Prediction Pod: Western Conference Season Win Total Over/Unders With Adrian Izquierdo & Hansel Pupo

Prediction Pod: Western Conference Season Win Total Over/Unders With Adrian Izquierdo & Hansel Pupo

Good morning, good afternoon, and good night to all the Burnout Basketball Podcast fans out there. Tonight we have a or today whenever you’re listening really. We have a very special episode. We’re going to be going over all the Western Conference season total wins over unders for each team. So, you know, if Vegas said a team might win 50 games, they set the line at 50 and a half. We’re going to be saying whether we think we’re taking the over or whether we think we’re taking the under on that. We’re not worried about the odds. We’re not worried about necessarily betting on this. None of this is gambling advice. We do have two very special guests on for this episode. We have a friend, Adrien Skero, and another friend, Hansel Poo. We’ll be introducing them in just a bit. But before we get to the content, please make sure that you like, subscribe, follow, do all of that stuff. Hit me on the socials. We appreciate it. We thank you very much. And stay tuned as we get right into it right now. [Music] And we’re back with another episode of the Burnout Basketball Podcast. And today we have not one but two very special guests that I am very excited to have here. We have a good friend Adrien Escerero with us. And we have another good friend, Hansel Pupil. Today, specifically today, not yesterday, not tomorrow. He’s here today. So I’m I’m very excited to have these two here. It’s going to be our first, my first, you know, um, threeperson pod. So, excuse any roughness around the edges. We’re figuring it out as we go. Just as some of these teams that we’re going to be talking about are a lot of them maybe are directionless, we’re going to get into it. So, as we mentioned at the top right now, the schedule for today, we’re going to go through the West. We’re going to read off their overunderlines for their total wins on the season. We’re not worried about the odds. This is not a betting podcast yet. But if FanDuel wants to reach out, if anyone wants to reach out, let me know. I’m willing to sell morals for money, so that’s fine. But for now, as we are not sponsored, we’re just worried about the predictions. We just want to know, do you think they’re going to win less or more than what the odds books are telling us they’re going to win? So, without further ado, we’re going to get into the possibly luckiest franchise of this past season, the Dallas Mavericks. After making the uh huge huge move of trading their star who just took them to the finals, they luck into the first pick in the NBA draft with some of the lowest odds possible to get that pick and get what seems like possibly another generational player in Cooper Flag. The overunderline for Dallas is 40 and a half wins. Boop, what do you think? What are you feeling on Dallas right now? Uh yeah, let’s get into it. First of all, the most rigged pick we’ve ever seen. Correct. I think we all could agree on that. Um, I like the DLO signing. I think it’s a good good filler for Kyrie. Uh, is did did they shut down uh AD last year for an injury or did they just shut him down because they weren’t going to make it? I think it was a little bit of both. I think at the end end they shut him down. I know he was pretty adamant about coming back after his injury. He didn’t want to let the fans down, but um yeah, it was a little bit of both there. Okay, so they added who else? Senate drafted flag. Um Chris, me and you have spoken about Flag before. I’m not sure where I have him at. I don’t think I have him where most people had him pre-draft like as in like a generational player. I think he’s going to be a very good player. But um yeah, I mean Kyrie out for the season 40. Yeah, I’m going to go with that over to be honest. I think they could win at least 42 games this this season. Over. Nice. Nice. Adrian, wow. What What are you thinking there? Um, well, let me start by saying I agree with uh if the Heat were in Dallas’s situation, we’re not getting the number one pick. You don’t think so? No. No. Um, the AD question is is a big thing for me. Um, I’m not sure exactly how things are going to look when he’s back, especially with a rookie and flag. Um, how much does AD look to be the dominant player on the team or does he look to be a mentor and let Flag kind of take his own journey as the leader of the team? That’s going to be interesting for me. Like what route do they decide to take? Um, especially because Kyrie’s going to be out a majority of the season. The West is madness. Um, I’m going to go under 40 because the West is just madness and I think they just have a lot to figure out and in the West it’s tough to to be su successful at all while you’re trying to figure it out. Yeah, I’m I’m torn with this team. I I see where you’re at. I see where you’re both at. It’s it’s a question of like they have this roster that was built to win now despite trading Luca. like despite all the comments about it and we all agree they shouldn’t have traded Luca and that they didn’t probably get enough back. But that’s not to say that AD is a bad player. He’s he’s a very he’s a very good player. He’s just not necessarily as good as Luca is right now and he’s older. Kyrie is obviously a good player who’s injured. Um and then they have Derek Lively. They have Gaffford at center. They have just all these bigs. They had this great roster that was ready to win it felt like. But then they draft Flag, who I mean, I think he’s going to be an impact player immediately, but he’s still a rookie and they would be incredibly dumb to not give him all the runway in the world cuz you just got the number one pick. You you they shouldn’t be like limiting his minutes by any means. But that brings into a problem that they have this this lineup of what AD Flag and Lively all out there at the same time because I don’t think you’re demoting Lively to the bench. So you have these three bigs and then you’re gonna have DLO subbing in which I just want to quote that Nico Harrison said that defense wins championships and he proceeded to sign DLO. So that’s Yeah. So I just I don’t know what they’re going to be able to do on that end. Like it’s just a I feel like not that the roster is bad even with Kyrie out. I just feel like they’re gonna have to do some figuring out on how this team even plays. I I do think that the DL pickup was a gap filler. That’s going to be I don’t know what he signed for, how many years he signed for, but he’s going to be there for for Kyrie. So, he’s going to be a starter. But Kyrie defends better than DL. Come on. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Way better than DL. Actually, Kyrie for being a smaller guard, he’s actually a really good defender. If you guys remember um their golden when he was in the Cavs versus uh Curry, you know, some could some could say Curry got clamped up. I don’t want to go back into the into the stats to see what what he don’t get crazy. Yeah, but he he definitely did. No, but not not climb. But he he did a he did an amazing job for you know for a player that was on fire that whole entire regular season. But um yeah, I I I don’t I don’t know if like in the future when Kyrie Well, let’s better yet better said, what do you guys think this team averages how many wins they would get if Kyrie was in the starting lineup? If Kyrie was healthy, if you told me Kyrie was coming back in November, I’d hit the over in a moment. But yeah, definitely. Yeah, I’d say at least 45 to 50 wins with a healthy Kyrie, but uh without it with DLO starting, like to not belabor it anymore, I’m going to go ahead and give that I’m I’m going to go ahead and hit the under on it. I’m uh okay, I’m in agreement. I I part of my reason just to like solidify it is if AD’s out for 15 20 games which happens those are those are some games that you know not going to be necessary winning and it’s just it’s really tough to to win when you got to play all of these West Coast teams three and four times a year while you’re still trying to get your stuff together. West Coast teams like this next one, Denver. Denver they have at 53 and a half wins. So they won 50 last season. Uh they added Bruce Brown, Cam Johnson, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Valenunis and they lost MPJ and Sarich which weren’t I mean MBJ was good for them. I don’t want to discount that. Sarich was nothing for them. So they turned MPJ into return of Bruce Brown, Cam Johnson Hardway Jr. Balenunis who Balenunis will be the best backup big that they’ve ever had for Jokic. So there’s minutes where they’re going down like 50 when Joic is on the bench. Hopefully that’s not as big of a difference. Valentunis isn’t who he once was anymore obviously, but he’s still a very serviceable big and in the playoffs they’re only going to need him to play 10 minutes. in the regular season, which what we’re talking about. I think he’s decent enough to play, you know, 15, 20 minutes a game depending. Um, I’m gonna just go with mine already to start just because I feel pretty passionately about this one. I’m going to say it’s an over. I’m going to say it’s an over. Adrian, what what do you think? I’m with you. Over and by a good amount. I think that they made the right decisions this off season. Uh, the Michael Porter Jr. situation was just always going to be complicated because yes, he’s tall. you’ve got the length, um you’ve got the consistent shooting when he’s there, when he’s healthy, it just becomes a complication because that back can flare up at any given moment, right? Also, defensively, for the size that he has, he wasn’t really giving them what they needed. I think bringing ground back is going to bring back some of that aggression. Um, and he knows there already back and Cam Johnson, guys that are athletic wings. I think we’re seeing that across the board. That’s why they lost to Oklahoma City this year and they went and attacked that problem. Yeah, I I really like Cam Johnson. And also, I’m going to go ahead and say that I’m going to assume that Murray will have a better season than he did last year. I’ I’d hope if he he probably had his worst regular season last year, and he’s not known for taking the regular season super seriously, but it was it was bad by his standards even last year. So, if you just get a slightly improved Murray plus these additions, I I think I I could see the over. What are you thinking, Po? Um, this is tough. I’m going to go with the over, but not going to go crazy with it, but I’m taking the over. I used to follow Michael Porter Jr. heavy when uh when everyone used here, I’m assuming everyone used to watch Ballers Life here. I’ve been following MPJ. Everyone I I used to love MPJ. Uh, Mizu, I think he played two, three games before he got injured and never came back and that’s how he dropped. He dropped to 18th, 20th pick. He was supposedly going to be the first pick overall pick that year, but yeah. So, but yeah, uh KD build without the dribble, without the nice jump shot. He He could shoot the ball, just not as good as he could shoot the ball, but not as crazy as KD. Like Adrian said to the defense for being close to 7 feet, like probably around 610 or whatever the case may be. Lanky cannot play defense. Yeah. At a good clip. So, yeah, losing him probably the best thing they did to be honest. I I I don’t think he was worth it or the extension. He’s I think he’s up for an extension sometime soon. Yeah. Adding back to Bruce Brown, amazing. Cam Johnson, great player. Uh Tim Hardway Jr. going to give you that little spark off the bench. And JV, backup for for for the Joker. Easy. That’s they they this team is going to be really good. And I think it’s the only team that didn’t give OKC a run for the money in the finals. Yeah. Valenunis off the plane in Europe and sent them back. Yeah. Yeah. Valenunis, you were not playing for Greece. You were coming back home and playing in America. So yeah. No, I think we’re all in agreement then. Uh Poop’s not a lock on the over, but he is feeling it. So yeah. Yeah. I I think it’s, you know, it’s you have the Joker. I’m going to always bet on them winning. So that’s uh just the type player he is. And then for a team like the next one on our list for Golden State, it’s it’s tough. They’re uh they’re slotted at 45 and a half. Um they won 48 last season. They lost Cavon Looney who’s it’s kind of sad to see him go since he’d been with them for so long and such a great player there. Uh they’re they’ve made like the least moves of any team during the offseason. They’re still waiting, I think, on just what happens with Kaminga before they’re able to hopefully get Al Horford or at least they’re hoping. But even going ahead and assuming they get out Horford, this is like, man, it’s I’m not meaning this as an insult. I mean, I am, but I I still appreciate Curry and Jimmy Butler to some extent, but this is like a retirement squad. Like, just looking at the ages of these players. You have you have Curry, you have Draymond, you have Jimmy, you even if they get Al Horford. Like is this team in the West I’m not doubting their chances in any playoff series necessarily if everyone’s healthy, but like is this the type of team that can win 46 games in the regular season in the West? It’s tough. I don’t know. Vegas is good at what they do. What What are you guys thinking? Yeah. Uh I go ahead, Adrian, cuz I used to love this team as like my Western Conference team. Um yeah, brother. Like it’s just they did such a bad job at at mixing like win now and plan for the future. So it’s a cluster over there. So they they got to see what happens with Kaminga. I think I mean I think aer was like pretty much a lock but I don’t think he ever signed with them if not mistaken. Yeah, he everyone is assuming he’s going there. They just they have to figure out the Kaminga thing before they’re able to make that signing. So yeah, that that makes sense. Yeah, losing Looney huge probably the their best big man as like an center. Um, you know, you still have a old ass Draymond Green, which is still a decent player. Jimmy and Curry are an amazing duel probably like three years ago and probably could win something like three or four years ago. Uh, it’s not to say that Jimmy’s bad or that Curry’s bad, but they’re just older at this point and you know. But yeah. Uh, yeah. Give me this under. This is easy under. I don’t think that they could. Nah, I don’t think they could win 46 games to be honest. What what are you thinking, Adrian? I’m gonna I’m gonna take the under. Um I think like Boo mentioned, losing Looney, big big big loss, not just for them on the court because he did all the hustling aside from Draymond Green. Um but that’s got to be a big change in the locker room for them. He was there for all of it and he was always the guy that would just put his workers hat on and go to work and stay quiet and do all the dirty work for them and never got much of the credit except from their own fan base. He was perfect. That’s going to be a bad one for them. Replacing him with someone like Al Horford who’s going to fit that same role and who’s going to be a great leader for the team is nice. Um it’s just different. Yeah. But Uh-huh. Go ahead. Go ahead. I don’t think I don’t think Al Well, I know for sure I was not I was not going to put that dirty work in like at least uh not comeo uh Looney would he was still a good defender. You think he he’s going to put up the boards or or like the tough defense doing it for Austin. He he was he’s I just want to He’s 39 years old. I know, but that’s not terrible. I thought he was at least 40 41 at this point, but at 39 that’s not too shabby. I don’t know, man. The guy’s always kept himself in great shape. He does keep himself in great shape. That is true. Everybody’s like waiting on his falloff. He’s a Yeah. Very very underrated player. I think players and I mean he was a star before, but at this point he’s like the players. I think we’re all agree. The Jimmy effect. Jimmy got paid. That’s true. That’s true. Jimmy is that we know as Heat fans, Jimmy is not really looking forward to the regular season. He’ll show up in May when it’s time to show up and that’s going to put a big strain on this team because Curry’s going to have to do a lot of the heavy lifting throughout the year. And I don’t know if he’s trying to do that anymore. Yeah. No, I I don’t think he wants to. Yeah. I don’t think he can. We’re still gonna see Curry pop off because Curry is, sorry, my take. Top 10 players of all time. Top five maybe. Yeah, maybe for me. But it’s just Kaminga. Um, what’s his other rookie that No, not not a rookie. Well, he got drafted with Kaminga. Um, I just forgot his name right now. Um, Pods. Well, uh, Pods got a massive drop off this year compared to his freshman year. No, but Kam got drafted with someone else with Moses Moses Moody. Is Moses Moody still on the team? Uh, he is still on the team. Yes. Yeah. Okay. So, but they just don’t have enough bench players like how we’re going to eventually talk about like OKC like they just have an amazing deep squad. This team is is topheavy with old players. That’s the unfortunate part. Like Yeah. Very topheavy with all old players. It’s It’s tough for them. So, and Kerr hates old E teams. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Just hanging on. Yeah. It’s just just hanging on. And you know, you’re not going to let Curry walk away. like you’re not going to not maybe commit that same mistake with um Clay, but you know, Curry’s a okay, he’s a warrior for life. You know, that’s it. It’s already done. So, she’s got to ride it out to the Sunset. That’s pretty much it. Nice. Yeah, I mean, it’s true. We’re all in agreement here. Uh I think this is where we’ll start having some sipper point of views going forward, but Golden State, we’re all hitting the under on that one. At least I’m feeling that for the regular season. Houston on the other hand, they are seated at 55 and a half for their overunder. They won 52 last season. They added Clint Capella. They added Kevin Durant. They added a Kogi. They added Dorian Finny Smith. They lost Jay They lost uh Dylan Brooks. They lost Jaylen Green um and Cam Whitmore. They resigned pretty much all of their starters besides Jaylen Green and Brooks. They they have Van Vle, Jabari Smith, Aaron Holidayiday, Steven Adams, Jeff Green, Jan Tate. Uh they have a pretty deep roster. Um Reed Shepard was looking decent in the very few minutes he got last season. Uh man, it’s I like this team a lot. The over underline is a hard one to to parse out, though. Uh Adrian, what what do you think? I know I kind of know people’s feelings from some offline talk, but what are you thinking about the Houston? I’m smashing the over here. Emma Udoka is my favorite coach outside of Eric Spolster in the NBA by far. by far. We all know what Yeah, we all know what he did with Boston. We all know what he and turning that 21 win team into the number two seed in the West. No, it’s true. Yeah, they were young and they couldn’t do much in the playoffs, but to go and do what they did in the West this year was extremely impressive, which man, the Thompson, I’m a big fan of the Thompson twins. Those guys are dogs and Eay has them playing some really good ball. Losing Jayen Green is going to really hurt, but when you replace him with arguably, I don’t think it’s a debate, but I think is who I think is the best scorer of all time in KD. Um, yeah, I mean, he’s going to shoot the shot whenever you need one and he’s going to add that much needed experience that that team didn’t have this run. And the benefit too is that I don’t think you know there’s always a conversation more about KD as a leader rather than him as a player. I think everyone in the world can agree on KD’s as a player, but EA is the leader of this team which you know it’s like not as black and white as to say in other teams