NBA TODAY FULL | “The Nuggets, Suns and Mavericks can win the NBA Finals this season” – Perk warns

NBA TODAY FULL | “The Nuggets, Suns and Mavericks can win the NBA Finals this season” – Perk warns

In Credit Karma it’s your girl chano G filling in from Malika Andrews joined here by my Stanford sis Ramona shelburn and also beaming in across the country we’ve got Zack low who can we take a moment to admire his new suit I think that’s burgundy oh wow looking sharp

Zack what Zach look at you suited and booted today I like it he is and of course NBA Vet Austin Rivers and my people can you believe that the playoffs are just over a month away and we all know that the NBA world has their eyes

On the race in the wild wild rest I mean it is Rodeo season down in Houston Texas so let’s take a ride really quick let’s start with the Suns versus the Cavs now this is the third quarter Cavs up 7569 and KD that’s his spot Ramona I mean

Everywhere is his spot he Mr efficiency he is now it’s not just the midi the mid-range we’ve also got KD from three he’s been shooting a really great number almost career best from three and this was Durant’s fourth straight 3 five-point game the longest streak of

His career the Suns win 117 111 Durant had 378 and six now to the Mavs versus the Bulls 40 seconds left in the first quarter Mavs up big Luca donic talking about signature shots his step back that step back and he I mean you can’t even

Get close to him cuz he’s got his elbow out there and also you can’t get close to him because he knows how to throw a dime to gaffard for the lay and Gafford made 28 straight field goals in the past four games that’s the longest streak in play-by-play history raona now check

This pass out though okay Lucas got it touchdown that’s straight up West unell that it is donic recorded his seventh straight triple double tying the longest streak in NBA history as the Mavs win 12792 donic 27 14 12 light work triple double let’s head to the Nuggets

Versus the Raptors the Nuggets were down 17 points at the half o just imagine that at home this season and then there’s the hook shot you know something’s cooking yeah Michael Malone probably had something to say about that during the break very true and someone who also has jokic’s back Jamal Murray

Nice little bucket over there now we’re checking in where the nuggets are up 110 107 okay defense yic with the block you know that reputation on him as not a defensive player is way outdated o look at that pass the last couple years Nuggets won 125 119 an insane stat from

Yic get this 35 points 17 rebounds 12 assists and six steals plus the win and the comeback yes that’s crazy now the nuggets the Suns and the Mavs all won last night so here’s how the West currently stands Denver remains a half game out of the top Spot while Phoenix

Is hanging on to sixth as for the Mavs they’re an eighth only a half only a game back of the Suns though now remember the team seated 7 through 10 will be in the playin tournament so let me kick it up the court since we saw so

Many great passes to Austin uh the playoffs are literally a month and two days away when you look at where the nuggets are are do you think that they go up do you think that they go down or do you think that they stay in second I think the Nuggets close out

Strong here you know we’re talking about a championship caliber ball Club this is a team that has experience this is a team that knows when to turn it on when to turn it off and now that we’re past Allstar break I expect nuggets to get back in that Championship form when we

Talk about the best starting lineups in basketball we always reference the Celtics and this team right here the Nuggets who we’ve seen have their way with the Celtics both meetings this season they are the favorite in my eyes to win the championship to go back and repeat they’re just that sound and their

Best player is the most sound player in basketball so when we talk about catching a young OKC team I think that’s very very possible and I think this is a team that can come back and you know to tenfold and and end up the season number

One spot yeah today I really do agree that I believe the nuggets are the favorites and we do think I think that they could you know really get that top spot in the west now Ramona switching over to the Suns they’re hanging on to six only a game away from entering the

Playin situation where do you think that they finish you know it’s interesting saying they they’ve really they finally got all their their big three back Devin Booker Bradley Beal Kevin Durant and they’re and one of the issues that they they’ve been working on all season long

Is defense I we know that those three guys can score we know they can put the ball in the hoop but defensively they’ve had issues all year long and I think Frank vogle has felt that they can actually be a much better defensive team if they get their guys back they play on

A string part of good defense though is not turning the ball over they are one of the worst teams in the league at turning the ball over over and he was asked last night is that because you don’t have a traditional point guard and he said simply nope which is him saying

We all need to take much better care of the ball because we we know those big three when they when they’re all together and they can they score that’s never going to be their problem is defensively can they lock down enough that is true now looking at where

