Not even a full week has passed, and we are already projecting the entire NBA season for the Boston Celtics off entirely too little data. But that has never stopped the league's media from trying to do so in the past, and we have new tools to project how the season might go in NBA 2K's official season projection for the Celtics that the hosts of the CLNS Media "Celtics Lab" podcast sat down with NBA 2K spokesperson Ronnie "2K" Singh to learn more about what might happen in the season ahead.
Ronnie gets us up to speed on what went down in the official sim, and how his unique point of view affects how he sees the league's 2024-25 regular season and beyond may unfold. We also get into the news and results of real games that count to get our first glimpses at what the contours of the season ahead might tell us.
Join us as we beat a sample size entirely too small to tell us much to death, while learning everything we need to know about what the official 2K sim can tell us about what Boston might encounter on a run at Banner 19.
*****************************************
CLNS Media is Powered by:
Prize Picks - https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS
Download the app today and use Code CLNS when you sign up & Get $50 instantly when you play $5!
Gametime - https://gametime.co
Take the guesswork out of buying NBA tickets with Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code CLNS for $20 off yo
Ronnie gets us up to speed on what went down in the official sim, and how his unique point of view affects how he sees the league's 2024-25 regular season and beyond may unfold. We also get into the news and results of real games that count to get our first glimpses at what the contours of the season ahead might tell us.
Join us as we beat a sample size entirely too small to tell us much to death, while learning everything we need to know about what the official 2K sim can tell us about what Boston might encounter on a run at Banner 19.
*****************************************
CLNS Media is Powered by:
Prize Picks - https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS
Download the app today and use Code CLNS when you sign up & Get $50 instantly when you play $5!
Gametime - https://gametime.co
Take the guesswork out of buying NBA tickets with Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code CLNS for $20 off yo
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Celtics Lab is brought to you by Price Picks and the Game Time app.
00:06All righty.
00:07Welcome to the Celtics Lab podcast brought to you by Price Picks, the exclusive fantasy
00:10basketball partner of the CNS Media Network, and by Game Time tickets.
00:13Last minute tickets.
00:14Lowest price.
00:15Guaranteed.
00:16What time is it?
00:17It's Game Time.
00:18I'm Cameron Tepesabai.
00:19I'm your host.
00:20I'm joined by Dr. Jessica Quinn and by Alex Goldberg, as evidenced by probably the title
00:24of this episode, or the thumbnail anyways, in the second half of the program.
00:29Friend of the podcast, I think we can say, Ronnie Touquet is going to stop by.
00:32Touquet simulates the game and then they publish the results and the results were pretty good
00:39if you're a Celtics fan.
00:40So we thought we'd talk to Ronnie Touquet about what he thought of the results, what
00:43he saw, and a few other things.
00:44So in the second half of the program, you'll enjoy my conversation recorded a few days
00:48ago with Ronnie Touquet about the official season sim from NBA 2K25, which I think our
00:55listeners know, as Jason Tatum on the cover.
00:58So you know, there's a lot of Celtics stuff going on.
01:00In the first half of the program, no Ronnie, but we got Justin and Alex, and we're going
01:05to talk about basically what we've seen from, since ring night, so since that absolute beat
01:11down of the Knicks, Boston beat the pants off the Wizards, and things got dicey in Detroit
01:17but beat Detroit.
01:18So we'll talk about that.
01:19We'll talk about what to expect from this big game coming up against the Bucs.
01:23But first, Justin, how's Mexico?
01:27Not too shabby, gearing up for NBA Mexico later this week.
01:31It's going to make me very busy, but it will also be very happy because it's one of the
01:34only opportunities I get here to cover a game.
01:38Yeah.
01:39If listeners don't know, Justin lives in Mexico City.
01:41And so if you want coverage of when the NBA goes down to Mexico for, what are they calling
01:47it?
01:48The Mexico games?
01:49Mexico City game.
01:50Game or games plus year is the usual formula.
01:53Sure.
01:54So Justin's going to be an ally down there.
01:57So if you like Justin's work, he's going to be there.
02:00So that's interesting.
02:01Also, if you like funky indie music, does that sound right, Alex?
02:06I would say so, yeah.
02:07Alex plays in a funky indie band called Divine Sweater.
02:09They do our intro music.
02:10He plays bass for them.
02:11Alex, how are things in Brooklyn?
02:14Things in Brooklyn are lovely.
02:15We are finally taking a turn towards real fall as opposed to fake fall.
