Double Play Friday

The Cast

by The Fillerbuster

May 10^th, 2024 (ten minutes before the Nuggets game)

Like the radio stations do, sometimes it is a double play day.  I already copied and pasted my impromptu Nuggets-Rocky motivation speech, so that is pretty much said.  I am sitting at Atomic Cowboy, about to get the best burger in the world while being kicked out of the house for two hours for my wife’s high school girlfriends’ meeting about their upcoming Europe trip.  Anyway, here we go.  Posted 10 minutes before the Nuggets game starts…not really edited.

NBA:

• I forgot to mention in my LinkedIn spitball that Jokic might be extra motivated on Friday.  The way Shaq said hello (by telling him he shouldn’t have gotten the award) was another reason why Shaq only works on TV if he has Ernie, Chuck, and Kenny in a direct conversation.  Otherwise, he is the Big Distraction.
• We know he is a good dude, but I DO really wish Jamal would have just taken 120 seconds and apologized to the world about tossing the heating pad on the court.  Lucky he is playing, and he could still be the world’s loveable playoff hero dude.  Now, there is an asterisk.
• Sort of flip flopped in two dicey situations.  Patrick Beverly did something SO much worse, and apologized.  Jamal did something unique and also rude in a different way, but didn’t apologize.  He better be hitting a couple more game winning buzzer beaters to win our hearts back.
• The Nuggets odds to win the title tonight before the game were +1600.  I didn’t go ALL the way in with a bill, but I went halfway.  I halfway believe basically, and am willing to bet a little more when they tie it up at 2-2.
• I hope Michael Porter doesn’t have too many more brothers.  I couldn’t find that in any of the arrest articles I read.
• The NBA doesn’t have a Conn Smythe for the WHOLE playoffs, but Jalen Brunson would be #1, and Anthony Edwards would be #2 as of right now.
• Whatever happens in either the East or West, this playoffs will be remembered for injuries to Lillard, Giannis, Butler, and others, and Steph and LeBron for not being in them.
• By the way, I have been loving seeing Damian, Steph, and LeBron commercials when they are out of the playoffs.
• Let me get this straight.  Durant, Beal, and Booker are a created SuperTeam.  Beal disses Vogel, who is a title winning coach, on a fist bump, they exit first round, and Vogel is the one who gets the hook?  Then, they will probably bring in Mike Budenholzer, who ALSO is a title winning coach and got fired too soon?  Hilarious stuff down in Phoenix.
• I like the idea I heard.  If LeBron keeps getting coaches fired, and if he is hanging out until he plays with his son, and if he is calling the shots behind the doors anyway, then why doesn’t HE just be the coach?  Player coaches have existed.  Over it.
• One other thing that I didn’t put in my LinkedIn post.  Anthony Edwards and Minnesota WILL have their time.  Just not yet, OK?  He DOES have many traits that MJ and Kobe possessed.
• If Luka can find a way to be about 15% less ball-centric, and maybe if they add another semi-star, then that team is going to be GOOD.  Listen, they will always regret letting Jalen Brunson go in a way, but somehow Dallas has made Kyrie Irving…a little…normal?
• I get the play.  Rick Carlisle is no dummy.  But, I would have done the ref play after the FIRST game when they still had a game at MSG.  And, maybe someone can tell the Pacers that the early 2000’s Suns didn’t work with a really great offense and no defense for a reason.
• Everyone loves Jimmy Butler.  If you think you don’t, you are lying to yourself.  He is talented, tough, fun, and has personality out the door.  But, when the Godfather (Pat Riley), calls you out, you did something wrong.  Jimmy did.  Jimmy called out the teams who advanced when he A) wasn’t on the court getting beat and B) wasn’t even on one of the teams that got beat.
• I feel like making a Seinfeld reference but will back off.  TOO easy.
• Now, I feel like making a White Men Can’t Jump reference.  Too many jokes.
• Now, I feel like making a Friends reference.
• Moving on.
• All that being said about the Heat, know this.  What the Heat and Sixers add (and can) will change the entire landscape of the East.
• And, overall, let’s remember that Ja Morant will be back next year.  That team will be a 2-5 seed once again.  He is too good, and will be PISSED that Ant is becoming the new face of the NBA.

