Ready for a courtside experience that takes you into the heart of the NBA Finals? Buckle up as we bring you a deep dive into the electrifying matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics. Our star-studded panel, featuring Tony Bogan, Mister Askew, Bill Stoy, Drew McLaughlin, Mike Worrell, and Bob Gavalier, kick things off with a spirited debate on the greatest Lakers player of all time—think Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Get ready to uncover the pivotal X-factors that could tip the scales, from Luka Dončić's game-changing maneuvers to the critical roles of the Mavericks' centers and the enigmatic Kyrie Irving.
Ever wondered who stands taller in the coaching realm: Jason Kidd or Joe Mazzulla? We've got an engaging discussion for you, highlighting Kidd's dual legacy as both a player and coach. Our panelists passionately predict a thrilling seven-game series, with Luka Dončić pegged for an MVP-worthy performance that might just clinch it for Dallas. We delve into strategic advantages, key player contributions, and even touch on which team, the Celtics or Mavericks, has a better shot at a repeat Finals appearance next season. The conversation also explores the impact of home court advantage, making this a must-listen for any NBA aficionado.
But that's not all—our episode takes a global perspective, examining the rise of international players and how they're shaping the NBA's competitive landscape. From debating the skills gap between U.S. and international players to the implications of the NBA's new in-season tournament, our discussions are nothing short of insightful. We wrap up with a look ahead at potential future contenders like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder, adding a final layer of excitement to our NBA Finals preview. Don't miss our closing statements, where we piece together the elements that promise an unforgettable showdown between the Mavericks and the Celtics.
Ready for a courtside experience that takes you into the heart of the NBA Finals? Buckle up as we bring you a deep dive into the electrifying matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics. Our star-studded panel, featuring Tony Bogan, Mister Askew, Bill Stoy, Drew McLaughlin, Mike Worrell, and Bob Gavalier, kick things off with a spirited debate on the greatest Lakers player of all time—think Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Get ready to uncover the pivotal X-factors that could tip the scales, from Luka Dončić's game-changing maneuvers to the critical roles of the Mavericks' centers and the enigmatic Kyrie Irving.
Ever wondered who stands taller in the coaching realm: Jason Kidd or Joe Mazzulla? We've got an engaging discussion for you, highlighting Kidd's dual legacy as both a player and coach. Our panelists passionately predict a thrilling seven-game series, with Luka Dončić pegged for an MVP-worthy performance that might just clinch it for Dallas. We delve into strategic advantages, key player contributions, and even touch on which team, the Celtics or Mavericks, has a better shot at a repeat Finals appearance next season. The conversation also explores the impact of home court advantage, making this a must-listen for any NBA aficionado.
But that's not all—our episode takes a global perspective, examining the rise of international players and how they're shaping the NBA's competitive landscape. From debating the skills gap between U.S. and international players to the implications of the NBA's new in-season tournament, our discussions are nothing short of insightful. We wrap up with a look ahead at potential future contenders like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder, adding a final layer of excitement to our NBA Finals preview. Don't miss our closing statements, where we piece together the elements that promise an unforgettable showdown between the Mavericks and the Celtics.
welcome everybody to another episode of the ride home rats podcast. This is, as always, your host, mike bono. I got another great special episode with a great panel of guests. We're going to be breaking down the nba finals the mavericks versus the celtics. I have a ragtag group of panelists here, as always on the round tablesables. We're going to let them introduce themselves. They're going to tell you the name, where they're from, and the greatest Lakers player of all time. And Tony, since I think you're the youngest one on the panel, we're going to start with you.
Speaker 2:
Hi guys, my name's Tony Bogan, I am originally from Shaker Heights, ohio, and the greatest Lakers of all time. You got to go with and no list is complete without this Kobe Shaq, and you got to go with Big Shot Bob Robert, horry and also LeBron we just got to say LeBron.
Speaker 1:
All right, I'm all right with LeBron being on that list. Well, that's a topic for a different day, and he's becoming the staple of the round table. It's the vampire coach himself.
Speaker 3:
Yo, this is a boy, mr Askew, aka Vampire Coach, from the nasty natty Cincinnati, ohio, the greatest Laker. I'm going to have to go with my boy from the Cincinnati, from the Bearcats, nick Van Assel. I'll go way on the deep end, but Nick Van Assel is the guy Short ball hit. Take him to the hole. Come on, man, you got to go with the shorties.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely Next on our list. We got Bill Stoy. What?
Speaker 4:
what's going on?
Speaker 5:
bill uh, that's the name you took it for me. And then uh, from cleveland, and then greatest laker of all time. So many here. Hopefully we get to all of them, but gotta say kobe, rip the bean, um, we'll go with him. A lot of good answers here, though yeah, it's.
Speaker 1:
It's been a while since he's been on here too as well, but glad to have him back drew what's going on?
Speaker 6:
guys drew mclaughlin here from, uh, youngstown, ohio, and man, the greatest laker of all time. You can probably spit off 10 of them and say they're making an argument for them, but I got to say for me it's between Shaq Big Diesel and you got to go with the logo Jerry West Cat's logo for a reason right. Absolutely, and a West Virginia man, so you can't get away with that, and he was also the GM for a while there too, wasn't he, I believe? So yeah, he did both parts there.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely and last but not least, the goat himself, Mike.