02:21And I am thrilled about it.
02:23Yeah.
02:24Halloween weekend.
02:25Halloween is just around the corner.
02:27Had a fun weekend and excited to keep watching the seas lay the wood on the rest of the Eastern
02:34Conference.
02:36That's probably putting it lightly.
02:37So let's, we can kind of talk about whatever we've seen.
02:43Don't talk about Jason yet.
02:44Let's do a whole thing on the Jason MVP conversation that has already started.
02:49But like I said, let's talk about it in a sec.
02:55But first, just takeaways from the game, Alex, actually, Alex, you seem to enjoy what you
03:00saw from the Pistons and that Pistons game.
03:03So let's start.
03:04Yeah, let's start there.
03:05We don't need to spend too much time on Boston humiliating the Washington Wizards who are
03:10heading straight to the basement.
03:12So last night, the Celtics played the Pistons and they were rolling in the first half.
03:19They were on pace to once again, set the NBA record for threes made in a game and seemed
03:26like everything was trending that way.
03:28They were just like, moving the ball brilliantly, playing great defense, general felt like they
03:34had this big old lead and things were really trending their way.
03:37And then in the third quarter, Boston seemingly forgot how to do everything that got them
03:42there and they ended up choking up the lead.
03:47Kate Cunningham played really good basketball.
03:50Go to Jaden Ivey.
03:51So did Jalen Duren.
03:53In general, I think the big takeaway from this game, aside from the fact that for as
03:58dominant as they have looked for most of the season, Boston can still fall back into some
04:03old habits, such as Jalen Brown deciding to take every single shot and miss every single
04:08shot and refuse to pass the ball, which does happen sometimes.
04:14This Pistons team, guys, I know their own three, but this is not last year's Pistons
04:18team.
04:19They are a good deal better.
04:20And I think, you know, JB Bickerstaff has implemented some order to their scheme that,
04:27you know, Manny Williams, I think is a good coach, but his heart was very much not in
04:32it last year.
04:33JB Bickerstaff seems like he has something to prove.
04:36The Pistons look way more organized under him.
04:39I also think, you know, it has to be said, the offseason additions of guys like Tim Hardaway
04:45Jr., Malik Beasley, Tobias Harris, etc., you know, these are not like big, sexy ads that
04:51are going to like change, you know, the course of the Pistons and like turn them into like,
04:56you know, being a true contender.
04:57But they are all like these guys and like Simone Fontechio.
05:01These guys are like capable NBA players.
05:03They know how to space the floor.
05:05They know how to, you know, be operating in the flow of an offense.
05:09They can actually hit a corner three.
05:11They are not four big men and Cade Cunningham playing at the same time.
05:15And the Pistons look like a real basketball team.
05:17I was really pleasantly surprised by their level of fight.
05:22I was glad that the Celtics were able to get out the win as well.
05:25To me, it showed that even though they kind of defaulted back into some bad habits, one
05:31push came to shove.
05:32They were still able to do what was necessary to get a win.
05:36You got to be able to win ugly as well as pretty in the NBA.
05:39And they did just that.
05:40A shout out to Derek White with a huge block, Jalen Brown with a massive rebound, and Drew
05:46Holliday, who was really quiet offensively for basically the entire game until the very
05:52end in which he had two huge threes to put the Boston Celtics up.
05:57But yeah, this Pistons team is really not that bad.
06:00And I think that my take that they could be a play in team is looking pretty decent here,
06:06fellas.
06:07I was pretty skeptical.
06:08And I'm a believer now.
06:09I mean, yeah, there's zero and three, but there's zero and three in a way that have
06:12you believing they could have won at least against the Celtics.
06:15And that's not something we would have said.
06:19Other than a certain game last season, we will just not talk about it.
06:26I guess we can connect the dots to what's going on, what we saw in Detroit versus what
06:30we saw tonight in Brooklyn.
06:31But Justin, talk about Keita in that game, but then also give us a Sam Houser update
06:35because Sam Houser's back is not in good shape right now.
06:39Yeah, I guess, you know, too much late night cradling of the new baby or something like
06:43that.
06:44Not really sure exactly what's going on with that.
06:46It doesn't seem like they're too concerned of it.
06:49It seems like it's a very short term situation and they do have the depth to weather it,
06:53though.
06:54I am surprised that there was no meanish Keita in this game simply because he was coming
06:57up like a twelve and five or twelve and seven performance the game before.
