Ride Home Rants
Ride Home Rants
Inside The 2025–26 NBA: Coaches, Contenders, And Chaos
If you love bold calls and smarter hoops talk, pull up a chair. We’re breaking down the 2025–26 NBA season with a roundtable that isn’t afraid to challenge the consensus: international stars versus U.S. headliners, why culture may beat hype this year, and how one coaching switch could redefine the Knicks’ identity. We get specific on who gains ground in the East, which West team can actually threaten OKC, and whether Denver’s quiet roster shifts leave Jokic carrying too much on his own.
We start with the talent map, acknowledging a global top tier—Jokic, Giannis, Luka, SGA—while making the case for American stars who still change series: Edwards, Tatum, Mitchell, Brunson, and a rising Mobley. Then we tackle New York’s pivot from Tom Thibodeau to Mike Brown, exploring how more ball movement, heavy pick-and-roll, and better corner shooting could unlock a top-three seed, even if the defense dips. Across the East, the Cavs’ continuity earns real trust, Miami’s culture lurks, and Boston’s ceiling hangs on Tatum’s timeline. Expect razor-thin margins, ugly wins, and one play-in result that jolts a narrative.
Out West, we lay out the case for OKC’s depth and versatility while flirting with Houston as the chaos team nobody wants in a seven-game series. The biggest potential letdown? Denver if injuries and rotation losses stack up, even with a transcendent Jokic. We go deep on MVP odds—Jokic’s inevitability, SGA’s two-way engine, Wembanyama’s leap if San Antonio wins enough, Luka’s best-case scenario with a stronger supporting cast—and we crown the coaches still setting the standard: Erik Spoelstra’s relentless culture and Steve Kerr’s adaptable offense.
The fireworks arrive when we ask if LeBron is helping or hurting his legacy by staying this long. Stats say he’s still elite; narratives say endings matter. The truth, as always, lives in the details—and in the way his presence still reshapes every matchup. Come for the hot takes, stay for the nuance,
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Welcome everybody to another episode of the Ride Home Rants Podcast. This is, as always, your host, Mike Bono. I got a great annual episode for us today. I have our NBA preview show for the up-and-coming 2025-2026 season. I have a panel of guests here that we're going to be talking ball all night long here. So, guys, I'm going to let them introduce themselves. I need the answers to these two questions first and foremost. Obviously, I need your name, but I also need to know are pogo sticks overrated or underrated? And is eating a bag full of plain marshmallows something to be proud of? And TJ, we're going to start with you.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, um, TJ Lett, uh, we've been on the show multiple times. It's always a great time. Um, pogo sticks are I think they're underrated because they're not talked about as much anymore. I don't I've I haven't seen a pogo stick in probably 10 years. So I think they're underrated. I think they need to make a comeback. Um eating a whole bag of marshmallows, I think it's something to be proud of because after two or three, and you know, if you're not feeling it at that point, then you know there's something you're built different, you know.
SPEAKER_06:Built different for sure. Cole, what about you?
SPEAKER_00:Hey, Cole Schneider. Uh, been on a few times. Uh, really appreciate you guys having me as usual. Um, pogo sticks, I've actually never used one, so I can't really say if they're over or underrated. Um, I know that they're funny whenever somebody falls on one. Uh, and then marshmallows. If I've ever finished a bag of marshmallows, could really be the question it I have. Uh I used to be a really fat kid when I was little, so I think I'm pretty proud of that. That's pretty cool.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, that's built different, Cole. I mean, we've already said it. Uh, Tony, let's go to you.
SPEAKER_02:My name's Tony, and I am also like TJ, um a reoccurring guest on Ride Home Rants. Pogo sticks. I never I never hopped on a pogo stick in my life, or if I did, it was a long time, so I cannot tell you whether they are underrated or overrated. And eating a bag of marshmallows just is. It's nothing to be proud of or ashamed. It just is.
unknown:Okay.
SPEAKER_06:And last but not least, we here we got stoy.
SPEAKER_03:What's going on, guys? Good to be back on the show. Um, as far as pogo six go, man, when you're a guy my size, they're just bad news. Uh I can't see anything going right if I try and hop on one of them things. So uh we'll we'll say overrated for that sake. And then I don't know who likes just raw marshmallows, but we'll go with impressive. You're gonna go through a whole bag. I feel like you got the determination on it uh to get through that thing. So build different, right?
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, absolutely. Um always the everyone, Mike Bonnehoe. Pogo sticks. I mean, in my 20s, you know, they were they were underrated. I mean, hopped on one when I could bounce back after the fall, you know, uh quicker than I than I can now. I'd say that right now. I'm gonna go overrated because just thinking about that made both my knees hurt. Um just thinking about it. So yeah, that's where I'm at in life. And eating a full bag of plain uh marshmallows, I mean, I'd be proud of it at the time. Maybe not the aftermath that's gonna happen afterwards, but you know that yeah, you're built different. You got that iron stomach if you can get through a whole bag of just plain marshmallows. But yeah, that's that's a tough one for me. I mean, I'd I'd be proud in the moment, but after that, yeah, we're not we're not gonna deal with the with the aftermath too well here. But we're not here to talk about food or pogo sticks, we're here to talk about the NBA and the up-and-coming season here. So uh Cole, let's start with you on this one. Um, but you know, there's a lot of people who say the top five NBA players are all international, and maybe even the top seven to eight uh out of the top five players in the NBA right now. Does an American player even rank in there, in your opinion?
SPEAKER_00:Oh, absolutely. I mean, you could say Anthony Edwards is up there. Um, you know, it just kind of depends on the year he has and how consistent he can be. Um, I think Jalen Brunson is probably up there. Um, I don't know. If the top five is so tough because you got Giannis, Luca, Shy, uh, and then uh Jokic. So it's just like, yeah, I mean, I do think some of those American players can crack in there, but I think that top five is really good. Um, but I think on any given year, one of those American players are up there.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, I this is the top one for me. But Bill, what about you?
