1 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 1: Welcome into the All Ball Podcast. It's your boy, Doug Gottlieb. 2 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 1: We are Team minus at the time of this recording, 3 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: so this will drop Friday morning. So we're team minus 4 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 1: hours away from the NBA season concluding. I really believe that, 5 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:24,120 Speaker 1: and this is not a shot at the Miami Heat. 6 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:26,440 Speaker 1: They're a great story. They get some good young players. 7 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:31,200 Speaker 1: I think Jimmy Butler has exuded tremendous leadership. But this 8 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: thing's about to come to an end. Why Lebron James. 9 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:37,640 Speaker 1: And here's my assumption. Do I think Lebron James has 10 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 1: been perfect through the NBA playoffs? No, But if you 11 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 1: look when he's played his best, it's been closed out games. 12 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:44,839 Speaker 1: You give Hi an extra day off, you give the 13 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:47,560 Speaker 1: incentive of going home to his kids. All these guys 14 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:49,519 Speaker 1: want to get the hell out of there, and the 15 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: chance to win his fourth NBA championship is a rap. 16 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 1: You know, he's been saving everything up. Look, if he 17 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: can win that game, can win Game five, I really 18 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 1: you know, I have no idea what he will have 19 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:05,679 Speaker 1: left in the tank, but I just don't see it happening. 20 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 1: And I'm just I'm impressed by his ability to pace 21 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 1: himself his ability to get others to play at this 22 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:16,679 Speaker 1: magic level. And we're gonna talk with Moe, who was 23 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:21,680 Speaker 1: in the video room with both the Clippers and the Spurs, 24 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: about you know, you have two coaches that are video 25 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: room guys. It's started there and worked their way up 26 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: and now are tremendous. Everybody respects. I think Eric Spolstra, 27 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:34,399 Speaker 1: I do think it's really interesting. Frank Vogel has done 28 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 1: an amazing job with this team. But one of the 29 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:40,440 Speaker 1: reasons that, you know, one of the reasons that team 30 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:43,839 Speaker 1: tank last year, the Lakers did was because Lebron lost 31 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: confidence in them, and I think the opposite is true. 32 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 1: This year. He exuded and maybe maybe some of it 33 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 1: was false confidence, but he seemed to always have confidence 34 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 1: in Anthony Davis, and Anthony Davis became his second in command, 35 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 1: and they gave confidence to some of these other guys 36 00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 1: like KCP. Dude's playing hard. I've never been a KCP fan, 37 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: but I will tell you watch him. He's playing his 38 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 1: balls off in terms of his level of effort. We 39 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: know Caruso plays hard, obviously, Rondo's given them a bunch 40 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:13,639 Speaker 1: and and and Kuzma doesn't play smart. Per Se does 41 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 1: some crazy things, but he is playing much harder than 42 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:19,639 Speaker 1: his reputation would tell you, and I think that's Lebron's leadership. 43 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 1: I think the season comes to an end. This is 44 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 1: not a historic run in terms of the teams they've 45 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 1: gone through, but it will be a historic run in 46 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 1: terms of they went into the bubble and the Clippers 47 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 1: got kind of melted down because of it, and they 48 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 1: didn't and they're gonna come out champions. So he's gonna 49 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 1: win for and all of our shows are going to 50 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 1: talk about him versus Jordan. I don't think. I don't 51 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:48,799 Speaker 1: think he's Jordan. I think he's magic. He's a better 52 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 1: version of magic where you know, this is how magic 53 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 1: was late in his career. Obviously they didn't win in 54 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 1: ninety one when they lost to Jordan, but it was 55 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 1: the ability to get others to play at a magic level, 56 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: magical level up until was the point in which you 57 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,639 Speaker 1: could take over. Now, do I think there's gonna be 58 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 1: some sort of that's there's gonna be any sort of 59 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:13,919 Speaker 1: dynasty here? Probably not, Like I wonder what he looks 60 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 1: like next year whenever they get to the playoffs. In 61 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:20,079 Speaker 1: terms of his level of fatigue and I also think 62 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:22,079 Speaker 1: that the competition is going to be much different. The 63 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:23,960 Speaker 1: Clippers are going to figure it out. They got too 64 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:26,800 Speaker 1: many good players or too many good stars to do 65 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 1: it to not figure it out. I think the Warriors 66 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: will be back next year. I really do. The Mavericks 67 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 1: will probably be like the Rockets used to be, where 68 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: really really good offensively, just probably not good enough defensively 69 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: to win it. That's my last thing that I want 70 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 1: to point out before we get to Modekio, the non 71 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 1: basketball guy, the guy on TV who just is hot 72 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 1: taker is going to talk about the greatness of Lebron 73 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 1: and blah blah blah blah blah. But to all of 74 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 1: us basketball guys, and you're listening to this if you 75 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 1: love the stories of basket ball, the stories of sport, 76 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 1: the story of the LA Lakers is this as the 77 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 1: best defensive team in the league, they play unbelievably hard. 78 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 1: And I remember talking to I'm not gonna tell you 79 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 1: who it was, a former NBA player who became a 80 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 1: college coach, and he's like, you know the thing about 81 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 1: college basketball that's not like the NBA is college basketball. 82 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:27,799 Speaker 1: You just get guys to play hard. You can win games, 83 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:30,160 Speaker 1: just by playing hard. In the NBA, you can't. It's 84 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 1: not just about you just if you have stars, they're 85 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 1: just better players, which there's some truth to that, like 86 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:35,840 Speaker 1: they do have the two best players in the series. 87 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: But I would say what's carried this team is their 88 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: level of effort, the percentage of plays in which they 89 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 1: play hard defensively. Have they had to get Lebron to 90 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 1: play faster offensively? Sure have they had to get Anthony 91 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: Davis to be more assertive offensively? Sure have they had 92 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:52,840 Speaker 1: to put Anthony Davis on Jimmy Butler because his length 93 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: gives in trouble. Yes. And then by the way, they're 94 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:59,919 Speaker 1: not They haven't changed their coverage in going under screens. 