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OKC PLAYOFF RUN STARTS NOW… Who’s Stopping Them?! · Bring The Thunder Podcast

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You're listening to the Bring the Thunder Podcast, a podcast
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by fans, for fans. Yes, you are welcome everybody
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to another episode of the Bring the Thunder Podcast.
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As today, playoffs are finally among us.
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Guys, let's get into this. We're going to do a full playoff
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breakdown. Looking at the bracket, we have
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it pulled up here so people watching can see as we pick
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through them. We'll pick how many games they
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win in and everything in between.
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So without further ado, gentlemen, let's get into this
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today. Let's break it down.
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So we're going to start over on the Western Conference.
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This is pretty like the plan started today.
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So like we're just going to like say who we think's going to win
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the plan, slide them into this slot and probably all lose
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anyway. But we'll start with the obvious
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number one seed three years in a row, OKC taking on one of
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Phoenix Portland Clippers, Golden State.
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I mean, we'll do a group decision here.
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I, I'm going to say like most likely Portland right now, but
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you got to, is that cool you and we could just slide OKC onto the
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next round. Yeah, it doesn't make a
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difference who wins here. Yeah, but how many games are we
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predicting? I like that.
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I'll give five. I'm always a gentleman sweep
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type of guy. I would agree with that.
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You got it. You got to be, you got to
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respect your opponent. Give him, give him one, maybe
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one off game. Yeah, especially when it comes
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to the play offs. I think if you're in the play
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offs, you can at least win one on most opponents, Like even 2
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when we played against the Grizzlies.
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So 6 would be like if something went wrong.
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I don't think any of that is to. So we'll move, OK, see on in
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five. This is the good one right here.
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A lot of ifs on the Lakers side as it stands right now.
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Reeves and Dantic out and definitely give me the Rockets
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and then I'll take them in six games.
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What do you think? This is a series that like
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seriously, if it if the Rockets were playing almost anyone other
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than the Lakers, I really think that they could be on a
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potential upset watch. I mean, there was a point where
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they were going to get the they could get anywhere between the
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three, 4-5 or six seed. And I was very confident they
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were going to land at the five or six.
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I just don't think this team is all that great.
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But the fact that it's the Lakers is like the dream match
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up for them. It's literally the one team that
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I think can't beat them because they're injured.
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So I got to take rockets here. I agree with Joe.
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Actually, I'll I'll take them in five.
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I just don't. LeBron can't.
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He just can't. This isn't LeBron who this isn't
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LeBron that we know from Cleveland who can carry a team
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all the way there. This is a Bron that for the
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first time his entire career, we're starting to actually see
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visible visual signs of him looking tired, looking slowed
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down. His stats aren't always as
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great, he's not as consistent. He's having to sit more like it.
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It's becoming actually noticeable for once.
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Which, don't get me wrong, he's still having a ridiculous year
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for a 41 year old, But ultimately, give me the Rockets
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in five. This is just not a good match up
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for the Lakers at all. Yeah, this is a tough one.
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I think it's in 5 or 6. I respect LeBron so I would
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probably go 6 just because he can still like maybe win you 2
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games even at this age, but he's just playing it feels like
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alongside like AG League type of roster.
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They do have JJ Reddick out there that can make things a
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little bit tough, but they are also playing against Eme who's
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highly respected, good defensive mind and you're kind of playing
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against, you're in A2V1 situation with Chingoon and
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Katie. So I think Zach, you're talking
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himself into 5. Yeah, I'm probably going to get
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closer to the 5 marks. So we're going to outvote Joe on
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this one because. Good for me.
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There's not many angles in which they can really attack this
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Rockets team, just you. Talent, you're absolutely right.
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I just gave him 6. Not even because of LeBron,
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honestly, I just like Gabe said, I just don't think Houston's
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good and I think Houston loses to any team outside of Golden
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State in this first. So I mean, lucky they got the
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Lakers and lucky enough for us they got the Lakers as well.
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This is probably the series of the first round in total, East
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and West. There's another one on the east
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we'll get to, but Nuggets, Timberwolves, Timberwolves
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always seem to have their number.
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Actually two years ago in the playoffs got them done in the
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semis, seven games, 20 point comeback on the road.
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Minnesota did Minnesota lost a lot of players and I think
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Nikhil Alexander Walker's like a huge loss for them.
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Now they did get they did have a decent trade deadline, but the
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Somme who's been pretty good, but ants up in the air.
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I just got to go Denver and I don't even know if I could push
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this to six. I think Denver and five
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honestly, if ants like hit or miss.
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Yeah, yeah. You got us.
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Ever. I was going to say Ant Man's not
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playing. This is probably an easy sweep.
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They're really nothing without him.
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I mean, I honestly don't respect their roster.
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I've been around Timberwolves fans and they pretty much would
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probably tell you the same thing.
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There's no way Jokic can't sweep this team, pretty much.
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Yeah, I mean, Joe, I like that you do mention like this is
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definitely a good match up. In the past, the these teams
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have been at each other's throats every time they play.
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They had a really competitive game in the season actually that
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went to overtime. It was a crazy game.
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But this is 2 teams that have been on each other constantly.
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And ultimately it just comes down to they've struggled and
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they've they've been able to beat them in the past, but that
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was with better teams. They've struggled against them
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recently with worse teams. Anthony Edwards essentially has
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to average like a minimum of 30 points if they're even going to
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have a chance. And that's assuming that the
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other players step up. That's assuming that guys like
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Nas Reed show up. That's assuming that all their
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players, Julius Randall, Rudy Gobert can do their jobs.
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And I just don't see that happening in this Nuggets team.
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What's really polished right now?
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They've been resting players a bit.
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They've been sitting out, they've been healthy.
