Attorneys are Human Too, a Podcast

Episode 9-NBA Playoffs Preview Special Powered by Redcollection.net

August 16, 2020 Tony "Red" Bruin and Ethan Wallace Season 1 Episode 9
Attorneys are Human Too, a Podcast
Episode 9-NBA Playoffs Preview Special Powered by Redcollection.net
Show Notes Transcript

Join Host Steven Wallace, Esq. and Celena Muzic both of The Wallace Law Group, PL as they have two special guests today in their NBA Playoffs Preview Special, New York City and Syracuse Legend Tony "Red" Bruin and youth basketball phenom Ethan Wallace.

Topics include:
Playoff Series Breakdown and Analysis
NBA Champion Predictions
NBA Most Valuable Player Predictions
NBA Rookie of the Year Predictions
NBA Most Improved Player Predictions
NBA Defensive Player of the Year Predictions
NBA 6th Man of the Year Predictions
NBA Defensive Player of the Year
Favorite Jersey Votes
Favorite All-Time and Current Sneaker Votes
Up and Coming NBA Player to Watch
Lightning Round with Tony and Ethan

Steve Walalce:

Welcome everybody to this special well, episode of attorneys are human too. This is our MBA playoff preview. We have an extremely special guests. My nine year old son, Ethan. Well, let's say hello to our audience. he is certainly a basketball expert. He plays recreational basketball and he's number eight for team Jordan travel basketball team. Okay, you ready? Ethan? Okay. we're going to ask some initial questions of Ethan and saline and myself. then we're going to go through each of the playoff matchups, and we're going to ask some basic basketball questions. so let's get started. So my first question for you, Ethan is this year in the MBA, they had a school special playoff addition. It was the play in game. If the Western conference had an eight and nine team and they were within three games of each other, they had to play a play in game. And this year the Portland trailblazers played the Memphis Grizzlies. And Portland one yesterday. Do you like the idea of a plan game? Or do you think that they shouldn't do it again?

Ethan Wallace:

I liked that.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. Selena, what do you think

Celena Muzic:

I'm with Ethan? I think it's good. I think do it keep doing it? Why not?

Steve Walalce:

I like it because it adds another level of excitement towards the end of the season.

Celena Muzic:

That's true. Considering we're all bored

Steve Walalce:

at home. That's true. We're all. We're all locked down. Selena. What question do you have for Ethan? And I.

Celena Muzic:

Well, I have a question I want to know. I want to know who you're going for and why you want that team to win. That's where both of you actually.

Ethan Wallace:

Okay. So, I mean, I mean, they have like a little kids cause, want history. first round, locations and also cause they have a lot of shooters.

Steve Walalce:

Good. Excellent. So the team that I'm pulling for in the playoffs is our hometown team, the Miami heat. I'm not overly optimistic that they're going to win the championship, but I'm yeah. I'm pulling for them. How about you Selena?

Celena Muzic:

I mean, I'm going to go for the heat cause I live in the States already. but, and I like the Jersey and even though I'm a new Yorker, I actually always like the heat. So. I'm gonna stick to each second round.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. Well, save your predictions for a minute because we're going to go through each of the series and, and come up with our predictions. The next question I have, and I'm going to start with Selena. Which team's uniforms. Do you like the best and why?

Celena Muzic:

Oh, I'm gonna, I got to stick with the heat.

Steve Walalce:

I love

Celena Muzic:

the colors. I love the Miami colors. It's it's, you know, they say Miami colors, but if you live in Miami, it literally is very, very Miami.

Steve Walalce:

It's that

Celena Muzic:

tropical fun, bright color vibe. I like it. I like it. It's my favorite uniform out of every,

Steve Walalce:

every team. Yeah. And just for our listeners to know, we're talking about the vice wave uniform, which is a very light blue, it's the color of the ocean. And that was the color of our travel team. This year team, Jordan, Ethan, what's your favorite uniform and why?

Celena Muzic:

Yup.

Steve Walalce:

Excellent. Okay. Selena your turn.

Celena Muzic:

Okay. Who is your favorite player in the NBA right now? That's for both of you

Steve Walalce:

and for our listeners who don't know who Dane dollar is. Could you tell us Ethan what's the what's Dame dollar's name? Okay, great. My favorite player in the NBA right now, I would have to say that that's left playing right now. I guess left. I'd have to say Jimmy Butler on the heat. That's my favorite one.

Celena Muzic:

Okay. Yeah, I would agree with that. I would agree

Steve Walalce:

with that. Okay. Excellent. Ethan, your turn, your question for us.

Celena Muzic:

Pulling out the book.

Steve Walalce:

Yeah. He wrote his questions down for our listeners out there. It's bam. Out of bio from the Miami heat Luca, Don check for the Dallas Mavericks or Brandon Ingram for the new Orleans pelicans.

Tony Bruin:

You

Steve Walalce:

want me to go? I'll go first on this one. Selena. Yeah, you go

Celena Muzic:

first.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. I'm going to have to say, because I think Luca, Don chick should be actually be one of the MVP candidates. I think going hometown. I'm going with bam out of bio for the Miami heat. Ethan, your term.

Celena Muzic:

Cause we live in

Steve Walalce:

Florida. Okay. Excellent.

