Navigating the NBA Pre-Season: Odds, Strategy, and Predictions

Prepare to be engaged in a thrilling episode loaded with rigorous analysis, passionate debates, and expert insights on the much-anticipated NBA pre-season. We've got our eyes on the best odds for the NBA finals, with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics leading the pack. Stay tuned as we unpack the strategic move by the Bucks to acquire Dame Lillard, and how this has shaken up the NBA power rankings. 

Get ready for an in-depth discussion on the NBA playoff seedings and key players. We probe into the Bucks' previous season loss to the eight seed Miami Heat, and the reverberations it had on the playoffs. The conversation intensifies as we take a detailed look at the Celtics' roster, and the potential impact of their new additions - Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. Brace yourselves for an electrifying debate as we compare the star power of Lillard, Giannis, and Brooke Lopez for the Bucks and the Celtics' lineup of Tatum, Brown, and Holiday. 

Our NBA exploration doesn't stop there as we speculate possible outcomes for the upcoming season.  Can the Celtics and Miami Heat make it to the Eastern Conference finals four years in a row?  You'll want to stay tuned for our entertaining Jrue Holiday Coach's Quiz where we dissect his NBA career and his role in the 2021 championship.  This is one episode you can't afford to miss!

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Transcript

Podcast Paul: 0:17

Just two Murph's talking hoops. The journey to June. It continues into the pre-season. That's right, folks. We have made it to the NBA pre-season. This is our pre-season pod Coach basketballs are bouncing in practice right now all over the NBA. The Murph's are back. How's it going, man we're back baby.

Coach Murph: 0:46

What am wearing Podcast Paul? ? You're looking pretty cool, looking cool, I'm always pretty cool. But what am I wearing on my face? Shades, why am I?

Podcast Paul: 0:55

wearing shades? I don't know. You have to tell me, man. Because the future is so bright, it's so bright.

Coach Murph: 1:04

We have the floor manager and also I have my daylight, my light, therapy light on. It's wicked bright, so it's just bright lights.

Podcast Paul: 1:13

You know you get up and shade.

Coach Murph: 1:15

Future is bright for the green and we got drew holiday Electricity.

Podcast Paul: 1:21

we have the floor general we do as Celtics fans. We are very, very excited and we have just a lot to talk about because, again, this is the pre-season. But, coach, before we jump in, it's all good things, hoops mind if we do just a quick little bit of house cleaning.

Coach Murph: 1:39

It's a pretty good thing. Right, you are pod guestball. Oh man, I love cleaning. Who house cleaning? I love tidying up. It feels good after I clean, not right in the beginning. Oh, I got to clean and then you feel great after, don't you? Definitely.

Podcast Paul: 1:53

So let's clean some stuff up. It is season two, of course. We started this thing out right in July when we found about the initial trades, got excited. Then we had our good friend Caden on our last pod.

Coach Murph: 2:06

Oh, I'm proud of you, caden, a big seat.

Podcast Paul: 2:08

That's going to be a fun journey to watch. For those that haven't heard that pod, go check it out. We're going to be hearing from Caden later in the year and he's going to be part of this journey, our last pod.

Coach Murph: 2:17

Yeah, beautiful pod.

Podcast Paul: 2:18

But really what I wanted to go through just to get it out of the way. There's so many new things within our podcast We've got to let the listeners know about and, first off, shout out to the listeners. We really appreciate the support. So the first thing if you don't know about it, the coach and I have a new feature out there on the Buzzsprout web page. You can even see it in our show notes. You can click on it and guess what you do when you click on it, you can actually support our show. You can.

Coach Murph: 2:48

If you choose to.

Podcast Paul: 2:49

If you choose to, there's no commitments.

Coach Murph: 2:52

Just give us your money. It only has to be a dollar. It's $1, dude.

Podcast Paul: 2:58

We love putting out the content. It's a nice new feature. For those that haven't seen it, just check it out. And then, just in general, as far as social media, us getting out there for those that don't know, and I don't think we put it in our show notes before, but Coach Murph has got his own handle on Instagram. We have our own too, but the coach is always putting up some reels on there on just two Murphs.

Coach Murph: 3:21

Well, that's Murph Balls. The reason why I have that is because of Murph Ball, which is the other you put it out there in the pod. So, but we, oh, with Murph Ball and just two Murphs. In our dream they're intertwined as one. Yeah, you know, it's been great. You're seeing the hits I've been getting from the guys like KP. You know, like we're going to talk, man, we're going to talk.

Podcast Paul: 3:42

So for the Loyal Loyals, you're obviously on our Facebook group page. You see us connecting. Thank you for that. But for those that want to get a wider reach of just two Murphs, because we're getting all over the place now, we're out in the universe, we're on Twitter, we've got the Instagram page and we just put the multiverse man.

Coach Murph: 4:00

We're growing and having fun. We're literally living the stream that you created in 2020, man, and we all want you to be involved in it. And that's it, man. We love you. How to get?

Podcast Paul: 4:10

that out there. It is preseason. It's a long journey now to June, but this is where we start. This is where we start and before we just go heavy on the green, this is how I want to start it off. Coach, if you're good with this, is asking me if I'm going to highlight something that just came out updated odds, because this is important. Right, because this is the journey to June. So what teams truly are we going to be talking about in June? And according to the odds makers out there, this is just hot off the presses, coach, right now, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Celtics are tied for the best odds, and then right underneath them are the defending champions. What type of respect are they getting? They're not even their number three tied. I think they're tied, too with the sons. So you got Celtics, bucks, sons, nuggets. So let's start there. Let's start.

