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00:00:00Welcome to our number two live right here on this Tuesday on the early line on sports grid all across that spizz
00:00:07Grizz network. He is dubsy. That is dubs Anderson. I am Ben Stevens this Tuesday, October
00:00:1422nd
00:00:152024 is the start of a new NBA season the
00:00:202024-25 campaign tips off tonight with a doubleheader
00:00:23It is banner night inside TD Garden in Boston
00:00:27The Celtics will look up into the rafters as banner number 18 is hung tonight in
00:00:33Beantown and then they will play a game on opening night
00:00:36Against the New York Knicks the team with the second best price in the best number outside of Boston
00:00:42To keep the seas from winning a second consecutive
00:00:45Eastern Conference crown and it's a new era in Los Angeles JJ Redick is the head man
00:00:51Ronnie James wears a Lakers uniform alongside his father and LeBron is still there entering year
00:00:59Number 22 as the Lakers will try for some more promise this season. They welcome in the young
00:01:05Minnesota Timberwolves who of course were engaged in a blockbuster deal just a few weeks ago to send Carl Anthony Towns
00:01:13To New York and a change for both teams dubsy. It's the opening night of a new NBA season
00:01:20I cannot believe we have arrived already and a new basketball season, but here we are
00:01:25we're gonna get people set for tonight and for the entirety of this year in this second hour a
00:01:31Little Tuesday tip off get to see the defending champs drop in the banner and I'm most excited to see
00:01:36Briony
00:01:37LeBron we got new coach out here West Coast Best Coast a lot of pressure on the Lakers
00:01:43I'm not buying in but fantastic to have the association back in the mix Benny
00:01:47I feel like we just got a couple of months and say NBA now, we're good. We got football then boom
00:01:52It's opening night
00:01:53What a way to set the table a couple of fantastic matchups with a couple of superstars in the mix
00:01:58And I really do think Celtics they're gonna be the class once again, but I know there's a couple of different ways
00:02:03We'll jump in and find that value
00:02:05Doves hard to argue that Boston is not going to at least have the opportunity to be back to defend its 18th
00:02:13Championship in franchise history potentially looking for number 19
00:02:17Basically, everybody is back that led them to that promised land and a championship a season ago
00:02:25So oftentimes every football Friday, we do a pick six for the NFL weekend
00:02:30It's the anytime touchdown score moneyline underdog all lines so on and so forth
00:02:35But to start off a new season, whether it's the NFL college football
00:02:39MLB or now the NBA we give you a futures forecast and focused
00:02:46NBA pick six here are the categories that we will break down over this next 30 minute span our
00:02:53NBA champion pick a team that they will beat in the NBA
00:02:58Championship and that NBA Finals our MVP selection for this year
00:03:03Another award could be most improved could be defensive player of the year might even be rookie of the year a
00:03:10Win total that we like to the over or the under and a playoff best bet either a team to earn a playoff berth
00:03:17and of course that would be either from the play in tournament earning one of those final two spots or just being in the top
00:03:24Six or perhaps a team to miss out on the postseason all
00:03:28Together so dubsy
00:03:30Let's start at the very top who will hoist that Larry O'Brien
00:03:34Trophy once again at the end of this NBA season as that NBA title winner. I
00:03:40Mean call me basic call me a little straight up here, Benny
00:03:44But I think it's gonna be the Boston Celtics you you touched on the biggest strength
00:03:48They've got is they're returning this band of superstars. So no surprises here at a very short price
00:03:53You take a look the other side of things
00:03:55I think a really good chance of the Mavericks of the team coming out of the West
00:03:59I think okay, so you're gonna be right there in the mix the Denver Nuggets
00:04:02We know they're gonna be part of the conversation
00:04:04But I truly think the Boston Celtics will be the team to come and catch the young the youthful
00:04:09They're durable. They can get it done in a couple of different ways. We saw that in the final series there last season
00:04:15So plus three ten not that I'm excited about that number, but certainly the best roster in the Association
00:04:22They've got that confidence now. They're not second-guessing themselves
00:04:25Can we get it done on the big stage and you look around the rest of the league?
00:04:29A lot of teams are playing catch-up and I think we've seen the best yet
00:04:33So give me the Boston Celtics with a very similar fight to what we saw last season
00:04:37I think they beat the Dallas Mavericks plus
00:04:402,400 a little exact their little NBA Finals exact up a
00:04:44rematch of last year's NBA
00:04:47Finals and Dallas has a lot to look forward to as well as Luka Donchik is the NBA MVP favorite
00:04:54Entering this season in dubs
00:04:57It's really hard to argue against the idea that
00:05:00Boston is at least not going to have the chance to be back in an NBA Finals at least as the Eastern
00:05:07Conference champ and playing in the ECF once again
00:05:11So that kind of delves into where I am going as well. The Celtics are my finalist pick
00:05:17It's a plus 150 price to win the Eastern Conference crown
00:05:21Dubsy, I looked at all the odds, right?
00:05:23I looked at the New York Knicks the team that is seen to be the biggest challenger to the Celtics out east Jalen Brunson
00:05:30MVP contender the additions of Mikhail Bridges and Carl Anthony Towns
00:05:35Legitimate superstars or at least can be right there for Jalen Brunson this season and you want to look for value
00:05:42Perhaps I just don't know if it's worth it, right?
00:05:46You're pretty much still trying to select the team
00:05:49That is the second peg behind the Celtics in the Eastern Conference in dubs. I did this last year
00:05:56I do not like the Boston Celtics. I grew up where you live. I grew up in Los Angeles. I grew up a Lakers fan
00:06:02I don't like anything to do with Titletown
00:06:06USA and the C's but come the middle of March last year
00:06:10I was looking around the Eastern Conference there appeared to be that tier of three the Celtics in front of the Bucs and the Sixers
00:06:18But still from the price Boston was plus 220 to win an NBA championship
00:06:23And as I was reading the tea leaves it became rather apparent to me that pretty soon
00:06:27The path to Boston was on they built such an advantage for the number one seed in the standings in the Eastern Conference
00:06:34They would have home floor advantage the entirety of the playoffs
00:06:38Including a potential NBA finals against anybody from the Western Conference
00:06:43The path was going to make Boston by the time we reached the second round a minus money favorite to win the NBA
00:06:49Championship and that's exactly what happened
00:06:52So I don't like the chalk of the plus 310 price to win the NBA title before the year has even started and I certainly
00:07:00Don't love just plus 150 for a team to win a conference championship
00:07:05Before we even begin 82 games, let alone the postseason
00:07:09But I really do believe there is going to be a point in late March by the time we reach the playoffs
00:07:15Where Boston no longer has pluses in front of its numbers
00:07:19They're all minus money, maybe even a win that Larry O'Brien trophy for a second consecutive year
00:07:25So I go Celtics finalist at plus
00:07:29150 to win the East but give me the Denver Nuggets to win the NBA championship at
00:07:3411 to 1 I still believe Nicola Jokic is the best player in the NBA
00:07:39They just extended Aaron Gordon to add on to that roster don't care about the addition of Russell Westbrook
00:07:45That doesn't move the needle for me, but Jamal Murray is back
00:07:48I think Michael Malone's one of the best coaches in the NBA in the Nuggets
00:07:52Dubsy as we try to forecast the season right and paint that path
00:07:55The Celtics have been in the Eastern Conference Finals for the last five years
00:07:59The Nuggets have at least been to the semifinals in the Western Conference five of the last six
00:08:04I expect Denver to be there once again and we'll focus a lot on OKC in
00:08:10Minnesota and Dallas the up-and-coming teams out west. I don't I still think Denver is the best
00:08:16So give me the Nuggets to win the NBA championship this year at 11 to 1. Oh
00:08:21The big fella Nicola, he's probably fresh off running those riding those ponies there
00:08:26But you take a look at the West Benny OKC certainly overperformed overachieved last season
00:08:32They're gonna be up against it trying to get back to 57 wins there for the Denver Nuggets certainly having that class
00:08:37Our guy Aaron Gordon, he got the bags, you know
00:08:39He's gonna be motivated and what a nice little complimentary one-two punch that looks to be for the Minnesota Tim walls
