All Things Basketball with GD - 2022-23 Season, NBA Finals Preview and Other News

1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:09,920
Greetings my peeps and welcome to All Things Basketball podcast with your boy GD.

2
00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:18,000
In this episode I'll give you my conference finals recap and also the NBA Finals Preview.

3
00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:21,280
Also I have some other news items that we'll cover as well.

4
00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:34,560
So just sit back relax and enjoy the show.

5
00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:42,240
Okay guys so we are back once again your boy GD with the All Things Basketball podcast.

6
00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:47,680
And right about now we're gonna go over the conference finals in each of the conferences

7
00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:52,240
east and west and then I will give you my Finals preview.

8
00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:58,640
So we'll have all that to cover but I did want to start with the other news first and

9
00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:05,680
then I'll circle back and do my recap of the conference finals and then your NBA Finals

10
00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:06,680
preview.

11
00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:09,200
So let's do it that way shall we.

12
00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:14,580
So first news item Carmelo Anthony retires.

13
00:01:14,580 --> 00:01:21,960
So he makes a video of it beautiful video by the way how his son is now the new generation

14
00:01:21,960 --> 00:01:27,600
and what he's expecting from him but in it he announces his retirement from the game.

15
00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:33,640
So let's take a look at his career 19 years in the league he was the third pick in that

16
00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:40,800
famous 2003 draft the one with LeBron; the one with Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh and those

17
00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:42,300
guys there.

18
00:01:42,300 --> 00:01:49,600
He was the third pick in that draft he finished his career averaging 22.5 points per game.

19
00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:56,200
He never averaged below 13 points a game in his career guys pretty impressive and then

20
00:01:56,200 --> 00:02:05,520
his 28,289 points ranks him as he retires ninth on the all-time list.

21
00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:11,600
So pretty amazing stuff that Carmelo's in the top 10 closing out his career along with

22
00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:22,320
6.2 rebounds 2.7 assists a steal per game his shooting average for his career 44.7% from

23
00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:30,760
the field 35.5 from three-point range and 81.4 from the free throw line so pretty good

24
00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:32,560
stuff there.

25
00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:38,520
In his career he started out with Denver that's the team that drafted him he was there for

26
00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:44,720
about seven and a half years and then of course he got traded at the trade deadline to the

27
00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:50,560
New York Knicks where he spent six and a half years there so a bulk of his career in Denver

28
00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:52,760
then in New York.

29
00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:59,860
He spent two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers a season with the Oklahoma City Thunder

30
00:02:59,860 --> 00:03:07,300
a brief 10 games with Houston then he was traded by Houston to Chicago but he ended

31
00:03:07,300 --> 00:03:13,640
up never playing for Chicago and they essentially waived him and then he had a season with the

32
00:03:13,640 --> 00:03:18,360
Lakers where he played with his good friend LeBron James.

33
00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:25,040
In his career the highest he ever finished in terms of the MVP voting was third and that

34
00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:28,920
was the year that he led the league in scoring I'll get to that in a minute.

35
00:03:28,920 --> 00:03:36,980
He's a 10-time All-Star, six times all-NBA: 2nd team twice, 3rd team four times.

36
00:03:36,980 --> 00:03:45,600
He was on the All-Rookie team, he led the league in scoring 2012-13 season with a 28.7 point

37
00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:55,320
average he was named on the NBA 75th anniversary team he received the social justice champion

38
00:03:55,320 --> 00:04:05,160
award one that's now named after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and he won that during the 2020-2021 season.

39
00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:12,920
He started out his basketball career at Oak Hill Academy there he won 42 games in a row

40
00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:19,780
and then he went to college at Syracuse and there he had one of the most amazing freshman

41
00:04:19,780 --> 00:04:26,160
seasons you'll ever see where he led them to a championship he was named the Final Four's

42
00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:34,120
Most Outstanding Player he was a second team All-American, USBWA national freshman of the

43
00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:40,280
year oh and during his high school days he was a McDonald's and parade all-american as

44
00:04:40,280 --> 00:04:50,320
well internationally for gold medals three Olympic gold medals that he got in 2008, 2012,

45
00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:59,580
2016 and then in 2007 he got the FIBA Americans championship the gold medal there and two

46
00:04:59,580 --> 00:05:07,400
bronze medals those he got pretty young he got his first one in 2004 when the Olympic

47
00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:12,640
team played in Athens actually LeBron was on that team as well that was the team you

48
00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:18,900
had Stephon Marbury, Tim Duncan and that was a team that came up short and then two years

49
00:05:18,900 --> 00:05:24,180
later in the world championships they got bronze there as well still a relatively young

50
00:05:24,180 --> 00:05:32,720
player so guys that is Mello's career in a nutshell a lot of people are saying oh will

51
00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:39,280
the Knicks retire his jersey I believe they do actually I believe they do I said on social

52
00:05:39,280 --> 00:05:44,640
media yeah they do that but they should have retired Bernard King's jersey but I digress

53
00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:49,980
that's a subject for another day but I think Melo's jersey will get retired he was one

54
00:05:49,980 --> 00:05:56,600
of those players who wanted all the smoke he wanted to come to New York a lot of people

55
00:05:56,600 --> 00:06:02,400
questioning the reasons for him coming here was it to win or to build his brand you know

56
00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:08,600
they go back and forth with that but nonetheless he came here and he was able to have some

57
00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:15,080
success here got the team all the way to the second round of the playoffs one year but