Celena Muzic:

I have a question, random, random, but Ethan, I know that your dad buys you a lot of LeBron sneakers, but who makes the better sneakers

Steve Walalce:

right now? That's actually one of my questions. Great minds. Think alike. Ethan, you go first. okay. He has a special edition Kyrie fives. That's his favorite? What is, what is your, and just for our listeners that don't know, and Ethan, you don't know this, but Selena is a sneakerhead. So Lena we're used to work at Footlocker and she. Has it had a great collection of sneakers. So I want to hear what Selena's favorite sneaker

Celena Muzic:

back when I was back when I was younger, you know, a lot younger, I worked at, I remember I worked at Footlocker, but you know what, Steven, I only collected a bunch of Jordans. I don't even know what I was thinking. I was just buying them. but they were great. I mean, I love all of them. I sold a lot of them for profit too. So. Made some good money.

Steve Walalce:

Yeah, that's excellent. So I would say my favorite sneaker right now, I would have to say are the Kyrie urban sixes. They have, they have one color, which is like a light blue and it has like leopard skin on it. Okay. And on the back of the sneaker, it has this big creepy, like I

Celena Muzic:

yeah.

Steve Walalce:

It is the one that Sammy and Jordan are getting. Yes. That's an engineer. So then I, then I just want it now. I want to back up, cause I'm old, I'm the oldest one on this show. So I'm going to tell you that my favorite sneaker of all

Celena Muzic:

time,

Steve Walalce:

my, my favorite sneaker of all time would have to be it's a tie. It's the original air Jordan ones, the red, white, and black. And then I had an in high school, I played, this is how old I am. I had the Charles Barkley air force threes, which were red, white and blue. Yeah. Yeah. And it was, it was an awesome shoe. And at that time it was the most comfortable shoe they had out there.

Celena Muzic:

Well, you want to know something? I, you know what, I actually, I did have some other ones that were in Jordan. I have some pictures.

Steve Walalce:

Oh, Pippins. Yeah.

Celena Muzic:

Some Pippins. Remember those, but my favorite were the Jordan. Eleven's the black with the patent leather.

Steve Walalce:

Those are my

Celena Muzic:

favorite. Anyone that knows me from high school will remember me always wearing those,

Steve Walalce:

the Jordan patent leathers. Those are nice. Okay. So now let's jump right into the matchups and we're going to go, we're going to go through, we're going to go through the match-ups and you're going to pick, pick them. I'm going to write them down. And then at the end, then at the end of the playoffs, Whoever gets the most amount of wins, wins a prize, from attorneys are human to a podcast. We'll give the winner of the playoff challenge of pride. so the first matchup, and we're going to start on the Eastern conference. The first matchup and all, all of these games are a best of seven series. So we want to, you can make a statement.

Celena Muzic:

Yes.

Steve Walalce:

We're going to get that 50 bucks from, sir. Okay. So, okay. Fair enough. My wallet has no money in it right now, but that's okay. Next. So the next thing is so importantly, it's a best of seven series. So, not only are you going to, not only are you going to say who wins, but you're going to say four games to what every, every play up is is best of staff. Okay. The first matchup I'm going to, I'm going to ask the question and I'll go last on each of them. Okay. So the first one is the Eastern conference. It's the Milwaukee bucks and the Orlando magic walkie box. Okay. Milwaukee's going to go over you and what games, how many games. Is it going to be four games to what? Okay. So Ethan says the box four to two. Lena, what do you think? You

Celena Muzic:

know what? I'm going to go with the magic.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. Upset and how many games to what?

Celena Muzic:

I'm going to say.

Steve Walalce:

42. Okay. I am going to go. With the box and I'm going to say four. Well, that's what I'm saying, so, okay. The next one is the Pacers against the heat. Okay. You go first, Ethan.

Celena Muzic:

Hmm. Heat

Steve Walalce:

for three. Okay. Selena

Celena Muzic:

four, two.

Steve Walalce:

Yup. I'm going to agree with Selena. I'm going to say heat four to two. The next one is the Boston Celtics. They're the three seed against the Philadelphia 76 there's they're the sixth seat. Okay. Celtics four to one.

Celena Muzic:

Yeah. I'm going to have to go with Ethan. I mean, the Celtics there, they're a good team. I mean, I'm going to say for one.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. I am going to say the Celtics, but I'm going to say four too, because I think that they're not going to give up that easily and I think they may get Embiid back. I'm not sure, but that's what I

Celena Muzic:

think.

Steve Walalce:

I think it's just like a knee or something, but he'll be back. That's what I've. Yeah. All right. Well then, then, then they're done. Okay. Next question. I'm Ethan. Let's let's sell, lean us. Start this one. Okay. The two seed Toronto Raptors who were the defending NBA champions against number seven, the Brooklyn nets.

Celena Muzic:

Oh. I want to say the Brooklyn nets, but I know no I'm going to have to go with the rap.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. And what, breakdown. I'm going to say

Celena Muzic:

four to

Steve Walalce:

four to Ethan. Okay, so, so what do you think I am going to say the Raptors are going to win four to nothing.

Celena Muzic:

Yeah. I don't know. I didn't want to say

Steve Walalce:

nothing. I don't like the Brooklyn nets because everybody thinks they're new York's team, but the true New York team or the New York Knickerbockers. Right. Ethan. Okay, now we're moving on to the Western conference. Okay. For the first round, the first matchup is the Lakers against the Portland trailblazer Lakers. The first seed, the blazers are the AC I'll let Selena go first. Let Selena go first. And then you can, you can think of, okay. What, what do, what, how many I'm going to

Celena Muzic:

say? Four, three,

Steve Walalce:

four, three. Okay. Okay, Ethan, what do you think I'm going to go? I'm going to say Lakers for three. Also. This is going to be the best matchup of

Tony Bruin:

all.

