NBA TODAY FULL | “Nuggets hold 1st place; Celtics over T-wolves”- Perk’s real legit title contenders

NBA TODAY FULL | “Nuggets hold 1st place; Celtics over T-wolves”- Perk’s real legit title contenders

Not going to lie today with the news from W Julius Randall will undergo season ending right shoulder surgery hopefully he can make a speedy recovery Brian can the Knicks overcome the loss of Julius Randall and make a Deep Run in the Eastern Conference they could still

Get if things fall the right way they could still get to the Conference Finals I believe that could they Zach they yes if things fall the right way IE no Boston and some luck and B they need anob be healthy and playing 35 40 minutes a game that’s a lot of ifs and

If ifs were fifths we’d all be drunk that’s it if if were fifths Ro well Kendrick you have been pouring the Hennessee in New York all season long you have been the mayor of the town you have been celebrating them do the Knicks fall on your big list of real legit

Title cont per name to this we are about to see but look it’s your big fella here Yours Truly okay big things popping right now we got the NCA tournament the women is the women’s are doing it big so damn it big perk got to do a big and

It’s that time of the year to put the real big list up here legit title contenders cuz we’re entering towards the postseason coming in at number five I don’t want everybody to say perk what you doing what you tripping on cuz it’s not your list bam it’s mine the LA

Clippers the LA Clippers and look I know they’ve been struggling of late but they’re going to get it together you know why because tou is leading the charge one of the best coaches in the game today do I have faith in kawh and a Jordan that he’s going to be healthy I

Believe he will do I have faith in Paul George that he’s going to elevate his game as a number two option hell yeah do I think that James Harden is going to elevate a little bit yes absolutely he will they have the depth they have the coaching they have the star power the

West is vulnerable outside of the Denver Nuggets I got them at number five come on Zach you asked you said perk I’m ready for my bam I’m ready for it when I walked in here with damn it give it to me bam there we go put it up there the

Milwaukee Bucks the second best team in the Eastern Conference I know they’ve been struggling took some horrible losses but they still got Giannis who is the most dominant player in basketball you have Damen Lillet who’s the best closer in basketball you also have moneymaking midon who has been healthy

Brook Lopez will turn it up a notch and get back to the Brook Lopez of stretching the floor offensively and anchoring the defense of being a great rim protector come on Wendy I know you was on my travel schedule but I like bam it’s a running start and you did it

Right you know why for me the Minnesota timber wolves yes I have them up there and I know we don’t know if car Anthony to is going to come back or when he’s going to come back but you can play around with these people if you want to Anthony Edwards McDaniels Mike Conley

Nas Reed they want all the smoke and they’re anchored by another Frenchman and I’m not talking about wimy I’m talking about Rudy goldber on that defensive side of things that the number one defensive team in the league they’re going is going to carry over to the playoffs that’s why they number three

Come here Malik I don’t know if I can run like Wendy there we go bam there we go put it up there the Boston Celtics the best record in the league some may say the best starting five in the league Jason Tatum has been playing phenomenal Jaylen Brown has been doing his thing

Christ out Pingas leading the league in post-ups he’s been efficient Derek white and Drew holiday we know what they’re going to bring on the perimeter PT prer coming in off the bench being a spark but look we got to pay respect because you know what all this I said about this

Team winning 60 wins having home court advantage they have lost to this team bam the defending champs the Denver Nuggets First Team all whack body yic he is the problem this man right here not only is he the best player in the league but he’s probably

Arguably in my eyes the best not to get Julius Randle back for a playoff run he will undergo season ending surgery on his right shoulder our senior Insider Adrien WJ narowski broke the news and is with us now WJ how did Julius and the Knicks arrive at this decision and Malika ultimately Julius

Randall you know in his consultation with you know the Nicks doctors with other Specialists it kept coming back to the same thing that he was risking further injury perhaps even last during injury on that shoulder if he came back and reinjured it uh versus getting that procedure done now uh and being in

Position to come back you know around the start of next season but certainly Julius Randall exhausted every Avenue to try to figure out a way to come back and play rejoin this Nicks team that when he and Oobi had played together for that brief window 12-2 in their 14 games together and certainly