58
00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:20,680
that was about the size of it but he did win his scoring championship while with the Knicks

59
00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:26,800
so that says something there so I think he does get his jersey retired I think the bigger

60
00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:34,080
question to be honest will the Denver Nuggets retire his jersey remember he left there on

61
00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:39,860
acrimonious terms basically because he basically said he wanted out he wanted to go to the

62
00:06:39,860 --> 00:06:45,640
Knicks and then his coach at the time George Karl was not happy with the whole situation

63
00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:52,440
and kind of been panning him ever since I think that's the larger question because he

64
00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:58,080
spent the most time of his career in Denver so I think that's the more interesting question

65
00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:05,200
I think the Knicks do retire his jersey Denver that's a bigger question as I said so speaking

66
00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:12,040
of the Social Justice Champion award let's move to the next item Steph Curry with the

67
00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:21,080
Golden State Warriors wins the 2022-23 social justice champions award and like I said previously

68
00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:28,120
it's named after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and he got it for his voting initiatives two of them

69
00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:35,120
that he's involved in when we all vote that's one where he's the co-chair of that organization

70
00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:41,280
there he was named by first lady at the time Michelle Obama and he's still involved with

71
00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:47,880
that and then the freedom to vote that's the social media initiative to get people out

72
00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:55,680
there to drive the vote and voter education as well so and also awareness concerning community

73
00:07:55,680 --> 00:08:01,680
safety and he does that in partnership with his coach Steve Kerr they go out and speak

74
00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:07,960
and so forth so Steph Curry wins the social justice champions award kudos to him third

75
00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:17,700
news item Nick Nurse to be named the next Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse has ties

76
00:08:17,700 --> 00:08:24,720
to the GM Daryl Morey the president over there with the Sixers he actually coached

77
00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:31,240
with the Houston Rockets G League team and led them to a title in 2013 and that was prior

78
00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:38,680
to him getting the Toronto assistant coaches job which he held for five years until he

79
00:08:38,680 --> 00:08:48,640
became head coach I mentioned previously his coaching record 227 wins against 163 losses

80
00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:55,940
that gives him a percentage of about 58.2% win percentage the one championship he got

81
00:08:55,940 --> 00:09:01,440
in his first year there and then he won coach of the year actually the following season

82
00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:10,480
in 2019-2020 season so Nick Nurse also during the interviewing process he was able to sit

83
00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:17,360
down with Joel Embiid and Joel Embiid gave his stamp of approval that leads me to ask

84
00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:23,960
will James Horton now come back we know it's been mentioned that he had issues with Doc

85
00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:31,040
Rivers so now that you bring in a Morey guy will James Harden come back will he resign

86
00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:37,600
with them or is he still on this kick of going to the Houston Rockets oh by the way Jalen

87
00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:42,840
Green the young player over there a lot of people tried to make it sound like he didn't

88
00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:48,600
want him there he just thought it was interesting that he would want to come back here and I

89
00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:55,800
am with him it's very interesting why would he want to go back there to me it's just again

90
00:09:55,800 --> 00:10:01,480
to fill up the stat sheet and get numbers other than that what is his driving motive

91
00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:07,440
to go there there are team still in rebuild they're gonna get a young player in this coming

92
00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:15,360
draft so what is the end game for Harden I don't know but I will say I think I'll say

93
00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:20,640
he'll go back to the sixes I think he'll go back to the sixes him and Maury they have

94
00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:26,600
this relationship there I think he does return especially with a coach that's been in the

95
00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:31,640
Rockets program so my guess is Nick Nurse know a little something about Horton as well

96
00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:37,760
and he's able to get the most out of him once Harden comes back and resign so I'm gonna

97
00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:46,600
say Harden stays in Philly all right so in other coaching news the Milwaukee Bucks they

98
00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:53,920
are to hire Adrian Griffin - Adrian Griffin actually oddly enough was Nick Nurse's assistant

99
00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:59,960
coach at Toronto so he was there five years with Nick nurse so he gets the Milwaukee job

100
00:10:59,960 --> 00:11:06,800
so Adrian Griffin this is his first time out as coach so we'll see how he does over there

101
00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:13,060
very interesting hire the Milwaukee Bucks like what they heard from Griffin so he gets

102
00:11:13,060 --> 00:11:20,680
the job so that's your coaching news let us move on Scottie Pippen trashes Michael Jordan

103
00:11:20,680 --> 00:11:28,820
oh gosh I just chuckled over this story but we'll talk about it Scottie Pippen first of

104
00:11:28,820 --> 00:11:35,000
all he didn't like the last day it's documentary I think that's public knowledge he had like

105
00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:40,920
how he's portrayed in it he could be seen in a better light but that wasn't the case

106
00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:47,040
if you listen to the interview first of all this piece together so it seems like it's

107
00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:53,360
more of a got you video than anything else because it's chopped up so and it only gets

108
00:11:53,360 --> 00:12:01,380
the sound bites that people will pay attention to to me that's a bit disingenuous but I think

109
00:12:01,380 --> 00:12:08,020
if you listen to it hitting behind what people are deeming as hatred him hating on Jordan

110
00:12:08,020 --> 00:12:13,720
there's some kernels of truth in it then this is from a guy who I'm not the biggest Scotty

111
00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:18,120
lover fact from what he did to my Knicks as well as Jordan I ain't too thrilled with him

112
00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:24,400
but you know I respect his style of playing basketball but here's a couple of things that