Steve Walalce:

Ethan. Go with your heart. Portland 43. Okay. Okay. Okay, next one is the rockets who are the four seed and the fifth seated

Celena Muzic:

Oklahoma

Steve Walalce:

city thunder. Ethan, you go first this time

Celena Muzic:

rockets

Steve Walalce:

for two. Okay. Rockets for two. Okay, Selena,

Celena Muzic:

I'm going to go rockets

Steve Walalce:

rockets for one. I am going to go. Cause I believe the thunder, they play very hard. And I am going to say that because I think Russell Westbrook has hurt for a little while, but he's going to come back. I think it's going to be the rockets four to three. Okay. Next. Is the number two seated LA Clippers and the number seven seated Dallas Mavericks. Okay. Dallas, Ethan, you go. What's what? To what

Celena Muzic:

I saw the G.

Steve Walalce:

Yeah.

Tony Bruin:

Okay.

Steve Walalce:

What do you think Selena,

Celena Muzic:

I'm going to go Mavericks to

Steve Walalce:

Mavericks for two. Well, I'm actually going to go in the opposite direction. I am going to say the Clippers are going to win four to two because I like Dallas a lot. I used to be a season ticket holder to the Mavericks when I lived in Dallas. But. I just think that they're a little too young right now. I think they're gonna, the Dallas Mavericks are going to be a great team in the future, but the Clippers have experienced players like Hawaiian Leonard and Paul George. So I think that's going to get them over the top. The last one is the Corona virus matchup. It is the Denver nuggets. Against the Utah jazz and for all, the listeners, aren't aware that the MBA stopped because Rudy go Bair got the Corona virus and, and so that stopped the MBA. I'm a little biased against the jazz because they stopped my MBA. But so I'll go first. I say the nuggets are going to win four games to

Celena Muzic:

two.

Steve Walalce:

Ethan you go next.

Ethan Wallace:

Oh four Oh eight

Steve Walalce:

nuggets for one nuggets for Oh, for Ethan and nuggets for one for Selena. Okay, so now we're going to go back to the Eastern conference semi-finals and so I'm going to start, I'm going to as the second round. So I'm going to start with Ethan. And so Ethan pick the box to win four, two in the last series. And Ethan picked the heat to win four games to three. So it's the box against the heat who wins and what's the, what's the series.

Tony Bruin:

Heat

Steve Walalce:

for three. Wow. Hometown pick. I like it. I hope you're right. Ethan. Selena, you picked the, the box. Oh no. You picked the magic actually. Selena picked the magic four games to two and Selena pick the heat four games to two. So who wins the heat or the magic? And what, what, what series he

Celena Muzic:

wins? Three.

Steve Walalce:

Keep for three, I am actually going against my heart and I am going to say that the bucks are going to win four games. Sorry, but if there's any, if there's ever a pick that I hope I'm wrong. It's this? Okay. So now the next series, I'll start with you. Selena Selena picked the rafters for games to two. And Selena picked the Celtics as well. So who is going, gonna win the Celtics or the Raptors?

Celena Muzic:

Oh

Steve Walalce:

four, two 42. Okay. Ethan, you have the Celtics and the Raptors also Celtics four, three. Okay. I am also going to go with the Celtics and I think they're going to win four games to two. Although actually, you know, I'm going to say Celtics four games to three, excuse me. And this one could go either way. Okay. So now we are onto the Western conference second round. So we have Ethan, we have the blazers and the blazers have him picking four to three against the rockets, four games to two. Go with your heart rockets and what? Okay. 42. Okay. Selena you pick the Lakers and you also picked the rockets

Celena Muzic:

Lakers for three

Steve Walalce:

Lakers for three. Okay. Sure. And last but not least it's my pick. And I have the the rockets against the Lakers and I think the Lakers are too tall for the rockets. The rockets have nobody taller than six foot eight on their team. So

Celena Muzic:

that doesn't matter.

Steve Walalce:

They have a lot of tall players on the Lakers. So I'm going to say the Lakers for games to two. Yeah. Okay. Next, next pic. While you're going to go last, Ethan. Okay. The next pick is I picked the Clippers for games to two. Against the nuggets four games to two. And I am going to pick the Clippers because I think they have too much experience. So I'm going to pick the Clippers four games to three Selena you pick the Mavericks and you also pick the nuggets.

Celena Muzic:

Okay, I'm going to have to go with the nuggets. nuggets for two meals?

Steve Walalce:

Nuggets for two. Okay. Ethan, your turn. Okay. You picked the Mavericks four games to three and you pick the nuggets four games to zero who is going to win the Mavericks or the nuggets. Okay. What to what? Four to three nuggets. Okay. So now we are onto the Eastern conference finals. Ethan you have the heat. They won four games. The three, Ethan, you have the Celtics that won four games to three who was going to win the heat of the Celtics Celtics and what to what? okay. Selena you also pick the heat. And the Celtics who's gonna win heat or Celtics.

Celena Muzic:

So it takes four,

Steve Walalce:

three. So it takes four, three. I have the box for games to two, and I have the Celtics for game to three, and I'm gonna pick the box and I'm going to pick the bucks for games to two. I know

Celena Muzic:

I'm sitting here

Steve Walalce:

judging you. You are judging me. That's okay. Okay. So now we have Ethan picked the rockets for games to two, and you have the nuggets who's going to win the rockets or the

Celena Muzic:

nuggets.

