1 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:09,879 Speaker 1: This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. 2 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:12,719 Speaker 2: What is up to Fire Fail? 3 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:21,279 Speaker 3: It's me Jason McIntyre, Straight Foyer for Thursday, Fabruary twelfth. 4 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 3: It's been a long week, folks. Yes I'm forgetting what 5 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 3: day it is, but unforgettable podcast today with my main man, 6 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 3: Rick Buker, covered the NBA Forever. We disagree on a lot, 7 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 3: but that's what makes it fun and good. I tried 8 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 3: to get him to eat some crow over my Cooper 9 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 3: flag assertion last summer and he kind of sort of, 10 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:42,599 Speaker 3: kind of sort of came around to it. 11 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 2: I think you'll enjoy the discussion. Not a lot happening 12 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 2: in the sports world. 13 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 3: It's funny every year after the Super Bowl, right around 14 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 3: All Star weekend is the perfect time to take a vacation. 15 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 2: Due to circumstances. I will not discuss they're not mine. 16 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 3: They're anyway, So no real vacation for me. But I'm 17 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 3: taking a few days sporadically here and there, and so 18 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 3: no podcast tomorrow as I'm not on the Herd tomorrow 19 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:20,040 Speaker 3: or Monday. Monday is a holiday, so this podcast will 20 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 3: take you out of the weekend. Will not be covering 21 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 3: the NBA All Star Game, although it doesn't seem like 22 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 3: the weekend is gonna be that great. Cooper Flag will 23 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 3: not play in the Rising Stars Game. I'm fully expecting 24 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:31,680 Speaker 3: Luca to be announced out of the All Star Game. 25 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 3: It doesn't sound like a lot of the stars. No Sga, 26 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 3: no Yannis, They're they're not gonna play. Listen, it is 27 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 3: what it is. It should be a collection of stars playing. 28 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:45,119 Speaker 3: But given the league right now and the way these 29 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 3: guys are going hard and the ages of some of 30 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 3: these stars, don't give me this. Oh well, STEP's not playing. 31 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 3: Look at how old he is, guys, Look at Larry 32 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 3: Isaiah Magic. All those guys were retired by the time 33 00:01:57,520 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 3: they're his age. Go look at the amount of minutes 34 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 3: he's played in games and playoff games compared to those guys. 35 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 2: Just go take a look. Go it's a fun exercise. 36 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 3: Anyways, my big excitement for this weekend is so the 37 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 3: NBA All Star Game is Sunday, and there is an 38 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 3: NBA media pick up basketball game this weekend. So a 39 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 3: certain guy who's been on the pod before I hit 40 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 3: him up and I was like, Yo, is there a 41 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 3: is there a game? This is a game this weekend? 42 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 3: Anyway I could get in there. Sure you're in I 43 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 3: was like wow. So I will say I'm very excited 44 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 3: that I will be playing in the game. I cannot 45 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 3: give details on where or when. All I can say 46 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 3: is there's a huge text chain of people and I 47 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 3: recognize exactly zero numbers. So I'm going in cold. I 48 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:49,839 Speaker 3: do not know any I have no idea who's gonna 49 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 3: be there, no idea. I mean it could be young guys, 50 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 3: could be Steven A. 51 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 2: Smith. I have no idea who's going to show up. 52 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 3: And let's just say your boy will be in the gym, 53 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 3: getting ready, getting loose so he doesn't embarrass himself at 54 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 3: the pickup game. And I held, these guys might not 55 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 3: know me. I mean, I don't know. I'm not an 56 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 3: NBA reporter. I'm not there traveling. I'm not interviewing players 57 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:15,639 Speaker 3: like I'm not in the weeds of NBA coverage. So 58 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 3: they were like a fraternity, you know, which is how 59 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 3: it is. And I'm kind of trying to crash the party. 60 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:23,360 Speaker 2: And we'll see. I got the invite. I'm excited. 61 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 3: Now. 62 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 2: Maybe me discussing it here will get my. 63 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 3: Invite revoked, but either way, it should be fun and 64 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 3: we'll report back. 65 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:34,079 Speaker 2: To you on Tuesday. Have a great weekend. Here is 66 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 2: Rick Buker. 67 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 1: You know a guy Jason likes to think he knows 68 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 1: everything when it comes to sports. 69 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 2: I know what sports dance wants. 70 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 1: But for everything he doesn't, he knows a guy who does. 71 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 4: Let's just say I know a guy who knows a 72 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 4: guy who knows another guy. 73 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 3: All right, let's welcome back to straight fire, a guy 74 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 3: who knows some NBA. We've been sparring over basketball for years, 75 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 3: chopping it up with Rick Buker, longtime NBA columnist, opinionator, reporter. 76 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 3: He's done it all. It's almost All Star Break? Rick, 77 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 3: How you feeling, man. 78 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 4: I'm feeling good. I'm I'm glad that we're at All 79 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:17,360 Speaker 4: Star Break. I'm actually I have to admit I'm intrigued 80 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 4: to see what this USA versus the World format is 81 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 4: going to produce. I want to know because there's always 82 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:29,839 Speaker 4: been sort of an anti with American players toward Europeans, 83 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 4: like you're trying to steal our game. You can't come 84 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:34,840 Speaker 4: over here and take over, And the reality is they 85 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:35,280 Speaker 4: kind of have. 86 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:37,359 Speaker 2: If you look at you're taking our jobs. Where have 87 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 2: we heard that before? 88 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 4: Yeah? And so I'm just wondering whether that that sort 89 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 4: of quiet grudge match is going to show itself in 90 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 4: the level of competition, if these guys are going to 91 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:52,600 Speaker 4: have something to prove. And the real question is so 92 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 4: I'm trying to think now, is Luka Datcit's plying or not? 93 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 3: No, shit, I don't I don't see Luca playing. I 94 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 3: can't imagine is playing. I mean, I'm assuming one or 95 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 3: two other guys will drop out, like there's just no 96 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 3: real incentive to play for like a guy like Shangoon 97 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 3: who's going to be huge for the Rockets here down 98 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,039 Speaker 3: the strikes, like, well, it's tough for me. 99 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 2: But I don't know, maybe you know, I don't know. 100 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 4: Well, so here's the thing though, if I'm looking at 101 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 4: the player voting for All Star, Luka Dantchits was number 102 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:26,279 Speaker 4: one among fans, tied for number two among the media, 103 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 4: and was sixth or seventh among players. He was not 104 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 4: a starter in the minds of the players. So I'm 105 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 4: just wondering whether Luca. I don't think Wemby was either. 