Coach Murph: 5:09

You want to talk about being a power ranking first.

Podcast Paul: 5:11

No, no, no, Just with these top four that the odds makers are saying I want to start there, because all the noise is last week and you just hit on it. That's what we're really excited about is with the Bucks getting Dame Lillard, which is a huge move.

Coach Murph: 5:27

That was the first dongle, Hola, Hola, Hola, Dame, Dame, Dame, Dame. I love that man.

Podcast Paul: 5:32

And suddenly, because the Celtics, I think. Actually let me take it back. They were not favored. There was just a. I think the nuggets were favored. There was a bunch of teams kind of in the mix behind them and then boom, the Dame Lillard trade comes Suddenly, the Bucks are the favorite and then, right behind it, the true holiday trade from Portland to the Celtics. And now everybody's hyping it up. Man, they're hyping it up, so let's just talk and we'll hit on both teams. What now? Of course we're leaning heavy green, everybody knows this. But let's give the Bucks some due first. What's your take on the Milwaukee Bucks with Dala Dala Dame in the Greek and that team in general? Like I know, it's tough because we're Celtics' heavy year and we're biased. But how are you feeling about that team? Do you feel like they're earning the right to have the best odds with the Celtics to win the championship? No, I don't like it. Wow, just straight out. No, yeah, tell me why, man.

Coach Murph: 6:40

I don't like it. It's fine, I just don't. Well, first of all, let's go back in time. Okay, we're gonna go into the quarantine time machine. Remember that Boom, that's what I'm doing. It's a Weeds World man. That's boring. That's ours, that's mine, by the way. So let's go back in time to simply last season, Last year. What happened, and who was the number one seed in the playoffs in the East? The Bucks Exactly. And who beat them and what seed were they?

Podcast Paul: 7:15

The only reason I'm hesitating on this. They lost to an eight seed.

Coach Murph: 7:17

They lost to Ted's Miami, so you know I always don't care about these seeds and arrays. I care nothing for this stuff, man. We lost to the eight seed as well. Yeah, oh, we're down. O3 came back Like ugh, so I'm bringing us back here. But who was injured didn't even play in two of the games? The Greek, that's right. So if you have a healthy Greek with Dame and a healthy Militant just a Militant I wish I could get my hands on you, brother, because I need you to be hot. I don't know why you're getting injured so much. Bro, like you can do float therapy, we can do some hot and cold. What do you need? I wanna help you. And he's a Celtic killer. That's a powerful three. They're just a great team. But with a healthy Greek, oh yeah, that's a dangerous team. But guess what? They're never gonna be healthy. In my opinion, they never are. That's it done.

Podcast Paul: 8:11

And being Celtics fans that we are, that we just pick apart, even when the team looks great. The thing now is, even though they have the top six best players as far as the roster, it's all about yeah, but they don't have the depth. Now that they don't have the depth, it's like wait a second. Everybody's like who's gonna stop Milwaukee with Dame? Look at how thin they are. You just nailed it. You just nailed it. Yeah, you got Dame Daller. We all know he's great. He can shoot the three. It's all off, knock it down. And they got the Greek. That's two guys. Well, guess what? I just read.

Podcast Paul: 8:45

Brueglopas. Okay, they got Brueglopas. There's three, but I just read just this morning Four. Guess who's got a? Oh my knee, he goes bad, but it's okay, it'll be better soon.

Coach Murph: 8:58

It's Middleton, his knee's all hurting him and can't begin. I guess he's coming off his surgery.

Podcast Paul: 9:04

So that's what they're saying. Oh, he's coming off his surgery.

Coach Murph: 9:06

He's always injured, man, Everybody's always injured. It's crazy man.

Podcast Paul: 9:10

So they're thin to your point. It just takes one or two to go down. I like.

Coach Murph: 9:16

Malik. Malik Beezley is nice, he's nice.

Podcast Paul: 9:20

Is that he's on? Oh, he's on Milwaukee. Okay, all right. Is there anybody else that sticks out for them?

Coach Murph: 9:26

He got to get up to Coach Merz again. Baby, I didn't even know I'm all NBA right now. I've been going deep in the last couple of days. All right, but it's just strange to me.

Podcast Paul: 9:35

It's like Dame Lillard. As much as I love the guy, I've seen him play because I'm up here in Seattle, so I've seen him in person.

Podcast Paul: 9:43

Dude's great, but this isn't Steph Curry, this isn't Kevin Durant, this isn't even Jason Tatum. It's a sniper dude. He's great, but he's one guy. Yonis is one guy and here we go. I tried to. You went right into it and I wanted to wait. But we can talk about this great trade for Porzingis, we can talk about Drew Holiday, and we're going to, because I feel like he is that missing piece, that missing, not even missing piece that ingredient that we needed.

Coach Murph: 10:18

But we're all forgetting. Dude, special sauce ingredient Like the orange sauce we used to get. That's the orange sauce, baby in the Mexican. What the heck that stuff was so good, bro. That's Drew Holiday, bro. What are you saying? Keep going.

