13 Rules: NBA Random Thoughts - June 22, 2024

[00:00:01] Alright, for the final time in the 2023-24 NBA season, it's time to talk basketball. I'm Jose Salviati, editor at ThePeachBasket.com. I'm Steve Percello, a longtime high school basketball coach, educator, vice principal and athletic director.

[00:00:15] And this is the 13 Rules Random NBA Thoughts podcast, the best 15 minutes of random NBA thoughts online. This is your first time listening. Welcome. We're glad you found us. This podcast was born out of the content and Steve's random NBA thoughts articles, which he publishes weekly.

[00:00:30] Steve and I have exactly 15 minutes to discuss what's on his mind around the NBA. Today we'll discuss his latest 13 Rules Random NBA Thoughts article with an obvious focus on the NBA finals and the 18-time NBA world champion, Lawson Seltzer. Steve, are you ready? Alright, let's start the timer.

[00:00:51] Well, actually before I start the timer, I got to ask because when I first... This is off the clock, but I got to ask. The very first few sentences in your article was, congratulations to the world champion Lawson Seltzer.

[00:01:07] And I got to ask you, did you enjoy writing that? Yeah, I guess I did. I enjoyed the process of watching them through the years get better. But yeah, of course it was nice. The champions just back where it belongs so I do enjoy it.

[00:01:25] That is a little extra credit. We're going to start the timer now. Alright, let's see. Interesting, we're going to start with the Boston Celtics. They did win it all for the 18th time and pretty convincingly, I mean, they did

[00:01:42] have that one loss and it was an impactful one. And you called it out, right? You call that the one negative for the 2024 NBA champs was that 40 point loss. So it got me to thinking, right? The Boston Celtics have got a great history in the NBA.

[00:02:00] Where does this 2023-2014 team rank? If you were to rank the Boston Celtics Hall of Fame, the best Boston Celtics team of all time, taking into account they lost an NBA finals game by more than any other team that's ever lost a game in the NBA finals.

[00:02:17] Where does this team rank? Well they don't compare to the 86 team. This team probably has three, maybe Horford, four Hall of Famers. That team had five, counting Bill Walton. So in that way, right away, that tells me something.

[00:02:34] I also think, I don't think, I think Tatum's very good. I think Jaylen Brown is very good. I don't know if they don't come close to Bernd who's probably the best player of the 80s or one of the best players, I'll say that.

[00:02:45] You know, and when you had Parrish and McHale, it's pretty difficult. I don't think Tatum and Brown are comparable with Bernd and McHale. So, and then we didn't even mention Dennis Johnson. So, you know, they're a good team for modern basketball because with the salary cap rules

[00:03:03] and all the different rules that go with it, it is almost impossible to put a team together as good as those teams. Yeah. You know, you have to pay two guys big money. Boston's paying five guys big money. So it's very difficult. You have to find a bench.

[00:03:21] I think that was Denver's downfall this year. Right. So all those factors work into it, but they are the best team put together right now in the NBA. It's an interesting point. Before we go on to the second talking point, I want to dive into this a little

[00:03:37] bit because, I mean, we talked a little bit about this before, but yeah, when you think back to those 80s teams, not just Boston's, but the Lakers team, you had five guys that were legitimate Hall of Famer.

[00:03:49] I mean, you just, you can't see that anymore because of a variety of different reasons. I mean, I hate to be that guy, right? You know, back in my day, Guy, we talked about this before, but are we ever going to see those kind of super teams again?

[00:04:06] It doesn't sound like it. With the salary cap, I don't see it because, you know, usually you put two guys max money, you don't have money left. So I don't see it. I don't, I think like, Boston's got a couple year window to win a couple, but

[00:04:23] you know, it's not easy. No injuries, nothing and going wrong. Otherwise you're out. And, you know, when we saw Boston was so good this year, so much better, Porzingis being hurt and hurt. You know, they were still able to add plenty to win these games.