00:08:45I think it's a massive loss with cat. You know, this is a young team surging in the right direction
00:08:50You'd be looking in that locker room saying hey, I thought we're all bought in suddenly not so much now
00:08:55You know what you're going up against
00:08:57I don't think it's gonna be as smooth sailing as we saw last season and for the Clippers Kawhi Leonard is my guy coming back
00:09:03What what is going on for the Clippers? It's tough to have any kind of confidence in them as a better
00:09:09Dubsy we'll talk about the Western Conference in the kind of changing times
00:09:14We will see out west up next as we continue the NBA season pick six
00:09:18We continue the NBA season pick six to look forward to 2024 25
00:09:24That begins tonight. Yes. It is the opening night
00:09:28It is the season debut of an NBA season on this Tuesday, October
00:09:3422nd and Dubsy both you and I looking at the Western Conference
00:09:38You're going with a reigning Western Conference champs in the Dallas Mavericks
00:09:42Luka Donchik is the preseason favorite to win NBA MVP. I agree with the pricing
00:09:48I think Dallas will be back but Dubs last year
00:09:51It was really interesting from the odds perspective in the standings perspective to follow the Western Conference
00:09:56Denver was there the reigning champs Nikola Jokic leading the way
00:10:00But for the entirety of the year the odds kept thinking it was Denver and
00:10:05Phoenix and the LA team to the Clippers and the Lakers and maybe the Golden State Warriors holding on I
00:10:12Consider although it sounds a little bit strange to say
00:10:16Phoenix both of the LA teams and the Dubs as the old guard of the Western Conference
00:10:21Because what we saw was the Oklahoma City Thunder earned the number one overall seed
00:10:26Denver at to
00:10:28Minnesota the number three seed out west the Clippers somehow some way stumbled into four and the Mavericks at
00:10:35Five the Dubs and the Lakers were both play in tournament teams
00:10:39La did get into the postseason and Phoenix finished at six and there's a lot of change from the odds
00:10:46Perspective in the Western Conference entering this year. There's a lot of changing faces
00:10:51Of course for these teams Klay Thompson now in Dallas Phoenix though returns
00:10:57Everybody KD Devin Booker and Bradley Beal are back under the guidance of new head coach
00:11:03Mike Budenholzer the Clippers lost Paul George Kawhi Leonard is already set to miss multiple weeks to start off this season
00:11:10Not great for
00:11:12LA and the Warriors look a little bit different the Lakers seem a little bit older with LeBron James
00:11:18Entering year number 22 jobs. You saw those Western Conference title odds
00:11:23It's not the teams we have expected to win the West in the last three to five years
00:11:27It's those teams that have the young cores on the come up
00:11:31Okay, see the favorites Denver right there, Minnesota and Dallas
00:11:36Those are the four best places to win the Western Conference ground entering this season
00:11:41Yeah, we know what we're gonna get from the Nuggets there at plus 500. They're certainly gonna be in the mix. They're bankable
00:11:47They've got the best player in in the association there
00:11:50I would say in the joke of the big fella, but take a look at the top of the board
00:11:54Okay, see I mean what a standout year what a breakout campaign they had for Shea Gilgis
00:11:59Alexander SGA you're partnering them up with the likes of Chet Holmgren
00:12:02They lose Josh Giddy the star Aussie going across to Chicago, but they're certainly not gonna take a backward step at a plus 310
00:12:09It's a sure price to type your money for a very long season. I have reservations about the Tim walls, Minnesota
00:12:15I thought that one-two punch was certainly there with cat in the air, man
00:12:19You've still got obviously big Rudy targeting the boards, but that is a massive loss a great addition there
00:12:25If you're a Knicks fan
00:12:26but certainly not good for Minnesota and trying to make another run and they were the young team that I
00:12:31Felt just caught caught a couple of the old guard off
00:12:35Off-guard there if you will they'll play with a lot of confidence and momentum going in to the playoffs
00:12:40I think they could be a bit of a bit of a hangover coming back year two for a couple of those big combos
00:12:45And take it a look a little further down the board
00:12:47I think the price play here could be on the desert with the Phoenix Suns you take a look at who they roll back
00:12:53I mean Bradley Beal if he can find that groove again
00:12:56You've still got D book on the best in the business KD
00:12:59You've got Grayson Allen who's obviously been in the weights room on the offseason
00:13:03This is a market in a price that I would absolutely look towards playing the Phoenix Suns
00:13:08I'm not gonna touch the top of the board at plus 310 because the only way
00:13:11That can go is pear-shaped in the south in the wrong direction and some of these other aging sides
00:13:16It's really tough in trying to have confidence in the Lakers, you know Dalton connect
00:13:21I guess that's a nice addition if he can become that, you know high scorer for the Lakers night in night out
00:13:26But when you've got aging superstars like Anthony Davis LeBron James
00:13:30It's it's only a matter of time before father time brings their campaign undone for the Clippers
00:13:35It's really tough to know what you're getting at this point with Kawhi Leonard
00:13:39If he's even going to come back this season or what's going on on that side of things and obviously the Golden State Warriors
00:13:45Steph splash losing, you know where that one-two punch clay Thompson over there with the Mavericks
00:13:50So it's a new look in the West the old guard just continued to
00:13:55Continue to age and I think the Phoenix Suns been you've highlighted could be the price pickup at plus 950
00:14:01The Suns the fifth and final team with a 10 to 1 price or shorter in the Western Conference
00:14:07Phoenix's win total still 48 and a half depth has been a concern
00:14:11Grayson Allen has emerged in a big way. Just keep an eye as well in the Grizzlies
00:14:1615 to 1 last year
00:14:18of course
00:14:18John Morant was suspended for the first 25 games of the season came back looked really good for about two and a half weeks and then
00:14:25Suffered a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season, but does he the two previous years?
00:14:32Memphis was the number two seed in the Western Conference
00:14:3651 wins in 2022 23 the year prior to that
00:14:4056 win total for the Grizzlies at
00:14:4246 and a half will highlight that in just a moment. All right, our MVP winners for the season doves Anderson take it away
00:14:50SGA shake you'll just Alexander. Okay. See top of the board there in the Western Conference
00:14:55Absolute breakout campaign from what we saw last season
00:14:58There's no slowing up in terms of production was top 10 a lot of key metrics and certainly losing Josh Kitty
00:15:04May even have to act as that facilitator as well was top five and point scored in the league was top 10 in assist
00:15:11Okay
00:15:12See go as far as SGA can go and what a one-two punch
00:15:15That that Shay gets there with big bad at Chet Holmgren in the mix
00:15:19So if you're looking for the young teams on the up
00:15:21So you'll just Alexander my top choice in the MVP market which looks to be on the closer
00:15:26Additions for what we've seen in the last few years, but one constant always look towards the internationals
00:15:31They've won six of the last six
00:15:33I think we can make it seven on the balance give me SGA at a decent little price there as well Ben
00:15:39You go to the Canadian
00:15:40I'll go to the Frenchman
00:15:41Victor women Yaba who was the unanimous rookie of the year in the NBA a season ago the sixth unanimous rookie of the year in
00:15:49League history twenty to one price on Wembley. He is a unicorn. He is a freak
00:15:54He does things we have never seen
00:15:56He averaged more than 21 points per game last year over ten and a half boards per game as well led the NBA in blocks
00:16:03with
00:16:053.6. The Spurs win total is 35 and a half last year. They only won
00:16:1022 games but we're covering a ton of numbers down the tail end of the season if when we can lead the Spurs over
00:16:1735 and a half a plus 360 playoff price
00:16:20I think his MVP candidacy becomes even more attractive
00:16:24But he's going to put up numbers that we have never seen in us
00:16:28I like a little bit of value on Victor women Yama at
00:16:3222-1 in his second year in the NBA rookie of the year with total bets and a make-or-miss
00:16:39Playoff price net let's fire through the remainder of our NBA season pick six the NBA campaign tips off tonight for
00:16:472024-25 now we did not both have to select a rookie of the year option
00:16:52But dubs Anderson and myself we did just that
00:16:55I actually wanted Victor women Yama for defensive player of the year as well finishing runner-up a season ago
00:17:00But he's a minus money favorite to start off the season. So we both went are oh why?
