Embiid’s Lack of Self-Awareness + More NBA Major Storylines | The Bill Simmons Podcast

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons cracks open a Michelob ULTRA six-pack and talks about six major things going on in the world of basketball.
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[@Shortballa11]

Jrue Holiday showing why he gonna be in the HOF

[@Comanche_Viking]

I forgot Bill turns EVERYTHING into a Celtics segment..

[@user-jg1ez6kk9e]

It’s so cringe 😅😂😂😂

[@watchingmedia101]

Complain Culture, it’s replacing cancel culture. Just deal with it?

[@wc4201]

Everyone else on TV turns everything into a Lakers, LeBron vs Mike and Cowboys discussion. Not disagreeing just saying they all do it.

[@godschild4158]

Why you still watch then

[@Oncopoda]

​@@wc4201that's not true. LeBron gets talked about a lot but when they're not talking about LeBron, they're not talking about LeBron. That's the difference.

[@blaketindle4703]

I’ve never wanted a Michelob Ultra LESS in my life lol

[@GKA11111]

Why

[@dudesweet1583]

95 calories bruh, I'm wondering how many carbs there are now.

[@CovertGhoul]

alcoholic water :p

[@mikehuly4208]

that shit is piss water fr

[@seamusmooney1308]

The whole thing is it’s less calories but it’s only 4 less than any other light beer lol

[@JeewanthaBandara]

The half assed product placement never fails to amuse me

[@GKA11111]

How would you have done it? How is it half assed

[@JeewanthaBandara]

@@GKA11111 I say it with love. Not malice.

[@GKA11111]

@@JeewanthaBandara that’s fair but I’m genuinely curious what the right way is. How do you correctly advertise a beer on a podcast

[@SeeingColor]

If it was a pure video medium, it might be by drinking one and your takes getting progressively better without ever mentioning the product by name

[@michaelmusial5132]

Not exactly product placement when they are outwardly sponsoring the podcast

[@Zipperace]

Ant will easily be top 5 in minutes, especially after watching today. He finished the game and came in multiple times outside of his “platoon”

[@HalseyHFW]

Being built to play basketball and being built to withstand a NBA schedule are different things.

[@johnvaughan8239]

No they really aren’t. The NBA is basketball. If you can’t last in the NBA then you aren’t built to play basketball.

[@minamorcos4042]

No, they're not

[@lucaswalford3187]

To be considered in the goat convo you need to play in the nba, and with that comes an nba schedule

[@kumorizora2507]

​@johnvaughan8239 your delusional if you think an 82 game schedule "is basketball" that is unique nba thing. Being able to withstand that is 100% different than just being built for basketball.

[@johnvaughan8239]

@@kumorizora2507 the nba is the absolute pinnacle of basketball. It is the league that started it all. If you can’t play in the nba then you are playing some bastardized European version of basketball.

[@ethanvanbriesen4843]

4:25 Bill trying to sneak Tatum in that Melo/Wade bench spot when Ant is second on the team in scoring and closing games. Quite the take for someone who “Loves” this Team USA stuff 😂

[@jkg_1985]

right, his Boston bias ass🤦‍♂️😂

[@Dev-mb8cb]

He a Boston Celtic fan

[@stevezio33]

You are new and not serious if you think Bill gives any legit takes based on bias. Guy is a pro. The man has been doing NBA deep dive analysis since the '90's. Don't say Bill is biased just because you yourself are biased; anti Tatum, anti Boston or simply pro Ant. The guy knows hoops more than you and it shows. Thanks for throwing in your takes on players "scoring". That some deep analysis you've done there. No mention defense, rebounding, passing and Tatum's significant size advantage over Ant.