07:00And this was an objectively bad matchup for Luke.
07:03Like a lot of people jumped on Luke for not being that great.
07:06This was the worst kind of big man for him to play against.
07:09For sure.
07:10Exactly the kind of big man you'd want to deploy Keita against to at least absorb some
07:14of that.
07:15Absorb some of those fouls, contact, et cetera.
07:18Just, you know, don't beat up and scare Luke because don't don't feel bad, Luke.
07:24I would be frightened myself next to Jalen Dern.
07:26The man is like a brick wall.
07:27Also, Destiny does not lie in their center play.
07:31Like even even with the starting centers, that's not really the most important part
07:36of the tale.
07:37So they're going to have some vulnerabilities.
07:40It's OK.
07:41For sure.
07:42Just really quickly on Jalen Dern, it has to be said that guy was playing really great
07:47basketball before he got hurt last year.
07:49And I am very excited that he's back.
07:52I'm going to go on record with another spicy Pistons prediction.
07:56So they started the year off against Indy and then against Cleveland and then against
08:00Boston.
08:01Cleveland and Boston look like two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
08:04And Indy was a playoff team last year that made the East Finals.
08:07That's an objectively hard.
08:09No one told Tyrese Haliburton that.
08:11Clearly.
08:13But that's an objectively hard start to the season for the Pistons.
08:16Next up, they have Miami and Philly.
08:18I think the Detroit Pistons are going to be two and three by the next time we record this
08:21podcast.
08:22Maybe better.
08:23This is a real basketball team, and I think they are going to actually start winning some
08:29games sooner rather than later.
08:31I love that before we started recording, you said, we definitely don't need to riff on
08:36about the Pistons.
08:37We just did seven minutes on the Pistons.
08:40They're looking kind of good.
08:41It's really interesting.
08:42Even if you don't like them, it's very unusual, right?
08:46I love recording the Pistons live podcast, you guys.
08:50You can now win up to a hundred times your money on prize picks with as little as four
08:55correct picks.
08:56Hey, sign up today, get $50 instantly when you play $5.
09:00You don't even need to win to receive the $50 bonus.
09:03It's guaranteed.
09:04Download the app today and use code CLNS to get $50 instantly after you play your first
09:09$5 lineup.
09:10Again, download the app today and use code CLNS to get $50 instantly after you play your
09:16first $5 lineup.
09:18Prize picks.
09:19Run your game.
09:20But Alex, I think your point, that is a good segue insofar as, so Milwaukee lost to Brooklyn
09:26last night.
09:27And I think there's problems in Milwaukee, but I don't think Milwaukee is a bad team.
09:32I think it's going to be a few weeks before the teams that are tanking like really start
09:36to tank.
09:38The lower middle class of the East is better.
09:41Pistons are better.
09:42Brooklyn has players, even if the front office doesn't want them to win.
09:45There are teams that are trending up in the East while some of the older guard is maybe
09:49trending down or kind of waffling.
09:51If the Knicks and the Sixers and the Bucks can't handle their business, there are teams
09:56like the Pistons will be happy to take advantage of that.
09:59So yeah, Alex, like Pistons win over that you did in their wins pool.
10:04Probably there's going to be a bunch of teams like the Pistons that are going to look pretty
10:07good from that regard because, yeah, the other teams in the East that are supposed
10:12to be good aren't very good right now.
10:15We're talking about the Bucks.
10:17They just kind of fell apart against Brooklyn and now they're going to go back to back and
10:22play in Boston.
10:23What's your level of concern for a team like the Bucks right now, if at all?
10:27I think it has to be at least somewhat high just because so obviously they have these
10:32new offseason additions with Torian Prince and Gary Trent, who I think are both solid
10:36role players.
10:37But it still feels like without Chris Middleton on the floor, this team becomes much easier
10:43to defend.
10:44And that's just going to be a huge problem for them against the elite teams in the Eastern
10:48Conference, Boston being one of them.
10:52But you know, to me, I think what it kind of belies is that, you know, for all the good
10:57players the Bucks did acquire this offseason, and I don't think it's a knock on Torian Prince
11:01or Gary Trent.
11:02They're both solid.
11:04The reality is that the core of this team is aging, and it is aging in a pretty real
11:09and pronounced way.
11:10And as good as Giannis is, and I saw him annihilate Nikola Vucevic on League Pass last night,
11:16like that guy is still really good.
11:20Dame is a really good player who can bring it on most nights, but not every night.
