B (2:02)

I didn't realize until we're talking about it how much I need this back in my life. So I hope it's not too late. I hope some enterprising production assistant over at Disney, over at. I guess not Turner anymore over at Amazon. You know, like, let's. Let's bring it back.

C (2:17)

My favorite ever was the. I think it was on one of the NBA Live games where I forget the group, but they put out a song that just like named teams. But the, the lyrics was like what you know about them? New York Knicks, Phoenix Sun, Ballin Boy. And then it would just, it basically would just sub in the names. I was like, that's the dream. If you could come up with a track where you could just go in and, and punch the names and just print the money, that that's my favorite ever.

B (2:40)

Well, that's how Montel Jordan did it, right? Like he was going around doing this is how we do it and just subbing out the city name depending on where he was in the NBA. Cir. It's an amazing grift if you can get it. The Ringer NBA show is brought to you by FanDuel. The NBA postseason is here and FanDuel knows the only thing better than watching your favorite team win is winning along with them. FanDuel is the best place to bet the teams, players and plays during their playoff run. Build a same game parlay or try live betting and jump in after a tip off. Don't forget, with FanDuel you get paid instantly when you win. Download the FanDuel sportsbook app now and play your game 21 plus in select states. 18 plus for DC, Kentucky or Wyoming. A gambling problem. Call 1-800- GAMBLER, call 1-887-897777 or visit ccpg.org chat in Connecticut.

A (3:26)

All right, but we've made it to the play in. Play in fever is already catching fire, especially here in Portland after what a. What a raucous weekend it was.

B (3:33)

Yeah. This episode is brought to you by Taxact Taxes. Trust me, they sound far more complex than they actually are. And it's all thanks to TaxAct. They make it easy to do taxes online, offering step by step guidance so you can finish your taxes ahead of the April 15 deadline and get your maximum refund guaranteed. If you get stuck, just add expert assist. Get unlimited help from a credentialed US based tax expert. Visit taxact.com to learn more.

A (4:03)

Not as raucous.

C (4:04)

And for a city that's usually on fire, I'd say, you know, it's, you know, it's probably very, I mean, you

A (4:11)

joke, but it's probably going to literally be on fire because it's been warm here.

C (4:15)

Yeah, that was more instigating. I don't really believe that. But just be clear, everybody. Yeah, that was for a Justin reaction. And I got one. Go ahead, Justin. Sorry.

A (4:23)

No, I will say the play in before the play in. We got a matchup between the Blazers and the Clippers here On Friday, which is probably the biggest matchup of the weekend, or at least the one that had probably the biggest effect on the ultimate standings. If you look over like seatings and whatnot, it was great. There was like legitimate juice in the building for the first time in a while. It was probably the biggest stakes game I've been to since I've been here. That was awesome. That was a nice little prelude to what should be an interesting play in mix, at least in the West. In the east, maybe not as much. A lot of teams just limping in. And then yesterday we had the Magic blowing a game against the Celtics backups. Um, just another football to the groin, Rob. And what has been just a procession of that over the season for the Magic. I mean, Jamal Mosley, do we think that he makes it out of the playoffs at this point? Because I have to imagine like he's probably not going to make it beyond.

B (5:16)

Yeah, I think the balance has kind of shifted on that. Where we are over the curve of the safety of Jamal Mosley's job into. He would have to do something to kind of save it in order to be the Orlando Magic coach next year. In part because of games like this. They're not just losing, not just limping, but they've just been like kind of embarrassing all year in these sorts of situations where we should know. Not only did they lose to Bayer, Baylor, Shireman and Ron Harper Jr. And not only the Magic, Sir Luca Garza, like really getting in there. Some like third stringers in effect, not just backups, but really deep reserves, but they did it with like something actually on the line. Right, right. If, if the Magic had won this game, they weren't going to get into that guaranteed six, I believe because of the tiebreaker rules and the three way tie they would have found themselves in, but they would have at least had home court advantage for the play in, at least for the first game. Now they don't even have that. And they go into this knowing that they had every opportunity to secure it. Their season will effectively be on the line. It's just, it's a fucking bummer. This team, like they just have earned it every step of the way. And I'm just consistently sad to watch them at this point.

C (6:25)

Yeah, the. It's. Are we to the point where not only is it like he has to win the job back, is it to the point where if they have success, if they have like a little run of success. You see this happen in college sometimes where a team will have kind of like a Middling ho hum season. And then they'll put together a run and and a coach will get extended and the fans are kind of like oh we enjoyed that run but that means we have to keep the coach. Like it's to that point where Magic fans are going to like not even enjoy the success. They'd be annoyed if this era continues.

A (6:53)

Well, I just don't know how much of a run they can go on because even if they win this game, they're going up against the same Celtics team but the better version. Or they're going against the Pistons, who Cade comes back against the Hornets. Another big game that happened on Friday and all of a sudden they look pretty good. Like they look better than they had in a while. So it seems unlikely. I mean but there was just a lot of insult to industry with the Magic in this one where it's like Bane plays 82 games. Awesome achievement in this day and age. Like the fact that he gets out there truly. But they try to limit him for once. Can't even do that because they kind of fell apart when he wasn't playing. Franz looked like he got hurt late in that game. He came back ultimately, but he didn't seem like fully there. If he that lingers into this next game against the Sixers, that sucks. And they had been playing well, Rob. Like they'd won five straight going into this. Seemed like things had turned around or at the very least they were playing teams that just didn't have anything to play for but they had the momentum and then everything was just kind of a wet fart there.

B (7:48)

They just can't even hold on to like the barest of advantages this season. And in doing so you mentioned Justin the play in and playoff seating implications of the Portland Clippers matchup. This was also one of those cases where by the Magic losing I believe they also scrambled up where the Hawks and the Raptors ended up in the playoff seating completely changing the playoff picture all because they could not handle Baylor Shireman. So congratulations to them, to us, to everyone who now gets to watch the new world that the Magic have created.

A (8:17)

So we now have in the East Sixers magic in the 7 8. Well I guess Embiid is a no. I mean is he just had appendicitis.

B (8:26)

I hope to God he said no, you can't be wheeling that guy in with an iv.

A (8:30)

I mean last time was it last year where his face was melting because he had Bell's palsy in addition to all of his other injury concerns and he still went out There. So I. I don't know. At this point, you could tell me he has anything, and I would believe it, but I would also believe that he would still play through it because he's trying to prove something.

B (8:44)

I. I feel confident in saying Joel Embiid should not be on a basketball court and will not be on a basketball court. As his doctor, I feel like I feel qualified to say it.

C (8:53)

Those stitches are fresh. I would say right there. Can Embiid. Can Embiid be the first player to play at a bubble? Can we have, like, a boy in a bubble situation where we can just kind of, like, he's rolling around on the court, nobody can kind of touch him? Like, it's the. The list of maladies. I don't know. Did you guys ever watch Comedy Bang Bang? The. The show, the Scott Aerman show? There was the character that would come on and list his maladies, and it would. Anyway, it's really, really great clip, but that's kind of what Embiid is. It's like it's just reaching a level of. Are they. Did they. Did they build that arena on, like, an Indian burial ground or something? I'm trying to figure out what's going on with that because he's just had incredibly bad luck.

A (9:34)

Don't the ref already treat him like that? Am I right? That he's in a bubble?

C (9:39)

Wow.

B (9:42)

No, absolutely not.

C (9:45)

Justin Barry is your point of contact for that? Yeah.

A (9:49)

This.

B (9:49)

This whole Embiid situation, though, I think has sufficiently, like, nuked most of my interest in the Sixers as a potential playoff spoiler, which I guess makes them the perfect foil for the Magic. Right? This. This matchup is just like two completely depressing teams who I wanted to believe in at various points in the season, at least in their ability to make a series competitive if they got there. And now we're here at the end, and it's like, this is just a team that depends way too much on a Dembona for me to take them seriously. With all due respect to a Dembona, so here we are. I guess we'll see who kind of ekes their way into the playoff.

A (10:21)

You're not interested in the Paul George revival?

B (10:23)

I was with Embiid, but without Embiid, I'm really, really not.

C (10:27)

Yeah, it's tough.

A (10:28)

More juice in the 910 matchup, which I believe goes on Wednesday. Hornets versus Heat, which, on its face, doesn't seem all that thrilling beyond the fact that it seems like the Hornets have a little bit of a team of destiny. Thing going overall in this season. So I want to see them in the big boy playoffs. The Heat though, just staunch playing veterans at this point. This is now the fourth year in a row that he are playing in the play in and so I want to discount them. And yet this is what they live for. This is what they've been playing for for four straight seasons.

B (10:59)

Yeah, I'm starting to wonder if I wish there were a less nebulous place to find play in statistics because I would think the Heat have to have some of the all time leading scores in the play in right. At least better the Bulls or the Hawks.

C (11:13)

That's like Archie Goodwin becoming the all time summer league scorer and everybody's like I don't know if. Does he want to be seen with that look?

A (11:20)

It's odd. Nobody even keeps a record. Right. Because it's supposed to not count toward anything which I get. But just not even keeping it for posterity sake. Like you could just put another subsection of basketball reference out there and just put it all there. But like nobody actually does it. I have to imagine the Heat or Up. I mean the Hornets in the previous vintage probably also up there as well. The Hawks. We have to retire their play in jerseys finally. Good for them getting all the way up to the. Into the top six. But yeah, this is. This is the heats moment.

