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00:00Welcome to our number two live right here on the early line on SportsGrid.
00:04It is a Friday, which means we celebrate.
00:07For Donnie Wright's side, that could be the end, finally, of the NBA regular season.
00:12Just three days left to go in the regular season.
00:15Every team in action on this Friday, day off on Saturday, every team in action on Sunday
00:22with two more games left for all 30 NBA organizations to end out the regular season ahead of the postseason.
00:29It is round number two with golfers on the course at Augusta National Golf Club at the 2025 Masters Tournament.
00:36We will let you know what is happening early on Cut Day.
00:39But to ring in this celebratory Friday for DRS, with the NBA's regular season coming to a close,
00:45we welcome on our coach, J.Y. James Young, to put everything into perspective
00:49and set the stage for this weekend around the association.
00:53J.Y., as always, we appreciate the time.
00:57Good morning. Happy Friday.
00:58And, yeah, nothing like play, everybody play tonight.
01:02No one play tomorrow, and everybody play Sunday.
01:04It feels like this is like the Premier League, everybody trying to start around the same time.
01:08It is a beautiful thing.
01:10We love action coming down to a close on the final day.
01:14And, J.Y., when you look at the Western Conference standings,
01:16it is going to feel like the Premier League or week number 18 of the NFL regular season.
01:22All 15 of our Western Conference teams are going to be playing at the same time.
01:28It is going to be really, really good action on Sunday afternoon.
01:33And as you saw there in the standings, there is still so much left to be determined.
01:38The only things we know, the Thunder, by a landslide, have clinched the one seed.
01:43The Rockets, as Donnie figured out yesterday with the math, have clinched the two seed.
01:47But what exactly are the Lakers in store for?
01:51One more win.
01:51They clinched the three seed.
01:53The Nuggets and the Clippers lurking.
01:55And then you see those three teams, six through eight, all at 47 and 33.
02:00The Warriors on the right side of the play in tourney, already in the immediate postseason.
02:05And then you have the Memphis Grizzlies and the Minnesota Timberwolves, who faced off last night.
02:11J.Y., when you look at the Western Conference standings, with how jumbled and jam-packed they are,
02:15what is your favorite race to follow in the final weekend of this regular season?
02:20I mean, to me, it's all of them.
02:22But it's about, to me, what do we do with Denver, right, because of the firing of Michael Malone?
02:27They become the most intriguing team, Ben, because they have the best player in the world.
02:32And a player that obviously was frustrated with what went on in Denver.
02:37I mean, listen, I don't care what anybody says.
02:39He probably knew what was going on.
02:40I think he kind of admitted it as such right before it happening.
02:44So they become the team to watch, because I think they're the team with that player,
02:49with the fact that they have a championship pedigree.
02:52Where do they slide?
02:54Do they slide at four with five with the Clippers?
02:56Does Golden State jump the Clippers to six?
02:58Does Denver drop to the sixth spot?
03:02How does that impact the Lakers?
03:03I think it's a bad matchup for the Lakers, because they drop all the way to seven.
03:06So all these things are going to shake out in the next 48 hours.
03:09And that's why, like I said to you last week, I can't place a bet on the playoffs until I see matchups.
03:16And the one team I need to know more than anyone is where is Denver going to be matched up with in the first round?
03:23You know, Coach, I need to know about the Houston Rockets here.
03:25I don't think I've ever seen a more disrespected number two overall seed in a really good conference in my entire lifetime.
03:3152-28, deserving of the number two seed.
03:34And we have the feeling, through the sports books, through just talking to people,
03:37it doesn't matter who they play in round number one, Coach.
03:39They are getting sent home and sent home quickly.
03:42Tell me about the Rockets, the disrespect.
03:44Adoka is the head coach.
03:45What can we anticipate from them in the playoffs?
03:48Is it real, or is it fool's gold for them?
03:50Well, you know, they kind of have like a Cleveland feel to it a little bit in regards to
03:56everybody's going to discount what happened in the regular season because what happens in a playoffs.
04:02And if you look at all these teams that they may go against, whether it's Denver Slides,
04:07or it's the Clippers, or the Warriors, or the Grizzlies, or the Timberwolves,
04:11or even someone like, you know, it wouldn't be Sacramento.
04:14It wouldn't be Sacramento because that would be what they, well, the eight spot.
04:18They're going to be eight, so they're going to go against Oklahoma City no matter what with Dallas.
04:21But to me, it comes down to all those teams, Donnie, have playoff experience.
04:28They have playoff rosters.
04:30Now, they have Emi Adoka, who's a hell of a coach, and it's going to be disrespected.
04:33But you've got to admit, the money is going to, if it's them and the Nuggets,
04:39everybody's going to run to the Nuggets.
04:40If it's the Clippers, the Clippers.
04:42The Warriors, the Warriors.
04:43They're going to be underdogs in every series they possibly can line up with.
04:49And it's not so much a disrespect to Houston, Donnie, it's the respect that the rest of that league is getting,
04:55that conference is getting, because of the playoff acumen that those teams all have from their previous years.
05:02I've shared this a few times now, but with the Rockets, also the two-seed,
05:06entering the all-star break in the Western Conference at those times in the standings,
05:11I bet Houston at 17-1 to win the Western Conference crown.
05:15Not thinking they actually would be there at the end of the road, just having some value and maybe a cash-out opportunity.
05:21If they were to be the two-seed, or the three-seed, or host an opening round playoff series,
05:26they are going to be the two-seed, and yet the number has gotten longer by $9.
05:31Not exactly my sharpest bet ever.
05:33So, J.Y., let's figure out who Houston is actually going to play in that 2-7 matchup.
05:40Let's figure out the play-in-turny teams.