Speaker 7:
Good to see you, bono. Mike Worrell here Grew up in Ohio, but I've been situated in Illinois for many years, here in Jacksonville, illinois, and uh, as far as Lakers Iakers. I was never a Lakers fan, but I'll have to go with, in my opinion, the greatest winner, Maybe not the greatest player, the greatest winner of all time Magic Johnson.
Speaker 1:
Okay, I'm surprised no one else said that as well, and I didn't see you join here, bob. I didn't forget about you. I didn't see you joined here, bob.
Speaker 4:
I didn't forget about you, I didn't see you, I just popped in.
Speaker 1:
That's right, I just popped in. We got one more here. What we're doing, name where you're from, and greatest Lakers player of all time.
Speaker 4:
All righty, I'm Bob Gavaliere from Youngstown, ohio, and I'm going to go with a couple guys. There's a lot of them, but uh, I'll have to say Kareem. No one's picked out Kareem yet, so I'll go with Kareem.
Speaker 1:
All right, a lot of solid players there. You can't go wrong, uh, with that, that group there. But we're gonna get right back into it here. We're gonna roll right into it. We're gonna break down the NBA finals, the Dallas Mavericks versus the Boston Celtics. And the first question we got, tony, we're going to start with you who is the X Factor as a player in these finals for you?
Speaker 2:
Oh, man, I would have to say Luka Doncic. Luka Doncic, if you could put up 30-some-odd points, nine assists, eight, nine boards, that's definitely a huge X factor in that All right, not a bad start, mike.
Speaker 1:
what about you?
Speaker 7:
I'm going to go with two players Bono Okay, they split the center position for the Mavericks Lively and Gafford Not great players, but between them they're averaging 16 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks during the playoffs. And if Porzingis is out or not healthy, I see these guys getting a lot of rebounds, blocking shots and making a huge difference. That's my bulldog growling at me, by the way.
Speaker 1:
Even better.
Speaker 5:
He's a great big kick, is that Baker?
Speaker 7:
That's Baker.
Speaker 1:
Old Baker, our cat is Kyrie Irving.
Speaker 7:
He was his name when Kyrie was with the Cavs.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely true, Drew. What about you for your X Factor?
Speaker 6:
You know you got to go with the guy that's. It's the finals now, so you know Tatum's going to go off. You know Luka's going to do his thing. So you got to go with one of those, either a Jalen Brown or a Kyrie Irving who could outplay the other one. I'm going to go with Kyrie here, a little bit older, See if he can put up his. You know Luke is going to get his 35. Could Kyrie get 28-ish a night? That's what you're going to need from him for them to win. So I'm going to go Kyrie Irving.
Speaker 4:
All them to win. So I'm gonna go, kairi irving. All right, bob, what about you? I'm gonna go with perzingas. I think for boston to win this series, I think he needs to be healthy and play, I think. If not, I think it's gonna be a long series for them. Um, you know, he adds a little bit dimension. And then I agree with what mike said about the rebounding. If he's not out there then uh, dallas gonna have a field day rebound underneath, absolutely.
Speaker 3:
Mister, what about you? I'm going to have to go with Kyrie Irving. You know him being really the X factor. You know, seeing him go up and down like the stock market throughout his career, I think you know he's in a good position to really right some wrong or some things that might then go well throughout his career. So I think he's the F factor. If he can just put everything together, keep putting everything together like he's been doing, I think you know they're going to be very successful. Dallas.
Speaker 1:
All right, and Bill round us out here.
Speaker 5:
Yeah, it's took just about all my choices already. But I'm going to take a different angle at it and go look, think defensively a little bit and say Drew Holiday, I think he's going to be matched up on the two guards from Dallas quite often and we'll see what he can do. I have no for the defense and I'm definitely going to get put to the test. So I think if he can slow the guards down just a little bit from the Mavs, it'll be all I'll need to take it, but definitely a big if there.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely the solid picks. It's hard to pick one out of all those, but if it's me, you know I got to go Luka in this one. I think he needs to get hot early and stay hot throughout the entire finals for Dallas to have a chance here. Bill, let's stay with you here. And who is a better head coach Jason Kidd for the Mavs or Joe Mazzulla for the Celtics?
Speaker 5:
I think this one's pretty easy. It's Jason Kidd with the Mavs, I think. Great coach, obviously able to connect with the players. Not a big Joe Mazzullo fan, honestly, so I think by default, but I think Jason Kidd's a good head coach, so we'll say him.
Speaker 1:
All right, mister, what about you?
Speaker 3:
I'm going to say you know Jason Kidd, you know seeing him and you know Seeing him play college throughout his whole entire career. Man, he is really turning the table in a lot of things that he had done throughout his career as a player and as a coach. Looking at him, what he's done throughout the last 10, 15 years, I just think you know he's the better coach. I think he has really grown a lot and really mature a lot. I remember just watching him play I mean I know some of you guys might be a little younger, but watching him play and how he was when he was, I think, in California and throughout his career man, I have to say Jason Kidd is a better coach. I like him.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely, Bob. What about you?
