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00:00In NBA hour number one, much more to talk about in hour number two.
00:04This is the early line right here on the Sports Grid Network,
00:06Sirius XM Channel 159.
00:08It's Joe Ranieri and Donnie Wright said here,
00:09the energy is high.
00:10Why it's always high on a Monday too.
00:11Like we watch a lot of sports on the weekend,
00:13get down to a lot of business on the weekend.
00:15We understand like that energy as we talk about like,
00:18hey man, how the Nuggets going to get up for that game number one.
00:20It's adrenaline, Joe, that pushes us here in the morning
00:24to get the grid started off in the right direction on a Monday.
00:27I mean, it was exciting.
00:31It was exhausting.
00:33And just imagine what the players now had to play in these games
00:37and who are advancing.
00:39Boy, oh boy, it's a quick turnaround for just about all of them.
00:43They don't have a whole lot of time to bask in the glory of winning.
00:46So let's see how that rolls out for them early in these series.
00:50Now, Joe, what's the turnaround like in the adrenaline?
00:52Like if you had an engagement party over the weekend,
00:54you had to come back to work.
00:55Like are you energized? Are you exhausted?
00:57Like what would be your mindset for the week on that?
00:59I'd probably take the next day off.
01:02I'd probably have to call in and just,
01:06I'd be like, I need another day or so.
01:08You know what? Maybe the week.
01:09Maybe I need the week off.
01:10That's how I look at it.
01:12Re-energize, a lot of excitement.
01:14That's what we're going to talk about now
01:15as we re-rack the NBA playoffs,
01:17particularly the odds market in each conference.
01:20It's the final four in both conferences.
01:22And Joe, I want to start with the East here.
01:24The Boston Celtics, a minus 155 price.
01:27They have not began their second round series against the New York Knicks.
01:30The Cleveland Cavaliers at a plus 220 price.
01:32They have opened up against the Indiana Pacers.
01:35Lost game number one.
01:36The Indiana Pacers, who won game number one against the Cavaliers.
01:39They're a 10 to one price.
01:40And then the New York Knicks, again,
01:42starting their series tonight with the Boston Celtics at a 17 to one price.
01:46Looking at those price points right now,
01:48anything stick out to you here between the final four in the East?
01:53Well, I mean, it does feel still like it's a two-horse race there in the East.
02:00I think the West is a little more wide open.
02:03But I also think that the Pacers sitting there at 10 to one is interesting.
02:08So what happens if the Cavs don't win this series here?
02:12And let's just say it comes down to Celtics and Pacers.
02:16Are we 100% sure?
02:17It's just the Celtics are running through everybody?
02:20I don't know.
02:23It seems a little overvalued to me at this point, Donnie.
02:26Both of those favorites seem a little bit overvalued at this point.
02:30You know, it's funny for me because I've been feeling like the odds makers, Joe,
02:34have been waiting to trash the Cleveland Cavaliers.
02:37Like they were just angry.
02:38Like they keep winning.
02:40They're 11 to one.
02:41Now they're 10 to one to win the championship.
02:43Nine to one.
02:44Oh, we can't move.
02:45Oh, we got to move the eight to one and seven to one.
02:47They're upset.
02:48So I figured looking at the FanDuel Sportsbook this morning, like Cavaliers lost yesterday.
02:52I mean, put them 10 to one now to win the East because finally they got beat by a team.
02:56They shouldn't have got beat by.
02:57We can move them down.
02:58They're still getting a lot of respect.
02:59And also in the series plays to win this.
03:02And granted, they're a double-digit favorite to win game number two.
03:04They're supposed to do that.
03:05But the Pacers are a formidable opponent.
03:07So I look and say to myself, is there a thought process?
03:09Like, right?
03:09Because I like where you're coming from here.
03:11Because you can't just say on paper, we're better.
03:14We move on.
03:14Injuries happen.
03:16Great plays happen.
03:17Shorter series here as opposed to, ah, we'll get them next month when we see them.
03:21Like, you better be playing your best basketball right now.
03:22Is there a chance that it's smart just to take a flyer on the Pacers and the Knicks at 10 to one and 17 to one and say, I don't think we're getting four game sweeps, which obviously you can't in the Cavaliers series.
03:34But even in the Boston Celtics, like being competitive, or is it just going to be the foregone conclusion we've talked about for so many months here?
03:41It's just Cleveland and it's Boston.
03:43And don't worry about the rest.
03:46I, it's very hard for me to, I mean, the Knicks haven't beaten the Celtics this year.
03:50It's very hard for me to even take a flyer with them because, listen, can they win a game or two in this series?
03:57Sure.
03:57But they certainly need a lot of things to break their way if they're going to upset the Celtics.
04:03And again, the fact that they have not beat them yet, Donnie, is a little bit worrisome.
04:08Even at 17 to one, I can make the argument that should be 77 to one instead here because until they can actually win a game against the Celtics, I'm not buying it.
04:18I think that the Pacers are the biggest live dog in the East.
04:22In the West, I can make a case for all of those teams actually advancing and winning.
04:29By the way, if we do look at the Knicks, you're right about that because you look at the talent and say, oh man, 17 to one.
04:35You just saw like the Pacers going to Cleveland, win that game.
04:37Why can't the Knicks at least battle the Celtics?
04:40But then you're thinking about down the road.
04:41Like, let's just say like chalk holds between the Cavaliers and the Pacers.
04:45So Nash, all right, Knicks, you have to beat not only the Boston Celtics, which you can't beat upper echelon teams.
04:51Then if you do beat the Celtics, you've got to double down and beat the Cavaliers, which is something that you really can't do in the regular season.
04:57And then to win a championship, it's probably going to be a Thunder, which is something you couldn't do in the regular season.
05:02You have to win that as well.
05:03So battling the MO of the regular season is we handle our business against average teams.
05:07Anybody that's above average, we don't do business there.
05:10And maybe the Knicks can certainly change that narrative.
05:12We don't know, but we'll certainly find out you get a temperature test once they take on the Celtics here for game number one.
05:17But let's talk about the Western Conference, too, because OKC, to me, the best team all season, the best team in the NBA, priced appropriately at a minus 220 price, which is hefty.
05:26That's not to win the championship.
05:27That's just to win the Western Conference.
05:29The Timberwolves, plus 430.
05:31The Golden State Warriors, plus 850.
05:33The Nuggets, 11 to 1.
05:34To me, more pedigree, per se, in the Western Conference, the teams that were asking you to say, who do you want to take a flyer on?
05:40We just talked about the Pacers and the Knicks, quality squads, tough opponents.
05:44We'll see what happens.
05:45But the Timberwolves, that next up-and-coming team, the Golden State Warriors, championship pedigree.
05:49Just a few years ago, Joe, the Nuggets, championship pedigree.
05:53What gives here outside of OKC in the West for you?
05:57Yeah, it's a coin flip in some of these spots here.
06:02I mean, listen, the Thunder should obviously be a big favorite over the Nuggets.
06:07But this Timberwolves-Warriors series, I think, is fascinating.
06:10Because whoever comes out of that, unless you say the Thunder win and beat the Nuggets here, that's great.
06:18But whoever comes out of the Warriors and Timberwolves series is very much alive of giving the Thunder a big issue here.
06:26I think the Pacers would give the Celtics more of a problem than the Cavaliers right now.
06:32Because I don't think Garland will be back anytime soon.
06:37I can tell you that now.
06:38And I think that's a problem for the Cavaliers.
06:40The Timberwolves and Warriors, if the Warriors keep getting that version of Buddy Heald, good luck.
06:47Trying to beat that team in a seven-game series with Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry.
06:51I just, I think that's the more important series out of them.
