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The crown is yours. Welcome to Bullyball, presented by DraftKings. I'm Rachel Nichols. That's DeMarcus Cousins and Bookie. We got some breaking news from you, including we need to know what a beer leopard is. Can you share with us what you'll be doing next time?
Yeah, I'll be taking my talents to Taiwan. I'll be playing with the Taiwan beer Leopards to exactly answer your question on what a beer leopard is. I'm still in the park since a researching and finding out exactly what that is.
When I find out, I'll let you know.
But it is completely fair.
Yeah, but I'm excited to be playing ball. You know, I love this game and I still got a lot left in the tank. So this is just to you know, help their urge a little bit and keep my competitive juices flowing. So I'm excited for the opportunity and i can't wait to get out there.
I love that. I mean every time we put this podcast out and we tweet about it or put it on Instagram, all the comments are why is the boogie playing? Why'n't Boogie playing? My team needs him, This team needs him, that team needs him. So it's exciting that we get to see you play a little bit more. And I know the NBA teams will be watching that too, So this is going to be fun, my friend, and we all now need on this spot. We need your Leopards gear.
So that will be your assignment when you come back from there, is to bring some all right, I appreciate that. I appreciate that. All Right, we got to get back to the big star returning to the NBA. Just beer Leopard. I'm still on beer Leopard, Okay, returning to the NBA. John Morant is back on Tuesday night. This is after serving, of course, the twenty five game suspension, it will be job versus Zion, which would be blockbuster for you. On his way back and Brant spoke to the media for
the first time on Friday. He said, kind of like what you were just saying, Boogie, that basketball has been It's always been there for him, it's been his therapy, that it's part of his life, and that taking that away was really hard for him. It made his time more difficult. He also said that he knows that the words he says about taking responsibility or just words, and that no one's going to believe him until he proves it with his actions. And this part I thought was
really the most interesting. He said that he felt guilty for the position the Grizzlies were in, where of course they are out of the playoff chase right now. It's such a great start to the season last year and it's basically completely the opposite this year. And frankly, that's for more reasons than John Morant being out. But obviously he is the biggest cog in that wheel and he has not been there for them. So I'm just interested. I was watching him talk and I was kind of
wondering what's actually going on inside his head. Do you have a sense can you take us inside the head of an NBA star who the whole world is criticizing their behavior and they he is in this position where he's got to prove it. What is that like?
It's a tough situation and it's and it's super heavy on an individual. And the reason I could say that is nobody in his life is exempt from growing pains. And John Moran is just another person going through his growing pains.
Uh.
The difference is his life is a fish is a fishboat, whereas everybody looking in at this one fish, you know what I mean. So through his growing pains, he gets criticized with every single step that he does wrong or right. And I mean, for the most part, any kid growing up, when their parents talks to him too much or fusses at him too much, become stressful. So imagine three million people on a everyday basis, you know, criticizing, you're talking
down on you, all of those things. So you have to realize at the end of the day, this is a young kid, that's a human being. He bleeds and sleeps the same way everybody else does. So you know, I believe he deserves the grace that the next individual gets when it comes to growing pains or making mistakes. So he's a kid that's growing up, he's figuring life out. He made some mistakes, he's admitted to those mistakes. Now it's time to get him opportunity to better those mistakes.
I think through this twenty five game suspension, he's been humbled, he's realized what's important to him. He's been able to prioritize the important things in his life, and it's also going to help him become a better man, a better father, and a better professional. So I think everything that's transpired
is going to help in a positive way. I appreciate the comments and him being able to say, you know, I feel like the team is in this position because me, that's a sign of accountability, that's a sign of a leader, that's a sign of a guy that's realized I've messed up and I've let my guys down, and you know, because of that, they're in a bad position. So I think I think he comes out first game with a
lot of fire. I think him returning to the team is the you know, the perfect spark for this team to help them go on a run, to put them back in position to you know, turn the season around. So they're only five games out, they have a great chance of making it playing And I mean, if I'm first second seed and I have to see this team first round, I'm scared. You know, this is a team that can beat any team on a nightly basis when they're healthy, and especially when a top ten player is
now back, you know, with his team. So and he is a top ten player, Let's let's not deny that. Let's not let you know, steal in the state say otherwise. You know what I mean. He's that dynamic, he's that electric, and we've seen it time and time again what happens when John Moran is on this Grizzly team. They're one of the most fun teams the whit and they're a very very tough team to be So, you know, I hope things work out in this kid's favor. I'm a huge fan of him. I'm a huge fan of his talent.