Phoenix is at the six spot that is a sweet spot but I mean same amount of losses as the team below them you’re six does that mean you play the nuggets in the first round if the Nuggets get to won do you really want to be in that

Four or five game and have the nuggets in the second round it’s it’s interesting it’ll be an interesting last week as everyone starts to jockey for position look I would want to try to create as much buffer as possible no matter who I play against but Zach let’s

Talk about the Mavs because they have fallen into the playing situation at eth where do you think that they land in the grand scheme of things I think they’ve got a good chance to go up just because their schedule is easy and Phoenix’s schedule is brutal

And it may come down to those two teams for the sixth spot and think about the stakes you’re talking about two teams who have traded so much stuff to go all in right now trying to get out of or stay out of the play in also as Ramona

Said matchups are Paramount if you get up to six not only do you not do you escape the play in you might draw Minnesota trying to figure out life without Carl Anthony towns in the first round if Oklahoma City and Denver go one and two that is a world of difference

From 6 to7 and Dallas much like Phoenix allor offense just good enough defense they’re a very dangerous team on a game to game and short series basis because their offense is just that good Luca is just that good we just haven’t seen consistency on defense or consistency from the role players some nights

They’re popping like last night when they can’t miss sometimes it feels like Luca and Kyrie are kind of going it alone hard to see them making a deep Deep Run in the playoffs but nobody wants any part of these dudes for one series it must be look good feel good

Play good because Zach just said what’s popping I love that that six seed is looking like a precious commodity especially in the Western Conference but from the race at the top of the West how about to the race at the bottom because the Lakers are currently still in ninth

Place but they are creeping closer to the six seed thanks to their play this past weekend and speaking of that motto right uh future so bright you need Shades that’s LeBron James his future is already certified look at what DLo does I mean we saw this earlier this you know

No LeBron James DLo steps up in the biggest ways listen I was the only person on our set on Friday who said the Lakers will win this game because that man D’Angelo Russell when he has the ball in his hands and a green light all

Night can do things like he did with the 44 points the winning shot and Spencer didn’t with you with the block at the end yes that was a big play Russell 44 points as you mentioned his most as a Lakers as the Lakers win now let’s go to Sunday versus the Timberwolves LeBron

James is back this time but it was Anthony Davis who went off I mean he could have a case for Defensive Player of the Year it’s hard to do that from sitting in the ninth spot in the west because it’s a team defensive award almost as much as an individual

Defensive award but he is playing like he should be in that conversation and I think he should get more consideration for that based on games like this correct you look at him get that o board Lakers go up four in a few minutes later Lakers up 10 dishes the day okay and one

Son Davis finished with 27 point 25 rebounds and seven steals as the Lakers win 120 109 so the Lakers they had a very strong weekend winning both of their games but didn’t make up any ground with the teams directly ahead of them also winning so here’s their odds

To what it could be looking like if they make the playoffs according to ESPN bet in analytics now Austin when we look at where the Lakers are what do you think is the most likely outcome for them this season we just saw that they have a 65%

Chance to make the playoffs we’re not talking about play in playoffs yeah it’s it’s hard to to dissect this team and like diagnose them and what their predict or what their future is going to be They just won two games this this this past weekend and there’s no ground just because there’s

Only so many games left and everybody’s playing great basketball right now but listen if this is a team that can get in that 78 spot and win the playin and then end up playing at Timberwolves without a Carl towns you know that’s an outcome that we’re not sure you know listen the

Lakers are capable of beating any of these young teams I love Minnesota in the talent they bring I love o OKC in the talent they bring but these are teams that are yet to be proven yet especially in the postseason when we’re talking about LeBron James and Anthony

Davis we’re talking about two former Champions we’re talking about guys who have done it together and a team that has a cast of role players who are dangerous in the playoff series Austin Reeves is only grown and then you have experienced players like Danel Russell Toran Prince the list goes on this is

Not a team you want to talk about not playing first round you guys talked about Dallas the Lakers are not a team you want to be rewarded with first round when you’re going against a LeBron James and Anthony Davis fully healthy yeah but they really do not want to be in that

Ninth spot because that is one and done if you were in the ninth spot yes you would host theoretically the the play in game but that’s maybe against the Warriors because Who currently sit 10th if they can get up into 78 at least they have two games two shots at it for a

LeBron James Anthony Davis D’Angelo Russell and I think we all sat here on this show when right when they were approaching the trade deadline and D’Angelo Russell’s name was out there and he hadd been playing really well before the Dead line and he played so well that he was not on in trade

