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00:00Yeah, let's take a look at the upcoming playoff series as well because it's a foregone conclusion.
00:03We might as well just put, I guess, Golden State into the Western Conference Finals
00:06because of how good they've been playing under Jimmy Butler,
00:09regardless of any seeding that they're playing,
00:10which includes a rested and ready number two seed with Houston.
00:14Now, as we talk about the disrespect, it's actually lightening a little bit this morning,
00:17coach, at the FanDuel Sportsbook.
00:18You'll see a graphic that's going to pop up in a moment at minus 205.
00:21The live number now dropping to 188, and I agree with that.
00:24Let's just start here, coach.
00:25And number two seed, rested and ready, playing a team that barely squeaked into the playoffs,
00:31if you will, as almost a $2 underdog.
00:34Ime Adoka has to be putting this all over the locker room, coach.
00:38Oh, he's got it all over the blackboard, absolutely dying.
00:41And it's really interesting.
00:42If you really look at what's going on there,
00:45like they're going to look at the fact that they have no experience.
00:48Well, Fred VanVleet has a championship, right?
00:50Ime Adoka's coached in big games.
00:52I know they're a young roster, but they're going to present problems that, you know,
00:57people don't realize.
00:58I think the biggest thing, Donnie, is they don't have the respect
01:02because they don't have, like, the top 15, top 20 player in the world.
01:08But they got Al-Faron Shungun, who is a problem
01:12and is going to give this series fits.
01:16I think it's disrespected.
01:18I think it's going to go seven, six or seven games.
01:21So I do like that it goes later.
01:23If you want to take Houston plus one and a half games, I wouldn't blame you.
01:27I think this is going to be a long series.
01:29I'm not willing to write off a team that has played so well this season.
01:34Yeah, they may fumble it.
01:36They may give a game away, maybe the first two.
01:38But I think this is going to be a long and very, very competitive series.
01:43Yeah, that's kind of the thought we have as well, J-Y.
01:46I think that's why Donnie was setting it up as such.
01:48The two-seed in the Houston Rockets with home floor advantage
01:51against a team that had to scrape by in the play and tourney
01:54booked as the outright underdog.
01:56But that was going to be the case.
01:58The Warriors entered the postseason even being a play and tourney team
02:02with a third-best price to win the Western Conference crown.
02:06Oklahoma City, a minus 150 odds-on favorite.
02:09The Lakers now the second-best number at 6-1 and Golden State at 7-1.
02:14So, one, J-Y, how do you make sense of these Western Conference odds
02:18where we stand with seven of the eight teams figured out
02:22for the Western Conference playoffs?
02:25I think the numbers are kind of wild, to be honest with you.
02:29The Lakers obviously 6-1 playing great basketball.
02:32Golden State is 7-1.
02:33That means they have to run through, obviously, the 2-7 series with Houston
02:39and then the 3-6 series between Minnesota and the Lakers.
02:43But then it's the teams under that that have my attention.
02:47It's the Clippers at 12-1.
02:49Listen, if Kawhi plays like Kawhi and it's healthy, they could beat anybody.
02:53The Nuggets are extremely dangerous because they have the best player in the world.
02:56And then there's Minnesota sitting at 20-1.
03:00Now, I, in my heart, I really, this may be the spicy ticket today,
03:04I think they're beating the Lakers.
03:06I have this feeling that Ant's got this next level that's ready to come out.
03:12I think Rudy Gobert is going to be a problem.
03:14They have enough defenders to kind of deal with the Lakers.
03:16And at the end of the day, if Ant is dialed in,
03:21Ant could be the most dynamic player in the series.
03:24I'd like them to win the series.
03:25I also like Ant.
03:26I think it was plus 185 last night to lead the series in scoring.
03:29I think he's going to go for 30-plus.
03:31No one can stop them on the other side with the Lakers.
03:34It is interesting now because of a little bit of movement for that series
03:37between the Warriors and the Rockets.
03:39Golden State, not greater than a $2 favorite, but at minus 188.
03:43The strongest favorite for the three series we already know in the opening round out west.
03:48The Lakers at a minus 196 outright price to knock off the T-Wolves.
03:52By the way, the Clippers opened as a series underdogs against the Nuggets.
03:56They're now the favorites to the Eastern Conference next.
03:59To the Eastern Conference play-in tournament we go.
04:03Last night in Orlando, our opening game of two to start the NBA postseason.
04:08The Magic fully dominant against the Atlanta Hawks.
04:11120-95, the victory for Orlando.
04:14They easily cover as a six-point home favorite.
04:17The Magic will be the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs
04:20with an opening round set against the reigning champs in the Celtics.
04:23We'll talk about what we expect in that series in just a moment.
04:28But a 25-point win for Orlando last night, JY.
04:32Thoroughly impressive throughout.
04:34And the Anthony's off the bench.
04:36Cole Anthony, team high, 26 points.
04:39Anthony Black approaching 20 points as well.
04:43What stood out to you about the Magic's performance against Atlanta last night?
04:46The complete opposite of the Golden State Warriors win
04:50where you had the two top players in Bankera and Wagner shoot
04:54a combined 10-of-28, 0-of-8 from the floor.
04:58Or 0-of-8 from three.
04:59So then you're just thinking to yourself,
05:00oh no, like where are we getting scoring from?