And you know, I can see through the mistakes, you know what I mean, I know what it's like to you know, fuck up as a young kid. I could see through all that. I could see this is a good kid with a good heart. He just made some silly mistakes, and that's exactly what it should be, label a silly mistake. So let's move on, and I'm excited for his return. Get back on the floor and show the world to start at you ark.
Yet, I do think people have kind of forgotten how good he is. I think we're going to see that over the next month. We talked last week. The odds in Vegas are not very high that they make the playoffs, and I'm like, you know, just has to make the plan. And to your point, they're going to be a very different team than a typical nine or ten seed because of all the time jobs missed. By the time they get to the spring, they're going to be a higher caliber team in the nine or ten seeds clothing like
a wolf in sheep's clothing. So it will be a threat if they get there to make the playoffs and then in the first round. How hard does it do you think is going to be for him to actually come back on the court Tuesday night? Do you think we're going to see him at full speed? Do you think he's I always feel like conditioning, you can always practice as much as you want, But guys, you see them get winded in a real game when they come back. He's been practicing with the team, they just won't let
him in the arena during games. So what what do you think we'll see actually out on the court when he's playing against Iyon and the Pelicans.
I think you see a big game from him. Like you said, he's been able to practice with the team. I'm sure they're putting him through rigorous training to you know, keep his conditioning in top shape, to you know, come in and flow with the team right away. And on top of this is a young kid. This isn't something veteran that misstime. When you're this age, you can literally roll out of bed and go do what you want,
you know what I mean. So, and it's not like he's been missing time because of Andrey, Yeah, you know. And it's not like he's coming back from an injury. I think he'll come in and we'll see the same start that we saw last season season before that.
Like I said, he's daddy electric. I think he's going to come in and make an.
Impact from game one and we'll see a different team when he returned. So I don't think it'll be an issue at all.
I thinks I predict he'll be a little winded some of the time that you'll see that. But I think we're gonna get a really big dunk to like remind everybody is I'm excited for that, So we'll see. While we're on the subject of guys who have been under the microscope and need to change their behavior, Sham's from The Athletic reported earlier today that Draymond Green has started
the counseling process. He's expected to remain sidelined via suspension for at least the next three weeks, according to shams sources. So he's already missed eleven games out of the warriors twenty six games this season because of various suspensions and other things. If he is out for three weeks like this report, it says, that would be another ten games missed. So obviously he needs to come back from this suspension a different guy because he cannot afford to keep doing
this to his team. Kind of like John Rant said, and I'm just curious how Draymond makes a substantive change beyond just sort of okay, I'm not going to do this anymore because that hasn't been working to just say to himself even I'm not going to do this anymore. And I think it's interesting that Draymond has always said that, and Steve Kerr and Steph Curry have said that dray needs to play with a level of emotion to be Draymond out there, and that he has to walk that line.
And clearly that line has just like moved too much toward being unacceptable and he's got to figure out how to be himself as a player. But move that line back. You play with Draymond green You guys were teammates on that Warriors team. How does he do this? How does he actually make a real change?
I think that's I think that's a question and answer for Draymond Greene himself, and I think he'll find an answer, you know, through self reflection, through this time that or this process that he's going through with being away from the team and being sidelined. You know, I hope he finds that answer because you know, Draymond is a close friend of mine. I'm a huge Draymond fan, and I've been on the ends of that team and understand the dynamic and.
The way that puzzle works. With Draymond being in that.
Puzzle, and without that puzzle piece, it just doesn't work, regardless of you know, what you want to do. I think they understand and I think you know, they're superstar and Steph Curry understands that and that's the reason he supports him the way he does. But uh, you know, I hope Draymond finds that answer. And it just sucks because we know who Draymond is as a player. You know, he's passionate, he's fired, he's he's all of these things that you know, you don't really see, and that's what
makes Draymond so special. I just hate I hate the fact that that passion and then fire turns into a negative. Of course it's become it's now being spent into a negative. But for some reason, when they were winning and they were successful, it was enabled.
It was okay.