95 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:04,160 Speaker 1: It's once Anthony Davis guards you, now he's automatically. Their 96 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 1: coverage is the same. It's just based upon Anthony Davis's 97 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 1: coverage is always going under screens because of his length. 98 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 1: To makes sense. So I think what should be remembered 99 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 1: about this Laker team, and really about the Heat, is 100 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 1: you can you can get your team to play hard, 101 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:25,279 Speaker 1: and that that does help you have regular and postseason 102 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:30,280 Speaker 1: success above the normal level of your athletic gifts, which 103 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:32,839 Speaker 1: is normally something reserved for college. College coaches are famous 104 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: for getting you to play hard. Pro coaches are famous 105 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 1: for trying to get everybody, make everybody happy, and let 106 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 1: the stars be the stars. And they go to a 107 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 1: Mason Maker mislake. But the truth is effort is important, 108 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:48,640 Speaker 1: especially defensive effort, and both of these teams play incredibly 109 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:50,840 Speaker 1: hard defensively. The Lakers just better and they have a 110 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,600 Speaker 1: little bit better skill position players. Modikill is a guy 111 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 1: who's been in NBA front office, has actually been the 112 00:05:56,760 --> 00:06:00,080 Speaker 1: video coordinator for the Clippers, the Spurs, and the Australian 113 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 1: basketball team. He writes for Bleacher Report, also does podcast 114 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 1: for The Athletic and he's the founder of jumpball dot Net. 115 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:08,720 Speaker 1: It's kind of to spend some time this year as 116 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:10,640 Speaker 1: we get ready for what I think is the conclusion 117 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:14,040 Speaker 1: of the NBA bubble season. Be sure to catch the 118 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:17,160 Speaker 1: live edition of The Doug Gottlieb Show weekdays at three 119 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 1: pm Eastern noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio in the 120 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app. Well, let's start with Lebron. How do you 121 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:31,279 Speaker 1: think he's played, not just in comparison to any other player, 122 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 1: but to a superstar player. Your thoughts on Lebron five. 123 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: But what are we five games in four games in 124 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: four games in going into five, I think he's played well. 125 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:46,360 Speaker 1: I don't think he's been the most amazing Lebron we've 126 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 1: seen in the finals in general, but I think he's 127 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 1: played well. He was, you know, the best Laker I 128 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: think in Game three, and even then they you know, 129 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:57,040 Speaker 1: in their loss, even then he wasn't good. I mean 130 00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:00,599 Speaker 1: with all the turnover she had, but over oh, I 131 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 1: just think if you know, he's he's been consistent at 132 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 1: least that's wise, you know. So for me, it's not 133 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 1: the best Lebron performance in the playoffs or in the 134 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 1: finals yet. But you know, we also know when it's 135 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 1: closing time, he tends to show up a little more 136 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 1: ready to go. Yeah. No, no, I I kind of 137 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:22,000 Speaker 1: think this. I kind of think this sets up really 138 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 1: nicely for him. He gets an extra day off. Everybody 139 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 1: I've talked to is ready to go home. They're all like, 140 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 1: we're done, and he hasn't played. He hasn't done the 141 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 1: game seven against the Spurs Lebron thing yet and it 142 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:40,120 Speaker 1: really sets up well for him, especially considering the matchups 143 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 1: like outside, you know, Igodala is on his last legs. 144 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 1: Jimmy Butler can guard him some, but there's there They're 145 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 1: starting to get to where they're not daring him to shoot, 146 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 1: but they are giving him some of those shots off 147 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 1: ball screens, playing underneath some of them. So I feel like, 148 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 1: I feel like he's going to have a huge Game five. 149 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 1: They're gonna and people who love Lebron to be like, 150 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 1: see he was dominant, and because most of America didn't watch, like, yeah, okay, 151 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 1: Lebron's the best. Where it was it was a little hitter. 152 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 1: But he looks a little different than in previous NBA 153 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 1: Final series and he's not they're not playing against the 154 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 1: best of the best with the heat. Yeah, And I 155 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 1: think also this kind of goes to how it's been 156 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 1: throughout this round of the playoffs. You know, his best games, 157 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 1: I think in each series was the closing, you know, 158 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: elimination game, knocking the other team out. You know, he 159 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 1: dropped thirty eight against Portland, he had twenty nine and 160 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:39,719 Speaker 1: a triple double against Houston. He had thirty six and 161 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 1: another triple double against Denver. Like, you know, I think 162 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:45,600 Speaker 1: when he sees the closing time, I think that's where 163 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 1: it goes. And I think You're right, it just kind 164 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:50,720 Speaker 1: of sets up perfectly. You know, Ad was great the 165 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:53,559 Speaker 1: first two games, and you know, he had the terrible 166 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 1: Game three, and I think that's going to kind of 167 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:58,199 Speaker 1: hinder you know, we're all talking this is going to 168 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:01,679 Speaker 1: be finals MVP conversation. I think that's going to kind 169 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 1: of hurt him, especially if Lebron has a monster game 170 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 1: to close out this series and win his fourth title. 171 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 1: Is it fair to say that in terms of basketball 172 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 1: athletic talent, Anthony Davis is the is the more prominent 173 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 1: Laker and the better laker. Yeah, I just look at 174 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 1: the time where we're at in their careers. You know, 175 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 1: Lebron's slowing down, as much as people don't want to 176 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 1: admit it. You know, he's in year seventeen. It's not 177 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 1: a shot, and he's still really good right in his 178 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 1: seventeenth season. But you know Ad is entering into that 179 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 1: prime age, you know, where we're going to start to 180 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 1: expect to see him kind of hit another stride and 181 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:47,439 Speaker 1: take it to another level. And I think just athletically, 182 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 1: where his body's at and things like that, it's just 183 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:53,560 Speaker 1: it's nature at this point, you know, and and normal. 