Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Wvuafm, tuscaloosa.
[00:00:09] Speaker B: Welcome back, everyone, to WVUA 90.7, the capstone's MBA student section. We're back. I'm your host, Zachary Elrod. Here with me as always, Trey Simpson and Drew Williamson. We got a great show for y'all today. Today we're gonna talk about the Olympics, give y'all a little recap of Team USA's taking home the gold. And then we're going to be introducing a new series, the NBA team breakdown. Basically, we're going by division. So today we'll be starting with the Atlantic division with Boston, the Knicks, Sixers, Raptors and Nets. So we're just going to be breaking it down. Things. We're just going to be talking about things that they did last season, things that we don't or do not like from that, then we're going to be breaking down the playoffs. Talk about some offseason moves, trades, free agency, stuff they did in the draft. But, yeah, that's basically what we're going to be doing, giving our takes on that, see what we do or do not like. And, yeah, that's pretty much it. I mean, how are y'all feeling? We're back.
[00:01:09] Speaker A: It's good. It's good to be back, man. What's up? How y'all doing?
[00:01:13] Speaker C: Great to be back. Great to be back. I missed. I missed doing the show, especially over the summer, you know, seeing all the, like, how the NBA playoffs, you know, unfolded, and we didn't even get to talk about it. We texted about it, but we didn't get to talk about it. So it's good to be back.
[00:01:26] Speaker B: Yeah, most definitely. Yeah. But let's start things off. I mean, Olympic recap, Team USA taken home the gold. I mean, it was just so entertaining from each and every game, whether it was, I mean, I'll be honest, going into it, starting off in the group stages with Serbia, I remember thinking of Jokic, Bogdan, Bogdanovich, and then, like, just the other guys they have on that serbian team, I was like, we're starting off pretty hot, you know what I'm saying? I mean, if we got to consider who is the best team out there in the world, I mean, Serbia is one of those people on that list.
[00:02:03] Speaker C: So I think Team USA, like, always going into Olympics, always has that pressure of, you know, they have to win because, you know, we've been so dominant for, you know, such a long period of time. But this specific Olympics was just so special because of so many different reasons. Obviously, you have LeBron at 39. Doing what he did.
The trio of LeBron, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant, all playing for probably the last time. I don't know.
[00:02:33] Speaker B: Kevin Durant says he might come.
[00:02:34] Speaker C: Kevin Durant he might. But just seeing how the veterans were able to lead and guide some of the younger guys, like Anthony Edwards on that squad was something that was out of this world, and it was, to me, more entertaining than the NBA Finals.
[00:02:51] Speaker B: Yeah, I would agree. I would easily agree.
[00:02:54] Speaker A: You know, I'm surprised y'all haven't brought up Team Canada.
[00:02:57] Speaker B: Oh, yeah, Team Canada.
[00:02:58] Speaker A: Because, like, I didn't hear Shay's name, RJ Barrett, even Dylan Brooks. You know Dylan.
[00:03:05] Speaker B: Mm hmm.
[00:03:08] Speaker A: It was one more in there I can't think of, but they were a good team, too. I honestly thought they were going to be the ones in there against Team USA.
[00:03:16] Speaker B: Me, too. But then it came down to Jamal Murray not really being consistent. I mean, I think I saw Shea post on his instagram at one point. I don't know if he took it down, but he was just, like. He said something about how Jamal doesn't come out to play when he doesn't play with the joker or something like that. And I was like, dang. But, I mean, he's, you know.
[00:03:35] Speaker C: Yeah, it goes to show you what all. You know, Nicole, obviously, we know how. What a player Nikola Jokic is, but it kind of goes to show you, like, would these guys like Jamal Murray or Michael Porter junior, like, would they be, you know, as good as they.
[00:03:48] Speaker B: Are without Jokic, people like Aaron Gordon? Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, you. I agree. Yep. But, I mean, going down the line, we beat South Sudan, and we ended up beating Puerto Rico or Brazil. I mean, those games were really the cakewalk, but it came down to really Serbia. And then, obviously, in the final, France. France was the big team. I mean, the best team besides us.
[00:04:13] Speaker C: In the world outside of that France game. Cause I will talk about that. But that last, I believe, eight to ten minutes of the Serbia game was, like, some of the best basketball I've ever watched in my entire life. Cause we were down, I think, like, 17 in the third quarter.
[00:04:28] Speaker A: That quarter.
[00:04:29] Speaker B: Yep.
[00:04:29] Speaker C: And I remember watching that game, and we made that heroic comeback. I think the lineup was like. It was Steph LeBron, Katie Booker, and I want to say Joelle Embiid, and.
[00:04:40] Speaker B: They just kept starting Joel Embiid for. They just called.
