Ballin' On A Budget Podcast

0:00:00
(Speaker 1)
Welcome to Ballin' on a Budget, where we talk about sports under price. We got Jordan, Nick, Alonzo, and me, Marcellus. Let's start the show.

0:00:14
(Speaker 2)
We're going to start off today just talking about the most recent games that took place. About 15 teams played one day. Then of course that Warriors game took place and Our guys have a couple of words about that one Marcel's what you think about that game in particular

0:00:31
(Speaker 1)
I feel like I remember watching the game, right? So like, you know, the game was pretty much back and forth in the second half, bro It was like, you know going back and forth. They finally went to OT Draymond did miss a valuable layup to obviously tie the game up. But they definitely needed this win

0:00:49
(Speaker 1)
and then now they bounce back to the play-in. Which is the spot, they're usually in the play-in spot either way, but it would be cool to see them in the play-off spot. But, hey man. What you think, Nick?

0:01:04
(Speaker 3)
I mean, I didn't watch the game. I thought the Warriors were gonna win that game. But I don't know, I think Draymond trying to create contact and get a foul says a lot about how the league is played today and players flopping and stuff.

0:01:19
(Speaker 3)
And that just wasn't the right play. He should've just gone for the layup. That cost him a potential playoff spot, but I don't know, as a Lakers fan, I'm kinda glad they're in the play. And I'm kinda iffy on playing them in the first round, so I'd rather take Minnesota than the Warriors,

0:01:35
(Speaker 20)
to be honest.

0:01:36
(Speaker 1)
Now that you say it, I recall, I was watching the game, right? The Warriors had, I wanna say, a 10-point lead to start the second quarter and then it started going back to back. It's just like, like with Draymond missing,

0:01:48
(Speaker 1)
like every possession mattered because they wasn't getting no stops. Like it was OT, they wasn't getting no stops. So they needed that bucket, but now they ended up going to the plane against the Grizzlies.

0:01:58
(Speaker 1)
How y'all think that matchup is, them going against the Grizzlies. I feel like the Grizzlies is a young team. They done slowed down their pace a little bit, of course, with firing their head coach.

0:02:10
(Speaker 2)
They have some questions that they need answered.

0:02:13
(Speaker 1)
Right.

0:02:14
(Speaker 2)
I just feel like with the Warriors being such an experienced roster, team that knows their roles, guys always coming into that program, knowing exactly what they got to do in the series, I feel like they will have the upper hand. The only real thing I'm curious about is how their bigs will perform on the defensive end, especially compared to a team like Minnesota, who has a lot of size.

0:02:36
(Speaker 1)
Right.

0:02:37
(Speaker 2)
And a lot of guards that like to attack the rim. So, it'll be an interesting matchup. I do have the Warriors winning that, but I could see the Minnesota, Memphis upsetting.

0:02:49
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, it's like the Warriors, like every season, like they'll be in the play-in team or they'll be like the bottom seed of the playoffs and like they just like sneak in there somehow. Like that's the only thing I don't like about the Warriors as a Lakers fan. But we also got another game in the West was I believe it was the Mavericks versus the Kings. Am I wrong?

0:03:11
(Speaker 1)
Okay, yeah. How we think about that, Mike Chuck?

0:03:15
(Speaker 2)
Just real quick, before we even bring up the Mavs versus the Kings, we have to talk about the Phoenix Suns being eliminated from playoff contention completely. No playoff, no play-in, no playoffs. I just find this absolutely disappointing, you know?

0:03:33
(Speaker 1)
Right.

0:03:34
(Speaker 2)
And it's because of that lackluster middle of the season. They gave up a lot of losses to teams they should have been beating. You know, they went on a little hot streak where they won about seven games without Bradley bill and I just feel like

0:03:48
(Speaker 2)
This this team is in a weird situation where there is no real way of improving it All right, Bradley bill, of course has the one of the worst contract in the NBA right now It's clear that he doesn't care if he wins or loses on this organization as long as he's getting the paycheck. He said it himself.

0:04:05
(Speaker 15)
Yeah.