106 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 4: I think it was Anthony Edwards and Kevin Durant had 107 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:44,359 Speaker 4: more votes from the players than Wemby and Luca So 108 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 4: I was just wondering whether those guys would come out 109 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 4: in this game and like, oh, so you guys don't 110 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 4: think we're You don't think I'm an All Star? Huh? 111 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 4: And would play like it because that's really what we need. 112 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:56,279 Speaker 4: It needs to be. It can't be about how much 113 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:58,719 Speaker 4: money they're going to give him. It has to be 114 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 4: about bragging rights. And so that's what I'm curious to see. 115 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 4: But if they're not playing, then it's it's a movie. 116 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's interesting. 117 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, you say, Kevin Durant over according to who the players? 118 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 4: So Katie, Kevin Durant, and Anthony Edwards were starters and 119 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 4: Victor webin Yama and Luka Doncics were not. 120 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:20,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, the players don't really look at play player efficiency rating. 121 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:24,919 Speaker 3: Katie thirty fifth in the league. They do not Lucas 122 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 3: sixth in the league. 123 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:27,919 Speaker 2: Okay, Luca is like an MVP candidate. Kevin Durant. I 124 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 2: love him. The players just like Katie. They look up 125 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:33,039 Speaker 2: to him. Nobody looked up to Luca, you know. 126 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:36,160 Speaker 3: So it's like, I can't I can't ride too much 127 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:37,920 Speaker 3: with the All Star stuff. But Rick, I do want 128 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 3: to ask. So I was at Lakers Spurs on Tuesday Night, 129 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:44,000 Speaker 3: And as soon as the Lakers were with out Reeves 130 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 3: and Smart and Lebron and Luca, I was like, come on, 131 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 3: what are we doing here? My one takeaway I was 132 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:53,080 Speaker 3: with a buddy and he's like, man, the Laker backups 133 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 3: are getting thrashed by largely the Spurs backups in the 134 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:59,840 Speaker 3: second half. I mean, Carter Bryant's out here looking like 135 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 3: the best players on the floor. The rookie from Arizona 136 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 3: and we started talking him, was like, I just I 137 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 3: wonder if Rob Palinka is gonna get any shrapnel from 138 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 3: a loss like this, when the new ownership group is 139 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 3: looking and it's like, oh, we're missing our our old guy, Lebron, Lucas. 140 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 2: Hurt Reeves, is you know, and what else do we have? Yeah, 141 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 2: and you just look and you're like interesting. I wonder if. 142 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 3: The Lakers are the most interesting team heading into this offseason, 143 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 3: given the Lebron situation, the cap space that maybe the 144 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 3: Chase fer Giannis. I know people are sick of the Lakers, 145 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 3: but Rick, there's a lot going on here. 146 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 4: They're gonna be way more interesting this summer than they 147 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 4: are this season season. The season's kind of played I mean, honestly, 148 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 4: what you saw is a referendum on what they are. 149 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 4: They don't have a lot of depth or versatility on 150 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 4: this roster. They don't have the kind of pieces in 151 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 4: particular that you need to build around Luca Doncis. Let's 152 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 4: not forget one, he didn't win right away in Dallas, 153 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 4: Like they had to build the right team around him 154 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 4: to take advantage of everything that he's capable of doing 155 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 4: and the very obvious weaknesses that he has in terms 156 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 4: of his effort at the defensive end. So and then 157 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 4: needing players that are okay with a guy dominating the 158 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 4: ball as much as Luca does, the guys are still 159 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 4: willing to do all the dirty work. So it takes 160 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 4: a beat or two in order to build that kind 161 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 4: of team to have the success there. The other part is, look, 162 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 4: there was reason, there was actually legitimate reason for the 163 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 4: Dallas Mavericks to entertain moving Luca because of injuries and 164 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 4: because of that defense. They just didn't get enough back 165 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:50,840 Speaker 4: for him. Like if they had gotten a mother load, 166 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 4: then I think that honestly, then getting Cooper Flagg and 167 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:57,199 Speaker 4: getting a mother load Dallas Maverick fans might look at 168 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 4: it a little bit different, it wouldn't look as bad 169 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 4: as it does. So to me, that's the biggest issue here. 170 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 4: Not so much that Luca hasn't demonstrated that there are 171 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:10,559 Speaker 4: questions about what he's going to be going forward physically, 172 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:15,839 Speaker 4: but the fact that the Dallas Mavericks sold them on 173 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:17,200 Speaker 4: pennies for the dollar. 174 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, so let me push back a little against 175 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 3: the Lakers. Aren't great narrative, not that interesting the season. 176 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 3: So I'll use last season as an example. And again 177 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:28,560 Speaker 3: no in hindsight, Okay, last year, at this time, the 178 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:31,920 Speaker 3: Calves were the number one team in the in the 179 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 3: East by a long shot. And then it was like 180 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 3: the Celtics, Oh my gosh, can the Celtics beat the Calves? 181 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 2: And then the Knicks were really really good. 182 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 3: You know who wasn't being talked about the Pacers, who 183 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:42,320 Speaker 3: were not a good defensive team. We looked at the 184 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:45,079 Speaker 3: odds they were not heading into the playoffs, they were 185 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 3: not one of the top ten odds to win the title. 186 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 3: So the Pacers not a great defensive team. And then 187 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 3: all of a sudden, get hot things break their way. 188 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:55,079 Speaker 3: Calves get exposed as frauds. Right, A couple of injuries 189 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:58,160 Speaker 3: to Jason Tatum. And then the Pacers take down the 190 00:09:58,240 --> 00:10:02,200 Speaker 3: Knicks in an upset and needed a miracle comeback in Game. 191 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:02,760 Speaker 2: One I think it was. 192 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:04,680 Speaker 3: And next thing you know, they're in the finals in 193 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 3: game seven. 194 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 2: So like things can happen around the league. 195 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:10,080 Speaker 3: Okay, I know the Lakers are not great, Rick, but 196 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:13,520 Speaker 3: if things break their way, if they're healthy, you're telling 197 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 3: me you don't think they've got any shot at the finals. 