[00:04:44] Speaker C: And a lot of people, you know, was a lot of criticism and a lot of drama around Steve Kerr and his decision making on starting certain players.
[00:04:52] Speaker B: Especially with Jason Tatum.
[00:04:53] Speaker C: Exactly. We saw how that unfolded. But, I mean, they won gold, so I don't really think they can have that much hate for the next olympics.
[00:05:01] Speaker A: Coach Bo is going to be their head coach.
[00:05:03] Speaker C: I saw that.
[00:05:04] Speaker A: Miami Heat.
[00:05:05] Speaker B: Oh, wow. But I mean, assistant coach, you know.
[00:05:07] Speaker A: For the last couple, but you can't.
[00:05:09] Speaker B: Go wrong with either or. I mean, eric, great head coach, unbelievable head coach. Has led a lacking heat team to the finals twice in the last couple of years, once in the bubble and then last NBA Finals. I mean, well, not this one, but the one before, but yeah, Eric Spoelts are great head coach, I think great pickup talent. Tyrone Lou was another assistant coach. So it's just like, I mean, when people question their head coaching, it's just like, I don't know, you're not there. You're not obviously the one coaching them. And you really can't go wrong with those lineups because just so much talented on that roster and, I mean, I think the way they really piece this team together was just spot on.
[00:05:53] Speaker C: I agree. I think Steve Kerr going in was determined that he was going to, he was going to play the guys that have been there the longest. And, you know, Jason Tatum, obviously, there was a lot of controversy there about him not getting play. You know, he just won a championship. Why is he not getting minutes? He feels like he's one of the best players in the league. But at the end of the day, Steve Kerr went with experience and the veterans and it, you know, it paid off.
[00:06:19] Speaker A: So I still say give Tatum the respect he's earned, though. Cause he did just win a championship.
[00:06:26] Speaker B: And he put on for that NBA Finals. Cause normally Jason Tatum's been a little shaky, especially come playoff time. But, I mean, he, he put on for those NBA Finals.
[00:06:35] Speaker A: But granted, Jalen Brown did establish himself as probably the alpha of that team.
[00:06:41] Speaker B: I remember coming into it, I was just like, jb's the number and everybody's like, no, no, no. But after, like you said, trey, I mean, to your point, after this, have y'all seen his workouts, too? What he's doing in the offseason? He's in the pool dribbling about. I mean, yeah, he proved, I think.
[00:06:58] Speaker C: He proved a lot of people wrong because a lot of people had, you know, those haters were in there being, saying, you know, he wasn't, he can't dribble with his left hand, force him to go left. But I mean. Oh, yeah, I think that. I think that he, he proved a lot of people wrong in the finals. And I am glad he won finals MVP. I'm not necessarily a like Jason Tatum. Like, I'm. You know, he played amazing, too, but I'm glad Jalen Brown got the respect he deserves.
[00:07:23] Speaker B: I think it could have gone a lot of ways. I mean, Porzingis had a big game, 20 points.
I believe it was game one. Yeah, yeah. But he got hurt. Drew holiday, I mean, he played phenomenal throughout the entire series. Derek White.
[00:07:35] Speaker A: I'm about to say your boy Derek White was doing his thing in the Olympics and in the finals run because he was a very. A very key part in both with his efforts off the ball.
[00:07:44] Speaker B: Gave up his front tooth. I mean, like, for the team. Did y'all see that when he shipped his two really bad, too, and he gave it up for the team? And I mean, just. Yeah.
[00:07:54] Speaker C: While we're talking about Jalen Brown and how much he, you know, did in this finals, it's crazy because a lot of controversy also came from why was he not picked to be on Team USA? And his teammates, drew Holiday, Derek White, and Jason Tatum all were picked over him. There was a lot of, you know, and he just won finals mvp. I didn't necessarily agree with that because I feel like if you're gonna pick Derrick White, Drew Holiday, which Drew holiday, is kind of like a two, you know, a great two way player.
[00:08:30] Speaker B: I get the understanding that, like, if you're going to originally pick Kawhi Leonard, a guy like that, a dynamic score, he can play both ways, but he's injury prone. Why not pick a guy like JB? Jalen Brown? Mm hmm. So I get what you're saying, but to their credit, to their point, I mean, Derek white, like you said, he's. I don't know, he's more off the ball, you know, can spread the floor, like, because they got plenty of guys that can handle the rock, do their thing. So I think that's probably where their headspace was. But I don't know, it's just, I feel like, I believe Jalen Brown could have played more off the ball and could have provided what they had, but they won gold, so, I mean, that was the goal. I mean, absolutely.