B (11:50)

It is the heats moment and I'm a little nervous about the team of destiny bit. I'm a little nervous about how good the Hornets have looked. And I'm also nervous some of this is maybe scar tissue from seeing the Hornets in previous iterations just get absolutely wrecked in playoff games past. They have not had the most decorated history in this particular form of competition. Totally new team, new coach. It should be different. And yet doesn't it feel like exactly the way that this season would go that the Heat beat the Hornets and secure a playoff spot.

C (12:21)

The Heat remind me of. This is. Oh my God, this is so random. But we for a work function one time went to everybody in our department was a big department. We went to like this. This place called Cart Country. It was go karts. So we all went. We were having a great. So everybody lines up two case. Yes. Yes. Be careful place here. So there's only two. Just saying I want it so badly. Make another joke. But I won't. So we go up and we quickly realize that, you know, everybody rushes to get like the carts at the front. We realize there's they're. They're good and there's one cart that's not so good and I end up just by process of elimination and I was like, well I can try to win or I could try. You know, I found myself trying to catch up to the other ones and I couldn't. I'm flooring it. It's not working. So I quit quickly realized like, well the move here is for me to just sabotage to hang back and keep the other people from succeeding who have better carts at this point in time. So I'm like maneuvering, you know, I'm beating them to the bend and things and like just preventing other people from winning. I kind of feel like that's the position that the Miami Heat are in right now is to just. It does feel like a perfect spoilery thing for them to do and for Eric's bolster to do in a one game scenario of just like oh, you guys are an ascendant team. Oh, that's adorable. We're gonna just going to sabotage this for you. I just, I feel like SPO in a one game could make that happen. I have the. That's the vibe you're saying you have, right Rob?

B (13:42)

Yeah, yeah. I, I think especially because for everything we think of the Hornets and I want to give them their due finish the season with a top five offense like an incredible turnaround for them within the course of the year. We've sang their praises enough on this pod. They lost three other four games against the Heat. Like this seems like exactly the kind of thing they might blow at the finish line.

A (14:01)

Yes. I believe two of them were early in the season when they were a completely different team. The flip flopping for them is more pronounced than it's been for God, I can't even think of. I guess the Pacers are the only actual comp. But even then they didn't have the same lows as as the Horns have had this season. I don't know. Whoever comes out of this I guess, I guess it's fine. This one, I will say doesn't have as much juice as the West. The west has some like actual like I can't wait to plug in there. Obviously my biases are are. Are known here and so the 78 matchup is very important to me especially because if they win that means I get two games at least a playoff wemby right down the road for me.

C (14:39)

Which that's the only bias for you that I understand you having biases. Otherwise I don't. You didn't grow up a Blazers fan. I don't get this. I'm never Going to.

A (14:48)

I'm getting close to the situation. Yes.

C (14:50)

If you, if you greedily want in person basketball, Justin, I, I'm with you 100%, but.

A (14:55)

Yeah, well, I mean, I either get. If they do make it out of the plane, which I think they will, one way or another, I either get the Thunder, who I've seen a lot of, but still awesome to see before they go on what could be a pretty spectacular run here again, or fucking Victor Webanyama in his first playoff series. I actually haven't seen Wemby live yet. I've just missed him over and over again. And so to see that, God damn, I'm crossing my fingers that they win this first matchup.

B (15:21)

Do you think he can handle Clingan, though?

A (15:23)

I actually think it would be a nice little contrast of styles.

B (15:27)

Sure. You joke. It will be that.

A (15:28)

You joke.

B (15:29)

I do joke.

A (15:30)

You grin.

B (15:31)

I. I do joke. But also the mid off rage is on Justin. The fact that we're getting.

A (15:36)

No, it doesn't

B (15:39)

actually. Fair question. Does this count for the mid off?

A (15:42)

It doesn't matter. I think he lost by two games.

B (15:44)

Oh, it's. Yeah, that's true. So I guess. I guess we're beyond beyond the pale. At this point, my punishment will be incoming. I look forward to hearing what that will be. I. I was gonna say double or nothing, but at this point, I just have very little faith in what the Suns are doing. So they. They have petered out in such a significant way down the stretch.

C (16:01)

You might as well go double or nothing. Just do it. What. What do you. Come on, what do you have to lose?

A (16:04)

That's the question. Do you want to go double or nothing?

B (16:07)

I think if I had as clear a sense of what the punishment for the existing bet was going to be, I might be more willing.

A (16:12)

Well, we had talked last time about g like forcing you to wear a shirt with my face on it for an entire week of podcasts, which I think is the best one. Unless you've come up with something. Let's. Kyle has something or someone in the email came up with something good.

C (16:26)

I came up with a couple ideas both ways. If you down the first one. So if. If Portland loses, Justin has to ref finance his house through Ishba's mortgage company.

B (16:39)

Honestly, Incredible.

A (16:40)

Is it punishment for me or for who?

C (16:43)

I think.

B (16:44)

I think it will be a punishment for you. Look, those. Those rates are what they are.

C (16:48)

The other one, if Justin loses, he has to fly to the Phoenix airport. We bring someone to film this and he has to talk for A full workday. He has to strike up small talk conversations with at least 15 strangers.

B (17:00)

Wow.

C (17:01)

That's. If Justin loses.

B (17:02)

This is punishing.

C (17:03)

These are steep penalties.

A (17:05)

This is really gets at the heart of like my exact nightmare. Yeah.

C (17:09)

So if Rob loses, Rob has to write a 10,000 piece. We can get with Justin Sayles or somebody. A 10,000 word piece on how the grunge movement positively impacted music. Rob has to do that.

B (17:22)

I quit.

C (17:22)

He loses. See, I told you.

B (17:25)

Steep.

C (17:25)

This is. These are high stakes. Is high. So the other one here is Rob can't wear an open denim shirt with a band for.

B (17:32)

What am I supposed to do? Like, what do you want to go

A (17:36)

shirtless at that point? Yeah. So no double or nothing. Not feeling it.

B (17:42)

I'm just not feeling it. Okay.

C (17:45)

He's so scared. He has to talk about grunge. Look at that. He's cowering in fear.

B (17:48)

Rightly so. I mean, again, have you watched the Phoenix Suns play over the last like three to four weeks? And they're getting Mark Williams back finally, which in theory should help, not just because he's a good, useful player, but like also a Gadaro as your only big. Just like was not really cutting it, to be honest with you. So maybe there's some reason for hope and optimism. And honestly, they're probably still good enough to make the playoffs, whether it's on this first crack or the second one. I just, I feel like the Blazers have more going on at this particular moment. Loathe as I am to say it,

A (18:18)

yeah, they'll have the best player in whatever games they play in the play in. And so that could ultimately win out in a single game format.

B (18:25)

Not if they play the Clippers or the warriors, though.

A (18:28)

That's true. Although Steph diminished. I don't know. The Clippers just did not look right when I saw them against the Blazers. The Blazers ultimately probably are the exact worst matchup of this kind of mix for the team. Like the Clippers, because they have so much size and so much depth too. And to the point where like the Blazers were really just hunting Garland, like left and right. And after that, they were trying to go with like basically Batum in the second half as a backup center. And so if they do fall into that same matchup again, if the Blazers lose and the Clippers win in that first matchup, I could see that playing out again. But Booker, you know, that's something. Ultimately the Blazers, I think, want it more. And I do think they have probably the right mix, especially because a lot of their team is young and like hungry for something like this. I would imagine that they win this first game and I do get my. My lovely two games of playoff basketball with Victor Webanyama.

B (19:18)

I suspect you're right. And as far as the second game goes, I just kind of wonder if the Clippers or the warriors really want to be here. We've already heard from Steve Kerr that Steph and Al Horford are going to be on minutes limits for this game or at least supp. They will be on minutes limits for this game. The Clippers, as you said, Justin, it just like not looked the most eager to continue their season at this particular point in time. Like good enough and competitive enough and fine. And I'm sure no one would really hate the process of going through a first round series, although they'd probably get spanked pretty hard. I do think that the sons of these four teams probably won it the most or the second most along with the Blazers. And so would not surprise me one bit if we just get a pretty standard sort of 7, 8 sus out one way or another with this group.

C (20:01)

We should do an Eric Bledsoe memorial I don't want to be here award and give it to give it to a team.

B (20:07)

Maybe he was at a hair salon. Okay, don't. Why are you dragging his name through the mud?

A (20:13)

Yeah, but you say that, but I think Steph might be the one player I don't want to see in the entire NBA in this sort of format.

B (20:21)

It's true.

A (20:22)

Like as I was pulling a bunch of Blazers people during that just like fans and people who cover the team, they're like stuff especially considering the history that those two franchises have had in this format is fucking terrifying. And so maybe he's on a minute limit and that just completely knocks it out. But like I don't think the Clippers are the type of team that's just going to blow out the warriors in the first half and make that not like a close game. And so I have to imagine Steph is going to push through and damn, he's just so terrifying. Like it's true.