11:24Chris Middleton is recovering from double ankle surgery this offseason.
11:29That is a bigger deal, I think, than some people think.
11:32Brooke Lopez is getting up there in years, and they're asking him to be their starting
11:36center for a full 82 games.
11:38Like this team is...
11:39Well, he buried the lead.
11:41The worst of it all is Doc Rivers is the world's worst goatee right now.
11:45Yeah.
11:46I have not seen it.
11:47Oh my goodness.
11:48I'm going right on social media just to take a look.
11:53It defies belief.
11:55Doc is, I think, wistfully remembering and reminiscing about some of the golf courses
12:00in Los Angeles right now.
12:03This is...
12:04This Bucs team should be concerned, and I think the biggest reason that they should
12:09be concerned is something that you alluded to earlier, Cam.
12:12Hey, the Cleveland Cavaliers are 3-0.
12:16The Atlanta Hawks are 2-0.
12:17The Orlando Magic are getting better.
12:19Like they're 2-0 as well.
12:21This...
12:22Or they're 2-1, but even so, the middle class of the East, particularly the teams that have
12:27younger dynamic players like Evan Mobley, like Paolo Bancaro, like Atre Young, you know,
12:35those teams are coming and they look ready for this moment.
12:38Now it's super early.
12:40Things are going to shift around.
12:41Somebody's going to get hurt.
12:42Like we all know that the standings at the beginning of the year are not the standings
12:46at the end of the year.
12:47But the middle class of the East that we were kind of curious about heading into this season
12:53appears to be demonstrably better.
12:56And I think that Bucs team, the Miami Heat, the Sixers, perhaps the Knicks to a degree,
13:03their spots are not as set in stone as we thought they were.
13:06Also, I think we should talk about the Bucs defense because their ability to guard teams
13:12with larger wings was already in question heading into the season based off of what
13:16happened last season.
13:17They made some additions that are better defenders than they had, but neither of their major
13:23additions in the offseason were particularly known as particularly good defenders.
13:28And they just gave up 130-odd points and then 115-odd points in the last two losses of two
13:34of the three losses.
13:35It doesn't bode well for them against the Celtics unless the Celtics do a time machine
13:41thing where they think that they've got the game and they kind of don't really come with
13:44the right attitude.
13:45I doubt that's going to happen, but it is something to keep an eye on.
13:49I want to throw cold water on perhaps all of this and say it's still October.
13:56There's usually a podcast sometime in December where we muse, is this data statistically
14:00significant?
14:01Does it count yet?
14:02And the eye test matters, the body language doctors, the work that they do is valuable,
14:08I suppose.
14:09But that's kind of why I want to pump the brakes on this Jason Tatum MVP thing is, yes,
14:14he scored 37 points in the opener.
14:16He was great against Washington.
14:18He scored 37 against Detroit.
14:19Good for Detroit for actually forcing Jason Tatum to have to play in the fourth quarter.
14:25Let's slow our roll, A, because three games against middling opponents, MVP does not make.
14:33But also, let's think through this practically.
14:37It's a narrative-based award, and we-
14:40Marathon, not a sprint.
14:41Not a marathon, not a sprint, but like, look, we had Vontemps on last year and he said voters
14:46think about these things.
14:48Voters think about legacy.
14:49Voters think about narrative arcs.
14:51And if everyone pours all of their emotional attention into the Jason Tatum MVP campaign
14:56in October, November, and then it fizzles out and gets boring, there's just like not-
15:03Play your cards right.
15:04Play it in February.
15:05Play it in March.
15:06I mean, not that the voters are- I don't know.
15:09Hey, voters, if you're tuning into the Sousa podcast, please make sure you like and subscribe
15:12to never miss an episode.
15:14But I just think it's premature, and it's because we don't have that much to talk about.
15:18And it's also deserved.
15:20Jason has been out of control.
15:22I mean, if he plays out of a skull like this, yeah, it's kind of real, but let's pump the
15:27brakes.
15:28Also, if the Celtics lose to the Bucs tomorrow, it doesn't- it's not a- it's a single data
15:31point that doesn't matter.
15:32It'd be a bummer, and I would not have fun writing about it, but it's October.
15:39Let's enjoy the games rather than prognosticate.
15:42That being said, any other thoughts on opening week?
15:47Any other screaming hot takes you want to get off after I just said poo-poo to the hot
15:51takes?
15:52I'm just popping over to the Western Conference for a little bit.