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Aaron Gordon's back. Like there's so many things
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going for this Nuggets team that I just this is just not this
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sucks for Minnesota. Frankly, This is not the match
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up they wanted. It would have been different if
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things would have unfolded very differently if if a certain game
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went a different way. But this is not a good match up
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for them. So I think, I think Doug gets
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get it in five. I rolled them in five.
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I will say if Ant's like we get a fully healthy Ant or if he
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looks, it could get weird in that series.
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And then final here, Spurs versus one of the Suns or the
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Blazers who play later tonight. Again, I think it's the Suns.
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So if we're if we're all in agreement on the Suns, I think
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the Suns will get one, maybe 2. I think the games will be
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competitive. But give me the Spurs over the
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Suns in six. I'd like to see, you know, how
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the Spurs do in their first playoff series in a while.
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I'm going. To agree with that, Joe, I'm
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going to say Spurs win this in six and that that feels like
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it's almost like I'm doing a disservice instead of two seed.
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But like, like you just mentioned, Joe, this is a young
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team that's not been here. The only guy that has serious
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experience is Harrison Barnes and that's not who you want to
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be your your big layoff experience leader.
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So I need to see how Wendy reacts.
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I need to see how Stefan Castle shows up because he's already
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been inconsistent this year. There's some games where he
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shoots the lights out and then there's a majority of games
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where he struggles and insufficiencies all over the
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place. So I got to see guys step up and
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even dear and fox hasn't had a ton of experience.
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So like it's just one of those match ups where Phoenix is
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already such a rough team that it feels like they could already
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steal one from a team. They can already be scrappy
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enough. Devin Booker can Devin Booker's
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been here. He's been in the finals not long
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ago. Like they have the potential to
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actually rough things up. And if I mean, this is like,
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seriously, like, I'm not gonna lie, this could be a potential
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upset watch. Like, I'm going to watch every
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game of the series because I think this could be potential,
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but I'm still going to give it to the Spurs in six games
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because I do think it would be really unfair to say that it
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will be an upset. Yeah, everyone has 98%.
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We're looking at the percentages, right, of each of
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the they have 98% for the Thunder moving on, they have 98%
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for the Spurs. And I kind of disagree, like
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with that percentage point, there's no way that the Spurs
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should be just as favored as the Thunder.
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I know they've won a lot of games, but there's just so many
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factors when you're playing a Suns team that could be scrappy
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on defense. They have a lot of offense.
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And even against us, I think they're the worst threat against
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us. Like if they were to pull up as
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an 8 seed, I'd be kind of not worried or anything like, yeah,
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we'd get through the series. But this is a super scrappy
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bunch of guys that they have and it's just not something that you
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want to face off against. And also, Dear and Fox isn't
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someone that I trust when it comes to a playoff setting.
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He hasn't been, you know, in the past.
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And so they'd really be relying on Castle and Wimby to get them
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through a series. And I think as the rounds go on,
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it can take a toll on a team like this when they're relying
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on a lot of role players. So I'll agree with you guys on
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the six games if they do get the Suns.
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If they get the Blazers though, I think they could probably
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sweep the Blazers. Yeah, I think sweep against
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Portland is reasonable. Yeah, so it's really about
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matchups when it comes to the playoffs.
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And so we're not trying to disrespect the fans.
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And also I'm not going to piggyback off on Joe and Gabe
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and say this is due to lack of experience.
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I think it's more my lack of distrust of Darren Fox and key
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moments. He's kind of and esque.
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He kind of shies away when the lights are bright.
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And that's just what I've seen of him.
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And so when you have that big three that you're kind of
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relying on a guy that has playoff experience, but he's not
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really made for the moment. That's kind of what happened.
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So yeah. I also just don't like them
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coming off that last game of the season.
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I actually it was not not great for San Antonio.
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We'll go over to the Eastern Conference first round.
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There's some really cool match ups here.
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I'm not even going to try to guess whoever they're playing.
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But if the Pistons take on any one of these teams, if Charlotte
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wins, they still have to play another game.
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I'm going to, I'm going to assume it's Charlotte, right?
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I'll take Detroit in five. Charlotte's been fun, electric,
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you could say. Little bit of a rivalry there
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between Detroit and Charlotte. They had a brawl this year.
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But give me the Pistons and five if they're they look good.
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Even without Kate, they looked really good.
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Yeah talking about Charlotte being the team that that gets by
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here they're the Cinderella story except it it stops at the
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slipper. They just they're they're not
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go. I really don't have faith in
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that team to be able to actually compete in the play offs, even
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if it is the weaker EI mean. Maybe they proved me wrong.
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I don't know, but if they get this match up against Detroit,
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that's not good. I don't think they want that
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because while Detroit, you can argue, also has a lack of
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experience. I just think they're more
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well-rounded teamed in my opinion.
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I trust their players more. Like Sagar was talking about the
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trust for Darren Fox or not not trusting Fox.
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I I have faith in guys like Cunningham.
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I have faith in guys like Duran Moore because I just think that
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their play style can can hold up better.
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And it's the east, it's easier. Their matchups aren't as hard.
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They don't have to play a scrappy Sun's team.
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Instead, they get to play potentially a a Hornet's team
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that's been living on a dream. But ultimately, I agree with
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you, Joe. I'll give you the Pistons and
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5:00. I could be talked into four if
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Sabir wants to go down that route.
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I'm actually gonna talk you guys up the elevator here to six
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games because I don't think they face either of the Hornets or
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the Heat right now. It's like a 5050 battle during
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the third quarter with the Hornets.
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The problem with that with me there, Sapir is the Heat are
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winning the game right now and Bam's not even playing like so
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like just seeing that in the play offs already.
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I have no trust in Charlotte. No, but I don't even think
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that's where I disagree with you guys.
