Congrats Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder are the 2025-26 NBA champs. They were taken the distance by the Pacers last night, but in the end they pulled away and have their franchise's first ever title. They were the best team in the NBA all season long, they won 68 games, they have the MVP on their team for a long time now and they have the complimentary pieces to compete for a long time going forward. The Thunder are here to stay and look to be dominant.

I was wired in for game 7 last night. We haven't had a championship go the distance in the NBA since 2016. I was all in for the Pacers because my son is a fan and I wanted him to be a happy camper. And they came out and looked more than ready to make it a game, and a game that could have won. They were fast and explosive from the start. They were hitting their shots. They were playing solid defense. Every time the Thunder made a push, the Pacers were right there. And Tyrese Haliburton was cooking. He made three of his first four shots, all of them threes. He looked as locked in as he has ever been.

And then he tore his achilles. He went to drive the ball, fell like a heap and it looked bad from every single angle. You could tell that something was off. I was shocked and scared for the Pacers and Haliburton. When they showed the injury in slow motion, you could see his achilles shake. It reminded me so much of when KD got hurt in the Finals when he was on the Warriors. While Haliburton wasn't as intense, it still looked very, very bad. Haliburton is most likely going to miss all of next season, and that stinks.

When he went down I figured the Pacers were going to crumble. I assumed the Thunder would hit then with a barrage of shots and they would wither under the weight of the Thunder's dominance and the absence of their star point guard who is the hub that their entire offense runs through. To my surprise, the Pacers kept fighting. They wouldn't go away. In the first half, Pascal Siakim stepped up on both ends of the floor. He was going to the hoop and either hitting the shot or getting fouled and shooting free throws. He was also swatting shots on defense and snagging rebounds left and right. Andrew Nembhard also hit big shots and played suffocating defense on SGA. The Pacers even held a one point lead going into halftime. And even after the Thunder barrage of threes game, they built their lead to 9, the Pacers stayed in it due to TJ McConnell and Ben Mathurin. McConnell seemingly couldn't miss. Mathurin kept attacking the rim and grabbing rebounds. The Pacers fought with every bit of energy they had left. But the Thunder would not be denied. SGA, while his shot was off, got to the line and made pinpoint pass after pinpoint pass. It was the best I've seen him pass all year. Jalen Williams woke up in the second half and started hitting his threes, which opened up his lethal drive to the left. Chet Holmgren was an absolute menace blocking almost every shot at the rim he faced. He looked legit for the first time in his NBA career to me. Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein did a great job playing their parts. Cason Wallace plays with the confidence of a veteran. He looked great at times last night. Aaron Wiggins, while missing his few shots, played solid defense in his limited minutes. Even when the Thunder got bogged down, and did way too much dribbling in the fourth quarter, where they saw their lead of 22 dwindle to 10, it never felt like they were being threatened. They seemed in control. Even when the refs decided to get way too involved, the Thunder never swayed. They played within themselves, won with defense and forced Indiana to foul them in the end and turn the game into a free throw shooting contest.

I do want to say that the last four minutes of the game were very hard to watch for me. It was everything I have grown to dislike of the game. There was too much one on one. Guards dribbled so much that neither team could get into any real kind of offense. The refs got way too involved. Too many early threes in the shot clock were taken and bricked. I found myself frustrated and annoyed at the end, but that's on me. Other than that, this game was great until it wasn't. The Pacers hung in there the best they could with Haliburton going out so early.

I do wonder how, if at all, the game would've played out differently if Haliburton was able to go the whole game, but that is a fool's errand. What happened happened, and I can't change that, no matter how much I may want to. But, I do think the right team won. The Thunder were built for this and they showed that they're a great team that isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Congrats to OKC, Chet, J Dub and SGA. They more than earned this championship. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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I'm Psyched for Game Seven

I was almost certain the NBA Finals were going to be done last night. The Thunder got a key victory in game five, Jalen Williams exploded and announced himself to the world and SGA was playing at as high a rate as he had all season long. The defense was locked in and Tyrese Haliburton seemed more hurt than anyone was letting on.

Well, the Pacers decided they weren't finished. They came out like a house of fire last night and pretty much led from wire to wire. It was a dominant victory. It was the best I thought they had looked all season long. Haliburton looked a little hampered, but nothing too alarming. The bench guys played their part. Pascal Siakim was dunking all over everyone. James Johnson got a little burn and shoved a dude before getting ejected. This is what the Pacers have done all playoffs long. Just when you think they're about to be cooked, they rise from the dead and put a hammering on their opponent.

I have seen some people saying that the Thunder didn't play well, but I'm giving all the credit to the Pacers here. They were ready, they were fired up and they came out and showed their metal. I haven't been prouder of a team I do not root for ever in my life. It was awesome to see. And when the lead kept growing in the second half, I felt confident enough to turn the game off and go watch tv with my wife in our room. I did check the score occasionally, but the Pacers never wavered. I love it.

And with that victory this means we get a game seven in the NBA Finals. I love love love that we are getting a second game. I, like many other writers, picked the Thunder in five. I thought this series was going to be quick and easy. I have to apologize to the Pacers for that. They have looked every bit the part of a Finals team. They have had an answer for everything the Thunder have thrown at them. And, as we all know, anything can happen in game seven. This is where players like Lu Dort or Aaron Wiggins can go off for the Thunder. Or, TJ McConnell or Ben Mathurin can do the same for the Pacers. Maybe Ben Sheppard plays a pivotal role. Or maybe Isaiah Joe will be brushed off the shelf and fill up the stat sheet. Both teams need things like this to happen to win game seven. But they also need the stars to step up. Thinking back to a moment I saw in the game last night. Tyrese Haliburton had his defender on the move and pulled up for a three. It looked too high and long to me, but that bad boy ripped right through the net. The Pacers were off from there. They need that and then some from him tomorrow night. SGA and Jalen Williams have been playing their part all series long, but they need to go to another level. The Thunder also need Chet Holmgren to break out of his slump. They'll also need Jaylin Williams to do something of note. Lu Dort needs to make threes. Alex Caruso needs to make mid range shots. As for the Pacers, Haliburton, as I said, needs to play the game of his life. Pascal Siakim needs to keep doing what he is doing. Myles Turner needs to hit some shots. So does Andrew Nembhard. Each team needs everyone who plays any minutes to make those minutes count like they've never counted before. And the role players will be the difference here. I'm going to stick with the Thunder to win this game, it is in OKC afterall. But the Pacers winning it all would not surprise me one bit and I want that to happen for my son because he was on the Haliburton train over two years ago when we took him to a Pacers game. He was the only one in our group even rooting for them. He is a true fan.

So, while I do think the Thunder will pull out a very, very close game, I'll be rooting for the Pacers right next to my kid. I love basketball so much. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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The Pacers are Bringing Back Team Basketball

I am as surprised as anyone that the Pacers are not only ahead in the Finals, but look like the better team at the moment. I was pretty certain, as were most commentators, that the Thunder would walk to a title. I picked them to win in five games. I figured if it went six games, that would be a triumph for the Pacers. But, as we head into game four tonight, the Pacers are up 2-1 in the series, and they look like they are more than legit.

I love it. But, I have seen some discourse online in regards to the Pacers and how they ended up here. The most common comment or statement is, "I don't understand why this Pacers team is this good". That seems to be the running sentiment, especially when it comes to younger NBA fans. Some of the responses I have seen, from people mostly my age, are easy for me to agree with.

The reason why the Pacers are this good, and why younger kids maybe don't get it, they're a team. The Pacers are not led by a supernova superstar of a player. And I mean no disrespect to any guy on that team. Tyrese Haliburton is a great point guard who barely turns the ball over and he is about as clutch as it gets. Myles Turner is a very good defensive minded big who rebounds well and can stretch the floor. Pascal Siakim is the key to their defense and, when needed, he can fill up the stat sheet. TJ McConnell and Benedict Mathurin are spark plugs off the bench. Andrew Nembhard is a wonderful 3 and d asset that every team wants in their starting five. Aaron Nesmith found himself, and a bunch of playing time, after being acquired by the Pacers. Obi Toppin provides athleticism off the bench. And Rick Carlisle is one of the better coaches the NBA has ever seen. Going up and down this roster, this is about as good a job of team building that you can get.

This Pacers team reminds me of a much more athletic and offensive inclined version of the Pistons teams that won titles with Richard Hamilton, Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace. No one on that team was ever the face of the league or a perennial all star player. They were a well coached team that let their players do what they did best. No one is asked to do too much. Not one single player has to be the star every night. They can get help from all varieties of anyone on the roster. I have even seen Thomas Bryant and Ben Sheppard have big moments during this run. It is great to see. And that is why, at least for me, the Pacers are here. They play the best version of team basketball that we currently have in the NBA. The fact that they don't have to rely on one single guy is a plus for them. The fact that they can expect to get solid contributions from everyone that plays is a plus for them. The fact that they have a genius of a head coach is a plus for them. The fact that they have someone as cold blooded in late game situations as Halliburton is a plus for them. That's why the Pacers are here and the sheer fact that the team is above any one individual makes me even happier that they're here.

I like the Thunder too, and I do think they will still win the title, but they do have that one superstar that they rely on in every big moment. And if Shai Gilgeous Alexander is having an off night on offense, they're toast. The Pacers don't have to worry about that. Back when Miami had the Big 3, they had three guys that could do it for them, but in the end, if LeBron was having a bad night, they had a bad night. The same could be said of the current version of the Nuggets. If Jokic is off the floor, the Nuggets are cooked. I think we will see the Celtics take a step back without Jayson Tatum all of next season. The Pacers don't have to worry about that at all because they're not a star driven team. And that is why they are here and that is why they have a lead in the NBA Finals.

I love team basketball and the Pacers are making me love it even more. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Ty Predicts the NBA Finals

The NBA Finals start on Thursday, and this is the most excited I've been to watch in a while. In fact, the only thing that would make this any better for me is if the Grizzlies were playing, but we all know that isn't going to happen until they shore some stuff up in the front office and with that team. Let’s discuss.

I think what is so intriguing for me now is that we have two new teams. The Thunder have been building for this, and this seemed like the most likely outcome for their immediate future. But the Pacers have come from nowhere, and that rules. I knew they were doing little things here and there to make their team better, but I never imagined they would be playing for a title in 2025. I love that, and that is why I'll be rooting for them to win the series. With that, and showing you all my hand, I will be doing a preview and prediction today.

This Finals is going to be fun for the basketball nerd in me. I love all the intricacies and how these teams play the game. I like how both teams are willing and able to make adjustments on the fly. Both teams have had their opponents throw everything at them during each team's run and that means we will get unfiltered, beautiful basketball. Or at least I hope that is what will happen.

When I look at the Thunder, they don't seem to have a weakness. People could say the offense can be boring and get bogged down by SGA, but he is the MVP, and he has done nothing but get better and better every year he has been in the NBA. It seems like he knows all the tricks, has all the tools and is beloved by his teammates. Lu Dort is a fire hydrant of a person, an okay enough three point shooter, and maybe the best perimeter defender in the league. J-Dub has been up and down offensively, but he is rock solid on the defensive end. Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein have been two of the best moves this front offense has ever made. They fit like gloves. Cason Wallace may not play much, but when he does, he makes it count. Chet Holmgren has been a fierce rim protector, and it looks like his shot is coming back. And this team goes 8 or 9, hell, maybe even 10 deep. That is so rare this deep into the playoffs, and it has shown that it helps. These dudes are always fresh.

