LeBron Doesn't Owe Anyone Anything

NBA free agency has come and been wild. It is usually wild, but it feels a little wilder this offseason. There's been a ton of player movement. Some teams have gotten better and others are shedding salaries and starting their rebuilds. One particular player that has been in the conversation as of late is the great LeBron James.

James owes this league and the Lakers nothing at all. He has done so, so much for the NBA in his 20 plus year career. He is an all timer. He is, in my opinion, the second greatest player to ever do it. He should get to pick and choose whatever he wants for the twilight of his career. So, when I turned on "The Zach Lowe Show" the other day, imagine my surprise when Lowe and his guest were outright hating on him. I was absolutely shocked when I heard the things the two of them were saying about LeBron. And the sheer fact that they were trying to tamp down what they said by adding a compliment at the end of their takedown, that just made me laugh. They were basically demeaning James' decision to opt into the final year of his contract with the Lakers. They kept saying things about how he is old and this isn't his team anymore. Lowe's guest sarcastically called James "48 years old". Lowe never once said anything nice about James until he was done putting him down.

This was racking my mind all evening and into today, which is definitely my fault. But I have heard all the hate James has received his entire career, sometimes from myself, and this segment of Lowe's most recent episode just hit me weirdly. After much thought, I think I have landed on why Lowe and guest were so tough on James. It is Luka Doncic. Lowe has always, and I mean always, stumped for white foreign NBA players. He is married to a Bosnian woman and, even during his tenure with ESPN, he has never once said anything really poorly at all when talking about NBA players from there, all of whom are white. And when Doncic ascended to the level he is currently at, Lowe has become his number one supporter. He will go to bat for him all the time. Since the trade to the Lakers, Lowe has made it his mission to demean and drag down Nico Harrison and the Mavericks. He claims to never listen to interviews anymore, but he is consistent with his mockery anytime Harrison is on a mic. He begrudges people who trash Doncic for his lack of defense and ability to stay in shape. He won't hear it. And this all should have clicked yesterday when I heard him mention the age gap between Doncic and James. I should have known then that, at least in Lowe's mind, the Lakers are no longer LeBron's team, they are Luka's team and Lowe is rolling with that, dissenters be damned. So, it makes sense to me now why he, after years of defending LeBron, is now coming down on him so hard. He mocked his age. He said that the Lakers don't need to build around him anymore. He said that he thinks LeBron isn't in it for titles anymore. He basically dragged his name through the mud for about an hour and I was floored. Like I said at the top, LeBron doesn't owe anybody anything. He has put in the time, effort and work to make it where he is today. He has made billions of dollars for the NBA, the Cavs, the Heat and the Lakers. He has given people like Zach Lowe a place to throw his dumbass opinions out there willy nilly. Luka will never achieve what LeBron has achieved, Nikola Jokic will never be the player LeBron has been for 23 years. These guys don't have what it takes, they don't have the will or the want to do the things LeBron has done.

Zach Lowe should never, ever slander a player of LeBron James' caliber especially because he has never done a single thing at the level LeBron has with basketball. I was excited for Lowe to come back to the podcasting world, but since he has become a member of The Ringer, he seems to be just another Barstool hot take moron who doesn't think before he speaks, and that bums me out. I'm still going to listen to his pod, but maybe I won't for much longer if this is going to be his attitude moving forward. 

Ty

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

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

The Earth Is My Treadmill: A Personal Approach to Mindful Running

I don’t use meditation apps. I haven’t taken any formal mindfulness courses. I’ve never been to a retreat or followed a guru. But I run. And when I’m out there, something shifts.

Most of the time I’m alone, just me and my dog, Goat. No headphones. No phone. Just the sound of my breath and the rhythm of our footsteps on the trail.

Somewhere along the way, I started doing this thing. It wasn’t intentional. It just happened. I’d be running, probably lost in some thought about work or parenting or whatever else was chewing on my brain, and then I’d catch myself. In that moment, I’d flip my perspective.

Instead of thinking about myself running forward, I’d imagine the earth rotating beneath my feet. Like I was stationary, and the planet was carrying me along for the ride.

That little shift changes everything. For a moment, I feel completely present. The usual noise in my head quiets down. My body feels aligned with the ground. I stop resisting the motion and let it happen. I stop trying to get somewhere and just exist with what is.

It might sound strange, but it works. At least for me.

I didn’t learn this from a book. No one taught me how to do it. It came from spending enough time moving through the world to notice how much of that movement is mental. Sometimes the trick isn’t to push harder. Sometimes it’s just to look at things differently.

That shift doesn't last forever. Sometimes it only lasts a minute. Sometimes I forget to do it altogether. And sometimes it’s just a regular run, with sweat, sore legs, and Goat diving headfirst into something he shouldn’t. But when I do remember to shift, the whole run feels different. I feel different.

I’m not saying this is mindfulness in the textbook sense. I don’t really care what it’s called. What matters is that it brings me into the moment. Not in a performative way, not to impress anyone, but in a way that feels quiet and real.

Maybe it’s a trick of the mind. Or maybe it’s a way of remembering that we are not separate from the world. We are part of it. Moving and being moved. Running and being carried.

For me, that’s enough.

Kirk Aug

Kirk is a writer, beekeeper and a fellow traveller on spaceship Earth. Follow Kirk on instagram @kirkaug

Thoughts on the NBA Draft

The NBA draft is now over and I have some takes I want to put out in the world today, both good and bad.

First, the bad.

I am kind of stunned at what the Pelicans did. They gave up an unprotected 2026 pick to draft Derik Queen. I love Derik Queen, go look at my draft preview, but they could have gotten him without having to give up what many seem to believe will be a high lottery pick. They also got rid of CJ McCollum in a trade for Jordan Poole. Poole will forever be a legend to me for his shot in the tourney while playing at Michigan. But, save for two seasons, Poole cannot stay in one place too long, he is a ball stopper and he is a zero on defense. I am a little shook by what the Pelicans are doing, but Joe Dumars has built up other franchises before, so maybe he deserves the benefit of the doubt.

The Celtics got rid of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday and brought in Anfernee Simons. They also drafted three dudes I have never heard of. Simons is a good scorer and not much else. Hugo Gonzalez, who they took late in the first round, might be a stash pick. And they will be without their best player, Jayson Tatum, for the next season, maybe more. Maybe they are just using this upcoming season as a bridge year, but I don't get trading Holiday for Simons, other than a salary thing. And Porzingis seemed to be coming into his own when he did play. Much like Dumars, Brad Stevens knows what he is doing, but still, this has been a puzzling offseason to me.

