THE NBA PLAYOFFS ARE SET, MOST DANGEROUS PLAY-IN TEAMS & DOC RIVERS OUT AS BUCKS COACH! | S8 EP65
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Denver's strategy of resting stars for playoff seeding is debated, with hosts generally favoring playing for wins over manipulating the bracket.
- ❖The Orlando Magic's failure to secure a higher seed, losing to a Boston 'C team,' is seen as a major disappointment, leading to calls for coach Jamal Mosley's firing.
- ❖Paolo Banchero's status as a franchise superstar is questioned due to the Magic's overall performance and lack of elite supporting cast.
- ❖Charlotte Hornets are highlighted as a highly dangerous play-in team in the East, possessing strong three-point shooting and a high post-All-Star break net rating.
- ❖The current NBA draft class is viewed with skepticism regarding its potential to produce immediate 'game-changing' superstars.
- ❖Doc Rivers' firing from the Milwaukee Bucks is met with agreement, with hosts arguing against his retention in any front office capacity.
- ❖Locker room leaks are seen as detrimental to team chemistry and reputation, especially when they occur in real-time during a season.
Insights
1Denver's Playoff Seeding Strategy and Star Rest
The hosts debate the Denver Nuggets' decision to rest key players in the final game, securing the three seed. Mace argues against resting stars, citing historical failures of 'load management' for teams like the Clippers and Miami. Cam, however, supports resting players in specific scenarios, especially when a player is recovering from injury or when seating is already secured, as was the case for San Antonio's Wimby. He notes Denver's Joker played the first half to meet 65-game eligibility for MVP/All-NBA bonuses.
Denver, hottest team in the league, 12 straight wins. Despite resting most of their starters for the entire second half, they just beat the San Antonio Spurs. They're now going to be the three seed. () Mace: 'I'm not interested in people resting, especially when you don't get it done.' () Cam: 'Yesterday for San Antonio, absolutely not. Why would you play Wimby when you're going to be the two seed or nine? He just had a rib injury a few days ago.' ()
2Orlando Magic's Disappointing Season and Coaching Crisis
The Orlando Magic's season is labeled 'disgusting' after they lost to a Boston 'C team,' sliding into a play-in spot instead of a six seed. Hosts suggest coach Jamal Mosley has 'lost the locker room' due to bad offense and lackluster performance, leading to rumors of his firing. There's also speculation about trading Paolo Banchero for Giannis, but Trish argues against trading Banchero given the investment, preferring to trade Franz Wagner and definitely firing Mosley. The consensus is that Banchero lacks sufficient superstar support.
Orlando, what a disappointing team they've been this year. They lost to Boston C team... now they slide into the playin spot. () Cam: 'When you talk about Coach Mosley possibly getting fired, he may have lost the locker room.' () Trish: 'It feels like Jamal Mosley lost the locker room. It feels like guys really don't like the style of play that he has.' () Mace: 'You're never going to beat three superstars with one superstar.' ()
3Charlotte Hornets: The Most Dangerous Play-In Team
The Charlotte Hornets are identified as the play-in team with the highest potential to challenge top seeds. Post-All-Star break, they boast the second-best net rating in the NBA and a top-10 defense. Their offensive firepower, led by Conanipple (NBA leader in three-pointers made) and LaMelo Ball (second in threes made), makes them unpredictable. Despite LaMelo's 'dumb plays,' his free-flowing style is compared to Steph Curry's, making them a 'wild card' if they make the playoffs.
Mace: 'I'm going to have to go with um Charlotte. I think if Charlotte if Charlotte could win, they definitely can get in the East Coast and be disruptive.' () Cam: 'They're a very, very fun team to watch. Then you got Khan Canipple who can knock down the Look, I love to watch Charlotte play. Not only that, they have two 40point victories after the All-Star break.' () Trish: 'Post Allstar break, the Charlotte Hornets have the second best net rating in the NBA. They're a top 10 defense.' ()
4Doc Rivers' Firing and Locker Room Dynamics
Doc Rivers' firing from the Milwaukee Bucks is seen as a necessary move after a 'debacle' of a tenure. Mace strongly opposes the idea of keeping him in a front office role, comparing it to a bad breakup where one party tries to stay friends. The hosts also discuss the broader issue of locker room leaks, agreeing with Charles Barkley that real-time leaks indicate a lack of respect and disarray within the team, damaging its reputation and future prospects.
Mace: 'This is one of those situations like having a girl, you're trying to you're trying to break up with her but stay friends. I'm not for that.' () Cam: 'It lets you know that it's a problem actually occurring right now.' () Mace: 'Sometime to win, you have to change personal stuff about you.' ()
Notable Moments
Mace and Cam recount a personal anecdote about an ex-girlfriend who, after a breakup, became best friends with Mace's mother and even brought her new boyfriend to his house, drawing a parallel to Doc Rivers potentially staying in the Bucks' front office.
This humorous and relatable story vividly illustrates the hosts' strong opposition to Doc Rivers remaining with the Bucks in any capacity after his coaching failure, emphasizing the awkwardness and potential for continued negative influence.
Quotes
"I'm not interested in people resting, especially when you don't get it done, right? So, let's take all of the teams that have done this low um low low what do they call it? Low management, right? And then they get to the playoffs only to lose. What was the use of the low management?"
"I think if you if you had to go with Giannis over um Paul, I think that that's an excellent trade."
"It's like you're the man on Stone Gym's team. Like yeah, you're going to get 50, but you're going to lose by 30. That's what this team looks like."
"He had a whole open layup, ran to the corner and made the three. It didn't even matter that he made the three. It was wild disrespectful. It was risky."
"This is one of those situations like having a girl, you're trying to you're trying to break up with her but stay friends. I'm not for that. If if I'm leaving, I'm leaving. Right? If you're going, you're going. Don't try to keep a Don't try to keep a black cat around. If it's something that doesn't work for you, you got to get rid of it."
"Chemistry means a lot. You may not get along with the other players, but y'all are winning. So, would you would you rather go be somewhere where [expletive] is running smoothly and everybody's cool, but y'all not winning or would you be somewhere where uh it [expletive] ain't going necessarily right, but you're winning?"
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