06:55Now, what was interesting, too, is, again, we're waiting on these series to begin outside of Cleveland and Indiana.
07:01Which, again, Cleveland got beat by the Pacers in game number one of round number two.
07:06If I ask you this question, Joe, for just game number ones, you're obviously going to have the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks.
07:12OKC taking on the Denver Nuggets and the Timberwolves taking on the Warriors.
07:15What's the shock game here?
07:16Are we getting another shock game in game number one where that road team can pull the outright upset in game number one and take a series lead?
07:23Who would that be for you?
07:25Well, the Knicks would be the big, and I kind of hope they do.
07:30I kind of hope the Knicks come out and win game one.
07:33And let's face it, the Celtics have been atrocious at home.
07:38I mean, trying to, they're always a monster favorite, and it's always do or die in spots along this lines.
07:43But if the Knicks come out and win game one of that series, A, I'll take a second mortgage out to whatever that number is for the Celtics.
07:52I will bet it at that point in the series.
07:55But B, I can tell you right now, that will be the shock of all shocks of all of these game ones coming up.
08:03I don't think, despite the market, having the Cleveland Cavaliers as an eight and a half point favorite in game one,
08:09I don't know how shocking the Pacers beating them in game one was.
08:13I think the Knicks beating the Celtics would be over the top.
08:17I don't know anybody seeing that coming.
08:20Yeah, it's going to be fun to watch a playoff because, again, today, the coach is going to join us here shortly to talk some NDA action.
08:26You got a doubleheader tonight.
08:27It's the Knicks and the Celtics.
08:28Like, that's going to be fun.
08:29I don't care what the spread says.
08:30You're talking about two of the paramount franchises here on the East Coast going toe-to-toe.
08:34And then you have OKC still trying to get that respect from the general public here going up against the Denver Nuggets as heavy favorites as well.
08:41Then tomorrow, you have the Cleveland Cavaliers looking to jump back into the fight here and even up that series.
08:45And then the Warriors and the Timberwolves get underway from Minnesota.
08:49So it's a good time in the NBA right now.
08:51The final four in each conference here.
08:53Doubleheaders tonight, doubleheaders tomorrow.
08:55We expect a lot of excitement.
08:58NBA Hot Topics continue.
08:59Yes, we had to take a break here to talk some college football.
09:01Why not?
09:02By the way, college football right around the corner.
09:03Already done spring practices and spring games at this point.
09:06Before you know it, we'll be breaking down a preseason top 20 there.
09:10But before we do that, we do have some NBA Topics attack, which includes Greg Popovich.
09:14After 29 seasons as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, we'll be moved into the front office.
09:19Medical issues here sort of derailed his head coaching.
09:22Hopefully everything as well.
09:23But he will move into the front office here, Joe.
09:26Yeah.
09:26And I mean, listen, there is nobody.
09:29I mean, look at him.
09:30Five championships.
09:32I mean, the culture there.
09:34Unbelievable.
09:35You know, we see this a lot with guys that have spent their entire career.
09:40And had that much success.
09:42They get the old cushy office job in the corner.
09:46Lakers have done this.
09:47Pat Riley's still doing it.
09:49You know, it's nice.
09:50Enjoy yourselves.
09:51And he'll be there as long as he wants to be there.
09:55And quite honestly, he earned it.
09:57So one of the greatest ever to be on the sidelines for sure.
10:01No doubt about it.
10:02They're looking at five-time NBA champion, three-time coach of the year, 1,400 plus wins.
10:0729 seasons certainly was the pulse of the San Antonio Spurs through a couple of different
10:11regimes here.
10:12Mitch Johnson, never heard of the guy.
10:14He's going to be the new head coach.
10:15Then we take a look at the Memphis Grizzlies.
10:16Never heard of that head coach.
10:19Tomas Tuiasasopo, I believe is his name, will be the new head coach.
10:24What do you think about that name?
10:25You like that, Tuiasasopo, for that pronunciation?
10:26Does he drink beer out of his shoe?
10:30I'm not quite sure if that's the same guy.
10:33But it's a better attempt than I would have given it, Donnie.
10:36I'll tell you that.
10:37But yeah, no.
10:39Kudos to Memphis.
10:40I'm wondering if he can rein in John Moran.
10:43That's going to be the interesting thing there.
10:45Bring the box of grenades, man.
10:47Hand in hand, baby.
10:48Let's get after it here for Memphis next season.
10:50But here's a great topic, though.
10:52I love this.
10:53And it never stops.
10:53Like, the Lakers are out of the playoffs.
10:54I was like, man, what other talking point do you have with the Lakers?
10:57Where is LeBron going to go next year?
10:59Will he retire?
11:00Will he force a trade?
11:01But now we're getting news that LeBron gutted it out so much that he might not even be able
11:06to play in another postseason game, even if they won game number five.
11:11LeBron James, what a warrior.
11:14Yeah, great.
11:16Injured his knee in the Lakers.
11:17The problem was he looked just as bad in games one, two, and three, as well as four, before
11:24the knee injury.
11:25So I'm not quite sure if that had anything really to do with it.
11:31Does that mean, though, that he's going to miss the first six months of the next season?
11:35Is that what he'll only be available for the playoffs?
11:38Any Chris Paul, like, banana boat parties out there?
11:40Pictures from, like, Cancun?
11:41Or is he going to have to be rehabbing at that point?
11:43By the way, I do love the NBA.
11:44And it always states back to, like, remember, like, Shaquille O'Neal would be like, hey,
11:47buddy, your pinky toe needs to be operated on.
11:50He'd be like, look, I'm having fun in my summer.
11:52I'll see you in mid-October, then get the surgery, and I'll be back by Christmastime
11:56because I'm not missing out on my summer here.
11:57We'll see what LeBron James does.
11:59But I didn't even see that topic to talk about where LeBron was like, man, I was injured
12:03so bad, I finished that game, but I don't think I would be able to play the rest
12:06of the playoffs.
12:07LeBron James, leaving it all out there all the time, man.
12:10Oh, yeah, it's unbelievable.
12:12Great, great character in there.
12:13That was good stuff there, except you stunk in game four, too, so I'm not quite sure
12:20that the knee had anything to do with it.
12:23Game sevens, we love them, particularly in the NHL and also in the NBA.
12:27A lot of drama, a lot of intrigue, and sometimes some performances we are going to question here,
12:33and that's what we're going to do now.
12:35Stani writes out, it's Joe Waniere, and now we have the coach, James Young, in to break
12:39down some things that did happen and maybe should have happened.
12:42Coach, how are we feeling today on a Monday?
12:45Oh, it's great to be on with you guys.
12:48Game one, Knicks tonight.
12:49We'll talk about that at the end of the hour.
12:52Is how much am I sweating?
12:53Probably a whole hell of a lot.
12:55But, you know, it's Monday morning.
12:56It's dreary and rainy outside.
12:58But, it's always sunny when I get to talk to you two on this fine morning.
13:03Ah, see that?
13:04Just look, if you want to host our number three, JY, you can have a solo mission and get after
13:09and have some fun with that nice little bringing right here.
13:11But, also, we're not singing the praises down in Houston today.
13:15Why is that?
13:15The Golden State Warriors 103-89 in a game seven victory over the Houston Rockets.
13:20Similar to what we've seen previously.
13:22We were waiting for this.
13:23Boy, we don't think that the Houston Rockets can win game six back in Golden State.
13:26They did that.
13:27Momentum back for Houston.
13:29Coach, what happened to the Rockets?
13:33Jalen Green?
13:37Let's call it what it is.
13:38I mean, Jalen Green had a horrific game one, 38 points, and game number two.
13:46Incredible.
13:46And preceded to, you know what, the bad, the rest of the series.
13:52And, here's the thing, guys.