The Nets had a ton of picks, used them all and took some wild, wild shots. The Nets are not going to contend for a while, but you'd think they would try to build in the draft. They took Egor Denim about ten picks too soon. He has upside, but not of the 8th overall pick. Danny Wolf is a big point guard, but he is turnover prone and an iffy outside shooter. Nolan Traore and Drake Powell don't seem like they'll get a ton of early minutes. And I don't know a single thing about Ben Saraf, other than he was the pick before Wolf. The Nets took some swings, hoping that at least one or two of these guys would hit. The problem will be finding real minutes for them during the regular season. Maybe they will trade a ton of their veterans and really go for that first pick next season.

And my team, the Grizzlies, confused me to no end. They need to find a replacement for Desmond Bane and they are going to try that with Cedric Coward. I don't know much about him, but counting on him to be a big contributor as a rookie is asking a lot. Javon Small has potential, but he is small. And I feel like they only took Jahmai Mashack because he is a local kid. I don't really know what they are doing, but I do know that I'm not a big fan of the moves so far.

On to the good.

I mentioned the Pelicans first, the team that benefited from that deal is the Hawks. They recouped more picks, they got Kristaps Porzingis in the deal with the Celtics and they drafted Asa Newell in round one. Newell had lottery potential and the Hawks were able to snag him at 23. He will get to play alongside guys close to his age and a good point guard in Trae Young.

The Mavericks, after a season of making poor decision after poor decision, drafted Cooper Flagg. He is as can't miss as they come in this draft. He has an NBA body, he is ready for the spotlight and he has good teammates when they are healthy. The Mavs need to stay as injury free as they can, but when they won the lottery we all just hoped they would draft Flagg. They did and that was the best choice to make in this draft. This pick could ease the frustration of the trade they made last season.

The Thunder, coming off a title, took two guys that they can slowly develop and who can help replace other players when they sign elsewhere for more money. Thomas Sorber is a force defensively, the Thunder's calling card, and is a shockingly good passer. He is also only 19. And Brooks Barnhizer will get ample time to develop in the G League before coming to the league to provide sparse, but important bench minutes in the future.

The 76ers, who have made horrible decisions as of late, took VJ Edgecombe and plan on keeping him. He is hyper athletic, can make himself fit into a system and seems to love basketball. They were also able to sang Johni Broome in round two, and he will fit right in with the veterans on this team.

Finally, the The Spurs just added more talent that is on the same timeline as Victor Webanyama. Wemby and Dylan Harper are going to be a fun, fun pick and roll combo. And Harper gets to play in the back court with DeAaron Fox, who will be free to use his speed at his leisure now. And Carter Bryant is your prototypical 3 and D guy that every team needs now. The Spurs are coming, as long as they stay injury free.

That's it for the draft. I cannot wait until next season starts. 

Ty

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

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Thoughts on the Kevin Durant Trade

The NBA offseason is off and running. There has already been a plethora of trades the past couple of days. Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday are no longer on the Celtics. Jordan Poole has a new home. I'm sure many more names will be moved the next couple of days, especially tonight because it is night one of the draft. But the one trade I want to talk about today is Kevin Durant to the Rockets.

KD is on another new team again, and he is saying all the typical stuff he has before. I wrote, maybe a week ago, how much I have loved watching KD play basketball, but how tiresome this part of his career has become. He gets unhappy, asks out of wherever he is playing, says he's happy and within six months, he wants to be moved again. I have to believe that he is frustrated how it all played out in Golden State. I have heard he doesn't feel like he got his due credit for helping that team win two rings. Fact of the matter is, KD joined a ready made champion coming off a 73 win season. All he did was make them unbeatable. That team will always be Steph Curry's team, no matter how much KD and his people wanted it to be his team. After he got bored in Golden State he went to the Nets. That obviously didn't work the way they envisioned it would. Then he forced his hand to Phoenix and that blew up in everyone involved faces there. Now he is a member of the Houston Rockets.

The Rockets did have to part with young talent and picks. They let Jalen Green go. I have liked Jalen Green his whole career to this point. Sure, he hasn't developed into the star they thought, but he is still young and hyper athletic. He can also score in bunches. His defense comes and goes, and he needs to work on that. He also let in to the moment during this past playoffs, but he should have many more chances to prove himself. The Rockets also let Dillon Brooks go. I'm not a Dillon Brooks guy, but he is a very good defender. He also knows how to annoy the hell out of opponents. But his act grows thin very quickly and it is not a surprise to me that he is on his third team in four years. The picks are a nice recoup for the Suns, but they only got one first rounder, number 10 in this year's draft. They also got four second round picks.

When I look at this trade from a whole, I do think it has benefits for both teams, but I also think it speaks volumes to KD's value as he continues to age and continues to get more and more grumpy. Even last season I bet the Suns could've gotten much more for him. But here we are. KD is going to be 37. He misses twenty plus games every year now. He is too busy fighting with regular ass people on the internet. The whole act is becoming boring and lame. But, he can still put the ball in the hoop, and that is what the Rockets need. With him, Alpernen Sengun and Amen Thompson, they have three guys that can bring it every night. Jabari Smith Jr should develop even more with all the open space he would find now. And Fred VanVleet is a smart, team playing lead guard and that is what every team wants and needs. As for the Suns, I don't know if they will hang on to either Green or Brooks. If I was those two I'd want to go play where the games actually mean something. The picks are the big deal for the Suns. They need to go into full rebuild mode and not waste time trying to give the team to Jalen Green and let Dillon Brooks be a menace and only win 30-35 games a year. As for the Rockets, this is an okay deal for one season. But, they will have to be ready for KD to flip at a moment's notice. If one thing isn't to his liking, he will become irritated and ask to move yet again, while asking for a big contract extension. The Rockets have to walk a fine, thin line with KD. He also happens to be old and aging out of the league.

Time will tell with this move, but I'm not fully on board with it from the Rockets' end, especially if it doesn't go the way they planned. We shall see. 

Ty

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

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Ty's NBA Draft Preview

The first and second round of the NBA draft starts tomorrow. I don't understand why they are breaking it up over two days, but whatever. I'm going to do my usual "draft preview" today. I'm going to give you five prospects I like, three I'm not so high on and two "sleepers". Props to all these players for making it to this point. They are about to achieve the highest level they can in their profession, and that takes a ton of hard work to do. Now, onto the "preview".

