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In this first episode of Best of Hoops, host Jordan Vargas gives an NBA Update and the G-League angle of how some high school students might choose that path.
Contributors
Jordan Vargas – @therealjdv23
Transcript
Jordan Vargas 0:25
Welcome to troops with Jordan presented by the sports cast today’s date is March 5 2021. If you haven’t yet, please subscribe to all of our channels, YouTube, Periscope and Apple podcasts. If you’re on Apple podcasts, please give us a rating and review that would help us out tremendously. Visit us on the sports cast on that. Also follow us on Twitter at the sports cast one and check us out on our app sports cast app on the iOS App Store. Well, guys, this is my first ever episode under the sports cast umbrella. Hosted Jordan I was a contributor for a while working with Santiago and Byron for a little bit but now I finally have my own show, which is which is awesome. And I have my other show courtside with Jordan. But this under the sports cast is awesome. And there was a talk NBA right now the NBA has gotten a little dicey. You know, there’s March Madness going on. There’s a lot of basketball that’s happening. high school basketball and Illinois has just came to a close. So more of the focus is now shifted college in the NBA. Surprisingly, in Illinois, high school basketball is a huge deal because you know, we have Chicago is such a big, you know, basketball Mecca, a lot of stars have been born under Illinois roof. But anyways, we’re going to talk about the NBA now. There’s been a few transactions that have gone under some people’s noses, you probably don’t know. Detroit Pistons received guard, Amadou Diallo from Oklahoma City Thunder. Now I think this I think this transaction was good. for a few reasons. He has good size and he didn’t really fit in OKC and it seems like OKC right now. They have a pattern of continuously trading people and not really sticking with the same pattern so I don’t know if they’re going through a rebuilding stage or not. But on Friday, the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Quinn cook now quick hook previously played on the Los Angeles Lakers. He wants to Duke highly recruited High School athlete. He kind of had a hard time transitioning into the pros, though got sucked right down g League, went undrafted and then kind of picked himself back up and what the warriors and with the Lakers I believe Quinn cook has two rings, one with the wars and one with the Lakers. Anyways, his career kind of fell off a little bit. But along with the you know, most people, I wouldn’t say fall off they just you know, things got things happen. But anyways, the Cleveland Cavaliers have now given him a 10 day contract a chance to prove himself. Now the realistic goals of being signed after a 10 day contract is very, very slim, but this could happen. They could make room for him. The only thing is I really like Collin Sexton down in Cleveland. I don’t know Quinn cook and him will blend well. We’ll have to see. I like them both. I like Quinn cooks play style I Collin Sexton I believe Darius garland is over there to play for Vanderbilt. So we’ll see how things go. But definitely, I think having someone from Duke though, is going to be good representation down in Cleveland, and we’ll see they might actually end up signing him. I don’t know for how long but a 10 day contract though is it’s worth it. There’s another 10 day contract that was signed, Damian Jones, the Los Angeles Lakers, along with Mason Jones. So they both got signed to 210 days, which I think it’s surprising that people don’t really know is that how much of a business the NBA is.
