48 Minutes: Episode #2 (12/21/22)

Bruce Bernstein (@PureHoopsBruce) and Ross Geiger (@RossGeiger) are your hosts for "48 Minutes."

0:46 ... Bruce and Ross discuss the dismal performance by the Celtics against the Orlando Magic last weekend and heap praise on Magic rookie Paolo Banchero.

5:49 ... The Magic are loaded with talented bigs like Banchero, Mo and Franz Wagner, Bol Bol, Mo Bamba, Wendell Carter Jr, and Jonathan Isaac.

8:32 ... The Milwaukee Bucks are back in the top spot of the Eastern Conference and their alternate blue uniforms are very sharp. Their upcoming schedule is tough, but they'll have a chance to show the league that they are the top dogs if they handle their business the rest of the week.

11:36 ... The Cavaliers continue to roll behind Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, whom Bruce has dubbed "Kyrie Irving 2.0."

13:36 ... The Brooklyn Nets have won 9 of their last 10 games behind Kevin Durant and "Kyrie Irving 1.0."

16:19 ... The Philadelphia 76ers are riding top scorer Joel Embiid and James Harden to 5 wins in their last 6 games. Embiid (33.0 pts/game) is getting the buckets and Harden is dropping the dimes (67 in his last 6 games).

17:48 ... Will the MVP come out of the East this season? Ross and Bruce size up the candidates.

19:20 ... The New York Knicks are rolling behind their left handed "Big 3" of Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett, and Julius Randle. Do all those lefties cause unique problems for opposing defenses?

24:47 ... Devin Booker scored 58 points against New Orleans over the weekend and his 3 point attempt at the buzzer fueled a budding rivalry between the Suns and Pelicans.

27:15 ... Bruce was worried that Chris Paul might be losing something off his fastball but CP-3 calmed his fears with his most recent performance.

31:13 ... Anthony Davis is out for a month with his yearly injury and the Lakers are in deep doo-doo without him. How will they stay afloat?

35:38 ... The remarkable LeBron James is keeping LA relevant as he marches towards the all time record for points held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. How many games will it take LBJ to catch Kareem?

36:55 ... Ross has gambling advice in his latest edition of "Best Bets."

41:53 ... In honor of the Knicks' Lefty Big 3, Bruce and Ross share their favorite NBA left handed players of all time and some of the names will surprise you.

45:02 ... Final Thoughts ... Nikola Jokic's sick triple double against Charlotte, Kemba Walker's 32 point explosion for Dallas, and Damian Lillard passes a Hall of Famer.

If you'd like to see a full video version of the show, here's a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1zUsNWHAW0&t=1902s