05:03Well, Wendell Carter Jr. was absolutely fantastic
05:06with 19 points with a plus 28, 8-of-12 dominated inside.
05:09And then you got the play out of the Coles.
05:12Cole Anthony and obviously Anthony Black,
05:15their performances were outstanding.
05:17And I just think what you got out of them is a team
05:21that also grinds you defensively, right?
05:24You saw, obviously they jump out to a 15-point lead,
05:28up by 14 to break.
05:30Oh no, here comes Trey with a huge third quarter,
05:3412 out of the 26 points for Atlanta.
05:36And then you saw them just completely tighten the screws defensively
05:40and then do something we haven't seen out of Orlando.
05:43Get out and transition, run.
05:45These guys, Cole Anthony has been around the league for a while.
05:49This guy has always been his ability to score the ball.
05:53The problem I've had in the past with Cole Anthony,
05:56honestly, Ben, is I feel like sometimes he takes questionable shots.
05:59What's more impressive for me, the 26 points,
06:02is the six assists, the ability to drive the ball
06:05and find and dish and get other guys involved.
06:09That's why I thought it was really important out of Cole Anthony,
06:11a guy that can score it, but also that I can dish it
06:14and get other guys involved.
06:16Defense wins in the playoffs.
06:18We know that, and certainly the metric for the Orlando Magic
06:20is they're going to play good defense.
06:21They dropped 120 points last night, which was fantastic,
06:23but you always look forward to that under 100 performance
06:26for the defense, which they got once again.
06:28But as we digress into the next series,
06:30it looks like why are we even wasting time playing this series?
06:33A minus 7,000 price on the Celtics to advance over the Orlando Magic.
06:38It looks like it's supposed to be, Coach, a de facto sweep.
06:41So before we get into will the Celtics win the series,
06:44which they probably will,
06:45what can the Orlando Magic do against the Boston Celtics
06:47to make this a competitive series?
06:50They got to lean on their defense.
06:52They have to be dialed in defensively,
06:55and he didn't score the ball well.
06:57Well, defensively, Paolo Bencaro, if you watch that game,
07:02I saw him so engaged in pick-and-roll coverage
07:05and how he's defending that I was like, damn,
07:07I didn't even know Paolo had it in him to do this.
07:09So, listen, the way that Jamal Mosley coaches his team
07:13is they're going to be a tougher out than people expect.
07:19I think Boston's going to absolutely win the series,
07:22but can I see Orlando getting a game
07:25and giving Boston a scare in another game?
07:28Absolutely.
07:29I mean, they hang their hats on the defensive end of the floor.
07:33And when defense is your absolute,
07:35you're always going to give yourself some sort of chance to win.
07:39And let's be honest, guys.
07:41You know, during the regular season, they have played.
07:44Orlando did.
07:45Listen, we can't count the game, the 20-point win on the night.
07:48But they do have a 108-104 win during the season.
07:52They're going to find a way to keep this close
07:54and maybe steal a game, maybe two in a series.
07:58So that's the question, J.Y.,
08:00because we see what the odds makers are expecting.
08:03Minus 7,000 for the Seas to win it outright.
08:06You look at the series spread.
08:07You look at the series correct score.
08:10Boston a win in four.
08:11That is a sweep, is the most likely option.
08:16So you're calling it now.
08:17Orlando wins at least one game to at least get to five.
08:21How do you see this series?
08:22What would be the official prediction?
08:24I'd say it's going to go 4-1.
08:26If I could have got it plus 3.5, under 150,
08:31I would jump in there.
08:32But if you're asking me series correct score,
08:34I think it's 4-1.
08:36I think Orlando finds a way to win one.
08:38And then if you really think about it,
08:39this is one of the best teams defensively.
08:42And Boston shoots such a crazy amount of threes.
08:47All you need is one game for them to go off.
08:50If you think about the 108-104 loss,
08:52I think Boston shot about 23 or 24% from the three-point line.
08:56If you're able to defend the three, Ben,
08:58and get them to get misses and secure the first rebound,
09:02you could steal a game.
09:03If I can get it under 150, I'm going plus 3.5.
09:06But if you're asking me series score, I'm going 4-1.
09:09They'll get one game.
09:11By the way, Coach, I'm going to ask you this question, too,
09:13because being in the 90s where the NBA was more defensive and physical,
09:17I was talking to Ben a little bit earlier today.
09:18Like, we remember the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat series.
09:21Like, hey, you're going to have 86 to 85 games, 79, 78 games.
09:25Did you see the total for the opening number for this game
09:28between the Magics and the Celtics?
09:30On the FanDuel Sportsbook, it's 2-0-6-1-1.
09:32Other outlets, Coach, 2-0-5-1.
09:35Man, we can't get a game that low, can we?
09:37Are we looking at two teams that might not get to 100 points?
09:40Get out of here.
09:41If you're Orlando, that's the way you have to play it.
09:45You have to play it.
09:45Listen, Donnie, I remember when the Knicks,
09:48if you got up to 70 points, we're like,
09:50offensive explosion here.
09:52Lots of warning, Patrick.
09:53You're killing each other all the game.
09:54But this is the way Jamal Mosley knows that he's got to play this.
09:58He's got to be physical.
09:59They have to defend.
10:00And they've got to get timely stops.
10:02If there is a team that could make Boston sweat a little bit in the first round
10:06in that lower half, it is Orlando because of their ability to defend.