C (20:51)

Yeah, anything can happen when he's playing pre acl. Klay Thompson is not walking through that door. This is not 2019. A lot of time has passed. You know, Kevin Durant is not walking through that door. If you. Man, if you look at the. I know we're going to be talking more about this as we go. The bench unit for the Warriors, a lot of players that I love, but you look at the Drop off from their 38 year old squad to their young pups scrapping to make it in the league squad. It is precipitous to say the least. So I. This, this ain't, this ain't that. I know they're traumatized, but yes, the Blazers should be able to get that done, I would think.

B (21:26)

I also think from Golden State's perspective, again, do you really want this? It's fun to get into the playoffs. It's great to compete. Yes. The, like, anything can happen when Steph is involved factor is, is real and I don't want to discount it. They're playing for next season. They're playing for the reshuffle. Either getting Jimmy Butler back or trading him away into something like real and important to their team is what you really want. To sit Kayson Wallace and Alex Caruso and Lou Dort on Steph Curry for however many games you're alive when you, you know you're going to lose. Like you're not going to make that series.

A (21:59)

I see what you're saying, but yeah, I, I think this is a completely different scenario. If anything, a lot of those old dogs, like, this is the perfect time for them in a one game series where they have all this rest in order to get there. They have two days basically before they actually play this game. It's only in la, not a long flight. Most of those guys probably already live down the road. I don't know. I just, I think the warriors are dangerous in this format. Like after that, nobody cares because they're definitely not going to push the thunder at all. But I fear Steph, you know, I fear God, I fear Steph, I fear Rob without a shirt on. The three things.

B (22:33)

Yeah, it's all very powerful in their own ways.

A (22:37)

So what are we thinking? Sons? Sons.

B (22:38)

Blazers, Blazer, Sons, I think Blazer, Sons. In that order.

C (22:43)

Yeah.

A (22:44)

It's tough. Is it for you?

B (22:48)

Look, I, I'm already eating my humble pie, you know.

A (22:53)

All right, why don't we take a break and we talk about some other fallout from Sunday's last day of the regular season. This episode is brought to you by Men's Wearhouse. Is your wardrobe ready for every occasion? Whether you're catching the game with your buds or maybe out for an event? Because at Men's Wearhouse, they've got you covered with a huge variety of clothing in styles, from tailored clothing like suits, sports coats, dress shirts, tuxes for more formal events, to casual clothing like polos, shirts, shorts and jeans for everyday wear. The Men's Wearhouse experts can help you work out your look while their on site tailors guarantee your clothes fit your body comfortably. Men's wearhouse has over 600 locations nationwide. They are here and nearby when you're ready to love the way you look.

B (23:41)

K Pop Demon Hunters Taja Boy's Breakfast Meal and Hunt Tricks Meal have just dropped at McDonald's. They're calling this a battle for the fans. What do you say to that, Rumi?

A (23:50)

It's not a battle.

B (23:51)

So glad the Saja boys could take

A (23:53)

breakfast and give our meal the rest of the day. It is an honor to share. No, it's our honor. It is our larger honor. No, really stop.

B (24:02)

You can really feel the respect in this battle. Pick a meal to pick a side.

C (24:07)

Ba da ba ba ba.

B (24:09)

And participate in McDonald's while supplies last.

C (24:11)

Zootopia 2 has come home to Disney.

B (24:14)

Let's go get ready for a new case.

A (24:16)

We're going to crack this case and prove we're victorious.

B (24:19)

Partners of all time.

C (24:19)

New friends.

B (24:20)

You are Gary Desnick. And your last name.

A (24:24)

Desnake.

C (24:25)

Dream Team.

B (24:26)

The new habitats.

A (24:28)

Zootopia has a secret reptile population.

C (24:31)

You can watch the record breaking phenomenon at home. You're clearly working at Zootopia 2. Now available on Disney Plus. Rated PG.

A (24:41)

Look all right. Elsewhere in NBA action, probably the biggest thing that happened was the Nuggets climbing onto that number three seed holding off the Spurs. I will just say as an addendum here, doesn't matter going forward, but one last like nod to Carter Bryant, who in all of these late season games just does one or two or five things where I'm like, holy shit, this guy's pretty good. Yeah, might have done more in game 82, which didn't really matter, at least to him. Or not really for the Spurs. We'll see down the road. Probably did more in that game than Young Hansen has done his entire rookie season.

B (25:17)

Wow, look at you. Look how far you've come.

A (25:19)

Unfortunate. Wow, it's tough.

C (25:22)

Acceptance and admittance there for you. It's a step in the right direction.

B (25:26)

Justin, we never got your official comment on Blazers officials being suspended for illegal contact with Young Hanson. And secondary question. Are you one of the people who made illegal contact with Young Hanson?

A (25:37)

I sold them out is what you're suggesting.

B (25:39)

I'm not suggesting anything. I just want the truth from you.

A (25:42)

I mean, they were very open about their communication with Young when they drafted him. I think in part to just say, like, we've been on this guy for a while and unfortunately I think that Suggested to everyone that they made illegal contact with him earlier than they should.

C (25:56)

It crosses the line into illegal, though, because there's like, channels through. Is it like an official spoke directly to Young? I just. For people out there that don't even know because it's. It's back channeling because you can talk to the players in, like, workouts and things. It's just before he was even draft eligible or. How much detail do we have on that?

A (26:14)

I don't. I don't know.

C (26:15)

Shaking your head none

A (26:19)

for like two weeks? I don't know. It was the end of the season. I guess they couldn't go on the road for, for scouting for two weeks. I don't know how much it ultimately mattered, but yeah, they. They have Young. Listen, I'll say this. I've been trying to be less. Less like cut and dry with rookies because these guys tend to find things in their second years, big guys in particular. And so I'm not sure about Young. I will just say that Carter Bryant looks awesome.

B (26:44)

Yes.

A (26:45)

He seems to physically mature, like, every five days or so. I feel like he's gotten bigger even with the last time I probably plugged into a Spurs game.

C (26:53)

I think we did that lob when he had his head, like, over the rim last night. That lob that he caught. I was just like when he dunked on Jokic too. He did. He did a couple. Like who. This guy could be like, one of the most dominant, like, perimeter forces in the league.

B (27:08)

No, no. He definitely has that kind of profile. Like, I don't want to overstate, but in the spirit of what Justin's talking about, I think the more we can get away from outright dismissal of young players who don't pop immediately and more latching on to the Carter Bryants and the hope that we see in the flashes, I think. I think it's just like a better and healthier perspective for people who are coming into the league, especially at 19 and 20.

C (27:30)

Well, yeah, I mean, the one to two is the space where the things dictate what's going to happen. If you have like a negative, you can pick any, basically catch all metric. If you have a negative catch all metric your first year, which just track a lot of your. You can go into those things and why people use those, but that's, that's where the, the choice is made. So if you're below water, that. That jump from one to two is where we can start to say, like, all right, the trends in the history say. But if they're Bad year one. There's a lot of different reasons for that to happen.

A (28:00)

But Jokic, I think playing in part just to make sure he was MVP eligible or awards eligible as the season basically willed the third string Nuggets like it was Tyus Jones and a lot of those caliber of guys over the, over the spurs in that game. And for that reason they end up at the three. They get the Timberwolves in that first game, which not great, but if they get past that, then they get the spurs. And all of a sudden the spurs in a weird way in game 82 have found themselves in the tougher side of the bracket because now they have to get through the Nuggets in order to get to the Thunder as opposed to forcing the Nuggets to play the Thunder in the second round. I have to say, Rob, like this last day, just gangbusters for the Thunder. Like all of a sudden they're playing a play in team and then most likely either a injured Lakers team or a slumping Rockets team and then they get the spurs of the Nuggets, most likely after they go toe to toe, Godzilla Mothra style in the second round.

B (28:55)

Yes, I mean these are the perks of being the number one seed by, you know, a significant margin for the most of the year ultimately. So the idea that the Thunder should have those advantages baked into the season. I do like this path a little bit better for the Nuggets for that reason. Like they do have a physicality advantage against the Spurs. We've seen the ways in which they can push them with various versions of their lineup. I, I get the argument that you might want to just see OKC and get it over with. And we've seen those teams go like toe to toe in the second round in Goliath fashion previously, obviously. But I think you just put it off and I think you take what you can and you try to compete with the spurs and you try to humble this young team on its rise and get yourself to the Western Conference finals.

C (29:39)

And if that takes going through the

B (29:40)

Wolves to do it, so be it. In part because this is not the Wolves team that we're used to seeing. This is not even the Wolves team that we hoped they would be by the end of the season. They've, they've been in like in a particular way all year and just kind of teetering on the edge of something. Maybe that teetering will lead them back into a form of confidence against, you know, an opponent they kind of know how to play against. But I'm a Little skeptical of that at this point.

C (30:03)

Well, for the Thunder it's nice to see something go right go well for them, for the dice to roll in an advantageous way for them. But I think for the Nuggets, I think it makes a little bit of sense for them to get on that side of the bracket because what you're saying, I mean they do have the. Granted they're, they're challenging the spurs in a way. Like if, if they came away from that thinking like yeah, this is the bet, this is where we would like to get to. It does sort of step to, to San Antonio's competency in the early rounds. And I think if they feel confident about, about that, about their ability to get to delay playing the Thunder, it's going to give them a little bit more get right time. Not that they're going to be able to sort of like float on their backs and like. And it's, it's going to be a challenge to get through these first two rounds. But we all know that OKC is going to be the sort of beginning to end real. Like it's going to test them on all fronts. It's going to test their counters. If, if you do imagine and you assume the mindset of that they are playing like 40 chess and trying to game the the bracket that way. I mean, would you all agree with that? I mean it's like the Nuggets probably they need a little bit of a buffer to get to get as close to max strength as they can to get to when they get to the Thunder, right?

