Slam N JamAndrew Schlecht and Alex Speers discuss the headlines of the NBA, Rookie of the Year odds, and who the true contenders are in the NBA.Then Trill Bro Dude of the You Know Ball Podcast joins the show to have a lengthy discussion on the horrific start to the season, Joel Embiid's future, PG's podcasts and more. Then the guys draft the players that if removed from their team, instantly make them unwatchable. And finally... Andrew and Trill face off in a fun edition of Andrew vs. the Beat.Host: Andrew Schlecht and Alex SpeersWith: Trill Bro DudeExecutive Producer: Andrew Schlecht Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Chapter 1: What are the top NBA headlines this week?
Well, Andrew, the top story this week was Cavs-Celtics on Tuesday, a matchup between the top two teams in the East. The Cavs came into the game having won their first 15 games of the season. And despite getting down by as much as 21 on the road, Cleveland came back and made it a game before losing 120-117. Jason Tatum had 33-12-7 with six threes, while Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with 35-8-3.
The Cavs' 15-0 start to the season is now tied with the 93-94 Rockets for the second best start in NBA history. These two teams will meet again in only two weeks on December 1st, this time in Cleveland. Now, the Cavs' winning streak wasn't the only one to come to an end this week. The Los Angeles Lakers, who had won six in a row, finally lost in a close one to the Orlando Magic.
Franz Wagner hit a go-ahead three with 2.5 seconds left to give the Magic a 119-118 win. In the win, Franz had 37-6-11. He's been ridiculous. And has been on fire recently. He's averaging 29 per game over his last six. For L.A., the loss stung, but what a week it was for the Lakers and especially rookie Dalton Connect.
Since being inserted into the starting lineup four games ago, Connect is averaging almost 24 points a game, including a wild one against Utah where he scored 37, including 18 straight in the closing minutes of the third quarter. Connect tied a rookie record with nine three-pointers in the game.
Afterwards, Jazz head coach Will Hardy said, quote, In the second half, it seemed like everybody in the gym knew that Dalton Connect was going to shoot the next shot, with the exception of a few people. The problem was those few people were on our team. The Jazz are 3-12 and have lost four straight.
One more loss and the Jazz will have a five-game losing streak, which is what the Phoenix Suns have been up to lately. The Suns, who started 9-2 but have been without Kevin Durant the last couple weeks, have dropped five straight and have a point differential of negative 2.4, which is only better than the Blazers, Jazz, and Pelicans in the West.
Of the five losses, none was more painful than a 120 to 117 loss to the Timberwolves in Minnesota. With 34 seconds left in the game tied at 117, the Suns missed three straight shots, including two from Devin Booker, who had 44 in the game, before turning it over to the Wolves with 2.1 seconds left.
After advancing the ball, Joe Ingles passed it into Julius Randle, who hit a game-winning three-pointer from the top of the key to give the Wolves the win. The momentum would be short-lived for the Wolves, however, as they would drop their next game to the Raptors, 110-105, in Scottie Barnes' return.
One team hoping their players return soon is the Sacramento Kings, who were without all of Sabonis, DeRozan, and Malik Monk in their last two games. Luckily, the Kings still have De'Aaron Fox, who over a back-to-back against Minnesota and Utah at home this week scored 109 points while shooting 58% from the field.
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Chapter 2: Are the Sixers destined for a bad season?
Or if they took Deron Holmes, like that was a Twitter darling out there. Is it so crazy to think that they would have taken if they took somebody else? But if they did, just think about how much more hopeless the situation would feel. Because right now, Jared McCain, if you go to BetMGM, has the best odds at a plus 140. For rookie of the year. And I think it's right.
He has had an excellent, excellent stretch here. And it looks like he should be rookie of the year. He looks like he's clearly the best player in this class to me so far. At least he's had the best start to anybody in this class. Besides Dalton Connect, who is a plus 200 to win rookie of the year. McCain looks like a steal for the Sixers and probably their lone bright spot this season.
