1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:02,520 Speaker 1: Welcome to the best of the Week for What's Right 2 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:05,240 Speaker 1: with Nick Right the best takes in moments from this 3 00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: week on the show. Enjoy. 4 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:12,160 Speaker 2: So since the start of February, they are seven and fifteen, 5 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:14,560 Speaker 2: and like you just said, they have no injuries, so 6 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:15,240 Speaker 2: it's kind. 7 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:16,800 Speaker 3: Of weird whatever's going on over there. 8 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:20,599 Speaker 2: Their preseason projected win total was set at forty six 9 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:22,600 Speaker 2: and a half games, and it seemed like they might 10 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 2: miss the play in. Do you think that you think 11 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:26,799 Speaker 2: the Suns are going to try to actually go on 12 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:28,479 Speaker 2: a run or are they going to tank here? 13 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:34,279 Speaker 1: Well, the coach and the owner want them to go 14 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 1: on a run. I think the players might be over. 15 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 3: Yea, I see him just seems more and more pissed 16 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:42,320 Speaker 3: these days. 17 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 1: He see. Yeah, Katie doesn't seem happy. Coach Bud told 18 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: Devin Booker basically to shut up the other day. That 19 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 1: didn't go over well. I mean, they are not trying 20 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 1: at all. On the defensive end, Luca was miked up 21 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: against the Suns, and Luca just said, I had kind 22 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 1: of been passing. I've never had so many open looks 23 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: in my life. Look, I've been playing professional basketball since 24 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:10,119 Speaker 1: he's fifteen. He's like the worst defens I've ever seen, 25 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:13,759 Speaker 1: and Lebron wasn't even out there to open stuff up. 26 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 1: And so uh, but the Suns, I don't know that 27 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:26,400 Speaker 1: this is a hot take. The Suns are in the 28 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 1: worst position moving forward of any team in the league 29 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:40,280 Speaker 1: because Mattishpia came in and bought the team and traded 30 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: away everything for Kevin Durant and then traded away everything 31 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 1: they had left for Bradley Beal. Beal has a no 32 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 1: trade and is not good. Durant is approaching thirty seven 33 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: and not going to get you a ton in return 34 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: and is gone this summer. And then you have Devin Booker, 35 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 1: who's a real asset. But it doesn't really make sense 36 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 1: to trade Booker because you would then be tanking and 37 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 1: you don't demonse. They do not have their own pick 38 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 1: until twenty thirty two. Twenty thirty two, it's twenty twenty five, 39 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 1: so they they traded their picks away, and then they 40 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 1: swapped picks, and then as part of the Beal trade, 41 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:38,680 Speaker 1: they swapped the swaps. This is like a mortgage crisis, 42 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 1: but in the NBA. So they over the next seven drafts, 43 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 1: they either simply give their pick away or they are 44 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 1: in a three way swap with other teams, where of 45 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 1: the three teams they get the worst draft pick, so 46 00:02:57,520 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: even if they're the worst team in the league, that 47 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 1: doesn't help them. And they traded away most of their 48 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 1: second round picks. So it was again I used to 49 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:11,840 Speaker 1: this is sorry for all these kind of non sequiturs. 50 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 1: Today's a show. I'm gonna be totally honest. Today's show 51 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:19,920 Speaker 1: that is not necessarily going to go viral for a 52 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 1: lot of things, but real folks that are real what's 53 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 1: right or as awkward as this is to say, like 54 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: Nick Wright fans are going to really be enjoying today 55 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 1: because we talked hard cap, softcap, I did my basket, 56 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 1: my March madness rant. I'm now going to talk about 57 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 1: Ted Steppien for a second. So Ted Stepien was an 58 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 1: owner in the NBA in the eighties, and he was 59 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 1: so bad and so disastrous for the Calves. The NBA 60 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:53,280 Speaker 1: made a rule that's called the Stepian rule. That's about 61 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: how many draft picks you can and cannot trade. You 62 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: can't trade draft picks in consecutive years. That's why teams 63 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: have to, like, you know, I'll trade you my twenty 64 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 1: five and my twenty seven because you can't just trade 65 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 1: away all your picks and you can only trade draft 66 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: picks like six years out. You know, those seven years out. 67 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 1: Those are the rules they put in to prevent an 68 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:22,360 Speaker 1: owner from just destroying a team. And there has been 69 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 1: a lot of frustration from GM since then of like, man, 70 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 1: I would like full flexibility to uh, you know, run 71 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 1: my team as I see fit and not have these 72 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:39,600 Speaker 1: guardrails in there. And I think at one point there 73 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 1: was a little momentum in the league like all right, 74 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 1: we're not in the tape delayed ear of the eighties. 