His understanding you know that this was a team that had a chance you know to make a real run in the Eastern Conference playoffs but in the end for Julius Randall despite trying uh in lots of different ways exhausting you know every Avenue yeah that medically he had

To get this procedure and not risk uh maybe perhaps more significant injury in that dislocated right shoulder it’s admirable in some ways that he wanted to go through every possible Avenue in order to return you and I both know that for many years he was known as an Iron

Man in this league but what she did get hurt in January so why did it wait so why did he wait so long before making this decision Malika essentially to just do what you know we discussed the idea that if there was a way he could come back if

There was a way that his shoulder could you know sustainably get through you know uh this season get through a physical playoff series multiple series he wanted to play and that ultimately it was just not strong enough uh to be able to withstand you know how Julius Randall

Plays he’s a physical player uh and the idea that he could further injure that shoulder and knowing that this is a Nick team that they can have this group back next season they can be one of the favorites in the East certainly they’ve got to resign OG anobi this summer

But it got to a point I was told with Julius Randle where if he waited any longer he was now risking you know maybe missing more of next season than he needed to so they decided finally now get this procedure now and the hope is

You know he can be back you know around the start of the 2425 season right and that’s so important to not just lose a portion of this season potentially the most important portion of this season but not next season as well this is so wo as you know such a bummer for Julius

Randall he takes such Joy being out on the floor and this happened when the Knicks were up by 17 points in a game in January so Randall posted this on Instagram this morning he said the journey is the journey just keep going it is what you think it is with a couple

Of emojis there this is NBA Today presented by Navy Federal Credit Union and this is just there’s no way else to slice it it’s a huge blow for the New York Knicks this felt like a franchise that was revitalized this season guys they had some early successes with the

Play of Jaylen Brunson Kendrick Perkins Brian wior Zack low here with me as well Brian I mean how devastating is this for the N well I think the team had had of come to terms with this over the last week or two they knew that he had stopped really progressing with his

Rehab I think it’s important for fans to know that timeline that WJ outlined it wasn’t like Julius could have immediately had surgery in January and then been back right he had to go through this he going through this process left the door open for him to

Return but I think what the Knicks now are looking towards is can OG and Obi get back because while this team was absolutely at their best with OG and Julius playing when OG’s played they’ve been a terrific team and OG brings some of the things that Randall uh is now not

Going to be able to bring so if they’re able to get OG back which is you know still on the table uh I still think they there’s some matchups that are favorable for the Knicks I still think they can have a playoff run well it’s about time

I think it’s about damn time when it comes down to Julius R I was wondering what was taking him so long because as a guy that had you know four shoulder surgeries I know how that process goes and it don’t end well when you try to

Rehab and come back you have to go and get this thing repaired and it was the right decision for him and I know as a as a player you want to try to do everything in your power right you go see a go get a uh uh uh you opinion from

One doctor then you go get opinion from another doctor and they both tell you the same thing but as a player you like nah maybe I can fight through it and defeat the odds but that’s not it but for as the Knicks look the organiz ation

The Nick fan base as the mayor I’m telling yeah I’m telling everyone to keep a cool booty it’s okay it’s okay and I understand the window like if you look at the window of the opportunity right now for as them to maximize in the Eastern Conference how vulnerable the

East look outside the Boston Celtic you like man we had a shot at it but you can have a shot at it next year and also they have developed a culture that has become eye candy to the rest of the league now I understand we could Wendy

Malika Zach y’all could dive into the first apron second apron and all that I don’t really know the logistics behind that but what I will say is that if you get a disr a superstar this up coming off season New York is a great destination for one but you’re already

Punting to this off season when this is a team that we were talking about making it to the Eastern Conference Finals potentially yeah yeah because look let’s be real when I look at the East they still could make it to the Conference Finals but the Knicks want to make it to

The fins and in order for them to get past the Celtics they need everyone and even when OJ and anobi gets back he’s not going to be 100% he’s still going to have problems with that elbow this is a I love it when you shaking your head