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, I mean, I I just started thinking, and similar to how Cole was saying, though those top guys, I mean, Giannis, Luca, Shy, or Shay were kind of on down the list. Um, you know, Wemby, you want to kind of even go further down into that, projecting forward. Internationals, man, they're putting out some players, but um, I think the the uh American guys still still are there. I think if you put together, you know, the combination, NBA, um, or if you're looking at kind of worldwide, the US is still um at the top, you know, Tatum, you got you know, Edwards, like we were saying, um, best collection of talent, but um the international guys are really showing up and and definitely some of the top guys.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, for sure. TJ, what about you?
SPEAKER_04:I I think that this is one of the most talented just pools of players all through the entire league. But I would say that you know, a top five, there's always gonna be an argument. You have your three, maybe give or take, but everybody's a little bit interchangeable. Um I I I'm looking at somebody like maybe like Apollo Banquero, like somebody like that, where we kind of forget about him until you're facing them. You're like, this guy's an anomaly, you know, match, you know, you have those matchup nightmares. Um, and then you get your underrated guys, in my opinion, like uh like a Donovan Mitchell, like some of those other players that maybe don't, you know come out and make the crazy, crazy plays and the big dunks or anything like that, but they're doing it night in and night out. So no, there's definitely a little bit of an argument that there's uh, you know, there's an American uh born player within that top five, top seven for sure. Okay, Tony, run us out here.
SPEAKER_02:I would have to I'd have to say, um, if there was prior to his injury, I probably would have had to say Jason Tatum prior to his injury because Tatum was putting up points in bunches, and he's and it I he was also, I believe, I don't know whether he even played on the USA's gold medal team. I don't know whether or not he played, but I know he was part of that team. That team was just so stacked that some of the stars didn't even get any playing time. But mark my words, and I know people probably aren't gonna be happy with this take. There's gonna be a country other than the USA that wins the gold medal in 2028. I mean, the the gap is just closing. I mean, look at Serbia. They took the USA to the brink before USA won. France did well. And I mean, if Luca decides to keep putting to play for Slovenia, those stars make those international teams better, like the Slovenias, the Greeces, the Germanys, the Australias, and Canada, too. Can't forget about our neighbors in North Canada. It's not as big as a gap as like it was when you had the dream team.
SPEAKER_06:Well, I mean, come on now. We're talking about the dream team there. That's that's apples to oranges with this this league and playing in now and the different styles of play. But I mean, I see your point to that. In that, you know, the somebody's gonna give the U.S. a run for their money. I can give them that. I still think the U.S. pulls it out at the at the end because it's just it's the American thing to do, to just be gritty and come down to the wire and just outlast people uh with our with the endurance that we have. But um it's gonna be a lot closer than a lot of people are wanting it to be. Um I'm kind of with all y'all on this one in that you know the international players are definitely in that top five right now. Um going to seven or eight, seven to eight. I mean, you can you can make the argument for the American-born players in uh Tatum and all them. And um uh Cooper, you know, just Cooper Flag coming in, you know, don't know what he's gonna really do, you know, being a top pick. Uh interested to see what he does and where he starts to build his career again, looking forward with like the Wimby uh for the internationals. But it it's it's gonna be a close race, but definitely, definitely more international players are gonna be cracking that top 10 and pushing those Americans out for sure, um, just with the sheer ball that they're playing right now. Um, but you know what? I I was gonna go back around the horn, but uh Cole with the Knicks hat, I got to go to you first on this one here. Um, what are your thoughts on the Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau being fired and being replaced with Mike Brown? Do you think it makes the Knicks better with this move?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I I'm one of the Knicks fans that really loved Tibbs, so um, I was really sad to see him go. Uh, do I think they're better offensively? Yes. Defensively, I'm not sure yet. Um, I think offensively they're gonna move the ball more and more pick and roll uh with towns. I think that's gonna work really well for them. Um they already have, I think they were top 10 corner shooters in the NBA last year with OG and uh Mikel Bridges, so that makes their pass out shooting a lot better. Um, so yeah, I foresee them being great offensively. Defensively, I'm not sure with Brown. Um, I know that when he was with the Kings, they weren't the best defensively, but they were incredibly good offensively, pass the ball around. Um, so it's gonna be interesting. I think I think overall, at first they're gonna be a little rough, uh, but I think later in the season they're gonna really bring it together like they did last year and um probably end up in the top three in the east.
SPEAKER_06:Do you do you think it's gonna be more shootouts now, with you know the defense being a question mark going into this year?
SPEAKER_00:Well, the NBA is all shootouts nowadays, anyways. Like it's so rare to have a very good defensive team, um, you know, that keeps a team under 100 every game. Like that's almost impossible nowadays. But um, yeah, I think I think they're probably gonna score maybe like the Cavs did last year, where it was a ton uh in the wins. And uh, but I don't know about defense with them right now because they don't have a lot of they have OG, who can play great defense, and they got Mitchell Robinson. Um, but I don't know if they've even really fleshed out their starting roster quite yet. I think they're still trying to figure out who's gonna be starting at center for you know all of these different positions.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, I mean that's tough coming down here to the to the open there. But uh Stoy, what are your what are your thoughts on this one?
SPEAKER_03:I I'm a big Mike Brown guy. I I do think he's a really good ball coach, and I I thought Tibbs was a great ball coach as well. So um better, I I'm not sure. Um, and and when you kind of look at the East, I think you know it's not a ton of competition there. You got the Cavs, number three teams kind of the magic, and the Knicks. Um, and when you kind of look at that, I think if you could have stayed steady, I think you could have been enough without making a move. Um, but I I get the NBA is results oriented, and uh they kind of want to make a move there. And even though the uh Knicks looked a way we haven't seen in quite a long time, it must not have been enough. So um I I I can see it working out for him, but I I definitely can see why not making the move could have been the right time to run it back one more year and kind of a week east um and have some continuity to kind of be able to make a run there, but we'll see.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, okay. I I get your points. But TJ, what about you?
