Nuggets vs Heat Finals Review & Potential LeBron James Trade - Ride the Line Ep. 15

Episode 15 of the Ride the Line podcast featuring Tanner Kern and Grant Mitchell is out now!

Nuggets vs Heat Finals

The show starts off with a discussion of how the NBA Finals are shaping up through two games. The Denver Nuggets won the opening gambit but lost the follow-up in a close finish, marking their first loss at home in the postseason. Denver has been significantly worse on the road than at home as well, which is a point of concern with the next two games taking place in Miami.

Grant and Tanner then dive into the meat of why the Nuggets collapsed and the Heat stormed back in Game 2. Tanner attributed both largely to the Heat’s excellent three-point shooting, while Grant touched on numerous defensive miscommunications, specifically in the fourth quarter.

There was also a debate on whether or not the Heat turned Nikola Jokic into a scorer or not. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra denounced that idea at the postgame press conference and said that take was made by “untrained eyes,” although Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said that he thought that was exactly what Miami did.

The Nuggets are also now 42-6 in games that Jokic has 10+ assists and 19-19 in games he doesn’t in 2023.

The conversation then shifts toward Jimmy Butler and how he will approach the rest of the series. He has been unaggressive and inefficient for the past couple of weeks and has not had an iconic game like he did several times in the first round and throughout previous playoff runs. 

The co-hosts then deliver their betting picks for Game 3 (find out what they are in the full-length show) and discuss Grant’s NBA Finals MVP ladder, topped by Jokic and Bam Adebayo.

LeBron James, Kyrie Irving Reunion?

The B block of the show centers around a potential reunion between LeBron James and Kyrie Irving after the latter endorsed a trade to the Dallas Mavericks. While intriguing on paper, especially with Luka Doncic also in the mix, it would leave them in salary cap purgatory and is nearly impossible barring unforeseen developments.

If it were to happen, however, Tanner is not sold because of the team’s lack of depth. Grant also doesn’t like it because of the defensive concerns and because those players miss games, especially LeBron.

Grant then questions if Irving was being genuine or was somehow looking to make his way to LA. He even then proposes a trade involving Anthony Davis, but Tanner quickly shoots it down.

NFC East Betting Preview

The show closes out with a discussion on the NFC East, the division that sent the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl in 2022.

Both Grant and Tanner are high on Philly heading into the new campaign despite changes to the roster. But while they love the Eagles, they are less confident in the Dallas Cowboys, who are second in odds to win the division. The jury is out on Dak Prescott, and there’s the possibility he won’t be back in Dallas if he has another poor year.

Tanner showed respect to Daniel Jones and the New York Giants, but Grant did not. That launched a debate on Jones’ place in the NFL, how he’s been treated by his coaches, and if he deserves the level of criticism he has received. The pair settle on the idea that this is a definitive prove-it year now that he has a good coach, more weapons, and a new contract.

The Washington Commanders are the last team discussed on the show. Tanner pokes fun at Grant’s favorite team and the two end up going game-by-game to figure out what their record will be… let’s just say that it might be a long year for Washington fans.