When I say when I nod you like it when I nod this is a this is a Crusher for this season going forward you’re right but for this season I thought the Knicks at full blast could have been the second best team in the East and the team best

Positioned to push Boston really hard in a playoff series there’s still a road map for them to be really good they’re plus 10 per 100 possessions when Brunson plays and Randall doesn’t you mentioned an anobi and the two of them plus the rest of the team without Randall is

Still a good team but I just don’t think the ceiling is quite high enough to push Boston in the playoffs against the best teams you need as many dudes as possible who can create their own shot from nothing and Julius Randall can do that and like perk said we don’t know what

Condition ogn and Obi is going to come back in if he’s going to be able to stay heal how long he’s going to be able to stay healthy and all of that so for now it’s a Crusher long term the Knicks have turned the page completely they are in

Ideal position going forward it just it stinks ogan anobi has been dealing with that elbow issue that elbow injury W what more can you tell us on if we can expect him back and in what condition as these guys have brought up no exactly and I I think and and Zach

Said it the question is getting ogan anomi back and being able to have him healthy and keeping him back he did return for a brief period you know after that early February procedure on his elbow and the inflammation the irritation returned shortly after what the Knicks are trying to do with OG

Anobi now is to bring him back when he’s ready to stay back you know certainly looking at the big picture of the postseason and they don’t want to have him in and out of the lineup with this injury so they’re giving this injury time uh to heal to get past that

Inflammation irritation and the hope is still that he can return and when he returns guys uh that he can stay back and they can uh count on him being in the lineup and not in and out and I think bringing him back the first time

And then seeing him go out it gave them a sense of uh how this injury was healing and and how they would have to move forward with it I think they learned something from that and now they’re trying to get him back uh in a way that allows him to remain on the

Floor and not be in and out of the lineup do do people realize how valuable OG is I know we do but do the fan base and like you know people out there in the outside world realize like 15 and two when he play he’s the second most

Important player on this next team and that’s including Julius Randall like with Julius Randall no oan noi they’re they’re a really good team oan noi puts them into the teams far as title contenders like that’s how much he moves the kn I agree with you on the ranking of the

Players because if you’re going to have the ball in jaayen brunson’s hands a lot and my God is that dud good you want the ball in his hands a lot a guy with ogan and Obi skill set three and D and A Plus at both of those things is theoretically

And I think realistically a little bit more valuable than a guy with Julius Randle skill set but I think for this team to really get where they want to go which as perk said is Conference Finals and maybe finals they need everybody they can still do some damage in the

Playoffs if OG comes back that’s how good they are without him but I just think their ceiling went from here to here and that’s the difference between Boston feeling threatened and not right because right now the Knicks they currently sit as the the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference and there’s

Really just a two- game cushion between them and falling into the playin tournament as you can see here tonight’s game against the Kings it’s going to be a big one but perk you know what’s also huge what’s that Caitlyn Clark in Cleveland preparing to face Yukon in the final

Four LSU has captured its first national championship I don’t think it’s going to set in for me for quite some time I understand we came up one win short but I think we have a lot to be proud of only not a Clark free at the buzzer

Again my goal is to win a National Title plain and simple that’s what I want to do the all leading score in women’s college basketball bar again she’s possessed this time it’s Iowa the hawyes are headed back to the final four being so close last year I think that’s what just

Drives you you know the job’s not finished so Caitlyn Clark in Iowa there in Cleveland this morning preparing for tomorrow’s matchup against Yukon and Paige Beckers and earlier today Clark was named the AP player of the year she was just one vote shy of being a unanimous selection and Clark and

Beckers they both spoke ahead of their final four meeting take a listen I think being here last year you don’t you’re not really prepared for everything that goes on outside of the game there’s so many distractions there’s so many events you have to attend you’re playing in the

Biggest basketball games of your career so um I think being able to block all that out and um really lock in and focus on what your job is and what you’re here for and you know knowing we’re not satisfied honestly I’ve never talked to LeBron like directly but obviously I’ve