00:17:06Dubsy you're talking a lot of windy City basketball in these next couple of picks
00:17:11Shout out shot town. Let's take to the city of Chicago
00:17:16Bezellus is my guy G League stand down coming in for the balls here putting up fantastic number six foot ten the big
00:17:24Lithuanian American and he's already got that experience at the program
00:17:27So I don't think there's gonna be a learning curve per se out the gates here
00:17:32I really do think he's gonna have an impact on a bull side
00:17:35Which really doesn't have a lot of expectations coming in for a new season
00:17:39Bezellus is durable is you can do it both ways there nine three one point eight assists last
00:17:46Season so very efficient brings a bit of size there for the Bulls and could certainly get it done in the paint
00:17:51So Bezellus still sitting there at ten to one plus
00:17:541,000 will be my rookie of the year play
00:17:56But Ben I've got an inkling you'll go with one of my yeah, my other top choices this I give us the cell
00:18:03Where'd you go for rookie of the year?
00:18:04The guy's a key now is plus 290 to win rookie of the year the incredibly short
00:18:10Favorite the guy that I was told would not be able to translate his skill level to the NBA the guy that was the first
00:18:17Since Ralph Sampson in the early 80s to win back-to-back
00:18:20National player of the year awards. Well, it looks like he knows a thing or two about basketball
00:18:26He is going to be a huge piece for this Memphis team huge in more ways than one literal and figurative
00:18:33three of five games in the preseason
00:18:35Dubsie for the Grizz scoring in double figures including a week ago against the Pacers showing exactly what he can do
00:18:4223 points and nine boards a lot was made of this NBA draft class this past summer not overly
00:18:49Illustrious not star-studded who would emerge would it be the two Frenchmen Alex?
00:18:54Our Zachary Rizzo Shea the number one overall pick for Atlanta now
00:18:59It's a college basketball star in Zack 80 plus 290 to win rookie of the year
00:19:04You like modest Bruce Ellis the Chicago kid the native of Hinsdale, Illinois to factor into the Bulls rotation
00:19:11Dubs might the Bulls win 30 games this season. I
00:19:15Think they'll go over 28 and a half. So to get to 30
00:19:20Look we're buying in on the Windy City here
00:19:24They had 39 last season obviously missing a couple of pieces, but was Ellis on big on for rookie of the year
00:19:29I really do think he's gonna bring bring a bit of an impact year one
00:19:33You've got the other Nicola Vujovic. I think he's getting set for a bounce back season. What about my guy Zach Levine?
00:19:39I mean this guy's an absolute monster at full health and you're really getting one of the lower win totals
00:19:45I think it's the third lowest win total set there at the FD Sportsbook
00:19:48So 28 and a half you're buying in early on this season because once that trade deadline hits
00:19:53Could lose one or two of these star weapons
00:19:55But I just think they're gonna be that sneaky team under the radar Josh Giddy coming into the mix
00:20:00How'd I forget about my guy Josh Giddy? He is one of the best facilitators in the league, Benny
00:20:05So Chicago, it's a by low spot 28 and a half really not gonna have to do a bunch
00:20:10But a lot of players who are still trying to you know, show their worth in these associations
00:20:14Don't forget ball there as well. So by low spot for me. Give me Chicago win total over
00:20:20Lonzo made his return last week. Dubs he after multiple injuries have sidelined him for multiple seasons
00:20:26I'm going to the New York Knicks over 53 and a half
00:20:29why I'm going to try to
00:20:31capitalize on the momentum if the Knicks are going to make the NBA finals for the first time in
00:20:36Over 30 years if the Knicks are going to be that second peg only behind Boston to win an Eastern Conference crowd
00:20:42It starts in the regular season. They have the talent
00:20:45They've got the coach in Tom Fibonacci that takes no nights off the last time the Knickerbockers
00:20:52154 or more games in a regular season Mike Woodson the Indiana head coach was the head man inside
00:20:59MSG 12 years ago. It was the only time since
00:21:031996 97 the Knicks had won at least 50 games the last time they won 50 plus games and back-to-back years
00:21:10They won 50 a season ago
00:21:1393 94 94 95 what happened at the end of the 1993 94 season the New York Knicks played
00:21:21for an NBA championship over
00:21:2353 and a half quickly Dubsie your playoff best bet for this NBA season is what?
00:21:29Well best bet Lakers to win the championship
00:21:32No, sorry. Yeah, I misread that graphic the Lakers to miss the playoffs
00:21:36What are we even doing out here in the West Coast D'Angelo Russell Austin Reeves LeBron James Anthony Davis
00:21:42We've now got a first-year head coach the podcast partner in JJ Reddick and young Bronny
00:21:47Setting to get some reps in I don't know what's going on here Benny
00:21:50It is not a good outlook for the Lakers. They're missing the playoffs. Don't buy in don't touch and don't go near
00:21:55I could do better than what we're gonna see from Bronny tonight. Come on
00:21:58The Rockets will make the Western Conference playoffs
00:22:01We round out the big six prop perspective next on a Tuesday night like this one
00:22:06You need the prop perspective once again from sports grids Tom Becchio joining us for a second consecutive day
00:22:13Brighten early here on the early line
00:22:15He was working the postgame show after a doubleheader of Monday night football to end out week 7 last night in Becchio
00:22:22No days off and very little sleep
00:22:24I hope a lot of coffee and a great workout on this Tuesday to get a set for a new NBA season
00:22:31Your futures focus some bets for tonight's doubleheader and the frozen frenzy is what I'm being told tonight in the National Hockey League
00:22:40Everybody in action on the ice Becky. Oh, we are glad to have you here for a second straight day on the early line
00:22:47Of course, thanks for having me yet two
00:22:49Games last night one was very exciting. One was not we have the NBA tipping off
00:22:53We have 16 NHL games like you said as I always like to say I'm in the mix and tonight
00:22:59It's time to bet on the mix. Oh
00:23:01Very another bar. He said he didn't have anything
00:23:05But he always
00:23:07Always does we'll get to the New York Knicks and their opener tonight on banner night number 18 in
00:23:13Boston in just a matter of moments
00:23:16but let's start big picture Tom and look at the odds because of course it drives the
00:23:21Conversation for how we anticipate this season in the Association playing out
00:23:25Let's start out west where it's a couple of new teams at the top at least in the preseason
00:23:32Expectation Oklahoma City the short favorites to win the Western Conference crowd sure the Nuggets are right there
00:23:38But Minnesota tied for that second best price the Mavericks the reigning Western Conference champs that fourth best number at plus
00:23:45550 the Suns the fifth best price at plus
00:23:49950 those five teams all with three digits and then Becky oh you get to the Grizzlies at 15 to 1
00:23:55But then some names that we would expect to contend for a conference crowd the Lakers the Warriors
00:24:01Very long prices. How are you approaching the Western Conference entering this 2024-25 season?