[@ethanvanbriesen4843]

@@stevezio33I’m not even suggesting that Bill is biased, and for the most part I agree with a lot of Bill’s takes. But for him to say that Tatum is in that Wade/Melo role off the bench it’s factually not true considering Ant is the second leading scorer for Team USA and he has mainly come off the bench. What were Wade and Melo’s roles on those USA teams in ‘08/‘12? They came off the bench as SCORERS! When you compare what Ant and Tatum are doing so far off the bench, there is no denying who is playing better in that role as a bench scorer.

[@ethanvanbriesen4843]

I just find it odd that Bill can’t see what is plainly in front of him considering he claims to be a USA Basketball fanatic. That’s why you get people saying he is being biased towards Tatum.

[@fourwoN]

Embiid 0/100 self awareness. Getting outplayed by old LeBron and AD (another center). About as close to the GOAT as I am.

[@SamM-hn1ry]

He’s definitely a top 50 of all time (at the Center position..)

[@KFBALL247]

He looks slow and out of shape. Complete liability against these teams that play on the perimeter with a ton of ball movement. And it’s more physical and less ticky tack fouls, so he can’t just flop every possession and go to the line.

[@Obiamajoyisrmd]

Your comment is 0/100 awareness.

[@shorewall]

@@KFBALL247 Gotta love it. :D

[@shanem7096]

@@KFBALL247how did todays game go when he dominated

[@AdanBean]

Bill shoehorning Tatum into the indispensable category when Ant has thoroughly outplayed him in all these exhibitions

[@Shortballa11]

At least he is obvious with his extreme bias lol

[@splash.3026]

Lol Bill is a Boston fan first. If you’re a regular listener, it becomes obvious.

[@David-iv6je]

@@splash.3026 "Regular?" Damn man. It's about halfway through Pod 3 you realize Simmons is an utter Celtics homer. PS AD should be starting. When he's on dude is an unsolvable problem on both sides of the ball.

[@Beamer719]

Ant is a damn ballhog it's nasty

[@jet0819]

Edwards is a ball hog, if all you value is iso scoring he’s your guy. People like you will never appreciate everything Tatum does to impact winning

[@derekjones5023]

I hope my future wife loves me the way bill loves Tatum

[@Ace-v6r]

Tatum is most overrated player of all time

[@gotaplanstan]

​@@Ace-v6rna that's Kyrie. He just mentored Tatum to carry on that legacy in Boston

[@NDavoss]

It's crazy how Ant always pops on TV even when surrounded by other stars

[@Dipset415]

That athlestism with this first step is different 🔥✊🏿

[@Twomps]

He reminds me of d wade

[@Joe-bj3yp]

“Most talented offensive center we’ve had since Kareem” You ever heard of Hakeem the dream Olajuwon buddy?

[@austingreen1274]

And Jokic.

[@EL-us6jb]

He’s more talented than Hakeem

[@mikee702]

Olajuwon was never a great scorer dude

[@cybersub4693]

​@@mikee702what ? 😂

[@mikee702]

@cybersub4693 18 years and 4 of them were right above 25 per game. Thats great to you?

[@tjvortex6143]

That beer is not refreshing

[@Murali_bala13]

If Joel Embiid were to run on court as much as he runs his mouth.... He wouldn't be out of shape for sure 😂

[@ki2726]

Booker starts and plays a lot of minutes for the team for a reason. Ultimate glue guy. Leads the team in minutes and +/- for a reason. He is a selfless player who’s fine taking 4 shots a game on this team.

[@cozyfades1587]

Boy tried to sneak Tatum in there lmao

[@Shortballa11]

Right. He knows it’s Ant and not Tatum

[@Beamer719]

​@@Shortballa11Ant is a ball hog horrible fit for this team

[@Shortballa11]

@@Beamer719 he’s an efficient ball hog. Tatum still taking dumb fadeaway and missing

[@illwill2survive]

I love this type of content from Simmons

[@erikripley9285]

its amazing how off bills gauge on the Olympic team is. Particularly bookers place on the team. Booker has started 3 of the 5 exhibition games. He's closed every game that has been close. He's the only player with a positive +/- in all 5 games and is leading the team in +/= at +50 over the 5 games. He's clearly a guy the coaching staff trust and will roll with on the floor when things are tight. But bill thinks he's the 9th, 10th guy who will just get minutes thrown in there on the fringes. Its almost like bill doesn't like booker and is shoving his favorite players in there.