113
00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:30,360
he said that kind of can't argue with Michael Jordan didn't begin winning until the team

114
00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:36,960
came together which is true remember he was playing in the playoffs against the Celtics

115
00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:43,240
got the 63 points they still lost that game why it was all about Jordan it wasn't about

116
00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:49,780
the guys around him so you start to draft guys like Scottie Pippen well you made a trade

117
00:12:49,780 --> 00:12:55,120
in the draft and brought Scottie Pippen over then you draft guy like Horace Grant you bring

118
00:12:55,120 --> 00:13:00,720
in a Bill Cartwright via trade you get a guy like Craig Hodges who's important to that

119
00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:08,440
program early on you get these players in and Phil Jackson's able to mesh them together

120
00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:14,920
then you have a winning team so that's not far from reality guys he didn't begin winning

121
00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:20,800
until the team came together that's true and then also Michael Jordan didn't have the best

122
00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:26,400
relationships with his teammates that's true that you saw in the documentary he didn't

123
00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:30,280
have the greatest relationship with Horace Grant that's why he was running out the door

124
00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:35,840
once he became a free agent there's some truth in that the way they did Craig Hodges I'm

125
00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:42,320
sure Michael Jordan you had to get him to sign off in terms of the blackballing of Craig

126
00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:48,800
Hodges so I mean there's there's truth in that he wasn't the best when it came to relationships

127
00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:55,560
with his players the fight with Steve Kerr so again it's hard to argue with that you

128
00:13:55,560 --> 00:14:02,080
know people want to bring up the fact that oh now Scottie Pippen's ex-wife is with Michael

129
00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:09,900
Jordan's son so this is why he's got all this vitriol towards Michael that's why he's always

130
00:14:09,900 --> 00:14:17,940
putting LeBron above Michael I hear you I hear you do I think some of that played into

131
00:14:17,940 --> 00:14:25,360
it maybe maybe but I think when it comes to this whole goat conversation which again I'll

132
00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:32,200
bring it up I think it's the silliest argument in sports right now the NBA goat conversation

133
00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:38,360
it is the silliest argument because again you have different errors to measure what

134
00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:45,920
a LeBron James is doing in this era where social media is so high back to Jordan during

135
00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:52,280
his days sure you had 24-hour media but it's not like it is today so him being able to

136
00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:58,800
run off to Atlantic City to gamble before playing the Knicks in the playoffs you know

137
00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:04,200
it was mentioned but it wasn't given the kind of the spotlight that LeBron James if he were

138
00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:10,840
to do that people would go nuts and then of course you have Wilt Chamberlain who played

139
00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:16,400
during his era a lot of people say oh you know sinners in his day they were all short

140
00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:23,480
people and you know he that's why he was able to dominate and all again to me the goat conversation

141
00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:29,800
is the silliest argument in all the sports when it comes to judging the NBA greatest

142
00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:36,320
of all time that's my opinion so anyway Pippen will bring up LeBron and he'll say you know

143
00:15:36,320 --> 00:15:42,040
LeBron people want to play with LeBron as opposed to Michael Jordan you know there's

144
00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:46,720
some truth in that too a lot of people really do like to play with LeBron because of the

145
00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:52,440
way he plays and he evolves other people even saw it in these playoffs here which I'll talk

146
00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:59,080
about in a minute so I don't think that's out of the realm of ridiculousness so if that's

147
00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:05,560
Scottie Pippen's opinion so be it so who am I to say I'm not gonna get all labored

148
00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:11,920
up over it let me put it that way so if that's his opinion fine you'll run with it so that's

149
00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:19,640
all I'm gonna say about that so let us move on next news item Ja Moran's health check-in

150
00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:28,520
on May 24th Ja Morant puts out this media post, social media post rather on Instagram of course

151
00:16:28,520 --> 00:16:34,440
he's back on Instagram you would think he would play it low on there but anyway he puts

152
00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:42,440
out this what people deemed as a cryptic message a little video montage: love you ma, love you

153
00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:48,960
pops, you da greatest baby girl love you (talking about his daughter) and then the last video

154
00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:54,800
clip is him saying bye a lot of people took that and ran with it they thought he was should

155
00:16:54,800 --> 00:17:00,720
be on suicide watch and all kind of things but the Tennessee police did a welfare check

156
00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:07,200
on the newly suspended Ja Morant after his cryptic messages on well cryptic message on

157
00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:14,000
IG but they talked to him and the message really was about job taking a mental break

158
00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:20,960
from social media so which you know dare I say even that this goes on social media these

159
00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:25,920
you know my videos and stuff sometimes it's good to take a mental break from social media

160
00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:30,320
because it's just too much on there it really is between all the comments and everything

161
00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:37,120
else it can be a lot so he said he's taken a mental break from social media again he

162
00:17:37,120 --> 00:17:42,800
was suspended from all team activities by the Memphis Grizzlies organization after

163
00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:51,520
a second IG live with him in the video brandishing a firearm and that was done on May 13th video

164
00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:59,120
that Commissioner Adam Silver when he was interviewed by Malika Andrews of ESPN he said

165
00:17:59,120 --> 00:18:06,080
he was shocked by it so we'll see what kind of ramifications come behind that for Ja

166
00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:14,160
Morant once the investigation is done of course so you know mental health it's a major concern

167
00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:22,320
in this country but yet we are slow to do something about it it's something that people

168
00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:27,040
are hanging their hat on to blame this and blame that but yet we're doing nothing about

