysis, catch The Athletic NBA Daily each weekday morning.

Transcript

[Advertiser]

Prime one day delivery is fast. How fast are we talking? We're talking game night delivered by tomorrow night fast so we can win fast. Cards fast. Puzzles fast team games at your door in a day fast. Doesn't matter what the game is, we will dominate fast. We're talking game over. You win fast fast one day delivery for the win. It's on prime why choose a Sleep number Smart bed Can I make my sight softer?

[Host 1]

Can I make my sight firmer? Can we sleep cooler?

[Advertiser]

Sleep number does that cools up to eight times faster and lets you choose your ideal comfort on either side your sleep number setting. Enjoy personalized comfort for better sleep night after night. And now during our President's day sale, take 50% off our limited edition bed plus an extra $100 off all mattresses and Saturday only at a sleep number store or sleepnumber.com

[Andrew Schlecht]

I really want to take a quick break to talk a little bit about the Drop by gnc. If you've been locked in lately on your health and fitness grind, then proper supplementation is probably very important to your daily routine. Thanks to gnc, it never been easier to shop for your goals. For 90 years, GNC has been delivering the most cutting edge effective ingredients and products available and now you can cut through the clutter with the Drop by gnc. You'll find the latest in everything from protein to creatine to weight management, immune support, and so much more from all the top brands. We're talking Cadence, Wealthy barbells, Ghost, not to mention innovations like new GNC Amp Creobolic. This first of its kind formula combines creatine with my HMB and bioactive peptides to not just build muscle, but also to repair and protect in ways creatine alone simply can't. Or the improved GNC Amp Weighbolic, the most studied protein formula on the market, proven to significantly increase your strength and endurance. And now they've increased the protein and perfected the taste. You can get these and more of what's new and what's next only on the drop by GNC. Just search gnc.com the drop. Welcome to the Morning Shoot around here on the Athletic NBA Daily's YouTube stream. We're live. It's actually the morning still even technically for us on the East Coast.

[Host 1]

Yeah, we finally did it. We finally got a morning shoot around.

[Andrew Schlecht]

It's a real morning shoot around.

[Host 1]

Real morning shoot around. Congratulations.

[Andrew Schlecht]

We did it. I'm your host Andrew Schlecht with me Esperhini and we are going to do a little exercise in trust And S. Is going to walk us through it. If you guys have comments about the teams that you trust, let us know and we will. We'll make you part of the conversation. So, S. Take us through what. What you want to do today.

[Host 1]

What I'm doing. Yeah. So look, I thought this would be a fun exercise in seeing how much we believe in playoff teams or certain playoff teams. So basically any team in the top six of either conference, I've kind of pitted against one another. And I'm going to ask you, Andrew, who do you trust more?

[Andrew Schlecht]

Okay.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Okay. You know what? We're going to start here because yesterday this team had an absurd game that we laughed at. And the final game was. Was gross. And the final minute of it was gross. And we were like, what is this team? And basically the Los Angeles Lakers, folks, are, if you catch them on any given night, great basketball team, very fun. Luca, Austin, LeBron, it's humming. If you catch them on either nights, they look like one of the worst teams in basketball. That's. That's the wide margin that the Lakers deal with. So I have to ask you, who do you trust more, the Los Angeles Lakers or the Houston Rockets?

[Andrew Schlecht]

You know, teams will tell you who they are over the course of a season. Teams will tell you who they are. And the Lakers right now are probably not getting enough flack for being the 24th ranked defensive team in the NBA right now. Yeah. And then offensively you're like, oh, but they have LeBron and Luka and Austin Reeves, and I know those guys have been in and out of the lineup, but this is the 11th ranked offense since some elite offense. So they're much better.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Bad on defense, decent on offense. I mean, that this. I mean, the Milwaukee Bucks guys have a better defensive rating on the season.

[Host 1]

Yes, they do.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Than the Lakers. The Nuggets, who are getting a ton of flack for their defense, has a better defense than the Lakers.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Give me the Houston Rockets all day. I know the Rockets have issues in. In the clutch. I know that they have issues with their offense, but they at least have an identity. And like the. What's the identity of the lakers? We have LeBron and Luca.

[Host 1]

We have Luka Doncic.

[Andrew Schlecht]

That's our identity. And Luca, I mean, people are talking more about Luca's antics than they are his game right now, I would say. And this team also just kind of feels like it's being held hostage a bit by LeBron James career.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

So there's just a lot of things at play right now with The Lakers that I don't trust, I don't think they're making it out of round one. Their, their net rating is, is quite bad. And so I don't know, I just. There's just. I mean they have a neg. They currently have a negative net rating.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Yeah. When they lose, they lose bad. That's the thing. Like true, there are certain games where they will come and say we did not show up for this basketball game. Like we are not interested in playing this basketball game. And also like for what it's worth to, to throw some bail, to shoot some bail for the Lakers. This is a wildly poorly constructed roster.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Like when you have Luka Doncic and your main release valve outside of Austin Reeves is Jared Vanderbilt and Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Rui airballed that three in the corner. Just. It was, it was really rough. Yeah. The guys they have are. They play one side of the ball the other. Like they got Luke Kennard. Yeah. Who is, who refuses to shoot. Which. That's been the whole story. I don't understand why people thought it would be different.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

As a Laker, he's 29 years old. He's not like 23. And like still trying to figure this out. Like Luke Canard is who he is.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

But then like you have Marcus Smart who's not even the greatest defender anymore at his age, but like is not an offensive guy. Laravia, who is maybe their best two way role player on their team, is not like a stud defensively. Yeah. Deandre Ayton. It feels, feels like maybe that's something that they regret a bit there. I mean would they be that much worse if they just played Jackson Hayes more? Maybe they would be. But yeah, it's not gone well with Aiden. So like there's just. Yeah. The role players are a mess there and they'll get a chance to reset this summer. I think the Lakers will look a lot different heading into next season. But yeah, I think they could just get rid of all their role players and then reset around Luca and Reeves.