You know, you see you look it up that how often these players are traded and how often they’re, you know, gone through. And, you know, they’ve been flip flop back and forth. So it’s really impressive to find a 10 here, you know, even if they’re not putting up crazy numbers, it’s impressive. Find someone that’s played in the league for over five years. But anyways, enough of the traders some other ones you guys can go check that out on nba.com. We’re now looking at the standings, Utah is at number one. I really like Utah. I’m a big fan of Spyder Mitchell, also known as Donovan Mitchell. I like his playing style. He’s quick, he’s fast. I kind of see him as a baby Westbrook a little bit. You know, obviously Westbrook skin older, he’s more close to retirement and then Mitchell is so hopefully Mitchell should fill in that gap. We are the Phoenix Suns in number two. I’ve said this before. I am a huge fan of Phoenix. I’m a huge even bigger fan. Devin Booker, when Devin Booker got drafted out of Kentucky, he was sent to the Phoenix Suns and they had a long period of time of struggling. I don’t know if you guys remember this. But Eric Bledsoe he played on the suns. He left the suns because of how bad they were. Josh Jackson, he had a little bit of a disruption with the front office, he stopped playing for the suns. Not he didn’t get dropped by the suns, but he just didn’t want to play just because how bad they were. But Devin Booker stuck it out through the thick and thin and now obviously, all that time has been paying off and they’re sitting at number two,
Unknown Speaker 5:40
which is good to see
Jordan Vargas 5:41
LA, Los Angeles Lakers got to be more specific, because there’s a couple of La teams. What the Lakers surprisingly are now at number three, they were at number four. Last time I was looking and last time I was on this podcast. And we talked about are they going to drop are they going to rise or they can be in the same place and it seems like they kind of got their stuff together after the all star break. Um, you know, sometimes it’s all the players need is just a little break and little time to relax and dive down and kind of reset their clocks a little bit. But I’m glad to see that right now. There’s send that point five and 13 which isn’t bad. But you know, we definitely could see improvement they climbed from four to three which is good for the Los Angeles Lakers. I mean, Los Angeles Clippers my bad I just said the Lakers and number four spots. Now I don’t know how I feel about the clippers. The Clippers are very wishy washy. You know, I’ve mixed feelings about ky mixed feelings about George. Yeah, a couple people in the backcourt you know kind of iffy about but you know, we’ll see where things go. We got the Denver Nuggets, Denver Nuggets, Jamal Murray. And surprisingly, you guys may or may not know his name, but RJ Hampton, he played up in the NBL, the illawarra hawks, he surprisingly has not been making that big of an impact. And he was there I believe the 24th or 26th pick and the first round, and they’re not playing that much. But he’s crazy athletic. Hopefully we’ll see some more talent from him. Going forward, we’ll see more time in development. A lot of these times. Players just need a little bit more development. Jimmy Butler was under the shadow of Derrick Rose for a few years. And now we see where Jimmy Butler now is he’s in Miami. He’s bloomin wouldn’t say he’s there. He’s a superstar that think everybody else is but as a leader, it hasn’t really shown that. Well, you know, you’ll see that pattern though of they’re kind of under someone else’s umbrella, and then you see them rise and you kind of see they then kind of develop more and more. Now we’re gonna head down the Eastern Conference, which is my section and Santiago. Santiago is based out of Miami, I’m based out of Southern Chicago, but we got foot office in at number one. And I smile at this because I kind of cut down Philadelphia saying, you know what, they’re not gonna stay at number one, Brooklyn is gonna catch him in number two, and they’re going to kind of sit in the same place. And Brooklyn’s gonna rise and Philadelphia just gonna sit in number two, and they’re not going to do bad. They’re just going to kind of keep being consistent, but it seems like they’ve been holding off Brooklyn, just fine. But again, Brooklyn is Brooklyn’s worst enemy right now. They’re the ones losing games. Now we’re going down number two, which is a net that’s right now. I mean, they’re doing good. They’re sitting right now at 20 1613. We’ll see how the facio sportscast cast fans feel about that. Make sure you guys let us know. We walk in number three. You know, which I think is fascinating is that the on tape the Kimbo on paid the combo on a yacht is the atis brothers. I’m just gonna say the Jonas Brothers. There’s two of them on the Milwaukee Bucks if you guys want to, if you guys did not know that already. Send that 24 and 14. We have Miami number 421 and 18. The Miami Heat. I’m a fan of Miami they were struggling a little bit early on. We were seeing them at 10th and I’ve talked about bowling not really being a leader. But maybe it seems like he’s been stepping up more and more. Again, I’m a huge fan of title hero. Huge fan of Duncan Robinson Duncan Roberts I think lead he also had a time in the G league just like Quinn cook so a jeweler has been producing players do not be surprised by the rise in NA players from the G league more than college. But anyways, the Boston Celtics in the number five Charlotte’s in the number six. The Charlotte Hornets have actually been doing extremely, extremely well. They have some promising talent on there. Myles bridges, Terry rozier I play Terry rozier actually broke away a little bit more. When he came to Charlotte. I don’t know if it was an adjustment to new players. Obviously we have potential Rookie of the Year in my opinion his rookie year, or mellow ball no matter how you feel about them. You know how you feel about his dad how you feel about his last name. You got to admit that this kid can play some ball. He’s six, eight, reportedly six, seven. And the way you can move with the ball scary and easy on it’s his rookie year and ever since the costar put him in the lineup, he has been averaging 21 points 20 points again. So it’s good to see that now kind of cuts off in New York, New York, Knicks other Tom Thibodeau, Derrick Rose they’re