Conversations towards the end because they flat out need him and the question was would he keep it up if he was still on the team afterwards he’s not only kept it up he’s taken a step forward because when he has the ball in his hand when his role is clarified and I think

That’s the most important thing D’Angelo Russell is a point guard he is a scoring point guard but he can but he needs the ball in his hands and it’s actually been helpful to him when LeBron James is out because he has the ball more and his

Role is more defined yeah but the key is when LeBron James is on the floor how is he going to stay aggressive and knock down those outside shots I think that’s going to be the key factor to see the Lakers success if they’re able to make

The playoffs and not play in in the foreseeable future but still to come right here on NBA today the reigning MVP looms large over the East we have the latest on dwel embiid’s road to recovery just one month to the playoffs plus a Edwards goes head-to-head with Kawhi

Leonard tonight Nicks host the 76ers these two teams faced off over the weekend with Philly beating New York 70 9 to 73 a hardfought game AKA uh the lowest scoring game 1983 eight years the 152 combined points was the fewest in any game since November 2016 now the

Knicks and Suns have both dropped six of their last 10 games but help may be on the way call Shan Theo the temperature is rising the temperature you know what I did right there it’s time for what’s burning for all of the latest news from our own Ramona shelburn so Ramona let’s

Start with the guy that really helped turn the Nick season around ogan and Obi well he has gone from out to questionable so anytime you see a change on the injury report like that makes you think a guy is getting really close to coming back there is a chance he plays

Tonight it’s going to depend on how he feels going through warm-ups getting ready for this game so it’s not 100% but there is a chance that he plays first time since February and having surgery on that elbow so you’re telling me there’s a chance now sticking with the

Nicks what’s the latest on Julius Randle you know he posted a video the other day on his Instagram of him shooting and it says it is what you think it is huh you know the sense I get is he’s not all that close to returning there’s

Still optimism he can come back but the fact that he posted a video of himself shooting he’s using his left hand that shoulder is going to you going to make sure he comes back and stays back you don’t want to pop it out again so you have to get back in shape conditioning

Wise and make sure that it’s stable but that is a good update and switching to the other side of the matchup there are no names bigger than Joel embiid what can you tell us about his recovery well he’s not anywhere close right now to

Coming back but he is able to get on the court and do some light work here the hope that they have in Philly is that they can just stay in the mix for Joel and be to come back the last week or so of the Season at Le at least where he

Has a chance to get back to some conditioning before the playoffs now to stay in the mix they will also need Tyrese Maxi how about joelle’s running mate well he’s back from his concussion he feels great obviously miss four games with that and yeah I T I texted with him

This morning he says I feel great I’m excited to be back don’t worry about me we’re good to go and I and I think that’s so important for them because as we mentioned they’re sitting there at that six spot one game away from the four and five spot and this is a chance

To gain some ground and build that cushion because you don’t want to end up in the playin tournament with a Chance of Joel and be let’s let’s dive in further I like that because this is where the Eastern standings are as the Knicks and Sixers are each trying to

Make sure that they avoid the play in at all costs both teams are currently in the playoffs but with just over a month left to play a lot can change as Stephen A would say the list could be fluid now it’s going to be an uphill battle really

For either of these teams the Knicks or the Sixers to crack that top three but that doesn’t mean that they can’t really make noise in the playoffs right so Zach what team do you think is the bigger wild card at this point in the season Philly or New

York that whole thing is a five car pile up on the highway the whole thing is a wild card I have no idea how the hell that’s going to shake out but if you’re talking about wild card like variant from floor to ceiling it’s got to be the Sixers because they have

That one dude that was a combination of Shaq Durk and alijan all in one averaging 35 points a game more than a point a minute before he got hurt and we don’t know when he’s coming back we don’t know if he’ll make it in time we don’t know what condition he’ll be in

When he comes back but just that looming possibility of that guy being on a five six S8 seed that’s as wild a wild card as there is and wild comp sha Dirk elijuan for one Joel embiid are you on that same side with the Sixers being the Wild Card

Austin uh I’m not wrong I’m not mad at his answer but I’m going to go with the Knicks and here’s why you know we at least have a timetable with Julius Randle coming back time table at least we have some type of positivity we really don’t know what’s going on with