198 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 4: No, if they were in the Eastern Conference, maybe. 199 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 2: Well, who are the teams better than the break now. 200 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 4: In the West? Well, because you just you what. The 201 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 4: Cleveland Cavaliers proved that they weren't up to the task, right, 202 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 4: Maybe the Spurs aren't up to the story before with 203 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 4: the Utah Jazz, same star Donovan. 204 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:34,440 Speaker 2: Mitchell, Toronto Raptors. Yeah, yeah, we've. 205 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:36,720 Speaker 4: Seen best record get to the playoffs, can't live up 206 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:40,360 Speaker 4: to it. The New York Knicks, Okay, really nice team 207 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 4: but unproven. Right. Meanwhile in the Western Conference, Oklahoma City 208 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 4: is legit and has proved it. Denver Nuggets are legit 209 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:50,679 Speaker 4: and have. 210 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 2: Proved and stay healthy. 211 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 4: Though Dan Antonio Spurs are scary. I love them, there's 212 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,679 Speaker 4: reason to look at them as you just noted in 213 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 4: the way that they played against the l with their backups, 214 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 4: that they have more going for them right now. The 215 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:09,360 Speaker 4: reality is you have proven championship caliber teams and proven caliber, 216 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 4: championship caliber stars in the Western Conference that the Lakers 217 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 4: have to get through in order to make a run. 218 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:20,320 Speaker 4: Like the Indiana Pacers. The Indiana Pacers caught fire at 219 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:23,720 Speaker 4: the right time. You're right, totally unexpected. But if you 220 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:27,080 Speaker 4: look at what they had, they're built a lot different 221 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 4: than these Lakers. Yeah, they're young, young and deep and 222 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:34,320 Speaker 4: had a great coach, proven coach and Rick Carlisle championship 223 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 4: level coach. I'm not taking anything away from JJ Reddick. 224 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 4: I think he's done an admirable job under difficult circumstances. 225 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 4: But I don't look at the same ingredients with this 226 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:48,360 Speaker 4: Lakers team that I do with that Indiana paces. 227 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:50,960 Speaker 3: They're certainly different ingredients. And we'll see what Luca a 228 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 3: healthy Reefs. The thing is, we don't know what Luca 229 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:55,320 Speaker 3: Reeves and Lebron can do. I think they played like 230 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:58,840 Speaker 3: forty games together in a year and change, maybe thirty. 231 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:03,559 Speaker 2: I know at not a lot of people defend anyone. 232 00:12:03,679 --> 00:12:08,079 Speaker 3: Yes, well, and they got Leuke canard though they got 233 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:08,840 Speaker 3: the deadline. 234 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 4: Can you get to the playoffs with them? It was 235 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 4: like every time you come down to floor, Okay, who 236 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 4: are gonna pick on this time? 237 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:14,319 Speaker 2: Yeah? 238 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:16,880 Speaker 3: It's nice. Let me just drill down briefly on the 239 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:20,360 Speaker 3: Lakers and the Lebron situation. The worst kept secret in 240 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:24,079 Speaker 3: the league Lebron's final year of his contract, and the 241 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:28,120 Speaker 3: only reasonable answers I've heard is he could take less 242 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 3: to play for the Calves somehow, or he could take 243 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:32,559 Speaker 3: a lot less to play for the Lakers. 244 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:34,959 Speaker 2: Is there a door number three. 245 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:38,760 Speaker 3: Where Lebron says, sorry, guys, I'm averaging twenty two seven 246 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:39,200 Speaker 3: and six. 247 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 2: I want forty MILLI year? Is anybody willing to give. 248 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 3: It to me? Is there even a door three other 249 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 3: than Lakers or caves that maybe think outside the box here? 250 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:49,560 Speaker 3: Is there a scenario we don't have? 251 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 2: Is there anything? 252 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 4: Not that I mean, not that door where he gets paid, 253 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 4: but the door where he goes. As hard as it 254 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 4: is for me to imagine, but if I'm going to 255 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 4: create a door three door number three scenario, it would 256 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 4: be Joe Lake ofb convincing him to come and make 257 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 4: a run with the with Steph Curry and whoever's healthy 258 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:15,560 Speaker 4: next No, again, he would have to be taking a 259 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 4: lot less. He would have to be taking a discount. 260 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 4: But I dare say that wherever Lebron plays next year, 261 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 4: he's going to be taking a discount. 262 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:26,360 Speaker 3: And you think he's definitely playing next year. 263 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:28,679 Speaker 4: I know, I don't. I don't I I don't know 264 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:32,960 Speaker 4: anything definite about Lebron James, and Lebron James is doing 265 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 4: his best to make sure that nobody knows what's definitely 266 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 4: going to happen with him next year. This is vintage 267 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 4: Lebron James, like I want to keep everybody guessing yeah, yeah, 268 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 4: And I'm going to say, I don't really know. I 269 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:48,199 Speaker 4: haven't even thought about it. I haven't really thought about, 270 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:51,800 Speaker 4: you know, whether I'm going to play next year or 271 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:56,120 Speaker 4: where I'm going to play next year. And it defies 272 00:13:56,160 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 4: the imagination that he's never he's never considered given it 273 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 4: a thought. But what does it do. It keeps the 274 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 4: spotlight on him. It keeps the attention on him in 275 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:08,760 Speaker 4: spite of the fact that he's on a team that, 276 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:11,440 Speaker 4: as I see it, is not a legitimate contender in 277 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 4: the Western Conference. 278 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:15,719 Speaker 1: Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in 279 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 1: the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio 280 00:14:19,280 --> 00:14:23,360 Speaker 1: dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to 281 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 1: listen live. 282 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:27,360 Speaker 3: I think most likely, I would lean like fifty one 283 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:29,880 Speaker 3: percent that he up and retires after the season. Doesn't 284 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 3: want one of these long drawn out things, despite what 285 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 3: you just said. 286 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 4: But Jason, can you really see him missing out on 287 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 4: a farewell tour? 288 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 3: Well, the second right up his alle it does. But 289 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 3: the second leg to me would be Adam Silver and 290 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 3: him have some kind of wink not agreement where Silver 291 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 3: says we're expanding and Lebron is going to be an owner, 292 00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 3: like right out of the gate. So he's still relevant 293 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 3: and still quote unquote in the game. 294 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:57,240 Speaker 4: Now. 295 00:14:57,240 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 3: I don't