where you could say like every coach is the leader. Like no, Eay really is the personality of this team. All those young players have just embodied Eay’s personality. Oh, you can see. Yeah, it’s they I mean the Thompson Twins, I love him, but he bodys slammed, suplexed Tyler Herro, but that attitude is that is pure Eay’s attitude that’s like bleeding into this team and all KD has to go out there and hoop with a bunch of bunch of ballers. So, what what are you thinking on that one? Yeah, give me this under for sure. Uh KD KD is old and I I share the same sentiment with Adrian. I think he’s the best scorer of all time at definitely the best score I’ve ever seen. Um, Phineas Smith. Fine Smith actually better said. Okay, at that uh losing Jaylen Green, the verdict is still out for him. I don’t know what to make of him to be honest. I think he’s a good player, but microwave for sure. Yeah. Like it’s it’s too it’s it’s too on and off for me to even give a firm opinion on him. Jabari Smith I think is coming to his role literally as a role player. I think he’s good at what he does. I don’t think he’s going to be great. Good player nonetheless though. Uh Aaron Holidayiday it’s okay. Stephen Adams the voice of the team. Uh Jeff Green. Okay. Huge fan. Huge fan on him. Uh but yeah, I don’t know if that’s 55 and a half. It is a high number. It is like I think I think it’s definite they’re going to win more than 52, but 56 is Yeah. Well, they won 52 for the second seed last year. Yep. Yeah. OKC lapped everybody by a tremendous amount last year. Yeah, that’s that’s that we’ll get to them eventually. That is crazy. But um Yeah. No, I don’t I don’t I don’t see them winning 56. Hitting the under. Nice. Yeah. Um man, this is this is a tough one for me. You know what? No, I’m I’m going not even off the KD edition. I’m going off the strength of of the Thompson Twins. I’m hitting the over for that. I I just Yes. I I love I love him. I love him. And yeah, it’s an over for me. Maybe not as confidently as Adrian hit the over, but it’s an over for me. I think I’m going to I’m going to go with that. I I really like them. And then even I like again this isn’t a playoff pod, but I’m I’m I think them and the Nuggets are the two scariest teams to me. If I’m OKC in the playoffs, I do not want to play Houston. Well, this is a mean both of them don’t play. It’s just a mean Thompson that plays for for the Rockets. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Almond play for the Rockets and Osar is for Detroit. Almond is Logan like the better one currently, but Osar was uh out with injury for a decent amount of time. Yeah. If if the Rockets Thompson twin Yes. starts playing good. Well, not starts playing good if he has if he develops a shot. Yeah. Yeah. That’s the thing. That kid’s gonna be a problem. Yeah. And he has what he did to Curry in the playoffs was extremely impressive. Mhm. Yeah. That I’ve never seen someone cover him like that. And it was just non-stop. Wouldn’t let him breathe. Like he’s he’s a freak, dude. He’s a freak athlete. So, um it’s a it’s a soft over for me. It’s a hard over for Adrian. It’s a hard under for Poop. We’re going to move on to another one that I’m sure there’s going to be some disagreements on. The Los Angeles Clippers, they won 50 games last season and this season over underline is right at 49 and a half. Wondering if they’ll win 50 again or if they’re going to win under that pretty much. They added uh Beal on a very cheap deal. So any any uh thoughts that people might have around Beal were more to do with the exorbitant contract and the no trade clause he was on. He’s not he’s not a star anymore, but he’s not a bad player. just not worth $50 million a year. Uh John Collins, who they’ve added, who didn’t play much for Utah because when he played for Utah, they won too much or were too good on the court, still seems like a decent player, still young, knows his role. Brook Lopez, who they added for spot minutes, um a little older, but still decent. Chris Paul, who is also kind of understanding of his role that he’ll be coming off the bench for the most part for this team. And then of course, they lost Norman Pal. So, they did they did get some stuff. And I do want to mention, I do not know this player at all. They did get a draft of one first round draft pick. It was the last pick, the number 30 pick. They drafted Yannik Conan. I’m pronouncing his name wrong. I’m 100% sure. He is some 611 guy. So, someone off the bench to I guess add minutes. My concern with this roster personally is a similar concern to Golden State is it’s a lot of old guys. A lot of old guys. And I mean, even age- wise, it’s not even their ages are that old, but a lot of just injuryprone guys too. Harden misses time. Kawhai obviously misses time. Beal misses time. Rick Lopez will probably miss some time. Chris Paul will probably miss some time. It’s uh it’s tough for me on that front. So to make sense of it, they they seem to be like the media darlings on most podcasts. I’ve been hearing everyone’s very excited about the Clippers, but every season it feels like everyone is excited about the Clippers. It’s like every year since Quine Hearted got there, it’s like this is the year where the Clippers are going to do it. And uh I’m just going to go with my I’m going to I’m going to just go with under. Even though I just want to say I do want to say I think Steve Balmer is a baller. He’s probably like my favorite owner in the NBA. It seems like he’s willing to spare no expense to promote his team. So go him. But I’m going to hit the under on this team. At least for me personally. I have no faith that all those players are going to play the majority of the season. Interesting. Interesting. Uh AJ, you want to go ahead? Yeah, sure. I’ll go I’m going to take the under 100%. Um Kawaii played 37 games last year. A majority of the ones he played, they won. Um I’m I’m I’m a fan of the Tailoo situation. Yeah. But yeah, it’s it’s a bunch of older players uh slapped together on a team. We’ve seen this before and it normally does not end well. Um, I do like the Brook Lopez edition. Um, and John Collins as well. I think he’s a great athletic wing. I just don’t think you’re going to get enough consistency from Beal and Kawawaii that they had from like a Norman Pal and it’s it just doesn’t in that West Western Conference. It just doesn’t seem likely to me that Norman Pal was great for them in the regular season. I mean, um, again, like Beal in limited minutes, I think can somewhat reproduce with that what Norman Pal did. I think John Collins is going to be a nice lob threat for Harden to throw the ball to. Um, like I think the fit is nice on all those pieces and on paper if all of them are healthy at all times. Like it’s going to be a fun roster. There’s definitely going to be a little bit of figuring out to do. I think just naturally it’s a bunch of guys who weren’t playing together last year. Um, but yeah, it’s uh it’s interesting. Poop. How are you feeling? I know I know you’re a big uh you’re a big Harden guy. Yeah, huge Harden guy. To begin with, I never thought the Clippers even when they had their their their three players, I never thought the Clippers played fun basketball. Big Harden guy nonetheless though. But this is a hard easy easy easy money. Even probably second in the West. Give me this over for sure. This is easy over. Okay, you lost Norman Pout, which he you know, was he an all-star player? Yes, by all accounts. But they did he was he really an all-star player? Not really. No. But you know for 49 and a half I mean Vegas is saying they’re winning they’re going to win less games than last year. That’s insane. I’m probably going to bet that after this call to be honest. But yeah, give me give me Bradley Beal uh actually playing John Collins like Adrian said an amazing wing player. Rick Lopez great player. Chris Paul going to give you that those garbage minutes or those times where you do need like a veteran on the floor for the second team or even for the first team. You mean fit? Lob City 2.0, baby. Lob City 2.0. Let’s get it. I will say it is cool. It is cool regardless of the amount of wins they get that Chris Paul will be able to retire with the Clippers. That’s a That’s a cool story, I think. Regardless, I think I think that that that’s a good uh you know, well, he did say I think that this is his last year. Never confirmed it. Okay. Yeah. Okay. So, he did confirm it. Yeah. And it’s nice, you know, even though he debuted with the New Orleans Hornets. Yeah. Wasn’t Charlotte Charlotte Hornets or No, Charlotte Hornets. No, it was the New Orleans Hornets. The New Orleans Hornets. Yeah. Before they went before before they went to Charlotte. Yeah. So, this this this will be nice, you know, this is when Chris Paul became, you know, the great Chris Paul as we as we all know him at this point. So, time. Yeah. Yeah. So, this this is going to be nice to see. And yeah, man. It’s just this is an easy over. Like I said, bro, this this they they got way better. That’s a that’s a nice That’s a spicy prediction. An easy over. I like that. That’s uh that’s fun. Going to their going to their neighbors, the Los Angeles Lakers, who are slotted to win uh well, they have them at 47 and a half. They won 50 games last season. They added DeAndre Aiden. Uh some call him dominating. That’s that’s what he’s known for. They added Jake Laravia and I really really like this. They added Marcus Smart, which I I like it on a personal level because f the Celtics and to see a Celtics player in a Lakers uniform is always going to give me just like a little bit of happiness, a little bit of joy. Um, they did lose Doran Vinnie Smith which was a big loss for them. Uh, this is a this is like the craziest sentence to say. This is a contract year for 40-year-old LeBron, who was an all-star last year, an AllNBA player last year. 40-year-old LeBron was an AllNBA player. I think people like we all talk about him like he’s washed already cuz he’s 