Speaker 4:
I like Kidd too. I think that's going to be maybe a little bit of the difference when the games get tighter and stuff like that. I think the experience that he's had, not only playing on championship teams but also coaching some teams, that he's gone to the finals a couple times, I think that's going to be the difference in this game. If it gets tighter and stuff Late in the games, I think that Mazzulla, he doesn't have the experience. He just gets thrown into a good experience with this team that he had.
Speaker 1:
I like Kidd with the experience in late games here absolutely, and I'm glad you brought that up, bob, because you know I I've said this in this off topic. And going to the nfl, but mike tolman, everyone gives him credit for the superbowls. That was cowers teams that he won the superbowl with and I'll stand by that and I'm a pittsburgh fan. So that's, we'll get that out there right now, drew. Going back to the NBA, Jason Kidd or Missoula.
Speaker 6:
Back in 2005, my mom used to go to New York all the time. She took me one year and she got me New Jersey Nets tickets. Ever since then I fell in love with Jason Kidd. I thought he was a fantastic player. I was a New Jersey Nets fan my entire life until, kind of, they fell apart and I went to the Cavs. But I think Jason Kidd is head and shoulders above Joel Mazula. This is his third job too, being with the Nets and the Bucs, so he kind of got the experience. I think it's his time. I think Jason Kidd's light years above Mazula.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely, Mike. What about you?
Speaker 7:
I kids light years above. Missoula. Absolutely, mike. What about you? I'm going to stick to my normal answer to these types of questions. I know Fitty loves these controversial questions and loves to debate, loves to debate these kinds of questions. I'm going to. I'm going to. I'm going to say there's no difference between the two. But if Luka Doncic and Kyrie have great series and Dallas wins it, kidd will be the greatest coach. Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown have great series and Holiday and Boston wins it, I'll say Missoula will be the greatest coach. So I'll wait until the series is over to give them. If I had to pick one of the two, but right now I'm saying I call them the same.
Speaker 1:
I love the PR answers from Mike. We have these funny questions where there's debate. These are some players. I love it. I love it, Tony. What about you?
Speaker 2:
I got to say. I got to see Jason Kidd play when I was younger not in person, but I know Jason Kidd was always a great player and it doesn't surprise me that he's maintained the same standards as a coach. Nothing against Joe Mazzulla, but Jason Kidd's one of those rare breed player coaches that can not only lift the team as a player but as a coach as well, and I believe he would win. If he wins the finals, he'd be winning as a player and as a coach with Dallas. So I got to go with Jason Kidd.
Speaker 1:
All right, I think I'm going to make it here a clean sweep here too, as well. Someone who doesn't follow these teams that well, I'm going solely off of this. I've had two NBA jerseys growing up Jason Kidd and Mike Bibby. So I'm going with Kidd because I've had his jersey jerseys growing up jason kidd and mike bibby and so I'm going with kidd because I've had his jersey and I liked him as a player, so I'm going to go with him on this one. Um, and yes, as we were formulating this question, as everybody knows, this was a 50 uh portion question where we have to debate players and coaches and and that. So we know how he loves the to break all that down. Bono, did you say clean sweep?
Speaker 7:
I didn't say clean sweepo. Did you say clean sweep?
Speaker 1:
I didn't say clean sweep.
Speaker 7:
I thought you did say clean sweep. You were taking Kidd.
Speaker 1:
I'm taking clean sweep with everybody taking Kidd here. Yeah, I'm taking Jason Kidd.
Speaker 7:
Oh, I didn't take Kidd. You know what. You took both of them.
Speaker 1:
You took both of them. I'm counting it as a clean sweep. We know who you wanted to pick. Mike, it's all right, it's fine, but Tony, question of the day here who wins the series and in how many games?
Speaker 2:
Ooh, I got to say I think Dallas will win it and I think that this series is going to go seven, because both teams are talented, Both teams are well rested. You're going to get. I don't think we'll see, I don't think we're going to see a blowout in any capacity from either team in this series. It's just going to be two great teams playing close ball all throughout, because they're just that even.
Speaker 1:
All right.
Speaker 7:
Mike, what about you? I agree Two even teams that are both really playing well right now. And this is a. I never go out on a limb, but I'm going to make a prediction. Finally and being a Cavaliers fan, this is a dagger to us Cavs fans out there I have a premonition in game six or seven, kyrie will hit the game winner to propel the Mavericks to the title, like he did for the Cavs in 2017. So I'll take the Mavs in six or seven.
Speaker 1:
All right Drew. What about you?
Speaker 6:
Yeah, I think this is going to be a fantastic finals. I mean you have two great teams, both have great depth. Just two great organizations as well. I think, as much as I hate to say this because I love Kyrie the Cavs, I love Jason Kidd I do think it's the Celtics time. I think, as much as I hate to say this because I love Kyrie the Cavs, I love Jason Kidd I do think it's the Celtics' time. I think they've been gearing up for this for a long time. I think it's going to go 7, but I'm going to say the Celtics are probably going to win it at home Game 7.
Speaker 1:
Alright, bob, what about you?