know if that's even possible to do it 296 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 3: that quickly. But Lebron's, like you said, he's not gonna 297 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 3: just be gone. Yeah, he's still playing too good. Twenty 298 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 3: two seven and six is pretty damn good. The defense shaky, 299 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 3: but Israel a world where he he comes out of 300 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:13,720 Speaker 3: the box and was like, hey, let me get my 301 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 3: my veteran guys. Then the real monstars, old guys and 302 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 3: we go to I don't know, Brooklyn and we try 303 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 3: to cook up some stuff in the East. 304 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 4: No. I mean, look, I just consider where he is 305 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 4: in his life off the court, that's right. Does he 306 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:33,720 Speaker 4: want to uproot everything for what? And even that, you know, 307 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 4: putting together the monstars and doing it in Brooklyn. I 308 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 4: mean that could get ugly in a hurry. No, it 309 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 4: sounds good, It sounds fun good, and it would make 310 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 4: for like maybe it might make for a movie. But 311 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:46,240 Speaker 4: if you got to live it for eighty two games, 312 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 4: if you got to live it for seven months, like. 313 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:53,040 Speaker 3: We already saw that with Brooklyn with Pierce kg good. 314 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 4: It doesn't it doesn't pan out in reality. 315 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 3: All right, One more leg of the Lakers before we 316 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 3: move to other teams. I just find them fast. Actually, 317 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 3: two more real quick hypothetical. If Polinka gets rubbed out, 318 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 3: do you see the Lakers making a move on, say 319 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 3: Bob Myers. 320 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:15,680 Speaker 4: Uh, sure, I could see that. I don't know that 321 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 4: Bob Myers. Actually, I don't know that. It would be 322 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 4: about about money. The Lakers is just a very complicated 323 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 4: situation for anybody who's going to go in there and 324 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 4: run them. And let's not forget Genie Buss is still 325 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:33,040 Speaker 4: the governor, which means that Linda Rambus and Kurt Rambis 326 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 4: are still factors in that front office. There's just a lot. 327 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:41,120 Speaker 4: There's so much palace intrigue there, and from what I know, 328 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 4: the palace intrigue and the involvement of the owner and 329 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 4: the high stakes that are expected from teams that aren't 330 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:52,840 Speaker 4: necessarily up up to this being able to realize them. 331 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 4: All of that is what prompted Bob to say, you know, 332 00:16:57,040 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 4: I'm done with the with the Warriors, like, I've done 333 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 4: this long enough. What the expectations are and what the 334 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:06,080 Speaker 4: returns are are no longer worth it. Let me go 335 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 4: take a break. And I would dare say I wouldn't 336 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:13,680 Speaker 4: be surprised if Steve Kerr followed him because of that situation. 337 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:17,399 Speaker 4: So the Lakers just feel a little bit too much 338 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:22,160 Speaker 4: like that, where there's very very high expectations and not 339 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:25,480 Speaker 4: necessarily the wherewithal to get it done on the timeline. 340 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 3: Interesting, I thought Bob Myers left because he didn't want 341 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:30,800 Speaker 3: to be the bad guy and break up the band, 342 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 3: the Draymond the Clay, and he let it go too 343 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:36,639 Speaker 3: long and said, you know, I got a bounce. 344 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:39,640 Speaker 4: I'm sure, I mean, that's part of it. That's part 345 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 4: of it. But it's also the expectation from the owner 346 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 4: that we want you to keep the band together, and 347 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:48,000 Speaker 4: we want you to sell tickets, and we want you 348 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:50,159 Speaker 4: to develop the young guys, and we still want you 349 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:53,640 Speaker 4: to chase championships. It was like, that's a full platter 350 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:57,880 Speaker 4: of things to get done that aren't necessarily things that 351 00:17:58,040 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 4: work well together. And that was what Bob was charged with, 352 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:05,680 Speaker 4: and nothing less than being a title contender was is 353 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:10,119 Speaker 4: it remains the expectation in Golden State as unrealistic. Is 354 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:11,320 Speaker 4: that is at this point? 355 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:13,760 Speaker 2: All right, well, so one last one on the Lakers. 356 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 3: Let's be realistic here, and Yannis can put out all 357 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:20,439 Speaker 3: the dumb Wolf of Wall Street means he wants he 358 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 3: ain't gonna be on the Bucks next year. Okay, that's 359 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:25,160 Speaker 3: a fish. I don't care what he says publicly. Action 360 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:28,200 Speaker 3: speak way louder, and you know, behind the scenes he's 361 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:29,920 Speaker 3: been like, guys, get me out of here without making. 362 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 2: Me look like the bad guy. Yannis. 363 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 3: I mean, I think everybody thinks the Nicks go after 364 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:38,320 Speaker 3: Janis if they don't win the title. I will posit 365 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:41,800 Speaker 3: that the Lakers by dangling Austin Reeves whatever else. And 366 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:45,240 Speaker 3: I think it's three or four. First hasn't a mildly 367 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:49,120 Speaker 3: attractive deal. And if Yanna says I'm not signing in Toronto, 368 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:51,640 Speaker 3: I'm not signing in Orlando, so don't trade me there. 369 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 2: I will sign in LA. He does hold all the cards. 370 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:57,400 Speaker 3: Now he hasn't played that yet, but you know, Rick, 371 00:18:57,440 --> 00:18:58,400 Speaker 3: he can play that card. 372 00:18:58,480 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 2: I'm only signing in. 373 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 4: If I no. I think all of that is true. 374 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:07,280 Speaker 4: I just don't know that the Lakers are on that 375 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:09,720 Speaker 4: list or that place that he wants to go to. 376 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:12,919 Speaker 4: I've heard nothing to that end, and I don't have 377 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:16,320 Speaker 4: any reason to believe that he would want to do 378 00:19:16,359 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 4: that for some of what I've already pointed out, which 379 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:22,520 Speaker 4: is the Western Conference is a minefield right now, and 380 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:26,680 Speaker 4: the idea that he wants to go up against Victor Wimbnyama, 381 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:30,320 Speaker 4: who's just beginning to come along. I mean, where can 382 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:32,040 Speaker 4: he You're going to join the Lakers? Okay, so it's 383 00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:35,320 Speaker 4: you and Luka Doncic and then what right? And you're 384 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:37,919 Speaker 4: talking about two guys that are paid top dollar. This 385 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:42,320 Speaker 4: is a little bit like the NFL with with quarterbacks. 