10:11They're going to slow the game down.
10:13I think, listen, it'll probably go over the first game,
10:16but maybe if we get some crazy number and it goes up,
10:19I think those games around 2-10 is going to be right around where it's going to be.
10:23Absolutely.
10:23And the Magic are a 14-and-a-half-point road dog inside TD Garden on Sunday afternoon.
10:31If it does stay under or right around 2-06-and-a-half,
10:34that, of course, is Orlando's best chance of covering a very large spread
10:38in the opening game of that set.
10:40JY, as we see in the Celtics and Magic series,
10:44as we see for the Cleveland Cavaliers as they await the eighth seed,
10:48the Hawks, the Bulls, or the Heat,
10:50they'll probably be a hefty favorite.
10:52The Celtics at minus 140, Cleveland at a plus 175 number.
10:58As we get ready for the Eastern Conference playoffs,
11:01we're still expecting the Celtics and the Cavs
11:04more than likely to meet up in the Eastern Conference Finals.
11:08We'll get JY's thoughts on what we have tonight in play-in tournament action.
11:13A doubleheader in Chicago and Sacramento.
11:16That's next on The Early Line.
11:19Live right here on this Wednesday morning
11:21on the Early Line on Sports Grid.
11:23Play-in tourney action on this Wednesday evening.
11:26A doubleheader of games once again are 9-10 matchups.
11:30In Chicago, it's the Bulls in the Heat.
11:32In California's capital, in Sacramento, it's the Kings and the Mavericks.
11:37Speaking of Dallas, they're a play-in tourney team,
11:41despite trading away Luka Doncic and losing Kyrie Irving for the remainder of this season.
11:47As Dallas gets ready to embark on the postseason,
11:50Nico Harrison, Dallas GM yesterday,
11:53along with the Mavs CEO and Rick Welts,
11:56meeting with a select amount of media.
11:59No cameras, no audio recordings.
12:02Of course, that is always a good sign for a very transparent media affair.
12:07Nico Harrison was asked, JY, still about the Luka Doncic blockbuster deal.
12:13Just the second time he has spoken about this trade since the deal came about in early February
12:20and said, quote, I still have no regrets about the trade.
12:25When Nico Harrison opens his mouth, JY, what is your reaction?
12:31Shut it.
12:33Maybe have no, I mean, just pull Leon Rose.
12:35Have no press conference.
12:37I mean, Leon Rose, I mean, thank goodness the Knicks are good
12:40because he hasn't had a press conference, I think, in what, two, two and a half years?
12:44But to me, listen, Nico Harrison stopped doubling, tripling down.
12:48It was a huge mistake with this trade.
12:50We all know it.
12:51Just own it.
12:52But he won't.
12:54But the sad thing about it is, as much as I love Anthony Davis and I love Kyrie Irvin,
12:59this is going to be over tonight.
13:01I know they are getting four and a half, five and a half points.
13:04Guys, I would be shocked that this is a 10-point-plus win by Sacramento.
13:10I look at this team in Dallas, they're broken.
13:13They're broken.
13:13I don't see a lot of faith in this team.
13:16I don't see a lot of faith in that organization.
13:19And my bigger question is two things.
13:21Number one, try to do something else.
13:22By the way, why did Nico Harrison get Austin Reeves in a trade?
13:25Someone has not answered that one for me yet.
13:27I don't know why.
13:29Here's what I like to do, because the questions I have about the little gathering yesterday,
13:33like if you are the media, you have a chance to stonewall this guy.
13:36And I don't mean don't show up.
13:37If there's no media recordings and there's no actual TV that you can use,
13:41why did the media go in there, ask him all those questions,
13:43and come out and be like, what a press conference that was.
13:46Nico just went up there and said, you know, the guy he traded away in Luka Doncic
13:49was the worst individual player he's ever seen in his life,
13:52and he stands by that comment.
13:53Because if nobody could prove it, who could prove it behind the scenes?
13:56You could have drilled that guy last night in that.
13:58Amazing coming out of there.
13:59Going in there, nobody had a team.
14:01Like, why was it off-camera, Coach?
14:04That's what I want to know.
14:05No recording devices.
14:06What did he want?
14:07Why did he just hand a press release out on an email that says,
14:10here's my thoughts, no questions, I'm out of here.
14:12What was the point of having no recorders and no cameras?
14:15I don't understand.
14:17Oh, I love spicy dotting.
14:19Let me button my jacket up.
14:21I'm into this.
14:22You've got me into this.
14:23Do we even know it actually happened?
14:26Maybe it didn't happen.
14:26That's correct.
14:27I mean, there's no recording.
14:29There's no cameras.
14:30Because, I mean, did they even let him have a pen and a piece of paper?
14:35Landed on the moon.
14:37Yeah, I mean, listen, at the end of the day,
14:39it's a joke of what went on yesterday in Dallas.
14:42And it's amazing.
14:43When the Lakers played Dallas, he was like under the tunnel,
14:46all buttoned up and hearing the boos.
14:48Yeah.
14:49And then when he gets a press conference, he runs for the hills.
14:51It just shows what's going on in Dallas.
14:53And obviously, they put out their pain and misery tonight versus Sacramento.
14:57So, yeah, J.Y., that's your take, right?