A (31:15)

Totally. I guess the question is like how much will they get it? Because despite the fact that the Wolves have been in disarray, like that's still a scary physical team that has a history with this team dating back to two years ago. And I'm sure they are telling themselves that like, yeah, we could fucking play with these guys because we did it before. I mean if Ant doesn't have the shits like I feel like he's going to be a force to be reckoned with. And so I think it did work out for the best for the Nuggets because I agree with you guys. I do think the physicality that they bring is going to be an interesting counterpunch to what the spurs have. Spurs really like, I mean they have been incredible. Like the west by the way hasn't had 260 win teams before this year. The last time it Happened was in 2017 when it was the warriors and the spurs and that was the year when Zaza stepped on quiet, and we didn't get that faithful matchup. But, like, the spurs, like, profile as this, like, juggernaut. But there's still a lot of these guys are going to be in their first playoff experience. Like, even Darren Fox, who's, like their big kind of veteran there. Like, he hasn't even had it. Luke Cornett might be like, the guy they're looking to in these situations. I still think the Nuggets, like, probably are an interesting foil there where they could do a lot of damage and ultimately end up in the west finals.

B (32:25)

Yeah, I think you nailed it as far as, like, the confidence of the Wolves in this matchup in terms of what they feel. Right. Like, that is the factor that I think could be a little bit of an equalizer. And I say that with heavy caveats and a lot of asterisks because so far this season, that confidence has not done a lot for them when they've played the Nuggets. Jokic has gotten virtually whatever he's wanted in this matchup. Murray has been a force of nature when they've played as well. And I think both those things are true because the nature of this battleground Nuggets versus Wolves, has changed dramatically since they met in the playoffs two years ago. Cat is no longer a part of this team. So the size profile is totally different in terms of how you guard Jokic and Nikhil Alexander Walker isn't here anymore to hound Jamal Murray up and down the floor, which means you have to dedicate, like, Jaden McDaniels to doing that. Instead, you have to completely shift your matchups around or Dante DiVincenzo for, like, lesser effect. So what are the Wolves supposed to do here? Uh, they are a good team. Anything is possible when you have Ant on the floor. They are big, they are physical, they do pro. They have all the elements of what a contending team should have in a lot of ways. I just don't know that they're going to have what it takes to bend off like, a Nuggets team getting right at the right time. Uh, and yeah, this. This does seem like it's going to be the go to heavyweight bout of the first round. No, in terms of, like, the. The matchups that we already know they're on the board. Is there anything more appealing than this?

A (33:46)

I mean, I guess it depends on how you feel about the Old Timers Classic that's going down in the four or five. With Lakers versus Rockets, we have another LeBron versus Katie sort of matchup and Honestly, the heartstrings just are a tugging today as we anticipate that. I guess it depends on what we're going to get from Luca or Reeves if we're going to see either of them in that series. But honestly, LeBron, like, trying not to die on his shield against KD has a certain appeal. I don't know if they could last more than five games, tops, in that situation. But, like, at the very least, in terms of, like, narrative, it's fun drama.

B (34:19)

I think it is fun drama. It has a little too much. Like, two guys in a midlife crisis roll up to a spotlight in their convertibles and decide to race, which, like, I'll watch it, and I'm sure. I'm sure it will have its moments, but I just. I don't know.

C (34:32)

Is this. This is part what now with LeBron? I mean, they. You know that the finals in. In seven or eight with the Cavs and the Warriors. I'm trying to think beyond that. That's the only other times they've faced. And am I missing one in the more recent history between those two?

A (34:46)

Yeah, I don't think they've faced each other in the playoffs since, what, 2018, since the finals. So this is a matchup, like, kind of long in the. In the making, I guess.

C (34:57)

Yeah, it's all been coming to this point. Everything's coming down to this. Yeah.

A (35:03)

Yeah. Otherwise, I guess we have the east matchups to kind of diagnose here. The Hawks shouts to the Hawks just caring about the second half of the regular season end up in the six, unfortunately, because they get jumped by the Raptors on the final days. Cavs, Raptors and Knicks Hawks are the matchups we know right now because we're awaiting who the Pistons and Celtics will face. I mean, I'll be honest, a lot of these don't do a ton for me. Knicks Hawks has some certain appeal.

B (35:30)

It's not bad.

A (35:32)

Yeah, solid. These are like. These would be solid NBA TV matchups if, like, that existed still, which I don't think they do.

B (35:38)

I think it might be slightly better than that. I mean, we have this recent proof of concept. As far as Nick's Hawks goes, that went down to the buzzer and then some. Basically. I just personally was really holding out hope that we would get Cavs Hawks in the first round and was kind of starting to talk myself into, is that a matchup that the Hawks could win? Is that something where they could lead? They could be pushing the Plunger to demolish the Cavs, and it's sad that we don't.

C (36:02)

Pushing the plunger. I like that. Okay.

B (36:05)

Somebody's got to do it, you know, it's a dirty job, but it's important we don't get that matchup. So in its stead, I will accept Knicks Hawks. And I think it's going to lead to some good basketball. I think perhaps a little better than NBA TV worthy fodder for a playoff series.

C (36:21)

Pushing the plunger implies that there is shit to be flushed, Rob. So I think your feelings are.

B (36:27)

Your feelings are plunger. Yeah. Like the demolition of a building. I don't know what you're demolishing out there.

C (36:33)

I'm sorry. Pyromaniac. I didn't think of a TNT plunger before. A household plunger that I use for me personally. No, I don't know that it's as cut and dry that direction with. With the Cavs matchup as you're saying. Because The Knicks went 2 and 1 in their three matchups, and the other 2 and 2 of the. Both of their wins were by three points both times. So they're really. And then The Hawks won one by like 11 or 12, I think. So it's not been that big of a discrepancy between these two. Do you think it's absolutely impossible that the Hawks say we get like a Jalen. A Jalen Johnson statement, like legacy bullet point? Could he push them? How hard could he push the Knicks, do you think? Is it out of the question that they could. They could do it?

B (37:14)

I don't think it's impossible, frankly. With these Knicks, I would believe almost anything you tell me. If they have a players only meeting after game three and never want to speak to each other again, I would believe it. If they're in the NBA Finals, I would believe it. And to be fair to the Knicks, this is the kind of series that they have used to springboard their way into some pretty deep playoff runs. Like really competitive, really feisty. Out of the gate, they find their way to come together, clarify a version of themselves, and then all of a sudden we start thinking about and talking about them totally differently. So maybe they will emerge from this not with an easy series, but having been tested in exactly that way, where all of a sudden they feel like a more real contender than they have at points in the regular season.

A (37:53)

Someone pointed out recently that The Hawks starting 1 through 3 were on the Pelicans two years ago, which I know, but like, when you really put it that way, I was like, that's brutal. That's Extra nut punch, football to groin, Nikhil and Dyson. And it's just like. Well, C.J. kind of played his way off that team. That seemed like a natural cycle that a veteran player goes through. But, like, the Hawks really did make something out of Nikhil. Definitely more than he was already with the Timberwolves and definitely Dyson. And just like, I do wonder what the, like, the viewership numbers are in New Orleans for that series. So, like, do they watch it? Almost like they have the, the. The Wolverine on the bed photo. Just looking at the team that was so fun a couple of years ago.

B (38:36)

Yeah. What former Pelicans do you think people in New Orleans hold on to most tightly? Is it a Brandon Ingram? Is it a Jose Alvarado? Like, who would they be rooting for?

C (38:45)

How many people in the. In the thousands do you think were even tracking that? I'm not.

A (38:52)

I don't. Yeah, I don't think it did.

C (38:54)

You live there. You have that. You have the good, you have a good pulse on the basketball culture there, Justin. It's. Yeah, it's just, It's a good spot to be in if you're Atlanta. Because I was looking at that, I was like, yeah, they're pushing towards the playoffs and they're, they're. Their eyes are on the horizon. And you can do that when you somehow luck into a lottery pick and that. That another team just gave away.

B (39:16)

You know, The Lakers use 27 other teams as their farm system a lot of years, and I'm glad that the Hawks have at least claimed the Pelicans as their G League affiliate.

A (39:24)

That's right. I would say the most intriguing matchup on the board, if we do indeed get it, would be Spurs, Blazers. And that's not just because of my personal wants and desires.

B (39:34)

No, it kind of is.

A (39:36)

Well, I just think those are two fun. Like you have the scrappy upstart versus the team that's also a scrappy upstart and also one of the best teams in the league. I think you mentioned it. Clingan vs. Wemby. That's a good foil there. Yeah, I don't think they'll win more than a game. Maybe a game, but that's fun. That's a fun matchup. Physical.

C (39:57)

Are they going to be able to score in that series? Because I could see some adjustments where it could get pretty.

B (40:03)

Yeah.

C (40:03)

Get pretty ugly.