386 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:44,720 Speaker 4: I don't think it's any mistake that in the Super 387 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 4: Bowl we had two quarterbacks that are not being paid 388 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:51,639 Speaker 4: top dollar, which then allows you to build an actual team. 389 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:56,359 Speaker 4: And you see the same thing with NBA teams. For 390 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:59,640 Speaker 4: all that Steph Curry is he's making sixty million dollars, 391 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 4: Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Steph Curry take up seventy 392 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:08,200 Speaker 4: five percent of the cap based on what they've been 393 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:11,280 Speaker 4: and so how do you build out the rest of 394 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:13,200 Speaker 4: the team. You could say the same thing when you 395 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:17,800 Speaker 4: look at the Lakers. The money invested in Lebron and 396 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 4: Luca alone really limits what you can else you can 397 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:25,359 Speaker 4: do elsewhere, and so and now you're looking at you 398 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:28,800 Speaker 4: got to pay Austin Reeves. So I just I look 399 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 4: at that situation and I think that if there's a 400 00:20:34,359 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 4: place that makes a lot of sense to me, it's 401 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:38,760 Speaker 4: that he stays in the Eastern Conference. He goes to 402 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:42,720 Speaker 4: the Miami Heat. They can certainly make an offer that 403 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:48,199 Speaker 4: is as far as a rebuilding package, is far greater 404 00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 4: from Milwaukee than anything that the Lakers could offer. 405 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:53,480 Speaker 2: But would they have to give up Bam. 406 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:55,400 Speaker 4: I think there's a way in which they wouldn't give 407 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:57,840 Speaker 4: up Bam. I think there's a way if it was 408 00:20:57,960 --> 00:21:02,159 Speaker 4: kollel Ware, who I think is really young, is his 409 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:03,919 Speaker 4: best years are ahead of him. I think he's a 410 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 4: he's a legit starting starting center, Tyler Harrow three future firsts. 411 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 4: Trying to think if there's another young guy there that 412 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:16,920 Speaker 4: they'd have to throw in for them. I think there's 413 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 4: a way from Miami to make it happen. And uh 414 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:23,760 Speaker 4: and and I from all indications, that's one of the 415 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:27,679 Speaker 4: places that Giannis would be interested in going, and that 416 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:30,359 Speaker 4: in the big picture, he knows that staying in the 417 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 4: East is probably his most direct path to getting to 418 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:33,440 Speaker 4: the finals. 419 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:36,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, how much do you think that matters? 420 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:40,560 Speaker 3: Because why why wouldn't he say, Holy hell, Orlando. If 421 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:43,560 Speaker 3: Orlando gives up Paolo Banco, who is a stud, he's 422 00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:46,359 Speaker 3: definitely better than Austin Reez and better than Tyler Hero 423 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:48,120 Speaker 3: and I think he's the best player they could get 424 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:51,399 Speaker 3: back and picks and Giannis would go to Orlando to 425 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:55,000 Speaker 3: play with Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Desmond Baine. 426 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:57,119 Speaker 2: I think that's that's the best team in the East, 427 00:21:57,200 --> 00:21:57,480 Speaker 2: is it not? 428 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:01,240 Speaker 4: Could be if Orlando's decides to go that direction. I 429 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:06,120 Speaker 4: think Orlando right now there, Yeah, on their on their 430 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:10,879 Speaker 4: coaching situation. The feeling around the league is that that 431 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 4: team is underperforming in a vast way. And I don't 432 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 4: don't mean to cast dispersions on Jamal Moseley. I I 433 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:21,359 Speaker 4: like him. I'm just telling you what the league is 434 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:23,920 Speaker 4: telling me, what scouts are telling me, which is, if 435 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:25,639 Speaker 4: you were going to put a bet on on the 436 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:30,320 Speaker 4: next coach uh to get to get dropped, it could be. 437 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:33,440 Speaker 3: Mostly who's the hottest name in the league, Like Orlando's 438 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:34,840 Speaker 3: a good job man. I'm just telling you when you 439 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:37,479 Speaker 3: look at talent like Anthony Black, he looks like he's 440 00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:38,240 Speaker 3: a big time player. 441 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:39,440 Speaker 2: He's super young. 442 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:42,040 Speaker 4: No, I mean him, Tristan da Silva, like they they 443 00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:45,160 Speaker 4: have a great, great roster, and there's people out there 444 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:48,280 Speaker 4: that are trying to hang it all on on Bancero. 445 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:50,320 Speaker 4: I really don't think it's that. I think that they 446 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:52,640 Speaker 4: trying to figure out. You know, they've had so many 447 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:55,000 Speaker 4: injuries over the last couple of years that they haven't 448 00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 4: had to find a way to utilize all of the pieces. 449 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 4: France working with Paolo, working with Sugs working. Now you 450 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:06,159 Speaker 4: add Desmond Bane to the to the equation. I mean 451 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:08,960 Speaker 4: a lot of it is you got a wealth of talent, 452 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:11,080 Speaker 4: but you got to figure out how do you make 453 00:23:11,119 --> 00:23:12,240 Speaker 4: it all work together. 454 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:14,919 Speaker 3: That's an attractive coaching job Orlando. I mean again, I 455 00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:17,000 Speaker 3: have family in Orlando. They're big time Magic fans. 456 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:21,000 Speaker 4: But anyway, I've been through not only the roster and 457 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:26,000 Speaker 4: locations not bad obviously the weather is good. But their facility, 458 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:30,040 Speaker 4: the amount of money that they've put in their facility, 459 00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 4: it is, it is unbelievable. They have everything you could 460 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:39,280 Speaker 4: ever ask for in their in their training facility, and 461 00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:40,560 Speaker 4: it's right there next to the arena. 462 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:43,240 Speaker 3: Let's go to the caves real quick. Usually people don't 463 00:23:43,240 --> 00:23:45,119 Speaker 3: care about Cleveland they were exposed to. It's kind of 464 00:23:45,119 --> 00:23:46,040 Speaker 3: fraudulent last year. 465 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 2: But I will say. 466 00:23:47,640 --> 00:23:52,080 Speaker 3: The hardened Mitchell backcourt early returns kind of spicy. 467 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:53,560 Speaker 2: Still a little. 468 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:56,560 Speaker 3: Deficient on the wing. That got the young kid who's emerging, 469 00:23:56,560 --> 00:23:58,480 Speaker 3: Tyson I think is his name. They got mobile and 470 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:00,800 Speaker 3: Allen when healthy. That's the They look like they're going 471 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:04,000 Speaker 3: to be a problem in the playoffs in the East. 472 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:06,480 Speaker 2: Any early thoughts on Mitchell Harden. 473 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:10,879 Speaker 4: It's looked good so far, no question about it. I 474 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:14,480 Speaker 4: still when you get to the postseason, I think that 475 00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:20,240 Speaker 4: they have the same problem, maybe maybe alleviated a little 476 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 4: bit with James Harden, but it's still a backcourt that 477 00:24:26,359 --> 00:24:29,600 Speaker 4: does not defend well. Now and again we're talking about 478 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:32,639 Speaker 4: like Cleveland making good on making a run to the 479 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:37,680 Speaker 4: conference finals or the finals. I'm taking Detroit over them 480 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:42,640 Speaker 4: are without question. I'm taking the Boston Celtics over them 481 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:45,880 Speaker 4: again again because of the backcourt matchups. I can put 482 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:50,879 Speaker 4: big athletic guys on both Donovan Mitchell and James Harden 483 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:52,919 Speaker 4: and make the game hard on them. And then if 484 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:55,880 Speaker 4: I'm doing that, where else am I going to go 485 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:57,080 Speaker 4: for that scoring? 