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00:00Welcome to the Betting Above the Rim podcast. Today's date, April 14th, episode 140.
00:06And before we get into our tip-off topics, I had to bring in the hired gun.
00:11I need to bring in someone that knows as much bald or more bald than I do.
00:17We're pleased to have Michelle Beadle from obviously Beadle and Decker on XM Series Hall of Radio with Mad Dog
00:25and obviously host of Run It Back.
00:27Michelle, welcome to the Betting Above the Rim podcast.
00:30Thanks for having me. Good day to do all this. News is happening. Things are going down.
00:34Yes, and speaking of going down, let's get right to our tip-off topics.
00:38Mike Budenholzer, as maybe not as shocked to any of us, got let go today, according to the Champs,
00:44and was probably broken on Michelle's show this morning.
00:49But interesting times in Phoenix.
00:52Michelle, what are your thoughts on Bud getting fired?
00:56And does this – should there be more people being held accountable for what's going on in Phoenix?
01:02I mean, look, I guess at the end of the day, Matt Ishbia is the one writing the checks to everybody to not work,
01:07which, by the way, I've done that before, and it's awesome.
01:09We all should be so lucky.
01:11But, you know, I don't really understand what the plan is, right?
01:15Like, okay, you fire Budenholzer.
01:17What is the plan?
01:18Who do you think you're bringing in?
01:20What do you think is going to change?
01:21We all know the sort of dire financial situation they find themselves in as far as money spent and not a lot in return.
01:28So, you know, whoever gets this job next, is there even staying power in being the head coach of the Phoenix Suns?
01:34And who will even be there to coach?
01:35So this is a disaster of epic proportions.
01:40And I think the crazy thing is you're talking about going into next year, your fourth coach in four years.
01:44And if you think about it, they were 2-0 NBA finals, and literally the whole organization just fell off.
01:52I mean, the trade, you know, bringing in Bradley Beal, getting Kevin Durant.
01:56By the way, look for him to ask out as soon as he can, because he didn't deal with this.
02:01But it's just a troubled time in Phoenix.
02:04And I do think Matt Ishpia and James Jones need to take a little bit of credit and responsibility for what is happening.
02:12There's only so many times you could shuffle the coach.
02:15Maybe you need to shuffle the GM.
02:16Can't get rid of the owner.
02:18Speaking of shuffling, let's head to New Orleans, where their GM was fired today.
02:24Not shocking if you think about it, David Griffin let go after six seasons, according to Shams.
02:30There are already rumors that Joe Dumars, who is a New Orleans native, or outside New Orleans native, who did a great job running the Pistons, was in the Sacramento Kings organization as they started their rebuild, being talked about as a successor.
02:44What are your thoughts here on Griffin being let go in New Orleans?
02:47You know, I like Griffin.
02:49I think a lot of people do, because he's done a lot with media and sort of everyone's gotten to know him a little bit over the years.
02:53It's another one of those weird situations where on paper, you know, you had Brandon Ingram at one point as well.
02:59Like, you have the talent.
03:01Now, the availability of Zion Williamson will forever and always be the big asterisk or the elephant in the room.
03:07Is he there?
03:08Is he not?
03:08We've seen a lot more of him lately, which has been nice, but that's hard as well on a GM, because you're planning to put your pieces together.
03:16And when you do these plans, you think you're going to have the star there.
03:20And in this particular case, you didn't.
03:21So, it's a tough gig, but I understand the need to sort of change things, shuffle things around.
03:26I don't know if they try to move Zion.
03:28That's always being sort of bantered about.
03:30We'll find out.
03:31And an interesting thing is you decided to trade B.I. over Zion.
03:35You knew one of them had to go.
03:37Maybe you didn't get the return you thought you could get for someone with the caliber of B.I.
03:43I mean, I think that's also something to look at, Michelle.
03:45What do you think?
03:46You know, I think what happens in those cases, as we know, we've seen it year and year and year, is once you know a player wants out, you know, once you realize that they're not going to give him what he wants financially, he's no longer very interested in being there, all the value sort of drops significantly.
03:59It's just like negotiations 101.