[@SleepyCobra-rs5wc]

I don't like Booker but ur take is right

[@SilverKen15]

Booker is a REAL WORLD CLASS basketball player. His time at USA basketball has shown me and the entire world that.

[@Biz613]

Joel Embiid is out of shape, sick or hurt every single year.

[@ousmandiallo2823]

He will be fine this upcoming season!

[@aron.gortman]

He has more built-in excuses than the democrat party.

[@QuestionEverything562]

He's a choke artist more so than an injury prone player. I don't buy his excuses anymore. He consistently falls apart in the playoffs, especially in the late stages of a big game. Biggest playoff choker big man since Wilt.

[@aron.gortman]

He is a total bum@@QuestionEverything562

[@Biz613]

@@ousmandiallo2823 lol based on what? Prayer? 😆

[@JackSmith-xy4gy]

Everytime I give up on Bill he creates a piece of great content that pulls me back in. This was great.

[@WheresWaldo05]

Ant been outplaying Tatum and Booker. 🤣

[@Dipset415]

Nike vs adidas 🤫

[@KK-pm7ud]

Paolo would outplay Tatum and Booker

[@mre695]

false

[@mre695]

​@@KK-pm7ud you dont know ball in the slightest

[@stevek6518]

Tatum just had a DNP vs Serbia, lol

[@lenwyatt03]

Derrick White replacement logic has 1 major flaw: the man he replaced was not on the team to be the glue guy

[@CleverAccountName303]

Both defensive stoppers

[@michaelahurt]

He’s better all around except as a passer, shooter and help defender. Jaylen is a litmus test of how closely you watch basketball because he’s good at all the sexy stuff. All the stuff that makes highlight reels. White is better at the other 90%

[@Ace-v6r]

@@michaelahurt white people always supporting whites

[@Ace-v6r]

@@michaelahurt and not supporting browns

[@michaelahurt]

@@houseglendale1914 100%. Easily. Not even a question. White is a better shooter, passer, help defender, does all the little things _and_ has less of an ego and won't rock the boat if he doesn't play. Plus he's Jrue insurance And honestly probably in most situations I'd rather have White considering he makes half as much and would fit on any roster Winning Finals MVP is a lot like making All-NBA or being an All-Star. There's a big difference between a perennial All Star like Dirk vs someone like PJ Brown. Likewise there's a big difference between guys like Iguodala, 2014 Kawhi, Joe Dumars, Tony Parker and Jaylen Brown vs MJ, LeBron, Magic and Bird.

[@TyrellAdeyemi]

Bill, Jaylen was right in every aspect and many basketball fans are tired of Tatum being over ranked and not showing it in the big moments, ECF, Finals (to a lesser degree) and now the Olympics.

[@Ace-v6r]

Tatum is the most overrated player of all time.

[@Mac2Mon]

Brown knows he’s not better than LeBron or KD, but like all of us, he definitely knows he’s better than Tatum

[@Roihclem871]

Who let embid do that interview lmao

[@shorewall]

For real, he needs some kinda coach to not say dumb shit.

[@SomeChink]

Who let Embiid on this team? That’s the real question

[@winterfoxcloud]

6 major things going on with the celtics feat. bill simmons 🤣

[@volusiasorange]

we knew this when we clicked

[@clsupreme7408]

I like Jayson Tatum and all but Bill saying he’s “indispensable” over Anthony Edwards is a complete “homer” take and I think it’s pretty obvious 2 anyone watching these games. C’mon Bill

[@michaelahurt]

He’s a better shooter, better help defender, better rebounder, better passer, and he’s a bigger If you have KD then Tatum isn’t quite as important but the things that make Edwards good just don’t matter as much on team with a bunch of All-NBA guys If Ant wasn’t on the team you wouldn’t even notice.