Seen he’s commented about myself and I just saw this morning he talked about women’s basketball in general and how good the game is and the stars in our game and coolest thing one of the greatest players of all time um really helping support and grow women’s basketball like that’s exactly what we

Need I think it’s more important for the game to share the spotlight to grow the game and show all the stars of college basketball not just focus on one particular player um whether it be me Caitlyn Juju 10 days left in the regular season with all 10 seeds really up for

GR abbs out west at least the order of them it’s time for a little West Coast edition of coast to coast so north to south so we’re turning though in our nation’s capital the Lakers they got their fifth win on their six game Road Trip LA’s now won nine of their last

Eight of their last nine rather zacha they’re the best stretch is this the best stretch of basketball they’ played all season they’ve taken care of business against Bad teams couple good teams but mostly bad teams that’s what they’re supposed to do but yeah they look good they’re 10 games over 500 now

They’re a legit pretty good basketball team still nin legit pretty good basketball team all right next up we’re going to go to Phoenix Kevin Durant and Deon Booker they combined for 72 points in a win over the Cavaliers the Suns they’re back in sixth right now perk do

You think that they can keep this going and avoid the playin tournament oh know they’re six and two in the last eight games KD and D book balling out I still think they look their stealing is not to get out of the playin tournament but to actually make noise in the west and

They’re not going to do that unless Bradley Bill is a part of this offensive well how about the m magic they handed the Pelicans their third straight loss New Orleans has tumbled from fourth to seventh in less than a week and on top of that Zion left the game early because

Of a finger injury so Brian How concerned are you about the Pelicans here well it looks like he avoided major injury you’re always worried about these finger injuries but uh certainly the Pelicans are losing ground they’ve been suffering without Brandon Ingram their offense has really taking a step back

But how about we put some respect on Pao Banko’s name he had another terrific game last night he’s had a terrific season um improved his shooting and they they need his offense and they got it last night so given all that this is what it all looks like in the west as of

Now so just two games separate the fifth seated Mavericks and the ninth seated Lakers there only 10 days left for all this to get sorted out but one thing is for sure and this is wild Luca donic Kevin Durant Zion Williamson dear and Fox Lebron James Steph Curry at least

Two of those names that I just rattled off will be sitting at home when the playoffs get underway not one at least two of of them so we knew the Western Conference was loading with and the season started we knew that this was going to be a wild finish and there was

Always bound to have teams with real Championship aspirations not to make the playoffs at all but work perk I want you to fill in the blank here the team who it would be the biggest disaster if they miss the playoffs is who the team that we talk about the most the team that

Have arguably arguably the greatest player of all time the Los Angeles Lakers this is a team that actually went to the Western Conference finals last year and for them not to make the playoffs and they bought everyone back they bought their quarterback they resigned Anthony Davis you resigned

Austin Reeds they uh you resigned Jared Vanderbilt uh D’Angelo Russell so for you to bring that core back and you don’t make the playoffs it would be the biggest disaster out of all those teams so feel handy BR go get it done done yeah Phil handy my guy but I

Had to call him M I’ll tell you what the Lakers do have they have some draft picks Y and they have some tradable salaries and a little bit of flexibility to do stuff in the offseason you know who doesn’t have that Phoenix the Phoenix Suns this would be

The biggest disaster of all these teams the Phoenix Suns went whatever is more than all in Phoenix like put the chips in put their mortgage in put their cars in they’re all in and they are trying like hell just to get out of the play in

Tournament and look they may make it and they’d be dangerous if they get in the playoffs but to me and if they don’t make it it’s just Kevin dur going to be 36 soon like they’re running out of time and they went all the way in and they

Got no outs yeah I mean I feel the same way as Zach does like yes the Warriors are disappointing this year especially if they don’t make it they’ve got four titles with those those guys the Lakers even though you think they maybe should have achieved more with LeBron and AD in

This stretch they have won a title they don’t need this to prove it plus as you said they can improve their roster the Sun are locked in and I’m not sure if you look at the rules and the second apron and all that stuff I’m not sure

That they can really do much with this roster the the the two of their key players Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neal are free agents they can’t you know trade them necessarily so I think Phoenix has got the most in play and they’re playing well I think they’re playing with some urgency over these

