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1:16

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1:18

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to who has the edge between the

1:58

Knicks and the 70s. Sixers our newest

2:01

playoff series decided on

2:03

Wednesday night. Talk about that here

2:05

in a second, but let's start with tonight's playing

2:07

games to decide the

2:09

final two teams in the playoffs. We have

2:12

the Pelicans versus the Kings and the Heat

2:14

versus the Bulls on Friday night. Adam, let's

2:16

start in the West. Who do you think

2:18

has the edge in Pelicans Kings? What stands

2:20

out to you about tonight's matchup?

2:23

Well, what stands out to me is you lost

2:25

Diane Williamson last game in the final two minutes

2:27

of the game, you lose him and he's out

2:29

for this one. And then you might have lost

2:31

Brandon Ingram who was pouting and throwing a fit

2:33

in the last game and reportedly left the arena

2:35

early. So to me, if

2:37

you just talked about one game

2:39

momentum, which I know is kind of a

2:42

silly thing, the Pelicans, it would be a

2:44

little surprising for them to bounce back, given

2:46

that the guy who they're going to need

2:48

to bring them home, Brandon Ingram, seemed to

2:50

be at an emotional and motivational all time

2:52

low exiting the game. Whereas on the other side,

2:55

Sacramento Kings have long been, you

2:58

know, dominated by the Golden

3:00

State Warriors. And so they're writing a high

3:02

of being the ones that got to put

3:04

the death kill to

3:06

the Warriors team. And I just feel like they

3:08

have some momentum coming into it. So I'm

3:11

being a bit of a recency bias guy here, but I

3:13

like the momentum that the Kings are bringing into this game

3:15

and I hate the momentum the Pelicans are. So I like

3:17

the Kings. Hey, I'm

3:20

not sure I'm there with you yet. I

3:22

hear you on the vibes, like vibe check

3:24

wise, Kings up here, very high

3:26

in the power rankings. Pelicans very low in

3:28

the vibe check power rankings. And

3:31

I do think that matters when we're talking about one

3:33

game, right? This is in a seven game series where

3:35

you can kind of work your way out of it

3:38

and do your best and maybe one good quarter, even

3:40

in a loss can kind of change momentum. Now that's

3:42

not happening in this one. But

3:46

the and the no Zion thing, I

3:48

think most people would be picking The

3:50

Kings based on what they're coming off of against

3:52

the Warriors and the fact that the Pelicans are

3:54

going to be without Zion Williamson. It just seems

3:56

like all momentum is is shifting towards Sacramento. Fandall

3:58

has the Pelicans is one. Have point favorites in

4:00

this game in the Pelicans obviously the home team.

4:03

But. That's basically a pick on. The And

4:05

that does not seem to sort a jibe with. With.

4:08

With public sentiment in other words are an

4:10

outline may change but i thought with sentiments

4:12

is purely vibes based as the my worse

4:14

we know that with you for of i've

4:16

says. The. Of so it's obvious

4:18

it'll be without Zion The pelicans. But they

4:20

are seven and five. In. Games without dying

4:22

Williams in the season and that included a one thirty

4:24

three to one hundred win over the Kings earlier in

4:26

the year. Now. The Pelicans

4:28

shot fifty four percent in that game.

4:31

The Kings shot thirty three percent. That's

4:34

the game, That's essentially what was it, and some

4:36

weird rebounding advantage also in the game. But.

4:38

I mean, it's one game at a much. That's all

4:40

it takes. your trade. Murphy feature Mccollum Like these guys

4:43

just go off. And. Next thing you know, the

4:45

Pelicans big walking back into the playoffs. By.

4:47

Was the one I was I on who knows what

4:49

is Brandon Ingram situation but they get at least win

4:51

this game in advance and that's essentially what it comes

4:53

down to in terms of like the X's and o's

4:55

thing. I think they have the wings to Guardian Fox.

4:57

Can. Jonas Antunes Gonna stand up to the double

5:00

double cocktail of the bought our the month

5:02

of subunits. And. There's reasons why maybe

5:04

you could talk yourself into the pelicans here. Are

5:06

you time at the Lithuanian match up there the

5:09

to with radiance but you don't look There's a

5:11

reason that the pelicans or five or no not

5:13

four no five in oh thanks to the play

5:15

a tournament against the Steelers you this would be

5:17

six a no pre play which I don't know

5:20

if that's ever happened as a team ever beat

5:22

the team six times it before the playoffs in

5:24

one season. Of that being said to me as

5:26

a so much as about Vi on he's the

5:28

reason that they had such a hard time We

5:31

talked about this a we actually this game sell

5:33

on our show a week ago I believe it

5:35

was where we were talking. About. How.