Jolen be’s just now getting on the court he’s also a whole different size of a man in terms of weight and him getting on the court and actually being able to be back to himself his tolerance by the way in terms of his toll on his body and

What he has to go through I think is even more than what Julius has you know the Knicks I think are a better put about role players and and this is a team that we were talking about contending and title contending a couple months ago prior to the injuries now

With the addition of their new players you have Julius back in the picture if he is able to come back that is not a team you would want to play early on you’re they can hang on and contend because it’s good for basketball when the Knicks are good where’s Rick patino

Okay where is he cuz Joel embiid might be walking through that door as Jack said as Z said I mean that to me that is the biggest that’s the MVP that’s sitting out there who might be walking through that door but Ramona they’re on two different timelines I do think that

Health might make the Sixers feel like they should push for the future but Zach that oh it’s fine you can make Joel embiid the MVP can come back this season and I know that the Sixers have optimism that he if they if they’re in it if his

Knee responds well if his ramp up goes well there’s a lot of ifs okay but he’s still Joel embiid he still could walk through that door there’s no bigger Game Changer out there for any team than the reigning MVP who could come back for the Philadelphia 76ers getting Tyrese Maxi

Back is huge he’s they they held down the fort without him but they really need him and he’s recovered well from this concussion he’s going to play but I I I know what you’re saying Austin about the Knicks they they look like a team that could go to the Conference Finals

When they had all those guys healthy for a couple of games right they went it was only a few games that they were all healthy but nobody is as big of a Difference Maker as Joel and be but look at these numbers because I tried to toss

It to Zach and I wanted him to Talk Nerdy to you but instead I’ll just do it myself look right here those numbers they have struggled as of late look at points per game 102 to 99 like these are two teams that desperately need their Stars 42% they’re almost having that

Spider-Man what is it gif that that emoji like they’re both on The Struggle Bus but my answer are the Knicks just because the timeline benefits them right now in the moment potentially moving forward now there’s no bigger wild card go than the Miami Heat because our ESPN NBA Wednesday double header actually

Starts are five and five in their last 10 games not exactly where they want to be but both squads have held a top four spot throughout the majority of the season but tonight’s matchup is a clash of two Titans and also a clash of two totally different styles Anthony Edwards

Is Young and Restless while kawh Leonard has been dominant As the World Turns you see what I did there and how they score Echoes that I mean ant rank’s ninth in transition scoring this season while Kawai is ninth on scoring from the mid-range the midi and I’ll show you

Exactly how they get it done right here starting with the hero the Ant-Man you love how he has embraced defense here he’s able to get a steal and Anthony Edwards 227 transition points he scores before the defense gets set up now on the other side though Kawhi Leonard I

Mean what it’s against my Houston Rockets a little show and go Dylan Brooks great defender comes in to send the double doesn’t matter he gets to his spot 251 mid-range points so far this season so it’s really safe to say that tonight’s wolves and Clippers game that

Is a huge one both teams were missing their stars in the last game now cat is obviously clearly out for the longer term but for the Clippers PG and kawhai will likely return from what coach tyo said was extreme scheduling of their back to back and when those two suit up

Again together that will actually Mark the most games either has played in any season with the Clippers so Zach who do you think goes further in the playoffs it’s got to be the Clippers they’re veteran tested they’re ready and most of all they’re healthy until we see

When and where Carl Anthony towns comes back and what it looks like it’s hard to see the Wolves offense being good enough and consistent enough to win one two three rounds the competition is just too good and in Kawai the Clippers have one of the alltime great playoff performers a Terminator who can

Control games on both ends of the floor so I’m going clippers but I’ll say this we don’t talk about him much but that four five series if five is the Pelicans the way they’re playing that ain’t no picnic watch out for the Pelicans that’s not an easy series for either of these

Teams you know I was thinking the same thing Zach when I I look at those standings all the time and it feels like the Clippers are sort of locked into that spot the top three feel like they’re they’re set but the Clippers in that 4 five game nobody wants to see the

Pelicans in the first round that team is long they have depth they have these Young Guns who you’ve seen them do this in the playoffs before a couple seasons ago and so I think that I would I would also say I like the clippers because they have so much more invested in this

Team these guys are ready to win they’ve they’ve they’ve really gone all in with the veterans on this team this year and I and I like that their their makeup I like that kawh Leonard feels healthy this year and is in good and is in shape