Podcast Paul: 10:33

Well, I was just going to say so. We talked about those three players that really stuck out with Milwaukee Lillard, Yonis, Brooke Lopez. How about the Celtics? We didn't even talk about Jason Tatum yet. Hello, One of the best players in the NBA.

Coach Murph: 10:47

Humbley the best player Right.

Podcast Paul: 10:49

Jason Tatum, Jalen Brown, Derek White, who was one of the best defenders as a guard in the NBA last year.

Coach Murph: 10:58

Who else is one?

Podcast Paul: 10:58

of the best defenders Drew Holiday. Who is the best defender?

Coach Murph: 11:02

Who else is one of the best defenders in the league Holiday? Yeah, we have the best defensive backcourt in the NBA. That's why I'm beaming coaches wearing a sail. Oh, shane's going back on. Woo, let's go, dude.

Podcast Paul: 11:19

All right, I never held down.

Coach Murph: 11:21

I was. I was like these guys are never going to do it.

Podcast Paul: 11:24

This is hot take, drew, hot take.

Coach Murph: 11:26

I said early Hot take. I needed the J-R-U-E. It's a holiday, early, it's early Christmas.

Podcast Paul: 11:35

Well, you needed Jays. You knew we had the Jays, but you needed three Jays.

Coach Murph: 11:39

Now we got three. Three Jays, yeah.

Podcast Paul: 11:42

All right, hot take.

Coach Murph: 11:43

Early hot take.

Podcast Paul: 11:44

Oh, we got hot take, hot take, hot take. All right, check it out. So hey, ted, this is for you.

Podcast Paul: 11:52

So this summer last time the coach and I were on well, not the last time. The last time we were talking NBA last time was with Kaden, which we talked about earlier, but we had just gotten poor Zingas, a lot of news in the NBA, all this stuff was going down, but at that time they hadn't even signed Shailin Brown. So we're waiting on that. But the big news early in the summer on the NBA was Dame Lillard saying I won out of Portland, and not only do I won out, I want to go to Miami Wholesome. I got to go to the Heat and it was like this big deal, where, that's where he wants to go. And then he got Pat Riley going. Well, yep, you want to come, you want to play with us, you want to be Heat culture? Well, we'll give you, you know, portland, we'll give you Tyler Hero, and you better want that because we're the Miami Heat. Well, little do we know this, folks, I forget the name of the GM. You might have to look it up as I'm doing my ran here coach.

Coach Murph: 12:50

What, what? The GM of who the?

Podcast Paul: 12:52

GM for the Portland Trail Blazers, please, oh sure I shouldn't have said that. So this guy who's trying to get the young guy. I think it's like Joe Cronin. See, if I got that right, it wasn't even a coach's quiz, I got it. I'm going to say Joe Cronin. Anyway, look it up, ooh, oh.

Coach Murph: 13:09

Oh, you're a good boy, I was right Ding. That's like a pre-point, that's a point, that's a coach's corner point. Let's go, dude. Joe Cronin.

Podcast Paul: 13:19

So you got Pat Riley, who's been around the NBA for 80 years now, thinking he's going to fleece this young GM, joe Cronin, with the Trail Blazers, like, listen, your superstar wants out, he wants to come Miami, this is where you're going to get and take it. Well, little did we know, folks, that Joe Cronin and a man named Brad are really really good friends.

Coach Murph: 13:48

Really good friends.

Podcast Paul: 13:50

Inside info and I just feel like something was going on there right from the get-go when they said Joe Cronin said how dare you, pat Riley, I will show you. We will wait because we don't have to do anything. We don't have to do anything with Dame right now. So we're going to wait till this pre-season starts. We're going to hold out. We're going to hold out. Hey, brad, how about we do this? How about I trade? I trade him to Milwaukee. I get Drew Holiday, I get. You know, I got to get Phoenix in here too, I got to get a 13. Let me get Deadrin Aitin. I messed up his first name. You know the guy I'm talking about Aitin. We'll get Aitin up here.

Podcast Paul: 14:30

And then from there you and I can play a little game. Little Robert Williams, little Malcolm Brogdon, maybe a couple of picks. Next thing, you know this, joe Cronin's a genius dude. The guy got like four first round picks Milwaukee's, you know, picked from. You know, two years from now he got Robert Williams, the third, which we're going to talk about in a second, how we feel about that Malcolm Brogdon. He got Aitin, who I think is underrated. He went from saying you deal him with Pat Riley saying no, you deal with me and you get Tyler Hero, because he breaks people's hearts and he would take him. He went from that to getting like five first round picks Robert Williams, malcolm, all this stuff. But really what it was all about was a man named Brad and his relationship with Joe and him saying Joe, you got to find out a way because I wanted this Drew holiday Ever since I've been with the Celtics. Let's make it happen.

Podcast Paul: 15:28

Rad, god, his guy, ted. I'm sorry, I'm sorry you had to be part of this. In fact, your boy, jimmy, even had to get dressed up like Halloween for media day Because he's emo, oh, I'm emo. That's just I'm. He was all emotional. Jamie was getting on Twitter saying you know, brah you out there tampering, I know about you, you're really he's very, very upset.