[Host 1]

So I agree and I think, look, this is less of a conversation about the Lakers, but maybe my waning belief on the Houston Rockets specifically to win a first round series.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Because like you look at the rest of the west and right now, funny enough, if they were to play, it would be Rockets, Lakers around one. And I think that is an interesting matchup. I think I would favor the Rockets in that matchup because of how good they are defensively.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

And we've Seen like last year, the Lakers very similarly, like the, the Wolves just locked them up and they were so much better offensively. That being said, I don't know if the Rockets can punch above that. Like in a series against the Timberwolves. I would not favor the Rockets in a series against the Nuggets or Spurs or Thunder. I'm obviously not favoring the Rockets. I just, I think some of the, the offensive issues, the three point shooting, the clutch execution, the over reliance on Kevin Durant and Alper and Sengun that makes me put the Rockets on this similar tier to the Lakers, where you clearly have the talent to win a first round series. You have the talent to make any playoff series interesting. But do you have enough talent to. For me to trust you? I don't know if that's the case. No, I honestly don't know if that's the case.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Would you. Would you trust a healthy Phoenix team or a Lakers team?

[Host 1]

Wow. Are we there? Damn.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Just. Just asking. Just asking a question.

[Host 1]

Yeah, yeah, that's fair. That's. That's a fair question to ask. I don't know how to read into this Suns team because, like, they've clearly played really well.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

And, and like their defense is good and unfortunately they're dealing with some injuries right now to Booker and Brooks and they're incorporating Jalen Green, which is this whole kind of like, it's not a cloud hanging over their head, but it's something that they have to overcome. I'm really curious to see what this team looks like at the end of the season. That being said, if you were to sit here and tell me in June that the Suns won a playoff series and the Lakers didn't, would I be surprised?

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yes, you'd have to be because I would be surprised because of where they're at. You'd have to be.

[Host 1]

Yeah, I agree.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I'd have to be because, I mean, we've seen Luca turn it on in the playoffs.

[Host 1]

Exactly.

[Andrew Schlecht]

And so like he. They could, they could.

[Host 1]

Yeah, Luca could average four to 40 for a series and they're in the semis.

[Andrew Schlecht]

You know, they, they could beat the Rockets. It's not like it's impossible because he got into close games. Like, could the Lakers beat them? Sure. Is that who I would pick? No. But is it possible? Yes. Phoenix. Their problems that they're in, the play in. And they would have to play the spurs or the Thunder, most likely, or the Nuggets, and it's just. There just ain't no way.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Okay, let's. Let's keep it going with the. Actually, no, I'm going to switch it up here. Gonna go all the way to the top. Okay.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Mm.

[Host 1]

Who do you trust more? The San Antonio spurs of the Detroit Pistons. We just saw these two teams play each other. Okay. They're both very young, pretty inexperienced.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Right.

[Host 1]

They haven't made a huge playoff run. The Pistons have played one playoff series against the Knicks last year. The spurs have not. With this current iteration of the group, who do you trust more, the spurs or the Pistons?

[Andrew Schlecht]

I think I trust the Pistons more just because of where they are in the life cycle of their team.

[Host 1]

Okay.

[Andrew Schlecht]

They've been through a playoff series. I do think that it matters. And they were super competitive in that playoff series, so it's not like they just got run over. And just having been there before, I think really does matter because if you look at the, the spurs and the guys and it's not just Wimby, like if it were just Wimby and he was there with a bunch of guys who had been there before, then I would say, you know what? Totally cool.

[Host 1]

Harrison Barnes. Playoff experience doesn't matter to you? The Aaron Fox is one playoff series doesn't.

[Andrew Schlecht]

The Deer and Fox thing does not matter. Sorry, sorry. You have to do it together. Also, Stefan Castle is probably the one that I'm pointing to the most because he is mostly been their second best player this year. Yeah. And so Castle's got to go through it for sure. Like Wimby and Castle have to go through it together. And so to me, it's just like they've, they've got to go through something together because the playoffs are just different. They're just absolutely different. They're different than February basketball. And the spurs are rolling right now. They're very, very good. I think they can win a round, certainly. I just think that it's going to get really tricky come playoff time whenever teams can scheme against you. And if you're not shooting it well, I think that the playoffs get really difficult.

[Host 1]

And so I'm gonna, I'll just, I'll, I'll say this because I, I, I'm glad you brought up the shooting point. That's exactly why I'm going the other way.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah, I get it.

[Host 1]

I trust the spurs more than the Pistons because I think like when the going gets tough for the spurs, they have a way to outsource some offense. It's not just like Victor when Minyama, please save us. Right.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

It's, we have this guard trio that can get to the Basket at will in a Steph Castle in a Dear and Fox and Dylan Harper to a lesser extent. And then we have these like, shooter wing types in a. Keldon Johnson, Harrison Barnes, Devon Bissell that can get us some shots outside of that. And Wemby plays well into that too, because he's this floor spacer who can knock down shots too. And there's also, like, the spurs are just as good of a defensive team as the Pistons. So you're not. There's no, like, huge drop off of. Well, this team can't get stopped because the spurs can get stopped. Right. They're good and they can, like we saw it in the NBA Cup. Like, they can play physical. They can, they can pressure the heck out of the ball. And I think ultimately that will help in the postseason. Now Detroit's experience will help them. And truthfully, the fact that they're in the Eastern Conference.

[Andrew Schlecht]

That's what I was going to say. Their biggest advantage is that they're in the Eastern Conference. That's the biggest one.

