Ride Home Rants
Ride Home Rants
Hoops, Happiness, and Heated Debates
Imagine a world where NBA players debate the legacy of an NFL fullback. Intrigued yet? Our panel of experts kicks off this episode with a passionate discussion on the underrated or overrated status of Mike Alstott. Opinions swing wildly, but that’s just the beginning. We transition seamlessly into an unexpected exploration of life's deeper themes, pondering happiness and fulfillment with personal tales and societal insights that might just resonate with you.
The heart of the episode beats to the rhythm of basketball as we navigate the upcoming NBA season, spotlighting the New York Knicks and their playoff prospects. With Karl-Anthony Towns entering the fray, the dynamics have shifted, and we speculate whether it’s enough to elevate the Knicks past formidable opponents. As the conversation heats up, we dive into a candid debate about the best player in the league, pitting superstars like Joel Embiid, Anthony Edwards, Nikola Jokić, and Stephen Curry against each other. This isn't just a discussion; it's a celebration of the sport's evolving landscape and the players who define it.
No episode would be complete without acknowledging the strategic masterminds behind the teams. We highlight the unrivaled talent of coaches, with Erik Spoelstra earning accolades for his adaptability and success across different NBA eras. The chatter extends to potential championship outcomes and the looming question of LeBron James's retirement, bringing an element of lighthearted musing to our otherwise fiery discourse. Wrap it all up with our playful banter about preseason games and the undeniable allure of Madison Square Garden, and you've got a podcast episode that's both insightful and endlessly entertaining.
Subscribe for exclusive content: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1530455/support
Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREE
Tactical Brotherhood
The Tactical Brotherhood is a movement to support America.
Reaper Apparel
Reaper Apparel Co was built for those who refuse to die slowly! Reaper isn't just clothing!
Shankitgolf
Our goal here at Shankitgolf is for everyone to have a great time on and off the golf course
Dubby Energy
FROM GAMERS TO GYM JUNKIES TO ENTREPRENEURS, OUR PRODUCT IS FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BE BETTER.
Sweet Hands Sports
Elevate your game with Sweet Hands Sports! Our sports gloves are designed for champions,
Buddy's Beard Care
Buddy's Beard Care provides premium men's grooming products at an affordable price.
Deemed Fit
Be a part of our movement to instill confidence motivation and a willingness to keep pushing forward
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Follow us on all social media
X: @mikebonocomedy
Instagram: @mikebonocomedy
@tiktok: @mikebono_comedian
Facebook: @mikebonocomedy
Welcome everybody to another episode of the ride home rants podcast. This is, as always, your host, mike Bono. I have a great episode for us and a annual episode. We will be breaking down the NBA season. As the season is quickly approaching us, I have a panel of guests for us here.
Speaker 1:But first and foremost, the ride home rants podcast is brought to you by Sweet Hand Sports. Elevate your game with Sweet Hand Sports. Our sports gloves are designed and formulated for ultimate grip and durability. Achieve greatness with every match. Choose Sweet Hand Sports for the winning edge. Grip your victory at SweetHandSportscom. Use the promo code Mike Bono or no promo code, mike Bono or no, not Mike Bono. I'm sorry. We changed it. It's Bono10 and you will save 10% against SweetHandSports Promo code Bono10.
Speaker 1:Also, the Rod Home Rants podcast is brought to you by Buddy's Beard Care. Buddy's Beard Care provides premium men's grooming products at an affordable price. Products are made in Ohio and Buddy's Beard Care provides premium men's grooming products at an affordable price. Products are made in Ohio and Buddy's Beard Care supports local. The majority of their supplies are from other Ohio-based companies. This is a great cause helping out Ohio. You can also find them on social media at Buddy's Beard Care or online at buddiesbeardcarecom. Use the promo code BONO1515 and he will save you 15%.
Speaker 1:Lastly, the Ride Home Rants podcast is thrilled to have this new sponsor and deemed fit a clothing apparel company from first responders for first responders. All the proceeds go to helping veterans and first responders alike. They're phenomenal. I'm wearing one of their hats right now. I support everything that has to do with first responders, their mental and physical health. This also has to do with a lot of them that had to work through COVID, so it goes to a good cause. Check them out, mike Bono, the promo code save yourself 20%.
Speaker 1:All those links are in the description. Check them out, mike Bono, the promo code save yourself 20%. All those links are in the description. Check them out, you won't be disappointed. That being said, I'm going to have my guests introduce themselves. I have the usual suspects here for our round tables, but we're going to go ahead and we're going to start with everybody's favorite manager of the podcast. I need your name and to answer was Mike Allstott. We're going to go ahead and we're going to start with everybody's favorite manager of the podcast. I need your name and to answer was Mike Allstott, an underrated or overrated NFL player and are most people truly happy Fitty, let's start with you.
Speaker 2:Everybody knows me I'm Fitty. I think I should just legally change my name to Fitty it's been so long with me going by that. But I would say mike allstock was an underrated nfl player. I think he belongs in the hall of fame, uh for sure, with what he did at his size. And I would say most people, if they were truly, truly honest, would say they are not happy with what is going on in their life. So I would say most people are truly not happy. Probably 60% out of 100% are not happy.
