Latest / You Don't Know Ball Podcast / Episode 106: CALEB SHOW SPECIAL- Way to Early ranking of the Eastern Conference
Transcript
- Isaac Rowe: What is going on, you don't know ball podcast. Welcome back to the show. You might notice we're in a completely different spot. it is just me, Caleb. I'm the only host today. And we had both Alex, Isaac, both of them are busy this week. It is a pretty busy time for the row boys right now. And then Jack, you know, I didn't wanna have to make him meet up with me just to talk about some NBA stuff, because that was the only thing I could think to talk about this week. so this is just kind of a fill in episode. I'm hijacking the pod and that's what we're doing. But I figured, you know, why not try to predict the Eastern Conference standings? Very way too early predictions for this, 'cause first of all, free agency's not even done yet. We don't know where LeBron's going. That's probably the biggest thing. And I think that's something I'm going to mention when I do start to get into like the rankings and where I put the teams is where I personally think LeBron's gonna go. 'Cause that's kind of big into where, you know, all these rankings go. You might also notice I did get a haircut. This is my first day with the cut. I just got this four hours ago. So you know, we're still getting used to it and everything. I don't mind it though. You know, I I didn't really do anything new that I don't normally do, but it's something different and shaking it up for the rest of the summer. So also, I don't have socks on right now, but I'm not showing them to you. I just figured letting you guys know that are the freaks that likes no socks or you know our toes on our on this podcast. just know I'm not wearing socks, and that's for y'all. That's for y'all. But anyway, let's not waste any more time. Let's get right into this. This was and I I just want to preface this. This was not easy to do. one thing we do need to know about the Eastern Conference this year coming up is it's gonna be a very, very, very competitive conference. And honestly, this might be the first year besides last year where we can say that, 'cause Not only yeah, I we're gonna get into it. We're gonna touch on every team. but I'm really excited to see how this all plays out. I'm nervous as a Pistons fan to see this many talented teams now in the East. a lot of players that were injured last year are gonna be back. A lot of teams that had young up and coming players are just only going to get better this year. So we've seen a lot of teams make some good moves this off season, especially in the East. the Hawks are one of them, so You know, I'm nervous but I'm also excited at the same time. so we'll see we'll see where these teams end up here. So coming in at number one, before I say this team, I'm going to say I still think I'm still on the train that LeBron is going to Golden State to play with Curry and Draymond because it doesn't make sense to me that Draymond would decline his player options so early. if there wasn't a decent chance that they would get LeBron James. Cause Draymond is given money away. He's done he's shown us that he wants nothing more left in his care he wants nothing more out of his career than to play with the goat LeBron James. And I'm the only one on the pod today, so I can say that. I can say that LeBron's a goat. But I I'm just gonna say for this, for my predictions, I think LeBron's going to Golden State. And so that kind of takes out any You know, I even if LeBron did go to one of these teams, I think all of these rankings are still you know, there's some hot takes in there, but I think I think these could potentially happen. So number one, this one we're already starting with a hot take, but I think the Cavs are gonna be the first seed in the East next year. And let me tell you why. Cause they have their core locked in still. They have I mean they're they're a very solid team. They got the fourth seed, but they traded Garland mid season. And one thing that Kenny Atkinson was saying in a summer league game was that he's extremely, extremely excited, not only f because of their rookie, I forgot his name, but he's from Arkansas. I literally watched him play. But they the rookie they drafted's really good. lit up the Pistons in summer league. And they have a whole summer, a whole off season of building James Harden within their system when they only have half the season last year. Because James Harden's gonna sign his sign an extension. Donovan Mitchell just signed one. They have Jared Allen, Mobley still. They did lose Dean Wade. I think that's a big loss, but they have other guys that are ready to step up. And I think th this Cavs team, although they did look somewhat different, the main trio is still there of Jared Allen, Evan Mobley, and Donovan Mitchell. And you add James Harden to that. You know, he's a guy who will play a lot of regular season games for you. I can see this team getting the first seed pretty easily. And this is a team that's been there