5:37

Know his eye on what the X that are

5:40

was the main factor in that and that Harrison

5:42

Barnes is the guy guarding of. They just don't

5:44

have a body size for him. Super me. Everything

5:46

is downstream of that when you talk about this

5:49

matchup. But when you remove him from it, forget

5:51

the bugs piece of it when you remove him

5:53

from it. All of a sudden, the Kings are

5:55

able to sort of. They're not exploited for not

5:58

having one component of their roster. The. Bp

6:00

power forward to throughout their now that that's no longer

6:02

going to be a factor, I think it's more of

6:04

an even match up and I like them. The two

6:06

men game that you have between Two Bonus and Fox

6:08

and West. What? Am I big series about

6:10

playoffs and who I pick to win in any

6:12

given series? How well does the team know themselves?

6:14

Do they know who they are? I think that

6:17

the Keys have been together now for two years.

6:19

They know who they are there. flood the but

6:21

they know who they are. They know what they're

6:23

going to try to do and how they win.

6:25

And I think the Pelicans without Zion now and

6:27

this ingram peace They might be the team that

6:29

we snows themselves and all of the the of

6:31

the the last remaining teams. So that's why I

6:33

think that I, I, I go to the king

6:35

side on this. With. Looking analysis

6:37

able to do against Aston and sort of

6:40

flying around on defense. you know we have.

6:42

We do that on Cj Mccollum and so

6:44

now we've You're taking that that others would.

6:46

X Factor variable. Out of sort

6:48

of the Pelicans formula here as love the Pelicans

6:50

ability to switch everything like if you put her

6:52

jones on deer and fox and you to swallow

6:54

mop and and even a fox and Simone is

6:56

going to that too many pick and roll such

6:58

that he could. You could get on the bonus

7:00

and and whole design out there by the free

7:02

throw line and stuff like that so I think

7:04

there is that the X's and O's things either

7:07

way. But. The point you make a such a

7:09

good one right? Like as to still sort of feels like

7:11

or it The tokens can win this. it's one game and

7:13

of course they can win this if they've hit a bunch

7:15

of threes. And. Sacramento doesn't. And

7:18

but. In. Terms of vibes

7:20

and in terms of who just has

7:22

the better players available. I also think

7:24

it's the Kings. So.

7:27

Probably that's that's that's aura of I'd

7:29

probably. Pick. Sacramento, but I wouldn't be shocked

7:31

either way and I think that fan duel line is

7:33

is accurate like this to me just feels like a

7:35

Peckham let's move on. By the way, hotel brought a

7:37

real quick as such a major X factor for the

7:39

Pelicans that I don't know that he'll have the same

7:41

impact in the series against the Deer and Fox. I

7:43

decide to dealing with the ankle injury either. Yeah so

7:45

I think that that is hard like your expect your

7:48

main factors out your ex letters hobbled and by the

7:50

way, maybe not the best match up there. will see.

7:52

Let's. Talk about Bulls heat. This game

7:54

will be played in Miami, Chicago. Coming

7:57

off that big dominance I thought dominant

7:59

when. The Hawks on Wednesday. Metal.

8:01

Are sort of came back and that

8:03

one but the never really felt close.

8:05

The Heat: disappointing loss against the Sixers.

8:08

Ah, I'm in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

8:10

Most disappointing it all. Looks. Like

8:12

you're going to be without Jimmy Butler. Ah,

8:14

For an extended period of time as you and I

8:16

recording this we still haven't gotten the official word on

8:18

the M R I but all reporting around it sounds

8:21

like he's in be out for an extent manner time

8:23

and if he does somehow miraculously play Friday night. It's

8:26

probably gonna be a limited version. Of.

8:28

Jimmy Butler out of my question to you. as

8:30

simple as or any hope left for the Miami

8:32

Heat Is this thing over. I. Don't

8:35

think it's over. I mean there's hope Or first of

8:37

all I was going to make a joke about Jimmy

8:39

plague and this gave would actually be hilarious if you

8:41

is it it it it fits git there's no other

8:43

five we're talking about. Any other players like man that's

8:45

a bummer is up for months. Jimmy is the type

8:47

of guy I could see of be a like. As.

8:50

Gotta play through it now know Mcl. it's a

8:52

big deal with even barely using my Mcl earthly

8:55

that I got another and cel who care got

8:57

another. The house put it on my knee rebuilt.

8:59

let's get what we get to go but sort

9:01

of as a game. He does sound a little.

9:04

Down. Kind of acknowledging like it's

9:06

it's probably not good now. What does

9:08

that mean? Who knows, but the days

9:10

of a contract year, right? Well.

9:13

These. Up for an extension. Ah,

9:16

Cat different but he does have technically two more

9:18

years left on his deal if he gets extension.

9:20

Yeah, but I was a drop the player option

9:22

two years from now Sarah, but they got their

9:24

your arm. I don't think it's hopeless though. Worth

9:26

bearing in a Bio has to be better in

9:28

this one. Ah yes, yes, To be a bit

9:30

more of a two way player in this one,

9:33

I think I may. Hawkins has to have. You

9:35

know how I actually liked the game that he

9:37

had lost last night. Arb, I'm sorry on Wednesday

9:39

minus like a few pockets here including in the

9:41

clutch. He had some plays that I thought really

9:43

sunk them, but he has to be better than

9:45

Tyler Hero. Has to make shots, you know,

9:47

twenties us. What do you think about Wednesday's game

9:49

where he took twenty seven shots? Some of that

9:52

is by design. They go to him in the

9:54

clutch but. You. Will get the shot distribution in

9:56

that game. Almost three times as many

9:58

shots is the second post says. Your. Arm.