Speaker 4:
I like Dallas in this one. I think they ran the gauntlet in the West. I think the West was a lot better than the East. Boston got helped out and I think the schedule helps Dallas out and Luka's a little banged up and with having like two or three games off between the games I think that helps him out. So he'll get to play all out and then get a couple days rest. So I like Dallas at about seven Plus. My son's a big luca fan so I think if he'd be upset with me I didn't pick anybody but dallas absolutely, mister.
Speaker 1:
What about you?
Speaker 3:
I'm gonna go with dallas and then game six or seven. I'm going with dallas and jason kidd all right stoy.
Speaker 1:
What about you a?
Speaker 5:
lot of dallas around here for, uh, boston being as big a favorite as they are. But, um, I'm gonna go with dallas as well, actually in seven, I think. I think, if it gets to seven, boston's gonna choke and luca's gonna be the best player and they'll get it done. So, um, I hope it gets there. I'm definitely rooting, rooting for Dallas as well, and I think they'll take it to length and get it done in game seven.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely. I'm taking the Mavs in seven too as well. I think these teams are just too evenly matched. I know Boston won the season series when they played each other in the regular season, but it's playoffs man. It's the finals. Anything can happen. Everyone steps their game up a little bit more. It's the playoffs man, it's the finals. Anything can happen. Everyone steps their game up a little bit more. It's going seven games for sure. There's no doubt in my mind. This is going seven games, but Dallas pulls it out in the end. And, bill, since we take Dallas, who will be your MVP for the finals?
Speaker 5:
Luka, it's going to be Luka. I think, with the storylines, ifairi can show up and do something. There's an argument there. But, um, I think luca just has a heck of a series and I think he'll need to have a heck of a series for him to win it. So we'll go dallas and luca taking the mvp all right, mister.
Speaker 1:
Who's your mvp?
Speaker 3:
oh, I have to go with luuka. I think Luka will get that most definitely. He's playing at a high level consistently. Whenever you can get a player to play consistently all the time, normally good things happen all the time absolutely Bob.
Speaker 1:
What about you?
Speaker 4:
I'm going to go with Luka too. I think he showed that last series against Minnesota when it was it was crunch time, you know. He kind of went off in that game in the first half and kind of put that game away against Minnesota. So I think he has that drive in him and I think once again and my son's favorite player, so he'd be upset with me if I pick against Luca. So I'm gonna let you go for Luca as an MVP as well.
Speaker 1:
I kind of knew where you were going with that. I knew it was going to be Luka. I still got an ass, but Drew, what about you?
Speaker 6:
So I'm the only Celtics guy here To pick the Celtics to win it, huh.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, you are.
Speaker 6:
So I'm going to go with Jalen Brown. He just won the Eastern Conference Finals MVP. I think he's playing at an extremely high level. I think he's trying to prove that you know what. It's not just Tatum, it's Tatum and Brown. I think he's going to go off and I think he's going to piss Tat and I think he's going to piss uh Dan and lock even more.
Speaker 1:
So look at me, Jalen Brown. All right, mike what about you?
Speaker 7:
If my, if my prediction holds up and the Mavericks win it, I'll say Luca, if somehow I'm wrong, the Celtics win this thing, which could happen. Remember, in our preseason NBA show you had on, I took Jason Tatum to be the regular season MVP. So if the Celtics win this, I'll say Tatum will be the MVP.
Speaker 1:
All right, all right, and Tony.
Speaker 2:
I got to say this Unless Kyrie goes off for 40 a game, I cannot bet against Luka being the MVP. If Dallas wins, if Boston wins, I could see Jason Tate being MVP. But I'm going to go with Luka.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, since you know picking the Mavs, I want to say Kyrie, because I like Kyrie, but there's no way Luka doesn't get it. If Dallas wins, that's just yeah. Yeah, I think Luka will be the MVP. And I do have to pause and take a quick sponsorship break, as we did just get a new sponsor to the Ride Home Rants podcast. He's been on before A good friend of mine, comedian buddy of mine.
Speaker 1:
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Speaker 1:
All right, now that we got all the sponsors happy and everything like that, let's dive back into this NBA Finals recap, not recap. I am just. It's been a week. I've been sick and fighting a cold for a week. I'm all hopped up on antibiotics and everything like that. So I apologize in advance. I'm sure you guys have heard me hacking through this entire show, but the show must go on. But, tony, let's go back to you here. Uh, which one of these teams has a better chance to return to the finals next year?
Speaker 2:
I gotta say boston, because the east really isn't outside of them, it's just a shit show outside of the. It's just it's boston. And then there's everyone else like and no one thought Indiana would, but they, they somehow did. Anyone from Indiana to Milwaukee or even Cleveland could get lucky, or even a team like Orlando or New York, if they get out of their way would. I think I could say Boston will, dallas is, they're in the tough position out West. They'll definitely be the hunting for sure.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely, Mike. What about you? Who makes it back to the finals next year?
Speaker 7:
I'm going to say neither. Neither of the two will. If I had to pick one, I'd say Boston, but I just can't. Can't believe all the good teams in the East are going to have everybody injured, key people injured again, and that Boston will have a semi-cakewalk like they kind of did this year with the Knicks, cavs, bucs, sixers, pacers at the end of the season. I've never seen a playoffs with so many key people injured. I'm not saying the Celtics wouldn't have got there regardless, but it sure helped having a lot of key people out for the better teams.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely All right, Drew. What about you?