To make a playoff run but I don’t like that match up in the 4 five game at all let’s go to a former Clipper who has one of the best backgrounds I think you can actually see his jersey in his background Austin which team can make a

Bigger statement what do you you play for another team by the way I’ve been wondering that the whole time I like that Houston is in front is there room for another Austin Rivers Jersey in there I don’t know I’m running out of room I can tell

You that much um listen I if if if we’re talking between the two you got to go Clippers I’m in agree with Zach uh they have the makeup they have the experience uh especially with questions about Carl’s Health we don’t know what’s going to happen there um but I love the makeup

Of this Clippers team especially for the postseason I usually don’t try to judge them too much on the regular season this is a team that’s built to make a run in the postseason we talk about Kawhi Leonard we see what he’s done with San Antonio and Toronto uh he doesn’t have

As nearly as much pressure on those teams as he does with this team considering has Paul George with him we always talk about playoff James Harden this is the simp the most simple position he’s ever been in he doesn’t have all that pressure on his soldiers

He gets to go out there and really just be a playmaker CU he has two closers next to them they got a variety of guys that can help score uh they have some inside presence with plumbley coming back healthy and zubac down there and also adding Daniel Ty I like that team

To go contend in the playoffs I think they’re one of the few teams that actually can give Denver a run but it’s kind of crazy because when you look at them head-to-head they’ve had very similar Seasons but clearly we all go based off of maybe the veteran loading

Clippers lineup right with kawhai Paul George James Harden I think people I mean I’ve been one of those people that have picked the Clippers since early and they’ll probably get Westbrook back at some point he’s hopeful to come back from that from his hand injury at some

Point whether it’s by the end of the regular season or in the playoffs so maybe we should just stand on business really quick because it’s now time for setting the pick brought to you by ESPN bet the official sports book of ESPN so here’s who We’ve Got Tonight Ramona

Austin Zack and I’m going to throw myself in there we’re all saying the Clippers which means ah it could be setting one up I mean we just sat there and watch Nas re go for 31 points cuz he can shoot the three like nobody’s been but what happened in those games Ramona

They lost they lost the more the merrier though ESPN bet is now live in North Carolina as the official Sportsbook at ESPN it’s the only place to find promotions from your favorite shows and personalities new users in North Carolina get $200 in bonus bets for making any sports book bet download

Today North Carolina nice looking fellas now to other news around the basketball world the basketball Africa League began play for the 2024 NBA season on Saturday in Petoria South Africa 6 days full of games during the weekend and into this week in Hall of Famer Mark Spears joins us now live from

The basketball Africa games mark thank you so much for joining us you’ve been in South Africa now for a couple of days what has the atmosphere been like man everybody is asking me where you at where’s yourday so I’m just holding it down for you I’m at sunbed

Arena in Victoria South Africa and you you know how it is it it’s crazy yeah they got the band that make HBCU bands jealous here the beat is just rhythmic they got DJs playing afro beats and also playing Drake Cape Town’s games were amazing intense it’s just a beautiful

Environment and yeah there’s a a basketball game going on too yes there is a great competition but I’m curious who else have you seen support the basketball Africa League this year my guy guy that I hung out with at the lion in Safari Park yesterday which was

Incredible was my boy Joe Kim Noah the two-time off star and we were literally with lions looking in a lion’s eye is a different deal I I I never thought I would do this I never want to do it again it was scary but then there were

Like Beautiful Moments too where we were near the giraffe got to get outside byy the giraffe Joe K actually fed him potato chips it was just an incredible day that we’re going to show on NBA today in a couple weeks wow you know at

First I was going to say I had full fomo fear of missing out but then when you said the lion came close no no no no no I don’t have too much fomo based off of what how close you were to the wildlife this is truly a full circle moment

Because you and I got to hang at the original tip off of the NBA Africa game back in 2017 a draft is about 4 and 1/ half months away and as March Madness is upon us this is where the top 10 player rankings sits following the success of

Victor webing Yama the 2024 draft has a major International feel with four of the Top 10 Prospects being International Players excited to welcome in our draft expert Jonathan gavone because there’s no one in the world more locked in to the future of the NBA than you now with

It being champ week who are two players you have a close eye on with tourn tournament action underway Chan there’s no better show in college basketball right now than Kentucky they play a free free flowing unselfish uptempo style they’re leading the college game in three-pointers made