15:02That Sacramento tonight at home, the Kings, a four-and-a-half point favorite
15:05in California's capital, absolutely hammered Dallas.
15:08How come?
15:10Because who's left?
15:12I mean, listen, Anthony Davis is going to be fantastic.
15:14Clay's got to play out of his mind.
15:16They don't have enough else there.
15:18I think Sabonis will do a decent job on the boards.
15:20You have Zavion and DeRozan, too much scoring there.
15:23And a Sacramento Kings team that I thought was going to win that division
15:27will find a way to win four-and-a-half points.
15:30Like I said, eight-plus points.
15:31I think they beat them up late.
15:35And as we look at the first game tonight, J.Y., in Chicago,
15:39basically a pick-em between the pools and the heat.
15:42Who wins to advance to Atlanta on Friday?
15:46It's such a great story how Chicago's played.
15:49The elevation of Kobe White's game.
15:51Obviously, what Josh Giddey's done in the second half of the year,
15:54Bruce Fitz playing defense.
15:55Billy Donovan's still there.
15:56It's all fantastic.
15:58I love everything about Chicago, but I'm taking the Miami Heat.
16:00I'm going to lean on that heat, Colton.
16:03I know that's not been good, but I'm going to take the Miami Heat
16:06on the money line to get the win.
16:09The Bulls 15-5 straight up down the stretch
16:13to earn a home floor advantage tonight in the United Center against Miami.
16:18J.Y., as always, we appreciate the time, my friend.
16:21Thank you for being here on this Wednesday on the early line.
16:24A fadeaway to the break.
16:26A fadeaway to hour number three, our third and final up next.
16:30Simon, you go!
16:31And then to end out this hour,
16:32we'll break down the play-in tournament games that we have.
16:35First in Chicago, the Bulls and the Heat.
16:38Then in California's capital, out in Sactown.
16:41It's time to, you know what, Kings and,
16:44I don't know if I could say what I was going to say.
16:45That's why I didn't say it.
16:46The Kings and the Mavericks play in our nightcap.
16:49Can I say blank up on this show?
16:52Sactown, blank up.
16:54You know what I'm saying?
16:55Yeah, like the beam, man.
16:56You get it?
16:56Sure.
16:57Big party out there.
16:58Yep, sure.
16:58Yeah, yeah.
16:59You know what I mean?
17:00Like the beam at all points.
17:02DRS, yesterday we asked the public who wins the play in tourney games.
17:07The public did back both of our favorites.
17:10The Warriors around a seven-point favorite.
17:12The Magic around a five-point favorite.
17:14They were correct in the Moneyline parlay around a minus-105 price
17:17if you wanted to back both of the favorites.
17:19They got that right.
17:20The Magic did cover.
17:22The Warriors did not in their matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies.
17:26How about the public today?
17:27Who wins the play in tournament games to live to see another day
17:31in postseason action on Friday evening?
17:34Question for all of you and fade the public.
17:35Who will win tonight's NBA play in tournament games?
17:48Yesterday, 65 votes.
17:50Today, 92.
17:52Public is absolutely loving some postseason action around the association.
17:57And, Donnie, it does appear that the public is really trying to figure out
18:00who wins the opening game of the night, which is basically a pick-em
18:04between the Bulls and the Heat.
18:06But most of the public backing Sacramento tonight at home with the Kings
18:10is a four-and-a-half-point favorite.
18:13Who will win tonight's NBA play in tourney games on SportsGrid on Twitter?
18:17Bulls, Kings, slightly in front at 37%.
18:22Heat, Kings, not all that far behind at about 34%.
18:26Which way did Donnie vote in the fade-to-public poll?
18:29I actually picked the Bulls and the Kings.
18:31But also, we're talking about winning basketball games
18:34without the actual spread advantage.
18:36Now, the Bulls, and you take a look at them playing the Heat,
18:38there's not really a spread advantage.
18:39Just pick the winner there.
18:40But there is a spread advantage there that you see there in the Kings game tonight.
18:44And the reason we bring that up is last night, we were like,
18:46you know what, I don't know if Memphis can basically win it outright.
18:49I think they'll be very competitive with a slight chance to do that.
18:51But seven's just too much.
18:53You saw the final score.
18:54They were able to stay inside that number.
18:55Now, granted, you can also have that game tonight
18:57between the Kings and the Mavericks, where you can stay inside it.
19:00But the number much lower than seven, seven and a half.
19:03That's down to four and a half, fives,
19:04depending on where you're shopping at at that point.
19:06So for me, I still do think the Kings possibly win.
19:09But I'm telling you, as this week is going on,
19:11looking at this game and the matchups here,
19:13low total in this one, I do think the Mavericks can hang around.
19:16So I do understand the fight between who's going to win that first game
19:19with the Bulls and the Heat,
19:20but also have that same feeling during that second game.
19:22Because, again, we're not talking about a touchdown plus advantage
19:25on the line itself.
19:27You're talking within a possession or two to try to hang around.
19:29But my vote did go toward the Bulls and the Kings at the 37%.
19:33So technically, I won't be fading the public.
19:37I went Bulls and Mavericks.
19:40I am fading the public.
19:41I love Dallas tonight.
19:43I think Dallas, led by Anthony Davis,
19:44has a great performance in Sacramento.
19:48Give me the five, as I bet earlier this week.
19:50Give me the four and a half right now.
