Milwaukee & Boston: Are They Eastern Conference Co-Favorites?
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00:00 And as you look at the championship odds
00:02 around the association, it's clear to see
00:05 there's a big four, two teams out of the East
00:08 with the same price, who are co-favorites
00:10 in the Eastern Conference, Milwaukee and Boston,
00:13 two teams out of the West with the same price
00:16 that are co-favorites to win the Western Conference title
00:18 in Phoenix and Denver.
00:20 So let's start out East, J.Y.,
00:22 where one of the themes last year
00:25 was the battle for the top spot
00:27 between the Bucs and the Celtics,
00:29 back and forth, back and forth it went
00:31 throughout most of the NBA regular season
00:34 before Milwaukee took a stronghold in the final few weeks.
00:38 It didn't help the Bucs, they lost to the Heat
00:41 in the one-eight matchup in the opening round.
00:43 The Heat ended up beating the Celtics
00:45 in the Eastern Conference final.
00:47 So J.Y., as you look at the Eastern Conference odds
00:50 entering this new year, what's your evaluation?
00:53 - There really is a big two,
00:55 and it's gonna be interesting to see, Ben,
00:57 because to me, you're gonna have transitions on both sides.
01:01 Let's start with Milwaukee.
01:02 Obviously, they get knocked down five games
01:04 in the first round of series versus the Heat,
01:06 like you just said, but they weren't healthy.
01:08 Chris Middleton only played 33 games.
01:10 You run it back with Middleton.
01:12 Obviously, Giannis in a bad mood.
01:14 You re-sign Brooke Lopez, Bobby Portis comes back,
01:17 and then you swing and make the big trade
01:21 and bring in Damian Lillard as really,
01:24 at times, guys, let's be honest,
01:26 a closer for Milwaukee,
01:28 because I think that could be the concern
01:30 when Milwaukee's late game shot creatation,
01:33 when you have someone like Middleton
01:35 that's not been healthy,
01:36 and Giannis, who really isn't a closer
01:38 because of his ability not to knock down perimeter jumps
01:40 up with consistency.
01:42 But there are questions, Ben,
01:44 and I think there's questions across the board
01:47 in the Eastern Conference.
01:48 When it's Milwaukee, you gotta look at the fact
01:51 that they are bringing in Adrian Griffin
01:53 as a first-year head coach.
01:55 Not only that, sneaky news come out last week.
01:58 Terry Stotts, experienced coach on the bench,
02:02 Horny College of Portland, Damian Lillard.
02:05 Damian Lillard gets traded.
02:07 Terry Stotts then steps down.
02:09 Interesting development right there.
02:10 So you're gonna look at a team
02:12 that's gonna have to find their way,
02:14 not just with their superstars, but a rookie head coach.
02:18 But are they the class of the Eastern Boston?
02:21 Absolutely.