00:24:07I think what we're gonna see this year is gonna be largely in line
00:24:10Well for what we saw last year and over the past few years outside of the Clippers
00:24:14Which we're not expecting a whole lot from this year
00:24:16And I also think it's like it's interesting to note that a lot of the odds for season-long futures for MVP
00:24:22You know awards they're all relatively the same like we have a tight grouping of teams at the top
00:24:28Grouping of players for MVP, which we'll get to in a minute personally. I like the Tim rules
00:24:32I think they are gonna be coming down to the wire alongside the Mavericks. That's why I think we're gonna see again in the finals
00:24:38I think the Thunder will be there as well, but I don't want to bet on the Thunder, right?
00:24:41I think their numbers are super efficient the lines are where they really really should be
00:24:46So I like the Tim rules based on their odds based on the team makeup
00:24:51I think ultimately it's gonna come down to them the Mavericks in the Thunder, which again, I'm eating the chalk here
00:24:55But I think that's what we've seen these long shots are not gonna make it in the previous segment
00:24:59You close out. You said the Rockets will make the playoffs. I really like that as well
00:25:02That's a super long shot. We can't be going to for for championship or Western Conference title
00:25:09Tom clay Thompson coming across there to Dallas to join the one-two punch of Luca and Kyrie
00:25:14What do you make of this trifecta? Is there a chance we could get vintage clay putting up those monster performances on the nightly?
00:25:21I think he's gonna be more efficient
00:25:24I have something like
00:25:25Change of environment like the pressure is off of him like he doesn't have to be the number two
00:25:29Like you said like he can be that third option. I think he's gonna be an efficient shooter
00:25:33I don't expect him to be a 20 plus score on a nightly basis because he doesn't have to play that role if they can
00:25:38Get the offense working if kid has everything figured out between Kyrie Luca and Thompson's he's gonna have a ton of open shots
00:25:46That's what's gonna come down to because the opposing defenses are not gonna be not worried about Luca and Kyrie
00:25:51And I think Clay Thompson you have one of his most effective
00:25:55seasons from the field
00:25:56So Becky, oh, let's go over to the Eastern Conference from the odds perspective when you look at it
00:26:01It's the reigning champs in the Celtics and everybody else Boston before a single game is even played is plus
00:26:09150 to win the Eastern Conference
00:26:12Crowd so I asked the question like this. It's a two-parter first
00:26:16Do you expect the odds makers to be correct and Boston is at least back in the Eastern Conference finals and then secondly
00:26:24Who is that second team that might be able to rival the C's atop the Eastern Conference?
00:26:29Yeah, Boston
00:26:31Where they should be I actually expect Boston to be better this year and it's not gonna be maybe from a stats perspective
00:26:37I still can be more free-flowing because that pressure is off of them
00:26:40So they're gonna be the best version of Celtics we've ever seen because that pressure of the championship is off of them
00:26:46I expect them to face the Knicks in the conference finals
00:26:49I think the Celtics number is
00:26:50Insane like do not bet that number the fact that Paul George hurt the fact that dwelling Pete is coming out saying he may never
00:26:57Play in a back-to-back for the rest of his career and there's issues with him
00:27:00I think the books are the answer if you're looking for a realistic
00:27:03I'm saying who is going to challenge one of those two top teams
00:27:07I think it's going to be the Bucks the magic are also very interesting
00:27:11Who's going to step up alongside Paulo Bankerro to be that number two option in Orlando
00:27:16I think they're a team that's going to challenge a lot of those top teams as we saw a first step from them last year
00:27:21But I think again the answer will be the box is saying okay
00:27:24We get a little bit of value and we actually get a good team makeup of who can challenge one of those top two teams
00:27:30So for a lot of the early betters jumped into play the ECB look for the price play could land on the paces
00:27:36Overachieved last season, they've got the one-two punch Tyrese Halliburton and see Arkham
00:27:41But the odds makers are telling us they don't have a realistic shot of even being close in the Eastern Conference
00:27:46What do you make of their chances? I think you might have to do with their division. They're there with the box
00:27:51They're there with the Cavaliers and whatever you make with Cavaliers this year
00:27:55It is what it is, but like it's still gonna be tough competition
00:27:57So at the end of the day, they're in a spot where they may not have home court in the first round of the playoffs
00:28:02We're expecting okay the Celtics the Knicks again
00:28:05I'm personally low on the 76ers, but they can absolutely have a top four seed
00:28:08Then we have the box if I'm expecting the magic to take a little bit of a step forward
00:28:12The Pacers may not have home court advantage and that's a big thing
00:28:15So that's really where I come down to if you love the Pacers or someone out there loves the Pacers
00:28:19There's obviously a large
00:28:21Opportunity for you to like jump on those odds early in the season because you expect them to continue that performance that they had last
00:28:26year
00:28:2721 to 1 for Indiana Miami right there as well
00:28:31The heat have been a team that contributes to the Eastern Conference playoff outlook as we have seen
00:28:39So Becky when you look at the NBA championship odds, we just went conference by
00:28:44Conference if you're looking for value to match up a team's outlook and the price what gets your attention first?
00:28:51Yeah, it's kind of what I said at the top like we have this top
00:28:53We have this tight grouping of teams and then we have a little bit of a drop-off
00:28:57Like people are gonna say all the nuggets
00:28:59We've been getting nuggets at 5 to 1 6 to 1 over the past few years. I'm gonna jump on the nuggets
00:29:02I think that's fine. Again. I'm expecting good things from the Mavericks this year
00:29:06So I'm on board with them or the world's at or the Wolves at 10 to 1
00:29:10but like we're getting to a point where the NBA is the the the
00:29:15Odds and the skill is being funneled into a handful of teams where it's not like other leagues
00:29:19Like we don't have some open market where you could say some team at 21
00:29:23Realistically has a shot to win the NBA championship. It's gonna come down to one of these six teams
00:29:27So if you like the Wolves you got them at 10, you like the Mavs stick with them at 11 to 1
00:29:32But there's really not too much value outside of that
00:29:35Take a look at that chasing pack Tom who's gonna be up against it in terms of trying to match that benchmark
00:29:40They set last season. We know the Nuggets have got the class
00:29:43But what about a team like OKC or could the pressure be too much in New York for the Knicks?
00:29:48I think OKC is a team that I think they need to
00:29:53Maintain things early if they start off slow. That's what I'd be most worried about
00:29:56I think SGA is a phenomenal town. I think you can absolutely win MVP
00:30:00But just their team makeup. I want to see what they have
00:30:02It was last year just a blip on the radar or was this from the new standard in OKC for the Knicks?