A (40:06)

Well, especially not with Denny shooting like 20% from three at this point, but. Well, it depends on what. What game. Like one game he'll hit nine threes and the next he'll be one for 10. I think he wants to start the the Clippers game but you're right, yes, it will be pretty easy to defend them but they're playing physically and Denny's playing with a little bit more verve than he has since he had the back injury. So I personally want to see that one regardless of my interest in it. Where do you guys fall? What's like the best matchup you could see on the boards? Even incorporating some of these seven a

B (40:37)

play in teams I still think it's Nuggets Wolves. I, I do agree though as play in matchups potentially go Blazer spurs is quite fun and that's all you can really ask for. Right. You're not going to get a super competitive series out of these one of these teams that's eking in but if they have something to prove, if there's a chance like season young players in a new light to be tested by a team in varying circumstances and get Wemby tested in exactly those ways at the same time I don't think we're going to do better than that. Play in wise.

C (41:08)

Yeah, I mean if the Blazers turn in, you know I remember basketball is a game, a game of gaps. You remember I said that and you were all like what on earth if, if the Blazers turn it into like a like sag into the gaps, like make it a, make it a just a just a bloody bloodbath for the, for the spurs and make them hit threes and things like that and make it just make it ugly. I mean that could get interesting. Is that like appealing in a way that's fun? No, not really. But if they push them that could be fun. But I, I'm pretty intrigued by Hawks Knicks where I think those games could be pretty fun. The mat. I like the like the size, the perimeter size that, that the Hawks have and how that could stress the Knicks and their personnel. But I, I round back to Wolves Nuggets. I, I think that this, these teams have history. Granted like you all were saying, it's not the same, it's not the same rosters as the past. But I, I would, that's where I would land for those two.

A (42:07)

Yeah, probably where the best basketball is going to come from. I personally like in this first round to gravitate toward the like the foils, the like the young team versus the established team. That's what is most fun getting that out of the way in the first round. I would say the most like fun possible scenario is if the Hornets end up playing the Pistons in that one eight. Because then we got the Mushbowl. Right. We have the Hornets, like, team of destiny ready to go to prove it against the team that they literally fought a couple months ago.

C (42:36)

Honestly, I retract. That's the answer. That's the answer. Yeah. I think. I think pure fun. I think those two teams do not like each other. Like, I think you're right. Like, that's. I think that is the answer.

B (42:45)

And if we're going to define teams of destiny, one of these teams just rattled off 60 wins despite a major injury to its or a major health crisis for its signature player. So it's like, I. I think the Pistons have as much acclaim to that as anyone.

A (42:57)

That's right. Anything else on the playoff matchups? We're going to get in depth with all of the play in actual matchups on Thursday. This is kind of just like wetting your appetite. We're just kind of giving our first blush take.

B (43:11)

Well, the people want to know, Justin, are the variables going to return?

A (43:16)

I don't know. I'm feeling a little mixed about it. You know, I really need to get into it. I. I just. You know, we've done them for so long. It's true. I don't know if, like, I still have the juice. You know, I feel like James Brown just like I'm putting the cape on, and then I spring back and I'm like, yeah, let's go.

C (43:33)

I literally was thinking about that image. I don't. That we were. We were psychically aligned on that just now.

A (43:40)

Maybe I'll do that. Maybe I'll wear a cape.

B (43:42)

I think it's a great look.

C (43:44)

You're just like a soap opera in, like, season 20 where you're just like, how can we find a way to wring some drama out of this? It was genius. Whatever. Just did. He's like, maybe I won't. Maybe I won't do it.

A (43:56)

That's why we haven't done them all season. Just building anticipation.

C (44:00)

God damn it, I'm back.

A (44:01)

People are whispering, where are the valuables? I can't go an entire season without them.

B (44:07)

This is what the people are saying out on the streets. I just want you to know that the word of mouth is out there and the people are curious and they're wondering. So if we don't do variables, I do think people will be disappointed.

C (44:17)

I like that neither of you can comfortably say it. You both garbled at both times.

B (44:21)

It doesn't make any sense. And there's still, after doing this for like 5 years, is no unified accepted spelling of variables.

A (44:30)

That's the magic of the variables.

B (44:31)

It really is. It's elusive to the bitter end.

A (44:34)

What is it? Is it exactly like most other segments? Who's to say?

B (44:40)

Who's to say?

C (44:41)

Did you steal it from some other show? Right.

A (44:44)

I definitely would not. You would know me. I. I definitely.

C (44:48)

Justin, you set me up there.

A (44:50)

Don't even try.

C (44:51)

That is not the way.

A (44:54)

All right, I want to take a break.

B (44:56)

Let's take a break. Let's get out of here.

A (44:58)

Okay? Take a break, come back, talk about some other stuff. All right, we gotta say goodbye to some of the teams we no longer will be talking about. At least for a couple weeks here. Gotta hope not. But first, before we get into some of the tankers, Doc Rivers being gone, et cetera, et cetera, we need to do our favorite segment for the last day of the regular season. That is who he tank for. This is when we did a preview version of this a couple weeks ago with just Rob and the Memphis Grizzlies. We try to decipher or you guys try to decipher whether or not this name that I gave you was someone who played in day 82 of the regular season. Kyle, any questions? Any. Any, like, ground rules you want to go over here?

C (45:43)

Well, Isaiah called the shot and said he thought I'd be good at this, which is a lot of pressure, which means I'll probably be bad at it because like I was telling you guys, you know, in covering the draft, you naturally, you're creating a filter for the league where, you know, a lot of names come up to that. That filter and go the other direction. They're repelled by the stakes of playing in the NBA. But even I, who track a lot of players and a lot of players that never come to fruition, some that I fall in love with for their quirks or whatever it is. You can't keep track of all of them. So I'm not going to promise, but I'll do my best on this. On this.

B (46:14)

Look at this guy, lowering the bar so he can skip over it.

C (46:18)

Just amazed. Even there are dudes who I'll be. I've never heard of that person. It's just the volume of players. Look at me.

B (46:24)

I'm Kyle, man. I have to. So many players. How could I possibly keep track of them?

C (46:28)

I have to know more than you, Rob Mahoney. All right, it's true.

B (46:31)

It's off.

A (46:32)

I mean, he's right, though. I did as I was going through some of the names of the guys who played last night. I was like, oh, I don't know. I gotta, like, make this difficult for Kyle. Cause he might know these. I remember stumbling upon Hunter Dickinson specifically. I was like, kyle knows everything about that. He knows where his parents went to college.

B (46:47)

Yep.

C (46:48)

Hunter Dickinson is like, give me a break. That's like a big one. He was a huge player in college. That's not even obscure, even remotely obscure.

B (46:55)

There's no question that Kyle could do the John Wall. John Wall style. Like, where did this guy go to school? Exercise in ways that you and I would flub. Jv. But let's see if he knows who they tank for.

A (47:05)

All right, this one I think you guys are going to get this one. Might know of him. Might have seen him in the past. In the NBA, it's Taj Gibson.

B (47:14)

Yeah.

A (47:15)

Did Taj Gibson play he last night?

B (47:18)

Oh, in the NBA. So it's not just, is he on a team and what team, but did he play on the last day of the regular season?

A (47:25)

That's right.

B (47:26)

Okay.

C (47:26)

He's on the Grizzlies right now.

B (47:28)

He's on the Grizzlies.

A (47:29)

He's on the Grizzlies.

B (47:30)

I believe he did play.

C (47:33)

I'm going to say he did.

A (47:34)

He did indeed play. This is an easy one. I just want to give a layup because Taj Gibson is 40 years old and he not only played, but he started for the Memphis Grizzlies in their final game of the regular season.

B (47:46)

Bless him.

A (47:48)

Is this his 17th season in the league? He appeared. Ultimately, I think they brought him on late in the season, after the deadline, just to bring in a veteran. Because Lord knows that they need someone in that locker room. 10 appearances this season for Taj Gibson already blowing my mind. 97 minutes total Taj play, but he starts in game 82.

B (48:08)

He's been getting there. Who do you think is our Taj Gibson right now? Like, the guy who's just gonna stick around for years. The Garrett Temple, you know, like just a role player who's never going to go away. Well, it is definitely playing on sort

C (48:21)

of teams, sort of the roster. Cockroach that can't be killed. You know, like, he just. He hangs around. He hangs around after, like, nuclear fallout. You're like, wow, you know, how is. How is Mo Gay still playing? I don't know who's gonna be. Honestly, I'm glad.

A (48:35)

I'm glad you mentioned Mo Gay, because there was another mogay that played yesterday, I believe it must be his brother. It was like Muhammadu Gay. And then Mo Gay also is still on the roster for the Hawks. And so I didn't give you guys that one, but I thought about it.

B (48:49)

Justin. I brought up this exact moay conundrum like 4 months ago on this podcast. Come on.

C (48:55)

We.

A (48:55)

We.

B (48:56)

We've been on this corner.

A (48:58)

Okay, well, I, I intuited that, and I didn't put him on my list here. The next guy I have down here is Hayden Gray. Did Hayden Gray play yesterday in the NBA?

B (49:11)

Kyle, do you know who Hayden Gray is?

C (49:13)

Yeah, I do, actually.

A (49:15)

But did he play in the NBA?