75 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 1: It's smarter people running the teams. It's big money. Maybe 76 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 1: we don't need to, you know, have these guardrails in. 77 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 1: And then Mattishbia came along and is like Ted Steppi 78 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 1: and hold my beer. I'm gonna show you. I'm gonna 79 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:09,799 Speaker 1: speed run, absolutely wrecking a decade of a team that again, 80 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: the Suns right before he took over, made the finals 81 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 1: and then where the number one seed sixty four wins 82 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: or sixty some win team, and then Luca eviscerated him, 83 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 1: and then they trade for KD. Then they trade for 84 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:28,359 Speaker 1: Beal and now they're just ruined, absolutely ruined to a 85 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 1: point to where they even though the Mavericks are two 86 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 1: to eight in their last ten, don't have any healthy players, 87 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 1: their fans have turned on them. The Mavericks still have 88 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:46,719 Speaker 1: a cushion in the standings. It's really a remarkable, remarkable 89 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:47,160 Speaker 1: turn of. 90 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:49,719 Speaker 3: Events month away from the playoffs. Who do you see 91 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:50,720 Speaker 3: avoiding the play in. 92 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 1: So this is where our friends at tankathon are super helpful, 93 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:02,279 Speaker 1: So where we can look at most difficult or easiest 94 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:07,960 Speaker 1: strength of schedule left. So as a for instance, Phoenix, 95 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:11,159 Speaker 1: who we're gonna get to in a minute, has far 96 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: and away the hardest schedule remaining. Phoenix has games left 97 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:22,160 Speaker 1: against the Calves, the Thunder, two against Boston, the Knicks, 98 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 1: the Rockets, and the Warriors, with only two like layup 99 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:29,720 Speaker 1: games the Spurs and the Bulls. So Phoenix, if they 100 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:32,040 Speaker 1: were fighting for something, you'd be like, oh, they're in 101 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 1: rough shape. Here's why it matters. Minnesota has the third 102 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 1: easiest schedule remaining. Minnesota. Now, it's a bad loss last night, 103 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:49,920 Speaker 1: but Minnesota is at you know, the teams they're up 104 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 1: against have a combined winning percentage of four thirty, and 105 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:57,320 Speaker 1: they have games remaining against New Orleans, two of them, 106 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 1: the Jazz, two against the net that's one against the Sixers. 107 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:06,040 Speaker 1: So you have five games remaining, no, I'm sorry, two 108 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 1: against New Orleans, two against the Nets, one six Ers, 109 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 1: one Jazz. Six games remaining against teams that actively want 110 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: to lose. So that's super helpful for Minnesota. The Warriors 111 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: are right at league average as far as their schedule remaining. 112 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 1: Their easiest games are New Orleans, Toronto, two against San Antonio, 113 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 1: Miami and Portland. Here's why it's to me somewhat noteworthy 114 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 1: that's they they own as far as teams that want 115 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 1: to lose. It's really only four for the Warriors as 116 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 1: far as the games they have left, and it's six 117 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:52,800 Speaker 1: for Minnesota. So that plays in Minnesota's favor significantly. They 118 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 1: you know that Minnesota has two fewer games left than 119 00:07:57,160 --> 00:08:02,680 Speaker 1: Golden State. They have won more law Golden State. When 120 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 1: I heard Steve Kerse say, you know we are you know, 121 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 1: Steph's worn down, and that essentially we're going to take 122 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: care of Steph down the stretch and rest him tomorrow 123 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 1: or tonight, pardon me. Against Milwaukee. Now they don't have 124 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 1: the Warriors don't have many In fact, they only have 125 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 1: one No. Two back to back's left. They have a 126 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 1: back to back at the Lakers and then home for 127 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 1: the Nuggets, and then they have a back to back 128 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 1: a week later at Phoenix and then a home for 129 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 1: San Antonio. Right now, I would and this is not 130 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: going to be where Vegas would have it, but right 131 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 1: now I would anticipate that the Western Conference standings and 132 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 1: mark this down and see how this ages. But I 133 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 1: think the Western Conference standings are going to end up 134 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: Minnesota six, Golden State seven, Clippers eight, with the Kings 135 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:21,559 Speaker 1: being the nine seed and then that ten seed being 136 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 1: just the saddest competition ever between Dallas and Phoenix, just 137 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 1: two teams who did not ever think this is where 138 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 1: they were going to end up, but it's where they 139 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 1: have ended up. And I talk one of the reasons, Actually, 140 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:41,640 Speaker 1: what's that might need you? Oh yeah, well, they might 141 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: have to forfeit games. It's in so if people don't 142 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 1: to understand the forfeiting games things with the MAVs, let 143 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 1: me explain it. This is super nerdy, but I'll do 144 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 1: my best to explain it. The NBA has Here's okay, 145 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:03,200 Speaker 1: I'm gonna have to talk about a few things here 146 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 1: hard cap, softcap. Okay, hardcap is the NFL where the 147 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 1: salary cap is a number and you must from the 148 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 1: first day of the league year until the last day 149 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 1: of the league year be under it at all times. 