Then now that they're on, you know, they're slowing up and you know other teams are catching up. Now it's being spent into you know, now he needs counseling and help and all that. That's the part I don't agree. And that's the part that I don't think is okay, don't turn this passionate player into the angry black man. I just that's that's bullshit, and I don't I don't agree with it. I don't want that narrative to be,
you know, spent that way. So if you know, me speaking on it can help him anyway, then that's what I'm gonna do. Like, but let's not try to change this guy's character or or label him as something that he's not, because this is a highly intelligent black man and he should be you know, respected as such as he fucked up. Absolutely, So that's kind of my two cents on it.
I totally get that. And you know, it is about moving the line, right. He's always going to play with passion, He's always going to play on that line. He just has to move that line back. And I think the difference now between before, at least in part, is that it's cumulative, right, Like it hasn't just happened once or
twice or three times. And the fact that this one happened two weeks after the last one where he was suspended five games, came back, said all the right things and said that he knew he let the team down by not being there, and said it was going to be different, and then boom, two weeks later, this happens. That's what I think led to the suspension and the indefinite suspension and everyone taking it kind of more to heart. But I agree with you with the narrative is really
spun out of control. And you know, he didn't injure anyone else. He didn't you know, all that stuff. And yes, it could have been, this could have been bad, this could have been, but it wasn't. And I just I agree with you that that it's so black and white in our society about he's either a terrible person or a brilliant person and there's no apparently overlap. It's trouble
and it's not fair. And you know, you and I know Drea really well, and you know he's he cares so deeply about the game and his team and is so smart and carries himself so well, you know, off the court that to me, this is a tweak more than he's got to change his whole character. But he does have to make the tweak because this can't it's cumulative, it can't keep happening.
And you can now see that you know, they're not okay with it, so you have to adjust the chord, which is okay, And I think Draymond.
I do that.
Yeah, yeah, well, well I hope he's back even sooner than three weeks. We'll find out. The league is more fun with Raymond in it. That's my opinion. All right, let's talk about the Sixers. They are on a roll. I mean, they've been playing lights out. They are currently third in the East. But this may be one of the crazier stats I have read this season. Joel embiid Boogie has more points than minutes played. His points are seven fifty two, his minutes played are seven forty six.
And here's another one. The last four games that the Sixers have played, he hasn't even played in the fourth quarter of any of those games because they've been winning by so much. And he hasn't played in the fourth quarter of eight games this season. It's just bunkers. The more points than minutes played is crazy. I think Kareema of jelg Jabar is the only person to have ever done that, which puts you in high standing. He is
thirty four to twelve and six on the year. That's a career high and assists and we can add in two blocks per game as well. So look, following the James Harden deal. A lot of people thought Philly would need to add another piece to get back into contention. People kind of thought Joel deserved the MVP last year, but then Jokiic came along after that in the playoffs and you know, won the championship, ring he was the finals MVP, So it kind of wul flipped back to
the narrative of he was better than embiid. I just what do you think, as a big man, of what Joel is doing this year and how how important should we look at these stats and think of what we think of him, especially compared to Yogic frankly, because that's the competition right now, and you're honest, but the comparisons are mostly with with Jokic at the moment.
Oh well, I'm gonna just start this off by saying, I think he's the front runner for another MVP. He's showing how dominant he can be when he's healthy and on a consistent level. I think he's found his rhythm. I think he's figured out the secret sauce all of these things. You know, he's had a you know, injury history. He's passed that part. You know, it was they talked
about his conditioning he's passed that part. He's figured out every knack that they tried to put against him, and he's found a way to turn it around and completely dominate.
Credit to him. He's leading that team.
Even though the team made a huge move with you know, getting rid of James Harden and bringing in other guys, he found a way and more credit to him. I think he's top five player in the NBA. Continue to dominate, He'll continue to lead this team. My only word is once they get to the playoffs and teams start to adjust, you know, I do still think they need that extra piece to you know, that that second or third option to help get them over the hump playoff wise. But
you know, I'm I'm happy for the big fella. He's sewing and he's trying to separate hisself in this league and he's doing that and in my opinion, he's front running for another MVP.
Yeah. I mean, I think they're definitely going to make a move before the deadline to get to your playoff point. You know, they have a ton of assets now because of the James Hrden deal, so they can actually really go out and get someone. The question is is someone
going to be available that would really help them. What do you think, you know, Tyrese Maxi has stepped in for James Harden and been lights out, so they don't need they don't have a glaring needed point guard, right, what else do you think they would need to take that pressure off and be and let him really shine in the postseason.
I just think they need a dynamic wings.