Speaker 1:All right, mike, let's go to you.
Speaker 4:Yes, mike Worrell, I'm from Ohio, my wife's from Ohio, currently in Illinois, although I was in West Virginia for about five years. Recently. To answer Spitty's two questions, mike Allstat was probably not underrated. To his team and teammates and coaches I enjoyed watching him play. He was an old school player competitor, I'm sure. To the media and the general public I would say he probably is overrated. Are most people happy? I would say no, I'm miserable. 75% of the time I would say when I was coaching it was probably 90%, so it's come down a little. So there's my answer on that.
Speaker 1:As long as it's coming down, mike as for, but next on the list we got JJ.
Speaker 5:JJ, austintown, ohio. Mike's All-Star overrated, overrated. Like everybody praises Mike All-Star, I just feel like he's just a little overrated, not a Like everybody praises Mike Alstott, I just feel like he's just a little overrated. Not a whole lot a little. And are most people happy? I'm going to say 70% of people are not happy.
Speaker 1:All right, and we're going to talk about that. Mike Alstott answer here in a minute. Jj, but I got to get Tony in here.
Speaker 3:Hey guys, my name's Tony. I'm from Shaker Heights, ohio. I will say that Mike Allstott is underrated because you don't see fullbacks a lot anymore. I don't have really the best memory of watching him play, but he definitely served well in his position. And are people happy, judging by the brown season?
Speaker 1:no, I'm gonna say that these early people are not happy uh, I'll say you know, 100 of people in cleveland aren't happy, uh, with the browns at all times. Uh, mike, allst 100% underrated as a fullback.
Speaker 3:JJ, don't make that face at me.
Speaker 1:I'm not saying that because I'm a Bucs fan. He was like Mike said. He was at old school. Put it in your face, pounded it down the middle and he was fast. You don't see a fullback that can move like that and catch out of the backfield. I think he should be a Hall of Famer. I think, yeah, Bring him to Canton, Bring him to Ohio. He'll make people so much happier having Mike Alstead at Ohio, at Canton.
Speaker 5:He's a fullback. He does what fullbacks are supposed to do. He's doing his job. Yeah, how is that overrated? I just feel like, don't get me wrong, he was one heck of a football player Very physical, run through people, but he was. That's what fullbacks do.
Speaker 1:And he had speed for a fullback.
Speaker 5:He had decent speed.
Speaker 1:Oh, give me a decent speed. He was outrunning people after he ran people over.
Speaker 5:But that was back in the day when linebackers were like not that athletic.
Speaker 1:Oh, so you say in today's NFL he would make it.
Speaker 5:Listen in today's NFL, he would be a tight end. Maybe that's if he could learn how to catch the ball. He caught it on the back foot all the time.
Speaker 2:Man Lou. You gotta remember, you gotta remember, you gotta remember. He played against guys like Brian. You got to remember, you got to remember. He played against guys like Brian Urlacher and he played against guys like Ray Lewis and dominated those guys at the point of contact. And there ain't linebackers like that in the NFL, no more.
Speaker 1:You're not allowed to hit like linebackers hit back then.
Speaker 5:True, that's very true. But I mean in today's NFL he would be getting flagged for lowering his head.
Speaker 1:You're right about that.
Speaker 5:He lowered his head a lot.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we're getting off topic here, though, because that question though, but we're going to start and talk about all things. Nba. Mike, I want to start with you on this one who is the best team in the NBA? Start the season.
Speaker 4:That's a hard question and I was wrong. Last year I think I took Phoenix and Milwaukee to get to the finals. It just didn't work out for those two teams. As I'm watching the Cavs-Pistons preseason game here, I'm worried about my Cavs. They're playing everybody tonight. The Pistons have like 62 points the first half and are leading them. I will say the top two teams as of today. It could change like four or five times during this long season. I'm going to say Oklahoma City in the west and Boston in the east.
Speaker 1:Okay, all right, tony. What about you?
Speaker 3:I'm going to have to say that the best team obviously you got to go with the defending champs Boston. Boston's going to be the best team out in the East and I'm going to say Minnesota out of the West. All right, JJ.
Speaker 5:The best team in the NBA is definitely the champs Boston. They're the champs until somebody beats them. So it's definitely Boston number one. And they're coming out the east and then in the west. Matt's tough. I'm going to go with the LA Lakers. Oh, la Lakers.
Speaker 1:All right, oh, alright just, oh JJ, we're going to have words after this.
Speaker 5:Oh yeah you already know where this is heading. I do. I already know where you're going with this.
Speaker 1:Biddy, see if you can save us here.
Speaker 2:I would say probably the best overall team in the NBA right now. Not saying they're going to win it, but based off talent. They have the most talented player and a great supporting cast. It's the Philadelphia 76ers. Paul George and Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid are pretty talented, pretty talented. I'm not saying they're going to be the number one seed or anything, but just saying they're probably the most talented. And if I have to pick a runner up, I'm probably going to say the Thunder, because they're pretty young and they're pretty athletic.
Speaker 1:Okay, I was not expecting the Sixers as a pick from anybody on this panel, but I'm not necessarily mad at it. They made a lot of moves in the off season, so we'll see what happens with that. That's, that's.