First I'm going to give you my five favorite prospects, starting with Cooper Flagg. Flagg is as can't miss as they come. He can score from outside, drive to the hoop and create offense. He puts forth a ton of effort on defense. He has been in the spotlight for a long time so tv and interviews will not bother him. He is ready for this moment and, even though he went to Duke, I'm excited to watch him play in the NBA. Flagg is going to be awesome. My next prospect I like is Dylan Harper. This kid is going to be an important player his entire career. He is a very good point guard that can also shoot the ball. I know Rutgers wasn't very good last season, but that was not due to Harper's play in the least. He was totally productive. When he missed time, Rutgers struggled big time. Harper can play a little defense as well. Wherever he goes, and it's looking like San Antonio, he is going to be a day 1 starter and contributor. Harper is legit. My next prospect is Derik Queen. Queen is a modern big who can play like an old school big. He single handedly won games for Maryland last season. He was always grabbing boards and initiating offense. He plays with a swagger that most kids his age don't possess. He has the feel of being a 20 point per game scorer from day one. Queen is my favorite prospect in this draft. Next I have Liam McNeely. I know he isn't the "biggest" name, and UConn wasn't the dominant force they have been in the past, but McNeely put in work. He is long and lean. He can shoot and defend. He is a good rebounder and I think, given the right situation, he could be a key player for a decade in the NBA. He does need to bulk up, but he has all the tools to succeed. And my final good prospect is VJ Edgecombe. He is a freak athlete. He can jump out of the gym. His perimeter game is getting better and better. And he is a very good defender at such a young age. He needs to work on ball handling, but that will come with time. He reminds me, in athleticism, of a fitter, younger Zion Williamson, and that is not hyperbole. The dude is one hell of an athlete.

Now to the not so good prospects. First I have Kon Knueppel. I don't understand this rise up the draft boards. He is a fine player, but I do not see lottery pick in him. He has a motor that doesn't stop, but so does everyone else in the NBA. When I look at Knueppel I see a role player as his ceiling. I wouldn't take him as my franchise player. It also helped that he was playing next to Cooper Flagg and Khaman Malauch. He isn't going to find it as easy in the NBA. My next meh prospect is Danny Wolf. Look, I loved every single thing he did at Michigan last season. He really led that team in Dusty May's first season and it was rad to see them make the Sweet Sixteen. But Wolf also frustrated me to no end. He was a turnover machine. He would disappear during games from time to time. His shot never fully developed. I hope I'm wrong here, but I think Wolf would have benefited from one more season at Michigan. My final meh prospect is Ace Bailey. I don't know what's going on with him and his team, but not working out is always a bad sign to me. Add in the fact that he isn't even talking to teams, something funky is going on. While being a great scorer, he is rail thin and almost a zero on defense. Watching him play, he is dynamic, but this silence has been wild. I have heard he wants to start right away, which is fine. But, to essentially ghost these teams is wild to me. And it makes me skeptical of his overall talent.

Finally I have my two "sleeper" prospects. First I have Johni Broome. Sure he is old. Sure he had an odd vertical leap at the combine. Sure he is going to be a late second round pick. But all the kid does is win. He is an incredibly smart and adept basketball player. He knows what he can and cannot do. And I would want a kid like him on my team any day of the week. My other "sleeper" prospect is Walter Clayton Jr. Again, he is another older player, but he was the hub of the team that won it all last year. He is a solid point guard, who can really shoot the three. He also gives it a go on defense, he doesn't take plays off and he, much like Broome, is a proven winner. I would so much rather have him on my team than Knueppel or Bailey. I know exactly what I'm getting if I draft Clayton Jr. And that makes me feel better.

There you have it, my 2025 NBA draft "preview". Take it with a grain of salt and enjoy the draft. 

Ty

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

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Congrats Oklahoma City Thunder

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ty

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

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

I'm Psyched for Game Seven

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

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

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

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

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

Ty

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

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

Thoughts On the Desmond Bane Trade

The Grizzlies and the Magic were involved in a pretty big trade yesterday. My Father's Day morning consisted of my son yelling the trade to me from my bedroom. Let’s discuss.

At first glance, I figured the Grizz were going to shed some salary and get off some guys that they didn't need anymore. I figured Santi Aldama or Luke Kennard were going out the door. Maybe they were trading future picks for immediate help. I didn't really know what to think, but I figured they weren't going to give up on their core guys. I was very, very wrong and have found myself more and more upset as the hours pass and the trade is finalized.

The Grizz traded Desmond Bane away. I don't like it. They need his outside shooting and his overall scoring. He held that team afloat two years ago when Ja Morant missed a ton of time. He was the diamond in the rough in that draft and he was doing good things for Memphis. He was also a fan favorite and I truly adored his game and what he brought to the Grizzlies. And now he is gone and he is going to become an instant fan favorite and a key cog to an up and coming Magic team in the East. The Magic got a guy who can shoot from deep, who can create and who is a gamer. Bane will come in and be a great fit next to Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. When they aren't hitting shots, or when they get to the rim and they're tripled teamed, they'll be able to kick the ball to him in the corner and he will make a ton of shots. He is also a good defender who buys in on that end of the floor. And defense is the Magic's calling card. Bane can slide into the 2 guard spot next to Anthony Black. Those two in the backcourt and Banchero, Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr are a pretty formidable starting five, especially in the East. They have a solid bench unit and they can do more damage than they already have to this point. And Bane tends to stay healthy. He missed very few games with the Grizzlies.

In my eyes this is a homerun trade on the Magic's end. They did have to give up Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony and four first round picks. That may sound like a lot, but let me break down why I'm not so thrilled on my end, being a Grizzlies fan. I really like KCP's defense and shot making, when it is working. He had a rough season last year. I get it, he wanted to get paid and wanted a bigger role and the Magic were more than happy to oblige. But he wasn't getting the open looks and his defense suffered due to more usage on offense. He is older too. I like his presence on the Grizz, but he may be on the back end of his career. I have liked Cole Anthony since his one year at UNC, but he is what he is going to be in the NBA. At best, he is a role playing bench guy. I don't see much of a difference from him when comparing him to Kennard, without the outside shooting but better defense. Anthony can get to the rim, but he isn't an outside shooter. He tries hard on defense, but he gets beat up by bigger guards. He plays with reckless abandon, which I do like, but I don't see him contributing more than energy for this team. The four first round picks look great on paper. Anytime you can get that many picks you almost have to take it. But the Magic are on an upswing. They're a perennial play-in/playoff team at this point. They aren't the Magic of the mid 2010's anymore. They are a good basketball team that will win more than expected because they play in the East. So, while the picks seem nice, they will most likely be late first round picks unless someone key gets hurt for the Magic, and I don't wish that on any team. The Grizz can draft better than a lot of teams, but late first round picks don't always turn out like Desmond Bane. That is going to be hard to recreate.

