About this episode
SleepyJ and Mackenzie Rivers talk opening night NBA and much more. The guys also give out the first agreed upon player prop best bet !! SleepyJ hosts RJ Bell’s Dream Preview for NBA opening night with Mackenzie Rivers. They discuss title odds, awards, and team outlooks. Oklahoma City opens as favorite at +200, and Mackenzie argues they’re slightly undervalued given age curves and experience, citing SGA’s playoff performance and team growth. Sleepy admits underrating OKC last year due to small-market bias, learning that team cohesion beats star power. They move to other contenders: Mackenzie likes Cleveland’s continuity but questions their playoff ceiling; Sleepy doubts Donovan Mitchell’s leadership and depth, calling the Cavs regular-season strong but playoff vulnerable. They debate Mitchell’s limitations as a facilitator and team chemistry. Sleepy shifts to Houston, citing VanVleet’s injury but optimism around Durant, Thompson, and Sengun. Mackenzie praises Durant’s adaptability but notes Phoenix’s example of misfit stars, still bullish on Houston’s upside. Sleepy predicts Rockets could shock people and offers a bold take: betting on Philadelphia and Joel Embiid for MVP at 150-1 and title at 35-1. He argues Embiid looks rejuvenated and motivated by disrespect. Mackenzie agrees, calling those odds insulting and noting Embiid’s elite stats despite limited games. They analyze how Philly could rival Knicks or Cavs if healthy. Then they examine bottom teams: Washington, Utah, Brooklyn, and Chicago. Both agree the Wizards are awful, but Sleepy also thinks the Bulls may implode, predicting a rebuild. Mackenzie critiques Chicago’s poor contracts and lack of direction since Derrick Rose’s injury. Sleepy sees Brooklyn outperforming its 19.5 win total. Transitioning to opening night bets, they preview Houston at OKC. Mackenzie’s power ratings made OKC -7.5 but adjusts to -5.5 with Jalen Williams out, leaning Rockets slightly. Sleepy thinks OKC still reliable, given consistency and home edge. They discuss player props—Sleepy leans under KD 23.5 points, expecting him to defer to young teammates; Mackenzie initially leans over but concedes the market’s caution. Next, Warriors at Lakers: LeBron’s absence moves the line from Lakers -3.5 to Warriors -2.5. Mackenzie analyzes the line evolution, doubts L.A.’s defensive narrative, and argues the Warriors remain superior. He critiques media bias inflating Lakers’ perception and calls Warriors -2 a fair play, making it his best bet. Sleepy agrees, taking Luka Doncic (now on Lakers) over 30.5 points, predicting he’ll shoulder offense in LeBron’s absence. They debate whether LeBron’s rest is strategic “LeBron to the rescue” PR timing, likely returning in late November. Mackenzie estimates Lakers around 43–44 wins, under the 46.5 total. They close with promo code NBA25 for 25% off pregame.com. Sleepy endorses Mackenzie as the top NBA handicapper, praising his discipline and analytics. Both recall strong past results and share their agreed prop bet: Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga over 20.5 points, rebounds, and assists, believing he’ll step up under bright lights in L.A. They end optimistic for a profitable NBA season and sign off encouraging listeners to enjoy opening night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices