Alley Oop 8 | Knicks Take On The Celtics, Predictions, and Non Predictions w/ Josh Smith

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz – Episode: Alley Oop 8 | Knicks Take On The Celtics, Predictions, and Non Predictions w/ Josh Smith

Release Date: May 2, 2025

In this electrifying episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, hosts Dan Le Batard and Stugotz delve deep into the current NBA playoff landscape, focusing primarily on the impending clash between the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics. Joined by guest Josh Smith, the trio dissects team performances, coaching decisions, player contributions, and makes bold predictions about the series' outcome.

1. Playoffs Outlook: Knicks vs. Celtics

The conversation kicks off with a heated discussion about the Knicks' performance and their upcoming series against the Celtics. Josh Smith expresses cautious optimism about the Knicks' chances but emphasizes the unpredictability of the playoffs.

• Josh Smith [00:25]: "Salute to the stinkiest fan in the world, the Knicks. You feel me?"
• Trisha [00:39]: "Yeah, I mean, the playoffs is unpredictable."

Josh predicts a challenging series for the Knicks, hinting that it won't be the swift sweep he initially anticipated.

• Josh Smith [03:43]: "I imagine the Celtics are gonna push on the six if y'all play, right?"

2. Coaching Decisions and Team Management

A significant portion of the discussion centers around the Knicks' coaching strategies and management decisions. Both hosts critique the Knicks' coaching staff, particularly head coach Tom Thibodeau, questioning his rotation strategies and reliance on certain players.

• Trisha [01:22]: "We might have to break our team down into a football situation where we have a coach just for substitutions and a rotation because Tibbs doesn't pay attention to that."
• Josh Smith [01:55]: "Frank Vogel get fired quick. Darvin Ham get fired quick. Y'all bring these boys in because they what, media darlings."

They also touch upon Darvin Ham's tenure and decision-making, suggesting that leadership changes might be imminent if performance doesn't improve.

• Trisha [02:16]: "Storming out the interview along with LeBron... if Darvin got the boot, then JJ Reddick deserved the other one."

3. Player Performances and Contributions

The hosts analyze key players' performances, highlighting both strengths and areas needing improvement. Jalen Brunson's growth is praised, while concerns are raised about Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson's contributions.

• Josh Smith [02:29]: "JJ Reddick... they got a top three player... You ain't do nothing."
• Trisha [05:02]: "He contributed in the season. Whenever everybody was hurt, y'all relied on that boy."

There's also a discussion about the best players in the Eastern Conference, debating who holds the title of the best big and point guard.

• Trisha [04:22]: "Who's the best big in the East?"
• Josh Smith [04:26]: "Evan Mobley."
• Trisha [04:32]: "So, when you got the best big, and you got the best small. No funny."

4. Team Strategy and Roster Management

The Knicks' strategy, especially their reliance on certain players and benching decisions, is scrutinized. The hosts question the effectiveness of the current lineup and the depth of the bench.

• Trisha [05:02]: "I'm not understanding the benching of Precious Achiuotua."
• Josh Smith [05:19]: "They bringing in players like Drew Holiday, Jason Tatum, Jalen Brown... you gonna need more than just the point guard."

They debate the necessity of enhancing the team's depth to compete effectively against the Celtics, who possess a formidable roster.

5. Predictions and Final Thoughts

Concluding the episode, Josh Smith offers his predictions for the Knicks vs. Celtics series, favoring the Celtics to secure the victory in six games.

• Josh Smith [07:37]: "Celtics in six games. I give y'all six games, you dig?"
• Trisha [09:32]: "The Celtics, they healthy like that."

Trisha counters by expressing confidence in the Knicks' ability to compete but ultimately aligns with the sentiment that the Celtics hold the upper hand due to their health and experience.

• Trisha [09:45]: "The Celtics, they healthy like that."