Looking at all this with a more cynical eye, I feel like the Grizz aren't done yet, and that bums me out even more. I don't think Morant or Jaren Jackson Jr will be on the team next season. If I had to bet, I'd say they let JJJ go. If they do, they better get an absolute haul. I have read rumors about Trae Young, and I want an even bigger fish. And, Young and Morant would be a total zero on defense. If the Grizz are truly moving on from this core, and it seems likely, they need to do it right. I don't want them to fully bottom out. I don't want them to start over. I still have faith in Morant's on court ability, but they need to go about this all very carefully in the front office. I'm not thrilled about them letting Bane go and I'm curious to see what will happen next. I will be watching their offseason even closer now. As for the Magic, they did a good job addressing a need and not having to give up anything super important. 

Ty

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

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

The Pacers are Bringing Back Team Basketball

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ty

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

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

What Does the Media Think of Shadeur Sanders Today?

Before starting my piece today I need to give credit to my dad. Him and I were chatting via text yesterday about the very idea that will be the point of my blog this afternoon. Thank you for the idea you gave me, and if you end up reading this, I hope you find it well done. The idea is, why did the narrative shift so many times on Shadeur Sanders during his last season at Colorado, during the lead up to the draft and now that teams are in OTA's. With each different scenario, the media changed their tune on the kid as if they had whiplash.

I do want to say, from my own perspective, I think Sanders has the tools to be a solid NFL QB. Would I have taken him first overall? Nope. Cam Ward is a superior prospect. But I fully thought he was going to be the second QB taken in the last draft. I didn't know if he was going to a late first or early second round pick. And for him to fall to the fifth round, and have guys like Tyler Shough, Jaxson Dart and Dillon Gabriel all taken before him, that is crazy. He needs to check his ego a bit, but as far as the intangibles go, Sanders has the tools to make a career for himself in the NFL.

Going into his last season at Colorado, the pundits seemed to agree. He was always talked about as a first round prospect. Before the season started, he and Ward were the two guys. But Ward really separated himself pretty quickly into the year. Sanders kept putting up numbers and Colorado played better than expected. But when the lights were brightest, their bowl game and a few big games against ranked opponents, he struggled. The bowl game was about as bad as I had seen him play. Sure, he had no real help from his o line, but still, that game was tough. His stock took a hit, but not as bad as some thought. After that bowl game, the media kind of placed him as the 3rd or 4th best QB prospect. That isn't bad, but a first round guarantee was almost out the door.

The process leading up to the draft is where the media turned. He was labeled arrogant. According to reports he showed up late or uninterested to team meetings. He had this air about him during interviews. He didn't perform at the combine. All these little things that mean so much to the front office, Sanders seemed to think he was too big for them. The media was out for blood at this point. He disappeared from first round mock drafts. The headlines on him were always negative. People started to buy into the fact that maybe they had to "teach him a lesson" come draft day.

When draft day came, boy oh boy did the powers that be try to send a message. When he fell out of the first round, I was surprised, but not shocked. Everything that led to this day that he needed to show strengths, he had shown weakness. But when he kept tumbling down and down and down, I did become stunned. But, outside of Mel Kiper, the people covering the draft seemed to relish this. They didn't talk about his teammate, Heisman winning corner/receiver Travis Hunter being the number 2 overall pick. They let it slide how much better of a prospect Cam Ward was, unless it meant they could show video of the two of them working out that painted Sanders in a bad light. They let it go that other stud players were going to situations perfect for them. The coverage only seemed to focus on the draft slide of Shadeur Sanders, and what it meant to him and his dad. This kid was unfairly ripped to shreds by the media all because the NFL didn't like the way he handled himself in the pre draft process. And even after he was picked, in the fifth round, it became apparent that he was sent to the NFL equivalent of hell, the Cleveland Browns, because that was what he "deserved".

Now with OTA's going on, the narrative has shifted once again. I see headlines about how he could start. I see videos of him making really good throws in practice. Media people say he is the first to show up and the last to leave. Apparently he stays and signs a ton of autographs for fans. The other QBs on the Browns roster don't get this coverage. Dillon Gabriel is already considered a career backup. Kenny Pickett blew his one shot he had in Pittsburgh. And Joe Flacco is just keeping the seat warm until Sanders is ready. The whole idea that surrounded Sanders before the draft, that came from many of the same people covering him now has completely taken a 180.

I'm not here to say people cannot change. I love it when someone turns it around for the better. But the same media people who viciously attacked him the draft, the same people who relished his poor play in the bowl game, the same people that loved his draft slide, now all they can do is talk about how great a fifth round pick who hasn't taken on NFL snap looks in OTA's. It's baffling to me. Shadeur Sanders is getting the same coverage that superstars get. And while he can be great, he has to prove it first before he is the talk of every website on the planet. And to me, this constant shift in narrative is indicative of the ADHD society we live in now. Everyone wants to drag someone down when they are down, and build them back up when they show their worth. They hang onto that until they get tired of it, and then they drag them down again.

I'm sure the second downfall will come soon for Sanders from the media. He will have a rough showing in the preseason and the same people will be ready to write him off until he shows his skills during a different preseason game. It's tough, and it has to be even tougher for these kids to be constantly picked apart by the media. Unfortunately that is the day and age we live in. 

Ty

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

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

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

Is Kevin Durant Worth the Headache?

Kevin Durant is at the front of trade talks yet again. This seems to be the new normal in the latest offseason/NBA Finals NBA news, with the exception being when KD was with the Warriors and they were playing in the Finals. Let’s discuss.

My issue, this is becoming old for me. I love Kevin Durant. KD is one of my all time favorite players. He is one of the most efficient and excellent scorers the game has ever seen. I've been riding with him since he was drafted by the SuperSonics. He is a solid rebounder. He is a good enough defender when willing. He is long and uses that length exceptionally well. He is a surefire first ballot hall of fame player. But, since his second title with the Warriors, he has become this curmudgeon who doesn't seem happy with wherever he is playing basketball. He looked downright miserable when the Warriors won their second title after he signed with them. I have to assume he didn't care for the talk that the Warriors are Steph Curry's team. The bummer for him, that will always be true. Steph is going to go down as the greatest Warrior to play in the NBA when he hangs it up. He more than proved his worth when the Warriors won the title in 2022. Steph is a legend. KD isn't on his level in those regards. When he left Golden State he ended up in Brooklyn, as a perceived packaged deal with Kyrie Irving. Well, we all saw how that unfolded. When they played together they were an offensive juggernaut. And when they added James Harden, man oh man were they fun to watch. But, the pandemic happened and Irving wouldn't get vaccinated, KD was never really healthy and James Harden didn't like carrying the load of the team. Kyrie was traded, then Harden was traded. KD asked out, and when Brooklyn refused at first, KD went scorched Earth. He wanted the head coach and the GM gone. He wanted to make decisions for the team on his own. The Nets eventually relented, firing Steve Nash and then trading KD to Phoenix, his preferred destination. And it has not worked out there at all. The Suns have all but mortgaged their future, owning no real picks or young players for a long time, to build around KD and Devin Booker. They let Mikail Bridges and Cam Johnson go. They traded so many picks to acquire the likes of Bradley Beal. They let a young Deandre Ayton go in exchange for Jusuf Nurkic, who seems washed. The Suns are a mess, and I have to believe a lot of that is due to acquiring KD. But, since the Suns are a bad basketball team at the moment, as is his want and will, KD wants out again.