kind of sad to see in New York and number seven, I hope, you know, they can climb up a little bit there’s still there’s still a chance for that but I mean, it’s just I would expect more out of them since you know, they reunited Coach Tom Thibodeau and their grows together. Anyways, let’s go look at yesterday scores the Memphis Grizzlies beat the OKC are actually okay part of me OKC beat the Memphis Grizzlies 128 to 122 the thunder announcing that 17 and 22 Memphis Grizzlies send out 17 and 18 the Golden State Warriors beating the Utah Jazz warriors at 20 and 19. The Jazz at 28 in 10 Gold say words are 111 31 to 119. Which has been it seems like the gold say we’re sort of picking it up. I mean, again, I’m a huge fan of curry. I’m sad though that Thompson is out. But they also have a good potential Rookie of the Year. James Wiseman out of I believe went to the University of Memphis now he actually did a play due to some NCAA protocol reasons I got set out for most of the season. But again, he has that much talent but they pick them back up second pick. And if you guys did not know this, but the Golden State Warriors actually this news kind of leaked I believe sometime last week and I made edit for him sports cast Instagram, you guys should go check that out. The Golden State Warriors called lamella balls, I don’t know if there’s agency or who is or who you know really runs him or you know as part of his manager but but they called saying that they were going to take a look below at number two. And if you guys looked at his Instagram Live he held up a number two expecting to be drafted by the Golden State Warriors and that would have been good in his favorite because he would have stayed in California. Unfortunately, the Golden State Warriors pass up on him misled him and took Wiseman and lamella ball got shipped to the other side of the country or the other side of the United States once at the country because he’s been kind of everywhere. But the United States and North Carolina and Charlotte but it seems like that’s been a good fit for him. But it just was a little funny how you can hear the Jalen Jacoby podcast that they talked about listening to that and Dylan was actually there within the phone calls to back that proof up. Anyways, we have the Miami Heat at the Orlando Magic Man he beat the magic one or two to 97 heats in there. 21 and 18 magic 13 and 2613 and 26 is a terrible record. But I mean, I can’t really talk I’m from Chicago. The Bulls aren’t really having a great season ourselves, but we’re picking that up when we build the stage. We have some promising talent Exactly, and Coby white I keep on forgetting Louis marketing. The Gary gratia Florida State I always forget his name. But anyways, keep it moving here. The Cleveland Cavaliers actually lost to the Atlanta Hawks 82 to 100 people club Cleveland Cavaliers and at 14 to 20 for the Atlanta Hawks and then 19 and 20 Tonight we have the Sacramento Kings playing the Charlotte Hornets Sacramento’s at 15 and 23 Charlotte Hornets in 1918 at 6pm along with Waukee box was the wizards the Spurs versus Detroit Pistons and Knicks vs Mets which is a next person that is actually going to be very interesting knowing it’s across a bridge that divides the two cities. But anyways, I will tell you who I think will win along with hopefully the sports cast listeners towards the end of the show. But I kind of want to go on a little bit of a topic that I think not a lot of people know about and what I’m just going to kind of speak on is a you well before I go into a you I’m just gonna well I’ll lead into a you but anyways a basically is a place where amateur athletes go and play basketball against each other. They travel all across the world.
We’re seeing a rise in over the year. We saw a kind of LeBron James era. You know, when he was playing with St. Louis and St. Mary’s High School, you know, we saw his AAU team get on ESPN a couple times. And that’s you know, from that on you players developing you’ll see that where they really boomed and where they got highly more recruited was during AAU. But now we’re starting to see a little bit of a fall in AAU and we’re starting to see some things that are kind of slipping within the cracks. Now, I believe they use a great way to get college exposure for some kids who play you know, it really small, small high schools play at the local high school but they get recruited or they child for a high level competing AAU team, where they get, you know, possible college scholarship and get more attention to their high school in the offseason. I believe that there is that good side of it. But now we are now starting to see a new era of it. Or where you know, you have people who film high school basketball, or who document and work for these big time broadcasting companies make Miss mixtapes and kind of make stars born moments. I’ll give you one incident started one woman is Carrie Walker, Carrie Walker was the number one player in his class, I believe his class was 2019 or 2018. When he was in eighth grade, he was six, three, and he was shifty dude was huge. But what we kind of saw we saw the fall of it was there’s too much cameras on these kids at such a young age. And it kind of distracts how basketball should be played in different levels. And I believe that there’s sometimes there’s too much attention that goes towards you know, one certain kid or the way different things, different areas. Anyways, Santiago is here with us. And I want to ask him, before we get into, you know, a you and all that stuff, I want to ask him about the G league. And his knowledge of the G league. Sounds like what is your knowledge of the G league?