169
00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:33,520
it so I think more action should be put behind that but nonetheless it was good for the police

170
00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:38,320
to check in with him because you never know with these things so of course wish the best

171
00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:44,560
for this kid hopefully he can get his mind right his life right and then take it from there

172
00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:51,120
but the optics are bad guys optics are bad I'm not even gonna sit here and lie about it

173
00:18:51,120 --> 00:18:58,800
these are bad optics but we'll see how it goes anyhow so the last one I'll talk about briefly

174
00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:08,160
is the WNBA's early rankings so far your number one team no surprise the Las Vegas Aces they

175
00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:15,360
look terrific right now everything's coming together and the scary thing is Kelsey Plum

176
00:19:15,360 --> 00:19:22,880
hasn't really got off the way she normally does it's been a lot of Jackie Young of course

177
00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:29,840
Aja Wilson and then of course your two pieces that you brought in Candace Parker and Alysha Clark

178
00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:38,320
have been tremendous pickups for them last year the criticism of if there was any of them was

179
00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:45,680
they didn't have a bench now they have a solid bench yeah so as I wrote on a post on Facebook

180
00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:53,600
the rich gets richer so they look real good now second not a surprise also New York Liberty

181
00:19:53,600 --> 00:20:00,720
they're two in one right now I think they're about to take off right now Brianna Stewart's looking

182
00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:06,800
great there is some concern about Jacquel Jones I think she'll come around she's still dealing

183
00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:14,400
with that injury that she had in training camp so I think that's playing a part in her slow start so

184
00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:22,960
I expect her around into shape as the season goes forth your 13th Connecticut Sun bit of a surprise

185
00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:30,400
but you know a lot of the pieces are still in place there you got a solid base with Alyssa Thomas

186
00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:37,200
DeWanna Bonner also Brianna Jones so you still have that foundation there so they're looking

187
00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:42,640
good so far Stephanie White is pushing all the right buttons right now it's early so we'll see

188
00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:50,800
what happens your fourth place team Washington Mystics Elena Delle Donne looks amazing guys

189
00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:58,320
it's just you know you need the team to respond and rally around her Shakira Austin looks

190
00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:05,920
fantastic in her second season in the WNBA. Natasha Cloud of course their floor general

191
00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:11,200
you'd like her to shoot better from the field but that story for another day Ariel Atkins you still

192
00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:17,760
have there so they'll be in the mix make no mistake about that my surprise team that's the

193
00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:26,000
fifth ranked team this is Chicago Sky I said in my preview that I wouldn't count him out and I was

194
00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:32,160
so right about that, wrong about the prediction of course but you know it's early obviously but

195
00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:39,920
he has them playing well playing competitive I told y'all from the outset Kahleah Copper that

196
00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:47,600
was going to be her team but Mabrey she's playing very well right now Courtney Williams is a solid

197
00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:54,480
contributor her coming in the free agency Elizabeth Williams looks good so that team's looking good

198
00:21:54,480 --> 00:22:00,800
right now and again Wade is pushing all the right buttons so we'll see what happens Dallas looks

199
00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:09,520
good because Arike Ogumbowale, oh gosh, she looks amazing right now so they're gonna be in the mix

200
00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:17,280
Los Angeles Sparks I expect them to be in the mix as well two of their losses came to the Las Vegas

201
00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:24,080
Aces so I'll give them a pass on that I think they'll be solid this year the Phoenix Mercury

202
00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:30,640
of course with Brittany Griner being back so they're gonna be in the mix I believe also

203
00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:37,280
right now you well you actually have four teams with a one and two record Los Angeles Sparks

204
00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:47,200
Phoenix Mercury the Atlanta Dream and the Indiana Fever I think of those four probably the Sparks

205
00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:54,320
and the Mercury there'll be those teams there that will be among the playoff contenders and

206
00:22:54,320 --> 00:23:01,760
then you have pulling up the rear Seattle as I imagine but also the Minnesota Lynx I'm surprised

207
00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:07,680
they're not playing as well right now a lot of people are questioning Cheryl Reeve how she's

208
00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:14,880
given the minutes to Aerial Powers and all those things so gonna be interesting to see if the

209
00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:21,600
Minnesota Lynx can turn things around but it doesn't look good so far guys so that is your

210
00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:30,400
quick look at the early rankings for the WNBA now let us get to the conference finals recap

211
00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:39,440
let us start with the series that ended first the number one seed the Denver Nuggets defeating the

212
00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:47,840
number seven seed the Los Angeles Lakers four games to none so they swept the Lakers here's how they

213
00:23:47,840 --> 00:24:01,040
did it game one Denver 132 to 126 then in game two also in Denver Denver gets it 108 to 103

214
00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:10,800
then going back to LA Denver gets that game 119 to 116 and then in the clinching game a game that was

215
00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:18,480
pretty close but Denver pulls it out LeBron James has a monster game where he drops 40 points

216
00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:28,480
but not enough guys so then was able to get the win and that game actually Roy Hachimura who had

217
00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:35,520
a very good series until that last game only 10 points on three of 12 shooting along with seven

218
00:24:35,520 --> 00:24:42,160
rebounds and then Anthony Davis who had a fine series but came up short in that last game only

219
00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:49,280
21 points six of 15 shooting which is subpar for him but he was nine for ten from the free throw

220
00:24:49,280 --> 00:24:58,800
line 14 rebounds three blocks in the game. For Denver Nikola Jokic once again averaging a triple