The Pacers are not slouches though. Tyrese Haliburton has more than answered the bell. He has been magnetic to watch this whole run and he is fast becoming one of my favorite players. My son adores him as well. I love that he barely ever turns the ball over too. Myles Turner has been awesome. He deserves this more than anyone on this Pacers team. He has stuck with them through all the trade rumors and everything, and he has repaid them with a great playoff run. Pascal Siakim's defense is so important to this team, and his offense has been excellent. He is continuing to show how much of a star he is in this league. TJ McConnell is long in the tooth, but he is still a pest. Ben Mathurin has been kind of off during this run, but he is liable to go off at any time. Andrew Nembhard has been guarding the best guard on the other team pretty well, and he is making shots. The Pacers may not be as deep as the Thunder, but the guys that play run the offense to a hectic pace that is oddly beautiful, and the defense has done enough.

When I look at the teams side by side, it is tough for me not to pick the Thunder in every category. Their defense is loads better. Their offense, while not as frenetic and fun to watch, still puts up a ton of points. The coaching staff for the Thunder is overall better, even if Rick Carlisle is a better head coach than Mark Dagnault. As I mentioned at the top, I will be rooting for the Pacers. But, when I look at it with my basketball mind, it is hard for me not to pick the Thunder in a relative rout. This series reminds me a ton of the Pacers-Celtics East Finals from last season. The Pacers will make it look close, but in the end, the Thunder will win the Finals, and I see them doing it in five games. They have the better overall team. And SGA is going to add a Finals MVP to his regular season MVP too. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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The Pacers are Crazy Good

I think the Pacers might be having a blessed season. I'm not all into that type of stuff, but after seeing what I saw last night, this team is having what one may refer to as a "miracle" run. Let’s discuss.

The Pacers have built a solid team over the years. They acquired Tyrese Haliburton in a trade. They drafted Myles Turner and Andrew Nembhard. They got Obi Toppin as a throw-in in a trade. They saw something in Aaron Nesmith that the Celtics didn't see. They hired Rick Carlisle after Dallas let him go. They have made the right move in pretty much every single area. But, it really boils down to the sheer fact that they got a guy like Haliburton. He is such a good point guard and leader of this team. He rarely turns the ball over. He always has high assist numbers. When he is not scoring, he is still a threat due to his excellent vision. And when he is making shots, he is as lethal as anyone in the league. But, after what I saw, after that shot last night, after how they erupted in the fourth quarter, this team is different.

For people that may not know, or have seen, go look at the shot Haliburton hit to send the game to overtime. If someone had hit a shot like that in rec or pickup basketball, I would just have chuckled in disbelief. Hell, if that goes in in a high school game, the crowd would be astonished. Haliburton did this in a playoff game. Even more, he did it in the East Finals. But it wasn't just that shot that makes me believe in this team. They can shoot the three with the best of them. Nesmith really got the ball rolling last night, and when his teammates saw him hitting shots, they followed in suit. This is a team that is never, ever out of a game. They are so good at shooting the three. They take them open or covered. They have no conscience. And it's everyone on that team. From Haliburton to Turner, who is their center, can shoot the rock. And they seem to all like playing basketball together. They genuinely seem to like one another, and it shows on the floor. They have a calmness to them as well. They don't get scared. They don't ever feel out of the game. Their defense has even gotten a little better throughout the season. And watching what they have done this playoff run, and last year for that matter, has made me a believer.

The Pacers have crushed the Bucks two years in a row. They have, for all intents and purposes, ended the Bucks run with Giannis. Last year, in the East Finals, while they got swept, the people involved with the Celtics said they were the toughest team they played. This season, after disposing of the Bucks in five, they obliterated the number 1 seeded Cavs. Sure, some of the Cavs main guys were hurt, but I don't think it would have mattered in the long run. The Pacers came out and stomped on the Cavs' throat. They would not let them up for air. And that is my main reason why I think they have a true shot at the title. When the Pacers get up, they don't let up. They don't just want to beat their opponent, they want to crush them. Anytime a team starts to make a push, it seems like the Pacers will hit three or four big time shots in a row and stop any momentum their opponent has. This is what title contending teams need nowadays, a killer instinct. The Pacers have that in waves.

I don't know if any team left can beat the Thunder, but I think the Pacers have the most legit, and best shot. However it ends, this Pacers team is fun and I want to see more of them. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty's 2024-2025 NBA Preview: A Few Pieces Shy of Being a Champion Division

Welcome to day four of my 24-25 NBA countdown.

At number 15 I have the New Orleans Pelicans. I do this every year and it bites me in the butt every year. But, this team looks really good coming into this season. They seem to have everything you could want from a possible contender. It all depends on health, which is always an issue, but on paper this team is legit. Zion Williamson, when he plays, is unstoppable on offense. He can get to the rim anytime he pleases. He gets position and he just goes. He needs a better shot, and to turn it up on defense. But, when he is on the court he is a joy to watch. CJ McCollum has been the steady veteran this team hoped he would be when they traded for him. It's nice that he can come off the bench and be a reliable scorer too. I love the Dejounte Murray trade for them. The Pelicans haven't had a true point guard for years now, and now they do. Murray should fit in nicely and if he can return to his defensive days while in San Antonio, this trade will be a real win. Herb Jones and Trey Murphy are excellent defenders and solid three point shooters. Jose Alvarado may be the best pest in the NBA. The steals he gets are wild. Brandon Ingram's situation is odd here. He may be traded, he has complained about his role and no one offered him a big contract this offseason. But, he can come play this season with the Pelicans and possibly make some money back off a good season. Jordan Hawkins could be a good bench scorer for this team. And Antonio Reeves was a decent draft pick in my opinion. I'm all in on the Pelicans depending on health, and that is always the issue.

At 14 I have the Sacramento Kings. The Kings are in a bit of a limbo, but being a perennial play-in/playoff threat has to feel way better than what they had for over a decade before. De'Aaron Fox is legit. He is so fast, so smart and so malleable on offense. I also respect him turning down money to come out and try and get an even bigger payday. Domantas Sabonis is a very good offensive big man. He is also a solid rebounder. Getting DeMar DeRozan is a nice addition. DeRozan is going to be loved so much more after he retires. But, for right now he adds a steady 15-18 points per game for this squad. Kevin Huerter had a moment, but that seems to have passed. He needs a good season. Alex Len is a fine backup center. Trey Lyles is a solid role player. Keegan Murray needs to be a full time starter. And Malik Monk is such a good sixth man. The Kings issue is defense. They are not very good on that end and that is what's holding them back. But, they should be much improved from last season.

At 13 I have the Miami Heat. I mean, at some point the Heat "magic" is going to wear off. It seemed like it was happening last season, and they didn't do much to improve their roster. That being said, they have a pretty good roster. Jimmy Butler is one of my favorite players. He is the gritty, tough superstar. He would fit into any generation. Jimmy Butler is legit. Bam Adebayo is one of the better centers in the NBA. He is tough to move, can score around the paint and is one of the best defenders in the league. After these two, this roster is okay, but old too. Terry Rozier is a good offensive player, but he is coming off injury and his best days may be behind him. Kevin Love is ancient and his best days are for sure behind him. Tyler Herro is overrated. Duncan Robinson is a good shooter, but he is a defensive liability. Josh Christopher and Haywood Highsmith intrigue me for some reason. And Nikol Jovic and Jaime Jacquez Jr are solid young guys. Erik Spoelstra is also one of the best coaches in the NBA. The Heat are annoyingly solid. But, if they hit an injury bug or Jimmy Butler gets frustrated, things could go sideways.

At 12 I have the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers are coming off a run to the East Finals and everyone is back and one year better. Tyrese Haliburton is a wonderful point guard and runs their system to perfection. He is no good on defense, and that is a running theme here. Andrew Nembhard is a good shooter and a surprisingly decent NBA player. Myles Turner has become a good overall offensive player, but his defense has regressed. Ben Mathurin blew up in his rookie season, but he took a step back last year. TJ McConnell is this eras Matthew Dellavedova. Aaron Nesmith has made himself a starter and a solid player. And I love Pascal Siakim's game. He is underrated in my opinion. The Pacers are a good team. This year will be the telling sign if last year was a fluke or not.

The final team for the day, at 11 I have the Orlando Magic. For all of the good offensive players and teams in the league, the Magic are the opposite. They're the best defensive team in the league, and some of the younger guys are starting to come into their own on offense. Paolo Banchero is awesome. He is on his way to being a perennial all star and he is going to become a face of the NBA sooner rather than later. Franz Wagner has fit it quite nicely next to Banchero. They are a nice 1-2 punch. He needs to improve his shooting though. Cole Anthony is a great hype guy who happens to bring a ton of energy to the floor. He is also a solid shooter. Wendall Carter Jr has found a home and a nice role with the Magic. Moe Wagner is a humongous pest and annoyance. He also happens to be a nice backup five. Signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was a wonderful move. He fits in so nicely with this team. Johnathan Isaac is a goddamn weirdo who is a great defender, if he is healthy. Jalen Suggs is the perfect point guard for this team. The Magic are going to be around for awhile if they keep up this kind of defensive intensity.

That does it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next five teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty Ranks the 2023 - 2024 NBA Teams - Aging Rockstars Playing Some of Their New Music Division

Welcome to day two of my NBA countdown leading up to the new season. The teams still aren't great, but they are getting better and the teams today have some players I am excited to watch this upcoming season.

At number 25 I have the Houston Rockets. I don't think any team this offseason went for it harder than the Rockets did. They are clearly trying to do some things to win games and compete right now. That is good. It is also good that they did not give James Harden a max contract. That was the right move. Who they got instead at point guard was Fred VanVleet. They may have given him too much money and he may be past his prime but he brings a veteran leadership this team hasn't had in years. He is going to be an excellent role model for their young core. They also went out and signed Dillon Brooks. They gave him too much money also, and too many years, but he is a solid defender. He also had a good FIBA showing. If he can stay humbled on the court he will give opposing stars headaches. Then we have the young core. Jalen Green has all the tools in the world to be a big time NBA scorer. He just has to give it 100 percent all the time. I think Jabari Smith Jr is going to be a legit all star. He is big, can defend and rebound and his shot is coming along. Tari Eason is dope. That kid can really play and he brings massive energy. I like the Amen Thompson pick. He was the better twin and he could flourish with a big role. Alperen Sengun is a wizard with the ball, but a total zero on defense. Cam Whitmore fell to them in the draft and he could play the role of the revenge rookie. They also acquired Jeff Green in a trade and he wins almost everywhere he goes. The Rockets will be better this year, but they are not a playoff team yet. Hell, they aren't even a play in team yet. But they are making some interesting moves.

At number 24 I have the Indiana Pacers. I really like what this team is becoming. They have some really good and young talent. They have a solid coach. And they made some excellent moves in the offseason. Tyrese Haliburton is awesome. He is an all star. He was one of the better FIBA players for the US. He can pass with the best of them and his shooting gets better every year. Myles Turner is still here and they gave him an extension. He is still one of the better rim defenders in the league. He can also stretch the floor. Ben Mathurin had a solid rookie year. I expect him to be their sixth man and feast on opposing second team defenses. I love the Bruce Brown signing. The season will tell if he is ready for a bigger role, but that guy has only gotten better every year he has been in the league. I love them acquiring Obi Toppin. He is going to thrive with additional playing time. Drafting Jarace Walker looks like a home run for their defense. TJ McConnell is a solid backup point guard. Andrew Nembhard had some big moments last season and will build on that. Jalen Smith and Aaron Nesmith continue to be decent second team options. And I love that they signed Oscar Tshiebewe as an undrafted rookie. He is going to be a rebounding beast. The Pacers could threaten for a play in spot this year. And next year they should slide into being a solid playoff lock.