Speaker 5:I don't know man, paul George just folds in the playoff every every year.
Speaker 1:We're just talking to start the season.
Speaker 5:Okay, regular season.
Speaker 2:Yeah, to start the season. They'll be world leaders.
Speaker 5:Oh, they're going to be good in the regular season, for sure. They're probably going to be two, three in the East. They'll kill the regular season, no doubt.
Speaker 4:FYI Paul George is already hurt. I'm not sure how long he's out. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:If we're just talking talent, I gotta go. I gotta go with the 76 or six.
Speaker 1:Right, well, betty, um, on that note, which team has the most approved?
Speaker 2:I think the team that has the most most to prove is probably the Lakers, and here's why you have two guys there in LeBron James and Anthony Davis, whose careers really have not excelled there at all. You have a first-time head coach who has no experience coaching at any level, and JJ Redick and you're under pressure of the LA Lights, so I think they're the one that have the most to prove, because you have LeBron James in the twilight of his career, no longer a top-ten player in the NBA. You have Anthony Davis arguably, who could be a top 10 player depending on your rankings, and a first-time head coach there in LeBron playing with his son. So I do think they have the most to prove.
Speaker 1:All right, JJ. What about you?
Speaker 5:I'm going to say the Philadelphia 76ers, just because Paul George has never really gotten the job done anywhere he's been. And then Embiid and his well. He's been injured most of the time for the playoffs, but he hasn't been able to get over to hump either. And now they're teaming up. So I mean this is their shot to prove that they can actually get it done and not have any excuses.
Speaker 1:All right, tony, what about you?
Speaker 3:Well, James took my answer. I was going to go with Philly. I'm going to have to say the LA Clippers, because they've only made one Western Conference Final appearance in their franchise history and the Clippers have always been. They're always a perennial playoff team, but they can never seem to make it past the second round, no matter what. And if Kawhi stays healthy, maybe the Clippers can make a deep run. And they've got that new arena, the Intuit Dome. Maybe that'll spark some sort of momentum for them. So I'm just going to go with the LA Clippers.
Speaker 1:All right, mike, we're on the south here, okay.
Speaker 4:I'm going to go with Fiddy's team. I don't know how long it's been his team. I know the last couple of years, the New York Knicks they have the Ogre Thibodeau head coach. They've made a lot of moves and I think he's made a lot of moves. I think he's triggered a lot of those moves and they've made some huge trades the last two years. Now they've got rid of Julius Randle, dee Vincenzo, brought in Carl Anthony Towns and I think this is it for the ogre Thibodeau. Like this is it? Petty pity they can't make many more trades to finally get over the hump.
Speaker 2:I agree with you on that, mike.
Speaker 1:I agree with you that's a perfect answer, mike, because you know. My next question here is you know how do you see the Knicks going and doing this year? How far do you see the Knicks going and doing this year? How far do you see them going?
Speaker 2:Is this for Mike or me? Is this for?
Speaker 4:me Bono.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4:You know I don't know how they're going to mesh with Carl Anthony Towns. You know they lost a warrior, d Vincenzo. He's a winner, but I still see them at least being able to stay in the top four in the East and after that, you know, injuries and lots of things come into factor. I still think they could get a first-round home advantage series and be in the top four Ds.
Speaker 1:Okay, tony, what about you?
Speaker 3:I think that the Knicks had their best shot at making the conference finals, but on the other hand, it saved us from New York-Boston, which I probably would not have watched the New York-Boston Eastern Conference final. I'm not going to lie, but I think that the Knicks do have the talent to finish in the top four in the East. But you're dealing with Orlando Cleveland. Their arch rival, indiana Milwaukee, miami isn't going to stay down for long. I see the Knicks probably getting a first round exit.
Speaker 1:Okay, all right, jj. What about you? How far do you see the Knicks going this year?
Speaker 5:you, how far do you see the Knicks going this year? Um, they'll probably end up being fifth or sixth seed and they probably make it to the second round before they get bounced. I just I don't feel like Carl Anthony Towns are going to fit them very well. I honestly I think they were. They were better before the trade, but that still remains to be seen. But I feel like fifth, sixth seed probably bouncing second round.
Speaker 1:All right, vinny, talk about your team. How far do you see them going?
Speaker 2:I think their ceiling is the second seed and I think, depending on how the seeding goes, they could make the finals. The thing is, last year when they ended up losing in the second round, it was the depth that got to them. So if you do the pieces that they had and you don't take in Carl Anthony Towns and you leave the other guys like Dee, vincenzo and Hart coming off the bench and Miles McBride and Precious and probably the rookie Tyler Kolek or a couple of the other guys that they got, that bench is probably better than half of the starting fives in the NBA. Now you lose that, you know, and that bench and that depth. So you know that's what hurt him last year, pound for pound, starting, you know, with uh, with cat and mckell bridges and uh, brunson and um, you know all those guys you know could it, they'll be talented.
Speaker 2:I just don't know if they can get over the hump and win a championship, but I like the team that they had, because the other um key to was you know if you would have had a healthy Mitchell Robinson. Probably this trade doesn't happen as well. So I think they'll finish second because they'll play balls to the wall in the regular season all 82 games They'll probably be a 50, 55 win team. It'll just depend on how it gets shaken out in the playoffs with the seating, because, as we've seen last year, the seating really did matter for the East.