19:52And, heck, let's sprinkle on that money line as well.
19:55The main reason, DRS, for me, is Anthony Davis.
19:58Since he returned from his injury that he suffered in his Dallas debut,
20:03he has played in eight games for the Mavs down the stretch.
20:06There was a time that maybe Dallas could flirt with the eighth seed.
20:10It became very apparent, DRS,
20:11entering our final two weeks of this NBA regular season.
20:15We were really trying to figure out playoff positioning
20:18in terms of who would be out of the play-in tournament
20:20in the Western Conference and who would be those seven, eight seeds.
20:25It wasn't like the Mavs or the Kings really could catch
20:27whoever really would falter into that eighth spot
20:30in the Western Conference standings.
20:32Maybe some home-four positioning between Sacramento and Dallas,
20:36but that was really all that we had at stake.
20:39I mentioned that Anthony Davis, in his return,
20:41eight games down the stretch,
20:43shouldn't play in every one for the Mavs
20:45as they still tried to ramp up his production and minutes.
20:48But in the eight games, he was out there for Dallas.
20:50The Mavericks won fine.
20:52I think Anthony Davis is the great equalizer
20:54to keep the Mavs within that spread tonight in Sacramento.
20:58And if they're going to keep it within a five
20:59or four-and-a-half-point number,
21:01I think the Mavericks can pull off the outright upset.
21:04Yeah, no, again, I've had a simple train of thought all week long.
21:08Because I like Sacramento.
21:09I think they have a pretty good starting five here,
21:10even though they made some trades and changes up.
21:12But they're talented.
21:13And it's home-court advantage, and that does mean a lot.
21:15But as I start to look at, like, the starting lineup here,
21:17somewhat healthy now for the Mavericks,
21:19got a couple games in.
21:20They have some veteran leadership that they can lean on.
21:22And taking the points doesn't seem like a bad idea.
21:24And also, it's not taking the points by, like, 245-and-a-half.
21:27Like, well, there's going to be a million possessions
21:29to pull the doors off.
21:30We have a relatively low total here
21:32where you're expecting a one- or two-possession game
21:34in the fourth quarter.
21:35So why not take the points at this point,
21:37which makes the most sense?
21:38But also, like, talking around, like, these games as we have it,
21:41in the content business and also in the gambling business,
21:44more meaningful games are usually a better situation
21:47across all sports here.
21:48We love it.
21:49It's like the bowl season for me to get angry
21:50because a lot of teams don't really care about it.
21:53Some teams do.
21:53But when you make the college football playoff,
21:55like, everybody cares about it.
21:56Same thing in March Madness.
21:57Hey, expansion of the tournament,
21:59some people don't like because they like the traditional
22:00of, you know, 64, 68 teams, what you have now.
22:03But if you added more teams in,
22:05there's still meaningful games that you can bet on
22:06and handicap accordingly.
22:07The reason I'm bringing this up is, like,
22:09the NBA did do the expansion to have the play in rounds.
22:13Is it overkill at this point now?
22:15Because I'm not saying, like, we're talking about these games
22:17and like it and we'll bet on these and we get it.
22:19But we look at, like, the Eastern Conference
22:21and it's already watered down.
22:22They have these teams, like, man,
22:23does anybody care about them even playing with the Bulls tonight,
22:26you know, taking on the heat at this point?
22:28Or even in the West Conference there.
22:30Like, the Mavericks, like, an afterthought.
22:31They traded Luka and they're playing the Kings
22:33who are relatively ineffective on the national landscape.
22:35Did we go too much with the play in rounds here at this point?
22:38Shouldn't it just be the top eight and let's roll?
22:42I think so, right?
22:44Why do you play 82 games to have to play two more
22:46to be the eighth seed who is going to take on the top seed
22:49and not really do it?
22:51I understand why they do it, right?
22:52It's money, it's extra TV revenue, all of that stuff.
22:55I love the first four in Dayton,
22:57but I think it proves why you don't need to expand anything
23:00around postseason action on the hardwood.
23:03We got a great game between the Grizzlies and the Warriors last night,
23:06but the first one was a 25-point blowout in favor of the Magic.
23:10Yeah, was it closer to 10 points for a good majority of the game?
23:13Sure.
23:14Was it ever really within a possession or two
23:16in the critical moments of that game?
23:18Not necessarily.
23:20And I will just say, DRS, these games tonight,
23:23I think, lack a little bit of that luster
23:25because these games tonight, of course,
23:28if you lose, your season is done.
23:30But even if you win, you got to then go on the road
23:33on a 48-hour span to more than likely be the underdog
23:37to try to beat the team that played last night
23:39to try to become the eighth seed,
23:41and then your reward is the one seed.
23:43It feels like a lot of hoops to jump through, if you will,
23:46and at times insignificant hoops to just be the eighth seed.
23:50Now, we have seen teams like the Miami Heat, for instance,
23:53who, of course, play tonight against the Chicago Bulls,
23:56use this time to build momentum and go on magical runs.
24:00So who are we to knock it?
24:02Feels very different, especially in the Eastern Conference.
24:05Really feels different even for the eighth seed
24:07in the Western Conference to have to take on
24:09the Oklahoma City Thunder.
24:11But that might be a statement on where the odds are
24:13in what we have seen this NBA season,
24:15play-in tournament or not.