[00:04:40] So Porzingis is a really great player, but you know, they were that good. Let me ask you this, were they as good as any of those teams back in the older days? This 2020-24 Celtics team?

[00:04:59] You're asking if the Celtics team was as good as any team back in the 80s? 80s, 90s, yeah. You know what really impressed me about this team? Two things. They're a team, right? And by that I mean, they're short lapses, which I think every team has.

[00:05:16] They know each other really well. They know their strengths. They know how to play off of each other. They're a very good basketball team, a collective unit. That's what Denver had last year. And I see that in Boston.

[00:05:28] And, you know, I think back to the 80s teams that were really special, you know, Magic and Kareem had that connection. There was a team emphasis there. Boston has that. And the other thing, two things I said, you know, the other thing is their defense.

[00:05:44] I mean, defense at times was smothery. I mean, I don't know how they got to contest some of those, you know, maverick shots. I mean, there was one Nick who was on the beach basket team, who does a really great film session breakdown for the Celtics.

[00:05:59] Just had one great focus on Kristaps. You mentioned him, Porzingis. Just locking down Luka Doncic. I mean, locking him down, you know, and it helps that he's so tall and so long, but you still got to, you know, you got the footwork.

[00:06:12] You've got to, you got to defend. And it seemed that everybody on that team when it came time defended. So I would, I think they would fare well because of the defense alone. I think, I think, I think this team is very good, very athletic.

[00:06:28] And I was going to follow up. You kind of already answered it and we do have to get on because we've got a couple more things to talk about in your article. But you said their windows two years. You don't think?

[00:06:39] Oh, a couple of years, three or four maybe, depending on a holiday sign for four more years. I they're going to try to get white this year and get him for three or four more years. Porzingis has got two more years and they're going to have a problem

[00:06:52] with big people because Horford doesn't have a lot left. He might have another year or two, but not a lot less. They're going to have to, and when Porzingis is hurt, they have to get someone that can fill in like Horford and down the road that

[00:07:06] can play extensive minutes. I don't know if they have anybody on the roster right now, and they don't have a lot of money to pay somebody. So unless they draft somebody, they're going to have a problem. So there's limits on what they can bill.

[00:07:21] You hit on something Boston has figured out in no way. The no modern basketball game. You know, five years ago when Stevens was coaching and he had the big man play up on the top and set screens, kind of blew my mind

[00:07:35] because I always thought the big man should be on the post. And what it did, it transcended into now if you're a big, if you're a 6'10", if I'm your college coach, I'm teaching you how to shoot threes. Yeah. That's how you'll survive in the NBA.

[00:07:49] But that changes the game because when Horford or Porzingis are out there, you can't, if you drop somebody down, somebody is going to be open. Well, that's what, you know, unless you go to Isoball, which Boston will do,

[00:08:04] which is in blood, you're going to be able to pick them apart because one of those guys, a couple threes. Yeah. Yeah. The evolution of the game is fascinating. You watch, you know, 1980s basketball and you'll be amazed. You will see 10 players inside the three point line.

[00:08:23] They're lying there, but they're ignoring it. The game has just changed so dramatically and the Boston Celtics are just optimized for the way the game is being played today, undeniably. Let's move on from... And this is an interesting thing.

[00:08:41] In the playoffs, you saw how Boston went after Luca and made him guard through high screens, made him guard the ball. And I'm going to go back to Shaq. What if somebody did that to the Lakers? What might happen? I don't know if they did it back then.

[00:08:54] I'd have to watch a tape on it, but if they made Shaq go out to the perimeter and guard somebody, what would have happened? Yeah. I don't think he stayed with me. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:09:06] I mean, the saving grace for Shaq back then is the guys that he was guarding had no business out there either. Right? So yeah, that's a great point. And again, that speaks to the evolution of the game and the question I hate, right?