04:01You can't show your hand.
04:02The hands were shown.
04:04So, I don't – and, you know, we've talked about it a lot as well.
04:06I don't even know what you get for Zion Williamson.
04:08It's the same conversation we'll have with Joel Embiid every once in a while.
04:12Like, yes, we're not stupid.
04:14We have eyes.
04:14They are obviously made to play the game of basketball, but their bodies don't always cooperate.
04:20So, what exactly do you get back in return and who's in the market for them?
04:24So, I'm – I'll be curious to see if, along with Griffin, this involves a big change of strategy and if that means kind of looking at what they have and taking it apart a little bit and putting it back together with new pieces.
04:35I have no idea, but I think a market for Zion is a very interesting one to keep an eye on.
04:40And it will be.
04:41Obviously, getting DeJounte Murray before the season, you look at someone like Trey Murphy III who can't stay healthy.
04:45I thought we're going to be one of the best 3 and D guys in the NBA.
04:49Alvarado, Herb Jones.
04:50They have a lot of pieces there that's going to be interesting in New Orleans.
04:53But, speaking of hot seats, there is a hot seat you think may be coming up not too far from me down in the city of Brother Love.
05:02Tell me what you thought.
05:03Who could be on the hot seat next year in the NBA?
05:06I mean, it's crazy to say.
05:07And I realize that they've had their exit interviews out in Philadelphia and that Daryl Morey sat alongside Nick Nurse and talked about, really, his failings as well, which, you know, as well, which I respect.
05:17You know, you can't just go up there and kind of BS.
05:18You've got to give him something.
05:19And I know they said that he and Morey and Nurse are coming back.
05:24But are they?
05:25I mean, to me, the seat is hot.
05:28And, again, I don't blame Nick Nurse.
05:29We obviously know that Nick Nurse can coach.
05:31He's coached himself to a ring.
05:32But you can't do a lot when the big chunk of your roster is sitting in street clothes or is having surgery or you waste months and months of a season knowing, in the backs of everyone's mind, that Joel Embiid's going to need some sort of a procedure.
05:50And you wait until now to finally do it.
05:53And now you've added on to the time for rehab.
05:55So, to me, Nick Nurse, hot seat.
05:58And I think, obviously, with Embiid, this could have gone back to last year playing on one leg.
06:03Probably shouldn't have played in the Olympics.
06:04I mean, Andrew Wiggins wasn't allowed to play for Canada.
06:07Kawhi got pulled out by the Clippers.
06:08Look how they're doing.
06:09We'll talk about them on our next segment.
06:11For me, it's Tibbs.
06:14And I'm a Knick fan.
06:15I know he's like, wait.
06:16But here's the thing.
06:18Here's a team that has shuffled the deck.
06:21Here's a team that's gone all in.
06:23They lose, obviously, Randle and the trade in DiVincenzo.
06:27A very popular, especially Dante, for his performances in the playoffs.
06:31If the Knicks flame out and they didn't beat anybody of significance during the regular season, could Tibbs be on the hot seat possibly in New York?
06:40Even though he's got a great relationship with guys like Hart and Brunson.
06:44That's the crazy thing.
06:45Because I, again, full disclosure, love Tibbs.
06:47Worked with him at ESPN for several games.
06:49I like his demeanor and personality.
06:52But, you know, if we're just trying to be logical about it, yeah.
06:55I don't know what the expectation realistically is for New York to come out of the East.
06:59That is a pretty daunting mountain to climb.
07:01And like you just said, they beat no one of significance all regular season long, which I think is a very interesting stat.
07:07And then, you know, you've got Michael Malone now floating around out there.
07:10A New Yorker.
07:11Much has been made of the idea of him possibly showing up as the Knicks coach in the future.
07:15I don't want to see it, but I can't say that it doesn't make sense.
07:19All right.
07:20So let's wrap up this segment with our awards.
07:23Quickly, Michelle, who do you have in your award winners for this year, if you had the vote?
07:28Okay.
07:29If I had the vote.
07:29God, there was a time.
07:30If I had the vote.
07:32It's probably not shocking.
07:33Maybe a couple spots.