Yeah, it flips so quick, too, because we talked about the Rookie of the Year odds like three weeks ago. Did not even mention Jared McCain's name. He was plus 3,000 in preseason and is now the overwhelming favorite. I mean, even after Dalton Connect, it drops all the way to plus 1,100 for Zachary Resache. So it's been pretty amazing. He's had eight games, eight of his 14 games.
He's scored at least 18 points. That alone is amazing. Six of his games, he's scored 20-plus points. He has been the one lone bright spot. The one thing Sixers fans can cling to as they watch these miserable games.
It is honestly unbelievable and really such a big win for them because there's a lot of guys that just aren't delivering anything to their teams that were selected, you know, 16 and below. So at least the Sixers have that. And Al.
nope it's time andrew but before oh you don't want to go there okay i don't want to go there yet okay just a little bit longer before we talk to trill bro dude i didn't want to update one thing because we're not going to do favorites this week we wanted to this is a very special week on wheel of fandom and we wanted to it is so special that i cannot wait to get there i'm just like let's just bring trill in immediately please
Yeah, usually we do like five questions, and I message Trill. I was like, hey, would you mind if we just expanded this section and asked you just a ton of questions? So we're not doing favorites, but I did want to do one thing before we got to the Sixers, which is our Slam & Jam championship tracker, okay? Yeah.
There's a set of things that championship teams have done, all of them, every single one, going back to – actually, it's not to the beginning, but I think I went as back as like the 60s. So it's pretty far, okay? Yeah. I wasn't looking at the Providence Steamrollers or whoever it was. But, you know, I went back to the NBA that we know, and all those champions shared some things.
So, for instance, no NBA champion has ever had worse than the ninth best odds in preseason. Now, that only goes back to 84-85, because that's as far as it goes back with the odds. So right there, that knocks off the Lakers, Suns, Pacers, Cavs, Kings... They're out, Andrew. They don't share that with all NBA champions.
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Chapter 3: How can the Sixers turn things around?
It's basically I've talked about it. We've basically done the the Nick Nurse speed run in Toronto, but without the championship, like the first 40 games were great. We were like first 40 games were great. We everyone loved Nurse. He was maximizing the the Maxine and bead combo. The offense was top near the top of the league. It was looking like they were contenders. They were maybe one move away.
And then everything kind of came crashing down when Joel Embiid went out of that game and tore his meniscus and ever since has truthfully not been the same. So ultimately, what this comes down to is I still think that if this team had a healthy Joel Embiid that looked like an MVP candidate and could actually play the games, they would probably be fine because everyone would be able to be.
placed into their normal roles, even with Paul George in and out of the lineup. I think that they would be one of the better teams in the NBA, but we haven't seen that version of Joel. Paul George can never stay on the court. And to be completely honest with you, Tyrese Maxey has just not really been able to scale up in a way when those guys are out of the lineup.
So the only thing we really have to look forward to so far this season is Jared McCain.
So even acknowledging the injuries, which you mentioned, obviously played a huge role in this 2-12 start, it still feels like this has played out worse than it should have. For those who don't know, the Sixers' only two wins did require overtime. So besides those obvious reasons, what are some of the other issues that have contributed to this 2-12 start?
I would say a lack of general skill on the roster. Yeah. I don't really know how else to put it. Unironically, I think there is at least an argument that Gershon Yabuzeli has been our second best player this year, third best player this year. And this is a player that we signed in August.
After the Olympics, after everything was done, it's kind of similar to the Kelly Oubre signing from a year ago, but Kelly has completely regressed in his role. They really just have a lack of shooting. They have a lack of good passers, and then they have really no functional offense due to that. The defense has been good at times.
We also happen to be getting the worst shooting luck on both ends of the court, but but also part of that is due to the fact that we're leaving shooters wide open on defense and our shooters that are being left wide open on defense are Caleb Martin and Kelly Oubre and guys that, you know, teams want to shoot.