Score can give you both fans, give you about a team to twenty a game, and I think I think that that that puts them at a balanced team and it can get them over the hump in any situation that they you know, may run into during the playoffs. Joel is gonna be Joeell. But I do know in the playoffs he'll see a lot of double triple teams.
It'll be a lot of schemes to you know, make him become a playmaker instead of a score or you know, just get the balls out of his get the ball out of his hands, you know as soon as he uh, you know, receives it. So you've got to have those options on the wings to you know, counter at that. But with that being said, who's the right player? I mean, Zach Lavine can come into mind. I think he fits that mold for that team. But uh, but they need.
Someone who plays strong defense. I mean, you're not going to survive through the Eastern Conference playoffs in the Eastern Conference Finals if one of your guys in your starting five doesn't really defend. And I'm you know, look, I think I like Zach Levine as a player. I think if he gets in a different environment, I think we're going to see a different player. I'm not sure how much effort either one of us would put on defense
if we were playing on that Chicago Bulls team. After all these years, I mean, the can has been through a lot, Like I don't even know offhand how many coaches. I mean, the environment there has sucked. I mean it's been bad, so I get it. I wouldn't come out, you know, killing myself on defense every night either, But that would have to be the condition to acquire him.
To me, I would have to sit down and talk to him and his agent and just be like, dude, we need max effort from you every night on the other end of the floor, because I think that's what they need. But yeah, I mean I think that they they have the room to do that. They have the assets to outbid anyone for pretty much anyone except Oklahoma City, for anyone they want. So I'm curious to see what they add there, and we shouldn't sleep on what they
already added. Because Pat Bev Nickmatoomb like Batum is not know, he's a really chill, steadying influence in the locker room right Like he's great on the floor, but he's also great kind of team dynamic wise. I think people don't really get that. And Pat Bev, man, he's gonna hold you accountable his own teammates. I mean, how much do you think that's helped Joelle to have a guy like that around who's you know, talks a lot but fires guys up.
Pat Bev does what he does everywhere he goes. Pat Bev's impact is bigger than you know, the amount of points of how many minutes he plays on the floor on the ninth basis the way he can, you know, motivate these young guys, influence them to you know, play team basketball. He can influence these guys room through a wall for him, you know what I mean. And that's the talent within itself. So uh, you know, Pat Bev
does it everywhere. He goes and that's the reason that you know, I believe or part of the reason is sixty team brought him in. He's a great veteran voice in every locker room. He's respected and he's there to you know, hold every superstar accountable. I'll watched them do it night in and night out with the Clippers with Kawhi and PG. So either you're gonna respect her to check it and obviously you know and beat his respect
and it's showing on a positive note every night. So you know, credit to Pat Bev, you know, helped leading the team and doing all the hard work and detailed work behind the scenes because it's it's playing in their favor.
I mean, he's one of those guys. He's in that group that you know, nobody likes playing him and everybody wants him on their team. You know, that kind of guy. And I think I think he's an important piece. I think the piece, the pieces that they added this year have been a big deal on Tyrese Maxey's ascension, of course, and he's just a great person. He's happy, he's positive.
Terris is just he's a lot of fun to play with his game and just his attitude so I think I think the whole vibe around that team has been so good and Joelle has been crazy good, and I agree with you, he's got a stake in the MVP conversation for sure. I mean it's it's really interesting with him and Jokic. I mean, which who do you just overall as a player? Are you a team Embad or Teamokich? Who would you put rank one or two?
I'm team big Man.
Honestly, I hate where they're trying to push the big man out of the game. So either one of these guys dominating also including Jannis, like any of these guys dominating and making it tough on the interior, it only helps the big man moving forward. So I'm a fan of all, don't get that part wrong. But when it comes to you know this this same you know who's better Yoki MB you can't really say who's better because they play two different games, you know what I mean.
Once a more all around player, the other one is more of a two way guy. So uh, you know, and when it comes to picking one, it's really about your preference. What are you looking for with you know, building the team? And for me personally, I would go over them B. I feel like MB is easier to build around. I feel like you put another superstar wing guard with MB, you automatically create balance. When it comes to Yokis, that may not be the case because Yokis more is more of a guy that you know.
Facilitates the offense. He is that point guard, so it's a little more it's a little more difficult to build a team around that, you know what I mean.
