Ty's 2025-2026 NBA Season Preview: Nuggets, Cavaliers, Thunder

Welcome to the final day of my 2025-26 NBA preseason countdown. These are my three favorites for the championship this season. These teams have what it takes to make it to the title series and I wouldn't be all that shocked if any one of them wins it all.

At 3 I have the Denver Nuggets. For all the flack I give Nikola Jokic, and I still find his defense to be quite appalling at times, he is an offensive wizard. I don't believe he has deserved every MVP award he has won, but we are living in an analytical world with sports statistics, and he is a dream when it comes to analytics. Jokic is the hub for a very productive offense, and the Nuggets go as he goes, which is usually in a winning direction. Jamal Murray is still a very important player for this team. He may not be putting up gaudy stats, but you can tell the team feels his absence when he is not on the floor. You could see them struggle during the playoffs when Murray wasn't out there. He is still a very good knock down shooter. Aaron Gordon may be even more important than Murray. He has a great two man game with Jokic, and when he isn't fully healthy, this defense suffers mightily. He is, by a wide margin, their most reliable and best defender. He may not leap like he used to, but he has developed a solid outside shot which will help to prolong his career. I was wrong about Christian Braun. When he came into the league I thought he was too skinny and would get picked on defensively. He has since bulked up, and it feels like he has been studying defense with Aaron Gordon, and he has seemed to have learned a whole lot. The Nuggets also made some additions, with only one big subtraction, and this will only help the team. They traded away Michael Porter Jr for Cam Johnson. This was a win win. MPJ can go do whatever he wants in Brooklyn, and Johnson feels like a much better fit next to Jokic and Murray. He has always been a very good shooter, and his defense and passing have gotten so much better. Bruce Brown is back and that will benefit him and the team. Heplayed his best basketball last time he was with the Nuggets. And Tim Hardaway Jr adds instant offense off the bench. He won't be asked to do anything but score, and that is perfect for him. The Nuggets pushed the Thunder almost as hard as the Pacers did and they shored up their roster this offseason. They look legit again and they should win a ton of games and make a deep, deep playoff push.

At number 2 I have the Cleveland Cavaliers. This has got to be the season they finally put it all together, right? They have everything a title contending team dreams of. Donovan Mitchell is a scoring machine and he can get his from anywhere. I saw a game last year where he couldn't miss from three and the next night he was driving straight to the rim with no fear. He's awesome. Even Mobley is a defensive beast. He was DPOY last season in fact. He is as good as it gets in the East on that end of the floor. He may need to develop an outside shot to further solidify his offense, but what he brings to the table on defense is more than enough for this team. Jarrett Allen is a nice luxury to have next to Mobley in the post. He is big and long and loves to rebound. And he should be over his playoff fears at this point. Darius Garland is a very good and capable point guard if he can stay on the court. He has all the tools you want in a floor general, he has just got to stay healthy during their playoff run. Max Strus is a nice Swiss army knife option for them. He isn't the best at any one skill, but he is decent at a lot of different things. De'Andre Hunter was a nice pickup. He is an okay enough shooter and a very good defender who can guard multiple positions. I like Larry Nance Jr as a bench player. Thomas Bryant can still contribute spot minutes. And getting Lonzo Ball was a nice touch. Anything he gives this team is a cherry on top for them. The Cavs need to prove themselves in the playoffs, and this is as good a roster as they have had since LeBron James was on their team.

And coming in at number 1, in what should be a surprise to no one, is the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. This is almost a perfect basketball team. They have been a solid unit for two years now, they play the best defense in the league, they have the reigning MVP, their offense is a machine, they have a great coach and they are still so young. A repeat is not out of the question. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was climbing ever so steadily the past couple years and then he busted out and won MVP last year. He is a great creator, a great passer, plays defense and gets to the line. SGA is one of the future faces of the league and I adore watching him play basketball. He is awesome. LU Dort has stuck it out, bent his game to fit the needs of the team and has found his version of basketball nirvana. He is the best three and D player in the NBA. Chet Holmgren showed his importance in the playoffs when he blocked everything that came his way. He was the ultimate rim protector in the Finals, and when he is making shots, he is tough to figure out. Jalen Williams announced his arrival as an all NBA player last year and I fully expect him to just get better and better playing on this team. Alex Caruso fit right into place when they traded for him last year. Isaiah Hartenstein is a great backup big. Cason Wallace got decent playing time in the playoffs as a rookie on this team. Isaiah Joe proved he is a capable and reliable three point shoot. Aaron Wiggins played clutch in spot minutes. And they are about as deep as any team can hope to be in the NBA. The Thunder are on the precipice of doing something great in the modern NBA. They literally have it all and are only going to get better, I don't think they will break the regular season wins record, but I'd love to see them try. They are fun to watch and us fans better get used to seeing them play deep, deep into the playoffs year after year for a while.

That's it. That is my 2025-26 NBA preseason countdown. Come back on Monday for my playoff and awards predictions. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Ty's NBA Season Preview: Rockets, Timberwolves, Knicks

Day nine of my preseason 2025-26 NBA countdown starts with my number 6 team, the Houston Rockets.

They did it. They got what they needed this offseason. They needed a deadly, knock down shooter, and they got one of the best the game has ever seen in Kevin Durant. KD instantly made this team a contender the moment he was traded there. I know they had to part ways with Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to get him, but the price was a small one to get a player like KD. He makes them an easy pick for the playoffs and a possible long run in the playoffs. Fred VanVleet going down with a season ending injury hurts. They need his veteran leadership, but with him out all year, they will need to find a quality point guard. Amen Thompson is awesome. He is the defensive leader, he is long and he can defend all five positions. When he finds a shot, he will become elite. Alperen Sengun is a great hub for the offense. He isn't all that great defensively, but his ability to run the offense from the post is a big plus for this offense. Steven Adams is the enforcer that they have and every team wants. He is out there to intimidate the opponents, and he may be the best in the league. Reed Sheppard didn't have that great of a rookie season, but maybe with some more run, and wide open shots, he could be a good knock down shooter. If Tari Eason can stay on the court he could provide some great bench depth. He is also a very talented player. Jabari Smith Jr may already be the player he is going to be in the league, and that is just fine. He is a very solid fourth or fifth option on a decent team. Getting Clint Capela, Josh Okogie and Dorain Finney-Smith were all really good additions and they will help this team a ton. Okogie is one of the better rebounding guards in the NBA. DFS is one of the premiere three and D players in the NBA. And Clint Capela had his best years while playing in Houston with James Harden. Maybe going back there, sans Harden, will help him find his old groove as a rim runner. The Rockets are going all in and trying to make a run. I'm here for it. I'd like to see them continue to be relevant in the league. I always enjoyed watching them when Hakeem Olajuwon was there, and now with one of my favorite players, KD playing there, I am more inclined to watch them again.

At number 5 I have the Minnesota Timberwolves. Some people are down on them, but I am not. There's a reason this team has been to the Western Conference Finals two years in a row. They are good, and it all starts at the top with Anthony Edwards. He is just getting started on his ascent, and I'm more than ready for it. Edwards is probably my favorite player in the league. He has surpassed Ja Morant for me. He has improved one area of his game every offseason, and apparently he is working on his post game during this offseason. I can't wait. I'm hoping he makes a run for MVP this year. Rudy Gobert seems to be playing like his former self when he was in Utah. He is still as good a defender as always and he is a solid rebounder. He has also improved his offense in the post. Mike Conley is a good veteran point guard, but he is old. His time may be up. If they trade him or move on, Rob Dillingham has deserved the right to take some of those minutes. He had flashes last season, he just needs consistent playing time. Naz Reid is the best bench big man in the league. He has always had a great offensive game, and his defense continues to get better. He is so good at feasting on second units. Donte Divincenzio can shoot, and only shoot, but he is very good at that one skill. Joe Inlges can still frustrate opponents with his trash talk. Jaden McDaniels is so good on defense, and he has improved his shooting every year. And Julius Randle is a great scorer from the post, and he can take his game out to 10 to 12 feet and hit shots from there. The Timberwolves have more than inserted themselves into being a perennial playoff contender who make deep runs. They just need to take that next leap, and with Edwards continuing his ascent, the Timberwolves can do the same.

The final team for the day, coming in at number 4, I have the New York Knicks. I'm still a little confused by them letting go of Tom Thibodeau, but they hired Mike Brown, and he will diversify the offense and play more players. It may end up being a good thing in the long run. Jalen Brunson has more than proven his worth, and he has done everything to help this team get better. Brunson has won me over since signing with the Knicks and I'm stoked to see how he plays with a new coach who is an offensive genius. Karl Anthony-Towns is a great shooter and his post game is solid as well. He is not a very good defender, but he has help on that end. Speaking of said help, Mitchell Robinson is a great rim protector. He is also a wonderful rebounder and he gives his all when he is on the floor. He just needs to stay relatively healthy. OG Anunoby is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. He flies all over the court on defense, and when he is called upon to shoot, he has shown that he is willing and able. Mikal Bridges fits right in with this team. He isn't asked to be the offensive hub and he can focus on his defense and outside shooting. He gets to play like he did while he was on the Suns, and that is the best version of Bridges. Josh Hart will probably come off the bench, and I think he will feast on second units. Miles McBride is a good bench scorer. And I like that they brought on Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele. Clarkson can shoot and he is more than willing to shoot. Yabusele is an undersized big, but he doesn't let that slow him down. He will attack anyone on defense. The Knicks are really good. I believe that Brown will help this team stay healthy and that the offense will be better. The Knicks may be the East's representative in the NBA Finals this season.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the final three teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Ty's NBA Season Preview: Lakers, Magic, Clippers

Day 8 of my preseason NBA countdown begins inside the top 10. These are my for sure playoff teams heading into the season.