[@1WhoSeesAll]

@@michaelahurt😂😂 you're definitely not watching the games

[@michaelahurt]

@@1WhoSeesAll It would look _different_ if Ant weren't there but they would just give the ball to another All-NBA player He's a selfish lazy player who doesn't make others better. In the NBA he attracts so much attention he's (probably) a net positive -- Minnesota had the 18th ranked offense so he's not nearly as good as we pretend -- but in international play the game is different. Players who shoot and move and move the ball are better and that's just not what he is

[@michaelahurt]

@@1WhoSeesAll It would look _different_ if Ant weren't there but they would just give the ball to another All-NBA player He's a selfish lazy player who doesn't make others better. In the NBA he attracts so much attention he's (probably) a net positive -- Minnesota had the 18th ranked offense so he's not nearly as good as we pretend -- but in international play the game is different. Players who shoot and move and move the ball are better and that's just not what he is

[@1WhoSeesAll]

@@michaelahurt 🤣😂 you liked your own comment. Ant has flat out outplayed everyone not named Lebron and Anthony Davis. Anyone with eyes and a brain can see that. Go wipe Tatum off of your chin and get bill's chin while you're at it🤷🏾‍♂️🤣😂

[@nicolasstaudt5714]

Bill kills it. Love Bill Simmons, Wildes is definitely the best host / analyst / hair to ever do it, but Bill is solidly the Silver.

[@bjensen]

Even with the Olympics about to start, this is 90% Celtics.

[@braidenb3973]

Cut embiid. He don’t got it

[@xavierb9061]

Jokic dumb idea

[@David-iv6je]

Nah, just don't start him. Or trot him out when you need the unusual size. But he's stifling their offense and AD/Bam can provide the defense (I like that duo.)

[@natedogg890]

And he should play for Cameroon with Siakam

[@braidenb3973]

@@natedogg890 spicy p 🌶️

[@splash.3026]

He’s there for one matchup.

[@sndthunder]

AD and Bron been the best players on the team

[@endless_waltz18]

But fools still got Embiid over Jokic 😂😂😂😂

[@mambaASI]

bill is one of those fools.

[@oneshot2g]

Before the injury he was. Embiid should be resting.

[@endless_waltz18]

@@oneshot2g Resting won’t matter, it’s his style of play trying to foul bait and it doesn’t help that he’s clumsy when falling. He’s getting exposed under international rules

[@laz0rama]

​@@oneshot2g before which injury? the dude is injured more than kawhi leonard.

[@aron.gortman]

@@oneshot2g lmao

[@WizardofWestmarch]

I know Bill likes Doc. He won a title because he had overwhelming talent advantage and it still took them far, far too many games. He's a coach who can take a mediocre team and make them play very well. He's also a coach who can take an elite team... and make them play very well. I think bookmakers are baking Doc into their odds.

[@razkable]

The 08 celitcs losing 3 games to the 38 win hawks in 08 shows how bad doc is as a coach...he has shown his medal like in the 08 finals but for the most part he sucks

[@kylec2761]

@@razkable mettle

[@PygmaApril]

"Most talented offensive center we’ve had since Kareem" Playmaking is an offensive talent, which basically makes Jokic hands down the better offensive center since Kareem, and possibly of all time. You could have said "scoring" and probably be right. Offense is so much more.

[@djohnson1475]

It's expected but it's funny how he slides Tatum in every one of his list that he creates when possible lol

[@AintMeTU]

bill comparing 18 year old Joel Embiid's body to older Embiid is too funny

[@tonytone1395]

Bucks are definitely the biggest threat to Boston if healthy

[@ousmandiallo2823]

Kawhi was not a glue guy so Jalen could have had his minutes , no way to hide this politic .