184 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 1: So I think that's kind of where we're at. Lebron 185 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 1: probably has the better IQ, but you know, he's hitting 186 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:02,839 Speaker 1: that age and I'm betting it now too. I'm feeling 187 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:05,679 Speaker 1: it myself, where my mind thinks I can do something, 188 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 1: my body's like no, no, you can't do that, okay, 189 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 1: so so help me out. I mean, I've heard people 190 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 1: say like, well, this is the beginning of what could 191 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 1: be a dynasty, Like I'm not sure I see it 192 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:21,079 Speaker 1: that way. Now, the Lakers can make some adjustments, maybe 193 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:24,720 Speaker 1: they move Kuzma. I don't know what their feelings are 194 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:27,559 Speaker 1: truthfully on that, but let's be honest. This is the 195 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 1: year in which the Clippers were a bit of a 196 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 1: mess down the stretch, but they they're clearly going to 197 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 1: be a challenger. The Golden State Warriors essentially took the 198 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 1: year off. They're going to be a challenger. I think 199 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 1: the Nuggets this was a year earlier than maybe they 200 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 1: even thought they could challenge. Dona. Mitchell is going to 201 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 1: be a problem for years to come. We'll see how 202 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:51,680 Speaker 1: that relationship with Gobert kind of works out. I'm not 203 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 1: a big I'm not big on the Rockets. I don't 204 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 1: think they'll be a challenger in the future, but they're 205 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 1: always kind of around and as of now they do 206 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 1: have two star players, and of course you got Portland 207 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:02,480 Speaker 1: and then you know, when I've talked about Brooklyn is 208 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 1: going to be legit next year. The Celtics should be better, 209 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:10,440 Speaker 1: the Bucks should be back as well. Like this is 210 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 1: a great opportunity for him to win his fourth ring, 211 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 1: but I think on paper it looks like it'll be 212 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 1: prohibitively more difficult next year. Yeah, I think the talk 213 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 1: of dynasty is a bit much, you know, I think 214 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: everybody's kind of looking past really what the NBA is 215 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:30,640 Speaker 1: going to be stacked next year, and that's going to 216 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:33,840 Speaker 1: be in both conferences. You know, we didn't even mention 217 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:37,200 Speaker 1: Dallas in Yeah, I didn't know, right well, yeah, you know, 218 00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:40,559 Speaker 1: they're probably not going to be a contender, but New 219 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 1: Orleans is going to be better next year. You know, 220 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:45,960 Speaker 1: there's there's a whole flew of teams in the West 221 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:48,040 Speaker 1: alone where you're just kind of looking at it going 222 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 1: you know, there's going to be twelve teams fighting for 223 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 1: eight spots, and that's that's the scenario. Even in the East, 224 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:57,600 Speaker 1: the teams you mentioned, you know, I don't think Toronto's 225 00:11:57,640 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 1: going anywhere anytime soon. I think, you know, Washington could 226 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:03,920 Speaker 1: be interesting, depending with John Wall you know, how he 227 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 1: comes back from the injury and you know, basically a 228 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:09,040 Speaker 1: year and a half it feels like, you know, of 229 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:13,560 Speaker 1: not playing. But it's just too much to say the 230 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:15,720 Speaker 1: Lakers are gonna be there next year. I mean, if 231 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:17,840 Speaker 1: I had to bet, I'd probably bet the field just 232 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:20,000 Speaker 1: on the pure fact of I think the field is 233 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:22,320 Speaker 1: going to be better, and maybe the Lakers make a 234 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 1: monster move, but I don't even know, you know, even 235 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:26,920 Speaker 1: if they move Kuzma, I don't know if that's going 236 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 1: to bring back a third star that the Lakers think 237 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:32,600 Speaker 1: they're going to get. I mean, it's a contract thing 238 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 1: where he doesn't even make that much, so you have 239 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 1: to attach a bunch of other contracts and so on. 240 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 1: So I just don't think this is a situation where 241 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:44,480 Speaker 1: we can start talking dynasty. You know, they they got 242 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:46,679 Speaker 1: to do it again next year for us to start saying, 243 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:49,439 Speaker 1: all right, this this is a dynasty. You know, we're 244 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:52,880 Speaker 1: so fascinated by the idea that I think next year 245 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:54,439 Speaker 1: is just going to be really interesting in the sense 246 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 1: that we're gonna have even more parody across the league, 247 00:12:57,679 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 1: and he'll be much more interesting. Yeah, I think you're 248 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 1: going to see a league where you have two stars 249 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 1: on so many different teams that it's going to be. 250 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 1: And look, some of these guys won't have played in 251 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:13,640 Speaker 1: like a year and a half, so so I don't 252 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:16,240 Speaker 1: know if that will lead to more injuries or less injuries, 253 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:18,959 Speaker 1: a higher quality of play, lower quality of play. The 254 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:23,600 Speaker 1: whole thing is fascinating. Why don't why I look, here's 255 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 1: what I heard about the Clippers. I know you're part 256 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 1: of that organization previously, I just heard, like the bubble, 257 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:32,720 Speaker 1: they were not a bubble team like and and the Lakers. 258 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:35,560 Speaker 1: What what may later be reported was they were in 259 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:38,120 Speaker 1: bad shape in terms of how they were doing with 260 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:40,840 Speaker 1: the bubble. And two things, actually two or three things 261 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:45,840 Speaker 1: helped them, right, the one they got Houston, and I 262 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:49,079 Speaker 1: think there's there's a general I don't know, maybe dislike 263 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 1: or competitiveness with Russell Westbrook that that that drove them 264 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 1: to one and the and they lost that first game 265 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 1: that helped them, right, But but also like I don't 266 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:01,880 Speaker 1: I think so Westbrook talked a bunch of shit and 267 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:03,640 Speaker 1: I thought that kind of woke them up a little bit. 268 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:06,800 Speaker 1: I also, if you remember that they are two games, 269 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 1: they had two games that were postponed because of the 270 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 1: because of the protests with what happened in Wisconsin, and 271 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:18,320 Speaker 1: that helped. They were exhausted mentally and physically, and then 272 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:21,000 Speaker 1: all that and then their families arrived and that kind 273 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 1: of regenerated them. And then the Clippers lost, and they 274 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 1: were like, well, fuck it, let's just win. You know, 275 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 1: at the time, I think they had like nine more 276 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 1: let's win nine more games, eight more games, and we 277 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 1: get to go home and win a championship, like this 278 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 1: is a rap. So I do think that something's helped 279 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:40,160 Speaker 1: the Lakers. Why do you think the Clippers fell apart? 