Speaker 6:
Yeah, I agree. I agree with Mike here. I think we've been seeing this in the NBA recently a lot of disparity. I remember seeing the been seeing this in the NBA recently, a lot of disparity. Remember seeing the Cavs and Warriors play four times in a row. I think the NBA is kind of at that settled now. I think it's kind of a lot of these teams are good. If we had to pick one, I probably got to say the Celtics, just because you know the East is so bad and I think Tatum and Brown are locked up for a while too, so I have to say the Celtics. But the Mavs got a decent chance too, but the Celtics are just better, so I got to say Celtics.
Speaker 1:
All right.
Speaker 4:
Bob, who has the better chance? I think Boston does. I think, once again, whatever Brady's been saying the East isn't as strong as the West. I think the West is loaded up. What everybody's been saying the East isn't as strong as the West. I think the West is loaded up. I think you've got the Timberwolves who are coming up and then you've got some of the other teams. Denver's going to kind of be hungry again next year. I think they took a step back a little bit. So I think with the East you'll see how well Milwaukee gets if they get healthy and 76ers get healthy. But other than that, I think really you don't see a team that's going to really compete and you're going to see what the Cavs are doing If Mitchell comes back. That's the key to their pieces. If he doesn't come back, then they're going to be in trouble. So we'll see where he goes. But that'll be interesting where he goes. But I just think Boston will be the favorite to come back next year.
Speaker 1:
All right, next year, all right.
Speaker 3:
Mister, what about you? I'll tell you what. Between these two teams, man, I have to go with Boston. But I have to agree with what Mike was saying earlier. You know, but probably neither one of these teams might not make it, just because of you know the disparity and just how injury you know saying, just come across the NBA with players getting hurt, taking time off or whatnot. But I would like to see Boston. I think they can make it back, but if not, I wouldn't be surprised if neither one of the teams make it back.
Speaker 1:
All right, bill round us out here.
Speaker 5:
Yeah, I'll say Boston, for all the reasons these guys said here as well. I think the Western is just much stronger than the East right now, so I think Boston has a clearer path getting back for next year.
Speaker 4:
Yeah absolutely.
Speaker 1:
I agree with Mike and Mr and Drew. Even there, I don't think either of these teams are going to make it back. But out of the two, the East is a much easier road to the finals than the west. So yeah, I'll take boston in this as well. But, bill, I got a question for you here, and does home court advantage truly matter in the nba finals?
Speaker 5:
I'm gonna go with. Yeah, I think it does. I think I've been to a couple, even playoff games down in Cleveland here and the crowd gets pretty ruckus, so I'll say it matters a little bit. I think the more veteran players, like Kyrie and them, may be used to it, but not everyone's had the experience in those crazy arenas. So I think it matters a little bit Okay.
Speaker 1:
Mister, what about you?
Speaker 3:
I don't know. I don't think so, man. I don't know. I don't think so, though, because you know basketball players, you know they're a little wired, a little different you know because you know, when you get on the court, you just on the court. You know you're on the court and you're playing. I mean, you know it's just a ball in that realm and the man that's in front of you. I don't think home field really has a big impact like other sports does. I don't know how to say it.
Speaker 1:
Alright, Bob, what about you?
Speaker 4:
It does. I think you look at these two teams. They played really well on the road this year. You look at these two teams. They play really well on the road this year. Um, you look at, uh, you know, with dallas closing it out in minnesota even though minnesota is not a big town but uh, I think the crowd kind of got luca gone. I think they started getting on him early and it kind of helped him out. So I don't, I don't think it's a an advantage to either team this year. I think, once again, as mr, once they get on the court they start getting focused and they just want to play some ball. So I think it's not like a football game where you get like really loud and you can't hear things going on, I think a little bit different, where you're not calling any plays or anything like that. So I don't think there's any difference in NBA courts.
Speaker 3:
Yeah.
Speaker 1:
I have to agree on that one. You know, like you said, I think they spur Luka on when they're going against him and I think it makes him better when he has the entire crowd going against him. So I agree with you on that one. But, drew, what about you?
Speaker 6:
Yeah, I think yes, but primarily no. You know, know, when the cabs were in the finals, I just looked to see what the prices were for the finals and they were like ungodly numbers. So I don't think like an average fan like myself would be going there to drink 10 beers and cheering the cabs. You know what I mean. I think you're getting you're pretty high ups going to these games that are probably as rowdy as that would be. But. But you go outside these stadiums. You see all the bars downtown, you see you know that's where you get your real fans out there going crazy. But so I'm going to go with Noe here.
Speaker 6:
I think these guys are highly talented. I don't think the crowd really matters to them. But I will say, kyrie, going back to Boston, I think that's going to be a little bit of a thing in his head because they mess with him so much. When he was in Brooklyn and he put them off and he stepped on the court and all that. So I think they have an incentive to go off on him. But I'm going to say no.
Speaker 1:
All right, Mike, what about you?
