Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Foreign guys. I am Kaylali and this is the Ali perspective. Now, I'm not going to keep you guys here long today, but there's a few things that I have to mention. First off, this week we kicked off the WNBA tip off and we had some great games, we had some great action and there are some teams that I think that we should. There is a team specifically, I think that we should keep an eye out on the Washington Mystics. Um, with rookie Kiki.
[00:00:35] I'm so sorry if I'm butchering her last name, but I would just be referring to her as Kiki. Um, Kiki had a stellar 2 first game. She's basically averaging a double double. She has looked sharp, physical. Um, it doesn't look like that she's going to have trouble translating her college game to her to the wnba. Um, she doesn't take a lot of shots. She's very specific about her shot selection and she's very physical on a def. Defensive end.
[00:01:04] I'm excited to see her continue and grow. And on the other hand, Sonia Critten, she has also looked really good for the Washington Mystics. And this team looks to be a young team with a good mix of veterans in the mix as well that can help lead them and guide the young talent. And it'll be interesting to see how the rest of the season go. But 2:0 to start the season and I'm excited to watch them.
[00:01:30] Also.
[00:01:32] The New York Liberty. The New York Liberty look like the defending champions.
[00:01:37] They look like they're ready and poised to make another championship run.
[00:01:42] The Aces, they have some things that they have to figure out, I believe, because that first game against the Liberty, they didn't look that great.
[00:01:50] Julia came alive in the second game of the season scoring 20 points and. And of course, Asia Wilson, reigning MVP of the league. She looks every bit of MVP ready. I think that team just kind of has to learn how to gel and how, how to fit all the pieces together. I mean, they have the talent. When you look at that roster, I don't know if that's the roster that's going to be able to compete with the Liberty or the Minnesota Links going further into the season, into the playoffs. But I'm excited to see how that goes and how that gels and how that team looks 10 games from now.
[00:02:27] Um, the LA Sparks with the trade that they got with the player that they got from the Kelsey Plum from the Aces. I mean, she lit up the scoreboard her first game with the Sparks. I think she wanted people to remember who she was and show people how good she can be.
[00:02:45] So shout out to her with her debut with the LA Sparks. And I can't wait to see Saniya Rivers. Rivers.
[00:02:56] I think I'm saying her name, her first name correctly, but I mean, she was a player that got drafted and a couple weeks ago her mom passed and she's now back with the team, back to getting ready to enjoy her rookie season. But shout out to her for pressing forward because losing your mom at the such a huge accomplishment, I know that has to be referenced for her and I'm sending lots of prayers out to her and her family and for her mental as she goes along through her rookie year. And I'm also excited to see Anissa Morrow whenever she's healthy and she's getting back on the court.
[00:03:37] So I'm. I'm excited for a WNBA season. And I know I'm.
[00:03:42] I'm going to talk about it because, I mean, everybody's been talking about it, but I want to go on record and say this.
[00:03:49] I do not like. I do not dislike Caitlin Clark. Okay? I do not like, dislike Caitlin Clark. I think Caitlin Clark is a great WNBA player. I think she's a great basketball player.
[00:04:02] She has really good handles.
[00:04:05] Her finishing at the rim has improved. I mean, she.
[00:04:09] Her shots, her deep shots, her is very curry like. Like. And I don't think we've ever seen that in league.
[00:04:17] Um, but if it's one thing I do dislike about Caitlin Clark, it is her fans. Um, Caitlin Clark's fans make enjoying Caitlin Clark's game insufferable. It's like you it because. And the reason why I say that is because of the situation that happened between her and Angel Reese. Okay? I think the refs got it right. That was a flagged one. She originally she did go for the ball, but then after she went for the ball, she did push her down to the ground. I mean, we can look at it from three different angles, and all three different angles is going see, Caitlyn Clark actually pushes her. And then for people to get upset that Angel Reese got upset that she was pushed, I think that that is absurd. Okay? How many times have we watched in the NBA a player gets fouled and they feel like they've been filed hard and they get up like they're ready to fight or that they want to run up in the other players face. I mean, Kiki, like I said, Kiki, in the preseason game when they played against the. When she pushed Cunningham.
[00:05:21] And what did Cunningham do? Soon as Cunningham got up Got right in her face.
[00:05:26] I think that we should stop policing Angel Reese's reaction and looking for things to critique her on and just let them play basketball, guys. Okay? Let's just let them play basketball. All right? And let's. Yeah, like that was so insane to me. Like we also. Another example, one of the Thompson twins is when, when he got fouled, he was up in the face and his. His teammates had to push him back.