280 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:44,120 Speaker 1: I think part of it is just the lack of 281 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:47,400 Speaker 1: chemistry and continuity, you know, it's the one thing we 282 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:51,840 Speaker 1: can never really quantify. But you know, they hadn't played 283 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 1: really together all that much. I mean, the only time 284 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: they were fully healthy was the start of that Denver series, 285 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 1: you know, where they got everybody back in even then, 286 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 1: conditioning wise and things like that. But the bubble itself 287 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: kind of highlights your team chemistry because those are the 288 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:14,480 Speaker 1: guys you're only seeing every day, you know, it's a 289 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 1: super extended road trip. You know. I've talked about it 290 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 1: many times, like when I went on the road with 291 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 1: the team, you know, for the Grammy trip in LA, 292 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:24,680 Speaker 1: which was a two week road trip. You know, by 293 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:27,280 Speaker 1: day seven or eight, we all hated each other and 294 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 1: it was just because we were always with each other. 295 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 1: And you know, you extend that out two or three months, 296 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 1: and if you don't have really the just the foundation 297 00:15:37,440 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 1: of chemistry or camaraderie, you know, it gets highlighted. And 298 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:44,520 Speaker 1: I think that's kind of what brought the Clippers down 299 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 1: more than anything. And it just sort of the bubble 300 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:50,600 Speaker 1: showed their warts more than highlighted their skill. And I 301 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:53,800 Speaker 1: think that ultimately is kind of what I would think 302 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:58,680 Speaker 1: brought them down more than anything else. What it's interesting, 303 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 1: We're watching two co who both began their NBA careers 304 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 1: as video guys. What was that experience like for you? 305 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 1: I mean, it was amazing. I Mean, here's the thing 306 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 1: about the video room. It's the mail room, you know 307 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:17,160 Speaker 1: of the NBA. This is how you really kind of 308 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 1: get into coaching if you're not a former player or 309 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 1: have the required connections and things like that. It's the 310 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 1: area where I learned the most and was able to 311 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 1: study the game. You end up just watching four or 312 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 1: five games a day, you know, breaking them down, going 313 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 1: through plays, You're working closely with coaches, you're talking with players. 314 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:40,880 Speaker 1: You kind of start to learn things and from that everything, 315 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:43,120 Speaker 1: you know, the game flowed down. I was able to 316 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:45,800 Speaker 1: see things a lot easier and a lot cleaner that 317 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:47,960 Speaker 1: I probably you know, wouldn't have if I never had 318 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:50,920 Speaker 1: that job, I would have been more just as a 319 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 1: fan wouldn't have been able to keep up with the speed. 320 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:56,840 Speaker 1: And you just you just learned so much. Doug. It's 321 00:16:56,920 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 1: honestly like you go in there and it's the graduate level. 322 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 1: It's you steady everything you see it all now. The 323 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 1: other thing, too, is it not a glamorous job, long hours. 324 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:10,160 Speaker 1: You know, there were nights I slept in the office. 325 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:13,439 Speaker 1: I used to have a a desk drawer that just 326 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 1: had a pillow and a blanket for for nights that 327 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:17,760 Speaker 1: I knew I was going to be there all night 328 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:19,879 Speaker 1: and I was gonna sneak in a nap. There were 329 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:22,920 Speaker 1: times where I got off the team plane at one 330 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 1: or two in the morning and just drove to the 331 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:28,680 Speaker 1: facility to start working on something. And just say I'll 332 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 1: just stay here tonight. You know, it's it's it's a 333 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 1: very tough job and can really be taxing on you 334 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:42,199 Speaker 1: health wise almost, but ultimately you learned so much and 335 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:45,280 Speaker 1: you developed kind of your philosophy and and things you 336 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:48,119 Speaker 1: like your pool plays, like you know, at one point 337 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:50,679 Speaker 1: I had like my own personal playbook of plays I 338 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:53,040 Speaker 1: liked that I wanted to keep. So it's it's all 339 00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:56,640 Speaker 1: those things. So it's fun watching, you know, Eric Spolster 340 00:17:56,800 --> 00:17:59,280 Speaker 1: and Frank Vogel kind of ascend to the to the 341 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:02,720 Speaker 1: level I've been quietly to myself dubbing this the video 342 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:07,520 Speaker 1: coordinator Bowl, you know, and watching these two guys kind 343 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:10,200 Speaker 1: of rise up from that to get to this level. 344 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:12,639 Speaker 1: It's a lot of fun because you just know the 345 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 1: work that they had to put in earlier, and they 346 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:17,280 Speaker 1: had it at a harder time, Doug when you know, 347 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:20,920 Speaker 1: I didn't have the or they didn't have the ability 348 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:23,320 Speaker 1: to record games and go back and break them down. 349 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:25,080 Speaker 1: They had to do things live, they had to do 350 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:28,719 Speaker 1: it off tape. I remember a story Coach Budenholtz who 351 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:31,080 Speaker 1: told me once of you know, when he was working 352 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:33,680 Speaker 1: in the video room in San Antonio. He used to 353 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:38,120 Speaker 1: have to call in the satellite coordinates they get the games. Yeah, 354 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 1: you know, recording suite. Sure, yeah, and that was and 355 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:44,480 Speaker 1: he goes like, and it was fifty to fifty. He's like, 356 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:47,399 Speaker 1: sometimes I'd get the games. Sometimes I'd had some random 357 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:51,600 Speaker 1: stuff recording, and you know, it was all difficult in 358 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:54,640 Speaker 1: that sense. So you know, it's it's the job. Even 359 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 1: though it's gotten a little bit easier, it's also guy 360 00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:00,239 Speaker 1: and tougher because when new technology, everybody expects more. And 361 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 1: I think, ultimately though, it's just fun to watch these 362 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:07,479 Speaker 1: guys who've grinded, because I know the grind. Regardless however 363 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:09,399 Speaker 1: easy you think the job is, it's a grind and 364 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:13,600 Speaker 1: people think it's glamorous. Look, I would fly into cities 365 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:16,119 Speaker 1: and never leave the hotel. I'd be there for you know, 366 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 1: We'd fly in and I'd just be there breaking down 367 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:21,359 Speaker 1: games and then go to the arena and then on 368 00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 1: the next flight to the next city. So it's not 369 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:28,920 Speaker 1: it's just very difficult job. Yeah. I I covered Jeff 370 