Santiago Leon 17:07
Hey, Jordan first before I say my opinion, great job on the show. Congratulations on your own show here at the sports cast we which which, which we’ve always wanted a basketball show NBA in college, and you definitely made it happen, but you about a couple of months ago. And so far, so good. You’ve been great. When it comes to contributing to our shows. Now you have your own show really excited about the future of the show. The G League, I think was a great idea. I think so far the salary cap? I think the minimum is 150. No, I think the max you can make is 150 grand, which is which is better than nothing. And I’m really glad there’s an opportunity, obviously, you know, is a question mark, should you go to college or should go to the G league? That’s a question mark. But we were talking about a couple weeks ago that you were saying that the G league is kind of tight with money. That’s something that’s very concerning. But you know, obviously during the whole pandemic, it’s been iffy for a lot of things but but yeah, I think like the G league is a great thing. Hopefully it’ll grow stronger. And it’ll be a good Division Two, maybe better than the ABA. I don’t know. But yeah, we’ll see.
Jordan Vargas 18:28
Anyways, reason why I want to touch on this because I want to kind of lead into the Julian Santiago made a great point how it might take a filler for a college basketball. Now we’ve seen different leagues. Slowly, slowly kind of bring down the NCAA. We saw lavar ball lamella ball and Lonzo ball and Lando balls father crate is only called the jbA. And the jbA was a way for junior Basketball Association. It was basically pro basketball, where kids who forced their NCAA career or who got mixed up in the NCAA career which is you know, one of the big inspirations behind that was his son little blog and and troubling a UCLA and UCLA saying, you know, we’re gonna sit you for five months, and even then we don’t have an answer if you’re ever gonna play, you know, this year again lavar ball down like that. So we decided NCAA is a little crooked. We’re gonna go in our own lane, we’re gonna create our own League and the G league. I wouldn’t say they followed in the footsteps but I would say they followed in his footsteps. They created their own team called the daily night where you can go in check that out. It’s basically where high school player the top recruited instead of going to college, they obviously had, you know, sec offers Pac 12. Even big 10 offers you you name a college that you know is in one of those high ranking division one areas you can already tell that they’ve already got an offer. They had heavy interest from them, but they decided We’re gonna go the pro route and get themselves ready. Now was very interesting though about the G league is it kind of slowly taking the NCAA power away, you know, NCAA train them to be academic, you know, as student athletes. But the G league is showing if you have the skill, if you are if you clearly have the NBA talent, where you’re gonna be a one and done and when you’re a one and done, these athletes athletes aren’t in school for very long, nor are they on campus for very long for one year, or less than that six months.
Santiago Leon 20:33
Yeah, pretty much, six months, you’ll
Jordan Vargas 20:34
see them. Think about it by time you go in. And they already have practice by time school starts for them, which is August, September, to where they’ve already entered the draft. They’re getting drafted in July, June and they’re already starting summer league.
Santiago Leon 20:50
Don’t worry.
Jordan Vargas 20:52
They’re not getting. Right, you can see they’re not getting much time, even in college. So they’re saying, Well, why do that? Why put it why why study something you’re not ever going to use when you are clearly a professional town of basketball. Now, don’t get me wrong. I do think you know, it’s important for people to be, you know, student athletes. But if you are someone like Jalen green, that you obviously have the goods to play in the NBA, or if you haven’t had the goods to play in the NBA when you’re in high school, which is why these guys get scouted, then don’t be studying, you don’t need to be studying poetry, you’re not going to need that, which is why the GLA created a whole separate route and said, you know what we’re gonna, we’re gonna make, we’re gonna make our own League, make our own section, and make it kind of like the NCAA, their version, but in the NBA. So you know, from
Santiago Leon 21:46
which also, one other thing that I was thinking about was the advantage also for G league versus foreign leagues, like the Spaniard or, or like the Chinese league is that a lot of these teams in the G league work together hand in hand with NBA teams, so they’re kind of coupled, or the kind of handcuffed. So, you know, these scouts or these coaches, perhaps see these players, you know, you know, hand in hand, so, hey, Quinn cook, he’s having a phenomenal season so far, I would love to move him up to the bench for the Golden State Warriors, things like that. So I think there’s a huge advantage with that. I like that. Jordan, also a another point, which I know this is soccer. And I think to soccer, international, a lot of these big clubs. And in Europe, they have academies, and they start these academies and a young age, let’s say eight or nine years old, so they bring them up. So imagine having the LA Lakers have an academy of young basketball players at the age of nine, they grew up in their system. They also get their education there as well. But then once they’re 16, or 18, now they’re able to jump into the Laker bench or they could sell it, but that’s a whole different ballgame.