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, I mean, it's it's remarkable because I mean, we just saw, I forget the guy who got fired from Milwaukee. I mean, having the number one seed, he got fired the next year. So you're always looking for the next best thing, you're always looking for the next, you know, shiny piece or whatever comes with coaching. Um, and then good organizations um are looking for that guy, but great organizations have found that guy and have established that guy. So you wonder if this move is gonna be, you know, what it is. Um, but the Knicks are a dangerous team. I mean, they got a lot of pieces, and they got and again, with the East being as injured as it is right now, um, with Tatum, with Halburton, um I I think they can make a lot of noise. So I think Mike Brown might accidentally slip into a good situation versus him being a great coach. I think he's a good coach, but I think the situation is just good for him. I think that if he cannot screw it up, uh it he'll be successful.
SPEAKER_06:Okay.
SPEAKER_04:Tony, what about you?
SPEAKER_02:From Mike Brown being having been a Cavs coach, I think the Knicks are more or less gonna be the same. There's not really gonna be any kind of difference other than the coaching change. Knicks are gonna still make the playoffs, probably be a top five seed, not four or five seed in the east. And you know, they win which they'll probably end up losing to either one of the Cavs or the Pacers or something again. Wow.
SPEAKER_06:Just wow, with that though. That's that's a bold stance with them being five. I I don't see them falling to five in the east with where the east is this year. Um, I don't think the move makes them better, but I don't think it makes them worse either. It's just the the nature of the league, the talent they have on that team. I mean, hell, I think anybody can go in and just coach that team to a three seed. And just kind of making that run with where the East is this year. I mean, you got um the Cavs, uh, the Pacers, and I mean, I don't I don't trust the Celtics this year with with everything that happened there. We're we're gonna get into that here in a little bit. Uh but Tony, we're just we're just gonna get it out here then now for you. Who's your NBA finals preview and who wins?
SPEAKER_02:Ooh, this one might actually be tough. Take me a moment. I am going to say this. LA Clippers are gonna make their first NBA Finals appearance. They're gonna finally break the curse. The Clippers are gonna make their first NBA Finals appearance just out of the blue. And out of the East, they're gonna go against the Indiana Pacers. We're gonna get another LA Indiana final. I'm probably going to be wrong, but this is the best, uh it's probably the best that I can come up with now because I haven't seen any preseason ball at all. I basically haven't watched any basketball since Game 7, so I haven't looked at any rankings, any previews, none of that.
SPEAKER_00:But I do know and I do know.
SPEAKER_06:I got you with that one. I know it's tough. I know when we're recording this, there's still a couple preseason games left here uh to get through to the start of the season by the time this airs is gonna be tip off of the regular season. Um but you know, we asked the tough questions here on the show here. But uh, TJ, what about you?
SPEAKER_04:All right. A lot like Tony. There's uh I've caught a couple of games, but um not not followed a lot of stories yet. Not a lot of stories yet. Um give me give me Houston in the West. Give me a team that's gonna kind of come around, get hot. It's a weird organization that just finds a way to stay relevant, and then you get the playoffs. You're like, why do I why do we not want to face that team? Or you know, I just think they're one of those guys. Uh so give me Houston in the West. And then um, and they gotta stay healthy, obviously. Uh, and give me Miami. I I I just they're a goofy team. They're they're a team that is slowly every year they get a little better and a little better and a little better. And again, this is the f this year with the injuries, with everything, this is the time that they can take advantage, you know, between them, the Knicks, um really the Cavs, but I think I I'm not sold on the Cavs right now. Uh, but I think Miami just you know beats down other teams and they're physical. So uh give me Miami versus Houston.
SPEAKER_06:Okay, Stoy. I see that little grin on your face there. We need to talk about your Cavs. Well, what do we got here?
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, we'll start there. And uh not a big Cavs fan or anything over here, but I I'm gonna say I'm gonna say the Cavs. I think similar to how I was saying about the Knicks, you have a ton of continuity coming from really a great year last year. Obviously, didn't work out in the playoffs, but um I think we got the guys, and and again, a little bit of the continuity, um, a couple small offseason additions, and um really being kind of a wide open east, why not? Why not the Cleveland Cavaliers? Um, and then out of the West, I I think we'll say OKC. I think they're just so strong. Um, hard to go against them. Um so we'll go Cavs, OKC. Um, you asked for a winner as well, Bonner, or no?
SPEAKER_06:Yeah.
SPEAKER_03:Um might as well give it to the Cavs, right?
SPEAKER_06:There we go. There it is.
SPEAKER_03:Cavaliers, we need another one. We need something up here, but um, I'd love to see it. Love to see the run there. I think them and OKC would be great finals. Um, kind of seeing Mobley going against Chad and um some of the guards. Um, obviously, I think it'd be some good matchup. So um would love to see it. Maybe a fight dream, but that's what I got right now.
SPEAKER_06:I got you. Cole, what are you about? What about you?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, just as a pure basketball fan, I think the Cavs would be great in the finals to see. I like that team, the makeup of them. Mobley's awesome. Um, I really love like the core of the team that they have. I think they're really good. Um, as a delusional Knicks fan, I think the Knicks are gonna be going into the finals. Um, I don't think there's any other team that's uh gonna be in there other than OKC and that's gonna win it. I just think that they're so good, they're so young, unless they have some kind of crazy injury, like a Tyrese Halliburton type player losing that. Like, I just don't see how they're gonna miss the playoffs and miss the finals at that. Um, oh, and also by the way, uh just so you know, the the Cavs lost to the Knicks a couple years ago, pretty embarrassingly. Um, so I wouldn't say that the Cavs have beaten the Knicks in the in the playoffs very much lately.
SPEAKER_06:Just to say there it is. There we go. Now we're cooking here. Um I'm I'm very torn on on this right now. I do like the makeup of the Knicks this year. I uh but I feel like this Cleveland team is dangerous in the East right now with their continuity. Um flip-flopping between those two in the East. I gotta say, I give the edge to the Cavs this year. I think with Mike Brown's defensive question marks and just his style with that, I think the Cavs take them this year. Um and in the West, I gotta I gotta go Houston. I I I like OKC, but I think Houston's that gritty team that's gonna just like we were talking about with the American team, they're gonna find a way to win the game. Um, and I think they make it to the finals this year. I got Cleveland and Houston, and I'm gonna go out on a limb, and I'm gonna say the Cavs and seven and is my prediction for that one. TJ, don't you laugh at me for that? Like with that there, I can see I can see you're on mute. I know it, but I got it. And it's just I don't like anything from Cleveland. I'm a huge Pittsburgh fan. Like anything from Cleveland, I just always like the crap on, but I can't, and the sports fan in me is just I see that team.