[Host 1]

Yeah, I totally get that. And like, who are they facing right now? They would be playing the Miami Heat. That is, to me, that is like a sweep or a gentleman's sweep, that type of series. Yeah, I just, I think I just if, if a team is prepared to take away Cade Cunningham and that's going to be hard. Right?

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

I don't think there's a single team in the playoffs for the Eastern Conference that can say we have the point of attack defense to take away Cade Cunningham. The Knicks don't have it, the Celtics don't have it. The Cavs don't have it. The Raptors think they have it, but they don't have anything else. And that like, that to me is the biggest question and maybe the biggest advantage for Detroit is that the way to beat them doesn't kind of exist in the Eastern Conference right now. And the other thing is, like, if they hit their shots, they're a different beast. But they don't hit their shots. They don't shoot the ball well. So if you go into a playoff series and they're not shooting the ball well against the Celtics or the Knicks or the Cavs, that might be. That's it. You know?

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah, I, I get it. I just think also, like, the, just the teams out west are going to be tough and then they're going to really put the spurs to the test.

[Host 1]

Like the spurs would play the Suns right now. The playoffs were to start today.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Which I would, I would favor the spurs in that situation.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I mean, for sure, for sure. But they're. They will. They will test San Antonio, I think. And then when you get to round two, it's Denver.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

You know, Round two will be a lot different for Detroit than it will be for Denver. Yeah. And yeah, the shooting is going to matter, but the D, the defense matters maybe just as much, which favors both teams, like you said. But, you know, the Thunder didn't shoot it well throughout the entire playoffs last year and won the whole thing.

[Host 1]

Right.

[Andrew Schlecht]

So you just have to be able to find ways to get there. And like, where are. I'm trying to see where they're at as far as like 3 point percentage goes in the league.

[Host 1]

The spurs or the Pistons?

[Andrew Schlecht]

Both.

[Host 1]

They're. I think they're both bottom 10.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah. Detroit is 21st and then San Antonio. Where is San Antonio?

[Host 1]

San Antonio is 20th.

[Andrew Schlecht]

20th. Oh, yeah. Why did I not see that? Am I losing my brain? Yes, I am. Yeah, they're. Yeah, they're right there. They're both at like 35%. Neither one of them are that great of three point shooting. Team San Antonio takes more threes.

[Host 1]

That's the. That's the thing, man. Taking them.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah. They just don't have that many guys that can. Which is a problem.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

You know, like they need.

[Host 1]

I will say, and this is to anec09's point in the comments, America's Charlotte will make the playoffs is my lukewarm take. If the Pistons face the Hornets.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

In round one. I'm not saying the Hornets would beat them, but it would be at least a little bit interesting.

[Andrew Schlecht]

It would be more fun.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Because of the, the fight and the.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah. So many fun things about it.

[Host 1]

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. I would be so down for that. That would be an awesome series. Okay. Who do you trust more, Andrew, going back to east versus East. The Knicks or the Celtics?

[Andrew Schlecht]

Give me the Celtics. Give me the Celtics. The Knicks. And we've talked to James about it. They are confounding. They're just. They're inconsistent. You know, they don't know who they are. This should be easily the Knicks. If you looked at it before the season, this would feel like a very silly question. Yeah, but it's as simple as. Like you said, the. The Celtics know who they are, what they want to do and how they want to execute it. The Knicks are different from night to night and it's all over the map. And, you know, they changed their coach from last year. Do they have any regrets about that? I would wonder if they have regrets about that because it's, this has not worked. And the same Carl Anthony Towns issues are still the exact same. Where last night, I think he had as many turnovers as he did shot attempts. He made all of them. But it's like, man, I, I really don't know how I could trust this Knick squad who should be taking this season to dominate the Eastern Conference and cement themselves as like the, like the Eastern Conference favorite. And they've not done that. You know, there's two teams in the Celtics and the Pistons that have a much better net rating. And I tend to believe that. You know, it's, it's funny that currently they are. Hold on. I think their net rating is below 6 currently, which a lot of. Yeah, yeah. A lot of people say that like six is kind of the marker for a contender. And they're just like right below that. They're just under six, which is perfect because it's like just enough to keep you believing. But also it's, it's just like history has shown that like if you have a net rating of 6 or above, you're like a true contender. And the Knicks are just right outside of that, which is poetic.

[Host 1]

So look, I hear you and I probably agree with you, you know, and I, I, by the way, I, I just, if you are a fan of this channel, you just saw the Celtics video that I, I, we dropped detailing how incredible their offense is.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

And if you were to ask me, is there a team in the Eastern Conference, do you that you trust more than the Celtics, I would say no. I trust the Celtics more than the Pistons. I trust them more than the Cavs. And that doesn't mean that I think they're going to make it to the Finals because I think there's some steps to that. Tatum coming back, this team looking good in a couple of different playoff series against different matchups. But like, in terms of trust factor and do I know what I'm getting from them on a night to night basis? I honestly do think it's the Celtics.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Especially in the playoffs because the Pistons have been incredible in the regular season. But that lack of playoff experience ends up being kind of a factor here when you talk about trust. Okay, can I just. This is the one thing that I want to argue for the Knicks side of things just to, just to bring it forward and because I know right now it's like doom and gloom in Nick's world.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Sure.

[Host 1]

So Jalen Brunson in his three years playing playoff basketball for the New York Knicks. Okay. First year, 11 games played, 28 points per game on 47, 34, 90 shooting. The year after that, 13 games played, 32 points, seven and a half assists on 45, 31, 77 shooting. Not a good free throw shooting year for Jalen Brunson that year. Last year, in their run to the conference finals, Jalen Brunson, 30 points on 46 from the field, 36 from three, and 85 from the free throw line. This dude is a bona fide playoff player.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

And going back to the whole trust thing, I'm not sure if there's a player in the east that I trust more in the playoffs than Jalen Brunson currently. Other than Giannis. Like Giannis. If Giannis were to play and make it to the playoffs, I would be like, yes, I believe in, in Giannis, but that's not going to happen. So I, I honestly do think I trust Jalen Brunson more than anybody else in the playoffs right now.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Not even Finals MVP Jalen Brown.