Jordan Vargas 23:05
Is that why they call it in soccers? I would have been curious is that what they call them? clubs is because there’s different regions, there’s different areas, you have to work with the team? Correct? There’s academically and athletically.
Santiago Leon 23:16
There’s under 17th. There’s on the 14th on the 13th. But that system here in America, it’s gonna be it’s just we value a whole lot of education going through high school sports. Now, which brings up another point, yes, the G league is biting away from the NCAA. So those are just my thoughts.
Jordan Vargas 23:39
It really is. And in my opinion, Santiago, I think the NCAA basketball, it’s always gonna continue it’s it’s
Santiago Leon 23:48
kind of how things but you know, it’s interesting, Jordan, I was hearing I think TBS or Charles Barkley or ESPN, they were saying like, okay, we haven’t heard a big name like this. March Madness. No one can name big names. Versus like two years ago, was Xi’an everyone wants all designs demand signs demand, but this year, you know, we’re just seeing a lot of same. It’s not the same. Am I gonna say role players? pub names? I don’t know. I can’t say that. I haven’t done my research. Alright. I have not heard any big names.
Jordan Vargas 24:21
I mean, we can go on that a little later. The other stacks you know, players in the March Madness is obviously MBA talent, heavy MBA town that’s going to get come out, especially from Illinois, possible first rounder a Osamu when I went to Illinois basketball camp, I went to it a couple years in a row. I met al de Simon who and I met a few of these guys within the program, so it’s gonna be cool that you know, could possibly possibly see them on a draft board. Well,
Santiago Leon 24:51
anyway, the G league in 10 years by the way, before we go on, do you see a G league saying okay, 50% of the best players from high school going to G league or Or you’re not gonna see that yet in 10 years,
Jordan Vargas 25:02
oh, you’re gonna see the percent these basketball players go in the G league because they are they’ve been itching. You know, you look, if you really think about it, you put yourself in their shoes, they are working like an NBA player, they’re in the gym before their school starts and say their school starts at seven, they’re in the gym at five, they may get up shots for an hour and a half, then they go to school, then they have weight training, as well as a class, then they do weight training, then they stay after school and they have a practice, then they get after hours practice. Third, they’re doing MBA our practices. So they’re putting that work in, they’re going, you know what I’m waiting for the day or I can get paid for this. They there, they can’t wait. So if the jewelry cuts, it allows that day to be an extra year. And year a year in advance versus them going. You know, nobody really has gone overseas in the overseas route was kind of, you know, established with, you know, lamella ball and RJ Hampton. But you’re not going to see a lot of players going down to Australia to a foreign country. Yeah,
Santiago Leon 25:59
that hasn’t been like the clear path for career jump over college,
Jordan Vargas 26:04
right? That is going to another foreign country and after, you know, re learn the ropes. But you see these guys, they work so hard for since they were you know, four or five years old, don’t the promise one. And then they have an opportunity to finally get paid. Instead of their peers going to college. They’re like, well, I’m going to get paid $150,000 a year when I’m 1819 years old. And I’ll be playing against guys who are in the NBA. And I’m going to be talking to NBA scouts and NBA recruiters almost every day, I would have eyes on me every day. And I’m almost guaranteed a spot in the draft, whether it’s first or second round, because those guys in the G league night they have to get recruited. They have to get scouted and those are NBA scouts that are going out there. So if you are an opportunity again, they ignite your your your domed. first
Santiago Leon 26:51
volume negative with the G league so far, is that the level of play like Yes, you’ve played in the G League, but then, like college level still higher so far.