40, but he was literally a top 15 player in the NBA last year. He helped us win an Olympic gold medal. Uh, aside from those last two Curry games, he was Yeah, cuz I was about to say that cuz Curry Curry went off, but Curry was invisible for the first four games of the Olympics. And LeBron was very true. LeBron was his typical LeBron self, just consistent in every freaking game at 40. Uh, and again, it’s a contract year for him. He He kind of And he’s not This is not his last year. He has not said it’s his last year. I don’t believe that it is. I don’t think any of us here think it’s his last year. I think he he’s gonna announce that way before he’s gonna have his whole retirement tour. Um, he kind of has to prove how much money he’s worth this season. Luca is looking nice and skinny. I don’t know if you guys have seen the recent videos of him. Stop. We got to stop with this is every summer. It’s not just It’s not just pictures. He is looking I’m telling you, he is looking as skinny as he did like his rookie year. He is looking slim. Will he be as athletic though? Look, look. I I I am slamming slamming the over on this. They were the third I don’t know. It’s crazy to me. It’s just insane to me. They were the third seed in the West last year. And people talk about them like like they were washed. They got exposed in the playoffs cuz guess what? They didn’t have a center. They had to play Jackson Gays as their starting center. And then they tried to play they tried to play a whole second quarter without making any subs cuz JJ Reic was just desperate. They had nothing. They had nothing. This is a contract year for Aiden. I I’m not super high on him. I think his time I think his time with the Trailblazers was terrible. Um but I will say he’s his time with the Suns was underrated. They made it to the finals with him when he was very very young. He was able to play decently throughout a whole play throughout a whole stretch of playoffs. He was a starting center for a finals team. That like that cannot be taken away from him. Um it’s a proven year for him. It is the most proving year for him at this literally if he does not play well this year, he’s out of the league pretty much or on minimum contracts for the rest of his career. They have Marcus Smart who I think is still a dog who is excited about the Luca fit. I think Luca is going to have an MVP season this year. Um JJ Reic, I think is a great coach and is only going to get better. I’m I don’t know. I’m taking the over on this. Wait, like just give it to me. Yeah, that’s spicy. That is very spicy. I’m going to I’m going to go ahead real quick. Give me this under. I I think Aiden is a bum. I think he’s horrible. Um, get ready to learn Mandarin, brother, because you’re going to be in China if Well, not if, cuz he is going to play back cuz he’s not a good player. Uh, Marcus Smart, good bench player, you know. I mean, what else can you expect from Marcus Smart? Uh, yeah, man. An obvious decline from LeBron James. You do have one of the top five players in in Luca and his skinny mode allegedly. Can’t wait till he downs three beers. He’s going to down three beers and they get fat again. But, you know, that’s that’s another conversation. Forget the hookah. Yeah. And the hookah. Yeah, exactly. One full sprint. This guy’s going to be like Fat Luca still carried them in the finals. Still carried the maps to the finals. Fat Luca did with Kyrie. Kyrie was Kyrie was invisible in the Eastern Conf in the Western Conference Finals. In that Timberwolves series, Kyrie was invisible. He very much was invisible. But not for the whole playoff run. Not for the whole playoff run. Just that series, I will say. Yeah. Yeah, but like what? That’s crazy. Damn. Vegas doesn’t have Yeah. No, give me this under. That that point point blank period. Just give me the under. Adrian, I have a feeling I I think I know where you’re leaning. Oh, yeah. 100%. Give me the under. I’m with Boo. Aiden’s a bum. What did you say they called Aiden, Chris? Aiden gave himself the nickname. He has a tattered on him. Dominating. Oh, wow. With the Y. He might like being dominated, but I’m gonna leave that there. Um, yeah. No thank you. Um, no thank you. I love LeBron and he was a top 15 player last year. Like real deal. But he’s 41. What does this team look like now after a training camp with Luca now taking over as the leader of this team and like you said, Luca seems to be in shape. He got the message from his coach uh who sent him a very direct message in public. Yep. Um, shout out to players that can take a harsh criticism. We all know what you’re talking about. I’ll leave that one there, too. Um, shout out Tyler Herro. Um, yeah. I just don’t see so I think Luca can carry the team very far. I just don’t know if it’s going to look like what it’s supposed to look like in the regular season at first. Can I can I say something real quick? Is this going to be the worst team that Luca has played on except for maybe his freshman or sophomore year in in the in the league? I don’t I’m not sure, but it might be like this easily might be the worst team he’s going to play with. They need help really bad. I I think if they struggle to get into the playin situation. I think the Mavericks before trading for uh Gaffford arguably was worse than this team. Um but I get what you mean. I roster-wise, I think that sentiment is fully like held up on whatever you think Aiden is going to do this season. If Aiden is a good player this season, then I’d say this roster is decent. If Aiden is as bad as he was the past two years, then I’d say this roster is terrible. Like they need a good center. That’s Yeah, exactly. That’s what confuses me, right? And Rob Pelinka gets a lot of credit for making a Luca trade that was offered to him. No, he shouldn’t get anything. that he actually did anything, but he gets a lot of credit for that and for the turnover that they have every year on that team because a lot of people feel like just making moves is always the right decision. Well, this is what happens when you make moves, four and five moves every season, every year. It was the West trade that really that really ruined them. That Westbrook trade set them back. But I just want to point out too that again, this is not being reported. No one has said this, but when I look at this team, I think an easy spot that they could make a swap for an upgrade at a different position is trading Austin Reefs. I don’t know if they’re going to do that. I’ve also I’ve also I’ve also heard those rumors and like, you know, not rumors, but like just like this is the only spot like we could do something. I think Austin is a really good player. I’m not devaluing him at all, but I just don’t think he’s necessarily the best player to pair next to Luca with. I I feel like you can upgrade to try to get a wing or a power forward or center depending on Aiden just to or why not or why is he not your sixman running the second unit but he’s going to want I mean he’s going to want to deservingly so have his minutes because he’s playing really well. I mean, I don’t think he’s an eagle player. At the end of the day, what matters is who plays in the fourth, but can you really still survive in the regular season with a roster of like a a starting lineup of or an ending lineup of Luca, LeBron, and Austin Reeves out there? Uh, yes. Especially if you want to play in today’s NBA where everyone’s playing five out. That is true. I do think they need to spread it more. So, they need shooters. Um, I think them missing out on an opportunity like a Duncan Robinson hurt them because if they want to transition to this five out up and down game that’s starting to basically take over the league now with the whole AA trend and all of that that’s gotten into the NBA. Um, I yeah I don’t see it. I mean even A can kind of shoot the three ball, right, Chris? I don’t he’s not I don’t think he has an ex uh I’ll look it up right now for us. I don’t think he has necessarily a I thought in Phoenix he was able to shoot it a little bit but even then again like if your biggest issue you lose in the you’re the three seed you lose in the playoffs right and you’re and you know you lose because you’re missing a center the center you go out and get to fix the problem is DeAndre Aton you’re in a bad spot yeah well remember last year um it was their rookie that they sent out for uh for this guy from Charlotte what’s his name again um and they ended up doing physicals on him and they’re like, “Yeah, this guy’s very injured.” Yeah. And they send they send him back. But even that that Marcus wins is a million times better than Aiden. I mean, hopefully hopefully I’m wrong and Aiden pops off. So Adrian on very little attempts. He did have that one season where he was shooting like 36%. It was on very little attempts though. He’s shot the next season after that on little attempts. It was like around 30%. But yeah, then there’s this crazy drop off to his Portland on even less attempts, shooting 10 and 20%. Um, yeah. So, I I don’t Yeah, I know. Never mind then. Yeah, it’s it’s tough on that. I mean, he’s a decent free throw shooter. He’s not the best free throw shooter. He’s decent at it. Um, he has a good kind of pick and pop game from a little bit closer in the arc, I think. Uh, but Mhm. Yeah. I don’t know. I’m hitting the over on it. I respect both of your unders. I respect it both, but I’m I’m going with the over. Um, moving on. This next one I do not know how to feel about at all. Uh Memphis, they’re they’re started at 40 and a half. Uh they won 48 last season. They added KCP. They added Ty Jerome. They added Jock Londale. Um you know, just decent role players. Uh I mean Tyrone was really good for the Cavs, but again a role player. Uh they lost Desmond Bane who’s pretty good for them. They lost Luke Canard and they lost Jay Huff who was also pretty good for them. I will say just want to mention they drafted at 11 um Cedric Coward. Uh, and this is not confirmed by anyone, but if you guys