But there’s two guys that I want to focus most particularly on it’s Reed Shepard and Rob Dillingham Rob Dillingham absolutely electric with the ball in his hands we’re talking starting with Reed um you know great feel for the game absolutely terrific Pace handles and changes speeds gets to anywhere he

Wants plays a very under contr control style he’s shooting 53% on the season right now he’s leading college basketball no player has ever done that since Glenn rice in 1989 now his teammate Rob dilling him absolutely electric handles and changes speeds gets anywhere he wants on the floor can pull

Up off the dribble um just a huge amount of star power and Charisma this guy has the aura to to light up a college game he’s built for the NCA tournament now Chen both of these guys come off the bench for Kentucky but they’re both projected to go top five in the 2024

Drafts in June wow so Rob Dillingham and Reed Shepard are two names that we will be watching for sure especially as we approach the NBA draft this summer who are their NBA comps do I want to start by saying that these are more stylistic comps and not

Really uh you know a forecast for how their career might play out but let’s start with Rob Dillingham the way he handles the ball and gets his spots on the floor reminds a lot of Kyrie Irving jittery fast crossovers hesitation moves Elite body control and touch around the

Rim just uh and then the shot making ability a lot a little bit of Trey young here always on balance side step pull-ups step backs shooting 45% on the season and he’s not taking a lot of easy shots I can tell you that uh now his teammate Reed Shepard old school Scouts

Like to compare him to guys like John Stockton and Chris Paul lofty standards admittedly but just if you look at the way that he controls the game the way he gets to his spots on the floor the maturity that he shows the pace the way that he makes the game simple for

Teammates with you know Advanced reads and then the way that he can you know pull up for three in transition he’s shooting 53% as we mentioned uh this guy has really taken the college basketball World by storm so what you’re telling me is that back court in the NBA could

Definitely be bolstered very soon and Kentucky to the NBA that’s a statement that we have all become very familiar with thank you so much Jonathan for spending a little time with us here on NBA today now we shift to some breaking news that will have major implications

On the WNBA Ramona you broke it I mean Pack 12 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year Cameron Brink Stanford’s finest she has just declared for the WNBA draft Cameron Brink is projected to go number two in the draft to LA passing the torch in LA from one

Stanford sister to another I’m sh and since we’re talking about family we even got an exclusive shout out from her God brother none other than Steph Curry hey cam just want to say congratulations huge huge announcement huge milestone huge accomplishment uh preparing yourself for the WNBA draft

But I know you still got some unfinished business in the uh NCAA tournament but take a moment to Pat yourself on the back for a job well done to get to this point uh the best is you know yet to come and uh can’t wait to see where your career takes you but

Congratulations WBA let League her you all right Steph League her I’m so proud of Cam she’s like a little is this I mean what is this Pipeline with Stanford to the Sparks I don’t know I don’t know but it’s working it is working and by the way I know we did

Lose in the Pack 12 tournament Championship the last time USC won one was in 2014 though but that loss helped us because we made it to the final four so maybe cam is making it to the final four too since you bro broke that earlier I want to dive into more news

Actually from her God brother so speaking of Steph Curry he’s missed the past games uh due to an ankle injury the Warriors are one in one without their Superstar they play the Mavericks in Dallas tomorrow night so Ramona what’s the latest you can tell us on Steph’s

Injury so you know initially this is just a right ankle sprain we’re going to have a a further update later today when he goes through his workout with the Warriors medical staff and the expectation was he would not miss all that much time they’re going to be

Caught watch us here so I think the sense is probably not tomorrow tomorrow or anytime this this next couple of games but wouldn’t be surprising if he’s back sooner rather than later uh Steph Curry and ankles used to be something we talked about every single day make us so

Nervous we haven’t had one of those in a while but it it’s not expected to cost him too much time and there’ll be a further update from the Warriors in a couple of hours Ramona let’s take a look at what the Warriors have done with and without Steph Curry with not too great

Without my goodness they have struggles look at the points per game so his impact is really felt especially given that there 10 you just don’t have a lot ways to score without him I mean all the ways to score without him he changed and move on yall got the rules right

Starting with Milwaukee in Sunday’s win over the Clippers Damon Giannis became just the third duo in the last 50 years to each post 30 points 10 assists in the same game plus Chris Middleton who hasn’t played since before the trade deadline is nearing his return so Ramona

The Bucks are hitting their stride chop it or drop it you know we’ll chop it just a little bit because as Doc Rivers was telling me before their game the other night he’s really working on that Twan game between Dame and Yannis before this they were kind of trading off now