Notable Quotes

• Trisha [01:55]: "We might have to break our team down into a football situation where we have a coach just for substitutions and a rotation because Tibbs doesn't pay attention to that."
• Josh Smith [05:00]: "Pepper, Lemon pepper Sprinkle Salute."
• Trisha [08:44]: "Don't ask me to predict nothing."

Conclusion

This episode provides a comprehensive analysis of the Knicks' playoff run, highlighting both the team's potential and the challenges it faces against a strong Celtics squad. With candid critiques of coaching decisions and player performances, the hosts offer valuable insights and predictions that will resonate with Knicks fans and basketball enthusiasts alike.

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Note: Timestamps are based on the provided transcript and correspond to the moments of the quoted discussions.

Transcript

[Josh]

My ears recall recl. He said the next suck. I just thought.

[Trisha]

I don't think that's what he said.

[Josh]

My big dog. Salute to the stinkiest fan in the world, the Knicks. You feel me? My dog, Josh Smith. What's happening, dog? How you doing?

[Trisha]

This is low. This is low key. A W. They never even really noticed that, but they know now.

[Josh]

Man, how you feeling about these playoffs, bro? Jalen Brunson. Cat done became damn near a Tiger at this point. What you think, bruh?

[Trisha]

Yeah, I mean, the playoffs is unpredictable.

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Trisha]

When you don't know the game. Cause you know, I called Minnesota getting rid of them Lakers. You know, everybody wasn't for that pick, but you know, me, you and Trisha did the whole panel. So, you know that's a W we took right there.

[Josh]

Yeah, that is a W. What you think? Finna come up next with these Celtics versus Knicks. You feel me? Because I ain't gonna lie to you. Nick's looking good right now. But it's just something about that Nick franchise that always had me thinking, y'all gonna find a way to screw it up. Man, what you thinking, bruh? Tubs looking at like, bro, he. He beating them players, running them in the ground. E Day, bro, what you think?

[Trisha]

I really don't understand. And it's like, we might have to break our team down into, like, a football situation where we have a. A coach just for substitutions and a rotation because Tibbs doesn't pay attention to that. And you see, J.J. reddick went the other day, leaving all five starters in the whole second half. It's just, what are y'all doing, right? What are y'all doing? Y'all getting paid a salary, and y'all just not doing nothing. Like, go out there and be superheroes is what they asking of them. And that's why they losing in five and full in some cases.

[Josh]

Right? Meanwhile, Frank Vogel get fired quick. Darvin Ham get fired quick. Y'all bring these boys in because they. What, darlings? Media darlings. And look what they do.

[Trisha]

That's what I said. I said, if Darvin. If Darvin got the. Got. Got the boot, then JJ Reddick deserved the other one. You ain't do nothing, and you got a top three player. So.

[Josh]

Right.

[Trisha]

Storming out the interview along with LeBron, and. And, you know, Yeah, I was looking good during the season, and losing five is a coach job, I think.

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Trisha]

Well, we know why JJ Got the job.

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Trisha]

But really, as the Lakers, though, like, how do you hire someone that's never been A coach nowhere ever.

[Josh]

Right?

[Trisha]

Because. Because he talks. He has a nice vocabulary. Because at the end of the day, if I'm Luke and Doncic and you, jj, Redick, and you telling me, hey, man, come on, you got to give us some more effort.

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Trisha]

I'm gonna look you up and down like, you ever had 30. You have an average. 30. Don't talk to me. And that's how I think it's gonna go. That's why somebody. I be feeling like somebody like Gilbert should be a coach, because I could teach you how to be a star. I've been in them trenches as the man. Jj, you can't talk to me like, what you gonna say to me? Talk to Dalton. Connect one of them.

[Josh]

Like, yeah, that boy was a pure shooter, but that's all he was. Yeah, exactly.

[Trisha]

Yep. When they say something that mean you ain't do much in that next damn.

[Josh]

Leave up, I got the slit back hair down pat. You feel me? Like, at least it ain't going no down where. Moving on, bro. I gotta say, Knicks versus Celtics, dog. I imagine the Celtics. Like, it's. It's not gonna be as easy as I thought because that Magic skit series got me a little. I don't know. It was certain games where the magic was looking, like, a little too much at certain times.