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Charlotte still has to win. Even if they win this game, they
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still have to beat either of the, you know, 76ers or the
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Magic. And I just don't think that's
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going to happen. And what I'm saying is the not
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ideal match up here at the seven or eight spot would be facing
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off against a 76ers. So if the 76ers squad is at like
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the number 8, like I would probably take this to six or
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seven games. Yeah, I don't.
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I actually really would like the Sixers to move on.
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But. And Bead's not playing.
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That's the one problem. Like if Maxi and George could
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get them through the play in and maybe, I don't really know,
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recovery of appendicitis, I have no idea.
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I'm going to try to guess but like that's the secrets.
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Could have been fun. Yeah, that's true.
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They do have that. But like I still believe in, you
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know, a maxi plus Paul George duo compared to all the other
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three teams. So that's kind of where I'm at
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with I'll go, I'll meet you guys at five games.
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I just think there's no sweeping any of these guys.
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Moving on, 4/5 Cleveland, Toronto.
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One of my least favorite matchups of the whole play offs.
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This is just the I'll give, I don't know, Cleveland in six and
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I'll give Toronto too. Maybe Toronto's got a good
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defense sometimes. This is a tough one because
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recently, you know, Cleveland's been known for having the
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dominant regular season and then choking as soon as they get to
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the playoffs. And ultimately, I need to like,
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Donovan Mitchell's always consistent.
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But I just don't know if I have the faith in the rest of the
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team to step up like I normally do.
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And on the flip side, this Raptors team has been scrappy.
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Like, they've looked good. RJ Barrett's looked really,
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really good. They've just had players all
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around that I've been impressed with.
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I'm a big Grady Dick fan. I think that he's also a really
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helpful asset to that team. But ultimately, it's so hard to
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look at the Cav's roster and and talk yourself out of taking them
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in the in this matchup. So like, even though I feel a
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little superstitious in taking the Cavs since they've struggled
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sometimes in the in the recent history, I'm still going to take
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them. I'm actually going to take them
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in six as well, Joe. I just think they're just so
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much more well-rounded in my opinion.
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I just like Donovan Mitchell being the best player on the
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court, I think is really going to stand out in the scenario.
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I think Evan Mobley could thrive in this matchup as well.
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It's just kind of one of those things where it's like I'm
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almost scratching my head a little bit when I see like the
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Raptors being the five seed, they feel more to me like they'd
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be a six between 6:00 and 8:00 seed potentially.
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It's like it, kind of. Surprises me.
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I don't mean. To diss the Raptors like I'm not
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against them, but and the Cavs are crazy.
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I said you're. About.
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The yeah, I know Toronto came out of crazy, bro.
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Like I'm telling you, I like Toronto.
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I like their players, I like their.
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I like their team. I do.
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I just, I just don't love this set up for them.
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Ultimately it it just kind of reminds me that the East really
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is weaker. Where like honestly, I'll double
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down if the Raptors run the West.
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I think they get swept by almost anyone they play.
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Yeah. I'll I'll triple down here and
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say the Cavs would end this series in about 5 to 4 games.
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Brandon Ingram is pretty much an empty stats type of guy.
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I think he's another guy that they can move off of and build
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around whatever else of their core that they have.
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He's not trustworthy when it comes to play offs.
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We pretty much swept them because they had BI when they
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had when we played the Pelicans. That really opened my eyes on
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kind of his, you know, lacking of play style.
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And I'm a huge D Mitch fan. He's having a career year.
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I know the Raptors fans may hate me, but I like Scotty.
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But outside of that, they really, the roster construction
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isn't the best and the Cavaliers, you know, previous
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years have been a first seed. D Mitch in the playoffs is a
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freaking menace. I'd hate to face off against
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him. Anyone that guards D Mitch is
15:36
pretty much praying that he misses during the playoffs and
15:39
he's one of the highest points per game average players in the
15:42
playoffs. So I'd take the Cavs in five.
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I just don't think they're gonna have any answers for him.
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And he's like he's the top ten players when it comes to a
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playoff setting. So it's hard to ignore guys that
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step up in the moment. And his play style is meant for
15:59
this time of the year. So I I know you guys fixed.
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I'll I'll take it in six, but I'm telling you guys four to
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five games. Either 556 works for me, either
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one less. Than 5555.
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There's no way this goes past five games.
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Favorite, favorite series of the of the whole first round, Knicks
16:20
Hawks. I'm going to keep it short just
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'cause I want to save time here. I'm going to take the Knicks in
16:24
six. This could be a lot of fun, or
16:27
the Knicks could just kill them, but I think it's going to be
16:29
more fun than than anything. So I kind of like the Pistons
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Knicks series last year. Similar, but give me the Knicks
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in six. Yeah, I'm going to.
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Take the happy to interrupt you. I want to go for you.
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You got it. I'm taking the Hawks in seven
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games, baby. Now come the Hawks guys.
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You play that man 35 plus minutes, you play him around
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Jalen Johnson. I just don't think the Knicks
16:53
have enough answers when it came to their defensive unit.
16:57
And I think one of the guys that would have to take a big back
17:00
seat in this type of matchup would be Cat.
17:03
And I think that can cause like chemistry issues, that type of
17:06
thing during the series. And so if the Knicks aren't
17:10
ready to, you know, play around with their line up in terms of
17:14
their seven man, 8 man rotation, I think the Hawks are just going
17:17
to run circles around them defensively and their coach is
17:20
way better. And just in general, their
17:22
roster construction's freaking perfect.
17:24
They have a bunch of wings, super hard to defend and then
17:27
gnaws like 66 point guard pretty much like they have no
17:30
deficiencies and the Knicks do have deficiencies.