And then on top of that, he's not the defensive anchor that you know, Joe l Embid is, so you didn't have to figure out a situation to also correct that with building the team. So for me, I would lean towards Embid just in the simple fact that it's easier to you know, put the right pieces around them compared to Jokis, where you almost have to put the perfect team around him to be successful, and that's a little more difficult.
Thing, you know, with MB. So it's all about preference.
They're both incredible and great in their own right, So it really is no wrong difference, wrong answer.
It's really just about preference.
Yeah. And by the way, Giannis is absolutely in that same conversation, but because of the MVP stuff last year, yokicchin Embiid had been more. I want to against each other.
I want to ask you, Rachel, who would you go with?
It's so hard. I had to vote for the MVP last year, I voted for Embid. I thought he one hundred percent deserved it. I didn't think it was even as close as it was portrayed to be because I thought Jokic kind of, you know, that whole Denver team basically the last month of the season was not going full speed, and it is a full season award, so to me, I wanted the guy who put together the full season. I kind of agree with you just in that, like they play so differently, it's a little bit hard
to compare them. I think what Jokic does is such a like different skill set than we've seen, and just the way he passes and sort of all of that. So I appreciate that, but I also appreciate just sort of the way and be overpowers a game and that more traditional big man style, and of course he can shoot threes and do all the other stuff, but he just he has that freight train part of him that
I love to watch. And I don't know the three finalists for MVP being all big men was so interesting to me because it was such a guard heavy conversation league. You know, ever since Steph Curry came in, we still have so many guards. You know, when I fill out my All Star ballot every year, the guards are the spots that it's hard to figure out who goes where.
When I fill out All MBA every year, it's very hard to figure out, you know, kind of who goes where because we have so many great guards, but the top three guys all big men. So I just think that's fascinating in terms of the direction the league is going. You know, big men are fighting back that they're not letting them take away the NBA from them, So there
we go. What I like about this deal for the Sixers Clippers deal is that, you know, it's kind of working out for both sides, and I love trades like that. And you know, when Harden first got to the Clippers, I know it didn't go well, but I said many times on this podcast or when I my gig on Fox Sports, I was like, this was a good trade, Like, even if it doesn't do everything it's supposed to do, it was a good trade because they were stuck and
they needed to get unstuck. And the truth is that once they sort of figured out a system, and that system really involved Russ coming off the bench instead of being a they are twelve and three since that decision was made, and they are currently on a seven game winning streak. And it's been a little quiet, you know, because there's been so much stuff going on in the league, and the Ncason Tournament was in the middle of that and everything. But they are a force to be reckoned with.
Kawhi Leonard has played every single game. He is healthy. Paul George has played twenty four out of twenty five games. He is healthy. I mean, what do you see when you watch this Clippers team, and what do you credit to this big turnaround?
What do I see?
I see a team that's right now flowing under the radar, which is a good thing in their favor.
We've both spoke on it.
It's going to take time for this team to figure it out. With you know, being four Hall of Fame potential Hall of famers on one team, it's only one basketball. They're all at a point in their career where they're still in their prime, but they're also you know, this is the part of their crew or the decline starts to happen, you know what I mean. And you know, this is an important time in their career. It's about winning. It's about you know, solidifying their careers with you know,
championship rings. And they're all in that position now and they're all bought in and it's obvious they're on the seven game win the streak right now. So you know, if I'm this Clippers team, I want to continue to flow under the radar. I don't want the media coverage. I don't want the attention because that can become draining.
When it's just constant coverage about every mistake or every positive you make, those plays become pressured in with every possession and it's a lot, it can become drained and mentally draining, and by the time the playoffs come, you're mentally drained from the entire regular season. So I think
this play is in their favor. You know, if I'm that team, I want to stay under the radar and you know, just continue to build build that confidence, build that chemistry, and you know, release the monster once the playoffs comes.
But when it comes to.
You know, crediting, how you know, making all these things work well. One, it's a group, it's a group effort. It has to be everybody bought in. But the person that I don't believe gets enough credit is tylok Uh. Tyleru gets somewhere. He gets so much heat year in the year out for you know, the changes made with this team or the you know, the low management and just the different things that you know, continue to circulate around his team. And you know, he stays the float
through every storm. And you got to appreciate that in the coach.
Uh.
