Takes

The NBA's 65-game award rule was specifically created because of Joel Embiid

It's a thousand percent... it's literally the Joel Embiid rule. No, this rule was made because of Joel Embiid. They made the rule because of Joel Embiid because people were upset that he won the MVP and they didn't think that he played enough games.

The Bucks leaked the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors to attract teams with better draft assets

I think the Bucks leaked this because they wanna move on from Giannis so they could rebuild. The Knicks don't have any first round picks. So they want a team that has first round picks to be like, oh, he is available for trade, let me come in. ... and there was also a report that his wife's moving to Greece, so he might go play in Greece.

Ben Simmons' career is over now that his agent has dropped him

My Hot Seat is Ben Simmons... He got dropped by his agent... if you're getting dropped, you're, you're, you must be bad, bad. You just not care. Yeah. At all. He just literally doesn't care even enough to like take a contract, bad sign. So he's just not, he's he's not represented currently.

Luka Doncic's weight loss makes him the epitome of male fitness.

Luca is skinny. He looks great. He looks awesome. Credit to Nico [Harrison]... He is on the cover of Men's Fitness right now. So he went from being traded because he was too fat to play sports to being the epitome of male fitness. Good for him.

LeBron James is actively trying to work his way back to the Cleveland Cavaliers

I don't know, is LeBron, is he trying to work his way back to Cleveland? I think that would be good. Yeah. I would like to see it... he's doing this on purpose to get everyone talking about it and then he's gonna do it. I think he's gonna do it.

Ace Bailey's draft stock is falling because his camp is trying to manipulate which team picks him

Are they trying to navigate this thing to get [Ace] Bailey from three to say six because they feel like there's a ton of shots and ton of points... they're gonna make back all the money that he loses dropping a few slots.

James Dolan getting involved again will ruin the Knicks

This would make me nervous as a Knicks fan because James Dolan, they're like little run here where they've gotten back to being a good team. Feels like James Dolan took a step back. Now he's maybe taking a step back forward and he's a shithead owner that will ruin something.

The Timberwolves will win two or three games in the series against the Thunder

I actually do think that the wolves are gonna win two, maybe three games [against the Thunder]. I know it doesn't feel like it after what we just watched tonight, but I mean, crazy shit happens in the playoffs. ... it'll even out a little bit, I think.

Luke Cornett is currently a better option for the Celtics than Kristaps Porzingis

Luke Cornett, like, I actually think that whatever Kristaps has, Luke Cornett is a better option than Kristaps right now. And Joe Mazzulla obviously agrees 'cause the second half he sat Kristaps.

Celtics in five

I'm not worried about the series at all. I'm not worried about the, the strategy or the team or anything. Like, there's only so much you can do when you miss [45 threes]. Celtics in five.

NBA Finals prediction: Celtics vs. Thunder

I'm sticking with the Boston Celtics, Bing bong hanky. I still support the Celtics and you know, I'm sticking with the with the thunder and I'm a little bit nervous today. I think Boston has a much easier path to the finals than OKC.

The Houston Rockets have a very bright future despite their Game 7 loss

The Rockets, as I expected going into this series, they're a very good team. They have a very bright future... they will be back. They could make a move for Giannis.

The NBA's scheduling makes Game 1 an automatic loss for teams coming off a Game 7

Why are the nuggets playing on Tuesday night... that's the most auto loss I've ever seen on a schedule ever... the nuggets in Game one and the Warriors in Game one, it feels like they're just going in to to die. Yeah. They just played a seven game series. Both a little bit older teams and they have 48 hours to turn around.

The Celtics are the heavy favorites in the East, but the Cavaliers will make it a battle

Boston is definitely the heavy favorite. Until somebody beats Boston, they're the team to beat... but do not disrespect the Cleveland Cavaliers because they're ready to rock and roll. And if you think there's gonna be an easy sweep, no, no, no, no. Don't get it twisted. You're in for a real battle.

