Optimistic Outlooks for the Play-In Teams | Real Ones

·1 hr 11 min·5 clips

Why does Howard Beck believe the Clippers are the scariest play-in team, even if they won't win a series?

Logan Murdock and Howard Beck host this episode of 'Real Ones,' focusing on the NBA play-in tournament teams and their chances in the upcoming playoffs. They begin by discussing the Los Angeles Clippers, noting their strong recent play and Kawhi Leonard's MVP-level performance, labeling them the most dangerous potential seventh or eighth seed despite likely first-round exit. The conversation shifts to the Clippers' uncertain future, including a league investigation that could void Kawhi's contract. Next, they cover the Philadelphia 76ers, dissecting Joel Embiid's season-ending appendicitis surgery and the team's frustrating inconsistency, with Howard Beck comparing them to a flickering TV picture. The Phoenix Suns are analyzed as being stuck in 'cap and pick hell,' with the hosts debating whether trading Devin Booker is their only viable path forward. The Portland Trail Blazers are highlighted as a team on the rise under a new, aggressive owner, with potential to chase Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Miami Heat's pursuit of Giannis is discussed, along with their current roster's limitations. The Orlando Magic's disappointing season and coaching speculation are covered, as are the Golden State Warriors' aging core and potential interest in stars like LeBron James or Kawhi Leonard. The Toronto Raptors' unclear identity and the Atlanta Hawks' post-Trae Young clarity are also examined. The episode wraps with the hosts sharing their 'Real One of the Week'—a Pacers fan captured in a viral video—and 'Ruin of the Week'—the closing of Golden Gate Fields horse racing track.

As heard by us

A brisk play-in survey that finds its sharpest angle in Portland's next big swing.

Logan Murdoch and Howard Beck use the unsettled play-in picture as a way into the East, moving through the Hawks, Hornets, and Raptors before widening the lens to the teams still hovering around contention.

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Why you'd press play

You get Hawks, Hornets, Raptors, and a Portland what-if with some new-owner swagger before the playoffs hit the horizon.

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