10:01

The I had no problem of them taking those shots.

10:03

I actually went back and watched all them. I thought

10:05

they were all fine with Jimmy Butler hobbled he basically

10:07

plantings out in the corner and being a non factor

10:09

on our fence, they didn't really have other options to

10:11

go to. There was a terrorists and that game. Duncan

10:13

Robinson was an of the able to go in that

10:16

game so. It. Was basically just highly hero

10:18

and bam at a bio running high screen and all

10:20

and that was the extent of the opposite. Jaime did

10:22

get some stuff off of that action, but. You

10:24

know he can't like Philadelphia Place I dropped the

10:26

fence hero comes across the screen across the beam

10:29

out by a screen is gonna open pull up

10:31

jumper. he just wasn't making them. Up.

10:33

My problem isn't that he was taking on the problem

10:35

was that he wasn't making them. He neither of those

10:37

are. those are the moments italia of his been wanting.

10:39

Rate is now. give me the play off moment. let

10:41

me prove myself and he had a chance and did

10:43

flip the risk fingers. I think that sort of the

10:45

disappointing part about it. But. I have no problem with

10:47

the i'm like the volume of shots to the somebody had

10:49

to take shots. Arm. And and op

10:51

and that was otherwise not doing a whole

10:53

lot. So I do think that. Ah,

10:56

despite the Jimmy Butler injury and and by the way

10:58

does sound like Alex Caruso might try to be I

11:00

have lived on Friday, but he's dealing with an angle.

11:03

On that might keep him out are certainly

11:05

limit am. I. Do still think that there's

11:07

a route for the heat to win this game.

11:09

Will talk about that next year before we get

11:12

into heat or I'm sorry out Sixers next. After.

11:14

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America's number one sports book. Thanks

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for making LockedIn NBA your first listen every

13:30

day. Before we jump into a preview of Sixers' Knicks,

13:35

let's finish off our conversation for tonight's playing

13:37

game in Miami. I

13:40

do think that there's a road, Adam, for Miami to still

13:42

win this game, despite the bad vibes that they got going

13:44

on, right? Like, it's just a clash of vibes. We got

13:46

bad vibes in the Western Conference, really

13:48

tough vibes happening right now in Miami with

13:50

the Jimmy Butler news and all of that.

13:54

But the first thing that they have to do,

13:57

to me, this comes down to Kobe White versus the Kings. versus

14:00

Bam Atabayo. Kobe White, 42 points in that

14:02

playing game, the best player on the court

14:04

in that game, an absolute star performance. Bam

14:07

Atabayo, not necessarily the case

14:09

Wednesday. They need a huge game from Bam.

14:12

And the thing is, Bam Atabayo has had

14:14

success over the Bulls this season.

14:16

He only played in two games way back in November, but he

14:18

scored 23.5 points on 61.5% shooting in like that home and

14:24

home baseball series in Chicago in November. Rusavich,

14:28

Andre Drummond, those guys can't keep up

14:30

with Bam. Chicago is going to press up their bigs

14:32

to kind of get out on the perimeter. And

14:35

Bam Atabayo, time and time again,

14:37

earlier this year, would just blow

14:39

by them on pick and roll

14:41

layups, alley-oops. Heck, the Heat

14:43

can even ISO him on one side of the floor, clear

14:45

out and just let him go to work on either of

14:47

those guys. He could face up those guys and blow by

14:49

them. Like this is

14:52

a game that is so... This

14:56

is the game where the Heat need a star version

14:58

of Bam Atabayo. If he could be that two-way star,

15:01

then I do think that that's

15:03

sort of the road the Heat can

15:05

go down and maybe get

15:08

this win and still advance to the playoffs

15:10

despite everything that's going on. And that says

15:12

nothing about their long-term viability as a playoff

15:14

team with Jimmy Butler, but they can

15:16

win this game on Friday night. So I

15:18

actually think that you're almost reducing it more

15:20

than I would, which is to say you

15:22

said Bam Atabayo versus Kobe White. Here's why

15:24

I think this game is actually interesting. I

15:27

think the best player's team

15:30

will win. And I think there's a

15:32

lot of players who that could be. That could be,

15:34

you know, you could talk about even a DeRozan, you

15:36

could talk about a hero, you can talk about a

15:38

bunch of different guys that can on this game be

15:40

the best player on the court. And that's why it's

15:42

fascinating. Usually when you go into a one-off

15:45

game or something like this, you know, it's LeBron or

15:47

Steph who's going to step up, you know, KD

15:50

or Kawhi who's going to be the one to make

15:52

an imprint. This is one where you could make a

15:54

case for four or five. I mean, I'll throw Jaime

15:56

Jakes in there as a guy. You could even say

15:58

Vusovic if he, you know. changes

16:00

the complexion of the front court game. You

16:04

want to get crazy and say Andre Drummond

16:06

can be the guy? Honestly, he can win

16:08

you some minutes that are really impactful here.