Jordan Vargas 27:00
Yeah, it’s definitely more fast paced. I will say that it’s definitely you know, because you get a lot of these guys who are not going to play in the NBA, but you’ll see them they’ll be like, you know, these college prodigies, you know, they really go out there and you’re going to see a lot of guys, the NCAA souls that have a very successful college basketball, they’re never going to struggle on that but you are going to see a downfall is calm their talent and their capacity, you’re not going to see as much volume. Because your monkey see monkey do you’re going to see a number one recruit in high school, go to the G League, what are you going to do? You’re not going to go to a university spend six months and study and having to pick a major how to pick a minor. When you already know what you’re going to do. You’re gonna follow on your peers footsteps, your following creators footsteps like Jalen green. He’s one of the he’s one of the founding players in the G league that decided I’m gonna go to Duke he signed the julik really early on he played high school or prolific prep and the opportunity to go to Kentucky Memphis and Duke obviously decided no I’m gonna go I’m gonna go g league and obviously we’ve seen that route pay off and he’s gonna be mock draft hasn’t met the number one pick. So you obviously he gets drafted on the draft board like he’s supposed to. You’re gonna see a downfall in talent in the NCAA which you know might make room for you know, maybe a couple you know, curry moments where you’ll see a guy go to a small division one school and bloom or he’ll be super underrated and know that john Moran more recent but you’re gonna see more players go the god ignite team. And if that it’s going to be ignite NCAA than overseas bas graduates Yeah, it is very interesting. It’s kind of a sucked on topic too because not many people will think about you know, oh, you know, what’s the G league? Well, it’s part of its you know, it’s a it’s a club league basically to two NBA teams
Santiago Leon 28:54
hosted by Gatorade.
Jordan Vargas 28:55
It is it is hosted by Gary it was before the Development League and then the Gatorade bought and they call it the Gatorade League,
Santiago Leon 29:00
but everybody just knows it as the as a Development League Really? Which I wonder how much mean like what percentage of them you know pays for that like most of the salaries? Yeah,
Jordan Vargas 29:13
that’s a good point. But anyways, Santiago What is your thoughts right now Miami since you are based out of Miami, how do you think the heater doing?
Santiago Leon 29:23
Have you been Oh Jordan, to be honest, I have not been falling hardcore. But I did listen this morning and sports radio in Miami and they won majority of their games like the past 11 games. I believe they won 10 out of 11 so I think they will rise like they’re picking the right time
Jordan Vargas 29:44
with us. And then number four, their clear playoff spot guaranteed playoff right now yeah,
Santiago Leon 29:48
this point. So they’re showing what they need to do. And of course, you know, I’m not saying I’m not advocating Okay, NBA team should suck in the first you know, two, three months. But sometimes you want to conserve yourself you know of course they just you know finished a bubble they only had what like one a month off yeah so of course they’re banged up you know and going to the finals you’re being done imagine like the Lakers as well so I think therefore that was a pretty quick that’s the thing with the NBA things are so fluid
Jordan Vargas 30:20
especially I don’t know what it is about this season but the inconsistency you can never guess I would never place a bet on a game because I could very well more likely chance that I would lose a bet because our inconsistent these games have been I mean the Philadelphia could play Chicago which is send a note at the bottom or they could play in New York I use New York since they’re a little higher than Chicago. So Erica come on with the when is this someone consistent?
Santiago Leon 30:46
Yeah, and the next another good team right there but yeah, I mean, so far the heat Hey, Spoelstra, I trust them.
Jordan Vargas 30:52
Do you think the heat you think he should have won the finals? Or do you think it was just kind of just because they’re in the bubble that other teams didn’t really perform their best?
Santiago Leon 31:02
That’s a great question. I was talking I was talking to someone about this if this was like a regular playoffs played on teams playing in their own stadiums. I don’t think that he would have made it to the finals the Lakers Yes, yes. They would have made it when the heat I don’t think so. I think they just I think the other teams Milwaukee choke. I know it’s a big word but they just didn’t do well. Celtics I thought they were gonna go but I guess but we’re had the hot hand man. tell you right time right place.