And it's also a talent to be able to manage these egos. That's not an easy thing to do. I think that's something that gets overlooked when it comes to coaching. It's not just about exus and those. It's not just about creating the perfect system. It's about being able to manage different egos and differ different personality. That's a skill within itself, And like I said, I think that gets
overlooked a lot when it comes to coaching. I think the best coaches, or the most well rounded coaches are the ones that can you know, coach any ego, manage with any ego. You think about guys like Phil Jackson. Uh, he had to manage the egos of Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman. So and he was able to do it, you know what I mean. And the list goes on Shaq and Kobe. Those are different type personalities. So that's a skill in itself, and it does and I don't
think TLU gets enough credit for that. So you know, credit to him, you know, keep that thing afloat, and you know, I wish some success this season, and I think they will have a successful season. You know, I think they're on the right path, and you know, they'll continue to you know, float under the radar and they'll have a big season towards the end.
I don't think they could have made this trade without Tyler being their coach. And I think that seventy five percent of the coaches in the league and this is not a knock on the coaching in the NBA, but everyone has different skill sets. His particular skill set fit
with this plan right. And I asked Steve Kerr about TYLERU a few weeks ago, because of course ty was with him on Team USA this past summer, and he said that, you know, he always knew how good Tyler was, It's not like a's surprised these guys coach against each other. But he said just seeing him interrelate to the players and how he to the players was so interesting for Steve and Steve's it's got great rapport with his players too. I mean, these are two coaches that are players coaches.
But he said the way Tie does it was so fascinating, and he's just loose with his attitude, but he says everything with purpose, and that combination is really gets through
to guys. And then the other side of it, you know, I think there's a temptation with a guy who is a former player and who does has such a good rapport with players, and you can see it to just sort of when he was at the Caps, there was a lot of like, oh, well, you know, he knows how to handle Lebron and that's why they're winning, or
that's why he's a good coach. He is a fucking good xCE and no coach like his out of time outplays are always exceptional, Like I don't think he sometimes gets enough credit for that, and that the schemes and stuff that he runs, like I think sometimes because he's so good with the personalities, it overshadows you know, what
a good technical basketball coach he is. So for all those reasons, mixing these four guys technically on the floor and how you put them and where you put them, and then also the player relation aspect to me is a big reason why they're succeeding. And then of course Russell Westbrook. You know, look, the story that was put out was that he asked to go to the bench for the good of the team. Did he I don't know. Does someone have a conversation with him and then decide
to spare his ego? They would put that story out. Well, never know, but the fact that he's done it, and he's done it with you know, good form, and he hasn't been a problem. You know, you and I are both talked. You know, we're big fans of Russell Westbrook in the way he is a teammate. And I think we've seen that again too. So I love what they're doing over there. I agree with you about the under the radar thing being good because they're more pressure and
attention the more people ask for us. So why are you going to the bench? What do you think about being on the bench? You know, like all that stuff can inflame issues and the fact that they're just humming right now. I don't know. I think they're super fascinating team. I can't wait to see what they can do in the playoffs. And everyone's going to stay healthy. But so far that's happened. All right, we got to get to
the big games this week. Set a reminder, Boogie, which game are you going to make sure is on your calendar? On Wednesday, we've got Wolves at Sixers. We've also got Clippers at Mavericks. That's gonna be a good one. We're just talking about how good these teams are and the Luca Clippers rivalry is always fun to see. Thursday, we've got Clippers at Thunder. That's always interesting considering the trade that happened with those teams. Lakers at Wolves also on Thursday,
and Minnesota tuber Wolves. Speaking of under the radar, I mean they are cruising right now. They still have the number one defense in the league. All the parts that weren't working last year with Rudy Gobert and Karl Anthony Towns and Aunt has just ascended even more so. I think that game is going to be fascinating. You've got Celtics at Clippers on Saturday. You've also got Lakers at Thunder on Saturday. And we'll get to the Christmas Day
games when we talk for next week. But for that week, for these games, which game are you most interested in?
I'm looking forward to Wednesday, you know, obviously with the big man matchup between embiid and and Gobert and Kat.
I think that'd be really entertaining.
We'll get to see if you know, and Bed can continue to dominate against the number one defense in the league, uh, anchored by you know, another big and Rudy Gobert. So that'll be a great match up, old school basketball, two
bigs going at it. And you know, obviously that Clippers and Mavericks game, you know, their rivalry stems, you know, deep from the past, and this Clipper team is now in a rhythm, so it'll be good to see them against another, you know, playoff caliber team and just see how they match up with that and Uh, and we're gonna be able to see if their their defense can match up with you know, high powered offense player by Luca, So I think that'll be a great matchup as well.
