1 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:09,959 Speaker 1: This is straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. 2 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 2: What is up, straight Fire, fam, It's me Jason McIntyre. 3 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:19,919 Speaker 2: Straight Fire for Friday, May the twenty fourth. I hope 4 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:24,280 Speaker 2: you guys have a smart, safe plan for Memorial Day weekend. 5 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 2: The roads are usually packed. I will not be going anywhere, 6 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 2: watching a lot of basketball, enjoying no kids sports, so 7 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 2: we'll be doing our thang, probably watching a lot of NBA, 8 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:36,480 Speaker 2: rooting heavily for the Mavericks. Hopefully we'll get better games 9 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:41,159 Speaker 2: than last night. Oh my gosh, Boston crushing Indiana in 10 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 2: a game that was never really close. So fortunately, I'm 11 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 2: gonna bring in Rob a little later to talk about 12 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 2: this kind of a dumb list on the ringer about 13 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 2: the top twenty five players under the age of twenty five. Yeah, 14 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 2: just in theory, it makes sense, but when you put 15 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 2: Luka Doncic at four, you kind of lose a lot 16 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 2: of credibility. Anyways, we'll do best bets at the end 17 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 2: of the pod for tonight's MAVs Wolves Game two. But 18 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 2: let's quickly sift through the rubble of Boston won twenty six, 19 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,920 Speaker 2: Indiana one ten. I will be honest played in a 20 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 2: men's league game last night. It was surprisingly close. I mean, 21 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 2: this team is okay. They do have a D one 22 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 2: guy who was a grad student like five years ago 23 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 2: and played Division one and he was good. But they 24 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:26,720 Speaker 2: basically just had a bunch of white guys who were 25 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 2: fast cutters and like all like in the six to 26 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:31,440 Speaker 2: one to six four range, and we didn't take them seriously. 27 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:34,279 Speaker 2: We nearly lost. We needed overtime. But here's the story. 28 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:37,280 Speaker 2: We played actual defense. There was more defense than our 29 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 2: men's rec league game on Thursday night out here in 30 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:43,199 Speaker 2: South Bay than there was in Celtics Pacers. I mean 31 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 2: it was you know, listen, we were misstings of guys 32 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 2: of our shooters, so they went zone. They got rugged 33 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 2: with our big men, and that's fine, whatever. But I 34 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 2: didn't see any defense being played by the Celtics and Pacers. 35 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 2: I mean, every shot it felt like was of the 36 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 2: lay up quality. The Pacers lost by double digits and 37 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 2: shot fifty two percent from the field. The Celtics shot 38 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 2: fifty three percent, hit fifteen threes. It just did not 39 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:10,640 Speaker 2: feel like any defense was being played. And I'll be honest, 40 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 2: my big takeaway isn't anything to do with really this game. 41 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:18,639 Speaker 2: It's just that if Boston plays this way, I'm not 42 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 2: so sure they're gonna they're gonna beat either Dallas or Minnesota. 43 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 2: I don't trust their bench. They got to get Porzenkis back, 44 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 2: Pritchard had a solid game, and Brisset. They gave them 45 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 2: twelve good minutes. Some of it was garbage shime. Yeah, 46 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 2: but howser, I don't think you can count on. I 47 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 2: like to maybe see more Tillman, more quartette. But they 48 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:39,799 Speaker 2: definitely dialed back the Al Horford minutes. That was key. 49 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 2: He only played twenty five minutes. Remember forty in Game 50 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 2: one and less Horford. He only took six shots. You 51 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:47,919 Speaker 2: know that he was like almost triple that in Game one, 52 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 2: So smart basketball from Boston. Interesting number is that Jalen 53 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 2: Brown went for forty. Okay, he took twenty seven shots. 54 00:02:57,800 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 2: They were like, we're gonna live and die with Tatum 55 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:01,240 Speaker 2: and Brown. Tatum was fine. He missed a bunch of 56 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 2: threes twenty three, six and five. My guy, Drew Holiday. 57 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 2: I'm telling you Drew Holiday as the guy I trust 58 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 2: more than anyone on that Celtics team. And you know 59 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:12,520 Speaker 2: I'm a big Tatum guy. Obviously, the Halliburton injury Bears watching. 