Coach Murph: 15:57

So I know we talk about he'd Celtics sensitive in this world, dude, I'm super like sensitive and like empathetic and awesome. I'm sorry, through that last thing, they're awesome because it's true, but Stop it, just stop it, just just stop. I've had enough of the nicey Nicey that's your coin by podcast, paul. No, this is nicey Nicey, this is war baby. Kobe Bryant just flashes through my head on up. Do you know that he this is like it's not even off the top, I'm ranting, but he would listen to Michael Myers Halloween music. He would listen to the, the theme song of Halloween, and he like it was a beautiful interview. I'm just like. Why, though? Why would he say I never said this before? Why? Because I need to be emotionless, I need to play a role. I'm playing a part here, like Hollywood, and he's Michael Myers is emotionless, straight killer, you know, and that's what he said about stuff. He's just calm all the time, not high, not low, not caring about next point. This point is in the moment. That's a killer, though, so enough of these baby emotions.

Podcast Paul: 17:14

So I again, I I don't want to be rude because, listen, I would be great to have heat Celtics, for I'm kind of getting into this myself.

Coach Murph: 17:22

We have no redemption, the sweet thing we want.

Podcast Paul: 17:25

Do you really see that coming heat Celtics for.

Coach Murph: 17:30

We're seeing the heat.

Podcast Paul: 17:31

October. Wow, so you're still giving some respect to the heat with everything that's going on with Jimmy buckets owns us.

Coach Murph: 17:39

We got owned by the heat.

Podcast Paul: 17:41

All right.

Coach Murph: 17:42

Oh, through he came back.

Podcast Paul: 17:43

They didn't get team Lillard, they didn't get through it was.

Coach Murph: 17:47

So we have been going through it and we are going to win it. Oh, we are top. I want to see the Celtics first, the Nuggets and the finals. I'm just jumping far ahead of everything right now. I think we I don't think I know we have the most salt. We have such a solid five dude. Do we have any in a bench dude? There's other people to talk about, just oh, my goodness, yeah, redemption so what's really exciting about the timing of this pod?

Podcast Paul: 18:15

I'm gonna care about rip city either.

Coach Murph: 18:17

Forget about rip city. They're done. The GM failed a, you failed.

Podcast Paul: 18:22

Oh, you just heard what I said. The I know I do.

Coach Murph: 18:25

It's all right. It's all righteous and great information, but it's like wait before you know what, before we continue.

Podcast Paul: 18:31

Sorry, we just kind of just Glanced over this a little bit in that big rant, that big hot, but. But here's the deal. We've talked a lot about one man meaning a lot to this organization for a long time, and If he's healthy, oh Healthy. Time Lord, and we can't just move on in this podcast. Oh yeah a little love to Robert Williams.

Coach Murph: 18:56

We're gonna miss that love for Marcus smart, goodbye. Love for time Lord, goodbye. I Love this Malcolm, malcolm, malcolm me. No, you need me.

Podcast Paul: 19:11

I know he was. Yeah, his feelings hurt. Oh, you don't, dare you try to get angry.

Coach Murph: 19:18

Not here of the idea already feelings. Oh, my feelings the feelings are fleeting dude is. This is the world we live in now. Oh Lord, larry, larry bird.

Podcast Paul: 19:32

That was the best. I mean, obviously getting drew holiday is the ultimate prize, but that we were able to get rid of Brogdon, because it sounds like he was not he did well.

Coach Murph: 19:41

You know he's a great, he was a great he did. And in six man of the year dude he won six man like he earned that and he did great. So yeah, I.

Podcast Paul: 19:52

I don't want to come across like, hey, listen, robert Williams is gone now. Now we're gonna talk trash about him. No, the man Healthy in on the court and being Robert Williams, the way we know, is a game changer. Unfortunately, we have not seen that.

Coach Murph: 20:09

Even he was through holidays. A star, robert Williams, is it All right, we have a star like a superstar. I want to say yeah. I want to say stupid, humble, awesome. Floor general. My man, what are the last time his lies numbers? Last year I'm gonna get into true dude, you know how big a fan and go back. I mean this is such a big, big deal. We did not talk about this man bro. Well, he was supposed to come on the team.

Podcast Paul: 20:36

Oh, Take myself this poster off the wall because all these people are gone. Podcast Marcus smart gone. Grant Williams will talk about him in a second gone. Robert Williams gone. We get so that Pritchard, but I you know we have. We have lots of holidays coming up. I need new poster.

Coach Murph: 21:03

I'll send you a poster, bro, all right. So drew, drew. All right, let me let you love this. So all cliches. I've always wonder like all these, everything happens for a reason. You know one of one of many cliches they're all true and know it's that one's one, not once, not but twice, but three. Third times the charm. We thought it was Kyrie, oh, then we thought it was Kemba. Third times the charm. Baby, we have floor, general, we need he. This is gonna be so fun to watch him in Jays and we'll throw in a Todd if you want there Todd's trade of destiny, it's. We've been the Paul of corn to Derek White. And then, in a little al action, oh, kp is Slept on my friend. This is that the prediction of hard prediction I'm giving to everybody.

Podcast Paul: 21:56

Here we go.

Coach Murph: 21:56

Prediction but this is a hard there's. A hard take is that we've watched KP. He's been a prominent player in the NBA but he's had two knee injuries and he hasn't healed until now. His last season was his best season met. He had one game, 43 points, and another game at 19 boards. Forget about it. I already watched film of him booming on the boys and in the in the, in the action right now, practicing. He is going to be a prominent Factor, dude. Look at that. For in throw whoever you want in the five. Like talk I'll. If you want to play bigs or or dark white, kp drew Jays. Forget about it. It's a wrap green, that's it. Stay healthy, ring Bye.