Speaker 4:Pity, if I might say I also forgot to mention they lost another glue guy that your backup center has gone.
Speaker 2:Yeah, hartenstein, yeah, that's a key loss to me. Yeah, for sure, I agree with you on that. Yeah, I don't you on that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't know why. I'd like to see the Knicks relevant again. It kind of brings back the old 90s. You know, Bulls, Knicks, kind of that rough and tough teams that were always seem to be there in the playoffs and everything like that. I'd like to see them go far. I don't think they will, but you know, it ain't what it is. So, Finney, let's go to you right here on this one. But who's the best player in the NBA right now?
Speaker 2:I would say because we all seen it. I watched it in the first round beta Knicks fan uh, semi-healthy Joel, and Joel Embiid is a top three player. A healthy Joel Embiid is the most unstoppable offensive force in the NBA and I think we've seen that in that series. So right now I would say a healthy Joel Embiid is the best player in the NBA. If he's not healthy, then I'm going to go with the Joker, Okay.
Speaker 1:Okay, jj, I see you rubbing that chin. I have a feeling I know where you're going to go with this. Please don't disappoint me right now.
Speaker 5:I'm not going to go there because I know he's not the best player in the league anymore. So I'm debating between two people and you know what. I'm going to go with Anthony Edwards. I'm going to shake it up. I really like his game. He plays both sides of the ball, energetic athletic jump shot. Take it to the hole, shut down your best player and he's only going to get better.
Speaker 1:So I'm going with anthony edwards okay, not a bad pick uh, tony, what about you?
Speaker 3:I'm gonna have to say I like the joker for sure. He did help serbia to a bronze medal when they honestly could have won gold in Paris. But USA said uh-uh. And speaking of that USA team, I'm going to say Steph Curry, because Steph Curry can shoot threes. He may not dunk the ball, but he's a good leader, he's a good shooter and, honestly, he's just a good player.
Speaker 1:Don't think he's lost a step yet.
Speaker 3:I honestly, maybe he he slowed down a bit, but he's still good enough to where, if the Olympics, when the Olympics are back in LA, I could see Curry making a positive impact for Team USA.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 3:And the.
Speaker 1:Warriors too. All right, Mike, what about you?
Speaker 4:I had it down to two guys, anthony Edwards and Shea Gilgis Alexander, for Oklahoma City. But I don't know how Edwards is going to mesh playing with Julius Randle. I just don't know how that's going to go. That will change his game any, so I put Shea Gilgis Alexander, oklahoma City.
Speaker 1:All right, not a bad pick. I kind of got to agree with Biddy on this one. If Embiid stays healthy, I think he's unstoppable From what I've seen, especially over in Paris and everything like that. If he can stay healthy, yeah, watch out, that's a big. If that's a big. If it's a big. If, yeah, he hasn't been healthy his entire career, but if he can find a way to stay healthy, then yeah.
Speaker 5:I think he said he's not playing any back-to-backs this year.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that probably makes sense. I think that's typically when he starts to fade is when they have a bunch of back-to-backs. He can't handle the back-to-backs.
Speaker 2:Well, and that's the reason too. Going back to the Knicks, that's why they'll get probably a second seed, because guys will rest and the Ogres guys, as me and Mike like to call them, the Ogre. The Ogres guys play balls to the wall all 82 games with no break. So that's why they'll rack up 50-55 wins, because that starting five will just crush people, because they'll play consistently and they won't take any days off. That's just how Tibbs goes with his guys in games.
Speaker 4:Bono, can I give you my underrated best player?
Speaker 1:You 100% can.
Speaker 4:Okay, I just want to throw that out there If the Ogre doesn't run him into the ground. The next Jalen Brunson I want to throw. He is close to being up there in my opinion.
Speaker 1:Okay yeah, we'll see how that plays out. Yeah, I'm not sure. But with that there, mike, I think I know the answer for this next question for you, and is it if you are starting an expansion NBA team, what's the one player you are taking to start the team right now?
Speaker 3:Are you?
Speaker 4:asking me. Are you asking me? Are you asking me? Yeah, Mike, I'm going to say Brunson for the Knicks I would want. There's several I would love to have In a close second.
Speaker 1:Jalen Brown from the Celtics. Okay, All right, Tony. What about you Starting the expansion team? Who are you building that team around?
Speaker 3:I got to say the Joker, nikola Jokic, because he can rebound, he can shoot, he can defend. And the second player, this is going to be out of left field, but if you really put him around the right people, this guy can definitely succeed. John.
Speaker 1:Okay, all right, jj, what about?
Speaker 5:you Um LeBron James jr? No, I'm joking.
Speaker 1:It's like you want to fight tonight, jj.
Speaker 5:Um, I'm going to go with Wemby Today. If I had to start one day, I'd probably take him, Just build a team around.