[00:09:12] Speaker C: I think that was the most, you know, the most important part was finding that lineup that would, you know, mesh together because it's so hard, because these guys don't. They're all unbelievably talented players, but they don't play together every day. So, you know, how they were able to gel like these other countries that they played, like South Sudan, like Serbia, they. These guys have played together, you know, all the time for sure. You know, Team USA, it's never like that. It's just a bunch of really talented guys, you know, trying to build chemistry in just a short, you know, couple of months. So I think it was really impressive. And like I said, it was some of the best basketball I've ever watched.
[00:09:51] Speaker B: That's why it's so fun to watch those european teams play, because, like you said, they played together for so long, they can just read and be able to move without the ball pass and just, you know, really work the offense, be able to get back on defense and not be selfish and just put on for their team. So, I don't know, I thought all around just a great, great Olympics. So y'all got anything else to say about the Olympics, or.
[00:10:18] Speaker A: I will say so. You mentioned earlier how the Olympics was more entertaining than the finals. I definitely would agree to that because did y'all notice a physicality that was allowed in the Olympics?
[00:10:30] Speaker B: They pointed that out to. Yeah, because of the fever rules.
[00:10:33] Speaker A: Yeah. Like, the rules were just a little bit different over there. Like, it was. This allows you to have play a little more aggressive and just the style of basketball. The rest of the world plays with two. Everybody plays with the precise, kind of more fundamental game versus, like, us over here in the USA, we all try to. Well, not all of us, but, you know, most of us, we try to be flashy.
[00:10:54] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:10:54] Speaker A: A little bit more style stuff, like crazy dunks, more threes versus, you know, everybody else. They haven't lost the value of, like, the mid range post moves, you know, simple give and goes down, screens back screens.
Simple stuff like that.
[00:11:09] Speaker B: I heard one of the assistant coach for the Clippers say, yono Rico Hines, I like, he's one of the assistant coach for the Clippers. And he was talking about, never lose sight of being a good basketball player and, like, knowing how to perform for your team, play your role and how important that is, instead of, like, you know, being the main guy doing all these things and wanting to produce stat wise, but, like, just putting on for your team. Because he's saying all the people overseas are just doing what they need to do. If they get an opportunity to shoot, they shoot, no matter what the outcome, they get back and they play their heart outs on defense and they do it over again, over and over and over.
[00:11:49] Speaker A: That even goes well off the court stuff, too. Like, you know, with Tyrese Halliburton, how he kept his composure and kept a high energy off the court. And every time they came back to the huddle, what is Tyrese Halliburton doing? Giving everybody high fives, you know, cheering everybody on, the biggest cheerleader for us. And even though he didn't play that much, or if not at all, he still gave us the energy and the hype we needed.
[00:12:12] Speaker B: Even Anthony upwards towards the end didn't really get as many minutes as he did towards the beginning, which he was able to show off his skills in that way. But I remember the quote at the beginning of the season that made me nervous. Remember, he's like, they're going to have to adjust to my play style. And I was like, oh, crap, he's going to be the guy that's just like, everybody forget everybody else, me. But at the end of the day, I remember seeing them sitting on the sidelines and like you said, tyrese Halberdin did, he was right there beside him, high five. And everyone clapping for the team. But guys like that, like, to your point, trade guys like that were really one of the main core values for that team that would allow them to get the gold medal. So I agree with that.
[00:12:58] Speaker C: I agree with what you said. Just the brand of basketball is how it's played is just so, so much different than how it is in the NBA with fouling and all that. And it's just, it's more entertaining to watch, you know, nobody wants to, you know, see constant, you know, foul calling and constant, you know, complaining. There's a lot more complaining in the NBA and flopping.
The Olympics are just, you know, it's. That's. That's how basketball should be played. So I agree with all that.
[00:13:31] Speaker B: It was interesting to see Victor Webinar. Cause, you know, in FIBA, it's illegal to like, once in the cylinder, if the ball is rolling around, just swat it out. Cause I know everybody. I remember the commentators like Dwyane Wade and I forget his other name, but, like, they would have to specify. It's like, that is legal in FIBA because everybody was like, I remember people seeing USA fans in the crowd and they're like, what on earth did he just do? He just slapped that out of the rim.
[00:13:55] Speaker C: It's like, you can't do that.
[00:13:57] Speaker B: Yeah, it is really interesting to see, like, all the different rules they put in FIBA. But I don't know, I think I agree to y'all's point. I mean, just the physicality overall, it's just definitely entertaining to watch. And we'll be right back after this short break.
[00:14:19] Speaker A: Wvuafm Tuscaloosa.
[00:14:29] Speaker B: Welcome back, everyone, to the NBA student section. We're back and we're gonna get started with our NBA team breakdown, starting with the Atlantic division. I think we're gonna start it off with, I think an easy one, y'all.