[@J.A.Z-TheMortal]

Lebron put the team on his back against Sudan, and just had an insane 4 quarter against the World Champs. You can hate the man all you want but what he is doing is unreal

[@nikosvault]

Imposing his will on garbage teams. Just like the good old days in the East. He is desperate to hijack and dominate this US team like he was desperate to win the in-season tournament. Tring to add to his GOAT argument on the fringes because he can't win in the NBA playoffs no more.

[@nategarner4508]

So according to you, "better" nba players can't make the plays and are simply standing around while lebron hijacks them? The best coaches in the world are allowing a worse player to make all the plays with the game on the line? Hating on another man's success is wild lol you're a dork bro

[@kevin__foley]

Germany won the Fiba last time lol they are really good

[@laquiqa5631]

​@@nikosvaultso stupid.

[@taylormclean3199]

I am picking knits but the Sixers were not up 3-1 on the Hawks

[@chrisdub846]

LeBron still unstoppable, Embiid is the one out there looking like a 40 year old

[@nikosvault]

Nuggets would disagree.

[@laz0rama]

unstoppable because he's 6'9" 260 and literally runs over people and knocks them out of the way, without getting called for offensive fouls. let's see how the real fiba refs deal with that. but you're right about embiid, the man should in no way be playing in the olympics. he may be ruining the entire season for the sixers. i bet he doesn't play 40 games this year.

[@iamrangers8351]

Bill Simmons has a good podcast, but wow he's incredibly biased for anything Celtics and always plays down Kobe. Kobe in 2012 was clearly one of top, most important players on roster. It's hilarious how he over looks him and treats him like he's "2016 Kobe"

[@andyn7548]

2016 Klay was a 2 way beast. It’s how I’d like to remember him.

[@tonyshlean]

Bill Walton being in goat convo is funny cause he won in a time similar to now a bunch of teams won titles and every year they called the team a possible dynasty after they won these last 4 years

[@michaellee258]

I've basically given up on embiid making any serious threat at a finals appearance and was hoping they could find a good trade for him. But now they have PG and what he brings to the team is going to work well. Sixers could be scary if they gel. Cmon Joel, gimme one healthy season!

[@voicesinthestreetunfiltered]

Bill said Lebron should come off the bench for Tatum like 2 weeks ago

[@Mac2Mon]

😂😂 that was almost a psych ward admission worthy statement

[@josh0766]

Jaylen Brown was the obvious pick. Most years there would be no complaint to appoint Derrick White for the team but we are thin at the forward spots with Durant nursing an injury still and we’re a Tatum rolled ankle away from relying on 3 guard lineups. The team has many more options when it comes to the guards even before Derrick White was added to the team.

[@JoshVett]

Bill... Ant has been in the lineup during crunch minutes every game this year. HE is the indispensable bench guy

[@MrOctober44]

It's never his fault that Embiid fails. 🙄

[@razkable]

Anyone who thinks boston is gonna cakewalk to another title is insane...horford is ancient jrue is getting old fast and white isn't young either kp gets hurt and isn't in his early mid 20's anymore...we need to stop acting like the east bottom feeders didn't give them extra wins compared to okc in the west and they got lucky with other team injuries in the east...and they easily could of lost game 2 at home in the finals and game 3 as well...that had 7 games written all over it if kyrie didn't suck

[@nathanharrison2839]

The Celtics lost 3 playoff games and went a month in the playoffs without losing. They are miles ahead of every team in the east. Sorry.

[@razkable]

​@@nathanharrison2839 against hurt teams

[@nathanharrison2839]

@@razkable God this Celtics team putting your guys brains in a blender is funny. They were the best team in the league by any metric you want to use from opening night to the last game of the season. I garuuuuuuunteeeee you were one of the people who said the Mavs would destroy the Celtics in the finals. Am I right.

[@dukelukas5965]

"The Indispensables" would be a GREAT name for a podcast

[@fentanyljones6956]

Rachel is one of the best basketball analysts outside of the new wave of players and ex players. Definitely the best in ‘ESPN model’ sports television.