At 23 I have the Utah Jazz. Who could have foreseen this team playing as well as they did last season? Not me. And they could be better this year. Lauri Markkanen had a career year last season and looks like the real deal. I was wrong about him. Jordan Clarkson became a better passer last year while keeping up his scoring pace. Walker Kessler had a very good rookie year and looks like a possible lock down center on defense. Collin Sexton got out of Cleveland and looked good in the minutes he got last year. Ochai Agbaji is going to play a bigger role this year and I am curious to see how he does. Keyonte George looks like a very good incoming rookie. They traded for John Collins and he sounds like he wants to wreck the league this year. Kris Dunn is around, and he is as good a perimeter defender as there is in the league. The Jazz are a good team that may fight for a playoff or play in spot. If they were in the East I might pick them to make it. But they are in the West and the West is loaded.

At 22 I have the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets actually did a good job in the Kyrie, KD and James Harden aftermath. They recouped quite well. The prize of that trade was Mikail Bridges, and he is awesome. He blew up last season. He was excellent in FIBA. He seems to like being the first option. Bridges is great. Cam Johnson got a big deal and he seems to enjoy playing in Brooklyn. He has an edge to his game now that I really like as well. I have zero faith in Ben Simmons. I'm over all of the offseason stuff with him. Cam Thomas is a great bench scorer and nothing else. Nic Claxton is a good pick and roll and defense first guy, but he cannot shoot. I like the addition of Lonnie Walker IV. He had a good year last year and could be better with more minutes. Dennis Smith Jr had a great comeback year in Charlotte and the Nets are going to give him another shot. Dorian Finney-Smith can defend, but he hasn't been able to recreate his success from two years ago. The Nets are a weird team with one player, Bridges, that I love. But they will not be as good as they were last season.

The final team for the day, a team I really thought hard about putting into my playoff mix, at 21 I have the Orlando Magic. This team is ready to take a leap and become a true playoff threat. I just think it may take one more season. Paolo Banchero is legit. The kid has all the tools to be the number one option and a perennial all star. He got better as the year went along and he is going to be a star in this league. Franz Wagner is their jack of all trades. He can do a little of everything really well. He was a steal for them in the draft. Markelle Fultz has reignited his career. He is never going to be the star some thought, but he is a solid point guard in the NBA. Anthony Black may be their point guard of the future. He looked excellent in summer league. Cole Antony can also play. He has been a solid starter for the past two years. Jalen Suggs can't shoot, but he can defend. Jett Howard will bring bench scoring. Wendell Carter Jr has been a great big man for them and looks like he could make another leap. Chuma Okeke can play too. The Magic have a good, young team that will win more games than some think. They are going to make a playoff push and may even win a play in game. I love what they are doing over there. They have a decent team.

That is it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next five teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Tales of My Adventures at an Indiana Pacers Game

I mentioned yesterday that I wanted to talk about the Pacers-76ers game my dad and I took my son to see. That is what I’ll be talking about today.

I love going to NBA games. They’re fun, fast paced, super athletic and they end in just around two hours. I also like watching the NBA live because I believe that pro basketball players are the most athletic professional athletes. I told my son that this is my version of ballet. To see grown men this big do the things they do is amazing. From the footwork to the ball movement to the stops and starts and sudden bursts, it blows my mind. If you ever get to see Joel Embiid play basketball live, do it. He is an amazing athlete. I’ve seen him twice this year and I’ve been absolutely blown away by his skill and how effortless he makes it look. It is wild to see the things he does live and in person.

This is the first time I’ve ventured outside Memphis for a NBA game. I got way back into the NBA within the last 15 years, and started going to live games right before my son was born. Memphis was an easy pick. It was close, they weren’t always good so tickets were cheap and the arena is nice and has bbq nachos. I would go see the Thunder play there because I adopted them as my team when the Sonics moved. After KD left I was looking for a new team and Memphis made sense. So I adopted them and they’re my team. This made the decision to go there for games even easier. But I had already been to a Grizzlies game this season and their tickets are going up again since they’re good. My dad did some research and found that Indianapolis was only eight extra miles in driving distance, and similar tickets were far less expensive. So we got tickets having never been to a game there and took our chances.

It worked out great. The Pacers arena is very nice. It is a little smaller than the FedEx Forum, but that works in their favor. It feels more intimate. You could see everything. I was even able to spot the injured guys in street clothes. You could hear squeaking from the shoes. I could hear plays being called out. They had a mic in the rim so you could hear swishes. The games played during timeouts were fun. I saw a shrimp eating contest at halftime. They also did dunks off trampolines during a timeout. They had puppy races. It was dope. They packed a lot in and I appreciated that. I think they do a little more because the Pacers are mediocre this season and their two best guys were out. They had to find ways to make it more fun. The bathrooms were clean. The team store was two stories. They had escalators or stairs to get to different levels. They had windows where you could see outside within the gym. The floor was great, and that big P they paint with the basketball at center court was a sight to behold. I was into the whole experience at the Pacers arena. I thought they did an excellent job. And with Indiana being such a big basketball state, it all made sense in the end to me.

I walked away very impressed with the whole NBA live game experience in Indianapolis. I say go if you can while they’re still a middling team. It is worth your time.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty's 2022-2023 NBA Season Preview: Rockets, Pacers, Magic

Welcome to day two of my 2022-23 NBA countdown. We are still on some teams that will be in the lottery, but some of them should be a ton of fun to watch this season.

At 27 I have the Houston Rockets. The Rockets were bad last year. They are going to be bad this year. But they are going to be a blast to watch. I love Jalen Green. I have been a fan of his since he joined the G League over going to college. That was a baller ass move. He is also a wildly talented offensive player. He was putting up big numbers last season, so imagine what he will do in season two. Green has star quality, now it's time to show that ability. Kevin Porter Jr seems to have found a place that works for him. He gets to start, he gets to handle the ball and he runs the offense. He is young and has all the talent in the world. He just needs to stay on the floor. I thought Jabari Smith Jr was going to go first overall, but the Rockets snatched him up with the second pick. I love this pick for the Rockets. Jabari Smith Jr reminds me of a young KD. If he can be 50 percent of Durant he is going to be a star. Alperen Sengun is very raw but very good. He is a great passer, a decent low post scorer and can rebound. Tari Eason is a solid pick. Eric Gordon can still light it up from three. Tyty Washington needs time, but in the future, he can be a decent guard in the league. Usman Garuba is extremely raw, but I like watching him play. Willie Cauley Stein is the "veteran" presence, and he can still throw it down. This team is very talented on offense, but they will get scorched on defense. That will be their undoing. But I will enjoy watching them play this year.

At 26 I have the Indiana Pacers. They need to bite the bullet and go into full rebuild. I feel like they are still trying to act like a playoff contender, but they are not on that level. They did trade Malcolm Brogdon, and that was a good start. Now they need to offload Buddy Hield and Myles Turner. I like both those guys a lot. Hield is a great shooter, but he needs to be on a team that has a real shot at the playoffs. Turner is a great modern big, a very good rim protector and a solid three point shooter. But he is being wasted in Indy. He needs to be on a team with a real chance at the playoffs as well. What they need to do is lean fully into letting Tyrese Haliburton run the show. He is great. He is young but plays maturely. He has the look of a true number one on a high playoff seed, they just need to build a little more. I think Benedict Mathurin can be a very poor man's Kawhi Leonard. He can shoot a bit, and with some work, can be a lockdown defender. Chris Duarte can shoot, but that may be it. We will get a very good look at Jalen Smith this year. He could be Robert Williams or Anthony Bennett. This season should let us know. Aaron Nesmith had moments in Boston. In Indiana he will get a shot to make all those moments a nightly thing. Andrew Nembhard was good in college, but he may be a bit too much like Doug McDermott. Time will tell. James Johnson will provide toughness, but who knows how long he will stick around. When the Pacers finally relent and go full rebuild we will get to see Haliburton come on the scene, and this team will be bad for a season or two before they are back to being a .500 team.

The final team for the day, at number 25 I have the Orlando Magic. The Magic will be very bad, but they may be the most entertaining team to watch. I love this core. They are young and raw, but man oh man are they athletic. Paolo Banchero is looking very much the part of a number one overall pick. He has been everywhere this summer and preseason and he is already stirring it up. He is also a walking bucket. Franz Wagner can shoot, defend and seems like a blast to play basketball with. He was great at Michigan and I am glad it seems to be translating to the NBA. Mo Bamba is a very good rim protector and rebounder. He is also very skinny and very green on offense. The word out of camp is that Bol Bol is healthy and ready to contribute. I cannot wait to see him on the court. Jalen Suggs did not shoot it well last season, and he is coming off an injury, but he is a very good defender already. Markelle Fultz is finally free to just play basketball. Cole Anthony is cool as hell and I love watching him play. Chuma Okeke is one of the better players nobody knows about. Gary Harris Jr can still play. Mo Wagner is sticking around. Wendell Carter Jr looks legit. Again, this team is going to be bad this year, but they are building something that could be special in three or four years. They won't win just yet, but it should come soon if they stick together.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next three teams.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty's 2021-2022 NBA Preview: Spurs, Wizards, Raptors, Pacers

Welcome to day three of my NBA countdown. We are getting closer to playoff teams. The teams today have a good shot to be in the play in.

At 22 I have the San Antonio Spurs. Greg Poppovich is still the head coach, he’s coming off a gold medal and he’s the GOAT. But this is a totally different team. DeMar DeRozan is gone. LaMarcus Aldridge left last season. Manu, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan have long retired. And Patty Mills, the original Spur, left for Brooklyn. What the Spurs have is young talent, especially at guard. I’m a big Dejounte Murray fan. The kid can play. He’s gotten better every year. And now they he’s “the guy” I think he’s going to make a leap. Derrick White has moments here and there. If he can do that more consistently he’s going to become a key starter. Lonnie Walker hasn’t popped quite yet, but it feels inevitable. Keldon Johnson was on Team USA, the people in the building love him and he goes hard every night. Jakob Poeltl seems to have found his role nicely. The young guys are good. I’m not as big a fan of some of the off-season moves. Doug McDermott is no more than a spot up shooter. Thad Young is good but he should be a bench guy. Brynn Forbes is a good shooter, but he barely played in the playoffs last season. Al Faroq-Aminu seems well past his prime. And Zach Collins has never been healthy. I’ll never count the Spurs out while they still have Pop. I also love the young talent they have.

At 21 I have the Washington Wizards. They made a playoff run through the play in, and I think they could be better this season. Brad Beal is great. He’s an all star. He’s one of the best scorers in the league. And he’s loyal. I totally disagree with his opinion on vaccines though. He doesn’t need to do research. Just get the vaccine. They acquired Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope from the Lakers. Kuzma played good defense and became a solid cutter. Caldwell-Pope can shoot and play d. these were good gets in the Westbrook trade. They also went out and got Spencer Dinwiddie. We will see how he’s recovered from his ACL injury, but he’s always been able to put the ball in the bucket. I like Rui Hachimura. He has added to his game and looks ready to make a jump. Davis Bertans can shoot. Thomas Bryant has shown he totally belongs. The jury is still out on Deni Avdija. We will see. Montrezl Harrell is a nice bench guy. Aaron Holiday will give them good backup point guard minutes. The Wizards seem much more put together. They have a better group of guys. Beal needs to get vaxxed. Otherwise though this team should be in the playoff race all year.