B (49:18)

I'm gonna say he did not, but I can't tell you if he is on a team, what team that would be.

C (49:22)

That's the little white guy who was like the Steel's God from last year. Aiden Garrett Gray played for uc. Oh, UC Santa Barbara. Uc. It was a. UC San Diego. One of the crazy. It was. Yeah, it was the Tritons. Yeah, it was one of. He had like, one of the craziest Steel percentages ever. It was like he couldn't do. Boom, there we go. UC San Diego.

B (49:44)

So he's a little white guy.

C (49:45)

Little white guy who could just steal the shit out of the ball. Yeah.

B (49:48)

So is he a Pacer or is he a Jazz?

C (49:51)

He feels pacery to me, but I don't know. I don't think he played, but I'm not going to put it past him.

A (49:57)

Okay. Not only did he play, he played 25 minutes yesterday for the Utah Jazz.

C (50:04)

Wow, Rob, double point.

B (50:07)

Sometimes Utah is a parody of itself, I got to say.

A (50:09)

Well, he was also apparently a mainstay of the Celtics G League system, and thus I think that's how I made it over. I sent you guys the photo. His, like his profile photo here on his player card on espn. It looks like they just took someone from the John Stockton era and just imported him, traveled through time and put him on this roster for game 82.

B (50:31)

Amazing.

A (50:32)

Hayden Gray played in the game yesterday. Okay, next one. Kenny Tyler did play in the NBA.

B (50:43)

It's so generic. Who is Kenny Tyler? I mean, I don't think Kenny Tyler played in the NBA yesterday.

A (50:52)

Okay, Kyle, we're.

C (50:56)

We're two for two on. They did play. So it feels like Justin would try to head fake us here and like, make us think he didn't play. I'm going to say he did play for that reason.

A (51:05)

This becomes real psychological warfare. But Kyle is 100% correct. Kenny Tyler was Marlon Wayne's character. In the Sixth Man.

B (51:15)

Oh, so, Kyle.

C (51:16)

So that's not a real player.

A (51:17)

It's not a real player.

B (51:18)

As someone who loves the sixth man, I'm, like, offended. I did not. I'm disappointed in myself that I did not know this.

A (51:24)

You're thinking of Antoine Tyler, his brother.

B (51:26)

I mean, well, Antoine, rest in peace, you know, like, he's obviously the more historical example, but what a pair of brothers, you know, they really had it all.

A (51:35)

I'll never forget him just, like, hanging on the rim too long. Like, he's all the way up there. Clearly, he's on a ladder when they. Then, boom. Then he falls back and then he's gone. But he's really gone.

B (51:47)

This is why Kyle and I don't dunk. It's just too.

C (51:49)

Rod Ward for Georgetown. Wasn't that the name of the player in Georgia? Doesn't he, like, fall against the backboard and he gets hurt in the movie? It's been a long time since I've seen the six.

B (51:58)

No, he's hanging on the rim too long and then loses grip and falls and hurts his back or neck or something like that.

A (52:03)

He has, like, a heart attack while he's hanging on the rim.

B (52:05)

Oh, that's what it is.

A (52:06)

Because I. I watched this entire scene in order to prepare for this and. But you could clearly see, like, he's way too high up there, and he's like. And then.

C (52:15)

Which causes a heart attack for sure. Yeah.

A (52:17)

Yes. Yes.

C (52:18)

I haven't seen that movie since. When did it come out? 90. What? 6.

B (52:23)

That sounds about right.

A (52:24)

97.

B (52:25)

Great movie. Very questionable journalistic ethics, I have to say, in terms of the reporting being done in the sixth. Man, you can't win them all.

A (52:33)

Well, is it?

B (52:35)

You know what? Honestly, you raise. You raise a Fair Point in 2026, maybe. Just what we're doing. Yeah.

A (52:42)

All right, next one. Quincy McCall. Did Quincy McCall play yesterday in the NBA?

B (52:49)

Can I get a spelling on McCall? How's McCall spelled?

C (52:52)

Oh, wow.

A (52:52)

What's the root? M. Little C. Big C. A L? L. Okay, Quincy McCall sounds like a

B (52:59)

character on Sports Tonight, honestly. But I'm going to say that Quincy McCall did play in the NBA.

C (53:05)

Kyle, I don't know if this is a real person. I'm going to say he didn't play.

A (53:10)

Kyle. Just on it. Not only did he not play, this was Omar Epps character basketball, Honestly.

C (53:18)

Honestly, Rob, that's an indictment on you and I that we should know that straight up. I admit I'm not as dialed in on that movie. And if You. I feel like I would love to go.

A (53:28)

Why not?

C (53:29)

If somebody could compile.

B (53:31)

Oh, for the record, I am. I am dialed in on love at basketball.

C (53:34)

Like I've seen it.

B (53:35)

You're not. You don't like it?

C (53:37)

No, it's not that I don't like it. I just haven't seen it a hundred times where I would know the names of the characters. I was gonna say the. If you went through it and looked at what are basketball players favorite movie, I feel like that one has an incredibly high. Like Coach Carter.

B (53:50)

That one. So good.

C (53:51)

Yeah.

B (53:52)

See, if you had said, did Monica Wright play in the. In the NBA yesterday? I would know. Like Sanaa steals that movie and we

A (53:58)

all know it will sock basketball.

B (54:01)

Yeah, it's very good. He. He never seemed like a very good basketball player in that movie. I know he's like highly touted. Goes on like he's like five, nine,

A (54:09)

probably in real life. And they couldn't make up for it in the.

B (54:11)

Couldn't make up for it and seems like exactly the kind of basketball player I would hate watching. Just like total ball hog. All me all the time. Doesn't move when he doesn't have the ball in his hands. Like. Like I'm out on Quincy.

C (54:22)

Shoots 39% from. From 2. You know, mostly jumpers, you know, but

B (54:27)

a big time shot maker that someone on the Internet is trying to talk you into.

C (54:31)

Yeah. Made a fade away.

A (54:34)

All right, next one. I'm only going to give you the first name here.

B (54:36)

Okay.

A (54:37)

Did Zion play yesterday?

B (54:39)

Did Zion play? I think he. I know he was already ineligible for awards, so I'm going to say he did not play.

C (54:50)

I'm going to say also I would say Zion Harmon. I was trying to rack through all the different Zions. There are Zion Harmon's on the NBA.

B (54:56)

But anyway, yeah, this isn't a trick question, right? There aren't multiple Zions.

A (55:01)

Is indeed a trick question. Zion Williamson did not play for the New Orleans Pelicans. But in that same game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Zion Pullen did indeed play.

C (55:12)

Oh, the different spelling cheater. C Y O N O N. Played for Florida.

A (55:17)

Zion Pulling.

B (55:19)

Touche. Justin.

C (55:22)

You guys, I kind of thought pulling might be good. I was surprised he didn't. Hasn't hit more.

A (55:28)

Yeah, me too.

B (55:32)

All right, two more.

A (55:33)

Just quickly. Yeah, we got Josh Fram.

B (55:37)

Josh Fram.

A (55:39)

Josh Fram.

B (55:41)

If Josh Fram wasn't an NBA player, what, what would he be from? What. What is a Josh Fram sound like

C (55:46)

F R A H M. Like from or fram.

A (55:50)

Well, that's a good question. It might be from. It's F r a m m 2 m's.

B (55:56)

I'm gonna say he's not a player and I think so. The fakes we've gotten so far have been sixth man and basketball loving basketball. So he's got to be a character in another basketball movie.

C (56:07)

We need like a basketball escape room that Justin designs for us. Rob, I feel like that would be a really good. Because I could see the satisfaction on his face as you logically walk through.

B (56:18)

He loves a puzzle.

A (56:19)

Well, I kept. Last time we did this, I kept giving Rob guys in like just TV shows, not knowing that obviously this would be his corner. And he kind of. He pinpointed those very quickly. So I'm trying to throw a little bit of a curveball here. I appreciate it. A little deeper in the crates. So where was your guess?

B (56:36)

I'm saying he's not. He's not in the NBA whatsoever and therefore did not play on the last day of the regular season.

C (56:42)

I was gonna say I don't know that name. So I'm just gonna assume that he didn't based on that.

A (56:47)

You guys are correct. That is the kid who is the owner but also teammate of Air Bud in the original movie Air Bud.

C (56:57)

I have an Air Bud take, by the way. I wanted to just point something out.

B (57:00)

Let's say I.

C (57:01)

If you go back, because I studied airbud for like a joke video I was gonna make one time and I was gonna like study it in sincerity, like scout airbud for real. Not a self creator. Airbud, by the way, total catch and gotta. It's gotta be a dribble handoff. If you go back and watch that movie, the ball that they use is not a real basketball. And the reason that I bring this up is I really shudder to think about how many poor dogs across the world were. Were there were dumb owners out there that tried to replicate the Air Bud thing with a real basketball and how many poor dogs were hurt because their snouts hit a rock hard basketball. I just want to say if you have a. If you're out there and you're thinking about training your dog to shoot, don't use a real basketball. That was, that was my takeaway because I'm probably never going to make that video. I just wanted to get that.

B (57:48)

It's a great call. I hadn't thought of the euphoria level hysteria that would result in terms of the panic that Air Bud would create, but it's an epidemic. And I'm glad you're here and brave enough to talk about it.