07:35Because you got your SGA.
07:36I think he's the MVP.
07:37Although, again, 100% can have the Jokic discussion.
07:41Steph Castle.
07:42Once rookies went out, I think it became Castles to lose.
07:46Dyson Daniels, for me, has been so interesting.
07:48I understand he doesn't have a podcast, so he couldn't manifest it.
07:51But I still have him winning.
07:52Zubats, for me, most improved.
07:53Just the Clippers alone have been such a story.
07:56J.B. Bickerstaff has taken a team from 14 wins to 44 wins and a spot in the playoffs.
08:01So it's a no-brainer.
08:02And Peyton Pritchard, six-man.
08:03Maybe it's not the sexiest award on this list, but yes, it's his.
08:07Well, my list is kind of similar.
08:10I do have SGA winning the MVP.
08:13Obviously, the fact that 15-game lead and the stats he put up, fantastic.
08:17Almost close to a 50-40-90 season.
08:19Steph Castle, you're right.
08:20People just fell off the wayside.
08:22So it was almost a process of elimination, but his play down the stretch.
08:26The great barrier, Reef Dyson Daniels, does a great job,
08:29especially playing next to Trent, who plays no goddamn defense whatsoever.
08:35It doesn't have to.
08:36It doesn't have to.
08:37Cade Cunningham, good point with you.
08:38For me, Emei and Doka coach of the year.
08:41This team had over on the win total, about 31 and a half.
08:44What a great job by Emei.
08:45And, of course, Pritch better get my money.
08:48Peyton Pritchard to be sixth man.
08:50Coming up next, after the commercial break, we'll get into our award tours.
08:55Michelle and I will talk about our Eastern Conference odds,
08:58our Western Conference odds, and is there a team that we think could make a run
09:04that's outside of Oklahoma City, Boston, and Cleveland?
09:08We'll be back with our award tour with Michelle Beadle right after this commercial break.
09:13Welcome back to the Betting Above the Rim podcast, episode 140.
09:17It's time to get into our award tour with Michelle Beadle.
09:20First off, we're going to go through the east, west, and then it's sleeper pick.
09:24But let's start in the east, where the favorites are the Boston Celtics right now
09:28on FanDuel minus 140, Cleveland at plus 185.
09:31Huge drop off to the Knicks at 11-1.
09:33Indiana, 23-1.
09:35Milwaukee, oh my God.
09:37Talk about a guy that's hot to you.
09:38What happened to him?
09:3960-1.
09:40Detroit, how you doing?
09:41Orlando, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago.
09:44Thanks for coming home.
09:45Do not put your money on them.
09:47So, Michelle, if you were to pick a team to come out of the east, who is your team and why?
09:53I mean, look, with those odds, I wish I had a sexier answer, because the idea of the Bucs at plus 6,000
09:57is like, yeah, it's worth a couple dollars, I suppose, just in case.
10:00Although, I don't know about Damian Lillard.
10:02But I'm going to go with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
10:04I realize that they've been dealing with this, quote-unquote, level of disrespect.
10:07It's not really a level of disrespect.
10:08The Celtics are the defending champs.
10:10They will always get the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.
10:14And so, they let go of the rope a little bit here towards the end of the season.
10:17Cleveland did.
10:18I don't know if I should be reading more into that than I actually am.
10:21But I'm going to go ahead and say maybe they run into a situation where Boston does that thing
10:25where they shoot 1,000 threes in a game, but they go cold.
10:28And if that's the case, perhaps Cleveland can then cash in on that.
10:30So, I'm sticking with the Cavs.
10:33And I hope I don't look like a fool.
10:35Well, interesting.
10:36You know, when you look at Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell's numbers in regard to scoring is down.
10:40But I think they've become more, Michelle, about the sum of their parts, right?
10:44Yes.
10:44The elevation of Garland.
10:45The elevation of Mobley.
10:46John Allen consistency.
10:48The bench play, right?
10:50Getting DeAndre Hunter, which I thought was – I think I went on your show after it happened.