60 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 2: He had no turnovers in twenty eight minutes, but it 61 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 2: almost felt like Carlisle waved the white flag maybe a 62 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:19,640 Speaker 2: little early. I mean, this is the NBA. You can 63 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 2: rattle off a ten to nothing run pretty quickly, especially 64 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 2: the way Boston plays defense. So now the series shifts 65 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:34,639 Speaker 2: to Indiana. Game three is slated for Saturday tomorrow, one 66 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 2: day off. I don't think that really helps. It looks 67 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 2: like there's only one day off between all the rest 68 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 2: of the games in the series. Not great either way, 69 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 2: but overall, let's see if Porzingis returns. I'm gonna go 70 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 2: ahead and guess he returns for Game five, or if 71 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 2: at three to one he doesn't play at all in 72 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 2: this series, Like, what's the value in burning him up 73 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 2: three to one? Like, I just I don't know that 74 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 2: that's there. I think Indiana for sure gets a game 75 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 2: at home. I don't think they're gonna get two. But 76 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 2: they looked like a team that was not an elite 77 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 2: team in the East. Didn't play a lot of defense. 78 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 2: But Pascal Siakam had a hell of a game. He 79 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 2: was cooking thirteen to seventeen, twenty eight points. He's a 80 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 2: good player. Now, one thing I had totally forgotten was 81 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 2: this Indiana team has a guy I love, Ben Matheren 82 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 2: on their team. Now he's injured and out for the season, 83 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:18,280 Speaker 2: but he was a lottery pick a couple of years 84 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 2: ago coming out of Arizona. He is a nice player. 85 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 2: He would definitely be in the rotation for this team. 86 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:28,279 Speaker 2: And it makes me wonder, like, are the Pacers like, okay, 87 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 2: s light in that they've got a lot of good 88 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:35,480 Speaker 2: players and they're kind of sort of close to something. 89 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 2: Can they make a deal for one more guy? The 90 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:42,359 Speaker 2: only problem is where, like where do you get that player? Like, 91 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 2: you're not replacing Haliburton. I don't think you're replacing Siakam 92 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 2: Turner has been borderline invaluable. And then it's like, Okay, 93 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 2: can we package Nemhard? I don't know what his market 94 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 2: value is? Can we package topp In? They do have 95 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 2: Jirase Walker, the kid they drafted who is basically not 96 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 2: playing it all. Meanwhile, Ben Sheppard, the rookie is playing 97 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,920 Speaker 2: a ton Walker. He's like a six to seven guy 98 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 2: out of Houston, a twenty twenty three first round pick. 99 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 2: He's like not playing And it's weird because, like how 100 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 2: can you draft the guy You're in the conference finals 101 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 2: and he's giving you nothing. It's just to me, like, 102 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 2: imagine if they had Derek Lively on this team, Holy hell, 103 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:24,359 Speaker 2: they would be a major factor. So I don't know. 104 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 2: It feels like the Pacers are close to something. There's 105 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 2: just not enough defense being played for my liking. And 106 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 2: we knew that, right, that's not breaking news. But you 107 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 2: add twenty one year old Ben Matherin to this team 108 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:38,160 Speaker 2: and you're like, damn, they've got like they're legitimately nine deep. 109 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 2: And if you develop Walker then you can move off 110 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 2: of some but maybe it's Turner you can move off of. 111 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:44,840 Speaker 2: I don't know. Can you play Siakam at the small 112 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 2: ball five? I don't know. Pacers have options. Obviously they're 113 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 2: not winning this series. Boston now up to nothing and 114 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 2: in total control. When Brown can go for forty, Tatum 115 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:57,159 Speaker 2: went for thirty six in Game one, White could go off, 116 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:00,120 Speaker 2: Holiday could go there's just too many weapons for for 117 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,840 Speaker 2: a Pacers team that plays no defense. Anyways, let's I'm 118 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 2: gonna bring in Rob and we're going to talk about 119 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 2: this list on the Ringer. 