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:31,119 Speaker 1: Bezdelic a bunch when he was in college. I remember 371 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:33,760 Speaker 1: he was at Air Force. He was a Colorado and 372 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:36,200 Speaker 1: we were sitting around and he was he was on 373 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:39,560 Speaker 1: pat Riley staff in Miami, and I go I asked 374 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:41,080 Speaker 1: him kind of the same question, like what was it like, 375 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:43,159 Speaker 1: He's like, you want to always like He's like, we 376 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:46,040 Speaker 1: were really really good, really good. You know, we had 377 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:49,399 Speaker 1: Hardaway and we had Zoe and we had his great 378 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 1: team and Riley's the best, and I think I think Jeff. 379 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:59,520 Speaker 1: He's like, I was with Jeff van Gundy and We're 380 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:03,560 Speaker 1: in the back of a plane and I looked up 381 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:08,240 Speaker 1: and I said, what city are we going to? And 382 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:11,560 Speaker 1: he goes, uh, I think Philadelphia. He goes, what city 383 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:15,000 Speaker 1: were we in? He's like, ah, we were in Charlotte's 384 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:17,719 Speaker 1: Like did we win? I think we won? All right, 385 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:20,720 Speaker 1: let's get back to work. Like literally, it was that's 386 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 1: how much shit they were watching, and it's it's it's 387 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:30,520 Speaker 1: interesting because you know, it's a fascinating profession that I 388 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:35,600 Speaker 1: don't think enough people we haven't done and in the media, 389 00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:37,840 Speaker 1: and I'm I don't I'm not one of these media 390 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:40,680 Speaker 1: guys that says the media like, I'm part of the media. 391 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:42,520 Speaker 1: I've been doing this shit for twenty years right or 392 00:20:42,760 --> 00:20:45,119 Speaker 1: close to so I'm part of the problem. We do 393 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:49,040 Speaker 1: a terrible job of explaining what you're talking about, which 394 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:52,399 Speaker 1: is like, look, there's basically two paths there. Okay, if 395 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:55,760 Speaker 1: you're a former player, if you're a former decent player, right, 396 00:20:56,040 --> 00:20:58,280 Speaker 1: you try and pop up on somebody's staff or become 397 00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:01,520 Speaker 1: a workout guy or do the scout thing. Uh. But 398 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:04,240 Speaker 1: it's really hard for those guys because you've been making 399 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:07,160 Speaker 1: so much money and this is not really and it's 400 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:09,880 Speaker 1: a like you said, a grinder job. And no matter 401 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:12,320 Speaker 1: how hard athletes think, we all think when we're athletes, 402 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 1: we work our ass off, and you do, but you 403 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:16,440 Speaker 1: can only be in the gym a couple hours the day. 404 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 1: You can work on your bike, like there's a lot 405 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:21,760 Speaker 1: of downtime. It's not that way when you're the video guy, 406 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:24,000 Speaker 1: when you're the cream and sugar guy. Right when you're 407 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:26,320 Speaker 1: or when you're a scout, you're flying on you know, 408 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:28,840 Speaker 1: you're not doing real American airlines. You're doing all the 409 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 1: connections and the cigarette lighters to whatever college town to 410 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:34,879 Speaker 1: watch kids play or whatever, and you're watching guys that 411 00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:37,320 Speaker 1: you don't really respect, and you're trying to evaluate what 412 00:21:37,359 --> 00:21:40,679 Speaker 1: they'll look like in two or three years. Anyway, So 413 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 1: there's the there's the route of video guy, which means 414 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:47,119 Speaker 1: make nothing, work ridiculous hours, hope to latch onto the 415 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:51,640 Speaker 1: organization or coach that rises up, star player that skips 416 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:54,679 Speaker 1: all those steps and gets a job or somewhere in 417 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 1: the middle. But then you're you've you've already spent a 418 00:21:57,600 --> 00:21:59,640 Speaker 1: good portion of your life away from your family. Anyway, 419 00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:01,720 Speaker 1: if you have family, you don't want to do that shit. 420 00:22:02,119 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 1: And so there's like three different paths. Why did you 421 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:09,879 Speaker 1: get off that path? I think ultimately I kind of 422 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:12,920 Speaker 1: got burnt out, Doug, to be honestly, I was doing 423 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 1: the video job for San Antonio and eventually the Clippers 424 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:20,439 Speaker 1: while working for Team Australia, Like I didn't even have 425 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 1: a chance to recharge my batteries for three straight years. 426 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 1: You know, it was as soon as the season ended 427 00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:30,240 Speaker 1: in San Antonio, I flew to Australia and was part 428 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 1: of the national team. They're working throughout the entire offseason 429 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:37,480 Speaker 1: on that stuff. Then as soon as that ended, flew 430 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:40,000 Speaker 1: back and next thing you know, I'm back in training 431 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:42,720 Speaker 1: camp all over again. And you know, a funny side 432 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:45,520 Speaker 1: note of it is I was at the twenty twelve 433 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:48,800 Speaker 1: Olympics and in our preparation we went to China for 434 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:52,399 Speaker 1: a tournament, flew back to Australia, then went to Europe 435 00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:54,959 Speaker 1: in London. I come back next thing, you know, I'm 436 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:58,000 Speaker 1: on a flight from la with the Clippers to to 437 00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:01,160 Speaker 1: China to play in the old see his exhibition game. 438 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:05,240 Speaker 1: And I was just like, I was like, this is ridiculous. 439 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 1: I kindly didn't even want to go. I almost turned 440 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:11,400 Speaker 1: to coach del Negro, going like, can can we send 441 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:15,440 Speaker 1: the interns? I just need a break, you know. So 442 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:18,480 Speaker 1: over time, I think he just wore me down and 443 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:20,560 Speaker 1: it was a bit of a burnout. And here's the 444 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 1: other thing too, and you know it's the job is 445 00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:26,200 Speaker 1: a means to an end. Nope. I didn't get into 446 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:29,400 Speaker 1: the NBA thinking I'm going to be a video coordinator 447 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:31,560 Speaker 1: for life. You know. I wanted to coach. I wanted 448 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:34,160 Speaker 1: to be progress and move up. And I just saw 449 00:23:34,280 --> 00:23:37,119 Speaker 1: when when Doc came in, you know, he brought a 450 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:40,000 Speaker 1: whole staff with him, which he should and all the 451 00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:42,280 Speaker 1: coaches to bring everybody you're comfortable with. But I just 452 00:23:42,359 --> 00:23:45,760 Speaker 1: saw how much I dropped down in the ladder and 453 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:48,399 Speaker 1: I had to start that climb all over again. I 454 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:51,600 Speaker 1: just wasn't interested and even after not let me go. 455 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 1: You know, I had opportunities to go to other places, 456 00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:56,080 Speaker 1: and I just showed this, I don't want to start 457 00:23:56,160 --> 00:23:59,320 Speaker 1: over again. I don't want to be the forty five 458 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:02,240 Speaker 1: year old video coordinator in the NBA, you know, and 459 00:24:02,600 --> 00:24:05,399 Speaker 1: still grinding. So you know, I decided to kind of 460 