10:54I think the sneakiest trade at the deadline was getting DeAndre Hunter as a way that –
10:59you could go big, you know, going 3-4-5 with them, with Mobley and Allen, or play them as a stretch four.
11:06My team, I hate it.
11:09I'm a Knicks fan.
11:10This sucks.
11:12It's Boston.
11:13Why?
11:14Because New York – I can't even bet the Knicks as much as I want to because I don't trust them to get over to Hupp.
11:22And Cleveland, as much as they are fantastic, we saw this Cleveland team flame out two years ago against the Knicks
11:30when Mitchell Robson punked both of those guys, Allen and Mobley.
11:34That's why I thought it was interesting if New York was going to get that four seed.
11:38I thought that would have been an interesting matchup because I thought the better play for New York
11:42was through Cleveland, not Boston to get to the Eastern Conference Finals.
11:47Really quick, I will say this.
11:49I know what you thought.
11:50Indiana is intriguing.
11:52Now they are, yeah.
11:54Yes, because Tyrese Halliburton is playing like a top 20 player in the world.
11:59They have – they're another team that's got length.
12:01They have a bench.
12:02Remember, Tyrese Halliburton, after losing game one last year, didn't make it through game two when it got swept.
12:08So, if they could – honestly, if they didn't get a damn stop, if they didn't get stops,
12:15you know, Rick Carlisle won a championship.
12:17He's one of the five to ten best coaches in the league.
12:19Indiana 23-1, that may be something to think about because I actually think in the second round,
12:25they could give Cleveland a battle.
12:27What do you think?
12:27They've been very sneaky.
12:29It's so funny because we were just talking about it today and Lou Will was like, I'll be honest with you,
12:32I haven't watched a ton of Pacers games.
12:33And we realized because they started this season out so wonky and cold and not like anybody that you would have to keep track of throughout the season
12:41because you just thought, eh, I don't need to worry about them.
12:43It's not going to be anything come postseason.
12:45And then all of a sudden, look up after the trade deadline and they've just figured it out.
12:48They've gotten their stuff together.
12:50And so, to me, it's a very intriguing one as well.
12:52Sometimes when no one's taking you seriously or even thinking about you at all,
12:56I think those are the better stories that come out of these types of playoff runs.
12:58So, I don't hate the idea, especially at those numbers.
13:02Well, let's head to the Western Conference where it is going to be wild.
13:07Right now, Oklahoma City Thunder minus 150 favorites right now.
13:12Lakers, uh-oh, 6.5-1.
13:14Long as Bronny don't play a ton of minutes.
13:16Golden State, 9-1.
13:18Denver, 10-1.
13:19Croaching chance.
13:20Minnesota, 13-1.
13:22Clippers, 17-1.
13:23Houston, intriguing.
13:25Two seed, 25-1.
13:26Oh, wow.
13:27Memphis, Ja, just keep all the antics to yourself.
13:30And then Dallas, Sacramento, thanks for playing.
13:32Drive home safely.
13:33Who is your thoughts on who is coming out of the West?
13:37I'm just – first of all, that's hella disrespectful to the Rockets.
13:40I get it.
13:41I understand why they're down as far as they are on this list.
13:43But you've got experience, experience, experience, experience all up ahead of them.
13:47But it's still kind of crazy that a two seed is that far down the list.
13:50And that the Lakers, I get that as well.
13:52You've got LeBron James and Lukas, two generational players.
13:55It makes sense to me why they would be considered the second favorites.
13:57For me, who am I going with this one?
14:01I think I was going to pick the Thunder.
14:04You know what?
14:04Because my upset is – my potential upset to look at.
14:06So, for me, I'm going to do Thunder because I don't want to go against them yet,
14:10even though I am part of the group that's like, I'm not sure yet what to think of.
14:13But I do have my upset coming out of the West,
14:15and it's none of those top teams that you're looking at right now.
14:18And I do agree.
14:19I do have Oklahoma City coming out of the West.
14:22So, let's get to it right away.
14:24If there's a team that makes a run that's outside of the Oklahoma City, Boston, Cleveland,
14:30so we're looking at 17-1 or worse.
14:34Who is your team that could make a run?
14:38I can't believe I'm doing this because I spent years, like when I was at ESPN,
14:41sort of mocking the jinx that the Clippers seem to live under.
14:44But, my goodness, if I lived in a state right now where I could use my app,
14:48I'd be putting a couple dollars on that plus $4,500 for the Clippers.
14:51There's something about watching, and I want to knock on wood when I say this
14:53because I want Kawhi Leonard to stay healthy.
14:55This is 2019 Kawhi we're watching.
14:58And I, as one – with my Spurs not in this, I just want to be entertained.
15:02And if we get the Clippers doing what they've been doing as of late,
15:05with Harden and Kawhi playing as if no time has passed,
15:08I think it could be an interesting run for the Los Angeles Clippers.
15:11And that is interesting.
15:15Let's just hope that James Harden performs like he did last night,
15:18like he does in Game 7, where he kind of tends to struggle.
15:23My team is right above yours, and that's Minnesota.
15:28Okay.
15:28I look at this matchup, and spicy take of the day,
15:32I have Minnesota knocking out the Lakers in the first round of the playoff.
15:35I think you look at Anthony Edwards as someone that can take his game
15:39to another level on both sides of the ball.
15:42I think he's a sneaky good defender, and when he's engaged and dialed in,
15:46he can do that.
15:47You've got a guy like McDaniels, another person who can defend.
15:49Rudy Gobert is going to be a problem versus the Lakers
15:53because what in the Alex Len, Rui Hachimura, Jackson Hayes are we doing?
15:59How are they going to stop them off the boards
16:01unless they put them all on the perimeter?
16:02So, my team to look at is the Minnesota Timberwolves.
16:07Let's see if Julius Randle does something.
16:10But you made a good point.
16:11He's not in New York.
16:12Not in New York, baby.
16:14After this commercial break, we'll end today's talk about our scouting report,
16:19where we'll break down all four playing games leading off
16:22obviously Atlanta versus Orlando, Memphis versus Golden State.
16:26They may whoop that trick.
16:28Heat versus the Bulls, and Mavs versus Kings.
16:31We'll be back with our scouting report.
16:33Wait, Michelle Beatle.
16:34After this commercial break.
16:36Welcome back to the Betting Above the Rim podcast, episode 140.
16:39And it's time to get into our scouting report,
16:41where we preview in today's episode all four games in the playing tournament.
16:47And let's lead off with the Battle of the Southeast Division.
16:50Trey Young at Atlanta.
16:53Orlando, Paolo Bencaro.
16:55This team's battled injuries all season long.
16:57I thought Jamal Mulder did a great job.
16:59What are your thoughts, Michelle?
17:00Who comes out the winner between Atlanta and Orlando?
17:04I have fluctuated on this one, and I still am doing that as well,
17:07because if it's a one-game sitch, I think Trey Young lives for the moment.
17:11But at this particular case, I've seen Orlando up close and personal not that long ago,
17:16even this newer version with fewer injuries.
17:18And I'm going to take Magic winning this one.
17:20But really, this one to me is like, it's a toss-up, because I trust Trey Young.
17:25I really do in these big moments.
17:27And Trey is definitely someone that's going to live for the moment.
17:29But I do agree.
17:30I think it's Orlando.
17:32They kind of faltered way off at the end of the year.
17:36But they had such a great run, especially losing Wagner and Bencaro.
17:41Then the other Wagner goes out, and obviously losing sucks to the season.
17:45What a job by Jamal Mulder.
17:46He was up for me for a coach of the year until they fell off a cliff.
17:49Next game, here we go.
17:51The whoop-that-trick matchup.
17:53Ja and all of his celebrations versus Draymond and all of his extracurricular activities.
17:59Here we go.
18:01Grizzlies?
18:02Warriors.
18:02Who do you got in this matchup in this game?
18:05I realize that the old Warriors, which I think is always funny,
18:08but they are an old team at this point compared to most.
18:10I think that this idea of a play-in is a disaster for them.
18:13And that's what happens when you don't take the Spurs seriously in the regular season.
18:16You're welcome.
18:17But I do have them beating Memphis.