17:33
So I feel like this is one of those series I'm taking the the
17:36
Hawks and Seven Men. I don't hate that Sabir because
17:39
I'm taking, I'm taking the Knicks in seven.
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I think this game goes very, very far.
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I think this is a really good first round match up.
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It's going to be one of those where people just kind of scoff
17:49
at the idea of the Hawks being a 16 and think it's a 3 verse 6.
17:52
The 3 has got this easy. I really don't think they do.
17:55
The reason I end up going to Knicks is that Game 7 ends up
17:58
being at home and that's going to be one of the loudest
18:00
atmospheres. You physically can have it.
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It doesn't get louder than that almost unless you're in the loud
18:04
city, of course. But I just think ultimately the
18:08
Knicks have. I'm going to trust Jalen
18:10
Brunson. Dudes incredibly clutch.
18:12
I'm going to trust him ultimately over guys like Nikki
18:15
Alexander Walker, over guys like Jalen Johnson at the end of the
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game where I just want to see them a little more.
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I mean, this is don't be wrong, Nah's been good, but this is his
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first year as like a genuine, like rising star almost.
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He's literally a role player his whole career before this Jalen
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Johnson kind of, I mean, Jalen Johnson's been really good, but
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this is also he's been really lifted up into this lead role
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that he's never had before. Trey Young finally leaves.
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This is new for Jalen Johnson. I love Jonathan Kaminga.
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I'm a giant fan of Jonathan Kaminga.
18:42
I really like him here as well. I just think ultimately the
18:45
Knicks know more of who they are in the sense of the game.
18:49
Get close. It's gonna get rough.
18:51
Jaylen Bronson. I have a lot of faith in being
18:53
able to win in. That series, the Knicks, the
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Knicks are going to win this series and I'll just last thing
18:57
on it because again time you mentioned it like Jaylen Bronson
19:03
in the playoffs go to guy. I know they got good defenders
19:05
over there in Atlanta. Who's the go to guy in Atlanta
19:08
down the stretch? Jaylen Johnson.
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He's more of a play making type guy.
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Noah's been good, but. Yeah.
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No, and the Hawks team was thrown together halfway through
19:15
the year. If if Atlanta wins the series
19:18
inside, but I'm not calling you crazy because I obviously I had
19:20
him in. I had New York and seven.
19:21
It's going to be a surprise because someone's going to step
19:24
up big time. It's going to be a wow.
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We didn't we didn't know. Nah had this in him kind of
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thing. We didn't know.
19:30
Jaylen Johnson, it's. Going to be.
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Nah. And it's I'll be sick.
19:34
I'll want that. On Jaylen Brunson on the
19:37
defensive end, I'll be. Sick.
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I have all for that. The underrated factor of him
19:42
like I'm a you guys know I love Dylan Brunson the type of guard
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he is over reliance on Brunson is a little too much for my
19:50
liking from I've watched the Knicks pretty bit and I just
19:54
hate when it comes down to the stretches they're like OK just
19:56
run a pick and roll with him and cat and.
19:58
Print it is like it is that. Type of offense.
20:00
I think that pick and roll kills El Congo though in this series
20:03
like I think they get I think Cat.
20:04
It'll be tough. It'll be.
20:06
I think Cat can. Be way better at him, it'll be
20:09
interesting than Cat is so. We'll put it this way, this is
20:14
going to be a match up to watch. You guys watch every game.
20:16
This match up, it's going to be a really good one.
20:18
But we're good moving Nicks in seven.
20:21
Yeah, I'll give you guys Nixon 7, but trust.
20:23
Me my. Boy is going to show out like
20:25
I'm putting all my stock into him.
20:28
Well, we'll come back to this moment.
20:29
All right, we'll save everybody time here.
20:30
Celtic sweep. Let's move them on.
20:32
I. Agree.
20:33
Let's skip back Rockets Thunder 15 second round gentleman sweep
20:39
again. OK, CN 5.
20:40
I'll give Houston one on at home.
20:42
I would say 5 as well. Literally just 'cause they have
20:44
Kevin Durant. Kevin Durant single handedly I
20:46
think gives them the edge for one.
20:47
Game and that's. BTA from there on.
20:50
Yeah, here's the one we could break down.
20:52
In this series, I'd take the Thunder and Four.
20:55
Thunder and four Spurs Nuggets. Really interesting.
21:00
Can I start this one, Joe? Yeah.
21:01
Absolutely. I think Nuggets win this in
21:03
five. I think this is a quick, give me
21:08
that take. I don't care.
21:09
I think they're I think this is where you see the inexperience
21:12
come in. I think the Nuggets run them out
21:14
of the gym. I think this turns into a match
21:17
up where Yokich and Jamal Murray are just simply unstoppable.
21:20
I think there's no stopping them.
21:21
It doesn't matter how good Wembe looks.
21:23
I don't think the rest of the Spurs cast is gonna show up in
21:25
the way that the Nuggets will. I just think this is where
21:28
you're gonna see the Nuggets have been contenders for the
21:30
last four or five years. This is the first time the Spurs
21:33
are here. We just agreed that they'd go to
21:35
six against that first round match up and now they get to
21:38
play a tough Nuggets team that we all said is going to take
21:41
care of Minnesota early. So healthy, feeling good,
21:45
Nuggets team that has experience just beat the Spurs a couple
21:49
games before the season ended twice.
21:52
I think Nuggets take care of this quick.
21:54
I don't hate that. I'm going to go Nuggets as well.
21:58
I don't think Wemby's going to last in the seven game series
22:00
yet. I just don't think it's there.
22:02
I think the Spurs guards they've been heavily reliant on have bad
22:06
matchups. Bronze, great at defense, Peyton
22:08
Watson's great at defense, and then you got Jamal Murray.