0:04:06
(Speaker 2)
I don't know what direction this team is going to go in. When you look at all four teams that are ranked below them, they all have a direction. They are all guaranteed to be a better team than the Phoenix Suns will be in three years from now with, you know, Kevin Durant can be great forever. Devin Booker is going to have an expiring contract three years from now with Kevin Durant can't be great forever. Devin Booker is gonna have an expiring contract three years from now and they're stuck

0:04:29
(Speaker 2)
with Bradley Bill for another year or two.

0:04:32
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, I mean, on that, you know what I'm saying? It's always been like those playoff series where Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, they would combine for 60, it was getting crazy. But I do like the idea of getting another scorer, but Bradley Bell, you know, he's shown in the history

0:04:49
(Speaker 1)
that it doesn't matter, you know, if he wins or not, you know what I'm saying, he's just there to get paid. And I just don't think it will help a team, especially having Kevin Durant on the team, you know, Lord knows how many years he has left, but getting him a player that doesn't take winning as seriously as he does doesn't help the team at all.

0:05:10
(Speaker 2)
And then the thing is, I feel like KD's already out. If anybody watches Kenny, he brought up some specific tweets by Kevin Durant saying that he's the odd man out if a trade were to happen and that he's the guy who would get the most return for the sons. And I feel like the only logical thing to do is toe blow up whatever you can in that organization. It's clear that they don't care about

0:05:32
(Speaker 15)
winning

0:05:34
(Speaker 2)
and they don't care about their future draft picks. They've traded away so many draft picks in the last couple of years and the guys that they do pick up Ryan done has been amazing on the defensive end. He shows some upside. I just feel like they should trade KD for whatever he's worth right now.

0:05:52
(Speaker 2)
Instead of trying to force him to stay, his value is only going to decrease. He's not, they're not going to give back what they traded him for. So, yeah, they out into a winning situation and they need to try to focus on rebuilding for the future with whatever D-Book has left. D-Book is in year 11, I believe.

0:06:12
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, around that.

0:06:14
(Speaker 9)
So, yeah.

0:06:15
(Speaker 1)
On that note, Nick, actually, what are your thoughts on that, Nick?

0:06:19
(Speaker 3)
Because like, I know you, I don't know. You know, to be honest, like, I don't really like the Suns. Like, seeing how they did us in the playoffs, bro, like, they just had this, like, cocky spirit to them the year they went to the finals. And I was, I was pretty happy when they lost against Milwaukee. Yeah. But I don't know, just to see, just to see how that team is kind of like been on the downfall and unfortunately, like I'm not gonna lie, like them getting Kevin Durant was a move that I thought was gonna be crazy, but I mean so far it kind of hasn't,

0:06:50
(Speaker 3)
you know, it hasn't really done anything. They're not in the playoffs and I think KD's gonna leave. So, you know, that ended up working out for them. I think, I think Devin Booker signed an extension or something. He signed something today, which is kind of like, dang, that guy's dedicated to the team, you know? Which is good, they have their guy, but I don't know, as far as them being a playoff team

0:07:13
(Speaker 3)
and stuff, it looks a little tough for them right now.

0:07:16
(Speaker 1)
Bro, just to throw a little joke in there, I remember when, that was back when CB3 was on the Suns too. You remember that playoff series where Devin Bucket, he was feeling it, I mean he was hooping. I can't lie, he was hooping. But you remember when they played the Mavs?

0:07:30
(Speaker 1)
They played the Mavs and they was like losing by like, so crazy, like 40s, 50s, so crazy like that. And like game seven, it was like crazy bro. But I just remembered that out of nowhere. Chris Paul took the lead to 45.

0:07:45
(Speaker 3)
Yeah, nah. Yeah, so I don't know. I think it sucks to see a team that was like an underdog team, you know? Any person likes an underdog team, but I don't know, I feel like the way the Suns went about it

0:08:00
(Speaker 3)
they're probably the wrong way and I'm kind of glad to see them reset, but it sucks seeing what they were. They were just in the finals and now they're not even in the playoffs, like that's, you know. I mean the Lakers went through that too.

0:08:11
(Speaker 3)
We were a playing team, you know.

0:08:14
(Speaker 1)
All right, so like I know we talk about the Mavs and like how they keep losing key players, you know, new players coming in. So how we think this matchup is gonna go for this one game against the Kings? You know what I'm saying?