[00:05:57] No one was policing him and saying what he did was obsessive. So I think we should have the same virtue when it comes to injuries. Okay?
[00:06:06] And honestly, with everything that I've seen online from or even watching the game and hearing people making monkey noises or just shouting things that are obscene, if I am the Chicago Sky, I would not play Andrew recent any.
[00:06:25] If they have to face the Indiana Fever. Again, I'm so sorry. Like, I don't think you should subject your players to things like that, especially things out of your control.
[00:06:33] And I'm sorry, but Caitlin Clark fans, you guys are insufferable to the ones who are level headed. Shout out to you guys. Thanks for always for just letting it be about basketball and nothing else.
[00:06:46] Um, so, yeah, and less. And shout out to Caitlin Clark also for setting a WNBA record for most double doubles. I think this is like in that second game she had, this is her sixth game with 25 points. 25 points and 10 plus assists. So shout out to her. Also shout out to Angel Reese for being the fastest WNBA player to have 4, 450 points as well as 450 rebounds. Plus shout out to her. That is a huge accomplishment for both of those players. So let's keep it about basketball and let's keep it fair. Okay, you can have your favorites, but let's keep it fair across the board for both of those players because we are going to be watching them for years and years and years and there are going to be plenty of times that these two face each other. So like I said, let's keep it about basketball and only basketball.
[00:07:40] All right. And now moving on to the NBA. We are in the conference finals both all four of these teams. Three of these teams. This will be the team's first NBA championship. If they do win, this will be the Knicks first championship in literally decades.
[00:08:00] So shout out to those four teams for making it in the East. We have the Indiana Pacers and the Knicks. That game will be on tonight.
[00:08:09] I'm actually going to give that game to both. Have kind of had a break, but the.
[00:08:20] I think I'm going to Give it to the Knicks this first game. I think the Knicks are going to win this first game. And then I'll come back with, after I see their first game, I'll come back with prediction of who I think is going to win the series. Now on to the west, we have OKC and the Timberwolves. So OKC showed why they were the number one team in the conference and why they're number one team in the NBA and why they're the heavy favorites to win the championship this year. I mean, when you have Shay, Gillicks. Alexander. Alexander, shout out to him for winning the MVP of the NBA.
[00:08:57] And I mean, you got an MVP on your team, why aren't you not the favorites?
[00:09:03] They face a little adversity, a little bit of adversity at the beginning of in that first half against September Wolves, but they were able to lock in in the second half. Now, I hate the narrative that Shay flops a lot and that because, I mean, he does flop a lot. But that's not why the Minnesota Timberwolves lost that game. I mean, ant didn't score any points in that fourth quarter. They shot Horrible from three.
[00:09:32] They got outscored in the paint by 40 points.
[00:09:36] Excuse me. I believe they just did not play good in that second half. It was like they gave all they had in the first half and then just completely, just got demolished in the second half. So they need to figure out how to fix that as well as figuring out what they can do to beat okc. But it's just the first game of the series. Even though I do think Oklahoma is going to win it in six.
[00:10:01] Um, I just think Oklahoma has the better team right now. And I think no matter who comes out the East, OKC is going to win the NBA championship. But like I said, join me back here next week. That way I can tell you who I think is going to win. The Knicks versus the Pistons. But I just need to see how that matchup is going to look instead of just looking at it on paper. I need to see so I can give you guys an accurate prediction of what I think is going to happen.
[00:10:32] So like I said, once again, shout out to SGA for winning MVP. I mean, the guy averaged 32 points on 52% shooting. So it goes to show you how smart he is in selecting his shots, how he knows what shots to take and what shots not to take, how he's able to help his team.
[00:10:51] And let's stop this whole narrative of the reason why the Minnesota Timberwolves lost that game or may lose any red any other games is because of SGA's flopping. Okay, guys, because if we take away his free throws, that score is still 88 to 104. So you still still got blown out. All right, let's not look too much into that and let's look over at the overall game. Okay? And also, before I end it, I do want to say that I just saw that UConn's UConn women's basketball just got another pickup from the transfer portal. They got freshman point guard from usc.
[00:11:32] And I just want to say sneakily, Gina Oriemma has done a really good job in the portal, and I'm excited to see what that team looks like after just winning the national championship.
[00:11:47] Okay? But once again, guys, I am Kayla Ali. This is the Ali perspective. Please make sure you, like, comment and subscribe. Email me your questions. Next episode, we will be answering questions. Okay? So please make sure you email them in. Please make sure you, like, comment and subscribe. I look forward to seeing you guys joining me back here next week.
[00:12:10] All right, see ya.