Ethan Wallace:

the rockets.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. So you have the rockets and what is it going to be? The three. Okay. Selena, you have the Lakers against the nuggets, Lakers. I have the Lakers against the cliff and it's a good matchup, but the Lakers I believe are too good. And so I think the Lakers are gonna win four games. Nope. I'm picking the Lakers. So now we have an NBA finals. So Ethan's NBA finals. He has the Celtics against. The Celtics against the rockets who wins Celtics four to two. Okay. So Lena has the Lakers against the Celtics, a classic matchup from the eighties, nineties, and 2000.

Celena Muzic:

That's my

Steve Walalce:

right. So who wins? This one?

Celena Muzic:

I'm going to go with the Lakers,

Steve Walalce:

the Lakers for two. Okay. I have the box against the Lakers and I think the Lakers are going to win because I think Anthony Davis can guard Yonis. who's we're going to talk about in a minute and I think the Lakers are gonna win four games to two. so what we have, just so we remember. For the prize. So, and I both pick the Lakers. Selena has the Lakers beating the Celtics for game used to do that's no, it's not bad for you. I have the Lakers beating the bucks for games to two, and Ethan has the Celtics beating the rockets for games to do so. Right. This is going to be very exciting. Okay. So who do you think is going to be rookie of the year? We have, I'm a rant from the Memphis Grizzlies. We have Kendrick Nunn for your hometown, Miami heat, and we have Zionsville for your new Orleans pelicans. Selena. Who do you think

Celena Muzic:

I'm going to stick with the heat

Steve Walalce:

Kendrick.

Celena Muzic:

Okay.

Steve Walalce:

I'm going to agree with Ethan and I'm going to say John Moran. Okay. So now the next one is defensive player of the year. Rudy go Bair who shut basketball down. Anthony Davis. Who's on the Lakers or Yonis. from the Milwaukee box. So Lena, you go first.

Celena Muzic:

I'm going to go with Yannis.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. Ethan, what do you think? I'll go first. Anthony Davis,

Celena Muzic:

dad.

Steve Walalce:

And you also have a sneakers, right? You got them for your birthday. Okay. Good. Couple more questions for you. The six man of the year we have mantra hair or from the LA Clippers. We have Dennis Schroeder from the Oklahoma city thunder, or we have Lou Williams from the Oklahoma city thunder and Lou Williams with last year, six man of the year and the year before

Celena Muzic:

I'm going to go with blue

Steve Walalce:

Williams. Okay. I'm going to also go with Lou Williams. Ethan, what do you think?

Celena Muzic:

Shop

Steve Walalce:

mantra. Hero. Okay.

Celena Muzic:

Woo.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. The MBA coach of the year, Mike bolder Holzer from the Milwaukee bucks, Billy Donovan, who used to be the coach at the university of Florida Gators, who is now the coach of the Oklahoma city thunder or Nick nurse. Who's the coach of the defending NBA champion, Toronto rap. I'll go first. I'll go first. I'm going to have to say Billy Donovan. And I hate the Florida Gators, but I thought Oklahoma city was going to be absolute trash this year and they were the fifth seed. So I was pretty impressed with that. Ethan, what do you think? Yeah. Okay. And actually Tony is going to be joining us in a minute. So we've got a couple of questions for Tony to Salina.

Celena Muzic:

I'm going to go with the rappers

Steve Walalce:

and we have a tree. We have a special guest with us today. We have Tony red

Bruin

Celena Muzic:

will

Steve Walalce:

be joining us momentarily.

Celena Muzic:

There he is.

Steve Walalce:

I told everybody we got a special treat. How are you Tony? I got your shirt on today. Red red. We just went through the playoff match ups, but we're going to, we want to get your take on the playoff match ups also. And then Ethan, who's a thriving baller and my son has got a couple of questions for you before we close it out. Okay. So first question is bucks versus magic and why.

Tony Bruin:

I'm going to go with the books. I think, the Greek frees got a lot to prove. Everybody's got a lot of doubts on them, you know, but I think he got playoff tested, last season. I think he has a lot to prove and wants to prove. I think he's hungry and I think he's going to be the difference. You just,

Steve Walalce:

what's going to be the series total to what.

Tony Bruin:

I think I'd go with that. I think, I think I'm going to agree with that. I don't see the magic getting when there's no home court advantage and I just think the walkies, the superior team. So I'm not even sure if I'm going to go out on a limb.

Steve Walalce:

Okay, perfect. Next one is going to, yeah. Next one is Pacers versus heat.

Tony Bruin:

Wow. That's going to be a great series.

Steve Walalce:

That's our hometown team though. The Miami heat.

Tony Bruin:

I'm not saying this because it's a hometown chain, but I don't think anybody conditions their play is like the heat does in a season where there was a lot of ups and downs and shortages and everything. I think conditioning is going to play a big part in the heat is always a well conditioned team. Long as Pat Raleigh's involved with a program that the team is going to be well conditioned. I think that's going to give them an edge. I think they're going to win the series. Probably my about two games. Okay.

Steve Walalce:

Okay, next one is the Celtics and the Sixers.

Tony Bruin:

The sixes are going through a lot right now. I think they've got some internal things going on. I'm not sure they have not shown me that they've got the, the mental. Toughness that it takes in a playoff, especially in a season that had a lot of ups and downs, you know, adoptions and stuff. I think the Celtics are more solid program with some great, great players. And I'm going to go with the Celtics on this one.