Speaker 2:Okay, all right, solid pick Biddy, I'm going to go with one of Mike Worrell's warriors here and I'm going to go with because, because he can do everything and he's relentless, relentless. I'm gonna pick josh hart because the guy can start and the guy can come off the bench and if you have that type of energy infused into your team, it elevates everyone around you that you can play, you know, 48 minutes, 45 minutes non nonstop as a six foot four power forward. A guy like that elevates everybody else around him. So I'm going to go with Josh Hart, one of my world's warriors. That's a tongue twister right there too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm surprised you got through that one. Honestly, I wouldn't have been able to do it, but I got to go. Luca for me, I think, just his talent alone and his sheer size and just being able to, just how he carries himself yeah, I'd started around around. Luca would be my go-to there. Biddy, let's stay with you. Who's the best coach in the NBA?
Speaker 2:I got to say it's Eric's bolster Um, and here's my reason why. He has coached through the good, the bad and the ugly with the heat and he coached in a really good times and he went to four championships with LeBron and one, two. But he also went to two championships without LeBron James and ain't. But he also went to two championships without LeBron James and too many people usually surviving LeBron James as their, as their coach. So you know, he came through and he persevered on that, you know, and he was under, you know, undermanned, in those couple of finals against the Lakers and LeBron during the fake championship with COVID.
Speaker 3:Oh my goodness, it was a fake championship. They were all fake that year. It went sick oh my goodness, it was a fake championship.
Speaker 5:They were all fake that year. It went sick, it went sick, it was fake.
Speaker 3:It was a fake championship.
Speaker 2:Not. Covid wasn't fake, the championship was fake.
Speaker 5:Somehow did the rules change when they were playing that championship game. I don't know.
Speaker 2:It was all fake. They didn't have to play the whole season. People didn't have to come back and play games, whatever. It was all fake, All the sports the championships have an asterisk that year.
Speaker 4:No, no asterisk.
Speaker 2:They have an asterisk but in all seriousness, eric Spolsch was's coached a bunch of undrafted free agents, guys from division three basketball, a bunch of guys that were cast off, and he has flourished with those guys. So I gotta say eric spolstra okay, jj.
Speaker 1:What about you?
Speaker 5:um, um, let me see here I'm probably going to go. Hey, that's a hard one to follow.
Speaker 2:Because you want to say Eric Spolster too. I know I can see it in his face.
Speaker 5:I'm just going to say Eric Spolster, because I'm going to piggyback on what you said. I mean he was there, he I mean he was a video guy worked his way up. Uh, coach LeBron survived that and um still got back to the championship with a different team and they're still good now, like they're probably gonna if Jimmy Butler stays healthy last year, they probably make a run to the Eastern Crofton finals.
Speaker 3:So yeah, yeah all Tony, what about you? We're going to piggyback off of what those other two guys said. I believe it's Eric Spolstra, but I'm going to go a little bit deeper into it. He's only missed the playoffs twice in his coaching career and by no more than two games. There was one year Miami was 11 and 30 at the halfway point of the season and they finished 30-11 and only lost out in the playoffs on a tiebreaker. And he helped lead an eight-seeded Miami to the finals, where they lost to Denver and that Miami team was three minutes from losing to Chicago. I think if DeMar DeRozan's daughter was there in the audience screaming at every Heat player, they might have lost that game. But that's another story for another day. He's just one. He just does a lot with a little and the Heat culture. You could tell they have a really great culture because even if they don't have the best season, they're always playing hard and they always just. You can never count them out, no matter okay, mike.
Speaker 1:Uh, why is uh eric spostro the best coach in the nba's? Because that seems to be everybody's answer you.
Speaker 4:You should know my philosophy on that by now, bono. Um, if you have good players, stay healthy, you're probably a pretty good coach that year. If you don't have good players, get a lot of injuries, what have you things go then. You weren't a good coach that year. So, like right now, Jason Kidd and the Celtics coach are the two best coaches in the Celtics because they won it all. I think the best coaches this year will be the two coaches that get to the NBA finals. They'll be deemed as the top two hot item coaches and the media will go nuts how great they are that year. That's how I stand on it.
Speaker 2:Well, mike, let me say this though, mike, let me say this right the thing though with Spolstra, he's he's coached a bunch of nobodies, though Like people don't even say Popovich anymore, because he had some of the best players in NBA history on his team, with David Robinson and Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, and without them guys, he's basically a bum Like he can't he can't coach nothing.
Speaker 2:Eric's bolster is taken D three players in the NBA D three players and made them very, very good players in a bunch of undrafted free agents. So I know we always talk about this. Mike, you know the heat culture is a real thing. Like Tony said, you know you think greatness and somebody like Eric Spolstra elevates players. Where, where Popovich was elevated because of his players, he didn't elevate those players to greatness, those great players elevated him to greatness. Spolstra elevates his players. That's a hard thing to find in coaching, as we all know, and, Mike, you know that because you're a longtime coach.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I knew Mike was going to give a a a PC answer there and can I?
Speaker 4:I assume you're talking Duncan Robinson, who played one year in Division III. Yeah, then he transferred and was a three-year starter at Michigan. That's three-player Right. I do know they had two All-Stars last year Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Buckets. I like Spolcher, bam Adebayo and Jimmy Buckets. I like Spolter. When he wins big, he has some good players. I'm not disagreeing with anything you say, fetty, I'm not. I'm not. Jimmy Buckets and him are on the outs this year.