16:10

So whoever has the best player on the

16:12

court is going to be the team that

16:14

wins. And there's so many candidates.

16:17

That's the thing. I mean, that's what happened in

16:19

that Sixers game. We talked about like Tyler Hero,

16:21

Jimmy Butler's injury, Bam Knight finally being aggressive. But

16:24

it was Nick Batoom scoring 20 points. That's essentially

16:26

why the Sixers won a one possession game.

16:29

And so you're exactly right when you say like, I mean,

16:31

that's sort of the variance part of the playing tournament. It's

16:33

why you try to avoid it in the first place, right?

16:35

So that you don't run into a hot

16:38

hand Nick Batoom. That could

16:40

happen with anybody in either of

16:42

these games. So

16:44

it's a fair point. I just think that

16:46

the Heat need to reach a base level

16:48

where they warrant against Philadelphia. Because

16:51

Jimmy Butler was hobbled, because Tyler Hero's shots

16:53

weren't going in. And Bam Adebayo can be

16:55

that baseline that that X Factor can sort of just

16:57

build on top of. Were you bothered

16:59

by Bam's game? I

17:02

was bothered in the sense that I thought he

17:04

would be a little bit more aggressive. But

17:06

I understand like early foul trouble with the two fouls. And then he

17:08

kind of had to go off the floor and it took him out

17:10

of rhythm. But considering that Joel

17:12

Embiid was trying to move the least amount

17:15

as possible. I

17:17

did find it a little curious that they didn't just give

17:19

Bam the ball 19 feet away from the basket. And

17:22

just try to let him blow by. Because Joel Embiid

17:24

didn't want that smoke. He wanted no part

17:26

of any sort of stress test on

17:29

Wednesday. So I would

17:31

bet that that's probably a regret that

17:33

Eric Spostra has coming off that game. And say,

17:35

yeah, we probably should have directed more of our offense towards Bam.

17:38

But maybe that's the lesson that they needed. And

17:40

said, you know what? We kind of didn't get you the

17:42

ball enough Wednesday. Let's make sure we get you the ball

17:44

plenty on Friday night at home. So that

17:46

could be the situation. Let's move on

17:48

to our Philadelphia versus Nick series. Of

17:51

course we learned about this Wednesday night

17:53

when the Sixers did beat the Heat. Just

17:56

quick thoughts on Sixers' Knicks. What

17:59

stands out to you about this? series what are you watching for? Well

18:01

you just said something about Joe L and B'd he had

18:03

no interest in and sort of coming out on the perimeter

18:05

and guarding or I don't remember the phrasing you used but

18:07

it was perfect. How about

18:10

Jalen Brunson? Is that is that a kind of guy

18:12

that's like pretty easy to guard out on the perimeter?

18:14

I mean here's the thing. Here's the

18:16

thing and Bead looked not healthy and

18:18

all of any time we talk about the 76ers they're

18:21

not winning a series against the Knicks without a healthy

18:23

and Bead. He has to make an

18:25

imprint on this series and he's not

18:27

gonna make it just on jumpers. Jumpers are a big part

18:29

of his game he's good at them but he has to

18:31

make an imprint on this defensively and he has to make

18:34

it drawing fouls in the paint and at the rim and

18:36

he did not look like a guy who would be capable

18:38

of doing those last parts. He can make some shots, he

18:41

can make a play here or there, he can

18:43

draw double teams and pass out of them. That's

18:45

part of his game he has that but the

18:47

any part that requires movement and guarding Jalen Brown

18:49

is like one of the toughest assignments in terms

18:51

of a big stepping out on pick and rolls

18:53

and guarding movement. He didn't look like what to

18:55

your point he didn't look like he even

18:57

had the ability to try at that

19:00

and the Knicks I think are just going to make

19:02

him do that a thousand times a game. Tom

19:04

Thibodeau is smart and I think one of

19:06

Tibbs biggest strength is he's able to simplify

19:09

things in a great way whether it's

19:11

you know his rotations or his game plans and in

19:13

this instance I think he's just gonna say we're gonna

19:15

attack Joel and Bead we're gonna make him defend and

19:17

we're gonna wear him out because this is a dude

19:20

who visibly just puts his hands

19:22

on his knees and like crumbles to

19:24

the floor during free throw attempts because he's so

19:26

exhausted lately because he's just not healthy and

19:30

and he looked probably as bad as I've seen him in that in

19:32

that playing game so who knows like does he find

19:34

a fountain of health at some point between now

19:36

and this series perhaps he looks a lot better

19:38

but if he looks anything close to what he

19:41

looked like on Wednesday against

19:43

the Heat then this is this

19:45

is then the Sixers are in a lot

19:47

of trouble you're absolutely right about Jalen Bronson just you

19:49

know high pick and roll with

19:51

him and Hartenstein or Mitchell Robinson whichever centers in

19:53

the game and make and bead guard

19:55

and you know I kill you braids been better

19:58

defensively and I think people give him credit They've

20:01

got other defenders, but I don't know that anybody's going to

20:03

be able to stop Jalen Brunson. And then

20:05

on the flip side, you mentioned sort of the double teams

20:07

in Joel Embiid. Like when he does find a way to

20:09

be an impact, it's almost as decoy is probably not a

20:11

fair word, but just like as a

20:14

thing that you have to pay attention to. And then he's able

20:16

to kind of spray out and get the ball to other people.

