48 Minutes with ESPN's Tim Legler

0:00 ... Hello and Welcome to episode 95 in honor of Juan Toscano Anderson ... our guest this week is ESPN's Tim Legler.

1:13 ... Ross live Bet Online commercial read

1:51 ... Bruce introduces his long-time friend and colleague Tim Legler of ESPN with a story about the biggest night of his NBA career.

3:37 ... Bruce and Legs discuss whether the Celtics have peaked too soon ... Legs wondered if the big lead has made them complacent but he feels Boston is the most complete team in the NBA.

6:13 ... Ross asks Legs about the Bucks as they gear up for the playoffs ... Legs feels Joe Mazzulla is much more comfortable this season while the Bucks hired Doc Rivers to replace a rookie coach.  The Bucks are playing well defensively due to Doc making them accountable.

9:00 ... Damian Lillard is adjusting to being on a team with a teammate who is better than him.  The Bucks have made him a believer.

9:56 ... The Knicks don't want to finish 4th because they'll get Boston in the second round ... injuries have hurt the team and they might not be at their best until next season, but they can still be a dangerous playoff team.

12:48 ... Bruce asks Legs about how Tom Thibodeau has not overused his guys, and that the injuries to key Knicks players were freakish, not from overuse.

14:59 ... The Cavaliers have really missed Donovan Mitchell and their record without him is dismal ... but players who miss time and comeback healthy for the playoffs usually have more energy due to being idle.  Legs compares Joel Embiid's situation to Mitchell.  The Cavs are in trouble and might lose in the first round ...

17:58 ... Ross asks about Embiid's possible return ... Legs says Embiid's injury (meniscus) is not like a pulled muscle, once he's fixed and feels good -- play him.  But good health and getting into a good rhythm are two different things and his first games will be intense affairs.

20:35 ... If Embiid comes back and is injected into a first round series, it will be the biggest "X-Factor" in first round playoff history.

21:04 ... We discuss the Houston Rockets and their long shot bid to knock the Warriors out of the Play in ... Legs thinks the Rockets/Warriors game on April 4th is a game to circle on your calendars.

23:12 .. Denver looks ready for another deep run and Legs discusses how the Wolves, Mavs, and Thunder could all threaten Denver.  Minnesota's defense is great, but can they close out games?  OKC is a young team that lacks playoff experience.  Dallas could end up being the last team standing against the Nuggets.    Legs trusts Luka in clutch situations.

26:38 ... Bruce asks Legs about the Thunder and whether rebounding will be their downfall in the postseason.  Legs agrees and points out that Chet Holmgren is tall but thin and has trouble maintaining position down low.  Legs also feels OKC's 3 point shooting may be lacking.

30:32 ... Ross asks if Legs was surprised at OKC's lack of pursuit of "bigs" at the trade deadline.  Legs riffs on Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively and their 82% combined shooting.

32:42 ... The Wizards have won 3 straight, jeopardizing their lottery position and as a former Bullet and Wizard, Legs has been depressed watching his old team all season.  Even Detroit has more hope because they have young studs like Cade Cunningham while the Wiz have Jordan Poole.  Legs tells a funny story about Poole and says he's enjoying "the direct deposit every two weeks."

35:23 ... World B asks Legs about the franchise moving to Virginia.  Legs feels a move will help the franchise shed its "corporate" feel playing in downtown DC.

36:34 ... The New Orleans Pelicans have missed Brandon Ingram and Legs is concerned his absence could cause the team to stumble because he can create good shots when the shot clock is winding down and that is hard to replace.  They may be under the radar but they have three key positions filled with Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, and Ingram (when healthy).  They'll be a problem in the playoffs.

38:57 ... Legs eviscerates the Suns over their loss to Milwaukee ... Phoenix has really pissed him off ... the Suns lost to San Antonio on Monday without Wemby.  Legs is simply irate and jokes about kicking the Suns out of the league due to their pathetic effort.

42:43 ... World B asks about the return of Russell Westbrook and what impact he'll have down the stretch for the Clippers.  He plays every single minute as hard as he can and is an energizer off the bench.  Legs believes they'll reach a higher gear before the playoffs start.

45:29 ... World B asks why the Clippers are losing so many winnable games.  If Kawhi has another gear, he can take more control over games but has mostly been pacing himself.  As Kawhi goes, so go the Clippers.

48:16 ... If the Warriors play the Lakers in a play in game, Ross asks Legs