C (57:58)

Yeah.

A (58:00)

A PETA psa just off that alone.

B (58:02)

Don't throw real basketballs at your dog's face.

C (58:06)

Yeah.

A (58:07)

Last one. Keyshawn Gilbert.

C (58:10)

That's a real player.

B (58:12)

Okay. All right. That's. That's a good lead. Keyshawn Gilbert.

C (58:16)

I should have kept that to myself. I gave Rob that for free. Well, let's.

B (58:20)

Let. Let me. Let me try to puzzle out the team. Keyshawn Gilbert. I mean, I don't think Justin's gonna double up on teams. So we got the Jazz ruled out. Who else? Did we already talk about the who. Who did the other Zion play for?

A (58:33)

Timberwolves.

B (58:34)

The Timberwolves. So the Wolves are going to be out. I'm going to say that Keyshawn is a. Is a Brooklyn net

A (58:42)

close. He's Atlanta Hawk.

B (58:45)

That's not close at all. But I appreciate. I appreciate the pity.

A (58:48)

Didn't. Oh, they didn't play each other yesterday. Nope. So it's not close at all.

B (58:51)

No, they just.

A (58:52)

He's just another guy in the NBA,

B (58:53)

but I'll take the.

A (58:54)

L played. He played one game, and that was yesterday.

B (58:58)

Congrats to him.

A (59:00)

Yeah. Big one. All right. That is who he tanked for. Great job, guys.

B (59:05)

Thank you. Great job by you. Great. Great design in the category.

A (59:08)

Thank you.

C (59:09)

I wanted to point out something that this time of year, obviously, guys get opportunity. Like you were saying. Like, it's. It to the point where, you know, we're trying to figure out if. If players were even existed. That's how deep the names get. There were like, a couple moments yesterday. There's the juxtaposition of, you know, players that are eagerly scrapping and. And then they're the guys who are just like, can we just end the season? There were. There were a couple snapshots that I found particularly funny, which was Baylor Shireman made that insane stepping right moon ball three over Bataze. And I watched this over and over again. Batase was walking down the court, and just for a second, he went like. He made this face like, wow, okay,

A (59:53)

you gotta give it.

C (59:54)

And then this. This one is like a. Like, circumstantially. This defies all odds that this could happen in an NBA. Get Cormic Ryan getting that tip dunk. I don't know if you saw this where. Against the Sixers, where basically there was a snapshot that could be a painting where everyone involved is. If it's a Sixer, they're disgusted and then there is Usman Jang in the foreground who's like, like making this face like, did that just happen? So we just get a lot of incredible snapshots on the last day of season, of the season.

A (60:23)

A lot of important things are happening on the last day, including probably the last time we'll see Doc Rivers at least coaching on the NBA sidelines. Maybe we'll see him pop up in some NBA media. Not going to be ESPN it sounds like, because Martian had a report very quickly after he was let go, which was very quickly after that final Bucks game. His ESPN return is doubtful.

C (60:44)

Why?

B (60:45)

Why do you think that is?

A (60:47)

Maybe because he bailed mid season and just left them in the lurch last time.

B (60:51)

Well, see, I thought it could be the leaving in a lurch, but also the little back and forth he's had with Shams over these last couple weeks.

A (60:57)

Oh, would you like to comment on that?

B (60:59)

Related. Well, I will say the one thing that really made my ears perk up or I guess my eyeballs widen in the report of the toxic, quote, toxic atmosphere around the Milwaukee Bucks that Sean's published before Doc was fired. Something specific, and I think you can speak to this too, Justin, of the locker room moment when Doc told everyone to like look up his resume. Which is very funny on a number of levels. But as a reporter writing six people in the room confirmed this is about as close to like a fuck you as you could put in text as a reputable reporter. There's so many other ways to clarify the certainty of that report and that one is like, look at this fucking guy. Basically.

A (61:39)

Well, but Doc also clarified that it probably gotten taken out of context, which listen, Doc went on a very clear like set the record straight tour with. I think it was like fanduel TV where he took some shots back at Shams where he very credibly was like,

C (61:53)

that's where you go to set the record.

A (61:56)

Yeah, right. In between lines. Yeah, no, it's fine.

B (62:00)

Well, Chandler Parsons is where the real journalism happens these days.

A (62:03)

Chandler Parsons, who concealed his own injury in order to get his contract for the Memphis Grizzlies.

C (62:08)

I said that and then Justin just took it and ran. That's. That's great.

A (62:11)

Yeah, well, thinking different. Different shady things, sure. But yeah, no, like, I think they're like probably faults on both sides of this. I don't think that Shams is like such a bulletproof journalist that he probably took some creative liberties. And Doc in that six source line was like, yeah, it was kind of taken out of Context. I was replying to another person. I'm like, sure. I actually kind of believe that. Is it still shitty that he's like, like, look at my resume. Yes. What's. So if another guy challenged him, it was like another guy was challenging Doc about something and he's like, well, look at my resume. Like, I've also.

C (62:43)

Okay, that's fair. If somebody was. Yeah. Criticized. If he unprompted, said, brought up his resume, that's a whole different. That's a horse of different color for sure.

A (62:52)

I didn't realize that the end of the Bucks would devolve into Doc Rivers versus Sham Charania, but here we are. But we also got in the midst of all this. Giannis basically like pretending like he didn't know any of this, where afterwards, I guess he did his walk off interview just for the season. Because a lot of these teams do that before these guys vacate and they've started to do them right at the end of game 82 now because they don't want to bring them back into the arena for two days later or whatever.

B (63:18)

Anyway, I'm so tired of this from Giannis. I'm so tired of the Mike Johnson routine of like, oh, sorry, I haven't read that report yet. Like, let me get caught up on it.

A (63:30)

Come on, I need the full dossier here. Yeah, but he seems shocked even though Doc a couple games ago was like, yeah, I want to spend more time with my grandkids. Like a week ago was like, yeah, that's the thing.

B (63:42)

Even. Even the fanduel stuff like, Doc has been behaving for weeks as a. As if he was not returning to this team. So it simply cannot be a surprise to anyone involved.

A (63:51)

I think the surprise, though, Kyle, is like, it sounds like based on some of the reporting, is that Doc might also elevate into a front office role after all of us, all of this, like, I don't see that happening or if it does indeed happen, going well.

C (64:05)

I. Both sides, man. I mean, for the Bucks, I just kind of would think that they would want to kind of rip everything out root and stem. But then for. For Doc, I just would. I was thinking about this. I was like, to be a person in his position, I guess this is kind of a shift to a. More like how you think about your life and your Runway of productive years. It's like if you're a competitor like he is, I mean, I'm sure it's pretty hard to say, like, all right, I'm not doing that anymore and you got to stay moving after you, you know, quote. I, I would think the media route would just be more enriching for him at this point. Just the, the take the stakes off of it. He can comment. I thought he was doing a pretty good job in the podcast world. Like, I enjoyed listening to him, but I wouldn't think the Bucks would want to do that, though, would you all? I. I don't know.

A (64:47)

I agree with you. I. I thought he was good on podcasts. I thought he was good as a color analyst for ESPN in the half season that he did. I think maybe part of this is that he still owed eight figures next year. And so perhaps the Bucks are like, we want to get something out of

C (65:01)

it, we're going to get. You're going to log your hours, which

B (65:04)

is all your ass off next season.

A (65:06)

Right. Get the Lawrence Frank notepad out there and at least do something here. But you're right, though. There's only two pass for the Bucks. It's either he comes back with Giannis, clearly that didn't go right, or they're going to tilt toward a young team. Doc hates young players. It's like one of his main things on his resume, so I don't see it making sense other than just like, like getting your money's worth to a certain degree.

B (65:25)

Yeah. Especially for a coach who, when he did have front office, say, and authority, led to one of the more disastrous stretches of his career in terms of the way those two responsibilities intersected. Like, was not a good evaluator of talent beyond, like, who had played well against his teams in the past and then led him to over index on that kind of information. So, like, Doc Rivers is an incredibly accomplished coach for all the shots that we take at his resume. I just think, like, this particular stop has been so disappointing that he. He can't be a part of what the Bucks are building and what they're doing. And I say that in part because it's not that he went in there and we were hoping he would be able to address his shortcomings as a coach with Giannis, with this new team. He came in there and he didn't deliver on the stuff that was supposed to be the Doc river standard. Right. Like helping a new, revamped Bucks team professionalize its habits, helping them kind of find a steady baseline as he's done with so many teams in the past. Milwaukee just never had any of that. And I don't know why you would want to continue that relationship just for the sake of continuing it.

A (66:25)

So 10 teams that were now losing. We give them a big old salute. Bucks, Bulls, Pelicans, Mavs, Grizzlies, Kings, Jazz, Nets, Pacers and Wizards. Curious what you guys think in the most. Who has the most interesting off season ahead of them. I'll go first here just because the Pacers I was looking up just draft lottery odds, like the actual odds they have beyond the top three. So obviously Wizards, Pacers, Nets have the same exact chance of getting the number one pick, but it changes based on standings, whether or not you're up for fourth or fifth and whatnot. Pacers, who obviously owe the pick if it falls into a certain zone to the Clippers. There is a 27.8% chance now the Pacers have of forking that over to the Clippers for the first pick.