before. so I think You know, you gotta go with the proven coach, Kenny Atkinson, he's one of the longest tenured coaches now in the NBA because they get passed around like Instagram thoughts nowadays. So having a coach that's built that system there, and is still there, organization trusts him. I'm gonna trust the organization as a whole that they can get back to the first seat again. Do I think they're gonna win the chip? They certainly could, but I I don't know. I I think if one team's gonna take it, I think the Cavs I trust them the most to probably do it. so that's my hot take at who goes number one. Number two, give me the former or give me the defending NBA champs, New York Knicks. this team we know they've had their woes throughout the regular season, but they finally got it done in the postseason. To be honest, I never thought the Knicks were gonna do it. but you know, the run they had, I will say the first couple of rounds they got pretty lucky with who they played. A young Hawks team, a Sixers team that should not have came back from three one against the Celtics, and then they played the Cavs when they should have played the Pistons, who swept them in their regular season. So I will say, their path to the finals, they were lucky, but then they beat the Spurs. And that was th this teams for real. They have their core still. all of them are in their primes now, late twenties, so they're gonna be they're gonna be really solid. I just think they're a for some reason they just don't perform that well in the regular season. I wanted to put them as the first seed, but the fact that they were the three seed when they should have probably been the top two seed this year makes me not want to put them above the Cavs. Cause the Knicks are that team that there people are really going to be watching out for in the playoffs beside instead of the Cavs. So Cavs, great regular season team. Knicks, still a good team. Still a really, really good team, but kinda underperform in the regular season. Who knows, maybe they get some injuries or whatever. but they're still gonna be really good, so I'm confident putting them at two. Three, Miami Heat. And the whole story of this season with them is gonna be Giannis with Bam. We know the defense is gonna be great. We know that the rim running is gonna be great, the rebounding is gonna be awesome. There's gonna be a lot of highlight plays on both defense and offense. But how long will that take to gel? Especially with a guy like Andrew Wiggins, you lose a guy like Norman Powell. who was a twenty point scorer for you, you lose Tyler Hero. so as much as you gain with Giannis, someone's gonna have to cover for all the all the offense they lose. And obviously Giannis is gonna do that, but in terms of perimeter creation, Davion Mitchell he's he's amazing, but you need some of your young guys to step up and you know, the sheer talent alone off BAM and the their front court is gonna get them to the three seed. And what will really take them higher is the play of the play offensively of their guards. So I'm looking forward to see them though. I'm really am looking forward to seeing the heat play. I really like this top three because we have a t newly formed team that's been waiting for something to get them over the hump since they made the finals in twenty twenty three, 'cause they've been kind of stuck around the play in area. And then you have the Knicks, the former NBA champs, and then you have the Cavs, a team that's been there before, who's retooled and is back. So I I think that's a solid top three, to be honest. now here's where it got really, really dicey for me, because the next honestly, the next four through eleven could be any frickin' order. I have no idea. But we're gonna start with the Indiana Pacers at number four. Cause hear me out. You have Tyrese Halliburton coming back, and I think people f forget after not watching him for a whole year how good he is. I think Tyrese is right up there with I think he might be better than Cade. Honestly, just it because the team's built around him, right? So team is obviously I think the pacers as a whole, as a unit, make Halliburton look better because that team is better built around him. If that makes any sense. Cause the Pistons, they've done a better job this offseason building around Cade. But these past couple of years there had just has not been enough shooting around him to make Cade look as good as he probably could. So that's that's my stance with that. but Halliburton being back is gonna be absolutely enormous for the Pacers and we could see a new record for the jump in wins for a season for a team. And I'm saying like that's that's another thing. Like hammer the over on Pacers wins total this year. 