20:18

He had some big offensive rebounds and did

20:20

make some shots late in that Heat game. But, you

20:22

know, the Knicks have some weapons

20:26

for when Joel Embiid's got the ball in the low block

20:28

and is trying to pass out of that double team. And

20:30

specifically I'm talking about like O'Gannon Obie,

20:32

Josh Hart, Dante DiVincenzo, guys who are

20:34

really good at coming late

20:36

for that double, blindsiding that guy in

20:38

the low post and swiping at the

20:41

ball. O'Gannon Obie in particular is

20:43

so good at that. He spent, so they have

20:45

played, they haven't played each other in a while.

20:47

Joel Embiid has not seen a Knicks team with

20:49

O'Gannon Obie all season long. And,

20:52

but the last time that these teams played, Ananobi spent

20:54

most of his time on Tobias Harris, basically

20:57

just playing off of Tobias Harris and kind of mucking

20:59

things up in passing lanes and stuff. And so you

21:01

kind of add that element to this where Joel Embiid's

21:04

going to get the ball in the low block, an

21:06

unhealthy, maybe hobbled Joel Embiid and OG's just there playing

21:08

off of Tobias Harris, swiping at the ball. That could

21:10

be a lot of trouble, not just for Embiid, but

21:12

for the Sixers offense in general. Yeah,

21:14

I think you're right about it. The more I think about the

21:16

series and the more I saw Embiid, I mean, here's the thing.

21:19

This is what it all comes down to. Do you believe Embiid

21:21

can be better than what he was in this one? This was

21:24

his first game back after missing a few, you know,

21:26

maybe it bounces back. But can he be better than

21:28

what he was? Can he muster more? I

21:31

think he can. I don't know if it's about

21:33

like a muster, but it's sort of like...

21:35

Just if he's capable. If he's capable and then

21:38

it's... Can he do it for a

21:40

game? Sure, probably. Can he do it for four in a seven

21:42

game series against the Knicks? The Knicks are not going to make

21:44

this easy. The Knicks are not going to allow him to be

21:46

like, all right, let me get a couple. Let me get in

21:48

my zone. Let me kind of get comfy here. And it's only

21:50

two nights off, you know, before. Before

21:52

they have to play their game one in New

21:55

York on Saturday night. So I think

21:57

he just needs... If he can get... I would

21:59

probably peg him at... 50%. That's

22:01

probably where he was Wednesday. He probably needs to be 75 to 80% for

22:03

the Sixers

22:06

to have a chance. Can he make that 25 to 30% leap in health? I

22:09

hope so, man, because I love this series. This is

22:12

a great series. I was so excited for this one,

22:14

but after watching Wednesday's game, I look at it and

22:16

I go, I don't know, man. That doesn't— They don't

22:18

look like they're about to challenge the Knicks at all.

22:21

They don't. All right. We are going to get

22:23

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24:45

every day. It's Friday which means it's

24:47

time to count down to the weekend

24:49

with our weekly Powerings. I

24:51

am a system. We

25:04

are counting down the playoff

25:06

series from the least

25:08

interesting to the most interesting. Starting with

25:10

the least interesting Adam what do we got? The

25:13

series we don't even know what

25:15

it is yet. I'm taking the

25:17

Celtics and whoever comes out

25:19

of the Bulls or the Heat series. The

25:21

mystery element not doing it for you. The

25:23

mystery element not quite doing it doesn't really

25:26

change. I think the Celtics are significantly better.

25:28

They'll be well rested. To me that seems

25:32

like if the Celtics don't win in a

25:34

sweep I think that we

25:36

might start to talk like are we sure the Celtics

25:38

are the juggernaut we thought they should win this one

25:40

in a sweep. They're far superior and I just don't

25:43

think it'll be that compelling. So either way

25:45

if one of these teams Miami or Chicago

25:47

go into Boston and steal one of

25:49

those first games on the road Boston

25:52

radio waves for 2448 hours

25:54

are going to be going nuts but

25:56

especially so Adam if it's Miami if

25:58

it's the Heat. zombie heat that go

26:00

in. The zombie version of the heat, even like

26:03

not even the Jimmy Butler heat, the zombie. It's

26:05

like a zombie heat in like the walking dead

26:07

where that zombies got one arm cut off. It's

26:09

got like a knife in it. It's

26:13

scabula, like it's just like, just barely hold it on, but

26:15

it's still trying to climb through the window and eat your

26:17

brains. That would be it.