Podcast Paul: 22:46

That's right. That's right. Well, hold on, we'll stay in the east, definitely in the east. But the question is are they better than Denver you?

Coach Murph: 24:26

That's what I'm saying. We're gonna see them in the yes there's no better no, I didn't say better, like that's it, that's the finals, get through the heat. I wanna see the.

Podcast Paul: 24:38

Joker. Wow, so you're still feeling that it really could be heat Celtics Al and K. It could be heat Celtics four. Actually, you know what? Shout out to Ted, he's always coming up with good takes. He asked a question and this might be a quiz later on. Maybe look it up right now. Has there been any team or teams to meet in the Eastern Conference finals four years in a row? Cause this would be four years in a row and I was thinking back to the 80s. I know the Sixers and Celtics played a lot, but I don't think they played four in a row. They might have played three times, but that I think he might be onto something there, so that is something to look out for.

Coach Murph: 25:18

So he's played about four times in a row in one Eastern.

Podcast Paul: 25:20

Conference. It would be four times in a row that two teams met in the Eastern Conference finals, if it Celtics heats four this year. So there's that, and we kind of both. We all won.

Coach Murph: 25:32

It's great dude. This is like a secret quiz. New, new. We have a new one.

Podcast Paul: 25:42

We just started to see. Hey, it's preseason pod, we're getting out the kinks, we're bringing in new features. Dude, this is hard work.

Coach Murph: 25:51

I got some stuff, man, right here. The Miami Heat become third franchise to make four straight NBA finals, and that's 2014,. Man, so I'm looking at do I got a lot going on here?

Podcast Paul: 26:03

No, no, no, they went. No, I'm talking about two teams.

Coach Murph: 26:09

Has any two teams met four times in a row at Eastern Conference?

Podcast Paul: 26:13

finals Right right, I don't think so. Maybe in the 60s?

Coach Murph: 26:17

No, I'm still going through it. This is stuff. Maybe Celtic Sixers in the 60s right.

Podcast Paul: 26:23

But anyway, we'll let you look that up, the timing.

Coach Murph: 26:28

This is so much cool stuff Going on.

Podcast Paul: 26:31

The timing of this pod is awesome. Now, of course, we're in our monthly flow, so you're not gonna hear us again till the regular season starts, but the preseason starts tomorrow.

Coach Murph: 26:40

Actually, back it up, back it up. It started two days ago. It's already started.

Podcast Paul: 26:46

We're late to the party. Oh yeah, Because we got Minnesota in Dallas. They're in Dubai right, they're overseas in the desert.

Coach Murph: 26:57

Well so.

Podcast Paul: 26:59

And they just played two games and Minnesota waxed the Mavericks two games in a row, Swept them Get out of here.

Coach Murph: 27:06

No, just like that. I think it's Minnesota.

Podcast Paul: 27:08

It's Minnesota. Another hot take, whoa hello 211. Pie, it's Minnesota underrated. Actually, where are they rated? Are they even picked to go to the playoffs? I think they might be good Ant. What is he in Year three? Everybody loves that guy, ant.

Coach Murph: 27:26

Oh, that's him, Anthony Edwards. I got nothing on that man Like we gotta wait, so anyway the preseason started two days ago with these two teams internationally.

Podcast Paul: 27:37

Over there Tonight we got a big one Lakers Golden State. First time we see the oldest man in the NBA this year, mr LeBron.

Coach Murph: 27:48

Against.

Podcast Paul: 27:49

Chris Paul's Golden State Warriors.

Coach Murph: 27:53

This man, all right, this man you have to give him his love and respect. He's 38 years young Dude. He's gonna be in December 39.

Podcast Paul: 28:05

Which guy? Chris Paul or LeBron?

Coach Murph: 28:07

I'm the king? Oh, I don't even know. Oh, I gotta look up Chris Paul's age.

Podcast Paul: 28:12

He's probably about the same age.

Coach Murph: 28:14

MJ was not booming and explosive Dude. I just watched a little thing going up. He is still explosive and so athletic Dude, he is in the talk for the top three of all, best of all time. My mom well, no, just flashed my head.

Podcast Paul: 28:32

Kobe Kobe's not in the Kobe MJ LeBron, they're another team, though, Like they're picked like right there in the mix, like right underneath that top four, Like the Lakers.

Coach Murph: 28:43

but back to injuries. Mj stunk at 38.

Podcast Paul: 28:46

Back to injuries with the Lakers. We know who's gonna get injured. Oh, like, oh like, a like toe wow. I'm out for like a month. Anthony Davis, hello. He's not gonna stay healthy, Like they're assuming he's staying healthy. I mean, they got the you know.

Coach Murph: 29:04

Second most office on the line, the new darling of the NBA. Austin.

Podcast Paul: 29:08

Reeves.

Coach Murph: 29:09

Austin Reeves, but it goes Joker to AD. To me AD is super dominant dude, like they're them too. For me Like, yeah, injuries, when's Joker ever injured?