SPEAKER_02:They look where's Pittsburgh's NBA team?
SPEAKER_06:I we're not we're not talking about that right now, Tony.
SPEAKER_04:All right, we're not talking about somewhere somewhere down the line, it's gonna happen. Uh don't such a great sports city. Come on, man. Come on now.
SPEAKER_06:It's just the the Pittsburgh growing up that close to Pittsburgh. I can't root for anything from Cleveland, like, regardless of what it is. But yeah, that's yeah, I that that that's that's where we're at right now, uh, with me for that. Um uh NBA, let's talk about a team for Pittsburgh. Uh let's that let's let's talk about an expansion team. Other other leagues with like the NHL are expanding. Let's let's get another team in the NBA and let's bring them into the East and Pittsburgh and just really shake up everything.
SPEAKER_00:Um that's gonna be we gotta bring back the Supersonics.
SPEAKER_02:The supersonics would be we're taking the Nets from Brooklyn and put them in Pittsburgh. Ooh, I don't hate that.
SPEAKER_04:That's a bold statement. I you know, Brooklyn doesn't even well, not saying they don't want them, but that's bold. I don't know if they would miss them. I don't hate it. I don't hate it. You get you would give way more fanfare, they would appreciate it in that city. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_06:I just don't understand I just don't kind of understand why like New York needs that many pro sports teams in in the same league. Like all of them have two uh teams in every major sport. Like, why why why do you why do you get two?
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, for everything, yeah. For everything hockey, three, yeah, three in hockey.
SPEAKER_06:There's uh what two in the NBA, there's two in the NFL, albeit they play in New Jersey, but still like yeah, yes. That's just share the love.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, I mean it's just kind of gotta go a little bit west a little bit to Pittsburgh for you guys there.
SPEAKER_02:That's just that's just it's a short drive. It's not a clean Pittsburgh rival.
SPEAKER_06:There you go. Now that now we're talking uh with that one. Uh Cole with this one, uh what's what with staying in the East here and talking about East teams, you know, the Celtics, what's their ceiling this year after their trades, the free agency losses, and obviously the Tatum injury?
SPEAKER_00:Well, from what I understand, Tatum may actually come back this year towards the end of the year. So if they make the playoffs and then he's playing, I mean, they're gonna be tough. They were tough last year. They beat the Cavs, who were heavily favored. Well, they weren't really heavily favored, but it was a good matchup, right? And really, it should have been a little close. It was a good series, but, anyways, I think if Tatum's back for the playoffs, even with the trades and some of the losses they've had, I I just they're gonna be scary, whoever has to play them. I wouldn't want to play them because if even if Tatum's at 80, I mean it's just like they're gonna be good no matter what.
SPEAKER_06:So an 80 Tatum is still dangerous in in the east, there. Um Stoy, what about you? I need to I need to mull this one over a little bit.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, the the Cleveland fan to me, this is like the nightmare scenario. We like get the one seed, and the Celtics are sitting there in the eight, and they just got Tatum back, and you run through a hell of a series there. So um I I I think you know, I think they should be a a playoff play-in team. Um, get Tatum back, and there's a lot of noise there that should be made when you got you know Derek, Derek White, Jalen Brown, Tatum. Um, one of the better trios I think you can put out there. So um, yeah, we'll we'll definitely say they can kind of make a run if they get back and get healthy, but um it definitely depends a lot on that injury for Tatum.
SPEAKER_06:Absolutely. Uh TJ, what about you?
SPEAKER_04:I'm going the other way. Uh I think they're eliminated in March, and Tatum doesn't come and Tatum doesn't come back. Um they got they traded too many, they got rid of too many pieces. So, I mean, you look at a guy like Drew Holiday, yeah, he don't realize how talented he was until he's gone. Then you're gonna ask Jalen Brown, who is very good, to be the number one guy for the entire year. And not saying he can't do that, but you're playing at uh, you know, an MVP level for the entire year without a guy that you have just gelled with throughout, you know, the first couple years while he was there. Um it's I just don't see them being as big of a threat in the east as they have in the past couple of years. Just they're gonna have a lot of young guys, they're gonna have to get those guys acclimated. Uh I I think they're eliminated in March.
SPEAKER_00:March is.
SPEAKER_04:I'm telling I I don't see it. I don't see it.
SPEAKER_06:March is a March, though, is a bold stance. I I just Tony. What what about you? On the I got that I need I need to chew on that one too for a second.
SPEAKER_02:With the Celtics, I I they're not gonna win the finals. I think they summoned the playoffs. I think that they'll probably be they'll they'll make it out of the play-in. They're not gonna go far, but I just think that they're just gonna make they're gonna make it out of the play-in, because who do you really have behind? You got Chicago, who is always a play-in contender, but can't ever break through for whatever reason. Atlanta, I don't know how the hell they lost in Miami. They were the eight, how and then you've got Charlotte, Washington, Brooklyn, all Philly, all teams that are rebuilding. Yes, I'm counting Philly because the process obviously hasn't worked. So there's a really, really huge drop off.
SPEAKER_04:So So they're gonna make it by proxy. So you're saying they're gonna make it by proxy, they're gonna make it because there's other East teams that just won't make it.
SPEAKER_06:You're but you're saying just because of how weak the the East is that the Celtics, Celtics make it in. I I I don't I don't discredit that a that that much. I think they squeak it into the play-in. I think they make the play-in, and that's it. I think that is their ceiling this year, is the play-in tournament. And it's just not gonna go over well with them. Tatum's not, I mean, the thought of him coming back, I don't I think they rest on that too long, but they have to make the playoffs with this injury for him to even sniff being 80% to make a difference in playing this year. I just that it's just it's not looking good up there in Boston for how they've looked in the past what four or five years at minimum. You know, they they've been pretty dominant there. Um, but I just I don't I don't see it. I I I see playing at best and getting bounced into playing is is my ceiling for for the Celtics. Um but Tony, who has the better record this up and coming season, though? Um the Pistons Cavs or the Magic?