26:19

That would be it. What's the next one? The

26:22

next one I have, and I hit, so here's the thing,

26:24

Wes, when we were doing this together just before we did

26:26

the show, the cut off of

26:28

where I'm not interested ended there. That's the only series

26:30

I'm not that interested in. I'm interested in all of

26:32

these. So when I say my next one, I don't

26:34

want people coming at me saying, oh, you're not interested.

26:37

I'm actually very invested in it. I

26:40

don't know if everyone else will be,

26:42

but Cavs magic to me. And

26:45

let me give a case for why it's so interesting, even

26:47

though it's second to last. Ben Carroll

26:49

versus Mobley, we rarely

26:52

get young upcoming star

26:54

players at the same position going

26:56

head to head. And that's what

26:58

we have in this one. At the same time, you've got

27:00

a great defensive backcourt, led

27:02

by Jalen Suggs going up against Donovan Mitchell.

27:04

So the one-on-one battles here are actually pretty

27:06

compelling. I think this will be a good series.

27:10

So there's a lot that's interesting about

27:12

this. Maybe the thing that interests me

27:14

the most is sort of more macro.

27:17

It's one team under a ton of

27:19

pressure in the Cavaliers and one that's literally

27:21

just happy to be here. And I know magic

27:23

fans want to win, but it's like the magic

27:25

just gone onto college campus. There's been their first

27:27

time in the playoffs basically since the Dwight Howard

27:29

era. They're still just trying to figure out how

27:31

the meal plan works. They're just trying to find

27:33

out where they're supposed to go for what classes.

27:35

Like that's just what they're doing here. Like

27:39

if the Cavs lose this series,

27:41

it feels like the direction of this franchise

27:43

is going in a completely new direction. There can

27:46

be a lot of different roster changes. And here's

27:48

the thing, the magic are kind of

27:50

a bad matchup for them. You mentioned the Jalen Suggs

27:52

element. Donovan Mitchell doesn't want any part of that. That's

27:56

not a great draw in the first round, but

27:58

you even think about what gave the Cavaliers. Fits

28:01

in the playoffs last year the physicality of the Knicks

28:03

in that first round the magic

28:05

are physical man like that frontline Those

28:08

are a bunch of MFers and I mean that

28:10

in the nicest way possible like those guys are

28:12

physical They're going to pound Palibain Caro is gonna

28:14

get to the glass Franz Wagner hasn't been shooting

28:17

it all that well But he still plays really

28:19

physical Jill and Suggs is gonna mess things up

28:21

going over those screens and stuff So the

28:23

Cavalier is the same thing that kind

28:25

of torpedoed their their playoffs last year

28:28

The magic aren't the Knicks they don't have the pedigree But

28:30

they have a lot of the same qualities as that team

28:33

from last year in terms of they're just gonna take it

28:35

to you They're gonna make you work on every single possession.

28:37

Yeah, so I think and then by the way breakout star

28:39

I think maybe the talk of the first round if you

28:41

like start to say okay, who's gonna be the guy that

28:44

not the names We all know the names Jonathan

28:46

Isaac, I think break there's

28:48

breakout potential here in terms of he's

28:51

the guy that everyone's talking about my

28:53

god this performance from Jonathan Isaac He's

28:56

he's on the short list of guys. I think could do that.

28:58

It'll be great for his church group Come

29:00

on. No Next up and this

29:02

one pains me to say it but when you get

29:05

to the injuries and stuff that have happened Bucks

29:07

pacers. I think it'll be a

29:10

very good series. This one has upset potential you're

29:12

talking about the Pacers here I mean you might even pick

29:14

the pace. I think I might even pick the Pacers given

29:16

the honest his health But because of the

29:18

honest his health the series is a

29:21

little less compelling. It feels a little bit more

29:23

like a series that You

29:25

know matter what happens. What do we draw from

29:27

it? And I don't mean I mean again, there's

29:29

things we'll draw from it But that's that's why

29:31

it got knocked down. It's just the injury portion

29:33

of this Yeah, and even beyond the honest thing,

29:36

which is certainly the biggest injury, but like Dame

29:38

doesn't feel quite right Tyrese

29:40

Halliburton's dealing with this lingering hamstring issue He's kind of

29:42

limping into the playoffs too But it would have been

29:44

really cool to see Dame time the return of Dame

29:46

time has not been in the playoffs since 2021 Versus

29:50

the up-and-comer Tyrese Halliburton trying

29:52

to snatch that crown as maybe best guard

29:54

in the Eastern Conference right now There's

29:58

There could have been so much more potential here and for

30:01

this to rank higher but I'm with you

30:03

and and I actually might be with

30:05

you in terms of probably picking the

30:07

Pacers in this one because of Giannis.