00:30:08They're kind of like all-in. I think if they struggle they have to make an impact move
00:30:11They just spent like four first-round picks or whatever's to get bridges from the net
00:30:15So if they start off slow, there's going to be aggressive changes from the Knicks front office to keep them in that race
00:30:23Three guys have won the last six NBA MVPs
00:30:26Nikola Jokic has three
00:30:28Giannis Adonikoumpo has two and Joel Embiid, of course the one two seasons ago
00:30:33The Joker has won three of the last four. He's got the third best price this year
00:30:38But Luka Doncic Vecchio in this final minute is the NBA season MVP favorite entering the start of the year
00:30:45Tonight, how do you make sense of the MVP market? I want to bet on Victor Wembley on it
00:30:51But the Spurs are not gonna make the playoffs and that's what it comes down to you
00:30:54You have to be a good player on a good team
00:30:56Even when Westbrook won it when he averaged a triple-double they were the sixth seed when he was in OKC
00:31:01So again, I think the answer is going to be something like Anthony Edwards where we get enough value. He's going to be top team
00:31:07We're not betting on one of the chalky options and that number eight and a half to one is probably gonna drop to four to
00:31:12one before Christmas
00:31:14Jason Tatum right behind that
00:31:1713 to 1
00:31:18Yeah, I don't think so. We'll talk about the doubleheader on opening night that starts in Boston next
00:31:25opening doubleheader of the NBA season a new year tips off tonight and it starts where last season ended at least where the Larry
00:31:32O'Brien Trophy
00:31:34Resides that's in Boston the Celtics the reigning champs will watch banner number 18
00:31:40Hang in the rafters inside TD Garden and then welcome in the New York Knicks for a great start to this
00:31:482024-25 NBA season Tom Vecchio is back with us for a second consecutive segment back
00:31:54Yeah, we just looked at the long-term and future odds for this season
00:31:58It's a matchup on night number one of the two teams with the two best numbers to win the Eastern Conference
00:32:04Crown the Celtics well in front and the Celtics a five-and-a-half point favorite for banner night in Beantown total now at
00:32:12223 and a half, of course, there will be the celebration. There will be the atmosphere of anointing a champion
00:32:20What do you expect the actual basketball game to look like? I
00:32:24Expect the over tonight again
00:32:25I expect these teams come out firing specifically from the Knicks side of things and as I mentioned in the last segment
00:32:31I expelled I expect the Celtics to be the best version of themselves like a version
00:32:34We haven't seen because that pressure the championship is off of them. I expect to be totally free-flowing
00:32:39Yeah, well, they go through some hiccups early in the season, especially on the defensive side of things
00:32:43That's what I'm expecting
00:32:44So I want to actually focus in on the Knicks tonight as I said
00:32:48We want to be betting on the Knicks and I want to start off with Jalen Brunson over 37 and a half PRA last year
00:32:53He was up at a 32.9 percent usage rate. They added Carleton Towns. Of course, that's a big story for the Knicks
00:32:59We have to figure out what that offense is going to look like
00:33:01I I don't want to say like I want to buy into a storyline of Brunson having like a sour taste
00:33:05It's not because he got hurt at the end of that, Indiana series last year
00:33:08But I'm expecting Brunson to come out on fire tonight and especially the early portion of the season
00:33:13He's going to lead this team with his usage all those numbers be exactly the same with Carleton Towns in the mix this season
00:33:19No, but I expect tonight to be a big night for Brunson
00:33:23Tom how does how does that change your handicapping?
00:33:25You know for the better is coming to Christ first couple of weeks here in the Association
00:33:29Are you looking more towards the big names more so than the glue guys, especially going into a hostile environment like this?
00:33:35Just just because you can know that they're gonna be bankable and get that production
00:33:40You would like to think so and that's obviously different from a team team by team
00:33:44perspective like adding Carleton Towns a player that should be touching the ball X amount of times that should be pushing towards a double-double every
00:33:49Single night you have to take that by a team-by-team basis with that said I think there's a lot of
00:33:54Opportunity on teams that do have these massive changes because if you are like seeing something in preseason or coach speak
00:34:00Whatever might be that there's going to be a change in role and the markets haven't been adjusted
00:34:05There's a lot of opportunity to jump on a young player
00:34:07That's gonna be seeing more time in rotation to fade a vet that may not be playing as big a role
00:34:11Like I don't expect if Paul George was fully healthy
00:34:14I would be taking unders on him because I don't expect him to play big role
00:34:17I've been taking unders on Tobias Harris in Detroit because they should be trying to develop their young talent and not getting a vet
00:34:23the ball X amount of times
00:34:25Those are the storylines you can absolutely make us some serious profit on early in the season
00:34:29Jalen Brunson expected to lead the New York Knicks to a deep playoff run expected to contend for the MVP award
00:34:36He has the highest points prop on opening night in Boston 28 and a half there
00:34:41You see the numbers for the cat in his debut for the New York Knicks 21 and a half 11 and a half
00:34:47Rebounds the Celtics bring back. Basically everybody they paid basically everybody large sums of money this offseason
00:34:55after winning the NBA
00:34:57Championship Jason Tatum Jalen Brown Derek white through holiday the list goes on and on no Kristoff's Porzingis
00:35:04For the Celtics though, at least in the opening month, maybe the first two months or so of this NBA
00:35:10season, all right, let's go to Los Angeles a
00:35:14Historic night a father in LeBron James will more than likely play in an NBA regular season game
00:35:21alongside his son
00:35:22Brawny James now on the other side
00:35:25It's the Timberwolves as we get ready for this game tonight in LA the T Wolves an ever so slight
00:35:32Favorite on the road in Los Angeles now just a point only eight cents of difference on the money line
00:35:38the over understands at
00:35:42220 just a couple of interesting numbers up there on the board
00:35:46Anyway, sorry about that Becky. Oh, but it's expected to be competitive. How close to the game when we see in Los Angeles
00:35:53I think the Timberwolves win. I think they win by five plus points. I think we see the over tonight
00:36:00It's gonna be some scoring the Lakers team. I'm not expecting a whole lot from them this year
00:36:04There's going to be a lot of storylines, you know
00:36:07Different things we have to key in on
00:36:09Throughout the year for various reasons, but this is a Timberwolves team that we have like really high expectations for they just traded away
00:36:16Karanthi Towns, they bring in Julius Randle. I'm expecting the Randle role to be some of the same for Karanthi Towns
00:36:21We also have Randle going up against his former team. It's not his most recent former team, but it is one of his former team
00:36:27So let's go to Randle over one and a half threes at plus 114
00:36:30He's average. He's average hitting at least 1.7 threes or more each last four seasons
00:36:35Karanthi Towns took a good number of threes last year. So did Julius Randle. Randle was often up taking six seven eight threes per game
00:36:42He's never super efficient with it and that it doesn't matter because we don't need him to be efficient
00:36:46We don't need hit we don't need him to hit two out of four
00:36:48He can hit two out of eight because the volume will be there and overall the pace of the game will be there tonight
00:36:54So Tom Lake is grabbing point a half at home before we talk about the sideshow in Bronnie James here for opening night
00:37:00What is the bigger picture for the Lakers? They really don't bring in a lot of new weapons
00:37:04I mean Dalton connect has been okay going through the preseason
00:37:07But it's right around a pick him to make it to the playoffs or miss the playoffs
00:37:11I went the latter, but what do you make of LA's chances make it a bit of a run?
00:37:15Yeah, I would say like you said it's nearly a pick them whatever side you're on
00:37:20It can't just be like a minor play and this is just how I view things
00:37:23especially when it like the odds are so close like you have to take a stand and you have to take a stand like early
00:37:28In the season and probably throughout if you want to feed the Lakers time and time again
00:37:32You think they're gonna be too heavily bet you think LeBron's PRA bets are gonna be too heavily
00:37:36The lines are gonna be super inflated start taking under start feeding the Lakers on a night-by-night basis
00:37:41Like you'd be like, oh in the beginning course a season
00:37:44I'll do this then I'll change it to that like you have to have your stance and be like pretty firm with it the entire
00:37:49season
00:37:50Year 22 for LeBron James starts tonight. You saw the props for this game
00:37:56How much will the absence of Carl Anthony Towns impact this T Wolves team that played in the Western Conference Finals last year
00:38:03It was the series favorite entering that set against Dallas
00:38:07but of course, there will be a ton of storylines that follows the Lakers and
00:38:11Brawny James will he make his debut?