22:10
Obviously, I think they could maybe slow down Jamal Murray
22:12
with Castle, but other than that, I think it's Nuggets in
22:16
six. I don't see it going 7.
22:18
If the Nuggets get one of those first ones in San Antonio, which
22:21
is a really hard place to play in the playoffs, the series is
22:24
just about over in my opinion. Yeah.
22:29
What? What did you have for your
22:30
prediction, Joe? 6.
22:32
Nuggets Nuggets in six and then Gabe had Nuggets in five.
22:37
I'm gonna take probably the Nuggets in six to seven.
22:43
I think 7 would really be stretching it like the Spurs
22:45
would have to do some crazy shot making ability or like some
22:49
different game plan on defensive end and the defenders aren't on
22:53
par with what the Thunder have in terms of game plan.
22:56
If they do watch a lot of Thunder film against the
22:58
Nuggets, they could probably come up with the right game
23:02
plan, but they don't have the right talent pieces to execute.
23:05
Like they don't have Lou Dort, they don't have Alex Crusoe that
23:08
play that similar type of style. At least I haven't seen it.
23:12
Maybe outside of Castle they're really don't have that same
23:15
level. So I do think Nuggets and Six is
23:18
a little bit more fair. It's really hard to play at home
23:21
against the Nuggets. Also, Aaron Gordon's super
23:24
underrated. His defense, his super elite.
23:28
He'll give Wemby huge trouble there.
23:29
And then on top of it, Jokic has been an elite defender this
23:33
season. I've been watching him very,
23:34
very carefully. He's shuffling those puppies as
23:37
Kendrick Bricken. And then the other part of it is
23:42
you mentioned slowing down Jamal Murray.
23:44
He's having a career year. He's an All Star finally.
23:47
And I think that level of praise, I think we're have
23:50
issues against Jamal Murray in our series.
23:54
He's just ascended to a different level of stardom.
23:57
Also, they've put a whole young athletic roster around Jokic to
24:02
give him ability to assist on a faster paced scale.
24:06
So they have good 3 point shooters overall.
24:09
And just I think it's going to be when the series gets mucked
24:13
up against the Nugget series, like it gets slowed down.
24:15
It's just so hard to guard. And Jokic has already shown
24:19
Wemby, like Wemby cannot stop him.
24:21
And there hasn't been an ounce of games I think in the last six
24:25
games, like he's averaging like 30 at will.
24:27
So there's really no answers for Jokic, at least what the Spurs
24:33
have. And the only answers are on the
24:35
Thunder roster. So give me the Nuggets in six.
24:38
Works. We'll do Nuggets in six and move
24:39
them on going over to the East. Pistons cabs.
24:44
Here comes the disagreement. I got Pistons in six.
24:47
You mentioned Donovan's good in the playoffs.
24:49
He does step up, but he just never wins anything.
24:52
James Harden's unknown, not choker, but not great in the
24:56
playoffs himself. I don't want to use the word.
24:59
I think Detroit's defense takes care of their offense in most of
25:02
the games, and Cleveland's offense takes over in two.
25:05
Give me Detroit in six. Sorry, savvy.
25:09
I'm going to agree with him. I think Detroit's, I think
25:11
they're more physical. I, I just like the way that they
25:13
play. They kind of remind me about OKC
25:15
in that sense. I've said that before.
25:17
They're just really hard to play once they get once they get move
25:19
and once they get the things that that they need to go their
25:22
way. It's really hard to beat this
25:24
team because every, it just feels like everything is stacked
25:26
up against you. They they run the fast break
25:29
tremendously. Their defenses obnoxiously
25:31
aggressive, just like OK C It's just it it's incredible.
25:35
They're they're such a well put together team.
25:37
And Joe, you hit it on the head. Exactly what I was going to say.
25:40
It's like I said in the first round, this Cleveland team
25:41
recently has just not gotten it done.
25:43
I don't see them getting it done again.
25:45
And adding James Harden, I don't think is going to be the big
25:47
step forward that they thought it was.
25:49
So give me give me I'm going to say in seven.
25:51
I didn't think this could be an interesting series just because
25:53
Detroit's a little less prepared in the sense of they've not all
25:57
been here. But ultimately I think that Game
25:59
7, when it gets there, I think that game would be a a pretty
26:02
solid blowout. I think they win by 15 plus.
26:05
Yeah, I'm gonna take the Cavaliers in seven games.
26:09
I'm gonna use both of y'all's arguments in other series.
26:13
This is the more experienced team.
26:15
They've been together for more runs at some point.
26:17
When you have that be the case, when you have three guys that
26:20
are core pieces, you will breakthrough eventually.
26:23
The Pistons, in the case they have not done that right, like I
26:27
don't have proof of concept outside of Cade.
26:30
They same thing with the Knicks. The same issue I have with Cade
26:33
Cunningham. They are too reliant on his
26:35
shooting. And for all the fans that think,
26:37
yeah, Cade's in the MVP conversation, he doesn't have
26:40
that same level of shot making like a Donovan Mitchell or a SGA
26:44
or a Luca Doncic, that type of thing.
26:47
So I think that's going to be one of the the factors for the
26:50
Pistons losing. This is over reliance on Kate
26:53
Cunningham's shooting and shot making ability, which is not
26:56
there just yet in my opinion. He could prove me wrong and
26:59
shoot really efficiently. I just don't think that's going
27:01
to be the case. They have a DPOY level candidate
27:05
on the Cavaliers. Great game planning and I'm
27:08
going to take the Cavs in seven. I don't like, I don't hate it.
27:12
One last thing I'll close out with is who guards Cade.