24:17Yeah, and again, it's more meaningful basketball.
24:20These guys are playing hard.
24:21You saw last night, it was like, hey, John Morant's upset.
24:23Like, I don't even know how I'm playing in these games,
24:25and I want out at this point.
24:26Or you saw Trey Young, like, we're always in the play-in.
24:29Let's just put us in the playoffs.
24:31This is ridiculous at this point.
24:32He's still going to play hard and look to get into the true playoffs
24:35when it's said and done.
24:35But it's just an interesting concept that they brought up
24:37a couple years ago.
24:39The second night of the NBA postseason comes your way
24:43on this Wednesday.
24:44Another doubleheader of action in the NBA play-in tournament.
24:49Our 9-10 games tonight in the Eastern Conference
24:52and the Western Conference.
24:54Of course, tonight, the loser has their season come to a close.
24:58The winner gets ready for a turnaround on Friday,
25:01either to visit Memphis in the Western Conference
25:04or Atlanta in the Eastern Conference,
25:06needing two wins in this play-in tournament
25:09to become the eighth seed in the actual playoffs
25:12that begin on Saturday.
25:15DRS, let's start with our opening game of the two tonight
25:17inside the United Center,
25:19the Madhouse on Madison in Chicago.
25:21It's the Bulls playing host to the Heat.
25:24Again, both teams very comfortable in these play-in tourney spots.
25:28They have been here, I believe, in at least two of the last three years,
25:31if not all three in a row.
25:34It is a money line pick-em tonight between Chicago and Miami.
25:38So the question is rather simple.
25:40Who wins this game and advances to Atlanta on Friday night?
25:44The interesting part about it, too,
25:45is that the line itself is only minus one.
25:47And I continue to bring that up.
25:49You take a look at the FanDuel Sportsbook around other spots here.
25:52It's heavy tickets, 7 out of 10 tickets coming in on the Chicago Bulls
25:55for the most part of it, which I do agree with.
25:58But also, why is 70% of the tickets coming in at a minus one?
26:01Like, are we leaving the Miami Heat out of this point?
26:03Now, they do have a pedigree there with their head coach,
26:05World Championships.
26:06We'll have them prepared.
26:07I get it.
26:07But I'm leaning more on the home court advantage at this point here.
26:11And I do think the Bulls do have an advantage in that spot.
26:13Now, Tyler Hero, can he have a great game tonight?
26:15Bam, out of bio?
26:16Absolutely.
26:17But if I just look man for man and where they're playing,
26:20I do think it's a pretty cheap price on the Chicago Bulls.
26:22You're asking them just to win the game and get the cover,
26:25which is pretty simple, at a minus one.
26:27You look at the total end of it, right?
26:29At 222, down to 219, you know, 219 and a half,
26:32depending on where it's going to end up tonight.
26:33I do agree with, again, the Miami Heat footprint is not,
26:36let's get into a race.
26:37Let's just play good defense.
26:38Let's measure up and hit our shots when we can.
26:41But just getting back to the original prognosis from me,
26:43I haven't wavered.
26:44When I saw this line come out, I thought it was a stone-cold heat line,
26:47which if you're just betting lines, that's the way it should be.
26:49But I do think the Bulls are the better team in this situation tonight.
26:53Yeah, DLS, I'm all in on Chicago.
26:56I bet the Bulls on that money line.
26:57Price at minus 120.
27:00Earlier in the week, it was minus 112, minus 104.
27:03Total has been pretty steady around 219 since we did see a move from when it opened.
27:09I really like this Bulls team.
27:11I think Chicago not only wins tonight,
27:13I'm going to pick Chicago to beat the Hawks if the Bulls do, in fact,
27:16win and head to Atlanta on Friday.
27:18The Bulls are playing with a lot of momentum right now.
27:21They won 15 of their final 20 to end out the regular season.
27:26And a lot of that has been the spark from the young stars in the Windy City,
27:30Josh Giddey and Kobe White.
27:33I really like how Chicago is playing.
27:35And because it is a pickup, needing just an outright win, we'll back the Bulls this evening.
27:40Now, DLS, I'm not going to think the Bulls then beat the Hawks
27:43and all of a sudden are this pesky eight seed about to make the Cleveland Cavaliers
27:47life an absolute living you-know-what to start off the postseason.
27:52But I do think Chicago plays well tonight, wins this game outright against the Heat,
27:56and then maybe makes some noise come Friday.
27:59And as we look at this matchup, DLS confirmed three consecutive years
28:04for both the Heat and the Bulls in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament.
28:08A lot of that squad for Miami still here,
28:11despite the fact that Jimmy Butler took his playing expertise to Golden State,
28:15as we saw with a game-best 38 points last night.
28:18You still have Tyler Hero, and you still have some players in this spot for the Heat,
28:22including Bam Adebayo, that can play some good basketball.
28:26Andrew Wiggins, who came back to Miami in that Jimmy Butler deal.
28:30Those are the three highest points props tonight for Miami.
28:33On the other side for the Bulls, those guys I mentioned,
28:36Kobe White, Josh Giddey, and of course the veteran big, Nikola Vucevic.
28:40That's why I like Chicago to come through this evening.
28:43Yeah, and also a lower total there.
28:45So for me, if I'm looking at player props, like if you expect the Miami Heat to win,
28:48it probably is going to go through Tyler Hero, right?