At number 9 I have the Los Angeles Lakers. Look, I'm already over all the offseason Luka Doncic talk. Oh great, he's in shape. Oh, he is talking like he cares now. Oh, he had a great Eurobasket. I'm done with all of it. I expect him to gripe constantly at the officials. I expect him to play no defense. And I expect him to get frustrated and complain about his teammates. This whole in shape thing is so reminiscent of Zion Williamson being in shape. I'm done. Show it on the court, not in the media. LeBron James is hurt to start the season. Apparently he has sciatica. That is a true bummer and a real sign of age. That being said, the guy is still wildly productive and incredibly important to this team's success. Austin Reaves is only good because he is getting wide open looks and no one really believes he is all that great. If he was on any other team in the NBA, he'd be an afterthought. Deandre Ayton is also getting the offseason bump by simply enjoying the Lakers. People seem to think that this will be the time he rediscovers his talents. While I like Ayton, his time in Portland probably stunted his growth as an NBA player. Jaxson Hayes is not great, but he too is getting the Lakers bump. Dalton Knecht and Bronny James were wasted draft picks. Gabe Vincent doesn't seem to have it anymore, I'm curious about Marcus Smart. I loved it when the Grizzlies acquired him in a trade, but he never did much of anything. Rui Hachimura has found a nice place for him that best suits his talents. Jarred Vanderbilt has some skills, but he doesn't get to do much of them here in LA. And I still have zero trust in JJ Reddick as a head coach. He is as phony as all the Lakers offseason talk. I'm done with it. But, as long as LeBron James is still here and still putting up his regular numbers, the Lakers will win enough to get bounced in the first round of the playoffs.

At number 8 I have the Orlando Magic. I expect the Magic to benefit most from all the injuries in the East. They have made some strides the past couple seasons, and now I think they take it up another level. I also expect the offense to be greatly improved. Paolo Banchero is awesome. He has lived up to the hype and then some. He is a three level scorer. He has been trying harder on defense. And he will continue his ascent. Franz Wagner is already a lockdown defender, he just needs to refine his offensive game. He cannot be a total zero on that end in the playoffs. They need him and Banchero to play great at the same time. Getting Desmond Bane in a trade will help their outside shooting. He is a great shooter and he has bought into playing defense since he was drafted by the Grizzlies. Johnathan Isaac cannot stay on the floor for an extended period of time, and his offense is horrendous. But that dude is a pure menace on defense. He is as good a rim protector as anyone in the league, and he can switch onto guards with relative ease. If Jalen Suggs can stay healthy he provides great perimeter defense. Tristan de Silva can be a bench scorer if he improves his shot. Tyus Jones and Anthony Black are great point guard options off the bench. Wendell Carter Jr has fit in quite nicely with this team. And Mo Wagner may be the biggest pest in the NBA, which is exactly what the Magic want from him. This team has been figuring it out via the draft, and now they have made a great trade to get a much needed shooter. It would not shock me at all if the Magic are a top 3 seed in the East and make a deeper than expected run in the playoffs. The Magic might be back.

The final team for the day, at number 7 I have the Los Angeles Clippers. Take away the Aspiration stuff and all that wild off the court stuff, and the Clippers remind me of a better version of the Warriors. They're old, but they are experienced, and if their core guys can stay healthy, which is a big time if, the Clippers could be really, really good this season. Kawhi Leonard is one of the best two way players the NBA has ever seen. He can guard anyone in the NBA and he can score from almost anywhere. They need him to not get hurt, which is a big ask. But if he can stay on the floor for 50 plus games, he will be in the MVP conversation this season. Ivica Zubac had a great season last year and he is one of the better big man rollers in the league. He was already a solid defender, and now that he has a low post game, he has become a key to this team's success. James Harden is a regular season demon. He can hit threes, he is an exceptional passer and he seems happy to be in LA. Kris Dunn is awesome at defense. Nic Batum is a great vet to have on the roster, Derrick Jones Jr has gradually gotten better at corner threes. I also love the offseason additions for the Clippers. John Collins is underrated. People kind of gave up on him, but he turned it around a bit in Utah, and now he will get to play with real NBA players. Bradley Beal wanted to go to the Clippers and he got his wish. He won't have to do as much as he was asked to do in Washington or Phoenix, and that should help greatly. And bringing Chris Paul back was chef's kiss. He will get to run the second unit and be annoying as he always is and will win extra games just due to his overall knowledge of the NBA. The Clippers seem to have made the right moves that will benefit them the most. If they can avoid the injury bug as much as they usually do, they can be a real force in the West.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next three teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Ty's NBA Season Preview: Hawks, Spurs, Warriors

Welcome to day seven of my preseason 2025-26 NBA countdown. We are at the teams that I consider to be playoff locks. These teams should all avoid the play-in and find themselves firmly entrenched as one of the top 6 seeds in their conference.

At 12 I have the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks may, finally, have it figured out. They have tried a ton of things in the past couple years to minimal success. Trae Young is also nearing the end of his contract, and you know he is going to try his best to ball out so he can get a new max contract. Speaking of Young, while a very good offensive guy, he still has some big flaws. He hunts assists, and if you don't give him one on what he deems to be a good pass, he may freeze that player out in future games. He is also a zero defender. He gets hunted by opponents on that end. I do like that he is on some weird offseason tour where he is calling out others who have called him out. It feels like he's out for blood. How that anger translates on the floor will say a whole lot about his next deal. I think Zaccharie Risacher has some good skills. He was a lottery pick for a reason. You have to have real talent to be a number one overall pick, even in a supposed down draft. He will only get better. Jalen Johnson is a budding star. He should get all star consideration this season, and if he continues at his current rate, all NBA may not be far behind. Dyson Daniels has the tools to be an elite level defender. And if he can find a quality shot, he adds great depth to this team. They acquired two big names in Kristaps Porzingnis and Nickeil Alexander Walker. Porzingis will bring excellent spacing and NAW is an all world defender and is becoming a better shooter. He is a high level 3 and D player. Onyeka Okongwu will play big minutes off the bench and he is becoming more and more vital to this team. And they took a local kid in Georgia standout Asa Newell in the draft, who many experts have high hopes for. The Hawks seem to have the right roster around Trae Young and Quinn Snyder. Snyder is going to be able to fully implement his whole coaching plan and Trae Young should look even better with a much improved supporting cast. The Hawks should be good, and in the East, who knows, they could make a deep playoff run.

At number 11 I have the San Antonio Spurs. I'm all in on this team and Victor Webanayama. Wemby is a future MVP. He can literally do everything you could ever dream of an NBA player doing. He is 7'5 and he can handle and shoot. He looks to have gotten stronger this offseason. He should be healthier. He may be the best defensive player in the NBA already. His ascent has started and who knows how high he can go from here, and I'm here for it. De'Aaron Fox may be hurt to start the season, but he will be back soon enough and when he is on the floor he and Wemby are going to run, run, run. I love that, and those two will form a formidable pick and roll combo. Keldon Johnson has gotten better as a three point shooter, and he brings some much needed floor spacing for this team. Jeremy Sochan is a wild card, but having a wild card like him is what most teams crave. He is a menace on defense, can pass the ball and has an endless motor. Stephon Castle is coming off a rookie of the year win and he is one of my favorite young players to watch. He has such a nice fluid game. He reminds me of a guard version of Kawhi Leonard. I think Dylan Harper is their point guard of the future. He will get a lot of coaching from Fox, but soon enough he will be running the point and I cannot wait to see how he performs. Luke Kornet was a decent enough signing and will bring plenty of hustle off the bench. Carter Bryant, their other rookie, looks like he is going to need to see the floor sooner rather than later. He has a ton of skills and a great upside. Devin Vassell is somewhat underrated and he is going to find plenty of open looks next to Wemby, Fox and Harper. And Harrison Barnes is still here and still contributing like a true vet with championship equity. I love this team and I'm expecting them to blow past preseason expectations, if they're healthy. Wemby is the future of the NBA and I am all here for his takeover.

The final team for the day, at number 10 I have the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors are the veteran laden team of the NBA. They have all the names we used to know and love, and these dudes can still play some good basketball. Steph Curry is the greatest shooter ever and he is still wildly productive. He is as consistent as they come and he is the best at what he does. He just needs to stay healthy. Jimmy Butler seems happy enough, and when he is happy and engaged, he is one of the better ones to do it. He is a great two way player, he can get to the line and he knows how to get under his opponents' skin. Draymond Green is still here and he is still causing havoc. He is a shell of the player he once was, but he still has that hold over certain players and that is a skill that cannot be taught. They signed De'Anthony Melton and Al Horford recently. Horford will be a steady presence and help replace Kevon Looney's production. Melton, if he can stay on the floor, is a very good second unit scorer. Brandon Podemzski has been very up and down, and I don't know if Steve Kerr fully trusts him just yet. Speaking of no trust from Kerr, Johnathan Kuminga is back on a small deal. I would be shocked if he sticks with the Warriors all season, but when he does play and wants to play, he is a darn good wing player. Gary Payton III can still play a little defense, but he is teetering on being washed up. Buddy Hield provides more shooting and bench scoring. Seth Curry is finally playing with his brother. And Moses Moody can do some things very well, but other things, not so great. The Warriors still have Steph Curry, and as long as he is on the floor, this team is liable to win every night. Having Jimmy Butler fully entrenched, and getting Al Horford only helps. And Buddy Hield can still fill it up from time to time. The Warriors are old, but they have experience and the best shooter in the world. That will lead to enough wins to be, at the very least, the 6th seed in the West.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next three teams.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Ty's 2025-2026 NBA Season Preview: Grizzlies, Bucks, Pistons

Welcome back to my preseason 2025-25 NBA countdown. We are officially in my playoff team portion. I fully believe that each and every team from here on out will be firmly in the playoffs, barring something rough.