listen to the Mismatch podcast on the Ringer, they had a guy who met Chris Vernon at a Target. A random person at Target said to Chris Vernon, that Cedric Coward would be the best player in this draft and that Cedric Coward’s floor is Michael Jordan. That was a random guy at Target, also known as Target Guy, who spoke to Chris Vernon and said this about Cedric Coward. So, if they drafted Michael Jordan, I feel like you’re going to have to say the over. I don’t know if I agree with that take on them drafting Michael Jordan, but I I’m I’m honestly not sure how to feel about this team. What What are you guys thinking? Um, I’ll go ahead here. I’m going to smash the over on Memphis. Um, shout out to Mike Miller. Uh, I think John Morant is going to go crazy this year. Um, I think being a year removed from all of the mess. I think last year he was kind of like figuring things out again after the mess, dealing with the whole situation with the team and their coaching situation. I think they had a lot of noise that was on the court instead of off the court. I think this year they’ve been relatively quiet. Aside from the Desmond Bane move, they’ve been relatively quiet. They’ve been keeping their head down. I think if John Moran can keep his head down and keep doing his thing when it’s a season time, he’ll turn up. And if he can stay healthy, I think they can get uh well over 44 45 wins. Nice. Okay, Boo, how are you feeling? What do you think? I think Adrian convinced me on this one because I was kind of smashed that under, but like Adrian said, you know, it was a weird year for Jaw coming back from a year like that. He was basically I mean well he didn’t he didn’t play two years ago right like not even one single game no got shut down like four games or something weird like small he was out and came back and then he got injured pretty quickly. Mhm. So yeah a year like that I mean losing Desmond Bay is obviously not a superstar nothing close but he’s he’s a very great player. Luke Canard another huge loss. Uh the Cedric Card being Michael Jordan I think that’s Chris Vernon just being a Memphis homer. Chris Vernon did not say this. Someone said it too close. Yeah, just okay. I think Yeah, that that is insane. Um, but yeah, give me give me that over. I think they’re going to find their way. I don’t think they’re going to make much noise in the postseason. Granted, this is not a postseason podcast, so we’re not talking about the postseason, but I don’t think they’re going to do a lot of in the postseason, but to for 40 and a half. Yeah, give me that. I think they win 41 42. That’s kind of good. Yeah, man. I I was I’m in the same boat as Super Bowl. I was ready to hit the under. I was like, I don’t I don’t like it. And then Adrian set started talking and I’m like, you know what? Why why can’t Joe have a crazy season? You know, why can’t Jiren Jackson Jr. have a great season? I KCP, Ty Jerome, those are good players. Jollandelle is a pretty decent player. They did have some losses, but yeah, man. May maybe they could do it. They fired their coach. They got a different coach in there. May maybe you know what? Yeah, give me the over. I’m not smashing it. I’m not smashing it. What did Desmond Bane go for three first round picks if I’m not mistaken? How much? How many? Four first round picks for Desmond Bane. There will likely be late first round picks, but Okay. Yeah, but still the way we spoke about this the other day. Um that is insane. That is a lot for that is crazy. That is crazy. But yeah, I’m very excited when we when I when we get to do a recording about the East overunders talking about Orlando Magic. I I’m very excited about that. But yeah. Okay. So, we’re all in agreement. We’re gonna hit the over. I’m gonna go ahead and pause here for a moment. [Music] Back from a quick ad break there. Not any real ads, but we just had to uh read them to ourselves cuz we’re getting those reads in. We’re putting in the reps. We’re getting ready so that when we’re called upon, we are ready to answer the call. So, moving on to our next team here. Alphabetically, we’re going to be talking about Minnesota, the Timberwolves. They won 49 games last season. Guess what their overunder underline is set to? 49 and a half. Will they win slightly more than last season? Will they win slightly less than last season? They lost Nikquille Alexander Walker who was pretty good for them. And then they lost Luca Garza, Josh Mow, decent players. I don’t think they’re necessarily hurting from that. They drafted at number 17. Uh I’m I’m sure I’m pronouncing his long his last name wrong and maybe even his first name. Joan Beering. Behringer. Behing. He’s French. I think I think it’s Behringer. Yeah, he’s a French center. Um, looks like kind of maybe they’re hoping for their Rudy Gobear replacement in a few years as he grows. Not ready this year to be a Rudy Goar replacement, but a French guy to put next to Rudy. Another tall French guy. They still have obviously Anthony Edwards. They still have Julius Randall. They still have Niles Reed. How do we feel, Adrian? How are we feeling about the Minnesota Timberwolves? I’m going to take the over. I think that saying in a few years is a little too late. I think that Minnesota’s trying to get their hands off Rudy Gobear as quickly as possible. Um, that’s kind of been the noise since the deadline. And even in this off season, I think you’re getting a much cheaper version of Rudy Gober. Um, we’ve seen a year in and year out in the playoffs. I mean, he he struggles when you put him in a lot of these once you start to get into the playoffs and you get a lot of more of these pick and roll actions and a lot more of this ISO halfcourt game. I think that he gets put in bad situations a lot. Um, and it can force Minnesota into bad situations. It’s ultimately why one of him and Cat had to go. Um, because they just couldn’t both be on the floor together. It didn’t work. I think that I feel the same way about Rudy that I feel about Aiden. I’ll leave that there. Uh to not be long-winded. I definitely think they hit the over though because I do think that as the season goes on, this rookie center is going to get more minutes, gain more confidence, and I think that they’ll make a strong push in the playoffs. What are you feeling? Uh yeah, give me the over. I just think I it’s don’t quote me, but I think he will get better as the season goes on. Uh losing Luca Garzo, who cares about that? Losing NIL, uh nothing too crazy. Josh Menow, nothing too crazy either, but uh yeah, just give me that over. And I do think as well, uh Julius really started fitting uh finding his rhythm in this team later as the season went by. So with Vegas giving you 0.5 difference. Yeah, just give me give me that over. All right. Uh, I’m gonna go ahead. I’m gonna zag on this one. I’m gonna hit a hard under on the Minnesota Timberwolves. My reasoning here, part of my reasoning here, Mike Connley is getting older. Um, and we’ve seen more and more is not necessarily who you want to be your point guard. And because of where they’re at, it seems like often times he’s the one with the ball in his hands having to make the decisions. I think he’s a natural shooting guard. even like a smaller small forward type of player. I think he’s best cutting, best kind of getting that pass. I don’t think Mike Con is going to be able to play as much as he used to. He’s 37 years old. Um, and he was already declining last year. I think this uh secondyear player Rob Dillingham, who they’re hoping to fill into that Mike Conley role, I don’t think he’s ready. He weighs maybe 125 pounds soaking wet. Um, yep. I I don’t think he’s ready for that. I do agree. I not necessarily agree, it’s proof. Um they did play better in the second half of the year once things started clicking a little bit better with uh the addition addition of Julius Randall but again in the playoffs that fell apart. I I feel the same way about Julius Randle that Adrien feels about Rudy Gobear and about Dominating. I I am not a fan of his game. I am a fan of him as a person. I think he’s a good guy. I’ve heard nothing but good things about him as a person, but as a basketball player, not a fan. I’m expecting things to go to I’m hoping that Anthony Edwards blowing a fuse. A lot of this is a little bit of hopeium. I hope Anthony hates it now. He’s wondering what happened to this team that I’ve been competing with, that I’ve been winning with. You traded my boy Cat to New York. I liked playing with Cat. What’s What was up with that? I don’t want to be in Minnesota anymore. I want to get out of here. So, that’s what I’m thinking is going to happen. I think he sees the rest of the West getting better. And can you really look at this team and say, “Yeah, man. They’ve gotten better.” I don’t know. The only thing that makes them better is if Anthony Edwards got better, which I think he will be. I think he’ll continue to improve. I think I think he’s going to make a huge jump this year. Yeah. He learned last year how to play through the double teams. Last year he really struggled when he was just eating double teams and uh pause and that they couldn’t really he didn’t know how to maneuver out of it and still be successful and help his teammates be successful in those situations. I think now with an entire off season to look at that and get a lot more perspective on it and work on that, I think he’s going to make a big jump. I do hope just like you do that a does get upset and leaves Minnesota eventually, but I just don’t know if we’re there yet. Like I think this could be the year that he makes the big push and realizes the team around him isn’t much better than it was the year before. And I think this could be the year that changes things, but I think he’s going to have to get through it this year and his own growth this year first. Yeah, I I mean I agree with a lot of what you’re saying. And again, I’m you know, you both have the over. I’m I’m hitting a hard under, but I’m not necessar I’m