SPEAKER_02:The Magic are definitely up and coming. They pushed uh Cavs to seven a couple years ago. I still haven't forgotten about that. Um the Pistons. You would think coming off of a 69 loss season two years ago, a season in which they lost 28 straight games that they would even be close to 30 wins, let alone push the Knicks to six. I gotta say, I am very impressed with what Detroit did. To go from that to uh damn near making a conference semi-final, I'm in a way, I'm glad to see. I I like and hate to see the Detroit's in contention again. Uh I am going to have to say man, that's actually a tough one because the South was just not that good this past year. But if I had to pick one, I'm probably gonna have to say Detroit. Uh probably around 46 47 wins. Oh what? 46 47 wins. I'm just not sold on the South Southeast division because the Southeast Division was just so bad. I think the magic worked 42 and 40 last year, and the Cavs. I think we'll make the playoffs, but it's not. Gonna be like last year.
SPEAKER_06:Well, I'm just gonna call you bold stance, Tony, from here on out. Like everything that has come out of your mouth on this one has just been a the hot take and just the bold stance. I just I feel like the the the dude from dodgeball, it's a bold strategy, cut. Let's see how this plays out for with his airs and how this actually plays out. But TJ, I follow that. I don't know.
SPEAKER_04:Like I guess I'm just I'm the devil's advocate for everybody here. The Cavs win 60 games. Um their confidence going into this year, they are, you know, last year they were extremely hungry to outdo what they did the previous year. Like they had an expectation and they lived up to it. They were hungry. This year, they're sitting there being called frauds. You know, hey, you guys made it and then what? You know, and that they're sick of hearing that. That um, you know, those reports are sick of hearing that. So I think they come out blazing hot. I think they're gonna be uh an extremely top talented team, a number one seed, uh 60 wins. Now I said that Magic would beat them in the playoffs, but I think the Cavs win or are one of the most dominant teams in the regular season. Okay. Stoy, what about you?
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, I mean, for everything I said earlier, I'll go with Cavs, number one there with the most wins. I think just a really well-built team and a lot of continuity there. But I do want to say the magic, I think, could be a really, really interesting team. Um, they have good players um with Wagner, um, Bancaro, um, and they added Bain, um, obviously in a big deal um coming into this year. So um I think they can be 100% a two, three seed, um, and and definitely can kind of give a run for the money. Detroit, I think, showed out really well last year, and I think every everything points towards the trajectory up, but I'm not sure if I'm totally bought in on them really being a contender. I think they'll kind of be in the mix in there. Um, but I'll put them third kind of behind the other two teams.
SPEAKER_06:Okay. All right. Uh, Cole, what about you?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, uh, like I said, Cavs are definitely gonna be either top seed or number two. Like, there's just no doubt. Um, you know, I know there's a lot of hate on Kenny Atkinson and what he did in the playoffs, and there's always it always seems like there's a lot of hate for the coaches that uh coach the Cavs for some reason in the playoffs, uh, with JB as well. Um, but I think the Cavs easily have the best record uh out of those three, if not the best record in all of the East. Um, I do think that the other two teams are very player dependent. You know, when it comes to Kate Cunningham, if he has what I think is going to be an MVP run this year, like at least in the top five, because how he was performing at the end of last year was insane. Um, I see him playing very well. Um, I also see uh Paulo playing extremely well for the Magic, but I do think that they're very dependent on those two guys as to where the Cavs have just like an overall stacked roster, starting and bench. So, although I do think the Cavs lost uh one of their big bench guys, right? Um I'm trying to think of his name right now, but uh they did lose somebody, which was pretty major. I think it was the six man, their six man, but anyways, I still just foresee them playing really well. And I think probably behind them the magic, very close, and then the Detroit uh is kind of a dark horse team.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, with with these three teams, I just I have like uh I I think that the the right just solely based on record. I had the Cavs with a better record over the Magic by two games. It's gonna be close. Pistons are are still the third team to be out of those, just solely based on record. I I just yeah, I don't I don't see anybody out of those three having a better year than the Cavs are gonna have with the way they're built this year. Um, and just all the narrative, like TJ was saying, like they're they're tired of being called the pretenders, like they're tired of being like, Oh, yeah, this was a one-off. Like, that's just fueling this team and with where they're at. Um, and speaking of the Cavs, I cannot wait for this question here because I feel like this one may just end the show with how long I could go on this topic. But uh, Cole, is LeBron ruining his legacy by staying around too many years with the Lakers on a team's that are greatly underachieving with him on them?
SPEAKER_00:I mean, look, LeBron is one of the most successful players, if not you could argue, most successful player ever in the NBA. I mean, the thing is, like, he's not ruining anything. And if in fact, he's helped every single team that he's gone to to win those championships. Uh when it comes to the Lakers, I don't think that they're that bad. I mean, they have Luka Doncic, who's an MVP caliber player, so I don't think he's wasting any time right now. I think this is probably one of the best situations he could be in. Um, I also don't think he's I mean, he's injured right now, right? Like they're they're saying that he's gonna miss some time. Um, so I do think he's getting to that age where you will start to see him lose it a little bit. I mean, he already has to an extent, but at this point, he's gonna retire in LA. Why wouldn't he? He's involved in the music the uh in uh entertainment industry, like he's kind of in the perfect situation. His kid plays with him, like he's not going anywhere from LA at this point. He's gonna retire there.
SPEAKER_06:Well, yeah, we I figured he was gonna retire there, but like, I mean, and being injured, I mean, when you're 87 years old and you know, still trying to play basketball, like, and then people are like, Oh, he's broken this record, he's broken that record, he's outscored this person. Yeah, he's played for a hundred freaking years. Like, of course he's gonna be breaking those records. Like, when you're playing as long as he has, I mean, it uh doing that before he was old.