At 15 I have the team I root for, the Memphis Grizzlies. I have to be honest, the way the preseason has gone, and the Ja Morant injury have me worried. But I do think they will figure it out when it matters, and Morant shouldn't miss much time anyway. Speaking of Morant, this guy has all the tools to be a star. He is fast, he can jump out of the gym and his teammates seem to like him. But he cannot stay healthy lately, and I'm over all the gun stuff. That has to stop, he needs to find a jumper and I would like to see him, as a fan, recommit himself to basketball. Jaren Jackson Jr is great. I really have no issues with him, other than his fouling. He is a very good defender. He can shoot it from outside. My lone issue is the fouls. He is way too important to this team and they need him on the floor. He could be a better rebounder for my taste, but that seems like something he is working on this offseason. Santi Aldama is very tall and can shoot, but he feels a little too soft for his size. I wish he had a little Steven Adamas in him. Brandon Clarke is hurt again, and I'm beginning to think we have already seen his best days. I like that they got a vet like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the door. They needed something besides picks when they traded Desmond Bane, and KCP brings leadership and championship pedigree. I really want Zach Edey to be good. He is so big, seems nasty and played solid over during his rookie season. But, he is already hurt too, and I fear that he may be one of these big dudes who can't stay on the floor. Ty Jerome had moments last season, but I'm not counting on a repeat. I wish GG Jackson got more minutes. He is a microwave off the bench. Scotty Pippen Jr proved he belonged in the NBa last season. And I'm intrigued by year two of Jaylin Wells and the rookie they picked, Cedric Coward. Both guys bring what the Grizzlies need if they can perform to the best of their abilities. With Desmond Bane gone, this team now only has a two headed monster in JJJ and Ja morant. When it is working it is a sight to behold. But if they can't stay on the floor together for myriad reasons, the play-in feels like their destiny yet again.

At number 14 I have the Milwaukee Bucks. This team continues to change their roster, but they still have Giannis Antetokounmpo. And I don't care what all the nerds at The Ringer or ESPN say, Giannis is the best player in the world. He does it all and the Bucks revolve around him. He is an elite defender and offensive playmaker. He has never found his shot, but he doesn't have to. He is a modern, more nimble Shaq. He is a joy to watch play and I hope he sticks it out with the Bucks for his entire career. The Bucks signed Myles Turner this offseason.  I know he struggled in the Finals, but before then, Turner was great. He has always been a decent rim protector, and his shooting has improved every season since he has been in the league. He is going to keep the lane open for Giannis. Kyle Kuzma is washed up. There is no other way to say it. He struggled mightily last year, and it doesn't feel like it will get any better anytime soon. Cole Anthony will bring swagger, but not much more. Bobby Portis Jr has found his home and his niche. I enjoy watching him get under the opponent's skin. It gets kind of bleak after those guys. Kevin Porter Jr returned to the NBA last year, but he is still a ball stopper. Taurean Prince may be washed. Andre Jackson Jr became a starter for them, and he was very inconsistent. Gary Trent Jr is still here, but that doesn't carry much weight anymore. And the whole Doc Rivers of it all is very frustrating. The Bucks will be in the playoffs because they play in the East, but also because Giannis is so good that he will single handedly win multiple games for this team. I don't know if they will make the top six in the East, but it wouldn't surprise me if they did. Giannis is that awesome.

The final team for the day, at number 13 I have the Detroit Pistons. I love that the Pistons are relevant again and that they did it through the draft and teaching young guys the game. Cade Cunningham is awesome. I always had faith in him and it is so great to see him live up to the hype. He has rounded out his game very well and he has totally taken on the role as team leader. He should be an MVP caliber guy this season. Jalen Duren is so strong and he is continuing to figure out the best way to use his talents. He is still very young and he is only going to get better. Jaden Ivey has found a nice role that fits him with the Pistons. He is an energy guy that goes between a starter and a sixth man. If he fully bought into being a sixth man, he could feast on second units. Tobias Harris is a perfect vet for this team. Amen Thompson is a hellacious defender and he gives his all whenever he is on the floor. Ron Holland had some moments as a rookie last year. They signed Caris Levert and Duncan Robinson to add some outside shooting and bench scoring. And I like that they still have Isaiah Stewart as their enforcer. That dude is mean and nasty and every team needs a guy like that, especially come playoff time. The Pistons are here and ready to make some noise. I can't wait to see how they come out this year after their mini breakout last season. The NBA is better when the Pistons matter.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for my next three teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Ty's 2025-2026 NBA Season Preview: Heat, Celtics, Mavericks

Welcome to day five of my preseason 2025-26 NBA countdown. We are officially in play-in/playoff territory with these teams. We made it through the dregs and we are at the good stuff finally.

At number 18 I have the Miami Heat. The Heat are an odd team to me. They have a great defense, but the offense leaves a ton to the imagination. Tyler Hero is hurt to start the season. I don't know that this is that much of a blow to them honestly. Sure, he is a decent offensive player, but he is a ball stopper and he does not play defense. He is attacked on defense too. I am very curious to see how they play without him. Bam Adebayo is still here and he is still very good. He is one of the better defenders in the league, and for being undersized, he more than holds his own. He has gotten a little better on offense every season, but he needs to stop settling for floaters and attack the rim. He is very good when he attacks the rim. Davion Mitchell finally showed that he belongs in the league. His defense has always been very good, and now it looks like he may have found a shot. If that continues, he could find himself becoming more and more important to the Heat. Andrew Wiggins has found a niche in his game, and he is a solid fit with the Heat. He is not the scorer he had the ability to be when he was the first overall pick, but his defense and rim running has always been solid. They acquired Norm Powell for next to nothing, and I think the absence of Herro will only further show that Powell is more important than him. He is a good player. I don't know what to expect from Nikola Jovic. He has flashes but he has never really put it all together. He has never really played steady minutes either. Terry Rozier is washed. Precious Achiuwa is a beast in the middle, but he cannot stay on the floor. Jaime Jacquez Jr took a big step back last season. And who knows how much or what they'll get out of rookie Kasparas Jakucionis. What I do know about the Heat is that they will play elite level defense and that they have the best coach in the NBA in Erik Spoelstra. He will find a way to get this team, at the very least, to the play-in.

At number 17 I have the Boston Celtics. The turnover in their roster and the injury to Jayson Tatum is going to make for a long season for Celtics fans. Tatum tearing his ACL was a brutal, brutal blow to this team. He is, by far, their best player and the guy that drives this team. People will get the full outline of his importance to this team this season. Let us not forget that Kristaps Porzinigs and Jrue Holiday were both traded too. The Celitcs will be using this season to see how some new guys and older vets play without three very important players. Jaylen Brown has all the skills in the world. He plays very well on both ends of the floor. He is great at getting to the rim and he brings his all every time he is on the floor. But he is oft injured and that can affect his play. Derrick White has more than proven his worth. I believe that he will be the most important player with Tatum out. People will see how valuable he is to this team. Payton Pritchard has proven himself to be a nice bench scorer in the league. I don't really know what they're going to do with Anfernee Simons. Simons is a proven scorer, but he has never been on a team that has been a truly winning team. He may need to add to his game this season. Xavier Tillman and Sam Hauser are no more than bench guys. And I have no idea why Chris Boucher is here. I don't know where he finds minutes, and if he does, what does he bring to this team? The Celtics have an insane head coach, Joe Mazzula, who will find a way to squeeze everything he can out of this roster. And that should be enough to get the Celtics, at the very least, to the play-in.

The final team for the day, at number 16 I have the Dallas Mavericks. This is a strange, strange team. But this team has talent. Anthony Davis has bulked up and I think he is going to dominate in the post this season. He is a top tier defender, and if he stops taking so many useless jumpers, he could be back into consideration for All NBA. I like that Davis will get to play in the front court with Daniel Gafford and Derrick Lively. Lively will most likely start, and if he returns to the play he had in his rookie year, he could be great. He is super bouncy and plays solid defense. Gafford is a great backup 4 or 5. He can shoot a little, play some defense and rebound the ball. Kyrie Irving may miss the season, and that would be a bummer. If he does come back, he and Davis could make for a nice pick and roll duo. Cooper Flagg was the first overall pick and he seems like he is as pro ready as they come. He does need to improve his jump shooting, but he can do pretty much everything else he is asked of. He also looked good in two games in Summer League, and his first preseason game was even better. Dante Exum has found a place that allows him to do what he does best, play defense. Max Christis is a nice scoring option off the bench. D'Angelo Russell should be a less than okay place card until Irving gets back. And Russell will bring scoring, if he does nothing else. And I love the reclamation project of Dennis Smith Jr here. And PJ Washington was such a great trade, and he should get so many more touches and shots now. The Mavericks are funky, and they don't have a ton of spacing options, but they will play very good defense. And, if, and this is a big, big if, they stay healthy, they could make a deeper playoff run than others expect.

That's it for today and this week. Come back on Monday for the next three teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Ty's 2025-2026 NBA Season Preview: Bulls, 76ers, Pacers

Welcome to day four of my preseason 2025-26 NBA countdown. We will be entering the top 20, which means these are some of the teams I have going to, at the very least, the play-in tournament.