221
00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:07,840
double his team looking very good also over a steal in a block per game shooting over 50

222
00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:14,960
from the field solid from three actually terrific from three and then from the free throw line

223
00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:23,280
solid across the board so Jamal Murray led the team in scoring he had another amazing series I

224
00:25:23,280 --> 00:25:31,280
mean this this kid is on a roll right now guys shooting from the field absolutely tremendous

225
00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:38,800
he actually led the team in that above Nikola Jokic a sensational from three he took 20 free

226
00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:46,560
throws only missed one guy so this guy is locked in then you had your contributors Michael Porter

227
00:25:46,560 --> 00:25:56,880
jr as well as Aaron Gordon, Kentavious Caldwell Pope, Bruce Brown you got double digit scoring for all

228
00:25:56,880 --> 00:26:02,400
those guys so when you have balance scoring like that you're hard to beat guys you're really hard

229
00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:09,120
really hard to beat especially with your two horses really getting things done so that's the Denver story

230
00:26:09,120 --> 00:26:17,600
there for the Lakers a lot of LeBron James that's for sure he led them in minutes led them in scoring

231
00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:25,520
led them in assists shot it from the field nearly 52 percent was horrendous from three

232
00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:32,560
a lot of the team actually was horrendous from three except for a few players like Austin Reaves

233
00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:40,720
but LeBron leading the way of course Anthony Davis when you look at his numbers they look good but

234
00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:47,200
in that fourth game that's where you know you needed your big guns to show up and he he didn't

235
00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:54,160
quite do that guys he shot okay from the field he usually shoots better than that from the free

236
00:26:54,160 --> 00:27:00,720
throw line took 40 free throws only missed five so i mean again the numbers look good but you want

237
00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:07,600
him to show up when the lights are the hottest so and then your third best performer was Austin

238
00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:16,080
Reeves - Austin Reaves, I tell you what guys; he has played himself into a massive massive contract

239
00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:22,720
extension he had a great series i mean all things considered he had a great series shooting was

240
00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:30,000
amazing from three he was nearly automatic and he was perfect from the free throw line so Austin

241
00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:37,920
Reaves really gonna cash in on these playoffs here so i expect well i'll tell you what's next

242
00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:45,600
for the Lakers in a few Rui Hachimura he had a solid series but again that game four didn't really

243
00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:51,760
come through for the team so then you had your guards like Dennis Schroder and D'Angelo Russell

244
00:27:51,760 --> 00:27:59,840
they were pretty much MIA guys they both shot it horrendous from three point range and not all that

245
00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:06,080
great from the field either between the two you only got a little over 13 points a game that's

246
00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:12,880
not going to get it done not against a Denver team; the Lakers got big questions here so with that said

247
00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:22,000
let us talk about what's next for the Lakers of course the big talk is LeBron's future let me say

248
00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:27,760
this a reporter is going to ask him that's an obvious question you know what's next for you

249
00:28:27,760 --> 00:28:34,400
LeBron and of course in this 20th season he's going to ponder things that's just the nature of

250
00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:41,280
being 38 and in the league 20 years you're going to be reflective it's not to deflect it's not to

251
00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:48,320
not to take credit away from Denver this is a legitimate question he gave a legitimate answer

252
00:28:48,320 --> 00:28:55,840
for him to ponder his future is legitimate to me so for everybody to run and say oh is he retiring

253
00:28:55,840 --> 00:29:03,760
no and then run to his IG and see oh he puts this post up of a Jay-Z song and uh what are we doing

254
00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:10,720
here what are we doing first of all the man just lost in the playoffs so the emotions are going to

255
00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:18,640
be where they are so for us to take what he says in a post-game press conference and run with it

256
00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:26,080
i think that's i don't think that's wise let's let's put it that way so and then he headed

257
00:29:26,080 --> 00:29:32,080
towards a possible foot surgery because you know he dealt with the foot issue prior to the playoffs

258
00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:38,160
and the fact that he played as well as he did really says something about this man his work

259
00:29:38,160 --> 00:29:46,720
ethic and his will to push himself he has two more years guys at 97 million dollars so that's

260
00:29:46,720 --> 00:29:53,120
a lot of money to walk away from that's for sure so we'll see what he does but i don't expect him

261
00:29:53,120 --> 00:30:00,800
to make a decision anytime soon in that regard so guys keep looking at his IG if you want to try and

262
00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:06,800
find veiled messages but i'll wait until he officially says something what to do with Anthony

263
00:30:06,800 --> 00:30:14,240
Davis he doesn't give you a full season you know there's always one injury or another on so forth

264
00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:21,600
he has two more years left at 83.8 million so i will have to couple that with LeBron's decision

265
00:30:21,600 --> 00:30:30,640
which i feel he'll come back i think if by some chance LeBron decides to hang it up i think

266
00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:38,160
immediately they will try and deal Anthony Davis and just start rebuilding again because they got

267
00:30:38,160 --> 00:30:45,040
a lot in front of them that that's for sure i think a lot hangs on whether LeBron and AD makes their

268
00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:51,680
return with the Lakers and this leaves a big decisions here for Jeannie Buss for Rob Pelinka

269
00:30:51,680 --> 00:30:58,720
and that organization there right now on your roster officially you have a Mo Bomber there you

270
00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:04,400
have Jarradd Vanderbilt you have those guys for another year under contract but you got a lot of