30:10

I think so. Next up

30:12

on my list the other game

30:14

that we don't know the opponent to the Thunder

30:17

and whoever comes out of Kings and Pelicans. I'm

30:20

actually pretty interested in this one

30:22

just because the Thunder again they are in prove

30:24

it mode they're the number one seed but first

30:26

time really on this stage so I'm

30:28

curious to see how they perform and

30:30

then you know the Pelicans match up without Zion that

30:32

one takes a little win out of the sale but

30:34

if you get the Kings I always say the

30:37

Kings last year were in the Thunder's

30:39

position they were a high seed but

30:42

people were like oh that's that's a

30:44

week higher seed though that's who you want the Kings

30:46

now have a chance to go in after last year

30:48

losing in game seven to now go in on the

30:50

other side of that they get to be the upset

30:52

of that of them and I just think it's there's

30:55

a lot of fun players I think it'll be an

30:57

entertaining series. That thing you

30:59

said about what people are saying about the

31:01

Thunder yeah I know that the Thunder have heard

31:03

that right and I cannot wait for them to come

31:05

out and be like oh yeah you guys you guys

31:07

thought we were the weak number one seed this is

31:09

the this is who you wanted to face in the

31:11

first round all this talk about should the Lakers tank

31:14

that first playing game and all this stuff yeah they're

31:16

gonna come out I am interested in the

31:18

series just because of the Thunder I'm honestly not

31:20

that interested to watch New Orleans or Sacramento anymore

31:22

with all the injuries that have sort of impacted

31:24

those rosters but this is sort of

31:27

a movie that like Tom Cruise is carrying a bunch

31:30

of other actors you don't really care about yeah I'm

31:32

like I'm gonna go see it it's Tom Cruise it's

31:34

like it's probably my favorite

31:36

team to watch all season watching this

31:39

series yeah my next one is again

31:41

the top four here 76ers Knicks Wes

31:43

24 36 hours ago this one might have

31:49

come in number one for me that's how exciting it

31:51

would have been seeing Joe L and bead

31:53

kind of limp up and down the court and barely be able

31:55

to move took a lot of the win of the sale I'm

31:57

hope I'm wrong and I just ends up in

31:59

beads actually Awesome in the series and we get a really

32:01

great one if that's the case

32:03

it moves up to maybe number one But because I don't

32:05

expect that to happen I think it

32:07

might just end up being an ugly series that

32:09

the healthiest of the two teams is gonna shine

32:12

in Yeah, things seem to

32:14

be breaking the Celtics way right within bead

32:17

shimmy Butler hurt The

32:19

honest hurt it just it feels like this

32:21

is laying out pretty favorably for

32:24

Boston. Yeah number

32:26

three nuggets Lakers

32:29

Now this one's an interesting one. Oh look I'm biased on

32:31

this one We all know the lake the Nuggets are my

32:33

team But it's a rematch of last

32:35

year, which was a very contentious one If you

32:37

remember there was a lot of trash talk mainly

32:40

from Michael Malone It's both very upset with all

32:42

of the commentary about the Lakers throughout that series.

32:44

So there's some bad blood You

32:47

know the Lakers had some conversations in the offseason.

32:49

I'm told from Anthony Davis So, you know the

32:52

Lakers at least in the offseason. This is what

32:54

they wanted I think the Nuggets want this one

32:56

as well. So it's two teams that actually have

32:59

some bad blood I think it makes for a

33:01

compelling matchup and I think I

33:03

have this right I think I saw it reported

33:05

the Lakers flew into Denver two days early or

33:07

something or planning on it So that

33:09

they can sort of ingratiate themselves into whatever

33:12

it is. That's the altitude. Yeah, it's not gonna work

33:14

It's something but two extra days are they riding their

33:16

bike up? Yeah, I've been so if I what are

33:18

we doing here I like the picture that I'm doing

33:21

that LeBron just like hiking or whatever you guys do

33:23

in Denver By going

33:25

to the Patagonia outlet factory Which

33:29

one do you mean are you talking about the one up

33:31

north or the one on the west side or That's

33:37

that's what I like this is gonna you already laid it out this

33:39

is gonna be an awesome series I don't think you're biased at all.

33:42

All right, the top two to me are just

33:44

so clearly the top two the wolves in the

33:46

Sun's Talk about

33:48

a tough draw for the Timberwolves talk about

33:50

some bad blood These two teams played in

33:52

the last week of the season and they

33:55

were jying at each other non-stop. It was

33:57

very contentious I think this is gonna be

33:59

a styles make fights match

34:01

up. You have the return of Caron Thi Townes.

34:03

And this Suns team can beat anybody and lose

34:06

to anybody. I think that this is gonna be

34:08

a insane series with

34:10

some crazy swings. I

34:12

would not be surprised if we

34:14

declare this series over after one

34:16

game, only to declare it over

34:18

in the other direction after another game, only to

34:20

go back and then to the original point. I

34:22

think this will be a series that has some

34:24

wild swings. Even though the Suns have had the

34:27

Wolves' number, it's really hard to keep beating

34:29

a team this many times. I think it's gonna be a great

34:31

series. I have three words for you. Anthony

34:35

Devontae Edwards. I

34:38

did not know Devontae there. That's a surprise.