13:53Like, if you close your eyes and you say, oh, my God, Steph Curry's got three points at the halftime.
14:00You're like, Rockets by 20.
14:03Like, it's already over.
14:05But, all of a sudden, Bad Buddy showed up.
14:08Bad Buddy made more threes than the entire Rockets team last night.
14:14Nine to six.
14:16Right then and there.
14:17Like, one guy's three-point shot literally buried you.
14:21But, I want to give someone else credit that I don't want to give credit to a lot.
14:26And that's Draymond.
14:28He did look dialed in.
14:30He did look for his shot.
14:31He did knock down two threes in the first quarter.
14:34And it was just a better performance.
14:36But, to me, this is about a Houston team now that we have to be very, very careful about.
14:42Right?
14:42Because they're young.
14:44What do you do at this point?
14:47Because the easy thing to say is, well, we push all of our chips to the center of the table.
14:52Right?
14:52You've got to re-sign Fred Van Vliet.
14:54That's got to be the number one thing.
14:57The question you have to do is, what do you do with Jalen Green?
15:00You have the number three draft pick and Reed Shepard, who didn't even see the floor.
15:05You guys know, obviously, Cam Whitmore is another capable guy at the two-guard position.
15:11Then you go to the forward position, where I meant Thompson displaced Jabari Smith in his starting lineup.
15:18You already got Tar Heason as a backup.
15:20If you're Houston, do you take Green, Smith, and then go take a swing and try to get a superstar to come back to Houston?
15:30Yeah, it's going to be an interesting offseason for the Houston Rockets, for sure, there, Coach.
15:38And it's also going to be interesting, too, is we got one game yesterday involving the second round with the Cavs and the Pacers.
15:48And one team looked like they were just deer in the headlights, and as Indiana is running past them, every chance they get, guys running into one another.
15:59Boy, oh, boy, is Garland that important to this Cleveland Cavs team here, Coach?
16:06Certainly looks like it.
16:07But when you play a team like Indiana, let's be honest, you need depth.
16:13Because they're just going to keep coming at you in waves.
16:17And I want people to understand this, and you're going to get where I'm going with this with tonight.
16:23You got to be careful with these teams that have non-competitive first-round series.
16:32And think that you got to dial it back up.
16:36It's hard in game one.
16:38Listen, am I shocked Indiana won?
16:41Yes.
16:42But if you would have told me they lost this game by three, four points and covered the spread, I would have said, oh, I absolutely see that happening because of the ramp-up.
16:51What that leads you to tonight, there are two games tonight with big numbers.
16:58I want people to be careful and stop thinking about it as, oh, they blew them out in the regular season.
17:03Oh, they did this and did that.
17:05Be careful with these big spreads when you get to the second round.
17:08It's just like when you get through the NCAA tournament, we get rid of all the Cinderella teams.
17:11This is when basketball starts to get more interesting because these are way more competitive series that people want to think.
17:19And also, if we are taking a look at game number sevens and how they pertain to game number ones and round number twos, we take a look at Golden State and Minnesota with the series-odd prices here.
17:29The Timberwolves are a minus-178 favorite to win that series.
17:32The Golden State Warriors at a plus-150 price.
17:34When you see those numbers to start that series, is it price appropriate for you, coach, or are you somewhat surprised that the Timberwolves would be that high of a favorite, per se, or not?
17:43Well, I'm going to take everyone back to, well, they probably didn't hear this, but you remember, right, last week, Donnie, we were talking about this with Ben and Joe during the commercial break about who was going to be the series price leader.
17:56And if I remember, Frizo was saying, or producer, was saying, it was going to be Minnesota.
18:01And we were all saying it was going to be Golden State.
18:03But remember, that was that 3-1 Golden State.
18:06The way that Golden State looked just getting through and how, like, at times, Steph looked really old and how Minnesota just capped off that series,
18:16now it's starting to line up where it should be because the team that's playing better right now is Minnesota.
18:24The team with home court advantage is Minnesota.
18:28So, to me, what's interesting is, is how do you bet this series?
18:32I have a hard time believing that Golden State's going to win this series.
18:37I don't even know that this is even going to be overly competitive.
18:40If we get what we got out of Minnesota, the same problems, the same problems that the Lakers had versus the Timberwolves are coming back to roost again.
18:55The lack of height.
18:58What are you doing with Draymond?
19:00Who does Draymond guard?
19:03Is Draymond guarding Rudy?
19:04Then who takes Randall?
19:05Well, then, if you want to try and put – someone told me over the weekend, like, oh, you put Jimmy Butler on Randall.
19:11Then who the hell is guarding Randall?
19:13So, to me, there are matchup problems defensively, not just height-wise, but athletic-wise.
19:20I love this to go six games or less.
19:23I'm going to go ahead and take Minnesota minus one and a half games.
19:26I think they get this within six games.
19:28I was at a strip club last night, Coach, and James Harden comes walking in.
19:35And all seems to be well with the world.
19:38I'm just – all right?
19:39Doesn't seem to be – all good in James Harden's world, except for the fact he's on another team that he doesn't show up with when it matters the most.
19:48Not that shocking, though, is it, Coach?
19:51No, it's absolutely not shocking.
19:52I just want people to understand, James Harden – just do yourself a favor.
19:58Go up on social media and go look up James Harden elimination game and look at his step.
20:05I mean, you want to talk about the clock strike a minute.
20:09I mean, this is like the version of the movie Groundhog Day, right?
20:13Like, you get up, the same thing happens.
20:15And there it is, seven points.
20:17People are like, oh, he had 13 assists.
20:18The guy shot two for eight from the floor.
20:22And it's just – it's something that's happened year after year after year after year.
20:28And it's just something that – it just hasn't changed.
20:32So, what do you look at when you look at James Harden and elimination games, right?
20:38And we're talking about big minutes.
20:40We're not talking about little minutes here.
20:42You know, this guy has done this time after time after time.
20:45And let's be honest, folks.
20:48The guy is a stat chaser.
20:50He's got great stats.
20:51James Harden is going to be probably at the end of next year, I think, top 12 or 13.
20:56All-time in career scoring in the NBA.
20:59And go look at when the lights get the brightest and the games miss the most.
21:04James Harden comes up the smallest.
21:08No, he certainly has.
21:09I mean, all the talent in the world.
21:10And sometimes you give him, like, that little, like, test.
21:12It's like, boy, would you go back to your Houston Rocket days?
21:14You won't win anything.
21:15But you are dropping points and points and points.
21:17And the NBA has got to change, like, the fouling structure because of how much you're getting away with it.
21:21It's just a shame because he's a great basketball player.
21:23They just don't advance here.
21:25Now, in the next segment, Coach, I do want to ask you this question.
21:27And that's, where do the Clippers go from here?
21:30They were finally healthy at this point.
21:32Got dropped in round number one.
21:33Can changes be made with Clippers?
21:35And also much, much more on the start of some of these series.
21:37We got the coach in the building.
21:39Yes, use them.
21:40We get all that knowledge right back here on the early line.
21:43Ah, what to do now?
21:44The question marks always come up here.
21:46It's Donnie Wright's side.
21:47It's Joe and Erie.
21:48And it's the coach, James Young.
21:49And the reason that we need these questions answered is, what's going to happen with the Clippers now?
21:53We were led to believe, like, man, if the Clippers coach just got to the playoffs healthy, the superstar power will shine.
21:59There's the thing about making a deep playoff run and not working out great season.
22:02But there's also about, you were finally healthy and you lost in round number one.
22:07The Clippers future, Coach, is what?
22:09Well, murky.
22:12Because let's be honest.
22:13When you look at the Western Conference, right?
22:16Okay.
22:16Obviously, OKC's ahead of them.