05:43We've got three teams right now in Golden State, Memphis, and Minnesota, all at 47 and 33.
05:50The Timberwolves are in the eighth spot right now, J.Y.,
05:53and yet the T-Wolves have the worst price of being a play-in-turny team.
05:58If you have the worst and longest price of being a play-in-turny team,
06:02that means the oddsmakers are expecting you to just be a playoff team as one of the top six seeds at this moment.
06:08Plus $5.50 for Minnesota, one of the reasons why the T-Wolves end out the regular season
06:15with two games against the Nets in the Jazz, two of the six worst teams in the association.
06:22The Grizzlies have the strongest price to be a play-in-turny team at minus $5.50.
06:27The Warriors at minus $1.05.
06:29The Nuggets plus $1.55.
06:30And the Clippers at plus $2.30.
06:32Both Denver and L.A., a game advantage over that log jam between six and seven.
06:39But if they stumble in this final weekend, they could find themselves in the play-in-turnment.
06:44So, J.Y., come Tuesday night, Western Conference play-in-turny matchup, seven versus eight.
06:50Who are those two teams?
06:52To me, it's going to be the Warriors and the Grizzlies.
06:55I think the Timberwolves are going to jump and find their way to six because you just said it.
06:59Every other team, Ben, has to play against someone else in one of the last two games
07:03that have some kind of jockeying for playoff position,
07:06whereas obviously you look at Minnesota playing the Jazz and Brooklyn have nothing to play for,
07:10so they should be able to find their way through,
07:13which that could set up a very interesting matchup should it hold,
07:17which is the Lakers versus the Timberwolves.
07:21This is a team that, you know, with their – remember, they went to the Western Conference Finals.
07:26They knocked out Denver last year.
07:27This is a team with Anthony Edwards that obviously is a big-time scorer and a big-time closer.
07:31This is a team with playoff experience.
07:33Game slows down.
07:34Rudy Gobert comes more effective.
07:36They have bench play, obviously, with guys like Nads Reid,
07:39and obviously what DiVincenzo did in the playoffs for the Knicks.
07:42But there is one guy, and you know it in the Tri-State area, and his name is Julius Randle.
07:49This ain't playoff Murray or bubble Murray.
07:52This is – what are we getting out of Julius Randle?
07:55Because it doesn't matter what Julius Randle does in a regular season.
07:58In the playoffs, it seems like it strikes midnight, and he becomes a pumpkin.
08:02Can he be a good piece that doesn't – ready for this?
08:06Dominate the ball in possessions.
08:08I don't think he can because that's Ant's team.
08:11If he's right, that's an interesting matchup because I do think with the closing ability
08:16and the experience, I think that game with that series with the Lakers, Ben,
08:21it will be absolute cinema and probably will go six or seven games.
08:25That is the expected 3-6 matchup right now,
08:28despite Minnesota currently being in the eighth spot in the conference standing.
08:32So, J.Y., you mentioned that until we figure out what is going to happen
08:35over these three days to end out the regular season,
08:38you are not going to place a wager in the Western Conference odds.
08:42Let me ask you about that top team, minus 155 for Oklahoma City
08:45to win the Western Conference crowd.
08:47At the very least, will the Thunder have home four advantage
08:51in the Western Conference Finals, meaning will OKC be in the Conference Finals?
08:56Ready for this?
08:57If they match up with Denver in the second round, I know this sounds wild,
09:01I'm taking Denver.
09:02I just think it's going to be an interesting playoff
09:05because I think Joker gives Hartenstein and Pichette major issues.
09:10Are they engaged? That's the key.
09:12That would be a monumental upset out West.
09:15How about the Eastern Conference?
09:16Up next.
09:17From the Western Conference out East,
09:19our coach J.Y., James Young, still here to set the stage
09:22for the regular season finale weekend around the association.
09:27J.Y., a lot to figure out in the Western Conference,
09:30not nearly as much to figure out out East.
09:32The one seed, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
09:35The two seed, by a good margin, are reigning NBA champs in the Boston Celtics.
09:40We'll talk about how top-heavy the Eastern Conference odds are in just a moment.
09:45The New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers will host an opening round playoff series
09:49just a matter of who is the three seed and who is the four.
09:52Right now, the Knicks have a game advantage over the Pacers,
09:55but Indiana won last night and New York lost.
09:58Let's start with the Knicks and what might have been an opening round playoff preview
10:03last night against Detroit.
10:05J.Y., the Knicks now 6-11 against the spread as an underdog this year.
10:09They were catching three and a half points in the Motor City,
10:12despite having both Jalen Brunson and Carl Anthony Towns in the starting lineup,
10:17not to mention Mikael Bridges.
10:19Are you concerned about the form of basketball the New York Knicks are playing
10:23entering the postseason?
10:25Well, you also have to add that O.G. Ananobi and Josh Hart were not in the lineup
10:30last night for New York.
10:32I said this yesterday.
10:33Come on now.
10:35Now, listen, I'm going to say this, and people think I'm crazy.
10:38I don't think the Knicks want any part of Detroit.
10:41And I don't know if I want a part of Detroit either.
10:43And I've said this from day one.
10:45The Knicks' pathway to the Eastern Conference Finals, that is not through Boston.
10:51It's through Cleveland.
10:52So, to me, I'm not shocked last night that the Knicks – I actually took Detroit
10:56minus the points.
10:58And I'm a Knicks fan because I don't think they would, that Detroit team,
11:01because the Knicks have problems with small athletic backcourts,
11:05especially ones that are athletic and can score like Cade Cunningham.
11:09It's a bad matchup for a team with Hart and Brunson that are not great defenders.
11:13Let's be honest about it.
