Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Welcome to the morning shoot around here on the Athletic NBA Daily. I'm your host, Andrew Schlecht. With me, I've got Zena Keita.
What up?
I've got Dave DeFore.
And I've got the cup.
Oh, Dave's got the cup.
Made it home to LA. That's right.
Barely. Guys, I'm taking over the FBI. I don't know if you guys heard. Could be a change there. Looking for a new podcaster? It's going to be me. Wait, are you serious right now? No.
The thing is, you can say anything right now about what's going on, and I would be like, not out of line here.
There is a direct podcaster to FBI director pipeline, and I'm just trying to get in it, guys. Oh, gotcha. I'm feeling the Vegas hangover. It means I'm definitely ready for the job.
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Chapter 2: What are the leftover thoughts from the Cup?
They've been doing it. The Commissioner's Cup is a thing and it's fun. And I'm happy that they brought it over to the NBA and the players like it. I've never, I mean, I would not have imagined how happy Carl Anthony Towns was to win that trophy. And after we saw him in the corridors holding on to that trophy. Yeah. Okay. Like he, like they were proud of it.
That cup went to dinner.
Yeah.
For sure.
So just to answer a question I see in the comments, I am 6'1". So the comment is more so about everyone.
Yeah. She's 6'1". And like... She's so good about giving us a little bit of grace and standing back. Doesn't look too soft.
Even took off my heels for one show. Yep. There you go. That's true. That is true.
Okay, but hold on. To be fair, though, your feet hurt. That's true. That's true. It wasn't something where anybody was worried about it. My feet hurt. Yeah, yeah. Nobody's worried about standing next to Xena.
Facts.
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Chapter 3: How have the early season contenders changed?
Are we down to one French contender? I mean, is it just the Rockets, pretty much?
I mean, let's take a look.
Hold on, let's look at it again.
We don't feel like the Spurs are there.
I would put the Spurs and Rockets in the French contender list.
But not the Lakers.
Not the Lakers. I don't trust their defense.
I'm not saying I trust them to win.
I just think that... Would it be crazy if the Spurs wound up in the conference finals? I don't think that'd be crazy. Would it be crazy if the Lakers wound up there?
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Chapter 4: Who are the current contenders in the Eastern Conference?
That's the stretch I'm talking about. That seven-game stretch is propping them up pretty significantly. And again, point differential, I think, really matters. And their point differential is one.
yeah and so okay you're giving all the stats to prove my points so thank you andrew thank you so much like that that's they they have these large gaps against really competitive teams but this i mean excuse me against non-competitive teams but then the second they get into competitive matchups it's like yeah debatable like it gets close they have the names certainly and they have the offensive talent i just
If you were just to say this, do you think a team with DeAndre Ayton as the center in 2025 is a contender? I don't care who... I don't care. I mean, yeah, they were good.
Chapter 5: What defines a contender versus a dark horse in the NBA?
At one point, he was really good. When he was in Phoenix... He was really good until he wasn't. But I just don't trust a team that has him at the center position. If he somehow became Jared Allen, then I would... Sure.
I will say, I have looked at this entire season with that in mind. And I'm not saying that this is my argument for them being fringe contenders. But one of the things that I continue to think about is if they can upgrade in the middle, it really helps them. I mean, obviously it helps them. And Gafford might be available.
uh goga might be available you know there there are guys that that they can go after and i think that they can upgrade but all right i'll look They're dark horse. I will acquiesce to you guys. It's crazy to put a team with that much high end talent. You don't have to acquiesce. You don't have to. No, no, no. Look, you guys, you make a good point. The defense stinks. It's bad.
It's just not good enough. Man, I just would not want to play against Luka Doncic come playoff time. I just think that gives you a shot.
Yeah.
And the team is good enough around him. Like, offensively. The defense is just bad.
Yeah, they're not good enough defensively.
Who would your, like, what I just said about Steph and Curry, where you just can't count them out if Steph and Curry's on the team. And I'm curious, particularly Dave, because I know you feel like that about Steph as well. But who would be anyone else in the league, really, if you have this player, you cannot count them out?
Jokic? Well, yeah, yeah. Jokic, Shea, Steph... I say Luca. You say Luca. Yeah.
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