not saying they’re going to be a bad team. Like the line is at 49 and a half. I could see them winning 47 games, 46 games. It’s all a a small margin of error here. I’m not like they’re going to be in the lottery, you know what I mean? So that’s where we’re at. This next team, I’m very curious to see what we think. Uh, New Orleans Pelicans, they won 21 games last season. Their overunder is set to 30 and a half. They added Sadi Bay. They added Cavon Looney. They added Jordan Pool. We got a pool party in here. Some two Warriors reuniting under a Pelican’s jersey. They lost Bruce. They lost CJ McCullum. And they lost Kelly Lunick. They drafted the player who will have the coolest jersey ever. Jeremiah Fears. He wears the number zero. Zero Fears. It’s He is destined for greatness. Uh I He might be his floor might be Michael Jordan just because of the name Zero Fears. It’s It’s just too bad. And then they also which a boneheaded move, but they traded their next year’s pick to move up in the draft to get number 13 Derek Queen. Um who looked all right in summer league. He looked all right. He might be good. He might not be. Um, obviously we all know what’s going Well, actually, none of us know what’s going on with Zion Williamson and how many games he will actually play. Uh, I think that’s like the biggest question. Obviously, when you’re thinking about the New Orleans over under, I’m going to go ahead and still say though, I’m going to hit an over. Actually, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Yeah, I’m going to hit an over. I’m going to hit an over. Wow. I’m going to go with 31 games. I’m going to go with 31 games. That’s That’s where I’m feeling. I think Zion will at least play more this year. I think he he has to see the writing on the wall, right? Like he he has to see and hear what everyone’s saying about him. You You think he just completely No, he doesn’t he doesn’t care anymore. As as someone that watched all of his dude games, as someone that bought a a Zion Williamson t-shirt jersey. T-shirt jersey. That makes sense. Yeah. Yeah. Um that guy is just he’s just fat, man. He’s he’s a very big guy. Um, you know, he’s lost weight, but I think he’s he’s damaged goods, unfortunately. You know, it is what it is, man. Uh, Vegas at 30.5. Candy went 31. They lost CJ McCullum, which TJ McCullum didn’t really play too well for them aside for like his first one or two years. Yeah. Uh, added Jordan Pool. Who cares, right? Uh, Cavon Looney. Yeah, sure. Not going to make him better. Adding Sadique Bay, too. No, get me under there. I’ll wrap this that wrap this team up. This team sucks. What do you Well, I have a feeling you’re in agreement with football. Adrian, what are you thinking? Actually, no. Um, I’m going to take the over. I think we get a better version of Zion this year. I don’t know about consistency. I will say I think we get a better version of Zion. I don’t know for how many games that’ll be. Uh, we’ll have to see. I do think Jordan P, you’re going to lose him in Nola. It’s New Orleans. they’re gonna lose him. Uh I like the the Cavon Looney addition, losing McCullum really hurts just because of the vet presence and just the example that he brought to that team all the time as being a leader. Um they did keep one of my favorite defenders. Um they just resigned him to a new contract and Jones beast. I think he’s a great defender. Adding Sadique Bay also hurt. I mean helped a lot. I think it helped a lot. I just think I think they can hit it. They can hit 31, 32. I’m not sure if they can get much higher than that. It’ll all depend on how many games Zion plays in my opinion. Yeah, I think we’re all in agreement that this all depends on how many games Zion plays. And we’re we’re hitting the over and under on Zion games play. That’s where we’re really hitting on. pretty much under and we’re both taking the over just on pure hopium, you know, like there’s that’s he’s on the third year of his contract. He still has two more years on that contract after this one, which is crazy. Got to grow up eventually. I I know we’re not talking about individual players here right now, but it’s just Zion just he it I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t think anyone knows what to make of him at this point because we saw him play very good, be injured, lose weight, be kind of good again. So, we don’t know what type of player Zion is, to be honest. So, it’s whenever he plays it’s good, but it’s like it’s once every 10 days, you know, that he plays. Exactly. So, we it’s just it’s a hard metric to gauge with that with that kid. And it’s unfortunate because I I I was so firm on him. Even when he was at his biggest, I was like, “No, Charles Barker 2.0. This guy jumps, this guy shoes, he could do everything. He can run points. Funny looking point. He was an exciting player. Yeah. But I just, hey man, if he can’t stay healthy, what’s the point? Well, and at the end of the day, remember guys, Jeremiah Fierce, I’m booking it now, is going to be the best rookie in this draft. So, you heard it here first. You heard it here first. Jeremiah Fierce. Um, and that’s why they’re going to hit the over because of purely off the strength of Jeremiah Fierce. Moving on to a team that uh it’s my favorite team that’s not the Miami Heat. It’s the OK Oklahoma City Thunder. Uh their overunderline is set to 62 and a2. They won 68 68 wins last season. The best team in the West by far. By far. The second seed were the Houston Rockets at 52 wins. Like they lost one game in the regular season to the East. One game. And I’ll all the games they played against the East, they lost one game in the regular season. it. They are a freak of nature squad. They they only lost Dylan Jones. Does that matter to any of you guys? Don’t think so. They added Dola Topic because he was unhealthy last year. He was a lottery pick in last year’s draft, was injured all year, played summer league, and was looking really, really good in summer league. Like, of course, his name is Nicola. Uh, and they drafted they got another lottery pick or almost lottery pick. Uh, 15. They drafted Thomas Sorber. They have JDub. They have another year of Chat where as Chat got injured last year. People don’t remember both Cadet and Hardenstein were injured for the for a good chunk of last year and they still won. They won 68 games with both their centers injured. I uh the only I think the only argument here and we’ll I’ll hear what you guys have to say. I think the only argument to say the under is just fatigue from winning the finals. I think that’d be the only argument to say an under. But I just too young for that. They’re they’re too young. And these guys, like I I’m in love with all their personalities, man. Like in all their interviews, like they don’t get too high. They don’t get too low. They just play ball. They just they just play ball. I’m I’m taking the over. I don’t know. I just can’t I’m I’m not betting against this team. Yeah, I’m with you, Chris. I’m smashing the over. Um I think if they can keep it healthy, they just resigned everyone. They’re the champs. As we said, it’s very simple. I think they might be able to win 70 this year. They won 68 last year. I think if they’re healthy consistently, I think that they they might be able to touch 70. Their coach has a really good pulse on that team. Um they’re young, they’re fiery, they’re fun, and it just looks like they love being around each other all the time. We can’t more and I just don’t see them getting worse in my opinion. Yeah. I just Yeah. I don’t know where they lose six more games. It’s like it’s just Yeah. Cool. But what are you feeling? Yeah. Give me this over. I mean, we don’t have to speak too much on it. They the active you said fatigue. That’s the only way. But we’re also seeing something that’s not really Well, we’ve never seen this the youngest squad to ever win a championship if I’m not mistaken. Correct. I think if age wise in like at least 50 years. Yeah. It’s so we’re seeing a new trend in the NBA with these young players, you know, not three and D, but like just players that could play everyone in in in the in the in the court. Wing players. Yeah, exactly. Wing players. So, and then you have and and they’re deep. So, we’re we’re we’re seeing something that’s never been seen before. And Vegas game 62 and a half. I’m the only thing I could assume is that they’re like yeah, fatigue, but they’re young, very young. So, I don’t see any fatigue happening sometime soon. And if any fatigue is going to happen, it’ll be in the postseason. It’s not going to be in the regular season. So, give me this over for sure. They’re the just to confirm, they’re the second youngest team to ever win the title. The the youngest was in 1977, the Blazers. Okay. So, yeah, that that doesn’t even exist to be honest. Four years. Yeah. According to Tyler Herro, none of those things even happened back then. Yeah, exactly. Before Tyler Herro. Exactly. Yeah. We’re all in agreement. Um, this next one, the Phoenix Suns, uh, they’re slotted at 31 a half. They won 36 last season. A miserable season. They added Jared Butler, Dylan Brooks, Jordan Goodwin, Jaylen Green, Mark Williams, um, Nigel Hayes, Davis. They lost. Well, they didn’t lose Beal. They bought out Beiel. So, that contract is still on the books. They They lost Beal. They lost Durant. They lost Ty Jones. They lost Vasil Michich. Um the Mason Plumbley, Tai Tai Washington, they they drafted a 10. Come on Malawatch, who’s a 7-1 center. He looks decent, but he’s a a you know, a very young center. Um man, what what do you think? What do you think? Are you a Deon Booker guy? I’m a huge Deon Booker guy. I’m I’m I I like two guards in general. Um, these teams are kind of hard to gauge because yeah, they’re going to suck, but I don’t know where they can land. Vegas gave him 31 and a half. They won 36 last year with the KD and Durant. Yeah. Well, did Bill I mean, Bill was injured. Be I’m not add to that. Yeah. Yeah. Booker and KD, they won 36 last