11:15So, to me, I think the Knicks' pathway is through Cleveland.
11:19I wouldn't be surprised if a couple other guys rested tonight on a second leg
11:23of a back-to-back, not Jalen Brunson, because Jalen Brunson had to play the games
11:26in order to get to 65 to make All-NBA.
11:29So, maybe he plays tonight, doesn't play on Sunday.
11:32So, to me, I am saying something I've never thought I'd say about Tibbs.
11:36I wouldn't be surprised if they end up at 4, Indiana ends up at 3,
11:40and that will be a Knicks team to go against Milwaukee in the first round.
11:44If you watch, and we've seen that they have dominated this far during the regular season.
11:50I do love a sport that has, at the end of the season, where you're trying to get ready
11:53for the playoffs, but a player has to take precedent because he needs to play an extra
11:57couple games when it could be a detriment to the team, but it's good for your superstar
12:00player to let him go here.
12:02It's fantastic stuff.
12:03But let me ask you this question, Coach, about the New York Knicks, because we can talk all
12:07day.
12:07It's the Cavaliers, the Celtics, and everybody else.
12:09But the Knicks are intriguing because their starting lineup does have a lot of superstars.
12:13They haven't gotten it together in the regular season when they play upper echelon teams.
12:17Coach, tell me what changes in the playoffs and why people can back the Knicks with a legitimate
12:22chance to make the Eastern Conference Finals.
12:25Well, the only thing I have is they've only played one game with their entire arsenal, and
12:31that was the last game versus Boston, which both teams, if you watch, went for it.
12:35And if O.J.
12:36Adinobi probably fouls Jason Tatum or funnels him to the rim, then Knicks may get that win.
12:41Every other game versus top echelon teams, they have not had the full complement.
12:46I think Mitchell Robinson is a bigger part of the team that people want to expect because
12:50of his ability to extend possessions with offensive rebounding and his ability to protect
12:54the rim.
12:55So to me, that is where I look at where New York is dangerous.
12:58We haven't seen them whole yet.
13:00Now, do I think they're better than Boston?
13:02Absolutely not.
13:03I think Boston's the best team in the East.
13:05I don't care what the records say.
13:07Cleveland?
13:08Well, we saw this story last year, 4-1, and Mitchell Robinson kicked Evan Mobley and
13:13Jared Allen's you-know-what from pillar to post the entire series dominating them on the
13:17offensive glass.
13:18So that means tonight's game becomes interesting if New York plays everybody, which I don't think
13:24they will because I still think they're trying to, you know, rest some guys down the stretch.
13:29So to me, that becomes interesting with the Knicks as a whole unit, which we only saw it
13:34against Boston earlier this week.
13:37Seven and a half point spread in favor of the Knicks at home tonight in the Garden against
13:42the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are not going to be playing everybody.
13:45That is why you see a seven and a half point number.
13:48Will it make any difference for New York that we could finally say more than likely they at
13:52least beat the Cavs or the Celtics at a point in the regular season?
13:57I guess that will be determined.
14:00JY, elsewhere around the Eastern Conference, again, we talked about this with you on Tuesday.
14:04Right now, we already know the Eastern Conference Finals matchup based on the odds.
14:08It will be the Celtics and the Cavaliers.
14:10Cleveland will have home for advantage, but still probably not be that favorite to win the
14:15Eastern Conference Finals and reach the NBA championship set.
14:18Is there any other team, any other team around the Eastern Conference outside of the New
14:25York Knicks that you think could even threaten a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals?
14:31I mean, the only team you can maybe think about is Indiana because they've won six in a row
14:36and eight out of their last ten and playing their best basketball of the season.
14:40But the concerning thing about Indiana is they get stops, right?
14:45Now, if you look at last year, they made it to the Eastern Conference Finals.
14:48Tyrese Halliburton doesn't make it past Game 2.
14:50They get swept by Boston.
14:52So now there's the thing of, well, if Halliburton's there.
14:55Remember, Game 1 was a really tight contest.
14:57I do believe it was an overtime when I do believe by Boston were a close win.
15:00So to me, that is where you look at maybe Indiana.
15:04Milwaukee, absolutely not.
15:05Detroit, a year away.
15:07Magic, love the story early in the year.
15:09They have just self-destructed down the stretch.
15:11And then you look at those teams in a play and it becomes interesting because I think
15:15out of all those teams, I think Miami's going to end up eighth because they've done it before.
15:20Now, they've done it losing the 7-8 game and then winning the second game.
15:24But that's a team that in a one-game or two-game situation, I needed to win one or two.
15:29I trusted more than Chicago to win two in a row.
15:31And I trusted more than either Orlando or Atlanta in that loser of the 7-8 game
15:37because I think that team has a propensity to rise to the occasion and be that 8-team,
15:43which that makes them a little bit dangerous versus Cleveland because they did do it to
15:48Milwaukee a couple of years before.
15:50Again, entering this final weekend of the NBA regular season, our top two seeds in the
15:54Eastern Conference are clinched.
15:56That would be the Cleveland Cavaliers at one, the Boston Celtics at two.
16:01This is the reigning NBA champs who won title number 18 just a season ago.
16:06They are the odds-on favorites to win the Eastern Conference at minus 145.
16:10The Cavaliers, the second-best number, have plus 185.
16:14JY, Donnie wants a WCC tournament, a Sunbelt Conference tournament-type structure to the
16:20Eastern Conference postseason where the Cavaliers and the C's are at the very bottom.
16:25It's that gauntlet to get to the Eastern Conference finals.
16:30You know what that...
16:31Love it.
16:31All right, we'll talk about it.
16:32Yeah, I'm not distinguishing that.
16:34I know where he's going.