'Cause it's gonna happen. bar knock on wood, barring another injury or anything, but I I like Pacers at four, they've been there before. It's Halliburton's you know, maybe maybe the beginning of the season is starts off a little slow for just because, you know, playing a f you know, fast paced NBA action coming off an injury like that can be tough for Halliburton, but I think they'll figure it out. They did it the year they got the fourth seed. but yeah. I I just I like the Pacers F four. Number five. This one I I put them here and you you guys might be surprised that I haven't said this team yet because they got the first seed last year, but I got Pistons coming in at number five. Purely based off the moves that I've seen this off season, I don't think I think the Pistons built what they needed to around Cade. They've definitely gone and got more three and D guys, guys that we need, but or guys that we want, for sure, guys that we want around Cade, but did we get who we needed though? Is John Collins who we needed? I'm not so sure. Maybe JB Bickerset has a plan with that. I think we can kind of predict how the John Collins situation is gonna go with Cade. It's gonna be a lot of pick and roll la you c you can use him as a pick and roll guy. Is John Collins shooting gonna be that consistent? is Cade gonna be able to find him enough times and get his shots up as well? I mean, I don't know. I just don't I didn't know if jo I didn't know John Collins was never in the cards for me in my in my head, but I don't know. I like that's why I put the Pistons at number five, because I just I just don't know how this team is gonna look. I've seen in summer league, like Chad's Lanier like the only bright spot in summer league I've seen. O'Corey, our rookie point guard. I think he's a great replacement for Marcus Sasser, 'cause obviously we're not gonna be able to keep everybody that we had from last year, which is tough 'cause, you know, you'd love to keep that team around. And also th I was thinking about this earlier when I was making this list. Losing Isaiah Stewart is absolutely huge. And, you know, giving him up to Memphis for just a couple second round picks, I mean, I would have thought Isaiah Stewart was worth more than that. we just lost a huge, huge piece of our culture. And yeah, sure we have Paul Reed, but Isaiah Stewart is a locker room guy, a guy who could pick you up, a guy who could come off the bench and completely change the momentum and energy of a game all by himself. You could argue that Paul Reed does all that too, but I just think losing the longest tenured piston for a couple of second round picks too just leaves a sour taste in my mouth. 'cause now Cade's like our longest tenured piston. And, you know, maybe that's how it should be, but I'm gonna really miss Isaiah Stewart. And all these moves, I mean it just i I I can see the pistons being the same, like, talent wise and playstyle and level wise, but do I think they're gonna win sixty games again? No. I thought they got extremely Lucky and I I thought I thought we got really lucky this year th this past season, winning sixty games and then j all all of that just a lose in the second round in a seven game series where you know we could have made adjustments and won that game. You know. It i it sucks, but you know, it is what it is. I got the Pistons at five. That might be a little bit generous in my opinion. 'cause after this next team, number six I got the Atlanta Hawks. And what they've done I mean, we've said this about the Hawks before in the off season, right? We've said that they're the winners of the off season. We've given them the A pluses that they needed. I'm pretty sure last year it could have been argued that they had the best off season, signing Nikhila Alexander Walker, drafting er drafting Asa Newell, and then they had fudge, dude. What did they I mean they made they made some other Dyson Daniels. They and got Dyson Daniels. It was hu he he's ginormous for them. So I think w the r the moves that the Hawks had made are just adding to the pile. I think they had another great off season. Getting Lou Dorr, getting giving up Zachary Rishachet was an interesting move, but you get Ryan Nemhard and then some other guys. I I don't know. I like the way the Hawks depth is looking. That's one thing they really needed. was depth, I think, and something they were lacking in the playoffs. And the one thing that they haven't got though that made me put them below Detroit was when you stack up against Detroit, just team to team, like, look at the center battle. 