When looking at potential teams that could get him, I don't think I'd risk my team's future for an oft injured, very often angry 37 year old Kevin Durant. As malleable as he is, he is old, isn't on the court as much as he maybe should be and if he isn't the focal point of a team, I do not think he will be happy. The teams mentioned today that I saw were the Spurs, Rockets, Timberwolves and, apparently now the Pistons are trying to get involved. I would never trade for him if I were the Spurs. They need to build around Wemby and De'Aaron Fox. That is the future of that team, especially Wemby. They don't need touches taken away because KD wants to pour in 30 on any given night. And they'd have to give up too many good young players. No way I team him up with Anthony Edwards in Minnesota. He is firmly the alpha there. That is his team through and through. He is the face of the T'Wolves and there is no reason to rock the boat there at all. They'd also have to give up defense first guys, and that is their identity, with AE being a supernova on offense. The Rockets are building something fun and cool with their young core. Jalen Green, Alpernen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr are the reason to watch that team. And they already have solid vets in Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet. They have no reason to part with the young guys unless they want to shed future money. But why would they do that when they earned the two seed in the West last year? That would be foolish. And the Pistons getting in on this makes the least sense to me. They are young, they play rough, they had their best season in two decades and they seem to be up and coming. There is no reason whatsoever to break up that core and take the ball out of Cade Cunningham's hands. That would be a very bad decision by their front office.

I think, as unfortunate as it may be for KD, he is going to have to stay in Phoenix or take a big, big step back in his usage if they trade. I also do not think Phoenix will get the haul they might expect if they do trade him. KD is 37. He is hurt a lot. He gets angry way too fast and speaks his mind. As much as I like him, and will always love his game, he is on the wrong end of his prime and the time to walk away is going to be here much sooner than any of us think. I'm interested to see how this all plays out though. I'll be watching closely. 

Ty

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

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

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

The Steelers Signed the Wrong Quarterback

The Pittsburgh Steelers must have a death wish or something. I figured they would have kept one of Justin Fields or Russell Wilson, I would have kept Fields, but they let them both walk. And then they didn't draft a QB until the later rounds, and I would have been stunned if that dude started anyway. But now they have the unfortunate addition of Aaron Rodgers.

I don't get why teams keep giving this weirdo a chance. He is 40 now. He is coming off an achilles injury two years ago. He wasn't that good last season. He couldn't even make it work with Davante Adams. Yet the Steelers let the whole offseason drag on and on, with no real choice as the next starting QB, and let Aaron Rodgers dictate when he was going to sign with them.

Mike Tomlin is smarter than this. The front office should be smarter than this. The fans cannot be happy with this choice. I don't understand what people need to see from Rodgers, on and off to the field, to realize this dude is totally washed. He was washed in 2021 if you want my opinion. But nope, the Steelers seem to think he has one more run in him. I even saw a Bleacher Report article that had Rodgers and DK Metcalf next to one another and it said something to the tune of "how explosive will this offense be in 2025"? I couldn't help but laugh when I saw it. And, even though I don't usually read comments, the comment section did not disappoint. There were some solid ones on there, but the best was the most used, which read, "they will definitely have a top 32 offense". For those that don't know, there are 32 teams in the NFL. I love the simplicity of those comments.

Taking an even longer look at this signing, and how I think it plays out for Pittsburgh, Rodgers is going to get murdered behind their mediocre line in their division. The Bengals, while not the best defense, have guys that can rush the passer. The Ravens will not only be able to easily rush the passer, but the secondary will also be picking off passes left and right. And the Browns, while having a horrendous offense, do have a semi competent defense, and Myles Garrett should feast on the d line. Rodgers is going to be running for his life. Oh, that's right, he cannot run anymore. He is about as immobile as they come at the QB position. He can't really move too much behind the line anymore. That was a decent part of his game until 2020.

All the football stuff aside, Rodgers is going to be playing for another blue blood franchise with a heralded head coach. His diva stuff isn't going to fly in Pittsburgh. Russell Wilson had that image, yet we heard nothing about it last season, and Wilson kind of revamped himself a bit. Fields never really figured it out at his first stop, but he did a solid job of filling in for Wilson and turned it into a good deal with the Jets this offseason. The problem with Rodgers, he is so narcissistic and so egomaniacal. He only cares about himself. Everyone who does him wrong he considers an "enemy". He is a liar, a drug addict and has no one around him that isn't a yes man. Mike Tomlin is not going to have a good time dealing with Rodgers nonsense. Tomlin is not a yes man. He shouldn't have to deal with Aaron Rodgers bs. Tomlin is bigger and better than that. If I were him, I'd leave right now. He has done everything he can for Pittsburgh and he has earned the right to leave when he wants. And with this front office giving in to Rodgers and his cronies should be more than enough for Tomlin to hang it up.

I don't like this for Pittsburgh and I wish Aaron Rodgers would hang his cleats up. He is a diva and a nuisance now. He offers nothing in the way of making his team a true competitor. His career is as washed as his conspiracy theories. This is a bad, bad look for a defining NFL franchise. 

Ty

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

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

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

What the Hell are the Knicks Doing?

Why, when the Knicks finally become a relevant team again, do they continue to do the same old nonsense. When I read that they had relieved Tom Thibodeau of his head coaching duties, I thought it was a misprint. It had to be a typo was the thought running through my brain.

Why would the Knicks let the head coach go that has given them the most success in 25 years? Without Thibs, they don't hire Rick Brunson and they don't acquire Jalen Brunson. Without Thibs, Mikail Bridges is still on the Nets, begging to be with the Knicks. Without Thibs, they don't pull the trigger and make the trade for Karl Anthony Towns last offseason. Without Thibs, the Knicks are not a perennial playoff contender. Without Thibs, the Knicks don't come close to sniffing the East Finals. I understand that a lot of other stuff led them to where they got this season, but the head coach was at the front of it all.