28:50There's a lot more options to me if you're looking for options for scoring-wise,
28:54at least with the Chicago Bulls.
28:55So I would land on Hero.
28:56Like three-plus made threes at a minus-138 price if you think they're going to win.
28:59It's really just a correlation.
29:01But it's one of those where, like, I don't want to be wrong.
29:03Okay, let's say Kobe White over 22 and a half points.
29:05He scores 20 points for the Bulls to win.
29:06Like, man, I told you the Bulls would win this game.
29:08Why did I just go with a prop bet along with it?
29:10But I feel stronger on the opposite side by saying I think Tyler Hero has to be
29:15that linchpin for the Miami Heat for them to win this basketball game,
29:17or at least, should I say, be competitive here.
29:19So if I'm looking at a Bulls props perspective, I don't like it all that much.
29:24I just like the Bulls.
29:25But if I'm looking from a player prop perspective from the Heat,
29:27I think there's better options here because I just think the offense has to flow
29:31exactly through Tyler Hero and get good production at a Tyler Hero
29:34for them to win this basketball game on the road.
29:37Yeah, and Donnie, we have seen Tyler Hero put up a lot of points for Miami
29:41following the All-Star break.
29:42He has not shot the three all that well, though.
29:46He's only really made two threes in most of his final games
29:49to end out the regular season.
29:51This year, from three-point range for Tyler Hero,
29:54looking at the entirety of this season, 37.5%.
29:58Again, can still fill it up from beyond the arc,
30:01but the scoring production has been in other areas.
30:03Josh Giddey, by the way, for Chicago to record a triple-double, plus 190.
30:08Final six games that Giddey played in the regular season,
30:11a triple-double in half of those six, three of six.
30:14He has started to become that guy much in the way where you almost expect a triple-double,
30:19not quite to the proficiency of Nikola Jokic, but plus 190, of course,
30:24is not the steepest number on a player to record a triple-double.
30:28And, Donnie, I mentioned how the Bulls won 15 of their last 20 games
30:31to round out the regular season, including two wins against Miami,
30:35one in South Beach, one in Chicago in the final week of the regular season,
30:40both outright as an underdog for the Bulls.
30:43They are comfortable playing this team.
30:44Again, it's why I like Chicago tonight.
30:47Let's get to our nightcap in California's capital.
30:50That's the Kings and the Mavericks.
30:52Sacramento now a four-and-a-half-point favorite tonight against Dallas.
30:56Total stands at 214.
30:58Line earlier in the week was five in favor of the Kings.
31:01A little bit of buyback to the way of the Mavs.
31:04And that total dropping down to just 214 on this Wednesday morning.
31:10Donnie, you said earlier in the week you were ready to lay the number with Sacramento.
31:13You've kind of changed your tune.
31:15How come?
31:15Yeah, I just figure that we're going to get a close game here,
31:19and I just want to lean on the points because it's not a foregone conclusion
31:22that one side is going to win this game.
31:24And I didn't even think we had a foregone conclusion last night in the Western Conference
31:27in that game in Golden State.
31:28I just saw the points and said, two quality basketball teams, stars on both sides.
31:32Let's see how it plays out.
31:33And it worked out in my favor where you got the cover for the Memphis Grizzlies,
31:37but you probably thought the Warriors would win that game.
31:39I sort of have that same vibe.
31:40Like, I've liked the Kings all season long.
31:42I like their starting lineup.
31:43They have home court advantage.
31:44They should theoretically win the game.
31:46At the FanDuel Sportsbook right now, 61% of those spread bets coming in on Sacramento.
31:51The home team, 71% of the total money coming in on Sacramento.
31:54But also, that line really not moving in the right direction.
31:57So, if you're just reading line movement tied to how many bets are coming in and the money,
32:01this line should be Kings 5.5, maybe 6.5 at this point.
32:04And it hasn't moved and theoretically has come down a half point.
32:07I just look at Anthony Davis.
32:08He's the end-all be-all, right?
32:10He's going to play great defense.
32:11If he's on our offense, can be damn near unstoppable, which is what you like at this point.
32:15So, that's why I started having that fold over say, if I'm just looking at this game
32:18as a coin flip, to be honest, then why don't you just take the four and a half points?
32:22And you can still lose this game as a Mavericks backer and still cover the point spread.
32:26That's what's changed up for me.
32:27I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that, yes, the Kings win,
32:30which means they automatically win by five-plus points.
32:32That has me turning back a little bit more to the Dallas Mavericks right now.
32:37Yeah, DRS, you mentioned it.
32:3871% of the money in terms of the spread betting backing Sacramento.
32:42And yet, the line has worked against the Kings on the FanDuel Sportsbook.
32:46We would consider that a fishy type of line that maybe, despite the public sentiment,
32:52backing the Kings at home tonight, the Mavericks are going to be in this game.
32:57Our coach, J.Y., broke it down earlier, just saying it's been a disastrous season for Dallas.
33:03And he's correct, right?
33:04Luka Doncic gone in that blockbuster deal that has still left a fan base in a city stunned.
33:09Kyrie Irving out for the remainder of this season.
33:12Anthony Davis missed a good chunk of time after being acquired by the Mavericks.
33:17And I understand what J.Y. is mentioning, that Sacramento has so much more depth.
33:22DeMontis Sabonis now back and healthy and performing well.