'Cause we're all we're all assuming that Jalen Duran's coming back to Detroit, even though today it was told that they were in like a standalone or a standoff. but Anyekka Kongwu Anyekka a Kongwu as your starting center. six foot nine. He's like a stretch five. He's a good athlete. But that's was that was Charlotte's problem last year, starting Musa Diabate all the time. They were getting out rebounded. They were getting out worked. They were getting out strength. They were getting out dogged and everything in the paint, basically. And that's why Charlotte relied so much on the three and that's why they were such an electrifying team. But that's why they were also playing in so many close games because they had to rely on the perimeter scoring. Which, you know, only gets you so far. and I think they would have lost that play in game if Bam di if Lamello didn't trip Bam. But you know, that's neither here nor there. Lamello's gone now, so it doesn't really matter. But Atlanta Hawks, they need another center. The on Yekas would be a great backup, but you're not about to start Jock Landale or Jock Landale, so Atlanta's gotta work on that. We'll see if they got anything in the cards. But yeah, I like them at six. It's unfortunate because I do think they got better. But Compared to the other teams that also got better, I think the Hawks are kind of just stuck in no man's land at six. But honestly, if you get the sixth seed in the East this year, that's a win, dude. I think any of the teams that make the playoffs this year in the East, like, deserve their flowers 'cause an eight seed is gonna be just as dangerous as the first seed this year. That's just how good the East is. at number seven, it's unfortunate because Like I'm going based off them not getting Kawhi. I have the Raptors. I was ready to put the Raptors at four again. Er no, I was ready to put the Raptors at four if they would've if they were able to keep Kawhi. But right now it sounds like that trade is being investigated and might not happen. So I'm keeping the Raptors at seven, which honestly, in like I said before, in this Eastern Conference, getting the seventh seed should not be a disappointment. You're going up against the Knicks. You can beat the Knicks. if you're the Raptors, 'cause you have enough talent. This team has a lot a lot going for them. They have a lot of young guys. They have Brandon Ingram and Scotty Barnes as their two forward scorers. And you know, one of them's a really good scorer, one of them's very good all around, especially on the defensive end, and then quickly is only getting better. And then the rest of the team, like this this Toronto Raptors team has like Thunder esque depth all over the place. so I'm really, you know, looking forward to watching these guys. They could get a lot higher than seven. I think seven's just a s safe place to put them. so yeah. Another team that's improved their depth a lot, especially for their game plan, is the Charlotte Hornets. I have them as the eight seed. So I think this does not include this is not what I think would happen after the play in. This is just what I think the final results are gonna be. So I have the Charlotte Hornets at eight. they've they went and got every single frickin' three point shooter they could get. They got Grayson Allen, they Nas Reed, they re-signed Kobe White, they got rid of L Lamello which is tough, but looks like they're really committing to building around Brandon Miller and Con Knippel. And they have Kobe White, probably gonna keep him as their sixth man, I would assume. So It's like who starts at that other guard spot. I think they're just gonna get someone that is a little less erratic as Lamello. maybe someone with a little bit of s of a safer playstyle, 'cause we know how the Hornets wanna play. They wanna play quick and they wanna shoot a lot of threes, and we know they play hard, so I've you know, they had some dog fights with the Pistons, and I I think they lost just because they weren't big enough. But they went and got Hans Steinbeck from Washington. They still have Kulkbrenner. and they have Nasreed now, who is a dog. So, you know, they have guys that can score in the post who are post scorers. Like Moose wasn't scoring anything. He was just scoring off putbacks and lobs. But Steinbeck's a guy who can get you a bucket. Hopefully Kalkbrenner worked on his post moves, and then we know Nasreed Nasreed can he's a three-level score. So that was something they needed, and I think that will improve them just a little bit enough to get the eight seed. Alright, so these next three Very very tough for me to place 'cause I just don't know what's going on with these teams. This this one might be my worst take, on the pod. But I think coming in at number nine, it's gonna be Philly. Give me the sixter give me the Sixers coming in at number nine to end the season. And this is purely because Joel Embiid and his health. I get it. You have Jalen Brown, you have Vijay Edgecombe, you have Tyrese Maxie, all these guys can score at a whim. We get it. But In a game where Joel Embiid plays, let's think about this. In a game where Joel Embiid plays, it's only one basketball that can go around. Joel Embiid's probably gonna play about half the season. I just worry about their defense 'cause who are they playing at power forward that's gonna defend it the like they need they need them to. I don't I don't know who that I don't know who that's gonna be. They lost Kelly Ubre Junior. That was a a huge guy in defense for them. You know, an unselfish, smart wing vet that they needed. Who is now on the Pacers, so that's another really good pickup for the Pacers, actually, is Kelly Ubre. I don't know. Just not enough there's gonna be too much offense, not enough defense for me. And