The NBA Finals will definitely be the Celtics versus the Thunder

Let's just fast forward to the finals. We all, it's, it's, it's Celtics Thunder. Like there's no other, there's no other way.

Paying Josh Giddey $35 million a year would be a massive mistake for the Bulls

They also have a guy named Josh Giddey who they're gonna probably pay $35 million to, which would be a very big mistake... Josh Giddey is just good enough to get you in the play-in game and not the playoffs.

Oklahoma City and Boston are the clear favorites for the NBA Finals

I booked a certain hotel that I want in Boston. I booked it in October for the finals. And Oklahoma City... I booked that sucker. If you had to pick one from the west, Oklahoma City and Boston [for the finals].

Amen Thompson is a 'freak amongst freaks' and will soon be a household name

I feel like the basketball public is going to figure out who Amen Thompson is over the next two, three weeks. This guy is an absolute freak amongst freaks. Like all the great athletes that you see in the NBA, he's like the great athlete's great athlete.

The 76ers should shut down Joel Embiid and tank for Cooper Flagg

They stink. Joel Embiid, they should shut him down for the season and they should tank for Cooper Flagg.

The Denver Nuggets are the fourth-best championship contender when healthy

I think Denver's the fourth team when Denver has Aaron Gordon and this version of Jamal Murray. Even with a diminished bench, it's like you can't rule, especially, you know, you look at the depth, the extra days off depth isn't as big of an issue.

Bronny James will play two minutes and have one turnover in his NBA debut

I think [Bronny James] bad. Two minutes, one turnover.

Paolo Banchero will be one of the best players in the NBA this season with an improved shot

Paolo Banchero for the magic. He's coming off of his first Allstar season, his shot. I feel like he's gonna be a very good shooter this year. I think that'll change everything for him. I think that'll make him, you know, one of the best players in the league for sure.

Bronny James might not be able to play in the NBA

I've seen 14, 13 minute stints in two preseason games... it's Summer League all over again. I saw him share the floor with his father for the first time ever, and he plays 14 minutes and he turns it over four times and he scores zero points. And I'm saying I, I don't know if he can play. Seriously. What if his son just can't hack it?

Bronny James is not an NBA-caliber player

Bronny James... he's not an NBA player. It's not going well... everything he was doing was bad. Really, really bad.

Joel Embiid falls on his head intentionally to minimize impact on his knees

I saw some people saying that maybe [Joel Embiid] was trying to minimize the impact on his knees. So he's just not landing on his feet anymore. He is the opposite of a cat. He just lands on his head.

WNBA Finals will be the third most-watched sport in the fall

The finals of the WNBA specifically will have the third most ratings in the fall. So behind college football and the NFL. There needs to be a third place. And WNBA finals will surpass the NBA opening, will surpass the NHL and it'll be the third most watched sport. It'll battle the World Series and it will be three.

Kyrie Irving has to step up for Dallas to have any chance in Game 3

My boy, Kyrie Irving really has to step up in game three... tomorrow game three is, is is the series. They have to win that one. But in order for that to happen, Kyrie has to be himself and he just wasn't in, in those first two games. It's as simple as that.

The Celtics will beat the Mavericks in six games

Yeah, we're thinking Celtics and Six. The, the Mavs aren't gonna go away. They're gonna, they're gonna give us their best shot, but, but it's, it might be Celtics and five.

Kristaps Porzingis is the most important player for the Celtics in the Finals

Pingus really does feel like the most important player... matchup wise, changing what Dallas has done and making their bigs do something they haven't done before, not that they're incapable of doing it, but pulling that rim protection away, he feels the most important for me.

I'm sticking with the Celtics in seven to win the NBA Finals

I'm sticking with my Celtics in seven, but I do, I did find some stats... I feel, I feel strong about Celtics in seven.

The NBA Finals is the Celtics' series to lose and I think they win in six

I think it's Boston series to lose. I think it's their series to lose. Kristaps should be back. They've had the best record all year... I think Boston wins in six, but if it's a one possession game, gimme Dallas.