Podcast Paul: 29:20

But tomorrow's gonna be great Because tomorrow both the Bucks and the Celtics play. We're not playing. We're actually playing Philly. Philly at Boston, chicago at Milwaukee. But it's our first look at Dame Lillard with Giannis. I know it's pretty easy. No, we're gonna see this year.

Coach Murph: 29:37

Yeah, we're gonna see Anthony Edwards doing oh, he's nice, dude, he's real nice. They're two and all in the preseason, but like it doesn't matter, it's preseason, dude, I don't care. But Anthony Edwards is gonna shine this year. You never know, though. They don't have the squad, but he's gonna shine. They don't have it, they have what? Carl Anthony Towns, rudy Conley Jr, mikey Leonard really, yeah, they're not gonna do anything, dude. What's not happening? Green all day.

Podcast Paul: 30:08

Baby, I got a couple more things I wanna get to and then we can get into the quizzes, if that's cool.

Coach Murph: 30:13

Oh, who says there's a quiz?

Podcast Paul: 30:14

Oh, this always is. Well, we had the surprise, I'm sure. Come on, you can't have a pod without a coach's quiz Everybody knows this.

Coach Murph: 30:20

Oh God, yeah, let's do that.

Podcast Paul: 30:22

Okay, so the first question I got for you. We talked about the top four best odds to get to June. Give me your wild card team. Well, I think you just did with Miami, but I'll ask again who's an underrated? Wild card team, both out of the East and West, that can really make a run at this thing.

Coach Murph: 30:41

Other than those top four, nick's yeah, man, whoa, I know crazy right All the way to June. Well, no, where's our first game Monday? No, no, sorry it's not Monday, it's up.

Podcast Paul: 30:57

No, that first regular season game.

Coach Murph: 30:58

Wednesday Wednesday's our first.

Podcast Paul: 31:01

October 25th, so we got a few weeks out, but it doesn't matter.

Coach Murph: 31:05

It's really the 27th because that's Friday. We see the heat. I want to see that. Ooh, you're already looking at the regular season.

Podcast Paul: 31:12

I'm on it, baby, on it Like a lot. So you said, nick's, what about in the West?

Coach Murph: 31:17

I like the Nick's on the West. Oh, I want to see Dallas. I want to see man.

Podcast Paul: 31:26

Well, you know what we're going to talk about this next pod.

Coach Murph: 31:30

We're going to talk about this next pod. Okay, I don't know yet. Okay, I want to think about that.

Podcast Paul: 31:35

I like that I'm going to go with mine. Yeah, so on the East, it's not really that much of a pod. What about the Houston? Because we got E-May, e-may. I was going to go with Oklahoma City Thunder in the rookie of the year, chet Holmgren.

Coach Murph: 31:51

Well, you love him. I think he's going to be a bust, bro. Ooh, yeah, he's the real unicorn, I thought. I always see. I hope he does. Well, that's a better squad now. I like that, let's see. Yeah, but I think he's a bust. He's a bust.

Podcast Paul: 32:12

Last thing I got for you, so you just kind of hit on it. Regular season starts October 24th. That's the first October 25th is up.

Coach Murph: 32:21

Well, that's when the Celtics won. Yeah, the Oss is up so regular season right around the corner.

Podcast Paul: 32:27

We'll probably be back early November to start talking about it.

Coach Murph: 32:30

Early November for sure, but what's interesting?

Podcast Paul: 32:32

I'm looking at this right here.

Coach Murph: 32:34

Yeah.

Podcast Paul: 32:34

Starting in November 3rd, running to December 9th. We haven't talked about this yet. It's called the in season tournament. What the heck is this?

Coach Murph: 32:44

That's right.

Podcast Paul: 32:45

Thank you to bring this up and does anybody? Is anybody going to care?

Coach Murph: 32:48

I'll just say it up for next time. Dude, I love this, go ahead, talk about it.

Podcast Paul: 32:52

Well, what is it and is anybody going to care?

Coach Murph: 32:57

We care about the end season turn yeah.

Podcast Paul: 32:59

What is it?

Coach Murph: 33:00

I don't even know. I was like no, I Google.

Podcast Paul: 33:04

That's great.

Coach Murph: 33:06

No, I Googled it. I was like what is what's, why and how does it happen? The end season tournament in the NBA, it's like one on one, it's like the NBAcom all right End season tournament. One on one. Rule is format and how it works. The inaugural end season tournament will tip off on Friday, november 3rd and culminate with the championship on this Saturday, december 9th. The NBA end season tournament is a new annual competition for all 30 teams that will debut in the 23, 24 season man. So it's a whole thing, is this?

Podcast Paul: 33:39

just a different way for the commissioner or the leadership in the NBA to say hey guys, stop sitting out games. We need all your stars playing every game, so let's do this anyway.

Coach Murph: 33:50

Oh, I like, yeah, yeah, Well all 30 teams have been randomly drawn to a group of five within their conference based on one loss record just from the 22, 22, 23 regular season. Beginning November 3rd and continuing through Tuesday November 28th, each team will play four designated group play games on quote unquote tournament nights. One game against each opponent in this group, with two games at home and two on the road. Blah, blah, blah, knockout rounds. It's kind of fun, man, you know like if we judge like what is this? Because we want to change. It's new and the NBA has always done well with change and they did amazing with the bubble.