271
00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:11,680
free agents here D'Angelo Russell he's going to be a free agent Dennis Schroder, Rui Hachimura

272
00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:19,040
he's a restricted free agent also Austin Reaves restricted free agent Lonnie Walker IV unrestricted

273
00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:25,040
Malik Beasley who you didn't see a lot of in these playoffs here sure could have used them but they

274
00:31:25,040 --> 00:31:32,080
have a team option on him so we'll see what happens there and then you know the big question of course

275
00:31:32,080 --> 00:31:42,560
is will they pursue Kyrie Irving let me say this Kyrie you you go to a Lakers game you sit court side

276
00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:49,120
and for you not to expect people to make speculations about your future it's just asinine

277
00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:55,200
for you to think that no one would say something and connect you with possibly being a Laker

278
00:31:55,760 --> 00:32:02,880
that's crazy for you to think that I'll give you example in last year's playoffs where you saw

279
00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:10,800
Julius Randall and few of the I believe Coach Thibodeau was there as well I believe Leon Rose was at the

280
00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:18,320
Dallas Mavericks/Utah Jazz series everybody ran with that saying oh they must be trying to recruit

281
00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:26,080
Jalen Brunson and maybe they talking to Donovan Mitchell as well who knows so for you Kyrie to

282
00:32:26,080 --> 00:32:33,440
think that no one should be talking about your basketball future you play basketball so they're

283
00:32:33,440 --> 00:32:38,880
gonna talk about you in terms of basketball they're not talking about your private life they're not

284
00:32:38,880 --> 00:32:44,320
talking about other things they're talking about basketball you're a basketball player they're

285
00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:50,160
talking about basketball if you're a plumber we wouldn't be talking about what your future is as

286
00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:56,400
a plumber so this whole idea that the media shouldn't speculate about your future is it's

287
00:32:56,400 --> 00:33:02,000
crazy talk because you are going to be a free agent so there's going to be speculation about

288
00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:09,040
your future that's just the nature of things so again there's questions about Kyrie supposedly

289
00:33:09,040 --> 00:33:16,160
there's a handshake deal between him and Mark Cuban the owner of the Mavericks so we'll see how

290
00:33:16,160 --> 00:33:23,840
true that is when the dust settles so all right so that is your Western Conference Finals recap

291
00:33:24,720 --> 00:33:32,880
let's now go to the Eastern Conference where we just saw this series in in seven games where the

292
00:33:32,880 --> 00:33:41,840
number 8c the Miami Heat defeat the number 2c the Boston Celtics here's how they did it Miami takes

293
00:33:41,840 --> 00:33:54,240
the first game 123 to 116 in Boston Miami takes game 2 111 to 105 in Boston so Miami goes to Boston

294
00:33:54,240 --> 00:34:04,640
and take those first two games so now Boston goes to Miami down to zero Miami takes game 3 128 to

295
00:34:04,640 --> 00:34:12,160
102 so Miami's up in this series three games to none everybody said oh maybe you'll have two

296
00:34:12,160 --> 00:34:21,440
sweeps in the playoffs not the case Boston comes back and wins that game four in Miami 116 to 99

297
00:34:21,440 --> 00:34:32,720
then they go and win game five back at TD Gardens 110 to 97 then Miami goes back to their home and

298
00:34:32,720 --> 00:34:43,440
they lose to Boston there in a heartbreaker 104 to 103 Boston gets the win on a tip in right at

299
00:34:43,440 --> 00:34:52,240
at 0.1 seconds in the game absolutely crushing but with Miami's back against the wall heading back

300
00:34:52,240 --> 00:35:00,000
to Boston for a game seven where Boston is pretty much has a history of closing the deals in game

301
00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:08,320
seven that wasn't the case and Boston doesn't make history as the one team that overcomes a 3-0 deficit

302
00:35:08,320 --> 00:35:20,320
and Miami gets to win here 103 to 84 so for Miami Miami of course led by Jimmy Butler who had a solid

303
00:35:20,320 --> 00:35:26,960
series still not shooting great from the field guys and his three point shooting you know it was

304
00:35:26,960 --> 00:35:33,360
it was okay in this series it wasn't as bad as the next series and from the free throw line pretty

305
00:35:33,360 --> 00:35:41,440
much reliable he only missed nine free throws out of 54 so you'll take that but your second best

306
00:35:41,440 --> 00:35:48,560
player was Caleb Martin guys he had a series where he started two of the games but he still

307
00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:55,600
had a solid series guys averaging over 19 points a game shooting terrific from the field outstanding

308
00:35:55,600 --> 00:36:03,040
from three and only went to the line eight times missed one so you'll take that bam out of bayou

309
00:36:03,040 --> 00:36:09,360
i thought he would have to do more in this series but i guess he didn't enough averaging nearly 15

310
00:36:09,360 --> 00:36:15,360
points a game himself over nine rebounds you know he's not going to hoist a lot of threes but he was

311
00:36:15,360 --> 00:36:22,960
solid across the board Gabe Vincent who ends up missing game six that crucial game six had a

312
00:36:22,960 --> 00:36:29,520
solid series very good series for him overall was terrific from three so you'll take that Duncan

313
00:36:29,520 --> 00:36:35,600
Robinson you know in limited time this guy does damage man especially if you let him get off from

314
00:36:35,600 --> 00:36:42,320
three and he was solid from three guys solid from the field as well so only went to a free throw