16:35I'm not distinguishing that.
16:37The regular season in the NBA comes to a close on Sunday.
16:41Two games left for all 30 clubs around the association with three days remaining.
16:47So as we get to the end of the regular season, it's not just playoff positioning.
16:51Who's in the play-in tournament?
16:52What have the postseason seeds looked like?
16:54Who is hosting the opening round of the NBA playoffs?
16:58It's also the individual award races.
17:00We do that now with our coach, JY, James Young.
17:04What his NBA voting ballot would look like for all the awards on the docket in 2024-25.
17:10JY, let's start at the top.
17:12Who wins MVP this season in your mind?
17:16Unfortunately, you have to go with chalk and you have to go with SGA.
17:19I mean, look at the stats that he's able to give right now for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
17:23And the fact that the Oklahoma City Thunder have run away with a 14-game lead over Houston over the two-seed.
17:31Right now, I have SGA as the MVP.
17:34Obviously, look at his stat line and what he's done for this team in this season.
17:39His ascension to be one of the top three or four players in the world.
17:43And the fact that with number two, Nikola Jokic winning three of the last four MVPs, there's voter fatigue, right?
17:49So, if you look at voter fatigue and his stats and his team is the number one seed in the Western Conference,
17:55the number one seed overall for the playoffs, SGA is my vote for the MVP.
17:59Rookie of the year, Coach, who's stepping up for the young guys this year on your card?
18:03It's everybody who's stepped back, to be honest with you, because there was just no real clear runaway.
18:09But to me, it's Stephon Castle.
18:11You know, I was a little bit concerned with Castle and his play in regards to, you know,
18:15especially the trade for De'Aaron Fox.
18:17Obviously, De'Aaron Fox gets injured.
18:19You know, this is the kid that I think when he comes out of it, Donnie's going to have the best career out of any of these guys.
18:25Personally, love the way he's a two-way player.
18:28So, for me, Stephon Castle is your rookie of the year.
18:32Jared McCain for Philadelphia off to a sensational start, but a part of the season for the 76ers was injured.
18:39Dalton Connect was on a heater midway through the year.
18:42Zach Eadie flirting with it.
18:43But the top two guys drafted this past June in the 2024 NBA draft, not really in consideration.
18:50Let's see if Donnie remembers who those top two picks were.
18:52DRS, do you?
18:54Reese Asher and who was his partner, the other one?
18:59Saar?
19:00The French guy.
19:01Saar.
19:02There we go.
19:03Yep.
19:03Walk the top of my head.
19:05Love that.
19:06Gold star for you, my friend.
19:07You get an award for that.
19:09Zachary Reese Asher for the Atlanta Hawks.
19:12That's Alex Saar for the Washington Wizards.
19:15The first player of the year, JY, entering the all-star break.
19:18It was going to be Victor Wemenyama by a landslide.
19:20But, of course, Wemby out for the remainder of the season.
19:23Not going to hit the games qualification for that award.
19:27So, who wins DPOY that Wemby can't?
19:30Well, this was the one that kind of was bouncing all over the place.
19:33But the guy I banked on that I loved is the Great Barrier Reef.
19:37And that's Dyson Daniels.
19:39He did a great job on going over to Atlanta.
19:42A team, let's be honest, Ben, is not known for any kind of defense whatsoever.
19:47This kid has become what is close to a lockdown defender.
19:51Long, athletic, not defender.
19:53But to me, and I said it for about since Wemby got hurt, Dyson Daniels, to me, is a defensive player of the year.
19:59How about this one, though?
20:01The bomb squad up in Boston.
20:03Sixth man of the year coming off that bench.
20:05Able to have unlimited shooting range and unlimited shot potential here.
20:09Peyton Pritchard, coach, tell me about that.
20:12Oh, shot caller, shot bowler.
20:15Listen, for a while, I was saying that it was DeAndre Hunter.
20:19And then DeAndre Hunter got traded to, obviously, from Atlanta to Cleveland.
20:23You can't go against what Peyton Pritchard has done.
20:25This team has made more NBA threes in the history of the NBA.
20:28This guy's got more threes for anybody off the bench.
20:30He's dynamic.
20:31He can score.
20:32And he just makes that team even more dangerous.
20:34Runaway, Peyton Pritchard, is the sixth man of the year.
20:38As good friend of the early line and Celtics play-by-play announcer Drew Carter would say,
20:43Pritch better have my money.
20:45Pritch should have the sixth man of the year award around the association.
20:49All right, final two, JY.
20:51Most improved player, coach of the year.
20:53Who gets the nod?
20:55Most improved is going to be Cade Cunningham.
20:57Usually, when you look at this, this is usually someone that's going to ascend to the top of the NBA.
21:01He's been healthy.
21:02And what a job that J.B. Dick Pickersaff has done with that.
21:05Monty who?
21:06Monty what?
21:07We don't know who that guy is anymore.
21:08Most overrated coach besides Doc Rivers in the NBA history.
21:11Lastly, coach of the year.
21:12I'm going to go against the grain here.
21:15And I know people like Kenny Axton.
21:17I love what Kenny has done.
21:17You can look at Mark Dagonal.
21:19To me, it's email dope.
21:20We talked about it.
21:21Number two seed.
21:22Team had over 31 and a half wins.
21:23And he's got that team second in the West.
21:26I think coach of the year, Ime Adoka of the Houston Rockets.
21:32It's a good look, JY.
21:33Kenny Atkinson, probably the favorite for that award.
21:36And what he has done this year for the Cavaliers as the one seed in the Eastern Conference.
21:40But we love the award ballot.
21:42Thank you for being here to set the stage for this weekend in the NBA, the regular season finale.
21:47He's doing so many moves.