Last few games but you know and I look if that’s how y’all feel that’s how y’all feel but to my point is it just goes to show you how great the western conference is and how trash the Eastern Conference is because look all these team no seriously all these teams that

Are in the playin tournament right now are like 1110 to 13 above Phoenix is 14 games over 5 that’s what they were in the East they’d be fighting for home court in the first round right now the Lakers are 11 games over 500 they would

Be smoothly out of the play in in the East there it’s not like these are failures obviously they’ve underachieved but it’s not like these teams have collapsed meanwhile meanwhile back in the East the Bulls and the Hawks are 36 and 40 battling for 9 and 10 in a game

That nobody cares about but the East the top of the East too is still a little bit shaky and we need to get into that because coming up on our show Milwaukee last night you would think against a depleted Memphis Grizzlies team it would be a little bit better hint hint nudge

Nudge it wasn’t the Bucks they were double digit favorites in this game with yanis sent kmo facing off against GG Jackson and J JJ it started promising when Giannis was doing things like this W perk I mean that’s when Giannis at his best going out there and not worried

About embarrassment and just going contest shots at the basket no fear at The Rim but then in the third quarter here Giannis taken out of the game late in the third and The Grizzlies just took advantage here Zach yeah triple Jade this is up people forget the Grizzlies

Are going to be back next year this is a good team another good team in the west and Triple J’s experience as the number one gu is going to help and they dominated in the paint yeah this we’re talking about a team that was the number

Two seed in the west last year clock sighting good to see him to fourth quarter here 5 minutes left the Grizzlies up 9390 jiren Jackson Jr launches from Deep gets that one to go and then a minute left here the Grizzlies up 10699 jiren Jackson Jr from

The corner this time and that would be dagger 35 points four rebounds for jiren Jackson Jr and The Grizzlies get the win Giannis 21 points eight assists seven rebounds but here’s the thing the Grizzlies really attack the Bucs inside they scored 78 paint points that is the

Second most Allowed by the Bucks in a game this season and it’s a troubling trend for Milwaukee they also allowed 70 paint points on Tuesday against the Washington Wizards so whether or not Dame and Chris Middleton are in the lineup which obviously last night they weren’t this Milwaukee team they they

Probably should not be losing to the Wizards and then the Grizzlies on back toback nights what do you make of this sa yeah you got to beat those teams um I’m not going to read too much into it because two of their top four players or two of their top three players probably

Were injured not a big Panic game but look Boston is 13 games ahead of everybody else in the East like that’s a joke and the big picture here is New York we talked about big injury blow Cleveland’s been under 500 since they were 35 and 16 Milwaukee is doing

Milwaukee things Orlando’s a nice story I don’t think anyone is super scared of them in the playoffs two takeaways from that number one one as things stand today if Boston doesn’t make the finals it’s a disaster we already knew that number two there’s a little window here for Philadelphia it’s realistic if they

Can get to the right seed in the right matchup and Joel embs Healy they are not to be trifled with because these other teams are not separating themselves yes they are yes they are okay you have the Boston Celtics and then it’s the Milwaukee Bucks right under there and

Then it’s everyone else so Zach you can’t tell me another big three that you’re taking I outside of the Celtics over Dame Giannis and Chris midon right we look at the Miami Heat what’s going on with Tyler hero we haven’t seen him in a while he’s been injured okay you

Look at uh the Philadelphia 76ers are you taking Joel embi Tyrese Maxi and Tobias Harris I’m not okay then look at the six-man you got Bobby poris any six-man uh in the Eastern Conference you’re taking so I just want to make sure I know you said you weren’t

Concerned yesterday about this perk but we’re talking about back-to-back losses to the Wizards and the Memphis gz that’s just part for the course for for a team that has Championship look here here’s why I’m not concerned I’m not picking them to win the East but I’m saying there’re still in my opinion especially

With the news of Julius R the uncertainty of OG an aobi like it’s no real competition for them and they still have time I’m looking at their schedule right now they play the Knicks they play the Bucks they play the magic I mean they play the Celtics the uh Magic the