34:40

That's the middle name. Yeah, just look it

34:42

up. He went, I love

34:45

the idea of him just going toe to toe with

34:47

Devin Booker, toe to toe with Kevin Durant, toe to

34:49

toe with Bradley Beal. He's like, okay, you guys who

34:51

owned like the last decade of NBA basketball, I'm here.

34:53

It's my playoff moment. When

34:56

or lose, I don't care for Anthony Edwards. I

34:58

just wanna see him go head to head with

35:00

these guys. I think it's gonna be fascinating. I

35:02

love his competitive mean streak. And

35:05

it feels like that's the one thing that

35:07

the Suns don't really have. I'm not like

35:09

doubting sort of the competitiveness of guys like KD

35:11

and Devin Booker and those guys, but it

35:14

just feels like when the Timberwolves are playing

35:16

with like their most umpheist kind of style,

35:18

I don't know that the Suns can match that. This

35:21

is a battle of styles, right? And the Suns have

35:23

been able to sort of set the terms of engagement

35:25

for the regular season series, but that doesn't really mean

35:28

that they're going to do it going forward to your point,

35:30

Adam, in a playoff series that the

35:32

Timberwolves have home court advantage in. Like they get these

35:34

first two games in Minnesota. Can

35:36

they set the tone to the series? It'll be really interesting. And

35:39

that leaves the last one, the Mavs and the

35:41

Clippers. Yeah, let's go. The star

35:43

power in this one, man. I mean, let's

35:46

just talk about it. You got Kyrie and

35:48

Luca, you've got Harden, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard,

35:50

Russell Westbrook on the other side. You've got

35:52

history between these teams and what makes a

35:54

series ultimately so great. The stakes,

35:57

Luca loses in the first round. We're

36:00

the hot pick right now. Like Luca personally,

36:02

MVP candidate has a very strong argument should

36:04

be the MVP. If you go out in

36:06

the first round after missing the playoffs last

36:08

year, that is a giant stain on your

36:10

individual. You know, the conversation around Luca next

36:13

year would get so toxic. I'm telling you,

36:15

I promise you that's how it'll go. And

36:17

on the other side, the Clippers, they assembled

36:19

this team how many years ago, five years

36:21

ago. If you go out in the first

36:23

round now to an upstart group, it's

36:26

big. So both of these teams losing

36:28

in the first round would be horrible. As is the

36:30

case for Suns, by the way, Suns Wolves and the, that

36:33

we just talked about the stakes. One of those

36:35

teams is going to go home and the conversation

36:37

around them is going to be completely different. I,

36:40

I'm with you. I love knowing that one of

36:42

these fan bases is just

36:44

going to be the dog sitting on a chair in the

36:46

middle of a fire saying, this is fine by the end

36:48

of, by the summer, you know, like it's

36:51

just, it's bound to happen. And

36:54

I think like what we were talking about earlier

36:56

with some of the vibe checks, vibes

36:58

heavily in Dallas' favor, not so much

37:00

in the Clippers favor, but stuff

37:03

like that can turn in the course of

37:05

a seven game series pretty quickly, right? Like Kawhi

37:07

Leonard to come out and look great. And

37:09

next thing you know, like Mavericks fans are like, oh boy, wasn't

37:12

expecting this. Wow. Now they

37:14

have answers for everything that we want to do on the perimeter for Luca

37:17

and Kyrie or the closest thing to, to an

37:19

answer that exists when we're talking about those two

37:21

guys. You know, this, this

37:23

can change. This is to me very close

37:25

to a Pickham series. I probably still pick

37:27

Dallas based on just how they've

37:29

played going into the playoffs versus how the Clippers have played.

37:31

And I just have a lot of questions about the Clippers

37:33

defense and their overall level of engagement, especially when the Mavericks

37:35

can get out on the run and test their transition defense,

37:37

which has been just ugly all year. But

37:41

to me, this is a Pickham series. I don't think that you

37:43

can overlook any one of these. And then what's

37:46

crazy is that even if this thing goes six or

37:48

seven games and it's close, everything

37:50

you just laid out still applies. It's not going

37:52

to matter if the series is close. There's no

37:54

moral victories coming out of this thing. There's just

37:56

judgment day and that's it, man. That's

37:59

it. It's gonna be

38:01

great. Honestly, in all sincerity, I'm not excited for

38:04

the Celtic series. I am excited for every other

38:06

one. And you know what? Heat, Bulls,

38:09

maybe you surprise me. Maybe we get a Kobe

38:11

White 50 piece instead of a 40 piece,

38:13

you know? Who knows? I wish you

38:15

said Tyler Hero instead. But that's what I meant. Sorry. Sorry.

38:18

I actually meant Jaime Hakkas. Jaime Hakkas. All

38:20

right. That'll do it for today's

38:23

locked on NBA. Thanks for making locked in NBA

38:25

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