150 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 1: You cannot go a dollar over the hard cap. Now, 151 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:31,719 Speaker 1: because of the way NFL contracts are structured, you can 152 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 1: always manipulate that year's cap guys cap figures by turning 153 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 1: salaries into signing bonuses, spreading them out over multiple years, 154 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:45,800 Speaker 1: so it can feel like a soft cap at times. 155 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:49,199 Speaker 1: But the cap is the cap, and however you need 156 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 1: to manipulate it. You can manipulate your own guys' salaries, 157 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 1: but you can't ever be over it. That's why the 158 00:10:56,040 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 1: NFL doesn't have things like a luxury tax, because chery 159 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:04,439 Speaker 1: tax is for a soft cap sport like the NBA, 160 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 1: where we have a cap, but you can go over 161 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 1: it for various reasons. You can go way over it 162 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:16,079 Speaker 1: at times. You just pay a penalty in luxury tax. 163 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:18,560 Speaker 1: And one of the reasons the NBA kind of has 164 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 1: to work like that is because NBA player contracts are 165 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 1: guaranteed for the most part, you can't really manipulate a 166 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:28,320 Speaker 1: player's contract like oh, we're turning your salary into a 167 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:30,960 Speaker 1: signing bonus. It's not how it works. So they need 168 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:36,360 Speaker 1: a soft cap. Except and of course, there are certain 169 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 1: things NBA teams can do transactionally which triggers an actual 170 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 1: hard cap. So if you're an Apron team and do 171 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 1: a sign in trade, all of a sudden, you have 172 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: a hard cap. If there's certain things, we need Bobby 173 00:11:57,400 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 1: Marts to really explain all of it. But there are 174 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:02,680 Speaker 1: certain things that can happen where oh no, now you 175 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 1: do have an NFL style hard cap. The MAVs are 176 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:12,200 Speaker 1: a team with a hard cap. So here's why you're 177 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 1: hearing about the MAVs potentially having the forfeit games. You 178 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 1: must have eight healthy players ready and able to play. 179 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:32,080 Speaker 1: The MAVs are close to exhausting their limit on two 180 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:34,559 Speaker 1: way guys, guys from their G league team that can 181 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:37,959 Speaker 1: call up, send down, call up and send down. They 182 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:41,320 Speaker 1: have had all these injuries, and because of the hard 183 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:47,760 Speaker 1: cap demons, they are not allowed to sign another minimum player. 184 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 1: They can't go over the hard cap. They are running 185 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:59,680 Speaker 1: out of two way guys' eligibility. Even they are so 186 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:02,679 Speaker 1: close to the hard cap, they don't have the space 187 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:06,319 Speaker 1: for another minimum guy they can't sign their version of 188 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 1: and Alex Lynn just be like, hey, come off the 189 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:10,840 Speaker 1: street and play for us. 190 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:15,520 Speaker 3: So to be a perfect situation for Browny right. 191 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, or for any young player or any draft 192 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:22,320 Speaker 1: pick right to get some burn. But they they suited 193 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:26,440 Speaker 1: up eight healthy guys the other day. Yeah, So it 194 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 1: would be I've never in my life watching the NBA, 195 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,080 Speaker 1: I've never seen a team have to forfeit games because 196 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 1: they didn't have eligible players. It would be kind of 197 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:44,120 Speaker 1: the crowning achievement of what has been six weeks of 198 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:49,800 Speaker 1: just a fever dream of terror for MAVs fans, starting 199 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 1: with the Luca trade, then the added pain of Ad 200 00:13:55,960 --> 00:14:00,160 Speaker 1: getting hurt, then the real pain of Kyrie blowing out 201 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:03,000 Speaker 1: his knee, then the like, oh, you've got to be 202 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:06,280 Speaker 1: kidding me. Quinton Grimes all of a sudden is a 203 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 1: star player in this league. We gave him away for 204 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:13,120 Speaker 1: Caleb Martin for no reason whatsoever, and now we're gonna 205 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:17,640 Speaker 1: have to maybe forfeit games. Unpresced in it, just unpressed 206 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 1: in it. But flip side of that is AD's ramping 207 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 1: up and they might make the playoffs or the play 208 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 1: in Over the damn suns who desperately want to win 209 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 1: and are incredibly healthy. This episode of What Trait is 210 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 1: brought to you by Daya Pizza featuring dairy free cheese 211 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 1: made with their Newdaya Oak cream blend. Dairy free cheese 212 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 1: has come a long way. Deaya's leading the charge. 