315
00:36:42,320 --> 00:36:49,520
line five times made them all and then Max Strus did not have such a great series didn't shoot it

316
00:36:49,520 --> 00:36:55,680
all that well from the field either guys and from the three he was okay he was okay there

317
00:36:55,680 --> 00:37:03,680
then you had contributors like Kyle Lowry Kevin Love that's your Miami story there for Boston

318
00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:11,680
it was a lot of Jayson Tatum not a lot of everything else guys Jason Tatum you know he pretty much

319
00:37:11,680 --> 00:37:20,480
carried the load per usual so was horrendous from three though and yeah i mean that's yes your story

320
00:37:20,480 --> 00:37:28,560
that's your story there Jaylen Brown that's the issue to this whole series he was below par guys

321
00:37:28,560 --> 00:37:38,000
I wish I could give him out here but 19 points a game over six rebounds only shot it nearly 42

322
00:37:38,000 --> 00:37:44,800
percent from the field was atrocious from three and from the free throw line you know he has his

323
00:37:44,800 --> 00:37:53,200
issues there he was okay but I think that's the biggest story to why Boston goes home Jalen Brown

324
00:37:53,200 --> 00:38:00,080
especially in a game seven where Jayson Tatum tweaks his ankle so you would definitely expect

325
00:38:00,080 --> 00:38:07,040
Jalen Brown to step up but he didn't do that so very alarming guys in fact your guy who stepped

326
00:38:07,040 --> 00:38:13,600
up in that Game Seven Derrick White had a sensational Game Seven and for the series he was pretty good

327
00:38:13,600 --> 00:38:20,800
shot it well from the field shot it tremendous from three between him and Grant Williams those

328
00:38:20,800 --> 00:38:27,200
two guys shot it the best from three everybody else was pretty much awful and out of 13 free

329
00:38:27,200 --> 00:38:35,600
throws he only missed two so Marcus Smart he had a solid series it was it was fine it was fine but

330
00:38:36,240 --> 00:38:42,560
again the shooting you know wasn't great from the field he was okay from three that was another guy

331
00:38:42,560 --> 00:38:49,920
that was another guy who was okay from three Al Horford had a subpar series for him he was

332
00:38:49,920 --> 00:38:56,560
horrendous from three from the field as well he only shot two free throws in this series so that

333
00:38:56,560 --> 00:39:04,560
just tells you all you need to know right there Robert Williams still he only played about 18

334
00:39:04,560 --> 00:39:10,640
minutes a game guys so you need to ramp that up that's for sure and then Grant Williams off your

335
00:39:10,640 --> 00:39:18,880
bench yeah would like to got more but it was what it was so anyhow so that's your Boston story now

336
00:39:18,880 --> 00:39:25,520
what's next for Boston I think all things considered it was a good debut season from

337
00:39:25,520 --> 00:39:33,920
coach Joe Mazzulla I think given the circumstances he had overall pretty good year I know maybe

338
00:39:33,920 --> 00:39:39,360
Boston fans may not feel that way but I thought he did and you know it's his first year he can

339
00:39:39,360 --> 00:39:44,800
only grow from this being that they made the finals the previous year you would say this is

340
00:39:44,800 --> 00:39:52,000
a step back I don't say that I think this is pretty much kind of a lateral move where if things

341
00:39:52,000 --> 00:39:57,920
went for them the right way in Game Seven we'll be singing another tune about them going to back to

342
00:39:57,920 --> 00:40:05,760
back Finals but nonetheless they came up short so what happens now with Jalen Brown there's been a

343
00:40:05,760 --> 00:40:13,520
lot of talk and speculation about an unhappy locker room I guess him playing second fiddle to

344
00:40:13,520 --> 00:40:22,240
Jason Tatum so there's talk surrounding that he does have a year left at 31.8 million so you know

345
00:40:22,240 --> 00:40:31,680
there's talk he may want a supermax he was 3rd team All-NBA so there's that big decision to be made in

346
00:40:31,680 --> 00:40:38,560
terms of Brad Stevens and that Boston organization in that regard I think you need a healthy season

347
00:40:38,560 --> 00:40:45,520
from Robert Williams to third I think if you get that I think you will see some improvement here

348
00:40:45,520 --> 00:40:52,640
guys oh and Malcolm Brogdon he didn't have that greater series for them guys in fact he ended up

349
00:40:52,640 --> 00:40:59,120
missing a game with injuries so and remember he had the very good series the series prior so

350
00:40:59,120 --> 00:41:07,520
and your potential free agents Danilo Gallinari who did not play for them at all he had the torn ACL

351
00:41:08,400 --> 00:41:14,720
Grant Williams he has a qualifying offer so I would imagine the Boston would be wise to bring him

352
00:41:14,720 --> 00:41:20,880
back and then Mike Muscala who has a team option so we'll see what happens there but for your most

353
00:41:20,880 --> 00:41:30,960
but for your most part all of your other players are under contract so there's that all right so with that said let us now look at the

354
00:41:30,960 --> 00:41:38,400
NBA Finals we have our matchup guys the number one Denver Nuggets who will be the home team

355
00:41:38,400 --> 00:41:47,920
versus the Miami Heat what Denver must do I think continued dominance from Nikolaj Jokic of course

356
00:41:47,920 --> 00:41:56,240
Jamal Murray also balance scoring that you've been getting so far from these guys Michael Porter Jr

357
00:41:56,800 --> 00:42:04,160
also from Bruce Brown, Aaron Gordon, Kentavious Caldwell Pope who's the one player who actually