Steve Walalce:

And what's the theory stone. I

Tony Bruin:

liked the, that drafted me and my heart's with them, but I just didn't. They've got a lot going on right now.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. What do you think this series is going to be? And that

Celena Muzic:

one,

Tony Bruin:

are there, I'll give the Sixers one game. I'll say a six is when one game initially.

Steve Walalce:

Okay, perfect. Next and the last one on the Eastern side and the first round rafters and naps.

Tony Bruin:

It's the nest, but the Raptors, they got great chemistry going on right now. I think Jack Vaughn has overachieved and I think he's put in a good bid to keep that coaching job, but I guess it's going to come down to how much the marquee plays that they spent all that money for once to keep them off. They've got a coach in mind, but I think he's definitely done enough to at least get a shot and an opportunity to coach them again next year. But even with that, Me and said, I'm still going with the Raptors. I just think the Raptors have a great chemistry. They don't use a saw system,

Steve Walalce:

okay. And what what's going to be, the theory.

Tony Bruin:

It's going to be a coach. I think the, I think that's going to come down to the last game and I'm going to go with the Raptors.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. So now here's a near and dear question to your heart that I wanted to ask. And I forgot to ask you that the first time you were on, who do you like better? The New York Knickerbockers or the Brooklyn? I mean, New Jersey nets.

Celena Muzic:

That was a little shame,

Tony Bruin:

Natalie. I would shout out the next book accident, if you really want to consider where I'm coming from. The natural kind of the first protein that I did see play, and I fell in love with dr. J my dad. What's it a games when the natural plan on whose Island, when does the J and the Whopper and all of those guys and leaning Keon way back when, before doc went over to the sixes, I was a big, big fan of the net. So I really have a soft spot in my heart for the next, but growing up in New York, it's on there.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. Alright. Good answer. Good answer. Why you always make fun of me because I liked the next Ethan. Cause they're terrible.

Celena Muzic:

Okay. They're the true

Steve Walalce:

news right onto the, onto the Western side. Okay. The Lakers and the blazers.

Tony Bruin:

This is the one that's going to break my heart, Steve. And I'm going to tell you why, which you probably already know anybody that knows me though, that had been talking basketball with me this season, know that I'm a big LeBron fan and wherever the team that he goes to I'm that's my team, but I picked the ladies to go out several weeks. But Carmelo Anthony is on Portland and I've been wishing says engaging. What's the politically correct word. I've been getting a hard time to get back into the league that can come back to somebody would take a chance on him and he'd come back to show the people how wrong they was. So I'm loving this Portland team, whoever wins that series, I'm going to be happy with. I'll be happy. Portland wizard because of Carmelo. The Lake is when I bet on them. And I got a lot of free Jenise coming. So. my heart is with Portland, but my money's still with the Lakers. Okay.

Steve Walalce:

What, what do you think?

Tony Bruin:

What, what do you think it's starting to come down to the last.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. So, you know, before you got on Ethan, that's my son over here. Favorite team is the blazers and he picked four threes the other way. So I picked four, three, four, three,

Tony Bruin:

Let them know. I will not be mad if it goes that way, but it's just that I've got a lot of dentists out there and they're probably going to want to go to Longhorn, but somewhere expensive or something. I got, I got no hope, but Portland winds that I'll be just as happy. I'll be glad to get those dentists. Those guys been

Steve Walalce:

excellent rockets and thunder.

Tony Bruin:

Ooh, is restroom still hurting? That's a big question. Is, are they expecting him to come back? I was trying Westbrook. He comes back anywhere in there. You know, his ability. I'm going to go with the rockets. I'm, you know, brackets off funny team. I have a hard time watching a whole game of it. Don't because of the style of the plane, especially with harden, it's just. Kind of hard to watch, but he's just so talented. They're just, he's just unstoppable. And I just, I'm going to go with the

Steve Walalce:

rockets. I have to tell you that being a Knicks fan, Mike Dan, Tony destroyed Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks. So I have a bone to pick with Mike, Dan, Tony. I just don't think he's a terrible coach. Like if any other coach had those two guys. I think they could go a lot farther. That's just my opinion.

Tony Bruin:

Don't get me wrong. I'm not a fan of them. I'm not even really a fan of the way they played, but I just think of the way the season went on with the teams being prepared, not knowing what to prepare for it, that type of challenge. I might just have the edge, especially when you're playing with there's no home court advantage and everything is more like. AAU tournament. And yet those Westbrook and modern show talented, you know, they can just, they can take a game over. And I just think in this type of atmosphere, this type of year, there'll be hard to stop. Although I really do like the thunder.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. Clippers and Mavericks.

Tony Bruin:

Wow. I'm going to go with the younger, I'm going to take a chance on Luca. I think him and, the unicorn, they get it together. They can be unstoppable for some years to come. So I'm going to say, I'm going to go out on a limb and say, this is where they first started. Get dominance and get at least get in the first round pick I'm going Dallas

Steve Walalce:

nuggets in jazz. We have a bone to pick with the jazz because they ended our MBA season. The first time we don't like

Tony Bruin:

exactly. I think Brendan, do you remember Brendan Malone? And he used to be an assistant coach when we were at Syracuse. I think he's the coach of the Denver. Just for that. I'm going to go with Denver where that's going to be a great series

Steve Walalce:

ran on. They also have Jeremy Grant on the nuggets, right? Yep.