At number 21 I have the team that I consider to be the play-in champions, the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls are an interesting team to me. They played a very long game before giving Josh Giddey way too much money in my opinion. Giddey is a fine enough player, but he is not a guy who wins you championships. And the Bulls are counting on him to be their number 1 option. Coby White is another fine enough player, but he is best used as a bench guy. He can come in the game, score in bunches and give the second unit life. I believe he will be a starter here, and that is not the best way to use his talents. Patrick Williams had all of the tools in the world to be successful, but he cannot stay on the floor and when he is on the court, he seems to struggle more than he dominates. Isaac Okoro was traded there this offseason and I don't really know what role he is going to play. He is an okay defender, but not elite. He is a poor outside shooter, but can sometimes get to the hoop. He's an odd fit. Matas Buzelis has the skills, and I think given more time on the floor, he could make big strides. Nikola Vucevic is washed. He is too old, too slow and doesn't bring much of anything. I like Ayo Dosunmo off the bench. He is a solid bench guy in the NBA. Tre Jones is not as good as his brother. Zach Collins has never done much in the league. And I'm kind of intrigued by Noa Essengue. I wonder how much run he will actually get this season though. The Bulls are going to hover right around the middle as usual. Billy Donovan is too good of a coach to tank, but the roster is filled with average players. They will be in the play-in, but they won't go much further than that.

At number 20 I have the Philadelphia 76ers. I struggled most with where to put this team. They have all kinds of talent, they have a good coach and they have had great regular seasons as of late. But the roster is always hurt, there always seems to be some kind of off-court issues and who knows what they're going to actually get from their top guys. I love Joel Embiid. He is one of my favorite players in the league. He is so talented on both ends of the floor. But he is always hurt. He is also too fond of being an online troll. I just want him to stay on the court like he did a few years back when he won the MVP. But that doesn't seem likely. Paul George is one of the better modern wings the NBA has ever seen. He is such a good scorer and he used to be a top tier defender. But he is currently more consumed with his podcast. And he is always, always hurt or injured. Tyrese Maxey is great. I love watching him play basketball. He is such a good scorer, and he has shown that he is ready for a bigger role. I have no notes on him. I'm very intrigued by VJ Edgecombe. He is such a high flyer, he has shown no fear in the Summer League or preseason and I'm excited to see his growth this season. Jared McCain would have been rookie of the year last season, but he got hurt early on. He looked poised for a big comeback this year, but he is already hurt again. Who knows when he will come back. Quentin Grimes is on a one year prove it deal, and I could see him getting big bucks elsewhere next season if he plays like he did at the end of last year. I believe in Johni Broome. I think he may be a steal. Kyle Lowry is too old. Kelly Oubre plays his butt off, but he looks a step slower than last year. And the bench is rounded out by Eric Gordon and Andre Drummond. I like those guys, but damn they are old. The 76ers could make me eat this ranking. I kind of hope they do. But, with what they have done in the recent past, I feel like a 35 win season is more likely.

The final team for the day, at number 19 I have the Indiana Pacers. Yes, I fully understand that they were one win away from being the champs last season, but then Tyrese Haliburton blew his ACL. He is the hub for everything this offense wants to do. He is also a big game killer. He hits big shots all the time and he has zero fear. They also let Myles Turner walk. They will miss his shooting and his rim defense. I think they may miss him more than they think. They do still have Pascal Siakim, and Siakim is awesome. He reminds me a very little bit of Kawhi Leonard. He goes about his business quietly, he hits shots and he plays relentless defense. I'm a fan of his. Andrew Nembhard took a big step forward last season, and with my playing time who knows what he is capable of. He may show the NBA a thing or two this season. Benedict Mathurin is a great scorer at the rim. He does need to find a jump shot and a way to harness his energy for good. Aaron Nesmith has more than proven his worth since being traded from Boston. He is a good player. Obi Toppin is a high flyer, but he needs to be a better rebounder and defender. Jay Huff and James Wiseman are the new backup bigs. I mean, that screams very meh to me. TJ McConnel had a good game or two in the finals, but he is empty calories and reminds me of Matthew Dellavedova. And it looks like Isaiah Jackson is going to take over for Myles Turner. He isn't the scorer or defender, and he is coming off an ACL injury. At least he got paid. The Pacers could surprise some, but not having Halliburton is going to be a massive blow. He is their guy. He drives the car. He is the guru. And not having him on the floor is going to be the difference between a top 3 seed, and fighting for the play-in.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for my next three teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Ty's 2025-2026 NBA Season Preview: Suns, Kings, Trailblazers

Welcome to day three of my preseason NBA countdown. We are getting closer and closer to the play-in teams. It is only going to get better from here.

At number 24 I have the Phoenix Suns. The Suns traded away Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. That experiment clearly did not work and the Suns are trying to move on. They still don't have many picks of note, but they do still have Devin Booker. Booker is a legit star in the NBA. He is as good a scorer as there is in the league, and his defense is not terrible. He is a midrange beast, he can shoot the three and he is getting better at getting to the hoop. The problem is, he doesn't have a whole lot of help now that KD is gone. But, he did get a massive extension in the offseason, and if he has his way, he will be a Sun for life. Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks are here after the KD trade. Green has become an okay NBA player, but the progress has been slow and not very steady. He, for all of his athleticism, is still not a great driver to the hoop. Brooks is a good defensive player, but he is also a problem, and he seems to start stuff that he cannot finish. I also question if he will be on the Suns the whole season. He seems prime for a trade. Mark Williams was eventually traded to the Suns, after the botched Lakers trade. He has the tools to be a solid player, but he is always injured and the nixed trade should have been a major red flag for the Suns front office. Grayson Allen is not great. Their lottery pick, Khaman Maluch, is a project. He is going to need time. Collin Gillespie is no good and not very playable. And Ryan Dunn and Royce O'Neal have never been of much substance in the NBA as of late. The Suns got themselves in a bad situation when they traded pretty much everything to acquire KD and Bradley Beal. They will be digging themselves out of that hole for a while now. But, at least they have Devin Booker. That still won't be enough to win 30 games this season.

At number 23 I have the Sacramento Kings. Man, the Kings had some good things brewing two short years ago and then they decided to be the Kings and make bad decisions. They let Mike Brown go, which made no sense, and then they traded De'Aaron Fox. I guess their front office doesn't like having good players and coaches. They still have Domantas Sabonis. He is a good offensive hub and has been a solid pro. He doesn't really play defense and he is only getting slower the older he gets. Zach Lavine is who he is at this point. He is an empty calories scorer and he seems to make every team a little worse when he arrives. He is a good player, but he is not, nor will he ever be a great player. DeMar DeRozan is going to get so much more respect when he retires. Right now people seem to write him off as "old school" and not a player you can win a title with in the league. I have always liked DeRozan and alway will. He is a fun player to watch for me. Keegan Murray has some skills and looks like an okay player, but he hasn't shown any big improvement since his rookie season. Malik Monk is a microwave scorer, but the fact that the Warriors didn't want him in a trade showed me that he may not be as wanted as I once thought he was as a player. The Kings bench has guys like Devin Carter, an old rookie last season, Dario Saric, who is old and washed, Doug McDermott, who can't score like he used to, and Keon Ellis, who was supposed to be a defense guy, but he isn't great on that end of the floor. The Suns, at one point, had Sabonis, Fox and Tyrese Haliburton. Now they have DeRozan, Lavine and Sabonis. I'd much rather have the first trio I mentioned. The Kings have always had a special place in my heart, I loved when Chris Webber played for them. But they are back to being somewhat of a dumpster fire. They'd be lucky to win 30 plus games this year.

The final team for the day, at number 22 I have the Portland Trailblazers. The Trailblazers are going to be good, maybe even a play-in level team this season, but they're not a playoff team just yet. Scoot Henderson, who I really like, is hurt to start the season. I expected big things from him this year, and while that still can happen, he will not be ready for the start of the season, and that bums me out. I still believe in him, but this injury stinks. The Trailblazers also got Damian Lillard back, but he will not be playing at all this year coming off a torn ACL. Jrue Holiday is here again, and he seems to be staying. I feel like he could be the veteran leader this young squad needs. While not at the same level he was two or three years ago, Holiday is still one of the best perimeter defenders in the league and he can still score from time to time. Denji Avidija has been a revelation to me since being traded here. He is a really good player and he gets better every season. Donovan Clingan is going to start and I think he could be a good anchor for the defense in the post and he will bring some solid rebounding. Shaedeon Sharpe is a high flyer in the league and his shooting has gotten a bit better. He could explode this season. Toumani Camara was a steal in the draft and he should get some good minutes this year. And they have some nice depth off the bench in Robert Williams III and Matisse Thybulle. And I adore their rookie Yang Hansen. I hope he gets some run this season. The Trailblazers are coming and coming soon. Maybe they make a run at the play-in this season, maybe not. But they have a nice roster with a good mix of rookies and vets. This team could be a playoff team as soon as next season, and that is saying something since they are in the West.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next three teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Ty's 2025-2026 NBA Season Preview: Wizards, Pelicans, Raptors

Welcome to day two of my 2025-26 preseason NBA countdown. We are still in the bottom, but things will start looking up soon.