486 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:02,720 Speaker 2: And I said, it's just a tatumless Boston. You still 487 00:25:02,760 --> 00:25:03,920 Speaker 2: are taking them over Cleveland. 488 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:07,480 Speaker 4: The way they're playing and the young guys that have 489 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:12,640 Speaker 4: come along and involved evolved, and their playoff experience and 490 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:16,439 Speaker 4: their ability to defend. Yeah, I don't. I'm not a 491 00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 4: big believer in what the Calves have. And largely this 492 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:23,560 Speaker 4: is going to sound like a knock on don Donovan 493 00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:27,680 Speaker 4: Mitchell is a great guy to have, is the face 494 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:33,479 Speaker 4: of your franchise, good citizen, great personality, dynamic player. But 495 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:35,080 Speaker 4: the fact of the matter is he's a six' to 496 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:39,359 Speaker 4: two shooting guard that's the reality and six two shooting 497 00:25:39,359 --> 00:25:43,239 Speaker 4: guards just don't get very far in the. Playoffs they 498 00:25:43,240 --> 00:25:45,840 Speaker 4: can be great during the regular. Season and if you're asking, 499 00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:49,600 Speaker 4: me Is James harden going to suddenly have the playoff, 500 00:25:49,720 --> 00:25:53,840 Speaker 4: series playoff run that we've always, expected we have too 501 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:56,119 Speaker 4: much evidence to the contrary that that's just not In 502 00:25:56,280 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 4: James PARTON'S. Dna so that's where as as the early 503 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:06,480 Speaker 4: as promising is the early. Returns look the idea that 504 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:10,119 Speaker 4: The Cleveland cavaliers are now SOME i don't know a 505 00:26:10,359 --> 00:26:13,560 Speaker 4: juggernaut that is just going to blow Past detroit And 506 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:17,480 Speaker 4: boston The. KNICKS i, mean ANYTIME i can name three 507 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:18,960 Speaker 4: teams THAT i look at AND i, go they're better 508 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:22,119 Speaker 4: than you? Are how AM i exposed to? Expected how 509 00:26:22,160 --> 00:26:24,400 Speaker 4: AM i supposed to expect that you're going to get 510 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:24,959 Speaker 4: to the conference? 511 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:26,639 Speaker 2: Final let me let me ask you about These. 512 00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:30,000 Speaker 3: Pistons So i'm looking at The statskate Cunning game obviously 513 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:32,720 Speaker 3: is an ALL nba. PLAYER i can't think of a 514 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:35,960 Speaker 3: contender with a drop off from the star to the 515 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:37,760 Speaker 3: second best player is bigger than The. 516 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:39,680 Speaker 4: PISTONS i think you're Underestimating Jalen. 517 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:42,520 Speaker 2: Durham, oh come, on as. 518 00:26:42,440 --> 00:26:44,680 Speaker 4: A two way player as a, force as a guy 519 00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:50,040 Speaker 4: who Fits, again this is that this team is a 520 00:26:50,080 --> 00:26:53,800 Speaker 4: little bit like The warriors in their, heyday where the 521 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:59,160 Speaker 4: pieces fit together so, well and the hierarchy of, roles 522 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:03,120 Speaker 4: all of that and there and and their, hunger their 523 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:06,280 Speaker 4: willingness to, defend their willingness to support each other in 524 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:08,639 Speaker 4: the way they. Play you can't put a price on. 525 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:12,160 Speaker 4: That and and as you, Said Kate, CUNNINGHAM i don't 526 00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:14,680 Speaker 4: think he's just ALL. NBA i think he's AN mvp. 527 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:19,159 Speaker 4: CANDIDATE i. DON'T i take him ten days out of 528 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:22,320 Speaker 4: ten Over Donovan mitchell AND i don't even think. 529 00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:24,800 Speaker 2: Twice, yeah probably the. 530 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:28,280 Speaker 4: SAME i take him Over Jalen, brown AND i certainly 531 00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:29,040 Speaker 4: Take Jalen. 532 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:32,080 Speaker 3: Brunson wait, wait it's THE Nba FINALS Mvp Jaalen. Brown 533 00:27:32,119 --> 00:27:34,639 Speaker 3: and that's all right now now you're but. 534 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:35,440 Speaker 2: Now you're getting, Crazy. 535 00:27:35,520 --> 00:27:39,000 Speaker 4: Kate kate hasn't proved it yet And jalen. Has but 536 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:40,639 Speaker 4: if you're asking, me If i'm starting a team right, 537 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:44,080 Speaker 4: now Who i'm, Taking i'm Taking Kate, cunningham. 538 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:45,080 Speaker 2: All, right top. Time. 539 00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:48,560 Speaker 3: Now so Kid cunningham in the first round against The 540 00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:51,720 Speaker 3: knicks last, year he was good average twenty five shot 541 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:53,720 Speaker 3: seventeen percent on, threes. 542 00:27:53,960 --> 00:27:55,320 Speaker 2: Like can we can we slow? 543 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 3: Down because that has done it multiple Years in the, PLAYOFFS. 544 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:01,120 Speaker 4: I Watched cobe shoot multiple air balls against The Utah 545 00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:02,399 Speaker 4: jazz when. 546 00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:04,040 Speaker 2: It's like a teenager guy. 547 00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:06,080 Speaker 4: Hasn't i'm willing to put my money on him and 548 00:28:06,119 --> 00:28:08,320 Speaker 4: say he's gonna figure it out and he's gonna get 549 00:28:08,320 --> 00:28:10,520 Speaker 4: better because that's What Kate cunningham has done every. Year 550 00:28:10,680 --> 00:28:14,560 Speaker 4: sure it was like first run in the, Postseason Like i'm, 551 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:17,119 Speaker 4: NOT i am god fair least a bit worried That 552 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:19,720 Speaker 4: Kate cunningham is some flash in the. 553 00:28:19,760 --> 00:28:21,080 Speaker 2: Pan i'm not worried about. 554 00:28:21,119 --> 00:28:24,439 Speaker 3: Him, Rick it's the you Like Jalen duran can't he 555 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:26,359 Speaker 3: needs the ball in his hands on the block to 556 00:28:26,359 --> 00:28:29,040 Speaker 3: score or getting. Fed come, on he needs the ball 557 00:28:29,080 --> 00:28:31,640 Speaker 3: inside LIKE i need another who's their second best wing? 558 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:33,960 Speaker 3: Creator it was supposed to Be jade And ivy it's. 559 00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:35,560 Speaker 3: Not and now they pick Up Red. 560 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:36,560 Speaker 2: Velvet like he's supposed to do. 561 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:39,280 Speaker 3: SOMETHING i just when the when the court shrinks and 562 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:43,840 Speaker 3: The knicks trot out o G bridges And, HEART i 563 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:44,560 Speaker 3: just think that. 564 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:46,640 Speaker 2: That they're gonna swallow Up kate AND i DON'T i 565 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:47,040 Speaker 2: think The nick. 566 00:28:47,080 --> 00:28:48,840 Speaker 4: Wouldn't that's your mistake and they haven't done that during 567 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:49,280 Speaker 4: the regular. 568 00:28:49,320 --> 00:28:53,600 Speaker 2: Season, yeah you, Know detroit's a little. Motivated we'll. 569 00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:57,600 Speaker 1: See Fox Sports radio has the best sports talk lineup 570 00:28:57,640 --> 00:29:00,280 Speaker 1: in the. Nation catch all of our shows a Box 571 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:05,080 Speaker 1: sportsradio dot com and within The iHeartRadio app SEARCH fsr 572 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:06,320 Speaker 1: to listen live. 573 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:07,440 Speaker 4: And in The. 574 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:11,000 Speaker 3: West is there anybody else besides me who think The 575 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:13,320 Speaker 3: San Antonio spurs are the team to, beat not because 576 00:29:13,360 --> 00:29:15,880 Speaker 3: of That laker, wind because they own the thunder And. 577 00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:17,680 Speaker 2: Rick we had really good seats Last So. 578 00:29:17,760 --> 00:29:21,080 Speaker 3: I'm watching this team the swagger and it's not like, 579 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:22,120 Speaker 3: cocky it's just. 580 00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:24,280 Speaker 2: CONFIDENT i Mean Steph castle. 