we've s like, they're grouped with the Hornets. That's exactly why I think I d that's exactly why I put him at eight nine, just because I I just don't I get it they have Jalen Brown. Jalen Brown carried the Celtics to a second seed, but also he's in a new t not new team, new system. Who knows how it's all gonna work? I like them right behind Charlotte at nine, just 'cause Charlotte I think they have a little bit more of an ident identity going on. And if you have your true star player and Joel Embiid only playing half the season, if that Ninth seed it is, bro. Sorry. number ten. This would be the last team making the plan tournament. And this might be crazy, but I'm going Boston. Boston Celtics as the tenth seed in the East next year. And I think this because Jason Tatum's obviously gonna be great, but he only came back for so little of last season. He does have a full off season of practice again under under his belt and you know all the practice he had last year. So he's gonna be coming back, probably the same player that he was, maybe if not better. but the rest of their team, man, you got Paul George, you sig you re-sign Cada. You get what's his name? You get my Mitchell Robinson from New York, so that's a big pickup. But I don't know. I look at this team They were really good with Jalen Brown last year and all that they had. And you get rid of him. That's I mean, Jalen Brown was one of the longest tenured guys on your team. Ma if not the longest. And you trade him for Paul George, an old Paul George, whose contract you're gonna be stuck with for the next three seasons. I don't know. That move just didn't really make a lot of sense for me. And I'm sure the locker room's gotta be feeling weird about it. And I don't know, like when you go get Paul George, he you know, he's back He's playing for the Mean Green now. I it all just seems a little weird to me. It seems kinda surreal. And I just didn't know how that was gonna affect the locker room. And I'm just not really convinced that this fit of Jason Tatum and Paul George is really gonna work. I mean Paul George, he's only getting older. Tatum's I I mean, he's I I just don't know I don't know how this pairing's gonna work, especially with Mitchell Robinson on the floor as well. I think their defense is gonna be okay. And who knows? I don't know. I just can't get a gauge on this team. I threw at ten. It's a gut feeling. number eleven, Orlando Magic. They fired their coach right after he took them to a game seven against the one seed. Didn't really make a lot of sense to me. I thought they played pretty well that series and just got kinda hosed. they they need some sort of guard to come in there, who's not Cole Anthony. And lead that team. They really need like They need like a CJ McCollum. You know, this team is so young and I didn't notice any vets they went and got besides maybe Javon Carter, if he's still on the Magic. I know I saw his name on one of their payrolls I was looking at. But he's not the vet you need. You need a CJ McCollum on this team. You need someone to you need you need a Raj on Rondo. A guy a guy like that, but he he's not in the league anymore, obviously. But if the man, if the Magic could have somehow got Chris Paul last year. I think that would've helped them out tremendously, because this team is urgently missing a point guard. And for that reason, I'm gonna put them at eleven. Also, new coach. You know, a lot of new things happening. It could be a frustrating season for them, and that's exactly why I put them at eleven. Twelve, Chicago Bulls. I have them shooting up one spot. I think they only got better. Norman Powell, Caleb Wilson, you know, you got those two, and then the development from Josh Gideon, Matas Buzelis and all their younger guys. you know, it's unfortunate that East is so good this year, but I can see them making a surprising like play in play in game, like number ten, if one of these two teams up here gets injured or you know shit just doesn't work out. But I think Chicago Bulls are probably the only other team that have any chance of making a play in game, but that's better than what they've been the past couple of years. I think they're on the right track, and I'm excited to see Caleb Wilson play. Loved him at UNC, so I think Bulls should be happy about that pick. thirteen, Washington, the Wizards, with their weird team of A D and Trey Young and friends. They have Alex Sarr, they got Keyshawn George, they got Bub Carrington. They this team is built just like who I was sa who was I saying earlier was built like that. This team is built like the Raptors, but I think arguably Okay, this team has Thunder like qualities in the fact that they have so many good and promising young guys with so much potential. This really reminds me of the Thunder from twenty twenty three. 