[@perkio30]

I'd take AD over Embiid any day of the week if my goal is to win.

[@TwoandaHater]

Anthony Davis attempting a spin move against a guard instead of passing it to tatum is all I need to know about him getting more minutes over joel.

[@4747da]

The five guys for the us are LeBron, AD, Edwards, curry and holiday. It may change during the tournament. Oddly enough, they don't always have enough shooting. They just overpower the other team on offense

[@KFBALL247]

Brown>Booker He actually rebounds and plays defense. Booker being in the starting lineup is baffling to me. Kerr has the USA looking like they are playing a pickup game at 24 hour fitness.

[@Bobbleheads56]

Is it kerrs fault or are the players just lazy?

[@ki2726]

Booker starts and plays for a reason. Leads the team in +/- and is a defensive monster. There’s a reason he leads the team in minutes and +/-

[@David-iv6je]

They play different positions and Brown is not as much better on D than Book as you think. But agreed on how they have looked out there. And Embiid is catastrophic for their offensive rhythm. Dude should sit except for certain matchups.

[@silewis9396]

Bookers defense is good enough. Edwards can also defend on ball well

[@chadams7753]

You need to talk more about the impending anti-hero turn of Stone Cold Jaylen Brown. He’s taking all this resentment and will stun his own teammates and enemies alike, highest paid player and a total renegade

[@Jesse-zu8fn]

When White was on the court last season per 100 possessions: Celtics 126-Opponent 112 When Brown was on the court last season per 100 possessions: Celtics 113-Opponent 112 Remind me again how Brown is better.

[@bairdubay]

I am buying all of your Pacers stock. IMO they were second best of the final four last year.

[@BoardwalkEmpireAC]

Where can we watch full podcast episodes

[@nateseal2084]

Halliburton shouldn’t be on the team

[@17jehovah]

Again bill I think your missing the big picture. Team USA will probably win regardless of if it was Derrick white or JB. JB has more to gain from winning gold it’ll make him ione step closer to the hall of fame. A gold medal for Derrick white does nothing for this career he’s already a cemented great role player.

[@SilverKen15]

Bill is such a bad journalist. The ONLY reason JB did not get selected by Nike to be on Team USA is because he has literally used his twitter multiple times to call them unethical & so much more. Maybe dude should stop trying to act like he's the smartest in the room & deal with the consiquences of his actions. Yall fraud ass neo-soul weirdos always wanna be the rebel til it's time to actually deal with what it comes with.

[@reddoggie100]

Need that mamba mentality.

[@nofriendsforever6145]

Bizzaro Bill shouting out the Bucks

[@Mac2Mon]

Tatum has looked mid to below mid all team USA. Kerr clearly agrees as he got minutes taken away and given to White hahaha. But Holiday has looked like a stud!

[@drefopist4041]

So the question was "would you be in goat conversation without injuries?". And yet bill defaults to looking at Embiids answer through the lens of being injury prone... Got it. I get hes a Boston guy but he can at least pretend to be impartial lmao. Like if you ACTUALLY watch Embiid play on the sixers and see just how utterly dominant he is.... I don't think his answer is ridiculous tbh. I'm not saying he would be "THE GOAT" but without injury problems he certainly would be in the conversation.

[@danieljoyce4015]

Embiid is the most overrated player of all time. All coming out finally

[@mattwilliams7454]

For once I have to totally agree with Bill. Michelob is pretty good.

[@mctaguer]

I think the entire Embiid dymamic on Team USA is that Grant Hill & Co became singularly obsessed with having an answer for Jokic and Wemby. Understandable... but it's also clear, when they're NOT playing against those teams, that Embiid is almost a liability.