I cannot believe there were some legitimate sports writers applauding this move and saying it is a good thing for the sport. That is utterly absurd to me. I have had my issues with Tom Thibodeau in the past. I thought the Timberwolves were foolish to give him the role as GM as well as head coach when they hired him. I believe he plays his starters way too many minutes. I do think he takes every single regular season game too seriously. And I will go to my grave believing he was playing Derrick Rose way too much, and he sped up Rose's first bad knee injury. All of that is true, but so is the stuff I mentioned prior to that. And Thibs was the perfect fit in New York, especially with this roster and this coaching staff.

As for where they go from here, who knows. When I saw some early names being floated I laughed at some of them. Tom Izzo and John Calipari are college guys, and Calipari is only truly good at recruiting high school kids. His X's and O's coaching leaves a ton to be desired. Jay Wright seems way too comfortable on tv, and why would he want the headache of being the head man for the Knicks at this point in his life? Michael Malone, who I like, is pretty much a clone of Thibodeau, except he lets a few more of his bench players play. He is just as gruff and will fight even more with the front office. So who does this leave the Knicks left to search for? No one in a comfortable situation would leave to coach in New York. JB Bickerstaff has a good thing going in Detroit. Kenny Atkinson needs to prove he can win more than one playoff series with the Cavs. Steve Kerr may well retire whenever Steph leaves Golden State. Taylor Jenkins needs to take a less prestigious head job to get back on his feet. I just don't see already established head coaches jumping at this job.

I also have to mention the front office, most notably team owner James Dolan. Shouts out to RD for mentioning this to me earlier today. Who in the hell in their right mind would want to coach the Knicks while he still owns the team. He had to be the driving force in letting Tom Thibodeau go. I'm sure he made a bunch of excuses related to thinking Thibs didn't do a good job. Thibs did a great job. Like I said at the top, he made the Knicks relevant again for the first time since Carmelo Anthony was playing there.

I hate this new era with how cutthroat it is for coaches in the NBA. Guys, good guys who understand the game come and go so quickly now, and it is frustrating as hell. Unless the Knicks can get a younger version of Greg Popovich or Phil Jackson, they're going to take a major, major step back next year, and I bet they will miss Thibs so much more than they realize right now. This is crummy news and it is, dare I say, unfair to Tom Thibodeau. 

Ty

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

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

Ty Predicts the NBA Finals

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ty

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

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

Can The Thunder Be Beat?

After watching the Thunder-Timberwolves game last night, I don't think there is a team left that can compete with the Thunder. Let’s discuss.

The Thunder look like they might have a cakewalk through the finals no matter who the opponent ends up being. This is no disrespect to the Pacers, Knicks or Timberwolves. The Thunder look damn near unbeatable at the moment. They may have already had their toughest series, last round against the Nuggets. It took them seven games to dispose of Denver, but game seven of that series showed me pretty much all I needed to see. They had a rough first quarter in that game, and then they totally ran away with it. I believe they won that game by 30 plus points. And they have easily disposed of the Timberwolves in the first two games of the West Finals. I have been rooting for the Timberwolves ever since the Thunder cruised against my team in round one, the Grizzlies. I'm a big Anthony Edwards fan, Julius Randle has always had a fan in me and I like their head coach. But, there is little the T'Wolves can do because this Thunder team is deep, their defense is elite, they can score in a ton of ways and everything has led them to this moment.

The Thunder are relentless on both ends of the floor. I know people complain about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the fact that he may or may not "foul bait", but that is part of the modern game. If SGA can get to the line 10-12 times a game that is an extra 10-12 points per game for the team. That is smart basketball and every big time player does it in the league now. Until the refs decide to stop buying in, it is going to become more and more of an issue and every player will do it anyway. That is the current nature of the game.

SGA also happens to be awesome at basketball. He is the MVP after all. But it isn't just him. Lu Dort is a solid three point shooter, and one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. He is like a tank trying to move, and he is constantly going for the steal. Alex Caruso is much of the same, and he can guard anyone, be they a point guard or a center. He guarded Nikola Jokic in game seven of the last round. Chet Holmgren is still skin and bones, but the dude can block shots and make threes when given the chance. Aaron Wiggins is replicating what his brother did for the Warriors during their Finals run in 2022. Cason Wallace is earning big time minutes on the best team in the league as a rookie. He is a hound on defense and he is making great decisions on offense. Isaiah Joe is liable to hit three or four threes a night on very limited minutes. Isaiah Hartenstein was a massive addition last offseason, and that move is paying dividends at the best possible time. Jalen Williams has been kind of up and down during this run offensively, but he has brought it every night on defense, and when he is on offensively, you may as well call it a night if you are their opponent. Teams usually trim their roster down during the playoffs to six or maybe seven guys. The Thunder are still playing damn near ten dudes every night, thus keeping the integral players healthy, rested and ready when they need them most.

I'm in awe of the way they're playing right now, and it is primarily their defense. The offense has done enough, but the defense is literally winning them games. They're constantly in passing lanes, they go for steals all the time, they get blocks at a consistent rate, they hamper what the other team wants to do and they frustrate them to no end. They are showing everyone that defense truly wins titles.

The series, and playoffs for that matter, are far from over. But, it damn near looks inevitable that the Thunder will win the first title in their short run as a franchise. This team has made all the right moves, drafted good fits and hired the right coaches. All of that should end up with them winning the chip in a few short weeks. 

Ty

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

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

The Pacers are Crazy Good

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

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

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

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

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

Ty

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

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

Thoughts on Where Giannis Should Play Next

The Bucks have had two straight seasons full of injuries and unmet preseason expectations. Let’s discuss.

I thought, wrongly it now appears, that Dame and Giannis would make for a damn formidable duo. They have done that at times, but more often than not, they have been misused, poorly coached and, most often, injured. It hasn't worked out at all in Milwaukee. Jrue Holiday was a much more important piece, Khris Middleton never returned to form and the rest of the cast is old or a bad fit. Trading for Kyle Kuzma was also a very poor decision by this front office. This has not worked out. I was wrong.

So, for the first time in his career, it looks like Giannis may want out of Milwaukee. And I cannot blame him. A while back I wrote about how I'd love it if he stayed in Milwaukee for his whole career. I thought it would be cool for him to do it all in a small market. He has an MVP. He has a title. I'd pick him over any current player if I were starting a team today. I personally think he is the best current player in the NBA. He averages over 30 points per game. He gets 10 rebounds every game. And he is a wonderful defender. Giannis does it all, stays relatively quiet, he's confident, not cocky, his teammates seem to like him and he is a great, great basketball player. So, how everything has gone down since the Dame trade, maybe it is time for Giannis to be looking elsewhere to finish out his career. And I think there's one team where he could be a seamless and perfect fit.