581 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:26,600 Speaker 3: Walks out there and he's basically, Like i'm probably gonna 582 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:28,480 Speaker 3: pick you in the back court and Then i'm gonna 583 00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:31,000 Speaker 3: drive on you and dunk on. You and and vassel 584 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 3: IS i, mean he's not. Afraid champagne is not. Afraid 585 00:29:33,960 --> 00:29:36,240 Speaker 3: wenby when he wants to could just eat anybody. 586 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:37,400 Speaker 2: Up this team is. 587 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:39,760 Speaker 3: AMAZING i think it's A Nick spurs. 588 00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:44,120 Speaker 4: Finals oh that's. DARING i. DON'T i don't see The 589 00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:47,760 Speaker 4: knicks getting, there BUT i mean they just met THE 590 00:29:47,840 --> 00:29:50,000 Speaker 4: nba there, EITHER i just think there's a year of. 591 00:29:50,080 --> 00:29:52,280 Speaker 4: Learning when it comes to the. Postseason it's, tough a 592 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:54,520 Speaker 4: little bit Like Kate cunningham and The pistons last. Year like, 593 00:29:54,560 --> 00:29:56,040 Speaker 4: you you need to get a taste of. It you 594 00:29:56,080 --> 00:29:57,400 Speaker 4: need to see what it's all. About you have to 595 00:29:57,440 --> 00:29:59,600 Speaker 4: realize just how difficult it is to make a run 596 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:01,920 Speaker 4: and all the adjustments that have to be. Made, so, 597 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:06,080 Speaker 4: uh that's WHERE i DON'T i think they're on their 598 00:30:06,120 --> 00:30:10,040 Speaker 4: way AND i could see them second, round maybe even conference. 599 00:30:10,080 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 4: Finals big thing in The Western conference is going to 600 00:30:12,360 --> 00:30:15,960 Speaker 4: be who sees who? Win, yeah that's that's going to be, 601 00:30:16,040 --> 00:30:22,200 Speaker 4: it BECAUSE i if everyone's. HEALTHY i think The Denver 602 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:23,800 Speaker 4: nuggets are are right there as. 603 00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:25,880 Speaker 2: Well NOW i don't. 604 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:28,720 Speaker 3: Disagree Now nuggets are really good as of. Now it 605 00:30:28,760 --> 00:30:32,480 Speaker 3: would Be thunder Versus nuggets in round, two and we 606 00:30:32,520 --> 00:30:34,760 Speaker 3: saw that last. Year If Aaron gordon doesn't get, Hurt, 607 00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:36,040 Speaker 3: Yeah nuggets may win. 608 00:30:36,080 --> 00:30:38,760 Speaker 4: That you think The nuggets may win. 609 00:30:38,800 --> 00:30:40,880 Speaker 2: THAT i think last year they could have. 610 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:43,320 Speaker 4: Won years should have won won, it last, year could 611 00:30:43,320 --> 00:30:43,520 Speaker 4: have won. 612 00:30:43,560 --> 00:30:45,440 Speaker 3: It Last i'm not as high on The thunder as everybody. 613 00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:48,120 Speaker 3: ELSE i, MEAN i Know sga blah blah, blah, BLAH 614 00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:50,880 Speaker 3: i get. It they're really really, good amazing. Roster Sam 615 00:30:50,960 --> 00:30:53,160 Speaker 3: presti did a great. Job they won the. Title all 616 00:30:53,200 --> 00:30:55,920 Speaker 3: that being, SAID i don't think you walk into that. 617 00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:59,000 Speaker 3: Series denver's not scared of, them and The spurs certainly 618 00:30:59,000 --> 00:30:59,240 Speaker 3: are not. 619 00:30:59,560 --> 00:31:03,400 Speaker 4: Agreed, agreed But lakers maybe not not not. Intimidated but 620 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:06,120 Speaker 4: at the same, TIME i, mean, okay see did prove 621 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:08,000 Speaker 4: some things and they do know it that just because 622 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:10,360 Speaker 4: they're not playing at the same. Level, now we've seen 623 00:31:10,360 --> 00:31:14,880 Speaker 4: that plenty of times with WITH nba defending champions where it's, 624 00:31:14,880 --> 00:31:16,760 Speaker 4: like all, right we know this is going to be 625 00:31:16,760 --> 00:31:19,360 Speaker 4: a long. Season we know what we want to accomplish 626 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:22,520 Speaker 4: at the end of, it you. Know and they got 627 00:31:22,560 --> 00:31:25,880 Speaker 4: off that that phenomenal, start and then it was, like, 628 00:31:26,320 --> 00:31:28,600 Speaker 4: okay now we're In. December what are? We what are 629 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:30,880 Speaker 4: We we're gonna can we keep this? Going and once they. 630 00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:33,120 Speaker 4: Couldn't once they lost a series of games and it was, 631 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:36,440 Speaker 4: no you, know like the the, uh you, know the 632 00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:39,160 Speaker 4: eighty and two That Kendrick perkins was predicting was no 633 00:31:39,240 --> 00:31:42,560 Speaker 4: longer within. Reach then it was sort of, like, okay 634 00:31:42,600 --> 00:31:44,760 Speaker 4: now what are we shooting? For and it's you know 635 00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:47,760 Speaker 4: what we're we're shooting to be in the pole position 636 00:31:48,440 --> 00:31:50,800 Speaker 4: when we get to the, postseason and really anything beyond 637 00:31:50,840 --> 00:31:53,080 Speaker 4: that is not all that, important. 638 00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:54,680 Speaker 3: All, Right, rick last, One So Cooper flag before he 639 00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:57,080 Speaker 3: had played a GAME i hosted The. Herd you came 640 00:31:57,120 --> 00:31:59,920 Speaker 3: on AND i, said over under one and a half 641 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:02,880 Speaker 3: MVPs For Cooper. Flag you looked at me LIKE i 642 00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:05,840 Speaker 3: had two, heads made a couple of cracks jokes at, 643 00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:07,880 Speaker 3: me and that was, it and then the internet had 644 00:32:07,880 --> 00:32:12,280 Speaker 3: fun with. It we are now like seven months into that. 645 00:32:12,360 --> 00:32:15,640 Speaker 3: Conversation we've Seen Cooper flag maybe emerges the best teenager 646 00:32:15,640 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 3: IN nba. 647 00:32:16,120 --> 00:32:19,880 Speaker 2: HISTORY i don't, know it's. Close have you revised your? 648 00:32:19,880 --> 00:32:22,640 Speaker 3: Take is this a MULTIPLE mvp kind of guy who 649 00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:25,880 Speaker 3: could dominate the face of the LEAGUE mvp blah blah. 650 00:32:25,920 --> 00:32:29,440 Speaker 4: Blah i'm not ready to say that he's a MULTIPLE mvp. 651 00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:33,320 Speaker 4: Guy is that capable of winning AN? Mvp? YEAH i, 652 00:32:33,360 --> 00:32:35,720 Speaker 4: WILL i, WILL i will go. There he has shown 653 00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:39,520 Speaker 4: me something THAT i wasn't ready to sign up for 654 00:32:39,680 --> 00:32:44,560 Speaker 4: when he came out Of. Duke so kudos to you 655 00:32:44,680 --> 00:32:46,479 Speaker 4: for going in that. 656 00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:51,120 Speaker 3: Direction takes, baby BECAUSE i WAS i was. 657 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:54,239 Speaker 4: More skeptical for sure when it came to, that and 658 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:58,920 Speaker 4: he's just demonstrated in a multitude of ways that he's 659 00:32:58,960 --> 00:33:02,360 Speaker 4: going to be. Special all that, said there is a 660 00:33:02,440 --> 00:33:07,960 Speaker 4: draft class coming this year that is going to put 661 00:33:08,080 --> 00:33:13,000 Speaker 4: up some formidable competition for THOSE mvp spots in the. 662 00:33:13,040 --> 00:33:17,680 Speaker 4: Future and here's the other, part is we gonna let 663 00:33:17,720 --> 00:33:22,240 Speaker 4: him win any like we still we still as of right, 664 00:33:22,280 --> 00:33:25,880 Speaker 4: Now kate Cunning cunningham is our best. Hope Kate cunningham 665 00:33:25,960 --> 00:33:31,000 Speaker 4: and Maybe Jalen brown are our best hopes for Having 666 00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:38,000 Speaker 4: americans on THE mvp ballance never, mind never mind winning. 667 00:33:38,080 --> 00:33:39,000 Speaker 1: It like what By Anthony? 668 00:33:39,080 --> 00:33:41,160 Speaker 2: Edwards, hey come, on what come? 669 00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:46,480 Speaker 4: On Anthony? Edwards what neither nor his performance is has 670 00:33:46,520 --> 00:33:49,920 Speaker 4: has been up TO? Mvp, well something's going on with that. 671 00:33:49,960 --> 00:33:51,280 Speaker 2: Team we can get into it next. 672 00:33:51,280 --> 00:33:53,520 Speaker 3: Time they tried to trade a bunch of guys For 673 00:33:53,560 --> 00:33:55,880 Speaker 3: giannis and now those guys don't seem to be performing as. 674 00:33:55,920 --> 00:33:57,360 Speaker 2: Well Rudy gobert s hands some. 675 00:33:57,400 --> 00:34:01,560 Speaker 3: Dumbstucks when you just look At edwards, me he's. UNBELIEVABLE i, 676 00:34:01,560 --> 00:34:05,160 Speaker 3: Mean Anthony edwards is, great but So cooper flag leads 677 00:34:05,160 --> 00:34:07,760 Speaker 3: the maps and. Points, uh he's not the leader in, 678 00:34:07,840 --> 00:34:11,560 Speaker 3: rebounds but leads in, assists leads in. Steals there Are 679 00:34:11,680 --> 00:34:15,120 Speaker 3: lebron vibes. HERE i know he's not as obviously polished, 680 00:34:15,160 --> 00:34:16,440 Speaker 3: offensively But i'm just this. 681 00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:16,759 Speaker 1: Guy. 682 00:34:17,120 --> 00:34:20,080 Speaker 2: Yay lebron and nineteen almost got away With, wait do 683 00:34:20,160 --> 00:34:21,879 Speaker 2: you Remember lebron and nineteen. 684 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:23,360 Speaker 4: With me without saying something? 685 00:34:23,440 --> 00:34:27,719 Speaker 2: Preposterous lebron at nineteen Not, Lebron Cooper. 686 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:29,320 Speaker 4: Flag Lebron. James what are you talking? 