15:57Oklahoma City looks every bit the part of a championship contender.
16:02That team is really, really good, and Chet Holmgren seems like he is making yet another
16:07leap towards being a truly elite player.
16:10They've been so fun and exciting to watch.
16:14Golden State Warriors seem like they're playing pretty good basketball.
16:18This whole, like, 14 guys playing minutes thing is weird, but, you know, they're winning
16:25games.
16:27Denver Nuggets.
16:31That team is looking a little rough right now, and I know it's early, and I still- you
16:35know, Jokic is, again, just putting up insane numbers every night, and they're going to
16:40be in every game as long as that happens, but, man, the depth for the Denver Nuggets
16:46is not there right now, and they need to figure some stuff out, because Russell Westbrook
16:53is not going to be the guy that saves that team.
16:57Justin, any screaming hot takes, and then we'll hop into the lab.
17:02I don't know if so much as a hot take is a pleasant surprise.
17:06I am not like your typical Celtics fan, in which I like it when the Celtics and the Lakers
17:12are at the same time, and the Lakers look pretty good.
17:17I don't really think that they are a title team in the West under J.J. Redick, but if
17:23they keep playing this way, maybe they will push in Chipson and give LeBron one more real
17:27run before his prime is really, totally, truly over.
17:33Maybe a little less brawny could be helpful in that regard, but it seems like it's a plan,
17:38so I don't know.
17:39Lakers, surprising.
17:40Yeah, I don't mean to be a jerk here, but I think, again, I don't know what we can say
17:45out of such a small sample size, but I think we can say that Darvon Hand was not a very
17:49good coach, because what we are seeing out of this Lakers team looks a little bit different
17:54and a little more focused, maybe a little more, a little more connected, if you like
18:03that Dalton Connect is looking like a pretty good NBA player.
18:07And just really quickly on the Lakers as well, it appears they have finally realized that
18:11Anthony Davis is in fact the best player on their team, and that is going a long way towards
18:16their success.
18:17That guy's been on a tear this year.
18:20Yeah.
18:21All right.
18:22Yeah.
18:23Yeah.
18:24Yeah.
18:25Yeah.
18:26Yeah.
18:27Yeah.
18:28Yeah.
18:29Yeah.
18:30Yeah.
18:31Yeah.
18:32Yeah.
18:33Yeah.
18:34Yeah.
18:35Yeah.
18:36Yeah.
18:37Yeah.
18:38Yeah.
18:39Yeah.
18:40Yeah.
18:41Yeah.
18:42Yeah.
18:43Yeah.
18:44Yeah.
18:45Yeah.
18:46Yeah.
18:47Yeah.
18:48Yeah.
18:49Yeah.
18:50Yeah.
18:51Yeah.
18:52Yeah.
18:53Yeah.
18:54Yeah.
18:55Yeah.
18:56Yeah.
18:57Yeah.
18:58Yeah.
18:59Yeah.
19:00Yeah.
19:01Yeah.
19:02Yeah.
19:03Yeah.
19:04Yeah.
19:05Yeah.
19:06Yeah.
19:07Yeah.
19:08Yeah.
19:09Yeah.
19:10Yeah.
19:11Yeah.
19:12Yeah.
19:13Yeah.
19:14Yeah.
19:15Yeah.
19:16Yeah.
19:17Yeah.
19:18Yeah.
19:19Yeah.
19:20Yeah.
19:21Yeah.
19:22Yeah.
19:23Yeah.
19:24Yeah.
19:25Yeah.
19:26Yeah.
19:27Yeah.
19:28Yeah.
19:29Yeah.
19:30Yeah.
19:31Yeah.
19:32Yeah.
19:33Yeah.
19:34Yeah.
19:35Yeah.
19:36Yeah.
19:37Yeah.
19:38Yeah.
19:39Yeah.
19:40Yeah.
19:41Yeah.
19:42Yeah.
19:43Yeah.
19:44Yeah.
19:45Yeah.
19:46Yeah.
19:47Yeah.
19:48Yeah.
19:49Yeah.
19:50Yeah.
19:51Yeah.
19:52Yeah.
19:53Yeah.
19:54Yeah.
19:55Yeah.
19:56Yeah.
19:57Yeah.
19:58Yeah.
19:59Yeah.
20:00Yeah.
20:01Yeah.
20:02Yeah.
20:03Yeah.
20:04Yeah.
20:05Yeah.