B (67:10)

And then it's higher. No.

A (67:13)

Of the fifth pick. Well, we have them down well. So with just the fifth pick, it's 27.8. For the sixth pick, there's a 20.1% chance.

B (67:21)

Right. So it's almost like a slightly better than a coin flip odds that they keep the pick, but it's. There's a real chance they do not.

A (67:28)

That's what I'm saying. Like I was looking at this and I was like, holy shit, this is going to be more drama than the Pacers have had the entire season. Just watching Tyrese Halliburton and probably a newsboy cap up on the podium there. Like I. Probably not since like Grizzlies LeBron has there been just like so much at stake. Maybe there's something there and clearly LeBron Draft was a whole other thing, but like they either could get a top three or four pick in this draft or they could go through all of this past year for nothing.

B (67:57)

Well, I would, I would say the. The other comp is the Mavs landing Cooper flag and the lottery with the remote odds they did last season. Like any of those huge jumps, but also with huge implications. Those are the cases I think you want to look to. And this is one that, yeah, could have a real cost to the Pacers if they end up having to give up this pick right now as part of the zoo trade.

C (68:17)

Yeah, it's interesting because if they. You're talking about the bottom teams in the league. It's like the Pacers are down there at the bottom. It's kind of.

B (68:23)

They're.

C (68:24)

It's. It's a. It's a mirage of crappiness. Right. Because they're going to be better next year in some capacity. Much better. I would say it's just that. And you're right, like on draft night. We've seen some wild stuff happen since the LeBron thing. I mean that the Cooper jump is one of the craz I've ever, I've ever seen since covering this. Yeah, that. That drama I think is, is a, is a really interesting hinging point because a lot of these teams are going to just. They're bad, they're in the wilderness. They're going to get a good pick whether or not they're, whether or not they're like elated, giddy on. On draft lottery night that when they announced the order it just, it's very feast or famine with the Pacers. Like how good are they going to be next year if they don't end up getting that pick? Because just.

A (69:07)

Yeah, I mean they'll probably be pretty good. I think my question ultimately is like what state will Tyrese Halliburton in? Because in addition to recovering from the injury, like he had shingles and I don't know if you've seen him lately but like he put on weight as a result of this. Like he lost part of his eyebrow because of the shingles on his. Like he's had a rough year go of it. So like if there's any karmic like comeuppance for these guys, like good things for happen, like they deserve it. Also apparently like that is the only place where anyone can find love is at a Indiana basers game.

B (69:36)

Isn't it the truth.

A (69:38)

I mean that couple was on inside the NBA. Yes.

B (69:41)

What a time. I, I can't honestly can't get enough of the footage and the follow up interviews of the Pacers couple. Just. It's genuinely one of the best things to come out of this NBA season.

C (69:51)

Yeah, it's just proof. Just don't do anything noteworthy at all visually at an NBA game. I was, I was. I don't know if what your all's policy is when I'm in an arena mainly just because people do this. The people who follow the ringer have done this to me more than once. If I eat anything at prest row you'll get like a dm be like hey, how's that hot dog? How are those nachos? That happens. You've never had that happen.

B (70:12)

I know a handful of times I agree, it happens. I'm just like don't be that person who's sending that message. Why would you think that's a cool thing to do?

C (70:21)

Agree it is kind of funny. But no, I Just think, just don't do any. Don't get any kind of animated conversations. Don't eat anything if you don't want to be. Unless you just don't care at all. Because the couple thing was pretty hysterical in there.

B (70:33)

Yeah, they weren't even eating. They were just having a conversation about liberal arts education. They're eating a normal ass talk at an. At a Nets Pacers game.

A (70:43)

The crazy thing is it seemed like they were yelling at each other, but in fact it was just like a raw expression of love and. And just like communication, right? Like, like positive communication. Hearing each other, like directly.

B (70:55)

Yeah, it's what we should all aspire to. And honestly, I think it's the kind of love we practice on this podcast, which is frequently telling each other what the fuck are you talking about?

A (71:02)

That's really right. Any other tankers you guys want to assess real quickly? Like, what's the most intriguing going forward for. For one of these teams?

B (71:10)

I would like to talk about the Grizzlies briefly because I feel like even though they don't have a lot of roster contract decisions that they need to make sense of, there just has to be change there. There's like, there's so much conflict of interest between John Morant's continued existence as a Grizzly and all of the young stuff that they're kind of putting together and building. To say nothing of the fact that they have all of these guards on the team. I mean, at this point, Scotty Pippen Jr. It's Ty Jerome, who's been back and playing pretty well. They have Walter Clayton Jr. Now Javon Smalls. Actually been like, pretty good for them during this taking stretch. I have no idea if that's real or not. And meanwhile, the only thing they have resembling like a traditional normal center is Zach Edie, who may or may not ever be healthy enough to play consistent NBA basketball. Oh, by the way, Brandon Clark was arrested not just for a driving infraction, but a drug related infraction that I have to admit. I'm not super familiar with Arkansas drug law, but he was tagged with a trafficking charge, which, as I understand it, means either he had something very, very bad or a whole fuck ton, meaning like hundreds of pounds of something that was less bad. Neither one of those seems like a great option for a guy who you would want to be like a reliable pillar for your team. So all of which is to say there's a lot going on in Memphis, even though contract wise, it seems like they would be able to roll over at a Status quo.

A (72:29)

You're deep in the law book for Arkansas.

B (72:31)

Drug Googling has been interesting this morning, to say the least.

C (72:36)

Did he just have a bunch of weed? Is that what happened?

B (72:38)

If it's weed, it's like 500 pounds of weed. So I think it's not weed.

A (72:43)

Was it a Zendaya situation?

C (72:44)

Did he have, like.

B (72:45)

I really hope not. Yeah. If we're getting into suitcases full of drugs, like, it's not where you want to be for, you know, a critical guy coming off your bench.

A (72:54)

Kyle, who'd you mock for the Grizzlies?

C (72:58)

You were talking about the guards. I was like, I don't know that they have a substantial one. That's why I mocked.

A (73:02)

That's right.

C (73:03)

To the Grizzlies.

A (73:04)

Yeah.

B (73:04)

Yeah, that could be the answer. But either way, you're gonna have to trade or move or kind of like reconsider some of those guys in terms of what they mean to your team.

C (73:11)

I think Acuff would be an amazing grizzly. I just think that that just feels right, doesn't it? I don't know. Comfy pair of pants. I like it.

A (73:20)

Any of these other teams jump out to you, Kyle,

C (73:24)

at the bottom?

A (73:26)

This is the last we're going to talk about them for a while. So if you want to get your Bulls takes in, want to say something nice about the Nets? Okay.

C (73:33)

Who's going to pair with Cooper, I think, is one of the more interesting things for me because there are a lot of directions. I've said this over and over with as. As he's sort of figured things out bit by bit in the league. Who they're. I think they have a chance just because he's coming on so much. Depending on who they add, they could make a pretty decent step forward here because I don't. I don't know that they're gonna. He's so good so early. Their long play mentality, I don't know if it's going to be quite as accelerated as the spurs have been with Wimby, but I kind of feel like they might start to change their mentality depending on if they get a really, really solid piece in this draft.

B (74:11)

Well, not only who would they pair with them, but who is going to decide who they pair with them?

A (74:15)

Them.

B (74:15)

Like, the Maps still do not have a definitive, like, decision maker in their front office. There's a lot of haze around that right now. And, like, maybe Matt Ricardi or Michael Finley ultimately steps into that role. But the Bob Myers noises out there, the Tim Connolly noises out there, the elevate Jason Kidd noises out there. It's just they need to figure out a lot, starting with who would ultimately make those calls.

A (74:37)

You think Mark Cuban would take the job?

B (74:39)

I suspect he might. You know, just to get even more involved. Will he be offered it, Justin, do you think?

A (74:45)

My guess is no. I'm gonna guess no.

C (74:48)

How long is Myers's deal?

B (74:49)

It's the.

C (74:50)

The Wizards, right? Like, how. How long is this?

A (74:52)

It's also the. It's also the Commanders as well.

B (74:54)

Yeah. Wait, is he. Is he involved with the Wizards or is it just the Commanders?

A (74:59)

Maybe the Wizards is informal.

C (75:02)

It's a group, right?

B (75:04)

Yeah.

A (75:06)

I don't know. But yeah, Mavs ultimately got vaulted on the last day, unfortunately, because they went out and beat the Bulls. And so the Grizzlies pulled into position ahead of them in the lottery standings. But yeah, Mavs are going to be mighty interesting this summer. All right, why don't we wrap it there? We'll come back on Thursday. We'll do a full play in preview. Will it be a variables? We'll find out. Very Herbals Verbals thank you to Isaiah Blakely. Thank you to Victoria Valencia. Thank you to Ben Cruz. We'll talk to you next time. 21 and present in select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18 plus and present in D.C. kentucky or Wyoming. GAMBLING PROBLEM Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY RESET. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org chatincenectic or visit mdgamblinghealth help.org In Maryland, Hope is here. Visit gamblinghelplinema.org or call 800-327-5050 for 24. 7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8-HOPE NY or text HOPE NY in New York, Louisiana, call 1-877-770-7867.