Speaker 7:
I want to say yes, it's a huge advantage, but I want to say no as well. I think that Minnesota Denver series maybe five or seven games the road team won somewhere in that range and Boston's lost a couple at home. Dallas has lost a couple at home and they both won some on the road. So I don't really know if there's an advantage or disadvantage going into this. I know Boston Dallas have played pretty good on the road. You know, like the Cavs Orlando series, the home team won every game. But this could be one of those where the home team wins the majority of them. But I'm going to say that the road team is going to win a couple of games in this series.
Speaker 2:
All right, tonyony round us out here. I gotta say yes and no, to be honest, depending on the matchup. Like, for instance, the warriors, I believe they swept in 2018. They were just all around better teams. So it all depends on the matchup. Having home court advantage does help, but if one team is just better than the other, home court advantage won't mean anything, because the Lakers won series in four and five games in 2001, 2002. So I would say, to conclude yes and no.
Speaker 1:
To conclude yes and no. All right, Old flip-flopping Tony there.
Speaker 3:
That is the classic answer right there.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I just I don't. I don't foresee it in the NBA. Mister, I think you hit the nail on the head. These guys get on the court and they're just there to ball Like they're just going to. They're just going to ball out, like they always do. So I don't think it does. I don't think it does in the NBA. And, bob, you made a good point. It's not like the NFL where they're trying to call plays and hear audibles at the line and they got the crowd pumping everything into it. Yeah, I don't think so in the NBA. But, tony, has the NBA become too international compared to years past, meaning the best players now are all foreign players and not American-born players. What are your thoughts on this?
Speaker 2:
I think that it's actually kind of a good thing that it's become a little more international. Although you had the Dream Team go on their run, you had the Redeem Team go on their run. It's kind of nice to see other countries catch up, like your Latvians, like your Australians. It's nice to see them catch up. It makes things a little more on even ground, like baseball, for instance, with USA you're playing against Japan, korea, dominican Republic. Honestly, I think that the USA kind of needs to step it up a little bit, because I believe the past five or six MVPs have all been foreign-born.
Speaker 1:
Yep, I think you're right on at least five or six. But mike, what about you?
Speaker 7:
I get texts from Fitty all the time about this. I know this is a controversial Fitty topic A hundred percent.
Speaker 7:
To some degree and I I've debated him on this. There's some these international players, stars right now are unbelievably skilled Joker's, the most skilled big guy I've ever seen in my life For a center, and it seems like a lot of the international players great shooters, very good passers, ball handlers very skilled. The debate I get from some people is that a lot of the international guys aren't as good defensively maybe as some of the top American players. So I can't really answer your question. I just know there's a lot of great, skilled international players, a lot of great American players. I don't understand why I've always wondered this why there's not more skilled, bigger US-born players, why they're not as skilled you know, shooting, ball handling as some of the international players. I think they're all great. But you know, I know Fitty's answer to this. He's all about the international players being greater.
Speaker 7:
We had debates about this. Maybe he's right, but you know he's still got to play defense, do other things and to be well-rounded. The big term now drives me nuts is a two-way player. Does that mean if a guy's not a two-way player he plays no defense? Or if he's a defender, he just just plays?
Speaker 1:
if he's a great defender he plays no offense, like this two-way player stuff drives me nuts, like I always thought a guy was supposed to try to do both play some offense and defense but I'm old and I'm old school, so I'll let the younger guys answer this I will push back a little bit on that two-way player, though I agree with you with these professional athletes, you know, excuse me calling it two-way players, but in my brief stint of playing basketball and by that I mean in eighth grade, when I was six foot five already in eighth grade, I was on the team or one of we'll say three reasons to take the jump ball, because nobody was over five foot six in West Virginia playing basketball in eighth grade to get rebounds and to block shots.
Speaker 1:
And I knew my role and I executed it flawlessly. I ended the season with 10 total points, a hundred rebounds and 150 blocks. Like I didn't let anybody into the paint and that's the only reason why I was there and I fouled out of eight out of 10 games. So there was that too as well. I made it count if I fouled out of eight out of ten games. So there was that too as well. I made it count if I fouled them too, like it wasn't these weak fouls either.
Speaker 7:
But I see what you're saying. Can I not rescind my statement? But I agree with what you're saying and I do want to say that some guys are better offensive players than other guys. I know that some guys are better offensive players than other guys. I know that some guys are better defensive players than other guys. It just drives me nuts. He's a two-way player. Not many guys are saying that play offense and defense very well is what I'm trying to say. I know what you're saying.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I get what you're saying. I got to push back a little bit on you every now and again. Mike, you know how we are here on the ride home rants. We'll give you a hard time when we can, but, drew, what about you?
Speaker 6:
Yeah, you see nowadays even this year, how Adam Silver did the end season tournament more towards kind of like a soccer style, what they do over there. So I think they're kind of leaning towards more of an international, maybe crowd, I'd say maybe to bring more people in. You see, they play games in Brazil and Mexico City and all this just to spread the game out even more. So maybe more international players are making their way in the NBA. But I think it's good. I think it's good to see the disparity, it's good to see more competition, it's good to see how different styles play together and how people can work out like Kyrie and Luka Luka's an international guy. Kyrie's around here. So how do their games intertwine with each other? It's hard, but they make it work. So how their games intertwine with each other, it's hard but they make it work. So it's cool to see both ends. But yeah, I think international is starting to take over a little bit more than we're used to.