[Host 1]

Jalen Brown is incredible. I am curious to see how playoff basketball, if Tatum doesn't come back, how that version of him will look in playoff basketball. Because, like, we, we saw him obviously really take this team, you know, to. In another world in that playoff series. And sorry, not playoff series, but that playoff run, that championship run, like, he was incredible, but he was also playing off of Tatum and Tatum was still there and he existed and like, that allowed for Brown to be this highly efficient score. He's a walking bucket right now. But how does that look in a playoff setting when everybody is geared towards stopping you?

[Andrew Schlecht]

You know, it's a good question. I also, and maybe I'm dead wrong about this, but I would be a little cautious about bringing Tatum back to this group and thinking that it's just going to be additive, maybe.

[Host 1]

Yeah, I see the argument. I just feel like he has been a role player before, like rookie and sophomore Jason Tatum.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Long time ago. It was a lifetime ago in basketball years. Yeah, I just think it's really hard. I think it's really hard to add a piece like that, especially one that if he's not fully healthy. I mean, we saw it even with like the Thunder this year when they added Jada back. I get screwed with stuff. They were 24:1.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

And trying to reintegrate him back into the team. You would think, oh, there's no way that that would be bad. He's, you know, he's a role player to a degree in, in a lot of ways for them, with the way that he approaches the game and all of that. It was not additive. It took a lot away from them, which they were willing to do because you have to reintegrate this guy. But, I mean, it's. They're going to re. How are they going to reintegrate him? What does that look like? It's not. Basketball is. Is. You can use math to help basketball, but when it comes to magic, when it comes to rosters like this, it's not always that simple. And so.

[Host 1]

I agree.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I agree.

[Host 1]

Donkey16 says the last time Tatum was a role player was USA Basketball. How did that go? That is fair.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Hey, maybe they just don't play him. Is that what he's suggesting? Bring it back. Just don't play him.

[Host 1]

Oh, man. But I think we both land on. We trust the Celtics more than the Knicks.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I want to trust the Knicks. I would like to.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I would like for them to give me a reason to, though. I'm not going to blindly trust them. You gotta. You. And I know that James was like, they have the best net rating the last so and so games. Yeah, that's great. But every big game that, like, every Knicks fan has circled, they lose, has left them all wanting the next day. And, you know, we probably don't have any Knicks fans even listening to this right now because they're probably in the. Like, I'm avoiding podcasts. I'm avoiding Knicks coverage, you know, for at least 24 hours.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Look, for what it's worth, the last time the Knicks played the Celtics, they beat them, you know.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

And like that matters. The matchup itself. This is the 2 3, and the Celtics have lost twice to the Knicks this season. It feels like this is headed for a second round series between these two teams. This is obviously the team that Tatum tours Achilles against. Like, that. There's. There's some. Clearly some history there. So I just. I don't know. We'll see. That's. That's an interesting one to kind of keep your eye on. Okay, coming to your neck of the woods here. Who do you trust more? And I'm gonna go first here because you're not allowed to answer. Okay. I'm kidding. Who do you trust more, the Oklahoma City Thunder or the Denver Nuggets?

[Andrew Schlecht]

Okay.

[Host 1]

Two teams that have had a lot of injuries this year.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Have still found ways to win. The Thunder obviously have found more ways to win. They are number one in these. In the Western Conference. The Nuggets have struggled immensely here as of late, and I talked about it on our podcast. I don't know, like two, three days ago. They have had a bad February. You know, the only wins that they have this month are against the Bulls Grizzlies and they absolutely decimated the Blazers by 50.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yep.

[Host 1]

But outside of that, you look up and down their schedule and their schedule is tough, but you think they would win some of those games right. Against the new look Cavs, you know, they obviously like. I just think their schedule is, is to the point where, and I get it, Jokic is back. You're trying to get him into the full swing of things. Aaron Gordon isn't available. But who do I trust more? I at this point I have to say the Oklahoma City Thunder because even without their stars, they are finding ways to win. And you could have said that about the Nuggets too. Especially when Jokic was out. Murray was awesome, Peyton Watson was awesome. They were figuring out ways to win. But since their stars come back and maybe this happens with the Thund, I doubt it. But maybe it does. Since their star has come back, they haven't looked the same. And I think a lot of that has to do with their defense and how bad that's been. And I, I just don't know if again in the Western Conference playoffs, can you win multiple series having this bad of a defense. And also can you get to a point where your defense gets good in six weeks? I don't think you can. I just don't think it's possible.

[Andrew Schlecht]

The NBA is really difficult when you don't have a really good defensive big man. Like, it's really, really difficult. And Jokic can be that, but they also have to hide him. I mean the way that they played the Thunder last year in the playoffs is they played zone.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

You know, and did not rely on the individual defenders that they have. And so I do think that the Thunder are the, are the one to trust. I think they have the deepest roster in the NBA. I think that they've got. As long as they're healthy, I think that they're going to have the best shot to win this thing. But they got to get healthy is like the number one thing that's really it for both of them. If neither one of them are healthy, probably neither one gets out of the Western Conference. It could be San Antonio. You know, I think that's probably the next team up. But I, I do think like if. As long as the Thunder have most of their defenders and Shea, I think they're going to have a really good shot.