Boston, I mean, let's first, let's review their season. I mean, it's a pretty easy season to review. These people were just dominant throughout the entire year. I believe they hit 60 wins. And then everybody, you know, after they made all the trades they made, getting Drew holiday, getting Porzingis, and being able to keep Jalen Brown, Jason Tatum, and acquiring Derrick White, I mean, after all that, everybody had him instantly as a favorite for the championship. Me, normally when there's like a designated favorite there, but it's like, no way they don't win. Normally they end up not winning, but this was not the case. They were dominant in the regular season and that translated perfectly to the playoffs. So I don't know, they ended up winning the chips. So I don't know if y'all have anything else to say for the season. I mean, y'all can make y'all's comments?
[00:15:38] Speaker C: I mean. Yeah, absolutely. The. The additions in the offseason last year, poor zingas and drew holiday, everybody kind of was a little iffy on poor zingas to start. They didn't really know how he would fit in their system. I think we all saw how that turned out. He fit in perfectly. Drew Holiday, I feel like, is a guy that can. You can stick him on any team and he will be good. He's one of those kind of players. We saw how dominant they were.
[00:16:02] Speaker B: USA.
[00:16:02] Speaker C: When they're starting. When I saw what their starting five was of holiday, Derek White, Tatum Brown and poor Zingis.
Al Horford, too. Yeah, a little mix in there. But I knew that they would go far. And I had said that if they did not win a championship this year, it would have been a disappointment. Oh, and it would. It would have been almost like a. Like a failure because that team is way too talented to not be winning a championship. And if they didn't, I think they would have gotten a lot of hate.
[00:16:33] Speaker B: And the fact that Boston hasn't won since 2008.
[00:16:36] Speaker C: That too. That too. And a lot of people compared that 2008 Celtics team to this current 2000 or 2024 Celtics team and kind of was comparing, you know, which was similar team. They are very similar, but no, this. This team was really dominant throughout. There was no even close signs in the playoffs to them slowing down or them hitting a little rough patch, and we saw what happened in the finals. So, yeah, I.
How happy for the city of Boston. You know, their fans. We know how loyal they are and, yeah, yeah, they're their celtics finally, after 16 years, got it done.
[00:17:14] Speaker B: They finally did it. What about you, Trey?
[00:17:18] Speaker A: I mean, y'all pretty much covered it. All I have to say about Boston was, boy, was I wrong.
I didn't want them to win the championship. Remember, I was pulling for my Lakers. But, yeah, you know, yeah, we'll save them for their time, but, yeah, congrats to Boston. Like I said, you know, I do like the fact that JB established himself as the one and not the two.
Jason Tatum, he has. I mean, guess we're trying to see. I mean, he didn't leave, though, so he stayed. But that was a concern, remembering, like, as soon as they won.
[00:17:52] Speaker B: Oh, yeah, they resigned him. But I mean, talking about that in the offseason, I mean, they were able to resign. Sam Houser, Derek White, drew holiday, Jason Tatum, and then, I mean, they just got Lonnie Walker in free agency. Too huge to top it off. I mean, and Lonnie walker, I know Trey knows him very well. After the Lakers had his moments. So I've heard some rumors that he might not even make the team after training camp. I'm not sure if they'll wave them or whatever, but, I mean, either or. I mean, he's a great player. And with this already stacked team like we were just talking about, that's just another cherry on top. And they drafted, I believe, Baylor. Skirmit, you know, the guy out of.
[00:18:38] Speaker C: Kerman, out of Creighton. Yeah. Who's a deadly three point shooter right now, to me, there's not a team in the league that can, you know, after every NBA season, at least how I look at it, if you're every team, you're looking at ways like, how can I take them down? You know, they're the defending champs. How can I take them down?
[00:18:57] Speaker B: Agreed.
[00:18:58] Speaker C: I don't think. I don't looking roster to roster at every team right now. I don't think there is a single team that beats Boston in a seven game series.
[00:19:06] Speaker B: It's. It's tough.
[00:19:07] Speaker C: I think they. I think they, you know, unless injury happens, which that is always a possibility. I think they. They repeat.
[00:19:14] Speaker B: I know people were concerned about how their bench would perform. I mean, Peyton Pritchard had some solid moments. I mean, hitting some half court shots like it was nothing. I remember watching the games and him not hitting a single shot. And as soon as he would let that half court shot. I'm like, that is going in. I just know it's going to go in. And then he hit it. And then the second time he did it, I was like, that's going to go in again. And then he just, that's just what Peyton Pritchard does, though. But then Sam Houser, a great pickup for him. They instantly resigned him. I mean, take it as a Duncan Robinson type of guy. I mean, just deadly on the outside, can play off the ball, willing to play defense, willing to make that extra pass for the star. I mean, they got, they got guys. And then Al Horford, I mean, people are wondering if he was going to retire, but willing to come back for another season, hopefully in his case to, you know, possibly go back to back. So, I mean, this, like, to your point, Drew, I think this is a pretty unstoppable team.