120 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 1: Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in 121 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 1: the Nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio 122 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to 123 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:19,239 Speaker 1: listen live. 124 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:21,920 Speaker 2: All right, so I want to quickly talk about this 125 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 2: list that the Ringer put out the top twenty five 126 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 2: players under the age of twenty five in the NBA. 127 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 2: And yeah, I'm not one to totally crap on list 128 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 2: as a guy who you know, started the Big Lead 129 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:38,599 Speaker 2: and we had a lot of lists, probably once a 130 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 2: week we would do rankings or list basically just crush 131 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:44,480 Speaker 2: on the internet. So obviously the Ringer knew what they 132 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 2: were doing here. And no question, Victor woman Yama is 133 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 2: the number one player under the age of twenty five, 134 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 2: and nobody would argue that. Absolutely No. I don't care 135 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 2: that he hasn't been in a playoff game. He's clearly 136 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 2: a generational talent, a true unicorn, and he's going to, 137 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 2: assuming he stays healthy, change the league. My issue is 138 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:05,479 Speaker 2: two and it feels knee jerk. They put this list 139 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 2: out on Wednesday, right on the heels of Anthony Edwards 140 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 2: and the Timberwolves taking down the defending champion Nuggets, and 141 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 2: they put Anthony Edwards number two. He's got two playoff 142 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 2: series wins under his belt and they put him second. Now, listen, 143 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 2: there's no argument he's certainly in the top five to seven. 144 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 2: He might you could even make a case he's three. 145 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 2: But this idea that Anthony Edwards, based off two playoff 146 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 2: series wins, is clearly the second best player under the 147 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 2: age of twenty five. I think that's lunacy. And I 148 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 2: know he has shown flashes of being maybe Michael Jordan. 149 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 2: I think it's closer to Dwayne Wade. But it just 150 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 2: felt like a massive overreaction. But they didn't stop there, 151 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 2: almost as if searching for clicks. They went SGA third. 152 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 2: And a big part of their argument is, well, he 153 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 2: almost won the MVP. He was a runner up. I 154 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 2: don't know, guys. I mean, wasn't Dak Prescott the runner 155 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 2: up for MVP in the NFL this seas, wasn't Brock 156 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 2: Purty third. I like those guys. I'm not putting them 157 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:09,119 Speaker 2: ahead of Luca friggin' Doancic, who is proven for five 158 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 2: straight years. He is undeniably already on the track to 159 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 2: be an all time great. This guy who's been All 160 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 2: NBA five times, he's twenty five years old. That's insanity 161 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 2: and yeah, you may not like Luca because he complains 162 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 2: to officials and he whinds a lot, and he's kind 163 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 2: of constantly gesturing looking for calls, and he doesn't fly 164 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 2: above the rim like Anthony Edwards. He's not superhuman freakish 165 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 2: like Weembin Yama. He's not as smooth and getting into 166 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 2: the lane and slithery as SGA and SGA. If you notice, 167 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 2: he's starting to cultivate an image where he's going to 168 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 2: the podium in like a puffy jacket and like a 169 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:50,679 Speaker 2: leather hat. It's just he's got like some swag. He's 170 00:08:50,679 --> 00:08:53,959 Speaker 2: in a national commercial now with chet Holmgren, and it's 171 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 2: clear that Luca SGA is trying to cultivate some kind 172 00:08:57,160 --> 00:09:01,839 Speaker 2: of look, and I just think gets wildly disrespectful to 173 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:05,320 Speaker 2: Luka Doncic to have him fourth. And maybe Rob there 174 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:08,280 Speaker 2: is some sentiment like, hey, we know the Euros are 175 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:11,080 Speaker 2: taken over. We can't have two under twenty five at 176 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 2: the top of the list. Because if you look Rob 177 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:16,320 Speaker 2: at the All NBA team, which was announced Wednesday or 178 