'cause you obviously had Shea the whole time, but the they just weren't ready to take that leap quite yet. but and it's like they're they're gonna try to win. I it's just A D Him and his health, he said some shit about I'm gonna play all eighty two games. Yeah, right, bro. Yeah, right. but Trey Young, you know, is is he can he be the leader of a winning basketball team? No. This team is all offense. Which is exactly why I think they're gonna win like thirty something games, because this team has no defense besides A D. And he's not guaranteed to play. Well, they do have Alex Sarr too, but who knows how the spacing with that's gonna work out. I think again They're gonna be able to outscore some teams. They're gonna get some frustrating wins against some of your guys' favorite teams because they can probably shoot the lights out of the frickin' ball. l ton of offense. just the defensive side's not looking promising. I think they really need to cult they they don't have like a specific culture. I think this is kinda like a shot in the dark, you know, two K rebuild esque team that, you know, in a sim would probably win a shit ton of games in real life though. I I just don't see it working out. The Wizards should have traded A D to the Warriors for some their guys when they had the chance, but they weren't open to it, so Wizards, they're probably on the hot seat for selling the team at this point, 'cause they've had some empty empty ass arenas for the past couple of seasons now. Fourteen. We're getting down to the nitty gritty. Milwaukee Bucks, listen, they're gonna suck this year. you know, they're gonna be probably sorta fun. No w no, this team's not even gonna be fun to watch, honestly. yeah. Bucks are gonna suck. But the Pistons will still probably lose a game to them. So we'll see. And then shout out Tyler Hero. He's on the Bucs now. other than that though, they got Kevin Porter Jr. still. They g like the Bucs have a lot of young guys. They're kind of built like the Thunder were a couple years ago too. This loading up on young talent, but we know how that goes in this league. I've watched the Pistons who've had been loaded with young talent, and I've watched them lose fourteen games, so Bucks, in this East, bro, you're not getting anywhere close to the plan. And then lastly, my s third favorite team in the league, no, probably second favorite. shout out Tyler Biladow, drafted to the Nets, but in last place, I have the Nets. And you know, it sucks because they've been so bad for so long, but they are in dire need a of a first pick. They're in dire need of something 'cause every draft they've had recently they've gotten like kind of screwed. They get the sixth, the seventh, the eighth pick, you know, stuff shit like that. So it's like they're in desperate need of that. And also like some sort of big free agent signing. They have Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle are their two best players. And then a bunch of young guards, a young big guards that aren't the best shooters. and are just gonna be frust it's it's gonna be a very, very frustrating season for them. as well. And with Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. taking all of the shots and running things around there, like it's gonna be really bad for the development of all the young guys that the Nets have too. all the all the losing, I think winning is a big, big part of helping young players get better. And you need more vets, honestly. The Nets need more vets. You can't just expect to win with Terrence Mann, Julius Randle, and Michael Porter Jr. You need a point guard to come in there and mentor all those younger point guards that you have. And like I was saying, if Chris Paul's still playing, forty one year old Chris Paul, get him on this team. He can teach those guards something that they don't know yet. And it could probably help them win a couple more games. But I don't will it even if that did happen in my wildest dreams, They're not getting anywhere but fifteenth place in my mind. So, yeah. those are my official 2K twenty-seven final season standings for the Eastern Conference in the NBA. I'll go through them one more time. I got first Cleveland Cavalier Cleveland Cavaliers, two, the New York Knicks, three, Miami Heat, four, Indiana Pacers, five, Detroit Pistons, six, Atlanta Hawks. Seven Toronto Raptors, eight Charlotte Hornets, nine Philadelphia Seventy Sixers, and ten, the final team that will make any sort of postseason, the Boston Celtics. Then you have Orlando at eleven, Chicago Bulls at twelve, Washington Wizards at thirteen, Milwaukee Bucks at fourteen, and then Brooklyn Nets at fifteen. And that's it. I've been talking for I stretched this out to thirty minutes. So hope you're highs hope you're happy, Isaac. Wow, I can't believe I just talked about that for 30 minutes. So yeah. thanks so much for tuning in. If you did watch all the way through. that was Solo Caleb Epp, first one ever. Kinda felt good to do. Maybe I'll start my own sideshow. but yeah. Thanks for watching. I don't know ball. We'll see in a year, or we'll see in like nine months if I don't know ball or not. You don't know ball, and we all don't know ball. Thanks so much for hanging out. And I'll see you next time.