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:09,399 Speaker 1: just jump off that and almost kind of readjust to 461 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:12,879 Speaker 1: normal life and figured just to establish a normal sleep 462 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:15,960 Speaker 1: pattern took me three months, you know, and and to 463 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:18,000 Speaker 1: be able to get six seven hours in a row 464 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:21,280 Speaker 1: of sleep was a new experience for me. So for me, 465 00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:24,520 Speaker 1: it just kind of warmed me down eventually, and you know, 466 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:27,320 Speaker 1: I felt like I wasn't progressing enough and I had 467 00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:33,840 Speaker 1: to get off the road. There you miss it, you know, 468 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:36,600 Speaker 1: I do a little bit, and I miss the thing 469 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:41,320 Speaker 1: I missed the most is the locker room and the guys. 470 00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:43,879 Speaker 1: You got to the conversations I got to have with guys. 471 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:46,159 Speaker 1: You know, I was really lucky I got to be 472 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:50,720 Speaker 1: around Tim Duncan, Montag you know, with Tony Parker, Chris 473 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:53,480 Speaker 1: Paul Blake, Griffin and all all the guys I got 474 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:55,439 Speaker 1: to be around. Was always kind of fun. I got 475 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:58,440 Speaker 1: to have conversations with Grant Hill, you know, I still 476 00:24:58,520 --> 00:25:01,639 Speaker 1: talk with Jamaal Crawford from time to time, Like, you know, 477 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:05,440 Speaker 1: I missed that, missing the one in the morning breaking 478 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 1: down film, not one bit man, Yeah no, no, no, 479 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:11,879 Speaker 1: it's the That's what you missed as a player too, 480 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:14,640 Speaker 1: is you don't you don't miss you don't miss practice. 481 00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:16,520 Speaker 1: You missed kind of the locker room stuff. You missed 482 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:19,960 Speaker 1: the bus rides and the funny conversations and seeing we're 483 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:23,560 Speaker 1: seeing crazy things, you know, Like I told the story 484 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:27,840 Speaker 1: on my radio show where so my first year, I 485 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 1: had this crazy first year where Herbert Doy was my 486 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:35,200 Speaker 1: agent and they had changed some of the rules. So 487 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:37,040 Speaker 1: I was supposed to plays in Israeli, but they had 488 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:40,959 Speaker 1: the Bozman A and Bozeman B and so uh inner performances. 489 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:44,200 Speaker 1: Just they started their own team and we were living 490 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:46,080 Speaker 1: in Verse, Italy, and we're going to play out of 491 00:25:46,119 --> 00:25:49,000 Speaker 1: Saint Petersburg. But he didn't get my passport because I 492 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:51,000 Speaker 1: had to live in Israel to get in Israeli passport. 493 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:55,639 Speaker 1: So and they already had mister Jennings Keith. Mister Jennings 494 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:57,960 Speaker 1: is the American point guard. So I ended up like 495 00:25:58,040 --> 00:26:00,760 Speaker 1: training with them for like two months then going to 496 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:06,320 Speaker 1: the Lakers Mini camp, then going to the CBA. I 497 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:10,800 Speaker 1: beat out like thirteen dudes to make the Idaho Stampede. 498 00:26:10,840 --> 00:26:13,879 Speaker 1: But then Randie Livingston got cut like from the Bulls, 499 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:16,679 Speaker 1: like two days before the season started. So the day before, 500 00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:19,600 Speaker 1: we're about two days before the season about to start, 501 00:26:19,840 --> 00:26:21,960 Speaker 1: We're going to play an exhibition game against College of 502 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:24,520 Speaker 1: Southern Idaho, and I thought it was like starting fighting 503 00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:27,119 Speaker 1: for a starting spot on the CBA team and they 504 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:29,120 Speaker 1: don't play me, and I was like what the fuck? 505 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:32,000 Speaker 1: And turns out I got cut because Randy Livston was 506 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:34,800 Speaker 1: coming down. Makes sense, he'son, you know. So then I 507 00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:38,399 Speaker 1: go and I'm like doing radio in Oklahoma City. I 508 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:42,440 Speaker 1: play in the IBA with a Solana Rattlers for six games. 509 00:26:42,680 --> 00:26:45,040 Speaker 1: I go and play for a team in Russia. I've 510 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:46,640 Speaker 1: been there a couple of weeks. We played a game 511 00:26:46,680 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 1: in Saint Petersburg. We go to Moscow and like literally 512 00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:54,600 Speaker 1: I had been people had been taking me places and 513 00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:57,840 Speaker 1: pointing out stuff to and ordering me food because I 514 00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:01,160 Speaker 1: couldn't speak the language. I just s would say, which 515 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 1: is that right? So we go to Moscow and our 516 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:07,280 Speaker 1: best players, a guy named Sergate Chakulkin, Chica was what 517 00:27:07,359 --> 00:27:09,840 Speaker 1: they called him. And we had a lot of Russians 518 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:12,240 Speaker 1: and other guys that had played outside of Russia, so 519 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:14,760 Speaker 1: they spoke English, but most of them didn't talk to me. 520 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:16,239 Speaker 1: And there was no other American on the team at 521 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:18,720 Speaker 1: the time. And so we get to we land in 522 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:24,200 Speaker 1: Moscow and like it's the greatest, ugliest it's not. It 523 00:27:24,320 --> 00:27:26,560 Speaker 1: wasn't like their best chair metav at their best airports. 524 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:28,200 Speaker 1: One of the offt and we go to the hotel 525 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:31,040 Speaker 1: and I'm literally like about to go to my room 526 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:32,879 Speaker 1: and the guy Chica tasked me on the shoulder and 527 00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:38,160 Speaker 1: he goes McDonald's and I was like, hell, yeah, McDonald's 528 00:27:38,600 --> 00:27:40,879 Speaker 1: and he's like, we go, and so I was like, 529 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:43,800 Speaker 1: I threw my bags down, I grabbed my rubles, you know, 530 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:45,800 Speaker 1: I threw on a big parka on a beanie cap 531 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:48,159 Speaker 1: and we went and I followed him on the subway 532 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:50,520 Speaker 1: and we get off and we're at that big McDonald's 533 00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:54,160 Speaker 1: in like downtown Moscow and there's like no lines there 534 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:58,119 Speaker 1: and he's like, go, like you just like gotta fight 535 00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:00,520 Speaker 1: for yourself. You order, and I mean I had an 536 00:28:00,520 --> 00:28:03,560 Speaker 1: eat McDonald's in years, and it I mean it tasted 537 00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:07,840 Speaker 1: like a filaming yan to me and he goes good, right. 