0:08:28
(Speaker 3)
Man, me personally, I don't know. I feel like if Sacramento's healthy, if I feel like they have everyone, I feel like Sacramento got it. You know, AD's been balling for sure, but even if the Mavs do make the playoffs,

0:08:42
(Speaker 3)
I feel like Sacramento has more, I feel like they got a little more juice in them than the Mavs, you know?

0:08:48
(Speaker 2)
Yeah, I feel like they have more of a fighting chance as well, you know? Like, almost half of the Dallas Maverick roster is just fully injured or out right now. I feel like the Sacramento Kings have more bodies, more of a fighting chance.

0:09:03
(Speaker 2)
I just feel like they're the bulls on steroids right now.

0:09:06
(Speaker 1)
Last year's bulls on steroids.

0:09:08
(Speaker 19)
Yeah, for sure.

0:09:09
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, I agree, I look at it.

0:09:11
(Speaker 2)
Wind up last year, then they also have, of course, Samas' Sabonis, who's a top three big in the league right now, if we're only counting the center position.

0:09:20
(Speaker 1)
Right.

0:09:22
(Speaker 2)
I know some people were trying to say Zoo Box is the second best center in the league I still have it as a bonus right now if we're not of course with MB being injured I think so bonus yeah second best center in the league for sure it's facilitating ability his ability to score the ball in the post and of course the Kings have always been known for their depth with their six-man being Malik Malik Monk. Yep So I feel like they they have what it takes to win in the um playing

0:09:55
(Speaker 18)
At least against the Dallas Mavericks when it comes to whether they can beat minutes

0:09:57
(Speaker 9)
Memphis or the Golden State Warriors, i'm not sure

0:10:01
(Speaker 1)
I mean I know we've been talking about this young core for a while and how they been building their team and know that team is the magic. And you know, they playing against the Hawks. Personally, I got the magic, you know what I'm saying? Because bro, they've been playing amazing this season. Like, just like looking at them throughout the years

0:10:17
(Speaker 1)
and then just talking about them in general, you can see the improvement in the moves they've been making every year. So I'm gonna try to lean towards the Mavs against the Hawks, man. What do y'all think?

0:10:29
(Speaker 2)
I feel like, yeah, exactly.

0:10:31
(Speaker 6)
I agree.

0:10:32
(Speaker 2)
I think they have their number for real. With a team like Atlanta, of course, with Jalen Johnson down too, it's like their only real offensive output is Trey Young. Right. And Orlando at the start of the season

0:10:46
(Speaker 2)
was a top three defense in the league. You know, they have a lot of defensive guys that they can throw Trey Young's way. A lot of guys that they can make the game harder on him for. Of course, with a guy like Trey Young, you can't fully neutralize him.

0:11:00
(Speaker 2)
But the best thing to do is just make his job way harder, especially if you know where they're going to go to in that fourth quarter.

0:11:05
(Speaker 1)
Right.

0:11:07
(Speaker 2)
So I do have Orlando winning that matchup and then playing up against the Boston Celtics.

0:11:12
(Speaker 1)
Oh, it's tough.

0:11:14
(Speaker 2)
I know that is that is a rough way to enter the playoffs.

0:11:17
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, that's right.

0:11:18
(Speaker 2)
Having having to win the play in just so you could play either

0:11:21
(Speaker 1)
the Boston Celtics or the Cleveland Cavaliers is pretty good. Yeah, yeah, and like, in terms of the East, bro, like, those top two teams is just like, I wouldn't say there's a big gap, but like, they're just, they're on a totally different level as far as winning, you know what I'm saying?

0:11:37
(Speaker 2)
If you're a team like Orlando, are you throwing the first game and playing a team like the Cavs or would you prefer to play Boston? Well, your two choices is literally to play the best team in the league or to play the champs from last year who look like they've gotten even better.

0:11:56
(Speaker 3)
Well, Key, I feel like I would call it, at that point I would just try to bet on myself, you know what I mean, go with the Cavs.

0:12:03
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, yeah, because I remember when we was talking about this, like, literally the first, like, the first time we started thinking about making this podcast, like, we was in the playing for the Lakers, and it was like, oh, if we win, we gotta play the Nuggets, and we lose against the Nuggets every time.