Speaker 1:
All right, Bob, what about you? Yeah?
Speaker 4:
I think it is. I think just they get more work out there. I think you see these college kids going to play one year in college and then coming right into the NBA and you know, maybe if they stay in the NBA college a couple more years they'd be more experienced and, you know, learn some skills. You know the NIL deals are kind of hurting I think a little bit too. But you know, I think you look at these international guys. They play over there. They play actually at a pro level probably in some of the leagues over there for a couple of years until they get their game set where you know the Americans are just here playing one year of college against probably not very good competition than some of the leagues that you know these kids are playing and they're just jumping right into the pros right away. So I think maybe you get these kids in America here playing in the college a couple more years. It'll help them out a little bit, get their skills down and maybe we'll be able to keep up with them.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, and I'll kick back a little bit on you, these one and dones, or this transfer portal too as well. I mean the transfer, for I could have a whole show on the damn transfer portal and how I hate the transfer portal and everything like that too as well. But you know, uh, they, they're going to college for one reason they have to play one year of college basketball and go to the NBA draft, and that's it. And I think they need to do away with the what-it-dones. You need to spend, like in football, at least three years playing college ball until you can go to the draft.
Speaker 4:
In my opinion, yeah, unless they want to get that G League going. They got that G League. All those kids just come into the G League and play for a couple years in there. Maybe do that.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I'd be more okay with that, probably because I know they're never going to change that one-and-done rule in basketball and college basketball.
Speaker 4:
Draft them right out of high school and then they just go into the G League for a couple of years. That way at least you're getting coaches, you know coaching the system and stuff like that.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, that's a good point there too. Well, they used to be able to come right out of high school into the NBA and just send them right to the G League if they were only going to go to college for that one year to play ball and then that's it, and then go to the nba anyway. So, yeah, just send them right to the g league. I like that for sure, and let college basketball be the kids who actually want to go there to get an education and be an athlete too as well, and if something good happens out of it, then something good happens out of it. Um, but, mister, what about you?
Speaker 3:
hey, I think it's, you know, an international. I mean, I think you know America players are just, I mean, are better. I think it has become an international game. I think the NBA wants it to become more international and bring international players into the game. You just see how they're targeting just marketing From a marketing standpoint. You know they want to get that international exposure and we've seen the last five, six, well, probably the last 10 years, I would say, if you go back and just look and just see how many international players has been coming over here, um, uh, whether they're getting, you know, getting drafted, or uh, or even you know some. I'm going to some of the colleges over here, whether they're getting drafted, or even you know some of them going to some of the colleges over here or whatnot. But it's become an international show, you know, or entertainment, as they want to say, as they want to put it. But you know you have a lot of them coming over here.
Speaker 3:
Me personally, I just think american players are better at all. I mean, you know, um, all the way around. That's as far as with the, you know the two ways up, I mean you playing basketball, I mean basketball man, you gotta dribble, you gotta shoot and you gotta play defense. I mean, it's just, that's just part of the beast. It's not like you know, uh, football, where you have an offensive lineman and you know he's a guard or he's a tackle, you know he's not going to go and play DB, he's not going to play free safety at corner, you know. But in basketball, you know the transition it's like right now. You know you shoot and you play defense, you know. But you know, that's just my little, small little part, you know.
Speaker 3:
But it's becoming international. You know they targeting, you know the NBA is targeting and marketing out there and I think that's where they want the game to grow. Think about how they game, think about what it is right now, think about what it's going to look like 25 years from now, 20 years from now. You know, because you're telling me you know what I'm saying you're telling me there's not enough good American players in America. I mean, is that what we're saying now? I mean, you think about that. You know what we're saying in the NBA. You're telling me there's not enough good American players right now. That's something different.
Speaker 2:
Honestly, Like someone said earlier, a lot of those European players they're playing in a way professionally, they're playing up and they're playing with a little bit more of that grit and determination and while the American players have a lot of that, uh, kind of like the flash and the glitz and ritz.
Speaker 3:
I'm with you, I can agree with that. Yeah, I can agree with that. Yeah. And then the day may get out there and play you know, play hard, you know, and that's going to be your profession If you're, if you're a professional sports, you know, then play your sport, you know, professionally, and do it to the best of your ability. And you know, quit worrying about you know what little deal this person got or the other person got, Right. I'll just leave it like that.
Speaker 1:
I ain't going to go on a big rant, but yeah, I'm with you. What show are you on? Act, like we care about rants on the podcast. Like come on man.
Speaker 3:
Act like you've been here before. Oh man, that's right. Yeah, how many American players are going over there in international play, though?
Speaker 2:
I mean, you know it's like what are we talking about, man? You know, A handful have. But they've already played in the NBA and can really have a roster spot, so they'll end up playing overseas.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely, Bill. Let's get your thoughts on this one here.