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Follow Daya on Instagram 229 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 1: and TikTok for more updates and recipes. 230 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 3: Yeah so funny. 231 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 2: Luca actually came out and said that any team that 232 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 2: has Yokis is always going to be dangerous. But like 233 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 2: you just said, Jokis and Murray didn't play, so Luca 234 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:02,080 Speaker 2: let them up. La Cruz that you Yeah, he's he's 235 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 2: looking really good. He's also had his six thirtieth point 236 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 2: game in a month of March. What do you think 237 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 2: about the Nuggets resting their guys again? 238 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 1: Though, so listen, Joker plays as much as anybody. Michael 239 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:16,280 Speaker 1: Malone was correct that Jokers played I think the second 240 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:18,560 Speaker 1: most games of any player in the last decade, So 241 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 1: I'm not going to kill him for it. I'm not 242 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 1: certain exactly why Jamal Mury, you know, Jamal Murray couldn't play. 243 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 1: Maybe because Jamal Murray without NIKOI Jokic, you know, doesn't 244 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:34,360 Speaker 1: quite look like the Jamal Murray that a lot of 245 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:39,320 Speaker 1: folks like to believe. He can be. I I will 246 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 1: say this, the Nuggets are no longer a bad matchup 247 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 1: for the Lakers. The Lakers are a bad matchup for 248 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:50,920 Speaker 1: the Nuggets. And that's with or without Joker. And there's 249 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 1: multiple reasons for this. Uh. I understand Daniel, our producer, 250 00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:59,240 Speaker 1: saying Jamal was hurt last game two. I get it, man, 251 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:06,679 Speaker 1: I'm the I'm not accusing anyone of anything, do I 252 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 1: Does anybody think that if this were a playoff game, 253 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:13,960 Speaker 1: Joe Kitchen Murray wouldn't wouldn't have played. Of course not 254 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 1: They're not that injured, But that's totally fine. You want 255 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:20,439 Speaker 1: them to be rested and healthy. You'd prefer it not 256 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:23,119 Speaker 1: happen on a national TV game. You'd prefer it not 257 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:27,159 Speaker 1: have to happen in back to back games. But it 258 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 1: is what it is, so to speak like, you deal 259 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:32,199 Speaker 1: with it, and you, you know, you move forward. I 260 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:36,440 Speaker 1: think a lot of people assumed that the Nuggets, because 261 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:39,440 Speaker 1: they rested those guys or they didn't play against the Warriors, 262 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:43,040 Speaker 1: that they would play in the next game. But whatever. 263 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:45,480 Speaker 1: I'm not going to kill him for that. What I 264 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:47,399 Speaker 1: am going to talk about is if this is a 265 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:52,439 Speaker 1: playoff matchup, it favors the Lakers heavily because here is 266 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:55,360 Speaker 1: the thing. The Lakers scored one twenty last night, could 267 00:17:55,359 --> 00:17:59,840 Speaker 1: have scored one forty, and I said it on the 268 00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 1: TV show. I will say it again with this question 269 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:10,960 Speaker 1: in the playoffs, if you get Lakers Nuggets, if Aaron 270 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:17,080 Speaker 1: Gordon is primarily matched up on Lebron, who is guarding Luca? 271 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 1: They tried some Peyton Watson last night, how'd that work? 272 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 1: Luca had twenty before you turn the game on, and okay, no, no, no, 273 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:31,160 Speaker 1: Aaron Gordon's gonna guard Luca? Then who is guarding Lebron? 274 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:35,119 Speaker 1: It ain't Michael Porter Junior in his bad back, It 275 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:40,119 Speaker 1: ain't Russell Westbrook. It certainly ain't Christian Brown. Who are 276 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 1: we talking about? Concr He ain't doing it, Gonna dust 277 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:50,240 Speaker 1: off Dario, sorrych he ain't doing it. It's it's certainly 278 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:52,200 Speaker 1: not the two guys who were missing last night and 279 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:56,920 Speaker 1: Joe Kitchen Murray. The Nuggets are a bad defensive team 280 00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:01,120 Speaker 1: at this point, and having you go Kitchen Murray out 281 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:04,119 Speaker 1: doesn't hurt their defense. And the Lakers scored at will 282 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:08,280 Speaker 1: without Lebron. Now, the Lakers, I think are going to 283 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:11,719 Speaker 1: actually end up being the best offense in the league, 284 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 1: and you're starting to see it where they are generating 285 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:24,840 Speaker 1: so many great looks from three, so many wide open threes, 286 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:28,240 Speaker 1: and that's without Lebron on the court. And here's the 287 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:31,960 Speaker 1: other thing about the Lakers Nuggets matchup. The best thing 288 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:34,879 Speaker 1: the Nuggets had going for them in these playoff matchups 289 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:38,280 Speaker 1: is Joker, no question. The second best thing they had 290 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 1: going for him was Di'angelo Russell minutes. And the third 291 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 1: best thing they had going for him was Darvin Ham's coaching, 292 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:50,080 Speaker 1: which is why there was nobody that was a bigger 293 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 1: Darvin Ham defender than Michael Malone. Michael Malone out there 294 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:59,320 Speaker 1: defending Darvin Ham, like Darvin Ham owes him money and 295 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:01,639 Speaker 1: he needs him to stay employed to get it. He's like, 296 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:04,120 Speaker 1: this is unfair that guy took him to the conference final. 