[00:09:21] How would he have fared today? How would Bill Russell have fared today? I would Will Chamberlain have fared today. It's a different game. It's a different, different, different game. They dominated in their era and that's all you can expect someone to do. All right.

[00:09:32] Let's move forward because the shot clock is running and we wouldn't have a 13 Rows podcast without bringing up Los Angeles Lakers. And this is on you because you wrote about it. J.J. Reddick is the new Lakers coach. So I had asked you your thoughts about the Lakers.

[00:09:48] So I had asked you your thoughts. Is he the new Pat Riley or is he the next Darvin Ham Frank Vogel? Or is he something else? What do you foresee? Well, excuse me, Riley, if he gets Magic Johnson James. Here during college.

[00:10:05] I mean, you know, the best team. Yeah. I don't, you know, I kind of. I'm reading for it, but no, but I don't, it's going to be a tough, tough job to do. And it's difficult, you know, and.

[00:10:23] My question to you would be under three jobs that were open. I'm not saying right. Riddick could have Riddick could have chosen his job. But like watching back to you is up to three, which would be the worst job to take with a four or five year contract.

[00:10:37] Yeah. And you're talking about the Cleveland job. You're talking about the Detroit job or the Lakers job. I would, if I had a choice, I personally would love to coach the young Detroit Pistons. I wouldn't have a problem.

[00:10:52] And I'm just talking about, you know, the potential, you know, certainly there's, there's, there's, there's pressure to succeed these kinds of things. This is a rookie coach. I would definitely take that job or the Cleveland Cavalier jobs.

[00:11:04] That's a solid team over a team that literally fired their last two coaches. One made it to the Western Conference finals and one made it all away and won it all. And they're both, you know, on other teams now once unemployed. Well, yeah, you're right.

[00:11:20] The Laker job is the worst job. It makes you think about chemistry of the Lakers because those guys are kind of babyish with it when things go wrong, they point to everybody else with themselves. And that's one of the positive things about Boston where those guys all played

[00:11:35] the game and when cared about winning and took, took it on their shoulders. If they didn't play well with the Lakers, somebody eats a sandwich in a corner, you know, and, you know, they, they don't go in the huddle or whatever it may be. Not a good thing.

[00:11:49] And it's not a good chemistry. All right. We apologize to Laker nation, the Boston Celtics have got bragging rights. All we can do is just grin and bear it. So there you go. Laker nation. We'll move on. The next talking point for running out of time here.

[00:12:05] Can the Mavericks get back to the finals and win it if their best player is a liability defensively? You called out Luca a little bit. Phenomenal offensive player, but you said it earlier on this call. They attacked him defensively.

[00:12:19] Can the Dallas Mavericks win it all with that liability? I think they could if he took defense a little more seriously. And I think more importantly, if he got himself in better shape and he left referees alone, of course.

[00:12:32] But I think he's one of the greatest offensive players I've seen. Yeah. He's almost an act. You know, and this is how hallowed grounds, but I almost put him in the verge. He's got to win a few to get there, but he's close.

[00:12:48] If he's not, some people might say he's better. But I think, you know, and I know his usage rate is high and I understand all that, but he's got to do a better job defensively. And I think he knows it deep down and I think he understands it.

[00:13:02] I think he's mature enough in quotes I've read that he understands there's more responsibility. He's going to do so. I think I think he'll he'll try to. But, you know, again, we'll see what kind of shape he's in next year and all the little things.

[00:13:17] One other thing, I give him a ton of credit because he played those games. He was hurt. Yeah. It was shot in the ribs. And as J.B. Bickert, the staff pointed out on on on the show this week,

[00:13:28] he said, you know, Jared Allen wouldn't take that shot. He did. And, you know, says a lot about him and his want to win. And so and it's not a shot at John Allen as much as what Luka did, because everybody knows painful ribs.