[00:20:17] Speaker C: So, yeah, I don't think there's any team right now that competes, competes with Boston and wins a seven game series. I would have liked to have seen the Nuggets have a try at the Celtics, but obviously it didn't go well for the, as well as they would have liked in the playoffs. That t wolves team, man, that Timberwolves team, no doubt.
[00:20:39] Speaker B: But I'm surprised we made it past him, the Mavericks. I'm surprised. I really am looking back at that series, even to OKC. But obviously that's a conversation for another day. But I mean, one team I really want to talk about with y'all is the New York Knicks. Now this team special had a really interesting season last year. I know they had a great season up into the playoffs. I think we're at that fourth or fifth seed in the east, I believe. But the Knicks, great season. They were our eastern conference finals favorites, I believe. Didn't we all have them as our favorites? Yeah, I think we did, but, and then crazy to see that they lost to the Pacers in game seven. Dude, I mean, let's just stop. What are y'all's initial reactions to that? Because I remember mine was, I was like, I was just shocked the Pacers pulled it out.
[00:21:41] Speaker A: I was hurt. But like, that just goes to show you anything, it happened in the playoffs, you know, like, it's so unpredictable and I know, like, it's a lot of talk about the playoffs and just finals in general being rigged, but that type of basketball, it can't be rigged. Like, that's just the most unpredictable because other than Siakam and Halliburton, you know, who does the Patriots have like just big, big name guys.
[00:22:07] Speaker B: Even Halliburton wasn't really scoring that much.
[00:22:09] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:22:10] Speaker B: So, yeah, it was, it was a great game, but Haliburton wasn't even putting up the numbers he's normally acclimated to putting up because, I don't know, as a primary, you know, playmaker, it was pretty evident to see that, you know, he wasn't really comfortable, at least in that type of setting with, you know, taking over, getting the ball in his hands, just going out and getting a bucket for his team. Pascal Siakam had to do a lot of the heavy lifting, especially with the injury of Benedict Mather and their young.
[00:22:41] Speaker A: Scorer and his contract in the offseason. He got, you know, he resigned him.
[00:22:48] Speaker B: And TJ McConnell, who was, he was.
[00:22:51] Speaker C: Huge for them off the bench. No doubt about that. Looking at the Knicks, I think that Jalen Brunson really came into his own during the season and kind of took on that role of being the guy. And I think he enjoys, you know, he's going to get, you know, 25 shots a game and the Knicks are going to live with that. You know, if he plays good, if he, which he did like he had some crazy games in the playoffs. I think he had multiple 30, 40 point games. That first series with the 76 ers was crazy watching those games. And then, yeah, obviously it was really disappointing to that for that Pacers series, like the way it ended because I think obviously they didn't have Julius Randall, didn't have Julia. He does tend to not play as well in the playoffs, but they didn't have Julius Randall. I would have liked to have seen him healthy and what they would have done if he was healthy, but still disappointing. But I think they are trending in the right direction, that's for sure.
[00:23:54] Speaker B: My only critique from last season. I love the way Tom Thibodeau made him play. I mean, great head coach. I know with their system, giving it all the starters 40 plus minutes, I was skeptical. I'm like, how can this work in seven game series long term? I mean, heck, in their season he was doing that and they have 82 game.
I mean, 82 game season. That's what we all know as an NBA fans. So it's like, I know I was really skeptical, but they were able to pull through all the starters were. But I mean, I guess my only critique, they need to learn to play without, you know, without the ball in jail and Brunson's hands, they can't be so keen on that because I know Jalen Brunson had a lot of late in game turnovers late in the fourth quarter. You know, whether he was trapped, miscommunication between, whether it was him or Isaiah Hartenstein, him, whoever it may be, it was a lot of pressure on, you know, Brunson to create every single possession because, you know, guys like Dante DeVincenzo putting up 30, he wasn't even creating his own shot. A single one of those plays, it's all Jalen Brunson kicking it out and him just knocking down the shot, which is special. But, you know, they need somebody to help relieve the load for Jalen Brunson.
[00:25:13] Speaker A: Well, I think, I mean, the only reason he had more of a load in that situation was like you said, you know, Randall got injured, so Julian being injured took like that puts a lot more pressure on Brunson. But I was just Finna bring up, you know, my boy Josh Hart, you know, his dirty work and just his. He could go get a bucket in that playoff series, too, because he was a big part. Like, even in the Pacers run, like when he was, when they were in game seven, he had a couple shots to tie the game up even though they lost, but, you know, it was.
[00:25:42] Speaker B: Still a great game. Competitive to the end.
[00:25:44] Speaker C: Yeah, I think that another key part of, you know, the helping Jalen Brunson, you know, they knicks decided to trade away RJ Barrett and acquire OJ Ananobi, which I think actually did work out for them. It provides him a defensive spark and an obese kind of getting used to.
[00:26:03] Speaker B: His role and just resigned him. To.
[00:26:05] Speaker C: Just resigned him. And they also, one of their biggest offseason moves, trading for McHale Bridges.
[00:26:11] Speaker B: Oh, yes.
[00:26:12] Speaker C: Which is huge because I think Mikael Bridges is a really underrated player. I think he's one of the most underrated players in the league. And I think, I mean, obviously him and Brunson have chemistry from Villanova's. Add Josh Hart to the mix. I mean, they have a lot. And even Chenzo, they have a lot of you, you know, Villanova, Villanova on that roster. So I think that'll be interesting to.
[00:26:33] Speaker B: See the starting five, Jalen Brunson, Dante Devincenzo, Josh Hart, Julius Randall, and then at that five, or, well, I forgot about Mikel Bridges, then Julius Randall, so I guess I'll put Mikhail at the four, or they'll probably put Josh at the four because that makes more sense with his playstyle. But I was telling, like, we're going to get to the Nets later, but I was telling, like, nets fans, I was like Mike, someone is going to overpay for Mikhail Bridges because like y'all said, he's kind of like that drew holiday. He's going to fit in any scheme. He's going to help you. He's going to help you win. Now, you know, as a dynamic wing, can play both ways, can shoot the ball. You know, we saw at the nets, he's able to score, you know, create his own shot and someone is willing to overpay for him. And it so happened that the Knicks, like you said, reuniting the Villanova four, they happen to give them a plethora of picks, so.
But I think it was a good move for the Knicks. Like you said, they resigned Ognobi got Mikhail Bridge, Mikhail Bridges re sign precious Achilla. And then the only thing, or they got Jalen Brunson for a steal, too.
I mean, managed to. Cause he offered to give up money and stuff for the betterment of the team, to sign guys like Mikhail Bridges. I mean, what do y'all think about that with his sacrifice to the team? Because, I mean, he was eligible for a max contract and he was willing to give a million to million to dollars.
[00:28:06] Speaker C: I think that shows that he values a championship and values wanting to compete for a championship and wants to bring one to the, to the Knicks franchise, who has gone a long time, safe to say, without a trophy. So, you know, I think it's tough. Cause, you know, you look at this Knicks team and there's a lot to like, but then you also think about what conference they're in. They're in the Eastern Conference, and we know who's in that conference.
[00:28:35] Speaker B: The Boston Celtics, just talking about them.
[00:28:37] Speaker A: And the bugs don't.
[00:28:38] Speaker C: And the Bucks. And I think that a lot of people are kind of forgetting about the Bucks because you know what that pacer series, but let's not forget Giannis Ante da Kumpo did not in that game. So there's a lot to like about the Knicks, but it's also a little concerning, considering I don't think their roster, while being really good, I don't think it competes with the Boston Celtics.
[00:29:01] Speaker B: And one thing to account, they did lose Isaiah Hartenstein.
[00:29:05] Speaker C: That was huge.
[00:29:05] Speaker B: That's actually really good, which it's just given a young team even more fuel.
[00:29:11] Speaker C: They got Alex Crusoe under team Mandev.
[00:29:14] Speaker B: Yeah, they're scary, but an Isaiah Hartenstein came up really big, getting so many defensive, offensive rebounds, being a beast on the glass. So, I mean, not being able to have him as a crutch almost as they did on offense for Jalen Brunson. I mean, he was as much of a crutch as Jalen Brunson was for him. I mean, the amount of offensive rebounds was just, it was ridiculous. I mean, he was getting double digits off of offensive rebounds and it was just, it's pretty insane to watch. So definitely not having him as tough. They still got precious to chew a Mitchell Robinson so they can make do. And obviously, with the returning of Julius Randall, hopefully he can stay healthy. So, I mean, honestly, I got no complaints. I think they got, they're looking really, really solid. And I know they got some guys from the draft, France. They got pace deity. I don't know if I'm pronouncing that right. And then they got a solid point guard from Marquette Tower Kolik.
[00:30:14] Speaker C: Yeah, I think he's gonna be really good.