33:24DeMar DeRozan, Zach Levine.
33:26I get all of it for the Kings.
33:29Believe me.
33:30I still think the biggest X factor tonight and the guy that could turn the fate of this game
33:35is Anthony Davis, now back and healthy.
33:38We'll talk why on the other side of the break.
33:41But down the stretch, after he returned from the adductor strain that he suffered in his Dallas debut
33:46in the eight games that he played for the Mavs, Dallas won five of them, including a couple outright as an underdog.
33:54A couple of ways to approach the props for tonight's play-in journey action.
33:58Next.
33:58Tonight in California's capital, our nightcap of a doubleheader of nine, ten matchups in the play-in tournament.
34:06The Sacramento Kings hosting the Dallas Mavericks.
34:09I have already said, I bet the Mavs plus five earlier in the week.
34:12Market working my way, despite public love backing Sacramento.
34:16And Donnie, if Dallas is going to stay within this number tonight, even if they lose outright,
34:21or if they pull off the outright upset to head to Memphis on Friday evening,
34:27for me it focuses on one guy solely, that's Anthony Davis for the Mavericks.
34:31His points prop, the highest for tonight's matchup in Sactown, 26.5.
34:36A minus 370 number to record a double-double.
34:41Anthony Davis, since returning from the injury that he suffered in his Dallas debut,
34:45has played in eight games.
34:46The Mavericks have won five of them.
34:49In his last four, he has scored at least 23 points.
34:53Here's another way I might approach this game.
34:55If I think Anthony Davis is Dallas' best shot of winning this game outright,
35:00plus 164, that updated and live money line price,
35:03how about 80 to score 30-plus?
35:05Plus, it's plus 182.
35:08The Mavs could lose.
35:09Anthony Davis could still get to 30, and I cashed that ticket.
35:13I don't think it's the worst way if my belief in the Mavericks focuses on one guy.
35:17That, of course, is the Brown.
35:19Yeah, you're certainly going to pay a premium, no doubt about it.
35:22And look at the differences here.
35:2325 and 10 tonight, if you bet that on the FanDuel Sportsbook,
35:26you're looking at maybe like an even money number, which is crazy.
35:29But if you do up the rebounds just by two and go 25 and 12, it's a plus 156.
35:34So if you do ladder above 10 rebounds and or more than 25 points,
35:38you can be looking at a pretty penny at that point.
35:40But also understand this.
35:41You see that total is really low.
35:43So if we're getting like 30 points out of Anthony Davis,
35:45that's a big part about that offense.
35:47The Dallas Mavericks' expectations are going to be that it is supposed to be a high-scoring game.
35:51But I agree with you there.
35:52This is one of those games where it's like, hey, Anthony Davis, it's much more than,
35:55look, I know I'm the leader of the team.
35:56I'm the best player.
35:57But there's a pride to this saying, I was traded for Luka Doncic.
36:00Like these are the times in single game eliminations per se and a national spotlight
36:04where I need to shine for my ball club and also for the general manager that brought me in
36:08and continuously told me, you are the backbone of this franchise for the next couple of years
36:12and see you perform.
36:13So I wouldn't be surprised if we got a cowering performance outside of injury.
36:17It's like, ah, 17, 6, and 5 or something out of Anthony Davis.
36:20He needs to perform and perform well, and he should.
36:22But it's not an unbelievable defense for Sacramento who's going up against
36:25or in a movable force and DeMontis a bonus on the low block.
36:29He should get his tonight.
36:31Yeah, and for the Kings, the RS, Zach Levine also acquired near the trade deadline from Chicago.
36:36I believe in the deal that sent De'Aaron Fox to Sacramento
36:39in that three-way extravaganza or the multiple-team trade.
36:44He's been really good in the seven games he's played in the month of April,
36:48averaging better than 27 points per game,
36:50has gone over his points prop with at least 25 in five of those seven.
36:55I'm not trying to knock the Kings.
36:56I do think Sacramento can stay in this basketball game.
36:59They are the four-and-a-half-point home favorite.
37:01I'm just back in the Mavericks tonight.
37:03Any closing thoughts on the play-in tournament before we move on?
37:08Yeah, both of these games should be afternoon games.
37:10Remember COVID basketball where they're playing playoff games in the middle of the afternoon?
37:14Yeah, put them in the middle of the afternoon.
37:15It adds intrigue here.
37:16Like, okay, let me watch this, then I can watch the nightly stuff
37:19and do what I have to do.
37:20It just adds a little bit more of an element.
37:22Like, if this game were to tip off at 4 o'clock and 6 o'clock,
37:25we would all be invested.
37:26Like, we play afternoon-day baseball games.
37:28Like, nobody's going to show up.
37:30Yes, they will show up to that arena, and it will be great and fantastic,
37:33and everybody can enjoy and watch.
37:35What's wrong with that?
37:36That would be kind of fun to put a different emphasis on the play-in tournament,
37:41especially these games where the loser has their season come to a close.
37:45The winner still needs one more win to get into the actual NBA playoffs starting this weekend.
37:50Again, winner of tonight's game in Chicago between the Bulls and the Heat will visit the Hawks on Friday in Atlanta.
37:57Winner of tonight's game in Sacramento between the Kings and the Mavericks will visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night as well,
38:03trying to become the eighth seed in their respective playoff sets.