At 20 I have the Toronto Raptors. They’re back in Toronto. They’ve moved on from star players that are older. And the young talent should be healthy. Fred Van Vleet is awesome. He’s gotten better every year. He’s more than earned his spot in the league. Pascal Siakim had an off year, but this whole team did. He was hurt too. He’s on his way to being a key starter in the NBA. He’s good. Last year feels like an anomaly. Scottie Barnes needs time, but he could be a jack of all trades. He was good his lone season at FSU. He has the tools. Goran Dragic was a solid get in the Kyle Lowry trade. Lowry is better, but Dragic can play. Previous Achiuwa looks like he’s going to be good for awhile. OG Anounoby can be great if he can stay healthy. He’s so good. Khem Birch is a very good rebounder and defender. Chris Boucher looked real, real good last year. The fact that he can shoot threes now is a big deal for this team. And Gary Trent Jr is an okay enough bench guy. The Raptors are the East’s version of the Spurs. Last year was a fluke. Don’t sleep on this team.

The final team for today, at 19 I have the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers are wheats tough. Even when the roster is thin, they still find a way to win much more than they should. That is this team. A lot changes if the Ben Simmons rumors are true, but we will just go along today as if they don’t trade for him. Caris Levert is legit. He’s good. He can score from anywhere. He plays tough defense and he’s getting much needed playing time. Damontas Sabonis is an all star. He’s a great passer, adequate shooter, good defender and rebounder and the offense runs through him. Myles Turner is a defensive monster. He’s so good in that end of the floor. Malcolm Brogdon is just a solid player. And the way he exploded on the Hornets last season was a great sign. If they get a healthy TJ Warren he adds a whole new level of offense off the bench. Chris Duarte was a solid pick. He’s NBA ready right now as a rookie. TJ McConnell is a pest. He and Turner would be a nightmare to play against. Jeremy Lamb, when healthy, is a good bench scorer. And Justin Holiday is a solid backup. The Pacers will be in the hunt all year for the playoffs. Again, if they get Simmons it changes their outlook. But right now they should be a lock for the play in.

That’s it for today. Come back for the next four teams tomorrow. That will be the start of my playoff teams.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Ty's 2021 NBA Play in Games Preview

The NBA regular season is over. It feels weird typing that. Usually, in the before times, we would be knee deep in the playoffs right now. But due to the pandemic, then the bubble, this most recent season had a very fast turnaround. These are strange days indeed.

The season was awesome, in my opinion. I loved watching the games, I found them competitive and I was interested in how all the teams dealt with COVID in many different ways. But I am ready for playoff basketball. Playoff basketball is my absolute favorite sport to watch. It is the best drama on TV. The players step up their game and it is very exciting. I am going to do a full playoff preview, but that will not come until after the play in games are all done. You all will have to wait for that until Thursday. But today I am going to do a play in preview.

First off, I love love love the play in. I like the addition of two more teams, I find it has made the end of the last two seasons a bit more meaningful and competitive and anytime I can get extra playoff basketball, that is a treat. I also like the eight teams we have in the play in. They all have very different skill sets. Some are older veteran laden teams and some, like my Memphis Grizzlies, are very young and on the come up. I also really enjoy the single elimination feel we get from this, and that every team in the play in will have to bring it in order to make the playoffs. This is an absolute home run idea.

I will start with the East, or the JV as I call it. The 7-8 matchup could have been incredible if not for Jaylen Brown being out and Bradley Beal not at 100 percent. But, both Russell Westbrook and Jayson Tatum are playing really good basketball right now. Russ is getting triple doubles on the regular and Tatum just had 60 in a game, and followed it up with a bunch of 30 point outings. He is on fire. As for who I think will win, this is a total toss up to me. The Celtics are deeper and younger, but not having Jaylen Brown is brutal. The Wizards might be the hottest team in the NBA right now, Russ is doing all the little things and they are getting other guys to contribute. But they are five games below .500. They just started playing well now. For that reason only, I am picking the Wizards. They will continue on their current streak, and the Celtics will have to win two games just to get the 8th seed. Their season has been a total disappointment.

The 9-10 matchup is a tale of two very different teams. The Hornets are young and exciting and LaMelo Ball has been awesome, but they are not a true playoff team yet. The Pacers have vets, they have playoff experience, but they have not been very good all year, and their coach may get fired after his lone season. I really want to pick Charlotte here because I think it would be awesome to see Ball go up against Boston for the 8th seed, but I am going with the experience and picking Indiana.

I also have Indiana beating the Celtics simply because Brown is out, and Boston never really got their footing all year. They are a mess. So that means I have the Wizards as the 7 and the Pacers as the 8.

Now for the Varsity, the West. The 7-8 matchup is going to rule. The NBA and the TV people could not have asked for a better play in game. We get the Lakers and the Warriors. Steph and LeBron. AD versus a platoon of big men waiting to hurt him. Draymond playing defense on multiple guys. The Lakers throwing the kitchen sink to stop Steph. This is going to be fun. In the long run though, I think the Lakers will win. I'm sure both AD and LeBron were hurt, but they also know they can turn this into a "redemption" story. They both missed a ton of games, the Lakers fell to this spot, they need AD and LeBron, and here they come to save the day. This is almost too perfect of a script, and the NBA, AD, LeBron and the Lakers all know this.

Then we have the 9-10, with Memphis facing San Antonio. This is eerily similar to the East's 9-10 matchup with style of play, but both these teams are much better. Memphis is young and hyper athletic. When the shooters are on, they are on. But they have had tons of injuries. I think Jaren Jackson Jr has only played something like 10 games. Ja missed a ton of time earlier this season from an ankle injury. Dillon Brooks has been in and out of the lineup. They also have had trouble finishing games lately. The Spurs got really fat on an easy early schedule, but they had a murderers row to close the season. They won some of the games, but that schedule pushed them where they are now. The Spurs are a typical Gregg Poppovich team, they pass well, play great defense and don't take dumb shots, but this is a rebuild for them. They are so young and so inexperienced outside of DeMar DeRozan. I am picking Memphis, and I will watch every single second of this game. Memphis is better and deeper, but can they finish? That is the big question for me.

So with the Lakers at 7, we would have Memphis and Golden State playing for 8, and we just witnessed this game yesterday. Memphis just couldn't get out of their own way, and they let Steph go off. I feel like the same thing is going to happen. It will be close and tough, but Steph will do what he does, and the Grizzlies will be knocked out of the playoffs yet again. That means I have the Lakers at 7 and Warriors at 8. The NBA will be thrilled at the first play in game, and then having both those teams make the playoffs still. I cannot wait for these games to start tomorrow night.

This is going to be a blast. I love playoff basketball.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Thoughts on Who Should Trade for Blake Griffin

Where we sit today, the NBA trade deadline is about three weeks away. There have already been massive moves, Harden to the Nets, and I think there will be a flurry of moves coming very soon. I could see upwards of a dozen or so guys being on a new team before the month is out.

If you are looking for an indicator why, look at all the players being sat right now so teams can try and find a trade partner. Guys like JJ Redick and Austin Rivers and Lonzo Ball and Kevin Love and Andre Drummond have all seen their playing time diminish to almost nothing. Now, this doesn't necessarily mean all these guys will be traded, but I suspect most of them will by March 7th.

One person who I was kind of shocked to be on the block was Blake Griffin. He has really kind of nose dived since the Clippers traded him to the Pistons. At the time it happened, I got it for both sides. The Clippers didn't want to pay him, they were going to go after Kawhi, they were offloading everyone they could and they wanted to make a push. For the Pistons, they wanted to get in the playoffs, they wanted a player that could sell tickets, Griffin could run the show there and he was going to be teamed up with Drummond, who was a Piston at the time, to form a solid front court. Well, it has worked okay for the Clippers, they got Kawhi and Paul George, and they are one of the top teams in the West. As for the Pistons and Griffin, well that is a different story. They were swept out of the playoffs in the first round his first season there. Then he got hurt again. Then the Pistons traded Drummond. And they waived Reggie Jackson, then they recently traded Derrick Rose and they are not very good. They are competitive, but I think only second to the Timberwolves, they have one of the worst records in the league. Jerami Grant has been exceptional, and rookie Saadiq Bey definitely has potential, but they are rebuilding.

Maybe I shouldn't be that shocked to see them sit Griffin, and try to find a trade partner for him. He is older, 31 now. He has been more injured in his pro career than not. He doesn't have the bounce he used to. He has never been a great rebounder or defender. He can shoot and handle okay, but he isn't the threat he once was. I never bought into the hype surrounding Griffin, but he does have some value to a team chasing the playoffs, or perhaps the title.

I have sat and thought about who I think would be the best fit for him, where he could go and do what he has become good at, and help a team get far in the playoffs. That means all the also rans, the Cavs and T'Wolves and Wizards are off the table. But there are some teams, in both conferences, that can use a point forward who can knock down a few threes per game, and force opponents to guard him because he is still somewhat of a scoring threat. Right away I take out the Lakers, Clippers, Nets, Jazz, Trailblazers and Nuggets. These teams already have players like him, or they don't have enough equity to get him. But that does leave some teams, teams near the top, that could use a guy like Blake Griffin to make a push. The 76ers could use him, but they will not give up enough to get him, and they shouldn't. What they are doing right now is working. The Bucks may like the idea of pairing him with Giannis, and while he is much better than Bobby Portis, I do not think Milwaukee has enough to make a trade for him, unless they are willing to part with a starter or two. I think he would work out well with the Spurs, but I don't think Pop wants to bring on a former "star" player. I think he likes what his youth is giving him right now. I'd be kind of interested to see him paired with Luka in Dallas, but they seem set with Porzingis, and that is a bummer. He is so soft, and does not play like a 7 footer. He is also as injury prone, if not more so, than Griffin. I don't think the Celtics will be willing to part with any of their youth, and the Knicks want a young big name, not a player in his waning years.

That leaves me with two teams that, while I do not think they will win the title, they will be in the playoffs and make a serious push. Those teams are the Pacers and Heat. Both are very middling right now. The Pacers are .500, and the Heat are below .500. That doesn't mean things won't change, and I think if either one adds Griffin, they could make their way to the upper half of the East. The Pacers would need to part ways with Myles Turner, which would be a bummer because he has been a defensive force this season. But, his name has been in trade talks the past two years. I think they could put Turner in the deal, add a younger guard and a pick, and they could add Griffin. That would pair him up with Sabonis. Sabonis does all the dirty work, he is a good defender and he is becoming a legit first option. Griffin could play off that pretty well. Then he would have shooters around him. Brogdon can knock down shots. TJ Warren is liable to go for 40 on any given night. Jeremy Lamb has moments. And when Caris Levert gets cleared to play, he is an offensive dynamo. Griffin would be surrounded by young guys that play hard on both ends and he could come in and be someone that can contribute offensively right away. It would be such a bummer to have to trade Turner, but as I said, it is not like they haven't shopped him yet.