21:48Is the shot clock going to expire?
21:50And will he shoot the right away?
21:52He's in his triple threat.
21:53He's in the triple threat.
21:54I'm sure you're going to play off.
21:55All right, DRS.
21:57Let's set the stage for this regular season finale weekend in the NBA.
22:02As we have shared numerous times.
22:04All 30 NBA clubs in action tonight.
22:07That means a full 15-game slate on this Friday evening.
22:10Day off for everybody Saturday.
22:12And then all 30 clubs in action on regular season finale Sunday.
22:16Where we are going to get, really in the opening wave, Eastern Conference versus Eastern Conference matchup to determine those postseason seeds.
22:25Same story in the Western Conference to end out Sunday as well.
22:29More so in the afternoon hours.
22:32Let's talk about what is at stake in the Western Conference to begin.
22:37The Lakers currently the three seed.
22:39The Nuggets, the four.
22:41Slightly in front of the Clippers, despite having the same record at 48 and 32.
22:45The Warriors, 47 and 33.
22:48The Grizzlies, 47 and 33.
22:50The Timberwolves, 47 and 33.
22:53And both the Kings and the Mavericks have already earned a play-in-turny spot.
22:58They will be the 9-10 matchup.
22:59Just a matter of who hosts that 9-10 game.
23:03More than likely, it will be Sacramento.
23:05The Kings have a game advantage.
23:07So let's start, DRS, with what we have to figure out in the jumbled three through six.
23:13Who is going to avoid a play-in-turny spot.
23:16Who is going to be a playoff team from the very start.
23:19Again, a reminder.
23:20Oklahoma City and Houston have already clinched their playoff seeds.
23:24OKC the one.
23:26Houston the two out west.
23:27The Lakers tonight will host the Houston Rockets.
23:30Before visiting the Portland Trailblazers to end out the regular season.
23:35The Nuggets have the Grizzlies and the Rockets.
23:37They travel to Houston.
23:38The Rockets probably going to be resting over these final three games.
23:43Or three days, I should say.
23:44The Clippers visit their Northern California foes in the Kings and the Warriors.
23:49Both teams still with a ton at stake.
23:52The Warriors visit the Trailblazers tonight.
23:54Before hosting the Clippers on Sunday.
23:56That's going to be a huge game.
23:58The Doves and the Clips on Sunday afternoon.
24:01Yeah, a lot of them.
24:01I look at the first two teams listed.
24:03The Lakers Nuggets.
24:03I expect sweeps out of both of them.
24:05Houston doesn't matter.
24:06It doesn't care.
24:07Maybe it's Los Angeles.
24:08They might get excited.
24:09Lakers win that game.
24:10They need that game.
24:10Same thing with Portland.
24:11If they need that game on Sunday.
24:12But also it changes.
24:13We're talking about Friday, Sunday.
24:15Some of these games might not mean anything on Sunday.
24:17And that could drastically change.
24:18But we're just anticipating that these teams will still be in the market.
24:21Let's just say for seating purposes.
24:23And nothing can change at this point.
24:24Nuggets.
24:25Again, I expect Memphis and Houston.
24:26The Clippers are interesting.
24:28They'll beat Sacramento tonight.
24:29Because again, Sacramento already has it wrapped up.
24:30There's no reason for them to expend any more energy and get any injuries.
24:33Because they're going to have a quicker turnaround time playing in the play-in.
24:36Than let's just say the Clippers would have at that point.
24:40So that's my expectations on the first three.
24:42Warriors, they'll beat Portland.
24:43And then who knows if the Clippers need that game Sunday.
24:45Same exact thing.
24:46But I think it's pretty paint-by-numbers on what's going to happen this weekend.
24:50Yeah.
24:51The Kings do need tonight technically.
24:53As they're trying to still play for home court advantage in that 9-10 game.
24:57The Kings would not be a favorite even at full strength with everything on the line against the Clips.
25:02As we are seeing LA a 6.5 point favorite.
25:05And the Clippers have been playing some sensational basketball down this home stretch.
25:10DRS, as it gets really interesting though.
25:13To your point about the Lakers.
25:14They're a 10.5 point home favorite tonight against Houston.
25:17We do not expect the Rockets to be at full strength.
25:20The Nuggets a 7 point home favorite tonight against Memphis.
25:24The difficult thing for both the Grizz and the T-Wolves.
25:27They played last night.
25:29They are on the second leg of a back-to-back in a change of destination.
25:33Minnesota returns home.
25:35They get to host the Nets.
25:36Cool.
25:37The Grizzlies have to now go on the road to take on the Nuggets.
25:41And how well the Nuggets perform.
25:43They won their first game without Michael Malone by 8 a couple of nights ago.
25:49They're a 7 point favorite tonight against those Memphis Grizzlies.
25:52Yeah, I think they win tonight.
25:53And also, again, it's not that Memphis doesn't need the game.
25:56It's just I don't like what I see of Memphis down the stretch.
25:59Back-to-back performances here.
26:00Now you're going to take a look at them playing at elevation.
26:03The Nuggets are rested.
26:04Another extra couple days to get used to a new coaching change here.
26:06A new general manager change in the organization.
26:08And maybe you can still ride off those vibes being high.
26:11But it's a lot different than saying who's going to win and who's going to cover.
26:13Because some of these lines are completely out of whack.
26:15Like, yeah, Lakers should easily beat Houston.
26:17Well, yeah, they might beat them.
26:18But they don't care if they win by one or two points as long as they get the victory.
26:21As opposed to covering the spreads that they have.
26:23So, those things will change.
26:25But for me, I think the Clippers should have an easy time with Memphis tonight.
26:27I really do.
26:29Well, it's going to be the Nuggets and the Grizzlies tonight.