Tony Bruin:

That you really want me to, I forgot that point. I'm going with gender.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. So now we'll move backwards. We'll start. You have the Lakers and the rockets who wins

Tony Bruin:

This is where we're going to see if LeBron still has it. He's going to be tested. I started with the Lakers and I'm going to go with them, although it could be a torso, but that that's going to be, I have to prove it this time because he's going to be challenged against talent. I went way to LeBron from them to stick with them. I love him. He's from the Bronx. I think he's done everything right. Despite pressures that people could never believe from the time he was 18 years old.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. Next. Now another matchup on the West side is the Mavericks and the nuggets.

Tony Bruin:

I think just as where it could go either way. I'm going to go, I'm going to say Dallas starts to show people what they can look forward to in the future with this team. I'm going to go with

Steve Walalce:

Dallas. Okay. Now we're going on the East. Next we have the bucks against the heat.

Tony Bruin:

Wow, that's going to be another tough one. I think the, he have great scouting coaches. They, they probably more than any other team that I can think of are gonna know how to play against the box. They're going to be conditioned to play against the box. I think Middleton is going to be the experts there in that, and I'm going to give it to the box.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. And then on the other side yeah, that's a good one. We have on, on the other side, we have the Celtics and the Raptors.

Tony Bruin:

Okay. that's going to be a goodie. But I think Kyle Lowry has got doesn't have enough help to get past Boston of everybody is on there, Boston, and I'm going to go with

Steve Walalce:

Boston. Okay. Now we have the Lakers against the Mavericks in the Western conference finals.

Tony Bruin:

That might've been the last game I seen on TV Dallas. That was a great game. LeBron and those guys are well aware of how talented Dallas is young guys, Luker and the unicorn are, and this is another situation where I pick, if I picked the Lincolns to go all the way, then I've got to stick with the Lakers to get past Dallas. But this is going to be the one that I think everybody wants to see.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. Yeah, that's going to be, you're one of the few people that I've heard of picking the Mavericks going that far. That's if that plays out, you're going to be rolling in some free dinners, you know? Okay. And then on the, on the Eastern side, we have the bucks against the Celtics.

Tony Bruin:

That is the million dollar question, but I'm going to go. I'm going to go with Boston. I think this is where all the money that they gave To get the superstar. Charlotte is going to pay off. He's going to have a great series, you

Steve Walalce:

know, great minds think alike because you and Selena both have the Lakers playing the Celtics in the finals. And then I have just to recap, I have the box against the Lakers and Ethan, it has the rockets against the Lake, so all, all good matches. And then I'll tell you when, yeah, the Lakers against the Celtics, a classic eighties and nineties and 2000 matchup. I'm sure. Larry Bird magic Johnson. Colby is going to be shining down from above Ray Allen guys, Paul Pierce, they all got some money.

Tony Bruin:

So who do you think is going to win? That would be a Holly. Wow, absolutely. I think the Celtics are a better team. So, I mean, I wouldn't be surprised, but we'll see. It depends on how much David stands up and stays

Celena Muzic:

healthy.

Tony Bruin:

But, if not, so it's definitely enough overall challenge,

Steve Walalce:

just so we hear you, you have the Lakers,

Tony Bruin:

I'm looking through strongly. I'm hoping that maybe they just rested some guys and stuff like that. Or. Trying to find those imageries and make sure that that put a play off. So I'm going out on a limb, but I'm gonna stick with my pig.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. So just so you, and what's the series going to be four to why

Tony Bruin:

I'm going to say it comes down to the last game.

Steve Walalce:

I'm going to go around to the

Tony Bruin:

game.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. So just so you know, Lena picked Lakers for two. I picked Lakers for two and Ethan picked Celtics for two, but he had them beating the rocket

Tony Bruin:

pretty close. Yep. So we're

Steve Walalce:

all, we're all exactly right. Or exactly wrong. Okay. So Ethan, you have a couple of questions for Tony. You want to ask your questions in your book that you wrote down. Okay. Okay. Repeat yourself. Even tell the question again.

Celena Muzic:

What is it like to be what it like exciting.

Tony Bruin:

Yeah.

Steve Walalce:

He wants to ask Ethan, say it a little louder so we can hear you.

Tony Bruin:

I heard dunk.

Steve Walalce:

You want to know? Was it exciting? Was it scary? How did it make you feel?

Tony Bruin:

Actually, even my question, it was both exciting and scary because when I first jumped, I didn't bring, but after I saw him coming, I knew I had to go for it. So it was exciting because I was successful. Jumped up and down. Look at the st. Patrick coming. I'm just glad that I came out on the bed.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. You got one more question for Tony, Ethan?

Celena Muzic:

Yeah.

Steve Walalce:

That's the same question. Ask him another question. Okay.

Celena Muzic:

Yeah. You

Steve Walalce:

just want to know. Did you, has PE have people asked you that dunking over Patrick Ewing question many times

Tony Bruin:

before? Yeah. I was surprised on how many people had must have saw that game, or it must've sort of reruns or everything because whenever, like say if I'm with somebody and they go, Oh, this is my friend, Tony, Tony Braun, you know, from search Houston. First thing they say is, Oh, he had it, got it. Dumped on Patrick healing. It's like, My mom now have hasn't given. I was like, yeah, I'm that guy that's took on pledget human, but Syracuse is real. and these days you can always go on YouTube and I have good friends. We all joke about it someday. Just some scale. And I guess it's something that a lot of people watch. I'm sure there's some plays that guys did between North Carolina and Duke. The ACC has talked about, so I'm just happy and. To be part, a little bit of the history and have a little niche in it. Something that people can talk about,

Celena Muzic:

you should add that to one of your shirts, something that says I'm that guy that dumped on Patrick,

Steve Walalce:

just

Celena Muzic:

put on the back

Tony Bruin:

facts.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. Couple more questions. And then we're going to go to the lightning round and it's going to be basketball, only questions. Okay. who do you think is the MVP this year? Yannis harden or LeBron James.