As for the Heat, they are struggling right now. They're 11-16, which is 10th currently in the East, but a few wins here and there, and they are back in it. They are also almost at full health. They were ravaged by injury, they had COVID issues, and finally they are getting everyone back. The Heat also would not have to give up any of the young scorers that have been mentioned for bigger names. They could keep Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson. Bam is off the table obviously. Jimmy Butler isn't going anywhere. Dragic is there to stay. Hell, they could even hold onto Andre Igodala if they want. They would have to give up someone, or multiple someones, guys like Kendrick Nunn or Kelly Olnyk or Meyers Leonard or maybe, even though they don't want to, Precious Achiuwa. But I think they would, knowing they could keep the main core guys, and add Griffin to the team. I also think Griffin would love playing for the Heat, and he would definitely prefer Miami to Indiana due to outside interests. I also think he fits even better with the Heat. Bam is better than Damontas Sabonis. He is stronger, a better offensive player and just seems to have that "it" factor some star players show. Jimmy Butler could be Griffin's newer version of Chris Paul, keeping him in check. He has better, younger versions of JJ Reddick in Robinson and Herro. And He and Dragic could run a dangerous pick and roll against second units. The Heat, for a myriad of reasons, makes almost too much sense to me. I would be kind of stunned when/if he gets traded if it isn't to the Heat. I think both teams would benefit the most. And above all, I think Griffin would take this news with a tremendous smile and acclimate very nicely, and quickly, to Miami.

Miami. That is where Blake Griffin should end up. It is as near a perfect fit as there is in the NBA.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing. 

Is James Harden Worth Everything the Nets Gave Up?

I wrote about the best fit for James Harden yesterday, and like it was supposed to happen that way, he was traded right as I was finishing up my piece. I swear. Brooklyn was the best fit, I still believe that, and I did not write that after the trade. Since the trade is official now, the Nets announced it today, I do want to break it down, and why I personally do not think it will end in a title, or even a Finals appearance for Brooklyn.

This trade was involved. It was a three team deal, and the Nets gave up a ton of depth, and pretty much their future. I get that Harden is worth a lot, and he is a perennial MVP candidate, and he is one of the greatest scorers of all time, but the Nets gave up way, way too much. They offloaded Taurean Prince, Jarrett Allen, and the biggest piece in my opinion, Caris Levert. They also gave up, I believe, seven picks and pick swaps. They gave up a whole, whole lot to get a third star. Levert was later traded to the Pacers for Victor Oladipo, and Jarrett Allen ended up on the Cavs. I think, if I look at the trade as a whole, the Pacers probably got the best of the deal, getting a younger Oladipo. And the Cavs, I mean, they maybe have every center in the league on their roster, but getting Jarrett Allen is a big deal. He brings great rim protection, and he is young. The Cavs could be a threat in two to three years if they keep this young core together. The Rockets came out fine. I mean, they got Oladipo but he is on the last year of his deal. He has been awesome this season, and if he can keep it up, and John Wall stays relatively healthy, they could find themselves in the play in. They also have a treasure trove of picks. I feel like the Thunder, Pelicans and now the Rockets own the draft until 2026. This move may not have gotten the Rockets the "star" they coveted, but they got Oladipo, and all those picks I mentioned. They veered from the star chasing into more of a make this trade for the future of the franchise. They have endless options for trades, or just drafting some of the top prospects now.

Now to the big fish move, the name that everyone was talking about, the Nets added James Harden. I already mentioned who they gave up, but they still have a decent roster. You have Harden at the 2 now, Kyrie Irving at the 1, if he ever decides to come back, Joe Harris at the 3, KD, who is as good as ever, at the 4 and Deandre Jordan at the 5. This is a solid lineup. I do not know about the depth, but I am sure they have three guys that are real NBA players on that bench.

Here is where it gets tricky for me. This offense is going to be dynamic, especially when/if Kyrie comes back. They could put up 150 a night with ease. I'm serious. You have three guys capable of going for 40 any night. But, they do not have a very good defense. Deandre Jordan has been bad this year, full stop. He got flat out benched the other night. It was a DNP- Coach's Decision. He is not the same guy he was in LA or with the Knicks. He just doesn't have it anymore. We all know about Harden on defense. He chooses to forget that end of the floor. He puts in no effort at all. He is a zero on defense. His offense makes up for it, but man is he bad on defense. He is also very out of shape at the moment, and has looked disinterested in basketball. Maybe a change of scenery changes that, but it doesn’t get him in NBA shape. That is on him. KD is very good defensively, but he is going to be asked to do so much more, and he is going to be stretched very, very thin. Steve Nash and crew are going to need him to do everything. It may be a bit much. Joe Harris is fine, but I would much rather have Levert. Harris is a better 3 point shooter, but Levert is a better creator, and he is a longer defender. He can also guard multiple positions. And Kyrie, it all depends on where his head is at. Even when he plays, he isn't great on D, unless he is committed. Right now, he seems committed to every except basketball. And that is fine. I'm all for him doing whatever makes him happy. But this team just took a major hit on D. I said they could average 150 a night, and they may need too. Teams are going to score at will. Big men in the East, like Embiid, Giannis and Bam Adebayo are going to feast on Deandre Jordan. Opposing backcourts are going to pretty much get where they want on the floor. KD is the only guy I see on that roster that would give me a pause when game planning offensively against the Nets. I'm also concerned about the ball movement. Is the ball really going to fly around? How many touches will Harris and Jordan get? Are they going to become forgotten teammates? I think it's possible. I'm also concerned with how Harden has played the game since he has been in Houston. I do not know that he can just adjust to not being "the guy" in an offense when that has been his identity for almost a decade now. He is not the best player on this team. Not even close. That is KD. And KD I do not worry about. He is so adjustable and smooth and can do everything. He is a master of the game, and I think he will be fine. And finally we have Kyrie. How will he work with Harden? We barely know how he does with KD because they have barely played together. Harden is another dominant personality, and he is a better offensive player than Kyrie. I also think Kyrie is going to be frustrated playing with these other two because he is the third option now. The whole reason he wanted out of Cleveland and Boston was so he could be the guy. Well, he is definitely not the guy right, or second guy, right now with the Nets. I'll be very curious how he meshes with KD and Harden, if he does come back and play this season.

All in all, Harden got what he wanted, but I do not think it spells a title for them. They will still have to go through the Bucks, 76ers, Heat and Celtics in the East. And if they are able to do that, they will have either the Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets or some other West powerhouse team. The Nets got a star, they got better offensively, but they sacrificed far too much, and they got exponentially worse on defense. I'm excited to see them play, but I do not think they are a serious threat to win the title this year, or even next year.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty's 2020-2021 NBA Preview: The Maybe Playoff Teams

Day 3 of my NBA countdown has us close to teams that could be in the playoffs. With the expanded playoffs, and the play in tournament, I wouldn't be shocked if any of these teams make it. I also wouldn't be shocked if they don't. These teams, to me, are right on the edge of becoming perennial contenders, they just aren't quite there yet. Let's go.

At number 20 I have my favorite team, the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies were probably the biggest surprise of last season. I loved the Ja Morant pick. He was my number one prospect last season, and the Grizzlies have their building block for the foreseeable future. He is so good, so talented and, once his jumper becomes consistent, will be an MVP candidate. Jaren Jackson Jr is inconsistent, and gets hurt too often, but when he is on the floor, he is good. He is still figuring it out, but I have faith that he will continue to develop, and he and Morant will soon be a formidable duo. This is where things turn for me though. The Grizzlies weren't supposed to be good last year, but they were. Morant was awesome, and the rest of the roster played some of the best basketball of their careers. I think they will fall back to Earth this season. The roster, outside Morant and Jackson Jr, is not as great as it could be. Grayson Allen is somehow a contributor, but I do not like that kid at all. I also do not think he will see the floor as much this year. Dillon Brooks can be a lethal shooter, but he hogs the ball a bit too much, and his shot isn't totally consistent. They traded for Justice Winslow last year, but he has yet to play double digit games for them due to a plethora of injuries. Jonas Valincunas is good, but he is getting older, and his style of play is becoming extinct. I love Brandon Clarke, and I want him to get more minutes so he can really shine. Kyle Anderson and Tyus Jones are very blah to me. They still have Gorgui Dieng, but I would hope they find a trade partner for him soon. It is just, outside three guys, Morant, Jackson Jr and Clarke, they don't have the horses to compete in the West. Last year was great, and fun as a fan. But the team we saw in the bubble seems more indicative of how they will be this season. Morant is a star though.

At number 19 I have the Golden State Warriors. They would have been much higher, a playoff lock, if Klay didn't get hurt. He did, and they are left to kind of scramble now. Steph and Draymond are back. That is great for them, for Steve Kerr, and for their fans. I hope Steph stays healthy, and that he lights up the arena. I hope Draymond stays in shape and focused and returns to being the great defender and leader they need. I really like the James Wiseman pick. He has a ton of raw ability, and I think this coaching staff will bring him along perfectly. But then we have a mishmash similar to what they tried to do last year. Kelly Oubre Jr is a fine player. But, he is not Klay on either end of the floor. Marquess Chriss played his best basketball last season, but he was getting beat consistently on defense. Eric Paschall was a total revelation, and I think he will continue his upward trend, but teams will gameplan for him now. Kevon Looney is coming back from injury, but I just don't know how much he has left in his tank. Andrew Wiggins is Andrew Wiggins. I want to root for him, and I do, but at some point we all have to accept that he is a mediocre NBA player. Kent Bazemore was a solid signing, but he has been on like three teams in the last three years. He will not replace Klay either. Jordan Poole bounces from G League to the NBA. And Nico Mannion, go back and read my pre draft review on him to get my impression of him as an NBA player. Losing Klay is a killer, and I do not know if we will ever see the Warriors of the past ever again. The main guys are all older, coming off injuries and have to play a brutal schedule.

At number 18 I have the Washington Wizards. The only two reasons they are in this spot is because of Brad Beal and the fact that they play in the East. Brad Beal is a bonafide super duper star. He is a scoring machine, he has impeccable work ethic and he brings it every night. I think adding Westbrook was fine, and when he is healthy he plays great with good shooters. But he needs to know that this is Brad Beal's team. I think he will eventually buy into that, it is just a matter of how long that takes. Thomas Bryant is a good offensive center, but he gets chewed up on defense. He needs to improve that part of his game. I am glad they re-signed Davis Bertans because his shooting ability takes pressure off Westbrook and Beal. I want to see if Rui Hachumuira is like the guy we saw before the shutdown, or after. He was getting good, then the pandemic hit, and he really struggled in the bubble. Robin Lopez brings intensity, but not much else. Moritz Wagner is a big that can shoot, and nothing else. And Ish Smith and Shabazz Napier are essentially the same player. But, Beal puts this team in the playoff conversation, and if Westbrook can be a mixture of the player he was last year, and in his MVP season in OKC, the Wizards will be a lock to be in the play in tournament, at the very least. Beal is so much fun to watch.

At number 17 I have the Orlando Magic. The Magic are the definition of a team in NBA playoff purgatory. They are good enough to get the 7 or 8 seed, and then get crushed in round one. They play solid enough defense to win 40-43 games, and nothing more. They could have done some stuff this offseason, but they stayed put. They will most likely make the playoffs due to their defense, and they will get obliterated in round one. They could have traded Aaron Gordon, but they opted to keep him. He is fine, but he is, at best, a 4th or 5th guy on a good team. Markelle Fultz was light years better than he has been so far in the league, but he still cannot shoot, and teams know that. Johnathan Issac destroyed his knee in the bubble, and he will be out all year. That is a humongous blow to this team. Mo Bamba got a little better, but he is still rail thin, and he doesn't protect the rim to his fullest extent yet. Nikola Vucevic is about the only offensive threat they have, and he fills up the stat sheet, but he is about the only guy that doesn't play good defense on this team. Evan Fournier is okay, but that is it, just okay. Terrance Ross is a good bench player, but he is counted on way too much on this team. And replacing DJ Augutin with Michael Carter Williams only helps in getting a little younger. Orlando will be a 35-38 win team, get in the playoffs and get trounced. That is what they do. They need to make changes, but they will not commit to it just yet. Ownership seems fine with first round playoff exits every year.