[Host 1]

But I'll, I'll Just like again to just play devil's advocate here. Jalen Williams has not been healthy this season.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

And I think he is a huge, I mean no question he's a huge part of what this team was last year.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Do you feel as if that is part of maybe the, the, the reason you might trust the Nuggets more? Just because you don't know if J Dub can stay or be healthy this season.

[Andrew Schlecht]

It's really just like which of Aaron Gordon or Jalen Williams hamstrings is going to heal and stay healthy? You know, like that's, that's going to be the biggest thing. And he re aggravated the hamstring when he came back. Maybe he came back too early, but his is not as severe as AG's is. So it's going to be. I mean they'll need Dub if they want to win. Just because offensively this thing is going to grind to a halt at some point.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

And you need somebody like him as a release valve where like Chet's still a developing offensive player. I mean yesterday in Toronto he had seven points. I mean that's, that's unusual for him to have that few of points, especially with all these guys out. But like that can happen with Chat. Dub is their secondary scorer now. Other guys have emerged. Isaiah Joe has had a great season. Case of Wallace has looked great recently.

[Host 1]

A.J. mitchell. A.J.

[Andrew Schlecht]

mitchell's great. They're gonna.

[Host 1]

Although he's been injured too.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah, he's been out. Yeah. Hopefully he's back by the end of this week. But yeah, they've had a lot of guys in and out of the lineup, so they need a true secondary score. And we also know that this is kind of like the, One of the reasons why I would like to see the spurs is that once you hit playoff time like last year, Isaiah Joe was not this. And he's. I think he's a better player this year. But like he was, he was a guy that was in and out of the rotation. Aaron Wiggins, rewind back to this point in the season. Last year Aaron Wiggins was just on a tear. Yeah, Wiggins had like a few good games in the playoffs. He was not just like this consistent six man scorer for them. Like things change for these guys when it comes to playing on the offensive end. They just change. It's a lot harder to manufacture points than it is in the regular season. And so you kind of have to figure out like no matter how much depth the Thunder have, they're going to, it's going to boil down to eight guys. It's going to boil down to seven guys right now. It's like, man, the Thunder are deep 1 through 15. They could do it, you know, blah, blah, blah. It's like they're going to get into a series with somebody and be like, oh my gosh, we only have seven guys.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Yeah. And that's what happened last year too, right?

[Andrew Schlecht]

That happens to every team in the playoffs. Every single team. And so you have to also figure out who are those guys. Is Champagne one of those guys? Because he's been awesome for them. But is he a playoff guy? I don't know the answer to that.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

So there's just, there's just a lot of questions to be answered that you can't answer until you're actually there. Prime one day delivery's fast. How fast we talking? We're talking tissues and hot tea fast. Feel better meds fast. Relief usher door fast. So you can. So you can actually breathe out of both nostrils fast. Like I just ordered and it's already here.

[Host 1]

Fast, fast.

[Andrew Schlecht]

One day delivery to feel better sooner. It's on Prime. Every group has someone who insists on doing things the hard way. That friend still paying for a subscription. They forgot they had that one review using to update their phone because it still works. I used to be that person too, especially when it came to overpaying for wireless. Then I switched to Mint Mobile and I'm so glad that I did stop paying way too much for wireless just because that's how it's always been. Mint exists purely for that Same coverage, same speed, just without the inflated price tag. The premium wireless you expect unlimited talk, text and data, but at a fraction of what the others charge. For a limited time, get 50% off 3, 6 or 12 month plans of unlimited premium wireless. Bring your own phone and number, activate with ESIM in minutes and start saving immediately. No long term contracts, no hassle. With a seven day money back guarantee and customer satisfaction ratings in the mid-90s, Mint makes it easier, easy to try and see why people don't go back. It's pretty wild that my old provider had the exact same service that Mint has. Except Mint is much cheaper and the better way to go. Ready to stop paying more than you have to. New customers can make the switch today and for a limited time, get unlimited premium wireless for just $15 per month. Switch [e-mail] NBashow that's mintmobile.com NBA show upfront payment of $45 for three months, $90 for six months and $180 for 12 months. Plan required $15 a month equivalent taxes and fees. Extra initial plan term only. Over 50 gigabytes. May slow when network is busy. Capable devices required. Availability, speed and coverage varies. Additional terms apply. See mintmobile.com Boost Mobile is now sending experts nationwide to deliver and set up customers new phones. Wait, we're going on tour?

[Advertiser]

We're delivering and setting up customers phones.

[Andrew Schlecht]

It's not a tour.

[Host 1]

Not with that attitude.

[Advertiser]

Introducing store to door switch and get a new device with expert setup and delivery.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Delivery available for select devices [e-mail]

[Host 1]

can I ask you a question? Because I was debating doing who do you trust more? Thunder spurs instead of Thunder and Nuggets.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Would your. How much would your answer have changed? It wouldn't have changed given, given the spurs context for the Thunder. Right. Like they beat you guys and all that stuff, right?

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah. I think if you go back to the matchups where the Thunder had their guys the last matchup, they didn't have their guys in San Antonio. That's one that you just throw out. But the Thunder played weird against particularly Victor Wimanyama. I feel like they over game planned.

[Host 1]

Yeah. For Vic the Neverminds, man.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I think that. And then in the, the last matchup where they had their guys, they destroyed the spurs and it was a different mentality completely.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

And the Thunder got punked by San Antonio, you know, twice within the span of just a few days. And they, I think they figured something out and there. And I think there might have been a little bit of gamesmanship when it came to who they in that last San Antonio game.

[Host 1]

Right.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Because it was like, I think, I think they feel like they figured it out a little bit.

[Host 1]

Like we don't want to show it to you.

[Andrew Schlecht]

And you know what? We're going to send Kenneth Williams to you.

[Host 1]

So that's funny. Okay.

[Andrew Schlecht]

All right.