At number 27 I have the Washington Wizards. I can't figure this team out. They had a bunch of youth last season, but now they have added a good amount of veterans. CJ McCollum is on this team now. I don't really know what he brings and what they want out of him, but he's here now. I believe he can still score in bunches, but he was never very good at defense and he is older now. They also traded for Khris Middleton during last season. He is oft injured, but when he plays he is a lethal mid range shooter. He doesn't move like he used to, much like McCollum, and he was never a great defender either. Corey Kispert is still here. He has never really brought much of anything to the NBA. He isn't a scorer and he isn't a defender. They traded for Malaki Branham last season. I always thought he could be a solid pro, but he hasn't figured it out just yet. Maybe with extra playing time he will figure things out. Cam Whittmore can score, but doesn't do much else. Bub Carrington looks to be a bench player during his NBA career. I believe Bilal Coulibaly can turn into a solid player, but he has to shoot the ball better. AJ Johnson was traded with Middleton last season. He is skinny as a rail, but he plays pretty fearlessly. And Alex Sarr was the number two overall pick two seasons ago. He showed some flashes of his high potential, but he is still inconsistent. The Wizards have an odd roster. I have zero clue who they will start and their bench isn;t deep or great. It feels like they're trying to build something, but they are doing it the way I do on 2k, and that never works out all that well for me. This is a 25 win team at best, and their defense is going to be really bad this year.

At number 26 I have the New Orleans Pelicans. Man, they had a weird offseason. But guess what, Zion Williamson is in shape this offseason. I feel like I've heard this all before and he always seems to get injured. The Zion is in shape offseason storyline is becoming wildly similar to the Ben Simmons can shoot threes now offseason story. I will believe that Zion is healthy and ready to play 60 plus games when I see it. I will say, when he is on the floor, he is a matchup nightmare and he can dribble and distribute the ball really well. He just isn't on the floor enough to make it seem viable. The Pelicans now have Jordan Poole. Look, I will always root for him because he went to Michigan and hit an amazing shot in the tournament. But he is a ball hog, a zero on defense and seems to have issues with his teammates. I'm kind of shocked he only lasted in Washington for one season. Dejounte Murray is coming off a major injury, so I'm curious to see how he plays this season when he comes back. It also feels like his mojo left him when he was traded away from the Spurs. It just hasn't been great for him since that trade. Trey Murphy III has all the skills to be an all star and I think that day will come sooner rather than later. I feel like Kevon Looney will bring veteran leadership and a hard working attitude to this team. I like Derik Queen, and I think he will be a solid player in the NBA when he fully buys into getting better. They may have traded too much to draft him though. Herb Jones is a very good, big upside defender. Joe Alvarado is the best pest defender in the league. And Jeremiah Fears is totally unknown to me as an incoming rookie. The Pelicans have a weird roster and players that get hurt way too often. I'm curious to see how Jordan Poole plays here. And I don't buy the Zion in shape hype anymore than I did before. The Pelicans are probably a low 30 win team this year and they will have more questions than answers by the end of the season.

Finally, at number 25 I have the Toronto Raptors. I don't know how they're going to score in bunches and I don't know what they are going to do with all the long limbed players they currently have on their roster. Scottie Barnes is legit. He has all the tools the Raptors wanted when they took him fourth overall in the draft and he seems to be getting better every season. I don't really know what to make of RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. Quickley is good when he plays, but he barely plays. He cannot seem to stay on the floor. Barrett is in his hometown and playing for his hometown team. But he is inconsistent, he is not a very good defender and his scoring is all over the map. Gradey Dick is a nonfactor. I don't buy any of his offseason hype and he seems to be a deep bench NBA player. Ocahi Agbaji has not been able to have his college success translate to the NBA. He is on his third different team at this point. Brandon Ingram just seems to get a little worse every season. It's a bummer because he is one of the few Duke players that I want to see achieve at this level. I hope he finds some of the success he had in New Orleans during his time in Toronto. Jakob Poeltl is too old school for the modern NBA. And their two rookies, Collin Murray Boyles and Ja'Kobe Walter do have some skills, they just need a little time to develop. Toronto is usually good about that, but I wouldn't expect them to see the floor too much this season. Toronto can make a play-in push, but that means they may only have to win 35 games in the East to make it there. I like Scottie Barnes and the rookies, but the rest of the roster is odd.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for my next three teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Ty's 2025-2026 NBA Season Preview: Nets, Jazz, Hornets

Starting today I will be doing my 2025-26 preseason NBA countdown. I'm going to go through all 30 teams, ranking them from 30 to 1. This is all my opinion. I'm going to do three teams a day and tell you all why I have them where I have them. After that I will do postseason and awards predictions. Enough preamble, let's get to it.

Coming in at number 30 I have the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets are clearly trying whatever they can to tank. They want to get high picks and take as many shots as they can at drafting their next superstar. They traded away Cam Johnson for Michael Porter Jr. I think this says way more about Porter Jr than Cam Thomas. He is going to get every single shot he wants, but he is going to be less focused on defense than he ever was before, and he was never really a defensive guy. He has been going on a social media odyssey as of late, and this has made me believe he is truly nuts. I feel like the Nets were willing to take him on in a deal because they truly believe he cannot be the number one option on a good team. Cam Thomas is back on a one year prove it deal to the 29 other teams, but much like Porter Jr, he could care less about the defensive side of the floor. He and Porter Jr will score a good amount of points, but they will give up more on defense. Nic Claxton has some tools, especially to be a pick and roll threat, but he will not get nearly enough touches here. I bet he is a prime trade candidate. Drew Timme was only decent in college. Ziaire Williams, a former lottery pick, barely sees the floor. Terrance Mann has become a well traveled vet that never seems to stick anywhere. Kobe Bufkin should get a chance to prove he belongs. And they drafted 5 rookies that have similar abilities. Egor Demin is a shooter and a shooter alone. Good luck getting the ball on this team. Danny Wolf is a modern big who can handle the ball, but his shot comes and goes and he is a turnover machine. And I know next to nothing about Nolan Traore, Drake Powell and Ben Saraf. Who knows how much time they will see on an NBA court this year. But, let's not get it twisted, the Nets aren't trying to win many games this year. I get vibes of "The Process" 76ers with this roster construction. They'll be lucky to win 20 games this year.

At number 29 I have the Utah Jazz. They have done a good job offloading some vets to get picks, and they even got the third overall pick in the most recent draft. Ace Bailey has about a billion questions about his game and his willingness to get better, but the dude can get buckets. He won't play much defense, but he will get up shots left and right. I'm kind of fascinated to see how he plays in his rookie year. Lauri Markanen, who I have been tough on in the past, deserves better than this. He has carved out a solid career and has gotten better every season he has been in the league. He finds new things to add to his game every season, and I like seeing that improvement. I just hope he doesn't have to toli away in the obscurity of the Utah Jazz. I would like to see him on a team with title contention dreams. Kevin Love is still on this roster, and that blows my mind. He should be with Minnesota or Cleveland playing out the twilight of his career as a deep bench guy. Seeing him in a Jazz jersey is going to be weird. Kyle Filipowski doesn't seem to have anything that stands out to me. Jusuf Nurkic has fallen off a cliff. Keyonte George can maybe do some things with more playing time. Isaiah Collier's game feels way better for college than the NBA. Cody Williams might already be a bust, which bums me out. I don't get why the Jazz went out and traded for Georges Niang and Kyle Anderson. Those two would be much better off as vets on a playoff team. Mo Bamba keeps moving teams. And Oscar Tshiebwe has not figured out the NBA game yet. The Jazz have a good coach and some young players they need to see make some leaps. But to keep Markanen and guys like Niang and Anderson is pointless. This team wants another shot at the number 1 pick, and these guys want a shot at a ring. The Jazz are going to be a lottery team once again, and I will be waiting to see how long it takes for them to move on from some bigger, better names they have on their roster.

The final team for the day, at number 28 I have the Charlotte Hornets. Look, LaMelo Ball is a delight to watch play offensive basketball, and he is the best of the Ball brothers, but he simply cannot stay on the floor. He always seems to be injured. He misses big portions of every season lately. He might just be the player he is always going to be at this point, and that is a flashy, low calorie stats guy. Collin Sexton looked better at times in Utah, and I'd like to see him continue to get better. I've always liked his game, and I think playing in a small market like Charlotte will do him a world of good. I despised their two first round picks. I have zero faith in Kon Knueppel doing anything of importance in the NBA. He is like an off brand, wannabe Tyler Hansborough, and we all know how the NBA turned out for Hansborough. Liam McNeely is better skilled, but he is skinny as a rail, and he got pushed around in the Big East last season. I cannot fathom him being able to stop Giannis or Wemby or any big of note. Brandon Miller has skills. He looks to be the best player on the roster. I'm at the point where I think they should start building around him. He is the guy that is going to make the Hornets relevant. Miles Bridges is an abuser and I don't like him. Spencer Dinwiddie is washed. Moussa Diabate will play harder than anyone on the floor when he is out there. Pat Connaughton and Mason Plumlee should retire. Grant Williams turned one good season into a massive contract, but he is an afterthought now. Tidjane Salaun is raw, but humongous and l bet he has some hidden skills we don't know about just yet. The Hornets don't seem to have any compass. I don't know what they're trying to achieve. And that is going to end up giving this team low 20 wins this season. The Hornets are kind of a mess at this time.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next three teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Better Late Than Never on "Arrival"

For a good long time now RD has told me about his distaste for the movie "Arrival". He really does not seem to like this movie at all. He has told me what he dislikes and likes about the movie, but the dislikes definitely outweigh the likes. I had planned on seeing it awhile back, but after talking with my brother about it, I put it off, until last week. I have been in a movie watching kick lately, and I have been trying to catch up on what some consider to be modern classics. "Arrival" kept popping up on a bunch of those lists, so I decided it was time for me to make my own decision on this movie.