538 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:10,240 Speaker 1: I was like, yeah, it's good. He's like America is 539 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:13,960 Speaker 1: like yeah sort of you know, right, but it was 540 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:17,000 Speaker 1: like a life. Those are the things that you miss, right, 541 00:28:17,160 --> 00:28:19,080 Speaker 1: you don't miss the hey man, let's go do three 542 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:20,520 Speaker 1: man weave? Like, man, if I do three million, we've 543 00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:22,840 Speaker 1: one more time, I'll punch somebody right in the face. Right, So, 544 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:27,760 Speaker 1: you know, like it's that stuff. It's the it's the 545 00:28:27,840 --> 00:28:30,439 Speaker 1: stuff that you can't really it's those are the memories 546 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:33,240 Speaker 1: we take with us, right, you know, some of the 547 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:36,159 Speaker 1: games we remember and things like that. But that's ultimately 548 00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:40,520 Speaker 1: the fun stuff, and that's really kind of what what 549 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:44,320 Speaker 1: makes it, you know, makes you able to stay doing it. 550 00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:46,200 Speaker 1: You know, I was able to grind because I was 551 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:49,400 Speaker 1: able to enjoy myself with those guys and and you know, 552 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:51,080 Speaker 1: it's stuff when you're in a situation when it's a 553 00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:55,360 Speaker 1: group of guys you don't really like, I love Chris Paul. 554 00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:59,800 Speaker 1: You saw Chris Paul just about Pete. Chris Paul, Well 555 00:28:59,840 --> 00:29:03,000 Speaker 1: we is that, Like, I mean, it was amazing, you know, 556 00:29:03,280 --> 00:29:07,480 Speaker 1: watching him kind of come in and people got to 557 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:10,280 Speaker 1: remember what the clippers were before he got there. You know, 558 00:29:10,520 --> 00:29:13,520 Speaker 1: we were an up and coming team. We had the 559 00:29:13,600 --> 00:29:17,160 Speaker 1: possibility of being the eight seed. Like this is we're 560 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:20,840 Speaker 1: coming out of the lockout. I remember Blake coming into 561 00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:25,040 Speaker 1: the video room talking to me and one of our interns, 562 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:28,760 Speaker 1: and we were sort of having a conversation and Blake's 563 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:31,520 Speaker 1: lying up, going like, I like our schedule, things break right, 564 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:33,680 Speaker 1: you know, we might be able to sneak into the playoffs. 565 00:29:34,440 --> 00:29:36,360 Speaker 1: Flash forward a few weeks later, we traded for Chris 566 00:29:36,440 --> 00:29:39,040 Speaker 1: Paul and now we're talking about a championship, you know, 567 00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:41,440 Speaker 1: and he kind of raised that level. And he comes 568 00:29:41,480 --> 00:29:43,640 Speaker 1: in and you know, I talk with him, what do 569 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:46,760 Speaker 1: you need video wise and stuff? And he he wants 570 00:29:46,840 --> 00:29:49,239 Speaker 1: you know, we have an iPad set up for him 571 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:52,640 Speaker 1: with games and things like that. He's watching everything. We're 572 00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:55,280 Speaker 1: kind of constantly talking and then you know, the most 573 00:29:55,320 --> 00:29:57,800 Speaker 1: amazing thing going back to just some of the fun stuff, 574 00:29:57,920 --> 00:30:00,440 Speaker 1: Like there were times where I had to subbed in 575 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:02,720 Speaker 1: for the three on three for guys kind of coming 576 00:30:02,840 --> 00:30:05,800 Speaker 1: back and you know, from injuries and stuff like that, 577 00:30:05,960 --> 00:30:08,440 Speaker 1: and like, We'll be honest, I don't belong anywhere near 578 00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:11,440 Speaker 1: that court, but you know, I'm on the court with 579 00:30:11,880 --> 00:30:15,200 Speaker 1: Chris and Grant and and you know, I think Roney, 580 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:18,520 Speaker 1: Terry Off, Ryan Hollins and our strength guy Rich Williams, 581 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:21,480 Speaker 1: and I'll never forget it because Chris threw a pass 582 00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:27,000 Speaker 1: that was so amazing that everybody stopped. They somehow landed 583 00:30:27,280 --> 00:30:30,000 Speaker 1: perfectly into Grant Hill's hands, but it felt like it 584 00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:35,040 Speaker 1: went through you know, Roney, Torry Off and and just 585 00:30:35,600 --> 00:30:38,480 Speaker 1: landed right in his hands, and everybody stopped, including Grant 586 00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:40,280 Speaker 1: and just kind of looked at Chris like, how the 587 00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:42,680 Speaker 1: hell did you get that there? You know, And it 588 00:30:42,840 --> 00:30:45,120 Speaker 1: was just kind of that sort of stuff that billions 589 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:48,920 Speaker 1: from him in that sense, watching that stuff was amazing. 590 00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:51,960 Speaker 1: And then our first couple of games, you know, we 591 00:30:52,040 --> 00:30:54,480 Speaker 1: had him an Chouci Billifs and we're in the video 592 00:30:54,560 --> 00:30:56,120 Speaker 1: and going like, that's what it looks like when you 593 00:30:56,200 --> 00:30:58,080 Speaker 1: have a close I mean, that's just you know, he 594 00:30:58,280 --> 00:31:03,840 Speaker 1: raised our level raised and everything about it, and you know, 595 00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:05,959 Speaker 1: that's kind of the stuff that Chris brought with him. 596 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:09,960 Speaker 1: That said I think if the Knicks trade for him, 597 00:31:10,560 --> 00:31:15,640 Speaker 1: it would be a disaster, Like, yeah, could they would? 598 00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:19,640 Speaker 1: Would they be better immediately? Yeah? But we're like I 599 00:31:19,720 --> 00:31:21,640 Speaker 1: feel like we're like a year and a half away. 600 00:31:21,920 --> 00:31:24,920 Speaker 1: And I also think that you run the risk of 601 00:31:25,280 --> 00:31:28,960 Speaker 1: like one guy trying to change the culture into just 602 00:31:29,120 --> 00:31:31,600 Speaker 1: being competitive. Like the East is actually going to be 603 00:31:31,760 --> 00:31:35,080 Speaker 1: really really really good, Like I just I'm not sure 604 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:38,040 Speaker 1: I think the I think most fans are going to 605 00:31:38,040 --> 00:31:40,280 Speaker 1: be slow to come around to it. But like Brooklyn's 606 00:31:40,320 --> 00:31:44,760 Speaker 1: got Kyrie. They had Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant right 607 00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:48,040 Speaker 1: the Bust and Celtics are were like a year away. 608 00:31:48,160 --> 00:31:51,960 Speaker 1: I don't know if Kemba will ever be is he 609 00:31:52,080 --> 00:31:54,320 Speaker 1: might be a little bit over the hill, but I 610 00:31:54,400 --> 00:31:58,640 Speaker 1: mean Jason Tatum is pretty close, right, Milwaukee is really good. 611 00:31:59,040 --> 00:32:01,440 Speaker 1: I think Philadelphia is gonna be better with with Doc. 612 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:04,840 Speaker 1: I don't know your feelings there, and Toronto is pretty 613 00:32:04,920 --> 00:32:07,360 Speaker 1: much established as of kind of what they are, and 614 00:32:07,480 --> 00:32:09,720 Speaker 1: I would I would think Siakam will come back better 615 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:13,600 Speaker 1: because of this experience. Like the Knicks, even if they 616 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:16,800 Speaker 1: if they can acquire like they're gonna I mean, you 617 00:32:16,840 --> 00:32:18,640 Speaker 1: know in Oklahoma City is gonna do, You're gonna get. 618 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:20,800 Speaker 1: They're gonna get way more than they should for a 619 00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:22,640 Speaker 1: guy who they need to move on from to save 620 00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:25,200 Speaker 1: some money. And I feel like the Knicks are gonna 621 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:27,600 Speaker 1: get a guy who for a year is gonna make 622 00:32:27,640 --> 00:32:29,880 Speaker 1: them better, but it's gonna frustrate the shit out of 623 00:32:29,960 --> 00:32:32,840 Speaker 1: Chris Paul. And it's not like, Okay, finally makes them 624 00:32:32,880 --> 00:32:35,680 Speaker 1: a playoff team, which is gonna frustrate him because he 625 00:32:35,800 --> 00:32:38,480 Speaker 1: really wants to com be for a championship. I just 626 00:32:38,560 --> 00:32:41,440 Speaker 1: think it's a terrible landing spot for him, you know, 627 00:32:42,160 --> 00:32:44,880 Speaker 1: in that sense of everything you said from the Knicks 628 00:32:44,920 --> 00:32:48,920 Speaker 1: advantage point is right on, you know, and this isn't 629 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:51,040 Speaker 1: you know, this should be a year that they actually 630 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:53,440 Speaker 1: try to tank and continue to build with their young guys. 631 00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:57,640 Speaker 1: They're always constantly trying to to make to pull off 632 00:32:57,760 --> 00:33:04,040 Speaker 1: the trade to jump into being a contender and skip steps. 633 00:33:04,800 --> 00:33:07,680 Speaker 1: They had not been successful with that in like twenty years, 634 00:33:07,800 --> 00:33:10,360 Speaker 1: so you know it's time for them to start thinking like, 635 00:33:10,480 --> 00:33:14,760 Speaker 1: let's build first, Let's build group core young talents and 636 00:33:14,840 --> 00:33:16,680 Speaker 1: things like that. That's why I wasn't a big fan 637 00:33:16,800 --> 00:33:19,960 Speaker 1: of the Thibodeaux hiring because I know with Ti, he 638 00:33:20,080 --> 00:33:22,040 Speaker 1: wants to win right away, so they're going to try 639 00:33:22,080 --> 00:33:25,600 Speaker 1: to make big, splashy moves and things like that instead 640 00:33:25,600 --> 00:33:28,880 Speaker 1: of trying to build a program. But ultimately, for Chris too. 641 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:31,160 Speaker 1: You know. Part of the magic that he was able 642 00:33:31,240 --> 00:33:34,360 Speaker 1: to kind of create in Oklahoma City was because he 643 00:33:34,400 --> 00:33:36,920 Speaker 1: didn't have to do everything for the first three quarters. 644 00:33:37,840 --> 00:33:40,880 Speaker 1: You know. He had Gallinari, he had Shay Gilgas Alexander, 645 00:33:40,960 --> 00:33:44,320 Speaker 1: he had Dennis Shruder who all those guys could carry 646 00:33:44,360 --> 00:33:46,080 Speaker 1: the load, and then he just got to come in 647 00:33:46,160 --> 00:33:48,520 Speaker 1: at crunch time, you know. And I think for him, 648 00:33:49,040 --> 00:33:52,120 Speaker 1: this is a tough scenario. You go to the Knicks. 