Speaker 1:I don't know if they'll make the top eight in the East. That's tough and, mike, I might hold you to an answer on this one, so we're going to go to you on this one here. So who's your NBA finals preview?
Speaker 4:Oklahoma City Thunder. They were the top seed in the West last year. They might have got knocked out in the second round. I think that you know a lot of young guys. They got Shea Gilgis Alexander and they picked up Hartenstein from the Knicks. It's going to be a great backup center for them. They also got this Alex Caruso, who was a key guy, you know, when the Lakers won it that year. They just picked him up from the Bulls. Those will be two really good, hard-nosed role players for them, I guess, if Boston stays healthy. They made it look easy last year in the playoffs and they got a lot of breaks with other teams in the East being injured, and all when they played them. I see injuries not a factor. Oklahoma city and Boston.
Speaker 1:Okay, tony, what about you?
Speaker 3:I would have to say, as far as the finals goes, I'm going to just go on a complete whim and say Philadelphia finally gets to the finals and I take philly against man. This is gonna be tough. I say philly against minnesota, two teams that haven't really had a lot of deep playoff success. I say the finals will be philly minnesota, because the west is stacked in, the east is honestly kind of stacked okay, fanny, what about you?
Speaker 2:I'm going to say I'm going to go with the nuggets because I still think their championship window is there and I I'm gonna I mean I'm gonna say kind of as a fan, but I do like what they're doing I'm gonna say the Knicks I think the ogre finally gets to the finals, you know, and and he shows that he is a good coach because he is a, he is a brilliant basketball mind and guys will play through pain and injuries and everything else for him, and Brunson will, I think will take them and Josh Hart. So I'm gonna go the Knicks and the Nuggets okay, jj.
Speaker 1:What about you?
Speaker 5:I'm going to go, coming out the east, I'm gonna go with Philly and then coming out the west, I'm going to go the LA Lakers and, in shocking fashion, lebron James leads them to another championship, and then a rookie head coach wins the championship. Look at that picture. I can see it right now.
Speaker 1:If the.
Speaker 2:Lakers win a championship. I'm retiring as the manager of Ride Home. Rants and JJ, you can take over Ride Home.
Speaker 1:Rants. I'll shut the show down. I'll shut it down right now.
Speaker 3:I think if the Lakers win, lebron James retires Like. Lebron James announces his retirement right then and there.
Speaker 5:Oh, yeah, yeah. After he wins it this year, he's going to announce his retirement For sure You're probably not wrong.
Speaker 1:And JJ, you kind of answered the next question, because my next question was who's going to be the NBA champion? I mean, you already said it's the, it's the Lakers, it's the unfortunate Lakers, it's the.
Speaker 5:Lakers.
Speaker 1:With King James.
Speaker 3:Oh man, I'm not the biggest Lakers fan, but come on, man.
Speaker 1:It's not even a hate for the Lakers thing. It's just I'm tired of hearing about LeBron James. That's really what it amounts to.
Speaker 5:I mean when you've been in your prime for your whole career. I mean I guess everybody gets tired of him. I understand Nobody's ever done it at this level at his age. There's waiting for him to fall off a cliff and it ain't happening. It's not happening, like with Tom Brady, with football.
Speaker 3:I mean, yeah, 25 years. Kevin Harvick raced in NASCAR for almost 25 years.
Speaker 1:I mean, there's kind of this one guy you know that did it way better than him, and you know that did it way better than him, and you know it's Michael Jordan and if you fight, you fight me, fight me, go ahead, fight me on this.
Speaker 5:Listen, listen, I'm not my list, Michael Jordan's number one like Michael.
Speaker 5:Jordan Cause all, and the reason why he's number one is because nobody's ever going to go undefeated in championship. That's it. Thank you that that's got them in number onefeated in championships that's it. Thank you, that's got them in number one spot. That's it. That's the deciding factor. Lebron James number two, Kobe three and then after that it gets a little tough. I'm an Irishman fan, so it'll be like number four and so on, but that's the only reason I have Michael Jordan above LeBron.
Speaker 3:James on my list Shout out a thought. I think that if Jordan, if Phil Jackson doesn't get fired after the 98 season and Jordan comes back, I think the Bulls and Lakers face off in the 99 finals. And I think here's what, and hear me out the Lakers win the 99 finals and then Jordan retires after the 99 season but doesn't come back for the third time, like a changing of the guard.
Speaker 5:Jordan wasn't giving up nothing. He wasn't handing nothing over. He probably was not. He wasn't having it.
Speaker 1:He's still not there was a question that somebody asked him that if his bulls team could beat and I think it was when LeBron was with the heat and asked if they could beat them. And Jordan goes yeah, it'd probably be by three or four points. And they go why such a close game? And Jordan says cause, we're all in our sixties right now.
Speaker 2:He said he could still beat that at his age, mike, I think that was the dream team versus the LeBron.
Speaker 1:Olympic team. You're right, vinny, but still and Jordan is a NASCAR owner too.
Speaker 3:His team is for a racing championship with 23XI.
Speaker 1:They got a couple people there too as well. I know Tony, me and you are probably the only two on this panel that know about that and what's going on there. That's a show for another day, tony. Finny who's your VHF? I'm a huge race guy. Oh, you are, Mike. I forgot about that. All right, Finny, you and JJ, you guys are out of this.