20:06Yeah.
20:07Yeah.
20:08Yeah.
20:09Yeah.
20:10Yeah.
20:11Yeah.
20:12Yeah.
20:13Yeah.
20:14Yeah.
20:15Yeah.
20:16Yeah.
20:17Yeah.
20:18Yeah.
20:19Yeah.
20:20Yeah.
20:21Yeah.
20:22Yeah.
20:23Yeah.
20:24Yeah.
20:25Yeah.
20:26Yeah.
20:27Yeah.
20:28Yeah.
20:29Yeah.
20:30Yeah.
20:31Yeah.
20:32Yeah.
20:33Yeah.
20:34Yeah.
20:35Yeah.
20:36Yeah.
20:37Yeah.
20:38Yeah.
20:39Yeah.
20:40Yeah.
20:41Yeah.
20:42Yeah.
20:43Yeah.
20:44Yeah.
20:45Yeah.
20:46Yeah.
20:47Yeah.
20:48Yeah.
20:49Yeah.
20:50Yeah.
20:51Yeah.
20:52Yeah.
20:53Yeah.
20:54Yeah.
20:55Yeah.
20:56Yeah.
20:57Yeah.
20:58Yeah.
20:59Yeah.
21:00Yeah.
21:01Yeah.
21:02Yeah.
21:03Yeah.
21:04Yeah.
21:05Yeah.
21:06Yeah.
21:07Yeah.
21:08Yeah.
21:09Yeah.
21:10Yeah.
21:11Yeah.
21:12Yeah.
21:13Yeah.
21:14Yeah.
21:15Yeah.
21:16Yeah.
21:17Yeah.
21:18Yeah.
21:19Yeah.
21:20Yeah.
21:21Yeah.
21:22Yeah.
21:23Yeah.
21:24Yeah.
21:25Yeah.
21:26Yeah.
21:27Yeah.
21:28Yeah.
21:29Yeah.
21:30Yeah.
21:31Yeah.
21:32Yeah.
21:33Yeah.
21:34Yeah.
21:35Yeah.
21:36Yeah.
21:37Yeah.
21:38Yeah.
21:39Yeah.
21:40Yeah.
21:41Yeah.
21:42Yeah.
21:43Yeah.
21:44Yeah.
21:45Yeah.
21:46Yeah.
21:47Yeah.
21:48Yeah.
21:49Yeah.
21:50Yeah.
21:51Yeah.
21:52Yeah.
21:53Yeah.
21:54Yeah.
21:55Yeah.
21:56Yeah.
21:57Yeah.
21:58Yeah.
21:59Yeah.
22:00Yeah.
22:01Yeah.
22:02Yeah.
22:03Yeah.
22:04Yeah.
22:05Yeah.
22:06Yeah.
22:07Yeah.
22:08Yeah.
22:09Yeah.
22:10Yeah.
22:11Yeah.
22:12Yeah.
22:13Yeah.
22:14Yeah.
22:15Yeah.
22:16Yeah.
22:17Yeah.
22:18Yeah.
22:19Yeah.
22:20Yeah.
22:21Yeah.
22:22Yeah.
22:23Yeah.
22:24Yeah.
22:25Yeah.
22:26Yeah.
22:27Yeah.
22:28Yeah.
22:29Yeah.
22:30Yeah.
22:31Yeah.
22:32Yeah.
22:33Yeah.
22:34Yeah.
22:35Yeah.
22:36Yeah.
22:37Yeah.
22:38Yeah.
22:39Yeah.
22:40Yeah.
22:41Yeah.
22:42Yeah.
22:43Cause I'm not complaining.
22:44I'm not.
22:45I know that we had pretty commonly.
22:46These two teams that were on the final, so.
22:47I don't know.
22:48I don't know if I find that surprising or not surprising.
22:52They probably are.
22:53The two best teams.
22:55That make it to the final.
22:57So, yeah, I guess.
23:00Yeah.
23:01The numbers don't lie.
23:03So let's.
23:05Let's talk about the Celtics first.
23:06Obviously.
23:07I mean, so the other team that makes it to the conference finals and thestem is the Nics?
23:11I understand why the computer wouldn't understand that and I understand why here in October
23:18the Knicks weren't quite ready.
23:19Give Karl-Anthony Towne some time there.
23:24What do you think it is about the Celtics that make them such a popular pick for humans
23:29and simulations alike?
23:31I mean they are on paper have the most talent and generally that talent carries over.