And, right off the bat, sorry RD, but I really liked this movie. I did not love it like I love other Denis Villenuve movies, but I still found "Arrival" to be compelling and very interesting. I liked the whole idea behind the movie. By the way, spoilers ahead if you haven't seen this movie that is almost ten years old now. I really liked the beginning of the movie because it pops off with the alien ships already on Earth. Sure, we see the backstory of Amy Adams and her daughter, and her daughter's untimely death, which was brutal to see, but that is about three to four minutes of screen time. We are then thrust right into the world created by these writers, which just happens to have alien ships docked at twelve different places spread out all over the world. Amy Adams plays a linguist professor who happens to be the best linguist in the country. She is paired up with Jeremy Renner, who I think is some kind of math/science genius, but I couldn't put my finger on it all the way. Forest Whitaker is the colonel who brings them together and the movie goes from there as soon as they get to the alien sight in Montana.

I will say, to RD's point, Renner isn't great in this movie. I like his acting and I think he does an okay enough job in his role, but this is Amy Adams' movie and she is great. More on her in a second. I did really like Whitaker in this movie, but he is one of the best actors ever and I was a fan of his going in. And even though he has little screen time, Michael Stuhlberg shows why he is so reliable as an actor. But, like I said a second ago, Adams shines in this movie. I don't know what it is about her, but Adams' movies are hit and miss for me. I am not the biggest fan of "Nightbitch" or "American Hustle". But, I love what she brings to "Ricky Bobby" and her one episode of "The Office". But this movie proved to me, not that she needed it, her true stardom. I was enrapt when she was onscreen, and that was the whole movie. I felt for her. I rooted for her. I wanted her to figure it all out. And when she did figure it out, I agreed with her decision in the end. Here comes the big spoiler. When Adams figures out the alien's language, and how they track time, she realizes that she has seen into her future. She and Renner get married. The child in the beginning was her child. But the biggest twist, none of that happened yet. She has memories of it all, but the stuff with Renner and their daughter hasn't actually happened yet. I thought this was a great choice by Villenuve and the writers of the movie. I love the whole idea of, if you know what your future holds, would you change it or just let it roll. And I agreed with Adams' character's decision to let it play out. I will say that the movie does go deep into scientific terms and territories, and I did find that confusing. But, after reading more about the movie online after watching it, I appreciate how true to the real world they tried to make this sci-fi movie.

So, sorry RD, but I am one of the many people who think "Arrival" is a very good, very intriguing movie. And at this point, there's no reason for me to doubt Villenuve's work. The dude knows how to make a movie. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty's 2025 MLB Playoff Preview

I know that I'm a day late, it is fully because I forgot, but I'm going to do a MLB playoff prediction blog. I promise you that the outcome of last night's game has no effect on any of the predictions I would have made had I done this on time. And, as always, take this with a grain of salt. I'm the same guy that picked Baltimore to play in the World Series, said the Dodgers would have a historic record and had the Braves going very far. It's pretty clear that my baseball knowledge is lacking over what it used to be. Anyway, let's get to it.

I'll start with the AL. The Guardians and Tigers are currently playing, with the Guardians up 1-0 right now. I know the Guardians had a miracle run to make these playoffs, and that sometimes leads to a successful playoff run. But, I'm going with the Tigers to win this Wild Card round. They have had a better season, they have been more consistent and they have Tarik Skubal. The other Wild Card series features the Yankees and Red Sox. This is a classic rivalry, and yet I only really know of Aaron Judge. For that reason alone I'm going with the Yankees. They have one hell of a lineup, and I believe that they also have Max Fried as their ace pitcher.

That would give me a divisional round of Tigers-Mariners and Yankees-Blue Jays. I'm conflicted on the Tigers-Mariners series. The Mariners have always held a place in my heart. Ken Griffey Jr is the greatest baseball player of all time. I also have family members that are big time Tigers fans. They have lived in and around Michigan and have always rooted for the Tigers. I also grew up liking Cecil Fielder quite a bit. But, taking out my personal biases, I'm going with the Tigers. The Mariners always seem to have seasons like this where they play wonderfully in the regular season and then blow it in the playoffs. Until I see otherwise, I will assume that will happen again. I'll take the Tigers in seven games. As for Yankees-Blue Jays, I'm going with the Blue Jays. They have had a very solid year, they won the toughest division in the AL and Vlad Guerrerro Jr hasn't even really popped off this season yet. I expect that to come in these playoffs.

That leaves me with the Tigers and Blue Jays in the ALCS. And I'm riding that Vlad Jr high in this series as well. I just have a feeling like he has been saving his biggest moments for these playoffs. The Blue Jays will represent the AL in the World Series.

Onto the NL. The Wild Card matchups are the Reds and Dodgers and the Padres and Cubs. The Dodgers looked like themselves last night. My son got home from football practice and turned the game on. At that moment we both saw Shoehei Ohtani hit a homerun. They went on to run away with game one and they should dispose of the Reds quickly. The Padres and Cubs series should be fun, but give me the Cubs. They have a very good lineup and a decent pitching staff. They will get the needed wins to go to the divisional round.

Speaking of the divisional round I have the Dodgers playing the Phillies and the Cubs playing the Brewers. This is where the Dodgers pitching staff will catch up to them. This is the only area they have really struggled in this season, and the Phillies will expose that. They have a lineup that is as close to what the Dodgers have, but their pitching staff is so much better. I would even go so far as to say that the Phillies will only need five games to head to the NLCS. As for the Brewers and Cubs, the Brewers have kind of owned their whole division this season, and I don't see that changing here. They have a better lineup and a much better pitching staff. And they have been the best team in baseball, record wise, for the majority of the season. The Brewers will win in six games.

That leaves me with the Phillies and Brewers in the NLCS. As much as I'd love to see the Brewers advance to the World Series for the sake of my dad's baseball fandom, the Phillies are made for the postseason. This team has been built up to win in the playoffs and win big. They may sweep the Brewers here.

That means I have the Blue Jays playing the Phillies in the World Series. This is reminiscent of my childhood. I'll never forget Mitch Williams, I think, giving up a walk off to Joe Carter and the Blue Jays winning it all. That won't happen this season, but hey, that was a great baseball memory for me. Anyway, give me the Phillies in six games to win it all, and I would bet that Kyle Schwarber will be World Series MVP.

There you have it, albeit a day late, my 2025 MLB playoff preview and prediction. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "KPop Demon Hunters"

My daughter was finally able to get me to see "KPop Demon Hunters". She has seen it a ton, and my wife has watched it a couple of those times with her. I would pop in and out of the room while it was on, but I never actually sat down and watched it from start to finish. We had some free time last Saturday and she asked if I wanted to finally see it. I said yes, and sat back to see what the fuss was all about. I did know most of the songs going in, but I wanted to see them within the story of the movie.

First things first, this is a solid movie. I get why my daughter and her friends all seem to like it very much. This is very much a movie for kids that really like pop music, which is my daughter to a T. I have never listened to much, if any, Kpop, but my daughter has started to listen to it a bunch since her first viewing of this movie. The music is good and catchy. I find myself singing it around the house when I'm alone. The songs have been stuck in my head ever since watching the movie. I genuinely enjoy listening to the soundtrack. That helps this movie a ton for me. I don't know how much I would have liked it if it weren't for the songs and dances. The animators did such a great job making the songs come to life on screen. The singers are all pros and it shows. They know what they're doing.

The story of the movie is interesting. Huntrx, the girl Kpop group, are superstars who also happen to be demon hunters. There is a thing called the "honmoon", and these powerful people have been in charge of keeping it free of demons. Throughout history there have been these Kpop girl bands that also happen to be the best hunters in the world. That duty has now fallen on Huntrx. I like this whole idea of these superstars having an extra job that they have to do constantly. They did a good job of showing how tiring and hard a life like this would be. But, the girls in Huntrx smile throughout and they make some solid jokes during the movie too. Like any movie, there's a few conflicts. One of the Huntrx girls has a past that she will not tell her bandmates about. There is also a new boy band, Saja Boys, that may have ulterior motives in their quest to become the biggest pop band in the world. This movie takes these tropes and runs with them. There is the will they won't they with the two main singers from the two groups. You want to see how Runi, who is the main girl in Huntrx, is trying to come to grips with telling her bandmates about her past. We see her past and what is going on with her. The Saja Boys have a "boss" that they have to answer to throughout the movie. There are some great set pieces and very cool dances in this movie. Look, "Kpop Demon Hunters" is very formulaic. But, when you have good writers and a dedicated cast, you get a good movie, tropes be damned.

There's a reason why this movie has become so humongous, and now seeing it for myself, I get it. This is a good movie. It is fun to watch with your kid if they like it. I don't think I'd watch it on my own, but I'm glad my daughter was so persistent because I had a very good time watching. I recommend you see it too if you have kids. It's fun. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "One Battle After Another"

I was able to get out yesterday with a buddy of mine and see "One Battle After Another". Let’s discuss.

I am a Paul Thomas Anderson fan. I have seen pretty much all of his movies to this point. I have not watched "Phantom Thread", "Licorice Pizza" or "Hard Eight". Every other movie of his, I can check off my list, and "There Will Be Blood" is my favorite of his, and one of my favorite movies of all time. By design I avoided any news of "One Battle After Another" besides watching one preview. I didn't want to read anything or know anything going into the movie. I did see that it was getting great reviews, but I made sure to read zero of them. That's why I'm glad that I went to see it on opening weekend. I think I may have spoiled it for myself had I not seen it this weekend. I will go about my review spoiler free because I feel like this is a movie that everyone needs to see, and if you can swing it, go see it in a theater with other people. Now, onto the review.