SPEAKER_00:I I I look, I'm a Michael Jordan, like I think Michael Jordan is the greatest player to ever play. Okay, he saved yourself. I think that I think that LeBron is I mean, he's incredible. I I do think there's generations, right? Like Michael Jordan was the best player of his generation, Wilt was the best player of his generation, and then you got Lebron as the best player since 2000. So uh, you know, he he can play, he could probably play another 10 years at a high level, and that's insane to me. Like, no other players doing that. Um, it's just it's insane, and it's awesome. Like, I will I love LeBron. I think everything he's done is incredible. He gets a lot of hate for going to different teams, but he's just proven that he can win anywhere, and that's pretty impressive to me.
SPEAKER_06:You think he could play another decade in in the NBA?
SPEAKER_00:Have you looked at his stats the last two years? He's still at a high level, yeah. I mean, he could play on the he could play off the bench in eight years. Who's who's to say he couldn't? Oh, that's that's physically, he's better than most of the players in the NBA.
SPEAKER_06:That's that's tough for me to get on board with idea there, Cole. Ten years that that's that's just let's the come on. Yeah, Bill, save us here.
SPEAKER_03:Not gonna save you. I'm not gonna save you. I think he's ruining his legacy. I think no way. Um, he's still playing in the top 15, top 20 player right now, I think. Um, I I think you'd be hard and pressed to argue against that. Um playing super well. Um, I don't know how you can kind of tarnish your legacy when you're still a top 20 basketball player at that age. I think it's um impressive what he's doing. I do think we're coming to the end here soon. I I think just I don't know if he has the fire and and everything to continue to do that. I think just it just kind of happens when you have accomplished so much, played so much. Um, I think you know he's gonna give another one, two years probably. I'd imagine maybe next year, um, maybe another year after that. I think we'll probably um be hanging it up. So I think we're kind of gonna be coming to the end here, but um, I mean he's gonna go down his I want to wait till after he retires, give a few years, and then I think we really need to have the LeBron and Jordan debate. Um, I think while he's playing right now, it's a little bit too hard. So let it sink in, let the legacy kind of sink in a little bit. And I think um both incredible players, and and the legacy, I think the LeBron is definitely not going the wrong direction. Um still playing at a high level.
SPEAKER_06:All right, all right, TJ, what what do you got? I'm trying to woosa over here with this with this question.
SPEAKER_04:Every year they sit there and they say, Oh, look at this new young guy. He is going to take the throne away from LeBron every year. It was Zion, it was Ja, it was Anthony Edward. It's all of these guys, and none of them are gonna be even close. None of them are gonna be close to be able to put up the accomplishments he is, the longevity that he's put in, the impact on the league, the politician that he is. I mean, he can play on and off. He's done absolutely everything, which is also why I do believe that he's only playing to piss people off at this point. He could have stopped five years ago. He's only doing it because other people are telling him he should stop. And oh, he's slowing down. He's like, Okay, fine, I'll go put up 30. I'll do a triple-double tonight. He and then I'll take two weeks off. Just it's it's amazing how much he has this league in his hand. We're gonna see this with Pat Mahomes. We kind of saw it with Brady a little bit, and then Brady kind of, all right, I'm gonna go home now. But we're gonna see this with Pat Mahomes at the end of his career, where he's gonna sit there and be uh no, not yet. I'm not going anywhere. I know they drafted this guy, but nah, not yet. I'm not ready to give it up. LeBron literally, he he he's on his own. He doesn't care what we think, he does not care at all. He's doing his own thing. So he can if he wants to play for the 10, he will play for the 10 in his own way.
SPEAKER_06:Oh, this this is tough for me, Tony. What do you got? You guys are just raising the blood pressure here. This is what we're doing.
SPEAKER_02:If he wanted to retire, he would have already. He's already approved everything, but you know, he's just probably he's like, I'd say, Snoop Dogg, just completing side quests at this point. LeBron is gonna be done when he feels like he's done. And for me, I know I'm sorry, it's gonna blood raise your blood pressure a little higher. He's not gonna retire until the 2020 Olympics. If USA wins the gold medal, then LeBron will probably take off his shoes, set him at center court at the arena, and then say peace out. You know what it has to be.
SPEAKER_04:It's gotta be a show. It's gotta be theatrics.
SPEAKER_02:It's gonna, it's gonna it only make sense if he's a Lakers and it's Team USA and the Olympics are in Los Angeles. Yeah, that's it'd be a Hollywood, I think.
SPEAKER_06:I honestly really thought I'd have one of you on my side here with this one, and I got zero help on this one here. Um, because don't get me wrong, LeBron, I'm not discrediting what he's done in the NBA. He's a phenomenal player. Uh he plays his ass off, but you know, it's it's the Brady effect. Uh, I'll give you that one, TJ. Brady should have retired before he went to Tampa. Um, I'm happy he did and got my Buccaneers a Super Bowl. I am so happy that happened. Um, but you gotta know when it's time to hang the cleats and the shoes up. And for me, that was three years ago with LeBron.
SPEAKER_03:I mean, he's he's so much better now than when Jordan was with the Wizards, though. And you don't know. Here we go. Here we go. You know, you don't knock Jordan, you don't say, Oh, you know, he's not his legacy is hurt because he wasn't playing for the Wizards. LeBron's ten times the player that Jordan was when he was playing for the Wizards.
SPEAKER_06:I just can't see how it could turn into like it's it's a it's a different era with like Cole said with LeBron and Jordan and Wilt and all those guys. It's there's generational, there's generational talent to to say that LeBron would have been able to play in the 90s when all those guys were playing back then in that style of ball, where they didn't call these ticky tac fouls, and you were just allowed to maul people if they went into the paint. LeBron does not hold Jordan's jock strap on that one.
SPEAKER_04:Now he I just think that he wouldn't have lasted as long. LeBron at the no give me a guy who was 6'8, 260, moving like LeBron in the 90s. Give me one, give me one.
SPEAKER_06:You probably can't, he probably can't.
SPEAKER_04:All those guys, big guys moved slow as hell and stood in the paint and knocked people over. Small guys moved fast and they moved around guys. They all might have had the skills better than LeBron, like the technical skills of ball handling, passing, all those things. But LeBron was something that they didn't experience at all. Like Jordan was something that they didn't experience at all. And Jordan's what 6'6, 230. Now add two inches and 35 pounds, and a guy who's faster than him. Have fun. They were the LeBron wouldn't have lasted as long because they would have knocked him over more, but they wasn't gonna, they weren't gonna stop him.