27:18
He's a 68 point guard. Or you're not putting Donovan or
27:21
James on them. They've been running with
27:23
Merrill, but you're not doing that unless you want to slide
27:26
key on Ellis in the starting line up, but that's not going to
27:28
work either. I And then they yeah, you could
27:30
send double S and triples, 'cause they haven't been the
27:32
best shooting team, but at some point it's just it's not going
27:36
to be enough defensively for Cleveland, I don't think.
27:39
Yeah, I think Cleveland's game plan is similar to what like
27:45
what the Golden State Warriors are like.
27:47
Even the Thunder team runs is like you run everything towards
27:50
your bigs and that helps, you know, slow down the pace.
27:54
And as far as the game plan, I feel like it works.
27:57
We've seen the Timberwolves do it with Rudy Gobert.
28:00
It's a very solid game plan that works long term against teams
28:04
that are trying to be physical in the paint.
28:06
It's really going to be coming down to the Pistons shot making
28:08
versus the Cavaliers experience. And because the Cavs have been
28:12
there and if there's close games, I'm taking Donovan
28:14
Mitchell. I'm sorry, I'm taking the guy
28:16
that has the experience that averages more points.
28:18
That's done there, done it, been there, done that, that type of
28:21
thing. And that's just what I prefer.
28:24
So. So Gabe, what did you have in
28:27
seven? I had Pistons in seven.
28:29
We can put them in seven. Savier had cabin 7, so do
28:33
Pistons in the seven. And then again, Boston in six, I
28:39
think the Nixon 6 stuff last year was.
28:42
Savier, Would you have the Hawks beating Boston?
28:47
No, no. OK.
28:48
I was curious if you would have the Hawks beating Boston.
28:50
I was like, there's no. I was like, surely you're not
28:52
that high on no. No, there's we just win Boston
28:56
because I think. Boston wins this in five.
28:59
I think they take care of this game.
29:01
I don't think this is a good match up for them.
29:02
I think Boston would simply just outperform them in almost every
29:06
single category. I really think that they're just
29:08
that much better because there is, it's the Knicks have some
29:12
good things going for them in the sense that they do have good
29:14
defenders and they're able to score efficiently.
29:16
But ultimately Boston just has so much experience.
29:19
They have so many guys who work well together.
29:20
They have so many X factors. Derek White alone is a bigger X
29:23
Factor than almost anyone on the Knicks can have in the sense of
29:26
just being a player that you're not expecting something from and
29:29
somehow he changes the game. So I, I think Boston wins in 5
29:32
or 6. I I'm probably leaning 6, I'll
29:35
I'll give him 6-5's probably a little aggressive.
29:39
Yeah, I disagree 6 I mean, Boston has a bench this year.
29:42
The Knicks still don't. It's Boston.
29:45
Yeah, I'd take Boston and six against either the Knicks or the
29:50
Hawks. I think at least two games for a
29:52
second round series is you can't disrespect the opponent that
29:56
much, right? Like this isn't some first round
29:59
opponent where you're sweeping or getting five games.
30:02
So especially with the Knicks having one previously, so I do
30:06
feel like game plan wise, they know how to match up against the
30:09
Celtics team. So one of the issues I do feel
30:12
like we're not, you know, stating right now is J BS health
30:16
long term for a playoff run. He's coming off of an injury.
30:20
Yeah, Kelly's. You're talking about Brown or
30:22
Brunson? No, I'm talking about not JB
30:27
Tatum. Oh, I'm sorry, Tatum.
30:29
Oh, yeah. Well, Tatum's coming back from,
30:31
you're right, he has the Achilles.
30:32
We'll see how he can do in A7 game series.
30:34
Brown's also been out with the Achilles tendonitis or
30:37
something. I don't know how severe.
30:38
I mean, he's I think he's fine. But that's a really good point.
30:42
And that's honestly why I gave him six.
30:44
That's the most I can stretch. Yeah, that's where that's kind
30:48
of where my fears are. But I I'd still lean 6 because
30:52
their coach is a freaking lunatic.
30:54
So. Yeah, he's not.
30:56
All right, let's move on back. Thunder Nuggets, Western
30:59
Conference final, gentlemen, great match up.
31:03
I just think, OK, C laps them this year.
31:05
I think we saw it in the regular season a bit.
31:08
They took us to seven last year. I don't see this going any
31:10
further than 6 and that's the Max I could go.
31:15
Realistically, I want to go 5, but Jokic is on that team, so
31:19
we'll go 6. I just think you see what you
31:21
saw what happened last year, OK C really blew him out in that
31:23
last game. What normally happens is if they
31:26
match up a year later and the young team ascends even further,
31:29
they really run them out. I think that's what's going to
31:31
happen. I'll give them 6.
31:33
I just hate choosing OKC to win on the road 'cause I, no, I'm,
31:37
I'm going, I'm going five, I'm, I'm going five, I'm going.
31:41
I'm going to go OKC and six. I cannot disrespect Yokich like
31:45
that. I think Yokich alone just keeps
31:46
us from being a quick series. There's just no way I can even
31:50
argue 7 again just because I have so much respect for this
31:52
Denver team. I think they're one of the best
31:55
built teams overall. Like I agree with you, Joe, the
31:57
younger team gets better, the older team gets worse, but these
32:00
guys are just built so, so well with Jokic, Murray and Gordon.
32:04
Aaron Gordon is a he's a series changer.
32:06
I mean, he single handedly wins series for this team.
32:09
We saw it happen last year. The first game he hits a buzzer
32:12
major against us. He he is a phenomenal piece that
32:14
that team has and he's back now. He's playing well.
32:17
But the thing that I give us the advantage of in the scenario is
32:19
1. Shay was in quotes under playing
32:22
last year's playoffs only averaging around 26 points in
32:24
the whole playoffs. I don't think that happens this
32:26
year. I think we're gonna see a
32:27
dominant, insanely good version of Shea in these playoffs.
32:30
I think he's going to average at least 30 in these playoffs.