Thunder the magic so they have time to actually get some wins but all of those teams are better than the Grizzlies and the Wizards I understand that but when they’re fully healthy they have shown us since the allstar break that they’re capable of having signature win but to your point I

I think that these are this happens over the course of an 82 Game season you don’t want it to happen on back-to-back nights against the two teams of this caliber but when you look they’re 1 in seven without Damen Lillard and they were without him last night and guess

Who else they were without Patrick Beverly who’s been dealing with another injury when they don’t have those two guys they don’t really have anyone else Brian that they can bringing in okay at the end of the day this the Bucks will be evaluated on what they do in the

Postseason no matter what seed that they get and when they traded for Damen Lillard what they were trading for was a guy who could deliver at the end of a playoff game who could carry them home so the question really is when they get into playoff settings are they going to

Be able to contain the ball in the perimeter that’s an iffy question because they haven’t been able to contain it most of the season but when you have Giannis you’re going to probably be in just about every game and then Dame carry them home when they get

Into a series with the Celtics which I think ultimately despite what we’ve seen out of the Bucks is what’s going to happen because they do have the most I agree can they keep games close enough where Dame can put them over the top at the end that’s a yes or no we’re going

To get our answer on that and you know the Celtics should beat them they would be favored against them they are going to be the underdog coming into that kind type of a series I don’t have a lot of faith that they will be able to do it

But I’m also not ruling them out I still think that they have the same array of options that they had at the beginning of this whole thing I’m going to answer perk’s question okay he asked me are you taking Philadelphia or Miami or any of these teams over the bucks if they’re

Healthy to answer your question no I agree with you I think the Bucks are the biggest threat to the Celtics they’re plus 16 per 100 possessions when they have Dame Middleton Lopez and Giannis on the floor that team is still in there somewhere all I’m saying is the level of

Inconsistency we’ve seen from them if I’m a Philly fan if I’m embiid I at least say okay if I draw that team or that team or any other team but Boston I feel okay about my chances that’s all no you should feel that way right if you’re

On the outside looking in or if you’re in the organization you should want a match up against the bucks first round if you could the Bucks have problems the first round everywhere they either going to have Philly who has embiid when that would be an artificially deflated seven

Seed right and if they’re having the paint struggles that they’ve had in these two games they can’t have those here for sure but it’s more like guys dribbling in than anything two could end up playing the Pacers who’ve owned them this season right crushed them four and

One and took the game ball or did who took the game ball I can’t remember yes there was the game game ball gate or they could face the heat who beat them in the first round last year without Tyler hero last year by the way so

They’re going to have a hard go of it no matter what and they’re just going to have to pull up their pants and go to work that’s just the way it’s I hope they pull up their pants I was gonna say no one no one needs that I want to take

A move on from the the Panic meter and pull it up the pants and milwauke and shift to some other team Brian who you are a little bit concerned about it’s time now for Wendy’s worries so first up we’re going to look at Kawai Leonard who’s listed as out tonight against the

Defending Champion Denver Nuggets remember this is coming up the heel Clipper star being sent home to Los Angeles that was prior to Tuesday’s loss to the kings that was in Sacramento so that he could get treatment on his right knee the Clippers they are 500 since the

All-Star break so how concerned are you Brian about Los Angeles here’s the problem I assume tyo will give an update on kawhai tonight but when it comes comes to Kawai knee injury updates the Clippers are a little bit difficult to fully believe because he once had an ACL

Tear and they listed him as dayto day and they listed him as dayto day last year in the playoffs he ended up needing surgery and unfortunately both of those surgeries were on his right knee which is where he’s having problems here um this is a huge issue in the Western

Conference especially since Kawai has dominated the Dallas Mavericks in the playoffs twice I believe in the last three or four years that’s who they’re lined up against if you’re Alice you’re holding your phone up waiting for an update on Kawai and that knee that is a huge issue there and I’m also worried

About James Harden James Harden missed a couple of games earlier in March with a shoulder injury and he’s come back and not been the same player I mean this is a guy who no matter what happens has always been able to score not only is he not scoring he’s not even shooting he