The final team for today, the first you can pencil in for the playoffs, at number 16 I have the Indiana Pacers. I texted with some friends about my rankings, and they all thought this was way too low. They said Indiana should be higher. I disagree. I think they are going to take a step back. It won't be as dramatic as OKC's, but still, the Pacers will not be as good as they have been. I like their guys too. i like Victor Oladipo, but it seems like he wants out. I like Damontas Sabonis, but I don't think he is ready to be a franchise player. I back Myles Turner more than others, but always hearing your name in trade rumors has got to take its toll. I think Malcolm Brogdon was an excellent signing last year, but he got COVID prior to the bubble, and he wasn't super great when he returned to play. TJ Warren was a microwave in the bubble, but when he went up against real defenders, namely Jimmy Butler, he was shut down. Doug McDermott and Jeremy Lamb are okay shooters, but they are zeros on defense. And firing Nate Williams was a big time mistake in my opinion. I think the Pacers, as they are built right now, are good enough to make the playoffs, but they are not good enough to push a team, and they will most likely get bounced with ease in round one. They could also make a ton of changes during the season.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next five. We are in the group of all playoff teams, quickly approaching real contenders.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Ty Watches "The Last Dance" Parts 9 and 10

"The Last Dance" ended last night, and it may be the single greatest documentary series that has ever existed. I don't feel like I am being a prisoner of the moment. I don't think it has anything to do with the lack of sports, although that definitely helps. I think this is the greatest documentary series ever because it is about the greatest basketball player ever, and it is directed by one the best sports story tellers of all time. "The Last Dance" has every single ingredient to make it as perfect as it was.

Now, spoiler alert out there for listeners to out podcast, but I will give my feelings on the documentary as a whole on the next pod. Today, I want to continue with my review of the most recent episodes. Last night finished it off with 9 and 10, and they were magnificent. The series continued to get better, and last night was no exception. Episode 9 went straight away into the 98 East Finals against the Pacers. This was one of two series that went to 7 games during the Bulls double three peat. This was also, probably, the toughest series for any Jordan led team, prior to the Pistons. The Pacers had the style of team that could compete with this Bulls squad. They had big, nasty guys. They had a veteran point guard. They had quickness and electricity off the bench. They had an old sharp shooter. They had size. And they had Reggie Miller. They could have won this series. They could've ended the dynasty one series early. But they didn't. Too may mistakes, miscues and poor rebounding and free throw shooting doomed them. Also, the jump ball between Rik Smits and Jordan was a play I never, ever thought about, but was played out to show how important that one moment was in this series, and I will never look at it the same ever again.

They shifted from that series to the 97 Finals against the Jazz. They showed a lot of stuff from there. We got some great back story on Steve Kerr. His story was very, very in depth, heartbreaking and showed his character. It made me like him even more. We also got the real truth behind the infamous "flu game". As I suspected, and a ton of others did, it wasn't a stomach flu, it was food poisoning. To hear Jordan confirm so quickly and assuredly made it hit home even more. And to see the way he came out and played, after going through something as awful as food poisoning, the guy is not human. That was cool. I also liked getting to see Jordan's kids and hearing them talk about their dislike for Utah and why their mom wouldn't let them go to games there. It was nice to finally hear from someone in his family.

They shifted back to the Pacers series and we got all the intel that I mentioned, and so, so much more. Reggie Miller is underrated, Scottie Pippen is one of the best defenders ever, Larry Bird could coach, Steve Kerr was a sharp shooter and Jordan was an absolute killer. It was awesome to see them break down the series the way they did. We also got to hear about his close relationship with one member of his security detail, and that was a nice story to see how that gentleman took on the fatherly role for Jordan after his dad was killed. It was all great.

Episode 10 was all about the 98 Finals and the aftermath. This was a tremendous episode. To see them talk about how they went about winning, how tired mentally and physically they were, how they laid it all out, it was amazing. Also, big props to Scottie Pippen for playing through that horrible back injury. He really showed his mental toughness, and to do what he did with that injury is astounding. Also, props to Dennis Rodman. Sure, he is an asshole, he skipped out on practice to go wrestle, he wouldn't talk to anyone, but the dude laid it out on the court every game night, and he was the best pest and rebounder that the Bulls have ever had. He also hit four straight free throws in a critical moment for the Bulls, and that is just amazing.

But this was all about MJ and his willingness to put this team on his back and carry them to their 6th title. The things he did in game 6 of the 98 Finals was spectacular, especially the last minute of that game. The Bulls were down 3, and he goes and gets a quick layup. I mean, guys tried to stop him, but he is Michael god damn Jordan. If he wanted to get to the basket he got there. Then, to get the strip on Karl Malone, and bring the ball up and hit that jumper, I mean, there is no better way to go out than that. I know he came back to play for Washington, and some may say he pushed off Byron Russell, but I will always look at that jumper as his last moment. That personified his greatness. That sequence proves for the billionth time that he is the greatest to ever play basketball. I have a piece tomorrow about current players calling him out, Channing Frye I'm talking particularly to you, and they are all full of nonsense. But I will save all that for tomorrow. Jordan proved time and again, when he wanted to win, he was going to find a way to win.

Then the aftermath of that, what followed after the 98 title was wild. Everyone wanted this team back, they wanted to see if they could go for four straight, to win seven in nine years. And I think they would have. If they were able to pull it off, they could have done it. And to see Jordan's reaction to Jerry Reinsdorf's explanation as to why they had to split this team up was something else. Jordan said he didn't agree, and laid out a scenario where they could have done it all again. We were left thinking, what if, but what we got from the 90's Bulls, and Jordan himself was witnessing greatness that we may never see again.

This, and I will keep saying this, is the great documentary series that has ever existed. It is, by far the best sports doc ever, and dare I say, the best documentary ever made. "The Last Dance" is a rare achievement we don't see that much today, and that is being a perfect movie being perfectly told. I love this and I cannot recommend it enough. I will rewatch this maybe a billion times. It's the best. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty Watches "The Last Dance" Parts 6 and 7

I just finished up the most recent episodes of "The Last Dance", and this is why I was so interested in this doc. This is the stuff I was here for. These are the episodes I have been waiting for. This is the kind of new information I wanted to see, and hear from the man himself, in Michael Jordan. I was so enthralled by everything I watched.

The first episode talked about the first three peat. The team, and Jordan getting to that level, and all the stuff they went through after the third tit;e. This was when Jordan retired the first time. This was when his father was tragically killed. This was when all the theories came out that he was "forced" to retire by David Stern due to his gambling. All the people refuted everything, but still, seeing them questioned, and seeing them kind of shift and look around when they answered, it was glorious. I don't believe that Jordan was forced into retirement, but I also don't think he left to simply play baseball. He was at the top of his game, he was winning every year, he was making a ton of money and he was the biggest star in the world. I think he wanted a new challenge. He mastered the game of basketball, so I think he wanted to try to conquer a different sport, a sport he grew up playing, and falling in love with due to his dad. I think the passing of his dad was the main reason why he walked away. That, and that he was so tired from carrying the Bulls to three straight titles. The stuff with his dad was so upsetting and sad and just miserable too. To see the media drag him the way they did back then, that was disgusting. I cannot fathom what the media would do today. It would have been ten times worse. I will say, to see Jordan, his mom and brother talk about this was pretty upsetting, but I respect that they did it. It had to be really tough for them, but they still did it.

Then they shifted to his demeanor with his teammates. This was the stuff I have been waiting for. They touched on it a little in episode 7, but they really went into it in episode 8. In 7 we got to see Jordan going after a young rookie, Scott Burrell. The stuff he stood up to, the stuff he dealt with, the way he handled it, he is a much better dude than I am. He was a pro, and he knew why Jordan was doing what he did. We also got stories of him and Steve Kerr getting into it. He used to shit talk guys like Jud Buechler and Luc Longley. He went in on anyone that he felt didn't meet his standards. Jordan is the GOAT, and I would have hated playing on his team. But, he did win, and he helped to squeeze out every ounce of talent his teammates had.

They also talked about him coming out of retirement the first time, and how he had to reshape his body multiple times because of switching sports. Jordan was nothing if not maniacal when it came to getting the best out of himself. We also got to hear about the incredible pick up games that would go on while Jordan was filming "Space Jam". The people who made that movie built him a gym, and he had players fly in from everywhere to compete with him so he could get back into basketball shape. This was the season after the Magic ousted the Bulls in the playoffs. The only time I believe a Bulls team MJ was on, after getting past the Pistons, that didn't win a title. Reggie Miller, during a talking head interview talked about how MJ must have been a "vampire" because he filmed the movie all day, played games at night, lifted and did this everyday during the course of making "Space Jam". That was a special moment from this doc.

We also got a look into the 72 win Bulls team. This was the year after Jordan came back, the fight with Kerr during practice, and the way that Bulls team ran roughshod over the rest of the NBA. That team still irks me because they beat my team, the Supersonics, but damn it were they impressive. We also got more of the asshole Jordan during this season, and this part of the doc. I mentioned Burrell and Kerr, but he did this to everyone on the team. They asked him if he ever regrets being so mean, being described as a "mean person", and he said no, very bluntly I might add. He didn't care if he hurt your feelings, as long as you helped him win. I also liked that we got to see Gary Payton heavily interviewed during this episode, he is my second favorite Sonic ever behind Shawn Kemp. He was a great defender, and an even better shit talker. He talked about how he locked Jordan up to help the Sonics win two games in the Finals, and they showed the film to Jordan, and he kept laughing, and simply stated, "Payton didn't stop me, I had other things on my mind for those two games". We come to realize that Father's Day was the day of game six, and this was the first season, and Finals his dad wasn't at. The Bulls proceeded to dominate the Sonics to win the title, and they show Jordan just collapse in the locker room. I would be lying if I didn't say I teared up at this moment. It was a gut punch indeed. They finished the episode off with the East Finals in 1998 against the Pacers, and Reggie Miller saying that he was going to be the guy to retire MJ. Another great line from Reggie Miller.

These were the two best episodes to this point, and it has me so excited for the last two. It's bittersweet though because I don't want this doc to end, but I am so excited to see how they finish it. I imagine it is going to go out with a bang because, with every episode to this point, it has just gotten better and better and better.

This is an amazing docu series.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing. 

Ty's 2019-2020 NBA Preview: Raptors, Pacers, Trailblazers, Warriors

Getting right into it on day 5 of my NBA countdown, I have the defending champs at number 14, the Toronto Raptors. I know they just won the title, and did it in pretty convincing fashion, but they lost the one guy that truly did it all for them. Kawhi Leonard was truly a one year rental, and he more than lived up to the price they paid to acquire him, and he brought them a title. Outside of Leonard, they have a good amount of talent, but it is only older, or won't be able to do what they did without Leonard there. I really, really like Pascal Siakim, and I think he can be an All Star, but it will be tougher for him with no Leonard. Yes, he will score and rebound and play solid defense, it will just be tougher because teams will now be targeting him solely on scouting reports. Fred Van Vleet was great in the conference and NBA finals, and he is a solid point guard. Kyle Lowry got a humongous one year deal, but it was smart for him and the team. Also, he is on the wrong side of 30, and without Leonard, he may go back to being the player he was before, which was good, but a playoff choker. Marc Gasol was great for them in the finals, but he is very old, and if stuff goes bad quick, he will want out. He only has a few years left. Serge Ibaka is okay, but he has kind of turned himself into strictly a mid range shooter, and the defense isn't what it used to be. OG Anounoby is going to come back, and while he was starting to come on, he missed more than half the season, and all of the playoffs. He has work to do. Norman Powell is a good three point shooter, but he is streaky. They acquired Stanley Johnson, but for a guy I thought was going to be good, he has been kind of a bust. They also signed Rondae Hollis Jefferson, and while he is okay, he was going to be pushed aside from Brooklyn regardless of who they signed this offseason. The Raptors will still be a playoff team, maybe even a 4 seed, but they will not find the same success as last year. It's tough to repeat anyway, and when you lose your main dude, it is made that much tougher.