Tony Bruin:

Good question. I'm going to go with Yonis only because he doesn't have an Antonio Davis on his teams and so forth. He's got them where they're supposed to be. He's met the expectation. So I'm going to go with Yannis just on that one.

Celena Muzic:

Yeah,

Tony Bruin:

LeBron, the MVP every year, but I'm going to go a year, honestly.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. Ethan, you have a question for Tony, a basketball question. You wrote a couple down in your book.

Tony Bruin:

Couldn't hear

Steve Walalce:

you said, who, who do you think is going to be rookie of the year? John Moran?

Tony Bruin:

I didn't hear what the other people are, but I guess it doesn't matter to me. I got to go with Moran. I mean, he just came, you know, he just a fast, every expectation.

Steve Walalce:

Yeah, he did. He did great in that last game. So I have a question from my best friend, Bobby Donchey. He wanted to ask you a question he wanted to know. What did you think about Billy Owens taking your number 30th Syracuse?

Tony Bruin:

Oh, I couldn't have been more proud of her, of a guy. I really, I really love the way Billy Owens plays the game. you know, great pants. He has a great overall game. I liked his demeanor. I mean, he's the type that. He acts like he's been there before and no matter what he does, you know, he doesn't go dunk on somebody and run around the court, you know, parading like Tarzan or whatever. I really love the way he plays the game. And I actually I'm honored for him to be wearing them number that I had. So I look at it as an honor, actually,

Steve Walalce:

as an aside, my best friend, he got that Jersey in high school. We're 47 years old. So he's had that in his hanging on his wall. And I'll just say for me, that's the Tony Bruins Jersey. Cause you're my favorite number 30, but

Tony Bruin:

I appreciate that so much.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. Yes. Is this question to you before, what was your favorite all time sneaker, but we're going to change it a little bit. What is your favorite current sneaker that, that players you players were in the NBA?

Tony Bruin:

I really like a Nike right now. I got to say, Nike, they just come out with so many different styles and like quick print and everybody else. And you know, it's a good snake there.

Steve Walalce:

I just got him for his birthday, the Yonis one. So we're near, and then Nike's getting our money now too,

Tony Bruin:

pretty diverse in their styles and stuff. So I got to go with Nike. Okay.

Celena Muzic:

He's been getting my money since

Tony Bruin:

forever.

Steve Walalce:

Selena. You want to ask? You want to ask Tony one more question? I'm going to ask him one more and then we'll go to the lightning round.

Celena Muzic:

Yeah. Tony, who is your favorite player besides LeBron? Like up and coming player right now in the NBA

Tony Bruin:

up in calming the or anything

Celena Muzic:

like a new young player, you know, that's gonna sneak attack all of us.

Tony Bruin:

Yeah. Well, I don't know if he's sneaking up on anybody because he kind of dominated, but I really liked Moran. I mean, he has no fear. You know, he came in here, like he's been here before, it doesn't back down from me. It looks like she has the respect of the veteran players judging by how to blaze his game up in the last soil. They went after him after the game, it's all mixed, deeper set up. I'm not a reader, but it looked like they were letting them know that, Hey man, you want us over? I think we think you're going to be a great place to just keep it up. You've got nothing to be ashamed of and I'd have to go with Miranda. Do you

Celena Muzic:

think he'll grow to be LeBron status? Jordan

Tony Bruin:

status. He could, I mean, you know, he came, he went to a small school. Cool. And everything, and it still ended up being, I think one of the plays of the years on a lot of people's recognition things. So he's not scared at the moment. And I really don't see what he can't do right now. He goes, right. He goes left. He can shoot, he can drive. He can pass. So the sky's the limit for him, you know? it just a matter of how things work out for them, but they're working out pretty good for him right now.

Celena Muzic:

Okay, good.

Steve Walalce:

We'll keep an eye out. Well, I'm going to sneak in a political question for you because. I see your post, a lot of political, items on Facebook. And you know what, on this show, not only do we love basketball, we also love politics too. And so I wanna, I want to know what you think of, and I thought I already know the answer, but I want to hear it anyway from you. Is what do you think of the vice-presidential choice? Kamala Harris.

Tony Bruin:

I love it. I shouldn't have been any more happier. one of my best friends who I coach with in the AAU, his wife is a democratic representative here in the area and she bought, Kamala and to speak. And she knew he, she knew that I was a big Kamala fan. So she had me meet her and we were all in the back and everything taught. And then everything before she went out on stage and I helped set up the stage for, and everything became, should I see maybe part of it was set up crew and I was, I was in heaven. I gotta tell you. So when he actually made her the official pig, I probably was one of the happiest men in America. And that from aside from personal things, I just think she's the right one. I've been a big fan of hers ever since the inquiries where they had was she questioned bar and just made it so obvious that. You know that dude, you know that, or he wouldn't say things either way that could be construed as a lie. He just wouldn't answer the question. And I mean, for her to be, you know, a powerful woman and to make them, you know, somebody that's so powerful, but so corrupt for her to just bring it to the forefront. I was really a big fan of hers. You know, she just asked them the smart questions and let them answer them. And so.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. Great. And I'm happy because Ethan has a little sister Hannah who's four years old and that's, I can't find a better role model for Hannah then Senator Harris. So all we got to work our butts off to get, get everybody, you know, to the polls and. And hopefully we're going to have a happy day on November 3rd.