687 00:34:29,360 --> 00:34:34,040 Speaker 2: About as rookie? Teenagers know the stats line up Like 688 00:34:34,120 --> 00:34:35,040 Speaker 2: cooper's right. 689 00:34:35,120 --> 00:34:37,359 Speaker 4: In terms of their were their? Performances, okay? 690 00:34:37,400 --> 00:34:38,520 Speaker 2: Production, yeah, yeah. 691 00:34:38,560 --> 00:34:40,120 Speaker 3: OKAY i MEAN i wasn't saying he's going to be 692 00:34:40,120 --> 00:34:41,480 Speaker 3: the greatest basketball player in the history of the. 693 00:34:41,480 --> 00:34:43,680 Speaker 4: Sport, no THAT'S i, mean that's the that's the. Truth. 694 00:34:44,160 --> 00:34:48,680 Speaker 4: Apple you say a, name people immediately, go, oh you 695 00:34:48,719 --> 00:34:49,520 Speaker 4: think he's going to be? 696 00:34:49,600 --> 00:34:52,560 Speaker 3: That well remember the OLD sga. STUFF i was, LIKE 697 00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:54,760 Speaker 3: i WOULD i would build Around Cooper flag OVER, sga 698 00:34:55,040 --> 00:34:56,920 Speaker 3: and people like you lost your. MIND i was, Like 699 00:34:57,239 --> 00:35:00,719 Speaker 3: Cooper flag is, Nineteen look what he's. DOING sga is 700 00:35:00,760 --> 00:35:02,239 Speaker 3: like twenty. Five look what he's. 701 00:35:02,280 --> 00:35:04,440 Speaker 2: Doing what do you Think Cooper flag going to be 702 00:35:04,440 --> 00:35:06,680 Speaker 2: at when he's twenty? Five, well and that's kind of the. 703 00:35:06,719 --> 00:35:10,600 Speaker 4: Point but that's a fair question because he's a very, 704 00:35:10,760 --> 00:35:15,799 Speaker 4: polished developed player at nineteen, already and that's that was 705 00:35:15,920 --> 00:35:19,279 Speaker 4: one of the reasons WHY i was reluctant to, go, 706 00:35:20,080 --> 00:35:25,680 Speaker 4: well he's he's a certified FUTURE, mvp because like the 707 00:35:25,760 --> 00:35:29,960 Speaker 4: question is how much can he? Grow he's grown in 708 00:35:30,320 --> 00:35:33,080 Speaker 4: leaps and bounds this, season no question about, it but, 709 00:35:33,239 --> 00:35:37,480 Speaker 4: like where's the? Ceiling how much better can he? Get 710 00:35:38,120 --> 00:35:41,760 Speaker 4: he's he's, athletic but he's not A he's not an 711 00:35:41,800 --> 00:35:46,480 Speaker 4: athletic freak like A Janna santetempo or A Lebron james 712 00:35:46,920 --> 00:35:49,080 Speaker 4: or even A shay Gilg Is alexander for a six 713 00:35:49,200 --> 00:35:56,440 Speaker 4: to six point. Guard so that's WHERE i, just, yeah 714 00:35:56,520 --> 00:36:00,320 Speaker 4: he's been, great but he's for him to go where 715 00:36:00,440 --> 00:36:03,960 Speaker 4: you see him, Going he's got at least like another 716 00:36:04,160 --> 00:36:06,239 Speaker 4: two levels to go. To let's not. FORGET i, mean 717 00:36:06,280 --> 00:36:08,920 Speaker 4: this is still a Losing Dallas mavericks. Team he's had 718 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:11,520 Speaker 4: big games and they have. 719 00:36:11,680 --> 00:36:14,600 Speaker 3: LOST i Mean, LEBRON i Think Charlotte. Hornets, YEAH i 720 00:36:14,600 --> 00:36:16,960 Speaker 3: Think lebron was a forty win team as a. Rookie 721 00:36:17,040 --> 00:36:19,120 Speaker 3: so they didn't make the, playoffs. 722 00:36:18,520 --> 00:36:21,120 Speaker 4: But they were not THAT i, think, well. 723 00:36:21,040 --> 00:36:22,680 Speaker 2: Maybe that was year. Two i'm, sorry maybe that was 724 00:36:22,760 --> 00:36:23,920 Speaker 2: your two first year they were in the. 725 00:36:23,960 --> 00:36:26,360 Speaker 3: Twenties but the other aspect of this Is dallas is 726 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:27,839 Speaker 3: not incentivized to win right. 727 00:36:27,880 --> 00:36:28,600 Speaker 2: Now they want to. 728 00:36:28,640 --> 00:36:31,520 Speaker 3: Lose they want to get maybe a flyer Aj De 729 00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:34,560 Speaker 3: bonsa or one of these. Studs they want a chance at. 730 00:36:34,560 --> 00:36:36,840 Speaker 3: That so THE, nba and that's another topic with we 731 00:36:36,840 --> 00:36:39,319 Speaker 3: could do at some, point LIKE i would, say like 732 00:36:39,360 --> 00:36:43,279 Speaker 3: ten teams are actively trying to lose games now and so. 733 00:36:43,239 --> 00:36:46,319 Speaker 2: It's tough to handicap. It but, Flag oh that's. 734 00:36:46,360 --> 00:36:49,440 Speaker 4: Interesting i'm actually doing a. Podcast i'm doing a podcast 735 00:36:49,520 --> 00:36:52,040 Speaker 4: on this subject Because i've been watching and maybe it's 736 00:36:52,040 --> 00:36:55,279 Speaker 4: BECAUSE i AND i was introduced to tanking the very 737 00:36:55,360 --> 00:36:57,680 Speaker 4: first YEAR i covered the. LEAGUE i was a beat 738 00:36:57,719 --> 00:37:01,120 Speaker 4: writer for The Golden State. Warriors they. Tanked they Wanted Sean, 739 00:37:01,160 --> 00:37:04,120 Speaker 4: bradley they ended up With Chris. Webber oh it did not. 740 00:37:04,200 --> 00:37:08,000 Speaker 4: Work that's that's the bottom. Line everybody getting all breathless 741 00:37:08,040 --> 00:37:10,320 Speaker 4: over over all the teams that are. Tanking first of, 742 00:37:10,360 --> 00:37:13,520 Speaker 4: all this is a very unique year in terms of 743 00:37:13,680 --> 00:37:16,759 Speaker 4: the talent in this. Draft you've, got like you can 744 00:37:16,800 --> 00:37:19,160 Speaker 4: set a record for the number Of All stars that 745 00:37:19,239 --> 00:37:22,719 Speaker 4: come out of this draft, class and so it's very. 746 00:37:22,840 --> 00:37:25,840 Speaker 4: Unique And i'm not gonna fault The utah Jazz is 747 00:37:25,880 --> 00:37:30,720 Speaker 4: and The Washington wizards that aren't able to attract free agent. Stars, 748 00:37:31,320 --> 00:37:34,640 Speaker 4: yeah the players, decided you know, what let's let's we we. 749 00:37:35,120 --> 00:37:37,680 Speaker 4: Have we got our other, talent we were able to 750 00:37:37,719 --> 00:37:40,160 Speaker 4: trade for, it and for this one, year we're going 751 00:37:40,239 --> 00:37:41,879 Speaker 4: to tank and try to get one of those top. 752 00:37:41,920 --> 00:37:44,839 Speaker 4: Stars because if you look at the way those teams are, 753 00:37:44,880 --> 00:37:48,200 Speaker 4: structured they're set. Up this is not like the start of. 754 00:37:48,440 --> 00:37:52,880 Speaker 4: Tanking they're tanking this year for this. DRAFT i personally 755 00:37:53,000 --> 00:37:55,200 Speaker 4: just don't have a problem with it Because i've watched 756 00:37:55,239 --> 00:37:58,440 Speaker 4: tank tanking in various ways over the thirty years That 757 00:37:58,480 --> 00:38:01,400 Speaker 4: i've covered the league is not a new. Thing it 758 00:38:01,440 --> 00:38:04,080 Speaker 4: may be a little more blatant right, now AND i 759 00:38:04,080 --> 00:38:08,640 Speaker 4: would associate it with this particular. Draft it's, like, look 760 00:38:08,480 --> 00:38:12,040 Speaker 4: the value of of tanking is just too hard to. 761 00:38:12,080 --> 00:38:15,839 Speaker 4: IGNORE i appreciate that they're not lying to, us they're 762 00:38:15,840 --> 00:38:17,799 Speaker 4: not trying to pretend that they're not doing what they're. 763 00:38:17,800 --> 00:38:21,600 Speaker 4: Doing thank you for not insulting my. Intelligence damn, right we're. Tanking, 764 00:38:21,840 --> 00:38:22,840 Speaker 4: yeah we can get AN A. 765 00:38:22,960 --> 00:38:23,200 Speaker 1: J De. 766 00:38:23,280 --> 00:38:25,279 Speaker 4: Bond so we can get A Darren, peterson we can 767 00:38:25,320 --> 00:38:27,880 Speaker 4: get A Kingston, flemings we can get A Cam, boozer 768 00:38:28,000 --> 00:38:30,040 Speaker 4: we can GET i mean the number of names THAT 769 00:38:30,040 --> 00:38:31,160 Speaker 4: i could THROW i could throw out ten. 770 00:38:31,239 --> 00:38:33,320 Speaker 3: Names He Lob William wilson OF unc is. 771 00:38:33,360 --> 00:38:34,480 Speaker 2: AWESOME i like that guy a. 772 00:38:34,520 --> 00:38:38,560 Speaker 4: Lot the number that should have the, potential not. All 773 00:38:38,600 --> 00:38:40,960 Speaker 4: they're gonna be, some you know some. POST i got 774 00:38:40,960 --> 00:38:44,680 Speaker 4: some concerns About Darren peterson right, Now i'll tell you hold. 775 00:38:44,719 --> 00:38:46,000 Speaker 2: On so The pistons. 776 00:38:45,600 --> 00:38:46,480 Speaker 4: Stars that come out of. 777 00:38:46,480 --> 00:38:49,480 Speaker 3: This, yeah this dress and the draft. Matters The pistons 778 00:38:49,480 --> 00:38:51,399 Speaker 3: are number one in The. East they've got the number 779 00:38:51,440 --> 00:38:53,759 Speaker 3: one overall Pick ky Cunning. In he was he went first. 780 00:38:53,800 --> 00:38:56,239 Speaker 3: Overall the thunder are number one in The. West they 781 00:38:56,239 --> 00:38:58,919 Speaker 3: have the number two Pick Chet, Homeward spurs third best, 782 00:38:58,920 --> 00:39:00,200 Speaker 3: record number one pick one. 783 00:39:00,160 --> 00:39:04,000 Speaker 2: Then, ya the picks, matter so like it's not like THE. 784 00:39:04,080 --> 00:39:06,200 Speaker 3: Nfl AND i hate when people do that because in THE, 785 00:39:06,320 --> 00:39:09,000 Speaker 3: nfl one guy is not going to totally change your 786 00:39:09,040 --> 00:39:10,200 Speaker 3: fortunes like the way it was in THE. 787 00:39:10,239 --> 00:39:14,879 Speaker 4: Nba but and as long as basketball can pivot off 788 00:39:14,920 --> 00:39:18,480 Speaker 4: of one great, player as long as a team can 789 00:39:18,560 --> 00:39:21,680 Speaker 4: change its. Fortunes if it gets the right best, player 790 00:39:22,560 --> 00:39:25,399 Speaker 4: then there's always going to be a feeling, like why 791 00:39:25,440 --> 00:39:27,600 Speaker 4: are we trying to be a middle of the road 792 00:39:27,640 --> 00:39:30,640 Speaker 4: team when if we go the other direction hard we 793 00:39:30,760 --> 00:39:32,840 Speaker 4: might get that guy that gives us an opportunity to 794 00:39:32,840 --> 00:39:35,680 Speaker 4: play for a. CHAMPIONSHIP i would much rather see that 795 00:39:36,440 --> 00:39:39,880 Speaker 4: teams actually trying to figure out how do we build 796 00:39:39,880 --> 00:39:42,239 Speaker 4: a team that can buy for a, championship then the 797 00:39:42,280 --> 00:39:45,960 Speaker 4: teams that build team like and they've done, it various 798 00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:48,280 Speaker 4: teams have done. It if we just be a playoff, 799 00:39:48,280 --> 00:39:50,840 Speaker 4: team we'll make some, money we'll keep our fans. Happy 800 00:39:50,920 --> 00:39:55,040 Speaker 4: we can just go along and get along Like i'd 801 00:39:55,120 --> 00:39:57,520 Speaker 4: rather have the teams that are playing all or. 802 00:39:57,560 --> 00:40:00,800 Speaker 3: None, Yeah i'm with, You Rick buker eight stuff covered 803 00:40:00,800 --> 00:40:01,200 Speaker 3: THE nba. 804 00:40:01,280 --> 00:40:03,000 Speaker 2: Forever, Rick we'll talk to you, too. 805 00:40:03,000 --> 00:40:03,879 Speaker 4: Buddy sounds. Good