[Host 1]

Fair enough. Okay. We've got two more. Who do you trust here? I feel like we can, we can go through these pretty quickly, but I'm curious to get your thoughts. Who do you trust more, the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Minnesota Timberwolves? Two teams that, you know, I think like the Wolves have more playoff success than the Cavs. I would give that to them. Two Western Conference finals appearances. Anthony Edwards has been awesome in the playoffs. You know, Donovan Mitchell has had his playoff moments but has never made it to the conference finals east or West. The Cavs are also one of those teams where like they now have James Harden, which is one of those players you can Ask who do you trust more to throughout his career? So. So I. I mean, like, I would. Personally, it's kind of weird because I think the Cavs, because they're in the Eastern Conference and because they're well positioned with Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley and Jared Allen and more depth and all that stuff. Like the.

[Andrew Schlecht]

The.

[Host 1]

I feel like the logical answer might be the Cavs. You can make the logical answer for the Cavs. Yeah, but I'm picking the Wolves.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah. The way that. The way that I would phrase this is like, I. I think the Cavs can probably make it further than the Wolves this year in the playoffs. If we're talking about how far they can make it.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

But if somehow. And this could happen in the future, if the Wolves are somehow in the Eastern.

[Host 1]

Well, it will happen soon. I'd imagine. It's going to be Minnesota.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah. Then I would pick Minnesota to win the East. I think. I just think that I. That that team getting to the Western Conference finals two years in a row, some of it circumstantial for sure. That's kind of the way the playoffs works, though. But they've done it. Like, you can't take that away from them. The Cavs should have done it already in the east and have not done it. And now you add a guy who has just as many question marks as anybody throughout the history of the NBA and the playoffs, along with Donovan Mitchell, along with Evan Mobley, who will just disappear at times, and Jared Allen, who admits to the world, the lights are too bright for me.

[Host 1]

That was the worst thing he could have ever said in his life.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I will follow him forever. Yes, I will follow him forever. Have you. Did you hear about his three, two, one rule?

[Host 1]

No, what is that?

[Andrew Schlecht]

It was read three books, beat two video games, and see one movie in the theater a month.

[Host 1]

I like that. That's a great rule. Good for him.

[Andrew Schlecht]

So every month that's what he's doing.

[Host 1]

I would. I would. You know, personally, from my taste, I would flip that.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

I would watch three movies instead of video games. Maybe. Like.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah, I was gonna say, do you play video games?

[Host 1]

Not really. I. If there's a cool, you know, world type play video game where I can, like, I don't know, GTA is cool, but there's also, like, the ghost of. I'm gonna butcher that name. But it's a Japanese samurai game. That's awesome.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

I want to play Red Dead Redemption this summer and completely finish it, which I've heard is incredible. So, like, those type of, like, travel the world and, you know, kind of explore here and there and see.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Were you a Zelda guy ever?

[Host 1]

Zelda? Yeah, when I was a kid. Yeah, for sure. Absolutely. Zelda. I have a friend who's still a huge Zelda guy. Ghost of Tsushima. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. Yeah, I.

[Andrew Schlecht]

That.

[Host 1]

Those are banger games. Those are awesome games for me. So I would flip that. I would go three movies.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Two video games, and maybe a book. Maybe I grind out a book. God, I wish I was a better book reader. I hate myself every day because I want to read more books. And then Elden Ring. Yeah, that's a good one, too. I want to read more books. And every time I sit down to read a book, I'm like, but, man, there's so many better things to do.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I'm too. I'm. I'm honest. And Amy and I are probably both this way. We're like. We're both just, like, too active. We like and, like, sit and read a lot. Like, I did read a book when we went on vacation. I read a whole book, which was great, but I'm like, I will never sit this. I will never sit still like this. I just can't do it. I can listen to books if you count that as reading, but, like, I can't. I just don't sit still enough.

[Host 1]

I also don't count that as reading, by the way. I don't count audios books as reading. I. I also. I will go. Okay, I will go as far as saying I don't count Kindles as reading.

[Andrew Schlecht]

What?

[Host 1]

Yeah, what do you.

[Andrew Schlecht]

What do you. Then what's the category?

[Host 1]

The physical touch of a. You see these books, half of which I've never read. These books.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I'm crazy. One. You know what? If I've listened to a book, I've read the book.

[Host 1]

Kindles don't count, man. And Kindle. No, no, the audiobook does not count.

[Andrew Schlecht]

What do you say? What am I missing?

[Host 1]

I listen to act of reading is important. And also the Kindle thing, I think it's just, like, it's too much like an iPad for me to count it as a book.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I'm an auditory learner, okay.

[Host 1]

I'm a visual learner. That's why I like movies. I hear you. I'm with you on that. I understand.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Okay?

[Host 1]

But it's just. Kindle doesn't count. Audio does not count, man. I will. I will die on this bridge. Audio does not count. Kindle, you might be able to convince

[Andrew Schlecht]

you're Dead to me. S. Okay, you're, you're dead on your hill. Okay. Because I, I, I mean, if you take in the information, then, like, what's, what's the difference in how you take it in?

[Host 1]

Okay, so then, so then a podcast is, Is us right now. We're writing a book.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Oh, okay. Now there you go. No, it's not. No, no. Absolutely not.

[Host 1]

We are writers, me and you.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Okay? So when you're a kid and your parent, if you had a parent that read to you and you took in the information, not you reading.

[Host 1]

I mean, it's not you reading. It's. It's you being told a story, which is an awesome.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Version of, of storytelling, which is beautiful in its own way.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah. John Boggs s was my favorite rapper until this take.