0:12:17
(Speaker 1)
Like, I remember we used my chances with the Cavs. Not gonna lie.

0:12:26
(Speaker 2)
Yeah, because that's honestly what I was thinking. Like if I was a team like Orlando, I'd probably want to test my luck.

0:12:32
(Speaker 17)
Exactly.

0:12:33
(Speaker 2)
Play that second playing game. You know, risk having to play in the second playing game and then beating the Cavs.

0:12:41
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, man, yeah.

0:12:42
(Speaker 6)
Yeah.

0:12:43
(Speaker 1)
Because we've been talking about them for a while and then like just for them to be in this position now, like I'm proud of the line of magic though. You know what I'm saying?

0:12:52
(Speaker 5)
Definitely.

0:12:53
(Speaker 1)
I feel like I've seen like this matchup before, like the Heat and the Bulls, I feel like I've seen this every year for some reason, bro.

0:12:59
(Speaker 2)
But who do we got? That's because it was two years ago, I think. Yeah, it was literally, yeah, it was two years ago, because that was when Miami beat the Bucs.

0:13:08
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, because when I looked at that matchup, I was getting like deja vu. I was like, bro, I've seen this matchup before, bro. But, you know, they back at it again, man. Who you think gonna win? No Jimmy Butler.

0:13:21
(Speaker 1)
No Jimmy Butler. No Jimmy Butler. No Zach Levine, no DeMar DeRozan.

0:13:28
(Speaker 2)
I think they're having a mid-off.

0:13:31
(Speaker 8)
Yeah.

0:13:32
(Speaker 16)
Wait, Jimmy Dyne all there,

0:13:33
(Speaker 1)
Jimmy all the Warriors, bro.

0:13:36
(Speaker 5)
Yeah, bro.

0:13:37
(Speaker 2)
I preferred, you know, Tyler Harrow and Bam. When I hear that star power, when I hear that combination of names against a Chicago Bulls team where I can't even think of anybody off the top of my head right now.

0:13:50
(Speaker 1)
Got Kobe White.

0:13:52
(Speaker 2)
Yeah, I got Miami.

0:13:53
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, man, I feel like.

0:13:57
(Speaker 3)
I don't know, man. I think the Bulls are involved.

0:14:00
(Speaker 1)
No, I feel like, I feel like when it comes to like at least one game to lock in, I feel like the Bills can, they can do something though, for sure.

0:14:08
(Speaker 3)
Nah, yeah, I low-key feel like they're a sneaky team. Josh Giddey and Kobe White, they've been balling.

0:14:17
(Speaker 15)
Yeah, for sure.

0:14:17
(Speaker 2)
Yeah, I have been hearing about that. I won't lie though, I'm not tuned in.

0:14:21
(Speaker 1)
Yeah. I'm not tuned in like that. Yeah, for sure. Yeah, because I remember, that's how, when they played each other, that's how they got through. I think Kobe went for like 40 out of nowhere and then they was in the playoffs.

0:14:31
(Speaker 1)
So anything can really happen. So I'm not going to count either team out, but I will be going for the Heat. But will I be surprised if the Bulls win?

0:14:40
(Speaker 2)
No. Definitely. Yeah. It's a good way to play. I don't feel like there's a chance of any of these teams going outside of their standing though. I agree. I feel like Orlando is better than Atlanta and I feel like Atlanta is better than both Chicago and Miami. Yeah. Yeah, I can see that. You guys think Atlanta takes Chicago? Yeah, I think so.

0:15:07
(Speaker 1)
Um, yeah, yeah, I can see that.

0:15:12
(Speaker 2)
Now when it comes to the West, it's like.

0:15:14
(Speaker 1)
It depends, yeah.

0:15:18
(Speaker 2)
It's like the West is way more competitive.

0:15:20
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, I'm looking at the West is tough. All right, so let's start off.

0:15:24
(Speaker 2)
Like the A seed is two games off from 50 wins.

0:15:27
(Speaker 1)
Exactly, like it's packed. So I wanna start off with the Nuggets and the Clippers cause you know, we just started getting the news about the Nuggets' team firing the head coach and all that at the end of the season, man. So what's your thoughts on that

0:15:44
(Speaker 1)
before we get into the matchup?