SPEAKER_06:I didn't say they would stop him. I he just we wouldn't be having this conversation.
SPEAKER_02:Add that same weight and add a couple inches to Kobe. And if he doesn't get injured, he probably lasts into the 2020s, too.
SPEAKER_04:Okay, ready? If Kobe, if Kobe played because Kobe played against both. No, no, I know. If Kobe played 10 years later, Kobe surpasses LeBron. Because Kobe was able to score whenever he wanted in that era anyway. If he plays 10 years later with all offense, Kobe's averaging 50 a game.
SPEAKER_06:Easy. Easily, Kobe's averaging 50 a game. Like I it it in my hierarchy, I have Kobe above LeBron. And obviously, I have Jordan above both. It's it's it's not even close, it's not even close for me on this one. It's not even close. I don't I don't what chaos in the bono house happening behind like because it just can't be a normal night when I have to record a show. We got my son cutting balloons down that are apparently right behind my camera, and like something's happening, something's going to pop. I don't know what to know what's happening right now. But this is just I think that what's going to hurt LeBron's legacy is the fact that everyone's just gonna say he stayed in too long. He stayed in longer than he should have.
SPEAKER_05:Okay, that's that's gonna be like no matter where you go, no matter what you do.
SPEAKER_04:You say Brady stayed in too long and he won a Super Bowl in the second last year. Like he I'm not saying he can't win a championship in that in this time. I'm just saying, so we're recency bias. We're sitting there thinking, like, okay, what what did we have lately? And the last thing I remember from you is this, you know, like that's we're sitting there. Uh I I just Tom Brady is still the best, the greatest quarterback of all time, even if his last year sucked. So LeBron is still gonna be one of the greatest of all time, even if his last year is awful.
SPEAKER_02:And Jimmy Johnson's still one of the greatest NASCAR drivers of all time, and his last few years were nothing to write home about, and he's a seven-time champion, just like Tom Brady.
SPEAKER_06:I'm not discrediting that, I think that's what people with the way people want the instant gratification nowadays. I think they're only going to remember the end with LeBron. So I agree.
SPEAKER_00:I agree with your so to kind of use your own argument against you, does anybody remember Michael Jordan's last couple years with the the wizards? Yeah, does that tarnish it?
SPEAKER_01:He's pushing around and it doesn't tarnish his his legacy, though.
SPEAKER_02:Now it's I wish that he stuck around for one more year after that just to have played against LeBron.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, I think I think it's long. I wish, no man, he made a business decision.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, that's that was absolutely a business decision.
SPEAKER_03:I think as long as we just debate it kind of proves what type of legacy he has. Um, we're going off five, ten minutes on the same topic, and I think that kind of proves how valuable he is to the league.
SPEAKER_06:And I don't I don't discredit that. I just think I know what some of these sports reporters are gonna do, and some of these people that just trust me, I'm I I love to hate on LeBron because I know it just riles people up. That's my favorite thing to do in the world is to just get people fired up. I mean, I don't discredit that he's a great player, I don't do that, I not at all. Uh part of the reason, like if we just keep we keep bringing him up with Tom Brady, the part of the reason I didn't like Tom Brady is because he was phenomenal. Like, that's part of the it's like, why are you that good? And why can you do it that long? I don't like just be a normal human being, don't be a machine like LeBron has been in the NBA for as long as he has. And yeah, we've gone on for way longer than I thought this was gonna go on, but that's just that's just that's just where I'm at with with LeBron. I mean, I it can go either way. It is, it is, and lately I've been more fired up than lately. I don't know why, but I've been I've been getting off on a lot more rants than than usual, especially with the round tables here. Uh, but we'll get back into this because I got a couple more questions I want to get through here. Um, so Tony, uh, who's the best coach in the NBA right now?
SPEAKER_02:I will have to say simply because of the culture, Eric Spolstra. He may not he may only have a couple rings, but just the fact that Miami's been in contention year after year, and even in the times they missed the playoffs, it's been no more than two games. And they were 37 and 45 last year and still somehow made to the eighth seed.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, that says a lot. That that's a solid pick, Bispolstra. I I kind of I agree with you wholeheartedly on that one. Uh TJ, what about you?
SPEAKER_04:That was the first one that came into my head because you listen to all the other players and other coaches on other teams talk about him, and he's one of the coaches that consistently comes up. So I and he turns players, the players he has the biggest egos on those teams, and somehow he makes it all work. It's a timeline, you know, he's a timeline of the NBA, he just takes what he has and makes it work.
SPEAKER_06:Okay, Bill, what about you?
SPEAKER_03:Might be an unpopular one, but I think there's a lot of names can go around. But I'm gonna throw Steve Kerr's name out there. I think the resume he has um is probably the best still. Um could put him right up there with uh um a lot of the greats as far as championships and rugs and stuff. And I think that you know, once they kind of get a nucleus rebuilt over there, that they can make some damage. So I'll throw his name in there. I think he's a hell of a ball coach and definitely has a resume to kind of back it up.
SPEAKER_06:Okay, cool. Round of sell.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, uh, I'm on the Spolster train uh train. I also think Steve Kerr is an incredible coach. And now that Popovich is retired, uh uh for me it was Popovich before that. But um, yeah, at this point, I think you're probably sitting at Spolstra and Kerr really close together. Both are great culture guys, both are great player coaches. They're just they work, also. Um, you know, just as kind of like other coaches that are really great. I love Ime Yadoka down in Houston. I think he's a really great coach. Maybe not the best guy in the world, but he's a really good coach. Uh, and then the um uh what's his name in Boston? Uh I can't think of his name off the top of my head right now, but the the coaching staff in Boston is also really solid.
SPEAKER_03:Mazzo, I think.
SPEAKER_00:Mozilla. Yeah, I think. Joe Mazzula, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah. I I think the Spolstra and Kerr are like 1-1A. Uh just with the the cultures that I think I like those uh picks for sure. Um that's that's kind of where I would be at with that. But Cole, uh, which team will be the biggest disappointment this year?