297 00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:08,879 Speaker 1: There is an outrage and Michael Malone now of a sudden, 298 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:11,879 Speaker 1: Lakers got real coach. And by the way, are we 299 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:15,040 Speaker 1: done with that demands? I haven't checked the scoreboard. Is 300 00:20:15,119 --> 00:20:17,720 Speaker 1: JJ Reddick now just Lakers head coach? Or is he 301 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:21,840 Speaker 1: still you know Lebron's podcast buddy, or now that everybody 302 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:23,679 Speaker 1: knows he's a great coach, or we just saying no, 303 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:25,840 Speaker 1: he's a Lakers head coach, because I know if he 304 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:28,439 Speaker 1: wasn't a great coach, it would be Lebron's podcast, Buddy. 305 00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 1: It'd be like, I'm I just again, I'm not sure 306 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 1: the exact rule, right, and I'm not sure about the 307 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:36,639 Speaker 1: rules of any of this stuff. What I do know 308 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 1: is this Nuggets are in real, real trouble and the 309 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:41,639 Speaker 1: Lakers are real, real dangerous. 310 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 2: You don't think, Anya, you're just like resting there guys strategically, 311 00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:49,159 Speaker 2: like the same thing Golden State did with Steph Curry. 312 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:55,480 Speaker 1: I think that's a game they wanted to win that 313 00:20:55,600 --> 00:21:01,199 Speaker 1: you're fighting for seating. I I don't right now. The 314 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:06,760 Speaker 1: Western garment standings go like this, Oklahoma City has locked 315 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:12,200 Speaker 1: the one seed. It's so bananas they they have lock 316 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:18,800 Speaker 1: locked up the well, I guess technically they're their magic 317 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:21,960 Speaker 1: number for locking up the one seed is one game 318 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:27,160 Speaker 1: with fifteen or how however we eat thirteen games remaining. Uh, 319 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:30,159 Speaker 1: they have fifty seven wins. No one else in the 320 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:33,919 Speaker 1: conference can get to fifty eight. So Oklahoma City's locked. 321 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:39,640 Speaker 1: And then it gets interesting. The Rockets have twenty five losses. 322 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:43,119 Speaker 1: The Lakers have twenty five losses. The Nuggets have twenty six, 323 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:47,040 Speaker 1: the Grizzlies have twenty seven, the Warriors have twenty nine, 324 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:53,840 Speaker 1: Clippers thirty, Timberwolves thirty one. So four five six, I'm sorry, 325 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 1: two three four five two games apart, two three four 326 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:08,159 Speaker 1: one loss apart, and I don't think the Nuggets want 327 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:11,600 Speaker 1: to give these games away. Say it again, it would be. 328 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:13,080 Speaker 3: In their best interest being one game. 329 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:15,440 Speaker 2: I mean they were tied before last night and then 330 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 2: not absolutely. 331 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:18,200 Speaker 3: Yeah. 332 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 1: And the other piece of it is because of last 333 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 1: With a win yesterday, they would have locked up the 334 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:31,520 Speaker 1: season series three to one, which would have given them 335 00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:33,399 Speaker 1: the head to have tybreaker if they finished with the 336 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:35,159 Speaker 1: same record. Now it's two to two, so I'm not 337 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:37,720 Speaker 1: even sure what tybreaker it goes to. Now the Nuggets, 338 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:43,800 Speaker 1: do they get Portland next, then Houston Chicago? Like I'm 339 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:46,680 Speaker 1: just looking at their easy, tough games. I think they 340 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 1: When we went to Tankathon before and we checked it, 341 00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 1: I thought the Nuggets were league average essentially remaining strength 342 00:22:56,680 --> 00:23:00,359 Speaker 1: strength of schedule. They have a little tougher than league average. 343 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:03,680 Speaker 1: They have the eleventh hardest strength of schedule left the 344 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:05,920 Speaker 1: Lakers by the way of the third hardest strength of 345 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:10,359 Speaker 1: schedule left Houston tenth hardest. I'm just doing the teams 346 00:23:10,359 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 1: fighting for this seed, Memphis seventh hardest, Golden State with 347 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:17,560 Speaker 1: the easiest of the group with the eighteenth hardest. So 348 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:21,360 Speaker 1: but here's the other piece of it. For the Lakers, 349 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:25,520 Speaker 1: as I said the other day, you can now kind 350 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:29,359 Speaker 1: of definitively say, even though they lost those first three 351 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:36,960 Speaker 1: without Lebron, they have survived his injury. They I said, 352 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:40,840 Speaker 1: if you miss ten games, going six and four would 353 00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:44,240 Speaker 1: be a great result. And six and four is now 354 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:46,440 Speaker 1: very on the board, and I don't know that he's 355 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 1: gonna miss four more. But the Lakers are three and three. 