At number 13 I have the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers are a solid playoff team, and they will win in the mid to high 40 games this year. But, I feel like that is all they will be as long as they keep this roster together. We still don't know when Victor Oladipo will be back, and they need him to be a true threat. Oladipo is great, and he can be the difference in a 6 seed or a 3 seed. The Pacers do still have solid players around him. Myles Turner is a great rim protector and rebounder and solid on switching defense. He is even getting better on offense. Domantas Sabonis is a good throwback big, but I feel like he is going to be trade bait all year long. That can mess with a player. Doug McDermott is an okay three point shooter, but he does literally nothing else. TJ Leaf showed zero in his rookie year. What the Pacers did do was go out and sign some quality vets. TJ Warren is a scoring machine, and I think he will fit in very well. The fact that they pulled off the Malcolm Brogdon deal is a big, big deal. Brogdon is such a solid pro, a good shooter and the Bucks will miss him. He was a great get for the Pacers. And Jeremy Lamb, while incredibly streaky and inconsistent, when he catches fire, he can light it up. The Pacers are a very solid team, but their success lies with Oladipo and when he will be back. They need him.

At number 12 I have the Portland Trailblazers. The Trailblazers have one of the best offensive back courts in the NBA. Damien Lillard is a killer, and he proved that in the playoffs until he ran out of steam. That dude is amazing. CJ McCollum proved that he can coexist with Lillard and had a monster year last year. He is a scoring machine as well. But, they don't play much defense at all. But they can, legit, average 50 to 60 points combined this year. No one knows when Jusuf Murkic will be back, and Portland needs him. For the time being, they took a flyer on Hassan Whiteside. Whiteside is a total wild card, but when he is locked in, he is one of the better defenders in the league, and a total beast on the block. Pau Gasol is there, but he is so old now, I feel like he is more there to help coach than to play. Who knows what they will get from Zach Collins, besides stupid fouls. He is a good player, but he needs to learn to control his temper. Rodney Hood is back, and I think he is in a perfect place for himself. He is free to create and score in Portland, and can destroy second units. As I wrote awhile back, I love the Nassir Little pick. I think he is going to be great, and will be out to prove 24 other teams wrong. Every wroter I read now is obsessed with Anfernee Simons, and right now in the preseason, he is showing out. I just don't know where he will find solid minutes. They also signed Kent Bazemore, and he is solid all around. I am probably too low on the Trailblazers, I always am, but their roster is weird and outside of McCollum and Lillard I just don't know yet.

My final team of the day, at number 11, I have the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors have been an easy number 1 for the past 5 years, but now, things are up in the air for them. Steph Curry is great and will be even greater this year. He is going to have so much offensive freedom, and I feel like he will put up historic numbers. D'Angelo Russell was an odd pickup for them, but I think he will be a good scorer next to Steph. He won't ease the loss of Klay Thompson, but he will do his best to fill the scoring void. Speaking of Thompson, he tore his ACL in the finals, and will not be back until after the All Star break. But, he got a huge contract and will be given ample time to recover from his injury. And when he comes back, there is no better catch and shoot player in the league, and he is an all NBA defender. Draymond Green might be the best overall defender in the league. And if he stays in shape all year, and brings it for 82 games, he could easily be an All Star. They drafted Jordan Poole in the first round, and I watched him for 2 years at Michigan. When he is hitting shots, he is great. But, that didn't happen as much his sophomore year as it did his freshman year. They signed Willie Cauley Stein, and while I like his pick and roll ability and his defense, how is he not JaVale McGee 2.0? Kevon Looney is back after having a very good playoffs, and I think that he is the definite starting center, he could get even better. Outside of that, the Warriors are a big time question mark for the first time in the past half decade. Steph is Steph, and he is great and will score tons, but they have a lot of questions after that. I'm very curious to see how they respond when they aren't the clear favorites. They don't have KD anymore, and Klay is going to miss a good chunk of the year. It is time to see how good the Warriors, and their staff, really are.

That is it for today. Come back next week when we break into the top 10.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty's 2018-2019 NBA Preview: Pacers, Trailblazers, Jazz

As move to day 8 of my countdown we are in the cream of the crop. It kind of started yesterday, with the Nuggets starting out the top 10. But from here on out, all these teams have a shot to play the Warriors in the Finals. And by all these teams, I mean the teams in the East. The West teams are still good, possibly great, but lets not get it twisted, the Warriors are still the leaders. Lets get to it.

At number 9 I have the Indiana Pacers. Some writers have asked if last year was an anomaly, or if this is the new norm. I feel like this is the new norm for the Pacers. They have a star. They have a top 20, maybe even top 10 guy, in Victor Oladipo. He can create his own shot. He has a solid jumper. He is one of the best defenders in the league. He really came into his own last year, and all I see is his growth from here on out. He is a really, really good basketball player. He has some weapons around him too. I still think Myles Turner is going to break out. He is a true modern big man. He can protect the rim, he can rebound, he is enormous, and his jump shot is starting to fall. If he stays healthy, I feel like, second only to Brandon Ingram, he will have the biggest breakthrough. Domantas Sabonis showed those flashes that made him a lottery pick 2 years ago. While he doesn't pass like his dad, he is still a solid passer. He can also shoot the three. And, according to offseason reports, he has really bulked up, in a good way. He looks like a real threat as the third option on a perennial playoff team. I love that they got Tyreke Evans. He finally seemed to figure it out last year, and he became an instant offense guy. That is exactly what the Pacers need. Oh, and he actually tried on defense last year and he was okay. Evans was a low key great signing. They have Thad Young, and he is a perfectly capable backup big. Bojan Bogdanovic is another outside shooting threat. Darren Collison is a true point guard, and he is in a great situation for him as a player. Corey Joseph is a good backup at point guard. He has also played in many an important game. Doug McDermott is there, but he has been very blah as a pro. He has stuck around, but he has a real Jimmer Fredette feel to me. I really like Aaron Holiday as the point guard of the future. He is quick, shifty and is pass first. I loved that pick. I think this current iteration of the Pacers is going to be a headache for the East, and they will build on their success from last year. The Pacers are back.

At number 8 I have the Portland Trailblazers. This is, most likely, the last go round with Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. They are a lethal, lethal back court scoring duo. They can put up tons and tons of points. Lillard is a legit super star. McCollum is a legit Robin. But, as the playoffs showed us last year, they are horrific defenders. They got owned by Jrue Holiday in the first round. They really need to work on that. But, both guys are good enough to outscore opponents, even in the West, and I think they will hover right around 50 wins. The rest of the roster is solid enough to work around their 2 stars. Evan Turner has never been the player many projected when he left college, but he is okay. He has a bit of a too high opinion of himself, and if he passed a bit more, that would be great. Meyers Leonard keeps getting in better and better shape, but he is still soft and cannot really stay on the court. He also doesn't have much of a jumper. I really like Al Faroq Aminu. He is a do it all player and I don't think he gets the credit he deserves. He is very important to this team. I'm still on the fence with Jusuf Nurkic. At times he looks great, then he looks slow and disinterested. They need him to fully engage. There was a time that he was considered more important than Nikola Jokic to the Nuggets. That guy needs to show up. Zach Collins looked like a possible bust early, but then he started to really play quality basketball. He is still super young, but he is talented, and I think he will only get better. They drafted Anfernee Simons, and while he is a project, I think a year or 2 playing behind and learning from Lillard will do him wonders. They signed both Seth Curry and Nik Stauskas for some outside shooting. Stauskas is a bust, I hate saying it because of Michigan, but he has not been a good pro. Curry is fine, but he is so often injured, you just cannot count on him. These signings were odd. And Mo Harkless is solid. The Trailblazers know what they have to do to win, and as long as Lillard and McCollum are cooking, which they are a lot, they will win 50 games as I said before.

My final team for the day, coming in at number 7, I have the Utah Jazz. I almost, almost put this team in my top 5. I love this team. I never thought that I would say that about the Jazz, but they are fun to watch. Donovan Mitchell is tremendous. He is already, very early in his career, a top 15 player, and he will soon be a top 10 guy. He is hyper athletic, can shoot, can create, plays defense and always wants to get better. He is an amazing basketball player. The Jazz got a gift when he fell to them at 13 in the draft last year. Rudy Gobert is the best defensive player in the NBA. He is nearly impossible to score on. He does pretty decent at switching. He is a tremendous rebounder. He is a great finisher. He can't shoot, but he doesn't have to. I hope he stays healthy all year. Ricky Rubio has finally found a great place to play. He isn't needed to score, he can spread the ball out and he can get under other point guard's skin. It is nice to see him having fun and playing free and loose. I didn't think Joe Ingles would be able to sustain his solid play, but he proved me very wrong. He is a great three point shooter and a very solid defender. Jae Crowder got away from Cleveland, and landing in Utah was exactly what he needed. Guys like Rubio can find him for the open three, Gobert opens the paint for him and Mitchell takes the defense's focus away from him. Thabo Sefolosha is there for his defense, and that is a good thing. Derrick Favors can still get buckets. Dante Exum, while never living up to the hype, is a serviceable back up point guard, if healthy. Alec Burks is a pure scorer. The only thing I dislike about this team is Grayson freaking Allen. That kid is a punk, and I am so mad that a team I enjoy watching drafted him. He won't play any meaning minutes, but that won't stop ESPN from talking about him. This is Donovan Mitchell's team, and that is so wonderful. The Jazz are a good and fun team to watch, and the West should be afraid of this team. They are coming and they are young and they are good.

That's it for today. Come back next week. That is the best of the best.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

The SeedSing 2018 NBA Playoff Preview

The NBA playoffs are set, and the games kick off on Saturday. I'm am here today for my annual playoff preview. I'll go through the East and the West, pick a winner for each series all the way down to the finals. I will give my finals matchup, the winner and the MVP of the series. Tomorrow I will do all my awards, but today is strictly for just the playoffs. Alright, here we go.

In the East the seeding is as follows, Toronto is 1, Celtics 2, 76ers 3, Cavs 4, Pacers 5, Heat 6, Bucks 7 and Wizards 8. So, that gives us first round series of Toronto-Washington, Boston-Milwaukee, Philadelphia-Miami and Cleveland-Indiana. Truth be told, these are some good series. In the Toronto-Washington matchup, I am going with Toronto, but it will be tough. I know Washington is dysfunctional, everyone on that team seems to dislike John Wall, they have limped to the playoffs, they don't play great defense, but they will make it tough on Toronto. They have always struggled with this team because Wall and Beal give Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan all they can handle on both ends. But, I think the mixture of Toronto's bench and the mess that is the Wizards right now will give the Raptors the series in 6 games. They will be 6 tough games though.

In the Boston-Milwaukee series, it would be so much easier to pick if Kyrie Irving was still healthy. I'm still going with Boston, but Milwaukee, mostly Giannis Antentekoumpo, will make it hard. Giannis is a beast. He is an upper echelon star now. And, with Irving out, he is, far and away, the best player in this series. He can single handily win 3 games. The fourth one will be the problem. Also, Boston has Brad Stevens as head coach, Al Horford is still out there, Jaylen Brown is playing good basketball and Jayson Tatum seems to have gotten past the rookie wall. Boston will win, but it will take 7 games.

