Lakers Win NBA Cup, Trade Rumors, Surprises and Disappointments, Classic Card Challenge

0:00 ... Open animation ... episode #80 honors the great NFL player Cris Carter

0:30 ... Bet OnLine live commercial read

1:00 ... Bruce's opening tip is on Zion Williamson and how Stephen A. Smith shredded him for his lack of conditioning and Bruce takes Zion to task for his lackluster performance against the Lakers in the NBA Cup semifinal game on Thursday.

3:12 ... World B sounds off on the Suns "Big Three" and the excellence of Devin Booker.

4:44 ... Ross calls out the problems in Milwaukee and wonders if the "new guy" might be leaking locker room business to a favored reporter.

5:55 ... The Lakers are the winners of the very first NBA Cup and the guys share their thoughts on the tournament and how LeBron James and Anthony Davis led the way while Myles Turner had no answers for the Lakers' bigs in the championship game.

9:41 ... What changes should take place prior to next season's tournament. The point differential rule was something all the guys want to change. Commissioner Adam Silver likes the crazy colored courts, so they'll be back next year. Ross suggested "winning quarters" might work better than point differential.

13:01 ... Bruce thinks the banner the Lakers plan to hang at Crypto.com Arena is going to look like something out of a high school gym. World B wonders if the Lakers can carry the momentum from winning the tournament forward into a very difficult stretch of games.

15:05 ... As we hit the end of the first quarter of the season, the guys discuss their surprises and disappointments from the team and individual perspectives. Minnesota and Orlando top everyone's list of surprise teams.

19:00 ... As for disappointing teams, Golden State is Bruce's pick and World B's as well. Klay Thompson and Draymond Green have been particularly disappointing. Ross' disappointing team is his beloved Milwaukee Bucks.

22:29 ... Bruce asks Ross if he feels new coach Adrian Griffin is in trouble. Ross says the clock is ticking.

24:28 ... Bruce's surprise player is Aaron Nesmith of the Pacers. World B feels Devin Booker has been a surprise because of his playmaking success this season. Ross likes 19 year old Dereck Lively of the Mavs as his guy.

27:59 ... Bruce's disappointing player is James Harden of the Clippers, whose scoring numbers have now gone down in seven straight seasons while his assist numbers are his worst in 10 seasons. World B's guy is DeMar DeRozan, whose shooting has been the worst in the league. Ross is down on Blazers rookie Scoot Henderson as his most disappointing player.

31:28 ... With December 15th fast approaching, the guys discuss trade rumors and who might be dealing. The Knicks, Bulls, and Pacers might be making moves. Bruce thinks DeMar DeRozan might be a good fit with the Lakers but is down on DeRozan's teammate Zach Lavine who has never impacted winning on any of his teams. Ross feels the Raptors might be willing to trade OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam and simply hit the "reset" button.

36:14 ... Bruce does the Classic Card Challenge with his teammates and marvels at their ability to say intelligent things about five former players each with no preparation time.

44:31 .... Ross shares his "Best Bets" for Wednesday night parlays.

45:46 ... Bruce's final thought is on Mark Cuban and why the former Mavericks owner should run for President of the United States. He wouldn't be the first reality show star to run for President.

47:15 ... World B's final thought is on the In Season Tournament and why it worked so well. He praised the players for taking it seriously and felt that was the reason it succeeded.

48:42 ... Ross' final thought was on how the Phoenix Suns' "in arena" DJ did a great job helping the Suns by blasting techno music and annoying an opposing coach.

TRT 50:05