Celtics will beat the Pacers in 5 games

Celtics in five... I could see maybe going six, but definitely not seven.

The Mavericks will beat the Timberwolves in seven games to advance to the NBA Finals

I got Mavs and seven.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have officially earned their big boy playoff stripes

The Thunder I want say have officially earned their big boy playoff stripes because what they did on Monday night when they could not shoot at all... That's a tough playoff win. ... the Thunder win. And I'm like, they got their big boy stripes.

Bronny James will likely be drafted in the 30s or 40s range

I think he's still gonna go in that thirties, forties range. So I think that's still a good bet.

The Celtics will sweep the rest of the playoffs through the Eastern Conference Finals

We're the Boston Celtics. We're gonna beat the fuck out of 'em the next game. Beat the fuck out of 'em again. Beat the fuck out of 'em again. And then the Pacers and Knicks are both gonna be dead by the time they come to us. That's a clean sweep, clean sweep.

The current Minnesota Timberwolves are the NBA version of the 2000 Baltimore Ravens

This is the 2000 Ravens through these first six [games]... they're maniacal. They're grinning ear to ear as they're playing defense. Minnesota is emerging as the favorite to win this tournament by being the best defense we've seen in years.

The Celtics vs. Cavaliers series will be a triple-digit point differential bloodbath

They'll probably maybe win one game and have like a historic shooting there... but there should be a four-one or four-oh series. [Point differential] is going to be like in triple digits. Combined the four wins would be triple digits.

I'd much rather the Celtics play the Bulls in the first round because it's a free win

I mean the Heat obviously have had success against us. No Jimmy Butler... but still it's like, you just don't mess with [the Heat]. Forget about the Heat. Don't mess with it. If you play the Bulls, it's much better... I just want the free win.

The Oklahoma City Thunder aren't too young to win a title

I don't buy into the hole, they're too young to win it. Last year people thought, well, we've never won a championship. They can't win a finals... They have the talent, they have the coaching, and I think these Western conference playoffs are just gonna be so fun to watch.

The Celtics will beat the Suns in five games in the 2024 NBA Finals

I'm gonna go Celtics over Suns in five. Dreaming then. Jokic, Scottie Scheffler... I'm just dreaming about not having to play the Nuggets and just dominating the Suns in five.

I guarantee the Bucks have a chance to compete for a championship this year

I guarantee a chance to compete for a championship [with the Bucks]. Yes. It's the only answer.

Caitlin Clark and Steph Curry should compete in a logo-three contest at a future All-Star Weekend

I think in a couple years we'll see Caitlin Clark against Steph Curry and they're gonna do like logo threes, like extra long three pointers. And that would be cool.

The Miami Heat season is at a crossroads after a seven-game losing streak

I have to be accountable here and say the Heat have lost seven games in a row. They've lost every game since they extended Erik Spoelstra. And this is really a crossroads for your season. This is where the documentary starts or this is where everything lights up and is a disaster.

The NBA is back to being irrelevant

Who's back? NBA being Irrelevant.

The New York Liberty will be the next New York team to win a championship

The honest question is probably the liberty. ...I love their team. I love Stewie and all I love the whole team. I think they could do it this year.

Damian Lillard is past his prime

I think Damian Lillard's a little old, a little past his prime. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are in their prime. Damian Lillard's washed up.

James Harden will start the season on the Sixers and get traded around Christmas

I think it's gonna be a Kevin Durant kind of situation where he might get traded later in the season. But I don't think anyone's gonna offer what Daryl Morey wants for this year for the Sixers... I think eventually Morey's gonna get something out of it, but I think it's gonna probably be in like, by like around Christmas time.

Cam Whitmore at 20 is the best value of the 2023 NBA Draft

Cam Whitmore going 20 is I guess the best value of the Draft. I mean Villanova is the most year in and year out. They get disrespected in the Draft every year and then they outperform their expectations time and time again.

The era of the NBA super team is officially dead

it's the official death of super teams as well. We declare that because... homegrown super teams don't play anymore. We had a decade of super teams. It's over.