[00:13:44] Ribs are very painful of the problem. So they give him a world of credit, but there's still ways to go. Yeah, it's just a tough thing to start to dissect the guys, you know, on the team that made it all the way to the NBA finals.

[00:13:59] But, you know, unless you win it, that's that's, you know, that's what your offseason is all about. So tough position to be in for the Dallas Mavericks and the West is totally tough. You know, I don't know that I see them back next season,

[00:14:12] but we'll see how things sort out over the offseason. Talking about the West, there was a big trade that started early this offseason as Caruso made his way to OKC. You called that out in your article. I think that's a match made in Evan.

[00:14:30] In your article, you mentioned the odd fit of Gidey in Chicago. And I agree. But let's flip it. How good a fit is Alex Caruso with the Oklahoma City Thunder King? They now have a team that mirrors Boston. Wow, really?

[00:14:46] A lot younger, a lot younger and not ready. Boston is more ready for prime time, but in time, give it a year or two. And maybe next year, because they had a couple series they're playing in this year. They're going to be probably.

[00:15:00] I don't want to say the best team in the West, but one of the best teams because the West is loaded. You know, there's so many things we can throw out there that are pretty good. So but you think about it,

[00:15:11] the only thing they really need now is a legitimate big man. But that's the one thing they can use. They're operating with modern day four playing the five. So, you know, that's the only thing. But, you know, they're close.

[00:15:30] They're really close and come up with a Derek Lively type player. So they're going to be, you know, just in defensively, they're going to be excellent. Yeah. The West is just so. I mean, it's rough and it's getting better. And I just I love this trade.

[00:15:48] I don't know why Chicago did it. And maybe they know something we don't. But I absolutely love this trade for a free goal. Chicago's got some they've got some real problems. They're going to have probably the worst defense in the league,

[00:16:02] unless they pick up some players that are better defenders. Yeah. And I think they're in a position like a lot of teams are. We talked about the Lakers being here. And you could argue the Clippers, too, you know, where you've got to

[00:16:13] you decide I'm either run it back or I'm going to blow it up. And it's a tough decision, man. It's a tough decision. And general managers don't like to make it because, you know, that puts that puts their neck on the chop the chopping block.

[00:16:26] Is that probably not politically correct to say that anymore? That's a very high risk move. Let's put it that way. So most, most, most most GMs don't want to do that. But I do think that that's probably the best bet for the Bulls.

[00:16:37] But it looks like they're going to just try to, you know, put it put a team together and hope for the best. Yeah, I know, you know, they're a play in team. That'll be a good year. Yeah. What they have now. Yeah, agreed.

[00:16:54] All right. Well, let's see, man. That's our show. You heard the clock. That's also a wrap on the 23, 324 NBA season, which is it's always kind of a bittersweet time for us. It's fun to crown a champion, but it's it's hard to know

[00:17:06] if we're not going to have any basketball for a while. But we here at the 13 Rules random NBA thoughts want to keep things going. So Steve and I are going to end this show today. But we're going to start 13 Rules Overtime,

[00:17:19] which is going to be a look back at some of the greatest of all time. Players that Steve actually saw play. Maybe some I got to see play. We're going to talk a little bit about them in a show we're going to carry on.

[00:17:31] I don't know if we'll do it weekly, but we're going to do it semi regularly at the very least throughout the off season, which is pretty exciting. So we're going to start our first show right after this one. Look for that.

[00:17:42] We are going to discuss the great enigma, Will Chamberlain. But that's it for this show. Our time is up. Make sure to read Steve's entire article. We'll link to it below. Get all his thoughts on the NBA finals and more. As always, thank you for listening.

[00:17:57] Please consider subscribing. It helps us so much. All your likes and your comments. We'd love to see them both join us next week or maybe 13 Rules Overtime. I guess we're not really sure what we're going to see next week. We've got some trades and some free agents.

[00:18:13] So there's always something. So stay tuned. We'll talk then. Thanks, Steve. Take care.