22:19If Houston doesn't take a step back, they're ahead of them.
22:21You know, you expect the Lakers to, I don't know, maybe be better next year.
22:26You expect teams to jump up.
22:30You're looking at the Clippers and saying, well, what do we do?
22:34We've gotten lucky with Kawhi this past year with injuries.
22:39How long is that going to last?
22:42James Harden is, I think, 35, 36 years old.
22:45How long is that going to last?
22:47Yeah, Zubac was absolutely fantastic.
22:49We get it.
22:50Ty Lue is one of the best coaches in the league.
22:53Steve Ballmer is not afraid to spend money, but you find yourself an interesting part of you could be irrelevant rather quickly in a competitive Western Conference.
23:05I'm going to throw something out there where I think it should be considered.
23:10I think you trade Kawhi Leonard while the value is at its highest now.
23:15If you don't think you're going to be able to be a perennial team that's going to make it to the second round and or deeper in the Western Conference,
23:24to me, you're either winning or you're rebuilding.
23:27And I'm worried about the Clippers team falling back, particularly if Kawhi gets injured, right?
23:34Because then you're relying on James Harden.
23:37I think they should consider trading Kawhi.
23:39They got through the first season of the new arena, right?
23:43So they're fine.
23:44They're set up.
23:45It was a ton of money.
23:46Ballmer had to go in.
23:48This is where he should smartly say, let me look at the longevity of this.
23:52If Kawhi Leonard off of his year, maybe considered again to be a top-ten player of the NBA currently, if he's healthy,
24:00I think you trade him and you try to extend it to the future.
24:04I'll tell you right now, the team that's playing, that just got knocked out last night, if I'm Houston, I'm calling them right now.
24:11I'll give you Jabari.
24:13I'll give you Jabari Smith.
24:14I'll give you Jalen Green.
24:16And I'll give you a couple of picks.
24:19And we'll take Kawhi Leonard.
24:20And then you put Kawhi Leonard in that frontcourt with Amen Thompson, now Farron Shingun,
24:24and then you put Reed Shepard in the backcourt along with the Fred VanVleet,
24:28you can't tell me that team can't go to a Western Conference Final if they get someone like the Claw playing in Houston,
24:33especially with the way he plays defense as well.
24:37So we got to look now ahead for this Denver team.
24:41I mean, they do have the ring, Coach.
24:44Donnie and I were talking, the best player is still on the Denver Nuggets team that's going to be in this series.
24:50And that's still saying a lot here.
24:52They split the season series, I think, two games apiece.
24:56I mean, this is a monster number here for the OKC team in the series.
25:02Does Denver have a punch or shot, in your opinion?
25:05They do, because they have the best player in the world.
25:10And I think, guys, game six, OK, they didn't close it out.
25:14But five and seven, they looked as good as they've looked all year.
25:20All year.
25:21Both sides of the ball.
25:23And to me, this series is going to depend on, and they did it on Saturday night,
25:31it's going to depend on Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr.
25:35Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr., I think, scored 39 points, if I'm not mistaken, in game number seven.
25:43I think Zubac, Harden, and Kawhi scored like 41.
25:48It was like something like crazy close.
25:50So, if those two can, like, let's say, equal what they get out of some of the other guys, you know, Williams and Hartenstein and Chet,
26:00if they can bring their part of the game, Joker's going to bring his, Murray will give you a couple of spots.
26:08I think OKC wins this series, but I think it's in six.
26:11So, I'm going to do, I'm going to take the Nuggets plus two and a half games.
26:15I think they find a way to get two games here in this series because of their star power, Nikola Jokic.
26:23And I do think they're going to play much better, particularly if guys ready, on the defensive end of the floor.
26:30That's the difference that I saw this, you know, the last couple of games down the stretch after they fired Michael Malone.
26:37Yeah, I like the two and a half game look.
26:39I do, because we're, like, even if you win in six here for OKC, that's a great series win, 42 over the Denver Nuggets.
26:44So many times you get caught up, I'm like, oh, that's not impressive.
26:47They won it in six games.
26:48What are we talking about?
26:49Final four in the Western and the Eastern Conference, man.
26:51You win it in six.
26:51You're doing your job here and can advance, which then brings us up to game number one
26:55and what the expectations tonight, Coach, will be.
26:589.30 tip time.
26:59It's the Nuggets and OKC.
27:00A nine and a half point favorite here at the FanDuel Sportsbook and a 225 and a half total.
27:05There are many ways to play this game, but the one thing that Joe and I talked about in our number one, Coach,
27:08is what version of each team are we getting?
27:11Rested and ready, OKC.
27:12They should be good.
27:13The Denver Nuggets, that whole rush of winning a game number seven in their own building,
27:17they ain't got to pick up and fly to a new city.
27:19What's your expectations tonight?
27:21And also with the spread as well.
27:23Well, here's the key thing to look at, guys.
27:25You know, yes.
27:27Jamal Morty, two minutes.
27:28Christian Braun, 38 minutes.
27:30Joker, 32.
27:32Porter, 30.
27:33I'm taking the points.
27:36I'm taking a nine and a half.
27:37There's just something to me about the rev back up after winning an easy series.
27:42I know, I know, I know, I know.
27:44OKC, you know, it was a tight game in game four.
27:48They rolled that series.
27:49They weren't even, like, paying attention to game four once a new job was out.
27:53I do like the plus nine and a half points tonight with the Denver Nuggets.
28:00I think they're going to keep a competitive memory.
28:01They got blown out in a back-to-back, like, home-home.
28:05And the next game, they won by 20.
28:07So, I think I like them.
28:08Two people look at.
28:10Russ is home.
28:11Russell Westbrook, over 10 and a half points.
28:14Seven out of the last eight.
28:15He's going to play a role in this series.
28:17Look at Russ.
28:17And then, SGA, if I am Denver, I'm making him a distributor.
28:24I'm going to make anybody else beat me.
28:27You can find SGA over six and a half assists at plus money.
28:31Look for that to happen again tonight as well.
28:34Yeah, I like some of those looks that you're going with there, too.
28:36Because if you are looking at Russell Westbrook, he's been that energy bunny off the bench.
28:39And if you were betting him the past two games, he's playing a lot of minutes and being involved.
28:42Whether it's points, rebounds, or assists here, he's only listed at 10 and a half.
28:45The one thing that we do know is that doesn't go into the algorithm, Coach, right, as we talk about.
28:50We understand humans and how they connect with their city.
28:54You think Russ is coming to town to go one for three from the floor?
28:56Three points have one rebound tonight in OKC.
28:59Stop the madness.
29:00The Knicks are up next against the Celtics.
29:03Upset city?
29:04Let's talk about it, Coach.
29:06Right back in at hour number two.
29:08We're talking NBA action.
29:10The Coach James Young is here with us today.
29:12Myself and Joe Ranieri having a lot of fun talking about this.
29:14Also, I'm seeing on the FanDuel Sportsbook here, Coach, it says win playoff tickets or an NDA jersey.
29:19It has the Knicks on there.
29:20So if you get involved with the FanDuel Sportsbook, you can get some Knicks tickets here, which certainly will be a hot commodity for game number three in the Garden.
29:27But before, Coach, we get to game number three in the Garden.
29:30We got game number one in the TD Garden in Boston tonight.
29:33A nine-point favorite for the Celtics.
29:35A total of 2-12 and a half.
29:36Brunson and the boys headed up I-95 to Beantown.
29:41What happens tonight?
29:43Whether or not you're a fan or not.
29:46Well, listen, the Knicks are in a tough spot in this series because you're going to go look at the season series and see the Knicks got lost all four games.
29:53Right?
29:54Three of them were absolute blowouts.
29:56But I want to pay attention to the last one, the 119-117 win.