I love the 3-6 matchup of Philly and Miami. Miami can matchup with Philadelphia everywhere. Miami can play any style of basketball needed to win. Miami has more playoff experience. Miami has the much, much better coach. And, Joel Embiid may not play in the first round. But, Ben Simmons is on a whole other level right now. He doesn't seem like he is going to be taken down by the moment. He might be forced to shoot jumpers, but the dude can get out of that by driving and kicking. And, the shooters around him are hitting shots at the right time. Again, this will be a long, hard fought series, but I have fully bought into the 76ers hype, and I have them in 7 games, 6 if Embiid plays at all in the series.

Finally in the East's first round we have Cleveland-Indiana. This series could go a number of different ways. Cleveland can steam roll them. Indiana can muddy it up and make it a slog. Cleveland could decide to not play defense. Cleveland is almost as dysfunctional as Washington. Indiana was not even supposed to be here. They are young. They have surprised everyone this year. Now, I like the Cavs simply because of playoff LeBron. He will not allow his team to lose in the first round. If they do, he is gone. But, he will not let that happen, and I have the Cavs in 5. LeBron is just too good and he is great in the playoffs.

The second round will pit Toronto against Cleveland and Boston against Philly. Toronto is stuck with another team that they struggle with. Cleveland owns Toronto, and I don't see that changing now. Again, LeBron will impose his will, and the Cavs will outscore Toronto on their way to a fourth straight Eastern Conference finals appearance.

In Philly-Boston, I have to say, I love the 76ers. Irving is out, as previously mentioned. Embiid will be back 100 percent. No one on Boston can guard Ben Simmons. Philadelphia's shooters will be open. The Celtics just don't have the guys to compete this year. I have Philly in 6 in this series.

So that would pit the 76ers against the Cavs in the East Finals. The 76ers are way ahead of schedule, but this is where all the hype ends. Cleveland has LeBron, and LeBron will not allow his team to get beat by such a young team. These 2 teams played a great regular season game a couple weeks ago, but it was regular season. The game didn't really matter. LeBron will once again be in the Finals. That would make it 8 straight.

Now, the West. The seeding in the West is as follows, Houston 1, Golden State 2, Portland 3, OKC 4, Utah 5, New Orleans 6, San Antonio 7 and Minnesota 8. The matchups are Houston-Minnesota, Golden State-San Antonio, Portland-New Orleans and OKC-Utah. Houston will beat Minnesota, but it will be tougher than expected. I guarantee they wanted Denver because of their lack of defense. While Minnesota isn't much better, they do at least try on that end. Also, Towns is much better than Clint Capela. Jimmy Butler can give James Harden fits. But, Chris Paul will be there to help out Harden, Eric Gordon and Trevor Ariza will hit threes and the discrepancy in talent on the rosters is widely in Houston's favor. They are also having a "magical" year. The Rockets will win in 6 games, but it will be a bloodbath.

Golden State is going to blow the doors off the Spurs, and I love the Spurs. But, no Kawhi is going to kill them against he Warriors. And I know that Steph isn't playing in the first round, but KD, Klay and Draymond are all there. I also think the Warriors are playing possum right now, and I think they are going to come into the playoffs with their heads on fire. I have the Warriors in a sweep.

Portland-New Orleans is going to be a good series, with very high scoring games. The Pelicans have no one that can stop Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, but who do the Trailblazers have that can stop Anthony Davis? No one. He is going to EXPLODE in the playoffs. I'm so excited to watch him play. I'm excited to see Lillard and McCollum too. This is going to be the best first round series in my opinion, and I think the Pelicans will win in 7 simply because Anthony Davis is playing on a whole other level right now.

OKC-Utah is the second best series. These 2 teams couldn't be more different, and it will make for a fun matchup. Russell Westbrook is playing pretty great right now. But, he will find it hard to get open looks at the rim with Rudy Gobert down low. Donovan Mitchell has had an amazing season, but he will have to beat Paul George on defense. Steven Adams can stop Gobert down low, but Gobert can do the same to him. Carmelo has been dreadful this year, but maybe he turns it on for the playoffs. He hasn't been in awhile too. This is going to be a fun series, and I have OKC grinding out a 7 game series victory. Westbrook is too good, and Paul George is one of the better defenders in the league. I love Mitchell and Gobert, but they aren't ready just yet.

That gives us a second round of Houston-OKC and Golden State-New Orleans. Houston-OKC will be fun. OKC gets up for the better teams in the league, and they just beat Houston in a game, but Houston trounced them in the playoffs last year, and the Rockets didn't have Chris Paul last year. Also, Adams is way too slow to keep up with Capela, and Carmelo will be torched on defense. Chris Paul will finally make his first trip to a conference final in his career, as the Rockets will win in 6.

Golden State is again, much like their first round matchup, going to squash the Pelicans. Sure, AD will go off, but who is going to stop KD, Klay and Steph, who will be back? Oh, and Draymond too. This series will be a wash. Golden State in a sweep once again.

These outcomes will give us the much anticipated Houston-Golden State West Finals. And we all know how poorly Harden, Paul and Mike D'Antoni play and coach in the most important series. The Rockets will choke. Everyone wants to pick them. Everyone says they are finally ready to take the throne from the Warriors. Everyone seems to think that D'Antoni is doing a better job than Kerr. Well, D'Antoni's recent remarks, the whole "winning a title does not define how good this season was" said all I needed to hear. He is already bracing himself for when his team gets beat. Golden State will take their first 2 playoff losses, but I have them winning the series in 6.

This gives us a fourth straight Cleveland-Golden State finals. And, much like last year, Golden State is going to smoke them. I think they will sweep them out this year, and it won't even be that close. Golden State is so much better, they play defense, they will care and they will crush the Cavs to win their third title in 4 years. As far as the Finals MVP, I will go with Steph. It is his turn.

There you have it, my 2018 NBA playoff preview. I love this time of year.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on all the internet.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty's 2017-2018 NBA Preview: Pacers, Magic, Kings

Day 2 of my NBA countdown starts with another East team that was in the playoffs last year. In fact, I was so high on this team last year, I thought they could have pushed all the way to a 2 seed. But, they couldn't play defense and they couldn't really score. They made the playoffs, but got swept out of the first round. They also traded their best player for a bag of beans this off season.

The team I am talking about is the Indiana Pacers. They got rid of Paul George before he left them in free agency after this year. That's the good. The bad, they got Victor Oladipo and Damontas Sabonis for him. Oh, they also got a second round pick. Oof did they get screwed. So, now that George is gone, they are really left with next to nothing. I think Oladipo is decent, but he is not a number one option on a playoff team. His game comes and goes, and he just hasn't been the great defensive player that many thought he'd be when he was drafted 4 years ago. It is also telling that OKC was ready to give him up after signing him to a decent contract. Sabonis really faltered and hit a big time rookie wall near the end of last season. He was basically unplayable in the playoffs. The Pacers also lost Jeff Teague, and replaced him with guys like Lance Stephenson, who is toast and Darren Collinson, who is also toast. They have no real point guard. They get Thad Young back, but so what? Is he really going to push them to the playoffs? He's a decent role player, but no more. They drafted TJ Leaf, but I feel like he is just slightly better than Lauri Markenan, and I think Markenan is going to be horrendous. Al Jefferson cannot stay on the floor for any kind of long stretches anymore. Glenn Robinson III might be good, but he has been wildly inconsistent his whole NBA career, and now he will be pushed into a starting role. Corey Joseph was their "big" offseason acquisition. That is quite telling. The only thing the Pacers have going for them is Myles Turner. Turner is going to be very good very soon in the NBA. He needs to get a few more moves, but this dude can play. He is who they should build around for the future. But, the Pacers are going to be pretty awful this year.

At number 26 I have the Orlando Magic. What is this team? Who plays what position? I know the modern NBA is "position-less", but the Magic have too much of the same type of player. They have a glut of point forwards on this team. Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier, Mario Hezjona and Nikola Vujavic all play the same spot. Gordon can dunk, but that is about it. He cannot shoot, isn't much of a rebounder and doesn't really play defense. Fournier plays no defense, can't rebound, but can score. Hezjona is a bust. I'm calling it now. He has not even come close to the potential that people thought he had when he was the fifth overall pick. He is toast. Vujavic is a tremendous fantasy player, but he is a good stats, bad team guy. I'd be curious to see if he could do this on a good team. The Magic have no real point guard. Elfrid Payton showed flashes near the end of last season, but he needs to put it together for a full season. He cannot shoot the ball either. DJ Augustin is still on an NBA roster, which is baffling to me. I like Johnathan Issac, their first round pick, but he is rail skinny and I am curious to see if he can hold up for 82 games. I do really like his game though. Hell, he might be the best shooter right now on this team. They signed Marresse Speights, but his days of instant offense off the bench are done. In fact, he was best suited staying in Golden State,, but they found him expendable, and let him go. Bismack Biyombo got paid last year, but he was non existent for this team all last year. This dude had a 20 rebound playoff game while in Toronto, but since then, its been all downhill. The one thing I do like about this team is the addition of Johnathan Simmons. He was great for the Spurs, and I think he might flourish with the extra responsibility and extra playing time with the Magic. Simmons has the makings of an All Star, especially in the East.

My final team for today, coming in at number 25, my first Western Conference team, is the Sacramento Kings. Now, before I get into it, I do really like this Kings team, they just play in the West, and the West is loaded. I love the pick of De'Aron Fox. He is an amazing defender, passer and can get to the rack. He needs to work on his jumper, but he is a professional now, and he can work on it as much as he wants. Fox is going to be so much fun to watch. The even better news for Fox, the Kings signed George Hill, who is not great by any stretch, but he can be a tremendous mentor on NBA life for Fox. Hill has been there and done that, and he should be able to work wonders with Fox. Even though he cannot do anything but dunk and kind of protect the rim, I love to watch Willie Cauley-Stein. He can jump out of the gym, and he has gotten a little bit better each of his first two years in the league. I'm a big time Buddy Hield fan. I have written a ton about him since SeedSing became a real thing. I think he will be a decent scorer for this team, and he will get free rein to fire at will. Now, the bad news. Outside of the guys I mentioned, I'm very luke warm on the rest of this team. Kosta Koufas is a waste of a contract. Malachi Richardson was horrendous last year. I am not a fan of the Harry Giles pick. I know it was late first round, but he was coming off a torn ACL his senior year of high school, barely played at Duke, and when he played, he was a non factor. Frank Mason was a great, great college player, but so was Trey Burke, Jimmer Fredette and Doug McDermott. I see a lot of those three in Frank Mason. I'm not too pumped about the Justin Jackson pick. He can play some pretty good defense, but he is an irrational confidence guy on the offensive end and he needs to let Buddy Hield and De'Aron Fox run the show on that end. The Kings also signed Zach Randolph and Vince Carter. While this seems like a decent fit, I think both guys are done. Zach Randolph could never really jump, but he was aided by having a great point guard in Mike Conley and an excellent front court companion in Marc Gasol. He now has Cauley-Stein and some also rans next to him. I do not like his fit with this team at all. Vince Carter, the ageless wonder, is back for another year, but I look at him more as a hanger on than a guy that will be a real contributor. More power to him for still cashing checks, but I hope this is his last season in the NBA. The Kings need to embrace the youth movement, and if they do that, they could be a decent, possible playoff team, in a few years.

That is it for today, come back tomorrow for the next three teams.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.