[Host 1]

Listen, man, Kindle does not Kindle. Not counting is just me being. You got the physical touch of a book.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah, that's crazy beautiful. I could, I, you know, I, I've had the argument about the auditor, the audiobooks. I've had that argument before. I've not ever argued about the Kindle. It could walk up and down the

[Host 1]

Kindle is me being annoying. The audiobook, living and dying on it.

[Andrew Schlecht]

All right.

[Host 1]

Incredible.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah. Okay.

[Host 1]

Can't do it. Can't do it. Okay, we have one more. Who do you trust? I think we both said wolves, by the way.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah, wolves. Yeah, Definitely wolves. The Cavs just have to go prove it. Like, I won't believe it until I see it with the calves. Just won't.

[Host 1]

I agree. I agree. Okay. Who do you trust more? This is, this is a weird one. Truthfully, I don't deny this, but this is. It's like, the only two remaining teams in the playoff race. Who do you trust more, Raptors or Sixers? Now, for what it's worth, the question just has to be, which one of these teams do you think has a chance to win a first round series? Because I don't, I don't think any of us believe they can do anything more than that.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Who do you trust more, the Raptors or the Sixers?

[Andrew Schlecht]

This is easily the Raptors.

[Host 1]

Oh, wow.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Easily. Easily.

[Host 1]

Interest even. Including the fact that we just saw them implode in the clutch again. Against.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah, that's against the Thunder, though. Like, that's not fair. It's not necessarily fair, especially against a team that, like, defends the paint and, like, values defending the paint over everything else. It's not really fair for that particular Raptors team. Like, the Thunder would steamroll the Raptors Even with the version of the Thunder we saw yesterday in the playoffs, just because of the way they defend the paint. Not every team in the Eastern Conference defends the paint like that and has people that. That do that. So I would pick the Raptors. Philly. Dude, how many years do we have to do this with Philly? Where the Philadelphia 76ers team just sets the football up, tees it up, and it's like, go ahead and kick as hard as you want, and they just pull that thing. If Joel Embiid is on the roster, that football is being pulled, period. Yeah, I will. I will believe in this Philly team when Embiid is gone. When Paul George is gone and they have rebuilt the squad around Maxi and vj.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

And they can get a big. That makes sense with them. And they reset. But with this version, heck no. No chance. Not happening. Heartbreak, heartache only.

[Host 1]

Let me ask you this. As things are currently constructed, the Knicks will face the Sixers and the Cavs will play the Raptors.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Which one of those teams do you give more of a chance of beating the opposing team?

[Andrew Schlecht]

Raptors. Really? Still. Yeah.

[Host 1]

Even given how much we don't trust

[Andrew Schlecht]

the Knicks right now, Brunson will rip apart that Philly team.

[Host 1]

Okay. Okay.

[Andrew Schlecht]

All right.

[Host 1]

I. So I. I guess my thing with the Raptors is that they do not have a score as talented as Tyrese Maxey.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

And I. I think you can win a playoff series with a score as talented as Tyrese Maxey. Now, I agree with you that there's. There's, like the injury question of Joel Embiid on the Raptor side of things. There's the injury question of Yaka Pertle. And I think. I think the Sixers clearly are a better team when Embiid and Paul George are playing. You look at the numbers, it doesn't.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Absolutely. Way better.

[Host 1]

And they don't have as much options at their disposal when those guys aren't available. Like, very quickly Andre Drummond becomes your starting center, you know, so I get that. But I just. I do not, like, trust the Raptors offense whatsoever in a playoff setting. And we can. We can go back and forth and say, well, the Raptors defense is elite. It can force turnovers. Scotty Barnes is an incredible defensive player, and they have Colin Murray, Boyles, who is way ahead defensively as a rookie. They have these good point of attack defenders and Jamal Shad and Jacoby Walter. Like, there's a world in which they can force enough turnovers, get out and running, and win a Playoff series. Can they do that against James Harden and Donovan Mitchell? Maybe. I don't know. Maybe perhaps you. So you. You give that a chance. I like it. I like it. From an outsider's perspective, maybe. It's just. I've seen this team too much.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah. To blow clear opportunities. To be clear, both will lose. Yeah.

[Host 1]

I agree.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

But, yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

If I were to give somebody a better chance, it's the Raptors.

[Host 1]

I think that's fair.

[Andrew Schlecht]

It's the Raptors, but it's. It's not only that, it's the Raptors. It's. My answer is also, it's just not the Sixers. Okay.

[Host 1]

That is entirely fair.

[Andrew Schlecht]

It's just not the Sixers. That's. That's probably more of my take.

[Host 1]

I would say it goes back to the Rockets, Lakers thing. It's like, this is not about the Lakers as much as it is about our distrust for the Rockets right now. Or my distrust for the Rockets.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Sure. Yeah. I think there's a. There are a lot of flawed teams in the league right now, and there's not, especially now with the injuries. Two teams like Denver and Oklahoma City, there's not any perfect team. And even like to the. The Celtics, where if they were fully healthy and had been this whole season, and even to the Pacers, you know, like all these teams that are dealing with major injury, like, the league will look a lot different next year. It will look a lot different next year.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Especially men like the Pacers are back. Next year.

[Andrew Schlecht]

They're back. They'll be back.

[Host 1]

And like, I think. I think teams like the Raptors and Sixers do have to kind of look in the mirror a little bit this summer because the Eastern Conference will look a little bit different because the Pacers will be better. The Hornets should technically be better. I think everybody is expecting them. You know, you guys at the Saturday slamming Jam, you guys do like the pre leap teams and players like the Hornets are very much in that category.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Oh, yeah.