Speaker 4:We're off the island Bono more sprint cars. I'm a World of Outlaw sprint car guy but I follow NASCAR because one of my guys, dave Blady, from up by Youngstown his son Ryan Blady, so I follow him.
Speaker 1:Former champion, defending champion, racing for another championship in the round of eight coming up this Sunday. Anyways, Spitty, who's your NBA champion?
Speaker 2:wow, we got way off track there even though I love the Knicks, I'm going to say it's going to be the Nuggets. I think the Joker gets potentially another MVP. He goes in the great you know the realm of the greatness of you know another NBA championship, another regular season MVP. I think he's right there. Then you're talking with Larry Bird and Michael Jordan as one of the greatest players if he gets another MVP. So I think it's going to be the Nuggets. If they play the Knicks, I think they beat the Knicks 4-1 in the finals.
Speaker 1:Okay, tony, what about you?
Speaker 3:I say that Philly is going to. I say Philly, Minnesota will go to six games. I see Minnesota winning their first title in franchise history.
Speaker 1:Okay, mike.
Speaker 4:I guess I got to. I picked Oklahoma City and Boston. I don't like to say this, but I'll take the Celtics to repeat Fetty Joker has a beard, by the way. Did you know that?
Speaker 2:No, I did not know that.
Speaker 4:If you'd watch a preseason game like I do, you'd know that Not a big beard. I am not watching NBA preseason.
Speaker 2:It's like watching a JV basketball game on a Saturday at noon.
Speaker 4:Okay, I'm watching the Cavs-Pistons right now. Jv Becker staff is coaching for the Pistons. Cavs are playing everybody. They're getting after like a regular season game. Sorry, mondo, I'll get off that.
Speaker 1:No, you're fine. I love to hear you two bicker. Honestly, it's like an old married couple to watch you two. It's fantastic to me. But Mike, mike, you already gave your answer on who's your, who's your NBA champion. I'm so lost after you two.
Speaker 4:Just had a little interaction. Celtics repeat.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah.
Speaker 4:Although I would like to see the Ogre win it. Okay, the next games of Madison Square might be the most electric home court you know crowd in any sport. And the organ music. How can you not like watching Knicks games? That organ music playing the whole game? Gotcha yeah.
Speaker 1:We, I don't okay. I just want to like break down the series of events that just kind of happened there. Like JJ gave his answer and somehow we got onto NASCAR and the on the NBA show and, yeah, like we went from LeBron James to JJ's NBA champion, to NASCAR, back to I don't know how. That was the most ADD thing I think we've had on the show so far.
Speaker 2:That's why we're the Ride Home Rams podcast. We rant about anything.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, mike. Uh, this one's for you. Uh, should lebron james retire? And why is the answer yes?
Speaker 4:I have no idea, bono. I, I just I, just in the back of my mind. I was hoping that somehow he'd finish his last couple years, come back to Cleveland, but I don't see that happening now. It looks like there's no end in sight for him. He's still in great shape. Apparently, I'm the only one on the call here to watch preseason. I watched him. He looks like he's 25 years old out there playing. So I don't know. I guess it's up to him. Whenever he feels like doing it, he'll do it.
Speaker 1:All right, tony, what about you?
Speaker 3:I think that LeBron will go as long as he remains in his prime. Like there is an outside shot, we could see him in the 20 Olympics in LA for all we know. I think he'll go as far as his body takes him all right biddy.
Speaker 1:What about you?
Speaker 2:I think this will be it. I think he's playing with his son, you know, you don't know how the season's gonna turn out with with reddick as the coach. I mean, it could go down in flames or it could, you know, it could be decent form, I think. I think it's gonna depend on what happens with them if they go get rolled in the playoffs again. You know, I think and he's played with his son I just think it's time to go, because no one wants you. You know, in reality, because you're 41 years old, you're gonna be 41 years old.
Speaker 2:Everybody has these young players. You're no longer a top 10 player in the league, maybe not even top 15, probably top 20. You know, and and you you are in all seriousness, though you are someone who has gotten every coach you were at except Miami fired or multiple coaches fired. You know that's a hard thing to to to take to as your coach. Do you really want that, you know, on your team? So I would to to take to as your coach. Do you really want that, you know, on your team? So I would think, in his best interest, it probably is to retire, because I don't think there's a pathway. I know we all joke about it and jj says it as a fan, but I don't know if there's really a clear path for him to ever win a championship again, and that window might be completely slammed shut because there's so many other good players and great teams right now yeah, absolutely, uh, jj, uh.
Speaker 1:President of the lebron james fan club. Uh, why do you want to see him like die on the court at 100 years old?
Speaker 5:because he listen. He's earned the right to go out on his own terms. He's probably gonna be playing to his other sons in the league and then after that he's probably going to be partial owner of the Lakers. After that, he's never going away. He's going to be on your TV screen for as long as you guys are watching basketball. He's going to be front and center, so let's get used to it.