[00:30:16] Speaker B: I remember watching him in, in college and just the type of playmaker he can be. He could be a great backup point guard for a guy, Jalen Brunson. So, I mean, I don't know. I got no complaints for the Knicks as far as, you know, just be willing to not play so much heavily through Jalen Brunson. But we talked about that with Julius Randall coming back, that's going to help.
[00:30:39] Speaker C: That a lot, take his load off, because in the playoffs, I don't know if y'all notice this, but I was looking at the box score every game, and Jalen Brunson was taking nearly 30 shots a game, every single game.
[00:30:52] Speaker B: But he has to.
[00:30:52] Speaker C: But he has to. Exactly.
[00:30:55] Speaker B: Especially for, I mean, Tom Thibodeau is giving him max minutes. And a lot of those guys in the starting lineup, like Josh Hart and Isaiah Hart and son at the time, are literally solely there just to run around and to play defense, get rebound so they can kick it back out to guys like Jalen Brunson so he can create. So definitely having some guys coming back and bringing guys in like Mikel Bridges, it's going to help them out a lot this season. We'll be back after this short break. Don't go away.
[00:31:37] Speaker A: Wvuafm Tuscaloosa.
[00:31:46] Speaker B: Welcome back to the NBA student section. We're getting back straight into it with the NBA team breakdown, getting back into it with the Sixers, the Philadelphia 76 ers. Now this team, this is, this is a pretty intriguing team because they lost in six games to the Knicks, I believe, in the semifinals, Eastern Conference semifinals. Obviously, Joel Embiid was hurt, I mean, the entire game, because it was a big deal for him to be playing at the first place because of his, wasn't it his meniscus? Yeah, yeah, meniscus. But I mean, I was kind of an advocate for him playing because if you look back at all the Sixers, like, you know, all the timeline of them keeping Joel Embiid as their main core player and building around him, I mean, it's just been failed attempt after failed attempt. So I admire Embiid's ability to go out there and play his heart out because, I mean, the sixers, they, if they don't play their heart out this year, the next year, I mean, what do they got to play for? You know what I'm saying? They're nothing waiting on anything because Joel Embiid, he's only getting older each and every year, so they're not waiting on anything because he's not as young as he once was. So I don't know, this series, it was definitely is probably a wake up call for the, him and the Sixers and what they want to do going forward in the future if they want to continue around, to build around jewell and bead. So I don't know. What are your thoughts on it, tribe?
[00:33:26] Speaker A: Honestly, like, I agree with your point because they need to give Joellen B help. I know they tried it with Harden. That was a failed experiment.
[00:33:33] Speaker B: Oh, yeah.
[00:33:35] Speaker A: Not going to go too much into detail with James Harden because, you know, we grilled him about it last time.
[00:33:41] Speaker B: But, oh, good times.
[00:33:43] Speaker A: They got some good pickups to hold on because they got Paul George. You know, that's a brain fart. They got Paul George. They still got to keep Tyrese Maxey. So they got a good core now.
They got some good supporting guys, too. I know they got a good draft, right? Coming out.
[00:33:59] Speaker B: Yeah, they got Jared McCain. I mean, they got a guy from, Adam Bona from UCLA is some, some center from UCLA, but I mean, yeah, Jared McCain out of Duke, I mean, had a rough start to the season at first, was trying to find his groove as a freshman, getting his confidence, but then, I mean, Duke's head coach just really inspired him. And, I mean, it, lighting it up is an understatement. Tied the scoring record as a freshman. Tied it with Zion Williamson because Zion Williamson had the record and he ended up tying it with him. I mean, Jared McCain was putting on a show. Whether it was in the regular season and March madness, he's really putting on a show. So I think that was a great pickup for the Philadelphia 776 ers coming out of the draft.
[00:34:51] Speaker A: I want to, like, I just want to touch on Paul George again because we have to think about what he brings to the table because he is a big name. And of course, we know Paul George's, like, talent is overall as a player and what he's done, you know, in his career. But he has yet to win a championship, though.
[00:35:09] Speaker B: Very true.
[00:35:10] Speaker A: And, you know, we saw when he was taking over, you know, back in his younger days, he got hurt. So ever since he got hurt, of course, no players necessarily the same, but he definitely evolved his game, though. So he definitely still brings something good to the table. I want to see what he can do for the team and maybe if they make a good playoff run. But, you know, his nickname, playoff p. Now, he came around last playoffs little bit like he was up and down, you know what I mean? He wasn't like, just bona fide, like he's that guy for the Clippers, but he was, you know, he had his moments, like, he had more good than bad, I feel like. And even, like, James Harden has stepped up for him.
[00:35:50] Speaker B: So they both were up and down in games. They definitely, they're, they had really big highs, and then you could definitely see with the loss of Kawhi Leonard and stuff versus the maverick. So it was kind of just like, they're not doing much right now, but.
