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First Episode! Can the NBA Salvage the Season? – 6/26/20
For the first episode of Philly Unite, my guest was Jonny Goldstein from “Jonny G’s Hot Takes”. During this time, we discussed the future of the Philadelphia 76ers and the return of the NBA. Enjoy the show!
Transcription
Michael Berman: I am your host Michael Berman, during this time we will be talking about the future of Philadelphia sports. This episode I’ll be having on Jonny Goldstein from “Jonny G’s Hot Takes” focusing on the road ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers and the comeback of the NBA.
Michael Berman: My Guest today is Jonny Goldstein, a recent graduate from American University, and also host his own podcast, “Jonny G’s Hot Takes”. Thanks for joining me Jonny great to have you
Jonny Goldstein: Yeah I appreciate being here, I also appreciate you taking the time to join my podcast last week as there was a lot to talk about and offered some good insight.
Michael Berman: Yes, exactly! I am excited to follow up on more NBA talk as their such much happening right now. Before I get into the Philadelphia related questions, because obviously this is a Philadelphia podcast, I wanna have more of a general conversation about the state of the NBA,
Michael Berman: Where do you think we will be, come July 30th? Which is the start date of the NBA
Jonny Goldstein: I am not sure, I think the NBA will definitely start, it’s unclear to see if it will last up until the championship date whenever that is. With Avery Bradley as the most recent dropout….
Michael Berman: The last possible date is October 12th
Jonny Goldstein: It is possible it could go that long, but, I’m going to give a hot take that it will not last until the championship. I think that players may contract coronavirus, and if more than 5/6 players contract the virus there is not much the league can do they kind of have to shut it down for everybody’s safety.
Michael Berman: With players such as Davis Bertans, Trevor Ariza, and Avery Bradley announcing they are holding out from Orlando, do you think player attendance will be an issue.
Jonny Goldstein: Right, and you have these guys a month before the league starts dropping out due to different reasons, I think that were gonna continue to see this trend as July 30th comes closer, in my opinion, I think there is gonna be at least 6/7 more players that drop out due to health concerns. It’s a good reason if they didn’t have a good chance contending for a title.
Michael Berman: These guys will be living together for multiple months all in a bubble in Orlando, obviously there are friends in the NBA and there are also players that aren’t friends in the NBA. There are players with known beef, examples being Hassan Whiteside and Joel Embiid, James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo, this list goes on and on. What NBA player beef are you looking forward to the most in Orlando.
Jonny Goldstein: Since you’re a guy from Philly, and your whole podcast revolves around Philly, I am hoping that the Heat and the Sixers meet in the playoffs. In that case I think Jimmy Butler will go at it with either Joel Embiid or Ben Simmons, let’s say its Joel Embiid, I’m looking forward to that battle between Jimmy Butler and Joel Embiid. The playoffs will get the best of them and will bring out their worst sides in terms of being aggressive. They have played together so…. could get ugly between those two teams.
Michael Berman: Yeah I could see Jimmy Butler and Ben Simmons going at it, who knows what that means, will find out more soon,
Jonny Goldstein: Yeah it will be interesting for sure.
Michael Berman: How do you think the Sixers will bode in the playoffs, and do you think this time off helped them or hurt them.
Jonny Goldstein: I think the Sixers will do well in the playoffs. I predict that they will either go to the Eastern Conference Finals or lose in the second round. I predict they will win the 1st round, if they play the Pacers or even against the Celtics, I have the Sixers beating the Celtics, but, I don’t have them going past the Eastern Conference Finals. Remind me of your other question?
Michael Berman: Do you think this time off helped them or hurt them. They were the 6 seed in the East before this all happened
Jonny Goldstein: Right, and they were really not looking too good before the NBA before the shutdown, so it really depends on the player but I think overall, this time off will have helped the 76ers since they have had time to regroup as a team and hopefully a lot of team group messages and a lot of workouts because everything is opening up soon, and also their comradery as a team.
Michael Berman: Yeah, I agree, I think this time has probably helped them. Coach Brett Brown was recently asked about the health of Ben Simmons, and Brett responded that they plan on easing him back for playoffs and to play in general. Are you concerned about Ben health come playoffs?
Jonny Goldstein: I am not concerned with his health, especially since he has had so much time to rehab from his past injuries and just hang out over these past few months, I don’t think his health will be a problem, I am more worried about Joel Embiid, I think if Embiid takes a slight hit to his knee, or anywhere else where he has had an injury, he made be sidelined for a few games. But, will see, overall Sixers health is looking pretty good but Embiid definitely the guy I’d be most worried about.
Michael Berman: Yeah, Joel is always a question mark that all of Philadelphia is praying that he stays healthy. So you think Joel is the bigger injury risk than Ben Simmons come playoffs?
Jonny Goldstein: Yes, for sure, I haven’t seen a lot of injury concern with Simmons during the year except for that few weeks he was out. But, since Embiid has had such a history of injuries and being out multiple weeks at a time, I think that he’s more of the risk here.
Michael Berman: My last Sixers related question, any sixers fan sadly knows Al Horford has had his struggles playing next to Joel Embiid…What do you see Al Horford’s role being like when we return to basketball. Do you think Brett keeps him in the starting lineup, do you seem him coming off the bench, you know what do you see?
Jonny Goldstein: I don’t see a guy like Al Horford coming off the bench, especially with the huge contract he just signed. I think that Brett Brown will probably keep him at the 4 position. I don’t think that place style will look much different for the team, it really depends who their going against. If they play a bigger team then Horford will need to be more of a factor, but I feel that they would succeed with him at the 4 if they play a smaller team, like the Pacers. But if they go up against the Bucks which might happen, I want to see him defending Giannis or Brook Lopez or any of those guys really successfully
Michael Berman: Yeah, there is definitely a lot of interesting teams this year, the Sixers have a shot, obviously Milwaukee has a shot, the East is gonna be very interesting. And the West will be more interesting with that 8 seed battle going on. That’s all my questions I had for you Jonny, thank you for coming on the podcast, listeners go listen to “Jonny G’s Hot Takes” his podcast is out now I was on there last week, and parting words Jonny?
Jonny Goldstein: I’m looking forward to this season hopefully it doesn’t cancel, good luck to the Sixers.
Michael Berman. Amen! Thanks Jonny will talk soon.
Jonny Goldstein: Anytime
Michael Berman: That was my interview Jonny Goldstein, as you can tell were really excited for the basketball season, there still so much that can happen before July 30th. I look forward to talking more about the future of basketball and the future of the 76ers on next week’s podcast when we have the Founder of the Process and former Sixers General Manager, Sam Hinkie on the pod. Process fans, never forget #HeDiedForOurSins and look forward to talking to you guys next week, stay safe everybody, and Philly Unite.
Show Notes:
How to get into contact with Jonny G? Want to learn more about his podcast?
Email: jonnygoldstein4@gmail.com
Website for Jonny G’s Hot Takes:
- https://edspace.american.edu/jonathan-goldstein/