[@Dev-mb8cb]

Can yaw stop the lies please! Yaw can talk about Embiid all yaw want, does lbj booker curry play any defense. Don’t nun of those players play his still or try to create for em. Ad is more active definitely but Embiid is a better player

[@dontmatter1368]

The best in the game. That'd be You Mr Simmons 💯

[@mctaguer]

I think KP will be back at Christmas. Look at the type of injury. The six months is already a VERY generous timeline.

[@marcheezy.]

Adam Silver should have lobbied Grant Hill to replace Klaw with Maine Event to have a summer internship with Team USA. Not just for the draft hype, but for him to be more ready in his rookie season learning from legends and perennial all stars who probably won't be part of the team that drafts him.

[@Mac2Mon]

The indispensables are: LeBron, Curry, Holiday, AD, & Bam… Tatum could stay or leave & no one would notice

[@cadepierson8892]

Tatum has been a ghost for a large chunk of

[@danieltoledanolaguna3014]

"The Bucks are irrelevant in the Olympics" Meanwhile Giannis will literally be the flag bearer for Greece

[@cam8868]

His reasoning for picking the bucks over Knicks are “the Knicks are a Brunson injury away” when dame is more injury prone lol

[@thomasmichaelpaine]

Hey @billsimmons I see Langston Galloway running out with team USA…is he on the team? He’s on but not Jaylen Brown?

[@davymuzihao2068]

Joel is not better than Yao. Yao also carries in international games. If he starts “if no injuries” convo, so many players would need to be considered. Even AD.

[@willingexile3374]

I always believed JB felt yanked around in his role on the team, and maybe now he's flexing because he did outperform Tatum in the playoffs, not that he would have done as well if he did the things Tatum did for the team. That is what a team is for - some guys will get the numbers, and they will also reap all the hate and the burden of the fans' expectations. I may be wrong, but Tatum is not doing himself any favors when he presents himself as the man but if you look at it, his personality does not give off that kind of vibe. A little self-awareness exercise is needed in his case, just like for Embiid. The idea of a superteam for every Olympics is not sustainable, because NBA basketball is just one brand of basketball. US players develop habits and attitudes to get to the NBA and not necessarily to play well on a team. That's why international players are outpacing American-trained players at the top. Americans have too deep a talent pool to ever fall off, but if you develop more of the same, it will be hard to develop generational talent. There's a whole other discussion on how to balance development vs making money and a career in basketball.

[@mctaguer]

Agree, the Bucks are under the radar. They're actually better now too. Gary Trent is better than Beasley. Still--and here's what's a killer--it's going to come down to the health of Kris Middleton. Sure, Giannis' health first. But they're not beating the Celtics without Middleton. Yes, if they are healthy, we should be wary... I'm just not sure that will ever happen.

[@tonytone1395]

They can beat them without Middleton with Dame and Giannis..

[@ligmaballs7407]

New Title: Six Major ways I can involve the Celtics into Team USA

[@Lucas-mq6es]

Chet over Embiid was the wildest thing to ever come out of Bills mouth

[@michaelahurt]

Building a team isn’t just picking the 12 best players Honestly Chet would be a better fit. His game is tailor made for international play whereas Embiid’s is an NBA game through and through

[@mctaguer]

So, of course, the thing that could change that entire dynamic on #1 is KD coming back.

[@ineedsaltplease620]

You projected the selfless quality of the celtics onto them. What are you talking about lol

[@NoName-l2o2c]

Zac lowe is the only person who points out Embid chokes every playoff looks scared and plays passively.

[@DaBaltimoron]

To be fair, it's hard to stay in shape when you're always hurt.

[@jackdroke5221]

"[Embiid is] the most talented offensive center since Kareem." I would love to hear a deep dive on how Jokic is worse, Bill, but it seemed like you were just gassing Embiid up for the purpose of making your argument about how he's falling short. Timestamp 13:00

[@francoaguilar2251]

Embiid: The thin line between candid and delusional

[@stevengordon3271]

Kerr will give everybody a chance early in each game to see who is hot, but Lebron, Curry and Ant will usually get the most minutes.