356 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:55,040 Speaker 1: Lost to Brooklyn, bad loss, lost to Milwaukee, lost to Denver, 357 00:23:55,119 --> 00:23:57,840 Speaker 1: and what would have been an unbelievable win when Denver 358 00:23:57,920 --> 00:23:59,800 Speaker 1: had all its guys and Lakers without six of their 359 00:23:59,840 --> 00:24:05,320 Speaker 1: time eight and then blue out Phoenix, blew out San Antonio, 360 00:24:05,359 --> 00:24:08,960 Speaker 1: blew out Denver. And now the next four home for Milwaukee, 361 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:16,560 Speaker 1: tonight home for Chicago at Orlando, at Indiana. Can you 362 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:18,879 Speaker 1: go three to one in those four You should be 363 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:22,159 Speaker 1: able to even if Lebron's not back. And that's the 364 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:26,000 Speaker 1: other piece of last night, the blowout being awesome Luca 365 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:29,920 Speaker 1: only played thirty two minutes. Reeves probably played a little 366 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 1: more than he needed to, but so be it. And 367 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:38,200 Speaker 1: so the Lakers are really well positioned. Houston keeps winning. Houston, 368 00:24:38,359 --> 00:24:44,160 Speaker 1: to their credit, has really taken advantage of the absolute 369 00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 1: softest stretch of their schedule imaginable, and they have won 370 00:24:48,960 --> 00:24:54,520 Speaker 1: more soft game Friday against Miami. But their schedule during 371 00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:57,120 Speaker 1: this winning streak has been the following teams for Houston, 372 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:03,320 Speaker 1: New Orleans, New Orleans, Orlando, Phoenix, Dallas, Chicago, Philly, Orlando. 373 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:06,920 Speaker 1: So those are the worst, like some of the worst 374 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:09,440 Speaker 1: teams in the league, plus Orlando, which has been really 375 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:13,360 Speaker 1: bad for months, and Phoenix, which hates itself, and now 376 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:17,360 Speaker 1: you have Miami, and then it gets way tougher for Houston. 377 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:22,640 Speaker 1: So I because after Miami, Houston goes Denver, Atlanta, Utah, Phoenix, 378 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:27,280 Speaker 1: Lakers Utah Oka see Golden State Clippers Lakers Denver. What 379 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:31,520 Speaker 1: a final stretch for Houston final five games Oka see 380 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:35,399 Speaker 1: Golden State Clippers Lakers Denver. I wonder what OKAC is 381 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:37,280 Speaker 1: gonna do down the stretch because they will have locked 382 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:40,320 Speaker 1: up the one seed and with the Cavs losing all 383 00:25:40,359 --> 00:25:42,159 Speaker 1: of a sudden as of Lake, they won't you know, 384 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:44,280 Speaker 1: they're gonna be in a good position for the number 385 00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:48,280 Speaker 1: one overall seed. But I expect Houston to drop back. 386 00:25:49,040 --> 00:25:51,040 Speaker 1: And I am the Lakers got a real shot at 387 00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:55,199 Speaker 1: the two, a real shot at the two, and so 388 00:25:56,520 --> 00:26:01,400 Speaker 1: I you know, I think And Daniel tells me LA 389 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:05,680 Speaker 1: is the tiebreaker because they win win their division. Oh, 390 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:09,320 Speaker 1: the stupid divisions are the next tiebreaker. Oh well, then 391 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:13,520 Speaker 1: last night's game was even bigger for Denver because now 392 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 1: if they finished with the same record, Lakers have the tiebreaker. 393 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:20,480 Speaker 1: That's noteworthy. That's really really noteworthy. All right, Ask what 394 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:21,439 Speaker 1: are the follow ups here? 395 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:23,880 Speaker 2: Pal, Well, who do you think needs to adjust more 396 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:26,360 Speaker 2: when Lebron does come back, because you know, Lucas obviously 397 00:26:26,400 --> 00:26:31,040 Speaker 2: getting into a groove. So Lebron Luca, Oh, Lebron's Lebron. 398 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:37,800 Speaker 1: Lebron can do more different things. Lebron can play so 399 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:41,359 Speaker 1: many different ways, So it wouldn't make sense to ask 400 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:43,560 Speaker 1: Luca to adjust because Lucas not going to be great 401 00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 1: at other things. Lebron can be great at playing almost 402 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:51,000 Speaker 1: any style of offensive basketball. So Lebron should and will 403 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:55,240 Speaker 1: look like And so that to me is not even 404 00:26:55,280 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 1: a concern, and one of the benefits demonse you having 405 00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:07,159 Speaker 1: every single statistical record in NBA history already accomplished, you 406 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:09,840 Speaker 1: don't have to worry about your stats as much like 407 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:14,280 Speaker 1: when you already have all the records, you already have 408 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:17,520 Speaker 1: all the all nbas, all the points, all the all 409 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:21,920 Speaker 1: of that you can, you don't really have to necessarily 410 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:24,560 Speaker 1: put that first and foremost in your mind. Now, I 411 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:30,320 Speaker 1: will tell you this a sneaky stat that Lebron cares about. 412 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:32,160 Speaker 1: That is such a silly one. 413 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:35,240 Speaker 3: The double digit what oh. 414 00:27:35,119 --> 00:27:38,480 Speaker 1: Well, no, no, no, that one's not sneaky. That one's definitive. 415 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:41,840 Speaker 1: The thirteen hundred straight games of at least ten points. 416 00:27:41,960 --> 00:27:43,600 Speaker 1: But he doesn't have to try to get that one. 417 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:50,119 Speaker 1: It's that he has averaged at least twenty five points 418 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:55,080 Speaker 1: per game to the tenth of a point in every 419 00:27:55,119 --> 00:27:58,320 Speaker 1: single year of his career except for his rookie season, 420 00:27:58,680 --> 00:28:01,560 Speaker 1: twenty one straight years. And the reason I know he 421 00:28:01,680 --> 00:28:07,440 Speaker 1: cares about it is a few years ago, post ankle injury, 422 00:28:07,480 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 1: going into the final game of the year, he needed 423 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:13,080 Speaker 1: a bucket. I think he knew the exact amount of 424 00:28:13,080 --> 00:28:15,920 Speaker 1: points he needed, and he needed a bucket late and 425 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:18,560 Speaker 1: went and got it, so he finished that year averaging 426 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:22,960 Speaker 1: twenty five point zero zero zero. Right now this moment, 427 00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:29,760 Speaker 1: Lebron has played fifty eight games and has scored one 428 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:34,560 Speaker 1: thy four hundred and fifty points. So let's just do 429 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:39,320 Speaker 1: the math on that fourteen point fifty divided by fifty eight, 430 00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:44,320 Speaker 1: that is twenty five point zero zero zero zero zero. 431 00:28:45,560 --> 00:28:50,600 Speaker 1: So here's the point I'm making. I do think Lebron 432 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:53,320 Speaker 1: will want to make sure when he comes back he's 433 00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:57,160 Speaker 1: still getting twenty five at night. I haven't talked to him, 434 00:28:57,480 --> 00:29:01,360 Speaker 1: but I think that is a sna niki one that 435 00:29:01,520 --> 00:29:05,400 Speaker 1: he would be annoyed if he missed it by a 436 00:29:05,480 --> 00:29:07,400 Speaker 1: couple one hundredths of a point. 