So right now it is really like the fact that it, like I said, the general lack of skill from the rest of the roster, even beyond just the stars, not playing like stars has also been a massive struggle. And all of the fringe signings that Daryl Morey made this off season is It was like they all instantly got as washed as you possibly can be at the same time.
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Chapter 4: What does Jared McCain's performance mean for the Sixers?
They still want to do their back to back plan where, you know, they sit them on the second half of a back to back. And I think in addition to that, just the, you know, like once one guy's back, another guy gets hurt. And this roster really only functions when everyone is healthy. So I think that there definitely is a chance that they can go into the tank.
The only teams that I think that they are almost certainly going to finish with a better record than in the Eastern Conference are the Wizards and the Nets. Other than that, you could tell me anyone else finished with a better record because they've shown a different level of competency as a basketball team.
Like this team just looks like they've already quit and it's November 22nd. So I want to ask you about Embiid because in the off season, he was talking about how all his focus is on the playoffs and winning. He starts the season injured. Then he has that dust up with the reporter, which was very easy to defend. And then this week we have this players only meeting that gets leaked to Shams.
When asked about being confronted for his tardiness, Embiid said, quote, Whoever leaked that is a real piece of shit. I don't want to get into detail, but that whole thing, that part of it took probably 40 seconds, but it's Joel Embiid. So things will always get blown out of proportion. It's whatever, though. I'll take it. I'm the reason for everything.
So I guess I'll take the blame for everything. How are you feeling about Embiid right now?
I mean, honestly, I I kind of stopped trying to do like the whole psychology thing with Embiid like two years ago. Yeah, because everything he says in the media just constantly is contradicting. And he changes his mind every week on, you know, what what the reason is, why the team is the way that it is and why everyone hates him and blah, blah, blah. And I.
I mean, I've just to be completely honest, like I've always obviously supported Joel. Like he I've said that for years that the Sixers have actually been Joel and bead merchants. I don't think that anyone on the team really can function without him. But now he might be at a different point of his career. And.
I think all of these things that, you know, you dealt with with the Joel Embiid experience when it when it comes to all of the media stuff and and and, you know, like the being late to practice and games. Sometimes you could deal with it when he was an MVP level player that guaranteed you 50 wins and a win in the playoffs at least every year.
I think that the calculus starts to change when, you know, he might not be that level of player anymore. And there are rising stars in the organization and Maxie and McCain. And everyone is new on this team. Like people are trying to adjust. Caleb Martin's new. Yabu's new. Like he hasn't played with the large majority of players on this team. So I think.
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Chapter 5: Can the Sixers salvage their season through trades?
I forgot Nick Nurse was clutch. That's a great point. I mean, I knew Maxie was obviously because of the rich ball connection, but that's no, it makes total sense. Yeah.
And if he's talking about elephant in the room to them all the time, I'm sure they're saying it all the time, too. Yeah, it's contagious. It's a contagious thing. OK, so one thing that the Sixers do have going for them is that they have some extra draft picks and they also have some tradable salary. If the Sixers were going to try to salvage things via trade this season,
Is there any kind of player that they would look for? Is there any slop that we can cling to in this time of need?
So before the season, I think every Sixers fan's dream was that one of Trey Murphy or Jalen Johnson did not get extended by their team. And then the Sixers could just like...
Throw a ton of picks at them and get them on their rookie contract before because the Sixers really need, especially if this team is healthy, they really need like a big wing who can play with the rest, especially with the rise of Jared McCain. I think that they're going to be looking at forwards in this trade marketplace.
Because I think with Maxie McCain, whether you think that fit can work or not, you'll figure that out either like down the line. You know, maybe maybe there is eventually it just doesn't work because they're both small guards or whatever. But for now, it seems like that's going to be something that they're going to want to try to make work in the meantime.
So I think forwards are definitely like there are boring targets out there like who would just make sense. Like Dorian Finney-Smith is the most exciting name in the world. But for the Sixers to get a guy defensively like him that you can throw on the other team's best player and then also on top of that can help with your rebounding and shooting woes from the wing spot.