32:33
I feel confident about that. Then we're going to see a better
32:35
version of Dub too than they did last year.
32:37
So and. Then we're going to see a more
32:38
well-rounded version of Dub and then A and then a more
32:41
aggressive version of Chet, which I don't think they were
32:43
ready. They that wasn't a big thing in
32:44
that last playoff. I think they're going to see a
32:46
more aggressive version of Chet, but then it's guys like Isaiah
32:48
Joe who stepped up adding Jared McCain.
32:50
We now have a shooter. It's having just so many players
32:53
that I think. Yeah, there's just.
32:56
So many things like that didn't happen in the series last year
32:59
and it went to seven because of that, and we won without those
33:02
things and now those things are all prevalent.
33:05
That's why I'm going to take us in six.
33:08
I'm going to tell you guys as honestly as possible.
33:11
Yeah. You're taking OKC in six?
33:13
Stop it. No, I'm taking the Thunder in
33:15
seven games. Fine. 5149% margin because what
33:22
I will say, yes, we improved, but one of the things that the
33:25
Nuggets did is get younger. Yes, they have a older core, but
33:29
the pieces around them that they drafted have ascended as well.
33:32
And so we're not factoring that part in well, I.
33:35
Factored to Peyton Watson in and Tim Hardaway's edition I
33:37
factored in. I just think they got a leap.
33:39
This year they also have Christian Braun and Strother and
33:41
all these guys that have been Joe, you have to take that into
33:44
account and they their acquisition that they had this
33:47
summer has is also shooting lights out this year.
33:50
So it's like. Oh good.
33:52
There's so many factors and also Aaron Gordon's defense on Chet
33:56
Holmgren pretty much neutralizes him.
33:58
So it's like all those things have to be considered in.
34:02
So I'm not gonna sit here and say like they got any worse.
34:05
They improved. We improved as well.
34:07
So it's still gonna go seven games.
34:09
Yes, I'm gonna still take the best player on the court in SGA,
34:12
but that doesn't mean that it's gonna be like A5 game series or
34:16
even 6 game series. I feel like it's gonna go down
34:19
to very small, thin margins. It honestly could go six or
34:23
seven both ways. Like it's gonna be a game to
34:27
game situation. We turn the series around only
34:30
midway through. Regardless of injuries, there's
34:33
gonna be things that are gonna happen on both sides.
34:35
You just have to pretty much will your way through this.
34:38
And we do have the calmest player in this series and the
34:41
better player and SGA. But that's the only thing that's
34:44
really giving me, you know, bigger hope.
34:47
You know, against the guy like Yokich, he's generational.
34:49
So it's it's not an easy this is more of a pick em type of series
34:54
rather than, you know, there's gonna be a lot of logic thrown
34:58
at you where it's like XS and OS.
34:59
No, it's just straight up like who wants it more and who wants
35:03
it in the fourth quarter more. So I'll.
35:06
Be afraid of Denver when they beat a team that has had that as
35:09
1 / 50 games on their way to a finals run they still haven't
35:12
done yet. They.
35:13
Had to beat the Spurs on their way to this run.
35:16
Yeah, and Gabe took the Spurs to lose in five.
35:20
Yeah. Also another thing that Denver
35:21
doesn't have there last year, yes, they added Tim Hardaway,
35:23
but they lose Russell Westbrook, who was kind of killing us on
35:25
defense in that playoffs last year in that series, he was all
35:28
over SJ. It's not there for Denver got
35:32
killed without J Dub all year long.
35:34
They're going to get killed with J Dub on the.
35:35
Floor. Are we doing Thunder and six
35:37
then? Yeah, because there's no way I'm
35:40
going five games. That's just ridiculous.
35:41
We'll meet I'd 5U7 Game 6, go in six and then this one.
35:48
I really like this match up. I really like this match.
35:51
I'm not going to lie guys, I know Joe's over here thinking
35:53
Celtics in like 5. I am I.
35:58
Know you are. I can see the rock.
36:00
And that's all I have to say, like.
36:02
I can just see it in your eyes, Joe.
36:04
I can. My my argument here is what
36:06
Sapir said before. I think they get through The Who
36:09
they play in the second round. Knicks.
36:12
Yeah, Knicks. No, the Pistons, Cleveland.
36:16
Sorry, they get through Cleveland.
36:21
They they don't have enough offense around them.
36:23
They lost so much of their bench, and that's relevant to
36:26
this year's because the Celtics added bench pieces.
36:29
It's Kate and them and they're going down in five.
36:32
I'm sorry. I'm gonna go, I'm gonna go
36:35
Boston in seven here. I think this is going to be a
36:37
really good series. I think Boston gets the
36:39
advantage because of the simple experience.
36:41
But ultimately, this is such a rough, aggressive Pistons team
36:45
that's just going to run a a version of Jason Tatum who isn't
36:47
100% right now. And I don't know if he'll be
36:50
100% in the entire playoffs. He's getting back to it.
36:52
And now he's got to go play against one of the most physical
36:54
teams in the entire playoffs, a team that has had a good path to
36:57
get here to just took down the Cavs.
37:00
Like I, I think this Pistons team is aggressive.
37:02
I think Kate Cunningham is amazing.
37:04
I think that's going to make the series good, but it's going to
37:06
come down ultimately to the fact that the sodas have been here.
37:10
Jaylen Brown's having a phenomenal year.
37:12
Derek White can be an absolute game changer.
37:14
They have Nicole Vucevic now. Oh no, he's still out, isn't he?
37:17
I totally forgot he got. Injured, actually, I thought he
37:19
came back. I'm not sure if he's back or
37:20
not, but either way he's. Kind of on the way back, yeah,
37:22
he'll be back by basically. I just think by the time he's
37:26
back, they just have more firepower.