year. Yeah. Give me this under there. I I I I think we could spend 30 minutes talking about this cuz it’s so hard to gauge, but I think for simplicity, just give me this under. Adrian, how are you feeling? I don’t even think there’s much to talk about here. As much as we love um some of the Devin Booker, like this is a no-brainer. They’re waiting for the lottery next year. This you can book that. This team is cooked. Do they have their own pick next year? Well, we spoke about this. I I think they have a pick swap next year and I think the following year after that they Washington will receive the more favorable if it’s 2026 first round pick even worse. Yeah, it’s over for them. Uh Devin Booker look for flights to Miami. Yeah, man. It’s hard. I I want to I want to smash the under cuz I can’t see this team doing anything. But man, I just feel like the vibes were so bad last season for whatever the reason was. And I I I don’t know if anyone will ever know why. I don’t think they’re going to win more than they did last season. I don’t think they’ll win more than 36 games. Exactly. But I I think I think they’ll win more than 31. I’m not confident in that. I’m gonna go with a very soft over like maybe this team wins 32 33 games just just off of like Devin Booker and role players, you know, Jaylen Green maybe playing a little bit more consistently on a team where he has more of a green light. Maybe. Uh Mark Williams being healthy. Maybe it’s it’s maybe come on Malawatch comes in and makes an impact right away. I mean it’s it’s tough. I like Deon Booker a lot. I even though I’m taking a very soft over on this team, I think this team should blow it up and we talked about this before, but that’s a separate topic, but I I feel like they should blow it up and just trade Deon Booker. But while this roster lasts, I’m going to go with a soft over. Um, this next one I think is Before we go to the next team though, Chris, I have a question. Yeah. And we can pin this in for another day though, not for now because I’m not sure we have time. I’d be interested to know how you feel about the owner of the Phoenix Suns given how you feel about the owner of the Clippers. I I think because they both done things to to help their team get in the right positions, but look at where it’s got them. Yeah, I I think he has um good uh intentions. Um but as much as the Clippers have necessarily made bad, I don’t even I think I think it’s just a completely different scenario because the KD trades I think I think the KD trade you make 10 times out of 10 times, right? I think the issue was trading for be. I think that was I don’t think there’s I just I have no way to wrap my head around that trade. I don’t know how you trade valuable assets. For the fences, huh? Swinging for the fences. But he plays the same position as your best player. Yeah, that that that’s what didn’t get to me. Like if if if you had if Devin Booker was a center, you know, and then you trade for a small forward and a and be. But you you traded for another shoot first guard who’s older who had health issues and then guess what? You got now these three shoe first players and two of them have health issues like Kevin Durant to some extent. I agree with you completely by the way. Yeah, I agree with you completely. That was the biggest the reason why I have a feel a little bit different about the Clippers is because overall I think Harden has been a good trade for them and then the Kawawaii trade I think is debatable. I think there’s at least a little bit more nuance. I think there’s a and the Paul George trade was look hindsight is 2020. I don’t think anyone could have predicted Shay becoming an MVP, you know. Uh that was a bad trade obviously. Um but I I I just feel like it’s not the same case of like new owner syndrome. Why the same position? They do, but they’ve made it but but they’ve made it work on that team. Like when they’ve been healthy, they’ve played pretty well. They’re smart players. Um I just think it’s a 37 games. That shit’s nice. and George even less. I’ve also never been a big be guy personally just like I even in his prime, not to take away from how good of a player he once was, but I mean actually to an extent, yeah, taking away good players once was. Paul George in his prime, Kawawaii in their primes, those are players that I don’t think you can breathe like don’t breathe the same air as Be like they’re in a different class to me than be. No, but they haven’t been in their prime for like eight years. They haven’t. But they were betting on players that I think that I would have bet on. I wouldn’t ever bet on be. Like I just think that was silly. But we we could talk more about that another day. Yeah. Moving on to Portland. Their line is at 33 and a half. Uh they won 36 wins last season. Oh god, this is horrible. They added Drew Holiday. Um they added Damen Lillard who is injured. Um will not be playing this season. They added Blake Wesley. Uh they lost Anthony Sidens and DeAndre Aiden. They did draft the Chinese Yic Young Hansen at 16. Um, some people are now saying that Jokic is the Serbian Yong Hansen. So, uh, some people are saying that, uh, Poop, you already gave it. You want to just quickly go over what’s your your quick comment? Yeah, this this is Wow. Drew, brother, look. I don’t know what team’s on his bucket list, but get out of here. Sorry. Sorry. Yeah, sorry. Giving them hope. Uh, Dame not playing. Uh, Anfrey Simons, I thought was a good player. DeAndre basically nothing. Uh so yeah, 33 and a half. This might be the second worst team in the Western Conference in the Western Conference. So that that’s an easy easy the easiest probably the easiest bet here is this under right here. How are you feeling, Adrian? Exactly how feels. Drew Holiday find a new team. The rest of you, they’re cooked. I love Chanty Bips, but man, they are cooked. Yeah. I mean, they they’re gonna bet on um on Scoot. Scoot. Yeah. Uh I think Scoot’s not a good player, by the way, because I’m gonna start start by saying that. Scoot not a good player. But yeah, 33 and a half. Like I said, under. Sorry, Chris. They’re they’re betting on him. They’re betting on Donovan Klingan kind of, but that’s also weird because they drafted another center behind Donovan Klingan when they just drafted Donovan Klingan. Yeah, I’m again I’m also going with the under. I am excited to see um the Chinese Yogic play basketball. I think he’s going to be a lot of fun. Um, but I don’t I don’t see this team Drew was already even if Drew gives it his all to this team, which I don’t think he necessarily wants to or will, he was already starting to see some signs of decline. Yeah, when he was with the Celtics. So, it’s unders all rounds. Um, we have three teams left. I think we’re all going to be somewhat on a similar page with these. We’ll see. Um, Sacramento, the Kings, they’re 35 and a half. They won 40 last season. They added Drew Eubanks. They added Dennis Schroeder. They added Dario Sarich. They lost Jake Larabia. They lost Jonas Valenunis. They drafted number 24 Nick Clifford. Um I’m going to just say my own take. I’m going the under. I think this team is miserable. Um I there’s some rumors that they might be trading Demar De Rozan away, which I hope so for his sake. They they just like took the Bulls and brought them to the Kings and the Bulls weren’t good either. Uh I don’t think like it’s just a bunch of misfit toys there. I I don’t know. If I were them, they’re another team that I’d be looking to blow it up. I I’m taking the under on that. What How are you guys feeling? Give me Yes, sorry. Just give me this under as well. Um Dennis Schroeder I don’t think is a good player. uh losing JV. It’s okay. But you know, I think at some point they’re going to trade in the pecking order would be probably Demar and then um what was the then Lavine and then last last would be Sabon uh wouldn’t it be Sabonis? Yeah, I almost got confused too. But yeah, last one would be Sabonis. I love Sabonis, granted, but yeah, I just give me this under. I don’t think they’re going to even remotely close to 35. How are you feeling? I’m taking the under. I’m going to be real short- winded. This team is a gumbo of different Yeah. And on top of is more And I do want to say they have their own pick this year. There’s no reason for them to be good. So they’re waiting for the lottery, too. Yeah, I that’s what I’d be doing if I were them. So we’re all in agreement. Under this next team, this is a fun one. This is a very fun one. The San Antonio Spurs. They’re slotted at 43 and a half wins. They won 34 last season. Obviously, we do know that WBY was shut down with a blood clot. Um, not like a recurring injury kind of thing. It was a freak of nature. According to all signs, he’s cleared. Um, there he’s healthy to play. Uh, Boole has a very nice picture when he shares quite often of WBY holding a brick in front of a wall when he was uh studying with the Shaolin monks. WB is having the most having the most interesting offseason ever. Yeah. Uh, they added Luke Cornet, they added Calio Lolin, they added Lindy Waters. They did lose um a few role players, Malachi Bryan, Sandro Mama, I never say this guy’s name. Mamakala Chevy, I pronounced it wrong. Ma Mamu Mamu is usually what people call him. Short. Uh, Chris Paul and Blake Wesley. I mean, whatever. They drafted at number two Dylan Harper, who’s I think will be a pretty good player. and they drafted a number 14, Carter Bryant, who was playing really, really, really good defense in the summer league, who I think slotted nicely next to Webby. Um, I’m going to go ahead and say give me the over on this team just cuz I’m super super super high on WBY. Like, I mean, who isn’t, right? Like, anybody who’s anybody who’s thinking is not good at this point is is just I don’t know what you’re watching necessarily. How do you feel with WBY being your uh is is WBY your favorite player right now? No. Uh I’m actually not the biggest enjoyer Webby. I know he’s good. I know he’s