30:01Why?
30:02It was the only game that New York was whole.
30:05That includes Mitchell Robinson, who played some pretty decent minutes in the first round series versus Detroit.
30:13I expect this to be more competitive than people think.
30:16I don't think the Knicks win game one, but I think they throw a really hard punch.
30:22I'm going to take the nine points here and look at the fact that I think that they're going to keep this game somewhat competitive.
30:31Like the series we talked about last break with Denver and OKC.
30:38I like the Knicks in plus two and a half games.
30:40I think the Knicks are going to find a way to maybe, I don't know if it's game one, maybe get a split.
30:46And then could Brunson steal you another game and you lose four games to two?
30:50Value bet.
30:52Josh Hart to lead the series in rebounding at about 7-1 on FanDuel.
30:56Hear me out.
30:58The two people, Tatum, I see why he's up there.
31:02But then if you look at Cat as a second person, Cat's got to go chase Porzingis at the three-point line.
31:08He can't go to the three-point line and then rush in.
31:11Josh Hart turns into an absolute maniac when it comes to the playoffs and his rebounding numbers.
31:17He gets about 8.7 rebounds per game versus Boston during the regular season.
31:22I like Josh Hart to lead the series in rebounding.
31:25And that leads me to game one, taking Josh Hart over 19 and a half points plus rebounds.
31:32Over three straight.
31:34Five out of six versus Boston.
31:36I think if you're Boston, you're thinking about Cat.
31:39You're thinking about Brunson.
31:40That 10 and a half total for points, 19 and a half with the rebounds, is a low number.
31:47Josh Hart goes over points plus rebounds tonight and leads the series in rebounding at 7-1.
31:51I know they posted earlier today the Celtics injury report, Coach, clean.
31:59They're saying Holiday is back.
32:01He is playing in this game.
32:03He's not on the injury report.
32:04He missed the last three games against Orlando.
32:08I mean, how dangerous are these Celtics here with Holiday in the lineup?
32:13I'll tell you what.
32:15Joe, you're fantastic.
32:16You know why?
32:18My other prop tonight was Drew Holiday over 12 and a half points plus rebounds.
32:22And no, I did not set Joe up for that.
32:24Joe went there by himself.
32:26Why?
32:27Over seven of the last eight versus the New York Knicks.
32:30He's got to play big minutes versus Brunson particularly.
32:34So if you look at it like I looked at it the other way, where you look at the secondary guys to be the scores,
32:39look for someone like Drew Holiday over 12 and a half points plus rebounds.
32:44He may get their points alone because if you're in New York, who are you thinking about?
32:48Tatum, Brown, Porzingis.
32:51Someone gets loose.
32:53I'm going to trust it's going to be the one with the lower number than Derek White as Drew Holiday over 12 and a half tonight.
33:01Going to have some fun watching game number one, Coach.
33:03But let's talk about the totality of the series in itself.
33:06Before we tip tonight, take a look at the FanDuel Sportsbook on the series price odds.
33:10The New York Knicks, a plus 590 underdog.
33:12The favorites, of course, the Boston Celtics at minus 850 live.
33:16You take a look at the series prices.
33:17Boston minus two and a half games at a minus 128.
33:20And the shortest is game number five at plus 198.
33:23Setting up this series, yes, the Celtics won the best teams in the NBA, reigning world champions.
33:29What success can we have with the Knicks even if they don't win the series?
33:32Is it short?
33:33Is it long?
33:33What's the prognosis, Coach?
33:36I think it goes six as well.
33:38Guys, I wouldn't be shocked if this is 2-2 heading back to Boston for a game five.
33:42I can see split-split happening.
33:45Because the Knicks are going to get one because Boston's just going to shoot it abysmally from three.
33:50And you're going to get a second one probably because Brunson's going to steal one for you.
33:55If this is 1-1, and here's the way you want to do it.
33:59If you are liking Boston, let this thing get to 1-1, then jump on Boston.
34:03But right now, before the series starts, New York Knicks plus two and a half games at plus money, they find a way to get this at six games.
34:10Let's see what happens tonight.
34:12Game number one, TD, guard, an exciting way all the way through.
34:15Now, Coach, you should take us out to the break.
34:17Give me a little Bernard King right now.
34:19Can you see it?
34:19Give me a little Bernard King.
34:20Bernard King.
34:21And stop saying, I'm just the greatest hit.
34:23I could be the greatest hit because I played.
34:25Goal!
34:26Hour number three officially underway right here on the Early Line Series XM Channel 159 Sports Grid Network.
34:33Donnie Wright said, along with Joe Raniera, the energy is high.
34:36We're ready to go.
34:37The previews are here, reaching out to the public.
34:39Everything we will do in hour number three is designed, Joe, to get the people involved in tonight's action.
34:45And there is plenty of it here, Donnie.
34:48It feels like second round is going to be even more exciting than what we just got with all those game sevens in the first round.
34:56By the way, let me ask you this question, too.
34:58Look, we had a segment where we talked about, like, you know, interim head coach becoming head coach.
35:02He's never heard of them before.
35:03Like, we just got Utah Jazz have extended their head coach, Will Hardy.
35:07Had no idea Will Hardy was a head coach, who that is.
35:10But he says he's humbled and he's honored to be extended.
35:13And Utah has had a sensational year last year, Coach.
35:15What do you feel about that?
35:16He's actually a pretty good coach that had zero.
35:19He got more out of the lack of talent on that team than many would.
35:23I like Will Hardy.
35:24I'm glad they wrapped him up.
35:26And Utah needs to be relevant again because it was pretty fun when they were that last decade.
35:35Yeah, what's going to happen when Utah doesn't get Cooper flagged and he heads to Philadelphia?
35:39Is Will Hardy going to want to coach the Philadelphia 76ers next year?
35:41We will find out.
35:42But you know what we got to do now?
35:43This is the time we reach out to the public, Joe.
35:45We want to hear their responses to some of the questions that we ask.
35:48On our SportsGrid account, the Fade the Public poll today goes as followed.
35:52Who will win tonight's NBA playoff games?
35:55There are four choices, obviously, because there's two games.
35:58Celtics-Nuggets, Celtics-Thunder, Knicks-Nuggets, Knicks and Thunder.
36:02If we look at the results here, overwhelming.
36:05People love themselves.
36:06Joe Ranieri, some public favorites here.
36:0964% voted, Celtics-Heavy favorite, Thunder-Heavy favorite to both win.
36:15Are you shaking from the norm tonight here?
36:18It's kind of hard.
36:19I mean, look at the numbers in these games here.
36:22We're talking about multiple possession spreads, home teams, rested.
36:28This is a tough game one here tonight.
36:32But, being the contrarian, Donnie, I have no choice but to go the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks win two nights and throw a complete wrench into everything.
36:45Wow, the low men on the totem pole, the Knicks and the Nuggets, 6.1% of the betting public coming in, fading the public.
36:53Joe Ranieri is absolutely doing that, which then brings us into, all right, we do have a doubleheader tonight to talk about and have some fun with,
36:59as we've been doing there, catching up on the live lines right now in the FanDuel Sportsbook.
37:03Game number one, we'll start there.
37:05The New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics.
37:07You said the coach on to talk about that game and that series and how it plays out.
37:10The one thing we do know is that the New York Knicks really haven't done all that well against upper echelon teams.
37:16You know, it's an upper echelon team.
37:17It's the Boston Celtics.
37:18Let's start with the spread.
37:19Nine points tonight.
37:20Is there a chance that Boston wins this game and doesn't cover?
37:24Or, as you said, maybe a chance for the Knicks to pull the upset in surprise fashion for game number one?
37:30It's rough.