This movie is as good as the critics have been saying it is. I had super high expectations going in and they were all exceeded. This is one of the best movies I have seen in quite some time. After sleeping on it, I do believe that this movie jumps ahead of both "Sinners" and "Weapons" as my favorite movie of the year. It is a true work of art. I feel like PTA is at the top of his game in this movie. He has complete control over everything he is doing and it shows on screen. There's one scene with a car chase that is an incredible thing to see on screen. The acting in this movie is tremendous from everyone involved. Leonardo Dicaprio gives my favorite performance of his ever. He is funny and rundown and I found myself rooting for him throughout. Chase Infiniti is a total revelation. I believe this is her first movie and she does an amazing job. Teyana Taylor gives a gripping performance in her role. I didn't know much of her, but damn is she great here. Sean Penn is evil incarnate and he does some of his best work ever. I was watching him and this performance reminded me of how great an actor he is. James Downey, former "SNL" writer and Adam Sandler collaborator, plays a very menacing role which is totally different for him. Regina Hall continues to prove how reliable an actor she can be. She is so moving and gives the viewer some wonderful acting to watch. Benecio Del Toro is quickly becoming one of my favorite actors, and the calm demeanor he shows in this role was much needed and a breath of fresh air. And the rest of the actors in bit roles do the most they can with the small amount of screen time they may have. The story is haunting and relevant. The writing is top notch. The acting, as previously mentioned, is the cream of the crop. I truly loved everything about this movie. The runtime is 2 hours 41 minutes, and it felt like the time flew by. I could have watched a few hours more and been totally happy.

"One Battle After Another" is why I love the movies. The fact that a movie like this is being made, in our current climate, makes me hopeful for the future and proves that unique content can still be made. I cannot recommend this movie enough. I want everyone to go see it and then have a conversation about it afterwards. It truly is the movie of the year. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Better Late Than Never on "Minority Report"

I've clearly been in a movie watching mood lately, and that has meant a good amount of reviews, and today is no different. During this movie watching buffet, I watched "Minority Report". Let’s discuss.

RD has talked about this movie since it came out. He has always been a fan. I don't know why I never saw it until yesterday. I think I had some weird issue with Colin Farrell, and I maybe had an issue with another Phillip K Dick short story being made into a movie. I also always seem to hesitate when it comes to Tom Cruise movies. I like some stuff he does, but the whole Sciencetology thing and his off screen persona has always kind of rubbed me the wrong way. But, I had time, I remembered the things RD has said about this movie and I usually enjoy Steven Spielberg directed movies.

"Minority Report" is awesome. Having never seen this movie before, the story and graphics and acting all totally hold up. The direction and acting is top notch as well. What intrigued me most about this movie was the idea of a pre-crime unit within the police. I'm not the biggest fan of the police, but this idea of being able to stop murders before they happen was thought provoking to me. I also really like the way the actors in the movie are constantly questioning if this is a good or bad thing too. That shows me that they have a good story to go off, and that the writers of the movie appreciate and pay good homage to the source material. I like that the precogs would see these things, say some of the things that are said during the crime and that they give you the name of the perpetrator and victim. Cruise is great as the chief of this unit. He is clearly great at his job, but he also has issues. He uses future drugs. He has some demons he needs to fight. But when he is on the job he is legit. The first scene, where his unit stops a potential crime, was awesome to watch. I knew they were going to stop it, but I was on the edge of my seat while I watched. Colin Farrell plays the new young gun in the crew that has a ton of questions. He does a fine job here. It proves my point that, when given proper direction and well written dialogue, he can do some solid work. That is why his current career is so rewarding for me as a fan. He is good here too. When he got shot, I was stunned. And even though I was supposed to look at him as the bad guy in the beginning, I felt kind of bad for him. He was just trying to do his job. He may have been too much of a go-getter, but he was simply doing his job. Max Von Sydow was wonderful too. He had such a great turn as the bad guy. There were moments when he would let his anger slip and that was always unsettling. I knew he was up to something, and when that turned out to be true, I felt like Max Von Sydow did his work as an actor. I grew to despise him all the way to the end. There are other actors in this movie, but let's not get it twisted, this is Cruise's movie through and through, and he does a bang up job throughout. There's a reason he is a legit movie star. When he fully gives in and lets go and lets the professionals he is working with do their jobs, he puts out great work like this.

"Minority Report" is a great sci-fi movie. I wished I had seen it sooner, but at least I finally found the time to watch it yesterday. I definitely recommend checking it out. It's awesome. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Better Late Than Never on "The Running Man"

Another old movie I recently saw for the first time the other day was "The Running Man". I'm really excited for the updated "Running Man" directed by Edgar Wright, so I wanted to see the original to get an idea of what I will be getting myself into. I fully understand that Edgar Wright is going to make a more competent and better looking movie, and that these two movies are based on an older Stephen King book, but I often opt for movie interpretations over books. I usually see the movie first and then read the book. I know that's backwards for some, but that's how I do it.

Anyway, I was pretty excited to watch the first "Running Man" movie. I have found that, since I'm older now, going back to 80's sci-fi action movies is a ton of fun. They're so broad and zany and funny and I have such a good time watching them now. I recently rewatched "Total Recall" and was so much more into it now than I was when I first saw it as a kid. I used to be weirdly scared of movies like that when I was a child, but now I truly adore them. I had this feeling going into "The Running Man". And this movie was everything I wanted it to be.

Right off the bat it is no wonder why Arnold Schwartzenegger was such a big action star back in the day. He didn't have to say much, he was hunky and strong and he knew that action was his genre. He is so watchable. This performance was so similar to his work in "Total Recall" and I loved that about it. Honestly, you could watch any action/sci-fi movie from this era starring Schwartzenegger and it is the same performance. He knew what to do, the writers knew how to write him and the directors just let him go off. It is perfect for the genre and era.

Maria Conchita Alonso gave a very good performance in this over the top movie. She added a levity and she wasn't on screen just to be a damsel in distress or a love interest for Schwartzenegger. She was tough and knew how to stand up for herself. When she pulled her hair back in a ponytail after being dropped into the game, you knew she was ready to fight. I loved it.

Some of the "stalkers", the people dropped into the game to hunt the contestants, were absolutely wild. We had a dude with an axe using it as a hockey stick. There was another guy with a saw who hung out with a guy that could sing and use electricity to their advantage. And then we had Jim Brown, Fireball, who could fly and had a gun that shot fire, and Jesse Ventura, the washed up "stalker" who thinks he can still play the game. These guys were sadistic and wild. They were also hilarious. Each had a pun that they would say, and when Shwartzenegger would end them, he made sure to tell them his own related pun. It was very funny.

And then we had Richard Dawson. I only remembered him from "Family Feud". He always creeped me out when I watched reruns of that show. It felt like he was groping every female contestant. That is pretty much what he did in this movie, but this time around he was allowed to curse. He was evil and insane and he gave a good performance. I read that many people said this was just him in real life, so I guess it was an easy role for him.

All in all this movie was so fun. I didn't realize how funny the movie was going to be, and it made me kind of miss when they did action movies like these. I hope, and am pretty certain that the new movie will bring all of the fun that the original had.

"The Running Man" is a great and fun watch. I cannot recommend this movie enough, especially if you watched them when you were younger. Go revisit this movie, it is one of the better ones out there. And it has me prepped for the new version. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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The UNC Bill Belichick Experiment is Not Working

Before the college football season started there was a group of stories that kept popping up on sports sites and tv shows. One such story was Bill Belichick taking over at UNC. Let’s discuss.

This was, at the time, a very big deal. Belichick won big time in the NFL. He is one of the most storied coaches to ever grace NFL sidelines. He then walked away from the Patriots, and I kind of thought that would be it for him. But I guess he had the itch to coach, or maybe his girlfriend wanted him to get out of the house more. Who knows. But, he took the UNC job after they let go of another hall of fame coach, Mack Brown.

I was kind of skeptical to begin with when Belichick took this job. I thought he would despise the modern college game. Recruiting and the like is so much different now. We have the transfer portal. College players are getting paid now. For all intents and purposes, college football is now the minor leagues for the NFL. I wrote something a while back, when Belichick took the job at UNC, about how the college coaching ranks are skewing younger. I feel like coaching college football is a young guys game now. You have to constantly be on the road. You have to sell your university more now. Freshman want the assurance of instant playing time. It's not like it was in the 80's, 90's and early 2000's anymore. The landscape has changed. But, Belichick was able to get some quality transfers. Ben Hall, a former Michigan running back, gets a ton of run at UNC. I thought I was going to have to eat crow on all of this.

And then opening night for UNC came and you would have thought the sports media was covering the damn Super Bowl. UNC got the primetime night game at home. Michael Jordan and Lawrence Taylor were highlighted in the crowd. All the talking heads, most notably ESPN, were all but crowning UNC and Belichick as the presumption champs in the ACC. I had no idea who they were even playing, TCU, until I turned on the broadcast. Every single one of the talking heads on ESPN picked UNC to win, and win fairly easily. Belichick was highlighted, they showed interviews with him and his partner, his kid on staff was talked up as a future head coach, it was all about Belichick. And then the game started. UNC drove right down the field and scored with ease. It looked like the hype was real. Then TCU woke up and proceeded to absolutely demolish UNC. After the first drive UNC could barely move the ball. TCU would go on to win the game 48-14, and it wasn't even that close. All the hype, the pomp and circumstance, the coronation was all but over.