26:32Memphis did have their three-game win streak snapped by Minnesota last night.
26:37The Grizz are an underdog, right?
26:39Seven-point dog at altitude against Denver.
26:41The Grizzlies have not covered in any of their nine games booked as an underdog since the All-Star break.
26:49Two teams that are now playing with interim head coaches.
26:52Denver did snap their own four-game slide against the Kings on Tuesday with a win as a four-and-a-half-point favorite,
26:59even covering that number.
27:01The Clippers, the RS, have been playing some great, great basketball.
27:05But they do have two road games in Northern California to end.
27:09Six-and-a-half-point favorite tonight against the Kings.
27:11I assume you expect L.A. to win that game.
27:14How about Golden State?
27:15They're on the road tonight against a really good Portland team in terms of covering numbers.
27:20And the Blazers are getting 14.
27:23Golden State was a 17-and-a-half-point favorite on Tuesday.
27:28They lost at the buzzer against former teammate Harrison Barnes in the San Antonio Spurs.
27:34Again, the Dubs could ill afford to lose.
27:36They did cough up as a hefty favorite.
27:38They're a 14-point favorite tonight in the Rose City.
27:42Yeah, they should win pretty easy in that game.
27:43Again, Portland just wrapping up the season.
27:45Don't get, you know, the young guys injured here.
27:46Head to the ping-pong balls and start to get after it.
27:48So when you have a team that needs to win a game, that it's a Vets-related team and playing good basketball
27:53over the past month, month-and-a-half after the trade deadline, that should be a victory.
27:56But again, you still got to cover 14.
27:58That's not what we're asking.
27:58Hey, plus money number on Golden State to win this game.
28:01Which way are you going?
28:01So that's where the tough part comes in.
28:04The Clippers have won six straight.
28:06They covered in their most recent.
28:07And L.A. started out post-All-Star break, dropping six of their first seven.
28:12They have won 16 of 19 since.
28:16The Clippers playing really good basketball, approaching the playoffs.
28:20Now the Eastern Conference.
28:21What's at stake the final weekend?
28:23Next.
28:23From the Western Conference to the Eastern Conference, what is at stake over these final three days
28:29and two games remaining for all 30 NBA clubs here to end out the regular season finale weekend?
28:3515 teams out in the Eastern Conference.
28:37And Donnie, as we have shared, much like the Western Conference, everything locked up in the top two spots.
28:43Cleveland, the one seed.
28:44The reigning NBA champs.
28:45Boston will be the two seed.
28:47What is unlike the Western Conference, so much at stake everywhere else, three through eight.
28:54Here in the Eastern Conference, it's pretty set in stone.
28:57All the play-in tourney teams firmly in their spot.
29:00We might have to figure out who has home floor advantage for a couple of the games,
29:04at least in that 9-10 matchup.
29:07And technically, we could see the Bulls elevate to the eight seed and the Hawks fall to that 9-10 game.
29:14We'll talk about that in just a moment.
29:16The Knicks and the Pacers will host the opening round of the postseason.
29:20But will the Knicks be the three seed or will that be Indiana?
29:24We start with the Knicks.
29:25Seven and a half point home favorite tonight, DRS, against the Cleveland Cavaliers
29:28before they end across town and across the East River in Brooklyn against the Nets.
29:34The Pacers at home hosting Orlando tonight, second leg of a back-to-back.
29:38They visit Cleveland to end out the regular season.
29:41The Pacers know better than anybody.
29:43The Cavs not really trying down the home stretch, resting their stars.
29:46And yet, Cleveland nearly won last night outright as a nine-and-a-half point dog
29:50against Indiana as the Pacers were trying to lock up a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference.
29:56The Bucs have won six in a row.
29:58They visit Detroit tonight.
30:00That's a really compelling matchup.
30:01In fact, Milwaukee and Detroit, their final two games over these next three days against one another.
30:08I'll tell you what's interesting one, though, is the Knicks and the Cleveland game.
30:10The reason I bring that up is you look at the back-to-backs.
30:12Like, Cleveland didn't really play anybody yesterday.
30:15Are they just going to run their backups again on a back-to-back and just go out there?
30:19Because you don't want to rest your players too long.
30:21Because understand this.
30:22Like, Cleveland's not in the play-in-round games.
30:24So, are your starters just going to be iced for eight to nine days, possibly, I guess, before you get after it and have your own playoff round?
30:31So, if I'm looking and saying, you know what, outside-the-box thinking, am I wrong for thinking that the majority of the starters play tonight for Cleveland?
30:38Because you have to play.
30:39It's a good tune-up.
30:40And you can't sit your players all that long.
30:42And the Knicks also coming off of a back-to-back at the same time.
30:45I really like Cleveland tonight, to be honest.
30:47I'm just playing devil's advocate on what I think that starting lineup is going to be.
30:51Listen, even if it is DeAndre Hunter and Ty Jerome, they might have a chance tonight.
30:55The Cavaliers, five and one against the spread as an underdog.
30:59Yeah, second leg of a road back-to-back for Cleveland.
31:01We shall see, though, Donnie.
31:03And there's also a thought, at least as our coach, JY, presented.
31:07The New York Knicks might not want that three seed.
31:10They might not want to play the Pistons in the opening round.
31:13They might not want to visit the Boston Celtics in round...
31:17But number two, the Knicks have a game advantage over the Pacers.
31:20I agree.
31:21I still think the Knicks are going to be the three seed, at least in my estimation.
31:26And New York is a seven-point home favorite tonight.
31:28Monitor that number.
31:29The Knicks on the second leg of a back-to-back, changing destination.
31:33Now, Tom Thibodeau, not exactly the head...