[@razkable]

Kd too

[@brendonhowe2158]

Lebron has played 82 games in just 1 season his entire 21 year career. His durability is an illusion. It isn't impressive to play 20 years while strategically taking games off to manage your body with the expressed objective of extending your career. The Greats of the past, prided themselves of playing through injuries, overcoming the pain was part of what made them great. Kobe was the last of that breed and the league is clearly worse without that mindset. Players of the past understood you were playing for the fans, who paid their hard earned money to come see you play. They knowing reduced their longevity to play every game they could and I appreciate them for it. Today's stars think its cool to play the least amount of games possible. They cried when the 65 game limit was added for awards, that's how pitiful they are. If the league continues the way it is, players in the future will match Lebron's durability feat ALL THE TIME. Hell, players who aren't known for their durability like Durant and Curry will likely play similar number of seasons when it is all said and done. Don't forget Lebron had the advantage of playing out of high school which very few of the greats of the past enjoyed. I prefer the players who shine brightly for a shorter period than the players who have a dull glow for a long time.

[@laz0rama]

on point!

[@jonloffie]

I do like the Bucks take

[@robtaylor-manning4871]

Blazers were not felled by the disease of more. They were 50-10 when Walton went out for the season with an injury

[@ryanbennettbennett4059]

The best offense/defense/clutch lineup. Curry-Ant-Lebron-Adebyo-AD. When that lineup has been out there, they are lights out.

[@rafk2976]

It's the off-season after winning a title Bill, if you have to say you're not panicking you're clearly panicking. For no reason! At least wait to the regular season before getting paranoid that Bam is trying to lure his friends to take their talents to South Beach next season, right?

[@bairdubay]

Calf injuries are brutal and always affect defense… Buck’s D is really going to suffer.

[@NickMachado]

I will never understand bill and the ringers obsession with lebron/lakers and the sixers. Bill and half his staff are from boston yet all they talk about is LA and Philadelphia. Literally nobody cares about a geriatric lebron or philly losing in the first round of the playoffs again.

[@shorewall]

Lebron and Embiid are the manufactured Media Darlings. You can tell by the way they distort the conversation about themselves.

[@KFBALL247]

Bron single handedly saved them from a loss the last two games. Scoring and rebounding. You can hate him all you want, but this team would have lost two in a row to South Sudan and Germany without him.

[@jaysportsenthusiast7632]

Lebrons won the last two games for USA in the Olympics. You don’t think he has to mention him ?

[@revanminnam5512]

People literally care about LeBron/Lakers, or Philly, or whatever big market team and popular player because they have proven to draw more ratings. The league and every media related to league is better with LeBron and Curry than without. LeBron is still the face of the league and is still the most popular player.

[@AJFig-ut9hp]

@@jaysportsenthusiast7632 why is LeBron and Davis the best 2 players on Team USA but cant win for the Lakers?? 2 top 10 players cant get out of the play in seeding?? Lakers rest of team isnt tHAT bad Russell and Reaves both score 17 ppg on solid shooting. Hachimura isnt bad. No I think the NBA is a fake league and they say who can and who cant win. The NBA doesnt want LeBron to win anymore so they told him to lose in playoffs and not try hard. You can see in these Olympics LeBron playing hard ever possession but for Lakers vs denver he never got big rebounds and allowed Aaron Gordon to outmuscle him for rebounds. ALL FIXED

[@thebestrapperindcthebestra6429]

They will need edwards and bookers scoring

[@pedrocm2523]

Lebron is still the best player. It's crazy, he's 40 years old

[@dannygibson2597]

Haliburton needs to play more. Everytime he's been out there the offensive moves and he's also forced a bunch of TOs defensively in the min he's played. They played White over him today with the 2nd unit, hope that doesn't continue. Haliburton is too good of a playmaker to keep off the floor.

[@eitanmagaliff9772]

13:10 most talented offensive center since Kareem? He’s not the most talented offensive center since five minutes ago.