Speaker 5:
Yeah, I mean tough to follow up, mr, but I I'm gonna go against him a little bit to say I think you just got to get the the best basketball players on the on the world or in the world. I think that's what they're getting now. The nba is the most attractive league to play in, um, I'm assuming probably the the best financially, um, best notoriety. Obviously tell me different uh brands involved with the nba and I think the best players want to play here and that's where the NBA is going to be taken and, as we see with the MVPs lately, happens to be a lot of international players. So I think Bob made a good point, kind of figured the college system out, because there's definitely talent in the US and talent in the basketball players, but got to see them start coming through here with the draft and hopefully playing a little bit more here. But I think you take the best players you want to see the best basketball on the court. So whether they're international or from the US, I think either way you want to see them play.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I mean, at the end of the day, I want to see the best players on the court. When I'm watching a basketball game, whether that's college, whether that's the NBA, I want to see the best players play, and right now, unfortunately, those are coming from overseas. And I think Bob's on to something, though that G League needs to step its game up. But we're going to round the show out here with this Bill, and we're going to start with you on this one which team who is not in the NBA finals this year has the best shot to make it next year?
Speaker 5:
uh, I'm gonna get them out the way early and say the calves, uh, maybe a little wishful thinking here, we gotta go with them. Uh, always gotta rep cleveland. I think we're gonna see some moves this offseason, though realistically I'm not sure what it'll be. I think we're going to see some moves this offseason, though realistically I'm not sure what it'll be. I think we're going to see some movement, but the problems you saw from Evan Mobley obviously Donovan Mitchell with got to get him back for this to be reality. But if you have him back, mobley can be what he was showing towards in the playoffs a little bit. Hopefully make a move or two and we'll see. I'm hoping crossed, but we'll see the Cavs.
Speaker 1:
All right, I had a feeling there was going to be at least one Cavaliers pick in here with this group. But, Mister, what about you?
Speaker 3:
I'm going to give you two of them. I might go with Cleveland as well, cleveland and I might have to go with Minnesota. I think they'll come back hungry and I think they'll add a few more pieces to that team and I think they'll be better. So, minnesota and Cleveland.
Speaker 4:
All right, bob, what about you? I'm going to go with Oklahoma. I don't know if I read into it. They got like about three or four first-round picks the next couple years. I think they got I can't remember the number now, but I was listening to someone talk about one of their games. They have a lot of loaded draft picks coming up in the next two or three years with other trades they made throughout the seasons the last couple of years. So I like Oklahoma to kind of build their talent up. They had a nice run this year, I think to get a little better. I'm not mistaken they were the number one team in the league in the West. I think they were the number one seed. I think they were, if I'm not mistaken. So you know the regular season doesn't matter too much, but I'd like for them to get a little better seasoned and, with those draft picks, help them out.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely Drew. What about you?
Speaker 6:
Yeah, I'm gonna give you guys a little bit of a nugget here. True story too. I went to the Bahamas for a wedding on New Year's Eve. A nugget here. True story too. Um, I went to the bahamas for a wedding on new year's eve. I was flying back and I sat next to brian windhorst on my plane not even kidding you, which is pretty cool. We started talking. I sent him from cleveland and he mentioned to me that lebron's contract's up and he said that's one of his destinations. So I'm not giving you some breaking news here on ride home rants, but that's straight from Wendy's mouth. So there you go. So next year is starting lineup Garland Mitchell, lebron, mobley, allen. Six-man year.
Speaker 1:
Bronny and then the Cavs are going to win it. I was going to bring that up. You know, there have been talks. I've heard rumors that LeBron is going back to Cleveland because that's where Bronny is going to go and he's going to play with his son one year and then hang it up. But you heard it from Wynhorse, so I'll take that.
Speaker 6:
I'll take, I'll take it, Wynhorse was a cool dude man. We sat there for three and a half hours. We just bullshitted it and he awesome dude.
Speaker 7:
And yeah, he, all right, I'll take it. But Mike, what about you? I hope it's the Cavs. I want to say that, but I, you know I'm going to be different than everybody and I think if healthy that's in quotations everybody could say that they might have been in the finals this year. I'm going to go with the Knicks. I don't like the Knicks, but I'm going to say the New York Knicks.
Speaker 1:
All right, New York gets it together next year and then makes the finals run. I like that pick, but Tony round us out here.
Speaker 2:
I got to say Eastern Conference. I will say Cleveland. Wildcard pick is New York because reasons and out West it's going to be tough, but I would say the best two nominees will probably be Oklahoma City and Minnesota. They're both young teams that showed a lot of promise. In a piece or two away, one of them could not only make the NBA finals, but win one in the next three years.
Speaker 1:
All right. Well, on that note, that is actually it for this episode and our NBA Finals preview show kicking off this Thursday Mavericks versus the Celtics. I hope everyone enjoyed this show. I want to thank all of my guests for coming on and breaking down the NBA finals for us here. I think we got a good one. I think it's going to go seven games, even though we at the end here you know a little bit of breaking news from Drew McLaughlin and you know Winhurst and everything like that. I hope that comes true so I can say you heard it here first.
Speaker 6:
One of the spots he said. He said one of the spots.
Speaker 1:
I'm hoping that's the case so we can say you heard it here first, but even not, you still heard it here first on Ride Home Rants. But that is going to do it for this week's episode. As always, if you enjoyed the show, be a friend, tell a friend. If you didn't tell them anyways, they might like it just because you didn't. That's going to do it.