437 00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:12,440 Speaker 2: So to make the adjustments with Luca like him getting 438 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:14,440 Speaker 2: twenty five points isn't like a stretch like. 439 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:15,760 Speaker 3: I don't think that's no aim. 440 00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:22,880 Speaker 1: I actually think his scoring might go up with the 441 00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:29,680 Speaker 1: new role, because I think his assists will plummet, and 442 00:29:29,840 --> 00:29:33,560 Speaker 1: scoring go up a bit, and rebounding go up a lot. 443 00:29:33,920 --> 00:29:41,440 Speaker 1: That's what I would anticipate is gonna happen here when 444 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:44,800 Speaker 1: it comes to college basketball in March Mania, one thing's 445 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:49,640 Speaker 1: for sure. Nothing is for sure. Upsets Buzzer beater, Cinderella 446 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:52,720 Speaker 1: is advancing top seeds going home early. It's all gonna happen. 447 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:57,160 Speaker 1: Bet the unexpected, every upset, every day with DraftKings Sportsbook 448 00:29:57,440 --> 00:30:01,760 Speaker 1: with live betting, exclusive content, promo and parlays. DraftKings is 449 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:06,080 Speaker 1: the ultimate college basketball destination four March. Ready to make 450 00:30:06,120 --> 00:30:08,360 Speaker 1: your first bet, check out the matchups, and pick a 451 00:30:08,360 --> 00:30:11,440 Speaker 1: team to win. It's that simple. Told you guys the 452 00:30:11,440 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 1: other day. 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Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino 471 00:31:28,560 --> 00:31:32,560 Speaker 4: and Resort in Kansas twenty one plus age in eligibility 472 00:31:32,960 --> 00:31:34,200 Speaker 4: varies by jurisdiction. 473 00:31:34,640 --> 00:31:35,840 Speaker 1: Void in Ontario. 474 00:31:36,240 --> 00:31:38,160 Speaker 4: Bonus bets expire one. 475 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:42,240 Speaker 1: Hundred and sixty eight hours after issuance. For additional terms 476 00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:49,960 Speaker 1: and responsible gaming resources, see DKNG dot co. Slash b Ball. 477 00:31:51,480 --> 00:31:55,200 Speaker 3: Bengals Bengals bangles Man so, Jamar Chase and T. 478 00:31:55,320 --> 00:31:59,280 Speaker 2: Jiggins are now the highest paid non quarterbacks in history, 479 00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:02,760 Speaker 2: and Hey is the highest highest wide receiver two so 480 00:32:02,840 --> 00:32:06,120 Speaker 2: for their cap is going to those players. Put your 481 00:32:06,160 --> 00:32:09,960 Speaker 2: gam hat on. How would you fix this? Oh, my goodness, 482 00:32:10,040 --> 00:32:10,680 Speaker 2: they're screw me. 483 00:32:10,680 --> 00:32:13,840 Speaker 1: They don't well, I mean they don't think they're screwed. 484 00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:16,400 Speaker 1: I think it's an insane way to run a team. 485 00:32:17,560 --> 00:32:22,120 Speaker 1: And I think it's a low So here's what Higgins becomes, 486 00:32:23,120 --> 00:32:25,320 Speaker 1: as Demant said, the highest paid wide receiver two in 487 00:32:25,360 --> 00:32:28,560 Speaker 1: the league, Chase becomes the highest paid non quarterback in 488 00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:32,560 Speaker 1: the league. And Burrow's got a huge salary as well. 489 00:32:32,720 --> 00:32:37,480 Speaker 1: It's not that you can't win with three huge contracts. 490 00:32:38,440 --> 00:32:42,240 Speaker 1: It's that having all of your huge contracts just be 491 00:32:42,360 --> 00:32:46,160 Speaker 1: about the passing game doesn't make a ton of sense, 492 00:32:46,920 --> 00:32:51,640 Speaker 1: and having all of your resources debt like it's a 493 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:57,000 Speaker 1: low key insult to Burrow. And I know it's what 494 00:32:57,040 --> 00:32:59,000 Speaker 1: Burrow wanted, so he doesn't view it this way. But 495 00:32:59,080 --> 00:33:04,160 Speaker 1: here's what I mean. It operates as if you're not 496 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:09,800 Speaker 1: gonna have an elite passing game unless you have both 497 00:33:09,840 --> 00:33:15,680 Speaker 1: of these elite weapons. And I think Joe Burrow's better 498 00:33:15,720 --> 00:33:18,600 Speaker 1: than that. I think Joe Burrow would be just fine 499 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:23,280 Speaker 1: with just one of these guys. And I think that again, 500 00:33:24,720 --> 00:33:30,959 Speaker 1: the example people use as a defense of this is 501 00:33:31,080 --> 00:33:35,640 Speaker 1: Peyton's Cults. But here's the problem with you. Because Peyton's 502 00:33:35,640 --> 00:33:39,920 Speaker 1: Cults had Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison. The problem with 503 00:33:40,080 --> 00:33:45,120 Speaker 1: using that as an example is they also had Dwight 504 00:33:45,200 --> 00:33:51,560 Speaker 1: Freenian Robert Mathis as bookend defensive ends. But the other 505 00:33:51,680 --> 00:33:59,040 Speaker 1: problem with that is Peyton's Colts with respect underachieved. You 506 00:33:59,040 --> 00:34:04,080 Speaker 1: had thirteen years of Peyton manning, eleven of those are 507 00:34:04,400 --> 00:34:08,719 Speaker 1: peak Peyton Manning years. You made two Super Bowls one 508 00:34:08,760 --> 00:34:14,040 Speaker 1: to one. Compare that to the Broncos who had four 509 00:34:14,120 --> 00:34:17,840 Speaker 1: years of Peyton Manning only three of those peak Peyton 510 00:34:17,840 --> 00:34:20,880 Speaker 1: Manning years. They also went to two Super Bowls and 511 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:25,560 Speaker 1: one one by building a well rounded team. Compare it 512 00:34:25,640 --> 00:34:29,360 Speaker 1: to the Chiefs who had a choice to make a 513 00:34:29,400 --> 00:34:32,520 Speaker 1: few years ago. We are not going to be able 514 00:34:32,560 --> 00:34:36,920 Speaker 1: to pay Tyreek and Chris Jones, so you know what, 515 00:34:37,640 --> 00:34:41,560 Speaker 1: We're gonna move Tyreek to save the money for Chris 516 00:34:41,640 --> 00:34:45,759 Speaker 1: and ask Patrick to do more with less. And they've 517 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:49,960 Speaker 1: been to every Super Bowl since then and so and yeah, 518 00:34:50,040 --> 00:34:52,480 Speaker 1: mahomes last two years as numbers of DIP. Now his 519 00:34:52,520 --> 00:34:54,880 Speaker 1: first year without Tyrek, he won the MVP at the 520 00:34:54,880 --> 00:34:57,239 Speaker 1: most yards of any player in a season ever, first 521 00:34:57,280 --> 00:34:59,960 Speaker 1: player win League MVP and Super Bowl MVP since Kurt Warner. 