Speaker 1:I agree with that 100%. I mean he'll definitely be part owner of a team. I mean he'll definitely be part owner of a team. I don't think it's going to be the Lakers. I think Cleveland kind of accepts him back. He'll go there, but you know it might not be. Tom Brady shocked everybody and is now a partial owner of the Raiders, so you know it might. Who knows where that will happen? But yeah, he'll be. Yeah, he's never leaving the NBA in any way, shape or form.
Speaker 1:Unfortunately it's going to rot in the back of my cerebellum for every week. Jj, last question here.
Speaker 5:Which coach is the most underrated in the NBA? I am going to go with JJ Redick. Everybody thinks he's going to fail. It's going to be a big circus, it's going to go down in flames and I think he's going to surprise a lot of people. He has no experience. I understand no high school, no college, no, nothing. But we all know LeBron James is really coaching that team, so that's why they're going to succeed and JJ Redick is going to look good in the profit.
Speaker 1:All right, I mean I'm not mad at the answer with JJ Redick, I think. I mean JJ Redick, I mean he was a decent player, I'll give him that. I mean he was up there and I think players like that make better coaches than they did.
Speaker 5:I think he knows the game real well. I mean, in the NBA he was a role player, but at Duke he was a guy I'm he. I mean in the NBA he was a role player, but at Duke he was a guy he. I'm sure he learned a lot from coach K, so I think I think he's going to be in good shape, like these first couple of years is going to be. It's going to be tough, but I think, with him having LeBron as a player coach, it's just going to help him out a whole lot.
Speaker 1:I got you Biddy. What about you?
Speaker 2:I would say I do think the Ogre is a very underrated coach, but I'm going to say I think it's Rick Carlyle from the Pacers, because wherever Rick Carlyle's been, he's won and he took a not very good Pacers team, you know, and got them to the Eastern conference finals. So I would say he's probably the most underrated because he did win that championship with with the Mavs back in the day. So I'm going to say I'm definitely going to go with Rick Carlisle, okay.
Speaker 3:Tony. What about you? I'm going to say Mike Brown, the Sacramento Kings, because Mike came from the Greg College coaching tree. He coached the Lakers. He got an unfair shake when getting fired five games into one of his seasons. He led the Cavs to the playoffs, even though they should have maybe won a championship. He did help when the Cavs got back to relevance. He did coach, was an assistant with the Pacers and with the Warriors, so he's got the winning pedigree.
Speaker 1:All right, Mike. What about you Round us out here for the end of the show?
Speaker 4:Well, I want to mention Fetty, bringing up Rick Carlisle. Nobody's talked about the Pacers. I just want to throw out there one of my dark horse teams this year. But the coaching aspect, I'm not going to say one guy. I think most of the NBA coaches are underrated.
Speaker 4:Perception is that NBA coaches don't do anything. They just roll out the ball, they just let them play. I disagree. Most of the NBA coaches know what they're doing. They run good stuff and a lot of the game, a high percentage of the game, they do let those guys play. They're great players. But if you watch it, really study it, they'll run some good quick hitting sets. They do some things. They throw in zone. Now Some zone became legal, really studied it. They'll run some good quick hitting sets. They do some things. They throw in zone. Now some zone became legal, legal, I think, I think. But if you ask the normal guy off the street, it's like all those nba guys. They don't do anything, they don't coach. But I disagree, I think. I think to a certain degree they're all underratedrated. The perception is the college guys are the real coaches. The NBA guys don't do anything. But I totally disagree with that. Now, this JJ Redick thing he's never coached right.
Speaker 4:No, I'm just wondering. Maybe somebody on this panel can help me. We've all tried to get jobs. We, all of us on this. We get a resume, we send it in. We have somebody call for a recommendation. How does it work that, the highest level of basketball in the world, a guy can get a premier job with no experience and I like the guy. I just wonder how that all goes down, like, how does that happen? How does that?
Speaker 5:happen. It's not what you know, it's who you know, I think LeBron picked him, lebron picked him. That's right.
Speaker 2:Mike, let me throw this at you, mike. Mike, do you think the ogre is a good coach, like, do you think that he actually knows what he's doing? Or is he a guy that just rolls out the basketball? Or is he the guy grinding through tape 28 hours a day at the facility?
Speaker 4:Yes, no and yes. I think he knows what he's doing. Obviously he doesn't just roll the balls out. He's in that category of NBA coach. A lot I put in that same category. They know what they're doing. They do a good job. Basically, it comes down to do they have the players out here and stay healthy to win a lot of games.
Speaker 5:He's a good coach. I just feel like he wears his players out. I think he needs to save some of them. I know he likes to play tough and balls to the wall, but I mean, it's a long season and you want to have fresh legs when the playoffs start. Yep.
Speaker 2:If the Ogre coached in the 80s and 90s as a head coach he might have won like nine championships with the rules back then and how those guys just beat the living hell out of each other.
Speaker 1:He's coaching in the wrong era. He's trying to bring 90s basketball back and it's just not going to work. As much as everybody would love to see that style of basketball again, it's not going to happen. But that is actually all the time we have for the NBA preview show. So that is going to do it for this week's episode of the Ride Home Rants podcast and our NBA preview show. I want to thank all of my guests Fitty, mike, jj and Tony for coming on. It was a lot of fun, especially all the banter back and forth and everything like that that we get to have on this show, and I love that part of the show. But, 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 did, that's.