18:19As much as I want Ja to be a great damn basketball player,
18:23I just don't think he's prioritizing the right stuff at the moment.
18:25So it's the Warriors and all that experience.
18:27Can't say no.
18:28And I would agree with you.
18:30I do think it's going to be Golden State at home.
18:32I think they kind of fumbled their chance in overtime versus the Clippers.
18:36And remember, Golden State, one year, was the seventh seed.
18:39They lost to the Lakers, and then they lost to John Moran and Memphis.
18:44They missed on the playoffs.
18:45I think they're going to remember that.
18:47First game on Wednesday night, Heat-Bulls.
18:51Big matchup.
18:52Heat-Culture.
18:53Does Billy Donovan, who I think should have left them a long time ago,
18:57but it's still there for some crazy reason, versus the Bulls.
19:00Who do you have, Michelle, and Heat-Bulls?
19:03Look, I know what the Heat have done.
19:05I understand what they've managed.
19:06They are the poster child for what a play-and-run could look like.
19:09But that was a long Heat team ago, and that guy is no longer with this team.
19:13So for me, watching Chicago lately, I can't believe I'm saying this out loud,
19:16I think they figured a little something out there.
19:18And they seem to be enjoying playing basketball as a team.
19:21So I'm taking the Chicago Bulls to win this game.
19:24What is happening?
19:25It's amazing.
19:27You get rid of DeRozan and Levine, and all of a sudden,
19:31they may have figured it out.
19:32I mean, most of it is even playing defense, for God's sakes.
19:36I mean, that's amazing.
19:38Last matchup, and I'm going with the Heat-Culture really quick,
19:40because I just think that there's always a will and a way that they get it done,
19:45but they've never had to win two to get in the playoffs.
19:48Last matchup, Dallas and the walking wounded.
19:51I don't even know.
19:52Is AD playing?
19:54Is he back?
19:54I mean, I guess he's back, but he can get hurt in warm-ups versus Damanis Sabonis
19:58and a team that I was so high on, and I was so pissed when they fired Michael Malone.
20:04What is your thought on Dallas-Sacramento?
20:08So here's what I just can't.
20:10The Lakers game, when they went to Dallas like a week or two ago,
20:14or no, it's only been a week, good Lord, it was the disappearance of AD,
20:18and it was an unfortunate reminder of what he sometimes tends to do.
20:21And so if you can't get up for that game, then I can't trust you to get up for any of these games.
20:26So give me Sacramento.
20:27And I was wrong.
20:28I said Mike Malone.
20:29I'm mad about Mike Malone being fired, too.
20:31I know you were.
20:32Mike Malone, Mike Brown, Michael Jordan, Michael Jackson.
20:36I'm mad at all things with Michael, except Michael Vick.
20:39Mike, really quick, who do you have as the eight seeds coming out, coming out of the East and the West?
20:47I have the ones you're looking at here.
20:48I have Sacramento coming out as the eight, which, by the way, big prize.
20:51You get to play the Thunder.
20:54And then on the East side, I have the Hawks coming out as the eight.
20:58And that might be a little interesting.
20:59You know what's interesting about that is you have the redemption of George Nang and Karis Levert
21:04against the team that traded them away while on a historic run, which can't sit well, ladies and gentlemen.
21:09So give me that one.
21:10I got Hawks, Cavs, round one in the East.
21:14Ooh, spicy.
21:15I have the heat culture finding their way in.
21:19And then I agree with Sacramento.
21:21I think that there is going to be a lot of issues coming out of Memphis coming out of this season.
21:30Thank you, Michelle Pito, for coming on today's podcast.
21:33For all things sports gambling, make sure you download that Sports Grid app.
21:38Pre-game, end-game, post-game, props, predictions, and more from the very best in the sports gambling industry.
21:44For my producer, Maddie George, Vinny does a great job with the graphics.
21:50Thanks for listening, folks.
21:51And thanks, Michelle, for coming on.
21:52We got to get her back.
21:53Get her back again.
21:54Oh, we got it all right.
21:55We got it all right.
21:56Get smarter to be on Sports Grid.
21:58Good night.