00:38:14The Lakers have said they expect him to play in a competitive flow of tonight's game
00:38:20Vecchio here are the props. This is my favorite first assist to his dad
00:38:25LeBron James at a two-to-one the first field goal that Brawny James records assisted by his father at plus
00:38:34250 will get Vecchio starts on the Brawny James props in the frozen frenzy tonight in the National Hockey League
00:38:41It's all next on the early line. It is NBA opening night
00:38:45It's the frozen frenzy in the NHL all 32 clubs 16 games in action on the ice tonight
00:38:52But Vecchio before we continue to dive in to your ice advice
00:38:56We must get your thoughts as you do provide the prop perspective on the prop surrounding Brawny James again
00:39:04The Lakers have said that he is going to play tonight in the season debut rip off the band-aid
00:39:09Make the storyline the storyline have fun with the narrative. That's all good
00:39:14They have said he is expected to play within the competitive balance of a game
00:39:18That is a virtual pick'em despite not really being in the active rotation, but that's neither here nor there
00:39:23We showed the props before the break again
00:39:26Shout out to our producer Joe Frizzo our graphics producer Jesse Metzger for not saying as it does on fan duel
00:39:32Assisted by LeBron James, but instead his dad
00:39:36Where would you if at all Vecchio place hard-earned American money on Brawny James tonight? I?
00:39:43Guess would be first field goal assisted by his dad slash LeBron at plus 250 like
00:39:49Get him to get the ball to Brawny knock down a shot, which is a different thing in its own
00:39:55Right, but like like you said rip off the band-aid get this done and over with they have games to win
00:40:00You know, we discussed it
00:40:01Doves that you said it like the Lakers are very very on the outside looking in like they're not going to be a solidified
00:40:08Playoff team get this over with start picking up wins start focusing on basketball and move on like that's what it has to be
00:40:14So it's on we're playing the situational trends opening night. They're gonna get this one in the bag move on to the next
00:40:20I mean, what is the expectation for Brawny?
00:40:23What have you seen going through the preseason the numbers weren't fantastic until the other night, which I guess was
00:40:29Okay, but it's tough to really endorse that he's gonna be a superstar at this level
00:40:33Are we playing the long game that maybe he can figure things out learning off some of the best including dad going through the rest
00:40:39of the year
00:40:40yeah, you would like to think so and
00:40:43Ultimately like the worst the Lakers are the more of a chance that he has to play in the rotation if they're actually somewhat
00:40:49Competitive he's probably not going to see time because they need to have
00:40:53Connected in there more like they need to have a solidified real NBA rotation
00:40:57The worst that they are the better chance. He has to actually see court time this year. That's what it comes down to
00:41:02We'll see right he's a part of the active roster
00:41:05That's interesting for a second round selection at the very start of his NBA career. You wonder how the locker room feels
00:41:12I'm sure there's not any disdain as of this moment
00:41:15but if things go south this year and it's not expected to be a
00:41:19Classic Lakers season where they're one of the four best teams in the Western Conference
00:41:23We shall see now. This is a treat. This is a throwback this a
00:41:30Reunion yes, we see each other every Saturday. We sit next to each other
00:41:33We oftentimes hold hands to get you ready for a Saturday in college football
00:41:38But us together for a long portion of a morning show
00:41:42You got to go back to the days of the early after Kevin Walsh
00:41:47Okay
00:41:47Doves joins us here on the early line to set the stage for a new NBA season that of course tips off
00:41:56tonight in 2024
00:41:5825 Kev as always. Thank you sincerely for being here. You're working late last night
00:42:04You're working tonight to get people ready for this new NBA campaign. I
00:42:08Sincerely mean this we appreciate the time. I
00:42:12Appreciate it as well, you know quite frankly, you know
00:42:15I would have been able to really flaunt this throughout the airwaves today
00:42:18I didn't have this spot here on the early line and
00:42:22Despite being the most unbiased man in the history of sports media doesn't mean I can't put a little purple
00:42:28And gold on here to get my Tuesday started
00:42:31Yeah, you certainly can you certainly have and we will talk about the Lakers
00:42:36Hosting the T wolves and the night cap of our doubleheader on opening night
00:42:40But of course Kev we start big picture and let me break it down step by step
00:42:45Let's look at those NBA title odds
00:42:47Entering this new year and we start at the top with the reigning champs the Boston Celtics plus
00:42:53310 before a single minute of NBA regular season action has even began plus
00:42:59310 for Boston the reigning champs are half the price of
00:43:04Everybody else in the association. So Kev, let's start with the C's is the price justified
00:43:10Do you believe it is cashable at the end of this season?
00:43:14The Boston Celtics you could argue are on a tier of their own
00:43:19There is no team who has done more and feels safer, right
00:43:24Oklahoma City is kind of viewed in that similar tier that team has only won one playoff series together
00:43:31I think the 76ers roster is just as good as Boston's
00:43:35Except I have no confidence that the 76ers roster will be ready to go when the playoffs are getting underway
00:43:42You can justify
00:43:44Boston's
00:43:45Number but I can't bet
00:43:48Boston's number that Celtic team has never really been
00:43:52for me and
00:43:54It's hard to win 60 games in consecutive seasons a lot has to go, right?
00:44:00And the Celtics last season didn't have outlier health luck
00:44:03They had everybody play about what you would anticipate and that includes Chris taps who missed a ton of games
00:44:10Well guess who's not playing tonight Chris taps because Chris taps thing is now missing a ton of games
00:44:16So the Celtics are deserving of the title best team in basketball
00:44:22But it doesn't mean I have to run to the window and bet their numbers
00:44:25So let's go to the other prices then as you see it there
00:44:28Okay
00:44:29See second shortest number at plus 650 and kept after that the next seven prices
00:44:35Separated by seven and a half bucks if you include the Suns at twenty to one to round out the top nine
00:44:41We've got a group of teams jumbled
00:44:44Separated by just about thirteen and a half dollars that is not a ton of big plus money value
00:44:49But where do you see yourself potentially diving in?
00:44:53So the Dallas Mavericks is what jumps off the page to me
00:44:56I actually kind of went into my preview process not thinking I would be on
00:45:01Dallas I mean Ben you see how I work with the college football slate
00:45:04I kind of carried in everything right by low sell high by low sell high Wow
00:45:09I bought low on Dallas last year time to sell high. Nope. Keep buying keep on buying
00:45:14I love this roster Jason kid by the way
00:45:17Who people said was a terrible head coach has been to the conference finals two of his three seasons with the Dallas Mavericks Jason kid is
00:45:25Continuously producing good defenses and I think one of the biggest things the Mavericks did it's not bring in clay Thompson
00:45:31It's now bringing in PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford for full seasons and getting Derek lively
00:45:37Who has some juice potentially in that most improved player market for his sophomore season?
00:45:42While having one of the four best players in basketball in Luka Donchik
00:45:47I just I look at Dallas at 11 to 1 and that is a number that I can absolutely get to
00:45:53You look at the Western Conference odds as well Kev it is tight at the top the Thunder the favorites at plus 310
00:46:00the T wolves and the nugs tied for the second best prices at 5 to 1 and those Mavericks just a half dollar behind at
00:46:08plus
00:46:09550 quickly back to the Eastern Conference Boston the very short favorite
00:46:13We know that who do you believe is the second best team in the Eastern Conference as of this moment?