0:15:46
(Speaker 2)
I feel like stuff like that brews up, you know? Like there's no way that they're just gonna fire their head coach that just won them a championship a couple of years ago over nothing, you know?

0:15:57
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, I agree.

0:15:57
(Speaker 7)
Yeah.

0:15:58
(Speaker 1)
Because when I got news about that, like I was like, bro, it's like the end of the season. Something had to happen for him to do it right now.

0:16:13
(Speaker 2)
The only two reasons why an organization like the Nuggets would fire their head coach the way that they did is if A, their star is unhappy in Nikola Jokic, or B, he lost respect in the locker room. Those are the only two ways that I could even think that he would get fired in such a manner.

0:16:30
(Speaker 1)
Right, cause I feel like right there, that just messes up the groove of the team, you know? Cause like, obviously you're gonna get used to that coach for a minute cause he's been here and especially going into the playoffs. It's like, what are we doing?

0:16:43
(Speaker 4)
Yeah.

0:16:49
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, that was definitely a questionable move. Yeah, because they made crazy changes to the coaching staff real quick, like right before the season ended, and I was like, wow.

0:16:55
(Speaker 2)
And you can see why, honestly, with their lackluster effort on the defensive end, you know, like, you would think a team that's pretty much offensively fully carried by Nicola Jokic and a team where it's like they feed off of Nicola Jokic's ability to make passes and score.

0:17:13
(Speaker 2)
Yeah, that they would show a higher level of effort and energy on the on the defensive end and with rebounding, but that just hasn't shown in the last few games with their former coach.

0:17:26
(Speaker 1)
Right. Yeah. All right, so Nate.

0:17:29
(Speaker 2)
I've seen films of the smallest guy on the offensive end getting rebounds over Russell Westbrook and they're big.

0:17:36
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, for sure. For sure, bro, because I think, Zoya, I think you sent me a video about somebody blaming Russell Westbrook for some reason. I forgot the initial excuse, but that was crazy.

0:17:50
(Speaker 2)
Everybody uses Russ as a scapegoat, and I refuse to do that. Russ deserves his flowers. Just a couple of months ago, they were saying that Russell Westbrook revived his career. That was the only reason why the Nuggets were winning games

0:18:01
(Speaker 1)
at the degree that they was winning. Then all of a sudden their coach gets fired and they want to blame refs first thing.

0:18:06
(Speaker 2)
I don't know. That's the only thing that held that team together for as long as they did because if anything he's the reason the coach kept his job for that long.

0:18:16
(Speaker 15)
Yeah.

0:18:17
(Speaker 3)
I don't know man. Ref smoked a layup in that Minnesota game.

0:18:22
(Speaker 1)
He did.

0:18:22
(Speaker 3)
But. Russ smoked a layup in that Minnesota game. He did. That was crazy, but I mean, it happens to everyone. But that just sucks that it was Russ.

0:18:31
(Speaker 14)
Right.

0:18:32
(Speaker 1)
So all right, Nick, so since we in the West.

0:18:33
(Speaker 2)
Hey, Dre brought this to the end too.

0:18:35
(Speaker 1)
They didn't fire Steve Kerr over it. That's true. Yeah, that's true. They're not gonna say nothing to Dre about it either. Nah, I'm messing with y'all. I'm messing with y'all. But like, so since we in the West, right, and this could be a port,

0:18:48
(Speaker 1)
who do we got winning this series? Well I know who I got, but I just wanna hear y'all thoughts on it. Nuggets or Clippers.

0:18:54
(Speaker 10)
Wait, which game?

0:18:55
(Speaker 1)
Nuggets versus Clippers. have the best clientele when it comes to guarding Nicola Yokji. And I feel like, that pick and roll game. I was thinking. Harden and Zubac on that pick and roll against Yokji

0:19:09
(Speaker 13)
is gonna be baby food.

0:19:12
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, because when I first seen that matchup, I was like, you know, as a Lakers fan, I'm gonna just say it out loud, I'm a Lakers fan, I was thinking, oh, this is the perfect matchup if we were to get them out of here. You know what I'm saying? Oh yeah. Oh my god, I was like, this has to be over.