Played 36 minutes the other night in Charlotte and took three shots the other his the last game they played in Sacramento even without Kawai he took seven shots he’s only averaging about 12 points a game 12 points a game this is a I understand that he’s playing a

Different role now but such without Kawai just 12 points a game over these last nine games I am really worried about kawai’s knee and whatever is going on with Harden what which I suspect is his shoulder but something is holding them down there is exactly one player on

This team who has earned the right to say I’m a flip the switch player and that’s kawh Leonard who who’s the one dealing with theee injury the rest of this team cannot sit there and say oh but we wenton 26 and 5 2 months ago the playoffs are starting now and we did

This whole segment earlier about what’s the biggest disaster if they don’t make the playoffs to this and that we didn’t talk about the Clippers they’re a little above the tier of teams we were talking about if this team bows out in the first round they take the disaster cake

Because they are all in as all in as can be on a team that just hasn’t accomplish as much as they hoped it would be when they traded everything to put it together look I don’t know what the update on Leonard’s knee is going to be

I suspect we’ll get it tonight I suspect it’ll be vague and so we’ll just have to see but this is like they got to get that pop back and they don’t have it this has been the nailbiter all year long okay if they can be healthy that’s

An if if if they were they were playing well and now this is the exact time that you do not want to see that they are not the only team though in the west Bryan That’s dealing with injuries or someone else you have your eye on he put an eye

On Shay guildas Alexander he’s missed four of his last five games he’s been healthy all season right he’s missed four of his last five games of the Quad injury and those tend to linger and if you even go back and look at the games he’s played recently since he started

Dealing with it his scoring has really fallen off he’s only averaged 19 points in those four games this is a guy who scored at least 30 in 50 of the 71 games he’s played this year he scores 30 no matter what his scoring is way down even

The other night in the one game he’s played since since this injury really was an issue he hit the game winner in New York but he didn’t have a great game by his standards so um I don’t think it’s a huge issue a long-term issue but

But I’m keeping an eye on how healthy he is cuz the Thunder are probably going to be facing their having their hands full with in whatever first round opponent they get right all right so that’s the West what about the East okay so Donovan Mitchell did play a little bit better

For the Cavs last night even though they had a 20o loss in Phoenix but he openly talked after the game about how much this knee injury is affecting him his statistics from before the All-Star break to after the All-Star break are Stark he’s had to shut this shut things

Down with this knee injury twice he told cleveland.com last night that he’s basically hoping to get 1% better every single day between now in the playoffs he feels a lot of pressure to be at a high level in the playoffs he’s really been Limited in his ability to attack

The rim um you know look at that difference in the statistics yeah that’s and specifically the the the field goal percentage I mean he’s a he’s a guy who can really get to the rim and and get a lot of free throws and get up high percentage shots has been able to do

That that’s worrisome for a team that if if he hadn’t had this injury they would have taken the two seed from the bucks but they’re in three right now mostly because of those stats well look uh we hope that he get well but at the end of

The day from what I’m watching with the Cleveland Cavaliers they need to come into Jesus meeting and I don’t know if they had it last night or when they’re going to have it but before this season end they need to air everything out in the locker room no coaches or with

Coaches and get it together cuz the team that I watched last night didn’t play with spear didn’t play with joy and you can’t have that right you got to have the best version of Darius Garland you got to have the best version of Evan Moy

I don’t want to look in guys faces from watching the game and look like they’re defeated or they’re not enjoying one another you could tell the teams that are on one page just look at the bench when they’re not playing you can see the guys if they’re chest bumping if they’re

High-fiving if they’re playing with passing if they’re if they’re engaged or not you know what’s interesting about that what you brought that up at half time last night uhhuh and in the second half start the second half the Cav’s whole bench was standing up I suspect that you weren’t the only person that

Noticed it the JB bicker staff got into them they actually went on a run and their whole bench was standing it was too late because they were facing a a real a tough challenge but I think you’re on to something the Cavaliers these teams have a couple of weeks to