649 00:33:52,600 --> 00:33:54,520 Speaker 1: It's a situation where you have a coach that we 650 00:33:54,600 --> 00:33:57,600 Speaker 1: all know is will grind you to death, you know, 651 00:33:57,760 --> 00:34:01,400 Speaker 1: and run your ragged and think like that. And I 652 00:34:01,480 --> 00:34:03,440 Speaker 1: think it's just a bad spot for me. If I'm 653 00:34:04,280 --> 00:34:06,760 Speaker 1: if I was somebody in Chris's camp, I would be 654 00:34:06,840 --> 00:34:10,320 Speaker 1: trying to get him somewhere else, a place like Milwaukee 655 00:34:10,480 --> 00:34:13,480 Speaker 1: or a place like Philly, in the sense of, at 656 00:34:13,560 --> 00:34:16,040 Speaker 1: least he doesn't have to do everything for three quarters, 657 00:34:16,120 --> 00:34:19,080 Speaker 1: you know, he can kind of sort of just manage everything, 658 00:34:19,160 --> 00:34:21,399 Speaker 1: kind of play the same role he played in Oklahoma City, 659 00:34:21,520 --> 00:34:24,759 Speaker 1: just with higher caliber teammates and a higher ceiling. And 660 00:34:24,880 --> 00:34:28,240 Speaker 1: I think that's something that, you know, I hope happens 661 00:34:28,280 --> 00:34:30,600 Speaker 1: for Chris because I want to see Chris compete for 662 00:34:30,680 --> 00:34:32,400 Speaker 1: a championship. I don't want to see him on a 663 00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:35,239 Speaker 1: next team that run him into the ground. And I 664 00:34:35,280 --> 00:34:37,000 Speaker 1: don't know if he'll be able to finish the season 665 00:34:37,040 --> 00:34:39,799 Speaker 1: if they if he ends up there and they play 666 00:34:39,920 --> 00:34:42,680 Speaker 1: him thirty eight minutes a game or things like that, Like, 667 00:34:42,760 --> 00:34:45,000 Speaker 1: I just don't think that's a great spot for him. 668 00:34:45,520 --> 00:34:48,520 Speaker 1: You know, it's interesting the two best places for him 669 00:34:48,640 --> 00:34:53,600 Speaker 1: Milwaukee and the Clippers. And I don't know what the 670 00:34:53,640 --> 00:34:55,920 Speaker 1: Clippers would have to give. You know, they're obviously not 671 00:34:56,040 --> 00:35:00,680 Speaker 1: sending Paul George back, but I just don't know if 672 00:35:00,719 --> 00:35:03,359 Speaker 1: you could if they that that that marriage, although there's 673 00:35:03,360 --> 00:35:08,080 Speaker 1: so many different pieces could could could happen again. Last 674 00:35:08,120 --> 00:35:10,320 Speaker 1: thing you mentioned, you're spending your time in San Antonio, 675 00:35:10,560 --> 00:35:14,239 Speaker 1: and it feels like the magic has gone there. Just 676 00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:17,399 Speaker 1: you know, obviously Pop's gone through things in his personal life, 677 00:35:17,440 --> 00:35:20,640 Speaker 1: losing his wife, but having to trade away Kawhi Leonard 678 00:35:20,760 --> 00:35:23,800 Speaker 1: obviously completely changed where they stood in the kind of 679 00:35:23,880 --> 00:35:26,520 Speaker 1: landscape of the league. But what was that, like, why 680 00:35:26,840 --> 00:35:31,920 Speaker 1: why outside of having great players, why was that organization 681 00:35:33,520 --> 00:35:36,920 Speaker 1: able to not just win championships, but I mean look 682 00:35:36,960 --> 00:35:39,320 Speaker 1: around the league and so many guys spent time in 683 00:35:39,400 --> 00:35:41,759 Speaker 1: San Antonio. You mentioned Bud and so many other so 684 00:35:41,840 --> 00:35:43,840 Speaker 1: many other guys. What was it that made it so 685 00:35:43,960 --> 00:35:46,960 Speaker 1: special in San Antonio? You know, the first thing I 686 00:35:47,120 --> 00:35:53,200 Speaker 1: think was the top down ownership. Let the guys say 687 00:35:53,320 --> 00:35:56,880 Speaker 1: hired through their jobs, and Pop as as team's president, 688 00:35:56,960 --> 00:35:59,839 Speaker 1: understood the most important thing that I think a lot 689 00:35:59,840 --> 00:36:03,120 Speaker 1: of of front offices and coaches kind of lose sight of. 690 00:36:03,239 --> 00:36:06,440 Speaker 1: Sometimes it's all about the players. It's what's good for 691 00:36:06,520 --> 00:36:09,520 Speaker 1: the players, not what's good for the front office. Of 692 00:36:09,600 --> 00:36:12,520 Speaker 1: the coaches, the players were the We're the ones that 693 00:36:12,760 --> 00:36:16,560 Speaker 1: were always on their mindset what's what's good for them? 694 00:36:16,600 --> 00:36:19,960 Speaker 1: And I think putting them first and and and making 695 00:36:20,040 --> 00:36:23,160 Speaker 1: sure that they were constantly taking care of made a 696 00:36:23,200 --> 00:36:25,680 Speaker 1: big difference, you know, and they were you know, the 697 00:36:26,160 --> 00:36:28,560 Speaker 1: Spurs did something I never had. It's it's chilly, this 698 00:36:28,680 --> 00:36:30,279 Speaker 1: is going to sound dumb, but it's something I never 699 00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:34,680 Speaker 1: really kind of saw and maybe other organizations do or 700 00:36:34,800 --> 00:36:37,400 Speaker 1: have done in the past. But you know, the Spurs, 701 00:36:37,520 --> 00:36:39,560 Speaker 1: you know, by the time when you make the playoffs, 702 00:36:40,239 --> 00:36:43,000 Speaker 1: it's funny all the coaches, i mean, all the players' 703 00:36:43,320 --> 00:36:47,000 Speaker 1: wives and and and girlfriends all received gifts, you know, 704 00:36:47,160 --> 00:36:49,239 Speaker 1: almost like it. You know, we understand you're part of 705 00:36:49,320 --> 00:36:52,200 Speaker 1: this too, and and and keeping the families included and 706 00:36:52,320 --> 00:36:55,239 Speaker 1: things like that. Like they just they get it, Doug. 707 00:36:55,320 --> 00:36:58,480 Speaker 1: At the end of the day, they understand that it's 708 00:36:58,480 --> 00:37:01,680 Speaker 1: about the players first, and I think sometimes we have 709 00:37:01,800 --> 00:37:06,000 Speaker 1: coaches that lose sight of that, and you can see it. 710 00:37:06,080 --> 00:37:07,640 Speaker 1: And that's why they were able to have the long 711 00:37:07,760 --> 00:37:09,719 Speaker 1: devity that they had. And then the other thing too, 712 00:37:09,880 --> 00:37:13,800 Speaker 1: was they valued their culture. They created a culture. This 713 00:37:13,960 --> 00:37:15,719 Speaker 1: is who we are, this is what we want, this 714 00:37:15,880 --> 00:37:18,120 Speaker 1: is what we look for in players. Yes, you're a 715 00:37:18,239 --> 00:37:20,640 Speaker 1: very talented player, but you don't really fit our culture, 716 00:37:20,760 --> 00:37:23,279 Speaker 1: so we're not interested, you know. And they were very 717 00:37:23,360 --> 00:37:26,520 Speaker 1: selective in that process, and sometimes they passed up on 718 00:37:26,640 --> 00:37:30,680 Speaker 1: guys that you know, they in hindsight probably regret, but 719 00:37:31,280 --> 00:37:35,160 Speaker 1: they valued the culture and wouldn't risk that over, you know, 720 00:37:35,320 --> 00:37:37,440 Speaker 1: bringing in somebody that could cause a problem in the 721 00:37:37,520 --> 00:37:39,759 Speaker 1: locker room or be an issue for them. And I 722 00:37:39,880 --> 00:37:43,000 Speaker 1: think that's something again that we're kind of seeing with Miami, 723 00:37:43,480 --> 00:37:45,440 Speaker 1: you know, and the Heat culture. You know, they understand 724 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:48,200 Speaker 1: their culture. They they actually even went through some tough 725 00:37:48,280 --> 00:37:50,359 Speaker 1: times bringing in a couple of guys that didn't fit 726 00:37:50,440 --> 00:37:53,920 Speaker 1: their culture, and you know, they made a point to 727 00:37:54,000 --> 00:37:56,600 Speaker 1: get them out and start to start to kind of 728 00:37:56,640 --> 00:37:58,560 Speaker 1: get back to who they are. So I think those 729 00:37:58,640 --> 00:38:01,360 Speaker 1: are the two things that really makes the difference in 730 00:38:01,440 --> 00:38:05,160 Speaker 1: San Antonio is they understand what's the most important thing, 731 00:38:05,840 --> 00:38:08,279 Speaker 1: and then they under and they value their culture. And 732 00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:11,480 Speaker 1: because of that, they had the longest one. I mean, 733 00:38:11,520 --> 00:38:14,400 Speaker 1: the longevity of it's amazing, right, Like what was the 734 00:38:14,440 --> 00:38:17,919 Speaker 1: twenty one straight years of making the playoffs. You can't 735 00:38:18,200 --> 00:38:21,640 Speaker 1: you can't beat that, you know, And they understood everybody 736 00:38:21,800 --> 00:38:24,759 Speaker 1: mattered and everybody takes part in it, and I think 737 00:38:24,920 --> 00:38:29,200 Speaker 1: that was ultimately the thing that's kind of set them apart. 738 00:38:29,280 --> 00:38:32,360 Speaker 1: So you know, the magic's gone. The magic's gone. But 739 00:38:32,440 --> 00:38:34,279 Speaker 1: it was a hell of a run. It was a 740 00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:37,080 Speaker 1: hell of a run. Well, great stuff, man, awesome catching 741 00:38:37,160 --> 00:38:40,720 Speaker 1: up with you. Love your breakdowns and continued personal success 742 00:38:40,760 --> 00:38:42,840 Speaker 1: to you. Thanks so much for joining us. Oh no, 743 00:38:42,960 --> 00:38:45,000 Speaker 1: thank you for having me. Doug. Be sure to catch 744 00:38:45,080 --> 00:38:48,040 Speaker 1: the live edition of The Doug Gottlieb Show weekdays at 745 00:38:48,120 --> 00:38:52,120 Speaker 1: three pm Eastern noon Pacific. All right, last week we 746 00:38:52,160 --> 00:38:54,120 Speaker 1: did a lot of college with John Rostein. This week 747 00:38:54,160 --> 00:38:59,040 Speaker 1: we did some pros I have a special guest upcoming 748 00:38:59,680 --> 00:39:03,120 Speaker 1: this which means it'll drop Monday. You do not want 749 00:39:03,200 --> 00:39:05,839 Speaker 1: to miss our next All Ball. In the meantime, make 750 00:39:05,880 --> 00:39:09,000 Speaker 1: sure you listen to The Doug Gottlieb Show daily three 751 00:39:09,040 --> 00:39:13,200 Speaker 1: to sixtiestern twelve to three Pacific on iHeartRadio or you 752 00:39:13,239 --> 00:39:17,080 Speaker 1: can download Whenever you download this podcast and tell a 753 00:39:17,160 --> 00:39:20,520 Speaker 1: friend about this one because we continue to grow. We're 754 00:39:20,520 --> 00:39:22,719 Speaker 1: at nearly a million downloads a month, and we want 755 00:39:22,760 --> 00:39:24,880 Speaker 1: to grow this thing and continue to get better and 756 00:39:24,920 --> 00:39:27,239 Speaker 1: better guests and have more and more fun and talk 757 00:39:27,320 --> 00:39:30,040 Speaker 1: all the ball that we can talk. I'm Doug Gotlieber. 758 00:39:30,040 --> 00:39:32,000 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for listening, and thanks so much for 759 00:39:32,080 --> 00:39:34,239 Speaker 1: mode Quill to join us. This is All Ball.