37:32I mean, the Knicks this year, 2-14 against the spread versus the top six NBA teams this season.
37:39And they were losing by an average of just about 10 points.
37:43Johnny, not covering the numbers.
37:45So, this is brutal.
37:47But what I don't think they're going to roll over.
37:50I think they will be ready.
37:52They don't have as much depth.
37:53I don't and I have not all year backed the Celtics with this kind of spread at home because, Donnie, they didn't cover them.
38:02They didn't cover them at all.
38:03You were burning money this year doing laying this kind of number here against teams.
38:10And while the Knicks have not had a ton of success against the Celtics this season, it feels like points are coming.
38:16It feels like it's going to be raining threes from all over the place.
38:19Wow.
38:202-12 and a half is just a little low for my taste.
38:24I don't think we're going to get the lockdown, sacrifice your body, defense effort here.
38:29I think this is going to be a little bit of a shootout here.
38:32Plus, the overs right now are on a 14-5 playoff run.
38:36Now, if we take a look at this game, too, if you think there's points, that's great because then that opens Pandora's box to see if we can get some guys to push through their points prop, three-point props, and so forth.
38:46If there's a player, maybe, from each team, Joe, that you're watching tonight that you say, you know what, this guy on each team might be bettable for me tonight, who might those guys be?
38:56Tatum, to me, he's had a couple extra days rest now.
38:59So, whatever that wrist issue, I'm sure won't be that much of a problem.
39:05And his points prop, I think 27 and a half is what I saw it at here.
39:10And when he has faced the Knicks four times this season, he has scored 37, 40, 25, and 32 in those games.
39:19I could see him also having a very successful night.
39:23And I think the coach nailed it with Josh Hart.
39:25I think he is a guy, his PRA, 24 and a half points, rebounds, and assists.
39:31I think we need to go up and over that.
39:34He, against the Celtics this year, 28, 40, and 28 combined points, rebounds, and assists.
39:42I think there's value in both those numbers to the over.
39:46Celtics-Knicks tonight, 7 o'clock East Coast game, close to double digits.
39:49We'll see how that turns out.
39:50212 and a half is the price point on the total here.
39:53Game number two tonight of our doubleheader in the NBA.
39:56Another round two series opening up tonight.
39:59That's the Denver Nuggets and the OKC Thunder.
40:01This line of the FanDuel Sportsbook currently right now sits at 9 and a half.
40:05The total in this game, 225 and a half.
40:08So if we start again with the side itself, Nuggets-Thunder tonight, close to double digits.
40:13What are our thoughts there?
40:15I mean, what if they had nine days off, OKC, in this one here?
40:19I think this is another one where I would lean towards the over in this spot here and let it rain.
40:28I don't think Denver's defense is going to have a whole lot of success in game one.
40:35I think OKC, like they usually do, especially at home, Donnie, I believe they average, what, 125 a game?
40:41I think this game is going to go up and over.
40:45I still don't think they have an answer for the Joker, but I certainly think this could be up-tempo and we could get a ton of points.
40:54If it's a blowout, I'm expecting points here from both teams.
40:58So I like the over in this one.
41:00It's funny because, again, we look at 225 and a half, like, oh, man, that's a really high number.
41:04Like during the NBA season, like 225 and a half was like the average number in an NBA game.
41:07Most of those high 220s, 230s, 240s, we even sell games in the 250s this season.
41:12But if you are looking at the total, which I like where you're going here, Oklahoma City, to me, the MO and the game plan should be the Denver Nuggets should be tired.
41:21So what do you do?
41:21Not walk the basketball off the court.
41:23You push tempo in this game to force the Denver Nuggets, who just played in the game number seven, to sort of cover that court.
41:28So for me, I like that.
41:30Like a first quarter over, a first half over make a lot of sense to me in this fashion.
41:33But, again, if we are looking at players in this game, Nuggets and also OKC, give me a couple of guys that interest you tonight in some of the betting markets.
41:42Well, I loved what the coach went with Russell Westbrook.
41:47It's one of the only guys off the bench that, you know, they don't have a ton of them, but he is a guy that has been on the money for him.
41:55He's logged, I believe, at least 23 minutes in the playoffs so far here.
42:02So they use him a lot.
42:04And he's averaged about 14 points in those games off the bench.
42:09I thought 10 and a half was a little low.
42:11So I like Russ to cook here tonight.
42:14What choice do they have, Don, if we're being honest?
42:16What choice do they have?
42:18They got to get some production from that bench.
42:21He already knocked out one former team in the Clippers.
42:24Maybe he's got a little something up his sleeve for his other former team.
42:28By the way, you know what we should have up our sleeve here?
42:31Like some players should understand like the thought process.
42:34Christian Brown, whose last name clearly is Braun.
42:38Like even me, like, you know, we're on the air, but every single time his name comes up, I get like a little like brain tick because I know it's Brown.
42:47I always say it's Brown, but I still want to say Braun at this point.
42:50Can we just change the guy's name to Braun?
42:52Can we get through to him and sign a letter that says, you know what?
42:55I respect the game.
42:56It looks like Braun.
42:57Let's just keep it Braun.
42:57Like the Brown throws a lot of people off.
43:00Yeah, no, it's, uh, it throws me off too.
43:03And, uh, I think I've heard it, uh, a couple of different ways on the broadcast too, which is pretty funny as well.
43:08So we're not alone, Donnie, in being confused.
43:11No, we certainly are.
43:12But by the way, no, it's not confusing.
43:13Why is SGA always priced at 31 and a half or 32 points in every single game?
43:17It's, it's a thing that like, you can set your clock to it because you know, he's not allowed to score 34 points.
43:23He's not allowed to score 28 points.
43:24He's always in that range for SGA again, 31 and a half.
43:27But we got a double header tonight on the card.
43:30A lot of fun to break down.
43:31Tom Beck is going to come on a little bit later in the show.
43:33We'll hit those NBA games and much, much more.
43:35I'm excited for baseball.
43:37I'm excited here tonight for the NBA, a double header tonight.
43:41One game at seven o'clock, one game at nine 30, the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics in game one, followed by the Nuggets and the Thunder in game number two.
43:48Both of these lines high, Joe, nine and a half and nines respectively here.
43:52Before we break down the games and give some analysis on this and take a look at some of the points, props, rebounds, props that we might like tonight.
43:58Excitement level for you.
44:00Is it for the Knicks, Celtics, Nuggets or Thunder?
44:03Like if I had to give you one game to watch tonight, which game you watching?
44:06I I'm definitely going to be watching the OKC and the and the Nuggets game because I do find it fascinating what's happening there.
44:18You know what?
44:19What we folks may not realize, Donnie, don't forget, is that they played each other four times this year.
44:24Two times were early in the season, but the other two times were back to back in March.
44:30And if you remember, the big argument then was they were doing the voting right for who the MVP is.
44:37Is it SGA or is it the Joker back and forth?
44:41They are saying at some point during this series, they are going to announce who that MVP award winner is.
44:49And it really came down to those two.
44:51So I think it's going to be great watching those two battle.
44:53And boy, oh, boy, if one guy has a great game here tonight, the other one doesn't, but turns out to win the MVP award.
45:01Let the let the fun begin and the screaming and yelling begin.
45:05But I just think there's better storylines right now with Denver and OKC.
45:10And what do you get from a team that hasn't played in nine days?
45:13Donnie, what do you get from them early on here?
45:16Exactly.
45:17Is it rust?
45:18Are you ready?
45:18Are we ready to go at this point?
45:20If we are looking at the two games for me, of course, it's going to be the seven o'clock game.
45:23I'm excited for because I will not be awake for the 930 game to a nice early wake up call for a special turn.
45:30The early line tomorrow.