It did look like the college game may have passed Belichick by. His old ways of winning games weren't going to work. He had to go back to the drawing board. UNC was lucky enough to have Charlotte as the next opponent. Charlotte has a new coaching staff and a bunch of new, young players. UNC should have rolled. They did win, by 17, but it didn't feel like the blowout it should have been. They did roll Richmond, who has scored a total of 34 points in three games thus far. But they won two in a row. Maybe they were turning things around. They were facing UCF last weekend, and they looked to be the favorite. UCF is also coming off a staff change and a bunch of new players. UCF proceeded to dominate. Early in the third quarter they were up 27-3. UCF ended up winning 34-9. UCF threw for 223 yards. They ran for 143 yards.They held UNC to 154 passing and 63 rushing yards. This was a blowout in every sense of the word. And it now looks like UNC is going to be irrelevant yet again.

I had kind of already written them off after week one to be honest. But Belichick is no longer the bell of the ball. Others are writing and talking about how this may not work out. I wouldn't be shocked to see mass transfers when the portal opens up again. I don't think his way of coaching works in the college ranks. I think he may be too old school for any level of football anymore. When I look at the rest of UNC's schedule, I see maybe two more wins. I think they can beat Stanford and maybe Wake Forest. Clemson needs a win badly, and UNC is in the way of that. NC State is solid. Syracuse looks legit. Cal and Virginia have more talent. And Duke has a very good QB. Those games are going to be difficult for Belichick and UNC.

I do think that this may be a short lived experiment, Bill Belichick coaching college football that is. Time will tell, but he seems in over his head, which is wild to say about such a prolific football coach. But he has not looked the part this far into the college season. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Warfare"

I'm a fan of Alex Garland's work. "Ex Machina" is one of the best sci-fi movies ever made. I think about that movie a lot, and to me that is the sign of a modern day classic. "Devs" was hard to understand at times, but it was a very provocative and interesting show. I kind of appreciate that it only lasted one season. "Men" wasn't great, but it had its moments. And "Civil War" is one of the most harrowing modern war movies out there. All of this led me to his newest movie "Warfare".

I had heard about this movie before, but it slipped my mind. Now it is streaming on HBO Max, so I sat down and watched it last weekend. This is an intense, bleak and tough movie to watch. It is also very, very good. I thought that what they were able to achieve was pretty incredible. "Warfare" focuses on a group of Navy SEALs that embark on a dangerous mission during the Iraq war. The movie is told by the memories of the involved soldiers. I do not know if any dialogue used in the movie was written. I believe that they went with what the soldiers' memories told them. This is a very interesting and unique way to tell this story. This isn't an old war either. This war took place only 19 years ago. This is all still pretty fresh for these soldiers I'd have to imagine. So, getting to hear it being told from them is the best way to do something like this. The dialogue is very much military speak. They talk about locations and coordinates. I heard them ask for backup and help many times. They had people doing voice overs that were all about what they were seeing from their monitors in the sky. The whole "story" of this movie is the mission. There's no love story or anything like that. This movie is about the SEALs. We see them coordinate and work alongside one another. You get a sense of camaraderie and understanding. The soldiers know their jobs and they do them to the best of their ability. They work as a team and they do what is best for said team. Being a team sports kid growing up, seeing that method used in another aspect of life was pretty neat. I really liked how well they did their jobs. When the mission starts to get hairy and go awry, I read after the movie that this particular mission was one of the bloodiest in the war, the movie gets even more tense and anxiety riddled. But, seeing each member of the team continue to do what they had to do was very harrowing. Guys were brutally injured, important members of the team, and the next guy stood up and took their place. Guys who may be having panic attacks or were frozen by fear, they were pretty much forced to snap out of it and continue to get the help they needed. When other soldiers showed up to help, seeing them all work together was fascinating. But, make no mistake, this movie also wants us to see the brutal side of war. These were kids for all intents and purposes. They must have mostly been in their twenties. They must have PTSD, and will for the rest of their lives most likely. "Warfare" doesn't shy away from showing us the brutality that war has on the people fighting it. I said to my father when talking to him about this movie that it is the most realistic fiction movie I've ever seen. It felt like you were right there with these soldiers. I was terrified the whole time. I was tense while sitting on my couch and watching this movie.

I feel like "Warfare" should be required viewing for high school students. This is an important movie that shows all the ins and outs of war. I recommend everyone watch this movie. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches “The Long Walk

This afternoon my dad and I were able to go out and see "The Long Walk". I went into this movie knowing very little about it. That was my goal. I read a few reviews that were spoiler free, and watched one trailer. I will keep this review as spoiler free as possible. But I wanted to go in cold. I wanted to let this movie wash over me and form my own opinion about it. I did also know that it was based on a Stephen King novel. Fun fact about me, I have only seen a few movies based on Stephen King books, and I have only read one of his books. But, I do like what he does and I agree with and enjoy his persona online. Stephen King seems like an ally and I like the work he does.

Anyway, "The Long Walk" was great. I told my dad afterward that I didn't want to say things like, "I liked what I saw" or "that was a fun movie" because, make no mistake, this movie is bleak. There are a few redeeming things in it though. They show the value of friendship and what the human body may be able to go through when faced with dire consequences. But this movie is intense and relentless.

The whole idea of the movie is you go to a thing called The Long Walk and you walk until you cannot anymore. There's only one winner and there's no finish line. That is it. But the way this story unfolds was pretty damn great. The friendships and bonds made along the way make this a movie worth visiting. The world created in the book and movie doesn't seem so crazy in times like these in America right now. This is a police state and a police run game that they're playing with these kids. My dad and I both agreed that this movie is akin to something they'd do on "Squid Game". The movie doesn't let up, and I think that's the point. The people who made this wanted to show how bleak and upsetting something like this could be if it were to come to fruition. The actors were incredible. The side characters do a great job of doing things that make me like and root for them during their time on screen. The creepy people watching them walk adds a real creepiness to the movie. The unnamed and zero dialogue police officers make it even scarier. But this is a star turn for Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson. These two are the two main guys in the movie and they do an amazing job. Hoffman has an idea going into this and he wants to win. But he also cares about his other contestants. He also shows the rigors that a contest like this can do to a person. He does a very good job of trying to be even keel while living through a nightmare. Jonsson is a revelation for me in this movie. I had never seen him in anything before today, and he is the true star of this movie. He does so much with his ample screen time. He is the good and the hope that this movie portrays. He is so easy to root for and I wanted nothing but good things for him. And he is never corny or saccharine. He tows the line perfectly every instant he is on screen, which is pretty much the majority of this movie.

I cannot recommend this movie enough. It ranks right up there with "Sinners" and "Weapons" for me. It is going to be on my year end best of list. "The Long Walk" is very much worth your time. Go see it. 

Ty 

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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UCLA's Loss was Tennessee's Gain

Today I want to talk about how the disaster at UCLA has been a positive for the Tennessee Volunteers.

Yesterday I mentioned UCLA and their new QB, Nico Iamalevea. Nico was a big time prospect two years ago. He was the talk of the college football world and he was going to help Tennessee stay relevant. They did make the playoff last season, but it was a quick exit. Then Nico and Tennessee had a messy breakup. It was very weird and didn't make a ton of sense to me. Nico seemed like a good fit for Tennessee and I figured he would only get better the next couple seasons under Josh Heupel. That didn't happen and he ended up at UCLA. As I wrote yesterday, that hasn't worked out so well for them. UCLA is 0-3, Nico seems flustered and inconsistent and the head coach was just shown the door. It feels like a full rebuild there.

UCLA's former QB, Joey Aguilar, ended up at Tennessee after the offseason drama. He quietly slipped into the vacant QB spot and I kind of forgot about him, as did some other people. This was the rare QB for QB swap in the transfer portal. I don't remember if this has ever actually happened in the transfer portal era. But, Aguilar doesn't have the name recognition and his transfer was more under the radar. Aguilar has been a revelation so far at Tennessee. Tennessee sits at 2-1 right now, but maybe they should be 3-0. They were in control of the Georgia game last week, but they blew it. That had nothing to do with Aguilar. He more than looked the part as the star QB of a high level SEC team. I watched the beginning of the game because I wanted to see him play, as I had never watched him before. From the opening drive throughout the whole game he was on point. He made great throws. He hit his open receivers more than not. He used his legs to perfection. It was a joy to watch, especially since I had zero rooting interest in either team. I just wanted to see a good game, and I was rewarded.

I came away thinking that Aguilar was the better QB. He seemed to be more precise and more sure of himself than a bunch of other QB's I watched in college this season. Maybe it was just the moment and he was living up to it, but that was something Nico didn't do last season and hasn't done yet this year. Aguilar may be a product of the system. Maybe Heupel is a QB whisperer. Hendon Hooker and Joe Milton are both on NFL rosters and they both played their best football under Heupel. Iamalevea looked so much better last season under Heupel's tutelage than he has so far this season. But from what I have seen out of these two QB's that switched teams this offseason, Tennessee got the better end of the deal. Tennessee is still in playoff contention. They are still ranked. They still have most of their goals in front of them. UCLA on the other hand is going through a very tough time. They don't have a win yet this year and it looks like that will be hard to come by for them. Nico is struggling. Recruits are leaving everyday it seems. And it's going to be awhile before they are a college football team worth talking about.

This is an interesting outcome but I'm here for it. I wish it worked out like this a little more often in this new era of college football. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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