They’re playing together they know how much they need each other and how much the other helps them to get better Chris Middleton had been upgraded from to questionable now back downgraded again so he’s nearing his return but not quite there yet Zach are you buying the Bucks being

Better I am buying them the Twan Chemistry Between Dam Yannis is coming along and look if you have Giannis and you have Dame you have a chance Chris Middleton biggest wild card in the league they need him fully healthy to have any shot to get through Boston in

The playoffs if they have that they got a punch his chance at least let’s go from east to now west next up the New Orleans Pelicans who have the NBA’s longest active win streak at four games it’s all right four straight dub Zack low earlier this season you called the

Pels a sleeping giant in the west and they were also the main character of your wildly successful podcast can the pals Make Some Noise come playoff time chop it or drop it yeah the giant is starting to wake up a little bit someone hit it on the head

It’s stirring in bed it’s trying to get hungry this is the best the Pelicans have ever played in the Zion Williamson era the Rhythm Is there the defensive effort up and down the roster are there The Vibes are good in New Orleans herb Jones junor and Trey Murphy thei have

Kind of unlocked that team do not sleep on the pelican they are a problem right now okay uh Austin do you think that the Vibes are Immaculate in New Orleans yeah I got to chop it the playoffs the game always slows down it becomes a possession by possession game

Defense becomes a little bit physical I love the length and size of the Pelicans you talk about herb Jones Trey Murphy Brandon Ingram Zion Williams these guys are all 68 69 610 they are going to be a problem in the playoffs not to mention what they can in the offensive end and

Where we haven’t even thrown in CJ McCullum in that mix they’re definitely a team to look out for in the playoffs the way that you just described the Pelicans you can sort of make the same argument for the Cavs because after missing his seven straight game on Monday Donovan Mitchell has now failed

To play an 18 contest they will really need him back to make that postseason push making him ineligible for any postseason Awards including all NBA now Donovan Mitchell is just the latest of notable names that won’t be able to hit that 65 game threshold he joins Joel embiid Jimmy Butler Draymond Green Kyrie

Irving and Chris staps porzingis you can see the list right there amongst those players that have failed probably projected Le to make that that situation so Austin is the new R going according to plan you know the NBA Institute 65 games these guys are ineligible do you

Want to chop this or do you want to drop it chop it I mean listen cause and effect of course there’s always going to be a downside to new things coming about new rules being placed in but look at what’s happening in La man we got Kawhi Leonard playing games we have Paul

George out there healthy we have a a number of guys who are historically injured playing multiple games and yes that could be the timing of these guys just bodies feeling healthy who knows uh but I I like this rule being in place it is a tough one because some of these

Guys are going to be out you know making NBA teams and awards but that’s just what it is I think for the long benefit of the game you’re going to have multiple guys play through the little knick-knack injuries that they could easily play or which would see typically

In the ’90s early 2000s guys playing we’re now going to see these guys play and listen you have fans come into games you want to see the Stars play I like the rule get these guys on the court go out there and play yeah no pering is

Based off of what we saw with that but there’s been no problem really in Boston because the Celtics became the first team to 50 wins this season reaching the mark in 64 games their fewest since 2017 2008 when they won the championship so Ramona chop it or drop it Boston being

The first team to hit the it’s all about June for this team it’s not about how many wins they get in the regular season they got a win to make to make this season a success so if we’re going to drop it how about this the NBA on Sunday find M Minnesota Timberwolf

Center Rudy goar 100 thou $100,000 for making a money gesture at an official and criticizing officiating on Friday night now after the OT loss you can see it right there Gober didn’t deny what he did and went further in saying that sports betting could be having a major

Impact on the outcome of games Ramona how big of an issue is this and this is why we saw the high level of the fine oh I was in a way almost surprised that he didn’t get games for this because of how important the gambling Association is

For the NBA for all professional sports this has become a huge story in all of sports and for somebody to publicly question it not just with a gesture but with his words afterwards is very unsettling for the NBA and anyone in professional sports yeah they’re trying

To dissuade that in the NBA which is why we saw a very Hefty sign now it is Champ week so our crew will be back on Monday so make sure you enjoy March Madness I mean Houston is the number one team on the men’s side but we all going to be

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NBA TODAY FULL | “The Nuggets, Suns and Mavericks can win the NBA Finals this season” – Perk warns