522 00:35:00,080 --> 00:35:04,680 Speaker 1: But set that aside, Uh, it is just to me 523 00:35:06,680 --> 00:35:10,480 Speaker 1: the wrong approach to building a team. So what would 524 00:35:10,520 --> 00:35:13,520 Speaker 1: I have done? I would have a year ago, A 525 00:35:13,640 --> 00:35:16,399 Speaker 1: year ago traded T Higgins when I could have gotten 526 00:35:16,400 --> 00:35:19,440 Speaker 1: a first round pick for him and dedicated more resources 527 00:35:19,480 --> 00:35:22,960 Speaker 1: to the defense. But here is what I'll say about it, 528 00:35:23,040 --> 00:35:30,279 Speaker 1: demonse I Burrow wanted this, and it's fine. But he's 529 00:35:30,320 --> 00:35:35,840 Speaker 1: a smart guy and he understands the resources are limited. 530 00:35:35,880 --> 00:35:40,440 Speaker 1: He understands what this means. It kind of removes a 531 00:35:40,640 --> 00:35:44,359 Speaker 1: little bit of the if next year goes how last 532 00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:49,760 Speaker 1: year went, where Burrow's numbers are unbelievable, the Bengals offense 533 00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:54,360 Speaker 1: is excellent and they missed the playoffs because the defense 534 00:35:54,480 --> 00:36:01,959 Speaker 1: is terrible. It's not quite as an accomplishment for Joe 535 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:05,560 Speaker 1: Burrow as this year he got MVP votes because it 536 00:36:05,600 --> 00:36:08,719 Speaker 1: was like, oh my god, he's doing his job. What 537 00:36:08,840 --> 00:36:12,000 Speaker 1: can he do about the defense being awful? Well, when 538 00:36:12,040 --> 00:36:15,879 Speaker 1: you go on every talk show imaginable and say you 539 00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:20,279 Speaker 1: need Higgins and Chase back and you understand what that 540 00:36:20,320 --> 00:36:22,759 Speaker 1: means about your ability to improve your offensive line in 541 00:36:22,880 --> 00:36:27,399 Speaker 1: your defense, well, now it probably is a little more 542 00:36:27,480 --> 00:36:32,560 Speaker 1: fair to at least put some of potential Bengals struggles, 543 00:36:32,640 --> 00:36:36,160 Speaker 1: even if they're defense related, at the feet of their quarterback. 544 00:36:36,239 --> 00:36:39,439 Speaker 1: I know that sounds odd, but I just think it's 545 00:36:40,280 --> 00:36:44,680 Speaker 1: I think it's probably the wrong approach. To building a 546 00:36:44,680 --> 00:36:52,279 Speaker 1: sustainable champion, and it also is it It is to 547 00:36:52,360 --> 00:36:55,240 Speaker 1: me certainly not the right approach to win that division. 548 00:36:56,040 --> 00:37:02,640 Speaker 1: And the problem with that is, I don't think you 549 00:37:02,719 --> 00:37:08,560 Speaker 1: have any shot of winning three straight road AFC playoff 550 00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:12,960 Speaker 1: games that'll probably be outdoors, probably in cold weather cities, 551 00:37:13,680 --> 00:37:17,239 Speaker 1: with a defense that looks like the Bengals is going 552 00:37:17,280 --> 00:37:20,120 Speaker 1: to look for the near future. So I just think 553 00:37:21,040 --> 00:37:24,600 Speaker 1: I think it's a mistake, even though it's fun. All right, 554 00:37:24,640 --> 00:37:25,720 Speaker 1: let's talk Aaron Rodgers. 555 00:37:26,400 --> 00:37:28,440 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, Aaron Rodgers still does not know where he 556 00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:29,080 Speaker 3: wants to go. 557 00:37:29,680 --> 00:37:31,960 Speaker 2: Talks are if the Vikings don't want him, he might 558 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:34,520 Speaker 2: retire or do you think you see Aaron Rodgers going? 559 00:37:36,960 --> 00:37:41,200 Speaker 1: I mean probably the Steelers. But Rapaport reported this morning 560 00:37:41,200 --> 00:37:44,759 Speaker 1: that he might not decide until after the draft. The 561 00:37:44,880 --> 00:37:51,120 Speaker 1: draft drafts in like forty days, and I understand actually 562 00:37:51,560 --> 00:37:54,120 Speaker 1: why he would wait until after the draft, because he 563 00:37:54,160 --> 00:37:57,759 Speaker 1: doesn't want to pick Pittsburgh and then see you know, 564 00:37:57,880 --> 00:38:01,760 Speaker 1: as a for instance, Schaedor drop and then the Steelers 565 00:38:01,840 --> 00:38:04,600 Speaker 1: draft a quarterback and he's like, what the hell, so 566 00:38:04,920 --> 00:38:07,560 Speaker 1: or pick the Giants and then they draft shot or 567 00:38:07,600 --> 00:38:15,080 Speaker 1: at three like who knows? But I am I'm over 568 00:38:15,120 --> 00:38:18,279 Speaker 1: the Aaron Rodgers story in this regard. I just I 569 00:38:18,320 --> 00:38:22,520 Speaker 1: don't think the twentieth best quarterback in football is worth 570 00:38:22,520 --> 00:38:29,280 Speaker 1: this time or attention. And I really don't understand why 571 00:38:29,320 --> 00:38:33,879 Speaker 1: the Vikings would be entertaining this Demond's unless they are 572 00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:41,040 Speaker 1: unless they have undisclosed news about JJ McCarthy's injury that 573 00:38:41,080 --> 00:38:43,520 Speaker 1: they sum. But the only way that even makes sense 574 00:38:43,600 --> 00:38:47,320 Speaker 1: is if they got this news somehow in the short 575 00:38:47,360 --> 00:38:51,040 Speaker 1: window of time between when they let Donald walk and 576 00:38:51,640 --> 00:38:54,400 Speaker 1: you know this last week, which was only a few days. 577 00:38:54,719 --> 00:38:59,320 Speaker 1: Because now that we have the actual Sam Darnold contract details. 578 00:39:00,200 --> 00:39:02,480 Speaker 1: Another one up to the sports media on Budsman by 579 00:39:02,520 --> 00:39:05,680 Speaker 1: the way, who said, instead of all these tweets just 580 00:39:05,760 --> 00:39:08,719 Speaker 1: giving love to the agents that negotiated the deals, can 581 00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:13,120 Speaker 1: we please get accurate contract info. For a week we 582 00:39:13,120 --> 00:39:16,720 Speaker 1: were told Sam Darnald got fifty five million guaranteed. Turns 583 00:39:16,760 --> 00:39:19,719 Speaker 1: out he got thirty seven million guaranteed. Turns out the 584 00:39:19,719 --> 00:39:23,040 Speaker 1: contract Sam Donald got is essentially one year, thirty seven 585 00:39:23,080 --> 00:39:26,920 Speaker 1: and a half million dollars and then two team options afterwards. 586 00:39:26,960 --> 00:39:30,560 Speaker 1: Who to funk it. If that's all it was going 587 00:39:30,640 --> 00:39:34,120 Speaker 1: to take to keep Donald, they could have gotten him 588 00:39:34,200 --> 00:39:36,600 Speaker 1: essentially for one year forty million bucks. If you're worried 589 00:39:36,600 --> 00:39:41,480 Speaker 1: about JJ McCarthy, then do that. Yeah, he's better than 590 00:39:41,560 --> 00:39:43,640 Speaker 1: Rogers at this point, kind of a. 591 00:39:45,560 --> 00:39:46,920 Speaker 3: Like why would any team want it? 592 00:39:46,960 --> 00:39:50,000 Speaker 2: Like just not even a football standpoint, just him as 593 00:39:50,000 --> 00:39:51,480 Speaker 2: a I'm not trying to attack his. 594 00:39:51,480 --> 00:39:53,680 Speaker 3: Character or anything, but he just he ruined stuff. 595 00:39:54,560 --> 00:39:56,680 Speaker 1: Well, yeah, I mean I think it's fair to attack 596 00:39:56,719 --> 00:40:01,959 Speaker 1: his football character and yeah, leadership and also like why 597 00:40:02,080 --> 00:40:05,200 Speaker 1: is he taking this long? I think because he can, 598 00:40:06,040 --> 00:40:08,799 Speaker 1: and because it is a good way to make it 599 00:40:08,960 --> 00:40:12,640 Speaker 1: clear who has the upper hand in the relationship from 600 00:40:12,640 --> 00:40:18,120 Speaker 1: the moment the relationship starts, like if if you can 601 00:40:18,239 --> 00:40:22,520 Speaker 1: make some an entire organization, Wait, poor Russell Wilson's like, 602 00:40:22,640 --> 00:40:26,080 Speaker 1: I can't even sign with a team until this guy does, 603 00:40:26,280 --> 00:40:31,280 Speaker 1: like and so it's just asserting asserting dominance, I guess, 604 00:40:31,360 --> 00:40:41,359 Speaker 1: is what some would say.