It wouldn't hurt to get a guy like him, but it also doesn't solve my biggest thing is I think their biggest issue is the fact that they just have really a lack of passing and a lack of guys who can capably pass and create for themselves and make open shots.
My dream target would probably be someone more, you know, a realistic target would probably be someone like Cam Johnson, although money wise, it's a little bit hard to get to that because you probably have to include Kelly Oubre, Andre Drummond, K.J. Martin. To be clear, I'd be fine with that. I'm fine with that.
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Chapter 6: Why is Paul George struggling with the Sixers?
That happened. But but then they lose like nine to two. That's how I feel about Jared McCain. Like every week it's like a new thing. Oh, he has the highest BPM since Magic Johnson for a guard as a rookie. And then, you know, the Sixers lose by 20. So at least. At least we have that silver lining of Jared being so good, and he's blown my expectations out of the water.
I liked him in the draft, but he's clearly been one of the three or four best rookies in this class, and he's still only 20 years old, so sky's the limit.
I was just going to ask Trill, what is that BPM? Because I know you've been checking it out every day. Yeah, tell us. What is he putting up right now?
I actually didn't check it this morning. I should have. I think it's... Last time I checked it, it was... First off, if you look at the BPM charts, the two players below him are Jimmy Butler and James Harden. So that tells you where he ranks in the league. He's top 30 in BPM right now, I believe. As of a few days ago, it was like a plus 5 BPM. I think he's down to like a plus 3.5 maybe.
Maybe like a plus 4. But either way, if you look at the list of rookies that have a BPM even above 2... Unless they're defensive specialists, they almost always make an all-star team at some point in their career. And once again, I don't want to get too far ahead of myself. It's only been 14 games. He's only played in, I think, 12. But
So rookies aren't this good right away, especially small guard rookies. Like if you look at the list, it's all big. It's all Victor, women, Yaba, Michael Jordan. I think the only small guard on this whole list that was even in the same realm as him for BPM of guys that were 21 and under his rookies is Chris Paul. So yeah. And he's gotten cosides from he got a phone call from Chris Paul.
LeBron did the jersey swap with him. He has a close personal relationship with Steph Curry. So obviously those guys saw it before I even did, because he's just been absolutely incredible so far in his rookie season.
Yeah, I remember hearing a scout say before the draft that they thought McCain was the best shooter in the draft, even better than Reed.
It's been Hiver Connect so far, yeah.
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Chapter 7: Which players make their teams unwatchable when out?
That's a very respectful response, I would say. Way to go.
He's one of my favorite players. It sucks. Like, I don't like I love Paul. Prime Paul George was one of my favorite players to watch. So it's just. Yeah, it's very, you know, typical that he would come to the Sixers and just fall apart.
Yeah, I just can't get out of my head. I just can't get out of my head. The you haven't seen playoff P yet. And then him just getting absolutely outplayed by Joe Ingles for six games. Like, I just can't get that out of my head.
Unbelievable, dude. Yeah. And this year was he said he was going to let the you know, you've bullied me. Now you're going to see the bully. And then someone asked me, what was your favorite Paul George Sixers moment? And I said, the first half of our preseason game in Iowa against the Minnesota Timberwolves that was not even on television. We had to watch a stream of it online.
Okay, Trill, we have two games for you today. Two games. Wow. I was watching Sixers Heat, and it was a miserable game to watch. And I was thinking about how much more watchable it would have been if Tyrese Maxey had been playing. And I started wondering where Maxey would rank in terms of players who, when they're out of their lineup, their team's watchability falls off a cliff.
So to answer that, we're going to do a draft. Three rounds, snake draft. We're going to draft three players each. So we are selecting players based on when they are out, our interest in watching their team play takes a nosedive. And I'm going to choose the order. So Andrew, you're going to go first. Okay, Trill, you're going to go second. And I will have the turn.
So I'll have picks three and four. So Andrew... Who is your first selection in players who when they're out of the lineup, their team's watchability falls off the cliff? I wish I had something a good little name.
Is this just Sixers or what is this?
No, help me.
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