23:38I mean that showcase last night like you're right like I think Kat needs a little bit
23:44of time to assimilate and the players that play obviously around that body need some
23:53time but the Celtics 29 threes with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter and then you know
23:59the lid came on but like still if that's tied for an NBA record and it was opening night
24:07it's still like all the talent is there all the talent in the world.
24:12I think that even you know some of the younger to middle aged guys are getting better.
24:17I mean again Jason's point or right.
24:20So like he's only going to get better.
24:24Derek White's obviously like emerging and so there's a lot to like and they didn't have
24:31very much turnover.
24:32Right.
24:33So even though a lot of people said that maybe they benefited from an easier road in the
24:38east and the east has gotten a little bit tougher it's that there's still you know probably
24:44head and shoulders above everybody else in these.
24:47You know it's funny that the two teams that are probably most most dangerous as to their
24:53hopes of repeating as at least Eastern Conference champions are the next who they handle pretty
24:59well.
25:00Again first game and then the Sixers who are totally injured.
25:05So and who knows when they're going to be fully healthy.
25:10So I mean there's a lot to like and again if it's an easier road that's not really their
25:17fault right.
25:18Like that means that they'll be the healthier of the two teams when we get to the finals.
25:25Yeah.
25:26But the Knicks and the Sixers just it seems like they have more variance and it seems
25:31like Boston.
25:32I mean look Porzingis didn't even play there.
25:34They're insulated from injuries the proof is in the pudding.
25:38The game Sam also had Jason Tatum as finals MVP last year Jalen won it obviously but it
25:45was close.
25:46I mean Jason got some votes.
25:47What do you think it is about Jason's game that whether it's in Sims like this or probably
25:53I mean if you were a betting person that Jason is on a crash course for finals MVP.
25:57I mean I would say that he's going to definitely have a chip on his shoulder.
26:02I think there were a lot of factors that play into that obviously everything that happened
26:06in Paris but even before that you know not winning that finals MVP when they were probably
26:12neck and neck obviously Jason had the one really rough game in the finals last year.
26:19But you know what's he's going to be motivated there's no lack of motivation.
26:26I think you know trying to repeat and do everything that you can to do that you know speaks volumes.
26:35It's I mean he I think he wants to complete the one thing that he hasn't completed which
26:41is finals MVP in terms of going back and winning it and trying to be MVP at the same time.
26:49That was a good segue.
26:50I want to ask about the MVP.
26:51I did a couple of weeks ago a much less scientific Sim.
26:55I just sat in my living room and re-ran the game 10 times and I think it was something
27:00like 7 out of 10 or maybe even 8 out of 10 times Luca was MVP and in your official Sim
27:06a much more scientific careful approach.
27:09You also have Lucas MVP.
27:11So let me ask you first what do you think it is about Lucas game and this season and
27:15this moment and then to bring it back to the Jason side of the street.
27:19What do you think would have to happen for Jason to win MVP in the real season.
27:23I think I think Lucas advantage is just the sheer volume and numbers right.
27:28Like I just think that he his usage rate you know he's just going to have the ball a lot
27:34in his hands.
27:35Obviously he's got a strong number two but like that you know a lot of the other talent
27:41that Dallas has is much more complimentary much more defensive minds mindset.
27:47So like I feel like that's what the separator is.
27:53It's purely usage.
27:54I just Jason's number probably won't pop off the charts and as much as we want to talk
28:01about you know analytics and stuff like I just I think people have a hard time getting
28:07away from triple double five numbers and that's probably where you know close to where
28:12Lucas is going to end up.
28:14Obviously Dallas is going to be there again you know near the finish and they're going
28:20to have obviously another great year and that's I think why our game skews towards having
28:27Lucas as the MVP.
28:30Yeah the take that I tried on for size last night after the game was that Jason isn't
28:35going to play in the fourth quarter that much.
28:37I mean if Boston is this good he's not going to get the it's not just the usage on any
28:41given play.
28:42It's just I bet local average five and a half six more minutes a game than him.
28:46And so Jason's counting stats just like won't be as tremendous.
28:50I suspect he'll get like a lifetime achievement MVP at some point but he you know you got
28:56to win a couple more rings or do it a little bit longer to get one of those.
29:01OK I have a few he's got plenty of time to do it.
29:04That's for sure.
29:05Yeah I mean look Bob Cousy was in the house last night.
29:08Paul Pierce was in the house last night.