So Wednesday night definitely has got my attention, and.
Look, Embiid has like a little mini beef with I think every other big man in the league, but he's definitely got a little one with Rudy Gobert. There's some history there, so I think it'll be funny. Also, all right, Draftking segment, I'll take that bet. We're going to talk about the Warriors playoffs. So the odds for the Warriors to make the playoffs right now, Yes, at plus one thirty five, No, at minus one seventy. Golden State currently
eleventh in the West. They have a twelve and fourteen record, and by the way, we just talked about Draymond probably gonna be out for the next ten games, so we can't expect them to just take off Klay Thompson the last three games. Definitely, his level play is gone up twenty seven points per game on fifty four percent three point shooting, so that's that's better. He was in such a slump at the start of the season. Draymond Green,
as we said, not going to be there. Andrew Wiggins now coming off the bench, which I thought was an interesting move. So it's going to be kind of interesting to see how much that tweak helps in Draymond's absence. So I don't know what do you think are you Are you taking the bet that the Warriors are going to make the playoffs or you think they're not getting in.
I mean, it's hard to ever count this team out just because of their history and their DNA and you know, just a decade work for time. When it comes to the chemistry, like this is a team that can literally hit the switch and turned it on. It's hard to sit here and say they won't make the playoffs because they're not playing their best basketball right now. They are missing a vittal piece in Draymond Green, and we don't know how long he'll be absent.
Wiggins is in the slump.
It it's hard for me to ever go against this team when they make the playoffs. I think they will. I think this rhythm which he's yeah, I'm taking a back. Clay Thompson is finding his rhythm. You get him shooting anywhere close to what he's accustomed to doing. Their dangerous team, Steph Curry will continue to be Steph Curry. My hope is that this team makes a move. They make a move that can get this team over the hump. They have to get another score on this team to complement
these guys. I think they dropped the ball with the Jordan Poole move. My opinion, I think I'd rather have sat those two down and like, hey, y'all.
Need to figure this ship out.
Just work it out.
You know, we have championship aspirations. Y'all need to figure this shit out so we can move forward. I think they just I think they settled with what they did with the Jordan Pool Jordan Poole move. I don't think they got the best piece back to help improve this team or even just keep them afloat or keep them at the same level.
But you know that's done.
And but at the end of the day, I just it's hard for me to ever say this team isn't a threat, because they always will be.
As long as Steph courageally.
In this team, as long as Klay Thompson is back end up, enjoy mind being the anchor defensively and the voice of the team, I think they always have a chance. It's just about you know, making the right move moving forward and filling out those you know, those key pieces to keeping this team afloat and moving forward.
I mean, look, they don't have that many tradable assets, just because you know, they have a lot of guys who are kind of at a low point of their play right now and contract wise and everything else. Chris Paul could get moved again. Andrew Wiggins could get moved, but again, like he's not playing well, so what are you getting back for him? Is complicated. On the other hand,
you've got Clay on an expiring deal. I mean, you could deal him, but I think that would mess with their chemistry so much in the middle of the season. It's an interesting side bet, though, Boogie, because at the beginning of next season, are we going to see this exact same pour still on the Warriors? Are they going to re sign Clay? Clay would have to take a pretty big discount for them to fit all the pieces together. Is Clay Thompson going to be there at the beginning
next season? Is Draymond going to be there? They just signed him to a four year, very expensive deal. But maybe they decide over the summer it's not worth it anymore. They try to, you know, some team is going to want him, so I don't know. Do you think that that they'll be there? Do you think Steve Kerr will be there. What do you think who's going to be there and who's missing? What's your said bet on that at the beginning of season.
I think it depends on how this season plays out. I think they'll finish the season with these guys just to you know, see if they are if they do still have that push to make you know, title runs. If it is just a situation where you know, are these the correct pieces to move for or should we start, you know, our rebuilding process. I know one guy that will be there. It'll be Steph Curry. Regardless if they're
playing for championship or rebuilding, he will be there. It's hard to determine if they can figure the contract situation out with Klay Thompson because you know, obviously the one they offered is you know, it's laughable with what this guy's brought to this team. You know, the championships, the increase of value when it comes to this team, like, all of these things play a part in that, and
Klay Thompson was a part of that. So to sit there and then offer, you know, just a bullshit deal to a future Hall of Famer, a guy that's a big part of why this team is. You know as it is now, like is laughable. So that's something they definitely have to figure out. And you know, I'm with Klay tough and you deserve what you deserve, bro, and I hope you get yours.