Sort out everything heading into the postseason but the final four is is already upon wi all analyst Andrea Carter thank you so much I know it is cold in Cleveland so we will try to keep this brief send you some hand warmers but I I do want to start Andrea with

With Yukon versus Iowa we get Paige Becker’s versus Caitlyn Clark in this one how is Yukon trying to stop the ncaa’s alltime leading scorer oh my gosh so this match up between Paige and Caitlyn is going to be electric it’s something we saw their freshman year when they were going back and forth

Between who was going to be the Freshman of the year that season I know everyone is wanting Paige guarding Caitlyn everybody wants to see it and Paige is an elite Defender Paige has great defensive instincts she’s extremely long she can read the defense she can jump in

Passing Lanes she can deflect shots she can block shots she’s a great defender however there’s a player on Connecticut’s team named n mule yes you see video here of Paige guarding guju Watkins Paige took on the assignment of guarding guju and she handled it extremely well but it’s because na mule

Got in foul trouble Naik mule is a 6-foot guard she was 2023 Big East defensive player of the year she’s my personal spirit animal because she is just a dog so I think we’ll see na mule on Caitlyn Clark first in the tournament Malika when NAA has guarded people

Oneon-one she’s held them to 25% and I’m not saying you’re going to hold Caitlyn clar to 25% I don’t think it’s possible but I think Nico will have the assignment first to at least try to make life difficult for Caitlyn and I think Paige will also be able to step in well

You me you mentioned Paige defensive prowess but let’s not get it twisted she is also a bucket so what does Iowa need to do to slow her down oh my goodness so Iowa they’re going to have a tall task at hand in defending Aaliyah Edwards on the inside and limiting paage Beckers on

The outside but Iowa let me tell you this they are so good at defensive scheming and taking away team’s strengths what was LSU strength Angel Reese on the inside look three players crowd Angel Reese they did a great job of it without fouling you see Hannah stoky there 45 in white just hands

Straight up make life as difficult as possible Iowa their goal and then what they’re really good at here is getting the ball out in transition and flying to the other end of the floor to get wide open shots this is going to be part of Iowa’s plans because Yukon they’re so

Limited in terms of their depth so they’ll try to get defensive stops take away the best option again what was LSU’s best option the inside play the post play Angel Reese here trying to get the ball to her you can’t look at Hannah stoki battling you see Angel Reese needs

To get the ball and you end up getting a tipped pass from Gabby Marshall who gets the steal Iowa defensively they scheme they could do something you could see a triangle in two we’ve seen a box in one those three right there Gabby Marshall Caitlyn Clark Kate Martin they lead the

Country in starts their second in the last 25 seasons in starts together over 130 starts so they’re veterans they have high basketball IQ defensively I think we’ll see a few different schemes to take away yukon’s biggest strength which again is Paige and Aaliyah on the inside

Andrea Carter one of the young coats of this business thank you so much for spending some time with us here on NBA today we’re going to be seeing you all over the network in our final four coverage enjoy Cleveland my friend thanks mikica our action-packed ESPN April it

Rolls on tomorrow with the women’s final four starting at 7 o’cl Eastern and then we have Sunday Night Baseball featuring the Astros and the Rangers and hackey that Hockey Night on ESPN the top two teams in the west the Stars at the ABS before we bounce some news from the

G-league Stockton Kings head coach Lindsey Harding was named the 2024 G league coach of the year now Harding earned these honors after leaving the Kings to a league best 24- 10 record in her first season Harding is also the first black woman to hold a head coaching position in g-league history so

Congratulations Lindsay for winning Coach of the Year and thank you for Paving the way for women around the world ESPN’s next Wednesday double header the heat hosting the MBS at 7:30 Eastern and then the Timberwolves they are in Denver to take on the Nuggets that should be a good one coverage tips

With NBA countdown that’s at 7:00 coming up on NBA today the Celtics they may have clinched homec court advantage throughout the playoffs but will they be number one on big perk’s big list of real legit title contenders we will see I like that we needed real and legit there Too Legit to Quit

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NBA TODAY FULL | “Nuggets hold 1st place; Celtics over Timberwolves” – Perk’s real legit title contenders