31:35Or Tom Thibodeau, not exactly the head coach you expect to take advice from load management
31:40or rest players.
31:41Just throwing it out there, DRS.
31:43By the way, understand this.
31:45If I'm James Dolan, I walk into a room and say, hey, by the way, we want to avoid the Pistons.
31:49I go, this time I check, the Pistons aren't the best team in the NBA.
31:53That's what we're trying to do here.
31:54So if the Knicks' biggest issue is the Pistons at the sixth seed, just go home early for the playoffs.
31:58Give everybody the rest and don't get injured and have a good offseason at this point right now.
32:02So that's an interesting one nonetheless.
32:03But if we are looking at some of the other options, per se, this weekend, you know what the good options are?
32:08Sixers getting blasted in back-to-back games because other teams need that there.
32:11So send them off in style to the ping-pong balls, baby.
32:16And DRS, when you look at Milwaukee and Detroit, the Bucs, the five seed, the Pistons, the six seed.
32:21Could Detroit catch Milwaukee in the standings?
32:24Yes.
32:24But they would split then their four-game season series between the two.
32:28The Pistons trail by two games right now.
32:30Detroit, a home favorite tonight in the Motor City against Milwaukee.
32:34Both teams in action on Thursday night as well.
32:38Here's how the play-in tourney looks, just so you know.
32:40Orlando has won four in a row, two-game advantage over the Hawks.
32:44They visit the Pacers and the Hawks for a game that will determine home-floor advantage,
32:49potentially in the 7-8 matchup.
32:51The Bulls on a heater.
32:53They get the Wizards and the Sixers.
32:55They are going to be strong favorites in both of those games.
32:58Chicago only trails Atlanta by a game.
33:00They have a game advantage over the Heat.
33:03We're just trying to figure out a couple of the play-in tourney seeding DRS 8 through 10.
33:08Yeah, and we'll see what happens in that.
33:10And again, they're just food for fodder for the teams that they're going to play.
33:13Four bad teams are getting to the playoffs.
33:15So the NBA, who in the Western Conference, like, hey, you know what?
33:18This extra playing around makes sense.
33:20You know what?
33:20Make me commissioner again.
33:21No playing rounds ever for the Eastern Conference because those teams are an abomination.
33:26I do kind of think, and I don't know if these odds will come out hopefully by the end of the regular season.
33:31I think the Bulls are going to be a playoff team.
33:33I think they're going to earn the 8th seed in some form or fashion.
33:37But we'll talk about that next week.
33:39Hour number three is here next.
33:41They match an update to start the hour.
33:44The final weekend of the NBA's regular season.
33:48All 15 games that we have tonight means all 30 NBA teams in action on this Friday.
33:53Day off tomorrow.
33:54Saturday, everybody in action for regular season finale Sunday as well.
33:59DRS, we have set the stage for what is at stake.
34:02Nuggets, Grizzlies tonight.
34:04Memphis, minus 550 to be a play-in-tourney team because of their difficult schedule to end out their final two games.
34:11They're a seven-point road underdog tonight at altitude.
34:14The Nuggets still in the hunt for the three seed, but really just trying to hold off the Clippers, if at all possible,
34:21to earn a top four seed and host the opening round of the postseason.
34:25Of course, both the Grizzlies and the Nuggets will face off tonight, both teams with interim head coaches.
34:30Let's get out to Northern California.
34:32California's capital, the Kings playing host to the L.A. Clippers.
34:36The Clippers, a six-and-a-half-point road favorite.
34:38The Clippers have won six consecutive games.
34:40The Clippers, after dropping six of their first seven following the All-Star break,
34:45have won 16 of their next 19 to reach this stage.
34:49Does L.A. make it seven in a row tonight over Sacramento?
34:52Seven for seven, baby.
34:53Let's go in this one.
34:54You take a look at that opening number at six, now move to six-and-a-half.
34:57I completely agree with it.
34:58That total, 227-and-a-half, now down to 226-and-a-half if we're just reading between the lines.
35:03And you're right.
35:04Sacramento still does have something to play for, but certainly clinch in that environment.
35:08Bigger things to play for for me with the Clippers.
35:10And the better team overall is the Los Angeles Clippers.
35:13They're healthy.
35:13They're full go tonight.
35:14If I think they win this game, I'm going to take them to cover that six-and-a-half points here tonight.
35:18So, let's do it.
35:19Yeah, DRS, I do agree.
35:20The Kings right now, a game lead over Dallas.
35:23Both teams are playing tourney teams, and both will be in that 9-10 matchup more than likely.
35:29Sacramento at this moment trying to hold on to home floor advantage for that 9-10 game to win it
35:34and then have a chance of being the eighth seed in the postseason.
35:38Dallas, however, 12-and-a-half point home favorite tonight against the Toronto Raptors.
35:42The Raptors are a great cover team.
35:44Second-best cover team this year in the association, who has often been booked as a dog.
35:49Probably not going to win that game outright.
35:51Big one for the Warriors, who currently are in the sixth spot, out of the play-in tournament.
35:56And they are a road favorite tonight against the Portland Trail Blazers before a difficult matchup
36:00to end the regular season against the L.A. Clippers on Sunday afternoon.
36:05Golden State tonight, 14-point road favorite against the Portland Trail Blazers.
36:09Over-understands at 225-and-a-hook.
36:13Golden State was a 17-and-a-half point home favorite earlier this week against the Spurs,
36:19who have nothing to play for without Victor Wemenyama, without the Aaron Fox,
36:23and it was Harrison Barnes beating Golden State at the buzzer.
36:27Can Golden State figure it out tonight as a hefty favorite in Portland?
36:30They'll win.