45:31So for me, I'm looking forward to that Nick Celtics game, which anyway, would have been my answer because I just like the the East Coast,
45:37the old school rivalry to see how the game kicks off.
45:39But again, we have two close to double digit spreads.
45:42So let's focus on the first game tonight.
45:43It's the Knicks and the Celtics.
45:45Seven o'clock start line open at the Fandle Sportsbook at nine.
45:48Still sits at nine.
45:49Let me start here with you tonight.
45:50By the time this game tips at seven o'clock, Joe, where is the spread at?
45:56Oh, I think it's it's going to be back and forth between nine, nine and a half.
46:00I don't think it's going to fluctuate a whole lot from there.
46:03The total is going to be the interesting thing to me and to whether or not this starts to creep up again.
46:11Holiday looks like he is a go.
46:13He is practice.
46:15He was not listed on the injury report.
46:17Neither is Jalen Brown.
46:18So for our person, it looks like it's a clean bill of health here for the entire Celtics roster.
46:25But again, we've seen some issues this year with the Knicks against elite teams.
46:32Celtics are absolutely elite.
46:35They're going to need some things to go well.
46:37I'm not running to the window to back a Celtics team laying that kind of number at home this year.
46:43It has been a losing proposition.
46:46The Knicks are experienced.
46:47They are certainly I think the Knicks chances of making pay in this series happens early in this series.
46:55I think the longer the series goes, that depth and the shooting of Boston will be too much for the Knicks.
47:01But I would not be shocked if the Knicks have a chance to win this game in the final couple of minutes in Boston tonight.
47:08I wouldn't be shocked at that at all.
47:09Lining up the A options and the B options.
47:12And it's very interesting here at the FanDuel Sportsbook for player points props here.
47:16Take a look at Jason Tatum.
47:1727 and a half.
47:18You know what?
47:19Brunson counters with a 27 and a half.
47:22Jalen Brown?
47:2320 and a half.
47:23How about Carl Anthony Towns?
47:2520 and a half as well.
47:26If I gave you a tandem or maybe you want to pick one from each team.
47:30If we go Tatum and Brunson, 27 and a half, which way would you go over under?
47:34And also Brown and Carl Anthony Towns, 20 and a half.
47:38Which side might you go over and under on?
47:40Well, I got to go over on both the Knicks sides because without them, where are we at?
47:45Right?
47:45What's going to happen?
47:46They're going to need both of those guys to be there in a big, big way.
47:51I do think it's going to be interesting.
47:53Who does Holiday guard?
47:54It was a hamstring problem and hamstring issues this time of year, Donnie, are a little head
47:59scratching.
48:00You know, if you got to be chasing Jalen Brunson around, like who exactly is Holiday guarding
48:06in this spot?
48:08I think that also the chess match there is going to be interesting to watch.
48:12But without Brunson and Cat, the Knicks are just dead on arrival.
48:16So I would look to back those two guys over.
48:19And I like the over for the game.
48:21Yeah, it's always fun to look at also the three-point prop margins here.
48:25Jason Tate at a three and a half, which means he has to make four.
48:27That's a plus 130 price.
48:29Jalen Brunson to make three.
48:30That's a plus 130 price.
48:31Jalen Brown at one and a half at a plus 102 price.
48:34Then Carl Anthony Towns.
48:35Derek White's actually listed three and a half at a plus 142 price at this point.
48:39Mike Cal Bridges over one and a half at a minus 110.
48:42So some interesting numbers there nonetheless.
48:44But that's game number one.
48:46Game number two tonight, 585, 586 on the rotation.
48:49That's the Nuggets and the Thunder, 930 tip time from OKC tonight.
48:53That line opened up at nine and a half, still sits at nine and a half.
48:56And we'll start there again.
48:58Does this line see 10 tonight?
49:00Or is that just too glaring where the public goes, 10?
49:03That's crazy.
49:04That could very well continue to creep up and could get to double digits.
49:10But I do think, again, this number has been on the board for a little time now, Donnie.
49:16So the fact that I think it opened up eight and a half, we've seen it get as high as nine
49:21and a half.
49:22I haven't seen double digits yet, but it wouldn't shock me if prior, because this is the second
49:27game of the night, right?
49:28So you could get a ton of public money trying to make back whoever they bet on the Knicks
49:34and Boston game, if it doesn't cover, trying to get it back here on OKC.
49:3910 points is a lot.
49:41I don't care what it is.
49:42The Thunder are more than capable.
49:44But at that point, why are we just not looking?
49:47If you think the Thunder are going to cover, how many points do they have to score in order
49:51to do that?
49:51I think their team total over is in play as well tonight.
49:55Yeah, 225 is that number here.
49:58We'll see how they charge out of the gate.
50:00Is it more of an up-tempo to try to get the Nuggets there, thinking they're a little bit
50:03non-rested from their game number seven?
50:05We'll find out.
50:06But the player points prop tonight also, Nikola Jokic, 27 and a half.
50:10SGA, 31 and a half.
50:12Jamal Mary, 19 and a half.
50:13Christian Brown, 12 and a half at this point here.
50:16Russell Westbrook seems to be getting a lot of light here, and rightfully so.
50:20He's played extremely well the past couple of games.
50:22He's now up to 10 and a half as his points prop at a minus 125.
50:26If we're looking from a points prop perspective, who actually would you like to take a look
50:29at?
50:29Top end guys?
50:30Bench guys?
50:31Who is it here in this game?
50:33Well, you know, Russ is going to be great because the number makes sense.
50:36I think also there's so many options with OKC, and there's just no value in backing, you
50:45know, SGA there.
50:46I think it's Jamal Murray is the guy that is going to keep Denver in this game because
50:51I think he will be allowed to kind of hunt the mismatches that he likes.
50:57And if he is on, we've seen Jamal Murray carry this team.
51:01I think he's the guy that's got to have the touch here tonight to keep the Nuggets involved
51:05in this game.
51:06So I'd look to back his point total over.
51:09You know, it's pretty crazy.
51:10You take a look at the three-point player props here in this game.
51:12We just talked about the Celtics, multiple guys, like three and a half in that range.
51:16There are some guys at two and a half, but heavily, like, you know, plus money.
51:20Like Jamal Murray to make 33-point shots is 148.
51:23So is that true line more closer to one and a half with a lot of juice?
51:26You take a look also here, two and a half for Lou Dork, two and a half at plus 158 on
51:31his number here.
51:32So essentially everybody really is at that one and a half price here.
51:36So you could probably get some good, you know, vibes on that.
51:38But also as a 225, if you look at the total tonight, Joe, right?
51:41You're liking the over more than the under in this game?
51:45I definitely think the over is the way to go.
51:47And it's a team that averages 120, 125 points a game here, including in the last series,
51:53which they ran through Memphis on.
51:56Again, Denver showed some moxie in that games, in game six and seven, right?
52:01Or in five and seven, really, where the defense was ratcheted up.
52:05But again, coming out of that game seven, I think the defense isn't going to be great
52:10for Denver, which means, yeah, OKC is not taking a foot off the gas.
52:14I'm expecting points here tonight.
52:17Two can step up on this one, as we talked about at the top of the hour.
52:20It's like, hey, you know, let's reach out to the public on a fade to public, which two sides
52:24you think are going to win.
52:25Joe thought maybe there could be a chance where both underdogs win.
52:28That's a plus 310 price on the Knicks and a plus 340 on the Nuggets.
52:31A $5 wager at the FanDuel Sportsbook for both underdogs to win will pay you back $85.20.
52:37It's a big return tonight.
52:39I want to see some shocking results.
52:41I want to see an upset here, just like we saw from the Indiana Pacers taking on the Cleveland
52:45Cavaliers to sort of upset the apple cart and get some of these extended series.