0:19:29
(Speaker 2)
And then the Hawaiian part of them been hooping.

0:19:31
(Speaker 3)
Yeah, what if we end up playing the Clippers?

0:19:35
(Speaker 1)
It is what it is. We gonna have to hope.

0:19:38
(Speaker 2)
I'm better off with that than honestly seeing them in, seeing Oklahoma.

0:19:44
(Speaker 3)
You guys don't think, you guys aren't worried about the Clippers at all?

0:19:47
(Speaker 1)
No, I'm worried about the Clippers, but like... Nah, they're a scary squad.

0:19:51
(Speaker 2)
I'd rather see them than see Oklahoma or Denver.

0:19:54
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, for sure.

0:19:56
(Speaker 12)
Because of our big...

0:19:56
(Speaker 11)
Denver, really?

0:19:58
(Speaker 2)
Our big... The questions with our big are... Honestly, the way we guarded Denver, I'm comfortable with that matchup.

0:20:08
(Speaker 3)
That's what I'm saying, I feel like we've smacked Denver twice already. Like, I get playoffs is different, and you know, we'll see how we even perform against Minnesota, because, bro, we know we could just crap the bed.

0:20:19
(Speaker 3)
But, I don't know, I feel like a team like the Clippers that's getting hot, that's getting their groove, and I'm a little more worried about them than like, and then at that, I feel like it would hurt me more if we lost to the Clippers than like, nah, Denver would hurt too,

0:20:35
(Speaker 3)
because we always, you know, they kill us, but like, the Clippers really?

0:20:39
(Speaker 1)
No, I see what you're saying. It's definitely a double-edged sword. Yeah, I see what you're saying. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

0:20:45
(Speaker 2)
Yeah, the Clippers are really gaining momentum.

0:20:47
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, I see what you're saying. All right, so let's-

0:20:49
(Speaker 2)
And it's because of the system.

0:20:51
(Speaker 1)
The system, yeah. I was thinking that.

0:20:53
(Speaker 7)
The system.

0:20:55
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, it's tough. It's tough, I'm not gonna lie. You got it. all right, since we talking about it now, we can just talk about, honestly, you know who we got, but how are we gonna beat the Timberwolves? You know what I'm saying?

0:21:08
(Speaker 2)
That's it. Man, they got Julius Randle, I'm good.

0:21:10
(Speaker 1)
We good over here.

0:21:12
(Speaker 6)
Yeah, I don't know.

0:21:15
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, Julius Randle's pretty buns, I don't know.

0:21:17
(Speaker 2)
Yeah, but. Like, he's fully taking advantage of them and every single time they face each other. And on top of that, they've gotten worse compared to last year.

0:21:32
(Speaker 1)
Yeah.

0:21:34
(Speaker 10)
I feel like they're-

0:21:34
(Speaker 3)
And we got home court.

0:21:36
(Speaker 2)
They're far more reliant on Anthony Edwards, of course.

0:21:39
(Speaker 9)
Right, for sure.

0:21:41
(Speaker 2)
It's even got it so bad on their offensive end. Anthony Edwards was required to be number one in three-point shooting this year, right?

0:21:49
(Speaker 3)
300 is crazy

0:21:51
(Speaker 2)
Exactly like a guy who's primarily known for his slashing and dunking ability just completely flipping the script and expanding his range out to the three-point ball instead of the mid-range game is An indicator enough in itself of the impact that switching out Cat for Julius Randle has done. Then Dante, he's had a down year. Of course, it's mostly due to injury, but I'm curious to if he could even get

0:22:16
(Speaker 2)
into a flow towards playoff time and be able to play at that high level that we

0:22:22
(Speaker 1)
knew him for on the Knicks. Yeah, for sure. You know I got, you know what I'm saying, and we looking good this year. This is not just me being delusional. I actually think the Lakers are looking good. Better than what we thought initially when we got Luka.

0:22:37
(Speaker 1)
They're looking way better than we thought. So, you know who I'm rooting for. All right, so let's go to the Eastern Conference. We're gonna start off with the Pacers versus the Bucs. How we thinking about that, injuries?

0:22:49
(Speaker 3)
What was Damien Lillard's, I had seen, I think, is he injured or is he hosting?