SPEAKER_00:That's a really hard question, actually. Um man, it's gonna be somebody in the West. Uh I just I have a feeling it's it honestly, it could be uh the Nuggets, even with Jokic. Uh, but they just they've kind of moved their roster around a little bit. They weren't fantastic last year. I kind of foresee them being another mid-tier team uh next year as to where like they always are gonna be in the running with Jokic, but um, I do think that they're probably gonna be the biggest disappointment in the league.
SPEAKER_06:Okay. Stoy.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, I think tough one as well. Um expectations seem to be kind of low all around, low tempered. Um, and I think outside of maybe OKC, and I think they're gonna live up to life over there. Um I think I like the the Nuggets pick, honestly. I think you lose um Michael Porter Jr., I think they could be there again, but I think we can kind of see a little bit of uh regression if you have an injury to Murray or something going on with Yokich. So we'll go with Nuggets, but um I think it's really wide open this year. I think there's a lot of kind of down expectations and wide openness, especially in the East. So um, I don't know if there's anyone really set up for a big disappointment.
SPEAKER_06:Okay. TJ, what about you?
SPEAKER_04:I'm gonna go with the Celtics again. I I I think that they have a culture and an expectation of winning, and it's gonna smack them in the mouth when they're not living up to that. And um I don't know if that's gonna be a they're gonna have the most losses or anything like that, but I just think that it's gonna be shocking for that fan base, on top of it just being wow, the Celtics have were on their way, they just won the championship. They they were building that dynasty, and now it's like wow, roadblock right here. So um I'll I'll say Celtics. Okay, and Tony, what about you?
SPEAKER_02:I'm gonna have to say the defending Eastern Conference champion, Indiana Pacers, not that they won't make the playoffs, it'll just be a bit of a drop off from last year. Because essentials tough, they they'll still qualify for the postseason, I feel, but not having Tyrese Halliburton or Miles Turner is huge. It's gonna be the road's gonna be a lot more difficult for them than it was last year. And Halliburton was a huge and this is another state, a huge factor for them throughout their their their run postseason.
SPEAKER_06:I gotcha with that one. I I I don't hate any of those picks uh for sure. I I'm kind of on the the Denver Nuggets train there. I just I think they're going to be the the team everyone's thinking is gonna be better than what they're gonna be this year. I think they're gonna be the the the disappointment uh this year, uh just with everything that's happened there. The Celtics, obviously, I mean it's hard not to say that with what they lost in the trades and not obviously free agencies and the Tatum injury. I mean, I I I don't think it's gonna be as big of a disappointment because people have been aware of the Tatum injury. It's not like this just happened and they're losing him for that. Like this was this was okay, yeah. He's gonna be done for until the postseason next year. So like they're already expecting not to have him, and I think that helps with with them and why I'm going with the Nuggets over the Celtics. Uh, but Tony, we're gonna round it out with this, and who's your regular season MVP?
SPEAKER_02:I man, that's gonna be a tough one. I am gonna go with, I'm just gonna throw this out there. I'm gonna go with uh I'm gonna go with Donovan Mitchell, actually. I'm gonna stick with the hometown team. I'm gonna go with Donovan Mitchell. Donovan Mitchell. I think he's choice for a great breakout.
SPEAKER_06:Solid pick off the rip. TJ, what about you?
SPEAKER_04:Evan Mobley. Evan Mobley. I think that they're gonna I think he's I think Mitchell was a little telling last year. He started to take a step back to let Mobley take a step forward. And I think Mobley's now really gonna take that step forward where he's gonna be around 30 points a game. He's gonna be around 12, 15 rebounds a game. I I really think, and with I believe the Cavs will have the best record in the East. I believe they'll be a number one seed. I think Mobley will be they'll look at him defensive player, you know, top three defensive player in the league with the offense that he's gonna add in. He's gonna hit his three-point shots this year a little bit better uh without injury. I think after Mobley gets the MVP this year. I got you, Stoy. What about you?
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, I mean, I love those bits, the gaps, man. I think um I I think honestly, because you have Mowgli or Mowgli and Mitchell, they might kind of even each other out a little bit in the votes and kind of cancel each other out, maybe. Um, I'm gonna throw a long shot out there. Um, and I'm gonna say Webby. Um, I think if you can they they got the guards now, and and I think if he can, I mean, him and the pick and roll with all the guards that they've accumulated, if they can be a good team, which you need to be to be in the MVP running. Um, I think it might be time for him to kind of take that step forward. So I thought, you know, I know it's a little bit of a wild card, but I think he can definitely take that step to Zelda and see him kind of in that running.
SPEAKER_06:Okay, cool. What about you?
SPEAKER_00:I love the Wemby pick. I think that he could absolutely go off this year. Uh, he's been working out, he's done a lot of stuff to kind of make himself stronger. I love that pick. I just I can't go against Jokic. I just think that um even if their team is underwhelming, he's still insane. Like he's just so much better than everybody else. I think uh, and I know I'm not answering this really, but SGA is also an incredible pick. Like, I just think there's like three guys with Wemby if he plays to expectation that could absolutely do it. But I do think Jokic probably ends up taking it home this year.
SPEAKER_06:I uh I I I don't hate any of those. Uh I'm gonna throw another name into the into the ring that I don't think I think people are gonna sleep on, but I got Luca. And Luca in LA, I think he takes that step forward um with them there in uh playing with uh LeBron. We're not even gonna I didn't even want to mention his name because I didn't I don't we don't have another 10 minutes here to to go off on that, but I think Luca takes that step that he needs to get into that MVP conversation, and I think he takes it this year. I think he helps them uh be relevant in the West. And yeah, I think I I I got I got Luca on this one, but that is actually going to do it for this week's episode of the Ride Home Ranch podcast. I want to thank all of my guests, Cole, Tony, Bill, and TJ, for being on and getting to talk everything with the MBA here with the start of the season, right around the corner here. And as always, if you enjoyed the show, be a friend, tell a friend. And if you didn't, tell them anyways, they might like it just because you didn't. That's gonna do it for me, and I will see y'all next week.