disgusting. I just don’t like you know watching him play. He’s a very funny guy and he’s also a very smart guy. But yeah, this over is easy, bro. If this guy stays healthy, they have a good team. The thing is like his health is somewhat of a concern maybe at this point. But yeah, they’re a good team, man. If he stays healthy, easy, easy. 44 45 games. That’s That’s without a doubt. And Luke Cornet, amazing player. Not amazing player, good player, good role player. Lo big. He can face the floor. Exactly. Yeah. And you know, getting Tylen Harper. Hopefully he’s good. I didn’t watch summer league if he did play summer league to begin with. Yeah. But uh he’s looking good. I mean, he’s young. He’s going to be a young guard. There’ll be some growing pains, but they have Stefan Castle. They have Darren Fox still. Like they don’t need him to be that good that quickly. Exactly. So, you know, they’re their team their team is good. Not probably not destined to win up, you know, a chip, but good enough to get you 44 45. Yeah, I think I’m going to take the over as well. Um, I think the Fox pickup’s going to work well this year. I think obviously WMB is great. WBM is awesome. We have to see how they continue to monitor the blood clot situation just because of his height and his size and all of the traveling that they have to do for 10 months. So, I wonder how that looks like in the regular season and if they’re going to be in the playoffs, will things change? Uh, will maybe not go to every single away game because of the long distance traveling. Could that impact it? Maybe not. Maybe he’s fine. I don’t know. He’s been with the Monks. He’s been playing some uh some soccer. So, we’ll see. I don’t know. Yeah, he’s living. He’s He’s having a He’s having a very interesting offseason. Yeah, I think we’re all we’re all in a similar agreement with him. And then last and absolutely least, um the Utah Jazz at 18 and a half is what they’re slotted at. They won 17 last season. They added Kyle Anderson. Um rest in peace to Kevin Love. They took him from us, which allowed us to get Norman Powell, but feel bad to send Love over there to the Baron Wasteland that is the Utah Jazz. They added Nerkish. Um, they lost John Collins, they lost Colin Ston, they bought out Jordan Clarkson, they drafted at five Ace Bailey, they drafted at 18 Walter Clayton Jr. Um, Ace Bailey, I’m not super high on Walter Clayton for his where he was drafted. I think he’ll be a decent guard. He’s a, you know, score first guard, but he not going to be able to play any defense just yet. Um, I’m expecting them to trade Markin before the season ends. It seems like they’re trying to trade all their good players. Um, they have their own pick this year, they have their own pick next year. Um I it seems to me like they’re in a rebuild and it seems to me if I’m marketing I don’t want to waste another year here. Uh that being said, Vegas knows what they’re doing and setting that line at 18 and a half. It makes it really hard to be like I think they’re going to win less than that. Like are we getting into like 14 game territory? It’s tough. It’s very tough but I’m going to hit the under. I’m going to hit the under. I feel it’s not it’s hard because of where the line is at, but I you’re leaning on a lot of rookies, on a lot of young players if they’re smart, and it sounds like it. They’re going to let Ace Bailey, Walter Clayton Jr. shoot the ball every single time they have the ball. They’re going to play them a lot of minutes. They’re not going to guard anybody. They’re in the West. I don’t me talking about this before the call. I think they’re probably the worst team in the league, like in the whole league right now. Yeah. not necessarily set up for the future in those type of things, but just like the current roster and what can it can do. They’re the worst team in the league. Um, yeah, I don’t think they beat anybody. So, yeah, under for me, Adrian, how how are you? I’m with you. Um, I’m going to take the under as well. I don’t think uh Kevin Love will be there long. Yeah, I’m not even sure Kyle Anderson nor Nerkage will be there long. Mark it in. We’ll see. I think if he stays for the whole season, it’s a travesty. poor guy. But I do feel like he might be able to get him to like 15 wins if he stays. But yeah, I feel like they’re headed in a whole another direction with these young guys. And I don’t know what DWade and these guys are doing over there in Utah, but yeah, that’s a disaster. That’s a crapshoot. They suck. Yeah. Uh yeah, I mean I I think we spent like 20 minutes talking about this, but I think yeah, we came to the agreement that they might just be the worst team in the NBA next to I think I said uh the Wizards. Um it is tricky because like these are professional basketball players. Like dang, you can’t win 18 games or 19 games that Vegas said. So, but they did lose John Connor and Connor Sexton, which I think Connor Saxon isn’t the best player of all time. But, um, yeah, that it’s just it’s unfortunate. We went through the teams in the West. I don’t think they could even scrape 12 games. Yeah. I mean, like this year, Kyle Anderson, Ace Bailey, Walter Clayton Jr., Isaiah Kier, Kyle Filipowski, Deontay George Harkas, Taylor Hendricks, Walker Castler is a decent player. Lari Markin, AJ Martin, Sev Mai Luke. It’s just like a lot of like decent guys. Just decent. It’s just It’s not Yeah. Yeah. Cool. We’re all in agreement here. Um this is where we’re at. This is how we um this is how we always end these episodes. Just very quickly, we’re going to we’re going to go around the room. We’re going to say one thing that we are burnt out by this past week or just in general, and then one thing we’re fired up for. We’re going to start with what’s burnt out. I like to end on a high note. Things were fired up for I I’ll go first just to, you know, it doesn’t have to be basketball related. Obviously, it’s the offseason. Um I am burnt out by car issues. My our car broke down the other night on the way to dinner. Uh we had to get our alternator replaced. Everything’s all good now, but uh it was just one of those moments where, you know, you’re just driving, battery alert, had to pull over, had to wait like two hours for a tow. Not fun. So, burnt out by car issues. What about uh what about you? What are you What are you burnt out by? No, I I’m going to agree with you as well. I think car is the worst ones. Uh last week popped the tire in middle expressway. Um got home got home don’t know how. And then I had to drive to the nearest uh tire shop to get it replaced but like tire on the ground rim screeching the worst. Yeah. Car car issues. And this will come as no surprise to either of you. Uh yeah. Uh work, man. Work’s uh work’s been kicking my ass a little bit, but um you know, it’s part of the deal. I know what I signed up for, so we’re doing we’re pushing through. Uh seasons are around the corner. Shout out the Premier League starting soon. So, once we uh once we get going with that, we’ll um my schedule should stabilize a little more. Looking forward to that for your sake. Uh and I’ll end on a more positive note, things we are fired up for going forward. Uh, for the first time in my life, this past weekend, I rode a horse, a real horse. Um, I’m fired up about horses. I want a horse now. I want a ranch. I’m uh looking into how I can make this a reality for myself. I think cars are overrated. Uh, horse horses are just big on that one. Horses are just uh they’re the best, man. They uh they’re they’re real cool. I I don’t know if you ever hugged I mean, but why can’t both? Why can’t both? I don’t know if you ever hugged a full grown on horse, but uh just it’s a wonderful feeling. It’s a wonderful feeling. So fired up about horses. Uh I’ll go ahead and um I’m excited for football season, man. Just like college and regular NFL. Nice. You know, this this transition from summer to now the fall fall in Miami is always a nice one. You know, getting back into that that rhythm, you know, Sunday night football, Monday night football, etc., etc. That’s always going to be nice. And like Adrian said, the Premier League as well. So this like new this new season of sports is going to be very fun to watch. So Adrian, yeah, I’m with Boole. Um, aside from my birthday being a few weeks away, yeah, just I’m excited. The seasons are around the corner. Um, Premier League starts in a few weeks, La Liga starts in a few weeks, Champions League will start in about a month or so. Um, then NFL, college, everything starts coming back this month. Teams are already in training camp. things are already getting crazy. Um, I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a fun season of sports and uh, it’s gonna be fun. Nice. Well, I just want to say thank you both for joining us for this overunder pod. I hope you guys had fun. I definitely did. Definitely. Um, everyone who was listening who made it this far. Just a reminder to please like and subscribe. Please leave a comment. Please Instagram DM me. Please comment on the pictures. Please just let me know how we’re doing, how you’re feeling, if you uh disagree or agree with any of the things that we’ve said here. Um I think, you know, we’ve got a little bit more uh consensus on some of these than I expected. But I do agree. I do enjoy some of the disagreements we have. I’m saving this for us to look back on at the end of the season to get a good laugh and to see who maybe was the most correct of us uh for our overunders on the West. But uh yeah, thank you both very much. This episode is

(2:19) Dallas Mavericks

(7:59) Denver Nuggets

(12:02) Golden State Warriors

(17:31) Houston Rockets

(23:00) Los Angeles Clippers

(28:47) Los Angeles Lakers

(38:43) Memphis Grizzlies

(43:15) Minnesota Timberwolves

(49:23) New Orleans Pelicans

(54:16) Oklahoma City Thunder

(57:50) Phoenix Suns

(1:03:49) Portland Trailblazers

(1:05:52) Sacramento Kings

(1:07:38) San Antonio Spurs

(1:11:01) Utah Jazz

(1:14:39) Burnt Out & Fired Up?