I don't think that it's the Rockets. The Rockets can put together a nice package, but the fit in Houston with Giannis makes very little sense to me. The Rockets, for the most part, are young. Amen Thompson, Alpernen Sengun and Jalen Green are babies in NBA terms. So is Jabari Smith Jr. These are, and should be the core of this team going forward. They'd have to trade one, maybe two of those guys to get Giannis. That is a ton to part with from a team who was the two seed in the West this season. And, while they have picks to trade, with this team being good now, they're going to late first round picks. When/if the Bucks trade Giannis, they are going to have to try and recoup picks. They don't have many, and if they are going to do a rebuild, they need picks and they need those picks to be early/lottery picks. The Rockets are good now. Those picks won't be what the Bucks need/want.

I've heard both LA teams are in contention if Giannis asks out, but what do they have to truly offer the Bucks? The Clippers don't really have the young dudes the Bucks would want in a potential deal, and they don't have many picks either. The Lakers would have to part with their coveted 2027 and 2028 picks. They would also have to give up on Austin Reaves, who they love for some reason, and Dalton Knecht. No shade to Bronny James, but he doesn't command the trade market like Knecht. Outside those two guys, who are the Lakers willing/able to give up in a potential Giannis trade? Gabe Vincent is not the same player he was in the bubble. Rui Hachimura is wildly inconsistent. I don't think Reaves will do anything of note not playing with LeBron. It doesn't make sense for the Bucks to do a deal with the Lakers unless Luka or LeBron are in the trade.

The Knicks don't really need Giannis. This is no disrespect to Giannis. He will make any team he may go to instantly better. In the Knicks current case, they have a good team that makes sense. Everyone plays their role on this team and they play it really well. It all meshes and they don't need to rock the boat right now.

The team that makes the most sense, and if Giannis were to leave Milwaukee, I'd like to see him go to San Antonio. The Spurs could add Giannis to a lineup with DeAron Fox and Victor Webanyama. They wouldn't have to trade either of them. Giannis would speed up the Spurs timeline in an instant. He would give the new coach a much needed bump. Sure, the Spurs would have to give up the number 2 pick in the upcoming draft, maybe even the number 9 pick, and a player like Keldon Johnson or Devin Vassell. They may even have to throw in Jeremy Sochan. But, to get a guy like Giannis, and add him to a starting five that includes Wemby and Fox, holy hell does that make a formidable team. Wemby is already a top notch defender and his offense was beginning to blossom before he got hurt. Fox is fast and smart and a willing passer. Out of the three guys they may have to trade, let's say they get to keep Sochan. He adds a big ball handler and a ferocious rebounder. Or if they get to keep Vassell, they have a ready-made guard alongside Fox. They also may even get to keep Stephon Castle, who is coming off a Rookie of the Year win.

This makes too much sense if Giannis wants out of Milwaukee. The Spurs would shoot up the power rankings in an instant. And it keeps Giannis in a smallish market. If Giannis does eventually ask out, I hope he finds his way to San Antonio. That would be an ideal spot for him to finish out his NBA career, playing next to Wemby. That is a basketball match made in heaven. 

Ty

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

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

Thoughts on Jayson Tatum's Injury

It looks like Jayson Tatum has a pretty serious injury. He got hurt near the end of the Celtics-Knicks game last night, and it did not look good. There have been no real reports or updates as of now, but I would venture to guess he tore his ACL.

This bums me out. By no means am I a Celtics fan. I have always rooted against them. I don't like them, most of their fans and their smug attitude. I always rooted for whoever was playing against them, and I still do. Go Knicks. But, I do like Jayson Tatum. He is from Saint Louis. He has an attitude that I like from a pro athlete. I feel like he is never seriously talked about as a top five player, and that's bogus to me. Tatum is most definitely a top five player, and there's only one, maybe two guys I'd take before him if I were starting a team today. He is an efficient offensive scorer. He can get to the rim and shoot the three. He is also a great free throw shooter. What separates him from other so called superstars, he is also a great defender. He cares about defense and he plays hard on that end of the floor. He goes 100 percent all the time and has not missed much time since he made his way to the NBA. Tatum is an underappreciated star, much like Tim Duncan. So this injury is really going to mess stuff up and I'm going to miss watching him play the game of basketball for what is most likely going to be more than a year. 

His injury bums me out for other reasons too. Tatum is a fun modern player for me to watch. He does play the game how most do now, putting up a ton of threes, but he also does some old school stuff too, and he does it well. He has a wonderful mid range game. He can get to the hoop. He is a solid dunker. He is a good passer who is seemingly always making the right decision. I mentioned his solid defense earlier. Tatum is so good and quiet about how good he is at basketball. He doesn't need to be boastful or on the internet talking about how great he is. He lets his game do the talking, and I really like that about him. He is also a good father. He has his son with him all the time and he is always doing stuff with him. I like how he promotes his kid and wants what is best for him. He seems like a natural fit as a dad, and being a dad myself, that is a relief to see from such a big time player. It is also clear that Tatum loves this game and is always trying to get better. I feel like he is always trying to find something to better his game. He wants to find a way to get an edge. That reminds me of the old school players who did what it took to become the best.

Tatum is not satisfied. He has a ring, but it is clear he wants more. He wants to get accolades too, but he wants to win above all else. That is refreshing to see in a young, modern superstar. Tatum loves the game and it shows. I like that from NBA players. Seeing this injury, and pondering the fallout, this stinks. He is too good a player and a person to be gone from the NBA for over a year. I wish this weren't the case, but here we are. Heal up and get better soon Jayson Tatum, the NBA needs you. 

Ty

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

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

Thoughts on the Coaching Retirement of Gregg Popovich

Greg Popovich is stepping down as the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs and taking a front office job. This is truly the end of an era. Let’s discuss.

As long back as I can remember watching basketball, Popovich has been a steady presence. He became the head coach of the Spurs in 1996. I was 14 years old. This was right about the time I was becoming a serious fan of the NBA. I had always watched, but late middle school/early high school was a pivotal time in my fandom, and Popovich was the common thread all the way through to now. Pop is a five time NBA champion as a head coach. He won Coach of the Year three times, it should have been so many more. He coached the all star team four times, that is given to the coach of the team with the best record in their conference at the time of the all star break. He coached the men's Olympic team twice.