52:50We'll see if it happens.
52:51Tom Vecchio joining the program next.
52:53Stick with us right here on the Early Line.
52:56The NBA, the Association of Doubleheaders tonight.
53:00One game at 7 o'clock, one game at 9.30.
53:02Expectations are blowouts.
53:04Maybe with those totals, maybe we can get an upset here.
53:06Donnie Wright's out along with Joe O'Neill.
53:08We welcome in Tom Vecchio, my partner here on Sunday afternoons for Pro Baseball today.
53:12But now we need the expertise on the court itself.
53:15Tom, how are we feeling?
53:17I'm doing great.
53:18Thanks for having me.
53:18Yeah, we're coming off an awesome day of Pro Baseball today.
53:21A lot of things we talked about came through Diamondbacks' money line, Royals' money line.
53:25Bobby Witt for not just two plus total bases, but three plus total bases at plus 160.
53:31I believe we cashed both pitcher props yesterday as well.
53:36It was a great day.
53:36It was big time.
53:37It was big time.
53:38Why don't we just start talking baseball?
53:39Who says the NBA needs to get talked about?
53:41Well, the higher-ups say the NBA has got to be talked about.
53:43Rightfully so.
53:44Big situations tonight.
53:45Before we get there, let's re-rack the odds here at the FanDuel Sportsbook, Tom, with you on the NBA championship prices.
53:51OKC is still the favorite, plus 130.
53:53The Celtics, plus 190.
53:54The Cavaliers take a minor step back with their loss at a 6-1 price.
53:58Any numbers there from favorites to really the underdogs look good to you?
54:03Well, I do have a Western Conference future on the Nuggets, and I know that they are in a very tough spot.
54:09I'm not looking ahead just because the odds are so heavily in favor of the Thunder.
54:13But I do think there's a smidge of value when it comes to the Warriors.
54:17I think we're going to see somewhat of a similar series as we saw versus the Rockets.
54:21If the Warriors get through it, A, it's not going to be quick, and B, it's not going to be easy.
54:25But a Western Conference team going up against OKC at such a long price, I at least have some interest in terms of the value that it offers.
54:35Do I think that they are better than OKC?
54:36No, of course not.
54:37I do think OKC is the better team, but I just like the number that's being hung right now by the books.
54:43Yeah, well, it's – I mean, let's dive into – and it's going to be interesting, Tom,
54:49because there's a few series here in the second round where it looks like the markets and the public
54:55are just sticking a fork in these underdogs here.
54:59But talk to me about that game one here for Denver.
55:03Do you – what are you expecting from them in this spot here tonight?
55:08Tired legs, a lot of points, or can they shock the world?
55:12I would like to think that we're going to have points,
55:15and it's going to be a situation where I think OKC just does their thing.
55:18What have they done all year alongside with the Cavs outside of last night?
55:22You know, for the most part, OKC, they've just – they've won by 15 points, by 20 points.
55:26Their 11-point favorites, 12-point favorites, they win by 25.
55:29So I expect the points to be there from OKC.
55:32I expect, obviously, a good amount of scoring from the Nuggets on the other side.
55:35And then I think we're going to be a spot for a market correction where we're like,
55:38OK, hang on, we're just going to be getting points, points, points, as we saw with OKC in the first round.
55:42Then that's the spot to start taking unders.
55:43So I'm going to be on the over for game one.
55:47But after that, it's going to be – depending on where the lines move,
55:49I think we're going to start to see some unders.
55:51I have a lot of interest in player prop unders when it comes to the Nuggets
55:54because I think their players are being too efficient.
55:56Specifically, Russell Westbrook, he's shooting 40, almost 42% from three.
56:01But the problem is that his three prop is 1.5, and it's like minus 180 on the under.
56:06So I like the under.
56:08I just don't like the odds that we're getting.
56:09And this may be a spot where we may never get the line that I want.
56:13I want a minus 150 on under one-and-a-half threes for Westbrook.
56:17That may never be there, though.
56:20It should be fun to watch it play out.
56:21Yeah, he's been playing well as well at this point, Rustbrook.
56:24So we'll see where it steps up at this point.
56:25If we look at the earlier game tonight, the Celtics and the Knicks game,
56:28number one, minus nine as a favor towards the Celtics, and a 2-12-and-a-half price point.
56:33Any props, any players, and which side do you like in this early game, Tom?
56:36So I like the Celtics, and this is something that I've often said with Joe on various shows.
56:42I like the Celtics.
56:43I just don't like that number.
56:44You give me the Celtics at an in-game minus five, we'll talk about that.
56:48Because the thing for the Celtics this season is they've been winning,
56:50but they haven't necessarily been covering these large spreads at home.
56:54And this is one of the spots where it's like, yeah, I think they are the better team overall.
56:57I think they win the series ultimately 4-2.
56:59But I don't like them at a minus nine.
57:00Give me a five, maybe a six, and then that's something I'd be interested in live, in-game.
57:05And I know FanDuel has a live boost, I think, for that game specifically.
57:09So that's something I'm going to be keeping my eye on.
57:11I do like Porzingis in the series overall.
57:13I like him for scoring.
57:14I don't necessarily like his rebound prop.
57:16It was, you know, six-and-a-half, and there's juice towards the over.
57:19So I'm going to look towards the under on Porzingis.
57:21You know, he played, I would say, a modest role in the first series overall.
57:24Granted, some of those games turned to blowouts.
57:26But when we're seeing two, five, six, ten, six rebounds,
57:30this is not something that I'm going to be like, oh, he's going to be flying over this number game in and game out.
57:34I think he'll do some shooting.
57:35And I think the threes are more interesting for Porzingis, but not necessarily the rebounds.
57:41Are you buying this goes at least six, Tom, this series?
57:45Yeah, I am.
57:45I, on BATR on Saturday morning when I was in the studio, I, like, over five-and-a-half.
57:51And I was seeing a plus-100 at the time.
57:52I'm not sure what it is right now.
57:53But I think the Knicks will steal two games.
57:55One, because Brunson has some late-game heroics.
57:58And then two, because the Celtics, they shoot a million threes.
58:01But at one game, they'll be on the bad side of variance.
58:03And they just won't hit a ton.
58:04So that's two losses right there.
58:05Brunson steals one, bad shooting from the Celtics.
58:07But ultimately, they are the better team.
58:09And that will kind of even out.
58:11And they'll win the series forward, too, is what I think.
58:13Yeah, I hope we get a longer series in both of these here.
58:16Because when we look at the series prices here on the West, that's going to start tonight between the Thunder and the Nuggets.
58:19It's heavy, man.
58:20It's minus 900.
58:22Broke KC and the Nuggets getting a plus-6-10 price.
58:24We did see already, however, the Pacers go in and steal a game from Cleveland.
58:29Is there any thought processes on this series that it could be close?
58:32And also, a chance that one of these two teams tonight can steal a game like the Pacers did?
58:37You know, if there's a team to steal a game, I think it would be the Knicks.
58:40Because they would run into one of those two things I just talked about.
58:43I do think Denver will win one of the two games on the road to start the series.
58:49I could see going OKC-Denver, OKC-OKC.
58:53And then Denver's going to have to win a game on the road in game five, that would be.
58:56So if there's going to be any team to win a road game, I think it's the Knicks to start things off.
59:00Just because we've seen some bad performances from the Celtics.
59:02They started off slow in some quarters against the Magic.
59:04Even when they were at home in the first two games of that series, the Magic played slow.
59:08They played physical.
59:08They forced them to shoot tough threes.
59:10And again, there's a part that the Celtics just will be on the bad side of shooting variants.
59:14So I think the Knicks could come away with one of the wins today.
59:17But then the Nuggets, they're going to win game two, I think.