Yeah, I mean, look, it's it's difficult just because of all the other contracts they've gotten themselves into and making those pieces fit. But I don't think Steph Curry is going through a rebuilding session. I don't think he's interested in that at all. You know, he said he wants to play until he's like thirty seven, thirty eight. I asked him about that because like my dad played until he was thirty eight, I want to play, you know
that long. And he's he's interesting winning another title, And I don't think that with him being the core of that team, if management sat him down and said are you good with this, I don't think the answer would be yes. Of a rebuild, I don't think he'd be in for that. So the question is sort of how do they manage what they have while adding pieces? As you said, it's going to be interesting the Clay Thompson situation. I'm fascinated by the way this is going to work out,
But You're right, man. He's been such a big part of what they do, you know, so tied to Steph. You know, the way movement works with that team requires Clay, you know, to be there and to be just that catch and shoot guy. So I'm it's gonna be interesting. But all right, Boogey Cousins taking the bet the Warriors are gonna make the playoffs. You also think the Grizzlies are making the playoffs. So some of these teams are getting knocked out in Boogie World. But we'll get to that.
We'll get to that leader. I know a team that is not making the play and they lead off play in I know a team that is not making the play in either. This is part of our doom Scroll segment for the week we check the internet so you won't have to Detroit. Boogie Cousins has lost twenty three in a row. Twenty three. I mean, you were on some bad Kings teams, but your longest losing streak was eight. I mean, what the hell, man, how do you lose twenty three games in a row?
I mean, that's tough. That's that's really really tough. You're asking me how. I have no clue. I don't. I don't relate to this in any way, shape or form. Yeah, that's that's that's a tough situation to be in. But you know that's his the NBA. It's hard to win games in the NBA. Detroit's a young team.
Had obvious.
Yeah, I'm not. I wish I had to answer to this. I just don't. But you know, to their defense, they are a young team. They are still figuring out things. They're trying to find their identity. I think they got one piece right so far, well more than one piece right. But as of you know, the coaching, I think Mine Williams is a great coach for that team. I think he's a great motivator. I think he'll get these guys mine in the right space to you know, becoming winning,
a winning team and winning players. K Cunningham is an incredible game.
One game's tasket. Yeah, they don't need a winning mentality or to get right. They need to win one.
Game, win the game, win a game, a gamely.
An a game, just give us that. I want to look at a few highlights that social media has given us. This This one is crazy. Have you seen this picture? Yannis had his kids on the bench wall. The Bucks were blowing out the Pistons during the game. This is insane. I've never seen this before.
Early. I mean another, how would you.
Feel if you looked across the court and his kids on the bench. That's wrong, that's wrong. Also, uh, this one that Draymond Green has more injections than the Pistons have wins. Uh. You know that's a sad, sad stat on both sides actually, so don't like that one. And then uh, even Wingstop the little fun with the Pistons. So usually they give out five free wings if the Pistons win. Right, that has been their promotion. Right, All the arenas have one of these promotions, you know, two
free throws blah blah blah. The Pistons had the Wingstop promo, We'll give out five wings to you if the Pistons win, and instead Wingstop tweeted, we could do five free wings for every loss, because you guys need to win, and you know they deserve to win. So if even if they lose, they want they want to give people wings. So there's something there for Pistons fans. This is sad. One win, one win, let's start baby steps. One win.
There we go this is what I want to see this week before we we convene for Christmas Christmas podcast. But yeah, I want to see one win for the Pistons.
I want to know what the bend line.
Dude, right, we gotta get DraftKings on that. I don't know if they have draft kings on that. One one win, that's all you gotta do. One win. I know you guys got it in you. Let's go. Things are so bad. The Hawks are twelve and a half point favorites to win the game tonight. So yeah, one win, just one. Don't think it's gonna come tonight. Maybe we'll one win all right. You can catch all episodes of Bullyball on the Showtime Basketball YouTube channel. You can catch us wherever
you get your podcasts. If you had fun today with us, please rate and review us. We need those five stars to help us get us. We're new podcasts. We gotta get up in that algorithm, So hit that five star button. We will see you next week. We will preview all the Christmas Day games. I'm very excited about that. Until then, see you as soon.
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