Jordan Vargas 31:33
That’s really that’s really all it comes down to is right time and right place. What are your thoughts on Jimmy Butler Santiago out of Miami? You know, you don’t really have to be paying attention to the Miami Heat to be noticing what’s the energy like in Miami for the heat? Well, he’s
Santiago Leon 31:47
not the Dwayne Wade level. Jordan. Yeah. He’s not like, I don’t think we’ll name a road after him as of yet.
Jordan Vargas 31:55
We’d have a road in Miami.
Santiago Leon 31:57
He does actually. What? He has it right by the stadium. So definitely a legend. I guess you can say Lonzo morning is up there. Shaq you know, mixed feelings, you know, had one good. One or two good seasons. But Butler, you know, it’s still early, early to tell what he’s 3031 years old. If this guy could take him to a championship. He might go to a different level.
Unknown Speaker 32:25
He took him to him. I
Santiago Leon 32:26
mean, with a championship sorry with championship because yeah,
Jordan Vargas 32:30
I mean, he he turned on the jets in the bubble. He turned on the jets in the bubble.
Santiago Leon 32:37
But he’s not Jordan, though. He’s
Jordan Vargas 32:39
Jordan. He’s
Santiago Leon 32:41
now wait. Um, I don’t know. It’s still like I said,
Jordan Vargas 32:48
Oh, you know what Gary paying? If you guys remember him gay paying for the Seattle SuperSonics. He’s like, uh, Ron Harper.
Santiago Leon 32:54
A little bit better than Gary, I think file. Like, if I were to say I’m,
Jordan Vargas 33:00
I’m just kind of maybe playing style. Well, because, you know, it’s not small, though. He’s not small. I heard that he is actually kind of a big dude. And he just seems huge.
Santiago Leon 33:11
But you know what he did in Chicago. He did what he did in Minnesota. Right now. He’s taken to a different level in Miami, I think.
Jordan Vargas 33:23
Yeah. What do I tell you know, Tyler here on Duncan Robinson. But anyways, we’re nearing the end of this show. Before I go. I want to get some pregame predictions in for tonight. Sacramento vers Hornets, Santiago. Do
Santiago Leon 33:38
you have Sacramento Hornets. I like the Hornets. That got some momentum. I think this is Jordan’s best year. He is a part owner of the Hornets. I’m probably gonna go with the Hornets on this one.
Jordan Vargas 33:52
You know, I have a lot of love for Sacramento. But I’m gonna have to go the Hornets just because I just liked their playing style. I like what they have going on. They seem very relaxed. They seem like they are very consistent. They know what’s happening. Alright, Milwaukee Brewers,
Santiago Leon 34:10
the Washington Wizards. Milwaukee is favorited Washington has Russell Westbrook and Beal right. So
Jordan Vargas 34:17
but but Milwaukee as well. Janis, Milwaukee sent out 2114 wisdoms, and that 14 and 23. So, it for it got my watch, I got Oh, I got the bucks and I’m gonna say I’m gonna go this way the Bucs are gonna win by 15 Plus, I don’t think that was I don’t really hold them all. I’m
Santiago Leon 34:36
gonna say eight to 10. conservative.
Jordan Vargas 34:39
Okay, I’ll give you that. Now we have the Spurs versus the Detroit Pistons spurs in that 19 and 16 pistons in that 10 in 28 seemed like they kind of fell through when they traded their main man Derrick Rose.
Santiago Leon 34:53
And and spurs like go. Aldrich
Jordan Vargas 34:56
and Griffin went to Brooklyn.
Santiago Leon 34:59
Exactly. So it’s Yeah, so San Antonio Detroit. I’m gonna have San Antonio is gonna be a tight game. But I want to pick the Spurs.
Jordan Vargas 35:07
Yeah, I’m going spurs too. We have the New York Knicks versus the Brooklyn Nets. This one’s actually going to be a good game because the New York senad 2019, the nets are sitting at 20 1613. The next are at seven Brooklyn’s at two. There’s only five spots in between. and that’s not a lot because we have seen in consistencies during this NBA season. Show.
Santiago Leon 35:32
The subway series.