Celena Muzic:

I also think it's one more step forward for women and, and, and not just women, minorities, everything, you know,

Tony Bruin:

we've got a panel like Trump has an exit. I want to be, I want to be clear. I'm not anti Republican. I'm not just that, you know, but I am anti Trump. Because growing up in New York city, I've been very familiar with them from going way back to the central park five, where he wanted those kids executed before any of the trial, he hadn't even started, you know, and I mean, even today he has not apologized to them. I mean, he was actually talking about dumb being executed before me. That was crazy. And then you throw in all the lawsuits, we're not renting his apartments or selling his apartments to people of color, you know, for a long time. I just didn't think that that was the character of somebody that I grew up as a little kid thinking that we would want for the president of the United States. I just. So it's not anti Republican, it's just anti, Donald J. Trump

Steve Walalce:

okay, I'm gonna, is it okay, Selena, I'm going to ask Ethan and I'm going to ask Tony the lightning round. Yeah. Okay. Alright. Ethan, Tony, you ready for the lightening round? Okay. Short shorts or long shorts.

Tony Bruin:

I've always wore short shorts.

Steve Walalce:

What about you? Anything? Okay. Michael Jordan or LeBron? James Ethan. Michael Jordan. Nathan, what do you say? Tony

Tony Bruin:

bronch.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. Dunk or three point shot. Tony, you go first.

Tony Bruin:

Oh, you know, I'm going to dunk on that one, but they have so many, I don't even think about threes. We didn't have threes back then.

Steve Walalce:

Ethan, what do you think? Don't okay.

Tony Bruin:

I'm surprised.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. Tony dunk

Celena Muzic:

master.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. So now this is, this is old time video game versus new school video game bird versus Jordan video game or NBA two K Tony.

Tony Bruin:

I'm going with a bird. I can relate to that more, right?

Steve Walalce:

Okay. Last but not least. Tony. You, you go first. Actually. No, Ethan, you go first, Antonio, close this out. Bounce pass or chest pass. Donny

Tony Bruin:

like the bounce pass with the chest press with my favorite pass. I like to put it right on that number for you.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. So in closing, Tony and I, and I'm wearing his shirt today, he is the, the founder of a retro basketball clothing line. today's MBA. Playoffs preview show is powered by the red collection. So tell us a little bit more about the red. Sometimes

Tony Bruin:

I had that messages shirt. well, it was just something that man, a friend of mine, Peter Haber, who was also a search use alumni, I'm actually on my way to the alumni game I flew in and he lives in Jersey. So he picked me up from the. The airport in Jersey and North, and we drove up to Syracuse. And one way we were just talking about some things and I'm not even showing you, he was like some of the things you'd like to do now talking about basketball. He thought that I should do more basketball things that I have inclined to do. And it's almost like, you know, one day I want to try to do maybe a retro SportsLine or something like that. And we talked about it and he asked me some questions and we joked and we talked about some funny designs and some real designs and stuff like that. Didn't mention that couple of weeks after we got back from the alumni game, I get an email from him with a whole page full of some designs to look at. Cause he's like, we're going to do this. I said, I know what you said. You want me to do it? And I'm going to make it happen for you. And he just pushed me to do something that I always said I want to do, but just never took the initiative and kept procrastinating to really do it. And I love him. And it's been going pretty good. And I'm just so happy to have a wish fulfilled like that.

Steve Walalce:

And I, and I think Ethan, if it's okay, Ethan and I will send you and Peter some thoughts on some designs.

Tony Bruin:

Definitely. We took them all. We, we, we just want to, we want to grow.

Celena Muzic:

I'm going to send you

Steve Walalce:

some thoughts too. Yeah. Celine out of all of us is the most, I'm the least creative. Ethan and Selena are much more creative than me.

Tony Bruin:

I appreciate that. We hope we can get it. Really do. We're grassroots.

Steve Walalce:

And how do we find you Tony? In closing? Yeah,

Tony Bruin:

the Instagram a little more updated, but right now, if you just type in one word collection.net and it will pop right up.

Celena Muzic:

Let

Tony Bruin:

me to know I'm not going to retire, so I get a chance to play on one on one. So he better keep practicing.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. Okay. We're gonna, we're going to meet up with Tony. Don't worry. I got him excited. He's got, he's got some tricks. Tony's got some old school tricks.

Tony Bruin:

Yeah. And I've got some special rules we got to play by too.

Steve Walalce:

Okay. Thank you so much, Tony. And if, if you know, you're, you know, we love you and you're a friend of the show. Maybe we're going to have you back in a month or two for our election. Oh,

Tony Bruin:

definitely. Definitely. I'm always, I'm always ready to talk elections.

Steve Walalce:

You know, we love, we love basketball. Vote,

Tony Bruin:

vote, vote. Thanks for having me. Thank you, Selena. And bye.

Steve Walalce:

Thank you for listening to this episode of attorneys are human too. Please subscribe to this podcast in your favorite podcast host, please also leave us a five star review with your podcast provider. Hope you enjoyed this episode and we look forward to seeing you next time.