Popovich is, in my personal opinion, the greatest basketball coach of all time. He got absolutely everything he could out of his players. People may throw out Phil Jackson or John Wooden as the best head coach. I know Erik Spoelstra is looked at as one of the better coaches of the modern era. Joe Mazzula is leading the charge in this era. But I would so much rather have Coach Pop than any of those guys. Yes, Pop has coached hall of fame players. Tim Duncan is the greatest power forward of all time. David Robinson is one of the best centers to ever play the game. And Manu Ginobli was the best 6th man that the NBA has ever seen. But those three guys were drafted and brought up in the Spurs system. Robinson had other coaches, but he thrived under Pop. Tim Duncan more than helped to usher in the post Robinson era, and a lot of that was due to Pop and his staff. Ginobli was a late round pick that was developed. They traded for Kawhi Leonard on draft night and Pop used him perfectly as a young player. He was a defensive stud from day one, and Pop knew that. He also knew he needed to develop a jump shot, so Pop went out and got one of the better shooting coaches ever. The Kawhi Leonard we say today, when healthy, was made under Pop and crew. Bruce Bowen was the first "3 and D" guy that I remember. He was a hellish defender and he could knock down shots. Pop noticed this in the process. Sean Elliot was another one of the hellish defensive wings that played under Pop who grew into a champion. Tony Parker became a household name after being a late first round pick and learning the NBA under Pop's tutelage. Danny Green was their younger version of Bowen and Elliot late in the Spurs title runs. You go up and down the list of these guys, none of whom besides Duncan and Robinson truly stand out, and Pop coached them to championships and got all that he could out of them.

Pop is also widely respected by everyone around the league. The players, the other coaches and the front offices all wish they could have had Pop as their head coach. When the Spurs won the lottery a few years ago, Pop and Victor Webanyama were a match made in basketball heaven. Players like to go have wine and nice dinners with Pop. I have never run into an NBA fan that doesn't like Pop. Pop is outsoked on social justice issues. He was a fan of the Women's march in 2017. He endorsed Joe Biden in 2020. He is a good dude on and off the court. He clearly knows right from crazy and crazy from sympathetic. He works with multiple charities and donates his time and money. Pop is a good, decent human being.

And he is not totally leaving the NBA. He is going to stay on in the Spurs front office, but it will be weird to not see him on the sidelines anymore. I'll miss watching him coach the Spurs. He is such a presence and a legend of the game. But, I also get why he is doing this now. He had a stroke this year, and being an NBA head coach does not seem like a relaxing job. He can still help to make decisions and help the players out, he will be doing it on his own time now. I'll be curious to see where the Spurs go from here, I wouldn't be surprised if this is almost a done deal from Michael Malone. But, Greg Popovich has done more than enough for the game of basketball and he has earned the right to leave his position as the head coach.

I wish nothing but the best for him and see him still making the Spurs a perennial contender in the NBA. All Pop does is win, and I don't see that changing now. 

Ty

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

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

Taking Joy in the Lakers Failures

The Lakers were officially eliminated from the NBA playoffs last night and I have come to the site today to be the biggest Lakers hater you can find. I

want to start off by first going at JJ Reddick. I knew, deep in my soul, that he was going to show the world how unprepared and under qualified he was to be an NBA head coach. He took the wrong step at every turn in this series. He was so vastly outcoached by Chris Finch that it was glorious for me to watch. His substitution patterns were all wrong, he played his starting five for an entire half, including never resting 40 year old LeBron James and he moaned and groaned whenever the media would call him out on his poor decisions and poor coaching techniques. Reddick is a fraud, shouldn't be anywhere near a coaches bench in the NBA and, even while coaching a team to the 3 seed in the West, he proved how bad a decision it was for the Lakers front office to hire him as a head coach. He got his ass whooped up and down the floor by Finch and his staff and I loved every single second of it. It was schadenfreude for me in all its gloriousness.

Next, every single media person who crushed the Mavs and Nico Harrison and the front office for the trade, how do you feel now? Yes, this was a massive, massive trade, but both teams are out of the playoffs and they both went out unceremoniously. Neither the Mavs nor the Lakers made anything out of the trade. Sure, the Lakers won some games late in the regular season and looked like they might be on the precipice of making a playoff run, but they were easily ousted by the Timberwolves. The Mavs won one play-in game and then were bounced by the Grizzlies. Anthony Davis limped off the floor in that game and it seems like he may be hurt going into next year. Each team had one win during the play-in/playoffs. Each team looked overmatched with their opponent. Each team is already on to the offseason. As far as the on court results, this trade is basically moot. And the prize of the trade, Doncic, was exposed as the poor defender he has always been in the NBA and his offense, which some people have referred to as "genius", was not that good at all in five games. He looked tired, overmatched and not engaged. People will make excuses for him, that is what major media does now with this guy for some reason, but what I saw on the court was not great. He is never in shape and he doesn't really seem engaged unless he is the focal point of the team he is playing for.

LeBron, for the first time in his wonderful career, looked old. He just couldn't keep up with the young guys on the Timberwolves. He looked gassed, especially after the game where he played the entire second half. He says he isn't sure if he will be back next season, I don't buy it, but this is the first time I've seen him look old. He is too good to go out now, but add another year for him and the playoff push might be a little too much for him. I don't want to see it happen, but father time is undefeated.

Finally, I want to shout out Rudy Gobert. He was magical in last night's closeout game. He ended the night with 27 points and 24 rebounds. He dominated the Lakers on both ends of the floor. Prior to this series he was a laughingstock and the main talking point of who was going to be played off the floor first. Even during game 2, Luka Doncic had the gall to hit a three pointer on exclaim, "sub him out". All Gobert did after that was play pretty great defense and had what is most likely his best game as a pro last night. He has a ton of flaws, and his attitude when the NBA shut down due to Covid will always anger me, but a little part of me was so stoked to see him dominate the way he did last night and to do it all in Doncic's smug, stupid face. I loved it. It was glorious, hilarious and awesome. Gobert is often an afterthought, but he changed that narrative last night. He actually has help defensively on the perimeter and he is able to get back to his defense that we all saw when he was on the Jazz.

I know that I'm being a hater, and I'm sure some people will let me know how much of a hater I am in the comments, but this is great for me. The Lakers bowing out like this in the first round as the higher seed is just like watching Duke get beat in the men's NCAA tournament or the Cowboys blowing a playoff game or the Yankees blowing it in the World Series. I love to hate this team and that will never change. Now I can watch the playoffs with joy. Thank you Timberwolves, thank you so much. 

Ty

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

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.