Podcast Paul: 34:33

Well, the world can't wait. The world is just, and Tis can't just. Just can't wait for October 24th because the world just does not like baseball anymore.

Coach Murph: 34:44

Everybody just ooh, this is things.

Podcast Paul: 34:47

And then even the football fan this thing they're like. You know what they're grasping at. This is how bad football is. Right now, we're celebrating a guy in the college ranks, dion Sanders, where his team's not even good.

Coach Murph: 35:01

It's OK.

Podcast Paul: 35:02

It's like they're 500. It's like hey.

Coach Murph: 35:04

Don't you dare. How dare you? That's Coach Prime. He's one of my heroes, bud. He's actually done pretty well for what he had with Hannah Tumor-Eithring. He is let's do. I want to do a whole thing on Dion, because that was my childhood and he's. Nobody has done what he's done. Nobody has gone to the World Series Like dude. What he did as a baseball player and a football player in his career, just he was so awesome. He's the best and he's a man of faith, just like Drew. A man of faith and his wife Listen.

Podcast Paul: 35:43

I love the story too, but enough's enough.

Coach Murph: 35:45

It just feels like everybody wants inspiration.

Podcast Paul: 35:48

I don't even know why the Sixers have their preseason in Colorado, but the 76ers have been in Colorado and they have Neon Dion Dion's talking to us. So if Dion came in to give us a speech, we're winning the championship. Like I don't know, I'm kind of over it.

Coach Murph: 36:03

It's a lot of hype and whatnot, but he's the real deal. He's a good coach. He's making these men a better man. It's beyond sport and he's just. I have a lot of respect for that man and like his faith and what he's showing and teaching the world, dude. But I know there's all. But hey, man, good for college football right now it's on. Fuego dude, you know. But what happens in the NFL? Let's go to the NFL real quick.

Podcast Paul: 36:33

No one cares, Everybody wants the NBA season to start, so the real sport can happen, everybody is ready.

Coach Murph: 36:41

We gotta give love to our athletes. They're excited.

Podcast Paul: 36:44

No one cares about football, no one cares about baseball. It's all about hoops.

Coach Murph: 36:48

You can't win unless you have a superstar quarterback in the NFL. That's just a fact, stan, I already told you that was done a while ago. I didn't even watch one game, paul.

Podcast Paul: 36:59

It's all about hoops baby Hoops, Hoops. I believe, that's right, get this going, man.

Coach Murph: 37:04

Just the journey to June.

Podcast Paul: 37:05

I mean, think about where you were coach On that last pod we had at the end of season one. You gotta remember the pod before that. It was all about coming back from 0-3, got all the way to game seven. Tatum got hurt. You didn't like that. We lost the game. You got on. You were not happy about that roster. You were not happy about the future of the green. You did not believe. But as you sit here today in, this preseason pod where are you now, coach?

Coach Murph: 37:30

I didn't lose faith because let me correct myself I was distraught. I was like I know for a fact they won't win a championship, like with just the J's and everything. And I was like so tired of this. It's been so long we haven't won a championship. Oh wait, I just knew it. So it was just so aggravated. But here's another cliche. They're all true. You never know what the tie's gonna bring in. You never know what's gonna happen tomorrow. I had no idea where we're gonna get Mr Holiday, and on that note, it's the Drew Holiday.

Podcast Paul: 38:07

Quiz. There it is Hoops' Quiz Time. That's good.

Coach Murph: 38:12

Great segue. Oh, we're going right into it, man. This is what's made me really happy and amped up the city's electric right now, because we have this man. So are you ready for the Drew Holiday Quiz? Never been more ready In the coach's corner. Here we go. Do you know how many seasons Mr Drew Holiday has played? What is his year? He's a what year veteran.

Podcast Paul: 38:38

I know how old he is, so I'm gonna work off that. Oh, you do know how old is he. Then I'll give you a little point 33.

Coach Murph: 38:44

33. Ding, ding, ding, I'll give you one.

Podcast Paul: 38:46

so you have any guess. So based on that, so I got a ding ding. Where was he born? Los, angeles, california, ding ding, ding Two. Where'd?

Coach Murph: 38:56

he go to college. This is my guy. I'm getting the jersey. Where'd he go to?

Podcast Paul: 38:59

college. You see a leg Ding ding ding. Podcast Paul Nose is nicked. Hey, maybe Podcast Paul got his guy. It's not just Brad getting his guy.

Coach Murph: 39:09

Dude, we've been wanting this guy, you and I talked about it.

Podcast Paul: 39:11

Based on that age. I'm gonna go with 11 years in the league, 14 year veteran Wow.

Coach Murph: 39:18

Yeah, wow, oh, yeah exactly.

Podcast Paul: 39:21

And an NBA champion, mind you that, thank you. What year did he get the NBA championship? 2021. Boom, that is no Ding ding ding. And he was instrumental.

Coach Murph: 39:32

I would say he's like maybe the reason they won Made, yeah, major instrument, made the net. We watched that. It was beautiful.

Podcast Paul: 39:41

How many times has he been in NBA? This is making me feel warm and fuzzy.

Coach Murph: 39:43

Oh, this is true, when I knew when we got drew it was game over Like emergency. Paul, let's go. Everybody real Hooper fan, we know, like floor general, like I don't give floor general to Kyrie or Cambo, I give it to this man. He's a made man. And when was he drafted? In what round Can you get this? Ooh, this is tough. When was he? What year was he drafted, man? Come on man.