NHL:

• Wow, two things on the Avs.
  • A: Glad they are good, but they DO know that the first period is important, right?
  • If they win it this year (and, by the way, they have home ice advantage on the Stars right now and the Canucks will be a breeze), they possibly could be a semi-dynasty without even having a single good goaltender.

NFL:

• The NFL Draft is old news now.  But, I will comment that Kirk Cousins will act upset about the Penix draft pick, but he is set for life financially.  And, I will comment that the Steelers drafting THREE offensive lineman after an offseason of adding skill players, means…they care about protecting the new Russell Wilson (or Justin Fields if you are not an optimist like me).  And, I will comment that Sean Payton has just simply attached himself to Bo Nix.  He really couldn’t chance the Raiders snagging the final QB, but still reached for the pick.  The QB Whisperer is now connected to Bo.
  • More interesting than Bo Nix starting is the backup battle.  You have an overpaid Stidham and a #2 washout pick in Wilson.  You aren’t keeping BOTH…  Unless you are a hoarder like I am with my clothes.  I am so curious who gets let go.
• No, I haven’t sat down and watched the full Tom Brady Roast.  I have read enough and seen enough snippets to feel like I watched it, and it looks good, but I will comment another time.
• Need more reasons to fall in love with the newfound success of the Detroit Lions?  Got one.  I work from home, so the TV is just simply on in the background.  I subconsciously listened to an entire special on Mr. Goff, and his work in the community, and it almost made ME switch teams.  But not really.   Steelers until I die, folks.

MLB:

• The Angels stink.  Trout is hurt again.  Let’s all watch the movie Déjà Vu with Denzel.  Very confusing movie, by the way.
• Well, I am a smart guy, but all time travel movies throw me for a loop.  Anyway…
• Raise your hand if you thought the Astros would be good.  You are lying if you say you raised it.  You were saying hi to someone in the other room.
• I am not doing that bad in betting ANY team at -1.5 runs against the Rockies.  If you tagteam that with Dodgers -1.5 against anyone, you are having a decent year.
• They are already making a TV series about the Ohtani-Interpreter situation.  Wow, that was fast, or…we are running out of ideas for TV shows.

COLLEGE:

• John Calipari leaving UK blew my mind.  Him making a LATERAL move to Arkansas was more mind blowing.  Now, I hear he is rethinking his method.  And he is right.  Listen, that guy has only won one title, but he has enough NBA players from his teams to start their OWN NBA franchise and not do too bad.
• I love Deion Sanders.  I love what he did last year at a local school that had won a title but lost its Mojo.  But, he IS getting a little carried away.  I admit it.  I am surprised about a couple of the defections.  He is pissing SOMEONE off within those walls.  He will either blow peoples’ mind next year…or blow the program up.

MISCELLANEOUS:

• I didn’t even want to bet the Kentucky Derby this year.  But, one look at the horse names, and my wife and I invested a couple of bucks.  Nothing.  Aside from two boxed trifectas between the two of us in 14 years, we got nothing.  I just want that feeling of predicting someone being a mudder (Seinfeld) and picking something exactly right.  I thought I was home this year with Just Steel, and Lukas as the trainer.
• The WNBA is investing $25 million in getting the ladies to games in charter flights.  About freaking time.
• Caitlin Clark just had her home debut in the WNBA.  Listen, I love her and what she has done for the sport.  She should have stayed in school one more year, exploded that record to unbreakable, made more NIL money, and tried to become the best of all time by also winning a title.  Not giving it to her, folks.  Maya, Rebecca, Candace…I could go on and on.
• Besides Eddie Van Halen dying, I can’t imagine what I would feel if Snoop or Dre died.  They got the rights to the Arizona bowl game.  Just put that on my bucket list immediately.  They will revolutionize what a non playoff bowl game brings.
• Got a feeling, folks.  I will be going big on Brooks Koepka in the PGA Championship.  Maybe a couple wishful bucks on Tiger and Mr. Day.

That’s it.  Got to eat my burger and watch the Nuggets start the big comeback.  As one shepherd said to the other, let’s get the flock out of here.