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 2: was it Thursday. In one of those days, four of 179 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:24,400 Speaker 2: the five All NBA guys were international. Jason Tatum on 180 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 2: the first team the only homegrown talent, and if you 181 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 2: look at the first team, all of them are the 182 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:32,840 Speaker 2: under the age of thirty, So there's a youth movement 183 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 2: going on and an international movement. And I almost felt 184 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 2: like the Ringer was really trying hard to pivot off that, 185 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 2: and I don't know why they would do that. It 186 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:46,560 Speaker 2: just felt weird to not. I can't think of any 187 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 2: other logical reasons why Luca wouldn't be second. I like Halliburton, 188 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 2: I like MAXI I like chet Holmgrom. I don't know 189 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:55,640 Speaker 2: if I'd have Jalen Williams eighth, I would have gone Bankaro, 190 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 2: who they had nine. And then you know, Zion has 191 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:00,600 Speaker 2: kind of an asterisk and John r has a bit 192 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 2: of an asterisk. Shngoon is up there. I'm not feeling 193 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 2: the Scottie Barnes love yet, But overall, Rob, your thoughts 194 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 2: on the top of the list. 195 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:11,319 Speaker 3: Well, I don't really care about the entire y of 196 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 3: the list. I don't even really care about the top ten. 197 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 3: I care about number two and number four because those 198 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:16,880 Speaker 3: the two guys who are still playing in the other 199 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 3: two guys who are going head to head in this 200 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 3: series right now. The fact that they had Luka Doncic fourth, 201 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 3: and I know that their premise was, it's what have 202 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 3: you done in the past, what are you currently doing, 203 00:10:26,679 --> 00:10:28,200 Speaker 3: and what will you do in the future. So I 204 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 3: understand factoring in those three and that's why a guy 205 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 3: like gwyn Ben Yama would be number one, because his 206 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:35,960 Speaker 3: potential is so immense that it would make sense why 207 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 3: he would be ahead of everyone else. But Luka Doncic 208 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 3: has been in the NBA for six seasons, He's won 209 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 3: the Rookie of the Year and been a five time 210 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 3: First Team All NBA ever since. He is, according to 211 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:52,720 Speaker 3: Sports Radar, the one, two, three four fifth fastest player 212 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 3: to earn five first Team All NBA. The guys ahead 213 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 3: of him Tim duncan, Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird, Alegan Baylor. 214 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 3: So Luka Doncic, if we're going based on past and 215 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:06,960 Speaker 3: current performance, is on track to become one of the 216 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:11,560 Speaker 3: all time upper upper tier players in NBA history. Like 217 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:15,040 Speaker 3: his resume is that good. He could have conceivably won 218 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:17,520 Speaker 3: MVP this season if people didn't have such a hard 219 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:19,559 Speaker 3: on for Nikola Jokic, And I understand that because the 220 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:22,439 Speaker 3: Joker's great. But still Luca definitely had a good case. 221 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:24,680 Speaker 3: If he seals the deal in this playoff run with 222 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 3: a championship, then he's automatically, for my money, probably a 223 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 3: top twenty twenty five player, even if he breaks his 224 00:11:30,679 --> 00:11:33,640 Speaker 3: knee and never plays again, you know, after the season. 225 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 3: So the fact that he had that kind of performance 226 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:39,760 Speaker 3: that he had in Game one on the heels of 227 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:43,840 Speaker 3: this report coming out really really makes the folks at 228 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 3: the ring or look really bad. And I don't know 229 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 3: if it was them, you know, trying to generate clicks, 230 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 3: and if they did it on purpose. Someone told me 231 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:52,680 Speaker 3: that they really wanted to do that. They put Luca 232 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:54,319 Speaker 3: like seventh or eight instead of fourth, so there was 233 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 3: kind of some sort of justification. But to your point, 234 00:11:57,840 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 3: originally by Anthony Edwards, Anthony Edwards, you know, has been 235 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:03,200 Speaker 3: hailed as the face of the NBA or the next 236 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:05,679 Speaker 3: face of the NBA. He's been getting these Michael Jordan 237 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 3: comparisons because of the visual rippers. They look like, you know, 238 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 3: they look alike young mj and young at Man. But 239 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 3: if you notice, since that face of the NBA conversation 240 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 3: started to percolate, Anthony Edwards play has really kind of 241 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 3: fallen off a Cliff all Right. The first eight games 242 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 3: of the playoffs, he averaged thirty two on fifty six 243 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 3: percent shooting. He was great, he was lights out, and 244 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 3: that's why the comparisons were starting to make a little 245 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 3: bit of sense. Last four games though, twenty points per 246 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:37,200 Speaker 3: game on thirty four percent shooting. In fact, he has 247 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:40,080 Speaker 3: scored less than twenty in four of his last six 248 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:43,200 Speaker 3: playoff games. That's not to mention after Game one, where 249 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 3: he publicly says that he was exhausted on the floor 250 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:48,040 Speaker 3: trying to keep up with Kyrie Irving. I don't know 251 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:51,080 Speaker 3: about you, but I don't think Michael Jordan or Kobe 252 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 3: Bryant ever said you know what, I'm exhausted in this 253 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:56,559 Speaker 3: playoff series having to play defense. I I just can't 254 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 3: do it. I just get so this whole thing with 255 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 3: the Ringer, it's done its job. It's making us talk 256 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 3: about it. But just off of one game alone in 257 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:09,280 Speaker 3: this series, not even counting in the previous five years, 258 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:11,960 Speaker 3: I think it's pretty clear they made a massive mistake. 259 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:15,720 Speaker 2: I get the hype for Anthony Edward. Everybody wants what's next, right, 260 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:18,959 Speaker 2: everybody's excited about you know, people love a backup quarterback 261 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:22,000 Speaker 2: remember how excited Rob and Raiders fans were when Aidan 262 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:24,800 Speaker 2: O'Connell flashed in the preseason. I was like, oh, wait, no' 263 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 2: connin he'd gotten next AOC nice. You remember that, right? 264 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 3: Yes? I do? 265 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 2: Right, see if he's in the league in two years. 266 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 2: People are excited for Anthony Edwards. I said he was 267 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:38,200 Speaker 2: the greatest in game dunker in league history this season, 268 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:40,960 Speaker 2: and people jumped down my throat like I had murdered 269 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:44,600 Speaker 2: their first born or something. It was a little crazy. 270 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 2: There is a weird and rob if you delve into 271 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:52,120 Speaker 2: the Anthony Edwards versus Jason Tatum discussion, which I didn't 272 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 2: even know is the thing that's like a real thing online. 273 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:57,040 Speaker 2: If you jump into that, you will see the venom 274 00:13:57,080 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 2: from both sides, Like the camps are dug in. People 275 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 2: are fired up about those two being like two of 276 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:06,720 Speaker 2: the better young players in the league. And listen, people 277 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 2: are gonna criticize every game Tatum has. I'll just say this, 278 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 2: If Tatum had zero two point baskets in a Game 279 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:16,560 Speaker 2: one home loss for Boston, he would have been destroyed. 280 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 2: If Tatum went six for twenty four in Game seven 281 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 2: and they won, it would have been like Wow, they 282 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:24,960 Speaker 2: won in spite of Tatum. We're not seeing that with Edwards. 283 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 2: And I get it, he's only twenty two. J Layoff, 284 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 2: I get that. I totally get that, but I just 285 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 2: don't like how it's not kind of both ways. And 286 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 2: Rob noted this after Yoker Joker lost Game seven. It's like, Wow, 287 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 2: nobody's criticizing Yokic. Meanwhile, everybody is over here tripping over 288 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 2: themselves to destroy Lebron for trying to put Ja J. 289 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 2: Reddick in as head coach. And I don't know, man, 290 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 2: it just felt a little weird and unnecessary, and it 291 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 2: feels that way the Anthony Edwards love. I don't know, 292 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 2: is it gotten out. I'm almost rooting against them because 293 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:57,240 Speaker 2: of this. Rob, is that a bridge too