[Trisha]

What's not gonna be as easy as you thought?

[Josh]

Being the next ass. I thought it was going to be maybe, like, what, four, four, five sweep? Damn near a gentleman suite. But now y'all might push on the six if y'all play, right?

[Trisha]

With Yanis out, right?

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Trisha]

Who has the best big left in the east, bruh?

[Josh]

Just answer the question.

[Trisha]

Just answer the question.

[Josh]

The best big. But can you call.

[Trisha]

Just answer the question. Just answer the question. Who's the best big in the East? Life.

[Josh]

The Miles Turner. Goddamn.

[Trisha]

We know his cat, so.

[Josh]

Oh, but I don't know. Evan Mobley. Evan Mobley.

[Trisha]

Come on, come on, come on, come.

[Josh]

On, come on, come on. Now.

[Trisha]

Who's the best point guard left in the East?

[Josh]

Come on, come on.

[Trisha]

I'm just asking questions.

[Josh]

Jalen Branson, bro. Michael Jalen Branson.

[Trisha]

So? So when you got the best big, and you got the best small. No funny.

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Trisha]

Yeah. That usually equals we got to do something then. You know they call our wings Wingstop.

[Josh]

Yeah. Yeah. Come on, bro.

[Trisha]

They call us Wingstop, So so long as they do their job.

[Josh]

Yeah, they call them Wingstop. They delicious to go through. You feel me? Pepper, Lemon pepper Sprinkle Salute. The Rick Ross don't do me like that.

[Trisha]

Yeah.

[Josh]

Yeah. But that was crazy.

[Trisha]

Yeah. The Knicks. I feel like if we use our whole team. I'm not understanding the benching of Precious Achuit. And nobody's calling out Thibodeau but me. But how's he. How's he getting all these DNPs?

[Josh]

Right, right. He contributed in the season. Whenever everybody was hurt, y'all relied on that boy.

[Trisha]

He got 10 starts, and he averaged 13 and 10 in those starts. So it's like Kyrie just missing out on that production and we choosing to run with a tired cat and Mitchell Robinson. And I'm like, I don't get. I don't know what he doing.

[Josh]

I just feel like Drew Holiday, Jason Tatum, Jalen Brown, poor Zingus. They're gonna have something to say about them wingstops you did. And you can do a lot on the point guard, but y'all gonna need more than just the point guard, more than just the Cat gonna have to get in that paint if he really want to get the job done against the Celtics. All that three point shooting shit go out the window with the Celtics because they gonna go that right down the court and shoot the same. You gonna have to really bang or get somebody in five trouble. And I just don't see Cat being that fierce no more. Like, he show flashes that he can. But then at the end of the game against Detroit, you see he hit them long ass threes, and I think that's gonna come back to bite him, you feel me? In the later rounds. Because. But you can't just rely on that. You missed that shot, boy. New York turn on you, sir. And he ain't never had New York turn on him like they turned on Julius Randle.

[Trisha]

First of all, you talking about the mayor of the. Of the. Of the situation of whatever you talking about right now. I decide when we turn on people. And cat got us until we out of here. And that's it. That's our best player. He's been our best player all year. Jalen Brunson right there with him. And listen, man, I'm. I don't believe that Peyton Pritchard and players like that, y'all don't Gotta know, bro.

[Josh]

6 Man of the year Peyton Pritchard, bro. Respect on that, man. Name, bro.

[Trisha]

Yeah, Those awards that. That these people vote for and stuff like that. Yeah, that don't matter when you got to play the same team seven times. Yeah, you're not playing. You're not. Yeah, you playing a good team seven times. So Payton, Pacharo you're gonna have to outplay Deuce McBride. Deuce is on you.

[Josh]

Come on, bro. You tripping now. Deuce, bro. Come on, bro. Dude's barely seeing the flow, man.