00:46:18When healthy it's the 76ers the best value on the board in the East belongs to the team that finished second in the East last
00:46:26year the Indiana Pacers
00:46:28Tyrese Halliburton one of the most impactful players in that conference a lot of youth gonna get better that a guy
00:46:34I know you like to race Walker this season from Houston and play a bit
00:46:38Now Jerez not to be confused with Jerez. Don't forget about it
00:46:44MVP
00:46:45conversations next from the teams and the championship in conference title prices now to the
00:46:51Individuals as it's a tangy Tuesday live right here on the early line a tangy Tuesday
00:46:58Ahead of an NBA season that tips off tonight first in Boston
00:47:02It's the Celtics and the Knicks and then out in LA the Brawny James era begins with the Lakers
00:47:09Hosting the Timberwolves. We will talk about the doubleheader in just a moment, but Kev
00:47:14MVP odds are up Luka Doncic enters this
00:47:192024-25 NBA campaign as the preseason favorite to win the most valuable player award followed by
00:47:25OKC's Shea Gilgis Alexander
00:47:27And then the guy that has won three MVPs in the last four years has that third best number at?
00:47:34Nicola
00:47:35Jokic we see Giannis we see Anthony Edwards rounding out the top five
00:47:38We'll get to some other prices that you like in just a moment, but the top of the MVP odds
00:47:45How do you think it all shakes out?
00:47:47really the the boring part of this is if
00:47:51Luka or SGA do not win
00:47:55MVP that would be pretty surprising. I think they both have teams that are built for regular season success
00:48:01I think they are both two of the five best players in the NBA. They have both been
00:48:07flirting with this award for a while
00:48:10which is
00:48:11something that you typically need to see for someone to actually be able to win the award is kind of have your name tossed in
00:48:17this race for a few seasons before you actually bring it home and
00:48:22I think for Donchik and SGA they are the rightful favorites, you know a few times now
00:48:29We've done the oh, you know, but you can't win it again thing. And yeah, you know, it just keeps winning the award
00:48:35the issue I think for Jokic this season is
00:48:39Denver last year really exerted themselves to try and get a one seed. They ended up not getting
00:48:44I wonder if this year paired with playing Olympic basketball
00:48:48That seems a little more cautious on Nicola Jokic and instead of missing three games, which is what I think he missed last season
00:48:54He misses yeah, 13 games and that again opens things up then for the rest of the field
00:49:00And let's keep in mind the 65 game minimum the amount of games you must play to be in consideration for season-long
00:49:07Awards all NBA teams things of the sort that is still here for a second consecutive year
00:49:14But perhaps we say it's not the chalk. It's not Luka
00:49:17It's not SGA Jokic is the you know tired out voter narrative that we shall see
00:49:24If you wanted to go deeper down the board Kevin Walsh who gets your attention?
00:49:28Well, I was watching a little bit of the pick six. You have a little Victor Web and Yama love out there. It's 20 to 1 I
00:49:35Placed my Wembley MVP bet the second day open the market and I believe 50 to 1 so from that respect
00:49:42I'm happy about it, right? I've done a good job. I
00:49:46Fear though that the end result here is going to be just a job
00:49:49Well-done way to beat the odds kid Paul schemes 200 to win side, you know 201 to win Cy Young
00:49:55What what did it matter?
00:49:56you know, it's gonna have the same fate as anybody who meant Spencer Strider to win that award all in all I I
00:50:02think Wembley has a better chance than a lot of the guys in front of them because
00:50:07Wembley is going to hit the advanced box score numbers. That's people still pretend don't matter
00:50:13Just things that
00:50:15Tatum literally has no chance to ever hit in his career based on all of the evidence of his career
00:50:20The stuff that Anthony Edwards isn't close to like flirting with whatsoever. Plus that Minnesota team got worse this offseason
00:50:27I have no idea what people are talking about like Wembley is
00:50:31pretty conservatively been going to finish with one of the five best box score plus minus numbers in
00:50:36Basketball and that has been the most predictive statistic in the league in terms of who wins an MVP on a year-in year-out basis
00:50:44So when you look at it Kev, there is always the correlation of individual accolades and team success
00:50:51There is no doubt what Webby can do in filling up the stat sheet the unanimous rookie of the year
00:50:56Just the sixth we have ever seen win that award in NBA history
00:51:00But a San Antonio team last year finished 22 and 60 second worst record in the Western Conference
00:51:06The outlook this year is better and substantially so but not necessarily a playoff team or getting to 40 wins
00:51:1435 and a half is the Spurs win total entering this year. It's a plus 360 playoff price for San Antonio
00:51:21How good do the Spurs have to be for Victor women Yama to be a legitimate MVP contender?
00:51:28I would say above 500 and in the playoffs now, I don't think he has to do more than that
00:51:33He does not have to win 49 games. He doesn't have to be the three seed if he is
00:51:3843 39 and the seven seed now all of a sudden my tone will change quite a lot
00:51:43And I think we can cash this ticket because now you're talking about adding
00:51:4720 wins year over year and I know a lot of people be like well, yeah, but you're not gonna win one
00:51:52You know, you're not gonna add 20 games year over year. The Thunder just did it
00:51:55The Oklahoma City Thunder just did it and what I think is a lot more difficult way to do it
00:51:59By the way, the Thunder went from flirting in the back end of the play in to the second best record in basketball
00:52:05we're asking the Spurs to go from one of the worst teams in basketball to competent and
00:52:11You cannot then go through history and find a player as good as Victor weapon Yama. That isn't competent
00:52:18You can't find it
00:52:19It is this simple on the Spurs the thirty five and a half number will get absolutely
00:52:25Obliterated as long as he stays healthy. He was healthy last year. He was yeah
00:52:30We Wendy is so big. We just kind of assume that there's gonna be points in our lives watching
00:52:35We're like, oh man, hope the injury bug stops biting this kid, but so far so good
00:52:39I don't the only other thing you worry about a little bit is is Chris Paul too important to this team
00:52:45Like I think the fully healthy Spurs are gonna be really good
00:52:48but if this team needs Chris Paul to keep their offensive float and
00:52:53Competent again, that's worrisome because you can pretty much lock him in for about 25 missed games
00:52:59And you did see right there for women Yama and on top of the MVP
00:53:04consideration minus
00:53:06155 to win defensive player of the year finished runner-up a season ago
00:53:10But did lead the NBA blocks to do that. Once again, it's minus
00:53:15440 year number 22 for LeBron James
00:53:20Starts tonight in Los Angeles as the Lakers host the Minnesota Timberwolves in year 21
00:53:26was still
00:53:27Sensational otherworldly averaging nearly 18 points per game better than seven dimes and six rebounds per game
00:53:35But his MVP price Kev is at a hundred and fifty two one
00:53:41What do you anticipate for year 22 for LeBron James and the Lakers can he keep delivering at the highest level
00:53:49there is
00:53:50truly been zero things that suggest
00:53:54LeBron won't be one of the ten best players in the NBA
00:53:57Because again, there's no reason to go off of the bar and of what guys do in year 18 19 20. He's just continuously
00:54:05Shattered the bar you mentioned the MVP odds. He's not gonna win MVP
00:54:09He had a chance at that and then the Kovac season actually stopped that but he ended up winning finals MVP, which mattered more
00:54:17but where the MVP award matters is
00:54:20Everybody projects LeBron to LeBron's gonna miss so many more games this season
00:54:25This is where you know being again the most unbiased man in history sports media LeBron is a narrative guy
00:54:31LeBron is aware of everything that people brought. He's so aware of the record
00:54:36You better believe he is so, you know what? He's aware of Ben the 65 game minimum not to win league MVP
00:54:42But to get himself on an all-nba team at the end of the season
00:54:46I am NOT look if LeBron ends up miss doesn't play 65
00:54:50That means he'll probably only play about 53
00:54:52But if LeBron can he will chew up games after game after game to make sure he plays
00:54:5968 69 to make sure that he finishes
00:55:02Second or third team all NBA when the season ends because he is that good he should be for you know
00:55:07second or third team all NBA
00:55:09Finished third team all NBA a season ago played 71 games in year 21 quickly
00:55:14Kev, we'll get to the doubleheader that ends tonight in LA and your actual game breakdown for opening night in Los Angeles
00:55:21Lakers outlook not overly optimistic this season. How do you see it playing out?