358
00:42:04,160 --> 00:42:10,000
has final experience here so you continue to get those kind of performances you're in good shape

359
00:42:10,560 --> 00:42:17,120
they have to close in on the Miami three-point shooters man I think the three-point shooting

360
00:42:17,120 --> 00:42:22,880
although it wasn't the greatest in the last two games but some of these guys can get hot from out

361
00:42:22,880 --> 00:42:29,440
there and you want to guard against that that's for sure and then what Miami must do they're

362
00:42:29,440 --> 00:42:35,680
going to have to get continued support from their role players guys like Caleb Martin guys like

363
00:42:35,680 --> 00:42:43,040
Gabe Vinson Matt Struz has to step up solid play from Kyle Lowry I think you're going to need more

364
00:42:43,040 --> 00:42:48,320
of Kevin Love in this series especially going against the likes of Jokic I think you're going

365
00:42:48,320 --> 00:42:54,240
to need him you need Bam to step up his game he's going to need to do that especially with the Joker

366
00:42:54,240 --> 00:43:00,880
coming in the door and they must find a way to contain Joker contain Jamal Murray they have to

367
00:43:00,880 --> 00:43:09,520
in order to have a chance key matchups Jamal Murray versus Matt Strus versus Kyle Lowry

368
00:43:09,520 --> 00:43:14,320
it's going to have to be a combination of those guys that'll try and stop this kid but he's been

369
00:43:14,320 --> 00:43:21,520
on a tear guide so we'll see what happens there Nikola Jokic versus Bam probably see some Kevin

370
00:43:21,520 --> 00:43:28,400
Love on him as well but nobody's been able to slow down this big man so I don't see Miami being

371
00:43:28,400 --> 00:43:37,280
able to as well Jimmy Butler versus probably a Michael Porter Jr. or Aaron Gordon I think you'll

372
00:43:37,280 --> 00:43:44,640
see a steady diet of those guys maybe a Jeff Green slides in but Jimmy Butler yeah you're

373
00:43:44,640 --> 00:43:50,400
going to have to put bodies in front of him that's for sure and then this one is kind of low key

374
00:43:50,400 --> 00:43:58,480
guys but I think this could play a part Caleb Martin and Gabe Vincent versus Kentavious Caldwell

375
00:43:58,480 --> 00:44:05,440
Pope and Bruce Brown I think it's a low key matchup but I think the tandem that has the most success

376
00:44:05,440 --> 00:44:12,560
in this series their team will win the series I think my prediction Denver and five guys Denver

377
00:44:12,560 --> 00:44:19,840
and five Denver has been hot they've only lost three games in these playoffs they won all their

378
00:44:19,840 --> 00:44:28,960
home games that home court advantage for Denver is huge guys I don't see Miami recovering in time

379
00:44:28,960 --> 00:44:36,320
for that game up in that Denver air on Thursday June 1st I don't see them in fact I wouldn't be

380
00:44:36,320 --> 00:44:42,480
surprised if they get blown out that first game in Denver whether they are just by game two who

381
00:44:42,480 --> 00:44:50,480
knows but I see it Denver taking two games at home probably getting the game in Miami because

382
00:44:50,480 --> 00:44:56,640
back in Miami they're not world beaters on that floor we saw what Boston did getting two games on

383
00:44:56,640 --> 00:45:05,040
their home floor and I guess out of pride Miami gets one but I think Denver all in all gets this

384
00:45:05,040 --> 00:45:13,360
one in five guys in five you know they'll say oh Miami's capable of winning on the road someone's

385
00:45:13,360 --> 00:45:17,840
got to convince me somebody can go into Denver and get a win somebody's got to convince me of

386
00:45:17,840 --> 00:45:24,000
that because I haven't seen it happen yet so I've seen teams go into Miami get wins I haven't seen

387
00:45:24,000 --> 00:45:29,680
I haven't seen anybody go to Denver and get wins so I'm picking Denver in five all right guys so

388
00:45:29,680 --> 00:45:37,920
that is it for me I still owe you guys a Knicks season wrap-up I'll do that and of course you got

389
00:45:37,920 --> 00:45:45,920
the NBA draft coming up soon so we'll deal with that and then of course WNBA basketball getting

390
00:45:45,920 --> 00:45:52,000
underway as well so we'll talk about all of it guys all right so on that note that is it for me

391
00:45:52,000 --> 00:45:55,040
thank you guys for listening and we'll talk soon

392
00:45:55,040 --> 00:46:09,040
so my peeps if you like what you're listening to you can go to my website www.allthingsbasketballwithgd.com

393
00:46:09,040 --> 00:46:20,040
you can also email me at thatsportsdudegd@gmail.com to support this podcast you can go to

394
00:46:20,040 --> 00:46:31,360
my Paypal and that email is thatsportsdudegd@gmail.com also on my Anchor page I have a support

395
00:46:31,360 --> 00:46:40,720
button there that you can also use to help the podcast I'm on all the major platforms like Anchor

396
00:46:40,720 --> 00:46:53,720
Spreaker, Google Podcasts, Amazon, Soundcloud, YouTube Castbox, Radio Public, Podchaser just to name a

397
00:46:53,720 --> 00:47:03,480
few and also you can find me on social media - Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok, Clubhouse

398
00:47:03,480 --> 00:47:12,080
and Fanbase so once again I thank you for listening and supporting this podcast and take care and be safe