Jordan Vargas 35:33
I was called the Subway series, because really, I mean, take a subway from Manhattan to Brooklyn,
Santiago Leon 35:41
Brooklyn. Yeah, I’m gonna say Brooklyn. Obviously they got more firepower. They’re playing at home. They are Blake, where to where to kind of look a little bit out of shape, but I think they’ll put together Yeah, I think,
Jordan Vargas 35:56
you know, maybe that was a power ride Detroit decided, you know, we’ll get rid of them because maybe it’s been a little out of shape. Maybe it’s been a little off the loop. She needs to get out of the coffin.
Santiago Leon 36:05
I think I think he’ll be back. I think they’re motivated now. I mean, hey, Jordan, he isn’t a pedestal to win the championship.
Jordan Vargas 36:12
Oh, they’re in the better position than the Los Angeles Lakers. All right, then we got the Clippers verse Mavericks, 25 and 15 Mazda, Mavericks 20 and 17. Santiago. Who do you have?
Santiago Leon 36:24
I had Ryan earlier today. on my show, he said Dallas, I’m gonna say the Clippers their favorite date. Of course. It’s in Dallas. cowboys. kawhi i think i think he’s Jordan as Kobe ask that’s debatable, but I think he’s up there. He has that grit. I’m so I’m proud of it. I’ll
Jordan Vargas 36:42
go with the I’ll go with I’ll you know what? God Mavericks, I’m going Dallas. Dallas is good. I’m going to go with Dallas. You think
Santiago Leon 36:53
they’ll make it to the playoffs?
Unknown Speaker 36:55
Mmm hmm, no, really not.
Santiago Leon 36:59
What’s this tight man is tight. And
Jordan Vargas 37:02
it’s it’s always seems like the West always has such a better league or division than the east. I don’t know what it is been
Santiago Leon 37:09
like that for 20 years. But the West turns to the east a little bit. And now there’s 234 solid teams, but not dominant as the West West is still like I’m surprised she’s always
Jordan Vargas 37:19
had its little it’s it’s wild ground put it by the Pacers versus nuggets. pacers in at 17 to 20 nuggets in at 22 and 16. Santiago, who do you have?
Santiago Leon 37:29
I’m going for joking Denver, you can’t you know it’s hard to win. In the mountains of Denver. I want to pick the nuggets or the nugs.
Jordan Vargas 37:39
I’m going to go with the nuggets to that’s um I’m gonna stick with that the nuggets.
Santiago Leon 37:44
Another team that could be a dark horse for the playoffs. I’m just saying
Jordan Vargas 37:48
the Memphis Grizzlies versus the Phoenix Suns. I’m not even going to discuss the record. Well, I will the 17 and 18 suns 25 and 12 but I’m not going to this is no debate or who’s gonna win this game. I have Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns taken it
Santiago Leon 38:06
I agree. Jordan’s Phoenix Suns automatic I think they’re doing really well love this guy Booker. He’s doing some great things. He’s like a Donovan Mitchell style you know, very humble and get it done.
Jordan Vargas 38:18
And then we have a actually good game while this there’s been another set. Another set of a great game. The Lakers was the Warriors first there was the next verse of the nets. Now we have a Lakers verse, the Warriors Laker send 25 and 13 worse than that 20 and 19 number the Lakers are in the third spot. I can’t remember what the boys are
Santiago Leon 38:38
but are ninth ninth ninth or the right behind the Mavericks and, and also the Spurs and they’re right there one game ahead of the Grizzlies. So warriors have to get they got beat they gotta beat the Lakers in order for them to go to the playoffs.
Jordan Vargas 38:54
So who do you have Lakers or warriors?
Santiago Leon 38:57
I want for warriors dude. I’m Steph Curry. I’m a believer Steph Curry. I think he can do it. I think he wants this game especially in San Francisco. You got to win home. Yeah, guy went home. How about you we got
Jordan Vargas 39:07
you know the Lakers always kind of going for the underdogs. So I’m gonna go with the Golden State Warriors. For this.
Santiago Leon 39:13
The leg is only favorited by two so it can be anyone’s game.
Jordan Vargas 39:16
It really can be anyone’s game. Anyways. You can follow us on Twitter at the sports cast one and visit our on our website to sports cast on net. Make sure to check out our show schedule throughout the week. This is john Vargas hoops with Jordan. Hope you guys have a good one rock and
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Santiago Leon is the Founder and CEO of the Sports Cast. He covers NFL, NBA, and world soccer. He’s also founder of sleon productions, which he specializes in technology and serves clients with solutions to make their business grow.