00:55:26It's a basic pick them price for the Lakers to make or miss the postseason
00:55:30Yeah, Darvin Hamm is as bad as everybody told you he was legitimately Darvin Hamm is as bad as everybody told you was
00:55:36Here's the craziest thing Rui Hachimorra when the Lakers started just Rui Hachimorra
00:55:42No other qualifiers. They wanted a 54 game pace and yet he only started 39 games
00:55:49Darvin Hamm was so bad that I think JJ Redick is the best bet on the board for coach of the year
00:55:54They got in the narratives are all sitting right there on a silver platter
00:55:58Wow, I like that look as well now to the two games to start off this new year in the NBA
00:56:04Kevin breaks them down that the NBA season starts tonight with a doubleheader that ends in Los Angeles and
00:56:12Begins in Boston on banner night number 18 for the Celtics and the Knicks
00:56:17But we go reverse order because the man is wearing the purple and gold to get you set for a new season
00:56:23Okay doves back for a third consecutive
00:56:26Segment cab the Lakers host the Timberwolves tonight
00:56:29Of course, there is a ton of storyline that we will discuss entering this game for LA
00:56:35We'll brought a James see the floor tonight. Will he play in an NBA regular season game?
00:56:41Alongside his father. There's also the Minnesota aspect kind of lost in the Carl Anthony Towns trade about the outlook for the New York Knicks
00:56:49Where does it leave the T wolves? Let's start with the game itself
00:56:52It is now a virtual pick'em on the fan dual sports book, Minnesota
00:56:57Minus 112 money line the Lakers minus 104 how close of a game are we going to see tonight in downtown LA?
00:57:05So I think it certainly can be competitive
00:57:08I think the Lakers are a better basketball team now again, a lot of people are predicting me to probably say that right?
00:57:14That's okay. Let's just talk about the Minnesota angle that the Timberwolves got worse
00:57:18And I really don't I really cannot believe kind of some of the conversation that that's been out there around this trade
00:57:25I think clearly anyone who's like excited about the Randall edition
00:57:30Isn't or knows zero Knicks fans as it pertains because man, they haven't liked him for quite some time
00:57:38Julius Randall if you look at it had an outlier season where he shot
00:57:4441% from three and then since then a shot about
00:57:4732% from three he fills in for the most efficient seven-foot three-point shooter in this league's
00:57:55History, that's not what you're looking for for a team whose entire calling card was the defense will save us because the offense
00:58:03Isn't that crisp? Well, the offense is gonna get worse. So can the defense save you odds are that's gonna get worse, too
00:58:10Ben just based on
00:58:13Typical
00:58:14ebbs and flows of
00:58:16sports last year their gap between the best defensive rating which they had and the second best defensive rating of any other team in this
00:58:23League was the biggest in five years. The defense is just going you can still be the best in basketball
00:58:28But it's gonna get a little bit worse
00:58:30And now you have to also figure out a new team Nasri just won six men of the year now
00:58:37He's the seventh man of the year
00:58:39Randall is going to be lining up for his lowest career usage since he was in a Lakers uniform
00:58:47You think Randall's gonna love that or is Anthony Edwards gonna defer either way? That's a win for the Lakers
00:58:53So again, forget the Lakers portion of it. I heard Tommy V come on here earlier loves, Minnesota
00:58:58That's impossible that guy lives in Connecticut. Do they not get Knicks games there?
00:59:03Make any sense to me
00:59:05That makes no sense to me how people could see what Randall was and think that this team made themselves a good move
00:59:12But he's in the mix Kevin you appreciate getting in the mix
00:59:16I have points from for tonight in LA is the ant-man at
00:59:2026 and a half a lot more on his shoulders in terms of that offensive production without cat
00:59:26Anthony Edwards tied for the fourth best price to win NBA MVP at plus 850 LeBron James and Anthony
00:59:33Davis both a points prop of 24 and a half D'Angelo Russell more than
00:59:38220 made threes last year a Lakers franchise record
00:59:42But of course Kev a lot of attention and notoriety on the narrative of father and son
00:59:47Tonight, let's start with this question first, and then we'll look at the props will Bronte James play tonight in a Lakers season opener
00:59:55Yeah, he's going a hundred percent play. He should play as well
01:00:00I don't know if you want me to like you want to take this piece by piece Ben
01:00:03I don't want to I don't want to spoil any of your follow-up questions. He is going to play 100%
01:00:09So then that leads to the props that are displayed for Bronte James his first ever career assist
01:00:15To his father is plus 200 his first made field goal of his NBA career
01:00:21Assisted by his father also, of course LeBron James the method of his first basket
01:00:26So Kev in the flow of the competitive structure of the game is how the Lakers have described
01:00:32Ronnie James his role entering the season debut tonight
01:00:35So from that perspective, where do you find value in the props to see Bronte James in action this evening?
01:00:42So they are going to get him in I know, you know, it's been reported
01:00:46They're gonna get him in pretty early, which is again exactly what they should do
01:00:49There's a lot of people out there who are again
01:00:52They've hated LeBron for a long time. So they're really angry and they're missing that history is gonna be made
01:00:57We've never seen a father-son duo on the court
01:01:00I don't everybody loved when the Griffey's were out there
01:01:02But people hate LeBron so much that apparently this is a big disgrace
01:01:06Again, the whole thing is kind of laughable, but that's okay. Let's ignore that stuff. They're gonna get him out there
01:01:12It's gonna be a really cool moment in
01:01:1410 years time people will look back and they won't believe that people in real time or angry about any of this and
01:01:21Once they do it
01:01:23That'll be that he may legitimately end up in the G League at the act like by tomorrow
01:01:30Because this is history
01:01:32That's what it is
01:01:33one of the reasons LeBron James is playing tonight and not owning a portion of the Raiders with Brady is
01:01:40So he could play in this game with his son. So that's what's going to happen
01:01:44So, I don't know if Ronnie kicks it to his dad. His dad will probably shoot it. Will he make it?
01:01:50I don't know. We'll figure it out
01:01:51I I don't love the numbers necessarily Ben
01:01:54But I'm excited to watch it because I'm not a weirdo who's been angry about the best player in the league being the most important
01:02:00guy in the league for 15 years
01:02:03Well said Kevin Walsh very well said a historic moment
01:02:06However, you feel about it tonight in the Association
01:02:10It is better night in Boston the Celtics a five and a half point favorite against the new look New York Knicks
01:02:16What do you expect out of this matchup in Beantown?
01:02:20Yeah tonight
01:02:21I need to figure out if this Knicks defense is gonna be able to hold up while Mitchell Robinson is out because Carl Anthony
01:02:26Towns is
01:02:28Then this Knicks thing ended up kind of surprising me Ben throughout the prep process
01:02:33everywhere their moves OG bridges cat
01:02:37Isolated loved all of them and then you kind of look around and it's Will Smith in the empty room
01:02:43Where is the depth on this basketball team? But calm daddy a legit? I mean you remember it when we were there
01:02:49That's one of the worst picks I've ever seen in my entire life
01:02:51He's made in the first rounder. This kid is gonna be an important piece for them on the wing
01:02:55That cannot be that defense could be in some trouble until Mitch Robb gets back
01:03:01Which means the Celtics offense tonight as it did last year should light it up
01:03:06222 and a half is that updated total on the fan duel sportsbook Jalen Brunson the highest scoring prop for the opener
01:03:14Inside TD Garden Kevin Walsh as always we appreciate the time
01:03:19We will see you tonight on game time decisions the early after live my friend