[Host 1]

Of like the pre leap that happens. The Hawks might get a lottery pick and. Or might get a really, really good lottery pick with the Pelicans, and probably that could catapult them.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

So there's. There's kind of like a shuffling of

[Andrew Schlecht]

the deck here and who gets Giannis

[Host 1]

and who gets Honest. Yeah, yeah, yeah, dude. The Knicks blow it up and. And trade for. Somehow trade for Giannis because that's the only place he wants to go, by

[Andrew Schlecht]

the grace of God. Hopefully they do, because I don't think Knicks fans can handle much more of this particular iteration of team.

[Host 1]

Yeah, I agree. I. I think they are also one of those teams that's headed for a very, very interesting playoffs.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah. If they don't make the conference finals or I guess really even make the finals because they made the conference finals and they fired their coach.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Which is something that, like, if you would have told you somebody like, five years ago, hey, the Knicks are going to be making conference finals runs. Like, wow, that's amazing. Great. Good for them. They're. They're going to do dumb stuff. Like, they're just gonna do dumb stuff.

[Host 1]

Yeah. And by the way, the Pistons have, like, if. Let's say the Pistons lose in round two this year, and they're like, all right, well, this year we're gonna do our version of Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

You know, we're gonna go out and get those guys, whether it's a Trey Murphy or whoever, you know, like, whatever it is that they need to be great for them. Yeah, he would. Okay.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Amazing.

[Host 1]

Before we get out of here, can I. Can I get back to my audiobook take?

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah, yeah, sure.

[Host 1]

I saw some ire in the comments.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Sure.

[Host 1]

Okay. So look, me saying the Kindle thing, I agree. Being a jackass, I don't necessarily agree with that. It's whatever you can read on a Kindle. I've actually, over the last couple weeks, to give myself a better chance of reading books, have considered purchasing a Kindle. So I'm a fraud in that you're

[Andrew Schlecht]

telling us your considerations now.

[Host 1]

So I'm a fraud on the Kindle category. I don't dispute that. But the reading audiobook thing, look, it is not the actual act of reading. You're just listening to someone read to you, which is not reading. That. That doesn't count as reading. Okay. I think you can have the visual aspect of reading the actual version of where your eyes see words and they digest those words. Like, for example, shout out to our company, I play the New York Times crossword very frequently because I want to learn new words.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Okay.

[Host 1]

I don't think you are able to digest words as easily with audiobooks. S doesn't read books, so his opinion doesn't count. You know what? Facts, bro.

[Andrew Schlecht]

The OG unnamed YouTuber.

[Host 1]

Facts. Facts. Fair enough.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Okay. This is so wrong. Donkey 16. Listening to an audiobook is re. Is reading is the same way that watching a basketball game is exercising. Get out. I like that.

[Host 1]

I like that, Donkey.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yes. Yes. That's garbage, Donkey. That's garbage. All right, let us know. Let us know. In the YouTube comments, let us know. In the Spotify comments. Is listening to a book reading. Also, is there any merit to the Kindle argument with that? S both presented in a really intense way and then completely retracted 15 minutes later?

[Host 1]

Look, I'm just saying, technology, you know, it makes things easier for us. But does everything have to be easier? You know, throw that.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Throw that take on Twitter. S on the brain.

[Host 1]

I have this VHS camcorder, you know.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Wait, what?

[Host 1]

Yes. You know, it makes. It makes it fun to record and to film things. Must we. Must we have these things that make it easier? Something to think about. Just something to think about. Dave would like this take, huh? Dave would like this take.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Listen, Dave. Dave would like it if this technology was just all gone too, you know,

[Host 1]

this is breaking my heart and I'm a former teacher. I would love to know my students are listening to audiobooks. I think. Look, I think. Can I just say something?

[Andrew Schlecht]

Here we go. Let's just. Let's retract this take too. Unwind it, Unwind it.

[Host 1]

Listening to stuff and listening to audio and having information sent to you via the brain waves and the audio waves. Awesome. Count me in.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I'm down.

[Host 1]

That's. There's no problem with that. I think there are benefits to it. Those benefits are not reading benefits. That's it. That's my take. It's not the same.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I'm gonna bring. I'm gonna get some research to throw at you next time. Okay.

[Host 1]

Okay.

[Andrew Schlecht]

I'm gonna get some research to throw at you next time. All right? Okay. Thank you so much for listening. Thanks to everybody who is watching us live. We really appreciate you guys. Please tell your friends about the show. This is how this thing grows. It's just organically. We'd love for you guys to share about it. Hope you guys have a great rest of your day and we will talk to you guys again tomorrow.

[Host 1]

If you're the purchasing manager at a manufacturing plant, you know having a trusted partner makes all the difference. That's why, hands down, you count on Grainger for auto reordering with on time restocks, your team will have the cut resistant gloves they need at the start of their shift and you can end your day knowing they've got safety well in hand. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickgrainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done. That new thing?

[Andrew Schlecht]

Yeah, we've got it. The drop by GNC bringing you all the newness that matters. Hand picked by the pros who actually know what's up and what's proven to work. We keep you on top of the

[Host 1]

trends and dialed into what's next. Whether you're crushing it at the gym,

[Andrew Schlecht]

leveling up your game or thriving every

[Host 1]

day, the Drop by GNC is where the latest solutions in health and wellness land first. Nonstop innovation and fresh finds daily.

[Andrew Schlecht]

Explore what's new and what's next on

[Host 1]

the Drop by gnc.

[Advertiser]

You know what's faster than your paycheck? Literally everything. It's time to get your pay up to speed with Earn in. You can access your pay as you work. Instead of waiting days and weeks for a paycheck, get up to $150 a day with max of $750 between paydays. No interest, no credit checks and no mandatory fees because hey, it's your money. Download the Earnin app now to get it and join millions of people making any day payday that's ear n I n Earnin is not a bank. Access limits are based on your earnings and risk factors available in select states. Expedited transfers available for a fee. Terms and restrictions apply. Visit Earnin.com for full details.