29:10Jason has a ways to go but when you kind of like future cast his stats and his accomplishments
29:16he's he's going to be one of the greats in Boston and that is amazing.
29:21Yeah.
29:22Just like that.
29:23Yeah.
29:24Danny Ainge swinging that tray is sorry what were you saying.
29:28I just said as storied as that franchise is it's amazing that we're talking about Jason
29:33at that kind of caliber but it's absolutely true.
29:37Yeah.
29:38And Jason isn't the cover athlete of 2K he didn't end up as a finals MVP Sam but Jalen's
29:42right there man.
29:43These two I'm not blowing smoke.
29:46It's really special.
29:48Really just interest interested from like a kind of personal position.
29:52Zachary Reese's Jay is your rookie of the year.
29:54Do you find it harder to integrate foreign guys into the league just like is it easier
29:59to get college guys or G League guys data and kind of get a sense of their game more.
30:04Yeah.
30:05I assume that you're talking about ratings.
30:07Yeah.
30:08The ratings are definitely benefited by a lot of sample size right.
30:13Like and sample size against people that are going to play in the league.
30:17Right.
30:18And so the international guys have always trended a little bit lower.
30:21I mean you know we once had Giannis as a as a 60 whatever.
30:27And Luca was a 59 and so on and so forth.
30:30The Oak Ridge was a 60 I believe as well.
30:33So these are all obviously MVP candidates and have over indexed but there's a lot of
30:40international players that have not you know reached those those heights.
30:44And so I think a lot of it comes down to just the sample size of the data that we're given
30:50coming into the league and really specifically versus you know other NBA caliber talent.
30:57So I that's where I think we we have struggles when it comes to like comparing one player
31:07versus another.
31:08But obviously we really like Zach so or at least the Sim does and really excited to watch
31:17him play next year.
31:18Excellent.
31:20All right.
31:21I got two quickies for you and then I know you got to go.
31:24So the Sim has it as follows the Celtics are your champions Tatum as a finals MVP Reese's
31:29Shay is the rookie of the year when B is the defensive player of the year Jalen Williams
31:33most improved Luka MVP it's Celtics over Knicks and Eastern Conference finals and Thunder
31:38over Mavericks in the Western Conference finals.
31:40Ronnie if you had to politely disagree with your Sim on one of those what would you pick
31:45and what would you change.
31:47Well you remember who I said was going to win the championship.
31:49They're not any of those four teams.
31:52They're not looking so good right now though because they can't stay healthy but I mean
31:56I still do think that Philly gets it together and secures the spot over the Knicks and that's
32:05really contentious too.
32:06I do think that the Knicks got a lot better in that cat trade.
32:11I couldn't believe that trade to be honest with you it's like but that's a that's a conversation
32:15for another time.
32:17So that's that's probably the one one of the four that I would change.
32:23Cool.
32:24And final questions the last time I saw you was before the game was released to get twenty
32:28five.
32:29Yep.
32:30A lot of new features a lot of new upgrades now that the game's been out for a few weeks.
32:34What's something that you're surprised at the positive feedback that you're that you
32:39weren't anticipating fans would really flock to.
32:43I don't know.
32:44Like I feel like a lot of the features that we thought were going to be popular and ones
32:47that like weren't getting a lot of hype and pre launch or got immediately after launch
32:53because they are special.
32:55I think that gravity ball I don't know if you've gotten to try it was a fun little twist
33:02over the weekend.
33:03You know like going after a consumer that you know can have a little bit more like casual
33:10fun.
33:11I think Learn 2K has been super popular with with our casual people as well.
33:15But the biggest thing is the gameplay.
33:17I mean everybody has really really enjoyed that you know because it is challenging but
33:26it is also rewarding you know quality play.
33:29And so I think that that's been kind of expected but also like really great that that's been
33:36the sentiment.
33:37Sure.
33:38Yeah.
33:39As a person of a certain age gravity ball really reminded me of Halo 3 and the best
33:43of ways.
33:44All right.
33:45So Rodney 2K we'll catch you loose.
33:48We're always thankful when you stop by the Celtics podcast.
33:51I wonder if I'll see you between now and All-Star game but at the very least I'm looking forward
33:55to seeing you in your home All-Star game man.
34:00Oh I'm excited about it.
34:01But I look forward to that Cam.
34:04Yeah.
34:05So if I don't see you I'll see you then.
34:06Yep.
34:07Talk soon buddy.
34:08Bye.