0:22:53
(Speaker 1)
Oh, he's out. He's out, like injuries.

0:22:55
(Speaker 8)
He's out, he's out, right?

0:22:56
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, yeah, yeah. They usually like, when everybody's entering the Eastern Conference, it's like the players that play are like hitting gyms, like hitting gyms, bro. Like they be playing their hearts out. Like I can't even lie.

0:23:18
(Speaker 3)
TJ Warren?

0:23:20
(Speaker 1)
TJ Warren.

0:23:21
(Speaker 4)
Oh man.

0:23:22
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, they be playing their hearts out, because like initially when people say all dames out Yannis is I always gonna be boring. I'll be watching it, bro They'd be playing the hearts out, bro, like

0:23:32
(Speaker 2)
I've seen multiple videos of people saying it And I think I'm gonna join the bandwagon If he doesn't play how I'm saying he about to play. It's gonna to be a little bit embarrassing. It's going to age terribly. But it's Yonases turn to have his 2018 LeBron run man. He's been absolutely hooping

0:23:53
(Speaker 2)
player of the week last week. He averaged a 30 point triple

0:23:56
(Speaker 1)
double while being the best player

0:23:58
(Speaker 3)
on. He has been balling.

0:23:59
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, for sure.

0:24:01
(Speaker 2)
His passing ability has took a jump. His mid-range ability has took a jump. He's still maintaining the same freak athleticism on the defensive end, offensive end, running through everybody who's put in front of him.

0:24:14
(Speaker 5)
Yep.

0:24:15
(Speaker 2)
You know, I feel like him and KPJ, they've been hooping together. They've been playing really good together. Their team chemistry is pretty great, but what he's really gonna rely on is how Giannis play, and I feel like Giannis is up for the challenge, man. I think he gonna have one of the best series of his career.

0:24:34
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, well, I will say this, I can see Giannis getting past the Pacers and

0:24:39
(Speaker 2)
possibly going to Eastern Conference Conference finals, but I feel like The Bucks will have the hardest Run to a finals appearance if they are able to win every single game that they should be facing Yeah, doesn't after Indiana. They'll probably be faced up against Boston wait No, they'll be faced off against Cleveland Cleveland And then after Cleveland if they do somehow beat Cleveland, they'll have to face off against the champs in Boston.

0:25:11
(Speaker 2)
And then they'll have to face whoever won in the West, which could be the Thunder, it could be the Lakers, it could be the Rockets. There's so many options over there. It'll be a very difficult run if they're able to make it that far.

0:25:26
(Speaker 1)
All right, so we gonna move to the last one. And we've been talking about the Pistons for a while and the way they've been moving. And they finally in that position in the playoffs. It's been a while, you know what I'm saying? It's been a while.

0:25:39
(Speaker 1)
They play, Lonzo, your favorite player on that team, the Knicks.

0:25:47
(Speaker 7)
So how are we thinking? How are we thinking, man? I got the Knicks, but I feel like it's going to be a really good game.

0:25:56
(Speaker 2)
Like the Knicks, their struggles are always against top three teams like they haven't. I think that they haven't beat a single top three team in either division. They're like 0-14 or something against all those teams.

0:26:04
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, that think about it.

0:26:05
(Speaker 6)
Yeah.

0:26:06
(Speaker 2)
But Detroit ain't one of them teams, man. I think this series will go to seven, though. I feel like, especially if Kay Cunningham plays how I expect Kay Cunningham to play.

0:26:18
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, possibly. What we thinking, Nick?

0:26:22
(Speaker 3)
I don't know, man. I think it's going to be a very interesting series. I think on paper New York should win, right? But like I was saying, like teams want momentum, like Hayden LaPista's got to figure it out, you know what I mean?

0:26:37
(Speaker 3)
Like, I don't know. It is going to be interesting. It's going to be one of those like –

0:26:41
(Speaker 1)
one of the most interesting series, I would say. Yeah, because I feel like, because we always been talking about, we've been talking about the Rockets, we've been talking about OKC, talking about Magic, Pistons, and how they've been moving, you know what I'm saying, as far as traits and drafting.