[Trisha]

This is what I'm saying. Dude's got to take it personal. You got to take it personal. You're not better than Peyton Pajaw Tim.

[Josh]

Don'T even believe he better than Peyton Pritchard.

[Trisha]

Brother, than a better coach than me. That's a good. I don't believe that.

[Josh]

So, yeah, they're gonna have to get the job done. I predict Celtics in five. I would say Celtics and six. Matter of fact, Celtics and six. I give y'all six games, you dig? Because I see y'all being fierce enough. But I don't. I don't. Y'all have to show me because that. That Detroit series wasn't enough for me. Y'all look too too pie in certain scenarios, bruh. And I don't trust TS More than you. Don't trust them, like, but good. But, yeah, keep playing them boys like that, they gonna. They gonna run out of gas.

[Trisha]

I think Rick Brunson should get more involved in the situation. You think. You think Tibbs is the type to be like, yeah, stay in your lane.

[Josh]

Or, yeah, hell yeah. Hell yeah. Chill to say that to that boy, man. That's his problem. T ain't never had nobody just talked to him like, they like, bruh, this ain't working. Let's move it on. You dig? He gonna do what he want to do. Run Miles Bridges into the ground. Y'all lucky, my bro. Y'all so lucky my bridges be hitting them Lacona threes, bruh. That's what I'm saying. Y'all the luckiest team in the league thus far. We're gonna run out of gas. What's your prediction, bruh? What's your.

[Trisha]

His name is M. Bridges. Get it right. Disrespect my roster, that's number one and. And number two. Don't ask me to predict nothing. Don't ask me.

[Josh]

I'm not.

[Trisha]

I'm not talking ahead to be looking stupid if something happens. Nixon 7. We built. We're built for the Celtics. I didn't want to play nobody else. This is right, this. We fell right in. Into the laps of what I wanted anyway, playing them in the second round and not the third. We getting hurt playing the paces last year in the second round. No, we need to beat them while we healthy, and then we gonna wash up. Cleveland or the paces, whoever it's gonna Be cat.

[Josh]

That ain't no confidence saying nicks and seven. You saw you confident tomorrow. Nicks and seven, boy, I'm confident. Celtics and five. Damn near four.

[Trisha]

Yeah, because y'all got. Y'all got 10 plays. It's five against 10. You know tibs ain't playing nobody.

[Josh]

There we go. There you go. Excuse machine. Crank it up already. You feel me? NY Stand for next year already. We see it. You dig it?

[Trisha]

The Celtics, they healthy like that.

[Josh]

Look, now, we not healthy.

[Trisha]

Stop saying we. I said they.

[Josh]

Come on, bro. We. We healthy right now, bro. We. We healthy enough to. To clean up the Knicks. Is the Knicks healthy? Is Jalen Branson gonna follow Madison Square Garden got holes in the flow. Let's talk about that. Dead spots in the Madison Square Garden, the Mecca hurrying your boy, you feel me? I ain't even nobody touching. He getting hurt by the damn flow. James Dolan, do your damn job and clean up the flow, man. We got Jalen. Look, we got Jalen Brown. We got Jason Tatum coming in the building. Get that flow right, bro. You feel me? Y'all boy playing on the damn wreck lead flow, man. Come on, bro.

[Trisha]

Listen, they got. They ring. I think. I think they satisfied. We hungry. And when they come to New York, it's a lot of pressure on them. I don't know. I don't know. Jason Tatum might crack. You know what they say about him.

[Josh]

Yeah, man. Moving on, man. We already understand. Josh say Knicks in seven, which is pretty rich to me because I say Celtics in four, five, maybe six. You feel me? Just according to what's happening. But we ain't going to. We ain't going to argue all day because you already know he think the Knicks are. Whoever he think they are. They're not that, though. Like, just. Just look at him in his eyes. If you at the house, point your fingers in your hands to. Towards the screen, say, get well soon to my brother John. Send a prayer, because we already know what that NY stand for next year. You dig it? And nothing changed this year.