[00:36:05] Speaker A: Like, Paul George, like, we know he likes to be ball dominant. Like, we know he likes to take a lot of shots. So now that he has that, like, the only, I mean, he has to share with them, beat and Maxi. But other than that, like, I feel like they're gonna want to lean on him to, you know, I think they want him to play his game.
[00:36:20] Speaker B: Mm hmm.
[00:36:20] Speaker A: Like, I think they kind of want to play around him as well as playing around. And because I think that's in bees problem. I think the pressure is too much for him at times. That's why he, you know, when the time comes, he folds like he has. He does good in the regular season despite, you know, you might not like his game because of all the flopping he does and, oh, yeah, all the foul baiting, but it works for him. You know, it does. End of the day, he did get his MVP. Now, he might have cried for his MVP, you know, but he got his MVP, so he did. You know, he could have gotten the.
[00:36:51] Speaker B: MVP this year if he would have stayed healthy more than likely. I mean, he was having a dominant season before he got hurt. So it's really just been health issues with Joel Embiid. That's kind of been the story of his career. But I mean, when he is healthy, I mean that guy's just one of the most dominant, if not the most dominant big in the league, at least from an offensive standpoint. I mean, but yeah, this team, they resigned Kelly, you mentioned Tyrese Maxey, they signed Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon, they also picked up Buddy healed or well, no, they didn't pick up Buddy Hill. They've already got or no, they lost Buddy healed. Yep, they lost Buddy hilled and Nicholas Batum.
So that's the downsides for their offseason. But they replaced him with Eric Gordon, they got Jared McCain out of the draft. It's a good shooter. And they managed to pick up Andre Drummonde. Kelly resigned. Kelly Oubre, who is pretty solid three and d guy for him. And then Tyrese Maxi, they resigned their star, I think, out of the deal they gave Tyrese Maxi. I think they're starting to show flashes of kind of leaning towards more of Maxi than Joel Embiid, kind of going with more of the younger guy. They might, I know people have kind of been suggesting that they need to build around him rather than Joel Embiid. So.
[00:38:11] Speaker A: Yeah, cuz I mean, at this point, like, you know, Joel Embiid has this whole thing, trust the process. Well, it's been about ten years, like a minute now. Trusted, like we need to speed it up. It's almost like deloading, like with D'Angelo Russell, you know, and his playoff performance. Like, are you here? Did you load yet? Are you here, did you buffer?
[00:38:30] Speaker B: But anyway, funny laker ties.
[00:38:34] Speaker A: Yeah, man, I, like I said, I'm gonna get to the Lakers when it's time and we gonna get to them, but we're just saving them. Cause you know, they got Ronnie. Like it's a whole bunch going on with.
[00:38:42] Speaker B: But yeah, the whole thing that did not resign Buddy Hill to stand corrected, but buddy healed went to the Golden State warriors, Nicholas platoon going over to the Clippers. So I mean, yeah, they lose out on some 3d guys. And Nicholas Batoom, buddy healed, sharpshooter sniper, he's going to go on to be, I guess the next splash bro in Golden State in the Bay area. But I mean, overall, I think the Sixers are moving in a fairly good area. I know people are really concerned, kind of iffy on Paul George. I know you were talking about that tray with his playoff performance as of late. So I don't know, I think they're starting to go towards kind of the right area. They're kind of in a. They're in a weird spot right now, especially with Joel Embiid going through his injuries and whether or not they're really going to make him, they're going to continue on and really try to, you know, squeeze as much juice out of his career as they can, or they really just going to just. Okay, we're. We still got you in bed, but we're building around Maxie, so they really just. They really just got to make that decision, I think. So. I don't know. We got two teams left. We got the Nets and raptors, but we're almost out of time, so would you want to pick up the Nets and raptors? Maybe next episode?
[00:40:05] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah, that'll work.
[00:40:07] Speaker B: That might be best. But, I mean, hey, today has been a great show. We're back. We can't wait to give y'all more and more NBA news, give us art, or give y'all our takes on the NBA. And, yeah, I'm just excited for a new year. New show. Yeah, it's gonna be dope, man, with the same boys.
[00:40:27] Speaker A: Yeah.
Like I said, it's good to be back.
Shout out to everybody who's listening. I know y'all were entertained, and, yeah, I know your word will see y'all next week, so, you know, have a good one.
[00:40:40] Speaker B: Yep. Thank y'all for listening to WVUA 90.7, the capstone's NBA student section. I'm Zachary Elrod.
[00:40:47] Speaker A: I'm Trey Simpson.
[00:40:48] Speaker B: We're out. Peace.