0:26:55
(Speaker 1)
We've been talking about these teams for a while, and just seeing them get here, to get here in the playoff spot, that shows they're pretty good. So I wouldn't root them out, you know what I'm saying? Obviously, the Nexus experience, being teams like this, not really Boston and them, but really teams, the Pacers and them, but they obviously,

0:27:17
(Speaker 1)
they got Cad and them, they got a couple new players, and this is one of the seasons where they look more healthy than usual and not trying to overplay their players So it's gonna be tough, man. I

0:27:29
(Speaker 2)
Know that's really the issue to how much they run their guys to the ground, but I feel like they're conditioned at this point Yeah, they've played 82 games. They know how they play 40 minutes before so It's gonna be interesting to witness, but I do have the Knicks winning it in this series. Now when that next round come up, it's gonna be a question mark, but.

0:27:55
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, tomorrow we gonna be tuned in, man. It's like, man, this is gonna be like, this is the only time where I feel like the NBA is kind of Anticipated where they have to play hard, you know, I'm saying they're not gonna play our every game but times like these That's why I feel like we get the best out of them for sure

0:28:17
(Speaker 2)
Mikael bridges man, he has not missed a single game in his entire career. This marks like Another season where he did not miss a game through Ironman a single game in his entire career, this marks like another season where he did not miss a game.

0:28:27
(Speaker 3)
Through Ironman.

0:28:29
(Speaker 2)
Yes. And even that Ironman complained about the amount of minutes he was playing.

0:28:36
(Speaker 1)
Yeah.

0:28:37
(Speaker 6)
Yeah, that's crazy bro.

0:28:40
(Speaker 1)
But yeah, they're gonna be ready for the playoffs

0:28:42
(Speaker 5)
though, that's for sure.

0:28:43
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, I agree. I mean, hey, do we got anything else? We got like two minutes left.

0:28:51
(Speaker 2)
OKC, KFC, UFC, Lakers in five. Outside of that, I ain't got nothing left to say.

0:29:01
(Speaker 1)
Oh yeah, that is like the number one slogan we gotta say since it's playoff time. Y'all know how we get Lakers in five. You know what I'm saying?

0:29:09
(Speaker 4)
Yep.

0:29:10
(Speaker 1)
Always, always, to the day we die, Lakers in five.

0:29:14
(Speaker 2)
To the day we die, Lakers in five. We gonna hold up another banner this year.

0:29:21
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, so. It's been five years since Marceau's got to hold up a new banner man. Oh, facts, facts, facts. So like, you know, we're gonna try to notify y'all at like each round, you know what I'm saying? We're gonna give y'all thoughts on round two, round three, finals, you know what I'm saying?

0:29:39
(Speaker 1)
And we still thinking about, you know, the NFL draft coming up. We're gonna try to get an episode out on that. So stay tuned.

0:29:47
(Speaker 2)
And of course, what I'm a niche at, the NBA draft. I'm excited to see those guys in the draft combine and see how that turn out.

0:29:54
(Speaker 5)
Yup.

0:29:55
(Speaker 1)
So we gonna-

0:29:55
(Speaker 3)
Is Flag going to the league?

0:29:58
(Speaker 2)
Yeah, I know he is.

0:30:00
(Speaker 4)
Definitely?

0:30:02
(Speaker 1)
He's not coming back? I would say definitely. He's not definite, but there's no way he's coming back. Yeah, I would say definitely. But we got a lot of episodes coming out for y'all now, you know what I'm saying?

0:30:10
(Speaker 2)
But yeah. Alright, we done here?

0:30:13
(Speaker 1)
Yeah, go ahead and take us out, Zoey.

0:30:15
(Speaker 2)
Alright, y'all. watching all the way to the end and I appreciate every single body who watched all the way through. Go ahead and check out our socials and if you like the video, hit a like and subscribe to our channel.

0:30:33
(Speaker 2)
We pump out videos as much as we can.

0:30:37
(Speaker 4)
And yeah.

0:30:39
(Speaker 2)
Have a blessed day.

0:30:41
(Speaker 1)
Thank you guys for watching the episode. If you wanna learn more, go to my Instagram, MarcellusDavis underscore. If you wanna learn more, go to my Instagram, MarcellusDavis underscore. Or find the show on Instagram at Ballin' on a Budget.