37:28
At the end of the day, that's going to be able to win because
37:30
they've been here. So I'll give you a Boston 7.
37:34
Man. Who's switching?
37:37
Who's been back? I really like, if I'm looking at
37:39
this series, I think of the Pistons very similar to how
37:43
they're built to the Knicks. And the Knicks have taken out
37:45
the Celtics as well. And the Celtics are going to be,
37:48
if they do play, the Knicks are still going to be going through
37:50
kind of a grueling physical test in a way.
37:54
And with the Pistons kind of being built the same way.
37:57
I respect Cade Cunningham, his ability, his guard play versus
38:03
whoever the Celtics guards are gonna be.
38:05
And so the fact that the Celtics don't really have that elite
38:09
level guard play. Yeah, they have, I guess Derek
38:11
White over there, but still it's not the same.
38:15
I guess Pritchard as well, man, it's tough.
38:18
I, I, I think I'll take the Celtics in seven, but this is
38:23
gonna be a tough series. Like the Pistons have the exact
38:26
play style that you don't want to face against.
38:28
And the Celtics are just going to have to kind of go through
38:32
kind of a grueling physical test rather than maybe X's and no's.
38:35
And I think Pistons can prolong it just through like wearing
38:40
down Tatum. Like at this point, Tatum should
38:42
be worn down enough. And then by the time he reaches
38:46
against the Pistons, I think they'll lose a couple games just
38:49
'cause he can't maybe score enough.
38:50
His legs are tired at this point.
38:52
When you don't have that ramp up period before a playoff run,
38:55
like trust me, it affects you. We've seen other guys that like
38:59
Luka Doncic, he doesn't train properly or Anthony Edwards has
39:03
even mentioned this. When you don't train properly
39:04
and those guys played full seasons out of their playoff
39:07
runs, it kind of impacts you by the time you're playing against
39:11
some more physical team. And the politics know about that
39:14
as well. But Pistons are right up there,
39:16
so. All right, so I'll move Boston
39:19
over in seven, you guys both said.
39:21
I hope you're both right. That would be nice for OKC.
39:24
Here's the match up everybody. Well, I definitely want to see
39:26
Thunder Boston. Tough, tough.
39:29
This this me. This is the clear version of the
39:31
files. That is just the two best teams.
39:33
Yeah, no, it has to be here. It has to be this.
39:40
I got OKC in seven games. Again, my brain's just telling
39:46
me the NBA. No, let me just not put that out
39:48
there. Chill, Joe, chill.
39:50
I just can't. I just don't know if we we
39:52
haven't seen a back-to-back champ since the Warriors.
39:56
Joe, let me. Let me step in here, Joe.
39:58
Shout out and so Adam Silver for that, but I got Thunder instead.
40:01
Fuck it, give me. Give me, give me OKC and six,
40:05
Joe, give me OKC and six. I just think we are a better
40:09
team frankly and almost every single facet, I really do.
40:12
I think I think our guard play ultimately having Shay that
40:16
that's the only place to think you can make an argument is that
40:18
they have JB and Tatum for that duo and they can both of them
40:22
can give you 30. And ultimately, I don't think
40:24
right now where J Dub's at, he's going to be able to consistently
40:26
do what those two can do in that duo.
40:28
Same with Chet, but we are just so much more well-rounded.
40:32
We have Shay who can ice games when it comes to being clutch.
40:35
We have Chet who's going to be able to hold down the paint.
40:37
We have Dub who's going to do a little bit of everything.
40:39
We have Dort, we have Cason, we have Caruso to play defense, we
40:41
have McCain, we have Joe to shoot threes.
40:44
We have an answer for literally everything.
40:46
And this is going to be your X and OS like you talked about
40:48
with the Celtics, except they're going to have just come off of a
40:51
series against a physical Pistons team and then they get
40:54
to play the only team that's probably more physical than the
40:56
Pistons and us. So it's going to be a physical
40:59
match up mixed with the X and OS that might not have been
41:01
president against the Pistons. So it's a mix of physicality and
41:05
the intelligence. That's just not what that's just
41:07
not what Boston wants. They can act all tough.
41:10
They don't want us. They do not want us.
41:12
I think this goes to 6. I think we look good in almost
41:14
every game. Aw man, this is another series
41:19
where honestly, if we're getting past Jokic, I'm a lot less
41:25
fearful of Tatum and Brown kind of as a duo.
41:29
Yeah, they cause a little bit of problems, but the same thing is
41:33
lacking as a previous series against the Pistons.
41:35
And it'd be even worst for the Pistons or worst for the Celtics
41:39
in the fact that their guard play is just not up to par for
41:43
the defense that the Thunder have in terms of guards.
41:46
Case in Wallace, Alex Crusoe, Ludor are absolutely, absolutely
41:50
going to have the Celtics team turning the ball over more than
41:53
they're like they're comfortable with and used to.
41:55
And so I'm going to take the Thunder in six games.
42:00
All right. So you have a Thunder in 6 is
42:01
what we're going to take, ladies and gentlemen, that that I think
42:06
that's the perfect bracket. I don't think we're going to
42:08
lose. There's so many.
42:09
Fun match ups. What a bracket.
42:11
But if you guys agree, let us know in the comments.
42:14
Disagree. I know there's going to be a lot
42:15
of you down there, Spurs fans especially, so let us know.
42:19
But if you like this video, like the video, subscribe to the
42:23
channel, turn post notifications on and we'll see you guys in a
42:26
couple days. We're going to do the Thunder
42:28
and whoever they're playing pre series preview and then Sunday
42:32
we'll see you guys for game one of the NBA playoffs.
42:35
Can't wait for it. See you guys then.
42:36
And as always, Thunder up baby, let's go.