36:3112-and-a-half line at the opening number here in New Jersey at FanDuel.
36:3414s now.
36:34Who knows?
36:35Some other outlets also showing been 14-and-a-half, so getting higher and higher.
36:38They'll win this basketball game.
36:39But you know where I probably would focus more is not laying the side itself,
36:42but that total, which is dropping, and I agree, overnight, 227 at the opening numbers,
36:46you see on that graphic, it's 225-and-a-half.
36:49If I do think the Warriors win and mean business tonight,
36:51that means shutting the Trail Blazers down on offense.
36:54So instead of laying the 14 points, I'm more confident that, yes,
36:57the Warriors might be winning by 14 points,
36:59but I'm not so sure Portland gets over 100 points tonight
37:02with Golden State's defensive effort,
37:04knowing about that last performance and against that spread
37:06that they were supposed to easily cover and win.
37:08They lost that late.
37:09Give me a good defensive performance in this game.
37:11I agree with the buy-down to 225-and-a-half.
37:14The Dubs still 21-and-7 straight up since Jimmy Butler's first game
37:18in a Warriors uniform.
37:20Portland 37-28-and-1 against the spread,
37:23booked as an underdog frequently this year.
37:26That's 66 games so far of their 80.
37:30It's a large number.
37:31Golden State should win comfortably.
37:33Another double-digit spread late night in Los Angeles.
37:36The Lakers hosting the Rockets.
37:37Could be our Western Conference semifinals matchup.
37:40If the Lakers, would they win tonight, clinch the three seed,
37:43and both teams win in the opening round as Houston has clinched the two seed.
37:47Going to look very different, though, by the time we get to the postseason,
37:50as Houston really resting their starters and key contributors
37:53down this final stretch of the NBA regular season in its final few days.
37:58Ten points spread in favor of L.A.
38:01emotional win for the Lakers earlier this week in Dallas.
38:05Can they bring it back home tonight to L.A.
38:07to clinch the three seed?
38:09Yeah, I think the Lakers do win, but again,
38:11we handicap these games in the morning.
38:12You tell me, again, the Rockets,
38:14the same way I talked about the Cavaliers earlier in the show.
38:16It's like we can't just shut it down for a week and a half
38:18and then expect to just turn it back on.
38:20You have to play your guys and get them used to it,
38:22and that doesn't mean you have to play them 40 minutes,
38:24but let's just say the Rockets have their starters in there
38:26for the majority of the game.
38:28They'll cover the 10 points, but also,
38:30I wouldn't want to bet early in the morning the Rockets
38:32and they say, you know what?
38:33We are totally going to rest.
38:34We're going to play some guys on Sunday, and that'll be that
38:36because then the Lakers might be winning 15 to 20 points
38:39at the break as opposed to the game.
38:41So this is one they keep an eye on, but for me, again,
38:43if we're not playing a lot of starters, meaningful game for the Lakers
38:45means they'll be locked in on defense.
38:47Maybe that also 225 and a half, which is the total,
38:50stays under as well for me between Houston and L.A.
38:53I swear I saw somewhere the magic number for the Lakers
38:56to clinch that three seed was one.
38:59Now I'm getting conflicting reports, but again,
39:01it would help them a ton.
39:03It is.
39:04So the Lakers, as a double-digit favorite tonight,
39:06will clinch the three seed with a victory over Houston.
39:10That's the action in a very jam-packed Western Conference.
39:13Still a lot to figure out.
39:14Denver and the Clippers trying to win games
39:17to stay out of the play-in tournament.
39:18Same for Golden State.
39:20Minnesota, a very easy stretch against both Brooklyn and Utah
39:24to end the regular season.
39:26The T-wolves, despite being the eighth seed right now, DRS,
39:29not expected to be in the play-in tournament.
39:32We'll see what happens by the time we return on Monday.
39:35Let's get out to the Eastern Conference.
39:37The Knicks, seven-point home favorite tonight
39:38inside the Garden against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
39:42Again, seven-point spread.
39:44I do wonder how this game will look tonight
39:47by the time we get the tip inside MSG.
39:50Will the Cavs have any of the regular starters out there?
39:54What about New York?
39:55Might the Knicks elect to rest a couple of people?
39:58Donnie, what do you think this game looks like
40:00inside the Mecca tonight?
40:01Again, that's going to be the issue waiting until game time.
40:04But also, I think a lot of people have the same concept as me.
40:06That line overnight was minus 11 and a half,
40:08both on back-to-backs.
40:09But again, Cleveland, it would be one thing if Cleveland was like,
40:12okay, we're going to play half our starters last night,
40:13half tonight.
40:14It's like, okay, I get a good read on it.
40:15Cleveland basically played nobody yesterday.
40:17And I doubt they'd just say, yeah, had some fun backups.
40:20Go out there again and play 40 minutes in the starting lineup.
40:22Like, no, this might have been that game they circled,
40:24say, this is the get-right game for us.
40:25We'll rest again on Sunday, then we'll be off to the playoffs.
40:28Because that 11 and a half has now turned into minus seven
40:30across the board and a total of 226 and a half.
40:33Let me see who the starters are, because I guarantee you,
40:35you see a full Cleveland Cavaliers roster tonight,
40:38even though you know they only might get one half,
40:40that line's coming down even more from the seven.
40:42And can the Knicks finally beat one of the top two teams
40:46in the Eastern Conference, 0-7 straight up against both the Cavs
40:50and the Celtics?
40:51It might not be Cleveland at full strength,
40:54but it could be used as a rallying cry for the Knicks.
40:58The RS, have a great weekend.
41:00Enjoy the money line, my friend.
41:01More on the early line up next here on Sportsman.
41:03Thanks.
41:04Now you're out.