far for you? Ooh? 294 00:14:57,520 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 3: I mean kind of, because you know, I don't think 295 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:02,040 Speaker 3: you'd to Anthony Edwards is that he's a guy to like, 296 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 3: So I don't know if i'd want to root against him. 297 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:06,760 Speaker 3: But it's interesting that you made the Jason Tatum comparison 298 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 3: because I saw your video clip on The Herd yesterday 299 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 3: where you ranked the guys you would have so start 300 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 3: a roster with, and you had Jason Tatum above Anthony 301 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:18,240 Speaker 3: Edwards and some people on Twitter that I saw were 302 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:21,840 Speaker 3: pretty upset about it. But everything that you love about 303 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:23,560 Speaker 3: Jason Tatum, and there is a lot to love about 304 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:27,280 Speaker 3: Jason tATu or ecuse me about Anthony Edwards, Jason Tatum 305 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 3: has already done it okay through the well he's aged 306 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 3: twenty two right, So through his age twenty two season, 307 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 3: Jason Tatum was a two time All Star and All 308 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 3: NBA player, and I believe he had already been to 309 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:43,280 Speaker 3: the Eastern Conference Finals twice. At age twenty one, he 310 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 3: averaged twenty five to ten and five in the playoffs 311 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 3: while leading a very very young Boston Celtics team to 312 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:55,760 Speaker 3: the Eastern Conference Finals. So like, I understand that the 313 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 3: new thing, the new hotness, is always better than what 314 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:00,080 Speaker 3: we saw in the past, and I get it, and 315 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:02,400 Speaker 3: at to some extent I agree with it, especially if 316 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:05,840 Speaker 3: you're comparing like the nineteen sixties and the nineteen seventies 317 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:09,360 Speaker 3: where the game was totally different, but this was five 318 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:12,360 Speaker 3: years ago, like this is not you know, you have 319 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:14,280 Speaker 3: to find a black and white television to watch with 320 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 3: Jason Tatum did Jason Tatum has been the guy for 321 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:22,600 Speaker 3: half a decade now and for whatever reason, this Anthony Edwards. 322 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 3: I don't wanna call it a premature evacuation, but people 323 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 3: are really really excited about him, and they just got 324 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 3: to pump the brakes a little bit. 325 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 2: I'm looking at Tatum's age twenty twenty two playoffs. That 326 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 2: was when Jaylen Brown got hurt so they lost in five. 327 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 2: But his age twenty one playoffs, now, I guess this 328 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 2: was in the bubble where he really blew up. He 329 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 2: was twenty five, ten and five in seventeen games. I 330 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 2: mean again, he was twenty one years old. That was 331 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 2: his age twenty one season according to Basketball Reference. Like, 332 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:58,360 Speaker 2: you're right, everything Anthony Edwards has done so as Tatum, 333 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 2: but it's he's younger. It just it just feels a 334 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:05,960 Speaker 2: little harsh. I had to look up Austin Reeves's age 335 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:09,440 Speaker 2: rob to see why he didn't make the list. Any 336 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:14,399 Speaker 2: any any curiosity as to why Austin Reeves, the great 337 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 2: Lakers wing who I am a massive fan of. Now, 338 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:20,359 Speaker 2: he did go to college, so it's possible that he 339 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:23,960 Speaker 2: aged out. He's twenty five, twenty five for another six days, 340 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:27,359 Speaker 2: so he qualified. He didn't even get like an honorary mention. 341 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:30,920 Speaker 2: Which was given to Tyler Hero Kuminga, Come on, Kuminga 342 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:34,879 Speaker 2: over Austin Reeves's honorable mention. I mean Austin Reeves was 343 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:39,639 Speaker 2: Kobe White. I don't know. I don't know how Austin 344 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:42,639 Speaker 2: Reaves did get top twenty five. Listen, Darius Garland or 345 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 2: Austin Reeves. Who would you rather have as. 346 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 3: Your my factoring in contract? Because if its contract Austin 347 00:17:49,359 --> 00:17:52,800 Speaker 3: Reeves all day, every day, yeaheah, but in a vacuum, 348 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 3: probably Darius Garland. 