Podcast Paul: 40:14

Oh, so you says 14 years ago. Well, hold on.

Coach Murph: 40:17

Yeah, 14 years ago, there you go.

Podcast Paul: 40:20

Genius, let's go 2008 or, come on man, nine, 2009,. Sorry, I can't add.

Coach Murph: 40:27

First round, 17-year-old. Where'd he go? Where'd he go? Where'd he go? First, let's just run through his teens. Boom, it was traded what year To who.

Podcast Paul: 40:36

Well, he went to the Pelicans, that's right. And that would say what year? Maybe 2012? Ooh, 2013.

Coach Murph: 40:44

Boom, then he played for seven years, and then when was he traded to the who?

Podcast Paul: 40:50

Then he was traded to the Bucks, and that would have been the birth of the pod.

Coach Murph: 40:55

It's all connected the birth of the pod, he goes to the Bucks and now we just got him. How many times has it been NBA All-Star?

Podcast Paul: 41:05

Three-time NBA All-Star Ooh twice 2013,.

Coach Murph: 41:09

in last year, brother. He's a three-time NBA All-Defensive First team. This is what I care about a lot. Oh, 2018, 2021, 2023. He's a two-time NBA All-Defensive Second team. This is what I care about and this is what I love too. I know it's corny. It's not corny. I shouldn't even say that. He's a sportsmanship award winner. He is the people go to him. He is the guy dude. He has a morality, his just humble and mild and just calm nature. He's such the leader we've been waiting for and that's it. Now I want you one more, one more. I want you to get this man.

Podcast Paul: 41:49

Hold on, hold on, hold on. Can I just throw something in, because everything you're saying is making me warm and fuzzy. I'm feeling great, I got my guy, but you know what the counter is and we already heard it from the Heat Fan. Oh, I mean, it's more recent C-Bias which we all are in sports. Back to the Milwaukee getting dethroned. The one C to the eight C. Jimmy Butler went off in that series and guess who? He torched Drew Holliday.

Coach Murph: 42:17

He torched he torched.

Podcast Paul: 42:18

So what I would say to that? Maybe it was how Milwaukee played him, and that's where I get the excitement going, because I would argue Derek White is right with him on defense. So now it's not just Drew Holliday here.

Coach Murph: 42:32

That's not how we're gonna do this thing.

Podcast Paul: 42:33

Yeah, he's a major component, he can play defense and our defense is gonna be back. But don't forget about Derek White, don't forget about Jalen Brown he's gonna be back. His defense wasn't good last year.

Coach Murph: 42:43

And Jason Tatum, well said Well said dude, who then we'll leave with us. I believe he scored. He had numbers. He's had numbers last season, all right, and he averaged 19.3, 7.4 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game as a lead in the box. Who else? Who's the last Celtics player to have such prolific single season numbers? Please tell me who.

Podcast Paul: 43:12

Oh, it's gotta be this, because you're into the secret city here, isaiah Thomas. Oh, no, it's not oh, because they have the same number. Remember, isaiah worked for four man we love little Isaiah.

Coach Murph: 43:25

No, the man that doesn't get enough love Ray Jean Rondo.

Podcast Paul: 43:29

Oh what do you mean doesn't get enough love? I love Rondo, I love me some Rondo I don't think he does like really as Celtics fans.

Coach Murph: 43:34

He was so prolific as a guard, all right and just because we had the big three and he was a fourth he was a kid Learned from those guys. But that's it, man, like that's it. That's a crazy degree. We got Derek White the back court. I believe it's the best of it's not. I believe I know it's the best defense for the back court in the league. We're paying Pritchard he's gonna step his game up. He has. He's in better spirits. I know he's gonna do well.

Podcast Paul: 43:58

And then we have a look at it to extend the guy and he's gonna get playing time. He was crying about that last year.

Coach Murph: 44:04

He's gonna, so he's a third option with ball handling, and then the weaknesses with the team they don't need to get.

Podcast Paul: 44:10

So you're feeling good with Lou Cornette. Is your backup, Lou Cornette? They don't have any center depth man.

Coach Murph: 44:18

Come on, man, Big Al dude Well besides big Al, we haven't talked about Delano Banton. We'll talk about him next time.

Podcast Paul: 44:27

Yeah, yeah, we have plenty of time for that. This is, this is. He is a guard.

Coach Murph: 44:31

He can ball and JD Davidson has come through, like we just had some handlers. But that's it, man. That's it. Quiz over podcast finalized.

Podcast Paul: 44:41

Awesome, man. Well, we, we, we'll be back when the regular season starts. It's gonna be exciting, just watching preseason to see all these players we didn't even hit on Phoenix, some of the others Just to see these new teams together as we get ready. But, like I said, the world's been waiting because everything else in the sports world has been just terribly boring, except Dion. Sorry, yeah, man, why don't you take us out the way you always do, man?

Coach Murph: 45:08

Let's say man, another great pod, the brothers. Just two mercs talking hoops the journey to June. You know, I'm gonna keep it real simple, because that's what we need to do. Just keep it simple, stay in the moment, fill your life with love and grace and take care of each other. We got the best back home. We got the team. It's the green, it's the gold and the green.

Podcast Paul: 45:38

Just two mercs. The journey to June continues.