349 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:57,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean Darius Garland was the only Olympic team. 350 00:17:57,760 --> 00:18:01,159 Speaker 2: Oh that's right, wasn't That's right? I forgot about that. 351 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:04,800 Speaker 2: I like Desmond Bain's game. Derek Lively, by the way, 352 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:08,920 Speaker 2: I saw this insane stat. Well it's not that insane. 353 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 2: But according to Yuffs, Derek Lively is one of the 354 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:18,960 Speaker 2: top five of players in the playoffs so far and 355 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:20,719 Speaker 2: plus minus. You know who number one is, of course, right, 356 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:22,160 Speaker 2: you can guess. 357 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:23,400 Speaker 3: Uh luka, Doncic? 358 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 2: Who who Jason Tatum. 359 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:29,959 Speaker 1: Set up? Right? 360 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 2: A Tatum hate? But oh look, he's number one in 361 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 2: the playoffs in plus minus. Anyways, I I'm bullish on 362 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:39,399 Speaker 2: Tatum's outlook. I think the Celtics will be fine. They 363 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 2: might win the title. It's gonna be It's gonna be. Okay. 364 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 1: The only thing better than sitting on your couch watching 365 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:51,439 Speaker 1: the game. He's making money while you do it. Here's 366 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:55,359 Speaker 1: your best bet, Wokward. 367 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 2: Let's do a best debt for tonight's game and then 368 00:18:58,520 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 2: I don't know if you have an appetite for game 369 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:06,560 Speaker 2: in Indie, Rob, but any thoughts on Wolves bouncing back 370 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:08,640 Speaker 2: and Pacers headed home. 371 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:13,080 Speaker 3: I'm a big believer in the Minnesota Timberwolves here tonight 372 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:16,320 Speaker 3: in this game because they cannot afford to go down 373 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 3: oh two at home. Like. This is not the Denver 374 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:21,359 Speaker 3: Nuggets of last series, where they have some kind of 375 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:25,200 Speaker 3: experience in championship medal to lean on when things get tough, right, 376 00:19:25,280 --> 00:19:27,919 Speaker 3: So I know they won that series, But most cases, 377 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:31,240 Speaker 3: if you fall down two at home heading back to Dallas, 378 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 3: like you're asking to get sweat, and I think Minnesota 379 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:37,520 Speaker 3: is too good for that. I think that what we've 380 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:41,240 Speaker 3: seen historically from Luca Kyrie and these MAVs is they 381 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:43,440 Speaker 3: kind of rest on their laurels at times when they shouldn't. 382 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:46,400 Speaker 3: So I'm expecting Minnesota not only to win the game, 383 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:48,119 Speaker 3: but to cover what I see as a five and 384 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:51,639 Speaker 3: a half. So give me Minnesota even giving up the points. 385 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 2: So it's interesting. I think a lot of people are 386 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:58,520 Speaker 2: going Minnesota' zigzact theory and such. But Denver lost at 387 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:00,679 Speaker 2: home in Game one. Everybody and their mom was on 388 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:05,320 Speaker 2: Denver bouncing back, and uh, Denver got destroyed. And I 389 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:11,280 Speaker 2: just wonder if Minnesota, if they just don't show up 390 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:13,159 Speaker 2: here at home. Remember day that Game seven win and 391 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:14,520 Speaker 2: not that took a lot out of them, but I 392 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:17,840 Speaker 2: think Game seven was it was It felt like they 393 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:20,440 Speaker 2: probably won the championship, and so there's a natural letdown, 394 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:23,680 Speaker 2: And I just I don't know that Dallas all of 395 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:25,639 Speaker 2: a sudden is gonna have another six for twenty three 396 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:27,400 Speaker 2: three point game. I don't see that in the card. 397 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 2: So they're gonna shoot better, and what's what's the counter? 398 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 2: What is Minnesota gonna do better? And is gonna score 399 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:33,080 Speaker 2: more points? 400 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:34,120 Speaker 3: Uh? 401 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:37,520 Speaker 2: Probably, but I don't know if he definitely is, Like 402 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 2: he's going up against a legit rim protector and Lively 403 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:42,680 Speaker 2: and Gafford's not bad either. So I'm gonna go ahead 404 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:46,000 Speaker 2: and take the plus five with Dallas. I'm greedy, probably 405 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:47,919 Speaker 2: give back my Game one winnings, but I'll take the 406 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 2: MAVs tonight, getting the points again. No money line for me, 407 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:53,440 Speaker 2: but that's it. Enjoy the weekend. Back on Monday. Talk 408 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 2: to you then,